Accuracy of CAD4TB (Computer-Aided Detection for Tuberculosis) on paediatric chest radiographs.

Background: Computer-aided detection (CAD) systems hold promise for improving tuberculosis (TB) detection on digital chest radiographs. However, data on their performance in exclusively paediatric populations are scarce.

Methods: We conducted a retrospective diagnostic accuracy study evaluating the performance of CAD4TBv7 (Computer-Aided Detection for Tuberculosis version 7) using digital chest radiographs from well-characterised cohorts of Gambian children aged <15 years with presumed pulmonary TB.

Post-tuberculosis lung disease in children and adolescents: A scoping review of definitions, measuring tools, and research gaps.

Tuberculosis (TB) survivors, especially children and adolescents, can develop chronic respiratory problems called post-tuberculosis lung disease (PTLD). We conducted a scoping review to identify the current knowledge gaps on PTLD definitions, measuring tools, and research specific to this age group. We searched MEDLINE, EMBASE, Global Health, CINAHL, and Web of Science for studies published between January 1, 2000, and March 1, 2024, and identified 16 studies.

Achieving equitable leadership in Global Health partnerships: barriers experienced and strategies to improve grant funding for early- and mid-career researchers.

Unlabelled: Calls to decolonize global health have highlighted the continued existence of colonial structures in research into diseases of public health importance particularly in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). A key step towards restructuring the system and shaping it to local needs is equitable leadership in global health partnerships. This requires ensuring that researchers in LMICs are given the opportunity to successfully secure grant funding to lead and drive their own research based on locally defined priorities.

Childhood TB sequel: evaluating respiratory function after treatment for pulmonary tuberculosis in a prospective cohort of Gambian children - a study protocol.

Background: 1.2 million children under 15 years are estimated to have developed tuberculosis (TB) in 2021. 85% of paediatric patients achieve successful treatment outcomes if treated for the first episode of TB.

Reduced lung function and health-related quality of life after treatment for pulmonary tuberculosis in Gambian children: a cross-sectional comparative study.

Background: Post-tuberculosis (post-TB) lung disease is an under-recognised consequence of pulmonary tuberculosis (pTB). We aimed to estimate the prevalence of residual lung function impairment and reduced health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in children after pTB treatment completion.

Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional comparative study of children aged less than 15 years at TB diagnosis who had completed treatment for pTB at least 6 months previously with a comparator group of age-matched children without a history of pTB.

Exploring the perspectives of members of international tuberculosis control and research networks on the impact of COVID-19 on tuberculosis services: a cross sectional survey.

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic has caused major disruption to healthcare services globally and has impacted on tuberculosis (TB) patients and TB diagnosis and treatment services both in low- and high-income countries. We therefore explored the perspectives of members of regional and international TB control and research networks to further understand TB service disruptions and compared the experiences of members from West African and European countries.

Methods: This cross-sectional, explorative descriptive study was conducted from May to July 2020 using an open online survey with target respondents from both West African and European countries.

Comparing accuracy of lipoarabinomannan urine tests for diagnosis of pulmonary tuberculosis in children from four African countries: a cross-sectional study.

Background: A sensitive and specific non-sputum-based test would be groundbreaking for the diagnosis of childhood tuberculosis. We assessed side by side the diagnostic accuracy of the urine-based lipoarabinomannan assays Fujifilm SILVAMP TB LAM (FujiLAM) and Alere Determine TB LAM Ag (AlereLAM) for detection of childhood tuberculosis.

Methods: In this cross-sectional study, we tested urine samples from children younger than 15 years with presumed pulmonary tuberculosis.

Delay in the diagnosis of pulmonary tuberculosis in The Gambia, West Africa: A cross-sectional study.

Objectives: To investigate the pattern of tuberculosis (TB) care initiation and risk factors for TB diagnostic delay in The Gambia.

Methods: In this cross-sectional study, adult patients diagnosed with pulmonary TB (pTB) in public facilities in the Greater Banjul Area of The Gambia were consecutively recruited from October 2016 to March 2017. Diagnostic delay was defined as >21 days from the onset of at least one symptom suggestive of pTB to diagnosis.

Anticipating the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on TB patients and TB control programmes.

The COVID-19 pandemic has currently overtaken every other health issue throughout the world. There are numerous ways in which this will impact existing public health issues. Here we reflect on the interactions between COVID-19 and tuberculosis (TB), which still ranks as the leading cause of death from a single infectious disease globally.

Performance of metabonomic serum analysis for diagnostics in paediatric tuberculosis.

We applied a metabonomic strategy to identify host biomarkers in serum to diagnose paediatric tuberculosis (TB) disease. 112 symptomatic children with presumptive TB were recruited in The Gambia and classified as bacteriologically-confirmed TB, clinically diagnosed TB, or other diseases. Sera were analysed using H nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy and mass spectrometry (MS).

Vitamin D status and risk of incident tuberculosis disease: A nested case-control study, systematic review, and individual-participant data meta-analysis.

Background: Few studies have evaluated the association between preexisting vitamin D deficiency and incident tuberculosis (TB). We assessed the impact of baseline vitamins D levels on TB disease risk.

Methods And Findings: We assessed the association between baseline vitamin D and incident TB in a prospective cohort of 6,751 HIV-negative household contacts of TB patients enrolled between September 1, 2009, and August 29, 2012, in Lima, Peru.

Biomarkers for diagnosis of childhood tuberculosis: A systematic review.

Introduction: As studies of biomarkers of tuberculosis (TB) disease provide hope for a simple, point-of-care test, we aimed to synthesize evidence on biomarkers for diagnosis of TB in children and compare their accuracy to published target product profiles (TPP).

Methods: We conducted a systematic review of biomarkers for diagnosis of pulmonary TB in exclusively paediatric populations, defined as age less than 15 years. PubMed, EMBASE and Web of Science were searched for relevant publications from January 1, 2000 to November 27, 2017.

Elevated serum 25-hydroxy (OH) vitamin D levels are associated with risk of TB progression in Gambian adults.

Background: Vitamin D is essential in the host defence against tuberculosis (TB) as an immune modulator. The aim of this study was to determine the level of 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25 (OH) D) from adult TB index cases before and after treatment and their exposed household contacts (HHC) in The Gambia.

Methods: Serum from adult index TB cases and their TB-exposed household contacts (HHC) was analysed for 25(OH) D and Vitamin D binding protein (VDBP) concentrations.