High Prevalence of and Risk Factors for Latent Tuberculosis Infection among Prisoners, Tianjin, China.

The high incidence of tuberculosis (TB) among prisoners calls for interventions to identify latent tuberculosis infection (LTBI) before disease onset. To identify LTBI prevalence among prisoners and factors associated with it, we conducted a cross-sectional study in Tianjin. We randomly sampled 959 HIV-negative adult prisoners by ward clusters in 5 prisons and determined LTBI by seropositivity using an interferon-γ release assay.

Measles Antibodies in Mother-Infant Dyads in Tianjin, China.

Background: Many measles cases in Tianjin, China, occur in infants whose mothers were born after widespread vaccination programs. We assessed age-specific decreases in maternal measles antibodies in infants and examined maternal and infant characteristics in relation to infant antibody titers.

Methods: Infant and mother dyads were enrolled from a sample of immunization clinics in all Tianjin districts.

Dried blood spots: An evaluation of utility in the field.

Background: Use of dried blood spots (DBS) offers advantages over serum samples in studies conducted in resource-poor settings. The aim of this study was to compare the number of adequate spots collected across different demographic groups.

Methods: Five DBS were collected from 3316 individuals aged 0-49 years in Tianjin, China for a measles antibody study; DBS were rated "adequate" or "inadequate.

Risk factors for measles among adults in Tianjin, China: Who should be controls in a case-control study?

Background: Control groups in previous case-control studies of vaccine-preventable diseases have included people immune to disease. This study examines risk factors for measles acquisition among adults 20 to 49 years of age in Tianjin, China, and compares findings using measles IgG antibody-negative controls to all controls, both IgG-negative and IgG-positive.

Methods: Measles cases were sampled from a disease registry, and controls were enrolled from community registries in Tianjin, China, 2011-2015.

A population profile of measles susceptibility in Tianjin, China.

Background: Measles is a highly infectious illness requiring herd immunity of 95% to interrupt transmission. Measles is targeted for elimination in China, which has not reached elimination goals despite high vaccination coverage. We developed a population profile of measles immunity among residents aged 0-49 years in Tianjin, China.

The epidemiology of measles in Tianjin, China, 2005-2014.

Background: Measles incidence in China has declined over the last decade and elimination is targeted by 2020. Despite increases in routine immunization services and supplementary immunization activities (SIAs), periodic outbreaks continue to occur. In this paper, we examine measles epidemiology during 2005-2014 in Tianjin, China.

Effect of a comprehensive programme to provide universal access to care for sputum-smear-positive multidrug-resistant tuberculosis in China: a before-and-after study.

Background: China has a quarter of all patients with multidrug-resistant tuberculosis (MDRTB) worldwide, but less than 5% are in quality treatment programmes. In a before-and-after study we aimed to assess the effect of a comprehensive programme to provide universal access to diagnosis, treatment, and follow-up for MDRTB in four Chinese cities (population 18 million).

Methods: We designated city-level hospitals in each city to diagnose and treat MDRTB.

Insight to the Epidemiology and Risk Factors of Extrapulmonary Tuberculosis in Tianjin, China during 2006-2011.

Background: The proportion of extrapulmonary tuberculosis (EPTB) among all the reported tuberculosis (TB) cases has increased in different populations. Despite the large burden of TB in China, the epidemiology of EPTB in China remains largely understudied and the risk factors for having EPTB diagnosis in China have not been identified.

Methods: To gain insight to EPTB epidemiology in China, we analyzed TB surveillance data collected in Tianjin, China, during 2006 to 2011.

Measles vaccine coverage and series completion among children 0-8 years of age in Tianjin, China.

Background: The World Health Organization (WHO) targeted China for measles elimination by 2012. Although China made significant progress, transmission continues, warranting examination of China's measles vaccination program. The World Health Organization recommends that children receive at least 2 doses of a measles containing vaccine (MCV) to ensure protection.

Global tuberculosis drug development pipeline: the need and the reality.

Drugs for tuberculosis are inadequate to address the many inherent and emerging challenges of treatment. In the past decade, ten compounds have progressed into the clinical development pipeline, including six new compounds specifically developed for tuberculosis. Despite this progress, the global drug pipeline for tuberculosis is still insufficient to address the unmet needs of treatment.

All-cause mortality in Tianjin, China, 1999-2004.

Introduction: We analyzed trends of major causes of death in Tianjin, China, from 1999 through 2004 to better inform disease prevention and control programs and policies.

Methods: To report all-cause deaths among Tianjin residents from 1999 through 2004, we standardized mortality rates to the world population in 2000. We analyzed age, sex, and geographic distribution of deaths from different causes and the leading causes of death in Tianjin.

[A comparison study on clinical chromatographic fingerprintings of mycolic acids analysis of 18 standard strains of Mycobacteria in China].

Objective: A clinical chromatographic fingerprinting of 18 standard strains of Mycobacteria commercialized in China by high-performance liquid chromatography approach was developed and improved in this laboratory. A comparison of clinical chromatographic fingerprintings of mycolic acids was carried out.

Methods: Mycolic acids were extracted from whole cultured cells of Mycobacteria by biochemical methods, and then samples was prepared for analysis after the mycolic acids were saponified, acidified and derived.