Serial anti-tuberculous immune responses during the follow-up of patients with tuberculous pleurisy.

Little is known about the decay kinetics of interferon (IFN)-γ response and its influencing factors in tuberculous pleurisy. We enrolled thirty-two patients with tuberculous pleurisy prospectively and followed up at month 0, 6, and 9, at which time peripheral venous blood was drawn for interferon gamma release assay (IGRA) by means of QuantiFERON-TB Gold In-Tube (QFT-GIT). Demographic and clinical data were captured.

Rapid detection of respiratory organisms with FilmArray respiratory panel and its impact on clinical decisions in Shanghai, China, 2016-2018.

Background: In this study, we evaluated the diagnostic potential and clinical impact of an automated multiplex PCR platform (the FilmArray Respiratory Panel; FA-RP), specially designed for pathogen detection in respiratory tract infections in adults with unexplained pneumonia (UP).

Methods: A total of 112 UP patients in Shanghai, China, were enrolled prospectively and assessed using the FA-RP from October 2016 to March 2018. We examined the test results and their influence on clinical decisions.

Late prosthetic valve endocarditis with Mycobacterium tuberculosis after the Bentall procedure.

Background: Prosthetic valve endocarditis (PVE) is a rare but severe complication of valve replacement surgery, with an incidence rate of 0.3-1.2% per patient-year.

Cytokine profiles in cerebrospinal fluid of patients with meningitis at a tertiary general hospital in China.

Background: There has been a great deal of evidence indicating that cytokines participate in meningeal inflammation. Different cytokine profiles may be presented in central nervous system (CNS) infection due to different pathogens. We have attempted to investigate cytokine profiles in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) of patients with CNS infection.

Genetic influence of Toll-like receptors on non-HIV cryptococcal meningitis: An observational cohort study.

Background: Cryptococcal meningitis (CM) is a significant source of mortality, the pathogenesis of which has not been fully understood, especially in non-HIV infected populations. We aimed to explore the potential genetic influence of Toll-like receptor (TLR) on non-HIV CM.

Methods: This observational cohort study was done in two stages: a discovery stage and a validation stage.

The expressions and roles of different forms of IL-22 in Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection.

Despite evidence suggesting an anti-Mycobacterium tuberculosis effector function of CD4+ T cells that produce and retain IL-22 in macaques, the general role of IL-22 in tuberculosis infection is still poorly characterized. To explore the immune mechanism in the pathogenesis of tuberculosis in humans, here we evaluated different forms of IL-22 in populations with different tuberculosis infection statuses. We enrolled 156 subjects including 49 patients with pulmonary tuberculosis, 27 patients with tuberculous pleurisy (TPE), 38 individuals with latent tuberculous infection (LTBI) and 42 healthy controls (HC).

A combination of the QuantiFERON-TB Gold In-Tube assay and the detection of adenosine deaminase improves the diagnosis of tuberculous pleural effusion.

The differential diagnosis of tuberculous pleural effusion (TPE) and malignant pleural effusion (MPE) remains difficult despite the availability of numerous diagnostic tools. The current study aimed to evaluate the performance of the whole blood QuantiFERON-TB Gold In-Tube (QFT-GIT) assay and conventional laboratory biomarkers in differential diagnosis of TPE and MPE in high tuberculosis prevalence areas. A total of 117 patients with pleural effusions were recruited, including 91 with TPE and 26 with MPE.

Treating chronic hepatitis B virus: Chinese physicians' awareness of the 2010 guidelines.

Aim: To investigate Chinese physicians' awareness of the 2010 guidelines on the treatment of chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection.

Methods: This was a quantitative survey that investigated the characteristics and practices of physicians who were treating patients with hepatitis B, the profile of their patients and physician practices regarding the diagnosis and treatment of HBV at the time of the survey. Participants were randomly selected from available databases of Chinese physicians and requested to complete either an online or paper-based survey.

Hierarchy Low CD4+/CD8+ T-Cell Counts and IFN-γ Responses in HIV-1+ Individuals Correlate with Active TB and/or M.tb Co-Infection.

Objective: Detailed studies of correlation between HIV-M.tb co-infection and hierarchy declines of CD8+/CD4+ T-cell counts and IFN-γ responses have not been done. We conducted case-control studies to address this issue.

Potential diagnostic value of serum/pleural fluid IL-31 levels for tuberculous pleural effusion.

The aim of this study was to explore the diagnostic value of IL-31 levels in the pleural fluid and plasma to differentially diagnose tuberculous and malignant pleural effusion. We enrolled 91 cases, including tuberculous pleural effusion (TPE, n = 50), malignant pleural effusion (MPE, n = 41), other cases including pneumonia with pleural fluid, pulmonary tuberculosis and healthy people as controls. Whole blood was stimulated with the M.

Characterization of CD4/CD8+ αβ and Vγ2Vδ2+ T cells in HIV-negative individuals with different Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection statuses.

Background: The immune responses of T cell subsets among patients with different Mycobacterium tuberculosis (M.tb) infection statuses [i.e.

Histological outcome for chronic hepatitis B patients treated with entecavir vs lamivudine-based therapy.

Aim: To compare the histological outcome of chronic hepatitis B (CHB) patients treated with entecavir (ETV) or lamivudine (LAM)-based therapy.

Methods: We conducted a retrospective analysis of data from 42 CHB patients with advanced fibrosis (baseline Ishak score ≥ 2) or cirrhosis who were treated with ETV or LAM-based therapy in Beilun People's Hospital, Ningbo between January 2005 and May 2012. The patients enrolled were more than 16 years of age and underwent a minimum of 12 mo of antiviral therapy.

Epidemiology and the prognosis of healthcare-associated infective endocarditis in China: the significance of non-nosocomial acquisition.

Limited research has been conducted on healthcare-associated infective endocarditis (HAIE), although it is of increasing importance. The aim of this study is to compare the epidemiology, clinical characteristics, and prognosis of community-acquired IE (CA-IE) with HAIE and non-nosocomial healthcare-associated IE (NNHCA-IE). A retrospective, consecutive case-series analysis was organized and performed during the 20-year study period in Huashan Hospital, Shanghai, China.

Dectin-2 polymorphism associated with pulmonary cryptococcosis in HIV-uninfected Chinese patients.

Dectin-2 is a C-type lectin receptor that can recognize critical structures of fungi and involve in the host immune response after pulmonary fungal infections. We aimed to investigate the association between Dectin-2 genetic polymorphisms and cryptococcosis among a series of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-uninfected Chinese patients. In this case control study, a total of 251 patients with cryptococcosis and 464 healthy controls were included.

Aspartate decarboxylase (PanD) as a new target of pyrazinamide in Mycobacterium tuberculosis.

Pyrazinamide (PZA) is a frontline anti-tuberculosis drug that plays a crucial role in the treatment of both drug-susceptible and multidrug-resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB). PZA is a prodrug that is converted to its active form, pyrazinoic acid (POA), by a nicotinamidase/pyrazinamidase encoded by the pncA gene, the mutation of which is the major cause of PZA resistance. Although RpsA (ribosomal protein S1, involved in trans-translation) has recently been shown to be a target of POA/PZA, whole-genome sequencing has identified mutations in the panD gene encoding aspartate decarboxylase in PZA-resistant strains lacking pncA and rpsA mutations.

[Long-term treatment of chronic hepatitis B].

Nucleoside and nucleotide analogs (NAs) have been successfully used for treatment of chronic hepatitis B. Hepatitis B virus (HBV) replication is now recognized as the key driver of liver injury and disease progression, so the primary aim of treatment for chronic HBV infection is to maximize sustained suppression of HBV replication to undetectable levels. The long-term treatment has also been shown to achieve substantial histological improvement and regression of liver fibrosis or cirrhosis, and reduction of hepatocellular carcinoma.

Validation of thwaites' diagnostic scoring system for the differential diagnosis of tuberculous meningitis and bacterial meningitis.

To compare the clinical features of patients with tuberculous meningitis (TBM) and bacterial meningitis (BM) and to validate Thwaites' diagnostic scoring system for the differential diagnosis of TBM and BM, a retrospective review of 211 patients with TBM or BM who were admitted to Huashan Hospital, Fudan University, from 2007 to 2012 was conducted. The clinical characteristics and laboratory data were compared, and Thwaites' diagnostic scores were assessed at the time of admission for the differential diagnosis of TBM and BM. Significant differences were observed between the 2 groups in general information, clinical features, and cerebrospinal fluid characteristics.

Evolution and transmission patterns of extensively drug-resistant tuberculosis in China.

The emergence and transmission of extensively drug-resistant tuberculosis (XDR-TB) pose an increasing threat to global TB control. This study aimed to identify the patterns of evolution and transmission dynamics of XDR-TB in populations in a region of China where TB is highly endemic. We analyzed a total of 95 XDR-TB isolates collected from 2003 to 2009 in Chongqing, China.

In vitro and in vivo evidence for amphotericin B as a P-glycoprotein substrate on the blood-brain barrier.

Amphotericin B (AMB) has been a mainstay therapy for fungal infections of the central nervous system, but its use has been limited by its poor penetration into the brain, the mechanism of which remains unclear. In this study, we aimed to investigate the role of P-glycoprotein (P-gp) in AMB crossing the blood-brain barrier (BBB). The uptake of AMB by primary brain capillary endothelial cells in vitro was significantly enhanced after inhibition of P-gp by verapamil.

Identification of clinically relevant fungi and prototheca species by rRNA gene sequencing and multilocus PCR coupled with electrospray ionization mass spectrometry.

Background: Multilocus PCR coupled with electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (PCR/ESI-MS) is a new strategy for pathogen identification, but information about its application in fungal identification remains sparse.

Methods: One-hundred and twelve strains and isolates of clinically important fungi and Prototheca species were subjected to both rRNA gene sequencing and PCR/ESI-MS. Three regions of the rRNA gene were used as targets for sequencing: the 5' end of the large subunit rRNA gene (D1/D2 region), and the internal transcribed spacers 1 and 2 (ITS1 and ITS2 regions).

Lactic acidosis during telbivudine treatment for HBV: a case report and literature review.

All oral nucleoside analogues against hepatitis B virus, with an exception of telbivudine, have been reported causing lactic acidosis (LA). Here we report the first case of chronic hepatitis B developing severe refractory LA during telbivudine monotherapy. A 36-year-old man of Chinese origin received telbivudine antiviral treatment for chronic hepatitis B.

Erratum: A fatal case caused by novel H7N9 avian influenza A virus in China.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1038/emi.2013.