The kinetics of potential surrogate markers in HIV-positive (HIV+) and HIV-negative (HIV-), smear-positive tuberculosis (Tb+) patients in Gondar, Ethiopia (n = 60) was investigated. Clinical symptoms, sputum conversion, sedimentation rate (SR), HIV viral load and serum levels of TNF-alpha were determined before and 8 weeks after treatment initiation. The co-infection rate of HIV was 45%. There were significantly higher initial levels of SR and TNF-alpha in HIV+/Tb+ patients (79 +/- 29 mm/h and 13.5 +/- 7.6 pg/ml), than in HIV-/Tb+ patients (60 +/- 23 mm/h and 6.8 +/- 5.9 pg/ml, P<0.001). In HIV-/Tb+ patients, there was a marked decrease in SR compared with co-infected patients (46% [33 +/- 24 mm/h at week 8] vs. 24% [61 +/- 27 mm/h at week 8]). The HIV viral load (4.99 [range 3.70-5.92] to 4.90 [range 3.96-5.78] log10 copies/ml from week 0 to 8) and TNF-alpha (13.5 +/- 7.6 to 12.0 +/- 6.0 pg/ml) remained high in HIV+/Tb+ patients. In Tb patients, SR was significantly increased in HIV+ compared with HIV- patients. Additionally, TNF-alpha and HIV viral load remained elevated in HIV+/Tb+ patients following treatment despite clinical improvement comparable to HIV-/Tb+ patients.
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http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.trstmh.2005.07.018 | DOI Listing |
Niger Med J
January 2025
Department of Medical Microbiology, Usman Danfodiyo University Teaching Hospital, Sokoto, Nigeria.
Background: Anthrax is a life-threatening zoonotic disease caused by Gram-positive, spore-forming bacterium . It manifests as a cutaneous, gastrointestinal, and respiratory disease. The cutaneous form ranges from a self-limiting lesion to severe edematous lesions with toxemic shock.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFJ Am Podiatr Med Assoc
January 2025
†Medical Point Gaziantep Hospital, Gaziantep, Turkey.
Background: The incidence of diabetic foot infections is increasing due to the rising number of persons with diabetes and the prolonged life expectancy. It is vital to differentiate soft-tissue infection (STI) from diabetic foot osteomyelitis (DFO), as treatment modalities and durations vary widely, but this can be challenging. We aimed to assess the blood concentration levels of the high mobility group box 1 protein (HMGB-1) in STI and DFO compared to healthy subjects, and to investigate whether this protein could contribute to differentiating STI from DFO.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFRadiology
January 2025
From the Departments of Radiology (V.K., A.R., P.D.) and Pathology (J.N.), University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, 4301 W Markham St, Little Rock, AR 72205.
A 61-year-old male patient without prior history of ophthalmologic problems presented with pain and redness in the left eye associated with slowly progressive proptosis over the previous 6 months. The patient also had diplopia in rightward and downward gaze. There was no vision loss.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFEur Heart J Case Rep
January 2025
Tehran Heart Center, Cardiovascular Diseases Research Institute, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, North Kargar Ave, Tehran 1411713138, Iran.
Background: Since the transcatheter valve-in-valve (ViV) procedure was introduced in 2007, a few cases of infective endocarditis (IE) following the ViV procedure have been reported, which can be predisposed by older age, pre-existing medical conditions, and procedural techniques. Paravalvular abscesses constitute a rare complication of IE, resulting from extending IE beyond the valve annulus, less commonly caused by species. This complication is more common in prosthetic valves, particularly bioprosthetic valves.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFCureus
December 2024
Internal Medicine, Unidade Local de Saúde de Coimbra, Coimbra, PRT.
Microscopic polyangiitis (MPA) is a rare, autoimmune, small-vessel vasculitis usually described with the presence of perinuclear antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies (p-ANCA). It encompasses a broad spectrum of clinical features, including fatigue, weight loss, fever, arthralgia, skin lesions, and involvement of the lungs or kidneys. Ocular manifestations, however, are extremely rare.
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