Molecular typing and drug susceptibility of Mycobacterium tuberculosis isolates from Chongqing Municipality,China

China’s tuberculosis (TB) burden is second only to that of India worldwide. In Chongqing, the largest municipality in southwestern China, although the prevalence of both TB and drug-resistant TB is higher than in other municipalities, the molecular characteristics and drug susceptibility phenotypes are poorly known. In this study, 297 Mycobacterium tuberculosis isolates from Chongqing were genotyped with spacer oligonucleotide typing (spoligotyping) and 28-locus MIRU-VNTR (24-locus MIRU-VNTR scheme and 4 other loci). Spoligotyping results were compared with drug-resistant profiles. Patients who showed clustering by both spoligotyping and 28-locus MIRU-VNTR were interviewed to investigate their detailed contact history. Our data demonstrated that the Beijing genotype was the most prevalent genotype, and ST1 was the most predominant lineage in Chongqing. The Beijing genotype was significantly associated with ethambutol resistance and multidrug-resistant phenotypes. A combination of the 10 most polymorphic loci permitted to achieve higher discriminatory power than 24-VNTR. In addition, a presumed transmission pathway was observed in a cluster of patients with the same MIRU-VNTR profile. The 10-VNTR locus set is suitable for genotyping of Mycobacterium tuberculosis in Chongqing.     

Langerhans Cell Histiocytosis of the Lung and Thyroid, Co-Existing with Papillary Thyroid Cancer

A 24-year-old man presented to our center with a huge goiter compressing his airway. He had a previous diagnosis of Langerhans cell histiocytosis (LCH) of the lung. Core needle biopsy was consistent with histiocytosis. Thyroidectomy was performed. A very invasive mass was encountered at the time of surgery. Histopathology result was consistent with an invasive papillary cancer of thyroid co-occurring with LCH. Although association of LCH with different malignancies has been reported, co-existing invasive papillary thyroid cancer and LCH is a rare combination.     

Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection in cancer patients at a tertiary care cancer center in Japan

The characteristics of active tuberculosis in cancer patients in Japan and the effects of this infection on cancer treatment have not yet been clarified. The records of all consecutive patients with microbiologically documented Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection diagnosed between September 2002 and March 2008 at Shizuoka cancer center (a 557-bed tertiary care cancer center in Japan) were reviewed. There were 24 cancer patients with active tuberculosis during the study period. Of these, 23 had solid-organ tumors, and the most common site of the underlying malignancy was the lung. Most of the patients had pulmonary tuberculosis. Among 15 patients followed up for more than 2 months prior to the diagnosis of pulmonary tuberculosis, 12 had healed scars suggestive of old tuberculosis lesions, as shown by chest imaging obtained at the time of the initial evaluation. Discontinuation of cancer therapy or more than a month's delay in surgery occurred in 10 patients with pulmonary tuberculosis. Development of active tuberculosis can delay cancer treatment in Japanese centers. Cancer patients with scars suggestive of old tuberculosis disease lesions as shown by chest imaging should be screened for active tuberculosis and carefully followed up. In some cases, prophylactic treatment should be considered.     

综合医院与结核病防治机构合作提高肺结核患者发现率的研究

目的探索提高肺结核患者发现率的新途径，加快患者发现进程，实现世界卫生组织（WHO）提出的全球结核病控制阶段性目标。方法选择湖北省2002年度涂阳肺结核登记率低于全省平均水平的40个县，在每个县选择1家门诊量最大的综合医院和结核病防治中心作为研究项目实施单位。通过对综合医院相关科室医务人员进行培训和督导，从而在综合医院建立肺结核可疑症状者诊断、疫情报告和转诊工作规范。利用月报和季度报表收集资料，采用x^2检验对率和构成比进行统计分析，处理过程通过SAS8．1实现。结果2003年10月至2004年9月期间，40个县累计发现新涂阳肺结核患者12193例，比项目实施前同期增加了3965例；新涂阳患者登记率由项目前同期的33．6／10万提高到49．6／10万（x^2=760．8，P〈0．01），患者发现率由57．8％提高到85．5％。40个县综合医院门诊对肺结核可疑症状者查痰率达到48．6％，涂阳检出率为15．6％，患者转诊率为29．7％。医院门诊登记的11303例可疑症状者中，共查出涂阳肺结核患者1663例，占40个县涂阳患者发现总数的11．2％。结论加强综合医院与结核病防治中心的协调与合作，特别是加强医院肺结核患者和肺结核可疑症状者的转诊和追踪调查，能够快速地提高新涂阳肺结核患者发现水平。     

两种方法治疗复治涂阳肺结核疗效观察

目的评价两种治疗方案对复治涂阳肺结核的疗效。方法将60例抗酸杆菌阳性复治肺结核患者分成治疗组（n=30）和对照组（n=30）。治疗组采用2CDLZ／6DL方案；对照组采用2SDLZ／6DL方案。结果治疗12个月后治疗组与对照组痰菌阴转率分别为82．76％和60．00％（P〈0．05）；治疗组与对照组治疗有效率分别为93．10％和70．00％（P〈0．01）。结论2HRZSL／6HRL方案治疗复治涂阳肺结核有助于痰菌阴转和病灶吸收。     

Trends in Tuberculosis Reported From the Appalachian Region: United States, 1993-2005

ABSTRACT:  Context: Appalachia has been characterized by its poverty, a factor associated with tuberculosis, yet little is known about the disease in this region. Purpose: To determine whether Appalachian tuberculosis risk factors, trends, and rates differ from the rest of the United States. Methods: Analysis of tuberculosis cases reported to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's National Tuberculosis Surveillance System (NTSS) within the 50 states and the District of Columbia from 1993 through 2005. Results: The 2005 rate of tuberculosis in rural Appalachia was 2.1/100,000, compared to 2.7/100,000 in urban Appalachia. Urban non-Appalachia had a 2005 tuberculosis rate of 5.4/100,000. Over the 13-year period, tuberculosis rates fell in Appalachia at an annual rate of 7.8%. In one age group (15- to 24-year-olds) the rates increased at an annual rate of 2.8%. Foreign-born Hispanics were the largest racial/ethnic group in this age group. When private providers gave exclusive care for tuberculosis disease, Appalachians were less likely to complete therapy in a timely manner when compared to non-Appalachians (OR 0.6, 95% CI 0.5-0.7). Conclusions: Tuberculosis rates and trends are similar in urban and rural Appalachia. It is crucial for public health officials in Appalachia to address the escalating TB rate among 15- to 24-year-olds by focusing prevention efforts on the growing numbers of foreign-born cases. Due to the increased risk of treatment failure among Appalachians who do not seek care from the health department, public health authorities must ensure completion of treatment for patients who seek private providers.     

Factors associated with death among HIV-uninfected TB patients in Thailand, 2004–2006

Objectives  In countries with both TB and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) epidemics, HIV is known to be the most powerful risk factor for death during tuberculosis (TB) treatment. Few recent studies have evaluated risk factors for death among HIV-uninfected TB patients in these countries. We analysed data from a multi-province demonstration project in Thailand to answer this question.
Method  We prospectively collected data from HIV-uninfected TB patients treated for TB in four provinces and the national infectious diseases hospital in Thailand from 2004–2006. Standard WHO definitions were used to classify treatment outcomes. We used log-binomial multivariate regression to calculate adjusted relative risk (aRR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) for factors associated with death.
Results  Of 5318 cases, 441 (8%) died during TB treatment. The mean age was 47 years (range 8 months–97 years). Multidrug-resistant (MDR)-TB was diagnosed in 62 (1%). In multivariate analysis, patients older than 44 years were significantly more likely to die than patients aged 15–44 years [age 45–64, aRR 2.9 (CI 2.2–3.8)] [age > 64 years, aRR 5.0 (CI 3.9–6.6)]. Other independent risk factors for death included Thai nationality [aRR 3.9 (CI 1.6–9.5)], MDR-TB [aRR 2.8 (CI 1.7–4.8)], not being married [aRR 1.4 (CI 1.2–1.7)], and living in Chiang Rai province [aRR 2.7 (CI 1.7–4.4)].
Conclusions  The death rate was high among HIV-uninfected TB patients in Thailand. Efforts to improve TB diagnosis and treatment in the elderly and to improve MDR-TB treatment may help reduce mortality.