Nontuberculous Mycobacterial Tenosynovitis in the Hand: Two Case Reports with the MR Imaging Findings

Nontuberculous mycobacterial infections can cause destructive tenosynovitis of the hand. We report on and discuss the clinical course and distinctive radiologic findings of two patients with hand tenosynovitis secondary to M. marinum and intracellulare infection, which are different from those of the nontuberculous mycobacterial infections reported in the previous literature.     

Common infections in the lung transplant recipient

Infections are a major cause of morbidity and mortality after lung transplantation. Pretransplant assessments for infection risk and immunization updates may help reduce posttransplant infections. In addition careful choice of posttransplant prophylaxis for cytomegalovirus and fungal infections is critical. Because of the potential association of infections such as respiratory viral infections and gram-negative bacterial infections with bronchiolitis obliterans syndrome, prompt attention to these pathogens is critical. Choice of antimicrobials for prophylaxis and treatment should take into consideration both adverse effects and drug interactions associated with antimicrobial choice.     

IFN-α cannot substitute lack of IFN-γ responsiveness in cells of an IFN-γR1 deficient patient

Patients with complete IFN-γR deficiency are unable to respond to IFN-γ and have impaired Th1-immunity and recurrent, severe infections with weakly virulent Mycobacteria. Since IFN-α and IFN-γ share signalling pathways, treatment with IFN-α has been proposed in complete IFN-γR deficiency. We stimulated cells from healthy controls and from a patient lacking IFN-γR1 with IFN-α and IFN-γ, to establish whether IFN-α would substitute for IFN-γ effects. IFN-α induced STAT1 phosphorylation in monocytes of the IFN-γR1(-/-) patient, but did not prime for LPS-induced IL-12p70, IL-12p40, IL-23 or TNF production. In control cells, IFN-α inhibited the priming effect of IFN-γ on LPS-induced pro-inflammatory cytokine release. Finally, IFN-γ but not IFN-α induced killing of M. smegmatis in cultured macrophages. In conclusion, no evidence was found to support the use of IFN-α in IFN-γR-deficient patients as intervention against mycobacterial infection; on the contrary, treatment of individuals with IFN-α may even adversely affect host defence against Mycobacteria.     

Mycobacteria and biological response modifiers: two sides of the relationship

With increasing use of biological response modifiers (BRMs) for various systemic inflammatory diseases there is a need to be vigilant about complications with the use of these therapies. It is important to have appropriate screening for the infections in patients requiring BRMs. However, many studies have reported benefits of certain BRMs in the treatment of infections such as tuberculosis as adjuncts. Continued research and technical advances in immunogenetics helps understand complex mechanisms in the usage of the BRMs. This article summarizes the different aspects of the relationship between mycobacterial infections and the use of various BRMs for inflammatory conditions.     

Impaired health-related quality of life in pulmonary nontuberculous mycobacterial disease

Introduction

The impact of pulmonary nontuberculous mycobacterial (pNTM) disease on health-related quality of life (HRQL) has not been quantified.

Methods

We performed a prospective observational study of HRQL in 51 patients with pNTM disease. One generic (Short-form 36, version 2 -SF-36), and one pulmonary disease-specific instrument (St. George’s Respiratory Questionnaire – SGRQ) were administered to each subject.

Results

Fifty-one patients with pNTM disease from one ambulatory clinic were enrolled. The mean (sd) age was 67 (10) years and 80% (41/51) were female. The most common causative NTM was MAC in 84% (43/51) followed by Mycobacterium abscessus in 8% (4/51). Radiographic disease type was nodular bronchiectasis in 71% (36/51) and fibrocavitary in 22% (11/51). For SF-36, most raw scores were at least 10 points below Canadian population-based normals, and all normbased scores were below the expected normal value of 50. For SGRQ, all scores were worse by ≥25 points compared with published normals. In multivariable analyses, only FVC and DLCO were significantly associated with SF-36, and only FVC and emphysema were significantly associated with SGRQ.

Conclusion

Patients with pNTM disease have significantly impaired HRQL that is most closely associated with lung function and not readily explained by age, sex or extra-pulmonary comorbidity.     

2013—2017年深圳市非结核分枝杆菌流行状况分析

目的 分析深圳市非结核分枝杆菌(NTM)的流行状况,为NTM病防控策略提供依据。方法 搜集2013—2017年深圳市慢性病防治中心和各区慢性病防治院收治的37630例疑似肺结核患者,对上述患者进行痰分枝杆菌培养(BACTEC MGIT 960和改良罗氏法)检出阳性菌株8850株,采用MPB64免疫胶体金法和对硝基苯甲酸生长试验进行结核分枝杆菌复合群和NTM的初步菌种鉴定,对初步菌种鉴定为NTM的菌株应用HAIN基因分型鉴定法进行NTM菌种鉴定。分析NTM菌株在不同年度、性别、年龄、感染类型、地区来源、户籍来源,以及NTM不同种类菌株的分布特征。率的比较采用χ ²检验,以P<0.05为差异有统计学意义。 结果 8850株分枝杆菌培养阳性菌株中,初步菌种鉴定获得366株NTM菌株,检出率为4.14%(366/8850);HAIN基因分型鉴定法确定293株NTM菌株的菌种,鉴定率为80.05%(293/366)。2013—2017年深圳市NTM的检出率呈轻微上升趋势[3.81%(71/1864)~4.50%(82/1821)],但各年度间差异无统计学意义( {\chi }_{\mathit{趋势}}^2 =1.159,P=0.885)。366例NTM感染患者中,女性患者的检出率[4.87%(144/2957)]明显高于男性患者[3.77%(222/5893)](χ ²=6.038,P=0.014);感染的高峰年龄均为25~34岁,分别占28.83%(64/222)和23.61%(34/144),差异无统计学意义(χ ²=1.213,P=0.271)。初治患者、郊区患者、流动人口患者、郊区流动人口患者的NTM检出率 [分别为2.31%(187/8104)、1.77%(105/5909)、3.89%(324/8323)、1.61%(91/5663)]明显低于复治患者[23.99%(179/746)]、市中心患者[8.87%(261/2941)]、户籍人口患者 [7.97%(42/527)]、城区流动人口患者[8.77%(235/2681)](χ ²=810.400、249.512、20.778、248.418,P值均=0.000)。293株NTM分离株中,构成比占前3位者依次为脓肿分枝杆菌[41.64%(122/293)]、鸟-胞内分枝杆菌[22.18%(65/293)]、堪萨斯分枝杆菌[16.04%(47/293)];另外,发现7例[2.39%(7/293)]混合感染类型。 结论 深圳市近几年NTM检出率稳定,分布种类多样,以脓肿分枝杆菌、鸟-胞内分枝杆菌和堪萨斯分枝杆菌为主;多见青壮年感染者,需重点关注女性、复治患者,以及来自市中心、户籍人口、城区流动人口患者的流行情况。     

Protection of mice from Mycobacterium tuberculosis by ID87/GLA-SE, a novel tuberculosis subunit vaccine candidate

Tuberculosis is a major health concern. Non-living tuberculosis (TB) vaccine candidates may not only be safer than the current vaccine (BCG) but could also be used to boost BCG to enhance or elongate protection. No subunit vaccines, however, are currently available for TB. To address this gap and to improve the global TB situation, we have generated a defined subunit vaccine by genetically fusing the genes of 3 potent protein Mtb antigens, Rv2875, Rv3478 and Rv1886, into a single product: ID87. When delivered with a TLR4 agonist-based adjuvant, GLA-SE, ID87 immunization reduced Mtb burden in the lungs of experimentally infected mice. The reduction in bacterial burden of ID87/GLA-SE immunized mice was accompanied by an early and significant leukocyte infiltration into the lungs during the infectious process. ID87/GLA-SE appears to be a promising new vaccine candidate that warrants further development.     

四川省第五次结核流调结核分枝杆菌耐药特性分析

目的了解四川省第五次结核流调结核分枝杆菌耐药状况,分析耐药趋势,为临床治疗和结核病防治规划提供科学依据。方法对四川省2010年第五次结核流调获得的临床分离株进行菌群鉴定,使用比例法进行INH、SM、RFP、EMB、PAS、KM和OFX7种抗结核药的药物敏感实验。结果71株结核分枝杆菌总耐药率为29．6％（21／71）,单耐药率为15．5％（11／71）,多耐药率为9．9％（7／71）,耐多药率为4．2％（3／71）,未发现广泛耐药菌株;各种药物的耐药发生频率以SM为最高,PAS和EMB最低。结论与四川省第4次结核流行病调查相比,结核病总耐药率、耐多药率有所下降,但仍维持在较高水平,应继续加强结核病耐药监测。