Biologic Basis Of Increased Susceptibility Of Smokers To Pulmonary Infection With Mycobacterium...
TuberculosisChronic Obstructive Pulmonary DiseaseIdentify a biologic (molecular) basis for the increased susceptibility of cigarette smokers to pulmonary TB (Mtb) by testing the hypothesis that smoking reprograms AM polarization towards a distinct phenotype associated with impaired host defense function against Mtb and that normalization of that phenotype via therapeutic modulation of the Alveolar Macrophage (AM) polarization or smoking cessation can restore the anti-Mtb host defense function of AM.
Tuberculosis Research Blood Bank
TuberculosisTo create a Tuberculosis Research Blood Bank for future molecular genetics and serological studies
New Generation IGRA in Immunocompromised Individuals
MonitoringImmunologic6 moreEvaluation of a new ELISA based interferon-gamma release assay (QuantiFERON TB plus In-tube test) in immunocompromized patients
IGRA and Mantoux Response in Children With Suspected Latent or Active TB Infection
TuberculosisPulmonary2 moreThe aim of this project is to analyze the potential contribution of IGRA test QuantiFERON-TB Gold In Tube test (QTF-GIT, Cellestis Limited, Carnegie, Victoria, Australia) in the diagnosis of tuberculosis (TB - active or latent) in pediatric subjects (0 and 17 year)s recently exposed to infection (indicated as "contacts") or with clinical suspicion of active TB, and to compare the results obtained with those of the TuberculinSkin Test (TST; gold standard). The project is expected to enroll up to 50 pediatric patients over a 4-year study. Children with access to Ambulatory structures or hospitalized at University Infectious Diseases Clinic or Pediatric Clinic, University Hospital of Siena, or with access to Ambulatory or hospitalized at Pediatric Clinic USL 9 Grosseto will be enrolled. Once obtained the informed consent of patients' parents or legal guardians, patients will be enrolled. The doctor will administer a clinical-anamnestic questionnaire, relative to the country of birth and residence, date of arrival in Italy and any stays in the country of origin (in case of foreign patient), travels abroad, risk factors for infectious diseases, type of contact with any index case, previous vaccination with BCG, date and outcome of the TST, clinical symptoms and signs suggestive of active TB, report of any instrumental investigation. Together with the collection of blood samples for routine purposes, an additional blood sample will be taken so to run IGRA test. Also patients for whom their medical doctor will independently order to run QTF-GIT test as necessary tool for the clinical diagnosis of TB will be included in the study. A retrospective analysis will be performed on patient pertaining to participant Clinics, from 1 January 2012 to 31 May 2015. Such analysis will be performed on those patients for which their medical doctor requested both intradermal Mantoux and IGRA test. Expected results: estimation of concordance between QuantiFERON-TB Gold In Tube and TST in pediatric patients exposed to TB, with or without latent TB infection Evaluation of the sensitivity of the test QTF-GIT in patients with active tuberculosis disease Evaluation of specificity of testQTF-GIT in not infected patients Evaluation on the possible use of QTF-GIT, together with TST, to improve the diagnosis of tuberculosis latent or active infection in pediatric subjects. Evaluation of the possible diagnostic use of QTF-GIT in the child <5 years.
Etiologies, Investigations and Outcomes of Patients Presenting With Hemoptysis
HemoptysisHaemoptysis19 moreThe study consist of a retrospective analysis of the etiologies, investigations and outcomes of patients presenting between 2005 to 2010 with hemoptysis in a North-American Tertiary center.
A Study of Pattern of Presentation of Pulmonary Tuberculosis Patients Undergoing Treatment at Assiut...
Pulmonary TuberculosisThe objective of the investigator's study is to detect the characteristics, pattern and outcome of pulmonary tuberculosis patients treated at Assiut University Hospital by collecting their demographic, clinical, laboratory and radiological data.
Proportion of Clinical Improvement & Type 1 Interferon (IFN) Score Changes in Idiopathic Uveitis...
Tuberculosis; Uveitis (Manifestation)Anti-Tuberculous Drug Reaction1 moreThe aim of this study is to determine the proportion of clinical improvement, the score changing of type 1 interferon selected gene expression, and analysis of transcriptomics profiling in patients with idiopathic uveitis positive IGRA before and after receiving Anti-Tuberculosis Therapy (ATT). Hopefully, by conducting this research, we are able to provide valid data that demonstrate the advantages/disadvantages usage of Anti-Tuberculosis Therapy in patients with idiopathic uveitis IGRA positive that correlate with type I IFN. This research is a part of our efforts in discovering bio-marker candidates of idiopathic uveitis IGRA positive clinical patients who will benefit from the ATT administration.
Comparison the Level of CTGF Protein and Related Cytokine in Pleural Effusion
TuberculosisTuberculous Pleurisy2 moreConnective tissue growth factor (CTGF) is known to be a fibrogenic cytokine, it could be expressed in various fibrosis diseases. But, recent research showed that CTGF also be considered to be a tumor suppressive gene. The expression of CTGF protein is higher in normal Type I and II alveolar epithelial cells than metastatic tumor cells. CTGF appears to be a suppressor of lung tumor invasion and in metastasis and the decreased CTGF expression in tumor tissues was associated with advanced tumor stage, lymph node metastasis, early postoperative relapse and shorter patient survival. CTGF can be expressed in many human organs such as heart, brain, placenta, liver, muscle, kidney, peritoneal mesothelial cells and lung but did not known in the pleura. The CTGF protein is present in the peritoneal cavity and is increased during peritonitis. Considering pleural cavity comes from the same origin of mesenchyma with peritoneum, pericardium and fallopian tube, we aim to evaluate whether the CTGF expression increase in the pleurisy patients including the parapneumonic effusion and the TB pleurisy. The diagnosis of TB pleurisy depends on the effusion TB culture and pleural biopsy. Unfortunately the sensitivity of TB culture was only 20-30%. So most patients must receive invasive pleural biopsy. Adenosine deaminase(ADA) was developed as a screening test but should not be considered an alternative test to culture and biopsy. The sensitivity of ADA might vary from 32%-100% and the cutoff value also vary from 26 to 70 IU/L. We should develop a method to alternate the culture and biopsy . Therefore, our technologist Jao-Jia chu will develop the CTGF ELISA kit for this specific aim. If CGTF might increase expression in pleuritis but decrease in pleural metastasis, it might be a potential method help to differentiate lymphocytic pleural effusion between TB pleurisy and malignancy.
Diagnosis of Active Tuberculosis by ELISPOT
TuberculosisRecent studies revealed that the ex vivo enzyme-linked immunospot (ELISPOT) assay for gamma interferon is a specific method for contact tracing of Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection. However, its use in endemic area and bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG)-vaccinated hosts has not been proved. We hypothesize that the TB-ELISPOT assay can be a rapid and accurate diagnostic tool for active tuberculosis in clinical suspects in Taiwan.
PPD Size and Mycobacteria Tuberculosis ELISPOT in Children Who Have Received BCG in Neonate Period...
TuberculosisTo investigate the size of PPD and TB specific ELISPOT among children between 3m/o and 15 y/o . Calculate the normal range of age specific PPD size in children who recieved BCG at new-born period.