Quantiferon-TB Gold in the Assessment of Latent TB in Patients Candidate to Treatment or Treated...
Rheumatoid ArthritisSpondylarthritis1 moreThe purpose of this study is to evaluate the value of Quantiferon-TB Gold (QFT-G) assay in the screening for latent tuberculosis infection (LTBI) in rheumatologic patients due to start or on treatment with TNFα antagonists. The results of QFT-G will be compared to tuberculin skin testing (TST) and correlated to clinical and demographic data. The study hypothesis is that the inclusion of QTF-G in the screening strategy will allow a more accurate assessment of LTBI infection.
Tuberculosis (TB) Screening for the Diagnosis of Latent TB in Immunocompromised Populations
TuberculosisThe tuberculin skin test (TST) has been the gold standard for diagnosing latent tuberculosis for almost 100 years. While this test performs reasonably well in healthy, non-bacille Calmette-Guerin (BCG) vaccinated populations, it is believed to perform less well in patients who do not have intact cellular immune systems (immunocompromised). The investigators hypothesize that a new test, the T-SPOT TB ELISPOT test will provide a more accurate measurement of latent infection in immunocompromised people. This study will compare the TST to the T-SPOT TB ELISPOT test, and to the results of an expert physician diagnostic panel.
Expression of Tuberculosis in the Lung
TuberculosisThe purpose of this study is to assess lung immune responses in patients with active pulmonary tuberculosis (TB) and in healthy control persons who are exposed to Mycobacterium tuberculosis in households of patients with TB or who are unexposed.
Exogenous Reinfection of Tuberculosis in Taiwan
Tuberculosiswe hypothesize that exogenous reinfection is very important in the Taiwan endemic. Therefore, we design a series of studies to evaluate the individual contribution of exogenous reinfection and endogenous reactivation in the Taiwan endemic, and to realize the impact of exogenous reinfection. First, we will identify the patients with TB relapse after complete treatment. The M. tuberculosis isolates responsible for their initial and recurrent episodes will then be genotyped to clarify the percentage of exogenous reinfection and endogenous reinfection.
A Registry of Tuberculosis Cases in the CPCRA
HIV InfectionsTuberculosisPRIMARY: To estimate the proportion of tuberculosis patients in the CPCRA who have drug-resistant tuberculosis (TB) and to describe the patterns of drug resistance. SECONDARY: To compare drug resistance data on the Mycobacterium tuberculosis isolates of HIV-infected patients to those of HIV-uninfected patients who are being followed in the CPCRA. To assess the relationship of resistance data with geographic, demographic, and HIV and TB risk factor information. Geographic areas and demographic subgroups affected by the TB epidemic appear to be congruent and associated with the concurrent HIV epidemic. The total number of CPCRA patients who will develop, or who have experienced, confirmed TB is unknown. It is critical to determine the depth and breadth of the current problem of drug-resistant TB.
Prevalence and Malignant Involvement of Calcified Intrathoracic Lymph Nodes in Patients Undergoing...
LymphadenopathyLung Cancer2 moreThe presence of calcifications, which is a relatively common feature in intrathoracic lymph nodes, typically contributes to confer them a heterogeneous aspect during endosonographic B-mode examination, but their prevalence and a possible association between calcifications and metastatic involvement has never been systematically evaluated. We hypothesize that, in patients undergoing mediastinal diagnosis or staging of suspected/known lung cancer/intrathoracic malignancies, the prevalence of lymph node metastases is similar in calcified and non-calcified lymph nodes.
FujiLAM Prospective Evaluation Trial
Diagnosis of Tuberculosis in People Living With HIVThis is a prospective, multicentre cohort study in which the accuracy and the diagnostic yield of the FujiLAM test will be assessed using a microbiological reference standard, an extended microbiological reference standard and a composite reference standard among inpatient and outpatient people living with HIV (PLHIV).
Performance Evaluation of the VIDAS TB-IGRA Assay.
Active TuberculosisLatent Tuberculosis Infection1 moreThis study will evaluate the performance of the VIDAS® Interferon Gamma (IFN-γ) Release Assay (TB-IGRA) assay, which is intended for use as an aid in the diagnosis of tuberculosis infection. This study is designed to assess (1) the sensitivity of this assay, (2) its percent agreement with other diagnostic tests, (3) its measurement precision , and (4) any potential interference of the presence of other non-tuberculosis mycobacterial bacterial infections with this assay.
Case Control Study of Vitamin D Status and Adult Multidrug-resistant Pulmonary Tuberculosis in Maharashtra,...
Multi-drug Resistant TuberculosisIndia has the highest incidence of and mortality from multi-drug resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB) globally. Vitamin D status may be an important determinant of MDR-TB infection and treatment outcomes; however, observational evidence is insufficient to support its use as an adjunct therapy or prophylaxis. Using a case-control design, this study will evaluate the relationship between vitamin D status and active MDR-TB disease among adult outpatient pulmonary MDR-TB cases, household contact controls, and matched controls from the general population (non-household controls) in Mumbai, India. This study will also evaluate the cross-sectional association between vitamin D status and TB infection among household contact controls and non-household controls, and collect formative data in preparation for future randomized controlled trials of vitamin D in MDR-TB prevention and treatment in India.
Time-to-Detection in Culture of Mycobacterium Tuberculosis
Pulmonary Tuberculosesdetermination if time-to-detection in cultures of M. tuberculosis samples is more discriminating than acid-fast staining in transmission