Analysis of the influencing factors and clinical related characteristics of pulmonary tuberculosis in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus

BACKGROUND In China,the prevalence of type 2 diabetes mellitus(T2DM)among diabetic patients is estimated to be between 90%-95%.Additionally,China is among the 22 countries burdened by a high number of tuberculosis cases,with approximately 4.5 million individuals affected by active tuberculosis.Notably,T2DM poses a significant risk factor for the development of tuberculosis,as evidenced by the increased incidence of T2DM coexisting with pulmonary tuberculosis(T2DMPTB),which has risen from 19.3%to 24.1%.It is evident that these two diseases are intricately interconnected and mutually reinforcing in nature.AIM To elucidate the clinical features of individuals diagnosed with both T2DM and tuberculosis(T2DM-PTB),as well as to investigate the potential risk factors associated with active tuberculosis in patients with T2DM.METHODS T2DM-PTB patients who visited our hospital between January 2020 and January 2023 were selected as the observation group,Simple DM patients presenting to our hospital in the same period were the control group,Controls and case groups were matched 1:2 according to the principle of the same sex,age difference(±3)years and disease duration difference(±5)years,patients were investigated for general demographic characteristics,diabetes-related characteristics,body immune status,lifestyle and behavioral habits,univariate and multivariate analysis of the data using conditional logistic regression,calculate the odds ratio(OR)values and 95%CI of OR values.RESULTS A total of 315 study subjects were included in this study,including 105 subjects in the observation group and 210 subjects in the control group.Comparison of the results of both anthropometric and biochemical measures showed that the constitution index,systolic blood pressure,diastolic blood pressure and lymphocyte count were significantly lower in the case group,while fasting blood glucose and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels were significantly higher than those in the control group.The results of univariate analysis showed that poor glucose control,hypoproteinemia,lymphopenia,TB contact history,high infection,smoking and alcohol consumption were positively associated with PTB in T2DM patients;married,history of hypertension,treatment of oral hypoglycemic drugs plus insulin,overweight,obesity and regular exercise were negatively associated with PTB in T2DM patients.Results of multivariate stepwise regression analysis found lymphopenia(OR=17.75,95%CI:3.40-92.74),smoking(OR=12.25,95%CI:2.53-59.37),history of TB contact(OR=6.56,95%CI:1.23-35.03)and poor glycemic control(OR=3.37,95%CI:1.11-10.25)was associated with an increased risk of developing PTB in patients with T2DM,While being overweight(OR=0.23,95%CI:0.08-0.72)and obesity(OR=0.11,95%CI:0.02-0.72)was associated with a reduced risk of developing PTB in patients with T2DM.CONCLUSION T2DM-PTB patients are prone to worse glycemic control,higher infection frequency,and a higher proportion of people smoking,drinking alcohol,and lack of exercise.Lymphopenia,smoking,history of TB exposure,poor glycemic control were independent risk factors for T2DM-PTB,and overweight and obesity were associated with reduced risk of concurrent PTB in patients with T2DM.

Profile of Extra-Pulmonary Tuberculosis in Internal Medicine

Introduction: Tuberculosis is an infectious disease that mainly affects the lung. Extrapulmonary localizations are a reason for hospitalization in our health facilities. The objective of this study was to describe the epidemiological, clinical, paraclinical and evolutionary aspects of extra pulmonary tuberculosis (EPT) at the Abass Ndao Hospital Center. Patients and Methods: This was a descriptive cross-sectional study conducted over a period of 11 years (January 1, 2010 to December 30, 2021). All patients with extrapulmonary tuberculosis hospitalized in the department of internal medicine during the recruitment period were included. Results: Fifty-two (52) patients were collected. The year 2019 recorded the most cases 23.08% (n = 20). The mean age of the patients was 40.56 ± 18.24 years. The age group 20 - 34 years 42.31% (n = 22) was the most represented. Females were in the majority 61.54% (n = 32) with a sex ratio (M/F) was 0.63. Housewives were in the majority 40.38% (n = 21). 60.87% of the cases (n = 14) came from a health facility. 38.46% of the cases had been infected. 21.74% (n = 9) were smokers. The reasons for consultation were dominated by fever (67.44%), AEG (62.79%) and cough (41.86%). Eighteen patients (40.91%) had fever. The mean time to consultation was 77.37 ± 90.3 days with extremes of 3 and 365 days. The median was 45 days. More than half of the patients 61.90% (n = 26) had anemia. Positive retroviral serology was noted in 21.43% of cases. All patients had a CRP greater than 6. More than half of the patients 51.92% (n = 27) had multifocal tuberculosis. The peritoneum 44.23% (n = 23) was the main organ affected. The average hospital stay was 9.8 ± 4.9 days with extremes of 1 and 19 days. All patients had received the protocol in force at the national level. Death was noted in 4 patients (9.52%). Conclusion: EPT is characterized in our context by a notorious diagnostic difficulty due to the multiplicity of clinical presentations, the complexity of explorations, and the problems of differential diagnosis notably with other granulomatosis, systemic lupus and cancers. This difficulty is reflected in the low rate of diagnosis with a paraclinical argument of certainty and in the long diagnostic delays.

Identification of pathological characteristics in pulmonary tuberculosis using polarization-sensitive optical coherence tomography

The low detection rate of Mycobacterium tuberculosis in clinical practice leads to a high rate of missed diagnosis for pulmonary tuberculosis(PTB).As a noninvasive,high-resolution,real-time imaging technology,polarization-sensitive optical coherence tomography(PS-OCT)may be feasible for the rapid identification of pathological feature.This study aimed to explore the feasibility of using PS-OCT to identify pathological features of PTB.In the experiments,PTB samples containing some surrounding lung tissues were imaged using PS-OCT.It is demonstrated that PS-OCT images showed good consistency with the corresponding pathological images and were able to identify PTB-related characteristic pathological regions.We think PS-OCT can serve as an effective supplement for the diagnosis of PTB,enabling rapid and accurate diagnosis,and aiding in the understanding of the pathological characteristics and pathophysiological processes of PTB.

Computed tomography imaging and clinical significance of bacterium-positive pulmonary tuberculosis complicated with diabetes

BACKGROUND The increasing prevalence of tuberculosis(TB)and diabetes on a global scale poses a significant health challenge,particularly due to their co-occurrence,which amplifies the severity,recurrence and mortality rates associated with both conditions.This highlights the need for further investigation into their interrelationship.AIM To explore the computed tomography(CT)imaging and clinical significance of bacterium-positive pulmonary TB(PTB)combined with diabetes.METHODS There were 50 patients with bacterium-positive PTB and diabetes,and 50 with only bacterium-positive PTB.The latter were designated as the control group.The CT imaging of the two groups of patients was compared,including lesion range,shape,density and calcification.RESULTS No significant differences were observed in age,gender,smoking and drinking history,high blood pressure,hyperlipidemia and family genetic factors between the groups.However,compared to the patients diagnosed solely with simple bacterium-positive PTB,those with concurrent diabetes showed a wider range of lesions and more complex and diverse morphology on CT images.Among them,intrapulmonary tuberculosis lesions were often accompanied by manifestations of pulmonary infection,such as cavity formation and bronchiectasis.At the same time,diabetes-related signs were often seen on CT images,such as pulmonary infection combined with diabetic pulmonary lesions.Logistic regression analysis identified age and medical history as significant factors influencing the degree of pulmonary infection and CT imaging outcomes in patients with both TB and diabetes.This suggests that older age and specific medical histories may increase the risk or severity of pulmonary damage in these patients.CONCLUSION CT imaging reveals more complex lesions in PTB patients with diabetes,emphasizing the need for careful evaluation and comprehensive analysis to enhance diagnostic accuracy.

Organizing pneumonia secondary to pulmonary tuberculosis:A case report

BACKGROUND Organizing pneumonia secondary to pulmonary tuberculosis is rare.Moreover,the temporal boundary between pulmonary tuberculosis and secondary organizing pneumonia has not been defined.We report a case of secondary organizing pneumonia associated with pulmonary tuberculosis occurring after nine months of antituberculosis treatment.CASE SUMMARY A 54 years old man,previously diagnosed with pulmonary tuberculosis and tuberculous pleurisy,underwent nine months of antituberculosis treatment.Follow-up lung computed tomography revealed multiple new subpleural groundglass opacities in both lungs,and a lung biopsy confirmed organizing pneumonia.Treatment continued with anti-tuberculosis agents and hormone therapy,and subsequent dynamic pulmonary computed tomography exams demonstrated improvement in lesion absorption.No disease recurrence was observed after corticosteroid therapy discontinuation.CONCLUSION When treating patients with active pulmonary tuberculosis,if an increase in lesions is observed during anti-tuberculosis treatment,it is necessary to consider the possibility of tuberculosis-related secondary organizing pneumonia,timely lung biopsy is essential for early intervention.

Carrimycin in the treatment of acute promyelocytic leukemia combined with pulmonary tuberculosis: A case report

BACKGROUND Pulmonary tuberculosis(PTB)is prevalent in immunocompromised populations,including patients with hematologic malignancies,human immunodeficiency virus infections,and chronic diseases.Effective treatment for acute promyelocytic leukemia(APL)combined with PTB is lacking.These patients show an extremely poor prognosis.Therefore,studies should establish efficient treatment options to improve patient survival and prognosis.CASE SUMMARY A 60-year-old male with pain in the right side of his chest and a fever for 4 d visited the outpatient department of our hospital.Peripheral blood smear revealed 54%blasts.Following bone marrow examinations,variant APL with TNRC18-RARA fusion gene was diagnosed.Chest computed tomography scan showed bilateral pneumonitis with bilateral pleural effusions,partial atelectasis in the lower lobes of both lungs,and the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid gene X-Pert test was positive,indicative of PTB.Carrimycin,ethambutol(EMB),and isoniazid(INH)were administered since he could not receive chemotherapy as the WBC count decreased continuously.After one week of treatment with carrimycin,the patient recovered from fever and received chemotherapy.Chemotherapy was very effective and his white blood cells counts got back to normal.After being given five months with rifampin,EMB and INH and chemotherapy,the patient showed complete remission from pneumonia and APL.CONCLUSION We report a case of PTB treated successfully with carrimycin with APL that requires chemotherapy.

Perianal tuberculous ulcer with active pulmonary,intestinal and orificial tuberculosis:A case report

BACKGROUND Orificial tuberculosis is a rare type of tuberculosis,which is easy to be misdiagnosed,and can cause great damage to the perianal skin and mucosa.Early diagnosis can avoid further erosion of the perianal muscle tissue by tuberculosis bacteria.CASE SUMMARY Here,we report a case of disseminated tuberculosis in a 62-year-old male patient with a perianal tuberculous ulcer and active pulmonary tuberculosis,intestinal tuberculosis and orificial tuberculosis.This is an extremely rare case of cutaneous tuberculosis of the anus,which was misdiagnosed for nearly a year.The patient received conventional treatment in other medical institutions,but specific treatment was delayed.Ultimately,proper diagnosis and treatment with standard anti-tuberculosis drugs for one year led to complete cure.CONCLUSION For skin ulcers that do not heal with repeated conventional treatments,consider ulcers caused by rare bacteria,such as Mycobacterium tuberculosis.

Epidemiology of extra pulmonary tuberculosis in Eastern Sudan

Objective: To investigate the epidemiological factors associated with extra pulmonary tuberculosis(EPTB) in Kassala, Eastern Sudan.Methods: Patients infected with TB(pulmonary and extra-pulmonary) documented at the hospital were interviewed with a structured questionnaire used to gather socio-demographic information. The diagnosis of EPTB cases was based on presence of tuberculous granulomas in the histological samples, positive PCR to DNA of mycobacterium tuberculosis, radiological i ndings and l uid analysis suggestive of EPTB and clinical diagnosis with adequate response to anti-tuberculous therapy.Results: A total of 985 patients with TB were enrolled in the study, including 761(77.3%) with PTB and 224(22.7%) with EPTB. The mean age(SD) of patients with PTB and EPTB was 33.2(15.4) and 34.7(14.6) years respectively. The prevalence of EPTB was at(22.7%), with TB lymphadenitis 79(35.3%), marking the frequent form of EPTB followed by peritoneal TB 27(12.05%). While residence and occupation were not associated with EPTB, those with lower level of education(OR = 0.3; coni dence intervals(CI) = 0.2-0.5; P < 0.001), female(OR = 8.7, CI = 4.9-15.1, P < 0.001), non vaccination(OR=70.3, CI = 34.2-144.3, P < 0.001), and non smoker(OR = 0.1; CI = 0.06-0.20; P < 0.001), were associated with high prevalence of EPTB. Conclusions: Around one quarter of patients with TB in this study were more likely to have EPTB. Therefore, ef ective strategic plans regarding diagnostic procedures and control measures are needed to reduce the burden of the disease in Sudan.

Molecular Epidemiology of <i>Mycobacterium tuberculosis</i>among Pulmonary Tuberculosis Patients in Ilorin, Nigeria

Background: Tuberculosis (TB) is an infectious disease and it is a public health concern due to the endemic nature of the disease. Nigeria’s health systems still rely heavily on out-dated tuberculosis diagnostic tests;including sputum smear microscopy and chest radiography. This necessitated the urgent need to explore a more reliable, effective method that can rapidly enhance simultaneous detection of Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MTB) and rifampicin (RIF) resistance. Aims: We evaluated the prevalence of MTB and rifampicin resistance and the influence of socio-demographic factors. Methods: A longitudinal, descriptive study that employs the Xpert MTB/RIF automated molecular method for rapid detection of rifampicin resistance. Secondary data were collected from the medical record from March 2017 to December 2018. Primary data were collected by direct clinical observations and analysis with gene expert machine from January 2019-March 2019. Results: Study populations were 1893 subjects pooled as secondary data at the Gene Expert laboratory, with a mean age of 44.92 years and were categorized based on sex, 1125 (59.4%) males and 768 (40.6%) females respectively. The MTB detected were 117 (15.7%) for males while 76 (9.9%) were positive for females. 948 (84.3%) were negative for males and 692 (90.1%) negative for females. Also, the categories for age were grouped into three but the older age groups (29 - 54) and (55 - 80) were more vulnerable to MTB having a p = 0.506 which is statistically non-significant;only 14 (5.5%) have RIF while 239 (94.5%) do not have RIF resistance strains. Logistic regression analysis of MTB detected showed a significant association (p < 0.05) for sex and a non-significant association (p > 0.05) for age. The prevalence rate for RIF Resistance is 5.53%, there is a statistical difference p = 0.001 between RIF Resistance and MTB in Ilorin. Conclusion: The utilization of validated molecular technique for MTB strain identification has shown stronger epidemiological impetus for an improved care management outcome specifically in resources limited areas.

Clinico-Epidemiological Profile and Diagnostic Procedures of Tuberculosis in Children: A Retrospective Study from OPD of Tertiary Care Center in Bangladesh

Background: Childhood Tuberculosis (TB) is an important cause of mortality and morbidity, which causes a significant TB burden in developing countries. Objectives: The aim of this study was to describe clinical profile and diagnostic procedures used in Outpatient Department (OPD) of a tertiary care hospital. Methods: It was a retrospective study conducted in OPD of Paediatrics Department, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University, Shahbag, Dhaka, Bangladesh. Age range of studied populations, 3 months to 18 years who presented with clinical features of TB and were later diagnosed with tuberculosis according to national guidelines for the management of tuberculosis in children, 2021 were enrolled in this study. A total of 108 diagnosed cases of Tuberculosis between August 2021 and July 2022 were enrolled in this study. Data were collected from OPD records and transferred into MS excel sheet for data processing & analysis. Results: Among 834 suspected patients, 108 patients aged 3 months to 18 years were diagnosed with tuberculosis. The highest number of cases 47 (43.51%) were found in 11 - 18 years age group. Gender distribution of the patient showed 58 (53.70%) were male and 50 (46.29%) were female. Among 108 TB cases, 44 (40.74%) were pulmonary TB and 64 (59.25%) were extrapulmonary TB. Among 64 extrapulmonary TB cases 38 (59.37%) cases were diagnosed as TB lymphadenitis. Fever 83 (76.85%), weight loss 62 (57.4%), cough 50 (46.29%), lump in neck and axilla 38 (35.18%) were found in most of the cases. A positive Mantoux test was found in 68 (62.96%) patients. Chest X-ray findings showed patchy opacity and consolidation in 46 (42.59%) cases. Suggestive FNAC from lymph node was observed among 35 (32.4%) cases. For bacteriological confirmation sputum gene Xpert and stool Xpert ultra were positive among 10 (9.25%) and 23 (21.29%) cases. Conclusion: In this study, Extrapulmonary TB (EPTB) cases were more than Pulmonary TB (PTB) in children. Diagnosis of tuberculosis was based on<span sty.

Pancytopenia and Pulmonary Tuberculosis: A Case Report

Background: Hematopoietic system is seriously affected by tuberculosis. It exerts a dazzling variety of hematological effects involving both cell lines and plasma components [1]. Anemia and leukopenia are not unusual with tuberculosis (TB), but pancytopenia is rare [2]. Findings: In this report, we described a case of a 42 years man presenting bleeding and pancytopenia;bacteriological pulmonary TB was established by genotypic rapid test and treatment following the WHO guidelines on drug-sensitive TB treatment. Patient recovered entirely with the WHO recommended regimen associated with general and local treatment of the bleeding. Conclusion: This case report emphasizes the importance of always suspecting tuberculosis in a tuberculosis-endemic area, even when the clinical manifestations are atypical, like pancytopenia and also of properly investigating the differential diagnosis. Even though prognosis seems to be less good, actual treatment regimen is still effective.

Rate of Patient Delay among Students with Pulmonary Tuberculosis in China: A Meta-Analysis

Objective: To systematically review the rate of patient delay of pulmonary tuberculosis (PTB) patients among students in China. Methods: Databases including Web of Science Core Collection, PubMed, The Cochrane Library, CBM, CNKI, VIP, and WANFANG DATA were electronically searched to collect cross-sectional studies on the incidence of delayed consultation in students with PTB in China from January 1, 2000, to November 15, 2022. Two researchers independently screened studies, extracted data, and assessed the risk of bias of the included studies. Meta-analysis was then performed by Stata 16.0 software. Results: In total, 60 cross-sectional studies with 260,707 cases involving 136,701 delayed consultation PTB patients were included. The results of meta-analysis showed that the rate of patient delay was 46.4% (95% CI 44.3% to 48.4%) among students with PTB in China. Results of subgroup analyses showed that: 1) The rates were 46.8% and 50.4% for male and female students, respectively. 2) The rates for the East, Central and West parts of China were 42.3%, 45.6% and 50.5%, respectively. 3) The rates were increased first and then decreased during 2007 to 2020. 4) The rates of students from primary school, junior high school, senior high school and university were 50.3%, 49.8%, 40.7% and 44.9%, respectively. 5) The rates for the Han and the other nationalities were 50.3% and 53.9%, respectively. 6) The rates for local and non-local students were 47.2% and 50.5%, respectively. 7) The rates of patients detected by consultation due to symptoms, recommendation due to symptoms, referral, tracking and healthy physical examination were 50.5%, 51.6%, 46.6%, 55.6% and 16.2%, respectively. 8) The rates of patients with initial PTB and retreatment PTB were 53.1% and 59.6%, respectively. 9) The rates of patients with positive etiology, negative etiology and without etiological results were 55.9%, 47.0% and 51.6%, respectively. 10) The rates of severe and non-severe patients were 59.4% and 52.9%, respectively. Conclusion: The patient delay rate for Chinese students with PTB is generally at a high level. There are substantial differences in the patient delay rate for students with PTB among different genders, regions, study stages, nationalities, household registration types, detection methods, and treatment classifications.

Prevalence of Pulmonary Tuberculosis and Associated Factors among Patients Admitted to the Amissa Bongo University Hospital Center in Franceville, Gabon

Background: In Gabon, the epidemiology of tuberculosis has been considerably reshaped by the AIDS virus. It is in this context that the present study was conducted to assess the prevalence of pulmonary tuberculosis and associated factors among patients at the Amissa Bongo Regional Hospital in Franceville, Gabon. Patients and Methods: This prospective, cross-sectional study was conducted in the biomedical analysis laboratory of the Amissa Bongo Regional University Hospital in Franceville from 19 June 2021 to 22 January 2022. After agreeing to take part in the study, participants were asked to fill in a questionnaire to collect their socio-demographic data and habits. Clinical signs were also observed. Sputum and gastric fluid samples were collected and examined using the Xpert MTB/RIF test and BAAR smear microscopy. Data were analysed using R software version 3.6.1. The results of the univariate and multivariate analyses were considered significant for p ≤ 0.05. Results: A total of 309 patients were included in this study, 50.81% (n = 157) men and 49.19% (n = 152) women. Of these, 98 had a positive diagnosis of pulmonary tuberculosis, giving an overall prevalence rate of 31.72%. There were 40 women or 40.82% (95% CI: [0.30 - 0.51]) and 58 men or 59.18% (95% CI: [0.48 - 0.69]). A univariate analysis of the prevalence of tuberculosis according to risk factors and clinical signs indicated a certain association between certain variables. However, an in-depth multivariate logistic regression analysis of this prevalence, according to the risk factors and clinical signs observed in the patients in the study, indicated that the age group 15 and 49 years (Adjusted OR = 47.77;95% CI: [4.4;519.7] p = 0.001*), fever (Adjusted OR = 4.83;95% CI: [1.16, 20.12] p = 0.031*), alcohol consumption (Adjusted OR = 12.2;95% CI: 12.2 [2.5;5.9] p = 0. 002*), smoking (Adjusted OR = 9.83;95% CI: [1.78;54.24] p = 0.037), HIV infection (Adjusted OR = 4.63;95% CI: [1.25;17.1] p = 0.022), cough (Adjusted OR = 4.31;95% CI: [1.21, 15.4] p = 0. 025*), chest pain (Adjusted OR = 103.6;95% CI: [19.4;55.2] p = 0.000), night sweating cough (Adjusted OR = 10.84;95% CI: [3.18;36.98] p = 0.000*) were significant risk factors for pulmonary tuberculosis. Conclusion: The results of the present study showed that the prevalence of pulmonary tuberculosis was greatest among males in Franceville and the surrounding area. The 15 - 49 age group, fever, alcohol consumption, smoking, HIV infection, chest pain, night sweats and cough were significant risk factors for pulmonary tuberculosis. Consequently, screening for tuberculosis in HIV-positive patients, public awareness and community mobilisation should be encouraged.

Tumor Necrosis Factor-Alpha (TNF)-308G/A and Interleukin 8(IL-8)-251C/T Polymorphisms in Pulmonary Tuberculosis Patients from Congo

Background: Tuberculosis (TB) is one of the world’s deadliest infectious diseases. Tumor necrosis factor-Alpha (TNF-α) and Interleukin 8 (IL-8) are involved in the pathogenesis of pulmonary TB (PTB). However, the contribution of polymorphisms of these cytokines to PTB susceptibility needed more investigation across geographic regions and ethnic groups. Purpose: The aim of this study was to investigate the association of the TNF-α-308 G/A and IL-8-251T/A polymorphisms with PTB risk in the Congolese population. Methods: This case-control study included 150 PTB patients and 160 control subjects. Blood samples were collected from all participants and were used for the TNF-α-308 G/A and IL-8-251T/A genotyping by polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) technique. Odds ratios (OR) were calculated to estimate the potential polymorphism associations. A P level of Results: A significant difference was found between PTB patients and controls regarding the TNF-α-308AA genotype (P = 0.035) distribution. Moreover, this genotype was associated with risk to TB (OR = 7.19, 95% CI = 0.85 - 60.65, P = 0.035). The A allele was significantly more frequent in PTB patients than in controls, and was associated with risk to PTB (OR = 1.68, 95% CI = 1.05 - 2.68, P = 0.014). Regarding the IL-8-251T/A gene, TA and AA genotypes were significantly more frequent in PTB patients compared to controls, and were associated with increased risk to PTB (OR = 2.64, 95% CI = 0.97 - 7.18, P = 0.031 and OR = 3.0, 95% CI = 1.13 - 7.98, P = 0.014, respectively). However, the IL-8-251 A allele was not associated to PTB susceptibility (OR = 0.27, 95% CI = 0.15 - 0.44). Conclusion: TNF-α-308G/A and IL-8-251T/A polymorphisms may be associated to PTB susceptibility in the Congolese population, and the AA genotype of both cytokines could be a risk factor.

X-ray Manifestations of Pneumoconiosis Patients and Differential Analysis with Pulmonary Tuberculosis

[Objectives]This study was conducted to explore the X-ray manifestations of pneumoconiosis patients and differentiation from pulmonary tuberculosis.[Methods]Retrospective analysis was conducted on 103 patients who underwent lung examinations,including 47 cases of pneumoconiosis and 56 cases of pulmonary tuberculosis.The differences in nodule characteristics and accompanying cavity sign between pneumoconiosis and pulmonary tuberculosis were compared.[Results]The X-ray manifestations of pneumoconiosis patients mainly included various forms of lung images,which were uneven in density,and had blurry edges,and sometimes thickening of lung markings and reduction of lung volume could be observed.The acinar nodules observed in X-ray films of patients with hematogenous disseminated pulmonary tuberculosis appeared petal like.The uniformity of nodule appearance such as nodule distribution,nodule density,and nodule size was significantly lower in pneumoconiosis than in hematogenous disseminated pulmonary tuberculosis,showing a statistical significance(P<0.05).The diameter of cavities in patients with pneumoconiosis accompanied by cavity sign[(0.64±0.13 vs 3.37±0.95)cm]was lower than that in patients with secondary pulmonary tuberculosis accompanied by cavity sign.There was a significant difference in the thickness of the cavity wall between the two diseases,and patients with pneumoconiosis accompanied by cavity sign had a higher rate of thick wall cavities(>3 mm).The X-ray manifestations of pneumoconiosis and tuberculosis were relatively similar,but the distribution,density and size of nodules in pneumoconiosis were relatively uneven,and the patients accompanied by cavity sign had smaller cavity diameter and higher rate of thick-walled cavities.[Conclusions]This study provides a reference for the clinical differential diagnosis of pneumoconiosis and pulmonary tuberculosis.

Missed Opportunities for Diagnosing Bacilliferous Pulmonary Tuberculosis by Optical Microscopy versus GeneXpert MTB/RIF in Endemic Areas

Objective: To assess the missed opportunities from the diagnosis of bacilliferous pulmonary tuberculosis by optical microscopy compared to GeneXpert MTB/RIF between 2015 and 2019. Methods: This is a retrospective analysis of the diagnostic results of bacilliferous pulmonary tuberculosis in patients suspected of pulmonary tuberculosis at their first episode during the period. GeneXpert MTB/RIF (GeneXpert) and optical microscopy (OM) after Ziehl-Neelsen stained smear were performed on each patient’s sputum or gastric tubing fluid sample. Results: Among 341 patients suspected of pulmonary tuberculosis, 229 patients were declared bacilliferous tuberculosis by the two tests (67%), 220 patients by GeneXpert and 95 patients by OM, i.e. 64.5% versus 28% (p i.e. 58.5% of the positive cases detected by the two tests (134/229 patients) and 39.3% of the patients suspected of tuberculosis (134/341 patients). On the other hand, among 95 patients declared positive by OM, the GeneXpert ignored 9 (9.5%), i.e. 4% of all the positive cases detected by the two diagnostic tests (9/229 patients) and 3% of the patients suspected of tuberculosis (9/341 patients). The differences observed between the results of the two tests were statistically significant at the 5% threshold (p Conclusion: This study reveals missed diagnostic opportunities for bacilliferous pulmonary mycobacteriosis, statistically significant with optical microscopy than GeneXpert. The GeneXpert/optical microscopy couple could be a good contribution to the strategies for the elimination of pulmonary tuberculosis in sub-Saharan Africa.

Observation on the Effect of Integrated Medical and Nursing Care in Patients with Pulmonary Tuberculosis Combined with Lung Cancer

Objective:To explore the effect of integrated medical and nursing care in patients with pulmonary tuberculosis combined with lung cancer.Methods:From August 2021 to August 2022,60 patients with pulmonary tuberculosis combined with lung cancer were admitted.All patients were diagnosed with pulmonary tuberculosis according to the Guidelines for the Diagnosis and Treatment of Pulmonary Tuberculosis and with lung cancer by pathology.The patients were randomly divided into two groups,with 30 cases in each group.The control group received daily nursing care,whereas the study group received integrated medical and nursing care.The sputum conversion rate,tumor remission rate,and quality of life of patients were observed and analyzed.Results:The item function score and symptom function score of the observation group were higher than those of the control group(P<0.05);the total effective rate of the observation group was significantly higher than that of the control group(P<0.05);the sputum conversion rate of the observation group was significantly higher than that of the control group(P<0.05).Conclusion:For patients with pulmonary tuberculosis combined with lung cancer,the application of integrated medical and nursing care can help consolidate the treatment effect and improve the quality of life of patients;thus,it is worthy of promotion and application.

Epidemiology of tuberculosis in Eastern Sudan

Objective:To investigate the epidemiological factors of tubereulosis(TB)in eastern Sudan.Methods:The socio-demographic and clinical data was retrieved from the database at Kassala hospital during the year of 2011.The medical file of consequent patients who was discharged from the same ward in the hospital was reviewed to act as control for the TB patients.Results:A total of 670 patients were registered at Kassala hospital with clinical,laboratory and radiological evidence proven TB.Pulmonary TB accounted for 73.4%while extra-pulmonary TB was reported in 26.6%of all TB patients.The mean age(SD)was not significantly different between the cases and controls(670 in each arm).TB patients were those who had less education,and the infection more likely common among male patients.Conclusions:Intervention from outside the health field in particular awareness of associated risk factors and improvement of the educational level potentially will strengthen TB control.

Trends in Tuberculosis Epidemiology among Children in the Democratic Republic of Congo

Setting: The epidemiology of tuberculosis (TB) among children in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) is not well known. Objective: This study aimed to describe the trends in TB epidemiology among children in the DRC and to compare these trends in children and adults. Design: Data from the National TB program, the WHO Global TB Report, and a demographic survey of health in the DRC were retrospectively analyzed. The study period was from 1995 to 2014. The notification rate, absolute incidence and incidence rate of TB per 100,000 population were reported. Results: In 2014, 12,785 (12.6% of adult cases) TB cases were reported in children and 101,303 in adults. Among children, 3438 (26.89%) had PTB+;2828 (22.11%) had PTB–;and 6519 (50.98%) had extrapulmonary TB (EPTB). Children under 5 years had a lower reported prevalence of TB (184 cases). The incidence rate per 100,000 population was 10 in children and 181 in adults. The TB incidence decreased between 2010 (11.47) and 2014 (10.46). The proportion of children in overall cases of PTB+ was 4% to 5% in all districts. Conclusion: Caring for childhood TB remains a challenge in the DRC. Improved diagnostic procedures and effective training of providers who care for childhood TB are needed.

Epidemiological perspective of drug resistant extrapulmonary tuberculosis

Tuberculosis(TB) remains one of the leading infectious diseases causing significant morbidity and mortality worldwide. Although, pulmonary TB is the most common presentation and is the main transmissible form of the disease, extrapulmonary TBalso significantly contributes to the burden of disease and can cause severe complications and disabilities. At present, the most serious issue with TB control programme is emergence of multi and extensively drug resistant Mycobacterium tuberculosis strain worldwide. As the number of drug resistant pulmonary TB is increasing around the world, the number of drug resistant TB with extrapulmonary manifestations are also on rise. However, there is surprisingly scant information in medical literatures on prevalence and impact of extrapulmonary drug-resistant TB. Here, we appraise the recent epidemiological studies that underpin the status and impact of drug resistance in TB cases with extrapulmonary manifestations.