Postgraduate medical journal
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Tuberculosis (TB) remains a leading cause of human suffering and mortality despite decades of effective treatment being available. Accurate and timely diagnosis remains an unmet goal. ⋯ Several new developments in TB diagnostics have the potential to positively influence the global campaign against TB. We aim to review the performance of both established as well as new diagnostics for pulmonary TB in adults, and discuss the ongoing challenges.
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Atrial fibrosis plays a key role in the inducibility and persistence of atrial fibrillation. Urotensin II (U-II/UTS2) induces cardiac fibrosis by increasing fibroblast collagen synthesis and increased U-II plasma levels have been reported in patients with atrial fibrosis. Our objective was therefore to evaluate the possible role of the UTS2 gene polymorphisms Thr21Met and Ser89Asn in the genetic susceptibility to atrial fibrillation in a Chinese population. ⋯ Ser89Asn polymorphisms of the UTS2 gene are significantly associated with atrial fibrillation in the Chinese population. Additionally, we demonstrated that genotype Met21Met may have a potential beneficial role in atrial fibrillation.