The Journal of infection
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The Journal of infection · May 2014
High serum levels of procalcitonin and soluble TREM-1 correlated with poor prognosis in pulmonary tuberculosis.
Comparisons of procalcitonin (PCT), C-reactive protein (CRP), and soluble triggering receptor expressed on myeloid cells-1 (sTREM-1) would expand our knowledge of which biomarker is the best predictor for outcomes of patients with pulmonary tuberculosis (PTB). ⋯ Among PTB patients, higher PCT, CRP, and sTREM-1 levels are observed in nonsurvivors than in 6-month survivors. Serum levels of PCT and sTREM-1 over the cutoffs are independently associated with a poor outcome. In addition, higher PCT and sTREM-1 levels would raise the clinical suspicion of disseminated tuberculosis.
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The Journal of infection · Apr 2014
Incomplete restoration of Mycobacterium tuberculosis-specific-CD4 T cell responses despite antiretroviral therapy.
Despite antiretroviral therapy (ART), HIV-infected persons have increased risk of active tuberculosis (TB). PPD and combined ESAT-6 and CFP-10-specific-CD4 (EC-Sp-CD4) responses were examined over 96 weeks. ⋯ Restoration of responses to TB-antigens was incomplete and inconsistent under the employed experimental conditions and may account for persistent increased risk of TB despite ART.
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The Journal of infection · Apr 2014
Temporal trends in incidence rates of herpes zoster among patients treated in primary care centers in Madrid (Spain), 2005-2012.
This study aimed to estimate total and age-specific incidence rates of HZ with data from electronic clinical records in primary care (ECRPC) and to analyze trends by sex and age. ⋯ The incidence of HZ presents an upward trend in 2005-2012 in adults and the elderly. Monitoring the incidence and age-specific rates, will help to detect changes in trends.
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The Journal of infection · Mar 2014
ReviewEmergence in China of human disease due to avian influenza A(H10N8)--cause for concern?
In December 2013, China reported the first human case of avian influenza A(H10N8). A 73-year-old female with chronic diseases who had visited a live poultry market succumbed with community-acquired pneumonia. While human infections with avian influenza viruses are usually associated with subtypes prevalent in poultries, A(H10N8) isolates were mostly found in migratory birds and only recently in poultries. ⋯ Studies on this human A(H10N8) isolate will reveal its adaptability to humans. Clinicians should alert the laboratory to test for A(H5,6,7,9,10) viruses in patients with epidemiological exposure in endemic geographical areas especially when human influenza A(H1,3) and B are negative. Vigilant virological and serological surveillance for A(H10N8) in human, poultry and wild bird is important for following the trajectory of this emerging influenza virus.