The international journal of tuberculosis and lung disease : the official journal of the International Union against Tuberculosis and Lung Disease
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Domestic pollution is relevant to health because people spend most of their time indoors. One half of the world's population is exposed to high concentrations of solid fuel smoke (biomass and coal) that are produced by inefficient open fires, mainly in the rural areas of developing countries. ⋯ Other tobacco smoke-associated diseases, such as tuberculosis, asthma, respiratory tract cancer and interstitial lung diseases, may also be associated with solid fuel smoke inhalation, but evidence is limited. As the desirable change to clean fuels is unlikely, efforts have been made to use efficient, vented wood or coal stoves, with varied success due to inconsistent acceptance by the community.
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Int. J. Tuberc. Lung Dis. · Sep 2010
Clinical TrialSerum 25-hydroxy-vitamin D3 concentrations increase during tuberculosis treatment in Tanzania.
Vitamin D deficiency is associated with susceptibility to active tuberculosis (TB) in many settings. In vitro studies and studies on human volunteers showed that two of the first-line anti-tuberculosis drugs, isoniazid and rifampicin, reduce 25-hydroxy vitamin D (25[OH]D) concentrations. ⋯ 25[OH]D serum concentrations increased during the first 2 months of TB treatment in 81 PTB patients in northern Tanzania. Improved dietary intake and increased sunlight exposure may have contributed to the increased 25[OH]D concentrations.
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Int. J. Tuberc. Lung Dis. · Sep 2010
Elevated plasma adiponectin levels in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.
Adiponectin is an anti-inflammatory adipokine that may play a role in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) pathogenesis. ⋯ Our findings suggest that in COPD patients, adiponectin might be associated with COPD pathogenesis.
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Int. J. Tuberc. Lung Dis. · Sep 2010
The changing pattern of clinical Mycobacterium avium isolation in the Netherlands.
National Mycobacteria Reference Laboratory, The Netherlands. ⋯ The increasing NTM notification in the Netherlands is unlikely to have been a result of laboratory improvements alone: the ageing population with an increasing prevalence of COPD is likely as important. Environmental characteristics may specifically favour M.avium.