The international journal of tuberculosis and lung disease : the official journal of the International Union against Tuberculosis and Lung Disease
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Int. J. Tuberc. Lung Dis. · Jul 2004
Prevalence and characteristics of narghile smoking among university students in Syria.
Narghile (waterpipe) smoking is increasing in all Arab societies, but little is known about its pattern of use. ⋯ Narghile smoking is prevalent among university students in Syria, where it is mainly practiced by men, intermittently, and in the context of social activities with friends.
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Int. J. Tuberc. Lung Dis. · Jun 2004
Residual lung damage after completion of treatment for multidrug-resistant tuberculosis.
Limpopo Province, South Africa. ⋯ Residual lung damage in MDR-TB patients who completed treatment is common and extensive. This may increase the risk of relapse of tuberculosis and reduce the quality of life and life expectancy of these patients. Additional efforts are warranted to diagnose MDR-TB early to reduce the extent of residual lung damage. Close follow-up of MDR-TB patients completing treatment will have to be ensured to detect relapses.
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Bronchiectasis is a common disease in the developing world. While the aetiology of bronchiectasis is diverse, many patients suffer from idiopathic disease. Although the pathogenesis of bronchiectasis is poorly understood, there are three distinct pathogenic elements, namely infection, inflammation and enzymatic actions. ⋯ Inhaled corticosteroid therapy reduces chemokine expression in bronchiectasis in vivo, and may be useful for some patients. For severely affected patients, the use of non-invasive positive-pressure ventilation with supplementary oxygen sometimes helps. The lack of enthusiasm about bronchiectasis has already resulted in a lack of research in the treatment of this frustrating disease, and such research needs to be encouraged.
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Int. J. Tuberc. Lung Dis. · May 2004
New international efforts in childhood tuberculosis: proceedings from the 2002 Workshop on Childhood Tuberculosis, Montreal, Canada, 6-7 October 2002.
On 6-7 October 2002, the International Union Against Tuberculosis and Lung Disease (IUATLD), the International Pediatrics Association (IPA), the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the United States National Institutes for Health (NIH), and the World Health Organization (WHO) co-sponsored and organized a Workshop on 'Tuberculosis in Children' to assess research needs in childhood tuberculosis (TB) in conjunction with the 33rd IUATLD World Conference on Lung Health. Participants included approximately 40 researchers from the sponsoring organizations as well as from academic institutions, and National Tuberculosis (TB) Programs from a number of countries in sub-Saharan Africa, Asia, Latin America, and Eastern Europe. The goals of the workshop were to highlight current gaps in knowledge about childhood TB, to assess research opportunities, and to begin to establish working partnerships and identify funding sources. ⋯ Review papers on these topics were presented as the foundation for the workshop. Participants were then divided into groups to deliberate on critical areas of research and programmatic needs, recommendations for addressing the needs, and strategic planning to increase international focus on childhood TB. The following summary, including data reported and referenced within the review papers presented at the workshop, represents the proceedings of the workshop.
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National household survey of adults in South Africa, a middle income country. ⋯ The pattern of chronic bronchitis in South Africa suggests a combination of risk factors that includes not only smoking but also tuberculosis, occupational exposures in men and domestic fuel exposure in women. Control of these risk factors requires public health action across a broad front. The protective role of education requires elucidation.