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. · Apr 2003
Comparative StudyMultidrug-resistant tuberculous meningitis in patients with AIDS.
We present clinical manifestations, bacteriologic characteristics, and outcomes for eight patients with multidrug-resistant (MDR) tuberculous meningitis and AIDS. All developed meningitis as a terminal complication of previously diagnosed MDR-TB despite anti-tuberculosis therapy. Seven patients presented with fever, five with headache, four with altered mentation, two with focal deficits and one with seizures. ⋯ Intracerebral mass lesions were detected in three patients, hydrocephalus in three, meningeal enhancement in five, and infarcts in two. Seven patients died 1-16 weeks after the diagnosis of meningitis; the eighth was lost to follow-up. MDR tuberculous meningitis is a difficult-to-treat infection with a high fatality rate.
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Int. J. Tuberc. Lung Dis. · Mar 2003
ReviewTurning off the tap: the real solution to cigarette smuggling.
The tobacco industry has argued that tobacco smuggling is caused by market forces, i.e., by the price differences between countries, which create an incentive to smuggle cigarettes from 'cheaper' to 'more expensive' countries, and so urged governments to solve the problem by reducing taxes to remove this differential, which will also, they say, restore revenue. Although such market forces have some effect, smuggling is in fact more prevalent in 'cheaper' countries, and reducing tax is not the solution. Where taxes have been reduced tobacco consumption has risen and revenue has fallen, with disastrous consequences for public health. ⋯ They are often smuggled back into the country of origin, where they are sold at a third to half price. It is therefore profitable because duty has been illegally evaded. The key to controlling cigarette smuggling is not lowering taxes, it is controlling the tobacco manufacturing industry and its exporting practices.
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Int. J. Tuberc. Lung Dis. · Mar 2003
Isolation and characterisation of in vivo released 41 kDa mycobacterial antigen in pulmonary and bone and joint tuberculosis and its identification with H37Ra in vitro released antigen.
To isolate and characterise in vivo released 41 kDa mycobacterial antigen in pulmonary and bone and joint tuberculosis (TB) and its identification with in vitro released ES-41 kDa antigen. ⋯ This study helped to demonstrate the presence of 41 kDa antigen in the serum of pulmonary and bone and joint TB patients and its identification with H37Ra in vitro released 41 kDa antigen.
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Int. J. Tuberc. Lung Dis. · Nov 2002
Tuberculosis in east timorese refugees: implications for health care needs in East Timor.
East Timorese refugees evacuated to Darwin, Australia, September 1999. ⋯ The challenges for public health authorities in East Timor to provide a successful TB control programme are enormous. The apparently low prevalence of drug resistance and HIV co-infection in the population is encouraging.