BACKGROUND Healthcare workers (HCWs) are at higher risk than the general population of contracting tuberculosis (TB). Moreover, although subjects with latent TB infection (LTBI) are asymptomatic and are not infectious, they may eventually develop active disease. Thus, a fundamental tool of TB control programs for HCWs is the screening and treatment of LTBI. METHODS From January 2014 to Januar...

OBJECTIVE To assess the performance of QuantiFERON-TB Gold In-Tube (QFT-GIT) test for active tuberculosis (TB) in HIV adults, and its variation over time in patients on antiretroviral therapy (ART) and/or isoniazide preventive therapy (IPT). METHODS Transversal study and cohort nested in the Temprano ANRS 12136 randomized controlled trial assessing benefits of initiating ART earlier than curr...

The hypothesis that T-cell interferon-gamma responses to Mycobacterium tuberculosis-specific antigens decline as disease activity diminishes with tuberculosis (TB) treatment has generated interest in the interferon-gamma release assays (IGRAs) as treatment-monitoring tools. We studied the effect of TB treatment on these responses as measured by the QuantiFERON-TB Gold In-tube (QFT-IT) and T-SPO...

BACKGROUND The sensitivity of interferon-gamma release assays (IGRAs) in the detection of Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection could be affected by conditions of immune dysregulation. For this reason, diabetes mellitus (DM) may increase the frequency of indeterminate results of IGRAs. However, there have been inconsistent reports of role of DM on indeterminate IGRA results. METHODS We retrosp...

A cohort of 123 adult contacts was followed for 18-24 months (86 completed the follow-up) to compare conversion and reversion rates based on two serial measures of QuantiFERON (QFT) and tuberculin skin test (TST) (PPD from TUBERSOL, Aventis Pasteur, Canada) for diagnosing latent tuberculosis (TB) in household contacts of TB patients using conventional (C) and borderline zone (BZ) definitions. Q...

BACKGROUND Performance of QuantiFERON-TB Gold In-Tube (QFT-GIT) and tuberculin skin test (TST) has not been compared in a US college population with varying risk of tuberculosis exposure. METHODS We performed a retrospective chart review of students tested for tuberculosis at the University of Pennsylvania Student Health Service between 2009 and 2011. We stratified students into high-, low-, ...

BACKGROUND The mass influx of immigrants from tuberculosis-endemic countries into Israel was followed by a considerable increase in the incidence of tuberculosis (TB). All contacts of active TB patients are obliged to be screened by tuberculin skin tests (TST) and, if found positive, prophylactic treatment is considered. OBJECTIVES To assess the utility of interferon-gamma (IFNγ)-release assa...

BACKGROUND Reliable identification of Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection or tuberculosis (TB) disease in young children is vital to assure adequate preventive and curative treatment. The tuberculin skin test (TST) and IFNγ-release assays may supplement the diagnosis of pediatric TB as cases are typically bacteriologically unconfirmed. However, it is unclear to what extent the performance of T...

The quantum field theory (QFT) is one of branches the Standard Model. According to QFT, fields are primary entities and particles excitations these fields, coming in discrete lumps with no inner structures properties assigned by declaration. Such view conflict observed vacuum energy density, 140 orders magnitudes less than required QFT. In addition, such challenged Aphysical Quantum Mechanics (...