OBJECTIVE In vitro interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) assays have emerged as novel alternatives to the tuberculin skin test (TST) for the diagnosis of latent tuberculosis (TB) infection. These assays have been evaluated in low incidence countries, mainly in adults, and have been shown to be more specific than TST. Because few studies have been done in high incidence countries, and because paediatric ...

Transition state theory (TST) is revisited, as well as evolutions upon TST such as variational TST in which the TST dividing surface is optimized so as to minimize the rate of recrossing through this surface and methods which aim at computing dynamical corrections to the TST transition rate constant. The theory is discussed from an original viewpoint. It is shown how to compute exactly the mean...

background: prompt diagnosis and treatment of latent tuberculosis (tb) infection (ltbi) are needed to control tb. the aim of the study was to compare the performance of quanti feron-tb test (qft) with conventional tst for the diagnosis of ltbi. methods: in this analytical - comparison study, we enrolled 87 nurses working in teaching hospitals in ahvaz. all study subjects were tested by tst.  ts...

CONTEXT Identifying persons with latent tuberculosis infection (LTBI) is crucial to the goal of TB elimination. A whole-blood interferon gamma (IFN-gamma) assay, the QuantiFERON-TB test, is a promising in vitro diagnostic test for LTBI that has potential advantages over the tuberculin skin test (TST). OBJECTIVES To compare the IFN-gamma assay with the TST and to identify factors associated wi...

BACKGROUND Following exposure to TB, contacts are screened to target preventive treatment at those at high risk of developing TB. The UK has recently revised its recommendations for screening and now advises a 5 mm tuberculin skin test (TST) cut-off irrespective of age or BCG status. We sought to evaluate the impact of BCG on TST responses in UK children exposed to TB and the performance of dif...

BACKGROUND Immigrants from countries with high incidence of tuberculosis (TB) are usually offered screening when they arrive to low incidence countries. The tuberculin skin test (TST) is often used. The interferon gamma release assays (IGRAs) are more specific and not affected by BCG vaccination. The aims of this study were 1. To see if there if there is a correlation between a positive IGRA (Q...

Gamma interferon release assays (IGRAs) are increasingly used for latent Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection (LTBI) screening in patients with rheumatic diseases starting anti-tumor necrosis factor (anti-TNF) therapies. We compared the performances of two IGRAs, an enzyme-linked immunospot release assay (T-SPOT.TB) and an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (QuantiFERON-TB Gold In Tube [QFT-GIT]...

Sleep duration varies widely across individuals and appears to be trait-like. Differences in the stability of underlying sleep processes may underlie this phenomenon. To investigate underlying mechanisms, we examined the relationship between sleep duration and sleep continuity in baseline polysomnography (PSG) recordings from three independently collected datasets: 1) 134 healthy controls (ages...

OBJECTIVE This study evaluated the performance of the Tuberculin Skin Test (TST) and Quantiferon-TB Gold in-Tube (QFT) and the possible association of factors which may modify their results in young children (0-6 years) with recent contact with an index tuberculosis case. MATERIALS AND METHODS A cross-sectional study including 135 children was conducted in Manaus, Amazonas-Brazil. The TST and...

INTRODUCTION Results of systematic screening of healthcare workers (HCWs) for tuberculosis (TB) with the tuberculin skin test (TST) and interferon-γ release assays (IGRA) in a Portuguese hospital from 2007 to 2010 are reported. METHODS All HCWs are offered screening for TB. Screening is repeated depending on risk assessment. TST and QuantiFERON Gold In-Tube (QFT) are used simultaneously. X-ra...