The Journal of infection
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The Journal of infection · May 2014
High serum levels of procalcitonin and soluble TREM-1 correlated with poor prognosis in pulmonary tuberculosis.
Comparisons of procalcitonin (PCT), C-reactive protein (CRP), and soluble triggering receptor expressed on myeloid cells-1 (sTREM-1) would expand our knowledge of which biomarker is the best predictor for outcomes of patients with pulmonary tuberculosis (PTB). ⋯ Among PTB patients, higher PCT, CRP, and sTREM-1 levels are observed in nonsurvivors than in 6-month survivors. Serum levels of PCT and sTREM-1 over the cutoffs are independently associated with a poor outcome. In addition, higher PCT and sTREM-1 levels would raise the clinical suspicion of disseminated tuberculosis.
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The Journal of infection · Apr 2014
Temporal trends in incidence rates of herpes zoster among patients treated in primary care centers in Madrid (Spain), 2005-2012.
This study aimed to estimate total and age-specific incidence rates of HZ with data from electronic clinical records in primary care (ECRPC) and to analyze trends by sex and age. ⋯ The incidence of HZ presents an upward trend in 2005-2012 in adults and the elderly. Monitoring the incidence and age-specific rates, will help to detect changes in trends.
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The Journal of infection · Apr 2014
Incomplete restoration of Mycobacterium tuberculosis-specific-CD4 T cell responses despite antiretroviral therapy.
Despite antiretroviral therapy (ART), HIV-infected persons have increased risk of active tuberculosis (TB). PPD and combined ESAT-6 and CFP-10-specific-CD4 (EC-Sp-CD4) responses were examined over 96 weeks. ⋯ Restoration of responses to TB-antigens was incomplete and inconsistent under the employed experimental conditions and may account for persistent increased risk of TB despite ART.