Association of tuberculosis infection with the development of active tuberculosis and comorbidities in rural China: a 10-year follow-up results of a population-based, multicentre, prospective study.

Background: In China, there is limited research on the role of recent and long-term infection of in relation to the incidence of pulmonary tuberculosis (PTB), as well as the impact of tuberculosis infection (TBI) on other diseases. A population-based, multicenter prospective study (LATENTTB-NSTM) was implemented since 2013 to assess the prevalence of TBI and to track the development of active disease in rural China. This cohort study provides an opportunity to address these gaps in knowledge.

Association of inactive pulmonary tuberculosis lesions with the risk of active disease development in the elderly: a population-based retrospective study.

Background: Individuals with inactive pulmonary tuberculosis (PTB) lesions were found to be high-risk populations for active PTB development. This retrospective study evaluated the association between different types of inactive PTB lesions and the development of active PTB aiming to provide epidemiological evidence for developing precise intervention strategies.

Methods: Based on a population-based PTB active-case-finding project conducted on the elderly, 154 028 subjects who had participated in the 2020 baseline survey were included in the current analysis.

The association between pulmonary tuberculosis recurrence and exposure to fine particulate matter and residential greenness: A population-based retrospective study.

Background And Objective: To assess the association of pulmonary tuberculosis (PTB) recurrence with fine particulate matter (PM) and residential greenness using a population-based retrospective study design.

Methods: All incident PTB patients, registered in Tuberculosis Information Management System (TBIMS) from 2015 to 2019 in Quzhou City, China, were included. The data on PM exposure was extracted from the China High Air Pollutants dataset and the level of greenness was estimated using the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) values around the patient's residence.

The performance of computer-aided detection for chest radiography in tuberculosis screening: a population-based retrospective cohort study.

From 2020 to 2022, a pulmonary tuberculosis (PTB) active case finding project based on chest X-ray (CXR) examination was conducted targeting individuals aged ≥65 years old in Jiangshan County, Quzhou City. The current study used computer-aided detection (CAD) software (JF CXR-1 v2) to retrospectively analyze the CXR images and to estimate its potential capacity for identifying PTB cases. The information of notified microbiologically confirmed PTB among the participants were exported from the Tuberculosis Information Management System.

The dynamic change of tuberculosis infection prevalence in rural residents: 10-year follow-up of a population-based, multicentre cohort study from China.

Background: The incidence of tuberculosis (TB) decreased significantly in recent years in China. However, the declining in the burden of tuberculosis infection (TBI) have not been systematically evaluated. The aim of this study was to elucidate the changes of TBI prevalence during the past decade.

The performance of a new rapid interferon gamma release assay based on fluorescence immunochromatography for infection testing in village doctors in China.

The AIMTB rapid test assay is an emerging test, which adopted a fluorescence immunochromatographic assay to measure interferon-γ (IFN-γ) production following stimulation of effector memory T cells in whole blood by mycobacterial proteins. The aim of this article was to explore the ability of AIMTB rapid test assay in detecting (MTB) infection compared with the widely applied QuantiFERON-TB Gold Plus (QFT-Plus) test among rural doctors in China. In total, 511 participants were included in the survey.

Agreement between Mycobacterium tuberculosis antigen-based skin test and interferon-gamma release assay in elderly individuals aged ≥65 years in China.

Objectives: To determine the agreement of Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MTB) antigen-based skin test (TBST) with interferon-gamma release assay (IGRA) in the elderly individuals aged ≥65 years beyond instruction for use in China.

Methods: Based on the baseline survey of a randomized controlled trial with the objective of exploring suitable regimens for tuberculosis(TB) preventive treatment, MTB infection was tested using TBST and IGRA in parallel in rural residents aged 50-70 years using a cross-sectional study design.

Results: A total of 21 219 participants with both TBST and IGRA results were included in this analysis.

Cost-effectiveness of latent tuberculosis infection testing and treatment with 6-week regimen among key population in rural communities in China: a decision analysis study.

Purpose: Several model studies suggested the implementation of latent tuberculosis infection (LTBI) testing and treatment could greatly reduce the incidence of tuberculosis (TB) and achieve the 2035 target of the "End TB" Strategy in China. The present study aimed to evaluate the cost-effectiveness of LTBI testing and TB preventive treatment among key population (≥ 50 years old) susceptible to TB at community level in China.

Methods: A Markov model was developed to investigate the cost-effectiveness of LTBI testing using interferon gamma release assay (IGRA) and subsequent treatment with 6-month daily isoniazid regimen (6H) (as a standard regimen for comparison) or 6-week twice-weekly rifapentine and isoniazid regimen (6-week HP) in a cohort of 10,000 adults with an average initial age of 50 years.

CD8 T cell response in QuantiFERON-TB Gold Plus testing was associated with tuberculosis recurrence: a 2-year prospective study.

Background: Recurrence posed an important challenge to pulmonary tuberculosis (PTB) control in China. The prospective study aimed to identify potential risk factors and to explore the value of QuantiFERON-TB Gold Plus (QFT-Plus) in identifying at-risk individuals with treated prior PTB history.

Methods: All eligible individuals aged ≥18 years who had been diagnosed with PTB before 2016 in Zhongmu County, where with an average level of TB prevalence in China, were included and received baseline survey including chest radiography, QuantiFERON-TB Gold In-Tube (QFT-GIT) and QFT-Plus, then PTB recurrence was tracked through a 2-year follow-up.

Impact of fine particulate matter on latent tuberculosis infection and active tuberculosis in older adults: a population-based multicentre cohort study.

Evidence showed that air pollution was associated with an increased risk of tuberculosis (TB). This study aimed to study the impact of long-term exposure to ambient particulate matter with an aerodynamic diameter less than 2.5 μm (PM) on the acquisition of LTBI and on the risk of subsequent active disease development among rural older adults from a multicentre cohort, which have not yet been investigated to date.

Can Reflux Symptom Index and Reflux Finding Score Be Used to Guide the Treatment of Secretory Otitis Media in Adults?

Background: At present more attention is paid to the treatment of secretory otitis media in children, but there is also a high incidence of adult patients. The etiology of secretory otitis media in adults is complex and related to many factors.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to evaluate the correlation between the Reflux Symptom Index (RSI)/Reflux Finding Score (RFS) and secretory otitis media in adults, and to explore further treatment methods.