Articles tagged with Tuberculosis
The Malawi government has introduced a national program to deliver effective pneumonia treatment, known as standard case management, to children. This initiative aims to reduce the high mortality rate of childhood pneumonia in low-income countries by providing timely and appropriate antibiotic therapy and oxygen support.
Scientists have developed a simple and portable method to detect tuberculosis (TB) bacteria using light, which may help identify people with latent infections. The technology, if refined, could be used in the developing world where most TB cases occur.
Researchers at Iowa State University have identified an enzyme that helps make tuberculosis resistant to a human's natural defense system. A new method to neutralize this enzyme may lead to a cure for the disease, which kills 1.5 to 2 million people worldwide annually.
Arizona State University has received over $32 million in federal stimulus funding for various research projects. The grants focus on developing new sources of renewable energy, improving the diagnosis of pediatric tuberculosis, and enhancing children's oral language skills.
Researchers at WPI's Life Sciences and Bioengineering Center have received funding from the NIH and NSF to study the bacterium that causes tuberculosis and develop engineered blood vessels. The work aims to create new treatments for infections and heart disease, and could lead to targets for a new class of antibiotics.
A new ELISpot test can rapidly identify active tuberculosis in smear-negative patients, distinguishing it from latent TB infection. The test's accuracy is confirmed with a high positive rate of 91.5% in patients with active TB.
Researchers discovered compounds that disable Mycobacterium tuberculosis' proteasome complex, allowing the bacteria to remain dormant. The inhibitors show high specificity for TB microbes while sparing human cells.
Researchers at Weill Cornell Medical College have identified new anti-tuberculosis compounds that inhibit the disease-causing bacteria's mechanism for surviving dormant in infected cells. The findings could lead to drugs that destroy TB in its dormant stage, potentially revolutionizing treatment.
Researchers found that patients with cavitary pulmonary tuberculosis who received anti-TB medications supplemented with nebulized interferon-gamma had fewer bacilli in the lungs and less inflammation, reducing transmissibility. This treatment approach could be critical in controlling TB spread.
A recent study by MUHC/McGill researchers suggests that tuberculosis treatment guidelines should be revised, recommending extended treatment periods for new cases and more effective combinations of drugs to avoid drug resistance. The World Health Organization is urged to review its directives to benefit the global community
Research papers published in PLOS Medicine identified gaps in TB treatment guidelines, suggesting improvements are needed. Regimens with shorter rifampin use had higher failure rates, while longer duration and more drugs were associated with lower relapse rates.
Researchers at UAB found that preventive antibiotic TB therapy for HIV-infected patients is approximately $950 per case, compared to a previously reported range of $900-$1500 for treating new smear-positive TB cases. The integrated care approach also offers economic benefits by reducing productivity losses and preventing the spread of TB.
A new diagnostic test, urine LAM-ELISA, was tested on 291 Tanzanian patients suspected of having TB and found to have a disappointing sensitivity of 50.7%. The specificity of the test was also low at 87.8%, raising concerns about its reliability as a standalone diagnostic tool.
Despite notable achievements in disease management, South Africa faces a severe HIV and tuberculosis crisis, with 17% of the global burden. The country needs to escalate its public health response to tackle rising drug resistance and improve treatment outcomes.
A recent study found that smoking is a significant risk factor for active tuberculosis (TB), with current smokers twice as likely to develop active TB as never-smokers. The study analyzed data from nearly 17,000 individuals in Taiwan and found that younger smokers were more likely to develop active TB.
Widespread misuse of fluoroquinolones is creating a strain of fluoroquinolone-resistant TB, according to new research. Patients who use fluoroquinolones within 12 months of diagnosis are almost five times more likely to have resistant TB.
A new study found that antibiotic-resistant TB strains cause longer-lasting infections but with lower transmission rates. The research team estimated the rate of evolution of drug resistance and compared the relative reproductive fitness of resistant and drug-sensitive strains.
New vaccines, drug regimens, and diagnostics under development have the potential to significantly impact tuberculosis. The study predicts a 39-52% decrease in TB incidence through vaccination, while new drug regimens could reduce incidence by 10-27%. Diagnostic tools may also contribute to improved outcomes.
Studies have shown that standard doses of anti-tuberculosis drugs may not be effective in modern-day patients due to weight and gender variability. A new model developed at UT Southwestern Medical Center has shed light on the issue, suggesting that different doses are needed for various populations.
A new monitoring system developed by Johns Hopkins researchers allows for the non-invasive pinpointing of Mycobacterium tuberculosis in mouse lungs, speeding up preclinical testing of TB drugs and vaccines. This innovation enables fewer animals to be used, reducing the need for lengthy and complicated regimens.
Researchers will test the AERAS-402/Crucell Ad35 vaccine candidate in people living with HIV, aiming to induce critical CD8 immune cells. The study is crucial for developing an effective TB vaccine, especially for those with HIV, who are 20 times more likely to develop TB.
Researchers have discovered that two commercially available drugs used for Parkinson's treatment, entacapone and tolcapone, have potential to treat multi-drug resistant tuberculosis. The study, published in PLOS Computational Biology, uses a novel computational strategy and experimental validation to support this repositioning.
A new study examined cases of TB associated with anti-TNF therapy and found that the risk of TB is higher for patients receiving anti-TNF monoclonal antibody therapy. The study also showed that the risk of TB was higher during the first year of anti-TNF treatment, favoring the reactivation of latent TB.
Researchers discovered that HIV reduces the ability of lung cells to combat TB by increasing levels of IL-10, which elevates BCL-3 and impairs their response. This finding is crucial for developing new treatments to help people with HIV prevent or recover from TB infection.
Researchers at Case Western Reserve University and University Hospitals Cleveland Medical Center found that two simple clinical measurements failed to identify TB patients who could benefit from a shorter treatment course. The study involved over 1,000 TB patients in Africa, Brazil, and Asia, but ultimately showed that these measures w...
Researchers at Ohio State University used mathematical modeling to determine the optimal timing of the immune response to tuberculosis, finding that introducing interferon gamma during early stages could shorten the switching time and reduce bacterial load. The study suggests a cocktail approach to new TB therapies.
The Ralph E. Powe Junior Faculty Enhancement Award supports Sobrado's research on iron acquisition mechanisms by Mycobacterium tuberculosis and Aspergillus fumigatus. The goal is to identify inhibitors that can be developed as antibiotics or antifungal agents.
A Uppsala University research group has made a groundbreaking discovery that mycobacteria, the bacteria causing tuberculosis, can form spores. This finding challenges long-held beliefs and opens up new possibilities for understanding how these bacteria cause latent infections.
A phase 2 trial of TMC207 for MDR-TB found a significant increase in sputum culture negativity and reduced time to conversion compared to the background regimen. The results validate ATP synthase as a potential treatment target.
Weill Cornell Medical College has received a $100,000 Grand Challenges Explorations grant to study the dormant state of Mycobacterium tuberculosis bacteria. The project aims to understand how it protects itself from the body's natural defenses and develop a drug target to break through its protective shield.
Researchers found that Mycobacterium tuberculosis evades the immune response by promoting regulatory T cells, which suppress the host response. This compartmentalization leads to chronic disease rather than complete eradication of the infection.
New estimates suggest latent TB infection screening should focus on high-risk populations, rather than the entire general population. Targeted screening efforts can effectively control tuberculosis, according to a study by Massachusetts General Hospital researchers.
Researchers at Vanderbilt University Medical Center have cracked the mystery of a failed TB vaccine by modifying it to reduce antioxidant production, leading to stronger immune responses in mice. The modified BCG vaccine could offer improved protection against pulmonary TB and serve as a platform for other vaccines.
A study found that healthcare workers in South Africa are at risk of developing XDR-TB, a potentially untreatable strain of tuberculosis. The researchers emphasize the need for stringent TB screening policies and rapid diagnostic testing to minimize the spread of drug-resistant TB.
LXRs play a protective role against Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection by boosting Th1 and Th17 immune responses. Treatment with LXR activators provides substantial protection from infections.
The NIAID and Chinese officials have signed an agreement to develop a collaborative TB research program at the Henan Provincial Chest Hospital. Researchers will focus on clinical trials of new drugs or drug combinations for MDR and XDR TB treatment. The goal is to improve diagnosis and treatment methods for this devastating disease.
A literature review suggests that global health initiatives and agencies claim to support health system strengthening but often fail to deliver. The study examines the claims made by major global health actors, such as WHO and UNAIDS, and finds a gap between their language and actual activities.
A study at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center found that excluding the lateral view in chest radiograph screenings decreases radiation exposure by 67%. No abnormalities were detected in the lateral view that weren
A study published in BMC Medicine found that standard doses of Rifampin, a first-line antituberculosis drug, result in low serum concentrations in children. The researchers suggest increasing the dose to 10-20mg/kg may be more effective. This could lead to increased treatment duration and risk of relapse in severe forms of tuberculosis.
A study found that consuming fructose-sweetened beverages increases visceral adiposity and lipids while decreasing insulin sensitivity in overweight/obese humans. This increase in heart attack susceptibility remains unknown due to long-term effects of fructose over-consumption.
A study by Steffen Stenger and colleagues found that anti-TNF therapies, such as infliximab, decrease the immune system's ability to fight infections, including tuberculosis. The researchers identified a key immune cell subset, CD45RA+ effector memory CD8+ T cells, which plays a major role in targeting the bacterium that causes TB.
A study by the University of California, San Diego found that 67% of injection drug users in Tijuana test positive for TB, which increases their risk for HIV infection. The analysis highlights the urgent need for TB screening and treatment for this high-risk population.
The fourth round of data from the Global Project on Anti-Tuberculosis Drug Resistance shows a significant regional variation in drug-resistant TB prevalence. The majority of MDR-TB burden falls in China and former Soviet states, with the highest prevalence reported in these regions.
A phase II study found that moxifloxacin, in combination with other drugs, significantly improved sputum culture conversion rates, potentially shortening tuberculosis treatment time. The results demonstrate moxifloxacin's antimycobacterial activity and suggest a new regimen could cure drug-resistant TB strains.
The discovery of slow-growing Mycobacterium tuberculosis bacteria in TB patients' lungs may lead to the design of new anti-TB drugs. These slowly growing bacteria are non-responsive to treatment with isoniazid, contributing to prolonged treatment times and relapse rates.
Researchers at the University of Maryland have discovered an enzyme in Mycobacterium tuberculosis that is essential for its survival, paving the way for new TB drugs. The study identified NAD+ synthetase as a key target for developing structure-based inhibitors to combat latent and active TB infections.
A team of researchers from the McGill University Health Centre has received a $4.9 million CIHR grant to study a new, four-month treatment for latent tuberculosis that could help eradicate TB worldwide. The current nine-month treatment causes many side effects, and this new regimen has already shown fewer unwanted side effects.
Researchers found that Mycobacterium tuberculosis converts NO2 to NO using coenzyme F420, protecting itself from oxidative damage. This defense mechanism allows the bacteria to survive in the human immune system and stay dormant until the system is weakened.
Researchers developed an onsite method to quickly diagnose tuberculosis and distinguish drug-resistant strains from treatable ones. The method uses bacteriophages with a green fluorescence protein to provide rapid and relatively cheap diagnosis in rural African areas.
Researchers have created a new onsite method to quickly diagnose tuberculosis, reducing diagnosis time from weeks to days. The test uses bacteriophages with green fluorescence protein to detect the deadly drug-resistant strains that can mingle undetected with treatable TB strains.
A groundbreaking partnership between Einstein College of Medicine and the University of KwaZulu-Natal will focus on developing faster diagnostic tools and better chemotherapies for TB, MDR-TB, XDR-TB, and HIV. The institute aims to train a new generation of scientists in Africa and bridge the gap between bench and bedside research.
Researchers at McMaster University are launching Canada's first tuberculosis (TB) vaccine clinical trial with a vaccine designed, manufactured and tested within the university. The phase 1 clinical trial will evaluate the safety of the new vaccine and assess immune responses in healthy volunteers.
Researchers used guinea pigs to test air disinfection methods, finding that UV lights and negative ionizers reduced TB transmission. The study showed a significant decrease in TB infection rates when UV lights and fans were used to ventilate patient room air.
Researchers found that installing UV C lights can reduce TB transmission, including drug-resistant strains. The study showed a 35-45% reduction in infection rates when UVC lights were used.
A new strategy to enhance the BCG vaccine's effectiveness has shown superior protection against tuberculosis in a pre-clinical test. By neutralizing the bacteria's evasive mechanisms, researchers have increased the number of TB organisms killed and duration of protection by threefold.
Researchers from Indiana University School of Medicine recommend using rifampin instead of isoniazid for treating non-active TB in children who are immigrants, internationally adopted or refugees. This change aims to prevent the development of active TB and reduce healthcare costs.
Scientists have found that combining FDA-approved drugs meropenem and clavulanate is effective in killing laboratory-grown strains of Mtb, the bacterium that causes tuberculosis. This breakthrough could lead to a new treatment option for people infected with XDR TB, a rare but deadly form of multidrug-resistant TB.
A new study published in the Journal of Leukocyte Biology suggests that interferon can improve the effectiveness of the current tuberculosis vaccine by enhancing dendritic cell function. The research found that type I interferon stimulated dendritic cells to produce a stronger immune response against Mycobacterium tuberculosis.
A Taiwanese study found that older people and those with an Aboriginal background experienced longer diagnosis and treatment delays for tuberculosis. This delay can lead to more extensive disease, complications, and higher mortality rates.
A new tracking system using personal digital assistants has been developed to monitor tuberculosis patients, significantly reducing the time it takes for test results to reach doctors from 23 days to 8 days. This innovation also eliminates the risk of lost results and is more cost-effective than traditional paper-based systems.