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Objective:To evaluate the expressions of three biomarkers combination of CD27, CD38 and human leucocyte antigen (HLA)-DR in the application of discrminating active tuberculosis (ATB) and latent tuberculosis infection (LTBI).Methods:Sixty cases of ATB and 44 cases of LTBI were enrolled from March 2021 to February 2022 in Huashan Hospital, Fudan University and Wuxi Fifth People′s Hospital. Freshly isolated peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) from patients were stimulated with 6 kDa early secretory antigenic target/culture filtrate protein 10 peptide pools. The expressions of CD27, CD38 and HLA-DR on Mycobacterium tuberculosis-specific CD4 + T lymphocytes were evaluated by polychromatic flow cytometry. Mann-Whitney U test was used for statistical analysis. The area under the receiver operator characteristic curve (AUROC) was used to evaluate the diagnostic value of biomarkers in discriminating ATB and LTBI. Results:The frequencies of CD27 -, CD38 +, HLA-DR +, CD27 -CD38 +, CD27 -HLA-DR + and CD38 + HLA-DR + in ATB group were all higher than those in LTBI group, and the differences were all statistically significant ( U=26.00, 451.00, 384.00, 8.00, 7.00 and 184.00, respectively, all P<0.001). The AUROC of CD27 -CD4 + interferon-γ(IFN-γ) + T lymphocytes was 0.71 with a cut-off value of 52.31%, with the sensitivity of 50.00% and specificity of 87.20%. The AUROC of CD38 + CD4 + IFN-γ + T lymphocytes was 0.82 with a cut-off value of 30.25%, with the sensitivity of 73.40% and specificity of 89.70%. The AUROC of HLA-DR + CD4 + IFN-γ + T lymphocytes was 0.85 with a cut-off value of 36.60%, with the sensitivity of 66.00% and specificity of 94.90%. The AUROC of CD27 -CD38 + CD4 + IFN-γ + T lymphocytes was 0.80 with a cut-off value of 8.82%, with the sensitivity of 90.60% and specificity of 61.50%. The AUROC of CD27 -HLA-DR + CD4 + IFN-γ + T lymphocytes was 0.83 with a cut-off value of 18.62%, with the sensitivity of 75.00% and specificity of 79.50%. The AUROC of CD38 + HLA-DR + CD4 + IFN-γ + T lymphocytes was 0.93 with a cut-off value of 22.35%, with the sensitivity of 79.70% and specificity of 100.00%. Conclusions:The expressions of CD27 -, CD38 + and HLA-DR + in Mycobacterium tuberculosis-specific CD4 + T lymphocytes are higher in ATB group compared to LTBI group. ATB and LTBI could be well discriminated by detecting the expressions of CD27, CD38 and HLA-DR on CD4 + IFN-γ + T lymphocytes with flow cytometry.
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Objective:To analyze the statuses of CD8 + T cell exhaustion in patients with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection, Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MTB) infection and co-infection. Methods:A total of 87 patients infected with HIV and/or MTB in Wuxi Fifth People′s Hospital and Taicang First People′s Hospital from August 2019 to January 2020 were enrolled, including 18 cases of HIV infection, 34 cases of active tuberculosis (ATB), 19 cases of latent tuberculosis infection (LTB), seven cases of HIV coinfected with ATB, and nine cases of HIV coinfected with LTB. Another 11 healthy controls were also included. The peripheral blood of all subjects was collected for cell surface staining and intracellular cytokine staining, and flow cytometry was used to detect the expressions of activation molecules including CD62 ligand, CD44 and CD127, the transcription factor like eomesodermin (EOMES), T cell factor 1 (TCF-1), T-box expressed in T cells (T-bet), B lymphocyte-induced maturation protein 1 (Blimp-1), inhibitory receptors including programmed death-1 (PD-1) and T-cell immunoglobulin and mucin domain 3 (Tim-3) on CD8 + T cells. Mann-Whitney U test was used for statistical analysis. Results:The mean fluorescence intensities (MFIs) of the activation molecules CD62 ligand and CD44 in the HIV group were lower than those in the healthy control group, while the inhibitory receptor Tim-3 was higher than that in the healthy control group. The differences were all statistically significant ( U=31.00, 1.00 and 0.00, respectively, all P<0.010). The MFIs of CD62 ligand and CD44 in HIV coinfected with LTB group were lower than those in LTB group, while PD-1 and Tim-3 were higher than those in LTB group. The differences were all statistically significant ( U=4.00, 26.00, 6.00 and 3.00, respectively, all P<0.010). The MFIs of CD62 ligand, CD44 and CD127 in HIV coinfected with ATB group were lower than those in ATB group, while PD-1 and Tim-3 were higher than those in ATB group. The differences were all statistically significant ( U=9.00, 40.00, 45.50, 28.00 and 7.00, respectively, all P<0.010). The proportion of terminal effector CD8 + T cells in the HIV group was higher than that in the healthy control group, while the proportion of central memory CD8 + T cells was lower than that in the healthy control group. The differences were both statistically significant ( U=15.00 and 33.00, respectively, both P<0.010). The proportion of terminal effector CD8 + T cells in the HIV coinfected with LTB group was higher than the LTB group, while the proportion of central memory CD8 + T cells was lower than that in the LTB group. The differences were both statistically significant ( U=7.00 and 20.00, respectively, both P<0.010). The proportion of terminal effector CD8 + T cells in the HIV coinfected with ATB group was higher than that in ATB group, while the proportion of central memory CD8 + T cells was lower than that in ATB group. The differences were statistically significant (both U=7.00, P<0.001). The expression level of PD-1 + Tim-3 + T cells in HIV group was higher than that in healthy control group, that in HIV coinfected with LTB group was higher than that in LTB group, and that in HIV coinfected with ATB group was higher than that in ATB group. The differences were all statistically significant ( U=21.00, 6.00 and 5.50, respectively, all P<0.001). The MFI of transcription factors EOMES and TCF-1 in HIV coinfected with LTB group were lower than those in HIV group, while the MFI of T-bet was higher than that in HIV group. The differences were all statistically significant ( U=3.00, 4.00 and 9.00, respectively, all P<0.001). The MFI of EOMES and TCF-1 in HIV coinfected with ATB group were lower than those in HIV group, while the MFI of T-bet and Blimp-1 were higher than those in the HIV group. The differences were all statistically significant ( U=11.00, 14.00, 7.00 and 22.00, respectively, all P<0.050). Conclusions:MTB co-infected with HIV patients present lower immune function and a higher degree of CD8 + T cell exhaustion. In addition, HIV patients co-infected with LTB and ATB have a higher degree of CD8 + T cell exhaustion than HIV infected patients.
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Objective:To investigate the clinical characteristics and prognosis of Epstein-Barr virus-related diseases in adults.Methods:The clinical data of 59 patients with Epstein-Barr virus-related diseases in Huashan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai from January 2017 to August 2019 were analyzed retrospectively. The clinical manifestations of patients with infectious mononucleosis (IM), chronic active Epstein-Barr virus infection (CAEBV) and lymphoma in patients were compared. Patients were divided into acute course group (IM) and chronic course group (CAEBV+ lymphoma), and the results of labratory indications (blood rontine, liver function, imflammatory indications, Epstein-Barr virus DNA, Epstein-Barr virus antibody and T lymphocyte) were compared between two groups. Statistical analysis was performed by Mann-Whitney U test, chi-square test or Fisher exact probability test. Results:Among the 59 patients, 23 cases (39.0%) were diagnosed with IM, 23 cases (39.0%) were lymphoma and 13 cases (22.0%) were CAEBV. The clinical manifestations of patients with Epstein-Barr virus-related diseases were fever (57/59, 96.6%), lymphadenopathy (37/59, 62.7%) and splenomegaly (36/59, 61.0%). There were 17 patients in the chronic course group experienced hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (HLH). The white blood cell counts, hemoglobin levels and platelet counts of patients in the chronic course group (4.07(1.94, 8.35)×10 9/L, 89.5(74.5, 108.0) g/L and 100(37, 161)×10 9/L, respectively) were all lower than those in the acute course group (9.91(6.75, 17.38)×10 9/L, 132.5(118.2, 152.0) g/L and 197(129, 233)×10 9/L, respectively), with statistically significant differences ( U=3.69, 5.22 and 3.61, respectively, all P<0.01). The levels of procalcitonin, C-reactive protein and serum ferritin in the chronic course group (0.45(0.15, 1.13) μg/L, 47.75(17.57, 84.67) mg/L and 2 000(682, 2 002) μg/L, respectively) were all higher than those in the acute course group (0.12(0.07, 0.28) μg/L, 6.39(3.13, 11.38) mg/L and 482(159, 1 271) μg/L, respectively), with statistically significant differences ( U=-2.95, -3.77 and -4.16, respectively, all P<0.01). The counts of CD4 + T lymphocytes, CD8 + T lymphocytes, CD19 + B lymphocytes and natural killer cells in the chronic course group (259.15(101.98, 509.26), 214.69(119.31, 529.47), 46.14(4.44, 135.87) and 81.09(41.53, 118.46)/μL, respectively) were all lower than those in the acute course group (738.88(592.20, 893.94), 1 609.17(920.88, 3 952.34), 144.52(83.65, 215.14) and 309.82(123.78, 590.68)/μL, respectively), with statistically significant differences ( U=3.66, 3.80, 2.90 and 3.40, respectively, all P<0.01), while the CD4 + /CD8 + T lymphocytes ratio in the chronic course group was higher (0.90(0.60, 1.70) vs 0.45(0.10, 1.28))( U=-2.29, P=0.02). Twenty-three patients with IM were all cured, while 10 patients with lymphoma died and 13 received chemotherapy. Seven patients with CAEBV died and six improved. Conclusions:The clinical characteristics of Epstein-Barr virus-related diseases in adults are fever, lymphadenectasis, splenomegaly.Chronic Epstein-Barr virus infection may be associated with HLH. The prognosis of adults with acute Epstein-Barr virus infection is good, while that of long-term chronic Epstein-Barr virus infection is poor.
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Objective:To investigate the clinical characteristics and prognosis of cytomegalovirus (CMV) reactivation in patients with liver failure.Methods:A total of 75 patients diagnosed with liver failure and tested for serum CMV DNA between January 2016 and June 2019 in Huashan Hospital, Fudan University were retrospectively analyzed. According to the CMV DNA test results, the patients were divided into CMV DNA positive group and CMV DNA negative group. The classification of liver failure, the use of glucocorticoids, the proportions of T lymphocyte subsets of the two groups were compared and the prognosis was evaluated. Mann-Whitney U test and chi-square test were used to analyze the data. Results:Of the 75 patients with liver failure, 17 were CMV DNA positive and 58 were CMV DNA negative. Among the 17 CMV DNA positive patients, nine were acute (subacute) liver failure, and 13 were treated with glucocorticoids, which were all significantly higher than those in the CMV negative group (20.7%(12/58) and 20.7%(12/58), respectively). The differences were both statistically significant ( χ2=6.70 and 18.40, respectively, both P<0.05). The proportions of CD3 + T lymphocytes and CD8 + T lymphocytes in the CMV DNA positive group were both higher than those in the CMV DNA negative group, and the proportions of CD4 + T lymphocytes, the ratio of CD4 + /CD8 + T lymphocytes and the proportion of B lymphocytes were all lower than those in the CMV DNA negative group. The differences were all statistically significant ( U=274.50, 165.50, 273.00, 185.00 and 189.00, respectively, all P<0.05). Acute (subacute) liver failure (odds ratio ( OR)=4.3, 95% confidence interval ( CI) 1.3-12.6) and glucocorticoid use ( OR=12.5, 95% CI 3.4-38.3) were risk factors for CMV reactivation in patients with liver failure. The disease improvement rate in the CMV DNA negative group was 56.9% (33/58), and five out of 17 patients improved in the CMV DNA positive group, with a statistically significant difference ( χ2=1.99, P=0.04). Conclusions:The use of glucocorticoids increases the risk of CMV reactivation in patients with liver failure, and CMV reactivation in patients with liver failure presents immune disorders which seriously affect their prognosis. Therefore, it is important to pay attention to CMV DNA monitoring in patients with liver failure using glucocorticoids.
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Objective:To investigate the clinical characteristics and prognosis of the patients with nocardiosis.Methods:From January 2013 to July 2019, 44 patients with nocardiosis in Department of Infectious Diseases, Huashan Hospital, Fudan University in Shanghai were enrolled, and their clinical data were retrospectively analyzed, including baseline characteristics, clinical manifestations, underlying diseases history of glucocorticoid therapy, laboratory data (blood routine examination, procalcitonin, C-reactive protein, lymphocytes subsets, etc.), imaging changes, bacterial strain identification, treatment regimens and outcomes. According to the locations of infection, patients were divided into pulmonary nocardiosis, extrapulmonary single-organ nocardiosis and disseminated nocardiosis. The Mann-Whitney U test was used for comparison between two groups, and the Kruskal-Wallis H test was used for comparison among multiple groups. Results:Among the 44 cases of nocardiosis, 14 cases were pulmonary nocardiosis, 17 cases were extrapulmonary single-organ nocardiosis (including nine cases with central nervous system infection, six cases with skin and soft tissue infection, one case with abdominal abscess and one case with urinary tract infection) and 13 cases were disseminated nocardiosis (including four cases with bloodstream infection, six cases with central nervous system and lung or skin and soft tissue infection, three cases of lung and skin and soft tissue infection). Thirty-four cases had underlying diseases, and 27 cases received glucocorticoid or immunosuppressant treatment. The main symptom of 11 patients in pulmonary nocardiosis group was productive cough, while that of the patients in other two groups was fever. Nocardia species were mainly Nocardia brasiliensis, Nocardia nova and Nocardia farcinicaia. The white blood cell counts and neutrophils proportion were normal or slightly increased in 42 cases, and the platelets were normal or slightly decreased in 41 cases. Erythrocyte sedimentation rate increased in 19 cases, procalcitonin increased in 21 cases, C-reactive protein increased in 34 cases, and ferritin increased in 18 cases. A total of 34 patients were tested for lymphocyte subsets, of which 15 had CD4 + T lymphocytes decreased, 14 had CD8 + T lymphocytes increased, seven had B lymphocytes increased, seven had B lymphocytes decreased, and eight had natural killer cells decreased. The hemoglobin of patients with pulmonary nocardiosis was higher than that of patients with extrapulmonary infection, and the difference was statistically significant ( U=0.095, P=0.025). The imaging manifestations were mainly abscess and inflammatory exudation. Forty cases were cured or improved, one case was still on treatment, and three cases died. Conclusions:The clinical manifestations of nocardiosis involving various organs are non-specific. Standardized treatment could reduce the mortality of nocardiosis.
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Objective:To explore the expression and clinical significance of immunosuppressive receptor T cell immunoglobulin and immunoreceptor tyrosine-based inhibitory motif domain (TIGIT) on the peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) in silicosis patients with Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection. Methods:August 2018, a total of 78 patients with silicosis (all were quarry workers in Sanmen County, Zhejiang Province) were enrolled and divided into silicosis combined with active pulmonary tuberculosis group (APTB group), silicosis combined with latent tuberculosis infection group (LTBI group), and simple silicosis with non-tuberculosis infection group (non-TB group). Flow cytometry was used to analyze the expressions of TIGIT, programmed death-1 (PD-1) and transcription factor T-bet on PBMC from patients. Mann-Whitney U test and Pearson correlations analysis were used for statistical analysis. Results:Among the 78 patients, eight were in the APTB group, 24 in the LTBI group, and 46 in the non-TB group. The expressions of PD-1 and TIGIT on CD8 + T cells in the APTB group (29.45%(16.78%) and 65.40%(12.12%), respectively) were significantly higher than those in the LTBI group (17.40%(11.17%) and 48.30%(28.75%), respectively; U=23.500 and 43.500, respectively, P=0.000 8 and 0.020 5, respectively) and non-TB group (15.95%(12.46%) and 45.30%(19.75%), respectively; U=64.000 and 69.000, respectively, P=0.002 3 and 0.003 8, respectively), and the differences were all statistically significant. The expression of TIGIT was positively correlated with PD-1 on CD8 + T cells in silicosis patients ( r=0.434 3, P<0.01). The proportion of PD-1 + TIGIT + CD8 + T cells in the APTB group (19.90%(22.67%)) was significantly higher than those in the non-TB group (11.55%(11.29%), U=76.500, P=0.007 1) and LTBI group (11.55%(10.53%), U=41.000, P=0.015 4), while the proportion of PD-1 -TIGIT -CD8 + T cells in the APTB group (30.60%(12.90%)) was significantly lower than non-TB group (48.90%(18.98%), U=58.000, P=0.001 3) and LTBI group (47.20%(24.59%), U=41.000, P=0.015 4). The differences were all statistically significant. The expression of T-bet on the peripheral blood CD8 + T cells in the APTB group (29.45%(16.78%)) was higher than that in the non-TB group (15.95%(12.46%)) and the LTBI group (17.40%(11.17%)), and the differences were both statistically significant ( U=46.500 and 46.000, respectively, P=0.000 3 and 0.028 3, respectively). The expression of T-bet on CD8 + T cells was positively correlated with TIGIT on CD8 + T cells ( r=0.456 7, P<0.01). The expression of T-bet on PD-1 + TIGIT + CD8 + T cells in the APTB group (65.40%(12.12%)) was higher than those in the LTBI group (48.30%(28.75%), U=23.500, P=0.000 8) and non-TB group (45.30%(19.75%), U=65.000, P=0.002 6), and the differences were both statistically significant. Conclusion:The immunosuppressive receptor PD-1 and TIGIT are highly expressed on CD8 + T cells in silicosis patients with active pulmonary tuberculosis, which indicates CD8 + T cells exhaustion in these population, while the highly co-expression of T-bet suggests the exhausted subsets may have reversed potentiality.
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Objective:To analyze the changes and efficacy of antiviral treatment regimens in patients with chronic hepatitis C.Methods:This was a single center retrospective study. A total of 157 patients with chronic hepatitis C in Huashan Hospital, Fudan University from January 2014 to February 2019 were included. Clinical informations of antiviral treatment and follow-up were collected. The sustained virologic response (SVR) rate and adverse events in patients receiving different antiviral regimens were compared. Chi-square test was used for statistical analysis.Results:Among the 157 patients, 133 patients had sufficient follow-up data. Seventy-one patients received treatment before 2017, among which 63 patients received interferon regimens and the SVR rate was 74.65%(53/71). Sixty-two patients received treatment after 2017, among which 61 patients received direct-acting antiviral agents (DAA) regimens and the SVR rate was 98.39%(61/62). The difference in SVR rate between the two groups was statistically significant ( χ2=15.230, P<0.01). In 69 patients who received DAA regimens from 2014 to 2019, the SVR at post-treatment week 12 (SVR12) was 95.65%(66/69). Among 43 patients who received DAA regimens containing sofosbuvir, the SVR12 rates of patients with hepatitis C virus genotype 1, 3 and other genotypes were 15/15, 5/6 and 90.91%(20/22), respectively. All the 26 patients who received DAA regimens non-containing sofosbuvir achieved SVR12. The SVR12 rates of patients with different hepatitis C virus genotypes and DAA regimens were not significantly different ( χ2=5.243, P=0.263). The incidences of adverse events in pre-2017 group and post-2017 group were 84.62%(77/91) and 6.06% (4/66), respectively. The difference was statistically significant ( χ2=94.520, P<0.01). The most common adverse events were decreases in neutrophil cell count, decreases in hemoglobin level and decreases in platelet count. Treatment was ceased in six patients due to adverse events. Conclusions:After 2017, the majority of patients with chronic hepatitis C received DAA regimens instead of interferon regimens. The SVR rate increases and the incidence of adverse events decreases along with the changes of leading treatment regimens.The SVR12 rate is higher in patients receiving DAA regimens, regardless of hepatitis C virus genotypes.
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Objective To retrospectively analyze the clinical and laboratory characteristics of patients with positive blood culture results for Mycobacterium tuberculosis (M.tb).Methods The clinical laboratory database of patients suspected with disseminated tuberculosis from January 2009 to January 2017 in Huashan Hospital affiliated with Fudan University were collected and analyzed.The clinical manifestations,laboratory characteristics and outcomes between disseminated tuberculosis patients with positive blood culture (positive blood culture group) for M.tb and negative results (negative blood culture group) were compared.T test,Mann-Whitney U test and Fisher exact test were used for statistical analysis.Results A total of 5 589 patients suspected with M.tb infection had peripheral blood culture for mycobacterium.Positive blood culture for M.tb was found in 26 disseminated tuberculosis patients,while 6 patients finally identified as nontuberculous mycobacterium (NTM) with species identification,and 22 disseminated tuberculosis patients with negative blood culture results were enrolled during the same period as control.The mean age ([49.1 ± 10.1] years old vs [38.3 ± 17.1] years old,t =2.460,P =0.018),the proportion of diagnosed with fever of unknown origin at admission (FUO) (65.0％ [13/20] vs 13.6％ [3/22],P =0.001),the proportion of diagnosed with focal infection (30.0％ [6/20] vs 86.4％ [19/22],P =0.001),the proportion of patients with other diseases (75.0％[15/20] vs 22.7％ [5/22],P =0.002),the proportion of patients with hematological diseases (35.0％ [7/20] vs 4.5％ [1/22],P =0.018) and the proportion of patients with tumor (20％ [4/20] vs 0[0/22],P =0.043) in the positive blood culture group were significantly different from those in the negative blood culture group.Laboratory examinations of the percentage of neutrophils,the percentage of lymphocytes,the percentage of monocytes,the value of neutrophil/lymphocyte,the level of hemoglobin,the level of erythrocyte sedimentation rate,the level of C-reactive protein,the level of procalcitonin and the positive rate of T-SPOT.TB in positive blood culture groups were significantly different from those in negative blood culture group (all P ＜ 0.05).Conclusions Peripheral blood M.tb culture is more likely to be positive for those elder disseminated tuberculosis patients with hematological diseases or tumors,and those with increase of neutrophil counts and inflammation markers but reduction of lymphocyte counts and hemoglobin.
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Objective To evaluate the diagnostic value of T cells spot test of tuberculosis infection (T-SPOT .TB) on blood and cerebrospinal fluid for tuberculous meningitis (TBM ).Methods One hundred and fifteen adult patients with suspected tuberculous meningitis were retrospectively enrolled from March 2013 to March 2017 in Huashan Hospital affiliated to Fudan University .Among them ,30 were diagnosed with TBM (7 definite ,19 highly probable and 4 possible) ,37 with other infectious meningitis and 29 with non-infectious meningitis .The diagnostic sensitivity ,specificity ,positive predictive values (PPV) and negative predictive values (NPV) of T-SPOT .TB on peripheral mononuclear cells (PBMC) and cerebrospinal fluid mononuclear cells (CSF-MC ) were analyzed using Fisher exact test , and the diagnostic performance was evaluated by using receiver operating characteristic (ROC ) curve and area under the curve (AUC).Results When including the 30 TBM cases and 66 non-TBM cases into analysis , the sensitivities and specificities , PPV and NPV of PBMC and CSF-MC for diagnosing TBM were as follows :93 .1% and 66 .7%,77% and 87 .7%,65 .9% and 71 .4%,95 .9% and 85 .1%,respectively . When including the 30 TBM and 37 other infectious meningitis into analysis , the sensitivities and specificities ,PPV and NPV of the PBMC and CSF-MC for diagnosing TBM were as follows :93 .1% and 66.7%,68 .6% and 86 .5%,71.1% and 80 .0%,92 .3% and 76 .2%,respectively .By ROC curve analysis ,the AUC of blood and CSF were 0 .882 (95% CI :0 .795－0 .969) and 0 .814 (95% CI :0 .704－0 .925) ,respectively .Using a cut-off value of 32 spot forming cells (SFC) per million CSF-MC for T-SPOT .TB on CSF-MC showed a sensitivity of 66 .7%,a specificity of 91 .9%,PPV of 87 .0% and NPV of 77 .3% .The positive likelihood ratio and negative likelihood ratio were 8 .22 and 0 .363 respectively . Conclusions T-SPOT .TB on CSF-MC has a role in diagnosing TBM .And 32 SFC per million CSF-MC might be the optimal cut-off value to differentiate TBM and non-TBM .
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Objective To investigate the prevalence of tuberculosis among silicosis patients and silica exposure patients,and to analysis the risk factors of tuberculosis among these population.Methods A total of 1 227 silica exposure patients from Wenling,Zhejiang were enrolled in this field study.Basic demographic information was collected and chest X-ray was taken for each patient.Sputum was collected for Mycobacterium tuberculosis culture and strain identification. In univariate analysis,t test was performed for continuous variables andχ2 test for categorical variables.In multivariate analysis,the odds ratio (OR )was calculated along with a 95 % confidence interval (CI )by binary Logistic regression. Results A total of 1 204 silica exposure patients had full basic information and 99.8% were male patients with mean age of (59.4 ± 6.8 )years.The patients in phase 0 + to phase Ⅲ were 172 (14.3%),255 (21 .2%),160 (13.3%)and 617 (51 .2%),respectively.The tuberculosis prevalence rate was about 7.3% among these population.The risk factors for tuberculosis including phase Ⅱ silicosis (OR =2.96, 95 %CI :1 .05 -8.32,P =0.04)and phase Ⅲ silicosis (OR=3.88,95 %CI :1 .58-9.56,P <0.01),and contacting with tuberculosis patients (OR=4.14,95 %CI :1 .91 -8.98,P <0.01).Patients complicated with tuberculosis lacked specific symptoms,but fever and weight loss were more frequent.Conclusion Tuberculosis is highly prevalent in silicotic patients,especially in patients with phase Ⅱ/Ⅲ silicosis and in patients with tuberculosis contact history.