The Tuberculosis Sentinel Research Network (TB-SRN) of the International epidemiology Databases to Evaluate AIDS (IeDEA): protocol for a prospective cohort study in Africa, Southeast Asia and Latin America.

INTRODUCTION: Tuberculosis (TB) is a leading infectious cause of death globally. It is the most common opportunistic infection in people living with HIV, and the most common cause of their morbidity and mortality. Following TB treatment, surviving individuals may be at risk for post-TB lung disease. The TB Sentinel Research Network (TB-SRN) provides a platform for coordinated observational TB research within the International epidemiology Databases to Evaluate AIDS (IeDEA) consortium. METHODS AND ANALYSIS: This prospective, observational cohort study will assess treatment and post-treatment outcomes of pulmonary TB (microbiologically confirmed or clinically diagnosed) among 2600 people aged ≥15 years, with and without HIV coinfection, consecutively enrolled at 16 sites in 11 countries, across 6 of IeDEA's global regions. Data regarding clinical and sociodemographic factors, mental health, health-related quality of life, pulmonary function, and laboratory and radiographic findings will be collected using standardised questionnaires and data collection tools, beginning from the initiation of TB treatment and through 12 months after the end of treatment. Data will be aggregated for proposed analyses. ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION: Ethics approval was obtained at all implementing study sites, including the Vanderbilt University Medical Center Human Research Protections Programme. Participants will provide informed consent; for minors, this includes both adolescent assent and the consent of their parent or primary caregiver. Protections for vulnerable groups are included, in alignment with local standards and considerations at sites. Procedures for requesting use and analysis of TB-SRN data are publicly available. Findings from TB-SRN analyses will be shared with national TB programmes to inform TB programming and policy, and disseminated at regional and global conferences and other venues.

Never seen before? Opisthorchiasis and Clonorchiasis.

Parasitic diseases are relatively rarely diagnosed and treated in Europe. Therefore, European clinicians are not familiar with their clinical and imaging features. In an era of increased human migration, it is fundamental for clinicians to be able to identify such diseases. We have recently described the features of cystic echinococcosis, schistosomiasis, fascioliasis and ascariasis. Here, we report on the clinical and imaging features as well as on the current therapy options of infections by the small liver flukes: Clonorchis sinensis, Opisthorchis viverrini (Southeast Asian liver fluke) and Opisthorchis felineus (cat liver fluke) and other Opisthorchis species prevalent in South Asia.

Ultrasonography of gallbladder abnormalities due to schistosomiasis.

After malaria, schistosomiasis remains the most important tropical parasitic disease in large parts of the world. Schistosomiasis has recently re-emerged in Southern Europe. Intestinal schistosomiasis is caused by most Schistosoma (S.) spp. pathogenic to humans and leads to chronic inflammation and fibrosis of the colon as well as to liver fibrosis. Gallbladder abnormalities usually occur in patients with advanced hepatic portal fibrosis due to Schistosoma mansoni infection. Occasionally, gallbladder abnormalities have been seen also in children and occurring without associated overt liver abnormalities.The specific S. mansoni-induced gallbladder abnormalities detectable by ultrasound include typical hyperechogenic wall thickening with external gallbladder wall protuberances. The luminal wall surface is smooth. The condition is usually clinically silent although some cases of symptomatic cholecystitis have been described. The ultrasonographic Murphy response is negative. Gallbladder contractility is impaired but sludge and calculi occur rarely. Contrary to other trematodes such as liver flukes, S. mansoni does not obstruct the biliary tract. Advanced gallbladder fibrosis is unlikely to reverse after therapy.

The WHO ultrasonography protocol for assessing morbidity due to Schistosoma haematobium. Acceptance and evolution over 14 years. Systematic review.

In 2000, the World Health Organization (WHO) published an ultrasound field protocol for assessing morbidity due to schistosomiasis. The present study aims to review the acceptance of the WHO protocol for Schistosoma haematobium. A PubMed literature research using the keywords "ultrasound OR ultrasonography (US) AND schistosomiasis," "US AND S. haematobium," "US AND urinary schistosomiasis" from 2001 through 2014 was performed. Thirty-eight eligible publications reporting on 17,861 patients from 13 endemic and 2 non-endemic countries were analysed. Of these, 33 referred to field studies on 17,317 patients. The Niamey protocol was applied to 15,367/17,317 (88.74%) patients in 23/33 (69.70%) of field studies (all studies: 15,649/17,861 [87.61%] patients (25/38 [68.42%] studies). The acceptance of the protocol by single country in field studies varied from 0 to 100%. It varied over time between 55.56% (5/9) in the period from 2001 to 2004, to 87.50% (7/8) from 2005 to 2008, to 62.50% (5/8) from 2009 to 2011 and 75.00% (6/8) from 2012 through 2014 (all studies: 50% [5/10], 88.89% [8/9], 62.50% [5/8], 63.64% [7/11], respectively). The Niamey protocol was applied also in 2/5 hospital studies in 282/544 (51.84%) patients.The usefulness of the WHO protocol for S. haematobium infections is confirmed by its worldwide acceptance. Some simplifications might facilitate its use also for focused ultrasound examinations performed by less skilled examiners. Organ abnormalities due to schistosomiasis detectable by ultrasonography not yet covered by the WHO protocol should be added to the additional investigations section.