A retrospective cohort study of early mortality among patients with HIV/TB co-infection in Shanghai municipality.

OBJECTIVES: Tuberculosis (TB) is the most common and fatal opportunistic co-infection among HIV-infected individuals. While TB-associated mortality predominantly occurs in the first 90 days after admission, such a correlation remains unclear in HIV/TB co-infected patients. Thus, we aimed to investigate the 90-day mortality and associated risk factors among HIV/TB co-infected patients in China. METHODS: Adult patients with HIV and a newly confirmed TB diagnosis admitted to the Shanghai Public Health Clinical Center between September 2009 and August 2017 were enrolled. Clinical and laboratory characteristics, key treatments and outcomes were collected retrospectively. The associations between different factors and early mortality were analysed. RESULTS: Of the 485 laboratory-confirmed HIV/TB patients [median (range) age = 39 (19-79) years], 413 (85.15%) were male. Diagnosis was confirmed by culture, pathology and acid-fast bacilli smear alone in 362 (74.6%), 6 (1.2%) and 117 (24.1%) patients, respectively. Multiple drug-/rifampin-resistant TB was detected in 21 (5.8%) of the 367 patients with a positive culture. Rifampin or rifabutin was administered to 402 (82.9%) patients. Additionally, 66 (13.6%) and 86 (17.7%) died within 90 days and 1 year of admission, respectively. Of the 64 TB-related deaths, 59 (92.2%) occurred within 90 days of admission. In Cox regression, central nervous system (CNS) TB [odds ratio (OR) = 2.49, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.46-4.23, P < 0.001], no antiretroviral therapy (ART) within 3 months after admission (OR = 11, 95% CI: 6.4-18.9, P < 0.001), and plasma albumin level < 25 g/L (OR = 1.91, 95% CI: 1.07-3.40, P = 0.021) were associated with early death. CONCLUSIONS: Tuberculosis co-infection was prevalent and fatal in HIV-infected patients, with most deaths occurring within 90 days of admission. Early mortality was associated with CNS-TB, no ART, and serum albumin level < 25 g/L.

Toxicity of dipterex: a field study.

This study summarises historical surveillance data collected from 1977 to 1982 and the results of a field study conducted thereafter (1983-4) in a dipterex packing workshop. The findings suggest that both airborne dipterex and dermal contamination contribute to the inhibition of blood cholinesterase (ChE) and that cases of poisoning in hot seasons can be attributed mainly to dermal absorption. At a level of 0.5 mg/m3, dipterex is shown to lead to a mild but appreciable inhibition of ChE activity. The results also indicate that blood ChE monitoring was sensitive both for long term and short term exposed workers. As a result, the recommendation that the maximum allowable concentration for airborne exposure to dipterex be revised to 0.5 mg/m3, can be regarded at providing only for relative safety.