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Clin Microbiol Infect 2010; 16: 1282–1284 Effective control of tuberculosis (TB) includes discrimination of subjects with active TB from individuals with latent TB infection (LTBI). As distinct interferon (IFN)-γ and interleukin (IL)-2 profiles of antigen-specific T-cells have been associated with different clinical stages and antigen loads in several viral and bacterial diseases, we analysed these cytokines in TB using a modified QuantiFERON-TB Gold In Tube test. Detection of IL-2 in addition to IFN-γ distinguishes not only Mycobacterium tuberculosis-infected subjects from healthy controls, but also individuals with LTBI from active TB patients. This may help to improve diagnostic tests for TB. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Objective: To evaluate immunological safety and immunogenicity of influenza vaccine administration in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Patients and methods: Twenty-four patients with low and/or stable disease activity 14 with SLE (mean age 43.42±12.18 years; 13 women) and 10 with RA (mean age 51±14.57 years; 9 women), diagnosed on the basis of the American College of Rheumatology criteria, have been immunized with trivalent split influenza vaccine without adjuvant. Further 24 non-vaccinated patients, 14 with SLE and 10 with RA, and 10 vaccinated healthy subjects, all age- and sex-matched, were used as controls. The patients underwent clinical and laboratory (specific anti-influenzavirus antibodies, auto-antibodies, peripheral blood lymphocyte subpopulations) evaluation before and 30 days after vaccination; auto-antibodies were also assessed at 90 days and disease activity at 90 and 180 days. Results: The specific antibody response towards the three used antigens (A/New Caledonia/20/99, A/Moscow/10/99, and B/Shangdong/7/97) significantly increased in both patients and healthy controls, without any significant difference between them. No significant difference could instead be observed on the clinical activity, auto-antibodies, and peripheral blood lymphocyte subpopulations before and after vaccination, and between patients and controls. Conclusions: Trivalent split influenza vaccine without adjuvant seems to be safe and immunogenic in patients with SLE and RA, provided that only patients with low and/or stable disease activity are selected. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Highly infectious diseases involve clinical syndromes ranging from single to multiorgan infections and pose a constant threat to the public. In the absence of a definite treatment for most causative agents, patients benefit from maximum supportive care as clinical conditions may deteriorate in the short term. Hence, following initial case identification and isolation, rapid transportation to a specialized treatment unit must be considered in order to minimize the risk of secondary infections, but this is limited by available infrastructure, accessible care en route and the patient’s clinical condition. Despite the development of consensus curricula for the clinical management of highly infectious patients, medical transportation lacks a common European approach. This article describes, as examples, three current European concepts for the domestic relocation of highly infectious patients by ground vehicles and aircraft with respect to national legislation and geography. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]