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Abstract Background Tuberculosis (TB) remains an important cause of morbidity and mortality in hemodialysis (HD) patients. A gold standard for the diagnosis of latent tuberculosis infection (LTBI) is lacking. Objective The aim of this study was to compare the diagnostic utility of the QuantiFERON-Tuberculosis Gold (QFT-G) test with the tuberculin skin test (TST) in identifying LTBI in patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD) on HD. Study design The present study had a prospective design. Patients and methods A total of 74 patients with ESRD on HD without active TB and other immunosuppressive conditions were tested for LTBI by the QFT-G test and the TST. Results LTBI, as estimated by the QFT-G test and TST, was detected in 35.1 and 13.5% of the HD patients, respectively; 37.8% of patients were positive for the QFT-G test and/or the TST. There was a poor agreement between QFT-G test and TST results in patients with ESRD on HD (QFT-G test vs. TST: κ=0.25, 95% confidence interval=0.12–0.37). TST was positive in 2.7% of patients when the QFT-G test was negative, and it was negative in 24.3% of patients when the QFT-G test was positive. There was no significant difference in duration of HD or creatinine levels between QFT-G-positive and QFT-G-negative patients (P=0.08 and 0.2, respectively). TST-positive patients had a significantly shorter duration of HD and lower creatinine levels than TST-negative patients (P=0.001 and 0.01, respectively). Conclusion In patients with ESRD and on HD, LTBI cannot be simply ruled out with a negative TST result, but rather a QFT-G test is recommended. Screening and treatment of LTBI should be carried in dialysis patients, aiming to prevent progression to active TB and secondary infection of others.

Objective: To assess the effect of exposure to flour dust on respiratory symptoms and lung function of flour mill workers and to estimate the additive effect of smoking on pulmonary function. Patients and methods: This study was carried out at flour mills in Sohag Governorate. Two hundred male workers with current exposure to flour dust and two hundred non-exposed male as a control group were interviewed and self designed study questionnaire was administered to them and the parameters of their pulmonary function were measured. Results: Respiratory symptoms such as cough, expectoration, wheezing, and shortness of breath, were significantly (p

Background: Tuberculosis (TB) in elderly is a worldwide problem. Objective: To evaluate differences in clinical, radiological, laboratory features, adverse antituberculosis drug reactions and TB-related mortality in elderly and young pulmonary TB patients. Results: The study included analysis of the medical history, chest radiographic and laboratory findings in 124 elderly and 124 young pulmonary TB patients, with mean age of 60.5 ± 9.1 and 31.6 ± 10.8 years, respectively (p

Background Vitamin D has multiple effects on the innate and adaptive immune system. Vitamin D has immunomodulation effects that are able to decrease the inflammatory reaction included in the bronchial asthma; thus, it plays an important effect in the asthma pathogenesis. Low serum magnesium level is associated with impaired lung function and bronchial hyperreactivity. Study design This is a prospective hospital-based study. Objective To evaluate serum levels of vitamin D, magnesium, and calcium in patients with stable bronchial asthma and their relation to asthma severity. Patients and methods A total of 65 adult patients with stable bronchial asthma and 30 healthy controls were included in the study. After clinical history taking and examination, pulmonary function tests were performed. Serum levels of 25-hydroxy vitamin D [25(OH)D], ionized calcium, and magnesium were measured in all participants. Results The mean serum levels of 25(OH)D, magnesium, and ionized calcium were significantly lower in patients with stable asthma than control participants (P