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Bacterial killing in patients with tuberculosis (TB) relapse was compared to that in patients achieving cure, measured by TB molecular bacterial load assay (TB-MBLA) or mycobacteria growth indicator tube (MGIT) time to positivity (TTP). TB-MBLA in 4 relapsed patients was significantly different compared to 132 cured patients after 2 weeks of treatment; MGIT TTP showed a significant difference from week 8.

Mycobacterium tuberculosis (M.tb), the causative agent of Tuberculosis, is an intracellular bacterium well known for its ability to subvert host energy and metabolic pathways to maintain its intracellular survival. For this purpose, the bacteria utilize various mechanisms of which extracellular vehicles (EVs) related mechanisms attracted more attention. EVs are nanosized particles that are released by almost all cell types containing active biomolecules from the cell of origin and can target bioactive pathways in the recipient cells upon uptake. It is hypothesized that M.tb dictates the processes of host EV biogenesis pathways, selectively incorporating its molecules into the host EV to direct immune responses in its favor. During infection with Mtb, both mycobacteria and host cells release EVs. The composition of these EVs varies over time, influenced by the physiological and nutritional state of the host environment. Additionally, different EV populations contribute differently to the pathogenesis of disease at various stages of illness participating in a complex interplay between host cells and pathogens. These interactions ultimately influence immune responses and disease outcomes. However, the precise mechanisms and roles of EVs in pathogenicity and disease outcomes remain to be fully elucidated. In this review, we explored the properties and function of EVs in the context of M.tb infection within the host microenvironment and discussed their capacity as a novel therapeutic strategy to combat tuberculosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mycobacterium tuberculosis (M.tb), the causative agent of Tuberculosis, is an intracellular bacterium well known for its ability to subvert host energy and metabolic pathways to maintain its intracellular survival. For this purpose, the bacteria utilize various mechanisms of which extracellular vehicles (EVs) related mechanisms attracted more attention. EVs are nanosized particles that are released by almost all cell types containing active biomolecules from the cell of origin and can target bioactive pathways in the recipient cells upon uptake. It is hypothesized that M.tb dictates the processes of host EV biogenesis pathways, selectively incorporating its molecules into the host EV to direct immune responses in its favor. During infection with Mtb, both mycobacteria and host cells release EVs. The composition of these EVs varies over time, influenced by the physiological and nutritional state of the host environment. Additionally, different EV populations contribute differently to the pathogenesis of disease at various stages of illness participating in a complex interplay between host cells and pathogens. These interactions ultimately influence immune responses and disease outcomes. However, the precise mechanisms and roles of EVs in pathogenicity and disease outcomes remain to be fully elucidated. In this review, we explored the properties and function of EVs in the context of M.tb infection within the host microenvironment and discussed their capacity as a novel therapeutic strategy to combat tuberculosis.

Benzofuran and 1,3,4-oxadiazole are privileged and versatile heterocyclic pharmacophores which display a broad spectrum of biological and pharmacological therapeutic potential against a wide variety of diseases. This article reports in silico CADD (computer-aided drug design) and molecular hybridization approaches for the evaluation of the chemotherapeutic efficacy of 16 S-linked N-phenyl acetamide moiety containing benzofuran-1,3,4-oxadiazole scaffolds BF1–BF16. This virtual screening was carried out to discover and assess the chemotherapeutic efficacy of BF1–BF16 structural motifs as Mycobacterium tuberculosis polyketide synthase 13 (Mtb Pks13) enzyme inhibitors. The CADD study results revealed that the benzofuran clubbed oxadiazole derivatives BF3, BF4, and BF8 showed excellent and remarkably significant binding energies against the Mtb Pks13 enzyme comparable with the standard benzofuran-based TAM-16 inhibitor. The best binding affinity scores were displayed by 1,3,4-oxadiazoles-based benzofuran scaffolds BF3 (−14.23 kcal/mol), BF4 (−14.82 kcal/mol), and BF8 (−14.11 kcal/mol), in comparison to the binding affinity score of the standard reference TAM-16 drug (−14.61 kcal/mol). 2,5-Dimethoxy moiety-based bromobenzofuran-oxadiazole derivative BF4 demonstrated the highest binding affinity score amongst the screened compounds, and was higher than the reference Pks13 inhibitor TAM-16 drug. The bindings of these three leads BF3, BF4, and BF8 were further confirmed by the MM-PBSA investigations in which they also exhibited strong bindings with the Pks13 of Mtb. Moreover, the stability analysis of these benzofuran-1,3,4-oxadiazoles in the active sites of the Pks13 enzyme was achieved through molecular dynamic (MD) simulations at 250 ns virtual simulation time, which indicated that these three in silico predicted bio-potent benzofuran tethered oxadiazole molecules BF3, BF4, and BF8 demonstrated stability with the active site of the Pks13 enzyme. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

(Received 3 November, 2009 ; Accepted 10 March, 2010)AbstractBackground and purpose: The CD4 lymphocyte count is the strongest index indicating the severity of immunodeficiency, prediction of incidence, diagnosis, and making a decision to start anti retroviral treatment and follow up of therapeutic response. This study was conducted to establish the clinical syndrome resulting in admission of patients with HIV infection based on the CD4 count.Materials and methods: This cross-sectional descriptive study was performed on 71 HIV patients admitted at least for onece to Imam Khomeini Hospital, Tehran during 2008 and 2009. HIV infection was confirmed by positive ELISA and Western blot. The obtained data were analyzed using SPSS software, version 16.Results: From a total of 71 patients, 8.5% were female and 91.5% were male. The mean age of the subjects was 35 ± 8.1 years. 74.6% were addicted and 38% had a prison history. The average CD4 count was 202.9 ± 20.09 /ML. 21.1% of the patients received anti-retroviral medication. 49.3% of HIV patients had hepatitis C and 18.6% had hepatitis B simultaneously. Patient with PCP, toxoplasma and TB had the least CD4 count, with an average of 75.85, 94.66 and 143.95 /ML respectively. Patients with empyema, esophagititis and abscess of femur had the highest CD4 average count of 698, 536 and 349.5 ML, respectively. There was a significant correlation between pneumonia and CD4

Background and purpose: The CD4 lymphocyte count is the strongest index indicating the severity of immunodeficiency, prediction of incidence, diagnosis, and making a decision to start anti retroviral treatment and follow up of therapeutic response. This study was conducted to establish the clinical syndrome resulting in admission of patients with HIV infection based on the CD4 count. Materials and methods: This cross-sectional descriptive study was performed on 71 HIV patients admitted at least for onece to Imam Khomeini Hospital, Tehran during 2008 and 2009. HIV infection was confirmed by positive ELISA and Western blot. The obtained data were analyzed using SPSS software, version 16. Results: From a total of 71 patients, 8.5% were female and 91.5% were male. The mean age of the subjects was 35 ± 8.1 years. 74.6% were addicted and 38% had a prison history. The average CD4 count was 202.9 ± 20.09 /ML. 21.1% of the patients received anti-retroviral medication. 49.3% of HIV patients had hepatitis C and 18.6% had hepatitis B simultaneously. Patient with PCP, toxoplasma and TB had the least CD4 count, with an average of 75.85, 94.66 and 143.95 /ML respectively. Patients with empyema, esophagititis and abscess of femur had the highest CD4 average count of 698, 536 and 349.5 ML, respectively. There was a significant correlation between pneumonia and CD4<200/ML (P=0.001) and also, between prison history and TB (P<0.001), and between TB and CD4<200/ML (P=0.012). Conclusion: The prevalence of Pneumocystic pneumonia, Toxoplasmosis and TB syndrome may be higher in patients with CD4<200/ML and the incidence of pulmonary TB were greater in patients eith prison history. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: The main aim of this study was to assess the overall tuberculosis (TB) treatment success in Ethiopia and to identify potential factors for poor TB treatment outcome., Design: A systematic review and meta-analysis of published literature was conducted. Original studies were identified through a computerised systematic search using PubMed, Google Scholar and Science Direct databases. Heterogeneity across studies was assessed using Cochran's Q test and I 2 statistic. Pooled estimates of treatment success were computed using the random-effects model with 95% CI using Stata V.14 software., Results: A total of 230 articles were identified in the systematic search. Of these 34 observational studies were eligible for systematic review and meta-analysis. It was found that 117 750 patients reported treatment outcomes. Treatment outcomes were assessed by World Health Organization (WHO) standard definitions of TB treatment outcome. The overall pooled TB treatment success rate in Ethiopia was 86% (with 95% CI 83%&#95;88%). TB treatment success rate for each region showed that, Addis Ababa (93%), Oromia (84%), Amhara (86%), Southern Nations (83%), Tigray (85%) and Afar (86%). Mainly old age, HIV co-infection, retreatment cases and rural residence were the most frequently identified factors associated with poor TB treatment outcome., Conclusion: The result of this study revealed that the overall TB treatment success rate in Ethiopia was below the threshold suggested by WHO (90%). There was also a discrepancy in TB treatment success rate among different regions of Ethiopia. In addition to these, HIV co-infection, older age, retreatment cases and rural residence were associated with poor treatment outcome. In order to further improve the treatment success rate, it is strategic to give special consideration for regions which had low TB treatment success and patients with TB with HIV co-infection, older age, rural residence and retreatment cases., Competing Interests: Competing interests: None declared., (© Author(s) (or their employer(s)) 2018. Re-use permitted under CC BY-NC. No commercial re-use. See rights and permissions. Published by BMJ.)