Mannose-binding lectin exon 1 and promoter polymorphisms in tuberculosis disease in a Mediterranean area.

Mannose-binding lectin (MBL) is a serum protein that activates the complement and mediates phagocytosis. MBL levels and MBL2 genotype may impact upon host susceptibility to tuberculosis (TB) disease but evidence to date has been conflicting. MBL2 exon 1 and promoter genotyping and serum MBL concentrations were determined in 79 patients with active tuberculosis (58 pulmonary TB and 21 extrapulmonary or miliary TB) and 120 household healthy contacts (HHC) from a Mediterranean area (Majorca Island, Spain). Significantly higher serum MBL levels were found in patients with active tuberculosis than in HHC [median MBL concentrations 3430 ng mL(-1) (10-28 415) and 2600 ng mL(-1) (5-20 000) respectively, P = 0.002]. These higher MBL levels were mainly related to the most prevalent YA/YA wild-type diplotype. There was a strong correlation between MBL2 exon 1 and promoter genotype and MBL levels. The diplotype LYQA/HYPA was present in 12 out of 57 of the pulmonary TB cases but in none of the extrapulmonary TB patients. Diplotype LXPA/HYPA, producer of high levels of MBL, was significantly more frequent in HHC than in patients (16.8% vs. 6.4%, P = 0.031) suggesting a protective role against the development of TB disease that has not been previously found.

Tuberculosis cutánea en una zona de Mallorca (2003-2011) / Cutaneous tuberculosis in an area of Mallorca (2003-2011)

Antecedentes y objetivo. La tuberculosis constituye un importante problema sanitario, también en nuestro medio. Este estudio sepropone describir las características clínicas y epidemiológicas de la tuberculosis cutánea en nuestro medio. Pacientes y métodos. Estudio retrospectivo de los casos de tuberculosis cutánea diagnosticados de enero de 2003 a julio de 2011 en un hospital de Mallorca. Se registraron las formas clínicas, la metodología diagnóstica empleada, el tratamiento utilizado y la evolución clínica. Resultados. Se diagnosticaron 28 casos de tuberculosis con afectación cutánea (5,9% del total de tuberculosis), tuberculosis verdadera en 15 casos (14 escrofulodermas, un empiema necessitatis) y tubercúlides en el resto (8 casos de eritema indurado de Bazin y 5 de eritema nodoso). El foco de origen de los escrofulodermas fue ganglionar (10), óseo (4) y pleural (1); 13/28 pacientes eran originarios de otros continentes. La mayoría de los pacientes fueron tratados con 3-4 fármacos tuberculostáticos, evolucionando favorablemente. Conclusión. La tuberculosis cutánea no es infrecuente en nuestro medio. En las tuberculosis cutáneas verdaderas el cultivo es el método diagnóstico más rentable, mientras que en las tubercúlides generalmente la histología es la que proporciona el diagnóstico(AU)

Background and objective. Tuberculosis is an important health care problem, even in our setting. The objective of this study is to describe clinic and epidemiological features of cutaneous tuberculosis in our area. Patients and methods. A retrospective study was performed of all patients diagnosed of cutaneous tuberculosis in a hospital in Mallorca (Spain) from January 2003 to July 2011. The clinical forms, diagnostic methods used, treatment used and clinical course were recorded. Results. Twenty-eight cases of cutaneous tuberculosis were diagnosed (5.9% of the tuberculosis cases diagnosed in this period), 15 with classic cutaneous tuberculosis (14 scrofuloderma, 1 empyema necessitatis) and 13 patients with tuberculids (8 erythema induratum of Bazin disease and 5 erythema nodosum). Scrofulodermas came from lymph nodes in 10 of the patients, infected bone in 4 and pleural in one case; 13/28 patients came from other continents. Most of the patients were treatment with 3-4 tuberculostatic drugs, with favorable course. Conclusions. Cutaneous tuberculosis is not uncommon in our setting. In classic cutaneous tuberculosis culture is the gold standard diagnostic method while tuberculids are most commonly diagnosed by histology(AU)

[Cutaneous tuberculosis in an area of Mallorca (2003-2011)]. / Tuberculosis cutánea en una zona de Mallorca (2003-2011).

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Tuberculosis is an important health care problem, even in our setting. The objective of this study is to describe clinic and epidemiological features of cutaneous tuberculosis in our area. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A retrospective study was performed of all patients diagnosed of cutaneous tuberculosis in a hospital in Mallorca (Spain) from January 2003 to July 2011. The clinical forms, diagnostic methods used, treatment used and clinical course were recorded. RESULTS: Twenty-eight cases of cutaneous tuberculosis were diagnosed (5.9% of the tuberculosis cases diagnosed in this period), 15 with classic cutaneous tuberculosis (14 scrofuloderma, 1 empyema necessitatis) and 13 patients with tuberculids (8 erythema induratum of Bazin disease and 5 erythema nodosum). Scrofulodermas came from lymph nodes in 10 of the patients, infected bone in 4 and pleural in one case; 13/28 patients came from other continents. Most of the patients were treatment with 3-4 tuberculostatic drugs, with favorable course. CONCLUSIONS: Cutaneous tuberculosis is not uncommon in our setting. In classic cutaneous tuberculosis culture is the gold standard diagnostic method while tuberculids are most commonly diagnosed by histology.

[Usefulness of a new fast technique for detection of pneumococcal antigen in the diagnosis of community pneumonia]. / Utilidad de una nueva técnica rápida de detección de antígeno neumocócico en el diagnóstico de la neumonía comunitaria.

With the objective of analyzing the usefulness of a new technique of fast detection of pneumococcal antigen in urine (Binax NOW Streptococcus pneumoniae urinary antigen test) 163 community pneumonia episodes were reviewed. The test was positive in 30 cases, and gave rise to therapeutic implications in 12 patients. The global sensitivity was 57%, being superior in patients with HIV infection (70%), and the specificity was 91.6%. In 16 episodes it was the only diagnostic test of pneumococcal infection. The determination of pneumococcal antigen through this technique is a useful tool for the diagnosis of community pneumonia, mainly due its high specificity.

Utilidad de una nueva técnica rápida de detección de antígeno neumocócico en el diagnóstico de la neumonía comunitaria / Usefulness of a new fast technique for detection of pneumococcal antigen in the diagnosis of community pneumonia

Con el objetivo de analizar la utilidad de una nueva técnica de detección rápida de antígeno neumocócico en orina (Binax NOW Streptococcus pneumoniae urinary antigen test) se revisaron 163 episodios de neumonía comunitaria. La prueba fue positiva en 30 casos, con implicaciones terapéuticas en 12. La sensibilidad global fue del 57 por ciento, siendo superior en pacientes con infección por el virus de la inmunodeficiencia humana (VIH) (70 por ciento) y la especificidad del 91,6 por ciento.En 16 episodios fue la única prueba diagnóstica de infección neumocócica. La determinación de antígeno neumocócico mediante esta técnica es una herramienta útil en el diagnóstico de la neumonía comunitaria, principalmente por su alta especificidad (AU)