BACKGROUND: Chitotriosidase is an accepted marker of macrophage activation. In this study, we investigated serum chitotriosidase levels in pulmonary tuberculosis (PTB). METHODS: Forth-two patients with PTB and 30 healthy subjects were enrolled in the study. The radiological extent of PTB, radiological sequela after treatment, and the degree of smear positivity were assessed. Chitotriosidase levels were measured by a fluorometric method. RESULTS: The serum chitotriosidase levels of the PTB patients were significantly higher than those of the control subjects (39.73+/-24.97 vs. 9.63+/-4.55 nmol/mL/h, P<0.001). After completion of the standard 6-month antituberculous treatment, chitotriosidase levels in PTB patients significantly decreased (10.47+/-4.54 nmol/mL/h, P<0.001). Chitotriosidase levels correlated significantly with the radiological extent of PTB, degree of smear positivity, and post-treatment radiological sequela score (r=0.439, r=0.449, and r=0.337, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: This study demonstrated that serum chitotriosidase levels increase in PTB; therefore, chitotriosidase can be used as a marker of disease activity, severity, and response to treatment.
Adult ; Antitubercular Agents/therapeutic use ; Biological Markers/blood ; Fluorometry ; Hexosaminidases/*blood ; Humans ; Male ; ROC Curve ; Severity of Illness Index ; Tuberculosis, Pulmonary/drug therapy/*enzymology/radiography ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the effect of different immune status on the incidence of hepatic lesions in patients with hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection undergoing anti-tuberculosis therapy.

METHODSThe PubMed (1966-2013), Embase (1966-2013), Wanfang (1998-2013), Chinese National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI; 1997-2013), and Chinese Biomedical (CBMdisc; 1860-2013) literature databases were searched for case-control studies of hepatic lesions in patients undergoing anti-tuberculosis therapy with or without concomitant HBV infection. The HBV patients were divided into subgroups according to hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg) positivity or negativity, all members of the control group were HBsAg⁻. The data from all 7 studies included in the meta-analysis were extracted and analysed using RevMan5.2 soft-ware.

RESULTSPatients with HBV infection who were undergoing anti-tuberculosis therapy had a higher risk factor than the control patients (OR =5.81, 95% CI =[4.26, 7.39]). The HBV patients with HBeAg positivity who were undergoing anti-tuberculosis therapy had a high risk factor than the HBV patients with HBeAg negativity (OR =2.56, 95% CI=[1.90, 3.44]).

CONCLUSIONHBV infection is a risk factor for hepatic lesions when undergoing anti-tuberculosis therapy, and HBeAg-positive status may put a patient at higher risk.

Antitubercular Agents ; adverse effects ; therapeutic use ; Hepatitis B ; complications ; pathology ; Hepatitis B e Antigens ; blood ; Humans ; Liver ; drug effects ; pathology ; Tuberculosis ; complications ; drug therapy ; pathology

Although tuberculosis is largely a curable disease, it remains a major cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide. Although the standard 6-month treatment regimen is highly effective for drug-susceptible tuberculosis, the use of multiple drugs over long periods of time can cause frequent adverse drug reactions. In addition, some patients with drug-susceptible tuberculosis do not respond adequately to treatment and develop treatment failure and drug resistance. Response to tuberculosis treatment could be affected by multiple factors associated with the host-pathogen interaction including genetic factors and the nutritional status of the host. These factors should be considered for effective tuberculosis control. Therefore, therapeutic drug monitoring (TDM), which is individualized drug dosing guided by serum drug concentrations during treatment, and pharmacogenetics-based personalized dosing guidelines of anti-tuberculosis drugs could reduce the incidence of adverse drug reactions and increase the likelihood of successful treatment outcomes. Moreover, assessment and management of comorbid conditions including nutritional status could improve anti-tuberculosis treatment response.
Antitubercular Agents/blood/*therapeutic use ; Arylamine N-Acetyltransferase/genetics ; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; Drug Monitoring ; Humans ; Nutritional Status ; Pharmacogenetics ; Tandem Mass Spectrometry ; Tuberculosis/*drug therapy

OBJECTIVETo study the distribution of isoniazid and its metabolite in spinal tuberculosis following chemotherapy.

METHODSTwenty-three patients with spinal tuberculosis received chemotherapy with 2SHRZ/16HRZ (for a total of 18 months). Four weeks after the chemotherapy, all the patients underwent surgery and specimens of the serum, ilium and vertebral tissue including the sclerotic wall, focus inside the sclerotic wall (if present) and destructed foci were obtained. CT was performed in all the cases to test the HU of the foci before operation, and the levels of isoniazid and its metabolite in the specimen were measured with high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC).

RESULTSThe levels of isoniazid and its metabolite were the highest in the serum, followed by normal ilium and non-sclerotic bone, and were extremely low in the sclerotic wall and foci. Their levels in the non-sclerotic bone of the compromised vertebra and normal vertebra showed no significant difference (P>0.05), but in the sclerotic bone, their levels were significantly higher than in the normal vertebra (P<0.05). Isoniazid and its metabolite are hardly detectable in the sclerotic foci in the compromised vertebrae.

CONCLUSIONIsoniazid and its metabolite may reach therapeutic concentration in normal vertebra and nonsclerotic bones of the compromised vertebra, but not in the disease foci or the sclerotic bone of the compromised vertebrae.

Adult ; Aged ; Antitubercular Agents ; blood ; pharmacokinetics ; therapeutic use ; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; Female ; Humans ; Isoniazid ; analogs & derivatives ; blood ; pharmacokinetics ; therapeutic use ; Lumbar Vertebrae ; metabolism ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Tuberculosis, Spinal ; drug therapy ; Young Adult

PURPOSE: Low serum concentrations of drugs used to treat multi-drug resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB) have occasionally been associated with treatment failure. We determined the frequencies of low serum concentrations of anti-MDR-TB drugs, and assessed the effects of these concentrations on 2-month sputum conversion. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The serum levels of moxifloxacin (MF), prothionamide (PTH), and cycloserine (CS) were determined for 89 serum samples by high-pressure liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. RESULTS: Low serum concentrations of MF, PTH, and CS below the minimal levels of the normal ranges were 83.3% (20/24), 59.2% (29/49), and 71.2% (47/66), respectively. There were no significant differences between the 2-month sputum conversion group (n=25) and the 2-month sputum non-conversion group (n=4) in median drug concentrations (microg/mL) of MF (1.46 vs. 1.60), PTH (0.91 vs. 0.70), and CS (14.90 vs. 14.90). However, a poor compliance rate was significantly greater in the 2-month sputum non-conversion group (75.0%, 3/4) than in the 2-month sputum conversion group (0%, 0/25) (p=0.001). CONCLUSION: The frequency of low serum concentrations of anti-MDR-TB drugs was substantial and might not affect the 2-month sputum conversion rate. Larger prospective studies with timely sampling are needed to investigate the role of therapeutic drug monitoring in MDR-TB.
Adult ; Aged ; Antitubercular Agents/blood/*pharmacokinetics/therapeutic use ; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; Cycloserine/blood/*pharmacokinetics/therapeutic use ; Fluoroquinolones/blood/*pharmacokinetics/therapeutic use ; Humans ; Medication Adherence ; Middle Aged ; Prothionamide/blood/*pharmacokinetics/therapeutic use ; Retrospective Studies ; Sputum/*microbiology ; Tandem Mass Spectrometry ; Tuberculosis, Multidrug-Resistant/blood/*drug therapy ; Young Adult

BACKGROUND: The human immune response to Mycobacterium tuberculosis is mediated by macrophages and T-lymphocytes. The alveolar macrophage phagocyting mycobacterium produces interleukin (IL) -1 as an inflammatory mediator, and IL-8 as a cytokine for leukocyte recruitment and granuloma formation. Interleukin-1 receptor antagonist (IL-1ra) is an internal antagonist of IL-1. METHODS: Plasma levels of IL-1ra and IL-8 and other serologic markers were measured in 18 patients with active tuberculosis before treatment and after 2 months and 6 months of treatment. RESULTS: During treatment with antituberculous medication, patients showed significant changes in hemoglobin, hematocrit, white blood cells (WBC), platelet, erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), C-reactive protein (CRP), ferritin and plasma IL-1ra. After 2 months of treatment, ESR and CRP diminished significantly; after 6 months, hemoglobin increased while WBC, platelet, ESR, CRP and ferritin decreased significantly compared to their pre-treatment levels. There were two groups: patients with delayed therapeutic responses, and patients with early responses. At each point of observation, the former group of patients showed lower body weight and lower levels of hemoglobin and hematocrit, and higher levels of WBC, platelet, ESR, IL-8 and IL-1ra than the latter group. During the course of the treatment, we observed considerable differences in body weight, body mass index, hemoglobin, hematocrit, WBC and platelet counts, ESR, CRP and ferritin in both the early-response and delayed-response groups. CONCLUSION: We believe that the plasma concentrations of IL-1ra and IL-8, which showed different peaks during the course of treatment, reflected their different functions and patterns of secretion. Moreover the concentrations did not seem as sensitive as other inflammatory markers to evaluate disease activity during antituberculosis treatment. However, IL-1ra can be considered a marker for disease activity and response to treatment.
Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Antitubercular Agents/therapeutic use ; Biological Markers/*blood ; C-Reactive Protein/analysis ; Comparative Study ; Female ; Human ; Interleukin-8/*blood ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Receptors, Interleukin-1/*antagonists & inhibitors ; Sialoglycoproteins/*blood ; Tuberculosis, Pulmonary/*blood/*drug therapy

The correlation between serum anti-tuberculosis (TB) drug levels and the drug-induced hepatotoxicity (DIH) remains unclear. The purpose of this study was to investigate whether anti-TB DIH is associated with basal serum drug levels. Serum peak levels of isoniazid (INH), rifampicin (RMP), pyrazinamide (PZA), and ethambutol (EMB) were analyzed in blood samples 2 hr after the administration of anti-TB medication. Anti-TB DIH and mild liver function test abnormality were diagnosed on the basis of laboratory and clinical criteria. Serum anti-TB drug levels and other clinical factors were compared between the hepatotoxicity and non-hepatotoxicity groups. A total of 195 TB patients were included in the study, and the data were analyzed retrospectively. Seventeen (8.7%) of the 195 patients showed hepatotoxicity, and the mean aspartate aminotransferase/alanine aminotransferase levels in the hepatotoxicity group were 249/249 IU/L, respectively. Among the 17 patients with hepatotoxicity, 12 showed anti-TB DIH. Ten patients showed PZA-related hepatotoxicity and 2 showed INH- or RMP-related hepatotoxicity. However, intergroup differences in the serum levels of the 4 anti-TB drugs were not statistically significant. Basal serum drug concentration was not associated with the risk anti-TB DIH in patients being treated with the currently recommended doses of first-line anti-TB treatment drugs.
Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Alanine Transaminase/blood ; Antitubercular Agents/adverse effects/*blood/therapeutic use ; Aspartate Aminotransferases/blood ; Drug-Induced Liver Injury/*blood ; Ethambutol/adverse effects/blood/therapeutic use ; Female ; Humans ; Isoniazid/adverse effects/blood/therapeutic use ; Liver/*pathology ; Liver Function Tests ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Pyrazinamide/adverse effects/blood/therapeutic use ; Retrospective Studies ; Rifampin/adverse effects/blood/therapeutic use ; Tuberculosis, Pulmonary/drug therapy ; Young Adult

The correlation between serum anti-tuberculosis (TB) drug levels and the drug-induced hepatotoxicity (DIH) remains unclear. The purpose of this study was to investigate whether anti-TB DIH is associated with basal serum drug levels. Serum peak levels of isoniazid (INH), rifampicin (RMP), pyrazinamide (PZA), and ethambutol (EMB) were analyzed in blood samples 2 hr after the administration of anti-TB medication. Anti-TB DIH and mild liver function test abnormality were diagnosed on the basis of laboratory and clinical criteria. Serum anti-TB drug levels and other clinical factors were compared between the hepatotoxicity and non-hepatotoxicity groups. A total of 195 TB patients were included in the study, and the data were analyzed retrospectively. Seventeen (8.7%) of the 195 patients showed hepatotoxicity, and the mean aspartate aminotransferase/alanine aminotransferase levels in the hepatotoxicity group were 249/249 IU/L, respectively. Among the 17 patients with hepatotoxicity, 12 showed anti-TB DIH. Ten patients showed PZA-related hepatotoxicity and 2 showed INH- or RMP-related hepatotoxicity. However, intergroup differences in the serum levels of the 4 anti-TB drugs were not statistically significant. Basal serum drug concentration was not associated with the risk anti-TB DIH in patients being treated with the currently recommended doses of first-line anti-TB treatment drugs.
Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Alanine Transaminase/blood ; Antitubercular Agents/adverse effects/*blood/therapeutic use ; Aspartate Aminotransferases/blood ; Drug-Induced Liver Injury/*blood ; Ethambutol/adverse effects/blood/therapeutic use ; Female ; Humans ; Isoniazid/adverse effects/blood/therapeutic use ; Liver/*pathology ; Liver Function Tests ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Pyrazinamide/adverse effects/blood/therapeutic use ; Retrospective Studies ; Rifampin/adverse effects/blood/therapeutic use ; Tuberculosis, Pulmonary/drug therapy ; Young Adult

Tuberculous aneurysm of the aorta is exceedingly rare. To date, the standard therapy for mycotic aneurysm of the abdominal aorta has been surgery involving in-situ graft placement or extra-anatomic bypass surgery followed by effective anti-tuberculous medication. Only recently has the use of a stent graft in the treat-ment of tuberculous aortic aneurysm been described in the literature. We report two cases in which a tuberculous aneurysm of the abdominal aorta was success-fully repaired using endovascular stent grafts. One case involved is a 42-year-old woman with a large suprarenal abdominal aortic aneurysm and a right psoas abscess, and the other, a 41-year-old man in whom an abdominal aortic aneurysm ruptured during surgical drainage of a psoas abscess.
Adult ; Aneurysm, Infected/drug therapy/radiography/*surgery ; Antitubercular Agents/therapeutic use ; Aortic Aneurysm, Abdominal/drug therapy/radiography/*surgery ; *Blood Vessel Prosthesis Implantation ; Case Report ; Female ; Human ; Male ; Psoas Abscess/surgery ; *Stents ; Tuberculosis, Cardiovascular/drug therapy/radiography/*surgery

OBJECTIVETo study the effect and mechanism of Ganbi decoction (GBD) in treating patients with antituberculotic agent caused liver injury (ATB-LI).

METHODSOne hundred and twenty-eight patients with ATB-LI were randomly assigned to the treated group (n = 66) and the control group (n = 62) with the envelop method. Meanwhile, 60 healthy persons were selected as the healthy control group. The treated group was treated by GBD one dose every day with the constituents modified depending on patients' symptoms, and the control group was treated with glucuronolactone tablets and inosine injection. One week was taken as one treatment course. The changes of clinical syndromes, physical signs, T-lymphycyte sub-groups and serum level of nitric oxide (NO) were observed before and after treatment and the recovery time of liver function was recorded. The outcome was compared with that in the healthy control group.

RESULTSIn the treated group, 28 patients (42.4%) were cured, 30 (45.5%) improved and 8 (12.1%) ineffectively cured, the total effective rate being 87.9% (58/66). In the control group, 17 patients (27.4%) were cured, 24 (38.7%) improved, and 21 (33.9%) ineffectively cured, the total effective rate being 66.1% (41/62). The total effective rate in the treated group was significantly higher than that in the control group (P < 0.05). Liver function was improved in both groups, recovery time in the treated group was 12.0 +/- 7.0 days, which was significantly shorter than that in the control group (16.0 +/- 8.0 days), showing significant difference between the two groups (P < 0.05). The levels of CD3, CD4 and CD8 were significantly higher and level of NO significantly lower in the two groups of patients than those in the healthy control group (P < 0.05), but these parameters were improved more significantly in the treated group after treatment, when compared with those before treatment or with those in the control group, all showing significant difference (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONGBD could prevent ATB-LI, and its mechanism could be by way of reducing NO production induced by endotoxin of macrophage and stimulating the proliferation of T-lymphycyte to elevate immunity.

Adult ; Aged ; Antitubercular Agents ; adverse effects ; Chemical and Drug Induced Liver Injury ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; therapeutic use ; Female ; Glucuronates ; therapeutic use ; Humans ; Inosine ; therapeutic use ; Liver Diseases ; drug therapy ; Liver Function Tests ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Nitric Oxide ; blood ; T-Lymphocyte Subsets ; Treatment Outcome