Article
Medicine, General & Internal
Juan F. Vesga, Christian Lienhardt, Placide Nsengiyumva, Jonathon R. Campbell, Olivia Oxlade, Saskia den Boon, Dennis Falzon, Kevin Schwartzman, Gavin Churchyard, Nimalan Arinaminpathy
Summary: This study analyzed the five most important regimen properties influencing the epidemiological impact of preventive tuberculosis treatment regimens, finding that efficacy is the most important predictor, with ease-of-adherence playing a significant secondary role. These results are consistent across different country settings and provide guidance for the further development of future treatment regimens.
Article
Infectious Diseases
Alessio Pampaloni, Maria Elena Locatelli, Emmanuele Venanzi Rullo, Salvatore Alaimo, Federica Cosentino, Andrea Marino, Vittoria Moscatt, Daniele Scuderi, Sara Puglisi, Gaetano Lupo, Benedetto Maurizio Celesia, Sergio Pintaudi, Claudio Pulvirenti, Manuela Ceccarelli, Giuseppe Nunnari, Alfredo Pulvirenti, Bruno Cacopardo
Summary: The study aimed to diagnose pulmonary TB in migrants from the African coast using a clinical-based screening program upon arrival in Italy. Results showed a significant reduction in TB spreading across the country as a result of the screening program.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF INFECTIOUS DISEASES
(2021)
Article
Immunology
Yi-Qiang Lin, Ya-Ling Gao, Mao Wang, Shui-Di Yan, Li-Rong Lin
Summary: This study investigates the clinical characteristics of patients with false-positive HIV screening test results and identifies potential diseases unrelated to HIV. Characterization of these patients can help in interpreting HIV screening test results.
INTERNATIONAL IMMUNOPHARMACOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Immunology
Lukas E. Bruemmer, Ryan R. Thompson, Akash Malhotra, Sourya Shrestha, Emily A. Kendall, Jason R. Andrews, Patrick Phillips, Payam Nahid, Adithya Cattamanchi, Florian M. Marx, Claudia M. Denkinger, David W. Dowdy
Summary: Low-complexity screening tests for tuberculosis (TB) have the potential to expand community-based case-finding efforts, but their costs and cost-effectiveness are not well understood.
CLINICAL INFECTIOUS DISEASES
(2023)
Article
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Nicky McCreesh, Aaron S. Karat, Kathy Baisley, Karin Diaconu, Fiammetta Bozzani, Indira Govender, Peter Beckwith, Tom A. Yates, Arminder K. Deol, Rein M. G. J. Houben, Karina Kielmann, Richard G. White, Alison D. Grant
Summary: The study found that a range of interventions, including outdoor waiting areas, UVGI systems, appointment systems, opening windows and doors, masks, clinic retrofits, and increased coverage of antiretroviral therapy prescriptions, were effective in reducing Mycobacterium tuberculosis transmission rates. Traditional IPC measures and non-traditional measures such as appointment systems were equally effective in reducing transmission rates.
Article
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Jun-Jie Mao, Xiao Zang, Wan-Lu Yue, Pei-Yao Zhai, Qiong Zhang, Chun-Hu Li, Xun Zhuang, Min Liu, Gang Qin
Summary: Given the ageing epidemic of tuberculosis (TB) in China, the first clinically approved next-generation TB vaccine Vaccae, proved to be effective in preventing reactivation from latent infection. This study evaluated the health and economic impacts of introducing Vaccae vaccination to inform policy-makers. The results showed that targeted vaccination among older adults could modestly reduce TB burden, preventing millions of TB cases and deaths over a 20-year period, at an incremental cost-effectiveness ratio of US$4387 per disability adjusted life year averted.
Article
Radiology, Nuclear Medicine & Medical Imaging
Mark M. Hammer, Suzanne C. Byrne, Chung Yin Kong
Summary: This study investigated factors influencing the false positive rate in CT LCS and found that patient-specific and site/radiologist-specific factors significantly affected the results, particularly with less experienced radiologists having a higher false positive rate. Screening programs may compare their radiologists' false positive rates to national benchmarks through quality assurance programs.
ACADEMIC RADIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Md Abdul Kuddus, Michael T. Meehan, Md. Abu Sayem, Emma S. McBryde
Summary: Tuberculosis is a major public health problem in Bangladesh, and mathematical modeling is considered an effective way to understand infection dynamics. Research found that enhanced case detection in single intervention strategies is most effective in reducing the burden of DS and MDR-TB, while combining additional interventions simultaneously leads to greater effectiveness in reducing the burden of MDR-TB.
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2021)
Article
Oncology
Kaitlyn M. Tsuruda, Marthe Larsen, Marta Roman, Solveig Hofvind
Summary: This study estimated the cumulative probability of experiencing a false-positive screening result in BreastScreen Norway, finding that nearly 1 in 5 women will experience a false-positive result after attending 10 screening rounds, with approximately one in 20 women requiring an invasive procedure.
Article
Oncology
Lindy M. Kregting, Nicolien T. van Ravesteyn, Sarocha Chootipongchaivat, Eveline A. M. Heijnsdijk, Johannes D. M. Otten, Mireille J. M. Broeders, Harry J. de Koning
Summary: Women's decision-making and adherence regarding participation in breast cancer screening are influenced by previous false-positive (FP) results. This study aimed to provide comprehensive information on the cumulative risks of FP recall and screen-detected breast cancer over multiple screening examinations. The data from the Dutch screening registry were analyzed, and it was found that after seven examinations, the cumulative risk of a true-positive (TP) result was 3.7%, while the cumulative risk of a FP result was 9.1%. Following a FP result, participation was lower, and more TP results, interval cancers, and FP results were found compared to women with true negative (TN) results.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF CANCER
(2023)
Article
Oncology
Bayan Sardini, Susanne Fogh Jorgensen, Lisbet Bronsro Larsen, Mohammad Talal Elhakim, Sisse Helle Njor
Summary: A register-based national study found that women assessed with "only ultrasound" or "only additional mammography" had higher relative risks of next-round screen-detected cancer compared to those who underwent assessments with both ultrasound and additional mammography. However, invasive assessments without ultrasound or additional mammography were not associated with an increased risk of subsequent cancer. Reminding women who undergo these assessments to attend subsequent screenings may be important.
Article
Obstetrics & Gynecology
Madison Miller, Rachel Cevigney, Mariam Ayyash, Majid Shaman, Monica Kole
Summary: A retrospective cohort study compared the occurrence of false-positive HIV test results in pregnant patients before and during the COVID-19 pandemic. The study found a significantly higher frequency of false-positive results during COVID-19, which was associated with SARS-CoV-2 seropositivity. However, when patients with positive SARS-CoV-2 PCR test results preceding the false-positive HIV results were excluded, the difference in frequency between the cohorts became non-significant.
OBSTETRICS AND GYNECOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Immunology
Nabila Shaikh, Puck T. Pelzer, Sanne M. Thysen, Partho Roy, Rebecca C. Harris, Richard G. White
Summary: The COVID-19 disruptions resulted in a 25% reduction in global BCG coverage and could lead to additional paediatric TB deaths if catch-up vaccinations are not implemented. Catch-up vaccination is crucial in minimizing excess paediatric TB mortality.
Article
Biochemical Research Methods
Lei Wang, Shao-Hua Shi, Hui Li, Xiang-Xiang Zeng, Su-You Liu, Zhao-Qian Liu, Ya-Feng Deng, Ai-Ping Lu, Ting-Jun Hou, Dong-Sheng Cao
Summary: Machine learning-based scoring functions (MLSFs) have gained popularity due to their potential superior screening performance compared to classical scoring functions. However, little is known about the information of negative data used in constructing MLSFs, and existing databases often contain biased putative inactive molecules. In this study, we propose an easy-to-use method called AMLSF that combines active learning and MLSF to improve the quality of inactive sets and reduce false positive rate. Our results demonstrate that AMLSF outperforms the control models in terms of identifying active molecules and reducing false positives.
BRIEFINGS IN BIOINFORMATICS
(2023)
Article
Psychiatry
Noa Katz Shroitman, Einat Peles, Sharona Even-Tov, Shaul Schreiber, Oren Tene
Summary: Patients with schizophrenia treated with long-term injectable risperidone may falsely test positive for fentanyl in rapid commercial screening kits, highlighting the potential for inaccurate results regarding fentanyl misuse in clinical settings.
PSYCHIATRY RESEARCH
(2021)
Editorial Material
Immunology
Sonali Kochhar, Draurio Barreira, Pauline Beattie, Marco Cavaleri, Alejandro Cravioto, Mike W. Frick, Ann M. Ginsberg, Ian Hudson, David C. Kaslow, Sherry Kurtz, Christian Lienhardt, Shabir A. Madhi, Christopher Morgan, Yalda Momeni, Deepali Patel, Helen Rees, Taryn Rogalski-Salter, Alexander Schmidt, Boitumelo Semete-Makokotlela, Gerald Voss, Richard G. White, Matteo Zignol, Birgitte Giersing
Summary: Currently, there is a lack of formal mechanisms or systematic approaches to provide vaccine developers with anticipated evidence to support global policy recommendations. To address this issue, the World Health Organization (WHO) is evaluating a new strategic alignment tool called Evidence Considerations for Vaccine Policy (ECVP). The aim of ECVPs is to bridge the gap in evidence needs and reduce the risk of delays between vaccine recommendation and use.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Rebecca C. Harris, Matthew Quaife, Chathika Weerasuriya, Gabriela B. Gomez, Tom Sumner, Fiammetta Bozzani, Richard G. White
Summary: The study evaluated the impact and cost-effectiveness of adolescent vaccination with the M72/AS01(E)-like vaccine in South Africa and India. The results showed that the vaccine was highly cost-effective in both settings. Additionally, vaccinating 50% of 18 year-olds was found to be similarly cost-effective to vaccinating 80% of 15 year-olds and more cost-effective than vaccinating 80% of 10 year-olds.
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2022)
Article
Medicine, General & Internal
Allison Portnoy, Rebecca A. Clark, Matthew K. Quaife, Chathika K. Weerasuriya, Christinah Mukandavire, Roel Bakker, Arminder K. Deol, Shelly Malhotra, Nebiat Gebreselassie, Matteo Zignol, So Yoon Sim, Raymond C. W. G. Hutubessy, Ines Garcia A. Baena, Nobuyuki Nishikiori, Mark Jit, Richard G. White, Nicolas A. Menzies
Summary: This study evaluates the future costs, cost-savings, and cost-effectiveness of introducing novel TB vaccines in low- and middle-income countries. The findings suggest that TB vaccination would be highly impactful and cost-effective, with significant health and economic benefits.
Article
Infectious Diseases
Danny Scarponi, Andrew Iskauskas, Rebecca A. Clark, Ian Vernon, Trevelyan J. McKinley, Michael Goldstein, Christinah Mukandavire, Arminder Deol, Chathika Weerasuriya, Roel Bakker, Richard G. White, Nicky McCreesh
Summary: Infectious disease models are used by epidemiologists to understand transmission dynamics, predict interventions, and improve disease understanding. However, as the complexity of these models increases, calibration to data becomes more challenging. This study introduces a new software, hmer, which efficiently calibrates complex models for tuberculosis vaccines to over 100 countries. The results show that hmer is a useful tool for epidemiologists to calibrate models and improve predictions.
Article
Critical Care Medicine
Molebogeng X. Rangaka, Mike Frick, Gavin Churchyard, Alberto L. Garcia-Basteiro, Mark Hatherill, Willem Hanekom, Philip C. Hill, Yohhei Hamada, Matthew Quaife, Johan Vekemans, Richard G. White, Frank Cobelens
Summary: This paper discusses the urgent need for new tuberculosis vaccines and improved tuberculosis preventive treatment (TPT) regimens. It examines how HIV vaccine trials have incorporated preventive treatment and proposes trial designs that integrate TPT. The considerations for each design in terms of trial validity, efficiency, participant safety, and ethics are summarized.
LANCET RESPIRATORY MEDICINE
(2023)
Article
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Fiammetta Maria Bozzani, Nicky McCreesh, Karin Diaconu, Indira Govender, Richard G. White, Karina Kielmann, Alison D. Grant, Anna Vassall
Summary: An economic evaluation conducted in two clinics in South Africa showed that tuberculosis infection prevention and control measures, including improving ventilation and maximizing the use of existing systems, are cost-effective and should be implemented within the country's health system.
Article
Infectious Diseases
Kristin N. Nelson, Gavin Churchyard, Frank Cobelens, Willem A. Hanekom, Philip C. Hill, Benjamin Lopman, Vidya Mave, Molebogeng X. Rangaka, Johan Vekemans, Richard G. White, Emily B. Wong, Leonardo Martinez, Alberto L. Garcia-Basteiro
Summary: Tuberculosis is a leading bacterial cause of death worldwide. Several vaccine candidates are currently in clinical trials to prevent tuberculosis in adolescents and adults. However, current trial designs do not provide information on the overall effect of introducing a vaccine program, including indirect effects. Understanding these effects is crucial for policymakers considering tuberculosis vaccination programs.
Article
Medicine, General & Internal
Rebecca A. Clark, Chathika K. Weerasuriya, Allison Portnoy, Christinah Mukandavire, Matthew Quaife, Roel Bakker, Danny Scarponi, Rebecca C. Harris, Kirankumar Rade, Sanjay Kumar Mattoo, Dheeraj Tumu, Nicolas A. Menzies, Richard G. White
Summary: The potential health and economic impact of M72/AS01(E) and BCG-revaccination in India were evaluated. The results showed that M72/AS01(E) vaccine could prevent more tuberculosis cases and deaths compared to BCG-revaccination, and almost all scenarios were cost-effective. However, there is uncertainty regarding the vaccine characteristics that requires further investment.
Article
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Peter J. Dodd, Christopher Finn Mcquaid, Prasada Rao, Ibrahim Abubakar, Nimalan Arinaminpathy, Anna Carnegie, Frank Cobelens, David Dowdy, Kathy Fiekert, Alison D. Grant, Jing Wu, Faith Nekabari Nfii, Nabila Shaikh, Rein M. G. J. Houben, Richard G. White
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF EPIDEMIOLOGY
(2023)
Editorial Material
Immunology
Philip C. Hill, Frank Cobelens, Leonardo Martinez, Marcel A. Behr, Gavin Churchyard, Tom Evans, Andrew J. Fiore-Gartland, Alberto L. Garcia-Basteiro, Willem Hanekom, Molebogeng X. Rangaka, Johan Vekemans, Richard G. White
Summary: The development of a new tuberculosis vaccine is crucial, but the traditional development pathway is a major obstacle. By increasing sample size, simplifying screening criteria and procedures, and strengthening site capacity, phase 3 tuberculosis vaccine trials can be significantly shortened.
JOURNAL OF INFECTIOUS DISEASES
(2023)
Letter
Immunology
Philip C. Hill, Frank Cobelens, Leonardo Martinez, Alberto L. Garcia-Basteiro, Marcel A. Behr, Molebogeng X. Rangaka, Gavin Churchyard, Tom Evans, Willem Hanekom, Richard G. White
JOURNAL OF INFECTIOUS DISEASES
(2023)
Article
Medicine, General & Internal
Allison Portnoy, Jean-Louis Arcand, Rebecca A. A. Clark, Chathika K. K. Weerasuriya, Christinah Mukandavire, Roel Bakker, Edith Patouillard, Nebiat Gebreselassie, Matteo Zignol, Mark Jit, Richard G. G. White, Nicolas A. A. Menzies
Summary: This study aimed to estimate the impact of introducing novel TB vaccines on GDP growth in 105 LMICs. The results showed that introducing new TB vaccines could increase economic growth in these countries, with a more significant effect in countries with higher current TB incidence.
Article
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Allison Portnoy, Rebecca A. Clark, Chathika K. Weerasuriya, Christinah Mukandavire, Matthew Quaife, Roel Bakker, Ines Garcia Baena, Nebiat Gebreselassie, Matteo Zignol, Mark Jit, Richard G. White, Nicolas A. Menzies
Summary: Introducing novel TB vaccines can reduce the financial burden and household economic risks for low-income individuals with tuberculosis. The health benefits of the vaccines are greatest for the lower income quintiles, reducing income-based inequalities in TB outcomes.
Article
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Danny Scarponi, Rebecca A. Clark, Chathika Krishan Weerasuriya, Jon Emery, Rein M. G. J. Houben, Richard White, Nicky McCreesh
Summary: Recent research suggests that self-clearance of Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection may be common, which could impact the potential impact of new tuberculosis vaccines. This study found that the inclusion of self-clearance in mathematical models increased the estimated relative reduction in incidence for vaccines effective only in uninfected individuals, but had variable effects on vaccines effective only in infected individuals. The inclusion of self-clearance had minimal impact on vaccines that work regardless of infection status.
Article
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Rebecca A. Clark, Christinah Mukandavire, Allison Portnoy, Chathika K. Weerasuriya, Arminder Deol, Danny Scarponi, Andrew Iskauskas, Roel Bakker, Matthew Quaife, Shelly Malhotra, Nebiat Gebreselassie, Matteo Zignol, Raymond C. W. Hutubessy, Birgitte Giersing, Mark Jit, Rebecca C. Harris, Nicolas A. Menzies, Richard G. White
Summary: The study estimated the impact of novel tuberculosis vaccines in low-income and middle-income countries (LMICs) under different delivery scenarios. It found that introducing new tuberculosis vaccines can significantly reduce cases and deaths, and a one-off vaccination campaign is crucial for rapid impact.
LANCET GLOBAL HEALTH
(2023)