In light of its clinical course the finding of a non-inflamed appendiceal diverticulum should prompt one to consider incidental appendicectomy. We also review the literature on appendiceal diverticulitis.”
“OBJECTIVE: To determine whether patients receiving directly observed treatment (DOT) had lower all-cause mortality than those treated with self-administered treatment (SAT)

and to identify factors associated with mortality among tuberculosis (TB) patients.

DESIGN: All TB patients in Taipei, Taiwan, diagnosed between 2006 and 2008 were included in a retrospective cohort study.

RESULTS: Among 3624 TB patients, 45.5% received DOT, which was disproportionately offered to older patients and those with more underlying illness and severe TB disease. After controlling for patients’ sociodemographic factors, clinical findings and underlying comorbidities, the odds of death were 40% lower (aOR Ganetespib purchase 0.60, 95%CI 0.5-0.8) among patients treated with DOT than those on SAT. After adjusting for DOT, independent predictors of death included non-Taiwan

birth, increasing age, male, unemployment, end-stage renal disease requiring dialysis, malignancy, acid-fast selleck products bacilli smear positivity and pleural effusion.

CONCLUSION: DOT was associated with lower all-cause mortality after controlling for confounding factors. DOT should be expanded in Taiwan to improve critical treatment outcomes among TB patients.”
“SETTING: A high tuberculosis (TB) burden rural area in South Africa.

OBJECTIVE: To compare TB case yield and disease profile among bacille Calmette-Guerin (BCG) vaccinated children using two case-finding strategies from birth until 2 years of age.

DESIGN: BCG-vaccinated infants were enrolled within 2 weeks of birth and randomised to 3-monthly home visits for questionnaire-based TB screening plus record surveillance of TB registers, hospital admission and

X-ray lists at health facilities for TB suspects and cases (Group 1), or record surveillance (as above) only (Group 2). Both groups received a close-out visit after 2 years. Participants were evaluated for suspected TB disease using standardised investigations.

RESULTS: A total of 4786 infants were enrolled: 2392 were randomised to Group 1 and 2394 to Group 2. The case-finding rate was significantly selleck chemical greater in Group 1 (2.2/100 py) than in Group 2 (0.8/100 py), with a case-finding rate ratio of 2.6 (95%CI 1.8-4.0, P < 0.001). Although the proportion of cases with bacteriological confirmation was lower in Group 1, this difference did not reach statistical significance. There was also no significant difference in the proportions with TB symptoms and signs.

CONCLUSION: Home visits combined with record surveillance detected significantly more cases than record surveillance with a single study-end visit. The TB case profile did not differ significantly between the two groups.