The percent body fat (PBF) and 15 anthropometric measurements were measured in 221 obese white females randomly assigned to validation and cross-validation groups. Two new anthropometric equations for the prediction of the percent of body fat were generated by multiple regression. Equation 1 includes the residual lung volume (RV) as a factor and had a correlation coefficient (r) of 0.85 and a standard error of the estimate (SEE) of 3.9%. Equation 2 does not include the RV and has an r of 0.82 and an SEE of 4.3%. Both equations were more precise than two previous widely used equations. In a subgroup of 37 subjects who underwent weight loss, equation 1 gave a more precise estimate of the change in PBF. We conclude that the new equations permit a better prediction of the PBF in obese white females.

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A group of 10 patients with recently diagnosed pulmonary TB were studied and compared to 10 bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG) immunized healthy individuals. Cellular immune mechanisms were explored in vitro utilizing fresh and precultured peripheral blood mononuclear cells exposed to PHA, PPD, and recall antigens (SK/SD and CA). Proliferative assays were also carried out in the presence of either each patient's serum (autologous serum) or cocultured with CD3(+)-depleted adherent cells. Serum measurements of soluble interleukin-2 (IL-2) receptor and synthesis of IL-2 generated by mononuclear cells stimulated with PPD and SK/SD were also performed. Patient sera were able to inhibit autologous as well as allogeneic cell responses, and a significant adherent cell suppressive effect was observed. As a whole the group of patients showed decreased blast transformation to PPD, preserved proliferative responses to other recall antigens, and a low PPD-induced generation of IL-2. Furthermore, as possible evidence of preactivated T cells, these patients demonstrated high soluble IL-2 receptor serum levels. Early compromise of specific cell-mediated immunity, including IL-2 abnormalities, may be of significance in newly diagnosed pulmonary TB.

Molecular epidemiology of circulating clinical isolates is crucial to improve prevention strategies. The Spanish Working Group on multidrug resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB) is a network that monitors the MDR-TB isolates in Spain since 1998. The aim of this study was to present the study of the MDR-TB and extensively drug-resistant tuberculosis (XDR-TB) patterns in Spain using the different recommended genotyping methods over time by a national coordinated system. Based on the proposed genotyping methods in the European Union until 2018, the preservation of one method, MIRU-VNTR, applied to selected clustered strains permitted to maintain our study open for 20 years. The distribution of demographic, clinical and epidemiological characteristics of clustered and non-clustered cases of MDR/XDR tuberculosis with proportion differences as assessed by Pearson’s chi-squared or Fisher’s exact test was compared. The differences in the quantitative variables using the Student's-t test and the Mann–Whitney U test were evaluated. The results obtained showed a total of 48.4% of the cases grouped in 77 clusters. Younger age groups, having a known TB case contact (10.2% vs 4.7%) and XDR-TB (16.5% vs 1.8%) were significantly associated with clustering. The largest cluster corresponded to a Mycobacterium bovis strain mainly spread during the nineties. A total of 68.4% of the clusters detected were distributed among the different Spanish regions and six clusters involving 104 cases were grouped in 17 and 18 years. Comparison of the genotypes obtained with those European genotypes included in The European Surveillance System (TESSy) showed that 87 cases had become part of 20 European clusters. The continuity of MDR strain genotyping in time has offered a widespread picture of the situation that allows better management of this public health problem. It also shows the advantage of maintaining one genotyping method over time, which allowed the comparison between ancient, present and future samples.

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