SUMMARYSETTING: Molecular epidemiology suggests that most Mycobacterium tuberculosis transmission in high-burden settings occurs outside the home.OBJECTIVE: To estimate the risk of M. tuberculosis transmission inside public buildings in a high TB burden community in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa.DESIGN: Carbon dioxide (CO2) sensors were placed inside eight public buildings. Measurements were used with observations of occupancy to estimate infection risk using an adaptation of the Wells-Riley equation. Ventilation modelling using CONTAM was used to examine the impact of low-cost retrofits on transmission in a health clinic.RESULTS: Measurements indicate that infection risk in the church, classroom and clinic waiting room would be high with typical ventilation, occupancy levels and visit durations. For example, we estimated that health care workers in a clinic waiting room had a 16.9–24.5% annual risk of M. tuberculosis infection. Modelling results indicate that the simple addition of two new windows allowing for cross-ventilation, at a cost of US$330, would reduce the annual risk to health care workers by 57%.CONCLUSIONS: Results indicate that public buildings in this community have a range of ventilation and occupancy characteristics that may influence transmission risks. Simple retrofits may result in dramatic reductions in M. tuberculosis transmission, and intervention studies should therefore be considered.

Exposure to ambient NO2 and benzene, toluene ethyl-benzene and m+p- and o-xylenes (BTEX) is associated with adverse cardiovascular effects, but limited information is available on the effects of personal exposure to these compounds in South African populations. This 6-month follow-up study aims to determine 7-day personal ambient NO2 and BTEX exposure levels via compact passive diffusion samplers in female participants from Cape Town, and investigate whether exposure levels are associated with cardiovascular risk markers. Overall, the measured air pollutant exposure levels were lower compared to international standards. NO2 was positively associated with systolic and diastolic blood pressure (SBP and DBP), and inversely associated with the central retinal venular equivalent (CRVE) and mean baseline brachial artery diameter. o-xylene was associated with DBP and benzene was strongly associated with carotid intima media thickness (cIMT). Our findings showed that personal air pollution exposure, even at relatively low levels, was associated with several markers of cardiovascular risk in women residing in the Cape Town region.

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Tumor necrosis factor-like weak inducer of apoptosis (TWEAK) is a cytokine processed by proprotein convertase furin and released into extracellular space as a shorter bioactive fragment called soluble TWEAK (sTWEAK). CD163 has been identified as a new potential scavenger receptor for TWEAK. Studies in last years suggests that sTWEAK and sCD163 levels could be the potential biomarkers of some diseases like atherosclerosis. Behcet's disease (BD) is a chronic and relapsing multisystemic inflammatory disorder with unknown etiology. Systemic vasculitis is the main pathology observed in BD. The aim of the study to examine the sTWEAK and sCD163 concentrations in BD. Methods: The study group consists of 50 patients with BD and 30 healthy control individuals who do not use any drugs and have any systematic illness. sTWEAK and sCD163 concentrations were determined by Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA) in serum samples of the study group. Results: sTWEAK levels were significantly higher in BD (807 pg/mL vs. 663 pg/mL, p¼0.012) and also sCD163 levels were significantly higher in BD (644 ng/mL vs. 501 ng/mL, p¼0.002). Both sTWEAK and sCD163 concentrations were higher in active patients with BD (832 pg/mL and 667 ng/mL, respectively). Predictive values of sTWEAK and sCD163 levels obtained by Receiver Operating Characteristic (ROC) Curve analysis were found to be statistically significant. Conclusions: sTWEAK and sCD163 levels were increased in patients with Behcet's Disease. These two molecules can take part in the pathogenesis of Behcet's Disease and might be used for evaluation of the clinical activity of the disease.

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