In many countries, HIV testing among tuberculosis (TB) patients is recommended so that both infections are appropriately treated. Cross-reacting antibodies to HIV antigens have been reported for several conditions, including TB, leprosy, malaria, and rheumatoid arthritis. To study the pattern and prevalence of cross-reacting antibodies to HIV antigens, we examined sera from 153 HIV-negative TB patients and 40 healthy individuals in Chennai, south India. We also studied the differences in cross-reactivity of various HIV antigens using two different Western blot kits. Of the 153 samples studied, 80 were tested using HIV Western blot and 73 were tested using INNOLIA. Most patients in the study had concordantly negative ELISA and rapid tests, and no subject had a positive Western blot. However, seven TB patients had antibodies that cross-reacted with HIV antigens, giving rise to an indeterminate result. While p51/55 was the most frequently recognized antigen in the Western blot assay, antibodies to sgp120 was most frequently identified in INNOLIA. Sequence similarities between the two organisms could be responsible for eliciting cross-reacting antibodies, since a few related epitopes were identified in HIV and Mycobacterium. These findings could have potential implications for the development of diagnostics and vaccines.
Objectives: The aim of the study was to validate the utility of neck circumference (NC) as an anthropometric measure of the central obesity and its correlation with body mass index (BMI) and waist circumference (WC). The aim of the study was to determine age and gender specific NC cutoffs for screening central obesity. Materials and Methods: This descriptive study was conducted in 1139 children and adolescents aged 6–17 years. NC, WC, and BMI were measured. To define overweight and obesity in children, the 23rd and 27th adult equivalent lines for BMI as presented in the revised Indian Academy of Pediatrics growth charts were used. Results: Overweight and obese children had significantly higher NC than those with normal BMI (p<0.001). NC showed a positive correlation with both WC and BMI (p<0.001). In children aged <12 years, NC cutoff for screening obesity was 26.5 cm in both boys (sensitivity 83.3% and specificity 71.7%) and girls (81.4% and 70.5%). The area under the curve for NC was greater than that of WC in both boys (0.86 vs. 0.76) and girls (0.82 vs. 0.66). In children aged 12–17 years, NC cutoff values were 34 cm in boys (sensitivity 83.33% and specificity 75.60%) and 31 cm in girls (94.34% and 83.29%). The area under curve for WC was greater than that of NC in boys (0.94 vs. 0.88) and almost similar in girls (0.96 vs. 0.95). Conclusions: NC can accurately identify children with a high BMI. It is a better anthropometric measure than WC in identifying prepubertal children with central obesity. In children aged 12–17 years, it can be considered a good alternative for screening central obesity.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.