tuberculosis
A call to invest in post-TB lung disease to halt TB transmission in communities
Dear Editor We undertook an evaluation of former TB patients for pulmonary rehabilitation. Our diagnostic evaluation aimed to implement clinical standards for post-TB lung disease (PTLD) using operational research. 1 Nightingale et al. also issued a clinical statement, addressing diverse post-TB morbidities such as social, economic, neurological, cardiovascular, PTLD and psychiatric impairments. 2 In low-and middle-income African countries (such as Sudan, Ethiopia and Kenya), only 4 in 10 clinicians can diagnose PTLD, contributing to an underestimation of its burden.
Blood and site of disease inflammatory profiles differ in HIV-1-infected pericardial tuberculosis patients
Blood and site of disease inflammatory profiles differ in patients with pericardial tuberculosis and human immunodeficiency virus type 1
BTS Winter Meeting 2025
Wed, 26 Nov 2025
The Lungs at Work team attended, presented and chaired at the most recent British Thoracic Society (BTS) Winter Meeting between 26-28 November 2025 in Westminster, London.
Our team presented the following abstracts:
- S112 Description of 32 cases of artificial stone silicosis from a single UK centre (presented by Dr Jo Feary)
- S113 Silicosis prevalence and association with cumulative silica exposure among current and ex- underground small-scale miners in Northern Tanzania (presented by Dr Patrick Howlett)
- S114 Longitudinal change in respiratory function in firefighters; results from the Grenfell Firefighter Study (presented by BSc medical student)
- M37 The burden and determinants of tuberculosis among small-scale miners and community members in Northern Tanzania (presented by Dr Patrick Howlett)
- P73 Changing trends in occupational asthma cases identified at a single specialist centre over 30 years (presented by nurse Tamanna Kabir)
Dr Feary was co-chair for a session on "Occupational hazards of exposure to particulates", and Dr Howlett a co-chair for a session titled "Breathing room: Confronting lung diseases from modern workplaces".
See the full event programme with full abstracts on the BTS website.
Comparison of the frequency and phenotypic profile of Mycobacterium tuberculosis-specific CD4 T cells between the site of disease and blood in pericardial tuberculosis
Studies of the immune response at the site of disease in extra-pulmonary tuberculosis (EPTB) disease are scarce. In this study, we compared the cellular profile of Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb)-specific T cells in pericardial fluid and peripheral blood in patients with pericardial TB (PCTB). Whole blood and pericardial fluid (PCF) samples were collected at the time of diagnostic sampling, with repeat blood sampling after completion of anti-tubercular treatment (ATT) in 16 PCTB patients, most of them being HIV-1 infected (n=14).
Confronting the growing epidemic of silicosis and tuberculosis among small-scale miners
An estimated 49·5 million small-scale miners worldwide are exposed to high concentrations of silica during their work. The substantial morbidity and mortality of silicosis and tuberculosis among workers exposed to such intensities have been documented. This Viewpoint raises concern at the failure to respond to a growing epidemic of lung disease (predominantly silicosis and tuberculosis) among small-scale miners.
Patrick Howlett shortlisted for MRC Max Perutz Science Writing Award 2025
Fri, 28 Nov 2025
Dr Patrick Howlett was shortlisted for the MRC Max Perutz Science Writing Award 2025 for his article on why his area of research matters, titled "Silicosis and tuberculosis: half the world away".
The annual award has been running for 27 years, and is a science communication competition for current MRC PhD students.
You can read the full article on the MRC website.
Congratulations Dr Howlett!
Profile of Mycobacterium tuberculosis-specific CD4 T cells at the site of disease and blood in pericardial tuberculosis
Our understanding of the immune response at the site of disease in extra-pulmonary tuberculosis (EPTB) is still limited. In this study, using flow cytometry, we defined the pericardial fluid (PCF) cellular composition and compared the phenotypic and functional profile of Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb)-specific T cells between PCF and whole blood in 16 patients with pericardial TB (PCTB). We found that lymphocytes were the predominant cell type in PCF in PCTB, with a preferential influx of CD4 T cells.
Retrospective diagnostic accuracy study of Abbott RealTime MTB against Xpert MTB/RIF Ultra and Xpert MTB/RIF for the diagnosis of pulmonary tuberculosis and susceptibility to Rifampin and Isoniazid treatment
High-throughput centralized testing for tuberculosis (TB) and drug resistance is important, but comparative data are limited. In this retrospective cross-sectional study, participants were recruited from Johannesburg, South Africa, and Tbilisi, Georgia. The index tests, Abbott RealTime MTB (RT-MTB) and RealTime MTB RIF/INH (RT-MTB RIF/INH), were performed on specimens stored frozen for an extended period of time (beyond manufacturer-validated specifications) and compared to paired Xpert MTB/RIF Ultra (Xpert Ultra) and Xpert MTB/RIF (Xpert) results obtained with fresh specimens.
Silicosis and silicotuberculosis among respiratory hospital admissions: A cross-sectional survey in northern Tanzania
