BACKGROUND With the Interferon-gamma release assays (IGRA) a new method for the diagnosis of latent tuberculosis infections (LTBI) is available. Due to the lack of a gold standard for the diagnosis of LTBI, the IGRA is compared to the Mantoux Tuberculin Skin Test (TST), which yields discordant results in varying numbers. Therefore we assessed to which extent discordant results can be explained ...

This paper presents a design method of self-tuning Quantitative Feedback Theory (QFT) by using improved deadbeat control algorithm. QFT is a technique to achieve robust control with pre-defined specifications whereas deadbeat is an algorithm that could bring the output to steady state with minimum step size. Nevertheless, usually there are large peaks in the deadbeat response. By integrating QF...

The aim of this study was to compare the efficacy of the tuberculin skin test (TST) and the quantiferon test (QFT) for detecting latent tuberculosis infection (LTBI) in health care workers (HCWs). Seventy-six participants who were working in Duzce University Hospital, where tuberculosis patients were being treated, were included in the study. TST was performed according to the Mantoux technique...

OBJECTIVE This study evaluated the performance of the Tuberculin Skin Test (TST) and Quantiferon-TB Gold in-Tube (QFT) and the possible association of factors which may modify their results in young children (0-6 years) with recent contact with an index tuberculosis case. MATERIALS AND METHODS A cross-sectional study including 135 children was conducted in Manaus, Amazonas-Brazil. The TST and...

BACKGROUND The tuberculosis (TB) incidence rate in foreign-born individuals has been increasing in Germany in recent years. Foreign students may be an important source of latent tuberculosis infection (LTBI) in low-incidence countries. In Germany, there are no guidelines for LTBI screening of foreign students. The aim of the study was to estimate LTBI prevalence and evaluate associated risk fac...

The QuantiFERON-TB Gold In-Tube (QFT-GIT) assay provides suboptimal diagnostic performance in patients with miliary tuberculosis. QFT-GIT results should be carefully interpreted, particularly in patients suspected of having miliary tuberculosis with severe lymphocytopenia or an extent of ground glass opacity (GGO) >50% on chest computed tomography (CT). Diagnostic performance of the QFT-GIT ass...

BACKGROUND QuantiFERONTB Gold (QFT) is a promising blood test for tuberculosis infection but with few data so far from immigrant screening. The aim of this study was to compare results of QFT and tuberculin skin test (TST) among newly arrived asylum seekers in Norway and to assess the role of QFT in routine diagnostic screening for latent tuberculosis infection. METHODS The 1000 asylum seeker...

The quantum Fourier transform (QFT) is a key primitive for computing that typically used as subroutine within larger computation, instance phase estimation. As such, we may have little control over the state input to QFT. Thus, in implementing good QFT, imagine it needs perform well on arbitrary states. Verifying this worst-case correct behaviour of QFT-implementation would be exponentially har...

BACKGROUND QuantiFERON-TB Gold In Tube (QFT-GIT) is a tool for detecting M. tuberculosis infection. However, interpretation and utility of serial QFT-GIT testing of pediatric tuberculosis (TB) contacts is not well understood. We compared TB prevalence between baseline and 6 months follow-up using QFT-GIT and tuberculin skin testing (TST) in children who were household contacts of adults with pu...