This study explored the utility of sputum colour in clinically stable patients with bronchiectasis. Interpretation of sputum colour between the doctor and the patient was reliable (intraclass correlation coefficient 0.83 (95% confidence interval 0.76-0.89). Sputum colour predicted bacterial colonisation (5% in mucoid sputum; 43.5% in mucopurulent sputum; 86.4% in purulent sputum; p<0.0001). On ...

Molecular analysis of sputum can help diagnose lung cancer. We have demonstrated that Lung Flute can be used to collect sputum from individuals who cannot spontaneously expectorate sputum. The objective of this study is to further evaluate the performance of the Lung Flute by comparing the characteristics of parallel samples collected with and without the Lung Flute and the usefulness for diagn...

BACKGROUND In many resource poor settings only sputum microscopy is employed for the diagnosis of HIV-associated pulmonary tuberculosis; sputum culture may not be available. METHODS We determined the diagnostic accuracy of sputum microscopy for active case finding of HIV-associated pulmonary tuberculosis using TB culture as the reference standard. RESULTS 2216 potential subjects screened fo...

background: recently, reports have indicated a role for the membrane form of toll-like receptor 2 (tlr2) in asthma pathogenesis. in this study we examined soluble tlr2 levels in serum and sputum of asthmatic and healthy subjects. methods: serum and sputum samples were obtained from 33 asthmatic and 19 healthy subjects. the asthmatics were classified into four groups according to the global init...

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BACKGROUND In the era of Direct Observation Treatment (DOT) for tuberculosis, clinicians need to focus on high-risk groups. We present sputum conversion rate at one and two months following DOT and its predictors in Oman. STUDY DESIGN Hospital-based clinical intervention type of case series. METHODS Chest physicians in a referral hospital examined sputum-positive cases of tuberculosis betwe...

RESEARCH QUESTION Can we minimize cough duration and number of sputum samples in chest symptomatic patients for screening of TB? OBJECTIVE To evaluate cough of 3 weeks versus 2 weeks duration using two sputum samples versus three samples in chest symptomatic patients attending the OPD. STUDY DESIGN Hospital-based cross-sectional study. MATERIALS AND METHODS Outpatients (2810) with H/O cou...

Background: Sulfur mustard (SM) is a strong bifunctional alkylating agent that causes delayed complications in organs such as lung. Oxidative stress plays a pivotal role in the pathogenesis and progression of many pulmonary diseases. The aim of this study was to investigate the oxidative stress in sputum of SM exposed patients with mild, moderate and severe pulmonary dysfunction and assessing t...