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Sera from patients with active tuberculosis and sera from appropriate control individuals were assayed for immunoglobulin G antibody activity to purified protein derivative by a polystyrene tube radioimmunoassay and an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Both assays showed a marked increase in immunoglobulin G antibody activity in patients with active tuberculosis. There was no overlap between the values for the patient group and the values for the purified protein derivative skin test-positive control individuals. The replication of these assays was excellent, and both could provide quantitative measurements of immunoglobulin G antibody activity to purified protein derivative antigen within 24 h. These techniques have potential as rapid diagnostic aids in evaluating patients with suspected active tuberculosis.

Abstract: In a young woman with clinical evidence of acute cutaneous, musculoskeletal, and neurologic manifestations of systemic lupus erythematosus, computed tomography (CT) showed enlarged, centrally hypoattenuating mesenteric and retroperitoneal lymph nodes. After treatment with steroids, the CT appearance of the lymph nodes returned to normal. The differential diagnosis of lymph nodes with central hypoattenuation includes Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection, metastatic disease (especially squamous cell carcinoma and germ cell tumor), Whipple's disease, and celiac disease in addition to lupus lymphadenitis.

Since the 1760s, industrialization of the world has gone through four revolutions where the 4th revolution has expeditiously taken over from the traditional practices. The Industry 4.0 that embraces the computerization in smart factories requires improved capacities in science, technology, engineering, and mathematical (STEM) fields. Nevertheless, the present circumstances in Malaysia demonstrate that the numbers of youth who decide to follow STEM routes for tertiary education are far less encouraging. Thus, this study aimed to explore the factors affecting university students' decisions. Data used in this study was obtained from a survey of 102 Diploma in Accountancy students from one of the public universities in Malaysia, who were selected using purposive sampling method. This study employed the descriptive statistical method, principal component analysis (PCA) and multiple regressions analysis. The PCA on the questionnaire measurement items yielded factors accounting for 68.22 per cent of the total variance. In the multiple regression model, low morale attitude, learning experience and return on investment explained 53 per cent of the total variance of perception. This study concludes that the roles of national workforce that consists of education system, culture, and government must be strengthened to enhance STEM education system in Malaysia.

Abstract: Murine typhus is a rickettsial infection that remains endemic in parts of Texas and California. Clinical manifestations of the infection are due to vasculitis. In a patient who acquired the infection in the United States, computed tomograhpy demonstrated intrasplenic pseudoaneurysms, infarcts, and hemorrhage.

Sera from patients with active pulmonary tuberculosis and pulmonary diseases frequently mimicking tuberculosis were assayed for immunoglobulin G antibody activity to purified protein derivative (PPD) by an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. A method of standardization was developed to limit assay variation. Patients with active pulmonary tuberculosis had a significantly greater mean level of antibody than had patients with atypical tuberculosis (P = 0.005), sarcoidosis (P = 0.0001), histoplasmosis (P = 0.004), blastomycosis (P = 0.008), or cryptococcosis (P = 0.017), patients who had received bacille Calmette-Guerin vaccination (P = 0.003) or who had a history of treated tuberculosis (P = 0.003), and PPD skin test-positive and skin test-negative control subjects (P = 0.001). This technique may have potential use as a rapid diagnostic aid in evaluating patients with suspected active pulmonary tuberculosis.