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The study was conducted to evaluate the role of Mycoplasma pneumoniae (M. pneumoniae) in children with community-acquired lower respiratory tract infections (LRTIs).Seventy five children aged 2 months -12 years with community-acquired LRTIs were investigated for M. pneumoniae etiology employing paired serum samples to assay M. pneumoniae antibodies. Nasopharyngeal aspirates were obtained for the detection of M. pneumoniae by using polymerase chain reaction(PCR) and nested PCR.M. pneumoniae infection was positive in 24(85.71%) children aged5 years and 4 (14.29%) ​≥ ​5-12 years and the difference was statistically insignificant (P ​= ​0.18). Difference in prevalence of M. pneumoniae infection across male and female groups was statistically insignificant (P ​= ​0.69). Clinical and radiological profiles across M. pneumoniae positive and negative cases were comparable except bronchopneumonia which was statistically significant (P ​= ​0.04). Serological evidence of M. pneumoniae infection was observed in 26(33%); PCR was positive in 9 (12%) and nested PCR in 10 (13.33%) children. Together, serology, PCR and nested PCR diagnosed M. pneumoniae infection in 28(37.33%) patients. Sensitivity of serology was 77.78%: specificity 68.18%; positive predictive value 25.00% and negative predictive value at 95.74%.Serological and molecular methods in combination is useful for detection of M. pneumoniae. Our data underline the role of M. pneumoniae in community-acquired LRTIs in children of all ages.

No study in medical science is complete without application of the statistical principles. Incorrect application of statistical tests causes incorrect interpretation of the study results obtained through hard work. Yet statistics remains one of the most neglected and loathed areas, probably due to the lack of understanding of the basic principles. In microbiology, rapid progress is being made in the field of diagnostic test, and a huge number of studies being conducted are related to the evaluation of these tests. Therefore, a good knowledge of statistical principles will aid a microbiologist to plan, conduct and interpret the result. The initial part of this review discusses the study designs, types of variables, principles of sampling, calculation of sample size, types of errors and power of the study. Subsequently, description of the performance characteristics of a diagnostic test, receiver operator characteristic curve and tests of significance are explained. Lack of a perfect gold standard test against which our test is being compared can hamper the study results; thus, it becomes essential to apply the remedial measures described here. Rapid computerisation has made statistical calculations much simpler, obviating the need for the routine researcher to rote learn the derivations and apply the complex formulae. Thus, greater focus has been laid on developing an understanding of principles. Finally, it should be kept in mind that a diagnostic test may show exemplary statistical results, yet it may not be useful in the routine laboratory or in the field; thus, its operational characteristics are as important as the statistical results.

Background: Since 1982, Thailand had been reported 372,874 ases of HIV/AIDS, and 98,153 deaths. The north of Thailand has een report as the highest prevalence areas. There were almost 00,000 hill tribe populations live there as a marginalized and vulerable people under lacked of access to health care and limited ducation. Most of them emigrated from China last 200 years ago. hiang Rai Province is the most favorite living area of hill tribe eople. Methods: The retrospective cohort study design aimed to invesigates the TB and HIV situation among hill tribe marginalized nd vulnerable population. The systematic data collection with the ompletedquestionnairewas conducted in the12hospitals, Chiang ai Province. All questionnaires had been tested for reliability and alidity before use. Survival and Cox’s regression were analysis. Results: Of 629 cases of TB reported during 2009-2011 form 12 ospitalswere recruited into the study. 60.7%weremale23.8%aged 1-60 years old, and followed by 41-50 years old (20.2%) (min=1, ax =93). Of 84.6%were pulmonary TB and extra pulmonary 15.4%, 4.6%recieving AFB testing, 77.4%new cases. The results of treatent found that 22.7% were cure, 28.6%complte, 4.3%defults, .1%death, and1.9% failure. Prevalence ofHIV/AIDS amonghill tribe B caseswas 17.2%. Of 88.1% had treatment on CAT1, and 4.6%CAT2, nd 2.3%CAT4. Male had greater pulmonary TB (p-vale =0.044), nd HIV+ than female (p-value =0.023). Survival analysis found hat beingmale (p-value =0.01), non-HIV(p-value