Background: Tuberculosis (TB) has been a major health problem in developing countries. Rapid diagnosis of Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection plays a critical role in controlling the spread of tuberculosis. Conventional methods may take up to several weeks or longer to produce results. This study aimed to compare different methods like culture on Bio F-M media, automated BacT/ ALERT MP bottles, and urine lipoarabinomnnan by ELISA. Subjects and Methods: This study was done on 100 patients suspected to have tuberculosis, cases divided into two groups: (Group A): 68 clinically suspected pulmonary TB cases. (Group B): 32 clinically suspected extrapulmonary TB cases. All samples from Group A and B were subjected to direct staining by Zeihl-Neelsen stain, culture of the samples on Lowenstein Jensen media, Bio FM media and automated BacT/ALERT MP bottles and detection of urine lipoarabinomannan by ELISA. Results: In suspected pulmonary tuberculosis cases the sensitivity and specificity of Bio FM were 87.2%, 100% respectively, sensitivity and specificity of BacT/ALERT MP were 74.4%, 100% respectively, sensitivity and specificity of urine lipoarabinomannan were 20.5%, 96.9% respectively and in suspected extrapulmonary tuberculosis cases were the sensitivity and specificity of Bio FM were 87.5%, 100% respectively, sensitivity and specificity of BacT/ALERT MP were 50%, 100% respectively, sensitivity and specificity of urine lipoarabinomannan were 12.5%, 100% respectively. Conclusion: The sensitivity of both solid (Lowenstein Jensen) and liquid (Bio FM) media were the same and better than BacT/ALERT MP. Bio FM media and BacT/ALERT MP show shorter time than Lowenstein Jensen for detection of mycobacterial growth. Detection of urine lipoarabinomannan by ELISA is insensitive for the diagnosis of TB.

Background: Tuberculosis (TB) has been a major health problem in developing countries. Rapid diagnosis of Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection plays a critical role in controlling the spread of tuberculosis. Conventional methods may take up to several weeks or longer to produce results. This study aimed to compare different methods like culture on Bio F-M media, automated BacT/ ALERT MP bottles, and urine lipoarabinomnnan by ELISA. Subjects and Methods: This study was done on 100 patients suspected to have tuberculosis, cases divided into two groups: (Group A): 68 clinically suspected pulmonary TB cases. (Group B): 32 clinically suspected extrapulmonary TB cases. All samples from Group A and B were subjected to direct staining by Zeihl-Neelsen stain, culture of the samples on Lowenstein Jensen media, Bio FM media and automated BacT/ALERT MP bottles and detection of urine lipoarabinomannan by ELISA. Results: In suspected pulmonary tuberculosis cases the sensitivity and specificity of Bio FM were 87.2%, 100% respectively, sensitivity and specificity of BacT/ALERT MP were 74.4%, 100% respectively, sensitivity and specificity of urine lipoarabinomannan were 20.5%, 96.9% respectively and in suspected extrapulmonary tuberculosis cases were the sensitivity and specificity of Bio FM were 87.5%, 100% respectively, sensitivity and specificity of BacT/ALERT MP were 50%, 100% respectively, sensitivity and specificity of urine lipoarabinomannan were 12.5%, 100% respectively. Conclusion: The sensitivity of both solid (Lowenstein Jensen) and liquid (Bio FM) media were the same and better than BacT/ALERT MP. Bio FM media and BacT/ALERT MP show shorter time than Lowenstein Jensen for detection of mycobacterial growth. Detection of urine lipoarabinomannan by ELISA is insensitive for the diagnosis of TB.

Background: Tuberculosis (TB) has been a major health problem in developing countries. Rapid diagnosis of Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection plays a critical role in controlling the spread of tuberculosis. Conventional methods may take up to several weeks or longer to produce results. This study aimed to compare different methods like culture on Bio F-M media, automated BacT/ ALERT MP bottles, and urine lipoarabinomnnan by ELISA. Subjects and Methods: This study was done on 100 patients suspected to have tuberculosis, cases divided into two groups: (Group A): 68 clinically suspected pulmonary TB cases. (Group B): 32 clinically suspected extrapulmonary TB cases. All samples from Group A and B were subjected to direct staining by Zeihl-Neelsen stain, culture of the samples on Lowenstein Jensen media, Bio FM media and automated BacT/ALERT MP bottles and detection of urine lipoarabinomannan by ELISA. Results: In suspected pulmonary tuberculosis cases the sensitivity and specificity of Bio FM were 87.2%, 100% respectively, sensitivity and specificity of BacT/ALERT MP were 74.4%, 100% respectively, sensitivity and specificity of urine lipoarabinomannan were 20.5%, 96.9% respectively and in suspected extrapulmonary tuberculosis cases were the sensitivity and specificity of Bio FM were 87.5%, 100% respectively, sensitivity and specificity of BacT/ALERT MP were 50%, 100% respectively, sensitivity and specificity of urine lipoarabinomannan were 12.5%, 100% respectively. Conclusion: The sensitivity of both solid (Lowenstein Jensen) and liquid (Bio FM) media were the same and better than BacT/ALERT MP. Bio FM media and BacT/ALERT MP show shorter time than Lowenstein Jensen for detection of mycobacterial growth. Detection of urine lipoarabinomannan by ELISA is insensitive for the diagnosis of TB.

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It has long been recognized that environmental influences play an important role in the risk of developing Autoimmune disease. Defining specific pathogenic environmental mediators that may trigger the development or progression of autoimmune disease remains a focus of increasing investigative effort. Factors promoting disease may not be identical to factors that influence the severity or progression of the disorder. The cause(s) of autoimmune disorders remain largely unknown. Considerable evidence supports a role for environmental agents in inducing autoimmune disorders. OBJECTIVES: The study aims to explore the risk factors of autoimmune diseases among attendants of general hospitals in Aseer Region. Methods: case control study design was carried out included 70 patients with multiple types of auto immune diseases attending general hospitals and primary health care centers in Abha city. They were clinically diagnosed as having autoimmune diseases. and 140 clinically free subjects , age and sex matched were included as controls. RESULTS: The present study included 70 autoimmune disease patients predominantly females (88.4%). Their mean age was 42.7 ± 12.1 years and disease duration was 11.2 ± 7.2 years. The mean age of the control group was 47.1 ± 13.6 years with no significant differences in the demographic data between the patients and control (p > 0.05). This study found no significant differences between cases with autoimmune diseases and sociodemographic characteristics. Conclusion :There is multiple determinants and risk factors affecting the occurrence of autoimmune diseases. Familial history, psychological stresses, hormonal supplementation, using hair dyes, smoking and recent vaccination were significant factors associated with autoimmune diseases.