The

most common barrier to using radiation was prevention by a neurosurgical or radiation oncology service. Neurotologists use radiation to treat other cranial base tumors as well, most commonly glomus tumors or meningiomas, and 64% of respondents irradiate neurofibromatosis Type 2. Total radiation dose and fractionation were variable.

Conclusion: Neurotologists are increasingly choosing to treat VS with stereotactic radiation. There seem to be significant differences between academic and private neurotologists’ practice characteristics. Not all neurotologists strictly adhere to the consensus statement by the International RadioSurgery Association with regard to radiation dosing and tumor size limits.”
“Objective.

To assess pre-induction sonographic, digital examination and biochemical changes in the cervix to predict induction outcome.

Methods. Transvaginal and abdominal scans PRIMA-1MET Apoptosis inhibitor were performed in 460 women at 37-41 weeks of gestation to determine cervical length (CL), posterior cervical angle (PCA) and foetal occipital position. The Bishop Score (BS) and the absence/presence www.selleckchem.com/products/epz-6438.html of phosphorylated form of insulin-like growth factor-binding protein-1 (phIGFBP-1) in cervical secretions were assessed. Independent parameters significantly associated with a vaginal delivery were identified.

Results. A total of 340 (73.9%) women achieved a vaginal delivery following induction. Multivariate analysis indicated that significant independent predictors of vaginal delivery were CL (adjusted this website odds ratio [AOR]: 0.59, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.45-0.79), PCA (AOR: 1.89, 95% CI: 1.09-3.28) and multiparae (AOR: 10.02, 95% CI: 5.10-19.69). For a specificity of 75%, the sensitivity for prediction of vaginal delivery using the BS, the CL and the multivariate model using the identified significant independent predictors were 37.1, 46.8

and 68%, respectively.

Conclusion. The combination of sonographic assessment of the cervix and maternal characteristics was superior to the either BS or CL alone in the prediction of the induction outcome. Inclusion of the absence/presence of phIGFBP-1 did not further improve induction outcome.”
“Study design: Case-control study.

Objectives: (i) To describe the prevalence of sexual dysfunction in chronic low back pain (CLBP) patients, (ii) to compare the range of sexual function outcomes between patients with CLBP and healthy controls and (iii) to investigate which factors are associated with sexual function within the cohort of individuals with CLBP.

Setting: Low back pain (LBP) clinic of Qazvin University of Medical Sciences, Qazvin, Iran.

Methods: A total of 702 patients with CLBP and 888 healthy controls participated in the study. The Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI), International Index of Erectile Function (IIEF) and Premature Ejaculation Diagnostic Tool (PEDT) were used to evaluate sexual function.

Social well-being may be a major determinant of overall QOL for patients with colon cancer. (C) 2011 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.”
“Monocyte accumulation in renal allografts is associated with allograft dysfunction. As monocyte influx occurs acutely following reperfusion, we investigated the effect of ischemia-reperfusion injury (IRI) on monocyte colony stimulating factor (m-CSF), a key ACY-738 cost cytokine in monocyte recruitment. We hypothesized that renal tubule epithelial cells (RTECs) could produce m-CSF in response to IRI, which could in turn promote monocyte

activation. Real time PCR was used to measure levels of intragraft m-CSF transcripts in patients during IRI and clinical rejection. Also, m-CSF production by RTECs following IRI simulation in vitro was measured using ELISA. Monocyte STI571 expression of CD40 and CD80 was then analyzed using flow cytometry following co-culture with supernatants of RTECs after IRI. Monocyte expression of CD40, CD80 and HLA-DR was then examined following treatment with rh-m-CSF (10, 36, and 100 ng/ml), as was monocyte size and granularity. We found that intragraft m-CSF transcription was significantly increased postreperfusion (P = 0.002) and during clinical rejection (P = 0.002). We also found that RTECs produced m-CSF in response to IRI in vitro (P = 0.036). Monocytes co-cultured with the supernatants

of postischemic RTECs became activated as evidenced by increased expression of CD40 and CD80. Also, monocytes treated with recombinant m-CSF assumed an activated phenotype exhibiting increased size, granularity and expression of CD40, CD80, CD86, and HLA-DR, and demonstrating enhanced see more phagocytic activity. Taken together, we suggest that renal tubular cell derived m-CSF is a stimulus for monocyte activation and may be an important target for control of IRI-associated immune activation.”
“Objective: This study examined

the genetic association between variation in the cannabinoid receptor 1 (CNR1) gene and cannabis dependence symptoms.

Method: Adolescent and young adult subjects were recruited from three settings: a treatment program for youth with substance use disorders, the criminal justice system, and the community. A case-control sample consisted of 224 cases who endorsed at least one dependence symptom and 108 controls who tried cannabis but endorsed no symptoms. A family-based sample of 219 families was also analyzed.

Results: Case-control analysis identified a nominal association between SNP rs1049353 and having one or more cannabis dependence symptoms (p = .029), but the association did not hold up in a combined sample. Family-based analysis found a trend for the same SNP (p = .07). We did not replicate a previous report that SNP rs806380 was associated with the development or cannabis dependence.

All rights reserved.”
“A wide array of options are now available for migraine prophylaxis. Conventional treatments include beta-blockers, anticonvulsants, antidepressants, calcium antagonists and antiserotoninergic drugs. Emerging medications such as ACE inhibitors, sartans and nutritional supplements are gaining favour for migraine prophylaxis. Botulinum toxin type A is a promising therapeutic tool for chronic migraine. Tonabersat is likely to be a step forward selleck chemicals for the treatment of migraine with aura. However, much work is needed to identify predictive clinical features of successful responsiveness and to better define the duration of prophylaxis.”
“A

finishing trial and a digestion trial were conducted to evaluate the effects of corn hybrid and processing method on nutrient digestibility, finishing performance, and carcass characteristics. A 2 x 5 factorial arrangement of treatments was used for both trials. Factors included 2 processing methods, dry-rolled (DRC) or high-moisture (HMC), and 5 commercially available corn hybrids. The finishing trial (Exp. 1) utilized 475 yearling steers (379 perpendicular to 15 kg initial BW), stratified by BW into 2 blocks then assigned randomly to 1 of 60 pens (8 steers/pen). Treatments were assigned randomly to pens with 6 pens/treatment. Diets consisted of 67.5% corn (each hybrid processed as DRC or HMC), 20% wet corn gluten

feed, 7.5% alfalfa hay, and 5% supplement. The digestion trial (Exp.2) used 2 ruminally Dinaciclib Cell Cycle inhibitor and duodenally fistulated Holstein steers (560 kg of BW) and the mobile bag technique. Bags were ruminally incubated for 22 h. For total tract digestibility, bags were subjected to a simulated abomasal pepsin digestion, inserted into the duodenum, and collected in the feces. No significant interactions between corn hybrid and processing method were observed in Exp. 1; therefore, only main effects are presented. Feeding HMC decreased (P < 0.01) DMI and increased (P < 0.01) G: F compared with cattle fed DRC. Hybrid

tended to affect (P = 0.12) G: F, but did not affect ( P > 0.36) any other variable. For Exp. 2, feeding HMC increased (P < 0.01) DM and starch digestibility compared with DRC, but to varying degrees depending on the hybrid. Correlating the results of the 2 trials across processing Pinometostat methods, strong relationships were observed between G: F and postruminal starch digestibility (r = 0.84) and total- tract starch digestibility (r = 0.73). When evaluated within processing method, these relationships weakened and were not significant. The results of these trials indicate that processing method had a larger effect on performance and digestibility than hybrid, and no interaction was observed between processing method and hybrid, suggesting hybrid effects were consistent across processing methods.”
“Biofilm formation in central venous catheters (CVC) is a prerequisite for catheter-related bloodstream infection (CRBSI).

Two patients with T2 cancers underwent LR, and 1 patient with T2 cancer underwent LTBR. One patient with T3 cancer underwent LR, 8 patients with T3 cancers underwent LTBR, and 10 patients with T3 cancers underwent subtotal temporal bone resection (STBR). Ten patients

with T4 cancers underwent LTBR, and 25 patients with T4 cancers underwent STBR.

Results: Of all patients that underwent surgery, 18 died of their disease during the follow-up NVP-AUY922 mouse time. The 5-year survival rates of patients with T stages 1 through 4 were 100%, 67%, 21%, and 14%, respectively. There was no statistically significant difference in 5-year survival rate between T3 and T4 using the logrank test (p > 0.05). The 5-year survival rates after LTBR and STBR for T3 were 26% and 16% (p > 0.05), respectively, and those for T4 were 17% and 11% (p > 0.05), respectively.

Conclusion: An en bloc resection is favored in an effort to produce negative surgical margins for squamous cell carcinoma of the temporal bone. Adjunctive radiotherapy is used for advanced lesions.”
“Background: Although a higher prevalence of osteoarthritis (OA) has been reported among diabetes mellitus (DM) patients, selleck chemical inconsistencies and limitations of observational studies have precluded a conclusive association.

Objective:

The objective of this study was to evaluate the association of hand or knee OA with DM in a population of Hispanics from Puerto Rico.

Methods: A cross-sectional study was performed in 202 subjects (100 adult DM patients as per the National Diabetes Data Group Classification and 102 nondiabetic subjects). Osteoarthritis of hand and knee was ascertained using the American College of Rheumatology classification criteria. Sociodemographic characteristics, health-related behaviors, comorbidities, pharmacotherapy, SBC-115076 order and DM clinical manifestations were determined.

Multivariable logistic regression was used to evaluate the association of DM with hand or knee OA and to evaluate factors associated with hand or knee OA among DM patients.

Results: The mean (SD) age for DM patients was 51.6 (13.1) years; 64.0% were females. The mean (SD) DM duration was 11.0 (10.4) years. The prevalence of OA in patients with DM and nondiabetic subjects was 49.0% and 26.5%, respectively (P < 0.01). In the multivariable analysis, patients with DM had 2.18 the odds of having OA when compared with nondiabetic subjects (95% confidence interval [CI], 1.12-4.24). In a subanalysis among DM patients, female patients were more likely to have hand or knee OA (odds ratio [95% CI], 5.06 [1.66-15.66]), whereas patients who did not use insulin alone for DM therapy were more likely to have OA (odds ratio [95% CI], 4.44 [1.22-16.12]).

Conclusions: In this population of Hispanics from Puerto Rico, DM patients were more likely to have OA of hands or knees than were nondiabetic subjects. This association was retained in multivariable models accounting for established risk factors for OA.

The boards were thermally modified by hot-pressing method under different pressure and C188-9 supplier temperature levels. As two boards for each modification group plus two for unmodified, totally 10 experimental wood boards were prepared in this study. Main density, vertical density profile (VDP), thickness swell (TS), water absorption (WA), moisture content (MC), and hardness tests were carried out to evaluate the performance properties

of the thermally modified or unmodified wood boards. The results obtained in this study indicated that surface density of the boards increased with increasing press pressure. The thermal modification negatively affected the TS and WA values of the boards. Hardness values of the wood boards were significantly improved by the thermal modification. The results of this research

revealed that the thermally compressing method could be used to improve end-use properties of low-density wood materials made from fast-growing tree species such as paulownia, poplar, eucalyptus etc. Thus low-value wood materials could be converted to value-added products. In addition, sustainable management of natural resources could PXD101 be achieved by using the thermal modification method. (C) 2012 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.”
“OBJECTIVES: A number of complications exist with invasive mechanical ventilation and with the use of and withdrawal from prolonged

ventilator support. The use of protocols that enable the systematic identification of patients eligible for an interruption in mechanical ventilation can significantly reduce the number of complications. This study describes the application of a weaning protocol and its results.

METHODS: Patients who required invasive mechanical ventilation for more than 24 hours were included and assessed daily to identify individuals who were ready to begin the weaning process.

RESULTS: We studied 252 patients with a median mechanical ventilation time of 3.7 days (interquartile range of 1 to 23 days), a rapid shallow breathing buy Autophagy Compound Library index value of 48 (median), a maximum inspiratory pressure of 40 cmH2O, and a maximum expiratory pressure of 40 cm H2O (median). Of these 252 patients, 32 (12.7%) had to be reintubated, which represented weaning failure. Noninvasive ventilation was used postextubation in 170 (73%) patients, and 15% of these patients were reintubated, which also represented weaning failure. The mortality rate of the 252 patients studied was 8.73% (22), and there was no significant difference in the age, gender, mechanical ventilation time, and maximum inspiratory pressure between the survivors and nonsurvivors.

CONCLUSIONS: The use of a specific weaning protocol resulted in a lower mechanical ventilation time and an acceptable reintubation rate.

Data collection was consistent, where possible, with the previous years’ landline RDD phone surveys and between frames. Survey operational data for the frames were compared and combined. Demographic information from the interview data for mobile-only phone users, both, and total were compared to the landline frame using.2 tests. Demographic information for each frame, landline and the mobile-only (equivalent to a screening dual frame design), and the frames combined (with appropriate overlap adjustment) were compared to the NSW demographic profile from this website the 2011 census using X-2 tests.

Results: In the first quarter of 2012, 3395 interviews were completed with 2171 respondents (63.9%)

from the landline frame (17.6% landline only) and 1224 (36.1%) from the mobile frame (25.8%

mobile only). Overall combined response, contact and cooperation rates were 33.1%, 65.1% and 72.2% respectively. As expected from previous research, the demographic profile of the mobile-only phone respondents differed most (more that were young, males, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders, overseas born and single) compared to the landline frame responders. The profile of respondents from the two frames combined, with overlap adjustment, was most ACY-738 supplier similar to the latest New South Wales (NSW) population profile.

Conclusions: The inclusion of the mobile phone numbers, through an overlapping dual-frame design, did not impact negatively on response rates or data collection, and although costing more the design was still cost-effective because of the additional interviews that were conducted with young people, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders and people who were born overseas resulting in a more representative overall sample.”
“SETTING: Several matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) polymorphisms P005091 favouring the development of lung fibrosis after pulmonary tuberculosis (TB) have been described.

OBJECTIVE: To

investigate the association of MMP-1, MMP-9 and MMP-1 2 polymorphisms with the development of fibrosis in pulmonary TB.

DESIGN: We studied 49 normal subjects and 98 TB patients. We analysed the association between MMP polymorphisms and clinical indices of lung fibrosis by serial chest radiography for 1 year after completion of treatment.

RESULTS: The frequency of the MMP-1(-1607G) polymorphism was significantly higher in TB patients with moderate to advanced pulmonary fibrosis than in those with minimal to mild fibrosis. Having at least one -1607G MMP-1 polymorphism increased the risk of moderate and advanced fibrosis respectively by 5.04 (95%CI 1.25-20.30) and 9.87 (95%CI 2.39-40.88) fold. There was no association of MMP-9(-1562T) and MMP-12(Asn357Ser) polymorphisms with lung fibrosis. The production of MMP-1 from monocytes stimulated by interleukin-1 beta was increased in subjects with the 1G allele genotype compared to the 2G/2G genotype.

This correction reduced by about 50% the effect of blue light on g(m). However, the residual reduction of g(m) under blue light was real and significant, although it did not appear to limit the chloroplast CO(2) concentration and, consequently, photosynthesis. Reduction of g(m) might be caused

by chloroplast movement to avoid photodamage, in turn affecting the chloroplast surface exposed to intercellular spaces. However, g(m) reduction occurred immediately after exposure to learn more blue light and was complete after less than 3 min, whereas chloroplast relocation was expected to occur more slowly. In addition, fast g(m) reduction was also observed after inhibiting chloroplast movement by cytochalasin. It is therefore concluded that g(m) reduction under blue light is unlikely to be caused by chloroplast movement only, and must be elicited by other, as yet unknown, factors.”
“Cu-Zn ferrite (Cu(0.6)Zn(0.4)Fe(2)O(4)) thin films were deposited using rf-magnetron sputtering on glass substrates at room temperature in Selleckchem AZD6094 pure Ar gas environment. The influence of variation in Ar gas pressure between 5 and 15 mT on the crystal structure

and magnetization has been studied. The XRD patterns show single phase nanocrystalline spinel structure with cubic symmetry. The AFM images also confirm the nanocrystalline nature of the films. The magnetization increases with increase in Ar gas pressure. The change in the crystal structure and magnetization has been explained in view of freezing of some Cu-ions on tetrahedral A-sites and equivalent number of Fe ions on octahedral B-sites during the deposition process due to high deposition rate in pure Ar environment.

Furthermore, the deposition in reducing (argon) atmosphere may lead to the formation of Cu(+) ions that prefer occupation of the smaller four-coordinated A-site in the spinel structure and displace Fe(3+) cations to occupy the B-sites. The formation of Fe(2+) cannot be ruled out in the spinel structure where a fraction of Fe(3+) will be replaced by Fe(2+) ions. (C) 2010 American Institute Pexidartinib in vitro of Physics. [doi:10.1063/1.3357316]“
“BACKGROUND: We studied the hemodynamic effects of inducing an artificial pulse in a continuous-flow total artificial heart consisting of 2 axial-flow pumps in a mock circulatory system.

METHODS: We varied the amplitude (maximum minus minimum speed), beat rate and systolic duration of the left pump, right pump or both. Mean left and right pump speeds were maintained at 11 and 8 krpm, respectively. Flow rates and arterial and filling pressures were measured in the systemic and pulmonary portions of the mock circulation. Pulse pressure, pulse flow, pulsatility index and surplus hemodynamic energy (SHE) were calculated.

Results: 18 out of 1479 identified studies fulfilled the inclusion criteria. 64 factors were identified and grouped according to the HBM into demographic and psychosocial characteristics, cues to action and perceived benefits versus perceived barriers. The belief that the medication is necessary and DMARD use prior to the use of anti-TNF had strong evidence for a positive association with adherence. There is limited evidence for positive associations between adherence and race other than White, general cognition, satisfactory contact with

the healthcare provider and the provision of adequate information from the healthcare provider. There is limited evidence for negative associations between adherence and having HMO insurance, weekly costs of TNF-I, having a busy PCI 32765 lifestyle, receiving contradictory information or delivery of information in an insensitive manner by the rheumatologist. 18 factors selleck chemicals were unrelated to adherence.

Conclusions: The strongest relation with adherence is found to be prior use of DMARDs before using

anti-TNF and beliefs about the necessity of the medication. Because the last one is modifiable, this provides hope to improve adherence. (C) 2013 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.”
“The disease caused by cyprinid herpesvirus-3 (CyHV-3) severely impacts the natural freshwater ecosystem and damages carp and koi farming, however, the pathway of CyHV-3 transmission remains this website unclear. It is possible that the virus adheres to plankton, which then facilitate viral movement and transmission, and therefore, it is hypothesised that plankton are involved

in the disease dynamics. In this study, plankton were collected at eight sites in the Iba-naiko lagoon; we detected and quantified CyHV-3 DNA from plankton samples. The results of the correlation analysis showed a significant positive correlation between CyHV-3 copies and the number of Rotifera, suggesting that CyHV-3 binds to and/or is concentrated by Rotifera. Our results suggest that plankton affect viral ecology in the natural environment. (C) 2010 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.”
“Magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs) used as heat sources for cancer thermotherapy have received much recent attention. While the mechanism for power dissipation in MNPs in a rf field is well understood, a challenge in moving to clinical trials is an inadequate understanding of the power dissipation in MNP-impregnated systems and the discrepancy between the predicted and observed heating rates in the same. Here we use the Rosensweig [J. Magn. Magn. Mater. 252, 370 (2002)] model for heat generation in a single MNP, considering immediate heating of the MNPs, and the double spherical-shell heat transfer equations developed by Andr et al. [J. Magn. Magn. Mater. 194, 197 (1999)] to model the heat distribution in and around a ferrofluid sample or a tumor impregnated with MNPs. We model the heat generated at the edge of a 2.

It is unclear which size determines the transverse relaxation rate 1/T(2) of water suspensions of such particles. Comparing the measured 1/T(2) and average sizes 3-Methyladenine manufacturer of different definitions determined from magnetization curve, transmission

electron microscopy image, x-ray diffraction, and dynamic light scattering, it is found that the 1/T(2) behavior is basically determined by the diameter of bare single-crystal magnetic particles having the particle-volume-weighted average volume (about 14 or 9 nm for Resovist or SH U555C and is slightly influenced by their thick organic coating. This is explained by the low partial density of the coating substance and the overwhelming water occupation adjacent to magnetic particles. (C) 2009 American Institute of Physics. [doi: 10.1063/1.3211307]“
“The glucocorticoid dexamethasone (DEX), when used as a growth promoter, cause morphological and functional alterations in cattle lymphoid organs and cells. In the present experiment, the transcriptional effects of an illicit DEX protocol upon six target genes were investigated in cattle neutrophils (NEU) and lymphocytes (LFC). Blood samples were taken before (T-0) and 2, 3, 10, 19,31 and 43 days from the beginning of DEX administration (T-1-T-6). find more Leukocytes were counted and cells isolated by gradient centrifugation; then, glutathione peroxidase 1 and 3 (GPX1 and GPX3), glucocorticoid receptor alpha (GR

alpha), l-selectin, nuclear factor kappa B, subunit p65 (NF kappa B) and tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF alpha) mRNA amounts were measured through a quantitative Real Time RT-PCR approach. A significant change vs controls in NEU/LFC ratio was noticed from T-3 forward. Compared to T-0, DEX significantly Entinostat solubility dmso increased to a variable extent all candidate

gene mRNAs abundances in NEU; in contrast, only l-selectin, GR alpha and GPX1 were significantly up-regulated in LFC. Present results suggest that illicit DEX affects transcription in cattle immune cells, that might be considered as a promising surrogate tissue for the screening of DEX abuse in cattle farming. (C) 2011 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.”
“The grafting emulsion polymerization of vinyl monomers onto cotton was carried Out in the presence of double-modified montmorillonite clay. The obtained results show that grafting with glycidyl methacrylate/montmorillonite gave a higher rate of grafting than grafting with methyl methacrylate/montmorillonite in all clay percentages, and also, the grafting yield of glycidyl methacrylate monomer onto cotton in the presence of montmorillonite clay had a higher value than that in the absence of the clay for all factors studied. Cotton grafted with glycidyl methacrylate montmorillonite with a graft yield of about 50% was prepared according to the emulsion polymerization technique and was treated with different concentrations of dibutylamine Solutions ranging from 1 to 4%.

More serious events, such as psychiatric episodes (13%), hepatitis (9%) and renal failure (4%), were relatively frequent. A change in drug dose due to an adverse event occurred in 201 (20%) cases, while 661 (64%) had at least one drug discontinued temporarily or permanently. Being older, female, having bilateral lung cavities and a greater number of TB symptoms at baseline were associated with an increased number of events.

CONCLUSION: Adverse events were prevalent among MDR-TB cases EX 527 order treated in Latvia, with over two thirds requiring discontinuation of at least one drug. MDR-TB

patients who are female, older or have severe TB disease should be closely monitored for treatment-related adverse events.”
“Objective: The objective of this systematic review was to assess cell/biomaterial treatments of degenerative disc disease in controlled animal trails. The primary endpoints were restoration of disc height and T2 signal intensity.

Method: PubMed, CINAHL, EMBASE, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL), and Cochrane

Database of Systematic Reviews www.selleckchem.com/products/gant61.html (CDSR) were searched for studies reporting on the use of tissue engineering treatments (cells/biomaterials/cells and biomaterials) for degenerative disc disease treatments in a controlled trial. Publication bias was assessed graphically using funnel plots and Egger’s regression. Data were grouped by follow-up duration – early (< 4 weeks), intermediate (4-12 weeks) and late (> 12 weeks), and weighted mean differences (WMD) were calculated using DerSimonian-Laird Random Effect

models.

Results: Thirteen papers, published between 2004 and 2011, were included in this study. In comparison with the injured disc, all three treatments showed a positive effect in disc height, JIB-04 mw but none of the treatments restored disc height compared to the healthy disc. Overall, there seemed to be a better effect on disc height restoration for the treatment with cells and biomaterials. None of the treatments could achieve the same T2 signal intensity as the healthy disc, and compared to the injured disc, only the treatment with cells and biomaterials showed consistently better results.

Conclusion: Treatment of an injured/degenerating disc with cells, cells plus biomaterial or biomaterial alone has a potential for at least a partial regeneration of the disc. However, so far, none of the treatments is able to effectively restore the properties of a healthy disc. (C) 2012 Osteoarthritis Research Society International. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.”
“BACKGROUND: Reliable DST against second-line anti-tuberculosis drugs (SLDs) is crucial for the management of the increasing burden of patients affected by multidrug- and extensively drug-resistant TB.