Patients must have a clinical diagnosis of meningitis including one or more of the following symptoms: headache, irritability, vomiting, fever and neck stiffness (Table 1). The diagnosis of probable or possible TBM is based on 1) clinical findings 2) CSF results 3) neuroimaging findings 4) evidence for TB outside the central nervous system and 5) additional laboratory criteria. A scoring system then determines whether a patient falls in the probable or possible TBM category. Points are allocated for a positive finding in each of the categories, with a maximum score for each category. A total score of at least 10 is compatible with probable TBM, while a total score of at least 6 equates with a possible TBM diagnosis.

Definite TBM requires demonstration of acid- fast bacilli in the CSF, Mycobacterium tuberculosis culture from CSF, a positive nucleic acid amplification test (PCR) of CSF or histopathological evidence of Mycobacterium tuberculosis from a central nervous system site.

Tuberculous Meningitis

Stellenbosch University Immunology Research Group

Evaluation of New Biomarker-based Approaches for Improving the Diagnosis of Childhood Tuberculous Meningitis

We have identified a total of 51 inflammatory biomarkers in CSF and/or serum samples in children with suspected TBM. 47 of these host markers (including 10 of the 14 that showed potential in serum either as individual markers or as part of 3-marker signatures) were detected in CSF samples, with only four of these proteins (CCL2, IL-4, adipsin and Ab42) showing potential only in serum samples. Using a repository of 100 CSF and serum samples, currently available in our biobank, from children with suspected TBM, n=50 with TBM, we will look for correlated markers that can be substituted to identify the best performing biomarker set for the POC device (Aim 2).

The validated, best performing CSF and serum biomarkers (sub aims 1a and b) will be incorporated into our POC diagnostic platform, at the Engineering Faculty, SU. The first prototype of the biosensor-based assay was shown to quantify antibodies in bodily fluids in the range of 50 ng/ml - 1 µg/ml (22). We will develop a multibiomarker prototype test for 4 biomarkers in CSF or serum. The prototype multi-biomarker test will undergo prospective evaluation in the field (Aim 3), in years 4 and 5. Assay development will be led by Distinguished Professor Willem Perold, a co-investigator on the project, who will be the lead supervisor of one MSc.Engineering student, with Dr. Chegou as co-supervisor.

We will evaluate the newly developed test prospectively in a new cohort of children with suspected TBM.
Clinical study design Recruitment of study participants will follow a longitudinal cohort design. Children suspected of having meningitis will be recruited and assessed for TBM at Tygerberg Academic Hospital, a tertiary level referral hospital and a teaching hospital for SU. It is the second-largest hospital in South Africa. These children will later be classified as having "definite", "probable", "possible" and "no TBM" based on international, standardized criteria (26).

Participant information will be secured using unique participant ID's (PIDs). Participants are minors, and thus published data will use de-identified participant results.

Vinzeigh Leukes

Clinical Project Coordinator

University of Stellenbosch

One hundred patients with acute coronary syndrome.

Acute Coronary Syndrome

Oxidized-LDL gene polymorphism will be measured by RFLP. In addition, Oxidized-LDL will be measured in the plasma by ELISA

Oxidized-LDL gene polymorphism

Oxidized LDL With Oxygen Therapy in Acute Coronary Syndrome.

Oxidized LDL, Oxidized LDL Receptor 1 (OLR1) Gene Polymorphism With Oxygen Therapy in Acute Myocardial Infarction.

The mean difference of oxidized-LDL gene polymorphism will be assessed by RFLP. The change of single nucleotide polymorphism of oxidized-LDL from healthy controls at baseline

Reham I El-mahdy

Principal Investigator

Assiut University

Atrial Fibrillation

Stroke

Galectin-3 for Thromboembolic Formation in Patients With Atrial Fibrillation CHA₂DS₂-VASc Scoring

Galectin-3 as a Predictor for Thromboembolic Formation in Patients With Non Valvular Atrial Fibrillation Assessed by CHA₂DS₂-VASc Scoring

Fatma El-sayed Moustafa

principal investigator

the drug is vitamin D3 50000 UNT oral capsule prescribing under Holick's protocol, which is every week for 8 weeks then every month for long life

the same as active comparator unless the drug is the identical placebo oral capsule

Vitamin D Deficiency

Non-ST Elevation Myocardial Infarction (nSTEMI)

Inflammation

Coronary Artery Disease With Myocardial Infarction

Holick's protocol of treating vitamin D deficiency lasting for 8 weeks

Vitamin D3 50000 UNT Oral Capsule

identical as active drug providing by pharmaceutical company unless it is placebo

Placebo oral capsule

Cardiovascular Rehabilitation Research Center

Vitamin D Deficiency Treatment Outcomes After Non-ST-Segment Elevation Myocardial Infarction

Vitamin D Deficiency Treatment Outcomes on Inflammation, Endothelial Function and Ventricular Retrieval After Non ST-Segment Elevation Myocardial Infarction: A Randomized Placebo Controlled Clinical Trial (NAVID Study)

vascular cell adhesion molecule 1 of blood

inter-cellular cell adhesion molecule 1 of blood

monocytes chemo attractant protein-1 (MCP-1) of blood

transforming growth factor beta (TGF-β) of blood

n-terminal of brain natriuretic peptide of blood

echocardiography assessing ejection fraction (EF%)

echocardiography assessing left ventricular end diastolic volume

doing strain echocardiography for changes of heart function in stress situations

Masoumeh Sadeghi

Dr. Masoumeh Sadeghi

Isfahan University of Medical Sciences

we have 2 groups entitled active drug receiver and placebo receiver and patients will randomly allocated between these two groups at first and continue until finishing the study.

lectin/infarto

Evaluation of New Biomarker-based Approaches for Improving the Diagnosis of Childhood Tuberculous Meningitis

Oxidized LDL With Oxygen Therapy in Acute Coronary Syndrome.

Galectin-3 for Thromboembolic Formation in Patients With Atrial Fibrillation CHA₂DS₂-VASc Scoring

Vitamin D Deficiency Treatment Outcomes After Non-ST-Segment Elevation Myocardial Infarction

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