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Reposted by Alvaro Schwalb

Rein Houben @reinhouben.bsky.social · 1d

In a new preprint (NOT PEER REVIEWED) we continue to explore the challenge of overtreatment in community screening. It seems the benefits of TB treatment far outweigh the harms, especially once we accept that sputum culture is not perfect. Important food for thought. www.medrxiv.org/content/10.1...

Do no harm - re-evaluating the risks of overtreatment in community-wide tuberculosis screening

Background Community-wide screening is a crucial strategy to end tuberculosis (TB), but a common concern is potential harm from overtreatment following false positive diagnoses. However, current refer...

www.medrxiv.org

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Peter MacPherson @petermacp.bsky.social · 16d

Are there more people with #TB in cities or rural areas?

In a 🚨new🚨 preprint (NOT PEER REVIEWED) we modelled urban-rural TB trends from 2000-2023 in 26 countries with 4.6 billion people.

www.medrxiv.org/content/10.1...

A plot, facetted by country, showing the percentage of TB that is urban and rural between 2000-2023

A forest plot, showing estimates of the urban to rural TB prevalence in 46 studies

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Reposted by Alvaro Schwalb

Katherine Horton @kchorton.bsky.social · 16d

Our systematic review of rural/urban differences in #TB prevalence shows evidence of rapidly urbanising epidemics in many settings, with differences across countries and regions.

Link to preprint below ⬇️

Peter MacPherson @petermacp.bsky.social · 16d

Are there more people with #TB in cities or rural areas?

In a 🚨new🚨 preprint (NOT PEER REVIEWED) we modelled urban-rural TB trends from 2000-2023 in 26 countries with 4.6 billion people.

www.medrxiv.org/content/10.1...

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Reposted by Alvaro Schwalb

Katherine Horton @kchorton.bsky.social · 22d

1/ It’s been 10 years (😮) since we reported that #TB prevalence was twice as high in men as in women.

📢 Our new preprint explores how sex differences have shifted with more recent national prevalence surveys and growing attention to #gender responsive TB prevention and care.

bit.ly/4gqP1LH

Differences in Tuberculosis Prevalence by Sex Over 1993-2024: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Background: Tuberculosis (TB) prevalence is higher among men than women in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). However, summary measures of sex difference

bit.ly

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Angie Rasmussen @angierasmussen.bsky.social · 15d

Still trying to figure out what MAHA hates more: women or vaccines.

Brian Wasik @brianrwasik.bsky.social · 15d

I still can't get over the suggestion for pregnant women to 'tough it out' spoken by the softest man that has ever lived.

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Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan @london.gov.uk · 23d

We must unite against those who seek to divide us.

I know many people, particularly from London's diverse communities, are feeling extremely worried following the events this weekend.

It takes me back to how I felt growing up in the ’70s and ’80s, when
far-right political parties marched on our streets.

The leaders of the far-right are once again attempting to hijack our flag, with minorities being intimidated and fear, hatred and division being sown.

As Londoners, and as proud Brits, we must unite to reject the far-right
– just as we have many times before.

But it’s going to take a huge effort from us all – from people of all races and backgrounds, who are willing to stand up for our British values of equality, inclusion and mutual respect.

As Mayor, I'll continue to do everything I can to challenge the far-right and all those who peddle the politics of fear and division.

I urge other politicians and Londoners to do the same.

MAYOR OF LONDON, SADIQ KHAN

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Alvaro Schwalb @aschwalbc.bsky.social · 27d

Our work on modelling population-wide screening in Viet Nam is now available in PLOS Global Public Health! tinyurl.com/3ymhuj5s

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Matthew Saunders @mjsaunder.bsky.social · 29d

Nutritional status is a key determinant of TB. In this updated systematic review and dose-response meta-analysis (43 cohorts inc > 26 million people) we redefined the relationship between body mass index (BMI) and TB. doi.org/10.1093/ije/...

Body mass index and tuberculosis risk: an updated systematic literature review and dose–response meta-analysis

AbstractBackground. The relationship between nutritional status and tuberculosis is critically important but poorly understood. We extended a 2009 review c

doi.org

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Katherine Horton @kchorton.bsky.social · Sep 5

At a time when global resources for #TB research, development, prevention, and care are limited, which interventions should be prioritised in high burden settings?

📢 Our new pre-print compares the impact, cost, and cost-effectiveness of 9 TB interventions in 3 countries. 1/n

bit.ly/3V3vXth

The potential impact, cost and cost-effectiveness of tuberculosis interventions - a modelling exercise

Background While a range of interventions exist for tuberculosis prevention, screening, diagnosis, and treatment, their potential population impact and cost-effectiveness are seldom directly compared,...

bit.ly

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Simon HB @norock.bsky.social · Aug 31

Actually, Frankenstein is a doctor success at the Venice film festival

BBC News headline: Frankenstein is monster success at Venice film festival

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Katherine Horton @kchorton.bsky.social · Aug 27

Community screening for #tuberculosis could extend the reach of #TB services, but evidence on its effectiveness is limited.

In our latest preprint, we examine the epidemiological impact of trade-offs in diagnostic algorithm, population coverage, and duration of screening. 1/n

bit.ly/3UK7pFD

Exploring trade-offs in diagnostic algorithm, population coverage, and duration of community screening for tuberculosis

Background Current tuberculosis (TB) prevention and care strategies have failed to reduce disease burden at the pace required to meet global targets. Community screening may enable more rapid declines...

www.medrxiv.org

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David Bisset @davidbisset.com · Jul 24

Why I 🧡 the web.

drawafish.com

Just draw the fish. Trust me. 🐟

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Katherine Horton @kchorton.bsky.social · Jul 14

Our work estimating the potential impacts of reductions in international donor funding for #TB is now out in @lancetgh.bsky.social:

bit.ly/3TDl28T

@raclark18.bsky.social @cfmcquaid.bsky.social @alexandra-richards.bsky.social @top-j.bsky.social @reinhouben.bsky.social @richardwhite321.bsky.social

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Alvaro Schwalb @aschwalbc.bsky.social · Jul 11

Thanks for catching that!

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Alvaro Schwalb @aschwalbc.bsky.social · Jul 11

Wrapping up the #CausalIntroCourse.

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Katherine Horton @kchorton.bsky.social · Jul 2

New systematic review led by @hannahrickman.bsky.social shows annual risk of Mycobacterium #tuberculosis conversion in men and women diverges during adolescence and remains higher among men throughout adulthood.

www.thelancet.com/journals/lan...

The figure shows two graphs, both with age on the x-axis and separate curves for males and females. In the top figure, the y-axis shows prevalence of Mtb immunoreactivity; in the bottom figure, the y-axis shows annual risk of Mtb conversion. In both figures, the curves for males and females diverge from adolescence and remain higher for men than women through adulthood.

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Katherine Horton @kchorton.bsky.social · Jul 4

In our latest personal view in @lancetrespirmed.bsky.social, we argue for the inclusion asymptomatic #tuberculosis in vaccine trial endpoints to potentially reduce the size, length, and cost of trials.

doi.org/10.1016/S221...

@lshtm-tbmod.bsky.social @tb-lshtm.bsky.social

Figure 1. Estimated number of trial endpoints in the control group of a prevention-of-disease vaccine trial in a high disease-burden setting showing number of endpoints on the y-axis and time in months on the x-axis. For bacteriologically confirmed symptomatic tuberculosis disease endpoints only, we estimate 69 endpoints, and for combined bacteriologically confirmed asymptomatic and symptomatic tuberculosis disease endpoints, we estimate 151 endpoints. Scenario assumes symptomatic disease incidence before trial screening of 300/100 000 per year and following 10 000 individuals over 3 years. Prevalent symptomatic and asymptomatic tuberculosis disease are screened out in month 0 and are not trial endpoints. Active screening occurs every 6 months for both scenarios and participants self-presenting with symptoms suggestive of tuberculosis disease would also be investigated.

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Alvaro Schwalb @aschwalbc.bsky.social · Jul 7

Leaving your hair wet as well…

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Alvaro Schwalb @aschwalbc.bsky.social · Jul 7

Kicking off the #CausalIntroCourse in Leeds. Hoping this will finally give me the tools to convince my mum that walking around the house barefoot ^^doesn’t^^ cause a cold.

Course notebook for Introduction to Causal Inference course

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Bill Gates @billgates.bsky.social · Jul 3

The facts are simple and devastating: Aid cuts have already cost lives, and the number of deaths will continue to rise. Here’s the evidence.

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London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine @lshtm.bsky.social · Jun 20

LSHTM's Director writes to UK Government about #Gaza public health catastrophe

Professor Liam Smeeth's letter to the Prime Minister & Foreign Secretary urges action to prevent a greater #PublicHealth disaster:

👉 www.lshtm.ac.uk/newsevents/n...

Palestinians fleeing northern Gaza on 9 November 2023 amid Israel's bombardment and siege of the enclave, and intense fighting between the Israeli military and Hamas fighters in the north. Credit: Mohammed Zaanoun/TNH

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LSHTM TB Modelling Group @lshtm-tbmod.bsky.social · May 28

Can you believe it’s already been 25 years!?

Come join us on 20 June 2025 at 4pm UK time to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the Introduction to #Infectious Disease #Modelling course delivered by @lshtm.bsky.social and @ukhsa.bsky.social!

More info 👉 www.lshtm.ac.uk/newsevents/e...

25th anniversary celebrations of the Introduction to Infectious Disease

Our special event will celebrate the 25th anniversary of the Introduction to Infectious Disease Modelling and its Applications course, delivered by the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine

www.lshtm.ac.uk

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Finn McQuaid @cfmcquaid.bsky.social · May 30

TB & climate change: @who.int report out now, building on an analytical framework we developed to explore the intersections and implications for the TB epidemic. Key message? TB should be considered a climate-sensitive disease www.who.int/publications...

Tuberculosis and climate change: analytical framework and knowledge gaps

This report explores the intersection of tuberculosis (TB) and climate change, highlighting how climate-related challenges such as food and water insecurity, displacement, and disrupted healthcare acc...

www.who.int

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Alvaro Schwalb @aschwalbc.bsky.social · Jun 3

I fully moved to Bluesky when we @weratedogs.com made it here. This is why.

WeRateDogs @weratedogs.com · Jun 3

This is Henry. He brings his emotional support duck to his hydrotherapy sessions. They get along swimmingly. 13/10

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Rein Houben @reinhouben.bsky.social · May 27

Amid all the bad news in Global Health, perhaps some good news? A first analysis on the risk of false positive diagnoses in community-screening for tuberculosis using Xpert shows our clinic-based data is likely (very) wrong and overestimates false positives by >80%: tinyurl.com/yfecute9.

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