991 resultados para Predisposing factors
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El plantejament inicial d'aquesta investigació parteix de la hipòtesi que assenyala que qualsevol procés d'interacció de l'individu amb el paisatge té connotacions comunicatives que cal destriar i, en aquest sentit, es fa necessari establir uns paràmetres d'anàlisi que permetin interpretar els processos de vivència i d'apropiació del paisatge en clau de manifestació comunicativa i, més concretament, des de la perspectiva de la comunicació intrapersonal
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Amoebae are unicellular protozoan present worldwide in several environments mainly feeding on bacteria. Some of them, the amoebae-resistant bacteria (ARBs), have evolved mechanisms to survive and replicate inside amoebal species. These mainly include legionella, mycobacteria and Chlamydia-related bacteria. Amoebae can provide a replicative niche, can act as reservoir for bacteria whereas the cystic form can protect the internalized bacteria. Moreover, the amoebae represent a Trojan horse for ARBs to infect animals. The long interaction between amoebae and bacteria has likely selected for bacterial virulence traits leading to the adaptation towards an intracellular lifestyle, and some ARBs have acquired the ability to infect mammals. This review intends to highlight the important uses of amoebae in several fields in microbiology by describing the main tools developed using amoebal cells. First, amoebae such as Acanthamoeba are used to isolate and discover new intracellular bacterial species by two main techniques: the amoebal co-culture and the amoebal enrichment. In the second part, taking Waddlia chondrophila as example, we summarize some important recent applications of amoebae to discover new bacterial virulence factors, in particular thanks to the amoebal plaque assay. Finally, the genetically tractable Dictyostelium discoideum is used as a model organism to study host-pathogen interactions, in particular with the development of several approaches to manipulate its genome that allowed the creation of a wide range of mutated strains largely shared within the Dictyostelium community.
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BACKGROUND Adipose tissue lipid storage and processing capacity can be a key factor for obesity-related metabolic disorders such as insulin resistance and diabetes. Lipid uptake is the first step to adipose tissue lipid storage. The aim of this study was to analyze the gene expression of factors involved in lipid uptake and processing in subcutaneous (SAT) and visceral (VAT) adipose tissue according to body mass index (BMI) and the degree of insulin resistance (IR). METHODS AND PRINCIPAL FINDINGS VLDL receptor (VLDLR), lipoprotein lipase (LPL), acylation stimulating protein (ASP), LDL receptor-related protein 1 (LRP1) and fatty acid binding protein 4 (FABP4) gene expression was measured in VAT and SAT from 28 morbidly obese patients with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (T2DM) or high IR, 10 morbidly obese patients with low IR, 10 obese patients with low IR and 12 lean healthy controls. LPL, FABP4, LRP1 and ASP expression in VAT was higher in lean controls. In SAT, LPL and FABP4 expression were also higher in lean controls. BMI, plasma insulin levels and HOMA-IR correlated negatively with LPL expression in both VAT and SAT as well as with FABP4 expression in VAT. FABP4 gene expression in SAT correlated inversely with BMI and HOMA-IR. However, multiple regression analysis showed that BMI was the main variable contributing to LPL and FABP4 gene expression in both VAT and SAT. CONCLUSIONS Morbidly obese patients have a lower gene expression of factors related with lipid uptake and processing in comparison with healthy lean persons.
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The emergence and pandemic spread of a new strain of influenza A (H1N1) virus in 2009 resulted in a serious alarm in clinical and public health services all over the world. One distinguishing feature of this new influenza pandemic was the different profile of hospitalized patients compared to those from traditional seasonal influenza infections. Our goal was to analyze sociodemographic and clinical factors associated to hospitalization following infection by influenza A(H1N1) virus. We report the results of a Spanish nationwide study with laboratory confirmed infection by the new pandemic virus in a case-control design based on hospitalized patients. The main risk factors for hospitalization of influenza A (H1N1) 2009 were determined to be obesity (BMI≥40, with an odds-ratio [OR] 14.27), hematological neoplasia (OR 10.71), chronic heart disease, COPD (OR 5.16) and neurological disease, among the clinical conditions, whereas low education level and some ethnic backgrounds (Gypsies and Amerinds) were the sociodemographic variables found associated to hospitalization. The presence of any clinical condition of moderate risk almost triples the risk of hospitalization (OR 2.88) and high risk conditions raise this value markedly (OR 6.43). The risk of hospitalization increased proportionally when for two (OR 2.08) or for three or more (OR 4.86) risk factors were simultaneously present in the same patient. These findings should be considered when a new influenza virus appears in the human population.
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Myocardial angiogenesis induction with vascular growth factors constitutes a potential strategy for patients whose coronary artery disease is refractory to conventional treatment. The importance of angiogenesis in bone formation has led to the development of growth factors derived from bovine bone protein. Twelve pigs (mean weight, 73 +/- 3 kg) were chosen for the study. In the first group (n = 6, growth factor group) five 100 micrograms boluses of growth factors derived from bovine bone protein, diluted in Povidone 5%, were injected in the lateral wall of the left ventricle. In the second group (n = 6, control group), the same operation was performed but only the diluting agent was injected. All the animals were sacrificed after 28 days and the vascular density of the left lateral wall (expressed as the number of vascular structures per mm2) as well as the area of blood vessel profiles per myocardial area analysed were determined histologically with a computerised system. The growth factor group had a capillary density which was significantly higher than that of the control group: 12.6 +/- 0.9/mm2 vs 4.8 +/- 0.5/mm2 (p < 0.01). The same holds true for the arteriolar density: 1 +/- 0.2/mm2 vs 0.3 +/- 0.1/mm2 (p < 0.01). The surface ratios of blood vessel profiles per myocardial area were 4900 +/- 800 micron 2/mm2 and 1550 +/- 400 micron 2/mm2 (p < 0.01) respectively. In this experimental model, bovine bone protein derived growth factors induce a significant neovascularisation in healthy myocardium, and appear therefore as promising candidates for therapeutic angiogenesis.
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Aquest treball pretén analitzar la discapcitat des d’una nova visió, des de la prespectiva de gènere. Intenta explicar la situació actual i les necessitats reals que tenen les dones amb discapacitat. A través d’una base teòrica on es fa un anàlisi de la discriminació a la dona i a la discapacitat, s’introdueix el concepte de dona i discapacitat i seguidament, es treballa la interecció de la dona amb discapacitat en àmbits com la maternitat, el sexe, etc. Finalment, es presenta un projecte d’intervenció disenyat i dut a terme, amb l’intenció de trancar estereotips relacionats amb la dona amb discapacitat
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BACKGROUND This paper discusses whether baseline demographic, socio-economic, health variables, length of follow-up and method of contacting the participants predict non-response to the invitation for a second assessment of lifestyle factors and body weight in the European multi-center EPIC-PANACEA study. METHODS Over 500.000 participants from several centers in ten European countries recruited between 1992 and 2000 were contacted 2-11 years later to update data on lifestyle and body weight. Length of follow-up as well as the method of approaching differed between the collaborating study centers. Non-responders were compared with responders using multivariate logistic regression analyses. RESULTS Overall response for the second assessment was high (81.6%). Compared to postal surveys, centers where the participants completed the questionnaire by phone attained a higher response. Response was also high in centers with a short follow-up period. Non-response was higher in participants who were male (odds ratio 1.09 (confidence interval 1.07; 1.11), aged under 40 years (1.96 (1.90; 2.02), living alone (1.40 (1.37; 1.43), less educated (1.35 (1.12; 1.19), of poorer health (1.33 (1.27; 1.39), reporting an unhealthy lifestyle and who had either a low (<18.5 kg/m2, 1.16 (1.09; 1.23)) or a high BMI (>25, 1.08 (1.06; 1.10); especially ≥30 kg/m2, 1.26 (1.23; 1.29)). CONCLUSIONS Cohort studies may enhance cohort maintenance by paying particular attention to the subgroups that are most unlikely to respond and by an active recruitment strategy using telephone interviews.
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BACKGROUND The expansion of adipose tissue is linked to the development of its vasculature, which appears to have the potential to regulate the onset of obesity. However, at present, there are no studies highlighting the relationship between human adipose tissue angiogenesis and obesity-associated insulin resistance (IR). RESULTS Our aim was to analyze and compare angiogenic factor expression levels in both subcutaneous (SC) and omentum (OM) adipose tissues from morbidly obese patients (n = 26) with low (OB/L-IR) (healthy obese) and high (OB/H-IR) degrees of IR, and lean controls (n = 17). Another objective was to examine angiogenic factor correlations with obesity and IR.Here we found that VEGF-A was the isoform with higher expression in both OM and SC adipose tissues, and was up-regulated 3-fold, together with MMP9 in OB/L-IR as compared to leans. This up-regulation decreased by 23% in OB/-H-IR compared to OB/L-IR. On the contrary, VEGF-B, VEGF-C and VEGF-D, together with MMP15 was down-regulated in both OB/H-IR and OB/L-IR compared to lean patients. Moreover, MMP9 correlated positively and VEGF-C, VEGF-D and MMP15 correlated negatively with HOMA-IR, in both SC and OM. CONCLUSION We hereby propose that the alteration in MMP15, VEGF-B, VEGF-C and VEGF-D gene expression may be caused by one of the relevant adipose tissue processes related to the development of IR, and the up-regulation of VEGF-A in adipose tissue could have a relationship with the prevention of this pathology.
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BACKGROUND Persons with schizophrenia and related disorders may be particularly sensitive to a number of determinants of service use, including those related with illness, socio-demographic characteristics and organizational factors. The objective of this study is to identify factors associated with outpatient contacts at community mental health services of patients with schizophrenia or related disorders. METHODS This cross-sectional study analyzed 1097 patients. The main outcome measure was the total number of outpatient consultations during one year. Independent variables were related to socio-demographic, clinical and use of service factors. Data were collected from clinical records. RESULTS The multilevel linear regression model explained 46.35% of the variance. Patients with significantly more contacts with ambulatory services were not working and were receiving welfare benefits (p = 0.02), had no formal education (p = 0.02), had a global level of severity of two or three (four being the most severe) (p < 0.001), with one or more inpatient admissions (p < 0.001), and in contact with both types of professional (nurses and psychiatrists) (p < 0.001). The patients with the fewest ambulatory contacts were those with diagnoses of persistent delusional disorders (p = 0.04) and those who were attended by four of the 13 psychiatrists (p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS As expected, the variables that explained the use of community service could be viewed as proxies for severity of illness. The most surprising finding, however, was that a group of four psychiatrists was also independently associated with use of ambulatory services by patients with schizophrenia or related disorders. More research is needed to carefully examine how professional support networks interact to affect use of mental health.
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Vancomycin-resistant enterococci (VRE) are important hospital pathogens and have become increasingly common in patients admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU). To determine the incidence and the risk factors associated with VRE colonisation among ICU patients, active surveillance cultures for VRE faecal carriages were carried out in patients admitted to the ICU of the University Hospital of Uberlândia, Minas Gerais, Brazil. Risk factors were assessed using a case-control study. Seventy-seven patients (23.1%) were found to be colonised with vanC VRE and only one patient (0.3%) was colonised with vanA VRE. Independent risk factors for VRE colonisation included nephropathy [odds ratio (OR) = 13.6, p < 0.001], prior antibiotic use (OR = 5.5, p < 0.03) and carbapenem use (OR = 17.3, p < 0.001). Our results showed a higher frequency (23.1%) of Enterococcus gallinarum and Enterococcus casseliflavus, species that are intrinsically resistant to low levels of vancomycin (vanC), without an associated infection, associated with prior antibiotic use, carbapenem use and nephropathy as comorbidity. This study is the first to demonstrate the risk factors associated with vanC VRE colonisation in ICU hospitalised patients. Although vanA and vanB enterococci are of great importance, the epidemiology of vanC VRE needs to be better understood. Even though the clinical relevance of vanC VRE is uncertain, these species are opportunistic pathogens and vanC VRE-colonised patients are a potential epidemiologic reservoir of resistance genes.
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BACKGROUND: Obesity is a contemporary epidemic that does not affect all age groups and sections of society equally. OBJECTIVE: The objective was to examine socioeconomic differences in trajectories of body mass index (BMI; in kg/m(2)) and obesity between the ages of 45 and 65 y. DESIGN: A total of 13,297 men and 4532 women from the French GAZEL (Gaz de France Electricité de France) cohort study reported their height in 1990 and their weight annually over the subsequent 18 y. Changes in BMI and obesity between ages 45 and 49 y, 50 and 54 y, 55 and 59 y, and 60 and 65 y as a function of education and occupational position (at age 35 y) were modeled by using linear mixed models and generalized estimating equations. RESULTS: BMI and obesity rates increased between the ages of 45 and 65 y. In men, BMI was higher in unskilled workers than in managers at age 45 y; this difference in BMI increased from 0.82 (95% CI: 0.66, 0.99) at 45 y to 1.06 (95% CI: 0.85, 1.27) at 65 y. Men with a primary school education compared with those with a high school degree at age 45 y had a 0.75 (95% CI: 0.51, 1.00) higher BMI, and this difference increased to 1.32 (95% CI: 1.03,1.62) at age 65 y. Obesity rates were 3.35% and 7.68% at age 45 y and 9.52% and 18.10% at age 65 y in managers and unskilled workers, respectively; the difference in obesity increased by 4.25% (95% CI: 1.87, 6.52). A similar trend was observed in women. Conclusions: Weight continues to increase in the transition between midlife and old age; this increase is greater in lower socioeconomic groups.
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The relationships between environmental exposure to risk agents and health conditions have been studied with the aid of remote sensing imagery, a tool particularly useful in the study of vegetation cover. This study aims to evaluate the influence of environmental variables on the spatial distribution of the abundance of Lutzomyia longipalpis and the reported canine and human visceral leishmaniasis (VL) cases at an urban area of Campo Grande, state of Mato Grosso do Sul. The sandfly captures were performed in 13 residences that were selected by raffle considering four residences or collection station for buffer. These buffers were generated from the central house with about 50, 100 and 200 m from it in an endemic area of VL. The abundance of sandflies and human and canine cases were georreferenced using the GIS software PCI Geomatica. The normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) and percentage of land covered by vegetation were the environmental variables extracted from a remote sensing IKONOS-2 image. The average NDVI was considered as the complexity of habitat and the standard deviation as the heterogeneity of habitat. One thousand three hundred sixty-seven specimens were collected during the catch. We found a significant positive linear correlation between the abundance of sandflies and the percentage of vegetation cover and average NDVI. However, there was no significant association between habitat heterogeneity and the abundance of these flies.
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BACKGROUND: The human immunodeficiency virus type 1 reverse-transcriptase mutation K65R is a single-point mutation that has become more frequent after increased use of tenofovir disoproxil fumarate (TDF). We aimed to identify predictors for the emergence of K65R, using clinical data and genotypic resistance tests from the Swiss HIV Cohort Study. METHODS: A total of 222 patients with genotypic resistance tests performed while receiving treatment with TDF-containing regimens were stratified by detectability of K65R (K65R group, 42 patients; undetected K65R group, 180 patients). Patient characteristics at start of that treatment were analyzed. RESULTS: In an adjusted logistic regression, TDF treatment with nonnucleoside reverse-transcriptase inhibitors and/or didanosine was associated with the emergence of K65R, whereas the presence of any of the thymidine analogue mutations D67N, K70R, T215F, or K219E/Q was protective. The previously undescribed mutational pattern K65R/G190S/Y181C was observed in 6 of 21 patients treated with efavirenz and TDF. Salvage therapy after TDF treatment was started for 36 patients with K65R and for 118 patients from the wild-type group. Proportions of patients attaining human immunodeficiency virus type 1 loads <50 copies/mL after 24 weeks of continuous treatment were similar for the K65R group (44.1%; 95% confidence interval, 27.2%-62.1%) and the wild-type group (51.9%; 95% confidence interval, 42.0%-61.6%). CONCLUSIONS: In settings where thymidine analogue mutations are less likely to be present, such as at start of first-line therapy or after extended treatment interruptions, combinations of TDF with other K65R-inducing components or with efavirenz or nevirapine may carry an enhanced risk of the emergence of K65R. The finding of a distinct mutational pattern selected by treatment with TDF and efavirenz suggests a potential fitness interaction between K65R and nonnucleoside reverse-transcriptase inhibitor-induced mutations.
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RESUME INTRODUCTION Comprendre les déterminants de l'arrêt du tabagisme est un enjeu crucial, tant sur le plan clinique qu'en termes de santé publique. Dans l'étude transversale présentée ici, nous décrivons ce processus au travers de l'expérience d'ex-fumeurs. METHODE Sur une période de 4 mois, nous avons proposé à chaque patient consultant la Policlinique Médicale Universitaire de Lausanne de participer à une étude visant à examiner leur expérience de l'arrêt du tabagisme. Les critères d'inclusion étaient les suivants: (1) âge ≥ 18 ans (2) connaissance minimale de la langue française (capacité de comprendre et répondre aux questions) (3) être un ex-fumeur (défini comme une personne actuellement abstinente mais ayant fumé au moins 100 cigarettes [≥ 5 paquets] pendant > 6 mois dans le passé). Une infirmière formée a mené des entretiens semi-structurés en face-à-face avec les ex-fumeurs recrutés en utilisant un questionnaire explorant les 67 questions parmi les thèmes suivants : caractéristiques démographiques et socioéconomiques ; habitudes antérieures de consommation ; stades de motivation ; influence de l'environnement social ; état de santé et préoccupations au sujet de la santé ; perception des risques et des bénéfices du tabagisme ; perception de la dépendance nicotinique ; offre d'un counseling médical spécifique ; connaissances sur les modalités thérapeutiques disponibles et méthodes utilisées pour arrêter de fumer. Les résultats sont exprimés en nombres absolus, en pourcentages, en moyennes et en dispersion. RÉSULTATS 88 ex-fumeurs ont été inclus dans l'étude. Leurs caractéristiques démographiques et socioéconomiques sont les suivantes : La grande majorité d'entre eux sont des hommes (81%), l'âge moyen de 51 ans (variant de 19 à 81 ans), la moitié sont mariés, 72% de nationalité suisse et une grosse minorité (40%) ont une formation supérieure (universitaire ou équivalente). Leur histoire de consommation montre que l'âge moyen d'initiation du tabagisme est de 18 ans (entre 11 et 30 ans), et 23% ont commencé avant 16 ans. La consommation moyenne était de 26 cigarettes/jour. Presque tous les sujets (92%) étaient en contact fréquent avec des fumeurs à la maison, à l'école, au travail ou avec des amis au moment où ils ont commencé à fumer. La moitié des patients a essayé à une ou deux reprises d'arrêter de fumer avant de parvenir à une réelle abstinence. La durée depuis leur arrêt de consommation de cigarettes était en moyenne 5 ans et seuls 16% des sujets ont fumé occasionnellement depuis l'arrêt de leur consommation régulière. La majorité des ex-fumeurs (93%) dit avoir arrêté de manière abrupte et sans aucune aide thérapeutique (83%). 70 % des patients décrivent l'arrêt comme plutôt ou très difficile. Les problèmes décrits après l'interruption du tabagisme sont une prise pondérale (27%), la dépendance (23%), l'irritabilité (15%), les contacts avec des fumeurs (15%) et le manque de cigarette après les repas (11%). Les motivations principales à arrêter de fumer étaient des préoccupations générales au sujet de la santé (39%), des symptômes (23%) ou des signes cliniques spécifiques (22%), comme des problèmes cardiovasculaires ou respiratoires, ainsi que la conviction que le moment était venu d'arrêter (13%). D'autres motivations (comme les enfants, la grossesse, le coût...) étaient rarement mentionnées alors que 45% d'entre eux ont tout de même ressenti une pression de l'entourage, principalement de la part dé personnes vivant sous le même toit, de leurs famille ou amis. L'effet positif majeur de l'abstinence est, à leurs yeux, une amélioration globale de la santé (48%) ou de leurs problèmes cardiovasculaires ou respiratoires (32%). Trois quarts (74 %) des sujets savent que les cigarettes dites «légères »sont aussi nuisibles que les cigarettes normales, et 90 % sont conscients du fait que la nicotine peut induire une dépendance ; la moitié d'entre eux ne réalisent toutefois pas que le filtre ne protège pas contre les dangers de l'inhalation de fumée. Prés de trois quarts (73%) des ex-fumeurs disent avoir été interrogés sur leur consommation de tabac à l'occasion d'une consultation médicale motivée par un problème de santé et 30% clairement encouragés à arrêter par leur médecin. A ce sujet, 78 % sont d'avis qu'un médecin devrait par principe conseiller un arrêt du tabac. CONCLUSION Les 88 ex-fumeurs de cet échantillon ont, pour la plupart, arrêté la cigarette par leurs propres moyens, après un ou plusieurs échecs. Leurs motivations principales étaient le souci de leur propre santé, globalement ou relativement à des symptômes ou des signes cliniques spécifiques, ce qui reflète le fait que les patients sont relativement bien informés des dangers liés à la consommation de tabac. Enfin, le fumeur est sensible à l'influence de son environnement social, et, dans cette perspective, l'abstinence devrait être encouragée par les autorités sanitaires, les professionnels de la santé et les autres membres de la communauté.
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Résumé en français Cadre : Policlinique pédiatrique à Lausanne en Suisse, pays rencontrant une proportion importante de tuberculose au sein de la population de migrants. But : Déterminer les facteurs de risque associés à un test tuberculinique positif (ou test de Mantoux), notamment l'influence du BCG (Bacille Calmette Guérin) et d'un contact avec un personne ayant une tuberculose active. Les patients concernés étaient des enfants examinés dans le cadre d'un contrôle de santé ou dans le cadre d'une étude d'entourage d'un cas déclaré de tuberculose. Méthode : Etude descriptive comprenant des enfants ayant eu un test tuberculinique (2 unités RT23) entre novembre 2002 et avril 2004. L'âge, le sexe, l'anamnèse de contact avec une personne ayant une tuberculose active, la vaccination par le BCG, le pays d'origine et le lieu de naissance (en Suisse ou hors de la Suisse) étaient répertoriés. Résultats : Parmi les 234 enfants de l'étude, 176 (75%) avaient une réaction tuberculinique égal à zéro et 31 (13%) avaient une réaction positive (> 10mm). Dans le modèle de régression linéaire, la taille de la réaction tuberculinique variait significativement selon l'anamnèse de contact avec une personne ayant une tuberculose active, l'âge, l'incidence de la tuberculose dans le pays d'origine et la vaccination par le BCG. Le sexe ou le lieu de naissance n'influençait pas la taille de la réaction. Dans le modèle de régression logistique incluant toutes les valeurs répertoriées, les paramètres significativement associés avec un Mantoux positif étaient l'âge (Odds Ratio = 1.21, 95% CI 1.08 ; 1.35), l'anamnèse de contact avec une personne ayant une tuberculose active (OR = 7.31, 95% CI 2.23 ; 24) et l'incidence de la tuberculose dans le pays d'origine (OR = 1.01, 95% CI 1.00 ; 1.02). Le sexe (OR = 1.18, 95% CI 0.50 ; 2.78) et la vaçcination par le BCG (OR = 2.97, 95% CI 0.91 ; 9.72) n'étaient pas associés avec une réaction tuberculinique positive. Conclusions : L'incidence de la tuberculose dans le pays d'origine, la vaccination par le BCG et l'âge influencent le test de Mantoux (taille ou proportion de réaction > 10mm). Toutefois, le facteur de risque le plus important d'avoir une réaction tuberculinique positive est l'anamnèse de contact avec. une personne ayant une tuberculose active.