RT-qPCR targeting the 85B gene of M. tuberculosis seems to be a more useful and rapid technique than DNA-based methods for detecting live M. tuberculosis bacilli from sputum specimens.

In recent years, smart TVs have become more common, making them need to be included as targets for the software industry. In this study, the authors developed a code generator framework and demonstrated it in an architectural view. The proposed framework converts C# programming language based projects, in a Windows Forms or a Windows Phone Application project, into native smart TV Platform applications. The selected primary smart TV platforms assigned for application conversion were Android TV, Firefox OS, and Tizen OS. The authors enabled developers to generate native codes for all three platforms from a single code base using model to model conversion, as in the model driven architecture approach with the use of the open source Roslyn C# language compiler. The need for creating projects for every single platform to make them run on different platforms will thus be eliminated and development cycles shortened. By doing so, the time required to develop an application for each platform is reduced while keeping the generated applications' quality as high as the original application. To show the functionality, the proposed approach is applied in three case studies. The success of the code conversion is satisfactory and converted applications are functional.

Aims. We investigated the histopathological features of solitary pulmonary necrotic nodules (NNs) of undetermined cause. We combined our findings with those obtained using other methods to determine how well the etiological factors were explained. Methods. We screened patients who underwent surgery to treat solitary pulmonary granulomatous and nongranulomatous NNs of undetermined cause. The NN sizes and features of both the NNs and adjacent parenchyma were evaluated. Histochemical analyses included Ehrlich–Ziehl–Neelsen (EZN), Grocott, and Gram staining. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was used to detect tuberculous and nontuberculous mycobacteria, panfungal DNA, Nocardia, Francisella tularensis types A and B, and actinomycetes. Results. The NNs were granulomatous in 78.9% and nongranulomatous in 21% of the 114 patients included. EZN staining or PCR was positive for Mycobacterium in 53.5% of all NNs: 62.2% of granulomatous and 20.8% of nongranulomatous NNs. We found a weak but significant correlation between granulomatous NNs and Bacillus positivity and a significant correlation between granulomas surrounding the NNs and the presence of multiple necroses. The NN etiology was determined via histopathological, histochemical, and PCR analyses in 57% of patients but remained undetermined in 42.9%. Conclusion. The causes of both granulomatous and nongranulomatous NNs can be determined by pathological examination. Granulomatous necrosis and granulomas in the adjacent parenchyma are important for differential diagnosis. When both features are present, they strongly support a diagnosis of tuberculosis, even in the absence of bacilli.

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