• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.43 no.6
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• pp.852-861
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• 1996

Background : Many clinicians have experienced the difficulty of decision on termination of antituberculosis chemotherapy after the 6th month due to relapse of disease. There is still controversy in the effect of 2S(K)HRZ/4HRZ 6-month short course chemotherapy including pyrazinamide for 6 months in patiems with pulmonary tuberculosis. And there is no long term follow-up study of 6-month short course chemotherapy for pulmonary tuberculosis in korea. So we had performed the study to find the result of 6-month antituberculosis chemotherapy for 4 years. Method : We studied prospectively the effect of 2S(K)HRZ/4HRZ in one hundred-fifty patients with pulmonary tuberculosis and followed up fifty-nine patients for more than 1 year to 4 years after the completion of 6-month short course therapy. Results : 1) Out of one hundred-fifty patients, seventy-two patients(48%) completed the prescribed 6-month chemotherapy. Sixty-eight patients(45.3%) have experienced premature discontinuation and the most common cause of premature discontinuation was drop-out against advice(thirty-six patients, 24%). Ten patients(6.7%) were treated beyond the 6 months mainly due to irregular treatment. 2) Fifty-nine patients(81.9%) among seventy-two patients with completed treatment have been followed up for more than 1 year and 32 patients(44.4%) for more than 4 years. There was three relapse patients of whom two patients have experienced relapse of pulmonary tuberculosis within 1 year after the termination of chemotherapy. 3) Among one hundred-thirty-four patients who have been assessible for more than two months of chemotherapy, including the patients who experienced within 2 months, there were eighty-two patients(61.2%) who have experienced adverse reactions and the treatment regimen was changed only in thirteen patients(9.7%). The most frequent cause of adverse reactions was arthralgia and/or hyperuricemia, which had occurred in 33 patients(24.6%). Conclusion : In a university hospital in Korea, 6-month shot course chemotherapy of 2S(K)HRZ/4HRZ had unnegligible relapses and premature discontinuation. Therefore, change of the regimen might be carefully considered by drug susceptibility results. Close monitoring of patients, retrial of sputum exam and radiologic evaluation during treatment might be required in the endemic area of drug resistant strains like in Korea. Further study about the effect of 6-month short course chemotherapy including pyrazinamide for 6-month might be needed.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.50 no.11
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• pp.1134-1138
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• 2007

Since the tuberculosis (TB) in adolescents has unique clinical characteristics, special attention should be paid to this age group. Adolescents are more susceptible to developing TB disease and more likely to have cavitary pulmonary disease. Also, adolescent patients with TB more frequently present with extrapulmonary disease. We report three adolescents with active pulmonary and/or intestinal TB: one had pulmonary and intestinal TB, another had a pulmonary TB, and the third exclusively had an intestinal TB. Diagnosis was confirmed by pathologic examination of the lung and/or intestines. All three patients were treated successfully without complication. A brief review of the literature has been included.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.63 no.2
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• pp.173-177
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• 2007

Tuberculosis remains as a major public health problem worldwide. In addition to classic pulmonary tuberculosis, tuberculosis may sometimes present atypically. In the case of atypical tuberculosis, the unusual sites and properties that mimic other diseases can lead to a misdiagnosis and therapeutic delay. Abdominal and pharyngeal tuberculosis are uncommon extrapulmonary manifestations of tuberculosis. To the best of our knowledge, a combination of abdominal and pharyngeal tuberculosis with endobronchial tuberculosis has not been reported. We report a case of concurrent abdominal and pharyngeal tuberculosis in a patient with chronic endobronchial tuberculosis mimicking a metastatic malignancy on computed tomography and FDG-PET.

• The Korean Society of Law and Medicine
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• v.16 no.2
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• pp.55-84
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• 2015

The tuberculosis is the infectious disease. Generally, the active tuberculosis patient can infect the 10 persons for one year within the daily activities like casual conversation and singing together. The infectivity of tuberculosis can continue for a life time, and infected persons can remain at risk for developing active tuberculosis. To control this contagious disease, along with the active tuberculosis patients, non-infectious but non-compliant patients who can be infectious if their immune systems become impaired have to be managed. To control the non-complaint patients, medical treatment order should be combined with the public order. Because tuberculosis is the risk of community health, the human rights like liberty and freedom of movement can be restricted for public welfare under the article 37(2) of constitution. Even when such restriction is imposed, no essential aspect of the freedom or right shall be violated. The degree of restriction on the rights of citizens is different what methods are chosen to non-complaint patients. For example, under the directly observed therapy program, the patients and medical staffs make an appointment and meet to confirm the drug intakes according to the schedule, which is the medical treatment combined with the mildest public order. If the patients break the appointments or have the history of disobedient, the involuntary detention can obtain the legitimate cause. The Tuberculosis Prevention Act has the two step programs on this involuntary detention, The admission order (Article 15) is issued when the patients are infectious. The quarantine order (Artle 15-2) is issued when the patients are infectious and non-complaint. The legal criteria for involuntary detention are discussed and published through the international conventions and covenants. For example, World Health Organization had made guidance on human rights and involuntary detention for tuberculosis control. The restrictions should be carried out in accordance with the our law and in the legitimate objective of public interest. And the restriction should be based on scientific evidence and not imposed in an unreasonable or discriminatory manner. We define and adopt these international criteria under our constitution and legal system. Least restrictive alternative principle, proportionality principle and the individual evaluation methods are explained through the reviews of United States court decisions. Habeas Corpus Act is reviewed and adopted as the procedural due process to protect the patient rights as a citizen. Along with that, what conditions and facilities which are needed to performed quarantine order are discussed.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.40 no.5
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• pp.509-518
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• 1993

Background: By amplifying small amount of DNA, polymerase chain reaction (PCR) can be used for the detection of very small amount of microbial agent, and may be especially useful in certain cases which are difficult to be diagnosed microbiologically or serologically. Tuberculous pleurisy is a disease that can be diagnosed in only 70% of cases by conventional diagnostic tools, and PCR would be a very rapid, easy, and sensitive diagnostic method. Method: The specificity and sensitivity of PCR to detect Mycobacterium tuberculosis DNA were evaluated using various strains of Mycobacteria. To evaluate the diagnostic usefulness of PCR in tuberculous pleurisy, we used PCR to detect Mycobacterium tuberculosis DNA in pleural fluid. The amplification target was 123 base pair DNA, a part of IS6110 fragment, 10~16 copies of which are known to exist per genome. The diagnostic yield of PCR was compared with conventional methods, including pleural fluid adenosine deaminase (ADA) activity. Also, the significance of PCR in undiagnosed pleural effusion was evaluated prospectively with antituberculosis treatment. Results: 1) Using cultured Mycobacterium tuberculosis and other strains, PCR could detect upto 1 fg DNA and specific for only Mycobacterium tuberculosis and Mycobacterium bovis. 2) Using pleural effusions of proven tuberculosis cases, the sensitivity of PCR was 80.0% (16/20), and the specificity 95.0% (19/20). 3) Among 13 undiagnosed, but suspected tuberculous effusion, the positive rate was 60% in 10 improved cases after antituberculosis medications, and 0% in 3 cases of proven malignancy later. 4) Adenosine deaminase level of proven and clinically diagnosed tuberculous pleurisy patients was significantly higher than that of excluded patients, and correlated well with PCR results. Conclusion: We can conclude that PCR detection of Mycobacterium tuberculosis in pleural effusion has acceptable sensitivity and specificity, and could be an additional diagnostic tool for the diagnosis of tuberculous pleurisy.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.64 no.6
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• pp.422-426
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• 2008

Background: Mycobacterium abscessus is the most pathogenic and drug-resistant rapid-growing mycobacterium. Clarithromycin or azithromycin are the only regular oral antimycobacterial agents that have an effect on M. abscessus. We tried to detect the clarithromycin-resistant strains from the clinical isolates of M. abscessus. Methods: We tried to isolate the clarithromycin-resistant strains from 220 clinical isolates of M. abscessus by performing using reverse hybridization assay (RHA) and the broth microdilution test (BMT). Results: Seven resistant strains (3.2%) from all the tested clinical isolates were detected by BMT. Three of these resistant strains were also detected by RHA and it was confirmed that they had point mutants. Conclusion: These results showed that clarithromycin resistance in M. abscessus clinical isolates is related to a point mutation and other unknown mechanisms.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Applied Pharmacology
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• 1993.04a
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• pp.143-143
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• 1993

현재 시판되고 있는 정장용 생균 제제에 함유되어있는 정장 균주의 하나인 Bifidobacterium bifidum은 항결핵제 중 rifampicin에 감수성으로 rifampicin과 병용 투여시 본래의 정장 효과를 기대할 수없다. 따라서, rifampicin에 내성인 돌연변이 균주를 얻기 위해 B. bifidum을 N-methyl-N'-nitro-N-nitrosoguanidine(MNNG)로 처리하여 rifampicin에 내성인 30 종의 균주를 선별하였고, rifampicin에 대한 Minimal Inhibitory Concentration (MIC)를 측정해 본 결과 내성이 1,000 배 이상 상승하였다. 균주 동정을 위하여 fructose-6-phosphate phosphoketolase test를 실시해 본 결과 Bifidobacterium임이 확인되었다. 이들 내성 균주들의 유기산 생산량을 측정하여 그 생산량이 모균주와 가장 유사한 3 종의 균주를 선발하였다. 이들에 대하여 Escherichia coli 생육 억제능을 시험해 본 결과 E. coil 생육 억제능이 모균주와 유사하였다. 또, rifampicin을 함유한 배지에서 돌연변이 균주를 배양시킨 경우 rifampicin이 안정한 상태로 잔존한 것을 알 수 있었다. 이것으로 보아 돌연변이 균주들은 rifampicin을 분해 또는 변형시키는 효소를 생산하지 않는다고 볼 수 있다. 이상의 결과로 본 연구에서 개발한 돌연변이 균주들, 즉 B. bifidum RFRll, RFR21 그리고 RFR61은 rifampicin에 내성이면서 모균주와 동일한 생화학적 특성을 갖는 정장 균주로 여겨진다.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.54 no.3
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• pp.274-282
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• 2003

Background : Tuberculous lymphadenitis is one of the most common forms of extrapulmonary tuberculosis. It was recently reported that the treatment for tuberculous lymphadenitis could be shortened to 6 months without increasing the risk of a relapse. However, there is no report of a prospective randomized study on the use of 6-month chemotherapy with HERZ for cervical lymphadenitis, which is regimen recommended in the areas concerned with the initial drug resistance. The aim of this study is to evaluate the efficacy of the 6-month regimen with HERZ for cervical lymphadenitis in areas where there is a high prevalence of drug resistance in Korea. Method : From January 1997 to February 2002, 92 patients with cervical tuberculous lymphadenitis were recruited from Kyungpook national university hospital. Forty-six patients were given the 6-month regimen(2HERZ/4HER) and the other forty-six patients were given the 9-month regimen(2HERZ/7HER). Result : Of the 46 patients given the 6-month regimen, 5 had residual lymph nodes greater than 5 mm after the completion of treatment and 3 had new lymph nodes or an increased lymph node size during the follow-up period. Of the 46 patients in the 9-month regimen, 9 had residual lymph nodes and 8 had new events during the follow-up period. There were no significant differences between the two groups. Conclusion : These results suggest that the 6-month HERZ regimen can be used safely as the initial treatment for tuberculous lymphadenitis in areas with a similar prevalence of drug resistance.

• Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology & Nutrition
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• v.7 no.1
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• pp.102-107
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• 2004

About 20% of intestinal tuberculosis have active pulmonary tuberculosis. Intestinal tuberculosis can develop by swallowing sputum which have active pulmonary tuberculosis and by ingestion of contagious milk. We report a case of intestinal tuberculosis complicated with pulmonary tuberculosis in a 15-year old aldelescent who could not cough out sputum because of known cerebral palsy. He was admitted because of 3 day history of fever and bloody stool. Chest PA showed both upper lobe consolidation. AFB stain and AFB PCR was positive for tuberculosis. Colon study showed abscence of haustral marking and lead pipe appearance due to stenosis of ascending colon and mucosal edema. Abdominal CT scan showed mild wall thickening in ascending colon. Despite the anti-tuberculosis therapy with first line drugs, fever accompanying pleural effusion developed. Second line drug with Isoniazid and Rifampin improved clinical manifestation. After the report on sensitivity, we readjusted the regimen, and clinical manifestations improved gradually.

• Pediatric Infection and Vaccine
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• v.26 no.1
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• pp.32-41
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• 2019

Purpose: In order to prevent tuberculosis transmission early, it is important to diagnose and treat tuberculosis infection by investigating people who have contact with patients with active tuberculosis. Methods: From July 2014 to June 2017, the intrafamilial childhood contacts of the patients who were diagnosed with active tuberculosis at Chungnam National University Hospital were investigated for the presence of tuberculosis infection. We also retrospectively analyzed the treatment status of children treated with latent tuberculosis infection (LTBI) during the same period. Results: Among the 269 children who had intrafamilial contact with active tuberculosis patient, 20 (7.4%) did not receive any screening. At the first screening, one (0.4%) was diagnosed with pulmonary tuberculosis, seven (2.8%) had a previous history of tuberculosis infection, and 42 patients (16.9%) were diagnosed with LTBI. At the second screening, 29 patients (11.6%) were diagnosed with LTBI, and 61 patients did not finish the investigation. Only 188 (69.9%) out of 269 patients completed the investigation. Ninety patients received treatment for LTBI and 83 patients (92.2%) completed the treatment, of which 18 patients had side effects such as rash, fatigue, and gastrointestinal symptoms. However, there were no serious side effects requiring treatment discontinuation. Conclusions: The completion rate of childhood tuberculosis contact investigation was low, but the completion rate of LTBI treatment was high in children without serious side effects. In order to prevent and manage the spread of tuberculosis, active private-public partnership efforts and education of the patient and guardian are needed.