• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.64 no.1
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• pp.15-21
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• 2008

Background: The melanoma antigen-encoding (MAGE) genes are known to be expressed in various cancer cells, including non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), and are silent in all normal tissues except for the testis. In patients with peripheral NSCLC, bronchial washing fluid can be used to detect the MAGE genes, suggesting a diagnosis of lung cancer. In order to evaluate the diagnostic utility of the MAGE test in patients with peripheral NSCLC, bronchial washing fluid was investigated in patients with peripheral pulmonary nodules, which were invisible as detected by bronchoscopy. Methods: Bronchial washing fluid from 37 patients was used for cytological examinations and MAGE gene detection, using RT-nested-PCR of common A1-A6 mRNA. Results were compared to a final diagnosis of patients as confirmed by pathology. Results: Among the 37 subjects, NSCLC was diagnosed in 21 patients, and benign pulmonary diseases were diagnosed in 16 patients. MAGE mRNA was detected in 10 of 21 (47.6%) NSCLC patients, while conventional cytology examinations were positive for MAGE expression in 2 of 21 (9.5%) cases. MAGE expression was observed in 4 of 16 (25%) benign pulmonary disease patients. Conclusion: The MAGE test of bronchial washing fluid can be used as a sensitive predictor of peripheral NSCLC patients.

• The Journal of the Korean Society for Microbiology
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• v.7 no.1
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• pp.29-41
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• 1972

To grow Myocbacterium leprae in cultured mouse peritoneal macrophages, studies were made with trypsin-purified Myco. laprae on 1) the dynamics of infection of mouse peritonal macrophages in vivo with Myco. leprae by intraperitoneal inoculation, 2) growth experiment of Myco. leprae in cultured mouse peritoneal macrophages by in vivo infection and in vitro cultivation and 3) the observation of pathological changes in spleens of mice induced by intraperitoneal inoculation of Myco. leprae. Results are summarized as follows; 1. Continuing and significant decreases were observed in the numbers of both acid-fast bacilli in cultured macrophage and of macrophages harboring.acid-fast bacilli by the length of inter vats between the time of intraperitoneal inoculation of Myco. leprae and the time of initiation of macrophage culture. 2. No evidence of multiplication of Myco. leprae in the peritoneal macrophages in vivo was found up to 5 months after intraperitoneal inoculation. 3. With cultures of macrophages made 24 hours and 1 week after intraperitoneal inoculation of Myco. leprae and maintained in vitro up to 2 to 3 months, microscopic examination of the stained preparations of cultured macrophages indicated that an apparent increase in the number of acid-fast bacilli in the macrophages did occur. 4. Quantitative experiment with in vivo infected-in vitro cultured macrophages revealed certain features of increase in the number of total acid-fast bacilli in the cultured macrophages 7 and 9 weeks after initiation of the cultures. 5. Pathological changes in the spleens mice inoculated with Myco. leprae were of mainly degenerative nature in the red pulp. No multiplication of Myco. leprae was observed in the spleens of mice up to 5 months after intraperitoneal inoculation.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.44 no.2
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• pp.232-240
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• 1997

Background : Postprimary pulmonary tuberculosis is located mainly in upper lobes. The tuberculous lesion involving the lower lobes usually arises from the upper lobe cavity through endobronchial spread. When tuberculosis is confined to the lower lung field, it often masquerades as pneumonia, lung cancer, bronchiectasis, or lung abscess. Thus the correct diagnosis may be sometimes delayed for a long time. Methods : We carried out, retrospectively, a clinical study on 50 patients confirmed with lower lung field tuberculosis who visited the Department of Pulmonary Medicine at Hanyang University Hospital from January 1992 to December 1994. The following results were obtained. Results : Lower lung field tuberculosis without concomitant upper lobe disease occurred in fifty patients representing 6.9% of the total admission with active pulmonary tuberculosis over a period of 3 years. It occurred most frequently in the third decade but age distribution was relatively even. The mean age was 43 years old. Female was more frequently affected than male (male to female ratio 1 : 1.9). The most common symptom was cough(68%), followed by sputum(52%), fever(38%), and chest discomfort(30%). On chest X-ray of the 50patients, consolidation was the most common finding in 52%, followed by solitary nodule(22%) collapse(16%), cavitary lesion(10%), in decreasing order. The disease confined to the right side in 25 cases, left side 20 cases, and both sides 5 cases. Endobronchial tuberculosis (1) Endobronchial involvement was proved by bronchoscopic examination in 20 of 50patients. (2) Mean age was 44years old and female was more affected than man (male to female ratio 1 : 3). Sputum AFB stain and Mycobacterium tuberculosis culture were positive only in 50% of cases unlikely upper lobe tuberculosis, additional diagnostic methods were needed. In our study, bronchoscopic examination and percutaneous fine needle aspiration biopsy increased diagnostic yield by 18% and 32%, respectively. The most common associated condition was diabetes mellitus(18%) and others were anemia, anorexia nervosa, stomach cancer, and systemic steroid usage. Conclusion : When we find a lower lung field lesion, we should suspect tuberculosis if the patient has diabetes mellitus, anemia, systemic steroid usage, malignancy or other immune suppressed states. Because diagnostic yield of sputum AFB smear & Mycobacterium tuberculosis culture was low, additional diagnostic methods such as bronchoscopy and fine needle aspiration biopsy were needed.