• Korean Journal of Veterinary Research
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• v.1 no.1
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• pp.72.2-72.2
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• 1961

Since April, 1957, 200 White Leghorn and 100 Newhampshire had been brought to the poultry farm of our college from Songwhan National Breeding Station. The looses due to avian tuberculosis were 67 chickens by June, 1959. Thirteen of them were examined histopathologically. Grayish white tuberculous nodules varying in size were recognized in the liver, spleen, bone marrow, and intestine of all affected birds. The heart rind testis were involved in each case, and pulmonary tuberculosis which, unlike in mammals, was kown to be rarely encountered in birds was observed in two cases. One case showed amyloid like degeneration in hepatic cell cords of the liver, glomerular tufts and collecting ducts of the kidney. Lesions in the spleen presented typical Sago spleen. Sections from the liver, spleen, intestine, and lungs were stained by Ziel-Neelsen stain. Acid Fast stained bacilli were found embeded in the cytoplasm of epithlioid cells and foreign-body giant cells.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Research
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• v.33 no.4
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• pp.673-678
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• 1993

A male sika deer, 3 years old, which had the clinical history of chronic watery diarrhea with severe emaciation for 4 months was submitted and euthanized. On necropsy, there was diffuse mucosal hypertrophy of gastrointestinal tract with thickened intestinal walls and swollen mesenteric lymph nodes. In histologic lesions. diffuse proliferation of epithelioid cells are present in the laminar propria, submucosa muscle layer and subserosa of most gastroinlestinal organs except omasum. These epithelioid cells are also present in the cortex and medulla of meseriteric lymph nodes and in the portal triads of liver. Most these epithelioid cells contain acid-fast positive bacilli using Ziehl-Neelsen staining in the cytoplasm. Based on the clinical signs, gross findings and histological lesions, this deer was diagnosed as paratuberculosis. The wide range of target organs and the severity of the lesions observed in this case is quite different comparing to those of other ruminant.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.54 no.5
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• pp.408-411
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• 2021

Tuberculosis (TB)-infected giant bullae are rare. A 55-year-old man was referred when an infected bulla did not respond to empirical treatment. Computed tomography showed a giant bulla in the right upper lobe with an air-fluid level and surrounding infiltrate. Sputum culture, acid-fast bacilli (AFB) stain, and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) for TB were negative. Percutaneous drainage of the bullous fluid was performed. AFB stain and PCR were positive in the drained fluid. The patient was given anti-TB drugs and later underwent obliteration of the pulmonary cavity using talc. To summarize, we report a patient with a TB-infected giant bulla that was treated successfully with anti-TB drugs and obliteration of the pulmonary cavity using talc.

• Biomedical Science Letters
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.96-103
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• 2017

Nocardia species (spp.) are opportunistic pathogen in immunocompromised hosts. The genus Nocardia contains more than 70 species. Nocardia takedensis has been recently reported as a new species of the genus Nocardia. In this study, we describes the first clinical isolate of N. takedensis from the skin lesion in Busan, Korea. For the identification of clinical isolate to the species level as N. takedensis, classical methods (colony morphology, biochemical characteristics, and antimicrobial susceptibility), molecular method (16S rRNA gene sequencing), and MS (mass spectrometry) analysis were conducted. Clinical isolates grew slowly on the culture media (5% sheep blood agar and chocolate agar) under 5% $CO_2$ condition. Especially, carotene pigmentation was detected well on the media. Using mass spectrometry, Nocardia isolate was not identified to the species level. However, molecular method based on 16S rRNA sequencing confirmed the isolate as N. takedensis correctly. N. takedensis isolate was partial positive for acid-fast bacilli on the Ziehl-Neelsen method. And it was observed to be resistance to amoxicillin/clavulanic acid and ciprofloxacin. Our results provide useful information to develop optimal identification protocol of N. takedensis in clinical diagnostic laboratories.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.58 no.4
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• pp.385-391
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• 2005

Background : The incidence of nontuberculous mycobacterium (NTM) infections in Korea is increasing. This retrospective study was performed to examine the recovery rate of NTM from respiratory specimens as well as the isolated NTM colony characteristics, and to assess the clinical significance of a NTM isolation. Methods : The results of the respiratory specimens requested for an acid-fast bacilli (AFB) examination during 2002 at Asan Medical Center, along with the patients clinical characteristics were analyzed. Results : A total 26,820 respiratory specimens were requested for the acid-fast bacilli (AFB) smear and culture during the study period. The proportion of M. tuberculosis and NTM isolation was 5.7% and 2.2%, respectively. Among the AFB smear and culture positive specimens, 12.2% were found to be NTM. The scotochromogen showing a low colony count < 20, which appeared to be contaminants, were isolated in 31.8% of the 584 NTM isolates. Excluding the low-colony scotochromogens, the M. avium-intracellulare complex was the most common NTM isolates (42.1%), and was also the most common causative organism for NTM pulmonary diseases. 8.4% (23/275) and 17.8% (49/275) of patients with NTM isolates met the American and British Thoracic Society diagnostic criteria for NTM pulmonary disease, respectively. Conclusion : In case of a positive AFB-smear or culture result, the possibility of NTM being a causative organism should always be considered, even in Korea, which has an intermediate incidence of tuberculosis.

• Quality Improvement in Health Care
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• v.27 no.2
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• pp.73-82
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• 2021

Purpose: This study aims to examine the quality of tuberculosis (TB) care after the 1st to 3rd national quality assessment (QA) program for TB healthcare service in Korea was conducted. Methods: We analyzed Health Insurance Review & Assessment Service (HIRA) claims data of new TB patients during the period of January to June from 2018-2020. The new TB patients were defined as TB patients reported to Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KCDA). The unit of analysis was the patient. Chi-square tests were used to analyze the differences in indicator value according to the types of medical facilities. The QA indicators of TB care were divided into 3 areas consisting of the following 7 quality indicators: 4 indicators of diagnosis test (the rate of acid-fast bacilli smear, the rate of acid-fast bacilli culture, the rate of Mycobacterium tuberculosis-polymerase chain reaction, drug susceptibility test), 1 compliance of treatment guideline, and 2 indicators of care management of TB patients (encounter rate, day of therapy). Results: The QA program for TB care was conducted among 8,246 patients from 534 facilities in 2020. The value of the 7 quality indicators was shown to increase as a result of the QA program. The indicators of the diagnostic test were all higher than 95%, with the exception of the drug susceptibility test which was 84.8%. Both indicators for care management of TB patients were 88.5%. Conclusion: The quality of TB care has been improving with the implementation of the QA program. In order to continue to improve the quality of TB care, it will be necessary to disclose the results of the QA program in medical facilities in the future.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Radiology
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• v.82 no.6
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• pp.1524-1533
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• 2021

Purpose To investigate the incidence of tuberculosis (TB) in healthcare workers (HCWs) with positive interferon-gamma release assay (IGRA) results based on chest X-ray (CXR) and CT findings and determine the role of imaging in the diagnosis of TB. Materials and Methods Among 1976 hospital personnel screened for TB using IGRA, IGRApositive subjects were retrospectively investigated. Clustered nodular and/or linear streaky opacities in the upper lung zone were considered positive on CXR. The CT findings were classified as active, indeterminate, inactive, or normal. The active or indeterminate class was considered CT-positive. Results IGRA was positive in 255 subjects (12.9%). CXR and CT were performed in 249 (99.2%) and 113 subjects (45.0%), respectively. CXR- and CT-positive findings were found in 7 of 249 (2.8%) and 9 of 113 (8.0%) patients, respectively. Among the nine CT-positive subjects, active and indeterminate TB findings were found in 6 (5.3%) and 3 (2.7%) patients, respectively. Microbiological tests, including acid-fast bacilli staining, culture, and polymerase chain reaction for TB, were negative in all nine CT-positive subjects. Empirical anti-TB medications were administered to 9 CT-positive subjects, and 3 of these nine subjects were CXR-negative for pulmonary TB.

• Biomedical Science Letters
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• v.19 no.2
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• pp.132-141
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• 2013

Mycobacterium isolates were retrospectively identified, antibiotics susceptibility test results and basic clinical data were analyzed for the 715, excepted 308 in 1,023 specimens, from a mycobacterial laboratory at a tertiary care hospital from September 2002 to December 2008. Their male to female ratio was 1.12 to 1 (379 male, 336 female). The median age of study population was 47 years (range from 10 to 93 years). Distribution of Mycobacterium species was 90.1% of total were isolates Mycobacterium tuberculosis, and 9.9% of the total non-tuberculosis Mycobacterium isolated, and Among nontuberculosis Mycobacterium isolates, 60.6% were Mycobacterium avium complex, 14.1% were isolates Mycobacterium abscessus, and 12.7% were isolates Mycobacterium intracellulare. Among 526 Mycobacterium tuberculosis isolates, 81.7% isolates were susceptible to first line antibiotics, 18.3% were resistant to one or more antibiotics. Non-tuberculosis Mycobacterium isolates, all were resistant to two or more antibiotics. Multi-antibiotic resistant tuberculosis rate was show 10.2% of total specimens. Isolated Mycobacterium species, 19.2% were multi-antibiotic resistant tuberculosis, and the rate of nontuberculosis Mycobacterium resistant to isoniazid and rifampin was very highly 84.5%. Thus among acid fast bacilli culture positive cases, Mycobacterium tuberculosis and non-tuberculosis Mycobacterium were must exactly identification and antibiotic sensitivity test. It was considered to help to select of the antibiotic in preventive medicine.

• The Korean Journal of Cytopathology
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• v.9 no.1
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• pp.85-88
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• 1998

We described the findings of fine needle aspiration cytology of the lung from a patient with Wegener's granulomatosis. Early diagnosis and prompt treatment of the patients with Wegener's granulomatosis is essential for a better prognosis. However, the variety of clinical presentations and nonspecific radiologic infiltrates of Wegener's granulomatosis frequently make the diagnosis difficult. Although an open lung biopsy is required for a firm diagnosis, fine needle aspiration cytology & biopsy preparation can also provide an adequate tissue sample, when the findings of fine needle aspiration are considered with clinical manifestations and ANCA value in the serum. The cytologic smears showed scattered necrotic tissue fragments entrapping many neutrophils and occasional epithelioid cells. Multinucleated giant cells were infrequently observed. Ziehl-Neelsen stain for acid fast bacilli was negative. All the cytologic features recapitulated the histopathologic findings of purulent and necrotizing granulomatous inflammation seen in Wegener's granulomatosis.

• Journal of Microbiology
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• v.40 no.4
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• pp.301-304
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• 2002

Is a multiple number of sputum specimens necessary for the diagnosis of pulmonary tuberculosis? To answer this question, 6844 respiratory specimens obtained from previously untreated patients suspected of having pulmonary tuberculosis between 1998 and 2001 were evaluated retrospectively. All of the specimens were evaluated by acid fast bacilli smear and BACTEC 460 TB culture system. A total of 785 (11%) specimens from 353 patients were positive for Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex. For 76% (270/353) of these patients the organism was detected from sputum specimens collected sequentially for daily basis. Mycobacterium tuberculosis was isolated in the first, second and third samples of the majority (98%,195/199) of patients who had three or more sputum samples sent to the laboratory. Our results indicate that, we could carry out Mycobacterium tuberculosis isolation in the first, second and third sputum samples of the overwhelming majority of the patients and the diagnostic value of four or more sputum specimens submitted to the laboratory was very low (2%). We recommend that, for definitive and cost-effective diagnosis of pulmonary tuberculosis at least three sequential sputum specimens be collected for all patients suspected pulmonary tuberculosis.