• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.49 no.5
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• pp.558-567
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• 2000

Background : Recently, serologic techniques for tuberculosis have been developed and some of them, which are focusing on detection of serum antibodies mainly directed against specific 38-kDa Mycobacterium tuberculosis, have already been introduced into the markel. In this study, diagnostic significance of a new serologic test(ELISA kit) for pulmonary tuberculosis was evaluated. Method : Serologic test with newly developed ELISA kit was performed upon 474 individuals, who include 333 active pulmonary tuberculosis patients, 80 healthy cases, and 61 tuberculosis contact cases. This serologic test was based on the ELISA technique and designed to detect antibodies to mixed complex antigens including 38-kDa, which were developed by Erume Biotech Co., Seoul. Active pulmonary tuberculosis was diagnosed by sputum AFB smear and culture methods. Results : The seropositivities using this ELISA kit were 82.1% and 73.6% in smear-positive and negative groups among active pulmonary tuberculosis, respectively. And, it also showed that seronegativities were 97.5% and 85.2% in healthy and contact groups, respectively. As a whole, the results of our study using the ELISA kit as a diagnostic method for pulmonary tuberculosis showed 80.0% sensitivity for active pulmonary tuberculosis, 97.5% specificity, 96.1% positive predictive value, and 65.0% negative predictive value when the prevalence of tuberuclosis in the samples was 60.1%. Conclusion : Our results reveal that the detection of antibody its reaction with 38-kDa antigen of M. tuberculosis is not sufficient to be accepted as single diagnostic method for pulmonary tuberculosis. However, they suggest that ELISA kit may be considered as an adjunctive test to standard diagnostic techniques of pulmonary tuberculosis.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.45 no.2
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• pp.271-279
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• 1998

Background: Diagnosis by direct microscopy and/or by culture of the Mycobacterium tuberculosis from body fluids or biopsy specimens is "Gold standard". However, the sensitivity of direct microscopy after Ziehl-Neelsen staining is relatively low and culture of mycobacteria is time consuming. Detection of mycobacterial DNA in clinical samples by the polymerase chain reaction is highly sensitive but laborious and expensive. Therefore, rapid, sensitive and readily applicable new tests need to be developed. So we had evaluated the clinical significance of serologic detection of antibody to 38 kDa antigen, which is known as the most specific to the M. tuberculosis complex, and culture filtrate antigen by ELISA in sputum AFB smear negative patients. Method: In this study, culture tests for acid fast bacilli with sputa or bronchial washing fluids of 183 consecutive patients who were negative of sputum AFB smear were performed. Simultaneously serum antibodies to 38 kDa antigen and unheated culture filtrate of M. tuberculosis were detected by an ELISA method. Results: The optical densities of ELISA test with 38 kDa and culture filtrate antigen were significantly higher in active pulmonary tuberculosis cases than in non tuberculous pulmonary diseases (p<0.05), but in patients with active pulmonary tuberculosis, those of the sputum culture positive patients for M. tuberculosis were not significantly different from those of the sputum culture negative cases(p>0.05). In the smear-negative active pulmonary tuberculosis patients, the sensitivity of the ELISA using 38 kDa antigen and culture filtrate was 20.0% and 31.4%. respectively. The specificity was 95.3% and 93.9%. respectively. Conclusion : In active pulmonary tuberculosis but smear negative, the serologic detection of antibody to 38 kDa antigen and culture filtrate by ELISA cannot substitute traditional diagnostic tests and does not have clinically significant role to differenciate the patient with active pulmonary tuberculosis from other with non-tuberculous pulmonary diseases.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.75 no.5
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• pp.199-204
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• 2013

Background: The number of patients with pulmonary disease caused by nontuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) has been increasing worldwide. The aim of this study was to evaluate long-term trends in the NTM recovery rate from respiratory specimens over a 10-year period in a tertiary referral hospital in South Korea. Methods: We retrospectively reviewed the records of mycobacterial cultures of respiratory specimens at Samsung Medical Center from January 2001 to December 2011. Results: During the study period, 32,841 respiratory specimens from 10,563 patients were found to be culture-positive for mycobacteria. These included 12,619 (38%) Mycobacterium tuberculosis and 20,222 (62%) NTM isolates. The proportion of NTM among all positive mycobacterial cultures increased from 43% (548/1,283) in 2001 to 70% (3,341/4,800) in 2011 (p<0.001, test for trend). The recovery rate of NTM isolates from acid-fast bacilli smear-positive specimens increased from 9% (38/417) in 2001 to 64% (1,284/1,997) in 2011 (p<0.001, test for trend). The proportion of positive liquid cultures was higher for NTM than for M. tuberculosis (p<0.001). The most frequently isolated NTM were Mycobacterium avium-intracellulare complex (53%) and Mycobacterium abscessus-massiliense complex (25%). Conclusion: The recovery rate of NTM from respiratory specimens in South Korea has increased steadily.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.83 no.2
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• pp.141-146
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• 2020

Background: The burden of nontuberculous mycobacterial (NTM) pulmonary disease (PD) is increasing globally. To understand the treatment outcomes and prognosis of NTM-PD, a unified registry is needed. In this project, we aim to construct a multicenter prospective observational cohort with NTM-PD in South Korea (NTM-KOREA). Methods: The primary objective of this study is to analyze treatment outcomes according to the species. In addition, recurrence rate, adverse events, the impact of each drug on treatment outcomes as well as the impact of characteristics of mycobacteriology will be analyzed. The inclusion criteria for the study are as follows: fulfilling the criteria for NTM-PD having one of the following etiologic organisms: Mycobacterium avium complex, M. abscessus subspecies abscessus, M. abscessus subspecies massiliense, or M. kansasii; receiving the first treatment for NTM-PD after enrollment; age >20 years; and consenting to participate in the study. Seven institutions will participate in patient enrollment and about 500 patients are expected to be enrolled. Participants will be recruited from 1 March 2020 until 19 March 2024 and will be observed through 19 March 2029. During the follow-up period, participants' clinical course will be tracked and their clinical data as well as NTM isolates will be collected. Conclusion: NTM-KOREA will be the first nationwide observational cohort for NTM-PD in South Korea. It will provide the information to optimize treatment modalities and will contribute to deeper understanding of the treatment outcomes and long-term prognosis of patients with NTM-PD in South Korea.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.46 no.4
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• pp.473-480
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• 1999

Background: Early diagnosis of tuberculosis is critical, especially in Korea, an area where tuberculosis is endemic. Because antibody responses to some membrane proteins of Mycobacterium tuberculosis are not comparable, and the policy of BCG vaccination and the prevalence of tuberculosis are different from country to country, the usefulness of the serological diagnostic tests is questionable in Korea, even though they have been confirmed to be useful in other countries. In the specific context of Korea, we tried to evaluate the validity of the ICT Tuberculosis Test (ICT), a membrane-based antibody kit that purports to detect the 5 M. tuberculosis complex-specific antigens including 38-kDa protein. Method: 68 patients with tuberculosis were tested : 37 had no history of previous tuberculosis, and 31 were reactivated cases. The control group comprised 77 subjects : 25 healthy adults, 35 hospital workers with frequent contact with tuberculosis patients, and 17 in-patients with non-tuberculous respiratory diseases. Results: The diagnostic sensitivities of the ICT were 87% and 73% in patients with versus without previous history of tuberculosis, respectively. The sensitivities of smear-positive and smear-negative patient groups were 81% and 73%, respectively. Both of the two patients with extrapulmonary tuberculosis tested positive through the ICT. The specificities of the ICT were 88%, 94%, and 94% in healthy adults, hospital workers, and non-tuberculous patients, respectively, with an overall specificity of 92%. Conclusion: It is suggested that when combined with traditional techniques, the ICT is an useful tool for the diagnosis of pulmonary tuberculosis. The procedure is simple, easy to perform, rapid, and needs no equipment. It shows 73% sensitivity and 92% specificity for the diagnosis of tuberculosis.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.40 no.5
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• pp.483-494
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• 1993

Cell surface antigenic relationships between pathogenic mycobacteria have been investigated by the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay using phenolkilled cells and their rabbits antisera. Homologous and heterologous reactions of Mycobacterium avium-intracellulare antisera before and after homologous and heterologous absorption revealed a close antigenic relationship between strains of the same species and between species if they were members of M. avium(MA)-intracellulare(MI)-scrofulaceum(MG) complex. MAI sera showed a considerable reaction with M. kansasii(MK) and tuberculosis(MTB), but not with the other species. MA(K40004) antiserum reacted with other mycobacteria except few strains of MI and 50~89% of homologous reaction was reduced by heterologous absorption with cells of MI or MS. Intraspecific reaction of MI antisera was natural1y stronger than interspecific reaction and different in extent due to a magnitude of antigenic sharing. Antigenic relationships between N-260D, N-260R, N-260T, and K41014 was somewhat closer than that with N-242D, N-257T, N-28ID, and N-275T. M. nonchromogenicum(MNC) antisera showed a strong interspecific reaction with exception of M. chelonei(MC) and triviale(MTV) to which they reacted weakly or none. Antigenic sharing with M. terrae(MTR) and MG(K30003) was next to intraspecific sharing. NC-3 shared antigens considerably with MA, MC, and M. fortuitum(MF) while NC-11 did not. MTR antisera showed a strong cross-reaction with MI but their homologous reaction was not reduced by MI absorption indicating a paucity of shared antigen of MTR surface. Intraspecific antigenic sharing of course was large with on exception between T-8 and T-13. A considerable amount of antigenic sharing was also found with MNC, MC and MF. Unlike T-8 serum, T-13 antiserum strongly cross-reacted with MA, MG, MK, and MTB. In general, antigenic relationships of mycobacteria, that have been elucidated in this study, well conformed to taxons delineated by the various biological and biochemical means.

• 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.

• Journal of the korean veterinary medical association
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• v.44 no.9
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• pp.803-818
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• 2008

동물의 결핵은 Mycobacterium bovis의 감염에 의한 만성 소모성 질병이며 인수공통전염병이다. 동물로부터 사람으로의 결핵 전염은 생유 섭취하던 시대에 상당히 많이 보고되었다. 우유의 살균처리와 소에서 피내진단에 의한 양성우 살처분 및 보상금 지급 정책을 전개하면서 M. bovis의 사람전염은 급격히 감소하였다. 소 결핵은 우리나라에서 연간 0.15% 내외의 발생을 보이고 있으며, 발생의 주원인으로는 외부입식소, 인근발생농장, 과거발생농장의 사후관리소홀 등이다. 사람 결핵의 주원인균인 M. tuberculosis와 M. bovis는 유전체가 99.9% 유사하며, M. bovis를 M. tuberculosis의 아종으로 분류하기도 한다. 두 세균은 M. tuberculosis complex에 속하며, M. tuberculosis와 M. bovis이외에도 M. africanum, M. canettii, M. microti, M. pinnipedii 등이 있다. M. bovis는 M. tuberculosis complex중에서 가장 넓은 숙주범위를 가진다. M. bovis의 대표적인 숙주는 종이름에도 나타나 있듯이 소이다. 소결핵 전파원으로서는 M. bovis에 감염된 소가 가장 중요하다. 소 이외에도 면양, 산양, 말, 돼지, 사슴, 엘크, 영양 (antelope, kudus, elands, sitatungas, oryxes, addaxes), 개, 고양이, 흰족제비 (ferrets), 낙타, 여우, 밍크, 오소리, 쥐, 영장류, 라마, 맥 (tapirs), 코끼리, 코뿔소 (rhinoceroses), 주머니쥐, 땅다람쥐 (ground squirrels), 수달 (otters), 물개, 산토끼 (hares), 두더쥐 (moles), 너구리 (raccoons), 코요테, 사자, 호랑이, 표범, 살쾡이 (lynx) 등에 감염될 수 있으나, 대부분 종결숙주 (spillover host)로 가축의 결핵방제가 유지되고 있는 국가에서는 야생동물 결핵의 가축 전염이 문제시되고 있다. M. bovis는 주로 호흡기와 소화기를 통하여 감염되며, 결핵결절이 형성되는 부위를 관찰하면 감염경로를 추정할 수 있다. 결핵에 감염되면, 초기에는 뚜렷한 임상증상을 보이지 않으나, 아침, 추운 날씨, 또는 운동 중에 심한 기침을 하며, 호흡곤란을 일으킬 수 있다. 결핵은 감염되어도 대부분 무증상이기 때문에 피내진단, 결핵결절 병리소견, 원인균 분리 등에 의해 진단하여야 한다. 감염된 결핵균은 탐식세포에 탐식되어 특징적인 육아종성 결절 병변으로 진행된다. 현재 결핵은 피내진단과 결핵결절 병리소견 등에 의해 판정하고 있다. 최신 진단법으로는 피내진단을 대체할 수 있는 인터페론 감마 검사법과 우군의 결핵 스크리닝과 말기 결핵 검사에 우수한 항체진단법이 개발되어 있다. 그러나, 소 결핵 근절을 위해서는 일관성있는 진단법과 진단기준을 적용하는 것이 중요한 성공요인중 하나이다. 소결핵 청정국인 호주와 캐나다에서는 피내진단과 도축장 결절검사를 결핵 양성우 색출방법의 근간으로 삼고 있으며, 소결핵 근절의 최종단계에 이르러서는 특이적인 검사법을 적용하였지만, 근절목적상 민감성이 높은 피내진단법을 사용하였다. 이와 더불어, 피내진단 양성우의 부검소견과 원인균 분리를 통해 결핵을 확진하여 출처농장의 역추적 검사를 통하여 결핵 양성소를 제거하였다. 한편, 결핵의 농장간 및 지역간 전파방지를 위해 결핵 청정농장과 결핵 오염농장, 결핵 청정지역과 결핵 오염지역 구분을 통하여 결핵 오염농장과 결핵 오염지역으로부터 결핵 청정농장과 결핵 청정지역으로의 이동전 결핵 검진을 통해 개체 이동에 따른 결핵 전파를 근본적으로 차단하는 시스템을 엄격히 적용한 것이 주요한 성공 요인중 하나였다. 호주 결핵 근절정책 성공요인을 요약하면, 일관성 있는 결핵진단법 적용, 양성우 출처농장의 철저한 역추적 검사, 개체 이동전 결핵 음성증명 확인, 농가단체의 경제적 및 방역상 적극적인 지원 및 협조 결핵의 지속적인 모니터 링과 현장요구에 부응하는 방제신기술의 지속적인 연구개발 등을 들 수 있다. 최근 들어 국내 동물 결핵은 소, 특히, 한우의 결핵발생이 증가하고 있으며, 사슴 결핵발생도 증가하고 있다. 농장간 및 지역간에 결핵 감수성 가축, 특히, 소와 사슴의 거래가 아주 복잡하게 이루어지고 있는 현실을 고려할 때, 결핵전파의 주원인인 결핵감염 소나 사슴의 농장내 반입을 철저히 차단해야 할 것이다. 이때, 개체 검사는 물론이고, 출처농장에 대한 결핵 음성을 확인한 후 입식하여야 할 것이며, 입식 후에도 60일정도 격리사육하면서 피내진단등 결핵검진 후 음성인 경우에만 합사하여야 할 것이다. M. bovis는 사람을 비롯한 거의 모든 온혈동물에서 결핵을 일으킬 수 있기 때문에, 결핵 감염소로 판정된 농장 종사자는 각 시도 보건소의 협조를 받아 결핵검진을 받도록 해야 한다. 농장 가축에 접촉할 수 있는 야생동물의 접촉을 차단하여야 하며, 특히, 농장 사료의 야생동물에 의한 오염을 방지할 수 있는 사료창고관리를 철저히 해야 한다. 결핵 감염소를 다룰 때는 분비물 또는 가검물에 의해 감염될 수 있기 때문에 개인방역장비 - 방역복, 마스크, 비닐장갑, 비닐장화 - 를 착용한 상태에서 다루어야 한다. 특히, 결핵 감염소를 매몰 또는 소각하는 과정에서 결핵 감염소의 배설물 및 분비물 처리를 철저히 하여야 한다. 모든 작업을 마친 후에는 개인방역장비, 매몰 또는 소각에 사용하였던 장비 등을 청소 및 소독하고 필요시 소각 또는 매몰하여야 하며, 개인감염위험과 타인 감염위험을 방지하기 위해 노출부위를 세척하여야 한다.

• Korean Journal of Clinical Laboratory Science
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• v.49 no.4
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• pp.435-438
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• 2017

Nontuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) contains M. avium-intracellular complex (MAC), M. fortuitum, M. chelonae, M. abscessus, M. kansasii, etc., which causes infections in swine, poultry, and other animals. These bacteria are opportunistic pathogens that can contaminate people, and in doing so, cause various social economic problems. This study proved that NTM are also present in air conditioners of multiuse facilities in frequently visited populated areas. The results of this study are meaningful because they showed that pathogenic microbes can live in the surroundings and cause diseases to people with impaired immunity. This study used the AFB stain, L-J medium culture, and PCR method for the detection of MTB and NTM in air conditioner dust. MTB was not detected in any of the collected samples, while NTM was detected in 2 out of 40 samples (5%). Most people living in the modern environment cannot avoid being exposed to air conditioners so special attention is needed for sanitary inspections and the management of air conditioners. Moreover, it is important to study NTM through various individuals, accumulate the related data and establish the methods and standards of hygiene management system to reduce NTM infections in public areas. Moreover, it would be necessary to identify the precise species of NTM through DNA sequencing and evaluate the effects of NTM on the pulmonary tuberculosis in immunodeficiency patients.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.80 no.2
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• pp.179-186
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• 2017

Background: Although the World Health Organization (WHO) classification of lung squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) was revised in 2015, its clinical implications for lung SCC subsets remain unclear. We investigated whether the morphologic characteristics of lung SCC, including keratinization, were associated with clinical parameters and clinical outcome of patients. Methods: A total of 81 patients who underwent curative surgical resection of diagnosed lung SCC, were enrolled in this study. Attributes such as keratinization, tumor budding, single cell invasion, and nuclear size within the tumor, as well as immunohistochemistry of Bcl-xL and pS6 expressions, were evaluated. Results: The keratinizing and nonkeratinizing subtypes did not differ with respect to age, sex, TNM stage, and morphologic parameters such as nuclear diameter, tumor budding, and single cell invasion at the tumor edge. Most patients with the keratinizing subtype (98.0%) had a history of smoking, whereas the nonkeratinizing group had a relatively higher proportion of never-smokers relative to the keratinizing group (24.0% vs. 2.0%; p=0.008, chi-square test). Expression of pS6 (a surrogate marker of mammalian target of rapamycin complex 1 [mTORC1] signaling that regulates keratinocyte differentiation), and Bcl-xL (a key anti-apoptotic molecule that may inhibit keratinization), did not correlate significantly with the presence of keratinization. Patients with the keratinizing subtype had a significantly shorter overall survival (85.2 months vs. 135.7 months, p=0.010, log-rank test), and a multivariate analysis showed that keratinization was an independent, poor prognostic factor (hazard ratio, 2.389; 95% confidence interval, 1.090-5.233; p=0.030). Conclusion: In lung SCC, keratinization is associated with a poor prognosis, and might be associated with smoking.