• Journal of Yeungnam Medical Science
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• v.37 no.2
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• pp.98-105
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• 2020

Background: Little is known about capsule endoscopy (CE) findings in patients with intestinal tuberculosis who exhibit small bowel lesions. The aim of the present study was to distinguish between Crohn's disease (CD) and intestinal tuberculosis based on CE findings. Methods: Findings from 55 patients, who underwent CE using PillCam SB CE (Given Imaging, Yoqneam, Israel) between February 2003 and June 2015, were retrospectively analyzed. Results: CE revealed small bowel lesions in 35 of the 55 patients: 19 with CD and 16 with intestinal tuberculosis. The median age at diagnosis for patients with CD was 26 years and 36 years for those with intestinal tuberculosis. On CE, three parameters, ≥10 ulcers, >3 involved segments and aphthous ulcers, were more common in patients with CD than in those intestinal tuberculosis. Cobblestoning was observed in five patients with CD and in none with intestinal tuberculosis. The authors hypothesized that a diagnosis of small bowel CD could be made when the number of parameters in CD patients was higher than that for intestinal tuberculosis. The authors calculated that the diagnosis of either CD or intestinal tuberculosis would have been made in 34 of the 35 patients (97%). Conclusion: The number of ulcers and involved segments, and the presence of aphthous ulcers, were significantly higher and more common, respectively, in patients with CD than in those with intestinal tuberculosis. Cobblestoning in the small bowel may highly favor a diagnosis of CD on CE.

• 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.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.44 no.2
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• pp.223-231
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• 1997

A total of 322 patients with endobronchial tuberculosis (8.1%) out of 3,982 subjects who had a flexible fiberoptic bronchoscopic examination at the Department of Pulmonary Medicine of Hanyang University Hospital between the beginning of March 1982 and the end of April 1996 were included in this study. The peak incidence occurred in the second decade, and the male to female was 1 : 3.0. The barking cough with variable amounts of sputum was the most common chief complaint in 56.9% of the 313 patients. Other complaints included dyspnea, chest pain, fever, hemoptysis, and generalized weakness. Localized wheeze was heard over the chest in 16.9% of the 313 patients. Infiltration/consolidation was the most common roentgenographic finding of the chest in 64.2%. Bronchoscopically, hypertrophy with luminal narrowing was the most common findings in 32.3% of the 322 patients and left main bronchus was the most frequently involved in 24.0%. Using fiberoptic bronchoscopy allows not only substantial meaningful assessment of endobronchial tuberculosis but also makes a differential diagnosis of lung cancer in older patients. We need further evaluations of standard bronchoscopic classification of endobronchial tuberculosis, diagnostic accuracy of endobronchial tuberculosis by PCR, a large prospective study of effects of corticosteroids in endobronchial tuberculosis patients, and appropriate treatment of atelectasis by endobronchial tuberculosis.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.78 no.4
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• pp.309-314
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• 2015

Background: In tuberculosis (TB) patients, health-related quality of life (HRQoL) is significant in self-management, which in turn can be effective in therapeutic acceptance and prevention of treatment failure due to multi-drug resistant TB. This study was conducted to evaluate HRQoL and associated factors in TB patients referred to the National Research Institute of Tuberculosis and Lung Disease (NRITLD). Methods: In this study, patients were selected from TB clinics of the NRITLD in Tehran. In addition to an Iranian version of the Short-Form Health Survey (SF-36), demographic and disease characteristic questionnaires were used for data collection. The data were then analyzed using SPSS software. Results: Two hundred five TB patients, with the average age of $42.33{\pm}17.64$ years, participated in this study. The HRQoL scores in different domains ranged from $14.68{\pm}11.60$ for role limitations due to emotional problems to $46.99{\pm}13.25$ for general health perceptions. The variables of sex, marital status, education, job status, place of residence, and cigarette smoking, influenced the HRQoL scores in different dimensions. Conclusion: According to the study findings are the important variables that influenced the HRQoL of TB patients. The consideration of its can improve the HRQoL of TB patients.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.45 no.6
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• pp.1154-1166
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• 1998

Background : In the management of patients whose primary chemotherapy has failed, careful assessment is essential. It is important to find out as accurate a chemotherapy history as possible. Preferably it should contain the drugs which has never used before. The purpose of present study is establishment of retreatment regimen for pulmonary tuberculosis. The present report concerns the results of retreatment of pulmonary tuberculosis patients treated at National Masan Tuberculosis Hospital. Methods : Retrospective cohort study was made of 104 drug-resistant pulmonary tuberculosis patients who were treated by five regimens between Jan. 1994 and Nov. 1996. All the patients taken medicine for second anti-tuberculosis regimens for the first time. We separated the patients by three groups(Group I ; OFX+PTA+CS+PAS+Aminoglycoside, Group II : PZA+PTA+CS+PAS+Aminoglycoside, Group III : PZA+OFX+PTA+PAS+Aminoglycoside). Results : The age distribution was most frequent in fourth decade(36patients, 34.6%) and the mean age was 42.6 year. The sex distribution was more frequent in the males(81 patients, 85.7%). There was 31 patients(29.8%) with combined diseaes, 18 patients with complication and 24 patients(27.9%) with family history. Primary chemotherapy regimens were HERZ(S or K) in 48 patients (46.2%), HER(S or K) in 41 patients(39.4%) and others in 15 patients(14.4%). Result of drug sensitivity test showed that the resistance to INH and RFP is in 68 patients(65.4%), RFP is 12 patients(11.5%), INH is in 3 patients(2.9%) and all sensitive to INH and RFP is 3 patients(2.9%). The clinical symptoms on admission were coughing(89.4%), sputum(69.2%), dyspnea on exertion(37.5%), weight loss(33.7%) blood tinged sputum(15.4%) and others. The extent of disease on the radiograph was far-advanced in 73 patients(70.2%), moderate in 28 patients(26.9%) and minimal in 3 patients(2.9%). The side effects for drugs were gastrointestinal troubles in 31 patients(29.8%), arthralgia in 22 patients(21.2%), skin rash in 12 patients(11.5%) and others. The negative conversion rate on sputum AFB smear was 85.6%(87.5% in Group I, 80.0% in Group II and 90.5% in Group III). The average negative conversion time on sputum was 4 month(4.0 month in Group I, 4.6 month in Group II and 3.0 month in Group III). Conclusion : In the retreatment of pulmonary tuberculosis, ofloxacin is useful drug for the patients who are not available to use PZA and combination of PZA and OFX can be use effectively substituting for CS.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.72 no.2
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• pp.140-148
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• 2012

Background: Detection and treatment of tuberculosis (TB) infection with contact investigation is a key component of TB control program. I evaluated the prevalence and risk factors for TB infection among contacts of recently diagnosed pulmonary TB patients in a tertiary hospital in Korea. Methods: 206 contacts of 90 adult pulmonary TB patients underwent tuberculin skin tests (TST) and chest radiography. The TST results were considered positive with an induration of 10 mm or more, suggesting TB infection. A standardized questionnaire was used to assess risk factors associated with TB infection. Results: TST was positive in 97 of 206 contacts of TB patients (47.1%) and positive rate of TST increased with age. The risk of TB infection was significantly associated with close contact with TB patients (sleeping in the same room) (odd ratio [OR], 4.94; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.43~17.00). Conclusion: TB infection rate was higher in the elderly, and the risk of TB infection was significantly increased with close contact of TB patients.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.27 no.2
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• pp.132-135
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• 1994

By the early half of the 20th century, the most common cause of spontaneous pneumothorax was considered to be tuberculosis. But recently ruptures of the subpleural emphysema and/or blebs are considered as the major causes of spontaneous pneumothorax. To evaluate the causes of spontaneous pneumothorax, the authors reviewed the 96 patients who were consecutively diagnosed and treated by thoracotomy for spontaneous pneumothorax at the Department of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, Seoul Advenist Hospital, from May, 1988 to April, 1993. The patients who had clinical and radiological evidence of tuberculosis or other specific parenchymal lung diseases were excluded from this review. All patients were negative for tuberculous bacilli on sputum studies. The pathologic results were as follows : subpleural emphysema[25], blebs[27], subpleural emphysema and blebs[25], pleural fibrosis[10], tuberculosis[8], and parasitic granuloma[1]. Three of the patients who were diagnosed to be tuberculosis by pathologic findings were progressed to active pulmonary tuberculosis on the follow-up chest PA films. The authors conclude that all patients with spontaneous pneumothorax must be evaluated periodically for tuberculosis and that patients who were diagnosed to be tuberculosis by postoprative pathologic report need the administration of the prophylactic antituberculous drug, because the prevalence of tuberculosis remains relatively high rate in our country.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.47 no.5
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• pp.586-597
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• 1999

Background: Many diagnostic tests have developed to diagnose tuberculosis and other mycobacterial diseases but the diagnosis of tuberculosis relies largely on radiological findings and acid-fast staining of sputum and/or culture. Recently, new serologic diagnostic methods, which are safe and easy to use have been introduced into Korea. In this study, the usefulness of serologic diagnosis for tuberculosis and the disease pattern induced variation of the test were evaluated. Methods: Serological assay was performed upon 108 patients with two test kits, the ICT tuberculosis and the BioSign$^{TM}$TB, which are based upon a rapid immunochromatographic assay technique, capable of being interpreted within 15 minutes. The case groups consisted of 61 patients with active pulmonary tuberculosis(36 patients), extrapulmonary tuberculosis(3 patients), or both(22 patients). Control groups consisted of 47 patients with inactive old pulmonary tuberculosis(17 patients), nontuberculous pulmonary disease(16 patients) and nonpulmonary cardiac disease(14 patients). Results : The diagnostic sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value(PPV) and negative predictive value(NPV) of the ICT tuberculosis were 64.3%, 91.5%, 90.0% and 68.3% respectively. The diagnostic sensitivity, specificity, PPV and NPV of the BioSign$^{TM}$TB were 76.5%, 95.3%, 94.1 % and 78.8% respectively. Differences in sensitivity were not significant between patients with previous history of tuberculosis or patients without prior history of tuberculosis. The ICT tuberculosis test showed higher sensitivity in pulmonary tuberculosis patients(76.5%) than extrapulmonary tuberculosis patients(33.3%). There was no difference in sensitivity between patients with or without cavitary lesion by chest X-ray. Conclusion: Considering high specificity and PPV, serologic diagnosis using a rapid immunochromatographic assay device is another helpful diagnostic method in the diagnosis of tuberculosis, when combined with previous diagnostic methods such as chest X-ray, microbiologic study but it has limitation in terms of confirming the diagnosis for tuberculosis as the only diagnostic method because of relatively low sensitivity and NPV.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.59 no.6
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• pp.619-624
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• 2005

Background : The drug resistance rate in tuberculosis patients with history of chemotherapy is an important indicator of for evaluation of appropriateness of treatment regimens and compliance of patients. This study examined the long-term changes in the drug resistance rates among TB patients failed in treatment or reactivated. Methods : The results of drug susceptibility testing data from patients registered in health centers from 1981 to 2004 were analyzed. Results : The rate of resistance to isoniazid decreased from 90% to 20%, and the resistance to ethambutol decreased from 45% to 6%. The rate of resistance to rifampicin varied from 13% to 28% and the resistance to pyrazinamide was 5% to 10%. Multidrug resistance was about 2-3% lower than any rifampicin resistance rates. The second-line drug resistance was ranged from 1% to 3%. There was no difference between patients' genders. Patient numbers per 100,000 population increased with age. The regional distribution was even at 4-6 patients per 100,000 population, and drug resistance rates were significantly lower in big city areas than in small towns and rural areas. Conclusion : The rates of resistance of Mycobacterium tuberculosis isolated from TB patients with history of chemotherapy to isoniazid, rifampin, ethambutol, and isoniazid plus rifampin were significantly decreased during over two decades.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.82 no.1
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• pp.35-41
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• 2019

Background: Pulmonary tuberculosis can result in anatomical sequelae, and cause airflow limitation. However, there are no treatment guidelines for patients with a tuberculosis-destroyed lung. Recently, indacaterol effectiveness in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) patients with Tuberculosis history (INFINITY) study revealed indacaterol provided bronchodilation and symptom improvement in COPD patients with a tuberculosis-destroyed lung. Methods: We conducted a post-hoc subgroup analysis of the randomized controlled trial, the INFINITY study, to determine factors associated with indacaterol response in a tuberculosis-destroyed lung with airflow limitation. Data from 68 patients treated with inhaled indacaterol, were extracted and analyzed. Factors associated with the response of forced expiratory volume in one second ($FEV_1$) to indacaterol treatment, were determined using linear regression analysis. Results: Of 62 patients included, 68% were male, and 52% had history of cigarette smoking. Patients revealed mean $FEV_1$ of 50.5% of predicted value with mean improvement of 81.3 mL in $FEV_1$ after indacaterol treatment for 8 weeks. Linear regression analysis revealed factors associated with response of $FEV_1$ to indacaterol included a short duration of smoking history, and high short-acting bronchodilator response. When patients with history of smoking were excluded, factors associated with response of $FEV_1$ to indacaterol included high short-acting bronchodilator response, and poor health-related quality of life score as measured by St. George's Respiratory Questionnaire for COPD. Conclusion: In a tuberculosis-destroyed lung with airflow limitation, short-acting bronchodilator response and smoking history can play a critical role in predicting outcomes of indacaterol treatment.