• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.40 no.6
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• pp.700-708
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• 1993

Background: Lung cancer has become one of the most common cancers in Korea. It is important to determine the accurate histologic types and stages because of different therapeutic modlaity, especially in small cell carcinoma. This study was designed to evaluate diagnostic yields according to variable diagnostic methods in lung cancer. Methods: The records of 683 patients with a confirmed diagnosis of primary lung cancer during the period of 7 years, from January, 1986 until December, 1992 at Presbyterian Medical Center were analyzed retrospectively. Results: 1) Age and sex distributions Male: female sex ratio was 5.57:1 and age distributions were 7th decade 41.4%, 6th decade 30.2%, 8th decade 17.0%, 5th decade 7.9%, 4th decade 2.5%, 9th decade 1.3%, and 3rd decade 0.2% in decreasing order. 2) The frequencies according to histologic cell types were squamous cell carcinoma 44.7%, small cell carcinoma 23.9%, adenocarcinoma 22.8%, alveolar cell carcinoma 2.5%, large cell carcinoma 1.2%. mixed forms 1.2%, undifferenciated cell carcinoma 0.6% and malignant fibrous histiocytoma 0.2%(1 case) in decreasing order. 3) The most common locations of lung cancer were in left upper lobe and right lower lobe, and no differences of diagnostic methods according to locations were noted. 4) In central lesions, bronchoscopic examination was very accurate and frequently used diagnostic method, and in peripheral lesions, transthoracic lung biopsy(TTLB) was apparent1y accurate method. 5) The diagnostic yields of bronchoscopic biopsy, bronchial brushing, sputum cytology, transthoracic lung biopsy and transbronchial lung biopsy(TBLB) were 81.3%, 57.5%, 31.1%, 69.6% and 61.6%, respectively. 6) The concordance rates between the histologic diagnosis with bronchial brushing and sputum-cytology were 91.3% and 98.4%, respectively. 7) It was appropriate in lung cancer to repeat sputum cytology 3 to 5 times. Conclusion: Bronchoscopic examination is important to determine the histologic cell types in lung cancer. In addition, we should be interrested in improving diagnostic yields of sputum cytology as an easy method.

• 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.56 no.3
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• pp.268-279
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• 2004

Background : The tuberculin skin test has been used to diagnose latent tuberculosis infection, but is not widely used to diagnose or exclude pulmonary tuberculosis. The objective of this study was to evaluate the diagnostic utility of the tuberculin test in diagnosing and excluding pulmonary tuberculosis, and differentiating pulmonary tuberculosis from nontuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) pulmonary disease, when a sputum acid-fast bacilli (AFB) smear was positive. Material and Methods : From October 2002 to August 2003, among all the inpatients of the Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine at Samsung Medical Center, 258 patients with clinical suspicion of pulmonary tuberculosis were enrolled and underwent a tuberculin test. Results : 156 males and 102 females were included, with a mean age of 57.5 years. The final diagnoses included lung cancer in 89 cases (34.5%), pulmonary tuberculosis in 59 cases (22.9%), bacterial pneumonia in 33 cases (12.8%) and NTM pulmonary disease in 24 cases (9.3%). The positive tuberculin test rate was higher in the tuberculosis than non-tuberculosis group; 81.4 (48/59) vs. 42.4% (81/199). (p<0.001). In 208 patients with a negative sputum AFB smear, the result of the tuberculin test was positive in 69.4% (25/36) of the tuberculosis group and in 44.8% (77/172) of the non-tuberculosis group (p=0.007), so a positive result of the tuberculin test could predict pulmonary tuberculosis with 69.4% sensitivity, 55.2% specificity, a 24.5% positive predictive value and a 89.6% negative predictive value. In 50 patients with a positive sputum AFB smear, the positive rates of the tuberculin test were 83.9% (26/31) in tuberculosis group and 21.1% (4/19) in NTM pulmonary disease group (p<0.001), so a positive result of the tuberculin skin test could predict pulmonary tuberculosis with 83.9% sensitivity, 78.9% specificity, a 86.7% positive predictive value and a 75.0% negative predictive value. Conclusion : The tuberculin test could be useful in excluding pulmonary tuberculosis when the sputum AFB smear is negative, and to differentiate pulmonary tuberculosis from NTM pulmonary disease when the sputum AFB smear is positive.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.24 no.4
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• pp.225-235
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• 2007

Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis(ALS) is Motor Neuron Disease(MND) that reveals muscle relaxation, bulbar palsy, extremities weakness, Pneumonia, in severe case, leads to death. Objectives : Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis is one of the incurable disease. In Oriental medicine, Wei symptom is similar as Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis, so we diagnosed it as Wei symptom and treated in Oriental medical system. Methods : The patient was treated by acupunture, moxibustion, herb medication, physical treatment. The improvement of the patient was judged by Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis Functional Rating Scale (ALSFRS), Grasping power on right arm, circumference of thigh and calf. Result : The patient had better condition for a while but the sputum irritated breathing and the day before he discharged vital sign was not stable and could not breath well. Conclusion : It is necessary to have more examination about the incurable syndromes such as Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis, and keep the patient's life better and expand their lives.

• Korean Journal of Clinical Laboratory Science
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• v.50 no.2
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• pp.85-92
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• 2018

Information on the prevalence of S. aureus and the current antimicrobial resistance profile is necessary in selecting the appropriate treatment of S. aureus infections in any part of the world. This study examined the frequency and antibiotic resistance list of S. aureus isolates obtained from clinical specimens at one hospital in Korea. A total of 1,746 gram positive cocci collected were identified as S. aureus. S. aureus isolates were obtained from different samples including sputum (N=565; 32.4%), endotracheal aspirate (358; 20.5%), wounds (329; 18.8%), blood (137; 7.8%), urine (67; 3.8%), and pus (59; 3.4%). All 1,545 S. aureus (100%) strains screened from sputum (565; 36.6%), endotracheal aspirate (388; 25.1%), wounds (329; 21.3%), blood (137; 8.9%), urine (67; 4.3%), and pus (59; 3.8%) were sensitive to glycopeptide (vancomycin, teicoplanin), oxazolidinone (linezolid) and stretogramin (quinupristin/dalfopristin). The prevalence of resistant S. aureus was significantly (P<0.01) lower in urine, blood, pus, wounds, and sputum than in endotracheal aspirates. As a result, there was a significant difference in the antibiotic resistance of S. aureus according to the clinical specimens.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.63 no.5
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• pp.417-422
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• 2007

Background: It is not known with certainty whether patients with persistently positive sputum smear results who have also had negative sputum culture results require prolongation of treatment for tuberculosis in order to avoid an increased risk of eventual relapse. The purpose of the present study was to retrospectively describe the treatment characteristics and evaluate the appropriate duration of treatment in these patients. Methods: Sixty of 69 patients with sputum smear positive and culture negative tests at 5 months after first line anti-tuberculous chemotherapy from 2002 to 2003 were retrospectively analyzed. Exclusion criteria included incomplete treatment or resistance to rifampicin or two additional antibiotics, as determined by a drug susceptibility test (DST). Results: Smear conversion of the study subjects was observed after $8.3{\pm}2.3$ months treatment, and the patients were culture negative after $2.0{\pm}0.8$ months. The relapse rates of the study subjects were 3.8, 10.0, and 25.8% after 1, 2, and 5 years of anti-tuberculosis chemotherapy, respectively. The relapse rates were not significantly affected by a series of risk factors such as age, sex, presence of diabetes, a sputum culture examination after 2 months treatment, previous treatment history, chest radiograph, and duration of the treatment (P>0.05). Conclusion: Regimen change is not required for patients with persistent smear positive but culture negative tests in the fifth month for first line antituberculous treatment. However, a further study will be needed to clarify the high relapse rate in this specific group of patients.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.40 no.6
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• pp.646-652
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• 1993

Background: Lung cancer and chronic obstructive lung disease often coexist in the same person who are elderly and cigarette smoking. There are several reports that the presence of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease constitutes an independent risk factor for the development of lung cancer. Moreover, the association between mucus hypersecrtion and lung cacer has been reported. Method: In 72 cases with primary lung cancer which were confirmed histopathologically at Chonbuk University Hospital from August 1986 to July 1991, We evaluated the relationship between spirometry and lung cancer characteristics. Results: Six cases(8.3%) showed normal lung function, 16(22.2%) cases showed pure restrictive lung disease, 46(63.9%) cases showed moderated obstructive lung disease and 4(5.6%) cases showed severe obstructive lung disease. $FEV_1$(%) was lower in central type than in peripheral type, lower in advanced non-small cell cancer and lower in subjects with phlegm. $FEV_1$/FVC(%) was higher in small cell cancer than in squamous cell cancer and higher in patients without previous pulmonary disease than with previous pulmonary disease. But there was no statistically significant difference in lung function according to histologic types and smoking history. Lung cancers with $FEV_1$/FVC less than 75% consisted of 35 cases of squamous cell cancer, 7 of small cell cancer(14%), 5 of adenocarcinoma(10%), 2 of large-cell carcinoma and 1 of unclassified carcinoma. Squamous cell carcinoma occured more in patients with $FEV_1$/FVC<75% than with $FEV_1$/FVC$\geq$75%(p<0.05). Conclusion: It was suggest that low $FEV_1$/FVC, as reflection of obstructive lung disease, may be at greater risk for squamous cell carcinoma in cigarette smoker.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.42 no.5
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• pp.737-743
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• 1995

Background: Pneumonia is a frequent complication in patients undergoing mechanical ventilation, Quantitative culture of protected specimen brush(PSB) have shown satisfactory diagnostic accuracy for the diagnosis of ventilator-associated pneumonia. However PSB method is invasive, expensive, and require a bronchoscopic procedure. But endotracheal aspiration(EA) is simple and less expensive. The purpose of our study was to investigate the diagnosic value of EA quantitative cultures. Method: We studied 15 cases of ventilator-associated pneumonia(for >72h of mechanical ventilation) patients. Patients were divided into two diagnostic categories. Group I was the patients who were suspicious of clinical pneumonia, Group II was the patients for control. The obtained samples by EA and PSB were homogenized for quantitative culture with a calibrated loop method in all patients. Result: Using $10^3cfu/ml$, $10^5cfu/ml$ as threshold in quantitative culture of PSB, EA respectively, we found that EA quantitative cultures represented a relatively sentive(70%) and relatively specific (60%) method to diagnose the ventilator-associated pneumonia. Conclusion: Although EA quantitative cultures are less specific than PSB for diagnosing ventilator-associated pneumonia. EA quantitative cultures correlated with PSB quantitative culture in patients with clinical pneumonia and may be used to treat these patients when bronchoscopic procedures are not available.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.26 no.3
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• pp.221-226
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• 1988

A 73-year-old Korean male was admitted to Jeil hospital with clinical complaints of backache, cough, sputum, vomiting and diarrhea. He had a history of long term administration of prednisolone. At admission he was comatose and showed Efneralized pitting edema and anasarca, Laboratory data revealed leukocytosis, hlvpoproteinemia with hypoalbuminemia, sepsis, anemia and brown-colored urine. Stool examination revealed rhabditiform nematode larvae. By fecal cultivation, filariform larvae of Strongyloides were obtained and the patient was diagnosed as hyperinfection syndrome due to 5. stercoralis infection. On the 3rd day of hospitalization, albendazole treatment was started and continued for 4 days. On the 7th day of hospitalization, sputum revealed filariform larvae. Total 619 parasitic adult females, ellpelled by chemotherapy, were collected from the diarrheal stool. However, the. patient was discllarged hopelessly and died at home.

• The Korean Journal of Cytopathology
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• v.5 no.2
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• pp.148-153
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• 1994

A prospective survey of sputum cytologic specimen was performed for 16 months from Jan. 1993 to Apr. 1994 in Presbyterian Medical Center. The purpose of this study is to find the positive rate of sputum cytology in the diagnosis of lung cancer and to correlate these results with tumor location and stage. Sputum cytologic specimen were received from 104 patients among 158 patients diagnosed as lung malignancy by histologic examination. Cytologic diagnosis of "suggestive of malignancy" was made in 61 patients (59%) and dysplasia in 9 patients(9%), atypia in 14 patients(13%), benign in 15 patients(14%) and inadequate specimen in 5 patients (5%), respectively. Among 84 patients beyond the cytologic diagnosis of atypia, 51 patients (61%) disclosed a central location, while 33 patients (39%) showed peripheral lesions. All 54 patients diagnosed as suggestive of non-small cell carcinoma were stage III or over, and all 7 patients diagnosed as suggestive of small cell carcinoma were in advanced stage. These results suggest that the cytologic examination of sputum seems to be an important tool in diagnosis of lung cancer.