• Title/Summary/Keyword: Simple infection

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Characteristics of Tuberculosis Detected during Chemotherapy for a Solid Tumor (고형암에 대한 항암화학요법 치료 중 병발한 결핵의 특성)

  • Kim, Deog Kyeom;Lee, Sei Won;Kang, Young Ae;Yoon, Young Soon;Yoo, Chul-Gyoo;Kim, Young Whan;Han, Sung Koo;Shim, Young-Soo;Yim, Jae-Joon
    • Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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    • v.58 no.3
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    • pp.285-290
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    • 2005
  • Background : Some malignancies including lymphoma, head and neck cancer, and lung cancer are believed to be associated with the reactivation of tuberculosis (TB) because cyclic anti-cancer chemotherapy can induce the leukopenia or immunological deterioration. This report describes the clinical characteristics and treatment response of TB that developed during cyclic anti-cancer chemotherapy in patients with a solid tumor. Materials and Methods : From January 1 2000 to July 31 2004, patients with TB diagnosed microbiologically, pathologically, or clinically during anti-cancer chemotherapy in a tertiary hospital were enrolled, and their medical records were reviewed. Patients with the known risk factors for the reactivation of TB were excluded. Results : Twenty-two patients were enrolled and their mean age was 56.5 years (range 21-78). The male to female ratio was 3.4:1 and pulmonary TB was the main variant (20 patients, 90.9%). Gastric cancer (10 patients, 45.4%) and lymphoma (4 patients, 18.2%) were the leading underlying malignancies. The other malignancies included lung cancer, head and neck cancer, breast cancer, cervix cancer, and ovary cancer. Fifteen patients (68.2%) had a healed scar on a simple chest radiograph suggesting a previous TB infection. Among these patients, new TB lesions involved the same lobe or the ipsilateral pleura in 13 patients (87.6%). An isoniazid and rifampicin based regimen were started in all the subjects except for one patient with a hepatic dysfunction. The mean duration of medication was $9.9{\pm}2.4$ months and no adverse events resulting in a regimen change were observed. With the exception of 5 patients who died of the progression of the underlying malignancy, 70.6% (12/17) completed the anti-TB treatment. Conclusion : The clinical characteristics and response to anti-TB treatment for TB that developed during anticancer chemotherapy for a solid tumor were not different from those of patients who developed TB in the general population.

Development and Validation of Analytical Method for Nitroxoline in Chicken Using HPLC-PDA (HPLC-PDA를 이용한 닭고기 중 Nitroxoline 분석법 개발)

  • Cho, Yoon-Jae;Chae, Young-Sik;Kim, Jae-Eun;Kim, Jae-Young;Kang, Ilhyun;Lee, Sang-Mok;Do, Jung-Ah;Oh, Jae-Ho;Chang, Moon-Ik;Hong, Jin-Hwan
    • Korean Journal of Environmental Agriculture
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    • v.32 no.1
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    • pp.70-77
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    • 2013
  • BACKGROUND: Nitroxoline is an antibiotic agent. It is used for the treatment of the second bacterial infection by the colibacillosis, salmonellosis and viral disease of the poultry. When the nitroxoline is indiscreetly used, the problem about the abuse of the antibiotics can occur. Therefore, this study presented the residue analytical method of nitroxoline in food for the safety management of animal farming products. METHODS AND RESULTS: A simple, sensitive and specific method for nitroxoline in chicken muscle by high performance liquid chromatograph with PDA was developed. Sample extraction with acetonitrile, purification with SPE cartridge (MCX) were applied, then quantitation by HPLC with C18 column under the gradient condition with 0.1 % tetrabutylammonium hydroxide-phosphoric acid and methanol was performed. Standard calibration curve presented linearity with the correlation coefficient ($r^2$) > 0.999, analysed from 0.02 to 0.5 mg/L concentration. Limit of quantitation in chicken muscle showed 0.02 mg/kg, and average recoveries ranged from 72.9 to 88.1 % in chicken muscle. The repeatability of measurements expressed as coefficient of variation (CV %) was less than 12 % in 0.02 and 0.04 mg/kg. CONCLUSION(S): Newly developed method for nitroxoline in chicken muscle was applicable to food inspection with the acceptable level of sensitivity, repeatability and reproducibility.

Serum high sensitivity C-reactive protein levels in obese middle school boys (남자 중학생에서 비만과 high sensitiviy C-reactive protein의 관계)

  • Jeong, Jae-Ho;Lim, Jae-Woo;Cheon, Eun-Jeong;Ko, Kyong-Og;Lee, Young-Hyuk
    • Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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    • v.49 no.6
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    • pp.617-622
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    • 2006
  • Purpose : High-Sensitivity C-reactive protein(hs-CRP) has been recognized as a very useful and sensitive predictor of the future risk of myocardial infarction. But the clinical significance of hs-CRP in children remains uncertain. To confirm the existence of obesity-induced vascular inflammation and the association between metabolic syndromes and elevation of CRP in children, we investigated the relationship among CRP, obesity, blood pressure(BP), and serum lipids in schoolboys. Methods : Twenty-eight obese(BMI $29.61{\pm}3.29kg/m^2$) and 93 non-obese(BMI $18.99{\pm}2.21kg/m^2$) boys aged 14 years were examined. Serum CRP levels was measured by the high sensitive latex turbidimetric immunoassay and subjects with CRP levels below 0.3 mg/dL were adopted to avoid the influence of acute infection. Results : Obese children had significantly higher hs-CRP levels than their non-obese group($0.104{\pm}0.075$ vs. $0.054{\pm}0.005mg/dL$). In the obese group, BMI, systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure, apolipoprotein B, atherogenic index, and triglyceride were significantly higher than in nonobese. The BMI, diastolic blood pressure, apolipoprotein E, atherognic index, and triglyceride showed positive correlation with log CRP by simple regression. Multiple regression analysis indicated that BMI and apolipoprotein E were strongly related to CRP. Conclusion : This study revealed that obese children tended to have higher levels of serum hsCRP, BP elevation and dyslipidemia than the control group and that BMI and apolipoprotein E were strongly related to CRP. These results indicate that obesity related metabolic syndrome can be developed in children.

Analysis of Urinary Mass Screening for Second Grade of Elemantary School Children in Paju City (파주 지역 초등학교 2학년생에게 실시된 집단 뇨검사 분석)

  • Kim Sung Kee;Kim Young Kyoun;Park Yong Won;Lee Chong Guk
    • Childhood Kidney Diseases
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    • v.5 no.2
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    • pp.156-163
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    • 2001
  • Purpose We performed urinary mass screening(UMS) program for 2,804 children of second grade elemantary school 8 years of age in Paju city with cooperation of Paju City Health Center to determine the prevalence of asymptomatic proteinuria and hematuria, and to estimate the risk of incipient renal diseases. Also we attempted to evaluate the significance of hematuria in UMS in addidtion to proteinuria. Methods : 2,804 children of the 2nd grade of elementary school who lived in Paju city were included to our UMS program in 2000. They were constituted with 1,428 boys and 1,376 girls. The screening program was carried out in 3 steps The 1st screenig test was performed at schools and then students with abnormal results were examined repeatedly at Paju City Health Center and our hospital. Those students who showed proteinuria and/or hematuria in the 1st and 2nd test were referred to our hospital to undertake the 3rd close examination including physical examination, laboratory tests and radiologic tests. Results : (I) The prevalence of urinary abnormality in the 1st screening test was $8.3\%$(233 students), comprised of $5.9\%$ of boys, $10.8\%$ of girls. (2) Among 2,804 children tested in the first screening, prevalences of asymptomatic proteinuria and isolated hematuria were 64($2.3\%$), 163($5.8\%$) respectively, and the prevalence of proteinuria with hematuria was 6($0.2\%$). (3) Among 233 students with urinary abnormalities at the 1st screening test, 102 students applied to the 2nd test. 32 children, about one third of them, were also found to have abnormal urinary findings ; isolated hematuria 30, proteinuria with hematuria 2. (4) Those findings of clinical evaluation for children with isolated hematuria at the hospital showed as follows: idiopathic isolated microscopic hematuria 21, normal 6, urinary tract infection 1, idiopathic hypercalciuria 1 and simple renal cyst 1. Those 2 students with proteinuria and hematuria seemed to have chronic glomerulonephritis. Conclusion : (1) The clinical evaluation for children who showed positive results at the 1st screening test should be done judiciously. Because of high false positive rate, almost who showed positive results was normal, only a few of them had pathologic conditions. In this study, actual incidence of incipient renal diseases in children of 8 year old was calculated to be $0.4\%$. (2) The definite conclusion whether a urinary mass screening test can alter the prognosis of incipient renal diseases could not be drawn with this study. Further study must be necessary (3) We could acknowledge the significance of hematuria in UMS, but it is necessary that one should be judicious in managing and follow-up those that show abnormal results. (J Korean Soc Pediatr Nephrol 2001;5 : 156-63)

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Diagnostic Values of pH of Vaginal Discharge, Amine Test, and Microscopic Examination of Infectious Vaginitis (감염성 질염에 대한 질내 산도측정, Amine 검사 및 현미경 검사의 진단적 가치)

  • Choi, Jae-Dong;Kim, Gi-Duk;Koh, Min-Whan;Lee, Tae-Hyung;Chung, Wun-Yong
    • Journal of Yeungnam Medical Science
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    • v.5 no.2
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    • pp.129-139
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    • 1988
  • Vaginitis is one of the most common disease in gynecologic field in recent days. About 90% of these patients suffer from the infection of the vagina caused by Gardnerella vaginalis, Candida, or Trichomonas, either alone or in combination. For the effective diagnosis and management, it is essential to get an accurate identification of the causative agent. Applying simple and easy diagnostic methods such as pH of vaginal discharge, amine test and microscopic examination of wet mount preparation of normal saline and 10% KOH to 549 cases of randomly selected patients visiting Out-patient Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology of Yeung-nam University Hospital through May 1st to Sept. 31st, 1987, the following results were obtained. 1. In the Gardnerella vaginitis vaginal pH was more than 5.0 in 81.0% of total cases, positive amine test in 62.8%, decreased lactobacilli in 77.4% & decreased WBC counts in 70.1%, In the Trichomonas vaginitis vaginal pH more than 5.0 was noted in 93.3% of the cases, negative amine test in 90%, decreased lactobacilli in 90% & increased WBC counts in 93.3%, whereas Candida vaginitis and normal groups showed vaginal pH of 3.0~4.0 in 83.2%, negative amine test in 100%, normal distribution of lactobacilli in 89.7%, normal WBC counts in 72.4%. 2. The accuracy rates of physical diagnosis by wet mount preparation of normal saline and 10% KOH revealed 26.3%, 47.5% % 70,0% in Gardnerella vaginitis, Candida vaginitis, and Trichomonas vaginitis, respectively. The vaginal pH and amine test showed 83.2% of accuracy rate in Candida vaginitis group, 60.6% in Gardnerella vaginitis group and 83.3% III Trichomonas vaginitis group. 3. In 23 cases of Gardnerella vaginitis showing vaginal pH of 3.0 or 4.0 and positive amine test, the clue cells were observed in 10% or less in 12 cases, 30% in 5 cases, 50% in 4 cases and 50% or more in 2 cases. In summary vaginal pH and amine test could be useful in screening and differentiating the different types of infectious vaginitis. Furthermore by adding microscopic examination of normal saline and 10% KOH wet mount preparation to them, they not only could obtain higher diagnostic accuracy rate but would be more valuable in selecting the patients requiring cultures to confirm the diagnoses.

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Clinical Analysis of Bronchogenic Cyst (기관지성 낭종의 임상적 고찰)

  • 안재범;정성철;김우식;신용철;유환국;이정호;김병열;김인섭
    • Journal of Chest Surgery
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    • v.37 no.7
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    • pp.585-590
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    • 2004
  • Bronchogenic cyst is a rare and benign disease. Because of its complication or associated disease, Bronchogenic cyst requires surgical treatment. Recently, with the development of diagnostic methods, its incidence has increased. So we reviewed our results from the past 30 years. Material and Method: We reviewed 27 cases surgically treated from March 1971 to March 2003. This investigation is designed to illustrate the peak age incidence, sex ratio, symptoms, anatomic location, radiologic imagings, associated diseases, operative methods, postoperative pathologic findings and postoperative complications. Result: The peak age incidence laid in the 1st to 3rd decade and the ratio of male and female was 1 : 1.5. The most common complaints were cough and dyspnea, but some had hemoptysis. There were 22 cases (81%) of Intrapulmonary bronchogenic cysts and 5 cases(19%) of mediastinal bronchogenic cysts. Thirteen cases (48.1%) showed cystic lesion in simple chest X-ray. Ten cases showed cystic lesion among 13 cases that had taken computed tomography. We found associated disease in 15cases (56%). The inflammatory diseases from infection were many in intrapulmonary bronchogenic cysts and especially, one case showed carcinosarcoma. Mitral regurgitation and Bronchial obstruction could be seen in mediastinal bronchogenic cysts. The 13 cases (48%) were managed by lobectomy, and cystectomy, pneumonectomy, and segemental resection were done in 7 cases (26%), 4 cases (15%), 3 cases (11%) respectively. Cystic contents were mucus in 9 cases, pus in 9 cases, blood in 2 cases, and carcinosarcoma in 1 case. Bronchotracheal communications were in 13 cases (48%). Five cases showed Postoperative complications, which were pneumothorax, empyema, bleeding. Postoperative death could not be found. Conclusion: Almost all patients had clinical symptoms. Severe complications could be associated with bronchogenic cysts. Recently, With the development of diagnostic methods, preoperatively accurate diagnosis is possible; therefore, invasive study has decreased. Bronchogenic cyst is a benign disease. However, because of its clinical symptoms, complications, and possibility of malignant change, immediate surgical treatment is needed.

Studies on the Bacteriophages of Brevibacterium lactofermentum (L-글루타민산 생산균 Brevibacterium lactofermentum의 Bacteriophag에 관한 연구)

  • 이태우
    • Korean Journal of Microbiology
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    • v.17 no.3
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    • pp.97-130
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    • 1979
  • Many industrial processes those employ bacteria are subjected to phage infestations. In L-glutamic acid fermentions using acetic acid, the phage infestations of the organisms have been recently recognized. In efforts to elucidate the sources of phage contamination involved in the abnormal fermentation, a series of study was conducted to isolate the phages both from the contents of abnormally fermented tanks and the soil or sewage samples from the surroundings of a fermentation factory, to define major charateristics of the phage isolates, and finally to determine the correlation between the phage isolates and temperate phages originating from the miscellaneous bacterial species isolated from the soil or sewage samples. The results are summarized as follows; 1) All phages were isolated from the irregular fermentation tanks and soil or sewage samples, and they were designated as phage PR-1, PR-2, PR-3, PR-4, PR-5, PR-6, and PR-7, in the order of isolation. These PR-series phages were proved to be highly specific for the variant strains of Br. lactofermentum only, namely, phage PR-1 and PR-2 for Br. lactofermentum No. 468-5 and phage PR-3~PR-7 for Br. lactofemrentum No. 2256. By cross-neutralization test, the 7 phagescould be subdivided into 3 groups, i. e., phage PR-I and PR-2 the first, phage PR-3, PR-4, PR-5, PR-6 the second, and the phage PR-7 the third. 2) The 7 phages were virulent under the experimental conditions. They produced plaques with clear and relatively sharp margins without distinct halo. The mean sizes of plaques were 1.5mm in diameter for phage PR-1 and PR-2, and 1. Omm for phages PR-3~PR-7. Double layer technique modified by Hongo and described by Adams, was applied to assay of the PR-series phages. The factors influencing the plaques were as follows;young age cells of host bacteria cultured for 3-6 hours represented the largest number and size, optimum was pH 7.0, incubation temperature was $30^{\circ}C$, and agar concentration and amount of overlayer medium were 0.6% and 0.2ml, respectively. 3) PR-series phages were stable in 0.05M tris buffer and 0.1M ammonium acetate buffer solution. The addition of $5{\times}10^{-3}M$ magnesium ion effectively increased the stability. Thermostability experiments indicated that PR-series phages were stable at the teinperture between $50^{\circ}{\sim}55^{\circ}C$ in nutrient medium, $45^{\circ}{\sim}50^{\circ}C$ in buffer solution. However, the phages mere completely inactivated at 603C and 65$^{\circ}$C within 10 minutes. The phages were stable at the range of pH6~9 in nutrient medium and of pH 8-9 in buffer solution, respectively. Exposure of the phages to UV for 25, 60 and 100 seconds resulted in the complete loss of infectivily, respectively. 4) Electron microscopy showed that PR-series phage particles exhibited rather similar morphology, differing in the size All of PR-series phages had a multilateral head and had a simple long tiil about three to five times long as compared with head. By the size, phage PR-1 and PR-2, PR-3, PR-4, PR-5, and PR-6 and PR-7 were classified into same groups, respectively. The head and tail size of phage PR-1, PR-5, PR-5(T) and PR-7 were 85nm, 74nm and 235nm and 350mm, and 72nm and 210nm, respectively. 5) Nucleic acids of PR-series phages were double stranded DNA. The G+C contents of phage PR-1, PR-5 and PR-7 were 56.1, 52.9 and 53.7, respectively. The values of G+C contents derived from the $T_m$ were in agreement with the chemically determined values. 6) PR-series phages effectively adsorbed on their host bacteria at the rate of more than 90% during 5 min. K value for phage PR-1, PR-5 and PR-7 were calculated to be $6{\times}10^9 ml$ per minute, respectiveky. The pH of the medium did effect adsorption rate, but both temperature and age of host cells did not. Generally, optimum adsorption condition of phages seemed to be almost same as optimum growth conditions of host bacteria. 7) In one-step growth experiments, the latent periods at $30^{\circ}C$ for PR-1, and PR-7 were about 70, 50 and 55 min, respectively. The corresponding average burst size was 200, 70 and 90, respectively. Lpsis period according to the multiplicity of infection and a phage series. In case of m. o. i. 100, strain No. 2256 (PR-5) and No. 468-5(PR-1) failed to grow and turbidity decreased after 50 and 70min, respectively. 8) In the lysate of a plaque purified phage PR-5 infected bacteria, there observed 2 types ofphage particles, i. e., phage PR-5 and PR-5 (T) of similar morphology but differing at the length of phage tail, and phage tail like particles. The phage taillike particles could be divided into 4 types by the length. Induction experiments of Br. lactofermentum with UV irradiation, mitomycin C or bacitracin treatment produced neither phage PR-5 (T) or phage tail-like particles. 9) No lysis occured when the growth of 7 strains of miscellaneous bacteria, isolated from soil and sewage samples, were inoculated with either phage PR-5 (T) or phage tail-like particles the inoculation of phage PR-5 pellet resulted in the growth inhibition of the orgainsms in the spot test. The lysates obtained from 3 miscellaneous soil derived bacteria following mitomycin C treatment the growth of Br. lactofermentum, but did not lyze the bacterium.

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Developing a Dental Unit Waterline Model Using General Laboratory Equipments (실험실 일반 장비를 이용한 치과용 유니트 수관 모델 개발)

  • Yoon, Hye Young;Lee, Si Young
    • Journal of dental hygiene science
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    • v.16 no.4
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    • pp.284-292
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    • 2016
  • Water supplied through dental unit waterlines (DUWLs) has been shown to contain high number of bacteria. To reduce the contamination of DUWLs, it is essential to develop effective disinfectants. It is, however, difficulty to obtain proper DUWL samples for studies. The purpose of this study was to establish a simple laboratory model for reproducing DUWL biofilms. The bacteria obtained from DUWLs were cultured in R2A liquid medium for 10 days, and then stored at $-70^{\circ}C$. This stock was inoculated into R2A liquid medium and incubated in batch mode. After 5 days of culturing, it was inoculated into the biofilm formation model developed in this study. Our biofilm formation model comprised of a beaker containing R2A liquid medium and five glass rods attached to DUWL polyurethane tubing. Biofilm was allowed to form on the stir plate and the medium was replaced every 2 days. After 4 days of biofilm formation in the laboratory model, biofilm thickness, morphological characteristics and distribution of the composing bacteria were examined by confocal laser microscopy and scanning electron microscopy. The mean of biofilm accumulation was $4.68{\times}10^4$ colony forming unit/$cm^2$ and its thickness was $10{\sim}14{\mu}m$. In our laboratory model, thick bacterial lumps were observed in some parts of the tubing. To test the suitability of this biofilm model system, the effectiveness of disinfectants such as sodium hypochlorite, hydrogen peroxide, and chlorhexidine, was examined by their application to the biofilm formed in our model. Lower concentrations of disinfectants were less effective in reducing the count of bacteria constituting the biofilm. These results showed that our DUWL biofilm laboratory model was appropriate for comparison of disinfectant effects. Our laboratory model is expected to be useful for various other purposes in further studies.

The Role of Inhaled Corticosteroid in the Management of Chronic Cough (만성 기침에서 스테로이드 흡입제의 역할)

  • Lee, Kyung-Hun;Jang, Seung Hun;Lee, Jung-Hwa;Eom, Kwang-Seok;Bahn, Joon-Woo;Kim, Dong-Gyu;Shin, Tae Rim;Park, Sang Myon;Lee, Myung-Gu;Kim, Chul-Hong;Hyun, In-Gyu;Jung, Ki-Suck
    • Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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    • v.60 no.2
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    • pp.221-227
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    • 2006
  • Background : Cough may be a consequence of bronchial hyperresponsiveness or inflammation. Empirical treatment is important in this context because it difficult to verify the obvious cause of cough using laboratory tests, Corticosteroid has a nonspecific anti-inflammatory effect, and can be used for cough management. However, its response rate has not yet been fully elucidated. This study investigated the short- term effects of inhaled corticosteroid on chronic cough Methods : Patients with chronic cough with a normal chest radiograph and a pulmonary function test were enrolled. Cases with a prior respiratory infection within 8 weeks, a history of bronchial asthma, objective wheezing on examination, subjective symptoms of gastroesophageal reflux or taking an ACE inhibitor were excluded. On the first visit, a methacholine bronchial provocation test, spontaneous sputum eosinophil count performed twice and a paranasal sinus radiograph were checked, and the patients were treated with budesonide turbuhaler $800{\mu}g/day$ for ten days. The primary outcome measure was a decrease in the cough score after treatment. Results : Sixty nine chronic coughers were finally analyzed. The final diagnoses by the routine tests were as follows: bronchial asthma 13.0%, eosinophilic bronchitis 18.8%, paranasal sinusitis 23.2% and non-diagnostic cases 53.6%. The following responses to the inhaled corticosteroid were observed: definite responders, 76.8%, possible responders, 2.9% and non-responders, 20.3%. The response rate was not affected by the final diagnosis even in the non-diagnostic cases. There were minimal adverse drug related effects during the empirical treatment. Conclusion : Routine objective tests such as methacholine provocation, sputum eosinophil count and simple radiographs were notare not suitable for diagnosing chronic cough Therefore, empirical treatment is important. Short term inhaled corticosteroid is effective and can guide a further treatment plan for chronic cough.

Serum Beta-2 Microglobulin: a Possible Marker for Disease Progression in Egyptian Patients with Chronic HCV Related Liver Diseases

  • Ouda, SM;Khairy, AM;Sorour, Ashraf E;Mikhail, Mikhail Nasr
    • Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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    • v.16 no.17
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    • pp.7825-7829
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    • 2015
  • Background: Egypt has the highest prevalence of HCV infection in the world (~14.7%). Around 10-15% of HCV-infected persons will advance to cirrhosis within the first 20 years. The incidence of HCC is expected to grow in the next two decades, largely due to HCV related cirrhosis, and detection of HCC at an early stage is critical for a favorable clinical outcome. No simple reliable non-invasive marker has been available till now. B2M, a non-glycosylated polypeptide composed of 99 amino acids, is one of the components of HLA class I molecules on the surfaces of all nucleated cells. It has been reported that the level of serum B2M is elevated in patients with chronic hepatitis C and HCV-related HCC when compared to HCV-negative patients or healthy donors. Determining the clinical utility of serum B2M as a marker for disease progression in Egyptian patients with HCV related chronic hepatitis, cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma was the aim of the present study. Materials and Methods: In this analytical cross sectional study 92 participants were included in 4 equal groups: Group (1) non cirrhotic chronic HCV; Group (2) HCV related liver cirrhosis; Group (3) HCC on top of HCV,; and Group (4) healthy controls. History taking, clinical examination, routine labs and abdominal ultrasound were conducted for all patients, PCR and Metavir scores for group (1) patients, and triphasic CT abdomen and AFP for Group (3) patients. B2M levels were measured in serum with a fully-automated IMX system. Results: The mean serum B2M level of Group (1) was $4.25{\pm}1.48{\mu}g/ml$., Group (2) was $7.48{\pm}3.04$, Group (3) was $6.62{\pm}2.49$ and Group (4) was $1.62{\pm}0.63$. Serum B2M levels were significantly higher in diseased than control group (p<0.01) being significantly higher in cirrhosis ($7.48{\pm}3.04$) and HCC groups ($6.62{\pm}2.49$) than the HCV group ($4.25{\pm}1.48$) (p<0.01). There was a significant correlation between B2M Level and ALK, total and direct bilirubin and INR (p<0.05), and a significant inverse correlation between B2M level and albumin, total proteins, HB andWBCS values (p<0.05). There was no significant correlation between B2M level and viral load or Metavir score, largest tumour size or AFP (p>0.05). The best B2M cut-off for HCV diagnosis was 2.6 with a sensitivity of 100%, a specificity of 92%, a positive predictive value (PPV) of 97% and a negative predictive value (NPV) of 100%. The best B2M cut-off for HCC diagnosis was 4.55 which yielded sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, negative predictive values of 74%, 62%, 39.5, 87.8% respectively (p-value <0.01) while best cut-off for cirrhosis was 4.9, with sensitivity 74 % and specificity 74%.The sensitivity for HCC diagnosis increased upon B2M and AFP combined estimation to 91%, specificity to 79%, NPV to 95% and accuracy to 83%. Conclusions: Serum B2M level is elevated in HCV related chronic liver diseases and may be used as a marker for HCV disease progression towards cirrhosis and carcinoma.