• Journal of Animal Science and Technology
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• 제56권8호
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• pp.32.1-32.4
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• 2014

Though many alternative methods to tuberculin skin testing (TST) have been established and evaluated in recent years, sensitivities and specificities of most methods could not meet the requirements of golden standards. In this study, we sought to identify whether repeated TSTs could affect the immune responses in experimental monkeys. Nine natural tuberculosis (TB) monkeys receiving repeated TSTs biweekly were used to demonstrate the effect on TST responsiveness. Two healthy monkeys were administrated with repeated TSTs to analyze the immune response profiling. Intrapalpebral reactions in TB infections gradually weakened or presented intermittent positive reactions. The leukocyte counts, cytokine responses, and antibody responses to all antigens except Old tuberculin (OT) and MPT64L showed no specific changes for TB in healthy monkeys. Positive antibody responses to OT and MPT64L emerged during the first half experimental period, which may cause by their cross-reactivity with mycobacterial species. Results showed that repeated TSTs had no significant effects on immune responses in healthy monkeys but a progressive reduction in TST responsiveness in TB infections.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• 제68권6호
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• pp.328-333
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• 2010

Background: There are several active tuberculosis (TB) cases in Korean high schools each school year. The risk of transmission in schools is extremely high due to the considerable time spent in closed classrooms. We evaluated the control of latent tuberculosis infection in Korean high schools. Methods: When a student was identified with active TB, tuberculin skin testing was performed on their classmates and on students in their same school grade. When a student had a positive tuberculin skin tests (TST), they underwent follow-up testing with QuantiFERON-TB Gold In-Tube (QFT). The manufacturer recommended a cut-off of 0.35 IU/mL to determine QFT positivity was applied. Results: A total of 131 pulmonary tuberculosis (TB) patients were included based on the criteria for screening TB contacts in the National Tuberculosis Control Program. Seventy-five (57.2%) students tested smear positive. TST were performed on 7,109 students who were classmates of, or in the same grade as, a TB patient. Of the contacts, 1,231 students (17.3%) were TST positive and they were screened with QFT. Six hundred-sixty-six (55.0%) of the tested students returned a positive QFT result and the rate of positivity was significantly associated with the increasing size of TST indurations (p<0.0001). Conclusion: The use of QFT resulted in approximately 45% of TST positive students not being given chemoprophylaxis.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• 제38권1호
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• pp.34-44
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• 1991

Restoration of skin reactivity to 1 TU of tuberculin (RT23) by repeated tests at 10 days interval has been investigated in the BCG vaccinated or unvaccinated primary school children. The results obtained are as follows. 1) Tuberculin reactors showing 6 mm or larger induration to the first tests were 20.0% in the first grade school children and 33.3% in the sixth grade children. Six millimeter or larger reaction than that of the first reaction was found in 14.9% of the first grade children and in 34.6% of the sixth grade children. 2) Six millimeter or larger reactors were 10.8% of the first grade children without BCG scar against both first and second tests and 11.8% of the sixth grade children on first tests and 10.6% on second tests. There was none or very few, if any, in number of 6 mm or larger difference between the first and second tests among children without BCG scar. In addition, there was no children shown 6 mm or larger second reaction than that of the first reaction and thus those reactors seemed to be natural infection. 3) From questionaire survey, parents of 73.3% of the first grade children and of 72.7% of the sixth grade children were aware of BCG vaccination of their children, while parents of 15.1% and 24.6% of the first and sixth grade children did not know their children's vaccination history even if children possessed BCG scar. 4) Of the first grade children whose parents remembered their BCG vaccination, 65.6% were vaccinated within 4 weeks after birth and 25.5% between 4 weeks and one year. Six millimeter or larger reaction on the first tests was observed in 20.2% of the former group and 15.9% of the latter group, however reactors on the second tests were 32.1% and 31.9% respectively. BCG scar was not observed in 13.9% of children. 5) The majority of children (87.3%) were vaccinated in the skin of deltoid area and some (7.7%) at buttock or other areas. Children received first vaccination at the health centers were 68.5% and 30.3% at hospitals. More than 5 mm reaction was found in 18.7% of the former children and in 15.0% of the latter children. From this study restoration of tuberculin reactivity by repeated tests was found very common among the vaccinated children and thus it should be taken into account for the vaccination policy if it is performed after tuberculin testing.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• 제53권4호
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• pp.401-408
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• 2002

목 적 : 투베르쿨린 피부반응 검사는 결핵균 감염을 조사하는 방법으로, 전 세계적으로 널리 사용되고 있다. 그러나 여러 가지 요소에 의해 검사 결과의 판독에 어려움이 따른다. 2000년 미국흉부학회에서는 피검사자의 위험요소를 고려하여 피부반응 검사의 결과를 판단하도록 권장하였다. 우리나라의 경우 높은 결핵 감염율과 BCG 백신 접종률로 인해 피부반응 검사를 통해 현감염, 과거감염, 그리고 비감염을 구별하기 어렵다. 본 연구는 항결핵 약제의 투여를 결정하는데 피부반응 검사가 얼마나 도움이 되는지 알아보기 위해, 피부반응 검사의 음성 예측도를 조사하였다. 방 법 : 2001년 3월 1일부터 7월 31일까지 한림대학교 부속 춘천성심병원의 호흡기 내과에 입원한 환자를 대상으로, 현재 국내에서 사용되고 있는 Tuber culin PPD RT23 2 TU (0.1 ml)를 Mantoux 검사에 따라 시행하였다. 결핵의 진단기준은 1) 세균학적 진단기준으로 객담에서 결핵균이 배양되거나 현미경 검사로 항산균을 증명한 경우 2) 임상적 진단기준으로는 상기 세균학적 검사에서 결핵균을 증명하지 못하였으나, 방사선학적 또는 조직학적으로 결핵에 합당한 소견이나 증상이 있어서 진료의사가 결핵치료를 시행하기로 결정한 경우로 하였다. 결 과 : 등록된 환자 230명중에서 재입원 및 다른 과에 입원 중 전과되거나 중환자실에 입원한 환자 20명 (8.7%)을 제외한 총 210명의 환자를 대상으로 평가하였다. 환자의 평균연령은 $60{\pm}16.8$세였고, 남녀비는 1.28 : 1 (남118명, 여 92병)이였다. 결핵으로 진단된 환자는 53명 (25.2%)이였다. 폐결행이 45명(84.9%)이었고, 세균학적 검사에서 항산균 도말 양성이 22명(배양 양성 13, 배양 음성 9) 이었고, 임상적 진단기준으로 판단한 경우가 23명이었다. 결핵성 늑막염이 8명(15.1%)이었고, 조직학적으포 진단 된 경우가 4명, 임상적으로 판단되어 치료한 경우가 4명이었다. 미국흉부학회의 피부반응 검사의 판단기준에 따라 각각의 환자를 음성 및 양성으로 판정하였을 때, 음성 예측도는 92.3%, 양성 예측도는 47.3%, 민감도와 특이도는 각각 83%, 68.8%이었다. 결 론 : 입원한 호흡기 내과 환자를 대상으로 시행한 투베르쿨린 피부반응 검사는 92.3%의 높은 음성 예측도를 보였으며, 피부반응 검사가 음성으로 판단된 환자에서 항결핵 약제의 투여 여부를 결정하는데 중요한 단서를 제공할 것으로 생각된다.

• 대한예방한의학회지
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• 제28권2호
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• pp.55-65
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• 2024

Background : Tuberculosis (TB) remains a significant public health issue worldwide, particularly among healthcare workers (HCWs) at high risk of exposure. Latent tuberculosis infection (LTBI) is a state where individuals are infected with Mycobacterium tuberculosis but do not show clinical symptoms. Early detection and treatment of LTBI are crucial to prevent progression to active TB. This study aimed to investigate the prevalence and risk factors of LTBI among Korean Medicine (KM) workers in Seoul, South Korea. Methods : This study analyzed 368 adults aged 19 and over working in Korean medicine institutions in Seoul by September 2023. Participants underwent a tuberculin skin test (TST) and completed a survey collecting demographic information, occupation, work duration, smoking status, BCG vaccination, TB history, and comorbidities. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and chi-square tests, with significance set at p < 0.05. Results : The average age of participants was 43.1 years, with an LTBI prevalence rate of 3.5%. Significant risk factors included age and history of TB, Older age and a history of TB were associated with higher LTBI positivity. Conclusion : The study identified the prevalence and risk factors of LTBI among Korean medicine workers in Seoul. The findings highlight the need for targeted LTBI screening and preventive measures, especially for older workers and those with a history of TB. While the prevalence was lower than in other healthcare settings, the results emphasize the importance of regular LTBI testing and prevention education for KM workers. Future large-scale studies are needed to confirm these findings and further understand the relationship between various risk factors and LTBI in KM settings.

• 보건행정학회지
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• 제23권4호
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• pp.349-357
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• 2013

Background: Although interferon-gamma release assay (IGRA) is now available alternatives to tuberculin skin test (TST) for detection of latent tuberculosis infection (LTBI), the cost of IGRA test is much higher than TST. So economic analysis of LTBI screening strategies have been done in many countries, but there are few reports in Korea. This study examined cost analysis of LTBI screening strategies in Korea. Methods: The economic outcomes were evaluated by five strategies. These were 1) TST alone, 2) IGRA alone, 3) combination of TST and IGRA (TST followed by IGRA) and 4) no testing no prevention, 5) no testing all prevention. Last two strategies were added to compare with three main LTBI screening strategies. Decision analysis model were used to perform economic analysis. A cohort study of Korean Institute of Tuberculosis and the data of published literatures were used to estimate the cost analysis. Results: In a base-case scenario which was assumed that TST specificity was 80%, TST alone was the least expensive strategy. In a alternative scenario which was assumed that TST specificity was 97%, the combination of TST and IGRA was the least expensive strategy. Sensitivity analysis shows that patients adherent rate to LTBI treatment, TST sensitivity, IGRA sensitivity and IGRA specificity did not have a significant impact on the outcomes. Conclusion: In Korea, for the diagnosis of LTBI at the time of child and adolescent, TST alone reduces medical costs compared with IGRA alone or combination of TST and IGRA.