• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.28 no.3
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• pp.519-530
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• 2007

Objectives : The purpose of this study was to develop outcome indicators in clinical trials of herbal drugs effective for asthma. cough and sputum. To accomplish the objective, this study collected outcome indicators developed and used according to conventional medical concepts. Methods : Our research group reviewed SCI papers concerned with developing outcome indicators to evaluate amelioration of asthma, cough and sputum. We also reviewed clinical trials of herbal drugs effective for them. Results : To evaluate asthma, objective as well as subjective methods were chosen according to the purpose of each trial. Objective methods were PEF, FEVl, serum IgE, peripheral eosinophil counts, and so on. Subjective methods were symptom scores, symptom diaries, quality of life measures, etc. To evaluate cough and sputum, objective and subjective methods were also chosen. Objective methods were tussigenic challenges, sputum induction and computerized methodology, and subjective methods were similar to the methodology evaluating asthmatic symptoms. Conclusions : It is desirable for a clinical trial evaluating herbal drugs for asthma, cough and sputum to use objective and subjective outcome indicators together. However, biological outcome indicators, a kind of objective methods, can not be chosen as the purpose of trial. Valid and reliable subjective outcome indicators are needed to develop good clinical trials of herbal drugs effective for asthma, cough and sputum.

• The Korean Journal of Nuclear Medicine
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• v.34 no.2
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• pp.129-134
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• 2000

Purpose: It is difficult to determine the activity of tuberculosis radiologically. Therefore there have been efforts to assess the activity using radiopharmaceuticals such as $^{67}Ga,\;^{99m}Tc-tetrofosmin,\;and\;^{99m}Tc-MIBI$. But there may be some discrepancy in defining the term 'activity' between clinicians and nuclear physicians. While negative conversion of sputum acid fast bacilli (AFB) is defined as 'disappearance of activity' by clinicians, a loss of uptake in previously positive lesion is accepted as 'disappearance of activity' by nuclear physicians. We designed a prospective study to see if the negative conversion of sputum AFB could directly match the disappearance of radioactivity of the lesion. Materials and Methods: Fifteen patients with bacteriologically confirmed active localized pulmonary tuberculosis were scanned 10 and 60 min after intravenous injection of 550 MBq $^{99m}Tc$-MIBI. In 6 patients, who showed negative conversion of sputum AFB after 3-7 months of chemotherapy, $^{99m}Tc$-MIBI scan was repeated. For the purpose of comparison, target/nontarget ratios of the lesions were determined. Results: 12/15 (80%) patients with active pulmonary tuberculosis showed increased uptake of $^{99m}Tc$-MIBI in tuberculous lesion. After negative conversion of sputum AFB, 5/6 (83%) patients still showed increased uptake, although the intensity of uptake decreased. Conclusion: Uptake of radioactivity decreased but did not disappear after negative conversion of sputum AFB. $^{99m}Tc$-MIBI scan may be useful to address the degree of inflammation of pulmonary tuberculous lesion, but the uptake did not directly match the activity defined by positivity of sputum AFB. We nuclear physicians might have used the term 'activity' somewhat differently from clinicians who treat patients with tuberculosis.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.38 no.3
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• pp.287-296
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• 1991

Colonial morphology of the various yeasts often encountered in sputum or other clinical specimens was investigated on the corn meal-potato-yeast extract agar medium (GJCPY) containing orange-yellow pigments extracted from Gardenia jasminoides fruits in hopes of differential identification on primary cultures. The results obtained are as follows. 1) Cryptococcus neoformans which is a medically important yeast and whose colony showed brown to purple brown on GJCPY medium was distinguishable not only from buff colored Cr. laurentii after one week incubation but also from Candida spp. 2) Colony color of Candida albicans, a most common species in sputum specimens and of Ca. parapsilosis, a rare isolate, remained unchanged even after 15 days incubation. 3) Ca. tropicalis, second common isolate from sputums and Ca. krusei, a rare isolate, formed a characteristic rough and wrinkled colonies that permit to differentiate them from others. 4) Rare isolates, Ca. guilliermondii and Ca. lusitaniae, turned to prussian blue within three days of incubation. 5) Torulopsis sp. and Saccharomyces cerevisiae showed glossy grayish blue or light blue after one week incubation. The findings clearly showed that Ga. jasminoides pigments medium was useful to the morphological differentiation of medically important yeasts that were often encountered in sputum or other clinical specimens.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.79 no.3
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• pp.153-157
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• 2016

Background: Vitamin D is known to have diverse effects on various systems in the body. There is evidence to suggest that a link exists between the serum vitamin D status and tuberculosis. The present study was designed to assess the alterations in serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels in newly diagnosed sputum acid fast bacilli (AFB) positive pulmonary tuberculosis patients and to study the association, if any, between serum vitamin D levels and different levels of sputum smear positivity. Methods: Serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels were estimated in 65 sputum AFB positive pulmonary tuberculosis patients and 65 age and gender-matched healthy controls. Results: The levels of serum 25 hydroxy-vitamin D in tuberculosis patients were not statistically different from the levels of serum 25 hydroxy-vitamin D in healthy controls. However, among patients with pulmonary tuberculosis, there was a significant negative correlation between the levels of serum 25 hydroxy-vitamin D and levels of sputum positivity. Conclusion: Serum vitamin D levels negatively correlates with bacterial load in patients with active pulmonary tuberculosis.

• Journal of Pharmacopuncture
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• v.6 no.3
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• pp.65-73
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• 2003

Coughing and sputum are symptoms of sequela of Pneumonia. Oriental medicine call it Hae suo Hae su is common sign of lung disease. Hominis Placenta is the dried placenta of a healthy women. The nature of Hominis Placenta is warm and its taste sweet-salty. It has correspondence to the meridians of lung and kindey. Hominis Placenta acupuncture therapy has effect on invigoration of vital energy nourishing blood and tonifying the essence. It can be applied to the disease as Asthma, pulmonary tuberculosis, chronic hepatitis, liver cirrhosis, degenerative change and cerebrovascular disease. We treated two cases coughing and sputum sign Sequela of Pneumonia by Hominis Placenta Aqua-Acupuncture. The symptoms was improved and the patients satisfied.

• Korean Journal of Clinical Laboratory Science
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• v.45 no.1
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• pp.26-31
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• 2013

The cytology of sputum specimens, at a medical facility in Korea, is using the liquid-based cytology and conventional smear method. It confirms the diagnosis using conventional smear methods and the liquid-based cytology. In addition, the diagnosis uses two kinds of each method, compares the suitability, sensitivity and specificity for each test and tries to understand the efficient method needed. It divided sputum specimens in half and liquid-based cytology. A conventional smear method was conducted and the Papanicolaou's staining was conducted using Autostainer. Diagnosed each slide of staining produced smear slides specimens by using an optical microscope. The result of the liquid-based cytology and conventional smear method was that the liquid-based cytology was of a higher-grade than the conventional smear method. It was 36.8%, and 62.8% in the same condition. But only one case was of a lower grade. Liquid-based cytology showed 86.2% of adequacy, 31.0% of sensitivity and 97.5% of specificity. The conventional smear method showed 54.4% of adequacy, 19.6% of sensitivity and 100% of specificity. If it was conducted with two methods at the same time, the results would be similar to the liquid-based cytology. In conclusion, liquid-based cytology has a more superior adequacy and sensitivity than the conventional smear method. The combination of the two methods is similar to the result of only conducting a liquid-based cytology. Conducting a liquid-based cytology rather than the combination of the two ways of sputum cytoscopy, is to be considered as an efficient method to achieve diagnostic accuracy, reduce labor of clinical technologist and pathologist, and to reduce the expense of patients.

• Journal of agricultural medicine and community health
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• v.6 no.1
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• pp.73-81
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• 1981

This study was designed to analyze the result of Tb worker's activities on the performance of follow up program as part of the government tuberculosis program. The specific objectives of this study was also to improve the method of managing the patient who were registered at health center by the setting the priorities depend upon in their results of sputum examination and X-ray examination. All the medical records of 509 patients who were dropped out from government health center in Kyongnam area during 1978, were analyzed and interpreted. Followings are the result of the study. 1. The number of investigated cases were 509 (356% males and 153 females), by age the most prevalent group was 20~29 year old group as 27.3% and 20~40 year old group was 61.5%, above 61 year old was 14.9%. 2. The microscopic result of their sputum was positive in 52.1%, and by X-ray examination moderate advanced case was 63.9% minimal 18.5% and far advanced 17.6% in order. 3. Average duration of treatment was 9.03 months, 11.4 months in microscopic positive cases and 6.5 months in negative cases. 4. Conversion rate of microscopic positive case was 42.9% on sputum culture, in the negative cases, it was confirmed in negative 20.1% only by the initial sputum culture. 5. The rate who get take X-ray and sputum examination among any family member of the patients was 43.4% in positive cases, 20.9% in negative cases. 6. 80.2% of positive cases took X-ray for following up in every 6 month after registration, 41.0% in negative cases. 7. Defaulting reasons which recorded in individual card were undetermined reason (42.0%), treating elswhere (22. 4%), refused treatment (17.9%) and moved out (17.7%).

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.70 no.4
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• pp.315-322
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• 2011

Background: A variety of diagnostic modalities for lung cancer have been developed. To achieve efficient and early detection of lung cancer, we tried to measure the expression rates of the melanoma associated gene (MAGE) and synovial sarcoma on X chromosome (SSX) genes. Methods: We designed primers for the SSX gene. In addition to the pre-developed MAGE A primer, using an SSX gene primer was attempted to increase the detection rate. We obtained cancer tissues and cancer-free lung tissues from resected lung, sputum from lung cancer patients who had not undergone surgery, and sputum from healthy people and patients with benign intrathoracic diseases. Results: The sensitivity of the MAGE or SSX gene RT-PCR to identifying cancer tissue of the 69 lung cancer patients was 95.2% for squamous cell carcinoma (scc), 87.0% for adenocarcinoma, and 100% for small cell carcinoma. The mean sensitivity value was 94.2% (p=0.001). For adenocarcinoma, the additional use of the SSX gene resulted in a higher expression rate than MAGE alone (87% vs. 69.6%). The expression rate for the cancer-free lung tissue was 14.3% in scc, 17.4% in adenocarcinoma, and 25.0% in small cell carcinoma. In the induced sputum of 49 lung cancer patients who had not undergone surgery, the expression rate for one of the two genes was 65.5%. The expression rate for the sputum of healthy people and benign intrathoracic diseases by MAGE or SSX gene reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) was 3.8% and 17.7%. Conclusion: Detecting lung cancer using the expression of MAGE and SSX genes in lung cancer tissue has high sensitivity.

• Journal of Radiation Industry
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• v.10 no.4
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• pp.249-255
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• 2016

This study, Seoul City shelter, you are trying to seek medical cooperation and cure rate increase proposal Yu findings's current situation and tuberculosis of homeless tuberculosis. Inspector, and has a total 591 people is targeted to implement an interview after acquiring utilization agreement in studies conducted chest X-ray photography. Of the interview questions, three or more protons, it is determined that the TB symptomatic conducted sputum examination, chest X-ray examination confirms the physician radiology, when sputum examination primarily chromatic findings the double implemented and conducted by requesting the ship inspection also said inspection sputum acid-fast bacteria if it is true one, respectively. confirmed case result of checking whether there is a difference due to risk factors(Jb) at the chi square black, it was found that there is no statistically significant difference at 95% confidence level. (${\chi}^2=0.276$, p>0.05), suspected case (Ac, Ae) results of examining whether there is a difference due to risk factors in chi square black, that there is a statistically significant difference at 99% confidence level is I found (${\chi}^2=9.414$, p<0.01). The nature of the homeless tuberculosis screening and directed to the distance homeless specific location are likely to evaluate the actual incidence low and aggressive or management needs, the rationale is allowed insufficient reality is. Through this research, future, for tuberculosis high risk tuberculosis patient, such as homeless to expand the tuberculosis screening of infectious tuberculosis patients in private medical institutions, and one-stop service that chest X-ray examination and sputum examination is carried out at the same time introduced immediately to prevent the inspection and examination, cure, and should establish a foundation that can be up to post administration.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.48 no.6
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• pp.922-931
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• 2000

Background : It has been well known that bronchia1 asthma is a chronic airway inflammatory disorder. Recently, sputum induced with hypertonic saline was introduced as a simple and useful nonivasive medium to investigate airway inflammation and symptom severity in patients with asthma. We examined the eosinophil, eosinophil cationic protein (ECP), interleukin(IL)-3, IL-5, granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating facta (GM-CSF), and nitric oxide (NO) derivatives in induced sputum from patients with bronchia1 asthma in order to determine the role of NO and various inflammatory cytokines as a useful markers of airway inflammation or changes in pulmonary function tests and symptoms. Methods : A total 30 patients with bronchia1 asthma received oral prednisolone 30 mg daily for 2 weeks. Forced expiratory volume in one second ($FEV_1$), total blood eosinophil count and induced sputum eosinophil count, ECP, IL-3, IL-5, GM-CSF, and NO derivatives were determined before and after the administration of prednisolone. Results : Of the 30 patients, 13 (43.3%) were male and 17 (56.7%) were female. The mean age of patients was 41.8 years (range 19-64 years). Two patients could not produce sputum at the second study and 3 could not be followed up after their first visit. Two weeks after the prednisolone administration, there was a significant increase in $FEV_1$ (% of predicted value) from 78.1$\pm$20.6 % to 90.3$\pm$ 18.3 % (P<0.001). The eosinophil percentages in induced sputum were significantly decreased after treatment with prednisolone, with values of 56.1$\pm$27.2 % versus 29.6$\pm$21.3 % (P<0.001), and ECP were $134.5\pm68.1\;{\mu}g/L$ versus $41.5\pm42.4\;{\mu}g/L$ (P<0.001) respectively. After the prednisolone treatments, the eotaxin concentration also showed a decreasing tendency from 26.7$\pm$12.8 pg/ml to 21.7$\pm$8.7 pg/ml. There was a decreasing tendency but no significant differences in total blood eosinophil count (425.7$\pm$265.9 vs 287.7$\pm$294.7) and in the concentration of NO derivatives ($70.4\pm44.6{\mu}mol/L$ vs $91.5\pm48.3\;{\mu}mol/L$) after the prednisolone treatments. IL-3, IL-5, GM-CSF were undetectable in the sputum of most subjects either before the prednisolone treatments or after the treatments. Before the prednisolone treatments, a significant inverse correlation was observed between FEV1 and sputum ECP (r=-D.364, P<0.05) and there was a significant correlation between sputum eosinophils and eotaxin (r=0.369, P<0.05) Conclusion : The eotaxin and ECP concentration in induced sputum may be used as markers of airway inflammation after treatments in bronchia1 asthma. In addition, the measurement of sputum eosinophil percent ages is believed to be a simple method displaying the degree of airway inflammation and airway obstruction before and after the prednisolone treatment in bronchia1 asthma. However, unlike exhaled NO, the examination of NO derivatives with Griess reaction in induced sputum is considered an ineffective marker of changing airway inflammation and obstructing symptoms.