Do patients attempt and succeed in quitting smoking during tuberculosis treatment? A prospective cohort study.

Background: Despite a well-known relation between smoking tobacco and the tuberculosis epidemic, the factors associated with smoking cessation in tuberculosis patients are unclear. This study aims to examine the cascade of smoking cessation and the factors associated with persistent smoking among tuberculosis patients.

Methods: We conducted a prospective cohort study enrolling adult patients with pulmonary tuberculosis between 2016 and 2019 in the Republic of Korea.

Effects of underweight and overweight on mortality in patients with pulmonary tuberculosis.

Background: Poor nutrition increases disease severity and mortality in patients with tuberculosis (TB). There are gaps in our understanding of the effects of being underweight or overweight on TB in relation to sex.

Methods: We generated a nationwide TB registry database and assessed the effects of body mass index (BMI) on mortality in patients with pulmonary TB.

Effectiveness of the use of an oscillating positive expiratory pressure device in bronchiectasis with frequent exacerbations: a single-arm pilot study.

Impaired airway clearance in patients with non-cystic fibrosis bronchiectasis causes frequent bacterial infection, chronic inflammation, and progressive tissue destruction. We aimed to evaluate whether an oscillating positive expiratory pressure (OPEP) device could allow effective sputum expectoration and prevent acute exacerbations in patients with bronchiectasis who had frequent acute exacerbations. This open-label, single-arm, prospective study included 17 patients who experienced three or more acute exacerbations in the past year.

Multidisciplinary team approach on tracheoesophageal fistula in a patient with home ventilator.

A 68-year-old man was transferred to our tertiary hospital. Ten years ago, he received radiation therapy for tonsil cancer, and while there was no evidence of recurrence, he suffered from recurrent aspiration. We treated his aspiration pneumonia in the intensive care unit.

Recurrent pulmonary arteriovenous malformation in a patient with Sjögren syndrome: A case report.

Rationale: Pulmonary manifestations of Sjögren syndrome (SS) are variable and may involve the airway or lung parenchyma and increase the risk of vascular and malignant disease. However, to date, only one case of pulmonary arteriovenous malformation (AVM) has been reported in a patient with SS. Here, we report a rare case of recurrent pulmonary AVMs with aggravating multiple cysts in a patient with SS during a period of 14 years.

Clinical Factors Associated with Cavitary Tuberculosis and Its Treatment Outcomes.

Cavitary pulmonary tuberculosis (TB) is associated with poor outcomes, treatment recurrence, higher transmission rates, and the development of drug resistance. However, reports on its clinical characteristics, associated factors, and treatment outcomes are lacking. Hence, this study sought to evaluate the clinical factors associated with cavitary pulmonary TB and its treatment outcomes.

Clinical profiles and outcomes of pulmonary tuberculosis patients with delayed treatment at a tertiary hospital in South Korea.

Background: Data on the clinical characteristics of delayed treatment initiation among pulmonary tuberculosis (TB) patients are lacking. Thus, this study aimed to identify the factors associated with delayed treatment in culture-confirmed pulmonary TB and to assess outcomes of delayed treatment.

Methods: We retrospectively evaluated 151 patients with culture-confirmed pulmonary TB between 2015 and 2017.

Clinical profiles of subclinical disease among pulmonary tuberculosis patients: a prospective cohort study in South Korea.

Background: Subclinical tuberculosis (TB) is a potential target for public health intervention because its early identification may reduce TB transmission. We aimed to describe the clinical and laboratory findings of subclinical disease among pulmonary TB patients and compared treatment outcomes for subclinical and active diseases.

Methods: In this prospective cohort study, we enrolled adult patients aged ≥ 19 years with pulmonary TB between 2016 and 2018.

Understanding illness perception in pulmonary tuberculosis patients: One step towards patient-centered care.

Background: Assessing the illness perception of patients with tuberculosis (TB) could improve our understanding of their beliefs about disease and help address problems in their health-seeking behavior.

Study Aim: We assessed illness perception in patients with pulmonary TB in association with patients' demographic, socioeconomic, and clinical features.

Methods: Adult patients who were newly diagnosed with pulmonary TB at three tertiary hospitals in South Korea were included from November 2016 and September 2018.

Investigation of false-positive culture tests using whole genome sequencing.

Although accurate identification of is the gold standard for tuberculosis (TB) diagnosis, there have been several reports of false-positive results. After identifying a sudden increase in extensively drug-resistant TB, false-positive mycobacterial culture tests were suspected, and we contacted the supranational reference center for molecular typing. genotyping tests showed that isolates from all five patients had an identical genotype pattern, and all harbored the same Beijing strain based on sequence-based phylogenic analysis and drug-resistant single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) analysis.

Clinical features of octogenarian patients with tuberculosis at a tertiary hospital in South Korea.

Objective: The growth of the older population is a great challenge for tuberculosis (TB) control in South Korea. This study was performed to investigate the clinical characteristics of and treatment outcomes among octogenarian patients with TB.

Methods: We retrospectively analyzed the medical records of 109 patients with TB (age of ≥80 years) from January 2014 to March 2017.

Cohort Study of Pulmonary Tuberculosis (COSMOTB) identifying drug-resistant mutations: protocol for a prospective observational study in Korea.

Introduction: Drug-resistant tuberculosis (TB) is a global concern. The proper diagnosis and management of drug-resistant TB are critical for improving treatment outcome. Molecular-based genotypic drug-susceptibility testing (DST) was developed to identify drug-resistant TB; however, discordant results from phenotypic and genotypic DST analyses have alarmed clinicians and raised concerns about the test's utility.

Diagnostic benefits of the combined use of liquid-based cytology, cell block, and carcinoembryonic antigen immunocytochemistry in malignant pleural effusion.

Background: Malignant pleural effusion (MPE) is a common complication of cancer cell metastasis to the pleura. Discrimination between MPE and benign pleural effusion is necessary to design treatment strategies. Cytology is important for the diagnosis of MPE.

Rifampicin Alleviates Atopic Dermatitis-Like Response and .

Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a common inflammatory skin disorder mediated by inflammatory cells, such as macrophages and mast cells. Rifampicin is mainly used for the treatment of tuberculosis. Recently, it was reported that rifampicin has anti-inflammatory and immune-suppressive activities.

Transcultural Adaptation and Validation of the Korean Version of the Brief Illness Perception Questionnaire for Patients with Pulmonary Tuberculosis.

Background And Aim: The brief illness perception questionnaire (BIPQ) has been used in many populations for both adults and children, and it provides a rapid assessment of illness perception. This study was performed to create a translated version of the BIPQ to fit the Korean society and to test its validity through pulmonary tuberculosis (TB) patients.

Methods: Translation and transcultural adaptation of BIPQ, applicable to the Korean society, was performed in accordance with the international guidelines.

Neighbor effect: penumbra-dose exposed neighbor cells contribute to the enhanced survival of high-dose targeted cells.

Purpose: In the last decade, new types of 'bystander effect' have been suggested by multiple research groups and have been challenged by others. In this study, we explored a new type of bystander effect, which has been defined in previous studies as the enhancement of the survival of high-dose targeted cells due to the penumbra-dose exposed neighbor cells. Intensity-modulated radiation therapy, which is the most widely used treatment modality, generates local regions of gradient doses between targeted and shielded cells throughout the treatment volume; therefore, we were urged to ascertain whether the new type of effect is real and to suggest a revised treatment planning.