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. We examined the smoking status at baseline, followed the current smokers, re-examined their smoking status after 6 months of anti-tuberculosis treatment, and identified the factors associated with persistent smoking. RESULTS: Of the 419 enrolled patients, 109 (26.0%) were current smokers at baseline. Of the 79 current smokers who completed the 6-month survey, 24 (30.4%) succeeded in quitting smoking after 6 months of treatment. The adjusted odds ratio for persistent smoking was 6.57 (95% confidence interval [CI], 1.76-27.83) for drinking and 0.15 (95% CI, 0.03-0.68) for diabetes comorbidity. CONCLUSION: Drinking alcohol and diabetes comorbidity were important factors in smoking cessation. Only one third of the tuberculosis patients in our study cohort succeeded in quitting smoking during the 6-month treatment period. More aggressive interventions for smoking cessation should be adopted within the national anti-tuberculosis program.

Association Between Oral Health and Airflow Limitation: Analysis Using a Nationwide Survey in Korea.

BACKGROUND: Although poor oral health is a common comorbidity in individuals with airflow limitation (AFL), few studies have comprehensively evaluated this association. Furthermore, the association between oral health and the severity of AFL has not been well elucidated. METHODS: Using a population-based nationwide survey, we classified individuals according to the presence or absence of AFL defined as pre-bronchodilator forced expiratory volume in 1 second/forced vital capacity < 0.7. Using multivariable logistic regression analyses, we evaluated the association between AFL severity and the number of remaining teeth; the presence of periodontitis; the Decayed, Missing, and Filled Teeth (DMFT) index; and denture wearing. RESULTS: Among the 31,839 participants, 14% had AFL. Compared with the control group, the AFL group had a higher proportion of periodontitis (88.8% vs. 79.4%), complete denture (6.2% vs. 1.6%), and high DMFT index (37.3% vs. 27.8%) (P < 0.001 for all). In multivariable analyses, denture status: removable partial denture (adjusted odds ratio [aOR], 1.12; 95% confidence interval [95% CI], 1.04-1.20) and complete denture (aOR, 1.52; 95% CI, 1.01-2.05), high DMFT index (aOR, 1.13; 95% CI, 1.02-1.24), and fewer permanent teeth (0-19; aOR, 1.32; 95% CI, 1.12-1.52) were significantly associated with AFL. Furthermore, those with severe to very severe AFL had a significantly higher proportion of complete denture (aOR, 2.41; 95% CI, 1.11-3.71) and fewer remaining teeth (0-19; aOR, 2.29; 95% CI, 1.57-3.01). CONCLUSION: Denture wearing, high DMFT index, and fewer permanent teeth are significantly associated with AFL. Furthermore, a reduced number of permanent teeth (0-19) was significantly related to the severity of AFL. Therefore, physicians should pay attention to oral health in managing patients with AFL, such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

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. Subclinical TB was defined as radiographic or microbiologic test results consistent with TB without clinical symptoms. We implemented a two-stage symptom assessment using a predefined TB symptom checklist. Demographic, clinical, and laboratory data were compared between subclinical and active diseases using multivariable binary logistic regression analysis. We evaluated treatment outcomes in the drug-susceptible cohort. RESULTS: Among 420 enrolled patients, 81 (19.3%) had subclinical TB. Multivariable analysis showed that age < 65 years was the only variable significantly associated with subclinical disease. Subclinical disease had a significantly lower proportion of acid-fast bacilli smear and culture positivity and multiple lobe involvement compared to active disease. The white blood cell counts, platelet counts, and C-reactive protein levels were significantly higher among patients with active disease than among those with subclinical disease. Among 319 patients with treatment success in the drug-susceptible cohort, six (1.9%) recurrent cases were identified, and all were active disease. Patients with subclinical disease had a higher proportion of favourable outcomes; however, its odds ratio was insignificant. CONCLUSIONS: Nearly one-fifth of tuberculosis cases were subclinical in South Korea. Despite its milder clinical presentation and lower level of inflammatory markers, the treatment outcomes of subclinical TB were not significantly different from that of active disease.

Comparison of Postextubation Outcomes Associated with High-Flow Nasal Cannula vs. Conventional Oxygen Therapy in Patients at High Risk of Reintubation: a Randomized Clinical Trial.

BACKGROUND: Liberation and extubation are important for patients supported by mechanical ventilation. Extubation success is related to the duration of an intensive care unit (ICU) stay and mortality rate. High-flow nasal cannula (HFNC) oxygen therapy has physiological and clinical benefits in respiratory care. The present study compared clinical outcomes associated with HFNC and conventional oxygen therapy (COT) among patients at high risk for reintubation. METHODS: A single-center randomized clinical trial was conducted between March 2018 and June 2019. Sixty adults admitted to the ICU and who were at high-risk of reintubation and met the inclusion criteria were enrolled in this study. "High risk" for reintubation was defined as having at least one of the following risk factors: age > 65 years, Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation II score > 12 points on extubation day, obesity, poor expectoration, airway patency problems, difficult or prolonged weaning, and more than one comorbidity. The primary outcome of interest was reintubation within 72 hours. Secondary outcomes included duration of ICU and hospital stay, mortality rate, and time to reintubation. RESULTS: Of 60 patients, 31 received HFNC and 29 received COT (mean age, 78 ± 7.8 vs. 76 ± 6.5 years, respectively). Reintubation rate within 72 hours did not differ between the groups (3 patients [9.7%] vs. 1 patient [3.4%], respectively). Reintubation time was shorter among patients who received COT than among patients who received HFNC (0.5 hour vs. 25 hours), but this difference was not statistically significant. Duration of ICU did not differ between the groups (14.7 ± 9.6 days vs. 13.8 ± 15.7 days, for HFNC and COT, respectively). CONCLUSION: Among patients at high risk for reintubation, compared with COT, HFNC did not reduce the risk of reintubation within 72 hours.

A Case of Pulmonary Langerhans Cell Sarcoma Simultaneously Diagnosed with Cutaneous Langerhans Cell Histiocytosis Studied by Whole-Exome Sequencing.

Langerhans cell histiocytosis (LCH) and Langerhans cell sarcoma (LCS) are clonal proliferations of Langerhans-type cells. Unlike in LCH, the pathophysiology and clinical course of LCS are unclear due to its rarity. Here, we report the case of a 73-year-old male patient who was diagnosed with cutaneous LCH and pulmonary LCS at the same time. Pathological review of these 2 tumors revealed similar immunohistochemical findings. However, the tumor cells in LCS had more aggressive cytological features than those in LCH. Results of BRAF mutation analysis using real-time PCR were negative for both tumors. In whole-exome sequencing (WES), stop-gain mutations in TP53 gene were discovered only in LCS cells. The mechanism of development of LCS from various progenitor cells is currently unclear. According to the results of the WES study, changes in TP53 gene might have contributed to the malignant features of LCS.

Eosinophilic pleuritis due to sparganum: a case report.

Sparganosis is a rare parasitic disease caused by migrating plerocercoid tapeworm larva of the genus Spirometra. Infection in humans is mainly caused by the ingestion of raw or inadequately cooked flesh of infected frogs, snakes, and chickens. Here, we report a rare case of a 45-year-old man who was admitted to our hospital with left lower chest pain. The chest radiograph and computed tomography (CT) scan revealed localized pleural effusion in the left lower lobe; further, peripheral blood eosinophilia and eosinophilic pleural effusion were present. Percutaneous catheter drainage was performed, which revealed long worm-shaped material that was identified as a sparganum by DNA sequencing. The patient showed clinical improvement after drainage of the sparganum. This study demonstrates the importance of considering parasitic diseases in the differential diagnosis of eosinophilic pleural effusion.

Impact of diabetes on treatment outcomes and long-term survival in multidrug-resistant tuberculosis.

BACKGROUND: Few studies have investigated the impact of diabetes mellitus (DM), a globally increasing metabolic disease, on treatment outcomes and long-term survival in patients with multidrug-resistant forms of tuberculosis (MDR-TB). OBJECTIVES: We analyzed outcomes in a large cohort to assess the impact of DM on treatment outcomes of patients with MDR-TB. METHODS: MDR-TB patients newly diagnosed or retreated between 2000 and 2002 and followed for 8-11 years were retrospectively analyzed with respect to the effect of DM as a comorbidity on their treatment outcome and long-term survival. RESULTS: Of 1,407 patients with MDR-TB, 239 (17.0%) had coexisting DM. The mean age and body mass index were higher in MDR-TB patients with DM [MDR-TBDM(+)] than in those without DM [MDR-TBDM(-)]. Patients with MDR-TB and a comorbidity of DM had a significantly lower treatment success rate than those without a history of DM (36.0 vs. 47.2%, p = 0.002). In addition, DM was the negative predictor for MDR-TB treatment success in multivariate analyses [odds ratio 0.51, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.26-0.99]. Mean survival times were also lower in MDR-TBDM(+) than in MDR-TBDM(-) patients (102 vs. 114 months, p = 0.001), with DM as a significant predictor of poor long-term survival in multivariate analyses (hazard ratio 1.59, 95% CI 1.01-2.50). CONCLUSIONS: Among MDR-TB patients, DM was a relatively common comorbidity. In patients undergoing treatment for MDR-TB and followed for 8-11 years, it was found to be independently associated with an increased risk of both treatment failure and death.

Safety and efficacy of remimazolam compared with midazolam during bronchoscopy: a single-center, randomized controlled study.

Although remimazolam is an ultra-short-acting benzodiazepine with a shorter elimination half-life and faster recovery time than midazolam, studies evaluating its safety and efficacy during bronchoscopy are limited. This study aimed to compare the safety and efficacy of remimazolam with those of midazolam for bronchoscopy. This prospective randomized parallel-group study was conducted at a single institution. The primary outcome was the time from the end of the procedure to full alertness. Other procedural time parameters, satisfaction profiles, and adverse effects were thoroughly evaluated. The time taken to reach peak sedation and the time from the end of the procedure to full alertness was significantly shorter in the remimazolam group than in the midazolam group (median [interquartile range], 2 min [1-4] vs. 3 min [2-5], P = 0.006; and median, 2 min [1-5] vs. 5 min [1-12], P = 0.035, respectively). In patients with non-biopsy procedures (n = 79), participant satisfaction was significantly higher in the remimazolam group than in the midazolam group (median rated scale, 10 vs. 7, P = 0.042). Physician satisfaction and willingness to repeat the procedure were similar between groups. Although the incidence of adverse effects was similar between the groups and there was no significant difference, the midazolam group had a higher antidote administration rate than the remimazolam group (15.7% vs. 4.1%, P = 0.092). Remimazolam is effective and safe for achieving adequate sedation, with a shorter onset time and faster neuropsychiatric recovery than midazolam. It may be a new option for sedation during bronchoscopy.Trial registration: The trial registration number is NCT05994547, and the date of first registration is 16/08/2023.

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. We evaluated the prevention of acute exacerbations, subjective symptom improvement, and change in sputum amount during the use of the Aerobika (Trudell Medical International, London, ON) OPEP device twice daily for 6 months. Of all enrolled patients, only two acute exacerbations occurred during the study period, indicating a significant decrease compared with the number of acute exacerbations before the device use (p < 0.001). Additionally, Bronchiectasis Health Questionnaire score changed from 58.7 to 66.6, showing significant improvement over the treatment period (p < 0.001). The largest sputum volume was observed 3 months after OPEP device use (baseline: 10 ml, 3rd month 25 ml, p = 0.325). There were no major adverse events related to the use of OPEP devices. Twice-daily physiotherapy with OPEP device in patients with bronchiectasis who have frequent exacerbations may facilitate symptomatic improvement and prevention of acute exacerbations without serious adverse events.

Characteristics and intrasubject variation in the respiratory microbiome in interstitial lung disease.

Recent studies have reported that the lower airway microbiome may play an essential role in the development and progression of interstitial lung disease (ILD). The aim of the current study was to evaluate the characteristics of the respiratory microbiome and intrasubject variation in patients with ILD. Patients with ILD were recruited prospectively for 12 months. The sample size was small (n = 11) owing to delayed recruitment during the COVID-19 pandemic. All subjects were hospitalized and were evaluated by a questionnaire survey, blood sampling, pulmonary function test, and bronchoscopy. Bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) was obtained at 2 sites, the most and least disease-affected lesions. Sputum collection was also performed. Furthermore, 16S ribosomal RNA gene sequencing was performed using the Illumina platform and indexes of α- and ß-diversity were evaluated. Species diversity and richness tended to be lower in the most-affected lesion than in the least-affected lesion. However, taxonomic abundance patterns were similar in these 2 groups. The phylum Fusobacteria was more prevalent in fibrotic ILD than in nonfibrotic ILD. Inter-sample differences in relative abundances were more prominent in BALF versus sputum specimens. Rothia and Veillonella were more prevalent in the sputum than in BALF. We did not detect site-specific dysbiosis in the ILD lung. BALF was an effective respiratory specimen type for evaluating the lung microbiome in patients with ILD. Further studies are needed to evaluate the causal links between the lung microbiome and the pathogenesis of ILD.

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. The cause of death was further classified as TB-related or non-TB-related deaths. First, logistic regression analysis was performed to assess the association between BMI (a continuous variable) and mortality, and subgroup analyses of the multivariable logistic regression model were performed separately in male and female patients. Second, we categorized BMI into three groups: underweight, normal weight, and overweight, and assessed the impact of being underweight or overweight on mortality with reference to normal weight. Results: Among 9,721 patients with pulmonary TB, the mean BMI was 21.3 ± 3.4; 1,927 (19.8%) were underweight, and 2,829 (29.1%) were overweight. In multivariable logistic regression analysis, mortality was significantly increased with the decrement of BMI (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] = 0.893, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.875-0.911). In subgroup analyses, underweight patients had significantly higher odds of mortality, especially TB-related deaths (aOR = 2.057, 95% CI = 1.546-2.735). The association with mortality and male patients was higher (aOR = 2.078, 95% CI = 1.717-2.514), compared with female patients (aOR = 1.724, 95% CI = 1.332-2.231). Being overweight had a significant protective effect against TB-related death only in females (aOR = 0.500, 95% CI = 0.268-0.934), whereas its effect on non-TB-related death was observed only in males (aOR = 0.739, 95% CI = 0.587-0.930). Conclusion: Being underweight was linked to high mortality, whereas being overweight had beneficial effects in patients with pulmonary TB.

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. PATIENT CONCERNS: A 45-year-old woman was diagnosed with SS and pulmonary AVM in the right lung. Her AVMs were embolized successfully and she was followed up annually for 14 years. Eleven years after the initial treatment, her chest computed tomography showed new pulmonary AVMs in the left lung with aggravating multiple cysts. DIAGNOSIS: We diagnosed her with SS according to the American-European consensus group criteria of 2010. Chest computed tomography and angiographic findings confirmed the recurrence of pulmonary AVMs. INTERVENTIONS: The patient's recurrent pulmonary AVMs were successfully treated by embolization. OUTCOMES: Although her multiple cystic lung lesions had been aggravating during 14 years, she received embolization for the pulmonary AVMs twice and developed no complication related to these procedures. Currently, the patient is 56 years old and still alive with good performance state. LESSONS: To date, only one case of pulmonary AVM has been reported in a patient with SS. The patient died 2.5 years after the diagnosis without recurrence of AVM. Here, we present a rare case of recurrent pulmonary AVMs associated with aggravating multiple cysts in both lungs, which were observed during long-term follow-up, in a patient with SS.

Which factors are helpful for the early determination of treatment level in patients with interstitial lung disease in the intensive care unit to minimize the suffering in their end of life?: A retrospective study.

Interstitial lung disease (ILD) is widely known to be associated with high mortality and poor prognosis, especially in patients admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU). The objective of this study was to investigate clinical predictors for assisting relatively early decision of treatment level in the ICU. We retrospectively investigated patients with ILD who were admitted to the ICU between January 1, 2014, and September 30, 2019. A total of 64 patients were analyzed. We found the ICU and hospital mortality rates to be 67.2% and 69.8%, respectively. Nonsurvivors had a higher fraction of inspired oxygen (FiO2) on days 1 (79 ±â€…21 vs 60% ±â€…21%, P = .001) and 3 (61 ±â€…31 vs 46% ±â€…19%, P = .004). They showed lower partial pressure of oxygen/FiO2 (PF) ratio on days 1 (134 ±â€…80 vs 173 ±â€…102, P = .049) and 3 (147 ±â€…74 vs 235 ±â€…124, P = .003) than the survivor group. The lactic acid levels obtained on day 1 and PF ratio measured on day 3 were associated with mortality (odds ratio, 1.89; 95% confidence interval 1.03-3.47 and odds ratio, 0.99; 95% confidence interval 0.98-1.00, respectively). Among the 31 ICU survivors, 10 patients died in the general ward, 12 patients died after hospital discharge; only 9 patients survived after 1 year. We suggest that these clinical predictors could be used to determine the level of further treatment or withdrawal on day 3 of admission in patients with ILD admitted to the ICU to minimize the prolonged suffering in a relatively early period.

Clinical characteristics, radiological features, and disease severity of bronchiectasis according to the spirometric pattern.

Bronchiectasis show various ventilatory disorders in pulmonary function. The characteristics and severity of patients with bronchiectasis according to these pulmonary dysfunctions are still very limited. This study aimed to evaluate the clinical, radiologic feature and the disease severity of patients with bronchiectasis according to spirometric patterns. We retrospectively evaluated 506 patients with bronchiectasis who underwent pulmonary lung function test (PFT) at a referral hospital between 2014 to 2021. The results showed that cylindrical type was the most common (70.8%) type of bronchiectasis on chest Computed tomography (CT), and 70% of patients had bilateral lung involvement. On the other hand, obstructive ventilatory disorder was the most common (51.6%), followed by normal ventilation (30%) and restrictive ventilatory disorder (18.4%). The modified Medical Research Council (mMRC) was highest in patients with obstructive ventilatory disorders, Modified Reiff score [median (interquartile range)] [6 (3-10), P < 0.001], FACED (FEV1, Age, Chronic colonization, Extension, and Dyspnea) score [3 (1-4), P < 0.001], and Bronchiectasis Severity (BSI) score [8 (5-11), P < 0.001] showed significantly highest values of obstructive ventilatory disorder rather than restrictive ventilatory disorder and normal ventilation. More than half of patients with bronchiectasis had obstructive ventilatory disorder. Bronchiectasis with obstructive ventilatory disorders has more dyspnea symptom, more disease severity and more radiologic severity. There was no significant association between spirometric pattern and radiologic type, but the more severe the radiologic severity, the more severe the lung function impairment.

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. Prior to his discharge, he received percutaneous dilatational tracheostomy (PDT) before he was transferred to a nursing hospital. Nine months later, he was readmitted owing to tracheoesophageal fistula (TEF). However, he was considered unsuitable for conservative intervention after a multidisciplinary team discussion. Esophageal stent insertion was impossible due to the high level of TEF in the esophagus. Additionally, the size of the TEF could not be covered by an endosponge and endoluminal vacuum therapy, and there was no tracheal stent that could cover his large trachea. The preceding percutaneous enteral gastrostomy (PEG) procedure was required for the primary closure operation of the esophagus; however, family's consent could not be obtained. After 1month, the patient and his family changed their minds and agreed to the procedure and we attempted to perform PEG procedure. However, we could not proceed with PEG owing to stenosis in the inlet of the esophagus. Then, the patient deteriorated clinically and died due to pneumonia with septic shock.

Treatment outcomes and survival based on drug resistance patterns in multidrug-resistant tuberculosis.

RATIONALE: Few large-scale studies have investigated multidrug-resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB) treatment outcomes relative to drug-resistance patterns. OBJECTIVES: To assess the impact of additional drug resistances on treatment outcomes and long-term survival in a large HIV-negative MDR-TB cohort. METHODS: Treatment outcomes and long-term survival of patients with MDR-TB newly diagnosed or retreated in 2000 to 2002 were retrospectively analyzed based on drug-resistance patterns after 5-8 years of follow-up. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: Of 1,407 patients with MDR-TB, 75 (5.3%) had extensively drug-resistant TB (XDR-TB(re)) by the revised definition; 159 (11.3%) had ofloxacin-resistant pre-XDR-TB (pre-XDR-TB(o)); and 117 (8.3%) had second-line injectable drug (SLID)-resistant pre-XDR-TB (pre-XDR-TB(s)). Patients with XDR-TB(re) showed the lowest treatment success rate (29.3%) and the poorest long-term survival, and XDR-TB(re) was more strongly associated with long-term mortality than XDR-TB as originally defined (hazards ratio [HR], 3.15; 95% confidence interval [CI], 2.06-4.83; P < 0.001 vs. HR, 2.15; 95% CI, 1.49-3.09; P < 0.001). Patients with either form of pre-XDR-TB showed poorer cumulative survival than those with ofloxacin-susceptible/SLID-susceptible MDR-TB (P < 0.05 for each comparison). Although streptomycin susceptibility did not affect the treatment outcomes of patients with pre-XDR-TB, streptomycin-resistant pre-XDR-TB was more strongly associated with long-term mortality than ofloxacin-susceptible/SLID-susceptible MDR-TB (HR, 2.17; 95% CI, 1.22-3.84; P < 0.008 for pre-XDR-TB(o); and HR, 2.69; 95% CI, 1.40-5.16; P = 0.003 for pre-XDR-TB(s)). CONCLUSIONS: The revised XDR-TB definition is appropriate for defining patients with MDR-TB with the poorest outcomes. Both pre-XDR-TB(o) and pre-XDR-TB(s) were independently associated with poor long-term survival in patients with MDR-TB. SM susceptibility was linked to better survival in patients with pre-XDR-TB.

Extranodal interdigitating dendritic cell sarcoma presenting in the pleura: a case report.

Interdigitating dendritic cell sarcoma (IDCS) is an extremely rare neoplasm arising from the antigen-presenting cells of the immune system. This disease usually involves the lymph nodes, and rarely, extranodal sites may be affected. The authors report a case of extranodal IDCS presenting in the pleura. A 32-yr-old man presented with progressive chest pain. Imaging studies showed diffuse pleural thickening with pleural effusion. Morphological and immunohistochemical analysis of an incisional biopsy of the pleura were consistent with a diagnosis of IDCS; tumor cells were positive for S100 and CD45, but negative for CD1a, CD21, CD35, B cell and T cell markers. The patient was administered chemotherapy, but died of progressive disease. Although its incidence is extremely rare, this case suggests that extranodal IDCS should be considered in the differential diagnosis of undifferentiated neoplasms and that immunohistochemical staining be performed using appropriate markers.

Long-term preservation, regeneration, and cultivation of Paecilomyces tenuipes (Peck) Samson (Ascomycetes), an entomopathogenic fungus inoculated into the silkworm larva of Bombyx mori.

Paecilomyces tenuipes reportedly have anticancer and immune activities, along with various other medicinal uses. Cultured products with P. tenuipes are certified for use in food in South Korea, and processed goods containing this fungus have been developed in many countries, particularly South Korea, Japan, and China. Research on mass production technology-procured raw materials for the manufacture of P. tenuipes is very important; however, cultures of the fungus have been unstable. This study identified stable cultivation conditions, focusing on growth inhibition and revitalization. Moisture regulation and preservation of pupae inoculated with P. tenuipes were used to control growth inhibition and revitalization. When inoculated silkworm pupae were dehydrated to 4% moisture and preserved freeze-dried or at -70 degrees C, -20 degrees C, or 4 degrees C, the mycelia in their bodies were able to survive for 14 d. Inoculated silkworm pupae were rehydrated for 3 h and the mycelia within their bodies were recovered at 94.3-96.3%. Silkworm pupae at 4% moisture were able to survive for 135 d at temperatures < 4 degrees C and for 1 y after freeze-drying. Optimal conditions for synnemata induction were 25 degrees C and 100-300 1x.

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. Delayed and timely treatment was defined as initiation of anti-TB treatment after and before the identification of Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex isolate, respectively. Factors related to delayed treatment, such as comorbidities, clinical presentation, and patterns of initial healthcare use, were collected. We analyzed whether delayed treatment was associated with all-cause mortality using a multivariate binary logistic regression model adjusted for age, sex, cardiovascular disease, and malignancy. RESULTS: In total, 55 (36.4%) patients had delayed treatment. The median length between the first medical visit and treatment initiation was 9 days. Compared with timely treatment, delayed treatment was associated with no initial visit to a non-pulmonary department [adjusted odds ratio (aOR) =10.49, 95% confidence interval (CI), 2.56-42.93] and absence of nucleic acid amplification test (aOR =7.54, 95% CI, 2.75-20.67). After adjusting for age, sex, cardiovascular disease, and solid malignancies, delayed treatment was significantly associated with all-cause mortality (aOR =3.79, 95% CI, 1.36-10.58). The most frequent possible cause of delayed treatment was the doctor's low suspicion of active TB disease. CONCLUSIONS: Given that delayed treatment is associated with worse outcomes in South Korea, targeted interventions to increase awareness on TB in the healthcare community are necessary for additional mycobacterial tests and consults of suspicious patients to TB specialists.

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. We retrospectively evaluated 410 patients with drug-susceptible pulmonary TB in a university hospital in Korea between 2014 and 2019. To evaluate the factors associated with cavitary TB, multivariable logistic regression was performed with adjustments for potential confounders. We also compared the treatment outcomes between patients with cavitary TB and those without cavitary TB. Of the 410 patients, 244 (59.5%) had non-cavitary TB and 166 (40.5%) had cavitary TB. Multivariable logistic analysis with forward selection method showed that body mass index (BMI) (adjusted OR = 0.88, 95% CI: 0.81-0.97), previous history of TB (adjusted OR = 3.45, 95% CI: 1.24-9.59), ex- or current smoker (adjusted OR = 1.77, 95% CI: 1.01-3.13), diabetes mellitus (adjusted OR = 2.72, 95% CI: 1.36-5.44), and positive results on the initial sputum acid-fast bacilli (AFB) smear (adjusted OR = 2.24, 95% CI: 1.26-3.98) were significantly associated with cavitary TB. Although treatment duration was significantly longer in patients with cavitary TB than in those with non-cavitary TB (248 (102-370 days) vs. 202 (98-336 days), p < 0.001), the recurrence rate after successful treatment was significantly higher in the patients with cavitary TB than in those with non-cavitary TB (0.4% vs. 3.0% p = 0.042). In conclusion, ex- or current smoker, lower BMI, previous history of TB, diabetes mellitus, and positivity of the initial AFB smear were associated with cavitary TB. The patients with cavitary TB had more AFB culture-positive results at 2 months, longer treatment duration, and higher recurrence rates than those with non-cavitary TB.