Notified Incidence of Tuberculosis in Foreign-born Individuals in Jeju Province, Republic of Korea / 예방의학회지

OBJECTIVES: In the Republic of Korea (ROK), the notified incidence of tuberculosis in foreign-born individuals (NITFBI) has increased recently, as has the rate of multidrug-resistant (MDR) and rifampicin-resistant (RR) tuberculosis in foreigners staying in the ROK. As Jeju Province in ROK has a no-visa entry policy, control programs for NITFBI should be consolidated. The aim was to evaluate the status of NITFBI, with a focus on the distribution of MDR/RR tuberculosis by nationality. METHODS: Data on tuberculosis incidence in individuals born in Jeju Province and in foreign-born individuals were extracted from the Korean Statistical Information Service of Statistics Korea, and the Infectious Disease Surveillance Web Statistics of the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, respectively. RESULTS: Among all notified incident cases of tuberculosis, the proportion of NITFBI increased from 1.46% in 2011 to 6.84% in 2017. China- and Vietnam-born individuals accounted for the greatest proportion of the 95 cases of NITFBI. Seven cases of MDR/RR tuberculosis were found, all involving patients born in China. CONCLUSIONS: In Jeju Province, ROK, NITFBI might become more common in the near future. Countermeasures for controlling active tuberculosis in immigrants born in high-risk nations for tuberculosis should be prepared in Jeju Province, since it is a popular tourist destination.

Notified Incidence of Tuberculosis in Foreign-born Individuals in Jeju Province, Republic of Korea / 예방의학회지

OBJECTIVES@#In the Republic of Korea (ROK), the notified incidence of tuberculosis in foreign-born individuals (NITFBI) has increased recently, as has the rate of multidrug-resistant (MDR) and rifampicin-resistant (RR) tuberculosis in foreigners staying in the ROK. As Jeju Province in ROK has a no-visa entry policy, control programs for NITFBI should be consolidated. The aim was to evaluate the status of NITFBI, with a focus on the distribution of MDR/RR tuberculosis by nationality.@*METHODS@#Data on tuberculosis incidence in individuals born in Jeju Province and in foreign-born individuals were extracted from the Korean Statistical Information Service of Statistics Korea, and the Infectious Disease Surveillance Web Statistics of the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, respectively.@*RESULTS@#Among all notified incident cases of tuberculosis, the proportion of NITFBI increased from 1.46% in 2011 to 6.84% in 2017. China- and Vietnam-born individuals accounted for the greatest proportion of the 95 cases of NITFBI. Seven cases of MDR/RR tuberculosis were found, all involving patients born in China.@*CONCLUSIONS@#In Jeju Province, ROK, NITFBI might become more common in the near future. Countermeasures for controlling active tuberculosis in immigrants born in high-risk nations for tuberculosis should be prepared in Jeju Province, since it is a popular tourist destination.

Multiplex PCR Based Epidemiological Study for the Causes of Acute Diarrheal Disease in Adults Living in Jeju Island / 대한임상미생물학회지

BACKGROUND: We attempted to determine the characteristics of diarrheal pathogens according to species, seasonal variations, and patient age using multiplex PCR for the epidemiologic study of diarrheal disease in Jeju Island. METHODS: From March 2015 to Feb 2017, stool specimens were collected from 537 diarrheal patients older than 16 years. Multiplex PCR was used to identify pathogens and found Group A Rotavirus, enteric Adenovirus, Norovirus GI/GII, Astrovirus, Salmonella spp., Shigella spp., Vibrio spp., Campylobacter spp., Clostridium difficile toxin B (CDB), Clostridium perfringens, Yersinia enterocolitica, Aeromonas spp., Escherichia coli O157:H7, and verocytotoxin-producing E. coli (VTEC). RESULTS: Pathogens were isolated from 221 of 537 samples (41.2%); 9.3% were positive only for viral pathogens; 30.2%, only for bacterial pathogens; and 1.7%, for both viral and bacterial pathogens. Bacteria were more prevalent in spring, summer, and autumn, but viral pathogens were more prevalent in winter. Overall prevalence were Campylobacter spp. (26.7%), Clostridium perfringens (23.9%); Norovirus GII (11.4%), CDB (8.2%), Aeromonas spp. (6.3%), Group A Rotavirus (5.1%), Salmonella spp. (3.9%), Astrovirus (3.9%), Norovirus GI (3.1%), Vibrio spp (2.7%), enteric Adenovirus (1.6%), Shigella spp. (1.2%), VTEC (1.2%), and Yersinia enterocolitica (0.4%). Group A Rotavirus and Norovirus GII were more prevalent in winter and early spring. Campylobacter spp., CDB, and C. perfringens were detected frequently, without seasonal variation. CONCLUSION: Bacterial pathogens are more prevalent than viruses in acute diarrhea in adults living in Jeju Island, especially in spring, summer, and autumn. Viral pathogens are prevalent in winter. Campylobacter spp., CDB, and Clostridium perfringens are the major pathogens occurring without seasonal variations. These data will be helpful in identifying diarrheal pathogens and for treatments and prevention strategies.

Foreignbody Removal Using Goose Neck Snare

PURPOSE: To valuate the value of goose neck snare in removal of foreignbody in endovascular system. METHODS & MATERIAL: Foreignbody removal in endovascular system using goose neck snare were done in 4 cases. In one case, a broken guide-wire was located in left subclaviar vein and in three cases, guide-wires were located in vena cava. RESULTS: Technical success was achieved in all four cases. CONCLUSION: Goose neck snare technique is safe and effective in removal of Foreignbody in endovascular system.

Assessment of Pulmonary Airway Reactivity using High-Resolution CT after Administration of Bronchodilator in Patients with Bronchial Asthma

PURPOSE:The purpose of this study is to assess the pulmonary airway reactivity in asthmatic patients directly and noninvasively by using high-resolution CT(HRCT). MATERIALS AND METHODS: 130 bronchial luminal areas were measured by HRCT in 16 asthmatic patients before and after inhalation of bronchodilator (Salbutamol sulfate). The change of bronchial luminal area on HRCT was analyzed and correlated with the change of forced expiratory volume in 1 second(FEV1) on pulmonary function test in each patient. RESULTS: The mean percentage of increase in luminal areas of the 130 bronchi after bronchodilator inhalation was 95.4 +/- 103.3%. The group with the smallest luminal areas (lesser than 1.35mm2) was more sensitively increased in area than the group with the largest areas (equal or larger than 3.72 mm2) ;183.5% versus 63.5%. The mean percentage of increase in FEV1 was 21.7% and there was no statistically significant correlation between the increased degrees of luminal areas and that of FEV1(r=-0.04). CONCLUSION:We can measure the bronchial luminal area directly and noninvasively with HRCT and can also estimate the degree of airway reactivity in asthmatic patient by measuring of the changes of bronchial luminal areas after administration of bronchodilator.

Superselective embolization of brain arteriovenous malformations using microcatheter: Evaluation of success rate and complications

Recently, accumulation of knowledge on cerebrovascular microanatomy and its hemodynamics and advances in interventional equipments, especially microcatheters, could make superselective embolization as well as for an adjunctive preoperative procedures The authors performed superselective angiography and embolization with Tracker microcatheter in 25 procedures out of 15 patients with brain arteriovenous malformations (AVMs). Complete embolization was done in 7 prtients (46.7%), nearly complete embolization in 6 patients(40.4%), and partial embolization in 2 patients (13.3%). The overall curative success rate of embolization was 86.7%. Five patients showed no complication at all. Mild complications, however, were observed in 7 patients (46.8%). Severe complications such as AVM or Tracker rupture were observed in 3 patients (20%). In conclusion, superselective embolization is and effective method for the treatment of brain AVMs, and multiple session embolizations could reduce the complication rate and increase the success rate.