BACKGROUND: This study aimed to estimate the clinical outcome and identify the characteristics of a group of patients with pulmonary tuberculosis who completed anti-tuberculosis therapy with the First-line drugs in spite of having positive smear results with negative sputum culture results over the previous six months. METHOD: A retrospective chart review of 21 patients who fulfilled the above criteria between 1995 and 1999 was performed. The laboratory data as well as the clinical data of the patient with positive smear results and negative culture results over a six months period were reviewed. RESULTS: The negative conversion of sputum culture results was achieved within 1.3±1.2 months and the negative conversion of the sputum smear results was accomplished during 9.5±3.3 months. Chest X-rays at 5 months following the institution of anti-tuberculosis therapy from all patients revealed improvements. Four out of 21 patients(19%) relapsed during the follow up, 15.2±13.4 months after administering anti-tuberculosis therapy for 13.3±3.1 months. Relapses were confirmed from between 3 months and 4 months after the treatment completion. Only one of the four relapses had no past history of anti-tuberculosis therapy and the others had prior treatment twice (p<0.01). The period of anti-tuberculosis treatment was extended to a mean of 4.6±2.6 months in 12 patients. However, prolongation of anti-tuberculosis therapy had no affect on the relapse rate (odds ratio, 95% CI 0.18, 2.15). CONCLUSION: Prolongation of therapy with the First-line drugs is not necessary for patients with persistently positive smear results over 6 months and negative culture results. A patient who has had prior anti-tuberculosis therapy more than twice should be paid the closest attention.
Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Recurrence ; Retrospective Studies ; Sputum* ; Thorax ; Tuberculosis, Pulmonary

No abstract available.
Cicatrix* ; Contracture*

To assess the immunological function of toluene exposed group, the proportions of T lymphocyte, B lymphocyte, CD 4 cell, CD 8 cell, the ratio of CD4 to CD8 (CD4/CD8) in peripheral blood were measured on twenty-one toluene exposed workers and twelve healthy workers who did not have previous history of toluene exposure. In addition, to evaluate the present status of toluene exposure, urinary hippuric acid concenturations were measured in exposed group. The mean concenturation of urinary hippuric acid was 2.84 g/creatinine g in exposed group. The proportions of T lymphocyte, B lymphocyte, CD8 cell and CD4/CD8 of exposed group were slightly lower than non-exposed group except the proportion of CD4 cell which was similar in both groups. But these differences were not statistically different in both groups. The proportions of T lymphocyte and CD4 cell were significantly correlated with the length of duration in exposed group (P<0.05)
Lymphocytes ; Occupations* ; Toluene*

Os Subtibiale, inconstant bone over the tip of the medial malleolus, is the very unusual findings and extreme rarity of the condition. We experienced a case of Os subtibiale in a 24 year old man who complained pain and tenderness an the bilateral medial malleolar region. The patient was treated by excision with satisfactory result.
Humans

No abstract available.
Carcinoma, Transitional Cell* ; Urinary Bladder*

No abstract available.
Carcinoma, Transitional Cell* ; Urinary Bladder*

No abstract available.
Gastrectomy* ; Stomach Neoplasms* ; Stomach*

No abstract available.
Haloperidol* ; Homovanillic Acid* ; Humans ; Plasma*

A clinical analysis was done on forty-five patients with fracture of the femoral neck, who have been admitted and treated at our orthopedic department during the period of 6 years, from January 1975 to December 1980. The following results were obtained: Age over 60 comprised 60% of the patients. Male to female ratio revealed no significant difference, being 21 to 24. However, with advancing age, female was affected more frequently than male. The major cause of injuries were “fall or slip down” occuring in 33 patients (73.3%) and “hit by car” in 12 patients (26.7%). Of the 39 patients in whom Garden's calssification of fracture could be applied. Stage II was the most common type occuring in 29 patients (75%), followed by Stage N in 6(15.4%), and Stage 5 in 4 (10%). Of the total 45 cases, forty patients were reduced and fixed with multiple Knowles pins and two patients with Jewett nail. Three patients with neglected treatment of the fracture for over 1 to 4 months were treated with primary replacement arthroplasty of the femur in two and total hip replacement in one. Fractures were united within 3 months in 10 patients (23%), 4 to 6 months in 19 patients (45.2%), and non-union in 2 patients. Relationship between accuracy of reduction using Gardens alignment index and develepment of avascular necrosis was evaluated. Of the 27 patients with reduction in the range of 155 180 in both frontal and lateral views, 3 patients were developed avascular necrosis, and of the 9 patients with reduction of less than 155 in frontal view or greater than 180 in lateral view, 4 patients were developed avascular necrosis.
Agriculture ; Arthroplasty, Replacement ; Arthroplasty, Replacement, Hip ; Clinical Study ; Female ; Femoral Neck Fractures ; Femur ; Femur Neck ; Humans ; Male ; Necrosis ; Orthopedics

No abstract available.
Aneurysm* ; Carotid Artery, Internal*