BACKGROUND: There is a well recognized interlaboratory variation in the results using the polymerase chain reaction(PCR) to detect the IS6110 sequence. The clinical utility of a commercially developed PCR test(Amplicor) in bronchial washings for detecting pulmonary tuberculosis in smear negative patients was evaluated. The sensitivity and specificity of Amplicor was compared with that of an in-house PCR test used for detecting the IS6110 sequence of Mycobacterium tuberculosis(M.tbc) in the bronchial washing fluid. METHODS: 66 patients whose sputum smear for M.tbc were negative or who could not produce any sputum were recruited from January 1999 to July 1999. They all had a bronchoscopy performed to determine if there were signs of hemoptysis, patients who could not cough up sputum, lung lesion that exclude pulmonary tuberculosis. Pulmonary tuberculosis was diagnosed on the basis of a positive culture or a response to anti-tuberculosis therapy. RESULTS: 19 patients with tuberculosis were identified and samples from 16 patients were later confirmed by culture. Bronchial washing for Amplicor PCR revealed a sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive values of 94.7%, 97.9%, 94.7%, 97.9%, respectively. Using IS6110 based PCR, the sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive values were of 73.7%, 87.2%, 70%, 89.1% respectively. CONCLUSION: Bronchial washing for Amplicor PCR proved to be more useful than IS6110 based PCR in rapidly diagnosing smear negative pulmonary pulmoary tuberculosis in patients where tuberculosis was likely to be differential and rapid diagnosis was essential for optimal treatment.
Bronchoscopy ; Cough ; Diagnosis* ; Hemoptysis ; Humans ; Lung ; Mycobacterium ; Polymerase Chain Reaction* ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Sputum ; Tuberculosis ; Tuberculosis, Pulmonary*

PURPOSE: In spite of various advantages of hyaluronic acid in wound healing, there are few research about wound healing process and period in oral and maxillofacial surgery. So, We evaluated the effects of local application of hyaluronic acid gel on wound healing of the oral mucosa using this animal model. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Young adult New Zealand White rabbits, weighting between 2.5 and 3.0kg, were used. Almost uniform round ulcerscould be created on the gingival of the rabbits by chemical injury with acetic acid. In experimental group, hyaluronic acid gel was applied daily until the wounds healed and in control group, ulcer lesion was not any treatment. The lengths of ulcers were measured the longest and shortest axes of the ulcers and calculated the areas of ulcer. For histological examination, specimens were made, and observed under a light microscope. RESULTS: The results showed that the number of fibroblasts, new blood vessels and the epithelial thickness from experimental group was higher than from control group. Hyaluronic acid promoted proliferation of the fibroblast, keratinocytes isolated from gingival tissue of rabbits in vitro. Topical application of hyaluronic acid accelerated healing of ulcers created in rabbits. CONCLUSION: The hyaluronic acid may be effective for wound healing of oral mucosal lesions.
Acetic Acid ; Blood Vessels ; Fibroblasts ; Humans ; Hyaluronic Acid* ; Keratinocytes ; Models, Animal ; Mouth Mucosa* ; Rabbits ; Surgery, Oral ; Ulcer ; Wound Healing ; Wounds and Injuries ; Young Adult