한국에서 결핵은 소위 후진국 병으로 인식되어 사라진 질병으로 여겨진다. 그러나 한국은 OECD 가입국 중 결핵 발병률 및 사망률이 가장 높은 국가로 결핵은 여전히 사회적 문제이다. 특히 결핵은 사회적 질병으로서 다양한 사회 ․환경적 요인들이 작용하여 나타나는 질병이기에 이에 대한 연구가 필요하다. 하지만 한국의 결핵 관련 연구는 생의학적 결정 요인 연구에 집중되어, 이외에 발병에 영향을 미칠 수 있는 사회 ․환경적 결정요인 연구는 매우 부족한 실정이다. 이는 결핵 발병의 생의학적 결정 요인과 사회 ․환경적 결정 요인을 통합적으로 분석하고 있는 최근의 세계적 연구 흐름과도 동떨어져 있다. 따라서 본 연구는 2015년 국내 결핵 발병률의 공간적 차이를 확인하고, 아이겐벡터 공간필터링 모형을 이용하여 공간적 차이에 기반한 결핵 발병의 사회 ․환경적 결정요인을 분석해 보고자 한다.

The Ministry of Environment established a data base platform called environmental statistic portal. From there we collected environmental statistics including sulfurous acid gas, fine dust, carbon monoxide, nitrogen dioxide, household waste, domestic waste, construction waste, the number of factories, the amount of waste water, the amount of organic matter, etc. We collected the number of tuberculosis (TB) patients from National Health Service in Korean Statistical Information Service. We consider the number of TB patients and environmental statistics as a dependent variable and predictors, respectively. A multiple regression analysis is performed to find out significant predictors that affect the number of TB patients. A deep analysis is done to discover the relationship between significant predictors and the dependent variable depending on national district areas, i.e. Gu or Goon, by use of a multivariate analysis and a covariance analysis.

Inonotus obliquus is a traditional medicine mushroom that was developed from traditional medicine originating in ancient. It has been applied for cancer or immunotherapy,but its effect on pulmonary tuberculosis is not reported. Therefore, we measured the pulmonary tuberculosis therapeutic effect of methyl alcohol extract from MGIT 960 system with fluorescent indicator. Inonotus obliquus extract showed 14 day more inhibitory activity than the positive control. In addition, the anti-pulmonary tuberculosis activity of Inonotus obliquus was 50㎛. These results suggest that Inonotus obliquus methyl alcohol extracts could contribute to inhibition of pulmonary tuberculosis.

Nontuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) often confounds the interpretation of skin test in tuberculosis diagnosis, resulting in false-positive reaction. And, NTM are emerging pathogens that cause opportunistic infections in both humans and animals. The prevalence of NTM on human disease has been well investigated, whereas that of NTM on animal disease is not well established in Korea. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of NTM on cattle, which did not have symptoms of tuberculosis disease. A total of 426 isolates were collected in Korean native cattle and dairy cattle from 2007 to 2010. The most frequently isolated organisms were Mycobacterium peregrimum (n=5, 28%), Mycobacterium fortuitum (n=3, 17%), Mycobacterium intracellulare (n=2, 11%), Mycobacterium phlei (n=1, 5.6%), Mycobacterium terrae (n=1, 5.6%), Mycobacterium llatzerense (n=1, 5.6%), and Norcadia spp. (n=1, 5.6%). It seems to be necessary to further study the prevalence of NTM on environment (water, soil, feces) as well as animals.

A paradoxical response in tuberculosis is defined as clinical and radiological worsening of previous lesions or development of new lesions after initial improvement during the process of anti-tuberculous treatment. The authors report on a patient who developed massive pleural effusion as a paradoxical response after 8 weeks of anti-tuberculous treatment. The patient’s symptoms were improved with thoracostomy without any change of anti-tuberculous medications. If symptoms worsen during the process of anti-tuberculous treatment, drug resistance, non-compliance, or other diseases should be excluded first. If it is regarded as a paradoxical response, the treatment plan need not be changed except for additional conservative treatment.