Earticle

This study aimed to evaluate functional capacities of Cameroonian tu-berculosis (TB) patients in initial intensive phase of treatment using the 6-min walk test (6MWT) and to compare them to an age-matched healthy group. Twenty-eight TB patients newly diagnosed and 19 healthy age-matched peoples participated in the study. Performance parameters were determined using the 6MWT. Anthropometric and cardiorespiratory parameters were measured at baseline and after 6MWT. Two months later, TB patients were submitted to the same eval-uation. We found significant differences in anthropometric parameters between the two groups. The baseline cardiorespiratory parameters and performance characteristics of TB patients were lower than con-trol group (571.7±121.0 m vs 841.6±53.0 m, P<0.0001 for 6-min walk dis-tance (6MWD) and 18.1±2.8 mL/kg/min vs 24.3±1.2 mL/kg/min, P<0.001 for mean VO2 peak (peak oxygen consumption). Two months after, signifi-cant improvements were noted in anthropometric, cardiorespiratory and performance parameters except for bone mass and FEV1/FEV6 (forced expiratory volumes in 1 second/6 seconds) ratio. Significant correlations were found between the 2-min walked distance (P<0.0001, r=0.95), 4-min walked distance (P<0.0001, r=0.97) and 6MWD. In con-clusion, TB patients have impaired physical functional capacity but they improved after 2 months of treatment. 6MWT can be a useful tool in the assessment of physical parameters and cardio-respiratory functional capacity rehabilitation of TB patients during the treatment.

Tuberculosis is a major health problem in humans because of its multidrug resistance and discovering new treatments for this disease is urgently required. The synthesis of isoprenoids in Mycobacterium tuberculosis has been reported as an interesting pathway to target. In this context, 2C-methyl-D-erythritol 4-phosphate (MEP) pathway of M. tuberculosis has drawn attention. The MEP pathway begins with the condensation of glyceraldehyde 3-phosphate and pyruvate forming 1-deoxy-D-xylulose 5-phosphate (DXP) which is catalyzed by 1-deoxy-D-xylulose 5-phosphate synthase (DXS). As there is no X-ray structure was reported for this target, comparative modeling was used to generate the three dimensional structure. The structure was further validated by PROCHECK, VERIFY-3D, PROSA, ERRAT and WHATIF. Molecular docking studies was performed with the substrate (Thiamine pyrophosphate) and the reported inhibitor 2-methyl-3-(4-fluorophenyl)-5-(4-methoxy-phenyl)-4H-pyrazolol[1,5-a]pyrimidin-7-one) against the developed model to identify the crucial residues in the active site. This study may further be useful to provide structure based drug design.

본 연구의 목적은 치위생학과 학생과 타 학과 학생의 결핵(Tuberculosis) 감염에 대한 지식과 태도 및 예방 행위 사이의 관계를 확인하는 것으로 하였다. 일반적 특성은 백분율을 구하였고, 결핵에 대한 지식, 태도, 예방 행위의 관련성 분석은 상관관계분석을 실시하였다. 연구 결과 치위생학과 학생들의 결핵 감염에 대한 평균점수는 지식 13.56점, 태도 45.75점, 예방행위 41.75점 이었다. 타 학과 학생들의 결핵 감염에 대한 평균점수는 지식 12.93점, 태도 45.58점, 예방행위 42.01점 이었다. 두 그룹 학생들의 결핵에 대한 지식에서 예방행위에 미치는 태도의 매개효 과 결과, 학생들의 결핵지식은 태도에 영향을 미치지만 예방행위에는 영향을 미치지 않고, 태도는 예방행위에 영향 을 미치는 것으로 나타나 학생들의 결핵 감염에 대한 예방행위를 향상시키기 위해서는 지식과 태도의 조정이 필요 할 수 있다. 본 연구는 학생들의 결핵 감염 예방을 위한 교육 프로그램에 활용될 수 있을 것이다.

This article tried to define the relations between knowledge of tuberculosis infection, behavior and prevent behavior of the students of the department of dental hygiene and of non-dental hygiene. The data was collected from May, 2017 to June, 2017. Characteristics relative to variables were measured. As the result, in tuberculosis infection for the students of the department of dental hygiene, the average point was 13.56points for knowledge; 45.75 points for behavior and 41.75points for prevent behavior. In tuberculosis infection for the students of the department of non-dental hygiene, the average point was 12.93points for knowledge; 45.58points for behavior and 42.01 for prevent behavior. As the result of the study, the student’s knowledge of tuberculosis had the effect on behavior, but it didn’t have the effect on prevent behavior, on the other hand, it had the effect on prevent behavior. The result of this study may be utilized for an educational program for preventing tuberculosis infection of the students.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to identify the factors affecting tuberculosis prevention behaviors in North Korean adolescent refugees. Methods: From September 16 to October 8, 2019, a survey was conducted to collect data from 143 North Korean adolescent refugees aged 13 to <25 at alternative and general schools in Seoul and Gyeonggi Province. The scale developed by Park (2008) and adapted by Cha (2012) was used to rate tuberculosis prevention behaviors in daily life with the aim of preventing high school students from getting infected with tuberculosis. The collected data were processed through frequency analysis, descriptive statistics, t-test, ANOVA, Pearson’s correlation coefficients, and multiple linear regression, using SPSS 25.0. Results: The mean score was 13.65 for knowledge of tuberculosis, 44.23 for attitudes towards tuberculosis, and 41.33 for tuberculosis prevention behaviors. Significant differences were found according to gender, country of origin, duration of stay in South Korea, tuberculosis examination, pre-entry chest x-ray, education about tuberculosis, alcohol intake, and subjective health status. A positive correlation was found between knowledge, attitudes, and prevention behaviors. The factors affecting tuberculosis prevention behaviors were attitudes (β=.38, p<001) and subjective health status (β=.26, p<.001). Conclusion: It is necessary to provide attitude-based education that can reinforce positive attitudes in order to improve North Korean adolescent refugees’ tuberculosis prevention behaviors. This is expected to help them pay more attention to health care and become better at prevention behaviors. It is, therefore, necessary to develop a tuberculosis prevention education program with the aim of making them more knowledgeable about tuberculosis and providing them with systematic and sustainable education.

Background: The present study aimed to gather basic data for the development of an educational tuberculosis prevention program for prospective dental hygienists by understanding the level of knowledge, attitudes, and preventive behaviors related to tuberculosis for students in the Department of Dental Hygiene, who need preventive access to tuberculosis infection. Methods: The present study used a self-reported questionnaire on knowledge, attitudes, and preventive behaviors regarding tuberculosis, which was administered to dental hygiene students attending D University located in D city. Results: The average knowledge regarding tuberculosis was 16.17 ± 6.14, out of 30 points. Attitude regarding tuberculosis averaged 48.59 points (± 4.46), out of 60 points, and the degree of preventive behavior was 46.29 points (± 5.0), out of 60 points. Third year students ranked highest for knowledge regarding, attitude toward, and infection prevention behaviors of tuberculosis, compared to those in their first or second year (F = 7.20, p = 0.000). Those who had experienced tuberculosis themselves or with their relatives had higher attitudes toward tuberculosis than those who did not (F = 2.32, p = 0.02). Additionally, the higher the knowledge (β = 0.209, p = 0.004) and attitude (β = 0.425, p = 0.000) about tuberculosis, the higher the level of tuberculosis infection prevention behavior. Conclusion: Based on the results of the present study, it appears to be necessary to provide practical education to ensure that all students in dental hygiene are equipped with knowledge about tuberculosis, and that as a dental hygienist in carrying out dental hygiene management with a changed attitude, the act of preventing tuberculosis infection can be appropriately performed.

Purpose : This study evaluates the effectiveness of tuberculosis prevention and patient care program (TPPC) in the workplace. Methods : Using a one-group pretest-posttest design, we provided TPPC to small and medium-sized enterprises (N=59), and surveyed tuberculosis patient care, work environment management and workers’ perceptions of tuberculosis, before and after TPPC. Results : We found TPPC was very helpful to lower the prevalence of tuberculosis, increase the rate of follow-up examination of abnormal patients on chest X-rays, and improve the working environment including ventilation facilities at workplace. Also TPPC had a positive effect on workers’ perception of tuberculosis. Conclusion : By providing TPPC to small and medium-sized businesses, the blind spot of health care, it is possible to increase awareness and practice of tuberculosis prevention in the workplaces.

연구목적: 본 연구에서는 결핵에 걸릴 수 있는 잠재적인 인구, 사회, 경제적 영향요인들을 도출하고, IPA분석을 활용하여 충청남도 8개 시를 비교·분석하였다. 연구방법: 결핵에 잠재적으로 영향을 미치는 요인들을 인구, 사회, 경제측면에서 분류하고, 브레인 스토밍을 통하여 선정하였다. 그리고, 응용된 IPA 분석을 통하여 결핵에 영향을 미치는 잠재적 요인을 도출하였다, 분석된 결과를 토대로 잠재적으로 결 핵발생에 위험한 지역을 구분하고, 그에 따른 정책적 시사점을 제시한다. 연구결과: 분석결과, 논산시· 보령시·공주시가 결핵과 관련된 잠재적 위험도가 가장 높게 나타났다. 또한 잠재적 위험요인에 대한 빈 도수는 논산시·보령시·공주시가 6개 이상인 것으로 도출되었으며, 이 지역에 대한 적극적인 결핵 예방 정책 및 사업이 필요한 것으로 나타났다. 결론: 본 연구를 통해 향후 충청남도 결핵 관련 예방정책 및 사 업 추진시 잠재적 위험도에 대한 고려가 필요할 것으로 판단된다.

Purpose: In this study, potential demographic, social, and economic factors causing tuberculosis were identified, and eight cities in South Chungcheong Province were compared and analyzed with the IPA method. Method: The factors potentially affecting the prevalence of tuberculosis were categorized demographically, socially, and economically, and selected through brainstorming. Furthermore, potential factors affecting tuberculosis were derived using the revised IPA. Based on this analysis, areas with a potential risk of tuberculosis were classified, and the following policy implications were suggested. Result: The analysis found the three cities of Nonsan, Boryeong, and Gongju to have the highest potential risk of tuberculosis, and the frequency of potential risk factors in the above three cities to be 6 or more. Thus, an urgent policy response to prevent tuberculosis in these regions is required. Conclusion: According to the results of this study, it is necessary to take potential risk factors into account when promoting tuberculosis prevention policies and projects in South Chungcheong Province.

Purpose : This study was to identify the level of knowledge and attitude toward tuberculosis among workers in small workplaces and to analyze the factors affecting preventive action in an effort to effectively manage TB. Methods : The analysis was conducted on workers in small workplaces with less than 50 employees nationwide. The final questionnaire was distributed to 420 workers, and the final 354 respondents were asked. Of the 39 workers who responded poorly, 315 data were analyzed. Results : The average score of knowledge of TB in small-scale workplaces was 15.16 points, the average score of attitude toward TB was 44.23 points and the average score of preventive action against tuberculosis was 41.06 points. Factors affecting preventive action against TB include those who are more satisfied with the job than those who are not satisfied with the occupation, the industry is the service industry than manufacturing, the higher the TB knowledge and the higher the attitude toward TB The score of preventive action was higher. Conclusion : Through this study, it is necessary to establish measures to improve the job satisfaction of the workers because the score of the preventive action is higher as the satisfaction of the occupation of the small workplace is higher. The higher the knowledge level of TB, the more positive the attitude toward tuberculosis was, the higher the score of preventive action was. Therefore, positive attitude and awareness about tuberculosis were instilled and continuous education was provided by developing various types of educational contents suitable for each industry It is necessary to improve the level of knowledge and attitude and to be able to prevent TB well.

본 연구는 공적개발원조(Official Development Assistance: 이하 ODA)로 지원되는 결핵관리사업의 현황을 검토하고 지속가능에 영향을 주는 요소들의 의미를 기술하였다. 또한 결핵관리사업의 지속가능을 위한 공여국의 출구 전략을 위한 방안을 모색하고자 시도되었다. 문헌고찰을 통해서 결핵관리사업의 현황 파악 및 필리핀 내 ODA로 지원되는 결핵관리사업을 이해하였다. 총 14인이 연구에 참여하였고, 심층면담과 관찰법을 통해서 결핵관리사업의 지속가능 제한 요소들을 탐색하였다. 연구결과는 Colaizzi(1978)가 제안한 현상학적 연구방법에 따라 자료를 분석하였으며, 총 10개의 일반적이고 포괄적인 주제가 도출되었고, 유사한 주제끼리 범주화하여 최종 4개의 주제군으로 추상화하였다. 필리핀 내 ODA로 지원되는 결핵관리사업의 지속가능 제한요소는 “사업 인력의 제한점”, “사업 재정의 제한점”, “사업 시설·장비의 제한점”, “사업 참여의 제한점”으로 나타났다. 해결방안으로 “수원국 내 전문성 강화”, “교육 및 홍보 활동 강화”, “지역사회 구성원 참여 활성화”, “매칭펀드”를 제시하였고, 이는 공여국의 출구전략으로써 중요한 단서가 될 수 있을 것이다. 더 나아가, 향후 통합적인 결핵관리사업의 방향성 연구가 필요할 것이다.

This study was an attempt to review of tuberculosis control projects supported by(Official Development Assistance: ODA) and to describe the meaning of the influencing factors. Also, the study aims to determine the exit strategies of donor countries to sustain these projects. The research was conducted reviewing of tuberculosis-related reports and documents, and understood the tuberculosis control projects in Philippines. There were 14 people who participated, and explored the sustainability limits using in-depth interviewing and observation method. Data from interviews and participant observations were analyzed to the phenomenological method by Colaizzi(1978). A total 4 categories were grouped on the final. The finding shows factors that affect the sustainability of these tuberculosis control projects within Philippines supported by ODA have been divided and explained as follow; “limit of workforce”, “limit of finance”, “limit of facility and equipment”, “limit of participation”. To sustain these projects, the following alternative plans have been exemplified; “strengthening professionalism”, “strengthening education and public relations”, “activated strategy for community involvement”, “matching funds for financing”. Furthermore, the study of integrated tuberculosis control projects will be needed.

본 연구의 목적은 결핵환자 재입원에 영향을 미치는 요인을 파악하는 것이다. 결핵병동을 보유하고 있는 서 울소재 1개 공공병원에서 2012년 7월 1일부터 2012년 12월 31일 사이 결핵병동에서 퇴원한 환자 총 360명을 연구대 상으로 선정하였다. 자료는 ‘간호정보조사지’에서 추출하거나 병원 의무기록부서의 ‘퇴원분석정보 DB’를 활용하였다. 연구결과 직업이 없을 때, 의료급여가입자, 월 10일 이내로 술을 마실 때, 입원경로가 직접내원일 때, 주보호자가 환 자의 배우자일 때, 자의퇴원일 때, 폐결핵이 아닌 다른 호흡기계 질환이 주진단인 경우에 재입원 가능성이 더 높은 것으로 확인되었다. 따라서 처음 결핵환자가 입원했을 때부터 이 경우에 해당하는 환자에 대해 집중적으로 중재를 실시한다면 재입원을 보다 효과적으로 줄일 수 있을 것으로 사료된다.

This study is aimed at understanding the factors affecting rehospitalization of a tuberculosis patient. In a public hospital with a tuberculosis ward in Seoul, the data of 360 patients who discharged the hospital from July 1, 2012 to December 31, 2012. Data was selected from ‘nursing information survey’ or ‘discharge analysis DB’ of the department of medical records. The possibility of rehospitalization was higher in the group with those who has no job, those with medical care assistant than with health insurance, drinks about 10 times a month, personally came to the hospital, main guardian is the patient’s spouse, have discharged from hospital against the doctor's advise, and principle diagnosis is not a pulmonary tuberculosis but the other respiratory disease. Therefore, it is expected that the possibility of rehospitalization would be effectively reduced if an intensive intervention is taken on the first hospitalized patients who have the features described above.

Background: Tuberculosis (TB) is an infectious disease caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis that can affect many organs of the body but usually affects the lungs. The prevalence of TB in Korea is considerably higher than that in other countries with similar economic levels, and is much higher in elderly people. Pharmacotherapy is important in the treatment of TB and requires relatively high compliance for a prolonged duration. Methods: We analyzed sample data of elderly patients obtained from the Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service. We used logistic regression analysis and frequency analysis to identify factors that could affect prevalence of TB in elderly patients, compliance with prescribed medication regimes in these patients, and use of medical institutions. Korean Standard Classification of Diseases, version 7 (KCD-7) was used to diagnose pulmonary TB, and medications were analyzed using Korean standardized drug classification codes. Results: 1,276,331 patients were analyzed in the sample of the elderly population, and 16,658 TB patients were included in the study. The mean age of the TB patients was 76.19 years (SD 6.899). A total of 699 patients were prescribed isoniazid, rifampicin, ethambutol, or pyrazinamide at least once. Of these, 352 (50.4%) were prescribed all four medications and 101 (14.4%) were prescribed only isoniazid, rifampicin, and ethambutol. The mean duration of prescription was 28.75 days (SD 36.13). Conclusion: In the elderly population, old age and poor socioeconomic conditions correlated with TB prevalence. Most patients did not meet the criteria for effective pharmacotherapy of TB.

헬스커뮤니케이션에서 위험인식 및 효능감은 예방행동을 결정짓는 주요 개념들이다. 본 연구에서는 위험인식의 두 가지 수준을 분류하여 각 위험인식이 효능감 변인들의 수 준에 따라 예방행위 의도에 어떠한 영향을 미치는지를 살펴보았다. 기존의 연구들은 위험 인식을 둘러싼 미디어·커뮤니케이션의 내용, 유형, 프로그램 등에 초점을 두었다. 그러 나 본 연구는 결핵에 대한 개인적·사회적 수준의 위험인식이 예방행동 의도에 끼치는 영향력이 개인적·집단적 수준의 효능감에 의해 조절되는지를 검증하고자 하였다. 이를 위해 편의표집된 대학생들을 대상으로 설문조사를 실시하였다. 분석 결과를 통해 사회적 수준의 결핵 위험인식이 개인적 수준의 결핵 위험인식보다 예방행위 의도에 더 큰 영향 력을 확인하였으며, 자기·반응집단 효능감 모두 예방행위 의도에 유의미한 영향력을 입 증하였다. 위계적 다중조절회귀분석을 실시하여 예방행위 의도에 대하여 개인적 수준의 위험인식이 미치는 영향력은 자기·반응 효능감에 조절되지 못함을 검증하였다. 그러나 예방행위 의도에 사회적 수준의 위험인식이 미치는 영향은 집단 효능감에 의해 조절되는 경향을 밝혔다. 즉, 집단 효능감이 높은 집단은 그렇지 못한 집단보다 사회적 수준의 위 험인식이 예방행위 의도에 더욱 영향을 끼칠 수 있다. 본 연구의 이론적·실무적 시사점 은 헬스커뮤니케이션 학자들과 실무가들이 감염병 예방 캠페인 전략 개발에 위험인식 및 효능감을 보다 효과적으로 사용해야 한다는 사실이다. 특히, 위험인식의 개인적·사회적 수준을 이해함으로써 각 수준에 맞는 캠페인 타겟층의 효능감을 파악해야 할 것이다.

In health communication research perceived risk and efficacy beliefs are thought to be significant concepts. This study aimed to explore whether risk perceptions could affect preventive behavioral intent according to the levels of efficacy beliefs variables by categorizing risk perceptions into the personal vs societal level. Past research focused on the contents, types, and programs of media and communication regarding risk perception. However, the study examined whether the personal- and societal-level risk perceptions of TB on preventive behavioral intent could be moderated by the personal and collective level of efficacy beliefs. To this end the study used a survey method with a convenience sample of undergraduate students in Korea. Results found that the effect of societal-level risk perception on the TB preventive behavioral intent would be more likely to occur than the personal-level risk perception, while both self and response efficacy beliefs significantly affected the behavioral intent. Moreover, hierarchical moderated multiple regression analyses revealed that the impact of personal-level risk perception on the behavioral intent was not moderated by self and response efficacy, whereas the impact of societal-level risk perception was significantly moderated by collective efficacy. That is, for those with high perceived collective efficacy, the societal-level risk perception is more likely to affect the preventive behavioral intent, compared to those with low perceived collective efficacy. The study suggests theoretical and practical implications that health communication scholars and practitioners should more effectively utilize risk perceptions and efficacy beliefs to develop infectious diseases prevention campaign strategies. In particular, they need to figure out the proper level of efficacy beliefs of campaign target audiences by identifying the personal- and societal-level risk perception.

본 연구의 목적은 현재 질병관리본부에서 사용하고 있는 건강보험 청구자료 기반의 결핵환자 분류기준을 고 도화하여 보다 효과적인 결핵환자감시체계의 토대를 제공하기 위해 수행되었다. 이를 위해 건강보험심사평가원의 2009 년 1년간 결핵상병으로 청구된 81,199명 중 10%인 8,118명을 표본추출한 후 실제 결핵환자인지에 대해서 의무기 록 조사를 실시하여 조사가 완료되고, 국민건강보험공단 건강보험청구 자료와 매칭이 완료된 7,132명을 최종 분석대 상자로 하였다. 결핵환자분류를 위한 모형을 개발하여 평가한 결과 결핵과 관련된 임상전문가 의견과 통계적 분류 알 고리즘이 종합적으로 고려된 의사결정나무모형이 가장 우수한 모형으로 평가되었다. 의사결정나무 모형에 따른 결핵 분류모형의 주요 독립변수는 연령, 최초 청구시점의 결핵약제 종류수, 최초 청구시점의 이용 의료기관 유형, 최초 청 구시점의 청구결핵검사 종류, 2008년 결핵약 투약일수, 최초 청구시점 결핵약제 투약일수, 최초 청구시점 결핵상병 종 류로 나타났다. 이 모형의 향상도는 최고 11.8이였으며, 개발된 모형에서 분류된 1~5유형까지 적용하여 청구된 자료 중 결핵이 아님을 예측할 경우, 민감도는 90.6%, 양성예측도는 96.1%, 정분류율은 87.6%로 나타나, 현재 질병관리본 부에서 사용하는 청구2회 이상, 약제 2제 이상 모형(민감도 82.6%, 양성예측도 95%, 정분류율 80%)보다 우수한 모형 인 것으로 나타났다.

The aim of this study was to enhance the NHI claims data-based tuberculosis classification rule of KCDC(Korea centers for disease control & prevention) for an effective TB surveillance system. 8,118 cases, 10% samples of 81,199 TB cases from NHI claims data during 2009, were subject to the Medical Record Survey about whether they are real TB patients. The final study population was 7,132 cases whose medical records were surveyed. The decision tree model was evaluated as the most superior TB patients detection model. This model required the main independent variables of age, the number of anti-tuberculosis drugs, types of medical institution, tuberculosis tests, prescription days, types of TB. This model had sensitivity of 90.6%, PPV of 96.1%, and correct classification rate of 93.8%, which was better than KCDC's TB detection model with two or more NHI claims for TB and TB drugs(sensitivity of 82.6%, PPV of 95%, and correct classification rate of 80%)

Lymphedema, a chronic disease that lowers patients’ quality of life, is categorized as primary or secondary. Secondary lymphedema can be improved by treating the underlying cause. However, in many cases, efforts are not made to identify the primary cause of lymphedema and treatment is targeted at the edema itself, resulting in misdiagnosis. Here, we describe the case of a 61-year-old man with right leg edema of unknown cause that had persisted for 3 years. Intestinal tuberculosis was confirmed during a re-evaluation of the cause, and his symptoms improved after anti-tuberculous treatment. This improvement was assessed qualitatively by indocyanine green lymphography before and after treatment, as well as by observation of the clinical symptoms. Lower extremity lymphedema caused by intestinal tuberculosis is extremely rare, and this case reveals the importance of continuing to identify the causes of resistant pathologies.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was by understanding the correlation between the depression, social support and self-care of tuberculosis patients and by identifying the factors that influence the self-care. Methods: The study subjects were 119 outpatients who were diagnosed with pulmonary and respiratory tuberculosis at a university hospital in D city. The survey questions measured depression, social support, self-care. Using the SPSS/WIN 23.0 program, the collected data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, t-test, ANOVA, Pearson's correlations and multiple regression analysis. Results: As a result of correlation analysis, there was a statistically significant negative correlation between self-care and depression (r=-.53, p<.001), and there was a significant positive correlation between self-care and social support (r=.68, p<.001). Factors affecting self-care of the subjects were social support (β=.51, p<.001), depression (β=-.32, p<.001), drug discontinuation experience (β=-.30, p<.001) and drug resistance (β=-.14, p<.001). These factors explained 62% of the variance. Conclusion: In order to improve the self-care ability of tuberculosis patients, it is necessary to develop education and nursing intervention programs that can lower patients' depression and strengthen social support.

Purpose: This study aimed to assess factors associated with compliance and non-compliance among patients with tuberculosis (TB).Methods: A descriptive correlational study was conducted at the outpatient clinics of Abbassia Chest Hospital in Cairo, Egypt. A sample of 80 patients with TB who had been prescribed treatment regimens was recruited. Patients were interviewed using a structured form with fixed response options to identify factors associated with treatment compliance or non-compliance.Results: A significantly higher proportion of non-compliant patients (72.5%) experienced severe symptoms compared with patients in the compliant group (30.0%). Furthermore, most compliant patients (82.5%) demonstrated satisfactory overall knowledge of pulmonary TB, whereas only about half (52.5%) of patients in the non-compliant group did. This difference in knowledge level was statistically significant and was associated with treatment adherence. Among compliant patients, knowledge levels were also significantly influenced by age, sex, education, and employment status, a pattern that was not observed in the non-compliant group. Conclusion: Key factors associated with non-compliance included insufficient income to support treatment, lack of home support for treatment regulation, and decreased motivation to improve health. These findings underscore the need for targeted patient education and counselling programs to increase disease awareness and improve treatment adherence among patients with TB.

Purpose Our study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of the nursing care program on the incidence and rate of 28-day hospital readmissions among pulmonary tuberculosis (TB) patients. Methods We conducted a quasi-experimental study using a historical control (usual care) group. Patients diagnosed with pulmonary TB who received nursing interventions between January 28, 2021, and May 31, 2021, were categorized as an intervention group, whereas historical controls were selected from January 1, 2020, to December 31, 2020. The primary outcomes were the incidence and rates of hospital readmissions within 28 days due to TB-related complications. The secondary outcome was the change in knowledge and self-care behavior scores at discharge and 28 days postdischarge. Cox models were used to assess the intervention's impact on the incidence of hospital readmission. Rates of readmission were compared by the Poisson model. Both Cox and Poisson models were adjusted for age, sex, sputum smears at diagnosis, serum albumin level, and diabetes mellitus at baseline. Results Among 104 pulmonary TB patients included in the analysis (68 were in a historical control group and 36 were in an intervention group), 20 patients were readmitted due to TB-related complications. We found that our nursing care program resulted in a significant reduction in the incidence (adjusted hazard ratio was 0.16 [95% CI 0.03, 0.87]) and the rate of hospital readmissions (adjusted incidence rate ratio was 0.22 [95% CI 0.06, 0.85]). Furthermore, nursing interventions significantly improved knowledge and self-care behavior scores with significant score retention at 28 days postdischarge. Conclusions The nursing care program can significantly decrease the incidence and rate of 28-day hospital readmission and improve knowledge and self-care behavior scores in pulmonary TB patients.

Tuberculous meningoencephalitis (TM) is an acute, progressive form of tuberculosis (TB). The epidemiology, clinical signs, and diagnosis of TB are well established, but several atypical forms of tuberculous spinal arachnoiditis can be easily misdiagnosed. We report a rare case of TM with cauda equina arachnoiditis diagnosed by magnetic resonance imaging and an electrodiagnostic study. A 26-year-old otherwise healthy male patient experienced fever, headache, gait disturbance, and bladder and bowel incontinence. Needle electromyography (EMG) recordings were suggestive of bilateral diffuse lumbar and lumbosacral polyradiculopathy, and the pudendal sensory-evoked potential and bulbocavernosus reflex latencies were prolonged. Lumbar arachnoiditis is a rare clinical condition that warrants a heightened index of suspicion. It has diverse etiologies and symptoms, and it can lead to potentially serious and irreversible disorders. This case illustrates the usefulness of nerve conduction, EMG, and pudendal sensory-evoked potential and bulbocavernosus reflex latency studies in the diagnosis of cauda equina syndrome induced by TB arachnoiditis.

Regression analysis is one of the most widely utilized methods because of its adaptability and simplicity. Recently, the machine learning (ML) approach, which is one aspect of regression methods, has been gaining attention from researchers, including social science, but there are only a few studies that compared the traditional approaches with the ML approach. This study was conducted to explore the usefulness of the ML approach by comparing the ordinary least square estimate (OLS), the stochastic gradient descent algorithm (SGD), and the support vector regression (SVR) with a model predicting and explaining the tuberculosis screening intention. The optimized models were evaluated by four aspects: computational speed, effect and importance of individual predictor, and model performance. The result demonstrated that each model yielded a similar direction of effect and importance in each predictor, and the SVR with the radial kernel had the finest model performance compared to its computational speed. Finally, this study discussed the usefulness and attentive points of the ML approach when a researcher utilizes it in the field of communication.

Staphylococcus infection was the most common organism found in in-fection of athletics, and tuberculosis (TB) was rare. Although genitouri-nary tuberculosis (GUTB) was the most common subtype of extrapul-monary tuberculosis (EPTB) in the past, it was recently reported to ac-count for less than 0.5% of all patients with EPTB and 1.5% of all patients with pulmonary tuberculosis (TB). And, there are few cases reported about concomitant tuberculous infection of testis and prostate. Pubic pain is a common symptom in soccer player and its cause can be diffi-cult to determine. A 25-yr-old male soccer player presented with per-sistent pubic pain of unknown origin. Incidentally, right testicular mass was detected on physical examination. Computed tomography revealed a multiple enlarged retroperitoneal lymph nodes. Under the clinical di-agnosis of a right testicular tumor, right radical inguinal orchiectomy was performed. And prostate biopsy was performed due to elevated serum prostate specific antigen (PSA). Pathologic examination confirmed con- comitant TB of testis and prostate.