• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.54 no.2
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• pp.191-198
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• 2003

Background : The pathological features in asthmatic airway remodeling are diverse. The aim of this study was to examine the degree of airway vascularity in relation to the other remodeling parameters in asthmatics. Methods : Bronchial biopsies were done in 34 asthmatic patients, and 6 control subjects. The basement membrane thickness and the subepithelial thickness were measured in the hematoxylin-eosin stained tissue, and the degree of vascularity was measured using type IV collagen immunostaining. Results : 1) Compared to the control subjects, the asthmatics showed a significant increase in the basement membrane thickness ($6.92{\pm}2.01{\mu}m$ vs $9.67{\pm}2.84{\mu}m$, p<0.05) and the subepithelial thickness ($44.49{\pm}31.92{\mu}m$ vs $121.22{\pm}72.79{\mu}m$, p<0.05). 2) Compared to the control subjects, the asthmatics showed a significant increase in the vascular area per unit submucosal area ($4.51{\pm}2.13%$ vs $10.32{\pm}6.08%$, p<0.05). In addition, the number of vessels per unit submucosal area showed an increased tendency without statistical significance. 3) In the asthmatics, the number of vessels and the vascular area per unit submucosal area showed no correlation with the basement membrane thickness, the subepithelial thickness, the severity, the forced expiratory volume in 1 second($FEV_1$), and the methacholine provocative concentration 20($PC_{20}$). Conclusion : This study showed that vascularity was an important parameter in asthmatic airway remodeling but it was not related to the other remodeling parameters such as the basement membrane thickness and the subepithelial thickness. Each of these asthmatic remodeling parameters may have a different clinical significance. Therefore, further studies will be needed.

• Pediatric Infection and Vaccine
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• v.30 no.3
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• pp.111-120
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• 2023

Purpose: Human rhinovirus (HRV) infections can result in lower respiratory tract infections (LRTIs). We aimed to investigate the characteristics of severe HRV LRTI in young children. Methods: Medical records were reviewed retrospectively in patients who were hospitalized for HRV LRTIs from 2016 to 2020 at the Samsung Medical Center in Seoul, Korea. Patients aged 90 days or older and younger than 5 years were included. Patients with co-infections with other respiratory pathogens were excluded. Severe HRV LRTI was defined as the following: the need for high-flow oxygenation, mechanical ventilation, or intensive care unit admission. Results: A total of 115 cases were identified. The median age was 17 months (range, 3-56 months) and the median hospital days were 4 days (range, 2-31 days). Of the 115 cases, 18 patients (15.7%) developed severe HRV LRTI. The median age was younger in the severe group compared to the non-severe group (9.5 months vs. 19.0 months, P=0.001). Of 18 patients with severe HRV LRTI, 11 (61.1%) had underlying diseases - chronic lung diseases accounted for the largest proportion (63.6%). Six patients (33.3%) required mechanical ventilation. Of note, 7 previously healthy children were diagnosed with severe HRV LRTI. Of those 7 children, 4 of them were diagnosed with asthma later. When the 115 cases were divided into previously healthy (n=60) and underlying disease (n=55) groups, severe courses of HRV LRTI were observed in 11.7% and 20.0% of children, respectively (P=0.219). Conclusions: HRV can cause severe LRTI even in previously healthy children as well as in children with comorbidities.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.47 no.3
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• pp.356-364
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• 1999

Backgrounds: Previous reports have revealed a high morbidity and mortality in fatal asthma patients, especially those treated in the medical intensive care unit(MICU). But it has not been well known about the predictable factors for the mortality of fatal asthma(F A) with acute respiratory failure. In order to define the predictable factors for the mortality of FA at the admission to MICU, we analyzed the relationship between the clinical parameters and the prognosis of FA patients. Methods: A retrospective analysis of all medical records of 59 patients who had admitted for FA to MICU at a tertiary care MICU from January 1992 to March 1997 was performed. Results: Over all mortality rate was 32.2% and 43 patients were mechanically ventilated. In uni-variate analysis, the death group had significantly older age ($66.2{\pm}10.5$ vs. $51.0{\pm}18.8$ year), lower FVC($59.2{\pm}21.1$ vs. $77.6{\pm}23.3%$) and lower $FEV_1$($41.4{\pm}18.8$ vs. $61.l{\pm}23.30%$), and longer total ventilation time ($255.0{\pm}236.3$ vs. $98.1{\pm}120.4$ hour) (p<0.05) compared with the survival group (PFT: best value of recent 1 year). At MICU admission, there were no significant differences in vital signs, $PaCO_2$, $PaO_2/FiO_2$, and $AaDO_2$, in both groups. However, on the second day of MICU, the death group had significantly more rapid pulse rate ($121.6{\pm}22.3$ vs. $105.2{\pm}19.4$ rate/min), elevated $PaCO_2$ ($50.1{\pm}16.5$ vs. $41.8{\pm}12.2 mm Hg$), lower $PaO_2/FiO_2$, ($160.8{\pm}59.8$ vs. $256.6{\pm}78.3 mm Hg$), higher $AaDO_2$ ($181.5{\pm}79.7$ vs. $98.6{\pm}47.9 mm Hg$), and higher APACHE III score ($57.6{\pm}21.1$ vs. $20.3{\pm}13.2$) than survival group (p<0.05). The death group had more frequently associated with pneumonia and anoxic brain damage at admission, and had more frequently developed sepsis during disease progression than the survival group (p<0.05). Multi-variate analysis using APACHE III score and $PaO_2/FiO_2$, ratio on first and second day, age, sex, and pneumonia combined at admission revealed that APACHE III score (40) and $PaO_2/FiO_2$ ratio (<200) on second day were regarded as predictive factors for the mortality of fatal asthma (p<0.05). Conclusions: APACHE III score ($\geq$40) and $PaO_2/FiO_2$ ratio (<200) on the second day of MICU, which might reflect the response of treatment, rather than initially presented clinical parameters would be more important predictable factors of mortality in patients with FA.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.55 no.6
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• pp.616-622
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• 2003

Leiomyoma of the bronchus is a very rare benign tumor of the lung. Leiomyoma is usually found in the young and the middle age. The symptom depends on the location of the tumor, it's size, and changes in the lung distal to the lesion. Obstructive symptoms due to leiomyoma could be similar to those of asthma and bronchitis, and therefore delayed diagnosis is common. The treatment of leiomyoma is conservative since there have been no reports of recurrence after limited resection. Recently bronchoscopic tumor resection has been applied to selected cases. We experienced two cases of bronchial leiomyoma initially misdiagnosed as bronchial asthma which were successfully excised by resection, end-to-end anastomosis and bronchoplasty. To prevent destructive changes of lung distal to obstruction and to preserve the pulmonary function, early diagnosis and appropriate treatment are important points of consideration.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.51 no.6
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• pp.585-589
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• 2001

Pneumoperitoneum, Pneumomediastinum, subcutaneous emphysema and a pneumothorax are some of the mechanical complications of bronchial asthma. The incidence of pneumoperitoneum during an attack of acute asthma is rare. The pathogenesis is free gas track from the overdistended alveoli, through the bronchovascular sheaths to the mediastinum. If the high pressure is maintained, air can escape retroperitoneally into the abdomen and burst into the peritoneal cavity. A 43-year-old woman was admitted due to a severe asthma attack. She was required endotracheal intubation and AMBU(air mask bag unit) ventilation. Immediately after these procedures, pneumoperitonewn, pnewnomediastinwn, and subcutaneous emphysema developed. She was treated with mechanical ventilation and medical therapy. The pneumoperitonewn was resolved after 27days. Here, we report this case with the review of the relevant literature.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.51 no.2
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• pp.181-187
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• 2008

Purpose : Asthma is characterized by reversible airway obstruction and bronchial hyperresponsiveness result from airway inflammation. Fraction of nitric oxide in expired air (FeNO) has recently been investigated as a noninvasive measure of airway inflammation. FeNO has been reported to correlate with induced sputum eosinophilia and methacholine challenge test that it is represent severity of asthma. The purpose of this study was to analyze the relationship of FeNO with pulmonary function tests in patients with intermittent asthma. Methods : Eighty children included in this study were diagnosed as asthma from April through August, 2005 in Department of Pediatrics, College of Medicine, Kyunghee University. They aged from 4 to 15 years who were able to conduct spirometry and FeNO monitoring. They did not have upper respiratory tract infection and did not use an asthma controller which contain corticosteroids within 4 weeks. Pulmonary function test was done and FeNO was measured with online tidal breathing method using a chemiluminescence NO analyzer (CLD 88 sp, Eco Medics, Duernten, Switzerland). The correlations between pulmonary function test and FeNO were analyzed using Spearman correlation coefficient method. Results : The mean of FeNO of subject was 16.88 parts per billion (ppb). The mean of forced expiratory volume in 1 second ($FEV_1$) was $0.890{\pm}0.455L$ and forced vital capacity (FVC) was $1.071{\pm}0.630L$. The mean of predicted $FEV_1%$ ($FEV_1%pred$) was $98.39{\pm}34.27%$ and $FEV_1/FVC$ was $88.53{\pm}19.49$. FeNO was significantly correlate with $FEV_1$ (r=0.345, P<0.01) and FVC (r=0.244, P<0.05). FeNO did not correlate with $FEV_1%pred$ or $FEV_1/FVC$. Conclusion : The measurement of FeNO could be a useful marker in the management of childhood asthma and it is evolving to provide a complementary role alongside existing pulmonary function test. We propose that measuring technique and establishment of normal reference range are important area for future research.

• Journal of Pharmacopuncture
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• v.6 no.1
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• pp.37-37
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• 2003

약침은 경혈에 약물을 주입하는 방법이다. 이 방법은 아래의 인자 (즉 약물의 효과와 침의 효과, 주입하는 용액이 침자리에 미치는 효과들) 덕택에 효과를 증강시키는 방법이다. 1970년대와 1980년대 초기에 베트남 전통의들에 의해 적용되어 좋은 효과를 얻었다. 적응증으로는 만성 관절염, 신경성 감각 이상증, 위통, 고혈압, 천식, 좌골신경통, 요통 들이다. 주로 쓰인 침자리는 배수혈과 복모혈, 원혈과 아시혈이다. 약물은 vitamin B1, B6, B12, novocain 2%, 염화나트륨 용액 0.9%에 한 침자리에 0.2 to 2.0ml씩을 주입한다. 때때로 진통제인 voltarene 이나 pervincamine, cerebrolysin을 쓰기도 한다. 치료 기간은 하루에 한 번씩 2주 이하로 하고 적어도 5일은 휴식을 한다. 약침의 위십이지장증의 진통효과에 미치는 영향을 검증하기 위한 예비실험 결과를 요약하면 아래와 같다. 베트남에서 약 전체 인구의 5.63%가 위산과다에 따른 궤양성 통증을 가지고 있는데, 이 예비 연구는 이들에 약침의 진통효과를 검증하고자 한다. 관찰 대상이 된 남자 41명, 여자 15명(나이 20-69세 사이) 이 모두 경증에서 중증도의 위통을 3-15년 동안 앓았는데 이들 모두 엑스 선 촬영과 위내시경으로 확증을 받았다. 관찰기간 동안 부작용은 없었는데 약침군은 26 환자로 Vit B1, B2, B6, novocain 2%, 하루에 한 번씩, 15일 동안 개별적 진단에 따른 침자리에 치료받았고, 대조군은 30 명으로 atropin 농도 0.25 mg/injection 도 근육주사를 하루에 한 번씩 같은 기간동안 받았다. 결과는 약침군에서 Good: 7.7%, Rather good: 88.5%, no response: 3.8%. (편역자 주: 발표 초록에서 대조군에 대한 결과가 빠져 있음). 결론적으로 약침과 아트로핀 주사가 모두 궤양성 통증을 완화시키는데 그 진통정도는 동등하다고 판단하였다. 약침의 진통효과가 오래 지속되었고 환자들은 부작용을 호소하지 않았다.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.24 no.3
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• pp.155-164
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• 2003

Objective : Recently questionnaires that reflect the quality of life (QOL) in asthma patients were developed. We aimed to identify the clinical effects of Gamipaima-tang and the side effects of Gamipaimo-tang in asthmatic patients. Materials and Methods : The subjects are consisted of 34 patients with asthma who had been treated with Gamipaimo-tang for four weeks. Gamipaima-tang is an herbal decoction which has been used as a traditional therapeutic agent for asthma. Pulmonary function test (PFT) was checked before and after 4-week treatments. Quality of Life Questionnaire for Adult Korean Asthmatics (QLQAKA) was checked before and after 2 weeks and 4 weeks of treatment. Results : Treatment with Gamipaima-tang for four weeks resulted in significant increase in FVC%, $FEV_{1.0}%$, PEFR%, and QLQAKA. The total efficacy rate in the patient group was 52.9% after 4 weeks. The total efficacy rate of the step 4 group (n=18, 55.6%) classified by Global Initiative for Asthma (GINA) was higher than that of the step 3 group (n=13, 46.2%) classified by GINA. Conclusion : This study shows that Gamipaima-tang has the effects of improvement of pulmonary function and quality of life in asthmatic patients. Obviously further research concerning this is still necessary.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.51 no.3
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• pp.323-328
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• 2008

Purpose : Asthma is defined as chronic inflammation of the lower small airways, and bronchial hyperreactivity (BHR) is a pathophysiologic feature of asthma. It has been proposed that although there is no direct variable capable of assessing the small airways, a forced expiratory flow of between 25 and 75 percent ($FEF_{25-75}$) might be considered a more sensitive early marker of small airway obstruction than the forced expiratory volume in 1 second ($FEV_1$). Thus, we proposed that the presence and degree of positive responses to bronchial methacholine testing were related to the difference (DFF) and ratio (RFF) between $FEV_1$ and $FEF_{25-75}$ in asthmatic children. Methods : The subjects were 583 symptomatic children, including 324 children with BHR and 259 controls. Pulmonary function tests, methacholine challenge tests, and skin prick tests were performed, and the total eosinophil count, total serum IgE, and serum eosinophil cationic protein level were measured in all subjects. From a concentration-response curve, the methacholine concentration required to produce a decrease of 20% from post-saline $FEV_1$ was calculated ($PC_{20}$). Results : The median DFF and RFF values decreased in controls compared to subjects with bronchial hyperresponsiveness, and this trend was found in groups ranked by its severity. $PC_{20}$ had a negative correlation with DFF and RFF. Cutoff values of 0.5 for DFF and 1.042 for RFF were identified, and sensitivity and specificity were calculated. Conclusion : This study revealed that DFF and RFF might be predictive of bronchial hyperresponsiveness in the context of normal $FEV_1$ in children.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.69 no.4
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• pp.265-270
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• 2010

Background: Psychological factors are increasingly recognized for their influence on the course of asthma, on a worldwide basis. The aim of this study was to assess the presence of depression, anxiety, and asthma-related quality of life in patients with asthma and to evaluate their impact on severity and control of asthma. Methods: We assessed the severity of asthma by comparing patients' current medications to GINA guideline. The patients were classified into the controlled group (asthma patients with controlled disease) or into the uncontrolled group (asthma patients with uncontrolled disease), which included partly controlled and uncontrolled patients, again based on GINA guideline 2004. Patient-reported depressive symptoms, anxiety, and asthma-related quality of life were evaluated using the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI), and Korean asthma quality of life (KAQLQ). Results: One hundred and twenty patients were enrolled (mean age, $55{\pm}1$ years; 65% women). Among the 120 patients, 14 (12%) patients were classified as having mild asthma, 88 (73%) as having moderate asthma, and 18 (15%) as having severe asthma. Eighty-one (67%) of the 120 patients were controlled. The asthma-related quality of life showed the difference according to severity of asthma (p=0.002). The prevalence of depression was lower (10% vs 26%, p=0.024) and the asthma-related quality of life was higher (59.951 (29~75) vs 35.103 (18~72), $p{\leq}0.001$) in the controlled group. Higher trait anxiety score and lower asthma-related quality of life were associated with depression (p<0.001, p=0.002, respectively). Conclusion: Psychological factors, such as anxiety and depression, are strongly associated with asthma control. Therefore, screening and management of depression is needed in patients with asthma.