• Korean Journal of Optics and Photonics
• /
• v.30 no.6
• /
• pp.243-248
• /
• 2019

The respiratory tract is an essential part of the respiratory system involved in the process of respiration. However, if stenosis occurs, it interferes with breathing and can even lead to death. Asthma is a typical example of a reversible cause of airway narrowing, and the number of patients suffering from acute exacerbation is steadily increasing. Therefore, it is important to detect airway narrowing early and prevent the patient's condition from worsening. Optical coherence tomography (OCT), which has high resolution, is suitable for observing the microstructure of tissues. In this study we developed an endoscopic OCT system. We combined a 1300-nm OCT system with a servo motor, which can rotate at a high speed. A catheter was pulled back using a linear stage while imaging with 360° rotation by the motor. The motor was selected considering various requirements, such as torque, rotational speed, and gear ratio of pulleys. An ex vivo rabbit tracheal model was used as a sample, and the sample and catheter were immobilized by acrylic structures. The OCT images provided information about the structures of the mucosa and submucosa. The difference between normal and stenosed parts in the trachea was confirmed by OCT. Furthermore, through a three-dimensional (3-D) reconstruction process, it was possible to identify and diagnose the stenosis in the 3-D image of the airway, as well as the cross-sectional image. This study would be useful not only for diagnosing airway stenosis, but also for realizing 3-D imaging.

• Korean Journal of Agricultural and Forest Meteorology
• /
• v.14 no.3
• /
• pp.99-107
• /
• 2012

There has been increasing number of patients with asthma, rhinitis, and conjunctivitis due to the atmospheric pollution and global warming. In this study, we investigated daily observed number of pollens to establish a standardized method for the impact analysis of the climate changes on the number of daily pollens in Korea. Daily observed allergenic pollens of trees, weeds, and pine were analyzed during the period of 1998 to 2010 (except 2006) in Seoul, Busan, Daegu, Gwangju, Gangneung, and Jeju. They increased in large cities including Seoul during the last 12 years and the long-term trend may continue in the future. Daily concentration or amount of pollens was highly correlated with weather variables. Positive correlation was found between air temperature and the pollens although different relationships existed for different locations. Chill days were utilized to estimate the length of the flowering or pollen period. The pollen period of trees was shorter in the field when the winter temperature was low. This approach may be utilized to determine the quantitative change in length of the pollen season in the future.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
• /
• v.71 no.1
• /
• pp.24-29
• /
• 2011

Background: The rising prevalence of asthma worldwide may be associated with the rising prevalence of obesity in developed nations. Although several studies have suggested a relationship between asthma and obesity, controversy still remains. The aim of this study was to examine the relationship between obesity and asthmatic factors such as atopy, eosinophilia, serum total Ig E and bronchial hyperresponsiveness in chronic cough patients. Methods: This study was a retrospective, observational study in two centers done between January 2007 and June 2008. The subjects included individuals who had a chronic cough. We examined body mass index (BMI) to measure obesity and pulmonary function. We did a metacholine provocation test for airway hyperresponsiveness (AHR), a skin prick test for atopy, and tests for blood eosinophils and serum IgE. Results: A total of 1022 subjects were included. Airway hyperresponsiveness was not related with obesity (p=0.06), and atopy incidence was significant higher in non obese patients (p=0.00). There was no significant difference in serum IgE and blood eosinophil counts between obese and non obese patients. Forced expiratory volue in one second ($FEV_1$)/forced vital capacity (FVC) was significantly reduced in obese patients (p=0.03), but FEV1 and FVC were no significant difference between obese and non obese patients. Conclusion: There is no relationship between obesity and bronchial hyperresponsiveness. The nonobese group appears to have more atopy. The relationship between obesity and bronchial hyperresponsiveness and atopy need further investigation.

• Proceedings of the KOR-BRONCHOESO Conference
• /
• 1981.05a
• /
• pp.4.1-4
• /
• 1981

The statistical study was done on 74 cases of foreign bodies in the air passages, who visited the department of otolaryngology of SNUH during recent 5 years from 1975 to 1980. The result was as follows, 1) Of the total 74 cases, 55 cases were male and 18 cases were female. The ratio between male and female was 3 : 1. 41.8% of all-cases were under 2 years of age, 75.5% were under 3 years, and 83.6% were under 5 years. 2) Major symptoms on visit were dyspnea, cough, cyanosis. No significant symptoms was noted in 6.7%. Initial physical findings were coarse breathing sound, decreased breathing sound, and stridor. No abnormal physical findings were noted in 10.8%. 3) 48.6% of total cases visited hospital within 24 hours. There was one case who visited hospital over 2 years later. 4) Initial simple chest film showed atelectasis in 25.0%, emphysema in 32.8%, definite foreign body shadow in 17.2% and within normal limit in 17.2%. 5) 60.8% of total cases were vegetables, 15.5% were metals, 16.2% were fish bone, and 2.7 % were others. 6) Vegetables were most frequent foreign bodies in the cases under 5 years of age. 7) 40.5% of total cases were lodged in the right main bronchus, 31.0% were in the left main bronchus, 9.8% were in trachea and 6.7% were in multiple sites, 8) Foreign bodies were removed by ventilating bronchoscopy in 82.3%, by tracheostomy only in 2.7%, by tracheal suction in 2.7%, by spontaneous removal in 1.3%, by thorachotomy in 5.4% and 5.4% of total cases were expired.

• Proceedings of the KOR-BRONCHOESO Conference
• /
• 1991.06a
• /
• pp.32-32
• /
• 1991

성대의 점막하 조직의 부종을 특징으로 하는 폴립양 성대는 음성의 남용 및 상기도에 대한 다양한 자극 요인들에 의하여 발생된다고 보고되어 있으며, 현재까지 부종의 기전 및 병태에 대하여도 혈괴의 유리화 현상(hyalinization), 또는 단순한 혈관의 투과력 증대 등의 논란이 많은 실정에 있어 치료방법 역시 학자에 따라 견해를 달리하고 있다. 이에 저자들은 폴립양 성대의 치료에 도움을 얻고자 최근 5년간 본 교실에서 경험한 폴립양 성대 34례(남자 18예, 여자 16예, 평균연령 53.7세)에 대한 임상 소견 및 저자들의 치료 성적을 분석 검토하여 다음과 같은 결과를 얻었다. 1. 측별로는 총 34예중 양측 23예(67.6%), 편측 11예(32.4%)이었다. 2. 동반질환으로 성대에 타 질환이 있었던 예가 9예(후두용 5예, 과각화증 3예, 성대마비 1예 ; 26.5%), 수면무호흡증 5예(14.7 %)이었으며 전신질환이 있었던 예가 4예(기관지 천식 2예, 폐결핵 2예 ; 11.8%)이었다. 3. 유발요인으로는 음성남용 7예(20.6%), 상기도감염 3예(8.8%), 흡연 26 예 (76.5%)이었다. 4. 공기역학검사 및 청각심리검사가 가능하였던 14예에서 최대발성지속시간이 정상이하이었던 예가 10예(71.4%), 발성율이 정상이상이었던 예가 9예 (64.3%)이었으며, 애성의 특징도 조호성(rough)이 10예(71.4%)로 가장 많았다. 5. 총 34예를 sucking technique를 적용하여 수술적 치료를 하였는데 음성이 호전된 경우는 32예(정상 15예, 호전 17예 : 94.1%)이었으며 호전되는데 걸린 평균 기간은 2.8개월이었다. 이상의 성적으로 보아 폴립양 성대는 국소 또는 전신적으로 동반질환이 많고 흡연 등의 만성 자극 요인이 있으며 술후 음성 호전에 걸리는 기간이 길어 보다 복합적인 측면에서 치료에 임하여야 할 것으로 사료된다. with such configuration.trap with 2.88[eV] deep of injected space charge from the chathode in the crystaline regions. The origin of ${\alpha}$$_2$ peak was regarded as the detrapping process of ions trapped with 0.9[eV] deep originated from impurity-ion remained in the specimen during production process of the material, in the crystalline regions. The origin of ${\beta}$ peak was concluded to be due to the depolarization process of "C=0"dipole with the activation energy of 0.75[eV] in the amorphous regions. The origin of ${\gamma}$ peak was responsible to the process combined with the depolarization of "CH$_3$", chain segment, with the activation energy of carriers from the shallow trap with 0.4[eV], in he amorphous regions.의 증발산율은 우기의 기상자료를 이용하여 구한 결과 0.05 - 0.10 mm/hr 의 범위로서 이로 인한 강우손실량은 큰 의미가 없음을 알았다.재발이 나타난 3례의 환자를 제외한 9례 (75%)에서는 현재까지 재발소견을 보이지 않고 있다. 이러한 결과는 다른 보고자들과 유사한 결과를

• Korea Journal of Hospital Management
• /
• v.25 no.4
• /
• pp.94-102
• /
• 2020

Purposes: The purpose of this study was to analyze the trends of hospitalization and emergency room visits of asthma patients over the three years in 25 districts of Seoul. And analyzed the relationship between preventable hospital service uses and number of clinics for asthma patients. Methods: Data was collected from a customized database of the NHI(National Health Insurance) for 2016 to 2018. The number of clinics means Internal Medicine, Pediatrics, Ear-Nose-Throat, and Family Medicine clinics. The hospital service means the number of adults admission for asthma and the number of total asthma emergency visits. This study used kappa analysis to assess the agreements of indicators between years, and structural equation modeling analysis was applied to analyze the relationship. Findings: The kappa value of the number of adults admission for asthma was compared between 2016 and 2017(kappa score=0.68), and was lowered when compared between 2016 and 2018(kappa score=0.26). And the value of kappa in the number of total asthma emergency visits due to asthma between 2016 and 2017(kappa score=0.51) was lower than that of between 2016 and 2018(kappa score=0.60). And the results showed that the number of clinics significantly negatively related to the uses of hospital services in asthmatic patients(β=-0.5, p=0.005). Practical Implication: This research could provide policy implications for strengthening primary care services that can contribute to the reduction of preventable hospital services.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
• /
• v.43 no.6
• /
• pp.1229-1238
• /
• 2022

Background: We present a case of asthma-chronic obstructive pulmonary disease syndrome (ACOS), which has features of both asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, in a 63-year-old man treated with Korean medicine. Methods: For four weeks of hospitalization, the patient received acupuncture, Guarujisil-tang decoction, and herbal steam therapy. The main symptoms of ACOS, which are dyspnea, chest discomfort, and throat discomfort, were treated with acupuncture. Guarujisil-tang decoction and herbal steam therapy were administered to relieve cough and smooth the expectoration of mucus. Results: By the end of hospitalization, no significant change was observed in lung function. However, the patient's subjective symptoms, including dyspnea, chest discomfort, sore throat, and sweating, were improved. The patient's objective sign of opaque yellow mucus changed to clear mucus after the treatment. His scores for the quality of life questionnaire for adult Korean asthmatics and the modified Borg scale also showed improvement from 42 to 62 and from 3 to 1, respectively. Conclusions: Although we reported only one ACOS case, this study is significant in that case reports of ACOS treated with Korean medicine are rare. Further study is needed to confirm the effectiveness of Korean medicine in patients with ACOS.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
• /
• v.51 no.3
• /
• pp.248-259
• /
• 2001

Background : In diagnosis or monitor of the airway obstruction in bronchial asthma, the measurement of $FEV_1$ in the standard method because of its reproducibility and accuracy. But the measurement of peak expiratory flow(PEF) by peak flow meter is much simpler and easier than that of $FEV_1$ especially in children. Yet there have been still no data of the predicted normal values of PEF measured by peak flow meter in Korean children. This study was conducted to provide equations to predict the normal value of PEF and correlation between PEF and $FEV_1$ in healthy children. Method : PEF was measured by MiniWright peak flow meter, and the forced expiratory volume and the maximum expiratory flow volume curves were measured by Microspiro HI 501(Chest Co.) in 346 healthy children(age:5-16 years, 194 boys and 152 girls) without any respiratory symptoms during 2 weeks before the study. The regression equations for various ventilatory parameters according to age and/or height, and the regression equations of $FEV_1$ by PEF were derived. Results : 1. The regression equation for PEF(L/min) was: $12.6{\times}$age(year)+$3.4{\times}$height(cm)-263($R^2=0.85$) in boys, and $6{\times}$age(year)+$3.9{\times}$height(cm)-293($R^2=0.82$) in girls. 2. The value of FEFmax(L/sec) derived from the maximum expiratory flow volume curves was multiplied by 60 to compare with PEF(L/min), and PEF was faster by 125 L/min in boys and 118 L/min in girls, respectively. 3. The regression equation for $FEV_1$(ml) by PEF(L/min) was:$7{\times}$PEF-550($R^2=0.82$) in boys, and $5.8{\times}$PEF-146 ($R^2=0.81$) in girls, respectively. Conclusion : This study provides regression equations predicting the normal values of PEF by age and/or height in children. And the equations for $FEV_1$, a gold standard of ventilatory function, was predicted by PEF. So, in taking care of children with airway obstruction, PEF measured by the peak flow meter can provide useful information.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
• /
• v.44 no.5
• /
• pp.1072-1082
• /
• 1997

Background : To characterize the clinical features and determine the prognostic factors of severe community-acquired pneumonia. This study is the first of its kind in Korea. Methods : Recruited were 40 patients diagnosed as severe community-acquired pneumonia in Hallym University Hospital from January 1, 1989 through July 31, 1996. Patients were analysed retrospectively for age, sex, underlying disease, respiration rate, hypoxemia, requirement of mechanical ventilation, involvement on chest radiograph, shock, and the serum concentration of BUN and albumin. All parameters were compared between survived and dead group. Results : Male to female ratio was 2.07 : 1. The mean age was $63.1{\pm}17.5$years(range 25~90years) with 65% of patients aged equal to or more than 60. The major underlying diseases were old pulmonary tuberculosis(12.5%), chronic obstructive pulmonary disease(7.5%), bronchial asthma(5%), bronchiectasis(2.5%), and diabetes mellitus(22.5%). Microbiologic diagnosis was made in 26 out of 40 patients(65%). The most common causative organism was S. pneumoniae(17.5%, 7/40) followed by S. aureus(15.0%, 6/40), K. Pneumoniae(12.5%, 5/40), M. tuberculosis(7.5%, 3/40), H. influenzae(2.5%, 1/40), coagulase negative staphylococcus(2.5%, 1/40), P. aeruginosa(2.5%. 1/40), E. cloaceae(2.5%, 1/40), and E. coli(2.5%, 1/40). M. pneumoniae was detected in no patient. The most frequent drugs administered in single or combination therapy were aminoglycosides(75%, 30/40), second- and third-generation cephalosporin(40%, 16/40 and 27.5%, 11/40), macrolides(27.5%, 11/40), and amoxicillin/clavulanic acid(22.5%, 9/40). Of the 40 patients, 14 died of severe community-acquired pneumonia(37.5%). Among them, seven patients (50%) expired within 72h of hospital arrival. According to multivariate analysis, mortality was significantly associated with requirement of mechanical ventilation, bilateral pulmonary involvement, and serum albumins$\leq$3.0g/dl. Conclusion : An understanding of the clinical characteristics and prognostic factors in severe community-acquired pneumonia identified in this study will optimize therapeutic approach in this disease and help decreasing its notorious mortality rate.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
• /
• v.47 no.5
• /
• pp.669-680
• /
• 1999

Background: Pulmonary thromboembolism(PTE) is a life threatening disease that needs early diagnosis. Spiral CT angiography depict thromboemboli in the central pulmonary vessels with greater than 90% sensitivity and specificity, which approaches the results of pulmonary angiography in the Prospective Investigation of Pulmonary Embolism Diagnosis(PIOPED) study. This study was performed to evaluate the findings and the diagnostic value(clinical utility) of the spiral CT angiography with 2D image(multiplanar reformation) and 3D images(Shaded surface display, Minimal intensity projection) in the pulmonary thromboembolism. Methods: We retrospectively analysed spiral CT angiography and pulmonary angiography, lung scan and clinical recordings of 20 patients who had PTE diagnosed by spiral CT angiography(n=19 cases) or pulmonary angiography(n=l case) from September 1997 to August 1998. Among 20 patients who had underwent spiral CT angiography, 14 patients could be performed lung perfusion scan at the same time. We analyzed the vascular and parenchymal change in spiral CT angiogram. Results: Anatomical distribution of PTE was as follows: 1) left lung(n= 103)