• The Journal of Korean Medicine Ophthalmology and Otolaryngology and Dermatology
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• v.23 no.3
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• pp.202-215
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• 2010

Objective : This study was performed to investigate the prevalence of otolaryngology and respiratory diseases and characteristics of the outpatients who had visited Chuncheon oriental medical hospital which located in Gangwon province with the diseases. Methods : We analyzed data from 627 patients, who had visited to the Department of ophthalmology & otolaryngology & dermatology of Chuncheon oriental medical hospital from November 1st, 2007 to May 31th, 2010. The data were analyzed and demonstrated by age, gender, season, period between the onset of disease and the first examination, times of treatment, and treatment methods. Results : The results of this study are summarized as follows. 1. Among the 627 outpatients, male patients outnumbered female patients, and the most frequent age group was 0-10 year-old group(24.9%) and it is followed by 31-40 and 41-50 year-old groups. The majority of outpatients, 79.7% of them were from Chuncheon, and Hongcheon and Gapyeong residents were respectively 4.7% and 3.8% of the patients. 2. The shares of outpatients by department were 47.4% in Rhinology disease, 29.8% in respiratory disease, 14.5% in Otology disease, and 8.3% in Laryngology disease. The seasons with the most frequent prevalence by department were spring and winter for otology group, autumn and spring for rhinology group, summer and spring for laryngology group, and winter and spring for respiratory disease group. Overall, most outpatients had visited the hospital for 1-5 times or 6-10 times. Acupuncture and herbal medicine were the most frequent treatment methods that these patients received. 3. The most prevalent diseases were rhinitis, common cold, tinnitus, and sinusitis. The most frequently visited age groups for tinnitus and hearing loss were 41-50 and 51-60 year-old groups, and for rhinitis and sinusitis 0-10 and 11-20 year-old groups. Irritation in larynx was almost evenly prevalent among 31-40, 41-50 and 51-60 age groups. Regarding the period between the onset of disease and the first medical examination, outpatients with tinnitus, rhinitis, sinusitis, and irritation in larynx came to the hospital after one year since the onset and outpatients with common cold first visited the hospital within one week since the onset of disease. Conclusions : This study shows that the most frequent diseases were rhinitis, common cold, sinusitis, tinnitus, and cough. In order to do better treatment for these diseases in the future, there is a need to investigate long-term, multifaceted studies, connected studies with other hospital in Gangwon province.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.31 no.7
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• pp.692-696
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• 1998

For the management of a secondary spontaneous pneumothorax, videothoracoscopic surgery may offer the potential therapeutic benefits of a minimally invasive approach. We report on a series of 36 patients(33 men and 3 women) with a mean age of 56.3 years(range, 31 to 80 years) who underwent thoracoscopic surgical procedures for the treatment of secondary spontaneous pneumothorax. Twenty-one patients had emphysema and 20 patients had old pulmonary tuberculosis. Nineteen patients presented a persistent severe air leak more than 3 days preoperatively and 15 patients had more than one recurrence. Bullectomy or exclusion of the lesion was performed in 33 patients. Mechanical pleurodesis was performed in the entire patients, talc was sprayed in 22 and vibramycin in 14. Mild pleural adhesion at the upper lobe was shown in 10 patients and severe pleural adhesion in 7 patients. One patient with persistent air leak died of persistent air leak and respiratory failure. The mean postoperative stay was 7.0 days(range, 2 to 17 days). At a mean follow-up of 15.8 months (range, 5 to 45 months), no pneumothorax had recurred. In comparison with the result of the treatment for 112 patients with primary spontaneous pneumothorax, the operating time was not significantly longer and there were no more primary treatment failures, but the duration of postoperative chest drainage and hospital stay was longer. Videothoracoscopic surgery has proved to be an effective treatment for secondary spontaneous pneumothorax in elderly patients who represent high-risk candidates for thoracotomy.

• Journal of Korean Society for Atmospheric Environment
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• v.22 no.5
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• pp.564-573
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• 2006

This study was performed to examine the effect of particulate matter less than 10 ${\mu}m$ in diameter($PM_{10}$) on respiratory-related admission in Seoul, 1999. Daily counts of respiratory-related admission were analyzed by generalized additive model with adjustment for effects of air temperature, humidity, and day of the week as confounders in a nonparametric approach. The results follow associations between $PM_{10}$ and asthma, acute upper respiratory disease, acute lower respiratory disease, pneumonia, and chronic respiratory disease. The relative risks were 1.30(95% CI=1.14$\sim$1.50) for pneumonia, 1.18(95% CI=1.01$\sim$1.37) for acute lower respiratory disease in less than 15 years, respectively. The relative risks were 1.85(95% CI=1.22$\sim$2.81) for acute lower respiratory disease, 1.28(95% CI=1.04$\sim$1.57) for asthma, 1.25(95% CI=1.01$\sim$1.54) for pneumonia and 1.19(95% CI=1.01$\sim$1.41) for acute upper respiratory disease in 15 to 64 years, respectively The relative risks were 1.54(95% CI=1.15$\sim$2.08) for asthma, 1.38(95% CI=1.06$\sim$l.80) for chronic respiratory disease in more than 65 years, respectively. The study showed that $PM_{10}$ was considerably affects daily counts of respiratory-related admission in Seoul, 1999 Statistically significant associations were mostly found in the adult group like If to 64 years. The highly relative risks come out in the elderly.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.48 no.3
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• pp.383-387
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• 2000

Fat embolism syndrome is a rare but serious complication occurring mostly in patients with long bone fractures and occasionally in patients who have had an underlying disease. For example, pancreatitis, diabetes mellitus, alcoholic liver disease and connective tissue disease can be risk factors. The 44-year old woman with a sudden dry cough, blood tinged sputum, and exertional dyspnea visited the Korea University Hospital. Petechiae on her anterior chest wall was found. Chest X-ray and CT showed patchy opacities and multifocal ground-glass opacities in both lung fields. An open lung biopsy demonstrated diffuse pulmonary hemorrhage and intravascular macrovesicular fat bubbles. After conservative management, her symptoms and radiologic findings were significantly improved. A case of fat embolism syndrome without any known risk factors is reported.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.45 no.3
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• pp.536-545
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• 1998

Background: The studies on prediction equations of pulmonary function parameters for adults in Korea have been performed in a reference population mainly consisted of young and middle ages. So they included a relatively few elderly who conducted pulmonary function test frequently in clinic. We established prediction equations of pulmonary function parameters for healthy adults over 50 years old in rural area and compared this results with those of other studies. Therefore we attempted to consider normative values of pulmonary function tests for elderly in Korea. Method: Five hundred thirty-three women and men over 50 years old in rural area were participated. A "healthy" subgroup of 110 women and 32 men were identified by excluding those who had conditions that negatively influenced pulmonary function. We derived prediction equations for FVC, $FEV_1$ and $FEV_1%$ by multiple linear regression method from their age, heights and weights in each sex. Results: Prediction equations for FVC and $FEV_1$ in each sex were derived as follows Male; FVC (L)=0.02488Height(cm)-0.0269Age(years)+0.493 $FEV_1(L)$=0.01874Weight(kg)-0.0282Age(years)+2.906 Female; FVC(L)=0.02160Height(cm)-0.0192Age(years)-0.0125 $FEV_1(L)$=0.01720Height(cm)-0.0194Age(years)+0.3890 Prediction equations for $FEV_1%$ were not derived because $FEV_1%$ didn't have statistically significant terms. Comparing Predicted values that were calculated by substitution into the equations of various studies of mean values of age, heights and weights from this study, FVC and $FEV_1$ values in men of this study were lower than those of other studies. In women, FVC and $FEV_1$ values of this study were as similar as or lower than those of the study conducted for healthy elderly blacks in U.S.A respectively. Conclusion: We have got prediction equations of pulmonary function parameters which were driven from forced expiratory spirogram in adults over 50 years old in rural area. Predicted values of this study were lower than those of other studies which were conducted in Korea. So we consider that the study for spirometry reference values for elderly Korean using the method compatible with ATS recommendation need to be conducted more frequently forward.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.31 no.7
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• pp.679-683
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• 1998

From June 1995 to May 1997, we have implanted 52 Sorin Bicarbon mechanical valves in 41 patients. They were 16 men and 25 women, and their mean age was 47.4${\pm}$14.8(range; 18∼74 y.o.). 35(27 mm∼31 mm) were in mitral position, 15(19 mm∼25 mm) in aortic position, and 2(31 mm) in tricuspid position. 3 CABGs and a tumor excision were taken concomittantly. 35 patients were primary operation, and 6 were re-do operations. By intraoperative transesophageal doppler echocardiography, transvalvular peak/mean pressure gradient was 6.1${\pm}$2.7/2.4${\pm}$1.4 mmHg in mitral position and 27.6/10.7 mmHg in aortic position. The effective valve opening area in mitral position was 3.2${\pm}$0.6 cm2. Follow-up was total 508.6 patient-months, and mean follw-up was 12.7${\pm}$9.2 months. NYHA class was improved from 2.6${\pm}$0.6 to 1.2${\pm}$0.3 in average postoperatively. During that period, there was no operative death. 2 late non-valve related deaths were occurred. One was died of COPD, and the other was possible acute myocardial infarction. Among 7 postoperative complications, one valve related complication(minimal paravalvular leakage) was noticed. In conclusion, Sorin Bicarbon mechanical valve is believed one of the safe choice in clinical settings. It showed excellent hemodynamic and mechanical functions, and very low postoperative valve related complications in short term clinical experience.

• Journal of Internet Computing and Services
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• v.14 no.5
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• pp.69-76
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• 2013

The incidence of globally infectious and pathogenic diseases such as H1N1 (swine flu) and Avian Influenza (AI) has recently increased. An infectious disease is a pathogen-caused disease, which can be passed from the infected person to the susceptible host. Pathogens of infectious diseases, which are bacillus, spirochaeta, rickettsia, virus, fungus, and parasite, etc., cause various symptoms such as respiratory disease, gastrointestinal disease, liver disease, and acute febrile illness. They can be spread through various means such as food, water, insect, breathing and contact with other persons. Recently, most countries around the world use a mathematical model to predict and prepare for the spread of infectious diseases. In a modern society, however, infectious diseases are spread in a fast and complicated manner because of rapid development of transportation (both ground and underground). Therefore, we do not have enough time to predict the fast spreading and complicated infectious diseases. Therefore, new system, which can prevent the spread of infectious diseases by predicting its pathway, needs to be developed. In this study, to solve this kind of problem, an integrated monitoring system, which can track and predict the pathway of infectious diseases for its realtime monitoring and control, is developed. This system is implemented based on the conventional mathematical model called by 'Susceptible-Infectious-Recovered (SIR) Model.' The proposed model has characteristics that both inter- and intra-city modes of transportation to express interpersonal contact (i.e., migration flow) are considered. They include the means of transportation such as bus, train, car and airplane. Also, modified real data according to the geographical characteristics of Korea are employed to reflect realistic circumstances of possible disease spreading in Korea. We can predict where and when vaccination needs to be performed by parameters control in this model. The simulation includes several assumptions and scenarios. Using the data of Statistics Korea, five major cities, which are assumed to have the most population migration have been chosen; Seoul, Incheon (Incheon International Airport), Gangneung, Pyeongchang and Wonju. It was assumed that the cities were connected in one network, and infectious disease was spread through denoted transportation methods only. In terms of traffic volume, daily traffic volume was obtained from Korean Statistical Information Service (KOSIS). In addition, the population of each city was acquired from Statistics Korea. Moreover, data on H1N1 (swine flu) were provided by Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and air transport statistics were obtained from Aeronautical Information Portal System. As mentioned above, daily traffic volume, population statistics, H1N1 (swine flu) and air transport statistics data have been adjusted in consideration of the current conditions in Korea and several realistic assumptions and scenarios. Three scenarios (occurrence of H1N1 in Incheon International Airport, not-vaccinated in all cities and vaccinated in Seoul and Pyeongchang respectively) were simulated, and the number of days taken for the number of the infected to reach its peak and proportion of Infectious (I) were compared. According to the simulation, the number of days was the fastest in Seoul with 37 days and the slowest in Pyeongchang with 43 days when vaccination was not considered. In terms of the proportion of I, Seoul was the highest while Pyeongchang was the lowest. When they were vaccinated in Seoul, the number of days taken for the number of the infected to reach at its peak was the fastest in Seoul with 37 days and the slowest in Pyeongchang with 43 days. In terms of the proportion of I, Gangneung was the highest while Pyeongchang was the lowest. When they were vaccinated in Pyeongchang, the number of days was the fastest in Seoul with 37 days and the slowest in Pyeongchang with 43 days. In terms of the proportion of I, Gangneung was the highest while Pyeongchang was the lowest. Based on the results above, it has been confirmed that H1N1, upon the first occurrence, is proportionally spread by the traffic volume in each city. Because the infection pathway is different by the traffic volume in each city, therefore, it is possible to come up with a preventive measurement against infectious disease by tracking and predicting its pathway through the analysis of traffic volume.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.27 no.10
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• pp.1168-1175
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• 2017

Probiotics are usually defined as intestinal bacteria that provide healthy benefit to the host and may offer new therapeutic materials for the treatment of inflammatory diseases. Lactobacillus, Bifidobacterium and Enterococcus are known as typical probiotics. But, these bacteria have mostly a weak viability and thus decreased probiotics-mediated effects in the intestinal tract. Asthma is an inflammatory airway disease, which is characterized by the releases of inflammatory mediators including cytokine and IgE. They are mainly associated with the recruitment, activation and disregulation of specific inflammatory cells, especially mast cells, monocytes, T cells, eosinophils and neutrophils in asthma. We performed these studies as in vitro and in vivo test the human inflammatory cell lines and ovalbumin (OVA)-induced asthma mouse model. And then the inhibitory effects of Enterococcus faecalis whole extract on inflammatory responses were examined. For our examinations, the E. faecalis whole extract (Ef extract) was acquired from whole bacteria of E. faecalis using freeze/thawing after ultrasonication method. As results, OVA-mediated THP-1 cell viability was decreased by the treatment of Ef extract. In the asthmatic mouse model, Ef extract inhibited the infiltration of inflammatory cells into the inflammatory sites and blood. This whole extract may have anti-asthmatic effects associated with the regulation of IL-5 and IgE expression. It may also be a promising candidate in anti-allergic medicine for the treatment of asthma.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.45 no.4
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• pp.805-812
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• 1998

Background: Among the variety of opportunistic infections, pneumonia comprises the major morbidity in immunocompromised patients. Pneumocystis carnii pneumonia (PCP) and cytomegalovirus (CMV) pneumonia are common infectious illness of immunocompromised hosts. Although there are many reports regarding to the co-infection of PCP and CMV diagnosed by bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) fluid examination, the effects of CMV co-infection on the outcome of PCP is still controversial. The purpose of this investigation is to evaluate the effects of CMV detected by BAL fluid examination on the clinical course of PCP in the immunocompromised patients other than human immunodeficiency virus infection. Method: Ten patients with PCP were enrolled and retrospective analysis of their medical records were done. HIV infected persons were excluded. The PCP was diagnosed by BAL fluid examination with Calcofluor-White staining. CMV was detected in BAL fluid by Shell-vial culture system. Chest radiographic findings were reviewed. We used Fisher's exact test and Mann-Whitney U test for statistical analysis of data. Results: The underlying disorders of patients were idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (n=1), renal transplantation (n=4), necrotizing vasculitis (n=l), systemic lupus erythematosus (n=1), brain tumor (n=1), chronic myelogenous leukemia (n=1), unidentified (n=1). There were no difference in clinical course, APACHE III score, arterial blood gas analysis, white blood cell count, lymphocyte count, serum albumin concentration, chest radiographic findings and mortality between patients with PCP alone (n=4) and those with CMV co-infection (n=6). Univariate analysis regarding to the factors that associated with mortality of PCP were revealed that the application of mechanical ventilation (p=0.028), the level of APACHE III score (p=0.018) and serum albumin concentration (p=0.048) were related to the mortality of patients with PCP. Conclusion: The clinical course of PCP patients co-infected by CMV were not different from PCP only patients. Instead, accompanied respiratory failure, high APACHE III score and poor nutritional status were associated with poor outcome of PCP.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.60 no.6
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• pp.663-672
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• 2006

Background: $PM_{10}$(Particulate matter with a diameter ($<10{\mu}m$), which is characterized by different environmental conditions, is a complex mixture of organic and inorganic compounds. The Asian dust event caused by meteorological phenomena can also produce unique particulate matter in affected areas. This study investigated the cytokine produced by A549 epithelial cells exposed to particles collected during both the Asian dust pfenomenon and ambient air particles in a non-dusty period. Method: Air samples were collected using a high volume air sampler(Sibata Model HV500F) with an air flow at $500{\ell}/min$ for at least 6 hours. The cytokine messenger RNA(mRNA) was measured using a reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction(RT-PCR). The A549 cells were exposed to 10 to $500{\mu}g/m{\ell}$ of a suspension containing $PM_{10}$ for 24 hours. Each was compared with those in the non-exposed control cells. Result: The mRNA levels of interleukin(IL)-$1{\alpha}$, $IL-I{\beta}$, IL-8, and the granulocyte macrophage colony stimulating factor(GM-CSF) increased after veing exposed to $PM_{10}$ in the ambient air particles, compared with those in the non-exposed control cells. The increase in $IL-1{\alpha}$ and IL-8 were dose dependent at a $PM_{10}$ concentration between $100{\mu}g/m{\ell}$ and $500{\mu}g/m{\ell}$. The mRNA level of IL-8 in the A549 epithelial cells was higher during the in the Asian dust period($500{\mu}g/m{\ell}$) than during the non dust period. Conclusion: A549 cells exposed to the $PM_{10}$ collected during the Asian dust period produce more proinflammatory cytokine than during non-dusty period. This cytokine enhances the local inflammatory response in the airways and can also contribute to the systemic component of this inflammatory process.