• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• 제48권5호
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• pp.461-468
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• 2005

The major function of immune system is to protect infections. The immune systems are composed of innate and adaptive immunity. In adaptive immunity, the cellular and humoral components interact each other. Neonates and infants are infected frequently, because immune systems are naive and easy to expose to infectious agents. The complete history and physical examination is essential to evaluate the child with recurrent infections. The environmental risk factors of recurrent infections are day care center, cigarette smoke, and air pollution. The underlying diseases such as immunodeficiency, autoimmune diseases, allergy, and disorders of anatomy or physiology increase the susceptibility to infections. In immunodeficiency, infections are characterized by severe, chronic, recurrent, and unusual microbial agents infection. The defects of antibody production are susceptible to sinopulmonary bacterial infections. T cells defects are vulerable to numerous organisms such as virus, fungi, bacteria and etc. The screening tests for immune functions are the quantitative and qualitative measurements of each immune components. A complete blood count with white blood cell, differential, and platelet provide quantitative informations of immune components. Total complement and immunoglobulin levels represent the humoral component. Antibody levels of previously injected vaccines also provide informations of the antigen specific antibody immune responses. T cell and subsets count is quantitative measurement of cell mediated immunity. Delayed hypersensitivity skin test is a crude measurement of T cell function. The long term outcome of children with recurrent infections is completely dependent on the underlying diseases, the initial time of diagnosis and therapy, continued management, and genetic counscelling.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• 제59권8호
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• pp.319-327
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• 2016

Allergic diseases such as asthma, allergic rhinitis, atopic dermatitis, and food allergy, are most common chronic, noncommunicable diseases in childhood. In the past few decades, the prevalence has increased abruptly worldwide. There are 2 possible explanations for the rising prevalence of allergic diseases worldwide, that an increased disease-awareness of physician, patient, or caregivers, and an abrupt exposure to unknown hazards. Unfortunately, the underlying mechanisms remain largely unknown. Despite the continuing efforts worldwide, the etiologies and rising prevalence remain unclear. Thus, it is important to identify and control risk factors in the susceptible individual for the best prevention and management. Genetic susceptibility or environments may be a potential background for the development of allergic disease, however they alone cannot explain the rising prevalence worldwide. There is growing evidence that epigenetic change depends on the gene, environment, and their interactions, may induce a long-lasting altered gene expression and the consequent development of allergic diseases. In epigenetic mechanisms, environmental tobacco smoke (ETS) exposure during critical period (i.e., during pregnancy and early life) are considered as a potential cause of the development of childhood allergic diseases. However, the causal relationship is still unclear. This review aimed to highlight the impact of ETS exposure during the perinatal period on the development of childhood allergic diseases and to propose a future research direction.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• 제83권2호
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• pp.116-121
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• 2020

Particulate matter (PM) is suspended dust that has a diameter of <10 ㎛ and can be inhaled by humans and deposited in the lungs, particularly the alveoli. Recent studies have shown that PM has an adverse effect on respiratory diseases. The aim of this article is to review respiratory diseases associated with PM. According to existing studies, PM is associated with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, bronchial asthma, and several other respiratory diseases and increases the mortality rates of these diseases. Moreover, increased exposure in the high concentration of atmospheric PM is associated with the development of lung cancer. The most simple and common way to protect an individual from airborne PM is to wear a face mask that filters out PM. In areas of high concentration PM, it is recommended to wear a face mask to minimize the exposure to PM. However, the use of N95 or KF94 masks can interfere with respiration in patients with chronic respiratory diseases who exhibit low pulmonary function, leading to an increased risk of respiratory failure. Conclusionally, reduction of the total amount of PM is considered to be important factor and strengthening the national warning notification system to vulnerable patients and proper early management of exacerbated patients will be needed in the future.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• 제82권1호
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• pp.6-14
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• 2019

Sepsis is a life-threatening condition caused by infection and represents a substantial global health burden. Recent epidemiological studies showed that sepsis mortality rates have decreased, but that the incidence has continued to increase. Although a mortality benefit from early-goal directed therapy (EGDT) in patients with severe sepsis or septic shock was reported in 2001, three subsequent multicenter randomized studies showed no benefits of EGDT versus usual care. Nonetheless, the early administration of antibiotics and intravenous fluids is considered crucial for the treatment of sepsis. In 2016, new sepsis definitions (Sepsis-3) were issued, in which organ failure was emphasized and use of the terms "systemic inflammatory response syndrome" and "severe sepsis" was discouraged. However, early detection of sepsis with timely, appropriate interventions increases the likelihood of survival for patients with sepsis. Also, performance improvement programs have been associated with a significant increase in compliance with the sepsis bundles and a reduction in mortality. To improve sepsis management and reduce its burden, in 2017, the World Health Assembly and World Health Organization adopted a resolution that urged governments and healthcare workers to implement appropriate measures to address sepsis. Sepsis should be considered a medical emergency, and increasing the level of awareness of sepsis is essential.

• 대한예방의학회:학술대회논문집
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• 대한예방의학회 2002년도 제54차 추계 학술대회 연제집
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• pp.583-584
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• 2002

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• 제56권5호
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• pp.191-195
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• 2013

Severe childhood asthma is a complicated and heterogeneous disorder with distinct phenotypes. Children with severe asthma have more persistent symptoms despite receiving treatment, more atopy, greater airway obstruction, and more air trapping than those with mild-to-moderate asthma. They also have higher morbidity and substantial airflow limitations that persist throughout adulthood. Identification of the phenotype clusters and endotypes of severe asthma can allow further modulation of the natural history of severe asthma and may provide the pathophysiologic rationale for appropriate management strategies.

• Child Health Nursing Research
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• 제22권2호
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• pp.87-96
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• 2016

Purpose: This study was done to identify the level of knowledge and practice of self-management on asthma of school-aged children and to provide data for the development of an intervention program to improve self-management on asthma Methods: The participants were 100 school-aged children who were treated currently for asthma in J city located in G province. Data were collected from 25th August to 30th October 2014. Results: The mean scores were 14.37 of 20 for self-management knowledge (percentage of correct answer 71.9%), 21.65 of 30 for self-management practice. There were significant differences in knowledge according to grade, diagnosed age, food allergy, education on asthma and hardship in school life, and in practice according to gender and economic status, hardship in school life and experience of first-aid on asthma. There were positive correlations between knowledge and practice. Conclusion: Results indicate that school-aged children' knowledge and practice in self-management of asthma were not sufficient enough to perform accurate management of asthma. Therefore, to improve self-management ability of school-aged children to manage effectively asthma, educational strategies that focus on increasing knowledge need to be developed.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• 제80권4호
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• pp.377-384
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• 2017

Background: Proper education regarding inhaler usage and optimal management of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is essential for effectively treating patients with COPD. This study was conducted to evaluate the effects of a comprehensive education program including inhaler training and COPD management. Methods: We enlisted 127 patients with COPD on an outpatient basis at 43 private clinics in Korea. The patients were educated on inhaler usage and disease management for three visits across 2 weeks. Physicians and patients were administered a COPD assessment test (CAT) and questionnaires about the correct usage of inhalers and management of COPD before commencement of this program and after their third visit. Results: The outcomes of 127 COPD patients were analyzed. CAT scores ($19.6{\pm}12.5$ vs. $15.1{\pm}12.3$) improved significantly after this program (p<0.05). Patients with improved CAT scores of 4 points or more had a better understanding of COPD management and the correct technique for using inhalers than those who did not have improved CAT scores (p<0.05). Conclusion: A comprehensive education program including inhaler training and COPD management at a primary care setting improved CAT scores and led to patients' better understanding of COPD management.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• 제56권2호
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• pp.184-202
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• 2023

본 연구는 식품알레르기 경험이 있는 미취학아동의 양육자를 대상으로 양육자가 식품알레르기 관리를 위해 필요한 교육이 무엇인지 파악하고자 하였다. 양육자 400명을 대상으로 2022년 7월 온라인 업체를 통해 설문조사를 진행하였으며, 모든 데이터는 SPSS 통계 (ver. 25)를 사용하여 분석되었다. 미취학아동의 식품알레르기 경험에도 불구하고 양육자의 식품알레르기 지식수준은 낮았다. 특히 '원인식품' (74.2%)과 '식품반응' (65.2%) 관련된 문항의 오답률이 높았다. 또한, 식품알레르기 지식수준을 '상', '중', '하'로 구분하여 평가한 결과 미취학아동의 연령에 따라 아동의 나이가 어릴수록 지식수준이 유의하게 높았다 (p < 0.05). 양육자의 식품알레르기 관리여부를 4가지 문항으로 측정한 결과, '식재료 및 조리기기 분리사용' (50.5%), '식품알레르기 유발표시 확인' (34.0%) 관리율이 낮았다. 식품알레기 진단여부에 따라 식재료 및 조리기기를 분리사용 관리에 유의적인 차이가 있었으며, 의사진단을 받은 미취학아동의 양육자 중 59.4%가 분리사용 관리를 하고 있었다 (p < 0.01). 또한, 식품알레르기 지식이 높아질수록 관리의 총점이 높아졌다 (r = 0.137, p < 0.01). 본 연구결과를 바탕으로 살펴볼 때 지식수준이 낮거나, 자녀가 만 4세 이상, 자가진단을 하는 양육자의 경우 식품알레르기 관리율이 낮았다. 따라서 해당 양육자의 지식수준을 높일 수 있는 '유발식품제한', '식품알레르기 유발표시 확인', '식재료 및 조리기기 분리사용' 하는 방법 등 맞춤 교육이 필요하다고 사료된다.

• IMMUNE NETWORK
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• 제22권5호
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• pp.40.1-40.24
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• 2022

Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are attractive alternatives to conventional anti-asthmatic drugs for severe asthma. Mechanisms underlying the anti-asthmatic effects of MSCs have not yet been elucidated. This study evaluated the anti-asthmatic effects of intravenously administered MSCs, focusing on macrophages and monocytes. Seven-week-old transgenic (Tg) mice with lung-specific overexpression of IL-13 were used to simulate chronic asthma. MSCs were intravenously administered four days before sampling. We examined changes in immune cell subpopulations, gene expression, and histological phenotypes. IL-13 Tg mice exhibited diverse features of chronic asthma, including severe type 2 inflammation, airway fibrosis, and mucus metaplasia. Intravenous administration of MSCs attenuated these asthmatic features just four days after a single treatment. MSC treatment significantly reduced SiglecF^-CD11c^-CD11b⁺ monocyte-derived macrophages (MoMs) and inhibited the polarization of MoMs into M2 macrophages, especially M2a and M2c. Furthermore, MSCs downregulated the excessive accumulation of Ly6c^- monocytes in the lungs. While an intravenous adoptive transfer of Ly6c^- monocytes promoted the infiltration of MoM and Th2 inflammation, that of MSC-exposed Ly6c^- monocytes did not. Ex vivo Ly6c^- MoMs upregulated M2-related genes, which were reduced by MSC treatment. Molecules secreted by Ly6c^- MoMs from IL-13 Tg mice lungs upregulated the expression of fibrosis-related genes in fibroblasts, which were also suppressed by MSC treatment. In conclusion, intravenously administered MSCs attenuate asthma phenotypes of chronic asthma by modulating macrophages. Identifying M2 macrophage subtypes revealed that exposure to MSCs transforms the phenotype and function of macrophages. We suggest that Ly6c^- monocytes could be a therapeutic target for asthma management.