• IMMUNE NETWORK
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• v.16 no.3
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• pp.165-175
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• 2016

Ambroxol is used in COPD and asthma to increase mucociliary clearance and regulate surfactant levels, perhaps through anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory activities. To determine the role and effect of ambroxol in an experimental model of asthma, BALB/c mice were sensitized to ovalbumin (OVA) followed by 3 days of challenge. Airway hyperresponsiveness (AHR), lung cell composition and histology, and cytokine and protein carbonyl levels in bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) fluid were determined. Ambroxol was administered either before the first OVA challenge or was begun after the last allergen challenge. Cytokine production levels from lung mononuclear cells (Lung MNCs) or alveolar macrophages (AM) were also determined. Administration of ambroxol prior to challenge suppressed AHR, airway eosinophilia, goblet cell metaplasia, and reduced inflammation in subepithelial regions. When given after challenge, AHR was suppressed but without effects on eosinophil numbers. Levels of IL-5 and IL-13 in BAL fluid were decreased when the drug was given prior to challenge; when given after challenge, increased levels of IL-10 and IL-12 were detected. Decreased levels of protein carbonyls were detected in BAL fluid following ambroxol treatment after challenge. In vitro, ambroxol increased levels of IL-10, IFN-γ, and IL-12 from Lung MNCs and AM, whereas IL-4, IL-5, and IL-13 production was not altered. Taken together, ambroxol was effective in preventing AHR and airway inflammation through upregulation of Th1 cytokines and protection from oxidative stress in the airways.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.63 no.6
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• pp.491-496
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• 2007

Background: The best way of delivering drugs for the treatment of asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is via the inhaled route of administration. However, many patients use inhaler devices incorrectly. To augment the proper use of inhalation medicine and to improve knowledge of the disease and compliance, we have developed a "Computerized Respiratory Service Program" and applied the use of this program to educate patients. Methods: Prospectively, this study was performed in 164 patients with asthma or COPD prescribed with inhaled medication. When inhalation medication was first prescribed, education using a drug model was conducted two times and thereafter every month. In addition, education using a drug model was conducted and the ability of the patient to use inhalation medicine properly was evaluated. Results: A total of 164 patients participated in the sessions more than two times and received education. Fifty-seven patients participated in three sesions. After the patients received education one time, the ability of these patients to use an inhaler had an average score of 20.6. After the patients received education two times, the average score was 21.9. After the patients received education three times, the average score was 22.3, a further increase. The compliance of using the inhaler was 70.1% at the second session and increased to 81.8% at the third session. Conclusion: Feedback education using the "Computerized Respiratory Service Program" will increase the ability of the patient to use an inhaler and consistent education can maintain patient compliance with inhaler use.

• Journal of the Korean Data and Information Science Society
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• v.28 no.3
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• pp.473-481
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• 2017

It is well known that the air quality of 92% of the world is known to exceed the standard of WTO and the death caused by air pollution is almost 6 million per year. The $PM_{2.5}$ concentration in Korea is the second most serious among the OECD countries following Turkey. Since the $PM_{2.5}$ has a direct effect on the respiratory system, it has been actively studied in domestic and foreign countries. But current research on the $PM_{2.5}$ is limited in weather factor or air pollutants. In this paper, we consider the influence of spatial neighbor with weather factor or air pollutants using spatial panel model. We applied the proposed method to 25 borough of Seoul in Korea. The result shows a significant effect of spatial neighbor on the $PM_{2.5}$ concentration fields.

• Journal of Korean Society for Atmospheric Environment
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• v.22 no.5
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• pp.554-563
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• 2006

Numerous epidemiological studies have shown stronger associations between $PM_{2.5}$ and both mortality and morbidity than $PM_{10}$. The association of $PM_{2.5}$ with respiratory mortality was examined in Seoul, during the period of $1996{\sim}2002$. Because $PM_{2.5}$ data were available for only 10% of this time period, a prediction regression model was developed to estimate $PM_{2.5}$ concentration. Death count due to respiratory-related diseases(total respiratory mortality; ICD-10, J00-J98) and death counts(cause-specific mortality) due to pneumonia(ICD-10, J12-J18), COPD(ICD-10, J40-J44) and asthma(ICD-10, J45-J46) were considered in this study. Averaged daily mortality was 5.6 for total respiratory mortality and 1.1 to 1.6 for cause-specific mortality. Generalized additive Poisson models controlling for confounders were used to evaluate the acute effects of particle exposures on total respiratory mortality and cause-specific mortality. An IQR increase in 5-day moving average of $PM_{2.5}(22.6{\mu}g/m^3)$ was associated with an 8.2%(95% CI: 4.5 to 12.1%) increase in total respiratory mortality The association of $PM_{2.5}$ was stronger for the elderly ($\geq$65 years old, 10.1%, 95% CI: 5.8 to 14.5%) and for males(8.9%, 95% CI: 2.1 to 11.3%). A $10{\mu}g/m^3$ increase in 5-day moving average of $PM_{2.5}$ was strongly associated with total respiratory mortality in winter(9.5%, 95% CI: 6.6 to 12.4%), followed by spring(3.1%, 95% CI: -1.2 to 7.5%), which was a different pattern with the finding in North American cities. However, our results are generally consistent with those observed in recent epidemiological studies, and suggest that $PM_{2.5}$ has a stronger effect on respiratory mortality in Seoul.