• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.82 no.4
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• pp.335-340
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• 2019

Background: Snoring is the cardinal symptom of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). Snoring and upper airway obstruction associated with major oxygen desaturation may occur in populations undergoing flexible bronchoscopy. Methods: To evaluate the prevalence of patients at a high risk of having OSA among patients undergoing bronchoscopy with sedation and to investigate whether snoring during the procedure predicts patients who are at risk of OSA, we prospectively enrolled 517 consecutive patients who underwent the procedure with moderate sedation. Patients exhibiting audible snoring for any duration during the procedure were considered snorers. The STOP-Bang (Snoring, Tiredness, Observed apnea, high blood Pressure-Body mass index, Age, Neck circumference and Gender) questionnaire was used to identify patients at high (score ${\geq}3$ out of 8) or low risk (score <3) of OSA. Results: Of the 517 patients, 165 (31.9%) snored during bronchoscopy under sedation. The prevalence of a STOP-Bang score ${\geq}3$ was 61.9% (320/517), whereas 200 of the 352 nonsnorers (56.8%) and 120 of the 165 snorers (72.7%) had a STOP-Bang score ${\geq}3$ (p=0.001). In multivariable analysis, snoring during bronchoscopy was significantly associated with a STOP-Bang score ${\geq}3$ after adjustment for the presence of diabetes mellitus, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, chronic kidney disease, and stroke (adjusted odds ratio, 1.91; 95% confidence interval, 1.26-2.89; p=0.002). Conclusion: Two-thirds of patients undergoing bronchoscopy with moderate sedation were at risk of OSA based on the screening questionnaire. Snoring during bronchoscopy was highly predictive of patients at high risk of OSA.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.27 no.2 s.46
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• pp.274-285
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• 1994

The effects of resin on the respiratory health have been investigated in 309 workers from four iron and steel foundries and the results compared with those from 122 workers who were not significantly exposed to resin gas and silica dust at the same industries. Phenol-formaldehyde resin was used in the core making and molding processes and workers were exposed to their decomposition products as well as to silica dust containing particulates. The subjects were grouped according to formaldehyde, dust and other gas exposures, and smoking habits were considered also in thi analysis. Standardized respiratory symptom questionnaire was administered by trained interviewers. Chest radiograph, pulmonary funtion tests, and methacholine challenge tests were done. Environmental measurements at the breathing zone were carried out to determine levels of formaldehyde, respiable dust and total dust. Foundry workers had a higher prevalence of symptoms of chronic bronchitis with chronic phlegm and chronic cough when exposed to dust. Exposure to gas was significantly associated with lowered $FEV_1$ and obstructive pulmonary function changes. Exposure to formaldehyde and phenol gas was associated with wheezing symptom among workers, but $FEV_1$ changes after methacholine challenge were not significantly different among different exposure groups. When asthma was defined as the presence of bronchial hyperreactivity with more than 20% decrease in $FEV_1$ after methacholine challenge, 17 workers out of 222 tested had asthma. Fewer asthmatic welters were found among groups exposed to formaldehyde, gas and dust, which indicates a healthy worker effects ill a cross-sectional study. The concentration of formaldehyde gas ranged from 0.24 to 0.43 ppm among studied foundries. The authors conclude that formaldehyde and phenol gas from combusted resin is probably the cause of asthmatic symptoms and also a selection force of those with higher bronchial reactivity away from exposures.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.57 no.5
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• pp.484-488
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• 2004

In adults, aspiration of foreign bodies into tracheobronchus is sometimes presented atypically, mimicking chronic pulmonary diseases such as bronchial asthma, pneumonia, or empyema, especially without notice of aspiration or choking. In such cases, diagnosis and adequate treatments are often delayed. Suspicion of foreign body aspiration and computed tomography and bronchoscopic examination make correct diagnosis more early. We report a case of bronchial foreign body, which had been misdiagnosed as bronchial asthma with wheezing in the whole lung filed, and reversible airway obstruction in the spirometry.

• Neonatal Medicine
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• v.25 no.1
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• pp.7-15
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• 2018

We need to understand the outcomes into adulthood for survivors born either extremely low birthweight (ELBW; <1,000 g) or extremely preterm (EP; <28 weeks' gestational age), particularly their blood pressure and cardiovascular metabolic status,respiratory function, growth, psychological and mental health performance, and functional outcomes. Blood pressure is higher in late adolescence and early adulthood in ELBW/EP survivors compared with controls. In some studies, expreterm survivors have higher insulin and blood lipid concentrations than controls, which may also increase their risk for later cardiovascular disease. ELBW/EP survivors have more expiratory airflow obstruction than do controls. Those who had bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) in the newborn period have even worse lung function than those who did not have BPD. As a group, they are unlikely to achieve their full lung growth potential, which means that more of them are likely to develop chronic obstructive airway disease in later life. Although they are smaller than term born controls, their weight gradually rises and ultimately reaches a mean z-score close to zero in late adolescence, and they ultimately attain a height z-score close to their mid-parental height z-score. On average, ex-preterm survivors have intelligence quotient (IQ) scores and performance on tests of academic achievement approximately 2/3 SD lower than do controls, and they also perform less well on tests of attention and executive function. They have similar high rates of anxiety and depression symptoms in late adolescence as do controls. They are, however, over-represented in population registries for rarer disorders such as schizophrenia and Autism Spectrum Disorder. In cohort studies, ex-preterm survivors mostly report good quality of life and participation in daily activities, and they report good levels of self-esteem. In population studies, they require higher levels of economic assistance, such as disability pensions, they do not achieve education levels as high as controls, fewer are married, and their rates of reproduction are lower, at least in early adulthood. Survivors born ELBW/EP will present more and more to health carers in adulthood, as they survive in larger numbers.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Laryngology, Phoniatrics and Logopedics
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• v.17 no.1
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• pp.49-52
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• 2006

Background and Objectives: Vocal cord granuloma is a exophytic inflammatory mass and caused by gastroesophageal reflux, voice abuse, endotracheal intubation. There has been a controversy in the treatment of vocal cord granuloma. Our aim of study is to know the clinical characteristics and the results of surgical management for vocal cord granuloma. Materials and Methods: We have reviewed and analyzed medical records of 55 patients who were diagnosed and surgically treated as vocal cord granuloma in Asan medical center from 1997 to 2005 retrospectively. Results: 25 cases were intubation granuloma and 30 cases were contact granuloma. In intubation granuloma, the clinical manifestation was hoarseness(70%), foreign body sensation(44%), chronic cough(21%). In contact granuloma, the clinical manifestation was hoarseness(67%), foreign body sensation(60%), throat clearing(21%). The recurrence rate after surgery was 8% in intubation granuloma and 33% in contact granuloma. Mean recurrence time was 4.1months in intubation granuloma and 3.2months in contact granuloma. Conclusion: Although there is no significant difference, recurrence rate after surgery was high in contact granuloma compared to intubation granuloma(p=0.125). Although this study is retrospective, surgical management must be considered in resolving diagnostic doubt, treating airway obstruction, and failure in conservative treatments.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.61 no.12
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• pp.392-396
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• 2018

Purpose: Adenotonsillar hypertrophy (ATH) that causes upper airway obstruction might lead to chronic hypoxemic pulmonary vasoconstriction and right ventricular (RV) dysfunction. We aimed to evaluate whether adenotonsillectomy (T&A) in children suffering from obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) due to severe ATH could improve RV function. Methods: Thirty-seven children (boy:girl=21:16; mean age, $9.52{\pm}2.20years$), who underwent T&A forsleep apnea due to ATH, were included. We analyzedthe mean pulmonary artery pressure (mPAP), the presence and the maximal velocity of tricuspid regurgitation (TR), the tricuspid annular plane systolic excursion (TAPSE), and the right ventricular myocardial performance index (RVMPI) with tissue Doppler echocardiography (TDE) by transthoracic echocardiography pre- and post-T&A. The follow-up period was $1.78{\pm}0.27years$. Results: Only the RVMPI using TDE improved after T&A ($42.18{\pm}2.03$ vs. $40{\pm}1.86$, P=0.001). The absolute value of TAPSE increased ($21.45{\pm}0.90mm$ vs. $22.30{\pm}1.10mm$, P=0.001) but there was no change in the z score of TAPSE pre- and post-T&A ($1.19{\pm}0.34$ vs. $1.24{\pm}0.30$, P=0.194). The mPAP was within normal range in children with ATH, and there was no significant difference between pre- and post-T&A ($19.6{\pm}3.40$ vs. $18.7{\pm}2.68$, P=0.052). There was no difference in the presence and the maximal velocity of TR (P=0.058). Conclusion: RVMPI using TDE could be an early parameter of RV function in children with OSA due to ATH.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.51 no.6
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• pp.660-664
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• 2008

The term tracheal bronchus refers to an abnormal bronchus that comes directly off of the lateral wall of the trachea (above the carina) and supplies ventilation to the upper lobe. Tracheal bronchi occur almost exclusively on the right trachea and are associated with other congenital anomalies. In addition, tracheai bronchus may be related to other inflammatory conditions with persistent wheezing, such as recurrent pneumonia, chronic bronchitis and bronchiectasis, which is a result of the relatively poor local drainage of the involved bronchi. An infant with recurrent wheezing is likely to be a challenge for a clinician in the evaluation of the etiology of airway obstruction and in the differential diagnosis of wheezy breathing. The authors report a case of an 8-month-old female infant with a ventricular septal defect, who presented with stridor and recurrent respiratory infection and finally was finally diagnosed with a tracheal bronchus using computed tomography and a bronchoscopy. Therefore, tracheal bronchus should be included in the differential diagnosis of any child who presents with chronic or recurrent respiratory tract symptoms such as coughing, wheezing, stridor and recurrent respiratory infection, particularly in children with other congenital deformities.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.48 no.6
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• pp.922-931
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• 2000

Background : It has been well known that bronchia1 asthma is a chronic airway inflammatory disorder. Recently, sputum induced with hypertonic saline was introduced as a simple and useful nonivasive medium to investigate airway inflammation and symptom severity in patients with asthma. We examined the eosinophil, eosinophil cationic protein (ECP), interleukin(IL)-3, IL-5, granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating facta (GM-CSF), and nitric oxide (NO) derivatives in induced sputum from patients with bronchia1 asthma in order to determine the role of NO and various inflammatory cytokines as a useful markers of airway inflammation or changes in pulmonary function tests and symptoms. Methods : A total 30 patients with bronchia1 asthma received oral prednisolone 30 mg daily for 2 weeks. Forced expiratory volume in one second ($FEV_1$), total blood eosinophil count and induced sputum eosinophil count, ECP, IL-3, IL-5, GM-CSF, and NO derivatives were determined before and after the administration of prednisolone. Results : Of the 30 patients, 13 (43.3%) were male and 17 (56.7%) were female. The mean age of patients was 41.8 years (range 19-64 years). Two patients could not produce sputum at the second study and 3 could not be followed up after their first visit. Two weeks after the prednisolone administration, there was a significant increase in $FEV_1$ (% of predicted value) from 78.1$\pm$20.6 % to 90.3$\pm$ 18.3 % (P<0.001). The eosinophil percentages in induced sputum were significantly decreased after treatment with prednisolone, with values of 56.1$\pm$27.2 % versus 29.6$\pm$21.3 % (P<0.001), and ECP were $134.5\pm68.1\;{\mu}g/L$ versus $41.5\pm42.4\;{\mu}g/L$ (P<0.001) respectively. After the prednisolone treatments, the eotaxin concentration also showed a decreasing tendency from 26.7$\pm$12.8 pg/ml to 21.7$\pm$8.7 pg/ml. There was a decreasing tendency but no significant differences in total blood eosinophil count (425.7$\pm$265.9 vs 287.7$\pm$294.7) and in the concentration of NO derivatives ($70.4\pm44.6{\mu}mol/L$ vs $91.5\pm48.3\;{\mu}mol/L$) after the prednisolone treatments. IL-3, IL-5, GM-CSF were undetectable in the sputum of most subjects either before the prednisolone treatments or after the treatments. Before the prednisolone treatments, a significant inverse correlation was observed between FEV1 and sputum ECP (r=-D.364, P<0.05) and there was a significant correlation between sputum eosinophils and eotaxin (r=0.369, P<0.05) Conclusion : The eotaxin and ECP concentration in induced sputum may be used as markers of airway inflammation after treatments in bronchia1 asthma. In addition, the measurement of sputum eosinophil percent ages is believed to be a simple method displaying the degree of airway inflammation and airway obstruction before and after the prednisolone treatment in bronchia1 asthma. However, unlike exhaled NO, the examination of NO derivatives with Griess reaction in induced sputum is considered an ineffective marker of changing airway inflammation and obstructing symptoms.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.45 no.5
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• pp.1000-1011
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• 1998

Background: For the diagnosis or evaluation of airway obstruction in bronchial asthma and chronic obstructive lung disorders, various parameters derived from the forced expiratory volume curve and maximal expiratory flow volume curve have been used. Recently the peak expiratory flow(PEF) measured by the peak flow meter is widely used because of its simplicity and convenience. But there were still no data of the predicted normal values measured by the peak flow meter in Korea. This study was to obtain the predicted normal value of PEF and to know the accuracy of this value to predict $FEV_1$. Method: The measurements of PEF by the MiniWright peak flow meter and several parameters derived from the forced expiratory volume and maximal expiratory flow volume curves by the Microspiro HI 501(Chest Co.) were done in 129 men and 125 women without previous history of the respiratory diseases. The predicted normal values of parameters according to the age and the height were obtained, and the regression equation of $FEV_1$ by PEF was calculated. Results: The predicted normal values of PEF(L/min) were -2.45$\times$Age(year) +1.36 $\times$ Height(cm)+427 in men, and -0.96 $\times$ Age (year) + 2.01 $\times$ Height (cm) + 129 in women. FEFmax derived from the maximal expiratory flow volume curve was less than by 125 L/min in men and 118 L/min in women respectively compared to PEF. $FEV_1$(ml) predicted by PEF was 5.98 $\times$ PEF(L/min) + 303 in men, and 4.61 $\times$ PEF(L/min) + 291 in women respectively. Conclusion : The predicted normal value of PEF measured by the peak flow meter was calculated and it could be used as a standard value of PEF while taking care of patients with airway obstruction. $FEV_1$, the gold standard of ventilatory function, could be predicted by PEF to a certain extent.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.45 no.9
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• pp.1090-1096
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• 2002

Purpose : We evaluated the clinical manifestations, bronchoscopic findings and therapeutic effects of flexible fiberoptic bronchoscopy in atelectasis of children. Methods : Sixty six children who received bronchoscopy due to persistent atelectasis, acute severe atelectasis and incidental atelectasis on plain chest radiography were studied retrospectively. Results : The most common causative underlying disease was pneumonia(60.4%). Other underlying conditions were pulmonary tuberculosis, chronic lung disease, postoperative state, bronchial asthma and chest trauma. The most common abnormal findings were inflammatory changes such as bronchial stenosis(n=15), mucosal edema and large amount of secretion(n=14), granulation tissue( n=3) and mucus plug(n=3) although 39.4% showed normal airways. Other findings were congenital airway anomalies, endobronchial tuberculosis, extrinsic compression and obstruction by blood clot. In 32 children with pneumonia-associated atelectasis, 43.7% revealed normal airways, and the most common abnormal findings were also inflammatory changes. Eighteen out of 39 patients who received therapeutic intervention such as suctioning of secretion, bronchial washing and intrabronchial administration of N-acetylcysteine($Mucomyst^{(R)}$) had complete or partial resolution of their atelectasis. In 32 patients with pneumonia-associated atelectasis, 56.5% showed improvement by therapeutic intervention. Conclusion : In this study, atelectasis was mainly associated with inflammatory airway diseases such as pneumonia. The most common abnormal bronchoscopic findings were inflammatory changes such as mucosal edema and large amounts of secretion and bronchial stenosis, although about 40% revealed normal airway. Flexible bronchoscopy is helpful for either diagnosis or treatment, especially in pneumonia-associated atelectasis.