• Journal of Biomedical Engineering Research
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• v.13 no.3
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• pp.209-216
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• 1992

A new experimental technique is proposed to localize the flow limiting segment(FLS) during forced expiration. The present technique is based on the pressure drip across FLS and a consequent change in airway resistance, which can provide an accurate and objective location of FLS. During forced expiratory maneuver artificially induced by a strong negative pressure (-100mmHg) applied at the trachea in an anesthetized open chest dog, airway resistance( R) was calculated from air flow and airway pres- sure signals at various airway locations and lung volumes, At the lung volumes above 10 % VC, FLS located in the trachea 6cm lower from the larynx. With the lung volume decreased below 8% VC, FLS jumped upstream to End-3rd generation of the airway. These results were similar with the previous reports from excised dog lungs, which demonstrated the validity of the present technique. Since the present technique provides a more objective measure of FLS location, it would be useful in future studies of expiratory flow limitation.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.19 no.2 s.20
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• pp.314-321
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• 1986

Forced vital capacities (FVC's) and forced expiratory volumes in one second $(FEV_{1.0}'s)$ of 26 pneumoconiosis patients were checked at admission and were followed up for 10 months through hospitalization. FVC's and $FEV_{1.0}'s$ were slightly improved in 10 months after admission. The improvement of FVC's was statistically significant. In the group of large opacities in chest radiographs, FVC's and $FEV_{1.0}'s$ were lower than those values in small opacity group at admission but improved more progressively. Similar finding was noted in the group of emphysema; those values were lower at admission but improved more progressively than those of non-emphysema group.

• The Journal of the Korean life insurance medical association
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• v.33 no.2
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• pp.8-11
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• 2014

Pulmonary function test is a group of tests which are composed of measurement for lung function. Thy are spirometry, blood-gas analysis, lung volumes, exercise test, diffusion capacity, and bronchial challenge test. In this article, I will review the pulmonary function test and it's application in terms of clinical aspect and insurance medicine. The standard spirometric indicies are forced vital capacity(FVC), forced expiratory volume at 1 second(FEV1), and the ratio of FEV1 over FVC(FEV1/FVC). If the value of FEV1/FVC less than 70%, the examinee has obstructive ventilatory dysfunction.

• Korean Journal of Radiology
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• v.22 no.10
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• pp.1719-1729
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• 2021

Objective: Emphysema and small-airway disease are the two major components of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). We propose a novel method of quantitative computed tomography (CT) emphysema air-trapping composite (EAtC) mapping to assess each COPD component. We analyzed the potential use of this method for assessing lung function in patients with COPD. Materials and Methods: A total of 584 patients with COPD underwent inspiration and expiration CTs. Using pairwise analysis of inspiration and expiration CTs with non-rigid registration, EAtC mapping classified lung parenchyma into three areas: Normal, functional air trapping (fAT), and emphysema (Emph). We defined fAT as the area with a density change of less than 60 Hounsfield units (HU) between inspiration and expiration CTs among areas with a density less than -856 HU on inspiration CT. The volume fraction of each area was compared with clinical parameters and pulmonary function tests (PFTs). The results were compared with those of parametric response mapping (PRM) analysis. Results: The relative volumes of the EAtC classes differed according to the Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease stages (p < 0.001). Each class showed moderate correlations with forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV₁) and FEV₁/forced vital capacity (FVC) (r = -0.659-0.674, p < 0.001). Both fAT and Emph were significant predictors of FEV₁ and FEV₁/FVC (R² = 0.352 and 0.488, respectively; p < 0.001). fAT was a significant predictor of mean forced expiratory flow between 25% and 75% and residual volume/total vital capacity (R² = 0.264 and 0.233, respectively; p < 0.001), while Emph and age were significant predictors of carbon monoxide diffusing capacity (R² = 0.303; p < 0.001). fAT showed better correlations with PFTs than with small-airway disease on PRM. Conclusion: The proposed quantitative CT EAtC mapping provides comprehensive lung functional information on each disease component of COPD, which may serve as an imaging biomarker of lung function.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Integrative Medicine
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• v.10 no.1
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• pp.149-155
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• 2022

Purpose : This study investigated the effects of wearing a mask and different mask filters on the respiratory function of stroke patients. Methods : A total of 15 stroke patients were selected according to the inclusion and exclusion criteria. The respiratory functions were compared between participants with and without masks and among respiratory functions with three different mask filters. The order of using masks was non-wearing masks, Dental masks, KF80 masks, and KF94 masks; the difference in respiratory volumes among these conditions were measured. For accuracy of the measurement, sufficient education on the respiratory measurement method was provided to the researcher, and the heart rate of the participants was estimated to confirm their stability before the measurements. To ensure accuracy, the subjects were educated on the researchers' respiratory measurement methods. Each measurement was followed by 10 min breathing stability before replacing the next mask. Results : The results of this study showed that the difference in respiratory functions, including forced vital capacity (FVC), forced expiratory volume in the first second (FEV₁), and maximal voluntary ventilation (MVV), in stroke patients was statistically significant among different masks (p<.05). Afterwards, the values of FVC, FEV₁, and MVV in stroke patients wearing masks were significantly lower than those of the non-masked control group (p<.05). The difference in respiratory functions with different mask filters showed no statistical significance (p<.05). Conclusion : This study showed that participants wearing any of the masks presented a lower respiratory function than that of those without using masks; additionally, no difference in respiratory functions was observed with differences in mask filters. Therefore, wearing a mask for a prolonged period is confirmed to affect breathing in stroke patients with weak respiratory function.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology
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• v.15 no.1
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• pp.37-43
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• 1981

In the present study, an effort was directed to elucidate the effect of the physical training on the pulmonary function. Twenty-four male athletics major students who have undergone regular physical training for more than five years were randomly chosen as the athletic subjects, and 12 regular male students who have not been engaged in any form of regular physical exercise or training were chosen as the non-athletic subjects, and a comparison was made between the two groups. The following were mainly observed by spirometry for the study; respiratory rate, tidal volume, vital capacity, maximum voluntary ventilation(MVV), forced expiratory volume for 1 second$(FEV_1)$, percent $FEV_1$ to forced vital capacity$(FEV_1%)$, forced expiratory flow for initial 1 liter$(FEF_{0.2-1.2}L)$, and forced mid-expiratory flow$(FEF_{\;25-75}%)$. The results obtained are summarized as follow. 1) The respiratory rate, tidal volume, and vital capacity showed no significant difference between athletes and non-athletes. The MVV in athletes was significantly (p<0.01) increased to $148.1{\pm}3.1\;L/min$ comparing with $118.3{\pm}9.1\;L/min$ in non-athletes. 2) $FEV_1$ was $3.310{\pm}0.070\;L$ in athletes and $2.779{\pm}0.104$ in non-athletes; $FEV_1%\;83.63{\pm}1.29%$ in athletes and $75.33{\pm}1.75%$ in non-athletes, both showing significant(p<0.01) increase in athletes. 3) $FEF_{0.2-1.2}L$ was $297.1{\pm}13.5\;L/min in athletes and $222.7{\pm}15.0\;L/min$ in non-athletes; $FEF_{\;25-75}%$ was $3.543{\pm}0.109\;L/sec$ in non-athletes, both showing significant(p<0.01) increase in athletes. 4) Some discussions were made on these results. The lung volumes showed no significant difference between the two groups. But MVV, $FEV_1$, $FEV_1%$, $FEF_{0.2-1.2}L$ and $FEF_{25-75}%$ in athletes were significantly(p<0.01) higher than in non-athletes. It is therefore concluded that the athletes have more powerful respiratory muscles, or higher compliance of the lung and thorax than the non-athletes.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.40 no.5
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• pp.548-557
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• 1993

Background: Bronchiectasis is a irreversible disease, a lot of cases of which are associated with chronic bronchitis, pulmonary emphysema and bronchial asthma due to chronic recurrent pulmonary infection. Therefore, pulmonary functions in bronchiectasis may also vary with associated diseases or involved segments. Methods: For the evaluation of ventilatory dynamics in bronchiectasis with respect to the pathoanatomic types of bronchiectasis and the degree of dyspnea, a total of 93 cases comprising 45 cases of tubular, 30 saccular and 18 mixed type of bronchiectasis whose clinical diagnosis was confirmed by bronchography were analyzed retrospectively. They were also divided into two groups: those with Hugh-Jones dyspnea grade 1 & 2 (group I) and those with Hugh-Jones dyspnea grade 3 & 4 (group II). Pulmonary functions tested in this study were analyses of curves of forced expiratory volume and flow-volume, and determinations of maximal voluntary ventilation and closing volumes. Results: The results were as follows; 1) The vital capacity and parameters reflecting expiratory flow rate except PEF were significantly reduced in saccular and mixed type than that in tubular type of bronchiectasis. 2) In saccular and mixed type, the maximal voluntary ventilation tended to decrease while CV/VC tended to increase. 3) As the degree of dyspnea became serious, the involved segments were progressively increased. In contrast, ventilatory functions were significantly reduced in proportion to the severity of dyspnea. Conclusion: These findings suggest that in bronchiectasis, there be obstructive ventilatory impairment combined with mild restrictive ventilatory impairment, which becomes more prominent in saccular and mixed type and also as the degree of dyspnea progresses.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.72 no.1
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• pp.8-14
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• 2012

Background: Although airway obstruction in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is due to pathologic processes in both the airways and the lung parenchyma, the contribution of these processes, as well as other factors, have not yet been evaluated quantitatively. We therefore quantitatively evaluated the factors contributing to airflow limitation in patients with COPD. Methods: The 213 COPD patients were aged >45 years, had smoked >10 pack-years of cigarettes, and had a post-bronchodilator forced expiratory volume in one second ($FEV_1$)/forced vital capacity (FVC) <0.7. All patients were evaluated by medical interviews, physical examination, spirometry, bronchodilator reversibility tests, lung volume, and 6-minute walk tests. In addition, volumetric computed tomography (CT) was performed to evaluate airway wall thickness, emphysema severity, and mean lung density ratio at full expiration and inspiration. Multiple linear regression analysis was performed to identify the variables independently associated with $FEV_1$ - the index of the severity of airflow limitation. Results: Multiple linear regression analysis showed that CT measurements of mean lung density ratio (standardized coefficient ${\beta}$=-0.46; p<0.001), emphysema severity (volume fraction of the lung less than -950 HU at full inspiration; ${\beta}$=-0.24; p<0.001), and airway wall thickness (mean wall area %; ${\beta}$=-0.19, p=0.001), as well as current smoking status (${\beta}$=-0.14; p=0.009) were independent contributors to $FEV_1$. Conclusion: Mean lung density ratio, emphysema severity, and airway wall thickness evaluated by volumetric CT and smoking status could independently contribute to the severity of airflow limitation in patients with COPD.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.80 no.4
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• pp.385-391
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• 2017

Background: Men with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, have reduced endogenous testosterone levels, but the relationship between pulmonary function and endogenous testosterone levels, is inconsistent. Testicular volume is a known indicator of endogenous testosterone levels, male fertility, and male potency. In the present study, the authors investigated the relationship, between testicular volume and lung function. Methods: One hundred and eighty-one South Korean men age 40-70, hospitalized for urological surgery, were retrospectively enrolled, irrespective of the presence of respiratory disease. Study subjects underwent pulmonary function testing, prior to procedures, and testicular volumes were measured by orchidometry. Testosterone levels of patients in blood samples collected between $7{\small{AM}}$ and $11{\small{AM}}$, were measured by a direct chemiluminescent immunoassay. Results: The 181 study subjects were divided into two groups, by testicular volume (${\geq}35mL$ vs. <35 mL), the larger testes group, had better lung functions (forced vital capacity [FVC]: $3.87{\pm}0.65L$ vs. $3.66{\pm}0.65L$, p=0.037; forced expiratory volume in 1 second [$FEV_1$]: $2.92{\pm}0.57L$ vs. $2.65{\pm}0.61L$, p=0.002; FVC % predicted: $98.2{\pm}15.2%$ vs. $93.8{\pm}13.1%$, p=0.040; $FEV_1$ % predicted: $105.4{\pm}19.5%$ vs. $95.9{\pm}21.2%$, p=0.002). In addition, the proportion of patients with a $FEV_1/FVC$ of <70%, was lower in the larger testes group. Univariate analysis conducted using linear regression models, revealed that testicular volume was correlated with FVC (r=0.162, p=0.029), $FEV_1$ (r=0.218, p=0.003), $FEV_1/FVC$ (r=0.149, p=0.046), and $FEV_1$ % predicted (r=0.178, p=0.017), and multivariate analysis using linear regression models, revealed that testicular volume was a significant predictive factor for $FEV_1$ % predicted (${\beta}=0.159$, p=0.041). Conclusion: Larger testicular volume was independently associated, with favorable indices of lung function. These results suggest that androgens, may contribute to better lung function.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.50 no.4
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• pp.415-425
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• 2001

Background : The correlation between the high resolution computed tomography(HRCT) emphysema score and the physiologic parameters including resting and exercise pulmonary function test was investigated in 14 patients($60.6{\pm}10.3$ years) with pulmonary emphysema. Methods : The patients underwent a HRCT, a resting pulmonary function test, and incremental exercise testing(cycle ergometer, 10 W/min). Computed tomography scans were obtained on a GE highlight at 10 mm intervals using 10 mm collimation, from the apex to the base after a full inspiration. The emphysema scores were determined by a CT program 'Density mask' outlining the areas with attenuation values less than -900 HU, indicating the emphysema areas, and providing an overall percentage of lung involvement by emphysema. Results : Among the resting PFT parameters, only the diffusing capacity(r=-0.75) and $PaO_2$ (r=-0.66) correlated with the emphysema score(p<0.05). Among the exercise test parameters, the emphysema score correlated significantly with the maximum power(r=-0.74), maximum oxygen consumption(r=-0.68), anaerobic threshold(V-slope method: r=-0.69), maximal $O_2$-pulse(r=-0.73), and the physiologic dead space ratio at the maximum workload(r=-0.80)(p<0.01). Conclusion: We could find that exercise testing parameters showed a much better correlation with the HRCT emphysema score, which is known to have a good correlation with the pathologic severity than the resting PIT parameters. Therefore it is suggested that exercise testing is superior to resting PIT for estimating in the estimation of the physiologic disturbance in emphysema patients.