• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
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• v.20 no.4
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• pp.263-273
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• 2010

Occupational exposure to wollastonite can occur during its mining, processing and using. Wollastonite was analyzed for its physicochemical properties by transmission electron microscope and scanning electron microscope equipped with energy dispersive X-ray spectrometer. Wollastonite fibers were 3.3${\mu}m$ in diameter(av.) and were 30.5${\mu}m$ in length(av.). The atomic composition of wollastonite was Si 56.41% and Ca 43.59%. Respiratory toxicity of wollastonite has been studied in term sequential in Sprague-Dawely rats. UICC chrysotile (average diameter 0.03${\mu}m$, average length 2.93${\mu}m$) was applied as the positive control. The effects of 2mg wollastonite on respiratory system and pathological changes were evaluated after 1, 4, 8, 12 weeks instilled into rat lungs. Inflammation response broke out from 1 week after instilled with wollastonite and the pathological examination further showed increased legions of granulomatous inflammation after 4 weeks, but decreased granulomatous inflammation after 8 weeks, whereas chrysotile induced progressive interstitial granulomatous inflammation and fibrosis as a function of time.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.2 no.2
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• pp.233-239
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• 1998

Stimulated alveolar macrophages and neutrophils produce nitric oxide, a free radical by an inducible nitric oxide synthase(iNOS), which reacts with superoxide anion to form peroxynitrite, a more highly reactive toxic species. The objectives of the present study were to evaluate acute inflammatory lung injury and to determine iNOS mRNA induction and nitric oxide production by rat broncho-alveolar lavage cells following intratracheal treatment of silica. After 4 h exposure to silica, differential counts of broncho-alveolar lavage cells and lactate dehydrogenase(LDH) activity as well as total protein in the broncho-alveolar lavage fluid were determined. Broncho-alveolar lavage cells were also assayed for iNOS mRNA and the productions of nitrite and nitrate measured in the cells cultured. Differential analysis of broncho-alveolar lavage cells showed that the number of alveolar macrophages slightly decreased following silica treatment; however, red blood cells, lymphocytes, and neutrophils significantly were increased by 9-, 14-, and 119-fold following silica treatment, respectively, compared with the saline control. It was also found significant increases in the LDH activity and total protein in the lavage fluid obtained from silica-treated rats, indicating silica-induced acute lung injury. Northern blot analysis demonstrated that the steady state levels of iNOS mRNA in broncho-alveolar lavage cells were increased following silica treatment. The productions of nitrite and nitrate in the cultured cells were significantly increased by 2-fold following silica treatment, respectively, which were attenuated by the NOS inhibitor $N{\omega}-nitro-L-arginine-methyl$ ester(L-NAME) and partially reversed by L-arginine. These findings suggest that nitric oxide production in alveolar macrophages and recruited neutrophils is increased in response to silica. Nitric oxide may contribute in part to acute inflammatory lung injury.

• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
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• v.20 no.2
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• pp.119-130
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• 2010

Pulmonary toxicity of talc containing tremolite asbestos (TCT) has been studied in term sequential in Sprague-Dawely rats. UICC chrysotile(average diameter 0.03${\mu}m$, average length 2.93${\mu}m$) was applied as the positive control. TCT was analyzed for its physicochemical properties by transmission electron microscope equipped with energy dispersive X-ray spectrometer(TEM-EDS). The effects of 2mg TCT(talc average diameter 9.7${\pm}$8.4${\mu}m$; tremolite average diameter 1.6${\pm}$1.6${\mu}m$, average length 10.8${\pm}$7.0${\mu}m$) on pathological changes were evaluated after 1, 8 weeks instilled into rat lungs. 2mg Chrysotile continuously affected lung pathological changes. Inflammation and granuloma response broke out from 1 week after instilled with chrysotile and the pathological examination further showed increased legions of lung after 8 weeks. But TCT did not showed lung pathological changes. The biopersistence of TCT and chrysotile was evaluated by TEM- EDS. Whereas chrysotile continuously have retained to 8 weeks instilled into rat lungs, talc of TCT showed statistically significant decrease of diameter from 1 weeks and statistically significant change in Si atomic % compositions at 8 weeks instilled into rat lungs. Physicochemical properties of tremolite of TCT were not affected until 8 weeks instilled into rat lungs. This study showed that the durability of TCT in the lungs is much weaker than chrysotile.

• Korean Journal of Medicinal Crop Science
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• v.19 no.5
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• pp.380-387
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• 2011

This study was carried out to investigate the inhibitory effect of Angelicae Dahuricae Radix (ADR) extract on chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) induced by cigarette smoke condensate (CSC) and lipopolysaccharide (LPS) in mice. COPD was induced by intratracheal instillation of LPS and CSC 5 times for 12 days; this increased airway hyperresoponsiveness (AHR) and inflammatory cells in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF). ADR extract was administered orally at a dose of 50 and 200 mg/kg. The concentration of imperatorin, a major component of ADR and therefore used as a measure of quality control, was $0.098%{\pm}0.018%$. Treatment of the mice with ADR extract (50 and 200 mg/kg) alleviated AHR and reduced inflammatory cell counts. Treatment with cyclosporin A (CSA; 10 mg/kg) also modulated AHR and reduced inflammatory cells effectively. Compared with CSA treatment, treatment with ADR (50 mg/kg) extract reduced neutrophil and $CD4^+/CD3^+$ cell counts by 22.67% and 44.92%, respectively. In addition, compared with CSA treatment, treatment ADR 200 mg/kg reduced neutrophils, $CD4^+/CD3^+$ cells and $CD8^+/CD3^+$ cells, by 32.10%, 83.17% and 82.11%, respectively. These results indicate that ADR extract may have an inhibitory effect on COPD induced by LPS and CSC in mice.

• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
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• v.24 no.2
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• pp.130-136
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• 2014

Objectives: To evaluate the pulmonary toxicity of Korean Chrysotile(KC), the lung function and the number of fibers in the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid of Sprague-Dawley rats instilled with KC were estimated. Materials: Rats were administered 1 mg KC by a single intratracheal instillation. At each time point(5 days, 5 weeks, 10 weeks), the lung function of the rats was analyzed by pressure transducer and the amount of asbestos in the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid of the rats was calculated by transmission electron microscope equipped with energy dispersive X-ray spectrometer. Results: The lung function of the rats at 5 days after instillation of KC was confirmed to be degraded. However, after 5 weeks the test groups showed a tendency to recover lung function. Still, after 10 weeks the lung function of the test groups had not recovered completely. The number of fibers in the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid of the rats instilled with KC rapidly decreased. At 5 weeks the number of fibers had reduced to approximately 1/2 of that found at 5 days. Over time, at 10 weeks it had rapidly decreased to 1/100 that found at 5 days. Conclusions: Korean chrysotile fibers rapidly decreased in the lungs of rats, but the lung function of rats instilled KC does had not completely recovered by 10 weeks.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.25 no.2
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• pp.298-306
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• 2004

Objective : The main purpose of this study was to determine if Rehmanniae Radix has significant effects on lung fibrosis. Materials and Methods : C57BL/6J mice were devided into three groups. These were the normal group, which were not treated, the control group, given Intratracheal instillation(IT) of Bleomycin, the sample group, given IT of bleomycin and water-extracted Rehmanniae Radix. Animals were sacrificed 14 days after IT treatment. Lung fibrosis was evaluated by analysis of bronchoalveolar larvage(BAL) total WBC, percentage of macrophage, lymphocyte and neutrophil. This was done histologically by semiquantitative histological index(SHT) of lung tissue. Results : The sample group in coparison with control group showed a decrease in the BAL, total WBC, lower percentage of lymphocyte and neutrophil(p<0.05) and correspondingly a lower percentage of macrophage(p<0.01). The Sample group showed a significant decrease of collagen accumulation with respect to the control group in SHI of lung tissue(p<0.01). INF-${\gamma}$ and IL-4 levels in BALF of mice significantly decreased in the control group(p<0.05). Conclusions : Results suggest that Rehmanniae Radix has an anti-imflamatory effect and anti-fibrotic effect on the lungs through decrease of IL-4 and total WBC count for not only macrophage, but also lymphocyte and neutrophil. The degradation of INF-${\gamma}$ calls for research beyond the scope of this study.

• Quality Improvement in Health Care
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• v.9 no.1
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• pp.74-89
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• 2002

Background : The purpose of this study was to investigate the incidence of unplanned endotracheal extubation and to identify the influencing factor of unplanned extubation in ICUs for providing baseline data in developing prevention strategies and administrative standards. the medical records and hospital information system. In order to analyze factors related to unplanned extubation, the subjects of this study were divided by unplanned extubation group and planned extubation group and were matched by its sex, age, and disease groups in a ratio of one to two. The data were analyzed by descriptive statistics, ${\chi}^2$- test, t-test, Fisher's exact test, and logistic regression analysis with SPSSWIN 10.0 program. Result : 1) Forty-seven(4.99%) of 942 intubated patients experienced unplanned extubation 65 times during the twelve-month period. Thirtyfour( 72.34%) of 47 unplanned extubated patients required reintubation, whereas thirteen patients(27.66%) did not. 2) About half of unplanned extubation(46.8%) occurred during the night shift. 3) As for the nursing activity, respiratory nursing activity score(P=.0.06) and total nursing activity score(P=.011) showed statistically significant differences between unplanned extubation group and planned extubation group. 4) As for the patient status, unplanned extubation group showed more lower consciousness level(P=.000), more irritable or agitated behavior(P=.000), and had more applied physical restraints(P=.000) than planned extubation group. 5) As for the intubation related variables, unplanned extubation group revealed more intubated with respiratory failure(P=.000), more dependent on mechanical ventilation(P=.015) than planned extubation group. 6) Factors affecting unplanned extubations in intensive care unit patients were irritable or agitated behavior(odds ratio=13.757), night shift(odds ratio=7.166), and mechanical ventilation(odds ratio=6.257) from conditional logistic regression analysis. Conclusion : The most affecting factor of unplanned extubation was agitated or irritable behavior. Therefore the results of this study could be helpful to ICU nurses for meticulous care, decision making, timely intervention, and development of intervention strategies for preventing unplanned extubation.

• The Journal of Pediatrics of Korean Medicine
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• v.22 no.2
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• pp.37-49
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• 2008

Objectives : Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is chronic fibrotic interstitial pneumonia and the pathogenesis is unknown. Peucedani Radix is well-known for the treatment of respiratory diseases and pulmonary hypertension. This study was to evaluate the effectiveness of Peucedani Radix on the bleomycin-induced lung fibrosis model (BLFM) in mouse. Methods : We induced lung fibrosis by intratracheal instillation of bleomycin in C57BL/6J. We compared two groups BLFM without Peucedani Radix (group I) and BLFM with Peucedani Radix (group II). We performed bronchoalveolar lavages (BAL) and obtained lung specimens from both group I and II on the 7th (A) and 21st (B) day, and also for the normal group. We compared with group I and II to find BAL by using ANOVA test and to find pathologic symptoms by using semiquantitative histological index (SHI). Results : In BAL, total cell counts, lymphocytes, and neutrophils was increased in both group I and II comparing with normal group. However, lymphocyte level was decreased more in group IIB than group IB. It was statistically significant. In microscopic findings, scores of SHI in normal group, group IB and IIB were 0.33, 4.47, and 1.96 each. Conclusions : Peucedani Radix might have inhibitory effect on lung fibrosis by reducing inflammatory cells in bleomycin-induced lung fibrosis model in mouse.

• Journal of Korean Critical Care Nursing
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• v.3 no.2
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• pp.25-35
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• 2010

Purpose: The purpose of this pilot study was to investigate the effect of oral care using 0.1% chlorhexidine and tantum solution on oral status and incidence of oral pathogens among intubated ICU patients. Methods: The study subjects were 26 intubated patients of MICU in a university hospital. Oral care was provided with 0.1% chlorhexidine solution to the experimental group (n=12) and with tantum solution to the control group (n=14), 3 times a day for 6 days. After the intervention, the oral status of each subject was checked using structured method, and oral swab culture was done to count colonized bacterial pathogens. Results: The mean oral status score of experimental group was significantly higher than that of control group (U=42.50, p=.031). The mean incidence of oral pathogens in experimental group was smaller than that of control group, but the difference was not statistically significant. Conclusion: The oral care with 0.1% chlorhexidine solution is more effective than with tantum solution for improving oral status of intubated ICU patients. However, additional studies with larger sample size will be needed to figure out it's effects on the incidence of oral pathogens.

• IMMUNE NETWORK
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• v.15 no.3
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• pp.142-149
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• 2015

Lung fibrosis is a life-threatening disease caused by overt or insidious inflammatory responses. However, the mechanism of tissue injury-induced inflammation and subsequent fibrogenesis remains unclear. Recently, we and other groups reported that Th17 responses play a role in amplification of the inflammatory phase in a murine model induced by bleomycin (BLM). Osteopontin (OPN) is a cytokine and extracellular-matrix-associated signaling molecule. However, whether tissue injury causes inflammation and consequent fibrosis through OPN should be determined. In this study, we observed that BLM-induced lung inflammation and subsequent fibrosis was ameliorated in OPNdeficient mice. OPN was expressed ubiquitously in the lung parenchymal and bone-marrow-derived components and OPN from both components contributed to pathogenesis following BLM intratracheal instillation. Th17 differentiation of $CD4^+$ ${\alpha}{\beta}$ T cells and IL-17-producing ${\gamma}{\delta}$ T cells was significantly reduced in OPN-deficient mice compared to WT mice. In addition, Th1 differentiation of $CD4^+$ ${\alpha}{\beta}$ T cells and the percentage of IFN-$\gamma$-producing ${\gamma}{\delta}$ T cells increased. T helper cell differentiation in vitro revealed that OPN was preferentially upregulated in $CD4^+$ T cells under Th17 differentiation conditions. OPN expressed in both parenchymal and bone marrow cell components and contributed to BLM-induced lung inflammation and fibrosis by affecting the ratio of pathogenic IL-17/protective IFN-$\gamma$ T cells.