• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• 제69권5호
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• pp.361-367
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• 2010

Background: Difficult-to-treat asthma afflicts a small percentage of the asthma population. However, these patients remain refractory to treat, and account for 40% to 50% of the health costs of asthma treatment, incurring significant morbidity. We conducted a multi-center cross-sectional study to characterize difficult-to-treat asthma in Korea. Methods: Subjects with difficult-to-treat asthma and subjects with controlled asthma were recruited from 5 outpatient clinics of referral hospitals. We reviewed medical records of previous 6 months and obtained patient-reported questionnaires composed of treatment compliance, asthma control, and instruments for stress, anxiety, and depression. Results: We recruited 21 subjects with difficult-to-treat asthma and 110 subjects with controlled asthma into the study. The subjects with difficult-to-treat asthma were associated with longer treatment periods, more increased health care utilization, more medication (oral corticosteroids, number of medication), and more anxiety disorder compared to those of well-controlled asthmatics. There was no difference in age, gender, history of allergy, serum IgE, blood eosinophil count, or body mass index between the 2 groups. Conclusion: Difficult-to-treat asthma is characterized by increased health care utilization and more co-morbidity of anxiety.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• 제49권4호
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• pp.486-494
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• 2000

연구배경 : 부교감 신경의 자극에 의해 유발된 기관지 수축은 $M_2$ 무스카린성 수용체(muscarinic receptors)에 의해 억제된다. 기관지 과민성을 유발시킨 동물 모델에서는 아세틸콜린 분비를 억제하는 $M_2$ 무스카린성 수용체 기능이 손상되어 아세틸콜린의 분비가 증가되고, 이로 인해 기관지 과민성을 나타낸다. 본 연구에서는 경증, 중등증, 중증 천식 환자를 대상으로 $M_2$ 무스카린성 수용체 기능 이상이 있는지 여부와 천식의 중증도에 따라 $M_2$ 무스카린성 수용체 기능에 차이가 있는지를 알아보고자 연구를 시행하였다. 대상 및 방법 : 고려대학교 안암병원 내과에서 천식으로 진단 받은 27명을 대상으로 하였다. 이 중 경증 천식이 11명, 중등증 천식이 8명, 중증 천식 8명이었다. 천식 발작이 있거나, 2주 이내에 상기도 감염이 있는 환자, 메타콜린 유발 검사에서 음성($PC_{20}{\geq}$16mg/ml)인 환자는 제외하였다. 대상 환자들은 메타콜린 유발 검사를 시행하여 $PC_{20}$을 구하고, 1주일 후에 $M_2$ 무스카린성 수용체 촉진제(agonist) 인 필로카핀(pilocarpine) $180{\mu}g$을 흡입한 후 1차 때와 같은 방법으로 $PC_{20}$을 구해 두 값을 비교하였다. 결과 : 대상 환자의 평균 연령은 39.3$\pm$12.3세였다. 천식의 중증도에 따라 결과를 분석해 보면 경증 천식 환자는 필로카핀 흡입 전 $PC_{20}$은 5.30$\pm$5.23mg/ml(평균$\pm$표준편차)에서 필로카핀 흡입 후 20.82$\pm$22.56mg/ml이었으며(p=0.004), 중등증 천식 환자는 필로카핀 흡입 전 $PC_{20}$은 2.79$\pm$1.51mg/ml에서 필로카핀 흡입 후 4.67$\pm$3.53mg/ml(p=0.012)로 유의하게 증가하였다. 이는 필로카핀에 대한 $M_2$ 무스카린성 수용체 기능이 정상임을 말해준다. 그러나 중증 천식 환자는 필로카핀 흡입 전 $PC_{20}$은 1.76$\pm$1.50mg/ml에서 필로카핀 흡입 후 3.18$\pm$4.03mg/ml(p=0.161)로 필로카핀 흡입 후에 통계적으로 유의한 차이가 없었다. 이는 중증 천식에서는$M_2$ 무스카린성 수용체 기능 이상이 있음을 말해준다. 결론 : 경증, 중등증, 중증을 대상으로 $M_2$ 무스카린성 수용체 기능을 조사해본 결과 경증과 중등증 천식에서는 $M_2$ 무스카린성 수용체 기능 이상이 없었고, 중증 천식에서는 $M_2$ 무스카린성 수용체 기능 이상이 있었다. 이는 천식의 중증도에 따라 $M_2$ 무스카린성 수용체 기능에 차이가 있음을 말해준다.

• 한국정보과학회논문지:소프트웨어및응용
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• 제36권9호
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• pp.691-696
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• 2009

서론: 천식에는 아스피린 과민증 (aspirin hypersensitivity)에 따라 아스피린 불내성 (aspirin intolerant asthma, AIA)과 내성 천식 (aspirin tolerant asthma, ATA) 두 가지 유형이 있다. 천식과 관련된 유전적 위험 요인들은 집중적으로 또한 광범위하게 연구되고 있다. 그러나 단일염기다형성들의 조합의 효과에 대해서는 거의 평가되지 않았다. 본 논문에서는 두 유형의 천식 진단에 유용한 단일염기다형성의 최상의 조합을 찾는다. 방법: 본 논문에서는 246명의 천식환자들을 조사하였다. (94명은 아스피린 불내성 천식을 152명은 아스피린 내성 천식을 가지고 있다) 그리고 천식과 관련된 것으로 추측되는 25개의 단일염기다형성들을 분석하였다. 단일염기다형성의 조합의 정규상호정보 값을 계산하여 높은 정규상호정보 값을 갖는 단일염기다형성들의 조합을 선택하고 선택된 조합들의 예측 정확도를 지지벡터기계를 사용하여 계산하였다. 결과: 최상의 조합은 4개짜리이고 ALOX5_p1_1708, B2ADR_q1_46, CCR3_p1_520, CysLTR1_p1_534로 구성된 모델이다. 이것은 0.053의 정규상호정보 값과 71.14%의 ATA 질병에 대한 예측 정확도를 갖는다.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• 제58권3호
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• pp.89-95
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• 2015

Purpose: House dust mite (HDM) has been suggested to be the most important aeroallergen responsible for atopic asthma in Korea. We aimed to investigate that specific IgE antibodies to HDM and other common indoor aeroallergens contribute differently to total serum IgE and show different relationships with longitudinal fractional exhaled nitric oxide (FeNO) measurements in Korean atopic asthmatic patients. Methods: A total of 193 children aged 8 to 16 years with intermittent or mild persistent atopic asthma were recruited. Sera were assayed for total IgE and specific IgE antibodies to HDM and other common indoor allergens. FeNO was serially measured 10 times or more over 2 years when subjects were not receiving controller medications. Results: In 152 children who completed the study, IgE antibodies to specific HDM were more prevalent than those to other common indoor aeroallergens. In addition, IgE antibody titers to HDM were the strongest contributor to total IgE increases. Furthermore, only HDM-specific IgE antibody titer significantly correlated with maximum FeNO (r=0.21, P=0.029) and the rate of FeNO higher than 21 parts per billion (ppb) (r=0.30, P=0.002). Eight patients (5%) were found to have maximum FeNO of 21 ppb or less, suggesting the presence of a low FeNO phenotype among atopic asthmatic patients. Conclusion: The quantity of HDM-specific IgE antibody provides a possible explanation for increases of total IgE and significantly correlates with the amount and frequency of FeNO increases in Korean atopic asthmatic patients.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• 제71권3호
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• pp.188-194
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• 2011

Background: When patients with chronic respiratory symptoms have a normal spirometry result, it is not always easy to consider bronchial asthma as the preferential diagnosis. Forced expiratory flow between 25% and 75% of vital capacity ($FEF_{25{\sim}75%}$) is known as a useful diagnostic value of small airway diseases. However, it is not commonly used, because of its high individual variability. We evaluated the pattern of bronchodilator responsiveness (BDR) and the correlation between $FEF_{25{\sim}75%}$ and BDR in patients with suspicious asthma and normal spirometry. Methods: Among patients with suspicious bronchial asthma, 440 adult patients with a normal spirometry result (forced expiratory volume in one second [$FEV_1$]/forced vital capacity [FVC] ${\geq}70%$ & $FEV_1%$ predicted ${\geq}80%$) were enrolled. We divided this group into a positive BDR group (n=43) and negative BDR group (n=397), based on the result of BDR. A comparison was carried out of spirometric parameters with % change of $FEV_1$ after bronchodilator (${\Delta}FEV_1%$). Results: Among the 440 patients with normal spirometry, $FEF_{25{\sim}75%}%$ predicted were negatively correlated with ${\Delta}FEV_1%$ (r=-0.22, p<0.01), and BDR was positive in 43 patients (9.78%). The means of $FEF_{25{\sim}75%}%$ predicted were $64.0{\pm}14.5%$ in the BDR (+) group and $72.9{\pm}20.8%$ in the BDR (-) group (p<0.01). The negative correlation between $FEF_{25{\sim}75%}%$ predicted and ${\Delta}FEV_1%$ was stronger in the BDR (+) group (r=-0.38, p=0.01) than in the BDR (-) group (r=-0.17, p<0.01). In the ROC curve analysis, $FEF_{25{\sim}75%}$ at 75% of predicted value had 88.3% sensitivity and 40.3% specificity for detecting a positive BDR. Conclusion: BDR (+) was not rare in patients with suspicious asthma and normal spirometry. In these patients, $FEF_{25{\sim}75%}%$ predicted was well correlated with BDR.

• 대한한방내과학회지
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• 제41권4호
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• pp.583-598
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• 2020

Objective: The aims of this study were to analyze deficiency-excess pattern identification and to compare the blood cytokines in patients with asthma. Methods: A total of 112 patients with asthma who met the inclusion and exclusion criteria were divided into deficiency syndrome and excess syndrome groups. Blood was examined for eotaxin, interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-4, IL-5, IL-6, IL-13, and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α. The Quality of Life Questionnaire for Adult Korean Asthmatics (QLQAKA), a Visual Analogue Scale (VAS), and heart rate variability (HRV) tests were administered to both groups. Results: Pattern identification divided the 112 patients into two categories: a deficiency syndrome group (N=52) and an excess syndrome group (N=60). Analysis of blood cytokines showed higher levels of IL-4, IL-5, and IL-13 in the deficient pattern than in the excess pattern group, but the difference was not statistically significant. Analysis of the HRV revealed a significantly higher mean value for the very-low-frequency (VLF) and high-frequency (HF) bands in the deficiency than in the excess syndrome group. The morbidity duration was longer in the deficiency than in the excess syndrome group, but the difference was not statistically significant. Analysis of the QLQAKA and VAS scores showed a negative correlation, whereas BMI and VAS showed a positive correlation. Conclusions: Levels of blood cytokines, including eotaxin, IL-1β, IL-4, IL-5, IL-6, IL-13, and TNF-α, did not differ statistically between the deficiency and excess syndrome groups. The development of a more accurate asthma-specific pattern identification tool would be useful in asthma control.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• 제57권6호
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• pp.271-277
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• 2014

Purpose: A nationwide outbreak of Mycoplasma pneumoniae pneumonia (MP) refractory to macrolide antibiotics occurred in Korea during 2011. Steroid therapy has been reported to be both efficacious and well tolerated in pediatric patients with refractory MP. We compared clinical features and laboratory characteristics between children with refractory MP requiring steroid treatment and those with macrolide-responsive MP and evaluated the risk factors associated with refractory MP. Methods: We investigated 203 children who were admitted to our institution with MP from June to November 2011. Refractory MP was defined by persistent fever over $38.3^{\circ}C$ with progressive pulmonary consolidation or pleural effusion despite administration of appropriate macrolide antibiotics for 5 days or longer after admission. Steroid therapy was initiated on the fifth day after admission for refractory cases. Results: There were 26 patients with refractory MP requiring steroid therapy. The mean duration of steroid therapy was 5.4 days and most of the patients were afebrile within 24 hours after initiation of steroid therapy. The prevalence of refractory MP was higher in patients with pleural effusion, lobar pneumonia affecting more than 2 lobes, higher levels of serum lactate dehydrogenase, increased oxygen requirements, and longer duration of hospitalization. Atopic sensitization and history of asthma were also associated with refractory MP after adjusting for age and gender. Conclusion: Children with refractory MP had more severe pneumonia. Atopic sensitization and history of asthma may be risk factors for refractory MP requiring steroid therapy in Korean children.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• 제79권3호
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• pp.165-178
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• 2016

Background: Although recent metagenomic approaches have characterized the distinguished microbial compositions in airways of asthmatics, these results did not reach a consensus due to the small sample size, non-standardization of specimens and medication status. We conducted a metagenomics approach by using terminal restriction fragment length polymorphism (T-RFLP) analysis of the induced whole sputum representing both the cellular and fluid phases in a relative large number of steroid $na{\ddot{i}}ve$ asthmatics. Methods: Induced whole sputum samples obtained from 36 healthy subjects and 89 steroid-$na{\ddot{i}}ve$ asthma patients were analyzed through T-RFLP analysis. Results: In contrast to previous reports about microbiota in the asthmatic airways, the diversity of microbial composition was not significantly different between the controls and asthma patients (p=0.937). In an analysis of similarities, the global R-value showed a statistically significant difference but a very low separation (0.148, p=0.002). The dissimilarity in the bacterial communities between groups was 28.74%, and operational taxonomic units (OTUs) contributing to this difference were as follows: OTU 789 (Lachnospiraceae), 517 (Comamonadaceae, Acetobacteraceae, and Chloroplast), 633 (Prevotella), 645 (Actinobacteria and Propionibacterium acnes), 607 (Lactobacillus buchneri, Lactobacillus otakiensis, Lactobacillus sunkii, and Rhodobacteraceae), and 661 (Acinetobacter, Pseudomonas, and Leptotrichiaceae), and they were significantly more prevalent in the sputum of asthma patients than in the sputum of the controls. Conclusion: Before starting anti-asthmatic treatment, the microbiota in the whole sputum of patients with asthma showed a marginal difference from the microbiota in the whole sputum of the controls.

• 성인간호학회지
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• 제14권3호
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• pp.470-478
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• 2002

Purpose: In this study, symptom experience and quality of life(QoL) in patients with Bronchial asthma(BA) and Bronchiectasis(BRC) were examined to develop nursing strategies. Method: Data collection was done with 61 outpatients with BA and 43 outpatients with BRC in January and February, 2001. Data analyses were performed using SPSS Win 8.0. Result: The mean scores of symptom experience were 11.3 and 10.8 in patients with BA and BRC, respectively. The mean score of QoL was 18.0 in patients with BA and 19.2 in patients with BRC. There were statistically significant differences in the score of the symptom experience according to sex and occupation in patients with BA, and to the religion and occupation in patients with BRC. The mean score of QoL had significant difference according to the income in patients with BA, but had no significant differences in patients with BRC. The score of QoL had significantly correlated with the degree of symptom experience in patients with BA(p=.000) and with BRC(p=.022). Conclusion: The degree of symptom experience negatively correlated with QoL. Therefore, symptoms experienced by patients should be considered in development of nursing strategies for patients with BA and BRC.

• 대한핵의학회지
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• 제25권1호
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• pp.46-52
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• 1991

Radioaerosol inhalation imaging (RII) has been used in radionuclide pulmonary studies for the past 20 years. The method is well accepted for assessing regional ventilation because of its usefulness, easy fabrication and simple application system. To evaluate its clinical utility in the study of impaired regional ventilation in bronchial asthma, we obtained and analysed RIIs in 31 patients (16 women and 15 men; age ranging 21-76 years) with typical bronchial asthma at the Department of Radiology, Kangnam St. Mary's Hospital, Catholic University Medical college, from January, 1988 to August, 1989. Scintiscans were obtained with radioaerosol produced by a BARC(Bhabha Atomic Reserch Center, India) nebulizer with 15 mCi of $^{99m}Tc-phytate$. The scanning was peformed in anterior, posterior and lateral projections following 5-minute inhalation of radioaerosol on sitting position. The scans were analyzed and correlated with the results of pulmonary function study and the findings of chest radiography. Fifteen patients had concomitant lung perfusion image with $^{99m}Tc-MAA$. Follow-up scans were obtained in 5 patients after bronchodilator therapy. The patients were divided into (1) attack type (4 patients), (2) resistant type (5 patients), (3) remittent type (10 patients) and (4) bronchitic type (12 patients). Chest radiography showed hyperinflation, altered pulmonary vascularity, thickening of the bronchial wall and accentuation of basal interstitial markings in 26 of the 31 patients. Chest radiographs were norma! in the remaining 5 patients. Regardless of type, the findings of RII were basically the same, and characterized by the deposition of radioaerosol in the central parts or in the main respiratory air ways along with mottled nonsegmental ventilation defects in the periphery. Peripheral parenchymal defects were more extensive than that of expected findings from clinical symptoms, pulmonary function test and chest radiograph. Broomstick sign was present in 17 patients. The abnormality of RII was poorly correlated with perfusion scans. In all 5 patients treated with bronchodilators, follow-up study demonstrated a decrease in the degree of radioaerosol deposition in the central air way with improved ventilation defects. This study indicates that RII is a useful technique for the evaluation of regional ventilation abnormality and the effect of treatment with bronchodilators in patients with bronchial asthma.