• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
• /
• v.32 no.1
• /
• pp.10-25
• /
• 2011

Objectives : Asthma is considered an inflammation disease characterized by airway hyperresponsiveness and pulmonary eosinophilia. Chungsang boha-tang is a herbal medication which has been frequently used in traditional therapeutic agents for asthma. We aimed to observe the clinical effects of Chungsangboha-tang on blood eosinophil, serum IgE, AST, ALT and pulmonary function in asthmatic outpatients. Methods : The subjects consisted of 66 asthmatic patients who had been treated with Chungsangboha-tang among all the asthmatic patients who visited the 5th Internal Medicine of the Oriental Medicine Hospital of Kyung Hee University from November,2004 to November,2009. We observed blood eosinophil, serum IgE, AST, ALT levels and pulmonary function test results as well as medical records of patients to evaluate the effects. Results : Pulmonary function significantly improved after 8 weeks of treatment, and blood eosinophil and serum IgE level significantly decreased after 8 weeks of treatment. AST, ALT levels changed in normal ranges. Chungsangboha-tang was significantly effective on the male patients who had a smoking history and worse initial lab findings. We also observed a significant improvement of pulmonary function and decrease of eosinophil and serum IgE levels in the patient group who had a single treatment of Chungsangboha-tang without steroid therapy. Conclusions : This study shows that Chungsangboha-tang has effects on the improvement of pulmonary function and decrease of eosinophil and serum IgE levels as well as improvement of symptoms. And, 8 weeks of long-term treatment showed no negative effects such as significant increase of AST, ALT levels.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
• /
• v.60 no.9
• /
• pp.290-295
• /
• 2017

Purpose: Airway pathology in children with atopic asthma can be reflected by the concave shape of the maximal expiratory flow-volume (MEFV) curve and high fractional exhaled nitric oxide (FeNO) values. We evaluated the capacity of the curvilinearity of the MEFV curve, FeNO, and their combination to distinguish subjects with atopic asthma from healthy individuals. Methods: FeNO and angle ${\beta}$, which characterizes the general configuration of the MEFV curve, were determined in 119 steroid-naïve individuals with atopic asthma aged 8 to 16 years, and in 92 age-matched healthy controls. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analyses were performed to determine the cutoff points of FeNO and angle ${\beta}$ that provided the best combination of sensitivity and specificity for asthma detection. Results: Asthmatic patients had a significantly smaller angle ${\beta}$ and higher FeNO compared with healthy controls (both, P<0.001). For asthma detection, the best cutoff values of angle ${\beta}$ and FeNO were observed at $189.3^{\circ}$ and 22 parts per billion, respectively. The area under the ROC curve for the combination of angle ${\beta}$ and FeNO improved to 0.91 (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.87-0.95) from 0.80 (95% CI, 0.75-0.86; P<0.001) for angle ${\beta}$ alone and 0.86 (95% CI, 0.82-0.91; P=0.002) for FeNO alone. In addition, the combination enhanced sensitivity with no significant decrease in specificity. Conclusion: These data suggest that the combined use of the curvilinearity of the MEFV curve and FeNO is a useful tool to differentiate between children with and without atopic asthma.

• The Korean journal of internal medicine
• /
• v.33 no.6
• /
• pp.1210-1223
• /
• 2018

Background/Aims: The co-occurrence of obesity aggravates asthma symptoms. Diet-induced obesity increases helper T cell (TH) 17 cell differentiation in adipose tissue and the spleen. The 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-coenzyme A reductase inhibitor pravastatin can potentially be used to treat asthma in obese patients by inhibiting interleukin 17 (IL-17) expression. This study investigated the combined effects of pravastatin and anti-IL-17 antibody treatment on allergic inflammation in a mouse model of obesity-related asthma. Methods: High-fat diet (HFD)-induced obesity was induced in C57BL/6 mice with or without ovalbumin (OVA) sensitization and challenge. Mice were administered the anti-IL-17 antibody, pravastatin, or both, and pathophysiological and immunological responses were analyzed. Results: HFD exacerbated allergic airway inflammation in the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid of HFD-OVA mice as compared to OVA mice. Blockading of the IL-17 in the HFD-OVA mice decreased airway hyper-responsiveness (AHR) and airway inflammation compared to the HFD-OVA mice. Moreover, the administration of the anti-IL-17 antibody decreased the leptin/adiponectin ratio in the HFD-OVA but not the OVA mice. Co-administration of pravastatin and anti-IL-17 inhibited airway inflammation and AHR, decreased goblet cell numbers, and increased adipokine levels in obese asthmatic mice. Conclusions: These results suggest that the IL-17-leptin/adiponectin axis plays a key role in airway inflammation in obesity-related asthma. Our findings suggest a potential new treatment for IL-17 as a target that may benefit obesity-related asthma patients who respond poorly to typical asthma medications.

• Korean Journal of Radiology
• /
• v.25 no.7
• /
• pp.673-683
• /
• 2024

Objective: To evaluate the role of visual and quantitative chest CT parameters in assessing treatment response in patients with severe asthma. Materials and Methods: Korean participants enrolled in a prospective multicenter study, named the Precision Medicine Intervention in Severe Asthma study, from May 2020 to August 2021, underwent baseline and follow-up chest CT scans (inspiration/expiration) 10-12 months apart, before and after biologic treatment. Two radiologists scored bronchiectasis severity and mucus plugging extent. Quantitative parameters were obtained from each CT scan as follows: normal lung area (normal), air trapping without emphysema (AT without emph), air trapping with emphysema (AT with emph), and airway (total branch count, Pi10). Clinical parameters, including pulmonary function tests (forced expiratory volume in 1 s [FEV1] and FEV1/forced vital capacity [FVC]), sputum and blood eosinophil count, were assessed at initial and follow-up stages. Changes in CT parameters were correlated with changes in clinical parameters using Pearson or Spearman correlation. Results: Thirty-four participants (female:male, 20:14; median age, 50.5 years) diagnosed with severe asthma from three centers were included. Changes in the bronchiectasis and mucus plugging extent scores were negatively correlated with changes in FEV1 and FEV1/FVC (ρ = from -0.544 to -0.368, all P < 0.05). Changes in quantitative CT parameters were correlated with changes in FEV1 (normal, r = 0.373 [P = 0.030], AT without emph, r = -0.351 [P = 0.042]), FEV1/FVC (normal, r = 0.390 [P = 0.022], AT without emph, r = -0.370 [P = 0.031]). Changes in total branch count were positively correlated with changes in FEV1 (r = 0.349 [P = 0.043]). There was no correlation between changes in Pi10 and the clinical parameters (P > 0.05). Conclusion: Visual and quantitative CT parameters of normal, AT without emph, and total branch count may be effective for evaluating treatment response in patients with severe asthma.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
• /
• v.57 no.6
• /
• pp.567-572
• /
• 2004

Background : The effect of PEEP(ed note: Define PEEP.) on the lung volume in patients with auto-PEEP during mechanical ventilation is not even. In patients with an expiratory limitation such as COPD, a PEEP of 85% from an auto-PEEP can be used with minimal increase in the lung volume. However, the application of PEEP to patients without an expiratory flow limitation can result in progressive lung. This study was carried out to evaluate the different PEEP effects on the lung volume according to the different pulmonary diseases. Methods : Sixteen patients who presented with auto-PEEP during mechanical ventilation were enrolled in this study. These patients were divided into 3 groups: asthma, COPD and tuberculosis sequela (patients with severe cicatrical fibrosis as a result of previous tuberculosis and compensatory emphysema). A PEEP of 25, 50, 75 and 100% of the auto-PEEP was applied, and the lung volume increments were estimated using the trapped lung volume. Results : In the asthma group, the trapped lung volume was not increased at a PEEP of 25 and 50% of the auto-PEEP. This group showed a significant lung volume increment from a 75% PEEP. In the COPD group, the lung volume was increased only at 100% PEEP. In the tuberculosis sequela group, the lung volume was increased progressively from low PEEP levels. However, a significant increment of the lung volume was noted only at 100% PEEP. Conclusion : The effects of the applied PEEP on the lung volume were different depending on the underlying lung pathology. The level of the applied PEEP >50% of the auto-PEEP might increase the trapped lung volume in patients with asthma.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
• /
• v.63 no.4
• /
• pp.337-345
• /
• 2007

Backgrounds: Although glucocorticoids are one of the most potent anti-inflammatory agents, they have limited effect on cysteinyl leukotriene biosynthesis. In addition, the response to inhaled corticosteroids (ICS) and inhaled long-acting ${\beta}_2-agonists$ (LABA) combination therapy in moderate to severe persistent asthmatics varies. Additional therapy with leukotriene receptor antagonists (LTRA) in patients with moderate to severe asthma suboptimally controlled with ICS and LABA combination therapy would be complementary to asthma control. Methods: One hundred and ninety eight asthmatics entered a 2 month, open-label descriptive study. Patients suffering from persistent asthma and suboptimally controlled on a combination therapy of fluticasone/salmeterol or budesonide/formoterol were given montelukast 10 mg daily as an add-on therapy. The level of asthma control was assessed using the Asthma Control Questionnaire (ACQ) including $FEV_1%$ predicted at the baseline and after a 2-month treatment with montelukast. A global evaluation of the treatment was also made by the patients and physicians. Results: The mean ACQ score decreased significantly on montelukast ($11.5{\pm}5.4$ at baseline vs. $6.7{\pm}5.0$), with a significant improvement in all individual symptom scores (p<0.01). The $FEV_1%$ predicted values did not show any significant change. 59.9% of patients and 59.4% of physicians reported global improvement in their asthma (${\kappa}=0.85$). Conclusion: These results suggest that the addition of montelukast in patients with persistent asthma that is suboptimally contolled by combination therapy of ICS and LABA might confer complementary effects on asthma control.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
• /
• v.16 no.3
• /
• pp.557-562
• /
• 2002

The present study was made with the aim of finding out the Kamihaepyoijin-tang's effect on the allergic asthma using the Egg-White Implant(EWI) method model recommended by de Siqueira et al. Kamihaepyoijin-tang has widely been prescribed and used in Oriental Medicine for controlling and curing of cough, asthma, nasal obstruction. Previous studies have demonstrated that Kamihaepyoijin-tang had analgesic, anticonvulsive effects. But it is uncertain whether Kamihaepyoijin-tang could inhibit the allergic reaction of rats with experimentally induced allergic asthma using EWI method. With such aim. the respiratory patterns and eosinophil infiltration in the tracheal mucosa of the rats were mainly observed. The results were summerized as follows ; 1. The frequency of malformed respiratory patterns in Kamihaepyoijin-tang treated groups were decreased as compared with the control group. 2. The Ratio of malformed respiratory patterns in Kamihaepyoijin-tang treated groups were significantly decreased as compared with the control group(p<0.02). 3. The eosinophil infiltration in Kamihaepyoijin-tang treated groups were decreased as compared with the control group. 4. The eosinophil infiltration that inside of trachea tissue in Kamihaepyoijin-tang treated groups were significantly decreased as compared with the control group(p<0.05). Depending upon above results, it is considered that Kamihaepyoijin-tang has the inhibitory effects on the allergic asthma of rats and suggested that it could be used in relieving patients of the symptoms which are caused by allergic asthma.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
• /
• v.40 no.4
• /
• pp.582-596
• /
• 2019

Objective: The aims of this study were to analyze the deficiency-excess pattern identification (虛實辨證) and compare it to the sputum cytokines of asthma patients. Method: 50 asthma patients who met the inclusion and exclusion criteria were included in this study. They were divided into two groups: deficiency and excess syndrome groups. Sputum examinations were performed including $TNF-{\alpha}$, Interleukin (IL)-4, IL-5, IL-10, and IL-13. The Quality of Life Questionnaire for Adult Korean Asthmatics (QLQAKA), the Visual Analog Scale(VAS), and heart rate variability (HRV) were also measured. We also conducted laboratory tests, including the hematological indexes. Results: Based on the pattern identification, 50 asthma patients can be divided into two categories of groups: the deficiency syndrome group (N=24) and the excess syndrome group (N=26). In the analysis of sputum cytokines, although the $TNF-{\alpha}$, IL-4 and IL-13 were at a higher level in the deficient pattern group than in the excess pattern group, it was insignificantly different. There was a negative correlation in the analysis of QLQAKA and VAS. In the analysis of HRV, although the mean value of VLF, LF, and HF in the deficiency syndrome group was higher than in the excess syndrome group, it was insignificantly different. There was no significant difference in the hematological tests between the deficiency and the excess syndrome group. The mean value of the IgE in the blood tests was five times greater than the reference value. Conclusion: The cytokines of sputum including $TNF-{\alpha}$, IL-4, IL-5, IL-10, and IL-13 were indifferent statistically. Reinforcing the healthy and eliminating the pathogenic factors should be considered.

• Korean Journal of Bronchoesophagology
• /
• v.7 no.2
• /
• pp.146-151
• /
• 2001

Background and Objectives： Primary benign masses in subglottis and trachea are rare. Symptoms of tracheal obstruction are similar to those of bronchial asthma, chronic bronchitis, as well as malignant lesions. Materials and Methods： Eight patients with benign tracheal masses from April 1992 through June 2001, at otolaryngology-head and neck surgery. department of Seoul national university hospital were studied by retrospective medical record review. Results : They were 3 females and 5 males aged from 0 to 57 years. The pathologies of the intratracheal masses were lipoma. tuberculosis, pleomorphic adenoma, hemangioma(two case), reparative giant cell granuloma, epithelial inclusion cyst and nonspecific lymphadenopathy, respectively. The most characteristic symptoms were dyspnea and stridor, both inspiratory and expiratory. Five of them had been treated as bronchial asthma. Conclusion： For the management of patients with the subglottis and tracheal masses, it is important to establish secure airway. regardless of pathology of the masses. The diagnosis should be considered in any patient with asthma-like manifestation, especially who fails to respond to medical treatment. It is necessary to examine the airway thoroughly, and chest and simple cervical X-ray may contribute to the diagnosis of possible intratracheal mass.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
• /
• v.20 no.2
• /
• pp.98-107
• /
• 1999

This study aimed to find out Oyo-Tang's effects on allergic asthma using the Egg-White Implant(EWI) method model recommended by Siqueira et al. Oyo-Tang has widely been prescribed and used in Oriental Medicine for controlling and curing of cough, nasal obstruction, pharyngeal pain and hoarseness. Previous studies have demonstrated that Oyo-Tang has analgesic, sedative, anticonvulsive, antitussive and antihistamine effects. But it was uncertain whether Oyo-Tang could inhibit the allergic reactions, to alleviate the symptoms of allergic asthma. With such aim. the respiratory patterns and eosinophil infiltration in the tracheal mucosa of rats with experimentally induced allergic asthma (using EWI method) were mainly observed. The results are as follows: 1. Oyo-Tang decreased the number of poor respiration with respect to control group (P<0.05) 2. Oyo-Tang decreased the number of eosinophils infiltrated in tracheal mucosa with respect control group (P<0.05). The above results demonstrate that Oyo-Tang has the inhibitory effects on the process allergic asthma and suggest that it could be used in relieving patients of the symptoms caused allergic asthma.