• The Journal of Pediatrics of Korean Medicine
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• v.16 no.2
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• pp.83-99
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• 2002

Respiratory tract symptoms such as cough, wheeze, and strider may occur frequently or persist for long periods in a substantial number of children, others may have persistent or recurring lung infiltrates with or without symptoms. It is important to study on clinical significance of this symptoms for avoiding unnecessary test or treatment. Chronic or Recurrent Respiratory Symptoms are similar to cold(感冒) and cough(咳嗽) in Oriental Medicine. Diagnostic criteria is followed : in case of children less than three years old, upper respiratory infections are more than seven per year or lower respiratory infections are more than three ; in case of children three to five years old, upper respiratory infections are more than six per year or lower respiratory infections are more than two ; in case of children six to twelve years old, upper respiratory infections are more than five per year or lower respiratory infections are more than two. In oriental medical treatment is classified into the treatment of internal use, external use, internal and external use, acupuncture, cupping therapy, and combination treatment of chinese and western medicine.

• Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology & Nutrition
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• v.6 no.1
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• pp.17-23
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• 2003

Purpose: The aim of this study was to determine clinical significance of dual-probe esophageal pH monitoring and to compare four pH monitoring parameters between proximal and distal esophagus in pathological gastroesophageal reflux disease with recurrent respiratory symptoms. Methods: Among the thirty-four patients who were performed 24 hr pH monitoring, seventeen patients with pathological distal reflux were classified into two groups: Group I (n:12) had recurrent respiratory symptoms and Group II (n:5) hadn't recurrent respiratory symptoms. The ambulatory dual-probe esophageal pH monitoring was performed for 18~24 hr. A pathologic GER was defined when reflux index (percent of the investigation time a pH<4) exceeded the 95th percentile of normal value. Results: Among the sixteen patients with recurrent respiratory symptoms, twelve patients (75%) have pathological distal reflux. Whereas among the eighteen patients without recurrent respiratory symptom, five patients (28%) have pathological distal reflux. In the Group I, the significant differences between proximal and distal esophageal pH recordings persisted for all parameters, but didn't persist in group II except for longest episode. Comparing esophageal pH four parameters between group I and group II at the proximal esophageal site, all parameters didn't show statistically significant differences. Conclusion: Regardless of respiratory symptoms, patients with pathological distal reflux didn't show statistically significant differences in the all parameters at the proximal esophageal site. Therefore we may reconsider usefulness of dual probe pH meter in patients with recurrent respiratory symptoms.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.45 no.2
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• pp.287-302
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• 2024

Background: Bronchiectasis is a chronic respiratory condition leading to recurrent respiratory infections. Despite the use of antibiotics and other standard treatments, managing bronchiectasis remains challenging due to the frequent recurrence of airway infections and concerns about antimicrobial resistance. Given these challenges, traditional Korean medicine (TKM) has gained attention due to its potential to reduce the frequency of respiratory infections, possibly minimizing the need for antibiotics. Case report: A 59-year-old female with bronchiectasis experienced recurrent pneumonia and was treated with antibiotics for over 2 weeks without any significant improvement in clinical symptoms. She received comprehensive Korean medicine treatment, including herbal medicine (Sikyungbanha-tang combined with Bigwabojungikki-tang-gami), acupuncture, and Chuna manual therapy, for pulmonary rehabilitation. Post-treatment, clinically meaningful improvements were observed in symptoms, serum C-reactive protein (CRP) levels, and bronchopneumonic lesions on chest X-rays. Conclusion: This case suggests that complex traditional Korean medicine treatments for recurrent chronic airway inflammation due to bronchiectasis can lead to clinically significant improvements in symptoms and help to prevent recurrence.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.45 no.2
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• pp.261-266
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• 2002

Vascular ring, originating from abnormal regression of the aortic arch during fetal life, can cause prolonged and recurrent respiratory symptoms and dysphagia when the diagnosis is delayed. We report a 4 month old girl with vascular ring, who had been treated for persistent respiratory symptoms including stridor, wheezing, and dyspnea soon after birth. Initially her respiratory symptoms were thought to be due to bronchiolitis, for which respiratory syncytial virus was confirmed by immunofluorescent staining. Her clinical course was again complicated with tracheitis and pneumonia due to Haemophilus influenzae type b. The possibility of anatomical anomaly was investigated when it was felt to be difficult to insert a suction catheter deep down through a endotracheal tube which was placed for adequate ventilatory management. A three-dimensional chest CT revealed a vascular ring consisting of a double aortic arch. For 5 months following surgery, her respiratory symptoms have slowly been improving. She developed another episode of pneumonia which was milder than the one which occurred before the surgery.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.70 no.1
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• pp.74-78
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• 2011

Herein, we report a case of recurrent pleural metastasis after complete resection of invasive thymoma that was successfully treated with surgical resection. Thymoma and thymic carcinoma are uncommon neoplasms derived from the epithelial cells of the thymus. Approximately 30% to 50% of thymomas are asymptomatic at the time of diagnosis. However, these cancers may present with constitutional or local pressure symptoms and sometimes with paraneoplastic syndromes, especially myasthenia gravis. Surgical resection is the mainstay of thymoma treatment and has been shown to remarkably improve long-term survival. Despite complete resection, local recurrences are frequent, and surgery is the cornerstone of therapy even in cases of recurrent thymoma. We experienced a 67-year-old male patient with pleural metastasis that developed 6 years after complete surgical resection of invasive thymoma. The pleural mass was excised by video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery. Histopathological examination revealed an invasive World Health Organization (WHO) type B2 thymoma.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.77 no.4
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• pp.184-187
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• 2014

Idiopathic pleuroparenchymal fibroelastosis (PPFE) is a rare, recently classified entity that consists of pleural and subjacent parenchymal fibrosis predominantly in the upper lungs. In an official American Thoracic Society/European Respiratory Society statement in 2013, this disease is introduced as a group of rare idiopathic interstitial pneumonias. We describe a case of a 76-year-old woman with cough and recurrent pneumothorax. She was admitted to our hospital with severe cough at first. High resolution computed tomography (HRCT) disclosed multifocal subpleural consolidations with reticular opacities in both lungs, primarily in the upper lobes, suggesting interstitial pneumonia. Rheumatoid lung was diagnosed initially through an elevated rheumatoid factor, HRCT and surgical biopsy at the right lower lobe. However, one month later, pneumothorax recurred. Surgical biopsy was performed at the right upper lobe at this time. The specimens revealed typical subpleural fibroelastosis. We report this as a first case of idiopathic PPFE in Korea after reviewing the symptoms, imaging and pathologic findings.

• 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.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.49 no.4
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• pp.410-416
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• 2006

Purpose : Ciliary abnormalities of the respiratory system usually accompany recurrent or persistent respiratory diseases such as paranasal sinusitis, bronchiectasis, rhinitis, and/or otitis media, since they cause certain derangements in ciliary cleaning activities. This disease is usually inherited by autosomal recessive trait, but may also be found to be acquired or transient in rare cases after heavy exposure to pollutants, cigarette smoking or severe infection. We performed this study in children with frequently recurrent or persistent respiratory diseases to clarify if the ciliary abnormalities are preceding factors. Methods : We enrolled 17 children with suspected respiratory ciliary abnormalities. The indications for evaluation of ciliary ultrastructure were recurrent or persistent respiratory infections. Children with immunologic abnormalities were excluded. From August 2000 to July 2003, we performed a biopsy on nasal mucosa and examined the structure of ciliary status by using an electron microscope. Results : Of the subjects, there were seven males and 10 females, aged 2 to 10 years. Out of the 17 subjects, 12 cases of chronic paranasal sinusitis, nine chronic coughs, nine frequent upper respiratory infections, seven cases of recurrent otitis media, four cases of recurrent pneumonia, and four cases of bronchial asthma were found. Out of the 17 cases on which histologic examinations were conducted, four cases showed pathologic findings, including one case of inner dynein arm defect, one of microtubular transposition, one of supernumerous tubules, and one singlet, respectively. Conclusion : It is essential for differential diagnosis and effective treatment to identify the abnormalities of ultrastructure of nasal cilia in children with symptoms of frequently recurrent or persistent respiratory diseases, if immunodeficiency or respiratory allergy could be excluded.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.85 no.4
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• pp.283-288
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• 2022

Asthma is a chronic inflammatory disease of the airways characterized by varying and recurrent symptoms, reversible airway obstruction, and bronchospasm. In this paper, clinical important studies on asthma published between March 2021 and February 2022 were reviewed. A study on the relationship between asthma and chronic rhinosinusitis, bronchiectasis, and hormone replacement therapy was published. A journal on the usefulness of fractional exhaled nitric oxide for the prediction of severe acute exacerbation was also introduced. Studies on the effect of inhaler, one of the most important treatments for asthma, were published. Studies on the control of severe asthma continued. Phase 2 and 3 studies of new biologics were also published. As the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has been prolonged, many studies have explored the prevalence and mortality of COVID-19 infection in asthma patients.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.28 no.7
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• pp.721-725
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• 1995

One case of surgical correction of a large aortopulmonary window in a 4 months old female is reported in detail. Clinical symptoms consisted of fatigue when feeding and recurrent upper respiratory tract infection. Under cardiopulmonary bypass with moderate hypothermia and cardioplegic arrest of the heart, the aortopulmonary window was approached through a vertical incision at the anterior wall of window itself. The defect was closed with pericardial patch using continuous suture posteriorly and sandwitch technique anteriorly. The patient was weaned from the cardiopulmoanry bypas without hemodynamic problem and postoperative course was uneventful. This surgical technique is recommandable as it provides good exposure of the defect and can be performed easily and safely.