• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.42 no.1
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• pp.19-24
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• 1995

Background: Although pulmonary tuberculosis is effectively controlled with 6 months or 9 months short course standard regimens, comparable numbers of treatment failures ensued because of inadequate treatment mainly due to patient's poor compliance. Indequate treatment with standard regimens during initial treatment may cause emergence of drug resistance and prolong the duration of chemotherapy. Also it may make the patient lesser compliant and finally increase the morbidity and the mortality. Methods: A clinical study was done to evaluate clinical and bacteriological characteristics of 94 patients who were retreated for pulmonary tuberculosis. Results: 1) 62 of the 94 patients were male and 32 patients were female. Mean age is 51 years old in male and 45 years old in female. 2) The extent of the disease on the chest radiograph was minimal in 10(11.1%) patients, moderate in 31(33.3%) patients, and far advanced in 52(55.6%) patients. 3) On sputum bacteriologic examination, 73(77.7%) patients were positive in sputum AFB smear and/or culture for Mycobacterium tuberculosis. 4) Results of drug sensitivity test performed in 42 patients showed that the resistance to one drug is in 9(20.5%) patients, two drugs in 18(40.8%) patients, and more than three drugs in 14(31.8%) patients. 5) Poor patient's compliance was the leading cause of the retreatment of pulmonary tuberculosis(43.6%) 6) Only 24(25.5%) patients of the 94 retreatment patients were successfully treated and 39(41.6%) patients were dropped out during follow-up. Conclusion: We concluded that poor patient's compliance was the most important cause of treatment failure not only in primary treatment patients but also in retreatment patients. Primary treatment of pulmonary tuberculosis should be completed under strict monitoring of the patient because significant number of retreatment patients had multiple drug resistance and poor outcome.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.51 no.1
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• pp.35-43
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• 2001

Background : The eosinophil chemotactic and activating effects of eotaxin and the known association of eosinophils with asthma suggest that eotaxin expression is increased during an asthma attack. This study was aimed to determine whether the plasma eotaxin levels are higher in patients during an asthma attack and to correlate the eotaxin levels with the disease activity, severity and response to therapy. Method : A case-control study of the plasma eotaxin levels was performed in 100 patients with exacerbated asthma and 48 age- and sex-matched subjects with stable asthma. Results : The plasma eotaxin levels were significantly higher in the 100 patients with exacerbated asthma($233{\pm}175\;pg/mL$) than in the 48 subjects with stable asthma($169{\pm}74\;pg/mL$). A trend toward higher eotaxin levels was observed in asthmatic subjects who were taking oral steroids ($332{\pm}225\;pg/mL$) than in those who were not ($214{\pm}159\;pg/mL$) and higher levels were found in those admitted to the hospital ($275{\pm}212\;pg/mL$) than in those discharged after receiving only emergency treatment ($190{\pm}115\;pg/mL$). The eotaxin levels inversely correlated with the $FEV_$ (r=-0.25, p<0.01). The eotaxin levels were higher in moderate persistent ($323{\pm}256\;pg/mL$) and severe persistent asthmatics ($276{\pm}170\;pg/mL$) than in mild intermittent asthmatics ($l60{\pm}60\;pg/mL$). Conclusion : Eotaxin expression is directly associated with asthma exacerbation, impaired pulmonary function and the disease severity.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.53 no.1
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• pp.28-32
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• 2010

Purpose : Although eosinophilia is a common laboratory finding in many neonatal intensive care units (ICUs), its causative mechanisms remain obscure. We aimed to determine the causes of eosinophilia in the neonatal ICU environment. Methods : Serial eosinophil counts were determined weekly for 288 hospitalized, appropriately grown neonates. Infants were divided into four groups according to gestational age, and the incidence and etiologic factors of eosinophilia were retrospectively studied. Results : Absolute eosinophilia (>$700/mm^3$) was documented in 18% (52/288) of neonates. Twenty-two infants (42.3%) exhibited mild eosinophilia ($700-999cells/mm^3$), 27 (51.9%) exhibited moderate eosinophilia ($1,000-2,999cells/mm^3$), and 3 (5.8%) exhibited severe eosinophilia (>$3,000cells/mm^3$). Of the 288 infants studied, 54 suffered sepsis. Thirty of these 54 infants (55.6%) showed eosinophilia, and 22 out of the remaining 234 infants (9%) without sepsis showed eosinophilia, indicating that eosinophilia was more prevalent in the sepsis group (P <0.05). All 5 infants suffering from bronchopulmonary dysplasia showed eosinophilia, and 47 out of the remaining 283 infants (16.7%) without bronchopulmonary dysplasia showed eosinophilia. Thus, eosinophilia was more prevalent in the bronchopulmonary dysplasia group (P<0.05). Furthermore, increased prevalence of eosinophilia was associated with respiratory distress syndrome, ventilator use, blood transfusion, and total parenteral nutrition (P<0.05). Conclusion : Our results suggest that eosinophilia is influenced by sepsis and bronchopulmonary dysplasia, although it can also occur idiopathically at birth. Moreover, the potential role of eosinophils in conditions such as wound healing and fibrosis in sepsis or chronic lung disease may be a cause of eosinophilia.

• Neonatal Medicine
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• v.15 no.2
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• pp.134-141
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• 2008

Purpose : This study examined the occurrence of oxygen desaturation events during nutritive sucking in premature infants with bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) and its effects on feeding and growth outcomes until 4 months of corrected age (CA). Methods : Thirty-four premature infants with BPD free from major cardiac, gastrointestinal, respiratory anomalies were included. By reviewing medical records, clinical characteristics, feeding conditions at 36 weeks of postmenstrual age (PMA), we focused on oxygen desaturation, and short-term outcomes in 14 infants with no or mild desaturation (group A) and in 20 infants with moderate or severe desaturation (group B). Results : Group B had lower birth weight and shorter gestational age at birth, longer duration of hospitalization, was discharged at higher weeks of PMA, and needed ventilatory assist and oxygen supplementation longer than group A (P<0.05). Group B started nutritive sucking later, with a greater decrease in $SpO_2$ during sucking, being more indicative of feeding problems at 40 weeks of PMA, but not at 4 months of CA. Percent of infant needing oxygen supplementation and percent of infants with growth failure were not different between groups at 40 weeks of PMA and 4 months of CA. Body weight and growth velocity differences noted at 40 weeks of PMA became insignificant at 4 months of CA. Conclusion : The severity of desaturation during nutritive sucking in premature infants with BPD influenced the infant's feeding and growth at 40 weeks of PMA. However, it disappeared at 4 months of CA.

• Journal of Yeungnam Medical Science
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• v.16 no.2
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• pp.169-180
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• 1999

Background: Uterine cervical cancer is the most common malignant tumor of the women in Korea. This study was undertaken to evaluate the usefulness of the cervicography as a screening test of cervical cancer. Materials and Methods: Cervicography was taken from 482 women at department of obstetrics and gynecology, at Yeungnam University Hospital from March 1, 1998 to October 31, 1999. Of the 482 women, 172 women were exc1uded from the study for various reasons, and 310 women completed the study. Three-hundred and ten women had cervical cytology (Papanicolaou smear), cervicography and colposcopy, and punch biopsy was undertaken if any of the test result was abnormal. Results: The most common age group was 35-39, and 40-44, 45-49 in order and most common reason for having a screening test was regular check for cervical cancer. The mean duration from the last Pap smear was 17.1 months, and 64 women(20.4%) never had any prior screening tests. Of the 310 women, 254 women were categorized as normal or having benign disease such as cervicitis, erosion or metaplasia. Biopsy was taken from 56 patients and the results were 26 chronic cervicitis, 4 mild dysplasia, 6 moderate dysplasia, 2 severe dysplasia, 14 carcinoma in situ and 4 invasive carcinoma. The results of cytology and cervicography were well correlated(p<0.05). The sensitivity and specificity of cytology were 86.7% and 76.9%, respectively and the sensitivity and specificity of cervicography were 56.7% and 96.2%, respectively. False negative rate of cervicography(43.3%) was much higher than those of cytology(13. 3%) (p<0.05), but false positive rate of cervicography(3.8%) was much lower than that of cytology(23.1%) (p<0.05). Conclusion: It seems inappropriate to use cervicography as a single screening test for cervival cancer, but it may be an effective complementary test for cytology to lower the false negative rate of cytology.

• Korean Journal of Poultry Science
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• v.37 no.2
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• pp.131-137
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• 2010

The present study has been performed to suggest a method to decrease the adverse effects of transportation on chicken meat quality. The groups were prepared as follows; Control group and three groups of treatments (sodium phosphate, sodium bicarbonate and magnesium sulfate). The chicken fed magnesium sulfate showed higher chicken meat quality compared to control and other treatment groups. Also, minor and severe PSE incidence of chicken breast was found at 88% in sodium phosphate group, 24% in sodium bicarbonate group and 56% in magnesium sulfate group. Control group showed 92% higher minor and severe PSE incidence of chicken breast compared to other groups. In control group, the external bruise of chicken showed 32% but 22, 24 and 44% in other treatment groups, respectively. Lightness ($L^*$) of chicken containing sodium phosphate treatment, sodium bicarbonate treatment and magnesium sulfate were 67.05, 66.27 and 65.89, while Lightness ($L^*$) of chicken containing control group was decreased of 67.88. In conclusion, dietary buffer material (sodium phosphate, sodium bicarbonate, magnesium sulfate) under heat stress decreased adverse effects including death, wound or abnormality of chickens.

• Journal of radiological science and technology
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• v.32 no.4
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• pp.437-444
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• 2009

Ultrasonography has been used as a basic examination of a medical check up for prevention and diagnostics of diseases. Even the person who has no particular subjective symptoms can have a variety of diseases. Especially fatty liver is found in many cases. In this study, we tested 3582 persons who are in between the ages of 15 to 81 and observed that 1390 persons had fatty liver while 2192 persons are normal. We classified the grade of fatty liver and compared their life styles with the results of liver function test and BMI. The results are as follows. Ratio of the subjects who had a fatty liver is 38.8%. Male and female ratio was 46.2% and 24.2%. On the correlation among the fatty liver, the body mass index and the body fat%, the average value of body mass index and body fat% were significantly higher in the group of the fatty liver than in those of the normal liver. The influence of the related factor and the correlation on the fatty liver was shown that it was more related with the order of age, body mass index, triglyceride, ALT, body fat%, sex, HDL-Cholesterol, LDL-Cholesterol, and GGT. The result of the ultrasonography carried out for the purpose of regular health check up indicates that even the 38.8% of those who was diagnosed as normal condition could have the fatty liver and have possibility of other diseases. Therefore, if there are any troubles related to liver function and lipid through hematologic examination or when practicing follow-up study with ultrasonography concerning the correlation relation between the body fat% and dietary preference, alcohol consumption and exercise, the ultrasonography is definitely useful for prevention and treatment of diseases.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.41 no.4
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• pp.405-412
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• 1994

Background: In Korea, the prevalence of tuberculosis and hepatitis is high, and combined therapy with rifampicin and pyrazinamide is used in tuberculosis, so drug induced hepatitis is not only problem of tuberculosis therapy but also cause of treatment failure. However most of recent reports on drug induced hepatitis during antituberculosis medication have dealt with its pathogenesis and have stressed the biochemical, and histopathological aspects of the disorder, whereas this study was designed primarily to provide information on the clinical features. Method: The subjects of study were 1414 patients treated with antituberculosis drugs on the department of chest medicine at National Medical Center during the 5-year 6-month period from January 1, 1988, to June 30, 1993. Retrospective analysis of clinical features for the 29 patients who developed drug induced hepatitis was done. Results: 1) The incidence of antituberculosis drug induced hepatitis was 2.1%. 2) Male to fema1e ratio of antituberculosis drug induced hepatitis was 2:1, but case rates among males and females were not significantly different. 3) Rates of drug induced hepatitis according to age distribution shows the most common incidence between 35 to 49 year old age group, but rates among groups of age were not significant1y different. 4) Drug induced hepatitis was most common in the case of moderate advanced pulmonary tuberculosis(rate is 2.78%), but rates among types of tuberculosis were not significant1y different. 5) 18 cases(62%) of antituberculosis drug induced hepatitis patients had no signs or symptoms. In remaining cases, they were nausea, vomiting, jaundice, hepatomegaly, icteric sclera, right upper quadrant tenderness in order. 6) 22 cases(76%) of antituberculosis drug induced hepatitis cases had occured within the first month. 7) The duration of abnormal liver function was $28{\pm}5$(Mean${\pm}$SD), ranged from 5 days to 180 days. 8) One case of antituberculosis drug induced hepatitis died. 9) The levels of abnormal GOT ranged from 64 to 1055U/L and GPT from 68 to 931U/L. Conclusion: There are no dicided predisposing factors of antituberculosis drug induced hepatitis, so it should be done biochemical monitoring as well as close monitoring for overt signs or symptoms of hepatitis to avoid the development of irreversible hepatic reaction, especially at the treatment of the first month.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.66 no.2
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• pp.104-109
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• 2009

Background: Anemia is quite common in lung cancer patients and known to decrease the quality of life. Darbepoetin alfa is an erythropoiesis-stimulating protein approved for administration to cancer patients. This study examined the efficacy and safety of darbepoetin alfa in lung cancer patients with a hemoglobin concentration <10 g/dl during chemotherapy. Methods: Lung cancer patients (n=178) received darbepoetin alfa at doses of 1.91 ${\mu}g/kg$ per week until the hemoglobin concentration increased to >10 g/dl. The efficacy and safety were measured by comparing the hemoglobin concentration and assessing the adverse events. Results: After chemotherapy, the hemoglobin concentration decreased to 9.03${\pm}$0.64 g/dl. With the darbepoetin alfa treatment, the hemoglobin concentration increased to 10.09${\pm}$1.17 g/dl after 4 weeks reaching a peak hemoglobin concentration of 10.45${\pm}$1.18 g/dl. The changes in hemoglobin after 4 and 8 weeks with treatment were 1.08${\pm}$1.24 g/dl and 1.38${\pm}$1.59 g/dl (p<0.01). At least a 1 g/dl or more increase in hemoglobin was observed in 62.4% of patients. There were no serious adverse effects except for some mild reactions. Conclusion: Darbepoetin alfa administered to lung cancer patients appears to be an effective, well-tolerated treatment for chemotherapy induced anemia.

• Journal of agricultural medicine and community health
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• v.41 no.1
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• pp.13-26
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• 2016

Purpose: This study was performed to identify the association between family support, activities of daily living (ADL) and depression among hospitalized older patients with chronic diseases. Methods: This study subjects were 100 elderly patients with chronic diseases including chronic respiratory diseases, diabetes mellitus and et al. in a general hospital. The collected data were patient characteristics, family support, ADL, and depression by structured questionnaire and medical chart review. The used statistical analyses were t-test, analysis of variance, Pearson's correlational analysis and multiple regression analysis. Results: The mean scores of family support, ADL and depression were $49.95{\pm}8.68$, $8.65{\pm}2.65$, $6.66{\pm}3.78$, respectively. The prevalence rate of depression was 64.0%. In simple analysis, the statistically significant associated factors with depression were age, spouse, economic status, social activity, subjective health status, and number of pain. Depression had statistically a significant positive correlation with ADL and a negative correlation with family support. The final result of hierarchial multiple regression analysis (Model 3), the factors related to depression were family support (b=-.135, p<.001), subjective health status (b=2.510, p=.001). Conclusions: It is necessary to develop and apply the program for controlling the depression of elderly patients with health education, reinforcement of supportive systems in hospital. And, further multidisciplinary studies should be done.