• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.51 no.2
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• pp.181-187
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• 2008

Purpose : Asthma is characterized by reversible airway obstruction and bronchial hyperresponsiveness result from airway inflammation. Fraction of nitric oxide in expired air (FeNO) has recently been investigated as a noninvasive measure of airway inflammation. FeNO has been reported to correlate with induced sputum eosinophilia and methacholine challenge test that it is represent severity of asthma. The purpose of this study was to analyze the relationship of FeNO with pulmonary function tests in patients with intermittent asthma. Methods : Eighty children included in this study were diagnosed as asthma from April through August, 2005 in Department of Pediatrics, College of Medicine, Kyunghee University. They aged from 4 to 15 years who were able to conduct spirometry and FeNO monitoring. They did not have upper respiratory tract infection and did not use an asthma controller which contain corticosteroids within 4 weeks. Pulmonary function test was done and FeNO was measured with online tidal breathing method using a chemiluminescence NO analyzer (CLD 88 sp, Eco Medics, Duernten, Switzerland). The correlations between pulmonary function test and FeNO were analyzed using Spearman correlation coefficient method. Results : The mean of FeNO of subject was 16.88 parts per billion (ppb). The mean of forced expiratory volume in 1 second ($FEV_1$) was $0.890{\pm}0.455L$ and forced vital capacity (FVC) was $1.071{\pm}0.630L$. The mean of predicted $FEV_1%$ ($FEV_1%pred$) was $98.39{\pm}34.27%$ and $FEV_1/FVC$ was $88.53{\pm}19.49$. FeNO was significantly correlate with $FEV_1$ (r=0.345, P<0.01) and FVC (r=0.244, P<0.05). FeNO did not correlate with $FEV_1%pred$ or $FEV_1/FVC$. Conclusion : The measurement of FeNO could be a useful marker in the management of childhood asthma and it is evolving to provide a complementary role alongside existing pulmonary function test. We propose that measuring technique and establishment of normal reference range are important area for future research.

• Korean Journal of Acupuncture
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• v.25 no.2
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• pp.87-94
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• 2008

Objectives : The aim of this study was to find out some rationales for using Hominis placental extract(HPE) pharmaco-acupuncture on asthmatic patients, and to suggest an appropriate clinical research of HPE pharmaco-acupuncture on asthma. Methods : Articles regarding immunologic experiments about HPE and clinical reports about HPE-contained pharmaco-acupuncture on asthmatic patients were reviewed by on-line and off-line searching. Results and Conclusions : HPE is suggested to have several pharmacological effects on allergic diseases including asthma as well as autoimmune diseases. There are some observational studies of HPE-contained pharmaco-acupuncture on asthmatic patients. However, the designs of these studies are not sufficient to investigate the exact effect of HPE pharmaco-acupuncture on asthma. To investigate HPE pharmaco- acupuncture as a novel asthma therapy, it will be needed to perform further experiments about HPE's pharmacological mechanism on asthma and to try further advanced clinical researches such as well-designed randomized controlled trial of HPE pharmaco-acupuncture.

• The Korean Journal of Food And Nutrition
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• v.15 no.4
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• pp.382-385
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• 2002

It is well known that the Petasites japonicum have been used for a long time in traditional medicine for the treatment of allergic diseases such as lacquer poisoning and asthma. Anti-allergic actions of Petasites japonicum extracts were asessed by testing their effects on the degranulation of mast cells. For this, hexosaminidase released (degranulation marker) from RBL-2H3 cells(mast cell line) was used. At the concentration of 300 $\mu\textrm{g}$/mL of the methanol, ethylacetate and hot water extract, the degranulation of RBL-2H3 cells were inhibited 83.33, 69.75 and 35.4%, respectively. These results suggest that the Petasites japonicum could be provide a effective resource for the control of allergic diseases.

• Journal of Yeungnam Medical Science
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• v.5 no.2
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• pp.95-100
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• 1988

Ipratropium bromide(IP) is a new anticholinergic bronchodilator To evaluate its effect on bronchial asthma which is still unkown in Korea, a double blind and randomized study was done on all patients of bronchial asthma who visit out-patients clinic of our department from June to September 1987 and showed 75 to 100% of FEV1 / FVC ratio (On pre bronchodilator spirometry(pre BD). The selected patients were given 2 puffs of Fenoterol(FE) or Ipratropium inhalator blindly and Spirometry The repeated results are: 1. In both FE and IP groups, there was a significant bronchodilatory effect on 5 and 60 minutes after administration. 2. On 5 minutes, effect of FE was significantly greater than IP.(FVC p<0.05, FEV1 p<0.01) 3. On 60 minutes, effect of IP was slightly less than FE but statistically non-significant. On the basis of above results, we concluded that onset of effect of IP is slower than FE, but its effect is significant and nearly comparable to FE.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.37 no.5
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• pp.839-846
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• 2016

Objective: To examine the effects of Hyeongbangdojeok-san-gami (荊防導赤散加味方) which has been used in asthmatic patients in Korean Medicine. Methods: Five asthmatic patients were enrolled who had visited Semyung University Korean Medical Hospital from July 1, 2015 to June 30, 2016. They were examined by a pulmonary function test and completed the Quality of Life Questionnaire for adult Korean Asthmatics (QLQAKA) before and after taking Hyeongbangdojeok-san-gami for 3 weeks. All data were analyzed by paired t-tests. Results: After treatment with Hyeongbangdojeok-san-gami for 3 weeks, Forced Expiratory Volume 1 sec (FEV 1.0) improved significantly (p=0.01) and Peak Expiratory Flow (PEF) showed an increase of 20% in results examined by Pulmonary Function Test (PFT). The results of the QLQAKA indicated that the main improvements occurred in theitems associated with theactivity domain. Conclusions: This study suggests that Hyeongbangdojeok-san-gami is effective in improving pulmonary function and quality of life in patients with asthma. More extensive study is needed in the future.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.41 no.2
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• pp.73-86
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• 1994

In addition to classic cholinergic and adrenergic pathways, the existence of a third division of autonomic control in the human airways has been proved. It is called a nonadrenergic noncholinergic(NANC) nervous system, and difficult to study in the absence of specific blockers. Neuropeptides are certainly suggested to be transmitters of this NANC nervous system. It is very frustrating to understand the pathophysiologic role of these peptides in the absence of any specific antagonists. However, further studies of neuropeptides might eventually lead to novel forms of treatment for bronchial asthma. Another study of the interaction between different components of the autonomic nervous system, either in ganglionic neurotransmission or by presynaptic modulation of neurotransmitters at the end-organ will elute neural control in airway disease, particularly in asthma. Studies of how autonomic control may be disordered in airway disease should lead to improvements in clinical management. Epithelial damage due to airway inflammation in asthma may induce bronchial hyperresponsiveness. Axon reflex mechanism is one of possible mechanisms in bronchial hyperresponsiveness. Epithelial damage may expose sensory nerve terminals and C-fiber nrve endings are stimulated by inflammatory mediators. Bi-directional communication between the nerves and mast cells may have important roles in allergic process. The psychological factors and conditioning of allergic reactions is suggested that mast cell activation might be partly regulated by the central nervous system via the peripheral nerves. Studies in animal models, in huamn airways in vitro and in patients with airway disease will uncover the interaction between allergic disease processes and psychologic factors or neural mechainsms.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.22 no.4
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• pp.131-141
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• 2001

Objectives : Asthma is a chronic inflammatory disorder in which the airway smooth muscle undergoes exaggerated constriction and is abnormally responsive to external stimuli and clinically manifests dyspnea, cough, and wheezing. Recently in Korea, the number of asthma patients has tended to increase as air pollution increases and new allergens appear. This study aimed to identify the therapeutic effects of Sochongryong-tang, which has been used on asthmatic patients in Oriental Medicine for a long time. Methods : We studied 10 asthmatic patients who had visited the Division of Respiratory System, Department of Internal Medicine of Kyunghee Oriental Medical Center from February 1, 2001 to June 30, 2001, which examined the patients by the pulmonary function test (PFT) and Quality of Life Questionnaire for adult Korean Asthmatics (QLQAKA) before and after taking Sochongryong-tang for two weeks. The data was analyzed using paired t-test. Results : After treatment with Sochongryong-tang for two weeks, FEV 1.0 showed a significant increase of 14.2%, FVC a significant increase of 9.3% and PEFR a significant increase of 16.2% in results of patients examined asthmatic by PFT. In the results of QLQAKA, the mean of scores increased significantly over 0.5 points in total score, symptom domain, emotion domain, and environmental domain. Conclusions : This study shows that Sochongryong-tang has the effect of improvements of pulmonary function and quality of life in asthmatic patients.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.23 no.4
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• pp.151-160
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• 2002

Background: Nowadays asthma is considered to be an inflammatory disease characterized by airway hyperresponsiveness and pulmonary eosinophilia. Production of cytokines by bronchial epithelial cells may contribution to the local accumulation of inflammatory cells in patients with bronchial asthma. In many recent studies molecular biological methods have been used to investigate the role of cytokines in pathogenesis and new therapeutic targets of asthma. Objectives: We aimed to identify the clinical effects of Chuongsangboha-tang and the effects of Chuongsangboha-tang on serum cytokines in asthmatic patients. Materials and Methods: The subjects consisted of 36 patients with asthma who had been treated with Chuongsangboha-tang for four weeks. Chuongsangboha-tang is an herbal decoction which has been used of the traditional therapeutic agent of asthma. PFT, Quality of Life Questionnaire for Adult Korean Asthmatics (QLQAKA), blood eosinophil, serum IgE, Serum IL-4, IL-5, IFN- were checked before and 4 weeks after treatments. Results: Treatment with Chuongsangboha-tang for four weeks resulted in significant increase in FEV1.0%, PEFR%, QLQAKA. The blood eosinophil, serum IgE, IL-4 and IL-5 in asthmatic patients increased significantly compared to the normal control group, while the serum IFN-decreased significantly. Conclusions: This study shows that Chuongsangboha-tang has effects on improvement of pulmonary function and quality of life in asthmatic patients. Obviously, further research concerning this is still necessary.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.70-77
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• 2002

Background : Asthma is considered to be an inflammatory disease characterized by airway hyperresponsiveness and pulmonary eosinophilia. Production of cytokines by bronchial epithelial cells may contribute to the local accumulation of inflammatory cells in patients with bronchial asthma. In many recent studies molecular biological methods have been used to investigate the role of cytokines in pathogenesis and new therapeutic targets of asthma. Objective : We aimed to identify the effects of Sochongryong-tang on Serum IL-4, IL-5, $IFN-{\gamma}$ in asthmatic patients. Material and Methods: The subjects consisted of 15 patients with asthma who had been treated with Sochongryong-tang for two weeks from February 2001 through June 2001. Sochongryong-tang is an herbal decoction which has traditionally been used as a therapeutic agent for asthma. Results : The serum IL-4 in asthmatic patients was increased significantly compared to the serum IL-4 in the normal control group. However, the serum IL-5, $IFN-{\gamma}$ in asthmatic patients showed no significant difference from the serum IL-5, $IFN-{\gamma}$ in the normal control group. The patients were treated with Sochongryong-tang for two weeks with no significant difference in the serum IL-4, IL-5, and $IFN-{\gamma}$. Conclusion : This study shows that the serum IL-4 may be a new therapeutic target of asthma. Further long-term studies must be made in a larger number of asthmatic patients.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.24 no.3
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• pp.155-164
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• 2003

Objective : Recently questionnaires that reflect the quality of life (QOL) in asthma patients were developed. We aimed to identify the clinical effects of Gamipaima-tang and the side effects of Gamipaimo-tang in asthmatic patients. Materials and Methods : The subjects are consisted of 34 patients with asthma who had been treated with Gamipaimo-tang for four weeks. Gamipaima-tang is an herbal decoction which has been used as a traditional therapeutic agent for asthma. Pulmonary function test (PFT) was checked before and after 4-week treatments. Quality of Life Questionnaire for Adult Korean Asthmatics (QLQAKA) was checked before and after 2 weeks and 4 weeks of treatment. Results : Treatment with Gamipaima-tang for four weeks resulted in significant increase in FVC%, $FEV_{1.0}%$, PEFR%, and QLQAKA. The total efficacy rate in the patient group was 52.9% after 4 weeks. The total efficacy rate of the step 4 group (n=18, 55.6%) classified by Global Initiative for Asthma (GINA) was higher than that of the step 3 group (n=13, 46.2%) classified by GINA. Conclusion : This study shows that Gamipaima-tang has the effects of improvement of pulmonary function and quality of life in asthmatic patients. Obviously further research concerning this is still necessary.