• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
• /
• v.63 no.6
• /
• pp.480-485
• /
• 2007

Background: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is characterized by airflow limitation that is not fully reversible. COPD has systemic effects, such as skeletal muscle dysfunction and abnormal weight loss. It also has been suggested that COPD is related to other chronic disease, such as cardiovascular disease, osteoporosis, and anemia. The aim of this study was to evaluate a symptom questionnaire and laboratory findings in subjects with air flow limitation. Methods: We evaluated a symptom questionnaire and laboratory findings in subjects with airflow limitation detected by spirometry in conjunction with the Second Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. A total of 9,243 adults over the age of 18 were recruited. Among the adults, we finally analyzed 2,217 subjects who met the acceptability and repeatability criteria of spirometry, showed normal findings on chest radiography, and were older than 40 years of age. Results: There were 288 subjects with airflow limitation as determined by spirometry. The frequency of respiratory symptoms such as cough, sputum and wheezing were significantly higher in subjects with airflow limitation (p <0.01). Hemoglobin and hematocrit levels were higher in subjects with airflow limitation (hemoglobin level 13.98 mg/dL vs. 13.62 mg/dL, hematocrit 42.10% vs. 40.89%; p<0.01). The HDL cholesterol level was lower in subjects with airflow limitation (44.95 mg/dL vs. 45.60 mg/dL; p<0.01). There was no significant difference in the total cholesterol, triglyceride, blood urea nitrogen, creatinine, and fasting glucose levels. Conclusion: In subjects with airflow limitation, prevalence of respiratory symptoms was higher than in normal spirometry subjects and the levels of hemoglobin and the hematocrit were higher. The HDL cholesterol level was lower in subjects with airflow limitation.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
• /
• v.41 no.3
• /
• pp.386-389
• /
• 2008

Lung parenchyma is a common organ for metastases of extrathoracic tumors, but endobronchial metastasis is very rare. In this report, we present a case of endobronchial metastases from renal cell carcinoma (RCC), and this was managed by performing operative resection. A 63-year-old man presented with frequent dry cough; he had previously undergone left nephrectomy and postoperative chemotherapy for grade 2 RCC eight years ago. Computed tomography and bronchoscopy showed an endobronchial tumor from the left lower lobe bronchus to the second carina, and this mass was diagnosed as a necrotic tissue with chronic inflammation at biopsy. During the operation, the mass was revealed to be a metastatic renal cell carcinoma on the frozen section diagnosis and there was no mucosal invasion on the resection margin of the left lower lobe bronchus. We performed lobectomy of the left lower lobe with systemic dissection of the mediastinal lymph nodes. The final histopathologic diagnosis of the endobrochial mass was metastatic RCC and any mediastinal lymph node metastasis was not found. The patient was discharged on postoperative day 10 without any postoperative complications.

• The Journal of Churna Manual Medicine for Spine and Nerves
• /
• v.10 no.2
• /
• pp.27-35
• /
• 2015

Objectives: The purpose of this study is to discriminate the cough-induced rib fracture with chest pain occurred after chuna therapy. Methods: A 68-year-old female patient who is suffering from left chest wall pain with chronic cough was treated by Korean medical treatment and chuna therapy from November 11th 2014 to November 15th 2014. The improvement of the patient's pain was measured by 100 mm Visual Analog Scale (VAS). For diagnosis the rib fracture, we conducted the radiography, computed tomography (CT), and bone scan. Results: After treatment, pain intensity was decreased and the rib fracture was negative in radiography and CT. But, in bone scan, the 5th-8th rib fractures in left side were detected. Conclusions: When the patient with chest pain visit the hospital after chuna therapy, a doctor keep in mind the possibility of coughinduced rib fracture.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
• /
• v.35 no.12
• /
• pp.914-916
• /
• 2002

Actinomycosis of the lung is a chronic, suppurative granulomatous infection which is caused by Actinomyces israelii. It is believed to enter the thorax by way of the bronchial tree, by aspiration of contaminated aerosol particles in the upper digestive tract. Symptoms of chronic cough, sputum, hemoptysis, low grade fever, chest pain, and weight loss are common. Chest X-ray shows mass like lesion, pulmonary infiltration, abscess, and tuberculosis like lesion, which makes differential diagnosis from lung cancer very difficult. Surgical intervention is needed for the diagnosis and treatment, and diagnosis of actinomycosis is achieved when histologic examination reveals sulfur granules containing filamentous organisms. Penicillin is the drug of choice. Two or three months of penicillin treatment is recommended to treat the oropharyngeal or dental abscess to avoid recurrences. We present a case of actinomycosis which is suspected to malignant with review of literatures.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
• /
• v.30 no.9
• /
• pp.936-940
• /
• 1997

Pulmonary aspergilloma is potentially a life threatening disease resulting from the colonization of lung cavities by Aspergillus fumigatus. A case is reported: a 43-year-old man with symtomatic cavitary aspergilloma presenting with severe productive coughing, hemopt sis, occasional fever, and chilling. On preoperative plain chest radiograph and CT scan, we could find a rounded irregular opacity in a large pulmonary cavity. He received 2 separate operations for therapeutic need. At the first opertion, we performed cavernostomy and thoracoplasty because of severe pleural adhesions, tearing of cavity wall, and high risk of respiratory insufficiency. At the second operation, we performed myoplasty and omentoplasty for closure of remaining air space and complete wrapping of the BPF site. All symptoms of dyspnea and hemoptysis have since resolved. We believed that in the high risk patients who have severe respiratory symptoms, such as in aspergilloma and open cavity with a risk of respiratory insufficiency, cavernostomy followed by myoplasty or omentoplasty should be recommended.

• The Journal of Pediatrics of Korean Medicine
• /
• v.12 no.1
• /
• pp.77-94
• /
• 1998

Chronic cough is one of the most common respiratory symptoms, especially in children. And it can be the sale presenting manifestation of bronchial asthma. Although most coughs are self limiting, chronic cough often proves to be a frustrating problem. It is commonly defined as a persistent or recurrent cough exceeding 3weeks duration. The post nasal syndrome has been determined to be the most common cause of chronic cough, followed by asthma, chronic bronchitis, gastroesophageal reflux and bronchiectasis. This study was performed at both City-Oriental Medicine Hospital and Pundang Cha Oriental Medicine Hospital from January,1,1998 to November 31,1998, and 114 children with chronic cough persisting for longer than 3 weeks were evaluated. We investigated the clinical findings and evaluated the etiology in children with chronic cough syndrome including: type of cough (with or with out sputum and daily onset) and associated signs & symptoms. The results were as follows: The most common cause of chronic cough was asthma with sinusitis (27.2%); The second and third were post nasal drip syndrome(22.8%) and bronchial hypereactivitic cough(14.9%). The other causes included asthma, paranasal sinusitis, bronchitis and rhinitis. Therefore, in the diagnostic and therapeutic approach to this symptom, it should be considered that the cause of this type of cough is either bronchus and pulmonary disease or that associated with another problem, especially sinusitis, gastroesophageal reflux and allergic disease. Also, in infants and toddlers, congenital abnormaly should be considered.

• Physical Therapy Korea
• /
• v.22 no.1
• /
• pp.19-29
• /
• 2015

Impaired respiratory function is common in patients with stroke. The purpose of this study were to investigate the effectiveness of exercises and to assess forced vital capacity and peak cough flow after completion of neck stabilizing and respiratory reeducation exercises (combining diaphragmatic breathing and pursed-lip breathing exercises). The 45 participants were randomly assigned to an experimental group 1 ($n_1=15$), experimental group 2 ($n_2=15$), and a control group ($n_3=15$). All subjects performed conservative physical therapy for 30 minutes. Experimental group 1 undertook the neck stabilizing exercise and the respiratory reeducation exercise. Experimental group 2 undertook the respiratory reeducation exercise. Additional exercise did not exceed 30 minutes, five times a week for six weeks. The subjects were assessed for deep neck flexor thickness and breathing function (forced vital capacity, forced expiratory volume at one second, forced expiratory volume at one second/forced vital capacity, peak expiratory flow, and manual assisted peak cough flow) at pre-post value. The results of this study were as follows. Experimental group 1 showed a significant increase only in deep neck flexor thickness change rate (p<.05). All groups showed significant increases in forced vital capacity, forced expiratory volume at one second, and peak expiratory flow in pre-post measurement (p<.05). Experimental groups 1 and 2 showed an increase in manual assisted peak cough flow in pre-post measurement (p<.05). There was no significant difference between experimental group 1 and experimental group 2, but experimental group 1 improved more than experimental group 2 in respiratory function as a whole. In conclusion, these findings suggest that the neck stabilizing exercise in combination with the respiratory reeducation exercise can improve forced vital capacity and peak cough flow in patients with stroke.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
• /
• v.38 no.4
• /
• pp.520-530
• /
• 2017

Objectives: Gastro-esophageal reflux-induced chronic cough is not easy to diagnose and treat. In this study, three patients diagnosed with this disease were treated with Ojeok-san plus Saengmaek-san. Methods: Three patients with chronic cough, suspected to be gastro-esophageal and reflux-based, were diagnosed according to symptoms and abdominal examinations. They were treated with the herbal medicine, Ojeok-san plus Saengmaek-san. To evaluate the effectiveness of the treatment, a visual analogue scale (VAS) for measuring the severity of a cough and the Korean version of the Leicester Cough Questionnaire (LCQ-K) were used to determine the patients' quality of life. Results: After administration of Ojeok-san plus Saengmaek-san, the severity of the patients' coughing decreased based on VAS scores and quality of life improved based on LCQ-K scores for all patients. Conclusions: Ojeok-san plus Saengmaek-san is a potent therapeutic agent for gastro-esophageal reflux-induced chronic cough.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
• /
• v.36 no.1
• /
• pp.22-39
• /
• 2015

Objectives : The aim of this study was to develop a standard tool of pattern identification for chronic cough, which will be applied to clinical research. Methods : The items and structures of the instrument were based on reviews of textbooks and published literature. The advisor committee on this study consisted of 11 Korean respiratory internal medicine professors, one clinical fellow, and five clinicians with 10 years of experience. The questionnaire, which includes the signs and symptoms of chronic cough, was studied by the delphi method. Delphi examination was carried out via email, through evaluating the importance of symptoms included in each pattern. Results : We divided the pattern identification of chronic cough into five patterns: Wind-Cold, Phlegm-Turbidity, Liver-Fire, Lung Deficiency, and Kidney Yang Deficiency. By the Delphi method and a score evaluation, 38 items were chosen for pattern identification of chronic cough. Conclusions : Through this study, we created a Korean instrument for the pattern identification tool for chronic cough. We expect to apply this tool to subsequent research as its validity and reliability are further confirmed.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
• /
• v.29 no.3
• /
• pp.716-729
• /
• 2008

Objectives : We designed this study to evaluate the effectiveness of Chungin-troche(CIT) preparation as an adjunctive medicine to a herbal extract of Chungsangboha-tanggagambang(CSBH). Methods : A paralled, comparative study of CSBH+CIT and CSBH was conducted on 42 patients of chronic cough who attended Division of Allergy, Immune & Respiratory System, Department of Internal Medicine, College of Oriental Medicine, Kyung Hee University between December, 2007 and June, 2008. The treatment in each group lasted for two weeks. Patients were asked to fill in the Leicester Cough Questionnaire (LCQ) before and after administration of each treatment legimen. Results : 42 patients completed the trial and no adverse effects were reported. Both CSBH +CIT group and CSBH group showed statistical significant improvement in total LCQ score after 2 weeks from baseline. Social domain score and total score in patients taking CSBH+CIT showed a statistical significant increase compared to those scores in CSBH patients. Conclusion : CSBH+CIT compositive preparation and CSBH separate preparation appeared to have some benefits in the treatment of chronic cough. However, additional CIT preparation to CSBH can improve social domain in LCQ of chronic cough patients.