• Korean Journal of Psychosomatic Medicine
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• v.26 no.2
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• pp.188-193
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• 2018

Objectives : Clozapine is a widely prescribed antipsychotic drug for schizophrenia and is known to increase the risk of cardiovascular disease due to its metabolic side effects. However, little is known about the effect of clozapine on the platelet activation, another important factor in the development of cardiovascular disease. In this study, we tried to investigate the effect of clozapine on platelet activity in patients with schizophrenia by comparing the mean platelet component (MPC) values before and after the clozapine administration. Methods : A retrospective review of medical records of patients with schizophrenia, who newly started clozapine treatment from September 1st, 2003 to April 30th, 2007 at the Department of Psychiatry, Konyang University Hospital in Republic of Korea was performed. The final statistical analysis included 14 participants. Bayer ADVIA $120^{(R)}$ system was used to measure MPC. Results : Among the 14 participants, five subjects were males (28.60%), and ten subjects were females (71.40%). The mean age of participants was $37.50{\pm}11.64years$. Average of duration of illness was $91.00{\pm}93.96months$, with the mean dosage of clozapine taken by participants at the time of the last blood test was $337.50{\pm}109.52mg$. The mean MPC measurement before and after receiving clozapine was $26.12{\pm}2.22g/dL$ and $25.14{\pm}2.08g/dL$ respectively. Wilcoxon signed rank test showed that there was a statistically significant decrease in MPC levels after clozapine administration (V=16, p=0.024). Conclusions : Decreased MPC levels after clozapine administration implies that clozapine may increase platelet activation which could have an adverse effect on the occurrence of thromboembolic disease. Our findings also suggest that careful monitoring of the risk factors of cardiovascular diseases, such as platelets activity, is necessary when administering clozapine.

• The Korean Journal of Vision Science
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• v.20 no.4
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• pp.543-551
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• 2018

Purpose : The purposes of this study were to evaluate the changes of intraocular pressure according to corneal ablation amount after corneal refractive surgery and the changes of intraocular pressure according to refractive errors before corneal refractive surgery. Methods : The mean age of adults who underwent LASIK corneal refractive surgery were $37.34{\pm}7.42years$, and 108 adults(48 males, 60 females) were participated in this study. Refractive errors, intraocular pressure, and corneal ablation amount were measured using an autorefractor, a noncontact tonometer, and an excimer laser. All test values were considered statistically significant when p<0.05. Results : The mean intraocular pressure before corneal refractive surgery was $15.08{\pm}2.60mmHg$ in males and $14.16{\pm}2.67mmHg$ in females. The decrease of intraocular pressure after corneal refractive surgery were 4.22mmHg in males and 3.61mmHg in females. Spherical equivalent power were $-3.89{\pm}2.17D$ in males and $-4.45{\pm}2.92D$ in females before corneal refractive surgery, and $-0.10{\pm}0.46D$ in males and $-0.04{\pm}0.46D$ in females after corneal refractive surgery. The corneal ablation amount after corneal refractive surgery were statistically significant, with $53.95{\mu}m$ in males and $61.26{\mu}m$ in females. There was significant correlation between corneal ablation amount and decrease of intaocluar pressure(r=0.2299, p<0.001). As the growth of corneal ablation amount in males, the decrease of intraocular pressure was significantly increased. As the growth of refractive error, the amount of decrease in intraocular pressure was also significant. The decrease of intraocualr pressure were $3.04{\pm}2.18mmHg$ in low refractive error, $4.10{\pm}2.16mmHg$ in middle refractive error, and $4.65{\pm}3.29mmHg$ in high refractive error. Conclusion : We found that intraocular pressure decreased after corneal refractive surgery by noncontact tonometer and the change of intraocular pressure which is an important index for glaucoma diagnosis, may affect the judgment of eye disease. We think that a preliminary questionnaire whether corneal refractive surgery is necessary for the measurement of intraocular pressure.

• Journal of Korea Entertainment Industry Association
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• v.14 no.6
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• pp.53-60
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• 2020

The study is based on the assumption that the trend of phenomena and trends in research are contextually consistent. Therefore the purpose of this study is to explore the trend of dance through the subject analysis of the Korean creative dance study by utilizing text mining. Thus, 1,291 words were analyzed in the 616 journal title, which were established on the paper search website. The collection, refining and analysis of the data were all R 3.6.0 SW. According to the study, keywords representing the times were frequently used before the 2000s, but Korean creative dance research types were also found in terms of education and physical training. Second, the frequency of keywords related to the dance troupe's performance was high after the 2000s, but it was confirmed that Choi Seung-hee was still in an important position in the study of Korean creative dance. Third, an analysis of the overall research subjects of the Korean creative dance study showed that the research on 'Art of Choi Seung-hee in the modern era' was the highest proportion. Fourth, the Hot Topics, which are rising as of 2000, appeared as 'the performance activities of the National Dance Company' and 'the choreography expression and utilization of traditional dance'. However, since the recent trend of the National Dance Company's performance is advocating 'modernization based on tradition', it has been confirmed that the trend of Korean creative dance since the 2000s has been focused on the use of traditional dance motifs. Fifth, the Cold Topic, which has been falling as of 2000, has been shown to be a study of 'dancing expressions by age'. It was judged that interest in research also decreased due to the tendency to mix various dance styles after the establishment of the genre of Korean creative dance.

• Korean Journal of Poultry Science
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• v.49 no.3
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• pp.145-156
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• 2022

The effect of paternal telomere length on reproductive performance, relationship between paternal and offspring telomere length, and association between paternal telomere length and offspring production performance were investigated in Korean native chickens. Using 22 paternal chickens and 329 offspring, the paternal reproductive performance such as fertility, embryo mortality, and hatchability, as well as the offspring production performance such as survival rate, body weight, and weight gain were analyzed. Telomere length was analyzed through quantitative fluorescence in situ hybridization using lymphocytes. No significant differences were observed in fertility, embryo mortality, and hatchability between paternal chicken telomere lengths (P<0.05). These results indicate that paternal telomere length had a weak negative correlation with fertility and embryonic death rate but a weak positive correlation with hatchability. The correlation coefficient between paternal telomere length and offspring survival rate was r=0.17 (P>0.05). The group of offspring with long paternal telomeres showed relatively poor growth performance. Moreover, a significant negative correlation was estimated between paternal telomere length and offspring growth performance (P<0.05). The correlation coefficient between paternal and offspring telomere lengths was r=0.075 (P>0.05). In conclusion, there was a weak association between paternal telomere length and reproductive performance, offspring survival rate, and offspring telomere length, respectively. However, paternal telomere length and offspring growth performance showed a negative relationship. Such results could be due to the re-extension of telomere length by telomere reprogramming in the early embryonic stage and the different degree of telomere shortening between individuals with increasing age after birth.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.55 no.4
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• pp.506-520
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• 2022

Purpose: Physical activity (PA) has a beneficial effect on the prevention of arteriosclerosis in healthy adults. The purpose of this study was to analyze the relationship between PA measured using an accelerometer and arterial stiffness in healthy Korean adults. Methods: This study involved 87 subjects (36.8% women) aged 20-64 years. PA was evaluated using an accelerometer (wGT3X-BT, ActiGraph, Florida, USA) for 7 days. Based on the results of the accelerometer measurement, subjects were classified into active and inactive groups according to the World Health Organization (WHO) PA guidelines. The brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity (baPWV) and ankle-brachial index (ABI) to assess arterial stiffness were measured by a non-invasive vascular screening device (VP-1000 Plus, Omron). Results: The average age of the study subjects was 47.7 ± 11.3 years and the WHO PA guideline achievement rate was 29.9%. There was no significant difference in arterial stiffness (baPWV and ABI) between the active and inactive groups. In females, the time spent in light PA were positively correlated with ABI (r = 0.396; p < 0.05) and the number of sedentary bouts over 50 minutes was inversely correlated with ABI (r = -0.402; p < 0.05). However, there was no significant correlation between PA and arterial stiffness in males. Conclusions: The results of this study suggest that light PA and sedentary behavior have a positive correlation with arterial stiffness in females.

• Korean Journal of Culture and Social Issue
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• v.16 no.1
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• pp.19-41
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• 2010

This study aims to investigate how religious orientation of college students and the religious fundamentalism are related to their subjective well-being, and the interaction of religious orientations and the religious fundamentalism on their well-being. The participants were 374 college students who studies at an university located in Seoul, whose average of age were 22.54 (SD=4.79). The psychological tests used in this research included the following: I/E-R, the Religious Fundamentalism Scale, the Spiritual Well-Being Scale, Emotion Frequency Test, Satisfaction with Life Scale, Subjective Happiness Scale, Life Satisfaction Motivation Scale, and Life Satisfaction Expectancy Scale. Although religious students experienced more religious well-being than non-religious students, their subjective well-being were not higher than those of non-religious students. Results reveal that religious orientations were positively related to subjective well-being such as life satisfaction, subjective happiness, and positive emotions, as well as spiritual well-being. However, those covariance was approximately 4~6% only. Religious fundamentalism was also positively related to spiritual well-being and life satisfaction, it was negatively related to the motivation to live though. On the other hand, moderate effects of the religious fundamentalism on the relations of religious orientations to most of subjective well-being variables. Results of simple main effect analyses indicated that the students who were strongly oriented toward religion with higher religious fundamentalism showed significantly higher existential well-being, positive emotions, life satisfaction, subjective happiness, and especially their motivation and expectation for future life, whereas there were no significant differences in subjective well-being of students with lower religious fundamentalism by religious orientation. This finding suggests that some religiosity variables could affect human well-being with interactions

• Korean Journal of Environment and Ecology
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• v.38 no.1
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• pp.55-66
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• 2024

This study conducted a survey to investigate the characteristics of fish communities and the inhabiting status of endangered species in the Byekgye Stream, Korea from April to September 2020. A total of 3,415 fish of 9 families and 31 species were collected from 7 survey stations during the survey period. The dominant species was Zacco koreanus (relative abundance of 31.2%), and the subdominant species was Z. platypus (15.0%), followed by Pungtungia herzi (11.7%), Acheilognathus yamatsutae (5.4%), A. lanceolata intermedia (4.8%), Rhinogobius brunneus (4.4%), and Pseudopungtungia tenuicorpa (4.3%). Among the fish species collected, 19 (61.3%) were identified as Korean endemic species, and two cold-water fish species sensitive to climate change (Rhynchocypris kumgangensis and Cottus koreanus) were collected. Four species were designated as class II endangered wildlife by the Ministry of Environment: A. signifer, P. tenuicorpa, Rhodeus pseudosericeus, and C. koreanus. A. signifer and P. tenuicorpa mainly inhabited the mid to lower streams, R. pseudosericeus in the midstream, and R. pseudosericeus in the upstream. P. tenuicorpa inhabited in large numbers, and estimating the age by total length-frequency distribution in July, the total length of the 26-35 mm group was estimated as 0 years old, the 54-75 mm group as 1 year old, 82-97 mm group as 2 years old, 104-109 mm group as 3 years or older. The cluster analysis showed that the dominance index decreased from upstream to downstream, but the diversity, evenness, and richness index increased. The water quality of Byekgye Stream was evaluated as good overall since the river health (fish assessment index, FAI) using fish was evaluated as excellent (5 stations) and good (2 stations). Byekgye Stream has relatively well-preserved habitats, but conservation measures are required as habitats are disturbed by river repair work in some parts of the midstream and downstream areas where many endangered species inhabit.

• Pediatric Infection and Vaccine
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• v.10 no.1
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• pp.71-80
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• 2003

Purpose : Four kinds of Haemophilus influenzae type b protein conjugate vaccines, PRPD, PRP-T, PRP-OMP and PRP-CRM197, have been developed, and PRP-T vaccines are currently produced by two manufacturer, $ActHib^{(R)}$ by Aventis and $Hiberix^{TM}$ by GlaxoSmith-Kline Biologicals. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the immunogenicity and safety of $Hiberix^{TM}$ in Korean infants. Methods : Seventy-three healthy infants(43 male infants) were recruited for this study after parental informed consent was obtained. Each infant was vaccinated at 2, 4 and 6 months of age with the study vaccine. At each visit, infants were also immunized with DTaP, trivalent oral polio vaccine and hepatitis B vaccine when indicated. The serum anti-PRP antibody was measured at prevaccination, 2 month later after the 2nd dose, and 1 month later after the 3rd dose by the ELISA method. The local and systemic adverse reactions of vaccination were monitored for 3 consecutive days after each immunization. Immunogenicity of vaccine was evaluated in infants who received all the scheduled immunization and the adverse reactions were evaluated for infants who received at least one dose of the study vaccine. Results : Among seventy three infants, enrolled in this study; sixty three(37 male infants) completed all the scheduled immunizations. The geometric mean titer(GMT) of anti-PRP antibodies at prevaccination was 0.17 ${\mu}g/mL$(95% confidence interval[CI]; 0.13~0.22). The GMT of anti-PRP antibodies increased to 4.14 ${\mu}g/mL$(95% CI; 2.65~6.48) at 2 month later after the 2nd dose of PRP-T and 14.65 ${\mu}g/mL$(95% CI; 10.83~19.81) at 1 month later after the 3rd dose. Anti-PRP antibody ${\geq}0.15$ ${\mu}g/mL$, was observed in 98.4%(95% CI; 91.8~100) after 2 doses and 100%(95% CI; 100~100) after 3 doses. Anti-PRP antibody ${\geq}1.0$ ${\mu}g/mL$, was obtained in 77.8%(95% CI; 67.5~88.0) after 2 doses, and 98.4%(95% CI; 95.3~100) after 3 doses. Most of the adverse reaction after vaccination were mild. Irritability, the most common systemic reaction, was observed in 45.5%, followed by drowsiness(30.5%), poor feeding(26.7%) and fever(5.6%). Among the local reactions tenderness was observed in 7.9%, redness(${\geq}5$ mm) in 2.8% and swelling(${\geq}5$ mm) in 1.8%. Conclusion : The PRP-T vaccine used in this study was highly immunogenic and safe in Korean young infants. The finding that high GMT and high frequency of infants with a protective titer achieved after 2 doses is consistent with the previous studies which were done with a PRP-T vaccine of other manufacturer. This study suggests that the immunization schedule of PRP-T vaccine for Korean infants may need re-evaluation.

• Journal of Technologic Dentistry
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• v.32 no.4
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• pp.417-433
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• 2010

Purpose: This study evaluated the manpower planning of dental technicians. Methods: Methods : Survey was conducted regarding subject's general characteristics, characteristics of dental technician's occupational view and working conditions, and reason to enter into branches of the public health enter. The survey sample consisted of 323 dental technicians (221 male/ 102 female). Survey was conducted for one month from August 1 to September 1 in 2010. Following results were obtained. Results: 1. Regarding general characteristics of the subjects, there was a slight male predilection with 68.4%. Subjects in their 40s occupied the highest proportion of 32.2%. Majority of subjects worked in the big cities (71.5%). Favored working places were dental laboratory (57.6%) and dental hospital or dental clinic (19.5%). Although no position is available in the public sector such as public health center or health care civil servant, 9.3% preferred working in the public health center. Public sector is more favored than 2-year technical colleges or dental supply and equipment companies. In respect to education, 57% of the subjects graduated college. 67.8% were married. Subjects who specialize in the porcelain or all-ceramic were 57.9%. With regard to current position, head of the dental laboratory was most common. 2. Following occupation characteristics were found. Economic reason took the highest proportion when deciding their occupation (39.9%) followed by gaining social experience (36.5%). Majority of the subjects (76.5%) wanted to work as dental technicians until their retirement. 71.5% pursuit to become a manager of the dental laboratory. 76.1% agreed on opening a dental technician position in the public health center. Regarding an authority to lead developing the dental technician position in the public sector, majority of the subject chose ministry of health and welfare (35.6%) and Korean dental technologist association (34.7%). Employment (average, 30%) and turnover rate (average, 36.5%) of dental technology college graduates ranged from 40% to 60%. Most important factors for the employment were practical experience (41.2%) and competency (34.4%). With regard to job satisfaction, so-so as 46.7% and satisfactory was 42.7% 3. In respect to the reason for opening a position in the public health center, 'It is needed to continue denture rogram for elderly patients' obtained the highest score (4.14 point). 'Institutional devices are required to open a position for dental technicians as a public healthcare provider' received high score (4.11 point). 4. Concerning the working conditions, 'professional knowledge is required' received the highest score (4.23) followed by 'too short maternity and parental leave' (4.21). 5. Relationship between general characteristics of the subjects and favor of working in the public health center was investigated. Significant differences were found according to the current and favored working area, favored occupation, education level, marital status, and specialty. Working in the public health center was favored by following subjects: working in mid- or small-sized cities (4.16 point, p<0.05); PhD degree-holder (4.59 point, p<0.01). 6. Among general characteristics of the subjects, significant difference of working conditions was found in the following factors: gender; working areas; favored working areas; favored working positions, and education level. Majority of subjects favored working in big cities and currently work in big cities although satisfaction was comparatively low (3.75 score). 7. Future plan to work in public health center was evaluated according to occupational characteristics. Subject's intention to work in the public healthcare center was significantly affected by opening of dental technician position, leading authority, average turnover rate, and factors affecting employment. Working in the public health care center was favored by the following subjects: Dental technicians who actively supported opening of the dental technician position (4.34 point, p<0.001); subjects who thought the Korean dental technologist association is responsible for the opening of positions in the public sector (4.26 point, p<0.001); and subjects who thought that attitude and character are important for the employment (p<0.001). 8. Concerning difference of working conditions according to the occupational characteristics, significant difference was demonstrated by factors such as a reason to choose to be a dental technician, work plan, pursuing position, responsible authority, average employment rate, and job satisfaction. High standard of working conditions was required in subjects who selected to be a dental technician for the leisure time after work (s.05 point, p<0.01), who planted to work until their marriage (4.25 point, p<0.001), and who pursuit to be a manager (3.98, p<0.05). 9. In respect to influence of general characteristics on the advancement to public health centers, the coefficient of determination (R2) was 0.068 and age affected the working condition with significant difference according to the pvalue. 10. Regarding influence of general characteristics on the advancement to public health centers, the coefficient of determination (R2) was 0.335 and work plan, opening of dental technician position in the public sector, and responsible authority had significant influence over the subject's intention to work in the public health center according to the p-value. 11. With regard to the influence of general characteristics on the advancement to public health centers, the coefficient of determination (R2) was 0.091 and reason to choose to be a dental technician, work plan, and responsible authority significantly affected subject's working conditions. Conclusion: Korean society is becoming a super-aged society according to several statistics. As aged population is rapidly increasing, national health insurance plans to cover denture for senior citizen over 75 years old from 2012. Therefore, dental technicians are urgently needed in the public health centers all over the nation. Many subjects in this study planed to work until their retirement and recognized dental technician's expertise. Ministry of health and welfare and Korean dental technologist association should co-operate each other to prepare foundation and institutional devices for dental technicians to advance into the public health center. This will improve oral health of the population. This study showed urgency of medical facilities and services which meets increasing number of aged population and welfare of the population.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.48 no.6
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• pp.922-931
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• 2000

Background : It has been well known that bronchia1 asthma is a chronic airway inflammatory disorder. Recently, sputum induced with hypertonic saline was introduced as a simple and useful nonivasive medium to investigate airway inflammation and symptom severity in patients with asthma. We examined the eosinophil, eosinophil cationic protein (ECP), interleukin(IL)-3, IL-5, granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating facta (GM-CSF), and nitric oxide (NO) derivatives in induced sputum from patients with bronchia1 asthma in order to determine the role of NO and various inflammatory cytokines as a useful markers of airway inflammation or changes in pulmonary function tests and symptoms. Methods : A total 30 patients with bronchia1 asthma received oral prednisolone 30 mg daily for 2 weeks. Forced expiratory volume in one second ($FEV_1$), total blood eosinophil count and induced sputum eosinophil count, ECP, IL-3, IL-5, GM-CSF, and NO derivatives were determined before and after the administration of prednisolone. Results : Of the 30 patients, 13 (43.3%) were male and 17 (56.7%) were female. The mean age of patients was 41.8 years (range 19-64 years). Two patients could not produce sputum at the second study and 3 could not be followed up after their first visit. Two weeks after the prednisolone administration, there was a significant increase in $FEV_1$ (% of predicted value) from 78.1$\pm$20.6 % to 90.3$\pm$ 18.3 % (P<0.001). The eosinophil percentages in induced sputum were significantly decreased after treatment with prednisolone, with values of 56.1$\pm$27.2 % versus 29.6$\pm$21.3 % (P<0.001), and ECP were $134.5\pm68.1\;{\mu}g/L$ versus $41.5\pm42.4\;{\mu}g/L$ (P<0.001) respectively. After the prednisolone treatments, the eotaxin concentration also showed a decreasing tendency from 26.7$\pm$12.8 pg/ml to 21.7$\pm$8.7 pg/ml. There was a decreasing tendency but no significant differences in total blood eosinophil count (425.7$\pm$265.9 vs 287.7$\pm$294.7) and in the concentration of NO derivatives ($70.4\pm44.6{\mu}mol/L$ vs $91.5\pm48.3\;{\mu}mol/L$) after the prednisolone treatments. IL-3, IL-5, GM-CSF were undetectable in the sputum of most subjects either before the prednisolone treatments or after the treatments. Before the prednisolone treatments, a significant inverse correlation was observed between FEV1 and sputum ECP (r=-D.364, P<0.05) and there was a significant correlation between sputum eosinophils and eotaxin (r=0.369, P<0.05) Conclusion : The eotaxin and ECP concentration in induced sputum may be used as markers of airway inflammation after treatments in bronchia1 asthma. In addition, the measurement of sputum eosinophil percent ages is believed to be a simple method displaying the degree of airway inflammation and airway obstruction before and after the prednisolone treatment in bronchia1 asthma. However, unlike exhaled NO, the examination of NO derivatives with Griess reaction in induced sputum is considered an ineffective marker of changing airway inflammation and obstructing symptoms.