• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.45 no.4
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• pp.697-704
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• 1998

Background: Asthma is a chronic inflammatory disease of the airways characterized by a marked infiltration of eosinophils in the bronchial mucosa. Asthmatic bronchial mucosa produces many factors described as being chemotactic for inflammatory cells. IL-5, RANTES, and MCP-1 alpha are the chemotactic factors for eosinophils, but their roles are controversial. Recently eotaxin that is a potent eosinophil chemoattractant cytokine was detected in a guinea-pig model of allergic airway inflammation, and human eotaxin was cloned. Eotaxin is a specific chemoattractant for eosinophils, but its role in asthma is not confirmed. We examined the in vivo expression of eotaxin in bronchi of asthmatic patients. Methods : 11 asthmatics and 2 normal controls were enrolled. All subjects were underwent bronchoscopy with bronchial biopsies in 2nd or 3rd carina. RNA extraction from biopsy samples was done by acid-guanidium method. Semi-quantitaive RT-PCR was done for evaluation of eotaxin mRNA expression The extent of eosinophil infiltration was evaluated by counting the eosinophils in submucosa in HPF of microscope. Results : Eotaxin mRNA expressed in symptomatic, uncontrolled asthma. Steroid inhibited expression of eotaxin mRNA in asthma. Expression of eotaxin mRNA correlated with eosinophil infiltration in bronchial tissues. Conclusion: Expression of eotaxin mRNA increases in uncontrolled asthma and eotaxin is involved in the recruitment of eosinophils.

• Proceedings of the KOR-BRONCHOESO Conference
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• 1981.05a
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• pp.41.2-41
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• 1981

Tonsillectomy and adenoidectomy are the most common operations in the ENT field. Recent emphasis on careful selection of patients for these procedures derives from concern for complications of surgery, as well as the immunologic and anatomic functions of tonsils and adenoids. Adenoidectomy can relieve nasopharyngeal airway obstruction caused by enlarge adenoids, and can prevent complications such as heart failure and recurrent or chronic otitis media. We researched 117 cases of tonsilloadenoidectomy patients and 266 patients having routine examination from March, 1979 to February, 1981, and described the A/N ratio derived from linear measurements of lateral radiographs of the nasopharynx. The results of Impedance Audiometry and X-ray films from 117 cases of T&A patients were compared: 1) The average A/N ratio by age groups for 266 cases of normal children showed: 0.508 for age group, 0 to 3 years old, 0.533 for age group, 4 to 6 years old, 0.524 for age group, 7 to 9 years old, 0.519 for age group, 10 to 12 years old, 0.507 for age group, 13 to 15 years old, 0.481 for age group over 15 years old. The peak value lies in the age group of 4 to 6 years old. The sex difference of A/N ratio was not significant. 2) The average A/N ratio by age groups from 117 cases of T&A patients showed: 0.709 for age group, 0 to 3 years old, 0.733 for age group, 4 to 6 years old, 0.693 for age group, 7 to 9 years old, 0.707 for age group, 10 to 12 years old, 0.620 for age group, 13 to 15 years old, 0.756 for age group over 15 years old. 3) Among the 117 cases of T&A patients, the average A/N ratio for 57 cases in normal tympanogram was 0.688 and the average A/N ratio for 60 cases in abnormal tympanogram was 0.705. 4) Among 57 cases in abnormal tympanogram: 6 cases (10.5%) showed 0.40-0.59 of A/N ratio, 44 cases (77.2%) showed 0.60-0.79 of A/N ratio, and 7 cases (12.3%) showed 0.80-0.99 of A/N ratio. 5) Among 117 cases of T&A patients, 3 of 15 cases showing A/N ratio under 0.6, and 67 of 102 cases showing A/N ratio over 0.6, had paranasal sinusitis.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.84 no.4
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• pp.263-273
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• 2021

Cough is the most common respiratory symptom that can have various causes. It is a major clinical problem that can reduce a patient's quality of life. Thus, clinical guidelines for the treatment of cough were established in 2014 by the cough guideline committee under the Korean Academy of Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases. From October 2018 to July 2020, cough guidelines were revised by members of the committee based on the first guidelines. The purpose of these guidelines is to help clinicians efficiently diagnose and treat patients with cough. This article highlights the recommendations and summary of the revised Korean cough guidelines. It includes a revised algorithm for the evaluation of acute, subacute, and chronic cough. For a chronic cough, upper airway cough syndrome (UACS), cough variant asthma (CVA), and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) should be considered in differential diagnoses. If UACS is suspected, first-generation antihistamines and nasal decongestants can be used empirically. In cases with CVA, inhaled corticosteroids are recommended to improve cough. In patients with suspected chronic cough due to symptomatic GERD, proton pump inhibitors are recommended. Chronic bronchitis, bronchiectasis, bronchiolitis, lung cancer, aspiration, intake of angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor, intake of dipeptidyl peptidase-4 inhibitor, habitual cough, psychogenic cough, interstitial lung disease, environmental and occupational factors, tuberculosis, obstructive sleep apnea, peritoneal dialysis, and unexplained cough can also be considered as causes of a chronic cough. Chronic cough due to laryngeal dysfunction syndrome has been newly added to the guidelines.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Laryngology, Phoniatrics and Logopedics
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• v.29 no.2
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• pp.87-93
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• 2018

Background and Objectives : Laryngopharyngeal reflux disease (LPRD) is relatively common disease. N-acetyl cysteine (NAC) has both mucolytic and antioxidant effect, also may be beneficial in inflammatory airway diseases. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the efficacy and safety of inhaled NAC therapy in LPRD. Materials and Method : We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of 525 LPRD patients at 12 medical centers. Finally 401 patients subjected to inhaled NAC therapy for 2 months were enrolled in the study. We analyzed the change of Reflux Symptom Index (RSI) and Reflux Finding Score (RFS) after use of NAC for 4 weeks and 8 weeks in addition to the patient's compliance of the treatment. Results : The RSI score significantly decreased from $19.87{\pm}6.34$ to $12.78{\pm}6.93$ after 4 weeks and to $10.65{\pm}7.47$ after 8 weeks. The RFS score also significantly decreased from $9.29{\pm}3.4$ to $7.17{\pm}3.41$ after 4 weeks and to $6.1{\pm}3.73$ after 8 weeks (p<0.05). During the treatment periods, 42 patients (10.4%) reported to have 80 episodes of discomfort. Throat discomfort (33%) and nausea (28%) were most common complaints, but the duration of discomfort was usually less than 4 weeks. Conclusion : Inhaled NAC treatment is highly effective for the reduction of both subjective and objective findings in LPRD patients. This study will provide the evidence of new treatment option for patients with LPRD. However, further studies will be needs to assess the real effect of inhaled NAC therapy as a standard treatment regimen of LPRD.