• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• 제85권2호
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• pp.155-164
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• 2022

Background: The remarkable efficacy of osimertinib in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) with acquired T790M mutation has been widely documented in clinical trials and real-world practice. However, some patients show primary resistance to this drug. Even patients who initially show a favorable response have inconsistent clinical outcomes later. Therefore, the aim of this study was to identify additional clinical predictive factors for osimertinib efficacy. Methods: A prospective cohort of patients with acquired T790M positive stage IV lung adenocarcinoma treated with osimertinib salvage therapy in Hallym University Medical Center were analyzed. Results: Sixty-one eligible patients were analyzed, including 38 (62%) women and 39 (64%) who never smoked. Their mean age was 63.3 years. The median follow-up after treatment with epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) was 36.0 months (interquartile range, 24.7-50.2 months). The majority (n=45, 74%) of patients were deceased. Based on univariate analysis, low baseline neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratios (NLR), age ≥50 years, never-smoking history, stage IVA at osimertinib initiation, and prolonged response to previous TKIs (≥10 months) were associated with a significantly longer progression-free survival (PFS). Multivariate analysis showed that never-smoking status (hazard ratio [HR], 0.54; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.30-0.98; p=0.041) and a baseline NLR less than or equal to 3.5 (HR, 0.23; 95% CI, 0.12-0.45; p<0.001) were independently associated with a prolonged PFS with osimertinib. Conclusion: Smoking history and high NLR were independent negative predictors of osimertinib PFS in patients with advanced NSCLC developing EGFR T790M resistance after the initial EGFR-TKI treatment.

• 생명과학회지
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• 제20권4호
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• pp.511-518
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• 2010

전 세계적으로 알레르기 환자가 증가하고 있고, 특히 운동이 알레르기 질환을 증가 시켜 운동 유발성 알레르기에 대한 연구가 주목되고 있다. 운동 유발성 알레르기 질환은 운동 중과 운동 후 혈관부종, 두드레기, 호흡, 위와 장계의 증후 및 아나플락시스 등이 나타나는 질환이다. 따라서 본 연구는 운동 유발성 알레르기 질환의 분석 및 비타민 C와 catalase 투여에 대한 항 알레르기 효과와 활성 산소종 생성 조절제 들의 상호작용을 규명하고 전반적인 운동 유발성 알레르기 질환의 치료효과를 규명하는데 그 목적이 있다. 연구방법으로는 무병원성환경에서 사육한 생후 7주령의 BALE/c마우스(Female)를 그룹핑 하여 통제군과 훈련군에게 각각 알레르기를 유발한 후, 서로 다른 기간의 운동 효과를 분석하였고, 운동 유발성 알레르기 군에게 비타민c와 catalase를 투여하여 투여 효과를 분석하였다. 본 연구결과 운동 유발성 알레르기 질환은 훈련기간이 늘어남에 따라 증가함을 알 수 있었고, 이러한 운동 유발성 알레르기 질환과 쇼크사는 복강 림프구에서 발현하는 ROS는 큰 연관이 있다는 것, 그리고 운동 유발성 알레르기 치료 효과는 catalase를 투여하는 것 보다 비타민을 투여하는 것이 더욱 효과적임을 알 수 있었다. 추후 이에 대한 원인을 규명하는 기전적 연구가 필요할 것으로 여겨진다.

• 한국미생물·생명공학회지
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• 제50권4호
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• pp.512-521
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• 2022

Since the main symptoms of COVID-19 involve the respiratory system, the infection rate of this disease is predicted to be higher in patients with other respiratory conditions such as allergic rhinitis. In such a situation, it will be meaningful to conduct research on an allergy treatment that has fewer side effects and can effectively reduce allergy symptoms. Here, we prepared experimental samples under various fermentation conditions with mixed extracts of six medicinal plants. To examine the anti-allergic efficacy of these samples, an egg albumin-induced allergic rhinitis animal model experiment, a serum histamine and IgE experiment, and a COX and LO inhibitory activity experiment were conducted. As a result of animal experiments, OVA+SP-4 showed superior efficacy compared to OVA+SP-1 in nasal rubbing and sneezing experiments and had anti-allergic efficacy similar to that of OVA-cetirizine. The serum histamine concentration of OVA+SP-4 was also 1.3 times higher than that of the OVA+cetirizine group, showing a high histamine reduction ability, and IgE showed the same trend. An analysis of COX inhibitory efficacy also confirmed that COX-1 and COX-2 inhibitory efficacy is high, and the longer the fermentation time, the higher the antiallergic efficacy. The composition proposed by this study is expected to have a significant effect on sustainable allergy prevention and treatment in the future by applying it to human patients.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• 제87권4호
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• pp.440-450
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• 2024

Bronchiectasis is a chronic respiratory disease characterized by abnormal dilation of the bronchi that causes cough, sputum, and recurrent infections. As it may be associated with various respiratory or systemic diseases, a critical aspect of managing bronchiectasis is to identify the underlying cause. Immunodeficiency is a rare but important cause of bronchiectasis, and its treatability is a significant trait for bronchiectasis management. While primary immunodeficiencies in bronchiectasis are well recognized, secondary immunodeficiencies remain under-reported and under-researched. Secondary immunodeficiencies may result from various diseases and conditions, such as hematologic malignancies, human immunodeficiency virus infection, renal transplantation, or the use of immunosuppressive drugs, and may contribute to the occurrence of bronchiectasis. Recurrent pulmonary and/or extrapulmonary infections in bronchiectasis may indicate the presence of secondary immunodeficiency in patients with these underlying conditions. For treatment, examining the underlying condition, managing bronchiectasis adequately, and prophylactic antibiotics (e.g., macrolide) and/or supplementary immunoglobulin G therapy may provide potential benefits. Considering the projected increase in the prevalence of secondary immunodeficiencies and bronchiectasis, future guidelines and research on the diagnosis and optimized treatment are needed.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• 제69권1호
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• pp.48-51
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• 2010

Sarcoidosis is a multi-systemic granulomatous disorder of unknown etiology. The characteristic pathological finding is the presence of non-caseating granulomas. The lungs are primarily affected, however other organs may be involved causing various symptoms and ambiguous laboratory findings can be present. There are a few reported cases of sarcoidosis with elevated tumor markers. We describe a 68-year-old woman presenting with sarcoidosis showing elevated serum carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA). The possibility of cancer arising from serum CEA such as gastrointestinal cancer, breast cancer and lung cancer was excluded. A transbronchial lung biopsy demonstrated a non-caseating granuloma without necrosis. As a result prescribed 30 mg prednisolone daily to the patient and serum CEA was decreased after 1 month of treatment. We report a case of pulmonary sarcoidosis with elevated serum CEA.

• 대한한방내과학회지
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• 제38권4호
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• pp.520-530
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• 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.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• 제80권4호
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• pp.392-400
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• 2017

Background: Most patients with influenza recover spontaneously or following treatment with an anti-viral agent, but some patients experience pneumonia requiring hospitalization. We conducted a retrospective review to determine the incidence and risk factors of pneumonia in hospitalized patients with influenza A or B. Methods: A total of 213 patients aged 18 years or older and hospitalized with influenza between January 2012 and January 2015 were included in this study. A reverse-transcriptase polymerase chain reaction assay was used to detect the influenza A or B virus in the patients' sputum samples. We collected demographic and laboratory data, combined coexisting diseases, and radiologic findings. Results: The incidence of pneumonia was higher in patients in the influenza A group compared to those in the influenza B group (68.6% vs. 56.9%), but this difference was not statistically significant. The presence of underlying respiratory disease was significantly associated with pneumonia in the influenza A group (adjusted odds ratio [OR], 3.975; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.312-12.043; p=0.015). In the influenza B group, the white blood cell count (adjusted OR, 1.413; 95% CI, 1.053-1.896; p=0.021), platelet count (adjusted OR, 0.988; 95% CI, 0.978-0.999; p=0.027), and existence of an underlying medical disease (adjusted OR, 15.858; 95% CI, 1.757-143.088; p=0.014) were all significantly associated with pneumonia in multivariate analyses. Conclusion: The incidence of pneumonia was 65.7% in hospitalized patients with influenza A or B. The risk factors of pneumonia differed in hospitalized patients with influenza A or B.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• 제70권1호
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• pp.74-78
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• 2011

Herein, we report a case of recurrent pleural metastasis after complete resection of invasive thymoma that was successfully treated with surgical resection. Thymoma and thymic carcinoma are uncommon neoplasms derived from the epithelial cells of the thymus. Approximately 30% to 50% of thymomas are asymptomatic at the time of diagnosis. However, these cancers may present with constitutional or local pressure symptoms and sometimes with paraneoplastic syndromes, especially myasthenia gravis. Surgical resection is the mainstay of thymoma treatment and has been shown to remarkably improve long-term survival. Despite complete resection, local recurrences are frequent, and surgery is the cornerstone of therapy even in cases of recurrent thymoma. We experienced a 67-year-old male patient with pleural metastasis that developed 6 years after complete surgical resection of invasive thymoma. The pleural mass was excised by video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery. Histopathological examination revealed an invasive World Health Organization (WHO) type B2 thymoma.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• 제77권6호
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• pp.274-278
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• 2014

Antiphospholipid syndrome (APS) is an acquired systemic autoimmune disorder characterized by a combination of clinical criteria, including vascular thrombosis or pregnancy morbidity and elevated antiphospholipid antibody titers. It is one of the causes of deep vein thrombosis and pulmonary embolism that can be critical due to the mortality risk. Overall recurrence of thromboembolism is very low with adequate anticoagulation prophylaxis. The most effective treatment to prevent recurrent thrombosis is long-term anticoagulation. We report on a 17-year-old male with APS, who manifested blue toe syndrome, deep vein thrombosis, pulmonary thromboembolism, and cerebral infarction despite adequate long-term anticoagulation therapy.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• 제84권3호
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• pp.171-175
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• 2021

Cryptogenic organizing pneumonia (COP) is a type of idiopathic interstitial pneumonia with an acute or subacute clinical course. Bilateral lung consolidations located in the subpleural area and bronchovascular bundle are the most common findings on chest high-resolution computed tomography. The pathologic manifestations include granulation tissue in the alveoli, alveolar ducts, and bronchioles. COP responds fairly well to glucocorticoid monotherapy with rapid clinical improvement, but recurrence is common. However, treatment with combined immunosuppressant agents is not recommended, even if the COP patient does not respond to glucocorticoid monotherapy with expert opinion.