• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.16 no.10
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• pp.4251-4256
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• 2015

Background: Exposure to cigarette may affect human health and increase risk of a wide range of diseases including pulmonary diseases, such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), asthma, lung fibrosis and lung cancer. However, the molecular mechanisms of pathogenesis induced by cigarettes still remain obscure even with extensive studies. With systemic view, we attempted to identify the specific gene modules that might relate to injury caused by cigarette smoke and identify hub genes for potential therapeutic targets or biomarkers from specific gene modules. Materials and Methods: The dataset GSE18344 was downloaded from the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) and divided into mouse cigarette smoke exposure and control groups. Subsequently, weighted gene co-expression network analysis (WGCNA) was used to construct a gene co-expression network for each group and detected specific gene modules of cigarette smoke exposure by comparison. Results: A total of ten specific gene modules were identified only in the cigarette smoke exposure group but not in the control group. Seven hub genes were identified as well, including Fip1l1, Anp32a, Acsl4, Evl, Sdc1, Arap3 and Cd52. Conclusions: Specific gene modules may provide better understanding of molecular mechanisms, and hub genes are potential candidates of therapeutic targets that may possible improve development of novel treatment approaches.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.14 no.5
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• pp.2717-2722
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• 2013

Background: The objective of this research is the computed axial tomography (CT) imaging grading of radiation induced pneumonitis (RP) and its correlation with clinical and radiotherapeutic parameters. Materials and Methods: The chest CT films of 20 patients with non-small cell lung cancer who have undergone threedimensional conformal radiation therapy were reviewed. The proposed CT grading of RP is supported on solely radiological diagnosis criteria and distinguishes five grades. The manifestation of RP was also correlated with any positive pre-existing chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) history, smoking history, the FEV1 value, and the dosimetric variable V20. Results: The CT grading of RP was as follows: 3 patients (15%) presented with ground glass opacity (grade 1), 9 patients (45%) were classified as grade 2, 7 patients (35%) presented with focal consolidation, with or without elements of fibrosis (grade 3), and only one patient (5%) presented with opacity with accompanying atelectasis and loss of pulmonary volume (grade 4). Both univariate and multivariate analysis revealed as prognostic factors for the radiological grading of RP the reduction of FEV1 and the V20 (P=0.026 and P=0.003, respectively). There was also a significant (P<0.001) correlation of radiological grading of RP with FEV1 and V20 (spearman rho 0.92 and 0.93, respectively). Conclusions: The high correlation of the proposed radiological grading with the FEV1 and the V20 is giving a satisfactory clinical validity. Although the proposed grading scale seems relevant to clinical practice, further studies are needed for the confirmation of its validity and reliability.

• Journal of Hospice and Palliative Care
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• v.20 no.1
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• pp.8-17
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• 2017

Globally, efforts are being made to develop and strengthen a palliative care policy to support a comprehensive healthcare system. Korea has implemented a hospice and palliative care (HPC) policy as part of a cancer policy under the 10 year plan to conquer cancer and a comprehensive measure for national cancer management. A legal ground for the HPC policy was laid by the Cancer Control Act passed in 2003. Currently in the process is legislation of a law on the decision for life-sustaining treatment for HPC and terminally-ill patients. The relevant law has expanded the policy-affected disease group from terminal cancer to cancer, human immunodeficiency virus/acquired immune deficiency syndrome, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and chronic liver disease/liver cirrhosis. Since 2015, the National Health Insurance (NHI) scheme reimburses for HPC with a combination of the daily fixed sum and the fee for service systems. By the provision type, the HPC is classified into hospitalization, consultation, and home-based treatment. Also in place is the system that designates, evaluates and supports facilities specializing in HPC, and such facilities are funded by the NHI fund and government subsidy. Also needed along with the legal system are consensus reached by people affected by the policy and more realistic fee levels for HPC. The public and private domains should also cooperate to set HPC standards, train professional caregivers, control quality and establish an evaluation system. A stable funding system should be prepared by utilizing the long-term care insurance fund and hospice care fund.

• Journal of Korean Society for Atmospheric Environment
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• v.22 no.5
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• pp.554-563
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• 2006

Numerous epidemiological studies have shown stronger associations between $PM_{2.5}$ and both mortality and morbidity than $PM_{10}$. The association of $PM_{2.5}$ with respiratory mortality was examined in Seoul, during the period of $1996{\sim}2002$. Because $PM_{2.5}$ data were available for only 10% of this time period, a prediction regression model was developed to estimate $PM_{2.5}$ concentration. Death count due to respiratory-related diseases(total respiratory mortality; ICD-10, J00-J98) and death counts(cause-specific mortality) due to pneumonia(ICD-10, J12-J18), COPD(ICD-10, J40-J44) and asthma(ICD-10, J45-J46) were considered in this study. Averaged daily mortality was 5.6 for total respiratory mortality and 1.1 to 1.6 for cause-specific mortality. Generalized additive Poisson models controlling for confounders were used to evaluate the acute effects of particle exposures on total respiratory mortality and cause-specific mortality. An IQR increase in 5-day moving average of $PM_{2.5}(22.6{\mu}g/m^3)$ was associated with an 8.2%(95% CI: 4.5 to 12.1%) increase in total respiratory mortality The association of $PM_{2.5}$ was stronger for the elderly ($\geq$65 years old, 10.1%, 95% CI: 5.8 to 14.5%) and for males(8.9%, 95% CI: 2.1 to 11.3%). A $10{\mu}g/m^3$ increase in 5-day moving average of $PM_{2.5}$ was strongly associated with total respiratory mortality in winter(9.5%, 95% CI: 6.6 to 12.4%), followed by spring(3.1%, 95% CI: -1.2 to 7.5%), which was a different pattern with the finding in North American cities. However, our results are generally consistent with those observed in recent epidemiological studies, and suggest that $PM_{2.5}$ has a stronger effect on respiratory mortality in Seoul.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.71 no.1
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• pp.8-14
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• 2011

Background: MicroRNAs (miRNAs) have demonstrated their potential as biomarkers for lung cancer diagnosis. In recent years, miRNAs have been found in body fluids such as serum, plasma, urine and saliva. Circulating miRNAs are highly stable and resistant to RNase activity along with, extreme pH and temperatures in serum and plasma. In this study, we investigated serum miRNA profiles that can be used as a diagnostic biomarker of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Methods: We compared the expression profile of miRNAs in the plasma of patients diagnosed with lung cancer using an miRNA microarray. The data from this assay were validated by quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR). Results: Six miRNAs were overexpressed and three miRNAs were underexpressed in both tissue and serum from squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) patients. Sixteen miRNAs were overexpressed and twenty two miRNAs were underexpressed in both tissue and serum from adenocarcinoma (AC) patients. Of the four miRNAs chosen for qRT-PCR analysis, the expression of miR-23a was consistent with microarray results from AC patients. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analyses were done and revealed that the level of serum miR-23a was a potential marker for discriminating AC patients from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) patients. Conclusion: Although a small number of patients were examined, the results from our study suggest that serum miR-23a can be used in the diagnosis of AC.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.42 no.5
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• pp.723-730
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• 1995

Background: Noninvasive ventilation has been used extensively for the treatment of patients with neuromuscular weakness or restrictive chest wall disorders complicated by hypoventilatory respiratory failure. Recently, noninvasive positive pressure ventilation has been used in patients with alveolar hypoventilation, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease(COPD), and adult respiratory distress syndrome. Sanders and Kern reported treatment of obstructive sleep apnea with a modification of the standard nasal CPAP device to deliver seperate inspiratory positive airway pressure(IPAP) and expiratory positive airway pressure(EPAP). Bi-level positive airway pressure(BiPAP) unlike nasal CPAP, the unit delivers a different pressure during inspiration from that during expiration. The device is similar to the positive pressure ventilator or pressure support ventilation. Method and purpose: Bi-level positive airway pressure(BiPAP) system(Respironics, USA) was applied to seven patients with acute respiratory failure and three patients on conventional mechanical ventilation. Results: 1) Two of three patients after extubation were successfully achieved weaning from conventional mechanical ventilation by the use of BiPAP ventilation with nasal mask. Five of seven patients with acute respiratory failure successfully recovered without use of conventional mechanical ventilation. 2) $PaO_2$ 1hour after BiPAP ventilation in acute respiratory failure patients significantly improved more than baseline values(p<0.01). $PaCO_2$ 1hour after BiPAP ventilation in acute respiratory failure patients did not change significantly more than baseline values. Conclusion: Nasal mask BiPAP ventilation can be one of the possible alternatives of conventional mechanical ventilation in acute respiratory failure and supportive method for weaning from mechanical ventilation.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.31 no.4
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• pp.374-379
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• 1998

From March 1985 to June 1997, 451 patients of spontaneous pneumothorax treated at Kangbuk Samsung Hospital were reviewed retrospectively. Most of the patients were male (male to female ratio, 8.2:1). The mean age of the primary spontaneous pneumothorax (PSP) was 26.8 years, and that of secondary spontaneous pneumothorax(SSP) was 53.1 years. 330 out of 451 patients(73%) were PSP. The causes of the SSP were mostly pulmonary tuberculosis and COPD: 87 patients(72%), and 24 patients(19.2%), respectively. All the patient were treated by one of the following modalities: 1)rest and oxygen therapy in 42 patients, 2) closed thoracostomy in 208 patients, 3) thoracotomy in 156 patients, 4) VATS bullectomy in 45 patients. The mean duration of postoperative chest tube drainage was as following: thoracotomy 8.3 days, VATS bullectomy 4.7 days. For recent 3 consecutive years, VATS bullectomy has become the more frequently applied operative procedure than thoracotomy in the treatment of surgically indicated PSP, from 33% in 1994 to 78% in 1996. With the minimally invasive thoracoscopic surgery being more prevalent, VATS bullectomy will be able to be the 1st choice of treatment not only for the recurrent pneumothoracies but also for the some selected cases of the 1st episode pneumothoracies. To verify this approach as clinically acceptable one in terms of cost-effectiveness, recurrence rate, etc, a large scale of multi-institutional clinical study will be needed in a sooner time.

• The Korean Journal of Emergency Medical Services
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• v.13 no.3
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• pp.71-76
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• 2009

서론(Introduction) : 의학 시뮬레이션(medical simulation)은 교육생 학습과정에서 내재된 위험이 환자에게 가해짐 없이 교육생이 실제적인 환자 상황을 경험할 수 있게 하고 여러 다양한 임상내용이 포함한 상황에 적용될 수 있다. 시뮬레이션 기술의 사용은 의학교육(medical education), 인증서(certification), 면허교부(Licensure)와 의료의 질 형성에 큰 잠재력을 가지고 있다. 복강경 수술, 내시경검사, 전문심장구조술, 응급기도관리와 외상소생을 포함한 다양한 임상시술의 수행에서 시뮬레이션이 교육생의 술기를 달성하고, 측정하고, 유지하는 유효성을 증명하였다 컴퓨터로 조절되는 시뮬레이터는 맥박, 혈압, 호흡, 대화가 가능하고, 중증질환 또는 외상환자의 치료에 필요한 같은 인명구조 시술을 수행할 수 있다. 의학 시뮬레이션은 의사, 간호사, 응급구조사와 응급 진료를 필요로 하는 환자를 치료하는 사람에게 필요하다. 최신 전문심장구조술 과정수업은 전통적인 강의와 제한된 팀 상호작용이 포함된 이틀 과정이다. 우리는 비 영어권 국제 응급구조학생의 전문심장구조술 술기능력을 알아보고, 그것을 미국 응급구조학생과 비교하고자 한다. 목적(Objective) : 이 연구의 목적은 다양한 전문심장구조술 증례 시나리오를 가진 의학 시뮬레이터를 이용하여 미국과 한국의 응급구조 학생의 능력을 비교하는 것이다. 시행 장소(Site Location) : 이 연구는 한국 제주도에 위치한 제주한라대학 스토니브룩 응급의료교육원에서 진행되었다. 학생들의 평가는 스토니브룩에 위치한 스토니브룩 대학 의료원의 한 명의 평가자(Dr. lee)에 의해 수행되었다. 방법(Methods) : 15명의 한국 응급구조학생들은 세 팀으로 무작위로 선정하였다. 5명이 한 팀이 되어 같은 증례의 시나리오를 받았다. 세 가지 시나리오는 : 첫째, 천식지속상태(Status asthmaticus), 둘째, 긴장기흉을 동반한 만성폐쇄성폐질환(COPD with tension penumothorax) 그리고 마지막으로 메가코드(megacode)를 가진 심정지 이다. 세 팀을 각각 그리고 기본인명구조술(BLS)과 전문심장구조술(ACLS)과정을 마친 미국 응급구조학생들과 비교하였다. 15명의 미국 응급구조학생들 또한 세 팀으로 무작위로 선정하였다. 이 응급구조 학생들은 플러싱병원 의료원 소속으로 그곳에서 이 연구에 참여할 뿐만 아니라 지속적인 의학교육(CME)이수를 받았다. 이들에게도 같은 세 가지 증례의 시나리오가 주어졌고 Dr lee는 총 여섯 팀을 평가하였다(한국 세 팀과 미국 세팀). 결과(Results) : 양 국가의 모든 15명의 학생이 의학시뮬레이터를 사용하여 전문심장구조술 메가코드시험을 포함한 시험에 모두 통과하였다. 비록 학생들을 무작위로 세 팀으로 나누었지만 한 팀이 이 모든 세 증례에서 다른 팀보다 뛰어났다. 제주한라대학 2번 팀은 더 나은 기도관리, 리듬인식과 임상술기를 가진 모든 중요한 활동을 얻기에서 우수했다. 그들은 핵심요구사항을 90% 이상 충족시겼다. 한국의 2번팀(G2K)은 메가코드에서 기도개방, 호흡평가, 순환징후 그리고 흉부압박수와 같은 신체검진 술기에서도 탁월했다. 게다가 다른 팀과 비교 시 리듬인식, 약물지식과 임상술기에서도 높은 점수를 받았으며 2번팀(G2K)이 6팀 중에 가장 뛰어나게 역활수행을 하였다. 결론(Conclusion) : 이 비교 연구에서 한국학생과 미국학생간에 전문심장구조술 메가코드 시험의 통과율에는 차이가 없었다. 그러나 미국학생은 세 팀 사이에 더 적은 변이로 더 일괄된 점수를 받았다. 한국학생들도 모든 세 가지 증례를 통과하였지만 이 세 팀은 미국학생 팀보다 점수에서 더 큰 변이를 보였다.

• Journal of Biomedical Engineering Research
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• v.40 no.5
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• pp.215-221
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• 2019

The respiratory medical device is a medical device that delivers optimal oxygen or a certain amount of humidification to a patient by delivering artificial respiration to a patient through a machine when the patient has lost the ability to breathe spontaneously. These include respirators for use in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and anesthesia or emergency situations, and positive airway pressure devices for treating sleep apnea, and as the population of COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease) and elderly people worldwide surge, the market for the respiratory medical devices it is getting bigger. As the demand for both airway pressure devices, there is a problem that the ventilator standard is applied because the reference standard has not been established. Therefore, the boundaries between the items are blurred due to the purpose, intended use, and method of use overlapping similar items in a respiratory medical device. In addition, for both airway pressure devices, there is a problem that the ventilator standard is applied because the reference standard has not been established. Therefore, in this study, we propose clear classification criteria for the respiratory medical devices according to the purpose, intended use, and method of use and provide safety and performance evaluation guidelines for those items to help quality control of the medical devices. And to contribute to the rapid regulating and improvement of public health. This study investigated the safety and performance test methods through the principles of the respiratory medical device, national and international standards, domestic and international licensing status, and related literature surveys. The results of this study are derived from the safety and performance test items in the individual ventilator(ISO 80601-2-72), the International Standard for positive airway pressure device (ISO 80601-2-70), The safety and performance of humidifiers (ISO 80601-2-74) and the safety evaluation items related to home healthcare environment (IEC 60601-1-11), In addition, after reviewing the guidelines drawn up through expert consultation bodies including manufacturers and importers, certified test inspection institutions, academia, etc., the final guidelines were established through revision and supplementation. Therefore, in this study, we propose guidelines for evaluating the safety and performance of the respiratory medical device in accordance with growing technology development.

• Safety and Health at Work
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• v.14 no.4
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• pp.390-397
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• 2023

Introduction: Biological risks are a major global problem in the workplace. The recent COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted the need for a more comprehensive understanding of the biological risks at work. This study presents data on both communicable infectious biological agents and noncommunicable factors leading to death and disability for the year 2021. Methods: We followed the methodology established by the International Labour Organization (ILO) in their past global estimates on occupational accidents and work-related diseases. We used relevant ILO estimates for hazardous substances and related population attributable fractions derived from literature, which were then applied to World Health Organization mortality data. The communicable diseases included in the estimates were tuberculosis, pneumococcal diseases, malaria, diarrheal diseases, other infectious diseases, neglected tropical diseases, influenza associated respiratory diseases and COVID-19. Noncommunicable diseases and injuries considered were Chronic Obstructive Diseases (COPD) due to organic dusts, asthma, allergic reactions and risks related to animal contact. We estimated death attributable to biological risk at work and disability in terms of disability adjusted life years (DALYs). Results: We estimated that in 2022, 550,819 deaths were caused by biological risk factors, with 476,000 deaths attributed to communicable infectious diseases and 74,000 deaths caused by noncommunicable factors. Among these, there were 223,650 deaths attributed to COVID-19 at work. We calculated the rate of 584 DALYs per 100,000 workers, representing an 11% increase from the previous estimate of the global burden of work-related disabilities measured by DALYs. Conclusion: This is a first update since previous 2007 ILO estimates, which has now increased by 74% and covers most biological risks factors. However, it is important to note that there may be other diseases and deaths are missing from the data, which need to be included when new information becomes available. It is also worth mentioning that while deaths caused by major communicable diseases including COVID-19 are relatively rare within the working population, absences from work due to these diseases are likely to be very common within the active workforce.