• Journal of Yeungnam Medical Science
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• v.16 no.2
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• pp.219-227
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• 1999

Background: In contrast to a healthy person, patients who have acute lower respiratory tract infection with underlying pulmonary diseases have various pathogens, a rapidly progressive downhill course, and a poor response to prior antimicrobial therapy. Broad spectrum antibacterial therapy is needed for full evaluation. Materials and Methods: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of cefpirome, we administered 1gm cefpirome, twice a day to 30 patients, who had signs and symptoms of acute lower respiratory infection regardless of their underlying disease, except to those who had an allergic history to antibiotics or severe systemic diseases. Results: The results were as follows: 1) Among 30 cases, 21 cases(70.0%) showed excellent improvement, and 7 cases(23.3%) showed good improvement in their symptoms and signs of acute lower respiratory infection. 2) In 14 cases with isolated pathogens, we observed bacteriologic eradication in 11 cases(78. 6%). 3) Significant side effects were not found. Conclusion: Above results suggest that cefpirome was effective as a monotherapy in patients with acute lower respiratory infection, especially on those with an underlying chronic obstructive pulmonary disease(COPD).

• Journal of Yeungnam Medical Science
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• v.15 no.2
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• pp.246-253
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• 1998

Sparfloxacin is a new synthetic quinolone antimicrobial developed at the Research Laboratories of Dainippon Pharmaceutical Co, Ltd. To evaluate the efficacy and safety of sparfloxacin in acute pulmonary infection, we administered sparfloxacina(100mg) twice in a day to 30 patients who had signs and symptoms of acute pulmonary infectious diseases regardless of their underlying lung disease for 7 days. The results were as follows: 1) A total 30 patients were enrolled in the trial. Among them, 24 cases(80%) had underlying lung problems such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease(36.4%), bronchiectasis(36.4%), bronchial asthma(3.3%), or lung cancer(3.3%). 2) In 26 cases(86.6%), we observed effective improvement, and 4 cases(13.4%) show mildly effective improvement of symptoms and signs of respiratory infection. 3) In 23 cases(73.4%), we observed bacteriological eradication in culture or decreased the number of bacteria by Gram stain which found dominantly in previous Gram stain. 4) The significant side effect was not noted. The above results suggested that sparfloxacin was effective as a first line therapy in patients with acute respiratory infection.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.50 no.2
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• pp.86-93
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• 2017

Background: The influence of lifestyle diseases on postoperative complications and long-term survival in patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is unclear. The aim of this study was to determine whether lifestyle diseases were significant risk factors of perioperative and long-term surgical outcomes in elderly patients with stage I NSCLC. Methods: Between December 1995 and November 2013, 110 patients aged 65 years or older who underwent surgical resection of stage I NSCLC at Dong-A University Hospital were retrospectively studied. We assessed the presence of the following lifestyle diseases as risk factors for postoperative complications and long-term mortality: diabetes, hypertension, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, stroke, and ischemic heart disease. Results: The mean age of the patients was 71 years (range, 65 to 82 years). Forty-six patients (41.8%) had hypertension, making it the most common lifestyle disease, followed by diabetes (n=23, 20.9%). The in-hospital mortality rate was 0.9% (n=1). The 3-year and 5-year survival rates were 78% and 64%, respectively. Postoperative complications developed in 32 patients (29.1%), including 7 (6.4%) with prolonged air leakage, 6 (5.5%) with atrial fibrillation, 5 (4.5%) with delirium and atelectasis, and 3 (2.7%) with acute kidney injury and pneumonia. Univariate and multivariate analyses showed that the presence of a lifestyle disease was the only independent risk factor for postoperative complications. In survival analysis, univariate analysis showed that age, smoking, body mass index, extent of resection, and pathologic stage were associated with impaired survival. Multivariate analysis revealed that resection type (hazard ratio [HR], 2.20; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.08 to 4.49; p=0.030) and pathologic stage (HR, 1.89; 95% CI, 1.02 to 3.49; p=0.043) had independent adverse impacts on survival. Conclusion: This study demonstrated that the presence of a lifestyle disease was a significant prognostic factor for postoperative complications, but not of survival, in elderly patients with stage I NSCLC. Therefore, postoperative complications may be influenced by the presence of a lifestyle disease.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.56 no.2
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• pp.144-150
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• 2004

Background : An assessment of the presence and the degree of reversibility of airflow obstruction is clinically important in patients with asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. However, the time responses of spirometric parameters in response to bronchodilator have not been well investigated. Methods: We studied 15 patients with asthma. Spirometric and mini-Wright peak expiratory flow measurements were performed at 15, 30, 45, and 60 minutes after using single dose($200{\mu}g$) of inhaled bronchodilator, salbutamol. Results : The mean values of forced expiratory volume in one second($FEV_1$) and forced vital capicaty(FVC) were significantly increased at 60 minutes after using bronchodilator in comparison to 15 minutes. And peak expiratory flow rate measured by either mass flow sensor or mini-Wright peak flow meter were significantly increased at 45 minutes after using bronchodilator in comparison to 15 minutes. Conclusions : To appropriate evaluation of the bronchodilator response in patients with reversible airflow limitation, it would be useful measuring either $FEV_1$ or PEF at the later time point 60 or 45 minutes in comparison to 15 minutes after using bronchodilator.

• Sleep Medicine and Psychophysiology
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• v.2 no.1
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• pp.55-64
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• 1995

During sleep, relatively major respiratory physiological changes occur in healthy subjects. The contributions and interactions of voluntary and metabolic breathing control systems during waking and sleep are quite different Alterations of ventilatory control occur in chemosensitivity, response to mechanical loads, and stability of ventilation. The activities of intercostal muscles and muscles involved in regulating upper airway size are decreased during sleep. These respiratory physiological changes during sleep compromise the nocturnal ventilatory function, and sleep is an important physiological cause of the nocturnal alveolar hypoventilation. There are several causes of chronic alveolar hypoventilation including cardiopulmonary, neuromuscular diseases. Obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS) is an important cause of nocturnal hypoventilation and hypoxia. Coexistent cardiopulmonary or neuromuscular disease in patients with OSAS contributes to the development of diurnal alveolar hypoventilation, diurnal hypoxia and hypercapnia. The existing data indicates that nocturnal recurrent hypoxia and fragmentation of sleep in patients with OSAS contributes to the development of systemic hypertension and cardiac bradytachyarrhythmia, and diurnal pulmonary hypertension and cor pulmonale in patients with OSAS is usually present in patients with coexisting cardiac or pulmonary disease. Recent studies reported that untreated patients with OSAS had high long-term mortality rates, cardiovascular complications of OSAS had a major effect on mortality, and effective management of OSAS significantly decreased mortality.

• 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.

• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.37-43
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• 2011

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to determine the effects of chest resistance exercise on Forced Expiratory Volume per second and on fatigue in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Methods: In all, 62 male patients with COPD were included in this study. The experimental group included 32 patients who were treated with chest resistance exercise using the PNF technique with medication. The control group included 30 patients who were treated only with medication. Subjects were stratified into the 2 groups by randomized clinical sampling. Before the start of the experiment, forced expiratory volume at the first second (FEV1) and lactic acid were tested in both experimental and control groups. The experimental group did chest resistance exercise for 6 weeks, 4 times per week, 30 min per day, and the effects of this exercise in patients with COPD was determined by comparing the results of FEV1 and lactic acid tests before and after the experiment between and within the experimental and control groups. Results: There was a statistically significant within group difference for FEV1 MEAS and FEV1 %PRED. There was statistically significant control group of FEV1 MEAS and FEV1 %PRED There was a statistically significant difference in the experimental group for fatigue, comparing scores before and after the test. There was a statistically significant control group of fatigue, in comparison of between the groups of FEV1 MEAS, FEV1 %PRED, fatigue(p<0.01)(p<0.05). Conclusion: More research on COPD will be necessary for improving pulmonary function and reducing fatigue. Further studies on COPD will be required for improving pulmonary function and reducing of fatigue.

• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
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• v.27 no.4
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• pp.302-312
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• 2017

Objectives: In this study, an evaluation of the working environment of furnace workers was performed and the work-relatedness of the occupational diseases were examined Methods: In this study, two electric furnaces at a single casting business site producing manganese-based iron alloy were selected, and occupational exposures to hazardous substances were evaluated for furnace workers and furnace worker assistants. Results: As a result, total dust concentration were $0.407{\sim}3.001mg/m^3$ and respirable dust concentration were $0.196{\sim}0.584mg/m^3$. The highest concentration of crystalline silica was $0.079mg/m^3$ In the case of Masato and Sosuckwhoi crystalline silica, they contained 90.85% and 4.17% respectively. Manganese concentration was the highest at a $0.205mg/m^3$ maximum. The average of black carbon is $11.56{\mu}g/m^3$ and the maximum concentration is $604.23{\mu}g/m^3$. PAHs concentration was the highest at a $78.301{\mu}g/m^3$ of naphthalene. The concentration of carbon monoxide was 18.82 ppm(total average 3.89 ppm) during pouring, and the maximum is 131 ppm. The formaldehyde concentration was 0.003 to 0.007 ppm. Conclusions: It seems that conditions in the past were worse, since casting has recently been performed only twice per day for about 20 minutes, reducing the amount of pouring, and local exhaust systems have been installed one-by-one. In addition, it was judged that the past exposure levels were higher considering the points measured on the back-side due to the risk of damage to the individual samples. It was found that operators could be exposed to high concentrations of crystalline silica, and that they were also exposed to high concentrations of metal(fume) and carbon monoxide during pouring. Therefore, there is a risk that occupational diseases such as lung cancer and COPD may occur with long-term work in such a process.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.58 no.1
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• pp.25-30
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• 2005

Background : An insertion-deletion polymorphism of angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) gene has been shown to be associated with enzyme activity levels of ACE. Reported results that have been mutually contradictory about asthmatic hypersensitiveness and occurrence according to ACE gene insertion (I)/deletion (D) polymorphism. Also, the involvement of the ACE genes as the genetic basis of bronchial asthma is currently controversy. We investigated whether there was any association between polymorphisms of the ACE genes and airway hyper-responsiveness in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Methods : A total of 100 patients with COPD were enrolled in this study. The ACE genotypes were determined in all subjects by polymerase chain reaction. Pulmonary function test including bronchodilator response (BDR), methacholine bronchial provocation test (MBPT) were done in those patients. Airway hyper-responsiveness include any findings of positive BDR or MBPT. Results : In COPD patients, the ACE genotype distribution did not differ significantly among groups of patients with severities of COPD, and with or without airway hyper-responsiveness. Conclusions : These results suggest that polymorphisms of the ACE gene may not be associated with airway hyper-responsiveness, development and severity of COPD.