• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
• /
• v.58 no.7
• /
• pp.245-250
• /
• 2015

Purpose: Wheezing following viral lower respiratory tract infections (LRTIs) in children <2 years of age is an important risk factor for the development of asthma later in life; however, not all children with viral LRTIs develop wheezing. This study investigated risk factors for the development of wheezing during viral LRTIs requiring hospitalization. Methods: The study included 142 children <2 years of age hospitalized for LRTIs with at least one virus identified as the cause and classified them into children diagnosed with LRTIs with wheezing (n=70) and those diagnosed with LRTIs without wheezing (n=72). Results: There were no significant differences in the viruses detected between the two groups. Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that, after adjusting for potentially confounding variables including sex and age, the development of wheezing was strongly associated with parental history of allergic diseases (adjusted odds ratio [aOR], 20.19; 95% confidence interval [CI], 3.22-126.48), past history of allergic diseases (aOR, 13.95; 95% CI, 1.34-145.06), past history of hospitalization for respiratory illnesses (aOR, 21.36; 95% CI, 3.77-120.88), exposure to secondhand smoke at home (aOR, 14.45; 95% CI, 4.74-44.07), and total eosinophil count (aOR, 1.01; 95% CI, 1.01-1.02). Conclusion: Past and parental history of allergic diseases, past history of hospitalization for respiratory illnesses, exposure to secondhand smoke at home, and total eosinophil count were closely associated with the development of wheezing in children <2 years of age who required hospitalization for viral LRTIs. Clinicians should take these factors into consideration when treating, counseling, and monitoring young children admitted for viral LRTIs.

• Land and Housing Review
• /
• v.3 no.4
• /
• pp.315-322
• /
• 2012

Recently multifaceted advantages of urban agriculture are emerging in civil society and related policy arena such as food safety, environment, and social welfare. This study tried an estimation of residents' willingness-to-pay for urban farming to examine feasibility of using part of urban green infrastructure as urban farm (e.g. allotment garden). A survey targeting Bundang and Dontan new-town residents was carried out and willingness-to-pay for urban farm rental was estimated by contingent valuation method (CVM). The estimated rent was cross-checked with the rental cost and travel cost paid by hobby farm users in the outskirt of metropolitan area. The result of this study showed that the potential demand for urban farming is ample if urban farms or allotment gardens are planned within new development areas. That is, 72.6 percent of new-town residents questioned had intention of using allotment garden within urban parks and green spaces. Estimated willingness-to-pay for renting a plot, $16.5m^2$ of urban farm, was about 236,000 won(KRW), which is higher than rent for a plot of allotment garden which is located out of city. Variables which were statistically significant to estimated willingness-to-pay for urban farming were sex, age, and occupation of respondents, among other explanatory socio-demographic variables, while expected frequency and duration of visit to urban farm were insignificant.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
• /
• v.16 no.8
• /
• pp.5673-5682
• /
• 2015

Purpose of this study is to examine and investigate the utilization of low-rise floor Pilotis space which is frequently selected as a major planning element in recent high-rise apartment complex and to identify the interrelationship between the placement of Pilotis space in the complex and space utilization frequency by comparing circulation related indicators of Connectivity, Control Value, Global Integration and Local Integration through Space Syntax axial analysis. Conclusions of this study are, first, Pilotis space is not used as a space to improve regional community consciousness because it is mostly used as a 'simple movement space'. Second, regarding space utilization frequency differences in Pilotis space in each apartment building, projecting entry access+pilotis addition type complex shows more significant utilization frequency than pilotis access type complex, and the vandalism phenomenon is observed more often. Third, Pilotis space utilization is related with Connectivity, Control Value, Global Integration and Local Integration which are circulation related indicators in Space Syntax, and Pilotis spaces with high indicator values over 2 tend to show higher utilization frequency and those with low indicator values over 2 tend to show low utilization frequency.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
• /
• v.19 no.5
• /
• pp.435-440
• /
• 2015

This study aimed to investigate the effect of pituitary adenylate cyclase-activating peptide (PACAP) on the pacemaker activity of interstitial cells of Cajal (ICC) in mouse colon and to identify the underlying mechanisms of PACAP action. Spontaneous pacemaker activity of colonic ICC and the effects of PACAP were studied using electrophysiological recordings. Exogenously applied PACAP induced hyperpolarization of the cell membrane and inhibited pacemaker frequency in a dose-dependent manner (from 0.1 nM to 100 nM). To investigate cyclic AMP (cAMP) involvement in the effects of PACAP on ICC, SQ-22536 (an inhibitor of adenylate cyclase) and cell-permeable 8-bromo-cAMP were used. SQ-22536 decreased the frequency of pacemaker potentials, and cell-permeable 8-bromo-cAMP increased the frequency of pacemaker potentials. The effects of SQ-22536 on pacemaker potential frequency and membrane hyperpolarization were rescued by co-treatment with glibenclamide (an ATP-sensitive $K^+$ channel blocker). However, neither $N^G$-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME, a competitive inhibitor of NO synthase) nor 1H-[1,2,4]oxadiazolo[4,3-${\alpha}$]quinoxalin-1-one (ODQ, an inhibitor of guanylate cyclase) had any effect on PACAP-induced activity. In conclusion, this study describes the effects of PACAP on ICC in the mouse colon. PACAP inhibited the pacemaker activity of ICC by acting through ATP-sensitive $K^+$ channels. These results provide evidence of a physiological role for PACAP in regulating gastrointestinal (GI) motility through the modulation of ICC activity.

• Clinics in Shoulder and Elbow
• /
• v.20 no.3
• /
• pp.133-137
• /
• 2017

Background: To determine the natural progression of conservatively treated rotator cuff tears, we evaluated changes in radiologic and clinical parameters in patients whose recalcitrant tears were neglected after conservative treatment. Methods: A total of 73 patients with recalcitrant rotator cuff tears in spite of conservative treatment were included in this study. We measured changes in tear size and in the extent of fatty infiltration of the rotator cuff by comparing the initial and final follow-up magnetic resonance imagings (MRIs). To determine factors influencing the change in tear size, we collected the medical history of patients taken at the time of initial admission. Results: The average follow-up period was 20.1 months, and the average increase in tear size across this period was 6.2 mm. In terms of steroid injection, we found that the increases in tear size of the steroid injection group (p=0.049) and of the sub-group that had received more than three steroid injections (p=0.010) were significantly greater than that of the non-steroid injection group. Conclusions: We found that the increase in cuff tear size was on average 6.2 mm across the follow-up period, indicating that neglecting cuff tears may cause them to progress into more severe tears. We also observed that a history of steroid injection might be a possible risk factor for a worse prognosis of cuff tears. Therefore, we suggest that patients with rotator cuff tears and a history of steroid injection are recommended aggressive modes of treatment such as surgery.

• Allergy, Asthma & Immunology Research
• /
• v.10 no.6
• /
• pp.591-613
• /
• 2018

Chronic cough is common in the community and causes significant morbidity. Several factors may underlie this problem, but comorbid conditions located at sensory nerve endings that regulate the cough reflex, including rhinitis, rhinosinusitis, asthma, eosinophilic bronchitis, and gastroesophageal reflux disease, are considered important. However, chronic cough is frequently non-specific and accompanied by not easily identifiable causes during the initial evaluation. Therefore, there are unmet needs for developing empirical treatment and practical diagnostic approaches that can be applied in primary clinics. Meanwhile, in referral clinics, a considerable proportion of adult patients with chronic cough are unexplained or refractory to conventional treatment. The present clinical practice guidelines aim to address major clinical questions regarding empirical treatment, practical diagnostic tools for non-specific chronic cough, and available therapeutic options for chronic wet cough in children and unexplained chronic cough in adults in Korea.

• The Korean journal of internal medicine
• /
• v.33 no.6
• /
• pp.1129-1136
• /
• 2018

Background/Aims: Vitamin D modulates innate and adaptive immune responses, and vitamin D deficiency is associated with increased mortality in hospitalized patients with pneumonia. We evaluated the prevalence of vitamin D deficiency in Korean patients with acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) and its effect on the clinical outcomes of ARDS. Methods: We retrospectively analyzed the data of 108 patients who had a measured serum level of 25-hydroxy vitamin D3 ($25(OH)D_3$) at the time of diagnosis with ARDS. The clinical outcomes were evaluated based on $25(OH)D_3$ levels of 20 ng/mL and stratified by quartiles of $25(OH)D_3$ levels. Results: The mean age of patients was 59.4 years old; 77 (71.3%) were male. Vitamin D deficiency was found in 103 patients (95.4%). The mean $25(OH)D_3$ level was $8.3{\pm}7.0ng/mL$. Neither in-hospital mortality (40.0% vs. 68.0%) nor 6-month mortality (40.0% vs. 71.8%) significantly differed between groups. There were no significant differences in $25(OH)D_3$ level between survivors ($8.1{\pm}7.6ng/mL$) and non-survivors ($8.5{\pm}6.8ng/mL$, p = 0.765). There were no trends toward a difference in mortality among quartiles of $25(OH)D_3$ levels. However, $25(OH)D_3$ levels were inversely related with length of hospital stay and intensive care unit stay among in-hospital survivors. Conclusions: Vitamin D deficiency was prevalent in Korean patients with ARDS. However, levels of vitamin D were not associated with mortality. A large, prospective study is needed to evaluate the effects of vitamin D deficiency on clinical outcomes of ARDS.

• The Journal of The Korea Institute of Intelligent Transport Systems
• /
• v.18 no.4
• /
• pp.16-30
• /
• 2019

In this study, we calculated the driving duration of individual vehicles according to the availability of rest facility on highway, and suggested indicators indicating the potential risk of accidents caused by long-term driving with weights based on the number of vehicles by driving duration of individual links. Based on this, the methodology for estimating the appropriate location of the highway rest facility considering the driving duration of individual vehicles was presented. Using the DSRC individual vehicle data collected from the highways, the appropriate location of the rest facility was calculated by considering the driving duration by classifying weekdays and weekends for the Gyeongbu Expressway. The results showed that the weekly and weekend high risk indicators were different. In the case of weekdays, the risk indicators of Gimchun JC to Kumho JC for Busan were high, while for weekends, the risk indicators of Ansung JC to Dongtan JC for Seoul and Ansung IC to Bukchunan IC for Busan were high. This study has great significance in that it provides a framework for detailed analysis of link units by using non-aggregated data of individual vehicle units. In addition, it is significant that the reasonable driving duration reflecting the behavior of individual vehicles was calculated by analyzing the use of rest facilities.

• Annals of Geriatric Medicine and Research
• /
• v.22 no.4
• /
• pp.176-183
• /
• 2018

Background: Although the frequency and intensity of headaches decrease in older adults, headaches in this population are still an important neurological disorder. The purpose of this study was to investigate the associations of headache characteristics in older adults with the development of cardiovascular disease and cognitive dysfunction. Methods: We prospectively enrolled 125 older (${\geq}65$ years old) patients with headache who were making their first visit to outpatient clinics and who had no prior history of cognitive dysfunction from 11 hospitals in Korea between August 2014 and February 2015. We investigated the occurrence of newly developed/or recurrent headache, cardiovascular disease, cognitive dysfunction, and poor functional outcomes. Results: The mean age of all included patients was 72.6 years, 68.8% were women, and 43 (34.4%) had newly developed/or recurrent headache during follow-up. During a median follow-up of 31 months (interquartile range, 28-34 months), 21 participants (16.8%) experienced cardiovascular disease, and 26 (20.8%) developed cognitive dysfunction. Upon multivariate analysis and after adjusting for sex, age, and other factors, presence of newly developed/or recurrent headache was found to be associated with cardiovascular disease (hazard ratio [HR], 4.03; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.28-12.61; p=0.017) and frequency of headache for the recent 3 months was related with cognitive dysfunction (HR, 1.05; 95% CI, 1.00-1.09; p=0.017) and poor functional outcomes (HR, 1.06; 95% CI, 1.01-1.11; p=0.011). Conclusion: Our study demonstrated that there is an increased risk of cardiovascular disease, cognitive dysfunction, and poor functional outcomes in older patients with frequent, newly developed, or recurrent headache.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
• /
• v.82 no.3
• /
• pp.251-260
• /
• 2019

Background: Beyond its current function as a rescue therapy in acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) may be applied in ARDS patients with less severe hypoxemia to facilitate lung protective ventilation. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of extended ECMO use in ARDS patients. Methods: This study reviewed 223 adult patients who had been admitted to the intensive care units of 11 hospitals in Korea and subsequently treated using ECMO. Among them, the 62 who required ECMO for ARDS were analyzed. The patients were divided into two groups according to pre-ECMO arterial blood gas: an extended group (n=14) and a conventional group (n=48). Results: Baseline characteristics were not different between the groups. The median arterial carbon dioxide tension/fraction of inspired oxygen ($FiO_2$) ratio was higher (97 vs. 61, p<0.001) while the median $FiO_2$ was lower (0.8 vs. 1.0, p<0.001) in the extended compared to the conventional group. The 60-day mortality was 21% in the extended group and 54% in the conventional group (p=0.03). Multivariate analysis indicated that the extended use of ECMO was independently associated with reduced 60-day mortality (odds ratio, 0.10; 95% confidence interval, 0.02-0.64; p=0.02). Lower median peak inspiratory pressure and median dynamic driving pressure were observed in the extended group 24 hours after ECMO support. Conclusion: Extended indications of ECMO implementation coupled with protective ventilator settings may improve the clinical outcome of patients with ARDS.