• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• 제84권3호
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• pp.217-225
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• 2021

Background: Despite the proven benefits of dexamethasone in hospitalized coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) patients, the optimum time for the administration of dexamethasone is unknown. We investigated the progression of COVID-19 pneumonia based on the timing of dexamethasone administration. Methods: A single-center, retrospective cohort study based on medical record reviews was conducted between June 10 and September 21, 2020. We compared the risk of severe COVID-19, defined as the use of a high-flow nasal cannula or a mechanical ventilator, between groups that received dexamethasone either within 24 hours of hypoxemia (early dexamethasone group) or 24 hours after hypoxemia (late dexamethasone group). Hypoxemia was defined as room-air SpO₂ <90%. Results: Among 59 patients treated with dexamethasone for COVID-19 pneumonia, 30 were in the early dexamethasone group and 29 were in the late dexamethasone group. There was no significant difference in baseline characteristics, the time interval from symptom onset to diagnosis or hospitalization, or the use of antiviral or antibacterial agents between the two groups. The early dexamethasone group showed a significantly lower rate of severe COVID-19 compared to the control group (75.9% vs. 40.0%, p=0.012). Further, the early dexamethasone group showed a significantly shorter total duration of oxygen supplementation (10.45 days vs. 21.61 days, p=0.003) and length of stay in the hospital (19.76 days vs. 27.21 days, p=0.013). However, extracorporeal membrane oxygenation and in-hospital mortality rates were not significantly different between the two groups. Conclusion: Early administration of dexamethasone may prevent the progression of COVID-19 to a severe disease, without increased mortality.

• 한국환경보건학회지
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• 제15권2호
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• pp.1-9
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• 1989

A pilot study was conducted in order to measure indoor and outdoor formaldehyde levels during August 3 - 22, 1988 in several underground spaces in Seoul. Formaldehyde concentrations were monitored during 1 week in selected sampling areas (subway station, underground shopping center, underpass, tunnel, underground parking lot) using passive formaldehyde monitors. In order to investigate a relationship between respiratory prevalence and levels of formaldehyde, each subject was asked to answer respiratory questions. The mean formaldehyde concentrations were 60.1 ppb in subway station, 122.2 ppb in underground shopping stores, 72.1 ppb in underpasses, 39.7 ppb in tunnel, and 75.9 ppb in underground parking lots, respectively. The mean indoor formaldehyde concentrations in underground environments varied from 28.6 ppb to 118.7 ppb. Generally, the mean formaldehyde concentrations in ticketing office in subway stations appeared higher than those level measured in platform. The mean formaldehyde concentrations of underground shopping center in Gangnam Terminal were higher than any other areas and it exceeded 100 ppb of the American Ambient Air Quality Standards of formaldehyde. Prevalence rates of respiratory symptoms of dwellers seemed to be related to higher indoor formaldehyde levels.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• 제13권6호
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• pp.2873-2877
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• 2012

Objective: To determine STAT3, P-STAT3, and VEGF-C expression levels in small cell lung cancers (SCLCs), and discuss their role and clinical significance in SCLC development. Method: Immunohistochemical methods were applied to 128 cases of SCLC and 40 cases of adjacent normal tissue. Results: The expression levels of STAT3, P-STAT3, and VEGF-C were higher in SCLC than in normal tissue (P<0.05). Pairwise comparisons showed positive correlations with lymph node metastasis, clinical stage, and tumor size (P<0.05). The expression levels were also related with the overall survival rates. Conclusion: STAT3 and VEGF-C play important roles in the development of SCLC, and might be expected to become new targets for SCLC treatment.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• 제8권6호
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• pp.607-610
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• 1995

An experiment was conducted to study the effects of Ascorbic Acid (AA) supplementations in the layer and broiler diets kept in the natural hot humid tropical climate ($20-35^{\circ}C$). The layers and the broilers were fed on normal commercial diet as control while supplementation of 400 and 600 mg/kg Ascorbic Acid made up the experimental diets. The results showed that AA supplementation in the layers significantly reduced egg weight and increased Haugh unit values of the eggs, but produced no significant effects on feed intake, body weight, egg production, respiratory rate and body temperature. The shell thickness was slightly improved, though not significantly, with AA supplementation. AA supplementation in broilers improved body weight gain and FCR and reduced the effect of heat stress as shown by lower body temperature and respiratory rates.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• 제86권3호
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• pp.183-195
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• 2023

Bronchiectasis, which is characterized by irreversibly damaged and dilated bronchi, causes significant symptoms, poor quality of life, and increased economic burden and mortality rates. Despite its increasing prevalence and clinical significance, bronchiectasis was previously regarded as an orphan disease, and ideal treatment of this disease has been poorly understood. The European Respiratory Society and British Thoracic Society have recently published guidelines to assist physicians in the clinical field. Guidelines and reports suggest comprehensive management that includes both non-pharmacological and pharmacological treatment. Physiotherapy and pulmonary rehabilitation are two of the most important non-pharmacologic therapies in bronchiectasis patients; long-term inhaled antibiotics and macrolide therapy have gained significant evidence in reducing exacerbation risk in frequent exacerbators. In this review, we summarize recent updates on bronchiectasis treatment to prevent exacerbation and manage clinical deterioration.

• 한국환경보건학회지
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• 제37권4호
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• pp.306-314
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• 2011

Objectives: Respiratory virus infections are the most common disease among all ages in all parts of the world and occur through airborne transmission. The purpose of this study was to detect and quantitate human respiratory viruses in residential environments. Methods: Air samples were collected from the residential space of apartments in the Seoul/Gyeonggi-do area. The samples were collected from indoor and outdoor air. Among respiratory viruses, influenza A virus, influenza B virus, parainfluenza virus, metapneumovirus, respiratory syncytial virus, and adenovirus were investigated by multiplex polymerase chain reaction. Among the virus-positive samples, we performed adenovirus quantification by real-time polymerase chain reaction. Results: Virus detection rates were 44.0%, 3.8%, 3.4%, and 17.3% in spring, summer, autumn, and winter, respectively. The virus detection rate was higher in winter and spring than in summer and autumn. Adenovirus was most commonly detected, followed by influenza A virus and parainfluenza virus. Virus distribution was not significantly different between indoor and outdoor environments. Conclusions: Although virus concentrations were not high in residential environments, residents in houses with detected viruses may have an increased risk of exposure to airborne respiratory viruses, especially in winter and spring.

• 보건행정학회지
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• 제32권2호
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• pp.164-172
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• 2022

Background: The purpose of this study was to the impact of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) outbreak on emergency departments (EDs) in patients under the age of 18 years with respiratory disease. Also, we analyzed similarities and differences in patients including revisit before and after the COVID-19 outbreak. Methods: This study population was respiratory patients under the age of 18 years who visited all 403 EDs in Korea between January 1st, 2019 and December 31st, 2020, using the National Emergency Department Information System Database. The primary outcome was the number of respiratory patients according to age, sex, the type of EDs, season, Korean Triage and Acuity Scale (KTAS) levels, the result of ED, and length of stay. The secondary outcome was the number of revisit respiratory patients within 72 hours. We calculated the risk-adjusted revisit rates according to the KTAS level using a multiple logistic regression model. Results: The number of ED visits decreased from 274,526 in 2019 to 79,007 in 2020; this number was 71.2% lower than that before COVID-19. In spring 2020, this number was 90.1% lower than during the same period in 2019. For the revisit rate in the study population, the adjusted odds ratio (95% confidence interval) was 1.22 (1.05-1.41) in 2019 and 1.39 (1.07-1.81) in 2020. Conclusion: Implementing appropriate emergency care policies in severe respiratory patients would have contributed to improving the safety of reducing in revisit rate.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• 제85권1호
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• pp.47-55
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• 2022

Background: We evaluated the long-term effects of domiciliary noninvasive positive-pressure ventilation (NIPPV) used to treat patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Methods: Databases were searched to identify randomized controlled trials of COPD with NIPPV for longer than 1 year. Mortality rates were the primary outcome in this meta-analysis. The eight trials included in this study comprised data from 913 patients. Results: The mortality rates for the NIPPV and control groups were 29% (118/414) and 36% (151/419), suggesting a statistically significant difference (risk ratio [RR], 0.79; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.65-0.95). Mortality rates were reduced with NIPPV in four trials that included stable COPD patients. There was no difference in admission, acute exacerbation and quality of life between the NIPPV and control groups. There was no significant difference in withdrawal rates between the two groups (RR, 0.99; 95% CI, 0.72-1.36; p=0.94). Conclusion: Maintaining long-term nocturnal NIPPV for more than 1 year, especially in patients with stable COPD, decreased the mortality rate, without increasing the withdrawal rate compared with long-term oxygen treatment.

• Safety and Health at Work
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• 제10권4호
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• pp.428-436
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• 2019

Background: Metalworking fluids (MWFs) are mixtures with inhalation exposures as mists, dusts, and vapors, and dermal exposure in the dispersed and bulk liquid phase. A quantitative risk assessment was performed for exposure to MWF and respiratory disease. Methods: Risks associated with MWF were derived from published studies and NIOSH Health Hazard Evaluations, and lifetime risks were calculated. The outcomes analyzed included adult onset asthma, hypersensitivity pneumonitis, pulmonary function impairment, and reported symptoms. Incidence rates were compiled or estimated, and annual proportional loss of respiratory capacity was derived from cross-sectional assessments. Results: A strong healthy worker survivor effect was present. New-onset asthma and hypersensitivity pneumonitis, at 0.1 mg/㎥ MWF under continuous outbreak conditions, had a lifetime risk of 45%; if the associated microbiological conditions occur with only 5% prevalence, then the lifetime risk would be about 3%. At 0.1 mg/㎥, the estimate of excess lifetime risk of attributable pulmonary impairment was 0.25%, which may have been underestimated by a factor of 5 or more by a strong healthy worker survivor effect. The symptom prevalence associated with respiratory impairment at 0.1 mg/㎥ MWF was estimated to be 5% (published studies) and 21% (Health Hazard Evaluations). Conclusion: Significant risks of impairment and chronic disease occurred at 0.1 mg/㎥ for MWFs in use mostly before 2000. Evolving MWFs contain new ingredients with uncharacterized long-term hazards.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• 제59권10호
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• pp.389-394
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• 2016

The incidence of bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) has not decreased over the last decade. The most important way to decrease BPD is by weaning the patient from the ventilator as soon as possible in order to reduce ventilator-induced lung injury that underlies BPD, and by using a noninvasive ventilator (NIV). Use of a heated, humidified, high flow nasal cannula (HHHFNC), which is the most recently introduced NIV mode for respiratory support in preterm infants, is rapidly increasing in many neonatal intensive care units due to the technical ease of use without sealing, and the attending physician's preference compared to other NIV modes. A number of studies have shown that nasal breakdown and neonatal complications were lower when using a HHHFNC than when using nasal continuous positive airway pressure (nCPAP), or nasal intermittent positive pressure ventilation. The rates of extubation failure during respiratory support were not different between patients who used HHHFNC and nCPAP. However, data from the use of HHHFNC as the initial respiratory support "after birth", particularly in extremely preterm infants, are lacking. Although the HHHFNC is efficacious and safe, large randomized controlled trials are needed before the HHHFNC can be considered an NIV standard, particularly for extremely preterm infants.