• The Journal of Dong Guk Oriental Medicine
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• v.2 no.2
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• pp.57-68
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• 1993

In humans, an immediate allergic response to an allergen snay appear as either bronchial asthma unaccompanied by anaphylaxis or a severe bronchial constriction and spasm accompanied by anaphylaxis. Much experimental evidence with isolated asthmatic tissues has shown that histamine is released during the allergic reaction. Paradoxically, antihistamine treatment is ineffective in reversing bronchial asthma or anapllylaxis in a man. The present study objective is to search for protective agents(In-Sam-Yun-Pai-San-Ga-Gam-Bang) against bronchial constriction in treating a anaphylaxis. The result from this study is as follows. A single dose of In-Sam-Yun-Pai-San-Ga-Gam-Bang extract(3ml/kg body weight) 2 hrs prior to histamine-induced bronchial constriction test demonstrated significant protection. Based on the above result, It is considered that In-Sam-Yun-Pai-San-Ga-Gam-Bang can be used in bronchial asthma.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.45 no.1
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• pp.77-89
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• 1998

Background: Genetic and environmental factors are known to affect the incidence and severity of asthma. Stimulation of $\beta_2$-Adrenergic Receptor ($\beta_2$AR) results in smooth muscle relaxation, leading to decrease in resistance of airflow. The gene encoding the $\beta_2$AR has recently been seguenced. The $\beta_2$AR genotype at the polymorphic loci of codons 16, 27, 34, and 164 was known to cause changes in the amino acids. The relationships between the structure of the $\beta_2$AR and its functions are being elucidated. Purpose : The gene encoding the $\beta_2$AR was carried out to assess the frequency of polymorphisms in bronchial asthma, to determine wheather these polymorphisms have any relation to the severity, or nocturnal symptoms in bronchial asthma. Methods: The subjects studied were 103 patients with bronchial asthma, which consisted of 30 mild episodic, 32 mild persistent, 17 moderate, and 24 severe asthma patients. The polymorphisms of the $\beta_2$AR gene were detected by mutated allele specific amplification (MASA) method at the codons 16,27,34, and 164. Results: The most frequent polymorphism was arginine 16 to glycine. The other two polymorphisms, valine 34 to methionine and glutamine 27 to glutamic acid occured in 11 and 6 patients respectively. The polymorphism of threonine 164 to isoleucine was not found in our enrolled patients. The homozygous polymorphism of $\beta_2$AR gene was found in only arginine 16 to glycine (12.6%). The heterozygous polymorphisms of $\beta_2$AR gene were in arginine 16 to glycine, valine 34 to methionine, and glutamine 27 to glutamic acid, as 65.1 %,10.7%, and 5.8% respectively in asthma patients. The presence of agrginine 16 to glycine heterozygous or/and homozygous polymorphism was associated in severe asthma (p=0.015), but there was no association between the other three polymorphisms and the severity of asthma. The frequency of the $\beta_2$AR gene polymorphisms was no relation in nocturnal asthma as compared with non-nocturnal asthma. Conclusion: The arginine 16 to glycine polymorphism of the $\beta_2$AR gene is the most frequently found in asthma patients and association with severe asthma. But there was no association between the polymorphism of the $\beta_2$AR gene and nocturnal asthma.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.84 no.1
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• pp.22-34
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• 2021

The coronavirus pandemic, known as coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), is an infectious respiratory disease caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), a novel coronavirus first identified in patients from Wuhan, China. Since December 2019, SARS-CoV-2 has spread swiftly around the world, infected more than 25 million people, and caused more than 800,000 deaths in 188 countries. Chronic respiratory diseases such as asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) appear to be risk factors for COVID-19, however, their prevalence remains controversial. In fact, studies in China reported lower rates of chronic respiratory conditions in patients with COVID-19 than in the general population, while the trend is reversed in the United States and Europe. Although the underlying molecular mechanisms of a possible interaction between COVID-19 and chronic respiratory diseases remain unknown, some observations can help to elucidate them. Indeed, physiological changes, immune response, or medications used against SARS-CoV-2 may have a greater impact on patients with chronic respiratory conditions already debilitated by chronic inflammation, dyspnea, and the use of immunosuppressant drugs like corticosteroids. In this review, we discuss importance and the impact of COVID-19 on asthma and COPD patients, the possible available treatments, and patient management during the pandemic.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.49 no.4
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• pp.486-494
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• 2000

Background : The dominant innervation of airway smooth muscle is parasympathetic fibers which are carried in the vagus nerve. Activation of these cholinergic nerves releases acetylcholine which binds to $M_3$ muscarinic receptors on the smooth muscle causing bronchocontraction. Acetylcholine also feeds back onto neuronal $M_2$ muscarinic receptors located on the postganglionic cholinergic nerves. Stimulation of these receptors further inhibits acetylcholine release, so these $M_2$, muscarinic receptors act as autoreceptors. Loss of function of these $M_2$ receptors, as it occurs in animal models of hyperresponsiveness, leads to an increase in vagally mediated hyperresponsiveness. However, there are limited data pertaining to whether there are dysfunctions of these receptors in patients with asthma. The aim of this study is to determine whether there are dysfunction of $M_2$ muscarinic receptors in asthmatic patients and difference of function of these receptors according to severity of asthma. Method : We studied twenty-seven patients with asthma who were registered at Pulmonology Division of Korea University Hospital. They all met asthma criteria of ATS. Of these patients, eleven patients were categorized as having mild asthma, eight patients moderate asthma and eight patients severe asthma according to severity by NAEPP Expert Panel Report 2(1997). All subjects were free of recent upper respiratory tract infection within 2 weeks and showed positive methacholine challenge test ($PC_{20}$<16mg/ml). Methacholine provocation tests were performed twice on separate days allowing for an interval of one week. In the second test, pretreatment with the $M_2$ muscarinic receptor agonist pilocarpine($180{\mu}g$) through inhalation was performed be fore the routine procedures. Results : Eleven subjects with mild asthma and eight subjects with moderate asthma showed significant increase of $PC_{20}$ from 5.30$\pm$5.23mg/ml(mean$\pm$SD) to 20.82$\pm$22.56mg/ml(p=0.004) and from 2.79$\pm$1.51mg/ml to 4.67$\pm$3.53mg/ml(p=0.012) after pilocarpine inhalation, respectively. However, in the eight subjects with severe asthma significant increase of $PC_{20}$ from l.76$\pm$1.50mg/ml to 3.18$\pm$4.03mg/ml(p=0.161) after pilocarpine inhalation was not found. Conclusion : In subjects with mild and moderate asthma, function of $M_2$ muscarinic receptors was normal, but there was a dysfunction of these receptors in subjects with severe asthma. ηlese results suggest that function of $M_2$ muscarinic receptors is different according to severity of asthma.

• Biomedical Science Letters
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• v.20 no.3
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• pp.111-116
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• 2014

Human neutrophils play an essential role in the innate immune response and are involved in the pathogenesis of the severe and corticosteroid-resistant asthma. Asthma is characterized by an infiltration of inflammatory cells into the lung and by a cytokine release. The aim of this study is to investigate the effects of a bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) on the chemotaxis and apoptosis of neutrophils which were isolated from healthy subjects. The BALF of subjects with asthma induces the blood neutrophil chemotaxis in the opposite of that in normal subjects. The IL-8, IL-6, and monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1) levels in BALF were higher in subjects with asthma than in normal subjects. The BALF of normal and asthmatic subjects has no effect on neutrophil apoptosis of BALF. MCP-1 delays the constitutive apoptosis of normal blood neutrophils, but has no effect in normal BALF neutrophils. These results may indicate that inflammatory factors secreted by the lung tissue of patients with asthma trigger the neutrophil chemotaxis and also induce the neutrophil dysregulation.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.70 no.5
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• pp.416-422
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• 2011

Background: Inhaled corticosteroids (ICSs) are the most essential medication for asthma control. Many reports suggest that the usage of ICSs improves not only the control of asthma symptoms but also prevents exacerbation. We investigated whether increases in ICS prescriptions are associated with decreases in asthma exacerbation in the clinical practice setting. Methods: We retrospectively analyzed the database of adult asthma patients who had visited a tertiary referral hospital, the Asan Medical Center between January 2000 and December 2009. The number of emergency department (ED) visits, admissions, intensive care unit (ICU) care, deaths, and ICS prescriptions were analyzed to evaluate the time trend of asthma exacerbation as a function of the ICS prescription rate during the ten years. Results: The numbers of ED visits, admissions, and episodes of ICU care decreased during the ten years (p<0.001, p=0.033, p=0.001, respectively) while the number of ICS prescriptions increased (p<0.001). We found a correlation between the number of ICS prescriptions and the number of ED visits, admissions, or ICU care. For these outcomes, the correlation coefficients were r=-0.952, p<0.001; r=-0.673, p=0.033; r=-0.948, p<0.001, respectively. Conclusion: The number of ICS prescriptions increased during the past ten years while the number of asthma exacerbations decreased. Our results also showed a negative correlation between the ICS prescription rate and asthma exacerbation in the clinical practice setting. In other words, an increase in ICS prescription may be a major cause of a decrease in asthma exacerbations.

• The Journal of Pediatrics of Korean Medicine
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• v.16 no.1
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• pp.133-148
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• 2002

Objective : This study was to investigate more effective oriental medical treatment for Pediatric Bronchial Asthma Method : Aroma therapy and Herbal medicine was given to 28 pediatric bronchial asthma patients(19 males and 9 females) for about 5months from the First, August 1999 The Fifth, January 2002. Results: 1. Demographic factor : The sample consisted of 28 persons among whom 19 were male, 9 were female. The age ranges from 1 year old to 6 year old. Less than 2 year old were 4 and 2-6 year old were 20. 2.Residence : Apartment and villar dwellers were 19(67.9%), Residential street divellers were 9(32.1%). 3.Age distribution at on set : 6(21.4%) fell ill befor 1 year old and 22(78.6%) fell ill after 1 year old 4. The period of illness : 9(32.2%) suffered during 1-3 year and 6(21.4%) suffered during 6 mouth-1year and 6(21.4%) suffered during more than 3 year. 5. Frequency of the symptoms : The symptoms appeared 2-3 times a year in the case of 16(57.2%), one time a year in the case of 1, 4 times a year in the case of 6(21.4%). 6. Concomitance symptoms : All experienced coughing sign, wheezing, 23(82.1%) experienced epistaxis, nose dripping, 13(46.4%) got fever, anorexia. 7. Past history of illness : 16(57.1%) got brochiolitis, brochitis, 12(42.9%) suffered pneumonia, 9(32.1%) had allergic rhinitis. 2 had allergic rhinitis, sinusitis, atopic dermatitis, bronchial asthma, 3 got atopic dermatitis, bronchial asthma and 7 had allergic rhinitis, sinusitis, bronchial asthma, 8. Family disease : In the case of family disease, 21(75%) had allergic dermatitis, 9(42.9%) had bronchial asthma, 8(38.1%) had allergic dermatitis. 9. The symptoms became very severe in the change of season in the case of 13(46.4%) and in the case of 11(39.3%), the change of season made no difference 10. Associated caused of induction symtoms : 28(100%) got sick by common cold, infectional disease, 8(28.6%) got sick by cold food, cold air 11.The kind of therapy : 15(53.6%) got oriental therapy after occidental therapy, 11(39.3%) took only oriental therapy. 12. Improvement degree of each symptoms : In the case of cough and wheeze that are the main symptoms of bronchial asthma, 78.6% and 64.3% of the patients replied < improvement > and in the case of dyspnea, tachypnea 41.7% of the patients replied . In other symptoms, all replied 13. Degree of satisfaction : 19(67.9%) replied , 2(7.1%) replied . Conclusion : Herbal medicine and aroma therapy proved to be a very effective oriental medical treatment for pediatric bronchial asthma.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.41 no.5
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• pp.568-573
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• 1994

Corticosteroids are widely used in the treatment of various diseases because of its potent antiinflammatory effect. According to recent knowledge, bronchial asthma is also chronic inflammatory disease. Therefore antiinflammtory agent such as cromoyln sodium and corticosteroid is highly recommended for treament of chronic bronchial asthma. Especially hydrocortisone succinate (Solu-Cortef) is commonly used for treament to acute asthmatic attack via intravenous injection due to have rapid therapeutic onset and short duration. Since Sunaga et al. reported acute asthma attack after hydrocortisone injection in 1973, several cases of bronchospam with or without angioedema and urticaria after intravenous injection of hydrocortisone have been reported. We experienced a case of severe bronchospasm and acute respiratory failure after intraveous injection of hydrocortisone succinate in 64 year-old female asthmatic patient who visited to emergency room for acute asthmatic attack. About 5 minites after Solu-Cortef injection, a severe bronchospasm with arterial hypoxemia was developed. In order to confirm the suspected relationship between the offending drug(Solu-Cortef) and acute bronchospasm, we examed intravenous and inhalation provocation test by hydrocortisone succinate and methylprednisolone(control). After administration of hydrocortisone succinate via intravenous and inhalation route, severe asthmatic attack occurred. But administration of intravenous methylprednisolone and orall triamcinolone and saline were not provoke bronchospasm. Skin test using hydrocortisone sodium succinate was also positive. Administration of hydrocortisone is very serious to asthmatic patient with hydrocortisone hypersensitivity. Therefore, the clinician must be have history taking about previous adverse reaction of steroid before its clinical use. And methylprednisone may be useful and safe drug to the treatment of acute asthmatic patient with hydrocortisone hypersensitivity.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.57 no.4
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• pp.164-170
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• 2014

Influenza causes acute respiratory infections and various complications. Children in the high-risk group have higher complication and hospitalization rates than high-risk elderly individuals. Influenza prevention in children is important, as they can be a source infection spread in their communities. Influenza vaccination is strongly recommended for high-risk children with chronic underlying circulatory and respiratory disease, immature infants, and children receiving long-term immunosuppressant treatment or aspirin. However, vaccination rates in these children are low because of concerns regarding the exacerbation of underlying diseases and vaccine efficacy. To address these concerns, many clinical studies on children with underlying respiratory diseases have been conducted since the 1970s. Most of these reported no differences in immunogenicity or adverse reactions between healthy children and those with underlying respiratory diseases and no adverse effects of the influenza vaccine on the disease course. Further to these studies, the inactivated split-virus influenza vaccine is recommended for children with underlying respiratory disease, in many countries. However, the live-attenuated influenza vaccine (LAIV) is not recommended for children younger than 5 years with asthma or recurrent wheezing. Influenza vaccination is contraindicated in patients with severe allergies to egg, chicken, or feathers, because egg-cultivated influenza vaccines may contain ovalbumin. There has been no recent report of serious adverse events after influenza vaccination in children with egg allergy. However, many experts recommend the trivalent influenza vaccine for patients with severe egg allergy, with close observation for 30 minutes after vaccination. LAIV is still not recommended for patients with asthma or egg allergy.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.46 no.6
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• pp.685-693
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• 2020

Objectives: Recent data indicate that sensitization to mold contributes to the severity and persistence of asthma. The aim of this study was to investigate relationships between indoor mold concentrations and pulmonary function parameters in asthmatic children with mold sensitization. Methods: Asthmatic subjects who had a positive result in skin-prick testing to more than one mold allergen, such as Alternaria, Aspergillus, or Penicillium, were enrolled. Their pulmonary function and methacholine challenge test results were collected. Measurements of blood eosinophil, serum IgE, and fractional exhaled nitric oxide (FeNO) were taken. Indoor levels of VOC, CO2, PM10 and PM2.5 in each subject's house were measured. We counted mold and bacteria colonies from the subjects' house air samples. Results: The mean levels of FEV1, FVC, FEV1/FVC, and FEF25-75 were 82.8±19.7, 87.3±17.9, 85.8±8.3, and 82.3±28.9%, respectively. The mean FeNO level was 19.8±11.2 ppb and the geometric mean (range of one SD) of methacholine PC20 was 3.99 mg/mL (0.67-23.74 mg/mL). The average indoor air pollutant levels were below the recommended levels set by the Ministry of Environment for multiplex buildings. Indoor mold levels showed a significant inverse correlation with methacholine PC20, but not with the baseline pulmonary function parameters. Conclusion: Indoor mold concentrations are a risk factor for increased bronchial hyperresponsiveness among asthmatic children with mold sensitization. Targeted environmental intervention should be considered for selected asthmatic children with mold sensitization for avoiding severe airway hyperresponsiveness.