• Fire Science and Engineering
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• v.33 no.6
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• pp.95-104
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• 2019

Smoke generated in a fire consists of gaseous substances and particulate matter, such as unburned carbon that adsorbed the gases. Human injury caused by inhalation of gaseous substances present in smoke is mostly short-term, whereas damage caused by inhalation of particulate matter is relatively a long-term phenomenon depending on the state of the gas-phase adsorption. The amount and location of the deposited smoke particles are important factors in estimating the damage caused to humans, which are affected by the breathing conditions as well as particle conditions, such as the size and concentration affected by the combustion conditions. In this study, in order to understand the characteristics of the deposition of smoke particles in the respiratory tract related to the study of human smoke inhalation injury, the number and mass concentration of smoke particles deposited in different areas of the respiratory tract for different fuel types, combustion conditions and breathing conditions were calculated. In addition, the amount of mass deposition of smoke in the respiratory tract for a certain period of inhalation was compared with the atmospheric standard of fine dust.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.76 no.5
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• pp.237-239
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• 2014

The early pulmonary consequences of inhalation injury are well documented; however, little is known about delayed pulmonary complications following thermal inhalation injury. Although thermal injury below the vocal cords is rare because of effective heat dissipation in the upper airway, inflammatory endobronchial polyps have previously been reported as a delayed complication associated with inhalation injury. We report an extraordinary case of tracheobronchial polyps in patients with smoke inhalation injury. This report shows the delayed development and natural course of tracheobronchial polyps following thermal injury.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.60 no.5
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• pp.564-570
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• 2006

Toxic gases and soot deposition as a consequence of smoke inhalation can cause direct injury to the upper and lower airways and even to the lung parenchyma. A delay in proper and prompt therapy can be detrimental to critically ill burn patients with an inhalation injury. Therefore, serial chest radiography is an important diagnostic tool for pulmonary complications during treatment. The radiographic findings of the chest include normal, consolidation, interstitial and alveolar infiltrates, peribronchial thickening, atelectasis, cardiogenic and non-cardiogenic pulmonary edema, and a pneumothorax as acute complications of smoke inhalation. In addition, bronchiectasis, bronchiolitis obliterans and pulmonary fibrosis can occur as late complications. We encountered a case of 44-year-old male who presented with acute lung injury after an inhalation injury. He required endotracheal intubation and mechanical ventilation due to respiratory failure. He was managed successfully with conservative treatment. Later, a cavitary lesion of the left upper lobe was observed on the chest radiography and computed tomography, which was complicated by massive hemoptysis during the follow-up. However, the cavitary lesion disappeared spontaneously without any clinical consequences.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.74 no.3
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• pp.120-123
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• 2013

Inhalation of toxic gases can lead to pneumonitis. It has been known that methane gas intoxication causes loss of consciousness or asphyxia. There is, however, a paucity of information about acute pulmonary toxicity from methane gas inhalation. A 21-year-old man was presented with respiratory distress after an accidental exposure to methane gas for one minute. He came in with a drowsy mentality and hypoxemia. Mechanical ventilation was applied immediately. The patient's symptoms and chest radiographic findings were consistent with acute pneumonitis. He recovered spontaneously and was discharged after 5 days without other specific treatment. His pulmonary function test, 4 days after methane gas exposure, revealed a restrictive ventilatory defect. In conclusion, acute pulmonary injury can occur with a restrictive ventilator defect after a short exposure to methane gas. The lung injury was spontaneously resolved without any significant sequela.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.55 no.2
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• pp.188-197
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• 2003

Background : Smoke inhalation injury is an important determinant of mortality in burn patients. The early detection of inhalation injury in burn patients is important because the incidence of respiratory failure after inhalation injury was known to be high, with hypoxemia, pneumonia, and prolonged ventilatory support being commonplace. Acute carbon monoxide poisoning was one feature of smoke inhalation. The purpose of our study were to investigate the clinical characteristics of burn patients whose initial arterial carboxyhemoglobin (COHb) level had been elevated, to assess the clinical impact of COHb for smoke inhalation injury. Methods : Among 1,416 burn patients had been admitted at our institution from August 1, 2001 to July 31, 2002, 39 patients whose initial arterial COHb level have been more than 5% were included. We compared clinical scoring system for inhalation injury, percent total body surface area (%TBSA) burn, initial chest X-ray findings, APACHE II scores and SAPS II scores between survivors (n=27) and non-survivors (n=12) retrospectively. Results : COHb level were 9.7(5.71% and 10.3(8.81% in survivors and in non-survivors (p>0.05). Mean %TBSA burn of survivors and non-survivors were $16.6{\pm}17.8%$ and $60.7{\pm}28.8%$ (p<0.001). We did not find any difference in clinical scoring system, initial chest X-ray findings in survivors and in non-survivors. But %TBSA burn, APACHE II and SAPS II scores were high in non-survivors than in survivors significantly. Important factors associated with death were %TBSA burn, APACHE II scores, SAPS II scores, and the most important factor in predicting mortality was %TBSA burn. Conclusion : Burn patients with elevated initial arterial COHb level showed poor prognosis, but further study may be performed to know that the effect of COHb on prognosis in burn patients accompanying smoke inhalation.

• Biomedical Science Letters
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• v.12 no.3
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• pp.281-287
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• 2006

Cigarette smoke causes atypical structure of pulmonary and oxidative damage. Therefore, we carried out to determine if exposure to cigarette smoke alters pulmonary structure and anti-oxidant related enzyme in a animal model, when natural product extracts using by Nebulizer. The rat were divided into four groups: $H_2O-treated$ (Control), natural product (Camellia sinensis) extracts-treated (CS), natural product extracts-treated with cigarette smoke-exposed (CS+SM) and cigarette smoke-expose (SM). All groups are similar to Control group in weight, but SM group is lower than the other groups. Microscopic image of the pulmonary structure in SM group showed deleterious alterations in the morphology, but the other groups are maintained in normal structure. In anti-oxidant related enzymes, SOD (superoxide dismutase) and catalase, SM group represents the lowest enzyme activity among all groups. But G6PD (glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase) and LPO (lipid peroxidation) is SM group represents the highest enzyme activity among all groups. These result indicate that the natural product extracts is an efficient tissue protective substance against smoke-induced lung injury.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Clinical Toxicology
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• v.13 no.1
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• pp.46-49
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• 2015

Carbon monoxide (CO) intoxication is a leading cause of severe neuropsychological impairments. Peripheral nerve injury has rarely been reported. Following are brief statements describing the motor peripheral neuropathy involved bilateral lower extremities of a patient who recovered following acute carbon monoxide poisoning. After inhalation of smoke from a fire, a 60-year-old woman experienced bilateral leg weakness without edema or injury. Neurological examination showed diplegia and deep tendon areflexia in lower limbs. There was no sensory deficit in lower extremities, and no cognitive disturbances were detected. Creatine kinase was normal. Electroneuromyogram patterns were compatible with the diagnosis of bilateral axonal injury. Clinical course after normobaric oxygen and rehabilitation therapy was marked by complete recovery of neurological disorders. Peripheral neuropathy is an unusual complication of CO intoxication. Motor peripheral neuropathy involvement of bilateral lower extremities is exceptional. Various mechanisms have been implicated, including nerve compression secondary to rhabdomyolysis, nerve ischemia due to hypoxia, and direct nerve toxicity of carbon monoxide. Prognosis is commonly excellent without sequelae. Emergency physicians should understand the possible-neurologic presentations of CO intoxication and make a proper decision regarding treatment.

• The Korean Journal of Emergency Medical Services
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• v.8 no.1
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• pp.179-187
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• 2004

The purpose of the study was to injury types in Daegu subway fire accident, Sampung department store collapse, Mokpo airport civil aircraft accident, and Buan sunken ship disaster. The conclusion obtained from these analyses are as following. 1. The total of victims were Sampung department store collapse(l440 people). Buan sunken ship disaster(355 people), Daegu subway fire accident(340 people), and Mokpo airport civil aircraft accident(110 people). 2. The total of dead people were Sampung department store collapse(502 people), Buan sunken ship disaster(287 people), Daegu subway fire accident(192 people), and Mokpa airport civil aircraft accident(66 people). 3. The total of injured people were Sampung department store collapse(938 people), Daegu subway fire accident(148 people), Mokpo airport civil aircraft accident(84 people), and Buan sunken ship disaster(67 people). 4. The major types of victims presented smoke inhalation such as coughing, dyspnea, and sore throat in Daegu subway fire accident. 5. The major types of victims presented crushing(multiple fractures), vertebral, and soft tissues injuries in Sampung department store collapse. 6. The major types of victims presented multiple fractures. In addition to, a lot of people showed vertebral injuries and shock symptoms in Mokpo airport civil aircraft accident. 7. The major types of victims presented drowning as well lots of hypothermia patients in Buan sunken ship disaster. There were a wide variety of types in human disaster. Therefore, the most important disaster training program need to each disaster aspect in the local emergency medical services system. Moreover, the emergency medical services personnel should be understand and training for injury types of each human disaster.

• KSBB Journal
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• v.27 no.6
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• pp.367-374
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• 2012

Cigarette smoking (SM) is considered to be well known environmental toxin which contributes to the onset of various diseases. SM cause direct lungs damage, activate lungs inflammatory responses, and in some cases leads to the development of lung cancer. Cytokines in injured starfish (Asterina pectinifera) is the potential changes in its expression during the regeneration process. Especially, expression of TGF-${\beta}1$ has increased in arm cut starfish extract after eight days. Also, starfish including saponin like the ginseng. Saponin is widely used in the world because of some effective pharmacological activities. Therefore, the current study was designed to elucidate the pharmacological activities of starfish extract against cigarette smoking induced damage in cell line and pulmonary tissue. We investigate that the effect of eight days starfish extract after arm cut (8d) and intact starfish extract on cell line and mouse lung injury by SM. In cell proliferation analysis, although cigarette smoking extract (CSE) was co-treated, the higher proliferation ability is shown in 8d treatment than intact starfish extract. 8d and intact starfish extract was directly transported to pulmonary cells through respiratory organ by nebulizer inhalation. In this case of cigarette smoking, the pulmonary structure was damaged and functions become abnormal. However, 8d treated groups showed similar with the control group compared with SM group. Among them, 8d was proved to be more effective than intact starfish extract. These results demonstrate that 8d could more protect pulmonary structure and function than intact starfish extract against cigarette smoking by ginseng like saponin and regulation of inflammatory cytokines.