• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.53 no.10
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• pp.909-912
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• 2010

Familial hypokalemic periodic paralysis is an autosomal-dominant channelopathy characterized by episodic muscle weakness with hypokalemia. The respiratory and cardiac muscles typically remain unaffected, but we report an atypical case of a family with hypokalemic periodic paralysis in which the affected members presented with frequent respiratory insufficiency during severe attacks. Molecular analysis revealed a heterozygous c.664 C>T transition in the sodium channel gene $SCN4A$, leading to an Arg222Trp mutation in the channel protein. The patients described here presented unusual clinical characteristics that included a severe respiratory phenotype, an incomplete penetrance in female carriers, and a different response to medications.

• Korean Journal of Poultry Science
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• v.27 no.2
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• pp.91-98
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• 2000

Phylogenetic tree constructed from the nucleotide sequences of the S1 gene showed that the 15 Korean strains of infectious bronchitis virus(IBV) examined were classified into 2 genetically distinct groups, except one respiratory strain, RB86, which was clustered with Massachusetts group. All the 5 respiratory strains belonged to Korean group I and the rest 9 nephropathogenic strains belonged to Korean group II according to the analysis, based on S1 gene sequences. Like previous classifications corresponded with the geographic origin, Korean stains were discriminated from geographically distinct reference strains of IBV. The nephropathogenic strains within Korean group IIsharing 96% homology were continuously isolated since 1990, and seemed to be genetically stable. Whereas the respiratory strains within Korean group Ⅰ sharing 88% homology were sporadically isolate since 1986m and seemed to be genetically unstable. Because we found putative accumulated point mutation as well as recombination events in Korean group Ⅰ, we discussed why genetic variations have often occurred in respiratory strains rather than nephropathognic strains.

• Pediatric Infection and Vaccine
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.22-28
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• 2014

Purpose: This study aimed at determining the detection rate of respiratory viruses and at investigating the risk factors associated with respiratory virus detection in young infants. Methods: From September 2011 to August 2012, nasopharyngeal swabs were obtained from 227 infants aged ${\leq}90$ days with suspected infectious diseases, including sepsis. We performed a retrospective analysis of their clinical characteristics. The prevalence of respiratory viruses in their nasopharyngeal swabs was assayed by real-time polymerase chain reaction (real-time PCR). Results: In total, 157 (69.2%) infants had more than one of the following respiratory viruses: respiratory syncytial virus (n=75), rhinovirus (n=42), influenza virus (n=18), parainfluenza virus (n=15), human metapneumovirus (n=9), coronavirus (n=9), adenovirus (n=4), and bocavirus (n=3). During the same period, bacterial infections were confirmed in 24 infants (10.6%). The detection of respiratory viruses was significantly associated with the presence of cough, a family history of respiratory illness, and a seasonal preference (fall/winter). Using logistic regression analysis, these 3 variables were also identified as significant risk factors. During fall and winter, detection of respiratory viruses was significantly higher in infants who did not have a bacterial infection. Conclusion: Respiratory virus is an important pathogen in young infants admitted to a hospital, who are suspected with infectious diseases. Detection of respiratory viruses in young infants was associated with seasonality (fall/winter), presence of respiratory symptoms and a family history of respiratory illness.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.35 no.1
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• pp.49-56
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• 2002

Objectives : To identify the relationship between the use of medical services by workers with three types of respiratory diseases(total respiratory diseases, acute upper respiratory infections and chronic lower respiratory diseases) and exposure to hazardous agents after controlling for other factors affecting medical services use, such as characteristics of the enterprises(scale, industry type) and employee demographics (sex, age). Methods : The study population comprised 28,882 workers who had undergone general or special medical examinations at the industrial health center at least once between Jan 1995 and Dec 1997 and had possessed medical insurance during the period. We combined medical examination data with medical insurance data in order to analyze the relationship between exposure to hazardous agents and respiratory diseases, Results : Among the 28,882 study subjects, 17,454 employees(60.4%) used medical services more than once during 3-year study period, owing to more than one kind of respiratory diseases. In logistic regression analysis, sex, age and the size of the enterprises proved to be significant variables on the use of medical services for all three types of respiratory disease; The use of medical services increased with employee age. Women used more medical services than men and the employees in the large-scale enterprises used more services than employees in small-scale enterprises. However, exposure to dust or organic solvents did not affect medical service use due to total respiratory diseases or acute upper respiratory infections. Only in the case of chronic lower respiratory diseases did workers exposed to dusts(OR=1.12, 95% CI=1.01-1.24) or organic solvents(OR=1.19, 95% CI=1.05-1.35) use more medical services than those not exposed. Conclusions : Workers exposed to dusts or organic solvents are particularly apt to suffer from chronic lower respiratory diseases and use medical services more often than those not exposed. That is, chronic exposure to hazardous agents such as dusts and organic solvents is believed to be harmful and to cause respiratory symptoms and diseases.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.84 no.3
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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.

• IMMUNE NETWORK
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• v.22 no.3
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• pp.21.1-21.21
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• 2022

As far the current severe coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), respiratory disease is still the biggest threat to human health. In addition, infectious respiratory diseases are particularly prominent. In addition to killing and clearing the infection pathogen directly, regulating the immune responses against the pathogens is also an important therapeutic modality. Sirtuins belong to NAD+-dependent class III histone deacetylases. Among 7 types of sirtuins, silent information regulator type-1 (SIRT1) played a multitasking role in modulating a wide range of physiological processes, including oxidative stress, inflammation, cell apoptosis, autophagy, antibacterial and antiviral functions. It showed a critical effect in regulating immune responses by deacetylation modification, especially through high-mobility group box 1 (HMGB1), a core molecule regulating the immune system. SIRT1 was associated with many respiratory diseases, including COVID-19 infection, bacterial pneumonia, tuberculosis, and so on. Here, we reviewed the latest research progress regarding the effects of SIRT1 on immune system in respiratory diseases. First, the structure and catalytic characteristics of SIRT1 were introduced. Next, the roles of SIRT1, and the mechanisms underlying the immune regulatory effect through HMGB1, as well as the specific activators/inhibitors of SIRT1, were elaborated. Finally, the multitasking roles of SIRT1 in several respiratory diseases were discussed separately. Taken together, this review implied that SIRT1 could serve as a promising specific therapeutic target for the treatment of respiratory diseases.

• Acute and Critical Care
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• v.33 no.4
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• pp.238-245
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• 2018

Background: Infection by multidrug-resistant (MDR) pathogens leads to poor patient outcomes in intensive care units (ICUs). Contact precautions are necessary to reduce the transmission of MDR pathogens. However, the importance of the surrounding environment is not well known. We studied the effects of ICU relocation on MDR respiratory pathogen detection rates and patient outcomes. Methods: Patients admitted to the ICU before and after the relocation were retrospectively analyzed. Baseline patient characteristics, types of respiratory pathogens detected, antibiotics used, and patient outcomes were measured. Results: A total of 463 adult patients admitted to the ICU, 4 months before and after the relocation, were included. Of them, 234 were admitted to the ICU before the relocation and 229 afterward. Baseline characteristics, including age, sex, and underlying comorbidities, did not differ between the two groups. After the relocation, the incidence rate of MDR respiratory pathogen detection decreased from 90.0 to 68.8 cases per 1,000 patient-days, but that difference was statistically insignificant. The use of colistin was significantly reduced from 53.5 days (95% confidence interval [CI], 20.3 to 86.7 days) to 18.7 days (95% CI, 5.6 to 31.7 days). Furthermore, the duration of hospital stay was significantly reduced from a median of 29 days (interquartile range [IQR], 14 to 50 days) to 21 days (IQR, 11 to 39 days). Conclusions: Incidence rates of MDR respiratory pathogen detection were not significantly different before and after ICU relocation. However, ICU relocation could be helpful in reducing the use of antibiotics against MDR pathogens and improving patient outcomes.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Research
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• v.29 no.3
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• pp.231-237
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• 1989

Morphological features of the vomeronasal organ of both Korean native cattle and Korean native goat were studied by gross, microscopic and histochemical examinations. Anatomical characteristics of the vomeronasl organ were similar in both Korean native cattle and Korean native goats. The vomeronasal organ is a tubular structure situated bilaterally at the base of the nasal septum, and enclosed by hyaline cartilage. Its lumen is semilunar to crescent in transverse sections. It join with the incisive duct through narrow duct. The lumen of the vomeronasal organ is lined with sensory and respiratory epithelia. The distribution pattern of vomeronasal mucosal epithelia varied by the position. In the anterior portion joining with nasal cavity, the lumen is lined with only respiratory epitheliu. In the middle portion, sensory epithelium appeared on the medial side, and respiratory epithelium on the lateral side. In the posterior, it is lined with sensory epithelium on the ventral side and lined with respiratory epithelium on the dorsal side. The vomeronasal gland composed of mucous and serous acini are distributed in the lamina propria under the respiratory epithelium, where venous sinuses are also well developed.

• KSII Transactions on Internet and Information Systems (TIIS)
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• v.13 no.11
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• pp.5527-5545
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• 2019

Through-wall ultra-wide band (UWB) radar has been considered as one of the preferred and non-contact technologies for the targets detection owing to the better time resolution and stronger penetration. The high time resolution is a result of a larger of bandwidth of the employed UWB pulses from the radar system, which is a useful tool to separate multiple targets in complex environment. The article emphasised on human subject localization and detection. Human subject usually can be detected via extracting the weak respiratory signals of human subjects remotely. Meanwhile, the range between the detection object and radar is also acquired from the 2D range-frequency matrix. However, it is a challenging task to extract human respiratory signals owing to the low signal to clutter ratio. To improve the feasibility of human respiratory signals detection, a new method is developed via analysing the standard deviation based kurtosis of the collected pulses, which are modulated by human respiratory movements in slow time. The range between radar and the detection target is estimated using joint time-frequency analysis (JTFA) of the analysed characteristics, which provides a novel preliminary signature for life detection. The breathing rates are obtained using the proposed accumulation method in time and frequency domain, respectively. The proposed method is validated and proved numerically and experimentally.

• Journal of Haehwa Medicine
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• v.19 no.1
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• pp.49-54
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• 2010

Inhalational drug is an attractive modality for local therapy of pulmonary diseases as well as systemic drug delivery. Flower of Lonicera japonica (FLJ) and flower of Tussilag farfara (FTF) are medicinal herbs for respiratory disease in traditional Korean medicine. As a preliminary study for effective inhalable formulation of FLJ and FTF, this study was to provide the toxicity and anti-inflammatory effect on murine macrophages. The dried FLJ and FTF were extracted with distilled water, filtered and freeze-dried. After treatment with FLJ and FTF extract on RAW 264.7 cells, the cell viabilities were measured by MTT assay. FLJ and FTF did not show cytotoxicity on RAW 264.7 cells. LPS stimulated RAW 264.7 cells were treated with 3 and $30\;{\mu}g/ml$ of FLJ or FTF. FLJ and FTF did not inhibit TNF-a and IL-6 secretion in both concentration of treatment. We suggest that FLJ and FTF may be useful drugs for respiratory disease. Future work will focus on the physical characteristics for inhalable formulation.