• Journal of agricultural medicine and community health
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.259-268
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• 1998

It has been reported that among mushroom farmers, respiratory diseases such as hypersensitivity pneumonitis can be developed by inhalation of mushroom (Pleurotus ostreatus) spores. For the evaluation of respiratory symptoms among mushroom farmers, a questionnaire was made. The Questionnaire included general characteristics, past occupational histories, durations of the mushroom cultivation and characteristics of the symptoms. Following the questionnaire we interviewed the 72 mushroom farmers (12 males, 10 females) from Kyungbuk Province. We also examined white blood counts, erythrocyte sedimentation rates, eosinophil counts and total IgE counts for the 5 farmers. The results obtained are as follows. 1. The mean age among the 22 mushroom farmers was 46.9 years, and the mean duration of cultivation was 7.5 years. 2. Among the 22 mushroom farmers. 18 farmers (81.8 %) suffered from respiratory symptoms at work. The main symptom was coughing (100.0%), followed by chilling sensation (50.0 %), sputum (38.9 %) and sore throat (27.8 %). 3. Coughing and other associated symptoms occurred during work and disappeared after work or several days later when the exposure had been stopped. 4. Total IgE counts were elevated in all farmers examined the test. With above results, the respiratory symptoms that developed among mushroom farmers were typical patterns of hypersensitivity pneumonitis. Epidemiological studies and preventive measures for mushroom farmers should be established.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.45 no.2
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• pp.261-266
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• 2002

Vascular ring, originating from abnormal regression of the aortic arch during fetal life, can cause prolonged and recurrent respiratory symptoms and dysphagia when the diagnosis is delayed. We report a 4 month old girl with vascular ring, who had been treated for persistent respiratory symptoms including stridor, wheezing, and dyspnea soon after birth. Initially her respiratory symptoms were thought to be due to bronchiolitis, for which respiratory syncytial virus was confirmed by immunofluorescent staining. Her clinical course was again complicated with tracheitis and pneumonia due to Haemophilus influenzae type b. The possibility of anatomical anomaly was investigated when it was felt to be difficult to insert a suction catheter deep down through a endotracheal tube which was placed for adequate ventilatory management. A three-dimensional chest CT revealed a vascular ring consisting of a double aortic arch. For 5 months following surgery, her respiratory symptoms have slowly been improving. She developed another episode of pneumonia which was milder than the one which occurred before the surgery.

• Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology & Nutrition
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• v.6 no.1
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• pp.17-23
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• 2003

Purpose: The aim of this study was to determine clinical significance of dual-probe esophageal pH monitoring and to compare four pH monitoring parameters between proximal and distal esophagus in pathological gastroesophageal reflux disease with recurrent respiratory symptoms. Methods: Among the thirty-four patients who were performed 24 hr pH monitoring, seventeen patients with pathological distal reflux were classified into two groups: Group I (n:12) had recurrent respiratory symptoms and Group II (n:5) hadn't recurrent respiratory symptoms. The ambulatory dual-probe esophageal pH monitoring was performed for 18~24 hr. A pathologic GER was defined when reflux index (percent of the investigation time a pH<4) exceeded the 95th percentile of normal value. Results: Among the sixteen patients with recurrent respiratory symptoms, twelve patients (75%) have pathological distal reflux. Whereas among the eighteen patients without recurrent respiratory symptom, five patients (28%) have pathological distal reflux. In the Group I, the significant differences between proximal and distal esophageal pH recordings persisted for all parameters, but didn't persist in group II except for longest episode. Comparing esophageal pH four parameters between group I and group II at the proximal esophageal site, all parameters didn't show statistically significant differences. Conclusion: Regardless of respiratory symptoms, patients with pathological distal reflux didn't show statistically significant differences in the all parameters at the proximal esophageal site. Therefore we may reconsider usefulness of dual probe pH meter in patients with recurrent respiratory symptoms.

• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
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• v.33 no.4
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• pp.179-186
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• 2021

Background: Patients with advanced asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) have postural deviations such as thoracic hyperkyphosis, forward shoulder posture (FSP) due to an increase in head and cervical protraction, reduced shoulder range of motion and a corresponding increase in scapula elevation and upward rotation. Unlike congenital vertebral kyphosis that are permanent and rigid deformities with bony and other structural deformations which cause respiratory impairment, these deformities in these patients may be more flexible. Since the thoracic hyperkyphosis has been implicated as having adverse health consequences it is necessary to evaluated the relationship between thoracic kyphosis and cardiopulmonary functions of patients with COPD and asthma. Methods: It was a cross-sectional analytical study. Eighty-four eligible patients with COPD and asthma were recruited from the Respiratory Unit, Department of Medicine, Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH), and basic anthropometric parameters, pulmonary parameters, cardiovascular parameters, thoracic kyphosis (Cobb) angle and presence of respiratory symptoms of participants were assessed. Data was analyzed using SPSS version 20. Results: There was no significant correlation between the thoracic kyphosis and selected pulmonary parameters (Forced Expiratory Volume in one second (FEV1, p=0.36), Forced Vital Capacity (FVC, p=0.95), Peak Expiratory Flow Rate (PEFR, p=0.16), Thoracic expansion (TE, p=0.27)/cardiovascular parameters (Systolic Blood Pressure (SBP, p=0.108), Diastolic Blood Pressure (DBP, p=0.17) and Pulse Rate (PR, p=0.93) as well as the respiratory symptoms (SGRQ scores, p=0.11) in all subjects. Conclusion: There was no relationship between thoracic kyphosis and selected pulmonary/cardiovascular parameters as well as respiratory symptoms in patients with COPD and asthma.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.37 no.4
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• pp.624-630
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• 2016

Objective: This study was designed to analyze the symptoms of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) patients who attended a Korean medicine hospital and treatment effects through retrospective chart reviews.Methods: The medical records of 192 outpatients who had been diagnosed with COPD and visited the Allergy, Immune, and Respiratory System Department of Kyung Hee Korean Medicine Hospital from 1 February 2006 to 1 February, 2016 were retrospectively reviewed.Results: The study group consisted of 112 and 80 females. The median age of the patients was 59.80±15.46 y. Fifty of the patients had been diagnosed with chronic upper respiratory diseases, such as chronic rhinitis, nasopharyngitis, or sinusitis. The chief complaints were cough (n=136), sputum (n=124), and dyspnea (n=82). Other frequent symptoms were fatigue (n=11), hyperhidrosis (n=8), and a bad taste in the mouth (n=7). All the patients were prescribed Korean herbal medicine. In the study, 61 (31.77%) patients were treated with acupuncture, moxibustion, cupping therapy, or herbal steam therapy. Symptoms improved in 126 (65.63%) patients 141±272.82 d after the first treatment.Conclusions: Some of the COPD patients had chronic upper respiratory disease. The chief complains were cough, sputum, and dyspnea. Oher frequent symptoms related to body malfunction and pain. The symptoms improved in 126 (65.63%) patients 141.00±272.82 d post-treatment.

• Journal of Korean Clinical Nursing Research
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• v.23 no.1
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• pp.20-29
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• 2017

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to investigate symptoms experienced by patients who reported fever at the emergency room (ER) and to identify any existing cluster of symptom related to fever. Methods: The study used a retrospective and descriptive design with secondary data analysis. Data were abstracted from 665 medical records of patients with fever who visited ER from September 1, 2015 to August 31, 2016 at a tertiary hospital. Results: The most frequently reported symptoms included cold (43.9%), myalgia (24.1%), headache (16.2%), general weakness (15.3%), respiratory symptoms (12.3%), gastrointestinal (GI) symptoms (12.0%), mental change (4.5%), sweating(1.8%), and warmth (0.9%). Analysis of the symptoms related to fever revealed seven symptom clusters; Cluster 1 (n=190) included cold (100%) and myalgia (28.9%); Cluster 2 (n=37), headache (100%) and myalgia (32.4%); Cluster 3 (n=33), GI symptoms (100%), general weakness, headache, and cold; Cluster 4 (n=34), cold (100%), myalgia, headache, and respiratory symptoms; Cluster 5 (n=241), respiratory symptoms (10.8%); Cluster 6 (n=76): myalgia (75.0%) and general weakness, and Cluster 7 (n=54), cold (87.0%), general weakness, and respiratory symptoms. Conclusion: The results of this comprehensive symptom assessment are hoped to be helpful in developing better symptom management for ER patients with fever than before. Further research is warranted to verify the symptom clusters of this study in different clinical settings.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine Ophthalmology and Otolaryngology and Dermatology
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• v.29 no.3
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• pp.106-123
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• 2016

Objectives: This study aimed to verify the classification of atopic dermatitis into the digestive and respiratory disorder on the basis of a literature study.Methods: We searched for the term "atopic dermatitis" in KISS, RISS, NDSL, DBPIA, and OASIS. On further filtering the searched paper further by including the terms "Korean medicine", "literature study" and excluding "acupuncture", we found eight papers relevant to the literature study of atopic dermatitis. The reviewed papers included keywords of Oriental medicine such as Sub-yeol (濕熱), Bi-heo (脾虛), Poong-sub (風濕), Hyeol-heo (血虛). We classified keywords as "digestive system" or "respiratory system" and compared the clinical symptoms of classified Each category keywords.Results: Atopic dermatitis was classified into four categories : acute digestive disorder, chronic digestive disorder, acute respiratory disorder, and chronic respiratory disorder. The four categories of atopic dermatitis showed differences based on region, dermal symptoms, associated symptoms, and affected age group.Conclusions and Discussions: This study suggests a new theory of Atopic dermatitis classification. The theory is similar to that stated in former classification; however, it focuses on the digestive and respiratory disroder. All of atopic dermatitis into digestive disorder show both digestive symptoms and dermal symptoms. However, atopic dermatitis into respiratory disorder shows only respiratory symptoms. Thus, this study can establish a relationship between Western and Oriental medicine's study of atopic dermatitis using keywords such as "digestive disorder" and "respiratory disorder".

• Journal of The Korean Society of Clinical Toxicology
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• v.2 no.1
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• pp.49-53
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• 2004

A chlorine gas is a common irritant and when exposed, it result in mild occular, oropharyngeal, or respiratory symptoms. In severe case, however, it may result in pulmonary edema, interstitial pneumonia, or respiratory failure. We report the case of 29-year-old and 46-year-old men is accidentally exposed to chlorine gas during cleaning water. The patients complained dyspnea, chest tightness, cough and both eye pain. During hospitalization, they were treated with inhalation of humidified oxygen, beta-adrenergic agonist and $2\%$ sodium bicarbonate. After several days, patients were discharged without respiratory symptoms and complication. In treatment of chlorine gas toxicity the inhalation of sodium bicarbonate is a possible initial therapy can improve respiratory symptoms in spite of lack of evidence.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.85 no.2
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• pp.137-146
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• 2022

Background: Farinelli breathing (FB) exercise is a typical breathing exercise used by singers. This study aimed to compare effects of FB exercise and diaphragmatic breathing (DB) exercise on respiratory function and symptoms in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Methods: Sixteen patients aged 51-80 years with mild or moderate COPD were recruited for this study. They were divided into two groups: DB group (n=8) and FB group (n=8). Both groups received complete breathing exercise training five times per week for 8 weeks. Their respiratory functions, COPD symptoms, cytokine levels, and oxidative stress variables were analyzed during pre- and post-tests. Dependent variables were compared between pre- and post-tests using paired t-tests. An independent t-test was used to compare variables between the groups. Differences were considered significant at p<0.05. Results: The maximal expiratory pressure (MEP), maximum oxygen consumption (VO₂max), and COPD Assessment Test (CAT) scores changed significantly in the DB group after the 8-week intervention compared to those at pre-test, whereas force vital capacity, forced expiratory volume in the first second, maximum voluntary ventilation, maximal inspiratory pressure (MIP), MEP, VO₂max, CAT score, tumor necrosis factor-α, and malondialdehyde level changed significantly in the FB group at post-test compared to those at pre-test. Moreover, both MIP and MEP in the FB group were significantly higher than those in the DB group. Conclusion: FB exercise improved respiratory functions and COPD symptoms of patients with COPD. It might be an alternative breathing exercise in pulmonary rehabilitation programs for patients with COPD.

• Journal of Technologic Dentistry
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• v.22 no.1
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• pp.89-112
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• 2000

Although dental laboratory technicians are prone to be exposed to various work-related health hazardous materials such as dusts, chemicals, etc., the prevalence and nature of work-related health problems of them have not been a matter of great concern in the field of occupational health service in Korea. The purpose of the present investigation was to describe a collected profile of subjective health symptoms and their attributable factors in Korean dental laboratory technicians. A questionnaire listing five groups of health symptoms and five health symptom-related factors was mailed to randomly selected 1,900 dental laboratory technicians. Among them, 1,344 dental laboratory technicians filled out the questionnaires and returnde them. Five groups of health symptoms included musculoskeletal symptom, dermal symptoms, respiratory symptoms, eys symptoms, and ear symptoms. Five health symptom-related factors were occupational environment-related health risk factors, work history, health related habits and status, use of personal protective equipment and general characteristics. Detailed parameters of health risk factors were work posture, vibration, and chemical or physical hazards such as dust, fume, vapor, solvent, light, and noise for occupational environment-related factors; work place, area, number of employees, work hours, career, work part, and work load for work history; Broca's index, hours of sleep, eating, smoking, alcohol, exercise, health examination, and self assessed health status for health habits and status; face masks, goggles, and so on for use of personal protective equipment, and; age, sex, marital status, and education for general characteristics. Before the start of main survey, a pilot survey was carried out for validity and reliability tests of the questionnaire. All the data obtained were coded and analyzed with PC/SAS 6.12 program. The prevalence of health symptoms was the highest in musculoskelton (87.3%), and followde by eyes (78.9%), respiratory organs (64.3%), ears (57.8%), and skin (52.2%) in descending order. Statistically significant risk factors by multiple logistic regression analyses were sex, health examination, self assessed health status, and hand/finger posture in musculoskeletal symptoms; sex, self assessed health status, career, acid gas, and hand contact with resin mixture in deraml symptoms; Broka's smoking, exercise, self assessed health status, and face mask in respiratory symptoms; sex, hours of sleep, self assessed health status, work hours, work load, plaster dust, inadequate lighting, and goggle in eys symptoms, and eating, smoking, self assessed health status, and work load in ear symptoms. With the above considerations in mind, prevalence of subjective symptoms among Korean dental laboratory technicians was relatively high, and they were attributable to most of the occupational environment-related factors, work history, use of personal protective equipment, health habits and status, and general characteristics. Particularly, it is suggested that health promotion programs for promoting self- assessed health status and smoking cessation, preventive measures for protection of the female technicians’health, and reducing work load be necessary, since those factors were associated with more than one subjective symptom.