Associations among sleep-disordered breathing, sleep quality, and lung cancer in Korean patients.

Purpose: Intermittent hypoxia and sleep fragmentation, two main features of sleep-disordered breathing (SDB), have been shown to increase the aggressiveness of lung cancer, mainly in animal and in vitro studies. However, the association between SDB and lung cancer has not been well described in human studies. In this study, we investigated the associations among SDB, sleep quality, and lung cancer in Korean patients.

Cluster analysis categorizes five phenotypes of pulmonary tuberculosis.

Tuberculosis (TB) has a heterogeneous phenotype, which makes it challenging to diagnose. Our study aimed to identify TB phenotypes through cluster analysis and compare their initial symptomatic, microbiological and radiographic characteristics. We systemically collected data of notified TB patients notified in Korea and constructed a prospective, observational cohort database.

Additional Usefulness of Bronchoscopy in Patients with Initial Microbiologically Negative Pulmonary Tuberculosis: A Retrospective Analysis of a Korean Nationwide Prospective Cohort Study.

Purpose: Bronchoscopy is widely used for microbiological diagnosis of patients with minimal sputum production. However, the usefulness of bronchoscopy in patient groups who benefit from subsequent microbiological confirmation has not been established.

Patients And Methods: We retrospectively analyzed Korean tuberculosis (TB) cohort data from September 2018 to October 2019 to evaluate the usefulness of bronchoscopy in patients with microbiologically negative pulmonary TB (based on initial sputum polymerase chain reaction and culture results).

Increased Healthcare Delays in Tuberculosis Patients During the First Wave of COVID-19 Pandemic in Korea: A Nationwide Cross-Sectional Study.

Background: The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic caused disruptions to healthcare systems, consequently endangering tuberculosis (TB) control. We investigated delays in TB treatment among notified patients during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic in Korea.

Methods: We systemically collected and analyzed data from the Korea TB cohort database from January to May 2020.

Impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on sleep center operations and sleep apnea treatment in Korea: A multicenter survey.

The coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has not only changed the lives of people around the world but also affected all areas of the healthcare system, including sleep medicine. However, no studies in Korea have investigated the status of domestic sleep centers and their challenges during the pandemic.An online survey was performed from December 2020 to January 2021.

Reflux esophagitis in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

The relationship between chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and reflux esophagitis (RE) was controversial. We investigated the factors influencing RE development in patients with COPD and evaluated the association between RE and AECOPD.Patients with COPD who underwent esophagogastroduodenoscopy from January 2003 to December 2013 in St.

Histiocytic pleural effusion: the strong clue to malignancy.

Background: There have been many studies on the clinical characteristics of neutrophilic, lymphocytic, and/or eosinophilic pleural effusion. While caring for patients with pleural effusion, we found that histiocytic pleural effusion (HisPE) was not uncommon. However, few studies have explored HisPE.

Clinical Importance of Work-Exacerbated Asthma: Findings From a Prospective Asthma Cohort in a Highly Industrialized City in Korea.

Purpose: Work-related asthma (WRA) occupies about 10%-30% of all asthma cases. Among 2 subtypes of WRA (occupational asthma [OA] and work-exacerbated asthma [WEA]), the rate of WEA has been reported to increase recently. WRA is described as having worse characteristics than non-WRA (NWRA), while WEA is known to show similar severity to OA in terms of symptoms and exacerbations.

The Effects of Chronic Intermittent Hypoxia in Bleomycin-Induced Lung Injury on Pulmonary Fibrosis via Regulating the NF-κB/Nrf2 Signaling Pathway.

Background: Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is associated with pulmonary fibrosis. Chronic intermittent hypoxia (CIH) is considered to be a surrogate of OSA. However, its exact role in pulmonary fibrosis remains uncertain.

Independent association of serum uric acid levels with arterial stiffness in the absence of established cardiovascular disorders.

Background: The impact of serum uric acid (SUA) on atherosclerosis has been suspected to be epiphenomenal owing to its close relationship with metabolic abnormalities. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the association between SUA levels and arterial stiffness in the absence of established cardiovascular (CV) disorders.

Methods: The relationship between SUA levels and brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity (baPWV) was examined in 353 asymptomatic adults (57 ± 8 years, 11.

Effects of chronic intermittent hypoxia caused by obstructive sleep apnea on lipopolysaccharide-induced acute lung injury.

Aim Of The Study: Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is a common disease associated with significant morbidity and mortality. Sleep quality is an important issue; some patients with acute lung injury (ALI) have underlying OSA. However, the potential influences of OSA on ALI have not been reported until now.

Association between triglyceride glucose index and obstructive sleep apnea risk in Korean adults: a cross-sectional cohort study.

Background: Triglyceride glucose (TyG) index is a reliable marker of insulin resistance, which is linked to obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). However, the relationship between TyG index and OSA has not been adequately assessed. This study aimed to evaluate the association between TyG index and OSA.

The Influence of Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease on Daytime Sleepiness and Depressive Symptom in Patients With Obstructive Sleep Apnea.

Background/aims: As there is insufficient evidence for a relationship between gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) and obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), we investigated whether OSA diagnosed by polysomnography (PSG) is related to GERD.

Methods: A total of 402 subjects was evaluated. Overnight PSG was performed and a few questionnaires on GERD, anxiety, depression, and daytime sleepiness were administered.

Validity and reliability of the Korean version of the Wisconsin Smoking Withdrawal Scale.

Background/aims: This study evaluated the validity and reliability of the Korean version of the Wisconsin Smoking Withdrawal Scale (WSWS-K) for use in clinical practice and research on Korean smokers.

Methods: The Wisconsin Smoking Withdrawal Scale was translated into Korean and then back-translated into English. The authors reviewed the translation and back-translation and approved the final questionnaire draft.

Effects of long term normobaric hyperoxia exposure on lipopolysaccharide-induced lung injury.

Prolonged exposure to hyperoxia can cause injury to normal lung tissue. However, patients with acute hypoxic respiratory failure are frequently exposed to very high oxygen levels. This study investigated the effects of long term normobaric hyperoxia exposure in a mouse model of acute severe lung injury (SLI).

Intermittent hypoxia exacerbates tumor progression in a mouse model of lung cancer.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate whether obstructive sleep apnea (OSA)-related chronic intermittent hypoxia (CIH) influences lung cancer progression and to elucidate the associated mechanisms in a mouse model of lung cancer. C57/BL6 mice in a CIH group were exposed to intermittent hypoxia for two weeks after tumor induction and compared with control mice (room air). Hypoxia inducible factor 1α (HIF-1α), vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and metastasis-related matrix metalloproteinases (MMP) were measured.

Accuracy and Reliability of Internet Resources Providing Information on Obstructive Sleep Apnea.

Study Objectives: To evaluate the readability, content, and quality of internet information about obstructive sleep apnea (OSA).

Methods: Three major search engines (Google, Yahoo, and Bing) were used to retrieve the first 200 hits for the term "sleep apnea." The website contents were assessed using established guidelines, while the website quality was evaluated using the validated DISCERN instrument and benchmarks.

The relationship between sleep disturbance and health status in patients with COPD.

Introduction: The detection of insomnia in patients with COPD is assumed to be significantly lower than the actual prevalence. In this study, we investigated the prevalence of insomnia and the relationship between insomnia and health status in patients with COPD using two fairly simple and straightforward questionnaires: COPD assessment test (CAT) and insomnia severity index (ISI).

Patients And Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted using data from patients undergoing treatment for COPD at St Paul's Hospital, The Catholic University of Korea, between December 2015 and August 2016.

Normobaric hyperoxia inhibits the progression of lung cancer by inducing apoptosis.

Hypoxia is a critical characteristic of solid tumors with respect to cancer cell survival, angiogenesis, and metastasis. Hyperoxic treatment has been attempted to reverse hypoxia by enhancing the amount of dissolved oxygen in the plasma. In this study, we evaluated the effects of normobaric hyperoxia on the progression of lung cancer to determine whether oxygen toxicity can be used in cancer therapy.

Clinical significance of nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

Background/aims: Several studies have identified a role for nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) in the development of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). However, the relationship between the plasma Nrf2 level and the extent of systemic inflammation associated with COPD status remains unclear.

Methods: Patients diagnosed with COPD were recruited from St.