Korean version of the Cough Symptom Score: clinical utility and validity for chronic cough.

Background/aims: The Cough Symptom Score (CSS) is a simple, useful tool for measuring cough severity. However, there is no standard Korean version of the CSS. We developed a Korean version of the CSS and evaluated its clinical utility and validity for assessing chronic cough severity.

Reliability and validity of a korean version of the leicester cough questionnaire.

Purpose: There are no specific tools for measurement of the severity of chronic cough in Korea. We developed a Korean version of the Leicester Cough Questionnaire (LCQ) and tested its scaling and clinical properties.

Methods: The LCQ was adapted for Korean conditions following a forward-backward translation procedure.

Association of insulin resistance with bronchial hyperreactivity.

Background: Several epidemiologic studies showed the significant association of insulin resistance with asthma.

Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate the association of insulin resistance with airway hyperresponsiveness (AHR) in adult population.

Methods: 1,058 subjects who visited to the Seoul National University Hospital Gangnam Center from October 2007 to January 2009 for a routine health check-up were enrolled.

Xenon ventilation computed tomography and the management of asthma in the elderly.

Background And Objective: Xenon ventilation computed tomography (CT) has shown potential in assessing the regional ventilation status in subjects with asthma. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the usefulness of xenon ventilation CT in the management of asthma in the elderly.

Methods: Treatment-naïve asthmatics aged 65 years or older were recruited.

Respiratory effects of the hebei spirit oil spill on children in taean, Korea.

Purpose: The oil spill from the Heibei Spirit in December 2007 contaminated the Yellow Coast of South Korea. We evaluated the respiratory effects of that spill on children who lived along the Yellow Coast.

Methods: Of 662 children living in the area exposed to the oil spill, 436 (65.

New insight into the assessment of asthma using xenon ventilation computed tomography.

Background: Image analyses include computed tomography (CT), magnetic resonance imaging, and xenon ventilation CT, which is new modality to evaluate pulmonary functional imaging.

Objective: To examine the usefulness of dual-energy xenon ventilation CT in asthmatic patients.

Methods: A total of 43 patients 18 years or older who were nonsmokers were included in the study.

Differences in airway inflammation according to atopic status in patients with chronic rhinitis.

Background: Chronic rhinitis is a heterogeneous group of diseases that cause nasal inflammation. And the nose may be a window into the lung in the concept of "one airway one disease."

Objective: This study was conducted to evaluate differences between the different forms of chronic rhinitis in terms of lower airway inflammation.

Surveillance of contrast-media-induced hypersensitivity reactions using signals from an electronic medical recording system.

Background: Contrast-media (CM) hypersensitivity is a well-known adverse drug reaction. Surveillance of adverse drug reactions usually depends on spontaneous reports. However, the rate of spontaneous reports is low.

Clinical features of clinically diagnosed eosinophilic liver abscesses.

Purpose: Eosinophilic liver abscesses (ELAs) are frequently encountered in the clinical field based on typical computed tomography (CT) findings and the presence of peripheral eosinophilia. In this study, the authors evaluated the clinical features and natural course of CT diagnosed ELAs.

Methods: The medical records of patients that underwent abdominal CT from July 2004 to February 2008 at Seoul National University Hospital were retrospectively evaluated.

Association between subcutaneous abdominal fat and airway hyperresponsiveness.

Epidemiological studies have shown that obesity is significantly associated with airway hyperresponsiveness (AHR). The aim of this study was to determine the effect of abdominal fat distribution on the prevalence of AHR. This study was conducted on subjects who visited the Seoul National University Hospital Gangnam Center from October 2003 to January 2009.

Risk of hepatitis B virus reactivation in patients with asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease treated with corticosteroids.

Background And Objective: Reactivation of hepatitis B virus (HBV) is thought to be associated with immunosuppressive treatments, but insufficient information is available on the effect of corticosteroids. The aim of this study was to evaluate the risk of HBV reactivation in hepatitis B surface antigen-seropositive patients with asthma or COPD, who were treated with systemic corticosteroids (SCS) in addition to inhaled corticosteroids (ICS).

Methods: Patients with asthma or COPD (n = 198), who were hepatitis B surface antigen-seropositive and had been treated with ICS, were identified retrospectively.

Vaccination rate and seroepidemiology of hepatitis a in chronic-hepatitis-B-infected individuals in the korean army.

Background/aims: Vaccination against hepatitis A virus (HAV) is recommended for patients with chronic hepatitis B (CHB), since they are potentially at an increased risk of HAV-related morbidity and mortality. However, little is known about the adherence to these recommendations in the community. This study evaluated the current vaccination status and immunity against HAV among Korean military soldiers with CHB.

The speed of eating and functional dyspepsia in young women.

Background/aims: Little information is available on whether the speed of eating differs between individuals with and without dyspepsia, mainly because controlled studies are usually not feasible.

Methods: A survey was applied to 89 individuals with relatively controlled eating patterns, using questionnaires that assessed eating time and functional dyspepsia (FD) based on the Rome III criteria.

Results: The prevalence of FD was 12% (11 of 89 participants), and 7% (6 of 89) were diagnosed with gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD).

Korean ginseng-induced occupational asthma and determination of IgE binding components.

A number of case reports on occupational asthma caused by herbal medicines have been issued, for example, on Sanyak, Chunkung, Banha, and Brazilian ginseng. Recently, cases of occupational asthma induced by Sanyak and Korean ginseng have been reported, but the pathogenic mechanisms involved are unknown. This study was carried out to evaluate the immunologic mechanism underlying Korean ginseng-induced occupational asthma.

Hypereosinophilia presenting as eosinophilic vasculitis and multiple peripheral artery occlusions without organ involvement.

We report here a case with hypereosinophilia and peripheral artery occlusion. A 32-yr-old Korean woman presented to us with lower extremity swelling and pain. Angiography revealed that multiple lower extremity arteries were occlusive.