OBJECTIVES: This study was planned to compare the epidemiological features such as radiological and clinical features between coal worker's pneumoconiosis and manufacturing pneumoconiosis in connection with their age and dust exposure duration. METHODS: For the study, detailed examination records of those workers who had been confirmed to have pneumoconiosis in coal mining and manufacturing industries by the Ministry of Labour during two year period of 1991 and 1992. Total number of study subjects was 895 pneumoconiosis cases; 504 from coal mining and 391 from manufacturing industries. Information variables for the data analysis were sex, age, dust exposure duration, work position as the independent variables and radiological pneumoconiosis category, pulmonary function test results and pulmonary tuberculosis complication status as the dependent study variables. RESULTS: There was a significant difference in distribution of radiological categories of both pneumoconiosis groups. The proportion of suspicious and category 1 pneumoconiosis was higher in manufacturing pneumoconiosis group than in coal mine pneumoconiosis group whereas category 2 and large opacity pneumoconiosis was higher in coal mine pneumoconiosis group than in manufacturing pneumoconiosis group. Major ventilatory indices such as FVC and FEV1 were significantly lower in coal mine pneumoconiosis group than in manufacturing pneumoconiosis group even after other variables such as age and smoking history were statistically adjusted for. CONCLUSIONS: It is suggested that some selected outcome variables such as radiological category of pneumoconiosis, ventilatory impairment, and pulmonary tuberculosis complication rate were significantly different between coal mine pneumoconiosis and manufacturing pneumoconiosis.
Anthracosis ; Coal ; Coal Mining ; Dust ; Korea* ; Mining* ; Pneumoconiosis* ; Respiratory Function Tests ; Smoke ; Smoking ; Statistics as Topic ; Tuberculosis, Pulmonary

PURPOSE: The purpose of the present study is to examine risk factors for unawareness of obstructive airflow limitation among adults with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. METHODS: Secondary data analysis was performed with the data from the 6th Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES; 2013–2014). The data were analyzed with the IBM SPSS 22.0 version using frequency, percentage, odds ratio, and logistic regression. RESULTS: Ninety-eight percent of subject with a pulmonary function test score of FEV1/FVC < 0.7 (N=833) did not recognize that their lung function was impaired. The heavy drink, absence of tuberculosis or asthma diagnosis, and no symptom of expelling phlegm were identified as major risk factors for unawareness of airflow limitation. CONCLUSION: In order to increase awareness of airflow limitation and to prevent the worsening of the condition, the pulmonary function screening test should be provided to community residents including those who do not show symptoms of respiratory illness.
Adult ; Asthma ; Diagnosis ; Humans ; Korea ; Logistic Models ; Lung ; Lung Diseases ; Mass Screening ; Nutrition Surveys ; Odds Ratio ; Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive ; Respiratory Function Tests ; Risk Factors ; Statistics as Topic ; Tuberculosis

OBJECTIVETo establish predictive equations of lung function for adults in urban areas in north China.

METHODSA survey was conducted in 600 male and 600 female healthy adults in the urban areas in north China. Five flow-volume test parameters were measured including forced vital capacity (FVC) and forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1). Stepwise multiple regression was carried out to establish the predicative equations for the parameters for male and female adults separately. The predicted values from these equations and those from other commonly used equations (such as ECCS equation and Knudson equation) were compared with the actual measurements in pulmonary function tests.

RESULTSFour flow-volume test parameters, namely FVC, FEV1, 25% forced expiratory flow (FEF25%), and FEF75%, showed obvious differences between the male and female adults, while FEV1/FVC was not correlated with gender. Multiple regression analysis showed that FVC, FEV1, FEF25% and FEF75% were positively correlated with height and negatively with age, and FEV1/FVC was negatively correlated with both height and age. The parameters were not affected by body weight. The predicted values from our equations were closer to the actual measurements than those calculated from other equations.

CONCLUSIONThe equations we established are more appropriate than the generally used equations for predicting lung functions in adults in north China urban areas.

Adult ; Age Factors ; Body Height ; Body Weight ; China ; Female ; Forced Expiratory Volume ; Humans ; Lung ; physiology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Predictive Value of Tests ; Reference Values ; Regression Analysis ; Respiratory Function Tests ; methods ; Sex Factors ; Spirometry ; statistics & numerical data ; Urban Population ; Vital Capacity

History of treatment for tuberculosis (TB) is a risk factor for obstructive lung disease. However, it has been unclear whether the clinical characteristics of patients with destroyed lung by TB differ according to the presence or absence of airflow limitation. The objective of the study was to evaluate differences in acute exacerbations and forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV1) decline in patients with destroyed lung by TB according to the presence or absence of airflow limitation. We performed a retrospective cohort study and enrolled patients with destroyed lung by TB. The presence of airflow limitation was defined as FEV1/forced vital capacity (FVC) < 0.7. One hundred and fifty-nine patients were enrolled, and 128 (80.5%) had airflow limitation. The proportion of patients who experienced acute exacerbation was higher in patients with airflow limitation compared to those without (89.1 vs. 67.7%, respectively; P = 0.009). The rate of acute exacerbation was higher in patients with airflow limitation (IRR, 1.19; 95% CI, 1.11-1.27). Low body mass index (X vs. X + 1; HR, 0.944; 95% CI, 0.895-0.996) in addition to airflow limitation (HR, 1.634; 95% CI, 1.012-2.638), was an independent risk factor for acute exacerbation. The annual decline of FEV1 was 2 mL in patients with airflow limitation and 36 mL in those without (P < 0.001). In conclusion, the presence of airflow limitation is an independent risk factor for acute exacerbation in patients with the destroyed lung by TB.
Comorbidity ; Female ; Forced Expiratory Volume ; Humans ; Lung Diseases, Obstructive/*diagnosis/*epidemiology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Prevalence ; Republic of Korea/epidemiology ; Respiratory Function Tests/*statistics & numerical data ; Risk Factors ; Tuberculosis, Pulmonary/*diagnosis/*epidemiology

OBJECTIVE: We wanted to assess the relationship between measurements of the right ventricular (RV) function and mass, with using cardiac multi-detector computed tomography (MDCT) and the severity of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) as determined by the pulmonary function test (PFT). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Measurements of PFT and cardiac MDCT were obtained in 33 COPD patients. Using the Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease (GOLD) classification, the patients were divided into three groups according to the severity of the disease: stage I (mild, n = 4), stage II (moderate, n = 15) and stage III (severe, n = 14). The RV function and the wall mass were obtained by cardiac MDCT. The results were compared among the groups using the Student-Newman-Keuls method. Pearson's correlation was used to evaluate the relationship between the right ventricular ejection fraction (RVEF) and the wall mass results with the PFT results. P-values less than 0.05 were considered statistically significant. RESULTS: The RVEF and mass were 47+/-3% and 41+/-2 g in stage I, 46+/-6% and 46+/-5 g in stage II, and 35+/-5% and 55+/-6 g in stage III, respectively. The RVEF was significantly lower in stage III than in stage I and II (p < 0.01). The RV mass was significantly different among the three stages, according to the disease severity of COPD (p < 0.05). The correlation was excellent between the MDCT results and forced expiratory volume in 1 sec (r = 0.797 for RVEF and r = -0.769 for RV mass) and forced expiratory volume in 1 sec to the forced vital capacity (r = 0.745 for RVEF and r = -0.718 for RV mass). CONCLUSION: Our study shows that the mean RV wall mass as measured by cardiac MDCT correlates well with the COPD disease severity as determined by PFT.
Ventricular Dysfunction, Right/*etiology/physiopathology/*radiography ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed/*methods ; Statistics, Nonparametric ; Respiratory Function Tests ; Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive/*complications/physiopathology ; Middle Aged ; Male ; Humans ; Female ; Analysis of Variance ; Aged

BACKGROUND: Airway responsiveness after acute inhalation of ozone is related to the concentration and duration of ozone exposure. Using barometric whole-body plethysmography and increase in enhanced pause (Penh) as an index of airway obstruction, we measured the response of BALB/c mice to acute ozone inhalation to study the time course change of pulmonary function after ozone exposure. METHODS: Penh was measured before and after exposure to filtered air or 0.12, 0.5, 1, or 2 ppm ozone for 3 hr (n=6/group). In addition, Penh was measured 24, 48 and 72 hr after ozone exposure. Bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) and histopathologic examinations were performed. RESULTS: The increase in Penh after ozone exposure was significantly higher in the 0.12, 0.5, 1 and 2 ppm groups compared with the control group (all p< 0.01). Increases in Penh 24 hr after ozone exposure were significantly lower than those immediately after acute ozone exposure; however, increases in Penh 72 hr after ozone exposure were significantly higher than those in the control group (each p< 0.01). The proportion of neutrophils in BAL fluid was significantly higher in the group exposed to 2 ppm ozone than in the groups exposed to filtered air or 0.12 ppm ozone (both p< 0.01). CONCLUSION: These results indicate that airway obstruction is induced following ozone exposure in a concentration-dependent manner and persists for at least 72 hr.
Airway Obstruction/*etiology/*pathology ; Animals ; Animals, Newborn ; Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid/cytology ; Disease Models, Animal ; Female ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred BALB C ; Plethysmography, Whole Body/*methods ; Probability ; Reference Values ; Respiratory Function Tests ; Risk Assessment ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Statistics, Nonparametric ; Sulfuric Acids/*adverse effects

Adolescent ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; China ; epidemiology ; Female ; Humans ; Infant ; Infant, Newborn ; Intensive Care Units, Pediatric ; statistics & numerical data ; Lung Diseases ; epidemiology ; mortality ; physiopathology ; Male ; Prognosis ; Prospective Studies ; Respiratory Function Tests ; Survival Rate

BACKGROUND: Bronchial asthma is a clinical syndrome characterized by reversibility of airway obstruction. However, many asthmatics have evidence of residual airway obstruction. It has become evident that the repair of the chronic inflammatory process can lead to various irreversible changes. It is generally accepted that the most common cause for the change is cigarette smoking but it is controversial whether asthma progresses to emphysema. High resolution computed tomography (HRCT) is more sensitive and more accurate than chest plain films in determining the type and extent of emphysema. This study was carried out to determine whether asthma can be a cause of emphysema without the effect of cigarette smoking and to evaluate clinical characteristics in asthmatics with emphysema. METHODS: We studied 58 asthmatic patients with reversible airway obstruction and evaluated the presence of emphysema using HRCT and pulmonary function test. According to HRCT findings, they were divided into 2 groups : Asthmatics with emphysema and the ones without emphysema. REWSULTS: Of the 58 patients, 7 were revealed to have emphysema. (1) 6 asthmatics with emphysema were smokers, but one patient was a nonsmoker. (2) Highly significant differences between asthmatics with and without emphysema were found in cigarette smoking (p< 0.01) and smoking consumption (p< 0.01). (3) There were no significant differences in the duration of asthma, age or sex between patients with and without emphysema. (4) There were no significant differences in FEV1(%), FEV1/FVC (%), diffusing capacity for carbon monoxide (DLco) (%) and DLco/alveolar volume between patients with and without emphysema (5) Differences between asthma patients without emphysema and those with emphysema were found to be significant in bronchial wall thickeness (p< 0.05) and in total Ig E levels (p=0.07). CONCLUSION: These results indicate that smoking is a main factor in causing emphysema in asthmatics.
Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Asthma/*complications/physiopathology/radiography ; Comparative Study ; Female ; Human ; Male ; Middle Age ; Pulmonary Emphysema/*etiology/physiopathology/radiography ; Respiratory Function Tests/statistics & numerical data ; Smoking/adverse effects ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed/methods

UNLABELLEDMorbidity of chronic lung disease in young children is relatively high, and could increase in the future. Pulmonary function testing is used for clinical assessment of patients with suspected or obvious pulmonary disease to assess the severity of dysfunction and to evaluate therapeutic effectiveness. In the recent few years, forced expiratory parameters assessing lung function have been measured in older children. In order to assess abnormalities of lung function in preschool patients with respiratory disorders based on changes of forced expiratory parameters, adequate reference values are needed. However, such data in healthy preschool children remain scant in the literature.

OBJECTIVEThe aim of this study was to characterize the spirometry of preschool children and establish the normal lung function prediction equations for Chinese preschool children.

METHODSA survey in 343 healthy preschool children (184 boys and 159 girls) aged 3 to 6 years (73 children aged 3 years, 96 children aged 4 years, 91 children aged 5 years and 83 children aged 6 years) was carried out in Shenzhen in 2004. Eleven flow volume tests parameters, i.e., forced vital capacity (FVC), forced expiratory volume at 0.5 second (FEV(0.5)), forced expiratory volume at 0.75 second (FEV(0.75)), forced expiratory volume at one second (FEV(1)), maximal mid expiratory flow rate (FEF(25%-75%)), peak expiratory flow (PEF), forced expiratory time (FET100%) were measured by using COSMED spirometry produced in Italy. Stepwise multiple regressions and non-linear regressions were carried out with the statistical software SPSS10.0 for Windows to identify the best predictors of lung function parameters using standing height, weight, age and gender as potential determinants.

RESULTSSpirometric tests could be successfully carried out by using imagery methods in the following percentages of children: 69.9% of 3 to 4 years old, 70.8% of 4 to 5 years old, 92.3% of 5 to 6 years old and 91.6% of 6 to 7 years old children, 77.7% of the selected population (217/279) of children performed at least two acceptable tests respectively. The average forced expiratory time (FET) was 1.61 +/- 0.52 sec (x +/- s), the 5th percentile value was 0.9 sec, 18 of 279 (6.5%) children produced a FET less than 1 second. Forced expiratory volume in 0.50 and 0.75 sec (FEV(0.5), FEV(0.75)) were thus measured necessary in preschool children. All lung volumes and flow rates increased with age, height as well as weight growth in both gender groups. The correlation among most lung function parameters was higher in height than in age and weight in boys. Whereas the correlation among most lung function parameters was higher in age than in height and weight in girls. The regression equations of lung function were established. By comparison with the equations derived from this study and from studies by Nystad, it was found that there was a difference between the predicted values.

CONCLUSIONSpirometric testing is feasible in preschool children by using imagery methods and may be useful for both clinical practice and research. The correlation among most lung function parameters was higher in height than in age and weight in boys. Whereas the correlation among most lung function parameters was higher in age than in height and weight in girls.

Age Factors ; Body Height ; Body Weight ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Feasibility Studies ; Female ; Forced Expiratory Volume ; Humans ; Male ; Peak Expiratory Flow Rate ; Reference Values ; Regression Analysis ; Respiratory Function Tests ; methods ; Spirometry ; statistics & numerical data ; Vital Capacity

OBJECTIVEThe purpose of this study was to compare the difference of craniofacial morphology between oral and nasal breathing children, and discover the relationship between respiratory mode and craniofacial morphology.

METHODSUsing the system for the simultaneous measurement of oral and nasal respiration, 34 oral breathing children and 34 nasal breathing children aged from 11 to 14 years were selected.

RESULTSCompared with the nasal-breathing children, the oral-breathing children showed apparently vertical growth pattern. The mandibuler plane Angle of oral breathing children is 39.3, which is significant greater than that of nasal breathing children (P < 0.01). The jans, the oral-breathing children had shorter mandibular body, larger gonion angle, retrusive chin and face (P < 0.05). On the other hand, in the sagittal direction, the oral breathing children may display all kinds of skeletal facial types. There is no significant difference between the two groups.

CONCLUSIONSOral breathing is one of the factors related to the vertical over-development.

Adolescent ; Child ; Craniofacial Abnormalities ; diagnostic imaging ; Facial Bones ; diagnostic imaging ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Mandible ; diagnostic imaging ; Mouth Breathing ; diagnostic imaging ; physiopathology ; Nose ; Radiography ; Respiration ; Respiratory Function Tests ; Skull ; diagnostic imaging ; Statistics as Topic