BACKGROUND: Alternative medicines may be defined as forms of therapy or examination that have no scientific basis and where no effect or diagnostic reliability have been demonstrated by scientific methods. Many patients with atopic dermatitis try various forms of alternative medicine, and several studies about the use of alternative medicine in the patients of atopic dermatitis were performed in western countries but not in Korea. OBJECT: This study was performed to evaluate the use of alternative medicine in atopic dermatitis patients. METHODS: 188 patients of atopic dermatitis attending our outpatient clinic responded to questionnaires on the use of alternative medicine and the past history of atopic dermatitis. RESULTS: 136 of 188 patients(72%) reported previous or current use of one or more forms of alternative medicine. Herbal remedies(32.4%) were used most frequently, and health food preparations, spa therapy, and diet changes were also commonly used. The most common motif of using alternative medicine was "just want to try every possible treatment"(48.6%) and main information sources were people without same skin disease(relatives and friends)(50.0%). The majority(75.2%) reported they do not use the alternative medicine now because of the poor result. The use of the alternative medicine was related to the disease duration, and the cost of the atopic dermatitis treatment. CONCLUSIONS: The use of alternative medicine in atopic dermatitis is commonplace and should be of concern to dermatologists.
Ambulatory Care Facilities ; Complementary Therapies ; Dermatitis, Atopic* ; Diet ; Food, Organic ; Humans ; Korea ; Skin ; Surveys and Questionnaires

BACKGROUND: Adequate assessment and control of sedation play crucial roles in the proper performance of mechanical ventilation. METHODS: A total of 30 patients with various pulmonary diseases were prospectively enrolled. The study population was randomized into two groups. The sedation assessment group (SAG) received active protocol-based control of sedation, and in the empiric control group (ECG), the sedation levels were empirically adjusted. Subsequently, daily interruption of sedation (DIS) was conducted in the SAG. RESULTS: In the SAG, the dose of midazolam was significantly reduced by control of sedation (day 1, 1.3+/-0.5 microg/kg/min; day 2, 0.9+/-0.4 microg/kg/min; p<0.01), and was significantly lower than the ECG on day 2 (p<0.01). Likewise, on day 2, sedation levels were significantly lower in the SAG than in the ECG. Significant relationship was found between Ramsay sedation scale and Richmond agitation-sedation scale (RASS; rs=-0.57), Ramsay Sedation Scale and Bispectral Index (BIS; rs=0.77), and RASS and BIS (rs=-0.79). In 10 patients, who didn't require re-sedation after DIS, BIS showed the earliest and most significant changes among the sedation scales. Ventilatory parameters showed significant but less prominent changes, and hemodynamic parameters didn't show significant changes. No seriously adverse events ensued after the implementation of DIS. CONCLUSION: Active assessment and control of sedation significantly reduced the dosage of sedatives in patients receiving mechanical ventilation. DIS, conducted in limited cases, suggested its potential efficacy and tolerability.
Conscious Sedation ; Consciousness Monitors ; Electrocardiography ; Hemodynamics ; Humans ; Hypnotics and Sedatives ; Lung Diseases ; Midazolam ; Prospective Studies ; Respiration, Artificial ; Ventilators, Mechanical ; Weights and Measures

BACKGROUND: Apoptosis plays a role in the development of pleural effusion. Caspase-cleaved cytokeratin 18, a marker for epithelial cell apoptosis, was evaluated in pleural effusion. METHODS: A total of 79 patients with pleural effusion were enrolled. The underlying causes were lung cancer (n=24), parapneumonic effusion (n=15), tuberculous effusion (n=28), and transudates (n=12). The levels of M30, an epitope of caspase-cleaved cytokeratin 18, were measured in blood and pleural fluids using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay along with routine cellular and biochemical parameters. The expression of M30 was evaluated in the pleural tissues using immunohistochemistry for M30. RESULTS: The M30 levels in pleural fluid were significantly higher in patients with tuberculosis (2,632.1+/-1,467.3 U/mL) than in patients with lung cancer (956.5+/-618.5 U/mL), parapneumonic effusion (689.9+/-413.6 U/mL), and transudates (273.6+/-144.5 U/mL; all p<0.01). The serum levels were not significantly different among the disease groups. Based on receiver operating characteristics analysis, the area under the curve of M30 for differentiating tuberculous pleural effusion from all other effusions was 0.93. In the immunohistochemical analysis of M30, all pathologic types of cancer cells showed moderate to high expression, and the epithelioid cells in granulomas showed high expression in tuberculous pleural tissues. CONCLUSION: Caspase-cleaved cytokeratin 18 was most prominently observed in tuberculous pleural effusion and showed utility as a clinical marker. The main source of M30 was found to be the epithelioid cells of granulomas in tuberculous pleural tissues.
Apoptosis ; Biomarkers ; Cytoskeleton ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Epithelial Cells ; Epithelioid Cells ; Exudates and Transudates ; Granuloma ; Humans ; Immunohistochemistry ; Keratin-18* ; Keratins* ; Lung Neoplasms ; Pleural Effusion* ; ROC Curve ; Tuberculosis ; Tuberculosis, Pleural

BACKGROUND: Adaptive support ventilation (ASV), an automated closed-loop ventilation mode, adapts to the mechanical characteristics of the respiratory system by continuous measurement and adjustment of the respiratory parameters. The adequacy of ASV was evaluated in the patients with acute lung injury (ALI). METHODS: A total of 36 patients (19 normal lungs and 17 ALIs) were enrolled. The patients' breathing patterns and respiratory mechanics parameters were recorded under the passive ventilation using the ASV mode. RESULTS: The ALI patients showed lower tidal volumes and higher respiratory rates (RR) compared to patients with normal lungs (7.1+/-0.9 mL/kg vs. 8.6+/-1.3 mL/kg IBW; 19.7+/-4.8 b/min vs. 14.6+/-4.6 b/min; p<0.05, respectively). The expiratory time constant (RCe) was lower in ALI patients than in those with normal lungs, and the expiratory time/RCe was maintained above 3 in both groups. In all patients, RR was correlated with RCe and peak inspiratory flow (rs=-0.40; rs=0.43; p<0.05, respectively). In ALI patients, significant correlations were found between RR and RCe (rs=-0.76, p<0.01), peak inspiratory flow and RR (rs=-0.53, p<0.05), and RCe and peak inspiratory flow (rs=-0.53, p<0.05). CONCLUSION: ASV was found to operate adequately according to the respiratory mechanical characteristics in the ALI patients. Discrepancies with the ARDS Network recommendations, such as a somewhat higher tidal volume, have yet to be addressed in further studies.
Acute Lung Injury ; Automation ; Humans ; Lung ; Respiration ; Respiratory Mechanics ; Respiratory Rate ; Respiratory System ; Tidal Volume ; Ventilation ; Ventilator-Induced Lung Injury ; Ventilators, Mechanical

BACKGROUND: Adaptive support ventilation (ASV), an automated closed-loop ventilation mode, adapts to the mechanical characteristics of the respiratory system by continuous measurement and adjustment of the respiratory parameters. The adequacy of ASV was evaluated in the patients with acute lung injury (ALI). METHODS: A total of 36 patients (19 normal lungs and 17 ALIs) were enrolled. The patients' breathing patterns and respiratory mechanics parameters were recorded under the passive ventilation using the ASV mode. RESULTS: The ALI patients showed lower tidal volumes and higher respiratory rates (RR) compared to patients with normal lungs (7.1+/-0.9 mL/kg vs. 8.6+/-1.3 mL/kg IBW; 19.7+/-4.8 b/min vs. 14.6+/-4.6 b/min; p<0.05, respectively). The expiratory time constant (RCe) was lower in ALI patients than in those with normal lungs, and the expiratory time/RCe was maintained above 3 in both groups. In all patients, RR was correlated with RCe and peak inspiratory flow (rs=-0.40; rs=0.43; p<0.05, respectively). In ALI patients, significant correlations were found between RR and RCe (rs=-0.76, p<0.01), peak inspiratory flow and RR (rs=-0.53, p<0.05), and RCe and peak inspiratory flow (rs=-0.53, p<0.05). CONCLUSION: ASV was found to operate adequately according to the respiratory mechanical characteristics in the ALI patients. Discrepancies with the ARDS Network recommendations, such as a somewhat higher tidal volume, have yet to be addressed in further studies.
Acute Lung Injury ; Automation ; Humans ; Lung ; Respiration ; Respiratory Mechanics ; Respiratory Rate ; Respiratory System ; Tidal Volume ; Ventilation ; Ventilator-Induced Lung Injury ; Ventilators, Mechanical

BACKGROUND: Smoking is one of the most important leading causes of morbidity and mortality. Smoking habit is recognized as nicotine dependence, which consists of physical and psychosocial dependence. To evaluate social nicotine dependence, the Kano Test for Social Nicotine Dependence (KTSND) working group developed a new questionnaire, which consists of 10 questions with a total score of 30 in Japan. We examined the social nicotine dependence among healthy adults using the new KTSND questionnaire and evaluated validity of the KTSND questionnaire in Korea. METHOD: We applied Korean KTSND questionnaire version 2 to employees of hospital, university students and people for medical examination and promotion test. Complete data obtained from the 741 responders were analyzed. RESULT: The mean age of responders was 31.8 years. Among them, males were 57.8%. Current smokers, ex-smokers, and non-smokers were 13.8%, 12.8%, and 73.4% respectively. According to smoking status, the total KTSND scores of current smokers were significantly higher than those of ex-smokers, and of non-smokers (17.1+/-5.4 versus 14.3+/-5.5, and 12.3+/-5.5, p< or =0.001). The total KTSND scores of males were higher than those of females, suggesting that males have a propensity for depending nicotine socially much more than females (14.3+/-5.7 and 11.7+/-5.4 respectively, p<0.001). Eight of ten questions produced significantly different scores among three different smoking groups. When current smokers were sub-classified by heavy smoking index (HSI) that represented physical nicotine dependence, we did not find a significant difference of KTSND score between low HSI group (<4) and high HSI group (> or =4), This finding suggested that the psychosocial dependence might play a different role from physical nicotine dependence in smoking. Most of the non-smokers (62.5%) had an experience of harmful passive smoking especially in public place. CONCLUSION: Our study suggested that the KTSND questionnaire could be a useful method to evaluate psychosocial aspects of smoking.
Adult ; Female ; Humans ; Japan ; Korea* ; Male ; Mortality ; Nicotine* ; Surveys and Questionnaires* ; Smoke ; Smoking ; Tobacco Smoke Pollution ; Tobacco Use Disorder*

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Peroxiredoxin (Prx) belongs to a ubiquitous family of antioxidant enzymes that regulates many cellular processes through intracellular oxidative signal transduction pathways. Silica-induced lung damage involves reactive oxygen species (ROS) that trigger subsequent toxic effects and inflammatory responses in alveolar epithelial cells resulting in fibrosis. Therefore, we investigated the role of Prx in the development of lung oxidant injury caused by silicosis, and determined the implication of ROS in that process. METHODS: Lung epithelial cell lines A549 and WI26 were treated with 1% silica for 0, 24, or 48 hours, following pretreatment of the A549 cells with N-acetyl-L-cysteine and diphenylene iodonium and no pretreatment of the WI26 cells. We transfected an HA-ubiquitin construct into the A549 cell line and then analyzed the cells via Western blotting and co-immunoprecipitation. RESULTS: Silica treatment induced cell death in the A549 lung epithelial cell line and selectively degraded Prx I without impairing protein synthesis in the A549 cells, even when the ROS effect was blocked chemically by N-acetyl-L-cysteine. A co-immunoprecipitation study revealed that Prx I did not undergo ubiquitination. CONCLUSIONS: Silica treatment induces a decrease of Prx I expression in lung epithelial cell lines regardless of the presence of ROS. The silica-induced degradation of Prx does not involve the ubiquitin-proteasomal pathway.
Cell Line ; Epithelial Cells/drug effects/metabolism ; Humans ; Lung/chemistry/*drug effects/metabolism ; Peroxiredoxins/analysis/*physiology ; Protein Isoforms ; Reactive Oxygen Species/metabolism ; Silicon Dioxide/*toxicity ; Ubiquitin/metabolism

Background: Hot springs have been traditionally used as an alternative treatment for a wide range of diseases, including rheumatoid arthritis, bronchial asthma, diabetes, hypertension, psoriasis and atopic dermatitis. However, the clinical effects and therapeutic mechanisms associated with hot springs remain poorly defined. Objective: The purpose of this study was to demonstrate the different effects of hot springs on cellular viability and secretion of inflammatory cytokines on keratinocyte in two geographically representative types of hot springs: NaHCO3 -type and NaCl-type, which are the most common types in South Korea. Methods: We performed WST-1, BrdU measurements, human inflammatory cytokine arrays and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay in HaCaT cells stimulated with toll-like receptor 3 by polyinosinic-polycytidylic acid. Results: The interaction effects of cell viability and cell proliferation were not significantly different regardless of polyinosinic-polycytidylic acid stimulation and cultured hot springs type. Cytokine array and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay analysis showed increased expression of inflammatory cytokines such as interleukin-6 and granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor by polyinosinic-polycytidylic acid stimulation, with expression levels differing according to hot springs hydrochemical composition. Cytokine reduction was not significant. Conclusion The effects and mechanisms of hot springs treatment in keratinocytes were partially elucidated.

Background: Hot springs have been traditionally used as an alternative treatment for a wide range of diseases, including rheumatoid arthritis, bronchial asthma, diabetes, hypertension, psoriasis and atopic dermatitis. However, the clinical effects and therapeutic mechanisms associated with hot springs remain poorly defined. Objective: The purpose of this study was to demonstrate the different effects of hot springs on cellular viability and secretion of inflammatory cytokines on keratinocyte in two geographically representative types of hot springs: NaHCO3 -type and NaCl-type, which are the most common types in South Korea. Methods: We performed WST-1, BrdU measurements, human inflammatory cytokine arrays and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay in HaCaT cells stimulated with toll-like receptor 3 by polyinosinic-polycytidylic acid. Results: The interaction effects of cell viability and cell proliferation were not significantly different regardless of polyinosinic-polycytidylic acid stimulation and cultured hot springs type. Cytokine array and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay analysis showed increased expression of inflammatory cytokines such as interleukin-6 and granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor by polyinosinic-polycytidylic acid stimulation, with expression levels differing according to hot springs hydrochemical composition. Cytokine reduction was not significant. Conclusion The effects and mechanisms of hot springs treatment in keratinocytes were partially elucidated.

BACKGROUND: Human mannose-binding lectin (MBL) is a serum lectin taking part in the innate immunity by opsonizing various microorganisms for phagocytosis. The MBL serum concentration is affected by several single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the promoter region of the MBL2 gene. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between MBL2 polymorphisms and atopic dermatitis (AD) susceptibility. METHODS: To examine whether the MBL2 SNPs are related to AD susceptibility, we examined 237 patients with AD and 94 controls by polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-restriction fragment length polymorphism and PCR-sequence specific primer analyses of four polymorphic loci: two (H/L and X/Y) within the promoter region and the other two (P/Q and A/B) within exon 1. MBL concentrations in the blood were estimated by ELISA. RESULTS: The prevalence of haplotype HYPB, leading to MBL deficiency, was significantly decreased in the AD patients compared to the controls (p=0.002), while the prevalence of haplotype HYPA was increased with a clear trend toward significance (p=0.056). The frequency of MBL2 LYPB/LXPA (odds ratio, 0.08; 95% confidence interval, 0.009~0.655; p=0.021) were significantly decreased in the AD patients. The blood log [total immunoglobulin E, IgE] levels of MBL2 HYPA/HYPA, HYPA/LYPA, HYPA/LYPB, HYPA/LYQA, and LYQA/LXPA haplotype pairs were significantly increased in the AD patients. CONCLUSION: The frequency of MBL2 HYPB haplotype was significantly decreased in the AD patients compared to the controls. The frequency of LYPB/LXPA had a possibly protective effect on AD. Moreover, the MBL2 HYPA haplotype pairs, which were related to higher blood total IgE levels, were possibly associated with extrinsic AD.
Dermatitis, Atopic* ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Exons ; Haplotypes ; Humans ; Immunity, Innate ; Immunoglobulin E ; Immunoglobulins ; Mannose-Binding Lectin ; Phagocytosis ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide ; Prevalence ; Promoter Regions, Genetic