BACKGROUND/AIMS: Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is an important mediator of angiogenesis. However, little is known about the potential use of serum levels of VEGF as a biomarker for asthma. We investigated the differences in VEGF levels among normal controls, stable asthma patients, and those with exacerbation of acute asthma. All subjects were young males. METHODS: We measured VEGF levels in each patient group, and examined any serial changes in those with acute exacerbation. RESULTS: VEGF levels were significantly higher in stable asthmatic patients and even more so in acute asthmatic patients, compared to healthy controls. However, there was no correlation between VEGF levels and forced expiratory volume in 1 second in patients with stable asthma. In addition, there were no correlations between VEGF levels and asthma control test scores. In patients with acute exacerbation, VEGF levels significantly increased during the acute period; their levels decreased gradually at 7 and 14 days after treatment. CONCLUSIONS: Compared to normal control patients, the serum levels of VEGF were elevated in stable asthma patients and even more elevated in patients with acute exacerbation. However, the role of VEGF as a biomarker in stable asthma is limited. In patients with acute exacerbation, VEGF levels were associated with clinical improvements.
Asthma* ; Forced Expiratory Volume ; Humans ; Male* ; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A*

PURPOSE: Asthma is a chronic airway disease characterized by airway remodeling, leading to a progressive decline in lung function. Therapeutic agents that attenuate airway remodeling can complement the limited effects of traditional glucocorticoids. In this study, we investigated the effect of resveratrol on allergic airway inflammation and remodeling in a murine model of chronic bronchial asthma. METHODS: Peribronchial smooth muscle thickening that developed in mice challenged with a 3-month repeated exposure to ovalbumin (OVA) was used to study airway remodeling. Oral resveratrol was administered daily during the OVA challenge. The expression of TGF-β1/Smad signaling proteins and downstream mesenchymal markers in the presence or absence of resveratrol was examined in bronchial epithelial cells. RESULTS: OVA sensitization and chronic challenge increased airway hyperresponsiveness, inflammation, goblet cell hyperplasia, α-smooth muscle actin (SMA), and collagen deposition. Resveratrol effectively suppressed OVA-induced airway inflammation and remodeling. The expression of TGF-β1/phosphorylated Smad2/3 was increased in the lung tissues of OVA-challenged mice but effectively inhibited by resveratrol. In bronchial epithelial cells, the TGF-β1-induced expression of the mesenchymal markers snail, slug, vimentin, and α-SMA was suppressed by resveratrol treatment. CONCLUSIONS: Resveratrol effectively ameliorated both airway inflammation and airway structural changes in a mouse model of bronchial asthma. These effects were mediated by decreased TGF-β1 expression, in turn suppressing TGF-β1/Smad signaling and the epithelial-mesenchymal transition process. Our results demonstrate the potential benefits of resveratrol for the treatment of airway remodeling associated with bronchial asthma.
Actins ; Airway Remodeling* ; Animals ; Asthma* ; Collagen ; Complement System Proteins ; Epithelial Cells ; Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition ; Gastropoda ; Glucocorticoids ; Goblet Cells ; Hyperplasia ; Inflammation ; Lung ; Mice ; Muscle, Smooth ; Ovalbumin ; Ovum ; Snails ; Vimentin

No abstract available.
Catheters* ; Humans ; Oxygen Inhalation Therapy ; Oxygen* ; Thrombotic Microangiopathies*

No abstract available.
Catheters* ; Humans ; Oxygen Inhalation Therapy ; Oxygen* ; Thrombotic Microangiopathies*

No abstract available.
Korea* ; Prevalence* ; Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive*

We investigated the effects of indacaterol on cough and phlegm in patients with stable chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). We performed a meta-analysis with five randomized controlled trials (RCTs) of indacaterol in stable COPD patients. The symptom severity was defined using the St. George's Respiratory Questionnaire (SGRQ). We analyzed patients treated with 150 microg (n = 945) and 300 microg (n = 832) out of 3,325 patients who completed the SGRQ from five RCTs. After a 12-week treatment of 150 microg indacaterol, cough improvement was reported in 36.5% (316/866) of patients treated with indacaterol vs. 32.2% (259/804) patients treated with placebo (Relative Ratio [RR], 1.13; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.99-1.29). Phlegm improvement was reported in 31.0% (247/798) of patients treated with indacaterol vs. 30.6% (225/736) of patients treated with placebo (RR, 1.01; 95% CI, 0.87-1.18). Dyspnea improvement was reported in 39.5% (324/820) of patients treated with indacaterol vs. 31.5% (237/753) patients treated with placebo (RR, 1.33; 95% CI, 1.03-1.71; P = 0.001, I2 = 55.1%). Only dyspnea improvement was significant compared to placebo even at the 300 microg indacaterol dose. Compared to placebo, a 12-week treatment of the long-acting beta-agonist, indacaterol might not have a significant effect on cough or phlegm in stable COPD.
Administration, Inhalation ; Anti-Bacterial Agents/therapeutic use ; Bronchodilator Agents/*therapeutic use ; Cough/*drug therapy ; Dyspnea/*drug therapy ; Forced Expiratory Volume/drug effects ; Humans ; Indans/*therapeutic use ; Placebos/administration & dosage ; Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive/*drug therapy ; Quinolones/*therapeutic use ; Sputum/*drug effects ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Treatment Outcome

Fat embolism syndrome (FES) is a clinical manifestation that consists of multiple organ dysfunction due to fat emboli. FES occurs as a complication after trauma or procedures such as surgery. The diagnostic criteria of FES have not yet been established, so clinical criteria are used for its diagnosis. The clinical course of acute fulminant FES can be rapid. Liposuction surgery, in which adipocytes are mechanically disrupted, is one cause of FES. As the number of liposuction surgeries increases, clinicians should be aware of the possibility of FES. This was the first report of a case of acute fulminant FES with severe acute respiratory distress syndrome after liposuction surgery, in Korea.
Adipocytes ; Diagnosis ; Embolism, Fat* ; Korea ; Lipectomy* ; Respiratory Distress Syndrome, Adult

Many patients with asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) have overlapping characteristics of both diseases. By spirometric definition, patients with both fixed airflow obstruction (AO) and bronchodilator reversibility or fixed AO and bronchial hyperresponsiveness can be considered to have asthma-COPD overlap syndrome (ACOS). However, patients regarded to have ACOS by spirometric criteria alone are heterogeneous and can be classified by phenotype. Eosinophilic inflammation, a history of allergic disease, and smoke exposure are important components in the classification of ACOS. Each phenotype has a different underlying pathophysiology, set of characteristics, and prognosis. Medical treatment for ACOS should be tailored according to phenotype. A narrower definition of ACOS that includes both spirometric and clinical criteria is needed.
Anti-Asthmatic Agents/therapeutic use ; Asthma/*complications/diagnosis/drug therapy/physiopathology ; Bronchodilator Agents/therapeutic use ; Humans ; Lung/drug effects/*physiopathology ; Phenotype ; Predictive Value of Tests ; Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive/*complications/diagnosis/drug therapy/physiopathology ; Risk Factors ; Spirometry ; Syndrome ; Terminology as Topic ; Treatment Outcome

A 36-year-old female patient with aplastic anemia developed massive hemoptysis and was placed on ventilator support. However, airway obstruction by blood clots triggered desaturation and ventilator malfunction. Manual ventilation was initiated to improve oxy-genation, and emergency flexible bronchoscopy was performed to clear the airway. Nevertheless, the patient developed extensive subcutaneous emphysema, pneumothorax, and pneumomediastinum.
Adult ; Airway Obstruction ; Anemia, Aplastic ; Barotrauma ; Bronchoscopy ; Emergencies ; Female ; Hemoptysis ; Humans ; Mediastinal Emphysema ; Pneumothorax ; Subcutaneous Emphysema ; Ventilation ; Ventilators, Mechanical

PURPOSE: In clinical practice, some patients with asthma show incompletely reversible airflow obstruction, resembling chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). The aim of this study was to analyze this overlap phenotype of asthma with COPD feature. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 256 patients, over the age of 40 years or more with a diagnosis of asthma, based on either 1) positive response to bronchodilator: >200 mL forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV1) and >12% baseline or 2) positive methacholine or mannitol provocation test, were enrolled. Among the asthma patients, we defined the overlap group with incompletely reversible airflow obstruction [postbronchodilator FEV1/forced vital capacity (FVC) <70] at the initial time of admission and continuing airflow obstruction after at least 3 months follow up. We evaluated clinical features, serum eosinophil counts, serum total immunoglobulin (Ig) E with allergy skin prick test, spirometry, methacholine or mannitol provocation challenges and bronchodilator responses, based on their retrospective medical record data. All of the tests mentioned above were performed within one week. RESULTS: The study population was divided into two groups: asthma only (62%, n=159, postbronchodilator FEV1/FVC > or =70) and overlap group (38%, n=97, postbronchodilator FEV1/FVC <70). The overlap group was older, and contained more males and a higher percentage of current or ex-smokers than the asthma only group. Significantly lower FEV1 and higher total lung capacity, functional residual capacity, and residual volume were observed in the overlap group. Finally, significantly lower serum eosinophil count and higher IgE were seen in the overlap group. CONCLUSION: Our results showed that the overlap phenotype was older, male asthmatic patients who have a higher lifetime smoking intensity, more atopy and generally worse lung function.
Adult ; Age Factors ; Aged ; Asthma/epidemiology/*physiopathology ; Female ; Forced Expiratory Volume/physiology ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive/epidemiology/*physiopathology ; Retrospective Studies ; Sex Factors