The Correlation between Increased Sensitization Rate to Weeds in Children and the Annual Increase in Weed Pollen in Korea / 소아알레르기및호흡기학회지

PURPOSE: Recently allergic diseases have gradually increased in schools and among preschool aged childhood. Pollen amount of weeds also, especially ragweed, were increased. We evaluated the increased pollen count of weed was associated with the sensitization rate to weed in childhood. METHODS: Airborne particles carrying allergens were collected daily from eight stations nationwide(Seoul, Guri, Cheongju, Daegu, Kwangju, Busan, Kangneung, and Jeju) by using 7 days-Burkard sampler(Burkard Manufacturing Co Ltd, Hertfordshire, UK), for 7 years in South Korea(July 1, 1997-June 30, 2004). They were counted and recorded along with the weather. Data was collected through pediatric patients with allergic symptoms, who visit the pediatrics allergy clinics and capable of allerfy skin test among hospitals that have pollen collecting centers. RESULTS: Airborne pollen has two peak seasons:May and September in Korea. There were the tree pollen seasons from the middle of February to late July, then followed the grasses and weed season from the middle of July to the end of October. Ragweed was one of the most common pollens of autumn in Korea. In skin prick tests, Mugwort was the highest sensitization rate(7.6 percent), followed by ragweed(7.1 percent), birch(6.1 percent), alder, grasses mix among the pollen extracts in Korean school aged children. Ragweed pollen counts have gradually increased since 2000. In the same period, sensitization rates for airborne pollen, especially weeds, in Korean children have increased annually(1999:4.4 percent, 2000:7.1 percent, 2001:7.4 percent, 2002:8.5 percent, 2003:7.7 percent). CONCLUSION: Sensitization rates for outdoor airborne pollens have increased in Korean children. These findings might result from the changes of life styles and living environments in Korea.

Cross-reactivity between Hen's Egg from Goose, Duck and Domestic Birds in Children with Egg Allergy / 소아알레르기및호흡기학회지

PURPOSE: Birds' eggs have been a major source of food for mankind since the time unknown. Among them, chicken eggs have been the most important food source. We examined the allergenic properties of eggs from varying birds on patients with known allergy to chicken eggs, to find out whether they can replace the chicken eggs for the source of nutrient. METHODS: Samples were selected from patients who visited the allergy clinic of the Department of Pediatrics at Yonsei University Medical Center. The serum specific IgE for eggs were measured and allergy skin tests were performed. The serum of the patients with proven egg allergy was then tested for reactivity with eggs from wild and domestic ducks, geese, seagulls, quails, yellow-shelled and white-shelled eggs employing SDS-PAGE and IgE immunoblotting. RESULTS: All the egg protein showed similar molecular sizes ranging from 24-100 kDa. Their expressions, however, were different, with white eggs, yellow eggs, and quail eggs showing strong reaction, while ducks, geese, and mallard eggs presented with weak reaction. Immunoblotting exhibited reactivity in 35-50 kDa and 25-35 kDa groups. Quail eggs and shells from chicken eggs showed a protein banding of 75-80 kDa. Geese, wild and domestic ducks, quail did not exhibit any cross-reactivity with chicken eggs. CONCLUSION: Among patients with egg allergy, cross-reactivity between different chicken eggs was present, but no cross-reactivity was apparent between chicken eggs and other birds' eggs. Therefore, we suggest theses eggs as alternative source of food in patients with egg allergy. However further study with larger patient population is still required.

Nationwide Study for Epidemiological Change of Atopic Dermatitis in School Aged Children between 1995 and 2000 and Kindergarten Aged Children in 2003 in Korea / 소아알레르기및호흡기학회지

OBJECTIVE: Atopic dermatitis is a chronically relapsing inflammatory skin disease. However, little is known about the prevalence of atopic dermatitis outside of North America and Europe. We evaluated the nationwide prevalence of atopic dermatitis with the comparison of prevalence between 1995 and 2000, and between Seoul and provincial cities in Korea. We also evaluated the risk factors for atopic dermatitis. METHODS: A cross-sectional ISAAC based questionnaire survey was conducted on random samples of schoolchildren (6 to 15 year olds) in 1995 and 2000. And kindergarten children (5 year olds) were surveyed in 2003, throughout South Korea. RESULTS: The lifetime and last twelve months prevalence of atopic dermatitis in Korean school-aged children was increased from 1995 to 2000. The twelve-month prevalence of atopic dermatitis was higher in Seoul than in other provincial cities in 1995, but the prevalence of atopic dermatitis in Seoul and Provincial Centers became similar in 2000. CONCLUSION: The prevalence of atopic dermatitis in Korean school-aged children was increased from 1995 to 2000. The further evaluations that include objective examination are necessary to confirm these outcomes because the environmental and risk factors may be different among the countries according to their life styles.

Measurement of Dog and Cat Allergens Detected During Normal Domestic Activity; in Seoul Metropolitan Area / 소아알레르기및호흡기학회지

PURPOSE: Allergens that cause asthma include those derived from indoor allergens such as animal dander (dog and cat). The aim of the study is to provide baseline data on characteristics of home environments in Korea, which will be used for future comparative studies of indoor environmental factors between populations with contrasting asthma prevalence. METHODS: The study was performed during September through November (Autumn) 1999. A total of 206 residential homes were volunteers from different districts in Seoul. They participate in home environment survey and skin prick tests. The dust specimens were collected by vacuum cleaner (V-582T, 520W; LG). We detected animal dander (Can f 1 and Fel d 1) by monoclonal-antibody based enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISA). RESULTS: The average indoor temperature was 25.1+/-2.9 degrees C and the relative humidity was 54.0+/-9.6%. The positive rate of dog (Can f 1) was 35.4% and cat (Fel d 1) was 33.5%. It is the same between Can f 1 and Fel d 1 distributed within dust samples from the four sites of the homes. And the distribution level of Can f 1 and Fel d 1 was, for the living room 26.2%, 17%, for the bedroom 20.9%, 15%, for the children's room 20.4%, 10.2%, for the kitchen 16%, 8.7 %, in descending order. CONCLUSION: The positive rate of Can f 1 was higher than Fel d 1 in dust samples. The living room has highest distribution of dust samples among the four sites of a home. And it has similar distribution between Can f 1 and Fel d 1.

Comparison of Genetically Modified Soybean and Wild Soybean in Physicochemical Aspects / 소아알레르기및호흡기학회지

PURPOSE: The list of genetically engineered crops is growing. Traits introduced into these crops include insect protection, delayed ripening, virus resistance, modified nutritional composition, herbicide tolerance etc. Most traits introduced into crops result from the expression of new proteins. FAO/WHO organised joint expert consultations had recommended that substantial equivalence be an important component in the safety assessment of GMO plants for human consumption. As the first step to assess the allergenic potential of GMO food, the immunological and physicochemical characterization is needed. METHODS: We made crude extract from GMO soybean, wild soybean, curd and soy milk and performed SDS-PAGE. After acidification with HCl, the samples were divided to globulin and whey. To evaluate the changes of protein composition, the samples were heated or added with pepsin. PCR with primer coding 35S-promotor, NOS-terminator, and EPSPS gene were performed respectively for detection of GMO component. RESULTS: Although there was difference in protein composition in SDS-PAGE of GMO and wild soybean, the same protein bands are observed in globulin fraction after acidification. The heating made difficult to see the protein distribution exactly. After adding of pepsin the same bands-20 kD, 37 kD, and 68 kD-were preserved in GMO and wild soybeans. The 3 PCR procedures showed same results that GMO soybean and some curd included GMO component. CONCLUSION: There were no definite differences between GMO and wild soybeans in respect to immunologic and physicochemical characteristics. To assess the allergenicity of GMO food, the more researches including in vitro and in vivo immunoassay are needed.

Seasonal distribution of cockroaches, a major source of indoor allergens, in seoul metropolitan area / 천식및알레르기

PURPOSE: Home exposure to aeroallergens are an important environmental factor in allergic sensitization and in the development and exacerbation of asthma. Most studies of aeroallergens were dust mite in Korea, but cockroach distribution was little been known in Korea. The aim of this study was to evaluate species of cockroaches and seasonal distribution of cockroaches in Seoul area. METHODS: The study was performed during April 2000 through January 2001, from 63 houses in Korea. The total of 63 residential homes from different districts in Seoul were selected for the home environment survey. Bait traps (10 x 20 x 4 cm2, Zoro Zoro, Taisho Pharmacy, Tokyo, Japan) were placed on four different places of kitchen floor and one in the side of balcony in the house and left for 5 days to capture cockroaches. RESULTS: The cockroaches were captured in 23 houses(36.5%) out of 63 houses. And the inhabitant density of cockroaches was highest in the autumn(43.3%) followed by summer (29.2%), spring(18.3%) and winter(9.2%). In only 3 species were collected in Seoul area. The most common species were Blattella germanica showing 72.5% of the collected cockroaches, followed by Periplaneta japonica(25.2%) Periplaneta americana(2.3%). The total number of captured cockroaches was 504 and the number of nymph was 314(62.2%). Isolated house type showed higher trapping rates than the apartment. Positive skin test rates were 46.2% in the healthy control group and 43.8% in the allergy patients. CONCLUSION: Periplaneta americana was captured in Seoul area, which had not been found previously. The inhabitant density of cockroaches was the lowest in the winter.

Distribution of fungus spores in the air of outdoor and indoor environments from September to November 1999 in Seoul, Korea / 천식및알레르기

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Fungi cause allergies and are difficult to avoid in daily life. People spend much of their time indoors, but distribution of fungi spores the indoor and outdoor invironment is not well known in this country. The aim of this study was to measure fungus spores indoor and outdoor environment simultaneously and to investigate any relationships in fungus spores between indoor and outdoor environments. METHOD: We collected samples from 198 households from September to November, 1999. Burkard Personal Volumetric Air Sampler was used to collect airborne fungus spores. RESULTS: Mean number of indoor spores was 603 sp/m2 and 1,214 sp/m2 for outdoors. Cladosporium was the most predominant fungus both indoors and outdoors, followed by Leptospheria spp., Massarina spp., Alternaria spp. in order from September( indoor 928 sp/m2, outdoor 2,123 sp/m2) to November( indoor 95 sp/m2, outdoor 344 sp/m2). There were significant correlations between number of spores, and temperature and wind velocity(p<0.05), but no significant correlations with humidity. CONCLUSION: Cladosporium spp. followed by Leptospheria, Massarina and Alternaria were the predominant fungi for both indoor and outdoor environments from September to November in Seoul.

Correlation between Chlamydia pneumonia Infection and Childhood Asthma / 소아알레르기및호흡기학회지

PURPOSE: Chlamydia pneumonia infection causes chronic recurrent infection, and is related to a broad spectrum of respiratory disease, and the specific antibody titer increases with age. As the interest in correlation between Chlamydia pneumonia infection and asthma has been recently increased, significant correlation with nonatopic asthma in adults has been proved, and in children the study results by using molecular biological techniques such as PCR and culture of patient's serum or nasal aspirate have been reported. We investigated the association between Chlamydia pneumonia infection and asthma with serum Chlamydia pneumonia specific antibody by ELISA of asthma patients who visited the hospital. METHODS: We collected the sera from patient group who visited the pediatric department of Yonsei University Medical Center to be diagnosed as asthma and from control group who had no evidence of asthma, respiratory or infectious disease. Centrifused sera were kept in -20 degrees C refregerator. To detect the serum Chlamydia pneumonia specific IgG and IgA of patient and control groups, we used ELEGANCE Chlamydia pneumonia IgG ELISA and ELEGANCE Chlamydia pneumonia IgA ELISA (Bioclone, Varrickville, Australia) kits. RESULTS: Serum Chlamydia pneumonia specific IgG and IgA ELISA were performed on patient group (55 males, 45 females) and control group (28 males, 29 females). The mean ages of patient and control groups were 6.8+/-2.8 and 6.3+/-3.4 years each and there was no significant difference. Positive rate to IgG in patient and control groups was 23.0% and 17.5% each (P=0.34). Positive rate to IgA in patient and control groups was 24.0% and 14.0% each (P=0.22). Positive rate to IgG and IgA in patient and control groups was 21.0% and 8.8% each (P=0.047). CONCLUSION: There was significant correlation between Chlamydia pneumonia infection and childhood asthma by the result of serum Chlamydia pneumonia specific IgG and IgA ELISA of patient and control groups.