A Case of Gluten Allergy in a 4-Year-Old Boy With Recurrent Urticaria / 소아알레르기및호흡기학회지

Wheat is the most widely cultivated grain and an important source of food and dietary protein. Wheat proteins are classified based on extraction in different solvents, which are albumin, globulin, prolamin (gliadin) and glutenin. The term 'gluten' contains approximately equal amounts of gliadin and glutenin and is the major determinant of the properties of wheat flour conferring cohesiveness and viscoelasticity that allows its dough to be processed into many kinds of food. Gluten is known to be responsible for triggering celiac disease and wheat allergy. Wheat allergy is primarily an IgE-mediated response. Clinical manifestations of wheat allergy are similar to those of other food allergies, with symptoms on the skin, gut and respiratory tract. Recent studies have shown that IgE to gliadin can be an indicator for risk of severe immediate reaction-like anaphylaxis and wheat-dependent, exercise-induced anaphylaxis (WDEIA). However, current in vitro test reagents for the diagnosis of wheat allergy mainly contain water-soluble wheat protein and a small amount of gluten, so there are some limitations to diagnose gluten allergy. Furthermore, there is no acceptable method to measure gluten in food products for preparing effective gluten-free diet. To overcome these limitations and to improve quality of life of wheat allergy sufferers, more work is needed. We report a case of a 4-year-old boy with gluten allergy who presented with urticaria after ingestion kneaded wheat flour with a brief review of the literature.

A Study on Pregnancy and Social Welfare of Unmarried Mother / 대한산부인과학회지

OBJECTIVE: To find out general characteristics, common problems, outcomes of delivery of unmarried mothers and related social factors, and to provide basic information based on the results in order to change social systems and to have a correct understanding of unmarried mothers. METHODS: We studied 196 unmarried mothers who delivered from Jan. 2003 to Aug. 2004. All data were collected by survey whose groups were divided into three by ages, and they were analyzed by Fisher's exact test obstetrically and socially. It verified 95% significant level. RESULTS: Cesarean section rate was 14.3% which is remarkably lower than married mothers. However, it is getting higher (p=0.003) as they are older, and the rate of group of 30s is similar to that of married mothers. Also, the average birth weight of unmarried mothers' babies is 3,056 gm and it is similar to that of married mothers. They took prenatal care only 3.27 times and 22% of them did not commence it until the 3rd trimester. Fifty seven percent drank alcohols, 51% smoked, and 49% used drugs during pregnancy. Most unmarried mothers who took this survey had a lower level and economic status. After delivery, 16.3% of them raise their babies and 83.7% of them had their babies adopted through welfare facilities. CONCLUSION: We conclude that it is necessary to have a social system, welfare facilities, and financial supports that educate contraceptive measures to potential unmarried mothers, let them recognize their situations, and protect them.

Two Cases of Cerebral Hemorrhage in the Antepartum and Postpartum / 대한산부인과학회지

Pregnancy and the puerperium are associated with an increased risk of stroke, and stroke is considered an important cause of maternal morbidity and mortality during this time. Pregnancy and delivery can lead to substantial alterations in systemic arterial and venous hemodynamics that may predispose to cerebrovascular disorders. We present one case of cerebral hemorrhage in puerperium after a normal pregnancy without any manifestation of preeclampsia or eclampsia and the other case with recurred cerebral hemorrhage in 16 gestational weeks pregnancy with previous cerebral hemorrhage history.