Trends of Sensitization to Inhalant Allergens in Korean Children Over the Last 10 Years

Purpose@#Climate and lifestyle changes increase an individual’s susceptibility to various allergens and also the incidence of allergic diseases. We aimed to examine the changes in sensitization rate for aeroallergens over a 10-year period in Korean children. @*Materials and Methods@#We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of 4493 children who visited the allergy clinic at a tertiary hospital in Korea for allergic rhinitis or asthma from January 2009 to December 2018. The serum specific immunoglobulin E (IgE) levels were measured to confirm the sensitization against Dermatophagoides farinae (D. farinae), Alternaria, weed and tree pollen mixtures, as well as cat and dog dander through ImmunoCAP test. @*Results@#D. farinae was the most common sensitizing aeroallergen (45.9%) during the 10-year span. The sensitization rate for tree pollen mixture (p for trend <0.001), weed pollen mixtures (p for trend <0.001), dog dander (p for trend=0.025), and cat dander (p for trend=0.003) showed ascending trends during the 10-year study period. Furthermore, the sensitization rate for multiple allergens (≥2) in 2018 increased significantly compared to that in 2009 (p for trend=0.013).Compared with children without sensitization to D. farinae, those with sensitization to D. farinae showed higher sensitization rates to other aeroallergens (p for interaction <0.001). @*Conclusion@#Children’s sensitization rate to cat and dog dander and weed and tree pollen mixtures significantly increased during the 10-year period in Korea. Children with sensitization to D. farinae are likely to be sensitized to other aeroallergens as well.

Multisystem Inflammatory Syndrome in Children Related to COVID-19: the First Case in Korea

Since mid-April 2020, cases of multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children (MIS-C) associated with coronavirus disease 2019 that mimics Kawasaki disease (KD) have been reported in Europe and North America. However, no cases have been reported in Korea.We describe an 11-year old boy with fever, abdominal pain, and diarrhea who developed hypotension requiring inotropes in intensive care unit. His blood test revealed elevated inflammatory markers, thrombocytopenia, hypoalbuminemia, and coagulopathy. Afterward, he developed signs of KD such as conjunctival injection, strawberry tongue, cracked lip, and coronary artery dilatation, and parenchymal consolidation without respiratory symptoms. Microbiological tests were all negative including severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction.However, serum immunoglobulin G against SARS-CoV-2 was positive in repeated tests using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and fluorescent immunoassay. He was recovered well after intravenous immunoglobulin administration and discharged without complication on hospital day 13. We report the first Korean child who met all the criteria of MIS-C with features of incomplete KD or KD shock syndrome.

Organizing pneumonia as the initial presentation of systemic lupus erythematosus in a Korean adolescent

Organizing pneumonia is characterized histologically by the formation of granulation-tissue plugs within the lumens of small airways. It was reported in association with various disorders including infection, drug reactions and collagen vascular diseases. However, there have been only a few reports on organizing pneumonia accompanied by systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), especially in the pediatric population. Herein, we report a case of an adolescent with SLE who initially developed respiratory illnesses due to organizing pneumonia. A 14-year-old girl was referred to our clinic for protracted cough with fever, dyspnea, and hemoptysis. Her chest x-ray revealed predominant multifocal consolidations in bilateral lung fields with pleural effusion. Computed tomography scan showed patchy consolidations with surrounding ground-glass opacities and a crazy paving appearance with multiple centrilobular nodules. Laboratory tests exhibited pancytopenia, elevated blood urea nitrogen and creatinine, proteinuria, low serum levels of complements, and positivity for antinuclear antibody and anti-double-stranded DNA antibody, which were suggestive of SLE. Lung biopsy was performed to exclude the possibility of vasculitis and other mixed connective tissue diseases, which confirmed focal organizing pneumonia. Systemic steroid therapy, including high-dose methylprednisolone, was started. After the treatment, her respiratory symptoms and radiologic findings showed significant improvements. The patient has been followed up so far, and she has remined disease-free. This pediatric case of organizing pneumonia as the initial presentation of SLE alerts clinicians to consider thorough assessment of pulmonary manifestations of SLE in children.

Seasonal patterns and etiologies of croup in children during the period 2010–2015: A multicenter retrospective study

PURPOSE: Croup is known to have epidemics in seasonal and biennial trends, and to be strongly associated with epidemics of parainfluenza virus. However, seasonal and annual epidemics of croup have not been clearly reported in Korea. This study aimed to examine the seasonal/annual patterns and etiologies of childhood croup in Korea during a consecutive 6-year period. METHODS: Pediatric croup data were collected from 23 centers in Korea from 1 January 2010 to 31 December 2015. Electronic medical records, including multiplex reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) results, demographics and clinical information were cross-sectionally reviewed and analyzed. RESULTS: Overall, 2,598 childhood croup patients requiring hospitalization were identified during the study period. Among them, a total of 927 who underwent RT-PCR were included in the analysis. Males (61.5%) predominated, and most (63.0%) of them were younger than 2 years of age (median, 19 months; interquartile range, 11–31 months). Peak hospitalization occurred in 2010 and 2012 in even-numbered years, and parainfluenza virus (PIV, 39.7%) was the most common cause of childhood croup requiring hospitalization, followed by respiratory syncytial virus (14.9%), human rhinovirus (12.5%), Mycoplasma pneumonaie (10.6%), and human coronavirus (7.3%). CONCLUSION: It is concluded that croup hospitalization has a biennial pattern in even-numbered years. PIV may be the most common cause of childhood croup; however, croup epidemics could be attributed to other viruses.

Usefulness of bronchodilator response as an index of asthma control in children

PURPOSE: Assessing asthma control is important for proper management, and various indices for objective assessment of asthma control, such as fractional exhaled nitric oxide (FeNO) and asthma control test (ACT) score have been proposed. Recently, bronchodilator response (BDR) was reported as a marker of poor asthma control in adults. This study aimed to assess the usefulness of BDR as a biomarker for childhood asthma. METHODS: A total of 305 children diagnosed with asthma were included. Spirometry with bronchodilator test was done at the time of diagnosis and about 14 months after asthma treatment. All children were evaluated by childhood asthma control test (c-ACT) and FeNO after asthma treatment. The patients were divided into 2 groups according to BDR results: the positive and negative BDR groups. Various biomarkers for asthma control, such as c-ACT, FeNO and changes of forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV1), were compared between the 2 groups. RESULTS: Of the 305 patients, 143 (46.9%) were positive and 162 (53.1%) were negative for BDR. The BDR-positive group showed lower FEV1. In the BDR positive group, FEV1 was significantly increased after asthma treatment, especially in children with airflow limitation which was defined as below 80% of FEV1 or atopy. In atopic children, BDR showed a significant negative correlation with c-ACT and a positive correlation with FeNO. CONCLUSION: In asthmatic children with airflow limitation at the time of diagnosis, BDR can be a useful index for predicting improvement in lung function by asthma maintenance treatment. BDR could be a reliable marker for the assessment of asthma control in atopic children.

Pediatric Home Mechanical Ventilation in Korea: the Present Situation and Future Strategy

BACKGROUND: The number of children using home mechanical ventilation (HMV) has increased markedly in Europe and North America, but little is known about the situation in Korea. We described the clinical characteristics of children using HMV and investigated the current situation of HMV utilization in children. METHODS: Data on HMV prescriptions in year 2016 for children under the age of 19 was retrieved from the National Health Insurance Service for nationwide information. For more detailed information, data from year 2016 to 2018 was also retrieved from a tertiary center, Severance Children's Hospital. RESULTS: Nationwide, 416 children were prescribed with HMV in 2016, with an estimated prevalence of 4.4 per 100,000 children, of which 64.2% were male and mean age was 6-year-old. The estimated number of patients using invasive ventilators via tracheostomy was 202 (49%). Neuromuscular diseases were the most frequent cause (217; 52%), followed by central nervous system diseases (142; 34%), and cardiopulmonary diseases (57; 14%). In the tertiary center, a total of 62 children were prescribed with HMV (19 [31%] with non-invasive ventilation; 43 [69%] with invasive ventilation]. The number of children with HMV increased from 11 in 2016 to 29 in 2018. The mean age for initiation of HMV was 3.1 years and male patients comprised 65%. The most frequent diagnostic reason for HMV was central nervous system diseases (68%), followed by cardiopulmonary diseases (19%) and neuromuscular diseases (13%). Five patients died during the study period and five patients weaned from HMV. CONCLUSION: This study provides insights on the present situation of HMV utilization in Korean children.

Activated Leukocyte Cell Adhesion Molecule Modulates Th2 Immune Response in Atopic Dermatitis

PURPOSE: Activated leukocyte cell adhesion molecule (ALCAM), a member of the immunoglobulin superfamily, is highly expressed on dendritic cells. ALCAM and its receptor CD6 are co-stimulatory molecules in the immunological synapse; their interaction is required for T cell activation. While atopic dermatitis (AD) is recognized as a T helper 2 (Th2)-mediated allergic disease, the role of ALCAM in its pathogenesis is unclear. METHODS: ALCAM levels were measured in the serum of AD patients and AD-induced murine model by ovalbumin treatment. We next investigated transepidermal water loss, clinical score, Th2-immune responses, skin barrier gene expression and T-cell activation using wild-type (WT) and ALCAM deficiency mice. An oxazolone-induced AD-like model was also established and analyzed using WT- and ALCAM-deficient mice. RESULTS: We found that serum ALCAM levels were elevated in pediatric AD patients as well as WT AD mice, whereas Th2-type cytokine production and AD symptoms were suppressed in ALCAM-deficient mice. In addition, CD4+ effector T-cell counts in murine skin and skin-draining lymph nodes were lower in ALCAM-deficient mice than in their WT counterparts. ALCAM deficiency was also linked to higher expression of skin barrier genes and number of lamellar bodies. CONCLUSIONS: These findings indicate that ALCAM may contribute to AD pathogenesis by meditating a Th2-dominant immune response and disrupting the barrier function of the skin.

Reduction Rate of Specific IgE Level as a Predictor of Persistent Egg Allergy in Children

PURPOSE: Egg is the most common food allergen in infants. However, the natural course of egg allergy has not been fully elucidated. This study aimed to describe clinical characteristics and to identify prognostic factors associated with tolerance acquisition of immunoglobulin E (IgE)-mediated egg allergy in children.

Clinical application of the Pediatric Acute Lung Injury Consensus Conference definition of acute respiratory distress syndrome

PURPOSE: Despite improved quality of intensive care, acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) significantly contributes to mortality in critically ill children. As pre-existing definitions of ARDS were adult-oriented standards, the Pediatric Acute Lung Injury Consensus Conference (PALICC) group released a new definition of pediatric ARDS. In this study, we aimed to assess the performance of PALICC definition for ARDS risk stratification. METHODS: Total 332 patients who admitted to the intensive care unit at Severance Hospital from January 2009 to December 2016 and diagnosed as having ARDS by either the PALICC definition or the Berlin definition were retrospectively analyzed. Patient characteristics and mortality rates were compared between the individual severity groups according to both definitions. RESULTS: The overall mortality rate was 36.1%. The mortality rate increased across the severity classes according to both definitions (26% in mild, 37% in moderate and 68% in severe by the PALICC definition [P<0.001]; 20% in mild, 32% in moderate and 64% in severe by the Berlin definition [P<0.001]). The mortality risk increased only for severe ARDS in both definitions (hazard ratio [95% confidence interval]: 2.279 [1.414–3.672], P=0.001 by the PALICC definition; 2.674 [1.518–4.712], P=0.001 by the Berlin definition). There was no significant difference in mortality discrimination between the 2 definitions (difference in integrated area under the curve: 0.017 [−0.018 to 0.049]). CONCLUSION: The PALICC definition demonstrated similar discrimination power on PARDS' severity and mortality as the Berlin definition.

Prescription Patterns and Burden of Pediatric Asthma in Korea

PURPOSE: This study aimed to estimate the prevalence, prescription pattern and burden of pediatric asthma in Korea by analyzing the National Health Insurance (NHI) claims data. METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed the insurance claim records from the Korean NHI claims database from January 2010 to December 2014. Asthmatic patients were defined as children younger than 18 years, with appropriate 10th Revision of the International Classification of Diseases codes (J45 or J46) and a prescription for 1 or more asthma maintenance medications at the same date. Hospitalization and emergency department visits for asthma were defined as use of short-acting beta2-agonists during hospital visits among asthmatic patients. RESULTS: There were 1,172,807 asthmatic children in 2010, which increased steadily to 1,590,228 in 2014 in Korea. The prevalence showed an increasing trend annually for all ages. The mean prevalence by age in those older than 2 years decreased during the study period (from 39.4% in the 2–3 year age group to 2.6% in the 15–18 year age group). In an outpatient prescription, leukotriene receptor antagonists were the most commonly prescribed medication for all ages. Patients older than 6 years for whom inhaled corticosteroids were prescribed comprised less than 15% of asthmatic patients. The total direct medical cost for asthma between 2010 and 2014 ranged from $376 to $483 million. Asthma-related medical cost per person reached its peak in $366 in 2011 and decreased to $275 in 2014. CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence of pediatric asthma increased annually and decreased with age. Individual cost of asthma showed a decreasing trend in Korean children.

Etiology and clinical feature of oral allergy syndrome in children

PURPOSE: Oral allergy syndrome (OAS) is a unique allergic reaction to fresh fruits or vegetables, which is caused by cross-reactivity between foods and pollens. This study was conducted to investigate the clinical feature of OAS and relevant pollen allergens as well as the association between them in Korean children. METHODS: This single-center study included 290 children who were sensitized to pollens at Severance Hospital, and the clinical characteristics of children with and without OAS were compared. A multicenter study included 97 children who were diagnosed with OAS at 3 hospitals between January 2008 and June 2014. The details of clinical features were collected by retrospective medical record reviews using a standardized case report form. The relevant pollen allergens were identified by skin prick tests and/or serum specific IgE levels. RESULTS: The most commonly sensitized allergen was Japanese hop in pollen-sensitized children. Children with OAS were most commonly sensitized to birch and oak, and 12.4% of the pollen-sensitized children had OAS in the single center. The number of children who were newly diagnosed with OAS has increased over the past 7 years. The most common causative food of OAS was apple. More than 60% of patients with OAS had oral allergic reactions to multiple foods. CONCLUSION: OAS may be relatively common in pollen-sensitized children. OAS should be considered in children with allergic disease and sensitization to pollens.

Life-threatening Hemorrhage Caused by Mandibular Arteriovenous Malformation: A Case Report

Arteriovenous malformation (AVM) of the mandible is a rare vascular condition that can manifest as a wide range of symptoms and, on rare occasions, cause fatal hemorrhage. The symptoms of mandibular AVM can range from soft tissue swelling and tooth mobility to severe hemorrhage. The recognition of early symptoms is crucial for the prevention of a fatal hemorrhage and for the proper diagnosis and treatment of mandibular AVM. For emergency hemostasis of a ruptured mandibular AVM, manual compression with gauze, topical thrombin, absorbable hemostat, suturing the lesion, and replanting the extracted tooth is recommended. Multiple treatment options for mandibular AVM are available, such as arterial embolization, venous embolization, direct surgical closure, and bone resection. A combination of treatment options should be considered in complicated cases. We report a case of a 10-year-old girl with a previous history of telangiectasia on the right cheek presented with cardiac arrest resulting from massive bleeding immediately after a tooth extraction.

Serum Albumin as a Biomarker of Poor Prognosis in the Pediatric Patients in Intensive Care Unit / 대한중환자의학회지

BACKGROUND: Serum albumin as an indicator of the disease severity and mortality is suggested in adult patients, but its role in pediatric patients has not been established. The objectives of this study are to investigate the albumin level as a biomarker of poor prognosis and to compare it with other mortality predictive indices in children in intensive care unit (ICU). METHODS: Medical records of 431 children admitted to the ICU at Severance Hospital from January 1, 2012 to December 31, 2015 were retrospectively analyzed. Children who expired within 24 hours after ICU admission, children with hepatic or renal failure, and those who received albumin replacement before ICU admission were excluded. RESULTS: The children with hypoalbuminemia had higher 28-day mortality rate (24.60% vs. 9.28%, P < 0.001), Pediatric Index of Mortality (PIM) 3 score (9.23 vs. 8.36, P < 0.001), Pediatric Risk of Mortality (PRISM) III score (7.0 vs. 5.0, P < 0.001), incidence of septic shock (12% vs. 3%, P < 0.001), C-reactive protein (33.0 mg/L vs. 5.8 mg/L, P < 0.001), delta neutrophil index (2.0% vs. 0.6%, P < 0.001), lactate level (1.6 mmol/L vs. 1.2 mmol/L, P < 0.001) and lower platelet level (206,000/µl vs. 341,000/µl, P < 0.001) compared to the children with normal albumin level. PIM 3 (r = 0.219, P < 0.001) and PRISM III (r = 0.375, P < 0.001) were negatively correlated with serum albumin level, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Our results highlight that hypoalbuminemia can be a biomarker of poor prognosis including mortality in the children in ICU.

Usefulness of the RESP, PRESERVE, and ECMOnet scores for extracorporeal membrane oxygenation in children with acute respiratory distress syndrome

PURPOSE: With increasing use of extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) for acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) in children, development of standardized strategies for survival prediction has become crucial; however, this has not been accomplished yet. We evaluated the adult scoring systems for survival prediction used for their applicability in pediatric ARDS and validated them. METHODS: A total of 11 children with ARDS receiving ECMO from 2013 to 2014 were evaluated with adult scoring systems, including the Respiratory Extracorporeal-membrane-oxygenation Survival Prediction (RESP), the PRedicting dEath for SEvere ARDS on VV-ECMO (PRESERVE), and the ECMOnet scores. We compared the scores on these scales and the clinical characteristics between survivors and nonsurvivors. RESULTS: Eight of the 11 children died (72.7%). The PRESERVE score (survivors vs. nonsurvivors: 2 vs. 5.25, P=0.048), and the ECMOnet score (4.1 vs. 5.63, P=0.048) were lower in survivors than in nonsurvivors. They correctly predicted mortality prediction. There was no significant difference in the RESP score between survivors and non-survivors (−4.33 vs. −2.62, P=0.63). The parameters that showed significant differences in this study were peak inspiratory pressure, platelet, and delta neutrophil index. All children who were under immunocompromised conditions, such as those with tumors, or underwent hematopoietic stem cell transplantation died. The immunocompromised status should be considered an important factor for survival prediction in children with ARDS. CONCLUSION: This is the first pilot study to apply the survival prediction scoring system to pediatric ARDS with ECMO. It is necessary to establish and modify the survival prediction score system for pediatric ARDS with ECMO.

Clinical implication of exhaled breath temperature measurement in pediatric asthma

PURPOSE: Exhaled breath temperature (EBT) has been suggested as a noninvasive marker of airway inflammation in asthma. The aim of this study was to determine its clinical implication in children with asthma. METHODS: A total of 233 children were enrolled in this study. Among them, 116 were asthmatic children and 117 were healthy children. Spirometry, bronchodilator response (BDR) test, methacholine challenge test, and skin prick test were performed. EBT, fractional exhaled nitric oxide (FeNO), blood eosinophils, and total IgE levels were measured. EBT was measured by using X-halo. RESULTS: EBT was significantly higher in the asthma group than in the control group (median [interquartile range], 32.1℃ [30.0℃–33.9℃] vs. 29.7℃ [29.0℃–31.3℃], P<0.001). EBT was significantly higher in poorly or partly controlled asthmatic children than well-controlled asthmatic children (33.5℃ [31.0℃–34.4℃] vs. 30.3℃ [29.3℃–32.9℃], P<0.0001). Among total subjects, EBT was significantly higher in the atopic group than in the nonatopic group (32.4℃ [30.3℃–34.0℃] vs. 29.8℃ [29.0℃–30.3℃], P<0.001). There were neither significant associations between EBT and BDR (r=0.109, P=0.241) nor between EBT and PC20 (provocation concentration causing a 20% fall in FEV1) in total subjects (r=0.127, P=0.316). EBT did not show any association with FeNO (r=0.353, P=0.071). CONCLUSION: Our study suggests that EBT might play a role as an ancillary marker for allergic airway inflammation and the degree of control in pediatric asthma patients. Additional studies are required to explore the value of EBT in detail.

Serum Albumin as a Biomarker of Poor Prognosis in the Pediatric Patients in Intensive Care Unit / 대한구급학회지

BACKGROUND: Serum albumin as an indicator of the disease severity and mortality is suggested in adult patients, but its role in pediatric patients has not been established. The objectives of this study are to investigate the albumin level as a biomarker of poor prognosis and to compare it with other mortality predictive indices in children in intensive care unit (ICU). METHODS: Medical records of 431 children admitted to the ICU at Severance Hospital from January 1, 2012 to December 31, 2015 were retrospectively analyzed. Children who expired within 24 hours after ICU admission, children with hepatic or renal failure, and those who received albumin replacement before ICU admission were excluded. RESULTS: The children with hypoalbuminemia had higher 28-day mortality rate (24.60% vs. 9.28%, P < 0.001), Pediatric Index of Mortality (PIM) 3 score (9.23 vs. 8.36, P < 0.001), Pediatric Risk of Mortality (PRISM) III score (7.0 vs. 5.0, P < 0.001), incidence of septic shock (12% vs. 3%, P < 0.001), C-reactive protein (33.0 mg/L vs. 5.8 mg/L, P < 0.001), delta neutrophil index (2.0% vs. 0.6%, P < 0.001), lactate level (1.6 mmol/L vs. 1.2 mmol/L, P < 0.001) and lower platelet level (206,000/µl vs. 341,000/µl, P < 0.001) compared to the children with normal albumin level. PIM 3 (r = 0.219, P < 0.001) and PRISM III (r = 0.375, P < 0.001) were negatively correlated with serum albumin level, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Our results highlight that hypoalbuminemia can be a biomarker of poor prognosis including mortality in the children in ICU.

Application of the Berlin definition in children with acute respiratory distress syndrome

PURPOSE: The revised Berlin definition (BD) showed better predictive validity for mortality in adults with acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). We examined the validity of BD for pediatric ARDS as compared to the American-European Consensus Conference definition (AECCD). METHODS: This single-center, retrospective study included 127 patients aged 1 month to 19 years who were admitted to the medical intensive care unit due to acute lung injury (ALI, n=31) or ARDS (n=96) using the AECCD. All patient characteristics and mortality rates were compared between the individual severity groups according to the BD and AECCD. RESULTS: Sixty-four patients (50%) died. Mortality rates increased across the severity groups according to both definitions (26% in mild, 42% in moderate, and 75% in severe by the BD [P<0.001]; 26% in ALI non-ARDS and 58% in ARDS by the AECCD [P=0.002]). The mortality risk increased only for 'severe ARDS' (hazard radio for mortality, 2.56; 95% confidence intervals [CI], 1.14-5.78; P=0.023) after adjusting for confounding factors. The BD better predicted mortality, with an integrated area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (iAUC) of 0.651 (95% CI, 0.571-0.725), than the AECCD, with an iAUC of 0.584 (95% CI, 0.523-0.637). The pediatric risk of mortality (PRISM) III and pediatric index of mortality 3 scores were significantly different across BD severity groups, whereas only PRISM III scores were different according to the AECCD. CONCLUSION: The BD applied to children with ARDS. It could be adopted to severity classifications and predict pediatric ARDS mortality better than the AECCD.

Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation treatment in peanut aspiration with complications

Foreign body aspiration commonly occurs, especially among children younger than 3 years of age. Most endobronchial foreign bodies may be easily removed by bronchoscopy and have a good prognosis. Despite advances in bronchoscopic procedures, difficulties in management of and complications from foreign body aspiration are still noted. We present a foreign body aspiration case with acute respiratory distress syndrome caused aspiration pneumonia, which was successfully treated by bronchoscopy under extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO). ECMO can be an effective and potentially life-saving method in complicated foreign body aspiration with uncompensated respiratory failure.

Delta Neutrophil Index as a Prognostic Marker in the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit / 대한중환자의학회지

BACKGROUND: The delta neutrophil index (DNI) is a useful marker for diagnosing and predicting the prognosis of sepsis. The purpose of this study was to investigate the usefulness of DNI as a prognostic marker in patients within the pediatric intensive care unit (PICU), as well as its association with other prognostic factors. METHODS: A total of 516 children admitted to Severance Children's Hospital PICU from December 2009 to February 2015 were analyzed. DNI was measured on the day of PICU admission. Mortality was defined as death within 28 days following PICU admission. RESULTS: The median value of DNI was 1.2% (interquartile range [IQR] 0-4.3%) in the survivor group and 9.5% (IQR 2.3-20.8%) in the non-survivor group, and the difference was statistically significant (p < 0.001). DNI was significantly positively correlated with ICU scores such as Pediatric Index of Mortality 3 and Pediatric Risk of Mortality III, as well as with C-reactive protein and lactate levels. The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve of DNI for mortality was 0.748 (95% CI: 0.687-0.808) and the cut-off value was 4.95%. CONCLUSIONS: The initial DNI level can be considered a useful indicator for predicting prognosis in PICU patients.

Association between the serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D level and allergic rhinitis in Korean children

PURPOSE: Vitamin D is known to play an important role in the regulation of the immune system and in the prevention of allergic disease. Herein, we examined the association between vitamin D and allergic rhinitis (AR) in children. METHODS: A total of 72 aeroallergen-proven AR and 57 healthy control subjects who visited Severance Children's Hospital between 2012 and 2014 were evaluated. The mean serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) level was measured in all subjects to evaluate their vitamin D status. RESULTS: The mean serum 25(OH)D levels was significantly lower in patients with AR than in controls (19.5±6.4 ng/mL vs. 22.3±5.8 ng/mL, P=0.013). The incidence of AR is higher in the 25(OH)D-insufficient group (15–20 ng/mL) and in the 25(OH)D-deficient group (≤15 ng/mL) compared with the 25(OH)D-sufficient group (>20 ng/mL) (40.3% vs. 84.4% vs. 22.2%, P<0.001). There was no significant difference in the serum 25(OH)D level between subgroups with mild and moderate-to-severe AR symptoms (19.8±6.5 vs. 19.0±6.3, P=0.596). After adjusting for confounding factors, the lower serum vitamin D level groups had increased odds of AR compared with the 25(OH)D-sufficient group (odds ration [95% confidence interval]; 3.67 [1.29–10.38] in the 25(OH)D-insufficient group; P=0.014 and 6.04 [1.49–24.51] in the 25(OH)D-deficient group; P=0.012). CONCLUSION: The serum vitamin D levels were significantly lower in children with AR compared with healthy controls. Therefore, lower serum level of 25(OH)D may be associated with the development of AR.