• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
• /
• v.51 no.4
• /
• pp.355-361
• /
• 2008

Pollen is very important causing factor for allergy such as allergic rhinitis, allergic conjunctivitis, and asthma, and pollen allergy has a remarkable clinical impact all over Korea. The main pollination period covers about half the year, from spring to autumn, and the distribution of airborne pollen taxa of allergological interest is related to pollen season dynamics. Korean academy of pediatric allergy and respiratory diseases (KAPARD) has evaluated the pollen characteristics and nationwide pollen count for over 10 years since 1997. Airborne particles carrying allergens were collected daily from nationwide 8 stations (Seoul, Guri, Cheongju, Daegu, Kwangju, Busan, Kangneung, and Jeju) by using 7 days-Burkard sampler (Burkard Manufacturing Co Ltd, Hertfordshire, UK) in South Korea (July 1, 1997-June 30, 2007). They were counted and recorded along with the meteorological factors daily. Tree pollen is a major airborne allergen in spring, grass is most common in summer, and weed pollen is major pollen in autumn in Korea. There has two peak seasons for pollen allergy, as summer and autumn. There is some evidence suggesting that the prevalence of allergic diseases in Korea has been on the increase in the past decade. However, recent findings of the phase I and II studies of the international Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood (ISAAC) study showed the absence of increases or little changes in prevalence of asthma symptoms and diagnosis rates in Korea, whereas the prevalence of allergic rhinitis and atopic dermatitis were increased. We reported the evidence that sensitization rate to weed pollen has been increased yearly since 1997 in childhood. Climate change and air pollution must be the major causing factors for the increase of pollen counts and sensitization rate to pollen. Climate change makes the plants earlier pollination and persisting pollination longer. In conclusion, data on pollen count and structure in the last few years, the pathogenetic role of pollen and the interaction between pollen and air pollutants with climate change gave new insights into the mechanism of respiratory allergic diseases in Korea.

• The Journal of Korean Academy of Prosthodontics
• /
• v.30 no.2
• /
• pp.155-166
• /
• 1992

In dentistry, precious metal alloys are, mainly due to economic factors, increasingly displaced by alternatives containing Ni-Cr-Co. There are some reports where hypersensitive reactions to Ni-Cr-Co alloys are presented and discussed. The reactions reported vary from mucosa contact stomatitis to generalized dermatitis without any oral mucosal reaction. The purpose of this study was to investigate the incidence of nickel, chrome, cobalt and copper, and to know whether subjects with positive skin reaction to nickel would also demonstrate adverse intraoral reaction to a non-precious metal nickel. The patch tests were performed in 81 subjects(male 39, female 42) and nickel sulfate 5% aq., potassium bichromate 0.5% at., cobalt chloride 2% aq., & copper sulfate 1% aq., were used for test allergens. And then the intraoral tests were performed in 16 subjects, 8 subjects with positive allergic skin reaction to nickel and 8 subjects with negative allergic skin reaction. A pure metallic nickel plate was attached to the buccal side of the upper second premolar. The results are as follows : 1. The frequency of nickel sensitivity was 9.9% (2 men, 6 women), cobalt was 4.9% (1 man, 3 women), and chrome was 2.5% (2 men) respectively and there was no positive reaction to copper 2. The positive reactions were 8 of 23 (34.8%) with a history of jewelry allergic reactions and 3 of 58 (5.1%) without a history of jewelry allergic reactions. 3. Three of 8 subjects with positive skin reaction. gave reactions to the metal plates.

• Journal of Dental Rehabilitation and Applied Science
• /
• v.33 no.1
• /
• pp.1-6
• /
• 2017

Botulinum toxin (BoNT) injections have been used not only in the field of cosmetic surgery such as forehead and eye wrinkle treatment but also in the treatment of chronic migraine, dystonia, spasticity, temporomandibular disorders (TMD). BoNT injections are the only approved therapies to date for prophylactic treatment of chronic migraine patients. Unlike the previously known paralysis of motor neurons, the mechanism of action for migraine is to block the release of non-cholinergic neurotransmitters such as substance P, CGRP, and glutamate, which are associated with peripheral sensitization and neurogenic inflammation in the sensory nerve, it is hypothesized that the signal is blocked. This review focuses on the analgesic effects of BoNT and suggests the direction for the development of injection methods for chronic migraine patients.

• Journal of Environmental Science International
• /
• v.26 no.2
• /
• pp.249-256
• /
• 2017

In this study, we evaluated the potential of 70% ethanol extract from Persicaria nepalensis (PNE) as a cosmetic ingredient by primary skin irritation, ocular irritation, and maximization tests for delayed hypersensitivity in New Zealand white rabbits and Hartley guinea pig. Skin safety study was performed to evaluate the potential toxicity of PNE using the primary irritation test. In the primary irritation test, 50% PNE was applied to the skin, and no adverse reactions such as erythema and edema were observed at the intact skin sites. Therefore, PNE was classified as a practically non-irritating material based on a primary irritation index of "0.0.". In the ocular irritation test, the 50% PNE applied did not show any adverse reactions in the different parts of rabbit eyes, including the cornea, iris, and conjunctiva. Thus, PNE was classified as a practically non-irritating material based on an acute ocular irritation index of "0.0.". Skin sensitization was tested by the Guinea Pig Maximization Test (GPMT) and Freund's Complete Adjuvant (FCA) using an intradermal injection of 10% PNE. Edema and erythema were not observed 24 and 48 h after the topical application of PNE in skin sensitization test, which exhibited a sensitization score of "0.0.". Therefore, it can be suggested that P. nepalensis could be used as potential candidates for cosmoceutical ingredients, without any major side effects.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
• /
• v.54 no.3
• /
• pp.338-345
• /
• 2003

A 65-year-old man was admitted due to low grade fever, dry coughing, and dyspnea on exertion. The chest radiograph and CT scan showed diffuse ground glass opacities and small nodules in the both lung fields resulting in a diagnosis of severe interstitial pneumonia. Conservative treatment with antibiotics and bronchodilators decreased the symptoms, but the dyspnea and cough reappeared when he returned home. An inspection of his house revealed the presence of fungi under the wallpaper. His symptoms disappeared completely after these were removed. His clinical course raised the suspicion of hypersensitivity pneumonitis and these fungi believed to be the cause of hypersensitivity pneumonitis. The histological findings of a lung specimen by video-assisted thorachoscopy were compatible with hypersensitivity pneumonitis. The fungi were identified as Alternaria.

• Toxicological Research
• /
• v.18 no.2
• /
• pp.175-181
• /
• 2002

Allergic contact dermatitis (skin sensitization) may be caused by a wide variety of chemicals. A murine local lymph node assay (LLNA) has been developed as an alternative to guinea pig models for assessing the contact sensitization potential of chemical. This study was carried out to evaluate the skin sensitization potential for chemicals in Balb/c mice by LLNA. Contact allergen, dinitrochlorobenzene (DNCB), respiratory allergen, toluene diisocyanate (TDI) and a weak allergen, $\alpha$-hexlycinnamaldehyde (HCA) were wed as positive chemicals and irritant, sodium lauryl sulfate(SLS) also wed as a reference chemical in this study. The weights of lymph node in the mice treated with DNCB, TDI, and HCA were increased compared to vehicle control. There was a significant increase in lymph node weight of mice treated with high concentration of SLS compared to vehicle control. The stimulation index (SI) of Lymph node cell in the mice treated with DNCB, TDI, and HCA revealed over three-fold increase compared to vehicle control by $3^H$-thymidine uptake. All allergens correctly identified in this LLNA study wing Balb/c mice. These results suggest that LLNA wing Balb/c mice could be a useful method for screening the allergenic potential of chemicals. The expression of IL-2 mRNA was slightly increased in draining auricular lymph node cell of the mice treated with TDI and HCA by RT-PCR. However the IL-2 levels in DNCB and SLS of treated animals were not significantly changed.

• The Korea Journal of Herbology
• /
• v.30 no.1
• /
• pp.25-32
• /
• 2015

Objectives : In this study, we investigated the effect of Cassia obtusifolia Linne (Cassiae Semen; CS) extract on ovalbumin (OVA)-induced allergic asthma in mice. Methods : CR was extracted with 70% ethanol. For in vitro study, HMC-1, human mast cells were treated with CS extract at 0.2 and $0.5mg/m{\ell}$ for 1 h, and then stimulated with compound (C) 48/80 for 30 min. Primary spleenocytes were isolated from the spleen of mice, treated with CS extract for 1 h, and then stimulated with ConA for 24 h. For in vivo study, mice were sensitized at day 0, 7 and 14 with 0.2% OVA and then airway challenged using neublizer at day 21, 23, 25, and 27 to induced allergic asthma. CS extract at doses of 100 and 300 mg/kg body weight was orally administered during OVA challenge once per a day. The levels of allergic mediators such as histamine, OVA-specific IgE, IL-4, and $IFN-{\gamma}$ were measured in the sera of mice or culture supernatants by EIA and ELISA, respectively. The expression of IL-4 and $IFN-{\gamma}$ gene was determined by RT-PCR. The histopathological change of lung tissues was observed with hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) and Periodic acid Schiff (PAS) staining. Results : The treatment of CS extract in HMC-1 cells significantly inhibited C48/80-induced degranulation, and histamine release. The treatment of CS extract in spleenocytes suppressed the expression of IL-4 and $IFN-{\gamma}$ mRNA. The administration of CS extract in OVA-induced asthmatic mice significantly decreased the levels of OVA-specific IgE, and IL-4 in a dose-dependent manner with OVA-control group. In addition, CS extract inhibited the infiltration of inflammatory cells and bronchiolar damage with epithelial thickening in lung tissues of OVA-induced asthma mice, and also mucin accumulation. Conclusions : These results indicate that CS extract prevents asthmatic damage through regulating the allergic immune response.

• Childhood Kidney Diseases
• /
• v.12 no.2
• /
• pp.133-142
• /
• 2008

For solid organ transplant, ABO blood type of donor and recipient should be compatible in principle. Recent improvement of immunosuppressant made HLA typing not so important while no-mismatch transplant still shows the longest graft survival. PRA(panel reactive antibody) test is to screen and identify recipients with HLA sensitization. When solid organ transplant is scheduled, cross-match test of donor cell and recipient serum should be performed and positive result of cross-match prohibits transplantation. Donor specific antibody(DSA) test can predict the severity of recipient immune reaction against donor organ. Today's mainstay of allograft immunosuppressant regimen is triple therapy of steroid, calcineurin inhibitor(cyclosporine, tacrolimus), azathioprine or mycophenolate mofetil(MMF). Antibody induction using Thymoglobulin or anti-IL-2 receptor antibody(basiliximab or daclizumab) is frequently practiced as well.

• Archives of Plastic Surgery
• /
• v.35 no.4
• /
• pp.367-372
• /
• 2008

Purpose: Prevention of acute rejection in skin allografts without continuous immunosuppression lacks reports in worldwide literature. Needs for chronic immunosuppression preclude the use of tissue allograft as a routine surgical reconstructive option. Recently dendritic cells(DC) gained considerable attention as antigen presenting cells that are also capable of immunologic tolerance induction. This study assesses the effects of alloantigen-pulsed dendritic cells in induction of survival increase in a rat skin allograft model. Methods: Recipient-derived dendritic cells were harvested from rat whole blood and cultured with GM-CSF(200 ng/mL) and IL-4(8 ng/mL) for 2 weeks. Then donor-specific alloantigen pulsed dendritic cells were reinjected into tail vein before skin graft. The rat dorsal skin allografts were transplanted in 5 subgroups. Groups: I) untreated, II) anti-lymphocyte serum(ALS, 0.5 mL), III) FK-506(2 mg/kg), IV) DCp, VI) DCp and FK-506. Graft appearance challenges were assessed postoperatively. Results: The group V(DC and FK-506 treated) showed longest graft survival rate(23.5 days) than other groups; untreated(5.8 days), ALS(7.2 days), FK-506 (17.5 days), DCp(12.2 days). Conclusion: Donor antigen pulsed host dendritic cell combined with short-term immunosuppression prolong skin allograft survival and has potential therapeutic application for induction of donor antigen specific tolerance.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Research
• /
• v.27 no.1
• /
• pp.53-60
• /
• 1987

This experiment was performed on mice to investigate the effects of an immunopotentiator, picibanil(PC), on the immune responses such as phagocytic activity of reticuloen-dothelial(RE) system, E rosette formation rate of splenic lmphocytes and morphological changes of lymph node tissue. Groups of mice were treated with a single(1KE/kg BW) or sequential(0.1, 0.25 and 0.5KE/kg BW for successive 3 days) intravenous injections of PC. PC treated and untreated control mice were sensitized with 50% sheep erythrocyte suspension(0.2ml/mouse) at 1, 3, 5, 7 and 10 days after PC treatment. Functional and morphological examinations were carried out 5 days after sensitization. The following results were obtained: The phagocytic activity of RE system and the weight of liver and spleen were increased significantly at 3rd, 5th and 7th day. The peripheral polymorphonuclear leukocyte and percent of lymphocyte and monocyte were slightly increased. The rates of E rosette formation of splenic lymphotytes, sequential PC treated groups were more increased at 3rd and 5th day in sequential PC treated groups than in single treated groups. Thereafter it returned gradually to the control level by the time of 10th day. Microscopically primary lymph follicles with indistinct germinal center (GC) were partially disrupted and the parafollicular areas were consisted of the pyroninophilic cells in control group. In PC treated group, the parafollicular areas were markedly proliferated and developments of secondary lymph follicles with enlarged and prominent GC were more pronounced in the sequential injected groups compared to single injected groups. These results indicate that PC affected not only parafollicular area of the T-cell area, but also GC of the B-cell area. It suggests that PC may potentiate both cell mediated immunity and humoral immunity.