• The Journal of Korean Medicine Ophthalmology and Otolaryngology and Dermatology
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• v.28 no.4
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• pp.74-91
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• 2015

Background and Objective : Asthma is a chronic inflammatory disease at the mucosa and is associated with excess production of Th2 cytokine and eosinophil accumulation in lung.Gamchomahwang-tangextract(GME) is one of the well known prescription used in oriental medicine for treating asthma. This study was designed to compare the anti-asthmatic effect of GME according to the ratio of 2 compounds.Methods : To examine the effects of GME on asthma, mice were sensitized with 100 ㎍ of OVA and 1 ㎎ of aluminum potassium sulfate(Alum; Sigma) intraperitoneally on day 1 and 15. From day 22, mice were challenged on 3 consecutive days with 5% OVA. The anti-asthmatic effects of GME were evaluated by enhanced pause(Penh), bronchoalveolar lavage fluids (BALF), inflammatory cytokine production and genes expression, serum IgE production. and histological change in lung tissue. GMEⅠ consists of ES and GU in the proportion 2:1(300 ㎎/㎏ group), GMEⅡ consist of ES and GU in the proprtion 4:1(300 ㎎/㎏ group).Results : GMEⅠ,Ⅱ generally inhibited lung inflammation, inflammatory cells infiltration and cytokine production and gene expression such as IL-4, IL-5 and IL-13 in BALF and serum IgE level. GMEⅡ significantly reduced the cytokine production and gene expression such as IL-4, IL-5 and IL-13 in BALF and GMEⅠ decreased cytokine production of IL-4, IL-13 in BALF and gene expression of IL-4, IL-5 in Lung. GMEⅡ potently inhibited the development of Penh and also reduced the number of eosinophil during OVA-induced AHR(airway hyper-reactivity). Overall the results show that GMEⅡ has more effect on inhibiting production, gene expression of cytokine, serum IgE level and development of Penh than GMEⅠ. Consequently, GMEⅡ might be more effective than GMEⅠ at inhibiting allergic asthma on the OVA-induced mice model.Conclusion : These results indicate that GME has a deep inhibitory effects on airway inflammation and hyperresponsiveness in mice model of asthma and that suppression of IL-4, IL-5, IL-13 expression and decrease of IL-4, IL-5, IL-13 production in BALF might contribute this effect. Hence, the results indicate that GME might be useful herbal medicine of allergic asthma. As a result, GMEⅡ mght be superior to GMEⅠ in the aspect of anti-asthmatic effect on the OVA-induced mice model.

• Journal of the Korean Society of School Health
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• v.34 no.3
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• pp.133-150
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• 2021

Purpose: The epidemiologic understanding of allergic diseases, including prevalence and risk factors, is needed for allergy management. This study identified the prevalence of and coping patterns for various types of allergies, such as asthma, allergic rhinitis (AR), atopic dermatitis (AD), allergic conjunctivitis (AC), food allergy (FA), and drug allergy (DA), in Nam-gu, Ulsan, one of the most industrialized districts in Korea. Methods: A cross-sectional study was performed using a self-report multiple choice questionnaire. The International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood (ISAAC) and other measures were reviewed to develop the questionnaire. Data was collected from May 9th to November 30th of 2018. Descriptive and frequency analyses were performed to apprehend the prevalence of symptoms, diagnostic rates, diagnosis dates, treatment history, and others. Results: By randomized sampling, 9,102 children from 25 nurseries, 25 kindergartens, and 15 elementary schools participated in the study. The prevalence of asthma, AR, AD, AC, FA, and DA were 11.1%, 48.7%, 15.5%, 17.6%, 15.1%, and 2.0%, respectively. The respective rate of ever being diagnosed with asthma, AR, AD, AC, FA, and DA were 4.2%, 38.4%, 25.5%, 23.3%, 9.7%, and 1.1%, respectively. Last year's allergy related school absenteeism rates were 10.8%, 4.1%, and 1.3% for asthma, AR, and AD, respectively. Lastly, 59.2% of the participants considered air pollution as the most challenging factor in allergy management. Conclusion: This study comprehensively investigated the current state of various allergic diseases in Nam-gu, Ulsan. The study's findings are expected to be applied to strategies for decreasing the socioeconomic burden of allergic diseases.

• Environmental Analysis Health and Toxicology
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• v.29
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• pp.17.1-17.6
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• 2014

Objectives Antimicrobial chemicals are used in a variety of household and personal care products. Exposure to antimicrobial household products has been hypothesized to lead to allergic diseases in children. Methods We investigated antimicrobial household product exposure and allergic symptoms in Korean children. An antimicrobial exposure (AE) score was derived. To examine the symptoms of allergic diseases (current wheeze, current rhinitis, and current eczema) in the past 12 months, we used a questionnaire based on the core module of the International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Children. Complete data for the analysis were available for 25,805 of the 35,590 (72.5%) children. Results The prevalence of current allergic diseases was as follows: wheeze, 5.6%; allergic rhinitis, 32.6%; and eczema, 17.7%. The mean (standard deviation) AE score was 14.3 (9.3) (range: 0-40). Compared with subjects with a low AE score (reference), subjects with a high AE score (fourth quartile) were more likely to have symptoms of wheezing and allergic rhinitis (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] for wheezing 1.24, 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.05-1.45, p for trend=0.24; aOR for allergic rhinitis 1.30, 95% CI, 1.20-1.40, p <0.01). Conclusions These findings suggest that frequent use of antimicrobial household products was associated with current wheeze and current allergic rhinitis.

• Herbal Formula Science
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• v.26 no.1
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• pp.43-57
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• 2018

Objective : This study's purpose was to review the clinical studies of Socheongryong-Tang. Method : We searched papers about Socheongryong-Tang using KISS, KTKP, PUBMED, Embase, Science Direct, and the key words "Socheongryong-Tang", "Shoseiryuto", "Xiao Qing Long Tang", and "Minor Green-Blue Dragon Decoction" were used. Papers not matched with inclusion criteria were excluded. Until today, there have been 143 studies on the effects of asthma, allergic rhinitis, common cold, eczema and other various effects of Socheongryong-Tang. Of these, 15 were classified as clinical research papers. Results : There were 4 cases of asthma, 2 cases of allergic rhinitis, 2 cases of common cold, 1 case of pneumonia in patients with dementia, 1 case of eczema, 1 case of drug interaction study, 1 case of ephedrine drug removal, 3 cases of side effects causing pneumonia. Conclusion : It can be seen that Socheongryong-Tang has established the basis for application for the purpose of asthma, allergic rhinitis, wind-cold type cold, preventing pneumonia in patients with dementia, dyshidrotic eczema. On the other hand, considering three cases that cause side effects of pneumonia, it is necessary to confirm whether or not the symptoms of pneumonia are certainly progressing when observing the progress of the patient.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.71 no.4
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• pp.278-281
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• 2011

Allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis (ABPA) is a complex clinical entity resulting from an allergic immune response to Aspergillus species, and most often occurs in patients with asthma. ABPA is rarely observed in the absence of asthma, which is, in fact, the principal criterion for its diagnosis. Our patient was a 53-year-old woman with no history of bronchial asthma. She presented with a 1-month history of cough, mucopurulent nasal discharge, and localized pulmonary consolidation. Peripheral blood eosinophilia and elevated serum IgE were observed. Sinus radiography showed right maxillary sinusitis. Pathologic examination of bronchoscopic biopsy specimens revealed conglomerates of fungal hyphae. Pulmonary function and bronchial provocation tests were within normal ranges. The patient was successfully treated for 3 months with itraconazole and oral prednisolone. There has been no evidence of recurrence over a 7-month follow-up. ABPA coupled with sinusitis in a nonasthmatic patient is a very rare occurrence and warrants reporting.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.56 no.10
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• pp.439-445
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• 2013

Purpose: Previous studies suggest that the concentration of 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D] in cord blood may show an inverse association with respiratory tract infections (RTI) during childhood. The aim of the present study was to examine the influence of 25(OH)D concentrations in cord blood on infant RTI in a Korean birth cohort. Methods: The levels of 25(OH)D in cord blood obtained from 525 Korean newborns in the prospective COhort for Childhood Origin of Asthma and allergic diseases were examined. The primary outcome variable of interest was the prevalence of RTI at 6-month follow-up, as diagnosed by pediatricians and pediatric allergy and pulmonology specialists. RTI included acute nasopharyngitis, rhinosinusitis, otitis media, croup, tracheobronchitis, bronchiolitis, and pneumonia. Results: The median concentration of 25(OH)D in cord blood was 32.0 nmol/L (interquartile range, 21.4 to 53.2). One hundred and eighty neonates (34.3%) showed 25(OH)D concentrations less than 25.0 nmol/L, 292 (55.6%) showed 25(OH)D concentrations of 25.0-74.9 nmol/L, and 53 (10.1%) showed concentrations of ${\geq}75.0$ nmol/L. Adjusting for the season of birth, multivitamin intake during pregnancy, and exposure to passive smoking during pregnancy, 25(OH)D concentrations showed an inverse association with the risk of acquiring acute nasopharyngitis by 6 months of age (P for trend=0.0004). Conclusion: The results show that 89.9% of healthy newborns in Korea are born with vitamin D insufficiency or deficiency (55.6% and 34.3%, respectively). Cord blood vitamin D insufficiency or deficiency in healthy neonates is associated with an increased risk of acute nasopharyngitis by 6 months of age. More time spent outdoors and more intensified vitamin D supplementation for pregnant women may be needed to prevent the onset of acute nasopharyngitis in infants.

• IMMUNE NETWORK
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• v.14 no.2
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• pp.107-115
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• 2014

Phellinus linteus has been used as a traditional herbal medicine in Asian countries and is known to have anti-tumor, immunomodulatory, anti-inflammatory, and anti-allergic activities. However, the protective effects of P. linteus against experimental asthma have not been fully investigated. The objective of this study was to determine whether P. linteus ethanol extract (PLE) suppresses inflammatory response in an OVA-induced asthma model. As expected, the oral administration of PLE significantly inhibited eosinophilic airway inflammation and airway hyperresponsiveness in OVA-challenged BALB/c mice. Supporting these data, the augmentation of Th2 cytokines (IL-4, IL-5, and IL-13), eotaxin, and adhesion molecules in lung tissues and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid after OVA inhalation was markedly attenuated by PLE. Furthermore, PLE reduced OVA-induced activation of NF-${\kappa}B$ and p38 MAPK in lung tissues. Therefore, our results suggest the potential of P. linteus as a therapeutic agent for asthma.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.23 no.4
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• pp.251-261
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• 2019

Allergic asthma, is a common chronic inflammatory disease of the airway presenting with airway hyperresponsiveness and airway remodelling. T helper cells-derived cytokines are critically associated with asthma pathogenesis. Janus kinase-signal transduction and activation of transcription (JAK/STAT) signaling is found to be involved in asthma. Magnolol is a plant-derived bioactive compound with several pharmacological effects. The study aimed to assess the effects of magnolol in ovalbumin (OVA)-induced asthmatic model. BALB/c mice were sensitized and challenged with OVA. Magnolol (12.5, 25, or 50 mg/kg body weight) was administered to separate groups of animals. Dexamethasone was used as the positive control. Cellular infiltration into the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) were reduced on magnolol treatment. The levels of Th2 and Th17 cytokines were reduced with noticeably raised levels of interferon gamma. Lung function was improved effectively along with restoration of bronchial tissue architecture. OVA-specific immunoglobulin E levels in serum and BALF were decreased by magnolol. Magnolol reduced Th17 cell population and effectively modulated the JAK-STAT and Notch 1 signaling. The results suggest the promising use of magnolol in therapy for allergic asthma.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.45 no.6
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• pp.374-380
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• 2012

Objectives: Stress is considered a causal factor in many diseases, allergic disease being one of them. The prevalence of allergic disease is increasing in Korea, but the relationship between allergic symptoms and stress is not empirically well known. We aimed to evaluate the relationship between allergy-related symptoms and stress in children and adolescents. Methods: We investigated 698 children and adolescents living in Gwangyang Bay, Korea, using a multi-stage cluster sampling method. Using the International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood and the Psychosocial Well-being Index, these subjects were surveyed on allergy-related symptoms and psychosocial stressors in their lives, respectively. We used a multivariate logistic analysis for odds ratios for the complaint rate of allergic symptoms, after adjusting for age, gender, household income, body mass index, and residence. Results: After adjustments, lifetime rhinitis (odds ratio [OR], 1.024), rhinoconjunctivitis (OR, 1.090), diagnosis of itchy eczema (OR, 1.040), treatment of itchy eczema (OR, 1.049), 12-month allergic conjunctivitis (OR, 1.026), diagnosis of allergic conjunctivitis (OR, 1.031), and treatment of allergic conjunctivitis (OR, 1.034) were found to be significantly associated with stress. Conclusions: Our results support the notion that there is a relationship between stress and allergic symptoms in children and adolescents. Further research into any causal relationship between stress and allergies, as well as preventative public health plans for decreasing stress in children and adolescents are needed.

• Korean journal of aerospace and environmental medicine
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• v.24 no.2
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• pp.21-27
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• 2014

We aimed to study about the effect of acute hyper-gravity (HG) on the allergic immune response in a murine model of allergic asthma. Thirty-two BALB/c mice were used. In Group A (control group, n=8), mice were sensitized and challenged with saline. Group B (HG control group, n=8) were exposed to HG (10 Gz, 1 hour) after intraperitoneal and intranasal saline challenge. Group C (asthma group, n=8) received intraperitoneal and intranasal ovalbumin (OVA) challenge. Group D (HG asthma group, n=8) were exposed to HG after intraperitoneal and intranasal OVA challenge. We evaluated serum total and OVA-specific IgE; serum titers of cytokines; and histopathologic examination of lung. As a result, titers of Serum total and OVA-specific IgE were not significantly different between groups. Compared to Group C, mice in Group D showed significant increase of Th2 cytokines (IL-4, IL-13), cytokines involved in eosinophilia (IL-3, IL-5, GM-CSF) and those involved in cell-medicated immunity (IFN-γ). In histopathologic examination, lungs of Group D showed significantly more infiltration of inflammatory cells compared to Group C. However, these differences were not so significant between Groups A and B. In conclusion, acute HG could exacerbate allergic asthma in experimental animals.