• The Korea Journal of Herbology
• /
• v.25 no.3
• /
• pp.35-41
• /
• 2010

Objectives : Allergy is an immune dysfunction caused by degranulation from mast cells in the early phase of allergic disease including allergic rhinitis (AR). The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of Osterici Radix, roots of Ostericum koreanum Maximowicz in human mast cells and experimental allergic animal models. Methods : The anti-allergic effect of Osterici Radix water extract (NK-W) was investigated in human mast cell line, HMC-1 cells, and compound 48/80-induced systemic anaphylactic response in rats and ovalbumin (OVA)-induced AR in mice. Animals were orally administrated with NK-W (10 and 50 mg/kg) or anti-histamine drug, dosodium cromoglycate (50 mg/kg), and then intraperitoneally injected with compound 48/80 (8 mg/kg) or sensitized with 0.1% OVA into nasal. Animals were observed plasma histamine and histological changes of nasal mucosa. Also, mast cell degranulation and histamine production were determined in compound 48/80-stimulated HMC-1 cells. Results : NK-W inhibited compound 48/80-induced degranulation of mast cells and histamine releasing in HMC-1 cells. NK-W decreased mortality and serum histamine releasing in compound 48/80-induced anaphylatic rats in a dose-dependently manner. NK-W also inhibited serum histamine levels in OVA-induced AR mice and improved abnormal histological changes such as expansion of grandular cells and hypertrophy of epithelium in the nasal mucosa. These results indicate that Osterici Radix water extract suppress allergic response through downregulation of mast cell activation. Conclusions : This study suggests that a therapeutic potential of Osterici Radix as a source of anti-allergic agents for use in a number of allergic diseases.

• Journal of the Korean Applied Science and Technology
• /
• v.28 no.1
• /
• pp.75-84
• /
• 2011

Atopic dermatitis is a chronic inflammatory skin disease associated with cutaneous hyper-reactivity to environmental triggers. In order to develop effective therapeutic herbal extracts for atopic dermatitis, cytotoxicity, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and anti-allergic activities were investigated for various herbal extracts. Among candidate extracts, we selected Aloe vera L. (AV), Viola mandshurica W. Becker (VM), Punica granatum L. (PG), Dendrobium nobile L. (DN) and mixture of the above extracts (MX) for further investigations. All of them did not show cytotoxic activities to macrophage RAW264.7 cells below the concentration of 100 ppm. All showed antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and anti-allergic effects, although to various extents. In antioxidant effects, AV showed the highest effect, followed by PG and VM, while DN did the lowest. In evaluation for anti-inflammatory activities in macrophage RAW264.7 cells, AV and DN inhibited almost completely the LPS-induced production of nitric oxide, while AV, DN and VM showed strong inhibitory activities on the LPS-induced production of TNF-${\alpha}$. In anti-allergy effect in mast cell HMC-1, DN showed the highest effect, followed by AV and PG, while VM did the lowest. In the topical allergy reaction induced by compound 48/80 in Sprague-Dawley rat, DN exhibited significant anti-allergic effect, while PG, VM and AV did slight effect. These results suggest that AV, VM, PG and DN have antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and anti-allergic activities, and thus have the potential to reduce and alleviate the symptoms of atopic dermatitis.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
• /
• v.56 no.8
• /
• pp.338-342
• /
• 2013

Purpose: Allergic disease and its comorbidities significantly influence the quality of life. Although the comorbidities of allergic diseases are well described in adult populations, little is known about them in preschool children. In the present study, we aimed to assess the prevalence and comorbidity of allergic diseases in Korean preschool children. Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional study comprising 615 Korean children (age, 3 to 6 years). Symptoms of allergic diseases were assessed using the Korean version of the International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood (ISAAC) questionnaire that was modified for preschool children. Comorbidities of allergic diseases were assessed by 'In the last 12 months, has your child had symptoms?'. Results: The prevalence of symptoms of asthma, allergic rhinitis, and atopic dermatitis as recorded using the ISAAC questionnaire, within the last 12 months was 13.8%, 40.7%, and 20.8%, respectively. The symptom rates of allergic conjunctivitis, food allergy, and drug allergy were 14.8%, 10.4%, and 0.8%, respectively. The prevalence of allergic rhinitis in children with asthma was 64.3% and that of asthma in children with allergic rhinitis was 21.6%. The prevalence of rhinitis in children with conjunctivitis was 64.8% and that of conjunctivitis in children with rhinitis was 23.6%. Conclusion: The prevalence of current rhinitis in our preschool children is shown to be higher than that previously reported. Allergic conjunctivitis is closely associated with asthma and allergic rhinitis. However, further studies are warranted to determine the prevalence and effects of these comorbidities on health outcomes in preschool children.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
• /
• v.75 no.6
• /
• pp.260-263
• /
• 2013

Invasive aspergillosis has emerged as a major cause of life-threatening infections in immunocompromised patients. Recently, patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, who have been receiving corticosteroids for a long period, and immunocompetent patients in the intensive care unit have been identified as nontraditional hosts at risk for invasive aspergillosis. Here, we report a case of invasive pulmonary aspergillosis after influenza in an immunocompetent patient. The patient's symptoms were nonspecific, and the patient was unresponsive to treatments for pulmonary bacterial infection. Bronchoscopy revealed mucosa hyperemia, and wide, raised and cream-colored plaques throughout the trachea and both the main bronchi. Histologic examination revealed aspergillosis. The patient recovered quickly when treated systemically with voriconazole, although the reported mortality rates for aspergillosis are extremely high. This study showed that invasive aspergillosis should be considered in immunocompetent patients who are unresponsive to antibiotic treatments; further, early extensive use of all available diagnostic tools, especially bronchoscopy, is mandatory.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
• /
• v.61 no.6
• /
• pp.200-204
• /
• 2018

Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a chronic inflammatory skin disease in children. Patients with AD experience a high rate of colonization of the skin surface by Staphylococcus aureus. Because of a skin barrier defect, there is a potential risk of staphylococcal invasive infection in patients with AD. Here, we present 2 cases of breast abscess caused by S. aureus in 2 adolescent girls with severe AD. Methicillin-sensitive S. aureus was identified from the breast abscess material. They were treated with appropriate antibiotics, however surgical drainage of the abscess was needed in case 1. Identical strains were found from the breast abscess material as well as the lesional and the nonlesional skin of the patients through matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight analysis. We characterized the differential abundance of Firmicutes phylum in patients' skin in microbiota analysis. In particular, S. aureus, a member of Firmicutes, differed significantly between the lesional and the normal-appearing skin. Our cases demonstrate the potential severity of bacterial deep tissue infection in AD and the dysbiosis of skin microbiota may be involved in inflammation in AD.

• Journal of Haehwa Medicine
• /
• v.15 no.2
• /
• pp.105-119
• /
• 2006

This study aimed to investigate the effects of Sesami Semen on the itching and anti-allergic inflammation mechanism related with cytokine, chemokine, histamine, $\beta$-hexosaminidase, NF-$\kappa$B, and free radical, and it was concluded as follows : 1. Sesami Semen did not show any cytotoxicity at the range of con-centration (1-250 ${\mu}g/m\ell$) on the human fibroblast cell (hFCs). 2. Sesami Semen reduced the gene expressions of IL-8, TNF-$\alpha$, IL-6 mRNA comparing with control. 3. Sesami Semen reduced the levels of IL-6, IL-8, MCP-1 within THP-1 cell depending on the concentration, and especially significantly reduced the the levels of IL-6, MCP-1 at all the concentration. 4. Sesami Semen significantly decreased the histamine secretion on HMC-1 at all the concentration. 5. Sesami Semen decreased the $\beta$-Hexosaminidase secretion 6.2% at 10 ${\mu}g$/ml conc., 58.3% at 100 ${\mu}g$/ml conc. and 63.2% at 200 ${\mu}g$/ml conc., respectively. And IC50 (${\mu}g$/ml) was 158.25 ${\mu}g$/ml. 6. Sesami Semen significantly suppressed the activity of NF-$\kappa$B promoter depending on the concentration. 7. Sesami Semen decreased the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and DPPH generation depending on the concentration. As judged with above results, the effects of Sesami Semen on the anti-allergic inflamation would be recognized, and it could be applied on the medicinal sources for prevention or treatment of several allergy disease. And more studies are needed furthermore with the seperation of effective materials.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
• /
• v.26 no.6
• /
• pp.902-907
• /
• 2012

The worldwide prevalence and severity of allergic diseases including atopic dermatitis and asthma has increased dramatically over the past decade, especially in developed countries. Mast cells are important effector cells in allergic reactions. The purpose of this study was undertaken to investigate the anti-allergic activities of the extract of Duchesnea chrysantha (DCE). DCE was prepared by extracting with 80% ethanol. In the present study, we investigate the effect of DCE on the production of tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-${\alpha}$, interleukin (IL)-$1{\beta}$, IL-6, IL-8, and histamine in the human mast cell line (HMC-1 cells) and on the scratching behavior in hairless mice. Various concentrations of DCE were treated before the activation of HMC-1 cells with phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA) plus calcium ionophore A23187. PMA plus A23187 significantly increased TNF-${\alpha}$, IL-$1{\beta}$, IL-6, and IL-8 production compared with media control. We also show that the increased cytokines such as TNF-${\alpha}$ IL-$1{\beta}$, IL-6, and IL-8 were significantly inhibited by DCE in a dose-dependent manner. Moreover, DCE inhibited the histamine release from HMC-1 cells stimulated by compound 48/80, which promotes histamine release. Futhermore, the administration of DCE reduced the scratching behavior induced by pruritogen (compound 48/80 or histamine) in hairless mice. These results suggest that DCE has a potential use as a medicinal plant for treatment against allergy-related disease.

• Allergy, Asthma & Respiratory Disease
• /
• v.6 no.6
• /
• pp.295-302
• /
• 2018

Purpose: It is thought that Mycoplasma pneumoniae infection is more prevalent and causes more severe pneumonia in school-age children and young adults than in preschool children; however, recent studies suggest that the infection may be underdiagnosed and more severe in preschool children. This study investigated the clinical characteristics of Mycoplasma pneumoniae pneumonia (MPP) and the risk factors of refractory MPP (RMPP) by age. Methods: We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of 353 children admitted due to MPP from January 2015 to December 2016. Demographics, clinical information, laboratory data and radiological findings were collected from all patients in this study. The patients were divided into 2 groups by the age of 6 years. Also, both preschool (< 6 years old) and school-age (${\geq}6$ years old) children were divided into RMPP and non-RMPP patients. Results: Total febrile days, febrile days before admission and the duration of macrolide antibiotic therapy were significantly longer in school-age children than in preschool children. School-age children had significantly greater risk of lobar consolidation (P=0.036), pleural effusion (P=0.001) and extrapulmonary complications (P=0.019). Necrotizing pneumonia and bronchiolitis obliterans tended to occur more frequently in preschool children than in school-age children. In both preschool and school-age children, lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) levels were significantly higher in RMPP patients than in non-RMPP patients. In preschool children, LDH > 722 IU/L (odds ratio [OR], 3.02; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.44-6.50) and ferritin > 177 ng/mL (OR, 5.38; 95% CI, 1.61-19.49) were significant risk factors for RMPP, while LDH > 645 IU/L (OR, 4.12; 95% CI, 1.64-10.97) and ferritin > 166 ng/mL (OR, 5.51; 95% CI, 1.59-22.32) were so in school-age children. Conclusion: Clinical features of MPP were significantly different between preschool and school-age children. LDH and ferritin may be significant factors of RMPP in preschool and school-age children.

• Allergy, Asthma & Respiratory Disease
• /
• v.6 no.6
• /
• pp.315-321
• /
• 2018

Purpose: Radiocontrast media are widely used in medical imaging to improve diagnostic accuracy. However, studies on the adverse reactions of radiocontrast media in children are limited. We aimed to describe the characteristics of adverse reactions to radiocontrast media among children who had a computed tomography scan or magnetic resonance imaging in a tertiary university hospital. Methods: We retrospectively collected data on adverse reactions to radiocontrast media by the reporting system of a tertiary university hospital. We selected data from children under the age of 19 from July 2011 to December 2017 and analyzed their characteristics. We focused mainly on the characteristics of the index case which is defined by the first adverse event of each subject. Results: During the period, a total of 88,050 radiocontrast media-enhanced imaging studies were performed and 184 cases of adverse reactions were reported. A total of 71 were identified as index cases. Forty-nine (69.0%) were male and the mean age was $12.7{\pm}3.2$ years. The incidence of radiocontrast media-related adverse reactions was 0.09% and severe reactions were 0.002%. The most common clinical feature was skin manifestations (54.9%), followed by gastrointestinal symptoms (40.8%) and neuropsychiatric symptoms (7.4%). Conclusion: Adverse reactions to radiocontrast media rarely occur in children and the incidence of severe reactions is low. Most reactions are mild and are related to the skin and gastrointestinal system. This report would provide good evidence for establishing a management strategy in children scheduled for imaging studies using radiocontrast media.

• Journal of odor and indoor environment
• /
• v.16 no.3
• /
• pp.277-286
• /
• 2017

The objectives of this study were to investigate the effects of $PM_{10}$ and $O_3$ concentration on the symptoms of allergic diseases. The questionnaire was used to determine whether or not symptoms of allergic diseases were present from September to October 2012. The air pollution concentration data used was the corresponding point CEM (continuous emission monitoring) data. The average concentration of $PM_{10}$ was $56.09{\mu}g/m^3$ in the control area, and the concentration in the exposed area was $40.44{\mu}g/m^3$. In the two areas, concentration of $O_3$ was 28.73 ppb and 28.74 ppb, respectively. The total average concentrations of $PM_{10}$ and $O_3$ were $45.66{\mu}g/m^3$ and 28.73 ppb in the Gwangyang area. The rate of asthma diagnosis was higher in the control area (9.6%) than in the exposed area (4.1%), but the rate of allergy eye disease was higher in the exposed area (23.9%) than in the control area (16.5%). There was a significant difference in the symptoms of some allergic diseases when the relative concentration of $PM_{10}$ and $O_3$ were high and low.