• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.63 no.7
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• pp.251-258
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• 2020

Exposure to environmental factors can cause interstitial lung diseases (ILDs); however, such types of ILDs are rare. From 2007 to 2011, an ILD epidemic occurred in South Korea owing to inhalational exposure to toxic chemicals in humidifier disinfectants (HDs). HD-associated ILDs (HD-ILDs) are characterized by rapidly progressing respiratory failure with pulmonary fibrosis and a high mortality rate of 43.8%-58.0%. Although 18.1%-31.1% of the general population used HDs, only a small proportion of HD users were diagnosed with HD-ILDs. This finding suggests that investigation of the pathophysiologies underlying HD-ILDs is needed in addition to the identification of susceptibility to HD-ILDs. Further, there have been several concerns regarding the diverse health effects of exposure to toxic chemicals in HDs, including those that have not been identified, and long-term prognoses in terms of pulmonary function and residual pulmonary lesions observed on follow-up chest images. In this review, we summarize the clinical features, pathologic findings, and changes in radiologic findings over time in patients with HD-ILDs and the results of previous experimental research on the mechanisms underlying the effects of toxic chemicals in HDs. Studies are currently underway to identify the pathophysiologies of HD-ILDs and possible health effects of exposure to HDs along with the development of targeted therapeutic strategies. The experience of identification of HD-ILDs has encouraged stricter control of safe chemicals in everyday life.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.34 no.2
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• pp.117-123
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• 2008

Allergic diseases have been dramarically increased over recent years, especially in industrialized countries. Oxidative stress has been believed to playa significant role in the occurrence of the allergic inflammatory responses. Although previous studies concerning oxidative stress and systemic inflammation have been reported, few data is available, and other allergic diseases, except for asthma, are hardly studied about the association with oxidative stress. This study evaluated the relationship between allergic disease and Malondialdehyde (MDA) as an indicator of oxidative stress. The study population was 197 male adults living in an industrial area. The ISAAC questionnaire was used to confirm wheezing and rhinitis, and atopy was evaluated by skin prick test. MDA was analyzed by spectrophotometer. To examine bronchial hyperresponsiveness (BHR), methacholine test was performed, and the index of bronchial responsiveness (BR index) was calculated. We used multivariate logistic regression model and general linear model with SAS program. We found significant associations of MDA with brindex (p=0.023), rhinitis (p=0.016), atopy (p=0.03), adjusted by age, smoking, and body mass index (BMI). On the contrary, there was no significant difference of MDA with the status of asthma. Our result suggests that oxidative stress may playa major role in the occurrence of allergic response in male adults.

• Herbal Formula Science
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• v.17 no.1
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• pp.141-151
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• 2009

We investigated the inhibitory effect of an oral administration of a Sophora flavescens Aiton ethanol extract (SFE) on the development of atopic dermatitis (AD) by using NC/Nga model mice. The induction of atopic dermatitis-like lesion was conducted by the removal of the back hairs and topical application of a mite antigen (Dermatophagoides farinae, Df) on to the back skin twice a week for 8 weeks. SFE was orally administered at a different doses (100-400 mg/kg). Atopic dermatitis-like skin lesions were evaluated by dermatitis scores, skin histology and immunological parameters (serum levels of IgE, TARC/CCL17, MDC/CCL22, and CTACK/CCL27). Oral administration of SFE significantly inhibited the clinical sign of Df-induced atopic dermatitis, including dermatitis score and leukocyte infiltration. Moreover, SFE suppressed significantly the serum IgE and Th2 chemokine (TARC/CCL17, MDC/CCL22, and CTACK/CCL27) levels in a concentration dependent manner. These results suggest that oral administration of SFE could reduce significantly the clinical signs and Th2 chemokines in Df-induced atopic dermatitis model mice. Therefore, SFE may be effective substances for the management of AD in human.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.56 no.9
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• pp.369-376
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• 2013

A complex interplay between genetic and environmental factors partially contributes to the development of allergic diseases by affecting development during prenatal and early life. To explain the dramatic increase in the prevalence of allergic diseases, the hygiene hypothesis proposed that early exposure to infection prevented allergic diseases. The hygiene hypothesis has changed to the microbial hypothesis, in which exposure to microbes is closely linked to the development of the early immune system and allergic diseases. The intestinal flora may contribute to allergic disease through its substantial effect on mucosal immunity. Based on findings that exposure to microbial flora early in life can change the Th1/Th2 balance, thus favoring a Th1 cell response, probiotics may be beneficial in preventing allergic diseases. However, evidence from clinical and basic research to prove the efficacy of probiotics in preventing allergy is lacking. To date, studies have yielded inconsistent findings on the usefulness of probiotics in allergic diseases. It is difficult to demonstrate an exact effect of probiotics on asthma, allergic rhinitis, and food allergy because of study limitations, such as different first supplementation period, duration, different strains, short follow-up period, and host factors. However, many studies have demonstrated a significant clinical improvement in atopic dermatitis with the use of probiotics. An accurate understanding of the development of human immunity, intestinal barrier function, intestinal microbiota, and systemic immunity is required to comprehend the effects of probiotics on allergic diseases.

• Journal of the Korean Applied Science and Technology
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• v.37 no.1
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• pp.66-75
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• 2020

Atopic dermatitis (AD) usually develops in patients with an individual or family history of allergic diseases, and is characterized by chronic relapsing inflammation seen specially in childhood, association with IgE hyperproduction and precipitation by environmental factors. and wished to examine closely effect that Polygonum multiflorum isolated PM-E and PM-70M orally adminstration used to atopy dermatitis disease patient get in atopy eruption control experimentally. Atopic dermatitis is a chronically relapsing inflammatory skin disease. Animal models induced by relevant allergens play a very important role in the elucidation of the disease. This study was investigated the anti-allergic effect of PM-E and PM-70M on BMAC induced atopic dermatitis in NC/Nga mice. We summerized as the follow. PM-E and PM-70M significantly reduced the skin number of total cell number, CD4⁺ and CD11b⁺/Gr-1 cell compared with positive control and decreased the invasion of CD4⁺ cell in dorsal skin tissue compared with positive control group by using immunohistochemical staining and chemokine such as eotaxin and CCR3 compared with positive control group. PM-E and PM-70M markedly suppressed invasion and edema of leukocytes and mast cell in dorsal skin. Taken together, these findings suggested that PM-E and PM-70M has an anti-allergic activity and this might be useful for the clinical application to treat allergic diseases such as atopic dermatitis.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.24 no.2
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• pp.302-309
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• 2010

Oxidative stress has been implicated in cutaneous damage in various inflammatory skin diseases, including atopic dermatitis (AD). Atoberry is the herb medicine extract which is composed with Spirodelae Herba, Xanthii Fructus, Houttuyniae Herba, Taraxaci Herba, Retinervus Luffae Fructus, Platycodi Radix, and Scutellariae Radix. In this study, we investigated the antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects of Atoberry in AD-like skin lesion NC/Nga mice. Murine AD-like skin lesions were made by painting Dermatophagoides farinse (Df) extract. Atoberry significantly increased electron donating ability (DPPH), nitrite scavenging (NO) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) activities in dose dependant. Topically applied Atoberry significantly reduced clinical severity score, ear thickness and histological grade in AD-like skin lesion NC/Nga mice. In addition, the serum levels of IgE, NO and prostaglandin E2 were significantly reduced by Atoberry. Futhermore, skin tissue levels of SOD, catalase and glutathione peroxidase (GPx) were significantly reduced by Atoberry. These results demonstrate that topical application of Atoberry may be improve the AD-like skin lesion by antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.24 no.2
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• pp.258-265
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• 2010

Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a chronically relapsing pruritic inflammatory skin disease. To find new anti-inflammatory products for skin inflammatory disease such as AD and contact dermatitis, we produced the effective microorganism fermentation substance (EM-S) by fermentation of medicinal plants with effective microorganisms including photosynthetic bacteria, lactic acid bacteria and yeast, screened the effects of EM-S on NC/Nga model mice. Murine AD-like skin lesions were made by painting Dermatophagoides farinae (Df) extract. Topically applied EM-S significantly reduced clinical severity score, ear thickness and histological grade in AD-like NC/Nga mouse model by Df antigen sensitization. In addition, the serum IgE and Th2 chemokine levels (TARC/CCL17, MDC/CCL22 and CTACK/CCL27) were significantly reduced by EM-S. Futhermore, skin tissue expressions of Th2 chemokines were significantly reduced by EM-S. These results demonstrate that topical application of EM-S may be improve the AD-like skin lesion by suppressing IgE and Th2 chemokines.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.46 no.6
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• pp.826-835
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• 1999

Background : The $\beta_2$ adrenergic receptor ($\beta_2$ AR) polymorphisms occurring at amino acid position 16 (Arg to Gly), 27 (Gln to Glu), 34 (Val to Met), and 164 (Thr to Ile) are known to be functionally relevant and also disease-modifying in subjects with asthma. However the contribution of these polymorphisms to the development of the asthmatic phenotype or other markers for allergic disease remains to be established. Methods : 109 patients with bronchial asthma and 42 healthy person were included. Serum total IgE, allergen specific IgE, and skin prick test were performed to all of the subjects. $\beta_2$ AR polymorphisms were checked by mutated allele specific amplification (MASA) method. Results : The results were as follows. The frequencies of $\beta_2$ AR polymorphisms in asthmatic patients and healthy person were not statistically different(p>0.05). There was no association between $\beta_2$ AR polymorphisms of amino acid position 16, 27, 34 and the existence of atopy among asthmatic patients(p>0.05). Between asthmatic patients with or without elevated IgE level and $\beta_2$ AR polymorphisms of amino acid position 16, 27, 34, there was no statistically significant association(p>0.05). Conclusion : There was no difference in frequency of the $\beta_2$ AR polymorphism between asthmatic patients and healthy person. In the bronchial asthma, association of $\beta_2$ AR polymorphism and atopy/serum total IgE was not found.

• Child Health Nursing Research
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• v.14 no.1
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• pp.53-60
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• 2008

Background: Atopic dermatitis starts as an early childhood type I hypersensitivity to environmental allergens and is often the first step in the atopic march to develop into asthma and allergic rhinitis. Despite progress that has been achieved in management, this health problem remains poorly controlled and cause great pain and suffering for many children and their parents To introduce nurses to recent progress in pathophysiology, management and preventive measure of atopic disease. Search method: Systemic search was done using the PubMed and CINAHL from 1980 to 2005. In addition, historical references were taken from standard medical textbook. Results: In total, 30 relevant publications were located including primary research and review articles that cover the pathophysiology, management, and preventive measure of atopy. The evidence emerging from literature indicate that non-medical approaches such as breastfeeding and probiotics would improve management outcomes. Conclusion: The review suggests that breastfeeding and probiotic approaches would be the most effective preventive measures for children with atopic diseases.

• 대한예방의학회:학술대회논문집
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• 2001.10a
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• pp.411-411
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• 2001