• Journal of Life Science
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• v.14 no.5
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• pp.847-854
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• 2004

Allergy is a multi-factorial disease influenced by genetic and environmental factors. As the number of allergy-affected people is increasing in developed countries, there is an increasing interest in genetic predisposition to the allergy. A number of genes and chromosomal region have been identified to be linked to allergy including rhinitis, asthma and atopy. In order to understand the genetic background for the allergy-affected people, we investigated genetic predisposition among students enrolled in Busan Science Academy. Among 138 students, about 30% students had some allergy-related disorder including rhinitis, asthma and atopy. We analyzed several single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) within two genes, Inter-leukin-4(IL-4) and Interleukin-4 receptor(IL-4R), which are involved in the induction of allergy reaction with the Th2 immunity. For 96 samples obtained from students, we analyzed 9 SNPs including -590 C/T and -34 C/T in IL-4, and I75V, Q576R, E375A, e406R, 5411L, S761P and S727A in IL-4R. From the analysis, these SNPs showed slight differences among normal and allergy-affected students, but these differences was not enough to predict the predisposition to the allergy. In contrast to previous reports, we could not find SNP(s) related with allergy. These results suggest that genetic tests recently performed in Korea widely have to be reassessed for its validity of genetic predisposition. [Supported by grants from MOST]

• Journal of Dairy Science and Biotechnology
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• v.26 no.1
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• pp.53-57
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• 2008

• Korean Journal of Pharmacognosy
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• v.15 no.3
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• pp.147-149
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• 1984

To examine pollen preparations which are being sold as a health food, one of these pollen tablets and one of the capsules were selected and investigated by microscopy. It was shown that the pollen coat which can act as a potent allergen was not removed and that the tablets contained other impurities. The results suggest that they are not safe as a food and that they may cause systemic allergy to certain persons. On the contrary, the pollens of the capsule preparation did not have the pollen coat and, therefore, have a less risk of causing allergy.

• Biomedical Science Letters
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• v.19 no.3
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• pp.270-274
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• 2013

Egg allergy has been raised as the most prevalent food hypersensitivity in children. Ovalbumin (OVA), which is one of the major egg allergens, is the major protein in egg white. Isoliquiritigenin (ILG) is an active component present in licorice and has been used to treat many chronic diseases for many years. In this study, we present biochemical evidence that ILG inhibits OVA-induced nuclear factor-${\kappa}B$ (NF-${\kappa}B$) activation. ILG also inhibits OVA-induced cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) and inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) expression. These data suggest that ILG has anti-allergy effects.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.87 no.3
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• pp.221-233
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• 2024

The 2023 Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease (GOLD) revised the definition of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) to broadly include a variety of etiologies. A new taxonomy, composed of etiotypes, aims to highlight the heterogeneity in causes and pathogenesis of COPD, allowing more personalized management strategies and emphasizing the need for targeted research to understand and manage COPD better. However, controversy arises with including some diseases under the umbrella term of COPD, as their clinical presentations and treatments differ from classical COPD, which is smoking-related. COPD due to infection (COPD-I) and COPD due to environmental exposure (COPD-P) are classifications within the new taxonomy. Some disease entities in these categories show distinct clinical features and may not benefit from conventional COPD treatments, raising questions about their classification as COPD subtypes. There is also controversy regarding whether bronchiectasis with airflow limitations should be classified as an etiotype of COPD. This article discusses controversial issues associated with the proposed etiotypes for COPD in terms of COPD-I, COPD-P, and bronchiectasis. While the updated COPD definition by GOLD 2023 is a major step towards recognizing the disease's complexity, it also raises questions about the classification of related respiratory conditions. This highlights the need for further research to improve our understanding and approach to COPD management.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.24 no.1
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• pp.48-54
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• 2010

The present study was conducted to investigate the anti-allergic activity of Saingheylyunbooem(SHU)). We investigated the anti-allergic effects of SHU in RBL-2H3 basophilic leukemia cells by compound 48/80, a mast cell degranulator in mice. SHU inhibited ${\beta}$-hexosaminidase and histamine release from compound 48/80 stimulated RBL-2H3 cells. The in vitro anti-inflammatory activities of SHU in LPS-stimulated RAW 264.7 cells were investigated. SHU inhibited NO production effectively dowregulated the expression of iNOS mRNA and iNOS protein expression in LPS-stimulated RAW 264.7 cells. These result provide evidences that SHU may be beneficial in the treatment of allergic inflammtory disease.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.87 no.2
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• pp.145-154
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• 2024

The consequences of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) are particularly severe in older adults with a disproportionate number of severe and fatal outcomes. Therefore, this integrative review aimed to provide a comprehensive overview of the clinical characteristics, management approaches, and prognosis of older patients diagnosed with COVID-19. Common clinical presentations in older patients include fever, cough, and dyspnea. Additionally, preexisting comorbidities, especially diabetes and pulmonary and cardiovascular diseases, were frequently observed and associated with adverse outcomes. Management strategies varied, however, early diagnosis, vigilant monitoring, and multidisciplinary care were identified as key factors for enhancing patient outcomes. Nonetheless, the prognosis remains guarded for older patients, with increased rates of hospitalization, mechanical ventilation, and mortality. However, timely therapeutic interventions, especially antiviral and supportive treatments, have demonstrated some efficacy in mitigating the severe consequences in this age group. In conclusion, while older adults remain highly susceptible to severe outcomes from COVID-19, early intervention, rigorous monitoring, and comprehensive care can play a pivotal role in improving their clinical outcomes.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.29 no.2
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• pp.359-374
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• 2008

Objective : Hyperhidrosis is a condition characterized by excessive sweating. Some studies suggest that hyperhidrosis is associated with autonomic nervous system dysfunction. Hyperhidrosis is often accompanied by hypersensitivity, tension, irritability, heat flashes, fatigue, etc. This study was designed to evaluate the correlation between Oriental Medicine diagnosis and the autonomic nervous system function in patients with hyperhidrosis using Heart Rate Variability (HRV) analysis. Methods : 23 palmar and plantar hyperhidrosis patients and 10 systemic hyperhidrosis patients were recruited and evaluated by Oriental Medicine diagnostic questionnaire and HRV analysis. The Oriental Medicine diagnostic questionnaire used a three-dimensional diagnosis that classified patients into Cold or Heat Syndrome, Yin or Yang Syndrome, and Deficiency or Excess Syndrome. Measured indices of HRV used the frequency domain analysis(i.e. TP, VLF, LF, HF and LF/HF ratio). Also, measure indices of HRV adjusted for aging effects were evaluated. Results : Cold/Heat Syndrome was not associated with hyperhidrosis prevalence nor the HRV analysis in hyperhidrosis patients. The Yang Syndrome group(78.8%) was more strongly correlated than the Yin Syndrome group(21.2%), and character of Yang was correlated with the adjusted TP and adjusted LF. The LF/HF ratio in the Excess Syndrome group was significantly higher than the LF/HF ratio in the Deficiency Syndrome group. Conclusion : Hyperhidrosis was not associated with the Cold/Heat Syndrome, but was found to be closely associated with the Yang Syndrome. The LF/HF ratio was significantly higher in the Excess Syndrome group than in the Deficiency Syndrome group in hyperhidrosis patients.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.27 no.4
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• pp.822-826
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• 2006

Objectives : Essential hyperhidrosis is a socially and occupationally disabling disorder. There are many suggestions that hyperhidrosis is associated with the autonomic nervous system, especiallythe sympathetic system. This study was designed to investigate the autonomic nerve system in patients with essential hyperhidrosis and healthy controls by the frequency domain analysis of heart rate variability (HRV). Methods : 17 head-hyperhidrosis patients in the ambulatory care were investigated. All were inspected at the first medical examination. using the PSA of HRV. HRV was measured for minutes after 5 minutes bed rest. We checked the frequency domain analysis of HRV (i.e. TP, VLF, LF, HF) which were transformed into natural logarithm of patients against the standard measures of the HRV components. Then we compared the values of patients with means of normal Korean subjects. Results : The values of natural logarithmic measure of HRV (LnTP, LnHF, LnLF, LnVLF) of patients With head-hyperhidrosis we examined were $6.85{\pm}1.61$, $4.93{\pm}$2.00, $5.40{\pm}1.83$, and $6.13{\pm}1.37$, respectively. None of these values were higher than means of normal subjects. Conclusions : This study suggests that the function of the autonomic nervous system does not increase in patients with head-hyperhidrosis.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.73 no.5
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• pp.266-272
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• 2012

Background: Limited data on the incidence and clinical characteristics of adult pertussis infections are available in Korea. Methods: Thirty-one hospitals and the Korean Centers for Disease Control and Prevention collaborated to investigate the incidence and clinical characteristics of pertussis infections among adults with a bothersome cough in non-outbreak, ordinary outpatient settings. Nasopharyngeal aspirates or nasopharyngeal swabs were collected for polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and culture tests. Results: The study enrolled 934 patients between September 2009 and April 2011. Five patients were diagnosed as confirmed cases, satisfying both clinical and laboratory criteria (five positive PCR and one concurrent positive culture). Among 607 patients with cough duration of at least 2 weeks, 504 satisfied the clinical criteria of the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (i.e., probable case). The clinical pertussis cases (i.e., both probable and confirmed cases) had a wide age distribution ($45.7{\pm}15.5$ years) and cough duration (median, 30 days; interquartile range, 18.0~50.0 days). In addition, sputum, rhinorrhea, and myalgia were less common and dyspnea was more common in the clinical cases, compared to the others (p=0.037, p=0.006, p=0.005, and p=0.030, respectively). Conclusion: The positive rate of pertussis infection may be low in non-outbreak, ordinary clinical settings if a PCR-based method is used. However, further prospective, well-designed, multicenter studies are needed.