• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.6 no.5
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• pp.429-435
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• 2012

Atopic dermatitis (AD) has become a serious epidemic in Korean children. We aimed to investigate the association between vitamin C, E and other nutrients, and serum total IgE/specific IgE levels in children with AD. A total of 119 children (0-24 mo) diagnosed with AD were recruited for this cross-sectional study from a medical center in Seoul. A 24 h recall was used to assess dietary intakes. Serum total and six food-allergen specific IgE levels were measured by CAP-FEIA. Serum vitamin E was also measured but only in 25 out of the total 119 participants. Multiple linear regression analysis was performed to estimate the coefficients between serum IgE levels and dietary intake as well as serum vitamin E. Serum vitamin E levels showed a significantly inverse association with serum total IgE and all specific IgE levels (P < 0.05). Fat intake was inversely related with specific-IgEs for egg whites, milk, buck wheat, soy, and peanuts (P < 0.05). Positive associations were found between carbohydrate (CHO) intake and total IgE and specific IgEs to egg whites, milk, soy, and peanuts (P < 0.05). Vitamin C, E and n-3/n-6 fatty acids were not related with serum total IgE and specific IgE levels except for the association between buck wheat and vitamin E. In addition, there were no significant differences between males and females in dietary intake and serum IgE levels by student's t-test. Although dietary vitamin E showed no association with serum IgE levels, serum vitamin E drew a significant inverse relationship with serum IgE levels. The evidence seems to suggest that vitamin E may possibly lower total and specific-IgEs in children with AD, and that it is important to maintain a relatively high serum vitamin E level in children with AD.

• IMMUNE NETWORK
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• v.8 no.3
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• pp.82-89
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• 2008

Background: Although a skin test is the primary option for detecting allergen-specific IgE in clinics, the serum IgE immunoassay is also important because it allows for the diagnosis of allergy without any accompanying adverse effect on the patient. However, the low detection limit of IgE levels by immunoassay may restrict the use of the method in some occasions, and improving its sensitivity would thus have a significant implication in allergy-immunology clinics. Methods: In this study, we attempted to detect specific serum IgE by using immuno-polymerase chain reaction (IPCR) which combines the antigen-antibody specificity of enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISAs) with the amplification power of PCR. Results: Our results demonstrated that Blo t5-specific serum IgE can be detected by IPCR with a 100-fold higher sensitivity than ELISA, and cross-reactivity of serum IgE to other mite allergens is able to be analyzed by using only $0.3{\mu}l$ of serum sample. Use of real-time IPCR seemed to permit more convenient determination of specific serum IgE as well. Conclusion: We believe that IPCR can serve as a valuable tool in determining specific serum IgE, especially when the amount of serum sample is limited.

• Nutritional Sciences
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• v.2 no.2
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• pp.119-124
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• 1999

Food allergies play an important role in Atopic Dermatitis (AD). Dietary manipulation is essential in the management of AD. However, there has been a paucity of data reporting the prevalence of food allergies in AD patients in Korea. In this study, the Food Open Challenge Tests (FOCT) were conducted to investigate food allergies in AD patients. The skin-prick test and the detection of specific IgE, as well as allergy history of patient were used to detect food allergies in all AD patients. Elimination diet was conducted for two weeks prior to FOCTs. The prevalence of food allergies by FOCT is as follows: milk (67.3%); chicken (64.2%); pork (62.8%); eggs (61.0%); beef(55.4%) ; wheat (52.0%) and soybean (45.2%). Allergenic food items in Korean AD patients were different from people in other foreign countries. The seven major foods those tested positively by FOCTs were completely eliminated from the replaced diets for two weeks, and were subsequently reintroduced one at a time. Results from FOCTs were not comparable with allergy history or skin-prick tests or specific IgE detection. The sensitivity and specificity of skin-prick tests and specific IgE detection were lower than FOCTs. Allergy history, skin-prick tests, and specific IgE detection are useful for the identification of food allergen but its clinical significance differed according to food items. Therefore, we conclude that even though a 10-day delay was necessary after food challenge, FOCT is a useful and valid method to confirm food allergies and may be essential for the effective control of food allergies for treatment of AD.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine Ophthalmology and Otolaryngology and Dermatology
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• v.20 no.1 s.32
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• pp.16-26
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• 2007

Background &Objectives : Rhinitis is an inflammation of nasal mucosa and the major symtoms are watery rhinorrhea, sneezing, itchy nose, and nasal obstruction. Rhinitis is classified into allergic rhinitis and nonallergic rhinitis. Allergic rhinitis is an immune reaction by allergen, and vasomotor rhinitis which is nonallergic and noninfectious is hypersensitive reaction. The incidence of allergic rhinitis has increased and the rate of vasomotor rhinitis is high. However there have been no studies about vasomotor rhinitis compared with allergic rhinitis. And there have been no studies so far performed on the effect of Tongkwansan. Therefore this study is aimed to find out the effects of Tongkwansan on allergic rhinitis and vasomotor rhinitis. Materials and Methods : Fifteen BALC/c mouses were divided into three groups : normal group, control group and sample group. To induce the allergic rhinitis in control group and sample group, mouses were sensitized intrapertioneally 0.1% ovalbumin solution three times at intervals of 1 week. Then intranasal sensitization was performed by diffusing 0.1 % ovalbumin solution 3 times at intervals of 2 days. After that time, mouses in the sample group were oral administration treated by Tongkwansan for 28 days. We observed changes in the segment of IL-4, IL-5, $IFN-{\gamma}$, Total IgE, and ovalvumin specific IgE in blood. We used the statistical methods of ANOVA test(p<0.05). Results : There were no significant changes statistically in $IFN-{\gamma}$, IL-4, and IL-5 in blood(p<0.05). There were also no significant changes statistically in Total IgE, OVA-specific IgE in blood(p<0.05). Conclusion : According to above results, it is supposed that Tongkwansan has no significant effects on allergic rhinitis. But it is supposed that Tongkwansan has significant effects on vasomotor rhinitis which is nonallergic and noninfectious

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.34 no.1
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• pp.35-48
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• 1996

Non-biting midges fchironomidae, Dipteral are one of the largest insect families, which are distributed worldwidely and are found in nearly all types of inland waters. They are known to be aggressive inhalant allergens which cause allergenic diseases. In this study, the crude antigens of Chironomus SavipLumn adults which are most widely distributed in Korea were extracted. and their allergens were analysed with the sera from experimentally sensitized mice. The mice were immunized with $1{\;}\mu\textrm{g}{\;}or{\;}10{\;}\mu\textrm{g}$ of the crude antigens, respectively, and the specific serum IgE levels were measured by both ELISA and passive cutaneous anaphylaxis (PCA) techniques. The highest levels of both total IgE and chironomid-specific IgE were found in the mouse sera obtained after 9 weeks of the first infection with $1{\;}\mu\textrm{g}$ crude antigen. The crude antigen was separated into 16-18 protein bands on gel by SDS-PAGE. The crude extract was assessed by SDS-PAGE/immunoblot analysis. One IgE-binding band (65 kDa) was detected by developing with colorimetric substrate, and 4 IgE-binding bands (65, 52, 35 and 25 kDa) by developing with CSPD chemiluminescent substrate. The SDS-PAGE gel of the crude extract of chironomid adults was equally cut into 30 pieces and each of them was eluted to isolate proteins by molecular weight, and the allergenicity of each eluate was assessed by applying P-K test on rats. Proteins of 65, 35 and 15 KDa showed the highest P-K titer (${\times}512$) which was 16 times higher than that of the crude extract (${\times32}$). The P-K titer of 52 kDa protein was also 4 times higher ($128{\times}$) than that of the crude extract, whereas the 25 kDa protein poorly responded, which seemed not antigenic. In conclusion, the present result in mice demonstrated that adults of Chironomus fcuiplumus, a predominent species in Korea, cause allergenic diseases and the main allergens are 65, 52, 35 and 15 kDa proteins, of which 65 kDa protein seems to be a main allergen.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.30 no.3
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• pp.534-549
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• 2009

Objectives : To study trends in complementary medical therapy for the allergic rhinitis. This study analyzed research on allergic rhinitis in PubMed. Methods : We searched PubMed related to complementary medical therapy for allergic rhinitis. We analyzed 25 research papers and examined published journals, years countries, and their methods, objectives, results, interventions, participants, periods and instruments of assessment. Results : The method of studies was mostly randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. There were research papers concerning treatment and prevention with herbal medicine, acupuncture, diet, etc. There were more positive results compared to negative results for treatment and prevention. Most studies were carried out during the winter/spring period. The median for number of participants was 90.54 persons. Diagnostic criteria for enrolment were nasal symptoms, allergic skin test, serum, nasal discharge allergen specific IgE eosinophil, etc. Assessment for outcomes were nasal symptoms, serum, nasal discharge allergen specific IgE eosinophil and Quality of Life Questionnaire. Conclusions : It is necessary to study effects of acupuncture and herb medicines for allergic rhinitis and more in-depth research about trends in complementary medical therapy for allergic rhinitis.

• Korean Journal of Clinical Laboratory Science
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• v.39 no.2
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• pp.104-112
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• 2007

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the general features of allergic patients in northwestern Chungcheongnamdo who visited Soonchunhyang University Cheonan Hospital. The subjects in this study were 1692 suspected allergic patients. After their allergic symptoms were checked and a MAST-CLA test was conducted, the following results were obtained: 1. The mean age of the subjects was 23.1 years old. The male patients represented 56.2% and the female patients accounted for 43.8%. 1387 (82.0%) patients of those investigated suffered from allergic disease. 2. Among the 1387 patients, 1022 (73.7%) patients showed an increased total IgE level. The positive rate of those who were in their 40s (87.0%) was the highest, but their age made no difference to their positive rate of total IgE. 3. Concerning the positive rate for allergen specific antibody by age, those who were in their teens (73.5%) topped the list and similar in all age group except in their 40s. By gender, the positive rate of the male and female were 56.3% and 43.9% respectively. Regarding the positive rates by allergic disease, those who suffered from allergic rhinitis (60.4%) were most vulnerable, followed by the patients with allergic dermatitis (47.4%), with bronchial asthma (47.2%) and with urticaria (39.4%). 4. As for seasonal positive rates, they were most susceptible in April (77.2%) and May (71.1%). We discovered a significant difference according to seasons; Spring (60.1%), Winter (45.4%) and Summer (39.2%). 5. In case of Korean inhalent panel, the most dominant allergen-specific antibodies were "Cockroach mix" (31.1%), followed by "D. pteronyssius" (23.8%) and "Dog" (14.3%). In the event of food panel, the most popular allergen-specific antibodies were "D. farinae" (25.0%), followed by "D. pteronyssinus" (19.8%) and "Hose dust" (12.0%). 6. The residential type made no difference to the positive rates of "House dust", "Cockroach mix" and "Dog" as major antigen but compared with others, positive rates for "Tick" were somewhat higher in apartment buildings.

• Food Science of Animal Resources
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• v.27 no.3
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• pp.337-344
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• 2007

We have investigated the relationship between food allergen sensitization and allergic disease in 74 child (male 47, female 27) patients from 0 to 14 years of age diagnosed with allergic disease. The age distribution for the study was: newborn to 3 years old, 34 children; 4 to 6 years old, 24 children; 7 to 9 years old, 8 children and above 10 years old, 8 children. Of the 74 children, 10 children were allergic to 3 of the 21 types of foods tested, 21 children were allergic to 4 types and 15 children were allergic to 5 types. The results of specific IgE tests for class 2 (0.070-3.49 IV/mL, IgE density in serum) showed that 29 children were allergic to milk, 28 children to bean, 21 children to cheese, 7 children to egg, and 18 children to pork, while over class 2, 20 children were allergic to bean, 17 children to milk, 24 children to cheese, 20 children to egg, and 21 children to pork. A questionnaire was used to survey family allergy history and diet patterns for 40 child (male 22, female 18) patients with allergic disease. The frequencies of a family history of allergy were 45.5% for males and 50.0% for females. The allergic diseases included atopic dermatitis: 26.0%, atopic nasitis: 10.5%, atopic dermatitis + atopic nasitis : 31.5%, hives: 21.0%, and asthma: 10.5%. Children on diets of mixed breast feeding and infant formula were more allergic than those on either breast feeding or infant formula feeding. Eliminated allergenic foods were egg + milk: 12.5%, egg: 10.0%, and milk 2.5%.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Veterinary Clinics Conference
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• 2006.05a
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• pp.117-117
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• 2006

• 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.