• 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.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.40 no.5
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• pp.367-375
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• 2014

Objectives: The main purpose of this study is to produce background data which can be compared with several large-scale industrial complex regions. Methods: The framework of this study was designed to evaluate and monitor health effects associated with low-level and long-term exposure to environmental pollutants. In this study, 1,009 local residents were recruited in the city of Chungju using personal questionnaires, medical check-ups, and allergen skin-prick tests for 12 common allergens. The prevalence rate of skin allergens was reviewed together with that from large-scale industrial areas. Results: The diagnosis prevalence and medical treatment prevalence of asthma was 5.6% and 1.7%, respectively. Allergic rhinitis was 25.4% and 16.7%, allergic dermatitis was 16.6% and 9.9% and allergic conjunctivitis was 18.7% and 7.9%, respectively. These results were similar with those of industrial complexes. The prevalence of allergen skin-prick test was 16.4% and the most common allergen was dust mites (27.9-31.6%). This result was lower than those of the industrial complexes (22.5-39.9%) and Gangneung (18.2-24.7%). Conclusion: Further study is required to find the cause of the regional differences in skin prick prevalence.

• Korean Journal of Agricultural and Forest Meteorology
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• v.10 no.4
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• pp.167-176
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• 2008

Airborne pollen is known as one of the major causal agents to respiratory allergic reactions. Daily number of pollen grains was monitored using Burkard volumetric spore traps at seven locations including Seoul and Jeju during 1997-2007. Pollen grains were observed throughout the year especially from February to November. They showed similar distribution patterns of species among locations except in Jeju, where Japanese cedar vegetation is uniquely found. Peak seasons for pollen grains from trees and weeds were March to May and August to October, respectively. Tree pollens were mainly composed of pine, oak, alder, and birch. Weed pollens were mainly from Japanese hop, Worm wood, and ragweed. Diameter of pollen grains, which has a typical range of $20{\sim}60{\mu}m$, has close relationship with allergenicity. Allergenicity of tree and weed pollens is higher than that of grass pollens in general. In the case of trees and shrubs, pine trees account for about 70% of all tree pollens. However, pine pollens are weak allergens. The remaining 30% of tree pollens, including alder trees, white birches, and oaks, are moderate to strong allergens despite the smaller numbers. Grass and weeds are also highly likely to cause allergies. Especially, the pollens of Wormwood and Japanese hop are highly likely to cause allergies. Daily fluctuations in the number of pollens have to do with a variety of meteorological factors, such as temperature and rainfall.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.31 no.2 s.83
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• pp.120-126
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• 2005

To assess exposure of allergy patients to a biological environment, measurements were made of levels of airborne bacteria and fungi, house dust endotoxin and mite allergens in homes of 7 allergy patients and 12 healthy families. Concentrations of airborne total bacteria and the ratio of indoor and outdoor concentrations(I/O) in allergy patient's homes were high compared to non-allergy houses. But no significant differences could be shown for the concentration of spores of viable fungi and staphylococcus in indoor air between the homes of allergic patients and healthy families. The results of investigation on house dust mites, Dermatophagoids farinae were detected in all mattress samples and the levels in the allergy patient's homes were generally high, with individual measurements exceeding $2{\mu}g/g$ dust found in $30\%$ samples. In contrast with, Dermatophagoids pteronyssinus were detected in only $60\%$ samples and the concentrations were very low. The levels of endotoxin in dust samples collected from the allergy patient's home mattresses were higher than those of control houses. There was a positive correlation between the endotoxin levels and the house dust mite allergens.

• Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology & Nutrition
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• v.24 no.5
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• pp.492-499
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• 2021

Purpose: Celiac disease (CD) is an autoimmune disorder of the small intestine caused by an abnormal immune response to gluten proteins and is often characterized by gastrointestinal symptoms. Food allergy (FA) is an adverse immune sensitivity to ingested food proteins leading to inflammation in various organs including the gastrointestinal tract. The relationship between CD and FA remains unclear. This study aimed to assess the prevalence and clinical relevance of immunoglobulin E (IgE)-mediated food sensitization in children with CD. Methods: Fifty-nine children diagnosed with CD were reviewed for clinical symptoms and evidence of IgE-sensitization to food and airborne allergens using the PolyCheck method. Results: IgE-mediated sensitization has been diagnosed in 20.3% of children with CD (CD/A). In the CD/A group, 58.3% of children were sensitized to food and 66.7% to airborne allergens. Further, 41.7% of patients with CD and allergy reported gastrointestinal tract symptoms associated with the ingestion of sensitizing foods. Analysis of the clinical status revealed that the incidence of other allergic disorders in the CD/A group was as follows: atopic dermatitis (33.3%), asthma (25.0%), and allergic rhinitis (16.7%). The percentage of eosinophils was significantly higher in the CD/A group than in the CD group (0.33±0.25 vs. 0.11±0.09; p=0.006). Conclusion: The diagnosis of CD does not exclude FA. The gastrointestinal symptoms in children with CD may be the result of both CD and FA; therefore, children with CD should be evaluated for the presence of FA regardless of age.

• Journal of Plant Biotechnology
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• v.47 no.4
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• pp.316-323
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• 2020

This study aimed to evaluate the potential allergenicity and oral toxicity of the phosphinothricin acetyltransferase (PAT) protein expressed in Zoysia japonica, a herbicide-tolerant genetically modified (GM) zoysiagrass. In silico analysis of PAT showed no similarities with any known allergenic or toxic proteins, with <35% amino acid sequence homology with known allergens across a length of 80 amino acids and no continuous eight amino acid identity with known allergens. The PAT protein expressed in Z. japonica degraded very rapidly in the simulated gastric fluid in the presence of pepsin, and, no glycosylation of PAT was observed. The oral toxicity test revealed no mortality or toxic effect in mice following PAT administration at 4,000 mg/kg body weight. Our findings indicate that the PAT protein expressed in Zoysia japonica does not exhibit allergenic or toxic properties.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.49 no.3
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• pp.298-304
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• 2006

Purpose : We compared the asthma predictive index(API) and the modified asthma predictive index (mAPI) of the Tuscon Children's Respiratory Study Group in Korean children with recurrent wheezing. We investigated the atopic profiles and presence of allergen sensitization of each risk group, and ascertained the significant clinical risk factors. Methods : Two hundred and sixty two children, who visited for recurrent wheezing from 1998 to 2005, were enrolled and divided into groups by API and mAPI. We investigated the history of the patients and their families, atopic profiles, and sensitization to aeroallergen and food allergens. Twenty nine children were followed up to 6 years of age and we evaluated the sensitivity, specificity and positive and negative predictive value of both indices. Results : The high risk group of API were of older age, were more likely to be sensitized to aeroallergen(P=0.001) and food allergen(P=0.034) and had higher levels of total eosinophil count, eosinophil percent, serum ECP, total IgE, and D.p-, D.f-specific IgE. High risk group of mAPI showed higher levels of atopic markers such as egg-, milk-, D.p- and D.f-specific IgE. Even though API did not include allergen sensitization, the high risk group was more significantly sensitized to common allergens than the low risk group. Twenty nine children were followed up until 6 years of age; therefore 15 children were diagnosed as asthma, clinically. The sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive values of mAPI were higher than API. Conclusion : Both high risk groups of API and mAPI had higher levels of atopic markers and were more sensitized to common allergens. These findings suggest that sensitization to aeroallergens and food allergens are more objective markers as asthma predictive indices. In addition, mAPI is a more reliable index in predicting asthma in Korean children with recurrent wheezing than is API. But only 29 patients were followed until the age of 6, so we need to include more children with long term follow up for future study.

• Food Science of Animal Resources
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• v.29 no.2
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• pp.151-156
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• 2009

The prevalence of food allergies was investigated using questionnaires with 300 subjects whose ages ranged from 19 to 24 years old and the causative food allergens was analyzed using immunological analysis with serum of the subjects who answered that they have/had food allergy. The questionnaire showed that 11.33% of subjects have/had experience of food hypersensitivity, where the main causative foods were fish, beef, chicken, milk, egg, and pork in order. The meat allergy shared 4.65% (2.33% for beef, 1.66% for chicken, 0.66% for pork) in the prevalence of food allergies. The causative beef allergens were investigated with the serum of 6 subjects who have had beef allergy. Western blots were carried out with the serum of P6 subject who showed a positive reaction to beef extract in ELISA. The two specific bands were detected in beef extract on the PVDF membrane, and no band was detected in extracts of pork and chicken. A calculation of the distance of migration by SDS-PAGE enabled the molecular masses of the two bands to be estimated as 67kDa and 31kDa, respectively. The 67kDa was revealed as bovine serum albumin (BSA) which is one of the important beef allergens as reported previously though an analysis of the N-terminal amino acid sequence. However we could not identify the sequence of 31kDa, probably because they comprised several subunits and were modified proteins such as glycoprotein that were unlikely to be easily degraded by the Edman method. The 31kDa band were dyed with the PAS (periodic acid-schiff reagent), suggesting that it might be a glycoprotein. These results suggested that the 31kDa might be considered as a novel potential beef allergen which is not reported previously, although further studies are needed.

• 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.

• The Journal of the Korean dental association
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• v.16 no.12 s.115
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• pp.941-944
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• 1978

The author studied skin reactions and their incidences among 100 dental students and dental nurses to 2% Lidocaine HC1, 3% H₂O₂, Euginol, 5% Sodium Hypochlorite, Dycal and Adhesive plaster by means of Patch test. Following are the results of the study. 1. Eighty six cases out of 100 revealed slight response to 1 or 2 allergens. 2. 2% Lidocaine HC1 showed 1 case, 3% H₂O₂cases, Euginol 2 cases, 5% Sodium Hypochlorite 74 cases, Dycal 1 case Adhesive plaster 8 cases. 3. 5% Sodium Hypochlorite was the most influential to skin. 32 cases showed grade 1+, 20 cases showed grade 2++, 16 cases showed grade 3+++, 6 cases showed grade 4++++,