• Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology & Nutrition
• /
• v.16 no.3
• /
• pp.171-177
• /
• 2013

Purpose: This study was aimed to evaluate the frequency and course of adverse events associated with azathioprine treatment in Korean pediatric patients with inflammatory bowel disease. Methods: Total of 174 pediatric patients (age range, 1 to 19 years) with inflammatory bowel disease who received azathioprine in order to maintain remission at Samsung Medical Center (Seoul, Korea) from January 2002 through December 2012 were included in this study. Medical records of these subjects were retrospectively reviewed regarding the development of adverse events associated with azathioprine treatment. Results: Ninety-eight patients (56.3%) of 174 patients experienced 136 episodes of adverse events, requiring dose reduction in 31 patients (17.8%), and discontinuation in 18 patients (10.3%). The mean dose of azathioprine that had been initially administered was $1.32{\pm}0.42$ mg/kg/day. Among the adverse reactions, bone marrow suppression developed in 47 patients (27.0%), requiring dose reduction in 22 patients (12.6%) and discontinuation in 8 patients (4.6%). Other adverse events that occurred were gastrointestinal disturbance (15.5%), hair loss (12.1%), pancreatitis (7.5%), arthralgia (6.9%), hepatotoxicity (2.9%), skin rash/allergic reactions (2.9%), headache/dizziness (2.3%), sepsis (0.6%), and oral mucositis (0.6%). Conclusion: Bone marrow suppression, especially leukopenia was most commonly associated with azathioprine treatment in Korean pediatric inflammatory bowel disease patients. Close observation for possible adverse events is required in this population with inflammatory bowel diseases who are under treatment with azathioprine.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine Ophthalmology and Otolaryngology and Dermatology
• /
• v.30 no.1
• /
• pp.10-16
• /
• 2017

Objectives : Atopic Dermatitis is a recurrent, chronic, allergic eczema with severe itching sensation. This study designed to research Sihocheonggan-tang & Sihocheonggan-san to find out treatability for atopic dermatitis. Methods : We got 14 search results with searching word '시호청간탕', '시호청간산' in 'OASIS', 'NDSL', 'RISS'. We classified these studies according to the type of study, diseases, treatment methods and treatment outcomes. Results : In the analysis of the diseases, Sihocheonggan-tang & Sihocheonggan-san was given for Eczema nummulare, Ermatitis seborrheica, Erythema multiforme, Eczema and Atopic dermatitis. In the analysis of the treatment methodes, the dosage form of Sihocheonggan-tang & Sihocheonggan-san was herbal medication, pill, granules and herbal medication & pill. In the analysis of the treatment outcomes, the symptoms of all patients were improved. In the experimental researches, it was proved that Sihocheonggan-tang & Sihocheonggan-san has effects that affect anti-inflammatory, skin protection and recovery of keratinocyte. Conclusions : For this study, we can consider Sihocheonggan-tang & Sihocheonggan-san is effective for atopic deramatitis. So, it is necessary to carry out clinical trial for Sihocheonggan-tang & Sihocheonggan-san in atopic dermatitis to evaluate safety and efficacy.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
• /
• v.46 no.6
• /
• pp.735-749
• /
• 2020

Objectives: The aim of this study was to investigate airborne pollen counts, inhalant allergen sensitization rate, and allergic disease prevalence among elementary school children in Ulsan, South Korea during 2012-2018. Methods: Burkard samplers for pollen were installed on rooftops in suburban and urban areas in Ulsan. A 24-hour sampling of airborne allergens was conducted six days/week from January 1, 2013 to November 31, 2018. Skin prick tests were done with a total of 4,246 primary school students residing in urban and suburban areas in 2012, 2014, 2016, and 2018. This study examined sensitization to 20 major inhalant allergens. Results: The highest monthly counts of airborne pollen were observed in April and September each year. Among the pollen identified over the six years, pine showed the highest pollen counts (44.3%), followed by oak (22.3%), alder (6.3%) and Japanese hops (4.3%). Tree pollen predominated from March to June, and weed pollen predominated from August to October. Higher sensitization rates for inhalant allergens were observed in Dermatophagoides farinae (42.4%), Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus (43.6%), cat fur (12.1%), birch (9.9%), oak (9.6%), and alder (8.7%). The inhalant allergen sensitization rate was highest in the group with comorbidity (asthma and/or rhinitis and atopic dermatitis), and respiratory allergic disease (asthma and/or rhinitis) was higher than that of atopic dermatitis. Conclusion: Both the counts of tree pollen in the air and the sensitization rate for tree pollen were high in Ulsan. The temporal change in respiratory allergic diseases was similar to that for the sensitization rate of tree pollen, such as oak. In the future, it is considered that additional continuous research on various inhalant allergens and pollen should be conducted.

• Journal of Yeungnam Medical Science
• /
• v.9 no.2
• /
• pp.239-247
• /
• 1992

A clinical analysis was done on 134 cases with bronchial asthma who were admitted to the Department of Pediatrics Yeungnam University from May 1987 to October 1991. The results were as followings; 1) The peak age of bronchial asthma was under 2 years. The sex ratio of male to female was 2.9 : 1. 2) The out-break of bronchial asthma was most common in fall, especially in September. 3) The past history of other allergic diseases were present in 22.4% of patients(30/134 cases), and the previous bronchiolitis in infancy were experienced in 12.7% of patients(17/134 cases). 4) According to the skin test for allergens done by RAST, the most common allergens were Mites and House dust. 5) Eosinophilia(T.E.C>250/min) was found in 29.1% of patients, and elevated IgE level(>200 $IU/m{\ell}$) was found in 63.2% of patients. 6) No significant differences in the serum IgE level were found between male and female patients. No significant differences in the serum IgE level were found between asthma patients with and without other allergic diseases. 7) The serum IgE level of school aged patients was significant higher than that of preschool aged(p<0.01).

• Journal of Haehwa Medicine
• /
• v.18 no.1
• /
• pp.29-41
• /
• 2009

Wished to examine closely effect that SoPungDoJeokTang-KaMi (SPDJTK) medicines used to atopy dermatitis disease patient get in atopy eruption control experimentally. SPDJTK medicines controlled $CD4^+/IFN-\gamma$, and $CD4^+/CD25^+/foxp3^+$ revelation that an experiment that motive allergy immune reponse because an in vitro experiment stimulates T cells of a NC/Nga mouse same time by anti-CD40/rmIL-4, and interleukin-$1{\beta}$, IL-6, TNF-$\alpha$, and TGF-$\beta$ mRNA outturn that bear in T and B cells decreased remarkably by SPDJTK medicines. Intracellular staining of splenocytes anti-CD40/rmIL-4 plus rmIL-4 stimulated as described in a, assessed after 24 h, SPDJTK exerts a mainly immunosuppressive effect that acts at least partially through suppression of the transcription factor GATA3 expression in $CD4^+$ T cells. 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. However, the exact etiology of AD has been unclear. To further explore the pathogenesis and treatment of AD, a suitable animal model is required. We found that skin lesions, which were clinically and histologically very similar to human AD, mite antigen-induced dermatitis on the face, neck, ears and dorsal skin of inbred NC/Nga mice. Result that Th1 cell and Th2 cell observe to be shifted by cytokine expression with $CD4^+/CD25^+/foxp3^+$ Treg cells induction by SPDJTK medicines could know that SPDJTK medicines can use usefully in allergy autoimmnune diease.

• Proceedings of the KSR Conference
• /
• 2011.10a
• /
• pp.2895-2901
• /
• 2011

SeoulMetro(line number 1 to 4) for the first half of the year. Therefore air quality in the subway is very important. It is passengers, such as sneezing and respiratory vital activities, Suspended due to skin keratin microbial action, and Microbial contaminants such as viruses. Hypersensitivity disorders, an atopic dermatitis, infectious diseases, allergic diseases, and can cause respiratory diseases. Ministry of Environment and National Institute of Environmental Research is managed so the life bacteria. It is emerging as the occupational health problems. Introduction of an appropriate ventilation system for cooling and dehumidification is needed. In line number 2, commuting and normal trains are measured in-room floating microbes. Suspended bacteria and fungi suspended in 2011 for 85 ~ 385$cfu/m^3$, 67 ~ 98$cfu/m^3$ is lower than baseline. Suspended to prevent microbial contamination and air conditioning equipment performance is a substantial improvement. Suspended micro-organisms and the impact on passenger room ventilation is increased. Electric car how to improve air quality substantially investigated.

• Environmental Analysis Health and Toxicology
• /
• v.31
• /
• pp.19.1-19.7
• /
• 2016

A large portion of the Korean population has been exposed to toxic humidifier disinfectants (HDs), and considering that the majority of the victims are infants, the magnitude of the damage is expected to be considerably larger than what has currently been revealed. The current victims are voicing problems caused by various diseases, including but not limited to lung, upper respiratory tract, cardiovascular, kidney, musculoskeletal, eye, and skin diseases, etc. However, there has been difficulty in gaining validation for these health problems and identifying causal relationships due to lack of evidence proving that toxic HD is the specific causes of extrapulmonary diseases such as allergic rhinitis. Furthermore, the victims and bereaved families of the HD case have not received any support for psychological distress such as post-traumatic stress disorder, depression, feelings of injustice, and anger caused by the trauma. In addition, because the underlying mechanisms of the toxic materials within the HDs such as polyhexamethylene guanidine phosphate, poly(oxyalkylene guanidine) hydrochloride, chloromethylisothiazolinone /methylisothiazolinone have yet to be determined, the demand for information regarding the HD issue is growing. The victims of the HD cases require support that goes beyond financial aid for medical costs and living expenses. There is a desperate need for government-led integrated support centers that provide individualized support through health screenings; in other words, we need an integrated facility that provides the appropriate social support to allow the victims to recover their physical and mental health, so as to well prepare them to return to a normal life. The implementation of such a plan requires not only the close cooperation between those departments already directly involved such as the Ministry of Environment and the Ministry of Health and Welfare, but also active support on a national scale from pan-governmental consultative bodies.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
• /
• v.76 no.2
• /
• pp.75-79
• /
• 2014

Trichloroethylene (TCE) is a toxic chemical commonly used as a degreasing agent, and it is usually found in a colorless or blue liquid form. TCE has a sweet, chloroform-like odor, and this volatile chlorinated organic chemical can cause toxic hepatitis, neurophysiological disorders, skin disorders, and hypersensitivity syndromes. However, the hypersensitivity pneumonitis (HP) attributed to TCE has rarely been reported. We hereby describe a case of HP associated with TCE in a 29-year-old man who was employed as a lead welder at a computer repair center. He was installing the capacitors on computer chip boards and had been wiped down with TCE. He was admitted to our hospital with complaints of dry coughs, night sweats, and weight losses for the past two months. HP due to TCE exposure was being suspected due to his occupational history, and the results of a video-associated thoracoscopic biopsy confirmed the suspicions. Symptoms have resolved after the steroid pulse therapy and his occupational change. TCE should be taken into consideration as a potential trigger of HP. Early recognition and avoidance of the TCE exposure in the future is important for the treatment of TCE induced HP.

• BMB Reports
• /
• v.38 no.1
• /
• pp.77-81
• /
• 2005

The monocyte chemotactic protein-3 (MCP3), on chromosome 17q11.2-q12, is a secreted chemokine, which attracts macrophages during inflammation and metastasis. In an effort to discover additional polymorphism(s) in genes whose variant(s) have been implicated in asthma, we scrutinized the genetic polymorphisms in MCP3 to evaluate it as a potential candidate gene for asthma host genetic study. By direct DNA sequencing in twenty-four individuals, we identified four sequence variants within the 3 kb full genome including 1,000bp promoter region of MCP3; one in promoter region (-420T>C), three in intron (+136C>G, +563C>T, +984G>A) respectively. The frequencies of those four SNPs were 0.020 (-420T>C), 0.038 (+136C>G), 0.080 (+563C>T), 0.035 (+984G>A), respectively, in Korean population (n = 598). Haplotypes, their frequencies and linkage disequilibrium coefficients (|D'|) between SNP pairs were estimated. The associations with the risk of asthma, skin-test reactivity and total serum IgE levels were analyzed. Using statistical analyses for association of MCP3 polymorphisms with asthma development and asthma-related phenotypes, no significant signals were detected. In conclusion, we identified four genetic polymorphisms in the important MCP3 gene, but no significant associations of MCP3 variants with asthma phenotypes were detected. MCP3 variation/haplotype information identified in this study will provide valuable information for future association studies of other allergic diseases.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
• /
• v.55 no.9
• /
• pp.322-329
• /
• 2012

Purpose: Aeroallergens are important causative factors of allergic diseases. Previous studies on aeroallergen sensitization rates investigated patients groups that had visited pediatric allergy clinics. In contrast, we investigated sensitization rates in a general population group of elementary school to teenage students in Incheon, Jeju, and Ulsan. Methods: After obtaining parental consent, skin-prick tests were performed on 5,094 students between March and June 2010. Elementary school students were tested for 18 common aeroallergens, whereas middle and high school students were tested for 25 allergens. The 25 allergens included Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus, Dermatophagoides farinae, pollen (birch, alder, oak, Japanese cedar, pine, willow, elm, maple, Bermuda grass, timothy grass, rye grass, orchard grass, meadow grass, vernal grass, mugwort, Japanese hop, fat hen, ragweed, and plantain), and mold (Penicillatum, Aspergillus, Cladosporium, and Alternaria). Results: The sensitization rates in descending order were 25.79% (D. pteronyssinus ), 18.66% (D. farinae ), 6.20% (mugwort), and 4.07% (willow) in Incheon; 33.35% (D. pteronyssinus ), 24.78% (D. farinae), 15.36% (Japanese cedar), and 7.33% (Alternaria) in Jeju; and 32.79% (D. pteronyssinus), 30.27% (D. farinae), 10.13% (alder), and 8.68% (birch) in Ulsan. The dust mite allergen showed the highest sensitization rate among the 3 regions. The sensitization rate of tree pollen was the highest in Ulsan, whereas that of Alternaria was the highest in Jeju. The ragweed sensitization rates were 0.99% in Incheon, 1.07% in Jeju, and 0.81% in Ulsan. Conclusion: The differences in sensitization rates were because of different regional environmental conditions and distinct surrounding biological species. Hence, subsequent nationwide studies are required.