• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.51 no.4
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• pp.355-361
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• 2008

Pollen is very important causing factor for allergy such as allergic rhinitis, allergic conjunctivitis, and asthma, and pollen allergy has a remarkable clinical impact all over Korea. The main pollination period covers about half the year, from spring to autumn, and the distribution of airborne pollen taxa of allergological interest is related to pollen season dynamics. Korean academy of pediatric allergy and respiratory diseases (KAPARD) has evaluated the pollen characteristics and nationwide pollen count for over 10 years since 1997. Airborne particles carrying allergens were collected daily from nationwide 8 stations (Seoul, Guri, Cheongju, Daegu, Kwangju, Busan, Kangneung, and Jeju) by using 7 days-Burkard sampler (Burkard Manufacturing Co Ltd, Hertfordshire, UK) in South Korea (July 1, 1997-June 30, 2007). They were counted and recorded along with the meteorological factors daily. Tree pollen is a major airborne allergen in spring, grass is most common in summer, and weed pollen is major pollen in autumn in Korea. There has two peak seasons for pollen allergy, as summer and autumn. There is some evidence suggesting that the prevalence of allergic diseases in Korea has been on the increase in the past decade. However, recent findings of the phase I and II studies of the international Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood (ISAAC) study showed the absence of increases or little changes in prevalence of asthma symptoms and diagnosis rates in Korea, whereas the prevalence of allergic rhinitis and atopic dermatitis were increased. We reported the evidence that sensitization rate to weed pollen has been increased yearly since 1997 in childhood. Climate change and air pollution must be the major causing factors for the increase of pollen counts and sensitization rate to pollen. Climate change makes the plants earlier pollination and persisting pollination longer. In conclusion, data on pollen count and structure in the last few years, the pathogenetic role of pollen and the interaction between pollen and air pollutants with climate change gave new insights into the mechanism of respiratory allergic diseases in Korea.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.31 no.2
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• pp.201-211
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• 2010

Objectives : Atopic dermatitis is a chronic inflammatory skin disease which is characterized by severe pruritis, erythema, edema, effusion and scabs. The aim of this study was to understand effects of Arctium lappa Linne, which is well known for its efficacy for various skin diseases, on atopic dermatitis Methods : We conducted this experiment using the DNFB-induced NC/Nga mice. After two weeks of applying DNFB to NC/Nga mice, severe symptoms of atopic dermatitis occurred. We divided the mice into three different groups: a control group which was given no treatment at all, a group treated with dexamethasone (1mg/kg), and another group treated with Arctium lappa Linne (300mg/kg). After one week of treatment, results were recorded according to their improvement on skin, itching behavior, IL-4, and INF-$\gamma$ measurement, which is a significant criterion for diagnosing atopic dermatitis. Results : Itching behavior showed significant improvement in the Arctium lappa Linne group. However Arctium lappa Linne failed to reduce IL-4 and INF-$\gamma$ count. Also there was no satisfying improvement on AD-like skin lesions on the rostral back of the NC/Nga mice treated with Arctium lappa Linne. Conclusions : Arctium lappa Linne showed improvement in itching behavior in NC/Nga mice induced by DNFB. Arctium lappa Linne showed neither significant improvement on skin lesions nor in IL-4 and INF-$\gamma$ measurement.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.42 no.6
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• pp.523-535
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• 2009

The aim of this study was to examine and compare the eating habits and dietary intake patterns of people with or without allergy by the survey during August-September, 2008. The 131 subjects aged 10'-50' (AG = allergy group, n = 62; NG = non-allergy group, n = 69) participated in this study. The questionnaire included general characteristics, dietary habits, and food frequency. Income level tended to be higher in AG than in NG, and AG had more pets and flower pots than NG (p < 0.01). In AG, most affected area of allergy was the skin and the subjects in AG experienced the mixed symptoms and more than 2 types of allergy. Family history of allergy was highly related with allergy of the subjects (AG: 66.1%, NG: 33.9%). Both groups did not exercise regularly, but frequency of alcohol drinking in AG was significantly higher than in NG (p < 0.01). AG skipped meals and had snacking more often than NG (p < 0.05). Most favorite snacks in AG were instant foods, fast foods, cookies, and ice cream (p < 0.05). Therefore, AG tended to consume more allergy-related foods than NG. Highly-consumed allergy-related foods were egg, pork, walnut, onion, tuna, shellfish, and kiwi (p < 0.05). Therefore, nutrition education and guidance is needed to establish good eating habits, food intakes, and life style in people having allergy.

• Journal of Korean Biological Nursing Science
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• v.15 no.4
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• pp.264-271
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• 2013

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to analyze the symptoms of allergic rhinitis among university students and assess their quality of life (QOL) in order to establish an effective program for university students with allergic rhinitis. Methods: The data were collected in May, 2012 in a university school health center. The collected data were analyzed in terms of frequency, percentage and mean for the symptom types and QOL among 131 university students with allergic rhinitis. An independent t-test was conducted to determine differences in QOL according to general and disease related characteristics. Results: Symptoms were reported in the following order: nasal obstruction, rhinorrhea, sneezing, and nasal itching respectively. The mean score of QOL of the participants was 2.24 (5 point). Nasal symptoms such as rhinorrhea (M=3.16) and nasal obstruction (M=3.12) had the highest score and affected QOL badly in the item analysis. QOL differed according to the diagnosis of allergic rhinitis history, skin test reaction, some symptoms and allergens. Conclusion: To establish an effective management program for increasing QOL among university students with allergic rhinitis, symptom management methods for nasal obstruction and rhinorrhea should be included in the program.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.20 no.6
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• pp.960-963
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• 2010

To evaluate whether chaff vinegar liquor (CVL) has potential in ameliorating allergic symptoms in mice, we tested the anti-allergic activities with a DNFB (dinitrofluorobenzene)-induced allergic mouse model. The DNFB-induced allergic symptoms were reduced by 20% compared to the control by chaff vinegar liquor supplemented with Perilla frutescens var. acuta. Allergic symptoms were examined by measuring the width of epidermis swelling. The hematoxyline & eosin (H&E) staining also revealed that the chaff vinegar liquor dramatically decreased the allergic symptoms in the epidermis of the ear. These results collectively suggest that the chaff vinegar liquor supplemented with P. frutescens var. acuta has potential in ameliorating allergic symptoms, showing that the liquor could be a useful biomaterial(s) for the nutraceutical or cosmetic industries.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.60 no.2
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• pp.221-227
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• 2006

Background : Cough may be a consequence of bronchial hyperresponsiveness or inflammation. Empirical treatment is important in this context because it difficult to verify the obvious cause of cough using laboratory tests, Corticosteroid has a nonspecific anti-inflammatory effect, and can be used for cough management. However, its response rate has not yet been fully elucidated. This study investigated the short- term effects of inhaled corticosteroid on chronic cough Methods : Patients with chronic cough with a normal chest radiograph and a pulmonary function test were enrolled. Cases with a prior respiratory infection within 8 weeks, a history of bronchial asthma, objective wheezing on examination, subjective symptoms of gastroesophageal reflux or taking an ACE inhibitor were excluded. On the first visit, a methacholine bronchial provocation test, spontaneous sputum eosinophil count performed twice and a paranasal sinus radiograph were checked, and the patients were treated with budesonide turbuhaler $800{\mu}g/day$ for ten days. The primary outcome measure was a decrease in the cough score after treatment. Results : Sixty nine chronic coughers were finally analyzed. The final diagnoses by the routine tests were as follows: bronchial asthma 13.0%, eosinophilic bronchitis 18.8%, paranasal sinusitis 23.2% and non-diagnostic cases 53.6%. The following responses to the inhaled corticosteroid were observed: definite responders, 76.8%, possible responders, 2.9% and non-responders, 20.3%. The response rate was not affected by the final diagnosis even in the non-diagnostic cases. There were minimal adverse drug related effects during the empirical treatment. Conclusion : Routine objective tests such as methacholine provocation, sputum eosinophil count and simple radiographs were notare not suitable for diagnosing chronic cough Therefore, empirical treatment is important. Short term inhaled corticosteroid is effective and can guide a further treatment plan for chronic cough.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.51 no.2
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• pp.140-152
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• 2018

Purpose: Recently, there has been a worldwide increase in the prevalence of food allergies in children and it may cause nutritional imbalance and poor quality of life for growing children due to dietary restrictions. This study was conducted to quantitatively measure the life burden and related factors of mothers who are the primary caretakers of food-allergic children. Moreover, we generated data for use as a scientific basis for the development of a disease management program to reduce the burden on life from raising food-allergic children. Methods: Mothers of 2,005 children aged 2 years or older and enrolled in Seoul Metropolitan Atopy Free Schools in 2016 who have had diagnosis of food allergy in their lifetime were surveyed. The burden on life of parents with food-allergic children was measured using 17 questions from the Food Allergy Quality of Life-Parental Burden (FAQL-PB) questionnaire, and subjects were asked to respond with a scale of 1 ~ 7. Results: We analyzed the effects of sociodemographic factors of parents and children and the accompanying allergic disease factors on the lives of parents. The number of restricted food items due to food allergy of a child and accompanying diagnosis of atopic dermatitis had a positive (+) effect on the life burden of the parents. Conclusion: Accurate oral food challenge for food allergies should be administered to prevent excessive restriction of food intake. Moreover, efforts should be taken to prevent morbidity accompanying food allergy and relieve symptoms of asthma, allergic rhinitis and atopic dermatitis.

• The Korean journal of internal medicine
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• v.33 no.6
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• pp.1210-1223
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• 2018

Background/Aims: The co-occurrence of obesity aggravates asthma symptoms. Diet-induced obesity increases helper T cell (TH) 17 cell differentiation in adipose tissue and the spleen. The 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-coenzyme A reductase inhibitor pravastatin can potentially be used to treat asthma in obese patients by inhibiting interleukin 17 (IL-17) expression. This study investigated the combined effects of pravastatin and anti-IL-17 antibody treatment on allergic inflammation in a mouse model of obesity-related asthma. Methods: High-fat diet (HFD)-induced obesity was induced in C57BL/6 mice with or without ovalbumin (OVA) sensitization and challenge. Mice were administered the anti-IL-17 antibody, pravastatin, or both, and pathophysiological and immunological responses were analyzed. Results: HFD exacerbated allergic airway inflammation in the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid of HFD-OVA mice as compared to OVA mice. Blockading of the IL-17 in the HFD-OVA mice decreased airway hyper-responsiveness (AHR) and airway inflammation compared to the HFD-OVA mice. Moreover, the administration of the anti-IL-17 antibody decreased the leptin/adiponectin ratio in the HFD-OVA but not the OVA mice. Co-administration of pravastatin and anti-IL-17 inhibited airway inflammation and AHR, decreased goblet cell numbers, and increased adipokine levels in obese asthmatic mice. Conclusions: These results suggest that the IL-17-leptin/adiponectin axis plays a key role in airway inflammation in obesity-related asthma. Our findings suggest a potential new treatment for IL-17 as a target that may benefit obesity-related asthma patients who respond poorly to typical asthma medications.

• Safety and Health at Work
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• v.11 no.3
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• pp.378-379
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• 2020

Due to the significant methodological problems in the empirical part of the paper and the very selective literature review, the conclusions of the paper are mostly unsupported.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.56 no.5
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• pp.191-195
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• 2013

Severe childhood asthma is a complicated and heterogeneous disorder with distinct phenotypes. Children with severe asthma have more persistent symptoms despite receiving treatment, more atopy, greater airway obstruction, and more air trapping than those with mild-to-moderate asthma. They also have higher morbidity and substantial airflow limitations that persist throughout adulthood. Identification of the phenotype clusters and endotypes of severe asthma can allow further modulation of the natural history of severe asthma and may provide the pathophysiologic rationale for appropriate management strategies.