PURPOSE: Rice is the main cereal produced and consumed in large quantities in Asian countries including Korea. Several reports have suggested a role of IgE-mediated hypersensitivity in asthma and eczema associated with ingestion or inhalation of rice. In Japan, hypoallergenic rices are used as substitutes for rice in some atopic patients. We performed this study to identify major the allergens of rice and the different allergenicity in cooked rice and hypoallergenic rices. METHODS: We made crude extracts from rice of various origins: polished rice, cooked rice, hypoallergenic rice from Japan and GMO rice, and performed SDS-PAGE. Based on uni, CAP test and skin prick tests we got pooled sera, then IgE immunoblots were undertaken. We performed ELISA inhibition to rule out nonspecific binding. RESULTS: There was no difference of protein distribution between the origins of the various rices, and their "polishment". After cooking, it was difficult to see any protein distribution of rice. With the results of IgE immunoblots it was impossible to differentiate between wild and hypoallergenic rices by IgE binding itself. Even in hypoallergenic rice, there was still a binding of IgE with remaining allergen. CONCLUSION: Boiling degenerates almost all protein in rice IgE binding activities remain in hypoallergenic rice produced in Japan was no difference between wild and GMO rice in SDS-PAGE and IgE immunoblot using sensitized pooled sera. Further studies with more sensitive sera are necessary for the identification of major allergens and the development of hypoallergenic rice.
Allergens ; Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; Asthma ; Edible Grain ; Complex Mixtures ; Cooking ; Eating ; Eczema ; Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Humans ; Hypersensitivity, Immediate ; Immunoglobulin E ; Inhalation ; Japan ; Korea ; Organisms, Genetically Modified ; Skin

PURPOSE: This study was undertaken to compare blood eosinophilic inflammatory markers between the acute period and clinical remission in children with upper respiratory infection (URI) -induced wheezing, and to assess the effects of atopy and age on these changes. METHODS: In 77 children with URI-induced wheezing, blood eosinophil count and serum eosinophil cationic protein (ECP) were measured during the acute wheezing phase and clinical remission period. The data were analyzed in the subgroups divided by atopy and age, respectively. RESULTS: Blood eosinophil count was significantly lower during acute period (181.6/microliter, 67.3-490.0) than that during clinical remission period (261.8/microliter, 120.7-567.7, P=0.001), and this significant eosinopenic response was found in non-atopic children (n=36) [92.2 (41.3-206.0) /microliter vs 204.5 (106.6-392.2) /microliter, P< 0.001], but not in atopic children (n=41). A significantly higher level of serum ECP was observed during acute period (15.1 microgram/L, 7.2-31.6) than during clinical remission (13.0 microgram/L, 6.6-25.7, P=0.05), and this difference was significant only in atopic children[24.2 (15.3-38.1) microgram/L vs 16.2 (8.3-31.6) microgram/L, P< 0.001]. A significant fall in blood eosinophil count during acute period was found only in children < or=4 years (n=37), while a significant rise in serum ECP was detected only in children > 4 years (n=40). However, these differences a due to dissimilar distribution of atopy in the two age groups. CONCLUSION: Our results showed different eosinophil responses to infection in non-atopic and atopic children with URI-induced wheezing. It appears that the blunted eosinopenic response in atopic children may be associated with the predominant Th2-like response to infection.
Child* ; Eosinophil Cationic Protein ; Eosinophils* ; Humans ; Respiratory Sounds*

No abstract available.
Respiratory Syncytial Viruses* ; Respiratory System* ; Respiratory Tract Infections*

No abstract available.
Asthma* ; Child* ; Humans ; Respiratory Sounds*

Dendritic cells (DCs) are crucial in the defense against pathogens and allergen. The ability of allergens to cause allergic inflammation is contingent upon the presence of microenvironment that either privileges Th2 responses or prohibits these reactions. As a simplification, this review tried to prove a causal relationship between a allergic disease and dendritic cell by satisfying the modified Koch's postulates. DCs express C-type lectin receptors (CLRs) and Toll like receptors (TLRs). DCs take up almost all allergen through CLRs. Uptake of allergen by CLRs leads to the production of anti-inflammatory reactions. Although both TLRs and CLRs have distinct functions, the balance between both receptors is instrumental for the immunological outcome.
Allergens ; Antigen-Presenting Cells ; Dendritic Cells* ; Inflammation ; Lectins, C-Type ; Toll-Like Receptors

Toxic epidermal necrolysis (TEN) is an exfoliative disease of skin and characterized by flaccid bullae and spreading erythema so that the skin has the appearance of being scalded. It results primarily from a toxic reaction to various drugs, but occasionally occurs as a result of infection, neoplastic conditions, or other exposure. Enterovirus 71 (EV 71), the most recently described serotype of the genus Enterovirus (family Picornaviridae), causes a variety of diseases, including aseptic meningitis, encephalitis, poliomyelitis-like paralysis, hand-foot-mouth disease, gastroenteritis, fever and rash. A 3-year-old boy presented at the Department of Pediatrics, Soonchunhyang University Cheonan Hospital due to TEN. There were no definite causes such as drug toxicity, Graft-Versus-Host disease (GVHD) and infection. However, we could have isolated EV 71 from the patient's stool. Until now, there have been no reports showing the relationship between EV 71 and TEN, we report here in a case of TEN-associated with EV 71. Further evaluation is needed to study the relationship of TEN with EV 71.
Blister ; Child ; Drug Toxicity ; Encephalitis ; Enterovirus ; Epidermal Necrolysis, Toxic ; Erythema ; Exanthema ; Fever ; Gastroenteritis ; Graft vs Host Disease ; Humans ; Meningitis, Aseptic ; Paralysis ; Pediatrics ; Preschool Child ; Skin ; Stress, Psychological

Acute hemorrhagic edema of infancy is a cutaneous leukocytoclastic vasculitis, which is clinically characterized by acute development of peripheral edema and targetoid purpuric lesions on the face and extremities. The clinical picture has a violent onset with a short benign course, followed by spontaneous complete recovery. We describe a 7-month-old girl with acute hemorrhagic edema, in whom the disease occurred with otitis media.
Edema ; Extremities ; Humans ; Infant ; Otitis ; Otitis Media ; Vasculitis ; Vasculitis, Leukocytoclastic, Cutaneous

PURPOSE: Childhood asthma is one of the most frequent chronic inflammatory diseases of the respiratory tract and can have profound effects on emotional, and economical aspects not only for childhood asthma patients, but also the patient's caregivers. It was also performed has been done in Korea in 1999 under the supervision of The Korean Academy of Pediatric Allergy and Respiratory Disease (KAPARD). We compared and evaluated the data from the questionnaire between 1999 and 2007 in order to obtain the pilot data for a nation-wide study on the life quality of childhood asthma caregivers. METHODS: We selected childhood asthma patients at the Department of Pediatrics, Hanyang University Seoul Hospital and Guri Hospital. The contents and categories of the questionnaire were identical with the one developed by KAPARD, the questionnaire were filled up twice at first & second visit, divided into emotion and activity domains. All items were rated on a 5 scores from 1 to 5: 1, a lower quality of life; and 5, a satisfactory quality of life. For the validity of the study, the caregivers filled up the first and the second questionnaire at least at 1-week intervals the measurement of forced expiratory volume 1 (FEV1) at each time and also added an item in the second questionnaire which compared the difference between 2 visits, subsequently scoring +5 for the most improved state, -5 for the most aggravated state and 0 for the stationary state. RESULTS: In this study, may higher scores in the second visit suggested successful management of asthma may contribute to the improvement in the caregiver's quality of life. Particularly, items such as "Frustration", "Embarrassment", "Worry about daily works" and "Concern about side effect of medicine" have been improved in the emotion domain, and "sleepless", "Night awakening", and "Disturbance of housework" in the activity domain. Between 1999 and 2007, "Concerning", and "Concern about ordinary works" has been improved in the first visit, and "Disturbance of houseworks", "Worry about daily works" and "Concern about side effects of medicine" in the second visit. CONCLUSION: The results of this study suggest that there may be no significant different items regarding the quality of life between the stable and changed groups, suggesting that our questionnaire can be applicable to clinical practice.
Asthma ; Caregivers ; Child ; Forced Expiratory Volume ; Humans ; Hypersensitivity ; Korea ; Organization and Administration ; Pediatrics ; Pilot Projects ; Quality of Life ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Respiratory System

PURPOSE: An increase in the prevalence of allergic diseases in our country as well as countries with a western life style may be due to a decrease in exposure to infectious agents in the early life. The aim of this study is to identify the relationship between BCG vaccination and allergic diseases in school-aged children. METHODS: A questionnaire survey was conducted on 8,378 elementary school children, in Seoul, Korea. Multiple logistic regression analysis was performed to investigate the independent relationship between BCG vaccination and allergic diseases. RESULTS: The significant associations between BCG vaccination and diagnosis of asthma or current wheeze (adjusted OR: 0.49 [95% CI: 0.29-0.82], 0.51 [0.28-0.93], respectively), all being adjusted by confounding factors. However, there was no association between BCG vaccination and diagnosis of allergic rhinitis or atopic dermatitis, or current symptoms of allergic rhinitis or atopic dermatitis. CONCLUSION: These findings suggest that BCG vaccination in early childhood may prevent the development of asthma in school-aged children in Seoul, Korea.
Asthma ; Child ; Dermatitis, Atopic ; Humans ; Korea ; Life Style ; Logistic Models ; Mycobacterium bovis ; Prevalence ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Rhinitis ; Rhinitis, Allergic, Perennial ; Vaccination

PURPOSE: We evaluated the efficacy of leukotriene receptor antagonist and second generation anti-histamine in children with moderate to severe persistent allergic rhinitis. METHODS: Twenty eight patients who were treated with second generation anti-histamine for 4 weeks (Zyrtec syrup(R), Group A) and 58 patients who were treated with leukotriene receptor antagonist for 4 weeks (Singulair(R), Group B) were enrolled in this study. Control group (n=22) was received only first generation anti-histamine (Hydroxyzine) intermittently. Efficacy were evaluated by nasal scores in nasal congestion, rhinorrhea, nasal itching, sneezing and total nasal symptom score (a sum of patient ratings of nasal congestion, rhinorrhea, nasal itching, sneezing) before treatment and at 2 and 4 weeks after treatment. RESULTS: There were no difference in the total IgE and total eosinophil count of 3 groups. There were also no significant difference in the initial symptom scores. For nasal congestion, group A and B showed significant improvement at 2 and 4 weeks after treatment compared with controls (each P=0.006, P=0.000, P=0.023, P=0.001). For sneezing, group A and B showed significant improvement at 2 weeks after treatment compared with controls (each P=0.048, P=0.011) and group B also showed significant improvement at 4 weeks after treatment compared with controls (P=0.041). In total nasal symptom score (TNSS), group A and B showed significant improvement at 2 and 4 weeks after treatment compared with controls (each P=0.014, P=0.005, P=0.008, P=0.005). CONCLUSION: In the moderate to severe persistent allergic rhinitis, leukotriene receptor antagonist or second generation anti-histamine is effective in nasal congestion and sneezing.
Child ; Eosinophils ; Estrogens, Conjugated (USP) ; Humans ; Immunoglobulin E ; Pruritus ; Receptors, Leukotriene ; Rhinitis ; Rhinitis, Allergic, Perennial ; Sneezing