To analyze the impact of sublingual immunotherapy(SLIT)on the quality of life in children with allergic rhinitis.Fifty children with allergic rhinitis who have received sublingual immunotherapy were enrolled in this study.Quality of life was evaluated via measurement of VAS score and rhinoconjunctivitis quality of life questionnaire(RQLQ)before and after treatment.Twenty patients after treatment had complete remission,13 cases were partly alleviated and 17 cases had no response.The total effective rate was 66%.The Multi-VAS scores and Uni-VAS scores in each observation time point(at half a year,one year,two years after treatment)had statistically significant difference compared with that of pre-treatment with SLIT(<0.05).According to RQLQ scores,the quality of life,nasal symptoms,conjunctiva symptoms,non-nasal(ocular)symp-toms,behaviors and emotional responses were greatly improved in each time point compared with that of pretreatment(<0.05).Symptomatic treatment scores in each time point after treatment were significantly different and had a positive correlation with the scores of RQLQ(<0.05).SLIT can improve the nasal allergic symptoms,children's life quality and reduce the use of symptomatic treatment medicines.
Administration, Sublingual ; Child ; Humans ; Quality of Life ; Rhinitis, Allergic ; therapy ; Sublingual Immunotherapy ; Treatment Outcome

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Flow-mediated brachial artery vasoactivity has been proposed as a noninvasive means for assessing endothelial function. The present study is designed to assess the influence of aging on endothelial function and when vasoactivity developed initially, peaked. MATERIALS AND METHOD: We measured brachial artery diameter for 60 seconds continuously using 7.5 MHz ultrasound following 5 minutes of lower arm occlusion in 22 normal volun-teers (young group: 10 volunteers, 26.5+/-1.9 years; old group: 12 volunteers, 55.9+/-3.3 years). After sublingual administration of 0.6 mg nitroglycerine, 240 seconds continuously. And then we measure vasoactivity every 3 seconds. RESULTS: Flow-mediated vasodilation (FMD) was started earlier in young group (24.3+/-2.8 sec; old group 28.8+/-3.6 sec, p=0.017). After release of occlusion, peak vasoacitivity time was at 35.5+/-4.7 seconds and peak vasoactivity was 8.4+/-1.7% in young group (old group 6.9+/-1.5%, p=0.099). Endothelial independent vasodilation (EID) was started at 80.7+/-13.3 seconds after sublingual nitroglycerine in young group (vs 80.0+/-19.0 sec), peaked at 177.5+/-16.9 seconds (vs 171.3+/-13.8 sec). Peak vasoactivity was higher in young group (19.1+/-3.1%; old group 15.9+/-2.5%, p=0.033). CONCLUSION: We conclude that 1) Aging has influence on endothelial function about initiating time of vasoactivity as well as peak vaso- activity. 2) FMD can be measured around 50 seconds after release of brachial artery occlusion and EID at 180 seconds after application of sublingual nitroglycerine. 3) The initiating time of vasoactivity (under 30 seconds) can be used for evaluation of endothelial function.
Administration, Sublingual ; Aging* ; Arm ; Brachial Artery ; Nitroglycerin ; Ultrasonography* ; Vasodilation ; Volunteers

Administration, Sublingual ; Humans ; Immunotherapy ; methods ; Inflammation ; Respiratory Hypersensitivity ; therapy

Current treatment options for allergic rhinitis (AR) include allergen avoidance and environmental control, pharmacotherapy, nasal surgery and immunotherapy. Among these, immunotherapy is the only therapeutic option that modifies fundamental immunologic mechanism by inducing desensitization. Specific allergen immunotherapy has been used for 1 century since 1911 and subcutaneous immunotherapy (SCIT) has been demonstrated to be effective in asthma and AR. However, SCIT has several disadvantages such as inconvenience, invasiveness and potentially severe systemic reactions. Thus, sublingual immunotherapy (SLIT) has recently received much attention around the world as a treatment for AR and is now widely used to replace the subcutaneous route. SLIT has recently been introduced in Korea and is now available for AR treatment in the Asia-Pacific region. This review offers better understanding of SLIT for AR by summarizing published articles and our previous works regarding proposed mechanisms, indication and efficacy, safety and adverse events, and compliance.
Administration, Sublingual ; Asthma ; Compliance ; Desensitization, Immunologic ; Drug Therapy ; Immunotherapy ; Korea ; Nasal Surgical Procedures ; Rhinitis ; Rhinitis, Allergic ; Sublingual Immunotherapy

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the efficacy of sublingual immunotherapy (SLIT) with standardized Dermatophagoides farina drops in monosensitized and polysensitized patients with allergic rhinitis. METHOD: The clinical data of 162 patients treated with standardized Dermatophagoides farina drops were analyzed retrospectively. These patients were divided into the monoallergen sensitized group and polyallergen sensitized group according to the results of skin prick tests. The total nasal symptoms score (TNSS), the total medication score (TMS) and adverse effects (AEs) were evaluated before treatment, 2 year after SLIT treatment and 3 year after drug discontinuance. Result:After SLIT treatment for 2 years and drug discontinuance for 3 years, the TNSS (3. 14[2. 47; 3. 65], 3. 45 [2. 76; 3. 92], respectively) and TMS (0. 42[0. 36; 0. 57],0. 35[0. 26; 0. 44], respectively) in the monoallergen sensitized group were lower than that before the treatment (TNSS: 9. 00 [8. 00; 10. 00], TMS: 2. 16 [1. 88; 2. 37]), which have showed a statistically significant difference(P<0. 05). Similarly, after SLIT treatment for 2 years and drug discontinuance for 3 years, the TNSS (3. 14[2. 46; 3. 63], 4. 23[3. 65; 4. 96], respectively) and TMS (0. 42[0. 36; 0. 58], 0. 50[0. 34; 0. 72], respectively) in the polyallergen sensitized group were lower than that before the treatment (TNSS: 9. 00[8. 00; 10. 00], TMS: 2. 18[1. 95; 2. 37]), which have showed a statistically significant difference(P<0. 05). No statistically significant finding could be observed in monoallergen and polyallergen sensitized group before the treatment and 2 years after treatment, respectively. However, a statistically significant finding could be observed between two groups in the drug discontinuance for 3 years (P<0. 05). Eleven patients suffered local adverse effects, and the incidence of adverse effects showed no significantly difference (P>0. 05). CONCLUSION SLIT with standardized Dermatophagoides farina drops has a long-term efficacy in monosensitized and polysensitized patients with allergic rhinitis. Moreover, a longer SLIT treatment (>2 years) may be necessary to consolidate its efficacy.
Administration, Sublingual ; Animals ; Antigens, Dermatophagoides ; therapeutic use ; Humans ; Pyroglyphidae ; Retrospective Studies ; Rhinitis, Allergic ; therapy ; Skin Tests ; Sublingual Immunotherapy ; Treatment Outcome

OBJECTIVE: To observe the role of the dust mites drops sublingual immunotherapy(SLIT) in pediatric allergic rhiriitis caused by dust mites and compare its efficacy between monosensitized and polysensitized children. METHOD: A total of 77 pediatric allergic rhinitis patients received Dermatophagoides farina extracts sublingual immunotherapy for 2 years were enrolled as desensitization group and were allocated into monosensitized group (41 cases) and polysensitized group (36 cases) according to the number of coexisting allergens. Meanwhile another 33 allergic rhinitis children treated by pharmacotherapy during the period were collected as control group. The total symptom scores (TNSS), total medication scores (TMS) and visual analogue scale(VAS) were assessed at the beginning, six months, 1 year and 2 years of the treatment. SPSS 13. 0 software was used to analyze the data. RESULT: the score of TNSS and VAS in desensitization was slightly higher than the control after six months treatment, but without difference at l year and 2 years; the score of TMS had significantly improved in desensitization compared with the corresponding points in control. All the parameters in monosensitized group were equivalent with polysensitizend group, except the score of TMS was slightly lower than the polysensitizend group at six months. CONCLUSION Dust mite drops sublingual immunotherapy is effective for the allergic rhinitis children caused by mites. And it has similar immunotherapy efficacy between monosensitized and polysensitized children.
Administration, Sublingual ; Allergens ; administration & dosage ; Animals ; Antigens, Dermatophagoides ; administration & dosage ; Child ; Dermatophagoides farinae ; Desensitization, Immunologic ; Humans ; Rhinitis, Allergic ; drug therapy ; Software ; Sublingual Immunotherapy ; Treatment Outcome

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the efficacy of sublingual immunotherapy with dermatophagoides farina drops on children with allergic rhinitis. METHOD: This was retrospective study analyzing the efficacy of dermatophaguides farinae drops SLIT in 110 patients (aged 4-14 years old) with house dust mites induced allergic rhinitis (without asthma). All the patients were divided into the SLIT group (n = 60) and drug group (n = 50). Patients in SLIT group received sublingual immunotherapy combined with symptomatic medication, and patients in drug group only received symptomatic medication. We recorded and evaluated the total nasal symptom scores (TNSS), total medication scores (TMS) and visual analogue scale (VAS) of the 2 groups at three time points, before the treatment, and the treatment for 1-year and 2-year. RESULT: After 1-year and 2-year treatment, compared with drug group, TMS, TNSS and VAS in SLIT group decreased significantly (P < 0.01). When compared with baseline, we got the similar result as compared with drug group. Besides, the TMS of drug group increased significantly after treatment (P < 0.01). And no significant difference was observed in TNSS and VAS. In addition, there was significant difference in the Proportion of patients withdrawing symptomatic medication in SLIT group and drug group (68.33%,16.00%, respectively; P < 0.01). There were 4 local adverse reactions occurred during the treatment and no serious adverse events occurred. CONCLUSION Sublingual immunotherapy with Dermatophagoides farinae drops showed significant clinical efficacy in children with allergic rhinitis comparing with pharmacotherapy.
Administration, Sublingual ; Adolescent ; Animals ; Antigens, Dermatophagoides ; administration & dosage ; Asthma ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Dermatophagoides farinae ; Humans ; Retrospective Studies ; Rhinitis, Allergic ; drug therapy ; Sublingual Immunotherapy ; Treatment Outcome

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the efficacy of sublingual immunotherapy (SLIT) with Dermatophagoides farinae drops for allergic rhinitis (AR) of different symptom severity. METHOD: This retrospective analysis to receive SLIT treatment of 143 cases of patients with allergic rhinitis, according to the severity of disease symptoms divid- ed into two groups, moderate group (62 patients) and severe group (81 patients). Before SLIT and after SLIT for half year, 1 year and 1. 5-2.0 years, the TNSS, TMS and sign scores of patients with allergic rhinitis were evaluated. RESULT: The TNSS, TMS and sign scores had continuously improved significantly after SLIT for half year, 1 year and 1.5-2.0 years in two groups as compared with baseline (P < 0.05). Before SLIT, TNSS and sign scores of severe group had a significantly higher level than moderate group (Z = 10.40, 2.40, P < 0.05), while TMS of two groups had no significant differences (Z = 0.00, P > 0.05). Half year after SLIT treatment, in two groups for sign scores, there were significant differences (Z = 3.32, P < 0.05), and there were no significant differences for TNSS (Z = 1.58, P > 0.05) and TMS (Z = 0.37, P > 0.05). 1 and 1.5-2.0 years after SLIT, there were no significant differences in two groups for TNSS, TMS and sign scores (P > 0.05). CONCLUSION SLIT with Dermatophagoides farinae drops for 1.5-2.0 years is effective in the patients with allergic rhinitis of different symptom severity. And equivalent efficacy could be achieved for different symptom severity.
Administration, Sublingual ; Animals ; Antigens, Dermatophagoides ; administration & dosage ; Dermatophagoides farinae ; Humans ; Retrospective Studies ; Rhinitis, Allergic, Perennial ; drug therapy ; Sublingual Immunotherapy ; Treatment Outcome

Ketamine produces an increase in the heart rate and blood pressure, but the precise mechanism is controversial. In order to obtain inslight into the mechanism by observing the influence of nitroglycerin (NTG) on the ketamine effect, ketamine was administered intravenously following sublingual administration of nitroglycerin in conscious patients. The results were as follows: 1) In the ketamine(2mg/kg) group(n=15), the heart rate and blood pressure increased significantly by as much as 25%. 2) In the nitroglycerin(1.2mg) group(n=12), the heart rate increased, but blood pressure decreased from 5 minutes after administration. 3) In the group which received ketamine(2mg/kg) 5min. after NTG(1.2mg)(N=15), the heart rate did not change, but the blood pressure increased significantly without attenuation by nitroglycerin. From the above results, it is suggested that in the ketamine effect control mechanism may also be participated in addition ot the peripheral mechanism involving norepinephrine release.
Administration, Sublingual ; Blood Pressure* ; Heart Rate* ; Heart* ; Humans ; Ketamine* ; Nitroglycerin* ; Norepinephrine

PURPOSE: We wanted to investigate the effect of sublingual nitroglycerin (NTG) on improving the image quality and diagnostic accuracy of coronary computed tomographic angiography (CTA) for detecting atherosclerosis and significant stenosis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We retrospectively assessed the data of 81 patients who underwent coronary CTA. Forty three patients underwent coronary CTA without medication (the non-administrated group), while 38 patients were given 0.6 mg NTG sublingually before coronary CTA (the administrated group). Image quality was assessed using a five-point grading scale. We evaluated the diagnostic performance of coronary CTA for assessing atherosclerosis and significant stenosis (> or = 50%) in the 42 patients who underwent invasive coronary angiography. RESULTS: The mean image-quality grades were 4.09+/-0.72 and 4.50+/-0.60 in the non-administrated and administrated groups, respectively (p=0.008). On the per-artery analysis, the accuracy percentages for detecting coronary CTA were 65 and 88% for atherosclerosis and 82 and 80% for significant stenosis in the non-administrated and administrated groups, respectively. On the per-patient analysis, the positive predictive values for coronary CTA were 80% and 100% for atherosclerosis and 77% and 88% for significant stenosis in the non-administrated and administrated groups, respectively. CONCLUSION: Coronary CTA with NTG administration improved the image quality. The accuracy of coronary CTA for detecting atherosclerosis was higher in the administrated group than in the non-administrated group.
Administration, Sublingual* ; Angiography* ; Atherosclerosis ; Constriction, Pathologic ; Coronary Angiography ; Humans ; Nitroglycerin* ; Retrospective Studies