The daily pollen counts in the air of Seoul, Korea were measured using a rotorod sampler from June 1990 to July 1992. Two distinct pollen periods were noted: tree pollens such as alder, poplar, willow, oak and pine appeared in the spring from March to May, and weed pollens, such as Artemisia spp., Ambrosia spp. and Hop japanese appeared in the autumn from August to September. Various kinds of grass pollen appeared from June to September. The study indicated that there were two pollen peaks in Seoul composed of tree pollens in spring and weed pollens in autumn.
Air Pollution/*statistics & numerical data ; Allergens/*analysis ; Humans ; Korea ; Plants ; *Pollen/classification ; Seasons

BACKGROUND: Allergens tend to sensitize simultaneously. Etiology of this phenomenon has been suggested to be allergen cross-reactivity or concurrent exposure. However, little is known about specific allergen sensitization patterns. OBJECTIVE: To investigate the allergen sensitization characteristics according to gender. METHODS: Multiple allergen simultaneous test (MAST) is widely used as a screening tool for detecting allergen sensitization in dermatologic clinics. We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of patients with MAST results between 2008 and 2014 in our Department of Dermatology. A cluster analysis was performed to elucidate the allergen-specific immunoglobulin (Ig)E cluster pattern. RESULTS: The results of MAST (39 allergen-specific IgEs) from 4,360 cases were analyzed. By cluster analysis, 39items were grouped into 8 clusters. Each cluster had characteristic features. When compared with female, the male group tended to be sensitized more frequently to all tested allergens, except for fungus allergens cluster. CONCLUSION: The cluster and comparative analysis results demonstrate that the allergen sensitization is clustered, manifesting allergen similarity or co-exposure. Only the fungus cluster allergens tend to sensitize female group more frequently than male group.
Allergens ; Cluster Analysis* ; Dermatology ; Female ; Fungi ; Humans ; Immunoglobulins ; Korea* ; Male ; Mass Screening ; Medical Records ; Retrospective Studies

Allergens ; analysis ; Humans ; Hypersensitivity ; diagnosis ; immunology ; Practice Guidelines as Topic ; Skin Tests

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the main inhaled allergens and the difference of that between city and rural suburbs in patients with allergic rhinitis in the mountain region of the northwest Hubei province and to provide epidemiological basis for prevention and treatment in the region. METHOD: Eight hundred and thirty-five cases who were diagnosed as allergic rhinitis with standardized allergens in Taihe Hospital of Hubei University of Medicine from Sep 2009 and Dec 2011 were studied. The data of allergens and the distribution of the patients were recorded and analyzed. χ2-test were used to analyze the data. RESULT: The top 7 of inhaled allergens were house dust mites (89.6%), dust mites (86.0%), tropical mites (56.9%), croton bug (18.8%), felon herb (8.1%), the cat hair (8.1%) and fine chain alternata bacteria (9.5%), Two main kinds of allergen in three different area are with no obvious difference (P > 0.05). CONCLUSION In northwest Hubei Province, the highest rate of inhaled allergens was dust mites, which are approximate in different age groups and different regions, especially in the city.
Allergens ; analysis ; Animals ; Artemisia ; Cats ; China ; epidemiology ; Humans ; Pyroglyphidae ; Rhinitis, Allergic ; epidemiology ; Rural Population ; Skin Tests

OBJECTIVE: To study the type and drift law of airborne pollen in Wuhan, and its relationship to pollinosis. METHOD: From November 2003 to October 2004, an airborne pollen investigation was performed in three districts of Wuhan using gravity sedimentation technique. Meanwhile, univalent shin prick tests of pollens and the study of invasion season were performed in 1200 cases with pollenosis. Among them, 352 cases underwent the airway responsiveness measurements, and the correlation between airway responsiveness and pollen concentration were analyzed. RESULT: A total of 47 pollen colonies were observed and 75,525 pollens were collected. Every year the the peak time of airborne pollen occurred in two seasons: spring (March and April) and autumn (from August to October). The incidence of pollinosis is consistent to pollen peak time; there was a negative relationship between PD20 (the provocative dose to decrease FEV1 by 20% from baseline) and airborne pollen concentration. CONCLUSION The study provides useful information for airborne pollen epidemiology in Wuhan. It provides important insights to clinical prevention, diagnosis and treatment of pollen related allergic diseases.
Allergens ; analysis ; China ; epidemiology ; Humans ; Incidence ; Pollen ; Rhinitis, Allergic, Seasonal ; epidemiology ; Skin Tests

Allergens ; analysis ; Animals ; Cattle ; Child ; Humans ; Immunoglobulin E ; analysis ; Infant ; Milk Hypersensitivity ; diagnosis ; therapy ; Practice Guidelines as Topic ; Skin Tests

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to determine which allergens were prevalent in patients with allergic rhinitis and respiratory disease in Qingshan Wuhan. METHOD: A total of 700 cases, which were diagnosed as allergic rhinitis and respiratory disease by history and clinical presentation, underwent ELISA test with 7 standardized allergens, and the most important sensitizing allergens were assessed. The samples were stratified on two age groups: AR and respiratory disease group and the positive rate of two main allergens in two groups were contrast analyzed. RESULT: For patients with allergic rhinitis, the positive rate of the top seven aeroallergen were dermatophagoides (47%), herbs (19.7%), tree (18%), animal dander (8.9%), house dust (6.5%), mold (4.9%) and wormwood (3%). There was no significant difference in higher sensitivity to dust mite and ragweed between allergic rhinitis and respiratory disease group (P > 0.05). CONCLUSION Dust mite, Tree and Herbs are the most important three aeroallergens in Qingshan region of Wuhan.
Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Allergens ; analysis ; Antigens, Dermatophagoides ; analysis ; China ; epidemiology ; Dust ; analysis ; Female ; Humans ; Immunoglobulin E ; analysis ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Pollen ; Prevalence ; Rhinitis ; epidemiology ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVEChinese allergic subjects have high levels of sensitization to house dust mite (HDM) and other indoor allergens. This study quantifies common indoor allergen levels in Chinese households.

METHODSDust samples were collected from nine cities. Major allergens Der p 1 and Der f 1 from Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus and D. farinae, and specific antigens of Blomia tropicalis, Tyrophagus putrescentiae, Acarus siro, and cockroach species Blattella germanica and Periplaneta americana were measured by ELISA.

RESULTSHDM allergens were found in dust samples from bedding in 95% of the Chinese households. The median levels varied from <0.006 to 9.2 µg/g of dust, depending on the city. The percentages of households having HDM allergen levels associated with the risk of developing allergy sensitization and asthma were 65% and 25%, respectively. Specific antigens of the storage mite and cockroach were only found in samples from the southern and tropical regions of China. Levels of mite allergens were generally higher in samples from bedding compared to samples from the living room, even for storage mites, whereas levels of cockroach antigens were higher in the living room samples.

CONCLUSIONHDM allergens are present in bedding dust samples from most Chinese households. Cities in southern and central China have relatively high levels of HDM major allergens compared to cities in northern and western China. Antigens of storage mites and cockroaches are not as common as HDM allergens.

Air Pollution, Indoor ; statistics & numerical data ; Allergens ; chemistry ; Animals ; Bedding and Linens ; China ; Cockroaches ; Dust ; analysis ; Housing ; Pyroglyphidae ; Seasons

BACKGROUNDThe hygiene hypothesis has been proposed to explain the pathogenesis of asthma. Allergen exposure was shown to inhibit asthma in an animal model. But the optimal timing of allergen exposure remains unclear. This study aims to explore the time effcct of allergen exposure and the possible mechanisms.

METHODSNeonate Wistar rats were randomly divided into asthma group, control group and day 1, day 3, day 7, and day 14 groups. The day 1, day 3, day 7 and day 14 groups were injected with ovalbumin (OVA) subcutaneously on days 1, 3, 7 and 14 after birth, respectively. Six weeks later, all groups, except the control group, were sensitized and stimulated with OVA to make the asthma model. We observed the pulmonary pathologic changes, detected the regulatory T cells, and CD28 expression level in thymus and spleen by flow cytometry.

RESULTSThe asthmatic inflammation in the day 1, day 3 and day 7 groups, but not the day 14 group, was alleviated. The asthma group and day 14 group had lower proportions of regulatory T cells in the thymus compared with the control group, day 1, day 3, and day 7 groups. There was no significant difference in the CD28 expression levels on the regulatory and conventional T cells among groups. But the control group and the day 1, day 3, and day 7 groups had relatively higher proportions of CD28 positive regulatory T cells in the thymus than the day 14 group and the asthma group.

CONCLUSIONSThere is a "time-window" for early allergen exposure. The impairment of regulatory T cells may promote the development of asthma. Allergen exposure in the "time-window" can make the thymus produce normal quantity of regulatory cells. The CD28 signal on regulatory T cells may participate in the production of regulatory T cells.

Allergens ; immunology ; Animals ; Asthma ; etiology ; CD28 Antigens ; analysis ; physiology ; Disease Models, Animal ; Female ; Ovalbumin ; immunology ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Signal Transduction

OBJECTIVEMean diameter is the most common used parameter for wheal response assessment after skin prick test. This study aimed to investigate the diagnostic capacity of mean diameter according to the outcome of oral food challenge, and to determine the cut-off points that could render food challenges unnecessary.

METHODData of 173 children referred to the Division of Primary Child Health Care for the evaluation of suspected food allergy were prospectively studied. All children underwent skin prick test and open food challenge to the relevant food(s) in clinic. The mean wheal diameter of skin prick test was measured, and open food challenge was performed to confirm food allergy. The SPSS software package version 13.0 for windows (SPSS, Chicago, IL, USA) was used for all statistical analysis. Open food challenge was taken as the gold standard for diagnosis. Diagnostic capacity of skin prick test, including the sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, negative predictive value, was calculated by cross-table. In addition, receiver operating characteristic curve (ROC) was plotted and area under the curve (AUC) was calculated to quantify the accuracy of the parameter.

RESULTFor the 173 children, 271 open food challenges were performed with egg white, egg yolk and cow's milk, In which 123 were positive, 99 children were diagnosed as food allergy. Cutaneous symptoms (87.0%) were most common, followed by gastrointestinal symptoms (9.8%). The AUC of mean diameter was 0.794 for egg white, 0.804 for egg yolk and 0.904 for cow's milk. The sensitivity of skin prick test with a cut-off value of ≥ 3 mm was ranged from 71% to 87%, while the specificity was between 31% and 57%. The authors also defined food specific skin prick test mean diameters that were 100% diagnostic for allergy to egg white (≥ 8.5 mm), egg yolk (≥ 5.5 mm), cow's milk (≥ 5.5 mm).

CONCLUSIONPredictive decision points for a positive outcome of food challenges can be calculated for egg and cow's milk using mean diameter. It may help to simplify the diagnostic procedure of food allergy.

Allergens ; Egg Hypersensitivity ; diagnosis ; Humans ; Immunoglobulin E ; analysis ; Infant ; Infant, Newborn ; Milk Hypersensitivity ; diagnosis ; Prospective Studies ; Skin Tests ; methods