BACKGROUND: Skin prick test has been the primary diagnostic tool used to recognize causative allergens, and there is some evidence that skin reactivity to allergens can be altered by changes in the environment. OBJECTIVE: We performed this study to evaluate whether there are changes in skin reactivity to inhalant allergens among patients with bronchial asthma. MATERIALS AND METHOD: We reviewed the skin prick test results of 384 bronchial asthmatics tested in the early 1990s (June 1992-May 1994) with 52 common inhalant allergens and compared the results of 500 asthmatics tested in the mid 1980s (Jan 1984 - May 1987) with the same kinds of allergens provided by the same manufacturer. RESULTS: Of the 384 subjects tested in the early 1990s, 276 subjects(71.9%) had positive reaction to one or more inhalant allergens and the positive rate was not different from that of the mid 1980s(74%). But, skin reactivity to pollens was significantly increased. In individual allergens, house dust mite(D. farinae and D. pteronyssinus) was the most reactive allergen (52.3%, 43.2% respectively) in the early 1990s. Significant differences in skin reactivity to ragweed (10.0% vs 22.1%, p<0.05) and cockroach (12.7% vs 25.0%, p<0.05) were found when the results of the 1980s and the 1990s were compared. CONCLUSION: House dust mite was the most important allergen in asthmatics from the mid 1980s to the early 1990s. There was increased sensitization to cockroach and ragweed allergen in the early 1990s. Further prospective immunologic and environmental studies are recommended for proper interpretation of the changes in skin reactivity.
Allergens* ; Ambrosia ; Asthma ; Cockroaches ; Dust ; Humans ; Pollen ; Pyroglyphidae ; Skin*

Although atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO₂) has no apparent direct effect on human health, it does have direct effects on plants. The present study evaluated the influence of increased CO₂ levels on the concentration of allergens from common ragweed pollen by setting up a chamber study to model future air conditions and a field study to evaluate current air conditions. For the chamber study, we established 20 ragweed plants in an open-top chamber under different CO₂ levels (380–400, 500–520, 600–620, and 1,000–1,100 parts per million [ppm]). For the field study, we established ragweed plants in rural (Pocheon, Gyeonggi-do; mean CO₂ 320±54.8 ppm) and urban (Gangnam, Seoul; mean CO₂ 440±78.5 ppm) locations. Seeds of the common ragweed (Ambrosia artemisiifolia) were obtained from Daejin University. The Amb a 1 protein content of pollen extracts was quantified using a double sandwich enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. In our chamber study, the median concentration of Amb a 1 in pollen increased with increasing in CO₂ concentration (1.88 ng/µg in 380–400 ppm CO₂; 3.14 ng/µg in 500–520 ppm CO₂; 4.44 ng/µg in 600–620 ppm CO₂; and 5.36 ng/µg in 1,000–1,100 ppm CO₂). In our field study, we found no significantly different concentration of Amb a 1 between the pollen extracts at the Pocheon (mean±standard deviation, 1.63±0.3 ng/µg pollen in 320±54.8 ppm CO₂) and the Gangnam (2.04±0.7 ng/µg pollen in CO₂ in 440±78.5 ppm CO₂) locations, although the concentration of Amb a 1 was increased in the Gangnam than in the Pocheon locations. Our results suggest that future increases in CO₂ levels to more than 600 ppm will significantly elevate the Amb a 1 content in common ragweeds, although the current different CO₂ levels do not cause differences in the Amb a 1 content of ragweed pollen.
Allergens ; Ambrosia* ; Carbon Dioxide ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Gyeonggi-do ; Humans ; Pollen ; Rhinitis, Allergic, Seasonal ; Seoul

The ambrosia beetle, Platypus koryoensis, is a serious pest of oak trees in Korea. In this study we investigated filamentous fungi present in the body of the beetle. Fourteen genera of filamentous fungi belonging to Ascomycota and Basidiomycota were isolated. Among the isolated fungi, some were able to produce wood degrading enzymes. This is first report of fungi associated with P. koryoensis.
Ambrosia ; Ascomycota ; Basidiomycota ; Beetles ; Fungi ; Insect Vectors ; Insects ; Korea ; Platypus ; Quercus ; Wood

The ambrosia beetle, Platypus koryoensis, is an economically important pest affecting oak trees in Korea. Candida kashinagacola was isolated from galleries of the beetle in oak wood and identified by analyses of morphology, physiological properties, and nucleotide sequence of the large subunit ribosomal DNA. This is the first report on Candida species associated with oak wilt disease vectored by the ambrosia beetle, Platypus koryoensis, in Korea.
Ambrosia ; Base Sequence ; Beetles ; Candida* ; Disease Vectors* ; DNA, Ribosomal ; Korea* ; Platypus* ; Quercus ; Wood

PURPOSE: It has been shown that the sensitization to inhalant allergens on the development of asthma or rhinitis in childhood is related to hereditary disposition and environmental factors. This study was conducted to compare the degree of sensitization to major inhalant allergens in bronchial asthma and rhinitis and to find factors which have an effect on it. METHODS: Skin prick tests were done on the 410 atopic bronchial asthma and rhinitis patients who visited the pediatric allergy clinic from January 1987 through December 1996. We divided the patients into 3 groups: an indoor allergen group sensitive to D.p., D.f., cat fur, dog hair and cockroach; an outdoor allergen group to tree pollen, ragweed pollen, and grass pollen; and a group to both indoor and oudoor allegens. RESULTS: 1) Based on their ages, the prevalence of sensitization was relatively high in 5-6 years old, to indoor allergen and in 11-12 years old to the outdoor allergen. 2) Among the subjects sensitized only to indoor allergens, 34.2% had asthma. 6.7% had rhinitis, and 59.1% both diagnoses. For those sensitized only to outdoor allergens, these values were respectively 29.0%, 48.4% and 22.6%, respectively. 3) The prevalence of indoor allergen sensitization was significantly high in children, living in house, in urban areas, and having carpet/sofa/bed at home(P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The younger age group showed more sensitization to indoor allergens than to outdoor allergens. The indoor allergens were strongly related to asthma and the outdoor ones to rhinitis. As a result, it seems that it is very helpful for a prevention of asthma in childhood to take an early environmental control for inhalant allergens.
Allergens* ; Ambrosia ; Animals ; Asthma ; Cats ; Child* ; Cockroaches ; Diagnosis ; Dogs ; Hair ; Humans ; Hypersensitivity ; Poaceae ; Pollen ; Prevalence ; Rhinitis ; Skin

PURPOSE: There are a number of reports suggesting that widespread propagation of weeds and high concentration of weed pollen have been contributed to climate change. We investigated the interrelationship between allergenic pollen concentration, allergic symptom and meteorological factor. METHODS: We collected data of pollen concentration and meteorological factors in 7 stations nationwide during between 1998 and 2012. We recruited total 297 allergic patients sensitized to weed pollens from each station, conducted a survey about allergic symptom, and calculated symptom index. We surveyed the vegetation area of ragweed and Japanese hop. Based on these data, we performed the long-term trend analysis (X11-ARIMA, autoregressive integrated moving average) on regional pollen concentration, and correlation analysis to investigate the interrelation between weed pollen concentration, allery symptom index and meteorological factor. We have also done regression analysis on vegetation area and maximal pollen concentration. RESULTS: Long-term trend analysis showed the increasing trend of pllen concentration in Seoul. Weed pollen concentration, allergy symptom index and each meteorological factor were not correlated significantly. Regression analysis revealed that increase of weed vegetation area results in increase of weed pollen concentration. Through this regression equation, we estimated the vegetation area that can product pollen concentration triggering allergenic risk. CONCLUSION: Meteorological factors, pollen concentration and allergic symptoms should be consistently assessed and the relationship between each factor should be analyzed, considering climate change. It is necessary to verify the equation for pollen estimation by vegetation area and set up a policy for vegetation control focused on the reduction of allergenic pollen.
Ambrosia ; Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; Climate Change ; Humans ; Humulus ; Hypersensitivity ; Meteorological Concepts ; Plant Weeds ; Pollen ; Rhinitis, Allergic, Seasonal* ; Seoul

PURPOSE: Airborne pollen is the most common causative agents of allergic disease. Since 2000, there isn't no more report about airborne pollen in Busan. This study is that pollen in one area of Busan was collected to investigate species, particle counts, seasonal distribution, and of its correlation with reactivity to skin prick test in children during 1998-2012. METHODS: Rotorod sampler was installed on the rooftop of St. Mary Hospital in Busan. A 24-hour sampling of airborne allergens over a fifteen-year period was conducted 6 days/wk from January 1, 1998 to December 31, 2012. After staining they were identified, counted and recorded with the weather in Busan. RESULTS: Major pollens collected were Pine, Alder, Oak, Juniperus, Humulus. The pollen season is relatively short and the pollen dispersed mainly during the period from March to May in case of tree pollen, from April to September in case of grass pollen and from August to October in case of weed pollen. Total annual pollen count ranged from 36,412 grains/m3 (2002) to 1,342 grains/m3 (2006). The peak pollen season was seen for spring and autumn, especially in May and September during 1998-2012. In skin prick tests, birch was the highest sensitization rate (15.1%), followed by alder (14.7%), hazel (14.1%) in the tree for 15 years. And in weed, mugwort and ragweed were the highest sensitization rate (10.6%, 10.3%), followed by humulus (5.5%) for 15 years, but since 2008, was increased. CONCLUSION: Analysis of pollens sampled in the atmosphere of Busan, Korea, for a 15-year period identified 24 species of pollens with seasonal variation of some clinically important pollen load. Analysis of data, it showed that alder and birch are main allergen in spring for 15 years, and in 1998-2008, ragweed and artemisia was main allergen in fall, since 2009, followed by humulus.
Allergens ; Alnus ; Ambrosia ; Artemisia ; Atmosphere ; Betula ; Busan ; Child ; Humans ; Humulus ; Hypersensitivity* ; Juniperus ; Korea ; Poaceae ; Pollen* ; Seasons ; Skin ; Weather

PURPOSE: Skin reactivity to different allergens may vary with age, since the degree and type of sensitization may be related not only to genetic factors but also to the intensity and duration of exposure to the allergens. The aim of this study was to evaluate profile of sensitization to airborne allergens according to age in children with allergic asthma. METHODS: We performed skin prick tests with 12 common airborne allergens in children with clinically diagnosed asthma, and analyzed the results of 313 patients with at least one positive response. Patients were arbitrarily divided into four groups, according to their age: group I(3 to 7 yrs; n=80), group II(7 to 10 yrs; n=93), group III(10 to 13 yrs; n=85), and group IV(13 to 17 yrs; n=55). The allergens tested were grouped into 5 classes : house dust mites, cockroach, animal danders, molds, and pollens. Atopy index and class index were calculated as the number of allergens and classes to which responses had been positive, respectively. RESULTS: In all groups, the most common positive allergic reaction was to house dust mites. Positive reactions to cat fur, mugwort, and ragweed among the allergens, and animal danders and pollens among the classes, tended to increase from group I to group IV(P<0.05). Atopy index increased with age(P<0.05). Class index also increased with age(P<0.05). Sensitization to more than one class of allergens occurred in 62.3% of the patients, and the percentage of these polysensitized patients tended to increase from group I to group IV(P<0.05). CONCLUSION: In children with allergic asthma, the positive number of allergens and their classes by skin prick test increased with the age of the patients. This phenomenon was associated with age- related increase in the frequency of polysensitized patients.
Allergens ; Ambrosia ; Animals ; Artemisia ; Asthma* ; Cats ; Child* ; Cockroaches ; Dander ; Fungi ; Humans ; Hypersensitivity ; Mites ; Pollen ; Pyroglyphidae ; Skin Tests ; Skin*

Air-borne pollen is known as one of the major causal agents to respiratory allergic reactions. The daily number of pollen grains was monitored using Burkard volumetric spore traps at eight locations including Seoul and Jeju during 1997-2005. Pollen grains were observed throughout the year especially from February to November. They showed similar distribution patterns of species among locations except Jeju, where Japanese cedar vegetation is uniquely found. The peak seasons for pollen grains from trees, grasses, and weeds were from March to May, May to September, and August to October. Tree pollens were mainly composed of pine, oak, alder, and birch. Weed pollens were mainly from Japanese hop, sagebrush, and ragweed. The diameter of pollen grains, which has a typical range of 20~60 micrometer, has close relationship with allergenicity. The allergenicity of trees and weed pollens is higher than that of grass pollens in general. Daily fluctuations in the amount of pollens have to do with a variety of meteorological factors such as temperature, rainfall, and the duration of sunshine. Temperature and rainfall are especially decisive in determining pollen concentrations. Ten weather elements that are thought to affect the concentration of pollens are used to develop equations for the pollen forecasts. Predictive equations for each pollen species and month are developed based on statistical analyses using observed data during the last 5 years in Seoul through a co-work with the Committee of Pollen Study in Korean Academy of Pediatric Allergy and Respiratory Diseases and National Institute of Meteorological Research.
Alnus ; Ambrosia ; Artemisia ; Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; Betula ; Cryptomeria ; Humans ; Humulus ; Hypersensitivity ; Meteorological Concepts ; Poaceae ; Pollen ; Seasons ; Spores ; Sunlight ; Weather

BACKGROUND: The prevalence of atopy and atopy-related disease has been known to increase during the past decade. OBJECTIVE: This study was designed to evaluate the changes of atopy prevalence among asthmatic patients and the causative allergens. METHOD: A total of 698 asthmatic patients visiting Seoul National University Hospital in 1983, 1990 and 1997 was recruited. Skin prick test with common inhalant allergens was carried out and interpreted as positive when the mean wheal size formed by allergen was larger than 3mm. Atopy was defined when skin reaction to one or more allegens was positive. RESULT: The prevalence of atopy among asthmatic patients was 54% in 1983, 48.8% in 1990 and 53% in 1997, respectively. The prevalence of atopy decreased as the age of patients increased. Recently, old asthmatic patients (>55 years) showed a higher tendency to visit the tertiary referral hospital. When the data were analyzed according to age, the prevalence of atopy significantly increased among asthmatic patients aged 15-35 years, in whom the prevalence was 60.4% in 1983 and 81.3% in 1997 (p<0.05). The positive rate of skin test to Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus, cat fur, mugwort, ragweed, and grass pollen were significantly higher in 1997 than in 1983 (p<0.05). CONCLUSION: The prevalence of atopy among asthmatic patients aged 15-35 years showed significant increase in 1997 compared to 1983. The changes of skin response to Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus, cat fur, mugwort, ragweed, and grass pollen contributed to the increase of atopy.
Allergens ; Ambrosia ; Animals ; Artemisia ; Asthma ; Cats ; Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus ; Humans ; Poaceae ; Pollen ; Prevalence* ; Seoul ; Skin ; Skin Tests ; Tertiary Care Centers*