The mite fauna of the house-dust, collected from 39 houses of Seoul, were examined and the results are as follows. 1) Mites were present in 29 samples (74.3%) and the number of mites collected was 993 in total. 2) The families of the mites distinguished were Pyroglyphidae, Acaridae, Cheyletidae, Phytoseiidae and Smariidae, and the identified species were Dermatophagoides farinae, Deromatophagoides pteroassinus, Tyrophagus purtrecentiae, Landoglyphus konoi and Cheyletus malacensis. 3) D. farinae (53.6%) showed higher frequency rate of occurance than any other mites; C. malacensis (12.8%), T. putrecentiae (7.7%), D. pteronyssinus (5.0%) and I. konoi (2.7%).
Acaridae ; Dermatophagoides farinae ; Dust* ; Humans ; Mites* ; Pyroglyphidae ; Seoul

BACKGROUND: IL - 5 has been recognized as a potent proeosinophilic cytokine and IL-10 has been reported as an important anti - inflammatory cytokine in allergic inflammation. But the clinical roles of these cytokines in allergic asthma are still unclear. Objectives : We studied the clinical implications of IL - 5 and IL - 10 secretions from stimulated peripheral blood mononuclear cells ( PBMC ) in Dermatophagoides farinae ( DF ) atopic asthmatics ( BA ). METHODS: Thirty - six DF sensitized BA and 9 non - atopic BA were enrolled for this study. Twenty - seven out of 36 subjects were challenged by inhalation of DF crude allergen. The isolated PBMCs were cultured for 6 days with DF antigen and the stimulatory index ( SI ) and secretions of IL - 5, IFN - y and IL - 10 from PBMC were measured. We analyzed these parameters with clinical parameters. RESULTS: SI (4.2 +/- 1.0 vs. 1.3 +/- 0.3, p<0.05) and secretions of IL - 5 ( 19.9 vs. 1.7 g/L, p< 0.001 ) and IL-10 ( 185.5 vs. 34.3 g/L, p(0.05 ) from the atopic BA were significantly higher than those of non-atopic BA, but the secretion of IFN - r was not different between the two groups ( 56.6 vs. 47.3 ug/L ). No significant difference in secretions of IL - 5, IL - 10, IFN - r and SI of PBMC was found between responder and non - responder of DF inhalation challenge test. Among responders to antigen challenge test ( n = 17 ), the production of IL - 5 correlated with the productions of IL - 10 (r = 0.773, p< 0.01 ) and methacholine PC20 ( r = 0.503, p< 0.05 ). Production of IL - 5 from the PBMC of atopic mild intermittent BA ( n = 10 ) was higher than that of atopic per'sistent BA ( n = 27 ) ( p< 0.01 ), but no difference in IL - 10, IFN - r and SI was found between the two groups. Conclusions : Allergen specific productions of IL - 5 and IL - 10 from the PBMC may be specific for atopic subjects and secretion of IL - 5 from the stimulated PBMC may contribute to the pathogenesis of atopic BA. The severity of BA may be more influenced by other factors.
Asthma ; Cytokines ; Dermatophagoides farinae ; Inflammation ; Inhalation ; Interleukin-10 ; Methacholine Chloride

BACKGROUND: In vivo and/or in vitro diagnostic tests to identify possible allergens have been conducted for patients with chronic spontaneous urticaria (CSU) in order to identify any predisposing factors and avoid unnecessary restrictions. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the diagnostic effectiveness of ImmunoCAP(R) ISAC (ISAC) in CSU patients. METHODS: A total of 31 patients with CSU were tested by ISAC and Multiple Allergen Simultaneous Test enzyme immunoassays (MAST-EIA). A skin prick test (SPT) was performed for 17 out of 31 patients. The results of ISAC and MAST-EIA were evaluated based on the SPT results. RESULTS: For 17 patients, with SPT used as the reference standard, ISAC compared with MAST-EIA showed lower sensitivity (22.2% vs. 26.5%), higher specificity (100% vs. 95.7%), higher positive predictive value (100% vs. 52.9%), and lower negative predictive value (86.9% vs. 87.7%). The agreement rate was more favorable for ISAC than for MAST-EIA (87.3% vs. 85.1%; kappa=0.324 vs. 0.263). For 31 patients, the agreement rate between ISAC and MAST-EIA was 83.9% for both Dermatophagoides farinae and Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus. Correlation coefficients (Rho) between ISAC and MAST-EIA for each allergen were 0.690 and 0.675, respectively. CONCLUSION: For CSU patients, specificity, positive predictive value, and the agreement rate of ISAC were similar or superior to those of MAST-EIA. In addition, ISAC provides valuable information on the possible sensitization to different allergen sources by elucidating cross-reactive components. With careful clinical correlations in interpretation, ISAC can be a useful diagnostic tool to detect allergens in CSU patients.
Allergens ; Causality ; Dermatophagoides farinae ; Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus ; Diagnostic Tests, Routine ; Humans ; Immunoenzyme Techniques ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Skin* ; Urticaria*

PURPOSE: Skin prick test and determination of allergen-specific IgE antibodies in serum are methods commonly used to diagnose allergies. Several studies indicate that skin test and specific IgE have roughly the same diagnostic precision, although discrepancies exist. The objective of this study was to evaluate the influence of total serum IgE on the relation between skin prick test and allergen-specific IgE antibody. METHODS: We performed skin prick tests using 14 major inhalant allergens and measured total IgE and specific IgE for two major allergens [Dermatophagoides farinae(D.f.) and Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus (D.p.)] in serum of 230 children with atopic asthma. RESULTS: Positivity of skin prick test was 92.2% for D.f., 89.6% for D.p., and 22.6% for cockroach. Allergen/Histamine(A/H) ratio and allergen-specific IgE score showed a positive correlation for D.f.(r=0.39, P<0.01), and for D.p.(r=0.38, P<0.01). Total serum IgE and allergen-specific antibody score showed a positive correlation for D.f.(r=0.50, P<0.01), and for D.p.(r=0.53, P<0.01). There was no correlation between total serum IgE and A/H ratio on skin prick test for the two allergens. However, total serum IgE had the tendency to increase according to the number of positive allergens on skin prick test. At each level of A/H ratio for D.f. and D.p. on skin prick test, patients with high total IgE had higher antigen-specific IgE scores than patients with low total IgE. CONCLUSION: Our results show that the relationship between skin prick test and antigen-specific IgE was influenced by the level of serum total IgE. This indicates that the level of serum total IgE should be taken into account when skin prick test and allergen-specific IgE are compared.
Allergens ; Antibodies ; Asthma* ; Child* ; Cockroaches ; Dermatophagoides farinae ; Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus ; Humans ; Hypersensitivity ; Immunoglobulin E* ; Skin Tests ; Skin*

BACKGROUND: Multiple Antigen Simultaneous Test (MAST)-immunoblot assay is a practical and economical test, which has been recently introduced nationwide. Authors investigated test efficiency of a MAST-immunoblot assay, Polycheck Allergy (PA). METHODS: A total of 3,153 patients were tested by PA and the results were compared with the results of ImmunoCAP and skin prick test (SPT) in 532 and 75 patients, respectively. The correlation with the lgE results measured by VIDAS was also analyzed. RESULTS: The agreements of PA with SPT were 87.8% in the Inhalant Panel and 89.3% in the Food Panel and the agreement of ImmunoCAP with SPT was 95.2%. The most common allergens giving positive reactions were Dermatophagoides farinae (46.2%) and Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus (40.0%). SPT taken as a reference, PA compared with ImmunoCAP showed higher agreement (D. farinae, 76.0 vs. 70.7%; D. pteronyssinus, 76.0 vs. 74.4%), sensitivity (D. farinae, 72.7 vs. 68.2%; D. pteronyssinus, 75.0 vs. 71.2%) and specificity (D. farinae, 85.0 vs. 81.3%) except for the specificity for D. pteronyssinus (78.3 vs. 87.5%). The rate of allergen specific IgE positive patients was higher than that of negative patients when total IgE was over 100 kU/L. CONCLUSIONS: Our results showed that the agreement, sensitivity and specificity of PA were similar to or better than those of the previously established test, ImmunoCAP. The allergen specific IgE results of PA were in correlation with total IgE. PA may be used for testing allergen specific IgE to diagnose and treat allergic diseases.
Allergens ; Dermatophagoides farinae ; Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus ; Humans ; Hypersensitivity ; Immunoglobulin E ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Skin

BACKGROUND: Multiple Antigen Simultaneous Test (MAST)-immunoblot assay is a practical and economical test, which has been recently introduced nationwide. Authors investigated test efficiency of a MAST-immunoblot assay, Polycheck Allergy (PA). METHODS: A total of 3,153 patients were tested by PA and the results were compared with the results of ImmunoCAP and skin prick test (SPT) in 532 and 75 patients, respectively. The correlation with the lgE results measured by VIDAS was also analyzed. RESULTS: The agreements of PA with SPT were 87.8% in the Inhalant Panel and 89.3% in the Food Panel and the agreement of ImmunoCAP with SPT was 95.2%. The most common allergens giving positive reactions were Dermatophagoides farinae (46.2%) and Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus (40.0%). SPT taken as a reference, PA compared with ImmunoCAP showed higher agreement (D. farinae, 76.0 vs. 70.7%; D. pteronyssinus, 76.0 vs. 74.4%), sensitivity (D. farinae, 72.7 vs. 68.2%; D. pteronyssinus, 75.0 vs. 71.2%) and specificity (D. farinae, 85.0 vs. 81.3%) except for the specificity for D. pteronyssinus (78.3 vs. 87.5%). The rate of allergen specific IgE positive patients was higher than that of negative patients when total IgE was over 100 kU/L. CONCLUSIONS: Our results showed that the agreement, sensitivity and specificity of PA were similar to or better than those of the previously established test, ImmunoCAP. The allergen specific IgE results of PA were in correlation with total IgE. PA may be used for testing allergen specific IgE to diagnose and treat allergic diseases.
Allergens ; Dermatophagoides farinae ; Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus ; Humans ; Hypersensitivity ; Immunoglobulin E ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Skin

Among the several possible etiologic factors for the development of nasal polyp, localized nasal allergy had been insisted to be one of the major factors. This study aims to explore the existence of local production of IgE within nasal polyp, which can be the indirect evidence of localized nasal allergy. Fifty-two patients, who underwent nasal polypectomies between April 1993 and December 1995, were selected. The levels of total IgE and specific IgE of serum and polyp fluids were assessed. By using Donovan's equation, the percentage of local production of IgE in nasal polyp were calculated. Local production of total IgE was demonstrated in 18 cases of 28 polyp patient group (64.3%). Local production of specific IgE for Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus and Dermatophagoides farinae were demonstrated in 6 cases of 24 polyp patient group (25%). These results suggest the existence of local production of IgE in nasal polyp.
Dermatophagoides farinae ; Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus ; Humans ; Hypersensitivity ; Immunoglobulin E* ; Nasal Polyps* ; Polyps

OBJECTIVETo investigate the short and long term efficacy of a commercial air ionizer in killing Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus (D. pteronyssinus) and Dermatophagoides farinae (D. farinae) mites.

METHODSThe effect of a commercial ionizer on D. pteronyssinus and D. farinae was evaluated in the laboratory, using a specially designed test. Mortality was assessed after 6, 16 and 24 hours for direct exposure and after 24, 36, 48, 60 and 72 hours for exposure in simulated mattress. New batches of mites were used for each exposure time.

RESULTSLT50 for direct exposure of ionizer was 10 hours for D. pteronyssinus and 18 hours for D. farinae. The LT50 for exposure in simulated mattress was 132 hours or 5.5 days for D. pteronyssinus and 72 hours or 3 days for D. farinae. LT95 for direct exposure of ionizer was 36 hours for D. pteronyssinus and D. farinae. Meanwhile, the LT95 for exposure in simulated mattress was 956 hours or 39.8 days for D. pteronyssinus and 403 hours or 16.8 days for D. farinae.

CONCLUSIONSThis study demonstrates the increasing mite mortalities with increasing exposure time of a commercial ionizer and suggests that negative ions produced by an ionizer kill dust mites and can be used to reduce natural mite populations on exposed surfaces such as floors, clothes, curtains, etc. However, there is reduced efficacy on mites inside stuffed materials as in mattresses and furniture.

PURPOSE: Component-resolved diagnostics (CRD) is expected to provide additional diagnostic information in allergic patients. PROTIA™ Allergy-Q 64 Atopy®, a recently developed CRD-based multiplex specific immunoglobulin E (sIgE) assay, can quantitatively measure sIgE to major allergen components. METHODS: The sIgE detection by PROTIA™ Allergy-Q 64 Atopy® and ImmunoCAP® assays was compared using the sera of 125 Korean allergic patients. Group 1 and 2 allergens of house dust mites (HDMs; Dermatophagoides farinae (Der f) 1 and Der f 2 in PROTIA™ Allergy-Q 64 Atopy®, Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus (Der p) 1 and Der p 2 in ImmunoCAP®), Bet v 1, Fel d 1, Que a 1, ω-5 gliadin, α-lactalbumin, β-lactoglobulin, casein and α-Gal were measured by both assays. RESULTS: Comparing the results from the 2 assays, the agreement rate for all the 10 allergens was > 88% (group 1 HDM allergen, 100%; group 2 HDM allergen, 94.6%; Bet v 1, 97.4%; Fel d 1, 90.5%; Que a 1, 89.2%; α-lactalbumin, 96%; β-lactoglobulin, 88%; casein, 88%; ω-5 gliadin, 96%; α-Gal, 100%). Correlation analysis indicated that, all the 10 allergen sIgEs showed more than moderate positive correlation (Pearson correlation coefficients > 0.640). Additionally, intra-class comparison showed more than high correlation for all the 10 allergens (Spearman's rank correlation coefficients > 0.743). CONCLUSIONS: PROTIA™ Allergy-Q 64 Atopy® is reliable and comparable to the ImmunoCAP® assay for component-resolved diagnosis.
Allergens ; Caseins ; Dermatophagoides farinae ; Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus ; Diagnosis ; Gliadin ; Humans ; Immunoassay ; Immunoglobulin E ; Immunoglobulins ; Pyroglyphidae

PURPOSE: Atopy and specific immunogloguline (Ig) E to individual aeroallergen are considered a hallmark of allergic diseases, including asthma. However, the association between these parameters and lung function or bronchial hyperresponsiveness (BHR) is still controversial in previous studies. METHODS: A total of 234 atopic asthmatic children was recruited in this study. The amounts of total IgE and specific IgE were determined by employing the CAP system FEIA (Pharmacia Diagnostics, Uppsala, Sweden). Specific IgE was focused on two major inhalant allergens in Korea, Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus (Der p) and Dermatophagoides farinae (Der f). To evaluate BHR, methacholine and exercise challenge tests were performed. RESULTS: In the atopic asthmatic group, total IgE correlated negatively with methacholine PC20 and positively with a maximum percentage fall in FEV1 after exercise. Specific IgE to Der f strongly correlated with a maximum percentage fall in FEV1 after exercise in atopic asthmatics, particularly exercise-induced asthma (EIA) (r=0.176, P=0.007 and r=0.199, P=0.011, respectively) and specific IgE to Der p weakly correlated with a maximum percentage fall in FEV1 after exercise only in EIA-positive children with atopic asthma (r=0.140, P=0.073), while neither of them correlated with methacholine PC20 (P> 0.05). However FEV1, FVC, and FEF25-75% were not associated with total IgE and specific IgE to Der p or Der f regardless of positivity of EIA in atopic asthmatic children. CONCLUSION: The severity of atopy and sensitization to house dust mites are significantly correlated with BHR, especially challenged by exercise but not pulmonary function in atopic asthmatic children.
Allergens ; Asthma ; Asthma, Exercise-Induced ; Child* ; Dermatophagoides farinae ; Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus ; Humans ; Immunoglobulin E ; Korea ; Lung ; Methacholine Chloride ; Pyroglyphidae