Emerging evidence suggests that systemic inflammation may play a critical role in neurological disorders. Recent studies have shown the connection between inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD) and neurological disorders, revealing a bidirectional relationship through the gut-brain axis.Immunotherapies, such as Treg cells infusion, have been proposed for IBD. However, the role of adaptive immune cells in IBD-induced neuroinflammation remains unclear. In this study, we established an animal model for IBD in mice with severe combined immune-deficient (SCID), an adaptive immune deficiency, to investigate the role of adaptive immune cells in IBD-induced neuroinflammation. Mice were fed 1%, 3%, or 5% dextran sulfate sodium (DSS) for 5 days. We measured body weight, colon length, disease activity index (DAI), and crypt damage. Pro-inflammatory cytokines were measured in the colon, while microglial morphology, neuronal count, and inflammatory cytokines were analyzed in the brain. In the 3% DSS group, colitis symptoms appeared at day 7, with reduced colon length and increased crypt damage showing colitis-like symptoms. By day 21, colon length and crypt damage persisted, while DAI showed recovery. Although colonic inflammation peaked at day 7, no significant increase in inflammatory cytokines or microglial hyperactivation was observed in the brain. By day 21, neuroinflammation was detected, albeit with a slight delay, in the absence of adaptive immune cells. The colitis-induced neuroinflammation model provides insights into the fundamental immune mechanisms of the gut-brain axis and may contribute to developing immune cell therapies for IBD-induced neuroinflammation.

Emerging evidence suggests that systemic inflammation may play a critical role in neurological disorders. Recent studies have shown the connection between inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD) and neurological disorders, revealing a bidirectional relationship through the gut-brain axis.Immunotherapies, such as Treg cells infusion, have been proposed for IBD. However, the role of adaptive immune cells in IBD-induced neuroinflammation remains unclear. In this study, we established an animal model for IBD in mice with severe combined immune-deficient (SCID), an adaptive immune deficiency, to investigate the role of adaptive immune cells in IBD-induced neuroinflammation. Mice were fed 1%, 3%, or 5% dextran sulfate sodium (DSS) for 5 days. We measured body weight, colon length, disease activity index (DAI), and crypt damage. Pro-inflammatory cytokines were measured in the colon, while microglial morphology, neuronal count, and inflammatory cytokines were analyzed in the brain. In the 3% DSS group, colitis symptoms appeared at day 7, with reduced colon length and increased crypt damage showing colitis-like symptoms. By day 21, colon length and crypt damage persisted, while DAI showed recovery. Although colonic inflammation peaked at day 7, no significant increase in inflammatory cytokines or microglial hyperactivation was observed in the brain. By day 21, neuroinflammation was detected, albeit with a slight delay, in the absence of adaptive immune cells. The colitis-induced neuroinflammation model provides insights into the fundamental immune mechanisms of the gut-brain axis and may contribute to developing immune cell therapies for IBD-induced neuroinflammation.

Emerging evidence suggests that systemic inflammation may play a critical role in neurological disorders. Recent studies have shown the connection between inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD) and neurological disorders, revealing a bidirectional relationship through the gut-brain axis.Immunotherapies, such as Treg cells infusion, have been proposed for IBD. However, the role of adaptive immune cells in IBD-induced neuroinflammation remains unclear. In this study, we established an animal model for IBD in mice with severe combined immune-deficient (SCID), an adaptive immune deficiency, to investigate the role of adaptive immune cells in IBD-induced neuroinflammation. Mice were fed 1%, 3%, or 5% dextran sulfate sodium (DSS) for 5 days. We measured body weight, colon length, disease activity index (DAI), and crypt damage. Pro-inflammatory cytokines were measured in the colon, while microglial morphology, neuronal count, and inflammatory cytokines were analyzed in the brain. In the 3% DSS group, colitis symptoms appeared at day 7, with reduced colon length and increased crypt damage showing colitis-like symptoms. By day 21, colon length and crypt damage persisted, while DAI showed recovery. Although colonic inflammation peaked at day 7, no significant increase in inflammatory cytokines or microglial hyperactivation was observed in the brain. By day 21, neuroinflammation was detected, albeit with a slight delay, in the absence of adaptive immune cells. The colitis-induced neuroinflammation model provides insights into the fundamental immune mechanisms of the gut-brain axis and may contribute to developing immune cell therapies for IBD-induced neuroinflammation.

Emerging evidence suggests that systemic inflammation may play a critical role in neurological disorders. Recent studies have shown the connection between inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD) and neurological disorders, revealing a bidirectional relationship through the gut-brain axis.Immunotherapies, such as Treg cells infusion, have been proposed for IBD. However, the role of adaptive immune cells in IBD-induced neuroinflammation remains unclear. In this study, we established an animal model for IBD in mice with severe combined immune-deficient (SCID), an adaptive immune deficiency, to investigate the role of adaptive immune cells in IBD-induced neuroinflammation. Mice were fed 1%, 3%, or 5% dextran sulfate sodium (DSS) for 5 days. We measured body weight, colon length, disease activity index (DAI), and crypt damage. Pro-inflammatory cytokines were measured in the colon, while microglial morphology, neuronal count, and inflammatory cytokines were analyzed in the brain. In the 3% DSS group, colitis symptoms appeared at day 7, with reduced colon length and increased crypt damage showing colitis-like symptoms. By day 21, colon length and crypt damage persisted, while DAI showed recovery. Although colonic inflammation peaked at day 7, no significant increase in inflammatory cytokines or microglial hyperactivation was observed in the brain. By day 21, neuroinflammation was detected, albeit with a slight delay, in the absence of adaptive immune cells. The colitis-induced neuroinflammation model provides insights into the fundamental immune mechanisms of the gut-brain axis and may contribute to developing immune cell therapies for IBD-induced neuroinflammation.

Background: Energy drinks are gaining popularity among young people worldwide. However, little is known about their consumption among Korean adolescents.Purpose: To examine the prevalence and factors associated with energy drink consumption among Korean adolescents. Methods: This study used data from the Korea Youth Risk Behavior Surveys conducted in 2014–2017 and in 2019. A total of 325,210 participants aged 12–18 years were included. The prevalence of energy drink consumption (with 95% confidence intervals) was estimated. Multivariable logistic regression analyses examined the association between energy drink consumption and sociodemographic and individual factors. Results: The prevalence of consuming energy drinks 3 or more times during the previous 7 days increased significantly from 3.2% in 2014 to 12.2% in 2019 (P for trend<0.001). This increasing trend was observed in all subgroups regardless of sex, school grade, region of residence, subjective economic status, family cohabitation status, and academic achievement. Data from the 2014–2017 and 2019 surveys revealed that boys, high schoolers, city-dwelling adolescents, adolescents with low economic status, those not living with their families, and those with low academic achievement were more likely to consume energy drinks. However, the relationship between energy drink consumption and the associated factors differed by survey year and school grade. In 2019, higher energy drink consumption among middle schoolers was associated with sex (male), low economic status, not living with family, and low academic achievement; however, higher energy drink consumption among high schoolers was associated with city-dwelling, high economic status, not living with family, and high academic achievement. Conclusion Energy drink consumption is common, has recently increased among Korean adolescents, and varies according to sociodemographic and individual factors. Further research to monitor the energy drink consumption of adolescents and understand their attitudes toward and factors influencing energy drink consumption is needed to develop policies and educational strategies for energy drink consumption.

Background: Energy drinks are gaining popularity among young people worldwide. However, little is known about their consumption among Korean adolescents.Purpose: To examine the prevalence and factors associated with energy drink consumption among Korean adolescents. Methods: This study used data from the Korea Youth Risk Behavior Surveys conducted in 2014–2017 and in 2019. A total of 325,210 participants aged 12–18 years were included. The prevalence of energy drink consumption (with 95% confidence intervals) was estimated. Multivariable logistic regression analyses examined the association between energy drink consumption and sociodemographic and individual factors. Results: The prevalence of consuming energy drinks 3 or more times during the previous 7 days increased significantly from 3.2% in 2014 to 12.2% in 2019 (P for trend<0.001). This increasing trend was observed in all subgroups regardless of sex, school grade, region of residence, subjective economic status, family cohabitation status, and academic achievement. Data from the 2014–2017 and 2019 surveys revealed that boys, high schoolers, city-dwelling adolescents, adolescents with low economic status, those not living with their families, and those with low academic achievement were more likely to consume energy drinks. However, the relationship between energy drink consumption and the associated factors differed by survey year and school grade. In 2019, higher energy drink consumption among middle schoolers was associated with sex (male), low economic status, not living with family, and low academic achievement; however, higher energy drink consumption among high schoolers was associated with city-dwelling, high economic status, not living with family, and high academic achievement. Conclusion Energy drink consumption is common, has recently increased among Korean adolescents, and varies according to sociodemographic and individual factors. Further research to monitor the energy drink consumption of adolescents and understand their attitudes toward and factors influencing energy drink consumption is needed to develop policies and educational strategies for energy drink consumption.

Background: Energy drinks are gaining popularity among young people worldwide. However, little is known about their consumption among Korean adolescents.Purpose: To examine the prevalence and factors associated with energy drink consumption among Korean adolescents. Methods: This study used data from the Korea Youth Risk Behavior Surveys conducted in 2014–2017 and in 2019. A total of 325,210 participants aged 12–18 years were included. The prevalence of energy drink consumption (with 95% confidence intervals) was estimated. Multivariable logistic regression analyses examined the association between energy drink consumption and sociodemographic and individual factors. Results: The prevalence of consuming energy drinks 3 or more times during the previous 7 days increased significantly from 3.2% in 2014 to 12.2% in 2019 (P for trend<0.001). This increasing trend was observed in all subgroups regardless of sex, school grade, region of residence, subjective economic status, family cohabitation status, and academic achievement. Data from the 2014–2017 and 2019 surveys revealed that boys, high schoolers, city-dwelling adolescents, adolescents with low economic status, those not living with their families, and those with low academic achievement were more likely to consume energy drinks. However, the relationship between energy drink consumption and the associated factors differed by survey year and school grade. In 2019, higher energy drink consumption among middle schoolers was associated with sex (male), low economic status, not living with family, and low academic achievement; however, higher energy drink consumption among high schoolers was associated with city-dwelling, high economic status, not living with family, and high academic achievement. Conclusion Energy drink consumption is common, has recently increased among Korean adolescents, and varies according to sociodemographic and individual factors. Further research to monitor the energy drink consumption of adolescents and understand their attitudes toward and factors influencing energy drink consumption is needed to develop policies and educational strategies for energy drink consumption.

Background: Energy drinks are gaining popularity among young people worldwide. However, little is known about their consumption among Korean adolescents.Purpose: To examine the prevalence and factors associated with energy drink consumption among Korean adolescents. Methods: This study used data from the Korea Youth Risk Behavior Surveys conducted in 2014–2017 and in 2019. A total of 325,210 participants aged 12–18 years were included. The prevalence of energy drink consumption (with 95% confidence intervals) was estimated. Multivariable logistic regression analyses examined the association between energy drink consumption and sociodemographic and individual factors. Results: The prevalence of consuming energy drinks 3 or more times during the previous 7 days increased significantly from 3.2% in 2014 to 12.2% in 2019 (P for trend<0.001). This increasing trend was observed in all subgroups regardless of sex, school grade, region of residence, subjective economic status, family cohabitation status, and academic achievement. Data from the 2014–2017 and 2019 surveys revealed that boys, high schoolers, city-dwelling adolescents, adolescents with low economic status, those not living with their families, and those with low academic achievement were more likely to consume energy drinks. However, the relationship between energy drink consumption and the associated factors differed by survey year and school grade. In 2019, higher energy drink consumption among middle schoolers was associated with sex (male), low economic status, not living with family, and low academic achievement; however, higher energy drink consumption among high schoolers was associated with city-dwelling, high economic status, not living with family, and high academic achievement. Conclusion Energy drink consumption is common, has recently increased among Korean adolescents, and varies according to sociodemographic and individual factors. Further research to monitor the energy drink consumption of adolescents and understand their attitudes toward and factors influencing energy drink consumption is needed to develop policies and educational strategies for energy drink consumption.

Allergen immunotherapy (AIT) has been used for over a century and has been demonstrated to be effective in treating patients with various allergic diseases. AIT allergens can be administered through various routes, including subcutaneous, sublingual, intralymphatic, oral, or epicutaneous routes. Sublingual immunotherapy (SLIT) has recently gained clinical interest, and it is considered an alternative treatment for allergic rhinitis (AR) and asthma. This review provides an overview of the current evidence-based studies that address the use of SLIT for treating AR, including (1) mechanisms of action, (2) appropriate patient selection for SLIT, (3) the current available SLIT products in Korea, and (4) updated information on its efficacy and safety. Finally, this guideline aims to provide the clinician with practical considerations for SLIT.

Allergen immunotherapy (AIT) is a causative treatment of allergic diseases in which allergen extracts are regularly administered in a gradually escalated doses, leading to immune tolerance and consequent alleviation of allergic diseases. The need for uniform practice guidelines in AIT is continuously growing as the number of potential candidates for AIT increases and new therapeutic approaches are tried. This updated version of the Korean Academy of Asthma Allergy and Clinical Immunology recommendations for AIT, published in 2010, proposes an expert opinion by specialists in allergy, pediatrics, and otorhinolaryngology. This guideline deals with the basic knowledge of AIT, including mechanisms, clinical efficacy, allergen standardization, important allergens in Korea, and special consideration in pediatrics. The article also covers the methodological aspects of AIT, including patient selection, allergen selection, schedule and doses, follow-up care, efficacy measurements, and management of adverse reactions. Although this guideline suggests the optimal dosing schedule, an individualized approach and modifications are recommended considering the situation for each patient and clinic.