Purpose: This structural model study was constructed and verified a hypothetical model to examine the effects of parenting stress, social resources, family resources, and positive coping on resilience among mothers of children with developmental disabilities. Methods: Data were collected using self‐report structured questionnaires, from October 19 to October 30, 2018, with 214 mothers caring for chil-dren with developmental disabilities under the age of 20 years. Results: In the fitness test results of the hypothesis model, with the fit index χ 2 (p) = 69.27 (< .001), and the normed fit indices (χ 2 = 1.87, GFI = .94, CFI = .97, NFI = .93, and TLI = .95, RMSEA = .06, SRMR = .06), this study satisfies the good fitness in standards. There are seven statistically significant paths among the 10 paths set in the hypotheti-cal model. The explanatory power of parenting stress and social resources, which affects the family resources was 41.4%, the explanato-ry power of parenting stress, social resources, and family resources affecting the positive coping was 58.9%, and the explanatory power of parenting stress, social resources, family resources, and positive coping affecting resilience was 55.5%. Conclusion Positive coping, family resources, and social resources of mothers of children with developmental disabilities directly affect their resilience, and parenting stress indirectly affects it. Therefore, to improve the resilience of mothers of children with developmental disabilities, it is necessary to develop a systematic nursing intervention that considers parenting stress, social resources, family resources, and positive coping.

The objective of this study was to investigate the antimicrobial effects of carvacrol (CV) against Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) and Escherichia coli O157:H7 (E. coli O157:H7) strains in milk. The minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) and minimum bactericidal concentrations (MBCs) of CV against S. aureus and E. coli O157:H7 were determined. In addition, bactericidal kinetics and antimicrobial activity of CV against the aforementioned pathogens in milk over a period of 2 weeks were investigated. CV exhibited antibacterial activity against both foodborne pathogens tested. The MIC and MBC of CV against S. aureus were 15.0 and 20 mg/mL, respectively, whereas those against E. coli O157:H7 were 16.0 and 32 mg/mL, respectively. In time-kill assays, CV at MBC reduced the number of S. aureus and E. coli O157:H7 in milk to undetectable levels within 24 hr. The antibacterial effects of CV persisted for 14 days without any loss of activity. Results of this study suggest that CV has a potential antibacterial activity against foodborne pathogens such as S. aureus and E. coli O157:H7 in milk.
Escherichia coli* ; Foodborne Diseases ; Kinetics ; Microbial Sensitivity Tests ; Milk ; Staphylococcus aureus*

Occupational asthma is induced by many agents, including herbal materials, that are exposed in working places. Although there are a few case reports for occupational allergy induced by herbal materials, there is none for that induced by Wonji (Polygala tenuifolia). This study was conducted to evaluate clinical characteristics and immunologic mechanism of Wonji-induced asthma in a exposed-worker. A patient who complained of asthma and rhinitis symptoms, and who had worked in a herbal manufacturing factory for 8 yr, underwent a skin prick test with crude extract of Wonji under the impression of occupational asthma induced by the agent. The patient had a strong positive response to the extract on the skin prick test. Allergen bronchial challenge to the extract demonstrated a typical dual response. Serum specific IgE level to the extract was higher in the patient than in healthy controls, and ELISA inhibition test revealed complete inhibition of IgE binding with the extract, but no inhibition with Der p 2 or mugwort extracts. Six IgE binding components to the extract (10, 25, 28, 36, 50, and 90 kDa) were detected using SDS-PAGE and immunoblot analysis. These findings suggest that Polygala tenuifolia, a herbal material, can induce IgE-mediated bronchoconstriction in exposed workers.
Allergens ; Asthma/*chemically induced ; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug ; Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Humans ; Immunoblotting ; Immunoglobulin E/chemistry ; Male ; *Medicine, Herbal ; Middle Aged ; Occupational Exposure ; Pollen/chemistry ; Polygala/metabolism ; Protein Binding ; Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't ; Rhinitis/*chemically induced ; Time Factors

It has been demonstrated that spider mites such as the two-spotted spider mite (Tetranychus urticae) are important allergens for fruit farmers. A total of 2,467 adults (795 metropolitan urban, 788 non-metropolitan urban, and 884 rural subjects) were enrolled. They responded to the questionnaire, and underwent methacholine bronchial provocation tests as well as skin prick tests to locally common aeroallergens including the two-spotted spider mite. The prevalences of asthma and rhinitis as reported on the questionnaire were 7.8% and 16.4% of adults aged 20-35, 9.4% and 24.7% of those 36-50, and 17.7% and 21.7% of those older than 50, respectively. Among the older group, the two-spotted spider mite was the most common sensitizing allergen, although it was second of that of house dust mites among the other two age groups. Sensitization to the two-spotted spider mite was significantly associated with the prevalence of asthma and rhinitis among the younger age group, and associated with the prevalence of rhinitis among the older age group. The twospotted spider mite might be a common sensitizing allergen in the general population of adults, and sensitization to this mite may play a role in the manifestation of asthma and rhinitis symptoms during adulthood.
Tetranychidae/*immunology ; Risk Factors ; Rhinitis, Allergic, Perennial/*etiology/immunology ; Questionnaires ; Middle Aged ; Male ; Humans ; Female ; Asthma/*etiology/immunology ; Animals ; Allergens ; Aged ; Age Factors ; Adult

A number of case reports on occupational asthma caused by herbal medicines have been issued, for example, on Sanyak, Chunkung, Banha, and Brazilian ginseng. Recently, cases of occupational asthma induced by Sanyak and Korean ginseng have been reported, but the pathogenic mechanisms involved are unknown. This study was carried out to evaluate the immunologic mechanism underlying Korean ginseng-induced occupational asthma. A patient engaged in Korean ginseng wholesale was referred for recurrent dyspnea, wheezing, and nasal symptoms, which were aggravated at work. Allergen bronchial provocation testing to Korean ginseng extract showed a typical immediate response, and skin prick testing to Korean ginseng extract also showed a strong positive response. Moreover, serum-specific IgE levels to Korean ginseng extract were significantly higher than in controls. Enzymelinked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) inhibition tests showed a dose-dependent inhibition by Korean ginseng, but not by Dermatophagoides farinae, wheat flour, or Chinese balloon flower. Sodium dodecylsulfate-poly-acrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) and immunoblotting revealed four specific Immunoglobulin E (IgE) binding components at 26, 30, 47, and 60 kDa, which were not bound by control sera. These results strongly suggest that occupation asthma induced by Korean ginseng is induced via an IgE-mediated mechanism.
Animals ; Asthma/diagnosis/*etiology/*immunology ; Bronchi/metabolism ; Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay/methods ; Flour ; Flowers ; Humans ; Hypersensitivity/*diagnosis ; Immunoglobulin E/analysis/*chemistry ; Korea ; Occupational Diseases/diagnosis/*etiology/*immunology ; Panax/*adverse effects ; Pyroglyphidae/metabolism ; *Skin Tests

BACKGROUND: Steroid-dependency is one of Phenotypes of severe asthma. Because steroid-dependent asthmatics require long-term systemic steroids to control their symptoms. they have potentially increased risks to experience serious events caused by systemic steroids. But the pathophysiology of steroid-dependent asthma is poorly understood. Differences of glucocorticoid and beta2-aderenergic receptor expression may have some roles in the pathophysiology of steroid-dependent asthma. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to evaluate the differences of mRNA expression of glucocorticoid receptor and beta2-adrenergic receptor between the steroid-dependent severe asthmatics and those with mild-to-moderate severity. METHODS: Thirty-nine asthmatic patients were enrolled, twenty with mild-to-moderate severity and nineteen with steroid-dependent severe asthma. Induced sputum was collected using 4% hypertonic saline nebulization and total RNA was extracted from the cells collected. Using RT-PCR, we asessed the amounts of glucocorticoid receptor and beta2-adrenergic receptor mRNA semiquantitatively from the extracted RNA. RESULTS: There were no significant differences in sex, age, smoking history, duration of asthma, positive rate of atopy, and percent predicted value of FEV1 between the two groups. The amount of glucocorticoid receptor mRNA expression was significantly lower in steroid-dependent asthmatic group than in mild-to-moderate severity group(p<0.05). There was no significant difference in amount of beta2-adrenoreceptor mRNA expression between the two groups. CONCLUSION: Decreased expression of glucocorticoid receptor mRNA may have some role in the pathophysiology of steroid-dependent asthma.
Asthma* ; Humans ; Phenotype ; Receptors, Glucocorticoid ; RNA ; RNA, Messenger* ; Smoke ; Smoking ; Sputum ; Steroids

Background and objective: The two-spotted spider mite (Tetranychus urticae, TSM) is the most common mite infesting fruit leaves and herbaceous plants. Recent investigations have revealed that these mites play an important role in the development of asthma and rhinitis in apple farmers and exposed adults. The aim of this study is to evaluate sensitization to TSM in children living around pear orchards and its relationship with prevalence of allergic diseases. Subjects and methods: A total of 2,584 children living around pear orchards was recruited for this study. The subjects responded to a questionnaire, and underwent skin-prick testing to common inhalant allergens including TSM. RESULTS: The prevalence of asthma based on the questionnaire was 6.9% in 7 to 12-year-old subjects and 6.4% 13 to 18-year-old subjects. The prevalence of chronic rhinitis based on the questionnaire was higher in subjects 13-18 years old than in those 7-12 years old (24.8% vs. 21.2%). On the skin prick tests, the most common sensitizing indoor allergen was D. pteronyssinus (28.3%), followed by D. farinae (27.2%), T. putrescentiae (13.5%), and cockroach (10.9%). The sensitization rate to TSM was higher in the older children than in the younger ones (12.2% vs. 6.0%). While sensitization to TSM was not associated with prevalence of asthma among the younger children, the prevalence of asthma was higher in the older children sensitized to TSM than in those without sensitization (8.5% vs. 5.5%). However, the sensitization to TSM was not associated with the prevalence of chronic rhinitis in both groups. CONCLUSION: TSM is a common sensitizing allergen in children living around pear orchards, and the sensitization to TSM is significantly associated with the prevalence of asthma in older children.
Adolescent ; Adult ; Allergens ; Asthma ; Child* ; Cockroaches ; Fruit ; Humans ; Hypersensitivity* ; Mites ; Prevalence ; Pyrus* ; Rhinitis ; Skin ; Spiders* ; Tetranychidae* ; Surveys and Questionnaires

BACKGROUND: Asthma management guidelines provide recommendations for the optimal control and goals of management. This survey was performed as a part of Asthma Insights and Reality in Asia-Pacific Region (AIRIAP) study to assess the current levels of asthma control reported by patients, which partly reflect the extent to which guideline recommendations are implemented. METHODS: From September to December 2000, current asthma patients were identified by random door-to-door visits by screening 13,988 households in Seoul, Korea. Designated responders were interviewed on asthma control, symptom severity, activity limitations and healthcare utilization. RESULTS: Current asthmatics were identified in 1,024 households, and 401 patients completed the survey. Daytime asthma symptoms were reported by 52%, and 26% reported sleep disturbance caused by asthma at least once a week in the past 4 weeks. In the past 12 months, 14% had been hospitalized, 6% attended emergency departments, and 30% made unscheduled emergency visits. Patient's perception of asthma control was different from their actual asthma control. Current use of an inhaled corticosteroid was reported by only 0.2% of responders. Absence from school and work in the past year was reported by 14% of adults and 7% of children. CONCLUSIONS: The current level of asthma control in Korea falls markedly short of the goals specified in international guidelines for asthma management. Management according to the guideline and patient education is important for the optimal control of asthma. Development of practically easy asthma management guideline for primary physician may be also important for its implementation.
Adult ; Asthma* ; Child ; Delivery of Health Care ; Emergencies ; Emergency Service, Hospital ; Family Characteristics ; Humans ; Hypersensitivity ; Korea* ; Mass Screening ; Patient Education as Topic ; Seoul

Transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-beta) and its receptors have been suggested to play key roles in the pathogenesis of asthma. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of genetic variations in the TGF-beta receptor type III (TGFBR3) on asthma and on its related phenotypes in the general population. A cohort of 2,118 subjects aged from 10 to 18 years responded to a questionnaire concerning asthma symptoms and risk factors. Methacholine airway hyperresponsiveness (AHR), skin test responses to common aeroallergens, and serum total IgE levels were evaluated in the cohort. A total of 19 SNPs for TGFBR3 were found using direct re-sequencing in 24 healthy adults. Of these, informative SNPs [+44T>C (S15F) and +2753G>A at 3'UTR] were selected and scored using the high throughput single base extension method. Atopy was identified in subjects with 44T>C allele [P = 0.04, OR (95% CI) = 0.79 (0.62-0.99)] and in subjects with Ht1 (CG) more frequently than in subjects with other haplotypes [P = 0.04, OR (95% CI) = 1.27 (1.01-1.59)]. The A allele in 2753G>A was more common in subjects with non-atopic asthma [OR (95% CI) = 1.76 (1.01-3.05)]. A significant association was found between non-atopic asthma and 44T_2753A [OR (95% CI) = 2.16 (1.22-3.82)]. Genetic variations in TGFBR3 appear to be associated with a genetic predisposition to development of asthma and to phenotypes of asthma. Also, the minor allele 2753G and the haplotype TA in the TGFBR3 gene were associated with a pathogenesis of non-atopic asthma.
Adolescent ; Adult ; Asian Continental Ancestry Group/*genetics ; Asthma/ethnology/*genetics/immunology ; Case-Control Studies ; Child ; Cohort Studies ; Female ; Gene Frequency ; Genetic Predisposition to Disease ; *Genetic Variation/physiology ; Genetics, Population ; Genome-Wide Association Study ; Genotype ; Humans ; Immunoglobulin E/immunology ; Linkage Disequilibrium ; Male ; Proteoglycans/*genetics ; Receptors, Transforming Growth Factor beta/*genetics