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Hypersensitivity manifestations to the fruit mango

Asia Pacific Allergy.2011;1(1):43-49. doi:10.5415/apallergy.2011.1.1.43

The objectives of this study are 1) To review the published data and document the current knowledge on allergic manifestations to the fruit mango 2) To highlight the two distinct clinical presentations of hypersensitivity reactions caused by mango 3) To discuss the role of cross-reactivity 4) To increase awareness of potentially life threatening complications that can be caused by allergy to mango. An extensive search of the literature was performed in Medline/PubMed with the key terms "mango", "anaphylaxis", "contact dermatitis", "cross-reactivity", "food hypersensitivity", "oral allergy syndrome" and "urticaria". The bibliographies of all papers thus located were searched for further relevant articles. A total of 17 reports describing 22 patients were documented, including ten patients with immediate hypersensitivity reaction and twelve patients with delayed hypersensitivity reaction to mango. Ten of these patients (four with immediate reaction; six with delayed reaction) were from geographical areas cultivating mango, whereas twelve patients (six with immediate reaction; six with delayed reaction) were from the countries where large scale mango cultivation does not occur. The clinical features, pathogenesis and diagnostic modalities of both these presentations are highlighted. The fruit mango can cause immediate and delayed hypersensitivity reactions, as also "oral allergy syndrome". Although rare, it can even result in a life threatening event. Reactions may even occur in individuals without prior exposure to mango, owing to cross reactivity. It is imperative to recognize such a phenomenon early so as to avoid potentially severe clinical reactions in susceptible patients.
Anaphylaxis ; Dermatitis, Contact ; Fruit ; Humans ; Hypersensitivity ; Hypersensitivity, Delayed ; Hypersensitivity, Immediate ; Mangifera ; Urticaria

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Irritable bowel syndrome

Hamish PHILPOTT ; Peter GIBSON ; Frank THIEN

Asia Pacific Allergy.2011;1(1):36-42. doi:10.5415/apallergy.2011.1.1.36

Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is traditionally defined as a functional disorder
Allergy and Immunology ; Animals ; Comorbidity ; Cromolyn Sodium ; Food Hypersensitivity ; Humans ; Immunoglobulin E ; Inflammation ; Irritable Bowel Syndrome ; Mast Cells ; Methacholine Chloride ; Neurons ; Pilot Projects ; Skin

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Prolonged bedtime bottle feeding and respiratory symptoms in infants

Hye Young KIM ; Youngshin HAN ; Younkyoung PYUN ; Jihyun KIM ; Kangmo AHN ; Sang Il LEE

Asia Pacific Allergy.2011;1(1):30-35. doi:10.5415/apallergy.2011.1.1.30

BACKGROUND: Infants with chronic respiratory symptoms should be evaluated thoroughly because there are various causes which are different from those of children and adolescents. OBJECTIVE: This study was designed to investigate the relationship between chronic respiratory symptoms and bedtime bottle feeding in infants after the age of 6 months. METHODS: We conducted a prospective study that included 44 infants who presented with respiratory symptoms for more than 8 weeks and also had been bottle-fed during bedtime even after 6 months of age. The infants were divided into 2 groups; infants who discontinued bedtime bottle feeding and those who did not. Respiratory symptom scores were graded with a four-point scale at 0, 1, 2 and 3 months, and were compared between the 2 groups. RESULTS: Twenty eight infants (63.6%) stopped being bottle-fed during bedtime and 16 infants (36.4%) were still bottle-fed. The respiratory symptom scores were significantly decreased in infants who stopped bedtime bottle feeding (p = 0.0003). CONCLUSION: It is suggested that prolonged bedtime bottle feeding might be one of the causes of chronic respiratory symptoms in infants.
Adolescent ; Bottle Feeding ; Child ; Feeding Methods ; Humans ; Infant ; Prospective Studies

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Impact of chronic urticaria on the quality of life in Australian and Sri Lankan populations

James YUN ; Constance H KATELARIS ; Anura WEERASINGHE ; Duminda Bandara ADIKARI ; Chanaka RATNAYAKE

Asia Pacific Allergy.2011;1(1):25-29. doi:10.5415/apallergy.2011.1.1.25

BACKGROUND: Chronic idiopathic urticaria (CIU) has a significant impact on patients' quality of life. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study is to assess that impact and to compare differences by culture, gender, age or duration of treatment. METHODS: We used the modified chronic urticaria quality of life questionnaire, consisting of 15 questions. Over the course of 6 months, patients attending Immunology clinics at Campbelltown Hospital and private rooms in Australia and at the faculty of Medicine, University of Kelaniya in Sri Lanka were asked to fill out the questionnaires. We have obtained the data from 125 patients (43 Australian vs. 82 Sri Lankan). There were significantly more female patients (P < 0.01). The data was analysed using SAS. RESULTS: Overall, patients were affected mostly by itch and wheals and least affected by the side effects of treatments. Sri Lankan populations were more affected by wheals and by interference on activities, mood and food choices but were less affected by tiredness due to sleep disturbances (P < 0.01). Females were more affected by sleep disturbance (P < 0.05) while those older than 40 years of age were more impacted by tiredness and by the side effects from medications (P < 0.05), though the complaints themselves were mild. Those who suffered from CIU for more than 1 year were more affected by wheal, tiredness and irritability (P ≤ 0.05). CONCLUSION: The questionnaire highlighted some differences between patients attending Australian versus Sri Lankan outpatients. Significant differences were found in one third of parameters which include mood, sleep, daily activities and food choices.
Allergy and Immunology ; Australia ; Female ; Humans ; Outpatients ; Patients' Rooms ; Quality of Life ; Sri Lanka ; Urticaria

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Clinical characteristics and long-term outcomes related to sputum eosinophilia in Korean asthmatics

Jae Woo JUNG ; Sae Hoon KIM ; Jae Woo KWON ; Tae Wan KIM ; Hye Ryun KANG ; Heung Woo PARK ; Sun Sin KIM ; Yoon Seok CHANG ; Sang Heon CHO ; Kyung Up MIN ; Cohort-For-Reality-And-Evolution-Of-Adult-Asthma (COREA)

Asia Pacific Allergy.2011;1(1):16-24. doi:10.5415/apallergy.2011.1.1.16

BACKGROUND: Bronchial asthma is usually associated with high sputum eosinophil levels. However, recent reports have suggested the importance of noneosinophilic asthma (NEA) as a distinct phenotype of asthma. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to evaluate clinical significance of sputum eosinophilia and long-term treatment outcomes related to sputum eosinophilia in Korean asthmatics. METHODS: A total of 201 steroid-naive asthmatics who had undergone induced sputum analysis at baseline were selected from the Cohort for Reality and Evolution of Adult Asthma study population. Clinical evaluation, spirometry, a skin-prick test, a methacholine bronchial provocation test, and sputum eosinophil analysis were performed initially, and patients received the treatment recommended by the Global Initiative for Asthma. Lung function was evaluated every 6 months, and 53 patients completed 24 months of regular follow-up visits. Sputum eosinophilia was defined as a sputum eosinophil count of >3%.
Adult ; Asthma ; Bronchial Provocation Tests ; Cohort Studies ; Eosinophilia ; Eosinophils ; Follow-Up Studies ; Forced Expiratory Volume ; Humans ; Lung ; Methacholine Chloride ; Phenotype ; Spirometry ; Sputum

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Immunoglobulin E in health and disease

M AMARASEKERA

Asia Pacific Allergy.2011;1(1):12-15. doi:10.5415/apallergy.2011.1.1.12

The discovery of immunoglobulin E (IgE) was a breakthrough in the field of Allergy and Immunology. Our understanding of mechanisms of allergic reactions and the role of IgE in these disorders has paralleled to the discovery of treatment modalities for patients with allergy. Apart from allergic diseases, IgE is involved in pathogenesis of other disorders. Much controversy exists about the control of total IgE (tIgE) levels and allergen-specific IgE (sIgE) profiles in allergic individuals. This review aims at giving a comprehensive overview of IgE molecule and discussing the issues related to its importance in clinical setting.
Allergy and Immunology ; Humans ; Hypersensitivity ; Immunoglobulin E ; Immunoglobulins

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Clinical applications of drug desensitization in the Asia-Pacific region

Bernard Yu Hor THONG

Asia Pacific Allergy.2011;1(1):2-11. doi:10.5415/apallergy.2011.1.1.2

Drug desensitization is the induction, within hours to days, of a temporary state of tolerance to a drug which the patient has developed a hypersensitivity reaction to. It may be used for IgE and non-IgE mediated allergic reactions, and certain non-allergic reactions. The indication for desensitization is where no alternative medications are available for the treatment of that condition, and where the benefits of desensitization outweigh the risks. Desensitization is a therapeutic modality for drug allergy (similar to allergen specific immunotherapy for allergic rhinitis and insect venom anaphylaxis). In contrast, the drug provocation test is a diagnostic modality used to confirm or refute the diagnosis of drug allergy. This review discusses the clinical applications of desensitization for the treatment of common infectious, metabolic and cardiovascular diseases, and oncological conditions in the Asia-Pacific region.
Anaphylaxis ; Cardiovascular Diseases ; Diagnosis ; Drug Hypersensitivity ; Humans ; Hypersensitivity ; Immunoglobulin E ; Immunotherapy ; Insects ; Rhinitis, Allergic ; Stevens-Johnson Syndrome ; Venoms

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"Asia Pacific Allergy": A new leap forward

Sang Il LEE

Asia Pacific Allergy.2011;1(1):1-1. doi:10.5415/apallergy.2011.1.1.1

No abstract available.

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Vogt-Koyanagi-Harada disease in an 8-year-old boy

Budi SETIABUDIAWAN ; Feti KARFIATI ; Reni GHRAHANI ; Gartika SAPARTINI ; Indra SAHRIL

Asia Pacific Allergy.2011;1(2):98-103. doi:10.5415/apallergy.2011.1.2.98

Vogt-Koyanagi-Harada (VKH) disease is an autoimmune disease involving pigmented tissue in eyes, auditory system, skin, and central nervous system. The pathogenesis is a result of T cell lymphocyte reaction against melanocyte component, tyrosinase and tyrosinase-related protein. This disease uniquely affected pigmented race in Asia and native America, mostly women aged 20-50. We reported an 8-years-old boy complained for visual disturbance since 6 weeks prior admission. Two years earlier, the parents noted the patient eyes were looked red when photographed (suggesting a dilated pupil) preceded by whitened on the right forehead and nose and whitened hair, eyebrow and eyelashes. The examination showed a vitiligo and skin atrophy on right frontal and right nasal, poliosis on the eyebrows, eyelids and hair. The diameter of right pupil was 8 mm, with a paresis on 3rd, 4th, 6th, and 9th nerves. Fundus examination revealed sunset glow appearance. The visual acuity on the right eye: 2/60, left eye: 1-0. There's positive serology for antitoxoplasma IgG, anti Rubella IgG, anti CMV IgG. The patient was diagnosed with a VKH disease and then prescribed with methylprednisolone 1 mg/kg/day. The patient also had further follow up with dermatovenerologist and ophthalmologist. The eye examination revealed an improvement on right eye panuveitis, with a remaining keratic precipitate in the endothelium, and minimal flare and cell on the anterior chamber. ENT consultation revealed no ear inflammation or hearing disturbance.
Americas ; Anterior Chamber ; Asia ; Atrophy ; Autoimmune Diseases ; Central Nervous System ; Child ; Continental Population Groups ; Endothelium ; Eyebrows ; Eyelashes ; Eyelids ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Forehead ; Hair ; Hearing ; Humans ; Immunoglobulin G ; Lymphocytes ; Male ; Melanocytes ; Methylprednisolone ; Monophenol Monooxygenase ; Nose ; Otitis ; Panuveitis ; Parents ; Paresis ; Pupil ; Rubella ; Skin ; Uveomeningoencephalitic Syndrome ; Visual Acuity ; Vitiligo

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Introduction to bioinformatics: sequencing technology

Soyeon AHN

Asia Pacific Allergy.2011;1(2):93-97. doi:10.5415/apallergy.2011.1.2.93

Bioinformatics, the study of integrating high throughput biological data and statistical model through intensive computation, has been attracting great interest in recent times and Sequencing is at the very center of it. The large amount of information obtained from sequencing has deepened our understanding and fundamental knowledge of organisms. This review will aim to provide a brief summary of new sequencing technology, current issues, and projects focused on medical applications. The article is organized in three parts. Part I explains common terminologies and background of sequencing technology, and Part II compares distinct features of currently available platforms. Part III contains applications in various medical fields.
Computational Biology ; High-Throughput Nucleotide Sequencing ; Models, Statistical

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