The relationship between areca nut as a primary carcinogen and oral cancer has been widely concerned. Areca can change the levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and autophagy in cells, and the levels of ROS and autophagy are closely related to the occurrence and development of tumors. This paper reviewed the relationships among areca nut, intracellular ROS, and autophagy.
Areca ; Autophagy ; Humans ; Mouth Neoplasms ; Nuts ; Oral Submucous Fibrosis ; Reactive Oxygen Species

BACKGROUND: The prevalence of peanut allergy (PA) among children has increased significantly over the past decade. Even though the prevalence of PA in Singapore is considered low, peanut is the top trigger for food-induced anaphylaxis in Singaporean children.OBJECTIVE: To describe the demographic characteristics and clinical features of children with PA.METHODS: This is a 5-year retrospective review of children diagnosed with PA based on clinical history coupled with a positive skin prick test to peanut or positive oral food challenge results.RESULTS: There were 269 patients (53.9% males) with a clinical diagnosis of PA. The median age at first allergic presentation for the PA group was 24 months old, with interquartile range of 13–39 months. The most common form of peanut introduced was roasted peanut. The rate of peanut anaphylaxis was 7.1%. Concomitant tree nut sensitization was found in 32.3% of this cohort, predominantly to cashew nut. Majority of them have a personal history of atopy – 75.8% with eczema, 63.6% with allergic rhinitis, and 19.7% with asthma.CONCLUSION: This is the first large review of peanut-allergic children in Singapore. Prospective population-based studies are needed to establish the true prevalence and risk factors associated with the development of this potentially life-threatening condition.
Anacardium ; Anaphylaxis ; Arachis ; Asia ; Asthma ; Child ; Cohort Studies ; Diagnosis ; Eczema ; Humans ; Nuts ; Peanut Hypersensitivity ; Prevalence ; Prospective Studies ; Retrospective Studies ; Rhinitis, Allergic ; Risk Factors ; Singapore ; Skin ; Trees

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Little is known about the dietary patterns (DPs) of women during pregnancy. The present study aimed to identify the DPs of pregnant Malaysian women and their associations with socio-demographic, obstetric, and anthropometric characteristics. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: This prospective cohort study included 737 participants enrolled in Seremban Cohort Study between 2013 and 2015. Food consumption was assessed using a validated 126-food item semi-quantitative food frequency questionnaire (SFFQ) at four time-points, namely, pre-pregnancy and at each trimester (first, second, and third). Principal component analysis (PCA) was used to identify DPs. RESULTS: Three DPs were identified at each time point and designated DP 1–3 (pre-pregnancy), DP 4–6 (first trimester), DP 7–9 (second trimester) and DP 10–12 (third trimester). DP 1, 4, and 7 appeared to be more prudent diets, characterized by higher intakes of nuts, seeds & legumes, green leafy vegetables, other vegetables, eggs, fruits, and milk & dairy products. DP 2, 5, 8, and 11 had greater loadings of condiments & spices, sugar, spreads & creamer, though DP 2 had additional sweet foods, DP 5 and 8 had additional oils & fats, and DP 11 had additional tea & coffee, respectively. DP 3 and 6 were characterized by high protein (poultry, meat, processed, dairy, eggs, and fish), sugars (mainly as beverages and sweet foods), and energy (bread, cereal & cereal products, rice, noodles & pasta) intakes. DP 9 had additional fruits. However, DP 12 had greater loadings of energy foods (bread, cereal & cereal products, rice, noodles & pasta), sugars (mainly as beverages, and sweet foods), and good protein sources (eggs, nuts, seeds & legumes). Malays were more likely to have lower adherence (LA) for DP 1 and 10 than non-Malays. DP 2, 8, and 11 were more prevalent among Malays than non-Malays. Women with a higher education were more likely to have LA for DP 10, and women with a greater waist circumference at first prenatal visit were more likely to show LA for DP 11. CONCLUSIONS: DPs observed in the present study were substantially different from those reported in Western populations. Information concerning associations between ethnicity, waist circumference and education with specific DPs before and throughout pregnancy could facilitate efforts to promote healthy dietary behavior and the overall health and well-being of pregnant women.
Beverages ; Carbohydrates ; Coffee ; Cohort Studies ; Condiments ; Dairy Products ; Diet ; Edible Grain ; Education ; Eggs ; Fabaceae ; Fats ; Female ; Fruit ; Humans ; Meat ; Milk ; Nuts ; Oils ; Ovum ; Pregnancy ; Pregnant Women ; Principal Component Analysis ; Prospective Studies ; Spices ; Tea ; Vegetables ; Waist Circumference

With increasing need to prevent serious food allergy reactions, Korean food allergen labeling regulation has been revised repeatedly. This paper aims to summarize current statuses of food allergen labeling in Korea and foreign countries and to analyze the issue of food allergen labeling regulation. Korean food labeling regulation currently requires 19 items and 22 foods to be reported on labels (eggs, milk, buckwheat, peanut, soybean, wheat, mackerel, crab, shrimp, pork, peach, tomato, sulfite, walnut, chicken, beef, squid, shellfish, and pine nut). However, some common food triggers (for example, almond, cashew nut, and kiwi fruit) are not included in the current labeling regulation. Another issue is that the Korean labeling regulation has not yet been fully implemented for nonprepacked foods; thus, consumers still have difficulty in correctly identifying allergenic ingredients in food. It should be assessed whether warning statements for cross-contamination are reasonable. To prevent the occurrence of serious reactions from accidental ingestion, efforts must be made to solve recently raised issues including the items required to be listed on food labels, the system of standards for labeling and display methods.
Anacardium ; Arachis ; Chickens ; Decapodiformes ; Eating ; Fagopyrum ; Food Hypersensitivity ; Food Labeling ; Hypersensitivity ; Juglans ; Korea ; Lycopersicon esculentum ; Milk ; Nuts ; Perciformes ; Prunus dulcis ; Prunus persica ; Red Meat ; Shellfish ; Soybeans ; Triticum

Acute myocardial infraction (AMI) is a highly frequent cause of mortality and disability around the world. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the associations between meat group intake levels and AMI risks in an adult Iranian population. This case-control study was conducted on 200 first AMI cases and 200 healthy individuals matched by age, sex, and body mass index. A Food Frequency Questionnaire validated for Iranian populations was used to assess usual dietary intake levels over the previous year. Data was extracted regarding the meat group—including meat (red and processed), fish, poultry, eggs, nuts, and legumes. The associations between meat group items and AMI were calculated by multivariable logistic regression. Red meat consumption was significantly positively associated with increased risk of AMI. After adjustment for potential confounders, a positive association was found between higher frequency of processed and red meat intake, and increased risk of AMI (processed meat consumption: odds ratio [OR], 1.71; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.31–2.23 and red meat consumption: OR, 2.51; 95% CI, 1.84–5.11). In addition, the results indicated an inverse association between the frequency of nuts consumption and AMI (OR, 0.52; 95% CI, 0.31–0.92). There were no associations seen between poultry, fish, eggs and beans intake levels, and the odds of AMI. The current study suggested a direct association between the frequency of processed/red meat consumption and increased AMI risks. In addition, an inverse relation was observed between frequency of nuts consumption and the risks of AMI.
Adult ; Body Mass Index ; Cardiovascular Diseases ; Case-Control Studies ; Diet ; Eggs ; Fabaceae ; Humans ; Logistic Models ; Meat ; Mortality ; Myocardial Infarction ; Nuts ; Odds Ratio ; Ovum ; Poultry ; Red Meat

PURPOSE: Many studies have reported that pollen-food allergy syndrome (PFAS) can cause anaphylaxis. No comprehensive investigations into anaphylaxis in PFAS have been conducted, however. In this study, we investigated the clinical manifestations and risk factors for anaphylaxis in PFAS in Korean patients with pollinosis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Data were obtained from a nationwide cross-sectional study that previously reported on PFAS in Korean patients with pollinosis. Data from 273 patients with PFAS were collected, including demographics, list of culprit fruits and vegetables, and clinical manifestations of food allergy. We analyzed 27 anaphylaxis patients and compared them with patients with PFAS with oropharyngeal symptoms only (n=130). RESULTS: The most common cause of anaphylaxis in PFAS was peanut (33.3%), apple (22.2%), walnut (22.2%), pine nut (18.5%), peach (14.8%), and ginseng (14.8%). Anaphylaxis was significantly associated with the strength of sensitization to alder, hazel, willow, poplar, timothy, and ragweed (p<0.05, respectively). Multivariable analysis revealed that the presence of atopic dermatitis [odds ratio (OR), 3.58; 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.25–10.23; p=0.017]; sensitization to hazel (OR, 5.27; 95% CI, 1.79–15.53; p=0.003), timothy (OR, 11.8; 95% CI, 2.70–51.64; p=0.001), or ragweed (OR, 3.18; 95% CI, 1.03–9.87; p=0.045); and the number of culprit foods (OR, 1.25; 95% CI, 1.15–1.37; p<0.001) were related to the development of anaphylaxis in PFAS. CONCLUSION: The most common culprit foods causing anaphylaxis in PFAS were peanut and apple. The presence of atopic dermatitis; sensitization to hazel, timothy, or ragweed; and a greater number of culprit foods were risk factors for anaphylaxis in PFAS.
Alnus ; Ambrosia ; Anaphylaxis ; Arachis ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Demography ; Dermatitis, Atopic ; Food Hypersensitivity ; Fruit ; Humans ; Hypersensitivity ; Juglans ; Nuts ; Panax ; Pollen ; Prunus persica ; Rhinitis, Allergic, Seasonal ; Risk Factors ; Salix ; Vegetables

BACKGROUND: The Pink peppercorn belongs to the same Anacardiaceae family as cashew and pistachio. However, the cross-reactivity of pink peppercorn with cashew and pistachio has yet to be studied. To date, there has been a single case report of anaphylaxis to pink peppercorn in a cashew and pistachio allergic individual. OBJECTIVE: We aim to demonstrate cross-sensitization to pink peppercorn in cashew and/or pistachio allergic children. METHODS: A small descriptive cohort study looking at cross-sensitization of pink peppercorn in cashew and/or pistachio allergic children was conducted. Children with a history of reaction to pistachio and/or cashew nut underwent skin prick tests to the pink peppercorn species Schinus terebinthifolius to determine cross-sensitization. RESULTS: Out of the 21 cashew and/or pistachio allergic subjects, 16 (76.2%) demonstrated cross-sensitization to pink peppercorn. None of the subjects had any knowledge of previous exposure or allergic reactions to pink peppercorn. DISCUSSION: This study demonstrates potential cross-reactivity between pink peppercorn and cashew and pistachio. While an oral food challenge to pink peppercorn would have been important in demonstrating clinical cross-reactivity, this was not performed due to ethical constraints. We hope to increase the awareness of pink peppercorn as a potential and hidden source of allergen and encourage further studies to demonstrate the clinical cross-reactivity and to better delineate the major allergen involved.
Anacardiaceae ; Anacardium ; Anaphylaxis ; Child ; Cohort Studies ; Cross Reactions ; Food Hypersensitivity ; Hope ; Humans ; Hypersensitivity ; Nuts ; Pistacia ; Skin

BACKGROUND: Anaphylaxis is increasing in young children. The aim of the present study was to analyze the clinical characteristics of anaphylaxis in Korean infants, with a focus on food triggers. METHODS: The study analyzed the medical records of infants aged 0 to 2 years old who had been diagnosed with anaphylaxis in 23 secondary or tertiary hospitals in Korea. RESULTS: We identified 363 cases of infantile anaphylaxis (66.9% male). Cutaneous symptoms were most prevalent (98.6%), followed by respiratory (83.2%), gastrointestinal (29.8%), and neurologic (11.6%) symptoms. Cardiovascular symptoms were noted in 7.7% of the cases. Most of the cases of anaphylaxis (338; 93.1%) were induced by foods. The most common trigger food was cow's milk and cow's milk products (43.8%), followed by hen's eggs (21.9%), walnuts (8.3%), wheat (7.7%), peanuts (4.8%), other nuts (3.0%), and fish (2.1%). In cow's milk-induced anaphylaxis cases, more than half the cases had cow's milk specific immunoglobulin E (sIgE) levels that were lower than the diagnostic decision points (DDPs), which is 5 kUA/L for those under the age of 1 and 15 kUA/L for those over the age of 1. In anaphylaxis induced by hen's egg, most of the cases (91.8%) had hen's egg sIgE levels that were higher than the DDP, which is 2 kUA/L for those under the age of 2 and 7 kUA/L for those over the age of 2. Of the infantile anaphylaxis cases, 46.8% had been treated with epinephrine, and 25.1% had been prescribed an epinephrine auto-injector. CONCLUSION: Cow's milk is the most frequent trigger food of anaphylaxis in Korean infants. However, we found no significant correlation between the sIgE level and clinical severity. Education is required regarding the importance of epinephrine as the first line therapy for anaphylaxis and on properly prescribing epinephrine for infants with a history of anaphylaxis.
Anaphylaxis ; Arachis ; Child ; Education ; Eggs ; Epinephrine ; Humans ; Immunoglobulin E ; Immunoglobulins ; Infant ; Juglans ; Korea ; Medical Records ; Milk ; Nuts ; Ovum ; Retrospective Studies ; Tertiary Care Centers ; Triticum

BACKGROUND: This study aimed to investigate the food intake behavior of cancer survivors based on main sources of energy intake from different food groups in comparison with healthy individuals.METHODS: Baseline survey data from the Health Examinee cohort, which recruited participants from 2014 to 2013 were applied. A total of 5,269 cancer survivors and 5,219 healthy subjects without comorbidities who were matched by age, sex, and enrollment center were included in the analysis. The proportion of energy intake for 17 food groups was devided into lower median and median or upper. OR and 95% CIs were determined to measure the difference of energy intake proportion in cancer survivors, five major types of cancer survivors versus healthy individuals.RESULTS: Generally, the proportion of calories intake from sugars and sweets, meat and poultry, oils and fats, and beverage was lower in cancer survivors than in healthy individuals (OR = 0.83 [95% CI = 0.79–0.88], 0.75 [95% CI = 0.71–0.80], 0.84 [95% CI = 0.80–0.89], and 0.93 [95% CI = 0.88–0.99], respectively) with more prominently shown in breast, colon, and thyroid cancer individuals. In contrast, cancer survivors tended to intake calories from potatoes and starches, legume, seeds and nuts, vegetables, mushrooms, fruits, and seasonings more than healthy individuals (OR = 1.09 [95% CI = 1.03–1.16], 1.13 [95% CI = 1.06–1.19], 1.15 [95% CI = 1.09–1.22], 1.07 [95% CI = 1.01–1.13], 1.07 [95% CI = 1.02–1.14], 1.15 [95% CI = 1.08–1.21], and 1.17 [95% CI = 1.10–1.23], respectively) which were more prominent in gastric and breast cancer survivors.CONCLUSIONS: The dietary behavior measured by main sources of energy intake in cancer survivors was different from healthy individuals in terms of several food groups. Although there are nutrition guidelines for cancer survivors, because of the differences between Western population and Asian people in terms of food culture, the guidelines for balanced nutritious behavior should be established among Asian cancer survivors.
Agaricales ; Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; Beverages ; Breast ; Breast Neoplasms ; Carbohydrates ; Cohort Studies ; Colon ; Comorbidity ; Eating ; Energy Intake ; Fabaceae ; Fats ; Fruit ; Healthy Volunteers ; Humans ; Meat ; Nutrition Policy ; Nutritional Status ; Nuts ; Oils ; Poultry ; Seasons ; Solanum tuberosum ; Starch ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Survivors ; Thyroid Neoplasms ; Vegetables

Oral allergy syndrome (OAS) is an IgE-mediated allergy caused by cross-reacting antigenic determinants in pollens and various fruits, vegetables, and nuts which are known as the most common food allergy in adults. Cross-reactive antigenic proteins include pathogenesis-related-10 protein, profilin, cross-reactive carbohydrate determinant and lipid transfer protein. The prevalence of OAS has been reported at up to 70% of birch pollen allergy. A nationwide multicenter study in our country has recently reported that the prevalence of OAS in Korea is 41.7% of pollen allergy. Typical symptoms of OAS are tingling, itching sense and edema of lips, mouth, and throat immediately after ingestion of raw fruits, vegetables, or nuts. These can progress to systemic symptoms including anaphylaxis. The diagnosis can be made by typical clinical history in patients with pollen allergy. Skin prick test using fresh fruits extracts can be helpful in confirming sensitization to foods, which has better sensitivity than commercial skin prick test or serum specific IgE test. Treatment of OAS is to avoid causative foods. Self-injectable epinephrine should be considered in the case of anaphylaxis. Allergen-specific immunotherapy to pollens has also been tried.
Adult ; Anaphylaxis ; Betula ; Diagnosis ; Eating ; Edema ; Epinephrine ; Epitopes ; Food Hypersensitivity ; Fruit ; Humans ; Hypersensitivity* ; Immunoglobulin E ; Immunotherapy ; Korea ; Lip ; Mouth ; Nuts ; Pharynx ; Pollen ; Prevalence ; Profilins ; Pruritus ; Rhinitis, Allergic ; Rhinitis, Allergic, Seasonal ; Skin ; Vegetables