Objective: To explore the effect of vidian neurectomy and selective vidian neurectomy in the treatment of moderate and severe persistent allergic rhinitis (AR). Methods: A total of 60 patients with moderate-to-severe persistent AR treated in Zhejiang Provincial Hospital of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine from June 2018 to June 2020 were selected, including 28 males and 32 females. A total of 40 cases in the observation group were subjected to vidianneurectomy, while, 20 cases in the control group underwent selective vidianneurectomy. Patients in the two groups were followed up at 6 months, 1 year, and 2 years, respectively, and evaluated according to AR diagnostic and efficacy assessment criteria. Four symptoms of sneezing, clear runny nose, nasal congestion, and nasal itching were scored as efficacy indices before and at 6 months, 1 year, and 2 years after surgery. The regression of the lower turbinate swelling after surgery was assessed by nasal endoscopy or sinus CT. Postoperative tear secretion was followed up in both groups, and patients with dry eyes were counted in combination with ocular symptoms. SPSS 19.0 software was used to statistically analyze the data before and after the surgery and between the two groups. Results: The preoperative, 6-month, 1-year, and 2-year postoperative inferior turbinate signs were (2.73±0.45), (1.20±0.41), (1.25±0.49) and (1.30±0.56) points in the observation group and (2.75±0.44), (1.45±0.69), (1.75±0.72) and (1.90±0.85) points in the control group, respectively, with a statistically significant difference in the between-subjects effect test between the two groups (F=8.28, P<0.05), indicating a more durable surgical effect in the observation group. The total effective rate at 2 years after surgery was 95.0% (38/40) in the observation group and 50% (10/20) in the control group. The difference between the two groups by Fisher's exact test was statistically significant. No dry eye patient was found in either group at a 1.5-year postoperative follow-up. Conclusion: Both vidianneurectomy and selective vidianneurectomy have good recent treatment effects, vidianneurectomy has better long-term curative effects than selective vidianneurectomy.
Male ; Female ; Humans ; Treatment Outcome ; Rhinitis, Allergic/surgery* ; Turbinates/surgery* ; Denervation ; Nose Diseases

E-cigarettes (ECs) and heated tobacco products (HTPs) have become popular in Korea; hence, it is important to determine whether ECs and HTPs are less hazardous than combustible cigarettes (CCs). In general, the levels of harmful and potentially harmful constituents (HPHCs) are lower in ECs and HTPs than in CCs, although the levels of some heavy metals and HPHCs are higher in ECs and HTPs than in CCs. ECs and HTPs showed possible adverse effects on respiratory and cardiovascular system function, which could result in chronic respiratory and cardiovascular system diseases in animals. An analysis of biomarkers showed that ECs had possible adverse health effects on the respiratory and cardiovascular systems, in addition the effects of HTP on respiratory and cardiovascular systems were not significantly different than those of CC. Epidemiological studies identified positive associations between EC use and asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and myocardial infarction. Only one epidemiologic study reported a positive association between ever using HTPs and asthma, allergic rhinitis, and atopic dermatitis among adolescents. Modelling studies of ECs did not show consistent findings regarding the health effects compared with those of CCs. A modeling study of HTPs, performed by tobacco industry, has been criticized for many unfounded assumptions. Lower levels of HPHCs in ECs and HTPs, compared with those in CCs, cannot be directly translated into health benefits because the relationship between exposure and effects is non-linear for cardiovascular diseases and because the duration of exposure is more important than the level of exposure in determining lung cancer mortality. In summary, there is no definite health benefit in using ECs or HTPs instead of CCs, for the individual or the population; hence, tobacco control measures should be the same for ECs, HTPs, and CCs. ECs and HTPs have become popular in Korea; hence, it is important to determine whether ECs and HTPs are less hazardous than CCs.
Adolescent ; Animals ; Asthma ; Biomarkers ; Cardiovascular Diseases ; Cardiovascular System ; Dermatitis, Atopic ; Electronic Cigarettes ; Epidemiologic Studies ; Hot Temperature ; Humans ; Insurance Benefits ; Korea ; Lung Neoplasms ; Metals, Heavy ; Mortality ; Myocardial Infarction ; Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive ; Rhinitis, Allergic ; Smoking ; Tobacco Industry ; Tobacco Products ; Tobacco

Air pollution, climate change, and reduced biodiversity are major threats to human health with detrimental effects on a variety of chronic noncommunicable diseases in particular respiratory and cardiovascular diseases. The extent of air pollution both outdoor and indoor air pollution and climate change including global warming is increasing-to alarming proportions particularly in the developing world especially rapidly industrializing countries worldwide. In recent years, Asia has experienced rapid economic growth and a deteriorating environment and increase in allergic diseases to epidemic proportions. Air pollutant levels in many Asian countries especially in China and India are substantially higher than are those in developed countries. Moreover, industrial, traffic-related, and household biomass combustion, indoor pollutants from chemicals and tobacco are major sources of air pollutants, with increasing burden on respiratory allergies. Here we highlight the major components of outdoor and indoor air pollutants and their impacts on respiratory allergies associated with asthma and allergic rhinitis in the Asia-Pacific region. With Asia-Pacific comprising more than half of the world's population there is an urgent need to increase public awareness, highlight targets for interventions, public advocacy and a call to action to policy makers to implement policy changes towards reducing air pollution with interventions at a population-based level.
Administrative Personnel ; Air Pollutants ; Air Pollution ; Air Pollution, Indoor ; Allergy and Immunology ; Asia ; Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; Asthma ; Biodiversity ; Biomass ; Cardiovascular Diseases ; China ; Climate Change ; Climate ; Consumer Advocacy ; Developed Countries ; Economic Development ; Family Characteristics ; Global Warming ; Humans ; Hypersensitivity ; India ; Rhinitis, Allergic ; Tobacco

OBJECTIVE: To study the clinical features of children with bronchial asthma complicated by pulmonary fungal infection and the risk factors for pulmonary fungal infection. METHODS: A retrospective analysis was performed for the clinical data of 150 children with bronchial asthma who were admitted from January 2015 to June 2018. Among these children, 75 had pulmonary fungal infection (fungal infection group) and 75 did not have such infection (control group). The distribution of pathogenic fungi, clinical symptoms/signs and treatment outcome were recorded for the fungal infection group. The multivariate logistic regression analysis was used to investigate the risk factors for pulmonary fungal infection. RESULTS: A total of 69 pathogenic fungi were detected in 75 children in the fungal infection group, among which Candida albicans had the highest detection rate of 61%. Major clinical symptoms were cough (93%), persistent high fever (56%), wheezing (49%) and dyspnea (48%). Major signs were dry and moist rales (43%) and moist rales (29%). Parts of children had hepatosplenomegaly. Among the 75 children in the fungal infection group, 39 were markedly improved, 26 were improved, 7 had no response, and 3 experienced aggravation and then died. Age <3 years, comorbidities of nasosinusitis and/or allergic rhinitis, asthma attacks of >3 times during hospitalization, intravenous administration of glucocorticoids, non-rational use of antibiotics, mechanical ventilation and prolonged hospital stay were independent risk factors for pulmonary fungal infection in children with asthma (OR=4.865, 3.241, 2.255, 3.725, 3.568, 1.549, 3.808; P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS Pulmonary fungal infection should be considered for asthmatic children with cough, persistent high fever, obvious dry and moist rales and hepatosplenomegaly. The asthmatic children with an age of <3 years, comorbidities of nasosinusitis and/or allergic rhinitis, asthma attacks of >3 times during hospitalization, intravenous administration of glucocorticoids, non-rational use of antibiotics, mechanical ventilation or prolonged hospital stay have a higher risk for secondary pulmonary fungal infection.
Asthma ; Child ; Humans ; Lung Diseases, Fungal ; Retrospective Studies ; Rhinitis, Allergic ; Risk Factors

BACKGROUND: In China, upper airway cough syndrome (UACS) is only less frequent than cough-variant asthma and accounts for 24.71% of chronic cough. This study aimed to determine the pathogenetic constituents and factors affecting UACS in children of different age groups, and to identify clinical clues for diagnosing UACS and a method for curative effect evaluation. METHODS: A total of 103 children with UACS whose chief complaint was chronic cough were studied from January to November 2013 at Children's Hospital, Capital Institute of Pediatrics. According to their age, children with UACS were divided into 3 groups: nursing children, pre-school children, and school-age children. We analyzed the differences in pathogenetic constituents and factors affecting UACS in children. The effect of UACS treatment was evaluated by the visual analog scale (VAS) and an objective examination. Chi-squared test and analysis of variance were performed with the SPSS 19.0 statistical software. RESULTS: There was a high incidence of UACS in school-age children. Rhinitis with adenoid hypertrophy was the main cause of 103 suspected UACS cases. Adenoidal hypertrophy was the major cause of UACS in the pre-school children group, while rhinitis was the major reason in the nursing children and school-age children groups. Among the 103 children, there were 45 allergen-positive children, with no significant difference among different age groups. VAS scores in the different disease groups after treatment were lower than those before treatment (all P < 0.01). VAS scores in different disease groups showed significant differences, except for 12 vs. 24 weeks after treatment (P = 0.023). Different age groups had different secondary complaints. CONCLUSIONS There are different pathogeneses in different UACS age groups. Clinical treatment efficacy of children with UACS can be evaluated by the VAS combined with an objective examination. We recommend that the course of treatment should be 12 weeks.
Adolescent ; Asthma ; epidemiology ; Chi-Square Distribution ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; China ; epidemiology ; Chronic Disease ; epidemiology ; Cough ; epidemiology ; Female ; Humans ; Incidence ; Male ; Nose Diseases ; epidemiology ; Rhinitis ; epidemiology ; Rhinitis, Allergic ; epidemiology

Adult ; Alternaria ; immunology ; Alveolitis, Extrinsic Allergic ; immunology ; Animals ; Antibodies ; immunology ; Antibodies, Bacterial ; immunology ; Antibodies, Fungal ; immunology ; Antigens ; immunology ; Antigens, Bacterial ; immunology ; Antigens, Fungal ; immunology ; Aspergillus fumigatus ; immunology ; Asymptomatic Diseases ; Candida albicans ; immunology ; Cladosporium ; immunology ; Columbidae ; immunology ; Female ; Healthy Volunteers ; Humans ; Immunoglobulin G ; immunology ; Male ; Melopsittacus ; immunology ; Middle Aged ; Mucor ; immunology ; Nocardia ; immunology ; Parrots ; immunology ; Penicillium chrysogenum ; immunology ; Stachybotrys ; immunology ; Thermoactinomyces ; immunology

BACKGROUND: This study aimed to investigate allergic rhinitis and the relationship between allergic diseases, such as asthma and allergic rhinitis, and dental caries and periodontal disease using the raw data from third year of the 6th Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey.METHODS: A total of 3,729 subjects aged over 30 years who underwent examination for allergic diseases and an oral health checkup were selected. The data were analyzed using SPSS IBM SPSS ver. 25.0 (IBM Corp., USA). Composite sample cross correlation and composite sample logistic regression analyses were performed using the composite sample general linear model.RESULTS: On examining the socioeconomic characteristics of the subjects suffering from allergic disease and the relationship between allergic disease and oral health, allergic rhinitis was more frequently found in younger subjects with a higher level of education. Periodontal disease and dental caries were more frequent among female, older age groups, lower income earners, and subjects with a lower level of education (p<0.05). On examining the relationship between the oral health characteristics of the subject and allergic diseases and oral health, allergic rhinitis was more common in subjects with a good oral health status perception than those who answered “bad” to the oral health status question. The community periodontal index of treatment needs (CPITN) score was higher in subjects who answered “poor” to the oral health status question, lower frequency of brushing, and higher in subjects using secondary oral hygiene products; the decayed, missing and filled teeth (DMFT) index was higher in subjects with a perception of poor oral health status (p<0.05). The DMFT index was high in the asthma group, and the CPITN score was high in the group who answered “no” to allergic rhinitis.CONCLUSION: There is a relationship between asthma and allergic rhinitis and the DFMT index and CPITN score. Corresponding oral programs for allergic patients need to be developed.
Asthma ; Dental Caries ; Education ; Female ; Humans ; Linear Models ; Logistic Models ; Nutrition Surveys ; Oral Health ; Oral Hygiene ; Periodontal Diseases ; Periodontal Index ; Rhinitis, Allergic ; Tooth

BACKGROUND: The most common surgical treatment for paralytic lagophthalmos is the placement of a weight implant in the upper eyelid; however, this technique confers the risks of implant visibility, implant extrusion, and entropion. In this study, we present a new technique of placing platinum weight implants between the levator aponeurosis and inner septum to decrease such complications. METHODS: A total of 37 patients with paralytic lagophthalmos were treated between March 2014 and January 2017 with platinum weight placement (mean follow-up, 520.1 days). After dissecting through the orbicularis oculi muscle, the tarsal plate and levator aponeurosis were exposed. The platinum weights (1.0–1.4 g) were fixed to the upper margin of the tarsal plate and placed underneath the orbital septum. RESULTS: Five patients could partially close their eye after surgery. The average distance between the upper eyelid and the lower eyelid when the eyes were closed was 1.12 mm. The rest of the patients were able to close their eye completely. Three patients patient developed allergic conjunctivitis after platinum weight insertion, which was managed with medication. None of the patients complained of discomfort in the upper eyelid after surgery. Visibility or extrusion of the implant were observed in three patients. CONCLUSIONS: Postseptal weight placement is a safe and reproducible method in both primary and secondary upper eyelid surgery for patients with paralytic lagophthalmos. It is a feasible method for preventing implant visibility, implant exposure, and entropion. Moreover, platinum is a better implant material than gold because of its smaller size and greater thinness.
Conjunctivitis, Allergic ; Entropion ; Eyelid Diseases ; Eyelids* ; Facial Paralysis ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Methods ; Orbit ; Platinum* ; Prostheses and Implants ; Thinness ; Weights and Measures

Corticosteroids are potent anti-inflammatory and anti-allergic agents used in the treatment of various inflammatory diseases, including allergic disease. They are frequently considered the therapy-of-choice for many skin diseases. However, allergic reactions caused by corticosteroids have been reported. Among these, delayed reactions to topical steroids are more common, whereas immediate reactions to systemic steroids are rare. Herein, we report the case of a 32-year-old woman with triamcinolone-induced immediate hypersensitivity reaction, in which the patient had a positive prick test result with triamcinolone. She has had atopic dermatitis (AD) for three years. She had used systemic steroid, cyclosporine, and antihistamine with topical steroids for AD. In clinic, approximately 10 minutes after intralesional injection of triamcinolone, she complained of erythematous patches with slight elevation and itching on the face, trunk, and both hands. After intravenous injection of dexamethasone, her symptoms got worse. After treatment with epinephrine, all symptoms resolved within two hours. We performed an open test and skin prick test. She had a positive result only from the prick test with triamcinolone; all other steroids showed negative results from the open tests. Dermatologists should be aware of the possibility of anaphylaxis or other allergic hypersensitivity in response to corticosteroids.
Adrenal Cortex Hormones ; Adult ; Anaphylaxis ; Anti-Allergic Agents ; Cyclosporine ; Dermatitis, Atopic* ; Dexamethasone ; Epinephrine ; Female ; Hand ; Humans ; Hypersensitivity ; Hypersensitivity, Immediate* ; Injections, Intralesional ; Injections, Intravenous ; Pruritus ; Skin ; Skin Diseases ; Steroids ; Triamcinolone*

BACKGROUND: P-phenylenediamine (PPD) has been identified as the most frequent contact sensitizer of hair dye and the clinical characteristics of hair dye contact allergy (HDCA) are diverse. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to identify the clinical characteristics of HDCA and to assess the relationships between HDCA, exposure time to PPD and PPD positivity. METHODS: We analyzed 105 patients with patch test-confirmed hair dye allergy who presented between July 2009 and March 2015. Clinical symptoms, signs, associated skin diseases, involved ACD area, and patterns of hair dye use were obtained by reviewing medical records and by interview. RESULTS: HDCA was more common in women and in individuals aged more than 50 years. Pruritus was the most common symptom; erythematous macules and patches were the most frequently observed clinical signs. The most common site of HDCA was the face and non-specific eczema and urticaria were frequently observed with HDCA. Exposure time to hair dye, represented as frequency and duration, showed a positive correlation with the area affected by hair dye allergy (p < 0.001). Hair dye allergy was identified in most patients (80%) before diagnosis by patch test. However, only 28.6% of all patients stopped using hair dye, even after the diagnosis was confirmed. CONCLUSION: The extent of hair dye allergy involvement was related to exposure time to hair dye. For effective treatment of HDCA, it is important to properly educate patients with HDCA about the clinical manifestations of HDCA and to keep away from allergens.
Allergens ; Dermatitis, Allergic Contact ; Diagnosis ; Eczema ; Female ; Hair Dyes ; Hair* ; Humans ; Hypersensitivity* ; Medical Records ; Patch Tests ; Phenylenediamines ; Pruritus ; Skin Diseases ; Urticaria