OBJECTIVES: There is a great deal of interest in the possibility that environmental factors may influence the risk of developing allergic rhinitis (AR) in early life. We investigated the simultaneous effects of mode of delivery and duration of breastfeeding on the development of AR in children. METHODS: Data from 1,374 children participating in the Allergic Rhinitis Cohort Study for kids (ARCO-kids study) was analyzed. All subjects were divided into AR or non-allergic rhinitis (NAR) groups. Data on environmental factors, mode of delivery and duration of breastfeeding were collected using a questionnaire. RESULTS: Compared with short-term breastfeeding (<6 months), long-term breastfeeding (≥12 months) was significantly associated with a lower prevalence of AR (adjusted odds ratio [aOR], 0.54; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.34 to 0.88). Children in the AR group also had a higher cesarean delivery rate than those in the NAR group (39.1% vs. 32.8%, P=0.05). Regarding the combined effects of mode of delivery and duration of breastfeeding, long-term breastfeeding with a vaginal delivery strongly suppressed the development of AR, compared to short-term breastfeeding with a cesarean delivery (aOR, 0.47; 95% CI, 0.30 to 0.73). CONCLUSION: Long-term breastfeeding (≥12 months) and a vaginal delivery are associated with a lower risk of developing childhood AR.
Breast Feeding ; Cesarean Section ; Child ; Cohort Studies ; Delivery, Obstetric ; Female ; Humans ; Odds Ratio ; Pregnancy ; Prevalence ; Rhinitis ; Rhinitis, Allergic

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: The present study evaluated the results of skin prick test using 55 allergens at 20 centers in the Republic of Korea in 2006, 2010, and 2014–2015. The aim was to assess changes in the positive rate of allergens according to temporal, regional, and environmental factors. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In total, 20 hospitals were selected based on the population distribution in the Republic of Korea. A skin prick test panel comprising 55 aeroallergens was distributed to 18 hospitals for this prospective study. The 2006 and 2010 skin prick test results were collected and analyzed retrospectively from 20 hospitals, while the 2014/2015 skin prick test results (from June 2014 to May 2015) were collected prospectively from 18 hospitals. RESULTS: A total of 14,897 SPT test results were analyzed: 4,319 in 2006, 7,431 in 2010, and 1,852 in 2014/2015. The overall rate of skin prick test positivity to more than two allergens was significantly higher in males than females. The positive rates of alder pollens and birch, oak and ragweed pollen positivity were increased in older patients. Several positive rates were increased according to the temperature in spring. The positive rates for beech pollen, birch pollen, hazel pollen, oak pollen, Tyrophagus putrescentiae, mugwort, cat, Acarus siro, Lepidoglyphus destructor and Tyrophagus putrescentiae were significantly increased, while those of Cult rye pollen and dandelion were significantly decreased over the three test periods. The overall positive rate for allergens in Jeju province varied significantly from Seoul and other cities. CONCLUSION: Change in the positive rate of multiple aeroallergens was evaluated in the Republic of Korea over time. Our findings can be used to recommend aeroallergens suitable for inclusion in skin prick test panels in the Republic of Korea and will facilitate further investigation of changes in the patterns of allergic diseases.
Allergens* ; Alnus ; Ambrosia ; Animals ; Artemisia ; Betula ; Cats ; Demography ; Fagus ; Female ; Humans ; Korea* ; Male ; Mites ; Pollen ; Prospective Studies ; Republic of Korea ; Retrospective Studies ; Secale ; Seoul ; Skin* ; Taraxacum

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Tuberculosis of salivary gland is a rare disease but it must be considered in the context of the patient presenting the salivary gland mass. The purpose of this study is to investigate the clinical characteristics of a major salivary gland tuberculosis by determining the diagnostic usefulness of the radiographic, histopathologic, microbiological and molecular biologic evaluations. SUBJECTS AND METHOD: Eight patients diagnosed as having major salivary gland tuberculosis between June 1998 and June 2004 were treated at three tertiary referral centers. Medical records, including imaging, microbiological tests, M. tuberculosis polymerase chain reaction (PCR), and histopathology results were retrieved retrospectively and the literature was reviewed. RESULTS: Parotid glands and submandibular glands were involved in five (62.5%) and three (37.5%) cases, respectively. Neck CT demonstrated typical findings of salivary gland tuberculosis in three patients (37.5%). Fine needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) revealed chronic inflammation in six of seven patients (85.7%), two of which showed caseous necrosis, strongly suggesting tuberculosis (2/6, 33.3%). Five of the eight patients (62.5%) required resection of the affected gland and three (37.5%) received open biopsy. PCR was performed in half of the cases, all of which were affirmative. No significant difference was found between surgically resected and non-resected groups in terms of treatment results or morbidity. All patients received anti-tuberculous chemotherapy for 8 to 12 months with no disease recurrence. CONCLUSION: Tuberculosis of the salivary gland is mostly a medically curable disease entity. In cases with high index of suspicion, FNAC coupled with PCR may become an effective and alternative diagnostic tool for salivary gland tuberculosis. This diagnostic approach should be considered before surgical intervention for the differential diagnosis of salivary gland tumor.
Biopsy ; Biopsy, Fine-Needle ; Diagnosis* ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Drug Therapy ; Humans ; Inflammation ; Medical Records ; Neck ; Necrosis ; Parotid Gland ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Rare Diseases ; Recurrence ; Retrospective Studies ; Salivary Glands* ; Submandibular Gland ; Tertiary Care Centers ; Tuberculosis*

No abstract available.
Leukodystrophy, Metachromatic*