• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• 제48권7호
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• pp.766-771
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• 2005

목 적 : 류코트리엔 수용체 길항제는 천식의 병리 반응에 관여하는 cysteiny leukotriene의 생성과 작용을 억제하여 급성기 천식 증상의 치료와 천식 증상의 조절 요법에 사용할 수 있다. 본 연구에서는 소아 천식환자에서 cysteinyl leukotriene 생성에 관여하는 $LTC_4S$ 유전자 다형태와 류코트리엔 수용체 길항제인 montelukast의 임상적 효과를 조사하여 약물유전학적 연관성 유무를 알고자 하였다. 방 법 : 환자군은 경증 지속성 천식과 중등증 지속성 천식환자 161명을 대상으로 하였고, montelukast 5 mg을 하루에 한 번씩 총 8주 동안 투여하였다. $LTC_4S$ 유전자 다형태는 restriction fragment length polymorphism을 이용하여 조사하였다. 결 과 : 대조군에서 LTC4S 유전자형의 분포는 A/A, A/C, C/C가 각각 74.0%, 22.6%, 3.4%였고, 환자군에서는 A/A, A/C, C/C가 각각 70.8%, 23.6%, 5.6%였다. 두 군의 유전자형 분포는 통계적으로 유의한 차이를 보이지 않았고, $LTC_4S$ 유전자형 분포와 천식의 중증도 사이에도 유의한 차이가 없었다. 반응군에서는 경증 지속성 천식환자가 반응이 없는 군에서는 중등증 지속성 천식환자가 더 많았다. 전체 소아 천식환자군에서는 montelukast에 대한 반응군과 반응이 없는 군 사이에 $LTC_4S$ 유전자형에 따른 차이는 없었다. 경증 지속성 천식환자의 반응군에서 adenine 대립유전자를 가진 환자가 많았으나, 중등증 지속성 천식환자에서는 유전자형에 따른 반응군과 반응이 없는 군의 유의한 차이가 없었다. 결 론 : 본 연구에서 소아 경증 지속성 천식환자의 경우에는 통계적으로 adenine 대립유전자가 montelukast에 대한 임상적 효과를 예측할 수 있는 인자라고 할 수 있으나 전체 소아 천식환자에서는 $LTC_4S$ 유전자 다형태와 montelukast의 임상적 효과와의 연관성은 통계적으로 없었다.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• 제56권9호
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• pp.369-376
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• 2013

A complex interplay between genetic and environmental factors partially contributes to the development of allergic diseases by affecting development during prenatal and early life. To explain the dramatic increase in the prevalence of allergic diseases, the hygiene hypothesis proposed that early exposure to infection prevented allergic diseases. The hygiene hypothesis has changed to the microbial hypothesis, in which exposure to microbes is closely linked to the development of the early immune system and allergic diseases. The intestinal flora may contribute to allergic disease through its substantial effect on mucosal immunity. Based on findings that exposure to microbial flora early in life can change the Th1/Th2 balance, thus favoring a Th1 cell response, probiotics may be beneficial in preventing allergic diseases. However, evidence from clinical and basic research to prove the efficacy of probiotics in preventing allergy is lacking. To date, studies have yielded inconsistent findings on the usefulness of probiotics in allergic diseases. It is difficult to demonstrate an exact effect of probiotics on asthma, allergic rhinitis, and food allergy because of study limitations, such as different first supplementation period, duration, different strains, short follow-up period, and host factors. However, many studies have demonstrated a significant clinical improvement in atopic dermatitis with the use of probiotics. An accurate understanding of the development of human immunity, intestinal barrier function, intestinal microbiota, and systemic immunity is required to comprehend the effects of probiotics on allergic diseases.

• 한국환경보건학회지
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• 제39권5호
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• pp.438-446
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• 2013

Objectives: This study was performed in order to determine airborne fungi levels in homes and find related factors that may affect airborne fungi concentration. Methods: Fifty homes were study subjects for measuring airborne fungi. For sampling airborne fungi, the impaction method on agar plates was used and samples were counted as colony forming units per cubic meter of air ($CFU/m^3$). In addition, information regarding housing characteristics and atopic disease in each home were collected via questionnaire. Results: The geometric means (GM) of airborne fungi concentrations in fifty living rooms and bedrooms were 68.03 and 62.93 $CFU/m^3$, respectively. The GM of airborne fungi concentration in atopy homes was 78.42 $CFU/m^3$. This was higher than non-atopy homes' 54.34 $CFU/m^3$ (p-value=0.051). In the results of the multiple regression analysis, outdoor airborne fungal concentration proved a strong effective factor on indoor airborne fungal concentration. Also, construction year, floor area of house, indoor smoking and frequency of ventilation were factors that showed a significant association with indoor airborne fungi concentration. Conclusions: The results of this study show that some housing and living characteristics may affect the development and increase of airborne fungi. In addition, exposure to airborne fungi may be a risk factor for the prevalence of childhood atopic diseases.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• 제56권8호
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• pp.338-342
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• 2013

Purpose: Allergic disease and its comorbidities significantly influence the quality of life. Although the comorbidities of allergic diseases are well described in adult populations, little is known about them in preschool children. In the present study, we aimed to assess the prevalence and comorbidity of allergic diseases in Korean preschool children. Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional study comprising 615 Korean children (age, 3 to 6 years). Symptoms of allergic diseases were assessed using the Korean version of the International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood (ISAAC) questionnaire that was modified for preschool children. Comorbidities of allergic diseases were assessed by 'In the last 12 months, has your child had symptoms?'. Results: The prevalence of symptoms of asthma, allergic rhinitis, and atopic dermatitis as recorded using the ISAAC questionnaire, within the last 12 months was 13.8%, 40.7%, and 20.8%, respectively. The symptom rates of allergic conjunctivitis, food allergy, and drug allergy were 14.8%, 10.4%, and 0.8%, respectively. The prevalence of allergic rhinitis in children with asthma was 64.3% and that of asthma in children with allergic rhinitis was 21.6%. The prevalence of rhinitis in children with conjunctivitis was 64.8% and that of conjunctivitis in children with rhinitis was 23.6%. Conclusion: The prevalence of current rhinitis in our preschool children is shown to be higher than that previously reported. Allergic conjunctivitis is closely associated with asthma and allergic rhinitis. However, further studies are warranted to determine the prevalence and effects of these comorbidities on health outcomes in preschool children.

• 한국환경보건학회지
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• 제39권4호
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• pp.383-390
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• 2013

Objectives: We evaluated the effects of an allergy control program on children with atopic dermatitis (AD) in five schools located within Gyeonggi-do. Methods: Based on the results of the 12-month prevalence of AD symptoms from an International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood (ISAAC) questionnaire of all students (n=2109; 1040 boys, 1069 girls) at five randomly selected schools, 227 students with AD symptoms were screened. Finally, 188 students with greater than 1 on SCORAD (SCORing Atopic Dermatitis) determined by a physician were selected. The allergy control program includes education related to allergic diseases, skin prick tests, and SCORAD evaluation, as well as keeping a daily journal to check the usage of moisturizer at least once a day. To determine the effectiveness of the allergy control program, SCORAD evaluation was performed again six weeks later. Results: The most common symptom for 12-month prevalence was rhinorrhea (33.9%), followed by atopic skin lesions (14.8%) and wheezing (4.0%). The 12-month prevalences of the three allergic diseases were higher for boys than for girls, and a significant difference was found for allergic rhinitis (P<0.001). The mean SCORAD index decreased significantly from 26.1 to 17.5 after the completion of the six-week control program (P<0.01). In particular, these differences were more pronounced for the group which used the daily journal (P<0.001). Conclusions: Our findings indicate that the allergy control program including usage of a daily journal as well as regular monitoring could be a promising tool for preventing and alleviating the symptoms of allergic diseases.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• 제62권9호
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• pp.325-333
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• 2019

Allergic diseases, including allergic rhinitis, asthma, and atopic dermatitis, are common heterogeneous diseases that encompass diverse phenotypes and different pathogeneses. Phenotype studies of allergic diseases can facilitate the identification of risk factors and their underlying pathophysiology, resulting in the application of more effective treatment, selection of better treatment responses, and prediction of prognosis for each phenotype. In the early phase of phenotype studies in allergic diseases, artificial classifications were usually performed based on clinical features, such as triggering factors or the presence of atopy, which can result in the biased classification of phenotypes and limit the characterization of heterogeneous allergic diseases. Subsequent phenotype studies have suggested more diverse phenotypes for each allergic disease using relatively unbiased statistical methods, such as cluster analysis or latent class analysis. The classifications of phenotypes in allergic diseases may overlap or be unstable over time due to their complex interactions with genetic and encountered environmental factors during the illness, which may affect the disease course and pathophysiology. In this review, diverse phenotype classifications of allergic diseases, including atopic dermatitis, asthma, and wheezing in children, allergic rhinitis, and atopy, are described. The review also discusses the applications of the results obtained from phenotype studies performed in other countries to Korean children. Consideration of changes in the characteristics of each phenotype over time in an individual's lifespan is needed in future studies.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• 제65권2호
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• pp.65-72
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• 2022

Cholesterol, the main structural molecule of cell membranes, is involved in essential functions of the human body. Dyslipidemia is an established risk factor for cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) that is observed even in childhood. To reduce the risk of CVDs in children, several clinical guidelines have been published for the management of pediatric dyslipidemia. However, pediatric dyslipidemia is also associated with several health problems other than CVDs. This article reviews the current data on dyslipidemia-related pediatric health issues. There is strong evidence that low serum vitamin D levels, asthma, and mental health problems may be associated with dyslipidemia in the pediatric population regardless of body mass index. This review also highlights the need for further large-scale population-based studies in the Korean pediatric population to establish effective strategies for promoting children's health.

• Child Health Nursing Research
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• 제10권2호
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• pp.225-232
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• 2004

The purpose of this article is to describe the overview of current medical treatments of childhood epilepsy in Korea and to review several recent nursing researches related to quality of life problems, especially psychological functioning in children with epilepsy and the stress of the family. The prognosis of childhood epilepsy has been improved considerably and about 80％ of patients can now be expected to achieve complete seizure control by the antiepileptic drug treatment. Even for the intractable epilepsy, with the combination of ketogenic diet program and antiepileptic drug therapy or surgical treatment, the prognosis became very much better than before. The majority of research has reported that children with epilepsy were experiencing quality of life problems. They are at risk for impaired functioning, compared to either general population controls or to other chronic illness groups such as asthma and diabetes. The ultimate goal of providing care to children with epilepsy is to control seizures while facilitating an optimal quality of life for the child as well as the family. Recommendations are included for future research and intervention programs for children, parents and our society.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• 제49권6호
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• pp.589-592
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• 2006

Atopic dermatitis is estimated to affect 15-20% of the childhood population and there id considerable evidence that the prevalence is increasing. But it is frequently under diagnosed and inappropriately treated yet. Atopic dermatitis can have a large social;. emotional and financial effect on the child and their family. Atopic dermatitis also commonly predated the development of asthma and allergic rhinitis. Therefore early diagnosis and proper treatment are the key for control the atopic dermatitis itself and modify the future repiratory allergies. This review will cover the new diagnostic criteria and treatment briefly.

• 한국대기환경학회:학술대회논문집
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• 한국대기환경학회 2000년도 추계학술대회 논문집
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• pp.289-290
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• 2000

산업혁명 이후 대기오염이 건강에 미치는 유해성 연구는 산발적으로 이루어져오다가 영국 London 스모그사건과 미국 Donora 및 LA 스모그사건 이후 인체에 미치는 영향에 대하여 선진국을 중심으로 집중적인 연구가 이루어져 왔다. 또한, 최근에는 각국의 대기오염 기준치 이하에서도 단기간 건강에 영향을 준다는 연구들이 발표되면서 각국은 대기오염 수준을 강화하고 있으며, 이러한 결과들은 각국마다 일관된 결과를 나타내고 있다. (중략)