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ABSTRACT: The International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood (ISAAC) questionnaires have shown that the prevalence of childhood asthma is increasing worldwide. Although Asian countries used to have lower prevalence rates of allergic disease than Western countries, this prevalence is increasing in several Asian countries. To determine whether the prevalence of childhood asthma is changing in Korean adolescents, we compared findings from nationwide cross-sectional surveys in 1995 and 2000 on populations of middle-school children using the Korean version of the ISAAC questionnaire.
We developed Korean versions of the ISAAC written (WQ) and video (AVQ) questionnaires for allergic diseases. In 1995, the enrolled population consisted of 15,481 children, ages 12-15, and encompassing all three grades in middle school, selected from 34 schools across the nation; the response rate was 97.3%. In 2000, 15,894 children were selected from 31 of the same schools, and the response rate was 96.4%. The SAS system version 8.0 was utilized for all statistical analyses.
The WQ showed that the lifetime and 12-month prevalence of wheeze did not change from 1995 to 2000. While the 12-month prevalence rates of sleep disturbed by wheezing and night cough increased, the rates of severe attack of wheezing and exercise-induced wheeze did not change, over this period of time. The lifetime prevalence of asthma diagnosis, however, increased significantly, from 2.7% in 1995 to 5.3% in 2000, as did the 12-month prevalence of asthma treatment, from 1.0% in 1995 to 1.9% in 2000. The AVQ also showed increases in the lifetime and 12-month prevalence rates of wheeze at rest, exercise-induced wheeze, nocturnal wheeze, nocturnal cough, and severe wheeze over this period of time. These were especially because of significant increases in the Provincial cities of Korea. Interestingly, the 12-month prevalence of wheeze was consistently high in Cheju with low air pollution indices, whereas this rate was low in Ulsan and Ansan with very high air pollution indices. Risk factor analysis showed that body mass index (BMI), passive smoking, and living with a dog or cat, but not air pollution, were associated with higher risk of wheeze.
In the 5-year period from 1995 to 2000, the prevalence of asthma symptoms has increased in Korean adolescents, much of it because of increases in Provincial Centers. BMI, passive smoking, and living with a dog or cat are important risk factors. Environmental factors other than air pollution may be associated with increases in asthma, especially in Provincial Centers.
Clinical & Experimental Allergy 11/2004; 34(10):1556-62. · 5.03 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: A manganese superoxide dismutase (MnSOD) gene was cloned from the fall webworm, Hyphantria cunea. MnSOD cDNAs encode precursor proteins of 215 amino acid residues. H. cunea MnSOD possesses the metal binding ligands of 3 histidines and 1 aspartic acid common to MnSODs. The deduced amino acid sequences of the H. cunea MnSOD cDNA showed 76% identity to Bombyx mori MnSOD and 56–62% identity to MnSOD sequences from other species. MnSOD and copper/zinc superoxide dismutase (Cu/ZnSOD) is expressed in all tissues of H. cunea. MnSOD expression changed at a trace-level in infected larvae, while Cu/ZnSOD expression strongly changed against Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria, and fungi. Environmental stresses such as different artificial photoperiods (24L:0D), ultraviolet irradiation (312 nm), and starvation condition increased Cu/ZnSOD expression, MnSOD expression, on the other hand, was increased by starvation. Moreover, MnSOD and Cu/ZnSOD expression showed no significant change in the 0L:24D condition. MnSOD and Cu/ZnSOD expression in H. cunea also significantly increased at high (37 °C) and low (4 °C) temperature. Oxidative stress induced by 10% H2O2 reduced the expression levels of MnSOD and Cu/ZnSOD. However, paraquat-induced oxidative stress reduced MnSOD expression but increased Cu/ZnSOD expression. These results suggest that Cu/ZnSOD may play a larger role than MnSOD as a superoxide anion scavenger against oxidative stress in H. cunea.
Comparative Biochemistry and Physiology Part B: Biochemistry and Molecular Biology.
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K.W. Lee,
J.W. Park,
J.B. Park,
S.J. Kim,
S.H. Choi,
J.S. Heo,
C.H.D. Kwon,
D.J. Kim, Y.S. Han,
S.K. Lee,
J.W. Joh
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ABSTRACT: In a few cases of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), jaundice results from obstructive causes, including tumor invasion or thrombi in the bile duct. We have reported herein our experience with liver transplantation (OLT) for HCC cares showing bile duct thrombi (BDT). From September 1996 to August 2004, 140 adult patients underwent OLT for HCC at our center. Four patients (2.9%) who had OLT performed for HCC had BDT and were included in this study. The patients were all men of mean age 57.0 years. The initial total bilirubin levels were in the range of 2.0 to 30.5 mg/dL. The sizes of the tumors ranged from 2.0 cm to 3.0 cm in diameter, all were single lesions. The median follow-up period was 20.6 months (range: 17.6 to 28.1 months). The only case in which the BDT was identified intraoperatively died 20 months after OLT due to multiple intrahepatic recurrences. The other three patients were alive, showing no evidence of recurrence at the end of follow-up. Although a series of four is too small to reach any conclusion, we suggest that OLT may be a treatment option for HCC with BDT in selected cases.
Transplantation Proceedings.
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ABSTRACT: A full-length clone corresponding to attacin was isolated from a cDNA library made from fat body of immunized Hyphantria cunea larvae. This newly isolated attacin B shows characteristics different from those previously reported for attacin A. The two attacin cDNAs encode precursor proteins of 233 and 248 amino acid residues, respectively. The two attacins show 45.9% identity at the amino acid level, and 35.2% identity at the nucleotide level. Attacins A and B of H. cunea show significant identities with the attacins of Lepidoptera. Attacin B is a typical glycine-rich protein, while attacin A is leucine-rich. Attacin B is expressed from last instar larvae to adult, while attacin A showed stage-specific expression during the prepupal and pupal stages. Attacins A and B are predicted to have different secondary structure in that attacin A has no tendency to form helices but attacin B contains a substantial number of helices. Attacin A is induced at a trace level in infected larvae, while attacin B is strongly induced against Gram-positive and negative bacteria, fungi, and viruses. The attacin B transcripts were detected in fat body, epidermis and hemocytes after injection with Escherichia coli, Citrobacter freundii, or Candida albicans, but not in the midgut and Malpighian tubule. Recombinant attacin A showed no antibacterial activity, while recombinant attacin B showed strong antibacterial activity in proportion to the amount of the protein injected.
Comparative Biochemistry and Physiology Part B: Biochemistry and Molecular Biology.
