KyooSang Kim

Regulation of German cockroach extract‐induced IL‐8 expression in human airway epithelial cells

Background Cockroaches have been known as a cause of respiratory allergies such as asthma. IL‐8 plays an integral role in the coordination and persistence of the inflammatory process in the chronic inflammation of the airways in asthma.

Basement membrane thickening and clinical features of children with asthma

Background:  Asthma is a chronic inflammatory disease, characterized by airway inflammation, bronchial hyper‐responsiveness, and airway obstruction. Although asthma induces partially reversible airway obstruction, obstruction can sometimes become irreversible. This may be a consequence of airway remodeling, which includes a number of structural changes, such as epithelial detachment, basement membrane (BM) thickening, smooth muscle hypertrophy, and new vessel formation. This study evaluated children with asthma for the presence of BM thickening.

Prediction of buckwheat allergy using specific IgE concentrations in children.

Introduction:  Buckwheat (BW) is considered to be one of the most important food allergens, and positive skin tests are found in about 5% of Koreans. We investigated the positive and negative predictive values of BW‐specific IgE in subjects with a BW allergy in order to reduce the need for buckwheat challenge, which can be more riskier than other causes of food allergies.

Increased serum thymus and activation‐regulated chemokine and cutaneous T cell‐attracting chemokine levels in children with atopic dermatitis

Background Thymus and activation‐regulated chemokine (TARC) and cutaneous T cell‐attracting chemokine (CTACK) are responsible for the trafficking of T helper type 2 lymphocytes into sites of allergic inflammation.

Increased serum B cell-activating factor level in children with atopic dermatitis

Background.  B cell‐activating factor (BAFF) is a tumour necrosis factor superfamily member best known for its role in the survival and maturation of B cells. BAFF activity is seen in naïve and effector/memory T cells.

Air Quality, Biomarker Levels, and Health Effects on Staff in Korean Restaurants and Pubs Before and After a Smoking Ban

INTRODUCTION The Korean government implemented a smoking ban at square floor area of ≥150 m(2), rather than <150 m(2), restaurants and pubs from July 2013. This study examined the effects of the smoking regulations in restaurants and pubs in terms of the air quality, biomarker levels and health effects on staff. METHODS Particulate matter smaller than 2.5 µm (PM2.5) was measured in 146 facilities before and 1 month after the ban. The urinary cotinine and 4-(methylnitrosamino)-1-(3-pyridyl)-1- butanol (NNAL) levels were measured in 101 staff members at 77 facilities before and 1 month after the ban. We also measured self-reported respiratory and sensory symptoms on both phases. RESULTS Of the 146 facilities, 121 facilities were included in the PM2.5 analysis. In ≥150 m(2) pubs, the indoor PM2.5 concentration was significantly reduced after the ban (p < .05). While the urinary cotinine concentrations of the staff in all facilities were not changed after the ban, the total NNAL concentrations of the staff in ≥150 m(2) pubs were significantly reduced after the ban (p < .05). The health effects on staff show that only sensory symptoms significantly improved in ≥150 m(2) facilities after the ban (p < .05). CONCLUSIONS The smoking ban significantly reduced the levels of PM2.5 and total NNAL concentrations in ≥150 m(2) pubs and improved sensory health among staff in ≥150 m(2) facilities. The results of this study can be useful in supporting an expansion of the smoking ban in all indoor places, including <150 m(2) restaurants and pubs.

The role of interleukin-17 in mouse models of atopic dermatitis and contact dermatitis.

Atopic dermatitis (AD) and contact dermatitis (CD) are both T cell‐mediated eczematous disorders. Interleukin (IL)‐17, expressed by T helper (Th)17 cells, is involved in recruitment of inflammatory cells into AD and CD skin.

Staphylococcal Enterotoxin B Upregulates Fas-Mediated Apoptosis of Peripheral Blood Mononuclear Cells in Childhood Atopic Dermatitis

Staphylococcal infection‐producing superantigens, such as staphylococcal enterotoxin B (SEB), are presumed to play an important role of inflammatory processes in atopic dermatitis (AD). The aim of this study was to elucidate the apoptotic response of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) from children with AD. PBMCs from AD children were sampled and cultured with SEB stimulation. Levels of apoptosis and Fas expression were measured using flow cytometry; the soluble Fas ligand (sFasL) was also measured using the enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay method, and the expression of FasL in PBMCs was observed using reverse transcriptase‐polymerase chain reaction. There was no difference in the initial levels of apoptosis and Fas expression in precultured PBMCs of AD patients and healthy donors. After culturing for 48 h under SEB stimulation, the apoptosis level and Fas expression were significantly upregulated in the PBMCs from AD children compared with that from the normal controls. In patients, the sFasL was significantly increased, and the expression of FasL was observed in messenger RNA of peripheral monocytes. These results suggest that the Fas/FasL system is involved in the apoptosis induced by SEB in AD, with simultaneous increases in sFasL and expression of FasL.

Association between exposure to antimicrobial household products and allergic symptoms

Objectives Antimicrobial chemicals are used in a variety of household and personal care products. Exposure to antimicrobial household products has been hypothesized to lead to allergic diseases in children. Methods We investigated antimicrobial household product exposure and allergic symptoms in Korean children. An antimicrobial exposure (AE) score was derived. To examine the symptoms of allergic diseases (current wheeze, current rhinitis, and current eczema) in the past 12 months, we used a questionnaire based on the core module of the International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Children. Complete data for the analysis were available for 25,805 of the 35,590 (72.5%) children. Results The prevalence of current allergic diseases was as follows: wheeze, 5.6%; allergic rhinitis, 32.6%; and eczema, 17.7%. The mean (standard deviation) AE score was 14.3 (9.3) (range: 0-40). Compared with subjects with a low AE score (reference), subjects with a high AE score (fourth quartile) were more likely to have symptoms of wheezing and allergic rhinitis (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] for wheezing 1.24, 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.05-1.45, p for trend=0.24; aOR for allergic rhinitis 1.30, 95% CI, 1.20-1.40, p<0.01). Conclusions These findings suggest that frequent use of antimicrobial household products was associated with current wheeze and current allergic rhinitis.

Potential nonmonotonous association between di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate exposure and atopic dermatitis in Korean children

Concerns have emerged about the adverse effect of phthalates on human health.