Skin Prick Test Versus Phadiatop as a Tool for Diagnosis of Allergic Rhinitis in Children.

Background: Skin prick test (SPT) or Phadiatop, a multi-allergen IgE screening test, was used as a tool for detecting aeroallergen sensitization.

Objective: To compare SPT and Phadiatop as a tool for diagnosis allergic rhinitis (AR) using the nasal provocation test (NPT) as a comparative standard.

Methods: Children aged 5-18 years with rhinitis symptoms more than 6 times in the past year were enrolled.

Novel salivary gland allergens from tropical mosquito species and IgE reactivity in allergic patients.

Background: Mosquito allergy is common in tropical countries but remains under-diagnosed. This may be due to the lack of knowledge and diagnostic tools for tropical mosquito allergens.

Objective: We aimed to characterize allergens from tropical mosquito species and investigate IgE reactivity in mosquito-allergic patients to the salivary gland proteins from these mosquitoes.

Effect of vitamin D on lung function assessed by forced oscillation technique in asthmatic children with vitamin D deficiency: A randomized double-blind placebo-controlled trial.

Background: The role of vitamin D and asthma in pulmonary function changes showed conflicting result.

Objective: To evaluate if vitamin D treatment would improve lung function assessed by forced oscillation technique (FOT) in vitamin D deficient asthmatic children.

Methods: A randomized double-blind placebo-controlled trial was performed in children, aged 3-18 years with well controlled asthma.

Reference value of Forced Oscillation Technique for healthy preschool children.

Background: The reference values of Forced Oscillation Technique (FOT) parameters of the inspiratory and expiratory phase for preschool children have not yet been established.

Objective: To evaluate FOT measures in Thai healthy preschool children.

Methods: Preschool children, aged 3-6 years, were screened.

Efficacy of Nasal Cellulose Powder in the Symptomatic Treatment of Allergic Rhinitis: A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Trial.

Purpose: Nasal Cellulose Powder (NCP), which can prevent from binding an allergen to nasal mucosa, may reduce allergic rhinitis (AR) symptoms in dust mite-sensitized children. This study was conducted to assess the efficacy of NCP in improving clinical symptoms of a nasal airflow limitation and the response of nasal inflammatory cells.

Methods: Children with dust mite-sensitized AR aged 6-18 years were recruited.

Mosquito allergy in children: Clinical features and limitation of commercially-available diagnostic tests.

Objective: To determine the clinical features of mosquito allergy in children and the ability of commercially available mosquito allergy tests to detect children with mosquito allergy in Thailand.

Methods: Patients with mosquito allergy aged 1 month to 18 years were recruited. Demographic data, history of mosquito allergy (onset of the reaction, reaction type) and clinical features were recorded.

Detection of β-lactoglobulin in human breast-milk 7 days after cow milk ingestion.

Background: β-lactoglobulin (BLG), a major allergen in cow milk (CM) can be detected in human breast-milk (BM) and is associated with exacerbation of symptoms in breastfed infants with cow milk protein allergy (CMPA). Currently, it is not known how long lactating mothers who consume dairy products need to withhold breastfeeding.

Objective: To elucidate the kinetics of BLG in BM after maternal ingestion of a single dose of CM.

Safety and efficacy of ant rush immunotherapy in children.

Background: The Rush Immunotherapy (RIT) protocol is a valid alternative in order to reach the maintenance phase early. However, there are scarce studies in the literature that have evaluated the safety and the efficacy of an ant RIT process in children.

Objective: To evaluate the safety and the efficacy of an ant RIT protocol and to identify the risk factors for systemic reactions (SRs) during an RIT procedure in children.

Skin testing with β-lactam antibiotics for diagnosis of β-lactam hypersensitivity in children.

Objective: Skin testing with penicilloyl-polylysine (PPL) and a minor determinant mixture (MDM) were previously recommended for evaluating β-lactam hypersensitivity. However, PPL and MDM have not been commercially available. This study was to determine the negative predictive value (NPV) of skin testing with β-lactam antibiotics for the diagnosis of β-lactam hypersensitivity.

Pediatric anaphylaxis: triggers, clinical features, and treatment in a tertiary-care hospital.

Background: Anaphylaxis is a life-threatening condition. There are limited data about its etiology and clinical characteristics in Asian children with anaphylaxis.

Objective: To investigate triggers, presenting symptoms, treatment and clinical course of anaphylaxis in Thai children.

Assessing the efficacy of a novel temperature and humidity control machine to minimize house dust mite allergen exposure and clinical symptoms in allergic rhinitis children sensitized to dust mites: a pilot study.

Background: House dust mite avoidance is advised in dust mite sensitized patients to decrease the risk to develop allergic symptoms. Maintaining a relative humidity (RH) of less than 50% in households is recommended to prevent dust mite proliferation.

Objective: To investigate the efficacy of a novel temperature and humidity machine to control the level of dust mite allergens and total nasal symptom score (TNSS) in dust mite sensitized allergic rhinitis children.

Cow's milk protein allergy: immunological response in children with cow's milk protein tolerance.

Objective: To study changes in immunological responses in patients with CMPA during symptomatic and asymptomatic episodes of cow's milk protein tolerance status.

Methods: 27 CMPA patients were enrolled and underwent diagnostic evaluation, including CM challenge test, skin prick test and specific IgE to CM. Blood samples were collected in two periods from those who became tolerant (n = 13) and those with persistent CMA (n = 14), in order to measure in vitro PBMC responses to cow's milk protein (IL-10, IFN-γ, IL-5), IgG4 to β-lactoglobulin, casein, BLG-IgG4/IgE ratio and the CAS-IgG4/IgE ratio.

Comparison of conjunctival and nasal provocation tests in allergic rhinitis children with Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus sensitization.

Background: Nasal provocation tests (NPTs) are indicated in confirming the diagnosis of allergic rhinitis if the clinical history, skin tests or sIgE are inconclusive. NPTs are time- consuming, technically difficult and expensive to perform. Consequently, conjunctival provocation tests (CPTs), which are easier, cheaper and safer should be considered as an alternative method.

Exercise-induced bronchoconstriction in rhinitis children without asthma.

Background: Exercise-induced bronchoconstriction (EIB) is a condition that leads to limited participation in sports. Prevalence of EIB ranges from 5-20% in general population to 40 - 90% in asthmatic patients. But the prevalence among rhinitis children with EIB remains debatable.

The stability and sterility of epinephrine prefilled syringe.

The commercially available auto-injector epinephrine is considerable expensive. Epinephrine prefilled syringe is an alternative treatment for anaphylaxis patients. The objective of the present study was to evaluate the stability and sterility of epinephrine prefilled syringe.

Sensitivity of Turbutester and Accuhaler tester in asthmatic children and adolescents.

Background: Dry powder inhalers (DPI) are alternative devices for delivering medication for treatment of asthma. The amount of drug delivery to the lungs is directly influenced by peak inspiratory flow rate (PIFR). A minimum PIFR of -30 L/min is needed for the Turbuhaler and Accuhaler.

Serum TGF-beta1 in atopic asthma.

Asthma is a chronic inflammatory disease of the airway. Pathological repair of chronic inflammation leads to airway remodeling. Transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-beta), a profibrotic cytokine, plays an important role in promoting the structural changes of airway remodeling.

Risk factors of relapse within eight weeks after an acute asthma exacerbation in Thai children.

Background: Acute asthma relapse following treatment and discharge from hospital remains a substantial problem. Various potential risk factors for relapse have been reported including age, sex, frequency of hospitalization and emergency medications. All these factors, however, may not be generalized for all patients because of difference in prevalence, trigger factors, types of allergens, medical accessibility and psychosocial problems.