Pulmonary function of healthy Korean children from three independent birth cohorts: Validation of the Global Lung Function Initiative 2012 equation.

Background And Objective: Global Lung Function Initiative (GLI) 2012 equations were developed to resolve the age-related disparity in interpreting spirometry results. Local validation of the equation is needed, especially in Northeast Asian children. This study evaluated the GLI equation in Korean children.

Intertrochanteric fracture with low-energy trauma in a young woman with anorexia nervosa: A case report.

Rationale: Anorexia nervosa is a chronic psychiatric disease defined by severe weight loss, due to fear of obesity, and self-imposed semi-starvation. Of the many complications following anorexia nervosa, low bone mineral density (BMD) is a significant risk factor for fractures. Anorexia nervosa is associated with higher risk of incident fracture in females across all age groups, and in males >40 years old.

Impact on Bisphosphonate Persistence and Compliance: Daily Postprandial Administration.

Background: Bisphosphonate (BP) is an effective drug for the prevention and treatment of osteoporosis. However, gastrointestinal distress caused by BP is a well-known side effect for low compliance. The aim of our study was to compare the 1-year persistence, compliance and T-scores between the aperitif medication group and the postprandial medication group.

Profiles and characteristics of bronchial responsiveness in general 7-year-old children.

Background: Although bronchial responsiveness (BR) is usually categorized as normal or hyperresponsive to aid the diagnosis of asthma, it exists on a continuous spectrum, not in a dichotomous manner. We aimed to evaluate the distribution profile of BR in a general population of 7-year-olds.

Methods: In 2015, 7-year-old Korean children from a nationwide birth cohort study visited regional study hospitals for skin prick test, standard spirometry, and bronchial provocation to establish reference values for the general population.

Airway hyperresponsiveness is associated with total serum immunoglobulin E and sensitization to aeroallergens in Korean adolescents.

Background: Allergen sensitization and airway hyperresponsiveness (AHR) are the most important characteristics of bronchial asthma and their correlation has been speculated.

Objective: We attempted to investigate the relationship between sensitization to allergens and AHR to methacholine in Korean high school students.

Methods: A questionnaire survey, methacholine bronchial provocation tests, and skin-prick tests for 16 major allergens were performed on 724 students.

Association between obesity and the prevalence of allergic diseases, atopy, and bronchial hyperresponsiveness in Korean adolescents.

Background: Although several mechanisms underlying the asthma-obesity connection have been proposed, debates still remain. This study was to determine whether overweight is associated with a higher prevalence of atopy, asthma symptoms, airway obstruction, bronchial hyperresponsiveness (BHR) or biomarkers of inflammation in a sample of Korean adolescents.

Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional survey involving questionnaires, skin tests, spirometry and methacholine challenge tests among 717 adolescents from Seoul (South Korea).

TNF-alpha (-308 G/A) and CD14 (-159T/C) polymorphisms in the bronchial responsiveness of Korean children with asthma.

Background: TNF-alpha is a pivotal proinflammatory cytokine increased in asthmatic airways. The TNF-alpha gene family might be linked to asthma or bronchial hyperresponsiveness (BHR), and TNF-alpha production might be modulated by CD14(+) cells.

Objective: We investigated the association between asthma susceptibility or asthma-related phenotypes and TNF-alpha (-308G/A) polymorphism and examined the combined effect with CD14 (-159T/C) polymorphism in Korean children.

Eosinophils play a major role in the severity of exercise-induced bronchoconstriction in children with asthma.

Exercise-induced bronchoconstriction (EIB) was associated with eosinophilic airway inflammation, bronchial hyperresponsiveness (BHR), atopy and airway obstruction. To understand the pathogenesis of EIB, we determine whether eosinophil is more related to the mechanism of EIB than atopy, BHR and airway obstruction. This study comprised 268 asthmatic children who underwent lung function test, methacholine challenge test, exercise challenge test, and blood tests for total IgE levels and total eosinophil counts (TEC).

Familial interstitial lung disease in two young Korean sisters.

Most of the interstitial lung diseases are rare, chronic, progressive and fatal disorders, especially in familial form. The etiology of the majority of interstitial lung disease is still unknown. Host susceptibility, genetic and environmental factors may influence clinical expression of each disease.

IL-5 and thromboxane A2 receptor gene polymorphisms are associated with decreased pulmonary function in Korean children with atopic asthma.

Background: Asthmatic airways undergo chronic inflammatory cell infiltration by T cells and eosinophils, which results in sustained airway hyperresponsiveness. IL-5 is important for eosinophil-induced airway inflammation and airway hyperresponsiveness. Thromboxane A2 and its receptor, TBXA2R, are involved in constriction of respiratory smooth muscles and may play a role in thickening and remodeling of airways, which contributes to the severity of asthma.

Different IL-5 and IFN-gamma production from peripheral blood T-cell subsets in atopic and nonatopic asthmatic children.

Defective Th1 and enhanced Th2-type cytokine responses have been implicated in the development of atopic disease. However, the immunopathology of nonatopic asthma, especially in children, remains unclear, and there have been few studies to compare the cytokine profile in peripheral blood T-cell subsets between atopic and nonatopic asthmatic children. To document whether atopic asthmatic children have a cytokine imbalance and to compare the cytokine profile between atopic and nonatopic asthmatic children, we investigated the interleukin (IL)-5-producing and interferon (IFN)-gamma-producing T-cell subsets from peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC).

Prolonged effect of montelukast in asthmatic children with exercise-induced bronchoconstriction.

Accumulating evidence shows that cysteinyl leukotrienes are the most important mediators in exercise-induced bronchoconstriction (EIB). In contrast to several studies in adults, there are few long-term studies of leukotriene receptor antagonists (LTRAs) in children with EIB. The aim of this study was to assess the prolonged clinical and bronchoprotective effects of montelukast in asthmatic children with EIB.