Asian birth cohort studies on allergic diseases: The A2BC network initiative.

The Asia Allergy Birth Cohort (A2BC) network consolidates data from multiple independently established birth cohorts across Asia to enhance research on host-environment interactions in allergic diseases. These cohorts, established at different times with various methodologies, are reliable data sources. Our aim is to introduce the content, variables, and outcomes of these cohorts while highlighting their differences, laying the groundwork for future collaborative research.

Early postnatal and concurrent exposure to metals and neurobehavioral outcomes at 5 years: Associations with individual environmental exposures and mixtures.

Background: Little is known about the effect of postnatal exposure to heavy metals on children's behavior problems. This study aimed to investigate the association between metal exposure during different stages of postnatal life and neurobehavioral outcomes in preschool children.

Methods: Urinary concentrations of six metals (arsenic, cadmium, chromium, lead, manganese, and vanadium) were measured using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry in 220 participants at two time points: before 1 year and at 5 years of age.

Clinical features and lymphocyte immunophenotyping analysis in primary immunodeficiency patients with non-transplant lymphoproliferative disorders.

Lymphoproliferative disorders (LPD) comprise a heterogeneous group and are originally classified into the "Disease of immune dysregulation" category. Of 96 Taiwanese patients during 2003-2022, 31 (median 66, range 0.03-675 months) developed LPD, mainly including palpable lymphadenopathy (in 10 patients), intestinal lymphadenopathy associated with refractory inflammatory bowel disease (IBD in 8) and hepatosplenomegaly (in 7) during long-term follow-up (median 144, range 3-252 months).

The association between human milk fatty acid composition in mothers with an elevated body mass index and infant growth changes.

Background & Aims: Few studies have investigated alternations in human milk polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) composition in the context of maternal obesity and its effects on infant growth trajectories. This study explored whether maternal weight status and breastfeeding type influence human milk FA composition and infant anthropometry during the first six months of life.

Methods: Mother-infant dyads were enrolled from the Prediction of Allergies in Taiwanese Children birth cohort study.

Protective effects of myricetin on airway inflammation and oxidative stress in ovalbumin-induced asthma mice.

Myricetin, a flavonoid isolated from many edible vegetables and fruits, has multiple biological effects, including anti-inflammatory and anti-tumor effects. Myricetin could inhibit mast cell degranulation in vitro, and it reduced the eosinophil content in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) of ovalbumin (OVA)-sensitized mice. However, it remains unclear whether myricetin alleviates airway hyperresponsiveness (AHR), airway inflammation, and oxidative stress in asthma.

Longitudinal analysis of the impact of smoking exposure on atopic indices and allergies in early childhood.

Background: Exposure to smoking is recognized as a health hazard; however, a longitudinal analysis of the impact of smoking exposure in families on the allergic reactions related to childhood atopic diseases has not been well addressed.

Methods: Children who completed a three-year follow-up period from the birth cohort were included in this study. The history of smoking exposure was recorded, and the urine cotinine levels were measured at 1 and 6 months, and 1, 2, and 3 years of age.

Prevalence, associated factors, and impact of adolescent asthma in Taiwan: Global Asthma Network phase I survey.

Background: The prevalence of asthma in Taiwan was increasing in the past 30 years, causing a great impact on adolescent health. This study aimed to investigate the current prevalence, impact, and associated factors of asthma in Taiwanese adolescents.

Material And Methods: Parents or guardians provided passive consent at home prior to the survey.

Rising prevalence of food allergies in Taiwan: An epidemiological study.

Background: Food allergies are becoming more prevalent globally. The purpose of this study was to investigate the epidemiology of food allergies in Taiwan.

Methods: In 2017, a food allergy questionnaire was administered to 6-7-year-old children, 13-14-year-old adolescents, and their parents in Taipei.

Metabolomics Analysis Reveals Molecular Signatures of Metabolic Complexity in Children with Hypercholesterolemia.

Despite the importance of hypercholesterolemia in children, it is overlooked, and there are currently few metabolomics-based approaches available to understand its molecular mechanisms. Children from a birth cohort had their cholesterol levels measured with the aim of identifying the metabolites for the molecular biological pathways of childhood hypercholesterolemia. One hundred and twenty-five children were enrolled and stratified into three groups according to cholesterol levels (acceptable, <170 mg/dL, = 42; borderline, 170-200 mg/dL, = 52; and high, >200 mg/dL, = 31).

Introduction of Egg White and Yolk to Infant Diets and Early Childhood Atopic Dermatitis.

This study investigated whether the introduction of allergenic foods in infancy is associated with atopic dermatitis (AD) in early childhood. Information regarding parental allergic histories, the introduction of six possible allergenic foods (fruits, egg white, egg yolk, fish, shellfish, and peanuts), and physician-diagnosed AD was obtained using age-specific questionnaires (0-2 years). Immunoglobulin E, specific to 20 food allergens, was also quantified at 12 months of age.

Contribution of genetic variants associated with primary immunodeficiencies to childhood-onset systemic lupus erythematous.

Background: A dysregulated immune response is a hallmark of autoimmune disorders. Evidence suggests that systemic autoimmune diseases and primary immunodeficiency disorders (PIDs) may be similar diseases with different clinical phenotypes.

Objective: This study aimed to investigate the burden of PID-associated genetic variants in patients with childhood-onset systemic lupus erythematosus (cSLE).

Association between Serum Zinc and Toll-like-Receptor- Related Innate Immunity and Infectious Diseases in Well-Nourished Children with a Low Prevalence of Zinc Deficiency: A Prospective Cohort Study.

Existing reports focus on zinc-associated immunity and infection in malnourished children; however, whether zinc also plays an important role in the immune homeostasis of the non-zinc-deficient population remained unknown. This study aimed to investigate the association between zinc status and toll-like receptor (TLR)-related innate immunity and infectious outcome in well-nourished children. A total of 961 blood samples were collected from 1 through 5 years of age.

Effectiveness of eAsthmaCare on Symptoms, Childhood Asthma Control Test, and Lung Function among Asthmatic Children.

A web-based self-health management system-eAsthmaCare, was developed as an intervention for asthmatic children. A randomized controlled trial was performed. Consent was obtained for 98 children with asthma to participate in the study and the pre- and post-test data collection process.

Gypenoside A from Attenuates Airway Inflammation and Th2 Cell Activities in a Murine Asthma Model.

Our previous study found that oral administration of extract can attenuate airway hyperresponsiveness (AHR) and reduce eosinophil infiltration in the lungs of asthmatic mice. Gypenoside A is isolated from . In this study, we investigated whether gypenoside A can effectively reduce asthma in mice.

Sophoraflavanone G from Ameliorates Allergic Airway Inflammation by Suppressing Th2 Response and Oxidative Stress in a Murine Asthma Model.

Sophoraflavanone G (SG), isolated from , has anti-inflammatory and anti-tumor bioactive properties. We previously showed that SG promotes apoptosis in human breast cancer cells and leukemia cells and reduces the inflammatory response in lipopolysaccharide-stimulated macrophages. We investigated whether SG attenuates airway hyper-responsiveness (AHR) and airway inflammation in asthmatic mice.

Metabolomics analysis reveals molecular linkages for the impact of vitamin D on childhood allergic airway diseases.

Background: Several studies have reported the relevance between serum vitamin D and allergic immunoglobulin E (IgE) responses and atopic diseases. However, a metabolomics-based approach to the impacts of vitamin D on allergic reactions remains unclear.

Methods: A total of 111 children completed a 3-year follow-up were enrolled and classified based on longitudinal vitamin D status (≥ 30 ng/ml, n = 54; 20-29.

Increased fecal human beta-defensin-2 expression in preterm infants is associated with allergic disease development in early childhood.

Background: This study aimed to investigate whether fecal human beta-defensins (HBD)-2 and eosinophil cationic protein (ECP) expression in preterm infants are associated with allergic disease development by age 2 years.

Methods: Preterm infants' stool samples were collected at the age of 6 and 12 months postnatally. Information regarding medication exposure histories (antibiotics, antipyretics, probiotics) and physician-diagnosed allergic diseases was obtained using age-specific questionnaires and medical records.

Comorbidities of systemic lupus erythematosus prior to and following diagnosis in different age-at-onset groups.

Objectives: Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a female-dominated autoimmune disease that can occur at any age and has a diverse course. The clinical manifestation of this disease can vary depending on the patient's age at onset. The aim of this study was to characterise the comorbidities at the time of SLE diagnosis and after in different age groups.

Nasopharyngeal microbial profiles associated with the risk of airway allergies in early childhood.

Background: Airway microbiota may play an important role in regulating the immune response related to allergic respiratory diseases. A molecular-based approach was used to analyze the association between nasopharyngeal microbiota, serum immunoglobin (Ig)E levels, and childhood respiratory allergies.

Methods: Nasopharyngeal swabs were collected from children aged 36 months with three phenotypes, including allergic respiratory diseases plus atopy, atopy alone, and healthy controls for microbiome analysis using Illumina-based 16S rRNA gene sequencing.

Longitudinal Metabolomic Analysis Reveals Gut Microbial-Derived Metabolites Related to Formula Feeding and Milk Sensitization Development in Infancy.

Early exposure to formula milk increases the likelihood of cow's milk sensitization and food allergies in the later childhood. However, the underlying mechanisms are multifactorial and unclear. Fifty-five children from a follow-up birth cohort study were grouped into exclusive breastfeeding (EBF, = 33) and formula feeding (EFF, = 22) in the first six months of life.

Community-Associated Methicillin-Resistant Colonization in a Birth Cohort of Early Childhood: The Role of Maternal Carriage.

Methicillin-resistant (MRSA) colonization in infants may pose a risk for subsequent infection in children. The study aimed to determine colonization patterns in infancy, and strain relatedness between maternal and infant colonization. A prospective cohort study was conducted for nasopharyngeal detection in neonates at delivery; in children at 1, 6, 12, 24, 36, and 60 months of age; and from mothers immediately after the delivery of their baby and when their child is 1 month old.

Ginsenoside Rg3 ameliorates allergic airway inflammation and oxidative stress in mice.

Background: Ginsenoside Rg3, isolated from , has anti-inflammatory and anti-tumor activities. It is known to reduce inflammation in acute lung injury in mice, and to reduce the expression of inflammatory cytokines and COX-2 in human asthmatic airway epithelium. In this study, we attempted to determine whether ginsenoside Rg3 inhibits airway inflammation, oxidative stress, and airway hyperresponsiveness (AHR) in the lungs of asthmatic mice.

Longitudinal changes in body mass index Z-scores during infancy and risk of childhood allergies.

Background: Few studies address the dynamic changes of body mass index (BMI) Z-scores during infancy with breastfeeding and their impact on childhood atopic diseases.

Methods: A total of 183 children from a birth cohort regularly followed-up for 4 years were enrolled in this study. Time series data of BMI Z-scores from 1 month to 2 years of age was clustered using K-means method in R software.

Allergic diseases attributable to atopy in a population sample of Asian children.

The proportion of allergic diseases attributable to atopy remains a subject of controversy. This study aimed to estimate the population risk of physician-diagnosed asthma, rhinitis and eczema attributed to atopy among a population sample of Asian school-age children. Asian children aged 5-18 years (n = 1321) in the Prediction of Allergies in Taiwanese CHildren (PATCH) study were tested for serum allergen-specific immunoglobulin E.