Prevalence of allergic diseases of schoolchildren in central taiwan. From ISAAC surveys 5 years apart.

The prevalence of allergic disorders is increasing around the world. This study used the standardized written questionnaire from International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood (ISAAC, phase III) to collect two cross-sectional appraisals of schoolchildren 5 years apart-one performed 2002 and another on 2007, to focus on the secular trends in prevalence of allergies in central Taiwan. This questionnaire was administered to schoolchildren from over 46 schools across Changhwa County in 2002, and again in 2007.

A randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial on the effect of Pycnogenol on the climacteric syndrome in peri-menopausal women.

Background: French maritime pine bark extract (Pycnogenol) was found to alleviate menstrual pain and reduce hyperactivity in clinical studies. These results suggest the possibility to observe positive effects in treating climacteric syndrome.

Objective: Clinical investigation of the effect of Pycnogenol, French maritime pine bark extract, on the climacteric syndrome.

Prevalence of asthma, rhinitis, and eczema from ISAAC survey of schoolchildren in Central Taiwan.

Asthma is a common disease among schoolchildren in Taiwan. It is clearly a trend that the prevalence of asthma, rhinitis, and eczema has been increasing in developed countries such as Taiwan, but the data remain limited. This study is part of an effort to evaluate the epidemiology of asthma, rhinitis and eczema in Taiwan and to assess the prevalence and severity of those disorders among school age in central Taiwan.

Evaluation of the serum antioxidant status in asthmatic children.

Many studies have shown the balance between the oxygen reactive species (ROS) and the antioxidant capacities, and that the massive ROS generation could lead to cell damage and diseases such as atherosclerosis, aging and cancer. Changes in antioxidant capacity like free radicals scavenging antioxidant agents such as vitamin E, C content, serum concentrations of bilirubin, uric acid, albumin and antioxidant enzyme systems like SOD, and GPx activities have been described to be related to many diseases. However, the research on chronic airway inflammatory disease and the antioxidant defence system is still not enough.