Correlation of ovalbumin of egg white components with allergic diseases in children.

Background: Immunoglobulin E (IgE)-mediated food allergy, such as egg white allergy, is common in young children (<3 years old), but not all young children sensitive to egg white present with allergic symptoms. This study investigated the relationship between sensitization to egg white component allergens and clinical manifestations of allergic diseases in young children.

Methods: From March to December 2010, 2256 children with physician-diagnosed allergic diseases were tested for serum levels of egg white, ovalbumin, and ovomucoid-specific IgE in the Pediatric Allergy and Asthma Center of Chang Gung Memorial Hospital.

Patterns of sensitization to peanut allergen components in Taiwanese Preschool children.

Background/purpose: Peanut allergy is very common in Western countries, although it is seldom encountered in Eastern countries. Peanuts are comprised of at least 11 components, but the contribution to clinical symptoms by each component in each individual is not known. This study investigated the distributions of sensitivity to peanut allergen components among Taiwanese children who were sensitized to peanuts and followed the evolution of sensitization patterns to these components.

Autosomal dominant avascular necrosis of femoral head in two Taiwanese pedigrees and linkage to chromosome 12q13.

Avascular necrosis of the femoral head (ANFH) is a debilitating disease that commonly leads to destruction of the hip joint in adults. The etiology of ANFH is unknown, but previous studies have indicated that heritable thrombophilia (increased tendency to form thrombi) and hypofibrinolysis (reduced ability to lyse thrombi), alcohol intake, and steroid use are risk factors for ANFH. We recently identified two families with ANFH showing autosomal dominant inheritance.