Non-association between low vitamin d levels and aeroallergen-positivity evaluated using multiple allergen simultaneous test in Korean adults

Background Studies on the association between vitamin D levels and allergen sensitization have reported conflicting results. We aimed to evaluate the association between low vitamin D levels and sensitization to 59 aeroallergens in Korean adults. Methods We retrospectively reviewed serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25[OH]D) measurements of participants (n = 57,467) in a healthcare center between May 2003 and June 2020. Serum 25(OH)D levels were categorized as follows: severe deficiency (< 10 ng/mL), deficiency (10 to < 20 ng/mL), insufficiency (20 to < 30 ng/mL), and sufficiency (≥ 30 ng/mL). Among all subjects, 1277 simultaneously underwent the multiple allergen simultaneous test. Multiple linear and logistic regression analyses were used to estimate coefficients and odds ratios (ORs) with 95% confidence interval (CI) for the association between serum vitamin D deficiency and aeroallergen sensitization after adjustment for potential confounders. Subgroup analyses were conducted for the types of aeroallergen (house dust mites, pollens, animal dander, foods, cockroach, and fungus). Results Vitamin D deficiency, defined as serum 25(OH)D level < 20 ng/mL, was noted in 56.4% of participants. There were significant differences in serum 25(OH)D levels according to sex, age, season, and bone mineral density (all P < 0.001). In multiple linear regression analyses, serum 25(OH)D levels were significantly lower in young subjects (adjusted coefficient [95% CI], 0.188 [0.101, 0.275]) and during winter (− 4.114 [− 6.528, − 1.699]). However, no significant association was observed between serum 25(OH)D levels and allergen sensitization (adjusted coefficients [95% CI], − 0.211 [− 1.989, 1.567], P = 0.816). In multivariate logistic regression analyses, male sex, young age, and winter season were significant risk factors for vitamin D deficiency. However, allergen sensitization showed no significant association with 25(OD)D levels after adjusting for confounders (adjusted OR [95% CI], 1.037 [0.642, 1.674] in insufficiency; 0.910 [0.573, 1.445] in deficiency; 0.869 [0.298, 2.539] in severe deficiency groups, P for trend = 0.334). There were consistent findings across subgroups regarding type of aeroallergen sensitized. Conclusion Vitamin D deficiency was prevalent but was not significantly associated with aeroallergen sensitization in Korean adults. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first large-scale study to evaluate the association between vitamin D deficiency and sensitization to 59 different aeroallergens.This research was funded by National Research Foundation (NRF) of Korea, Grant Number (NRF-2020-R1G1A1005390 by Jee Hye Wee). The funding organization did not contribute to the design or conduct of this study, preparation, review, approval, or decision to submit this manuscript for publication

The association of asthma and its subgroups with osteoporosis: a cross-sectional study using KoGES HEXA data

Background A few studies have reported the association between asthma and osteoporosis. We aimed to analyze the association of asthma and its subgroups with osteoporosis in the Korean adult population. Methods We used the health examinee (HEXA) data from the Korean Genome and Epidemiology Study (KoGES) obtained between 2004 and 2016. We included 162,579 participants (n = 3,160 with asthma; n = 159,419 controls) who reported their previous histories of asthma and osteoporosis. The participants were categorized into 3 groups based on asthma management: participants who did not need further treatment due to controlled symptoms (well controlled); participants with ongoing treatment (being treated); participants who were not treated even though they had symptoms (not being treated). Multiple logistic regression analyses were used to calculate the adjusted odds ratios (aORs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for osteoporosis. Subgroup analyses for age and sex were conducted. Results The prevalence of osteoporosis was higher in patients with asthma (13.6%) than in controls (6.8%). In the full-adjusted model, the aORs for osteoporosis were 1.74 (95% CI 1.55–1.94, P < 0.001) in patients with asthma compared to controls. There were consistent findings across the age and sex subgroups. The aORs for osteoporosis were 1.43 (95% CI 1.10–1.86, P = 0.008) in the well-controlled asthma group; 1.55 (95% CI 1.28–1.89, P < 0.001) in the being treated asthma group; and 1.96 (95% CI 1.66–2.31, P < 0.001) in the not being treated asthma group compared to the control group. Conclusion Asthma was associated with osteoporosis in the Korean adult population. Patients with asthma not being treated showed the highest ORs for osteoporosis.This research was funded by National Research Foundation (NRF) of Korea, grant number (NRF-2018-R1D1A1A0-2085328 by Hyo Geun Choi, NRF-2020R1G1A1005390 by Jee Hye Wee). The funding organization did not contribute to the design or conduct of this study, preparation, review, approval, or decision to submit this manuscript for publication

Reference values for respiratory system impedance using impulse oscillometry in healthy preschool children

PurposeThe normal values for lung resistance and lung capacity of children, as determined by impulse oscillometry (IOS), are different for children of different ethnicities. However, reference values there is no available reference value for Korean preschool children have yet to be determined. The aim of the present study was to determine the normal ranges of IOS parameters in Korean preschool children.MethodsA total of 133 healthy Korean preschool children were selected from 639 children (aged 3 to 6 years) who attended kindergarten in Seongnam, Gyeonggi province, Korea. Healthy children were defined according to the European Respiratory Society (ERS) criteria. All subjects underwent lung function tests using IOS. The relationships between IOS value (respiratory resistance (Rrs) and reactance (Xrs) at 5 and 10 Hz and resonance frequency (RF)) and age, height, and weight were analyzed by simple linear and multiple linear regression analyses.ResultsThe IOS success rate was 89.5%, yielding data on 119 children. Linear regression identified height as the best predictor of Rrs and Xrs. Using stepwise multiple linear regressions based on age, height, and weight, we determined regression equations and coefficients of determination (R2) for boys (Rrs5=1.934-0.009×Height, R2=12.1%; Xrs5=0.774+0.006×Height-0.002×Age, R2=20.2% and for girls (Rrs5=2.201-0.012×Height, R2=18.2%; Xrs5=-0.674+0.004×Height, R2=10.5%).ConclusionThis study provides reference values for IOS measurements of normal Korean preschool children. These provide a basis for the diagnosis and monitoring of preschool children with a variety of respiratory diseases

Enterovirus 71-associated hand, foot and mouth diseases with neurologic symptoms, a university hospital experience in Korea, 2009

PurposeHand-foot-mouth disease (HFMD) is a common viral illness in children, which is usually mild and self-limiting. However, in recent epidemics of HFMD in Asia, enterovirus 71 (EV71) has been recognized as a causative agent with severe neurological symptoms with or without cardiopulmonary involvement. HFMD was epidemic in Korea in the spring of 2009. Severe cases with complications including death have been reported. The clinical characteristics in children with neurologic manifestations of EV71 were studied in Ewha Womans University Mokdong Hospital.MethodsExaminations for EV71 were performed from the stools, respiratory secretion or CSF of children who presented neurologic symptoms associated with HFMD by realtime PCR. Clinical and radiologic data of the patients were collected and analyzed.ResultsEV71 was isolated from the stool of 16 patients but not from respiratory secretion or CSF. Among the 16 patients, meningitis (n=10) was the most common manifestation, followed by Guillain-Barré syndrome (n=3), meningoencephalitis (n=2), poliomyelitis-like paralytic disease (n=1), and myoclonus (n=1). Gene analysis showed that most of them were caused by EV71 subgenotype C4a, which was prevalent in China in 2008.ConclusionBecause EV71 causes severe complications and death in children, a surveillance system to predict upcoming outbreaks should be established and maintained and adequate public health measures are needed to control disease

IS6110-Restriction Fragment Length Polymorphism and Spoligotyping Analysis of Mycobacterium tuberculosis Clinical Isolates for Investigating Epidemiologic Distribution in Korea

The Beijing family of Mycobacterium tuberculosis has been emerging in the world. However, there are few nationwide data of genotypic distribution in Korea. This study aimed to identify the genotypic diversity of clinical isolates of M. tuberculosis and to demonstrate the population of Beijing family in Korea. We collected 96 clinical M. tuberculosis isolates from 11 university hospitals nationwide in Korea from 2008 to 2009. We observed 24 clusters in IS6110-RFLP analysis and 19 patterns in spoligotyping. Seventy-five isolates were confirmed to be Beijing family. Two isolates of the K strain and 12 isolates of the K family strain were also found. We found that drug resistance phenotypes were more strongly associated with Beijing family than non-Beijing family (P=0.003). This study gives an overview of the distribution of genotypes of M. tuberculosis in Korea. These findings indicate that we have to pay more attention to control of M. tuberculosis strains associated with the Beijing family

Association between Dyslipidemia and Chronic Rhinosinusitis in a Korean Population

This study aims to assess the relationship between chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) and dyslipidemia in a Korean population. The population aged 40 years or over was selected from the Korean National Health Insurance Service-National Health Screening Cohort. CRS was defined if patients were treated &ge;2 times with ICD-10 code (J32) and underwent head and neck computed tomography. Patients with CRS were classified as having nasal polyps (J33) or not. Dyslipidemia was defined if participants with the ICD-10 code (E78) were treated &ge;2 times from 2002 to 2015. A total of 6163 patients with CRS were matched with 24,652 controls (1:4 ratio) for sex, age, income, and residence. The adjusted odds ratios (aORs) of a previous dyslipidemia in patients with CRS were analyzed by conditional logistic regression analysis, adjusted for confounding factors. The prevalence of dyslipidemia was significantly higher in participants with CRS (26.1%) than in the controls (20.6%) (p &lt; 0.001). There was a significant positive association between CRS with/without nasal polyps and dyslipidemia (aOR = 1.36, 95%CI = 1.26&ndash;1.47, p &lt; 0.001). The association between CRS and dyslipidemia was stronger for CRS without nasal polyps (aOR = 1.42, 95% CI = 1.28&ndash;1.57, p &lt; 0.001) than for CRS with nasal polyps (aOR = 1.31, 95% CI = 1.17&ndash;1.47, p &lt; 0.001). All age and sex subgroups exhibited consistent results. A personal history of dyslipidemia was associated with risk of CRS regardless of total cholesterol and the use of statins

Analyses of Weight/Blood Pressure Changes before and after Tonsillectomy in Adults: A Longitudinal Follow-Up Study

This study aimed to evaluate the changes in weight and blood pressure in Korean adults who underwent tonsillectomy compared to controls. A nested case-control study used data from the Korean National Health Insurance Service-Health Screening Cohort (2002–2015). Tonsillectomy was defined using claim code Q2300. The changes in weight and systolic/diastolic blood pressure (SBP/DBP) were measured before tonsillectomy and 1 year after tonsillectomy (study I) in some participants and during the second year after tonsillectomy (study II) in other participants. Patients who underwent tonsillectomy (n = 569 in study I; n = 556 in study II) were 1:4 matched with control participants (n = 2276 in study I; n = 2224 in study II). The paired t-test and linear mixed model were used to test the differences between groups at each time point. There were no changes in body mass index (p = 0.732 in study I; p = 0.128 in study II), SBP (p = 0.344 in study I; p = 0.559 in study II), or DBP (p = 0.826 in study I; p = 0.524 in study II) between the tonsillectomy patients and controls in the first or second year postoperatively. Subgroup analyses by age, sex, and degree of obesity showed consistent results. Tonsillectomy does not lead to a change in weight or blood pressure in Korean adults

Analysis of Nasal Foreign Bodies in South Korea: Over 10-Year Experience

Foreign bodies (FBs) in the nasal cavity are commonly encountered in otorhinolaryngology. This retrospective study was conducted between January 2009 and December 2020. The nasal FB frequencies were investigated according to age and sex. The type, shape, and location of the FBs, onset, and clinical features were obtained. In a total of 1228 cases, the average age was 3.9 ± 5.7 years. We found a higher incidence in patients 2–4 years old. The most frequent nasal FBs were beads (24.0%), toys/plastics (17.8%), and beans/corn (15.8%). However, there were some differences in the nasal FB types according to the age group. There was no difference in the location of the nasal FBs according to age group, but nasal FBs were found more frequently in the right nasal cavity in the 1–3-years-old groups. Most patients (97.5%) visited the hospital the same day when the nasal FB insertion was suspected, and most were asymptomatic. After the removal of the nasal FBs, most patients were free of complications. Of the nine cases involving button batteries, septal perforation was observed in two patients who visited the hospital one or two days after the FB insertion. There were specific age-based characteristics of the nasal FBs that may serve as a basis for specific precautions

Does the Necrotic Portion of Metastatic Lymphadenopathy from Squamous Cell Carcinoma Still Have Tumoral Oncologic Information? Differential Diagnosis of Benign Necrotic Lymphadenopathy Using microRNA

Neck necrotic lymph nodes commonly correspond to metastasis or benign inflammatory conditions such as Kikuchi disease and tuberculosis. Ultrasound-guided biopsy can be used for differential diagnosis, but results may be unclear. Therefore, this study aimed to identify target microRNAs (miRNAs) and genes for the differential diagnosis of inflammatory and malignant necrotic lymph nodes. We selected six inflammatory lymphadenitis formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded (FFPE) samples that showed internal necrosis and five cancer necrotic FFPE samples. Tissue microarray (TMA) was performed to separate the necrotic and cancerous portions. Total RNA was extracted from six pairs of separated inflammatory necrosis, five pairs of cancer necrosis, and cancer portions. Differentially expressed miRNAs were analyzed by comparing inflammatory necrosis, cancer, and cancer necrosis. Seventeen miRNAs were upregulated in cancer necrosis compared to inflammatory necrosis, and two miRNAs (hsa-miR-155-5p and hsa-miR-146b-5p) showed lower expression in cancer necrotic cells. Nineteen miRNAs that were differentially expressed between inflammatory and cancer necrosis were analyzed for target gene expression; these transcripts demonstrated a clear relationship with cancer. The differentially expressed miRNAs in inflammatory and tumor necrosis were associated with cancer-related pathways. These preliminary results might help in the differential diagnosis of cervical metastatic necrotic lymphadenopathy and avoiding unnecessary excisional biopsies

Nerve cuff electrode using embedded magnets and its application to hypoglossal nerve stimulation

Objective. A novel nerve cuff electrode with embedded magnets was fabricated and developed. In this study, a pair of magnets was fully embedded and encapsulated in a liquid crystal polymer (LCP) substrate to utilize magnetic force in order to replace the conventional installing techniques of cuff electrodes. In vitro and in vivo experiments were conducted to evaluate the feasibility of the magnet-embedded nerve cuff electrode (MENCE). Lastly, several issues pertaining to the MENCE such as the cuff-to-nerve diameter ratio, the force of the magnets, and possible concerns were discussed in the discussion section. Approach. Electrochemical impedance spectrum and cyclic voltammetry assessments were conducted to measure the impedance and charge storage capacity of the cathodal phase (CSCc). The MENCE was installed onto the hypoglossal nerve (HN) of a rabbit and the movement of the genioglossus was recorded through C-arm fluoroscopy while the HN was stimulated by a pulsed current. Main results. The measured impedance was 0.638 angle -67.8 degrees k Omega at 1 kHz and 5.27 angle -82.1 degrees k Omega at 100 Hz. The average values of access resistance and cut-off frequency were 0.145 k Omega and 3.98 kHz, respectively. The CSCc of the electrode was measured as 1.69 mC cm(-2) at the scan rate of 1mV s(-1). The movement of the genioglossus contraction was observed under a pulsed current with an amplitude level of 0.106 mA, a rate of 0.635 kHz, and a duration of 0.375 ms applied through the MENCE. Significance. A few methods to close and secure cuff electrodes have been researched, but they are associated with several drawbacks. To overcome these, we used magnetic force as a closing method of the cuff electrode. The MENCE can be precisely installed on a target nerve without any surgical techniques such as suturing or molding. Furthermore, it is convenient to remove the installed MENCE because it requires little force to detach one magnet from the other, enabling repeatable installation and removal. We anticipate that the MENCE will become a very useful tool given its unique properties as a cuff electrode for neural engineering.N