Changes in Sensitization Rate to Weed Allergens in Children with Increased Weeds Pollen Counts in Seoul Metropolitan Area

The prevalence of allergic diseases in children has increased for several decades. We evaluated the correlation between pollen count of weeds and their sensitization rate in Seoul, 1997-2009. Airborne particles carrying allergens were collected daily from 3 stations around Seoul. Skin prick tests to pollen were performed on children with allergic diseases. Ragweed pollen gradually increased between 1999 and 2005, decreased after 2005 and plateaued until 2009 (peak counts, 67 in 2003, 145 in 2005 and 83 grains/m3/day in 2007). Japanese hop pollen increased between 2002 and 2009 (peak counts, 212 in 2006 and 492 grains/m3/day in 2009). Sensitization rates to weed pollen, especially ragweed and Japanese hop in children with allergic diseases, increased annually (ragweed, 2.2% in 2000 and 2.8% in 2002; Japanese hop, 1.4% in 2000 and 1.9% in 2002). The age for sensitization to pollen gradually became younger since 2000 (4 to 6 yr of age, 3.5% in 1997 and 6.2% in 2009; 7 to 9 yr of age, 4.2% in 1997 and 6.4% in 2009). In conclusion, sensitization rates for weed pollens increase in Korean children given increasing pollen counts of ragweed and Japanese hop

The Revised Edition of Korean Calendar for Allergenic Pollens

The old calendar of pollens did not reflect current pollen distribution and concentrations that can be influenced by changes of weather and environment of each region in South Korea. A new pollen calendar of allergenic pollens was made based on the data on pollen concentrations obtained in eight regions nationwide between 1997 and 2009. The distribution of pollen was assessed every day at 8 areas (Seoul, Guri, Busan, Daegu, Jeonju, Kwangju, Kangneung, and Jeju) for 12 years between July 1, 1997 and June 30, 2009. Pollens were collected by using Burkard 7-day sampler (Burkard Manufacturing Co Ltd, UK). Pollens which were stained with Calberla's fuchsin staining solution were identified and counted. Pine became the highest pollen in May, and the pollen concentrations of oak and birch also became high. Ragweed appeared in the middle of August and showed the highest pollen concentration in the middles of September. Japanese hop showed a high concentration between the middle of August and the end of September, and mugwort appeared in the middles of August and its concentration increased up until early September. In Kangneung, birch appeared earlier, pine showed a higher pollen concentration than in the other areas. In Daegu, Oriental thuja and alder produced a large concentration of pollens. Pine produced a large concentration of pollens between the middle of April and the end of May. Weeds showed higher concentrations in September and mugwort appeared earlier than ragweed. In Busan the time of flowering is relatively early, and alder and Oriental thuja appeared earliest among all areas. In Kwangju, Oriental thuja and hazelnut appeared in early February. Japanese cedar showed the highest pollen concentration in March in Jeju. In conclusion, update information on pollen calendar in South Korea should be provided for allergic patients through the website to manage and prevent the pollinosis

Effect of Gellan Gum/Tuna Skin Film in Guided Bone Regeneration in Artificial Bone Defect in Rabbit Calvaria

It is necessary to prevent the invasion of soft tissue into bone defects for successful outcomes in guided bone regeneration (GBR). For this reason, many materials are used as protective barriers to bone defects. In this study, a gellan gum/tuna skin gelatin (GEL/TSG) film was prepared, and its effectiveness in bone regeneration was evaluated. The film exhibited average cell viability in vitro. Experimental bone defects were prepared in rabbit calvaria, and a bone graft procedure with beta-tricalcium phosphate was done. The film was used as a membrane of GBR and compared with results using a commercial collagen membrane. Grafted material did not show dispersion outside of bone defects and the film did not collapse into the bone defect. New bone formation was comparable to that using the collagen membrane. These results suggest that the GEL/TSG film could be used as a membrane for GBR

작은땃쥐 Crocidura suaveolens 악하선의 미세구조

The ultrastructure of submandibular gland was examined in the lesser white-toothed shrew, Crocidura suaveolens. The submandibular gland of C. suaveolens was a mixed gland composed of serous and mucous acinar cells. Secretory granules from the acini were discharged through the salivary ducts into the oral cavity. Serous and mucous acinar cells had well developed rough endoplasmic reticulum and mitochondria and large amount of granules. In case of serous acinar granules, an immature granule was formless and had only dense specks, and a matured granule was a complete round type delimiting by a single membrane and had a homogeneous dense center with dense specks on the border. In case of mucous acinar granules, while an immature granule was a round type and had an only homogeneous matrix and an indistinct limiting membrane, a mature granule was an even round type having a variety of pattern with several dense bands into the homogeneous matrix and had a distinct membrane. Therefore, a mature mucous acinar granule of C. suaveolens was not only distinct from those of the other mammalian species to have a variety of pattern but also from those of C. lasiura to have an even round type. A great serous-like secretory granules and Myelin-like body were observed in the cytoplasm and lumen of granular duct cells. Myelin-like body, a characteristic structure only reported in salivary gland of three shrews, was discharged from secretory cell into lumen by the manner of exocytosis which has little differences from discharging manner of secretory granules

Age-dependent gait abnormalities in mice lacking the Rnf170 gene linked to human autosomal-dominant sensory ataxia

Really interesting new gene (RING) finger protein 170 (RNF170) is an E3 ubiquitin ligase known to mediate ubiquitinationdependent degradation of type-I inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate receptors (ITPR1). It has recently been demonstrated that a point mutation of RNF170 gene is linked with autosomal-dominant sensory ataxia (ADSA), which is characterized by an agedependent increase of walking abnormalities, a rare genetic disorder reported in only two families. Although this mutant allele is known to be dominant, the functional identity thereof has not been clearly established. Here, we generated mice lacking Rnf170 (Rnf170-/-) to evaluate the effect of its loss of function in vivo. Remarkably, Rnf170-/- mice began to develop gait abnormalities in old age (12 months) in the form of asynchronous stepping between diagonal limb pairs with a fixed step sequence during locomotion, while age-matched wild-type mice showed stable gait patterns using several step sequence repertoires. As reported in ADSA patients, they also showed a reduced sensitivity for proprioception and thermal nociception. Protein blot analysis revealed that the amount of Itpr1 protein was significantly elevated in the cerebellum and spinal cord but intact in the cerebral cortex in Rnf170-/- mice. These results suggest that the loss of Rnf170 gene function mediates ADSAassociated phenotypes and this gives insights on the cure of patients with ADSA and other age-dependent walking abnormalities. © The Author 2015. Published by Oxford University Press1221sciescopu