The prevalence and risk factors of allergic rhinitis from a nationwide study of Korean elementary, middle, and high school students

PURPOSE: We investigated the prevalence and risk factors of allergic rhinitis (AR), nationwide in random children and adolescents of Korea. METHODS: A modified International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood (ISAAC) questionnaire survey was done in 1,820 children from elementary, middle, and high school nationwide in Korea. The subjects were selected by the stratifying sampling method by school grade and five regions. Current AR was defined as having AR symptoms during the last 12 months with a history of physician-diagnosed AR. Skin prick tests for 18 common allergens were performed. RESULTS: The number of males was 945, and that of females was 875. The mean age of the patients was 12.61+/-3.40 years. The prevalence of current AR and atopic current AR were 29.0% and 18.7%, respectively. Risk factors for current AR were male (adjusted odds ratio [aOR], 1.486; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.189-1.856), family history of paternal AR (aOR, 3.208; 95% CI, 2.460-4.182), family history of maternal AR (aOR, 3.138; 95% CI, 2.446-4.025), antibiotic use in infancy (aOR, 1.547; 95% CI, 1.228-1.949), mold exposure during infancy (aOR, 1.416; 95% CI, 1.103-1.819), mold exposure during the last 12 months (aOR, 1.285; 95% CI, 1.012-1.630), and sensitization on skin prick tests (aOR, 2.596; 95% CI, 2.055-3.279). Risk factors for atopic current AR were the same as those of current AR, whereas breast-milk feeding (aOR, 0.720; 95% CI, 0.530-0.976) was a protective factor. Sensitized allergens as risk factors for current AR were Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus, Dermatophagoides farina, ragweed, mugwort, oak, alder, birch, Japanese hop, cat, and dog. CONCLUSION: The prevalences of current AR and atopic current AR were 29.0% and 18.7%, respectively. Male, sex parental AR, antibiotic use in infancy, mold exposure during the last 12 months, mold exposure during infancy, and atopic sensitization were risk factors for current AR. Breast-milk feeding was a protective factor for atopic current AR. Aeroallergen sensitization was an important risk factor for AR.

The Korean guideline for colorectal cancer screening

Colorectal cancer is the third most common cancer in Korea; it is the second most common cancer in men and the third most common in women. The incidence rate in Korea has continuously increased since 1999 when the National Cancer Registry statistics began. Currently; there are several screening modalities; that have been recommended by expert societies, including fecal occult blood test, colonoscopy, computed tomographic colonography The annual fecal immunochemical test (FIT) has been used in adults aged 50 and older as part of the National Cancer Screening Program in Korea since 2004. Although several study results from regional or national colorectal cancer screening programs in other countries have been reported, the National Cancer Screening Program in Korea has not yet been evaluated with evidence-based methods. Herein report the consensus statements on the National Screening Guideline for colorectal cancer developed by a multi-society expert committee in Korea, as follows: 1) We recommend annual or biennial FIT for screening for colorectal cancer in asymptomatic adults, beginning at 45 years of age and continuing until 80 years (recommendation B). 2) There is no evidence for the risks or benefits of FIT in adults older than 80 years (recommendation I). 3) Selective use of colonoscopy for colorectal cancer screening is recommended, taking into consideration individual preference and the risk of colorectal cancer (recommendation C). 4) There is no evidence for the risks or benefits of double-contrast barium enema for colorectal cancer screening in asymptomatic adults (recommendation I). 5) There is no evidence for the risks or benefits of computed tomographic colonography for colorectal cancer screening in asymptomatic adults (recommendation I).

Drug therapy for the common cold

The common cold is an acute, self-limiting viral infection of the upper respiratory tract involving the nose, sinuses, pharynx and larynx. Drug therapies for the common cold are normally aimed at relieving the symptoms of the illness. Over-the-counter cough and cold medications should not be used in children younger than four years old because of potential harms and lack of benefit. Antibiotics, antitussives, anti-histamines, and inhaled corticosteroids are not effective in children. Products that may improve symptoms in children include expectorants, mucolytics, honey, vitamin C, zinc lozenges, geranium extract, and nasal saline irrigation. In adults, antihistamines, intranasal corticosteroids, codeine, intranasal ipratopium, and antibiotics are not effective. Decongestants, antihistamine/decongestant combi-nations, expectorants, and mucolytics may improve cold symptoms in adults. Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and acetaminophen reduce pain secondary to upper respiratory tract infection in adults. Among complementary and alternative medicinetherapeutics, products containing vitamin C, zinc, or garlic may improve cold symptoms in adults. Prophylactic use of probiotics may decrease the frequency of colds in adults and children.

Coffee Consumption and Risk of Osteoporosis / 가정의학회지

No abstract available.

Recent advance on vitamin D

Vitamin D is not only a nutrient, but also a hormone that affects the musculoskeletal system. Recently, extensive attention has been drawn to the autocrine and paracrine functions of vitamin D. Consequently, its extraskeletal effect and its known effects on the skeletal system have drawn particular interest. The socioeconomic development and aging of the population of Korea have also raised interest in dietary supplements. Because vitamin D deficiency is high among Koreans, both physicians and patients are questioning whether vitamin D supplements are needed. This review assessed the skeletal and extraskeletal efficacy of vitamin D with regard to mortality, cancer, cardiovascular disease, and diabetes via an evidence-based approach. The recent interest surrounding vitamin D can be expected to motivate many more studies on its effects and adverse effects, and accordingly, the level of evidence and recommendations will be adjusted. Clinicians should familiarize themselves with updated evidence about vitamin D, and must counsel patients with that evidence in mind.

Nutritional supplements

A dietary supplement, also known as a food supplement or nutritional supplement, is a preparation intended to supplement the diet and provide nutrients, such as vitamins, minerals, fiber, fatty acids, or amino acids. A health functional food is a food where one or more new ingredients have been added to a food and the new product has an additional function. Physicians and patients need information on current evidence on the efficacy and safety of selected dietary supplements that are commonly used. The current evidence on the efficacy and safety of selected dietary supplements (beta-carotene, vitamin C, D, E, calcium, selenium, omega 3, ginseng, glucosamine, chlorella, saw palmetto, gingko, gamma linolenic acid, echinacea) for specific conditions is assessed by an evidence-based approach. With an increase in income and the aging of the population, spending on dietary supplements is steadily increasing, but concern about the safety and efficacy of dietary supplements may be relatively low. Recently, many domestic and international clinical trials on nutritional supplements have been performed. As a result, the evidence on the efficacy and safety of dietary supplements may be changed or recommendations may also be changed. Greater efforts should be made to acquire the latest knowledge about dietary supplements.

Ginseng Intake and Gastric Cancer Risk: A Meta-Analysis of Observational Epidemiological Studies / 가정의학회지

BACKGROUND: A number of observational studies have found that ginseng intake may reduce the risk of developing gastric cancer. However, studies have yielded inconsistent results as to whether consuming ginseng can lower the risk of gastric cancer. We conducted a meta-analysis of studies that assessed the association between ginseng intake and the risk of gastric cancer. METHODS: We searched MEDLINE, EMBASE, CINAHL, KMbase, KoreaMed, RiCH, National Assembly Library, Riss4u, and DBPIA for studies released through August 2007. We manually searched the references. Two authors independently extracted the data. To assess the quality of the studies Scottish Intercollegiate Guidelines Network (SIGN) Methodology Checklist for case-control studies and cohort studies were used. Review Manager 5.0 (RevMan) was used for statistical analysis. RESULTS: We identified one case-control study and three cohort studies. The risk ratio (RR) for ginseng intake of all studies was 0.83 (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.46 to 1.51) and I2 = 91% for heterogeneity. We did subgroup analysis according to different types of study design, nation, and author. The results were consistent only when we did subgroup analysis according to authors. The RR of subgroup by different authors was 1.43 (95% CI, 1.10 to 1.80) and I2 = 0% without showing heterogeneity. CONCLUSION: In this meta-analysis, the results suggested that there was insufficient evidence to confirm the association between ginseng intake and the risk of gastric cancer. Subsequent more powerful, well-designed, and larger observational epidemiological studies are needed to clarify the association.

Evidence-based Assessment of Complementary and Alternative Therapies for Cancer

Complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) is a group of diverse medical and health care systems, practices, and products that are not currently considered to be the parts of conventional medicine. Many patients suffering from cancer use CAM therapies. Physicians, patients, and policy makers need information on current evidence on the efficacy and safety of selected CAM therapies that are commonly used by patients with cancer. The commonly used CAM therapies among cancer patients were assessed by systematic reviews of surveys on Korean cancer patients' use of CAM. A total of 82 CAM interventions were selected for assessment of the effectiveness and safety. We searched the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL), MEDLINE, EMBASE, CINAHL, Korean database (KoreaMed, KMbase), Japan and China database in most sensitive modes. We adopted methodologies of classification of study design, study quality assessment, and determination of evidence levels from Scottish Intercollegiate Guidelines Network (SIGN) and National Institute for Clinical Excellence (NICE). Safety of each CAM intervention was assessed according to the level of risk grading. External reviews were done by multidisciplinary experts.

Evaluation of BD Lab Reagents for Chemistry Analyzers / 임상검사와정도관리

BACKGROUND: Many modern chemistry analyzers are open systems and they can use reagents other than those supplied by the manufacturer of the analyzer. There are many generic reagents for use in open systems. The objective of this study was to evaluate the analytical performance of the BD Lab reagents (BD Lab co., Korea) which were generic reagents. METHODS: Sixteen kinds of reagents of total protein, albumin, blood urea nitrogen (BUN), creatinine, glucose, uric acid, aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), total bilirubin, alkaline phosphatase (ALP), lactate dehydrogenase (LD), gamma glutamyl transferase (GGT), calcium, inorganic phosphorus, total cholesterol, triglycerides were tested for precision, linearity and correlation according to the NCCLS guidelines (EP5-A, EP6-A, EP9-A2). Toshiba 200-FR Neo (Toshiba Medical Systems Co., Japan) was used in this evaluation. RESULTS: All reagents showed acceptable precision with total coefficients of variation less than 7%. Comparison of BD Lab reagents with the current reagents by regression analysis resulted in slopes ranging from 0.86 to 1.06 and correlation coefficients more than 0.975. Fifteen of sixteen reagents showed good linearity in broad range. CONCLUSIONS: BD Lab reagents showed good precision, linearity, and correlation. Therefore, we conclude that the BD Lab reagents can be an alternative of currently used reagents in chemistry analyzers.

Biomedical Issues of Dietary fiber beta-Glucan

beta-Glucan is a polysaccharide in the form of fiber and the main element of fiber in grains such as barley, oats, yeast and mushrooms. Many studies have examined the efficacy of beta-Glucan in terms of the lipid lowering effects, blood sugar reduction, weight reduction, immune modulator, and anticarcinogenic effect. However, there is no comprehensive review article on the biomedical issues regarding beta-Glucan. The authors searched for systematic reviews and clinical experiments for each relevant topic and reviewed the biomedical effects of beta-Glucan, for the purpose of developing research strategies for the future.

Association between coffee consumption and serum gamma glutamyltransferase in male alcohol drinking adults

BACKGROUND: According to previous studies, it was suggested that coffee consumption may protect liver toxicity caused by alcohol drinking. Our study is design to analyze association between coffee consumption and serum gamma glutamyltransferase(GGT) in alcohol drinking male adults. METHODS: From 1996 May to 1995 July, data were collected from alcohol drinking male adults who visited a university hospitals for health check up. Among them, subjects who had disease could affect liver function test were excluded. Sociodemographic data, alcohol drinking amount, smoking status, coffee drinking amount data were collected by questionnaire and subject's weight and height were measured. RESULTS: We excluded 12 male adults because they had a disease which may cause liver dysfunction. In analysis of variance, coffee consumption and BMI were significantly associated with serum GGT(p=0.023). Alcohol drinking and cigarettes smoking were not significantly associated with GGT. In multiple regression analysis, coffee consumption was inversely related to serum GGT levels independently(p=0.002). Cigarettes smoking was also independently and positively associated with serum GGT levels(p=0.040). CONCLUSION: Coffee consumption may lower serum GGT levels in alcohol drinking male. It may suggest that coffee consumption protect liver toxicity caused by alcohol drinking and It must be validated in large sized prospective study involving non alcohol drinker.

Coffee and health

No abstract available.