Impulse Oscillometry (IOS) was developed as a tool to measure lung function, and as it only requires passive cooperation, it has been successfully used in younger children. The aim of this study was to assess the utility of IOS compared to conventional spirometry for lung function measures in asthmatic Korean children aged 3 to 6 yrs. Total serum IgE levels, total eosinophil counts, and specific IgE levels were measured in 77 children with asthma and 55 control subjects. IOS and spirometry were performed in the children before and after bronchodilator administration. Asthmatic children significantly differed from control subjects in baseline resistance at 10 Hz and in their IOS-assessed bronchodilator responses through a Delta resistance at 5 Hz (mean, -27.4% vs. -13.1%; p = 0.002), 10 Hz (mean, -20.4% vs. -11.5%; p = 0.012), 20 Hz (mean, -16.4% vs. -9.4%; p = 0.016), and 35 Hz (mean, -17.2% vs. -10.2%; p = 0.020). Conventional spirometry did not show statistically significant findings. Asthmatic children significantly differed from control subjects in IOS-assessed bronchodilator response through a Delta resistance at 5 Hz, both in atopic children and in non-atopic children. For atopic children, atopic asthmatic children (n = 58) also significantly differed from atopic controls (n = 30) in baseline resistance at 10 Hz, 20 Hz, 35 Hz and impedance and in IOS-assessed bronchodilator responses through a Delta resistance at 10 Hz and 35 Hz. There were some significant correlations between bronchodilator responses of spirometric parameters and IOS parameters. IOS is useful diagnostic tool in early asthma development and might be a helpful objective outcome measure of early interventions.

To validate the prevalence rate of symptoms of asthma produced by the phase I ISAAC (International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood) study, hypertonic saline challenge test was carried out during the phase II study at a year after the phase I study. For the phase II study, six middle schools from three cities in the phase I study were selected. Finally, 499 children who responded to both studies were analyzed. All subjects were asked to complete the written questionnaire (WQ) first, followed by a video questionnaire (AVQ 3.0) during the phase I study. Of the 499 children, only 19 (3.8%) were positive to the hypertonic saline bronchial challenge test. The degree of agreement between responses to the two corresponding questions "wheezing at rest" and "nocturnal wheeze" in the AVQ 3.0 and WQ were moderate and weak with a Kappa indices of 0.45 and 0.23, respectively. The question on "severe wheeze" in the AVQ 3.0 had the highest Youden's index among the five questions related to asthma symptoms in the previous 12 months, but its specificity was low whereas its sensitivity was 1.0. There was no consistency of priority between the two questionnaires in predicting bronchial hyperreactivity in a group of Korean schoolchildren. Therefore we need to develop more appropriate WQ or AVQ to compare the prevalences of asthma to other countries.

Purpose: Prevalence of food allergy and perceptions on food allergen labeling in school foodservice among elementary, middle, and high school students were investigated in Korea. Methods: A total of 1,000 elementary, middle, and high schools were selected in 16 cities and provinces of Korea and students attending the schools were surveyed using a questionnaire modified from the Korean International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood questionnaire in July 2012. Responses from 27,679 students were used for data analysis. Results:The ratio of the students who had experienced food allergy was 12.6%; 7.6% of the responding students had food allergy reactions last 12 months and 6.8% of the students had been diagnosed for food allergy by doctors. Eggs, milk, peach, and crabs were the most frequent allergenic foods for the elementary school 1st graders, 5th graders, middle, and high school students, respectively, who had experienced food allergy last 12 months. The students with food allergy read menus more frequently and were more interest in food allergen labeling in school foodservice than their counterparts. Both of the student groups with and without food allergy perceived food allergen labeling important for the students with food allergy and their parents. Conclusion:The prevalence of food allergy and major allergenic foods varied by school years. The Korean students had positive perception on allergic food labeling in school foodservice. An effective food allergen labeling system for school foodservice should be developed and implemented that reflects prevalence, symptoms, and food allergens among Korean students. (Allergy Asthma Respir Dis 2013;1:227-234)

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVESThe objective of this study was to investigate food allergens and prevalence rates of food allergies, followed by comparison of consumer attitudes and preferences regarding food allergy labeling by diagnosis of food allergies.SUBJECTS/METHODSA total of 543 individuals living in Seoul and Gyeonggi area participated in the survey from October 15 to 22 in 2013.RESULTSThe results show that the prevalence of doctor-diagnosed food allergies was 17.5%, whereas 6.4% of respondents self-reported food allergies. The most common allergens of doctor-diagnosed and self-reported food allergy respondents were peaches (30.3%) and eggs (33.3%), respectively, followed by peanuts, cow's milk, and crab. Regarding consumer attitudes toward food labeling, checking food allergens as an item was only significantly different between allergic and non-allergic respondents among all five items (P < 0.001). All respondents reported that all six items (bold font, font color, box frame, warning statement, front label, and addition of potential allergens) were necessary for an improved food allergen labeling system. PLSR analysis determined that the doctor-diagnosed group and checking of food allergens were positively correlated, whereas the non-allergy group was more concerned with checking product brands.CONCLUSIONSAn effective food labeling system is very important for health protection of allergic consumers. Additionally, government agencies must develop policies regarding prevalence of food allergies in Korea. Based on this information, the food industry and government agencies should provide clear and accurate food labeling practices for consumers.