Trends in food allergy among Hong Kong preschoolers: Findings from 2006, 2013, and 2020 surveys.

Background: Food allergy (FA) significantly impacts quality of life and public health, but data on prevalence trends in Asia remain limited. This study investigated trends in FA prevalence and related allergic conditions among preschool Chinese children over a 15-year period.

Methodology: Cross-sectional surveys were conducted in 2006, 2013, and 2020, targeting nurseries, preschool, and daycare centers across Hong Kong.

Cadherin-related family member 3 gene impacts childhood asthma in Chinese children.

Background: A missense variant (rs6967330) of the gene encoding cadherin-related family member 3 (CDHR3) was associated with recurrent severe exacerbations in pre-schoolers. However, there were limited data on its relationship with pre-school lung function and school-age asthma. This study replicated the association between polymorphic markers at the region of CDHR3 around rs6967330 and wheezing phenotypes in two independent cohorts of Chinese children.

Childhood asthma and spirometric indices are associated with polymorphic markers of two vitamin D 25-hydroxylase genes.

Background: Polymorphic markers of vitamin D pathway genes have been associated with asthma traits in different White populations. This study investigated the relationship between asthma phenotypes and single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of vitamin D receptor (VDR), vitamin D binding protein (GC), two 25-hydroxylases (CYP2R1 and CYP27A1), and 1α-hydroxylase (CYP27B1) in Hong Kong Chinese children.

Methods: 23 SNPs of the five vitamin D pathway genes were successfully genotyped in 914 asthmatic children and 1231 non-allergic controls.

Childhood asthma is associated with polymorphic markers of PROC on 2q14 in addition to 17q21 locus.

Background: Childhood asthma is caused by both genetic and environmental factors. The first genomewide association study (GWAS) for asthma revealed putative candidates on nine chromosomal regions in Caucasians, with 17q21 locus being the most widely replicated one. However, there was no replication study for the other loci.

Asthma and bronchodilator responsiveness are associated with polymorphic markers of ARG1, CRHR2 and chromosome 17q21.

Objective: Asthma is caused by complex interactions between multiple genes. β2-Agonist is the standard rescue treatment to relieve asthma symptoms and bronchoconstriction. A genetic study for spirometric parameters helps to predict the responses to this antiasthma treatment.