Asian American Medical Hazard: Childhood Allergies



A recent study of Asian American children in Northern California has revealed that Asian American children are more likely to develop certain allergies than white children.  When broken down by Asian American subgroup, Filipino children were almost twice as likely as white children to get allergic rhinitis and asthma. I had both as a child and still have allergic rhinitis (“hay fever”). Korean, Japanese, and Chinese children were more likely to have eczema and food allergies, but less likely to have asthma.  The authors of the article cite these kind of results as showing the need for disaggregated Asian health data and more research.

The article we cited from Stat News is an editorial and a summary of a paper that was published in the Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology:  In Practice.

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Asian Heritage Athletes in America Feature: Jeremy Lin

Jeremy Lin, born in Torrance, California, on August 23, 1988, is a former professional basketball player who was one of the most unexpected stars in NBA history. Standing 6’3” and weighing 200 pounds, Lin’s path to the league was anything but easy. After going undrafted in the 2010 NBA Draft, he began his career with the Golden State Warriors but struggled to find a significant role early on.

Lin’s breakthrough came during the 2011-2012 season with the New York Knicks, where his sensational performances led to the phenomenon known as “Linsanity.” Despite initially being a bench player, Lin stepped into the spotlight. Over a remarkable 26-game stretch, he averaged 20.9 points and 8.4 assists per game, regularly leading his team in both categories. As the season progressed, Lin settled into his starting role and eventually helped the Knicks be the 7th seed in the Eastern Conference. However, his injuries sidelined him for the rest of the season. During the next seasons of his career, Lin signed with the Rockets, Lakers, Hornets, Nets, Hawks, and Rockets, primarily as a backup. When the Raptors won the NBA Championship in 2019, Lin became the first Asian American to earn an NBA championship ring. Lin’s clutch performances throughout his career, including game-winning shots and dominant displays against top teams, cemented his status as a cultural icon and fan favorite.

Jeremy Lin retired in 2021 after a career that spanned the NBA, international leagues, and the G-League. Beyond basketball, Lin is focusing on education, social justice, and creating opportunities for underprivileged communities in Taiwan and China.

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Nonsmoking Stanford Doctor and Professor tells his Lung Cancer Story

We have talked about the increasing incidence of lung cancer among female Asian American nonsmokers, but male Asian American doctor and Stanford professor Bryant Lin tells about his lung cancer story in a class called “From Diagnosis to Dialogue: A Doctor’s Real-Time Battle with Cancer.”  Despite never smoking in his life, Lin experienced a worsening cough and after an X-Ray and a CT Scan, was diagnosed with Stage 4 Lung Cancer.  Lin was one of the founders of the Stanford Center for Asian Health Research and Education (CARE),which ironically has research and education on never smoker lung cancer as a priority.

It turns out that Asian ancestry is a major risk factor for never smoker lung cancer because of the higher likelihood of having a mutation to the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) protein. The type of lung cancer that nonsmokers tend to get, called adenocarcinoma has stayed high while other types of lung cancer has declined. I am reminded of another Asian American doctor who also had EGFR related lung cancer, Paul Kalanithi, who wrote the book When Breath Becomes Air.

The Wife and I keep running into nonsmoking Asian Americans who are getting lung cancer.  We talked to one family friend who found that she had lung cancer when she had a scan to look for plaque in her arteries, and the radiologist noticed a spot in her lungs.  She had stage 1 lung cancer, which is more easily curable (she had the small tumor removed).  Bryant Lin is not so lucky.  His lung cancer had spread all over his body, including over 50 spots in his brain.  While there are drugs can the can improve his life, his oncologist says that they won’t work forever. Research is underway to understand the best screening guidelines for lung cancer.

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WeChat Pay, Alipay, and the Future of Digital Payments in China

By Junjie Yang

In China, WeChat Pay and Alipay have completely transformed the way people pay for things. These two platforms, owned by Tencent and Alibaba, dominate the digital payments market and have become an essential part of daily life. As reported by Brookings, WeChat Pay is seamlessly built into WeChat, China’s most popular messaging app, allowing users to send money, pay bills, and shop without ever leaving the app. Similarly, Alipay started as a way to pay for purchases on Alibaba’s e-commerce sites like Taobao, but it has grown into a comprehensive financial platform offering services like savings accounts, insurance, and loans.

What really sets these platforms apart is how they make life easier for both consumers and businesses. As explained by fabrick, a financial technology professional development company, Alipay is essential for online shopping, especially on Taobao, where it’s practically the only payment method, making it indispensable for millions of users. Meanwhile, WeChat Pay is widely used not just for online payments but also for in-store transactions, offering a level of convenience that’s hard to beat. Both platforms are so deeply integrated into everyday life that many Chinese people simply can’t imagine living without them.

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Why So Few Asians in Oregon?

When we look at the spread of Asian American populations across America, we tend to see them clustered around the West Coast and a few other major cities, such as NYC. Their prominence on the West Coast is heavily linked to their history of immigration during the California Gold Rush, and the establishment of ethnic enclaves only attracted further immigration to these regions. Indeed, Los Angeles, the San Francisco Bay Area, Sacramento, and Seattle, along with its neighboring city of Bellevue, are home to some of the largest Asian populations in the US. San Francisco is over 30% Asian, Bellevue over 40%, and LA’s San Gabriel Valley is the largest ethnic enclave of Asian Americans in the US. Along the West Coast, Washington and California have substantial Asian populations, but why is Oregon left out?

While California and Washington have multiple cities that have a substantial Asian population, even majority Asian regions, Oregon’s most Asian-populated county is Washington County, which is less than 15% Asian. Its neighboring Multnomah County is the only other county with an Asian population in the double digits at just over 10%. The city seat of Multnomah County is Portland, Oregon’s largest city, which has just over 40,000 Asian residents, totaling to 8.5% of the city’s population. Oregon as a whole has an Asian population less than 5% of its total population, almost half of Washington’s 9.5% and 1/3rd California’s 15%. The disparity between Oregon and its neighboring states is quite large, which begs the question: why are there so few Asians in Oregon?

Oregon’s Gold Rush history is not too indifferent from San Francisco or Los Angeles–indeed, there were many similarities related to the use of Asian immigrant labor. Chinese migrants worked in mines for lower wages than their White counterparts, leading to discrimination and local opposition to their presence. One key difference is the lack of railroad work in Oregon, as the First Transcontinental Railroad connected Sacramento instead, leading to a notable lack of jobs compared to North California. Once the Chinese Exclusion Act was passed in 1882, the local Chinese population dwindled and relocated to larger cities–where there were 634 Chinese residents in Jackson County in 1870, only 43 remained 30 years later, stifling growth of ethnic enclaves that could attract new immigrants. Oregon as a whole saw an 80% decrease in Chinese population from 1900 to 1940
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The Forgotten Railroad Workers

First Transcontinental Railroad - Wikipedia

Just over a decade ago, Stanford University quite ironically began “The Chinese Railroad Workers in North America Project,” a project that sought to detail the story of Chinese immigrant workers during the early days of their presence in America. The founder of Stanford University, Leland Stanford, amassed his wealth largely due to his ownership of the Central Pacific Railroad, the first railroad to connect the US with the Pacific coast. Stanford, who was the first Republican governor of California, sided with anti-Chinese sentiments following their influx of immigration during the Gold Rush. In a message to the California legislature, Stanford stated

the settlement among us of an inferior race is to be discouraged by every legitimate means. Asia, with her numberless millions, sends to our shores the dregs of her population.

Anti-Chinese movements were popular at the time, as the cheap labor the Chinese provided came at odds with union and local workers who couldn’t compete at such low wages. Though Stanford was initially praised for his message, he lost support when his hypocrisy became apparent as he continued to import thousands of Chinese workers to construct his railroad. In fact, out of the over 10,000 workers in his company, 90% of them were Chinese, making him one of the biggest employers of Chinese laborers at the time. The very community he demonized and spewed hate against was the same community that made him one of the wealthiest Americans at the time–the same people who faced violent repression, slave-like working conditions, and unbridled hatred everywhere they went. 

California’s American history began with the Gold Rush, and with the Gold Rush came the first transcontinental railroad, which stretched from Iowa to the San Francisco Bay. On the western portion, Stanford’s Central Pacific Railroad (CPR) company managed the 690 miles connecting the San Francisco Bay to Utah, with construction beginning in 1863. Upon completion in 1869, this railroad connected the continental United States from coast to coast, solidifying California’s entry into the union. The people who worked on this at first were largely Caucasian laborers, many of whom were civil engineers or soldiers during the American Civil War. The CPR had no shortage of experienced workers, but finding semi-skilled laborers to work on railroads was challenging–many Caucasian workers preferred working in agriculture or mining, and the dangerous conditions on the railroads turned them away. As a result, railroad companies had to find a new source of labor, and they did so by experimenting with recent Chinese immigrants. At first, there were some worries that their lack of experience and “small stature” would make the Chinese poor railroad workers, but after proving themselves as more than capable, many companies ended up prioritizing hiring Chinese laborers
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Asian American Commercial Watch: Instacart | Big Sister

I forgot exactly when I saw this commercial on television, but I liked it. I have never used Instacart, but I had had friends who do. This commercial is titled ‘Big Sister’:

“No matter what season of life you’re in, we’re here to make it bright. Easily share a cart with your people and get everyone’s holiday favorites delivered to your door.”

 

It looks like this was posted online over three weeks ago of this writing – definitely in anticipation of Thanksgiving, especially when the brother selects pumpkin pie.  I only have pumpkin pie during Thanksgiving. It’s nice to see a sister and her partner comfort her brother after a breakup and be with family during the holidays.

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63 Chinese Cuisines: the Complete Guide – according to ‘Chinese Cooking Demystified’

A friend of mine a few weeks ago came across this Substack article: 63 Chinese Cuisines: the Complete Guide – Not one cuisine, not eight, but many more. Our best shot at a comprehensive-ish guide.” I re-posted the YouTube video on Facebook, and like myself, others were blown away by the extensive discussion of the topic.

I thought it was worthy to share for those who might be interested!

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Ken Jeong Receives His Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame

I’ve been woefully behind in my blogging, but I wanted to get around to writing about actor, comedian, entertainer, and fellow Duke alum like myself Ken Jeong getting his star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame (back on Wednesday, October 23rd):

“Comedy star and actor Ken Jeong has officially received his star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame! Known for his unforgettable roles in The Hangover series, Community, and as a judge on The Masked Singer, Jeong has become a beloved figure in Hollywood. From his medical career to a comedy breakout, Jeong’s unique journey and charisma have earned him a special place in fans’ hearts worldwide. Join family, friends, and co-stars as they gather on Hollywood Boulevard to honor his contributions to comedy, film, and television. Don’t miss this star-studded celebration of Ken Jeong’s incredible career!”

 

For the full ceremony instead of the highlights, you can check out this link. This is what Duke’s ‘The Chronicle’ wrote about Ken:

“Actor, comedian and campus favorite Ken Jeong, Trinity ‘90, was awarded the 2,794th star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame Wednesday, where he was recognized for his work as a comedian, actor, producer and writer. …

Per Jeong’s request, his star will be placed next to that of Chinese American actress Lucy Liu and Anna May Wong, the first Asian American actress awarded a star on the Walk of Fame, to honor the Asian American and Pacific Islander community’s contributions to Hollywood.

“If it wasn’t for Duke, I would not have gotten my star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, much less a career in the arts and entertainment,” Jeong wrote in a Thursday morning message to The Chronicle.””

I have missed a few opportunities (once due to a flight cancelation / reschedule for weather) to meet Ken, but one day I will meet him!

 

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Asian American Commercial Watch: Mercedes-Benz: 2024 Holiday “Happy Holidays with Love: The Journey”

Model Daniel Liu leads off this 2024 Holiday “Happy Holidays with Love: The Journey” Mercedes-Benz USA commercial:

“Celebrate the journeys that bring us closer together. The Mercedes-Benz Holiday Love Celebration is back. Discover the vehicles you’re bound to love this season. Hurry in now through January 2nd.”

It’s been a while since we blogged about Liuin fact, not since 2011. So it’s good to see he’s still been able to get work, given how competitive I imagine the industry is and will become even more so with generative AI …

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Jollibee and In-N-Out Mashup

@forkingaround_tv

The Jollibee and In-N-Out collaboration that no one asked for and everyone wanted with @Your fave Kuya 🇵🇭 #jollibee #innout #fastfood #foodreview #filipinofood @Jollibee USA @InNOut

♬ original sound – Forking Around

If you are tired Thanksgiving leftovers, consider the Jollibee and In-N-Out mashup suggested by this TikTok.  For those of you who don’t know, Jollibee is a Filipino Fast Food chain that has spread all over the world (my brother recently went to one in London).  In-N-Out is a quintessentially Californian institution and hamburger chain.  The video above investigates what it would be like to combine both. Interestingly enough, Filipino food is a mash up already, with Chinese, Malay, spanish, and American influences.  Moreover, Jollibee is another kind of mashup – famous for serving burgers, fried chicken, and spaghetti all in one restaurant.

A special thanks to The Wife for showing me this video.

(photo credit:  patrickroque001 licensed under Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 International license.)

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Derek Tran edges out Michelle Steel in California’s Congressional District 45

Edwin had mentioned that there was a close election between Democrat Derek Tran and Republican Michelle Steel in his post about Westminster’s Little Saigon, I was curious about how this race would end up, and finally the race has been called, more than three weeks after the election.  Derek Tran is projected to the winner of California’s Congressional District 45 after a particularly nasty campaign season between two Asian American candidates.

The close vote is a reminder that every vote counts.  At the time that the above projection results were published, Derek Tran was ahead by only 600 votes.  In a race earlier this year, Evan Low won a primary slot by beating Joe Simitian by five votes.

(photo credit:  This is a cropped image from Twotwofourtysix licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International license.)

 

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