Japanese guidelines for childhood asthma 2017.

The Japanese Guideline for the Diagnosis and Treatment of Allergic Diseases 2017 (JAGL 2017) includes a minor revision of the Japanese Pediatric Guideline for the Treatment and Management of Asthma 2012 (JPGL 2012) by the Japanese Society of Pediatric Allergy and Clinical Immunology. The section on child asthma in JAGL 2017 provides information on how to diagnose asthma between infancy and adolescence (0-15 years of age). It makes recommendations for best practices in the management of childhood asthma, including management of acute exacerbations and non-pharmacological and pharmacological management.

Effects of sulfur dioxide on the respiratory system of Miyakejima child residents 6 years after returning to the island.

Objectives: This study investigated the health effects of volcanic gas, mainly sulfur dioxide (SO2), exposure on the children of Miyakejima Island.

Methods: Health checkups were conducted in November from 2006 to 2011. Health effects were evaluated through a self-administered questionnaire on respiratory and irritative symptoms, and spirometry.

Japanese pediatric guideline for the treatment and management of bronchial asthma 2012.

A new version of the Japanese pediatric guideline for the treatment and management of bronchial asthma was published in Japanese at the end of 2011. The guideline sets the pragmatic goal for clinicians treating childhood asthma as maintaining a "well-controlled level" for an extended period in which the child patient can lead a trouble-free daily life, not forgetting the ultimate goal of obtaining remission and/or cure. Important factors in the attainment of the pragmatic goal are: (i) appropriate use of anti-inflammatory drugs; (ii) elimination of environmental risk factors; and (iii) educational and enlightening activities for the patient and caregivers regarding adequate asthma management in daily life.

Effects of ketoprofen for prevention of postoperative cognitive dysfunction in aged rats.

Postoperative cognitive dysfunction is a common geriatric complication that may be associated with increased mortality. Here, we investigated the effects of postoperative analgesia with ketoprofen on cognitive functions in aged animals and compared its effectiveness to morphine. Rats were randomly allocated to one of four groups: isoflurane anesthesia without surgery (group C), isoflurane anesthesia with laparotomy (group IL), and isoflurane anesthesia with laparotomy plus postoperative analgesia with ketoprofen or morphine.

Preventive effects of multisensory rehabilitation on development of cognitive dysfunction following systemic inflammation in aged rats.

Systemic inflammation can trigger transient or longer-lasting cognitive impairments, particularly in elderly patients. However, its pathogenesis has not been sufficiently clarified. In this study, we explored the potential effects of multisensory rehabilitation on cognitive dysfunction following systemic inflammation using an animal model.

Japanese Guideline for Childhood Asthma 2014.

The Japanese Guideline for the Diagnosis and Treatment of Allergic Diseases 2013 (JAGL 2013) describes childhood asthma after the Japanese Pediatric Guideline for the Treatment and Management of Asthma 2012 (JPGL 2012) by the Japanese Society of Pediatric Allergy and Clinical Immunology. JAGL 2013 provides information on diagnosis by age group from infancy to puberty (0-15 years of age), treatment for acute exacerbations, long-term management by anti-inflammatory drugs, daily life guidance, and patient education to allow non-specialist physicians to refer to this guideline for routine medical treatment. JAGL differs from the Global Initiative for Asthma Guideline (GINA) in that JAGL emphasizes early diagnosis and intervention at <2 years and 2-5 years of age.

Visual analog scale as a predictor of GINA-defined asthma control. The SACRA study in Japan.

Objective: The assessment of asthma control is pivotal to treatment decisions. A questionnaire that assesses the Global Initiative for Asthma (GINA)-defined control requires four questions. A visual analog scale (VAS) to evaluate asthma control can be simply marked, but its correlation with GINA-defined control has been insufficiently evaluated.

Efficacy of intravenous immunoglobulin combined with prednisolone following resistance to initial intravenous immunoglobulin treatment of acute Kawasaki disease.

Objectives: To determine the most effective first-line rescue therapy for intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) nonresponders, using IVIG, prednisolone, or both, to prevent coronary artery abnormalities (CAAs).

Study Design: We retrospectively reviewed the clinical records of 359 consecutive patients with Kawasaki disease who failed to respond to initial IVIG.

Results: CAAs up to 1 month after treatment were less common in the IVIG+prednisolone group (15.

DNA methylation changes between relapse and remission of minimal change nephrotic syndrome.

Background: DNA methylation of gene promoters is associated with transcriptional inactivation. Changes in DNA methylation can lead to differences in gene expression levels and thereby influence disease development. We hypothesized that epigenetics underlies the pathogenesis of minimal change nephrotic syndrome (MCNS).

Effects of the tulobuterol patch on the treatment of acute asthma exacerbations in young children.

The tulobuterol patch (TP) is a beta(2)-adrenergic agonist with a favorable pharmacokinetic profile used for asthma management in Japan. Because it contains tulobuterol in a molecular, crystallized form that is gradually absorbed percutaneously, TP exerts a prolonged bronchodilator effect exceeding 24 hours. Although it is a well-established treatment for asthma and wheezing, few studies have investigated whether it can reduce or prevent the symptoms associated with upper respiratory tract infections (URTIs) in young children.

Efficacy of immunoglobulin plus prednisolone for prevention of coronary artery abnormalities in severe Kawasaki disease (RAISE study): a randomised, open-label, blinded-endpoints trial.

Background: Evidence indicates that corticosteroid therapy might be beneficial for the primary treatment of severe Kawasaki disease. We assessed whether addition of prednisolone to intravenous immunoglobulin with aspirin would reduce the incidence of coronary artery abnormalities in patients with severe Kawasaki disease.

Methods: We did a multicentre, prospective, randomised, open-label, blinded-endpoints trial at 74 hospitals in Japan between Sept 29, 2008, and Dec 2, 2010.

Japanese guideline for childhood asthma.

The Japanese Guideline for the Diagnosis and Treatment of Allergic Diseases 2010 (JAGL 2010) describes childhood asthma based on the Japanese Pediatric Guideline for the Treatment and Management of Asthma 2008 (JPGL 2008) published by the Japanese Society of Pediatric Allergy and Clinical Immunology. JAGL 2010 provides information on diagnosis by age groups from infancy to puberty, treatment for acute exacerbations, long-term management by medication, daily life guidance, and patient education to allow physicians, not specialized in childhood asthma, to refer to this guideline for routine medical treatment. JAGL differs from the Global Initiative for Asthma Guideline (GINA) in that the former emphasizes long-term management of childhood asthma based on asthma severity and early diagnosis and intervention at <2 years and 2-5 years of age.

Japanese guideline for adult asthma.

Adult bronchial asthma (hereinafter, asthma) is characterized by chronic airway inflammation, reversible airway narrowing, and airway hyperresponsiveness. Long-standing asthma induces airway remodeling to cause an intractable asthma. The number of patients with asthma has increased, while the number of patients who die from asthma has decreased (1.

External validation of a risk score to predict intravenous immunoglobulin resistance in patients with kawasaki disease.

Background: we previously developed a new risk score to predict intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) resistance in Kawasaki disease. However, the IVIG dosage used in that study (1 g/kg/d for 2 consecutive days) differs from the single infusion of 2 g/kg recommended in the United States and elsewhere. Our aim was to assess the validity and applicability of our risk score in patients treated with a single infusion.

[Impact of inhaled corticosteroid prescription at discharge from the emergency room on exacerbations of asthma in Japanese hospital].

Background: Inhaled corticosteroid (ICS) therapy has been reported to improve relapses of asthma following emergency room (ER) discharge, but the benefits of ICS prescription at discharge from the ER are unclear.

Objective: To assess background of the patients who visit ER, and determine whether the prescription of ICS at ER reduces relapses in the patients with asthma.

Methods: A prospective multi-center cohort study was conducted at 32 Japanese ERs.

[Nine-month observation of effects of SO2 on the respiratory system in child Miyakejima citizens].

Background: Mt. Oyama on Miyakejima Island erupted in June 2000 and all Miyake village citizens were forced to evacuate the island in the September, due to continuous eruptions and emission of unsafe amounts of volcanic gas, mainly sulfur dioxide (SO2). Beginning in February 2005, residents returned to live on the island despite the fact that volcanic gas was still being emitted.

Japanese pediatric guidelines for the treatment and management of bronchial asthma 2008.

Abstract The fourth version of the Japanese Pediatric Guidelines for the Treatment and Management of Bronchial Asthma 2008 (JPGL 2008) was published by the Japanese Society of Pediatric Allergy and Clinical Immunology in December 2008. In JPGL 2008, the recommendations were revised on the basis of the JPGL 2005. The JPGL 2008 is different to the Global Initiative for Asthma guideline in that it contains the following items: a classification system of asthma severity; recommendations for long-term management organized by age; a special mention of infantile asthma; and an emphasis on prevention and early intervention.

Risk stratification in the decision to include prednisolone with intravenous immunoglobulin in primary therapy of Kawasaki disease.

Background: We reported previously that intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) plus prednisolone for initial therapy for Kawasaki disease (KD) prevented coronary artery abnormalities (CAA) more effectively than IVIG alone. However, questions remain as to whether PSL has potential benefit in all KD patients. The present study was designed to explore the possibility of stratified initial therapy including PSL in patients with and without a high predicted risk of being an IVIG nonresponder.