Crystal structure of a lactosucrose-producing enzyme, Arthrobacter sp. K-1 β-fructofuranosidase.

Arthrobacter sp. K-1 β-fructofuranosidase (ArFFase), a glycoside hydrolase family 68 enzyme, catalyzes the hydrolysis and transfructosylation of sucrose. ArFFase is useful for producing a sweetener, lactosucrose (4(G)-β-D-galactosylsucrose).

[Correlation between the SF-8 health status questionnaire and JRQLQ in patients with Japanese cedar pollinosis].

Background: It is reported that the health-related quality of life (HRQL) is an important outcome in the Japanese Cedar Pollinosis (JCP) treatment. In Japan, the disease-specific Japan Rhino-conjunctivitis Quality of Life Questionnaire (JRQLQ) and the generic SF-36 Health Survey (SF-36) has been used. The aim of this study is to investigate more profitable QOL by using both the disease-specific questionnaire and the non-disease-specific questionnaire together.

[Quality of life in patients with Japanese cedar pollinosis: using the SF-8 health status questionnaire (Japanese version)].

Background: The number of patients with Japanese cedar pollinosis (JCP) is increasing, and now, has extended up to about 15% of the Japanese. It is reported that the QOL is an important outcome in the JCP treatment. This study aimed to evaluate the QOL in patients with JCP by means of the SF-8 Health Survey (Japanese Version), a new, even shorter generic health survey.

[Willingness to pay for Japanese cedar pollinosis: comparison between pollination and non-pollination seasons].

Allergic rhinitis is not fatal illness, but its high prevalence and several symptoms result in substantial medical cost. There is increasing interest in the use of economic evaluations in healthcare; therefore, we investigated patients' willingness to pay (WTP) for prevention and cure from Japanese cedar pollinosis (JCP), and compared WTP values assessed in non-pollination season (June 1998) and pollination season (February-March 2003). Japanese economic woes got worse in 2003 than in 1998.