Period prevalence of uveitis in human T-lymphotropic virus 1 carriers versus noncarriers in a highly endemic area: The Nagasaki Islands Study.

The magnitude of the effect of human T-lymphotropic virus 1 (HTLV-1) infection on uveitis remains unclear. We conducted a cross-sectional study in a highly endemic area of HTLV-1 in Japan. The study included 4265 residents (men, 39.

A randomized crossover study comparing tafluprost 0.0015% with travoprost 0.004% in patients with normal-tension glaucoma [corrected].

Purpose: We compared the intraocular pressure (IOP)-lowering effect of tafluprost 0.0015% once daily with travoprost 0.004% once daily in Japanese patients with normal-tension glaucoma (NTG).

Evaluation of the efficacy and safety of olopatadine and fexofenadine compared with placebo in Japanese cedar pollinosis using an environmental exposure unit.

Background: Second-generation oral H1-antihistamines have become a mainstay of treatment for the symptoms of seasonal allergic rhinitis; however, the effect of olopatadine has not been widely reported to date.

Objectives: To evaluate the efficacy of 2 oral H1-antihistamines, olopatadine and fexofenadine, in the treatment of the nasal symptoms of Japanese cedar pollinosis and their possible side effects.

Methods: This was a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, crossover study conducted in an environmental exposure unit (EEU).

Clinical efficacy of halophilic lactic acid bacterium Tetragenococcus halophilus Th221 from soy sauce moromi for perennial allergic rhinitis.

Background: Recently, some common foods in daily life, especially lactic acid bacteria, have been found to have anti-allergic effects. We previously isolated a halophilic lactic acid bacterium, Tetragenococcus halophilus Th221, from soy sauce moromi, a mixture of koji and salt solution, and showed that it possesses an immunomodulatory activity that promotes T helper type 1 immunity.

Methods: To evaluate the anti-allergic effects of Th221, we performed a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study in 45 subjects with perennial allergic rhinitis (PAR) treated by oral administration of Th221 (high dose, 60 mg/day, 15 subjects; low dose, 20.

An evaluation of the clinical efficacy of tomato extract for perennial allergic rhinitis.

Background: Recently, some common foods in daily life have been found to have anti-allergic effects. We have reported that tomato extract (TE) could possibly inhibit histamine release and mouse ear-swelling responses. Moreover, it is reported that TE could relieve the symptoms for Japanese cedar pollinosis.

[Epidemiological survey of allergic diseases in first-year junior high school students in Wakayama Prefecture in 2003].

Allergic diseases have been increasing in prevalence in developed countries, including Japan. The aim of the present report was to determine the prevalence of allergies in Wakayama prefecture using an epidemiological study. In total, 759 first-year students attending junior high school in Hidaka country, Wakayama prefecture, were surveyed.

Effect of antihistamine eye drops on the conjunctival provocation test with Japanese cedar pollen allergen.

Background: Approximately 16.2% of the Japanese population suffer from cedar pollinosis, with various manifestations such as ophthalmic, laryngo-pharyngeal and skin symptoms in addition to nasal symptoms. Thus, the annual pollen season is an agonizing period for patients.

Clinical effects of apple polyphenols on persistent allergic rhinitis: A randomized double-blind placebo-controlled parallel arm study.

Background: We often encounter persistent allergic rhinitis due to house dust mites in the practice of otolaryngology, and its prevalence in Japan is high (18.7%). Persistent allergic rhinitis is usually treated with antihistamines and local steroids, but they often cause adverse effects such as sedation and drowsiness.

Transient evoked otoacoustic emissions in newborn infants: Effects of ear asymmetry, gender, and age.

Our aim was to examine the effects of gender, ear asymmetry, and age of infants on various parameters of transient evoked otoacoustic emissions (TEOAEs). Three hundred thirty-two infants (181 males, 151 females) were tested using the ILO292 Otodynamics Analyzer (Otodynamics Ltd, England) as a screening procedure. The subjects were divided into two age groups: group 1, newborn infants prior to hospital discharge (mean age of 4 days), and group 2, infants at the 1-month-old health checkup (mean age of 35 days).

[A comparative study between real time monitor KH-3000 and conventional Durham sampler measuring airborne pollen].

Real time monitoring of airborne pollen has gradually increased because monitoring is laborsaving and provides better real-time information. A problem arose, however, due to differences between the KH3000 (Yamato Co. Ltd) monitor and the conventional Durham sampler pointed out in results of airborne pollen monitoring in Wakayama in 2004.

[Regional comparison of patient-reported outcomes in Japanese cedar pollinosis].

Background: There is little information about the relationship between local pollen counts and pollinosis symptoms of the local patients. In this study, we compared patient-reported outcomes (PROs) of Japanese cedar pollinosis (JCP) according to regions.

Methods: The study was conducted between February 24 and March 8, 2003 (peak pollen season), and 1200 patients were recruited from 15 ENT clinical sites in 4 regions : central Osaka (n = 576), southern Osaka (n = 195), northern Wakayama (n = 234), and southern Wakayama (n = 195).

[Effects of drug adherence on patient outcomes to early treatment for Japanese cedar pollinosis].

Drug adherence is one of the important aspects in caring for patients with allergic rhinitis. To improve clinical efficacy of early treatment for Japanese cedar pollinosis (JCP), we evaluated the effect of drug adherence on patients' outcomes. Patients were randomly selected from 16 ENT clinical sites in Osaka and Wakayama between February 24 and March 8, 2003 (peak pollen season).

Polymorphisms in ADAM33 are associated with allergic rhinitis due to Japanese cedar pollen.

Background: A recent report provided evidence that a disintegrin and metalloprotease domain 33 (ADAM33), a member of the ADAM family, is a novel susceptibility gene in asthma linked to bronchial hyper-responsiveness. However, there has been no investigation of the genetic role of ADAM33 variants in nasal allergy.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to test the association between ADAM33 polymorphisms and Japanese cedar pollinosis (JCPsis), a most common seasonal allergic rhinitis in Japan.

Involvement of peripheral mechanism in the verapamil-induced potentiation of morphine analgesia in mice.

Morphine's analgesic actions are thought to be mediated through both the central and peripheral nervous systems. L-type calcium channel blockers have been reported to potentiate the analgesic effects of morphine, but the locus of this interaction is not known. In this experiment, we examined the site of verapamil-induced potentiation of morphine analgesia in mice using the quaternary opioid receptor antagonist naloxone-methiodide (NLX-M).

[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.

[Epidemic study of pet allergy in Wakayama Prefecture].

In Japan, the number of households who have pets has gradually increased, together with the number of people who have pet allergies. Many reports exist on pollen and mite allergy, but few on pet allergy. We conducted an epidemic study in 531 first-year junior high school students in Wakayama prefecture in 1999.

[Combined MTX.5-FU.CDGP for the treatment of head and neck cancer].

Combination chemotherapy including 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) and nedaplatin (CDGP) with methotrexate (MTX) and leucovorin (LV) was administered for modulation in patients with head and neck cancer. We treated 19 patients with MTX.5-FU.

[Outcome of neonatal screening for hearing loss in neonatal intensive care unit and well-born nursery infants].

A newborn hearing screening was conducted on 319 neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) and 1200 well-born nursery (WBN) infants. Mean NICU birth weight was 1997 g and mean gestational age 34 weeks. Auditory brainstem response was studied in screening in NICU infants.

Upregulation of IL-13 concentration in vivo by the IL13 variant associated with bronchial asthma.

Background: A substantial body of evidence exists to support the pivotal role of IL-13 in the pathogenesis of bronchial asthma. We recently found that a variant of the IL13 gene (Arg110Gln) is genetically associated with bronchial asthma, which is concordant with animal experiments using IL-13 in the development of asthma.

Objective: To address whether the Gln110 variant of IL13 influences IL-13 function, contributing to the pathogenesis of bronchial asthma, we studied the functional properties of the variant.

[2001 survey of pollen in Wakayama City with a real-time pollen counter].

Self-care is gradually being recognized as important in the treatment of pollinosis, based up to now on data on airborne pollen. To determine the real-time numbers of airborne pollen would be more useful in self-care, however, so we studied the usefulness of the real-time pollen counter. Between Feb.

Month of birth, atopic disease, and atopic sensitization.

Background: Japanese cedar (Cryptmeria japonica; CJ) pollen and house dust mites are the two important aeroallergens in Japan. However, no epidemiological survey has been performed in Japan to investigate the relationship between month of birth and manifestations of allergic disease and sensitization.

Objective: This study evaluates the correlation between month of birth and sensitization to aeroallergens or the occurrence of allergic disease on 755 Japanese school children aged 12-13 years.

Metastatic orbital tumors in Japan: a review of the literature.

A review of reports on metastatic orbital tumors published from 1903 to 1998 in Japan revealed 128 patients, 74 males, 52 females and 2 whose sex was not recorded. The average age was 44.8 years, but varied depending on the primary tumor.

Improved nonpenetrating trabeculectomy with trabeculotomy.

Purpose: To examine surgical effects and complications of improved nonpenetrating trabeculectomy with trabeculotomy in glaucoma patients.

Methods: Glaucoma patients in two medical institutions underwent nonpenetrating trabeculectomy with sinusotomy with or without trabeculotomy, and the results were compared retrospectively in the two groups by evaluation of final intraocular pressure, drug score, and occurrence of postsurgical complications.

Results: Of the 63 eyes of 51 patients in this study, 31 were treated with nonpenetrating trabeculectomy with sinusotomy without trabeculotomy and 32 eyes were treated with nonpenetrating trabeculectomy with sinusotomy and trabeculotomy.

Terson syndrome: a case report suggesting the mechanism of vitreous hemorrhage.

Objective: To present a patient with Terson syndrome and to propose a mechanism for vitreous hemorrhage.

Design: Observational case report.

Participant: A 50-year-old woman with subarachnoid hemorrhage and unilateral vitreous hemorrhage.

[Japanese cedar pollen in house dust].

Caring for oneself against Japanese cedar pollinosis is important as well as receiving medical-care. Although the importance of avoiding pollen is described in the guideline for nasal allergy medical treatment, however, there is no information for effective dust cleaning for the home. This study examined how many cedar pollens were included in indoor dust in order to obtain basic data whether dust removal for cedar pollen is available for pollinosis suffers.