Antibiotic-associated adverse drug events at a Japanese academic hospital.

Introduction: To promote antimicrobial stewardship activity, an understanding of the incidence of antibiotic-associated adverse drug events (ADEs) is essential. In this study, we aimed to describe the occurrence of antibiotic-associated ADEs at our hospital.

Methods: We retrospectively searched the ADE registration system in Osaka University Hospital between 2010 and 2017.

TGF-β Concentration in Breast Milk is Associated With the Development of Eczema in Infants.

Transforming growth factor (TGF)-β in breast milk is crucial for mucosal immune system in the neonatal period. We hypothesized that the level of exposure to TGF-β from breast milk in the first month of life is related to the development of eczema later in life. Thus, the present study investigated whether changes in TGF-β levels between colostrum and mature milk are associated with such occurrence in a birth cohort study.

An 18-Year Follow-up Survey of Dioxin Levels in Human Milk in Japan.

Background: Globally, few published studies have tracked the temporal trend of dioxin levels in the human body since 2000. This study describes the annual trend of dioxin levels in human breast milk in Japanese mothers from 1998 through 2015.

Methods: An observational study was conducted from 1998 through 2015.

Successive MRI Findings of Reversible Cerebral White Matter Lesions in a Patient with Cystathionine β-Synthase Deficiency.

Cystathionine β-synthase (CBS) deficiency, well known as classical homocystinuria, is a rare autosomal recessive inborn error of homocysteine and sulfur metabolism. CBS converts homocysteine to cystathionine. The clinical features of untreated CBS deficiency include myopia, ectopia lentis, mental retardation, skeletal anomalies resembling Marfan syndrome, and thromboembolic events.

Perinatal dioxin exposure and psychosocial and behavioral development in school-aged children.

Objective: The aim of this study was to elucidate the association between psychosocial and behavioral problems in children at school age and dioxin level in breast milk or estimated dioxin exposure (EDE) through breastfeeding in the general Japanese population.

Methods: Dioxin level of breast milk at 1month of age and breastfeeding ratio through the first year of life were used to calculate the EDE of infants born in 1998-2005 in Japan. The Japanese Social Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ) for the assessment of children's behavior was sent by mail to mothers whose breast milk underwent the dioxin survey, at the time when their infants were aged 6-13 years.

Total IgE at 6 months predicts remittance or persistence of atopic dermatitis at 14 months.

Some patients with infantile atopic dermatitis (AD) achieve remission around 1 year old, but in others it persists. The difference between them is unclear. We performed a birth cohort study to find the markers predicting the outcome of infantile AD.

In vitro analysis of the functional effects of an NLRP3 G809S variant with the co-existence of MEFV haplotype variants in atypical autoinflammatory syndrome.

Purpose: Hereditary periodic fever syndromes have been considered monogenic diseases. However, some recent reports have described patients with co-existence of recurrent fever responsible genes. This study assessed whether a rare variant, found in Japanese children showing atypical autoinflammatory syndrome, located in the leucine-rich repeat domain of Nod-like receptor family, pyrin domain containing 3 (NLRP3) with co-existence of Mediterranean fever (MEFV) haplotype variants may contribute to a proinflammatory phenotype using a systematic approach.

Repeated-dose pharmacokinetics of inhaled ciclesonide (CIC-HFA) in Japanese children with bronchial asthma: a phase I study.

Background: Ciclesonide (CIC) is a highly safe, inhaled corticosteroid (ICS) that is converted into a pharmacologically active metabolite (des-isobutyryl-ciclesonide); this metabolite, in turn, exerts a local anti-inflammatory effect on lung tissue. The present study was undertaken to analyze the pharmacokinetics of des-isobutyryl-ciclesonide in the serum of Japanese children with bronchial asthma treated by repeated doses of CIC and to compare the data thus obtained with those obtained for Caucasian children with bronchial asthma.

Methods: Eight Japanese children with bronchial asthma were treated for 7 days with CIC-hydrofluoroalkalane (CIC-HFA) 200 μg/day administered by a metered-dose inhaler.

Structural property of soybean protein P34 and specific IgE response to recombinant P34 in patients with soybean allergy.

Soybean allergy is one of the important food allergies because soybean is widely used in processed foods. P34 has been identified as the main allergen in soybeans. The main objective was to analyze the structural property of recombinant P34 and the P34 antigen-specific IgE response in soybean allergy using recombinant P34.

Genetic variations in MyD88 adaptor-like are associated with atopic dermatitis.

Toll-like receptors (TLRs) are important pathogen-associated molecular pattern recognition receptors involved in initiating immune responses. The adaptor protein MyD88 adaptor-like (Mal), involved in signaling downstream of TLRs, plays a crucial role in mediating NF-κB activation. The association of Mal polymorphisms with allergic diseases has not previously been defined.

Relationship between the benefits of suplatast tosilate, a Th2 cytokine inhibitor, and gene polymorphisms in children with bronchial asthma.

Although currently available antiasthmatic drugs are effective for many patients with bronchial asthma, some patients do not respond well to medications or exhibit more frequent adverse effects compared to other patients. Antiasthmatic treatment should be tailored individually according to the predispositions and pathophysiological conditions of patients. No reports have been made concerning the relationships between the effects of Th2 cytokine inhibitors and gene polymorphisms.

Pharmacogenetics of asthma in children.

Allergic diseases such as bronchial asthma and atopic dermatitis develop by a combination of genetic and environmental factors. Several candidate causative genes of asthma and atopy have been reported as the genetic factors. The clinical features of patients and causes of diseases vary.

Various expression patterns of alpha1 and alpha2 genes in IgA deficiency.

Background: IgA deficiency (IgAD) is the most common immunodeficiency, however the pathogenesis in most cases of IgAD is unknown. There are 2 subclasses of IgA, IgA1 and IgA2, and its heavy chains are encoded by 2 different genes, the alpha1 and alpha2 genes. To investigate the molecular pathogenesis of IgA deficiency, it is important to evaluate each of the expressions of IgA1 and IgA2 separately.

Age-related changes of transforming growth factor beta1 in Japanese children.

Background: Transforming growth factor beta1 (TGF beta 1) is an important factor in immunomodulation. The expression of TGF beta 1 has been shown to be influenced by the C-509T polymorphism in the TGF beta 1 gene. We investigated age-related changes of plasma TGF beta 1 levels in a birth-cohort study.

IL-10 plays an important role as an immune-modulator in the pathogenesis of atopic diseases.

Interleukin (IL)-10 has anti-inflammatory activities in various immune reactions and plays an important role in the regulation of immune diseases. In the present study, we examined the role of IL-10 in atopic diseases. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) from healthy control subjects, patients with atopic dermatitis and patients with bronchial asthma were cultured with lipopolysaccharide (LPS).

[QOL questionnaire for pediatric patients with bronchial asthma and their parents or caregivers. Preparation and evaluation of the short form version 2008 (Gifu)].

Background: The QOL questionnaire version 2001 for pediatric patients with bronchial asthma and their parents or caregivers includes 15 questions for patients under the age of 4 years and 20 questions for patients over the age of 4 years. We have already reported that the QOL questionnaire version 2001 reflects reliability (including reproducibility), factorial validity, and changes in paroxysmal attacks of asthma. In this study, we revised the questionnaire for use in routine medical practice.

Hypothermia augments NF-kappaB activity and the production of IL-12 and IFN-gamma.

Background: The differentiation of Th1 and Th2 is strictly regulated by humoral and cellular factors. The imbalance between Th1 and Th2 is considered to be the pathogenesis of allergic and autoimmune disorders. It is important to elucidate the effect of environmental factors, such as temperature, on the expression of cytokines of Th1 and Th2.

Induction of α1 and α2 gene expression in selective immunoglobulin A deficiency.

Immunoglobulin A deficiency (IgAD) is the most common immunodeficiency, but the pathogenesis of most cases of IgAD is poorly understood. The gene and protein expression levels of members of the IgA subclasses in IgAD patients were analyzed by a reverse transcriptase (RT)-PCR method that could differentiate between α1 and α2 gene expression. Three selective, 5 partial and 2 secondary IgAD patients were examined.

The response of bovine beta-lactoglobulin-specific T-cell clones to single amino acid substitution of T-cell core epitope.

Cow's milk is one of the most common food allergens in the first year of life, with approximately 2.5% of infants experiencing an allergic reaction to it. Beta-lactoglobulin (BLG) is one of the major allergens in cow's milk.

A novel polymorphism, E254K, in the 5-lipoxygenase gene associated with bronchial asthma.

Cysteinyl-leukotrienes are important pro-inflammatory mediators in bronchial asthma (BA) and are derived from arachidonic acid by the action of 5-lipoxygenase. We identified a novel polymorphism, c.760 G>A (E254K), in exon 6 of the 5-lipoxygenase gene (5-LO).

Acute mumps cerebellitis with abnormal findings in MRI diffusion-weighted images.

In a 5-year-old boy with acute mumps cerebellitis, abnormal findings on MRI diffusion-weighted images were transient with clinical improvement. High signal intensity in the cerebellum was obvious on diffusion-weighted images, suggesting the importance of diffusion-weighted images in the early stage of cerebellitis.

Refractory osteomyelitis caused by bacille Calmette-Guérin vaccination: a case report.

A male infant, 1 and a half years old, was affected with bacille Calmette-Guérin osteomyelitis of the left tibia. The gyrB DNA direct sequencing, followed by restriction fragment length polymorphism of genomic DNA from a biopsy sample of the lesion, made diagnosis rapid.