Allergen-specific T-cell response in patients with phenytoin hypersensitivity; simultaneous analysis of proliferation and cytokine production by carboxyfluorescein succinimidyl ester (CFSE) dilution assay.

Background: Phenytoin can induce diversified adverse reactions including generalized eruptions and the hypersensitivity syndrome. Delayed-type allergic mechanisms have been postulated to underlie these reactions. The tests most widely used to detect T-cell sensitization to drugs are the patch test and the lymphocyte transformation test (LTT), but their sensitivity is not sufficient.

Clinical outcomes of two different endometrial preparation methods for cryopreserved-thawed embryo transfer in patients with a normal menstrual cycle.

To compare the clinical outcomes of cryopreserved-thawed embryo transfer among patients with a normal menstrual cycle who had natural or hormone-replacement cycles. From January 2004 to June 2006, cryopreserved embryos following conventional fertilization (IVF) or intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) were thawed and transferred in a total of 720 natural cycles and 136 hormone-replacement cycles. Cryopreserved-thawed embryo transfer in patients who had a natural or hormone-replacement cycle resulted in clinical pregnancy in 43.

Grades of 43 fish species in Japan based on IgE-binding activity.

Background: Hypersensitivity reactions to fish are a common food allergy, but IgE-binding activity to fish species have not been fully elucidated. The aim of this study was to identify fish with high binding activity to IgE in sera from Japanese fish-hypersensitive individuals.

Methods: 38 children with a history of at least one episode of hypersensitivity after ingestion of fish were enrolled and 34 children with no history of reactions and negative IgE results for at least five kinds of fish antigen were included as controls.

Elective single embryo transfer: Comparison of blastocyst and cleavage-stage embryo transfer.

Blastocysts are reportedly suitable for preventing multiple pregnancies as a result of the high implantation rate per embryo. The present study compared clinical results for elective single embryo transfer (ET) between blastocysts and cleavage-stage embryos in order to ascertain the usefulness of blastocyst culturing in single ET. Between January 2002 and December 2004, conventional fertilization ET and/or intracytoplasmic sperm injection was carried out for single ET in 86 cycles, to prevent multiple pregnancies (for medical reasons or because of patient wishes).

Five cases of dizygotic triplet pregnancy following assisted reproductive techniques.

Of 816 patients who became clinically pregnant by assisted reproductive techniques between September 2000 and August 2004, we experienced 10 cases (1.2%) of monozygotic twinning, and in five of these 10 cases, implantation of another embryo resulted in dizygotic triplets. Here, we report these five cases of dizygotic triplets.