Upregulation of IL17RB during natural allergen exposure in patients with seasonal allergic rhinitis.

Background: Seasonal allergic rhinitis (SAR) to Japanese cedar (Cryptomeria japonica; JC) is an IgE-mediated type I allergy affecting the nasal mucosa. However, the molecular mechanisms that underlie SAR are only partially understood. The aim of the study was to identify novel genes related to SAR during natural exposure to pollens, by using microarray analysis.

Apolipoprotein A-IV is a candidate target molecule for the treatment of seasonal allergic rhinitis.

Background: Allergic rhinitis is a global health problem that causes major illnesses and disability worldwide. Allergen-specific immunotherapy (SIT) is the only available treatment that can alter the natural course of allergic disease. However, the precise mechanism underlying allergen-SIT is not well understood.

Differences in practitioners' proficiency affect the effectiveness of massage therapy on physical and psychological states.

Objective: An examination was made of how differences in the proficiency of massage practitioners had different physical and psychological effects on clients.

Method: Eight healthy 50-year-old females, suffering from chronic neck and shoulder stiffness, were recruited and four interventions were conducted: three 40-minute massage therapy interventions, one each by a freshman and a sophomore student studying massage therapy, and one by their instructor, and one rest on the massage table. Visual analogue scale score for muscle stiffness in the neck and shoulder, state anxiety score, and salivary cortisol concentration levels and secretory immunoglobulin A, were measured pre- and post- interventions.

Effects of Anma therapy (traditional Japanese massage) on body and mind.

Introduction: Anma therapy is a traditional style of Japanese massage, one of touch and manual therapies, and one of the most popular CAM therapies in Japan. It was brought from China in the 6th century and, while based on the theory of Chinese medicine, it developed in Japan according to Japanese preference and has recently come to include theories of Western medicine. The purpose of this study was to clarify the physical and psychological effects of Anma therapy.

Large scale genotyping study for asthma in the Japanese population.

Background: Asthma is a complex phenotype that is influenced by both genetic and environmental factors. Genome-wide linkage and association studies have been performed to identify susceptibility genes for asthma. These studies identified new genes and pathways implicated in this disease, many of which were previously unknown.

Failure to find an association between CD14-159C/T polymorphism and asthma: a family-based association test and meta-analysis.

Background: CD14 is an essential component of the receptor for lipopolysaccharide (LPS). LPS stimulates T-helper type 1 (Th1) cytokine expression, potentially suppressing Th2 immune responses involved in IgE-mediated allergic diseases. Previous studies have reported that -159C/T, a promoter polymorphism of CD14, is associated with total serum IgE levels and atopy, but other studies have shown conflicting results.

An association between asthma and TNF-308G/A polymorphism: meta-analysis.

Tumor necrosis factor (TNF) is a potent inflammatory cytokine that contributes to airway inflammation in asthma. Previous studies have reported that a G-to-A transition at position -308 (-308G/A, also referred to as TNF-alpha-308*1 and 308*2 respectively), is associated with asthma, but other studies have shown conflicting results. To investigate a possible association between the TNF-308G/A polymorphism and asthma, we performed transmission disequilibrium tests and a case-control study (family samples: 495 members in 165 Japanese trio families with one asthmatic child and both parents; case-control samples: 461 Japanese asthmatic children and 465 healthy controls).

Determination of structure and transcriptional regulation of CYSLTR1 and an association study with asthma and rhinitis.

Pharmacologic studies have revealed that cysteinyl leukotrienes (CYSLTs) act through two receptors, cysteinyl leukotriene receptor 1 (CYSLTR1) and CYSLTR2. CYSLTR1 antagonists are widely used to treat asthma and rhinitis. In this study, we characterized the genomic structure and transcriptional regulation of CYSLTR1 and examined associations between CYSLTR1 polymorphisms and asthma/rhinitis.

Positional identification of an asthma susceptibility gene on human chromosome 5q33.

Rationale: Asthma is a common respiratory disease with complex genetic components. We previously reported strong evidence for linkage between mite-sensitive asthma and markers on chromosome 5q33. This area of linkage includes a region homologous to a mouse area that contains a locus involved in regulation of airway hyperreactivity.

Association of a haplotype block spanning SDAD1 gene and CXC chemokine genes with allergic rhinitis.

Background: Seasonal allergic rhinitis (SAR) is a common allergic disorder characterized by episodes of sneezing, rhinorrhea, and swelling of the nasal mucosa. Although the pathogenesis of SAR remains unclear, there does appear to be a genetic predisposition to development of SAR. We previously identified regions of chromosomes 1p, 4q, and 9q linked to SAR in 48 families (188 members) identified through children with SAR against orchard grass pollens.

Association between a polymorphism in cysteinyl leukotriene receptor 2 on chromosome 13q14 and atopic asthma.

Objective: Cysteinyl leukotriene receptor 2 (CYSLTR2) is one of the receptors for the cysteinyl leukotrienes (CYSLTs), which cause bronchoconstrictions, vascular hyperpermeability and mucus hypersecretion in asthmatic patients. CYSLTR1 antagonists have been shown to be effective in the treatment of chronic asthma. CYSLTR2 is located approximately 300 kb from D13S153, which is reportedly linked to asthma in several populations.

ADRB2 polymorphisms and asthma susceptibility: transmission disequilibrium test and meta-analysis.

Background: The beta(2)-adrenergic receptor (ADRB2) is the most common adrenergic receptor in the lung, and associations between ADRB2 polymorphisms and intermediate phenotypes of asthma have been reported. Four missense polymorphisms (Arg16Gly, Gln27Glu, Val34Met, and Thr164Ile) and one polymorphism in the 5' leader cistron of the ADRB2 messenger RNA has been identified. In vitro studies have shown that these missense polymorphisms can affect ADRB2 function.

The promoter polymorphism in the eosinophil cationic protein gene and its influence on the serum eosinophil cationic protein level.

Asthma is characterized by reversible airway obstruction and airway inflammation. Serum levels of eosinophil cationic protein (ECP) might reflect eosinophilic airway inflammation and asthma activity. However, serum ECP levels are not elevated in some patients with asthma, even when they are symptomatic.

Association between TNFA polymorphism and the development of asthma in the Japanese population.

Tumor necrosis factor (TNF) is a proinflammatory cytokine that participates in the inflammatory reaction in patients with asthma. The TNFA and TNFB genes, which encode TNF-alpha and TNF-beta, respectively, are located within the region encoding the human major histocompatibility complex on chromosome 6p21.3, which showed linkage to atopic asthma in our genome-wide search.

Evidence for an association between plasma platelet-activating factor acetylhydrolase deficiency and increased risk of childhood atopic asthma.

Platelet-activating factor (PAF), which has been implicated in the pathophysiology of inflammation in asthma, is degraded and inactivated by PAF acetylhydrolase (PAFAH). Approximately 4% of the Japanese population lacks plasma PAFAH due to a loss-of-function variant (Val279Phe) in the PAFAH gene. Although lack of PAFAH activity is thought to be a risk factor for asthma, there are conflicting findings concerning association between the Val279Phe variant and asthma.