Lipid Profile of Activated Macrophages and Contribution of Group V Phospholipase A.

Macrophages activated by Interleukin (IL)-4 (M2) or LPS+ Interferon (IFN)γ (M1) perform specific functions respectively in type 2 inflammation and killing of pathogens. Group V phospholipase A (Pla2g5) is required for the development and functions of IL-4-activated macrophages and phagocytosis of pathogens. Pla2g5-generated bioactive lipids, including lysophospholipids (LysoPLs), fatty acids (FAs), and eicosanoids, have a role in many diseases.

Utility of Basophil Activation Test in a Case of Daisaikoto- and Yokukansan-induced Lung Injury.

Drug-induced lung injury is defined as a respiratory disorder. The usefulness of the basophil activation test (BAT) for drug allergy-related cases was recently reported. The patient was an 82-year-old woman who had been taking Daisaikoto and Yokukansan (herbal medicines) 3 months before developing dry cough.

Exposure to intermittent hypoxia inhibits allergic airway inflammation in a murine model of asthma.

Purpose: Obesity increases the severity of asthma, and patients with severe asthma are often complicated with obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS), a concomitant disease of obesity. We investigated whether intermittent hypoxia (IH), which is a physiological feature of OSAS, modifies allergic airway inflammation in a murine model of asthma.

Methods: Balb/c mice were sensitized by ovalbumin (OVA) intraperitoneally twice (days 1 and 14) and challenged with intranasal OVA three times (days 21, 22, and 23).

Beneficial Effect of Early Intervention with Garenoxacin for Bacterial Infection-Induced Acute Exacerbation of Bronchial Asthma and Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease.

Background: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and asthma have similar clinical features and are both exacerbated by airway infection.

Objective: To determine whether garenoxacin mesylate hydrate (GRNX) added to the standard care for bacterial infection-induced acute exacerbation of asthma or COPD in adults has clinical benefits.

Method: This single-arm clinical trial was conducted from January 2015 to March 2016.

Acute exacerbation of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis induced by pertussis: the first case report.

Background: Acute exacerbation of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (AE-IPF) is a severe condition with limited treatment strategies. Although respiratory infection is a major cause of AE-IPF, no reports have indicated pertussis infection as a cause. Here we report two cases of pertussis infection-induced AE-IPF.

Predicting future risk of exacerbations in Japanese patients with adult asthma: A prospective 1-year follow up study.

Background: To avoid future risk is a definitive goal of long-term asthma management. Exacerbations are considered to be the most relevant future risk in real life asthma management. Few comparative studies have evaluated the risk factors associated with exacerbations in Japanese patients with asthma.

Evaluation of the association between sensitization to common inhalant fungi and poor asthma control.

Background: Fungi are well-known airborne allergens that are predisposing environmental factors to asthma. Few comparative studies have evaluated sensitization to common inhalant fungi in relation to poor asthma control in patients with asthma.

Objective: To evaluate the association between sensitization to individual fungi and asthma control and elucidate the characteristics of patients with poorly controlled asthma sensitized to fungi.

PLA2G5 regulates transglutaminase activity of human IL-4-activated M2 macrophages through PGE2 generation.

Phospholipases A2 are enzymes that liberate membrane-bound lipids in a tissue and cell-specific fashion. Group V secretory phospholipase A2 is necessary for the development of M2 macrophages and their effector functions in a mouse model of the T-helper-2 allergic airway inflammation. However, the function of group V phospholipase A2 in human M2 activation and T-helper-2 inflammation is ill-defined.

Association between specific IgE to Staphylococcus aureus enterotoxins A and B and asthma control.

Background: Recent studies have found that serum levels of Staphylococcus aureus enterotoxin (SE)-IgE are higher in patients with severe asthma compared with patients with nonsevere asthma. However, the association between SE-IgE and asthma control is not fully understood. Furthermore, SEA and SEB were the first reported SEs and subdivided into different groups.

Longitudinal increase in total IgE levels in patients with adult asthma: an association with poor asthma control.

Background: Immunoglobulin (Ig) E is well-known to play a critical role in allergic diseases. We investigated the association between longitudinal change in total IgE level and the asthma control in patients with adult asthma.

Methods: For this retrospective study, 154 patients with asthma aged 21-82 years were recruited from the allergy and pulmonary units of the Showa University Hospital.

Anti-IgE therapy for allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis.

Allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis (ABPA) is a severe type of asthma. Some cases are resistant to treatment, even with regular use of antiasthmatic drugs and antifungal agents. The diagnosis of ABPA was made in a 40-year-old patient with ABPA according to the Rosenberg-Patterson criteria.

Interleukin-33-activated dendritic cells induce the production of thymus and activation-regulated chemokine and macrophage-derived chemokine.

Background: Interleukin (IL)-33, a new member of the IL-1 cytokine family, is involved in T helper (Th)2-type responses in a wide range of diseases and is mediated by expression of the ST2 receptor in many immune cells. As the effects of IL-33 on dendritic cells (DCs) remain controversial, we investigated the ability of IL-33 to modulate the functions of these cells.

Methods: DCs were derived from mouse bone marrow, and the expression of the IL-33 receptor ST2 was examined by fluorescence-activated cell sorting and RT-PCR.

Neuronal cell patterning on a multi-electrode array for a network analysis platform.

We studied neuronal cell patterning on a commercial multi-electrode array (MEA). We investigated the surface chemical modification of MEA in order to immobilize Poly-D-lysine (PDL) and then to pattern PDL with a photolithographic method using vacuum ultraviolet light (VUV). We have clarified that the PDL layer was not fully decomposed but was partially fragmented by short-time irradiation with VUV, resulting in a change in the cell adhesiveness of the PDL.

Cell patterning using a template of microstructured organosilane layer fabricated by vacuum ultraviolet light lithography.

Micropatterning techniques have become increasingly important in cellular biology. Cell patterning is achieved by various methods. Photolithography is one of the most popular methods, and several light sources (e.

Oxaliplatin-induced lung injury with allergic reaction.

A 79-year-old man was diagnosed as stage IV colon cancer and treated with a modified FOLFOX6 (mFOLFOX6) regimen. On the 12th cycle, we observed erythema and dyspnea. Radiographs showed ground grass opacities.

Expression and effects of IL-33 and ST2 in allergic bronchial asthma: IL-33 induces eotaxin production in lung fibroblasts.

Background: Interleukin (IL)-33, a new member of the IL-1 cytokine family, has been recognized as a key cytokine that enhances T helper 2-balanced immune regulation through its receptor ST2; however, the function and relationship of the IL-33 and ST2 pathways in bronchial asthma are still unclear. We investigated the cellular origin and regulation of IL-33 and ST2 in allergic bronchial asthma in vivo and in vitro.

Methods: BALB/c mice were sensitized by intraperitoneal injections of ovalbumin (OVA) with alum.

Selective protein patterning based on the micro-structured organosilane self-assembled monolayer by vacuum ultraviolet light lithography.

We have succeeded to immobilize fluorescent proteins selectively using a micro-structured organosilane self-assembled monolayer as a template. An organosilane layer with amino terminal group was formed on a thermally oxidized Si wafer by liquid-phase method and then was pattern-etched by vacuum ultraviolet light (VUV). The second organosilane layer with thiol terminal group was deposited on the etched area by chemical vapor surface modification method (CVSM).

Laser photolysis of silver colloid prepared by citric acid reduction method.

By irradiating a silver colloid, prepared via the citric reduction method, using the second harmonic of a Nd:YAG laser, lambda = 532 nm, with laser fluence more than about 0.2 J/cm(2), we prepared a colloid consisting of small spherical silver nanoparticles with d(p) = 8 nm. The process of particle formation can be divided into three steps.