Clinical trials of Cry j 1 and Cry j 2 T-cell epitope peptide-expressing rice in patients with Japanese cedar pollinosis.

Background: In allergic models, administration of rice that expresses a hybrid peptide consisting of 7 major T cell epitopes of Cry j 1 and Cry j 2 (7Crp), suppressed allergic symptoms, IgE elevation and specific T cell response to Japanese cedar pollen.

Objective: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of 7Crp-expressing rice in patients with Japanese cedar pollinosis.

Methods: A 24-week randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study was performed to see the efficacy of 7Crp on allergic symptoms using scoring systems, in which 45 patients were assigned to take either 5 g, 20 g test rice, or placebo daily.

Complementary and alternative medicine for allergic rhinitis in Japan.

Background: Complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) is extensively used in patients with allergic diseases worldwide. The purpose of this study was to investigate the actual situation of CAM practice in the treatment of allergic rhinitis.

Methods: We distributed questionnaires to otolaryngologists at 114 facilities in Japan.

Anti-bacterial and anti-inflammatory effects of ethanol extract from Houttuynia cordata poultice.

Houttuynia cordata (HC) has been commonly used as many traditional remedies in local areas of Japan. Although many pharmacological activities of HC have been reported, the mechanism underlying the effect of HC remains unknown. We conducted the interview survey in Japan to verify how HC was actually used.

Japanese Guideline for Allergic Rhinitis 2014.

Like asthma and atopic dermatitis, allergic rhinitis is an allergic disease, but of the three, it is the only type I allergic disease. Allergic rhinitis includes pollinosis, which is intractable and reduces quality of life (QOL) when it becomes severe. A guideline is needed to understand allergic rhinitis and to use this knowledge to develop a treatment plan.

Japanese Guideline for Allergic Rhinitis 2014.

Like asthma and atopic dermatitis, allergic rhinitis is an allergic disease, but of the three, it is the only type I allergic disease. Allergic rhinitis includes pollinosis, which is intractable and reduces quality of life (QOL) when it becomes severe. A guideline is needed to understand allergic rhinitis and to use this knowledge to develop a treatment plan.

Japanese guideline for allergic rhinitis.

Like asthma and atopic dermatitis, allergic rhinitis is an allergic disease, but of the three, it is the only type I allergic disease. Allergic rhinitis includes pollinosis, which is intractable and reduces quality of life (QOL) when it becomes severe. A guideline is needed to understand allergic rhinitis and to use this knowledge to develop a treatment plan.

Preventative effect of a flavonoid, enzymatically modified isoquercitrin on ocular symptoms of Japanese cedar pollinosis.

Background: Flavonoids are nutrients that exert anti-allergic effects. We investigated the preventative effect of enzymatically modified isoquercitrin (EMIQ), a flavonoid, to relieve the symptoms of Japanese cedar pollinosis.

Methods: In a parallel-group, double-blind placebo-controlled study design, 24 subjects with Japanese cedar pollinosis took 100mg EMIQ or a placebo for 8 weeks, starting 4 weeks prior to the onset of pollen release.

Effect of enzymatically modified isoquercitrin, a flavonoid, on symptoms of Japanese cedar pollinosis: a randomized double-blind placebo-controlled trial.

Background: Flavonoids exert antiallergic and antioxidant effects. We investigated the efficacy of enzymatically modified isoquercitrin (EMIQ), a flavonoid, to relieve symptoms of pollinosis.

Methods: In a parallel-group, double-blind placebo-controlled study design, 20 subjects with Japanese cedar pollinosis took two capsules daily of 100 mg EMIQ or a placebo for 8 weeks during the pollen season.

Re-treatment with omalizumab at one year interval for Japanese cedar pollen-induced seasonal allergic rhinitis is effective and well tolerated.

Background: Seasonal allergic rhinitis (SAR) induced by Japanese cedar pollens is a serious problem in Japan. Omalizumab, a humanized monoclonal anti-IgE antibody, improves symptoms associated with SAR, but a study comprehensively investigating the clinical efficacy, safety and pharmacological effects of omalizumab re-treatment has not yet been conducted.

Methods: The open-label, 12-week study was carried out in 34 patients who had been treated with omalizumab in the core study conducted in the previous Japanese cedar pollen season.

Evaluation of efficacy and sedative profiles of H(1) antihistamines by large-scale surveillance using the visual analogue scale (VAS).

Background: H(1) antihistamines are widely used as therapeutics for allergic diseases. Sedation is a well-known side effect of H(1) antihistamines and sometimes it is life-threatening for patients. Thus it is important to evaluate the sedative properties of H(1) antihistamines to avoid side effects.

[Investigation of trends in patients with pollinosis using the website].

Background: The information about Japanese cedar pollinosis (JCP) from the Internet is growing these days. We examined the effects of the pollen information on people who have JCP.

Methods: We conducted web research from 2003 to 2006 between February 1st and April 30th on a pharmaceutical company's website.

[Correlation between the SF-8 health status questionnaire and JRQLQ in patients with Japanese cedar pollinosis].

Background: It is reported that the health-related quality of life (HRQL) is an important outcome in the Japanese Cedar Pollinosis (JCP) treatment. In Japan, the disease-specific Japan Rhino-conjunctivitis Quality of Life Questionnaire (JRQLQ) and the generic SF-36 Health Survey (SF-36) has been used. The aim of this study is to investigate more profitable QOL by using both the disease-specific questionnaire and the non-disease-specific questionnaire together.

[Investigation of trend in patients with pollinosis using web site: Comparison of these three years].

Background: Recently, the number of patient with Japanese cedar pollinosis (JCP) has been increasing. In the last 3 years, the amount of pollen has been very volatile. In this study, we examined that whether the amount of pollen influenced symptoms and selfcare using web site.

Omalizumab is effective and safe in the treatment of Japanese cedar pollen-induced seasonal allergic rhinitis.

Background: Seasonal allergic rhinitis (SAR) induced by Japanese cedar pollen is a substantial problem in Japan. Omalizumab, a novel humanized monoclonal anti-immunoglobulin E (IgE) antibody, has already been proven to reduce symptoms associated with SAR. We investigated the safety and efficacy of omalizumab in the treatment of patients with Japanese cedar pollen-induced SAR compared to placebo.

[Quality of life in patients with Japanese cedar pollinosis: using the SF-8 health status questionnaire (Japanese version)].

Background: The number of patients with Japanese cedar pollinosis (JCP) is increasing, and now, has extended up to about 15% of the Japanese. It is reported that the QOL is an important outcome in the JCP treatment. This study aimed to evaluate the QOL in patients with JCP by means of the SF-8 Health Survey (Japanese Version), a new, even shorter generic health survey.

[Comparison of clinical efficacy and cost-quality of antihistamines in early treatment for Japanese cedar pollinosis].

Background: Japanese cedar pollinosis (JCP) affects more than 16% of the Japanese population. The estimated direct and indirect costs for this disease totaled 286 billion yen in 1998. In JCP therapy, antihistamines are first line agents.

[Impact of allergic rhinitis on work productivity: a pilot study].

Background: Allergic rhinitis can interfere with cognitive function, can impair work productivity, and may cause work absences. In this study, we evaluated the impact of Japanese cedar pollinosis (JCP) on work productivity.

Methods: The study was conducted between February 24 and March 8, 2003 (peak pollen season), and 512 workers with JCP were enrolled.

[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).

[Investigation of trends in patients with pollinosis by using web site and the correlation access number and Japanese cedar pollen counts].

Background: Recently the number of patient with Japanese cedar pollinosis is increasing. We think many patients are not consulted by a doctor, therefore the questionnaire survey only at hospitals is not enough to know patient's trend. In this study, we examined the trend of patients with pollinosis by the use of a web site.

[Self-care for pollinosis of cedar and cypress--from a questionnaire survey].

For patients with pollinosis, self-care is important as well as medical care. In this study, we investigated the real situation of patients with pollinosis-how they manage their symptoms. A questionnaire-based examination was conducted among 488 patients who visited National Osaka-Minami hospital and Sano ENT clinic.

[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).

[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.

Measurement of quality of life during different clinical phases of Japanese cedar pollinosis.

Objective: To assess Quality of Life (QOL) scores in patients with Japanese cedar (Cryptomeria japonica, CJ) pollinosis.

Methods: QOL was measured intraseasonally and extraseasonally in patients (n = 69) using the Medical Outcomes Study Short-Form Health Survey, and compared with healthy control subjects (n = 50). The differences in intraseasonal QOL scores between short and long disease duration groups were studied.

[Nationwide investigation of insect allergy in patients with allergic rhinitis].

To clarify the role of insects as allergens in allergic rhinitis (AR), specific IgE antibodies (sIgE) to the moth, midge, and cockroach together with 10 other allergens were measured using sera from 560 AR patients, who visited 20 otolaryngological clinics nationwide from Hokkaido to Kyushu. Nasal challenge tests were also conducted with allergen disks of these 3 insects in 65 AR patients. Frequencies of sIgE positive to the moth, midge, and cockroach were 32.

[Willingness to pay and quality of life in patients with Japanese-cedar pollinosis].

Seasonal allergic rhinitis (SAR) is one of the world's most common health problems because it's a high-cost, high-prevalence disease. In this study, we investigated patients' willingness to pay (WTP) for prevention and cure from most common SAR, Japanese-cedar pollinosis. Two hundred and forty patients with Japanese-cedar pollinosis, who visited 4 clinics in Osaka and were measured QOL by the SF-36 Questionnaire (Japanese version) during pollen season, were mailed WTP questionnaire in off-season in 1998.