Changes in the characteristics of patients with latex allergy from 1999 to 2014.

Objectives: We conducted a multicenter study using the same questionnaire in 1999 and 2014 to investigate changes in the characteristics of patients with latex allergy.

Methods: We mailed questionnaires on latex allergy to hospitals in Japan that were members of the Japanese Latex Allergy Society.

Results: We compared the 25 responses received in 2014 and the 81 responses received in 1999.

[A case of anaphylaxis due to rose-flavored soft-serve ice cream with pollen food allergy syndrome].

We experienced a 10-year-old boy who had anaphylaxis after eating rose-flavored soft-serve ice cream. The patient felt a sense of discomfort in his throat when eating apple, peach, loquat, Japanese pear, and kiwi fruit. Therefore, we measured specific IgE antibodies to allergen components by ImmunoCAP ISAC.

Effects of the tulobuterol patch on the treatment of acute asthma exacerbations in young children.

The tulobuterol patch (TP) is a beta(2)-adrenergic agonist with a favorable pharmacokinetic profile used for asthma management in Japan. Because it contains tulobuterol in a molecular, crystallized form that is gradually absorbed percutaneously, TP exerts a prolonged bronchodilator effect exceeding 24 hours. Although it is a well-established treatment for asthma and wheezing, few studies have investigated whether it can reduce or prevent the symptoms associated with upper respiratory tract infections (URTIs) in young children.

Possible link of a compositional change in intestinal microbiota with the anti-allergic effect of fructo-oligosaccharides in NC/jic mice.

Food allergy was induced in two groups of NC/jic mice. Mice fed frucuto-oligosaccharides showed fewer allergic symptoms than control diet-fed mice. The cecal microbiota compositions were clearly different between the two groups, and the difference was partly attributable to Clostridia possession.

Increased number of CCR4-positive cells in the duodenum of ovalbumin-induced food allergy model Nc/jic mice and antiallergic activity of fructooligosaccharides.

Background: Fructooligosaccharides (FOS) in prebiotic foods can alter intestinal immune responses. The combination of probiotics with oligosaccharides has been reported to alter intestinal flora and suggested to be beneficial against food allergy in humans.

Methods: All male Nc/jic mice used in this 8-week study were 6 weeks of age and were allotted to the following three groups: (1) the nonsensitization group; (2) the ovalbumin (OVA) sensitization +5% fructose-containing control food administration group; and (3) the OVA sensitization +5% FOS-containing food administration group.