[TWO CASES OF ALLERGY WITH MUNG BEAN SPROUTS].

Patient 1 was a female patient in her teens who presented with swelling of the lips and oral discomfort after consuming mung bean sprouts. She had a history of this reaction since the age of 6 years and showed positive on a prick-to-prick test for mung bean sprouts. Patient 2 was a male patient in his twenties who also showed positive for mung bean sprouts as well as soybean sprout.

[Antigenic analysis of patients with asthma contracting by exposure to different species of pet hamsters].

Background: Hamster-specific IgE antibodies as measured by currently available CAP-RAST tests are used to diagnose allergies associated with exposure to pet hamsters. Among patients with asthma attributed to hamsters, only about 60% are positive for hamster-specific IgE antibodies. We examined whether the results of CAP-RAST tests are related to differences in species-related antigens.

Role of mRNA expression of transcription factors in glucocorticoid sensitivity of peripheral blood mononuclear cells and disease state in rheumatoid arthritis.

Objective: To investigate the mechanisms underlying glucocorticoid (GC) resistance in rheumatoid arthritis (RA), we evaluated the suppressive effects of prednisolone (PSL) or methylprednisolone (MPSL) on the blastogenesis of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC). We also measured the expression of mRNA for transcription factors [GC receptor-alpha (GRalpha) and activator protein-1] known to be involved in the exertion of GC effects.

Methods: Twenty-six patients with RA and 17 healthy subjects were studied.

Adrenal function as assessed by low-dose adrenocorticotropin hormone test before and after switching from inhaled beclomethasone dipropionate to inhaled fluticasone propionate.

Low-dose adrenocorticotropin hormone (ACTH) tests (0.5 microg/L 73 m2) were done before and after switching from inhaled beclomethasone dipropionate to inhaled fluticasone propionate in 12 patients 33-77 years old who had mild-to-severe asthma to compare the effects of these drugs on adrenal function. Low-dose ACTH tests were performed after the subjects had received inhaled beclomethasone dipropionate (200-900 microg/day) for at least 12 wk.

Expression of c-fos, rather than c-jun or glucocorticoid-receptor mRNA, correlates with decreased glucocorticoid response of peripheral blood mononuclear cells in asthma.

Resolution of the molecular mechanism(s) underlying glucocorticoid (GC) resistance is an important clinical problem when performing individualized GC therapy according to the GC response of peripheral cells in asthma. In order to investigate the mechanism(s) underlying the individual differences of lymphocyte GC response, we examined the relationship between lymphocyte sensitivity to GC in vitro and the expression of mRNAs for GC receptor (GR) alpha, GRbeta, c-fos and c-jun, which are reported to be implicated in the regulation of the pharmacological effects of GCs in asthma patients. Twenty-seven patients with bronchial asthma and 14 healthy subjects were included in the study.