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Summary: Background: Respiratory impedance comprises the resistance and reactance of the respiratory system and can provide detailed information on respiratory function. However, details of the relationship between impedance and morphological airway changes in asthma are unknown. Objective: We aimed to evaluate the correlation between imaging‐based airway changes and respiratory impedance in patients with asthma. Methods: Respiratory impedance and spirometric data were evaluated in 72 patients with asthma and 29 reference subjects. We measured the intraluminal area (Ai) and wall thickness (WT) of third‐ to sixth‐generation bronchi using three‐dimensional computed tomographic analyses, and values were adjusted by body surface area (BSA, Ai/BSA, and WT/the square root (√) of BSA). Results: Asthma patients had significantly increased respiratory impedance, decreased Ai/BSA, and increased WT/√BSA, as was the case in those without airflow limitation as assessed by spirometry. Ai/BSA was inversely correlated with respiratory resistance at 5 Hz (R5) and 20 Hz (R20). R20 had a stronger correlation with Ai/BSA than did R5. Ai/BSA was positively correlated with forced expiratory volume in 1 second/forced vital capacity ratio, percentage predicted forced expiratory volume in 1 second, and percentage predicted mid‐expiratory flow. WT/√BSA had no significant correlation with spirometry or respiratory impedance. Conclusions & Clinical Relevance: Respiratory resistance is associated with airway narrowing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim To examine the contribution of the FUT2 gene and ABO blood type to the development of Type 1 diabetes in Japanese children. Methods We analysed FUT2 variants and ABO genotypes in a total of 531 Japanese children diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes and 448 control subjects. The possible association of FUT2 variants and ABO genotypes with the onset of Type 1 diabetes was statistically examined. Results The se2 genotype (c.385A>T) of the FUT2 gene was found to confer susceptibility to Type 1A diabetes in a recessive effects model [odds ratio for se2/se2, 1.68 (95% CI 1.20-2.35); corrected P value = 0.0075]. Conclusions The FUT2 gene contributed to the development of Type 1 diabetes in the present cohort of Japanese children. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims The aim of this study was to clarify the significance of previously reported susceptibility variants in the development of autoimmune Type 1 diabetes in non-white children. Tested variants included rs2290400, which has been linked to Type 1 diabetes only in one study on white people. Haplotypes at 17q12-q21 encompassing rs2290400 are known to determine the susceptibility of early-onset asthma by affecting the expression of flanking genes. Methods We genotyped 63 variants in 428 Japanese people with childhood-onset autoimmune Type 1 diabetes and 457 individuals without diabetes. Possible association between variants and age at diabetes onset was examined using age-specific quantitative trait locus analysis and ordered-subset regression analysis. Results Ten variants, including rs2290400 in GSDMB, were more frequent among the people with Type 1 diabetes than those without diabetes. Of these, rs689 in INS and rs231775 in CTLA4 yielded particularly high odds ratios of 5.58 (corrected P value 0.001; 95% CI 2.15-14.47) and 1.64 (corrected P value 5.3 × 10-5; 95% CI 1.34-2.01), respectively. Age-specific effects on diabetes susceptibility were suggested for rs2290400; heterozygosity of the risk alleles was associated with relatively early onset of diabetes, and the allele was linked to the phenotype exclusively in the subgroup of age at onset ≤ 5.0 years. Conclusions The results indicate that rs2290400 in GSDMB and polymorphisms in INS and CTLA4 are associated with the risk of Type 1 diabetes in Japanese children. Importantly, cis-regulatory haplotypes at 17q12-q21 encompassing rs2290400 probably determine the risk of autoimmune Type 1 diabetes predominantly in early childhood. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Specific IgE ( sIgE) is often used to predict oral food challenge ( OFC) outcomes in food allergy, but interpretation of the results may vary depending on the assay method employed and the patient population tested. The aim of this study was to use two commercial assay systems to determine egg- sIgE values predictive of allergy within the most common populations treated at pediatric clinics. Methods In a multicenter prospective study, 433 children with suspected or confirmed egg allergy underwent oral challenge ( OFC) using cooked egg ( CE) and raw egg ( RE) powders to diagnose either true allergy in 1-year-old (group A, n = 220) or tolerance in 2- to 6-year-old (group B, n = 213). Egg white ( EW)- and ovomucoid ( OM)- sIgE values were measured using the Immuno CAP® sIgE (Immuno CAP) and the IMMULITE® 2000 3 gAllergy™ (3gAllergy) systems. Children were recruited from six primary care clinics and 18 hospitals in Japan. Results Receiver-operating characteristic ( ROC) curve analysis yielded similar areas under the curve ( AUC) for the two assays (0.7-0.8). The optimal cutoff values and the probability curves ( PCs) of the sIgE by the two assays to predict CE and RE OFC outcomes were determined for both groups. Values for 3gAllergy were higher than for Immuno CAP; however, correlation of sIgE and predicted probability calculated by PCs were strong between the two methods. Conclusions Cutoff values and PCs for egg- sIgE established using both Immuno CAP and 3gAllergy may be useful for predicting egg allergy in early childhood patient populations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A total of 1024 enterococci were recovered from faeces of healthy animals from 178 cattle, 178 pig and 156 broiler farms. Enterococcus faecium was the predominant species recovered (35.8%), followed by E. faecalis (31.3%) and E. hirae (25.6%). Oxytetracycline resistance was most frequently found among E. faecalis (85.9%), E. faecium (58.8%) and E. hirae (48.1%). Resistance rates to almost all antimicrobials were higher in E. faecalis than E. faecium and E. hirae. Isolates from cattle were more susceptible to the antimicrobials studied than those from pigs and broilers. VanA- or VanB-type vancomycin-resistant enterococci have not been found since the ban of avoparcin use 5 years ago. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hepatic vein stenosis is a vascular complication that can lead to graft loss after liver transplantation. Although ascites frequently occurs as a symptom of hepatic vein stenosis, the development of severe hypogammaglobulinemia associated with hepatic vein stenosis has not been reported in the literature. An 8-year-old boy underwent living-related liver transplantation (LRLT) because of Wilson disease with chronic hepatic failure. Because de novo autoimmune hepatitis was diagnosed 1 year after LRLT, azathioprine, and prednisolone were added to the baseline immunosuppression of tacrolimus. The patient developed ascites with severe hypogammaglobulinemia (immunoglobulin G [IgG], 288 mg/dL) 2 years after LRLT. Ultrasonography and angiography disclosed stenosis of the hepatic vein. The ascites completely resolved after percutaneous balloon angioplasty. Despite serum IgG trough levels of >500 mg/dL maintained by the addition of immunoglobulin, cytomegalovirus reactivation and sepsis occurred. Serum IgG levels should be monitored to prevent opportunistic infections when hepatic vein stenosis is diagnosed after LRLT. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The attenuated anti-secretory activity of H2 receptor antagonists (H2RA) during continuous administration is referred to as the tolerance phenomenon. However, it is not clarified whether Helicobacter pylon infection affects the occurrence of tolerance to H2RA. It is also not clarified whether the tolerance phenomenon occurs to a new H2RA, lafutidine. Aim: To investigate the occurrence of the tolerance phenomenon in subjects with and without H. pylon infection during the continuous administration of lafutidine and famotidine. Subjects and Methods: Subjects were 20 healthy male volunteers (seven H. pylon positive and 13 H. pylon negative cases). All subjects were examined by ambulatory intragastric pH monitoring five times without medication, on the first and 15th day of the administration of 20 mg b.d. famotidine and 10 mg b.d. lafutidine in a cross-over fashion. Results: The tolerance phenomenon was not observed in H. pylon-positive subjects during the 15-day-long administration of both H2RAs. In contrast, the tolerance phenomenon was observed in H. pylon negative subjects, which has been previously reported. Conclusions: This study demonstrated that H. pylon infection affects the tolerance phenomenon during continuous administration of H2RAs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary Aims To assess the possible contribution of a genetic factor to diabetic retinopathy. Methods (CA)n repeat length was investigated in the 5′ upstream region of the gene coding for aldose reductase (AR), which is a key enzyme of the polyol pathway and plays a role in hyperglycaemia-induced tissue damage, in Japanese patients with Type 2 DM. Results The dinucleotide repeat length was significantly associated with proliferative diabetic retinopathy (PDR) (P = 0.029, Mann–Whitney U-test); i.e. shorter alleles were more prevalent in the PDR group than in the control group. Conclusions (CA)n repeat length, rather than a specific allele, in the 5′ upstream region of the AR gene is associated with diabetic retinopathy. These data suggest that the AR locus plays a role in genetic susceptibility to diabetic retinopathy and that dinucleotide repeats in genomic DNA may be related to disease predisposition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

SummaryAim To clarify the association of several clinical parameters, including plasma fibrinogen level, with diabetic retinopathy in patients with Type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM). Methods A total of 294 Japanese patients with Type 2 DM were studied; 53 patients with no diabetic retinopathy (NDR), 90 with background diabetic retinopathy (BDR), and 151 with proliferative diabetic retinopathy (PDR). Multiple logistic regression analysis was performed to assess variables independently associated with diabetic retinopathy in two settings: presence of retinopathy of any severity and presence of advanced retinopathy. Results The following parameters were identified as independent factors associated with the presence of diabetic retinopathy (NDR vs. BDR + PDR): type of therapy (P < 0.0005), log-transformed plasma fibrinogen level (P < 0.05), mean blood pressure (P < 0.05), and duration of diabetes (P < 0.05). The independent variables associated with advanced retinopathy were type of therapy (P < 0.00005), age (P < 0.0005) and nephropathy (P < 0.05). Body mass index, smoking and hypertensive status, HbA1c and total cholesterol levels were not independently associated. Conclusions These data suggest that in patients with Type 2 DM, an increased blood viscosity due to high fibrinogen level as well as an elevated intravessel pressure play a role in the development of diabetic retinopathy, and that the progression to PDR is influenced or accompanied by the deterioration of renal status. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Auxiliary liver transplantation (ALT) is known to correct liver-based metabolic disorders. However, it remains unclear whether the presence of a native liver influences the long-term prognosis of ALT for metabolic diseases. We reported on a 4-yr-old girl who had undergone living-related auxiliary partial orthotopic liver transplantation (APOLT) for ornithine transcarbamylase deficiency and experienced severe late acute rejection 18 months after liver transplantation, during weaning of immunosuppressive agents. Results of histological analysis of the graft indicated very severe acute rejection (rejection activity index, 9/9), and computed tomography revealed graft liver atrophy. These observations suggest the possibility that severe rejection might occur in APOLT, especially during weaning of immunosuppression. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The 25 Gbaud/s 4‐level pulse amplitude modulation (4‐PAM) of a 1.3 μm electroabsorption modulator integrated with a distributed feedback (DFB) laser is demonstrated for the first time. The linearities of the electroabsorption DFB (EADFB) laser and the directly modulated laser are evaluated to investigate the applicability of the PAM format to these devices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary The levels of relatedness among strains of Erysipelothrix serovar 7 isolated from dogs with endocarditis were estimated by performing DNA-DNA hybridization experiments with the type strains of Erysipelothrix rhusiopathiae and Erysipelothrix tonsillarum. All the canine strains exhibited more than 81 % hybridization with the type strain of E. tonsillarum but less than 13 % hybridization with the type strain of E. rhusiopathiae. Based on DNA-DNA hybridization results we confirmed that serovar 7 of the isolates from dogs with endocarditis were conclusively identified as E. tonsillarum. These results strongly indicate that some strains of genomic E. tonsillarum are a canine pathogen. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

100 Gbit/s operation of a 1.3 µm, 4-channel directly modulated laser (DML) array monolithically integrated multimode interference (MMI) coupler is demonstrated for the first time. An optical modulation amplitude exceeding -0.7 dBm and clear eye openings are achieved at 55°C under simultaneous operation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

100 Gbit/s operation of a 1.3 μm, 4‐channel directly modulated laser (DML) array monolithically integrated multimode interference (MMI) coupler is demonstrated for the first time. An optical modulation amplitude exceeding −0.7 dBm and clear eye openings are achieved at 55°C under simultaneous operation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The first compact electroabsorption modulators integrated with distributed-feedback (EADFB) laser array module using flip-chip interconnects have been fabricated for a 400 Gbit/s transceiver. Eight 50 Gbit/s EADFB lasers and an optical multiplexer were monolithically integrated on one chip in an area of only 3.2 x 4.8 mm. The flip-chip interconnects provide a higher modulation bandwidth. Clear eye opening was achieved for all eight lanes under 50 Gbit/s operation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The first compact electroabsorption modulators integrated with distributed‐feedback (EADFB) laser array module using flip‐chip interconnects have been fabricated for a 400 Gbit/s transceiver. Eight 50 Gbit/s EADFB lasers and an optical multiplexer were monolithically integrated on one chip in an area of only 3.2 × 4.8 mm. The flip‐chip interconnects provide a higher modulation bandwidth. Clear eye opening was achieved for all eight lanes under 50 Gbit/s operation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The first 25 Gbaud/s four‐level pulse amplitude modulation (PAM) of a 1.3 μm directly modulated laser (DML) is achieved and a 10 km transmission over a single‐mode fibre (SMF) with clear eye openings is demonstrated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The first uncooled operation (5-85°C) at 50 Gbit/s of a 1.3 μm electroabsorption modulator integrated with a DFB laser is achieved and 10 km transmission on singlemode fibre with very clear eye openings is demonstrated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Presents a letter to the editor in response to the comments by several doctors to the article "Helicobacter pylori infection and its prevention of the tolerance phenomenon during the administration of receptor antagonists," by the authors and colleagues which was previously published in vol.20, issue 2004 of the "Alimentary Pharmacology and Therapeutics" journal.