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Background: We investigated the efficacy and safety of dupilumab in Japanese patients aged ≥6 months to

Background: Maintaining good asthma control minimizes the risk of exacerbations and lung function decline and is a primary goal of asthma management. The Japanese Pediatric Asthma Guidelines (JPGL) employs different classification criteria for control status from other guidelines, stressing a higher level of control. Based on JPGL, we previously developed a caregiver-completed questionnaire for assessing and achieving best asthma control in preschoolers. In this study, we aimed to develop a questionnaire for school-age children and adolescents. Methods: A working questionnaire comprising 14 items for patients and 34 items for caregivers was administered to 362 asthma patients aged 6–15 years and their caregivers. Separately, physicians filled out a questionnaire to determine JPGL-defined control. Logistic regression analysis was performed to construct a model to predict control levels using data from a randomly selected set of completed questionnaires from two-thirds of the subjects. Validation was performed using the remaining questionnaires. Results: A set of 7 questions, encompassing self-assessed control status at the time of the visit and in the past month, and nocturnal/early morning asthma symptoms for patients and frequency of asthma symptoms, dyspnea, rescue beta-agonist use, and asthma hospitalization for caregivers, were selected and the 7-item model showed a good statistical fit with AIC of 110.5. The model has been named the Best Asthma Control Test for School Children and Adolescents (Best ACT-S). Best ACT-S scores differed significantly in the hypothetical direction among the groups of different JPGL-defined control levels, step-up/down treatment decisions, and presence/non-presence of exacerbations in the previous year. Conclusions: The Best ACT-S is a valid questionnaire for children/adolescents aiming for best asthma control.

Background: Oral immunotherapy (OIT) can ameliorate cow's milk allergy (CMA); however, the achievement of sustained unresponsiveness (SU) is challenging. Regarding the pathogenesis of CMA, recent studies have shown the importance of gut microbiota (Mb) and fecal water-soluble metabolites (WSMs), which prompted us to determine the change in clinical and gut environmental factors important for acquiring SU after OIT for CMA. Methods: We conducted an ancillary cohort study of a multicenter randomized, parallel-group, delayed-start design study on 32 school-age children with IgE-mediated CMA who underwent OIT for 13 months. We defined SU as the ability to consume cow's milk exceeding the target dose in a double-blind placebo-controlled food challenge after OIT followed by a 2-week-avoidance. We longitudinally collected 175 fecal specimens and clustered the microbiome and metabolome data into 29 Mb- and 12 WSM-modules. Results: During OIT, immunological factors improved in all participants. However, of the 32 participants, 4 withdrew because of adverse events, and only 7 were judged SU. Gut environmental factors shifted during OIT, but only in the beginning, and returned to the baseline at the end. Of these factors, milk- and casein-specific IgE and the Bifidobacterium-dominant module were associated with SU (milk- and casein-specific IgE; OR for 10 kUA/L increments, 0.67 and 0.66; 95%CI, 0.41–0.93 and 0.42–0.90; Bifidobacterium-dominant module; OR for 0.01 increments, 1.40; 95%CI, 1.10–2.03), and these associations were observed until the end of OIT. Conclusions: In this study, we identified the clinical and gut environmental factors associated with SU acquisition in CM-OIT.

Background: Food allergy (FA), which is a condition that has no effective cure and can result in severe life-threatening allergic reactions, remains a global public health concern; however, little is known about how FAs are currently managed in the Asia-Pacific region. Objective: The main objective of this survey was to evaluate the epidemiology of FA, as well as the availability of resources and practices for management of FA and anaphylaxis by health care providers across Asia. Methods: From June 2022 to September 2022, a questionnaire-based survey comprising 66 questions was electronically sent to member societies of the Asia Pacific Association of Allergy Asthma and Clinical Immunology by using Survey Monkey. Results: A total of 20 responses were received from 15 member countries and territories. Compared with the pediatric data, there was a lack of prevalence data for FA in adults. Except for Australia and Japan, most regions had between 0.1 and 0.5 allergists per 100,000 population and some had fewer than 0.1 allergists per 100,000 population. The perceived rate of FA in regions with a short supply of allergists was high. Although specific IgE tests and oral food challenges were available in all regions, the median wait time for oral food challenges at government facilities was 37 days (interquartile range = 10.5-60 days). Seven regions still relied on prescriptions of ampules and syringes of injectable adrenaline, and adrenaline autoinjectors were not accessible in 4 regions. Oral immunotherapy as FA treatment was available in half of the surveyed countries and territories. Conclusions: Our study offers a cross-sectional evaluation of the management practices for FA in each Asia Pacific Association of Allergy Asthma and Clinical Immunology member country or territory. Urgent actions are required to enhance allergy services, improve the accessibility and affordability of adrenaline autoinjectors, and conduct robust epidemiologic studies.

Primary ciliary dyskinesia (PCD) is a hereditary disease caused by genes related to motile cilia. We report two male pediatric cases of PCD caused by hemizygous pathogenic variants in the OFD1 centriole and centriolar satellite protein (OFD1) gene. The variants were NM_003611.3: c.[2789_2793delTAAAA] (p.[Ile930LysfsTer8]) in Case 1 and c.[2632_2635delGAAG] (p.[Glu878LysfsTer9]) in Case 2. Both cases had characteristic recurrent respiratory infections. Neither case had symptoms of oral-facial-digital syndrome type I. We identified a variant (c.2632_2635delGAAG) that has not been previously reported in any case of OFD1-PCD.

Background: Information on changes in asthma prevalence and the treatment status for asthma is used as basic information for taking medical and administrative measures against asthma. However, this information among adults is relatively limited. Methods: To elucidate changes in the prevalence of asthma and treatment status over time among Japanese adults, health insurance claim data from some health insurance societies covering salaried employees and their dependents were studied longitudinally. Claim data from FY1999 to 2007 were obtained from two health insurance societies, and data from FY 2011 to 2019 were obtained from three different health insurance societies, and changes in standardized asthma prevalence among subjects aged 20–59 years, proportion of asthma patients prescribed ICS, leukotriene receptor antagonist (LTRA), and LABA, and the mean number of acute asthma exacerbations per year were analyzed. Results: The prevalence of asthma increased from 1.6% in 1999 to 3.0% in 2007 and 2.9% in 2011 to 4.6% in 2019. Increased trends in asthma prevalence from 2011 to 2019 were more noticeable in subjects in their 50s than those in their 20s for both sexes. The number of emergency visits related to asthma was 1.5 per year in 1999, which decreased to 0.8 per year in 2019. The proportion of people prescribed all anti-asthma medications (ICS, LTRA, and LABA) increased over time. Conclusions: The prevalence of adult asthma among Japanese salaried employees and their dependents has increased over the last 20 years, suggesting more attention should be paid to the prevention of this disease in adults.

Abstract Tools that can be used to estimate antibody waning following COVID-19 vaccinations can facilitate an understanding of the current immune status of the population. In this study, a two-compartment-based mathematical model is formulated to describe the dynamics of the anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibody in healthy adults using serially measured waning antibody concentration data obtained in a prospective cohort study of 673 healthcare providers vaccinated with two doses of BNT162b2 vaccine. The datasets of 165 healthcare providers and 292 elderly patients with or without hemodialysis were used for external validation. Internal validation of the model demonstrated 97.0% accuracy, and external validation of the datasets of healthcare workers, hemodialysis patients, and nondialysis patients demonstrated 98.2%, 83.3%, and 83.8% accuracy, respectively. The internal and external validations demonstrated that this model also fits the data of various populations with or without underlying illnesses. Furthermore, using this model, we developed a smart device application that can rapidly calculate the timing of negative seroconversion.

Pork-cat syndrome can occur in children younger than 10 years. A history of contact with animals since infancy and history of severe atopic dermatitis, which can promote epicutaneous sensitization to animal serum albumin, may be helpful in diagnosis.

This is an abridged edition of English version of the Clinical Practice Guidelines for the Management of Atopic Dermatitis 2021. Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a disease characterized by relapsing eczema with pruritus as a primary lesion. In Japan, from the perspective of evidence-based medicine, the current strategies for the treatment of AD consist of three primary measures: (i) use of topical corticosteroids, tacrolimus ointment, and delgocitinib ointment as the main treatment of the inflammation; (ii) topical application of emollients to treat the cutaneous barrier dysfunction; and (iii) avoidance of apparent exacerbating factors, psychological counseling, and advice about daily life. In the present revised guidelines, the description about three new drugs, namely, dupilumab, delgocitinib, and baricitinib, has been added. The guidelines present recommendations to review clinical research articles, evaluate the balance between the advantages and disadvantages of medical activities, and optimize medical activity-related patient outcomes with respect to several important points requiring decision-making in clinical practice.

This article covers the salient and updated themes of the Japanese Pediatric Guidelines for the Treatment and Management of Asthma (JPGL) 2020 published by the Japanese Society of Pediatric Allergy and Clinical Immunology. In the 2020 guidelines, five new clinical questions (CQs) have been added to address the 12 CQs regarding the treatment of childhood asthma. “Infant and preschool asthma” is diagnosed when young children (

Strategic Outlook toward 2030: Japan's Research for Allergy and Immunology (Strategy 2030) is the national research strategy based on Japan's Basic Law on Measures Against Allergic Diseases, a first of its kind worldwide. This strategy was established by a multi-disciplinary committee consisting of administrators of the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare of Japan, young and senior experts from various research societies and associations, and representatives of patient and public groups. Whereas the issues of transition, integration, and international collaboration have yet to be solved in this research realm in Japan, identification of unmet needs, digitization of information and transparent procedures, and strategic planning for complex problems (a process dubbed MIERUKA by the Toyota Way) are crucial to share and tackle the same vision and goals. The committee developed three specific actions focusing on preemptive treatment, interdisciplinarity and internationality, and life stage. The real success of Strategy 2030 is made by the spontaneous contributions of doctors, dentists, veterinarians, and other medical professionals; basic and clinical research scientists, research supporters, and pharmaceutical/medical device companies; manufacturers of food, healthcare, and home appliances; and patients, their families, and the public. The hope is to establish a stable society in which people can live long, healthy lives, as free as possible from allergic and immunological diseases, at each individual life stage. This article is based on a Japanese review first reported in Arerugi, introduces the developmental process and details of Strategy 2030.

The Japanese Guideline for Childhood Asthma (JGCA) 2020 is a translation of the Japanese Pediatric Guideline for the Treatment and Management of Asthma (JPGL) 2017 into English, which was published by the Japanese Society of Pediatric Allergy and Clinical Immunology. It makes recommendations for best practices in the management of childhood asthma, including management of acute exacerbations and non-pharmacological and pharmacological management. These guidelines will be of interest to non-specialist physicians involved in the care of children with asthma. In JPGL, JPGL2017 is the first evidence-based guidelines updated according to the GRADE system and Minds approach, and it addresses eight clinical questions about the treatment of childhood asthma. In children aged ≤5 years, infant and preschool asthma is diagnosed according to the response to short acting beta2 agonists or the effect of a therapeutic trial during 1 month with controller treatment and worsening after treatment cessation. Long-term management both promotes pharmacological therapy and measures against risk factors that induce exacerbation, better patient education and a partnership with trinity. In addition, long-term management should not be carried out without review but rather be based on a cycle of evaluation, adjustment and treatment. In JPGL2017, the transdermal patch and oral beta2 agonists are positioned as drugs within the concept of “short-term additional treatment” to be used until the symptoms are stabilized when the control state transiently deteriorates.

Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a disease characterized by relapsing eczema with pruritus as a primary lesion, which is frequently encountered in clinical practice. Skin barrier dysfunction leads to enhanced skin irritability to non-specific stimuli and epicutaneous sensitization. In the lesion site, a further inflammation-related reduction in skin barrier function, enhanced irritability and scratching-related stimuli deteriorate eczema, leading to vicious cycle of inflammation. The current strategies to treat AD in Japan from the perspective of evidence-based medicine consist of three primary measures: (i) the use of topical corticosteroids and tacrolimus ointment as the main treatment for the inflammation; (ii) topical application of emollients to treat the cutaneous barrier dysfunction; and (iii) avoidance of apparent exacerbating factors, psychological counseling and advice about daily life. The guidelines present recommendations to review clinical research articles, evaluate the balance between the advantages and disadvantages of medical activities, and optimize medical activity-related patient outcomes with respect to several important points requiring decision-making in clinical practice.

Five years have passed since the Japanese Pediatric Guideline for Food Allergy (JPGFA) was first revised in 2011 from its original version. As many scientific papers related to food allergy have been published during the last 5 years, the second major revision of the JPGFA was carried out in 2016. In this guideline, food allergies are generally classified into four clinical types: (1) neonatal and infantile gastrointestinal allergy, (2) infantile atopic dermatitis associated with food allergy, (3) immediate-type of food allergy (urticaria, anaphylaxis, etc.), and (4) special forms of immediate-type of food allergy such as food-dependent exercise-induced anaphylaxis and oral allergy syndrome (OAS). Much of this guideline covers the immediate-type of food allergy that is seen during childhood to adolescence. Infantile atopic dermatitis associated with food allergy type is especially important as the onset of most food allergies occurs during infancy. We have discussed the neonatal and infantile gastrointestinal allergy and special forms of immediate type food allergy types separately. Diagnostic procedures are highlighted, such as probability curves and component-resolved diagnosis, including the recent advancement utilizing antigen-specific IgE. The oral food challenge using a stepwise approach is recommended to avoid complete elimination of causative foods. Although oral immunotherapy (OIT) has not been approved as a routine treatment by nationwide insurance, we included a chapter for OIT, focusing on efficacy and problems. Prevention of food allergy is currently the focus of interest, and many changes were made based on recent evidence. Finally, the contraindication between adrenaline and antipsychotic drugs in Japan was discussed among related medical societies, and we reached an agreement that the use of adrenaline can be allowed based on the physician's discretion. In conclusion, this guideline encourages physicians to follow the principle to let patients consume causative foods in any way and as early as possible.

Abstract Background Several epidemiological studies have examined the possibility of a relationship between season of birth and atopic dermatitis (AD) and food allergy (FA), yet their results are contradictory. We investigated the association between season of birth and risk of AD and FA in Japanese infants. Methods Study subjects were 612 newborn infants born at a single obstetric/pediatric clinic without perinatal diseases. Season of birth was classified as spring (March–May), summer (June–August), autumn (September–November) or winter (December–February). AD was diagnosed according to the United Kingdom Working Party’s criteria. FA was defined as present if there was a history of immediate allergic symptoms within 2 h after ingestion of a food. Specific IgE to the corresponding food was also assessed to support the diagnosis. We assessed the association between season of birth and risk of AD and FA using Cox proportional hazard models. Results We identified a total of 365 cases of AD occurring during 3659 person-months of follow-up. Compared with summer birth, autumn, winter, and spring birth were significantly positively associated with the risk of AD: adjusted HRs (95% CIs) were 2.67 (1.96–3.63), 1.42 (1.03–1.95), and 1.43 (1.04–1.98), respectively. We identified a total of 23 cases of physician-diagnosed FA occurring during 6815 person-months of follow-up. Conclusions Being born in the summer is associated with a lower risk of AD compared to other seasons of birth. The low incidence of FA in our cohort group made it difficult to establish a valid association between FA and season of birth as the statistical power was low.

Background: Recent studies indicate that the timing of introduction of potentially allergenic food is crucial for the development of food allergy in children. This cross-sectional study aimed to clarify the reality of allergen food intake in a general population of young children in Japan. Methods: A questionnaire survey of caregivers was conducted at health checkups for 1.5-year (18-month)-old and 3-year-old children in the fall of 2020. The caregivers were asked about (1) the presence/absence of allergic disease symptoms based on the ISAAC questionnaire, and (2) foods that caregivers avoided giving their children. Ordinal logistic regression analyses were periformed to determine factors associated with food avoidance. Results: Questionnaires were distributed to 1720 caregivers, and 1603 (93%) responded. The responders consisted of 771 and 832 caregivers who participated in 1.5-year-old and 3-year-old checkups, respectively. The prevalence of allergic diseases was comparable to recent epidemiological studies in Japan, indicating that the population may be representative. At 1.5 years old, more than 50% of the children were not exposed to peanuts, tree nuts, fish eggs, shellfish, and buckwheat. At 3 years old, the avoidance rates of the foods had decreased but were still between 18.8% and 32.0%. On the other hand, the avoidance rates of chicken egg and cow’s milk, the top 2 common allergenic foods in Japan, were much lower at 2.8% and 1.5% at 1.5 years, and they decreased to 1.4% and 0.7% at 3 years old, respectively. Ordinal logistic analysis showed that avoidance of chicken egg, cow’s milk, and wheat was associated with food allergy diagnosis and chicken egg avoidance with eczema, but avoidance of other foods showed no associations with any risk factors for food allergy. Conclusion: Caregivers avoided giving various foods, independent of allergy risk factors, to their young children. Since delayed introduction of an allergenic food has been reported to increase the risk of developing an allergy to the food, the results warrant future investigation of the development of food allergies in relation to current eating habits and recommendations.

Abstract We report the first Japanese case of primary ciliary dyskinesia caused by DNAH9 variations. The patient, a 5-year-old girl, had repeated episodes of productive cough after contracting the common cold at the age of 1 year and 6 months. She did not have a situs abnormality or congenital heart defect. We identified two novel DNAH9 variants, NM_001372.3: c. [1298C>G];[5547_5550delTGAC], (p.[Ser433Cys];[Asp1850fs]).

Background: Childhood asthma is a major risk for low lung function in later adulthood, but what factors in asthma are associated with the poor lung function during childhood is not known. Objective: To identify clinical factors in children with asthma associated with low or declining lung function during the treatment. Methods: We enrolled children with asthma who had been treated throughout three age periods, i.e., 6–9, 10–12, and 13–15 years old, at seven specialized hospitals in Japan. Clinical information and lung function measurements were retrieved from the electronic chart systems. To characterize the lung function trajectories during each age period, we evaluated the forced expiratory volume 1 (FEV1) with % predicted values and individual changes by the slope (S) from linear regression. We defined four trajectory patterns: normal (Group N) and low (Group L), showing %FEV1 ≥80% or n = 150)/U (n = 47), while 76 (28%) were in Group D (n = 66)/L (n = 10). A history of poor asthma control, long-acting beta2 agonist use, and a lower height Z-score during 13–15 years were associated with an unfavorable outcome (Group D/L). Conversely, inhaled corticosteroid (ICS) use during 10–12 years and high-dose ICS use during 13–15 years were associated with a favorable outcome (Group N/U). Conclusion: We identified several factors that are associated with unfavorable lung function changes in pediatric asthma. Attention should be paid to the possible relationship between yearly changes in lung function and poor asthma control, use of ICS (and its dose) and use of LABA.

Background: Allergen-specific immunotherapy is currently the only disease-modifying treatment for allergic asthma, and it has been shown to improve control of asthma while reducing both drug use and asthma exacerbations. However, its effects on lung function—especially its long-term effects—remain controversial. We aimed to identify factors associated with a possible beneficial effect of allergen-specific immunotherapy on lung function in asthma by retrospectively evaluating the long-term changes in lung function in children with asthma who received house dust mite subcutaneous immunotherapy (HDM-SCIT). Methods: We enrolled children with asthma who had undergone HDM-SCIT for more than 1 year. Clinical information and lung function measurements were retrieved from the electronic chart system. To characterize the trajectory of lung function change, we performed linear regression analysis to evaluate the maximal expiratory flow at 50% of the forced vital capacity during two periods: before and during HDM-SCIT. Slopes from a least-squares regression line for the two periods, i.e., S1 before HDM-SCIT and S2 during HDM-SCIT, were compared. The subjects were then classified into two groups: an improving group (Group I) defined as S2 − S1 > 0, and a declining group (Group D) defined as S2 − S1 < 0. The clinical factors at the start of HDM-SCIT were compared between the two groups. Results: A total of 16 patients were analyzed. Eight patients were classified into each of Group I and Group D. The mean ages were 10.5 and 11.8 years, and the mean treatment periods were 4.1 and 3.9 years. Group I had a significantly lower blood eosinophil count and a significantly higher HDM-specific IgE level than Group D. Logistic regression showed a strong relationship between those two markers and the lung function trajectory. Conclusion: Control of the blood eosinophil count in highly HDM-sensitized patients may increase the beneficial effect of HDM-SCIT on lung function.

Background: Generally, oral immunotherapy (OIT) aims for daily administration. Recently, the efficacy of treatment with OIT at a low dose has been reported. However, the optimal dose and the evaluation of dose-dependent OIT outcome have not been described. Methods: A multicenter, parallel, open-labeled, prospective, non-placebo controlled, randomized study enrolled 101 Japanese patients for treatment with OIT. We hypothesized that target dose OIT would induce short-term unresponsiveness (StU) earlier than reduced dose OIT. StU was defined as no response to 6200 mg whole egg, 3400 mg milk, and 2600 mg wheat protein, as evaluated by oral food challenge after 2-week ingestion cessation. To compare the two doses of OIT efficacy, the maximum ingestion doses during the maintenance phase of OIT were divided into 100%-dose or 25%-dose groups against their target StU dose, respectively. A total of 51 patients were assigned to the 100%-dose group [hen's egg (HE) = 26, cow's milk (CM) = 13, wheat = 12] and 50 to the 25%-dose group (HE = 25, CM = 13, wheat = 12). Primary outcome was established by comparing StU at 1 year. Secondary outcome was StU at 2 years and established by comparing allergic symptoms and immunological changes. Results: The year 1 StU rates (%) for the 100%- and 25%-dose groups were 26.9 vs. 20.0 (HE), 7.7 vs. 15.4 (CM), and 50.0 vs. 16.7 (wheat), respectively. The year 2 StU rates were 30.8 vs. 36.0 (HE), 7.7 vs. 23.1 (CM), and 58.3 vs. 58.3 (wheat), respectively. There were no statistically significant differences in StU between years 1 and 2. The total allergic symptom rate in the 25%-dose group was lower than that in the 100%-dose group for egg, milk, and wheat. Antigen-specific IgE levels for egg-white, milk, and wheat decreased at 12 months. Conclusions: Reduced maintenance dose of egg OIT showed similar therapeutic efficacy to the target dose. However, we were not able to clearly demonstrate the efficacy, particularly for milk and wheat. Reducing the maintenance dose for eggs, milk, and wheat may effectively lower the symptoms associated with their consumption compared to the target OIT dose. Furthermore, aggressive reduction of the maintenance dose might be important for milk and wheat, compared to the 25%-dose OIT. Trial registration: UMIN000009373, Multicenter Oral Immunotherapy for Hen's Egg, Cow's Milk, and Wheat-Allergic Children at Outpatient Clinic.

Abstract Background Primary ciliary dyskinesia (PCD) is a rare genetic disorder caused by functional impairment of cilia throughout the body. The involvement of copy number variation (CNV) in the development of PCD is largely unknown. Methods We examined 93 Japanese patients with clinically suspected PCD from 84 unrelated families. CNV was examined either by exome sequencing of a PCD gene panel or by whole‐exome sequencing (WES). The identified alterations were validated by PCR and Sanger sequencing. Nasal ciliary ultrastructure was examined by electron microscopy. Results Analysis of CNV by the panel or WES revealed a biallelic deletion in the dynein regulatory complex subunit 1 (DRC1) gene in 21 patients, which accounted for 49% of the PCD patients in whom a disease‐causing gene was found. Sanger sequencing of the PCR product revealed a 27,748‐bp biallelic deletion including exons 1–4 of DRC1 with identical breakpoints in all 21 patients. The ciliary ultrastructure of the patients with this CNV showed axonemal disorganization and the loss or gain of central microtubules. Conclusion The deletion of DRC1 is the major cause of PCD in Japan and this alteration can cause various ciliary ultrastructural abnormalities.

Background: Patients with food allergies and their families have a significantly reduced health-related quality of life (QOL). Methods: We performed a multicenter, randomized, parallel-group, delayed-start design study to clarify the efficacy and safety of rush oral immunotherapy (rOIT) and its impact on the participants' daily life and their guardians (UMIN000003943).Forty-five participants were randomly divided into an early-start group and a late-start group. The early-start group received rOIT for 3 months, while the late-start group continued the egg elimination diet (control). In the next stage, both groups received OIT until all participants had finished 12 months of maintenance OIT. Results: The ratio of the participants in whom an increase of the TD was achieved in the first stage was significantly higher in the early-start group (87.0%), than in the late-start group (22.7%). The QOL of the guardians in the early-start group significantly improved after the first stage (65.2%), in comparison to the late-start group (31.8%). During 12 months of rOIT, the serum ovomucoid-specific IgE levels, the percentage of CD203c+ basophils upon stimulation with egg white, and the wheal size to egg white were decreased, while the serum ovomucoid-specific IgG4 levels were increased. However, approximately 80% of the participants in the early-start group showed an allergic reaction during the first stage of the study, whereas none of the patients in the late-start group experienced an allergic reaction. Conclusions: rOIT induced desensitization to egg and thus improved the QOL of guardians; however, the participants experienced frequent allergic reactions due to the treatment. Keywords: Desensitization, Food allergy, Guardians, Oral immunotherapy, Quality of life

Background: While Japanese guideline recommends initial control treatment for preschool children with asthma symptoms more than once a month, Western guidelines do not. To determine whether control treatment with montelukast was more effective than as-needed β2-agonists in this population, we conducted a randomized controlled trial. Methods: Eligible patients were children aged 1–5 years who had asthma symptoms more than once a month but less than once a week. Patients were randomly assigned in a 1:1 ratio to receive montelukast 4 mg daily for 48 weeks or as-needed β2-agonists. The primary endpoint was the number of acute asthma exacerbations before starting step-up treatment with inhaled corticosteroids. This study is registered with the University Hospital Medical Information Network clinical trials registry, number UMIN000002219. Results: From September 2009 to November 2012, 93 patients (47 in the montelukast group and 46 in the no-controller group) were enrolled into the study. All patients were included in the analysis. During the study, 13 patients (28%) in the montelukast group and 23 patients (50%) in the no-controller group had acute exacerbations with the mean numbers of 0.9 and 1.9/year, respectively (P = 0.027). In addition, 10 (21%) and 19 (41%) patients received step-up treatment, respectively. Cumulative incidence of step-up treatment was significantly lower in the montelukast group (hazard ratio 0.45, 95% confidence interval 0.21 to 0.92; P = 0.033). Conclusions: Montelukast is an effective control treatment for preschool children who had asthma symptoms more than once a month but less than once a week.

Background: In September 2015, Japan experienced an unusual increase in acute asthma hospitalizations of children that coincided with an enterovirus D68 (EV-D68) epidemic. The objective of this study is to investigate whether EV-D68 had a causal relationship with the spike in asthma hospitalizations. Methods: A nation-wide retrospective survey of asthma hospitalizations of children was performed for the period from January 2010 through October 2015. The Japanese Society of Pediatric Allergy and Clinical Immunology asked its affiliated hospitals to report monthly numbers of hospitalizations, ICU admissions and mechanical ventilations due to acute asthma exacerbation. The data were retrieved from medical databases using predefined search criteria: diagnosis of asthma or asthmatic bronchitis, admission, and age

Abstract Background Epithelial-mesenchymal transition is currently recognized as an important mechanism for the increased number of myofibroblasts in cancer and fibrotic diseases. We have already reported that epithelial-mesenchymal transition is involved in airway remodeling induced by eosinophils. Procaterol is a selective and full β2 adrenergic agonist that is used as a rescue of asthmatic attack inhaler form and orally as a controller. In this study, we evaluated whether procaterol can suppress epithelial-mesenchymal transition of airway epithelial cells induced by eosinophils. Methods Epithelial-mesenchymal transition was assessed using a co-culture system of human bronchial epithelial cells and primary human eosinophils or an eosinophilic leukemia cell line. Results Procaterol significantly inhibited co-culture associated morphological changes of bronchial epithelial cells, decreased the expression of vimentin, and increased the expression of E-cadherin compared to control. Butoxamine, a specific β2-adrenergic antagonist, significantly blocked changes induced by procaterol. In addition, procaterol inhibited the expression of adhesion molecules induced during the interaction between eosinophils and bronchial epithelial cells, suggesting the involvement of adhesion molecules in the process of epithelial-mesenchymal transition. Forskolin, a cyclic adenosine monophosphate-promoting agent, exhibits similar inhibitory activity of procaterol. Conclusions Overall, these observations support the beneficial effect of procaterol on airway remodeling frequently associated with chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases.

Background: Food allergy (FA) is a heavy burden for patients and their families and can significantly reduce the quality of life (QoL) of both. To provide adequate support, qualitative and quantitative evaluation of the parents' QoL may be helpful. The objective of this study is to develop and validate a Japanese version of the Food Allergy QoL Questionnaire–Parent Form (FAQLQ-PF-J), an internationally validated disease-specific QoL measurement of the parental burden of having a child with FA. Methods: The FAQLQ-PF and the Food Allergy Independent Measure (FAIM), an instrument to test the construct validity of the FAQLQ-PF-J, were translated into Japanese. After language validation, the questionnaires were administered to parents of FA children aged 0–12 years and those of age-matched healthy (without FA) children. Internal consistency (by Cronbach's α) and test-retest reliability were evaluated. Construct validity and discriminant validity were also examined. Results: One hundred twenty-seven parents of children with FA and 48 parents of healthy children filled out the questionnaire. The FAQLQ-PF-J showed excellent internal consistency (Cronbach's α > 0.77) and test-retest reliability. Good construct validity was demonstrated by significant correlations between the FAQLQ-PF-J and FAIM-J scores. It discriminated parents of children with FA from those without. The scores were significantly higher (lower QoL) for parents of FA children with a history of anaphylaxis than those without, for those with >6 FA-related symptoms experienced than those with less FA-related symptoms. Conclusions: The FAQLQ-PF-J is a reliable and valid measure of the parental burden of FA in children.

Background: Rotavirus vaccines were introduced in Japan in November 2011. We evaluated the subsequent reduction of the health-care burden of rotavirus gastroenteritis. Methods: We conducted active surveillance for rotavirus gastroenteritis among children under 5 years old before and after the vaccine introduction. We surveyed hospitalization rates for rotavirus gastroenteritis in children in Tsu City, Mie Prefecture, Japan, from 2007 to 2015 and surveyed the number of outpatient visits at a Tsu City clinic from 2010 to 2015. Stool samples were obtained for rotavirus testing and genotype investigation. We assessed rotavirus vaccine coverage for infants living in Tsu City. Results: In the pre-vaccine years (2007-2011), hospitalization rates for rotavirus gastroenteritis in children under 5 years old were 5.5, 4.3, 3.1 and 3.9 cases per 1000 person-years, respectively. In the post-vaccine years (2011-2015), the rates were 3.0, 3.5, 0.8 and 0.6 cases per 1000 person-years, respectively. The hospitalization rate decreased significantly in the 2013-2014 and 2014-2015 seasons compared to the average of the seasons before vaccine introduction (p < 0.0001). In one pre-vaccine year (2010-2011), the number of outpatient visits due to the rotavirus infection was 66. In the post-vaccine years (2011-2015), the numbers for each season was 23, 23, 7 and 5, respectively. The most dominant rotavirus genotype shifted from G3P[8] to G1P[8] and to G2P[4]. The coverage of one dose of rotavirus vaccine in Tsu City was 56.5% in 2014. Conclusion: After the vaccine introduction, the hospitalization rates and outpatient visits for rotavirus gastroenteritis greatly decreased.

Background: Eosinophil Derived Neurotoxin (EDN) is an eosinophil granule protein that is released during eosinophil activation. EDN has proven to be a promising marker for eosinophilic inflammation both in asthma and in wheezing symptoms in children. Objectives: Here we present a novel ImmunoCAPTM automated immunofluorescence research assay for measurement of EDN and its potential use in diagnosis of asthmatic children. Methods: We report the analytical performance of the assay in serum, heparin- and EDTA-plasma in terms of precision, linearity, sensitivity, interfering substances and specimen handling. We also compared the EDN research assay with established methods for asthma diagnosis: fraction of exhaled nitric oxide (FeNO) and blood eosinophil fraction (EOS%) to demonstrate the diagnostic value of EDN in childhood asthma. Results: The total precision (measured using percentage CV) was ≤5.8% for both serum and plasma. The dilution analysis yielded linear results across the dynamic range of the assay for both serum and plasma. No notable interferences of endogenous substances were observed.The median concentration of EDN was significantly higher in the asthma group compared to the healthy controls and the EDN correlates well with EOS%. Conclusions: we have shown that EDN can be measured reliably and robustly with the ImmunoCAP platform in both serum and plasma samples. EDN can be used to distinguish asthmatic from healthy children and correlates well with EOS% and could be a valuable complement to both EOS% and FeNO. Keywords: Eosinophil derived neurotoxin, Asthma, Biomarker, Automated immunoassay

Transcutaneous immunization (TCI) is easy to use, minimally invasive, and has excellent efficacy in vaccines against infections. We focused on toll-like receptor (TLR) ligands as applicable adjuvants for transcutaneous formulations and characterized immune responses. TCI was performed using poke-and-patch methods, in which puncture holes are formed with a polyglycolic acid microneedle on the back skin of mice. Various TLR ligands were applied to the puncture holes and covered with an ovalbumin-loaded hydrophilic gel patch. During the screening process, K3 (CpG-oligonucleotide) successfully produced more antigen-specific antibodies than other TLR ligands and induced T helper (Th) 1-type polarization. Transcutaneously administered K3 was detected in draining lymph nodes and was found to promote B cell activation and differentiation, suggesting a direct transcutaneous adjuvant activity on B cells. Furthermore, a human safety test of K3-loaded self-dissolving microneedles (sdMN) was performed. Although a local skin reaction was observed at the sdMN application site, there was no systemic side reaction. In summary, we report a K3-induced Th1-type immune response that is a promising adjuvant for transcutaneous vaccine formulations using MN and show that K3-loaded sdMN can be safely applied to human skin.

Airway remodeling is responsible for the progressive decline of lung function in bronchial asthma. Matrix metalloproteinase-2 and fibroblast-to-myofibroblast transition are involved in tissue remodeling. Here we evaluated whether eosinophils play a role in fibroblasts-to-myofibroblasts transition and in the expression of matrix metalloproteinase-2. We co-cultured human eosinophils with human fetal lung fibroblast-1 cells, assessed the expression of remodeling-associated molecules by immunoassays and polymerase-chain reaction, and eosinophils-mediated migration of human fetal lung fibroblast-1 cells using a Boyden chamber. To clarify the participation of matrix metalloproteinase-2 in airway remodeling we administered bone marrow-derived eosinophils by intra-tracheal route to transgenic mice overexpressing the human matrix metalloproteinase-2. The expression of α-smooth muscle actin significantly increased in human fetal lung fibroblast-1 cells co-cultured with human eosinophils compared to controls. There was enhanced expression of matrix metalloproteinase-2 during fibroblast-to-myofibroblast transition. An inhibitor of matrix metalloproteinases blocked eosinophils-associated fibroblast-to-myofibroblast transition and increased migration of fibroblasts. The human matrix metalloproteinase-2 transgenic mice receiving adoptive transfer of mouse eosinophils exhibited increased inflammation and advanced airway remodeling compared to wild type mice. This study demonstrated that eosinophils induce fibroblast-to-myofibroblast transition, secretion of matrix metalloproteinase-2, accelerated migration of fibroblasts, and promote matrix metalloproteinase-2-related airway remodeling. These findings provide a novel mechanistic pathway for eosinophil-associated airway remodeling in bronchial asthma.