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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. A 96-week open study was also conducted to determine its inhibitory effect on serum IgE and T cell proliferative response for Japanese cedar pollen, in which 10 patients consumed 5 g test rice daily. Results No adverse events associated with the test rice occurred, and the intake rate was more than 96%. The test rice did not show suppression of symptoms related to Japanese cedar pollinosis within 24 weeks. However, intake of 5 g test rice led to a significant decrease in T cell response to Japanese cedar pollen during and after the second disperse season in a 96-week open trial, whereas the specific IgE titer remained unchanged. Conclusion Tolerability and safety of 7Crp-expressing rice was accepted. Daily intake of up to 20 g transgenic rice did not provide beneficial effects on Japanese cedar pollinosis within 24 weeks, however, continuous intake of 5 g rice might reduce allergen specific T cell response.

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. The subjects who participated in this study included children

In this paper, we focus on PHYTOPOROUS, a porous carbon material made entirely from plant-based ingredients, as a new broadband-wave absorber material that acts in the millimeter wave band. We created prototypes of thin rubber-sheet wave absorbers that contain porous carbon (PHYTOPOROUS) made from rice chaff and soybean hulls, which are both agricultural residue products that are generated in large quantities. We investigated the permittivity and reflectance characteristics of this material using the free-space time-domain method. The thin rubber-sheet wave absorber that contained PHYTOPOROUS made from soybean hulls exhibited a frequency band that was approximately 18 GHz wide and centered at 90 GHz. The return loss for this material was greater than −20 dB. This demonstrates that the material provides nearly constant reflection absorption over a wide frequency band.

Recently, Wireless Power Transmission (WPT) system in accordance with Qi standards is being installed into smartphones. However, the transmission efficiency is greatly deteriorated due to adjacent metal objects. To solve those problems, it is thought that the high permeability magnetic sheet insertion method into the gap between WPT-coil and metal objects is effective. On the other hand, the high permeability magnetic sheet (for instance, an amorphous magnetic sheet) has large loss as a negative feature. Therefore, to improve transmission efficiency of the WPT systems, and to suppress thickness of these materials, the magnetic loss control by trimming of the amorphous magnetic sheet is proposed in this report.

Recently, wireless telecommunication devices have been used with the worldwide spread of the mobile phone, wireless local area networks WLAN, and UHF-radio frequency identification UHF-RFID. Therefore, EMI problems have also been serious. In the case of indoor use, the wireless telecommunication environment is degraded by multiple reflection interference. That interference must be controlled in order to improve wireless communication conditions. In particular, improvement of the multipath environment is regarded as indispensable for assuring reliability UHF-RFID systems. In this paper, an ultrathin microwave absorber is described as a technology for improving the multipath environment for UHF-RFID system. Additionally, provision is made for transparency of this absorber, because microwave absorbers should not increase the blind area of the observation camera in the region in which the UHF-RFID system is used around the entrance gate of offices or warehouses. Verification of tag identification probability improvement with this absorber in an actual warehouse is also presented.

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. The interview survey revealed that HC poultice (HCP) prepared from smothering fresh leaves of HC was most frequently used for the treatment of purulent skin diseases including furuncle and carbuncle with high effectiveness. Ethanol extract of HCP (eHCP) showed anti-bacterial effects against methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), and showed an anti-biofilm activity against MRSA. eHCP showed dose-dependent inhibition of S. aureus lipoteichoic acid (LTA)-induced interleukin-8 and CCL20 production in human keratinocyte without any cytotoxicity. These results suggest that HCP is effective for skin abscess and its underlying mechanism might be the complicated multiple activities for both bacteria and host cells.

The application of UHF radio-frequency identification (RFID) systems is rapidly increasing. However, the reliability of indoor telecommunication is adversely affected by multiple reflection interference. Consequently, to establish a highly reliable UHF-RFID system, it is essential to improve the multipath environment. This paper describes an ultrathin microwave absorber that is designed to improve the multipath environment of UHF-RFID systems. This absorber is optically transparent so that it does not create blind areas for surveillance cameras installed near an UHF-RFID system (e.g., at the entrance of an office or a warehouse). The improved tag identification probability using this absorber is demonstrated in an actual warehouse.

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 100 mg EMIQ or a placebo for 8 weeks, starting 4 weeks prior to the onset of pollen release. Subjective symptoms, ADL scores and the usage of drugs were recorded daily, and the QOL score was obtained every 4 weeks. Blood sampling was performed before and after the study to measure serum levels of IgE and flavonoids. Results: During the entire study period, ocular symptom + medication score for the EMIQ group was significantly lower (p < 0.05) than that of the placebo group. When limited to the period, ocular symptom scores (p < 0.05, weeks 5–6), and ocular congestion scores (p < 0.05, weeks 5–6) for the EMIQ group was significantly lower than that for the placebo group while other scores for the EMIQ group, such as ocular itching scores (p = 0.09, weeks 4–5), lacrimation scores (p = 0.07, weeks 5–6), and ocular congestion scores (p = 0.06, weeks 45), all tended to be lower. However no significant differences were found in nasal symptoms between the two groups. Serum concentrations of IgE were not significantly downregulated but the serum concentrations of quercetin and its derivatives were elevated significantly by the intake of EMIQ. Conclusions: Intake of the quercetin glycoside EMIQ proved to be effective for the relief of ocular symptoms caused by Japanese cedar pollinosis.

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. Subjective symptoms and activities of daily living (ADL) scores were recorded every day, and the quality of life (QOL) score was obtained every 4 weeks. Blood sampling was performed before and after the study to measure serum cytokines, chemokines, IgE, quercetin and oxidized biomarkers. Results: During the entire study period, total ocular score and ocular itching score for the EMIQ group were significantly lower (p < 0.05) than for the placebo group. When limited to the individual periods, total symptom score for the EMIQ group was significantly lower (p < 0.05, week 4–5) than that for the placebo group while other scores for the EMIQ group, such as total nasal score (p = 0.06, week 4–5), nasal obstruction score (p = 0.08, week 4–5), lacrimation score (p = 0.06, week 5–6), ocular congestion score (p = 0.08, week 4–7) and ADL score (p = 0.08, week 4–7), all tended to be lower. The levels of serum cytokines such as interleukin (IL)-4, IL-5, IL-12, IL-13, interferon-γ, and eotaxin and IgE were not significantly downregulated by the intake of EMIQ but the serum concentrations of oxidized low-density lipoprotein and thymus and activation-regulated chemokine were reduced. Conclusion: Intake of the quercetin glycoside EMIQ was safe and influenced ocular symptoms caused by pollinosis.

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. For this purpose, histamine H 1 receptor (H1R) occupancy and proportional impairment ratios (PIR) are now being used. However, it is not easy to obtain these parameters. Here, we sought to evaluate the sedative properties of H 1 antihistamines by means of a large-scale surveillance at health insurance pharmacies. Methods The survey was conducted at 37 health insurance pharmacies. The therapeutic efficacy and the degree of sleepiness were quantified through a questionnaire using the visual analog scale (VAS) directly from 1742 patients who received H 1 antihistamines. Results The degree of sleepiness caused by the first-generation antihistamines was significantly higher than that of the second-generation antihistamines. The high VAS score in case of efficacy was found in d-chlorpheniramine, olopatadine, and ebastine. Among the mean values of efficacy, all second-generation antihistamines except for loratadine, bepotastine, and mequitazine were significantly higher than that of clemastine. Regarding the degree of sleepiness, clemastine scored the highest VAS score, and significantly lower scores were obtained in all second-generation antihistamines. Conclusions The sedative properties of the H 1 antihistamines obtained from VAS analysis were very similar to those of H1R occupancy from positron emission tomography (PET) studies and PIR from meta-analysis. Our results indicate that large-scale surveillance using VAS might be useful to evaluate the profiles of H 1 antihistamines.

In case of payment system with NFC (Near Field Communication)/HF-RFID (Radio Frequency IDentification) installed into the smart-phone, NFC antenna's communication performance at 13.56MHz is deteriorated by the battery case or circuit boards. To solve this problem, the magnetic sheet with high permeability is inserted into the NFC/HF-RFID antenna and metal object. Thin magnetic compound or sintered ferrite has been used as the high permeability sheet. However, these sheet thickness could not be suppressed to improve the NFC/HF-RFID antenna's performance. In order to make thickness of these materials thinner, we propose amorphous magnetic sheet. Besides because the loss of amorphous magnetic sheet is large, that loss suppression technique is also proposed.

The cortical areas involved in processing of emotional prosody (EP), such as joy or sadness, have been reported to be localized in the right basal ganglia, frontal lobes or bilateral temporal lobes in recent fMRI studies. Moreover, event-related brain potentials have not been shown to have ERP components with latencies associated with EP recognition, namely N1, P2 and P3. So, we investigated a processing of EP using magnetoencephalography (MEG), which has a high time and space resolution. In the test session, an emotional voice (expressing joy, sadness or normal mood, and calling a name consisting of 5 moras) was presented, followed by a 900 ms interstimulus interval and then an emotional face (the same emotion as the voice) was displayed for 1000 ms. The subjects were requested to judge whether or not the emotional features of the voice and face were identical. In the control session, the emotional voices were presented while the subjects carried out visual working memory (n-back) tasks between two sessions, and significant differences in the cortical activities associated with processing of EP were observed during the latencies in different periods after the onset of stimuli in both hemispheres.

Information on pollen dispersion is useful for members of the general public with allergies.We measured the Japanese cedar and cypress pollen counts by two methods, a Durham sampler and a real-time pollen counter (KH-3000), in Kawachinagano City, located in the south-eastern part of Osaka.The results were as follows: There were close correlations between the findings of the Durham pollen counter and the KH-3000 in March and April of 2003.The airborne pollen observed with the KH-3000 did not correlate with the average temperature or average wind velocity of March and April.There was more airborne pollen dispersion when the wind blew from west-south west and north east.We concluded that local information about pollen dispersion is important for self-care.

This article describes a microbiological study of lactic acid bacteria involved in the fermentation process of Miso. The bacteria were counted and isolated from Miso during fermentation and, based on the results of traditional phenotypic tests, divided into nine groups. The isolates were identified by biochemical analysis and 16S rRNA sequence analysis. During Miso fermentation, the halophilic bacterium Tetragenococcus halophilus increased moderately. The non-halophilic strains displayed a complex growth pattern and were identified as Enterococcus faecium, Enterococcus durans, Enterococcus faecalis, Pediococcus acidilactici, Pediococcus pentosaceus, Lactobacillus plantarum and Weissella confusa. The predominant species throughout the fermentation process were T. halophilus, E. faecium and E. durans. Among them, only the strains of E. faecalis and E. durans produced bacteriocins that had an antibacterial effect on B. subtilis, but had none on T. halophilus. The bacteriocin producers appear to play an important role in maintaining normal bacterial flora during Miso fermentation.

Several reports indicate that the severity of perennial allergic rhinitis is related to levels of dust-mite allergens. In this study, the levels of dust-mite allergens measured in the homes of 13 people with allergic rhinitis and 10 healthy volunteers. Dust specimens were collected with a vacuum cleaner and analyzed for the presence of major mite allergens (Der 1=Der p1+Der f1, Der 2=Der p2+Der f2) by using ELISA. Levels of Der 1 were higher in bedclothes, in bedrooms, and on family room floors. There were no differences between the homes of the 13 people with allergic rhinitis and the 10 healthy volunteers. No association was found between levels of dust-mite allergens and the severity of nasal symptoms. Although the levels of mite allergens increased in most of homes 2 months after cleaning, there was an insignificant tendency for improvement in nasal symptoms in homes with decreased levels 2 months after cleaning.

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. In Japan, the first guideline was prepared after a symposium held by the Japanese Society of Allergology in 1993. The current 7th edition was published in 2013, and is widely used today.To incorporate evidence based medicine (EBM) introduced from abroad, the most recent collection of evidence/literature was supplemented to the Practical Guideline for the Management of Allergic Rhinitis in Japan 2013. The revised guideline includes assessment of diagnosis/treatment and prescriptions for children and pregnant women, for broad clinical applications. An evidence-based step-by-step strategy for treatment is also described. In addition, the QOL concept and cost benefit analyses are also addressed. Along with Allergic Rhinitis and its Impact of Asthma (ARIA), this guideline is widely used for various clinical purposes, such as measures for patients with sinusitis, childhood allergic rhinitis, oral allergy syndrome, and anaphylaxis and for pregnant women. A Q&A section regarding allergic rhinitis in Japan was added to the end of this guideline.

It is important to determine the allergen for treatment and prevention in allergic diseases, especially pollinosis. However, few patients have their specific allergen determined prior to treatment. In this study, we investigated the positive rate of specific IgE in 299 patients with suspected Japanese cedar pollinosis. Ten allergens were tested using CAP-RAST in 299 subjects consisting of 175 males and 124 females who visited the OCROM clinic (Suita city). The positive rate was 78.9% for Japanese cedar, 52.5% for D1, 50.8% for D2, 50.5% for HD1, 48.5% for Japanese cypress and 44.1% for orchard grass. About 60% of the patients who were positive for Japanese cedar also showed positive for Japanese cypress. However, no patients were positive for Japanese cypress and negative for Japanese cedar. There were no correlations between positivity rates and age for Japanese cedar. However, in HD1, the positive rate in younger patients was higher than in older patients. The numbers of simultaneously positive allergens was 4.5 in patients under 20 and gradually decreased according to age. It was very interesting that 2 patients were positive only for birch pollen and in these cases, it was very difficult to decide whether the patients had Japanese cedar pollinosis. Based on these results, we suggest that it is necessary to determine the specific allergen before treatment or prevention.

The clinical efficacy of a topical preparation consisting of beclomethasone dipropionate (BDP) powder and a mucous membrane adhesive agent (hydroxypropylcellulose, HPC) for nasal polyps was examined. For 1 week, in 31 patients with bilateral nasal polyposis, the clinical efficacy of the topical BDP-HPC powder treatment was examined. The effect of this treatment on the histology of the nasal polyps was also investigated. The controls were six patients with bilateral nasal polyposis, who underwent identical surgery without prior use of the topical steroid therapy. Polyp shrinkage and improvement of some nasal symptoms (rhinorrhea, ease of noseblowing, and nasal blockage) were observed with the topical treatment. Significant clinical improvement (P < 0.05) was seen in the group treated with topical BDP HPC powder compared with the untreated control group. Histological examination of the excised nasal polyps in both groups demonstrated no clear differences attributable to BDP HPC powder. The topical treatment of nasal polyps with BDP HPC powder is a useful conservative therapy.

The clinical efficacy and safety of 200 μg/day (100μg b. i. d) of mometasone furoate nasal spray (MFNS) administered for 2 weeks was evaluated by comparison with a low dose of MFNS of 50μg/day (50μg o. d.) using the envelope-method in a total of 65 patients with Japanese cedarpollenosis.The pollen counts for Japanese cedar in 1995 were extremely high in the Kansai district. About 5, 000 counts/cmz was confirmed in and around Osaka.In the analysis of final overall improvement, marked or moderate improvement was observed in 76.2% (16/21) and 20.8% (5/24) of patients receiving MFNS 200μg/day and 50μg/day, respectively. The difference in efficacy between the two dosage groups was confirmed independently of timing of the initiation of administration. In the analysis of overall safety, high safety was observed with both treatments. The above results suggest that 200μg/day of MFNS can be considered the recommended dose for the treatment of Japanese cedar pollenosis.

The clinical usefulness of 200μg/day of mometasone furoate (MF) nasal spray administered over 2 weeks was compared against 31.2μg/day of disodium cromoglycate (DSCG) using a telephone nominating method in a total of 69 patients with Japanese cedar pollenosis.The Japanese cedar pollen count in 1996 was extremely low, apporoximately 1/10-4/20 of that in 1995. On an analysis of the overall improvement, marked or moderate improvement was observed in 69.0% (20/29) and 20.7% (6/29) of patients receiving MF and DSCG, respectively; this was statistically different. MF also showed significantly superior efficacy over DSCG in almost all subjective and objective nasal symptoms. A significant correlation between the total nasal symptom scores based on three main symptoms of nasal allergy and overall improvement judged by an independent investigator was confirmed. The proper discriminant rate by discriminant analysis was high at 93.1%. On an analysis of the overall safety, good safety was observed for both treatment groups. The above results suggest that MF is highly useful in the treatment of Japanese cedar pollenosis.

We studied whether direct phosphorylation plays a key role in protein kinase C-activating phorbol ester-mediated H1 receptor desensitization. Several potential protein kinase C-mediated phosphorylation sites were located in the third cytoplasmic loop form our cloning studies of H1 receptors. Ser396 and Ser398 were determined to be the phosphorylation sites by in vitro phosphorylation studies using synthetic peptides corresponding to the partial amino acid sequence of the third cytoplasmic loop. Mutant H1 receptors whose Ser396 or Ser398 were displaced by alanine were expressed in Chinese hamster ovary cells by site-directed mutagenesis. Characterization of these receptors revealed that Ser398, but not Ser396, was primarily responsible for protein kinase C-mediated H1 receptor desensitization.

To investigate the relationship between local responsiveness and allergic symptoms, bronchial and nasal responsiveness were measured in the following four groups of subjects: (i) bronchial asthma patients with serum house dust mite (HDM)-specific IgE antibody; (ii) allergic rhinitis patients with serum HDM-specific IgE antibody; (iii) normal control subjects with HDM-specific IgE antibody; and (iv) normal control subjects without IgE antibody specific for 10 common aero-allergens. Bronchial hyperresponsiveness was detected in all subjects with asthma (group 1) and in some subjects from groups 2 and 3, but not in subjects from group 4. Nasal hyperresponsiveness was found in all subjects with allergic rhinitis (group 2) and in some subjects from groups 1 and 3, but not in subjects from group 4. These findings indicate that local hyperresponsiveness of the non-diseased organ is influenced by an individual's atopic status. Interleukin (IL)-4 and IL-5 production by peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) was measured after stimulation with HDM in groups 1, 2 and 3 and was found to be similar in all three groups. A correlation between bronchial hyperresponsiveness and in vitro cytokine production was noted in asthma patients. These results suggest that the capacity of IL-4 or IL-5 production by PBMC may reflect local hyperresponsiveness in case of asthma.