Abstract: Castleman's disease (CD) appears at ubiquitous lymph nodes. To date, detection of the lesion focus for CD has mainly been carried out by physical examination and radiological findings, such as X-ray analysis, CT and MRI. 18F-FDG PET visualizes the active focus of glucose metabolism and the clinical value has been investigated for many different tumours. Previous studies of 18F-FDG PET for CD have only reported four cases of unicentric CD and no cases of multicentric CD. In this paper, we report two cases of CD, one with unicentric CD and one with multicentric CD. We demonstrate that the use of 18F-FDG PET for the detection and monitoring of patients with CD, especially multicentric CD, would be effective.
Abstract: BACKGROUND: Japanese cedar pollinosis (JCPsis) affects nearly one in six Japanese. Oral administration of Bifidobacterium longum BB536 has been shown to be effective in relieving JCPsis symptoms during the pollen season. METHODS: This double- two-way crossover study was designed to evaluate the efficacy of BB536 on reducing symptoms in JCPsis patients exposed to Japanese cedar pollen (JCP) in an environmental exposure unit (EEU) outside of the normal JCP season. After a 1-week run-in period, subjects (n=24) were randomly allocated to receive BB536 powder (approximately 5x1010) or placebo twice a day for 4 weeks. After a 2-week washout period, subjects were crossed over to another 4 weeks of intake. At the end of each intake period, subjects received controlled JCP exposure for 4 hours in the EEU. Symptoms were self-rated 30 minutes before and every 30 minutes during the exposures. From the first day of exposure through the next 5 successive days, participants self-rated their delayed symptoms and medication uses. Blood samples were taken before the exposures. The mean JCP levels for exposures were 6500 to 7000 grains/m3 air. RESULTS: In comparison with placebo, BB536 intake significantly reduced the ocular symptom scores during JCP exposures. Evaluating delayed symptoms after exposures indicated that scores for disruption of normal activities were significantly lower in the BB536 group compared with the placebo group. Prevalence of medication use was markedly reduced by BB536 intake. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest the potential beneficial effect of BB536 in relieving symptoms of JCP allergy.
Abstract: BACKGROUND: Interleukin (IL)-13 has come to be appreciated as a molecule critically involved in allergic inflammatory responses. Recent studies revealed that a common variant in the coding region of the IL13 gene, Arg110Gln, has been implicated in the development of asthma and atopy. METHODS: To assess whether the IL13 variant Arg110Gln is associated with cedar pollinosis, one of the most common atopic diseases in the Japanese population, we examined the Arg110Gln variant using PCR-RFLP to compare the genotype and allele frequencies between 95 patients with cedar pollinosis and 95 healthy control subjects. Relationships between the Arg110Gln variant and the pollinosis-related traits, e.g. rhinitis severity, eosinophil counts in nasal secretion and serum total and allergen-specific IgE levels, were also investigated. RESULTS: The frequencies of the minor allele Gln110 were 25.8% in patients with cedar pollinosis and 30.9% in healthy control subjects (p > 0.05). There was also no significant difference in the genotype frequencies between cases and controls (p > 0.05). In addition, we found no significant association of the Arg110Gln variant with any of the pollinosis-related phenotypes (p > 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Our data suggest lack of evidence for identifying the variant Arg110Glnat the IL13 locus as a genetic risk factor involved in the development of Japanese cedar pollinosis.
Abstract: Probiotic microorganisms have been shown to be effective in the treatment of allergic inflammation and food allergy, but their efficacy remains controversial. This study tested the effect of a yogurt supplemented with a probiotic strain Bifidobacterium longum BB536 in the treatment of Japanese cedar pollinosis (JCPsis). Forty subjects with a clinical history of JCPsis were given yoghurt either containing BB536 (BB536 yoghurt) or without BB536 (placebo yoghurt) at 2 X 100 g per day for 14 weeks, in a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. Subjective symptoms and self-care measures were recorded daily and blood samples were taken before and during the intervention (at weeks 4, 9, and 14) to measure the blood parameter levels related to JCPsis. Yoghurt supplemented with BB536 significantly alleviated eye symptoms compared with placebo yoghurt (odds ratio 0.31; 95% confidence interval 0.10-0.97; p = 0.044). Although no statistically significant differences were detected, nasal symptoms such as itching, rhinorrhea, and blockage, as well as throat symptoms tended to be relieved with the BB536 yoghurt. BB536 tended to suppress the decreasing blood levels of interferon-gamma (IFN-y) and the increasing blood eosinophil rates; a significantly higher IFN-gamma level was observed for the difference from baseline at week 4. A decreased trend in the difference from baseline levels of JCP-specific IgE levels was also observed at week 4 in the BB536 group compared with the placebo group. In conclusion, these results suggest that intake of BB536-supplemented yoghurt may relieve JCPsis symptoms, probably through a modulating effect on Th balance.
Abstract: BACKGROUND: Approximately 16.2% of the Japanese population suffer from cedar pollinosis, with various manifestations such as ophthalmic, laryngo-pharyngeal and skin symptoms in addition to nasal symptoms. Thus, the annual pollen season is an agonizing period for patients. No study has reported symptoms and their clinical courses after conjunctival provocation with purified cedar pollen allergen Cry j1 as well as suppression of these allergen-induced ocular symptoms by antihistamine eye drops. METHODS: Nine patients with Japanese cedar pollinosis who had no nasal or ocular symptoms were included in the present study, after obtaining informed consent in writing. 1) Purified cedar pollen allergen Cry j1 was instilled in the left eye and phosphate-buffered saline (PBS) in the right eye as a control. 2) Levocabastine hydrochloride ophthalmic suspension and ketotifen fumarate ophthalmic solution were respectively instilled in the left and right eyes, which were then challenged with the allergen. Ocular symptoms after provocation with the allergen were recorded through the clinical course. RESULTS: Pollen allergen-induced ocular symptoms were itching and hyperemia of the palpebral conjunctiva, and itching lasted for more than 5 hours. Moreover, preadministration of antihistamine eye drops suppressed the increases in the ocular symptom scores, eliminating itching within 1 hour. Allergen provoked not only ocular symptoms but also nasal symptoms in 77.8% of patients. CONCLUSIONS: Preadministration of antihistamine eye drops suppressed the symptoms induced by the allergen, which suggests that this is an effective early therapy for Japanese cedar pollinosis, if it is started before the pollen season. However, self-protection by patients using a mask may not be effective enough to suppress nasal symptoms during the pollen season, requiring them to additionally wear glasses to avoid exposure to the allergen.
Abstract: BACKGROUND: Probiotic bacteria may be effective in the treatment of allergic inflammation and food allergy, but efficacy and underlying mechanisms remain unclear. OBJECTIVE: The present study investigated the effects of probiotic strain Bifidobacterium longum BB536 in the treatment of Japanese cedar pollinosis (JCPsis). METHODS: In a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial, 44 JCPsis subjects received BB536 or placebo for 13 weeks during the pollen season. Subjective symptoms and self-care measures were recorded daily and blood samples were taken before and during intervention to measure blood levels of parameters related to JCPsis. RESULTS: BB536 intake was associated with a significant reduction in number of subjects prematurely terminated due to severe symptoms and pollinosis medication (P=0.0057 vs. placebo group). Comparison of subjective symptom scores indicated significant decreases in rhinorrhea, nasal blockage and composite scores in the BB536 group compared with the placebo group. Comparison of medical scores showed marked improvements in all symptoms on BB536 intake. A T-helper type 2 (Th2)-skewed immune response occurring along with pollen dispersion was observed. BB536 significantly suppressed increases in plasma thymus- and activation-regulated chemokine and tended to suppress elevations of Japanese cedar pollen (JCP)-specific IgE. CONCLUSION: These results suggest the efficacy of BB536 in relieving JCPsis symptoms, probably through the modulation of Th2-skewed immune response.
Abstract: OBJECTIVE: Positron emission tomography (PET) with 2-deoxy-2-[18F]fluoro-D-glucose (18F-FDG) has been used for the evaluation of soft-tissue tumors. However, the range of accumulation of 18F-FDG for malignant soft-tissue lesions overlaps with that of benign lesions. The aim of this study is to investigate the usefulness of delayed 18F-FDG PET imaging in the differentiation between malignant and benign soft-tissue tumors. METHODS: Fifty-six patients with soft-tissue tumors underwent whole body 18F-FDG PET scan at 1 hour (early scan) and additional scan at 2 hours after injection (delayed scan). The standardized uptake value (SUV(max)) of the tumor was determined, and the retention index (RI) was defined as the ratio of the increase in SUV(max) between early and delayed scans to the SUV(max) in the early scan. Surgical resection with histopathologic analysis confirmed the diagnosis. RESULTS: Histological examination proved 19 of 56 patients to have malignant soft-tissue tumors and the rest benign ones. In the scans of all 56 patients, there was a statistically significant difference in the SUV(max) between malignant and benign lesions in the early scan (5.50 +/- 5.32 and 3.10 +/- 2.64, respectively, p < 0.05) and in the delayed scan (5.95 +/- 6.40 and 3.23 +/- 3.20, respectively, p < 0.05). The mean RI was not significantly different between malignant and benign soft-tissue tumors (0.94 +/- 23.04 and -2.03 +/- 25.33, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: In the current patient population, no significant difference in the RI was found between malignant and benign soft-tissue lesions. Although the mean SUV(max) in the delayed scan for malignant soft-tissue tumors was significantly higher than that for benign ones, there was a marked overlap. The delayed 18F-FDG PET scan may have limited capability to differentiate malignant soft-tissue tumors from benign ones.
Abstract: BACKGROUND: A recent report provided evidence that a disintegrin and metalloprotease domain 33 (ADAM33), a member of the ADAM family, is a novel susceptibility gene in asthma linked to bronchial hyper-responsiveness. However, there has been no investigation of the genetic role of ADAM33 variants in nasal allergy. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to test the association between ADAM33 polymorphisms and Japanese cedar pollinosis (JCPsis), a most common seasonal allergic rhinitis in Japan. METHODS: We conducted a case-control association study among a Japanese population, involving 95 adult individuals with JCPsis and 95 normal healthy controls. A total of 22 single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in ADAM33 were genotyped using PCR-based molecular methods. RESULTS: Six SNPs of ADAM33 gene, three in introns (7575G/A, 9073G/A and 12540C/T) and three in the coding region (10918G/C, 12433T/C and 12462C/T), were strongly associated with JCPsis (P = 0.0002-0.022 for absolute allele frequencies) and most of the SNPs were in linkage disequilibrium with each other. A higher frequency of the common alleles of these SNPs was noted for the subjects with JCPsis in comparison with healthy controls. We also identified a haplotype associated with the disease susceptibility. In addition, associations were found between ADAM33 polymorphisms and various cedar pollinosis phenotypes including clinical severity, eosinophil counts in nasal secretion and allergen-specific IgE levels in sera, but not total serum IgE levels. CONCLUSION: These results indicate that polymorphisms in the ADAM33 gene are associated with susceptibility to allergic rhinitis due to Japanese cedar pollen, but the functional relationship still needs clarification.
Abstract: BACKGROUND: Our previous studies have presented evidence that lysed Enterococcus faecalis FK-23 (LFK), a lysozyme and heat-treated probiotic product, can inhibit allergen-induced local accumulation of eosinophils in mice. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this experimental study was to evaluate the influence of orally administrated LFK on the host immune responses. METHODS: BALB/c mice were sensitized subcutaneously, and challenged intraperitoneally by cedar pollen allergen. Blood and spleen samples were collected after oral administration of LFK 60 mg/day for 21 days. The serum levels of total and allergen-specific IgE and IgG2a antibodies and the production of IL-4, IL-5 and IFN-gamma generated by allergen-stimulated cultured splenocytes were determined. Additionally, the effect of LFK on active cutaneous anaphylaxis (ACA) induced by ovalbumin (OVA) challenge in mice was measured after 28 days LFK treatment. RESULTS: No significant differences in serum immunoglobulin levels, as well as in cytokine production of splenocytes were observed between LFK-treated and control mice (P>0.05). There was, however, an increasing tendency of allergen-specific IgG2a level in mice after LFK treatment for 21 days compared with controls (P=0.060). Furthermore, the serum ratio of specific IgE to IgG2a was found to be significantly decreased in the LFK group (P=0.005). In addition, a significant inhibition of OVA-induced ACA reaction was observed in mice that had been fed for 28 days with LFK compared with control mice (P=0.008). CONCLUSION: These results suggest that LFK shows an anti-inflammatory effect, which may be part of the mechanism for protection against IgE-mediated allergy.
