[Study of recent yearly trend of increase in airborne pollen of Japanese cedar and cypress pollen].

BACKGROUND: Based on epidemiological studies of prevalence, sensitization as well as pollen survey, it is presumed that airborne Japanese cedar pollen (JCP) and cypress (JCyP) have increased progressively for past 40 years. However, because of their large yearly variations, accurate objective and scientific study is required to confirm if it is true or not. METHODS: We analyzed the time trends of JCP and JCy separately in 11 districts throughout Japan where have records of continuous past survey from 1986 to 2005, by regression analysis using net pollen count and their 3 and 5 running means. RESULTS: When significant slope of regression line (regression coefficient) is assumed as p < 0.05 and R2 (coefficient of determination) >0.4, significant increase in airborne pollen was revealed in the use of 5 point running mean (6 districts of total 11 in JCP and 5 in JCyP) but not net count or 3 point running mean because of correction of statistic error due to large yearly variations. This study suggested that our method used for analysis of a recent increase in airborne JCP and JCyP was useful and scientific.

[A study on the nasal and eye symptoms of pollinosis in hakodate].

We have investigated the nasal and eye symptoms of pollinosis in Hakodate. There were elevated levels of dispersion of Cryptomeria japonica pollen in Hakodate in 1995 and 1998. In 1995 and 2001, there were also elevated levels of dispersion of Betula platyphylia var. japonica pollen. From March to June and September from July 1999 to May 2002, there was an increased incidence of pollinosis in Hakodate. In 641 patients with allergic rhinitis, the specific IgE positive rates for house dust and mite, Artemisia (Art), Gramineae (Gra), Betulaplatyphylia var. japonica (BJ), and Cryptomeria Japonica (CJ) were 73.5, 28.5, 25.7, 14.2 and 21.2%, respectively. The subjects with pollinosis in 2001 and 2002 (n=95) were divided into four groups as follows: Cryptomeria japonica (n=49), Betula platyphylia var. japonica (n=11), Gramineae (n=18) and Artemisia (n=17) pollinosis. The general severity of rhinitis and conjunctivitis were divided into four grades ( (-), (+), (++) and (+++) ), respectively. The combined (++) and (+++) rates observed for the general severity of rhinitis for all these subjects (n=95) was 86.4% and there was no significant difference in the general severity of rhinitis between any of the four groups. The combined (++) and (+++) rates for the general severity of conjunctivitis for all subjects (n=95) was 56.9% and the general severity of conjunctivitis for BJ and Gra pollinosis were significantly (P<0.01) higher than those observed for CJ pollinosis. In conclusion, the present data shows that the general severity of rhinitis in subjects with pollinosis in Hakodate was more severe than that of conjunctivitis and also that the general severity of conjunctivitis was dependent on the specific pollen (s) responsible for the pollinosis.