Effect of Climate Change on Allergenic Airborne Pollen in Japan.

In Japan, the representative allergenic airborne pollen-related allergic diseases include Cupressaceae in early spring, the birch family and grass in spring and mugwort in autumn. As a result of a long- term survey the past 27 to 33 years, an increasing in the amount of conifer airborne pollen and an earlier start dispersal were observed, related climate change. In addition, an increase in the number of patients with Japanese cedar pollinosis and the severity has been observed. Provision of medical pollen information, medication and sublingual immunotherapy have all been enhanced. Recently, pollen-food allergic syndrome has become of increased interest.

[LONG-TERM RESULTS OF AIRBORNE POLLEN SURVEYS IN THE JAPANESE ARCHIPELAGO FROM THE PERSPECTIVE OF POLLEN ANTIGEN].

BACKGROUND: In 1986, the Ministry of Health and Welfare started an airborne pollen survey as part of measures against JC pollinosis. We reported the important tree pollen antigens in 2016. We have now estimated the longitudinal investigated results for successful prevention and treatment for allergic symptoms related to grass and weed pollen in Japan. METHOD: Since July 1986 we have monitored airborne pollen, year- round, using a gravitational pollen sampler (Durham's sampler), at more than 20 locations across Japan. Specimens were mailed to our facility, where they were stained with Calberla solution, counted under an optical microscope, and converted to the number of pollen per square centimeter. For convenience the number of collected pollen were compiled every six months, with the January to June samples classified as spring pollen and the July to December as autumn pollen even same family. RESULT: Total pollen counts at each location were extremely small compared to tree-pollen, averaging 73~650 pollen grains per year. The Sagamihara location had the greatest count. Unlike cedar and cypress there were no significant annual fluctuations, but grass and Ambrosia pollen counts are increasing in some regions. Spring grass pollen gave the largest count, at 30% of the total collected. CONCLUSION: This indicated we need to examine the rinoconjuctivitis and oral allergy syndrome related to herbaceous pollen carefully.The importance of airborne pollen surveys for the treatment of the patients with pollen allergies was suggested.

[POLLEN FOOD ALLERGY SYNDROME IN A FIVE-YEAR-OLD BOY AFTER MOVING HOUSE AT THE FOOT OF THE MOUNTAIN: A CASE REPORT].

We report the case of a boy with a history of atopic dermatitis starting in infancy. At the age of four, his family moved into a newly built house at the foot of a mountain. One year later, he was diagnosed with Japanese Cedar pollinosis. During the same year, in March, he began to experience oral symptoms, hoarseness, and coughing, after eating multiple types of fruits and vegetables, like soybeans, apples, etc. His tests for Bet v1 and the pathogenesis-related protein-10 (PR-10) of the corresponding foods were positive; accordingly, he was diagnosed with Pollen Food Allergy Syndrome (PFAS). In order to investigate the relationship between pollen and food allergies, we counted the pollen grains dispersed at the patient's house during a period of one year and measured his specific IgE titers for pollen and food allergens every three months. We found a large amount of Japanese cedar, cypress, oak, and various other species of pollen dispersed at the patient's house. All counts were higher than the average pollen counts in the city of Fukuoka. After the seasonal dispersal of oak pollen, the patient's specific IgE antibody titers against Alder, Oak, Bet v1, Gly m4, and PR-10 protein group of fruits increased, although alder pollen was not detected. We thus inferred that the patient had developed PFAS by exposure to a large amount of Fagales species pollen, including oak.

The Relationship between Symptom Flare of Atopic Dermatitis and Airborne Japanese Cedar and Cypress Pollen Counts: A Self-Scoring Diary Study.

Background. With an increase in Japanese cedar and cypress (JC) pollinosis, the relationship between JC pollen and atopic dermatitis (AD) has been studied. Some reports suggest that JC pollen can be one exacerbating factor for AD, but there has been no report that discusses JC pollen counts relating to AD symptom flare although actual airborne JC pollen counts can widely fluctuate throughout the pollen season. Objective. The relationship between symptom flare of AD and airborne JC pollen counts was examined. Methods. We monitored JC pollen counts in real time and divided the counts into low and high level. We then analyzed self-scored "itch intensity" recorded by 14 AD patients through a self-scoring diary. Results. Among the 14 patients, 7 had significantly higher itch intensity while the pollen counts were high. Conclusion. Even during the pollen season, actual airborne pollen counts can widely fluctuate. Our study suggested that symptom flare of AD could be influenced by the actual pollen counts.

[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.