[A MULTICENTER CLINICAL SURVEY ABOUT THE PREVALENCE OF JAPANESE CYPRESS POLLINOSIS AND THE EFFICACY OF SUBLINGUAL IMMUNOTHERAPY WITH JAPANESE CEDAR POLLEN EXTRACT DURING JAPANESE CYPRESS POLLEN DISPERSAL PERIOD].

BACKGROUND: Little is known whether sublingual immunotherapy using Japanese cedar pollen extract (cedar SLIT) is effective for not only Japanese cedar pollinosis but also Japanese cypress pollinosis. We investigated the prevalence rate of Japanese cypress pollinosis, efficacy of cedar SLIT on cypress pollinosis and patients' wish to receive cypress SLIT. METHODS: We investigated a multi-center (31 institutions), cross-sectional survey using a self-administrated questionnaire with four questions for patients received cedar SLIT aged from 5 to 69 years old. RESULTS: 2523 subjects were enrolled for analysis. 83.4% of them had pollinosis symptoms during cypress season before cedar SLIT. In such patients, 37.4% experienced lessened efficacy of cedar SLIT during cypress season. Both the prevalence of cypress pollinosis and the lessened efficacy of cedar SLIT on cypress pollinosis were significantly seen in western Japan as compared to eastern Japan. 76.1% of the subject having cypress pollinosis before SLIT wished to receive cypress SLIT if it is available. CONCLUSION: A lessened efficacy of cedar SLIT during cypress season was broadly seen in Japan, and further showed a regional difference. Together with the finding of high wish by patients, these results suggest a development of cypress SLIT is desirable.

Features predicting treatment failure in pediatric acute otitis media.

OBJECTIVES: To facilitate better antibiotic stewardship, we conducted this clinical trial to identify the prognostic features of treatment failure in pediatric acute otitis media (AOM). STUDY: Design: This is a randomized, parallel-group, open-label, comparative clinical trial. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: Children with AOM and aged between 1 month and 5 years were enrolled. Patients were randomly assigned to receive either amoxicillin alone (70 mg/kg) for five days, or the same with additional clarithromycin (15 mg/kg) for the initial three days. The clinical course of AOM was evaluated based on tympanic membrane scores. Failure of treatment for AOM was confirmed on day 14. Nasal conditions were also assessed by a clinical scoring system for acute rhinosinusitis. RESULTS: Treatment failures occurred in 25 out of 129 (19.4%) children. The ratio of treatment failures by age was significantly higher in children younger than 2 years than in children older than 2 years. The tympanic membrane scores on day 3 (P = 0.0334) and day 5 (P < 0.0001) and acute rhinosinusitis scores on day 5 (P = 0.0004) were higher in failure cases than in cured cases. Multivariate logistic regression analysis indicated significant associations between the treatment failure with tympanic membrane scores and acute rhinosinusitis scores on day 5, and the antimicrobial treatment regimen. CONCLUSIONS: Improvement of acute rhinosinusitis and tympanic membrane scores on day five were important predictive features in failure of treatment for pediatric AOM. These results will be useful when discussing the treatment decisions with the patient's parents.

Genetic characteristics of Haemophilus influenzae and Streptococcus pneumoniae isolated from children with conjunctivitis-otitis media syndrome.

Acute conjunctivitis is the most common ocular disorders among children and frequently concomitant with acute otitis media (AOM) as conjunctivitis-otitis syndrome. In this study, we evaluated prevalence of causative pathogens and PCR-based genotypes of Haemophilus influenzae and Streptococcus pneumoniae among children with conjunctivitis-otitis media syndrome. Nontypeable H. influenzae (NTHi) is identified most often at 61.8% in conjunctiva exudates followed by S. pneumoniae at 28.2% and Moraxella catarrhalis at 19.1%. Genetic ß-lactamase nonproducing ampicillin resistant (gBLNAR) strains of NTHi and genetic penicillin resistant S. pneumoniae (gPRSP) were identified at 72.1% and at 74.2% among conjunctiva isolates by polymerase chain reaction (PCR), respectively. Pneumococcal strains having either ermB or mefE genes were identified at 93.5% among conjunctiva isolates. The restriction fragment of patterns of 89.7% pairs of H. influenzae isolates and 100% pairs of pneumococcal isolates from conjunctiva exudates, middle ear fluids (MEFs) and nasopharyngeal swabs were identical. In contrast to the previous reports, most prevalent strains from conjunctivitis-otitis media syndrome was BLNAR H. influenzae in this study. The causative pathogen responsible for acute conjunctivitis will be originated from the nasopharynx. In the absence of MEFs one can possibly rely on the nasopharyngeal culture to guide an appropriate treatment.

[Coblation tonsillectomy under surgical microscopy].

Numbers of tonsillectomies may be decreasing in Japan due to troublesome bleeding involved in managing in a small viewing field and relatively low national health insurance point for tonsillectomy. We found coblation tonsillectomy to have advantages of less bleeding, shorter operating time, and less postoprerative pain than conventional tonsillectomy. We found that 40% of those on whom a coblator was used reported no postoperative throat pain, and noted a quick learning curve in decreasing postoperative bleeding in coblation tonsillectomy.

A comparison of conventional and molecular microbiology in detecting differences in pneumococcal colonization in healthy children and children with upper respiratory illness.

Conventional microbiology (CM) and real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) were used to determine rate and serotype of pneumococcal nasopharyngeal colonization in healthy children and children with upper respiratory illnesses (URI). One hundred and thirty-six healthy children and 79 children with URI were evaluated. Pneumococcal colonization was detected more often by real-time PCR than CM in healthy children (50% vs. 24%, p

[A new scoring system for assessing the severity of adult acute rhinosinusitis].

Treating acute rhinosinusitis requires assessing severity and selecting appropriate antimicrobial agents. In 2006, we developed clinical scoring system for diagnosing and treating acute rhinosinusitis based on three clinical symptoms of rhinorrhea, fever, and facial pain and three nasal findings of characteristics and nasal discharge amount, nasal mucosal swelling and nasal mucosal redness. To verify and update scoring, we studied score-based diagnosis of adult acute rhinosinusitis severity. Prevalence of symptoms such as fever and serous nasal discharge in 95 subjects was low as 8.4% and 3% indicating less useful as evaluation items on the diagnosis. Mucopurulent nasal discharge (r = 0.67), facial pain (r = 0.51), rhinorrhea (r = 0.47), and swelling (r = 0.45) correlated significantly with severity evaluated by attending otolaryngological specialists. Nasal mucosal swelling caused discrepancy between clinical scoring and specialists' assess- ment. Evaluated by multivaliate analysis, factors affecting severity assessment were mucopurulent nasal discharge, facial pain, and rhinorrhea (p < 0.0001), but not swelling (p = 0.49). We concluded that mucopurulent nasal discharge scored 0, 2, or 4, facial pain scored 0, 1, or 2, and rhinorrhea scored 0, 1, or 2 should be used in evaluation in new clinical scoring, classified by severity as mild scored 1-3, moderate scored 4-6, and severe scored 7-8 by evaluating consistency with specialist assessment.

Distribution of fibronectin-binding protein genes (prtF1 and prtF2) and streptococcal pyrogenic exotoxin genes (spe) among Streptococcus pyogenes in Japan.

Two hundred and seventy-two strains of Streptococcus pyogenes isolated from patients with invasive and noninvasive infections in Japan were evaluated for the prevalence of fibronectin-binding protein genes (prtF1 and prtF2). The possible associations of the genes with streptococcal pyrogenic exotoxin genes, macrolide resistance genes, and emm types were also evaluated. Overall, about 50% of S. pyogenes isolates carried fibronectin-binding protein genes. The prevalence of the prtF1 gene was significantly higher among isolates from noninvasive infections (71.4%) than among isolates from invasive infections (30.8%; P = 0.0037). Strains possessing both the prtF1 and prtF2 genes were more likely to be isolates from noninvasive infections than isolates from invasive infections (50.6% vs 15.4%; P = 0.019). S. pyogenes isolates with streptococcus pyrogenic exotoxin genes (speA and speZ) were more common among isolates without fibronectin-binding protein genes. The speC gene was more frequently identified among isolates with fibronectin-binding protein genes (P = 0.05). Strains belonging to emm75 or emm12 types more frequently harbored macrolide resistance genes than other emm types (P = 0.0094 and P = 0.043, respectively). Strains carrying more than one repeat at the RD2 region of the prtF1 gene and the FBRD region of the prtF2 gene were more prevalent among strains with macrolide resistance genes than among strains negative for macrolide resistance genes. These genes (i.e., the prtF1, prtF2, and spe genes) may enable host-bacteria interaction, and internalization in the host cell, but may not enable infection complications such as invasive diseases.

Structural basis for epitope sharing between group 1 allergens of cedar pollen.

The group 1 allergens are a major cause of cedar pollen hypersensitivity in several geographic areas. Allergens from several taxa have been shown to cross-react. The goal of these studies was to compare the structural features of the shared and unique epitopes of the group 1 allergen from mountain cedar (Jun a 1) and Japanese cedar (Cry j 1). An array of overlapping peptides from the sequence of Jun a 1 and a panel of monoclonal anti-Cry j 1 antibodies were used to identify the IgE epitopes recognized by cedar-sensitive patients from Texas and Japan. IgE from Japanese patients reacted with peptides representing one of the two linear epitopes within the highly conserved beta-helical core structure and both epitopes within less ordered loops and turns near the N- and C-termini of Jun a 1. A three-dimensional (3D) model of the Cry j 1, based on the crystal structure of Jun a 1, indicated a similar surface exposure for the four described epitopes of Jun a 1 and the homologous regions of Cry j 1. The monoclonal antibodies identified another shared epitope, which is most likely conformational and a unique Cry j 1 epitope that may be the previously recognized glycopeptide IgE epitope. Defining the structural basis for shared and unique epitopes will help to identify critical features of IgE epitopes that can be used to develop mimotopes or identify allergen homologues for vaccine development.

Primary laryngeal cryptococcosis resembling laryngeal carcinoma.

A case of an 82-year-old female with primary laryngeal cryptococcosis who had undergone long-term corticosteroid therapy for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and rheumatoid arthritis is reported. She complained hoarseness with swallowing pain and irritability of the larynx for over a month. Endoscopic examination revealed a white, exudative irregular region on right arytenoid that mimicked a laryngeal carcinoma. Histological examination showed pseudoepitheliomatous hyperplasia and severe submucosal inflammation with ovoid budding yeasts by Grocott's stain. A serological study indicated a high titer of cryptococcal antigen. After treating with oral fluconazole for 3 months, her primary lesion of larynx turned to be clear. We implicate a long-term use of steroids as the significant risk factor in developing cryptococcosis of the larynx.

[Juniper pollen monitoring by Burkard sampler in Galveston, Texas, USA and Japanese cedar pollen counting in Fukuoka, Japan -- introduction of Pan American Aerobiology Association protocol counting technique].

We have monitored Juniper pollen which caused winter allergy symptoms by Burkard sampler in Galveston, Texas. We identified and counted Juniper pollen grains by PAAA protocol which was a comprehensive guideline for the operation of Hirst-Type suction bioaerosol sampler, (original of Burkard sampler) in the USA. In Galveston we were able to detect the Mountain Cedar (Juniperus ashei) pollen from December to of January, and Eastern Red Cedar (Juniperus virginiana) which has cross reactivity to MC from almost middle of January to February. There is no MC vegetation in Galveston. We found the pollen grains were transported from west at Edward Plateau in West Texas where it was thickly wooded. Then, we tried to monitor Japanese Cedar (JC) pollen grains in Fukuoka, Japan according with the same method. We found the significant positive correlation between the pollen counts using one single longitudinal traverse counting technique in the PAAA protocol and the JC pollen counting on the whole of Melinex tape per 24 hours (R2=0.9212, p=0.0001), and the gravitational method that is Durham sampler's pollen counting in 2002 (R2=0.489, p=0.0001), and in 2003 (R2=0.948, p=0.0001) respectively. We suggested that we can use the PAAA protocol for airborne pollen investigation in Japan by Burkard sampler.

PspA family distribution, antimicrobial resistance and serotype of Streptococcus pneumoniae isolated from upper respiratory tract infections in Japan.

BACKGROUND: The protection against pneumococcal infections provided by currently available pneumococcal polysaccharide conjugate vaccines are restricted to the limited number of the serotypes included in the vaccine. In the present study, we evaluated the distribution of the pneumococcal capsular type and surface protein A (PspA) family of pneumococcal isolates from upper respiratory tract infections in Japan. METHODS: A total of 251 S. pneumoniae isolates from patients seeking treatment for upper respiratory tract infections were characterized for PspA family, antibiotic resistance and capsular type. RESULTS: Among the 251 pneumococci studied, the majority (49.4%) was identified as belonging to PspA family 2, while most of the remaining isolates (44.6%) belonged to family 1. There were no significant differences between the distributions of PspA1 versus PspA2 isolates based on the age or gender of the patient, source of the isolates or the isolates' susceptibilities to penicillin G. In contrast, the frequency of the mefA gene presence and of serotypes 15B and 19F were statistically more common among PspA2 strains. CONCLUSION: The vast majority of pneumococci isolated from the middle ear fluids, nasal discharges/sinus aspirates or pharyngeal secretions represented PspA families 1 and 2. Capsular serotypes were generally not exclusively associated with certain PspA families, although some capsular types showed a much higher proportion of either PspA1 or PspA2. A PspA-containing vaccine would potentially provide high coverage against pneumococcal infectious diseases because it would be cross-protective versus invasive disease with the majority of pneumococci infecting children and adults.

An application of outer membrane protein p6-specific enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for detection of haemophilus influenzae in middle ear fluids and nasopharyngeal secretions.

An enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay specific to outer membrane protein P6 (P6-ELISA) was applied for detecting Haemophilus influenzae in middle ear fluids (MEFs) from acute otitis media (AOM) patients and in nasopharyngeal secretions (NPSs) from acute rhinosinusitis patients. P6-ELISA had a sensitivity of 83.3% for MEFs and 71.5% for NPSs and a specificity of 85.6% for MEFs and 92.5% for NPSs, respectively. Real-time PCR exhibited significant differences in the number of ompP1 gene copies among samples determined by P6-ELISA to be positive and negative for H. influenzae. However, because the P6-ELISA test has the reactivity in Haemophilus species include two commensals H. haemolyticus and H. parainfluenzae, it is thus a weak method in order to detect only NTHi correctly. Consequently, diagnosis using the P6-ELISA should be based on an overall evaluation, including the results of other related examinations and clinical symptoms to prevent misleading conclusions in clinical setting.

Evaluation of a rapid immunochromatographic ODK-0901 test for detection of pneumococcal antigen in middle ear fluids and nasopharyngeal secretions.

Since the incidence of penicillin-resistant Streptococcus pneumoniae has been increasing at an astonishing rate throughout the world, the need for accurate and rapid identification of pneumococci has become increasingly important to determine the appropriate antimicrobial treatment. We have evaluated an immunochromatographic test (ODK-0901) that detects pneumococcal antigens using 264 middle ear fluids (MEFs) and 268 nasopharyngeal secretions (NPSs). A sample was defined to contain S. pneumoniae when optochin and bile sensitive alpha hemolytic streptococcal colonies were isolated by culture. The sensitivity and specificity of the ODK-0901 test were 81.4% and 80.5%, respectively, for MEFs from patients with acute otitis media (AOM). In addition, the sensitivity and specificity were 75.2% and 88.8%, respectively, for NPSs from patients with acute rhinosinusitis. The ODK-0901 test may provide a rapid and highly sensitive evaluation of the presence of S. pneumoniae and thus may be a promising method of identifying pneumococci in MEFs and NPSs.

Clinical scoring system of acute pharyngotonsillitis.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to evaluate clinical outcomes of acute pharyngo-tonsillitis by a scoring system and the impact of causative pathogens. METHODS: The patients with acute pharyngotonsillitis were evaluated for causative pathogens and her clinical symptoms and pharyngotonsillar finding by a clinical scoring system were assessed. RESULTS: Streptocococcus pyogenes were identified at 13.6%. Thirty-one viruses were also identified by PCR. The numbers of total white blood cells and the levels of C-reactive protein showed a significant positive correlation with clinical scores (p<0.001) and were significantly higher in cases with S. pyogenes. The clinical scores rapidly improved after the antimicrobial treatments in moderate cases and severe cases. CONCLUSION: A clinical scoring system represents the severity of acute pharyngotonsillitis and is useful for evaluating clinical course of the illness.

Haemophilus influenzae and Haemophilus haemolyticus in tonsillar cultures of adults with acute pharyngotonsillitis.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to evaluate the clinical implication of Haemophilus haemolyticus, one of the closest relative of Haemophilus influenzae, on acute pharyngotonsillitis. METHODS: We applied polymerase chain reaction (PCR) for 16S ribosomal DNA (rDNA) and IgA protease gene (iga) to distinguish H. haemolyticus and H. influenzae. RESULTS: Among the 199 Haemophilus spp. isolated from 214 patients with acute pharyngotonsillitis, 52 (24.3%) H. influenzae strains and 23 (10.7%) H. haemolyticus strains were identified by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) for 16S rDNA and IgA protease gene (iga). All H. haemolyticus strains showed hemolysis on horse blood agar and there were no other Haemophilus spp., nonhemolytic H. haemolyticus and H. influenzae variant strains that had absent iga gene. H. hemolyticus showed close genetic relationship with H. influenzae evaluated by pulsed field gel electrophoresis (PFGE). The cases of acute pharyngotonsillitis showing WBC=7000/mm(3) or CRP=8 mg/dl were frequently found among cases with H. influenzae rather than cases with H. haemolyticus. CONCLUSION: H. haemolyticus is a pharyngeal commensal that is isolated frequently from adults with acute pharyngotonsillitis.

Identification of italian cypress (Cupressus sempervirens) pollen allergen Cup s 3 using homology and cross-reactivity.

BACKGROUND: The prevalence of seasonal allergic diseases of the upper airways is increasing in industrialized countries. The Cupressaceae are important causes of pollinosis, particularly in Europe. OBJECTIVE: To determine whether the pollen from Cupressus sempervirens (Italian cypress) contains a pathogenesis-related group 5 (PR-5) protein, similar to that found in other allergenic Cupressaceae pollens. METHODS: Messenger RNA was purified from Italian cypress pollen, and complementary DNA (cDNA) was synthesized. cDNAs for PR-5 proteins were amplified by polymerase chain reaction and extended by rapid amplification of cDNA ends methods. Recombinant Cup s 3 was expressed in Escherichia coli as a fusion protein. Inhibition enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays were used to test the allergenicity of Cup s 3. RESULTS: Three cDNAs were cloned. These clones had approximately 95% identity to Jun a 3 and Cup a 3. Recombinant Cup s 3.0102 maltose-binding protein inhibited the IgE from most patients from binding to an extract of Italian cypress. The extent of inhibition suggested that antibodies to Cup s 3 were a prominent component of the IgE response to Italian cypress pollen. CONCLUSION: Cup s 3, an allergen of Italian cypress pollen, was identified based on cross-reactivity and homology with other pollen PR-5 proteins, despite an apparently low level of protein expression. Variations in the content of Cup s 3 in the pollen from different regions or trees should be considered in the choice of extracts for diagnosis and specific immunotherapy for Italian cypress pollen hypersensitivity.