Japanese Journal of Allergology最新文献

Background: Although the prevalence of cedar pollinosis (CP) is increasing in Japan, some patients self-medicate with over-the-counter drugs after medical diagnosis, making it difficult for healthcare providers to grasp the actual situation. The aim of this study was to clarify the actual conditions of CP patients and assess the current status of sublingual immunotherapy (SLIT).

Methods: We conducted a nationwide Internet survey of adult patients with CP.

Results: A total of 5543 participants (mean age 45.4 years) self-reported having CP. Of these, 58.0% had received a physician's diagnosis, and 20.2% had not undergone allergy testing. In terms of severity, 14.8% were classified as "most severe" and 17.5% as "severe." Regarding treatment, 39.4% used over-the-counter medications and 38.3% visited medical institutions. The most frequently reported treatment-related issue was cost (36.2%). Additionally, 42.0% of patients were unaware of cedar SLIT.

Conclusion: Our survey revealed that approximately 20% of CP-diagnosed patients had not undergone testing. Awareness of SLIT was insufficient, indicating a need for greater dissemination of information about treatment options for CP.

Allergies to walnuts and cashew nuts are on the rise, and walnuts have been required to be labeled as a specific ingredient since March 2023, and labeling requirements are exempt for face-to-face sales. It is expected that the mandatory labeling of cashew nuts will be implemented within the fiscal year 2025. Here, we report two cases in which patients developed anaphylaxis despite heeding cautions regarding the mixing of nuts. Case 1: A child with apprehension about a walnut allergy developed symptoms of anaphylaxis after purchasing and consuming a "peanut cream bread" directly from a store. At a later date, an inquiry with the store revealed that the cream had been mixed with walnut paste. Case 2: A child with a history of anaphylaxis due to cashew nuts experienced symptoms of anaphylaxis after consuming curry bread bought directly from a store, although the child had inquired about the use of cashew nuts and had been reassured that it was all right. At a later date, an inquiry made to the distributor's headquarters revealed that the product did indeed contain cashew nuts. For children with nut allergies, it is important to not only instruct them to check the ingredient labels and store counters but also provide more specific guidance about foodstuffs that may possibly contain such allergens.

This article, written in response to receiving the academic conference award from the 72nd annual meeting of the Japanese society of allergology, reviews the author's research on allergic conjunctivitis, discusses its significance, and outlines future research directions.Previously, we reported that repeated topical application of pollen to the conjunctiva without prior systemic sensitization induced eosinophilic conjunctivitis and found that particulate matters like pollen shells were required for the development of local ocular allergy. To track the localization of antigens, we administered fluorescently labeled protein antigen to mouse conjunctiva together with pollen shells. Histological examination revealed that goblet cell associated antigen passages (GAPs) were rapidly formed upon stimulation of pollen shells. The antigen acquisition by the cells in the stroma was highly correlated with GAP formation.Kinetic experiments revealed that rapid antigen transport through GAPs played an important role in the development of the allergic conjunctivitis. Furthermore, topical anesthetics and electric ablation of the trigeminal nerve suppressed the pollen shell-stimulated GAP formation and antigen uptake in the conjunctiva. These results indicated that the pollen shell stimuli induced the GAP formation through a nerve-goblet cell association, which contributed to the development of allergic conjunctivitis.