1. By adding IgE-antiIgE system (human IgE and anti human IgE rabbit serum) to rat's mast cells morphological degranulation of mast cells was remarkably observed. Such remarkable change of mast cells could not be observed by applying the other immunoglobulin antigen-antibody systems than IgE-antiIgE system. 2. By pretreatment of rat's mast cells with human IgE or normal human serum, the degranulation of mast cells by adding IgE-antiIgE was inhibited. However, by the preteatment with antiIgE (rabbit anti human IgE serum) or normal rabbit serum the inhibiting phenomenon was not observed. 3. From the points of the morphological degranulation of rat's mast cells by the addition of IgE-antiIgE, the inhibitory effect of cyclic AMP related compounds was investigated. Remarkable inhibitory effect of isoproterenol, epinephrine, theophyllin, aminophyllin, prostaglandin E_1 and E_2 against the degranulation of mast cells was observed. Inhibitory effect of DSCG and chlorphenesin derivatives, stabilizer of cell membrane, was also observed.

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In 1926, Seki reported a case with bronchial asthma due to the western red cedar used in the reconstruction after the Great Earthquake in 1923. Consequently the use of lumber of this kind was given up, and such information has been forgotten for a long time as the western red cedar asthma. In recent years, however, with the increase of import of western red cedar lumber, the so-called red cedar asthma among the wooden wares manufacturers has once again become an object of public attention. Five cases with bronchial asthma of this kind are reported here, who were treated and observed in our allergy clinic. Four of them worked in the small joinery factory manufacturing fittings or shades of fluorescent light, and only one was engaged in the lumber mill. In some cases asthmatic attacks came about while or immediately after working (the immediate type), and in the other several hours after work, or more delayedly next day (the delayed type). Asthmatic symptoms, however, were often revealed diphasic. The intracutaneous test with red cedar allergen obtained by various kinds of extracting method was carried out. And most conspicuous positive reaction was proved to the extract pressed out from the sawdust of western red cedar. The threshold concentration to positive reaction with this allergen was 10^<-1>, the lowest compared with the many sorts of occupational asthma that the authors previously reported. The Prausnitz-Kustner's passive transfer test with western red cedar extract was barely positive in one of the three cases. And in the inhalative provocation test for this patient, positive reaction was proved, developing immediate type of asthmatic attacks symptomatically as far as the results of pulmonary function test goes. In addition to this, after the pouring red cedar extract into the lower branches of right bronchus under the direct vision by the fibrebronchoscope, the bronchography was tried to the same patient, and the spasm of bronchial muscle was corroborated roentgenologically. From the above-mentioned results of allergic investigations, it is sure that the western red cedar asthma, on the one hand, is characterized by immediate onset and rapid reversibility of asthmatic attacks, and is considered to be the type I allergy proposed by Coombs and Gell. On the other hand, however, more delayed onset and more gradual reversibility of asthmatic attacks are often clinically observed too. From this point of view it is possible that the type III or IV allergy has part in the mechanism of manifestation of the western red cedar asthma. The authors presume the more widely western red cedar lumber is used, the more rapidly number of the patients with the western red cedar asthma increase, and advocate the need of a countermove not only from the standpoint of individual hygiene but also from the public health or policy.

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A simple method for quantitation of low level serum IgE by single radial immunodiffusion process with a tracer level of ^<125>I-IgE (tracer or marker IgE^*) has been described. In this experiment, at a few minutes, 10 days or 30 days after an application of the tracer IgE^* in the immunoreaction well of dilute antibody incorporated gel layer, 8 μl of test serum or the standard IgE (PS) was applied in the same well for immunodiffusion. After the 48 hours immunodiffusion in room temperature, the gel layer was dried and subject to radioautography. The quantitation of the serum IgE was carried out on the radioautogram on the basis of Mancini's principle (1965) The data obtained actually with this method were in conformity to those which were obtained with the conventional indirect method using ^<125>I-labeled second antibody. The lower limit of measurable range was 50 U/ml in this method, while 25 U/ml in the conventional indirect method. The measurable range with a single immune plate covered the normal range as to be used satisfactorily for clinical purpose. The actual mean level of serum IgE of 142 cases and suspected cases of chronic Schistosomiasis japonica was 358 U/ml. The levels of 129 cases (90%) ranged<1,000 U/ml. The method can be used for screening test of serum IgE content as well as more exact test with an immune plate incorporated with less concentration of antiIgE serum.

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An attempt to demonstrate the changes of C1^^-INH by the activation of C1^^-, kallikrein or plasmin was made. In some sera from patients with alpha-1-antitrypsin deficiency, it was found to show an abnormal profile of complement components, in which not only C4 and C2 activities, but the activity of C1^^-INH were decreased to zero, while the amount of C1^^-INH protein was normal. This non-functioning C1^^-INH was demonstrated to have abnormal immunoelectrophoretic pattern compared to normal C1^^-INH. From the idea that the changes might be caused by the activation of C1^^-, kallikrein or plasmin due to the absence of alpha-1-antitrypsin, the other conditions, in which these systems are supposed to be activated, were further investigated. Some sera from patients with severe stages of SLE were found to form double arc band of C1^^-INH by immunoelectrophoresis, suggesting the possibility that the C1^^-INH formed inactive complexes with either C1^^-, kallikrein or plasmin. This phenomenon on the immunoelectrophoresis was confirmed when normal human serum was incubated with immune complexes in vitro. The experiments suggested the C1^^-, kallikrein or plasmin, when activated by any reasons, can affect on the native C1^^-INH, and will be detectable by immunoelectrophoresis in some clinical conditions. Furthermore, an abnormal immunoelectrophoretic pattern of C1^^-INH in a case of Sjogren's syndrome with nephrotic syndrome may give a key to resolve the reaction mechanism of C1^^-INH on immune phenomena.

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Scratch tests of 19 allergens were performed on 256 asthmatic children and their parents (130 persons) by the prick method using a sewing needle. Some of them were also subjected to the PK test and the results were compared with that of the scratch test in order to establish a criteria of the positive reactions. The summary of the obtained results were as follows: 1) This method was safe and showed little nonspecific reactions by the control test solution (50% glycerin with physiologic saline). 2) House dust, mite, cotton, silk and Alternaria showed positive rate of 12% to 80%, and the rest allergens showed low positive rate. 3) Concerning house dust, mite and cotton, male patients showed significantly more positive responses than female patients did. 4) Among the parents, house dust, mite, Candida and silk showed frequent positive responses but less frequent than they did in the patients. 5) The correlation between the diameter of erythemas and wheals was stastically significant. 6) Evaluating the correlation between the skin reactions and PK reactions, it was found that erythema more than 10 mm in diameter and/or positive wheales seemed to be the best indicator of positive reaction. This can be clinically used as the criteria of the positivity of allergens in patients. By this criteria usually "false negative" and "false positive" reactions could be minimized and correlation between scratch tests and PK reactions was fairly significant. 7) From the distribution of the size of erythemas reactions having diameter of more than 10 mm could be also evaluated as positive. 8) The reaction of the prick tests and the end point of intracutaneous skin tests was significantly correlated. Although scratch test is widely used in clinical allergy, the positivity of the test has not been qualitatively evaluated. However, the above mentioned results suggested that the scratch test by this prick method is significant and useful tool to detect allergens among atopic patients in relation to other allergic tests.

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