A mouse-derived anti-human IgG4 monoclonal antibody (DG-01) was prepared by using a hybridoma technique, and this antibody was applied to enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) to measure allergen-specific IgG4 antibodies. Assessment with phospholipase A-specific IgG4 antibodies in bee keepers showed that IgG4 antibodies evaluated by ELISA correlated very well with those determined by solid-phase radioimmunoassay which was reported previously (r=0.885).

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A major allergen (Dp1) was purified from the culture medium extract (CME) of Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus. The IgE and IgG antibodies specific to Dp1 and CME were measured in human sera by microplate-ELISA. CME-specific IgE antibody was detected in 44% and Dp1-specific IgE antibody was detected in 64% of the sera from asthmatic patients. CME-specific IgG antibody was detected in 92% of the sera from asthmatic patients, while Dp1-specific IgG antibody was demonstrated in only 18% of the same sera. Neither CME-specific nor Dp1-specific IgE antibody was detected in 20 normal sera. As for IgG antibody in normal sera, CME-specific IgG antibody was demonstrated in 60%, while Dp1-specific IgG antibody was detected in 5% of the same sera. Dp1 showed greater IgE-binding activity than CME in most sera from asthmatic patients, indicating that most IgE-binding activites in CME is due to Dp1. The possibility was also confirmed by the fact that anti-CME IgE antibody was absorbed with Dp1. Thus, Dp1 should be called a major allergen in CME.

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In order to elucidate the relationship between types of response after inhalation challenge with Candida albicans (Candida) and type I, type III allergy, 100 asthmatic patients over 14 year old were studied. Type I allergy was detected by Prausnitz-Kustner (PK) reaction and radioallergosorbent test (RAST), and type III allergy was detected by passive hemagglutination reaction. All patients showed positive skin reaction (immediate type) and 69 patients (69.0%) showed positive bronchial provocation test (BPT) with Candida. Sixty-nine patients of positive BPT were consisted of 10 immediate asthmatic response (IAR)(10.0%), 24 dual asthmatic response (DAR)(24.0%), and 35 late asthmatic response (LAR)(35.0%). The most of positive intradermal reaction with Candida (71.2%) was non-specific one, that might cause low incidences of IAR and DAR. It was thought that IgE antibody against Candida elicited not only IAR and DAR but also LAR. IgE antibody against Candida could not be detected in 61.1% of LAR-positive patients, that showed highly significant increase of antibody against Candida detected by passive hemagglutination reaction.

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Studded tires used to prevent skidding on frozen roads produce a great amount of road dust in winter. We investigated the influence of this road dust on asthmatic children. Asthmatic children were selected from five primary schools in the central areas of Sendai city where the air is highly polluted with road dust in winter and from five primary schools in the suburban areas where the air is not so polluted. We analyzed the asthma diary of each four weeks in winter and in summer, and their parents were asked to fill out questionnaires concerning their children's asthma and condition of life. From these questionnaires, it was clear that both groups of asthmatic children, in the central and the suburban areas, were the same regarding age, sex, bedding materials, heating appliance used, causal antigen of asthma and drugs used to combat it. In winter, the attack rate of the central group seemed to be higher than that of the suburban group (0.05<p<0.1), but there was no significant difference in the attack rates of either group in summer. Though the concentrations of SO_2 and NOx were much higher in the central area of the city than in the suburbs in both winter and summer, the concentration of suspended particulates was higher in the central area only in winter. So, the difference of attack rate found only in winter was suspected to be caused by suspended particulates, rather than by SO_2 or NOx. The attack rates correlated significantly with the concentration of suspended particulates 3 days, 4 days and 5 days before attack, and seemed to correlate with the concentrations of SO_2 and NOx 4 days before. When the net correlation coefficients were calculated in a multiple-regression analysis in the central area group in winter, the net correlation coefficient of attack rate versus suspended particulates 4 days before was larger than that of attack rate versus SO_2 and attack rate versus NOx 4 days before. However, all of these three net correlation coefficients were below the level of significance. Thus it is concluded that all three pollutants, suspended particulates, SO_2 and NOx, only when they occur together, increase the attack rates of asthmatic children in winter, and that the suspended particulates act as the most important factor of the three.

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Whether Sugi pollinosis is prevalent or not can be correlated to the performance record of the differentiation of its male flower buds. It was forecasted that this disease would not be prevalent in the spring of 1984 except in two regions -Kyushu and Sanyo- as the temperature in July, 1983 was especially low throughout most of the country. Indeed, the disease was prevalent in Kyushu and Sanyo regions but, contrary to the forecast, it was also prevalent in many other regions of the country (except Tohoku and Hokuriku). Based on this fact, we investigated some meteorological factors, in addition to the mean temperature in July of the prior year, which may have had a favorable influence upon the differentiation of the male flower buds. The results were as follows; The forecasting mehtod on the performance record of the differentiation of the male flower buds, i.e. the so called degree of prevalence of Sugi pollinosis, was the same as in the former report when the mean temperature in July was higher than the July norm of previous years. It has been said in the former report that the male flower buds are not differentiated if the mean temperature in July is lower than the July norm of previous years. However, we have now confirmed that the male flower bunds are also differentiated in that season if the mean temperature of one of the 3 ten-day period units^* in July is higher than the previous years' norm for the corresponding ten-day period unit in July. ^*The temperature, when we discuss factors influencing the differentiation of Sugi male flower buds, should not be studied in one month unit. Rather it should be analyzed according to ten-day units, dividing the month (July) into three parts i.e. the first ten days, the middle ten days and the last ten days. The male flower buds differentiate if the mean temperature of a ten-day period in July is high and Sugi pollen grains were not dispersed in the spring of the same year. Consequently, the pollen dispersion volume will increase and Sugi pollinosis will be prevalent in the following spiring. These results suggest that the male flower buds will be able to differentiate more and Sugi pollinosis will be prevalent in the following spring if the mean temperature of one of the ten-day periods in July is higher, even though the mean month temperature during that same month is lower.

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Patients subjected to this study were 60 cases of adult atopic dermatitis to which a dose of 300 mg/day of tranilast was administered. A combination therapy with specific hyposensitization was given to several cases of these 60 cases. Improvement of clinical symptoms and various immunological and allergological test results were evaluated to examine the effect of tranilast on hyposensitization therapy after 4 and 8-16 weeks. The results revealed that acute clinical symptoms were not improved by a short-term administration of tranilast alone but improved by a short-term administration of tranilast alone or a combination therapy with hyposensitization. The utility rates of slight usefulness or more were 63.3% in tranilast alone group and 73.3% in combination therapy group. Although no effect was observed in skin test threshold in the allergological tests, other Type I allergological test values were improved. In particular, a marked improvement was seen in tranilast + hyposensitization combination group.

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Disodium cromoglycate (DSCG) has been considered to show reduction of the exercise-induced bronchospasm (EIB) by acting as a cell wall stabilizer. However, whether this inhibition effect in EIB is caused by an inhibition in the chemical mediator release by DSCG or not is still questionable. The aim of this study is to explain, if possible, the mechanism of DSCG action in EIB. Trial 1. In a double blind and crossover study comparing the effects of placebo (lactose 40 mg) and DSCG on EIB by bicycle ergometer, twelve asthmatic children participated. Placebo powder as well as DSCG showed reductions in the maximal % fall significantly in the lung function test than the control without drug. This suggested the existence of a coating-effect in the airway by the inhalation procedures. Trial 2. Thirteen asthmatic children were studied for their bronchodilation effect of DSCG comparing with a placebo, by double blind and crossover study. Significant bronchodilation effect of DSCG mainly 40 minutes after medication, compared to the control, was observed. These suggested that DSCG showed inhibition on EIB by coating and bronchodilation effects. Thereby the previous consideration of the effect of DSCG as a cell wall stabilizer in EIB is doubtful.

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E-0686 granule sustained-release theophylline was administered to children under 6 years of age, and its pharmacokinetics and clinical value were studied. In a steady state, induced by an administration of 10 mg/kg twice a day, a theophylline level of 7.5 ± 2.3-12.0 ± 2.2μg/ml (mean ± SD) was maintained and the incidence of attack of asthma was significantly reduced. The serum theophylline level showed a high degree of correlation with the predicted value obtained in a single administration. These points suggest that the serum theophylline level in RTC (round the clock) administration of E-0686 can be easily predicted from the individual pharmacokinetics and that serum theophylline level of 8-12μg/ml, can be maintained by the administration of 10mg/kg of E-0686 twice a day. Furthermore, E-0686 in granules form can be taken easily even by small children and administered according to the body weight. This indicates its clinical advantages.

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