Japanese Journal of Allergology

The possibility of oxatomide as the nasal dosage drug for the therapy of nasal allergy was studied. Oxatomide was well absorbed from the nasal cavity, indicating a high permeability to nasal epithelial layer after nasal administration. Acidic pH condition further enhanced the permeation of oxatomide across Caco-2 monolayers, due to the high solubility at the low pH range. Nasal dosage forms for oxatomide (dextrin form, hydroxypropyl-γ-cyclodextrin form and the suspension of polyethylene glycol) was, therefore, adjusted to pH 5.0. This pH allowed a high solubility of oxatomide without the irritation to nasal epithelium. The effect of nasal administration of oxatomide was studied on experimental allergic rhinitis in sensitized guinea pig. All dosage forms of oxatomide significantly inhibited the dye leakage into the nasal cavity, and among three forms, dextrin form showed the highest effect. High viscosity of dextrin solution was considered to stabilize the dispersion of oxatomide and enhance the retention in the nasal cavity. These results suggest that oxatomide should be useful as nasal dosage drug for allergic rhinitis.

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We have examined 370 infants less than 12 months of age with atopic dermatitis about food allergies, especially by egg white antigens. Since the results of the skin scratch test and serum specific IgE antibody test often correspond to each other, only the serum specific lgE antibody test was given to infants over 6 months of age. An oral provocation test using boiled egg white was given to 176 patients, and 52 of them showed immediate positive reaction. The number of patients with a positive reaction was much fewer than expected. This may be due to lowered levels of egg white antigens from being boiled, and the majority of patients that took the test were over 12 months of age. Those infants with atopic dermatitis often react positively to both serum specific IgE antibody tests and skin scratch tests, therefore follow up studies on changes in the level of serum lgE antibody and reaction to oral provocation tests with infants over 6 or 7 months of age must be done to determine if egg whites need to be eliminated from their diet or not.

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Background : The actual conditions regarding immediate type food allergy have not been fully understood. Appropriate countermeasures have not been taken so far. The objective of our research is to identify the actual conditions of immediate type food allergy in Japan for the purpose of contributing to future practices. Subject : We conducted a survey on the patients in collaboration with 2689 domestic hospitals which have pediatrics and more than 100 beds. We focused on these cases who presented with symptoms of allergy within 60 minutes of the intake of any offending food. Result : 60.4% of collaborators returned the questionnaire. We investigated 1420 cases in 498 hospitals. Average age of cases was 6.7±13.1 (Mean±SD). Ages not more than 8 years-old comprised 80.1% of the whole population. The most common offending foods were eggs, milk products, wheat, buckwheat, fish and fruits. In addition, offending foods varied depending on age. The clinical symptoms appeared at 24.2 minutes ±19.4 minutes (Mean±SD) after the intake of offending foods. The most common clinical symptom was observed on the skin and respiratory organs. Conclusion : Based on the results of this study, the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare amended the ministerial ordinance concerning the allergy food labeling system. Five major offending foods (eggs, milk, wheat, buckwheat, and peanuts) were designated as ingredients to be specified on the label.

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To elucidate the actual state of scratching behavior of NC mice noted when PiCl-induced dermatitis occurs, the circadian rhythm in scratching behavior of this mouse model was examined, and the time when scratching behavior, which is useful to evaluate the severity of itch, occurs was assessed. A steroid drug (Prednisolone ointment), which has been confirmed to inhibit dermatitis from worsening, was used to examine whether or not, or how it inhibits scratching behavior in this mouse model. It became clear that scratching behavior increased during a period from the evening to the night in the animals which had not been sensitized (normal animals) ; compared with the day time, scratching behavior occurred more often in the nighttime. It also became clear that scratching behavior increased in the animals with PiCl-induced dermatitis increase in the frequency of induction of dermatitis, and Prednisolone ointment significantly inhibited scratching behavior in the animals in which dermatitis had been induced with PiCl six times. From these results, it can be said that scratching behavior increases in PiCl-induced mouse atopic dermatitis models correlatively with the increase in the frequency of induction of dermatitis, and steroid drugs decrease the frequency of the scratching behavior. In conclusion, it is strongly suggested that this mouse model is useful for development of therapeutic methods and novel medicinal drugs for atopic dermatitis.

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