Background: Japanese cedar (JC) pollinosis is the most common seasonal allergic rhinitis in Japan. Standardized JC pollen extract is available for subcutaneous immunotherapy, but this treatment is limited by potentially serious side effects. The aim of this double-blind, randomized comparative study was to evaluate the efficacy and safety of standardized JC pollen extract in a new oral formulation (CEDARTOLEN®, Torii Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd., Tokyo, Japan) for sublingual immunotherapy (SLIT) for JC pollinosis. Methods: A total of 531 subjects with JC pollinosis were randomized into 2 groups at a ratio of 1:1 to receive daily sublingual administration of standardized JC pollen extract with a maintenance dose of 2,000 Japanese allergy units (JAU) or placebo for 2 consecutive pollen seasons. The efficacy was evaluated using the total nasal symptom and medication score (TNSMS) as the primary end point. Secondary end points included the total ocular symptom and medication score (TOSMS) and scores for individual symptoms and medication. Results: The TNSMS was significantly lower (p < 0.0001) in the SLIT group than in the placebo group in the peak symptom period by 18 and 30% in the first and second seasons, respectively. All secondary end points were also significantly lower in the SLIT group in both seasons. No systemic anaphylaxis occurred. Conclusions: SLIT with daily administration of standardized JC pollen extract was effective for improving nasal and ocular symptoms of JC pollinosis and reducing the use of relief medication. The JC pollen extract was well tolerated with only local adverse events.

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The questionnaires were highly correlated in terms of both overall and comparable domain scores. In addition, both questionnaires had equal and satisfactory psychometric validity, demonstrating that they are both useful tools for assessing QOL in rhinitis. However, when compared with each other, the JRQLQ focuses mainly on activities of daily life and is simpler, while the RQLQJ focuses mainly on rhinitis-related health and is more responsive.

The oxidative formation of 8-hydroxy-2'-deoxyguanosine (8-OHdG) in DNA is closely associated with the induction of degenerative diseases, including cancer. However, the oxidant species participating in the formation of 8-OHdG has yet to be fully clarified. On the basis that peroxyl radicals are a strong candidate for this species, we employed 2,2'-azobis(2-amidinopropane) (AAPH) as a peroxyl radical generator. Exposure of calf thymus DNA to AAPH formed 8-OHdG, but the exposure of 2'-deoxyguanosine (dG) alone did not. From the exposure of various combinations of nucleotides, 8-OHdG was formed only in the presence of dG and thymidine (dT). A mix of dG with an oxidation product of dT, 5-(hydroperoxymethyl)-2'-deoxyuridine, produced 8-OHdG, but the amount formed was small. In contrast, 8-OHdG was produced abundantly by the addition of dG to peroxidized dT with AAPH. Thus, the formation of 8-OHdG was mediated by the peroxidized dT. Instead of artificial AAPH, endogenous peroxyl radicals are known to be lipid peroxides, which are probably the oxidant species for 8-OHdG formation mediated by thymidine in vivo.

The present study compared the effects of six Chinese teas categorized by their production process: green, white, yellow, oolong, black and pu-erh teas, on carbon tetrachloride (CCl4)-induced liver injury. Wistar rats were given ad libitum the Chinese teas prepared according to the home-style methods for 1 week, and then intraperitoneally injected with CCl4 (1 mg/kg body weight) or olive oil as a vehicle. The yellow tea significantly ameliorated the increase in the activity of the alanine- and aspartate-aminotransferases in plasma. Thus, the drinking of yellow tea may contribute to protection against liver injury.