Hiroshi Kawane

Chlamydia pneumoniae and exacerbations of asthma in adults

Background Chlamydia pneumoniae is a frequent causative agent of acute respiratory disease and has been recently reported as a possible case of asthma. Objective We assessed the prevalence of C. pneumoniae infections in adult patients with acute exacerbations of asthma. Methods One hundred sixty-eight adult patients with acute exacerbations of asthma and 108 control subjects matched for age, sex, and smoking status were studied. Nasopharyngeal swab specimens were obtained from all subjects and analyzed by isolation in cell culture and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test for C. pneumoniae. Serum samples were also obtained and tested for C. pneumoniae-specific antibodies by the microimmunofluorescence test. Results C. pneumoniae was isolated from two (1.2%) asthma patients and none from controls and detected by PCR from nine (5.4%) cases and one (0.9%) control. Both culture positive specimens were also positive in PCR. Further, serologic evidence of acute C. pneumoniae infection was present in 15 (8.9%) of asthma patients and in three (2.8%) of controls (P = .048). The prevalence of C. pneumoniae-specific IgG and IgA was significantly higher in asthma cases than in controls (IgG >/= 1:16; 85.1% versus 67.6%, P = .001; IgA ≥ 1:16: 47.6% versus 16.7%, P < .001). Mean titer of IgG and IgA was also significantly greater in asthma cases than in controls (IgG: 38.8 versus 18.1, P = .0001; IgA: 17.2 versus 6.1, P = .0001). Conclusion Our data suggest that C. pneumoniae infection may trigger acute exacerbations of adult asthma.

Young’s Syndrome Accompanied by Medullary Sponge Kidney

A 33-year-old man was admitted to our division for further evaluation of repeated fever and purulent sputa of more than 10 years duration. Based on clinical symptoms, chest roentgenograms, bronchograms, seminal examination, testicular biopsy specimen and electron micrograph of cilia from the left main bronchial mucosa, the diagnosis of Youngs syndrome was made. A drip infusion myelogram, which was performed because of a persistent hematuria, revealed bilateral medullary sponge kidney, suggesting the involvement of this hereditary disorder in Youngs syndrome.

Japan Tobacco Incorporated has found a new way of promoting tobacco in motor sports.

![][1] EDITOR—Tobacco sponsorship of motor sports is an efficient way to reach boys and young men.1 Japan Tobacco Incorporated, the worlds third largest tobacco producer, had been advertising … [1]: /embed/graphic-1.gif