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Background We conducted and reported the first (1982; 55,388 subjects), and second (1992; 45,674 subjects), epidemiological surveys conducted on bronchial asthma in elementary students across 11 prefectures in western Japan. The 2 surveys were conducted in the same regions using the same methodology employing a modified Japanese version of the American Thoracic Society-Division of Lung Diseases (ATS-DLD) Epidemiology Questionnaire. We conducted the third survey in 2002, and compared the findings to those of previous studies. Methods In the third survey, 37,036 students attending the same schools as in previous surveys (in 11 prefectures) were given the questionnaire. A total of 35,582 responses (96.1%) were collected. An ATS-DLD Epidemiology Questionnaire was also used in this study, and the findings were compared to those of previous studies. Results 1. The prevalence of bronchial asthma (BA) in boys, girls, and all students was 3.8%, 2.5%, and 3.2%, respectively, for the first survey; 5.6%, 3.5%, and 4.6% for the second survey; and 8.1%, 4.9%, and 6.5% for the third survey. 2. A decline in the BA prevalence in older subjects which could be seen in the first survey was absent in the second and third surveys. There were no regional differences in the third survey. 3. The boys-to-girls ratio in the first, second, and third surveys was 1.5, 1.6, and 1.6, respectively. 4. BA was more prevalent among subjects with a past history of respiratory disease in infancy and those with a family history of allergic disease. 5. The prevalence of asthma symptoms and wheezing in the first, second, and third surveys was 7.1%, 9.8%, and 11.8%, respectively. 6. A comparison of the prevalence of other allergic diseases between the second and third surveys revealed a decrease in atopic dermatitis and an increase in allergic rhinitis, allergic conjunctivitis, and cedar pollinosis. Conclusions BA prevalence in the third survey increased 2.1 and 1.4 times respectively compared to the first survey and second survey, indicating an upward trend in all regions and age groups surveyed.

Background: Atypical parathyroid adenoma is a borderline neoplasm defined by histological findings, while its cytological characteristics have not been described so far.Case: A 43-year-old man was diagnosed as primary hyperparathyroidism due to parathyroid tumor by medical check-up as a momentum. Although the extirpated tumor was welldemarcated by fibrous capsule, a few small tumor nests were observed in the capsule, which fulfilled the histological diagnostic criteria of atypical adenoma. Some of the tumor cells had giant and/or hyperchromatic nuclei, with intranuclear cytoplasmic inclusions in part, which may be used in favor of an estimation of adenoma rather than carcinoma. In addition, there were few mitotic figures in the tumor tissue and Ki-67 labeling index was as low as that in the conventional parathyroid adenomas.Conclusion: It is suggested that the present case is biologically akin to the conventional adenoma and that nuclear atypy and low proliferative activity are useful findings to estimate parathyroid neoplasms to be benign in the cytological specimens.

Astringency in a Japanese persimmon (Diospyros kaki Thunb.) fruit is mainly caused by soluble tannin. A computer image analysis method was tried for easier, quicker and more accurate measurement of soluble tannin content in persimmon fruit. Perpendicular sections of fruits of Japanese persimmon cvs. Hiratanenashi and Monpei were printed on filter papers dipped in 3% FeCl3 solution. The mirror images on the filter papers were digitized by a gray scale image scanner. These digital images were thresholded, and the percentages of black pixels in transverse images were counted as an index of soluble tannin content, named tannin index. The tannin index was compared with the soluble tannin content measured by the Folin-Denis method. The tannin index correlated highly with the soluble tannin content in both cultivars, and this indicates the image analysis method is capable of measuring soluble tannin in persimmon fruit.