Background Periostin, an extracellular matrix protein, contributes to subepithelial thickening
in asthmatic airways, and its serum levels reflect airway eosinophilic inflammation. However, …

We conducted genome sequencing of the filamentous fungus Aspergillus sojae NBRC4239
isolated from the koji used to prepare Japanese soy sauce. We used the 454 …

Background In steroid‐naive patients with asthma, several gene variants are associated
with a short‐term response to inhaled corticosteroid ( ICS ) treatment; this has mostly been …

In the present study, we investigated whether extracellular sphingosine 1-phosphate (S1P)
is involved in airway hyper-reactivity in bronchial asthma. The effects of S1P on the response …

A novel enzyme, cycloisomaltooligosaccharide glucanotransferase (CITase), catalyzes the
conversion of dextran to cyclic isomaltooligosaccharides by intramolecular transglucosylation …

Materials and Methods Materials Blue dextran 2000 and Dextran T2000 were purchased
from Pharmacia. A series of isomaltooligosaccharides used as standards, from isomaltose to …

Novel cyclic isomaltooligosaccharides, cyclodextran, strongly inhibited the dextransucrase
reaction. The inhibition was dependent on the cyclodextran concentration and greatly …

The patients’ inhalation flow pattern is one of the significant determinants for clinical performance
of inhalation therapy. However, the development of inhalation flow meters for various …

1474 LETTERS TO THE EDITOR above-mentioned factors. Furthermore, instead of airflow
variability, we used prebronchodilator percent predicted FEV1 (% predicted FEV1). Therefore, …

Bronchodilators are used to improve symptoms and lung function in asthma and COPD. Airway
smooth muscle tone is regulated by both muscarinic and β 2 -adrenergic receptor activity…