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these data show that hepatocyte growth factor, together with vascular endothelial growth factor, might play an important role in the pathophysiology of Kawasaki disease and their serum levels could be a powerful predictor for the development of coronary artery lesions.

HTLV‐I transmission routes were found for 66 carrier pregnant women by studying sera, from the carrier pregnant women, their mothers, and their husbands, and by obtaining detailed family histories at interview. Forty‐one cases (62.1%) were considered to be instances of vertical transmission, 15 (22.8%) of sexual transmission, 6 (9.1%) of blood transfusion, and 4 (6.1%) undecided. To date, most cases of adult T‐cell leukemia (ATL) have been considered to result from vertical transmission. Our results therefore imply that about 30% (22.8%+ 9.1%) of the carrier pregnant women are at minimal risk of ATL. Moreover, in case of presumed husband‐to‐wife transmission, more than half (6/11) were infected between one year and four years after marriage.

Interleukin-12 (IL-12) secreted from macrophages or dendritic cells plays an important role in the protection against intracellular pathogens as well as the developmental commitment of T helper 1 cells. IL-12 exerts its biological effects through binding to specific IL-12 receptors (IL-12Rs) termed IL-12Rbeta1 and IL 12Rbeta2. In this paper, we performed association studies between the three reported polymorphisms (Q214R, M365T and G378R) of the IL-12Rbeta1 gene or the newly identified polymorphisms (P238L, IVS9 -7G>A, IVS13 -121G>A, A643T, P779P and c.3283T>G) of the IL-12Rbeta2 gene, and the development of type 1 diabetes or atopic asthma as representative Th1- and Th2- dominant diseases, respectively. The association study of each polymorphism of the IL-12Rbeta1 or IL-12Rbeta2 gene and type 1 diabetes or asthma showed that these IL-12R genes did not contribute to the development of type 1 diabetes or asthma in the Japanese population. Further analysis in individuals with susceptibility to intracellular pathogens may elucidate the importance of the IL-12R genes.

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