Questions on the history of allergy-like symptoms were divided into four subsections: respiratory symptoms including wheezing and whistling, i.e. BA-like symptoms; dermal symptoms including reddish skin, itching, and oozing, i.e. AD, eczema, or urticaria-like symptoms;

Fedratinib cell line nasal symptoms including sneezing, nasal discharge, and nasal obstruction, i.e. AR/PA-like symptoms; and ocular symptoms including eye itching, reddish eyes, and watery eyes, i.e. AC or PA-like symptoms. Each subsection comprised a core find more question on the allergy-like symptom experienced ever and a series of branch questions on the age of first attack, changes in symptom severity, and season/months in which the symptoms most frequently appeared. Respiratory allergy-like symptoms, dermal allergy-like symptoms, nasal allergy-like symptoms, and ocular allergy-like symptoms were defined as presence if the core questions (VI.1.a, VI.2.a, VI.3.a, and VI.4.a, refer to appendix) were responded ‘yes.’ In RSL3 mouse addition,

eczema caused by rubber gloves, metallic accessories, and cosmetics was documented and the respondents who replied ‘yes’ toward this were also considered to be the subjects with dermal symptoms. Follow-up questionnaire items This questionnaire consisted of demographic information, smoking status, history of allergy-like symptoms, and occupational history as a medical doctor. Similar to the baseline study, questions on the history

of allergy-like symptoms were divided into four subsections. Each subsection consisted of a core question on the allergy-like symptom experienced ever and a series of branch questions. Respiratory allergy-like symptoms, dermal allergy-like symptoms, nasal allergy-like symptoms, and ocular allergy-like symptoms were defined as presence if the core mafosfamide questions (II.1.a, II.2.a, II.3.a, and II.4.a, refer to appendix) were responded ‘yes.’ The branch questions concerned changes in symptom severity after graduation, whether the symptoms seemed to be work-related, and appearance of the symptoms by work-related items (chemical substances, medical tools, and medical materials), laboratory animals, and other causes which were not work-related. Occupational history as a medical doctor was asked in open-ended style. Work-related symptoms were defined based on the literature by one of the present authors (Kusaka et al. 1986). It was considered to be work-related if the symptoms appeared in the workplace and decreased or disappeared at home, the symptoms appeared on the days on duty (e.g. weekdays) and decreased or disappeared during the days off duty (e.g. weekends and holidays), and the symptoms disappeared after a change of the workplace or profession. Serological test Each April, from 1993 to 1996 and from 1999 to 2001, we conducted serological tests for the respondents of our baseline questionnaire.