| Dear Colleagues
 This is to inform you that the 5th International Symposium on Tonsils and Mucosal Barriers of the Upper Airways will be held in Wakayama City, Japan on April 9-11, 2003.
Accompanying the advances being made in the field of medicine today, the role of the tonsils in immunocompetence is becoming extremely important. Upper respiratory tract infections such as acute otitis media, acute rhinosinusitis and acute tonsillitis are diseases that occur with extremely high frequency, and the anti-microbial agents used to treat these diseases account for a large proportion of health care costs. The increasingly refractory nature of upper respiratory tract infections caused by recently appearing drug-resistant bacteria in particular is presenting a major problem clinically, and elucidation of the immune functions of the tonsils and other mucosal membranes of the upper respiratory tract is considered to have important significance. The tonsils are also considered to play an important role as one of the causes of sleep apnea syndrome, and have been reported to be intimately involved in the manifestation of IgA nephropathy and palmoplantar pustulosis, a kind of skin disorder.
Interest has continued to grow in this symposium with each session ever since it was first held in Kyoto, Japan in 1987. It is hoped that, through the active participation by all those in attendance, the upcoming 5th symposium will provide an excellent opportunity for furthering basic research on tonsil functions and upper respiratory tract mucosal immunity as well as promoting progress in the area of clinical applications such as development of treatments and mucosal vaccines.
The city of Wakayama, where the symposium will be held, has been a historical castle town since the 16th century, and is blessed with a warm and comfortable climate. Koyasan Temple, which is the spiritual center of Buddhism in Japan, is also located nearby. What is more, the time you will be here in the spring is considered to be the best time for viewing cheery blossoms.
It is hoped that as many participants as possible will be able to attend this symposium.
I look forward to seeing each and everyone of you in Wakayama in April 2003.
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