Reccent investigations demonstrated that genetically modified tumor cells could be used as vaccines against cancer. In this light, we introduced human interleukin -2 (IL-2) gene into a poorly immunogenic rat fibrosarcoma cell line WBT, a human lung abenocarcinoma cell line AGZY and a highly metastatie sub - cell line Anip973 derived from AGZY. The transduced cells showed no obvious changes in morphology, growth and colony - forming ability in soft agar.Transduction with IL-2 gene rendered the cells more sensitive than the parental cells and cells transduced with NeoR gene alone to the lysis by cytotoxic lymphocytes. High levels of IFN and TNF were detected in the supernatants of cocultured lymphocytes and tumor cells containing IL-2 gene. Tumorigenicity of WBT/IL-2 cells was greatly reduced in syngeneic rats. Metastatic capacity of Anip973 in nude mice was blocked by the transduction of IL-2 gene, but not the transduction of NeoR gene alone. Inoculation of WBT/IL-2 cells conferred rats resistance to the challenge of parental WBT cells.Splenocytes from WBT/IL-2-inoculated rats restimulated with WBT cells in vitro showed high CTL activity against WBT cells. Our results demonstrated the potential application of tumor cells transduced with IL— gene as active vaccine against cancer.

OBJECTIVE The purpose of our study was to measure the glucocorticoid receptor(GR)protein level in the nuclei of nasal polyp cells and compare the results in nasal polyposis patients with chronic rhinosinusitis alone and with chronic rhinosinusitis accompanied with asthma, before and after glucocorticoid(Glu)therapy. METHODS We used enzyme-linked immunosorbentassay(ELISA) techniques to quantitatively measure the activated- GR protein level in the nuclei of the nasal polyp cells. Nasal polyp tissues were obtained from patients with chronic rhinosinusitis alone and with chronic rhinosinusitis accompanied with bronchial asthma. In the latter, polyp tissues were obtained before and after Glu therapy seperatively. RESULTS Our data showed no significant differences between the activated- GR protein level of the nasal polyposis patients with chronic rhinosinusitis alone and with chronic rhinosinusitis accompanied with bronchial asthma before Glu therapy. However, the activated-GR protein level was significantly upregulated after Glu therapy in the patients with chronic rhinosinusitis accompanied with bronchial asthma. CONCLUSION The result of our research clearly showed that Glus upregulated the activated-GR protein level in the nuclei of nasal polyp cells and that the upregulation is essential for Glus anti-inflammatory action.

No abstract available.
Adult* ; Histiocytosis, Langerhans-Cell* ; Humans ; Ulcer*

Saccharomyces is an ascospore-producing yeast that is commonly employed in the brewery and bakery industries. We report a case of opportunistic skin infection with Saccharomyces in a 62-year-old female whose defense was impaired by immunosuppression. Previously reported cases have been treated with amphotericin B or ketoconazole and our patient respbnded to fluconazole.
Amphotericin B ; Female ; Fluconazole ; Humans ; Immunosuppression ; Ketoconazole ; Middle Aged ; Saccharomyces* ; Skin* ; Yeasts

No abstract available.
Angiomyoma* ; Mucous Membrane*

Objective: To study the effect of and possible mechanism of knockinng down PI3Kp85α using siRNA in MCF-7 human breast cancer cell line. Methods: Oligofectamine was used to transfect PI3Kp85α siRNA to knock down the PI3Kp85α expression level in MCF-7 human breast cancer cell line in vitro. Real-time PCR was conducted to detect the expression of PI3Kp85α. The effect of PI3Kp85αsiRNA on the growth of MCF-7 cells was measured by MTT. The cell cycle distribution and cell apoptosis were detected by cell flow cytometry. Protein expression was evaluated by immunofluorescence staining and Western blot. Results: The expression of PI3Kp85 α was knocked down with PI3Kp85α siRNA in MCF-7 cells. Cell growth was delayed in PI3Kp85αsiRNA-treated group. Conclusion: The suppressive effect of PI3Kp85αsiRNA on the growth of MCF-7 human breast cancer cell line is significant and PI3Kp85α could be a candidate for gene therapy for breast cancer.

Sarcoidosis is a chronic granulomatous disease, involving multisystem, confirmed by the presence of non-caseating granulomas. Sinonasal involvement in sarcoidosis is rare and difficult to diagnose since the symptoms of nasal obstruction and rhinitis are nonspecific. The diagnosis of sarcoidosis begins with clinical suspicion, followed by with imaging, and finally confirmed with tissue biopsy. In this study, we report a case of sarcoidosis of the nasal septum, which was early confirmed by a biopsy of the nasal septum and hilar lymph node.
Biopsy ; Diagnosis ; Granuloma ; Granulomatous Disease, Chronic ; Lymph Nodes ; Nasal Obstruction ; Nasal Septum* ; Rhinitis ; Sarcoidosis*

Objective Chronic rhinosinusitis was often exacerbated by viral infection.A disruption of the mechanisms that regulate the activity of matrix metallopmteinases(MMPs)during viral infection was one possible mechanism responsible for the cxacerbation.The purpose of study was to achieve a better understanding of MMP expression in hasal epithelial cells after viral infection.Methotis Human nasal epithelial cells were isolated from nasal polyp specimens obtained during endoscopic endonasal surgery in chronic rhinosinusitis patients.The expression of MMP-2,MMP-9,and tissue inhibitor of mctallopmteinase (TIMP).1 mRNA in primary human nasal polyp epithelial cells after double stranded RNA(ds RNA) stimulation were investigated.Results Among the genes whose expression was evaluated,only expression of MMP-9 mRNA increased significantly after dsRNA stimulation(22.61±5.47 fold increase,Z=-2.52,P=0.012).Conclusions The significant up-regulation of MMP-9 mRNA,which Was not modulated by TIMP-1,was an additional siyrec of increased pmteolytic activity in virus-infected upper airways that might contribute to the exacerbation of chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps.

BACKGROUND: Hidradenitis suppurativa is a chronic inflammatory skin disease showing recurrent painful nodules and abscesses. Many treatment modalities, such as topical antibiotics, systemic antibiotics, retinoids, immunomodulators, biologics, and surgical treatment are used to treat the disease, but there is no single effective treatment for hidradenitis suppurativa. OBJECTIVE: We conducted this study to compare the clinical outcomes of treatment with systemic antibiotics and systemic retinoids. METHODS: We analyzed the clinical features, treatment modalities, and clinical outcomes of patients with hidradenitis suppurativa and compared the clinical outcomes of treatment modalities. RESULTS: A total of 77 patients were enrolled. Male patients were predominant, and the mean age was 28.1 years. Buttock (42.0%) was the most commonly affected site and 63 patients (81.8%) had lesions at Hurley stage I. Forty-eight patients (62.3%) were treated with systemic antibiotics and 29 (37.7%) with systemic retinoid. Seventy-one patients (92.2%) showed improvement after a mean treatment duration of 8.3 weeks, and 69 (89.6%) experienced recurrence after improvement. Systemic antibiotics showed a relatively high improvement rate, short mean treatment duration, and low recurrence rate compared with systemic retinoids, but the differences were not statistically significant. Among systemic antibiotics, both tetracycline and macrolide showed good therapeutic effects for HS, but the differences were also not statistically significant. CONCLUSION: In this study, systemic antibiotics were associated with superior treatment outcomes compared to systemic retinoids, though without statistical significance. In the case of mild lesions, treatment with systemic retinoids appears to show comparable effectiveness to systemic antibiotics.
Abscess ; Anti-Bacterial Agents* ; Biological Products ; Buttocks ; Hidradenitis Suppurativa* ; Hidradenitis* ; Humans ; Immunologic Factors ; Isotretinoin ; Male ; Recurrence ; Retinoids* ; Skin Diseases ; Tetracycline ; Therapeutic Uses

Background: Acne vulgaris is a chronic inflammatory disease of the pilosebaceous unit. Adapalene-benzoyl peroxide gel has been proven to be effective in the treatment of both inflammatory and comedonal acne. However, skin irritation characterized by erythema, scaling, and dryness may occur with the use of this formula. Objective: This study aimed to investigate the effects and safety of a new formulation of adpalene-benzoyl peroxide in combination with multi-lamellar emulsion (MLE) for acne treatment. Methods: All patients were treated with adapalene-benzoyl peroxide with MLE once daily for 12 weeks on acne lesions. The subjects visited the hospital at baseline, 2 weeks, 4 weeks, 8 weeks, and 12 weeks, and clinical effects, patient satisfaction, and adverse effects were estimated. The severity of adverse effects was measured on a 4-point scale. Results: A total of 30 subjects were enrolled. The number of lesions decreased significantly from 20.2 to 7.8 (p＜ 0.0001) after treatment. Investigator’s global assessment showed almost clear, and patient satisfaction increased from 3.57 to 4.13. The subjects had adverse effects such as tingling sensation (83.3%), scales (80.0%), erythema (63.3%), and dryness (63.3%). Severity of adverse effects had 1 point on average. Additionally, transepidermal water loss was found to be decreased. Conclusion This study suggests that adapalene-benzoyl peroxide with MLE is effective for treating acne lesions and shows high patient satisfaction. Hence, this new combination could be a safe and well-tolerated option for acne treatment.