No abstract available.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: The androgen dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) attenuates allergic inflammatory airway reactions by down-regulating the Th2 response in mice. The purpose of this study was to investigate whether DHEA suppresses Th2 cytokine production in cultured peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) from asthmatic patients. METHODS: Sixty-one consecutive suspected asthmatic or non-asthmatic men underwent tests for asthma. PBMCs from each subject were cultured with and without DHEA (0.01~10 micrometer) for 48 h. The concentrations of interferon (IFN)-gamma, interleukin (IL)-5, and IL-10 in the culture supernatant were measured via an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. RESULTS: In PBMCs from subjects exhibiting methacholine airway hyperresponsiveness (AHR), DHEA significantly suppressed IL-10, IL-5, and IFN-gamma production in a dose-dependent manner (all p<0.001) and tended to increase the IFN-gamma/IL-5 ratio (p=0.087). DHEA (10 micrometer) suppressed cytokine production to a greater degree in subjects with AHR compared with those without AHR (IL-5: 24.0+/-7.8% vs. 40.9+/-3.6%, p<0.01; IFN-gamma: 29.7+/-7.0% vs. 54.5+/-5.1%, p<0.01). Cytokine suppression was significantly related to AHR, serum total IgE levels, and skin reactivity to house dust mites. CONCLUSIONS: DHEA suppressed both Th1 and Th2 responses, with a Th1 bias, and the degree of suppression was associated with the severity of AHR or atopy. Therefore, DHEA may be a useful therapy for asthma.
Adjuvants, Immunologic/*pharmacology ; Adolescent ; Adult ; Asthma/*pathology ; Cell Culture Techniques ; Cytokines/*metabolism ; Dehydroepiandrosterone/*pharmacology ; Humans ; Male ; Th2 Cells/*drug effects/*metabolism ; Young Adult

No abstract available.
Hyperaldosteronism* ; Kidney Transplantation*

Langerhans cell histiocytosis (LCH) is a rare histiocytic disorder characterized by heterogenous lesions infiltrated with CD1a+/CD207+ cells. Although LCH has a relatively good prognosis, the prognosis for patients with LCH refractory to standard chemotherapy is poor. Neurodegenerative LCH (ND-LCH) is a central nervous system complication of LCH that is characterized by progressive radiological and clinical abnormalities. Symptomatic ND-LCH is difficult to treat and therefore has a poor prognosis. A two-year-old boy presented with a scalp mass. Biopsy confirmed LCH. Whole-body imaging revealed LCH involvement in multiple bones of the skull, facial bones, and lungs. Prednisolone and vinblastine chemotherapy was initiated. One-year post-treatment, most of the lesions in the bones and lung nodules disappeared, and chemotherapy was discontinued. New neurodegenerative lesions appeared 4 months after chemotherapy was discontinued. Second-line chemotherapy using cytarabine, vincristine, and prednisolone was initiated. However, neurological manifestations of ND-LCH worsened post second-line treatment, and the treatment was switched to cytarabine and cladribine. Despite third-line chemotherapy, the lesions progressed, and neurological deficits worsened. After identifying BRAF V600E mutation in the tumor tissue using next-generation sequencing, cytotoxic chemotherapy was discontinued and vemurafenib treatment was initiated. One-year post-vemurafenib therapy, ND-LCH manifestations regressed, and the patient experienced neurological improvement.

Bacille Calmette-Guerin (BCG) induces potent Th1 responses with the help of interleukin (IL)-10 and IL-12 released from dendritic cells (DCs), and suppresses Th2- associated allergic reactions. However, there are still some controversies on therapeutic effects of BCG in asthmatics. This study investigated whether BCG administration to DCs suppresses IL-5 production from T cells in atopic asthmatics. DCs derived from peripheral blood of subjects were cultured with or without BCG and Dermatophagoides farinae extract. Some DCs were co-cultured with T cells in the presence of BCG or the above culture supernatants. In the atopic asthmatics, BCG significantly increased IL-10 and IL-12 production from DCs. In the presence of D. farinae extract, BCG further increased IL-10 production. BCG-induced IL-10 production was significantly higher in the atopics (n=14) than in the non-atopics (n=9). Both BCG and the BCG-treated DCs culture supernatant significantly increased IFN-gamma production from T cells. Both BCG and the supernatant from DCs+BCG+D. farinae co-cultures significantly decreased IL-5 production (all p<0.05), but the supernatant from DCs+BCG co-cultures did not. In conclusion, administration of BCG together with D. farinae extract effectively decreased IL-5 production from T cells, probably through the action of IL-10 and IL-12 released from DCs in D. farinaesensitive asthmatics.
Adult ; Asthma/*immunology ; BCG Vaccine/*immunology ; Dendritic Cells/*immunology ; Female ; Humans ; Interferon-gamma/biosynthesis ; Interleukin-10/biosynthesis ; Interleukin-12/biosynthesis ; Interleukin-5/*biosynthesis ; Lymphocyte Activation ; Male ; T-Lymphocytes/*immunology

PURPOSE: Asthma is characterized clinically not only by episodic wheeze and reversible airway obstruction but also by excessive airway secretion. Oppenshaw- Warwick found that 77% of asthmatic subjects reported sputum production as a prominent symptom. Invasive assessment for the airway inflammation in children has been frequently limited. Induced sputum by inhalation of hypertonic saline allows monitoring of airway inflammation in children with asthma in a non-invasive way. METHODS: Thirty subjects with asthma were selected by asthma questionares and divided two groups as 14 current symptomatic asthmatics (FEV(1)<85%: PD15) and 16 stable non-symptomatic asthmatics with 4.5% hypertonic saline challenge test, and 14 normal controls were selected. They all inhaled 4.5% hypertonic saline for 10 minutes by ultrasonic nebulizer. The expectorated sputum and saliva were collected from all subjects and collected 3 hours after corticosteroid (Beclomethasone diproprionate 200microgramX2) inhalation for asthmatics and were reduced by dithiotreitol. Total cell counts and differentials were determined. RESULTS: Sputum from current asthmatics contained a significantly higher proportion of eosinophil than stable asthmatics or normal controls (7.9+/-6.0 vs. 3.8+/-4.5% vs. 0.8+/-1.4%, P<0.05). The induced sputum after corticosteroid inhalation showed significant decrease in total cell count, eosinophil proportion in current asthma and stable asthma. CONCLUSION: The cellular analysis of induced sputum was a useful non-invasive and safe study for the diagnosis of childhood asthma and assessment for the direct effects of inhaled corticosteroid on airway inflammation in children with asthma.
Airway Obstruction ; Asthma* ; Cell Count ; Child* ; Diagnosis ; Eosinophils ; Humans ; Inflammation ; Inhalation ; Nebulizers and Vaporizers ; Saliva ; Sputum* ; Ultrasonics

BACKGROUND: Intranasal (i.n.), as compared with subcutaneous (s.c.), BCG vaccination causes a greater suppression of airway eosinophilia. A comprehensive examination is needed to confirm that in various asthma models. METHODS: BALB/c mice were immunized with i.n. or s.c. inoculation of BCG 1 x 10(5) CFUs. Sensitization and provocaton using ovalbumin (OVA) or Dermatophagoides farinae (Der f) were started at the same time or 1 week after the immunization. And then, a bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) and an examination of lung tissue using a computerized image analyzer program were performed. RESULTS: Both the i.n.- and s.c.- BCG infections reduced eosinophilia in both the BAL fluids and the lung tissues of both OVA- and Der f- asthma models. The proportions of BAL fluid lymphocyte in the mice infected with i.n. BCG were significantly lower than those with s.c. BCG (1.60+/-0.39% vs. 3.42+/-0.37%, p<0.01). However, the s.c.- as compared with i.n.- route caused a greater suppression in peribronchial eosinophilia [small (<500 micrometer) airways: 43.9+/-12.5 vs 89.5+/-20.0/mm2, p=0.08; large (>1,000 micrometer) airways: 17.4+/-3.2 vs 37.0+/-5.9/mm2, p<0.05]. The goblet cell proportions in epithelium were also significantly lower in the mice received s.c.- as compared with i.n.- BCG (0.29+/-0.18 vs 0.43+/-0.20, p<0.01). CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that both i.n.- and s.c.- BCG inoculations reduce eosinophilia in airways, but the s.c. route is more effective in the suppression of the asthmatic responses in lung tissue.
Animals ; Asthma ; Bronchoalveolar Lavage ; Dermatophagoides farinae ; Eosinophilia ; Eosinophils ; Epithelium ; Goblet Cells ; Immunization ; Lung ; Lymphocytes ; Mice ; Mycobacterium bovis* ; Ovalbumin ; Vaccination

Anthocyanin pigments from varieties of black, red and wild rice were identified and quantified to evaluate their potential as nutritional function, natural colorants or functional food ingredients. Anthocyanin extraction was conducted with acidified methanol with 0.1M HCl (85:15, v/v) and identification of anthocyanin, aglycone and sugar moieties was conducted by comparison with purified standards by HPLC, Ultraviolet-Visible absorption spectrophotometer and paper chromatography. Black and wild rice showed three different types of pigments by HPLC whereas red rice variety did not show any anthocyanins. Out of three pigments detected, one (peak 2) was characterized as cyanidin-3-glucoside (C3G) by comparison of spectroscopic and chromatographic properties with an authentic standard, and another (peak 3) was tentatively identified as cyanidin-fructoside on the basis of spectroscopic properties with lambdamax of aglycone in 1% HCl methanol at 537 nm, electrospray ionization mass spectra with major ions at 449 and 287 m/z and chromatographic properties. But another pigment (peak 1) has not been characterized. The most abundant anthocyanin in black and wild rice was C3G.
Absorption ; Anthocyanins ; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; Chromatography, Paper ; Functional Food ; Glucosides ; Ions ; Methanol

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Autoimmune thyroiditis (AIT) is a form of thyroiditis associated with autoimmune antibodies. Few studies have measured thyroid volume in Asians. This study was undertaken to determine the distribution of thyroid volume and to explore possible correlations between thyroid volume and other factors in a Korean cohort. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Two hundred eleven patients who underwent (99m)Tc-pertechnetate thyroid scintigraphy between 2009 and 2011 were recruited and their thyroid volume was measured. AIT was defined as having thyroperoxidase antibody (TPOAb) and/or thyroglobulin antibody (TgAb) positivity and TRAb negativity, regardless of thyroid function. RESULTS: The mean thyroid volume was 32.1 mL in AIT patients. The distribution of thyroid volume was normal after log transformation. Thyroid volume was larger in patients with both autoantibodies than in patients with only one antibody (p<0.001). The first quartile of patients grouped according to thyroid volume were older (52.1 years, p=0.037) than the patients in other quartile groups. Thyroid volume correlated independently with TPOAb titer, and TgAb titer adjusted for other factors in a multivariate analysis. CONCLUSION: Thyroid volume in Korean AIT patients had an unimodal distribution and correlated with autoantibody titer.
Antibodies ; Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; Autoantibodies ; Cohort Studies ; Humans ; Multivariate Analysis ; Radionuclide Imaging* ; Thyroglobulin ; Thyroid Gland* ; Thyroiditis ; Thyroiditis, Autoimmune*

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Autoimmune thyroiditis (AIT) is a form of thyroiditis associated with autoimmune antibodies. Few studies have measured thyroid volume in Asians. This study was undertaken to determine the distribution of thyroid volume and to explore possible correlations between thyroid volume and other factors in a Korean cohort. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Two hundred eleven patients who underwent (99m)Tc-pertechnetate thyroid scintigraphy between 2009 and 2011 were recruited and their thyroid volume was measured. AIT was defined as having thyroperoxidase antibody (TPOAb) and/or thyroglobulin antibody (TgAb) positivity and TRAb negativity, regardless of thyroid function. RESULTS: The mean thyroid volume was 32.1 mL in AIT patients. The distribution of thyroid volume was normal after log transformation. Thyroid volume was larger in patients with both autoantibodies than in patients with only one antibody (p<0.001). The first quartile of patients grouped according to thyroid volume were older (52.1 years, p=0.037) than the patients in other quartile groups. Thyroid volume correlated independently with TPOAb titer, and TgAb titer adjusted for other factors in a multivariate analysis. CONCLUSION: Thyroid volume in Korean AIT patients had an unimodal distribution and correlated with autoantibody titer.
Antibodies ; Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; Autoantibodies ; Cohort Studies ; Humans ; Multivariate Analysis ; Radionuclide Imaging* ; Thyroglobulin ; Thyroid Gland* ; Thyroiditis ; Thyroiditis, Autoimmune*