All living creatures on this planet, from bacteria to human, produce sugar chains (glycans). This means that sugar chains are essential for living a life. Abundant, diverse, and highly regulated repertoire of glycans are synthesized by glycosylation process in cells. Located in proteins (N-glycans and O-glycans) and lipids (glycosphingolipids), glycans participate in many vital biological processes including molecular recognition, cell adhesion, molecular trafficking and clearance, receptor activation, and signal transduction. Histo-blood group antigens that are composed of sugar chains are expressed under the control of the Secretor, Lewis and ABO glycosyltransferases. They play important roles in microbial infections and cancers. Many of sugar chains associated with histo-blood group antigens are exploited as receptors for microorganisms. Aberrant glycosylation of proteins and lipids occurs commonly during malignant transformation and leads to the expression of tumor-associated glycans. In this review, over the scope of transfusion medicine, we discussed deep down the biologic meaning of sugar chains, through exploring how the sugar chains are synthesized, structured, and functioning.
Bacteria ; Biological Processes ; Cell Adhesion ; Glycosylation ; Glycosyltransferases ; Humans ; Planets ; Polysaccharides ; Signal Transduction ; Transfusion Medicine

A 45-year-old, multigravida woman who had been pregnant with dichorionic twins after in vitro fertilization (IVF) was referred due to early onset of severe preeclampsia. Ultrasonographic findings were multicystic tumor and normal placenta with a live fetus appropriate for 14 weeks of gestation. After therapeutic abortion, the multicystic tumor showed hydropic feature. The fetus had no anomalous finding. Histopathologic analysis revealed complete hydatidiform mole and normal placental tissue attaching three vesseled umbilical cord. Gestational trophoblastic disease (GTD) was diagnosed due to rising levels of serial beta-hCG values and abnormal sonographic findings. The patient treated with combined chemotherapy. We report a case of a complete hydatidiform mole and coexisting normal live fetus after IVF, which was complicated with early onset severe preeclampsia and persistent GTD.
Abortion, Therapeutic ; Female ; Fertilization in Vitro ; Fetus ; Gestational Trophoblastic Disease ; Humans ; Hydatidiform Mole ; Middle Aged ; Placenta ; Pre-Eclampsia ; Pregnancy ; Pregnancy, Twin ; Twins ; Umbilical Cord

Pneumocystis jirovecii pneumonia is a common opportunistic infection seen in patients with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection. Dihydropteroate synthase (DHPS) is a target of sulfa drugs, and mutations in DHPS gene are associated with failure in treatment and prophylaxis of P. jirovecii infections in HIV-infected patients. Here, we report a case of a patient with P. jirovecii infection, harboring DHPS gene mutations, who had not been previously treated with trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole (TMP/SMX). A 50-yr-old man was admitted to the hospital with symptoms such as fever, cough, sputum, and sore throat. Chest computed tomography scanning revealed diffuse ground glass opacity in both the lungs, and the patient was diagnosed as having HIV infection with a CD4+ T cell count of 22/µL. Immunohistochemical test results were positive for P. jirovecii. He was treated with TMP/SMX; however, his symptoms and laboratory findings did not improve. The treatment was changed to clindamycin and primaquine, and his symptoms improved after 3 days. Molecular testing of the sample for the detection of DHPS gene mutations and the typing of mitochondrial large subunit rRNA (mtlsurRNA) revealed DHPS gene mutations at codon 55 and 57, respectively, and the case had type 3 mtlsurRNA. This case study illustrates that DHPS mutation test results can be positive even in patients without previous exposure to TMP/SMX.
Cell Count ; Clindamycin ; Codon ; Cough ; Dihydropteroate Synthase ; Fever ; Glass ; HIV ; HIV Infections ; Humans ; Lung ; Opportunistic Infections ; Pharyngitis ; Pneumocystis jirovecii* ; Pneumocystis* ; Pneumonia* ; Primaquine ; Sputum ; Thorax

BACKGROUND: The performance of the fecal occult blood test (FOBT) has recently improved with the use of quantitative immunochemical assays. We evaluated the two latest immunochemical FOBTs: OC-Sensor PLEDIA (Eiken Chemical, Japan) and NS-Prime (Alfresa Pharma, Japan). METHODS: The precision was evaluated by using the quality control materials at two levels and carry-over rates were measured at high and low concentrations of the sample, prepared from the calibrators. Linearity was measured by using five concentrations of human hemoglobin (0-1,000 ng/mL), prepared from erythrocyte lysates. Correlation between the two systems was analyzed by testing approximately 50 selected stool specimens per day and comparing the results obtained with those of the currently used analyzer, OC-Sensor DIANA (Eiken Chemical), for 10 consecutive working days. RESULTS: The variation for repeatability, between-run, between-day, and intermediate precision at both levels was <5.0%, and carry-over rates were <0.01% for both systems. Linearity slopes were 0.857 and 0.594 for PLEDIA and NS-Prime, respectively, with r²>0.99 for both systems. In total, 499 stool specimens were analyzed, of which 127 (25.5%), 130 (26.1%), and 129 (25.9%) specimens tested positive by DIANA, PLEDIA, and NS-Prime, respectively. The agreement between PLEDIA and NS-Prime was 98.4%. Quantification by PLEDIA was linear to that by NS-Prime (y=1.0372x+17.744; r²=0.9064). CONCLUSIONS: The analytical performances of PLEDIA and NS-Prime warrant their use as diagnostic tests. They showed excellent categorical agreement; however, the quantitative value obtained by NS-Prime was lower than that obtained by PLEDIA.
Diagnostic Tests, Routine ; Erythrocytes ; Humans ; Occult Blood* ; Quality Control

OBJECTIVE:cDNA microarray technology was used to comprehensively analyze the gene expression in the placenta of term women with labor compared to without labor. METHODS:Placental tissue was obtained from patients in spontaneous labor (n=5) and those not in labor (n=5) during Cesarean section of full term pregnancy. mRNA levels were examined through cDNA microarray using Agilent GeneSpringGX 7.3 (Agilent technology, USA). SPSS 11.0 was used for statistical analysis. RESULTS:Among total 38,467 genes, 2,374 genes were detected to be up-regulated in labor samples, while 12 genes were down-regulated. 40 genes of them were identified as significantly up-regulated in levels of expression (up-regulated > or =5.0 fold, p<0.05). According to gene ontology analysis, they are associated with variable cell biologic functions including apoptosis, signal transduction, metabolic process, immune response, and transcription, etc. CONCLUSION:This study suggests that our results could provide interesting clues to understanding the initiation and the process of normal labor and might lead to further studies in a more targeted fashion.
Apoptosis ; Cesarean Section ; DNA, Complementary* ; Female ; Gene Expression Profiling ; Gene Expression* ; Gene Ontology ; Humans ; Metabolism ; Oligonucleotide Array Sequence Analysis* ; Placenta* ; Pregnancy ; Pregnant Women* ; RNA, Messenger ; Signal Transduction

PURPOSE: There are few recent data regarding allergic sensitization of atopic dermatitis (AD) in Korea. The aim of this study was to investigate patterns of sensitization according to age and gender in children with AD. METHODS: This retrospective study included 4,661 children with AD from 1998 to 2014. The serum specific IgE (sIgE) levels to egg white (EW), cow's milk (CM), peanut, wheat, soybean, buckwheat, tree nuts, crustaceans, meat, and house dust mites (HDMs) were reviewed. AD was categorized into the extrinsic (ADe) and intrinsic type (ADi) according to the presence or absence of sensitization. The proportion of patients with sIgE to EW or CM greater than the previously reported diagnostic decision point (DDP) was determined. RESULTS: A total of 4,661 children (2,843 boys and 1,818 girls) were collected. We identified 1,857 of 2,663 children (69.7%) with the ADe type and 806 of 2,663 children (30.3%) with the ADi type. The sensitization rates increased with age (P<0.001). EW (59.3%) was the most commonly sensitized food, followed by CM (46.6%), peanut (32.2%), wheat (31.5%), soybean (28.1%), and buckwheat (23.7%). The most commonly sensitized food groups were tree nuts (56.7%) and crustaceans (28.3%). The rate of sensitization to HDMs was 40.1%. In addition, 11.1% and 7.5% of children had levels of sIgE to EW and CM, respectively, higher than the DDP. CONCLUSION: The incidence of ADe among children with AD was 69.7% and increased with age. The most commonly sensitized food allergen was EW, followed by CM and peanut.
Arachis ; Child* ; Dermatitis, Atopic* ; Egg White ; Fagopyrum ; Humans ; Immunoglobulin E ; Incidence ; Korea ; Meat ; Milk ; Nuts ; Pyroglyphidae ; Retrospective Studies ; Soybeans ; Trees ; Triticum

OBJECTIVE: Our purpose was to investigate transglutaminase 2 (TGM2) mRNA and protein expressions in term placentas and fetal membranes delivered with labor compared to no labor. METHODS: Samples were obtained from five cases delivered with labor and five cases delivered without labor after 38 weeks of gestation. Each sample was collected from amnion, chorion, central and peripheral portion of the basal plate of placenta. Real time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) was done to analyze mRNA expression of TGM2. Western blot was done and TGM2 protein level was detected. Mann-Whitney U test was used for statistic analysis. RESULTS: In labor group, TGM2 mRNA expressions were decreased compared to no labor group in 3 sampling sites except chorion (0.66+/-0.10 vs 1.29+/-0.12 in peripheral placenta, 0.67+/-0.23 vs 1.02+/-0.02 in central placenta, 0.70+/-0.16 vs 1.04+/-0.05 in amnion in contrast with 1.62+/-0.64 vs 1.56+/-0.21 in chorion). TGM2 protein expressions of four differential portions were decreased in all labor groups (1.05+/-0.35 vs 1.27+/-0.19 in peripheral placenta, 0.69+/-0.84 vs 0.84+/-0.31 in central placenta, 0.33+/-0.15 vs 0.39+/-0.33 in amnion, 0.96+/-0.18 vs 1.77+/-0.61 in chorion). CONCLUSIONS: This result suggests that TGM2 might involve in labor progress of term pregnancy.
Amnion ; Blotting, Western ; Chorion ; Extraembryonic Membranes ; Gene Expression ; GTP-Binding Proteins ; Placenta ; Pregnancy ; Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction ; RNA, Messenger ; Transglutaminases

Drug-induced immune hemolytic anemia (DIIHA) is a rare side effect of drugs. DIIHA may cause a systemic inflammatory response that results in acute multi-organ failure and death. Ceftizoxime belongs to the class of third generation cephalosporins, which are the most common drugs associated with DIIHA. Herein, we present a case of a 66-year-old man who developed fatal DIIHA after receiving a second dose of ceftizoxime. He was admitted to receive photodynamic therapy. He had a history of a single parenteral dose of ceftizoxime 3 months prior to admission. On the day of the procedure — shortly after the infusion of ceftizoxime — the patient's mental status was altered. The blood test results revealed hemolysis. Oliguric acute kidney injury developed, and continuous renal replacement therapy had to be applied. On the suspicion of DIIHA, the patient underwent plasmapheresis. Diagnosis was confirmed by a detection of drug-dependent antibody with immune complex formation. Although his hemolysis improved, his liver failure did not improve. He was eventually discharged to palliative care, and subsequently died.
Acute Kidney Injury ; Aged ; Anemia, Hemolytic* ; Antigen-Antibody Complex ; Ceftizoxime ; Cephalosporins ; Diagnosis ; Hematologic Tests ; Hemolysis ; Humans ; Liver Failure ; Palliative Care ; Photochemotherapy ; Plasmapheresis ; Renal Replacement Therapy

Acromegaly is a slowly progressing condition resulting from excess growth hormone (GH), generally caused by a GH-secreting pituitary adenoma. Cancer is the third most common cause of mortality in patients with acromegaly, and insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1) is known to influence tumor formation by increasing cell proliferation and inhibiting apoptosis. Multiple myeloma (MM) is a plasma cell neoplasm, and previous studies have suggested the possible role of IGF-1 in its development of MM. However, no cases of acromegaly accompanied with MM have been reported in Asia to date. We here report the case of a 58-year-old woman with acromegaly accompanied with MM who presented with longstanding acromegalic manifestations resulting from a GH-secreting pituitary adenoma and also exhibited anemia, a reversed albumin/globulin ratio, and plasmacytosis on bone marrow examination. Because IGF-1 has been suggested to play an important role in the development and progression of MM, the patient promptly underwent surgical removal of the pituitary adenoma via a transsphenoidal approach. Since there is currently no consensus on therapeutic guidelines and suggested prognosis for MM with acromegaly, long-term follow-up of such cases is needed.
Acromegaly* ; Anemia ; Apoptosis ; Asia ; Bone Marrow Examination ; Cell Proliferation ; Consensus ; Female ; Growth Hormone ; Growth Hormone-Secreting Pituitary Adenoma ; Humans ; Insulin-Like Growth Factor I ; Middle Aged ; Mortality ; Multiple Myeloma* ; Neoplasms, Plasma Cell ; Pituitary Neoplasms ; Prognosis

To evaluate the relationship of genetic polymorphisms of ERCC2 and ERCC4 genes, both involved in nucleotide excision repair (NER), and the risk of breast cancer, a hospital-based case-control study was conducted in Korea. Histologically confirmed breast cancer cases (n=574) and controls (n=502) with no present or previous history of cancer were recruited from three teaching hospitals in Seoul during 1995-2001. Information on selected characteristics was collected by interviewed questionnaire. ERCC2 Asp312Asn (G>A) was genotyped by single-base extension assay and ERCC4 Ser835Ser (T>C) by dynamic allele-specific hybridization system. Although no significant association was observed between the genetic polymorphisms and the risk of breast cancer, women with both ERCC2 A allele- and ERCC4 C allele-containing genotypes showed a 2.6-fold risk (95% CI: 1.02-6.48) of breast cancer compared to women concurrently carrying the ERCC2 GG and ERCC4 TT genotypes. The breast cancer risk increased as the number of "at risk" genotypes increased with a borderline significance (P for trend = 0.07). Interactive effect was also observed between ERCC4 genotype and body mass idnex (BMI) for the breast cancer risk; the ERCC4 C allele containing genotypes posed a 1.7-fold (95% CI: 0.96-2.93) breast cancer risk in obese women (BMI>25 kg/m2) with a borderline significance. Our finding suggests that the combined effect of ERCC2 Asp312Asn and ERCC4 Ser835Ser genotypes might be associated with breast cancer risk in Korean women.
Breast Neoplasms/*genetics ; DNA Helicases/*genetics ; DNA-Binding Proteins/*genetics ; Female ; Genetic Predisposition to Disease ; Humans ; Korea ; Middle Aged ; Obesity/*genetics ; *Polymorphism, Genetic ; Transcription Factors/*genetics