BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: The mucosal immune response depends on the surveillance network established by dendritic cells (DC) localized within the respiratory epithelium. Fungi have been increasingly recognized as important pathogens in respiratory diseases. We hypothesized that DCs play a central role in the immune response against airborne fungi. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Monocyte-derived DCs were developed by incubating monocytes with interleukin-4 (IL-4) and granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor. DCs were stimulated with Alternaria alternata and Aspergillus nigra for 24 hours and then co-cultured with CD4-positive lymphocytes for 6 days. Levels of IL-6 and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) were measured to determine activation of the DCs, and levels of TNF-alpha, IL-5, and interferon-gamma (INF-gamma) were measured to determine Th polarization. DC migration was induced with conditioned media from nasal polyp epithelial cells stimulated with fungi. RESULTS: Alternaria and Aspergillus activated DCs with enhanced production of cytokines. When activated DCs were co-cultured with CD4-positive lymphocytes, Th2 cytokine and IL-5 production was significantly increased by Alternaria. DC migration was significantly increased by conditioned media from cells that were activated with Alternaria. CONCLUSION: Airborne fungi induced different immune responses depending on the fungi. Alternaria strongly induced DC migration and a Th2 immune response.
Alternaria ; Aspergillus ; CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes ; Culture Media, Conditioned ; Cytokines ; Dendritic Cells ; Epithelial Cells ; Fungi ; Granulocyte-Macrophage Colony-Stimulating Factor ; Immunity, Mucosal ; Interferon-gamma ; Interleukin-4 ; Interleukin-5 ; Interleukin-6 ; Monocytes ; Nasal Polyps ; Respiratory Mucosa ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha

Inflammatory myofibroblastic tumor (IMT), which is composed of spindle shaped myofibroblasts accompanied by an inflammatory infiltrate, is an uncommon neoplasm. Herein we present a rare case of an IMT of the parotid gland. The patient was a 56-year-old woman with parotid mass, which developed a tingling sensation around the mouth angle when the mass was palpated. Ultrasound and CT scan showed a parotid mass with an ill-defined margin. Preoperative gun biopsy showed spindle shaped cell proliferation without cytological atypia. Surgery revealed that the mass was adhesive to buccal branch of facial nerve without encapsulation. The adhesive part of the facial nerve was excised with mass due to the possibility of malignancy. The final pathological report confirming IMT became available following the surgery. We stress that confirmation of IMT should be included in the differential diagnosis of parotid mass which shows spindle shaped cells in histology.
Adhesives ; Biopsy ; Cell Proliferation ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Facial Nerve ; Female ; Humans ; Middle Aged ; Mouth ; Myofibroblasts ; Parotid Gland ; Parotid Neoplasms ; Sensation

BACKGROUND: Gastroesophageal reflux (GER) is characterized by the retrograde movement of gastric contents into the esophagus and laryngopharynx. Recent studies have described a relationship between GER and obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). The aim of this study was to determine whether the presence of GER affects the symptoms and treatment results of OSA. METHODS: One hundred twenty-seven OSA patients were enrolled in this study. All subjects underwent overnight polysomnography. Objective symptoms were evaluated using the Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS), the Stanford Sleepiness Scale (SSS), the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) and Korean version of the World Health Organization Quality of Life Assessment Instrument-BREF (WHOQOL). Diagnosis of GER was based on the Korean version of GER questionnaires. Post-operative subjective symptoms were evaluated 3 months after uvulopalatopharyngoplasty. RESULTS: Body mass index, ESS, and SSS were significantly higher in the GER group, but polysomnographic parameters were not different between two groups. In the GER group, post-operative overall health quality was significantly improved, but the subjective symptoms were not different between the two groups. CONCLUSIONS: Although the prevalence of GER was higher in OSA patients, GER did not significantly influence OSA symptoms and post-operative results.
Body Mass Index ; Esophagus ; Gastroesophageal Reflux ; Humans ; Hypopharynx ; Polysomnography ; Prevalence ; Quality of Life ; Sleep Apnea, Obstructive ; World Health Organization ; Surveys and Questionnaires

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Genetic variations of bitter taste receptors (TAS2R) have shown different responses to bitter taste compounds and the frequencies of these variations were different within and between populations. Recently, single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the TAS2R38 and TAS2R16 genes demonstrated a significant association with smoking and alcohol consumption in several studies. The aim of this study was to determine the relationship between bitter taste gene polymorphism and cigarette smoking and alcohol intake in Korean. SUBJECTS AND METHOD: One hundred seventy four healthy normal volunteers were asked to fill in a questionnaire regarding demographic information, smoking history, frequency of alcohol intake. Peripheral blood samples were obtained for DNA extraction and genotyping. Single nucleotide polymorphisms were identified on the TAS2R38 and TAS2R16 genes. RESULTS: Haplotype analyses of the three SNPs inside the TAS2R38 gene allowed identifying of only two haplotypes that were associated with the non-taster phenotype (AVI homozygous) and the taster phenotype (PAV homozygous and PAV/AVI heterozygous). Common SNP within TAS2R16, which results in aminoacid change in the protein (K172N), is not demonstrated in this study. Smokers and frequent drinkers were more prevalent among non-tasters than tasters in male. CONCLUSION: Functional variants in TAS2R38 correlated with cigarette smoking in the Korean male. Our findings suggest that taster status plays a role in governing the development of nicotine dependence.
Alcohol Drinking ; Alcohols ; DNA ; Genetic Variation ; Genotype ; Haplotypes ; Humans ; Male ; Phenotype ; Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Smoke ; Smoking ; Tobacco Use Disorder