PURPOSE: Obesity is related to systemic inflammatory processes causing cardiovascular complications. Intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1), CD40 ligand (CD40L), P-selectin are newly described mediators of inflammation and have a significant effect in atherosclerosis. Adiponectin has shown anti-inflammatory effects in adults. The aim of this study was to evaluate the relationship between adiponectin and inflammatory mediators in children and adolescents. METHODS: Fifty children or adolescents, twenty two with a body mass index (BMI) over 95th percentile, and twenty eight with a BMI below 75th percentile were included in the study. Serum soluble ICAM-1 (sICAM-1), P-selectin, CD40L, lipid profiles, aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase, glucose and insulin were measured to evaluate associations with adiponectin. Comparison of these variables was performed between the obese and the nonobese group. RESULTS: We found a adiponectin to be significant lower and sICAM-1 significant higher in the obese group compared to the nonobese group, but there were no significant differences in P-selectin and soluble CD40L. Adiponectin was negatively associated with ICAM-1 and P-selectin in the obese group. CONCLUSION: Negative associations of adiponectin with ICAM-1 and P-selectin in obese children and adolescents suggest that serum adiponectin level may represent the inflammatory status.
Adiponectin* ; Adolescent ; Adult ; Alanine Transaminase ; Aspartate Aminotransferases ; Atherosclerosis ; Body Mass Index ; CD40 Ligand ; Child ; Cytokines* ; Glucose ; Humans ; Inflammation Mediators ; Insulin ; Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1 ; Obesity ; P-Selectin

No abstract available.
Adenocarcinoma* ; Scrotum* ; Stomach Neoplasms*

The explosive development of genomics technologies including microarrays and next generation sequencing (NGS) has provided comprehensive maps of cancer genomes, including the expression of mRNAs and microRNAs, DNA copy numbers, sequence variations, and epigenetic changes. These genome-wide profiles of the genetic aberrations could reveal the candidates for diagnostic and/or prognostic biomarkers as well as mechanistic insights into tumor development and progression. Recent efforts to establish the huge cancer genome compendium and integrative omics analyses, so-called "integromics", have extended our understanding on the cancer genome, showing its daunting complexity and heterogeneity. However, the challenges of the structured integration, sharing, and interpretation of the big omics data still remain to be resolved. Here, we review several issues raised in cancer omics data analysis, including NGS, focusing particularly on the study design and analysis strategies. This might be helpful to understand the current trends and strategies of the rapidly evolving cancer genomics research.
Coat Protein Complex I ; DNA ; Epigenomics ; Genome ; Genomics ; MicroRNAs ; Population Characteristics ; Research Design ; RNA, Messenger ; Statistics as Topic ; Biomarkers

The explosive development of genomics technologies including microarrays and next generation sequencing (NGS) has provided comprehensive maps of cancer genomes, including the expression of mRNAs and microRNAs, DNA copy numbers, sequence variations, and epigenetic changes. These genome-wide profiles of the genetic aberrations could reveal the candidates for diagnostic and/or prognostic biomarkers as well as mechanistic insights into tumor development and progression. Recent efforts to establish the huge cancer genome compendium and integrative omics analyses, so-called "integromics", have extended our understanding on the cancer genome, showing its daunting complexity and heterogeneity. However, the challenges of the structured integration, sharing, and interpretation of the big omics data still remain to be resolved. Here, we review several issues raised in cancer omics data analysis, including NGS, focusing particularly on the study design and analysis strategies. This might be helpful to understand the current trends and strategies of the rapidly evolving cancer genomics research.
Coat Protein Complex I ; DNA ; Epigenomics ; Genome ; Genomics ; MicroRNAs ; Population Characteristics ; Research Design ; RNA, Messenger ; Statistics as Topic ; Biomarkers

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to investigate the clinical characteristics of primary spontaneous pneumothorax (PSP) in adolescents and identify risk factors for the recurrence of PSP. METHODS: A total of 292 patients diagnosed with PSP from January 1998 to December 2011 were retrospectively studied. Clinical data on demographics, diagnostic imaging, therapies, and risk factors of recurrence were collected and analyzed. RESULTS: The sex ratio of 292 patients was 19.8:1 (male:female), and the average age of the patients was 17.0 years. The average body mass index of the patients was 18.8 kg/m2. The most common presenting symptom was chest pain. There was no seasonal variation in the incidence of PSP. Thirty patients (10.2%) had a history of smoking. The most common location of PSP was the left side. Out of 249 patients, 169 (67.9%) had cysts (blebs/bullae). Fifty-four patients (18.5%) received oxygen therapy, 3 patients (1%) needle aspiration, 119 patients (40.8%) closed tube drainage, and 116 patients (39.7%) surgery. The recurrence rate was 38.6%. Smoking was associated with the size of pneumothorax (P=0.002). Also, the size of pneumothorax and surgery was associated with recurrence (P=0.040 and P=0.004). However, previously reported risk factors for recurrence were not identified in our patients. CONCLUSION: Pediatric PSP occurred mainly in males in late adolescence with normal body mass index. No significant risk factors were related to recurrence of PSP in our study.
Adolescent* ; Body Mass Index ; Chest Pain ; Demography ; Diagnostic Imaging ; Drainage ; Humans ; Incidence ; Male ; Needles ; Oxygen ; Pneumothorax* ; Recurrence* ; Retrospective Studies ; Risk Factors ; Seasons ; Sex Ratio ; Smoke ; Smoking

PURPOSE: A possible involvement of autoimmune mechanism in the pathogenesis of bronchial asthma has been proposed. Recently, alpha-enolase protein was identified as a major autoantigen recognized by circulating IgG autoantibodies in patients with severe asthma. To evaluate a possible pathogenetic significance of these autoantibodies in severe asthma, isotype (IgG, IgA, IgM, and IgE) and IgG subclass (IgG1, IgG2, IgG3, and IgG4) distributions of autoantibodies to recombinant human alpha-enolase protein were analyzed. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We examined serum samples from 10 patients with severe asthma and 7 patients with mild-to-moderate asthma, and 5 healthy controls by immunoblot analysis. Severe asthma was defined as patients having at least 1 severe asthmatic exacerbation requiring an emergency department visit or admission in the last year despite continuous typical therapies. RESULTS: IgG1 was the predominant IgG subclass antibody response to alpha-enolase protein in patients with severe asthma. IgG1 autoantibody to alpha-enolase protein was detected in 7 of 10 patients with severe asthma (70%), 1 of 7 patients with mild-to-moderate asthma (14.3%), and none of 5 healthy controls (0%) (chi-square test; p < 0.05). IgA, IgM, and IgE autoantibodies to alpha-enolase protein could not be detected in patients with severe asthma. CONCLUSION: IgG1 subclass was the predominant type of autoantibody response to alpha-enolase protein in patients with severe asthma, suggests a possibility of IgG1 autoantibody- mediated complement activation in the pathogenesis of severe asthma.
Adult ; Aged ; Asthma/*enzymology/*immunology ; Autoantibodies/*blood/classification ; Autoantigens ; Case-Control Studies ; Complement Activation ; Female ; Humans ; Immunoglobulin G/blood/classification ; Immunoglobulin Isotypes/blood ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Phosphopyruvate Hydratase/*immunology ; Recombinant Proteins/immunology ; Young Adult

Balloon cell melanoma, an uncommon histopathological variant of malignant melanoma, was first described by Gardner and Vazquez in 1970. This condition is histopathologically characterized by the presence of balloon cells with varying sizes and atypical nuclei. An 84-year-old woman presented with a solitary, dome-shaped, walnut-sized, brownish nodule on the posterior aspect of the left ear with bleeding, having only detected the nodule 2 weeks prior. Histopathologically, the lobulated tumor mass revealed copious melanin pigment and many balloon cells with clear cytoplasm, atypical nuclei, and variable size. Immunohistochemically, the tumor mass showed positive reaction to S-100 protein and HMB 45 staining. We herein report a typical case of balloon cell melanoma, which developed primarily on the skin.
Aged, 80 and over ; Cytoplasm ; Ear ; Female ; Hemorrhage ; Humans ; Melanins ; Melanoma ; S100 Proteins ; Skin

Lichen nitidus (LN) is an uncommon, usually asymptomatic cutaneous eruption characterized by the presence of multiple, small, flesh-colored papules. The epidemiologic and pathophysiologic characteristics of LN have not yet been defined. Furthermore, LN has rarely been described in association with other cutaneous diseases. We herein report 3 cases of LN associated with various cutaneous diseases, including lichen striatus, oral lichen planus, and psoriasis vulgaris.
Lichen Nitidus* ; Lichen Planus ; Lichen Planus, Oral ; Lichens ; Mouth ; Psoriasis

PURPOSE: The triglyceride-to-high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (TG/HDL-C) ratio has recently been reported as a biomarker of cardiometabolic risk in obese children and adolescents. The purpose of this study is to describe the TG/HDL-C ratio and related factors in overweight and normal weight Korean children and to evaluate whether the high TG/HDL-C ratio is associated with insulin resistance in overweight children and adolescents. METHODS: Data from 255 overweight (aged 8.7±2.0 years) and 514 normal weight (aged 8.9±1.8 years) children and adolescents were evaluated. Glucose, insulin, total cholesterol (TC), HDL-C and TG levels were measured after overnight fasting, and the TG/HDL-C ratio, non–HDL-C and the homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) were calculated. RESULTS: The TG/HDL-C ratio was higher in overweight group compared to normal weight group (P < 0.001). Among overweight children and adolescents, alanine aminotransferase (P=0.018), non–HDL-C (P < 0.001), and HOMA-IR (P=0.004) were different between the TG/HDL-C ratio tertile groups. The prevalence of elevated HOMA-IR was increased with increasing TG/HDL-C ratio tertiles (P for trend=0.003). On regression analysis adjusted for age and sex, the BMI (β=0.402, P=0.001) and TG/HDL-C ratio (β=0.251, P=0.014) were independently associated with HOMA-IR (adjusted R2=0.324). The TG/HDL-C ratio of 2.0 or more showed higher sensitivity (55.6%) and specificity (72.9%), when compared to TC (≥200 mg/dL), non–HDL-C (≥145 mg/dL), and LDL-C (≥130 mg/dL) for identifying overweight children with elevated HOMA-IR. CONCLUSION: The TG/HDL-C ratio is independently associated with insulin resistance in overweight children and adolescents, and it can be useful in identifying those at higher cardiometabolic risk.
Adolescent* ; Alanine Transaminase ; Child* ; Cholesterol* ; Dyslipidemias ; Fasting ; Glucose ; Homeostasis ; Humans ; Hypertriglyceridemia ; Insulin ; Insulin Resistance ; Lipoproteins* ; Obesity ; Overweight* ; Prevalence ; Sensitivity and Specificity

No abstract available.
Hyperplasia* ; Melanoma*