BACKGROUND: Eosinophil cationic protein (ECP), one of the eosinophil granule proteins released during allergic reactions, may play a major role in the allergic inflammatory process. The measurement of ECP in serum may be a useful indicator of eosinophil activity in ongoing inflammatory processes. We investigated the clinical utility of ECP measurement in serum in patients with bronchial asthma, allergic rhinitis and atopic dermatitis, after standardizing sample processing. METHODS: We measured the serum ECP levels in patients with bronchial asthma (n=38), chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases (COPD) (n=13), respiratory symptoms (n=19), allergic rhinitis (n=26), non-allergic rhinitis (n=24), and atopic dermatitis (n=10) and in normal healthy controls (n=16) by the fluoroenzyme immunoassay using Pharmacia CAP System, and evaluated the correlation between ECP level and blood eosinophil number, or ECP and IgE levels. Blood eosinophil number was counted by the automated cell counter. RESULTS: Serum ECP levels were significantly higher in patients with bronchial asthma (15.6+/- 12.6 g/L), COPD (13.3+/-7.2 g/L), allergic rhinitis (23.8+/-13.2 g/L), and atopic dermatitis (20.6+/- 18.4 g/L) than in normal controls (7.5+/-4.2 g/L) (P <0.05). ECP levels were also significantly higher in patients with bronchial asthma and COPD than in patients with simple respiratory symptoms (6.9+/-4.7 g/L), whose ECP levels did not statistically differ from those in normal controls. ECP levels were also significantly higher in patients with allergic rhinitis than in patients with non-allergic rhinitis (9.5+/-5.1 g/L), whose ECP levels did not statistically differ from those in normal controls. Serum ECP level and eosinophil number in peripheral blood were correlated only in patients with bronchial asthma (r=0.53, P <0.01) and no correlation between ECP and IgE levels was found in all of the patients. CONCLUSIONS: ECP is the one of the secretory components released from the eosinophil granule and measurement of ECP in serum might be one of the noninvasive tool to assess the activity in relation to eosinophil involvement in various allergic diseases.
Asthma ; Cell Count ; Dermatitis, Atopic ; Eosinophil Cationic Protein* ; Eosinophil Granule Proteins ; Eosinophils ; Humans ; Hypersensitivity ; Immunoassay ; Immunoglobulin E ; Lung Diseases, Obstructive ; Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive ; Rhinitis

PURPOSE: von Willebrand disease is a common inherited bleeding disorder characterized by high degree of variable clinical presentation due to either quantitative or qualitative defects in von Willebrand factor. Its incidence in Korea is not well studied while that in western countries is extensively studied. METHODS: We classified 16 cases of vWD from 14 unrelated families based on vWF antigen, ristocetin cofactor activity, factor VIII activity and vWF multimeric patterns analysed by agarose gel electrophoresis, according to a revised classification by ISTH. RESULTS: There were 12 cases (75%) of type 1 vWD or 2M/2N with normal multimeric pattern, 3 cases (18.75%) of type 2 vWD lacking high molecular weight multimers and only 1 case of type 3 vWD with no multimers. CONCLUSION: The proportion of each vWD subtype in Korea is similar to that in western countries, however, accurate diagnosis based on ristocetin induced platelet aggregation test, factor VIII binding assay and molecular genetic diagnosis seems to be necessary for a more complete classification of vWD.
Classification ; Diagnosis ; Electrophoresis, Agar Gel ; Factor VIII ; Hemorrhage ; Humans ; Incidence ; Korea* ; Molecular Biology ; Molecular Weight ; Platelet Aggregation ; Ristocetin ; von Willebrand Disease, Type 3 ; von Willebrand Diseases* ; von Willebrand Factor

No abstract available.

BACKGROUND: The product of oxygen-free radicals inf1ict oxidative injuries on healthy cells. Antioxidants such as superoxide dismutase(SOD), glutathione peroxidase, and reduced glutathione(GSH) are present in almost all cells and play important roles in metabolism, transport, and cellular protection. We measured blood GSH levels in healthy controls and patients with non insulin dependent diabetes mellitus(NIDDM) for evaluation of the clinical usefulness of GSH. METHODS: Erythrocyte GSH levels were measured in fifty healthy controls and thirty NIDDM patients with diabetic retinopathies by Beutler's method. We also tested within-run precision, between-run precision, linearity and recovery rate to evaluate this method measuring erythrocyte GSH levels. RESULTS: The GSH levels (mean +/-SD) of NIDDM patients (5.03+/-0.67mumo1/Hb) were significantly lower than those of healthy control group (6.46+/-0.85mumo1/Hb)(P<0.001). The results of within-run precision and between-run precision when stored at 4degrees Cwere excellent (coefficient of variation were 2.79% and 2.42%, respectively), however, when stored at the room temperature the GSH levels were sharply declined. The linearity and recovery rate were acceptable. CONCLUSIONS: The prescision, linearity, and recovery rate of GSH measurement were excellent. The GSH levels in NIDDM patient group were reduced, and this probably contributes to the defective defense mechanism against increased oxidative stress. Additional measurement of other antioxidants such as superoxide dismutase and glutathione Peroxidase may be required to clarify the pathologic significance of glutathione metabolism in various diseases.
Antioxidants ; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 ; Diabetic Retinopathy ; Erythrocytes* ; Glutathione Peroxidase ; Glutathione* ; Humans ; Insulin ; Metabolism ; Oxidative Stress ; Superoxide Dismutase ; Superoxides

BACKGROUND: Although normal vascular endothelium prevents adhesion and aggregation of platelets by the release of nitric oxide (NO) and prostacyclin, circulating blood cells, such as polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMNs) and mononuclear leukocytes (ML) may be considered to be also important in modulating platelet aggregation. Recently, nitric oxide synthase (NOS) activity was found in PMNs and ML, so these cells can also release NO to inhibit platelet aggregation. We studied platelet-ML interactions using an experimental model in which isolated ML were placed in the aggregometer in contact with human platelets, stimulated by collagen. METHODS: Platelet count in platelet-rich plasma (PRP) was adjusted to approximately 300x109/L. ML were separated using Ficoll-Hypaque (specific gravity 1.077) and finally resuspended at 1, 3 and 5x109/L, in Tyrode albumin buffer (TAB), respectively. Platelet aggregation was measured with Chrono-Log Aggregometer (USA) after adding variable numbers of the ML, stimulating with 2.5, 5 and 10 microgram/mL of collagen. Mechanisms of ML to inhibit the platelet aggregation were evaluated after incubating the ML with 10 micrometer indomethacin and 300 micrometer NG-monomethyl-L-arginine (L-NMMA). RESULTS: Non-stimulated ML (3x109/L) inhibited (43.2 +/- 19.6 versus TAB control 69.2 +/- 10.7% transmission) the platelet aggregation induced by 2.5 microgram/mL of collagen. The inhibition was not attenuated by increasing the concentration of collagen from 5.0 microgram/ mL (50.1 +/- 18.0% versus TAB control 75.5 +/- 13.1%, P<0.001) to 10 microgram/mL (62.9 +/- 17.3% versus TAB contol 82.3 +/- 12.6%, P<0.01). In addition, it was dependent on the number of ML and incubation time. While preincubation of the ML with indomethcin did not affect the antiaggregating capacity of the ML (63.4 +/- 11.1 versus TAB control 73.3 +/- 7.3%), preincubation of the ML with L-NMMA slightly inhibit the antiaggregating capacity of the ML (86.6 +/- 6.8 versus TAB control 73.3 +/- 7.3%). CONCLUSION: These findings suggest that blood ML inhibited the collagen-induced platelet aggregation, of which mechanism appears to be only partly dependent on NO and to be independent on prostaglandins. Release of other substances affecting platelet aggregation from ML requires to be clarified. Using our experimental model, it has been demonstrated that cell-cell contact may facilitate the exchange of a wide array of mediators between platelets and ML which may influence the cellular responses. This experimental model thus allows to study interactions between platelets and ML.
Blood Cells ; Blood Platelets* ; Collagen ; Endothelium, Vascular ; Epoprostenol ; Gravitation ; Humans ; Indomethacin ; Leukocytes, Mononuclear* ; Models, Theoretical ; Neutrophils ; Nitric Oxide ; Nitric Oxide Synthase ; omega-N-Methylarginine ; Platelet Aggregation* ; Platelet Count ; Platelet-Rich Plasma ; Prostaglandins

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the association of maternal age with occurrence of fetal chromosomal abnormalities in Korean pregnant women of advanced maternal age (AMA). METHODS: A retrospective review of the amniocentesis or chorionic villous sampling (CVS) database at Gangnam and Bundang CHA Medical Centers, between January 2001 and February 2012, was conducted. This study analyzed the incidence of fetal chromosomal abnormalities according to maternal age and the correlation between maternal age and fetal chromosomal abnormalities in Korean pregnant women > or =35 years of age. In addition, we compared the prevalence of fetal chromosomal abnormalities between women of AMA only and the others as the indication for amniocentesis or CVS. RESULTS: A total of 15,381 pregnant women were selected for this study. The incidence of aneuploidies increased exponentially with maternal age (P<0.0001). In particular, the risk of trisomy 21 (standard error [SE], 0.0378; odds ratio, 1.177; P<0.001) and trisomy 18 (SE, 0.0583; odds ratio, 1.182; P=0.0040) showed significant correlation with maternal age. Comparison between women of AMA only and the others as the indication for amniocentesis or CVS showed a significantly lower rate of fetal chromosomal abnormalities only in the AMA group, compared with the others (P<0.0001). CONCLUSION: This study demonstrates that AMA is no longer used as a threshold for determination of who is offered prenatal diagnosis, but is a common risk factor for fetal chromosomal abnormalities.
Amniocentesis ; Aneuploidy ; Chorion ; Chromosome Aberrations ; Down Syndrome ; Female ; Humans ; Incidence ; Maternal Age ; Odds Ratio ; Pregnant Women ; Prenatal Diagnosis ; Prevalence ; Retrospective Studies ; Risk Factors ; Trisomy

The association of thymoma with pure red cell aplasia has been well documented, but amegakaryocytic thrombocytopenia is not a recognized paraneoplastic syndrome complicating thymoma. We report a case of thymoma-complicated pure red cell aplasia and amegakaryocytic thrombocytopenia in a 73-yr-old woman. Pure red cell aplasia was diagnosed seven months after the detection of thymoma. One year after the diagnosis of pure red cell aplasia and seven months after thymectomy, bone marrow aspiration and biopsy showed an absence of megakaryocytes, marked erythroid hypoplasia with normal myeloid series. A diagnosis of amegakaryocytic thrombocytopenia and pure red cell aplasia was made. Oral steroid maintenance therapy resulted in recovery of platelet count. She has still transfusion-dependant anemia but platelet and neutrophil counts had been maintained in normal range for more than five months, until the last follow-up. We think that autoreactive T cells may induce a clinical autoimmune response even after eradication of thymoma, and aplastic anemia as a late complication following thymectomy was described in previous cases. This patient also has to be under a close observation because of the possibility to evolve into aplastic anemia.
Aged ; Bone Marrow/pathology ; Female ; Humans ; Imidazoles/therapeutic use ; Megakaryocytes/pathology ; Pregnadienetriols/therapeutic use ; Red-Cell Aplasia, Pure/complications/*diagnosis ; Thrombocytopenia/*diagnosis/drug therapy/*etiology ; Thymectomy/*adverse effects ; Thymoma/*complications/diagnosis/surgery ; Thymus Neoplasms/*complications/diagnosis/surgery

Diabetic kidney disease (DKD) is now a pandemic worldwide, and novel therapeutic options are urgently required. Adenosine, an adenosine triphosphate metabolite, plays a role in kidney homeostasis through interacting with four types of adenosine receptors (ARs): A1AR, A2AAR, A2BAR, and A3AR. Increasing evidence highlights the role of adenosine and ARs in the development and progression of DKD: 1) increased adenosine in the plasma and urine of diabetics with kidney injury, 2) increased expression of each of the ARs in diabetic kidneys, 3) the protective effect of coffee, a commonly ingested nonselective AR antagonist, on DKD, and 4) the protective effect of AR modulators in experimental DKD models. We propose AR modulators as a new therapeutic option to treat DKD. Detailed mechanistic studies on the pharmacology of AR modulators will help us to develop effective first-in-class AR modulators against DKD.

The purposes of this study were to develop an in vitro co-culture model of epithelial tissue with dermal equivalent, cultured at an air-liquid interface, and to evaluate the effects of extracellular matrix and concentration of calcium and fetal bovine serum in medium to find optimized culture condition. Oral keratinizing epithelial cells in monolayer culture were grown in Mitomycin-treated 3T3 feeder. Primary cultured oral epithelial cells were reconstituted onto the dermal equivalents consisting of 3T3 fibroblast and type I collagen, and co-culture was grown at the air-liquid interface. The histomorphological development of reconstituted oral epithelium in vitro for 21 days revealed 10~12 layered statified epithelium, closely similar to the parakeratinized gingival epithelium. Neither laminin nor type IV collagen was able to induce keratinocyte differentiation. But a mixture of laminin and type IV collagen induced well-polarized keratinizing tissue with anchoring structure of basal cells. When the reconstituted oral epithelium was incubated in 1.0% and 0.5% serum-containing medium, the granular cell layers with orthokeratinization developed. The reconstituted epidermis generated in serum-free keratinocyte growth medium (KGM)-containing pituitary extract showed features of incomplete differentiation. The present study shows that the dermal equivalents containing fibroblasts will support epidermal morphogenesis and differentiation. And these results suggest that extracellular matrix and calcium concentration are important factors during the reconstitution of keratinizing epithelium in vitro.
Calcium ; Coculture Techniques ; Collagen Type I ; Collagen Type IV ; Epidermis ; Epithelial Cells ; Epithelium ; Extracellular Matrix ; Fibroblasts ; Keratinocytes* ; Laminin ; Morphogenesis ; Population Characteristics*

OBJECTIVE: To investigate a belt-type, biomedical mobile device capable of measuring patients' biomedical signals and sending the biomedical data to a remote medical server. This device was designed to measure and record ECG and motion signals continuously for a moving subject and, on in the event of an emergent situation, to notify a remote doctor of the situation by transmitting data on the emergent situation to a remote server through a CDMA network. METHODS: The developed system is composed of three parts: biomedical signal acquisition, biomedical data recording, and data transmission. We conducted four types of experiment in order to evaluate the developed system's accuracy, reliability, operability, applicability to daily life, and SMS alarm function. First, we tested the accuracy of the R-R interval by comparing the signals measured via the developed system with those via a commercialized ECG system while the subjects were sitting, standing, lying or cycling. Second, we tested the reliability of the transmitted data to the remote server when two types of emergent events are generated in the developed system using a patient simulator, and measured the battery life to determine the system life. Third, we experimentally examined the accuracy of the corresponding data transmitted to the remote server via the CDMA network when two types of event are generated for each of seven types of action (sitting, standing, standing up from the seat, ordinary walking, fast walking, cycling, and running) during daily life. Lastly, we tested the SMS alarm function. RESULTS: The acquisition and comparison of the subjects' biomedical signals and motion signals confirmed the accuracy, reliability, operability and applicability of the developed system to daily life. The ability of the system to monitor the ECG signals and motion signals during daily life was also demonstrated. CONCLUSION: The system was demonstrated to be very applicable to subjects requiring continuous monitoring for chronic disease and health management. Therefore, the developed system is expected to play an important role in building ubiquitous healthcare systems in Korea in the near future.
Chronic Disease ; Deception ; Delivery of Health Care ; Electrocardiography ; Humans ; Korea ; Organothiophosphorus Compounds ; Walking