BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Eosinophil is a major inflammatory cell in allergic diseases and parasitic infestations. Various cytokines such as GM-CSF, IL-3 and IL-5 are known to activate eosinophils and prolong their survival. Among them, IL-5 is the most potent stimulator of eosinophil survival. Recently, it was reported that increased expression of Bcl-2 is related to prolonged survival of IL-5 stimulated eosinophil. Theophylline is a useful drug in bronchial asthma, due not only to bronchial dilation but also to its anti-inflammatory effects. It has been suggested that anti inflammatory action of theophylline derives from the reduction of inflammatory cells in the airways which is mechated by stimulat on of apoptosis of inflammatory cells. In this study, we investigated, by measuring Bcl-2 expression of IL-5 stimulated eosinophil, the effect of theophylline on apoptosis as one of the anti-inflammatory action. MATERIAL AND METHOD: Peripheral eosinophils were isolated from atopic patients by using Perco- 11 discontinuous gradient and purified by negative selection technique using MACS. Eosinophil viability and apoptosis were measured by FACscan. Expression of Bcl-2 protein in eosinophils was detected by Western blot and ELISA. RESULTS: IL-5 increased the percentage of viable eosinophils and reduced the apoptosis of eosinophils in a dose dependent manner. The increased survival of IL-5 stimulated eosinophils was reduced by theophylline via activation of apoptosis. Bcl-2 was increased when eosinophils were cultured with IL-5 only, but when theophylline was cocultured, reduced Bcl-2 was seen with Western blot and ELISA. CONCLUSION: IL-5 increases the survival of eosinophil through the enhanced expression of Bcl- 2. Theophylline has counter action against IL-5 via inhibition of Bcl-2 induced by IL-5. Inhibiting the prolongation of eosinophil survival caused by IL-5 might be one possible mechanism of antiinflammatory effects of theophylline.
Apoptosis ; Asthma ; Blotting, Western ; Cytokines ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Eosinophils* ; Granulocyte-Macrophage Colony-Stimulating Factor ; Humans ; Interleukin-3 ; Interleukin-5 ; Theophylline*

Methimazole, a type of thionamide, is used to treat hyperthyroidism. Several adverse effects of thionamides have been reported. The representative minor adverse effects are arthralgia, skin rash, and gastric intolerance. Methimazole is reported to induce 1-6% of arthralgia cases. These patients begin to suffer from arthralgia from 1 month to 2 years after methimazole treatment. Here, we present a patient with acute onset methimazole-induced arthralgia and skin rash. At 2 days after starting methimazole treatment, a 57-year-old female developed arthralgia and a skin rash on her right leg, which subsequently spread to her left leg and right arm, and she stopped taking the medication. The patient was admitted to the rheumatology department of Ulsan University Hospital, where laboratory tests and a skin biopsy were performed to ascertain whether she had a rheumatic disorder. The skin biopsy revealed nonspecific inflammation. At 2 days after stopping methimazole treatment, the arthralgia and skin rashes had improved and methimazole treatment was recommenced. However, the same symptoms developed within 1 day. Therefore, methimazole treatment was again stopped and the symptoms disappeared.
Arm ; Arthralgia* ; Biopsy ; Exanthema* ; Female ; Humans ; Hyperthyroidism ; Inflammation ; Leg ; Methimazole ; Middle Aged ; Rheumatology ; Skin ; Ulsan

Dermal fillers are generally accepted as safe and well-tolerable cosmetic tools. However, adverse reactions have been reported in the literature. Here, we present a case of atypical facial filler granuloma and compare its histologic features with those of the classic paraffinoma.
Dermal Fillers ; Granuloma* ; Granuloma, Foreign-Body

Nasal-type extranodal natural killer/T-cell lymphoma (ENKTL) is a rare disease presenting with non-specific symptoms, typically originating in the nasal cavity, palate, or midfacial region. Oral cavity is an extremely rare site for this type of lymphoma. In this report, we present a case of palatal perforation and oro-nasal fistula as a manifestation of recurrent ENKTL. Complicated disease entity should be considered when surgeons deal with palatal perforation and oro-nasal fistula.
Fistula* ; Lymphoma* ; Lymphoma, Extranodal NK-T-Cell ; Mouth ; Nasal Cavity ; Oral Fistula ; Palate ; Rare Diseases ; Surgeons ; Ulcer*

Dermal fillers are generally accepted as safe and well-tolerable cosmetic tools. However, adverse reactions have been reported in the literature. Here, we present a case of atypical facial filler granuloma and compare its histologic features with those of the classic paraffinoma.
Dermal Fillers ; Granuloma* ; Granuloma, Foreign-Body

Nasal-type extranodal natural killer/T-cell lymphoma (ENKTL) is a rare disease presenting with non-specific symptoms, typically originating in the nasal cavity, palate, or midfacial region. Oral cavity is an extremely rare site for this type of lymphoma. In this report, we present a case of palatal perforation and oro-nasal fistula as a manifestation of recurrent ENKTL. Complicated disease entity should be considered when surgeons deal with palatal perforation and oro-nasal fistula.
Fistula* ; Lymphoma* ; Lymphoma, Extranodal NK-T-Cell ; Mouth ; Nasal Cavity ; Oral Fistula ; Palate ; Rare Diseases ; Surgeons ; Ulcer*

Acromegaly is a chronic, debilitating condition caused by excessive secretion of growth hormone (GH). Impaired glucose tolerance is present in about 20-40% of acromegaly, with diabetes mellitus developing in about 10~15% of patients, but diabetic ketoacidosis is a rare association. Herein is reported a case of diabetic ketoacidosis in a 33 year-old female, with a 4 year history of typical acromegaly features. She presented with severe hyperglycemia and ketoacidosis, but with no other cause for this metabolic derangement. She had elevated plasma GH (50 ng/mL) and IGF-1 (1533 ng/mL) levels, and a pituitary macroadenoma. About 200 units of insulin per day were required for her glycemic control. However, the serum IGF-1 level and daily insulin requirement were significantly tapered after a transsphenoidal adenomectomy and long acting somatostatin analogue treatment. There was a good correlation with the daily insulin requirement and plasma IGF-1 level. This case demonstrates that severe GH excess can cause diabetic ketoacidosis, and that its successful treatment improves glucose metabolism.
Acromegaly* ; Adult ; Diabetes Mellitus ; Diabetic Ketoacidosis* ; Female ; Glucose ; Growth Hormone ; Humans ; Hyperglycemia ; Insulin ; Insulin Resistance ; Insulin-Like Growth Factor I ; Ketosis ; Metabolism ; Plasma ; Somatostatin

Acromegaly is a chronic, debilitating condition caused by excessive secretion of growth hormone (GH). Impaired glucose tolerance is present in about 20-40% of acromegaly, with diabetes mellitus developing in about 10~15% of patients, but diabetic ketoacidosis is a rare association. Herein is reported a case of diabetic ketoacidosis in a 33 year-old female, with a 4 year history of typical acromegaly features. She presented with severe hyperglycemia and ketoacidosis, but with no other cause for this metabolic derangement. She had elevated plasma GH (50 ng/mL) and IGF-1 (1533 ng/mL) levels, and a pituitary macroadenoma. About 200 units of insulin per day were required for her glycemic control. However, the serum IGF-1 level and daily insulin requirement were significantly tapered after a transsphenoidal adenomectomy and long acting somatostatin analogue treatment. There was a good correlation with the daily insulin requirement and plasma IGF-1 level. This case demonstrates that severe GH excess can cause diabetic ketoacidosis, and that its successful treatment improves glucose metabolism.
Acromegaly* ; Adult ; Diabetes Mellitus ; Diabetic Ketoacidosis* ; Female ; Glucose ; Growth Hormone ; Humans ; Hyperglycemia ; Insulin ; Insulin Resistance ; Insulin-Like Growth Factor I ; Ketosis ; Metabolism ; Plasma ; Somatostatin

In patients with primary aldosteronism who have bilateral adrenal incidentalomas, it is important to identify which adrenal gland is secreting excess aldosterone. Traditionally, adrenal vein sampling (AVS) has been performed for lateralization despite its invasiveness. Here we report a case of bilateral adrenal incidentaloma in which 18-Fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG)-positron emission tomography (PET) was used to identify the functional adrenal mass. A 53-yr-old man was referred to our clinic due to bilateral adrenal incidentalomas (right: 1 cm, left: 2.5 cm) on computed tomography (CT). Given his history of colon cancer, FDG-PET/CT scanning was used to rule out metastasis. Although there was focal hot uptake lesion in the right adrenal gland, the patient was suspected primary aldosteronism clinically more than metastasis because of the patient's underlying hypertension with hypokalemia. It was consistent with the results of AVS. Based on these findings, we propose that FDG-PET/CT can be used instead of AVS to identify the source of primary aldosteronism between two bilateral adrenal incidentalomas.
Adrenal Gland Neoplasms/*diagnosis/pathology/radionuclide imaging ; Adrenal Glands/pathology/surgery ; Fluorodeoxyglucose F18/diagnostic use ; Humans ; Hyperaldosteronism/*diagnosis/pathology ; Hypertension/diagnosis ; Hypokalemia/diagnosis ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Positron-Emission Tomography and Computed Tomography

A 47-year-old male with recurrent abnormal behavior for ten years was referred to our clinic. He was diagnosed with insulinoma and cognitive dysfunction. Persistent hypoglycemia leads to a high risk of cognitive dysfunction in diabetic patients. However, cognitive dysfunction associated with insulinoma is rare. In this case study, cognitive dysfunction was confirmed by neurological testing.
Humans ; Hypoglycemia ; Insulinoma ; Male