Antiphospholipid syndrome nephropathy (APSN) is well documented in the literature as the renal involvement of the antiphospholipid syndrome (APS). A review of literature also shows that among antiphospholipid antibodies, lupus anticoagulant (LA) positivity is recognized as the strongest risk factor for APSN. In addition, APSN is also known to be associated with a poor functional outcome in the first posttransplant year. Therefore, it is a general belief that renal transplantation may be life threatening in APS patients. Furthermore, the presence of LA at the time of transplantation is particularly associated with a high rate of allograft APSN and the consequent poor transplantation outcomes. Here, we report the case that thrombotic acute kidney injury due to APSN after kidney transplantation can be successfully treated if anticoagulation therapy is timely applied with a prompt diagnosis.
Acute Kidney Injury ; Antibodies, Antiphospholipid ; Antiphospholipid Syndrome ; Humans ; Kidney ; Kidney Transplantation ; Lupus Coagulation Inhibitor ; Risk Factors ; Transplantation, Homologous ; Transplants

Background: Cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) are key components of the tumor microenvironment and significantly contribute to immune evasion. We investigated the effects of CAFs on the immune function of CD4+ and CD8+ T cells in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Methods: We isolated CAFs and normal fibroblasts (NFs) from tumors and normal lung tissues of NSCLC patients, respectively. CAFs were co-cultured with activated T cells to evaluate their immune regulatory function. We investigated the effect of CAF conditioned medium (CAF-CM) on the cytotoxicity of T cells. CAFs were also co-cultured with activated peripheral blood mononuclear cells and further incubated with cyclooxygenase- 2 (COX2) inhibitors to investigate the potential role of COX2 in immune evasion. Results: CAFs and NFs were isolated from the lung tissues (n=8) and lymph nodes (n=3) of NSCLC patients. Immune suppressive markers, such as COX2 and programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1), were increased in CAFs after co-culture with activated T cells. Interestingly, CAFs promoted the expression of programmed death-1 in CD4+ and CD8+ T cells, and strongly inhibited T cell proliferation in allogenic and autologous pairs of CAFs and T cells. CAF-CM decreased the cytotoxicity of T cells. COX2 inhibitors partially restored the proliferation of CD4+ and CD8+ T cells, and downregulated the expression of COX2, prostaglandin E synthase, prostaglandin E2, and PD-L1 in CAFs. Conclusion CAFs promote immune evasion by suppressing the function of CD4+ and CD8+ T cells via their effects on COX2 and PD-L1 in NSCLC. The immunosuppressive function of CAFs could be alleviated by COX2 inhibitors.

PURPOSE: The aims of this study were to investigate outcomes corresponding to age at diagnosis as categorized into 5-year intervals and to explore whether endocrine-responsive tumors display clinical benefits from endocrine therapy after chemotherapy among young breast cancer patients. METHODS: A total of 1,171 patients who were under 40 years old at diagnosis between 1985 and 2007 were divided into 3 subgroups: < or =30 years (Group I, 13.3%), 31-35 years (Group II, 30.5%), and 36-40 years (Control group, 56.2%). Clinicopathological factors and outcomes were compared using a chi-square test, the Kaplan-Meier method, and Cox's hazards models. RESULTS: There were no significant differences in the characteristics and treatment patterns between the 3 groups, except for the grade, hormone receptors expression, and use of endocrine therap. Group I showed the worst survival and subsequently Group II presented worse outcomes than the Control group, mainly among hormone receptors-positive patients. Groups I and II showed increased risks of recurrence and death in multivariate analyses. Among 529 hormone receptors-positive patients who received chemotherapy, favorable outcomes for patients who were treated with endocrine agents were demonstrated, mainly in patients aged 35 years or less. However, interaction tests between the use of endocrine therapy and age at diagnosis were not significant. CONCLUSION: Age at diagnosis is an independent prognostic factor and the age of 35 years is a rational cut-off among young patients. Our subgroup analysis suggests that endocrine therapy may provide additional benefits even in young breast cancers. Therefore, further researches should be directed towards improving outcomes for this population.
Aged ; Breast ; Breast Neoplasms ; Humans ; Multivariate Analysis ; Prognosis ; Recurrence

No abstract available.
Gastroschisis*

BACKGROUND: The appropriate usage of antibiotics needs informations such as its effectiveness for a given infection, administration route, the amount of effective dose, and the dose intervals. In this study, in order to find any significant discrepancy regarding to the details of explanation of the necessary information for appropriate antibiotic usages, we compares informations about 51 antibiotics, one from package inserts in Korea and the other from physician's desk reference (PDR) certified by FDA in the United States of America. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Package inserts about antibiotics, only oral or parenteral agent, were perused to collect three categories of data: the recommended dosage, dose interval, and adjustment of dose to indications or the severity of infection. These data available in Korea were compared with 61 antibiotics (32 oral and 29 parenteral agents) cited in PDR. RESULTS: Package inserts for 51 antibiotics were gathered, because the remaining 10 antibiotics in PDR are not domestically commercialized. Among data on antibiotics comparable with those in PDR, 59% (30 cases:15 oral and 15 parenteral agents) suggested the dose similar to that of PDR, 37% (19 cases:8 oral and 11 parenteral agents) recommend less dose, and 4% in only 2 oral agents showed more dose. About half of the drugs recommending lower dosage were imported from Japanese pharmaceutical company, and the recommended doses of these antimicrobial agents were similar to those in Japan. About 59% (30 cases: 15 oral and 15 parenteral agents) directed dose interval or duration similar to those of PDR and 17% (9 parenteral agents) suggested less administration or longer duration. Surprisingly, in contrast to only 6% (3 cases) of PDR, 24% (12 cases:10 oral and 2 parenteral agents) recommended more administration or shorter duration. About 39% (24 cases:13 oral and 7 parenteral agents) revealed no information for dose adjustment commens to indications or the severity of infection. CONCLUSION: This study revealed that many guidelines in Korea recommend lower doses and/or unreasonable dose intervals. In future studies, improved antibiotic usage guidelines should be established based on pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic researches, on the aspect of optimal dosage, dose interval, and dose adjustment commensurate to the indications and the severity of the infection.
Americas ; Anti-Bacterial Agents ; Anti-Infective Agents ; Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; Humans ; Japan ; Korea* ; Product Labeling* ; United States

Cryptococcus spp. other than Cryptococcus neoformans or Cryptococcus gattii were previously considered saprophytes and thought to be non-pathogenic to humans. However, opportunistic infections associated with non-neoformans and non-gattii species, such as Cryptococcus laurentii and Cryptococcus albidus, have increased over the past four decades. We experienced a case of cryptococcosis caused by non-neoformans and non-gattii spp. in a 47-year-old female with refractory acute myeloid leukemia after allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation. The patient underwent salvage chemotherapy with fluconazole prophylaxis and subsequently developed neutropenic fever with multiple erythematous umbilicated papules. A skin biopsy revealed fungal hyphae and repetitive blood cultures showed yeast microorganisms that were identified later as C. laurentii by Vitek-II®. Skin lesions and fever began to improve with conventional amphotericin B therapy. The treatment regimen was continued for 21 days until the disseminated cryptococcosis was completely controlled.
Amphotericin B ; Biopsy ; Cryptococcosis ; Cryptococcus gattii ; Cryptococcus neoformans ; Cryptococcus* ; Drug Therapy ; Female ; Fever ; Fluconazole ; Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation ; Humans ; Hyphae ; Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute* ; Middle Aged ; Opportunistic Infections ; Skin Manifestations* ; Skin* ; Yeasts

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Numerous researches have studied the association between sugar intake and obesity of children in many countries. This study was undertaken to investigate the association between beverage intake and obesity of children by reviewing a database for total sugar contents established in all foods and presented in a nutrition survey by the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES). SUBJECTS/METHODS: Data of 1,520 children aged 6–11 years in the 6th KNHANES (2013–2015) were analyzed for this study. A database for total sugar intake comprises the total sugar contents of all foods included in the results of a nutrition survey using the 24-hour recall method of 6th KNHANES. Beverages were categorized into carbonated beverages, fruit & vegetable drinks, other drinks, tea, and coffee. RESULTS: The average daily beverage intake of all children was 131.75 g/day, and the average daily total sugar intake in beverages was 13.76 g/day. Carbonated beverages had the highest intake rate (58.85 g/day) and also ranked highest for sugar intake (6.36 g/day). After adjusting for confounding variables, the odds ratio for obesity in children with beverage intake of ≥ 200 mL/day significantly increased by 1.83 times (95% CI, 1.11–3.00) as compared to children with beverage intake of < 200 mL/day. Also, a significant increase was observed in the odds ratio for obesity in total children (2.41 times; 95% CI, 1.35–4.33) and boys (3.15 times; 95% CI, 1.53–6.49) with carbonated beverage intake of ≥ 200 mL/day when compared with children who consumed < 200 mL/day. CONCLUSION: A positive association is observed between beverage intake and obesity in Korean children. In particular, an intake of carbonated beverages has a positive correlation with childhood obesity in boys. This study can therefore be used as scientific evidence for reducing sugar, and for the continuous management and research on beverages.
Beverages* ; Carbohydrates ; Carbonated Beverages ; Child* ; Coffee ; Confounding Factors (Epidemiology) ; Fruit ; Humans ; Korea* ; Methods ; Nutrition Surveys* ; Obesity* ; Odds Ratio ; Pediatric Obesity ; Tea ; Vegetables

A 67-year-old man previously diagnosed with ulcerative colitis complained of difficulty in defecation and underwent balloon dilatation of rectum, but the procedure failed. The patient was transferred to a surgical department for further treatment. Before surgery, his red cells were typed A, Rh(D) positive. The antibody screening test was positive and the results of the identification tests were atypical. The reactivity was similar to anti-Le(b) antibody; however, the antibody showed panreactivity against papainized red cells. It showed stronger reactivity against O red cells than A Le(a−b+) red cells, and we concluded that the antibody was anti-Le(bH). After reexamination, his Lewis phenotype was found to be Le(a−b−). His FUT2 and FUT3 were analyzed to confirm his Lewis blood type, and c.59T>G and c.1067T>A variants were found on the FUT3. Therefore, the patient's Lewis blood type was concluded as Le(a−b−).
Aged ; Colitis, Ulcerative ; Defecation ; Dilatation ; Humans ; Mass Screening ; Papain ; Phenotype ; Rectum ; Ulcer

Para-Bombay phenotypes are rare blood groups that have inherent defects in producing H antigens associated with FUT1 and/or FUT2. We report the first case of para-Bombay blood type in a Southeast Asian patient admitted at a tertiary hospital in Korea. A 23-year-old Indonesian man presented to the hospital with fever and was diagnosed with a disseminated nontuberculous mycobacterium infection and anemia. During blood group typing for blood transfusion, cell typing showed no agglutination with both anti-A and anti-B reagents. Serum typing showed strong reactivity against B cells and trace agglutination pattern with A1 cells. His red blood cells failed to react with anti-H reagents. Direct sequencing of FUT1 and FUT2 revealed a missense variation, c.328G>A (p.Ala110Thr, rs56342683, FUT1*01W.02), and a synonymous variant, c.390C>T (p.Asn130=, rs281377, Se³⁵⁷), respectively. This highlights the need for both forward and reverse grouping.
ABO Blood-Group System ; Agglutination ; Anemia ; Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; B-Lymphocytes ; Blood Group Antigens ; Blood Transfusion ; Erythrocytes ; Fever ; Humans ; Indicators and Reagents ; Korea ; Mycobacterium Infections, Nontuberculous ; Phenotype ; Tertiary Care Centers ; Young Adult

BACKGROUND: The appropriate usage of antibiotics needs informations such as its effectiveness for a given infection, administration route, the amount of effective dose, and the dose intervals. In this study, in order to find any significant discrepancy regarding to the details of explanation of the necessary information for appropriate antibiotic usages, we compares informations about 51 antibiotics, one from package inserts in Korea and the other from physician's desk reference (PDR) certified by FDA in the United States of America. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Package inserts about antibiotics, only oral or parenteral agent, were perused to collect three categories of data: the recommended dosage, dose interval, and adjustment of dose to indications or the severity of infection. These data available in Korea were compared with 61 antibiotics (32 oral and 29 parenteral agents) cited in PDR. RESULTS: Package inserts for 51 antibiotics were gathered, because the remaining 10 antibiotics in PDR are not domestically commercialized. Among data on antibiotics comparable with those in PDR, 59% (30 cases:15 oral and 15 parenteral agents) suggested the dose similar to that of PDR, 37% (19 cases:8 oral and 11 parenteral agents) recommend less dose, and 4% in only 2 oral agents showed more dose. About half of the drugs recommending lower dosage were imported from Japanese pharmaceutical company, and the recommended doses of these antimicrobial agents were similar to those in Japan. About 59% (30 cases: 15 oral and 15 parenteral agents) directed dose interval or duration similar to those of PDR and 17% (9 parenteral agents) suggested less administration or longer duration. Surprisingly, in contrast to only 6% (3 cases) of PDR, 24% (12 cases:10 oral and 2 parenteral agents) recommended more administration or shorter duration. About 39% (24 cases:13 oral and 7 parenteral agents) revealed no information for dose adjustment commens to indications or the severity of infection. CONCLUSION: This study revealed that many guidelines in Korea recommend lower doses and/or unreasonable dose intervals. In future studies, improved antibiotic usage guidelines should be established based on pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic researches, on the aspect of optimal dosage, dose interval, and dose adjustment commensurate to the indications and the severity of the infection.
Americas ; Anti-Bacterial Agents ; Anti-Infective Agents ; Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; Humans ; Japan ; Korea* ; Product Labeling* ; United States