Humans ; Interferon-gamma ; analysis ; Lymphohistiocytosis, Hemophagocytic ; diagnosis ; microbiology

Tuberculosis (TB) is a still prevalent and important disease entity in Korea. TB can involve any part of the gastrointestinal tract, and intestinal TB is an important disease of extra-pulmonary TB. The diagnosis of intestinal TB remains a challenge because the signs and symptoms are nonspecific. It should be differentiated from the inflammatory bowel diseases and malignancies, especially Crohn's disease. The diagnosis of intestinal TB should be based on careful clinical evaluation, such as extra-intestinal signs, colonoscopic and histologic evaluation. Newer techniques such as PCR method or test for the diagnosis of latent TB (Interferon-gammaassay) may be helpful. In addition, a high index of suspicion must be kept in mind to ensure a timely diagnosis. Herein, IBD Study Group of the KASID proposes a diagnostic guideline based on currently available evidence and experience, especially those of Korea. We also propose the test which may be helpful to establish the proper diagnosis of intestinal TB.
Blood Chemical Analysis ; Colonoscopy ; Diagnostic Imaging ; Humans ; Interferon-gamma/analysis ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Tuberculosis, Gastrointestinal/*diagnosis/pathology

PURPOSE: The inflammation associated with leukocytospermia and infection has been implicated as a cause of infertility. Inflammatory cells cause subfertility through the effects of chemical mediators or cytokines. The seminal inflammatory cytokines are present in increased quantities if inflammatory white blood cells are present in semen and this increase under removed white blood cells may be related to sperm motility. Impairments in sperm motility reported that were induced by exposure of human sperm to recombinant interferon-gamma although this findings have been debated. We examined the change of parameters of sperm motility after administration of Interferon gamma(IFN-gamma) to sperm to evaluate the effect of cytokine on sperm motility. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Semens from 20 healthy males were obtained. With swim up procedure, sperms with active motility were got and incubated in HAM`s F10 culture media for 24 hours. IFN-gamma 1000ng/ml, 10ng/ml and 0.1ng/ml were administered before incubation, respectively. Parameters of sperm motility such as curvilinear velocity(VCL), average path velocity(VAP), straight line velocity(VSL), lateral head displacement(ALH) and beat cross frequency(BCF) were recorded with Hamilton-Thorne computer semen analysis system before incubation, 5, 7 and 24 hour thereafter. They were expressed as percentage of the value of parameters before incubation. RESULTS: There were statistically significant decreases of VCL, VAP, VSL, BCF in IFN-gamma 1000ng/ml administration after 24 hours. CONCLUSIONS: The administration of IFN-gamma decrease the parameters of sperm motility and the increase of IFN-gamma was presumed to affect sperm motility. It is suggested that seminal IFN-gamma may affect sperm motility.
Culture Media ; Cytokines ; Head ; Humans ; Infertility ; Inflammation ; Interferon-gamma ; Interferons* ; Leukocytes ; Male ; Semen ; Semen Analysis ; Sperm Motility* ; Spermatozoa*

Adult ; Female ; Hepatitis B ; immunology ; Humans ; Interferon-gamma ; blood ; Interleukin-12 ; blood ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha ; analysis

aboratory diagnosis of tuberculosis (TB) traditionally relies on smear microscopy and culture of Mycobacterium tuberculosis from clinical samples. With recent advances in technology, there have been numerous efforts to develop new diagnostic tests for TB that overcome the low sensitivity and specificity and long turnover time associated with current diagnostic tests. Molecular biological tests based on nucleic acid amplification have brought an unprecedented opportunity for the rapid and specific detection of M. tuberculosis from clinical specimens. With automated sequencing analysis, species identification of mycobacteria is now easier and more accurate than with conventional methods, and rapid detection of mutations in the genes associated with resistance to TB drugs provides early information on the potential drug resistance for each clinical isolate or for clinical samples. In addition, immunological tests for the detection of M. tuberculosis antigens and antibodies to the antigens have been explored to identify individuals at risk of developing TB or with latent TB infection (LTBI). The recent introduction of commercial IFN-gamma assay kits for the detection of LTBI provides a new approach for TB control even in areas with a high incidence of TB. However, these molecular and immunological tools still require further evaluation using large scale cohort studies before implementation in TB control programs.
Antigens, Bacterial/immunology ; DNA, Bacterial/chemistry/genetics ; Humans ; Immunologic Tests/*methods ; Interferon-gamma/analysis ; Mycobacterium tuberculosis/genetics/immunology ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Tuberculin Test ; Tuberculosis/*diagnosis/immunology/microbiology

aboratory diagnosis of tuberculosis (TB) traditionally relies on smear microscopy and culture of Mycobacterium tuberculosis from clinical samples. With recent advances in technology, there have been numerous efforts to develop new diagnostic tests for TB that overcome the low sensitivity and specificity and long turnover time associated with current diagnostic tests. Molecular biological tests based on nucleic acid amplification have brought an unprecedented opportunity for the rapid and specific detection of M. tuberculosis from clinical specimens. With automated sequencing analysis, species identification of mycobacteria is now easier and more accurate than with conventional methods, and rapid detection of mutations in the genes associated with resistance to TB drugs provides early information on the potential drug resistance for each clinical isolate or for clinical samples. In addition, immunological tests for the detection of M. tuberculosis antigens and antibodies to the antigens have been explored to identify individuals at risk of developing TB or with latent TB infection (LTBI). The recent introduction of commercial IFN-gamma assay kits for the detection of LTBI provides a new approach for TB control even in areas with a high incidence of TB. However, these molecular and immunological tools still require further evaluation using large scale cohort studies before implementation in TB control programs.
Antigens, Bacterial/immunology ; DNA, Bacterial/chemistry/genetics ; Humans ; Immunologic Tests/*methods ; Interferon-gamma/analysis ; Mycobacterium tuberculosis/genetics/immunology ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Tuberculin Test ; Tuberculosis/*diagnosis/immunology/microbiology

OBJECTIVETo measure levels of interleukin-4 (IL-4) and interferon-gamma (INF-γ) in the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) of children with refractory Mycoplasma pneumoniae pneumonia (RMPP), and to investigate changes in local Th1-Th2-type cytokine levels in children with RMPP and their significance.

METHODSA total of 42 children with RMPP were divided into atopic (n=11) and non-atopic groups (n=31) according to whether they had eczema, allergic rhinitis, urticaria, and family history of allergic disease. The study also included a control group of 12 children with bronchial foreign bodies who underwent foreign body removal and were re-examined by fiberoptic bronchoscopy four weeks later. The different cells in BALF from all children were analyzed, and the levels of IL-4 and INF-γ in BALF were measured using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.

RESULTSCompared with the control group, the total number of cells in BALF from children with RMPP increased significantly (P<0.05), the increase mainly accounted for by neutrophils (P<0.01), and levels of IL-4 and INF-&gamma; in BALF from children with RMPP increased significantly (P<0.05). Compared with the control group, levels of IL-4 and INF-&gamma; in BALF in the atopic group increased significantly (P<0.05). The level of INF-&gamma; in BALF in the non-atopic group also increased significantly (P<0.05). There were no significant differences in INF-&gamma;/IL-4 ratio among all groups (P>0.05).

CONCLUSIONSSignificant increase in cell numbers, especially neutrophils, as well as IL-4 and INF-&gamma; levels, can be seen in BALF from children with RMPP, but there is no change to the INF-&gamma;/IL-4 ratio. This indicates a significant local inflammatory response in children with RMPP, but there is no evidence of Th2-dominated inflammatory response.

Adolescent ; Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid ; cytology ; immunology ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Female ; Humans ; Infant ; Interferon-gamma ; analysis ; Interleukin-4 ; analysis ; Male ; Pneumonia, Mycoplasma ; immunology

Adenosine Deaminase ; metabolism ; Adult ; Aged ; Female ; Humans ; Interferon-gamma ; analysis ; Interleukin-12 ; analysis ; Isoenzymes ; metabolism ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Pleural Effusion ; chemistry ; Tuberculosis, Pleural ; diagnosis ; metabolism

BACKGROUNDHaptoglobin (Hp) is one of the acute-phase proteins. Recent studies have demonstrated that Hp exerts immunoregulatory and anti-inflammatory actions and may be one of the inhibitory factors of immune reactions in the skin. In this study we investigated the regulation of Hp expression in a human keratinocyte cell line HaCaT by various cytokines and glucocorticoid.

METHODSHaCaT cells were cultured with IL-6 (50 ng/ml), TNF-alpha (20 ng/ml), IFN-gamma (20 ng/ml) or IL-4 (20 ng/ml) with or without 1 micromol/L dexamethasone in 6-well plates for 12, 24 and 48 hours. Both the cells and the supernatants were collected to detect the changes of Hp expression by reverse-transcription PCR, ELISA and immunohistochemistry.

RESULTSThe results showed that Hp expression were elevated at both the mRNA and protein level by the combination of IL-6, TNF-alpha or IL-4 with dexamethasone, whereas the three cytokines alone did not upregulate the Hp expression. IFN-gamma showed no effect on the Hp expression in HaCaT cells.

CONCLUSIONSThese findings suggest that different inflammatory cytokines as well as glucocorticoid may be involved in the regulation of Hp expression in keratinocytes, and this may be one of the negative feedback mechanisms in inflammatory skin diseases.

Cell Line ; Dexamethasone ; pharmacology ; Glucocorticoids ; pharmacology ; Haptoglobins ; analysis ; Humans ; Interferon-gamma ; pharmacology ; Interleukin-4 ; pharmacology ; Interleukin-6 ; pharmacology ; Keratinocytes ; chemistry ; drug effects ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha ; pharmacology

BACKGROUNDBoth athletes with intensive exercise and aged people may have weakened immunity against virus infection. This study aimed to evaluate whether people undergoing aerobic exercises including competitive cyclists with moderate training (CMT) and middle-aged people practicing Tai Chi Chuan (TCC) exercise have higher immunity against hepatitis B virus than age-matched sedentary controls including college students (CSC) and middle-aged people (MSC).

METHODSHuman peripheral blood mononuclear cells from competitive cyclists and sedentary controls were stimulated by phytohemagglutinin (PHA) to prepare conditioned medium (MNC-CM) for the assessment of inhibitory effects on hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) expression in human hepatoma Hep3B cells.

RESULTSThe inhibitory effects on the relative HBsAg expression of CMT's and TCC's MNC-CM were greater than those of the controls. The CMT's MNC-CM prepared from 5 microg/ml PHA decreased HBsAg expression to 61.5%, whereas that of CSC remained at 83.8%. Similarly, this expression by treatment of TCC group' MNC-CM was 68.4% whereas that of MSC group was 84.3%. The levels of cytokines such as interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma), tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha), IFN-alpha and interleukin-1beta (IL-1beta) in the MNC-CM from the CMT and TCC groups were greater than those in the controls. Antibody neutralization of CMT's MNC-CM and addition of recombinant cytokines into CSC's MNC-CM indicated that IFN-gamma, TNF-alpha and IFN-alpha had synergistic effects against HBsAg expression. Similar blocking effect was noted in TCC versus MSC groups.

CONCLUSIONThese results suggest that the immunomodulatory response to suppress HBsAg expression in CMT and TCC with moderate aerobic exercise is greater than that in age-matched sedentary controls.

Adult ; Exercise ; Hepatitis B Surface Antigens ; analysis ; Humans ; Interferon-gamma ; physiology ; Male ; Oxygen Consumption ; Tai Ji ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha ; physiology