BACKGROUND: Arginine vasopressin (AVP) is widely used as a vasopressor agent. Some recent studies have suggested that AVP may exert an immunomodulatory effect. However, the mechanism about the anti-inflammatory effect of AVP is not well known. We investigated the effect of AVP on the ihibitor of kappa B (IkappaBalpha)/nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-kappaB) pathway in RAW 264.7 cells. METHODS: Cultured RAW 264.7 cells were pretreated with AVP and stimulated with lipopolysaccharide (LPS). To evaluate the effect of AVP on inflammatory cytokines, the concentration of interleukin-6 (IL-6) and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) were assessed by an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay technique. The expression of IkappaBalpha and nuclear translocation of NF-kappaB p65 were measured by Western blotting, and IkappaB kinase (IKK) activity was analyzed by an in vitro immune complex kinase assay. To confirm the AVP effect on IkappaBalpha/NF-kappaB cascade and via V2 receptor, we added tolvaptan (V2 receptor antagonist) after AVP pretreatment. RESULTS: The increase of IL-6 and TNF-alpha in LPS-stimulated RAW 264.7 cells was suppressed by a treatment with AVP. Pretreatment of AVP inhibited increasing of IKK activity and IkappaBalpha degradation induced by LPS in RAW 264.7 cells. Furthermore, LPS induced and NF-kappaB transcription was inhibited by AVP pretreatment. The observed changes in IKK activity, IkappaBalpha degradation and NF-kappaB transcription by AVP was abolished by tolvaptan treatment. CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggest that AVP showed anti-inflammatory effect on LPS-induced IkappaBalpha/NF-kappaB cascade in mouse macrophages via V2 receptors.
Animals ; Antigen-Antibody Complex ; Arginine Vasopressin ; Blotting, Western ; Cytokines ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; I-kappa B Kinase ; Interleukin-6 ; Macrophages ; Mice ; NF-kappa B ; Phosphotransferases ; Receptors, Vasopressin ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha

Recent clinical studies have shown that a high proportion of patients with acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL) achieve complete remission after treatment with all-trans retinoic acid (ATRA). However, most patients who receive continuous treatment with ATRA relapse and develop ATRA-resistant leukemia. Dendritic cells (DCs) are important antigen-presenting cells in the development of antileukemic T-cell responses. In this study, we investigated the strategies to overcome ATRA resistance of APL cells by inducing the differentiation of DCs from human leukemic cell lines for the developtment of adoptive immunotherapy. CD83 was used as a mature DC marker in this study and the expression of CD83 mRNA was determined by RT-PCR method. The promyelocytic leukemic cell line HL-60, B lymphoblast cell lines RPMI 7666 and NC-37 could be induced to dendritic cells in vitro. Treatment of HL-60 with phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA) resulted in the expression of myeloid-related DC phenotypes, while treatment of RPMI 7666 with fms-like tyrosine kinase 3 ligand (Flt3-ligand, FL) and treatment of NC-37 with PMA and FL led to the expression of lymphoid-related DC phenotypes. In conclusion, myeloid-related DC phenotypes and lymphoid-related DC phenotypes could be generated from HL-60, NC-37 and RPMI 7666 cell lines, respectively. These DC phenotypes can potentially be used to generate antileukemic T cells in vitro for adoptive immunotherapy.
Antigen-Presenting Cells ; Cell Line* ; Dendritic Cells* ; fms-Like Tyrosine Kinase 3 ; Humans* ; Immunotherapy, Adoptive ; Leukemia ; Leukemia, Promyelocytic, Acute ; Phenotype* ; Recurrence ; RNA, Messenger ; T-Lymphocytes ; Tretinoin

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Colonoscopic polypectomy should be performed on the five to seven hour of clock (standard position). However, outcomes of polypectomy at non-standard positions have not yet been investigated. This study was to compare the clinical outcomes of colonoscopic polypectomy including procedure time, status of resection margin and complications between standard and non-standard position. METHODS: Patients who underwent screening colonoscopy were prospectively recruited from Oct 2011 to Feb 2012 at Dongguk University Ilsan Hosptial, Goyang, Korea. Standard position was defined as polyps which were located from 5 to 7 hour of clock on colonoscopic view. RESULTS: A total of 168 adenomatous polyps of 114 patients were investigated. Mean size of polyp was 7.1+/-3.2 mm. The most common shape of polyps was sessile in 77 cases (45.8%). Mean overall procedure time per patient was 25.5+/-12.3 min. 130 adenomatous polyps were resected in standard position (77.4%) and 38 polyps were in non-standard position (22.6%). Overall complete resection rate was 63.7% and immediate bleeding rate was 9.8%. There was no significant difference in overall polypectomy time per polyp (2.9+/-1.3 min vs. 3.0+/-1.8 min, P=0.32). Complete resection rates and complication were not statistically different. CONCLUSIONS: There was no difference according to procedure time, status of resection margin and complications between standard position and non-standard position. Colonoscopic polypectomy is thus safe and feasible on any position.
Adenomatous Polyps ; Colonic Polyps ; Colonoscopy ; Hemorrhage ; Humans ; Korea ; Mass Screening ; Polyps ; Prospective Studies

BACKGROUND: Arginine vasopressin (AVP) is widely used as a vasopressor agent. Some recent studies have suggested that AVP may exert an immunomodulatory effect. However, the mechanism about the anti-inflammatory effect of AVP is not well known. We investigated the effect of AVP on the ihibitor of kappa B (IkappaBalpha)/nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-kappaB) pathway in RAW 264.7 cells. METHODS: Cultured RAW 264.7 cells were pretreated with AVP and stimulated with lipopolysaccharide (LPS). To evaluate the effect of AVP on inflammatory cytokines, the concentration of interleukin-6 (IL-6) and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) were assessed by an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay technique. The expression of IkappaBalpha and nuclear translocation of NF-kappaB p65 were measured by Western blotting, and IkappaB kinase (IKK) activity was analyzed by an in vitro immune complex kinase assay. To confirm the AVP effect on IkappaBalpha/NF-kappaB cascade and via V2 receptor, we added tolvaptan (V2 receptor antagonist) after AVP pretreatment. RESULTS: The increase of IL-6 and TNF-alpha in LPS-stimulated RAW 264.7 cells was suppressed by a treatment with AVP. Pretreatment of AVP inhibited increasing of IKK activity and IkappaBalpha degradation induced by LPS in RAW 264.7 cells. Furthermore, LPS induced and NF-kappaB transcription was inhibited by AVP pretreatment. The observed changes in IKK activity, IkappaBalpha degradation and NF-kappaB transcription by AVP was abolished by tolvaptan treatment. CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggest that AVP showed anti-inflammatory effect on LPS-induced IkappaBalpha/NF-kappaB cascade in mouse macrophages via V2 receptors.
Animals ; Antigen-Antibody Complex ; Arginine Vasopressin ; Blotting, Western ; Cytokines ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; I-kappa B Kinase ; Interleukin-6 ; Macrophages ; Mice ; NF-kappa B ; Phosphotransferases ; Receptors, Vasopressin ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha

PURPOSE: To assess and compare CT findings of surgically confirmed cases of tuboovarian abscesses (TOA) and endometriosis in order to identify indicators which may be helpful in making correct preoperative diagnoses. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Of the 35 consecutive patients with surgically confirmed TOA, CT images were available for 11 of those patients. As a comparative group, 36 patients with surgically confirmed endometriosis with CT images were selected. CT images of TOA were compared with those of endometriosis. A retrospective analysis of the CT images of both groups was performed without knowledge of the pathologic diagnosis. The analysis compared the thickness and enhancement pattern of the cyst wall, attenuation of the cyst content, size and shape of the cyst, and paraaortic lymphadenopathy. RESULTS: Mean thickness of the cyst wall was 6.2+/-2.0 mm in TOA and 4.5+/-2.4 mm in endometriosis. Multilayered appearance in both diseases was seen on enhanced CT in 91% (10/11) of TOA cases and in 25% (9/36) of endometriosis cases. Hounsefield units of the cyst contents were 20.0+/-5.5 HU and 24.7+/-10.0 HU for TOA and endometriosis, respectively. Mean diameter of the cysts was 7.5+/-1.7 cm in TOA and 7.9+/-3.1 in endometriosis. Shape of the cyst was multilocular in 82% (9/11) of TOA cases and in 75% (27/36) of endometriosis cases. Paraaortic lymphadenopathy was present in 73% (8/11) and 44% (16/36) for TOA and endometriosis, respectively. CONCLUSION: TOA should be suspected on CT when a multilocular cystic ovarian mass is observed, especially if the lesion has a thick wall and has a multilayered appearance, and is accompanied by paraaortic lymphadenopathy.
Abscess* ; Diagnosis ; Endometriosis* ; Female ; Humans ; Lymphatic Diseases ; Retrospective Studies

BACKGROUND: The incidence and clinical consequences of microbiological contamination of autologous peripheral blood stem cells are not well documented. Therefore, we retrospectively analysed our experience with microbial contamination of autologous peripheral blood stem cell concentrates. METHOD: We have determined the incidence and clinical significance of positive microbiologic cultures in series of 52 peripheral blood stem cell concentrates in 14 patients undergoing multiple apheresis procedures for autologous stem cell rescue. Specimens for bacterial cultures were obtained after processing of the autografts just prior to freezing. RESLUTS: The incidence of microbial contamination was 7.7%. The microorganism cultured was coagulase negative Staphylococcus. The patient with contaminated leukapheresis products received two culture-positive stem cell concentrates and three culture-negative stem cell concentrates without adverse clinical sequelae. No microorganism present in the stem cell autograft was recovered in vivo in the posttransplantation period, although fever as a sign of infection occurred in this patient. CONCLUSIONS: Although microbial contamination may occur during autologous peripheral blood stem cell collection and cryopreservation, this report suggests that peripheral blood stem cell contamination may not play a significant role in the infectious complications of autologous peripheral blood stem cell transplantation.
Autografts ; Blood Component Removal ; Coagulase ; Cryopreservation ; Fever ; Freezing ; Humans ; Incidence ; Leukapheresis ; Peripheral Blood Stem Cell Transplantation ; Retrospective Studies ; Staphylococcus ; Stem Cells* ; Transplantation

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to compare the in-vivo efficiency of vascular occlusion on radiofrequency ablation (RFA) lesion size in a rabbit kidney model. MATERIALS AND METHODS: RFA lesions were created in a single kidney in 20 rabbits using an internally cooled electrode. Twenty ablation zones (1 per kidney) were created using 4 different regimens: RFA without vascular occlusion (n = 5), RFA with renal artery occlusion (n = 5), RFA with renal vein occlusion (n = 5), RFA with renal artery and vein occlusion (n = 5). Seven days later, the rabbits were sacrificed and the lesions were excised. These groups were then compared with respect to the dimensions of the ablation zones and the changes in impedance and current during RFA. RESULTS: The maximum ablation zone width was the greatest in the renal artery and vein occlusion group (21.0+/-1.4 mm), followed by the renal artery occlusion group (17.8+/-1.0 mm), the renal vein occlusion group (17.4+/-1.1 mm), and the nonocclusion group (7.8+/-2.4 mm) (p < 0.05). No significant differences were observed for impedances and currents between the 4 groups. CONCLUSION: Vascular occlusion combined with RFA effectively increased ablation zone dimensions compared with RFA alone, and the best effect was accomplished by combined renal artery and vein occlusion.
Catheter Ablation* ; Electric Impedance ; Electrodes ; Kidney* ; Open Bite ; Rabbits ; Renal Artery* ; Renal Veins ; Veins*

BACKGROUND: The p53 gene is a tumor suppressor gene situated in the short arm of chromosome 17(in 17p13 band). The p53 mutation is often correlated with the worsening or relapsing of the hematologic malignancies, and the loss of the short arm of chromosme 17 is associated with a p53 mutation on the remaining allele in several hematologic malignancies. In this study, we investigated correlations between cytogenetic rearrangements leading to 17p deletion, the presence of mutant p53 protein and single strand conformational polymorphism analysis of the p53 gene in myelodysplastic syndromes and leukemias. METHODS: In this study, we analyzed 60 patients with different hematologic malignancies, including 26 acute myelogenous leukemia, 16 acute lymphoblastic leukemia, 7 myelodysplastic syndrome, and 11 chronic myelogenous leukemia. Cytogenetic analysis of the bone marrow was performed by using the G-banding method. Mutant p53 protein was detected using a mouse monoclonal antibody, which reacts with mutant p53. The Polymerase chain reaction and the single strand conformational polymorphism analysis(PCR-SSCP) of exons 5 to 8 of the p53 gene were performed on only 20 patients with acute myelogenous leukemia. RESULTS: Only 1(1.7%) out of 61 patients showed a deletion of the short arm of chromosome 17 through isochromosome 17q and mutant p53 protein. This patient with chronic myelogenous leukemia underwent a clinical transition from chronic to blastic phase. But, PCR-SSCP of the p53 gene was not performed on this patient with isochromosome 17q and mutant p53 protein. CONCLUSIONS: Even though analysis of the p53 gene by PCR-SSCP was not fully performed, this report suggests that the frequency of p53 mutant may be rare in Korean patients with myelodysplastic syndromes and leukemias. In addition, further investigation is required for the correlation between immunofluorescence and PCR-SSCP to detect p53 mutations.
Alleles ; Animals ; Arm ; Bone Marrow ; Chromosomes, Human, Pair 17 ; Cytogenetic Analysis ; Cytogenetics ; Exons ; Fluorescent Antibody Technique ; Genes, p53 ; Genes, Tumor Suppressor ; Hematologic Neoplasms ; Humans ; Isochromosomes* ; Leukemia* ; Leukemia, Myelogenous, Chronic, BCR-ABL Positive ; Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute ; Mice ; Myelodysplastic Syndromes* ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Precursor Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma

PURPOSE: Transient neurological deterioration (TND) is one of the complications after extracranial-intracranial bypass surgery, and it has been assumed to be caused by postoperative transient hyperperfusion. This study was performed to evaluate the relationship between TND and preoperative and postoperative cerebral perfusion status on brain perfusion SPECT following superficial temporal artery-middle cerebral artery (STA-MCA) anastomosis surgery. Materials and METHODS: A total of 60 STA-MCA anastomosis surgeries of 56 patients (mean age: 50+/-16 yrs; M:F=29:27; atherosclerotic disease: 33, moyamoya disease: 27) which were done between September 2003 and July 2006 were enrolled. The resting cerebral perfusion and cerebral vascular reserve (CVR) after acetazolamide challenge were measured before and 10 days after surgery using (99m)Tc-ethylcysteinate dimer (ECD) SPECT. Moreover, the cerebral perfusion was measured on the third postoperative day. With the use of the statistical parametric mapping and probabilistic brain atlas, the counts for the middle cerebral artery (MCA) territory were calculated for each image, and statistical analyses were performed. RESULTS: In 6 of 60 cases (10%), TND occurred after surgery. In all patients, the preoperative cerebral perfusion of affected MCA territory was significantly lower than that of contralateral side (p=0.002). The cerebral perfusion on the third and tenth day after surgery was significantly higher than preoperative cerebral perfusion (p=0.001, p=0.02). In TND patients, basal cerebral perfusion and CVR on preoperative SPECT were significantly lower than those of non-TND patients (p=0.01, p=0.05). Further, the increases in cerebral perfusion on the third day after surgery were significant higher than those in other patients (p=0.008). In patients with TND, the cerebral perfusion ratio of affected side to contralateral side on third postoperative day was significantly higher than that of other patients (p=0.002). However, there was no significant difference of the cerebral perfusion ratio on preoperative and tenth postoperative day between patients with TND and other patients. CONCLUSION: In patients with TND, relative and moderate hyperperfusion was observed in affected side after bypass surgery. These finding may help to understand the pathophysiology of TND.
Acetazolamide ; Brain ; Cerebral Arteries ; Humans ; Middle Cerebral Artery ; Perfusion ; Tomography, Emission-Computed, Single-Photon

Strongyloides stercoralis is an intestinal nematode that often causes chronic diarrhea and may develop severe complicated form of hyperinfection or disseminated infection in immunocompromised patients. Here, we report a case of recurrent strongyloidiasis presenting with pulmonary and meningeal involvement. A 55-year-old male diagnosed with pancreatic cancer 4 months ago was admitted due to chronic diarrhea, abdominal pain, and weight loss for 2–3 months. He had been treated with albendazole for chronic recurrent strongyloidiasis 13 years ago and again 2 years ago. He developed sepsis of Klebsiella pneumoniae and Escherichia coli on Days 3 and 7, respectively, and then meningitis of E. coli on Day 42. Strongyloidiasis was diagnosed by detection of abundant filariform larvae in sputum specimens on Day 15. He was treated for disseminated strongyloidiasis with albendazole and ivermectin for five weeks until clearance of larvae was confirmed in sputum and stool specimens. Laboratory diagnosis is important to guide appropriate treatment and to prevent chronic and recurrent strongyloidiasis.
Abdominal Pain ; Albendazole ; Clinical Laboratory Techniques ; Diarrhea ; Escherichia coli ; Humans ; Immunocompromised Host ; Ivermectin ; Klebsiella pneumoniae ; Larva ; Male ; Meningitis ; Middle Aged ; Pancreatic Neoplasms ; Sepsis ; Sputum ; Strongyloides stercoralis ; Strongyloidiasis ; Weight Loss