No abstract available.
Mucocutaneous Lymph Node Syndrome*

PURPOSE: Kawasaki disease is the most common cause of systemic vasculitis in children less than 5 years of age. Recent immunohistochemistry findings suggest that many vascular growth factors play a role in the formation of the coronary artery lesions. Active remodeling of the coronary artery lesions in Kawasaki disease continues in the form of intimal proliferation and neoangiogenesis for several years after the onset of the disease. Intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) and corticosteroid have been used in the treatment of Kawasaki disease but the exact mechanism is not clear. We have investigated that IVIG and corticosteroid inhibited vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF)- induced tube formation of endothelial cells in vitro on Matrigel assay. METHODS: Human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) were cultured and seeded on Matrigel coated 24 well plates in medium with or without the following agents: VEGF, VEGF plus IVIG, VEGF plus VEGF antibody, VEGF plus methylprednisolone, VEGF, IVIG plus methylprednisolone for 18 hours. The total length of tube structures in each photograph was quantified. RESULTS: IVIG significantly inhibited the proliferation of HUVECs. The inhibitory effect of IVIG was also reversible. In the meantime, VEGF induced the differentiation of HUVECs into capillary like structures on Matrigel, which was inhibited by VEGF antibody in a dose-dependent manner. Interestingly, IVIG and methylprednisolone inhibited VEGF-induced tube formation of HUVECs. IVIG was more effective in inhibition than methylprednisolone alone. CONCLUSION: We revealed that VEGF induced the differentiation of HUVECs and this effect was inhibited by IVIG and methylprednisolone.
Capillaries ; Child ; Coronary Vessels ; Endothelial Cells* ; Human Umbilical Vein Endothelial Cells ; Humans ; Immunoglobulins* ; Immunoglobulins, Intravenous ; Immunohistochemistry ; Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins ; Methylprednisolone* ; Mucocutaneous Lymph Node Syndrome ; Systemic Vasculitis ; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A

PURPOSE: Bone morphogenic protein (BMP)-7, a member of TGF-beta1 superfamily, is an endogenous antifibrotic protein highly expressed in normal kidney. It is not known, however, whether human peritoneal mesothelial cells (HPMC) express BMP-7 or if BMP-7 protects against peritoneal fibrosis and by what mechanism. We examined the effect of BMP-7 overexpression in TGF-beta1-induced epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) of HPMC and in TGF-beta1 signaling in HPMC to elucidate the mechanisms of antifibrotic effect of BMP-7. METHODS: Growth arrested and synchronized HPMC were stimulated with 2 ng/mL of TGF-beta1 to induce EMT. HPMC were transiently transfected with adenovirus-mediated human BMP-7 (AdBMP-7) or with GFP (AdGFP). EMT was defined as downregulation of E-cadherin and upregulation of alpha-smooth muscle actin (SMA). RESULTS: HPMC constitutively expressed BMP-7 mRNA and protein. BMP-7 mRNA and protein expression were significantly inhibited by 50 mM D-glucose, 2x diluted commercial peritoneal dialysis solution, and 2 ng/ml of TGF-beta1. Transfection of AdBMP-7 resulted in 2.5-fold increase in BMP-7 mRNA expression in HPMC. TGF-beta1 significantly decreased E-cadherin and increased alpha-SMA expression in GFP transfected cells. BMP-7 overexpression effectively reversed TGF-beta1-induced E-cadherin and alpha-SMA expression and significantly suppressed TGF-beta1-induced phosphorylation of Smad2/3, ERK1/2, JNK, and p38 MAPK in HPMC as compared to GFP transfected cells. CONCLUSION: BMP-7 is an endogenous antifibrotic protein and downregulation of BMP-7 in HPMC by high glucose, PD solution, and TGF-beta1 may permit the development of peritoneal fibrosis during long-term PD. Our data demonstrate that BMP-7 overexpression reverses TGF-beta1-induced EMT of HPMC and consequent peritoneal fibrosis possibly through inhibition of Smad2/3 and MAPK phosphorylation.
Actins ; Bone Morphogenetic Protein 7* ; Cadherins ; Down-Regulation ; Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition ; Glucose ; Humans ; Kidney ; p38 Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases ; Peritoneal Dialysis ; Peritoneal Fibrosis ; Peritoneum* ; Phosphorylation ; RNA, Messenger ; Transfection ; Transforming Growth Factor beta1 ; Up-Regulation

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to compare the diagnostic accuracies of chest radiographs and chest CTin the diagnosis of a solitary pulmonary nodule(SPN), and to determine the role of CT and CT findings which aid inthe differential diagnosis of nodules. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A retrospective study was done on 54 patients inwhom SPN was found on chest radiographs and chest CT was carried out. The study involved 25 benign and 29 malignant nodules, confirmed histopathologically and clinically. Chest radiographs and CT scans were reviewed separately in randomized order by two chest radiologists who for each film listed the three most likely diagnose sin descending order. The radiologists recorded the confidence value of the most probable diagnosis, and also the marginal and internal characteristics of nodules and their size, as nodules seen on chest CT scans. RESULTS: Diagnostic rates in the differential diagnosis of benign and malignant nodules were 65.7% by radiography and 77.8% by CT. Correct first-choice diagnosis was by radiography in 30.6 % of cases, and by CT in 41.7%. Using radiographs, and the correct diagnosis was among the top-three choices in 61.1% of cases ; with CT, the corresponding figure was 76.8%. Overall, a confident diagnosis was reached more often with the CT(41.7%) than with the chest radiograph(21.4%) ; diagnaotic accuracy was 60.0% and 52.2%, respectively. CT findings which imply abenign nodule include smooth margins and diffuse internal calcifications, whereas marginal lobulations, air-bronchograms, internal low density without cavitation, eccentric calcifications, and large size suggest malignancy. We faund that CT findings such as well-defined margins, spiculations, pleural tail or internal homogeneity did not contribute in the differentiation between benign and malignant nodules. CONCLUSION: CT issuperior to chest radiography in the differential diagnosis of the solitary pulmonary nodule. Using CT, diagnosis was accurate and made with a high level of confidence, especially with the application of CT findings which aid inthe differential diagnosis of nodules.
Diagnosis ; Diagnosis, Differential* ; Humans ; Radiography* ; Radiography, Thoracic ; Retrospective Studies ; Solitary Pulmonary Nodule* ; Thorax* ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed

A dieulafoy lesion, which is an unusual cause of gastrointestinal bleeding that can be fatal in children. Dieulafoy lesions are characterized by an abnormally large eroded submucosal artery that is commonly located in the lesser curvature of the proximal stomach. In most cases, permanent hemostasis is achieved by endoscopic epinephrine injection, however, some patients require other endoscopic treatment modalities, embolization or surgery. We report here a case of a Dieulafoy lesion in an 11-year-old boy who had recurrent bleeding from the lesion in the duodenal bulb after endoscopic epinephrine injection and surgical ligation, that was successfully treated using coil embolization.
Arteries ; Child* ; Cytochrome P-450 CYP1A1 ; Embolization, Therapeutic ; Epinephrine ; Hemorrhage ; Hemostasis ; Humans ; Ligation ; Male ; Stomach

A dieulafoy lesion, which is an unusual cause of gastrointestinal bleeding that can be fatal in children. Dieulafoy lesions are characterized by an abnormally large eroded submucosal artery that is commonly located in the lesser curvature of the proximal stomach. In most cases, permanent hemostasis is achieved by endoscopic epinephrine injection, however, some patients require other endoscopic treatment modalities, embolization or surgery. We report here a case of a Dieulafoy lesion in an 11-year-old boy who had recurrent bleeding from the lesion in the duodenal bulb after endoscopic epinephrine injection and surgical ligation, that was successfully treated using coil embolization.
Arteries ; Child* ; Cytochrome P-450 CYP1A1 ; Embolization, Therapeutic ; Epinephrine ; Hemorrhage ; Hemostasis ; Humans ; Ligation ; Male ; Stomach

PURPOSE: The pertussis vaccines are divided into whole-cell vaccine and acellular vaccine. Purified component acellular pertussis vaccine, originally developed in Japan, has been used for primary immunization series in Korea since 1984. We performed this study to evaluate the prevalence of pertussis antibodies following vaccination with acellular pertussis vaccine. METHODS: We randomized 80 children who were immunized according to vaccine schedules including less than 2 month-old infants at Department of Pediatrics, Catholic University Medical College from February 1995 to October 1995. We measured agglutination titers of children by bacterial agglutination test. RESULTS: 1) The age distribution ranged from 5 days to 7 years old, the mean age was 14.5+/- 12.8 months and male to female ratio was 1:1. 2) Only 23 cases (28.8%) of the 80 cases were positive results. 3) Among 7 infants who were less than 2 months-old and were not immunized, 5 infants (71.4%) were seropositive. 4) There was no significant difference in positive rates among age groups which include 2 to 6 months age group, 7 to 18 months age group, and older than 18 months age group. CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence of pertussis positive rates is only 28.8% and there was no difference among age groups.
Age Distribution ; Agglutination ; Agglutination Tests ; Antibodies* ; Appointments and Schedules ; Child* ; Female ; Humans ; Immunization ; Infant ; Japan ; Korea ; Male ; Pediatrics ; Pertussis Vaccine ; Prevalence ; Vaccination* ; Vaccines ; Whooping Cough*

Background and Objectives: Toxoplasmosis is a disease caused by an intracellular parasite, Toxoplasma gondii. There has been only a few studies done on cervical toxoplasma lymphadenitis, and this study was performed to evaluate its clinical characteristics and outcomes.Subjects and Method We retrospectively reviewed the patients diagnosed with cervical toxoplasma lymphadenitis from January 2010 to December 2019. We investigated clinical pathologic findings, treatment and clinical outcomes. Results: Enrolled in the study were 21 patients who were confirmed with typical pathologic findings in an excisional biopsy (16/21) and core needle biopsy (5/21). Nine patients were male and 12 patients were female, with the mean age of 46.1±13.59 (19-70). All patients complained of neck masses and 5 (23.8%) patients showed pain or tenderness. Only one (4.8%) patient had mild fever. Fine needle aspiration cytology was performed in 5 patients, with no resulting pathognomonic outcomes in any one of the patients. CT scan was performed in 15 patients, with 8 (53.3%) patients showing multiple nodal enlargements but 7 (46.6%) patients showing a single enlarged lymph node. The most frequently involved location was level I (53.3%), followed by level II (46.6%), level V (46.6%), level III (40.0%), and level IV (20.0%). The serologic test for toxoplasma revealed positive IgG (100%) and IgM (85.7%). Treatments were excision only (61.9%) and excision with pharmacologic treatment using sulfonamide or pyrimethamine (38.1%). There was no case of recurrence after treatment. Conclusion Cervical toxoplasma lymphadenitis can be diagnosed by biopsy but needle aspiration has little role. It shows favorable clinical outcomes after treatment.

Arcanobacterium haemolyticum is a cause of chronic skin ulcers in diabetic patients and respiratory infection, especially pharyngitis in healthy person. Less frequently, it is a cause of osteomyelitis, meningitis, pneumonia, abscess, endocarditis and sepsis. We isolated A. haemolyticum from 5 patients including foot or back ulceration in 3 diabetic patients, wound on calcaneus in a chronic osteomyelitis patient and peritonsillar abscess in a pharyngitis patient. A. haemolyticum is usually isolated with other microorganisms and coryneform bacilli which are often considered to be nonpathogenic normal flora or contaminants in wound infections. The correct diagnosis of this microorganism is important for proper treatment and prevention of serious infections.
Abscess ; Arcanobacterium* ; Calcaneus ; Diagnosis ; Endocarditis ; Foot ; Humans ; Meningitis ; Osteomyelitis ; Peritonsillar Abscess* ; Pharyngitis ; Pneumonia ; Sepsis ; Skin Ulcer* ; Ulcer ; Wound Infection ; Wounds and Injuries

OBJECTIVE: Our purpose was to investigate lipid peroxide levels, total peroxyl radical-trapping antioxidative parameter (TRAP) values, and antioxidant vitamin levels in placental tissues of women with preeclampsia and to evaluate their roles in the pathophysiology of preeclampsia. STUDY DESIGN: Samples of placental tissue homogenates were obtained from 23 normal and 18 preeclamptic women between 33 and 40 weeks gestation. TNF-alpha was assayed by an enzyme-linked immunoassay. Lipid peroxide levels measured by thiobarbituric acid reaction. The TRAP values were measured by modified Wayners method. Ascorbic acid, uric acid, retinol, alpha-tocopherol, and gamma-tocopherol were measured by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) CoulArray detector. RESULTS: TNF-alpha levels in placental tissue homogenates of women with preeclampsia were significantly higher than that of women with preeclampsia (21.4+/-3.39 vs. 10.3+/-1.06 pg/ml, p<0.05). Lipid peroxide levels in placental tissue homogenates of women with preeclampsia were significantly higher than that of women with preeclampsia (6.65+/-0.57 vs. 4.98+/-0.37 nmol/mg protein, p<0.05). TRAP values in placental tissue homogenates of women with preeclampsia were significantly lower than that of women with normal pregnancy (0.24+/-0.02 vs. 0.31+/-0.03 mM, p<0.05). Ascorbic acid levels in placental tissue homogenates of women with preeclampsia were significantly lower than that of women with normal pregnancy (217.0+/-21.0 vs. 333.3+/-32.8 nmol/ml, p<0.05). CONCLUSION: The above results suggest that increased oxidative stress in placenta is involved in the pathophysiology of preeclampsia and ascorbic acid may act as an important preventive factor in the development of preeclampsia.
alpha-Tocopherol ; Ascorbic Acid ; Chromatography, Liquid ; Female ; gamma-Tocopherol ; Humans ; Immunoassay ; Oxidative Stress ; Placenta* ; Pre-Eclampsia* ; Pregnancy* ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha ; Uric Acid ; Vitamin A ; Vitamins