OBJECTIVES: The extract of Hizikia fusiformis is known to exhibit anticancer, antiatopic and antioxidant activities. We aimed to investigate the extract of H. fusiformis on allergic rhinitis inflammation in a mouse model. METHODS: The 4-week-old BALB/c mice were randomly assigned into four groups: group A, control group (n=9); group B, allergic rhinitis group (n=10); group C (n=10) received 300 mg/kg of H. fusiformis during nasal challenging period; group D (n=10) received 600 mg/kg of H. fusiformis during general sensitization period and 300 mg/kg of H. fusiformis during nasal challenging period. Allergic inflammation was made with ovalbumin (OVA) and alum then challenged intranasally with OVA. H. fusiformis was intraperitoneally administered 3 hours before the OVA administration. Allergic symptom score and the levels of immunoglobulin G1 (IgG1), IgG2a, OVA-specific IgE antibodies, levels of cytokines in the nasal mucosa and in spleen cell culture supernatant, such as tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α), interleukin 4 (IL-4), IL-5, IL-13, and IL-10 were assessed. The percentage of regulatory T cell was analyzed by flow cytometry. Eosinophilic infiltration and goblet cell hyperplasia were also evaluated. RESULTS: H. fusiformis administered groups C and D showed significant inhibitory effects on nasal symptoms, IL-13 mRNA expression and eosinophil infiltration/goblet cell hyperplasia in the nasal tissue; OVA-specific IgE production in serum (P<0.05). In group D, H. fusiformis treatment downregulated IL-4, IL-5, IL-13, TNF-α, and IL-10 cytokine expression in splenocyte culture as well as significantly decreased IgG2a, IgG1 levels in serum compared with group B (P<0.05). However, the expressions of IL-5, interferon-γ and forkhead box P3 mRNA did not change in groups C and D. CONCLUSION: H. fusiformis could induce antiallergic inflammation by suppressing the T-helper type 2 cytokine production (IL-13) locally and systemically, OVA-specific IgE formation, goblet cell hyperplasia, and eosinophilic infiltration in a mouse model of allergic rhinitis. Thus, H. fusiformis could be considered as a potential therapeutic agent in treating allergic rhinitis.
Animals ; Antibodies ; Cell Culture Techniques ; Cytokines ; Eosinophils ; Flow Cytometry ; Goblet Cells ; Hyperplasia ; Immunoglobulin E ; Immunoglobulin G ; Immunoglobulins ; Inflammation ; Interleukin-10 ; Interleukin-13 ; Interleukin-4 ; Interleukin-5 ; Mice ; Nasal Mucosa ; Ovalbumin ; Ovum ; Rhinitis, Allergic ; RNA, Messenger ; Spleen ; Th2 Cells ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha

significant advances have been made in understanding the biological underpinnings of post-traumatic stress disorder(PTSD), particularly in the field of genetics and neuroimaging. Association studies in candidate genes related with hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis, monoamines including serotonin, dopamine and noradrenaline, and proteins including FK506-binding protein 5 and brain-derived neurotrophic factor have provided important insights with regard to the vulnerability factors in PTSD. Genome-wide association studies and epigenetic studies may provide further information for the role of genes in the pathophysiology of PTSD. Hippocampus, medial prefrontal cortex, anterior cingulated cortex and amygdala have been considered as key structures that underlie PTSD pathophysiology. Future research that combines genetic and neuroimaging information may provide an opportunity for a more comprehensive understanding of PTSD.
Amygdala ; Axis, Cervical Vertebra ; Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor ; Dopamine ; Epigenomics ; Genome-Wide Association Study ; Hippocampus ; Neuroimaging ; Norepinephrine ; Prefrontal Cortex ; Proteins ; Serotonin ; Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic ; Tacrolimus Binding Proteins

Background: Reproductive factors such as childbirth, gravidity, age of menarche, breastfeeding, and use of oral contraceptives could affect the risk of cardiovascular disease in women. This study aimed to investigate the relationship between reproductive factors and cardiovascular disease in postmenopausal women in Korea. Methods: This study included 2,310 women aged ≥45 years who experienced natural menopause and participated in the 7th Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (2016–2017). Cardiovascular disease was defined as myocardial infarction, angina, and stroke. Coronary heart disease was defined as myocardial infarction and angina. Logistic regression was performed to calculate the odds ratio of cardiovascular disease with respect to each reproductive factor. Results: Women who breastfed for longer duration (≥24 months) group had a 3-fold higher risk of cardiovascular disease and 4–5-fold higher risk of coronary heart disease than those in the non-breastfeeding group. One-time pregnancy was associated with a higher risk of coronary heart disease than gravidity of 6. Early menarche (≤11 years of age) was associated with a high risk of stroke. Women who had a history of using oral contraceptives were at low risk of stroke. Conclusion Breastfeeding, low gravidity, and early menarche were associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular disease, whereas use of oral contraceptives was associated with reduced risk of stroke. However, some of these results were different from previous reports. Therefore, further studies are needed to identify the relationship between reproductive factors and cardiovascular disease in women.

BACKGROUND: Therapeutic plasma exchange (TPE) for desensitization in ABO incompatible kidney transplantation (KT) has raised concerns regarding efficiency and safety. The purpose of this study was to determine the number of TPE prior to KT required to reach target titer for KT according to ABO blood groups. METHODS: The distribution of ABO antibody (Ab) titer of 117 patients was investigated. The relationship between initial ABO Ab and number of TPEs required to reach target titer to ≤1:8 prior to KT was evaluated retrospectively according to blood groups and ABO Ab classes. RESULTS: The initial IgG ABO Ab titers were the highest in blood O group recipients, and the average number±standard deviations (range) of TPEs performed prior to ABO incompatible KT was 3.0±1.1 (0~5) in blood group A, 3.7±1.5 (0~8) in blood group B, and 5.3±1.9 (2~13) in blood group O, respectively. The best correlation was observed in the linear relationship between initial ABO Ab titer and number of TPEs required (y=0.6829x+0.0523, R2=0.946, x=log2 initial ABO Ab titer, y=number of TPE required), regardless of the specific ABO blood group. CONCLUSION: The number of TPEs can be highly deduced from initial ABO Ab titer and our developed equation in desensitization programs would help increase the efficiency of TPE and patient safety.
Blood Group Antigens ; Blood Group Incompatibility ; Humans ; Immunoglobulin G ; Kidney Transplantation* ; Kidney* ; Patient Safety ; Plasma Exchange* ; Plasma* ; Retrospective Studies

Drug reaction with eosinophilia and systemic symptoms (DRESS) syndrome and toxic epidermal necrolysis (TEN) are severe cutaneous adverse reactions. Although viral reactivation is associated with DRESS syndrome, its role in TEN remains unclear. An 80-year-old woman visited our hospital because of fever and skin eruption. DRESS syndrome was diagnosed and was thought to caused by the use of the drug allopurinol. She was treated by discontinuation of the drug and administration of systemic steroids. She recovered from DRESS syndrome and was discharged from the hospital with tapering doses of steroids prescribed. One week after discharge, she visited our hospital again as the skin rash recurred and oral pain as well as oral and ocular mucosal lesions developed. In addition to the skin rash, blisters and Nikolsky's sign that were different from the skin lesions present in the previous DRESS syndrome were observed. Unlike those in DRESS syndrome, the viral serological test results were positive for anti-cytomegalovirus (CMV) IgM and CMV polymerase chain reaction. Therefore, it was thought that TEN was due to reactivation of CMV and she was treated this with ganciclovir and intravenous immunoglobulin. Here, we report a case of TEN caused by viral reactivation after DRESS syndrome developed after use of allopurinol which recovered after steroid treatment.
Aged, 80 and over ; Allopurinol ; Blister ; Cytomegalovirus Infections ; Cytomegalovirus ; Drug Hypersensitivity Syndrome ; Eosinophilia ; Exanthema ; Female ; Fever ; Ganciclovir ; Humans ; Immunoglobulin M ; Immunoglobulins ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Serologic Tests ; Skin ; Steroids ; Stevens-Johnson Syndrome

Purpose: Asthma phenotypes are often defined by relative cell counts of airway granulocytes. Induced sputum test results enable clinicians to determine the inflammatory phenotype of asthma based on the eosinophil and neutrophil counts. This study aimed to investigate clinical characteristics of patients with asthma according to the inflammatory phenotype of their condition. Methods: Data from 107 patients with asthma reported at a single tertiary allergy center in Korea during October 2016 to January 2019 were obtained. Patients were categorized into 4 asthma phenotypes based on the cell counts on the induced sputum test: eosinophilic, neutrophilic, mixed, and paucigranulocytic types. Blood eosinophil count, total IgE level, eosinophil cationic protein, spirometric measurements, fractional exhaled nitric oxide, atopy based on the skin prick test, PC20 (provocative concentration of methacholine causing a 20% fall in forced expiratory volume in 1 second) in methacholine provocation test, type of asthma controller used, frequency of exacerbation, and use of systemic corticosteroids were examined. Results: The frequency of phenotype is as follows: eosinophilic (21.4%), neutrophilic (34.8%), mixed (13.4%), and paucigranulocytic types (30.4%). During the observation period, the proportion of patients who experienced an exacerbation and received systemic glucocorticosteroids were significantly lower in patients with the paucigranulocytic type of asthma than in those with the mixed type of asthma (6.3% vs. 40.0%; P = 0.007 and 5.9% vs. 40.0%; P = 0.004, respectively). Conclusion Paucigranulocytic asthma may be associated with lower incidence rates of asthma exacerbation and systemic corticosteroid use than the other phenotypes, classified according to induced sputum test results.

OBJECTIVE: A widely applicable, non-invasive screening method for non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is needed. We aimed to develop and validate an index combining computed tomography (CT) and routine clinical data for screening for NAFLD in a large cohort of adults with pathologically proven NAFLD.MATERIALS AND METHODS: This retrospective study included 2218 living liver donors who had undergone liver biopsy and CT within a span of 3 days. Donors were randomized 2:1 into development and test cohorts. CT(L-S) was measured by subtracting splenic attenuation from hepatic attenuation on non-enhanced CT. Multivariable logistic regression analysis of the development cohort was utilized to develop a clinical-CT index predicting pathologically proven NAFLD. The diagnostic performance was evaluated by analyzing the areas under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC). The cutoffs for the clinical-CT index were determined for 90% sensitivity and 90% specificity in the development cohort, and their diagnostic performance was evaluated in the test cohort.RESULTS: The clinical-CT index included CT(L-S), body mass index, and aspartate transaminase and triglyceride concentrations. In the test cohort, the clinical-CT index (AUC, 0.81) outperformed CT(L-S) (0.74; p < 0.001) and clinical indices (0.73–0.75; p < 0.001) in diagnosing NAFLD. A cutoff of ≥ 46 had a sensitivity of 89% and a specificity of 41%, whereas a cutoff of ≥ 56.5 had a sensitivity of 57% and a specificity of 89%.CONCLUSION: The clinical-CT index is more accurate than CT(L-S) and clinical indices alone for the diagnosis of NAFLD and may be clinically useful in screening for NAFLD.

PURPOSE: The modified Glasgow Prognostic Score (mGPS) consisting of serum C-reactive protein and albumin levels, shows significant prognostic value in several types of tumors. We evaluated the prognostic significance of mGPS in 285 patients with diffuse large B cell lymphoma (DLBCL), retrospectively. MATERIALS AND METHODS: According to mGPS classification, 204 patients (71.5%) had an mGPS of 0, 57 (20%) had an mGPS of 1, and 24 (8.5%) had an mGPS of 2. RESULTS: Our study found that high mGPS were associated with poor prognostic factors including older age, extranodal involvement, advanced disease stage, unfavorable International Prognostic Index scores, and the presence of B symptoms. The complete response (CR) rate after 3 cycles of R-CHOP chemotherapy was higher in patients with mGPS of 0 (53.8%) compared to those with mGPS of 1 (33.3%) or 2 (25.0%) (p=0.001). Patients with mGPS of 0 had significantly better overall survival (OS) than those with mGPS=1 and those with mGPS=2 (p=0.036). Multivariate analyses revealed that the GPS score was a prognostic factor for the CR rate of 3 cycle R-CHOP therapy (p=0.044) as well as OS (p=0.037). CONCLUSION: mGPS can be considered a potential prognostic factor that may predict early responses to R-CHOP therapy in DLBCL patients.
Adult ; Aged ; Antibodies, Monoclonal, Murine-Derived/therapeutic use ; Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols/*therapeutic use ; C-Reactive Protein/*metabolism ; Cyclophosphamide/therapeutic use ; Doxorubicin/therapeutic use ; Female ; Glasgow Outcome Scale ; Humans ; Lymphoma, Large B-Cell, Diffuse/blood/*diagnosis/*drug therapy/mortality ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Multivariate Analysis ; Prednisone/therapeutic use ; Prognosis ; Remission Induction ; Retrospective Studies ; Serum Albumin/*metabolism ; Survival Rate ; Treatment Outcome ; Vincristine/therapeutic use

BACKGROUND: Grafts survive despite blood group antigens on the transplant being continuously exposed to antibodies in the blood of recipients in ABO-incompatible kidney transplantation (ABOi KT), owing to the mechanism of accommodation. We analyzed the immunodynamics of soluble ABH antigens in allografts from secretor donors and the influence of such immunodynamics on accommodation and subsequent graft survival in ABOi KT. METHODS: The genotype of a known human β-galactoside α-1,2-fucosyltransferase gene (FUT2), which determines soluble ABH antigen secretor status, was established in 32 donors for ABOi KT at the Severance Hospital, from June 2010 to July 2015. Clinical outcomes of recipients, such as anti-A/B antibody titer change, renal function, and graft survival, were evaluated. RESULTS: Twenty-five donors were secretors (78.1%), and seven were nonsecretors (21.9%). The frequency of anti-A/B IgG or IgM antibody titer elevation or reduction post-transplantation was not significantly related to donor secretor status. However, IgM titer was rapidly reduced in recipients transplanted from nonsecretor donors (P=0.01), which could be explained by the lack of absorption effect of soluble antigens, enhancing the binding of antibodies to antigens in the allografts. Interestingly, soluble ABH antigens did not affect rejection-free graft survival, which may be due to the nature of β-galactoside α-1,2-fucosyltransferase. CONCLUSIONS: Soluble ABH antigens produced by transplanted kidneys from secretor donors played a role in inducing accommodation within three months of KT through neutralization; however, major graft outcomes were not affected.
Absorption ; Allografts ; Antibodies ; Blood Group Antigens ; Blood Group Incompatibility ; Genotype ; Graft Survival ; Humans ; Immunoglobulin G ; Immunoglobulin M ; Kidney Transplantation ; Kidney* ; Tissue Donors* ; Transplants

The sibling relationship and its potential impact on neurodevelopment and mental health are important areas of neuroscientific research. Validation of the tools assessing the quality of the sibling relationship would be the first essential step for conducting neurobiological and psychosocial studies related to the sibling relationship. However, to the best of our knowledge, no sibling relationship assessment tools have been empirically validated in Korean. We aimed to evaluate the psychometric properties of the Korean version of the Lifespan Sibling Relationship Scale (LSRS), which is one of the most commonly used self-report questionnaires to assess the quality of the sibling relationship. A total of 109 adults completed a series of self-report questionnaires including the LSRS, the mental health subscale of the Medical Outcomes Study-Short Form 36 version 2 (SF36v2), the Satisfaction with Life Scale (SLS), and the Marlowe-Crowne Social Desirability Scale (MC-SDS). The internal consistency, subscale intercorrelations, one-week test-retest reliability, convergent validity, divergent validity, and the construct validity were assessed. All six subscale scores and the total score of the LSRS demonstrated good internal consistency (Cronbach's alpha=0.85-0.94) and good test-retest reliability (intraclass correlation coefficient=0.77-0.92). Correlations of the LSRS with the SF36v2 mental health score (r=0.32, p=0.01) and with the SLS (r=0.27, p=0.04) supported the good convergent validity. The divergent validity was shown by the non-significant correlation of the LSRS with the MC-SDS (r=0.15, p=0.26). Two factors were extracted through factor analysis, which explained 78.63% of the total variance. The three Adult subscales loaded on the first factor and the three Child subscales loaded on the second factor. Results suggest that the Korean version of the LSRS is a reliable and valid tool for examining the sibling relationship.
Adult ; Child ; Humans ; Mental Health ; Psychometrics ; Reproducibility of Results* ; Siblings* ; Social Desirability ; Surveys and Questionnaires