Acute Disease ; Diagnosis ; Enterotoxins ; Exanthema ; Fever ; Hypotension ; Shock ; Shock, Septic ; Staphylococcus aureus

Myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs) are immature myeloid cells that exert suppressive function on the immune response. MDSCs expand in tumor-bearing hosts or in the tumor microenvironment and suppress T cell responses via various mechanisms, whereas a reduction in their activities has been observed in autoimmune diseases or infections. It has been reported that the symptoms of various diseases, including malignant tumors, can be alleviated by targeting MDSCs. Moreover, MDSCs can contribute to patient resistance to therapy using immune checkpoint inhibitors. In line with these therapeutic approaches, diverse oligonucleotide-based molecules and small molecules have been evaluated for their therapeutic efficacy in several disease models via the modulation of MDSC activity. In the current review, MDSC-targeting oligonucleotides and small molecules are briefly summarized, and we highlight the immunomodulatory effects on MDSCs in a variety of disease models and the application of MDSC-targeting molecules for immuno-oncologic therapy.

PURPOSE: Measurement of body fat in obese children is useful not only in evaluating health hazard but also in establishing standards of treatment and evaluating the effectiveness of treatment. In the field of clinical and laboratory study, there are various methods with different reliability, propriety, convenience, and expenses. However, the practical value of these studies is limited in Korea, especially in the field of pediatrics, therefore we investigated the correlation of body fat measurement methods to establish the basis for the practical use in children. METHODS: The study is based on the records of a total of 32 cases who visited the pediatric obesity clinics at Chung-Ang University Yong San Hospital from April 2003 to September 2003. We measured the height, weight, waist-hip ratio obesity degree and body mass index. Then we analyzed the correlation of these manual measurement data with the results of bioelectrical impedance analysis(BIA), Dual energy X-ray absorptiometry(DEXA). RESULTS: The body mass index was correlated with the quantity of body fat(r=0.805, P=0.000), the ratio of body fat(r=0.437, P=0.012), and the ratio of abdominal fat(r=0.458, P=0.008) in DEXA. The obesity degree was correlated only with the ratio of body fat(r=0.358, P=0.044) in DEXA. The body composition measured by BIA and DEXA showed significant correlation with the quantity of body fat(r=0.953, P=0.000) and the ratio of body fat(r=0.578, P=0.001), but the ratios of abdominal fat were not correlated with each other. CONCLUSION: Body mass index is more accurate compared with obesity degree. In addition, BIA can be utilized competitively in screening of body fat, although it is limited in measuring localized fat distribution when compared with DEXA.
Abdominal Fat ; Adipose Tissue* ; Body Composition ; Body Mass Index ; Child* ; Electric Impedance ; Humans ; Korea ; Mass Screening ; Obesity ; Pediatric Obesity ; Pediatrics ; Waist-Hip Ratio

BACKGROUND: The cell mediated immunity has an important role in the pathogenesis of tuberculosis. sIL-2R has been known as a sensitive marker of T lymphocyte activation. Elevated serum levels of sIL-2R have been found in patients with lymphoproliferative disorders, organ transplantation, autoimmune diseases, and various granulomatous diseases. Elevated levels of sIL-2R have been also found in the seam and pleural fluid of the patients with tuberculosis. To evaluate the diagnostic value of sIL-2R in the differentiation of tuberculous pleurisy and. nontuberculous pleurisy. We measured the level of sIL-2R in the sera and pleural fluids of 12 patients with tuberculous pleurisy and 32 patients with nontuberculous pleurisy. METHOD: Samples of pleural fluid and serum were centrifuged at 2500 rpm for 10 min to remove cell pellets. Soluble R-2R was measured with a sandwitch enzyme immunoassay using the Cellfree r Interleukin-2 Receptor Test kit( T-cell science, Inc. Cambridge, MA). RESULTS: The results obtained were as follows: 1) The sIL-2R level in pleural fluid of the patients with tuberculous pleurisy was higher than that of patients with nontuberculous pleurisy(P<0.005). 2) When the sIL-2R level above 5,000 u/ml in pleural fluid was used as the cut-off value to diagnose tuberculous pleurisy, it had a sensitivity of 84.6% and a specificity of 90.9%. 3) The sIL-2R level in the sera of the patients with tuberculous pleurisy was higher than that of patients with bacterial pleural effusions and normal control group(P<0.05) and there was no difference of levels compared with malignant pleural effusions and transudative pleural effusions(P>0.05). 4) In patients with tuberculous pleurisy, the mean concentration of sIL-2R in pleural fluid was higher than that in serum(P<0.005). CONCLUSION: These findings suggest that the measurement of elevated levels of pleural fluid sIL-2R in tuberculous pleurisy may be useful in the differential diagnosis between patients with tuberculous pleurisy and nontuberculous pleurisy.
Autoimmune Diseases ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Humans ; Immunity, Cellular ; Immunoenzyme Techniques ; Interleukin-2* ; Lymphocyte Activation ; Lymphoproliferative Disorders ; Organ Transplantation ; Pleural Effusion ; Pleural Effusion, Malignant ; Pleurisy* ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; T-Lymphocytes ; Transplants ; Tuberculosis ; Tuberculosis, Pleural*

Pressure sores are common complications in patients with spinal injuries or cerebrovascular accidents. The management of pressure sores requires prolonged hospitalization and repeated surgical interventions with a high recurrence rate. Particularly osteomyelitis following initial pressure sores persistently complicates wound healing and recovery. Furthermore, it may also ultimately result in serious sepsis; thus an early diagnosis of osteomyelitis in pressure sore patients is crucial along with appropriate surgical and antibiotic therapy. Although many diagnostic methods were reported, there is no single 'gold' standard for early diagnosis of pressure sore-associated osteomyelitis. Authors reviewed pre-operative CBC, plain X-ray, Tc-99m bone scan, and post-operative biopsy results in 37 patients who had received surgical treatment for pressure sores in a 5-year period from September 1991 to August 1996. Based on these reviews, authors compared and analyzed the sensitivity and specificity in diagnosing osteomyelitis.The results were as follows: 1. Of 37 patients studied, 25 cases were confirmed histologically as osteomyelitis. Ischial region revealed the highest incidence of pressure sore-related osteomyelitis(78%, 14 out of 18 cases) while the regional incidence was as following in descending order : ischial, sacral, and greater trochanteric area. 2. Tc-99m bone scan had superior sensitivity(100%) and specificity(83%) to other pre-operative studies in diagnosing osteomyelitis.In conclusion, authors suggest that Tc-99m bone scan is the best diagnostic method because of its high sensitivity and specificity if osteomyelitis is clinically suspected in pressure sore patients. And in case the test result is positive, agressive surgical bone resection and appropriate antibiotic therapy based on bacterial culture from deep bone specimen should be combined to prevent complications or recurrences.
Biopsy ; Early Diagnosis ; Femur ; Hospitalization ; Humans ; Incidence ; Osteomyelitis ; Pressure Ulcer* ; Recurrence ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Sepsis ; Spinal Injuries ; Stroke ; Wound Healing

Primary malignant lymphoma of the appendix is an unconnnon neoplasm although the gastrointestinal tract is the most common extranodal site of malignant lymphoma. We report a case of primary malignant lymphoma of the appendix in a 54-year-old male, who presented with pain in the right lower abdomen. An appendectomy was performed. The appendix measured 9.5 cm in length and 5.5 cm in diameter. Cut sections showed a solitary circumferential mass in the appendiceal lumen. Light microscopic features were compatible with malignant lymphoma of diffuse large cell type(Working Formulation) and the immunophenotype was B cell type.

BACKGROUND: Dendritic cells (DC) are professional antigen-presenting cells in the immune system and can induce T cell response against virus infections, microbial pathogens, and tumors. Therefore, immunization using DC loaded with tumor-associated antigens (TAAs) is a powerful method of inducing anti-tumor immunity. For induction of effective antitumor immunity, antigens should be efficiently introduced into DC and presented on MHC class I molecules at high levels to activate antigen-specific CD8+ T cells. We have been exploring methods for loading exogenous antigens into APC with high efficiency of Ag presentation. In this study, we tested the effect of the cationic liposome (Lipofectin) for transferring and loading exogenous model antigen (OVA protein) into BM-DC. METHODS: Bone marrow-derived DC (BM-DC) were incubated with OVA-Lipofectin complexes and then co-cultured with B3Z cells. B3Z activation, which is expressed as the amount of beta-galactosidase induced by TCR stimulation, was determined by an enzymatic assay using beta-gal assay system. C57BL/6 mice were immunized with OVA-pulsed DC to monitor the in vivo vaccination effect. After vaccination, mice were inoculated with EG7-OVA tumor cells. RESULTS: BM-DC pulsed with OVA-Lipofectin complexes showed more efficient presentation of OVA-peptide on MHC class I molecules than soluble OVA-pulsed DC. OVA-Lipofectin complexes-pulsed DC pretreated with an inhibitor of MHC class I-mediated antigen presentation, brefeldin A, showed reduced ability in presenting OVA peptide on their surface MHC class I molecules. Finally, immunization of OVA-Lipofectin complexes-pulsed DC protected mice against subsequent tumor challenge. CONCLUSION: Our data provide evidence that antigen-loading into DC using Lipofectin can promote MHC class I-restricted antigen presentation. Therefore, antigen-loading into DC using Lipofectin can be one of several useful tools for achieving efficient induction of antigen-specific immunity in DC-based immunotherapy.
Animals ; Antigen Presentation ; Antigen-Presenting Cells ; beta-Galactosidase ; Brefeldin A ; Dendritic Cells* ; Enzyme Assays ; Immune System ; Immunization ; Immunotherapy ; Liposomes ; Mice ; Ovum ; T-Lymphocytes ; Vaccination

No abstract available.
Hemorrhage* ; Hemorrhoidectomy*

The possible complications after parotidectomy are facial nerve palsy, Frey's syndrome, sialocele, salivary fistula, hematoma infection, and flap necrosis. Postoperative sialocele and salivary fistula are relatively uncommon and the management varies. We experienced a rare postoperative complication of excessive and prolonged drainage of saliva after superficial parotidectomy and removal of an necessary parotid gland tumor. The patient could be treated successfully with conservative management such as compressive dressing, restriction of oral intake of irritant food, maintenance of oral hygiene and the use of amitriptyline(antidepressant).
Bandages ; Drainage* ; Facial Nerve ; Fistula ; Hematoma ; Humans ; Necrosis ; Oral Hygiene ; Paralysis ; Parotid Gland* ; Postoperative Complications ; Saliva ; Sweating, Gustatory

No abstract available.
Fibrin*