Innate immunity and adaptive immunity are two major immune responses against pathogens. Innate immunity is responsible for the immediate immune response to pathogens. Pattern-recognition receptors (PRRs) play an important role in innate immune response. PRRs recognize regular patterns of molecule structure known as pathogen-associated molecular patterns (PAMPs). Among the PRRs, Toll-like receptors (TLRs), RIG-I-like receptors (RLRs), and DNA-dependent activator of interferon regulatory factors (DAI) display key roles in response to viral infections. This article reviews how viral infections activate PRR-PAMP signal pathways and how viruses evade immune responses elicited by PRR signal pathways.
Adaptive Immunity ; Immune System ; Immunity, Innate ; Interferon Regulatory Factors ; Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome ; Signal Transduction ; Toll-Like Receptors

No abstract available.
Bone Marrow* ; Child* ; Growth and Development* ; Humans

Xanthogranulomatous pyelonephritis in childhood is a rare chronic pyelonephritis often assodiated with calculi of urinary tract obstruction, with a clinical presentation of renal mass. A 3-year old boy was admitted to Korea University Hospital complaining of intermittent fever and palpable mass at right upper quadrant of the abdomen. The CBC revealed increased ESR and the finding of iron deficientcy anemia. Proteus mirabilis was cultured from the urine. We found the idiopathic hypercalciuria was affected also. Intravenous pyelogram. ultrasonogram and abdominal computerized tomogrhapy demonstrated a multiple cystic lesion with renal calculi at upper and lower pole of right kidney. Right nephrectomy was performed under the suspicion of the renal abscess with renal stone. Postoperatively microscopic examination revealed parenchymal destruction with infiltration of foamy phagocytes, giant cells, and plasma cells. In conclusion, we experienced a case of xanthogranulomatous pyelonephritis with idiopathic hypercalciuria in a child. So, we report it with a review of literature.
Abdomen ; Abscess ; Anemia ; Calculi ; Child* ; Child, Preschool ; Fever ; Giant Cells ; Humans ; Hypercalciuria* ; Iron ; Kidney ; Kidney Calculi ; Korea ; Male ; Nephrectomy ; Phagocytes ; Plasma Cells ; Proteus mirabilis ; Pyelonephritis ; Pyelonephritis, Xanthogranulomatous ; Ultrasonography ; Urinary Tract

Juvenile polyp of the large intestine is the most common polyp among children and has no malignant potential. We experienced a case of 3-year old male who presented with rectal bleeding and polyp. The polyp was spontaneously resected and the size was 35 50 10 mm. Pathologically, the polyp was consistent with juvenile polyp of the rectum.
Child* ; Child, Preschool ; Hemorrhage* ; Humans ; Intestine, Large ; Male ; Polyps* ; Rectum

Bony fixation of implants during the early phase of healing is important in order to get secondary stability of the implant assuring the success of the treatment. Because the successful placement of the implant is limited by the quality and quantity of bone, other agents which stimulate bone formation in the peri-implant spaces has been illustrated. Platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) has been shown to regulate DNA and protein synthesis in bone cells in vitro and to interact synergistically to enhance soft tissue wound healing in vivo. The purpose of this study was to evaluate bone promotion around implants which were augmented with sagittal split osteotomy or autogenous veneer bone graft using the platelet derived growth factor(PDGF). After placement of newly designed twenty four screw-type implants, which were 12mm in length and 4mm in diameter in 6 dogs. 4microgram of PDGF B/B was applied with surgicel carriers. The dogs were sacrificed at 3 days, 1, 2, 3, 6, and 12 weeks after implantation. Specimens were examined clinically, radiographically, histologically, and histomorphometrically. The results were as follows: 1. Clinically and radiologically, there was no significant difference in bone formation and healing pattern between experimental and control group. 2. In autogenous veneer bone graft group, bone formation was observed at 1st week in the experimental groups but 2nd week in the control groups. At 3rd week, the expeimental groups showed more bone formation comparing to the control groups. 3. In sagittal split osteotomy group, bone formation was observed at 1st week in both groups. But the experimental groups showed more bone formation comparing to the control groups after 2nd week. 4. The bone growth rate of experimental group was more rapid than that of control group. These results indicated that PDGF did not affect the initiation of new bone formation, but it accelerated the bone formation at the early period.
Animals ; Blood Platelets ; Bone Development ; Dental Implants* ; DNA ; Dogs ; Osteogenesis* ; Osteotomy ; Platelet-Derived Growth Factor* ; Transplants ; Wound Healing

In order to investigate the implication of viral replication in acute, subacute, and chronic infections of coxsackievirus B3 (CVB3), we examined the histopathological changes and plus- and minus-strand viral RNA dynamics in heart, pancreas, brain, and liver of CVB3-infected A/J mice. Mice were inoculated intraperitoneally with CVB3 and sacrificed on 1, 2, 3, 4, 7, 10, 14, 21, 30, 60, and 90 days post infection (p.i.). Plus- and minus-strand viral RNAs in the organs were quantitated and the organs were additionally evaluated histopathologically for inflammation. No inflammatory infiltrates were observed in the liver, brain, and heart. In contrast, massive lymphocyte infiltration and fat replacement were shown in the pancreas with loss of acinar cells. Both plus- and minus-strand viral RNA levels were detected by 21 days p.i. in heart, 90 days p.i. in pancreas, 4 days p.i. in liver, and 10 days p.i. in brain. The plus-strand RNA was found at least fifty fold higher than the minus-strand RNA by 4 days p.i. in heart and pancreas and by 3 days p.i. in liver. The plus- to minus-strand RNA ratio in brain was found less than 1:20. Our data indicate that viral replication was actively occurred in heart, pancreas, and liver during acute CVB3 infection, whereas viral replication was limited in brain. Furthermore, chronic persistent viral RNA was observed in pancreas. In conclusion, CVB3 at low dose of virus induces severe pancreatitis but marginal or no inflammatory changes in the heart, liver, and brain.
Acinar Cells ; Animals ; Brain ; Heart ; Inflammation ; Liver ; Lymphocytes ; Mice ; Pancreas ; Pancreatitis ; RNA ; RNA, Viral ; Viruses

Achalasia is a rare neurological deficit of the esophagus that produces an impaired relaxation of the lower esophageal sphincter and decreased motility of the esophageal body. Achalasia is generally accepted to be a pre-malignant disorder, since, particularly in the mega-esophagus, chronic irritation by foods and bacterial overgrowth may contribute to the development of dysplasia and carcinoma. We present a case of a 51-year-old man with achalasia combined with esophageal cancer who has had dysphagia symptoms for more than 20 years. Since there was a clinically high possibility of supraclavicular lymph node metastasis, concurrent chemoradiation therapy was scheduled. After the third cycle of chemoradiation therapy, transthoracic esophageolymphadenectomy was performed. Histopathological examination of the main esophagus specimen revealed no residual carcinoma. And the entire regional lymph node areas were free of carcinoma except for one azygos metastatic lymph node. In summary, achalasia is a predisposing factor for esophageal squamous cell carcinoma. Although surveillance endoscopy in achalasia patients is still controversial, periodic screening for cancer development in long-standing achalasia patients might be advisable.
Carcinoma, Squamous Cell ; Deglutition Disorders ; Endoscopy ; Esophageal Achalasia ; Esophageal Neoplasms ; Esophageal Sphincter, Lower ; Esophagus ; Humans ; Lymph Nodes ; Mass Screening ; Middle Aged ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Relaxation

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study is to develop rapid and sensitive method to detect M. pneumoniae and C. pneumoniae. In addition, we prospectively investigate the prevalence of M. pneumoniae and C. pneumoniae infections in community-acquried pneumonia. METHODS: The nasopharyngeal aspirates were collected from July 1997 to April 2000. PCR or nested PCR techniques were used to detect causative agents. RFLP and nucleotide sequence analysis were performed to study molecular epidemiology. Furthermore, feasibility of one-step technique to detect two microorganisms was tested by use of multiplex PCR. RESULTS: Of 250 clinical specimens, 23 (9.2%) specimens were positive for M. pneumoniae and 33 (13.2%) for C. pneumoniae, including one dual-infected specimen. Most M. pneumoniae infection occurred during the colder months of the year. C. pneumoniae infection was predominently found between December to February. CONCLUSION: The result indicate that M. pneumoniae and C. pneumoniae infections are frequently found from patients with community-acquired pneumoniae.
Adult* ; Base Sequence ; Chlamydia* ; Chlamydophila pneumoniae* ; Humans ; Korea* ; Molecular Epidemiology ; Multiplex Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Mycoplasma pneumoniae* ; Mycoplasma* ; Pneumonia* ; Pneumonia, Mycoplasma* ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Polymorphism, Restriction Fragment Length ; Prevalence ; Prospective Studies*

PURPOSE: Previous studies have shown the role of Sal-like protein 4 (SALL4) as a biomarker in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), and some studies have shown the relationship between SALL4 and prognosis. Given the debates in study groups differences in terms of etiologic causes between Western and Asian HCC and detection methods, we attempted to verify the features of SALL4 immunoreactivity and its clinical correlation in Korean HCC patients. METHODS: Immunohistochemical staining of SALL4 of tissue microarrays (TMAs) consisting of 213 surgically resected HCC patients' tissue were scored in a semiquantitative scoring system with immunoreactive score and the results analyzed with clinical outcome, in addition to general demographics and clinical characteristics. RESULTS: SALL4 immunoreactivity was expressed in 50 cases. Relevance between SALL4 and α-FP correlated significantly (P = 0.002). Also, the SALL4-positive patients had considerably higher tumor grade (P < 0.001). The survival analysis showed negative correlation with SALL4 immunoreactivity in all HCC patient groups, but SALL4 immunoreactivity in T3 and T4 HCC correlated with poor prognosis. CONCLUSION: Here, we found that positive immunostaining of SALL4 is correlated with poor patient survival outcome in large and undifferentiated Korean HCC. SALL4 expression showed close relationship with clinical outcomes of HCCs in Korean patients.
Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular* ; Demography ; Humans ; Immunohistochemistry ; Microarray Analysis ; Prognosis

PURPOSE: Previous studies have shown the role of Sal-like protein 4 (SALL4) as a biomarker in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), and some studies have shown the relationship between SALL4 and prognosis. Given the debates in study groups differences in terms of etiologic causes between Western and Asian HCC and detection methods, we attempted to verify the features of SALL4 immunoreactivity and its clinical correlation in Korean HCC patients. METHODS: Immunohistochemical staining of SALL4 of tissue microarrays (TMAs) consisting of 213 surgically resected HCC patients' tissue were scored in a semiquantitative scoring system with immunoreactive score and the results analyzed with clinical outcome, in addition to general demographics and clinical characteristics. RESULTS: SALL4 immunoreactivity was expressed in 50 cases. Relevance between SALL4 and α-FP correlated significantly (P = 0.002). Also, the SALL4-positive patients had considerably higher tumor grade (P < 0.001). The survival analysis showed negative correlation with SALL4 immunoreactivity in all HCC patient groups, but SALL4 immunoreactivity in T3 and T4 HCC correlated with poor prognosis. CONCLUSION: Here, we found that positive immunostaining of SALL4 is correlated with poor patient survival outcome in large and undifferentiated Korean HCC. SALL4 expression showed close relationship with clinical outcomes of HCCs in Korean patients.
Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular* ; Demography ; Humans ; Immunohistochemistry ; Microarray Analysis ; Prognosis