No abstract available.
Anesthesia* ; Emergencies*

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Gallbladder polyps and colorectal adenomas share many common risk factors; however, their association has never been studied. The aim of this study was to investigate this association in asymptomatic healthy subjects. METHODS: Consecutive asymptomatic subjects who underwent both screening colonoscopy and abdominal ultrasonography at Kyung Hee University Hospital in Gang Dong between July 2010 and April 2011 were prospectively enrolled. The prevalence of colorectal adenoma was compared between subjects with or without gallbladder polyps. Furthermore, a logistic regression analysis was performed to determine the independent risk factors for colorectal adenoma in these subjects. RESULTS: Of the 581 participants, 55 presented with gallbladder polyps and 526 did not have gallbladder polyps. Participants with gallbladder polyps showed a trend toward a higher prevalence of colorectal adenoma than those without gallbladder polyps (52.7% vs. 39.2%, P=0.051). Although the result was not statistically significant, gallbladder polyps were found to be a possible risk factor for colorectal adenoma (odds ratio=1.796, 95% confidence interval=0.986-3.269, P=0.055), even after adjusting for potential confounding factors. There was no difference observed in colorectal adenoma characteristics between the two groups. CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggest a possible association between gallbladder polyps and colorectal adenomas. Future studies with larger cohorts are warranted to further investigate this matter.
Adenoma* ; Cohort Studies ; Colonoscopy ; Colorectal Neoplasms ; Gallbladder* ; Logistic Models ; Mass Screening ; Polyps* ; Prevalence ; Prospective Studies ; Risk Factors ; Ultrasonography

PURPOSE: Cervical lymph node metastases are quite common in papillary thyroid cancer and the spreading route of a metastasis is usually in a sequential fashion. However, skip metastasis is not uncommon in node-positive papillary thyroid cancer. The goal of this study was to evaluate the pattern of cervical lymph node metastases in papillary thyroid cancer. METHODS: A total of the 265 patients with papillary thyroid carcinoma that underwent a total thyroidectomy and cervical lymph node dissection between January 2006 and August 2007 were enrolled in the study. Medical records were reviewed for analyses of the pattern of cervical lymph node metastasis. RESULTS: Cervical lymph node metastases were noted in 39.2% of the total cases and in 27.9% of the 197 patients that had only central lymph node dissection and 48.5% of the 68 patients that had central and lateral lymph node dissections. Among the cases of central and lateral node dissection, skip metastasis, lateral lymph node metastasis without central lymph node metastasis, was observed in 4 (5.8%) of the cases and a false positive result of node dissection was confirmed in 19 (28.1%) cases. CONCLUSION: For complete surgery of papillary thyroid carcinoma, a thorough examination of the cervical lymph node is required. Acareful consideration of the possibility of skip metastasis and false positive results in cervical lymph node dissection, especially in the lateral compartment, is necessary.
Humans ; Lymph Node Excision ; Lymph Nodes* ; Medical Records ; Neoplasm Metastasis* ; Thyroid Gland* ; Thyroid Neoplasms* ; Thyroidectomy

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is an inflammatory demyelinating disease of the central nervous system. Although advances have been made in the treatment of MS, such as the use of IFN-β, glucocorticoids and stem cells, the therapeutic effects of these treatments are not sufficient. In the present study, we evaluated whether the combination of methylprednisolone (MP) and human bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (BM-MSCs) could enhance the therapeutic effectiveness in experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE), a model for MS. EAE was induced by immunizing C57BL/6 mice with myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein 35-55 (MOG 35-55). The immunized mice received an intraperitoneal injection of MP (20 mg/kg), an intravenous injection of BM-MSCs (1 × 10⁶ cells) or both on day 14 after immunization. Combination treatment significantly ameliorated the clinical symptoms, along with attenuating inflammatory infiltration and demyelination, compared to either treatment alone. Secretion of pro-inflammatory cytokines (IFN-γ, TNF-α, IL-17) was significantly reduced, and anti-inflammatory cytokines (IL-4, IL-10) was significantly increased by the combination treatment as compared to either treatment alone. Flow cytometry analysis of MOG-reactivated T cells in spleen showed that combination treatment reduced the number of CD4⁺CD45⁺ and CD8⁺ T cells, and increased the number of CD4⁺CD25⁺Foxp3⁺ regulatory T cells. Furthermore, combination treatment enhanced apoptosis in MOG-reactivated CD4⁺ T cells, a key cellular subset in MS pathogenesis. Combination treatment with MP and BM-MSCs provides a novel treatment protocol for enhancing therapeutic effects in MS.
Animals ; Apoptosis ; Central Nervous System ; Clinical Protocols ; Cytokines ; Demyelinating Diseases ; Encephalomyelitis, Autoimmune, Experimental* ; Flow Cytometry ; Glucocorticoids ; Humans* ; Immunization ; Injections, Intraperitoneal ; Injections, Intravenous ; Mesenchymal Stromal Cells* ; Methylprednisolone* ; Mice ; Multiple Sclerosis ; Myelin-Oligodendrocyte Glycoprotein ; Spleen ; Stem Cells ; T-Lymphocytes ; T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory ; Therapeutic Uses

BACKGROUND: Our previous study showed that purified protein derivative (PPD)- stimulated pleural mononuclear cells (PMC) from tuberculous pleurisy (Tbp) produced significantly more IFN-gamma (10- to 70-fold) after in vitro PPD stimulation than freshly isolated pleural cells from malignant pleurisy. The present study was designed to determine whether blocking the CD40-CD40 ligand (CD40L) interaction decreases IFN-gamma production by altering IL-12 levels. METHODS: IL-12 and IFN-gamma production after neutralizing anti-CD40L antibody treatment was compared to the efficacy of anti-CD80, anti-CD86, and a combination of anti-CD80 and CD86 (CD80+86) monoclonal antibodies (mAb). These activities were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISAs) and reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), after in vitro stimulation with PPD antigen (Ag). RESULTS: Neutralization of CD80, CD86 and CD80+86 did not decrease IFN-gamma and IL-12 production in Tbp-PMC, whereas neutralization of CD40L significantly depressed IL-12 p40 and IFN-gamma. In addition, neutralization of CD40L completely inhibited IL-12 p40 and IFN-gamma mRNA expression. CONCLUSION: The CD40-CD40L interaction might play a major role in IL-12 and IFN-gamma production in Tbp-PMC, thus contributing to protective immunity in human tuberculosis.
Antibodies, Monoclonal ; CD40 Ligand ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Humans ; Interleukin-12* ; Pleurisy ; RNA, Messenger ; Tuberculosis ; Tuberculosis, Pleural

BACKGROUND: Our previous study showed that purified protein derivative (PPD)- stimulated pleural mononuclear cells (PMC) from tuberculous pleurisy (Tbp) produced significantly more IFN-gamma (10- to 70-fold) after in vitro PPD stimulation than freshly isolated pleural cells from malignant pleurisy. The present study was designed to determine whether blocking the CD40-CD40 ligand (CD40L) interaction decreases IFN-gamma production by altering IL-12 levels. METHODS: IL-12 and IFN-gamma production after neutralizing anti-CD40L antibody treatment was compared to the efficacy of anti-CD80, anti-CD86, and a combination of anti-CD80 and CD86 (CD80+86) monoclonal antibodies (mAb). These activities were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISAs) and reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), after in vitro stimulation with PPD antigen (Ag). RESULTS: Neutralization of CD80, CD86 and CD80+86 did not decrease IFN-gamma and IL-12 production in Tbp-PMC, whereas neutralization of CD40L significantly depressed IL-12 p40 and IFN-gamma. In addition, neutralization of CD40L completely inhibited IL-12 p40 and IFN-gamma mRNA expression. CONCLUSION: The CD40-CD40L interaction might play a major role in IL-12 and IFN-gamma production in Tbp-PMC, thus contributing to protective immunity in human tuberculosis.
Antibodies, Monoclonal ; CD40 Ligand ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Humans ; Interleukin-12* ; Pleurisy ; RNA, Messenger ; Tuberculosis ; Tuberculosis, Pleural

OBJECTIVES: Chromosome 6p24-22 has been identified as a disease locus with a high probability for schizophrenia based on several genomewide linkage scans with Caucasian families. The recent association studies suggest that the dysbindin gene located at chromosome 6p22.3 may be a candidate gene of schizophrenia. The purpose of this study was to investigate the linkage of chromosome 6p24.3-22.3 locus to schizophrenia in Korean families. METHODS: We recruited one hundred fifty-seven family members from forty-six multiplex schizophrenia families. One hundred three of them were affected individuals. four microsatellite markers with 4.8 cM intervals on 6p24.3-22.3 were genotyped. Nonparametric linkage analysis was performed by evaluating the levels of allele sharing between the affected relative pairs. RESULTS: In the single point analysis, no markers on chromosome 6p24.3-22.3 locus showed statistical evidence for linkage. Significant evidence for linkage was not found in the multi-point analysis. CONCLUSION: These results do not support the previous evidence from Caucasian families for a locus predisposing to schizophrenia at 6p24.3-22.3, the locus of dysbindin gene. We conclude that if there is a susceptibility locus for schizophrenia in this region then its effect size is so small as to render our study insufficiently powerful to detect it and schizophrenia susceptibility loci in Korean families likey have different ethnicity-specific effects from Caucasian families.
Alleles ; Humans ; Microsatellite Repeats ; Schizophrenia*

BACKGROUND: In this study, we manufactured a complex of human nasal septal cartilage (hNC) with polycaprolactone (PCL) for transplantation into cartilaginous skeletal defects and evaluated their characteristics.METHODS: Nasal septum tissue was obtained from five patients aged ≥ 20 years who were undergoing septoplasty. hNCs were isolated and subcultured for three passages in vitro. To formulate the cell–PCL complex, we used type I collagen as an adhesive between chondrocyte and PCL. Immunofluorescence staining, cell viability and growth in the hNC–PCL complex, and mycoplasma contamination were assessed.RESULTS: hNCs in PCL showed viability ≥ 70% and remained at these levels for 9 h of incubation at 4 ℃. Immunostaining of the hNC–PCL complex also showed high expression levels of chondrocyte-specific protein, COL2A1, SOX9, and aggrecan during 24 h of clinically applicable conditions.CONCLUSION: The hNC–PCL complex may be a valuable therapeutic agent for implantation into injured cartilage tissue, and can be used clinically to repair cartilaginous skeletal defects. From a clinical perspective, it is important to set the short duration of the implantation process to achieve effective functional implantation.
Adhesives ; Aggrecans ; Cartilage ; Cell Survival ; Chondrocytes ; Collagen ; Collagen Type I ; Fluorescent Antibody Technique ; Humans ; In Vitro Techniques ; Mycoplasma ; Nasal Septum ; Tissue Engineering