GTP-Binding Proteins ; Receptors, Thyrotropin-Releasing Hormone ; Thyrotropin-Releasing Hormone*

BACKGROUND: Helicobacter pylori(H. pylori) is an important etiologic agent for chronic active gastritis and plays a role in the pathogenesis of peptic ulcer and stomach cancer and recently lymphomas occurring in mucosa associated lymphatic tissue. At present, H. pylori infection associated gastritis was estimated about 80% among the cause of chronic gastritis. In this study, we tested Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) assay to detect H. pylori infection in gastric biopsy specimens. This results were compared with results obtained by other tests. METHODS: A total of 70 patients with dyspepsia were evaluated for H. pylori infection through the use of PCR, culture and serologic tests. The study population had an age of 12 to 80 years(median 46.4), there were 31 males and 39 females. We tested PCR using H. pylori detection kit(TM) (Bioneer, Korea) and anti-H. pylori anti-body EIA using GAP test IgG and IgM(TM)(BIO-RAD, USA). We used anaerobic jar without catalyst for the microaerophilic condition. RESULTS: The positive result by PCR assay for diagnosis of H. pylori infection in gastric specimens was 71.4% in total of 70 patients, which the gastritis, peptic ulcer and gastric cancer were 63.2%, 77.8% and 85.7%, respectively. Among 10 gastrectomy specimens of stomach cancers, the detection rate of H. pylori infection by culture was 50% and the PCR assay was 100%. The detection rate of If pylori IgG and IgM antibodies by commercially available GAP test IgG and IgM EIA were 64.3%, respectively, and IgG or IgM were 85.7%. CONCLUSIONS: The serologic study was sensitive but it was appeared that the high false positive (75%) and false negative (25%) rate and could not confirm current infection. The PCR assay was shown to be more sensitive, rapid and easy to treat specimen for the detection of H. pylori infection than conventional methods such as culture and serologic test in dyspeptic patients.
Antibodies ; Biopsy ; Diagnosis ; Dyspepsia ; Female ; Gastrectomy ; Gastritis ; Helicobacter pylori* ; Helicobacter* ; Humans ; Immunoglobulin G ; Immunoglobulin M ; Lymphoid Tissue ; Lymphoma ; Male ; Mucous Membrane ; Peptic Ulcer ; Polymerase Chain Reaction* ; Serologic Tests ; Stomach Neoplasms

BACKGROUND: Helicobacter pylori(H. pylori) is an important etiologic agent for chronic active gastritis and plays a role in the pathogenesis of peptic ulcer and stomach cancer and recently lymphomas occurring in mucosa associated lymphatic tissue. At present, H. pylori infection associated gastritis was estimated about 80% among the cause of chronic gastritis. In this study, we tested Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) assay to detect H. pylori infection in gastric biopsy specimens. This results were compared with results obtained by other tests. METHODS: A total of 70 patients with dyspepsia were evaluated for H. pylori infection through the use of PCR, culture and serologic tests. The study population had an age of 12 to 80 years(median 46.4), there were 31 males and 39 females. We tested PCR using H. pylori detection kit(TM) (Bioneer, Korea) and anti-H. pylori anti-body EIA using GAP test IgG and IgM(TM)(BIO-RAD, USA). We used anaerobic jar without catalyst for the microaerophilic condition. RESULTS: The positive result by PCR assay for diagnosis of H. pylori infection in gastric specimens was 71.4% in total of 70 patients, which the gastritis, peptic ulcer and gastric cancer were 63.2%, 77.8% and 85.7%, respectively. Among 10 gastrectomy specimens of stomach cancers, the detection rate of H. pylori infection by culture was 50% and the PCR assay was 100%. The detection rate of If pylori IgG and IgM antibodies by commercially available GAP test IgG and IgM EIA were 64.3%, respectively, and IgG or IgM were 85.7%. CONCLUSIONS: The serologic study was sensitive but it was appeared that the high false positive (75%) and false negative (25%) rate and could not confirm current infection. The PCR assay was shown to be more sensitive, rapid and easy to treat specimen for the detection of H. pylori infection than conventional methods such as culture and serologic test in dyspeptic patients.
Antibodies ; Biopsy ; Diagnosis ; Dyspepsia ; Female ; Gastrectomy ; Gastritis ; Helicobacter pylori* ; Helicobacter* ; Humans ; Immunoglobulin G ; Immunoglobulin M ; Lymphoid Tissue ; Lymphoma ; Male ; Mucous Membrane ; Peptic Ulcer ; Polymerase Chain Reaction* ; Serologic Tests ; Stomach Neoplasms

Cytologic findings from five cases with variable types of Hodgkin's disease were reviewed with special emphasis on the Reed-Sternberg (R-S) cells and their variants, Typical R-S and Hodgkin's cells were mono- or binucleated, and nuclei had rounded smooth con- tour. Acidophilic prominent nucleoli with perinucleolar halo were conspicuous. In comparison to typical Reed-Sternberg cells, L & H (lymphocytic and histiocytic) cells in the lymphocyte predominant type tended to show pop-corn like irregular nuclear contour and to lack the prominent nucleoli. Lacunar cells in the nodular sclerosis type had multilobated nuclei with prominent acidophilic nucleoli. There was no prominent perinucleolar halo in L & H and lacunar cells. In conjuction with the number of Reed-Sternberg cells and back ground findings observed on the smears, the characteristic features of R-S cells and their variants allowed to make typing of Hodgkin's disease.
Epidemiologic Studies* ; Hodgkin Disease ; Lymphocytes ; Multiple Myeloma ; Nephrotic Syndrome* ; Reed-Sternberg Cells ; Sclerosis

In the article, there was an error in Figure 3.
Glomerulonephritis, Membranous* ; Humans

BACKGROUND: Phospholipase A2 receptor (PLA2R) has been identified as a major autoantigen in primary membranous nephropathy (MN). We evaluated the association between anti-PLA2R antibodies and clinical outcome in Korean patients with primary MN. METHODS: A total of 66 patients with biopsy-proven MN were included. Serum level of anti-PLA2R antibodies was measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Biochemical parameters were estimated initially and at follow-up. RESULTS: Anti-PLA2R antibodies were detected in 52.1% and 27.8% of patients with primary and secondary MN, respectively. Forty-eight patients with primary MN were grouped based on presence or absence of anti-PLA2R antibodies. Proteinuria was more severe in anti-PLA2R-positive patients than in anti-PLA2R-negative patients (urine protein/creatinine ratio 7.922 ± 3.985 g/g vs. 4.318 ± 3.304 g/g, P = 0.001), and anti-PLA2R antibody level was positively correlated with proteinuria. The incidence of chronic kidney disease stage ≥ 3 was higher in anti-PLA2R-positive patients compared with anti-PLA2R-negative patients (P = 0.004). The probabilities of spontaneous remission were higher in anti-PLA2R-negative patients compared with anti-PLA2R-positive patients (P < 0.001). Multivariate analysis demonstrated that anti-PLA2R antibodies are an independent risk factor for developing chronic kidney disease stage ≥ 3 and for not reaching spontaneous remission. CONCLUSION: Detection of anti-PLA2R antibodies at diagnosis in patients with primary MN can predict prognosis and guide treatment decisions.
Antibodies ; Diagnosis ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Follow-Up Studies ; Glomerulonephritis, Membranous* ; Humans ; Incidence ; Multivariate Analysis ; Prognosis ; Proteinuria ; Receptors, Phospholipase A2 ; Remission, Spontaneous ; Renal Insufficiency, Chronic ; Risk Factors

The CD1 system is a novel antigen-presenting system for T cell recognition of lipid and glycolipids in antimicrobial immunity. Lepromatous leprosy is characterized by lack of cell-mediated immunity against M.leprae. The lack of cell-mediated immunity in lepromatous leprosy has been suggested to be correlated with weak CD1 expression on antigen presenting cells. In order to define how CD1 is down-regulated on M. leprae-infected antigen-presenting cells, we examined effects of interferon-gamma(IFN-gamma) on interleukin-10 (IL-10) secretion and CD1 expression of M.leprae-infected macrophages from granuloma of lepromatous leprosy. Our results showed that a significant trend of increased CD1 expression in response to decresed IL-10 secretion from M.leprae-infected macrophages by IFN-gamma. These results suggest that the local cytokine milieu, especially the balance between IFN-gamma and IL-10, is an important determinant in the regulation of CD1 in lepromatous lesions.
Antigen-Presenting Cells ; Glycolipids ; Granuloma ; Immunity, Cellular ; Interferon-gamma* ; Interleukin-10* ; Leprosy ; Leprosy, Lepromatous* ; Macrophages*

Motile Enterococci, including Enterococcus gallinarum and Enterococcus casseliflavus/flavescens are rarely encountered in human clinical specimens. Enterococcus gallinarum is intrinsically resistant to low levels of vancomycin and causes bacteremia or infection among immunosuppressed or chronically ill patients, sometimes through nosocomial acquisition. We report a case of native valve endocarditis caused by Enterococcus gallinarum in an immunocompetent patient without any medical history.
Bacteremia ; Chronic Disease ; Endocarditis ; Enterococcus ; Humans ; Vancomycin

Autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD) is a systemic disorder associated with various extrarenal complications. The major cardiovascular complications of ADPKD include valvulopathies and vascular ectasia. A 64-year-old man who was diagnosed with ADPKD seven years previously was admitted to our hospital for heart failure. Pelvic computed tomography revealed multiple variable-sized cysts in both kidneys. Transthoracic echocardiography showed enlargement of the left ventricle and left atrium. Severe mitral regurgitation and moderate aortic regurgitation with annuloaortic ectasia were observed. The left main coronary artery was dilated. The patient had various cardiovascular features associated with ADPKD.
Aortic Valve Insufficiency ; Coronary Vessels ; Dilatation, Pathologic ; Echocardiography ; Heart Atria ; Heart Failure ; Heart Ventricles ; Humans ; Kidney ; Middle Aged ; Mitral Valve Insufficiency ; Polycystic Kidney, Autosomal Dominant*

Sarcomatoid transformation of intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma is rarely found but usually has very poor prognosis due to the lack of effective approaches for early detection and its aggressive nature. We report a case of this tumor type, in a 60-year-old man who was referred to our hospital for further evaluation of screening-detected, asymptomatic hepatic lesion. Clinical diagnosis was elusive despite performance of different imaging modalities and a transcutaneous liver biopsy. Pathology of the surgically resected tumor demonstrated intrahepatic sarcomatoid cholangiocarcinoma. In our case, tumor cells expressed strong immunoreactivity to both cytokeratin-19 and vimentin. We assume the relatively good prognosis of this patient would be expected because surgery played a critical role at an early stage of the tumor.
Biopsy ; Cholangiocarcinoma* ; Diagnosis ; Humans ; Keratin-19 ; Keratins ; Liver Abscess* ; Liver* ; Middle Aged ; Pathology ; Prognosis ; Vimentin