No abstract available.

Functional paraganglioma of the mediastinum is an uncommon tumor of the paraganglion system that causes symptoms and signs of episodic catecholamine release. It has not been reported in Korea. We experienced a case of a 17 years old man with a history of diaphoresis and paroxysmal hypertension refractory to therapy since 14 years old. Urinary execretion of catecholamine and its metabolites were elevated. Computed tomography(CT) scan revealed high density mass located on the posterior mediastinum in the area of the right fifth intercostal space. At thoracotomy, a 3X3X4cm sized lesion was resected and confirmed as a paraganglioma.
Adolescent ; Humans ; Hypertension* ; Korea ; Mediastinum* ; Paraganglioma* ; Pheochromocytoma ; Thoracotomy

Toll-like receptors (TLRs) are the best-characterized membrane-bound receptors in innate immune cells, including macrophages and dendritic cells. Upon recognition of specific ligands originating from pathogen- and modified self-derived molecules, TLRs trigger intracellular signaling cascades that involve various adaptor proteins and enzymes, resulting in the generation of proinflammatory and antimicrobial responses through the activation of transcription factors such as nuclear factor-kappaB. TLR-dependent signaling pathways are tightly regulated during innate immune responses by a variety of negative regulators. This review focuses on the newly described regulation of TLR-dependent signaling pathways, and emphasizes the roles of TLRs in innate immunity. Efforts to modulate these regulatory pathways and signaling molecules may result in the development of new therapeutic strategies through TLR-based therapy.
Dendritic Cells ; Immunity, Innate ; Ligands ; Macrophages ; Proteins ; Toll-Like Receptors ; Transcription Factors

PURPOSE: The commonly accepted diagnostic algorithm for hematuria includes excretory urography (IVU) and cystoscopy at a urologic department. The clinical courses was determined and a less invasive algorithm for young male patients with asymptomatic microscopic hematuria is suggested. MATERIALS AND MTHODS: A total of 310 males with an asymptomatic microscopic hematuria were enrolled retrospectively in the study at our clinic between January 1997 and December 2000. The mean age of the patients was 20.9 years (range 19 to 25). The initial urologic evaluation consisted of a urinalysis. If the results of the initial urologic evaluation were within the normal range, a cystoscopic examination was recommended as a further evaluation. Ninety-two patients underwent a cystoscopy. All patients were followed by urinalysis. The grade of microscopic hematuria with persistency, and the detection rate of abnormal findings in urologic evaluation were compared. RESULTS: There was a relationship between the grade of hematuria and the rate of the persistency of hematuria, but no relationship between the grade of hematuria and the detection rate of abnormal findings in a urologic evaluation was found. The results of the excretory urography and ultrasound showed an interdependence. There were no significant findings in the cystoscopic examination. CONCLUSIONS: A periodical follow-up of urinalysis is a proper study for young male patients with asymptomatic microscopic hematuria. In order to rule out upper urinary tract diseases, ultrasound and excretory urography can be useful. Furthermore, it is recommended that cystoscopy be done for selected cases in young male patients.
Cystoscopy ; Follow-Up Studies ; Hematuria* ; Humans ; Male* ; Reference Values ; Retrospective Studies ; Ultrasonography ; Urinalysis ; Urography ; Urologic Diseases

PURPOSE: The commonly accepted diagnostic algorithm for hematuria includes excretory urography (IVU) and cystoscopy at a urologic department. The clinical courses was determined and a less invasive algorithm for young male patients with asymptomatic microscopic hematuria is suggested. MATERIALS AND MTHODS: A total of 310 males with an asymptomatic microscopic hematuria were enrolled retrospectively in the study at our clinic between January 1997 and December 2000. The mean age of the patients was 20.9 years (range 19 to 25). The initial urologic evaluation consisted of a urinalysis. If the results of the initial urologic evaluation were within the normal range, a cystoscopic examination was recommended as a further evaluation. Ninety-two patients underwent a cystoscopy. All patients were followed by urinalysis. The grade of microscopic hematuria with persistency, and the detection rate of abnormal findings in urologic evaluation were compared. RESULTS: There was a relationship between the grade of hematuria and the rate of the persistency of hematuria, but no relationship between the grade of hematuria and the detection rate of abnormal findings in a urologic evaluation was found. The results of the excretory urography and ultrasound showed an interdependence. There were no significant findings in the cystoscopic examination. CONCLUSIONS: A periodical follow-up of urinalysis is a proper study for young male patients with asymptomatic microscopic hematuria. In order to rule out upper urinary tract diseases, ultrasound and excretory urography can be useful. Furthermore, it is recommended that cystoscopy be done for selected cases in young male patients.
Cystoscopy ; Follow-Up Studies ; Hematuria* ; Humans ; Male* ; Reference Values ; Retrospective Studies ; Ultrasonography ; Urinalysis ; Urography ; Urologic Diseases

The nuclear receptor superfamily consists of the steroid and non-steroid hormone receptors and the orphan nuclear receptors. Small heterodimer partner (SHP) is an orphan family nuclear receptor that plays an essential role in the regulation of glucose and cholesterol metabolism. Recent studies reported a previously unidentified role for SHP in the regulation of innate immunity and inflammation. The innate immune system has a critical function in the initial response against a variety of microbial and danger signals. Activation of the innate immune response results in the induction of inflammatory cytokines and chemokines to promote anti-microbial effects. An excessive or uncontrolled inflammatory response is potentially harmful to the host, and can cause tissue damage or pathological threat. Therefore, the innate immune response should be tightly regulated to enhance host defense while preventing unwanted immune pathologic responses. In this review, we discuss recent studies showing that SHP is involved in the negative regulation of toll-like receptor-induced and NLRP3 (NACHT, LRR and PYD domains-containing protein 3)-mediated inflammatory responses in innate immune cells. Understanding the function of SHP in innate immune cells will allow us to prevent or modulate acute and chronic inflammation processes in cases where dysregulated innate immune activation results in damage to normal tissues.
Chemokines ; Child ; Child, Orphaned ; Cholesterol ; Cytokines ; Glucose ; Humans ; Immune System ; Immunity, Innate ; Inflammasomes ; Inflammation ; Metabolism ; Orphan Nuclear Receptors ; Social Control, Formal ; Toll-Like Receptors

No abstract available.
Humans ; Korea ; Quality-Adjusted Life Years ; Stroke

Among a number of innate receptors, the nucleotide-binding domain leucine-rich repeat containing (NLR) nucleotide oligomerization domain (NOD)-like receptor families are involved in the recognition of cytosolic pathogen- or danger-associated molecules. Activation of these specific sets of receptors leads to the assembly of a multiprotein complex, the inflammasome, leading to the activation of caspase-1 and maturation of the cytokines interleukin (IL)-1beta, IL-18, and IL-33. Among NLRs, NLR-related protein 3 (NLRP3) is one of the best-characterized receptors that activates the inflammasome. There is no doubt that NLRP3 inflammasome activation is important for host defense and effective pathogen clearance against fungal, bacterial, and viral infection. In addition, mounting evidence indicates that the NLRP3 inflammasome plays a role in a variety of inflammatory diseases, including gout, atherosclerosis, and type II diabetes, as well as under conditions of cellular stress or injury. Here, we review recent advances in our understanding of the role of the NLRP3 inflammasome in host defense and various inflammatory diseases.
Atherosclerosis ; Cytokines ; Cytosol ; Defense Mechanisms ; Gout ; Humans ; Inflammasomes ; Inflammation ; Interleukin-18 ; Interleukins

Hepatoma is one of the frequent cancers in Korea with an extremely poor prognosis. The prognostic factors in hepatoma are presence of venous invasion, multiplicity, size, and curative resection, but all things about prognosis are not elucidated yet. DNA ploidy pattern is one of the possible prognostic factors in HCC. Moreover, the study on DNA ploidy in Korean HCC is very scarce, so we studied DNA ploidy pattern in Korean HCC patients. We used formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded tissues from resected hepatoma specimens and the DNA ploidy was analysed with a flow cytometry system. Of the total 40 cases studied, 27 cases(67.5%) showed evaluable Coefficient of Variation(CV) level(less than 10). Among them 13 cases(48.1%) had an aneuploidy pattern. There were significant correlations between DNA ploidy and tumor size, presence of portal thrombi and TNM stage, although other conventional clinicopathologic prognostic factors did not show any significant correlation with DNA ploidy. In cases of tumors larger than 5 cm or presence of portal vein invasion, aneuploidy pattern was more frequently detected(p<0.05). But the prognostic significance of DNA ploidy pattern was not detected in resected hepatoma patients(p>0.1). Because of some limitation of paraffin-embedded tissue in flowcytometric analysis and heterogeneity of DNA ploidy pattern in HCC, we think that we should study multiple fresh samples in a prospective manner.
Aneuploidy ; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular* ; DNA* ; Flow Cytometry ; Humans ; Korea ; Ploidies* ; Population Characteristics ; Portal Vein ; Prognosis

Autophagy is a housekeeping process that maintains cellular homeostasis through recycling of nutrients and degradation of damaged or aged cytoplasmic constituents. Over the past several years, accumulating evidence has suggested that autophagy can function as an intracellular innate defense pathway in response to infection with a variety of bacteria and viruses. Autophagy plays a role as a specialized immunologic effector and regulates innate immunity to exert antimicrobial defense mechanisms. Numerous bacterial pathogens have developed the ability to invade host cells or to subvert host autophagy to establish a persistent infection. In this review, we have summarized the recent advances in our understanding of the interaction between antibacterial autophagy (xenophagy) and different bacterial pathogens.
Animals ; Autophagy/*physiology ; Bacterial Infections/*immunology/metabolism ; Humans ; Immunity, Innate/physiology ; Reactive Oxygen Species/metabolism