No abstract available.
Animals ; Humans ; *Immunity, Mucosal ; Vaccines/*immunology

Dendritic cells (DCs) are key modulators that shape the immune system. In mucosal tissues, DCs act as surveillance systems to sense infection and also function as professional antigen-presenting cells that stimulate the differentiation of naive T and B cells. On the basis of their molecular expression, DCs can be divided into several subsets with unique functions. In this review, we focus on intestinal DC subsets and their function in bridging the innate signaling and adaptive immune systems to maintain the homeostasis of the intestinal immune environment. We also review the current strategies for manipulating mucosal DCs for the development of efficient mucosal vaccines to protect against infectious diseases.
Animals ; Dendritic Cells/*immunology/metabolism ; Humans ; Immunity, Mucosal ; Intestinal Mucosa/cytology/*immunology ; T-Lymphocytes, Helper-Inducer/immunology

Immune checkpoint inhibitors have dramatically revolutionized the therapeutic landscape for patients with advanced malignancies. Recently, convincing evidence has shown meaningful influence of gut microbiome on human immune system. With the complex link between gut microbiome, host immunity and cancer, the variations in the gut microbiota may influence the efficacy of immune checkpoint inhibitors. Indeed, some bacterial species have been reported to be predictive for cancer outcome in patients treated with immune checkpoint inhibitors. Although immune checkpoint inhibitors are currently proven to be an effective anti-tumor treatment, they can induce a distinct form of toxicity, termed immune-related adverse events. Immune-related colitis is one of the common toxicities from immune checkpoint inhibitors, and it might preclude the cancer therapy in severe or refractory cases. The manipulation of gut microbiome by fecal microbiota transplantation or probiotics administration has been suggested as one of the methods to enhance anti-tumor effects and decrease the risk of immune-related colitis. Here we review the role of gut microbiome on immune checkpoint inhibitor therapy and consequent immune-related colitis to provide a new insight for better anti-cancer therapy.

Total 8,341 pregnant women who visited Obstetric Clinic Cheil General Hospital from Jaunary 1991 to July 1992 were screened for HBsAg. Sixty five women with positive HBsAg who delivered healthy babies during that period and their infants are included in the study. HBsAg, Anti-HBs, Anti-HBc, HBeAg and Anti-HBe were tested by radioimmunoassay and hepatitis B virus DNA were studied by polymerase chain reaction technique in both mothers' and babies serum. The results were as follow: 1) Among 8,341 pregnant women who were screened for HBsAg 374 were asymptomatic carriers(4.5%). 2) The newborn babies born to 65 mothers who were positive HBsAg showed HBsAg in 4.6%, HBeAg 75.0%, anti-HBc 98.4% and hepatitis B virus DNA in 26.2%. 3) It showed discordance of HBeAg/anti-HBe, with hepatitis B virus DNA in newborn infants. 4) Follow up study at 8~20 months showed HBeAg and hepatitis B virus DNA in 2 infants out of 20.
DNA ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Hepatitis B e Antigens ; Hepatitis B Surface Antigens ; Hepatitis B virus* ; Hepatitis B* ; Hepatitis* ; Hospitals, General ; Humans ; Infant ; Infant, Newborn ; Mothers* ; Polymerase Chain Reaction* ; Pregnant Women ; Radioimmunoassay

BACKGROUND: There have been several reports describing the capability of ginseng extracts as an adjuvant. In this study, we tested if ginsan, a polysaccharide extracted from Panax ginseng, was effective in enhancing antibody response to orally delivered Salmonella antigen. METHODS: Ginsan was treated before oral salmonella antigen administration. Salmonella specific antibody was determined by ELISA. mRNA expression was determined by RT-PCR. Cell migration was determined by confocal microscopy and flow cytometry. COX expression was detected by western blot. RESULTS: Ginsan treatment before oral Salmonella antigen delivery significantly increased both secretory and serum antibody production. Ginsan increased the expression of COX in the Peyer's patches. Various genes were screened and we found that CCL3 mRNA expression was increased in the Peyer's patch. Ginsan increased dendritic cells in the Peyer's patch and newly migrated dendritic cells were mostly found in the subepithelial dome region. When COX inhibitors were treated, the expression of CCL3 was reduced. COX inhibitor also antagonized both the migration of dendritic cells and the humoral immune response against oral Salmonella antigen. CONCLUSION: Ginsan effectively enhances the humoral immune response to orally delivered antigen, mediated by CCL3 via COX. Ginsan may serve as a potent vaccine suppliment for oral immunization.
Antibody Formation ; Blotting, Western ; Cell Movement ; Dendritic Cells ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Flow Cytometry ; Immunity, Humoral ; Immunization ; Microscopy, Confocal ; Panax ; Peyer's Patches ; Polysaccharides ; Prostaglandin-Endoperoxide Synthases ; RNA, Messenger ; Salmonella

Infection with invasive Shigella species results in intestinal inflammation in humans but no symptoms in adult mice. To investigate why adult mice are resistant to invasive shigellae, 6~8-week-old mice were infected orally with S. flexneri 5a. Shigellae successfully colonized the small and large intestines. Mild cell death was seen but no inflammation. The infected bacteria were cleared 24 hours later. Microarray analysis of infected intestinal tissue showed that several genes that are involved with the sphingosine-1-phosphate (S1P) signaling pathway, a lipid mediator which mediates immune responses, were altered significantly. Shigella infection of a human intestinal cell line modulated host S1P-related genes to reduce S1P levels. In addition, co-administration of S1P with shigellae could induce inflammatory responses in the gut. Here we propose that Shigella species have evasion mechanisms that dampen host inflammatory responses by lowering host S1P levels in the gut of adult mice.
Adult ; Animals ; Bacteria ; Cell Death ; Cell Line ; Colon ; Humans ; Inflammation* ; Intestines ; Mice* ; Microarray Analysis ; Shigella ; Shigella flexneri*

This study was done for identifying the factors which affect psychologic symptoms of low back(LBP) patients. The study subjects were 43 work-related low back pain patients, 28 work-related non-low back pain patients and 47 general low back injury patients. The study material is SCL 90-R for checking psychologic symptoms and questionnaire for obtaining general information about the subjects. The data were analyzed by model of analysis of covariance adjusted by several variables such as gender, age, education and marital status and then compared the least square means of symptom score between groups. To identify the factors that affect psychologic symptom, duration of suspension, return to work and interaction factor of these two variables were analyzed by multivariate model and we calculated partial correlation coefficient of these variables. As a result, work-related LBP patients showed higher score of symptoms in somatization, depression and psychosis than work-related non-LBP and non-work-related LBP. Duration of suspension and return to work were significant explanatory variables for psychologic symptom score of work-related LBP. Then, we may conclude that the treatment and rehabilitation programe for work-related LBP should cover the strategy of early return to work.
Back Injuries ; Back Pain ; Depression ; Education ; Humans ; Low Back Pain* ; Marital Status ; Psychometrics* ; Psychotic Disorders ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Rehabilitation ; Return to Work

BACKGROUND: Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and chronic kidney disease (CKD) share common pathogenic mechanisms and many risk factors, and both are linked to an increased risk of cardiovascular diseases. The aim of this study was to assess the association between NAFLD and CKD according to the presence of hypertension and diabetes mellitus in Koreans aged 50 years or older. METHODS: A cross-sectional study of 1,706 subjects who received their routine health examination was conducted between May 2008 and April 2010 at Konkuk University medical center. Biochemical tests for liver and abdominal ultrasonography were performed. CKD was defined as either proteinuria or glomerular filtration rate < or =60 mL/min per 1.73 m2. RESULTS: Among the 1,706 subjects, There were 545 (31.9%) with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease and 424 (24.9%) with chronic kidney disease. In univariate logistic regression analysis, NAFLD was significantly associated with CKD (odds ratio [OR], 1.69; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.34 to 2.12). In multivariate logistic regression analysis adjusted for age, sex, current smoking, abdominal obesity, aspartate aminotransferases, alanine aminotransferases, gamma-glutamyltransferase, hypertension, diabetes mellitus, hypertriglyceridemia, and low high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, NAFLD was associated with CKD (adjusted OR, 1.68; 95% CI, 1.27 to 2.24). This relationship remained significant after classification according to the presence of hypertension or diabetes mellitus. CONCLUSION: NAFLD diagnosed by ultrasonography was significantly associated with CKD in Koreans aged 50 years or older.
Academic Medical Centers ; Aged ; Alanine ; Aspartate Aminotransferases ; Cardiovascular Diseases ; Cholesterol ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Diabetes Mellitus ; Fatty Liver ; gamma-Glutamyltransferase ; Glomerular Filtration Rate ; Humans ; Hypertension ; Hypertriglyceridemia ; Lipoproteins ; Liver ; Logistic Models ; Obesity, Abdominal ; Proteinuria ; Renal Insufficiency, Chronic ; Risk Factors ; Smoke ; Smoking ; Transaminases

BACKGROUND: Greater occipital nerve block is used in the treatment of headaches and neuralgia in the occipital area. We evaluated the efficacy of ultrasonic doppler flowmeter-guided occipital nerve block in patients experiencing headache in the occipital region in a randomized, prospective, placebo-controlled study. METHODS: Twenty-six patients, aged 18 to 70, with headache in the occipital region, were included in the study. Patients received a greater occipital nerve block performed either under ultrasonic doppler flowmeter guidance using 1% lidocaine or the traditional method. Sensory examination findings in the occipital region were evaluated. RESULTS: The complete block rate of greater occipital nerve blockade in the doppler group was significantly higher than in the control group respectively (76.9% vs. 30.8%, P < 0.05). Only one patient in the control group had a complication (minimal bleeding). CONCLUSIONS: Ultrasonic doppler flowmeter-guided occipital nerve block may be a useful method for patients suffering headache in the occipital region.
Aged ; Flowmeters ; Headache ; Humans ; Lidocaine ; Migraine Disorders ; Nerve Block ; Neuralgia ; Post-Traumatic Headache ; Prospective Studies ; Stress, Psychological ; Ultrasonics ; Ultrasonography, Doppler

BACKGROUND: It is crucial to understand the current status of clinical laboratory practices for the largest outbreak of Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) infections in the Republic of Korea to be well prepared for future emerging infectious diseases. METHODS: We conducted a survey of 49 clinical laboratories in medical institutions and referral medical laboratories. A short questionnaire to survey clinical laboratory practices relating to MERS-CoV diagnostic testing was sent by email to the directors and clinical pathologists in charge of the clinical laboratories performing MERS-CoV testing. The survey focused on testing volume, reporting of results, resources, and laboratory safety. RESULTS: A total of 40 clinical laboratories responded to the survey. A total of 27,009 MERS-CoV real-time reverse transcription PCR (rRT-PCR) tests were performed. Most of the specimens were sputum (73.5%). The median turnaround time (TAT) was 5.29 hr (first and third quartile, 4.11 and 7.48 hr) in 26 medical institutions. The median TAT of more than a half of the laboratories (57.7%) was less than 6 hr. Many laboratories were able to perform tests throughout the whole week. Laboratory biosafety preparedness included class II biosafety cabinets (100%); separated pre-PCR, PCR, and post-PCR rooms (88.6%); negative pressure pretreatment rooms (48.6%); and negative pressure sputum collection rooms (20.0%). CONCLUSIONS: Clinical laboratories were able to quickly expand their diagnostic capacity in response to the 2015 MERS-CoV outbreak. Our results show that clinical laboratories play an important role in the maintenance and enhancement of laboratory response in preparation for future emerging infections.
Clinical Laboratory Services/*standards ; Clinical Laboratory Techniques/instrumentation/methods ; Coronavirus Infections/*diagnosis/epidemiology/virology ; Disease Outbreaks ; Humans ; Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus/genetics/isolation & purification ; RNA, Viral/analysis ; Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Republic of Korea/epidemiology ; Sputum/virology ; Surveys and Questionnaires