BACKGROUND: There have been few reports suggesting involvement of mast cell and neutrophil to induce bronchoconstriction in aspirin-sensitive asthrna. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate mast cell and neutrophil activation in pathogenesis of aspirin-sensitive asthma. MATERIAL AND METHOD: We observed changes of serum NCA and MPO levels during L-ASA bronchoprovocation test in 14 subjects with aspirin-sensitive asthma. RESULTS: Serum NCA was significantly increased at 30 min(p=0.01) after the inhalation of L-ASA and then, no significant changes were noted at 240 min (p=0.14). NCA was significantly higher in subjects with late asthmatic responses than in those without it (p=0.04). Serum MPO level tended to increase at 30 min with no statistical significance (p=0.08), and then it significantly decreased at 240 min (p=0.05). There was no significant correlation between serum NCA and MPO level (r=0.22, p=0.58). CONCLUSION: These results support the view that NCA derived from mast cell may contribute to neutrophil recruitment into the airway in aspirin-sensitive asthmatic patients.
Asthma ; Bronchoconstriction ; Humans ; Inhalation ; Mast Cells ; Neutrophil Activation ; Neutrophil Infiltration ; Neutrophils*

Bullous systemic lupus erythematosus (bullous SLE) is an uncommon, distinctive clinical variant of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), histopathologically characterized by subepidermal blisters with neutrophil infiltration and immunopathologically linear IgG depositon at the dermoepidermal junction. A blistering eruption may occur during flares of SLE such as lupus nephritis. We report two cases of bullous SLE, confirmed by the clinical, histopathological and immunopathological features. In one patient who has been diagnosed as SLE with diffuse proliferative lupus nephritis (WHO class IV), a blistering eruption occurred during the course of treatment of SLE. In the other patient, the bullous eruption was the initial manifestation of SLE and then she was diagnosed as SLE. We review the recent literature and describe the distinctive features of this rare disorder.
Blister ; Humans ; Immunoglobulin G ; Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic* ; Lupus Nephritis ; Neutrophil Infiltration

PURPOSE: To evaluate the hemostatic effect of N-butyl 2-cyanoacrylate(NBCA) injection and RF electrocauterization of the tract after fine needle biopsy of the liver, and the histopathologic changes of the liver. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Three lobes of rabbit liver were selected and separately punctured four times with 21 gauge biopsy needles. According to the hemostatic procedure on fine needle biopsy, three groups (1, 2, 3) were formed : group 1, in which there was no maneuver for bleeding control, was the control group ; group 2, in which NBCA was injected into the puncture tract while slowly removing the needle ; group 3, in which RF electrocauterization of the tract was carried out. After completely removing the needle, each group was evaluated for amount of bleeding and histologic change. RESULTS: The amount of bleeding was 0.407gm+/-0.245 in group 1,0.028gm+/-0.036 in group 2 and 0.035gm+/-0.028 in group 3. As compared with the control group(group 1), injecting NBCA into the biopsy tract(P=0.0002) and RF electrocauterization of the tract(P=0.0003) significantly reduced the amount of bleeding after liver biopsy. The amount of bleeding was not statistically different between group 2 and 3, however (P=0.58). In Group 1, the tract was fully filled with blood. Group 2 showed NBCA embolized in the biopsy tract, adhering to hepatocytes and mixed with blood; small vessels adjacent to the puncture tract were filled with NBCA. Group 3 showed tissue degeneration, including necrosis of hepatocytes, vacuolation and neutrophil infiltration. CONCLUSION: Injection of NBCA and RF electrocauterization of the tract after puncture of the liver for biopsy efficiently controlled bleeding. In particular, the efficiency of NBCA injection was due to its effect of plugging the tract and causing the embolization of adjacent small vessels. With regard to procedural handling, RF electrocauterization of the tract is superior to injection of NBCA.
Animals ; Biopsy* ; Biopsy, Fine-Needle ; Hemorrhage* ; Hepatocytes ; Liver* ; Necrosis ; Needles ; Neutrophil Infiltration ; Punctures

A histopathological study of erythema nodosum-like lesions in Behcet's disease was performed on 55 patients with incomplete and suspect types of Behcet's disease. Relatively common characteristics in histopathology of erythema nodosum-like lesions could be found in the patients with incomplete type of Behcet's disease. The histopathologic findings of erythema nodosum-like lesions in 21 patients with incomplete type of Behcet's disease were as follows : l. A moderate lymphocytic infiltration was found around the blood vessels and the sweat glands in the dermis. In the subcutaneous tissue, besides lymphohistiocytic infiltration, neutrophils were present in significant number in 9 cases (42.9%) 2. Vasculitis of small vessels was found within the periphery of fat lobules in 7 cases (81.0%), Five cases (23.8%) also showed thrombophlebitis. Seven cases (33.3%) showed histiocytic granuloma formation within the fat lobules. Microabscess formation in the subcutaneous tissue was seen in 5 cases (23.8 %), but it was not certain whether this was the charateristic feature.
Blood Vessels ; Dermis ; Erythema Nodosum* ; Erythema* ; Granuloma ; Humans ; Neutrophil Infiltration ; Subcutaneous Tissue ; Sweat Glands ; Thrombophlebitis ; Vasculitis

BACKGROUND/AIMS: The role of Helicobacter pylori in bile reflux gastritis (BRG) is uncertain. We show the role of H. pylori and pathology in BRG. METHODS: Thirty seven patients, including 5 patients who had undergone subtotal gastrectomy, were diagnosed with BRG by gastroscopic findings of bile-stained mucosa with hyperemia/ erosions. We measured total bile acid (TBA) concentration and compared the H. pylori positivity between BRG patients and 70 non-BRG patients. We showed how often we could see the pathologic findings of reactive gastritis in BRG and compared the grade of lymphoplasma cell and neutrophil infiltration between H. pylori positive and negative group in BRG. RESULTS: TBA concentration of 10 patients was 7,376.7+/-5,482.6micro mol/L. H. pylori positive rate of BRG was 45.9% and that of non-BRG was 70% (p=0.015). The gastric pit elongation and tortuosity were found only in 3 cases with gastric surgery. The grade of lymphoplasma cell and neutrophil infiltration was 2.41+/-0.51 and 1.88+/-0.86 in H. pylori positive BRG and 1.55+/-0.69 and 0.55+/-0.76 in H. pylori negative BRG, respectively (p<0.001). CONCLUSIONS: H. pylori infection in BRG was lower than that in non-BRG. The gastric pit elongation and tortuosity of BRG were not seen often. The lymphoplasma cell and neutrophil infiltration were relatively sparse in H. pylori negative BRG.
Bile Reflux* ; Bile* ; Duodenogastric Reflux ; Gastrectomy ; Gastritis* ; Helicobacter pylori* ; Helicobacter* ; Humans ; Mucous Membrane ; Neutrophil Infiltration ; Pathology

Sweet's syndrome is an acute febrile neutrophilic dermatosis that occurs with malignant disease, mainly myeloid hemopathies, in about 20% of cases. When associated with myelodysplasia, clinical and histologic features of Sweet's syndrome can be atypical; however its significance is still debated. We encountered a case of Sweet's syndrome associated with myelodysplastic syndrome in a 63-year-old woman. The clinical presentation strongly suggested Sweet's syndrome but, histopathologic examination showed dense histiocytic infiltration with prominent upper dermal edema and little neutrophil infiltration. In the evaluation for atypical histopathology and laboratory abnormalities, she was diagnosed with myleodysplastic syndrome by peripheral blood smear and bone marrow biopsy. Histiocytoid Sweet's syndrome is a currently accepted concept and probably has a close relation with underlying myeloid hemopathies.
Biopsy ; Bone Marrow ; Edema ; Female ; Humans ; Middle Aged ; Myelodysplastic Syndromes* ; Neutrophil Infiltration ; Sweet Syndrome*

Neutrophils play a critical role in ventilation-induced lung injury. This study was aimed to investigate the characteristics of neutrophils influx in lungs induced by high tidal volume ventilation. Anaesthetized rats were randomly divided into low tidal volume ventilation group (Vt: 7 mL/kg, LV group) or high tidal volume ventilation group (Vt: 42 mL/kg, HV group) (n=40 in each). Rats in each group were ventilated for 0, 60, 90, 120 and 240 min. The wet/dry lung weight ratio (W/D) was measured. The levels of macrophage inflammatory protein-2 (MIP-2) and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), and the activity of myeloperoxidase (MPO) were detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The number of neutrophils in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) was counted after Wright's staining, and the percentage of netrophils in lung tissues calculated. Histopatholgical examination was used to observe the changes of lung tissues after different ventilations. The results showed that the W/D weight ratio was increased, and the levels of MIP-2 and TNF-α significantly enhanced in HV group at 90, 120 and 240 min. Neutrophils in BALF and the neutrophil percentage in lung tissues were also elevated at 120 and 240 min, which coincided with the enhanced activity of MPO in HV group. The lung injury was significantly related with the ventilation time and the infiltration of neutrophils in lungs in HV group. In conclusion, in ventilation-induced lung injury, neutrophil infiltration is present in a time-dependent manner and associated with the aggravated lung injury. Pulmonary structural damage may be the main reason for ventilation-induced lung injury.
Animals ; Lung ; physiopathology ; Lung Injury ; physiopathology ; Male ; Neutrophil Infiltration ; physiology ; Neutrophils ; physiology ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley

Asthma, Occupational ; etiology ; pathology ; Humans ; Inflammation ; pathology ; Neutrophil Infiltration ; Neutrophils ; pathology

BACKGROUND: Toluene diisocyanate (TDI) is the most prevalent agent to cause occupational asthma (OA) in Korea. The pathogenic mechanism of TDI-induced OA is still unclear. Involvement of both immunological and non-immunologicaI mechanisms have been suggested. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate a possible role of neutrophil in the development of TDI-asthma. OBJECT AND METHOD: Myeloperoxidase (MPO) as a neutrophil activation marker in both serum and induced sputum, and IL-8 in induced sputum were measured. Induced sputa and sera were collected from 15 TDI-induced OA patients (classified to group I) during TDI- bronchoprovocation test and were compared with those from 11 asthmatic subjects with negative TDI-bronchoprovocation test (group II). MPO levels were measured by radioimmunoassay, IL-8 levels, by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay and albumin levels, by nephelometry. Sputum MPO and IL-8 levels were presented as a ratio to albumin. RESULT: Serum MPO level tended to decrease during the TDI-bronchoprovocation test in two groups, but no statistical significance was reached (p>0.05). However, the ratios of MPO (the ratio of MPO level measured at 30 min to MPO level at baseline, and the ratio MPO level measured at 360 min to MPO baseline) in group I were significantly lower than group II (p=0.004, p=0.03 respectively). The IL-8/albumin and MPO/albumin levels in induced sputum from group I were significantly increased after the TDI-bronchprovocation test in comparison to the baseline value which was obtained before the bronchoprovocation test (p=0.0l, p=0.02 respectively). There was a significant correlation between the percent increase of IL-8/albumin and the MPO/albumin in induced sputum (r=0.89, p<0.05). CONCLUSION: These findings suggest a possible involvement of neutrophil in the development of bronchoconstiction after the TDI exposure, and IL-8 might contribute to neutrophil recruitment to airway mucosa. Further investigation will be needed to investigate mechanism of neutrophil activation in the pathogenesis af TDI-induced OA.
Asthma, Occupational* ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Humans ; Interleukin-8 ; Korea ; Mucous Membrane ; Nephelometry and Turbidimetry ; Neutrophil Activation* ; Neutrophil Infiltration ; Neutrophils* ; Peroxidase ; Radioimmunoassay ; Sputum* ; Toluene 2,4-Diisocyanate

PURPOSE: Erythropoietin is traditionally known to regulate erythropoiesis, but recently its protective effect against ischemia-reperfusion injury has been studied mainly in cardiovascular and neuronal systems. This study was planned to investigate the effects of recombinant human erythropoietin on ischemia-reperfusion injury in rat TRAM flap model. METHODS: Superiorly based TRAM flap was elevated and ischemic insult was given for four hours. Thirty minutes before reperfusion, single dose recombinant human Erythropoietin(5000IU/kg) was injected via intraperitoneal route in the treatment group. At 24 hours postoperatively, systemic neutrophil count, tissue myeloperoxidase activity, malonyldialdehyde amount, nitric oxide content, tissue water content and histologic finding of inflammation was evaluated. On 10 days postoperatively, flap survival rate, angiogenesis and change in hematocrit level was evaluated. RESULTS: Tissue nitric oxide level was significantly higher and myeloperoxidase activity was significantly lower in the treatment group 24 hours after reperfusion. Tissue water content was significantly lower in the treatment group. Perivascular neutrophil infiltration and intravascular adhesion was marked in the control group. Mean flap survival after ten days was 69% in the treatment group, and 47% in the control group, demonstrating a significant difference. Neovascularization in the treatment group also outnumbered the control group. No significant hematocrit rise was noted ten days after erythropoietin administration. CONCLUSION: Recombinant human Erythropoietin improved flap survival in ischemia-reperfusion injured rat TRAM flaps, at least partially owing to suppressed inflammation, increased nitric oxide, and enhanced angiogenesis.
Animals ; Erythropoiesis ; Erythropoietin* ; Hematocrit ; Humans ; Inflammation ; Malondialdehyde ; Neurons ; Neutrophil Infiltration ; Neutrophils ; Nitric Oxide ; Peroxidase ; Rats* ; Reperfusion ; Reperfusion Injury* ; Survival Rate