No abstract available.
Humans* ; Interleukin-12* ; Mycobacterium tuberculosis* ; Mycobacterium* ; Tuberculosis, Pulmonary* ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha*

No Abstract Available.
Humans ; Interleukin-12* ; Interleukin-18* ; Tuberculosis, Pleural*

Present study aimed to investigate the immunological activities of cell wall associated protein antigen solubilized with Triton X-100 (TSP) from Mycobacterium tuberculosis H37Rv and conducted on 43 patients with pulmonary tuberculosis (newly diagnosed, medicated within 12 months and chronic refractory patients) and 17 normal healthy controls. These immunological responses were compared with those induced by the PPD or 30 kDa antigen from M, tuberculosis H37Rv culture filtrates, identified as biologically important secreted proteins. Proliferative responses to mycobacterial antigens were compared in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) of healthy subjects and pulmonary tuberculosis patients. Signiticant blastogenic responses to the TSP were observed in healthy tuberculin reactors, newly diagnosed and some of antituberculosis drug-medicated patients by H-thymidine incorporation assay. IL-12 p40 and IFN-r mRNA expressions to the TSP were markedly increased, whereas IL-10 and TNF-a mRNA expressions were decreased at a 5 day-stimulation by PBMC in healthy tuberculin reactors, newly diagnosed and medicated patients. However, patients with chronic refractory tuberculosis exhibited more depressed IL-12 p40 and IFN-r mRNA expressions to all of the antigens than another groups. Interestingly, very low IL-10 and TNF-a mRNA expressions cultured with the TSP were also shown. These data suggest that the TSP may be involved in the macrophage activation by induction of Th1 stimulatory signals, such as IL-12, and suppression of Th1 inhibitory cytokine, IL-10.
Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha

We isolated Triton X-100 solubilized protein (TSP) antigen which may be preferentially associated with the cell wall of M. tuberculosis. In this study, the proliferative activities and cytokine mRNA expression patterns of the TSP antigen were investigated in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) and lymph node mononuclear cells (LNMCs) from 4 patients with tuberculous lymphadenitis. The results of the TSP antigen were compared with those of the PPD antigen, known as a major seretory protein antigen of M. tuberculosis. The peak proliferative response to the TSP by PBMCs was observed at 0.1 ug/ml, whereas that of LNMCs was at 1.0 ug/ml. All of the patients showed greater blastogenic responses for the PPD than those for the TSP. IFN-r, IL-2, and IL-2Ru mRNA production from PBMCs after stimulation with the TSP were greatly augmented after 48 hrs, whereas IL-4 and IL-10 mRNA were gradually suppressed. In addition, high levels of IL-12 p40 mRNA were detected by PBMCs to the TSP antigen at 3 hrs. Elevated IFN-r and IL-2 mRNA production were observed in freshly isolated LNMCs, whereas IL-4 mRNA production was undetectable in either freshly isolated or mycobacterial antigen-stimulated LNMCs. Furthermore, IL-10 mRNA expression from LNMCs was markedly increased by the PPD antigen, but it was considerably reduced by the TSP antigen after 18 hrs. These data suggest that the TSP antigen may be a strong inducer of cytokine mRNA such as IFN-r, IL-2, and IL-12 which are involved in Thl cell and macrophage activation, and inhibit IL-10 mRNA production in LNMCs. In conclusion, the TSP antigen can be used as a preferential Thl cell immunogen in tuberculous lymphadenitis.
Cell Wall ; Humans ; Interleukin-10 ; Interleukin-12 ; Interleukin-2 ; Interleukin-4 ; Lymph Nodes* ; Macrophage Activation ; Mycobacterium tuberculosis* ; Mycobacterium* ; Octoxynol ; RNA, Messenger* ; Tuberculosis ; Tuberculosis, Lymph Node*

No abstract available.
Hemorrhage*

It has been known that the immunological functions against cancer cells were diminished, and these phenomena result from the inhibition of cell-mediated immunity by substance(s) secreted from cancer cells. It was also reported that the immunological functions decreased in patients with stomach cancer, which is the most frequent cnacer in Korean. However, the nature and function of the inhibitory factor(s) orignated from stomach cancer have not been identified. To elucidate effects of immuological inhibitory factor(s) secreted from cancer cells, SNU-1 (stomach cancer) and SW480 P109/R3P2 (colon cancer) were used in this study. Jurkat T cell line, an acute T cell leukemia, was pre-incubated with fractionated cancer cell culture supernatant for 3 days, then was stimulated with PMA, PWVanti-CD28 mAb or PMA/ionomycin for 8 hrs respectively. Fraction of SNU-1 (3 - 10 kDa) and above 10 kDa of SW480 P109/R3P2 inhibited the expression of IFN-r mRNA when Jurkat T cell was stimulated with PMA. However, there were no difference in IL-2 and IL-4 gene expression response to either PMA/anti-CD28 mAb or PMA/ionomycin. These results show that cancer cells secret some inhibitory factor(s) acting on the immune response, especially IFN-r gene expression of the Jurkat T cells response to PMA. Therefore, it suggests that the inhibitory factor(s) secreted from cancer cells influences on. the PKC-dependent pathway related to the signal transduction by PMA.
Cell Culture Techniques ; Cell Line ; Gene Expression ; Humans ; Immunity, Cellular ; Interleukin-2 ; Interleukin-4 ; Leukemia, T-Cell ; RNA, Messenger ; Signal Transduction ; Stomach Neoplasms ; T-Lymphocytes

PURPOSE: Postoperative long-term follow-up studies after orchiopexy are rare as compared for other studies such as for histological changes and proper operative age. We analyzed the five-year long-term follow-up results after orchiopexy, expecting a proper prognosis of testicular growth. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 57 patients were selected from a follow-up study in 211 boys who underwent orchiopexy between January 1999 and July 2001. Patients were divided in several categories(operation age, testis consistency, pre-operational position of the testis) and were analyzed by examination of the previous medical records, preoperative and postoperative testicular volume(measured by ultrasonography), follow- up history taking, and from a physical examination. RESULTS: For the 57 patients, 14 patients had bilateral and 43 patients had unilateral cryptorchidism. All of the cryptorchid testes were smaller than a normal testis in the unilateral group of patients as determined by testis ultrasonography. Sorting by operation age, only patients that received orchiopexy within two years from birth showed a significant recovery of testicular volume percentage(operated testis/normal testis x100%: in the unilateral group) at follow-up. Sorting by consistency, the patients with normal testicular consistency showed a significant recovery of testicular volume percentage(operated testis/normal testis x100%: in the unilateral group) at follow-up. Sorting by the preoperative position of the testis, the proximity of the testis to the scrotum was a significant factor for recovery of delayed cryptorchid testicular growth. CONCLUSIONS: Orchiopexy performed at less than two years from birth and the proximity of the testis to the scrotum were significant factors for recovery of delayed cryptorchid testicular growth. Consistency of a cryptorchid testis can be a meaningful factor for expectation of testicular growth by the establishment of an objective measurement for testicular consistency and studies for histological correlation.
Follow-Up Studies

PURPOSE: To evaluate the clinical outcomes of aspheric hydrophilic acrylic EYELIKE® (Koryo Eyetech Co., Seoul, Korea) intraocular lenses (IOLs). METHODS: We conducted a retrospective study of 176 consecutive eyes of 160 patients who underwent cataract surgery with implantation of aspheric EYELIKE® IOLs. The following preoperative measurements were collected: slit-lamp examination, uncorrected distance visual acuity (UCDVA), corrected distance visual acuity (CDVA), intraocular pressure (IOP), automatic and manual keratometry, fundus examination, corneal topography, and specular microscopy. The UCDVA, CDVA, IOP, refraction, and slit-lamp examination were evaluated postoperatively at 1 week and at 1, 3, and 6 months. Specular microscopy was also postoperatively conducted at 1 month. RESULTS: At the 6-month postoperative visit, the mean UCDVA was 0.15 ± 0.23, and the mean CDVA was 0.03 ± 0.07 logarithm of minimal angle of resolution (logMAR). No statistically significant differences were observed among the four groups (postoperative 1 week, postoperative 1 month, postoperative 3 months, and postoperative 6 months) in the manifest spherical equivalent. In total, 74% of IOL Master700 and 54% of A-scan measurements were within ± 0.5 diopters (D) difference from the target refraction, and 95% and 77%, respectively, were within ± 1.0 D from the target refraction. With regard to complications, one case of CME and posterior capsule opacification with decreased visual acuity was detected at month 3 postoperatively; in this case, the CDVA recovered to 0 logMAR with conventional treatment and yttrium aluminium garnetlaser posterior capsulotomy after postoperative 6 months. CONCLUSIONS Domestically produced EYELIKE® IOLs had high refraction predictability and stability.

BACKGROUND: Melanogenesis is one of the characteristic parameters of differentiation in melanocytes and melanoma cells. Specific inhibitors of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K), such as wortmannin and LY294002, stimulate melanin production in mouse and in human melanoma cells, suggesting that PI3K and mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) might be involved in the regulation of melanogenesis. OBJECTIVE: The involvement of the mTOR pathway in regulating melanogenesis was examined using human MNT-1 melanoma cells, and the effects of the potent inhibitor of mTOR, rapamycin, in the presence or absence of alpha-melanocyte-stimulating hormone (alpha-MSH) were evaluated. METHODS: In cells treated with rapamycin, cell viability, melanin content, and tyrosinase (TYR) activity were measured and compared with untreated controls. Protein levels of TYR, tyrosinase-related protein (TYRP)-1, TYRP-2, and microphthalmia-associated transcription factor (MITF) were also analyzed by Western blot. RESULTS: In rapamycin-treated cells, the melanin content increased concomitantly with an elevation in TYR activity, which plays a major role in melanogenesis. There was also an up-regulation of TYR, TYRP-1, and MITF proteins. Combined treatment with rapamycin or wortmannin and alpha-MSH increased melanogenesis more strongly than alpha-MSH alone. CONCLUSION: Rapamycin-induced melanin formation may be mediated through the up-regulation of TYR protein and activity. Furthermore, rapamycin and wortmannin, inhibitors of mTOR and PI3K, respectively, have co-stimulatory effects with alpha-MSH in enhancing melanogenesis in melanocyte cells.
alpha-MSH ; Androstadienes ; Animals ; Cell Survival ; Chromones ; Humans ; Melanins ; Melanocytes ; Melanoma ; Mice ; Microphthalmia-Associated Transcription Factor ; Monophenol Monooxygenase ; Morpholines ; Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinase ; Sirolimus ; Up-Regulation

Peribiliary cysts involve cystic dilatation and necroinflammatory change in the peribiliary glandular tissue of the larger biliary tree in association with portal hypertension or severe hepatobiliary disease. They are usually asymptomatic and found incidentally. However, rare cases causing symptoms or the mass effect of bile duct compression require differential diagnosis. They may be benign or malignant lesions resulting from narrowing of the bile duct and involving dilatation of the proximal intrahepatic bile duct. We recently encountered a case of peribiliary cysts associated with intrahepatic duct dilatation, and confirmed by surgery, and present the imaging and pathologic findings. Sonography and CT revealed the presence of multiple cystic lesions along the hepatic hilum, and the larger left portal tract and left intrahepatic ducts were dilated. Histopathologic examination indicated that the cysts were compressing the central bile duct.
Bile Ducts ; Bile Ducts, Intrahepatic* ; Biliary Tract ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Dilatation ; Hypertension, Portal