Purpose  In a series of our recent studies, systematic mild hyperthermia treatments, such as sauna, hot spring and a special bath for medical treatment, were found to activate leucocytes and to enhance immunity. Although they are known to be effective for health promotion, it is not easy for general people to regularly take these conventional hyperthermia. It would be advantageous for elderly persons, sick people and pregnant women as well as pressed business persons if it is able to minimize stress which might be induced by the conventional hyperthermia, such as high temperature heat, water pressure and humidity. To pursue a further study of the effect of hyperthermia itself, in this research, we utilized nano-mist sauna (NMS), a new hyperthermia treatment. NMS, a new type sauna, is characterized by the ability to produce ultra small fog-shaped hot water called nano-mist, which hardly condenses dew. And we studied the effect of NMS on body temperature, leukocytes, autonomic nerve function and energy production. Method  We obtained peripheral blood from six healthy male volunteers (age, 46.5±8.5 years) before and after NMS hyperthermia (20min, 40°C, 100%RH) for lactate and blood glucose measurement and flowcytometric analysis. Body temperature (hypoglossal) and pulse rates were also measured. The statistical analysis difference between the values was determined by paired t-test and Kruskal-Wallis test. Result  After NMS hyperthermia body temperature and the level of PO2 rose (36.8→37.2°C), (52→61mmHg) (p<0.05). On the other hand, the level of lactate showed decrease in all subjects. The ratio and the numbers of NK cells decreased (21.8→17.7%, 498→436/μL) (p<0.05) while those of B cells increased (9.5→12.1%, 261→349/μL) (p<0.05). Discussion  Several investigators report that the conventional hyperthermia enhances the primordial immune system (i.e. extrathymic T cells, NK cells, NKT cells and granulocytes) via dominance of sympathetic nerve system function (SNS) . Conversely, in our study, those of the conventional immune system (i.e. T and B cells) was enhanced, suggesting suppression of SNS function. It is reported that the expression level of HLA-DR on the B cells was elevated during hyperthermia (body temperature rose). SNS function (hypothermia) is stimulated by stress and it is suppressed by relaxing (hyperthermia) in the opposite. And it is considered that NMS hyperthermia suppressed SNS and that it was also consistent with our result of lactate decrease. It is possible to consider that NMS hyperthermia may impact on autonomic nerve activating leucocytes. Therefore NMS may be a kind of effective health promotion for valetudinarian (ie an infant, a female) and both a caregiver and a caretaker.

Dendritic cells (DC) are now recognized as the most potent professional antigen presenting cells (APC). Several studies on cancer immunotherapy using different approaches to induce cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTL) in vivo recognizing tumor-associated antigens have been reported. However, the efficacy of immunotherapy in vivo may be limited by the local or systemic suppression of CTL generation or function. To explore the ability of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) stimulated human monocyte-derived DC involved in activity of autologous CD4(+)CD25(+) T cells, HLA-A2 restricted p53(264 - 272) peptide was used as tumor antigen, DC generated with LPS (DC-LPS(+)) or without LPS (DC-LPS(-)) were co-cultured with autologous T cells respectively. The results showed that CD4(+)CD25(+) T cell population in the DC-LPS(+) activated T cells was lower than that in the DC-LPS(-) activated T cells. This finding suggest that the relationship between DC-LPS(+) and population of CD4(+)CD25(+) T cells exists and this property may contribute to regulation of T cell responses to tumor-associated antigens.
CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes ; cytology ; immunology ; Cell Differentiation ; drug effects ; Cells, Cultured ; Coculture Techniques ; Dendritic Cells ; cytology ; immunology ; Humans ; Interleukin-2 Receptor alpha Subunit ; immunology ; Lipopolysaccharides ; pharmacology ; Lymphocyte Activation ; Monocytes ; cytology ; T-Lymphocyte Subsets ; cytology ; immunology

Background/Aims: Serum leucine-rich alpha-2 glycoprotein (LRG) is a potential biomarker of Crohn’s disease (CD). This study aimed to evaluate the usefulness of LRG in predicting clinical relapse in patients in remission with CD. Methods: This retrospective observational study assessed the relationships among patient-reported outcome (PRO2), LRG, and other blood markers. The influence of LRG on clinical relapse was assessed in patients in remission with CD. Results: Data of 94 patients tested for LRG between January 2021 and May 2023 were collected. LRG level did not correlate with PRO2 score (ρ = 0.06); however, it strongly correlated with C-reactive protein (CRP) level (r=0.79) and serum albumin level (r=–0.70). Among 69 patients in clinical remission, relapse occurred in 22 patients (31.9%). In the context of predicting relapse, LRG showed the highest area under the curve, followed by CRP level, platelet count, and albumin level. Multivariate analysis revealed that only LRG (P= 0.02) was an independent factor for predicting clinical remission. The cumulative non-relapse rate was significantly higher in patients with LRG < 13.8 μg/mL than in patients in remission with LRG ≥ 13.8 μg/mL and normal CRP level (P= 0.002) or normal albumin level (P= 0.001). Cumulative non-relapse rate was also higher in patients with LRG < 13.8 μg/mL compared to those with LRG ≥ 13.8 μg/mL in patients with L3 or B2+B3 of Montreal calcification. Conclusions LRG is useful in predicting clinical relapse in patients with CD during biological remission. LRG is a useful biomarker for predicting prognosis, even in patients with intestinal stenosis, or previous/present fistulas.

Background/Aims: Serum leucine-rich alpha-2 glycoprotein (LRG) is a potential biomarker of Crohn’s disease (CD). This study aimed to evaluate the usefulness of LRG in predicting clinical relapse in patients in remission with CD. Methods: This retrospective observational study assessed the relationships among patient-reported outcome (PRO2), LRG, and other blood markers. The influence of LRG on clinical relapse was assessed in patients in remission with CD. Results: Data of 94 patients tested for LRG between January 2021 and May 2023 were collected. LRG level did not correlate with PRO2 score (ρ = 0.06); however, it strongly correlated with C-reactive protein (CRP) level (r=0.79) and serum albumin level (r=–0.70). Among 69 patients in clinical remission, relapse occurred in 22 patients (31.9%). In the context of predicting relapse, LRG showed the highest area under the curve, followed by CRP level, platelet count, and albumin level. Multivariate analysis revealed that only LRG (P= 0.02) was an independent factor for predicting clinical remission. The cumulative non-relapse rate was significantly higher in patients with LRG < 13.8 μg/mL than in patients in remission with LRG ≥ 13.8 μg/mL and normal CRP level (P= 0.002) or normal albumin level (P= 0.001). Cumulative non-relapse rate was also higher in patients with LRG < 13.8 μg/mL compared to those with LRG ≥ 13.8 μg/mL in patients with L3 or B2+B3 of Montreal calcification. Conclusions LRG is useful in predicting clinical relapse in patients with CD during biological remission. LRG is a useful biomarker for predicting prognosis, even in patients with intestinal stenosis, or previous/present fistulas.

Background/Aims: Serum leucine-rich alpha-2 glycoprotein (LRG) is a potential biomarker of Crohn’s disease (CD). This study aimed to evaluate the usefulness of LRG in predicting clinical relapse in patients in remission with CD. Methods: This retrospective observational study assessed the relationships among patient-reported outcome (PRO2), LRG, and other blood markers. The influence of LRG on clinical relapse was assessed in patients in remission with CD. Results: Data of 94 patients tested for LRG between January 2021 and May 2023 were collected. LRG level did not correlate with PRO2 score (ρ = 0.06); however, it strongly correlated with C-reactive protein (CRP) level (r=0.79) and serum albumin level (r=–0.70). Among 69 patients in clinical remission, relapse occurred in 22 patients (31.9%). In the context of predicting relapse, LRG showed the highest area under the curve, followed by CRP level, platelet count, and albumin level. Multivariate analysis revealed that only LRG (P= 0.02) was an independent factor for predicting clinical remission. The cumulative non-relapse rate was significantly higher in patients with LRG < 13.8 μg/mL than in patients in remission with LRG ≥ 13.8 μg/mL and normal CRP level (P= 0.002) or normal albumin level (P= 0.001). Cumulative non-relapse rate was also higher in patients with LRG < 13.8 μg/mL compared to those with LRG ≥ 13.8 μg/mL in patients with L3 or B2+B3 of Montreal calcification. Conclusions LRG is useful in predicting clinical relapse in patients with CD during biological remission. LRG is a useful biomarker for predicting prognosis, even in patients with intestinal stenosis, or previous/present fistulas.