BACKGROUND: Interleukin (IL)-4 is a pleiotropic cytokine that plays an important role in the pathogenesis of the allergic inflammation and asthma. Upon IL-4 receptor (IL-4R) engagement, a variety of signaling mediators, such as JAK kinases and STAT-6 are activated, leading to induction of IL-4 target gene expression including CD23 and germline C epsilon transcription. The function of a membrane-proximal domain of IL-4Ra, termed ID-1, remains to be characterized to date. OBJECTIVE: To assess whether the ID-1 domain mediates the induction of IL-4 target gene expression in a STAT-6-dependent manner. METHODS: The intracellular region of IL-4Ralpha was translationally fused to the extracellular region of IL-2Rbeta to provide ligand specificity to IL-2. Acidic amino acids and serine residues in the ID-1 domain of the chimeric receptor were substituted by site-directed mutagenesis. These receptor cDNAs were stably transfected to M12.4.1 murine B lymphoma cells. Following IL-2 stimulation, wild type and mutant clones for the ID-1 motif were subjected to FACS. RNA blotting and elecroporetic mobility shift assays to address the levels of CD23, germline C epsilon and STAT-6 inductions, respectively. RESULTS: ID-1 mutant clones were defective in gene induction of CD23 and germline C epsilon in response to IL-2 stimulation, as compared with wildtype clones. Moreover, IL-2-mediated STAT-6 activation was abolished in ID-1 mutant clones. CONCLUSION: These results demonstrate that the ID-1 domain of IL-4Ra is essential to induce IL-4 target gene expression through a STAT-6-dependent pathway.
Amino Acids, Acidic ; Asthma ; Clone Cells ; DNA, Complementary ; Electrophoretic Mobility Shift Assay ; Gene Expression ; Inflammation ; Interleukin-2 ; Interleukin-4 Receptor alpha Subunit* ; Interleukin-4* ; Interleukins ; Janus Kinases ; Lymphoma ; Mutagenesis, Site-Directed ; Receptors, Interleukin-4 ; RNA ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Serine

OBJECTIVES: As HIV/AIDS is becoming a chronic disease, the risk of developing cardiovascular disease (CVD) among people living with HIV/AIDS is rising. Anxiety and depression, which are common among people living with HIV/AIDS, have been linked with CVD. This study investigated the risk of CVD in people living with HIV/AIDS and explored the effects of depression and anxiety on CVD risk. METHODS: Data were collected for 457 people enrolled in the Korea Cohort HIV/AIDS study after 2010. Framingham risk scores were calculated to quantify the 10-year risk of developing CVD. Depression and anxiety variables were re-coded as a single combined variable. Multivariable logistic regression analysis was performed, adjusting for age, body mass index, low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol, triglycerides (TG), duration of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) positivity after entry into the cohort, and depression/anxiety. RESULTS: Participants with both depression and anxiety were 2.28 times more likely than those with neither depression nor anxiety to have moderate/high-risk CVD risk. The 10-year risk of developing CVD was affected by LDL cholesterol, TG, age, and duration of HIV infection. LDL cholesterol and TG levels change according to the duration of HIV infection, and metabolic disorders affect the risk of CVD. Thus, a longer duration of HIV infection is associated with a higher risk of developing CVD. CONCLUSIONS Screenings for depression and anxiety need to be provided regularly to assess the severity of those symptoms. To help decrease their risk of developing CVD, people living with HIV/AIDS should be offered behavioral modification interventions aimed at developing healthy lifestyle habits.

OBJECTIVES: As HIV/AIDS is becoming a chronic disease, the risk of developing cardiovascular disease (CVD) among people living with HIV/AIDS is rising. Anxiety and depression, which are common among people living with HIV/AIDS, have been linked with CVD. This study investigated the risk of CVD in people living with HIV/AIDS and explored the effects of depression and anxiety on CVD risk. METHODS: Data were collected for 457 people enrolled in the Korea Cohort HIV/AIDS study after 2010. Framingham risk scores were calculated to quantify the 10-year risk of developing CVD. Depression and anxiety variables were re-coded as a single combined variable. Multivariable logistic regression analysis was performed, adjusting for age, body mass index, low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol, triglycerides (TG), duration of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) positivity after entry into the cohort, and depression/anxiety. RESULTS: Participants with both depression and anxiety were 2.28 times more likely than those with neither depression nor anxiety to have moderate/high-risk CVD risk. The 10-year risk of developing CVD was affected by LDL cholesterol, TG, age, and duration of HIV infection. LDL cholesterol and TG levels change according to the duration of HIV infection, and metabolic disorders affect the risk of CVD. Thus, a longer duration of HIV infection is associated with a higher risk of developing CVD. CONCLUSIONS Screenings for depression and anxiety need to be provided regularly to assess the severity of those symptoms. To help decrease their risk of developing CVD, people living with HIV/AIDS should be offered behavioral modification interventions aimed at developing healthy lifestyle habits.

Eosinophilic granuloma is a common hypersensitive inflammatory skin disease in cats, and rare in dogs and horses. The skin biopsies of 5 years old female Cocker spaniel and 2 years old female mixed dog had the clinical signs of skin nodules with alopecia were submitted for diagnosis. Solitary skin nodules and papillary nodules were presented on the left external ear and back of Cocker spaniel and on the external ear of mixed dog, respectively. Histopathologically, epidermis of skin showed mild to severe hyperplasia with multifocal ulceration. Small to large irregular, brightly eosinophilic foci with degenerating eosinophils and homogeneous degenerated collagens were existed in the dermis of both ear and back skin. Typical 'flame figures', a mixture of degenerated collagen and degranulated eosinophils, were observed in both cases. Based on the histopathologic findings and special staining characters, 2 cases were diagnosed as canine eosinophilic granuloma. This is the first report for the eosinophilic granuloma of dogs in Korea.
Alopecia ; Animals ; Biopsy ; Cats ; Collagen ; Dermis ; Dogs ; Ear ; Ear, External ; Eosinophilic Granuloma ; Eosinophils ; Epidermis ; Female ; Horses ; Humans ; Hyperplasia ; Korea ; Skin ; Skin Diseases ; Ulcer

BACKGROUND: Recently, a hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) level of 6.5% has been determined to be a criterion for diabetes mellitus (DM), and it is a widely used marker for the diagnosis of DM. However, HbA1c may be influenced by a number of factors. Anemia is one of the most prevalent diseases with an influence on HbA1c; however, its effect on HbA1c varies based on the variable pathophysiology of anemia. The aim of this study was to determine the effect of anemia on HbA1c levels. METHODS: Anemic subjects (n=112) and age- and sex-matched controls (n=217) who were drug naive and suspected of having DM were enrolled. The subjects underwent an oral glucose tolerance test and HbA1c simultaneously. We compared mean HbA1c and its sensitivity and specificity for diagnosing DM between each subgroup. RESULTS: Clinical characteristics were found to be similar between each subgroup. Also, when glucose levels were within the normal range, the difference in mean HbA1c was not significant (P=0.580). However, when plasma glucose levels were above the diagnostic cutoff for prediabetes and DM, the mean HbA1c of the anemic subgroup was modestly higher than in the nonanemic group. The specificity of HbA1c for diagnosis of DM was significantly lower in the anemic subgroup (P<0.05). CONCLUSION: These results suggest that the diagnostic significance of HbA1c might be limited in anemic patients.
Anemia ; Blood Glucose ; Diabetes Mellitus* ; Glucose Tolerance Test ; Hemoglobin A, Glycosylated* ; Humans ; Prediabetic State ; Reference Values ; Sensitivity and Specificity

BACKGROUND: Recently, a hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) level of 6.5% has been determined to be a criterion for diabetes mellitus (DM), and it is a widely used marker for the diagnosis of DM. However, HbA1c may be influenced by a number of factors. Anemia is one of the most prevalent diseases with an influence on HbA1c; however, its effect on HbA1c varies based on the variable pathophysiology of anemia. The aim of this study was to determine the effect of anemia on HbA1c levels. METHODS: Anemic subjects (n=112) and age- and sex-matched controls (n=217) who were drug naive and suspected of having DM were enrolled. The subjects underwent an oral glucose tolerance test and HbA1c simultaneously. We compared mean HbA1c and its sensitivity and specificity for diagnosing DM between each subgroup. RESULTS: Clinical characteristics were found to be similar between each subgroup. Also, when glucose levels were within the normal range, the difference in mean HbA1c was not significant (P=0.580). However, when plasma glucose levels were above the diagnostic cutoff for prediabetes and DM, the mean HbA1c of the anemic subgroup was modestly higher than in the nonanemic group. The specificity of HbA1c for diagnosis of DM was significantly lower in the anemic subgroup (P<0.05). CONCLUSION: These results suggest that the diagnostic significance of HbA1c might be limited in anemic patients.
Anemia ; Blood Glucose ; Diabetes Mellitus* ; Glucose Tolerance Test ; Hemoglobin A, Glycosylated* ; Humans ; Prediabetic State ; Reference Values ; Sensitivity and Specificity

Carcinomas of the lung, breast and lymphoma account for approximately 75% of malignant pleural effusions and the metastatic ovarian carcinoma is the fourth leading cause of malignant pleural effusions. The diagnosis of a malignant pleural effusion is established by demonstrating malignant cells in the pleural fluid or in the pleural biopsy. Chemical pleurodesis should be considered in cases of patients with malignant pleural effusion, who were not responded with systemic chemotherapy. We experienced a case of malignant pleural effusion treated by chemical pleurodesis, which was developed in a patient with ovarian carcinoma and we report it with the brief review or literatures.
Biopsy ; Breast ; Diagnosis ; Drug Therapy ; Humans ; Lung ; Lymphoma ; Pleural Effusion, Malignant* ; Pleurodesis*

PURPOSE: Aging and atherosclerotic changes enhance the stiffness of the arterial wall, and the pulse wave travels faster in stiffer vessel. Measurement of the brachial ankle pulse wave velocity (baPWV) is a non-invasive method for evaluating the stiffness of the vessel wall. We investigated the relation between the baPWV and risk factors for atherosclerosis. METHOD: We studied 180 subjects (38 male and 142 female; mean age 46 years, range 24 to 76 years). The instrument used for evaluating the baPWV was a Vasoguard (VIASYS Healthcare, Dublin, Ohio, USA), and measurements were performed in the right arm and in both ankles. Data were analyzed using Pearson correlation, t-test, and multiple regression analysis. Multiple regression analysis was performed for age, sex, smoking, hypertension, height, weight, body mass index (BMI), total cholesterol, LDL, HDL, TG, and HbA1c. RESULT: Right and left baPWVs were significantly increased (P<0.05) in subjects with the following risks: older age, high body weight, high BMI, high total cholesterol, high LDL, high TG, high HbA1c, and low HDL. Right and left baPWVs were also significantly increased (P<0.05) in male subjects with a history of smoking and hypertension. Multiple regression analysis showed that age, sex, and LDL were independent determinants of the right and left baPWVs. CONCLUSION: This study provides evidence that increased age, male gender, and high serum LDL levels are risk factors that contribute to arterial stiffness. Measurement of the baPWV may be a useful method for evaluating vascular status.
Aging ; Animals ; Ankle ; Arm ; Body Weight ; Cholesterol ; Cholesterol, LDL ; Delivery of Health Care ; Glycosaminoglycans ; Humans ; Hypertension ; Male ; Ohio ; Pulse Wave Analysis ; Risk Factors ; Smoke ; Smoking ; Vascular Stiffness

No abstract available.
Carcinoma, Transitional Cell* ; Hematuria* ; Humans ; Urinary Bladder*

The purpose of this study was to investigate whether early surgery benefits in the treatment of the patients with ruptured aneurysm by comparing the outcome in relation to the timing of surgery. The autho rs analyzed 81 patients with ruptured aneurysm who underwent operation during one year from January 1996 through December 1996. Among these, sixty patients(74%) underwent operation within 72 hours after first bleeding, and 21 patients (26%) after 72 hours following first bleeding. Thirtysix patients(82%) recovered without se rious neurological deficits in 44 patients with initial Hunt and Hess g rade I to III who were operated upon in early period, and four out of 16 patients with initial Hunt and Hess grade IV to V. Sixteen patients (84%) recovered without serious neurological deficits in 19 patients with initial Hunt and Hess grade I to III who received late operation but none in 2 patients in Hunt and Hess grade IV to V. Seven out of 60 (12%) patients died after early operation, one of 21(5%) patient died after late operation. The causes of morbidity were vasospasm (19 cases), rebleeding (5 cases), hydrocephalus (1 case) in early operation and vasospasm (2 cases), hydrocephalus (1 case) in late operation. It is concluded that early operation is mandatory even in the patients with poor clinical status prior to surgery since early aneurysmal surgery can minimize the chance of rebleeding, permit more aggressive treatment against vaso-spasm and improve the clinical outcome.
Aneurysm* ; Aneurysm, Ruptured ; Hemorrhage ; Humans ; Hydrocephalus