No abstract available.
Kidney Diseases* ; Kidney* ; Liver Transplantation* ; Liver* ; Pathology*

Owing to shared receptor components, the biological activities of IL-15 are similar to those of IL-2. However the patterns of tissue expression of IL-2/IL-2R alpha and IL-15/IL-15R differ. The development of agents targeting the receptor and signaling elements of IL-15 may provide a new perspective for treatment of diseases associated with expression of IL-15/IL-15R. We designed, genetically constructed and expressed a receptor site specific IL-15 antagonist by mutating glutamine residue within the C-terminus of IL-15 to aspartic acid and linked this mutant IL-15 to murine IgG2a. These IL-15 mutant/IgG fusion proteins specifically bound to the IL-15R, and competitively inhibited IL-15 triggered cell proliferation. We examined the immunosuppressive activity of this agent because of prolonged half-life and the potential for destruction of IL-15R+ leukocytes. The IL-15 mutant/IgG proteins markedly attenuated antigen specific DTH responses in Balb-c mice comparing with the responses in the mice treated with control IgG. Intraperitoneal injection of this mutant protein enhanced the acceptance of crude islet allograft from DBA/2J (H-2(d)) to B6AF1 (H-2(b/d),k) rendered diabetic by injection of streptozotocin (15 vs >65 days; control IgG vs IL-15 mutant/IgG treatment, mean survival time, 8 mice in each group). These findings suggest that i) IL-15/IL-15R+ cells are crucial to these T-cell dependent immune responses, and ii) treatment with IL-15 mutant/IgG protein may ameliorate T-cell dependent immune/inflammatory diseases.
Allografts ; Animals ; Aspartic Acid ; Cell Proliferation ; Glutamine ; Half-Life ; Immunoglobulin G ; Injections, Intraperitoneal ; Interleukin-15 ; Interleukin-2 ; Leukocytes ; Mice ; Mutant Proteins ; Streptozocin ; Survival Rate ; T-Lymphocytes

No abstract available.
Hypertension ; Kidney ; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A

Most of the breast cancer revealed mass and/or microcalcifications on mammography. We analyzed morphologic characteristics of the masses and microcalcifications on mammography which confirmed as breast cancer pathologically. Of all 54 cases, 4 patients (7%) showed microcalcification only, 27 patients (50%), mass only, and the other 23 patients (43%), both microcalcification and mass on the mammography. The margin of the breast mass were ill-defined in 37 cases, well-defined in 8 cases, and well-defined with surrounding infiltration in 5 cases. The morphologic characteristics of the microcalcification were punctate-linear-V shape in 11 patients, punctate-linear shape in 9 patients, and punctate shape in 7 patients.
Breast Neoplasms* ; Breast* ; Humans ; Mammography

BACKGROUND: The purpose of our study was to evaluate the accuracy of reduction based on postoperative computed tomography (CT) images after arthroscopic stabilization using tightrope system for unstable distal clavicle fracture. METHODS: Twelve patients with distal clavicle fracture combined with coracoclavicular (CC) ligament injury (type II, V) who received arthroscopically assisted fixation using a flip button device were evaluated for accuracy of reduction using 3-dimensional postoperative CT scan by measuring the degree of distal clavicular angulation and clavicular shortening. RESULTS: Immediate postoperative plain radiograph confirmed restoration of the CC distance (CCD) in 10 patients. At final follow-up, the CCD remained reduced anatomically on plain radiographs in these patients. All patients showed excessive posterior angulation and shortening compared to the opposite side. The average Constant score recovered to 94.8 at final follow-up. CONCLUSIONS: Indirect reduction and arthroscopic subacromial approach with flip button fixation of unstable distal clavicle fractures demonstrated favorable clinical results despite unavoidable posterior angulation of distal clavicle and shortening the total length of clavicle.
Arthroscopy ; Clavicle ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Ligaments ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed

BACKGROUND/AIMS: An updated chronic kidney disease (CKD) definition and classification were proposed by Kidney Disease: Improving Global Outcomes (KDIGO), with adoption of a new equation to estimate glomerular filtration rate (GFR) and albuminuria to evaluate kidney structural damage. This study was performed to estimate the prevalence of CKD in the Korean adult population as defined and classified by the KDIGO guidelines. METHODS: Cross-sectional samples of the fifth Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey for 2011 to 2012 were examined for adults aged ≥ 19 years. CKD prevalence was determined based on decreased GFR and albuminuria. The GFR was estimated using the CKD Epidemiology Collaboration creatinine equation, and albuminuria was evaluated using the albumin-to-creatinine ratio (ACR) in spot urine. RESULTS: Of the 16,576 subjects participating in the survey, 10,636 (4,758 men, 5,878 women) were included in the present study. The prevalence of CKD was estimated as 7.9% (7.8% in 2011 and 8.0% in 2012, p = 0.770). The prevalence of low, moderately increased, high, and very high CKD risk prognosis was 92.0%, 6.3%, 1.1%, and 0.6%, respectively. The prevalence of albuminuria (ACR ≥ 30 mg/g) in individuals with GFR ≥ 60 mL/min/1.73 m² has reached 5.7%. The odds ratios of hypertension and diabetes to CKD were 3.4 and 3.1 in men, and 2.9 and 2.0 in women (all p < 0.001), respectively. CONCLUSIONS: A large percentage of CKD patients had albuminuria prior to a decrease in GFR. Regular laboratory tests for albuminuria for the high-risk group, and especially for hypertensive or diabetic patients, might improve detection of CKD at an early stage.
Adult* ; Albuminuria ; Classification ; Cooperative Behavior ; Creatinine ; Epidemiology ; Female ; Glomerular Filtration Rate ; Humans ; Hypertension ; Kidney ; Kidney Diseases ; Korea ; Male ; Nutrition Surveys ; Odds Ratio ; Prevalence* ; Prognosis ; Renal Insufficiency, Chronic*

To induce bone formation at ectopic site by tissue engineering and gene therapy, we transplanted collagen sponges containing rhBMP-7 transduced HEK 293 cells in the hypodermis of nude mice. Bone formation was investigated by histological and electron microscopic method at 3, 6, and 9 weeks after transplantation. At 9 weeks after transplantation, eosinophilic bony tissue was observed in the implanted collagen sponge and was confirmed as bone tissue by Von Kossa stain. In the transmission electron microscopic observation, the cells in newly formed bone tissue had eccentrically located nucleus and well developed rough endoplasmic reticulum (rER). Therefore, the cells were evaluated as osteoblasts. Those results suggest that it is possible to form a bone tissue in the ectopic site by transplantation of rhBMP-7 transduced HEK 293 cells. This will be contributed to push more advanced gene therapy for bone formation. However, the HEK 293 cell is unable to apply to the clinical gene therapy. Therefore it is worth to find more compatible cells for clinical application. In addition, collagen sponge is considered as an excellent scaffold and/or carrier for gene therapy and a good biomaterial for tissue engineering.
Animals ; Bone and Bones ; Bone Morphogenetic Protein 7 ; Collagen ; Endoplasmic Reticulum, Rough ; Eosinophils ; Genetic Therapy ; HEK293 Cells* ; Mice ; Mice, Nude* ; Osteoblasts ; Osteogenesis* ; Porifera ; Subcutaneous Tissue ; Tissue Engineering

To induce bone formation at ectopic site by tissue engineering and gene therapy, we transplanted collagen sponges containing rhBMP-7 transduced HEK 293 cells in the hypodermis of nude mice. Bone formation was investigated by histological and electron microscopic method at 3, 6, and 9 weeks after transplantation. At 9 weeks after transplantation, eosinophilic bony tissue was observed in the implanted collagen sponge and was confirmed as bone tissue by Von Kossa stain. In the transmission electron microscopic observation, the cells in newly formed bone tissue had eccentrically located nucleus and well developed rough endoplasmic reticulum (rER). Therefore, the cells were evaluated as osteoblasts. Those results suggest that it is possible to form a bone tissue in the ectopic site by transplantation of rhBMP-7 transduced HEK 293 cells. This will be contributed to push more advanced gene therapy for bone formation. However, the HEK 293 cell is unable to apply to the clinical gene therapy. Therefore it is worth to find more compatible cells for clinical application. In addition, collagen sponge is considered as an excellent scaffold and/or carrier for gene therapy and a good biomaterial for tissue engineering.
Animals ; Bone and Bones ; Bone Morphogenetic Protein 7 ; Collagen ; Endoplasmic Reticulum, Rough ; Eosinophils ; Genetic Therapy ; HEK293 Cells* ; Mice ; Mice, Nude* ; Osteoblasts ; Osteogenesis* ; Porifera ; Subcutaneous Tissue ; Tissue Engineering

No abstract available.
Cause of Death* ; Fever* ; Humans

PURPOSE: Dendritic cells (DCs) are considered the most professional antigen-presenting cells (APCs) because of their unique role in initiating immunity against threatening antigens. Recently, hypertonicity has been suggested to be involved in the activation and development of immune cells such as T cells. And tonicity enhancer binding protein (TonEBP) has been thought to play a pivotal role in this process. Here, we studied the maturation status of DCs and expression of TonEBP in DCs exposed to hypertonic condition. METHODS: Murine bone marrow-derived DCs were generated in the presence of GM-CSF for 6 days, and then exposed to hypertonic media. We evaluated the functional capacities and maturation of DCs using flow cytometry, mixed lymphocyte reaction, and cytokine analysis. Also we investigated the expression of TonEBP in DCs cultured in variable hypertonic media. RESULTS: Mild hypertonicity made CD11c+ DCs to have up-regulation of CD40, 80, and 86. DCs exposed to 320 mOsm/kg media stimulated allogeneic T cell proliferation most effectively compared to DCs exposed to other tonic conditions. However, DCs exposed to 400 mOsm/kg media showed similar stimulatory capacities to isotonic control. Consistent with the phenotype changes, IL-1, 6, and TNF-alpha secretion increased in CD11c+ DCs exposed to mild hypertonic condition. Though we confirmed that TonEBP was expressed in CD11c+ DCs, the amount of upregulation was not dependent on the degree of hypertonicity. CONCLUSION: Our results suggest that hypertonicity enhances the maturation and activation of DCs.
Antigen-Presenting Cells ; Carrier Proteins ; Cell Proliferation ; Dendritic Cells ; Flow Cytometry ; Granulocyte-Macrophage Colony-Stimulating Factor ; Interleukin-1 ; Lymphocyte Culture Test, Mixed ; Osmolar Concentration ; Phenotype ; T-Lymphocytes ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha ; Up-Regulation