No abstract available.
Humans ; Tuberculosis, Pulmonary*

Cell-based therapy has emerged as a promising option for treating advanced ischemic cardiovascular disease by inducing vascular regeneration. However, clinical trials with adult cells turned out disappointing in general. As a newer approach, direct reprogramming has emerged to efficiently generate endothelial cells (ECs), which can promote neovascularization and vascular regeneration. This review provides recent updates on the direct endothelial reprogramming. In general, directly reprogrammed ECs can be generated by two approaches: one by transitioning through a plastic intermediate state and the other in a one-step transition without any intermediate states toward pluripotency. Moreover, the methods to deliver reprogramming factors and chemicals for the fate conversion are highlighted. Next, the therapeutic effects of the directly reprogrammed ECs on animal models are reviewed in detail. Other applications using directly reprogrammed ECs, such as tissue engineering and disease modeling, are also discussed. Lastly, the remaining questions and foremost challenges are addressed.

BACKGROUND: Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) is believed to accelerate wound healing, and thus expected to have a positive effect on rotator cuff repair. We hypothesized that SSRI has a positive effect on the healing of the bonetendon interface (BTI), and improved rotator cuff tear healing would be confirmed by mechanical strength measurements and histological assessment of the restored tendon. METHODS: The study used 40 adult male Sprague–Dawley wild-type rats. The animals were divided into two groups:group-SSRI, the supraspinatus repair with SSRI injection group, and group-C, conventional supraspinatus repair only without SSRI. Biomechanical and histological analyses were performed 8 weeks after index rotator cuff surgery. RESULTS: The ultimate load (N) was significantly higher in group-SSRI than in group-C (54.8 ± 56.9 Vs 25.1 ± 11.1, p = .031). In the histological evaluation, the Bonar score confirmed significant differences in collagen fiber density (groupC: 0.6 ± 0.5, group-SSRI: 1.1 ± 0.6, p = .024), vascularity (group-C: 0.1 ± 0.2, group-SSRI: 0.3 ± 0.4, p = .024) and cellularity (group-C: 1.7 ± 0.4, group-SSRI: 2.0 ± 0.0, p = .023) between the groups. Based on the total score, groupSSRI was significantly better compared with group-C (6.3 ± 2.7 Vs 4.3 ± 1.9, p = .019). CONCLUSION Our study demonstrated that SSRI could facilitate improved biomechanical and histological outcomes 8 weeks after rotator cuff repair in a rat model. Consequently, SSRI may improve healing after rotator cuff repair.

BACKGROUND: Specific IgE responses to allergens provide useful models for evaluating the genetic factors that control human immune responses. HLA class II gene products are involved in the antigen presentation of exogenous antigens. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to evaluate whether susceptibility or resistance to asthma induced by the citrus red mite (Panonychus citri, CRM) was associated with HLA class II gene-encoded antigens. METHODS: Peripheral venous blood samples were collected from two groups of unrelated Korean adults. Ninety-one patients with citrus red mite-induced asthma and 98 exposed, healthy control subjects. The second exon of the HLA-DRB1 genes was selectively amplified by the polymerase chain reaction method. HLA typing was carried out using PCR-sequence specific oligonucleotide probes(PCR-SSOP). RESULTS: The frequency of HLA-DR7 was significantly higher among the CRM-sensitive asthmatics than among the controls (17.6% vs 4.1%, RR=3.92, p=0.01). Conversely, the frequency of HLA-DR4 was significantly lower among the CRM-sensitive asthmatics than among the controls(19.8% vs 40.8%, RR=0.36, p=0.01). No significant difference was found in the distributions of the other HLA-DRB1 gene-encoded antigens between the two groups. CONCLUSION: HLA-DRB1 genes may be involved in the development of citrus red mite-induced asthma. In addition, HLA-DR7 may increase, and DR4 decrease, the risk of developing asthma in exposed individuals.
Adult ; Allergens ; Antigen Presentation ; Asthma* ; Citrus* ; Exons ; Genes, MHC Class II ; Histocompatibility Testing ; HLA-DR Antigens ; HLA-DR4 Antigen ; HLA-DR7 Antigen ; HLA-DRB1 Chains ; Humans ; Immunoglobulin E ; Mites* ; Polymerase Chain Reaction

BACKGROUND: Serum vitamin B₁₂ has been suggested as one of the cancer diagnostic markers and predictors for survival in cancer patients. In this study, we investigated the relationship between vitamin B₁₂ and tumor progression. METHODS: Solid tumor patients who had serum vitamin B₁₂ levels and radiologic test follow-up were included in the study. A total of 55 patients were included. Receiver operating characteristic analysis was performed to determine the cut-off value of vitamin B₁₂ for tumor progression. Kaplan-Meier method and Cox proportional hazard model for time to progression (TTP) were performed. Subgroup analysis was performed on patients with or without liver lesion (hepatocellular carcinoma and liver metastasis). RESULTS: The cut-off value of vitamin B₁₂ for tumor progression prediction was 691.4 pg/mL, the sensitivity was 57.1% and the specificity was 59.3%. Patients with vitamin B₁₂≥691.4 pg/mL had shorter median TTP (2.1 months vs. 3.4 months, P=0.011). In subgroup analysis of patients without liver lesion, median TTP was significantly shorter in patients with vitamin B₁₂≥691.4 pg/mL (1.6 months vs. 6.3 months, P=0.021), while there was no significant difference in TTP among the patients with liver lesion. Higher vitamin B₁₂ level (≥691.4 pg/mL) was an independent prognostic factor for tumor progression (adjusted hazard ratio 2.4, 95% confidence interval 1.2–4.8, P=0.019). CONCLUSIONS: Serum vitamin B₁₂ level can be used as a predictor of tumor progression in patients with solid tumors especially in patients without liver lesion. Additional large scale prospective studies are required to confirm this.
Biomarkers ; Disease Progression ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Liver ; Methods ; Proportional Hazards Models ; Prospective Studies ; ROC Curve ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Vitamins*

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study is to evaluate the natural course, postnatal outcome, and association between the degree of ventriculomegaly and neurodevelopmental delay in isolated fetal ventriculomegaly. METHODS: We reviewed the medical records of pregnant women diagnosed with isolated fetal ventriculomegaly from October 1996 to June 2004. We defined mild ventriculomegaly as atrial width of 10-14.9 mm and overt ventriculomegaly as 15 mm or more. Neonatal brain ultrasonography was performed in all cases and brain MRI was performed as necessary. Neurodevelopmental outcome was evaluated by medical records and telephone interviews. We analyzed the final outcome of isolated fetal ventriculomegaly according to the ventricular width. RESULTS: There were 175 cases of isolated fetal ventriculomegaly, with a large proportion of male fetuses (68.6%), and one case of trisomy 21. While the group with prenatally resolved ventriculomegaly (n=119) had a smaller ventricular width and more unilaterality, there was no resolution in cases with a ventricular width of 15 mm or more. One hundred and thirty one fetuses with an initial ventricular width of 10 to 11.9 mm had no developmental delay, however, there were 2 cases of cerebral palsy and 2 cases of genetic disorder. Seventeen fetuses had ventricular dilatation of 15 mm or more, with 6 corresponding cases of developmental delay and one case of cerebral palsy. CONCLUSION: Among isolated fetal ventriculomegaly, mild, unilateral or stable ventriculomegaly seems to have a favorable neurological outcome, especially those cases with ventricular width of less than 12 mm. However, management of the condition and counseling of parents are still crucial, because it can be a marker of genetic disorder or brain developmental delay.
Brain ; Cerebral Palsy ; Counseling ; Dilatation ; Down Syndrome ; Female ; Fetus ; Humans ; Interviews as Topic ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Male ; Medical Records ; Parents ; Pregnant Women ; Retrospective Studies* ; Ultrasonography

BACKGROUND: Introduction of the Luminex panel reactive antibody (PRA)-single antigen (SA) assay has increased the detection rates of unacceptable antigens in sensitized patients; the calculated PRA (CPRA) level represents the percentage of actual organ donors that express 1 or more of these unacceptable antigens. We developed a CPRA calculator based on the HLA frequencies in Koreans to measure sensitization levels in Korean patients. METHODS: To develop the calculator, we obtained the HLA-A, HLA-B, and HLA-DR phenotypes of 1,622 Koreans, and compared these with previously reported frequencies in Koreans. Sera from patients awaiting kidney transplantation were tested for HLA antibodies by Luminex PRA-screen, PRA-identification (ID), and PRA-SA assays. The measured %PRA from the PRA-screen (N=55) and PRA-ID (N=71) were compared to the %CPRA for the unacceptable antigens obtained from PRA-SA. RESULTS: Phenotype frequencies used for the CPRA calculator agreed with previously reported data. The concordance rates among the 3 PRA methods for the detection of class I and class II antibodies were 76.1-81.8% (kappa, 0.519-0.636) and 72.7-83.6% (0.463-0.650), respectively. For the detection of broadly sensitized sera (>50% or >80%), the concordance rates were over 80%. In sera with 80-100% CPRA, 91.7% and 94.4% of the samples had concordant results (80-100% PRA) in the PRA-screen and PRA-ID assay, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Although further clinical studies are required to confirm the benefits of CPRA values, adoption of CPRA analysis based on HLA frequencies in Koreans may be useful for sensitization measurements and organ-allocation algorithms.
*Algorithms ; HLA Antigens/immunology ; HLA-B Antigens/immunology ; HLA-DR Antigens/immunology ; *Histocompatibility Testing ; Humans ; Isoantibodies/*blood/immunology ; Phenotype ; Republic of Korea

Long QT syndrome (LQTS) is characterized by the prolongation of the QT interval in ECG and manifests predisposition to life threatening arrhythmia which often leads to sudden cardiac death. We encountered a 3-generation family with 5 affected family members in which LQTS was inherited in autosomal dominant manner. The LQTS is considered an ion channel disorder in which the type and location of the genetic mutation determines to a large extent the expression of the clinical syndrome. Upon screening of the genomic sequences of cardiac potassium ion channel genes, we found a single nucleotide C deletion mutation in the exon 3 of KCNH2 gene that co-segregates with the LQTS in this family. This mutation presumably resulted in a frameshift mutation, P151fs+15X. This study added a new genetic cause to the pool of mutations that lead to defected potassium ion channels in the heart.
Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Asian Continental Ancestry Group/*genetics ; DNA Mutational Analysis ; Ether-A-Go-Go Potassium Channels/*genetics ; Exons ; Female ; Frameshift Mutation ; Genotype ; Humans ; Long QT Syndrome/*diagnosis/genetics ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Pedigree ; Republic of Korea ; Sequence Deletion

A rare case of Behcet's disease associated with myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) is described. A 50-year-old Korean female suffering recurrent oral ulcer, genital ulcer, fatigue, arthralgia in both knees and fever was diagnosed as Behcet's disease. The findings of bone marrow aspirates were consistent with refractory anemia, a subtype of myelodysplastic syndrome. Chromosomal analysis of bone marrow cells revealed 46,XX,-8,-20,+der(8)t(8;20)(p23;p10),+der(8) t(8;20)(p23;q10)[30]. The chromosomal changes found in this patient were different from those of previous reports, which mostly revealed trisomy 8. If anemia, low reticulocyte count and dyspoietic cells are sustained in Behcet's disease, physicians should be alert to the possibility of MDS with aberration in chromosome 8 and perform a bone marrow study for the proper diagnosis and treatment of the disease. We presented a case of Behcet's disease associated with MDS, which is the first Korean case.
Anemia/genetics ; Behcet's Syndrome/genetics* ; Behcet's Syndrome/diagnosis ; Bone Marrow Cells/ultrastructure ; Bone Marrow Cells/pathology ; Case Report ; Chromosome Aberrations ; Female ; Histocytochemistry ; Human ; Korea ; Middle Age ; Myelodysplastic Syndromes/genetics*

Isolated rupture of distal semitendinosus is reported rarely. Here, we report a case of 51-year-old previous healthy working man diagnosed with isolated semitendinosus tendon rupture treated successfully by conservative management.
Athletes ; Humans ; Middle Aged ; Rupture ; Tendons