There are strong evidences suggesting that Thl and Th2 lymphocytes develop from the same Thlymphocyte precursor under the influence of environmental or genetic factors acting at the level of antigen presentation, but it remains to be answered whether it is possible to change the cytokine profile of established or ongoing Th1 and Th2 response. The purpose of this study is to reveal whether it is possible to reverse the cytokine profile of human Th lymphocytes by the modulation of antigen presentation. Using a multiparameter flow cytometric assay that allows simultaneous determination of surface CD4 and intracellular IFN-r or IL-4, we have studied the emergence of Th1 or Th2 lymphocytes in response to tetanus toxoid exposure and the patterns of cytokine synthesis in established T lymphocyte clones. Th2 populations arising after 4 wk of stimulation in IL-2, PHA, tetanus toxoid and irradiated autogeneic peripheral blood mononuclear cells as antigen presenting cells (APC) could give rise to IFN-r-producing Th1 lymphocytes when stimulated in IL-2 plus PHA in the absence of antigen and APC. These IFN-r-producing Th1 lymphocytes nearly disappeared and IL-4-producing Th2 lymphocytes predominated again when cultured again in the presence of antigen and APC. In contrast, prolonged culture in the absence of antigen and APC induced relative predominance of IFN-r-producing The lymphocytes. The cytokine profile of long-term Th2 population arising originally from the repeated stimulation in the presence of antigen and APC appeared more homogeneous and less reversible, although they could convert to Th1 lymphocytes when cultured without antigen and APC. These findings may explain that the polarized Th response is reversible depending on the presence of antigen presentation.
Antigen Presentation* ; Antigen-Presenting Cells ; Clone Cells ; Humans ; Interleukin-2 ; Interleukin-4 ; Lymphocytes ; T-Lymphocytes, Helper-Inducer* ; Tetanus Toxoid

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to analyse clinical manifestations and laboratory findings in childhood patients with polyarticularonset juvenile rheumatoid arthritis (JRA). METHODS: Eleven cases of polyarticular JRA who were diagnosed and treated in the Department of Pediatrics, Seoul National University Children's Hospital from June 1988 to May 1995 were investigated for clinical manifestations and laboratory findings. RESULTS: 1) There were 6 males and 5 females and their ages of onset were 4 years to 15.1 years(mean 10.9 years). 2) Systemic manifestations were not observed, but low-grade fever was noted in 5 patients. 3) The involvement of joints was symmetric in 9 patients and asymmetric in 2 patients. 4) The most commonly affected joints were knees and ankles, followed by proximal interphalangeal joints of hand, shoulder, elbow, temporomandibular joint, and other joints. 5) Roentgenographic changes of joints were detected in 6 patients and bone scan in 7 patients showed increased uptake in the involved joints. 6) The main laboratory findings observed were microcytic and hypochromic anemia (64%), thrombocytosis (82%), elevated eryhtrocyte sedimentation rate (100%), positive or increased C-reactive protein(100%), positive rheumatoid factor(RF) (18%), positive antinuclear antibody(ANA) (27%). RF was positive in 2 girls with later age of onset and the pattern of immunofluorescent ANA were all homogeneous. 7) Nonsteroid antiinflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) were used most frequently and steroid with or without sulfasalazine was tried in 4 patients unresponsive to NSAIDs. 8) At last follow-up, 6 cases(55%) were classified as functional class I, 4 cases(36%) as class II, and 1 case(9%) as class III. CONCLUSION: These data showed the clinical manifestations and laboratory findings of polyarticularonset juvenile rheumatoid arthritis in Korean children.
Age of Onset ; Anemia, Hypochromic ; Ankle ; Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal ; Arthritis, Juvenile* ; Child ; Elbow ; Female ; Fever ; Follow-Up Studies ; Hand ; Humans ; Joints ; Knee ; Male ; Pediatrics ; Seoul ; Shoulder ; Sulfasalazine ; Temporomandibular Joint ; Thrombocytosis

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to observe the effect of IFN- and PGE2 on TNF- production by human peripheral mononuclear cells(PBMC) that were stimulated with LPS. METHODS: PBMC were separated by Ficoll-Hypaque gradient centrifugation from human peripheral venous blood and were incubated for 72 hours with or without LPS, IFN- , PGE2, and indomethacin according to various conditions. TNF- activity of PBMC culture supernatants was assayed by determining the cytotoxicity against L929 cells. RESULTS: 1) The production of TNF- by PBMC in response to LPS reached the highest level between 8-24 hours and returned to control level by 72 hours. 2) When IFN- was added together with LPS, LPS-induced TNF- production was enhanced and prolonged, which was more remarkable when IFN- was added at higher concentration or earlier than LPS. 3) When PGE2 was added together with LPS, LPS-induced TNF- production was suppressed. 4) The addition of IFN-gamma reduced the suppressive effect of PGE2 on LPS-induced TNF- production. 5) Enough amount of indomethacin enhanced production of TNF- by LPS. CONCLUSIONS: IFN-gamma increased and PGE2 decreased the production of TNF- by PBMC which were stimulated with LPS. And PBMC which were pretreated with IFN-gamma were resistent to the suppressive effect of PGE2.
Centrifugation ; Dinoprostone* ; Humans* ; Indomethacin

No abstract available.
Lymphomatoid Papulosis* ; Mycobacterium* ; Tuberculosis*

No abstract available.
Lymphomatoid Papulosis* ; Mycobacterium* ; Tuberculosis*

Juvenile rheumatoid arthritis (JRA) is the most common rheumatic childhood disease; its onset is before 16 years of age and it persists for at least 6 weeks. JRA encompasses a heterogeneous group of diseases that is classified according to 3 major presentations: oligoarthritis, polyarthritis, and systemic onset diseases. These presentations may originate from the same or different causes that involve interaction with specific immunogenetic predispositions, and result in heterogeneous clinical manifestations. An arthritic joint exhibits cardinal signs of joint inflammation, such as swelling, pain, heat, and loss of function; any joint can be arthritic, but large joints are more frequently affected. Extra-articular manifestations include high fever, skin rash, serositis, and uveitis. The first 2 types of JRA are regarded as T helper 1 (Th1) cell-mediated inflammatory disorders, mainly based on the abundance of activated Th1 cells in the inflamed synovium and the pathogenetic role of proinflammatory cytokines that are mainly produced by Th1 cell-stimulated monocytes. In contrast, the pathogenesis of systemic onset disease differs from that of other types of JRA in several respects, including the lack of association with human leukocyte antigen type and the absence of autoantibodies or autoreactive T cells. Although the precise mechanism that leads to JRA remains unclear, proinflammatory cytokines are thought to be responsible for at least part of the clinical symptoms in all JRA types. The effectiveness of biologic therapy in blocking the action of these cytokines in JRA patients provides strong evidence that they play a fundamental role in JRA inflammation.
Arthritis ; Arthritis, Juvenile Rheumatoid ; Autoantibodies ; Biological Therapy ; Child ; Cytokines ; Exanthema ; Fever ; Hot Temperature ; Humans ; Immunogenetics ; Inflammation ; Joints ; Leukocytes ; Monocytes ; Serositis ; Synovial Membrane ; T-Lymphocytes ; Th1 Cells ; Uveitis

No abstract available.
Hyperbilirubinemia, Neonatal*

Carotid ultrasound is an imaging modality that allows non-invasive assessment of vascular anatomy and function. Carotid intima-media thickness (IMT) has been shown to predict cardiovascular (CV) risk in multiple large studies. However, in 2013, American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association guidelines designated that the carotid IMT as class III evidence level was not recommended for use in clinical practice as a routine measurement of risk assessment for a first atherosclerotic CV event. Following the announcement of this guideline, combined common carotid IMT and plaque, including plaque tissue characterization and plaque burden, using 3D ultrasound was reported to be better than either measurement alone in a variety of studies. Moreover, changes in the intima thickness were related to aging and early atherosclerosis, and remodeling of the media thickness was associated with hypertension. Separate measurement is useful for evaluating the effects of different atherosclerotic risk factors on the arterial wall; however, a more detailed and elaborate technique needs to be developed. If so, separate measurement will play an important role in the assessment of atherosclerosis and arterial wall change according to a variety of risk factors, such as metabolic syndrome. In addition, although carotid blood flow velocity is a useful tool for risk classification and prediction in clinical practice, further clinical research is needed. The value of carotid IMT by ultrasound examination for risk stratification remains controversial, and groups developing future guidelines should consider the roles of plaque presence and burden and hemodynamic parameters in additional risk stratification beyond carotid IMT in clinical practice.
Aging ; Atherosclerosis* ; Blood Flow Velocity ; Carotid Arteries* ; Carotid Artery Diseases ; Carotid Intima-Media Thickness ; Carotid Stenosis ; Classification ; Heart ; Hemodynamics ; Hypertension ; Methods* ; Risk Assessment ; Risk Factors ; Ultrasonography*

Angioimmunoblastic lymphadenopathy (AILD) is a systemic disease clinically characterized by fever, generalized lymphadenopathy, hepatosplenomegaly, polyclonal gamma-globulinemia and Cooms' positive hemolytic anemia. The lymph node in AILD reveals a polymorphic feature consisting of a proliferation of small vessels, immunoblasts and plasma cells and acidophilic interstitial material. Progression into immunoblastic sarcoma is reported as high 35% of the patient with AILD. Nathwani et al have observed not only malignant transformation of AILD in sequential tissue examination, but also the coexistence of AILD and immunoblastic lymphoma in the same lymph node or at different sites in the same patient. Multiple clusters or islands of compactly arranged large lymphoid cells constitute the initial histologic evidence of immunoblastic sarcoma. Immunoblastic sarcoma is a large cell lymphoma conceptually related to transformed T-and B-lymphocytes of the extrafollicular compartment of the immune system, which proignosis is poor. We have recently experienced a case of immuno blastic sarcoma arising in angioimmunoblastic lymphadenopathy in a 24-year-old woman. She had history of multiple enlarged lymph nodes in the inguinal, axilla and supraclavicular areas. Previous lymph node biopsies revealed reactive change. Six month later, right axillary lymph node biopsy reveled AILD with focal clusters of immunoblasts. Subsequent lymph node biopsy at the same site revealed diffuse immunoblasic sarcoma, B-cell type. A case presentation with histologic findings and a brief review of literature were done.
Female ; Humans ; Biopsy

We describe a case of an acute heart transplant rejection treated with triple immunosuppression and plasmapheresis, resulting in evidence of improved clinical manifestation and hemodynamics. This case suggests that plasmapheresis may be useful in the treatment of possible acute humoral(vascular) rejection in heart transplantation.
Graft Rejection* ; Heart Transplantation ; Heart* ; Hemodynamics ; Immunosuppression ; Plasmapheresis*