Coal workers' pneumoconiosis (CWP) is characterized as a chronic inflammation of the lung associated with activation of macrophages and endothelial cells in the lung. The aim of the present study was to compare the levels of serum interleukin-8 (IL-8), macrophage inflammatory protein-1alpha (MIP-alpha), and intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) as biomarkers for progressive massive fibrosis (PMF) in 106 subjects (27 non-CWP and 79 CWP patients). The levels of serum IL-8 (P<0.001) and ICAM-1 (P=0.001) of subjects with PMF were higher than those of non-CWP subjects. The IL-8 levels of PMF subjects were also higher than those of simple CWP subjects (P=0.003). Among the subjects without PMF, IL-8 levels in the subjects with International Labour Organization (ILO) category II or III were higher than those in the subjects with ILO category 0 (P=0.006) and with category I (P=0.026). These results suggest that high serum levels of IL-8 and ICAM-1, which are important as neutrophil attractants and adhesion molecules, are associated with PMF.
Aged ; Anthracosis/*blood/pathology ; Biological Markers/blood ; Chemokine CCL3/*blood ; Coal Mining ; Humans ; Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1/*blood ; Interleukin-8/*blood ; Lung/pathology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Occupational Diseases/blood/pathology ; Pulmonary Fibrosis/*blood/pathology

Coal workers' pneumoconiosis (CWP) is characterized as a chronic inflammation of the lung associated with activation of macrophages and endothelial cells in the lung. The aim of the present study was to compare the levels of serum interleukin-8 (IL-8), macrophage inflammatory protein-1alpha (MIP-alpha), and intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) as biomarkers for progressive massive fibrosis (PMF) in 106 subjects (27 non-CWP and 79 CWP patients). The levels of serum IL-8 (P<0.001) and ICAM-1 (P=0.001) of subjects with PMF were higher than those of non-CWP subjects. The IL-8 levels of PMF subjects were also higher than those of simple CWP subjects (P=0.003). Among the subjects without PMF, IL-8 levels in the subjects with International Labour Organization (ILO) category II or III were higher than those in the subjects with ILO category 0 (P=0.006) and with category I (P=0.026). These results suggest that high serum levels of IL-8 and ICAM-1, which are important as neutrophil attractants and adhesion molecules, are associated with PMF.
Aged ; Anthracosis/*blood/pathology ; Biological Markers/blood ; Chemokine CCL3/*blood ; Coal Mining ; Humans ; Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1/*blood ; Interleukin-8/*blood ; Lung/pathology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Occupational Diseases/blood/pathology ; Pulmonary Fibrosis/*blood/pathology

PURPOSE: This study aimed to compare the regulatory T cells in cord blood of appropriate for gestational age (AGA) neonates with those of small for gestational age (SGA) neonates. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Umbilical cord blood was collected upon labor in 108 healthy full-term (between 37 and 41 gestational weeks) neonates, who were born between November 2010 and April 2012. Among them, 77 samples were obtained from AGA neonates, and 31 samples were obtained from SGA neonates. Regulatory T cells and lymphocyte subsets were determined using a flow cytometer. Student's t-test for independent samples was used to compare differences between AGA and SGA neonates. RESULTS: Regulatory T cells in cord blood were increased in the SGA group compared with normal controls (p=0.041). However, cytotoxic T cells in cord blood were significantly decreased in the SGA group compared with normal controls (p=0.007). CONCLUSION: This is the first study to compare the distribution of lymphocyte subsets including regulatory T cells in cord blood between AGA neonates and SGA neonates.
Biological Markers/metabolism ; Female ; Fetal Blood/*immunology ; Gestational Age ; Humans ; Infant, Newborn/*blood ; Infant, Small for Gestational Age/*blood ; Lymphocyte Count ; T-Lymphocytes, Cytotoxic/metabolism ; T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory/*metabolism

PURPOSE: To evaluate lipid profiles and liver enzymes as surrogate markers used for recognizing insulin resistance in Korean women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). MATERIALS AND METHODS: 458 women with PCOS were divided into two groups: non-obese with a body mass index (BMI)<25.0 kg/m2 and obese with a BMI> or =25.0 kg/m2. Anthropometric measures and blood sampling for hormone assay, liver enzymes, lipid profiles and 75 g oral glucose tolerance test were performed. Insulin resistance was defined as homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR)> or =2.5. Areas under the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves were used to compare the power of serum markers. Multiple linear regression analysis was used to evaluate the contribution of each confounding factor for HOMA-IR. RESULTS: In non-obese and obese groups, the ROC curve analyses demonstrated that the best marker for insulin resistance was triglyceride (TG), with the areas under the ROC curve of 0.617 and 0.837, respectively. Low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) was the significant marker for insulin resistance with areas under the ROC curve of 0.698 in obese group, but not significant in non-obese group. TG and LDL-C were significantly associated with HOMA-IR in both non-obese and obese PCOS women by multiple linear regression analysis. The optimal cut-off points of TG> or =68.5 was a marker for predicting insulin resistance in non-obese PCOS patients and TG> or =100.5 in obese group. CONCLUSION: TG can be used as a useful marker for insulin resistance in Korean women with PCOS, especially for obese patients.
Adult ; Asian Continental Ancestry Group/ethnology ; Biological Markers/blood ; Body Mass Index ; Cholesterol, LDL/blood ; Female ; Glucose Tolerance Test ; Humans ; Insulin/blood ; Insulin Resistance/ethnology/*physiology ; Lipids/blood ; Obesity/*blood/ethnology ; Polycystic Ovary Syndrome/*blood/ethnology ; ROC Curve ; Regression Analysis ; Republic of Korea/epidemiology ; Triglycerides/*blood

PURPOSE: The role of IL28B gene variants and expression in hepatitis B virus (HBV) infections are not well understood. Here, we evaluated whether IL28B gene expression and rs12979860 variations are associated with HBV outcomes. MATERIALS AND METHODS: IL28B genetic variations (rs12979860) were genotyped by pyrosequencing of DNA samples from 137 individuals with chronic HBV infection [50 inactive carriers (IC), 34 chronic hepatitis B (CHB), 27 cirrhosis, 26 hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC)], and 19 healthy controls. IL28A/B mRNA expression in peripheral blood mononuclear cells was determined by qRT-PCR, and serum IL28B protein was measured by ELISA. RESULTS: Patients with IL28B C/C genotype had greater IL28A/B mRNA expression and higher IL28B protein levels than C/T patients. Within the various disease stages, compared to IC and healthy controls, IL28B expression was reduced in the CHB, cirrhosis, and HCC cohorts (CHB vs. IC, p=0.02; cirrhosis vs. IC, p=0.01; HCC vs. IC, p=0.001; CHB vs. controls, p<0.01; cirrhosis vs. controls, p<0.01; HCC vs. controls, p<0.01). When stratified with respect to serum HBV markers in the IC and CHB cohorts, IL28B mRNA and protein levels were higher in HBeAg-positive than negative individuals (p=0.01). Logistic regression analysis revealed that factors associated with high IL28B protein levels were C/C versus C/T genotype [p=0.016, odds ratio (OR)=0.25, 95% confidence interval (CI)=0.08-0.78], high alanine aminotransferase values (p<0.001, OR=8.02, 95% CI=2.64-24.4), and the IC stage of HBV infection (p<0.001). CONCLUSION: Our data suggest that IL28B genetic variations may play an important role in long-term development of disease in chronic HBV infections.
Adult ; Aged ; Alanine Transaminase/blood ; Asian Continental Ancestry Group/*genetics ; Biological Markers/blood ; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular/genetics ; Case-Control Studies ; China ; DNA, Viral/blood ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Female ; Genotype ; Hepatitis B virus/genetics ; Hepatitis B, Chronic/ethnology/*genetics/immunology/*virology ; Humans ; Interleukins/blood/*genetics/metabolism ; Leukocytes, Mononuclear ; Liver Cirrhosis/blood ; Liver Neoplasms/genetics ; Male ; Middle Aged ; RNA, Messenger/*genetics ; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction

PURPOSE: To investigate the relationship between rising patterns of prostate-specific antigen (PSA) before chemotherapy and PSA flare during the early phase of chemotherapy in patients with castration-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC). MATERIALS AND METHODS: This study included 55 patients with CRPC who received chemotherapy and in whom pre-treatment or post-treatment PSA levels could be serially obtained. The baseline parameters included age, performance, Gleason score, PSA level, and disease extent. PSA doubling time was calculated using the different intervals: the conventional interval from the second hormone manipulation following the nadir until anti-androgen withdrawal (PSADT1), the interval from the initial rise after anti-androgen withdrawal to the start of chemotherapy (PSADT2), and the interval from the nadir until the start of chemotherapy (PSADT3). The PSA growth patterns were analyzed using the ratio of PSADT2 to PSADT1. RESULTS: There were two growth patterns of PSA doubling time: 22 patients (40.0%) had a steady pattern with a more prolonged PSADT2 than PSADT1, while 33 (60.0%) had an accelerating pattern with a shorter PSADT2 than PSADT1. During three cycles of chemotherapy, PSA flare occurred in 11 patients (20.0%); of these patients, 3 were among 33 (9.1%) patients with an accelerating PSA growth pattern and 8 were among 22 patients (36.4%) with a steady PSA growth pattern (p=0.019). Multivariate analysis showed that only PSA growth pattern was an independent predictor of PSA flare (p=0.034). CONCLUSION: An exponential rise in PSA during anti-androgen withdrawal is a significant predictor for PSA flare during chemotherapy in CRPC patients.
Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Androgen Antagonists ; Antineoplastic Agents/*therapeutic use ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Karnofsky Performance Status ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Neoplasm Grading ; Predictive Value of Tests ; Prostate-Specific Antigen/*blood ; Prostatic Neoplasms, Castration-Resistant/*blood/*drug therapy/pathology ; Taxoids/*therapeutic use ; Tumor Markers, Biological/blood

No abstract available.
Antirheumatic Agents/therapeutic use ; Arthritis, Rheumatoid/blood/*complications/diagnosis/drug therapy/physiopathology ; Biological Markers/blood ; Drug Therapy, Combination ; Facial Dermatoses/complications/diagnosis ; Female ; Hand Joints/physiopathology/radiography ; Humans ; Immunosuppressive Agents/therapeutic use ; Inflammation Mediators/blood ; Knee Joint/physiopathology/radiography ; Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic/blood/*complications/diagnosis/drug therapy ; Middle Aged ; Syndrome ; Treatment Outcome

No abstract available.
Adult ; Biological Markers/blood ; Female ; Humans ; Mouth Floor ; *Neck/radiography/radionuclide imaging/ultrasonography ; Predictive Value of Tests ; Radiopharmaceuticals/diagnostic use ; Sodium Pertechnetate Tc 99m/diagnostic use ; Thyroid Dysgenesis/blood/*diagnosis/drug therapy ; Thyroid Function Tests ; *Thyroid Gland/drug effects/metabolism/radiography/radionuclide imaging/ultrasonography ; Thyrotropin/blood ; Thyroxine/blood/therapeutic use ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed

No abstract available.
Biopsy ; Blood Glucose/metabolism ; C-Peptide/blood ; Calcium Gluconate/administration & dosage/*diagnostic use ; Female ; Humans ; Immunohistochemistry ; Injections, Intra-Arterial ; Insulin/blood ; Insulinoma/blood/*blood supply/pathology/surgery ; Middle Aged ; Pancreatic Neoplasms/blood/*blood supply/pathology/surgery ; Pancreaticoduodenectomy ; Splenic Artery/*radiography ; *Tomography, X-Ray Computed ; Treatment Outcome ; Tumor Markers, Biological/blood

BACKGROUND/AIMS: The aim was to determine which of three sets of metabolic syndrome (MetS) criteria (International Diabetes Federation [IDF], National Cholesterol Education Program Adult Treatment Panel III [ATP III], and European Group for the Study of Insulin Resistance [EGIR]) best predicts the coronary artery calcification (CAC) score in a cross-sectional study. This has not been evaluated in previous studies. METHODS: A total of 24,060 subjects were screened for CAC by multi-detector computed tomography. The presence of CAC was defined as a CAC score > 0. The odds ratio for the presence of CAC was analyzed for three different sets of MetS criteria and according to number of MetS components. RESULTS: CAC was observed in 12.6% (3,037) of the subjects. Patients with MetS, as defined by the IDF, ATP III, and EGIR criteria, had a CAC rate of 23.0%, 25.1%, and 29.5%, respectively (p < 0.001). Comparisons of C statistics for multivariate regression models revealed no significant difference among the three sets of criteria. After adjustment for risk factors, the ATP III criteria produced a slightly higher odds ratio for CAC compared with the other criteria, but this difference was not significant. The risk factor-adjusted odds ratio for the presence of CAC increased from 1 to 1.679 as the number of MetS components defined by ATP III increased from 0 to > or = 3 (p for trend < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: The presence of MetS was associated with the presence of CAC. There was no significant difference among the three sets of MetS criteria in terms of the ability to predict CAC. An increase in the number of MetS components was associated with an increased odds of CAC.
Adult ; Asymptomatic Diseases ; Biological Markers/blood ; Calcium/*analysis ; Coronary Angiography/methods ; Coronary Artery Disease/blood/*epidemiology/radiography ; Coronary Vessels/*chemistry/radiography ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Metabolic Syndrome X/blood/diagnosis/*epidemiology ; Middle Aged ; Multidetector Computed Tomography ; Multivariate Analysis ; Odds Ratio ; Predictive Value of Tests ; Prevalence ; Republic of Korea/epidemiology ; Risk Assessment ; Risk Factors ; Vascular Calcification/blood/*epidemiology/metabolism/radiography