β-glucan, a polysaccharide found in various sources, exhibits unique physicochemical properties, yet its high polymerization limits clinical applications because of its solubility. Addressing this limitation, we introduce PPTEE-glycan, a highly purified solubleβ-1,3/1,6-glucan derived from Aureobasidium pullulans. The refined PPTEE-glycan demonstrated robust immune stimulation in vitro, activated dendritic cells, and enhanced co-stimulatory markers, cytokines, and cross-presentation. Formulated as a PPTEE + microemulsion (ME), it elevated immune responses in vivo, promoting antigen-specific antibodies and CD8+ T cell proliferation.Intratumoral administration of PPTEE + ME in tumor-bearing mice induced notable tumor regression, which was linked to the activation of immunosuppressive cells. This study highlights the potential of high-purity Aureobasidium pullulans-derived β-glucan, particularly PPTEE, as promising immune adjuvants, offering novel avenues for advancing cancer immunotherapy.

Objective: The purpose of this study is to evaluate the impact of tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α blocker therapy on the Assessment of SpondyloArthritis international Society Health Index (ASAS-HI) among patients who have failed conventional nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. Methods: A comparative study was conducted involving axial spondyloarthritis (axSpA) patients treated with either TNF-α blocker or conventional therapy. Patient data, including demographics, disease characteristics, and ASAS-HI scores, were collected before and after treatment. Statistical analysis was performed to compare changes in ASAS-HI scores between the TNF-α blocker and the conventional therapy group. Results: The study population consisted of patients with axSpA, with a mean age of 38.3 years in conventional treatment group and 29.3 years in TNF-α blocker group. Most variables, including C-reactive protein levels, other comorbidities, and disease assessment scores showed no significant difference between groups. Longitudinal analysis within each treatment group from Week 0 to 12 showed no significant change in the conventional treatment group, whereas the TNF-α blocker group experienced a significant reduction in ASAS-HI scores, demonstrating the effectiveness of the treatment. The TNF-α blocker group exhibited a significantly greater improvement in ASAS-HI scores compared to the conventional therapy group. The Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Functional Index and the Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Disease Activity Index demonstrated strong positive correlations with ASAS-HI scores, indicating higher disease activity and functional limitation are associated with worse health outcomes in patients. Conclusion The research demonstrates that ASAS-HI scores significantly improve with TNF-α blocker therapy in axSpA patients, underscoring ASAS-HI's effectiveness as a tool for evaluating drug responses.

OBJECTIVES: We estimated the population prevalence of antibodies to severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), including unreported infections, through a Korea Seroprevalence Study of Monitoring of SARS-CoV-2 Antibody Retention and Transmission (K-SEROSMART) in 258 communities throughout Korea. METHODS: In August 2022, a survey was conducted among 10,000 household members aged 5 years and older, in households selected through two stage probability random sampling. During face-to-face household interviews, participants self-reported their health status, COVID-19 diagnosis and vaccination history, and general characteristics. Subsequently, participants visited a community health center or medical clinic for blood sampling. Blood samples were analyzed for the presence of antibodies to spike proteins (anti-S) and antibodies to nucleocapsid proteins (anti-N) SARS-CoV-2 proteins using an electrochemiluminescence immunoassay. To estimate the population prevalence, the PROC SURVEYMEANS statistical procedure was employed, with weighting to reflect demographic data from July 2022. RESULTS: In total, 9,945 individuals from 5,041 households were surveyed across 258 communities, representing all basic local governments in Korea. The overall population-adjusted prevalence rates of anti-S and anti-N were 97.6% and 57.1%, respectively. Since the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency has reported a cumulative incidence of confirmed cases of 37.8% through July 31, 2022, the proportion of unreported infections among all COVID-19 infection was suggested to be 33.9%. CONCLUSIONS The K-SEROSMART represents the first nationwide, community-based seroepidemiologic survey of COVID-19, confirming that most individuals possess antibodies to SARS-CoV-2 and that a significant number of unreported cases existed. Furthermore, this study lays the foundation for a surveillance system to continuously monitor transmission at the community level and the response to COVID-19.

Kikuchi-Fujimoto disease (KFD), also known as histiocytic necrotizing lymphadenitis, is common in young Asian women under the age of 30, and is usually characterized by fever, myalgia, fatigue, and cervical lymphadenopathy. Because patients with KFD often present with necrotic lesions that are also features of lymph node metastasis, ipsilateral or bilateral lymph node enlargement in head and neck cancer patients can be disguised as lymph node metastasis. We present an unusual case of KFD mimicking bilateral metastatic papillary carcinoma of the thyroid. This study emphasizes that KFD should be considered when diagnosing lymph nodes with necrotic lesions but without malignant cells in young women.

Acinetobacter baumannii is known for its multidrug antibiotic resistance. New approaches to treating drug-resistant bacterial infections are urgently required. Cathelicidin-related antimicrobial peptide (CRAMP) is a murine antimicrobial peptide that exerts diverse immune functions, including both direct bacterial cell killing and immunomodulatory effects. In this study, we sought to identify the role of CRAMP in the host immune response to multidrug-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii. Wild-type (WT) and CRAMP knockout mice were infected intranasally with the bacteria. CRAMP−/− mice exhibited increased bacterial colony-forming units (CFUs) in bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) fluid after A. baumannii infection compared to WT mice. The loss of CRAMP expression resulted in a significant decrease in the recruitment of immune cells, primarily neutrophils. The levels of IL-6 and CXCL1 were lower, whereas the levels of IL-10 were significantly higher in the BAL fluid of CRAMP−/− mice compared to WT mice 1 day after infection. In an in vitro assay using thioglycollate-induced peritoneal neutrophils, the ability of bacterial phagocytosis and killing was impaired in CRAMP−/− neutrophils compared to the WT cells. CRAMP was also essential for the production of cytokines and chemokines in response to A. baumannii in neutrophils. In addition, the A. baumannii-induced inhibitor of κB-α degradation and phosphorylation of p38 MAPK were impaired in CRAMP−/− neutrophils, whereas ERK and JNK phosphorylation was upregulated. Our results indicate that CRAMP plays an important role in the host defense against pulmonary infection with A. baumannii by promoting the antibacterial activity of neutrophils and regulating the innate immune responses.

6-kDa early secretory antigenic target (ESAT6), a virulent factor of Mycobacterium tuberculosis, is involved in immune regulation. However, the underlying mechanism behind the activation and maturation of dendritic cells (DCs) by ESAT6 remains unclear. In this study, we investigated the effect on TLRs signaling on the regulation of ESAT6-induced activation and maturation of DCs. ESAT6 induced production of IL-6, TNF-α, and IL-12p40 in bone marrow-derived dendritic cells (BMDCs) from wild-type and TLR2-deficient mice, with this induction abolished in TLR4-deficient cells. NF-κB is essential for the ESAT6-induced production of the cytokines in BMDCs. TLR4 was also required for ESAT6-induced activation of NF-κB and MAPKs in BMDCs. ESAT6 additionally upregulated the expression of surface molecules CD80, CD86, and MHC-II, and also promoted the ability of CD4⁺ T cells to secrete IFN-γ via the TLR4-dependent pathway. Our findings suggest that TLR4 is critical in the activation and maturation of DCs in response to ESAT6.
Animals ; Cytokines ; Dendritic Cells ; Interleukin-12 Subunit p40 ; Interleukin-6 ; Mice ; Mycobacterium tuberculosis ; Mycobacterium ; T-Lymphocytes ; Toll-Like Receptor 4

OBJECTIVE: To determine effects of copy number variations (CNV) on developmental aspects of children suspected of having delayed development. METHODS: A retrospective chart review was done for 65 children who underwent array-comparative genomic hybridization after visiting physical medicine & rehabilitation department of outpatient clinic with delayed development as chief complaints. Children were evaluated with Denver Developmental Screening Test II (DDST-II), Sequenced Language Scale for Infants (SELSI), or Preschool Receptive-Expressive Language Scale (PRES). A Mann-Whitney U test was conducted to determine statistical differences of developmental quotient (DQ), receptive language quotient (RLQ), and expressive language quotient (ELQ) between children with CNV (CNV(+) group, n=16) and children without CNV (CNV(–) group, n=37). RESULTS: Of these subjects, the average age was 35.1 months (mean age, 35.1±24.2 months). Sixteen (30.2%) patients had copy number variations. In the CNV(+) group, 14 children underwent DDST-II. In the CNV(–) group, 29 children underwent DDST-II. Among variables, gross motor scale was significantly (p=0.038) lower in the CNV(+) group compared with the CNV(–) group. In the CNV(+) group, 5 children underwent either SELSI or PRES. In the CNV(–) group, 27 children underwent above language assessment examination. Both RLQ and ELQ were similar between the two groups. CONCLUSION: The gross motor domain in DQ was significantly lower in children with CNV compared to that in children without CNV. This result suggests that additional genetic factors contribute to this variability. Active detection of genomic imbalance could play a vital role when prominent gross motor delay is presented in children with delayed development.
Ambulatory Care Facilities ; Child ; Comparative Genomic Hybridization ; Developmental Disabilities ; DNA Copy Number Variations ; Humans ; Infant ; Mass Screening ; Motor Skills ; Muscle Hypotonia ; Nucleic Acid Hybridization ; Physical and Rehabilitation Medicine ; Rehabilitation ; Retrospective Studies