Forkhead box P3-positive (Foxp3 + )-inducible Tregs (iTregs) are readily generated by TGF-β1 at low TCR signaling intensity. TGF-β1–mediated Foxp3 expression is further enhanced by retinoic acid (RA) and lactoferrin (LF). However, the intensity of TCR signaling required for induction of Foxp3 expression by TGF-β1 in combination with RA and LF is unknown. Here, we found that either RA or LF alone decreased TGF-β1–mediated Foxp3 expression at low TCR signaling intensity. In contrast, at high TCR signaling intensity, the addition of either RA or LF strongly increased TGF-β1–mediated Foxp3 expression. Moreover, decreased CD28 stimulation was more favorable for TGF-β1/LF–mediated Foxp3 expression. Lastly, we found that at high signaling intensities of both TCR and CD28, combined treatment with TGF-β1, RA, and LF induced robust expression of Foxp3, in parallel with powerful suppressive activity against responder T cell proliferation. Our findings that TGFβ/RA/LF strongly generate high affinity Ag-specific iTreg population would be useful for the control of unwanted hypersensitive immune reactions such as various autoimmune diseases.

Methamphetamine (METH) acts strongly on the nervous system and damages neurons and is known to cause neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's and Parkinson's. Flavonoids, polyphenolic compounds present in green tea, red wine and several fruits exhibit antioxidant properties that protect neurons from oxidative damage and promote neuronal survival. Especially, epicatechin (EC) is a powerful flavonoid with antibacterial, antiviral, antitumor and antimutagenic effects as well as antioxidant effects. We therefore investigated whether EC could prevent METH-induced neurotoxicity using HT22 hippocampal neuronal cells. EC reduced METH-induced cell death of HT22 cells. In addition, we observed that EC abrogated the activation of ERK, p38 and inhibited the expression of CHOP and DR4. EC also reduced METH-induced ROS accumulation and MMP. These results suggest that EC may protect HT22 hippocampal neurons against METH-induced cell death by reducing ER stress and mitochondrial damage.

OBJECTIVES: There is a great deal of interest in the possibility that environmental factors may influence the risk of developing allergic rhinitis (AR) in early life. We investigated the simultaneous effects of mode of delivery and duration of breastfeeding on the development of AR in children. METHODS: Data from 1,374 children participating in the Allergic Rhinitis Cohort Study for kids (ARCO-kids study) was analyzed. All subjects were divided into AR or non-allergic rhinitis (NAR) groups. Data on environmental factors, mode of delivery and duration of breastfeeding were collected using a questionnaire. RESULTS: Compared with short-term breastfeeding (<6 months), long-term breastfeeding (≥12 months) was significantly associated with a lower prevalence of AR (adjusted odds ratio [aOR], 0.54; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.34 to 0.88). Children in the AR group also had a higher cesarean delivery rate than those in the NAR group (39.1% vs. 32.8%, P=0.05). Regarding the combined effects of mode of delivery and duration of breastfeeding, long-term breastfeeding with a vaginal delivery strongly suppressed the development of AR, compared to short-term breastfeeding with a cesarean delivery (aOR, 0.47; 95% CI, 0.30 to 0.73). CONCLUSION: Long-term breastfeeding (≥12 months) and a vaginal delivery are associated with a lower risk of developing childhood AR.
Breast Feeding ; Cesarean Section ; Child ; Cohort Studies ; Delivery, Obstetric ; Female ; Humans ; Odds Ratio ; Pregnancy ; Prevalence ; Rhinitis ; Rhinitis, Allergic

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: The skin prick test is a widely used test that uses three methods (allergen/histamine ratio method, erythema size method, and wheal size method) to interpret the results. However, there has been no comparison of these methods. The aim of this study is to compare the three different interpretation methods and define the relationship among them. SUBJECTS AND METHOD: A total of 139 patients who visited our allergy clinic complaining of nasal symptoms were enrolled. Three interpretation methods were used for defining positivity in the skin prick test, and their results were compared. The validity of each interpretation method was evaluated by total nasal symptom score. RESULTS: Positivity in the skin prick test was reported in 48.2% of patients according to the allergen/histamine ratio method and in 64.0% of patients according to the wheal size method and erythema size method. The proportion of subjects who showed a negative result with the allergen/histamine ratio method but positive results with the wheal size method or erythema size method was 15.8%. This group had a significantly higher total nasal symptom score, especially rhinorrhea and nasal obstruction, than subjects who showed negative results on all three methods. CONCLUSION: When diagnosing allergic rhinitis patients using the skin prick test, the wheal size method and erythema size method should be considered rather than the allergen/histamine ratio method.
Diagnosis ; Erythema ; Humans ; Hypersensitivity ; Methods* ; Nasal Obstruction ; Rhinitis, Allergic ; Skin Tests* ; Skin*

The incidence of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infections continue to increase throughout the world. Although neurologic complications are frequent in individuals with HIV infection or acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS), vestibulocochlear neuritis is still a relatively rare manifestation. We report the first case of vestibulocochlear neuritis occurring in an AIDS patient in Korea.
Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome* ; Hearing Loss ; HIV ; HIV Infections ; Humans ; Incidence ; Korea* ; Neuritis* ; Vestibulocochlear Nerve Diseases

Systemic sclerosis is an autoimmune disease characterized by progressive fibrosis of the skin and visceral organs. Myasthenia gravis is also an autoimmune disease characterized by weakness and fatigue of skeletal muscles. The symptoms of systemic sclerosis and myasthenia gravis overlap clinically, so the recognition of disease co-occurrence may be delayed. Co-occurrence of myasthenia gravis and systemic sclerosis is very uncommon and usually diagnosed after use of D-penicillamine for treating the systemic sclerosis. We report a case of a 49-year-old female patient who complained of general weakness and was diagnosed with myasthenia gravis. Four months earlier she was diagnosed with systemic sclerosis with Sjogren's syndrome and her medications did not include D-penicillamine.
Autoimmune Diseases ; Fatigue ; Female ; Fibrosis ; Humans ; Middle Aged ; Muscle, Skeletal ; Myasthenia Gravis ; Penicillamine ; Scleroderma, Systemic ; Sjogren's Syndrome ; Skin

Mammary-like glands are poorly recognized structures of normal vulvar skin. Here, we report the first case of primary mammary-like gland adenocarcinoma of the vulva in Korea and discuss the differential diagnosis and treatment of this rare tumor. A 62-year-old woman presented with an itching sensation and palpable mass of the vulva. Abdominal computed tomography showed multiple variable-sized nodules with peripheral rim enhancement in the liver. The pathology of the vulva and liver lesions was consistent with invasive ductal carcinoma of the breast, with positive staining for estrogen receptors, progesterone receptors, HER-2, and GCDFP-15. Ultrasonography and magnetic resonance imaging of the breast were normal. Given the histological findings in conjunction with the absence of a breast lesion, a diagnosis of primary mammary-like gland adenocarcinoma of the vulva was made. She died of pneumonia 7 weeks after the diagnosis.
Adenocarcinoma ; Breast ; Carcinoma, Ductal ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Female ; Humans ; Korea ; Liver ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Middle Aged ; Pneumonia ; Pruritus ; Receptors, Estrogen ; Receptors, Progesterone ; Sensation ; Skin ; Vulva

BACKGROUND: Several large outbreaks have demonstrated the threat of community-associated methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (CA-MRSA) in close-contact environments, such as occurs during training and quartering of military recruits training. In South Korea, which is a hospital or healthcare-associated MRSA prevalent area, military service is compulsory for all healthy young men. We surveyed and determined the extent of CA-MRSA colonization in the upper respiratory tracts of Korean military recruits. METHODS: The Korean military recruits who were enrolled in a military training facility from November 2004 to March 2005 were eligible for this study. Sputum or nasopharyngeal swap was obtained from randomly selected subjects who displayed upper respiratory tract symptoms. RESULTS: Of the 181 participants, 32 participants (17.7%) were colonized with S. aureus, and 12 participants (6.6%) were colonized with MRSA. Among the cases that were colonized with S. aureus, 37.5% (12/32) were colonized with MRSA. Antimicrobial susceptibility testing showed resistant patterns that were suggestive of the CA-MRSA strains for all of the MRSA isolates. CONCLUSION: This study of Korean military recruits found a great deal of showed MRSA colonization in them, and the antimicrobial resistant profile that was suggestive of a CA-MRSA strain. Further efforts to prevent the spread of MRSA infections and careful monitoring for CA-MRSA outbreaks are warranted, especially in a high risk group such as military recruits.
Colon ; Disease Outbreaks ; Humans ; Male ; Methicillin Resistance ; Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus ; Military Personnel ; Republic of Korea ; Respiratory System ; Sprains and Strains ; Sputum ; Staphylococcus aureus

BACKGROUND: Several large outbreaks have demonstrated the threat of community-associated methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (CA-MRSA) in close-contact environments, such as occurs during training and quartering of military recruits training. In South Korea, which is a hospital or healthcare-associated MRSA prevalent area, military service is compulsory for all healthy young men. We surveyed and determined the extent of CA-MRSA colonization in the upper respiratory tracts of Korean military recruits. METHODS: The Korean military recruits who were enrolled in a military training facility from November 2004 to March 2005 were eligible for this study. Sputum or nasopharyngeal swap was obtained from randomly selected subjects who displayed upper respiratory tract symptoms. RESULTS: Of the 181 participants, 32 participants (17.7%) were colonized with S. aureus, and 12 participants (6.6%) were colonized with MRSA. Among the cases that were colonized with S. aureus, 37.5% (12/32) were colonized with MRSA. Antimicrobial susceptibility testing showed resistant patterns that were suggestive of the CA-MRSA strains for all of the MRSA isolates. CONCLUSION: This study of Korean military recruits found a great deal of showed MRSA colonization in them, and the antimicrobial resistant profile that was suggestive of a CA-MRSA strain. Further efforts to prevent the spread of MRSA infections and careful monitoring for CA-MRSA outbreaks are warranted, especially in a high risk group such as military recruits.
Colon ; Disease Outbreaks ; Humans ; Male ; Methicillin Resistance ; Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus ; Military Personnel ; Republic of Korea ; Respiratory System ; Sprains and Strains ; Sputum ; Staphylococcus aureus

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Halitosis is a symptom that bothers patients more socially than medically and its pathogenic mechanisms are unclear and treatment armamenterium is limited. Clinicians generally ignored active interventions. Since halitosis is closely associated with volatile sulfur compounds (VSCs), we used a Halimeter and gas chromatography to measure VSCs in patients with Helicobacter-pylori (H. pylori)-associated gastric diseases. METHODS: We categorized 72 patients with H. pylori infection into two groups based on their endoscopic findings: a non-erosive mucosal group (NE, n=24) and an erosive mucosal group (E, n=48). Halitosis was objectively assessed by applying either a Halimeter to breath air or gas chromatography to gastric juice. Simultaneously, the expression of VSC-generating enzyme was measured with reverse-transcriptase PCR using mRNA isolated from biopsy tissues. RESULTS: The levels of VSCs in exhaled breaths or aspirated gastric juices differed significantly between the NE and E groups (p<0.00001), suggesting that VSCs might reflect eroded epithelial damage induced by H. pylori infection. The expressions of cystathionine beta-synthase (CBS) and cystathionine gamma-lyase (CSE) were broadly consistent with the degree of mucosal injury. CONCLUSIONS: Erosive changes in esophagogastroduodenal mucosa were strongly correlated with increased VSC levels, suggesting that halitosis might result from H. pylori-associated erosive lesions.
Biopsy ; Chromatography, Gas ; Cystathionine beta-Synthase ; Cystathionine gamma-Lyase ; Cytochrome P-450 CYP1A1 ; Gastric Juice ; Halitosis ; Humans ; Hydrogen Sulfide ; Mucous Membrane ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; RNA, Messenger ; Stomach Diseases ; Sulfur ; Sulfur Compounds