Dendritic cells (DCs) are professional antigen-presenting cells that sample their environment and present antigens to naive T lymphocytes for the subsequent antigen-specific immune responses. DCs exist in a range of distinct subpopulations including plasmacytoid DCs (pDCs) and classical DCs (cDCs), with the latter consisting of the cDC1 and cDC2 lineages. Although the roles of DC-specific transcription factors across the DC subsets have become understood, the posttranscriptional mechanisms that regulate DC development are yet to be elucidated. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are pivotal posttranscriptional regulators of gene expression in a myriad of biological processes, but their contribution to the immune system is just beginning to surface. In this study, our in-house probe collection was screened to identify miRNAs possibly involved in DC development and function by targeting the transcripts of relevant mouse transcription factors. Examination of DC subsets from the culture of mouse bone marrow with Flt3 ligand identified high expression of miR-124 which was able to target the transcript of TCF4, a transcription factor critical for the development and homeostasis of pDCs. Further expression profiling of mouse DC subsets isolated from in vitro culture as well as via ex vivo purification demonstrated that miR-124 was outstandingly expressed in CD24+ cDC1 cells compared to in pDCs and CD172alpha+ cDC2 cells. These results imply that miR-124 is likely involved in the processes of DC subset development by posttranscriptional regulation of a transcription factor(s).
Animals ; Antigen-Presenting Cells ; Biological Processes ; Bone Marrow ; Dendritic Cells* ; Gene Expression ; Homeostasis ; Immune System ; Mice ; MicroRNAs ; RNA Interference ; T-Lymphocytes ; Transcription Factors

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to assess the tumor characteristics and long-term clinical outcomes of adjuvant treatments after surgery with a curative aim for patients with breast cancer who are 65 years and older. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Patients with breast cancer who underwent curative surgery from 2000 to 2009 were analyzed (n=4,388). Tumor characteristics and survival outcome were compared by dividing the patients into two age groups (< 65 and ≥ 65 years old). The Kaplan-Meier method was used for comparison of survival rates by log-rank test, and a Cox regression model was used to examine the effect of variables. RESULTS: Among 4,388 patients with invasive breast cancer, 317 patients (7.2%) were 65 years or older and the median age of all patients was 47 years (range, 18 to 91 years). Tumor characteristics were similar between the two age groups, but the older patients were treated less often with adjuvant treatments. During a median follow-up period of 122 months, recurrence-free survival (RFS) was equivalent for patients 65 years and older compared to younger patients, but significantly worse in overall survival (OS) and breast cancer–specific survival (BCSS) (5-year OS, 94.3% vs. 90.5%; p < 0.001 and 5-year BCSS, 94.7% vs. 91.8%; p=0.031). In the multivariate model, age ≥ 65 years old was identified as an independent risk factor for OS and RFS. CONCLUSION: Elderly breast cancer appeared to have worse outcomes with very low prevalence in Korea, despite similar tumor characteristics. More active adjuvant therapies would have a role for aggressive subtypes for fit, elderly patients.
Aged* ; Breast Neoplasms* ; Breast* ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Korea* ; Methods ; Population Characteristics ; Prevalence ; Risk Factors ; Survival Rate ; Treatment Outcome

Acute fibrinous and organizing pneumonia (AFOP) is a histological pattern consisting of intra-alveolar fibrin in the form of fibrin "balls" and organizing pneumonia, without hyaline membranes or prominent eosinophil infiltration. Some reports suggest that the clinical course and pathological findings of AFOP are different from typical findings of bronchiolitis obliterans organizing pneumonia (BOOP) or eosinophilic pneumonia (EP), and its prognosis can be better or similar to that of diffuse alveolar damage (DAD). We report two cases of pathologically demonstrated AFOP experienced recently at our institute. One fatal case revealed a rapid development of respiratory failure and the need for mechanical ventilation. Another nonfatal case revealed subacute diffuse bilateral lung infiltration without the need for mechanical ventilation. Judging from our experience, the patient who required a mechanical ventilator had a poorer prognosis than the one who did not need a mechanical ventilator.
Cryptogenic Organizing Pneumonia ; Eosinophils ; Fibrin ; Humans ; Hyalin ; Lung ; Membranes ; Pneumonia ; Prognosis ; Pulmonary Eosinophilia ; Respiration, Artificial ; Respiratory Insufficiency ; Ventilators, Mechanical

Acute fibrinous and organizing pneumonia (AFOP) is a histological pattern consisting of intra-alveolar fibrin in the form of fibrin "balls" and organizing pneumonia, without hyaline membranes or prominent eosinophil infiltration. Some reports suggest that the clinical course and pathological findings of AFOP are different from typical findings of bronchiolitis obliterans organizing pneumonia (BOOP) or eosinophilic pneumonia (EP), and its prognosis can be better or similar to that of diffuse alveolar damage (DAD). We report two cases of pathologically demonstrated AFOP experienced recently at our institute. One fatal case revealed a rapid development of respiratory failure and the need for mechanical ventilation. Another nonfatal case revealed subacute diffuse bilateral lung infiltration without the need for mechanical ventilation. Judging from our experience, the patient who required a mechanical ventilator had a poorer prognosis than the one who did not need a mechanical ventilator.
Cryptogenic Organizing Pneumonia ; Eosinophils ; Fibrin ; Humans ; Hyalin ; Lung ; Membranes ; Pneumonia ; Prognosis ; Pulmonary Eosinophilia ; Respiration, Artificial ; Respiratory Insufficiency ; Ventilators, Mechanical

BACKGROUND: In spite of active HIV/AIDS control and managements, UNAIDS estimate that 40 million people were living worldwide with HIV at the end of 2001. In Korea, The member of HIV- infected adults are continuously growing. For improvement of HIV screening and prevention, we analyzed over times the relationship between the changes in initial CD4+ T cell counts of newly HIV- diagnosed adults, sex, and exposure route. METHODS: We selected 1011 newly HIV-diagnosed adults whose initial CD4+ T cell count was determined within 6 months of HIV diagnosis between 1990 and June, 2002. Based on CD4+ T cell counts, the selected people were grouped into 4 as follows: <200 cells/mm3, 200-349 cells/mm3, 350-699 cells/mm3, and >700 cells/mm3. The relationship between initial CD4+ T cell counts, age, sex, and HIV risk category were studied by regression statistic methods. RESULTS: The median initial CD4+ T cell counts decreased over times (P<0.001). In each major group, over 50% of initial CD4+ T cell counts were below 350 cells/mm3. For homosexually infected adults, the median age did not statistically increase (P=0.062). However, in heterosexually infected adults, the median age increased throughout the time period examined (P<0.001) with an exception of female group (P=0.427). The multi-regression analyses revealed that older age (P<0.001) and male sex (P<0.001) were independently associated with lower initial CD4+ T cell counts, but not exposure group (P=0.483). For each year cohort of newly diagnosed adults, the median initial CD4+ T cell counts in subsequent years decreased until 1998 and then increased thereafter. CONCLUSION: These results show that a large proportion of HIV-infected adults are being diagnosed late in the course of HIV infection, particularly heterosexually infected male group. Therefore, we should continuously enforce screening, prevention and prompt diagnosis of high risk groups.
Adult ; Cell Count* ; Cohort Studies ; Diagnosis ; Female ; HIV ; HIV Infections ; Homosexuality ; Humans ; Korea ; Male ; Mass Screening

BACKGROUND: In spite of active HIV/AIDS control and managements, UNAIDS estimate that 40 million people were living worldwide with HIV at the end of 2001. In Korea, The member of HIV- infected adults are continuously growing. For improvement of HIV screening and prevention, we analyzed over times the relationship between the changes in initial CD4+ T cell counts of newly HIV- diagnosed adults, sex, and exposure route. METHODS: We selected 1011 newly HIV-diagnosed adults whose initial CD4+ T cell count was determined within 6 months of HIV diagnosis between 1990 and June, 2002. Based on CD4+ T cell counts, the selected people were grouped into 4 as follows: <200 cells/mm3, 200-349 cells/mm3, 350-699 cells/mm3, and >700 cells/mm3. The relationship between initial CD4+ T cell counts, age, sex, and HIV risk category were studied by regression statistic methods. RESULTS: The median initial CD4+ T cell counts decreased over times (P<0.001). In each major group, over 50% of initial CD4+ T cell counts were below 350 cells/mm3. For homosexually infected adults, the median age did not statistically increase (P=0.062). However, in heterosexually infected adults, the median age increased throughout the time period examined (P<0.001) with an exception of female group (P=0.427). The multi-regression analyses revealed that older age (P<0.001) and male sex (P<0.001) were independently associated with lower initial CD4+ T cell counts, but not exposure group (P=0.483). For each year cohort of newly diagnosed adults, the median initial CD4+ T cell counts in subsequent years decreased until 1998 and then increased thereafter. CONCLUSION: These results show that a large proportion of HIV-infected adults are being diagnosed late in the course of HIV infection, particularly heterosexually infected male group. Therefore, we should continuously enforce screening, prevention and prompt diagnosis of high risk groups.
Adult ; Cell Count* ; Cohort Studies ; Diagnosis ; Female ; HIV ; HIV Infections ; Homosexuality ; Humans ; Korea ; Male ; Mass Screening

The authors analysed 2,653 cases of transthoracic fine needle aspiration cytology of the lung to evaluate the diagnostic accuracy and its limitation. A comparison was made between the original cytologic and the final histologic diagnoses on 1,149 cases from 1,074 patients. A diagnosis of malignancy was established in 38.3% benign in 48.1%, atypical lesion in 2.3%, and inadequate one in 11.9% of the cases. Statistical data on cytologic diagnoses were as follows; specificity 98.9%: sensitivity of procedure, 76.8%: sensitivity of diagnosis, 95.5%: false positive 5 cases: false negative 18 cases: predictive value for malignancy, 98.8%: predictive value for benign lesion, 79.5%: overall diagnostic efficiency, 87.5%: typing accuracy in malignant tumor, 80%.
Biopsy, Fine-Needle* ; Diagnosis ; Humans ; Lung* ; Sensitivity and Specificity

Emphysematous cholecystitis is an uncommon form of acute cholecystitis characterized by the presence of gas within the wall, lumen of the gall bladder or biliary ducts. Clinically it is very similar to ordinary farm. But since the risk of perforation is five times that expected from ordinary cholecystitis, early diagnosis and appropriate surgical treatment are important. We could diagnose these cases by the simple abdomen, abdominal ultrasound and abdominal CT by the presence of air in the lumen and the wall of the gall bladder. Percutaneous trans hepatic gall bladder drainage (PTGBD) for decompression was used because poor general condition of patients and later, we could successfully perform the cholecystectomy without any complication. We presented two cases of emphysematous cholecystitis with review of the relevant literature on the subject.
Abdomen ; Cholecystectomy ; Cholecystitis ; Cholecystitis, Acute ; Decompression ; Drainage ; Early Diagnosis ; Emphysematous Cholecystitis* ; Humans ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed ; Ultrasonography ; Urinary Bladder

This study was carried out in order to examine the urinary excretion of electrolytes (Na, K) and their relationship with blood pressure, and to estimate the amount of daily salt intake in a rural community. From January to March in 1987, a mobile screening team visited 40 villages, and carried out health screening of 537 adult volunteers whose age were over 30 years and collected 12-hours overnight urine. To determine the completeness of collection, the urinary creatinine was measured. If the creatinine excretion was beyond the range given to the age group, the sample was excluded from the analysis as an imcomplete collection; 345 samples were remained for analysis. This study revealed the following results. 1. The mean excretion amounts of urinary electrolytes for 12 hours were Na 193.5 mEq, K 20.8 mEq, creatinine 1.0 g. The mean ratio of electrolytes were Na/K 9.84, Na/creatinine 0.44, K/creatinine 0.046. 2. Both the mean excretion amount of K and the mean ratio of K/creatinine were less in hypertensives than in normotensives. K excretion also showed a tendency towards a decrease in inverse proportion to systolic blood pressure when it exceeded 120 mmHg. There was no significant difference between the hypertensives and normotensives in Na excretion. The sodium to potassium ratio increased in proportion to systolic blood pressure. 3. The meand daily salt excretion amount was 22.4 g. Assuming that 90% of the intake was excreted, the estimated amount of daily salt intake was 24.9 g.
Adult ; Blood Pressure ; Creatinine ; Electrolytes ; Humans ; Hypertension ; Mass Screening ; Potassium ; Rural Population ; Sodium ; Volunteers

During the period from May to October 1969, the authors carried out a series of tests with the aim to ascertain the present status of susceptibility of adult cockraoches to various insecticides. The tests on the susceptibility of cockroaches to dieldrin, D.D.V.P., Diazinon; Dibrom, Malathion and lindane were performed with the topical application and the residual film methods under the conditions of 26 degrees C and 80% of relative humidity. The insects tested were collected from Seoul City and were reared at the laboratory. Some of the important results so far obtained can be summarized as follows: The median lethal doses (LD(50)) of the five insecticides against female adult cockroaches were: 0.4 ug/roach or 4.02 ug/body weight (gm) by Dieldrin, 0.29/roach or 2.88 ug/body weight (gm) by D.D.V.P., 0.29 ug/roach or 2.96 ug/body weight (gm) by Diazinon, 0.54 ug/roach or 5.37 ug/body weight (gm) by Dibrom, and 2.96 ug/roach or 29.60 ug/body weight (gm) by Malathion. And those against male adult cockroaches were: 0.18 ug/roach or 3.29 ug/body weight (gm) by Dieldrin, 0.27 ug/roach or 4.89 ug/body weight (gm) by D.D.V.P., 0.16 ug/roach or 2.91 ug/body weight (gm) by Diazinon, 0.49 ug/roach or 8.97 ug/body weight (gm) by Dibrom, and 1.32 ug/roach or 24.19 ug/body weight (gm) by Malathion. The level of susceptibility of adult cockroaches to the insecticides tested was 1.0-1.6 times higher as compared with the results obtained on the Japanese Takashi strain. The median knockdown times (LT(50)) of the female adult cockroaches by insectcides at 1% concentration of 3 mg per square centimetre were 1.82 hours by Malathion, 1.36 hours by Diazinon, 0.56 hours by Lindane, 0.50 hours by Dibrom, and 2.56 hours by D.D.V.P. A marked difference was seen to exist between the males and the females. The female cockroaches were more resistant than the male to Dieldrin, Diazinon and Malathion.
parasitology-arthropoda-cockcroach-Blattella germanica ; chemotherapy ; Dieldrin ; D.D.V.P. ; Diazinon ; Dibrom ; Malathion ; lindane ; resistance