Background: The latent reservoir of Human Immunodificiency Virus-1 (HIV-1) has been a major barrier to the complete eradication of HIV-1 and the development of HIV therapy. Longterm non-progressors (LTNPs) are a rare group of patients with HIV-1 who can spontaneously control HIV-1 replication without antiretroviral therapy. Transcriptome analysis is necessary to predict the pathways involved in the natural control of HIV-1, elucidate the mechanisms involved in LTNPs, and find biomarkers for HIV-1 reservoir therapy. Materials and Methods: In this study, we obtained peripheral blood mononuclear cells from two LTNP subjects at multiple time points and performed RNA-sequencing analyses. Results: We found that LTNPs and normal subjects had different transcriptome profiles. Functional annotation analysis identified that differentially expressed genes in LTNPs were enriched in several biological pathways such as cell cycle-related pathways and the transforming growth factor-beta signaling pathway. However, genes that were downregulated in LTNPs were associated with immune responses such as the interferon response and IL2-STAT5 signaling. Protein-protein interaction network analysis showed that CD8A, KLRD1, ASGR1, and MLKL, whose gene expression was upregulated in LTNPs, directly interacted with HIV-1 proteins. The network analysis also found that viral proteins potentially regulated host genes that were associated with immune system processes, metabolic processes, and gene expression regulation. Conclusion Our longitudinal transcriptome analysis of the LTNPs identified multiple previously undescribed pathways and genes that may be useful in the discovery of novel therapeutic targets and biomarkers.

Background: The latent reservoir of Human Immunodificiency Virus-1 (HIV-1) has been a major barrier to the complete eradication of HIV-1 and the development of HIV therapy. Longterm non-progressors (LTNPs) are a rare group of patients with HIV-1 who can spontaneously control HIV-1 replication without antiretroviral therapy. Transcriptome analysis is necessary to predict the pathways involved in the natural control of HIV-1, elucidate the mechanisms involved in LTNPs, and find biomarkers for HIV-1 reservoir therapy. Materials and Methods: In this study, we obtained peripheral blood mononuclear cells from two LTNP subjects at multiple time points and performed RNA-sequencing analyses. Results: We found that LTNPs and normal subjects had different transcriptome profiles. Functional annotation analysis identified that differentially expressed genes in LTNPs were enriched in several biological pathways such as cell cycle-related pathways and the transforming growth factor-beta signaling pathway. However, genes that were downregulated in LTNPs were associated with immune responses such as the interferon response and IL2-STAT5 signaling. Protein-protein interaction network analysis showed that CD8A, KLRD1, ASGR1, and MLKL, whose gene expression was upregulated in LTNPs, directly interacted with HIV-1 proteins. The network analysis also found that viral proteins potentially regulated host genes that were associated with immune system processes, metabolic processes, and gene expression regulation. Conclusion Our longitudinal transcriptome analysis of the LTNPs identified multiple previously undescribed pathways and genes that may be useful in the discovery of novel therapeutic targets and biomarkers.

PURPOSE: Recurrent respiratory tract infection is a common manifestation of primary immunodeficiency disease, and respiratory viruses or bacteria are important triggers of asthma exacerbations. Asthma often coexists with humoral immunodeficiency in adults, and some asthmatics with immunoglobulin (Ig) G subclass deficiency (IgGSCD) suffer from recurrent exacerbations. Although some studies suggest a benefit from Ig replacement, others have failed to support its use. This study aimed to assess the effect of Ig replacement on asthma exacerbation caused by respiratory infection as well as the asthma control status of adult asthmatics with IgGSCD. METHODS: This is a multi-center, open-label study of adult asthmatics with IgGSCD. All patients received monthly intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) for 6 months and were evaluated regarding asthma exacerbation related to infection, asthma control status, quality of life, and lung function before and after IVIG infusion. RESULTS: A total of 30 patients were enrolled, and 24 completed the study. Most of the patients had a moderate degree of asthma severity with partly (52%) or uncontrolled (41%) status at baseline. IVIG significantly reduced the proportion of patients with asthma exacerbations, lowered the number of respiratory infections, and improved asthma control status, compared to the baseline values (P<0.001). The mean asthma-specific quality of life and asthma control test scores were improved significantly (P=0.009 and P=0.053, respectively); however, there were no significant changes in lung function. CONCLUSIONS: IVIG reduced the frequency of asthma exacerbations and improved asthma control status in adult asthmatics with IgGSCD, suggesting that IVIG could be an effective treatment option in this population.
Adult* ; Asthma* ; Bacteria ; Humans ; Immunoglobulin G* ; Immunoglobulins* ; Immunoglobulins, Intravenous ; Lung ; Quality of Life ; Respiratory Tract Infections

PURPOSE: Vitamin D deficiency (VDD) is widely spread and on the increase throughout the world. Although vitamin D is essential for skeletal mineralization, VDD or vitamin D insufficiency (VDI) has been associated with nonskeletal disorders including cardiovascular disease, cancer, allergic disease and skin disease. However, a few reports showed the association of vitamin D and drug reaction with eosinophilia and systemic symptoms (DRESS) syndrome. Thereafter, we evaluated the association between vitamin D and DRESS syndrome. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective study on 45 patients with DRESS syndrome. Four hundred and ninty-eight healthy people who visited the health screening center were enrolled in the study as a control group. We investigated the clinical characteristics, the causative drugs and treatments in the patients with DRESS syndrome, and also analyzed the associations with serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D3). RESULTS: Forty-four patients (97.8%) had low serum vitamin D levels; 21 patients were VDD (serum 25(OH)D3 <10 ng/mL), and 23 patients were VDI (serum 25(OH)D3 10 to 30 ng/mL). There were no significant differences in clinical parameters between two groups. Serum 25(OH)D3 level of the study patients was significantly lower that of the controls (12.3+/-9.6 ng/mL vs. 17.3+/-5.5 ng/mL, P<0.001). Serum 25(OH)D3 level showed a significant negative correlation with admission days (r=-0.377, P=0.011). CONCLUSION: The majority of the patients with DRESS syndrome showed low vitamin D levels. Serum 25(OH)D3 was inversely correlated with admission days.
Cardiovascular Diseases ; Drug Hypersensitivity ; Eosinophilia ; Humans ; Mass Screening ; Retrospective Studies ; Skin Diseases ; Vitamin D ; Vitamin D Deficiency ; Vitamins

PURPOSE: The objective of this study was to evaluate skills in handling inhalers and factors associated with these skills among patients with asthma who had undergone treatment at special asthma and allergy clinics in Korea. METHODS: We enrolled 78 subjects who used Turbuhaler and 145 who used Diskus for asthma control at special clinics in 10 university hospitals and visually assessed their skills in handling these inhalers. We also evaluated skills in 137 subjects who had used pressurized metered-dose inhalers (pMDIs) for symptom relief. Age, sex, duration of asthma and inhaler use, smoking status, monthly income, highest grade completed in school and previous instruction for handling inhalers were also measured to evaluate their association with overall inhaler skills. RESULTS: Performance grade was inadequate for 12.8% of participants using Turbuhaler, 6.2% for Diskus, and 23.4% for pMDIs. The success rates for each step in handling the inhalers were relatively high except for the "exhale slowly to residual volume" step, in which success rates ranged from 24.2% to 28.5%. Older age, male sex, lower educational grade, and absence of previous instruction for handling inhalers were associated with inadequate inhaler technique in univariate analysis; however, only older age and absence of previous instruction remained significant independent risk factors in multivariate analysis. CONCLUSIONS: Among Korean asthmatic patients in special asthma and allergy clinics, skills in handling their inhalers were mostly excellent; meanwhile, older age and absence of previous instruction for handling inhalers were associated with inadequate techniques.
Asthma ; Handling (Psychology) ; Hospitals, University ; Humans ; Hypersensitivity ; Male ; Nebulizers and Vaporizers ; Risk Factors ; Smoke ; Smoking

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Tetranychus urticae(TU) is a widely distributed parasitic mite found on fruit trees and green house flowers. A recent investigation demonstrated that TU inhalation causes allergic asthma even in non-farmers. We tried to evaluate skin reactivity and specific IgE sensitization to TU, identify IgE binding components, and evaluate allergenic rela- tionship with house dust mite(HDM). MATERIALS AND METHODS: We carried out skin prick test with TU in 1806 respiratory allergy patients over 1 year living in urban and rural areas. ELISA was performed for detection of specific IgE antibody. To evaluate the cross allergenicity between TU and HDM, ELISA inhibition test was carried out with two kinds of pooled sera ; serum pool A included patients' sera sensitized to both TU and HDM, and serum pool B included sera sensitized only to TU. To identify IgE binding components, SDS-PAGE followed by IgE-immunoblot were applied. RESULTS: 358 patients(19.8%) showed positive response(A/H > or = 2+) on skin prick test. Twelve patients showed isolated positive response to TU. Specific IgE was detected in sixty patients(54.5%) out of 110 sensitized patients. ELISA inhibition test using two sera pools (A and B) showed significant inhibitions by TU with minimal inhibitions by HDM. SDS-PAGE and IgE-immunoblot with patients' individual sera sensitized to both TU and HDM showed 10 IgE binding components (67kD, 29kD, 27kD, 10kD, 14kD, 39kD, 46kD, 35kD, 72kD, 77kD) and two(67kD and 29kD) were bound to IgE in more than 50% of sera tested. In patients' sera sensitized only to TU, nine IgE binding components(67kD, 10kD, 14kD, 29kD, 39kD, 46kD, 72kD, 77kD, 9kD) were found and two(67kD and 10kD) were bound to IgE in more than 50%. CONCLUSION: Of allergy patients visiting the Allergy Clinic, 19.8% were sensitized to TU and specific IgE was detected in 54.5% of them. No cross allergenicity was noted between TU and HDM. Eleven IgE binding components and three (67kD, 10kD and 29kD) major allergens were identified.
Allergens ; Asthma ; Dust ; Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Flowers ; Fruit ; Humans ; Hypersensitivity ; Immunoglobulin E* ; Inhalation ; Mites ; Pyroglyphidae ; Skin* ; Trees

BACKGROUND: Trichophyton is one of the most common genera of dermatophytes. It has been reported that Trichophyton spp. might be one of the causative allergens in patients with asthma, rhinitis, urticaria and angioedema. OBJECTIVES: To analyze the sensitization rate of Trichophyton, to determine serum specific IgE antibody, and to confirm Trichophyton as a causative antigen in patients with allergic diseases. METHODS: A total of 1,806 patients were enrolled in this study. Skin prick test was performed with 50 common inhalant allergens and 20 food allergens. Serum specific IgE antibodies were determined by ELISA using Trichophyton mentagrophytes antigen in 60 patients among positive skin responders to Trichophyton antigens and in 20 controls. For evaluation of cross-reactivity between Trichophyton and other fungal species, competitive ELISA inhibition test was performed. SDS-PAGE and IgE-immunoblot analysis using T. mentagrophytes antigen were applied in 7 patients with high specific IgE titers. RESULTS: 102 patients (5.7%) showed positive response to T. mentagrophytes on skin prick test, and six patients showed isolated positive responses. Serum specific IgE increased according to skin reactivity (p<0.05). SDS-PAGE and IgE-immunoblot showed 10 IgE-binding components (11, 17, 27, 32, 35, 38, 42, 48, 49, 51 kDa) within Trichophyton extracts. Trichophyton-ELISA inhibition test showed dose-dependent inhibitions with additions of Trichophyton antigens, while minimal inhibitions were noted with additions of Fusarium, Alternaria, Aspergillus and Clados- porium. CONCLUSIONS: Trichophyton could induce IgE sensitization in allergy patients. The sensitization rate on skin prick test was 5.7%. Trichophyton antigen should be included in skin prick test battery to screen causative agents for allergy patients.
Allergens* ; Alternaria ; Angioedema ; Antibodies ; Arthrodermataceae ; Aspergillus ; Asthma ; Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Fusarium ; Humans ; Hypersensitivity ; Immunoblotting* ; Immunoglobulin E ; Rhinitis ; Skin ; Trichophyton* ; Urticaria

No abstract available.
Autopsy* ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay*

No abstract available.
Enterovirus* ; Humans ; Meningitis, Aseptic*

No abstract available.
Antiretroviral Therapy, Highly Active* ; Humans ; RNA-Directed DNA Polymerase*