GRO-alpha, IL-8 and ENA-78: Expressed by Stimulated Endothelial Cells and Increased PMN Adhesion / 결핵

BACKGROUND: Inflammation, where vascular endothelial cells are activated by cytokines, recruits circulating leukocytes such as neutrophils into the tissues. Mononuclear phagocytes as well as tissue cells activated by these stimuli produce these chemokines. In this study, the effects of IL-1 and LPS on the expression of CXC chemokines such as GRO-alpha, IL-8 and ENA-78 in vascular endothelial cells and the neutrophil adnesion effects of ENA-78 and GRO-alpha was investigated. METHODS: Human umbilical vein endothelial cells were cultured and stimulated with various concentrations of IL-1 and LPS. The concentrations of the GRO-alpha, IL-8 and ENA-78 secreted were measured using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The effects of ENA-78 and GRO-alpha on neutrophil adhesion to the endothelial cells were also investigated. RESULTS: The addition of IL-1 and LPS to the vascular endothelial cells induced GRO-alpha, IL-8 and ENA-78 secretion in a time- and dose-dependent manner. The neutrophil adhesion was also increased by induction of ENA-78 and GRO-alpha to the vascular endothelial cells in a dose-dependent manner. CONCLUSION: CXC chemokines such as GRO-alpha, IL-8 and ENA-78 secreted by the vascular endothelial cells play an important role in the acute inflammatory responses by stimulating neutrophil adhesion to the vascular endothelial cells, raising the possibility that the CXC chemokines are one of the targets in the clinical application of acute inflammation.

Evaluating the Usefulness of the ICT Tuberculosis Test Kit for the Diagnosis of Tuberculosis / 결핵

BACKGROUND: Early diagnosis of tuberculosis is critical, especially in Korea, an area where tuberculosis is endemic. Because antibody responses to some membrane proteins of Mycobacterium tuberculosis are not comparable, and the policy of BCG vaccination and the prevalence of tuberculosis are different from country to country, the usefulness of the serological diagnostic tests is questionable in Korea, even though they have been confirmed to be useful in other countries. In the specific context of Korea, we tried to evaluate the validity of the ICT Tuberculosis Test (ICT), a membrane-based antibody kit that purports to detect the 5 M. tuberculosis complex-specific antigens including 38-kDa protein. METHOD: 68 patients with tuberculosis were tested: 37 had no history of previous tuberculosis, and 31 were reactivated cases. The control group comprised 77 subjects: 25 healthy adults, 35 hospital workers with frequent contact with tuberculosis patients, and 17 in-patients with non-tuberculous respiratory diseases. RESULTS: The diagnostic sensitivities of the ICT were 87% and 73% in patients with versus without previous history of tuberculosis, respectively. The sensitivities of smear-positive and smear-negative patient groups were 81% and 73%, respectively. Both of the two patients with extrapulmonary tuberculosis tested positive through the ICT. The specificities of the ICT were 88%, 94%, and 94% in healthy adults, hospital workers, and non-tuberculous patients, respectively, with an overall specificity of 92%. Conclusion: It is suggested that when combined with traditional techniques, the ICT is an useful tool for the diagnosis of pulmonary tuberculosis. The procedure is simple, easy to perform, rapid, and needs no equipment. It shows 73% sensitivity and 92% specificity for the diagnosis of tuberculosis.

Evaluating the Usefulness of the ICT Tuberculosis Test Kit for the Diagnosis of Tuberculosis / 결핵

BACKGROUND: Early diagnosis of tuberculosis is critical, especially in Korea, an area where tuberculosis is endemic. Because antibody responses to some membrane proteins of Mycobacterium tuberculosis are not comparable, and the policy of BCG vaccination and the prevalence of tuberculosis are different from country to country, the usefulness of the serological diagnostic tests is questionable in Korea, even though they have been confirmed to be useful in other countries. In the specific context of Korea, we tried to evaluate the validity of the ICT Tuberculosis Test (ICT), a membrane-based antibody kit that purports to detect the 5 M. tuberculosis complex-specific antigens including 38-kDa protein. METHOD: 68 patients with tuberculosis were tested: 37 had no history of previous tuberculosis, and 31 were reactivated cases. The control group comprised 77 subjects: 25 healthy adults, 35 hospital workers with frequent contact with tuberculosis patients, and 17 in-patients with non-tuberculous respiratory diseases. RESULTS: The diagnostic sensitivities of the ICT were 87% and 73% in patients with versus without previous history of tuberculosis, respectively. The sensitivities of smear-positive and smear-negative patient groups were 81% and 73%, respectively. Both of the two patients with extrapulmonary tuberculosis tested positive through the ICT. The specificities of the ICT were 88%, 94%, and 94% in healthy adults, hospital workers, and non-tuberculous patients, respectively, with an overall specificity of 92%. Conclusion: It is suggested that when combined with traditional techniques, the ICT is an useful tool for the diagnosis of pulmonary tuberculosis. The procedure is simple, easy to perform, rapid, and needs no equipment. It shows 73% sensitivity and 92% specificity for the diagnosis of tuberculosis.

A Case of Forestier's Disease with Dyspnea / 결핵

Forestier's disease, also known as diffuse idiopathic skeletal hyperstosis(DISH), is a peculiar type of senile ankylosing hyperostosis of the spine characterized by flowing ossification of the anterior and right lateral aspect of the vertebral column, particularly in the thoracic region Although these patients are typically asymptomatic, there is documentation of a number of extraspinal manifestations including dysphagia, respiratory distress, dysphonia and cervial myelopathy. We report a case of Forestier's disease presenting with dyspnea in a 57-year old man, who have chronic cervical pain and bronchiectasis. Forestier's disease was diagnosed by cervical spine X-ray, neck CT. The patient was treated with oral steroid and then improved.

Three Cases of Gastric Carcinoma Spread to the Duodenum / 대한소화기내시경학회지

It has been thought for many years that gastric adenocarcinoma almost never crosses the pylorus. Although this theory was generally accepted, several studies have refuted it. We report three cases of gastric adenocarcinoma direct spreading into the duodenum that was diagnosed by endoscopic duodenal biopsy and review the literature.

Anomalous Drainage of the Common Bile Duct and Pancreatic Duct into the Duodenal Bulb / 대한소화기내시경학회지

While anomalies of the pancreaticobiliary system are not uncommon, drainage of the common bile duct into the bulb of the duodenum has rarely been reported. The awareness of ectopic drainage of the CBD is stressed to prevent surgical damage and improve medical management in this area. We reported one case of anomalous drainage of the CBD and pancreatic duct associated with nonvisible gallbladder or agenesis of gallbladder and cystic duct diagnosed by ERCP, ultrasonography and upper abdominal CT.

Anomalous Drainage of the Common Bile Duct and Pancreatic Duct into the Duodenal Bulb / 대한소화기내시경학회지

While anomalies of the pancreaticobiliary system are not uncommon, drainage of the common bile duct into the bulb of the duodenum has rarely been reported. The awareness of ectopic drainage of the CBD is stressed to prevent surgical damage and improve medical management in this area. We reported one case of anomalous drainage of the CBD and pancreatic duct associated with nonvisible gallbladder or agenesis of gallbladder and cystic duct diagnosed by ERCP, ultrasonography and upper abdominal CT.