Diesel Exhaust Particles Impair Therapeutic Effect of Human Wharton’s Jelly-Derived Mesenchymal Stem Cells against Experimental Colitis through ROS/ERK/cFos Signaling Pathway

Background and Objectives@#Epidemiological investigations have shown positive correlations between increased diesel exhaust particles (DEP) in ambient air and adverse health outcomes. DEP are the major constituent of particulate atmospheric pollution and have been shown to induce proinflammatory responses both in the lung and systemically. Here, we report the effects of DEP exposure on the properties of human Wharton’s jelly-derived mesenchymal stem cells (WJ-MSCs), including stemness, regeneration, and immunomodulation. @*Methods@#and Results: Non-apoptotic concentrations of DEP (10 μg/ml) inhibited the migration and osteogenic differentiation capacity of WJ-MSCs. Gene expression profiling showed that DEP increased intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) and expression of pro-inflammatory and metabolic-process-related genes including cFos. Furthermore, WJ-MSCs cultured with DEP showed impaired suppression of T cell proliferation that was reversed by inhibition of ROS or knockdown of cFos. ERK inhibition assay revealed that DEP-induced ROS regulated cFos through activation of ERK but not NF-κB signaling. Overall, low concentrations of DEP (10 μg/ml) significantly suppressed the stemness and immunomodulatory properties of WJ-MSCs through ROS/ERK/cFos signaling pathways. Furthermore, WJ-MSCs cultured with DEP impaired the therapeutic effect of WJ-MSCs in experimental colitis mice, but was partly reversed by inhibition of ROS. @*Conclusions@#Taken together, these results indicate that exposure to DEP enhances the expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines and immune responses through a mechanism involving the ROS/ERK/cFos pathway in WJ-MSCs, and that DEP-induced ROS damage impairs the therapeutic effect of WJ-MSCs in colitis. Our results suggest that modulation of ROS/ERK/cFos signaling pathways in WJ-MSCs might be a novel therapeutic strategy for DEP-induced diseases.

Staged Revision of Infected-hip Arthroplasty Using an Antibiotics-loaded Intra-articular Cement Spacer: Impact on Cemented and Cementless Stem Retention / 대한고관절학회지

PURPOSE: Currently, standard management of a peri-prosthetic infection is a two-stage revision precedure. However, removal of well-fixed cement is technically demanding and associated with numerous potential complications. For theses reasons, two-stage revision with preservation of the original femoral stem can be considered and several previous studies have achieved successful results. While most prior studies used cemented stems, the use of cementless stems during arthroplasty has been gradually increasing; this study aims to assess the comparative effectiveness of a two-stage revision of infected hip arthroplasties at preserving cemented and cementless stems.MATERIALS AND METHODS: Between December 2001 and February 2017, Inje University Sanggye Paik Hospital treated 45 cases of deep infections following hip arthroplasty with a two stage revisional arthroplasty using antibiotics-loaded cement spacers. This approach was applied in an effort to preserve the previously implanted femoral stem. Of these 45 cases, 20 were followed-up for at least two years and included in this analysis. Perioperative clinical symptoms, radiological findings, function and complications during insertion of an antibiotics-loaded cement spacer were analyzed in this study.RESULTS: Peri-prothetic infections were controlled in 19 of the 20 included cases. Clinical outcomes, as assessed using the Harris hip score, Western Ontario and McMaster University score, also improved. Importantly, similarly improved outcomes were achieved for both cemented and cementless femoral stems.CONCLUSION: In cases of deep infection following hip arthroplasty, two-stage revision arthroplasty to preserve the previously implanted femoral stem (cemented or cementless) effectively controls infections and preserves joint function.

Clinical and Radiological Outcomes of Modified Phemister Operation with Coracoclavicular Ligament Augmentation Using Suture Anchor for Acute Acromioclavicular Joint Dislocation

BACKGROUND: Modified Phemister operation has been widely used for the treatment of acute acromioclavicular (AC) joint dislocation. Additionally, the use of suture anchor for coracoclavicular (CC) fixation has been reported to provide CC stability. This study was conducted to evaluate the clinical and radiological results of a modified Phemister operation with CC ligament augmentation using suture anchor for acute AC joint dislocation. METHODS: Seventy-four patients underwent the modified Phemister operation with CC ligament augmentation using suture anchor for acute AC joint dislocation and were followed-up for an average of 12.3 months. The visual analogue scale (VAS), range of motion, Constant score, and Korean shoulder scoring system (KSS) were used for clinical assessment. Acromioclavicular interval (ACI), coracoclavicular distance (CCD), and acromioclavicular distance (ACD) were obtained to evaluate the radiological assessments. RESULTS: At the last follow-up, the mean VAS Score was 1.7 points, the mean joint range of the forward flexion was 164.6°, external rotation at the side was 61.2°, and internal rotation to the posterior was a level of T12. The mean Constant score and the mean KSS was 82.7 points and 84.2 points, respectively. At the mean ACI, CCD, and ACD, significant differences were found preoperatively and at the last follow-up. When the ACI, CCD, and ACD were compared with the contralateral unaffected shoulder at the last follow-up, the affected shoulders had significantly higher values. CONCLUSIONS: The modified Phemister operation with CC ligament augmentation using suture anchor is clinically and radiologically effective at acute AC joint dislocation.

Clinical and Radiological Outcomes of Modified Phemister Operation with Coracoclavicular Ligament Augmentation Using Suture Anchor for Acute Acromioclavicular Joint Dislocation

BACKGROUND@#Modified Phemister operation has been widely used for the treatment of acute acromioclavicular (AC) joint dislocation. Additionally, the use of suture anchor for coracoclavicular (CC) fixation has been reported to provide CC stability. This study was conducted to evaluate the clinical and radiological results of a modified Phemister operation with CC ligament augmentation using suture anchor for acute AC joint dislocation.@*METHODS@#Seventy-four patients underwent the modified Phemister operation with CC ligament augmentation using suture anchor for acute AC joint dislocation and were followed-up for an average of 12.3 months. The visual analogue scale (VAS), range of motion, Constant score, and Korean shoulder scoring system (KSS) were used for clinical assessment. Acromioclavicular interval (ACI), coracoclavicular distance (CCD), and acromioclavicular distance (ACD) were obtained to evaluate the radiological assessments.@*RESULTS@#At the last follow-up, the mean VAS Score was 1.7 points, the mean joint range of the forward flexion was 164.6°, external rotation at the side was 61.2°, and internal rotation to the posterior was a level of T12. The mean Constant score and the mean KSS was 82.7 points and 84.2 points, respectively. At the mean ACI, CCD, and ACD, significant differences were found preoperatively and at the last follow-up. When the ACI, CCD, and ACD were compared with the contralateral unaffected shoulder at the last follow-up, the affected shoulders had significantly higher values.@*CONCLUSIONS@#The modified Phemister operation with CC ligament augmentation using suture anchor is clinically and radiologically effective at acute AC joint dislocation.

Degree of Compliance with Polypharmacy and Its Influential Factors in Rural Elderly Patients with Chronic Diseases in South Korea

BACKGROUND: This study was to verify the necessity of a control program developed to improve compliance, by conducting a research on the status of medication compliance in the elderly with chronic diseases in rural area and analyzing the related variables. METHODS: The organized questionnaire and pill-count were used to collect information on personal details, physical status, drugs taken in the elderly over 65 years old suffering from more than two chronic diseases in one rural area. RESULTS: The mean age of the subjects was 73.13+/-6.36 (65~93), and the number of the subjects in compliance group was 60 (77.9%) and the accuracy of self-report which was identified by pill-count was 0.86. Polypharmacy and visiting several clinics were the main factors that decided a low- degree of compliance, with OR of 5.92 (95% CI 1.11~31.44, P=0.037), and 4.25 (95% CI 1.03~17.53, P=0.045), respectively. CONCLUSION: Systematic efforts are necessary and plans must be established without delay to increase compliance in the elderly in the rural, expansively to manage chronic diseases in stay-at-home elders.

Minimal Stitch Canalicular Repair of Canalicular Lacerations

PURPOSE: To examine the results of minimal stitch on the restoration of tissue after canalicular laceration. METHODS: We have operated using sutures of tissues around canalicular laceration by inserting bicanalicular silicone stents and minimal horizontal mattress sutures with 8-0 Vicryl in cases of canalicular laceration instead of the existing method for the past 6 years. The ages of patients ranged from 2 to 76 years (average age 39.8+/-17.4 years), with most patients in their thirties (12 patients, 40%), 30 cases underwent canalicular repair with minimal stitch and bicanalicular silicone stent insertion within 24 hours after trauma. The silicone stent was removed 3 months after the operation if the patient did not complain of epiphroa while the canalicular remained open. RESULTS: Twenty-five eyes (83.3%) showed symptom improvement and good passage in lacrimal syringing test in 4~12 months (average: 6.8+/-2.2 months) of follow-up study. Complications included one case each of fistula formation, stent prolapse, and wound infection, and two cases of canalicular stenosis. CONCLUSIONS: We recommend this method because of its satisfying success ratio.

Two Cases of Deepening of the Upper Lid Sulcus from Topical Bimatoprost Therapy

PURPOSE: To report two cases of deepening of the upper lid sulcus following bimatoprost. METHODS: A 54-year-old woman who used bimatoprost for one week and a 70-year-old woman who used bimatoprost for 4 months developed deep lid sulcus. Both were using bimatoprost for glaucoma treatment. RESULTS: Both patients also showed improvement of dermatochalasis and widening of the palpebral fissure. One week after discontinuing bimatoprost, the lid sulcus of the 54-year-old returned to baseline and exophthalmometry was unchanged. The orbital CT of the 70-year-old was normal. She did not complain about deepening of the lid sulcus, and she has not discontinued treatment due to this adverse effect.

Extracellular ATP is generated by ATP synthase complex in adipocyte lipid rafts

Mitochondrial biogenesis is known to accompany adipogenesis to complement ATP and acetyl-CoA required for lipogenesis. Here, we demonstrated that mitochondrial proteins such as ATP synthase alpha and beta, and cytochrome c were highly expressed during the 3T3-L1 differentiation into adipocytes. Fully-differentiated adipocytes showed a significant increase of mitochondria under electron microscopy. Analysis by immunofluorescence, cellular fractionation, and surface biotinylation demonstrated the elevated levels of ATP synthase complex found not only in the mitochondria but also on the cell surface (particularly lipid rafts) of adipocytes. High rate of ATP (more than 30 micrometer) synthesis from the added ADP and Pi in the adipocyte media suggests the involvement of the surface ATP synthase complex for the exracellular ATP synthesis. In addition, this ATP synthesis was significantly inhibited in the presence of oligomycin, an ATP synthase inhibitor, and carbonyl cyanide m-chlorophenylhydrazone (CCCP), an ATP synthase uncoupler. Decrease of extracellular ATP synthesis in acidic but not in basic media further indicates that the surface ATP synthase may also be regulated by proton gradient through the plasma membrane.

Immunological mechanism of Aging: T & B cell changes

No abstract available.

T and B Cell Changes with Aging / 대한임상병리학회지

BACKGROUND: Lymphocyte subset analysis in peripheral blood is widely performed to assess the immune status and to diagnose and monitor various diseases. Some lymphocyte subsets are known to change with age, but only a little data about age-related changes for these subsets in healthy individuals have been reported. So we attempted to review changes for these subsets with age. METHODS: Lymphocyte subset analysis was performed on 302 subjects, 189 males and 113 females with age group in all decades of life. Two color direct immunofluorescence flow cytometry (FCM) was done using a SimultestTM IMK-Lymphocyte kit (Becton Dickinson, USA), FACScanTM (Becton Dickinson, USA) and FACSCaliburTM (Becton Dickinson, USA). Lymphocyte subsets analysed were T (CD3+) and B cells (CD19+), helper/inducer T (CD4+) and suppressor/cytotoxic T cells (CD8+), and helper/suppressor (CD4+/CD8+) ratio and natural killer (NK) cells (CD3-CD16+/CD56+). The absolute numbers of each subset were calculated from the total lymphocyte counts. The data collected was analysed using SAS 6.12. A P-value of < 0.05 was considered significant. RESULTS: There were no statistically significant differences between male and female subjects. The percentage of CD4+ T cells, and the count of NK cells did not show any significant differences among the various age groups. The age-related changes observed in our study were as follows: 1) A decrease in the percentage of B cells; 2) A decrease in the counts of lymphocytes, T cells, B cells, CD4+ T cells and CD8+ T cells; 3) An increase in the percentage of NK cells; and 4) An increase in the CD4+/CD8+ ratio. CONCLUSIONS: A characteristic of the aging process shows a marked decrease in T and B cells. The age-related increase in the percentage of cells bearing NK markers can be interpreted as a compensatory consequence to cope with the deterioration of the immune system with age.

General View of Aging Mechanism with the Immunologic Approach / 대한임상병리학회지

No abstract available.

ider (9) (q10)t (9;22) (q34;q11.2) as Secondary Karyotypic Aberration of Chronic Myelogeous Leukemia / 대한임상병리학회지

Although occasional patients with chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) have chromosomal changes other than Philadelphia chromosome early in the disease, in typical cases the 9;22 translocation remains the sole abnormality throughout the disease course in chronic phase. When disease progression occurs, however, 75-80% develop additional chromosome aberrations. These secondary changes sometimes precede the more aggressive manifestations hematologically and clinically and thus may serve as valuable prognostic indicators. ider (9) (q10)t (9;22) (q34;q11.2) is very rare and a recurrent chromosomal abnormality associated with acute lymphoblastic leukemias (ALL) and lymphoblastic crisis of CML. And ider (9) (q10)t (9;22) (q34;q11.2) is a lymphoid-specific rearrangement and the patients with this abnormality are of older age on average. They commonly show pre-B cell lineage immunophenotype and L2 morphology. We report a case of ider (9) (q10)t (9;22) (q34;q11.2) as secondary aberration in a patient with lymphoblastic crisis of CML.

Unification of Oriental and Western medicine with study on Oriental and Western medicine / 의사학

In Korea the system of medical management has been bifurcated into two parts since the restoration of nation from Japanese after World War II. One is 'Western Medicine' and the other is 'Oriental Medicine' like Chinese but not like Japanese. The authors attempted to study on the unification of both medicines to prevent the confusion of medicare for people. The major part of medical care is accomplished by Western medicine among people in Korea and China. However, Oriental medicine is still present as well as college of Oriental medicine in small number. There have been long struggles between two parts of medicine because of each assertions for the theories. The ancient medicine has been likely to have its characteristics either in Western or Oriental medicine although in many countries were succeeded by Western medicine except a few Asian countries such as Korea and China. In Japan since the license of Oriental(herb) medicine was ceased about one hundred years ago, the Western medicine has been authorized by law until today and the herb is the secondary medicine as a kind of folk treatment as well as continuous and enormous study for scientification. In only China and Korea this herb medicine has been kept to use as a part of medicine by law though China has developed combined medicine to use both Western and Oriental medicine by one physician since previous prime minister Chou En-Lai around the year 1950 who made a recommendation to the two medical societies, Western and Oriental. This fact has a big sense to establish the unification of two medicines in near future in Korea as well as China. For this accomplishment of medical unification both parts of medicine require sincere and enormous efforts to study the theory and practice of herb medicine even from now on. This unification of two medicines will provide the best medicare in most convenient way to the people in the world creating new world medicine like the third medicine including alternative medicine. The acupuncture is changing to a new method in Western medicine especially applying into anesthesia and pain clinic in even USA and Western countries at this time. In conclusion the unification of the Western and Oriental medicine will provide the most reasonable and practical medicare including alternative medicine to people in the world. Because the Oriental medicine will be used at least separately to supplement the Western medicine by one physician

Expression Patterns of Immunologic Surface Markers in Acute Leukemia / 대한혈액학회지

BACKGROUND: Immunophenotyping is an important technique for the diagnosis and classification of acute leukemia, as well as French-American-British (FAB) classification on the basis of morphologic characteristics and cytochemistry. We evaluated the expression patterns of immunologic surface markers in acute leukemia. METHODS: Peripheral or bone marrow leukemic cells from 75 leukemic patients (acute lymphoblastic leukemia, ALL 40 cases; children (26 cases), adults (14 cases) and acute myeloid leukemia, AML 35 cases; children (9 cases), adults (26 cases)) were studied. Monoclonal antibodies which were designed for two color direct immunofluorescence (IF) analysis with combination of fluoresceinisothiocynate (FITC) and phycoerythrin (PE) conjugated, CD10/CD19, CD20/CD5, CD3/CD22, CD7/CD33, HLA-DR/CD13 (Acute Leukemia Phenotyping Kit, Becton Dickinson; BD, USA) were analyzed by flow cytometry. RESULTS: Blasts from these patients could be classified as CALLA (+)B-ALL (26 cases, 65.0%), CALLA (-)B-ALL (6 cases, 15.0%), T-ALL (6 cases, 15.0%), biphenotypic ALL (2 cases, 5.0%). The positive expression rates were CD19 (100%), CD10 (78.1%), CD22 (75.0%) and CD20 (50.0%) in B-ALL, CD7 (100%), CD3 (50.0%) and CD5 (50.0%) in T-ALL and CD33 (85.7%), CD13 (74.3%) in AML, respectively. The incidence of acute mixed lineage leukemia (AMLL) was 26.7% and leukocytosis, anemia and thrombocytopenia were frequently seen in AMLL. CONCLUSION: By the study of immunophenotyping we could more exactly diagnosed ALL and AML, as well as AMLL which was not exactly diagnosed by characteristics of morphology and cytochemistry only. Therefore the best method for the diagnosis of acute leukemia will be achieved by using of immunophenotyping and FAB classification on the basis of morphology and cytochemistry.

Genotype Frequencies of Platelet Glycoprotein IIIa-Specific Antigens and Granulocyte Antigens In Korean Pregnant Women* / 대한수혈학회지

BACKROUND: Polymorphism of glycoprotein IIIa on human platelets is one of the factors in alloimmunization that causes neonatal alloimmune thrombocytopenia (NATP), and the granulocyte antigens NA1 and NA2 are often targets of granulocytes antibodies causing neonatal alloimmune neutropenia (NANP). Currently, serotyping relies on the properties of the typing sera or antibodies and technique used. Genotyping circumvents the problems associated with serotyping. METHODS: The genomic DNA of 200 unrelated pregnant women admitted to Taegu Fatima Hospital was typed for three platelet glycoprotein IIIa-specific antigens (HPA-1, HPA-4, and HPA-6w) and granulocyte antigens (NA1 and NA2). Allele specific amplification test using primer designed to study HPA-1 and HPA-4, restriction fragment length polymorphism to study HPA-6w, and sequence specific primers for NA1 and NA2 were used for genotyping. RESULTS: The genotype frequencies were HPA-1(a+b-) 100%, HPA-4 (a+b-) 97.5%, HPA-4(a+b+) 2.5%, HPA-6w(a+b-) 97%, and HPA-6w(a+b+) 3%. These frequencies are similar to Japanese but different from Caucasian. The gene frequencies of NA1 and NA2 were 0.56 and 0.44 respectively. There are no cases of alloimmune thrombocytopenia and neutropenia in newborns from the 200 studied women. CONCLUSIONS: The differences in genotype frequencies among platelet glycoprotein IIIa-specific antigens and in the gene frequencies of NA in Koreans are shown as compared with other ethnic groups. Therefore it is needed to find the proper screening target antigens and antibodies for Korean NATP and NANP patients.

CYFRA 21-1, The New Marker for Lung Cancer / 대한임상병리학회지

BACKGROUND: Cytokeratins were subdivided into 20 different cytokeratins. It is known that cytokeratin 19 is particularly abundant in carcinoma of the lung. METHOD: A sandwich enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay called CYFRA 21-1, combining two monoclonal antibodies directed specifically aganist cytokeratin 19 was done by ES-300(Boehringer Mannheim, Germany). We investigated the diagnostic value of the new tumor marker CYFRA 21-1 in lung cancer in comparison to carcinoembryonic antigen(CEA) and neuron specific enolase(NSE) in the pilot study on 39 serum samples from lung cancer (17 squamous cell cancer, 11 adenocarcinoma, 11 small cell carcinoma) and 51 benign lung diseases and 41 normal healthy persons. RESULTS: Postulating a specificity 95% versus benign lung disease and healthy group, the diagnostic sensitivity of CYFRA 21-1 in lung cnacer independent of histologic type was 43.6% whereas CEA was 48.7% and NSE was 30.8%. The diagnostic sensitivity is increased to 69.2% by combining CYFRA 21-1 with CEA. Classifying the lung carcinomas following their histologic type, squamous cell carcinomas proved to possess the highest CYFRA 21-1 sensitivity(CYFRA 21-1 47.1%, CEA 23.5%, NSE 11.8%) and the combination with CEA 52.9% could not markedly increase the number of true-positive test results. In adenocarcinoma, CEA possessed the highest sensitivity (81.8%) whereas CYFRA 21-1 was 45.5% and NSE was 9.1%. In small cell carcinoma of lung, NSE possessed the highest sensitivity(81.8%) whereas CYFRA 21-1 was 36.4% and CEA was 54.5%. CONCLUSION: This study indicates that CYFRA 21-1 has a potential as a new marker for squamous cell lung cancer. If histologic type is unknown at the time of primary diagnosis. the combined determination of CYFRA 21-1 and CEA showed the best discrimination between benign and malignant lung disease.

Cloning of Novel Ubiquitin Conjugating Enzyme Gene(UBC-dp) / 대한임상병리학회지

BACKGROUND: A major pathway for protein degradation in eukaryocytes is ubiquitin-dependent. A novel species of plant and mammalian E2 homologous to yeast UBC4/UBC5 is involved in polyubiquitination and degradation of off and many other proteins as well. METHODS: By sequencing the Expressed Sequence Taqs(ESTs) of human dermal papilla cDNA library, we isolated a clone, named K183 which showed high homology to the yeast UBC4/UBC5. We designated this gene as UBC-dp. RESULTS: K183 clone is 1,222 nucleotides long, and has a coding region of 622 nucleotides and a 3' noncoding region of 538 nucleotides. The presumed open reading frame starting at the 5' terminus of UBC-dp encodes 207 amino acids. The amino acid sequence deduced from the open reading frame of UBC-dp shares 81%, 80% and 80% identities with that of HSUBCH5. yeast UBC4 and yeast UBC5, respectively. The transcripts were ubiquitously expressed in a variety of human tissues. The levels of transcript were relatively high in those tissues such as skeletal muscle, heart, testis and ovary. CONCLUSIONS: Homology search result suggests that K183 clone is human homolog of the UBC4 and UBC5 which are involved in p53 degradation so its function related with p53 should be studied.

Comparison Study of Reticulocyte Enumeration by H*3 RTX(TM), FACScan(TM), and Manual Counting / 대한임상병리학회지

BACKGROUND: Reticulocyte counts provide clinically useful informations and the most widely used method for counting reticulocytes is a manual microscopic procedure. Although manual method is inexpensive and relatively simple to perform, it is labor intensive and imprecise. So, more rapid and more reproducible methods are needed. METHODS: Reticulocyte counts on 96 blood samples were performed by conventional manual method, H*3 RTX(TM)(Bayer, U.S.A.), and FACScan(TM)(Beckon Dickinson, U.S.A.). The changes of reticulocyte count after storage of samples and certain time intervals after preparation were also examined. RESULTS: Reticulocyte counts(%) by manual method, H*3 RTX(TM), and FACScanM were 2.05+/-2.16, 1.95+/-2.24 and 2.51+/-1.94, respectively. There was no statistically significant differences between manual counting and H*3 RTX(TM)(P>0.05). However, there were significant differences between H*3 RTX(TM) and FACScan(TM), manual counting and FACScan(TM)(P<0.05). Correlation coefficients of three comparisons were all above 0.920. Statistically not confirmed the reticulocytosis sample showed decreasing tendency of reticuocyte count by H*3 RTX(TM) after storage of the sample and prepared sample and others were relatively stable in H*3 RTX(TM)and FACScan(TM). CONCLUSIONS: The result of the mean difference between H*3 RTX(TM) and manual counting is statistically insignificant. So, the H*3 RTX(TM)can be used interchangeably with manual counting atter consideration of cost-effectiveness.