ABSTRACT
PURPOSE: Interleukin (IL) -13 plays a pivotal role in the induction of immunoglobulin E (IgE) and in the pathogenesis of atopic dermatitis (AD). Recently, an association was reported between the polymorphism of the IL-13 promoter region (-1512A/C) and atopic asthma. We investigated the association between the IL-13 single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) in the promoter region (-1512A/C) and atopic dermatitis in Korean children with AD. METHODS: We enrolled 204 allergic AD, 92 non-allergic AD, and 116 non-atopic healthy children. Evaluated phenotypes of atopic dermatitis included total IgE, total eosinophil count, and eosinophil fraction. We used a PCR-RFLP method to identify IL-13 genotypes. RESULTS: The allele frequencies of the IL-13 promoter polymorphism (-1512A/C) did not differ statistically among the three groups. Children with one or two copies of risk alleles in the promoter region (-1512C) did not show any significant association with the clinical phenotypes of atopic dermatitis including total IgE, eosinophil phenotypes and SCORAD score in the allergic or non-allergic atopic dermatitis. CONCLUSION: These data suggest that the -1512A/C polymorphism of IL-13 gene may not be associated with neither the development nor the clinical phenotypes of atopic dermatitis in Korean children.
Subject(s)
Child , Humans , Alleles , Asthma , Dermatitis, Atopic , Eosinophils , Gene Frequency , Genotype , Immunoglobulin E , Immunoglobulins , Interleukin-13 , Interleukins , Phenotype , Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide , Promoter Regions, GeneticABSTRACT
In view of the high prevalence rate of bovine leukemia virus (BLV)infections in cattle over the entire country, a large dairy farm in Chungnam province was chosen and 'test and segregate' program was instituted. On July 1999, ELISA test was performed on 491 animals on the farm and only 163 cattle (139 adult cows, 18 female and 6 male calves)were BLV-seronegative. From February 2000 through April 2004, the seronegative group was placed in barns 1,500 to 2,000 m from seropositive group and thereafter tested at 3-to 5-month intervals by ELISA. Animals seroconverted in consecutive tests were removed from the seronegative group immediately after the detection of anti-BLV antibodies. The changes in management were aimed at preventing iatrogenic transfer of blood between cattle. Replacement heifers imported from other countries and calves born at the farm were repeatedly tested by ELISA, and only seronegative animals were introduced into the group. As of April 2004, there were 311 cattle in the BLV seronegative group of the farm. Twent y four cows of the initial 139 adult cows were seroconverted in 2000, and no seropositive animals were found since February 2001. Follow up of the group, from which all seropositive cattle were moved to a separate location, revealed no recurrence of BLV infection for three years. The approach in the present study might be valuable for Korean producers who would like to move toward a BLV-negative status.
Subject(s)
Animals , Cattle , Female , Male , Animal Husbandry , Antibodies, Viral/blood , Enzootic Bovine Leukosis , Korea , Leukemia Virus, Bovine , PrevalenceABSTRACT
PURPOSE: Angiogenesis related to tumor invasion and metastasis may be accelerated by numerous factors that are released from tumor cells, tumor-associated inflammatory cells, or the extracellular matrix. Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) are angiogenesis promoters, and are suspected to be key molecules in cancer progression. In colorectal cancer, tumor VEGF has been shown to be well correlated with relapse- free survival. The aim of this study was to determine the relationship between serum VEGF and bFGF levels with the various indices of colorectal cancer. METHODS: Preoperative serum VEGF and bFGF levels were measured prospectively in 76 colorectal cancer patients, and compared with equivalent levels in healthy controls. Patients with a history of radiation therapy or chemotherapy within 6 months were excluded. RESULTS: The cut-off values of VEGF and bFGF were 244 pg/ml and 3.9 pg/ml, respectively. Patients with colorectal cancer showed a significantly higher level of serum VEGF and bFGF. In comparison with the control group, the serum VEGF level was significantly elevated in the advanced T stage group, the high UICC stage patients, and the hematogenous metastasis cases. Serum bFGF was also elevated in the advanced UICC TNM stage patients. The serum levels of VEGF and bFGF were well correlated with each other (P<0.0002). CONCLUSION: In colorectal cancer cases, serum bFGF and VEGF levels may be correlated with stage, except in early cancer stages. Therefore serum VEGF and bFGF levels may be used as predictive factors in advanced colorectal cancer.