Increased levels of Circulating Autoantibodies to Cultured Human Bronchial Epithelial Cell in Adult Patients with Nonatopic Asthma

The pathogenetic mechanism of nonatopic asthma has not yet been defined. The idea of a possible involvement of autoimmunity in the pathogenesis of nonatopic asthma has been proposed by earlier studies. To evaluate the possible involvement of autoimmune response against bronchial epithelial cell in the pathogenesis of nonatopic asthma, we measured circulating autoantibodies to cultured human bronchial epithelial cell (BEAS-2B cell line) using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. We used stored serum samples form 38 age-matched healthy controls, 26 adult patients with atopic asthma, 16 adult patients with nonatopic asthma, and 12 adult patients with systemic lupus erythematosus. Levels of IgG autoantibodies to bronchial epithelial cell were significantly higher in patients with nonatopic asthma (mean+/-SD of absorbance values; 0.135+/-0.030) and systemic lupus erythematosus (0.293+/-0.181) than in healthy controls (0.112+/-0.016) and patients with atopic asthma (0.116+/-0.031) (p<0.05). This study showed that levels of circulating IgG autoantibodies to bronchial epithelial cell were increased in adult patients with nonatopic asthma. Further studies are needed to evaluate the possible involvement of autoimmune mechanism in the pathogenesis of nonatopic asthma.

Loss of Heterozygosity at 3p in Korean Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer / 결핵

PURPOSE: Frequent deletion of 3p in numerous cancer including lung cancer suggests the presence of tumor suppressor gene. 3p has been analysed by RFLP and PCR-LOH of microsatellite locus. In this study, we observed the deletion of 3p in Korean NSCLC by PCR-LOH of 4 microsatellite loci and investigated the clinical significance. Method : 62 surgically rejected NSCLC DNA and normal lung DNA have been analysed by PCR-LOH at three dinucleotide[D3S1228 (3p14.1-14.3), D3S1067 (3p14.3-21.1), D3S1029 (3p21.1-21.3)] and one tetranucleotide[D3S1537 (Sp 22-24.2)] repeat microsatellite loci. RESULTS: Among 59 informative cases, 3p deletion by PCR-LOH at four microsatellite loci was found in 31 patients (52.5%). 3p deletion were found in 55% of squamous cell lung cancer and 47% of adenocarcinoma patients. No significant difference has been found in clinical parameters such as staging, smoking and survival according to the status of 3p deletion. CONCLUSION: Deletions in 3p have played an important role in Korean NSCLC though no clinical significance was detected.

Seroprevalence of antibody to the hepatitis C virus in methamphetamine abusers / 예방의학회지

This study was designed to estimate the prevalence of hepatitis C virus(HCV) infection in drug abusers. The subjects were 141 inpatients who had been admitted to a general hospital with the symptoms and signs of methamphetamine intoxication. Seroprevalence of antibody to the hepatitis C virus(anti-HCV) was 60.3%,(85/141) and it was higher in the group with increased frequency and duration of drug abuse, but such a relationship was not found in the seroprevalence of hepatitis B surface antigen(HBsAg). These findings suggested the possibility of high prevalence of HCV infection in methamphetamine abusers, and the importance of repetitive percutaneous injection in the transmission of HCV infection.

The Effects of Handgrip and Cold Pressor Test on Mitral Flow in Patients with Left Ventricular Hypertrophy

BACKGROUND: Handgrip and cold pressor test may increase the afterload of the heart. And in left ventricular hypertrophy, it is known that mitral flow pattern is affected by decreased left ventricular compliance. We investigated the effects of handgrip and cold pressor test on mitral flow pattern in patients with left ventricular hypertrophy. METHODS: Handgrip and cold pressor test were performed in 12 subjects with left ventricular hypertrophy and in 14 healthy normal subjects. In supine position, blood pressure, heart rate and Doppler echocardiographic parameters(early peak flow velocity : E, atrial peak flow velocity : A) were obtained at rest, 1 and 3 minutes after the onset of tests respectively. RESULTS: In both groups, handgrip and cold pressor test increased blood pressure slightly without a statistical significance. In left ventricular hypertrophy group, there were significant increments in heart rates at 1 minute of handgrip (78+/-12min-1, p<0.001) and cold pressor test(77+/-7min-1, p<0.05) as compared to that at rest (73+/-12min-1). Mitral flow velocities did not show significant change after the tests in control group. A waves after 1 minute of handgrip(85.2+/-18.4cm/sec, p<0.05) and cold pressor test (87.3+/-17.8cm/sec, p<0.001) showed significant increases as compared to that at rest (79.1+/-14.9cm/sec) in left ventricular hypertrophy group whereas E waves did not. CONCLUSION: Although handgrip and cold pressor tests did not affect the mitral flow significantly in control group, each test raised A waves in left ventricular hypertrophy group. These results suggest that increased A waves may be due to a rise in afterload and decreased left ventricular compliance caused by handgrip and cold pressor test in left ventricular hypertrophy group.