Case of Follicular Bronchiolitis in Rheumatoid Arthritis

Follicular bronchiolitis is an uncommon bronchiolar disorder that is characterized by the presence of hyperplastic lymphoid follicles with reactive germinal centers. The condition is associated with connective tissue diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis, Sjögren’s syndrome, and immunodeficiency disorders. A 56-year-old man with rheumatoid arthritis was admitted to hospital with a progressively enlarging pulmonary nodule in the left upper lobe. A follow-up contrast tomography scan showed that the nodule had increased in size from 4.2 mm to 6.3 mm over a 3 month period. An open lung biopsy was performed to establish a definite pathologic diagnosis of the pulmonary nodule, which was suspected to be a lung malignancy. The nodule was diagnosed as follicular bronchiolitis based on the histopathology findings. We describe a patient with follicular bronchiolitis that was confirmed by an open lung biopsy, and is believed to have had rheumatoid involvement.

Effect of Horse Oil on Anti-bacterial, Inflammatory Cytokines, and Type I Collagen Expressions in Human HaCaT Keratinocytes and Fibroblasts / 대한피부과학회지

BACKGROUND: Anti-inflammation, anti-bactericidal, and collagen synthesis are important for health skin conditions. However, the effect of horse oil on anti-inflammation, anti-bactericidal, and collagen synthesis is largely unknown. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to evaluate the anti-bactericidal, anti-inflammatory, and synthesis of type I collagen of horse oil. METHODS: Anti-bacterial effect was evaluated by disc diffusion test. Expressions of inflammatory cytokines were studied by RT-PCR analysis, real time PCR. Type I collagen expression was evaluated by Western blot in human HaCaT kertinocytes and fibroblasts. RESULTS: Our data showed that horse oil exerted anti-bacterial effect on P.acnes and S.aureus. Expression of IL-10 was increased by horse oil-treated HaCaT cells. In addition, increased expression of type I collagen was observed in horse oil-treated human skin fibroblasts. CONCLUSION: Horse oil exerts an anti-bactericidal effect against P.acnes and S.aureus. In addition, anti-inflammatory and anti-aging effects of horse oil will be mediated by up-regulation of IL-10 and type I collagen, respectively.

A Fatal Case of Acute Respiratory Failure Caused by Mycobacterium massiliense / 결핵및호흡기질환

Few recent reports have indicated that Mycobacterium massiliense causes various infections including respiratory infection. However, there is scarce information on the clinical significance, natural history of the infection, and therapeutic strategy. This report describes a case of an immunocompetent old man infected by M. massiliense that causes acute respiratory failure. In light of the general courses of non-tuberculous mycobacterium infections, rapid progression and fatality are very rare and odd. In addition, we discuss the biological and pathological properties of M. massiliense with the review of cases reported previously including our fatal one.

Aspectual Comparison of the Skin Changes in Hairless Mice According to the Aging Type / 한국실험동물학회지

The purpose of this study was to compare the skin changes in female SKH-1 hairless mice between UVB irradiated photo-aged group and endogenous aged group. The UVB irradiation and endogenous aged groups showed poor skin conditions when compared with normal (N) group in terms of the skin erythema, water content and TEWL (transepidermal water loss). For the changes in gross observation and replica image analysis on wrinkle of the skin tissue, UVB irradiation group showed thicker, wider and deeper wrinkles than the changes seen in N group, whereas endogenous aged group showed thinner, narrower and shallower wrinkles than that of UVB irradiation group. In histopathological findings, UVB irradiation group and endogenous aged group showed thickened epidermis, increased dermal inflammatory cells, decreased collagen and elastic fiber content, increased number of degranulated dermal/subcutaneous mast cells, and lower expression quantity of TGF-beta in dermal layer when compared with N group, but to a lesser extent in aged group than the changes in UVB irradiation group. UVB irradiation group and endogenous aged group showed significantly higher xanthine oxidase activity, lower superoxide dismutase and catalase activities, and higher expression of MMP-3 mRNA in skin than N group. Therefore, aspectual comparison of the skin change in hairless mice between photo-aged and endogenous aged groups showed different each other, and these results will be useful for skin aging research.

The Anti-apoptotic Effect of Adrenomedullin on Vascular Endothelial Cells in Radiocontrast Media-induced Apoptosis / 대한신장학회지

PURPOSE: Because vascular endothelial cells play a pivotal role in the vascular diseases, damage of vascular endothelial cells lead to progression of vascular disease. Apoptotic damage of cells is an important mechanism in vascular disease. Therefore, several growth factors that have antiapoptotic effect may have a protective role in maintaining a cell function in apoptotic cell injury. In this study, we examined the effects of adrenomedullin on apoptosis in iopromide-induced endothelial cell injury. METHODS: Human umbilical vein endothelial cells were incubated with nonionic radiocontrast agent, iopromide and/or adrenomedullin. Apoptosis was assessed quantitatively using FACScan after annexin V-FITC and propidium iodide staining, and by terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP nick-end labeling (TUNEL) stain. Signaling pathway was evaluated by Western blot analysis of phospho-Akt and Akt. RESULTS: Iopromide-induced apoptosis in human umbilical vein endothelial cells was increased in a dose-dependent manner. Adrenomedullin prevented iopromide-induced apoptosis in human umbilical vein endothelial cells in a dose dependent manner. Wortmannin, phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase inhibitor, decrease the adrenomedullin-induced antiapoptotic effect. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that adrenomedullin protects vascular endothelial cells from iopromide-induced apoptosis by regulating the activity of Akt.