• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.55 no.4
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• pp.388-394
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• 2003

Background : Monoclonal antibodies directed against well-known epitopes on cytokeratin (CK) 8, 18 and 19 (Monototal) have been used in the development of a new diagnostic tool for lung cancer. In the mid-1990s, CK 19 fragments (Cyfra 21-1) became popular and widely used for such diagnosis. This is the first study specifically designed to compare these two markers. Method : The serum levels of CK 8, 18 and 19 were measured using two-site monoclonal/polyclonal immunoradiometric assay kit in 57 healthy adults and 289 patients who were admitted to Seoul National University Hospital from May to September, 2002. The lung cancer group comprised 129 primary lung cancer patients; 116 with non-small cell lung cancer(NSCLC) and 13 with small cell lung cancer (SCLC). The control group comprised 160 non-malignant pulmonary lung disease patients and 57 healthy adults. A total of 166 twin Monototal and Cyfra 21-1 serum assays were obtained; 76 with lung cancer, 70 with non-malignant pulmonary lung disease and 20 healthy adults. Results : The mean serum value of Monototal was $412.47{\pm}455.45U/L$ in NSCLC, $237.08{\pm}145.15U/L$ in SCLC, $126.54{\pm}95.72U/L$ in non-malignant pulmonary lung disease, and $63.68{\pm}31.66U/L$ in healthy adults. The serum values of the lung cancer groups were significantly higher than those of the control group (p<0.01). Using a cut off value of 188U/L, sensitivity and specificity was 66.4% and 81.9% in NSCLC, and 43.8% and 81.9% in SCLC, respectively. The serum levels of CK 8, 18 and 19 were higher in advanced NSCLC than in early stage disease. Conclusion : The serum levels of CK 8, 18 and 19 may be useful in the diagnosis of NSCLC.

• Radiation Oncology Journal
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• v.17 no.2
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• pp.146-150
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• 1999

Myasthenia gravis (MG) is relatively rare ouuring as one of important autoimmune disease to affect neuromuscular junction. This study was clinically to evaluate total body irradiation (TBI) against two patients including 33-year and 39-year females for chronic MG with thymoma who hospitalized in the St. Mary's Hospital, Catholic University since 1994 as well as who showed no response by thymectomy, immunotherapy and hormonal therapy. TBI designed by the dose of 150$\~$180 cGy consisting of 10 cGy per fraction, three times a week, for 5~e weeks using linear accelerator of 6 MV. During the treatment of TBI, they did complain acute side effect such as vomiting and also appear improved physical condition from 4$\~$6 weeks after TBI. Through the follow-up period of 18 or 42 months after TBI, they did not have any symptomatic recurrence. Consequently, the results suggest that TBI can be used as an alternative tool for the patients concurrently for MG with thymoma who had been refractory to various conventional therapies like thymectomy, immunotherapy and hormonal therapy.

• Journal of Oral Medicine and Pain
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• v.33 no.3
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• pp.247-256
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• 2008

The belief that stress leads to illness has a long history. A number of the orofacial disease are also closely associated with stress. Despite research in the relationship of stress and the orofacial diseases leading to statistically significant correlations, the pathology remains vague. In the present study, the expression of clusterin, a stress protein responsible for antiapoptosis and cytoprotection, under restraint stress condition was observed in the submandibular gland, one of the major salivary glands. Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into 2 groups: normal group and restraint stress group. The rats of restraint stress group were placed in the stress cages and then sacrificed at day 0, 3 and 5 day of the experiment. After that, the submandibular glands of all the rats were excised immediately. The levels of clusterin proteins and mRNA in the tissues were measured by immunohistochemistry and Northern blot analyses, respectively. The results were as follows: 1. In the immunohistochemistry, clusterin protein was detected only immediately after the application of restraint stress. 2. In the restraint stress group, at day 3 and 5, histologically apoptosis was induced with karyorrhectic and pyknotic changes. 3. By the restraint stress, acinic cells were destructed earlier than ductal cells. 4. In the Northern blot, mRNA of clusterin was expressed only immediately after the application of restraint stress. The overall results suggest that as an early response to stress, clusterin is expressed in the glands to protect the glandular cells from the stress. But if stress is so strong and prolonged that it can exceed the stress adaptability of the cells, then the cells may undergo apoptosis instead of producing clusterin. An Epidemiologic Study of Symptoms of Temporomandibular Disorders in Korean College Students.

• KSBB Journal
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• v.24 no.3
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• pp.246-252
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• 2009

Rice cells were transformed to express human cytotoxic T-lymphocyte antigen 4-immunoglobulin (hCTLA4Ig) using RAmy3D promoter. hCTLA4Ig was produced and secreted into culture media inducibly when sugar was depleted. The obstacles of this system are the cell death and release of proteases by sugar starvation. These problems resulted in the losses of stability and productivity of hCTLA4Ig. Therefore, the effects of proline as an inhibitor of cell death were investigated. When 4 mM proline was added in sugar-free media, the cell death and release of proteases were reduced. As a consequence, the production of hCTLA4Ig was enhanced. In addition, the effects of protein stabilizers such as gelling agents were studied. It was found that the application of 0.01 g/L gelatin led to an increase in hCTLA4Ig production. This increase might be originated from the stabilization of hCTLA4Ig. In conclusion, the production of hCTLA4Ig could be enhanced by the additions of proline and gelatin in transgenic rice cell cultures.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.52 no.1
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• pp.76-85
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• 2002

A primary pulmonary malignant lymphoma is a rare disease. It is thought to be a category of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma arising from the bronchous-associated lymphoid tissue (BALT). The majority of primary pulmonary lymphomas are low-grade, small B-cell lymphomas, which are associated with Sjogren's syndrome and similar autoimmune disorders. A case of primary pulmonary low-grade B-cell lymphoma arising from the BALT was encountered in a patient with systemic lupus erythematosus. A 54-year-old man was admitted to the hospital for the evaluation of left pleuritic chest pain and multiple joint pain in both hands. Serologic tests for collagen vascular disease were performed. The results of ANA and anti-ds-DNA were all positive. The computed tomography of the chest showed patchy consolidations in the left lower lobe with a pleural effusion and a video-assisted thoracoscopic biopsy was performed. Here we report a case of a low-grade B-cell lymphoma of BALT in a patient with systemic lupus erythematosus with a review of the relevant literatures.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.51 no.6
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• pp.655-659
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• 2008

Intestinal pseudo-obstruction (IPO) is a rare and poorly understood manifestation of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), especially in children. The characteristic clinical feature of IPO is obstruction without an identifiable obstructive lesion. The authors a 13-year-old girl whose first symptom of SLE was IPO. The patient presented with a 3-day history of nausea, bilious vomiting, abdominal distention, and no bowel movement. Simple abdominal radiographs revealed mild dilatation with partial air-fluid levels in the small intestine. Abdominal CT and methylcellulose small bowel studies showed massive ascites, engorgement of the small mesenteric vessels, pleural effusion, and diffuse bowel wall thickening of the gastric antrum, duodenum. and jejunum. The delayed passage of contrast for 15 days after the methylcellulose small bowel studies was suggestive of decreased bowel motility. Laboratory findings were positive for ANA, anti-double-stranded DNA, anti-Smith and lymphopenia. After 10-day treatment with high-dose corticosteroids, the symptoms improved. IPO associated with SLE should be considered in the differential diagnosis for patients presenting with symptoms of intestinal obstruction. Early recognition of IPO in SLE and appropriate therapy are important for prevention of complications and unnecessary surgery. This case raises awareness among pediatricians that although rare, IPO can be the presenting symptom of SLE in children.

• Korean Journal of Psychosomatic Medicine
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• v.29 no.2
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• pp.207-212
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• 2021

Anti-N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor (Anti-NMDAR) encephalitis is a neuroinflammatory disease mediated by autoantibodies to NMDAR. In the initial clinical stages of anti-NMDAR encephalitis, psychiatric symptoms like delusions, perceptual disturbances, and disorganized speech or behaviors are pronounced even without obvious neurological symptoms. Early treatments like immunotherapy and/or tumor removal are central to good clinical outcomes. Hence, it is important to diagnose early anti-NMDAR encephalitis, distinguishing it from mental disorder. In the present case study, the authors described psychiatric symptoms assessed with Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS) of Ms. A, a 26-year-old woman, in the early phase of anti-NMDAR encephalitis. We will discuss the characteristic psychopathology of anti-NMDAR encephalitis toward prompt diagnosis and treatment. Ms. A showed a higher negative subscale score than positive one on the PANSS. Compared with mental disorder, negative symptoms and cognitive impairment would be more prominent in the early stage of anti-NMDAR encephalitis. Rituximab and teratoma removal were effective, and quetiapine showed good tolerability. It is recommended to evaluate anti-NMDAR encephalitis when negative symptoms, cognitive impairment, catatonia, changes in consciousness level, and neurological symptoms are observed, especially in young women.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.34 no.6
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• pp.399-407
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• 2024

Angiogenesis is the process by which new blood vessels form from existing blood vessels. This phenomenon occurs during growth, healing, and menstrual cycle changes. Angiogenesis is a complex and multifaceted process that is important for the continued growth of primary tumors, metastasis promotion, the support of metastatic tumors, and cancer progression. Impaired angiogenesis can lead to cancer, autoimmune diseases, rheumatoid arthritis, cardiovascular disease, and delayed wound healing. Currently, there are only a handful of effective antiangiogenic drugs. Recent studies have shown that natural marine products exhibit antiangiogenic effects. In a previous study, we reported that the hexane extract of H. fusiformis (HFH) could inhibit the development of new blood vessels both in vitro and in vivo. The aim of this study was to describe the inhibitory effect of chloroform extracts of H. fusiformis on angiogenesis. To investigate how chloroform extract prevents blood vessel growth, we examined its effects on HUVEC, including cell migration, invasion, and tube formation. In a mouse Matrigel plug assay, H. fusiformis chloroform extract (HFC) also inhibited angiogenesis in vivo. Certain proteins associated with blood vessel growth were reduced after HFC treatment. These proteins include vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK)/extracellular signal transduction kinase, and serine/threonine kinase 1 (AKT). These studies have shown that the chloroform extract of H. fusiformis can inhibit blood vessel growth both in vitro and in vivo.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Radiology
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• v.81 no.5
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• pp.1134-1150
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• 2020

Various types of tumors and tumor-like lesions may affect the pancreas. Among them, pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma is the most common and is generally referred to as "pancreatic cancer." Recently, the detection rates of rare pancreatic tumors and tumor-like lesions have increased owing to technological advancements and increased frequency of imaging tests. Considering that rare pancreatic tumors and tumor-like lesions differ from pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma in terms of the treatment plan and prognosis, the differential diagnosis of these diseases is clinically relevant. Various imaging tests play an important role in the differential diagnoses of rare tumors, such as acinar cell carcinoma and schwannoma, tumor-like lesions, such as autoimmune pancreatitis and inflammatory pseudotumor, and pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma, but accurately distinguishing these diseases solely based on imaging findings is difficult. The aim of this pictorial review was to present the imaging findings of rare pancreatic tumors and tumor-like lesions and discuss important points for the differential diagnosis.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.49 no.12
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• pp.1329-1339
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• 2006

Purpose : Failure of hematopoietic stem cell transplantation(HSCT) may be encountered in practice because of either relapse of the malignancy or dysfunction of the graft. Second HSCT may be the only option for some patients whose initial HSCT failed. Methods : From May, 1991 to December, 2004, 115 HSCTs were performed at the Pediatric Blood & Marrow Transplantation Center, Chonnam National University. This study was a retrospective analysis of the medical records of 15 patients who received the second HSCT after initial graft. Results : Among eight patients with nonmalignant diseases, two patients underwent the second HSCT because of primary graft failure and five because of late graft rejection. The remaining Fanconi anemia patient was re-transplanted due to development of AML. Two patients died and one experienced primary graft failure, but is still alive. The Kaplan-Meier 5-year overall survival rate was 75 percent and the disease free survival rate was 62.5 percent in nonmalignant diseases. All malignant patients underwent second transplants because of relapses. Four died of relapse and one of treatment-related complications. The Kaplan-Meier 2-year overall and event free survival rate was 28.6 percent each in malignant diseases. Conclusion : Second HSCT for graft dysfunction of nonmalignant disease seems to be feasible and should be considered as a standard practice. The relapse of malignant diseases remains a big obstacle even after the second HSCT, although a small portion of patients might be salvaged. Further investigation of novel therapeutic strategies, as well an the understanding of the biology should be explored.