• Journal of the korean academy of Pediatric Dentistry
• /
• v.35 no.4
• /
• pp.671-676
• /
• 2008

AgI/II of Streptococcus mutans(S. mutans) is an important virulence factor that contributes to the pathogenesis of S. mutans-induced dental caries. In oral cavity, salivary IgA antibodies act as safeguards against enormous challenges from oral bacteria. IgA antibodies inhibit adherence of cariogenic microorganisms to hard surfaces. Analysis of salivary IgA against AgI/II can be very useful diagnostic and powerful communication tools to the dental caries The purpose of this study was to investigate correlation between salivary AgI/II specific IgA and incidence of dental caries among children and young adults. Subjects consisted of 28 children and 18 adults. They were assigned to four groups : Group I deft index $\leq$3), Group II(deft index $\geq$4), Group III(DMFT index $\leq$3), Group IV(DMFT index $\geq$4) and they was divided two groups into caries resistant group and caries susceptible group. The study group were examined caries activity and their salivary IgA was evaluated by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The results are as follows : 1. There was a positive correlation between the number of S. mutans and caries activity. 2. The titer of salivary IgA against the AgI/II was significantly higher in caries resistant group than caries susceptible group(p<0.01). 3. The titer of salivary IgA against the AgI/II in Group III was significantly higher than Group II(p<0.05).

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
• /
• v.52 no.3
• /
• pp.241-250
• /
• 2002

Background : Coal-worker's pneumoconiosis(CWP) is characterized by a chronic inflammatory lung reaction associated with macrophage accumulation in the alveolar spaces. CWP is usually divided into two stage : simple pneumoconiosis(SP) where there are a limited number of fibrotic lesions remain limited, with radiological opacities smaller than 1cm and progressive massive fibrosis(PMF), which is characterized by the development of a perifocal extensive fibrotic response of the lung and severe alterations in pulmonary function. In this study, the lymphocyte compartment and cytokine were evaluated by measuring the serum levels in the control, SP and PMF groups. Materials and Methods : The coal workers selected for this study were employees(patients?) of the Tae-Baek and Dong-Hae hospital. All were men, 45-76 years old and the mean duration of their exposure to coal dust was 23.2 years in the lymphocyte compartment and 24.3 years in the cytokine checked group. According to X-ray examination results, the patients were classified into either one of the SP, PMF categories. The normal controls examined were 26-70 years old men. The serum cytokine levels were estimated by using an end point enzyme immunoassay technique. Results : T lymphocyte, helper and suppressor T cells were highly related to pneumoconiosis in this study. A statistically significant decrease in the number of suppressor T lymphocytes was observed in the simple pneumoconiosis patients and at the same time, there was an increase in the lymphocyte index. Howevere, there was no statistically difference in the serum cytokines levels among the SP, PMF and control groups. Conclusion : T lymphocyte, helper T, and suppressor T cells may be highly related to the development of CWP compared to the control group particularly in the early stage of pneumoconiosis. The changes observed in the immunological system in patients with pneumoconiosis may lie at the bottom of the pathogenesis of fibrosis. Further study is needed to evaluate the lymphocyte compartment as a marker for pneumoconiosis development in the early stage.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
• /
• v.50 no.6
• /
• pp.693-703
• /
• 2001

Background : Smoking is the most important and consistent determinant of the development and progression of COPD(Ed Note : Define COPD). The fact that cigarette smokers develop a different type of COPD, chronic bronchitis and emphysema, with different clinical and pathological aspects, suggests that the development of COPD has a relationship with other smoking-associated factors beyond just a simple smoking history. The aim of this was to analyze the smoking habits and history of patients with COPD and to evaluate the development of different types of COPD according to patient's smoking habits. Method : To evaluate the differences in the smoking patterns of patients with chronic bronchitis and emphysema, a pulmonary function test was conducted, and the smoking history and patterns was obtained through a smoking history questionnaire by a direct personal interview from 333 male cigarette smokers diagnosed with COPD, in the Yeungnam university medical center(190 patients diagnosed with chronic bronchitis, 143 patients diagnosed with emphysema). Result : The patients with emphysema smoked earlier and had a higher smoking history(ie, more packyears, more total amounts of smoked cigarette, and more deep inhalation and longer duration of plain cigarette exposure) than those with chronic bronchitis. The depth of inhalation was also significantly higher in the emphysema patients after taking into account age, cumulative cigarette consumption and the type of cigarette smoked. Conclusion : Emphysema was more associated with the increasing degree of inhalation as assessed by the depth of inhalation. A high alveolar smoke exposure may be a significant risk factor for the development of emphysema.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
• /
• v.59 no.6
• /
• pp.613-618
• /
• 2005

Background : Recently, medical treatment of multi-drug resistant pulmonary tuberculosis has been unsuccessful. Through analyzing the cases with surgical treatment, we hope to provide some help in treating multi-drug resistant pulmonary tuberculosis in the future. Material and Method : A retrospective review was performed with 138cases of surgical treatment of multi-drug resistant tuberculosis during 10years from January 1994 to December 2003 at National Masan Hospital. Results : The ratio of men to women, 5.1:1 indicates that there were more incidences in men. The number of the resistant drugs was 5.3 with a mean age of 42.6 years. Cavitary lesions on the plain chest X-rays were seen in 94cases (68.1%). 128cases had positive sputum culture preoperatively. Types of operations were 24 pnemonectomies, 83 lobectomies, 10 bilobectomies, 19 lobectomies with segmentectomies or wedge resections, 1 wedge resection, and 1 carvenoplasty. There was no death after operation. There were 6cases of air leakage over a week, 6cases of postoperative bleeding, 8cases of bronchopleural fistula and empyema, 16cases of dead space, 1case of atelectasis, 1case of wound infection, 1case of cyst as postoperative complication. Postoperative complication showed higher long-term negative conversion rate of 92.8%. Conclusion : There has been many discussions about operative indications, postoperative drug regimens, length of postoperative chemotherapy. In our study, we showed higher long-term success rate of postoperative chemotherapy with pulmonary resection on multi-drug resistant pulmonary tuberculosis.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
• /
• v.40 no.3
• /
• pp.274-282
• /
• 1993

Background: Pulmonary paragonimiasis is caused by consumption of raw or improperly cooked crabs infected by a laval stage (metacercaris) of the parasite. In our country it had been a highly prevalent endemic disease until th late 1960s, and after then it's prevalence has been markedly decreased. But because some people have continued to ingest undercooked crabs, this disease have yet occured sporadically. Methods: We reviewed the clinical and radiological findings retrospectively in seventy-four patients of pulmonary paragonimiasis including familial infestation in 7 familes (20 cases) who were confirmed by food history, clinical and radiological findings, and labaratory data. Results: The male: female ratio was 2.2:1 and most prevalent age was 40-49 years old. Twen6ty nine patients (39%) had ova-positive infection. The detection sites were sputum (48%), pleural fluid (17%), fine needle aspiration biopsy of nodular or cystic lesion (17%), pleural biopsy (7%), skin nodule biopsy (7%), and stool (3%). The patients had pulmonary symptoms in 63 cases (85%) but 9 cases did not have any symptoms. The 53 cases (72%) had abnormal radiological findings in lung parenchyme (75%) and pleura (63%). However 21 cases (28%) showed no specific findings in their chest X-ray. Serum titers (ELISA) of specific IgG for paragonimiasis in 13 cases were followed for average 9.8 months after treatment, which showed slow decreasement. In the evaluation of family member (7 family, 20 cases), all members having the common dietary history together with a proven patients were confirmed this disease by serological test, regardless of the presence or the abscence of clinical or radilogical symptoms. Conclusion: We evaluated the clinical and radiological findings in 74 cases of pulmonary paragonimiasis including 7 family members who had a history of ingestion of improperly cooked crabs together with patients. The paients of pulmonary paragonimiasis have various findings in clinical and radiological findings. Common diet exposure history and laboratory findings including specific IgG were important in earlier diagnosing and treating in family members of patients.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
• /
• v.42 no.2
• /
• pp.175-183
• /
• 1995

Background: The incidence of mycoplasmal pneumonia is predominantly at childhood and early adulthood, but in adults, its incidence is low and its symptoms and physical findings are nonspecific. The definite diagnosis of M. pneumoniae pneumonia can be made by sputum culture, but requires several weeks for positive results, and the early diagnosis must initially be based on the serologic tests and appropriate clinical findings. Thus, we evaluated the clinical aspects of M. pneumoniae pneumonia in the adults patients. Method: Among the admitted patients due to pneumonia, the definite diagnosis is anti-M. pneumoniae antibody titer of $\geq$ 1:40 and a single cold agglutinin titer of $\geq$ 1:64. The presumptive diagnosis is anti-M. pneumoniae antibody titer of $\geq$ 1:40 or a single cold agglutinin titer of $\geq$ 1:64 and the clinical characteristics or chest X-ray findings are compatible with M. pneumoniae pneumonia. We studied the age and sex distribution, seasonal distribution, clinical symptoms, physical findings, serologic test, chest X-ray findings, treatment and its progression. Results: 1) The age distribution was even and the ratio of male to female was 1:1. 2) The monthly distribution was most common in January(16.7%) and the seasonal distribution in autumn and winter(autumn: 30%, winter: 33.3%). 3) The cold agglutinin titers were higher than 1:64 in 12 cases(40%), and reached the peak level around 2 weeks from onset and antimycoplasma antibody titers were higher than 1:160 in 5 cases(16.7%). 4) On the chest X-ray, pulmonary infiltration was noted in 28 cases(93.3%) among 30 cases and right lower lobe involvement was the most common(33.3%) and both lower lobe involvement was noted in 7 cases(23.3%). 5) The mean treatment duration was most common(33.3%) in 1 week to 2 weeks after admission and 26 cases(86.7%) were improved within 4 weeks. 6) On admission, there was fever(${\geq}38.9^{\circ}C$) in 17 cases(56.7%), and the fever subsided in 12 cases(70%) within 3 days after treatment using erythromycin. Conclusion: The mycoplasmal pneumonia in adults shows milder clinical patterns than that in childhood and can be completely recovered without complication by early diagnosis and treatment.

• Pediatric Infection and Vaccine
• /
• v.15 no.1
• /
• pp.59-67
• /
• 2008

Purpose : According to the 2008 WHO report, incidence, prevalence, and mortality of tuberculosis are decreasing globally. The 7th National Tuberculosis Survey of 1995 in Korea showed that the prevalence of tuberculosis was also decreasing. This study was performed to review the hospitalized childhood tuberculosis in a children's hospital over a 20 year period. Methods : Medical records of children <16 years of age hospitalized with the diagnosis of tuberculosis at the Seoul National University Children's Hospital between 1988 and 2007 were reviewed retrospectively. Changes in number of patients and involved sites were also analyzed by four 5-year periods. Results : Out of the 186 hospitalized patients, 59.1% were male. Median age at diagnosis was 5.5 years old (range, 10 days-15 years). The main involved sites included the lung (n=54, 29%) or pleura (n=12, 6.5%), central nervous system (n=49, 26.3%), lymph node (n=15, 8.1 %), bone and joint (n=9, 4.8%), gastrointestinal tract (n=5, 2.7%) or peritoneum (n=5, 2.7%), pericardium (n=2, 1.1%) and others (n=3, 1.6%). Total 32 patients (17.2%) showed miliary pattern. The proportion of hospitalization with newly diagnosed tuberculosis among all cause hospitalization decreased from 0.61% to 0.09%, comparing the period of 1988-1992 and 2003-2007 (P<0.001) and the incidence of hospitalized tuberculosis of any involved organs also decreased with a statistical significance. Conclusion : The data from a single children's hospital suggest that the number of hospitalized childhood patients with tuberculosis has decreased over a 20 year period in Korea.

• Radiation Oncology Journal
• /
• v.20 no.2
• /
• pp.93-99
• /
• 2002

Purpose : We intended to decrease late CNS reaction after radical radiotherapy for an intracranial germinoma by using combined neoadjuvant chemotherapy and involved-field radiotherapy. The efficacy in terms of its acute toxicity and short-term relapse patterns was analyzed. Materials and Methods : Eighteen patients were treated with combined neoadjuvant chemotherapy and radiotherapy between 1995 and 2001. The chemotherapy regimen used was the Children's Cancer Group (CCG) 9921A (cisplatin, cyclophosphamide, VP-16, vincristine) for 5 patients younger than 16 years, BEP (bleomycin, VP-16, cisplatin) for 12 patients, and EP (VP-16, cisplatin) for 1 patient. The radiotherapy covered the whole craniospinal axis for 5 patients, the whole brain for 1, and the partial brain (involved field) for 12. the primary lesion received tumour doses between 3,960 and 5,400 cGy. Results : The male to female ratio was 16:2 and the median age was 16 years old. The tumors were located in the pineal gland in 12 patients, in the suprasellar region in 1, in the basal ganglia In 1, in the thalamus in 1. Three patients had multiple lesions and ventricular seedings were shown at MRI. In 3 patients, tumor cells were detected in the cerebrospinal fluid and MRI detected a spinal seeding in 2 patients. The response to neoadjuvant chemotherapy was complete remission in 5 patients, partial remission in 12, and no response in 1. However, after radiotherapy, all except 1 patient experienced complete remission. The toxicity during or after chemotherapy greater than or equal to grade III was remarkable; hematologic toxicity was observed in 11 patients, liver toxicity in none, kidney toxicity in none, and gastrointestinal toxicity in one. One patient suffered from bleomycin-induced pneumonitis. Radiotherapy was therefore stopped and the patient eventually died of respiratory failure. The other 17 are alive without any evidence of disease or relapse during an average of 20 months follow-up. Conclusion : A high response rate and disease control was experienced, which was the same as observed other studies and the morbidity from chemotherapy-induced toxicity was similar. With these results, the results from adjuvant chemotherapy and involved-field radiotherapy cannot be concluded to be equal to those from extended-field radiotherapy. The long term follow-up study on later complications are required in order to draw definite conclusions on the optimal management with minimum side effects.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
• /
• v.66 no.4
• /
• pp.274-279
• /
• 2009

Background: Uteroglobin (UG) is a secretary protein that has strong immunomodulatory properties, and which is synthesized in most epithelia including lung tissue. Overexpression of UG is associated with decreased expression of cyclooxygenase (COX)-2 and suppression of cancer cell growth. Indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase (IDO) catalyzes tryptophan along the kynurenine pathway, and both the reduction in local tryptophan and the production of tryptophan metabolites contribute to the immunosuppressive effects of IDO. Methods: In this study, we investigated the pattern of expression of COX-2 and IDO, and the effect of UG transduction in the expression of COX-2 and IDO in several non-small cell lung cancer cell lines, especially A549. Results: Both COX-2 and IDO were constitutionally expressed in A549 and H460 cells, and was reduced by UG transduction. In A549 cells, the slightly increased expression of COX-2 and IDO with the instillation of interferon-gamma (IFN-$\gamma$) was reduced by UG transduction. However, the reduced expression of COX-2 and IDO by UG transduction was not increased with IFN-$\gamma$ instillation in A549 cells. In both the A549 COX-2 sense and the A549 COX-2 anti-sense small interfering RNA (siRNA)-transfected cells, IDO was expressed; expression was reduced by UG transduction, irrespective of the expression of COX-2. Conclusion: The results suggest that the anti-proliferative function of UG may be associated with the immune tolerance pathway of IDO, which is independent of the COX-2 pathway.

• Journal of agricultural medicine and community health
• /
• v.16 no.2
• /
• pp.134-140
• /
• 1991

The amino acid constituents of Paragonimus westermani were very imperfectively known. Lee(1964) detected 9 amino acids in the tissue hydrolysates of P. westermani, and 13 amino acids were detected from the cyst content and body fluid constituents of P. ohirai, But, the quantity of amino acids in P. westermani is still unknown. In the present investigation 18 amino acids, the fundamental constituents of proteins, were quantitatively studied by high performance liquid chromatography. The results obtained were as follows : A total of 18 amino acids were recovered in protein hydrolysates of P. westermani obtained from cat. ; They were cystein, aspartic acid, glutamic acid, serine. glycine, histidine. arginine, threonine, alanine, proline, tyrosine, valine, methionine, isoleucine, leucine, phenylalanine, tryptophan and lysin. Among them, glutamic acid was the most abundant form and tryptophan, cystein, methionine, and histidine constitute minor portion of hydrolysates. Compared to the normal P. westermani, the volume of hydrolysates obtained from the praziquantel(PZQ) treated worm-0.lug PZQ/ml saline for 6 hours incubation, and $3{\times}25$mg/kg bwt${\times}$2days in vivo treatment was generally increased except tryptophan. A total of 17 free amino acids were identified and the volume was 174.18 umol/1 gm wet weight P. westermaini. Among them, glycine and alanine constitute 28% of total volume. No significant differences were observed in the material obtained from worm treated with PZQ. However, slight increase of serine, arginine and the slight diminution of glutamic acid and proline was observed.