• Pediatric Infection and Vaccine
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.94-101
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• 2016

Purpose: This study aimed to describe the results of a contact investigation on health care workers after exposure to a house officer with smear-positive pulmonary tuberculosis (TB). Methods: Eighty nine out of 101 subjects who had close contact with the index patient agreed to be enrolled in the investigation. The first contact investigation was conducted approximately 30 days after the index patient's onset of symptoms, followed by the second investigation after 10 weeks. In both, clinical manifestations were studied, and chest X-ray and tuberculin skin test (TST)/QuantiFERON-TB Gold (QFT-G) in dual screening strategy were conducted. Results: The first TST resulted in positive in 34 subjects (38.2%). QFT-G was conducted on 16 subjects who tested positive in the first TST and aged under 36. Six of them (37.5%) were positive. The second TST was conducted on 41 subjects with negative results in the first TST. Seventeen (41.5%) were positive and among them, three (17.6%) showed positive QFT-G. None of the subjects were diagnosed with active TB. The probability of TB infection through contact with the index patient was 7.3% (3/41) in dual screening strategy while it was 41.5% (17/41) in TST strategy. Conclusions: This first hospital-setting contact investigation for tuberculosis in Korea revealed that latent tuberculosis infection (LTBI) rates vary depending on different diagnostic strategies. This indicates the need for systematic guidelines for diagnosing LTBI in health care workers who have professional exposure to TB.

• BMB Reports
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• v.45 no.2
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• pp.79-84
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• 2012

In asthma, T helper 2 (TH2)-type cytokines such as interleukin (IL)-4, IL-5, and IL-13 are produced by activated $CD^{4+}$ T cells. Dendritic cells played an important role in determining the fate of naive T cells into either $T_H1$ or $T_H2$ cells. We determined whether RG-II regulates the $T_H1/T_H2$ immune response by using an ovalbumin-induced murine model of asthma. RG-II reduced IL-4 production but increased interferon-gamma production, and inhibited GATA-3 gene expression. RG-II also inhibited asthmatic reactions including an increase in the number of eosinophils in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid, an increase in inflammatory cell infiltration in lung tissues, airway luminal narrowing, and airway hyperresponsiveness. This study provides evidence that RG-II plays a critical role in ameliorating the pathogenic process of asthmatic inflammation in mice. These findings provide new insights into the immunotherapeutic role of RG-II in terms of its effects in a murine model of asthma.

• Journal of the korean academy of Pediatric Dentistry
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• v.45 no.2
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• pp.257-264
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• 2018

Osteopetrosis is characterized by impaired osteoclast function and increased bone density. Infantile osteopetrosis is a severe form of the disease and has characteristics such as diffusely sclerotic skeleton, pancytopenia, cranial nerve entrapment, infection susceptibility, and abnormal craniofacial appearance. Patients with infantile osteopetrosis often experience developmental delay, and may have a short life span. A 14-month-old girl with osteopetrosis presented to the department of pediatric dentistry. Incipient caries on deciduous incisors were observed. The patient revisited 4 years of age. Besides medical problems, oral complications such as growth retardation, narrow upper arch, crowding, dental caries, and abnormal tooth development were observed. After consultation with her pediatrician, dental treatments were performed on the deciduous molars under sedation after a prophylactic antibiotic injection. At a periodic follow-up, multiple deciduous teeth were treated and extracted, and oralrehabilitation with a removable partial denture was initiated. Patient with osteopetrosis are highly susceptible to infection because of their compromised immune system and problems associated with wound healing that lead to osteomyelitis or sepsis development. Active participation in dental care for sugar intake management and proper oral hygiene are obligatory.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.75 no.1
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• pp.18-24
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• 2013

Background: We investigated the prevalence of latent tuberculosis infection (LTBI) among the health care workers (HCWs) and analyzed its risk factors in South Korea. Methods: A standard questionnaire regarding the baseline demographics and risk factors for LTBI was given to each participant and tuberculin skin test (TST), QuantiFERON-TB GOLD In-Tube (QFT-GIT) assay, and chest radiography were performed. Results: A total of 493 participants, 152 (30.8%) doctors and 341 (69.2%) nurses were enrolled in eight tertiary referral hospitals. The mean age of the subjects was 30.6 years old, and 383 (77.7%) were female. Of the 152 doctors, 63 (41.4%) and 36 (23.7%) were positive by TST and by QTF-GIT, respectively, and among the 341 nurses, 119 (34.9%) and 49 (14.4%) had positive TST and QFT-GIT results, respectively. Overall, the agreement between the two tests was 0.22 by the chance corrected proportional agreement rate (kappa coefficient) in 493 subjects. Experience of working in tuberculosis (TB)-related departments was significantly associated with positive LTBI test results by QFT-GIT assay, not by TST. In multivariate analysis, only age was independently associated with increased risk of a positive TST result, while age and experience of working in TB-related departments (odds ratio, 2.29; 95% confidence interval, 1.01-5.12) were independently associated with increased risk of a positive QFT-GIT result. Conclusion: A high prevalence of LTBI was found among South Korean HCWs. Considering the association between the experience of working in TB-related departments and high risk of LTBI, QFT-GIT may be a better diagnostic test for LTBI than TST in HCWs.

• Korean Journal of Pharmacognosy
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• v.34 no.4 s.135
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• pp.327-334
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• 2003

We evaluated the anti-arthritic effect of a new diet-supplement product containing red ginseng, glucosamine, shark cartilage, ascorbic acid and manganese chloride for the relieving arthritic symptoms. Anti-inflammatory activities of the aqueous extract of red ginseng (250 and 500 mg/kg), glucosamine (240 mg/kg) and shark cartilage (240 mg/kg) were tested individually on vascular permeability and carrageenan-induced paw edema. Glucosamine and shark cartilage showed the inhibition of vascular permeability by 29.6 and 32.9%, respectively. Red ginseng (500 mg/kg) and shark cartilage showed the inhibition of carrageenan-induced paw edema at 0.5, 1, 2 and 3 hr. The supplement (red ginseng mixture: RGM) composed of red ginseng (43.5%), glucosamine (25.0%), shark cartilage (25.0%), ascorbic acid (5.0%) and manganese chloride (1.5%) was prepared and its inhibitory activities including vascular permeability and carrageenan-induced paw edema were comparable to anti-inflammatory drugs such as diclofenac and ibuprofen. It was also tested on adjuvant-induced arthritis in rats as one of chronic arthritic tests and Randall-Selitto assay as an analgesic test. RGM showed the inhibition against the swelling of rat paws induced by Mycobacterium tuberculosis at a dose of 1,500 mg/kg. Determination of cytokines of the sera sampled from arthritis-induced animals indicated that RGM increased the levels of $interferon-{\gamma}$ and interleukin-6, representing the immunostimulatory effect by red ginseng. RGM treatment moderately reduced the production of NO in RAW 264.7 cells in a dose-dependent manner. Taken together, these results support that RGM can be applicable for the improvement of arthritic as a new diet-supplement.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.19 no.10
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• pp.1352-1359
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• 2009

We designed this study to investigate the effects of continuous strenuous aerobic exercise on the respiratory system in a rat model. After exercise for 8 weeks, rats' weights were higher in the exercise groups than in the Control group (non-exercise). Rats in Exercise-120 min group (Ex-120 group) had the lowest weights. Total leukocyte counts in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) were higher in exercise groups than in Control group. The Ex-30 and Ex-120 groups had higher neutrophil counts, whereas that in the Ex-60 group was lower than in the Control group, and that in the Ex-30 group was the highest. Lymphocyte and monocyte counts were higher in all exercise groups than in the Control group, and those in the Exercise-120 min group were the highest. Interleukin-6 (IL-6) level was the highest, while IL-10, interferon-$\gamma$ and nitric oxide (NO) levels were the lowest in the Ex-120 group when compared to the Control and other exercise groups. These findings suggest that strenuous aerobic exercise for short periods (30 min) may have a beneficial effect on decrease in body weight, whereas prolonged-strenuous aerobic exercise (>1 hr) may be adverse to leukocyte and immune levels in the bronchoalveolar system, as well as result in an increased production of oxygen free radicals.

• Food Science of Animal Resources
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• v.31 no.5
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• pp.701-709
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• 2011

This study was performed to establish an effective extraction method of pig placenta extract that could be used for a putative functional food supplement with immunomodulatory effects. In the present study, we used different temperatures (4, 37, 60, 80, and $100^{\circ}C$) and different solvents (chloroform, NaOH, and phosphate buffered saline [PBS]) to extract the pig placenta. Among the different placenta extracts yielded by the different extraction methods, placenta extract (PE) in PBS at $80^{\circ}C$ for 30 min (referred to as PE-PBS80) showed a significant increase of nitric oxide production of up to 22.97 ${\mu}M/10^5$ cells at a 1 mg/mL dose (p<0.05 ) in J774A.1 cells than other extracts and control tested. Using PE-PBS80, further animal challenges were performed to identify the immune-enhanced effects. As a result, orally administered PE-PBS80 showed a significant increase in blood T and B cell activities and immunoglobulin (IgG and IgM) production. IgG and IgM levels increased to 41.53 mg/mL at a 20 mg dose on day 7 and to 27.38 mg/mL at a 10 mg dose on day 14, respectively (p<0.05). Furthermore, PE-PBS80 was also able to significantly enhance the immune modulator cytokine levels (p<0.05) compared to the control and vehicle treatments. Among the evaluated cytokines, the tumor necrosis factor-${\alpha}$ (TNF-${\alpha}$) level increased to 28.89 pg/mL at extract doses of 20 and 50 mg, the interleukin-$1{\beta}$ (IL-$1{\beta}$) level increased to 21.52 pg/mL at extract doses of 10, 20, 50 and 75 mg and the interferon (IFN)-${\gamma}$ level increased to 18.24 pg/mL at extract doses of 10, 20, and 50 mg. Therefore, this study presents an effective method for extracting pig placenta extracts and also demonstrates that pig placenta extracts had significant immunomodulatory effects not only at the cellular level but also in a mouse model, suggesting that this material could be used as an excellent candidate functional food supplement.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.38 no.6
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• pp.541-549
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• 2012

Objectives: This study was undertaken in order to evaluate a potential mechanism involved in gastro-intestinal problems observed in autistic subjects and uses an animal model of autism investigation. Methods: BTBR T+tf/J, a mouse strain with typical socio-behavioral characteristics of autistic subjects and FVB mice with highly social behaviors as the control strain were used. Both genders of mice aged three weeks and six months were used from four separate litters for each strain. Serum was prepared following cardiac puncture, and mesenteric lymph nodes were collected for in vitro stimulation and enumeration of major immune cell proportion. Results: The level of serum IgA was significantly enhanced in six-month-old BTBR mice compared with three-week-old BTBR, which was not observed with the FVB control mice. The serum IgE level was also higher among BTBR mice than among age-sex matched FVB mice, respectively. Considering the ratio of interleukin-4 vs interferon-gamma production from mesenteric lymph node T cells, skewedness toward type-2 reactivities was observed. In addition, the proportion of B cells in mesenteric lymph nodes was significantly higher in BTBR mice than in FVB mice. Conclusion: Upregulation of mucosal immunity related with enhanced type-2 immune reactivity observed in BTBR mice could be involved with the etiology of gastro-intestinal abnormalities in autism.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.45 no.8
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• pp.1099-1106
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• 2016

The objective of this study was to evaluate the immunomodulatory activity of crude polysaccharide separated from Cudrania tricuspidata leaf. C. tricuspidata polysaccharide (CTP) was extracted by ethanol precipitation. Immunomodulation activity was tested in macrophage cells (RAW 264.7 and bone-marrow derived macrophage) and splenocytes. CTP treatment significantly increased cell proliferation up to $250{\mu}g/mL$ in both RAW 264.7 and bone-marrow derived macrophages. In this concentration range (below $250{\mu}g/mL$), nitric oxide and cytokine [tumor necrosis factor $(TNF)-{\alpha}$ and interleukin (IL)-6] production also significantly increased. Similarly, splenocyte proliferation dosedependently increased except for the $1,000{\mu}g/mL$ treated group. Regarding cytokine production activity in splenocytes, CTP treatment significantly increased production of Th 1 type cytokines [interferon $(IFN)-{\gamma}$] production but not Th 2 type cytokines (IL-4). Therefore, the results indicate that CTP may have a potential effect on immunomodulatory activity in various immune cells, and this is useful for development of immune enhancing adjuvant materials as a natural ingredient.

• International Journal of Oral Biology
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• v.33 no.4
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• pp.163-177
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• 2008

Periodontal disease, a form of chronic inflammatory bacterial infectious disease, is known to be a risk factor for cardiovascular disease (CVD). Porphyromonas gingivalis has been implicated in periodontal disease and widely studied for its role in the pathogenesis of CVD. A previous study demonstrating that periodontopathic P. gingivalis is involved in CVD showed that invasion of endothelial cells by the bacterium is accompanied by an increase in cytokine production, which may result in vascular atherosclerotic changes. The present study was performed in order to further elucidate the role of P. gingivalis in the process of atherosclerosis and CVD. For this purpose, invasion of human aortic smooth muscle cells (HASMC) by P. gingivalis 381 and its isogenic mutants of KDP150 ($fimA^-$), CW120 ($ppk^-$) and KS7 ($relA^-$) was assessed using a metronidazole protection assay. Wild type P. gingivalis invaded HASMCs with an efficiency of 0.12%. In contrast, KDP150 failed to demonstrate any invasive ability. CW120 and KS7 showed relatively higher invasion efficiencies, but results for these variants were still negligible when compared to the wild type invasiveness. These results suggest that fimbriae are required for invasion and that energy metabolism in association with regulatory genes involved in stress and stringent response may also be important for this process. ELISA assays revealed that the invasive P. gingivalis 381 increased production of the proinflammatory cytokine interleukin (IL)-$1{\beta}$ and the chemotactic cytokines (chemokine) IL (interleukin)-8 and monocyte chemotactic (MCP) protein-1 during the 30-90 min incubation periods (P<0.05). Expression of RANTES (regulation upon activation, normal T cell expressed and secreted) and Toll-like receptor (TLR)-4, a pattern recognition receptor (PRR), was increased in HASMCs infected with P. gingivalis 381 by RT-PCR analysis. P. gingivalis infection did not alter interferon-$\gamma$-inducible protein-10 expression in HASMCs. HASMC nonspecific necrosis and apoptotic cell death were measured by lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) and caspase activity assays, respectively. LDH release from HASMCs and HAMC caspase activity were significantly higher after a 90 min incubation with P. gingivalis 381. Taken together, P. gingivalis invasion of HASMCs induces inflammatory cytokine production, apoptotic cell death, and expression of TLR-4, a PRR which may react with the bacterial molecules and induce the expression of the chemokines IL-8, MCP-1 and RANTES. Overall, these results suggest that invasive P. gingivalis may participate in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis, leading to CVD.