• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.17 no.5
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• pp.2389-2394
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• 2016

Background: Multiple myeloma (MM) is influenced by genetic and micro-environmental changes. Malignant plasma cells produce an abnormal monoclonal immunoglobulin, as well as cytokines, such as IL-10 and IL-6 which stimulate cells of the bone marrow microenvironment (BMM) and cause dysfunction and failure of many organs. B cell activating factor (BAFF), IL6, IL10 are known to influence the growth & survival of the malignant clone. Aim: The objectives of the present study were to investigate the circulating levels of BAFF, IL-10 and IL-6, correlate them with well-known parameters of disease activity in patients with MM, and to detect their impact on the patients' survival. Materials and Methods: This study was conducted on 89 newly diagnosed MM patients and seventy apparently healthy volunteers as a normal control group. BAFF, IL6, IL10 were measured by ELISA for both groups. Survival analysis was performed for all patients. Results: Studied markers were higher in the MM patients compared to the normal control subjects. Patients' survival was improved by high serum BAFF levels. Conclusions: High levels of BAFF were found to improve patients' survival. BAFF and IL-6 can be considered probable diagnostic markers for MM.

• Archives of Plastic Surgery
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• v.33 no.5
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• pp.666-668
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• 2006

Purpose: Livedo vasculitis is recurrent painful ulceration of the feet, ankles and legs characterized by purpuric papules and plaques that undergo superficial necrosis and healing with residual white atrophic scars (atrophie blanche). The typical histopathologic findings of livedo vasculitis are characterized by endothelial proliferation and hyaline degeneration along with thrombosis of dermal vessels. Standard therapeutic strategies for treatment of livedo vasculitis are usually on the basis of rheologic, anti-inflammatory or immnosuppressive treatments, a aspirin, dipyridamole, glucocorticosteroids, pentoxyfylline, or high-dose intravenous immunoglobulin are often ineffective or partially effective. Methods: We report a case of 24-year-old male patient with livedo vasculitis on the ankles and dorsal surfaces of both feet. Results: The lesion that had been unresponsive to medical treatment were successfully healed with complete debridement and skin grafting without recurrences. Conclusion: Surgical treatment can be one of the therapeutic choice in Livedo vasculitis.

• Advances in Traditional Medicine
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• v.4 no.3
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• pp.163-170
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• 2004

The effect of immune activation by Echinacea purpurea was investigated by measuring total immunoglobulin (Ig) G, IgM. and the radioprotective effect of immune activation by Echinacea purpurea was investigated by measuring T lymphocyte subsets in the peripheral blood of mice following whole body irradiation. Echinacea purpurea activated macrophages to stimulate $IFN-{\gamma}$ production in association with the secondary activation of T lymphocytes, resulting in a decrease in IgG and IgM production. Cytokines released from macrophages in mouse peripheral blood after Echinacea purpurea administration activated helper T cells to proliferate. In addition, activated macrophages in association with the secondary T lymphocyte activation increased $IFN-{\gamma}$ production and stimulated proliferation of cytotoxic T cells and suppressor T cells, indicating the activation of cell-mediated immune responses.

• IMMUNE NETWORK
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• v.10 no.4
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• pp.120-125
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• 2010

Dysfunction of the virus-specific T cells is a cardinal feature in chronic persistent viral infections such as one caused by hepatitis C virus (HCV). In chronic HCV infection, virus-specific dysfunctional CD8 T cells often overexpress various inhibitory receptors. Programmed cell death 1 (PD-1) was the first among these inhibitory receptors that were identified to be overexpressed in functionally impaired T cells. The roles of other inhibitory receptors such as cytotoxic T lymphocyte-associated antigen-4 (CTLA-4) and T cell immunoglobulin and mucin domain-containing molecule 3 (Tim-3) have also been demonstrated in T-cell dysfunctions that occur in chronic HCV patients. Blocking these inhibitory receptors in vitro restores the functions of HCV-specific CD8 T cells and allows enhanced proliferation, cytolytic activity and cytokine production. Therefore, the blockade of the inhibitory receptors is considered as a novel strategy for the treatment of chronic HCV infection.

• Toxicological Research
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• v.15 no.1
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• pp.27-34
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• 1999

To study the nature of differentially manifested adaptive response of an organism according to the intensities of the stress, the immune effects of different levels of repeated hypoxia were investigated. Four experimental groups (NH : not -handled, 20% : handled, 15% or 10% : exposed to 15% or 10% $\textrm{O}_2$ 씨오투 with balanced nitrogen, respectively) of mice were exposed to different levels of hypoxia for 60 min/day, 5days/week in a repeated and intermittent manner. After 8 weeks' exposure to hypoxia environment, mice were subjected to immune function measurements, A decreased proportion of CD3+ CD8 phenotype cells in the study of splenocyte subsets was observed in the 10% group. Ovalbumin-stimulated IgG2a production was increased in the 15% group, while no changes were noted in the IgGl and IgM production. No significant changes of the antigen-stimulated splenocyte proliferation and the natural killer cell cytotoxicity were found. These results show that the stress effects on the immune systems can be varied according to the strength of the stress and that a mild level of repeated hypoxic stress can enhance the immune function of mice in this experimental model.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.17 no.3
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• pp.1351-1355
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• 2016

Background: Multiple myeloma (MM) is influenced by genetic and micro-environmental changes. Malignant plasma cells produce an abnormal monoclonal immunoglobulin, as well as cytokines, such as IL-10 and IL-6 which stimulate cells of the bone marrow microenvironment (BMM) and cause dysfunction and failure of many organs. B cell activating factor (BAFF), IL6 and IL10 are known to influence the growth and survival of malignant clones. Aim: The objectives of the present study were to investigate the circulating levels of BAFF, IL-10 and IL-6, correlate them with well-known parameters of disease activity in patients with MM, and to detect their impact on patients' survival. Materials and Methods: This study was conducted on 89 newly diagnosed MM patients and seventy apparently healthy volunteers as a normal control group. BAFF, IL6, IL10 were measured by ELISA for both groups and survival analysis was performed for all patients. Results: Studied markers were higher in the MM patients compared to the normal control subjects. Patients survival was improved by high serum BAFF levels. Conclusions: High levels of BAFF were found to improve patients' survival. BAFF and IL-6 can be considered probable diagnostic markers for MM.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.33 no.3
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• pp.54-73
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• 2012

Objectives: To investigate the scientific evidence of Korean Medicine (KM), papers on Socheongryong-tang (Xiaoqinglong-tang), which is frequently used in medical clinics or hospitals of Korean medicine, were collected and analyzed. Methods: Papers were classified by the registration of domestic or international journals, the year of publication, experimental models and the subjects of biological activities. The mechanisms of biological activity in accordance with therapeutic effects of Socheongryong-tang (Xiaoqinglong-tang) were noted. Results: Among 98 papers included, 21 were published in domestic journals whereas 35 were in Chinese journals and 43 in Japanese journals. Most reported biological activities were amelioration of asthma. Socheongryong-tang (Xiaoqinglong-tang) regulated interleukin and interferon and immunoglobulin, inhibited the production of nerve growth factor, endotheliln-1, nitric oxide, toll-like receptor-4, p-Akt and increased extracellular signal regulated kinase and cyclin D1, which led to decreased bronchi inflammation and bronchoconstriction, and inhibited the proliferation of airway smooth muscle cells, mucus secretion and airway hyperresponsiveness. In addition, Socheongryong-tang (Xiaoqinglong-tang) also restored tissues injured by asthma so that respiratory function recovered. Conclusions: Amelioration of asthma by Socheongryong-tang (Xiaoqinglong-tang) is supported by objective and scientific evidence.

• IMMUNE NETWORK
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.10.1-10.13
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• 2021

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic (severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2) is a global infectious disease with rapid spread. Some patients have severe symptoms and clinical signs caused by an excessive inflammatory response, which increases the risk of mortality. In this study, we reanalyzed scRNA-seq data of cells from bronchoalveolar lavage fluids of patients with COVID-19 with mild and severe symptoms, focusing on Ab-producing cells. In patients with severe disease, B cells seemed to be more activated and expressed more immunoglobulin genes compared with cells from patients with mild disease, and macrophages expressed higher levels of the TNF superfamily member B-cell activating factor but not of APRIL (a proliferation-inducing ligand). In addition, macrophages from patients with severe disease had increased pro-inflammatory features and pathways associated with Fc receptor-mediated signaling, compared with patients with mild disease. CCR2-positive plasma cells accumulated in patients with severe disease, probably because of increased CCL2 expression on macrophages from patients with severe disease. Together, these results support the hypothesis that different characteristics of B cells might be associated with the severity of COVID-19 infection.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.48 no.8
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• pp.886-893
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• 2005

Purpose : Kawasaki disease is the most common cause of systemic vasculitis in children less than 5 years of age. Recent immunohistochemistry findings suggest that many vascular growth factors play a role in the formation of the coronary artery lesions. Active remodeling of the coronary artery lesions in Kawasaki disease continues in the form of intimal proliferation and neoangiogenesis for several years after the onset of the disease. Intravenous immunoglobulin(IVIG) and corticosteroid have been used in the treatment of Kawasaki disease but the exact mechanism is not clear. We have investigated that IVIG and corticosteroid inhibited vascular endothelial growth factor(VEGF)-induced tube formation of endothelial cells in vitro on Matrigel assay. Methods : Human umbilical vein endothelial cells(HUVECs) were cultured and seeded on Matrigel coated 24 well plates in medium with or without the following agents : VEGF, VEGF plus IVIG, VEGF plus VEGF antibody, VEGF plus methylprednisolone, VEGF, IVIG plus methylprednisolone for 18 hours. The total length of tube structures in each photograph was quantified. Results : IVIG significantly inhibited the proliferation of HUVECs. The inhibitory effect of IVIG was also reversible. In the meantime, VEGF induced the differentiation of HUVECs into capillary like structures on Matrigel, which was inhibited by VEGF antibody in a dose-dependent manner. Interestingly, IVIG and methylprednisolone inhibited VEGF-induced tube formation of HUVECs. IVIG was more effective in inhibition than methylprednisolone alone. Conclusion : We revealed that VEGF induced the differentiation of HUVECs and this effect was inhibited by IVIG and methylprednisolone.

• Journal of Veterinary Clinics
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• v.26 no.5
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• pp.419-422
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• 2009

We performed the PARR (PCR to detect antigen receptor rearrangements) test on DNA isolated from twelve archival canine cytological slides including nine lymphoma, two reactive lymphocytes and one sample from Ehrlichia canis infected dog. As a result, our PCR control gene, $C{\mu}$, was successfully amplified from all of the DNA samples. Six out of nine lymphoma samples showed a clonal rearrangement of immunoglobulin gene whereas three samples did a clonal rearrangement of T cell receptor gamma ($TCR{\gamma}$) gene. However, we observed no visible or clear bands from PCR conducted using our antigen receptor rearrangement primers on DNA from a reactive lymphoid cell proliferation used as a negative control. False-positive amplification in $TCR{\gamma}$ gene was observed only in one sample from E. canis infection. The use of archival cytological specimens demonstrated in this study offers potential advantages for cost-effective specimen acquisition and efficient high-fidelity DNA analysis.