• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.58 no.3
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• pp.271-275
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• 2015

Objective : This study was designed to evaluation the diagnostic value of procalcitonin (PCT) in patients with spinal infection, compare to the classical biomarkers such as C-reactive protein (CRP), erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), white blood cell (WBC) count. Methods : All patients who were diagnosed as a spinal infection between January, 2013 and July, 2014 were included in this study. Serum PCT, CRP, ESR, and WBC count were checked at initial hospital visit and once a week serially until they were discharged. Patient's medical history, causes and pathogens of spinal infection were reviewed. Results : Total 34 (16 men, 18 women) patients were included in this study. Mean age of the patients was 65.6 year-old. Causes of spinal infection were pain block procedure (14, 41.2%) and post-operation (5, 14.7%). Out of 25 patients who showed elevated initial serum PCT level, 20 patients (80%) had a combined systemic infection. 14 patients (6.7%) had a sepsis, 3 patients (14.2%) had a urinary tract infection and 2 (9.6%) had a pneumonia. 14 patients (41.2%) showed elevation of serum PCT level during treatment. Among them, 9 patients (64.3%) had a combined infection such as sepsis and urinary tract infection. Conclusion : Serum CRP showed more sensitivity compared to serum PCT in patients with spinal infection. Patients with spinal infection who showed elevated serum PCT level should be investigated for combined infection and proper antibiotics should be applied.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.32 no.3
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• pp.244-249
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• 2008

Vascular inflammation is an important step in the development of cardiovascular disorder. Since it has not been known whether Korean red ginseng has a role to play on the vascular inflammation, we investigated the effects of Korean red ginseng extract (KRGE) on monocyte adhesion and its underlying signaling mechanism. Monocyte adhesion assay and Western blot were conducted on the human umbilical vein endothelial cells to study monocyte adhesion and the expression of adhesion molecules. Intracellular calcium was measured with Fura-2 fluorescent staining, and superoxide production was measured with lucigenin chemiluminescence in the endothelial cells. KRGE inhibits tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha-induced monocyte adhesion on the endothelial cells at the range of $0.03{\sim}1$ mg/ml. TNF-alpha-induced vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 and intercellular cell adhesion molecule-1 expression were inhibited by the pretreatment of KRGE in the endothelial cells. KRGE also inhibits TNF-alpha-induced intracellular calcium and the superoxide production in the endothelial cells. This study first demonstrated that KRGE inhibits TNF-alpha-induced monocyte adhesion by inhibiting the adhesion molecule expression, intracellular calcium and superoxide production in the endothelial cells. Therefore, the anti-inflammatory function of KRGE may be contributed to protecting the endothelial dysfunction in the vascular inflammatory disorders.

• Korean Journal of Head & Neck Oncology
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• v.23 no.1
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• pp.21-25
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• 2007

Background：Squamous cell carcinoma(SCC)of the palatine tonsils represents approximately 15-23% of all intraoral SCC. The most frequently reported risk factors for oropharyngeal cancer are smoking and alcohol. In a recent overview of HPV and tonsillar squamous cell carcinoma(TC), 51% contained HPV DNA, and HPV-16 being the most frequent type. We aimed to clarify whether HPV directly effects on the oncogenesis and biologic behavior of TC by comparison with infection prevalence, and physical status of virus. Material and Method：We used HPV genotyping DNA chip(Biocore, Korea, Seoul) arrayed by multiple oligonucleotide probes of L1 sequence of 26 types of HPV and HPV genotypes are identified by fluorescence scanner. The copy numbers of HPV E2 and E6 open reading frames(ORF) were assessed using a TaqMan-based 5'-exonuclease quantitative real-time PCR assay. The ratio of E2 to E6 copy numbers was calculated to determine the physical status of HPV-16 viral gene. Results：We observed a significant difference in HPV prevalence between 52 TCs and 69 CFTs(73.1% vs. 11.6%), and most of the HPVs were type 16(87.2%)and non-episomal(94.1%) state. Conclusions：This study regarding HPV infection prevalence and mechanism in the largest population of palatine tonsillar squamous cell carcinoma with chronic follicular tonsillitis revealed significant difference pf HPV prevalence between TC and CFT. Most of HPV were 16 type and integrated or mixed, HPV-16 integration could be directly related to tonsillar carcinogenesis.

• The Journal of the Korean Society for Microbiology
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• v.34 no.5
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• pp.479-489
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• 1999

Invasion of enteric bacteria, such as Salmonella and invasive E. coli, into intestinal epithelial cells induces proinflammatory gene responses and finally epithelial cell apoptosis. In this study, we asked whether invasive bacterial infection of human intestinal epithelial cells could upregulate cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) gene expression and whether increased COX-2 expression could influence intestinal epithelial cell apoptosis. Expression of COX-2 mRNA and prostaglandin (PG) $E_2$ production were upregulated in HT-29 colon epithelial cells which were infected with S. dublin or invasive E. coli, as examined by quantitative RT-PCR and radioimmunoassay. Inhibition of COX-2 expression and $PGE_2$ production using NS-398, a specific COX-2 inhibitor, showed a significant increase of epithelial cell apoptosis and caspase-3 activation in HT-29 cells infected with invasive bacteria. However, the addition of valerylsalicylate, a specific COX-1 inhibitor, did not change apoptosis in S. dublin-infected HT-29 cells. These results suggest that up regulated COX-2 expression and $PGE_2$ production in response to invasive bacterial infection could contribute to host defense by inhibiting apoptosis of intestinal epithelial cells.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.31 no.3
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• pp.215-222
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• 1993

In order to establish a useful cell culture system for T gondii we compared the degree of proliferation of T gondii tachyzoites among 8 different cell lines: 2 kinds of normal animal cells (MDCK-canine kidney cells; Vero-monkey kidney cells) and 6 kinds of human tumor cells (A 549, PC 14-lung cancer cells; SNU 1, SNU 16. Mlm 45-stomach cancer cells; HL-60-promyelocytic leukemia cells), through morphological observation and 3H-uracil uptake assay. The degree of susceptibility to infection with T gondii tachyzoites was highest in A 549 and PC 14 cells, medium in Vero, HL-60, MDCK and SNU 1, and lowest in SNU 16 and MBm 45 cells. The kinetics of T gondii multiplication during the post-Infection 60 hours were higllly dependent upon the dose of tachyzoites administered and the duration among the 8 tested fur the growth and multiplication of T gondii in vitro.

• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
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• v.45 no.2
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• pp.93-100
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• 2017

Human norovirus (hNoV) infection accounts for the vast majority of virus-mediated gastroenteritis cases worldwide. It causes self-limiting acute illnesses in healthy individuals lasting for a few days, however, in immunocompromised patients, hNoV can establish chronic and potentially fatal infections. Since its discovery in 1968, much effort had been made to develop cell culture and animal infection models to no avail. Only recently, some promising breakthroughs in the development of in vitro infection models have been made. Here, we will contrast and compare those models and discuss what further needs to be done to develop a reliable and robust cell culture model.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.13 no.4
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• pp.1261-1266
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• 2012

Introduction: HPV has been found repeatedly in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) tissues. However, reported detection rates of HPV DNA in these tumors have varied markedly. Differences in detection methods, sample types, and geographic regions of sample origin have been suggested as potential causes of variation. We have reported that infection of HPV DNA in ESCC tumors depends on anatomical sites of esophagus of the patients from Mazandaran, north of Iran. Materials and Methods: HPV DNA was examined in 46 upper, 69 middle and 62 lower third anatomical sites of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma specimens collected from Mazandaran province in north Iran, near the Caspian Littoral as a region with high incidence of ESCC. HPV L1 DNA was detected using Qualitative Real time PCR and MY09/MY11 primers. Results: 28.3% of upper, 29% of middle and 25.8% of lower third of ESCC samples were positive for HPV DNA. 13.6% for males and 14.1% for females were HPV positive in all samples. Conclusions: HPV infection is about one third of ESCC in this area. Findings in this study increase the possibility that HPV is involved in esophageal carcinogenesis. Further investigation with a larger sample size is necessary.

• Journal of Microbiology
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• v.34 no.3
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• pp.263-263
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• 1996

Infection of fish cells with IHNV resulted in gradual increase in cytosolic free $Ca^{2+}$ concentration $([Ca^{2+}]_i)$ in CHSE, gradual decrease in $[Ca^{2+}]_i$ in FHM, and no significant change in RTG cells. The degree of $[Ca^{2+}]_i$ increase or decrease was dependent on the amount of infectious virus, and these $[Ca^{2+}]_i$ variations were maximal at 16 hours after virus infection (p. i.) in both cell lines. When the fish cells were infected with inactivated IHNV, evident variation in $[Ca^{2+}]_i$ was not observed. Thus, infectivity of IHNV appears to correlate with changes in $[Ca^{2+}]_i$ in virus-infected cells. These IHNV-induced $[Ca^{2+}]_i$ changes were partially blocked by cycloheximide, but not affected by cordycepin. It seems to be that virus-induced $Ca^{2+}$ variations were more related with protein synthesis than RNA synthesis. Various $Ca^{2+}$ related drugs were used in search for the mechanisms of the $[Ca^{2+}]_i$, changes following IHNV infection of CHSE cells. Decreasing extracellular $Ca^{2+}$ concentration or blocking $Ca^{2+}$ influx from extracellular media inhibited the IHNV-induced increase in $[Ca^{2+}]_i$, in CHSE cells. Similar results were obtained with intracellular $Ca^{2+}$ blockers. Thus it is suggested that both the extracellular and the intracellular $Ca^{2+}$ sources are important in IHNV-induced $[Ca^{2+}]_i$ increase in CHSE cells.

• The Korean Journal of Zoology
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• v.28 no.1
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• pp.21-30
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• 1985

By two-dimensional gel electrophoresis loss of a cell-specific protein was detected in tD strain of Amoeba proteus that had been infected by symbiotic bacteria extracted from xD strain. In 50 days of experimental infection by induced phagocytosis the host amoeba lost the ability to synthesize the tD cell-specific protein even after removal of the infective bacteria and xD cell-specific protein by growing the amoebae at $27^\\circC$. By this time the host amoebae were obligately dependent on the bacteria. From these and other results (Lorch and Jeon, Science 221:549), it is clear that the incompatibility of the infected nuclei with the cytoplasm of the uninfected amoeba and the obligate dependence of the host on bacteria are due to the irreversible inactivation or the loss of the cell-specific gene by bacterial infection in this amoeba.

• IMMUNE NETWORK
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• v.11 no.3
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• pp.182-189
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• 2011

Background: Cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTLs) appear to play an important role in the control and prevention of human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) infection. The pp65 antigen is a structural protein, which has been defined as a potential target for effective immunity against HCMV infection. Incorporation of an 11 amino acid region of the HIV TAT protein transduction domain (Tat) into protein facilitates rapid, efficient entry into cells. Methods: To establish a strategy for the generation of HCMV-specific CTLs in vitro, recombinant truncated N- and C-terminal pp65 protein (pp65 N&C) and N- and C-terminal pp65 protein fused with Tat (Tat/pp65 N&C) was produced in E.coli system. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells were stimulated with dendritic cells (DCs) pulsed with pp65 N&C or Tat/pp65 N&C protein and immune responses induced was examined using IFN-${\gamma}$ ELISPOT assay, cytotoxicity assay and tetramer staining. Results: DCs pulsed with Tat/pp65N&C protein could induce higher T-cell responses in vitro compared with pp65N&C. Moreover, the DCs pulsed with Tat/pp65 N&C could stimulate both of $CD8^+$ and $CD4^+$ T-cell responses. The T cells induced by DCs pulsed with Tat/pp65 N&C showed higher cytotoxicity than that of pp65-pulsed DCs against autologous lymphoblastoid B-cell line (LCL) expressing the HCMV-pp65 antigen. Conclusion: Our results suggest that DCs pulsed with Tat/pp65 N&C protein effectively induced pp65-specific CTL in vitro. Tat fusion recombinant protein may be useful for the development of adoptive T-cell immunotherapy and DC-based vaccines.