• Journal of Veterinary Clinics
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• v.25 no.3
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• pp.159-164
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• 2008

This study was carried out to determine the therapeutic effect of injection-acupuncture (AP) with bee-venom (apitoxin) in cases of canine otitis externa (COE). Fifteen dogs with naturally-acquired otitis externa were used in this study. The dogs were divided into the following antibiotics group (control group), apitoxin group (experimental group A) and apitoxin combined with antibiotics group (experimental group B). All groups were treated by ear cleaning with normal saline once on day 1. The control group was treated with susceptible antibiotics, and experimental group A was given injection-AP with apitoxin $(100{\mu}g/head)$ at TH17 (Yi Feng), SI19 (Ting Gong), GB03 (Shang Guan) and TH03 (Zhong Zhu) bilaterally. Experimental group B was treated with susceptible antibiotics and injection-AP with apitoxin at the same acupoints as experimental group A. All the groups were treated 3 times/week for 2 weeks. The identity of the causative agents, the changes in the clinical signs, otoscopic findings, bacterial count in the auricular discharges, and total WBC counts and neutrophil/lymphocyte (N/L) ratio in the peripheral blood were investigated in all groups. In bacterial isolation, Staphylococcus spp. combined with Streptococcus spp. was detected higher than other agents. The bacterial cell count in experimental group A was significantly decreased at 2 weeks (p<0.01), and those in experimental group B was significantly decreased at 1 week (p<0.01) and 2 weeks (p<0.01) compared by those of control group, respectively. The changes of clinical score in experimental group B were significantly decreased at 2 weeks (p<0.01) compared by those of control group, but, those of experimental group A was similar to those of control group. The changes of total WBC counts and neutrophil/lymphocyte (N/L) ratio were no significant difference found. In conclusion, injection-AP with apitoxin is an effective treatment for COE and might be an alternative method for treating COE.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.14 no.3
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• pp.2101-2105
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• 2013

Background: Long-term survival is a problem with locally advanced and metastatic renal cell carcinomas. Sunitinib malate is an oral multitargeted tyrosine kinase inhibitor, but data on sunitinib use as a second line treatment in metastatic renal cell carcinoma (mRCC) are limited. Prognostic and predictive value of peripheral blood markers has been shown for many cancers. Materials and Methods: Efficacy and safety profiles of sunitinib after interferon alpha (IFN-${\alpha}$) were evaluated based on retrospective data for 23 patients with mRCC. Hematological parameters (neutrophils, lymphocytes, platelets, mean platelet volume, neutrophil/lymphocyte ratio, platelet/lymphocyte ratio) were recorded at the time of metastasis. It was evaluated whether hematological parameters were prognostic and predictive factors. Results: Median progression-free survival (PFS) time was 16.5 months (95%CI: 0-34.5). Median overall survival (OS) time was 25.7 months (95%CI: 10.8-40.0). Most common side effects were neutropenia (52.2%), stomatitis (26.1%) and hand-food syndrome (26.1%). PFS was found 3.13 vs 17.1 months in patients with neutrophil / lymphocyte ratio (NLR)>3 vs $NLR{\leq}3$ (p:0.012). Median OS was 6.96 vs 27.1 months in patients with NLR>3 vs $NLR{\leq}3$ (p:0.001).While 75% of patients who responded to sunitinib had $NLR{\leq}3$, in 72% of patients with no response to sunitinib NLR>3 was detected (p:0.036). The association between the Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center (MSKCC) criteria and NLR was statistically significant (p:0.022). Conclusions: Data on second line sunitinib treatment following cytokine in mRCC are limited. In our study, we observed second line sunitinib treatment following IFN-${\alpha}$ to be effective and tolerable. NLRappeared to have prognostic and predictive value.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.57 no.3
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• pp.250-256
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• 2004

Background : Bacterial infections in diabetic patients are an important cause of increased morbidity and mortality. It has been reported that bacterial infections in diabetics showed more impaired PMN functions such as reduced PMN respiratory burst and decreased microbicidal activity in inflammed tissues. Also, apoptosis(programmed cell death) is postulated to be a key mechanism for neutrophil elimination. It is very important that PMN apoptosis keeps the balance from an area of inflammation. Actuallly, as little was known about PMN apoptosis and respiratory burst in diabetes, we investigated PMN apoptosis and hydrogen peroxide production after endotoxin exposure. Methods : Peripheral venous blood samples were collected by routine venipuncture from healthy volunteers and diabetics to harvest neutrophils. We respectively measured the PMN apoptosis, the production of hydrogen peroxide, and the cell viability. Results : Normal neutrophils showed a tendency to decreased apoptosis after endotoxin treatment. In patients with diabetes, PMN apoptosis was significantly decreased compared with healthy controls. In addition, the LPS-induced neutrophils in diabetics demonstrated more decreased apoptosis. However, the production of hydrogen peroxide was not different between groups. Conclusion : These observations suggest that the decreased PMN apoptosis in diabetics with endotoxin exposure may also affect the increased susceptibility and severity of infections.

• Korean Journal of Clinical Laboratory Science
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• v.36 no.2
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• pp.144-152
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• 2004

With technological advances in automatic hematology analyzers, primary and screening differential counts of white blood cells (WBC) are done with automatic hematology analyzers. They are using different measurement and analysis principles, so differences in WBC differentials and WBC morphology flag exist. This study was carried out to analyze WBC differential counts and WBC morphology flags comparing them with the manual method. Patient EDTA samples in Vacutainer requested for WBC differentials were analyzed with XE-2100. And those samples with suspect flags messages index over 100 were selected and were analyzed with ADVIA-120. Peripheral blood smear film was subsequently made. Three investigators counted 200 cells each (600 cells) in 111 Wright-Giemsa stained blood films. Between two automatic hematology analyzers, neutrophil, lymphocyte, eosinophil, and monocyte showed good correlations, but basophil had moderate correlation. Among automatic hematology analyzers and manual count, neutrophil, lymphocyte, and eosinophil had good correlations, but monocyte had moderate correlation. XE-2100 had higher monocyte, which was due to atypical lymphocyte and myeloblast. LUC in ADVIA-120 was not due to monocyte in XE-2100. Morphology flagging rates were 146.9% in XE-2100 and was 93.2% in ADVIA-120. Positive predictive values of morphology flag were 58.2% in XE-2100 and 54.4% in ADVIA-120. Flags such as atypical lymphocyte, immature granulocyte, and left shift had higher predictive values and those such as N-RBC, platelets clump, and blast had lower ones. Between automatic hematology analyzers, WBC differentials showed good correlations. Predictive values for morphology flags can be variable with changing criteria. Reviewing criteria for WBC differentials and morphology flags should be established in each laboratory with regards to size of laboratory and patients it serves.

• Journal of Periodontal and Implant Science
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• v.35 no.2
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• pp.427-436
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• 2005

Objective: MMP-8 is a neutrophil enzyme and its level increases in some inflammatory diseases, including periodontal disease. We knew that the lipopolysaccharide of E.coli(E-LPS) induced MMP-8 release from human neutrophils. E-LPS is known to induce the production and release of inflammatory cytokines through CD14, Toll-like receptor(TLR). In the present study, we investigated whether MMP-8 release by E-LPS is induced via CD14-TLR pathway and the cellular mechanism of MMP-8 release in human neutrophils. Material and methods: Human neutrophils were isolated from the peripheral blood of healthy donors and pre-incubated in medium containing antibodies against CD14, anti-TLR2 and anti-TLR4 or several inhibitors of microtubules and microfilaments and then incubated with E-LPS. The cells were treated TPCK and E-LPS simultaneously. The MMP-8amount in the culture medium was determined using ELISA. Results: E-LPS increased MMP-8release from neutrophils and its induction was inhibited by anti-CD14 and anti-TLR4 but not by anti-TLR2 antibodies. The inhibitors of microtubule and microfilament polymerization significantly decreased E-LPS-induced MMP-8release. TPCK inhibited E-LPS-induced MMP-8 release. Conclusion: These results suggest that MMP-8 release is induced by E-LPS via the CD14-TLR4 signal pathway in human neutrophils and may be depedent on microtubule and microfilament systems and $NF-{\kappa}B$ pathway.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.55 no.3
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• pp.93-99
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• 2012

Purpose: This study compared outcomes in children with acute leukemia who underwent transplantations with umbilical cord blood (UCB), bone marrow, or peripheral blood stem cells from a human leukocyte antigen (HLA)-matched related donor (MRD) or an unrelated donor (URD). Methods: This retrospective study included consecutive acute leukemia patients who underwent their first allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) at Samsung Medical Center between 2005 and 2010. Patients received stem cells from MRD (n=33), URD (n=46), or UCB (n=41). Results: Neutrophil and platelet recovery were significantly longer after HSCT with UCB than with MRD or URD ($p$ <0.01 for both). In multivariate analysis using the MRD group as a reference, the URD group had a significantly higher risk of grade III to IV acute graft-versus-host disease (GVHD; relative risk [RR], 15.2; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.2 to 186.2; $p$=0.03) and extensive chronic GVHD (RR, 6.9; 95% CI, 1.9 to 25.2; $p$ <0.01). For all 3 donor types, 5-year event-free survival (EFS) and overall survival were similar. Extensive chronic GVHD was associated with fewer relapses (RR, 0.1; 95% CI, 0.04 to 0.6; $p$ <0.01). Multivariate analysis showed that lower EFS was associated with advanced disease at transplantation (RR, 3.2; 95% CI, 1.3 to 7.8; $p$ <0.01) and total body irradiation (RR, 2.1; 95% CI, 1.0 to 4.3; $p$=0.04). Conclusion: Survival after UCB transplantation was similar to survival after MRD and URD transplantation. For patients lacking an HLA matched donor, the use of UCB is a suitable alternative.

• Journal of Gastric Cancer
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• v.20 no.2
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• pp.202-211
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• 2020

Purpose: This study was to investigate the prognostic significance of the preoperative fibrinogen and systemic inflammation response index (F-SIRI) in a Chinese cohort of resectable gastric cancer. Materials and Methods: Baseline characteristics, preoperative fibrinogen levels and peripheral neutrophil, monocyte, and lymphocyte counts were retrospectively reviewed in 240 patients who underwent radical gastrectomy. The optimal cut-off values for fibrinogen and SIRI were defined as 4.0 g/L and 1.2. Then patients with hyperfibrinogenemia (≥4.0 g/L) and high SIRI (≥1.2) were assigned with an F-SIRI of 2 (both of these hematological abnormalities), 1 (one of these abnormalities), and 0 (neither abnormality), respectively. The prognostic value was examined by univariate and multivariate survival analysis. Results: Preoperative F-SIRI was significantly correlated with tumor size, fibrinogen level, and adjuvant chemotherapy. Whereas there was no significant difference in age, gender, tumor location or other characteristics between groups. In addition, high preoperative F-SIRI was significantly associated with worse disease-free survival (DFS) (hazard ratio [HR], 2.299; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.482-3.566; P<0.001) and overall survival (OS) (HR, 2.461; 95% CI, 1.584-3.824; P<0.001) by univariate survival analysis. Moreover, it remained an independent predictor for impaired DFS (HR, 2.023; 95% CI, 1.273-3.215; P=0.003) and OS (HR, 2.341; 95% CI, 1.480-3.705; P<0.001) in multivariate Cox regression analysis. Conclusions: Preoperative F-SIRI could serve as a significantly prognostic marker for long-term survival in Chinese patients who underwent radical gastrectomy.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.70 no.3
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• pp.257-260
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• 2011

A 65-year-old woman was admitted due to poor oral intake and a dry cough over the previous 3 months. The physical examination was remarkable for bibasilar crackles, and plain chest radiography showed reticulation in both lower lung fields. A pulmonary function test demonstrated a restrictive pattern with a reduced diffusing capacity of the lung for carbon monoxide. High resolution computed tomography showed reticulation and honey-combing in both peripheral lung zones, which was consistent with usual interstitial pneumonia pattern. Her skin showed livedo reticularis. The erythrocyte sedimentation rate and C-reactive protein level were elevated, and hematuria was noted on urinary analysis. A serologic test for auto-antibodies showed seropositivity for Myeloperoxidase-Anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibody (MPO-ANCA). A kidney biopsy was performed and showed focal segmental glomerulosclerosis. She was diagnosed as having pulmonary fibrosis with microscopic polyangiitis (MPA) and treated with high dose steroids. Here we report a case of pulmonary fibrosis coexistent with microscopic polyangiitis.

• International Journal of Oral Biology
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• v.41 no.1
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• pp.17-23
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• 2016

Chronic/cyclic neutropenia, leukocyte adhesion deficiency syndrome, Papillon-$Lef{\grave{e}}vre$ syndrome, and $Ch{\grave{e}}diak$-Higashi syndrome are associated with severe periodontitis, suggesting the importance of neutrophils in the maintenance of periodontal health. Various Toll-like receptor (TLR) ligands are known to stimulate neutrophil function, including FcR-mediated phagocytosis. In the present study, the effect of TLR2 activation on the non-opsonic phagocytosis of oral bacteria and concomitant production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) by human neutrophils was evaluated. Neutrophils isolated from peripheral blood were incubated with Streptococcus sanguinis or Porphyromonas gingivalis in the presence of various concentrations of $Pam_3CSK_4$, a synthetic TLR2 ligand, and analyzed for phagocytosis and ROS production by flow cytometry and chemiluminescence, respectively. $Pam_3CSK_4$ significantly increased the phagocytosis of both bacterial species in a dose-dependent manner. However, the enhancing effect was greater for S. sanguinis than for P. gingivalis. $Pam_3CSK_4$ alone induced ROS production in neutrophils and also increased concomitant ROS production induced by bacteria. Interestingly, incubation with P. gingivalis and $Pam_3CSK_4$ decreased the amounts of ROS, as compared to $Pam_3CSK_4$ alone, indicating the possibility that P. gingivalis survives within neutrophils. However, neutrophils efficiently killed phagocytosed bacteria of both species despite the absence of $Pam_3CSK_4$. Although P. gingivalis is poorly phagocytosed even by the TLR2-activated neutrophils, TLR2 activation of neutrophils may help to reduce the colonization of P. gingivalis by efficiently eliminating S. sanguinis, an early colonizer, in subgingival biofilm.

• Journal of Haehwa Medicine
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• v.9 no.1
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• pp.215-223
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• 2000

To understand immunopharmacologic effects on Cervi Pantotrichum Cornu, Morindae Officinalis Radix, Cistanches Herba, Curculginis Rhizoma, Epimedii Herba, Eucommiae Cortex, we investigated chinese experimental documents, and we could reach conclusions as follows : 1. The effects on cell-mediated immune system were as follows. 1) The effects on macrophage (1) The herbal medicines promoting to increase the number of WBC in the peripheral blood were Morindae Officinalis Radix, Epimedii Herba and that promoting to reinforce the phagocytic functions of neutrophil was Curculginis Rhizoma. (2) The herbal medicines promoting the phagocytic functions of mononuclear, macrophage were Cervi Pantotrichum Cornu, Cistanches Herba, Eucommiae Cortex. 2) The herbal medicines stimulating the activities of T lymphocytes were Cervi Pantotrichum Cornu, Curculginis Rhizoma, Epimedii Herba, Eucommiae Cortex. 2. The effects on humoral immune system were as follows. 1) The herbal medicines increasing the activity of complement receptor were Cervi Pantotrichum Cornu, Curculginis Rhizoma. 2) The herbal medicines reinforcing immunity of spleen cells were Cervi Pantotrichum Cornu, Cistanches Herba, Epimedii Herba. 3) The herbal medicines promoting proliferation of spleen cells that produce antibody after having been immunized by SRBC were Cervi Pantotrichum Cornu, Cistanches Herba, Epimedii Herba. 3. The herbal medicines, reinforcing immunity on delayed type hypersensitivity were Cervi Pantotrichum Cornu, Cistanches Herba, Eucommiae Cortex. As you know in the many bibliological documents, the studies on the effects of Drugs for Tonifying Yang were started along right lines. Recently the studies on those were accomplished more rapidly and applied many immune diseases. We thought that Drugs for Tonifying Yang could be important immunopotentiators. Therefore we can apply those herbal medicines not only to immune diseases but also inflammatory diseases, senile infirmity and all sorts of tumor.