The immune tolerance of cancer is mediated by IDO that is inhibited by COX-2 inhibitors through regulatory T cells.

Prostaglandin (PGE2), synthesized by cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), is associated with cellular immune tolerance during the process of cancer development. Induction of tolerance requires a specific environment in which dendritic cells and regulatory T cells (Tregs) play an essential role. It was recently shown that maturation of dendritic cells in the presence of indoleamine 2, 3-dioxygenase (IDO) results in activation of Tregs, and inhibition of COX-2 activity regulated IDO expression within the tumor microenvironment.

Association of CRTH2 gene polymorphisms with the required dose of antihistamines in patients with chronic urticaria.

Introduction: Chronic urticaria (CU), defined as the recurring incidence of wheals with or without angioedema for more than 6 weeks, is a common disorder associated with mast cell activation, degranulation, and histamine release. Considering the association between the CRTH2 gene and mast cells, we investigated the association of this gene polymorphism with the CU phenotype and antihistamine drug requirement in patients with CU.

Materials & Methods: Two groups consisting of 384 patients with CU and 231 patients as normal controls (NCs) were enrolled from the Department of Allergy and Rheumatology, Ajou University Hospital, Suwon, Korea.

Preoperative and postoperative evaluation of multiple giant coronary aneurysms by the use of coronary CT angiography with 64-MDCT: a case of multiple giant coronary aneurysms treated with aneurysmectomy and coronary artery bypass surgery.

A coronary artery aneurysm is an uncommon disorder and is seen as a characteristic dilatation of a localized portion of the coronary artery. Clinical manifestation of a coronary artery aneurysm varies from an asymptomatic presentation to sudden death of a patient. Although coronary aneurysms are typically diagnosed by the use of coronary angiography, a new generation of coronary 64-slice multidetector computed tomography (64-MDCT) scanners have successfully been used for evaluating this abnormality in a noninvasive manner.

Frequency of myocardial bridges and dynamic compression of epicardial coronary arteries: a comparison between computed tomography and invasive coronary angiography.

Background: The objective of the present study was to describe the relative frequency of myocardial bridging and dynamic compression of the coronary arteries as assessed by CT angiography and conventional angiography.

Methods And Results: A total of 311 patients (208 men, 103 women; mean age 63 years) who received both 64-section CT angiography and conventional angiography were reviewed retrospectively for myocardial bridging of the left anterior descending coronary artery. Myocardial bridging was considered when the left anterior descending coronary artery was within the interventricular gorge and was classified as either myocardial bridging with partial encasement or myocardial bridging with full encasement, according to the extent of vessel encasement by the myocardium.

Vascular endothelial growth factor in allergen-induced nasal inflammation.

Background: Increased vessel number and permeability are important features of the nasal mucosa in allergic rhinitis (AR), and are mediated in part by the cytokine vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF). Eosinophils are the major effector cells in the nasal secretions of patients with AR during the responses to allergen challenges. To evaluate the involvement of VEGF in nasal allergic inflammation, we monitored the levels of VEGF, eosinophil cationic protein (ECP), and specific antibodies in the nasal lavage fluids (NLFs) of patients with AR in response to Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus (Dpt).

Histamine N-methyltransferase 939A>G polymorphism affects mRNA stability in patients with acetylsalicylic acid-intolerant chronic urticaria.

Background: Histamine plays an important role in allergic inflammation. Histamine levels are regulated by histamine N-methyltransferase (HNMT).

Objective: To investigate the functional variability of HNMT gene in relation to genetic polymorphisms in patients with aspirin intolerant chronic urticaria (AICU).

Gliadin-specific IgE in wheat-dependent exercise-induced anaphylaxis.

Food-dependent exercise-induced anaphylaxis is a unique form of food allergy. Recent studies indicate that gliadin is a major allergen in patients with wheat-dependent exercise-induced anaphylaxis (WDEIA). We evaluated the value of serum gliadin-specific IgE in the diagnosis of WDEIA, as well as the characteristics and digestibilities of the IgE-binding components of gliadin.

Regulation of OPA1-mediated mitochondrial fusion by leucine zipper/EF-hand-containing transmembrane protein-1 plays a role in apoptosis.

Carboxyl-terminal modulator protein (CTMP) is a tumor suppressor-like binding partner of Protein kinase B (PKB/Akt) that negative regulates this kinase. In the course of our recent work, we identified that CTMP is consistently associated with leucine zipper/EF-hand-containing transmembrane-1 (LETM1). Here, we report that adenovirus-LETM1 increased the sensitivity of HeLa cells to apoptosis, induced by either staurosporine or actinomycin D.

A case of very late stent thrombosis facilitated by drug eluting stent fracture: comparative images before and after stent fracture detected by 64-multidetector computed tomography.

A stent fracture (SF) is one of the responsible factors for in-stent restenosis after a percutaneous coronary intervention. Factors that have an important role for a SF are vessel tortuosity, the presence of a right coronary artery lesion, overlapping stents, and the use of a drugeluting stent (DES) such as a sirolimus-eluting stent. Unlike with the use of bare metal stents, most SFs have occurred with the use of DES, and a DES may be a possible factor for a SF.

Association between a TGFbeta1 promoter polymorphism and the phenotype of aspirin-intolerant chronic urticaria in a Korean population.

Background: Chronic urticaria/angioedema is a common phenotype in patients with aspirin sensitivity; however, its genetic mechanism is not understood. Transforming growth factor (TGF)beta1 is a key regulatory cytokine involved in allergic inflammation.

Objective: We examined the association of a TGFbeta1 genetic polymorphism with aspirin-intolerant chronic urticaria (AICU) and aspirin-tolerant chronic urticaria (ATCU) in a Korean population.

Isotype and IgG subclass distribution of autoantibody response to alpha-enolase protein in adult patients with severe asthma.

Purpose: A possible involvement of autoimmune mechanism in the pathogenesis of bronchial asthma has been proposed. Recently, alpha-enolase protein was identified as a major autoantigen recognized by circulating IgG autoantibodies in patients with severe asthma. To evaluate a possible pathogenetic significance of these autoantibodies in severe asthma, isotype (IgG, IgA, IgM, and IgE) and IgG subclass (IgG1, IgG2, IgG3, and IgG4) distributions of autoantibodies to recombinant human alpha-enolase protein were analyzed.

Serum ferritin and transferrin levels as serologic markers of methylene diphenyl diisocyanate-induced occupational asthma.

Background: Although methylene diphenyl diisocyanate (MDI) may induce occupational asthma in the workplace, the pathogenic mechanisms are unclear.

Objectives: By using bronchoalveolar lavage fluid, we sought to identify proteins that were differentially expressed between subjects with MDI-induced occupational asthma (MDI-OA) and asymptomatic exposed controls (AECs).

Methods: To find proteins that were differentially expressed between the MDI-OA and AEC groups, 2-dimensional electrophoresis was performed by using bronchoalveolar lavage fluid obtained from subjects after MDI-specific inhalation challenge.

Coronary stent fracture: detection with 64-section multidetector CT angiography in patients and in vitro.

Purpose: To evaluate 64-section multidetector coronary computed tomographic (CT) angiography for the depiction of coronary stent fracture in patients and in vitro.

Materials And Methods: This retrospective study was approved by the institutional review board, and informed patient consent was waived. The coronary CT angiograms obtained in 371 consecutive patients (268 men, 103 women; mean age, 62.

Association of specific IgE to staphylococcal superantigens with the phenotype of chronic urticaria.

It has been well established that bacterial superantigens lead to the induction and aggravation of chronic inflammatory skin diseases. We investigated the clinical significance of serum specific immunoglobulin E (lgE) to the staphylococcal superantigens staphylococcal enterotoxin A (SEA), staphylococcal enterotoxin B (SEB), and toxic shock syndrome toxin (TSST)-1 in patients with chronic urticaria (CU), focusing on the differences in these prevalences between aspirin-intolerant CU (AICU) and aspirin-tolerant CU (ATCU) patients. Aspirin sensitivity was confirmed by oral aspirin provocation test.

Quantum localization in open chaotic systems.

We study a quasibound state of a delta -kicked rotor with absorbing boundaries focusing on the nature of the dynamical localization in open quantum systems. The localization lengths xi of lossy quasibound states located near the absorbing boundaries decrease as they approach the boundary while the corresponding decay rates Gamma are dramatically enhanced. We find the relation xi approximately Gamma(-1/2) and explain it based upon the finite time diffusion, which can also be applied to a random unitary operator model.

Activation Mechanism of Protein Kinase B by DNA-dependent Protein Kinase Involved in the DNA Repair System.

DNA-dependent protein kinase (DNA-PK) is involved in joining DNA double-strand breaks induced by ionizing radiation or V(D)J recombination and is activated by DNA ends and composed of a DNA binding subunit, Ku, and a catalytic subunit, DNA-PKcs. It has been suggested that DNA-PK might be 2 upstream kinase for protein kinase B (PKB). In this report, we showed that Ser473 phosphorylation in the hydrophobic-motif of PKB is blocked in DNA-PK knockout mouse embryonic fibroblast cells (MEFs) following insulin stimulation, while there is no effect on Ser473 phosphorylation in DNA-PK wild type MEF cells.

Antibiotic evaluation and in vivo analysis of alkynyl Coenzyme A antimetabolites in Escherichia coli.

Pantothenamides have been the subject of much study as potential inhibitors of CoA and carrier protein dependent biosynthetic pathways. Based on an initial observation of growth inhibition in Escherichia coli by 3, we have synthesized a small panel of pantetheine analogues and re-examined the inhibitory properties of this class of antibiotics with an emphasis on understanding the ability of these compounds to act as substrates of native CoA and carrier protein utilizing biosynthetic pathways. Our findings suggest that a secondary structure-activity relationship is an important factor in the antibiotic activity of these compounds.

Long-term Activation of c-Jun N-terminal Kinase through Receptor Interacting Protein is Associated with DNA Damage-induced Cell Death.

Activation of c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK), a member of the mitogen-activated protein kinase family, is an important cellular response that modulates the outcome of the cells which are exposed to the tumor necrosis factor (TNF) or the genotoxic stress including DNA damaging agents. Although it is known that JNK is activated in response to genotoxic stress, neither the pathways to transduce signals to activate JNK nor the primary sensors of the cells that trigger the stress response have been identified. Here, we report that the receptor interacting protein (RIP), a key adaptor protein of TNF signaling, was required to activate JNK in the cells treated with certain DNA damaging agents such as adriamycin (Adr) and 1-beta-D-arabinofuranosylcytosine (Ara-C) that cause slow and sustained activation, but it was not required when treated with N-methyl-N-nitro-N-nitrosoguanidine (MNNG) and short wavelength UV, which causes quick and transient activation.

Probing the compatibility of type II ketosynthase-carrier protein partners.

Drug discovery often begins with the screening of large compound libraries to identify lead compounds. Recently, the enzymes that are involved in the biosynthesis of natural products have been investigated for their potential to generate new, diverse compound libraries. There have been several approaches toward this end, including altering the substrate specificities of the enzymes involved in natural product biosynthesis and engineering functional communication between enzymes from different biosynthetic pathways.

Local production of total IgE and specific antibodies to the house dust mite in adenoid tissue.

Adenoids are known as immunosecretory organs and those in atopic children present cellular and cytokine profiles different from those of non-atopic children. We hypothesized that locally produced total IgE and allergen-specific antibodies could be involved in the inflammatory responses in adenoid tissue. Local productions of total IgE and Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus (DP)-specific IgE, IgA, IgG1, and IgG4 antibodies were evaluated, as well as their relationships with the markers of allergic inflammation within adenoid tissue.

Role of protein kinase C delta in X-ray-induced apoptosis of keratinocyte.

In this study, we investigated the process of X-ray-induced apoptosis of skin keratinocyte, and the functional role of protein kinase C delta (PKCdelta) and downstream signalling cascade. High-dose X-ray irradiation (10 Gy) led to the apoptosis of HaCaT keratinocyte, accompanied by PKCdelta cleavage. Treatment with PKCdelta inhibitor and adenoviral transduction of dominant-negative PKCdelta clearly inhibited the X-ray-induced apoptosis of keratinocyte.

Association of three sets of high-affinity IgE receptor (FcepsilonR1) polymorphisms with aspirin-intolerant asthma.

Background And Objective: The high-affinity IgE receptor comprises a tetramer of the ligand-binding alpha chain, a signal-augmenting beta chain, and a signal-transducing gamma chain dimer on mast cells. We hypothesized that the three subsets of the FCER1 gene may play a role in the development of the aspirin-intolerant asthma (AIA) phenotype and analyzed these genetic polymorphisms in association with clinical parameters in AIA patients.

Subjects And Methods: Six polymorphisms of FCER1 (FCERIA-344C>T, FCER1A-95T>C, MS4A2-109T>C, MS4A2 E237G, FCER1G-237A>G, FCER1G-54G>T) were genotyped in 126 AIA patients compared to 177 patients with aspirin-tolerant asthma (ATA) and 222 normal health controls (NC).

Analysis of high-affinity IgE receptor (FcepsilonR1) polymorphisms in patients with aspirin-intolerant chronic urticaria.

Chronic urticaria (CU) associated with aspirin sensitivity, termed aspirin-intolerant CU (AICU), is a common condition in the general population. The genetic mechanism of AICU still is not fully understood. We investigated genetic polymorphisms of FcepsilonR1beta and FcepsilonR1gamma in patients with CU including AICU and aspirin-tolerant CU (ATCU) by analyzing the genotypes and haplotypes of four subsets of FcepsilonR1 genes in association with various clinical parameters.

Coronary-to-bronchial artery fistula: demonstration by 64-multidetector computed tomography with retrospective electrocardiogram-gated reconstructions.

Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate the incidence of coronary-to-bronchial artery fistula (CBF) and clinical significance in 1300 patients examined with 64-multidetector computed tomography (MDCT) coronary angiography.

Methods: One thousand three hundred ten patients underwent coronary MDCT for atypical chest pain or screening. Volume-rendering and multiplanar reconstruction images were reviewed, and subsequent cineangiographies were compared.