Myopericytoma in the Antitragus of the Auricle: A Rare Tumor.

A myopericytoma in the auricle is rare. If an auricle contains a large, firm, red-brown mass, excision should be considered because the mass may be a myopericytoma. After excision, histopathological and immunohistochemical diagnoses are essential to rule out malignancy.

A case report of immunoglobulin M nephropathy manifesting as crescentic glomerulonephritis and nephrotic syndrome in an adult.

Background: The nature of immunoglobulin M (IgM) nephropathy has been controversial for a long time, but it is now considered an independent disease like immunoglobulin A nephropathy. IgM nephropathy has been known to have various clinical manifestations ranging from asymptomatic hematuria and/or proteinuria to nephrotic syndrome. Recently, one case of IgM nephropathy manifesting as crescentic glomerulonephritis (GN) was reported in a child.

Deficiency of glutathione peroxidase-1 and catalase attenuated diet-induced obesity and associated metabolic disorders.

Aims: Oxidative stress has been considered to contribute to the development of obesity-related metabolic disorders including insulin resistance. To the contrary, deficiency of an anti-oxidizing enzyme, glutathione peroxidase (GPx)-1, was reported to enhance insulin signaling, suggesting that oxidative stress may inhibit the development of type 2 diabetes. However, the beneficial effects of the absence of GPx-1 in metabolic homeostasis, including body weight control, have not yet been clearly manifested.

Three cases of multicentric carpotarsal osteolysis syndrome: a case series.

Background: Multicentric carpotarsal osteolysis syndrome (MCTO) is characterized by progressive destruction and disappearance of the carpal and tarsal bones associated with nephropathy. MCTO is caused by loss-of-function mutations in the MAF bZIP transcription factor B (MAFB) gene.

Case Presentation: This report describes three unrelated patients with MAFB mutations, including two male and one female patient.

Determination of the optimal target level of proteinuria in the management of patients with glomerular diseases by using different definitions of proteinuria.

Proteinuria is a major determinant of adverse renal outcome, and its reduction slows renal progression in glomerular diseases. However, the optimal target of proteinuria in glomerular diseases is unclear, and discrepancies in the definition of proteinuria produce ambiguous findings. Here we investigated the optimal target of proteinuria by using different definitions of proteinuria.

Attenuation of collagen-induced arthritis by hyperbaric oxygen therapy through altering immune balance in favor of regulatory T cells.

Hyperbaric oxygen (HBO₂) therapy is currently used for the treatment of chronic wounds, radiation-induced soft tissue necrosis, several oxygen-deficiency conditions and decompression sickness. In addition to the current indications, much empirical and experimental data suggest that HBO₂ therapy may benefit autoimmune diseases by suppressing immunity, but the underlying mechanism is not well understood. Therefore, in the present study, we investigated whether HBO₂ prevents the development of collagen-induced arthritis (CIA) in association with alteration of the immune balance between pro-inflammatory Th17 and anti-inflammatory regulatory T cells (Tregs).

Clinical usefulness of the Oxford classification in determining immunosuppressive treatment in IgA nephropathy.

Background: The Oxford classification has been widely used in IgA nephropathy. However, its clinical usefulness of determining immunosuppression is unknown.

Aim: Whether the Oxford classification could predict the development of proteinuria ≥1 g/g Cr and worsening kidney function, as well as the clinical efficacy of corticosteroid treatment according to each histologic variable of the Oxford-MEST.

Effect of low-dose valsartan on proteinuria in normotensive immunoglobulin A nephropathy with minimal proteinuria: a randomized trial.

Background/aims: Immunoglobulin A nephropathy (IgAN) is a generally progressive disease, even in patients with favorable prognostic features. In this study, we aimed to investigate the antiproteinuric effect and tolerability of low-dose valsartan (an angiotensin II receptor blocker) therapy in normotensive IgAN patients with minimal proteinuria of less than 0.5 to 1.

Solitary Fibrous Tumor of Central Nervous System: A Case Report.

Solitary fibrous tumor (SFT) is a rare neoplasm of mesenchymal origin, especially in the central nervous system (CNS). Reported herein is a case of SFT of CNS in a 63-year-old female patient who had confused mentality, without other neurological deficit. The brain MRI showed an ovoid mass in the right frontal lobe.

Primary pulmonary meningioma: an unusual cause of a nodule with strong and homogeneous enhancement.

We report a case of a 61-year-old female with atypical chest pain. The chest CT scan revealed a well-circumscribed large intrapulmonary nodule that showed vigorous and homogeneous contrast enhancement. The nodule was diagnosed as a meningioma after surgery.

The olfactory groove schwannoma attached to the cribriform plate: a case report.

The olfactory groove schwannoma is a quite rare tumor. We report a case of a 49-year-old woman with an olfactory groove schwannoma attached to the cribriform plate without olfactory dysfunction. She had no specific neurological symptoms other than a headache, and resection of the tumor showed it to be a schwannoma.

Rapidly developed squamous cell carcinoma after laser therapy used to treat chemical burn wound: a case report.

Background: In chronic wounds, especially burn scars, malignant tumors can arise. However, it is rare for a subacute burn injury to change to a malignant lesion within one month. Moreover, a case of squamous cell carcinoma arising from HeNe laser therapy after a chemical burn has never been reported.

Hyperoxygenation attenuated a murine model of atopic dermatitis through raising skin level of ROS.

Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a chronic inflammatory skin disease resulting from excessive stimulation of immune cells. Traditionally, reactive oxygen species (ROS) have been implicated in the progression of inflammatory diseases, but several opposing observations suggest the protective role of ROS in inflammatory disease. Recently, we demonstrated ROS prevented imiquimod-induced psoriatic dermatitis through enhancing regulatory T cell function.

Optimal proteinuria target for renoprotection in patients with IgA nephropathy.

Background: Proteinuria is a target for renoprotection in kidney diseases. However, optimal level of proteinuria reduction in IgA nephropathy (IgAN) is unknown.

Methods: We conducted a retrospective observational study in 500 patients with biopsy-proven IgAN.

Attenuation of experimental colitis in glutathione peroxidase 1 and catalase double knockout mice through enhancing regulatory T cell function.

Reactive oxygen species (ROS) have been implicated in the progression of inflammatory diseases including inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD). Meanwhile, several studies suggested the protective role of ROS in immune-mediated inflammatory diseases, and it was recently reported that dextran sodium sulfate (DSS)-induced colitis was attenuated in mice with an elevated level of ROS due to deficiency of peroxiredoxin II. Regulatory T cells (Tregs) are critical in the prevention of IBD and Treg function was reported to be closely associated with ROS level, but it has been investigated only in lowered levels of ROS so far.

Clinical features and outcomes of focal segmental glomerulosclerosis pathologic variants in Korean adult patients.

Background: Many studies have shown that clinical characteristics and outcomes differ depending on pathologic variants of focal segmental glomerulosclerosis (FSGS). However, these are not well defined in Asian populations.

Methods: This retrospective study evaluated clinical features and outcomes of pathologic FSGS variants in 111 adult patients between January 2004 and December 2012.

Reactive oxygen species prevent imiquimod-induced psoriatic dermatitis through enhancing regulatory T cell function.

Psoriasis is a chronic inflammatory skin disease resulting from immune dysregulation. Regulatory T cells (Tregs) are important in the prevention of psoriasis. Traditionally, reactive oxygen species (ROS) are known to be implicated in the progression of inflammatory diseases, including psoriasis, but many recent studies suggested the protective role of ROS in immune-mediated diseases.

Comparison of the Haas and the Oxford classifications for prediction of renal outcome in patients with IgA nephropathy.

Pathologic features can provide valuable information for determining prognosis in IgA nephropathy (IgAN). However, it is uncertain whether the Oxford classification, a new classification of IgAN, can predict renal outcome better than previous ones. We conducted a retrospective cohort study in 500 patients with biopsy-proven IgAN between January 2002 and December 2010 to compare the ability of the Haas and the Oxford classifications to predict renal outcome.

CD4⁺CD25⁺ regulatory T cells from MRL/lpr mice were functionally more active in vitro but did not prevent spontaneous as well as adriamycin-induced nephropathy in vivo.

Objective: The frequency and function of Tregs are important in the pathogenesis of SLE. Nonetheless, the function of Tregs is still controversial in SLE patients and lupus mouse models. In the present study, we investigated the suppressive function of Tregs from MRL/lpr mice in vitro and in vivo by using an alternative quantitative assay.

Immunoglobulin A nephropathy associated with Plasmodium falciparum malaria.

Glomerulonephritis occurs as a rare form of renal manifestation in Plasmodium falciparum malaria. Herein, we report a case of falciparum malaria-associated IgA nephropathy for the first time. A 49-yr old male who had been to East Africa was diagnosed with Plasmodium falciparum malaria.

Clinical features and outcomes of IgA nephropathy with nephrotic syndrome.

Background And Objectives: Nephrotic syndrome (NS) is a rare manifestation of IgA nephropathy (IgAN). Clinical characteristics and long-term outcomes of this condition have not yet been explored.

Design, Setting, Participants, & Measurements: A multicenter observational study was conducted between January 2000 and September 2010 in 1076 patients with biopsy-proven IgAN from four medical centers in Korea.

Spontaneous remission of IgA nephropathy associated with resolution of hepatitis A.

Although most cases of immunoglobulin A (IgA) nephropathy are idiopathic, several diseases are associated with IgA nephropathy. Of these, chronic liver disease resulting from hepatitis B or C virus infection has been reported as a secondary cause of IgA nephropathy. Recently, hepatitis A virus (HAV)-associated kidney disease has received attention because acute kidney injury can occur as a complication of HAV infection, generally caused by acute tubular necrosis or interstitial nephritis.

Spontaneous remission of nephrotic syndrome in patients with IgA nephropathy.

Background: IgA nephropathy (IgAN) can be complicated by nephrotic syndrome. Because the spontaneous resolution of heavy proteinuria is rare, corticosteroid therapy should be considered in such cases, particularly when IgAN is combined with minimal-change disease. Here, we report our experience of spontaneous remission of nephrotic syndrome in patients with IgAN and the long-term outcomes of these patients.

JAK2 V617F/C618R mutation in a patient with polycythemia vera: a case study and review of the literature.

The acquired Janus kinase 2 (JAK2) V617F mutation shows a high frequency in diverse BCR/ABL-negative chronic myeloproliferative disorders (CMPD), and it is typically associated with polycythemia vera (PV). The frequency of JAK2 V617F mutation is about 90% in patients with PV, 50-60% in patients with essential thrombocythemia (ET), primary myelofibrosis (PMF), and less in patients with other myeloid neoplasms, while extremely rare in lymphoid malignancies. About 20 kinds of novel mutations of JAK2 other than V617F have been reported recently in the literature.