Voxel-based Three-dimensional Segmentation of the Capsulo-synovium from Contrast-enhanced MRI Can Represent Clinical Impairments in Adhesive Capsulitis.

The purposes were to calculate total voxel volume of the entire capsulo-synovial enhanced portion on contrast-enhanced (CE) MRI in adhesive capsulitis, and to investigate its association with glenohumeral joint volume and passive range of motions (ROMs), which are a well-known diagnostic reference standard and clinical hallmark of this condition. Medical records of 169 consecutive patients who underwent ultrasound-guided intraarticular injection with adhesive capsulitis and CE-MRI to exclude other mimicking shoulder diseases were retrospectively reviewed. To calculate total voxel volume of entire capsulo-synovial enhanced portion on CE-MRI, voxel-based 3-dimensional (3D) segmentation was obtained semi-automatically using Fiji, an open-source image processing software.

Quantitative Analysis of Swallowing Function Between Dysphagia Patients and Healthy Subjects Using High-Resolution Manometry.

Objective: To compare swallowing function between healthy subjects and patients with pharyngeal dysphagia using high resolution manometry (HRM) and to evaluate the usefulness of HRM for detecting pharyngeal dysphagia.

Methods: Seventy-five patients with dysphagia and 28 healthy subjects were included in this study. Diagnosis of dysphagia was confirmed by a videofluoroscopy.

Ability of High-Resolution Manometry to Determine Feeding Method and to Predict Aspiration Pneumonia in Patients With Dysphagia.

Objectives: The introduction of high-resolution manometry (HRM) offered an improved method to objectively analyze the status of pharynx and esophagus. At present, HRM for patients with oropharyngeal dysphagia has been poorly studied. We aimed to determine feeding method and predict the development of aspiration pneumonia in patients with oropharyngeal dysphagia using HRM.

Long-Term Outcome and Factors Affecting Prognosis of Extracorporeal Shockwave Therapy for Chronic Refractory Achilles Tendinopathy.

Objective: To investigate the factors affecting prognosis of extracorporeal shockwave therapy (ESWT) for chronic refractory Achilles tendinopathy (AT).

Methods: Thirty-six patients (48 consecutive feet) with chronic AT (>6 months) and who underwent ESWT for 'poor' or 'fair' grade in Roles-Maudsley Score (RMS) after unsuccessful conservative treatment were included in the present study. A maximum of 12 sessions of ESWT were conducted until treatment success: RMS reached 'good' or 'excellent'.

Early Experiences with the Endovascular Repair of Ruptured Descending Thoracic Aortic Aneurysm.

Background: The aim of this study was to report our early experiences with the endovascular repair of ruptured descending thoracic aortic aneurysms (rDTAAs), which are a rare and life-threatening condition.

Methods: Among 42 patients who underwent thoracic endovascular aortic repair (TEVAR) between October 2010 and September 2015, five patients (11.9%) suffered an rDTAA.

Transcatheter arterial embolization therapy for a massive polycystic liver in autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease patients.

Polycystic liver is the most common extra-renal manifestation associated with autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD), comprising up to 80% of all features. Patients with polycystic liver often suffer from abdominal discomfort, dyspepsia, or dyspnea; however, there have been few ways to relieve their symptoms effectively and safely. Therefore, we tried transcatheter arterial embolization (TAE), which has been used in treating hepatocellular carcinoma.

Baseline peritoneal solute transport rate is not associated with markers of systemic inflammation or comorbidity in incident Korean peritoneal dialysis patients.

Background: It is controversial whether comorbid status or systemic inflammation has an influence on the peritoneal solute transport rate (PSTR). Our aim is to elucidate whether baseline PSTR is associated with markers of systemic inflammation or degree of comorbidity in incident peritoneal dialysis (PD) patients.

Methods: One hundred and ninety-five incident PD patients were prospectively included.

Molecular characterization of miniature porcine RANTES and its chemotactic effect on human mononuclear cells.

To elucidate the potential role of porcine RANTES (Regulated upon Activation Normal T cells Expressed and Secreted) in xenograft rejection, we investigated its chemotactic activity for human mononuclear cells, as well as the effect of human cytokines on its expression in porcine endothelial cells. Porcine RANTES cDNA was successfully cloned from aortic endothelial cells of miniature pigs, and its protein expression was induced by transfection. Its deduced amino acid sequence was 83.

Molecular cloning, expression and functional characterization of miniature swine CD86.

CD86 is one of the key molecules involved in the co-stimulation of T cells. The complete cDNA encoding CD86 molecule of miniature swine was cloned and analyzed. A comparison of two CD86 amino acid sequences of miniature swine and domestic swine showed only three amino acid differences suggesting that it is unlikely to affect the major structural features of the miniature swine CD86 (msCD86).

Choice of the adequate detection time for the accurate evaluation of the efficiency of siRNA-induced gene silencing.

RNA interference (RNAi) mediated by small interfering RNA (siRNA) has become a popular tool of examining the function of various genes. However, many studies have failed to identify any inhibitory effect of the siRNAs on the expression of the target gene, even though the siRNA being tested had been designed sequence-specifically. In order to determine if this failure is due to the incorrect choice of observation time rather than that of the target site of the gene of interest, this study examined the RNAi efficiency of a vector-driven siRNA targeting two different reporter proteins, EGFP and d2EGFP, whose targeted sequences were identical but the half-lives within the cells differed remarkably from each other (>24h versus 2h), during the time course after transfection.

Establishment and characterization of endothelial cell lines from the aorta of miniature pig for the study of xenotransplantation.

Pig endothelial cells are the first cells to interact with human immune components after organ xenotransplantation, which is a procedure currently considered to be the best treatment option for end-stage organ failure. It is, therefore, essential to study the mechanisms of molecular interaction between pig endothelial cells and human immune components, in order to overcome xenograft rejection. The aim of this study was to establish immortalized pig aortic endothelial cell lines, in order to facilitate future in vitro studies of human anti-pig immune responses.

Two cases of pure red-cell aplasia due to anti-erythropoietin antibodies.

We report on two Korean patients who developed pure red-cell aplasia (PRCA) due to anti-erythropoietin (EPO) antibodies. The first patient became refractory to EPO treatment after a good response for an initial 26 months. Anti-EPO antibodies were detected by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and by radioimmunoprecipitation (RIPA), and these were found to inhibit erythroid colony formation by in vitro bioassay.

Histological grading of IgA nephropathy predicting renal outcome: revisiting H. S. Lee's glomerular grading system.

Background: The glomerular grading system is useful to compare biopsy specimens and to predict the natural course of disease in IgA nephropathy (IgAN), although no grading system can be perfect.

Methods: H. S.

Down-regulation of MHC class I expression in human neuronal stem cells using viral stealth mechanism.

Due to their unique capacity for self-renewal in addition to their ability to differentiate into cells of all neuronal lineages, neuronal stem cells (NSCs) are promising candidates for cell replacement therapy in neuronal injury and neurodegenerative diseases. However, there are few studies on immune rejection, which is one of the main problems facing successful stem cell therapy. In order to determine if human NSC might be rejected after transplantation the MHC expression level was examined in the HB1.

Targeted gene disruption of the heat shock protein 72 gene (hsp70.1) in the donor tissue is associated with a prolonged rejection-free survival in the murine skin allograft model.

It is known that the expression level of the heat shock protein (HSP) is elevated in allograft tissues, but the specific role of the HSP in the acute rejection has not been elucidated. This study aims to determine how and when the HSP72 molecule works immunologically in the process of acute allograft rejection from a skin graft model in which HSP72 (hsp70.1 gene) knock out (KO) mice were adopted either as a donor or as a recipient.

MHC expression in a human adult stem cell line and its down-regulation by hCMV US gene transfection.

Due to their unique capacity to self-renew and for multiple differentiation, stem cells are considered promising candidates for cell replacement therapy in many devastating diseases. However, studies on immune rejection, which is a major problem facing successful stem cell therapy, are rare. In this study, we examined MHC expression in the M13SV1 cell line, which has previously been shown to have stem cell properties and to be non-tumorigenic, in order to determine whether human adult stem cells might be rejected after transplantation.

Recombinant uteroglobin prevents the experimental crescentic glomerulonephritis.

Background: Although uteroglobin is known to have an immunomodulatory property and prevents the deposition of immune-complexes on the glomeruli of mice, the therapeutic potential of uteroglobin is uncertain in glomerulonephritis. To test the hypothesis that uteroglobin can prevent glomerulonephritis, we have studied the effects of recombinant uteroglobin on the development of experimental crescentic glomerulonephritis that is induced by anti-glomerular basement membrane (anti-GBM) antibodies.

Methods And Results: Glomerulonephritis was induced by the intravenous injection of rabbit anti-GBM globulin antibodies into mice (C57BL/6), and renal injury was evaluated 7, 14, and 21 days afterward.

Antidiuretic action of oxytocin is associated with increased urinary excretion of aquaporin-2.

Background: The antidiuretic effect of oxytocin in humans is controversial. Urinary excretion of aquaporin-2 (AQP2) can be used as an index of the action of vasopressin on the kidney. We investigated whether exogenous oxytocin affects urinary concentration and urinary AQP2 excretion in human beings.

The urine-blood PCO gradient as a diagnostic index of H(+)-ATPase defect distal renal tubular acidosis.

Background: Urine pH during acidemia and urine PCO2 upon alkalization both may be useful to indicate H+ secretion from collecting ducts. The urine anion gap has been used to detect urinary NH4+ for differential diagnosis of hyperchloremic metabolic acidosis. We have previously demonstrated that the lack of normal H(+)-ATPase may underlie secretory defect distal renal tubular acidosis (dRTA).

Clinicopathological correlation of intrarenal cytokines and chemokines in IgA nephropathy.

The pathogenetic mechanisms of IgA nephropathy are diverse and are not yet clearly elucidated. We believe pro-inflammatory cytokines, Th1/Th2, and chemokines would be involved in the pathogenetic pathways and would affect the functional and histological consequences of IgA nephropathy. By using semiquantitative reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reactions (RT-PCR), we measured the level of intrarenal gene expression of various cytokines and chemokines in 61 renal core biopsy specimens confirmed as IgA nephropathy.

Inducible nitric oxide synthase inhibitors prolonged the survival of skin xenografts through selective down-regulation of pro-inflammatory cytokine and CC-chemokine expressions.

To elucidate the possible immunoregulatory role of nitric oxide (NO) in cellular xenograft rejection we performed rat-to-mouse skin xenotransplantation. The rat skin engrafted mice were treated with the inducible NO synthase (iNOS) inhibitors, aminoguanidine (AMG, 200 mg/kg) and NG-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME, 60 mg/kg) every other day until rejection. Skin xenograft survival was monitored and immune cell infiltration and intragraft cytokine and chemokine mRNA expressions were analyzed 7 days after grafting.

Effect of peritoneal dialysis on plasma and peritoneal fluid concentrations of isoniazid, pyrazinamide, and rifampin.

Objective: This study was performed to elucidate the pharmacokinetic profiles of antimycobacterial regimens for peritoneal dialysis patients.

Patients: Nine patients on maintenance continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD) were included in this study.

Methods: After administering a conventional oral dose of antituberculosis medications, we measured plasma and peritoneal fluid concentrations of isoniazid by fluorometry, and rifampin and pyrazinamide by high performance liquid chromatography.

The polymorphism of monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 is associated with the renal disease of SLE.

Background: Renal involvement in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) varies from none to full-blown disease. Monocyte chemoattractant protein (MCP-1) is implicated in the activation of inflammatory cells and has been suggested to affect the progression of lupus nephritis (LN).

Methods: In the 5' flanking region of the MCP-1 gene, a guanine (G)/adenine (A) transition identified at position -2518 upstream from the transcription site was reported to be associated with circulating levels.