Genetic variation and epigenetic factors are thought to contribute to the development of hypersensitivity to aspirin. DNA methylation fluctuates dynamically throughout the day. To discover new CpG methylation in lymphocytes associated with aspirin-exacerbated respiratory disease (AERD), we evaluated changes in global CpG methylation profiles from before to after an oral aspirin challenge in patients with AERD and aspirin-tolerant asthma (ATA).
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: Neutrophilic inflammation is a characteristic feature of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF). S100 calcium-binding protein A9 (S100A9) is a neutrophil-derived protein involved in the development of neutrophil-related chronic inflammatory disorders. However, the role of S100A9 in IPF remains unclear.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFPurpose: A subset of asthmatics suffers from persistent airflow limitation, known as remodeled asthma, despite optimal treatment. Typical quantitative scoring methods to evaluate structural changes of airway remodeling on high-resolution computed tomography (HRCT) are time-consuming and laborious. Thus, easier and simpler methods are required in clinical practice.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: Aspirin-exacerbated respiratory disease (AERD), an asthma phenotype, often presents with severe manifestations and it remains widely underdiagnosed because of insufficient awareness of the relationship between the ingestion of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, including acetylsalicylic acid (ASA), and asthma exacerbation. Our previous genome-wide association study demonstrated an association between a single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) of the ATP8B3 gene and the risk of AERD. This study examined AERD-related SNPs of the ATP8B3 gene in a large population.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFCefepime is a fourth-generation cephalosporin that is active against both gram-positive and gram-negative organisms. It is administered parenterally for the treatment of severe infections. Approximately 85% of the drug is excreted unchanged by the kidneys.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFObjective: To determine abnormal MRI findings in adults hospitalized with acute severe axial LBP.
Method: Sixty patients with back pain were divided into 3 groups consisting of 1) 23 adults with acute axial severe LBP who could not sit up or stand up for several days, but had not experienced previous back-related diseases or trauma (group A), 2) 19 adults who had been involved in a minor traffic accident, and had mild symptoms but not limited mobility (group B), and 3) 18 adults with LBP with radicular pain (group C)., Various MRI findings were assessed among the above 3 groups and compared as follows: disc herniation (protrusion, extrusion), lumbar disc degeneration (LDD), annular tear, high intensity zone (HIZ), and endplate changes.