Association between matrix metalloproteinase 9 promoter polymorphisms and Behçet's disease.

Matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-9 expression is reported to be upregulated in several primary vasculitides. The -1562C>T and -91 [CA](n) repeat polymorphisms can affect MMP-9 promoter activity. We investigated the distributions of these functional polymorphisms in 122 patients with Behçet's disease (BD) and in 122 gender- and age-matched healthy controls.

Associations between interferon regulatory factor-1 polymorphisms and Behçet's disease.

Interferon regulatory factor-1 (IRF-1) is a transcription factor that regulates the functions of type I and II interferons and plays a role in host protection. Behçet's disease (BD) is an idiopathic systemic vasculitis that is often complicated with thrombotic features, and infectious agents have long been postulated to be a disease-triggering factor in its pathogenesis. The authors investigated the distributions of IRF-1 promoter -415 C/A, -410 A/G, and -300 A/G, and 3'-untranslated region (UTR) A/G polymorphisms in 105 BD patients (mean age 41.

Prostacyclin production is not controlled by prostacyclin synthase but by cyclooxygenase-2 in a human follicular dendritic cell line, HK.

We have recently demonstrated that human follicular dendritic cells (FDCs) strongly express prostacyclin synthase. The purpose of this study is to investigate the production mechanism of prostacyclin using the established human FDC line, HK. The levels of PGIS protein expression did not vary during the different stages of the cell cycle.

Interleukin-18 promoter polymorphisms in patients with Behçet's disease.

Behçet's disease (BD) is an idiopathic systemic inflammatory disease and is considered to be a T helper 1 (Th1) type cytokine driven disorder. Moreover, levels of interleukin-18 (IL-18), a pivotal mediator of Th1 cytokine response, have been reported to be upregulated in BD. Therefore, we investigated the distribution of IL-18 promoter -607 C/A and -137 G/C polymorphisms in 103 BD patients (mean age 41.

Clinical features of polyarteritis nodosa in Korea.

Polyarteritis nodosa (PAN) is a systemic vasculitis characterized by multi-organ involvement with protean manifestations. We evaluated the clinical features of PAN in Korea. Twenty-seven patients were diagnosed as PAN at Seoul National University Hospital between January 1990 and July 2003.

[The influence of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs on clinical outcome in patients with bleeding peptic ulcers].

Background/aims: We conducted this study to find the clinical characteristics of ulcer bleeding that occurred in patients who had been taking non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and to evaluate the influences of NSAIDs on clinical outcomes.

Methods: Between January 2000 and December 2002, a total of 310 patients with ulcer bleeding were analyzed. Study group composed of 49 patients who had taken NSAIDs regularly for at least 4 weeks before the admission.