Adoptive immunotherapy with transient anti-CD4 treatment enhances anti-tumor response by increasing IL-18Rα CD8 T cells.

Adoptive T cell therapy (ACT) requires lymphodepletion preconditioning to eliminate immune-suppressive elements and enable efficient engraftment of adoptively transferred tumor-reactive T cells. As anti-CD4 monoclonal antibody depletes CD4 immune-suppressive cells, the combination of anti-CD4 treatment and ACT has synergistic potential in cancer therapy. Here, we demonstrate a post-ACT conditioning regimen that involves transient anti-CD4 treatment (CD4).

Chronic activation of 4-1BB signaling induces granuloma development in tumor-draining lymph nodes that is detrimental to subsequent CD8 T cell responses.

The antitumor capabilities of agonistic anti-4-1BB mAbs have made them an attractive target for tumor immunotherapy. However, the adverse side effects associated with agonist antibodies have hindered their clinical development. Here, we aimed to study the immune-related adverse events of repeated doses and long-term use of agonistic anti-4-1BB mAbs.

Intraosseous Hemangioma of Nasal Bone: Unusual Cause of Epiphora.

Intraosseous hemangioma is very rare, accounting for <1% of bone tumors. Nasal bone origin of it is even rarer. A 63-year-old female patient visited our clinic with a complaint of epiphora.

Exhaled Nitric Oxide in Patients with Stable Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease: Clinical Implications of the Use of Inhaled Corticosteroids.

Background: Fractional exhaled nitric oxide (FeNO) is regarded as a potential biomarker for identifying eosinophilic inflammation. We aimed to evaluate the clinical implication of FeNO and its influence on inhaled corticosteroids (ICS) prescription rate in Korean chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) patients.

Methods: FeNO level and its association with clinical features were analyzed.

Clinical Characteristics of Korean Patients with Lung Cancer Who Have Programmed Death-Ligand 1 Expression.

Background: Programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1), a transmembrane protein, binds to the programmed death-1 (PD-1) receptor, and anti-PD-1 therapy enables immune responses against tumors. This study aimed to assess clinical characteristics of PD-L1 expression using immunohistochemistry among Korean patients with lung cancer.

Methods: We retrospectively reviewed the data of patients with pathologically proven lung cancer from a single institution.

Direct and Indirect Costs of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease in Korea.

Background: Understanding the burden of disease is important to establish cost-effective treatment strategies and to allocate healthcare resources appropriately. However, little reliable information is available regarding the overall economic burden imposed by chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) in Korea.

Methods: This study is a multicenter observational research on the COPD burden in Korea.

RELT negatively regulates the early phase of the T-cell response in mice.

RELT (tumor necrosis factor receptor superfamily member 19-like, TNFRSF19L) is a TNFR superfamily member that is primarily expressed in immune cells and lymphoid tissues, but whose immunological function is not well-defined. Here, we show that RELT is expressed by naive T cells and DCs, and their activation or maturation decreases RELT expression. Using RELT knockout (RELT ) mice, we demonstrate that RELT deficiency selectively promotes the homeostatic proliferation of CD4 T cells but not CD8 T cells, and enhances anti-tumor CD8 T-cell responses.

The hyaluronic acid-rich node and duct system is a structure organized for innate immunity and mediates the local inflammation.

The Hyaluronic Acid-rich Node and Duct System (HAR-NDS or NDS), Primo Vascular System (PVS) or Bonghan System (BHS), is thought to be a third circulatory system independent of the blood and lymphatic systems and a structure of connected nodes and ducts. Although it seems to be part of the immune system as it is enriched with cells of innate immunity, little is known about its immunological roles. We performed cellular profiling and secretome analysis of NDS in a steady state and under TLR2- or TLR4-mediated local inflammation, and found that the NDS is pre-dominantly enriched with the myeloid cells, selectively attracts the inflammatory macrophages and neutrophils, has a flexible structure just like the lymph node, and is structured with the fibroblastic reticular cells and reticular network.

Desensitized chimeric antigen receptor T cells selectively recognize target cells with enhanced antigen expression.

Chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cell therapy is an effective method for treating specific cancers. CARs are normally designed to recognize antigens, which are highly expressed on malignant cells but not on T cells. However, when T cells are engineered with CARs that recognize antigens expressed on the T cell surface, CAR T cells exhibit effector function on other T cells, which results in fratricide, or killing of neighboring T cells.

History of pulmonary tuberculosis affects the severity and clinical outcomes of COPD.

Background And Objective: Although an association between pulmonary tuberculosis (TB) and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) has been suggested, studies on the effect of TB in COPD patients have not been conducted. We aimed to investigate the severity and clinical outcomes of COPD in patients with and without a history of TB.

Methods: We retrospectively reviewed the data of 1784 patients with COPD in the Korean COPD Subtype Study cohort collected from December 2011 to January 2017 and followed up for 3 years.

Factors associated with plasma IL-33 levels in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

Background: Interleukin (IL)-33 promotes T helper (Th)2 immunity and systemic inflammation. The role of IL-33 in asthma has been widely investigated. IL-33 has also been suggested to play an important role in the pathogenesis of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).

Differences in the associations of anthropometric measures with insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes mellitus between Korean and US populations: Comparisons of representative nationwide sample data.

Backgrounds: Variation among ethnic groups in the association between obesity and insulin resistance (IR)/diabetes has been suggested, but studies reported inconsistent results. We evaluated ethnic differences in the association between obesity and insulin resistance (IR)/diabetes.

Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional analysis using Korea (n=18,845) and the USA (n=4657) National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey(NHANES) 2007-2010.

Adult stem cells from the hyaluronic acid-rich node and duct system differentiate into neuronal cells and repair brain injury.

The existence of a hyaluronic acid-rich node and duct system (HAR-NDS) within the lymphatic and blood vessels was demonstrated previously. The HAR-NDS was enriched with small (3.0-5.

Castleman's disease presenting as a tracheal mass.

Castleman's disease (CD) is a rare lymphoproliferative disorder of uncertain cause. The most common site of involvement is the mediastinum. Endotracheal CD is extremely rare.

4-1BB signal stimulates the activation, expansion, and effector functions of γδ T cells in mice and humans.

We show here that the expression of 4-1BB is rapidly induced in γδ T cells following antigenic stimulation in both mice and humans, and ligation of the newly acquired 4-1BB with an agonistic anti-4-1BB augments cell division and cytokine production. We further demonstrate that γδ rather than αβ T cells protect mice from Listeria monocytogenes (LM) infection and 4-1BB stimulation enhances the γδ T-cell activities in the acute phase of LM infection. IFN-γ produced from γδ T cells was the major soluble factor regulating LM infection.

Clinical characteristics and treatment outcomes of tuberculosis in the elderly: a case control study.

Background: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the differences in clinical characteristics and treatment outcomes between older and younger tuberculosis (TB) patients in Korea.

Methods: We retrospectively analyzed the medical records of 271 younger (20-64 years old at diagnosis) and 199 older (≥65 years) TB patients who had been newly diagnosed and treated at Chonnam National University Hospital from May 2008 to August 2010.

Results: Dyspnea and comorbid medical conditions were more frequent and positive TB culture rates were higher in older TB patients.

Endobronchial schwannoma treated by rigid bronchoscopy with argon plasma coagulation.

Primary endobronchial schwannomas are extremely rare tumors that originate from Schwann cells. We report a case of primary endobronchial schwannoma. A 44-year-old woman, without respiratory symptoms, was presented with a nodule in the left main bronchus on her chest computed tomography scan.

Analysis of patients with hemoptysis in a tertiary referral hospital.

Background: This study attempted to investigate the main causes of hemoptysis, the type of examinations used for diagnosis, the treatment modalities and outcomes.

Methods: A retrospective study was conducted on the medical records of 221 patients admitted to the Chonnam National University Hospital, between January 2005 and February 2010, with hemoptysis.

Results: Bronchiectasis (32.

Difference of Genome-Wide Copy Number Alterations between High-Grade Squamous Intraepithelial Lesions and Squamous Cell Carcinomas of the Uterine Cervix.

Background: About 10% of high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesions (HSILs) progress to invasive carcinomas within 2-10 years. By delineating the events that occur in the early stage of the invasion, the pathogenesis of cervical cancer could be better understood. This will also propose the possible methods for inhibiting the tumor invasion and improving the survival of patients.

Bacterial pathogens of ventilator associated pneumonia in a tertiary referral hospital.

Background: This study evaluates the bacterial pathogens of Ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) in a tertiary referral hospital.

Methods: A total of 109 bacterial pathogens from 91 adult patients with VAP, who were admitted to the medical intensive care unit from January 2008 to December 2009, were examined. Clinical characteristics, bacterial pathogens, and resistance profiles were analyzed.

Plasma N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide: a prognostic marker in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

Background: Plasma N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) levels are elevated in patients with secondary pulmonary hypertension and chronic lung disease with right ventricular overload. The aim of the present study was to investigate the use of plasma NT-proBNP levels as a prognostic marker of severe COPD with chronic respiratory failure and latent pulmonary hypertension.

Methods: Plasma NT-proBNP levels were measured in 61 patients with stable COPD.

Invariant natural killer T cells in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

Background And Objective: Invariant natural killer T (iNKT) cells may play an important role in regulating the innate and acquired immune systems in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). However, there is little information regarding the potential role of iNKT cells in the pathogenesis of COPD. To investigate whether iNKT cells have an important role in COPD, the frequency of iNKT cells in peripheral blood of patients with COPD was analysed.

Prognostic significance of syndecan-1 expression in cervical cancers.

Objective: Syndecans are reported to have variable expression in several solid tumors and blood cancers. The cause provoking altered expression of syndecans is not known to date. We studied copy number status of syndecan-1 (SDC1) and significance of SDC1 gene product (syndecan-1, SDC1) expression in cervical cancers.

Influence of diaphragmatic mobility on hypercapnia in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

A reduction in diaphragm mobility has been identified in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and has been associated with a decline in pulmonary function parameters. However, little information exists regarding the potential role of diaphragm mobility on hypercapnia in COPD. A new method of assessing the mobility of the diaphragm, using ultrasound, has recently been validated.

Apoptosis of T lymphocytes isolated from peripheral blood of patients with acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

Purpose: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is characterized by chronic inflammation of the airways and progressive destruction of lung parenchyma. Apoptosis is critical for the maintenance of normal tissue homeostasis and is in equilibrium with proliferation and differentiation. This study was undertaken to investigate relationship between apoptosis of peripheral blood lymphocytes during exacerbation of COPD and inflammatory response that characterizes this condition.