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We propose a passively coherent combined polarization beam system composed of a polarization Michelson interferometer and a two-pass amplifier. We investigate the output characteristics, such as the output power, spectrum, and intensity autocorrelation signal of the two-pulse combined beam, and compare the results with one of the two divided pulses utilized for the beam combination. We found that the intensity autocorrelation signal width difference between the two compared beams was less than 1%.

This letter presents a framework for the target-less extrinsic calibration of stereo cameras and light detection and ranging (LiDAR) sensors with a non-overlapping field of view (FOV). In order to solve extrinsic calibration problems under such challenging configurations, the proposed solution exploits road markings as static and robust features among the various objects that are present in urban environments. First, this study utilizes road markings that are commonly captured by the two sensor modalities to select informative images for estimating the extrinsic parameters. In order to accomplish stable optimization, multiple cost functions are defined, including normalized information distance (NID), edge alignment, and plane fitting cost. Therefore, a smooth cost curve is formed for global optimization to prevent convergence to the local optimal point. We further evaluate each cost function by examining parameter sensitivity near the optimal point. Another key characteristic of extrinsic calibration, repeatability, is analyzed by conducting the proposed method multiple times with varying randomly perturbed initial points.

Research in electrochemical energy storage is converging to target systems with battery-level energy density, and capacitor-level cycling stability and power density. One approach is to utilize redox-active electrolytes that add faradaic charge storage to increase energy density of supercapacitors. Aqueous redox-active electrolytes are simple to prepare and to up-scale; and, can be synergistically optimized to fully utilize the dynamic charge/discharge and storage properties of micro/mesoporous carbon based electrode systems. However, aqueous redox-enhanced electrochemical capacitors (redox ECs) have performed relatively poorly, primarily due to the cross-diffusion of soluble redox couples, reduced cycle life, and low operating voltages. In this presentation, we show that these challenges can be met by the use of liquid-to-solid phase transitions of redox electrolyte molecules, and their reversible confinement in the pores ( > 2 nm) of high-surface-area electrodes. This approach is demonstrated by the use of bromide catholyte and modified hydrophobic cations (e.g., viologens and tetrabutylammonium) that together induce reversible solid-state complexation of Br2/Br3 –. This mechanism solves the cross-diffusion issue of redox ECs without using costly ion-selective membranes, and has the added benefit of stabilizing the reactive bromine generated during charging. Using the concepts learned from this 1st generation configuration, we further developed high-performance aqueous-based redox ECs by (1) synthesizing differently functionalized/substituted viologen molecules and (2) optimizing the interfacial interactions between the viologens and hierarchically porous-structured carbon electrodes. In the second part of this presentation, we show systematic approaches to explore optimal parameters to improve the energy storage capacity of the device.

In this work, we report the carbon fiber-based wire-type asymmetric supercapacitors (ASCs). The highly conductive carbon fibers were prepared by the carbonized and graphitized process using the polyimide (PI) as a carbon fiber precursor. To assemble the ASC device, the CoMnO2-coated and Fe2O3-coated carbon fibers were used as the cathode and the anode materials, respectively. Herein, the nanostructured CoMnO2 were directly deposited onto carbon fibers by a chemical oxidation route without high temperature treatment in presence of ammonium persulfate (APS) as an oxidizing agent. FE-SEM analysis confirmed that the CoMnO2-coated carbon fiber electrode exhibited the porous hierarchical interconnected nanosheet structures, depending on the added amount of APS, and Fe2O3-coated carbon fiber electrode showed a uniform distribution of porous Fe2O3 nanorods over the surface of carbon fibers. The electrochemical properties of the CoMnO2-coated carbon fiber with the concentration of 6 mmol APS presented the enhanced electrochemical activity, probably due to its porous morphologies and good conductivity. Further, to reduce the interfacial contact resistance as well as improve the adhesion between transition metal nanostructures and carbon fibers, the carbon fibers were pre-coated with the Ni layer as a seed layer using an electrochemical deposition method. The fabricated ASC device delivered a specific capacitance of 221 F g&minus, 1 at 0.7 A g&minus, 1 and good rate capability of 34.8% at 4.9 A g&minus, 1. Moreover, the wire-type device displayed the superior energy density of 60.2 Wh kg&minus, 1 at a power density of 490 W kg&minus, 1 and excellent capacitance retention of 95% up to 3000 charge/discharge cycles.

This paper introduces a multimodal range dataset namely for radio detection and ranging (radar) and light detection and ranging (LiDAR) specifically targeting the urban environment. By extending our workshop paper [1] to a larger scale, this dataset focuses on the range sensor-based place recognition and provides 6D baseline trajectories of a vehicle for place recognition ground truth. Provided radar data support both raw-level and image-format data, including a set of time-stamped 1D intensity arrays and 360◦ polar images, respectively. In doing so, we provide flexibility between raw data and image data depending on the purpose of the research. Unlike existing datasets, our focus is at capturing both temporal and structural diversities for range-based place recognition research. For evaluation, we applied and validated that our previous location descriptor and its search algorithm [2] are highly effective for radar place recognition method. Furthermore, the result shows that radar-based place recognition outperforms LiDAR-based one exploiting its longer-range measurements. The dataset is available from https://sites.google.com/view/mulran-pr

Graphitic carbon nitride-carbon nanofiber (g-CN-CNF) was synthesized as a bifunctional catalyst in an anion-exchange membrane water electrolyzer (AEMWE), and primary and rechargeable Zn–air cells. The g-CN-CNF catalyst shows high catalytic activity for oxygen reduction reaction and oxygen evolution reaction in half-cell, with low overpotentials and low Tafel slopes. The high activity is attributed to the synergistic effect of abundant active sites and the electrical conductivity following the pyrolysis of g-CN and CNF. As a result, AEMWE with the g-CN-CNF anode, the first application of a carbon-based catalyst, exhibits outstanding performance that is the highest record in the literature for AEMWE using a non-noble metal catalyst. In addition, the performance and durability of Zn-air cells with g-CN-CNF cathode outperform those fabricated with commercial platinum.

This article mainly deals with 15th century’s sino-korean relations based on recent research as a founding stone for comprehensive reexamination of sino-korean relationship from 15th century to 19th century. In the beginning of 15th century, going through the chaotic and turbulent period of the latter of 14th century, so called ‘Ming Order’ which had functioned as a basic framework for Ming-Choson relationship was established. The sino-korean relationship was very closely linked with China(Yuan and Ming)’s external policy and international change of relationships, so the extent of this relation’s change around 1400 was an unprecedented level. Therefore we have no choice but to pay attention to international relationships in which China played a central role first in order to fully understand Korea-China relations during 15th century. For this purpose, this article at first described the wholistic big picture of East Asian world. Second, I try to embody the detail of sino-korean relationship which was constantly connected with international relations. At last, I manage to reshape the sino-korean relations through several and comprehensive perspectives of korea-japan relations and sino-japan relations. Ming china exercised her political influence mainly through the ritual protocol toward neighboring countries such as Korea, Annam, which was totally different way of method with Mongol’s world order or Yuan system. At the same time, influential Ming emperors, especially Hongwu and Yongle, reestablished traditional, powerful, and monistic tributary system. This system conveys the idea, “Hua-yi yi jia”, which means that northern Yi(barbarian) and southern Hua(Chinese people) were unified as one family. This idea was completely the legacy of Yuan experience. Given such continuity and change of east asian history, ‘special relationship’ rather than ‘typical relationship’ should be more suited for describing the 15th century sino-korean relations as they were.

Background Neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (NGAL) is a biomarker for acute kidney injury. This study was conducted to determine the clinical implications of perioperative plasma NGAL levels for renal function after living donor nephrectomy. Methods Between July 2013 and May 2014, 112 donors underwent live donor nephrectomy at our institution. Donor plasma NGAL levels were measured perioperatively for 6 months. The relationship between perioperative plasma NGAL and recovery of renal function was analyzed. Renal function was estimated with the Modification of Diet in Renal Disease formula. Results Mean preoperative NGAL was 62.1 ± 29.5 ng/mL. Plasma NGAL was most elevated 1 week postoperatively (218 ± 95.5 ng/mL), and stabilized after 1 month (122.9 ± 45.3 ng/mL). Preoperative plasma NGAL was not correlated with donor age or preoperative estimated glomerular filtration rates (eGFR), but was negatively correlated with 6-month eGFR (r = −0.458, P < .001). During the observation period, plasma NGAL at 1 week was most correlated with 6-month eGFR (r = −0.554, P < .001). An ROC curve analysis showed that age, preoperative eGFR, and 1-week postoperative plasma NGAL were highly predictive of developing of chronic kidney disease (CKD), defined as eGFR

Syndrome pattern (SP) is a core concept of Chinese medicine (CM) and is used to diagnose and treat patients based on an overall analysis of symptoms and signs. This study aimed to systematically review randomized controlled trials (RCTs) using the SP concept and to demonstrate how the SP concept could be applied to the study design of parallel RCTs, considering a gold standard of clinical research. After conducting a brief systematic review by way of a PubMed search, we analyzed how the SP concept was applied to the design of RCT in a CM herbal medicine trial. We then formulated possible research questions, applied the SP concept to answer the research questions, and suggested possible RCT designs to be used for conducting future trials. Fourteen RCTs were included in our systematic review, and three key points of the SP concept were formulated for the design of parallel RCTs: the time point of SP diagnosis between before and after randomization; the relationship between the international classification of diseases (ICD) and SP for the inclusion of target population; and the proper diagnostic method of SP. In this study, we formulated three possible research questions and then suggested perspectives for five possible RCT models arrived at using SP concepts. Future trials applying SP concept to RCTs should overcome the shortcomings of past SP trials, moving CM forward from experience-based to evidence-based medicine.

Langerhans cells (LCs) are epidermal dendritic cells with incompletely understood origins that associate with hair follicles for unknown reasons. Here we show that in response to external stress, mouse hair follicles recruited Gr-1(hi) monocyte-derived precursors of LCs whose epidermal entry was dependent on the chemokine receptors CCR2 and CCR6, whereas the chemokine receptor CCR8 inhibited the recruitment of LCs. Distinct hair-follicle regions had differences in their expression of ligands for CCR2 and CCR6. The isthmus expressed the chemokine CCL2; the infundibulum expressed the chemokine CCL20; and keratinocytes in the bulge produced the chemokine CCL8, which is the ligand for CCR8. Thus, distinct hair-follicle keratinocyte subpopulations promoted or inhibited repopulation with LCs via differences in chemokine production, a feature also noted in humans. Pre-LCs failed to enter hairless skin in mice or humans, which establishes hair follicles as portals for LCs.

PURPOSE Dendritic cell (DC) vaccination for melanoma was introduced because melanoma carries distinct tumor-associated antigens. The purpose of this study was to investigate the efficacy and safety of DC vaccination for melanoma in Korea. MATERIALS AND METHODS Five patients with stage IV and one with stage II were enrolled. Autologous monocyte-derived DCs (MoDCs) were cultured and pulsed with tumor-lysate, keyhole limpet hemocyanin, and cytokine cocktail for mature antigen-loaded DC. DC vaccination was repeated four times at 2-week intervals and 2-4×10⁷ DC were injected each time. RESULTS Reduced tumor volume was observed by PET-CT in three patients after DC vaccination. Delayed type hypersensitivity responses against tumor antigen were induced in five patients. Tumor antigen-specific IFN-γ-producing peripheral blood mononuclear cells were detected with enzyme-linked immunosorbent spot in two patients. However, the overall clinical outcome showed disease progression in all patients. CONCLUSION In this study, DC vaccination using tumor antigen-loaded, mature MoDCs led to tumor regression in individual melanoma patients. Further standardization of DC vaccination protocol is required to determine which parameters lead to better anti-tumor responses and clinical outcomes.

본 논문은 “중국 전근대 도시란 무엇인가?”라는 기본 질문으로부터 시작된 것으로, 명대 성곽 축조를 둘러싼 국가권력과 도시민의 이해관계를 검토하면서 강남 사회의 도시 유형을 양주, 소주, 남경, 시진의 네 가지로 정리한 것이다. 이러한 유형화를 통해, 도시란 곧 그곳에 살아가는 사람들에게 안보 및 치안의 문제를 해결해주는 곳이자 동시에 경제적 문제를 해결해주기에 가장 적합한 장소로 기능했다고 볼 수 있다. 적어도 중국에서 도시는 안보와 경제 문제를 가장 효과적으로 해결해주는 공간으로 기대되었다고 여겨진다. 성곽 축조 역시 도시민들에게 이러한 관점에서 수용되고 논의되었다. 양주는 대운하와 양자강이라는 장거리 유통망의 허브에 위치한 도시로, 외지에서 들어온 상인들이 도시 발전의 원동력을 장악했다. 그 결과 양주는 체류민 정체성이 강하게 부각되는 도시로 발전했으며, 축성 논의와 新城의 증설에 체류민들의 의지와 재정적 기여가 결정적인 영향을 미쳤다. 반면 소주는 송대 이래 항주와 함께 강남의 대표적인 경제·문화·행정의 중심지 역할을 감당했고, 도시의 주도 세력은 상인이 아니라 신사였다. 이른바 정착민 정체성이 강한 도시로, 왜구의 위협 속에서 축성론이 제기되었으나 성사되지 못한 배경으로 체류민을 압도하는 소주 정착민들의 영향력을 파악할 수 있다. 한편 남경이 가진 도시의 생명력은 명조의 수도라는 정치적 맥락에서 주어졌다. 하지만 1421년 북경으로의 천도 이후 남경은 명목상의 수도로 전락했고, 점차 남방지역에 대한 경제적, 군사적 통제의 중심지로 변모해갔다. 이후 강남 지역 전체에 대한 통합의 구심력은 소주에 물려주었으나, 군사적 거점으로서의 위상은 강하게 남아있어, 왜구의 침입 때에도 별다른 피해를 입지 않았을 뿐 아니라 더 이상 축성의 논의도 일어나지 않았다. 반면 시진은 정치적, 행정적인 의도와는 상관없이 자연발생적으로 성장한 경제 도시였다. 시진은 대부분 성곽이 없었으므로 왜구의 침입에 노출될 수밖에 없었다. 물론 행정 중심지로 포섭된 일부 시진에서는 여러 반대 여론에도 불구하고 성곽이 건설되었고, 일부 시진은 왜구의 침입으로 쇠퇴의 길을 걷기도 했다. 시진 사회에는 다분히 ‘자치적’인 요소가 많았으나, 시간이 흐를수록 시진 사회의 주도권이 보수적인 紳士에게 장악되어 갔으며, 국가 권력 역시 시진에 대한 통제력을 점차 확대해 갔다.

Summary Missense mutations in the C-terminal B30.2 domain of pyrin cause familial Mediterranean fever (FMF), the most common Mendelian autoinflammatory disease. However, it remains controversial as to whether FMF is due to the loss of an inhibitor of inflammation or to the activity of a proinflammatory molecule. We generated both pyrin-deficient mice and "knockin" mice harboring mutant human B30.2 domains. Homozygous knockin, but not pyrin-deficient, mice exhibited spontaneous bone marrow-dependent inflammation similar to but more severe than human FMF. Caspase-1 was constitutively activated in knockin macrophages and active IL-1β was secreted when stimulated with lipopolysaccharide alone, which is also observed in FMF patients. The inflammatory phenotype of knockin mice was completely ablated by crossing with IL-1 receptor-deficient or adaptor molecule ASC-deficient mice, but not NLRP3-deficient mice. Thus, our data provide evidence for an ASC-dependent NLRP3-independent inflammasome in which gain-of-function pyrin mutations cause autoinflammatory disease.

Behçet's disease is a genetically complex disease of unknown etiology characterized by recurrent inflammatory attacks affecting the orogenital mucosa, eyes and skin. We performed a genome-wide association study with 311,459 SNPs in 1,215 individuals with Behçet's disease (cases) and 1,278 healthy controls from Turkey. We confirmed the known association of Behçet's disease with HLA-B*51 and identified a second, independent association within the MHC Class I region. We also identified an association at IL10 (rs1518111, P = 1.88 x 10(-8)). Using a meta-analysis with an additional five cohorts from Turkey, the Middle East, Europe and Asia, comprising a total of 2,430 cases and 2,660 controls, we identified associations at IL10 (rs1518111, P = 3.54 x 10(-18), odds ratio = 1.45, 95% CI 1.34-1.58) and the IL23R-IL12RB2 locus (rs924080, P = 6.69 x 10(-9), OR = 1.28, 95% CI 1.18-1.39). The disease-associated IL10 variant (the rs1518111 A allele) was associated with diminished mRNA expression and low protein production.

Dendritic cell (DC) immunotherapy is a strong candidate for the treatment of incurable cancers especially malignant melanoma. Nevertheless, the proper guideline of DC immunotherapy does not exist. The absence of the guideline is also an obstacle to clinical trials of DC immunotherapy. So we conducted this study in order to develop an effective DC preparation method for immunotherapy in mouse malignant melanoma. Mouse bone marrow-derived DC were stimulated with tumour antigen alone or tumour antigen plus a cocktail (anti-CD40 antibody +TNF-alpha+ IL-1beta) for 8, 24 or 48 h and the characteristics of these DC, such as surface molecules (CD40, CD80, CD86, MHC class II, CCR7), cytokines(IL-12, IFN-gamma, and IL-10), DC-induced T cell proliferation in vitro, and the production of IFN-gamma by those cells, were evaluated. Mice with melanoma were then treated with DC stimulated with tumour antigen alone and tumour antigen plus cocktail for 8 or 48 h. The tumour size and survival rate of these mice were then evaluated. (1) Beneficial clinical effects such as a reduction of tumour size and an increased survival rate were best observed in the group treated with DC stimulated for 8 h with tumour antigen plus cocktail. (2) The single prominent characteristic of DC stimulated for 8 h with tumour antigen plus cocktail was an elevated IL-12 secretion. The cytokine IL-12 was not secreted by other DC. Consequently, proper production of IL-12 was found to be an important requirement for DC used in immunotherapy of mouse melanoma.

ROS are produced in dendritic cells (DCs) during antigen presentation in contact hypersensitivity (CHS). As a result, ROS cause a number of nonenzymatic protein modifications, including carbonylation, which is the most widely used marker of oxidative stress. 2,4,6-Trinitrobenzene sulfonic acid (TNBS) is a well-characterized contact allergen that results in the formation of ROS. However, proteins that are carbonylated in DCs in response to TNBS have not been identified. To study ROS-dependent protein carbonylation in response to TNBS, we used the well-established mouse DC line, XS-106. We focused on the effects of TNBS on oxidation by examining selected oxidative markers. We identified TNBS-induced ROS and myeloperoxidase (MPO) proteins and demonstrated that the increase in ROS resulted in IL-12 production. The increase in oxidation was further confirmed by an oxidation-dependent increase in protein modifications, such as carbonylation. In fact, TNBS strongly induced carbonylation of mitochondrial adenosine triphosphate (ATP) synthase in XS-106 DCs, as determined by MALDI-TOF analysis and 2-D Western blotting. ROS production and protein carbonylation were confirmed in human monocyte-derived DCs (Mo-DCs). Furthermore, glutathione (GSH) decreased ROS and protein carbonylation in Mo-DCs. Carbonylation of ATP synthase in DCs may contribute to the pathophysiology of CHS.

The dendritic cell (DC) is a potentially promising tool for cancer immunotherapy. To date, however, DC-based immunotherapy has not yielded data with which firm conclusions can be drawn. In the present study, we tested the dose-dependant enhancement of the anti-tumor effect induced by DCs. When large numbers of DCs were used, tumor growth was suppressed up to 41% when compared to control mice. Survival of the animals was prolonged to 54 days compared to the 33-day survival the control mice. The delayed-type hypersensitivity (DTH) response induced was 26-fold higher than in the controls. Larger numbers of DCs also led to higher expansion of IFN-gamma-secreting-CD8(+) T cells. Furthermore, the secretion of IL-12p70 and IFN-gamma by spleen cells were enhanced in proportion to the dosage. However, the level of IL-4 secreted from spleen cells was negligible compared to the level of IFN-gamma that was released. These results indicate that DCs induce Th1-dominant immune response and that more DCs could lead to better immunological results, a finding which was consistent with our therapeutic results.

The desirability function approach to multiple response optimization is a useful technique for the analysis of experiments in which several responses are optimized simultaneously. But the existing methods have some defects, and have to be modified to some extent. This paper proposes a new method to combine the individual desirabilities.

Hypertrichosis lanuginosa acquisita (HLA) is an unusual condition which is characterized by subtle and progressive development of multiple, long, thin, unmedullated hairs ("lanugo hairs") distributed preferentially on the face. Most cases are associated with malignant tumors or non-malignant condition such as porphyria cutanea tarda, AIDS, anorexia nervosa, thyrotoxicosis, or secondary to topical or systemic drugs (e.g. cyclosporine, phenytoin, diazoxide, minoxidil). We have recently experienced a rare case of hypertrichosis lanuginosa acquisita associated with autoimmune hepatitis. To our best knowledge, this is the first report of hypertrichosis lanuginosa acquisita associated with autoimmune hepatitis. Our observation expands the spectrum of diseases associated with this uncommon disorder.

Objectives Acupuncture is commonly used as a complimentary treatment for pain management. However, there has been no systematic review summarizing the current evidence concerning the effectiveness of acupuncture for acute postoperative pain after back surgery. This systematic review aimed at evaluating the effectiveness of acupuncture treatment for acute postoperative pain (≤1 week) after back surgery. Methods We searched 15 electronic databases without language restrictions. Two reviewers independently assessed studies for eligibility and extracted data, outcomes, and risk of bias. Random effect meta-analyses and subgroup analyses were performed. Results Five trials, including 3 of high quality, met our inclusion criteria. The meta-analysis showed positive results for acupuncture treatment of pain after surgery in terms of the visual analogue scale (VAS) for pain intensity 24 hours after surgery, when compared to sham acupuncture (standard mean difference −0.67 (−1.04 to −0.31), P = 0.0003), whereas the other meta-analysis did not show a positive effect of acupuncture on 24-hour opiate demands when compared to sham acupuncture (standard mean difference −0.23 (−0.58 to 0.13), P = 0.21). Conclusion Our systematic review finds encouraging but limited evidence for the effectiveness of acupuncture treatment for acute postoperative pain after back surgery. Further rigorously designed clinical trials are required.

Although the pathogenic role of B cells and CD4 T cells has been studied extensively, less is known about the role of CD8 T cells in autoimmunity and self-tolerance. To evaluate the role of CD8 T cells in autoimmunity and its modulation using self-peptides, we used mice expressing soluble OVA (sOVA) under control of the keratin-14 promoter. Spontaneous autoimmunity occurred when sOVA mice were crossed with OT-I mice, whose CD8 T cells carry a Vα2/Vβ5-transgenic TCR with specificity for the OVA257–264 peptide. Eighty-three percent of OVA/OT-I mice died during the first 2 wk of life due to multiple organ inflammation. In contrast, preventive or therapeutic OVA257–264 peptide injections induced a dose-dependent increase in survival. Healthy survivors exhibited reductions in peripheral CD8 T cells, CD8 coreceptor, and Vα2 expression. Furthermore, CD8 T cells from healthy mice were anergic and could not be activated by exogenous IL-2. A block in IL-2/IL-7 signaling via the STAT5 pathway provided the basis for low surface expression of the CD8 coreceptor and failure of IL-2 to break CD8 T cell anergy. Thus, the soluble TCR ligand triggered multiple tolerance mechanisms in these sOVA/OT-I mice, making this treatment approach a potential paradigm for modulating human autoimmune diseases.

Hypertrichosis lanuginosa acquisita (HLA) is an unusual condition which is characterized by subtle and progressive development of multiple, long, thin, unmedullated hairs ("lanugo hairs") distributed preferentially on the face. Most cases are associated with malignant tumors or non-malignant condition such as porphyria cutanea tarda, AIDS, anorexia nervosa, thyrotoxicosis, or secondary to topical or systemic drugs (e.g. cyclosporine, phenytoin, diazoxide, minoxidil). We have recently experienced a rare case of hypertrichosis lanuginosa acquisita associated with autoimmune hepatitis. To our best knowledge, this is the first report of hypertrichosis lanuginosa acquisita associated with autoimmune hepatitis. Our observation expands the spectrum of diseases associated with this uncommon disorder.

Internal radiotherapy with the intratumoral injection of the beta-emitting radionuclide, Holmium (Ho)-166, into B16 melanoma resulted in a reduction in size and growth rate; however, complete remission was not always achieved. Therefore, additional dendritic cell (DC) therapy was investigated to determine whether it could improve therapeutic results. Malignant melanoma was induced in mice by inoculating B16F10 cell line subcutaneously. Fifty-four mice were divided into four groups: (1) non-treated (group I, n = 11), (2) treated with Ho-166 (group II, n = 16), (3) treated with immature DCs (group III, n = 8), and (4) treated with immature DCs after Ho-166 injection (group IV, n = 19). Changes in tumor size, survival rates, and immunologic profiles were observed. Nineteen days after Ho-166 or PBS injection, mean tumor sizes in the four groups were 6044 +/- 1046, 1658 +/- 523, 3871 +/- 921, and 444 +/- 167 mm(3), respectively. We observed a significant decrease in tumor size (P0.05) and an increase in survival in group IV. When the B16F10 cell line was reinjected into the contralateral backs of survivors, much slower growth was observed in group IV (P0.05). Both tumor-specific CTL and natural killer cell activities and the infiltration of inflammatory cells into tumor tissues were found to be elevated in group IV. In addition, strong immune responses as determined by in vitro T cell proliferation, ELISA and ELISPOT assay were induced in group IV. Our results suggest that a combination of internal radiotherapy using Ho-166 and immature DCs could be used either to treat unresectable melanoma or as an adjuvant therapy after surgery.

Mature dendritic cells (DCs) were generated by culturing human peripheral blood monocytes for 7 days and, then, treating them with a cytokine cocktail for 2 days. The viability of the mature DCs (Day 9) obtained was approximately 60-70%, and this gradually declined when they were recultured in X-VIVO 15 media containing 2% human plasma (40% viability after 3 days of reculture). DC death accelerated on withdrawing plasma from the culture (20% viability after 3 days). However, the addition of tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) to the medium completely restored DC viability in the absence of plasma. Such a protective effect was not afforded by other cytokines, such as granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF), interleukin-1alpha (IL-1alpha), IL-4, IL-6 and prostaglandin E2 which are used for the maturation of DCs. These results indicate that TNF-alpha is specifically required to maintain the viability of mature DCs. The withdrawal of plasma rapidly (within 15 min) elevated cellular levels of reactive oxygen intermediates (ROIs), which have been proposed to regulate the ability of DCs to control inflammatory reactions. The possibility that ROIs act as mediators of DC death was eliminated by the observation that scavengers of ROIs, such as catalase, N-acetylcysteine, glutathione, failed to prolong DC life span in the absence of plasma. Interestingly, TNF-alpha was found to almost completely abolish the production of ROIs induced by plasma withdrawal. To summarize, our results suggest that TNF-alpha controls not only the inflammatory functions of DCs but also their survival.

Epididymitis is a rare manifestation of Behçet's disease but its clinical significance is still not fully understood. We evaluated the clinical significance of epididymitis in patients with Behçet's disease.Of 780 male patients attending our clinics between 1985 and 2002 who were diagnosed with Behçet's disease by international criteria or who had the complete or incomplete type of Behçet's disease by Japanese criteria 36 were identified with epididymitis. Clinical data on these patients were reviewed.The 36 patients were categorized into the complete (13 or 36.1%) and incomplete (23 or 63.9%) types of Behçet's disease with an average age at onset of 27.4 years. The frequency of individual symptoms were oral ulcers and cutaneous involvement in all 36 cases (100%), genital ulcers in 32 (88.9%), arthritis in 18 (50.0%), ocular involvement in 17 (47.2%), central nervous system involvement in 2 (5.6%), gastrointestinal ulcer in 1 (2.8%) and a positive pathergy test in 4 (11.1%). A significantly higher number of patients with epididymitis had genital ulcers (p0.05), cutaneous involvement (p0.001), arthritis (p0.05), central nervous system involvement (p0.05) and a positive pathergy test (p0.05) compared with the other 744 with Behçet's disease without epididymitis who served as controls.To our knowledge there has been no controlled study of the clinical significance of epididymitis in Behçet's disease. Our results suggest a tendency toward severe Behçet's disease manifestations in patients with epididymitis, prompting physicians to evaluate closely and meticulously treat such patients.

ejd.2012.1797 Auteur(s) : Hye Min Lee1, Young Hun Cho2, Dae Won Koo1, Joong Sun Lee1 sun_lee@eulji.ac.kr 1 Department of Dermatology, Eulji University Hospital, Dunsan 2-dong, 302-799 Seo-gu Daejeon, Korea 2 Department of Dermatology, KAIST Clinic, 301-805 Daejeon, Korea 82-42-611-3037 A 59-year-old Korean woman presented with a 3-month history of severe pruritic erythematous papules, plaques, and blisters on the whole body. The symptoms appeared several days after contact with a Rhus tree. She [...]