hMSCs suppress neutrophil-dominant airway inflammation in a murine model of asthma

Although chronic eosinophilic inflammation is a common feature in patients with asthma, some patients have neutrophil-dominant inflammation, which is known to be associated with severe asthma.Human mesenchymal stem cells (hMSCs) have shown promise in treating various refractory immunological diseases. Thus, hMSCs may represent an alternative therapeutic option for asthma patients with neutrophil-dominant inflammation, in whom current treatments are ineffective. BALB/c mice exposed to ovalbumin and polyinosinic:polycytidylic acid (Poly I:C) to induce neutrophilic airway inflammation were systemically treated with hMSCs to examine whether the hMSCs can modulate neutrophilic airway inflammation. In addition, cytokine production was evaluated in co-cultures of hMSCs with either anti-CD3/CD28-stimulated peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) obtained from asthmatic patients or cells of the human bronchial epithelial cell line BEAS-2B to assess the response to hMSC treatment. The total number of immune cells in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) showed a dramatic decrease in hMSC-treated asthmatic mice, and, in particular, neutrophilic infiltration was significantly attenuated. This phenomenon was accompanied by reduced CXCL15 production in the BALF. BEAS-2B cells co-cultured with hMSCs showed reduced secretion of IL-8. Moreover, decreased secretion of IL-4, IL-13 and IFN-γ was observed when human PBMCs were cultured with hMSCs, whereas IL-10 production was greatly enhanced. Our data imply that hMSCs may have a role in reducing neutrophilic airway inflammation by downregulating neutrophil chemokine production and modulating T-cell responses.

A Delayed Fatal Septic Cerebral Infarction after Endoscopic Retrograde Cholangiopancreatography

Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP)-related complications should be promptly and properly managed in accordance with the type and severity of the complication and the comorbidity of the patient. Neurologic complications occur very rarely, but despite of the prompt management, the patient status can severely deteriorate and sometimes result in fatality. A female patient visited SAM Medical Center for abdominal pain and yellow skin. She has taken a current medication for essential hypertension since 10 years ago. Initial laboratory findings showed obstructive jaundice and abdominal computed tomography (CT) showed two common bile duct stones with moderate dilation of bile duct. Her vital sign with oxygen saturation was stable until the first attack of seizure 12 hours later after removal of stones through the ERCP. Emergent brain CT and magnetic resonance imaging revealed multiple cerebral infarctions of both hemispheres with right predominance of middle cerebral artery territory and no evidence of air emboli. She died four days later despite of intensive care including high oxygen therapy and intravenous broad spectrum antibiotics with antiplatelet drug. We report a rare, delayed occurrence of a fatal multiple cerebral infarctions 12 hours after ERCP.

The Effect of Combined Training at Different Times of Day on Body Composition, Plasma Lipids, Stress Hormones and Nutrient Intakes / 대한지역사회영양학회지

Regular exercise training improves body composition, blood lipid profiles and exercise adaptation. This study was conducted to investigate the effect of exercise training at different times of day on body composition, blood lipids, stress hormones and nutrient intakes. Twenty four male graduate students carried out this experiment. The subjects were divided into three groups; morning exercise group, evening exercise group and control group. Two exercise groups performed running and muscular resistance training at mid intensity for 12 week periods. Body composition, blood lipid profiles, blood cortisol, ACTH and nutrient intakes were analyzed prior to, midway and after training. There were significant differences about interaction between different exercise times and training periods in plasma TG and HDL-C of the evening exercise training (p < 0.05). Also the evening exercise group was showed the decreasing of TC after training (p < 0.05). No significant differences about interaction between different exercise times and training periods were shown in body composition, stress hormones and nutrient intakes in the three groups. But evening exercise training decreased body fat (%) and blood ACTH (p < 0.05). Also the increasing of carbohydrate intakes was shown by the evening exercise training (p < 0.05). In contrast, morning exercise group indicated a decrease of body fat (%) after 6 week training (p < 0.05), but this effect was not maintained after 12 weeks of training. These results suggested that regular evening exercise is more effect than morning exercise from the viewpoint of improving body composition, blood lipids, nutrient intakes and exercise adaptation.