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Background: Serial interferon-gamma-release-assay (IGRA) result can show variance due to within-subject variation and difference in host immune status, and may be affected by latent tuberculosis infection (LTBI) treatment. We aimed to know the changes in QFT-IT (QuantiFERON-TB Gold In-Tube) results measured at a 4 month interval in end stage renal disease patients and whether these changes were influenced by dialysis method or LTBI treatment.Methods: We prospectively performed serial QFT-IT tests at 4 month interval in 93 end stage renal disease (ESRD) patients on HD (hemodialysis) or PD (peritoneal dialysis). LTBI treatment was given to 18 of 39 patients with initial positive QFT-IT result. Agreement between the two results was estimated for all 93 patients and reversion rates were estimated among the 39 patients with initial positive QFT-IT.Results: Positive QFT-IT at the first and 2(nd) tests were 41.9 and 34.4 %, respectively. The concordance rate between baseline QFT-IT and 2(nd) QFT in 93 ESRD patients was excellent (90.3 %, kappa = 0.80, p < 0.001). Agreement between the first QFT-IT and 2(nd) QFT-IT in HD (95.3 %, kappa = 0.91, p < 0.001) was higher than in PD patients (86.0 %, kappa = 0.69, p < 0.001). Among all ESRD patients, the odds of reversion of QFT-IT was not different in those who were, or were not treated for LTBI [odds ratio = 2.3 (0.5-11.4), p = 0.43].Conclusions: In a group of 93 dialyzed ESRD patients 8.6 % showed reversion of initial positive QFT to negative within 4 months. Reversion seemed not to be associated with LTBI treatment. Further study with larger numbers of patients is needed to investigate the variation of QFT-IT tests in dialyzed ESRD patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hydatid cysts (echinococcosis) are caused by an infestation with larval tapeworms of the genus Echinococcus. The disease is extensively distributed worldwide, and it has been rarely reported in Korea. We describe the cytologic features of a case of hepatic hydatid cyst in a 28-year-old male. Computed tomography revealed a cystic mass in the right lobe of the liver. A right hemihepatectomy was performed. The aspirated fluid from the hepatic cystic mass was clear. The smears showed protoscolices, hooklets, and a laminated membrane. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Soft tissue myoepithelioma is a rare neoplasm composed of myoepithelial cells. Here, we describe the cytologic features of soft tissue myoepithelioma arising on the right forearm in an 18-year-old man. The excised tumor (3.0×1.8×1.5 cm) was well-demarcated, yellow-gray, soft, and myxoid. The cytologic smears showed round to spindle, epithelioid, and plasmacytoid cells in the myxoid background. The nuclei were uniform, round to ovoid, with finely distributed chromatin and eosinophilic or pale cytoplasm. The tumor cells demonstrated immunoreactivity for cytokeratin (AE1/ AE3), epithelial membrane antigen, S100 protein, and glial fibrillary acidic protein. Electron microscopy showed intermediate filaments, desmosomes, and basal lamina. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

"To be, or not to be?" This question is not only Hamlet's agony but also the dilemma of mitochondria in a cancer cell. Cancer cells have a high glycolysis rate even in the presence of oxygen. This feature of cancer cells is known as the Warburg effect, named for the first scientist to observe it, Otto Warburg, who assumed that because of mitochondrial malfunction, cancer cells had to depend on anaerobic glycolysis to generate ATP. It was demonstrated, however, that cancer cells with intact mitochondria also showed evidence of the Warburg effect. Thus, an alternative explanation was proposed: the Warburg effect helps cancer cells harness additional ATP to meet the high energy demand required for their extraordinary growth while providing a basic building block of metabolites for their proliferation. A third view suggests that the Warburg effect is a defense mechanism, protecting cancer cells from the higher than usual oxidative environment in which they survive. Interestingly, the latter view does not conflict with the high-energy production view, as increased glucose metabolism enables cancer cells to produce larger amounts of both antioxidants to fight oxidative stress and ATP and metabolites for growth. The combination of these two different hypotheses may explain the Warburg effect, but critical questions at the mechanistic level remain to be explored. Cancer shows complex and multi-faceted behaviors. Previously, there has been no overall plan or systematic approach to integrate and interpret the complex signaling in cancer cells. A new paradigm of collaboration and a well-designed systemic approach will supply answers to fill the gaps in current cancer knowledge and will accelerate the discovery of the connections behind the Warburg mystery. An integrated understanding of cancer complexity and tumorigenesis is necessary to expand the frontiers of cancer cell biology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To develop monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) to react with normal prion protein (PrPC) and abnormal isoform of prion protein (PrPSc), PrPSc was isolated from brains of 263K scrapie-infected hamsters and immunized to PrP knockout mice. We developed two hybridomas, 3F10 and 1C5 (IgG1), of which epitope mappings were screened by using glutathione S-transferase (GST) fusion proteins of recombinant hamster prion protein and suitable peptides. 3F10 showed a high affinity for hamster and mouse PrP and was demonstrated to recognize the residues 137-151. 1C5 recognizes the region 119-130 corresponding to the GXXXG motif, the glycine zipper region, conserved in all mammals. In the immunohistochemical analysis, the positive staining for PrPSc was observed in the extracellular compartment of scrapie-infected brains but not in the normal brains. However, in Western blot, these antibodies recognized both normal and abnormal prion proteins. These results suggested that the developed mouse MAbs are specific to prion protein and can recognize abnormal prion protein more effectively than normal prion protein in immunohistochemistry. Therefore, these antibodies could be utilized as a useful reagent for the analysis of biochemical, structural, and functional properties between PrPC and PrPSc. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]