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Biomedical subjects

C H Kuo

Publications and source records attributed to C H Kuo.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed2000

Inhibition by naloxone of promoter activity of the neurofilament gene in SK-N-SH cells.

Chronic administration of morphine is known to decrease the levels of neurofilaments (NFs) in the ventral tegmental area. We ligated a promoter region of the mouse 68-KDa neurofilament (NF-68) gene to the pGL3-enhancer vector containing a luciferase gene, transfected it into SK-N-SH cells and then analyzed transcriptional activity in the cells treated with agonists or antagonists of opiate receptors. The activity of the NF-68 promoter was suppressed by naloxone about 55% at 10(-5) M and 30% at 10(-7) M at 48 h, but suppressed not by morphine. Naltrexone at 10(-5) M suppressed the promoter activity about 20%, but levallorphan, DAMGO, DPDPE and U50488 did not. The inhibition by naloxone was dose-dependent and not reversed by morphine. The inhibitory effect of naloxone was not observed in N18TG-2 cells and PC12 cells. Experiments with various deletion mutants revealed that a region responsible for naloxone suppression spans from -328 to -101 in the gene. These results suggest that naloxone has the ability to suppress transcriptional activity in some neurons.

Animals↗
PubMed2000

Increase of calmodulin III gene expression by mu-opioid receptor stimulation in PC12 cells.

Calmodulin (CaM) is a principal multifunctional mediator of Ca2+ signaling in cells. It is reported that morphine increases CaM contents in mouse brain. However, the precise mechanism of CaM induction by morphine is unknown. We investigated the changes of CaM by opioid receptor stimulation in mRNA and protein levels. Expression of CaM was increased in dose- and time-dependent manners by morphine with RT-PCR assay in PC12 cells, and naloxone inhibited the effect of morphine. The expression was also increased with DAMGO (mu-opioid agonist), but not by DPDPE (delta) and U50488 (kappa). Northern blot analysis revealed that the CaMIII gene was responsive to morphine or DAMGO. CaM protein increased by DAMGO were distributed in both soluble and membranous fractions in the cells. Taken together, the data suggest that morphine induces the expression of CaMIII gene through mu-opioid receptor stimulation.

Analgesics, Opioid↗
PubMed2000

Fatal anaphylactoid shock associated with protamine for heparin reversal during anesthesia.

A 19-year-old female was scheduled for elective surgery of repair of ventricular septal defect (VSD). She had no known previous food or drug allergy history. She was not previously exposed to protamine and did not have any of the risk factors pointing to protamine hypersensitivity reaction. Unfortunately there were two anaphylactoid shocks occurring during this surgery. One was caused by intravenous (i.v.) administration of antibiotics, and the other happened following i.v. drip of protamine sulfate for reversal of systemic heparinization. She had none of the risk factors suggestive of hypersensitivity to drugs and was therefore considered not at risk for such severe adverse reactions which happened. This article was to discuss the anaphylactoid shock induced by antibiotics and protamine during anesthesia, and the prevention and management of such a reaction.

Adult↗
PubMed2000

Prolonged paralysis associated with succinylcholine--a case report.

Prolonged paralysis is a rare complication of succinylcholine. We report a case of palmar hyperhidrosis who underwent transthoracic endoscopic sympathetic ganglionectomy under general anesthesia with a facemask developed prolonged paralysis following the operation. The prolonged paralysis supposedly caused by intraoperative use of succinylcholine was recognized and confirmed by laboratory examination which showed low pseudocholinesterase activity. In this report, we describe the course of the event and discuss the causes of delayed awakening associated with anesthesia and its management.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1999

Calmodulin functions as an activator of Pur alpha binding to single-stranded purine-rich DNA elements (PUR elements).

Pur alpha is a single stranded DNA-binding protein and binds to a consensus sequence (GGN)n. We have reported that the DNA-binding activity of a single stranded cyclic AMP response element-binding protein (ssCRE-BP) is suppressed in cerebellum treated chronically with morphine, ssCRE-BP is identical to Pur alpha and the DNA binding activity of Pur alpha is markedly enhanced by a heat stable activator in the nuclear extract. In this report, we purified this activator. The amino acid composition and partial amino acid sequence were determined to be identical to those of calmodulin (CaM), which enhanced the binding of GST-Pur alpha to various PUR elements in the 5' non-coding regions of the neuropeptide Y, myelin basic protein and nicotinic Ach receptor beta 4 subunit genes. The data suggest a novel gene expression pathway mediated by Ca/CaM-Pur alpha which may regulate a variety of genes in addition to those regulated through the CREB pathway.

Animals↗
PubMed1999

Regulation of GLUT4 protein expression and glycogen storage after prolonged exercise.

The purpose of this study was to determine the time course of GLUT4 protein accumulation following an exercise-carbohydrate supplementation regimen, and to evaluate the effect of this regimen on GLUT4 mRNA regulation. Rats were exercised by swimming and intubated with 1 mL of a 50% glucose solution immediately post-exercise. Exercise significantly reduced muscle glycogen by 50%. By 1.5 h of recovery, muscle glycogen was normalized, but continued to increase above the control level during the next 16 h. A faster and larger repletion of glycogen occurred in the fast-twitch red compared with the fast-twitch white muscle during the 16 h of recovery. GLUT4 protein concentration in fast-twitch red muscle was significantly increased above control by 1.5 h of recovery, and progressively increased throughout the recovery period. Fast-twitch white muscle demonstrated a similar trend, but the increase in GLUT4 protein did not reach significance until 5 h of recovery. Fast-twitch red muscle GLUT4 mRNA was increased by 53% above control immediately post-exercise, but returned to the control level by 1.5 h of recovery. GLUT4 mRNA associated with polysomes, however, increased significantly during this time and remained elevated for a minimum of 5 h. The results suggest that the increased GLUT4 protein expression following a regimen of exercise-carbohydrate supplementation occurs sufficiently fast to contribute to the resynthesis of muscle glycogen, and is controlled by both pre-translational and translational mechanisms.

Animals↗
PubMed1999

Heterogeneous Helicobacter pylori isolates from H. pylori-infected couples in Taiwan.

Helicobacter pylori strain diversity was investigated in 55 H. pylori seropositive couples in Taiwan in biopsy samples from the antrum and corpus. Two DNA typing methods were used to characterize 90 isolates from 25 couples. In only 1 of the 25 couples was the same strain colonized from both partners. Comparison of isolates from 2 sites in each of 40 patients showed that 9 pairs were distinct but might be related. Peptic ulcer occurred in 77.8% of these 9 patients compared with 29% of 31 patients with the same predominant strain in 2 biopsies (P=.025). Random amplified polymorphic DNA and sequence analyses of 2 closely related isolates from 1 patient support the hypothesis that development of genetic diversity of H. pylori results from horizontal genetic exchange during long-term colonization of mixed bacterial populations.

Adult↗
PubMed1999

Ileal aberrant pancreas induces intussusception and gastrointestinal bleeding in an adult woman--case report.

Aberrant pancreas is a congenital anomaly. In surgical series, its incidence varied from 0.2 to 0.8%. About 70% of aberrant pancreas occur in the gastrointestinal tract. Eighty percent of them locate in the stomach and duodenum, and only 0.2% in the ileum. We report on a 25-year-old woman with ileal aberrant pancreas who suffered from ileal intussusception and recurrent gastrointestinal bleeding. The diagnosis was confirmed by surgery and histology. She is symptom-free after surgery.

Adult↗
PubMed1999

Effect of carbohydrate supplementation on postexercise GLUT-4 protein expression in skeletal muscle.

The effect of carbohydrate supplementation on skeletal muscle glucose transporter GLUT-4 protein expression was studied in fast-twitch red and white gastrocnemius muscle of Sprague-Dawley rats before and after glycogen depletion by swimming. Exercise significantly reduced fast-twitch red muscle glycogen by 50%. During a 16-h exercise recovery period, muscle glycogen returned to control levels (25.0 +/- 1.4 micromol/g) in exercise-fasted rats (24.2 +/- 0. 3 micro). However, when carbohydrate supplementation was provided during and immediately postexercise by intubation, muscle glycogen increased 77% above control (44.4 +/- 2.1 micromol/g). Exercise-fasting resulted in an 80% increase in fast-twitch red muscle GLUT-4 mRNA but only a 43% increase in GLUT-4 protein concentration. Conversely, exercise plus carbohydrate supplementation elevated fast-twitch red muscle GLUT-4 protein concentration by 88% above control, whereas GLUT-4 mRNA was increased by only 40%. Neither a 16-h fast nor carbohydrate supplementation had an effect on fast-twitch red muscle GLUT-4 protein concentration or on GLUT-4 mRNA in sedentary rats, although carbohydrate supplementation increased muscle glycogen concentration by 40% (35.0 +/- 0.9 micromol/g). GLUT-4 protein in fast-twitch white muscle followed a pattern similar to fast-twitch red muscle. These results indicate that carbohydrate supplementation, provided with exercise, will enhance GLUT-4 protein expression by increasing translational efficiency. Conversely, postexercise fasting appears to upregulate GLUT-4 mRNA, possibly to amplify GLUT-4 protein expression on an increase in glucose availability. These regulatory mechanisms may help control muscle glucose uptake in accordance with glucose availability and protect against postexercise hypoglycemia.

Animals↗
PubMed1999

Pseudomyxoma peritonei with high serum CA19-9: report of three cases.

Pseudomyxoma peritonei (PMP) is an unusual form of intraabdominal neoplasm that produces a large amount of extracellular mucin. It is often associated with mucinous tumors of gastrointestinal tract or ovary. Herein, we report 3 patients with pseudomyxoma peritonei with high serum carbohydrate antigen 19-9 (CA19-9) levels. The first patient, who had a CA19-9 level of 1132 U/ml, had well-differentiated rectal cancer and died of chemotherapy complications, pneumonia and septic shock; one month after admission. The other 2 cases with CA19-9 levels of 2520 U/ml and 679 U/ml had tumors of unknown origins and had survived more than 1 year and 3 months after treatment, respectively. Usually, elevated serum CA19-9 levels are found in patients with pancreatic, biliary, colorectal, gastric or liver cancers. However, many studies have shown high serum CA19-9 levels are associated with mucinous carcinoma. Immunochemical studies also showed positive staining of CA19-9 in mucinous tumors. PMP is composed of large amounts of mucin, therefore, we suggest that serum and ascites CA19-9 levels should be routinely checked in patients with PMP.

Aged↗
PubMed1999

Sequential sonographic changes of the gallbladder in hemobilia: case report of a patient with intrahepatic duct stones.

The sonographic features of hemobilia in the gallbladder have been reported with variation, including an echogenic mass, hypoechoic mass, and scattered intraluminal echoes. The sequential sonographic changes of hemobilia in the gallbladder were observed in a 59-year-old male patient with bilateral intrahepatic duct stones. The sonograms of hemobilia in the distended gallbladder initially showed a hyperechoic, homogeneous, movable mass-like lesion, 36 hours before the onset of upper gastrointestinal (UGI) bleeding. A hypoechoic mass-like lesion with a hyperechoic ring was found 5 days after the onset of UGI bleeding. A faint hypoechoic mass-like lesion was found 7 days after the onset of UGI bleeding (the day of no further bleeding). Scattered echoic densities were found 9 days after the onset of UGI bleeding, then disappearance of the lesion was noted 12 days after the onset of UGI bleeding. The sonographic patterns of hemobilia in the gallbladder vary depending on the timing of lysis of the blood clot. It should be differentiated from gallbladder cancer, a stone, a polyp, sludge, acute gangrenous cholecystitis, and gallbladder empyema.

Bile Ducts, Intrahepatic↗
PubMed1999

Difference of plasma leptin levels in venous and arterial cord blood: relation to neonatal and placental weight.

To investigate the physiological significance of umbilical plasma leptin in the fetal growth and its possible origin of production during pregnancy, plasma leptin concentrations in venous and arterial cord bloods were measured in 42 neonates (male = 23, female = 19, gestational age 36-41 weeks, birth weight 2600-4000 g). Leptin concentrations in umbilical veins (5.65 +/- 0.53 ng/mL, n = 42) and umbilical arteries (0.56 +/- 0.07 ng/mL, n = 42) were significantly (P < 0.001) lower than those in maternal peripheral veins (22.36 +/- 1.06 ng/mL, n = 42). Mean plasma leptin concentration (+/- SEM) in venous cord blood was significantly (P < 0.001) higher than that of arterial cord blood. There was significantly positive correlation (r = 0.447, P < 0.01) between umbilical venous leptin levels and neonatal body mass index (BMI). A positive correlation (r = 0.435, P < 0.01) was also found between umbilical arterial leptin and neonate BMI. There was no positive correlation between umbilical leptin levels in venous cord blood and placental weight. We thus conclude that umbilical plasma leptin may play an essential role in the fetal growth and metabolism during pregnancy and placenta is one of the major sources of leptin production, but the level of leptin in umbilico-placental circulation is independent of the weight of placenta.

Adult↗
PubMed1998

Characterization of the C-terminal domain of Helicobacter pylori vacuolating toxin and its relationship with extracellular toxin production.

Helicobacter pylori vacuolating cytotoxin (VacA) induces gastric epithelial necrosis. Its C-terminal domain is hypothesized to be responsible for extracellular translocation of the mature cytotoxin. In this study, genetic-structural properties of VacA C-terminal domain and the level of cytotoxin secretion were investigated. Sau3AI-HaeIII restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) analysis of the 1.1-kb PCR-amplified vacA fragment revealed 14 distinct combined patterns among 87 clinical isolates. Of the 4 popular groups (A-a, A-b, A-f, and B-a), A-a strains produced a higher level of the VacA protein than A-b strains and than A-f strains (P < 0.05). Sequence analysis and secondary structure prediction supported a beta-barrel structure that might act as a selective export channel like Iga beta-core of IgA proteases. Sequence differences in the predicted beta-barrel were present among strains of different RFLPs.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1998

A dynamic local bump system for producing synchrotron radiation with an alternating elliptical polarization.

To facilitate high-sensitivity soft X-ray magnetic circular dichroism experiments, a dynamic local bump system has been developed at the SRRC storage ring. This system was devised to vary dynamically the vertical slope of the electron beam in a bending magnet, producing, in the electron orbit plane, soft X-rays with an alternating elliptical polarization. The local bump was created by using two pairs of vertical correctors located on each side of the bending magnet. The bump strength coefficient was obtained both from calculated estimation and from measured beam-response matrices. Control electronics for proper bump strength settings were designed to incorporate the existing orbit-corrector function. A corresponding graphic user interface was implemented so that the bump amplitude could be easily adjusted. The performance of this system is presented. Disturbance on the stored electron beam orbit was observed while flipping the corrector polarity during EPBM (elliptical polarization from bending magnets) operation. A local feedback loop, developed to eliminate such disturbance on other beamlines, is also described.

Journal Article↗