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Biomedical subjects

C W Kim

Publications and source records attributed to C W Kim.

296 records · Page 17Linked to original sources
PubMedDate not supplied

Comparative evaluation of brain CT and ELISA in the diagnosis of neurocysticercosis.

This study compares the results of cysticercus-specific IgG antibody levels, as measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), with brain CT findings in suspected neurocysticercosis and to assess the clinical significance of ELISA. One hundred twenty-three neurologic patients were examined by both brain CT and ELISA. Sensitivity and specificity of ELISA in confirmed cases were 94% and 91%, respectively. Patients with multiple cysts without enhancement on CT, which were thought to represent viable cysticerci, were positive by ELISA. Those with cysts with enhancement or poorly defined low densities or enhancing nodules, which represented cysticerci on degeneration, were also positive by ELISA. Those with multiple spotty calcifications, which represent cysticerci in the inactive stage, were negative by ELISA. Those with mixed CT findings of the above, which represent the various stages of infection in a patient, were positive by ELISA. Those with only enhancing nodules with surrounding edema, which were thought to be other inflammatory granulomas, were negative by ELISA. If patients with only hydrocephalus on CT are positive by ELISA, they can be confidently diagnosed as having ventricular cysticercosis. The results indicate that ELISA is useful as a complementary diagnostic tool, especially in patients with equivocal CT findings of neurocysticercosis. Provision of etiologic information on a biologic basis was the advantage of this serologic test.

Adolescent↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Multistep photorefractive keratectomy for high myopia.

Nineteen human myopic eyes exceeding -8.00 D underwent multi-step excimer laser photorefractive keratectomy (PRK) with 6-month follow up. We performed two or three step PRK at the same time according to the amount of myopia present. The preoperative refraction ranged from -8.87 D to -16.99 D (mean -12.28 D). The mean attempted correction was 7.83 D. Six months after surgery, the mean refraction was -2.23 D. Keratometry demonstrated stable flattening of the cornea, and pachometry showed central cornea thinning. Seventeen eyes had clear or trace corneal haze. Above results showed multi-step PRK is a safe and relatively efficient procedure for correction of high myopia, but long-term follow up will be necessary to determine the stability of this procedure.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Bcl-2 expression in neuroblastoma is differentially regulated by differentiation inducers.

Neuroblastoma is characterized by differentiation in vivo and in vitro, and the process is known to be associated with changes in various gene expressions, among which is the bcl-2 gene whose major function may be potentially involved in the resistance to anticancer chemotherapy. We investigated the changing patterns of bcl-2 expression in neuroblastoma cell lines according to differentiation to assess whether the expression patterns can be differentially modulated by different types of differentiation inducers. Differentiation was induced in two neuroblastoma cell lines [SK-N-SH, SK-N-BE(2)] using all-trans-retinoic acid, gamma-interferon and EHS laminin, respectively. The levels of expression of bcl-2 were analysed before and after differentiation using immunoblotting and subsequent densitometry. The expression patterns of bcl-2 differed according to the type of differentiation inducers. Its expression increased when treated with retinoic acid and EHS laminin along with neuronal differentiation, while differentiation with gamma-interferon treatment was associated with decreased bcl-2 expression. Decreased expression of bcl-2 despite neuronal differentiation induced by gamma-interferon was thought to be important in that a certain differentiation pathway without increased drug resistance-related factor expression exists, which in turn has implications for the clinical application of gamma-interferon, combined with chemotherapy.

Apoptosis↗
PubMedDate not supplied

High-resolution computed tomography in patients with bronchial asthma: correlation with clinical features, pulmonary functions and bronchial hyperresponsiveness.

The high-resolution computed tomography (HRCT) studies for bronchial asthma (BA) have revealed abnormal radiologic findings such as bronchial wall thickening, bronchiectasis, emphysema and mosaic pattern of lung attenuation. But the clinical significance of these findings are not yet clarified. In this study, we quantified the bronchial wall thickness and evaluated HRCT features in 57 BA subjects (338 bronchi) who had precipitating factors of irreversible airway remodeling, 19 COPD subjects (70 bronchi) and 10 healthy subjects (23 bronchi). Then we correlated HRCT findings with the clinical features, pulmonary functions and methacholine PC20 (PC20M) and studied their clinical significance. The bronchial wall for BA was about 1.48 mm thicker than that for COPD and about 2.34 mm thicker than for healthy controls (p < 0.0001, respectively). But the individual mean ratio of bronchial wall thickness to luminal diameter (BWT/LD) in asthmatics did not correlate with the clinical features, lung functions and PC20M. Abnormal HRCT findings, such as bronchiectasis (17.5%), emphysema (5.3%) and mosaic pattern of lung attenuation (17.5%) were found in BA. These findings were more common in BA with moderate to severe airflow limitation (FEV1 < 80%, p < 0.05) and patients with these changes had a more prolonged history of asthma (p < 0.05). PC20M was higher in BA with these abnormal changes (p < 0.001) but these patients' FEV1 (p < 0.05), FEF25-75 (p < 0.05) and specific airway conductance (p < 0.05) were lower than those having BA without such findings. In this study we showed that the bronchial wall was more significantly thickened in BA but that it did not correlate well with the clinical features, lung functions and PC20M. Additionally, patients having BA with abnormal airway and air space HRCT findings had a prolonged history of asthmatic symptoms, loss of lung functions and decreased bronchial hyperresponsiveness. These results suggested the possibility that HRCT can be used for the differentiation of BA from COPD or healthy controls. Furthermore, patients having BA with abnormal HRCT changes demonstrate poor lung function and less hyperreactive bronchi than those without. We concluded that HRCT may be useful for the prognosis and treatment of bronchial asthma cases who have the precipitating factors of irreversible airway remodelling.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Diabetes mellitus increases the severity of anemia in non-dialyzed patients with renal failure.

We investigated whether the presence of diabetes mellitus (DM) was related to the severity of the anemia observed in patients with renal failure who were not receiving dialysis. Forty patients were examined, (19 with long-term type II DM (DM-CRF), 21 with renal failure due to other causes (non-DM-CRF)). The two groups did not differ significantly as to age, sex, serum creatinine or erythropoietin. Hemoglobin was significantly (p < 0.005) lower in the DM-CRF patients (9.5 +/- 2.1 g/dl) than in the non-DM-CRF patients (11.2 +/- 2.0 g/dl). Multiple regression analysis indicated that higher serum creatinine levels and the presence of DM were independent risk factors for anemia (R2 = 0.494, p < 0.001). DM appeared to be a risk factor for the severity of anemia in patients with renal failure who were not receiving dialysis.

Adult↗