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Biomedical subjects

C Y Lee

Publications and source records attributed to C Y Lee.

At least 163 records · Page 9Linked to original sources

Susceptibility of heterozygous MnSOD gene-knockout mice to oxygen toxicity.

Recent studies have shown that homozygous Mn superoxide dismutase (Sod2) gene-knockout mice (Sod2(-/-)) die shortly after birth with extensive myocardial injury, whereas heterozygous mutants (Sod2(+/-)) are phenotypically normal in room air. In the current study, we showed that Sod2(+/-) mice with approximately 50% of normal pulmonary MnSOD activity and normal levels of lung CuZnSOD, catalase, and glutathione peroxidase activities were not substantially more susceptible to 100% O2 toxicity than their normal Sod2(+/+) littermates. The mean (+/- SD) survival of Sod2(+/-) mice in 100% O2 was 101.4 +/- 14.8 h (n = 20) versus 103.2 +/- 11.3 h (n = 20) for Sod2(+/+) littermates (P > 0.60). In addition, Sod2(+/-) mice with approximately 50% of normal heart MnSOD activity and Sod2(+/+) mice did not develop any ultrastructural abnormalities in the myocardium at 75 h or 90 h after 100% O2 exposure. These results suggest that in mice, only 50% of MnSOD activity may be sufficient for normal resistance to 100% O2 toxicity.

Animals↗

Proteolysis of insulin-like growth factor-binding proteins (IGFBPs) within the pig uterine lumen associated with peri-implantation conceptus development.

Pig conceptuses undergo morphological development from spherical to filamentous forms during days 10 to 12 of pregnancy, coincident with a high content of mRNAs encoding insulin-like growth factor (IGF)-I in the uterine endometrium and secretion of IGF-I into the uterine lumen. The potential regulation by developing conceptuses of the bioavailability of IGF-binding proteins (IGFBPs) within the uterine microenvironment was investigated. Uterine luminal flushings (ULFs) were obtained between days 10 and 18 of pregnancy and the presence of specific IGFBPs was detected by ligand blot analysis. ULFs collected at days 10 and 11 of pregnancy contained 46 and 43 kDa IGFBP-3, several IGFBPs of about 30 kDa including IGFBP-2, and an unidentified 26 kDa IGFBP; IGFBP-3 was the most abundant. By day 12, however, IGFBPs were substantially diminished or undetectable. Examination of the morphology of flushed conceptuses revealed that the loss of IGFBPs in ULF was associated with the transition from spherical to filamentous morphology. The abundance of IGFBP-3 mRNA in uterine endometrium, as monitored by blot-hybridization, was not altered in a similar way, suggesting that lack of IGFBP-3 in 'filamentous' ULF resulted from proteolysis rather than from decreased expression of the IGFBP-3 gene. Consistent with this, incubation of 'spherical' ULF with or without added 'filamentous' ULF at 37 degrees C resulted in the disappearance of endogenous IGFBP-3 only in 'spherical + filamentous' ULF. The protease activity in 'filamentous' ULF was inhibited by EDTA, but unlike matrix metalloproteinases, was not zinc ion-dependent or inhibited by 1,10-phenanthroline. Moreover, this activity was partially inhibited by the serine protease inhibitor aprotinin, but not by 4-(2-aminoethyl)-benzenesulfonyl fluoride (AEBSF), a known inhibitor of plasmin. The IGFBP protease activity of ULF may therefore comprise a group of enzymes including an unidentified serine protease. The results suggest that elongating pig conceptuses induce IGFBP protease activity which may increase the intrauterine bioavailability of IGF.

Animals↗

Health status of urban and rural elders in Korea.

The main purpose of this study was to describe the differences in health status between urban and rural elders in Korea. The sample consisted of one thousand one hundred non-institutionalized individuals, aged 65 or over, living in three metropolitan cities and two rural provinces. The modified Cornell Medical Index, ADL, IADL, and existing medical diagnosis were used to measure the health status of the elders. Rural elders reported significantly more health problems than urban elders. Differences in ADL and IADL scores were not statistically significant. There was a difference in the types of health problems between the urban and rural elders. While more rural elders reported that they were diagnosed as having neuralgia and arthritis, more urban elders reported that they had diabetes. The results of this study demonstrated that rural elders had significantly more health problems than urban elders even after all the other variables were controlled. However, in Korea, most health care resources available to elders are concentrated in large urban cities. This study suggests that it is important to invest more health care resources in rural areas to meet the needs of all elders in Korea.

Aged↗

Comparison of once daily cefpodoxime proxetil suspension and thrice daily cefaclor suspension in the treatment of acute otitis media in children.

An open-labeled and randomized trial was conducted to compare the efficacy and safety of once daily cefpodoxime proxetil suspension (10mg/kg/day) and thrice daily cefaclor (45mg/kg/day) in the treatment of acute otitis media in children. A total of 57 children aged from 6 months to 9 years were enrolled; 23 were treated with cefpodoxime and 34 with cefaclor. Satisfactory clinical outcome, either cure or improvement, was achieved at the end of treatment in 90% of patients in the cefaclor group and 95% of patients in the cefpodoxime group (p > 0.05). Clinical recurrence was identified at the follow-up visits in one case of the cefaclor group (3%), and none in the cefpodoxime group (p > 0.05). These drugs were well tolerated by 14/21 (67%) in the cefpodoxime-treated group and 27/32 (84%) in the cefaclor-treated group. The incidence of adverse events was slightly higher in the cefpodoxime group than in the cefaclor group, however the difference did not reach statistical significance (p > 0.05). The daily cost of once-daily cefpodoxime was lower than that of thrice-daily cefaclor. We conclude that cefpodoxime administered once daily is as effective and safe as cefaclor administered thrice daily in the treatment of acute otitis media in children. The less dosing frequency and lower daily price of cefpodoxime provide additional benefits.

Acute Disease↗

Immunogenicity and safety of Haemophilus influenzae type b conjugate vaccine (HibTITER) and a combination vaccine of diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis and HibTITER (TETRAMUNE) in two-month-old infants.

A study was undertaken to evaluate the safety and immunogenicity of a combination vaccine (TETRAMUNE) of conjugate Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib) vaccine (HibTITER) and DTP (Diphtheria, Tetanus and Pertussis) vaccine. A total of 93 healthy children were randomized to receive either TETRAMUNE (combined group), or DTP and HibTITER administered concurrently (separate group) in separate syringes at approximately 2, 4 and 6 months of age in Taiwan. Serologic responses were largely comparable between the two vaccine groups; almost all subjects were seropositive to Hib PRP (polyribosylribitol phosphate) and were protected against diphtheria and tetanus after 2 doses of vaccine and mounted prominent responses to the components of Bordetella pertussis. Subjects in the combined group did not experience more adverse reactions compared with those in the separate group. We concluded that HibTITER was highly immunogenic and safe when administered concurrently with DTP vaccine to Taiwanese children. TETRAMUNE was also safe and immunogenic and might reduce the number of injections to achieve the same protection.

Antibodies, Bacterial↗

Seasonal variation of chickenpox, mumps and rubella in Taiwanese children estimated by pediatric clinics.

To determine the seasonal variation of childhood infectious diseases in Taiwan, the incidence rates of chickenpox, mumps and rubella were studied by analyzing patient's records collected from pediatric clinics in northern, central, southern and eastern Taiwan from January 1, 1993 to December 31, 1993. The study revealed that a chickenpox outbreak was most likely to occur in autumn, followed by a second peak in spring, and the lowest rate in summer. In this study, the highest monthly incidence of chickenpox was 540 cases per 100,000 population. The highest incidence of mumps occurred in the spring, the second highest in autumn, and the lowest during summer. Cases of rubella occurred in the spring, summer and autumn, but not in the winter. The data on chickenpox from this study revealed a similar seasonal pattern every year to that of the Department of Health of the National Quarantine Service on Taiwan. The chickenpox virus is known to be relatively sensitive to elevations in ambient temperature and is characterized by its occurrence mainly in slightly humid seasons.

Chickenpox↗

Bacteremia and fungemia in hematological and oncological children with neutropenic fever: two-year study in a medical center.

A retrospective study of bacteremia in children with neutropenic fever admitted to a medical center in Taiwan from Jan. 1994 to Dec. 1995 was performed. There were in total 273 episodes of neutropenic fever during this period, but only 79 pathogens were isolated from blood specimens in 70 episodes. Klebsiella pneumoniae (27.8%), E. coli (10.1%), Staphylococcus aureus (10.1%) and Pseudomonas aeruginosa (7.6%) were the most common pathogens. All the isolates of S. aureus were methicillin sensitive. About half of K. pneumoniae (10/22) was multiple-drug resistant. There were seven infection-related mortality cases, three due to multiple-drug resistant K. pneumoniae, one due to S. aureus, one alpha-hemolytic streptococcus and two fungemia (Cryptococcus neoformans and Fusarium sp.). Vancomycin is not necessary in initial empiric therapy of neutropenic fever, while cefazolin or oxacillin may be included in cases with central venous access device. Antibiotics to cover intestinal flora, especially K. pneumoniae, are paramount in our hospital.

Bacteremia↗

Desmoplastic variant of ameloblastoma in an 83-year-ald Asian female: report of a case with literature review.

The desmoplastic ameloblastoma is a rare histologic variant of ameloblastoma. This presentation outlines the successful treatment of an 83-year-old Asian female with this type of tumour by surgical resection and peripheral ostectomy with preservation of the interior border of the mandible. Clinical, radiographic, histopathologic and surgical aspects of this tumour were reviewed.

Aged↗

A genome-based resource for molecular cardiovascular medicine: toward a compendium of cardiovascular genes.

BACKGROUND: Large-scale partial sequencing of cDNA libraries to generate expressed sequence tags (ESTs) is an effective means of discovering novel genes and characterizing transcription patterns in different tissues. To catalogue the identities and expression levels of genes in the cardiovascular system, we initiated large-scale sequencing and analysis of human cardiac cDNA libraries. METHODS AND RESULTS: Using automated DNA sequencing, we generated 43,285 ESTs from human heart cDNA libraries. An additional 41,619 ESTs were retrieved from public databases, for a total of 84,904 ESTs representing more than 26 million nucleotides of raw cDNA sequence data from 13 independent cardiovascular system-based cDNA libraries. Of these, 55% matched to known genes in the Genbank/EMBL/DDBJ databases, 33% matched only to other ESTs, and 12% did not match to any known sequences (designated cardiovascular system-based ESTs, or CVbESTs). ESTs that matched to known genes were classified according to function, allowing for detection of differences in general transcription patterns between various tissues and developmental stages of the cardiovascular system. In silico Northern analysis of known gene matches identified widely expressed cardiovascular genes as well as genes putatively exhibiting greater tissue specificity or developmental stage specificity. More detailed analysis identified 48 genes potentially overexpressed in cardiac hypertrophy, at least 10 of which were previously documented as differentially expressed. Computer-based chromosomal localizations of 1048 cardiac ESTs were performed to further assist in the search for disease-related genes. CONCLUSIONS: These data represent the most extensive compilation of cardiovascular gene expression information to date. They further demonstrate the untapped potential of genome research for investigating questions related to cardiovascular biology and represent a first-generation genome-based resource for molecular cardiovascular medicine.

Blotting, Northern↗

Molecular nature of a sperm acrosomal antigen recognized by HS-13 monoclonal antibody.

Among the numerous monoclonal antibodies generated against human sperm antigens, HS-13 monoclonal antibody was shown to react with an intra-acrosomal antigen from human, mouse and rat. In this study, HS-13 was used as the affinity ligand for the purification of the cognate antigen from human sperm by immunoaffinity chromatography. The purified cognate antigen from human sperm, designated as HSAg-13, was found to be a protein with a molecular weight of approximately 80 kDa on SDS-PAGE in the presence of reducing reagents. This monoclonal antibody was used as the probe to study the tissue distributions and developmental expression of the cognate antigen from human, mouse and rat by immunohistochemical assays. It was concluded that the antigen recognized by HS-13 antibody is highly sperm specific and found only in sperm and mature testis, but not in any other somatic tissues examined in human and mouse. The antigen was shown to be expressed at the postmeiotic stages of spermatogenesis in mouse and rat. By using indirect immunofluorescent staining assay, HS-13 was shown to react only with the methanol-fixed acrosome-intact sperm but not with the live sperm. Following calcium ionophore A23187 treatment, acrosome-reacted sperm showed either negative staining or residual staining in the equatorial region, suggesting the intra-acrosomal location of HSAg-13. The spontaneous acrosome reaction following overnight incubation in BWW medium resulted in a statistically significant decrease of antibody-stained human sperm. In view of excellent correlations for the scoring of acrosome-intact sperm with that of fluorescence-labeled Pisum sativum agglutinin (PSA) probe, HS-13 monoclonal antibody can be routinely used for monitoring sperm capacitation and acrosome reaction.

Acrosome↗

Mapping of the human ribosomal large subunit protein gene RPL29 to human chromosome 3q29-qter.

The human ribosomal protein L29, which we reported previously, was subsequently shown to have the same nucleotide sequence as that of cell surface heparin/heparan sulfate-binding protein, designated HP/HS interacting protein. A polymerase chain reaction-based strategy was used to distinguish the functional intron-containing gene RPL29 (HGMW-approved symbol) from multiple pseudogenes. By somatic cell hybrid analysis, radiation hybrid mapping, and fluorescence in situ hybridization, we have located RPL29 on the telomeric region of the q arm of chromosome 3. RPL29 is the most distal marker of the long armof chromosome 3. Of the human ribosomal protein genes mapped, RPL29 is the shortest distance from another ribosomal protein gene marker, RPL35 a which has also been mapped to the 3q29-qter region.

Chromosome Mapping↗

Increases in mRNA levels of glucose transporters types 1 and 3 in Ehrlich ascites tumor cells during tumor development.

A common feature of many tumors is an increase in glucose catabolism during tumor growth. We studied the mechanism of this phenomenon by using Ehrlich ascites tumor bearing mice as the animal model. We found that Ehrlich ascites tumor cells possess only glucose transporter 1 (GLUT1) and GLUT3 but not GLUT2, GLUT4, or GLUT5. The mRNA levels of GLUT1 and GLUT3 increased progressively in the tumour during development; however, there were no changes observable in mRNA levels of glucose transporters of all types in brain, liver, and heart of the host mice. These findings suggest that Ehrlich ascites tumor augments its glucose transport mechanism relative to other tissues in response to its unique growth needs.

Animals↗

Hypertensive response during dobutamine stress echocardiography.

Among 3,129 dobutamine stress echocardiographic studies, a hypertensive response, defined as systolic blood pressure (BP) > or = 220 mm Hg and/or diastolic BP > or = 110 mm Hg, occurred in 30 patients (1%). Patients with this response more often had a history of hypertension and had higher resting systolic and diastolic BP before dobutamine infusion.

Aged↗

Cloning and characterization of the citA gene encoding the mitochondrial citrate synthase of Aspergillus nidulans.

We isolated a citrate synthase gene (citA) from Aspergillus nidulans. By analysis of the protein coding region, citA was shown to encode a citrate synthase (CitA) of 52.2 kDa consisting of 474 amino acid residues that were interrupted by seven introns. Also, the precursor CitA protein was revealed to have an N-terminal mitochondrial targeting signal of 35 amino acid residues containing an R-3 cleavage motif, R(32)-C-Y decreases S(35), which supports the fact that citA encodes the mitochondrial form of citrate synthase of A. nidulans. Southern blot analysis showed that citA is present as a single copy in the genome.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Cysteine-286 as the site of acylation of the Lux-specific fatty acyl-CoA reductase.

The channelling of fatty acids into the fatty aldehyde substrate for the bacterial bioluminescence reaction is catalyzed by a fatty acid reductase multienzyme complex, which channels fatty acids through the thioesterase (LuxD), synthetase (LuxE) and reductase (LuxC) components. Although all three components can be readily acylated in extracts of different luminescent bacteria, this complex has been successfully purified only from Photobacterium phosphoreum and the sites of acylation identified on LuxD and LuxE. To identify the acylation site on LuxC, the nucleotide sequence of P. phosphoreum luxC has been determined and the gene expressed in a mutant Escherichia coli strain. Even in crude extracts, the acylated reductase intermediate as well as acyl-CoA reductase activity could be readily detected, providing the basis for analysis of mutant reductases. Comparison of the amino-acid sequences of LuxC from P. phosphoreum, P. leiognathi and other luminescent bacteria, showed that only three cysteine residues (C171, C279, and C286) were conserved. As a cysteine residue on LuxC has been implicated in fatty acyl transfer, each of the conserved cysteine residues of the P. phosphoreum and P. leiognathi reductases was converted to a serine residue, and the properties of the mutant proteins examined. Only mutation of C286-blocked reductase activity and prevented formation of the acylated reductase intermediate, showing that C286 is the site of acylation on LuxC.

Acylation↗

Cultured lung epithelium: A cellular model for lung preservation.

Cellular models have helped with the development of conditions needed for hypothermic preservation of kidney, liver, and heart. Recently, highly differentiated cultured lung epithelial cell lines grown with basolateral side feeding technique have become available that can mimic airspace, epithelium, and interstitium of lung parenchyma. Cultured lung epithelium coupled with Ussing's short-circuit current technique was used as a cellular model system for lung preservation. A parametric study was conducted to correlate the effects of luminal fluid composition (University of Wisconsin (UW) solution and phosphate-buffered saline) and storage gas (air vs nitrogen) at 4 degrees C for 24 h on postischemic electrogenic properties (transepithelial ion transport and resistance). The results showed that cells were better preserved with the UW solution on both sides as measured by their transepithelial resistance, an indicator of tight junction integrity (Rte approximately 65% of control values approximately 135 Omega cm2). In addition, they responded better to mediators that stimulate chloride secretion than cells preserved with other conditions. Cells preserved with no additional fluid on the apical side had substantially lowered Rte (<20%) than those preserved with an additional thin layer of fluid ( approximately 35-65%). This cellular model system is a realistic representation of lung epithelium and can provide an accurate assessment of preservation quality through the measurements of tight junction integrity and active ion transport.

Adenosine↗

Neuronal intestinal dysplasia presenting as an abdominal mass: report of a case.

An unusual clinical presentation of a patient with neuronal intestinal dysplasia is presented. A 46-year-old male noted a palpable mass in the right lower quadrant of his abdomen for two months. A computed axial tomographic scan showed a thickened wall of the cecum with a tumor-like appearance. The excised specimen consisted of a mass caused by the thickened, edematous wall of the dilated cecum and appendix. The wall of the cecum and appendix measured up to 2.5 and 0.8 cm, respectively, in thickness. Microscopic studies showed extensive hyperplasia and hypertrophy of the ganglia and nerve plexuses and hypertrophy of the muscularis propria, consistent with neuronal intestinal dysplasia.

Appendix↗