Search PubMed⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

H J Kim

Publications and source records attributed to H J Kim.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed2006

The role of preoperative bone scan for determining the treatment method for femoral neck fracture.

To evaluate the role of preoperative bone scintigraphy in determining the operative treatment method for femoral neck fracture, we reviewed the data of 83 patients who underwent preoperative bone scanning after femoral neck fracture. Fractures were classified using the Garden staging system. Radioisotope uptake in femoral heads was evaluated visually. Of 28 patients with Garden stage I or II, radioactivity of the femoral head was normal in 26, partially reduced in one, and generally reduced in one patient. Twenty-seven patients were treated by closed reduction and multiple pinning, and one patient was treated by bipolar hemiarthroplasty. Of 55 patients with Garden stage III or IV, femoral-head radioactivity was normal in three, partially reduced in seven and generally reduced in 45 patients. Fifty-four patients were treated by bipolar hemiarthroplasty or total hip arthroplasty, and one patient was treated by closed reduction and multiple pinning. In only one of the 83 cases was the operative method changed because of bone scan findings. Isotope uptake of the femoral head after femoral neck fracture generally corresponded with the degree of fracture displacement. Preoperative bone scans appear to have no significant role to play in determining the operative treatment method for femoral neck fracture.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2006

An orally active cathepsin K inhibitor, furan-2-carboxylic acid, 1-{1-[4-fluoro-2-(2-oxo-pyrrolidin-1-yl)-phenyl]-3-oxo-piperidin-4-ylcarbamoyl}-cyclohexyl)-amide (OST-4077), inhibits osteoclast activity in vitro and bone loss in ovariectomized rats.

Human cathepsin K, a cysteine proteinase of the papain family, has been recognized as a potential drug target for the treatment of osteoporosis. The predominant expression of cathepsin K in osteoclasts has rendered the enzyme into a major target for the development of novel antiresorptive drugs. Now, we report the pharmacological properties of OST-4077 [furan-2-carboxylic acid (1-{1-[4-fluoro-2-(2-oxo-pyrrolidin-1-yl)-phenyl]-3-oxo-piperidin-4-ylcarbamoyl}-cyclohexyl)-amide] as a novel selective cathepsin K inhibitor. Human and rat cathepsin K were inhibited in vitro by OST-4077 with the IC50 values of 11 and 427 nM, respectively. OST-4077 suppressed bone resorption induced by rabbit osteoclasts (IC50, 37 nM) but did not affect bone mineralization or cellular alkaline phosphatase activity in MC3T3-E1 cells. Parathyroid hormone-induced bone resorption was inhibited in a dose-dependent manner in thyroparathyroidectomized rats gavaged with a single dose of OST-4077 (ED50, 69 mg/kg). When given orally twice daily for 4 weeks to 3-month-old ovariectomized (OVX) rats, OST-4077 dose-dependently prevented bone loss, as monitored by bone densitometry, ash content, and urinary excretion of deoxypyridinoline. No change in serum osteocalcin in the OVX rats by OST-4077 suggested that bone formation might not be affected by the agent. In summary, OST-4077 selectively inhibited bone resorbing activities of osteoclasts and prevented bone loss induced by estrogen deficiency but did not affect bone formation. OST-4077, an orally active selective human cathepsin K inhibitor, may have the therapeutic potential for the treatment of diseases characterized by excessive bone loss including osteoporosis.

Alkaline Phosphatase↗
PubMed2006

Measurement of the branching fraction, polarization, and asymmetry for decays, and determination of the Cabibbo-Kobayashi-Maskawa phase.

We have measured the branching fraction , longitudinal polarization fraction f(L), and CP asymmetry coefficients A and S for B(0) --> rho(+) rho(-) decays with the Belle detector at the KEKB e(+) e(-) collider using 253 Fb(-1) of data. We obtain B = [22.8 +/- 3.8(stat)(+2.3)(-2.6)(syst)] x 10(-6), f(L) = 0.941 (+0.034)(-0.040)(stat) +/- 0.030(syst). A = 0.00 +/- 0.30(stat) +/- 0.09(syst) and S = 0.08 +/- 0.09(syst). These values are used to constrain the Cabibbo-Kobayashi-Maskawa phase ; the solution consistent with the standard model is phi(2) = (88 +/- 17) degrees or 59 degrees < phi(2) < 115 degrees at 90% C.L.

Journal Article↗
PubMed2006

Improved constraints on D0-D0 mixing in D0 --> K+ pi- decays from the Belle detector.

We report the results of a search for D0-D0 mixing in D0 --> K+ pi- decays based on 400 fb(-1) of data accumulated by the Belle detector at KEKB. Both assuming CP conservation and allowing for CP violation, we fit the decay-time distribution for the mixing parameters x and y, as well as for the parameter R(D), the ratio of doubly Cabibbo-suppressed decays to Cabibbo-favored decays. The 95% confidence level region in the (x'2,y') plane is obtained using a frequentist method. Assuming CP conservation, we find x'2 < 0.72 x 10(-3) and -9.9 x 10(-3) < y' < 6.8 x 10(-3) at the 95% confidence level; these are the most stringent constraints on the mixing parameters to date. The no-mixing point (0,0) has a confidence level of 3.9%. Assuming no mixing, we measure R(D) = (0.377 +/- 0.008 +/- 0.005)%.

Journal Article↗
PubMed2006

The absorption of orally supplied beta-alanine and its effect on muscle carnosine synthesis in human vastus lateralis.

Beta-alanine in blood-plasma when administered as A) histidine dipeptides (equivalent to 40 mg . kg(-1) bwt of beta-alanine) in chicken broth, or B) 10, C) 20 and D) 40 mg . kg(-1) bwt beta-alanine (CarnoSyn, NAI, USA), peaked at 428 +/- SE 66, 47 +/- 13, 374 +/- 68 and 833 +/- 43 microM. Concentrations regained baseline at 2 h. Carnosine was not detected in plasma with A) although traces of this and anserine were found in urine. Loss of beta-alanine in urine with B) to D) was <5%. Plasma taurine was increased by beta-alanine ingestion but this did not result in any increased loss via urine. Pharmacodynamics were further investigated with 3 x B) per day given for 15 d. Dietary supplementation with I) 3.2 and II) 6.4 g . d(-1) beta-alanine (as multiple doses of 400 or 800 mg) or III) L-carnosine (isomolar to II) for 4 w resulted in significant increases in muscle carnosine estimated at 42.1, 64.2 and 65.8%.

Adult↗
PubMed2006

Observation of a chi(c2)' candidate in gamma gamma --> DD production at belle.

We report on a search for new resonant states in the process gamma gamma --> DD. A candidate C-even charmonium state is observed in the vicinity of 3.93 GeV/c2. The production rate and the angular distribution in the gamma gamma center-of-mass frame suggest that this state is the previously unobserved chi(c2)', the 2(3)P2 charmonium state.

Journal Article↗
PubMed2006

Osteoclast differentiation requires TAK1 and MKK6 for NFATc1 induction and NF-kappaB transactivation by RANKL.

Osteoclast (Oc) differentiation is fundamentally controlled by receptor activator of nuclear factor kappaB ligand (RANKL). RANKL signalling targets include mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs), nuclear factor kappaB (NF-kappaB), and nuclear factor of activated T cells (NFAT)c1. In this study, we found that p38 MAPK upstream components transforming growth factor-beta-activated kinase 1 (TAK1), MKK3, and MKK6 increased by RANKL in an early stage of osteoclastogenesis from primary bone marrow cells, which led to enhanced p38 activation. Retroviral transduction of dominant-negative (DN) forms of TAK1 and MKK6, but not that of MKK3, reduced Oc differentiation. Transduction of TAK1-DN and MKK6-DN and treatment with the p38 inhibitor SB203580 attenuated NFATc1 induction by RANKL. TAK1-DN, MKK6-DN, and SB203580, but not MKK3-DN, also suppressed RANKL stimulation of NF-kappaB transcription activity in a manner dependent on p65 phosphorylation on Ser-536. These results indicate that TAK1 and MKK6 constitute the p38 signalling pathway to participate to Oc differentiation by RANKL through p65 phosphorylation and NFATc1 induction, and that MKK6 and MKK3 have differential roles in osteoclastogenesis from bone marrow precursors.

Animals↗
PubMed2006

Improved therapeutic outcomes of DLBCL after introduction of rituximab in Korean patients.

The addition of rituximab to cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, vincristine, and prednisone (CHOP) has been shown to improve the outcome in all age groups with newly diagnosed diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL). We conducted a retrospective analysis to evaluate the impact of this combination therapy on DLBCL outcomes in Korea. From October 2001 to June 2004, newly diagnosed DLBCL patients in nine Korean institutes were included. All of these 81 patients were treated with three or more cycles of rituximab plus CHOP (R-CHOP) combination chemotherapy (R group), and followed for a minimum of 12 months. For comparison, a historical cohort of patients was used and analyzed for "Clinicopathologic characteristics of Korean non-Hodgkin's lymphomas (NHLs) based on Revised American Lymphoma (REAL) classification" in 1999. Among the 1,098 NHL patients, the data of 214 DLBCL patients, who were treated with CHOP chemotherapy in first-line, were analyzed (C group). We compared outcomes between the C group and the R group. A total of 295 patients were evaluated (C group, 214; R group, 81). The complete response (CR) rate was higher in R group (73 vs 91%, p=0.001). The 2-year event-free survival (EFS) rate was significantly higher in R group (78 vs 85%, p=0.0194). This survival benefit was maintained in high-risk patients according to the international prognostic index (IPI) (p=0.0039), regardless of age. However, there was no significant difference in low-risk patients. The addition of rituximab to CHOP combination chemotherapy for DLBCLs showed improved outcomes, particularly in high-risk group according to the IPI. Long-term follow-up results will be needed to confirm these results.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2006

Mechanisms of fenretinide-induced apoptosis.

Fenretinide, a synthetic retinoid, has emerged as a promising anticancer agent based on numerous in vitro and animal studies, as well as chemoprevention clinical trials. In vitro observations suggest that the anticancer activity of fenretinide may arise from its ability to induce apoptosis in tumor cells. Diverse signaling molecules including reactive oxygen species, ceramide, and ganglioside GD3 can mediate apoptosis induction by fenretinide in transformed, premalignant, and malignant cells. In many cell types, these signaling intermediates appear to be induced by mechanisms that are independent of retinoic acid receptor activation, and ultimately initiate the intrinsic or mitochondrial-mediated pathway of cell elimination. Numerous investigations conducted during the past 10 years have discovered a great deal about the apoptogenic activity of fenretinide. In this review we explore the mechanisms associated with fenretinide-induced apoptosis and highlight certain mechanistic underpinnings of fenretinide-induced cell death that remain poorly understood and thus warrant further characterization.

Animals↗
PubMed2006

Risk factors for changes in bone mineral density and the effect of antiosteoporosis management after renal transplantation.

Using the pretransplant bone mineral density (BMD) data records of renal recipients, we retrospectively examined risk factors affecting posttransplant changes in BMD and the effect of antiosteoporosis management. For 294 kidney transplant recipients from January 1996 to September 2003, BMD values were expressed as spine and femur T-scores. Gender, age, pretransplant diabetes, blood type compatibility, mode and duration of dialysis, and previous transplantation were considered to be variables affecting BMD changes. T-test or ANOVA was used to compare risk factors. At the time of transplantation, mean spine T-scores were significantly lower among the retransplant group. Mean femur T-scores were significantly lower among the retransplant group, older patients (older than 45 years), and female recipients. Prolonged hemodialysis (>12 months) and retransplant were risk factors for BMD loss during the first year posttransplant. Early application of antiosteoporosis management was effective to ameliorate posttransplant BMD loss. However, antiosteoporosis management after 1 year posttransplant was relatively ineffective. Pretransplant evaluation of BMD and the possibility of significant BMD loss during the first posttransplant year should not be overlooked. Prophylaxis against bone loss and treatment should be started as soon as possible after transplantation for recipients with either normal or abnormal pretransplant BMD.

Adult↗
PubMed2006

Rare cases of Ménière's disease in children.

Classical Ménière's disease is rarely found in children and literature regarding it is scarce. In general, the frequency of Ménière's disease in children is only 0.4-7.0 per cent of that in adults. The progression pattern of Ménière's disease in children is not known well. Here, we report three cases of Ménière's disease in children less than 15 years old, treated over nine years. The three cases comprise 14- and 13-year-old boys and a nine-year-old girl. Two of the three patients initially complained only of recurrent bouts of vertigo, without any tinnitus, ear fullness or hearing impairment. In all three cases, the early pure tone audiograms showed only high tone frequency loss, regardless of subjective hearing loss, and the decrease in the hearing threshold was observed one to eight years after the dizziness attacks began. The hearing threshold was usually decreased to a level of mild or moderate hearing impairment. After diuretic treatment, vertigo was generally well controlled, and some cases showed improvement in hearing. Of the total number of patients with Ménière's disease who visited our department over nine years, 2.6 per cent (3/114) were children, and the overall incidence of Ménière's disease in children with vertigo was 2.0 per cent (3/147). In conclusion, Ménière's disease in children rarely develops and may have characteristics of high tone loss in initial audiograms.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2006

Patterns of C-reactive protein release following allogeneic stem cell transplantation are correlated with leukemic relapse.

The C-reactive protein (CRP) is an acute-phase protein produced by hepatocytes, and is a reliable marker of systemic inflammation, which is relevant to the release of the proinflammatory cytokines. The value of monitoring the CRP levels after stem cell transplantation (SCT) can identify patients at risk of treatment-related complications and mortality. Inflammatory cytokines facilitate donor T-cell activation via antigen presenting cells immediately after SCT. This study examined the relationship between the post-SCT CRP levels and a leukemic relapse. Fifty-four consecutively transplanted patients who relapsed after the allogeneic SCT were compared with nonrelapsing patients. The serum CRP levels were measured on day 0 and every 7 days thereafter until 4 weeks after the SCT. The mean CRP levels throughout the early post-SCT episode were significantly lower in the relapsing patients than in those who did not experience relapse (mean+/-s.e.: 26.8 +/- 6.3 vs 65.3 +/- 9.4 for first week, P = 0.001; 23.9 +/- 3.8 vs 44.6 +/- 6.6 for second week, P = 0.008). Univariate analysis showed that the CRP level on the first and second week, and graft-versus-host disease were significantly associated with a relapse. Multivariate analysis showed that the CRP level on the first week was the strongest independent variable predicting the risk of a relapse after SCT (P = 0.04). These results indicate that the serum CRP levels early after allogeneic SCT might display the graft-versus-leukemia (GvL) effect. CRP is a surrogate of the proinflammatory cytokine release that was not measured in this study. The GvL effect appears to be efficiently strengthened by the high CRP levels that may be reflecting T-cell activation.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2006

High-dose chemotherapy with autologous stem cell transplantation in extranodal NK/T-cell lymphoma: a retrospective comparison with non-transplantation cases.

To determine the role of high-dose chemotherapy and autologous stem cell transplantation (HDC/ASCT) in extranodal NK/T-cell lymphoma patients, we conducted a retrospective analysis. In our previous study, we searched for patients who had received HDC/ASCT and identified 16 eligible patients and compared the treatment outcome with historical control group (n=246). Nine patients received HDC/ASCT in the first (CR1) or second complete remission (CR2), while seven patients received HDC/ASCT as salvage. Twelve of 16 patients achieved or maintained CR after HDC/ASCT. Among the 12 patients, five patients relapsed. Estimated 2-year overall survival (OS) and relapse-free survival (RFS) rates were 71.3+/-12.4% and 25.8+/-14.3%, respectively. There was a tendency of better survival in patients who received HDC/ASCT as compared to those who did not (P=0.091). In subset analysis, patients who underwent HDC/ASCT at CR (P=0.049) and patients with stage III or IV (P=0.001) had a favorable outcome. Patients with NKIPI 3,4 or EUNKTL, who underwent HDC/ASCT had more prolonged survival without statistical significance (P=0.055 and 0.056). In conclusion, HDC/ASCT may be considered as a treatment option for patients with extranodal NK/T-cell lymphoma, especially those in CR, with advanced disease (stage III/IV or EUNKTL) and high NKIPI scores.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2006

NF-kappaB and IKK as therapeutic targets in cancer.

The transcription factor NF-kappaB and associated regulatory factors (including IkappaB kinase subunits and the IkappaB family member Bcl-3) are strongly implicated in a variety of hematologic and solid tumor malignancies. A role for NF-kappaB in cancer cells appears to involve regulation of cell proliferation, control of apoptosis, promotion of angiogenesis, and stimulation of invasion/metastasis. Consistent with a role for NF-kappaB in oncogenesis are observations that inhibition of NF-kappaB alone or in combination with cancer therapies leads to tumor cell death or growth inhibition. However, other experimental data indicate that NF-kappaB can play a tumor suppressor role in certain settings and that it can be important in promoting an apoptotic signal downstream of certain cancer therapy regimens. In order to appropriately move NF-kappaB inhibitors in the clinic, thorough approaches must be initiated to determine the molecular mechanisms that dictate the complexity of oncologic and therapeutic outcomes that are controlled by NF-kappaB.

Apoptosis↗
PubMed2006

Diagnostic yield of advanced colorectal neoplasia at colonoscopy, according to indications: an investigation from the Korean Association for the Study of Intestinal Diseases (KASID).

BACKGROUND AND STUDY AIMS: The factors that more accurately predict the detection of colorectal cancers and adenomas at colonoscopy are different. We conducted a prospective multicenter study to evaluate which indications were most closely associated with advanced colorectal neoplasm (CRN), including colorectal cancer, in a group of patients undergoing colonoscopy. PATIENTS AND METHODS: The 17 468 patients were enrolled in this study between July 2003 and March 2004, from 11 tertiary medical centers in Korea. They were recruited according to 11 itemized colonoscopic indications. The term "advanced adenoma" refers here to tubular adenomas of diameter of 11 mm or more, or to tubulovillous, villous, or severely dysplastic adenomas, irrespective of their size. Cancer was defined as the invasion of malignant cells beyond the muscularis mucosa. Advanced CRN was defined as advanced adenoma or invasive cancer. RESULTS: Advanced CRN was found in 1227/17 307 patients (1176 advanced adenomas plus 51 carcinomas, 7.1 %). According to univariate and multivariate analysis, the factors associated with advanced CRN included age >60 years (odds ratio (OR) 2.1, 95 % confidence interval (CI) 1.8 - 2.4, P < 0.0001), male gender (OR 2.1, 95 %CI 1.7 - 2.7, P < 0.0001), referral for colonoscopy from primary care physician (OR 3.1, 95 %CI 2.5 - 3.7, P < 0.0001), and several other indications (OR 1.8, 95 %CI 1.5 - 2.3, P < 0.001). The yield of colonoscopy for advanced CRN was lower (2.2 %) than expected in patients with iron-deficiency anemia (OR 0.5, 95 %CI 0.2 - 0.9, P = 0.03). CONCLUSIONS: Age, gender, and referral for colonoscopy from primary care physician constituted important independent predictors of advanced CRN in patients undergoing colonoscopy.

Adenoma↗
PubMed2006

Investigation of the corticotropin-releasing hormone-proopiomelanocortin axis in various skin tumours.

BACKGROUND: Various types of external stress cause the skin and central neuroendocrine system to express corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH)-proopiomelanocortin (POMC) axis-related hormones. However, the precise role of the CRH-POMC axis-related hormones in various skin tumours is unclear. OBJECTIVES: This study examined expression patterns of the CRH-POMC axis-related hormones in skin tumours. METHODS: The production of CRH, adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) and alpha-melanocyte-stimulating hormone (alpha-MSH) in various tumour cell lines including HaCaT and primary keratinocytes was examined using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Immunohistochemical analysis of the skin tumours was also performed. RESULTS: CRH, ACTH and alpha-MSH were strongly expressed in malignant skin tumour cell lines such as G-361 and DX-3 (both malignant melanoma, MM). However, normal and haematological malignancy cell lines did not express the CRH-POMC axis-related hormones. Immunohistochemical analysis of the skin tumours showed that MM (80%), squamous cell carcinoma (SCC, 70%) and basal cell carcinoma (BCC, 10%) had strong immunoreactivity (++/+++) for CRH. Strong ACTH and alpha-MSH expression was observed in MM (70% and 50%, respectively), SCC (80% and 60%, respectively) and BCC (70% and 50%, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: We report that an increase in the level of the CRH-POMC axis-related hormones is associated with malignant skin tumours such as MM. These results highlight the importance of the CRH-POMC axis-related hormones in the malignant tendency of skin tumours.

Adrenocorticotropic Hormone↗
PubMed2006

HER2 status in pure ductal carcinoma in situ and in the intraductal and invasive components of invasive ductal carcinoma determined by fluorescence in situ hybridization and immunohistochemistry.

AIM: To determine the HER2 status of ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) and invasive ductal carcinoma (IDC) of the breast. The increased prevalence of HER2 amplification and overexpression in DCIS is considered to be maintained in the intraductal component of IDC; however, HER2 amplification and overexpression are detected much less in IDC. METHODS AND RESULTS: Fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) and immunohistochemistry (IHC) were performed to detect HER2 in 270 IDCs with an intraductal component and in 50 pure DCIS samples; IHC was also performed in 116 metastatic nodes. HER2 was found to be amplified in 77 cases (28.5%) and overexpressed in 79 (29.3%) of the 270 IDCs. HER2 amplification was similar between intraductal and invasive components of the same tumour. The concordance for HER2 status between invasive and intraductal components of individual tumours was 98.5% and 99.3% by FISH and IHC, respectively. HER2 was amplified in 25 (50%) of the 50 pure DCIS samples. HER2 overexpression in metastatic nodes resembled the HER2 status in the primary tumour for 108 (93.1%) of 116 cases (kappa =0.831). CONCLUSION: Our study indicates that the intraductal component of IDC may differ biologically when compared with pure DCIS. HER2 appears to lack a critical role in the progression from DCIS to IDC and HER2 status is maintained in metastatic lesions.

Adult↗