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Biomedical subjects

H J Shin

Publications and source records attributed to H J Shin.

At least 109 records · Page 6Linked to original sources

Similarity-scaling studies of dot-pattern classification and recognition.

Classification performance in the dot-pattern, prototype-distortion paradigm (e.g., Posner & Keele, 1968) was modeled within a multidimensional scaling (MDS) framework. MDS solutions were derived for sets of dot patterns that were generated from prototypes. These MDS solutions were then used in conjunction with exemplar, prototype, and combined models to predict classification and recognition performance. Across 3 experiments, an MDS-based exemplar model accounted for the effects of several fundamental learning variables, including level of distortion of the patterns, category size, delay of transfer phase, and item frequency. Most important, the model quantitatively predicted classification probabilities for individual dot patterns in the sets, not simply general trends of performance. There was little evidence for the existence of a prototype-abstraction process that operated above and beyond pure exemplar-based generalization.

Adult↗

[An imported human case of hookworm infection with worms in the rectum].

An imported case of rectal hookworm infection was diagnosed by stool examination and recovery of adult worms from the rectal mucosa by sigmoidoscopy. The chief complaints of a patient were diarrhea, abdominal pain and weight loss for about 1 month after returning from his travel abroad to the Southeast Asia. Leukocytosis(16,750/microliters) and peripheral eosinophilia(33.7%) were noticed without anemia. Typical hookworm eggs were detected by stool examination, and 3 worms were collected by sigmoidoscopy from rectal mucosa of this patient. Those worms were confirmed as adult worms of Ancylostoma duodenale(male:1, female:2) based on their morphological characteristics. The symptoms were relieved after treatment with anthelmintics. This case was considered as one of the imported parasitic infections in Korea, and a rare case of hookworm infection on human rectal mucosa.

Ancylostoma↗

[The protective effects of monoclonal antibodies in mice from Naegleria fowleri infection].

Protective effects of monoclonal antibodies against N. fowleri were comparatively studied. BALB/c mice were treated with two types of monoclonal antibodies, Nf 2 and Nf 154, before and after the infection with N. fowleri. The mortality and mean survival times were then compared. Also, direct effect of the monoclonal antibodies on the N. fowleri trophozoites in vitro were observed. In vitro protective effects of the monoclonal antibodies were also studied in cells infected with N. fowleri. The observed results are summarized as follows: 1. Among mice pretreated twice before the infection with monoclonal antibody Nf 2(McAb Nf 2), only 15.8% were killed, and the mean survival time was 17.7 days. This was not much different from the mice pretreated once, as the mortality and mean survival time were 16.7% and 17 days. Those effects were compatible with monoclonal antibody Nf 154(McAb Nf 154). The above findings contrast with the mortality and mean survival time of the control mice, which were 22.7% and 14.6 days respectively. 2. Mice which received twice the McAb Nf 2 following N. fowleri infection incurred a 19.4% mortality rate with 13.6 days survival time; 17.9% and 15.8 days with on time administration, in contrast to the 25% and 14.6 days in the control group. 3. Marked agglutination effect of McAb Nf 2 or McAb Nf 154 were observed on N. fowleri trophozoites. 4. When N. fowleri trophozoites were treated with McAb Nf 2 or McAb Nf 154 combined with comments, the proliferation rate was more significantly suppressed than in that the control. 5. N. fowleri trophozoites treated with McAb Nf 2 or McAb Nf 154 showed an increased number of swollen mitochondria, disfigured cisternae, lipid droplets, and osmiophilic granules in the cytoplasm. 6. A remarkable protective effect of monoclonal antibodies was noticed in CHO cells infected with N. fowleri. More than 90.6% of the infected CHO cells survived, contrasted with 27% of untreated cells. The overall results in this study suggest that N. fowleri treated with monoclonal antibodies against N. fowleri reduce the mortality and prolong the survival time of the mice when the antibodies are administered before the infection. The protective effect of the monoclonal antibodies is surmised being caused by agglutination of the trophozoites.

Amebiasis↗

[Immunological approach for classification of free-living amoeba in Korea].

Acanthamoeba spp., free-living amoebae inhabited in moist soil, pond, freshwater, sewage, atmosphere and swimming pool, may be causative protozoa of the fatal primary amoebic meningoencephalitis in experimental animals and humans. In this study, Acanthamoeba spp., including Acanthamoeba sp. YM-4 (isolated strain from Korea) had been compared by the two-dimensional electrophoresis and hybridoma technique as well as the difference of morphological characteristics. Trophozoite of Acanthamoeba sp. YM-4 is usually uninucleate and show the hyaline filamentous projections (acanthopoda). No flagellate stage observed. Cysts have two walls, the outer wall is nearly circular, but inner wall is oval or some irregular. As results of SDS-PAGE for lysate of Acanthamoeba sp. YM-4, 16 major protein fractions are similar to those of A. culbertsoni, but different to A. royreba and A. polyphaga. Findings of two-dimensional electrophoretic patterns of Acanthamoeba sp. YM-4 are almost same to those of A. culbertsoni, The isotype of monoclonal antibodies produced from McAY 6, McAY 7, McAY 8, McAY 13 and McAY 16 clones were IgG1, and McAY 10 and McAY 11 clones were IgM. As results of the cross-reactivity among various amoebae using ELISA with monoclonal antibodies, McAY 7 monoclonal antibody (molecular weight 43 kDa by EITB) was only reacted with Acanthamoeba sp. YM-4, but McAY 6 and McAY 10 monoclonal antibodies were reacted to A. culbertsoni as well as Acanthamoeba sp. YM-4.

Amoeba↗

Mass treatment of head louse infestation with Sumithrin powder in primary schools in Korea.

A mass treatment of head louse infestation with Sumithrin powder (0.4% phenothrin) in primary school children was implemented during the period of September 1991-May 1992. The infestation rate of total 2,515 children was 38.6% in average (21.2% in boys and 57.2% in girls). The reduction rate of head louse infestation was 93.4% with a single treatment and 94.8% with double consecutive treatments with about 10 days interval, which indicated that a single treatment would be recommended for the mass treatment in the community. Long term follow-up after Sumithrin powder application for head louse control in a primary school showed that the infestation rate dropped from 33.1% before treatment to 5.4% by seven months after treatment, giving a 83.4% reduction rate.

Age Factors↗

Relative activities and stabilities of mutant Escherichia coli tryptophan synthase alpha subunits.

In vitro mutagenesis of the Escherichia coli trpA gene has yielded 66 mutant tryptophan synthase alpha subunits containing single amino acid substitutions at 49 different residue sites and 29 double and triple amino acid substitutions at 16 additional sites, all within the first 121 residues of the protein. The 66 singly altered mutant alpha subunits encoded from overexpression vectors have been examined for their ability to support growth in trpA mutant host strains and for their enzymatic and stability properties in crude extracts. With the exception of mutant alpha subunits altered at catalytic residue sites Glu-49 and Asp-60, all support growth; this includes those (48 of 66) that have no enzymatic defects and those (18 of 66) that do. The majority of the enzymatically defective mutant alpha subunits have decreased capacities for substrate (indole-3-glycerol phosphate) utilization, typical of the early trpA missense mutants isolated by in vivo selection methods. These defects vary in severity from complete loss of activity for mutant alpha subunits altered at residue positions 49 and 60 to those, altered elsewhere, that are partially (up to 40 to 50%) defective. The complete inactivation of the proteins altered at the two catalytic residue sites suggest that, as found via in vitro site-specific mutagenesis of the Salmonella typhimurium tryptophan synthetase alpha subunit, both residues probably also participate in a push-pull general acid-base catalysis of indole-3-glycerol phosphate breakdown for the E. coli enzyme as well. Other classes of mutant alpha subunits include some novel types that are defective in their functional interaction with the other tryptophan synthetase component, the beta 2 subunit. Also among the mutant alpha subunits, 19 were found altered at one or another of the 34 conserved residue sites in this portion of the alpha polypeptide sequence; surprisingly, 10 of these have wild-type enzymatic activity, and 16 of these can satisfy growth requirements of a trpA mutant host. Heat stability and potential folding-rate alterations are found in both enzymatically active and defective mutant alpha subunits. Tyr-4. Pro-28, Ser-33, Gly-44, Asp-46, Arg-89, Pro-96, and Cys-118 may be important for these properties, especially for folding. Two regions, one near Thr-24 and another near Met-101, have been also tentatively identified as important for increasing stability.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Rules and exemplars in categorization, identification, and recognition.

Subjects learned to classify perceptual stimuli varying along continuous, separable dimensions into rule-described categories. The categories were designed to contrast the predictions of a selective-attention exemplar model and a simple rule-based model formalizing an economy-of-description view. Converging evidence about categorization strategies was obtained by also collecting identification and recognition data and by manipulating strategies via instructions. In free-strategy conditions, the exemplar model generally provided an accurate quantitative account of identification, categorization, and recognition performance, and it allowed for the interrelationship of these paradigms within a unified framework. Analyses of individual subject data also provided some evidence for the use of rules, but in general, the rules seemed to have a great deal in common with exemplar storage processes. Classification and recognition performance for subjects given explicit instructions to use specific rules contrasted dramatically with performance in the free-strategy conditions and could not be predicted by the exemplar model.

Adult↗

[Studies on the cell-mediated immunity in experimental Naegleria spp. infections].

Observations were made on the differences in cell-mediated immune responses in the mice infected with strongly pathogenic Naegleria fowleri ITMAP 359, weakly pathogenic Naegleria jadini 0400, or non-pathogenic Naegleria gruberi EGB, respectively. Variations in cell-mediated responses and changes in antibody titers according to the duration after infection were noted. Infections were done by dropping 5 microliters saline suspension containing 10 x 10(4) trophozoites cultured axenically in the CGVS medium into the right nasal cavity of ICR mice aging about 6-7 weeks, under the anesthesia by intraperitoneal injection of secobarbital. Following infection, delayed type hypersensitivity(DTH) responses in the footpad and blastogenic responses of the mouse spleen cells using [3H]-thymidine were observed on the day 1, 4, 7, 10 and 14 after infection. For the preparation of amoeba lysates, each of cultured trophozoites were homogenized with an ultrasonicator, and centrifugated at 20,000 g. The supernatants of amoeba lysates were used as the mitogen and antigen for ELISA. Concanavalin A(Con. A) and lipopolysaccharide(LPS) were also used as mitogens in the blastogenic response. 1. The mice infected with N. fowleri showed the mortality rate of 75.7%. The rate was 6.2% for the N. jadini infected group, while no dead mouse was observed for N. gruberi infections. 2. In regard to DTH responses in the N. fowleri infected mice, the level increased in comparison to the control group but declined after 7 days. An increase was also noted for the N. jadini group after 1 day, but gradual decreases were observed through the infection period. In addition, no difference was noted between the N. gruberi infected and control groups. 3. Concerning the blastogenic response of the splenocytes, it increased after 10 days in the experimental group of N. fowleri infection, but the differences were not statistically significant compared with control group. It was evident that N. jadini group was not different from control group either, while there was a tendency of decrease in N. gruberi infected group. In regard to the blastogenic response of the splenocytes by LPS, it was found that the N. fowleri, N. jadini and N. gruberi infected groups had no differences from the control group. 4. The serum antibody titer of N. fowleri and N. jadini infected mice increased from the day 7 and 14 after infection respectively, while the N. gruberi infected mice showed no increase.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

Amebiasis↗

A rat liver lysosomal membrane flavin-adenine dinucleotide phosphohydrolase: purification and characterization.

An enzyme hydrolyzing flavin-adenine dinucleotide (FAD) to flavin mononucleotide and AMP was identified and purified from rat liver lysosomal (Tritosomal) membranes. The purified enzyme showed a single band on silver-stained denaturing gels with an apparent Mr 70,000. Periodate-Schiff staining after denaturing gel electrophoresis of whole membrane preparations revealed that this enzyme is one of the major glycoproteins in lysosomal membranes. FAD appeared to be the preferred substrate for the purified enzyme; equivalent concentrations of NAD or CoA were hydrolyzed at about one-half of the FAD rate. Negligible activity (less than or equal to 16%) was noted with ATP, TTP, ADP, AMP, FMN, pyrophosphate, or p-nitrophenylphosphate. The enzyme was inhibited by EDTA or dithiothreitol. It was stimulated by Zn, and was not affected by Ca or Mg ions, nor by p-chloromercuribenzoate. The pH optimum for FAD hydrolysis was 8.5-9 with an apparent Km of 0.125 mM. Antibodies prepared against the purified enzyme partially (50%) inhibited FAD phosphohydrolase activity in lysosomal membrane preparations but had no effect on the soluble lysosomal acid pyrophosphatase known to hydrolyze FAD. This enzyme could not be detected immunochemically in preparations of microsomes, Golgi, plasma membranes, mitochondrial membranes, or the soluble lysosomal fraction, suggesting that the enzyme is different from either soluble lysosomal acid pyrophosphatase or other FAD hydrolyzing activities in the liver cell.

Adenosine Monophosphate↗

Pediatric pineal tumors: need for a direct surgical approach and complications of the occipital transtentorial approach.

In an investigation of the benefits and risks of direct surgical approaches to pediatric pineal tumors, the need for such approaches, the feasibility of surgical removal and operative complications were evaluated in 25 histologically proven cases. Five tumors were germinomas (GEs) or GE-predominant mixed germ cell tumors (GCTs), in which stereotactic biopsy can be adequate. Twenty of the 25 pineal tumors (80%) were teratomas (TEs), TE-predominant mixed GCTs or other tumors that need direct surgical approaches. Among the 21 tumors resected by the occipital transtentorial (OTT) approach, 13 were removed radically (>95%) and 6 others, subtotally (>75%). Complications of using the OTT approach included homonymous hemianopsia (7), Parinaud's syndrome (6), other eyeball movement limitation (7), seizure (5), and new hydrocephalus (3). The majority of these were transient, resolving within a few days or months, or easily controlled. The results showed that 80% of pediatric pineal tumors needed direct surgical approaches and that the majority were successfully removed by OTT surgery with an acceptable level of risk.

Adolescent↗

Molecular cloning and characterization of a gene encoding a 13.1 kDa antigenic protein of Naegleria fowleri.

An antigen-related gene was cloned from a cDNA expression library of Naegleria fowleri by immunoscreening with sera obtained from mice that were either immunized with an amoebic lysate or infected with trophozoites. The coding nucleotide sequence of the cloned gene consisted of 357 bases that were translated into 119 amino acids. This gene was designated as nfa1. The predicted amino acid sequence of Nfa1 protein has two potential glycosylation and three potential phosphorylation sites, and its predicted secondary structure consists of four helices and three corners. The deduced amino acid sequence of Nfa1 protein shares 43% identity with the myohemerythrin (myoHr) protein from a marine annelid, Nereis diversicolor, including 100% identity in conserved regions and iron-binding residues. A phylogenetic tree constructed from amino acid sequences placed the N. fowleri Nfa1 protein outside of a cluster of myoHr proteins from eight invertebrates. A purified recombinant protein that migrated as a 13.1 kDa species in SDS-PAGE was produced. This recombinant protein exhibited a strong immunoreactivity with infected, immune, and anti-Nfal sera. In addition, an anti-Nfa1 serum reacted with an amoeba lysate in immunoblotting analysis. The present nfal gene encoding the myoHr-like protein is the first myoHr gene cloned from protozoa, and the Nfal antigen may be useful in diagnostic studies

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Macrophagelike vacuolated renal tubular cells in the urine of a male with osmotic nephrosis associated with intravenous immunoglobulin therapy. A case report.

BACKGROUND: Osmotic nephrosis is a form of renal tubular injury that has been found in patients treated with intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG). CASE: A 46-year-old male who had two courses of chemotherapy for acute myelogenous leukemia was found to have refractory thrombocytopenia. After IVIG (Sandoglobulin 12%, Novartis) administration (1 g/kg) for five consecutive days, the patient became oliguric and eventually anuric on the fifth dose. Hemodialysis was initiated, and urine production was noted on day 2 of hospitalization. Routine cytologic examination of fresh, voided urine showed numerous macrophagelike, bland epithelial cells with abundant, multivacuolated cytoplasm. Cytokeratin immunostain revealed positivity, thus confirming the epithelial origin of these cells. CONCLUSION: To our knowledge, this is the first such case reported in the English-language cytology literature. Awareness of a patient's clinical history may be helpful in avoiding an incorrect diagnosis. Urine cytology may be useful in obtaining an early diagnosis of osmotic nephrosis in patients receiving high-dose IVIG therapy that may eliminate the need for a renal biopsy.

Acute Kidney Injury↗

Thymic neoplasia as represented by fine needle aspiration biopsy of anterior mediastinal masses. A practical approach to the differential diagnosis.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the cytomorphology of thymoma and to discuss the potential diagnostic pitfalls and a practical approach, which sometimes uses ancillary studies, in distinguishing various lesions of anterior mediastinal masses. STUDY DESIGN: A review of 25 fine needle aspiration (FNA) specimens of anterior mediastinal masses of thymic origin from 24 patients. RESULTS: The FNA diagnoses were thymoma in 16 aspirates, thymic/poorly differentiated carcinoma in 2, necrotic fluid/debris in 2, small lymphocytic proliferation in 2, hyperplastic thymic tissue in 1, benign cyst in 1, and scant tissue in 1. In 22 cases that had histologic confirmation, the diagnoses of 19 (86%), including 14 thymomas, concurred with the FNA diagnoses. Sampling error was responsible for the discrepancy in the remaining three cases. The cytologic evaluation of thymoma revealed a characteristic dual population of predominantly small lymphocytes and occasional large, atypical lymphocytes intimately admixed with relatively bland epithelial cells. Differential diagnoses of thymoma in the mediastinal aspirates included a variety of entities, depending on which component predominated. CONCLUSION: FNA of anterior mediastinal thymic lesions generally yields adequate cellular tissue with distinct cytologic and immunophenotypic features that enable precise classification. Caution in interpretation should be taken when the FNA yields only necrotic fluid or scanty material or when the patient is younger than the typical age range for thymoma. When the FNA diagnosis is coupled with clinical and radiographic findings, a definitive diagnosis can be generally rendered without open biopsy.

Adolescent↗

Development, characterization, and preliminary evaluation of a temperature-sensitive mutant of Ornithobacterium rhinotracheale for potential use as a live vaccine in turkeys.

A temperature-sensitive (Ts) mutant strain of Ornithobacterium rhinotracheale (ORT) was developed after exposure of the wild-type organism to N-methyl-N'-nitro-N-nitrosoguanidine. The Ts mutant strain grew at 31 C but had its growth inhibited at 41 C unlike wild-type parent strain. The Ts mutant and parent strains were characterized. Morphologic and biochemical properties of wild-type and mutant strains did not show any differences. The strains were also characterized by polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-based fingerprinting methods. Results showed similar patterns in repetitive sequences by repetitive PCR (enterobacterial repetitive intergenic consensus, highly conserved repeated DNA elements present in Streptococcus pneumoniae (BOX), repetitive extragenic palindromic, and Salmonella enteritidis repetitive element primers); however, random amplified polymorphic DNA fingerprinting was able to differentiate mutant and parent strains showing a unique pattern for each of the ORT strains. The rationale for the use of a Ts strain as a vaccine is based on the ability of the mutant to colonize the upper respiratory tract but not the lower respiratory tract and systemic system of the birds, where the wild-type strain causes severe lesions. In a preliminary evaluation, Ts strain of ORT was recovered from tracheas and choanae of Ts-treated turkeys for 13 days postadministration of the strain either in drinking water or by oculonasal instillation. Humoral immune response was detected in Ts-vaccinated but not in control group birds after 3 wk postadministration. Results suggest that Ts strain of ORT has promising potential use as a live vaccine for ORT.

Animals↗

Neonatal avian pneumovirus infection in commercial turkeys.

Eleven market turkey flocks developed a respiratory disease characterized by coughing, swollen sinuses and nasal discharge. These symptoms first appeared between 3 and 16 days of age. Avian pneumovirus (APV) RNA was detected by reverse transcriptase (RT)-polymerase chain reaction (PCR) in six of six flocks tested. APV was detected by immunohistochemistry in turbinates of three of three affected flocks tested. Virus isolation attempts were negative. Ten of 11 flocks became seropositive on the APV enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Five weeks prior to hatch of these affected market turkeys, several breeder flocks in one geographic area had developed clinical signs and experienced decline in egg production typical of APV infection. In two breeder flocks, acute and convalescent sera indicated APV infection during the period of declining egg production. Attempts to detect APV RNA by RT-PCR from choanal cleft swabs of newly hatched poults were successful. Attempts to isolate the virus from these PCR-positive samples were negative.

Age Factors↗

Detection of avian pneumovirus in wild Canada (Branta canadensis) and blue-winged teal (Anas discors) geese.

Choanal cleft swab samples from 770 wild Canada geese (Branta canadensis) and 358 blue-winged teal (Anas discors), captured for relocation or banding, were examined for the presence of avian pneumovirus (APV) RNA by reverse transcription (RT)-polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and for virus isolation. The swab samples were pooled into groups of 5 or 10. Sixty eight of 102 (66.7%) pooled goose samples were RT-PCR positive for APV RNA. Thirteen of 52 (25.0%) pooled blue-winged teal samples were RT-PCR positive for APV RNA. APV RNA-positive samples were inoculated onto chick embryo fibroblasts (CEF) and QT-35 cells. Infectious APV was isolated from five Canada goose pooled samples in CEF and from one Canada goose pool in QT-35 cells but not from blue-winged teal.

Animals↗

Parachordoma.

Parachordoma is a soft tissue tumor that has a light microscopic appearance similar to that of chordoma, and the immunostaining properties of the two tumors are alike. The clinical findings and light microscopy of one case of parachordoma are presented together with ultrastructural observations on this tumor and parachordomas from five additional patients.

Adult↗