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Biomedical subjects

I K Lee

Publications and source records attributed to I K Lee.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

The adjuvant effect of a single dose of interleukin-12 on murine immune responses to live or killed Brucella abortus strain RB51.

This study was designed to determine if a single 0.5 microg administration of recombinant murine interleukin-12 (IL-12) would influence immune responses of mice vaccinated with live or killed Brucella abortus strain RB51 (SRB51). Mice were vaccinated intraperitoneally with 5 x 10(8) cfu of live or gamma-irradiated SRB51 bacteria alone, or in combination with 0.5 microg of IL-12. Control mice received saline or 0.5 microg of IL-12. Serologic responses and spleen weights after vaccination were greater in mice vaccinated with live SRB51 when compared to mice receiving killed SRB51 or control treatments. Administration of a single dose of IL-12 as a vaccine adjuvant did not influence immune responses, clearance of live SRB51, or resistance against B. abortus strain 2308 (S2308) challenge. The results of this study suggest that a single administration of 0.5 microg of IL-12 at the time of vaccination does not have significant adjuvant effects on vaccine-induced immune responses against live or killed Brucella.

Adjuvants, Immunologic↗

Adjacent proline residues in the inhibitory domain of the Oct-2 transcription factor play distinct functional roles.

A 40 amino acid region of Oct-2 from amino acids 142 to 181 functions as an active repressor domain capable of inhibiting both basal activity and activation of promoters containing a TATA box, but not of those that contain an initiator element. Based on our observation that the equivalent region of the closely related Oct-1 factor does not act as an inhibitory domain, we have mutated specific residues in the Oct-2 domain in an attempt to probe their importance in repressor domain function. Although mutations of several residues have no or minimal effect, mutation of proline 175 to arginine abolishes the ability to inhibit both basal and activated transcription. In contrast, mutation of proline 174 to arginine confers upon the domain the ability to repress activation of an initiator-containing promoter by acidic activation domains, and also suppresses the effect of the proline 175 mutation. Hence, adjacent proline residues play key roles in the functioning of the inhibitory domain and in limiting its specificity to TATA-box-containing promoters.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Three naphthalenes from root bark of Hibiscus syriacus.

Three new naphthalenes, designated as syriacusins A-C, were isolated from the root bark of Hibiscus syriacus. These compounds were identified as 2,7-dihydroxy-6-methyl-8-methoxy-1-naphthalenecarbaldehyde, 2-hydroxy-6-hydroxymethyl-7,8-dimethoxy-1-naphthalenecarbaldehyde, 1-carboxy-2,8-dihydroxy-6-methyl-7-methoxynaphthalenecarbolactone (1-->8), respectively, on the basis of various spectral studies. The compounds inhibited lipid peroxidation with IC50s of 0.54, 5.90 and 1.02 micrograms ml-1, respectively. The first compound also showed cytotoxicity against some human cancer cell lines with an ED50 of 1.5-2.4 micrograms ml-1.

Animals↗

New indole derivatives with free radical scavenging activity from Agrocybe cylindracea.

Two new indole derivatives were isolated as free radical scavengers from the MeOH extract of Agrocybe cylindracea. The structures of these compounds were determined to be 6-hydroxy-1H-indole-3-carboxaldehyde (1) and 6-hydroxy-1H-indole-3-acetamide (2) on the basis of spectroscopic studies. Compounds 1 and 2 inhibited lipid peroxidation in rat liver microsomes, with IC50 values of 4.1 and 3.9 micrograms/mL, respectively.

Animals↗

Decursinol angelate: a cytotoxic and protein kinase C activating agent from the root of Angelica gigas.

A cytotoxic compound was purified from the root of Angelica gigas Nakai by normal phase HPLC. As a result of the structure analysis by mass, IR, 1H-NMR, and 13C-NMR spectrometry, the compound was identified as decursinol angelate, a structural isomer of decursin, and characterized originally from Sesei grandivittatum. Decursinol angelate showed in vitro cytotoxicity and protein kinase C activating activities like decursin.

Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic↗

Prevention of glomerular dysfunction in diabetic rats by treatment with d-alpha-tocopherol.

Because d-alpha-tocopherol (vitamin E) has been shown to decrease diacylglycerol (DAG) levels and prevent the activation of protein kinase C (PKC), which is associated with retinal and renal dysfunctions in diabetes, the study presented here characterized the effect of d-alpha-tocopherol treatment to prevent glomerular hyperfiltration and increased albuminuria as well as PKC activities in streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic rats. Two weeks after the induction of diabetes, total DAG content and PKC activity in glomeruli were significantly increased in diabetic rats by 106.4 +/- 16.8% and 66.4 +/- 8.4%, respectively, compared with control rats. Intraperitoneal injection of d-alpha-tocopherol (40 mg/kg of body weight) every other day prevented the increases in total DAG content and PKC activity in glomeruli of diabetic rats. Glomerular filtration rate (GFR) and filtration fraction (FF) were significantly elevated to 4.98 +/- 0.34 mL/min and 0.36 +/- 0.05, respectively, in diabetic rats, compared with 2.90 +/- 0.14 mL/min and 0.25 +/- 0.02, respectively, in control rats. These hemodynamic abnormalities in diabetic rats were normalized to 2.98 +/- 0.09 mL/min and 0.24 +/- 0.01, respectively, by d-alpha-tocopherol. Albuminuria in 10-wk diabetic rats was significantly increased to 9.1 +/- 2.2 mg/day compared with 1.2 +/- 0.3 mg/day in control rats, whereas d-alpha-tocopherol treatment improved albumin excretion rate to 2.4 +/- 0.6 mg/day in diabetic rats. To clarify the mechanism of d-alpha-tocopherol's effect on DAG-PKC pathway, the activity and protein levels of DAG kinase alpha and gamma, which metabolize DAG to phosphatidic acid, were examined. Treatment with d-alpha-tocopherol increased DAG kinase activity in the glomeruli of both control and diabetic rats, by 22.6 +/- 3.6% and 28.5 +/- 2.3% respectively, although no differences were observed in the basal DAG kinase activity between control and diabetic rats. Because immunoblotting studies did not exhibit any difference in the protein levels of DAG kinase alpha and gamma, the effect of d-alpha-tocopherol is probably modulating the enzyme kinetics of DAG kinase. These findings suggest that the increases in DAG-PKC pathway play an important role for the development of glomerular hyperfiltration and increased albuminuria in diabetes and that d-alpha-tocopherol treatment could be preventing early changes of diabetic renal dysfunctions by normalizing the increases in DAG and PKC levels in glomerular cells.

Albuminuria↗

Cytotoxic benzyl dihydroflavonols from Cudrania tricuspidata.

Three new dihydroflavonols, gericudranins A-C were isolated from the stem bark of Cudrania tricuspidata. They were identified as 6,8-di-p-hydroxybenzyltaxifolin, 8-p-hydroxybenzyltaxifolin and 6-p-hydroxybenzyltaxifolin, respectively, by means of spectral studies. These compounds were cytotoxic to human tumor cell lines, such as CRL 1579 (skin), LOX-IMVI (skin), MOLT-4F (leukemia), KM12 (colon) and UO-31 (renal) in culture, with ED50 values of 2.7-31.3 micrograms ml-1.

Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic↗

Betulinans A and B, two benzoquinone compounds from Lenzites betulina.

Two lipid peroxidation inhibitors, designated as betulinans A (1) and B (2), were isolated from the MeOH extract of Lenzites betulina. The structures of these compounds have been determined to be 2,5-diphenyl-3,6-dimethoxy-p-benzoquinone and 2-phenyl-3-methoxy-[1H-2-benzopyran][4,3-e][p]benzoquinone, respectively, on the basis of various spectral data. Betulinans A and B inhibited lipid peroxidation with IC50 values of 0.46 and 2.88 micrograms/mL, respectively.

Animals↗

Metastatic pleural cancer in radionuclide angiocardiography. A pulmonary time-activity curve mimicking left-to-right cardiac shunt.

A 55-year-old man, with a history of nephrectomy for renal cell carcinoma, was evaluated using radionuclide angiocardiography to exclude cardiac shunts as the cause of vascular bruits heard at auscultation. A pulmonary time-activity curve derived from the right lung showed a pattern typical of a large left-to-right shunt, whereas that from the left lung was normal. Increased systemic arterial flow to the lateral right chest was noted in early dynamic images. Subsequent studies revealed that this flow and the abnormal time-activity curve of the right lung were due to systemic arterial supply to metastatic pleural cancer, originating from the kidney. The authors conclude that special caution should be undertaken in the interpretation of the radionuclide angiocardiography for determining left-to-right cardiac shunts, especially in those showing a asymmetric pulmonary time-activity curve.

Carcinoma, Renal Cell↗

Inflatable cavernosal body device: feasibility and acute safety study in the canine model.

OBJECTIVES: To determine the feasibility, safety, and acute mechanical reliability of a two-piece, implantable, inflatable cavernosal body compression device in the canine model. METHODS: Six large male dogs underwent implantation of an inflatable cavernosal compression device consisting of an inflatable cuff and a pump reservoir. The device was implanted around the corpora cavernosa excluding the corpus spongiosum near the crura. RESULTS: All devices were cycled three times a week for 2 months and radiographic evaluation found them to be mechanically reliable. Infusion cavernosometry with inflation of the device demonstrated greater than a 100% increase of intracorporeal pressure from baseline levels. Histologic assessment showed no adverse tissue effects on the penile tissue underlying the cuff or remote from the cuff in the penis and there was no development of distant thromboembolism. CONCLUSIONS: The results from this study will form the basis of long-term canine studies to investigate physiologic changes on the canine erection and chronic safety and reliability of the device.

Animals↗

Plasma type IV collagen and fibronectin concentrations in diabetic patients with microangiopathy.

In diabetes mellitus, thickening of basement membrane in capillaries and small vessels is a well-known finding and important in the progression of diabetic microangiopathy. We evaluated whether the plasma levels of type IV collagen and fibronectin, which are important factors of basement membrane, are related with the presence of diabetic microangiopathy. Plasma type IV collagen and fibronectin levels were measured in 40 healthy controls (Mean +/- SD, age; 50.3 +/- 5.5 yr) and 94 diabetic patients (age; 52.4 +/- 13.5 yr) with and without microvascular complications. The mean plasma levels of type IV collagen (5.3 +/- 2.9 ng/ml) and fibronectin (474.4 +/- 119.4 ug/ml) in diabetic patients were significantly higher (p < 0.01) than in healthy controls (3.7 +/- 1.3 ng/ml and 319 +/- 50.9 ug/ml). The mean plasma level of type IV collagen in diabetic patients with complications (6.6 +/- 3.7 ng/ml) was significantly higher (p < 0.01) than in those without complications (4.3 +/- 1.7 ng/ml) and became higher in more complicated patients. Furthermore, the severity of retinopathy and several indicators of nephropathy such as serum BUN, creatinine and proteinuria were closely associated with plasma type IV collagen level and a significant correlation was found between plasma type IV collagen and creatinine clearance (r = -0.31, p < 0.001). There was no significant difference in plasma fibronectin concentrations, however, between the diabetic patients with complications and those without complications.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adult↗

Three dimensional shape reconstruction and finite element analysis of femur before and after the cementless type of total hip replacement.

Computerized tomography was used to reconstruct a shape, and stresses in three-dimensional objects were analysed. The human femur, which has a very irregular shape, was chosen as an object. CT image data of a cadaver femur were transferred to a computer, and an edge extraction program generated the cross-section of bone by specifying a range of CT values for each slice. Pixel data from the CT scan are converted into a vector of points (x, y, z) which can specify the boundaries of bone. Lateral surfaces are defined by stacking up the slices and making use of the vectorized data. Intermediate and oblique cross-sections can be obtained by an interpolation technique. The constructed model was used as input data for the finite element analysis. To understand the stress distributions before and after the cementless type of total hip replacement, a three-dimensional finite element stress analysis of the bone-implant system was carried out, assuming micromotions between the stem and the femur. The analysis was done for both frictionless and friction cases, modelling the contact point with a gap element having isotropic friction. The analysis shows that the stress is not concentrated on the femoral calcar when the friction coefficient is large.

Bone Cements↗

Effect of gum chewing following food ingestion on the pH of interproximal dental plaque.

Recent publications have suggested that chewing sorbitol- or sucrose-containing gum after a snack or meal can reduce development of caries by neutralizing dental plaque acids at interproximal sites in the dentition. To confirm these findings four volunteers wore appliances containing a miniature pH electrode. After plaque accumulation, subjects ingested a bowl of sugar-coated cereal with milk and 20 minutes later chewed a sorbitol-containing gum, a sucrose-containing gum, or did not chew anything for 20 minutes. After exposure to the cereal, the plaque pH fell within 20 minutes from approximately 6.4 to 4.8. Sorbitol gum caused the pH to rise to 5.5, while the sucrose gum caused the pH to rise to only 5.1. After cessation of chewing, the pH in all cases dropped to 4.5 or lower. No statistically significant difference could be shown between plaque pH changes with the various protocols. Gum chewing after eating caused only a transient elevation in plaque pH.

Adult↗

The effect of dentin pre-treatment and heat-augmented cure on marginal gap formation of a dentin bonding agent.

This study evaluated the effect of enhancing the cure of a DBA and the effect of dentin surface pre-treatment on marginal gap formation. Dentin cavities were prepared on extracted teeth and were pre-treated either with EDTA or phosphoric acid. Marginal leakage was expressed as percent length of margins with gaps. The mean percent length of margins with gaps for the chemically cured groups ranged from a maximum of 97% to a minimum of 85%. For the chemical/thermal-cured group, the mean percent length of margins with gaps was 95%, 95%, 73%, 35%, and 65%, corresponding to the following: pretreatment, no pre-treatment, EDTA, and phosphoric acid for 60, 15, or five s, respectively. SEM micrographs showed partial removal of one smear layer with EDTA and total removal of the smear layers with phosphoric acid. It is concluded that dentin pre-treatment methods have an effect on the percent length of margins with gaps when the DBA used had its cure supplemented with heat.

Acid Etching, Dental↗

Resin-bonded fixed partial dentures: a recall study.

A clinical recall program was initiated at the University of Minnesota to evaluate the longevity and factors affecting longevity of resin-bonded fixed partial dentures (FPDs). Of the 49 resin-bonded FPDs evaluated in the clinic, 43 were acid-etched metal, resin-bonded FPDs, four were combinations of resin-bonded and conventional FPDs, and two were composite resin pontics. None of the combination FPDs and one of the two composite resin pontics were judged as failed at the examination. Of the 43 acid-etched metal resin-bonded FPDs, 15 were found to be debonded (failure rate = 34.9%). The average length of service for the 43 FPDs was 47.3 months. The average time of placement to debondment was 33 months for the 15 debonded FPDs. The failure rate for maxillary FPDs and FPDs with two retainers were significantly lower than the failure rate for mandibular FPDs and FPDs with more than two retainers (p greater than 0.05). The clinical significance of the present study was discussed.

Adolescent↗

Alternating dissociated nystagmus with palatal myoclonus--a case report.

An extraordinary eye movement was seen in a vegetative patient. His eyeballs were exotropic in the primary position and showed dissociated nystagmus which appeared alternately in each eye every few seconds. He also had palatal myoclonus quite asynchronous with the nystagmus. To our knowledge, there has been no such nystagmus documented in the literature. We report the new nystagmus with his EOG and brain MRI.

Electrooculography↗

Effect of dental plaque age and bacterial composition on the pH of artificial fissures in human volunteers.

Changes in sucrose-induced plaque pH profiles and the microbial composition of occlusal tooth surface fissures were analyzed using wire telemetry and bacterial culturing techniques. Four human volunteers wore appliances containing artificial fissures constructed with ion-sensitive field-effect transistor (ISFET) electrodes for 1, 2 and 4 days; 1 subject kept the electrode for 3 weeks. After monitoring the plaque pH response at the base of the fissure to a 10% (w/v) sucrose rinse the plaque was removed and analyzed for total viable bacteria, total and specific streptococci, lactobacilli and Actinomyces spp. One-day-old plaque showed a rapid drop in plaque pH to a minimum of 4.8 +/- 0.2, with 2-day-old plaque showing the most acidogenic pH profile (minimum pH 4.6 +/- 0.2). The 4-day-old plaque response was less acidogenic (minimum pH 5.0 +/- 0.3) than the results from days 1 and 2. Responses from 13- and 21-day-old fissure plaques showed greatly decreased acidogenic responses (day 21 minimum pH 5.7). Viable bacteria recovered from the fissure increased from approximately 4 x 10(6) colony-forming units on day 1 to 1.2 x 10(7) on days 2 and 4 and 1.7 x 10(7) on day 21. Streptococci (greater than 50%) and Actinomyces (greater than 10%) dominated in the fissure plaques and their levels were related to minimum pH. Since fissure plaque of all ages tested contained high concentrations of acidogenic bacteria, the decreased acidogenic response at the base of fissures with increasing plaque age suggests that maturing fissure plaques provide an increasingly greater diffusion barrier to fermentable carbohydrates.

Actinomyces↗