Search PubMed⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

J B Lee

Publications and source records attributed to J B Lee.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

A case of porphyria cutanea tarda in association with idiopathic myelofibrosis and CREST syndrome.

We report a 56-year-old Korean woman with porphyria cutanea tarda (PCT), showing multiple scarring bullae and hypertrichosis on sun-exposed areas of skin with postinflammatory hyperpigmentation. Sclerodermoid changes were also found on both hands, the face and neck. The patient had suffered from CREST syndrome, manifesting with Raynaud's phenomenon and sclerodactyly, for more than 15 years. Anticentromere antibody was positive. She had presented with splenomegaly 3 years before the development of PCT, and was diagnosed as having idiopathic myelofibrosis, based on bone marrow biopsy. In summary, she had had CREST syndrome for 15 years and later developed idiopathic myelofibrosis and PCT. This is the first reported case of PCT in association with idiopathic myelofibrosis and CREST syndrome.

CREST Syndrome↗

The diagnostic quandary of hereditary haemorrhagic telangiectasia vs. CREST syndrome.

The distribution and clinical appearance of the telangiectasia in the CREST syndrome (calcinosis, Raynaud's phenomenon, oesophageal involvement, sclerodactyly, telangiectasia) and hereditary haemorrhagic telangiectasia (HHT) are very similar. Several previously reported cases of the CREST syndrome simulating HHT illustrate this diagnostic quandary. We report a patient who met the diagnostic criteria for both the CREST syndrome and HHT, and discuss the distinguishing features of the two diseases, including the distinctive histopathological findings of telangiectasia in HHT.

CREST Syndrome↗

Multicentric reticulohistiocytosis with neurofibroma-like nodules.

We describe a patient with multicentric reticulohistiocytosis (MR), who presented with 2 different clinical types of lesions. Some were characteristic for MR in that they were deeply set, small, firm papules. Many others were larger, soft, and even sessile, like neurofibromas. Histopathologic features of both types of lesions revealed MR. To our knowledge, this is the first report of lesions of MR mimicking neurofibromas.

Adrenal Cortex Hormones↗

Laser subepithelial keratomileusis: electron microscopy and visual outcomes of flap photorefractive keratectomy.

Laser epithelial keratomileusis (LASEK) is a surgical technique that may be performed in patients with low myopia who are considering conventional photorefractive keratectomy (PRK), in patients with thin corneas, and in patients with professions or lifestyles that predispose them to trauma. Ethanol (18%) is applied for 25 seconds and a hinged epithelial flap is created. After laser ablation, the flap is repositioned over the ablated stroma. Our data showed that epithelial defects occurred in 63% eyes on Day 1. Postoperative pain was absent in 47%. Uncorrected visual acuity of 20/40 or better was achieved in all patients at 1 week. Data from several studies suggest that LASEK may reduce postoperative pain and corneal haze associated with PRK. LASEK offers the potential advantage of avoiding flap-related complications associated with laser in situ keratomileusis and decreasing postoperative pain and corneal scarring associated with PRK. Long-term studies are needed to confirm these potential advantages and to determine the safety, efficacy, and predictability of this surgical technique.

Epithelium, Corneal↗

Hyperthermic enhancement of the apoptotic and antiproliferative activities of paclitaxel.

The antineoplastic agent paclitaxel (PTX), a microtubule-stabilizing agent, is known to arrest cell cycle progression and induce apoptosis. Mild hyperthermia (HT) also disrupts the microtubule system and triggers apoptosis. We therefore investigated whether concurrent exposure of murine breast cancer cells to 10 micromol/l PTX and 43 degrees C HT will promote improved anticancer effects. To do this, we exposed FM3A murine cancer cells to: (1) 10 micromol/l PTX for 1 h at 37 degrees C followed by exposure at 43 degrees C HT for 1 h; (2) 10 micromol/l PTX at 37 degrees C for 2 h; (3) 37 degrees C for 1 h followed by 43 degrees C HT for 1 h, and (4) untreated cells at 37 degrees C for 2 h which served as the control. Treatment No. 1 resulted in an enhanced cell cycle arrest, apoptosis and cytotoxicity. Exposure to 43 degrees C HT alone or 10 micromol/l PTX alone induced lesser apoptosis and cytotoxicity than the two treatments concurrently applied. The apoptotic cell death occurred in a time-dependent manner as follows: (1) concurrently applied 43 degrees C HT and 10 micromol/l PTX (5.6 +/- 0.5, 16.5 +/- 2 and 27.6 +/- 1%); (2) 43 degrees C HT alone (4.3 +/- 1, 6.6 +/- 0.3 and 12.7 +/- 1%) and (3) 10 micromol/l PTX alone (4.4 +/- 0.3, 8.6 +/- 1 and 12.8 +/- 1%) at 1, 6 and 24 h postexposure respectively compared to control of 2.0%. These data indicate that while both HT and PTX can individually induce apoptosis and antiproliferation in FM3A cancer cells, they may offer synergistic benefits when used concurrently.

Animals↗

Effects of structural modification of calcium spirulan, a sulfated polysaccharide from Spirulina platensis, on antiviral activity.

Calcium ion binding with the anionic part of a molecule was replaced with various metal cations and their inhibitory effects on the replication of herpes simplex virus type 1 were evaluated. Replacement of calcium ion with sodium and potassium ions maintained the antiviral activity while divalent and trivalent metal cations reduced the activity. Depolymerization of sodium spirulan with hydrogen peroxide decreased in antiviral activity as its molecular weight decreased.

Antiviral Agents↗

A novel antivirally active fucan sulfate derived from an edible brown alga, Sargassum horneri.

A novel fucan sulfate (Hor-1) was isolated from the hot water extract of an edible brown alga, Sargassum horneri (Turner) C. Agardh. The fucan sulfate was revealed to have sugar linkage types, sulfate content and uronic acid content different from those of sodium hornan (Na-HOR), another fucan sulfate isolated from this alga. However, it exhibited inhibitory activity against replication of herpes simplex virus type 1 with similar potency to Na-HOR.

Antiviral Agents↗

Induction of immune responses to glycoprotein gD of Aujeszky's disease virus with DNA immunization.

In an attempt to produce a DNA vaccine to prevent Aujeszky's disease, the induction of immune responses against Aujeszky's disease virus (ADV) gD was investigated in mice. The plasmid was constructed by placing ADV gD gene downstream of murine cytomegalovirus immediate early promoter of expression vector pMYK, which was injected twice on the skin of mice by using a gene-gun. All mice showed neutralizing antibodies against ADV gD at 4 weeks after immunization. The induction of cytotoxic T lymphocytes and splenic natural killer cells was also observed at 6 weeks post immunization. These results indicate that ADV gD gene in the form of DNA vaccine may induce specific as well as non-specific immune responses in vivo.

Animals↗

A case of adrenocortical tumor coexisted with paragangliomas.

We report a case of adrenocortical tumor that coexisted with paragangliomas. A 35-year-old woman was admitted to the hospital because of left upper abdominal pain. A palm-sized mass was palpated at left upper quadrant. Hormonal studies revealed the features of pheochromocytoma. An emergency operation was performed because hemorrhage of the tumor was suspected. A 10 cm diameter ruptured mass was found in the left adrenal area and other tumors were also noted adjacent to inferior vena cava (IVC). The pathologic report revealed that the adrenal mass was an adrenocortical tumor with hemorrhagic necrosis and that the tumors adjacent to IVC were paragangliomas. This was the first case of adrenocortical tumor with paragangliomas in our Medline search result, hence we report the case with a review of the literature.

Adrenal Cortex Neoplasms↗

Molecular genetic analysis of reovirus isolated in Korea.

Reovirus isolates from human, striped-field mouse (Apodemus agrarius) and Korean field mouse (A. peninsulae) in Korea showed extensive variability in the patterns of electrophoretic migration of the double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) genome segments. Hemagglutination inhibition (HI) test was performed for serotype determination of 12 reovirus isolates. To clarify genetic diversity and molecular phylogeny of Korean reoviruses, L1, S3 and S4 genomic segments of reoviruses were amplified by RT-PCR and directly sequenced. Among 12 reovirus strains, 9 strains were type 3 and 3 strains were type 2. The L1 was highly conserved showing 91.5-100%, 94.7-100% similarities among Korean isolates, and 77.5-97.9%, 92.6-96.8% similarities compared to other reference strains of each genotypes at nucleotide and amino acid levels, respectively. In S3 and S4 segments, 84.4-99.3%, 72.3-99% nucleotide sequence similarities and 92-99.3%, 89.1-98.4% amino acid sequence similarities among Korean isolates were observed, and 70.8-93.9%, 72.3-98.7% nucleotide sequence similarities and 81.8-100%, 88.3-97.7% amino acid sequence similarities compared with other reference strains of each genotype were observed, respectively. Phylogenetic analyses based on the S3 and S4 nucleotide sequences indicate that genotypes of reovirus are more related with geographic differences rather than host species or date of isolation.

Animals↗

Acquired pendular nystagmus with voluntary inhibition.

This report documents a case of voluntary inhibition of acquired pendular nystagmus after head trauma. A 30-year-old male developed oscillopsia and decreased visual acuity, as well as findings of acquired pendular nystagmus with voluntary inhibition after head trauma. The EOG finding was horizontal 18-20 Hz bilateral symmetrical pendular nystagmus in all directions of gaze at near and distant fixation. Nystagmus did not change with 14 Prism Diopter base-out prisms on both eyes, but it was possible to abolish it intentionally. Baclofen and Clonazepam had no effect in improving the patient's symptoms and EOG finding.

Adult↗

Ibuprofen-induced bullous leukocytoclastic vasculitis.

A dramatic case of ibuprofen-induced bullous leukocytoclastic vasculitis (LCV) is described in a patient with a history of prior sensitization to ibuprofen, a common household nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) that has few reported adverse skin reactions. Bullous LCV is a relatively rare clinical presentation of LCV, which requires differentiation from other blistering diseases, including bullous erythema multiforme, bullous fixed drug eruption, linear IgA bullous dermatosis, and bullous pemphigoid. The distinctive histopathologic changes of leukocytoclastic vasculitis readily distinguish this bullous eruption from the others.

Aged↗

Symmetrically distributed orange eruption on the ears: a case of lupus vulgaris.

Although the incidence and morbidity of tuberculosis (TB) have declined in the latter half of the last decade in the United States, the number of cases of TB (especially cutaneous TB) among those born outside of the United States has increased. This discrepancy can be explained, in part, by the fact that cutaneous TB can have a long latency period in those individuals with a high degree of immunity against the organism. In this report, we describe an individual from a region where there is a relatively high prevalence of tuberculosis who developed lupus vulgaris of the ears many years after arrival to the United States.

Aged↗

Determination of the critical pressure drop for filtration of super-compactible cakes.

In accord with Darcy's law, the flow rate through a porous bed depends upon the pressure drop deltap(c). In general, increasing deltap(c) leads to increased values of flow rate and average percentage solids in filtration operations. When cakes become super-compactible, their behavior undergoes an unexpected change in which both the flow rate and the percentage solids reach maximum values and thereafter are unaffected by increasing deltap(c). The critical pressure drop deltap(c)R is defined as that value at which the flow rate reaches 90% of its ultimate value. When deltap(c) is greater than deltap(c)R and is doubled or tripled, the cake resistance approximately doubles or triples leaving the rate virtually unchanged. The super-compactibility problem is analyzed theoretically, and is verified by stepped pressure filtration experiments on different materials from Houston and Korea.

Filtration↗

Prevalence of porcine proliferative enteropathy and its control with tylosin in Korea.

Porcine proliferative enteropathy(PPE) is an enteric disease been caused by Lawsonia intracellularis. It has become one of the critical problems in the pig industry. To investigate the prevalence of PPE in Korea, serum samples of 828 pigs from 65 herds were tested using indirect immunofluorescence antibody technique(IFA). The infection rate in individual pigs varied from 44 to 69%, whereas 100% in pig farms. The infection frequency was 57, 44.9, and 59.4% according to age respectively. Administration of tylosin in feed at a concentration of 110 ppm for 14 days reduced the infection rate of the farms. These data indicated that the high prevalence of PPE may be controlled by tylosin.

Administration, Oral↗

Activation of heparin cofactor II by calcium spirulan.

Heparin cofactor II (HCII) is a plasma serine protease inhibitor whose ability to inhibit alpha-thrombin is accelerated by a variety of sulfated polysaccharides in addition to heparin and dermatan sulfate. Previous investigations have indicated that calcium spirulan (Ca-SP), a novel sulfated polysaccharide, enhanced the rate of inhibition of alpha-thrombin by HCII. In this study, we investigated the mechanism of the activation of HCII by Ca-SP. Interestingly, in the presence of Ca-SP, an N-terminal deletion mutant of HCII (rHCII-Delta74) inhibited alpha-thrombin, as native recombinant HCII (native rHCII) did. The second-order rate constant for the inhibition of alpha-thrombin by rHCII-Delta74 was 2.0 x 10(8) M(-1) min(-1) in the presence of 50 microgram/ml Ca-SP and 10, 000-fold higher than in the absence of Ca-SP. The rates of native rHCII and rHCII-Delta74 for the inhibition of gamma-thrombin were increased only 80- and 120-fold, respectively. Our results suggested that the anion-binding exosite I of alpha-thrombin was essential for the rapid inhibition reaction by HCII in the presence of Ca-SP and that the N-terminal acidic domain of HCII was not required. Therefore, we proposed a mechanism by which HCII was activated allosterically by Ca-SP and could interact with the anion-binding exosite I of thrombin not through the N-terminal acidic domain of HCII. The Arg(103) --> Leu mutant bound to Ca-SP-Toyopearl with normal affinity and inhibited alpha-thrombin in a manner similar to native rHCII. These results indicate that Arg(103) in HCII molecule is not critical for the interaction with Ca-SP.

Binding Sites↗