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Biomedical subjects

J C Park

Publications and source records attributed to J C Park.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

Protective effects of green tea polyphenol against reactive oxygen species-induced oxidative stress in cultured rat calvarial osteoblast.

The injurious effects of reactive oxygen species on osteoblasts and the potential protective role played by green tea polyphenols (GtPP) were investigated using primarily cultured rat calvarial osteoblasts. Oxidative stress was induced in cultured osteoblasts, either by adding 100 mmol/L H2O2 or by the action of 40 U/L xanthine oxidase (XO) in the presence of xanthine (250 micromol/L). After incubation, the cellular viability, function and morphology were evaluated. Both treatments produced a significant reduction in osteoblast viability, as assessed by a two-colored fluorescence staining method combined with flow cytometric analysis and MTT assay. A significant reduction in the alkaline phosphatase activity was observed after H2O2 addition, whereas XO did not have the same effect. On the microscopic observations, the morphological changes and intracellular ultrastructural damages were remarkably induced by both treatments. The H2O2-induced alterations were prevented by pre-incubating the osteoblasts with 200 microg/ml GtPP for 1 h. When the oxidative stress was induced by XO, the cellular viability and morphology was also maintained at the same polyphenol concentration. These results demonstrate that GtPP can act as a biological antioxidant in a cell culture experimental model and protect cells from oxidative stress-induced toxicity.

Alkaline Phosphatase↗

Study on the inhibitory effects of Korean medicinal plants and their main compounds on the 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl radical.

A 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical-generating system was used to evaluate the antioxidant properties of Korean medicinal plants that have been used widely as folk medicines for several disorders, as well as compounds isolated from them. Among the Rosaceae, Rosa rugosa and Rosa davurica showed strong DPPH radical-scavenging activity. The most effective medicinal plant from families other than Rosaceae was Cedrela sinensis, followed in order by Nelumbo nucifera, Eucommia ulmoides, Zanthoxylum piperitum, Cudrania tricuspidata and Houttuynia cordata. These results serve as a good index of the free radical-scavenging activities of Korean medicinal plants. Furthermore, the polyphenols isolated from these plants, procyanidin B-3, (+)-catechin, gallic acid, methyl gallate, quercetin, quercetin-3-O-beta-D-glucoside, quercetin-3-O-beta-galactoside, quercetin-3-O-rutinose and kaempferol, exerted strong DPPH radical-scavenging activity. These results suggest that the Korean medicinal plants and the polyphenols isolated from them that exhibited effective radical-scavenging activity may be promising agents for scavenging free radicals and treating diseases associated with excess free radicals.

Biflavonoids↗

Oxygen dynamics in petroleum hydrocarbon contaminated salt marsh soils: III. A rate model.

A model describing oxygen dynamics due to crude oil biodegradation under flooded conditions in saltwater wetlands was developed. The model is composed of three non-linear ordinary differential equations (ODEs) that simulate oxygen uptake, cell growth, and oil degradation simultaneously. The model equations were solved by using a stiff version of ODE solver, ODEPACK, which employs a multistep method and allows the change of step sizes and order of methods (ie., Gear's method). The results of model simulation were compared with experimental data obtained from a fully aerated microcosm study. The results of model simulation indicate that dissolved oxygen concentration in the overlying water rapidly depleted below 3 mg l(-1) unless the reaeration coefficient was higher than 2.0 day(-1). Active aerobic biodegradation of crude oil did not occur under flooded conditions because (i) dissolved oxygen is rapidly depleted, (ii) reaeration is not sufficient enough to replenish dissolved oxygen and (iii) the oil dissolution rate constant decreases over time. The model may lead to better understanding of oxygen demand for a long bioremediation period. The results of this study may be applicable for the establishment of an engineered bioremediation strategy.

Biodegradation, Environmental↗

Antibiotic selective pressure for the maintenance of antibiotic resistant genes in coliform bacteria isolated from the aquatic environment.

Coliform bacteria isolated from the aquatic environment were investigated for antibiotic susceptibility and detailed structures of class 1 integrons. A high proportion of isolates were found to be resistant to sulfamethoxazole, aminoglycosides, and beta-lactams. The 750 (53.6%) isolates were resistant to one or more of the antibiotics tested out of 1,400 coliform bacteria. Based on the MIC of antibiotics and antibiogram, 150 isolates were selected and further studied for class 1 integrons. The intI1 gene was found in 36 (24.0%) of the 150 isolates. Twelve isolates carried the gene cassettes responsible for antibiotic resistance, while no gene cassettes were found in 24 isolates. Seven different genes, dfrA5, dfrA7, dfrA12, dfrA17, aaA2, aaA5, and aad(3'), were detected in gene cassettes. The dfrA and aad genes located on class 1 integrons were responsible for resistance to trimethoprim and aminoglycosides. The remaining 24 coliform bacteria had the incomplete or non-functional class 1 integrons. These results indicated that antibiotic selective pressures may play an important role to maintain gene cassettes of class 1 integrons and in the absence of sustained antibiotic pressures, such as the aquatic environment, coliform bacteria may carry empty or non-functional class 1 integrons.

Drug Resistance, Microbial↗

Effects of environmental endocrine disruptors on the sex differentiation in Korean rockfish, Sebastes schlegeli.

The effects of estradiol-17beta, methyltestosterone, tributyltin, bisphenol A and 2,4-dinitrophenol on sex differentiation were investigated in the Korean rockfish, Sebastes schlegeli. The 51 day-old fry with undifferentiated gonads were fed with food containing the chemicals at 0.05, 0.5, 5, 50 and 100 micro/g diet for 29 days. Sex ratio and gonadal abnormality after the chemical treatment were determined by histological examination of gonads. In control group, the sex ratio of fry was 1:1.3 (female:male), and more males than females appeared. The sex of fry fed with estradiol-17beta at 5, 50 and 100 micro/g diet was all females. Feminization of the fry was induced by exogenic estradiol-17beta. In the methyltestosterone group, sex ratio of fry was 1:10.2 in 0.05 micro/g diet, 1:2.4 in 0.5 micro/g diet, 1:3.1 in 5 micro/g diet, 1:1.2 in 50 micro/g diet and 1:2.3 in 100 micro/g diet. Masculinization of the fry was induced by methyltestosterone at the lowest concentration. Furthermore, intersex of the fry was observed. The number of intersex fry was 23.3, 25.0 and 35.3 at 0.5, 5 and 50 micro/g diet of methyltestosterone, respectively. Sex ratio of bisphenol A group showed no difference with that of the control. The sex of fry fed with 2,4-dinitrophenol at 5, 50 and 100 micro/g diet was all females. 2,4-dinitrophenol should be considered as a new member of endocrine disruptors. In tributyltin group, the sex ratio of fry at 100 micro/g diet of tributyltin was 5.4:1. Tributyltin induced the feminization of the fry at the highest dose. Tributyltin showed an estrogenic effect in the Korean rockfish in contrast to an androgenic effect in gastropods.

Administration, Oral↗

The synthetic peptide, His-Phe-Tyr-Leu-Pro-Met, is a chemoattractant for Jukat T cells.

His-Phe-Tyr-Leu-Pro-Met (HFYLPM) is a synthetic peptide that stimulates Jurkat T cells resulting in intracellular calcium ([Ca2+]i) increase in a pertussis toxin (PTX)-sensitive manner. We have examined the physiological role of the peptide in T cell activity by comparative investigation of intracellular signaling pathways accompanied with HFYLPM-induced T cell chemotaxis with a well-known chemokine, stromal cell-derived factor-1 (SDF-1)-induced signalings. Wortmannin and genistein inhibited both of HFYLPM- and SDF-1-induced Jurkat T cell chemotaxis indicating that phosphoinositide-3-kinase and tyrosine kinase activity were required for the processes. However, U-73122 and BAPTA/AM preferentially blocked HFYLPM- but not SDF-1-induced T cell chemotaxis. It indicates that phospholipase C/calcium signaling is necessary for only chemotaxis by HFYLPM. One of the well-known cellular molecules involving chemotaxis, extracellular signal-regulated protein kinase (ERK), was activated by SDF-1 but not by HFYLPM ruling out a possible role of ERK on the peptide-mediated chemotaxis. These results indicate that the synthetic peptide, HFYLPM, stimulates T cell chemotaxis showing unique signaling and provide a useful tool for the study of T cell activation mechanism.

Androstadienes↗

Synergistic induction of cyclooxygenase-II by bacterial lipopolysaccharide in combination with particles of medical device materials in a murine macrophage cell line J774A.1.

Corrosion and wear of implanted medical devices may produce particulate debris, leading to acute and chronic inflammatory responses in the host. In the presence of biomaterial wear particles, host monocytes/macrophages are activated to synthesize or secrete mediators of inflammation. In order to understand the mechanisms underlying the host response to particulates and device-associated infections, we have focused on the effects of medical device particles on macrophage function, because these cells play a pivotal role in the body's response to foreign bodies and their interaction with other cellular components of the immune system. In order to evaluate the effects of particles of medical device materials on functional activities of macrophages, we developed a cyclooxygenase-II (COX-II) assay system using J774A.1 macrophages. Constitutive cyclooxygenase (COX-I) is present in cells under physiological conditions, whereas inducible COX-II is induced by some cytokines, mitogens, and endotoxin, presumably in pathological conditions such as inflammation. We have evaluated the inductive effects of implant materials, i.e., particles of polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA), hydroxyapatite (HA), titanium oxide, and silica, on the activity of COX-II using thin layer chromatography of prostaglandin D(2) (PGD(2)) formed from [1-(14)C]-labeled arachidonic acid (AA). Also, we have assessed the synergistic effects of these particles on lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-mediated macrophage activation. Addition of LPS to these particles increased PGD(2) production several-fold greater than the addition of any inducer alone. Our results indicated that device-associated infections could enhance inflammatory responses to the wear particles in subjects with medical implants or in whom particulate biomaterials are used for clinical purposes. The use of this model COX-II assay system may lead to the identification of inflammatory potentials for implant materials more specifically than present in vivo assays.

Animals↗

Isolation and characterization of cultured human periodental ligament fibroblast-specific cDNAs.

The molecular mechanisms that control the function of periodontal ligament (PDL) fibroblasts remain unclear. We speculated that the character of differentiating PDL fibroblasts is defined by the altered expansion of specific genes not found in neighboring gingival fibroblasts in the periodontium. To expand this set, subtractive hybridization was applied between cultured human PDL and gingival fibroblasts to identify genes differentially expressed in PDL. Consequently five candidate clones, PDLs (periodontal ligament specific) 5, -17, -22, -25, and -31 were identified and characterized by homology search, Northern analysis, and in situ hybridization. Although the mRNAs of these clones were expressed by bone marrow cells and rarely by gingival fibroblasts, the highest expression was detected in the PDL cells, which were uniformly distributed throughout the whole PDL. Amongst the five candidate clones, we focused on PDLs17, because it is a hypothetical protein whose biological function has not been reported yet in the database. Polyclonal antiserum raised against PDLs17 peptide was made, and stained the PDL fibroblasts, osteoblast-like cells and stromal cells in the bone marrow, but not gingival fibroblasts. The results suggest that clones, PDLs5, -17, -22, -25, and -31 may be used as PDL fibroblast-specific markers, and that PDLs17 could act as an important factor in the differentiation process of PDL fibroblasts.

Blotting, Northern↗

XANES study on Ruddlesden-Popper phase, La(n+1)Ni(n)O(3n+1) (n=1,2 and infinity).

Ruddlesden-Popper phase, La(n+1)Ni(n)O(3n+1 (n=1, 2, and infinity) compounds were prepared by citrate sol-gel method. We revealed the origin of the variation of the electrical conductivities in La(n+1)Ni(n)O(3n+1 (n=1, 2, and infinity) using resistivity measurements, Rietveld analysis, and X-ray absorption spectroscopy. According to the XANES spectra, it is found that the degree of 4p(pi) - 4psigma energy splitting between 8345 eV and 8350 eV is qualitatively proportional to the elongation of the out-of-plane Ni-O bond length. With the decrease of 4p(pi) - 4psigma splitting, the strong hybridization of the sigma-bonding between Ni-3d and O-2p orbitals creates narrow antibonding sigma* bands, which finally results in the lower electrical resistivity.

Journal Article↗

Local structure analysis of Ti species stabilized in ion exchangeable layer solids by x-ray absorption spectroscopy.

Nano-sized titanium dioxides are incorporated into the interlayer spaces of ion-exchangeable layered perovskites, H(1-x)Ca2(x)La(x)Nb3O10 (x=0.0-0.75), by replacing the interlayer protons with positively charged TiO2 nano-sol particles or basic titanium glycolate complex (titanatrane). Powder X-ray diffraction analysis. UV-Vis absorption spectroscopy, thermogravimetric analysis, and N2 adsorption-desorption isotherm measurements show that quantum sized TiO2 particles are stabilized in between perovskite lattices to form micropores (S(BET) = 37-110 m2/g). X-ray absorption spectroscopy at the Ti K-edge was used for investigating the local environment around Ti atoms constituting the interlayer pillars. According to the XANES spectra, the 'as-pillared' Ti species have the same local environments with those of precursory species, which subsequently converted into TiO2 clusters with rutile and anatase-like local structures when TiO2 nano-sol particles and titanatrane are used as pillaring species. respectively. It is also found that the local environment of TiO2 remains almost constant irrespective of the layer charge density, while the TiO2 pillar content and the microporosity increase with the latter.

Journal Article↗

Improved calcification resistance and biocompatibility of tissue patch grafted with sulfonated PEO or heparin after glutaraldehyde fixation.

A novel chemical modification of biological tissues was developed aimed at improving biocompatibility and calcification resistance. This method involved the additional grafting of sulfonated PEO (PEO-SO(3)) or heparin after conventional glutaraldehyde (GA) fixation of bovine pericardium (BP). The amino groups of PEO-SO(3) or heparin were utilized to react to the GA residues to block them. The PEO-SO(3) or heparin grafted tissues demonstrated a slightly higher shrinkage temperature and tensile strength, but greater resistance to collagenase digestion, than GA treated ones. These results suggest that modified tissues have improved durability due to the grafting and filling effect of PEO-SO(3) or heparin in addition to the GA cross-linking. At the direct contact cytotoxicity test in vitro, PEO-SO(3) or heparin grafted tissue was shown to be nontoxic, while relatively significant cytotoxicity was observed for the GA treated tissues, possibly due to the release of GA. From the in vivo calcification study, calcium contents deposited on the modified tissues were much less than those on GA treated tissues. Such a decreased calcification might be explained by the decrease of residual GA groups during the additional treatment, and the space-filling effect and the nonadhesive property and/or the blood compatibility of PEO-SO(3) or heparin grafted covalently. The newly modified tissue patch was observed to show improved pathological assessibility including less inflammation and tissue reactions. This simple modification method may be useful for calcification-resistant and blood-compatible tissue patches for cardiovascular implants.

Animals↗

Behavior of osteoblasts on a type I atelocollagen grafted ozone oxidized poly L-lactic acid membrane.

With oxidizing poly-L-lactic acid (PLLA) surface by ozone, peroxide groups are easily generated on the surface. Those peroxides are broken down by redox-coupling reaction, and provide active species that initiate grafting by reaction with the collagen molecules. The surface density of generated peroxide on a PLLA surface was determined by an iodide method. The maximum concentration of peroxide was about 2.87 x 10(-8) mol/cm2 when ozone oxidation was performed at 60 V for 60 min. After the surface oxidation, type I atelocollagen was grafted onto PLLA surface. All physical measurements on the collagen-grafted surface indicated that the PLLA surface was effectively grafted with type I atelocollagen. Behavior of rat calvaria osteoblasts on type I atelocollagen grafted PLLA (PLLA + COL) surface was observed. Initial attachment of osteoblasts on the surface was significantly enhanced, and it is assumed that the atelocollagen matrix supported the initial attachment and growth of cells. Collagenous protein synthesis of osteoblasts was maintained at relatively low level in the early stage of proliferation due to the primarily existing grafted type I atelocollagen, and then increased in 7 days as the osteoblast differentiated. After 7 days, collagenous protein synthesis in osteoblasts was activated. Alkaline phosphatase (ALPase) activity and mineralization by osteoblasts were promoted on PLLA + COL surface. In comparison with PLLA + COL, non-treated PLLA and tissue culture plate (TCPS) did not show any feature expressed in osteoblasts' maturation up to 9 days in this experiment. The grafted type I atelocollagen provided a favorable matrix for cell migration in relation with collagenase expression. Ozone oxidation might be a favorable method for surface modification of PLLA membranes by collagen grafting, and cell behavior could be modulated by the grafted collagen.

Animals↗

Rapid analysis of non-uniformly sampled pulsed field gradient data for velocity estimation.

Bretthorst's recent generalization of the Lomb-Scargle periodogram shows that a sufficient statistic for frequency estimation from non-uniformly, but simultaneously sampled quadrature data is equivalent to the FFT of those data with the missing samples replaced by zeros. We have applied this concept to the rapid analysis of pulsed field gradient MRI data which have been non-uniformly sampled in the velocity encoding wave vector q. For a small number of q samples, it is more computationally efficient to calculate the periodogram directly rather than using the FFT algorithm with a large number of zeros. The algorithm we have implemented for finding the peak of the generalized periodogram is simple and robust; it involves repeated apodization and grid searching of the periodogram until the desired velocity resolution is achieved. The final estimate is refined by quadratic interpolation. We have tested the method for fully developed Poiseuille flow of a Newtonian fluid and have demonstrated substantial improvement in the precision of velocity measurement achievable in a fixed acquisition time with non-uniform sampling. The method is readily extendible to multidimensional data. Analysis of a 256 by 256 pixel image with 8 q samples and an effective velocity resolution of better than 1/680 of the Nyquist range requires approximately 1 minute computation time on a 400 MHz SUN Ultrasparc II processor.

Blood Flow Velocity↗

Antimicrobial resistance of Shigella sonnei in Korea during the last two decades.

Eighty-eight strains of Shigella sonnei isolated in Korea during the period 1980 to 1999 were tested for susceptibility to 13 antimicrobial agents. S. sonnei isolates demonstrated high frequencies of resistance to sulfamethoxazole (97.7%), tetracycline (96.6%), and trimethoprim (95.5%). S. sonnei isolates from the 1990s were more resistant to nalidixic acid than isolates from the 1980s (100 vs 7.7%), while isolates from the 1990s were more susceptible to chloramphenicol than isolates from the 1980s (0 vs 100%). Ampicillin-resistant S. sonnei isolates produced the TEM-1 beta-lactamase with a pI of 5.4. The TEM-1 gene was located on conjugally transferable plasmids in the majority of isolates. S. sonnei isolates were all susceptible to cefotaxime, cefoxitin, ceftazidime, ciprofloxacin, and norfloxacin. These results indicate that cephalosporins and quinolones may be alternative antibiotics for the treatment of S. sonnei infections in Korea.

Anti-Bacterial Agents↗

Apoptotic cell death induced by Acinetobacter baumannii in epithelial cells through caspase-3 activation.

Epithelial cell death induced by Acinetobacter baumannii infection was investigated using in vitro assays. Eight hours after live A. baumannii infection, HeLa cells exhibited detachment from the dish, rounding morphologies, high proportions of trypan blue-positive cells and extensive DNA breakdown with faint apoptotic banding, which is indicative of cells undergoing apoptosis. The enzymatic activity of caspase-3 was increased in cells as early as 2 h after infection. In addition, apoptosis of HeLa cells was induced by treatment with bacterial culture filtrates but not with formalin-killed bacteria. These results indicate that A. baumannii infection triggers apoptosis in HeLa cells through caspase-3 activation.

Acinetobacter↗

Demonstration of Epstein-Barr virus in odontogenic and nonodontogenic tumors by the polymerase chain reaction (PCR).

BACKGROUND: Although considerable insight has been gamed into Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) as an important etiologic factor in various tumors, virtually little is known about the relationship between EBV genes and oral tumors. METHOD: Thirty-two cases of nonodontogenic tumor (16 squamous cell carcinomas, 11 salivary gland tumors, 1 malignant lymphoma, 1 spindle cell sarcoma, 1 osteogenic sarcoma, 1 malignant fibrous histiocytoma and 1 verrucous carcinoma), 17 cases of odontogenic tumor (17 ameloblastomas, the most important and common type of odontogenic tumor) and 12 cases of normal oral tissue (8 normal gingival tissues and other oral mucosa) were examined for the presence of EBV-DNA, with primers specific for the BamW, BNRF1, BMLF1, BamC, IR3, BMRF1, EBNA-2A BamhY, and EBNA-2B BamhY region of the EBV genome by the polymerase chain reaction (PCR). RESULTS: Fifty-three percent (17/32) of nonodontogenic tumors, forty-eight percent (8/17) of ameloblastomas, and ninety-two percent (11/12) of normal oral tissues were positive for EBV-DNA. Of the EBV-DNA, BMLF1 demonstrated the strongest reactivity in the nonodontogenic tumors, and BamC demonstrated the strongest reactivity in the ameloblastomas and normal oral mucosae. CONCLUSIONS: Taken into account with the expression of different EBV genes in odontogenic and nonodontogenic tumors, these findings suggest that even though odontogenic tumors and nonodontogenic tumors are relatively unique, the appearance of different EBV genes seems to suggest the complicated roles that the EBV genes play.

Adolescent↗

p21(WAF1) is associated with CDK2 and CDK4 protein during HL-60 cell differentiation by TPA treatment.

TPA-treated HL-60 cells are mainly arrested in G1 by p21(WAF1) accumulation. We investigate the downstream changes following such accumulation. Increased p21(WAF1) is associated with CDK2 and CDK4. pRb is dephosphorylated in the presence of p21-CDK2/4 complexes, and the Rb-E2F1 complex increases after TPA treatment, whereas the Rb-HDAC1 complex decreases slightly. Our results suggest that increased p21(WAF1) is associated with CDK2/4, and that these complexes induce pRb dephosphorylation. In turn, hypophosphorylated pRb are mainly complexed with E2F1, but HDAC1 appears not to be a key component in this process.

CDC2-CDC28 Kinases↗