Biomedical subjects

J G Kim

Publications and source records attributed to J G Kim.

At least 145 records · Page 8Linked to original sources

PubMed1997

Clarithromycin, amoxycillin and H2-receptor antagonist therapy for Helicobacter pylori peptic ulcer disease in Korea.

BACKGROUND: Effective anti-Helicobacter pylori therapies with few side-effects are needed. We previously showed that the regimen of amoxycillin, clarithromycin and an H2-receptor antagonist was effective in the United States. The current study tested whether this therapy would also be successful in Korea. METHODS: Patients with gastric or duodenal ulcers received amoxycillin (750 mg t.d.s.) plus clarithromycin (500 mg t.d.s.) for 2 weeks and nizatidine 300 mg at bedtime for 6 weeks. Endoscopic examinations were performed before treatment and 4 or more weeks after ending antimicrobial therapy. H. pylori status was confirmed by rapid urease testing and histological examination of gastric antrum and corpus biopsies using the Genta stain. Antibiotic resistance was tested using the E-test method. Cure was defined as no evidence of H. pylori infection 4 or more weeks after ending therapy. RESULTS: Seventy-two patients (59 males and 13 females; mean age 46 years), including 35 with duodenal ulcers, 30 with gastric ulcers and seven with both, were studied. H. pylori infection was cured in 95.8% (69/72 patients; 95% CI = 88.3-99.1%). Two of the treatment failures had culture data and one had pre-treatment resistance to clarithromycin. Smoking did not have an adverse effect on therapy. Ten patients (15%) developed side-effects during treatment, but all were mild and did not require treatment interruption. No case of reinfection was noted during follow-up. CONCLUSION: The combination of amoxycillin, clarithromycin and an H2-receptor antagonist is effective in Korean patients with H. pylori infection.

Adolescent↗

PubMed1997

Induction of homologous immune response to Rickettsia tsutsugamushi Boryong with a partial 56-kilodalton recombinant antigen fused with the maltose-binding protein MBP-Bor56.

Although the 56-kDa protein of Rickettsia tsutsugamushi has been presumed to play important roles in generating protective immunity against scrub typhus, studies of this protein have been impeded. We used the recombinant 56-kDa protein of R. tsutsugamushi Boryong fused with the maltose-binding protein of Escherichia coli (MBP-Bor56) to analyze its ability to induce protective immunity in a C3H/HeDub murine model. Intraperitoneal immunization of mice with MBP-Bor56 resulted in an increase in the 50% minimal lethal dose of more than 160 times compared with that for the control mice. Splenic mononuclear cells from the mice immunized with MBP-Bor56 showed a dose-dependent pattern of lymphocyte proliferation response and secreted gamma interferon and interleukin-2 when stimulated with irradiated R. tsutsugamushi Boryong, which is a cytokine profile of Th1 cells. High titers of antibody to R. tsutsugamushi were also demonstrated by indirect immunofluorescent-antibody testing. These findings suggest that the 56-kDa protein of R. tsutsugamushi is one of the candidates for a vaccine against scrub typhus.

Animals↗

PubMed1997

High prevalence of duodenal ulcer and gastric cancer in dyspeptic patients in Korea.

BACKGROUND: Although gastric cancer and duodenal ulcer are both related to Helicobacter pylori infection, they are mutually exclusive diseases such that patients with a history of duodenal ulcer have a markedly reduced risk of developing gastric cancer. It has been hypothesized that different strains of H. pylori may be related to the different diseases. Our aim was to study the prevalence of duodenal ulcer disease and gastric cancer in dyspeptic patients in South Korea, a country with a high incidence of gastric cancer. METHODS: The study population consisted of consecutive patients between the ages of 20 and 81 years referred to Guro Hospital's Endoscopic Unit for evaluation of dyspepsia. Patients with a history of peptic ulcer or gastric cancer were excluded. Each patient underwent endoscopy and completed a detailed questionnaire. Peptic ulcer was defined as the presence of an active ulcer, red scar, or white scar. RESULTS: One thousand patients were evaluated, and 867 (43% men and 57% women) met the entry criteria. The prevalence of peptic ulcer and gastric cancer were 24% and 7%, respectively. Among peptic ulcer patients, duodenal ulcer was commoner (75%) than gastric ulcer or coexistent duodenal and gastric ulcer (21% and 4%, respectively). The mean age of duodenal and gastric ulcer patients (45 +/- 14 and 48 +/- 12 years, respectively) was significantly lower than that of gastric cancer patients (59 +/- 11 years) (P < 0.01). Only 44 (7%) of the 597 remaining patients had definite endoscopic abnormalities (for example, erosive esophagitis, duodenitis, or pyloric deformity). CONCLUSION: Gastric cancer and duodenal ulcer were prevalent diagnoses among Korean patients undergoing endoscopy for evaluation of dyspepsia. Korea may be the ideal country to investigate the relation between specific H. pylori strains and different H. pylori diseases.

Adult↗

PubMed1997

High-grade human brain tumors exhibit increased expression of myelin transcription factor 1 (MYT1), a zinc finger DNA-binding protein.

Detection and characterization of distinct central nervous system (CNS) tumor cell types is clinically important since distinct tumor types are associated with different prognoses and treatments. However, there is currently a lack of markers to identify certain glioma types and insufficient understanding as to which cells give rise to different glioma cell types. In the present study, biopsy specimens from human brain tumors were analyzed for expression of Myelin Transcription Factor 1 (MYT1) to explore the extent to which glioma cells reflect characteristic expression of MYT1 in developing glial progenitor cells. Immunostaining with an antibody against MYT1 revealed widespread immunoreactivity that was most prominent in high-grade oligodendrogliomas, astrocytomas, and mixed oligoastrocytomas as well as in a dysembryoplastic neuroepithelial tumor. MYT1 immunoreactivity in tumor regions generally correlated with the prevalence of cells exhibiting nuclear immunolabeling with an antibody against Ki-67, suggesting an association of MYT1 with cell proliferation that was also observed in normal adult human and rat brain in the germinal subependymal zone. The MYT1 immunoreactivity was frequently nuclear, appearing as dotted or punctate, but in some cases it was localized to the cytoplasm. In combination with histopathological studies and analysis of Ki-67 immunoreactivity, examination of MYT1 immunolabeling may provide additional information to aid in the detection and diagnosis of CNS tumors.

Adult↗

PubMed1997

A phase II trial. Oral UFT and leucovorin in patients with advanced gastric carcinoma.

Thirty-nine patients with locally advanced or metastatic gastric carcinoma received oral UFT (tegafur and uracil) plus leucovorin. Treatment consisted of UFT 360 mg/m2/day plus leucovorin 25 mg/m2/day, given orally in divided daily doses for 21 days followed by a 7-day rest period. The median age of the patients was 64 years, and the median World Health Organization performance status was 2. Patients received a median of two courses of treatment (range, 1 to 25). Among 37 evaluable patients, two patients achieved a complete response, and eight had partial responses, for an overall response rate of 27% (95% confidence interval, 15.4% to 42.9%). Stable disease was reported in 12 patients (32%) and another 15 showed disease progression. The median duration of response was 30 weeks, and the median duration of survival was also 30 weeks (range, 8 to 111). All patients were evaluable for toxicity. Significant toxicity (World Health Organization grade 3 or 4) included diarrhea in seven patients (18%), oral mucositis in six (15%), and nausea/vomiting in six patients. We conclude that oral UFT plus leucovorin, an outpatient regimen, has favorable activity in patients with gastric carcinoma and has tolerable toxicities.

Adult↗

PubMed1997

Epstein-Barr virus-associated lymphoproliferative eruption with progression to large granular lymphocytic leukaemia.

A 12-year-old Korean girl gave a 9-year history of recurrent necrotizing papules and vesicles on the face, scalp and extremities. Skin biopsy specimens showed an atypical lymphoreticular infiltrate with vasculitis in the dermis and subcutis. In situ hybridization demonstrated latent infection by Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) of the lymphoid cells in the dermis. The disease was diagnosed as an EBV-associated lymphoproliferative skin eruption presenting as recurrent necrotic papulovesicles. The patient subsequently developed large granular lymphocytic leukaemia of natural killer cell origin. Our observations suggest that a patient with an EBV-associated lymphoproliferative skin eruption presenting with recurrent necrotic papulovesicles might progress to develop leukaemia as well as lymphoma.

Child↗

PubMed1997

Fresh mouse peritoneal macrophages have low scavenger receptor activity.

Peritoneal macrophages are easily isolated by lavage, suggesting that they are either nonadherent or weakly adherent in situ. Cultured macrophages express class A scavenger receptors (SCR), which mediate Ca2+-independent adhesion in vitro. We examined fresh peritoneal macrophages from mice and from women with endometriosis to determine whether the adherence of these cells was associated with increased expression of class A SCR. Fresh human macrophages were not immunoreactive to SCR antibodies; however, SCR immunoreactivity increased with time in culture. Fresh mouse and human macrophages took up minimal amounts of 1,1'-dioctadecyl-3,3,3',3'-tetramethylindocarbocyanine (DiI)-acetyl-low density lipoproteins (Ac-LDL), a class A SCR ligand. Murine macrophages in culture for 24-72 h internalized four times more Ac-LDL than fresh cells. Cells cultured for 2 days incorporated 3.2 times more [14C] oleate than freshly isolated cells (55.7 +/- 7.9 versus 17.6 +/- 3.0 nmol/mg cell protein). In contrast to SCR activity, mouse macrophage SCR mRNA expression was similar in freshly isolated macrophages and those cultured for 3 days. These results suggest that peritoneal macrophages express only low levels of SCR activity in situ and that posttranscriptional regulation after isolation leads to an increase in SCR activity that correlates with adherence of the macrophages in vitro.

Animals↗

PubMed1996

Prevalence of Helicobacter pylori infection in Korean children: inverse relation to socioeconomic status despite a uniformly high prevalence in adults.

The prevalence of Helicobacter pylori infection in US adults was shown to be inversely correlated with the socioeconomic status of the family during childhood, and it was suggested that this was additional evidence of transmission occurring in childhood. The present study of H. pylori infection was conducted in South Korea, which has emerged as a developed country in the last two decades. The authors attempted to determine whether there was a difference in prevalence of H. pylori infection in Korean children of different socioeconomic classes despite the high prevalence of infection in childbearing adults. The authors also attempted to identify the factors responsible for the different patterns of transmission by estimating the age-specific prevalence of H. pylori infection in 413 healthy 1- to 75-year-old asymptomatic volunteers who resided in Seoul. H. pylori status was evaluated using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for anti-H. pylori immunoglobulin G. Demographic data were obtained from each individual, and socioeconomic class was assessed by the education level of the adults and of the children's parents as well as family income. H. pylori infection was present in 75% of adults and 22% of children, and its prevalence increased with age (p < 0.001). In adults, the rate of infection was high and independent of socioeconomic class. In children, it was inversely related to the socioeconomic class of the child's family: 12% among upper socioeconomic class, 25% among the middle class, and 41% among the lowest class (p = 0.016). No associations were found between prevalence of H. pylori infection and any factor tested including sex, smoking, and alcohol consumption. In addition, type of housing, whether owned or rented, number of family members living in the same household, water source, and type of community in which a child grew up were not found to be risk factors influencing H. pylori infection prevalence. The prevalence of H. pylori infection in Korea appears to be changing with markedly lower prevalence in children of families of higher socioeconomic status. The factor(s) responsible for the break in the pattern of transmission in children of the higher socioeconomic class was not discovered. Future studies will concentrate on possible differences, eating practices, hygiene, and sanitary practices.

Adolescent↗

PubMed1996

Clinical implication of preoperative oral cholecystogram for laparoscopic cholecystectomy.

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to retrospectively assess the usefulness of the preoperative oral cholecystogram (OCG) as an index to the feasibility of laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC) and the operative pathologic findings. Laparoscopic cholecystectomy has become the standard treatment for symptomatic gallbladder (GB) disease. However, no definite diagnostic modality that can predict the feasibility of LC and severity of pathologic anatomy has been proposed. METHODS: Retrospective data were collected on 240 consecutive patients undergoing LC at St. Vincent Hospital, Catholic University Medical College, from October 1991 until December 1993. Radiologic interpretations of OCG were standardized according to the method of Koehler and Kyaw--from grade 0 to 4. And the operative findings--pericholecystic adhesion, color of GB, and thickness of the GB wall--were evaluated simultaneously. RESULTS: The analysis showed that preoperative OCG can predict intraoperative GB perforation (p = 0.022), intraoperative controllable bleeding (p = 0.034), and operating time (p = 0.0001) according to the grade of visualization of GB. Grade 2- or -better visualized groups had more patients who had blue-colored GB (p = 0.000) and who had thin GB wall (p = 0.000). CONCLUSIONS: Preoperative oral cholecystogram may be an accurate index of the feasibility of laparoscopic cholecystectomy--represented by operating time and important intraoperative minor complications related to the operative pathological findings.

Adolescent↗

PubMed1996

Serum insulin-like growth factor binding protein profiles in postmenopausal women: their correlation with bone mineral density.

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to evaluate the relationship between serum insulin-like growth factor binding protein profiles and bone mineral density measurements and biochemical markers of bone turnover in postmenopausal women. STUDY DESIGN: Sera from 37 normal healthy postmenopausal women and 14 postmenopausal women with osteoporosis were analyzed for insulin-like growth factor binding proteins and osteocalcin by Western ligand blotting and radioimmunoassay, respectively. Bone mineral density measurements were performed by dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry. Urinary calcium and creatinine excretion were also determined. The data were analyzed statistically by analysis of variance and the least-squares method. RESULTS: The serum insulin-like growth factor binding protein-2 ratio (insulin-like growth factor binding protein-2 intensity/total insulin-like growth factor binding protein intensity) in postmenopausal women with osteoporosis was significantly higher (p < 0.02) than that in normal healthy postmenopausal women, but the serum insulin-like growth factor binding protein-3 ratio in women with osteoporosis was significantly lower (p < 0.01). The serum insulin-like growth factor binding protein-2 ratio correlated negatively with the bone mineral density of the lumbar spine (p < 0.0001), femoral neck (p < 0.05), trochanter (p < 0.01), and Ward's triangle (p < 0.05), but there was a significant positive correlation between the serum insulin-like growth factor binding protein-3 ratio and the bone mineral density of the lumbar spine (p < 0.001) and trochanter (p < 0.05). No correlations between serum insulin-like growth factor binding protein levels or serum ratios and biochemical markers of bone turnover were noted. CONCLUSION: The measurement of serum insulin-like growth factor binding protein profiles might be useful in identifying postmenopausal women at risk for osteoporosis.

Bone Density↗

PubMed1996

Adherence of Helicobacter pylori to areas of incomplete intestinal metaplasia in the gastric mucosa.

BACKGROUND & AIMS: Helicobacter pylori is not usually found in areas of intestinal metaplasia. Thus, the development of intestinal metaplasia has been viewed as a mechanism by which the stomach eliminates H. pylori. The aim of this study was to evaluate the frequency of H. pylori adherence to intestinal metaplasia in different populations. METHODS: Mapped gastric biopsy specimens from 378 H. pylori-positive subjects from various geographical regions were examined. Intestinal metaplasia was typed by staining with periodic acid-Schiff/alcian blue and high-iron diamine/alcian blue. RESULTS: In 32 patients, H. pylori was found in intimate contact with intestinal metaplasia. This was documented by electron microscopy. All areas of intestinal metaplasia showing adherence contained sulfomucins and had no brush border. Posttreatment biopsy specimens from 4 patients whose infection was not cured showed persistence of H. pylori in intestinal metaplasia. CONCLUSIONS: These patients may have a strain of H. pylori with unusual adhesion characteristics, or their type of intestinal metaplasia may have biochemical properties that make it hospitable for H. pylori. The exclusive association of H. pylori adherence with incomplete intestinal metaplasia (a putative precursor of carcinoma) and its greater frequency in Koreans (a population at risk for gastric cancer) suggest that this phenomenon may play a role in the hypothetical sequence metaplasia > dysplasia > carcinoma.

Bacterial Adhesion↗

PubMed1996

LC50 of 2-bromopropane.

LC50 of 2-bromopropane was reexamined by using the OECD guideline in ICR mouse. The mice, 3 males and 3 females, were exposed to 2-bromopropane at five different concentrations for 4 h in inhalation chambers. The exposed animals were observed for 14 days. The animals which had survived and died were counted for the LC50 determination. The LC50 was calculated by using a dose-mortality curve at a 95 percent confidence level. The LC50 was 31,171 ppm, and the lowest lethal concentration (LLC) was lower than 29,528 ppm and the lethal concentration at 100% (LC100) was higher than 32,905 ppm.

Administration, Inhalation↗

PubMed1996

A preliminary study on inherited tooth morphology characters of Japanese and Chinese young adults--with special reference to the Carabelli tubercle.

A comparative study on inherited tooth morphology characters, in particular the incidence of Carabelli tubercles in the maxillary dentition, was conducted on standardized stone casts obtained from 240 Japanese (124 males (male) and 116 females (females)) and 160 Chinese (74 male, 86 female) young adults. The following results were obtained: 1) No significant differences in the incidence of Carabelli tubercles according to sex or body height were found between the two groups. 2) However, significant differences in the incidence of Carabelli tubercles according to sex were found in both groups. The tubercles occurred more frequently in males. 3) Significant differences between the bilateral and unilateral occurrence of Carabelli tubercles were observed in both the Japanese (p < 0.05) and Chinese (p < 0.01) groups; Carabelli tubercles on upper first molars were always bilateral. 4) The highest incidence of Carabelli tubercles was found in individuals with a body height of 166 approximately 175 cm in both groups, and a significant difference (p < 0.05) between the 156 approximately 165 cm and 166 approximately 175 cm groups was particularly evident in the Japanese adults. The authors postulate that bilateral occurrence of Carabelli tubercles was originally an inherited character in the molar region, but that the character was inhibited during the process of evolution of the masticatory system and regression of the molar dentition.

Adult↗

PubMed1996

Allelic variation in the cagA gene of Helicobacter pylori obtained from Korea compared to the United States.

OBJECTIVE: Helicobacter pylori is an important factor in the development of duodenal ulcer disease and has been implicated in the pathogenesis of gastric adenocarcinoma. It has been suggested that the cagA gene is a marker for more virulent strains of H. pylori. METHODS: We determined the prevalence of the cagA gene in 60 clinical isolates [34 from gastric carcinoma patients (CA), 26 from duodenal ulcer patients (DU)] from Korea, a country with a high incidence and mortality from gastric cancer. Genomic DNA was polymerase chain reaction-amplified by using two different primer sets for the cagA gene. The first cagA primer set amplifies a 297-bp product from the midregion of the cagA gene. The second primer set, which was previously established in a patient population from the Houston area (21 DU patients, 20 from individuals with asymptomatic gastritis) amplified a 1.4-kb region further downstream in the cagA gene. RESULTS: The expected 297 bp polymerase chain reaction amplicon for cagA was identified in 59/60 (98.3%) H. pylori isolates from Korea (33/34 CA, 26/26 DU), and in 36/41 (88%) isolates from the Houston area (20/21 DU, 16/20 asymptomatic gastritis) (NS). Using the second cagA primer set, the expected 1.4-kb product was found in only 1/60 (1.7%) H. pylori isolates from Korea (1/34 CA, 0/26 DU), and in 36/41 (88%) of isolates from the Houston area (20/21 DU, 16/20 GST) (p < 0.001). Western blot analysis showed that all Korean H. pylori isolates expressed cagA. CONCLUSIONS: The high prevalence of the cagA gene in H. pylori isolates from Korean patients with gastric adenocarcinoma or duodenal ulcers indicates that the cagA gene is common in H. pylori strains, and therefore, is not reliable as a single marker for the discrimination of H. pylori strains with respect to a specific disease. Our data further suggest that allelic variations in the genome of H. pylori strains may exist and that distinct H. pylori populations may circulate in different geographic regions.

Adenocarcinoma↗

PubMed1995

Expression of myelin transcription factor I (MyTI), a "zinc-finger" DNA-binding protein, in developing oligodendrocytes.

The production of myelin by oligodendrocytes requires the coordinated, massive synthesis of myelin components, a program that is dependent on transcriptional controls. Myelin transcription factor I (MyTI) was named for its ability to recognize the proteolipid protein (PLP) gene, the most abundantly transcribed central nervous system myelin gene (Kim and Hudson: Mol. Cell Biol. 12:5632, 1992). MyTI is a zinc-dependent, DNA-binding protein of the Cys2-His-Cys class. The pattern of MyTI expression, documented in the present study, suggests that MyTI may be instrumental in early stages of oligodendrocytic development and myelin production. MyTI mRNA transcripts are more highly expressed in oligodendrocyte progenitors than in differentiated oligodendrocytes. In vitro and in vivo analyses show that MyTI immunoreactivity is stronger in oligodendrocytic progenitors than in mature oligodendrocytes which have already accumulated PLP. In oligodendrocyte progenitors, MyTI immunoreactivity appears as speckles within the nucleus, suggestive of an association of MyTI with a function that is spatially segregated into discrete nuclear domains. MyTI continues to be expressed in cells transcribing PLP. However, as oligodendrocytes accumulate PLP, MyTI immunoreactivity becomes restricted to the cytoplasm and progressively diminishes. Since MyTI has two widely separated sets of DNA-binding domains and initial MyTI expression markedly precedes PLP expression, we hypothesize the following model: MyTI may play a role in assembling transcriptionally active complexes of PLP, perhaps by bending the DNA of the promoter region to induce an appropriate conformation to enable subsequent binding of additional regulatory proteins.

Animals↗

PubMed1995

Autoimmune premature ovarian failure.

Premature ovarian failure (POF) may be caused by a variety of factors that result in the depletion of responsive ovarian follicles. There is a increasing body of evidence that suggests an autoimmune etiology in some POF patients. Data in support of an autoimmune etiology include: (1) lymphocytic and plasma cell infiltration of the ovary and alteration of T cell subsets; (2) circulating autoantibodies to ovarian antigens; (3) association with other "autoimmune" disorders; (4) recovery of ovarian function after regression of autoimmune status. The mechanism for ovarian autoimmunity is unknown. Genetic or environmental factor might be involved in the stimuli inducing immune response. The possibility that major histocompatibility complex antigen and cytokines are implicated in human autoimmune POF has been proposed. The relative contribution of cell-mediated immunity and antibody-mediated immunity remains obscure in animal models and in POF patients. Currently, in vitro fertilization and/or gamete intrafallopian transfer with donated oocytes are the best therapeutic options to achieve pregnancy although ovulation induction and immunosuppressive treatment might be used in approved experimental protocols. A newly developed double bridged enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) might be useful in screening POF patients to identify those for whom temporary treatments may improve fertility.

Antibodies↗

PubMed1995

Detection of antiendometrial antibodies in sera of patients with endometriosis by dual-colored, double-labeling immunohistochemical method and western blot.

PROBLEM: This study was undertaken to determine whether specific binding activities against endometrial proteins in sera of patients with endometriosis are detectable and, if so, to identify endometrial antigens involved in autoimmunity in endometriosis. METHOD: Sera from 33 patients with endometriosis and 20 cord sera (controls) were tested against endometria of patients and their protein extracts by dual-colored, double-labeling immunohistochemical method, and Western blotting. RESULTS: Antiendometrial binding activities were detected in sera of 2 (10.0%) control patients and 13 (48.2%) patients with endometriosis by the immunohistochemical method. Endogenous immunoglobulin G (IgG) binding to endometrial proteins had molecular weights (MW) of 26, 28, 54, 85, 107 and 116 kDa. Most sera of both control and patients showed reactivity against endometrial proteins with MW of 34, 36, 56 and 77 kDa. However, there were specific IgG autoantibodies reactive against the endometrial proteins of 71, 92, and 103 kDa in sera of 55.2% (16/29) of patients but not in the control sera. Over 80% (10/12) of patients' sera with binding activities detectable by the immunohistochemical method also tested positive by Western blot analysis. CONCLUSIONS: These data show that specific IgG antibodies reactive against endometrial antigens are detectable in sera from some patients with endometriosis.

Adult↗

PubMed1995

Sclerosis of hepatic cavernous hemangioma: CT findings and pathologic correlation.

We report a case of hepatic cavernous hemangioma with computed tomographic findings of well demarcated nodular lesser attenuation foci within the main low attenuation mass on precontrast scans and non-enhancement of the foci even on the delayed contrast scans. These have been described as one of the atypical findings of cavernous hemangioma earlier in the literature. Surgery proved that sclerosis accounted for the hypodense nodular densities within the hepatic cavernous hemangioma.

Adult↗