Search PubMed⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

J Kim

Publications and source records attributed to J Kim.

At least 271 records · Page 15Linked to original sources
PubMed2001

Chemical, microbiological, and AromaScan evaluation of mahi-mahi fillets under various storage conditions.

The quality for mahi-mahi stored at 1.7, 7.2, and 12.8 degrees C for 0, 1, 3, and 5 days was determined using biogenic amine analysis, microbial counts, and sensory evaluation (by a sensory test panel and an AromaScan). Biogenic amines in methanol extracts from mahi-mahi samples were analyzed using capillary electrophoresis (CE) with ultraviolet detection at 210 nm and a gas chromatography (GC) method that can simultaneously determine the contents of putrescine, cadaverine, histamine, spermidine, and spermine within 20 min after pentafluoropropionic anhydride derivatization. A good correlation R2= 0.99) was found between CE and GC methods for detecting histamine in mahi-mahi. Fish quality deteriorated and correlated with increasing microbial numbers. Biogenic amines may be useful indicators for mahi-mahi quality and safety. AromaScan was able to correlate quality changes for mahi-mahi in microbiological and sensory analyses.

Animals↗
PubMed2001

Neuroprotective constituents from Hedyotis diffusa.

In a bioassay-guided search for neuroprotective compounds from medicinal plants, a MeOH extract of whole plants of Hedoytis diffusa yielded five flavonol glycosides, kaempferol 3-O-[2-O-(6-O-E-feruloyl)-beta-D-glucopyranosyl]-beta-D-galactopyranoside (1), quercetin 3-O-[2-O-(6-O-E-feruloyl)-beta-D-glucopyranosyl]-beta-D-galactopyranoside (2), quercetin 3-O-[2-O-(6-O-E-feruloyl)-beta-D-glucopyranosyl]-beta-D-glucopyranoside (3), kaempferol 3-O-(2-O-beta-D-glucopyranosyl)-beta-D-galactopyranoside (4), and quercetin 3-O-(2-O-beta-D-glucopyranosyl)-beta-D-galactopyranoside (5), and four O-acylated iridoid glycosides (6-9). Compounds 1 and 2 are previously unreported natural products, and all nine compounds exhibited significant neuroprotective activity in primary cultures of rat cortical cells damaged by L-glutamate.

Animals↗
PubMed2001

The study on the web-based Clinical Database Management System of Oriental Pulse Waveform.

There are many database-oriented sites on the web, which provide basic medical knowledge, hospital information, and medical counseling. However, there are only a few oriental pulse databases on the web. In this perspective, the goal of this study is to develop the Clinical Database Management System of Oriental Pulse Wave Form using the World Wide Web. Accordingly, this study has conducted researches in the Web-based diagnosis data management system of pulse waveform as well as the method of transmitting the data of pulse waveform. In order to set the standard for the documents of the pulse waveform of patients, the web-based clinical database management system has been developed.

Database Management Systems↗
PubMed2001

Background monitoring and long-range transport of atmospheric CFC-11 and CFC-12 at Kosan, Korea.

The background concentrations of atmospheric CFC-11 and CFC-12 were monitored to assess their impact on stratospheric ozone depletion and global warming from September 1995 to March 1999 at Kosan, Korea, located at eastern margin of the Asian Continent. The concentrations of atmospheric CFC-11 at Kosan have decreased slightly, at a rate of -2.5 pptv yr(-1), over the period in response to the Montreal Protocol. The CFC-12 mixing ratio at Kosan continues to increase in the atmosphere at a rate of 5.7 pptv yr(-1) despite international regulations, because of its extreme atmosphere persistence. Recent trends of these two chlorofluorocarbons at Kosan, Korea were concordant with those of the northern hemispheric background monitored unit at Mauna Loa, Hawaii. The maximum seasonal mean mixing ratios of CFC-11 and CFC-12 at Kosan, Korea, were 270 +/- 4 pptv in the spring and 538 +/- 9 pptv in the winter, and the corresponding seasonal minima were 267 +/- 7 and 529 +/- 12 pptv. This occurred in the summer and was due to southeasterly winds from the northwestern Pacific Ocean. By performing a three-day isentropic backward trajectory analysis, it was shown that air masses at Kosan, and with the exception of summer, mainly originated from central and northern China. In particular, the mixing ratios of these two contaminant species are closely related with their air mass trajectories.

Air Movements↗
PubMed2001

Studies of posttranslational modifications in spiny dogfish myelin basic protein.

The objective of this investigation was to determine whether nonmammalian myelin basic protein contained charge isomers resulting from extensive posttranslational modifications as seen in mammalian MBP. Four charge isomer components from dogfish MBP have been isolated. These forms arise by phosphorylation and deamidation modifications. Components C1, C2 and C3 have been characterized. We are currently characterizing component C8. Dogfish MBP is less cationic than mammalian MBP and has about 50% lower mobility on a basic pH gel electrophoresis relative to human and to bovine MBP. The mammalian component C1, which is unmodified, is modified in the dogfish by phosphorylation. The reduced electrophoretic mobility is largely attributable to the charge reduction resulting from phosphorylation in serine 72, 83, and 120 or 121 in C1, and C3. In component C2, two or three phosphate groups were distributed among residues 134, 138 and 139. It was found that dogfish amino acid residue 30 was a lysine residue and not a glutamate residue as reported in the literature.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed2001

Design of digital hardware system for pulse signals.

In this study, we have developed the digital hardware system which performs signal processing necessary for the filtering to eliminate noises by inputting pulse wave signals from the sensor group. With a view to obtain clinically effective information, we analyzed structural elements of pulse waveform and, thus, conducted a systematic classification. What is more, we performed the modeling of the digital filter by using the Steiglitz-McBride iteration method in order to get the same results with output signals coming out of an galvanometer of analog type of existing Pulse diagnosis system with input signals entering into galvanometer and coming out of the amp group of the Pulse diagnosis system.

Computers↗
PubMed2001

The VACTERL association: lessons from the Sonic hedgehog pathway.

VACTERL represents a non-random association of congenital anomalies in humans of poorly known etiology and pathogenesis. From our mutant analysis of Gli genes, which encode transcription factors mediating Sonic hedgehog (Shh) signal transduction, we observed that defective Shh signaling leads to a spectrum of developmental anomalies in mice strikingly similar to those of VACTERL. In this review, we will discuss the function of the three Gli transcription factors in Shh signaling and mammalian development. We propose that VACTERL could be caused by defective Shh signaling during human embryogenesis and suggest that the Gli mutant mice can serve as useful models for studying the pathogenesis of VACTERL.

Abnormalities, Multiple↗
PubMed2001

Evaluation of premalignant potential in oral lichen planus using interphase cytogenetics.

This study attempted to evaluate whether oral lichen planus (OLP) has the potential to progress to oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) by comparing the degree of genetic instability between clinically-curable OLP and lesions that progressed to OSCC. Fifteen cases of steroid-responsive OLP and two cases of lichenoid dysplasia (LD) that progressed to OSCC were used for this study. Chromosome in situ hybridization (CISH) was performed for chromosomes 9 and 17. The fraction of polysomic and monosomic cells for chromosome 9 increased in mucosal epithelium compared to those of lymphocytes in OLP. This difference was statistically significant (P=0.0017, 0.0054, respectively). Two LD patients showed 15.38% and 22.58% of PI for chromosome 9. In OSCC that developed from LD, the fraction of monosomic cells for chromosome 9 increased by more than 70%. We concluded that LD should be treated as a high-risk premalignant lesion and strongly suggest that the monosomy of chromosome 9 may have a critical role in progress to malignancy from LD.

Adult↗
PubMed2001

Evidence for the pathological right-handedness hypothesis.

The present study investigated handedness of 109 Korean patients with temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE) and 120 normal control participants. Left TLE was associated with a significantly raised incidence of left-handers relative to normal controls. More important for the present purpose, right TLE was associated with a significantly raised incidence of strong right-handers relative to normal controls. This finding indicates that certain early damage to the right brain causes a mild hypofunction of the left hand in natural weak right-handers, which in turn causes the patient to switch to strong right-handedness. To the authors' knowledge, this finding provides the 1st empirical evidence supporting the pathological right-handedness hypothesis. Prior failure to find evidence of pathological right-handedness may reflect the low base rate of natural left-handers rather than true absence of pathological right-handers.

Adult↗
PubMed2001

Efficient gene transfer of VSV-G pseudotyped retroviral vector to human brain tumor.

A retroviral vector constructed from the murine leukemia virus (MLV) can only express transgenes in cells undergoing mitosis, indicating its suitability as a delivery vehicle for cancer gene therapy. However, the transduction efficiency (TE) of retroviruses embedding endogenous envelope proteins in human cancer cells was found to be unsatisfactory. Recently, several research groups have demonstrated the feasibility of a retroviral vector pseudotyped with a vesicular stomatitis virus G (VSV-G) protein. In this study, the potential of VSV-G pseudotyped MLV-based retrovirus was examined as a delivery vehicle in a variety of human cancer cells including brain tumor cells in vitro and in vivo. The transduction efficiency of the 293T/G/GP/LacZ retrovirus in cell culture was superior in most cancer cells, particularly in brain tumor cells, compared with that of other retroviruses, such as PA317- or PG13-derived. The relative growth rate and phosphatidylserine expression level on the plasma membrane of target cells mainly influenced the transduction efficiency of VSV-G pseudotyped retrovirus, which suggested that both the relative growth rate and phosphatidylserine expression level were major determinants of TE. Furthermore, 293T/G/GP/LacZ could efficiently transduce human cancer cells regardless of the presence of chemical additives, whereas in other retroviruses, cationic chemical additives such as polybrene or liposomes were essential during virus infection. Finally, an average of 10% gene expression was routinely obtained exclusively in the tumor mass when 293T/G/GP/LacZ concentrated by simple ultracentrifugation was directly administrated to pre-established brain tumors in animal models (U251-N nu/nu mice or C6 Wistar rats). All told, the present study suggests that the VSV-G pseudotyped retrovirus is a suitable vector for brain tumor gene therapy.

Brain Neoplasms↗
PubMed2001

Pigmentation in Koreans: study of the differences from caucasians in age, gender and seasonal variations.

BACKGROUND: Human skin colour shows variations throughout life, and many extrinsic and intrinsic factors influence melanogenesis. Facultative pigmentation of sun-exposed skin has been suggested to reflect cumulative lifetime ultraviolet (UV) exposure in caucasians. However, pigmentary changes due to various regulatory factors may be different in dark-skinned peoples. OBJECTIVES: To observe the variations in skin colour due to ageing, gender differences and seasonal changes in Koreans with skin type IV or V. METHODS: Skin pigmentation was measured at five body sites (buttock, glabella, the V of the neck area, inner arm and dorsal forearm) using skin reflectance spectroscopy in 497 subjects (age range 0-87 years) in winter and 311 subjects (age range 0-84 years) in summer. Among these subjects, 110 were assessed in both seasons. Three independent measurements at each site were done and the average value was used as the pigmentation level. RESULTS: Constitutive pigmentation of the buttock was highest in the first decade of life. It then decreased during the second decade and this decreased level was maintained after the third decade. In contrast to caucasians, facultative pigmentation and sun exposure index did not increase with ageing. Gender differences were significant at all body sites after the first decade. Seasonal changes were apparent in dorsal forearm pigmentation. Little difference was seen in forehead pigmentation between summer and winter. CONCLUSIONS: Basal melanogenic regulation might not be different between Asians and caucasians. However, the sun exposure index may not represent lifelong cumulative UV exposure in Koreans. Age-, gender- and season-related characteristics of skin pigmentation in Koreans imply that genetically determined basal skin colour plays an important part in characterizing later responsiveness to UV radiation and sex hormones. Understanding differences between races will be helpful in studying the regulatory mechanisms of melanogenesis.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2001

Neonatal lupus erythematosus: factors which may lead to clinical disease in the foetus even in the absence of disease in the mother.

Neonatal lupus erythematosus (NLE) occurs in neonates of mothers who, in almost all cases, have auto-antibodies to the SSA/Ro associated proteins, but who may have no clinical disease. However, only a small percentage of mothers with SSA/Ro antibodies have affected babies, predisposing factors specific to the foetus or neonate (i.e. HLA pattern) and/or fetal maternal interactions have been proposed to be important. We present a mother with a family history of autoimmune disease, but without clinical disease, whose baby developed cutaneous NLE. Autoantibody determinations as well as the HLA-DR/DQ were performed in the mother and baby. Factors other than the HLA-DR/DQ status of the mother appear to be important in determining whether or not the neonate will develop NLE. Auto-antibodies to endogenous antigens common to the mother, transiently expressed developmental antigens, and the isotype specificity of transferred antibodies may be important in determining disease in the baby.

Adult↗
PubMed2001

Influence of the renin-angiotensin system on epidermal growth factor expression in normal and cyclosporine-treated rat kidney.

BACKGROUND: Epidermal growth factor (EGF) plays an important role in renal tubular regeneration after ischemic injury in kidney. The present study reports the association between the renin-angiotensin system (RAS) and EGF, and the effect of angiotensin II blockade with losartan (LSRT) on EGF expression in an experimental model of chronic cyclosporine (CsA) nephrotoxicity in rats. METHODS: Two separate experiments were performed. In the first experiment, rats on the normal-salt diet (NSD; 0.3%) or low-salt diet (LSD; 0.05%) were treated with or without LSRT for four weeks. In the second experiment, rats on the NSD or LSD were given vehicle (VH group, olive oil, 1 mg/kg per day) or CsA (15 mg/kg per day) or CsA (15 mg/kg per day) plus LSRT (100 mg/L per day). Renal function, histopathology, TUNEL staining, plasma renin activity (PRA), and the expression of renin and EGF were studied. RESULTS: Normal rats on the LSD showed significantly increased EGF expression (cortex, 2.6-fold; medulla, 1.7-fold) and significantly decreased EGF expression with the LSRT treatment compared with the rats treated with the NSD (cortex, 74.8 vs. 10%; medulla, 22.5 vs. 5%). In contrast, the CsA-treated rats on the LSD had a significantly lower EGF expression (cortex, 98 vs. 53%; medulla, 94 vs. 14%); however, concomitant administration of LSRT increased the EGF expression (cortex, 91- vs. 3.8-fold; medulla, 19- vs. 2.4-fold) compared with the rats on the NSD. In the normal and CsA-treated LSD rats, EGF expression was well correlated with PRA. In addition, EGF expression was well correlated with the interstitial fibrosis score (r = 0.664, P < 0.01) or number of TUNEL-positive cells (r = 0.822, P < 0.01) in CsA-treated LSD rats. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that angiotensin II blockade with LSRT decreases EGF expression in normal rats on the LSD, but it protects EGF expression in CsA-induced nephrotoxicity. This finding provides a new perspective on the renoprotection of angiotensin II blockade in chronic CsA nephrotoxicity.

Angiotensin II↗
PubMed2001

Laser resurfacing-induced hypopigmentation: histologic alterations and repigmentation with topical photochemotherapy.

BACKGROUND: Hypopigmentation is a relatively common side effect of CO2 laser resurfacing. Little is known regarding the histologic features of the areas of pigmentation loss. To date, hypopigmentation is considered a permanent complication of this procedure. OBJECTIVE: To assess the histologic features of hypopigmentation caused by laser resurfacing and to evaluate the efficacy and safety of topical psoralen photochemotherapy. METHODS: Ten patients were included in this pilot study. Four had baseline biopsies performed. Histologic parameters assessed included epidermal melanin, dermal melanophages, perivascular inflammation, Mel-5 immunostaining for melanocytes, and dermal fibrosis. Seven patients were treated twice a week with topical photochemotherapy utilizing 0.001% 8-methoxypsoralen. RESULTS: All of the biopsy specimens demonstrated varying quantities of epidermal melanin and residual epidermal melanocytes. Mild perivascular inflammation was evident in two specimens. Superficial dermal fibrosis was noted in all biopsy specimens. Topical photochemotherapy induced moderate to excellent repigmentation in 71% of the treated patients. Adverse effects were minimal. CONCLUSION: The results of this investigation suggest that hypopigmentation induced by laser resurfacing may result from a suppression of melanogenesis rather than destruction of area melanocytes. The preliminary data further suggest that hypopigmentation caused by laser resurfacing can be effectively treated by topical photochemotherapy.

Acne Vulgaris↗
PubMed2001

The effects of group intervention for battered women in Korea.

This study developed a group intervention model appropriate for battered women in Korea and tested its effectiveness. The sessions in the group intervention were formatted to stress the following topics: assess trauma, identify major problems, deal with feelings, understand self, identify batterer's characteristics, improve stress management strategies, develop action plans, and promote empowerment. The major finding was that the trait anxiety scores of the 16 battered women in the experimental group significantly decreased after the intervention. The change in levels of state anxiety, self-esteem, and depression in the experimental group were not significantly different from those of the 17 the subjects in the control group.

Adaptation, Psychological↗