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Biomedical subjects

J Lee

Publications and source records attributed to J Lee.

At least 127 records · Page 7Linked to original sources
PubMed2004

Tertiary treatment of biologically treated piggery wastewater using vibratory shear-enhanced RO membrane.

This study presents a good example for the tertiary treatment of biologically treated piggery wastewater using vibratory shear enhanced RO membrane (VSEP RO). Through a simple process combination, utilizing Bioceramic SBR(BCS) and VSEP RO, at Gimhae plant livestock wastewater is treated excellently to meet the strict effluent standards. Application of RO membrane directly to the biologically treated effluent has been successful without any pretreatment to reduce high suspended solids. The combination of VESP UF followed by RO filtration processes produced a higher recovery rate in the 3-week pilot test.

Animals↗
PubMed2003

p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase modulates expression of tumor necrosis factor-related apoptosis-inducing ligand induced by interferon-gamma in fetal brain astrocytes.

This study describes the involvement of the p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) during interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) signaling in fetal brain astrocytes. In some pathological conditions of brain, p38 MAPK transduces stress-related signals, increases expression of proinflammatory cytokines, and induces cellular damage or apoptosis. In astrocytes, the tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL) expression level was increased by IFN-gamma. AG490, a JAK inhibitor, blocked TRAIL expression induced by IFN-gamma. SB203580, a specific p38alpha and p38beta2 MAPK inhibitor, decreased the TRAIL expression induced by IFN-gamma. The phosphorylation of the Ser727 site of STAT1, but not the Tyr701 site, was inhibited by SB203580. These results suggest that p38 MAPK modulates STAT1 phosphorylation in IFN-gamma signaling in fetal brain astrocytes.

Apoptosis↗
PubMed2003

Enrichment of microbial community generating electricity using a fuel-cell-type electrochemical cell.

A fuel cell was used to enrich a microbial consortium generating electricity, using organic wastewater as the fuel. Within 30 days of enrichment the maximum current of 0.2 mA was generated with a resistance of 1 kOhms. Current generation was coupled to a fall in chemical oxygen demand from over 1,700 mg l(-1) down to 50 mg l(-1). Denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis showed a different microbial population in the enriched electrode from that in the sludge used as the inoculum. Electron microscopic observation showed a biofilm on the electrode surface and microbial clumps. Nanobacteria-like particles were present on the biofilm surface. Metabolic inhibitors and electron acceptors inhibited the current generation. 16S ribosomal RNA gene analysis showed a diverse bacterial population in the enrichment culture. These findings demonstrate that an electricity-generating microbial consortium can be enriched using a fuel cell and that the electrochemical activity is a form of anaerobic electron transfer.

Bacteria↗
PubMed2003

Effect of cyclooxygenase-2 inhibition on human Helicobacter pylori gastritis: mechanisms underlying gastrointestinal safety and implications for cancer chemoprevention.

UNLABELLED: Cyclooxygenase (COX)-2 expression and prostaglandin production is increased by Helicobacter pylori infection. Non-selective COX inhibitors reduce prostaglandins and mucosal proliferation in infected mucosa and may reduce gastric cancer risk, but ulceration precludes their use. COX-2 inhibitors cause fewer ulcers and may be chemopreventive. Physiological studies of COX-2 inhibitors in humans with H. pylori infection have not been performed. AIM: To study the impact of COX-2 specific inhibition on gastric prostaglandin levels, H. pylori gastritis and proliferation. METHODS: Twenty infected (eight males, 12 females; age 38 +/- 1.8) and six uninfected (four males, two females; age 36 +/- 3.5) healthy volunteers received rofecoxib 25 mg daily for 14 days. Endoscopic biopsies were evaluated for prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) content, gastritis and proliferation. RESULTS: Before drug therapy, compared to uninfected, H. pylori-infected subjects had significantly higher: (a) gastric mucosal PGE2 (pg/mg tissue) in the gastric body and antrum, (b) H. pylori score in body and antrum and (c) mid-gland proliferation index in antrum and body. The COX-2 inhibitor did not significantly affect PGE2 levels, gastritis scores or proliferation indices in the body or antrum in the H. pylori-positive or -negative subjects. CONCLUSION: The predominant source of increased gastric PGE2 in H. pylori infection appears to be COX-1-derived. In non-ulcerated H. pylori gastritis, COX-2 inhibition does not affect cellular proliferation. Rofecoxib's lack of effect on gastric prostaglandin levels and proliferation in H. pylori-infected mucosa may explain the absence of an increased ulcer risk among COX-2 inhibitor users with H. pylori infection. The lack of significant effect on intermediate biomarkers raises uncertainty regarding the potential of specific COX-2 inhibitors for chemoprevention of gastric cancer.

Adult↗
PubMed2003

One-week triple therapy with esomeprazole, clarithromycin and metronidazole provides effective eradication of Helicobacter pylori infection.

AIM: To compare the eradication rates of treatment with esomeprazole, metronidazole and clarithromycin (EMC) vs. omeprazole, metronidazole and clarithromycin (OMC), given for 7 days. OMC treatment was followed by 3 weeks of treatment with 20 mg omeprazole alone; the EMC group received placebo. METHODS: A randomized, double-blind, controlled study was conducted in 36 Canadian centres. Patients had a minimum 3-month history of dyspepsia, with or without a previous history of peptic ulcer disease, and were Helicobacter pylori positive by urea breath test. The eradication of H. pylori was determined by two negative breath tests performed at least 4 and 8 weeks following the completion of treatment. RESULTS: The intention-to-treat and per protocol populations consisted of 379 and 339 patients, respectively. The success rates of EMC/placebo were 76% (144/190) by intention-to-treat and 80% (138/172) by per protocol analysis; for OMC/omeprazole, the rates were 72% (137/189) and 75% (125/167), respectively. The difference between the two treatment groups was not significant. Treatment was well tolerated. CONCLUSIONS: A 7-day regimen of esomeprazole, metronidazole and clarithromycin is effective and well tolerated for the eradication of H. pylori infection.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2003

Assignment of molecular linkage groups to soybean chromosomes by primary trisomics.

Gene-linkage groups (classical linkage groups, CLGs; molecular linkage groups, MLGs) and chromosome relationship in soybean [ Glycine max (L.) Merr., 2n = 40] is not yet established. However, primary trisomics provide an invaluable cytogenetic tool to associate genes and linkage groups to specific chromosomes. We have assigned 11 MLGs to soybean chromosomes by using primary trisomics (2 x + 1 = 41) and SSR markers. Primary trisomics were hybridized with Glycine soja Sieb. and Zucc. (2n = 40) in the greenhouse, F(1) plants with 2n = 40 and 41 were identified cytologically and 41 chromosome plants were selfed. A deviation from the 1:2:1 ratio in the F(2) population suggests a marker is associated with a chromosome. Of the possible 220 combinations involving 20 MLGs and 11 primary trisomics, 151 combinations were examined. The relationships between soybean chromosomes and MLGs are: 1 = D1a+q, 3 = N, 5 = A1, 8 = A2, 9 = K, 13 = F, 14 = C1, 17 = D2, 18 = G, 19 = L and 20 = I. This study sets the stage to establish relationship between nine remaining MLGs with the other genetically unidentified nine primary trisomics. The association of CLGs with the soybean chromosomes will be discussed.

Chromosomes, Plant↗
PubMed2003

Direct observation of localized defect States in semiconductor nanotube junctions.

We report scanning tunneling microscopy of semiconductor-semiconductor carbon nanotube junctions with different band gaps. Characteristic features of the wave functions at different energy levels, such as a localized defect state, are clearly exhibited in the atomically resolved scanning tunneling spectroscopy. The peaks of the Van Hove singularity on each side penetrate and decay into the opposite side across the junction over a distance of approximately 2 nm. These experimental features are accounted for, with the help of tight-binding calculation, by the presence of pentagon-heptagon pair defects at the junction.

Journal Article↗
PubMed2003

Degradation of an endocrine disrupting chemical, DEHP [di-(2-ethylhexyl)-phthalate], by Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. pisi cutinase.

The efficiency of two lypolytic enzymes (fungal cutinase, yeast esterase) in the degradation of di-(2-ethylhexyl)-phthalate (DEHP) was investigated. The DEHP-degradation rate of fungal cutinase was surprisingly high, i.e. almost 70% of the initial DEHP (500 mg/l) was decomposed within 2.5 h and nearly 50% of the degraded DEHP disappeared within the initial 15 min. With the yeast esterase, despite the same concentration, more than 85% of the DEHP remained even after 3 days of treatment. During the enzymatic degradation of DEHP, several DEHP-derived compounds were detected and time-course changes in composition were also monitored. During degradation with fungal cutinase, most DEHP was converted into 1,3-isobenzofurandione (IBF) by diester hydrolysis. In the degradation by yeast esterase, two organic chemicals were produced from DEHP: IBF and an unidentified compound (X). The final chemical composition after 3 days was significantly dependent on the enzyme used. Fungal cutinase produced IBF as a major degradation compound. However, in the DEHP degradation by yeast esterase, compound X was produced in abundance in addition to IBF. The toxic effects of the final degradation products were investigated, using various recombinant bioluminescent bacteria and, as a result, the degradation products from yeast esterase were shown to contain a toxic hazard, causing oxidative stress and damage to protein synthesis.

Candida↗
PubMed2003

Branching fractions of tau leptons to three charged hadrons.

From electron-positron collision data collected with the CLEO detector operating at Cornell Electron Storage Ring near sqrt[s]=10.6 GeV, improved measurements of the branching fractions for tau decays into three explicitly identified hadrons and a neutrino are presented as B(tau(-)-->pi(-)pi(+)pi(-)nu(tau))=(9.13+/-0.05+/-0.46)%, B(tau(-)-->K-pi(+)pi(-)nu(tau))=(3.84+/-0.14+/-0.38) x 10(-3), B(tau(-)-->K-K+pi(-)nu(tau))=(1.55+/-0.06+/-0.09) x 10(-3), and B(tau(-)-->K-K+K-nu(tau))<3.7 x 10(-5) at 90% C.L., where the uncertainties are statistical and systematic, respectively.

Journal Article↗
PubMed2003

[Evaluation of continuing medical education (CME) in print media].

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: In order to achieve points for the CME certificate of the German Medical Council ("Arztekammer") the reader of a CME article in a medical journal has to fill in an evaluation form that includes knowledge assessment. This article summarizes the data of the first ten CME presentations in the "Deutsche Medizinische Wochenschrift". METHODS: 4481 completed data sets were evaluated by chi-square and binomial tests using SPSS version 10.0. RESULTS: 85% of the participants were specialists, mainly in internal medicine or surgery: those working in private practice or a hospital took part. The great majority had received their licence one to 30 years ago. The topics dealt with diseases which were not uniformly often seen in clinical practice. The individually perceived changes in the strategy of diagnosis and therapy, induced by the CME article, was mainly dependent on qualification and specialization of the reader as well as on the frequency, with which the reader had been treating the respective disorder. The articles were appreciated by specialists as well as by non-specialists. Knowledge assessment was largely made on the basis of the article alone and was successfully passed by nearly 90% of the participants. CONCLUSION: For the first time this article provides detailed data on CME activities in a nation-wide available German medical journal and thus forms the basis for discussing further the definition of quality criteria for CME articles in medical journals.

Binomial Distribution↗
PubMed2003

Hyperventilation-induced limb shaking TIA in Moyamoya disease.

The authors present a case of hyperventilation-induced left upper limb shaking from an underlying Moyamoya disease. Video EEG monitoring and SPECT study were performed. Leptomeningeal collateral circulation was investigated by conventional angiography and by SPECT study with acetazolamide. Limb shaking in Moyamoya disease may result from a transient hypoperfusion of the contralateral frontoparietal cortex rather than basal ganglia.

Acetazolamide↗
PubMed2003

Rocuronium versus succinylcholine for rapid sequence induction intubation.

BACKGROUND: Patients requiring emergent endotracheal intubation often require a rapid sequence induction intubation (RSI) technique to protect against gastric aspiration, to facilitate intubation, or to protect against increased intracranial pressure. Succinylcholine is the most common muscle relaxant used because it has a fast onset and a short duration. Unfortunately it can have serious side effects as a result of it's membrane depolarizing effect and release of potassium. Rocuronium has been suggested to create intubating conditions similar to succinylcholine. Previous studies have been underpowered to determine equivalence and there has been no previous meta-analysis performed. OBJECTIVES: To determine if rocuronium creates comparable intubating conditions to succinylcholine during RSI intubation. Comparisons were made with succinylcholine based on the dose of rocuronium, use of a narcotic, emergent versus elective intubation, age group and the induction agent used. The primary outcome was excellent intubation conditions. A secondary outcome of clinically acceptable conditions was also performed. These were all dichotomous outcomes using cutpoints from a four point scale by Goldberg to evaluate intubation conditions. SEARCH STRATEGY: We searched MEDLINE (1966-March 2000), EMBASE (1988-March 2000) and the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENRAL) (March 2000) for randomized controlled trials (RCT) or controlled clinical trials (CCT) relating to the use of rocuronium and succinylcholine. Foreign language journals were included. References of identified studies were hand-searched for citations missed by the electronic searches. SELECTION CRITERIA: All trials meeting the inclusion criteria (comparison of rocuronium and succinylcholine, one of study's main outcomes was scoring of intubation conditions) were included. DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS: Data were extracted and methodological quality was assessed independently by two reviewers for allocation concealment. The outcomes were combined using MetaView 4.1 with risk differences for all categories and RR for the excellent outcomes with a random effects model. MAIN RESULTS: 40 studies were identified; 26 were combined for analysis. Overall, rocuronium was inferior to succinylcholine, with a RR=0.87 (95%CI = 0.81 to 0.94) (N=1606). In the group that used propofol for induction of anaesthesia, the intubation conditions were similar, with a RR=0.96 (95%CI = 0.87 to 1.06) (N=640). No major adverse events were reported. REVIEWER'S CONCLUSIONS: Succinylcholine created superior intubation conditions to rocuronium when comparing excellent intubation conditions. Using the less stringent outcome, clinically acceptable intubation conditions, the two agents were not statistically different. Intubation conditions were not statistically different between succinylcholine and rocuronium when propofol was used.

Androstanols↗
PubMed2003

Genetic analysis of the VP1 region of human enterovirus 71 strains isolated in Korea during 2000.

We have isolated Human enterovirus 71 (EV71) from stool and CSF samples taken from patients with acute flaccid paralysis, herpangina, or hand, foot and mouth disease in 2000. Both the cell culture-neutralization test and RT-PCR were used to detect enteroviruses. Rhabdomyosarcoma (RD), HEP2c, and BGM cells were used for the isolation of viruses, and serotypes were determined by the neutralization test using EV71-specific antiserum. For genomic analysis, we amplified a 437-bp fragment of the 5'-noncoding region of the enterovirus genome and a 484-bp fragment of the VP3/VP1 region of EV71 by RT-PCR, with positive results. Products amplified using an EV71-specific primer pair were sequenced and compared with other isolates of EV71. Analysis of the nucleotide sequences of the amplified fragments showed that the EV71 isolates from patients were over 98% homologous and belonged to the genotype C.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed2003

Chronic eosinophilic pneumonia associated with an initiation of rheumatoid arthritis.

Although peripheral blood eosinophilia is observed in patients with active inflammatory rheumatoid arthritis (RA), RA is not a recognised cause of pulmonary eosinophilia. We describe a 55-year-old woman affected by chronic eosinophilic pneumonia (CEP) concomitantly with an initiation of RA. Both diseases responded rapidly and completely to high-dose corticosteroid therapy. In this patient, the initiation of RA and CEP was directly related, implying a common pathogenetic link between the two diseases.

Arthritis, Rheumatoid↗
PubMed2003

Role of NR2B-containing N-methyl-D-aspartate receptors in haloperidol-induced c-Fos expression in the striatum and nucleus accumbens.

Administration of haloperidol in rats leads to a robust induction of immediate-early genes including c-Fos throughout the striatum, which is significantly attenuated by pretreatment with the non-competitive N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor antagonist, MK-801. The striatum expresses mainly NR1/NR2A and NR1/NR2B subtypes of NMDA receptors, each having different functional and pharmacological properties. In this study, rats were pretreated with Ro 25-6981, a selective antagonist for NR2B-containing NMDA receptors, in order to determine the relative contribution of this NMDA receptor subtype in NMDA-dependent haloperidol-induced c-Fos expression. Furthermore, to determine whether NMDA receptor subtype dependence of haloperidol-induced c-Fos expression is unique to the binding profile of haloperidol or whether it is a property of D2 receptor antagonism, the selective D2/D3 dopamine receptor antagonist, raclopride, was also used. Pretreatment with Ro 25-6981 led to a significant reduction in the number of nuclei showing c-Fos immunoreactivity in both the medial and lateral parts of the striatum. In the medial part of the striatum, this attenuation was almost as marked as that seen following pretreatment with MK-801; however, in the lateral part MK-801 pretreatment led to a significantly greater reduction in the number of c-Fos positive nuclei than did Ro 25-6981 pretreatment. This suggests that NR2B-containing NMDA receptors are involved in mediating most of the NMDA-dependent c-Fos expression in the medial striatum, but only responsible for mediating part of this induction in the lateral striatum. Furthermore, the pattern of attenuation of raclopride-induced c-Fos expression following Ro 25-6981 pretreatment was similar to that of haloperidol-induced c-Fos expression, indicating that the NMDA receptor subtype dependence of haloperidol-induced c-Fos expression is a property of D2 antagonism. The results indicate that NR2B-containing NMDA receptors are mainly involved in mediating haloperidol-induced c-Fos expression in the medial or "limbic" striatum, and suggest that NR2A-containing NMDA receptors may preferentially mediate haloperidol induced c-Fos expression in the lateral or "motor" striatum. This may have implications in the treatment of schizophrenia because co-administration of a selective blocker of NR2A-containing NMDA receptors may be able to reduce the severity of extrapyramidal motor symptoms caused by haloperidol treatment without interfering with its therapeutic effect that is presumably mediated via the medial part of the striatum.

Animals↗
PubMed2003

APOE polymorphism and lipid profile in three ethnic groups in the Singapore population.

BACKGROUND: Serum lipid concentrations are modulated by environmental factors such as exercise, alcohol intake, smoking, obesity and dietary intake and genetic factors. Polymorphisms at the Apolipoprotein E (APOE) locus have consistently shown a significant association with total and LDL-cholesterol (LDL-C). However, their impact on HDL-cholesterol (HDL-C) may be population dependent. Having three major ethnic groups within a similar social environment allows us to study the role of genetics and their interactions with lifestyle factors on the serum lipid profile and coronary risk in Asians. METHODS: This study included 1740 males (1146 Chinese, 327 Malays and 267 Asian Indians) and 1950 females (1329 Chinese, 360 Malays and 261 Asian Indians) with complete data on anthropometric indices, fasting lipids, smoking status, alcohol consumption, exercise frequency and genotype at the APOE locus. RESULTS: Malays and Asian Indians were more obese compared with the Chinese. Smoking was uncommon in all females but Malay males had significantly higher prevalence of smokers. Malays had the highest LDL-C whilst Indians had the lowest HDL-C, The epsilon 3 allele was the most frequent allele in all three ethnic groups. Malays had the highest frequency of epsilon 4 (0.180 and 0.152) compared with Chinese (0.085 and 0.087) and Indians (0.108 and 0.075) in males and females, respectively. The epsilon 2 allele was the least common in Asian Indians. Total cholesterol (TC) and LDL-C was highest in epsilon 4 carriers and lowest in epsilon 2 carriers. The reverse was seen in HDL-C with the highest levels seen in epsilon 2 subjects. The association between ethnic group and HDL-C differed according to APOE genotype and gender. Asian Indians had the lowest HDL-C for each APOE genotype except in Asian Indian males with epsilon 2, where HDL-C concentrations were intermediate between Chinese and Malays. CONCLUSION: Ethnic differences in lipid profile could be explained in part by the higher prevalence of epsilon 4 in the Malays. Ethnicity may influence the association between APOE genotypes and HDL-C. APOE genotype showed no correlation with HDL-C in Malay males whereas the association in Asian Indians was particularly marked. Further studies of interactions between genes and environmental factors will contribute to the understanding of differences of coronary risk amongst ethnic groups.

Alcohol Drinking↗