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Biomedical subjects

J S Shin

Publications and source records attributed to J S Shin.

At least 73 records · Page 4Linked to original sources
PubMed1997

A simple and rapid method for isolation of high quality genomic DNA from fruit trees and conifers using PVP.

Because DNA degradation is mediated by secondary plant products such as phenolic terpenoids, the isolation of high quality DNA from plants containing a high content of polyphenolics has been a difficult problem. We demonstrate an easy extraction process by modifying several existing ones. Using this process we have found it possible to isolate DNAs from four fruit trees, grape (Vitis spp.), apple (Malus spp.), pear (Pyrus spp.) and persimmon (Diospyros spp.) and four species of conifer, Pinus densiflora, Pinus koraiensis,Taxus cuspidata and Juniperus chinensis within a few hours. Compared with the existing method, we have isolated high quality intact DNAs (260/280 = 1.8-2.0) routinely yielding 250-500 ng/microl (total 7.5-15 microg DNA from four to five tissue discs).

DNA, Plant↗
PubMed1997

Inhibition of tyrosine hydroxylase by bulbocapnine.

The inhibitory effects of bulbocapnine, an aporphine isoquinoline alkaloid, on bovine adrenal tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) were investigated. Bulbocapnine had an inhibitory effect on the enzyme (43.6% inhibition at concentration of 200 microM). Bulbocapnine exhibited uncompetitive inhibition on bovine adrenal TH with a substrate L-tyrosine. The Ki value was found to be 0.20 mM.

Adrenal Glands↗
PubMed1997

Clinical assessment of the bacterial load of Helicobacter pylori on gastric mucosa by a new multi-scaled rapid urease test.

The present study tests the efficacy of the multi-scaled urease test (MUT) in detecting Helicobacter pylori infection and determines whether the MUT can predict the bacterial density on histology. A total of 111 sets of gastric specimens were obtained from patients with dyspepsia but without recent bleeding. Two biopsies were taken as closely as possible in each set. One sample was used for the MUT (Hp fast; GI Supply, Camp Hill, PA, USA), while the other was used to determine the histological density of H. pylori by modified Giemsa stain (grade 0-5). The results of MUT were interpreted as negative if the colour was yellow or bright green (reaction score 0) and positive if the colour was green, light blue, or blue (reaction score 1, 2 and 3, respectively). The reaction scores of MUT were recorded sequentially at 15 and 30 min and 1, 4 and 24 h. On the basis of histological confirmation, MUT had a sensitivity of 89.6%, a specificity of 88.2%, a positive predictive value of 94.5% and a negative predictive value of 78.9%. Focusing on specimens with the presence of bacteria under histology, 77 specimens were divided into five subgroups by grades of density of H. pylori (HPD1-5). The reaction scores had become sequentially elevated from 30 min through to 24 h in each subgroup. For subgroups HPD4 and 5, the positive rates of MUT were 70.6 and 66.6%, respectively, as early as 30 min and progressed to 100% within 4 h. In contrast, the positive rate for the HPD1 subgroup was 16.6% at 4 h and increased to only 62.5% at 24 h. In subgroups HPD 2 and 3, the positive rates were less than 30% at 30 min, but became more than 66.6% at 4 h and were 100% at 24 h. The early (i.e. mean value of reaction scores before 4 h) and late (24 h) mean reaction scores disclosed two elevated trends as the density of H. pylori increased (early: 0.2, 0.7, 0.8, 1.5, 1.2; late: 1.4, 2.3, 2.6, 3.0, 3.0; P < 0.05). In conclusion, MUT is a reliable method for the diagnosis of H. pylori infection. It can also indirectly predict the density of H. pylori on histology.

Biopsy↗
PubMed1997

Seizure: a rare and transient cause of portal venous gas.

Gas in the hepatic portal venous system has been noted to be a complication of a wide range of intra-abdominal catastrophes that involve damage to bowel mucosa. We describe a patient who, after a seizure, was found to have portal venous gas on sonography and CT. The search for other possible causes revealed negative results. This case demonstrates a rare cause of hepatic portal venous gas that is self-resolving and clinically benign.

Adult↗
PubMed1996

Spectrophotometric assay using streptavidin-alkaline phosphatase conjugate for studies on the proteolysis of polymer bead-bound peptides.

A simple method for indirectly measuring the concentration of biologically available peptides on the surface of polymer beads synthesized for the peptide or nonpeptide library is developed. To identify very small differences in the amount of cleaved peptides after alpha-chymotrypsin treatment, the so-called "shaving" process, a system of biotin and streptavidin-alkaline phosphatase conjugate was used. To this conjugate, 5-bromo-4-chloro-3-indolyl phosphate and nitro blue tetrazolium (NBT) are coupled consecutively, to carry out alkaline phosphatase reaction and color reaction, respectively. The proteolytic action of alpha-chymotrypsin on surface peptides located on polymer beads was detected and cleaved peptides were quantified spectrophotometrically by analyzing unreacted NBT. Using this method, the enzymatic "shaving" process of surface peptides on polymer beads can be optimized by examining the effects of the morphology of polymer beads and the length of spacers on how easily enzymes such as alpha-chymotrypsin can access the surface of polymer beads. Quantitative understanding of molecular interactions on the bead surface will give us very useful information in designing polymer bead and bead-bound oligopeptide structures for the peptide or nonpeptide library.

Alkaline Phosphatase↗
PubMed1996

When to discharge patients with bleeding peptic ulcers: a prospective study of residual risk of rebleeding.

BACKGROUND: From January 1993 to December 1994, we conducted a prospective study to investigate the evolutionary change of rebleeding risk in bleeding peptic ulcers. To obviate possible confounding factors that would influence decision making for discharge of patients, subjects with coexistent acute illnesses, systemic bleeding disorders, alcoholism, and use of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs were excluded. METHODS: Emergency endoscopies were performed in patients with hematemesis or a melena within 24 hours of admission. Ulcer lesions were divided into six categories according to endoscopic findings. The residual risks of rebleeding of each type of ulcers were calculated for 10 days, and the critical point of acceptable rebleeding risk after discharge was set at 3%. RESULTS: Three hundred ninety-two patients with bleeding peptic ulcers completed the study. The ulcers, characterized by clean bases, red or black spots, adherent clots, nonbleeding visible vessels without local therapy, nonbleeding visible vessels with local therapy, and bleeding visible vessels with local therapy took 0, 3, 3, 4, 4, and 3 days, respectively, to decrease rebleeding risk to below the critical point. All episodes of fatal rebleeding (n = 4) occurred within 24 hours after admission. CONCLUSIONS: Patients with clean-based ulcers can be discharged in the first day of admission. The optimal duration required for hospitalization of patients with ulcers characterized by nonbleeding visible vessels at initial endoscopy is 4 days. The remaining patients with ulcers marked by other bleeding stigmata may be discharged after a 3-day observation.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1996

Growth kinetics of colorectal adenoma-carcinoma sequence: an immunohistochemical study of proliferating cell nuclear antigen expression.

Tumorigenesis is a multistep process that begins with the abrogation of normal controls of cell proliferation. The authors examined the in vitro growth kinetics and compartment shift through the adenoma-carcinoma sequence of the human colon by determining the labelling indexes of proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) in normal mucosae (n = 10), adenomas (n = 88), and carcinomas (n = 20). Carcinoma cells had a significantly higher PCNA index than adenomas or control specimens (P = .0001). There also was a difference in the PCNA index between the histological subtypes of adenomas (P = .03), whereas no significant difference was observed for dysplastic grade, tumor size, or location (P > .1). Tubular and tubulovillous adenomas, adenomas with mild dysplasia, small (< 10 mm) adenomas, and proximally located adenomas revealed shift of cell proliferation toward the middle portion of the colonic glands. The PCNA in the villous, moderate or severe dysplastic, larger or distally located adenomas appeared to be diffuse (P = .04, 0.02, 0.07, and 0.06, respectively). In addition, the transitional mucosa neighboring carcinoma showed an elevation of the mean PCNA index together with an upward shift of cell proliferation compared with the controls (P = .03). These results suggest a stepwise increment of proliferating activity with compartment shift of the proliferating zone through the adenoma-carcinoma sequence. The information essentially supports contemporary understanding of the carcinogenic processes in the human colon.

Adenoma↗
PubMed1996

Incidence of post-transfusion hepatitis in Taiwan before and after introduction of anti-HCV testing.

The effectiveness of second-generation anti-hepatitis C virus antibody (anti-HCV) screening of blood donations for the prevention of non-A, non-B post-transfusion hepatitis (NANB PTH) was assessed. A prospective study of 192 transfusion recipients was performed to compare the incidence of NANB PTH after the introduction of the second-generation anti-HCV test with the incidence before its introduction. We used a polymerase chain reaction to detect HCV-RNA and HBV-DNA in the sera of patients with NANB PTH. The incidence of acute post-transfusion hepatitis C was 11% (8 of 71) before the screening for anti-HCV as compared with 2.5% (3 of 121) after the screening (p < 0.05). Viremia was detected within the first five weeks of infection in 10 patients with acute post-transfusion hepatitis C. However, there was no significant difference in the incidence of non-A, non-B, non-C (NANBNC) PTH before screening (3 of 71, 4.2%) compared with after screening (3 of 121, 2.5%). Usually, NANBNC PTH was not clinically important. Anti-HCV screening of blood donors significantly reduces the incidence of post-transfusion hepatitis C, but not the incidence of NANBNC PTH.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1996

Clinical analysis of choledochoduodenal fistula with cholelithiasis in Taiwan: assessment by endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography.

OBJECTIVES: Choledochoduodenal fistula (CDF) is occasionally found during endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP). Cholelithiasis is suspected to be the leading cause in some endemic areas. We focus on this cause of CDF to determine which clinical characteristics are relevant to formation of fistulas and to learn whether CDF of various types would imply different clinical significance. METHODS: In 1882 ERCP studies from 1988 to 1993, we found 27 CDF with cholelithiasis in 1066 patients. Their clinical backgrounds and ERCP findings were compared with those of 492 patients who had cholelithiasis but no CDF. RESULTS: The prevalence of CDF was 2.53%. A longer past history of biliary stones, recurrent biliary tract infection (BTI), and the presence of common bile duct stones (CBS) were factors relevant to the formation of fistula. In the case of 24 distal fistulas, including seven of type I and 17 of type II, there was concurrent distal CBS. Three cardinal features of fistula of the distal type were: 1) the length of CDF was less than 1.5 cm, 2) its orifice was just around or on the papillary fold, and 3) all cases of distal type II had prominent pneumobilia, less jaundice, and larger CBS than type I. Aggressive endoscopic or surgical treatment of distal type CDF decreased the recurrence of BTI, as indicated by surveillance for 1 yr. Three fistulas of the proximal type were longer and drained into the duodenum far from the papilla. All of these cases deserved early surgical intervention. CONCLUSIONS: CDF really serves as a chronic sequel of cholelithiasis. Different clinical features of CDF of various types help one to establish diagnosis and treatment. To avoid recurrence of BTI, aggressive therapy to correct CDF is mandatory.

Aged↗
PubMed1996

Eosinophilic gastroenteritis with esophageal involvement.

Eosinophilic gastroenteritis is an unusual disease entity characterized by eosinophilic infiltration of the gut with gastrointestinal disturbance. The disease commonly involves the stomach and small bowel. Esophageal involvement is rarely reported. We present a patient with simultaneous achalasia, pyloric stenosis, and ascites. Macroscopically, the esophagus, stomach and small intestine were involved. Microscopically, the mucosa was involved to the serosa. The patient has remained well under low dose prednisolone treatment for 7 years since his condition was diagnosed.

Ascites↗
PubMed1996

Idiopathic orbital pseudotumours in adults.

We treated 24 cases of orbital pseudotumour from January 1981 through January 1993. The clinical characteristics and treatment outcomes were analyzed retrospectively by reviewing the medical records, radiological studies, and histological examination. All patients presented with symptoms related to the eye (proptosis, lid swelling, limited ocular motion and/or pain, chemosis, and visual disturbance), while only five patients had symptoms pertaining to the ear, nose, and throat besides the ophthalmological symptoms. Plain X-ray findings were not contributory to the diagnosis. Computed tomograms (CT) showed non-specific findings such as hypertrophy of the extra-ocular muscles and well-defined or poorly defined mass. Pathological findings were non-specific, only to reveal benign lymphoid hyperplasia and inflammatory cell infiltration with necrotizing vasculitis. Twenty-four patients were treated with high-dose steroid therapy which resulted in a significant improvement in 10 patients (42%).

Adult↗
PubMed1995

Endoscopic variceal ligation versus conservative treatment for patients with hepatocellular carcinoma and bleeding esophageal varices.

BACKGROUND: Endoscopic variceal ligation (EVL) is currently a favored treatment for control of bleeding from esophageal varices. However, little is known about the treatment of bleeding varices in hepatocellular carcinoma. METHODS: EVL was performed in 16 patients with bleeding esophageal varices due to concomitant hepatocellular carcinoma. Treatment results were compared with those of another 23 patients who were conservatively treated. RESULTS: Comparing the two groups, ligation significantly reduced the risk of fatal bleeding (44% vs 70%; P < 0.05). Significantly fewer patients in the ligation group died at the time of the index hemorrhage (11% vs 52%; P < 0.05). Rebleeding occurred in 44% of the ligation group and 73% in the control group (P > 0.05). The mean days of survival were 40 +/- 20 (range, 7 to 103) in the ligation group and 20 +/- 30 (range, 1 to 136) in the control group (P = 0.08). In the absence of portal vein thrombosis, ligation significantly reduced the rebleeding rate (17% vs 50%, P < 0.05) and the mortality rate (0% vs 100%, P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: EVL is a good choice for palliation in patients with esophageal variceal bleeding and hepatocellular carcinoma. Aggressive use of EVL may be tried in those patients without portal venous thrombosis.

Adult↗
PubMed1995

Induction of tumour necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) mRNA in bladders and spleens of mice after intravesical administration of bacillus Calmette-Guérin.

Intravesical bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG) therapy is highly effective in the therapy of carcinoma in situ of the bladder, but the mechanism of BCG immunotherapy is not clearly understood. We studied the production of TNF-alpha in spleens and bladders of mice after intravesical BCG or BCG/interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) instillation. Significant change of TNF-alpha mRNA expression of spleens and bladders of C3H/He mice was observed after intravesical BCG instillation, although intravesical IFN-gamma therapy 3 days after BCG instillation to maintain the activated state of monocyte/macrophage lineage cells did not show a significant change of TNF-alpha mRNA, compared with that of BCG therapy alone. Maximal production of TNF-alpha mRNA in spleens of mice was seen after the first or second intravesical BCG instillation, and production of TNF-alpha mRNA in bladders was also increased after intravesical BCG instillation. The increment of TNF-alpha production by BCG stimulation in HL-60, a promyelocytic leukaemic cell line, and peripheral blood mononuclear cells in vitro may support the in vivo effect of BCG therapy on the bladder. These data show that local production of TNF-alpha as well as systemic production by intravesical BCG treatment may correlate with one of the mechanisms of BCG immunotherapy of superficial bladder cancer.

Administration, Intravesical↗
PubMed1995

Localization of intracellular monoclonal antibody specific for mycobacteria in experimentally induced pulmonary tuberculous lesion.

To determine the intracellular localization of intravenously injected infection-specific monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) in the infected cells, immunohistochemical staining was carried out in an animal model having pulmonary tuberculous lesions induced by inoculation of heat-killed Mycobacterium tuberculosis H37Rv. One milligram of intact mouse mAb against mycobacteria (group I, n = 10) and F(ab')2 (group II, n = 6) was intravenously injected to the rabbits of each group. Immunohistochemical staining using an antimouse Ab was performed at days 1, 3, 5, 7 and 8 in group I and at days 1, 2 and 3 in group II by the streptavidin-biotin method. For the control study, 1 ml of nonspecific polyclonal human IgG (group III, n = 10) and 100 micrograms of normal rabbit IgG F(ab')2 (group IV, n = 6) was injected to rabbits and guinea pigs having tuberculous inflammation, respectively. Both groups (group I and II) showed a positive antigen (Ag)-Ab reaction within the cytoplasm of monocytes. A weak but positive reaction was observed intracellularly in group III; however, no positive reaction was seen in group IV. Our results suggest that an intracellular Ag-Ab reaction plays an important role in the localization of infection by immunoscintigraphy using specific mAb fragments.

Animals↗