Search PubMed⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

J Y Choi

Publications and source records attributed to J Y Choi.

At least 145 records · Page 8Linked to original sources

Doppler flow velocity waveforms of human fetal ductus arteriosus and branch pulmonary artery.

Doppler waveforms of the human fetal ductus arteriosus and the branch pulmonary artery are distinct in their shape and might reflect fetal cardiovascular hemodynamics and vessel wall characteristics. The waveform of ductus arteriosus had two peaks, a higher one in systole and a lower one in diastole. Both peaks had slow acceleration and deceleration and looked like two narrow base isosceles triangles. This unique waveform might be due to vessel wall characteristics and an instantaneous pressure gradient between the main pulmonary artery and descending aorta. The waveform of the branch pulmonary artery showed very steep acceleration with the onset of ejection followed by steep decline, then low velocity flow during diastole. The characteristic shape of the branch pulmonary artery might be related to high vascular resistance, decreased capacitance and the earlier reflection wave of pulmonary vessels.

Blood Flow Velocity↗

Induction of oh8Gua glycosylase in rat kidneys by potassium bromate (KBrO3), a renal oxidative carcinogen.

It has been suggested that 8-hydroxyguanine (oh8Gua), a DNA adduct formed by active oxygens, impairs the maintenance of genetic integrity, oh8Gua glycosylase removes oh8Gua residues as a free base from DNA strands. In E. coli, it has been demonstrated that oh8Gua glycosylase is induced in response to oxidative stress, but the oxidative inducibility in mammalian tissues has not yet been studied. In the present study, the inducibility of oh8Gua glycosylase was tested by comparing activity changes of this enzyme in the kidney and the liver of rats treated with potassium bromate (KBrO3). KBrO3 is known to cause oxidative damage to the kidney but not to other organs. With a single dose of KBrO3 (80 mg/kg, i.p.), activity in the kidney was found to increase significantly at 3 h compared to that at zero time. At 6 h, activity peaked, showing a 6-fold increase over that at zero time. Thereafter, it decreased and returned to its zero time level at 12 h. With increasing doses of KBrO3 (up to 160 mg/kg, i.p.), activity increased linearly with increased dosage, and over 40 mg/kg, i.p., activity increased to a level significantly higher than that in the control. In contrast to the time- and dose-dependent changes in activity in the kidney, no significant change was observed in the liver under the same conditions as above. These results show that oh8Gua glycosylase is also induced oxidatively in mammalian tissues. The induction in this tissue as well as in E. coli indicates that the adaptive response of this enzyme to oxidative stress is a general phenomenon in aerobic organisms and implies that the repair of oh8Gua residues in DNA is a process important for the survival of organisms in an aerobic environment.

Animals↗

The organization of acromiodeltoid and spinodeltoid motor nuclei in rat spinal cord.

The retrograde intraaxonal transport of fluorescent dyes (10% Bisbenzimide or 2% Nuclear Yellow) was used to identify the motoneuron populations that control two prime movers of the rat shoulder joint, the acromiodeltoid (Ad) and spinodeltoid (Sd) muscles. The Ad and Sd motor nuclei were both comprised of an average 30-40 motoneurons distributed between spinal segments C5 and C7, in lateral regions of Rexed's lamina IX. Although there was considerable overlap among them, the center of the Ad motor nucleus was consistently located more rostral and medial than that for the Sd motor nucleus.

Animals↗

Expression patterns of bone-related proteins during osteoblastic differentiation in MC3T3-E1 cells.

Bone formation involves several tightly regulated gene expression patterns of bone-related proteins. To determine the expression patterns of bone-related proteins during the MC3T3-E1 osteoblast-like cell differentiation, we used Northern blotting, enzymatic assay, and histochemistry. We found that the expression patterns of bone-related proteins were regulated in a temporal manner during the successive developmental stages including proliferation (days 4-10), bone matrix formation/maturation (days 10-16), and mineralization stages (days 16-30). During the proliferation period (days 4-10), the expression of cell-cycle related genes such as histone H3 and H4, and ribosomal protein S6 was high. During the bone matrix formation/maturation period (days 10-16), type I collagen expression and biosynthesis, fibronectin, TGF-beta 1 and osteonectin expressions were high and maximal around day 16. During this maturation period, we found that the expression patterns of bone matrix proteins were two types: one is the expression pattern of type I collagen and TGF-beta 1, which was higher in the maturation period than that in both the proliferation and mineralization periods. The other is the expression pattern of fibronectin and osteonectin, which was higher in the maturation and mineralization periods than in the proliferation period. Alkaline phosphatase activity was high during the early matrix formation/maturation period (day 10) and was followed by a decrease to a level still significantly above the baseline level seen at day 4. During the mineralization period (days 16-30), the number of nodules and the expression of osteocalcin were high. Osteocalcin gene expression was increased up to 28 days. Our results show that the expression patterns of bone-related proteins are temporally regulated during the MC3T3-E1 cell differentiation and their regulations are unique compared with other systems. Thus, this cell line provides a useful in vitro system to study the developmental regulation of bone-related proteins in relation to the different stages during the osteoblast differentiation.

Alkaline Phosphatase↗

Regulatory elements that control transcription activation and unsaturated fatty acid-mediated repression of the Saccharomyces cerevisiae OLE1 gene.

In Saccharomyces cerevisiae, unsaturated fatty acids are formed from saturated acyl-CoA precursors by Ole1p, a delta-9 fatty acid desaturase. OLE1 mRNA levels are differentially regulated by the addition of saturated or unsaturated fatty acids to the growth medium. One component of this regulation system involves the control of OLE1 transcription. Saturated fatty acids induce a 1.6-fold increase in transcription activity, whereas a large family of unsaturated fatty acids repress OLE1 transcription as much as 60-fold. A deletion analysis of OLE1 promoter::lacZ fusion reporter genes identified a 111-base pair (bp) fatty acid-regulated (FAR) region approximately 580 bp upstream of the start codon that is essential for transcription activation and unsaturated fatty acid repression. Deletion of an 88-bp sequence within that region resulted in a complete loss in transcription activation and unsaturated fatty acid regulation. The 111-bp FAR element strongly activates transcription and confers unsaturated fatty acid regulation on a heterologous CYC1 promoter test plasmid. Essential elements required for unsaturated fatty acid repression of OLE1 were found in the 5 and 3 region of the 111-bp sequence. The FAR element-mediated activation and fatty acid repression of transcription was found to be closely tied to fatty acyl-CoA metabolism. Two fatty acid activation genes, FAA1 and FAA4, were found to be essential for unsaturated fatty acid repression of OLE1 through the FAR sequences. Disruption of either gene results in reduced levels of unsaturated fatty acid repression; disruption of both genes completely blocks the regulatory response. Acyl-CoA binding protein (ACBP) plays a role in determining the level of FAR element activated transcription. Disruption of the ACBP gene causes a >5-fold activation of OLE1 transcription and a similar increase in OLE1 mRNA levels. Unsaturated fatty acid repression of OLE1 transcription, however, is not affected by the disrupted ACBP gene. These studies show that promoter elements responsible for unsaturated fatty acid-mediated transcription repression are tightly linked to OLE1 activation sequences and that OLE1 transcription levels are closely tied to acyl-CoA metabolism.

Base Sequence↗

Okadaic acid increases fibronectin synthesis in MC3T3-E1 cells.

Okadaic acid, a potent specific inhibitor of serine/threonine protein phosphatases type 1 and 2A, affects several gene expressions in various cells. To determine whether okadaic acid affects the expression of fibronectin in MC3T3-E1 cells, we measured mRNA level and synthesis of fibronectin by Northern blot hybridization and immunoprecipitation methods, respectively. Okadaic acid (10-50 ng/ml) increased both mRNA level and synthesis of fibronectin in a dose-dependent manner. The increase of fibronectin mRNA by okadaic acid was strongly attenuated by the inhibition of new protein synthesis. The results indicate that okadaic acid, inhibitor of protein phosphatases, increases fibronectin synthesis in MC3T3-E1 cells.

Animals↗

Stimulation of fibronectin synthesis through the protein kinase C signalling pathway in normal and transformed human lung fibroblasts.

We examined the role of the protein kinase C (PKC) signaling pathway in the stimulation of fibronectin synthesis in both normal and transformed human lung fibroblasts. Phorbol myristate acetate (PMA), a potent PKC activator, stimulated fibronectin synthesis in both normal and transformed fibroblasts in a time and dose dependent fashion. Down-regulation of PKC by prior exposure of cells to a high concentration of PMA blocked the increase in fibronectin synthesis and mRNA levels induced by PMA. Bisindolylmaleimide, a specific inhibitor of PKC, also abolished the PMA-induced fibronectin synthesis. 4 alpha-phorbol didecanoate, an inactive phorbol ester, failed to affect fibronectin synthesis. These data suggest that PMA stimulates fibronectin synthesis and gene expression through the PKC signaling pathway in both normal and transformed human lung fibroblasts.

Carcinogens↗

Ventricular tachycardia and exercise related syncope in children with structurally normal hearts: emphasis on repolarisation abnormality.

OBJECTIVE: To emphasize the importance of ventricular tachycardia associated with repolarisation abnormality in syncope associated with exercise. DESIGN: Retrospective analysis of data on children presenting with syncope between 1985 and 1993. PATIENTS: 5 apparently normal children with recurrent exercise related syncope associated with electrocardiographically abnormal TU complexes. RESULTS: 3 children were diagnosed as having an intermediate form of the long QT syndrome and catecholamine sensitive ventricular tachycardia because the abnormal TU complexes were associated with polymorphic ventricular tachycardia that was not typical of torsades de pointes. Tachycardia was induced by exercise in all patients and by isoprenaline in the one patient who was tested. One patient also had sinus node dysfunction. One child had incessant salvos of polymorphic ventricular arrhythmias and intermittent abnormal TU complexes suggestive of repolarisation abnormalities. The other had typical congenital long QT syndrome. Treatment was effective in three patients; two patients took a beta blocker alone and one took a beta blocker and low doses of amiodarone. One patient died suddenly, death being associated with sinus node dysfunction. In one patient with incessant ventricular arrhythmias treatment with a beta blocker, amiodarone, or Ic drugs was ineffective and always associated with proarrhythmia or syncope. He was not given further treatment and was asymptomatic despite having mild cardiomegaly. CONCLUSIONS: Ventricular tachycardia associated with repolarisation abnormality was an important cause of exercise related syncope in apparently normal children. TU complex abnormalities can be identified by repeated electrocardiography. beta Blockers are effective in preventing recurrent episodes. The role of amiodarone in this type of ventricular tachycardia needs further evaluation.

Adrenergic beta-Antagonists↗

Okadaic acid inhibits alkaline phosphatase activity in MC3T3-E1 cells.

Alkaline phosphatase activity is regulated by various hormones and growth factors at least in part through the phosphorylation of target proteins during the bone cell differentiation. To investigate the role of protein phosphorylation in alkaline phosphatase activity in MC3T3-E1 osteoblast, we used okadaic acid which is a potent specific inhibitor of serine/threonine protein phosphatases to type 1 and 2A. Alkaline phosphatase activity in cellular layer was measured by spectrophotometer using p-nitrophenyl phosphate as substrate and data were expressed as p-nitrophenyl of nmol/min/mg of protein. Okadaic acid (1-50 ng/ml) caused the inhibition of alkaline phosphatase activity in MC3TC-E1 cells. At 50 ng/ml of okadaic acid showed the maximal inhibitory effect on alkaline phosphatase activity. Okadaic acid (50 ng/ml) also inhibited alkaline phosphatase activity in all differentiation stages. These results indicate that okadaic acid inhibits alkaline phosphatase activity in MC3T3-E1 cells.

Alkaline Phosphatase↗

Echocardiographic evaluation of hearts with twisted atrioventricular connections (criss-cross heart).

An echocardiographic study was performed on seven patients with twisted atrioventricular connections (criss-cross heart) relative to the usual atrial arrangement. The atrioventricular connections were concordant in five patients and discordant in two. The ventriculoarterial junction was either double-outlet right ventricle (n = 6) or discordant connections (n = 1). Associated cardiac defects were ventricular septal defect (n = 7), pulmonary stenosis (n = 5), straddling tricuspid valve (n = 2), and straddling mitral valve (n = 1). Malalignment between the atrial and ventricular septum was the most important feature of this disease and resulted in altered spatial orientation of the trabecular ventricular septum, and recesses in the ventricles and the right atrium. When assessed by echocardiography, these anatomical features were not invariably recognized in every case, but they were dependent upon the type of atrioventricular connections and the presence of straddling of the atrioventricular valves. Left ventricular recess was the most consistent feature and was present in every patient, regardless of the atrioventricular connections. Right atrial recess was found in four of five patients with concordant atrioventricular connections but was not present in patients with discordant atrioventricular connections. Right ventricular recess was recognized as such in a single patient with concordant atrioventricular connection and straddling mitral valve. The trabecular septum was oriented in a horizontal plane in hearts with concordant atrioventricular connections and without atrioventricular valve straddling. The trabecular septum was oriented semivertically in all other hearts.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Child, Preschool↗

Five cases of cytomegalovirus infection detected by in situ hybridization and antigenemia assay.

We report five cases of cytomegalovirus infection in immunocompromised patients which were detected by either cytomegalovirus antigenemia assay or in situ hybridization. Four cases had leukemia and the other had chronic renal failure. All the three BMT recipients suffered from GvHD. Interestingly, there was an unique case of CMV disease without a history of BMT, which reminded us that CMV could attack immunocompromised patients who had not undergone transplantation, too. Four out of five cases died. We think that cytomegalovirus infection or disease should not be regarded as a minor problem in post-transplantation infection in Korea.

Adolescent↗

Three-dimensional demonstration and endoscopic treatment of pancreaticoperitoneal fistula.

An alcoholic man presented with bloody ascites, which was confirmed as pancreatic ascites complicating chronic pancreatitis. Endoscopic retrograde pancreatography [ERP] demonstrated a ductal disruption at the head of the pancreas, a fistulous tract, and extravasation to the peritoneal cavity. Furthermore, a computerized tomographic scan subsequent to the endoscopic retrograde pancreatography (ERP-CT scan) gave the three-dimensional anatomy of the fistulous tract by the residual contrast media in the pancreatic duct and the fistulous tract. The pancreatic ascites, which was refractory to conventional medical treatment of a 5-wk duration, was successfully treated by endoscopic placement of a pancreatic stent and administration of a somatostatin analogue.

Cholangiopancreatography, Endoscopic Retrograde↗

Takayasu arteritis in Korean children: clinical report of seventy cases.

Seventy cases of Takayasu arteritis in Korean children are reported. There were 57 females and 13 males (male-to-female ratio; 1:4.4). The youngest patient was a 3-year-old female. Family history was positive in one patient. The most common chief complaints on admission were dyspnea, headache, palpitation, and edema which were due to hypertension and congestive heart failure. Hypertension was seen in 65 out of 70 patients (92.8%). The abdominal aorta, thoracic aorta, and renal arteries were the most commonly involved sites in these children. Two patients had nephrotic syndrome. The frequency of positive tuberculin reaction was much higher in children with Takayasu arteritis compared with the general population, and the intensity of the reaction was also stronger. The majority of the patients required immediate medical treatment to control congestive heart failure due to hypertension at initial presentation. When ESR was elevated, corticosteroid was administered. Surgical treatment showed good results in six out of ten cases. Percutaneous intraluminal angioplasty was effective for lowering the blood pressure in six out of nine cases. In three cases, restenosis occurred and angioplasty was repeated in two cases.

Adolescent↗

Fixed subaortic stenosis: anatomical spectrum and nature of progression.

Retrospective echocardiographic review identified 58 consecutive infants and children with fixed subaortic stenosis. Mean (SD) age at diagnosis was 4.8 (3.6) years (range two days to 14.7 years), and diagnosis occurred in infancy in eight. Associated cardiac abnormalities were present in 41 (71%) whereas fixed subaortic stenosis was an isolated lesion in 17 (29%). Four types of fixed subaortic stenosis were identified: short segment (47 (81%)), long segment (7 (12%)), posterior displacement of the infundibular septum with additional discrete narrowing of the left ventricular outflow tract (3 (5%)), and redundant tissue arising from the membranous septum (1 (2%)). Echocardiographic studies had been performed before the diagnosis of fixed subaortic stenosis in nine patients, all with associated abnormalities. These were performed in infancy in each and showed a "normal" left ventricular outflow tract in six and posterior deviation of the infundibular septum in three. In 16 patients serial echocardiographic studies had been performed after the diagnosis of fixed subaortic stenosis but before surgery of the left ventricular outflow tract. Rapid evolution of short segment to long segment narrowing was seen in one patient, and tethering of the aortic valve or mitral valve developed in a further four patients. Aortic valve or mitral valve involvement was not seen before the age of three years but was common thereafter (10/40 patients, 25%). Fixed subaortic stenosis may be an "acquired" lesion with the potential for changes in form as well as progression in severity of left ventricular outflow tract obstruction.

Age Factors↗