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Biomedical subjects

K Chin

Publications and source records attributed to K Chin.

At least 109 records · Page 6Linked to original sources

Branch-point attack in group II introns is a highly reversible transesterification, providing a potential proofreading mechanism for 5'-splice site selection.

By examining the first step of group II intron splicing in the absence of the second step, we have found that there is an interplay of three distinct reactions at the 5'-splice site: branching, reverse branching, and hydrolytic cleavage. This approach has yielded the first kinetic parameters describing eukaryotic branching and establishes that group II intron catalysis can proceed on a rapid timescale. The efficient reversibility of the first step is due to increased conformational organization in the branched intermediate and it has several important mechanistic implications. Reversibility in the first step requires that the second step of splicing serve as a kinetic trap, thus driving splicing to completion and coordinating the first and second step of splicing. Facile reverse branching also provides the intron with a proofreading mechanism to control the fidelity of 5'-splice site selection and it provides a kinetic basis for the apparent mobility of group II introns.

Base Sequence↗

[Decreased brain function in patients with non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus].

Neurobehavioral and electrophysiologic studies were carried out to determine the effect of diabetes mellitus on brain function. Fifty one non-insulin-dependent diabetic patients were compared with 30 nondiabetic controls that are equally matched in age, sex and educational level. The aim of this study was to determine the change of brain function in diabetics, and to evaluate the correlation between brain function and clinical factors. The results showed: In the diabetic group, 'the Clinical Memory Test' performances on MQ, the five subtests were respectively lower than those of the controls. 'The Fourth Exception Test', 'the Motor Stability Test' and 'the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale' results were significantly disordered, too. The latencies of wave I, III, V of BAEP, wave N65 P100 N125 P160 of VEP, wave P1 N1 P2 N2 N3 P4 of SEP and the interpeak latency of I-V of BAEP were prolonged significantly compared with the controls. Within the diabetics, there was correlation between I-V interpeak latency of BAEP, P100 peak latency of VEP and serum creatinine. These results demonstrate that brain dysfunction are present in NIDDM, and these brain dysfunction correlate with the kidney function.

Brain↗

Erythropoietin receptor mRNA expression in human endothelial cells.

A previous report demonstrated that endothelial cells have erythropoietin receptors and respond to this hormone with enhanced proliferation. The present study demonstrates the existence of mRNA for erythropoietin receptor in human umbilical vein endothelial cells. We have reverse transcribed mRNA of endothelial cells and then used different PCR primers to amplify erythropoietin receptor target cDNA between exons 5 and 6 as well as 3-5 in addition to an internal standard DNA fragment. Correspondence of size as well as location of restriction endonuclease scission (Ava II) was used in comparing the amplified fragments of human endothelial cell erythropoietin receptor to those of two human erythroleukemia cell lines, OCIM1 and K562. No alpha- or gamma-globin mRNA was detected in endothelial cells but was readily demonstrable in OCIM1 cells. In addition, to determine whether the expression of human erythropoietin receptor on endothelial cells occurs in vivo, sections of umbilical cord and placenta were immunostained with antibodies against the extracellular portion of the receptor; the results showed strong positive staining of the vascular endothelium.

Base Sequence↗

Tissue specific expression of human erythropoietin receptor in transgenic mice.

We have made transgenic mice using the human erythropoietin receptor (hEpoR) encoding gene contained within a 15-kb DNA fragment. The transgenic mice that incorporated the hEpoR transgene into the genome were analyzed for tissue specific expression of hEpoR mRNA using reverse transcriptase and DNA amplification. In the control animals, endogenous EpoR transcripts were identified in bone marrow and spleen; no transcripts were detected in heart, kidney, liver, or brain. In the transgenic mice, hEpoR transcripts were detected in bone marrow and spleen but not in heart, kidney, or liver, suggesting that the transgene contains sufficient genetic information to direct appropriate expression in hematopoietically active tissues. The hematological parameters of the transgenic mice were within normal limits, consistent with the relatively low level of hEpoR transcripts detected. Surprisingly, hEpoR transcripts but not mouse EpoR transcripts were detected in the brains of the transgenic mice. Brain hEpoR transcripts were observed in all transgenic mice assayed, indicating that transgene expression in the brain did not result from the effects of aberrant integration sites. Comparable expression of the transgene was also observed in the embryonic brain. Interestingly, we observed significant expression of the endogenous EpoR gene in the early embryonic brain (Day 10) of normal mice at levels comparable to that observed in the adult spleen and bone marrow. The level of endogenous EpoR expression in the brain decreased during embryonic development to nondetectable levels prior to birth preceding the decrease of endogenous EpoR expression in the fetal liver, while hEpoR expression in the brains of transgenic mice persisted throughout embryonic development into adulthood. These data suggest that the hEpoR transgene contains appropriate regulatory sequences to direct tissue specific expression in tissues associated with hematopoietic activity and in the embryonic brain, but lacks the control elements to provide levels of expression comparable to that of the endogenous gene or to selectively silence brain expression in the adult mouse.

Animals↗

Oxygen desaturation following voluntary hyperventilation in normal subjects.

To investigate the severity of oxygen desaturation following voluntary hyperventilation (VHV) in normal subjects and its possible relation to chemoresponsiveness, we examined respiration following VHV in 16 normal male subjects. Monitoring was performed according to the standard polysomnography protocol including measurements of arterial oxygen saturation (SaO2) and transcutaneous PCO2 (PtcCO2). The subjects hyperventilated voluntarily for 3 min, and were then observed for more than 15 min. They hyperventilated again for another 3 min, and were followed again for more than 15 min. Eleven subjects fell into non-REM sleep after VHV, and their mean lowest SaO2 was 67.6 +/- 13.0% (n = 15 trials in 11 subjects, mean +/- SD). Falling asleep during hypocapnia caused desaturation, and periodic breathing was invariably observed soon after. The difference between the PtcCO2 during non-REM sleep with stable breathing and the PtcCO2 when the SaO2 was 90% following VHV was defined as the delta PtcCO2 (90). The delta PtcCO2 (90) and hypoxic ventilatory response (HVR) were positively and significantly correlated (r = 0.73, p < 0.01). While the subjects were awake, the mean lowest SaO2 was 73.5 +/- 17.4% (17 trials in 12 subjects). Remaining awake induced oxygen desaturation in some subjects but not in others. In one subject, desaturation during the waking state was caused by hypoventilation, not by central apnea. In the seven subjects whose respiration following VHV was monitored during the waking state in one trial and during the sleeping state in another trial, plots of the PtcCO2-SaO2 relationship for the waking state were generally positioned above those made for the sleeping state.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adult↗

[An experimental study on a chemosensitivity test with alginate microcapsule. Feasibility of in vivo succinic dehydrogenase inhibition test].

A new chemosensitivity test was evaluated by the MTT colorimetric asay with human tumor cell lines encapsulated in alginate microcapsules with semipermeable membranes. The proliferation of KATOIII in the microcapsules rapidly increased on the 4th day after the encapsulation. The change expressed on the proliferation curve of the encapsulated KATOIII was approximately 2 days behind the proliferation of the suspension culture. The encapsulated cell number reversed and further proliferation was recognized after the 12th day. After the incubation for 5 hours of encapsulated KATOIII with the medium supplemented with 0.5% MTT, a blue formazan crystal formation was observed radiating around the cells in the capsules. MTT assay depends on the cellular reduction of the absorbance spectra at 540 nm (OD540nm), for complete solubilization of the formazan by DMSO. The formazan formation was observed more significantly in serum medium culture than in serum free medium. In MIT assay when 0.1 mol succinic acid was added, OD540nm of encapsulated KATOIII increased by approximately 50% and its sensitivity also increased greatly. In comparison the results of MTT assay for encapsulated KATOIII and MKN28 with suspended cells under the same conditions (0.1, 1, 10 micrograms/ml of MMC and ADR, 0.5, 5, 50 micrograms/ml of 5FU, 10, 30, 50 micrograms/ml of CDDP), the calculated inhibition index (%) with encapsulated cells were similar to the percentages obtained in the former MTT assay. In this study with microcapsules, the formazan formation in the capsules and the absorbance were macroscopically inhibited when the drug concentration was increased. The encapsulated KATOIII, which was implanted intraperitoneally into rat with a 16-gauge needle, was recovered at a rate of 70.8% on the 8th day and at a rate of 54.5% on the 16th day. The recovered encapsulated KATOIII proliferated remarkably forming cell clots on the 8th day after implantation. Incubation with MTT promoted formazan formation and sufficient cell viability was recognized. The Tegafur concentration in the intraperitoneal microcapsules and the microcapsules containing KATOIII after the intravenous administration of Tegafur was similar to the intrahepatic level. The 5FU level in the microcapsules containing KATOIII was higher than that in the capsules alone. In an attempt to conduct an in vivo chemosensitivity test, encapsulated KATOIII and MKN28 were intraperitoneally implanted, 4 mg/kg of MMC, ADR and CDDP, and 75mg/kg of 5FU were intravenously administered on the 2nd and 4th days after the implantation. On the 6th day, MTT assay was performed on the recovered microcapsules containing cells and the inhibition index was calculated.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

Alginates↗

Pneumonitis associated with natural and recombinant interferon alfa therapy for chronic hepatitis C.

We report three cases of chronic hepatitis C (HC) with pneumonitis, suspected to be caused by natural and recombinant interferon (INF) alfa treatments. The patients were administered INF through intramuscular injection. All three patients developed acute respiratory failure (PaO2 < or = 60 mm Hg) with bilateral lung infiltration. One of the patient's condition improved after the cessation of INF treatment, without any other therapy. The other two patients were administered corticosteroids, and one patient's condition improved, while in the other patient the pneumonitis persisted, even after a high dose of corticosteroids. To our knowledge, these three cases are the first report of pneumonitis associated with INF alfa in patients with chronic HC.

Aged↗

Combination chemotherapy with Tegafur. Uracil (UFT), etoposide, adriamycin and cisplatinum (UFT-EAP) for advanced gastric cancer.

Thirty-four patients with advanced gastric cancer were treated with combination chemotherapy employing Tegafur-Uracil (UFT), etoposide, Adriamycin, and Cisplatinum (CDDP) (UFT-EAP therapy). An objective partial response was obtained in 16 patients (47%) and the median duration of remission was 12.2 months. The 50% survival time for all 34 patients was 10 months. Patients with moderately or well differentiated adenocarcinoma responded well (13/19, 68%), while those with undifferentiated adenocarcinoma showed a poor response (3/15, 20%). Six responding patients were noted to have no evidence of viable cancer at the primary site by endoscopic biopsy, and underwent gastrectomies. The resected specimens showed complete disappearances of the primary tumors in four patients. The median survival time for the patients receiving gastrectomies was 24 months. The regimen was very well tolerated, apart from moderate bone marrow suppression. Our results suggest that patients with advanced gastric cancer can be effectively treated with UFT-EAP chemotherapy.

Adenocarcinoma↗

Organotropic formation and disappearance of 8-hydroxydeoxyguanosine in the kidney of Sprague-Dawley rats exposed to adriamycin and KBrO3.

A form of oxidative DNA damage, 8-hydroxydeoxyguanosine (8-OHdG), was comparatively determined for 48 h in the kidney and liver isolated from Sprague-Dawley rats i.p. treated with Adriamycin; potassium bromate (KBrO3), hydroquinone and vitamin A. HPLC-ECD analysis system showed that Adriamycin and KBrO3, renal carcinogens, induced higher levels of 8-OHdG in the target organ of kidney (12-13.8 residues/10(4) dG(deoxyguanosine)) compared to those in the liver (3.4-3.8 residues/10(4) dG) and showed highly persistent levels (8 residues, 10(4) dG) in the kidney. The data suggest that the organotropic persistence of 8-OHdG may provide a useful marker for identifying target organ systems in oxidative chemical carcinogenesis and screening free radical-generating carcinogens.

8-Hydroxy-2'-Deoxyguanosine↗

Resistance of lambda cI translation to antibiotics that inhibit translation initiation.

The lambda cI lysogenic transcript is unusual in having no leader. Expression of a cI-lacZ protein fusion was relatively resistant to kasugamycin and pactamycin, which inhibit translation initiation on transcripts with leaders. Our data imply that there are distinct differences in translation initiation between the two classes of transcripts.

Aminoglycosides↗

Selective effect of chronic lead ingestion. II: Effect on phenylethanolamine N-methyltransferase activity in brain regions of rats.

Selectivity of lead effect to phenylethanolamine N-methyltransferase (PNMT) activity in regions of brain from rats postnatally exposed to lead was tested. Three groups of animals were prepared; (1) Rats exposed to lead at a low dose (0.05% PbAcetate: PbAc); (2) Rats exposed to lead at a high dose (0.2% PbAc); (3) Age-matched normal control rats. At 2, 4, 6 and 8 weeks of age weight of whole brain and body in each group were measured. At the same ages activities of PNMT and Na+/K(+)-ATPase were examined on 4 brain regions of each animal. Exposure of rats to lead generally decreased activity of Na+/K(+)-ATPase and showed alternative change of those of PNMT. Brain regions where changes of PNMT activity were detected without concomitant changes of Na+/K(+)-ATPase activity, were telencephalon and pons/medulla at 2 weeks of age and telencephalon at 4 weeks of age in rats exposed to lead at a low dose, and those in rats exposed to lead at a high dose were pons/medulla at 8 weeks of age. These data imply that adrenergic nervous system in the brain regions described above could selectively be affected by lead.

Age Factors↗

Selective effect of chronic lead ingestion. III: Effect on dopamine beta-hydroxylase activity in brain regions of rats.

Selectivity of lead effect on dopamine beta-hydroxylase activity in regions of brai nfrom rats postnatally exposed to lead was tested. Three groups of animals were prepared; (1) Rats exposed to lead at a low dose (0.05% PbAcetate: PbAc); (2) Rats exposed to lead at a high dose (0.2% PbAc); (3) Age-matched normal control rats. At 2, 4, 6 and 8 weeks of age weight of whole brain and body in each group were measured. At the same ages activities of dopamine beta-hydroxylase and Na+K(+)-ATPase were measured in 5 brain regions of each animal. Exposure of rats to lead generally decreased Na+/K(+)-ATPase activity and showed alternative changes of dopamine beta-hydroxylase activity were detected without concomitant changes of Na+/K(+)-ATPase activity were telencephalon and pons/medulla at 2 weeks of age and telencephalon, diencephalon and pons/medulla at 4 weeks of age and midbrain and pons/medulla at 6 weeks of age and cerebellum at 8 weeks of age in rats exposed to lead at a low dose, and those in rats exposed to lead at a high dose were midbrain at 6 weeks of age and cerebellum at 8 weeks of age. These data imply that noradrenergic nervous system in the brain regions described above could selectively be affected by lead.

Age Factors↗

[The significance of repeated users of geriatric health care facility].

Our geriatric health care facility was established 3 years ago. The real number of users since April 1989 to March 1991 amounts to 519, of which 62 have been admitted 3 times or more (defined as repeated here). At the same time, this facility has a day care activity 6 times a week. The utilization rate of day care activity was 14.8% for total users, while it was 59.7% for repeaters. These results indicate that repeaters actively utilize day care activity as well as geriatric health care facility. In other words, repeaters usually reside at home and their home cares are greatly supported by both repeated admissions to the facility and daily utilization of day care activity which are effective in improving ADL of the disabled elderly. It is concluded that geriatric health care facility plays an important part in supporting home care of the disabled elderly as well as transitional step from hospital to their own home.

Aged↗

[Long-term artificial ventilation by nasal intermittent positive pressure ventilation; 6 cases of domiciliary assisted ventilation].

Six patients with chronic respiratory failure associated with hypercapnia were treated with nasal intermittent positive pressure ventilation (NIPPV) at home. NIPPV was delivered via a custom molded nasal interface described by McDermott. The patients consisted of one patient with kyphoscoliosis, three with Tb-sequela, one with COPD, and one with neuromuscular disease. Each patient had been treated with oxygen therapy until assisted ventilation was initiated because of CO2 retention. NIPPV was administered using a volume cycled flow generator set to deliver a minute volume such that PaCO2 was maintained between 35 and 45 Torr on NIPPV trial performed during wakefulness under the condition of no leakage from the mask. Supplementary oxygen was added so that oxygen saturation was maintained above 90 percent during more than 95% of nighttime NIPPV. Arterial blood gas tensions during daytime spontaneous breathing showed an improvement (PaCO2 68.3 +/- 7.2 Torr, PaO2 70.4 +/- 15.5 Torr, SaO2 91.6 +/- 4.3% before treatment; PaCO2 55.8 +/- 4.7 Torr, PaO2 87.5 +/- 16.5 Torr, SaO2 95.5 +/- 1.7% on treatment, mean +/- SD). The duration of NIPPV at home ranged from 2 to 24 months (11.7 +/- 6.8), and there was no hospitalization due to exacerbation during this period. In conclusion, NIPPV via a custom molded mask is simple, noninvasive, and suitable for the provision of long-term and domiciliary assisted ventilation.

Adult↗

Dynamic control of breathing during exercise and hypercapnia.

The dynamic influences of end-tidal CO2 and exercise on ventilation are compared when CO2 and exercise are imposed separately and when they are imposed simultaneously. Five human subjects are studied. The subjects performed three trials: random work rate forcing, random CO2 inhalation and their simultaneous loading. The work rate was varied between 20 and 80 W as a pseudorandom binary sequence. The concentration of inspired CO2 was varied randomly between 0 and 7 per cent, adjusted so that it produced approximately the same amount of ventilatory fluctuations as the random work load. The relative contribution of each variable was analysed using multivariate autoregressive analysis at frequencies ranging from 0.1 to 1 cycle min-1. The results show that the dynamics of the response to CO2 inhalation, exercise and their combination are nonlinear and that the combination of CO2 inhalation and exercise magnifies the nonlinear behaviour. Ventilation is largely unaffected by either work rate or end-tidal CO2 at 1 cycle min-1. During simultaneous CO2 and work rate forcing, ventilation tends to follow the change in the end-tidal CO2.

Adult↗