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Biomedical subjects

K Jung

Publications and source records attributed to K Jung.

At least 163 records · Page 9Linked to original sources
PubMed1997

Anthropogenic impacts on natural nitrogen isotope variations in Pinus sylvestris stands in an industrially polluted area.

Natural variations of the nitrogen isotopes 15N/14N (delta15N values) and the N concentrations of one-year-old needles from 7-12-year-old pine trees (Pinus sylvestris L.) were determined on 27 sites in the heavily polluted Leipzig-Halle region (former GDR). At three selected sites measurements were repeated over a period of 2 years. N concentrations and delta15N values in different needle age classes were compared at the three sites. The delta15N values of the N in the humus layer and the potential plant available N in the A(h) horizon of the local soil were determined. The 15N/14N isotope ratios (delta15N values) of one-year-old pine needles in the region of Leipzig-Halle were found to vary depending on their specific location by a factor of up to one order of magnitude (-9.6 per thousand to + 0.4 per thousand ). N concentrations in one-year-old pine needles varied between 0.71 and 1.38 mmol eq N g dw(-1). Pine stands with positive or slightly negative delta15N values and high N concentrations in one-year-old needles were concentrated around the cities of Leipzig and Halle and in the industrial areas. More negative delta15N values and lower N concentrations in one-year-old pine needles were found on sites at greater distances from the industrial agglomerations, mainly in the NE forested part. Site specific differences in the delta15N values of the N in the humus layer from three selected sites were similar to those found for the needles. No site specific differences, however, were found for the delta15N values of the water soluble nitrogen fraction from the mineral soil horizons of the same sites.

Journal Article↗
PubMed1997

Antioxidant enzymes in malignant prostate cell lines and in primary cultured prostatic cells.

The antioxidant enzymes catalase, glutathione reductase (GR), glutathione S-transferase (GST), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), and superoxide dismutase (SOD) were determined in the androgen-response LNCaP and androgen-nonresponsive PC-3 and DU 145 cells as well as in prostatic epithelial cell cultures of benign and malignant human prostatic tissue. There were no differences between the enzyme activities of the human primary cell cultures from cancerous tissue and their normal counterparts. The enzyme activities of the three permanent cell lines were either higher (SOD, catalase, GR) or lower (GST, GPx) than in the primary cell cultures. In LNCaP cells catalase and GR were significantly higher, GST, in contrast, was significantly lower than in PC-3 and DU 145 cells. GST in PC-3 and DU 145 cells, and SOD in all the three cell lines showed no significant differences. Catalase, GPx and GR values were significantly different in the three permanent cell lines. The different enzymatic equipment of the prostate cancer cell lines provides the basis for experimental testing of new concepts of cancer treatment with the help of systematic modulations of the antioxidant defence systems in prostate cancer.

Antioxidants↗
PubMed1997

Adhesion molecules in atopic dermatitis: patch tests elicited by house dust mite.

Different T-helper subsets, which are characterized by the secretion of distinct cytokines (Th1, Th2), have been found in house dust mite-exposed skin of sensitized individuals and in nickel-specific T lymphocytes from nickel contact allergic and non-allergic individuals. In order to evaluate the role which adhesion molecules may play in the homing of different T-cell subsets into allergen-exposed skin of atopic and normal individuals, we compared the expression pattern of adhesion molecules in patch test reactions to house dust mite antigen (D.pt.), nickel sulfate (Ni) and the irritant anthralin. Biopsies were taken at various time points after application of these agents and studied by immuncytochemistry. To exclude an endogenous difference in adhesion molecule expression in atopic and non-atopic skin, sequential biopsies from Ni patch tests of 2 normal individuals were also included in this study. The expression of E-selectin, P-selectin, CD31, VCAM-1 and ICAM-1 on endothelial cells and other cells in the skin was quantified by microscopic evaluation. Skin homing T cells were also quantified using antibodies to CD3, CD4, CD8, UCHL-1, L-selectin and the cutaneous lymphocyte antigen (CLA). Independent of the eliciting substance, all lesions showed an upregulation of all adhesion molecules tested, with the exception of CD62. The appearance of E-selectin and an increase in ICAM-1 and VCAM-1 expression were first observed at 12 h after application of the various agents. In parallel, the number of CLA+ and L-selectin+ lymphocytes increased steadily. No principle differences could be established between the various types of skin reactions in atopic individuals, nor did the skin of patients with AD differ from normal controls. Our results provide evidence that differential expression of adhesion molecules does not play a major part in observed differential homing of Th1 and Th2-cell subsets into patch test sites provoked by house dust mite and nickel sulfate in atopic and non-atopic individuals.

Animals↗
PubMed1997

Adhesion molecules in atopic dermatitis: upregulation of alpha6 integrin expression in spontaneous lesional skin as well as in atopen, antigen and irritative induced patch test reactions.

Atopic dermatitis is a lymphocyte-mediated skin disease. We studied the expression of the adhesion molecule alpha6 integrin by immunohistochemistry in spontaneous atopic inflammation as well as during the eliciting phase of atopen (Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus), antigen (nickel sulfate) and irritative (anthralin) induced patch test reactions in atopic skin. Results were compared with nickel sulfate patch test reactions in normal skin. A role of the alpha6 integrin, expressed at the luminal side of blood vessels, for T cell migration in lesional atopic skin was supposed. In normal human skin the alpha6 integrin was weakly expressed by blood vessels and by basal epithelial cells of the epidermis. In acute and chronic lesional skin of patients with atopic dermatitis dramatic upregulation of alpha6 integrin expression was observed on endothelial cells and in the epidermis. The similar pattern of upregulated suprabasal alpha6 integrin expression was established in the patch test reactions 48 h after atopen and antigen application or irritation of the skin without differences in dependence on the eliciting substance. No difference of alpha6 integrin expression was seen between atopic and normal skin. Tumor necrosis factor alpha, interleukin-1, interleukin-4 and interferon gamma play a role in atopic inflammation. Tumor growth factor beta and interleukin-6 are mitogenic/growth factors for keratinocytes. For this reason the effect of these cytokines and of phorbol-12-myristate-13-acetate on the expression level of alpha6 integrin was tested in short-term skin organ culture of normal and atopic skin as well as in keratinocyte cultures. In these assays no cytokines had an effect on alpha6 integrin expression suggesting another mechanism which regulates this integrin. However, the increased expression of alpha6 integrin in the suprabasal epidermis is associated with a T cell influx into the epidermis. We speculate that the alpha6 integrin expression may lead to an epidermotropism of T cells during inflammation.

Anthralin↗
PubMed1997

Elimination of serum free and total prostate-specific antigen after radical retropubic prostatectomy.

Elimination kinetics of serum total and free prostate-specific antigen were studied for a ten days course after radical retropubic prostatectomy on 11 patients suffering from organ confined prostate cancer. Samples were taken before operation, immediately after finishing the operation and 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 h after prostatectomy and then once a day for the following ten days. The measurements were performed with AxSym assays from Abbott Laboratories. The elimination of both total and free prostate-specific antigen followed a biphasic kinetics. In the fast phase, the average of the individual elimination half-lives of total and free prostate-specific antigen amounted to 6.3 h (SD = 6.1 h; range: 0.55 to 37.1 h) and 0.57 h (SD = 0.18 h; range: 0.22 to 0.89 h), respectively. In the slow phase, total prostate-specific antigen disappeared with an average half-life of 85.6 h (SD = 11 h; range: 47.2 to 261.7 h) and free prostate-specific antigen with an average half-life of 14.4 h (SD = 10.4 h; range: 2.4 to 30.3 h). These results might be significant for the use of free and total prostate-specific antigen and its ratio as a diagnostic and prognostic tool.

Aged↗
PubMed1996

Characterization of truncated forms of the KdpD protein, the sensor kinase of the K+-translocating Kdp system of Escherichia coli.

The expression of the kdpFABC operon, coding for the K+-translocating Kdp system, is controlled by the two regulatory proteins, KdpD and KdpE, which belong to the group of sensor kinase/response regulator systems. This study describes the construction and analysis of KdpD sensor kinases, in which different deletions in the N-terminal part of the protein were introduced. Truncated KdpD proteins, in which the membrane-spanning segments were deleted, had lost their phosphorylation capacity. Truncated KdpD proteins, in which the four membrane-spanning helices were untouched, were still phosphorylated, and the phosphoryl group could be transferred to the response regulator KdpE in vitro. Furthermore, these truncated KdpD proteins cause dephosphorylation of KdpE(P), which is comparable with that of the wild-type protein. To investigate the effect of the deletions on signal transduction in vivo the corresponding kdp genes were transferred to the chromosome. Growth studies with the mutant strains are in accord with the data obtained from the in vitro studies. Furthermore, kdp expression was investigated using a KdpA-LacZ fusion. The data obtained support the notion that the extent of kdp expression is modulated by the N-terminal part of KdpD.

Adenosine Triphosphate↗
PubMed1996

Developmental changes of antioxidant enzymes in kidney and liver from rats.

The five principal antioxidant enzymes superoxide dismutase, catalase, glutathione peroxidase, glutathione-S-transferase, glutathione reductase in the kidney and liver, and the total hepatic glutathione were determined in rats of different ages (1, 2, 3, 6, and 12 months). Variance analysis proved the effect of age on the measured enzymes in the respective organ with the exception of glutathione S-transferase. The behavior of the enzymes was not uniform, and there were both increased and decreased changes in the two organs. A clear correlation between cellular antioxidative capacity and the age-specific processes of growing or aging could not be seen. A far more complicated network of interactions has to be assumed.

Analysis of Variance↗
PubMed1996

Soluble CD44 molecules in serum of patients with prostate cancer and benign prostatic hyperplasia.

Recent studies suggest that expression of CD44 splice variants are of prognostic significance for a variety of neoplasias. It was the aim of this study to investigate whether any correlation exists between the concentration of soluble CD44 molecules in serum (CD44 standard form and CD44 splice variants v5 and v6) and the prostate cancer stage. Serum levels of these soluble CD44 isoforms were measured by ELISA tests specific for these proteins in controls (n = 30), patients with benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH; n = 30), with prostate cancer without metastasis (T1,2,3pN0M0; n = 30) and with locally advanced prostate cancer and/or metastatic disease (T3,4pN1,2M1; n = 19). sCD44std and sCD44v6 concentrations were not significantly different among the four groups studied, with few patients' levels outside the central 95% reference intervals. The mean sCD44v5 concentrations of both prostate cancer and BPH patients were significantly lower than those of the controls. There was no significant difference between the soluble CD44 concentrations of the two groups of prostate cancer patients studied. In contrast to results observed in other carcinomas, the determination of soluble CD44 proteins in serum is not suitable for providing additional prognostic information on patients with prostate cancer.

Adult↗
PubMed1996

Non-hyperbolic calcium calibration curve of Fura-2: implications for the reliability of quantitative Ca2+ measurements.

The fluorescence probe Fura-2 is widely applied for the quantitative determination of cellular free Ca2+ concentration. Generally, a hyperbolic calibration curve has been taken as a basis. The in vitro calibration of Fura-2 performed with free Ca2+ concentrations ranging from 10 nM to about 9 mM demonstrates a non-hyperbolic curve. Assuming two Ca2+ binding sites of Fura-2 dissociation constants of 190 nM and 176 microM were estimated. The analysis of the calibration data by the equation introduced by Grynkiewicz et al. [Grynkiewicz G., Poenie M., Tsien R.Y. A new generation of Ca2+ indicators with greatly improved fluorescence properties. J Biol Chem 1985; 260: 3440-3450] shows that the inclusion of Ca2+ concentrations in the range of the low-affinity binding site leads to an overestimation of the dissociation constant normally used within this method. The Rmax value conventionally estimated at a nominal saturating free Ca2+ concentration increases if concentrations in the range of the low-affinity binding site are selected for this purpose. Provided that millimolar free Ca2+ concentrations are applied for the determination of Rmax, the experimentally-estimated free Ca2+ concentration should be considerably lower than the real cellular concentration. This bias is especially to be expected if free Ca2+ concentrations exceeding the high-affinity Ca2+ binding site of Fura-2 are measured. With the use of approximately 10 microM free Ca2+ for the determination of Rmax the contribution of the low-affinity binding site is negligible. Data for cellular free Ca2+ calculated on the basis of Rmax values estimated with Ca2+ concentrations in the millimolar range should be considered with caution.

Calcium↗