Mycophenolate mofetil in living donor renal allograft recipients.
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Adrenal Cortex Hormones↗
Biomedical subjects
K Park
Publications and source records attributed to K Park.
Water-suppression MRI: role in the evaluation of osseous lesions.
The efficacy of chemical shift based water-suppression MRI in the evaluation of bone marrow lesions has not been previously reported. T1-weighted images without and with water suppression were compared in five patients with 16 lesions. There was a significant improvement in the contrast-to-noise ratio (from 4.32 to 5.95, P < 0.01) and contrast ratio (from 1.71 to 5.69, P < 0.004) with water suppression. Water suppression may be useful clinically by increasing the conspicuity of bone marrow lesions.
Adult↗
Smart hydrogels for bioseparation.
Smart hydrogels are hydrogels which alter their dimension (i.e., either swell or shrink) dramatically upon a small change in an environmental condition, such as temperature, pH, ionic strength, salt type, solvent, etc. Due to large changes in the swelling ratio, the smart hydrogels have been used widely in the separation of various molecules including proteins. Bioseparation using smart hydrogels is convenient, cost effective, and operable in mild conditions. The use of mild conditions during separation is critical for proteins which can be easily denatured or degraded. Smart hydrogels currently used in bioseparation and their limitations as well as improvements to be made are described here.
Antibodies↗
Initial validation of a novel rat model of vasculogenic erectile dysfunction with generalized atherosclerosis.
Although rats have been widely used in evaluating various causes of vasculogenic erectile dysfunction (VED), the atherosclerotic rat model has seldom been tried probably due to its inherent tolerance to a cholesterol diet. To enhance endothelial sensitivity to cholesterol diet, we tested the effects of transient interruption of nitric oxide synthase on atherogenesis induced by cholesterol diet in a rat model. Rats with atherosclerosis (AS group) received 1% cholesterol diet for 6 weeks. During the initial 2 weeks, they drank water that contained N(G)-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME) (3 mg/ml). After 6 weeks, we carried out histologic and hemodynamic evaluation to confirm pelvic atherosclerosis and erectile dysfunction, respectively, and the results were compared with those of cholesterol only (Chol) group and normal control (C) group. Compared to the C or Chol group, the mean intima/media (I/M) of the internal pudendal artery, which contributes approximately 70% of the total resistance of the penile vasculature, was markedly increased by the treatment (1.82+/-0.25 vs 0.77+/-0.13, P<0.05). Correspondingly, significantly diminished erectile function was observed. Combined treatment for 2 weeks elicited early atherosclerotic changes in proximal arteries and erectile impairment and further 4 weeks of cholesterol diet spread overt atherosclerosis to the periphery. The Chol group showed no arterial pathology, although they showed mild VED. A correlation study showed that atherosclerosis of the distal artery was better correlated with erectile dysfunction than the proximal artery. Based on these results, our study demonstrates that combination treatment of cholesterol diet with L-NAME would be used as a rapid, effective protocol of developing atherosclerotic rat model of VED.
Animals↗
An anti-i biphasic hemolysin in chronic paroxysmal cold hemoglobinuria.
Paroxysmal cold hemoglobinuria (PCH) was diagnosed in an elderly patient with a history of chronic lymphocytic leukemia. In this case, the Donath-Landsteiner antibody demonstrated anti-i specificity rather than the more commonly reported anti-P specificity. This unusual case of a biphasic hemolysin with anti-i specificity emphasizes the importance of performing a Donath-Landsteiner test when presented with serological or clinical findings that are suggestive of PCH.
Aged↗
Diabetes mellitus induces vaginal tissue fibrosis by TGF-beta 1 expression in the rat model.
The commonly reported sexual problem in women with diabetes mellitus is lack of vaginal lubrication. It is our hypothesis that reduced vaginal lubrication in diabetic women may result from the structural changes of the vagina. The aim of this study was to investigate in the diabetic rat model the vaginal structures using histochemistry and the expression of TGF-beta 1 using immunohistochemistry. Twenty female Sprague-Dawley rats (200-210 g) were divided into two groups: control and experimental. The experimental group (n = 10) received intravenous injection of streptozotocin (50 mg/kg). After 4 weeks, blood glucose levels were measured, and the vagina of the rat was excised. Serial sections of the vagina were used to perform hematoxylin and eosin (H & E) and Masson's trichrome stains, and for immunohistochemistry to identify TGF-beta 1 expression. The mean blood glucose concentrations were 67 +/- 11 mg/dL (range; 50-85) in the control group and 522 +/- 61 mg/dl (range; 429-590) in the experimental group. In the diabetic animals, vaginal tissue revealed reduced epithelial layers and decreased vaginal submucosal vasculatures compared to the control animals. The collagen connective tissue in the submucosal area of the diabetic animal tissue showed a dense and irregular, distorted arrangement. The immunoreactivity of TGF-beta 1 in the diabetic animals was prominent in the collagen connective tissue, fibroblasts, and smooth muscle fibers, whereas no immunoactivity was detected in the vaginal structures of the control animals. Diabetes mellitus may induce vaginal tissue fibrosis by TGF-beta 1 expression in the rat model. This implies that reduced vaginal lubrication in the diabetic women may result from the structural changes of the vagina.
Animals↗
Primary tumors and mediastinal lymph nodes after neoadjuvant concurrent chemoradiotherapy of lung cancer: serial CT findings with pathologic correlation.
PURPOSE: The purpose of this work was to describe the changes of primary tumor and mediastinal lymph nodes on CT after neoadjuvant concurrent chemoradiotherapy and to correlate the CT findings with pathology. METHOD: Twenty-one consecutive patients [N2 disease (n = 19) or resectable T4 and N2 disease (n = 2)] with non-small cell lung cancer underwent neoadjuvant concurrent chemoradiotherapy. Changes of primary tumor and mediastinal nodes before and after the therapy were assessed using CT. The CT findings were correlated with pathologic findings. RESULTS: With neoadjuvant therapy, decrease in T stage was achieved in 9 of 21 (43%) patients on CT. On pathology, the remaining tumor consisted mostly of fibrosis and necrosis with little proportion of viable tumor cells (mean volume 17%, range 0-55%). Decrease in nodal stage was achieved in 14 of 21 (67%) patients on pathologic examination. Seven patients had cancer cells in mediastinal lymph nodes: in 6 of 9 (67%) patients with adenocarcinoma and 1 of 12 (8%) patients with squamous cell carcinoma (p = 0.016). CONCLUSION: With neoadjuvant concurrent chemoradiotherapy, the remaining tumor consists mostly of fibrosis or necrosis. Decreased nodal stage on pathology is achieved especially in patients with N2 disease of squamous cell carcinoma. The CT findings of the tumor and mediastinal nodes are not helpful in predicting the pathology after the therapy.
Adenocarcinoma↗
HEDIS audits: meeting the challenge.
The Health Plan Employer Data and Information Set (HEDIS) is a tool to measure and report managed care performance. HEDIS has become the industry standard for assessing and comparing the quality of managed care organizations (MCOs), so it is imperative that MCOs collect and communicate HEDIS data correctly and efficiently. Several primary issues face MCOs in compiling HEDIS data. In particular, this article examines the HEDIS audit process and outlines the preparation required to undergo an audit, common errors uncovered in the audit process, and steps that can be taken to ensure compliance with HEDIS technical specifications.
Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, U.S.↗
Enchancement of the antiplaque value of antibacterial agents by enamel-conditioning methods. I. Rationale, mechanism, and initial findings.
A method is proposed to induce chemically the incorporation of bacterial agents inot enamel and thus rende this tissue resistant to bacterial colonization. It consists of promoting a slight initial dissolution of enamel, followed immediately by tis reprecipitation. During this latter phase, antibacterial agents included in the test formulations would become trapped in the reprecipitating enamel. That this happens is proved by the chemical detection of antibacterial agents in treated enamel, as well as by the development of a remarkable resistance of treated specimens to grow in vitro plaque.
Anilides↗
Blood pressure monitoring using the superficial temporal artery and a Doppler ultrasonic flow detector.
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Aged↗
The presence of atopy does not determine the type of cellular infiltrate in nasal polyps.
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Any relationship between atopy and nasal polyposis remains to be further studied to determine the contribution of atopy to the pathogenesis of nasal polyps. MATERIALS AND METHOD: We have compared the inflammatory cellular infiltrate in nasal polyp tissue taken during resection from 10 atopic and 11 non-atopic subjects. We have used immunohistochemistry to enumerate the individual inflammatory cell types using monoclonal antibodies against tryptase (AA1) to identify mast cells, the secreted forms of eosinophil cationic protein (EG2) to identify activated eosinophils, neutrophil elastase (NE+) to demonstrate neutrophils, and T cell surface markers (CD3) to identify pan T cells. RESULT: The number of AA1+ and NE+ cells tended to be higher in atopics, but no statistical significance was found (p = 0.06, p = 0.12). Eosinophil numbers (EG2) were abundant in both groups and found to be not different between them (p = 0.65). Some subjects had CD3+ cells with no significant difference between atopic and non-atopic subjects (p = 0.21). Significant correlation was found between NE+ and AA1+ or EG2 cells (r = 0.59, r = 0.63, p < 0.05, respectively). CONCLUSION: These results suggest that the presence of atopy does not determine either the type of extent of cellular infiltration of nasal polyps.
Analysis of Variance↗
Searching for risk factors using multilayer neural network as a classifier.
A method to determine risk factors for particular outcomes using trained multilayer neural networks is proposed. The basic idea is to measure the partial differentials of the output with respect to input variables of the network. Differentiable activation functions and continuity of input variables is assumed.
Algorithms↗
Expression of Mad1 protein inhibits proliferation of cancer cells and inversely correlated with Myc protein expression in primary gastric cancer.
We performed immunohistochemical assay for Mad1 and Myc protein in 76 gastric cancer tissues. Cancers with reduced Mad1 expression had high proliferative index (S and G2/M-phase) and there was inverse correlation between Mad1 and Myc expression in the same cancer cells. There was no significant correlation between expression of Mad1 and cell differentiation or extent of the disease. There was a trend that reduced expression of Mad1 was associated with poor survival of the patients. Mad1 may influence biologic behavior of cancer cell by inhibiting transcriptional activity of Myc and reduced levels of Mad1 expression seem to be associated with carcinogenesis in human gastric cancer.
Adult↗
Reduced transforming growth factor-beta type II receptor (TGF-beta RII) expression in adenocarcinoma of the lung.
BACKGROUND: TGF-beta type II receptor is considered as one of the tumor suppressor genes, and altered expression of TGF-beta RII has been found in many kinds of cancers. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Seven NSCLC cell lines and 21 surgically resected NSCLC tissues were obtained. The growth inhibition by TGF-beta 1 was examined by MTT assay. Northern blot and Southern blot analysis were performed for TGF-beta 1 and TGF-beta RII in NSCLC cell lines. TGF-beta 1 and TGF-beta RII expression were analyzed by immunohistochemistry (IHC) in 21 surgically resected NSCLC tissues. RESULTS: Six of 7 NSCLC cell lines were resistant to TGF-beta 1. Southern blot analysis for TGF-beta 1 and TGF-beta RII showed no genetic changes. However, mRNAs of TGF-beta RII were barely detectable in 3 of 7 cell lines, and mRNAs of TGF-beta 1 were almost undetectable in 2 of 7. IHC revealed decreased TGF-beta RII expression in 6 of 21 surgically resected NSCLC tissues (5 adenocarcinomas, 1 sarcomatoid carcinoma). Being analyzed by the histologic subtypes, TGF-beta RII decreased in 5 of 8 adenocarcinomas but in only 1 of 13 non-adenocarcinomas (p = 0.0139). On the other hand, TGF-beta 1 was expressed at a higher level in 20 of 21 tumors. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that decreased TGF-beta RII expression may play a role in human lung carcinogenesis, especially in adenocarcinoma.
Adenocarcinoma↗
Pets bring therapeutic benefits to nursing homes.
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Aged↗
Microsatellite instability(MSI) in non-small cell lung cancer(NSCLC) is highly associated with transforming growth factor-beta type II receptor(TGF-beta RII) frameshift mutation.
BACKGROUND: TGF-beta type II receptor (TGF-beta RII) mutations associated with microsatellite instability(MSI) are characteristically frameshift mutations within a 10 bp poly-A tract. These frameshift mutations have been reported to be common in colorectal and gastric cancers with MSI, though, rarely reported in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). MATERIALS AND METHOD: In this study, we analysed MSI and TGF-beta RII frameshift mutations in 7 NSCLC cell lines and 21 surgically resected NSCLC tissues. Determination of MSI in NSCLC was performed using primer sets for BAT-25, BAT-26 and BAT-40. In order to examine the presence of the frameshift mutations of TGF-beta RII in samples with MSI, sequencing for TGF-beta RII poly-A tract was performed. RESULTS: MSI was observed in 5 out of 7 NSCLC cell lines and 3 out of 21 NSCLC tissues. Six out of 8 samples with MSI(75%) showed frameshift mutations in TGF-beta RII poly-A tract. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that MSI is highly associated with TGF-beta RII frameshift mutations in NSCLC and further support the hypothesis that TGF-beta RII plays an important role in NSCLC carcinogenesis.
Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung↗
Surgical correction of hyperopia: a new experimental approach using X-incision and suture technique in rabbits.
BACKGROUND: A new experimental surgical technique to correct hyperopia by steepening the central corneal curvature was performed on the eyes of rabbits. METHODS: After X-shaped incisions at four quadrants of the paracentral cornea, four deep, transverse interrupted sutures were placed across the incisions and the knots were tightened to compress the corneal tissue in the direction of the suture. Twenty-three eyes of 12 albino rabbits were divided into group A (7 eyes) with a 4-millimeter diameter clear zone, group B (9 eyes) with a 6-millimeter diameter clear zone, and control group C, consisting of 7 contralateral eyes of group A without any incision or suture. RESULTS: There was significant (p < .01) steepening of the central cornea as measured by the keratometer at postoperative 8 weeks in group A (+1.88 diopters) and group B (+1.68 D) compared with that of the control group C (-3.44 D). The difference in effect of hyperopic correction between groups of A and B was not statistically significant. CONCLUSIONS: This procedure serves only as an experimental model of corneal response to incisions and sutures and is not for use in human corneas.
Animals↗
Simplified separation of myosin from rabbit liver.
Myosin was extracted from fresh rabbit liver using a solution with an ionic strength of 0.3 with two protease inhibitors and ATP. The myosin fraction was centrifuged at high speed in the presence of ATP and MgCl2. Its precipitate was dissolved in 0.6 M KCl, and the solution was treated with ammonium sulfate (30-60%). The fraction that precipitated was dissolved in 0.6 M KCl and put on a Sephacryl column. Sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) showed that the myosin obtained was 90% pure. Its molecular weight was 220,000 by gel electrophoresis; by Sephacryl S-300 column chromatography, it was found to be a complex at high ionic strengths. The protein had high ATPase activity, comparable to that of the myosin prepared by D. L. Brandon (1976, Eur. J. Biochem. 65, 139-146). Electron micrographs of our myosin looked like myosins from nonmuscle cells purified by other workers. Slow preparation gave poor yields of myosin with low ATPase activity and extra bands on SDS-PAGE. Rapid handling of fresh materials is essential for obtaining myosin of satisfactory quality. Our simple method saves time and reagents.
Adenosine Triphosphatases↗