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Biomedical subjects

K Y Kim

Publications and source records attributed to K Y Kim.

At least 91 records · Page 5Linked to original sources
PubMed1999

Immunocytological localization of dopamine in the guinea pig retina.

We examined dopaminergic neurons in the guinea pig retina; antisera against tyrosine hydroxylase (TH), dopamine beta-hydroxylase (DBH), phenylethanolamine N-methyltransferase (PNMT) and an antiserum against gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) were used. In the present study, two types of amacrine cells were labeled with an anti-TH antiserum. However, no DBH and PNMT immunoreactivities were seen. The type 1 cell had a larger-sized soma located in the inner nuclear layer with processes ramifying mainly in stratum 1 of the inner plexiform layer (IPL). The type 2 cell had a smaller-sized soma and processes branching in stratum 3 of the IPL. The mean densities were 56.4 +/- 11.5/mm2 for the type 1 cell and 166.6 +/- 30.3/mm2 for the type 2 cell. Double immunocytochemistry using an antiserum against GABA revealed that while none of the type 1 cells showed GABA immunoreactivity, all of the type 2 cells displayed GABA immunoreactivity. Our results suggest that, in the guinea pig retina, the type 1 amacrine cells are pure dopaminergic and the type 2 cells are dopaminergic elements that use GABA as their second transmitter.

Age Factors↗
PubMed1999

Effects of retroviral-mediated herpes simplex virus thymidine kinase gene transfer to murine neuroblastoma cell lines in vitro and in vivo.

Selective introduction of genes conferring chemosensitivity on proliferating tumor cells can be used to treat cancer. We investigated the efficacy of retrovirus-mediated gene transfer of the herpes simplex virus thymidine kinase (HSV-TK) gene to murine neuroblastoma cell lines (neuro-2a) in vitro and in vivo. Retrovirus-mediated HSV-TK gene transfer to the neuro-2a cells resulted in sensitivity to ganciclovir (GCV) in vitro. In A/J mice, tumors produced from HSV-TK transduced neuro-2a cells regressed after GCV treatment. Intratumoral injection of recombinant retrovirus expressing HSV-TK gene also inhibited growth of the tumor established in A/J mice. These results demonstrate that HSV-TK gene therapy might be a feasible approach for inhibiting the growth of neuroblastoma.

Animals↗
PubMed1999

Expression of a Serratia marcescens chitinase gene in Sinorhizobium fredii USDA191 and Sinorhizobium meliloti RCR2011 impedes soybean and alfalfa nodulation.

A gene encoding chitinase from Serratia marcescens BJL200 was cloned into a broad-host-range vector (pRK415) and mobilized into Sinorhizobium fredii USDA191. Chitinolytic activity was detected in S. fredii USDA191 transconjugants that carried the S. marcescens chiB gene. Chitinase-producing S. fredii USDA191 formed nodules on soybean cultivar McCall. However, there was a delay in nodule formation and a marked decrease in the total number of nodules formed by the chitinase-producing S. fredii in comparison with the wild-type strain. Expression of chitinase in S. meliloti RCR2011 also impeded alfalfa nodulation. Thin-layer chromatography of 14C-labeled Nod factors from chitinase-producing S. fredii USDA191 revealed hydrolysis of lipochitooligosaccharides.

Chitinases↗
PubMed1999

Molecular cloning and characterization of a cDNA encoding a transferrin homolog from Bombyx mori.

We isolated a cDNA representing a message that was strongly induced by injection with E. coli in Bombyx mori. The 2160 bp cDNA has an open reading frame of 644 amino acids and the deduced product a predicted molecular mass of 71 kDa. The cDNA sequence shared high homology with the transferrins known so far, and its deduced peptide had unique features of transferrins, that is, sites of cystein residues and iron binding. We suggest that the B. mori transferrin plays an important role in the self-defense system.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1999

Environmental measurements of total dust and fiber concentration in manufacturer and user of man-made mineral fibers.

Man-made mineral fibers (MMMF), most of which are referred to as man-made vitreous fibers (MMVF), are mostly amorphous silicates manufactured from glass, rock, or other minerals. Analysis for MMMF have been restricted largely to the measurement of total airborne mass concentrations, but more recently to the determination of airborne fiber levels by phase contrast optical microscopy. In Korea, many small factories are related with manufacturing and using MMMF without any special evaluation of environmental measurements. Though MMMF are known as the substitute of asbestos and their toxicity are regarded as very low, MMMF do not totally excluded from the respiratory and/or skin diseases now. Therefore, we evaluated the environments of many workplaces with total dust and fiber concentration. Most dust and fiber concentrations were below threshold limit value (TLV) at various industries and working processes. However, these data showed a slight relationship between total dust and fiber concentration.

Air Pollutants, Occupational↗
PubMed1998

Diagnostic yield and optimal duration of continuous-loop event monitoring for the diagnosis of palpitations. A cost-effectiveness analysis.

BACKGROUND: Continuous-loop event recorders are widely used for the evaluation of palpitations, but the optimal duration of monitoring is unknown. OBJECTIVE: To determine the yield, timing, and incremental cost-effectiveness of each week of event monitoring for palpitations. DESIGN: Prospective cohort study. PATIENTS: 105 consecutive outpatients referred for the placement of a continuous-loop event recorder for the evaluation of palpitations. MEASUREMENTS: Diagnostic yield, incremental cost, and cost-effectiveness for each week of monitoring. RESULTS: The diagnostic yield of continuous-loop event recorders was 1.04 diagnoses per patient in week 1, 0.15 diagnoses per patient in week 2, and 0.01 diagnoses per patient in week 3 and beyond. Over time, the cost-effectiveness ratio increased from $98 per new diagnosis in week 1 to $576 per new diagnosis in week 2 and $5832 per new diagnosis in week 3. CONCLUSIONS: In patients referred for evaluation of palpitations, the diagnostic yield of continuous-loop event recording decreases rapidly after 2 weeks of monitoring. A 2-week monitoring period is reasonably cost-effective for most patients and should be the standard period for continuous-loop event recording for the evaluation of palpitations.

Adult↗
PubMed1998

Cloning and expression of a novel gene encoding a new antibacterial peptide from silkworm, Bombyx mori.

We differentially screened a novel gene encoding a new antibacterial peptide from the immunized Bombyx mori cDNA library. The gene showed a similar structure to that of cecropin-family, encoding 59 amino acids including a putative leader peptide and mature peptide. The deduced peptide, named Enbocin, had conserved amino acid residues which have been known to play an important role in the antibacterial activities. Enbocin genomic sequence revealed that the transcription unit of Enbocin gene was about 1.2 kb, and the coding sequence was interrupted by an intron of 660 bases. Recombinant Enbocin, expressed under the control of the baculovirus polyhedrin promoter, demonstrated a broad range of antibacterial activities against gram positive and gram negative bacteria.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1998

Expression of genes from Rahnella aquatilis that are necessary for mineral phosphate solubilization in Escherichia coli.

Rahnella aquatilis is a Gram-negative bacterium that can fix atmospheric nitrogen and also has the ability to solubilize mineral phosphate. We have cloned the genes that confer the mineral phosphate solubilizing (Mps) trait from this organism by mobilizing a cosmid library of R. aquatilis into Escherichia coli HB101. A 7.0-kb EcoRI fragment from a cosmid, when transferred into E. coli strains HB101 and DH5 alpha, conferred the ability to solubilize hydroxyapatite and the production of gluconic acid to E. coli. The relative amounts of soluble phosphate and gluconic acid produced by the cloned 7.0-kb EcoRI fragment in E. coli were significantly higher than those of R. aquatilis. Nucleotide sequence analysis revealed two complete open reading frames (ORF1 and ORF2) and a partial ORF, ORF1 and ORF2 encoded proteins of molecular mass 10 kDa and 44 kDa. The 44-kDa protein showed extensive sequence similarity to pqqE of Erwinia herbicola, Klebsiella pneumoniae and A. Acinetobacter calcoaceticus. The 10-kDa protein revealed strong similarity to the pqqD of K. pneumoniae and A. calcoaceticus.

Chemotactic Factors↗
PubMed1998

Reaction of Müller cells after increased intraocular pressure in the rat retina.

Using light microscopy and immunocytochemistry, we investigated the morphological changes of retinal tissues and the reaction of Müller cells in the ischemic rat retina induced by increasing intraocular pressure. At early stages (from 1 h to 24 h after reperfusion), cells in the ganglion cell layer and in the inner nuclear layer showed some degenerative changes, but at later stages (from 72 h to 4 weeks) marked degenerative changes occurred in the outer nuclear layer (ONL). At 4 weeks after reperfusion, the ONL was reduced to 1 or 2 cell layers. Immunoreactivity for glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) appeared in the endfeet and distal processes of Müller cells as of 1 h after reperfusion. GFAP immunoreactivity in Müller cells increased up to 2 weeks and then decreased at 4 weeks after reperfusion. Our findings suggest that Müller cells are involved in the pathophysiology of retinal ischemia through the expression of GFAP. The degree of GFAP expression in Müller cells closely correlated with that of the degeneration of retinal neurons.

Animals↗
PubMed1998

Double-labeling techniques demonstrate that rod bipolar cells are under GABAergic control in the inner plexiform layer of the rat retina.

The synaptic connectivity between rod bipolar cells and GABAergic neurons in the inner plexiform layer (IPL) of the rat retina was studied using two immunocytochemical markers. Rod bipolar cells were stained with an antibody specific for protein kinase C (PKC, alpha isoenzyme), and GABAergic neurons were stained with an antiserum specific for glutamic-acid decarboxylase (GAD). Some amacrine cells were also labeled with the anti-PKC antiserum. All PKC-labeled amacrine cells examined showed GABA immunoreactivity, indicating that PKC-labeled amacrine cells constitute a subpopulation of GABAergic amacrine cells in the rat retina. A total of 150 ribbon synapses established by rod bipolar cells were observed in the IPL. One member of the postsynaptic dyads was always an unlabeled AII amacrine cell process, and the other belonged to an amacrine-cell process showing GAD immunoreactivity. The majority (n=92) (61.3%) of these processes made reciprocal synapses back to the axon terminals of rod bipolar cells. In addition, 78 conventional synapses onto rod bipolar axons were observed, and among them 52 (66.7%) were GAD-immunoreactive. Thus GABA provides the major inhibitory input to rod bipolar cells.

Animals↗
PubMed1997

Isolation of ALU1-P gene encoding a protein with aluminum tolerance activity from Arthrobacter viscosus.

We isolated a DNA fragment (ALU1-P) encoding a protein with an activity of aluminum tolerance from an Al tolerant soil microorganism, Arthrobacter viscosus. This microorganism was isolated from acidic tea field soils. The cloned DNA is composed of 1090 nucleotides, which has one open-reading frame without any stop codon. However, when the DNA fragment was transferred into Escherichia coli, a microorganism susceptible to Al toxicity, it endowed E. coli with Al tolerance. The deduced amino acid sequence of the DNA showed 65% identity with the protein of YbaX gene in Escherichia coli, and 51.1% identity with YB91 Haein hypothetical protein of HI1191 gene in Haemophilus influenzae. The ALU1-P gene in the expression vector produced a protein of 192 amino acids deriving a molecular weight of 21.3 kDa by using the stop codon in vector. The ALU1-P gene is a new one that has the characteristic of Al tolerance.

Aluminum↗
PubMed1997

Determination of esterase-catalyzed cocaine metabolite formation by high-performance liquid chromatography with ultraviolet detection.

A reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatographic (HPLC) method for the determination of cocaine metabolites produced in vitro by serum and liver esterases is described. Hydrolysis of cocaine at the methyl ester bond produces benzoylecgonine and methanol, whereas hydrolysis at the benzoyl ester bond produces ecgonine methyl ester and benzoic acid. This method quantitates benzoic acid (as a measure of ecgonine methyl ester formation) and benzoylecgonine, which can be determined simultaneously and with great sensitivity by HPLC and ultraviolet detection. Cocaine is found to be hydrolyzed to both ecgonine methyl ester and benzoylecgonine; hepatic microsomes exhibit the highest specific activity.

Animals↗
PubMed1997

EBV-elicited familial hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis.

Familial hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (FHL) is a rapidly fatal illness, usually encountered in infancy, characterized by fever, hepatosplenomegaly, pancytopenia, and central nervous system involvement. Microscopic examination of tissue shows a non-malignant lymphohistiocytic infiltrate, with prominent erythrophagocytosis. FHL is an autosomal recessive hereditary disorder but may develop secondarily to other conditions such as immunosuppression, malignancies, fat overload and certain infections. We recently experienced a case of siblings developing FHL, which may be associated with EBV infection.

Child, Preschool↗
PubMed1997

A case of biliary cystadenocarcinoma.

Biliary cystadenocarcinoma is a very rare cystic tumor that arises in the liver or, less frequently, in the extrahepatic biliary system. It has been shown to arise in congenital liver cysts, bile ducts, biliary cystadenoma, in the context of fibropolycystic disease and in the hepatoduodenal ligament. Common presenting symptoms include an abdominal mass, local pain, nausea, jaundice, fever or occasional ascites. Some patients are asymptomatic, the lesion being an incidental finding at autopsy or surgery. Approximately 50 cases have been reported in the literature. We report a case of biliary cystadenocarcinoma in a 63-year-old man with a review of the literature.

Biliary Tract Neoplasms↗