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Biomedical subjects

M W Kim

Publications and source records attributed to M W Kim.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

Nutritional effects according to reconstructional methods after total gastrectomy.

Malnutrition and weight loss after total gastrectomy is one of the major concerns of surgeons. In order to improve the nutritional status in these patients, many surgeons have tried to restore the duodenal passage as reconstructive procedure but debates have been continued. So we investigated weight change, postprandial serum secretin response and fecal fat amount to evaluate the esophagojejunoduodenostomy after which the duodenal passage was restored. Total gastrectomized dogs showed significant weight loss and all experimental animals except sham operation died between five and eight weeks after the operation. Serum secretin concentration after esophagojejunoduodenostomy increased significantly from a mean fasting value of 100 +/- 12.5 pg/mL to a mean peak of 142 +/- 22.5 pg/mL at 40 minutes and returned to the fasting level at 120 minutes postprandially. But fasting and postprandial serum secretin concentration in patients following Roux-en Y esophagojejunostomy were fluctuated irregularly. The amount of fecal fat in esophagojejunoduodenostomy was 5.3 +/- 1.2 gm/100 gm stool, which was not different from that of the control group but in Roux-en Y esophagojejunostomy it was 28.1 +/- 4.1 gm/100 gm stool which was much higher than that observed in esophagojejunoduodenostomy and in control group. These results suggest that esophagojejunoduodenostomy is superior to Roux-en Y esophagojejunostomy in respect to pancreatic secretory function and fat absorption.

Anastomosis, Roux-en-Y↗

The role of radiation treatment in management of extrahepatic biliary tract metastasis from gastric carcinoma.

PURPOSE: To determine the proper role of radiation treatment in the management of patients with extrahepatic biliary tract metastasis due to recurrent gastric cancer. METHODS AND MATERIALS: Twenty patients with malignant biliary obstruction due to recurrent gastric carcinoma after gastrectomy were treated with palliative intent at the Yonsei University College of Medicine from 1986 to 1990. Treatment consisted of external drainage alone in 11 patients (Group I) and external drainage followed by radiation treatment in nine patients (Group II). Five of nine patients in Group II underwent external irradiation in combination with intraluminal brachytherapy using high dose rate Iridium-192 (Ir-192) sources within the expandable intrabiliary prosthesis, a Gianturco stent, inserted transhepatically at the site of obstruction. RESULTS: An excellent local response was observed in five of nine patients in Group II, in whom biliary patency was restored following treatment so that the external drainage catheter could be removed. Prolongation of median survival was observed in Group II (9 months) as compared to Group I (2 months). There were no serious treatment-related complications with this approach. CONCLUSION: This treatment approach with external radiotherapy +/- intraluminal brachytherapy could achieve effective palliation and improve the quality of life in selected patients with extrahepatic biliary metastasis from gastric carcinoma.

Adult↗

The relationship of burn-induced hypermetabolism to central and peripheral catecholamines.

The role of brain and circulating catecholamines as mediators of burn-induced hypermetabolism was investigated in two experiments. Following a 30% body surface area full-thickness open-flame burn, rats exhibited a short period (3 to 4 days) of anorexia followed by a more prolonged (several weeks) hyperphagic-hypermetabolic response. During this hypermetabolic period, norepinephrine concentrations were increased in the brain and circulating epinephrine levels were elevated. Depletion of brain norepinephrine using 6-hydroxydopamine led to increased body weight gain, but did not increase resting energy expenditure in burned rats. Similarly, the reduction of circulating catecholamines through removal of the adrenal medulla resulted in a decreased loss of body weight and only slight reductions in resting energy expenditure. Therefore, these results suggest that although brain norepinephrine and circulating epinephrine have a role in the full expression of hypermetabolism, these compounds do not appear to be major mediators of this response to burn trauma.

Adrenal Medulla↗

A case of pancreatico-colo-cutaneous fistula; management guided by endoscopic retrograde cholangio-pancreatography.

A report of a 67-year-old man, who had been suffering from an enterocutaneous fistula after a left hemicolectomy due to colon cancer is presented. He had sudden intermittent upper abdominal pain and a high amylase level in the drainage fluid. The fistulogram showed a colocutaneous fistula with an abnormal cavity in the left upper quadrant. ERCP was performed to demonstrate the relationship between the pancreatic duct and the colocutaneous fistula connected with the abnormal cavity, and showed a pancreatico-colo fistula which was connected with the abnormal cavity. From the results of the above two studies, a diagnosis of the pancreatico-colocutaneous fistula could be drained, and a distal pancreatectomy, splenectomy and closing of the colonic opening were performed. After the operation, the patient was discharged without problem. We report herein a case of pancreaticocolocutaneous fistula which was confirmed by ERCP preoperatively and surgically treated successfully.

Aged↗

Growth factors for human glial cells in culture.

Using a new double-labeling immunofluorescence technique, we assessed various growth factors on their ability to promote proliferation of cultured human glial cells. Cells studied were fetal astrocytes, fetal Schwann cells, adult astrocytes, and adult oligodendrocytes. Effective agents for fetal astrocytes were glial growth factor from the bovine pituitary, platelet-derived growth factor, fibroblast growth factor, and 4 beta-phorbol 12,13-dibutyrate. For fetal Schwann cells, mitogens were glial growth factor from the bovine pituitary, platelet-derived growth factor, nerve growth factor, and 4 beta-phorbol 12,13-dibutyrate. Adult astrocytes and oligodendrocytes did not normally divide in culture, and none of the agents tested were effective in inducing their proliferation. The report that interleukin-2 was a mitogen for oligodendrocytes could not be replicated in the present study on any of the glial cell types.

Aged↗

Phorbol ester enhances morphological differentiation of oligodendrocytes in culture.

The effects of phorbol esters have been attributed to the activation of the enzyme protein kinase C. While much has been described for the actions of phorbol esters on neurons and synaptic transmission, sparse data exist on the effects of phorbol esters on oligodendrocytes, the cells that make and maintain myelin in the central nervous system. In this report, we show that 10 and 100 nM of a phorbol ester, 4 beta-phorbol-12,13-dibutyrate, extensively enhanced process formation by cultured bovine oligodendrocytes. This effect was blocked by two inhibitors of protein kinase C, sodium heparin and polymixin B. We propose the hypothesis that activation of protein kinase C is an important process that leads to the differentiation of oligodendrocytes and the formation of myelin in vivo.

Animals↗

Reduction of tumor growth following treatment with a glutamine antimetabolite.

Assessment of arterial-venous differences across transplanted methylcholanthrene-induced sarcomas in rats revealed significant decreases in plasma concentrations of glutamine, serine and glucose. Treatment with the glutamine antimetabolite, acivicin, significantly reduced tumor weights by 65% at the conclusion of the experiment 34 days after tumor induction. These results suggest that glutamine is an essential metabolic substrate for tumor growth and that blockade of glutamine utilization can inhibit the growth of these transplantable sarcomas.

Amino Acids↗

Long-term culture of human fetal spinal cord neurons: morphological, immunocytochemical and electrophysiological characteristics.

Cultures were prepared from ventral spinal cord tissue from 8-11-week gestational human fetuses and grown for a period of up to 6 months. These cultures were studied by morphological, immunocytochemical and intracellular electrophysiological techniques. From 2 weeks in vitro and onward, small bipolar cells were found in outgrowths of spinal cord explants and were identified as neurons by positive immunoreactions with an antibody specific for neurofilament protein. In addition, a large population of glial fibrillary acidic protein-positive astrocytes and a smaller number of galactocerebroside-positive oligodendrocytes were recognized in these cultures. The development of synaptic terminals was also studied by electron microscopy. The first appearance of synaptic terminal was found in a 3-week culture and was an axo-dendritic synapse. During the next 2 months, there was a steady increase in number and structural maturation of synaptic profiles. In addition to axo-dendritic synapses, which were most common, axo-somatic and axo-axonic synapses were demonstrated. After 3 months in culture, the occurrence of large neurons possessing the characteristic features of mature neurons was also noted. Although the occurrence of oligodendrocytes in these cultures was confirmed, no myelination of axons was demonstrated by electron microscopy. Intracellular recordings were obtained from the cultured spinal cord cells, and these cells were identified clearly as neurons by their action potential responses to depolarizing current pulses. The average input resistance of these neurons was 31 M omega with resting membrane potential of -52 +/- 2.3 mV.

Culture Techniques↗

Resting energy expenditure of host and tumor is similar in rats with methylcholanthrene-induced sarcoma.

In the present study we assessed the resting energy expenditure of 30 free-feeding control and methylcholanthrene-induced sarcoma-bearing rats prior to and following surgical removal of the tumor. Tumor-bearing rats demonstrated carcass wasting and massive tumor growth. The resting energy expenditure data in our model suggest that neither the presence and growth of a tumor nor its removal significantly change resting energy expenditure beyond the normal range for non-tumor-bearing rats. We suggest that in the partition of energy costs between host and tumor, both carry a similar input, proportional to their relative weight, into the total combined resting energy expenditure of host and tumor.

Animals↗

Fluorescence-activated cell sorter analysis of bulk-isolated porcine oligodendrocytes.

We describe here the methods by which enriched populations of oligodendrocytes were isolated from adult porcine brains using Percoll density gradient centrifugation and their immunological properties analyzed by a fluorescence-activated cell sorter (FACS). The analyses by immunofluorescence microscopy and FACS indicated 95% and 93% purity of oligodendrocytes in the cell preparations when galactocerebroside antibody, an oligodendrocyte-specific marker, was employed. Further FACS analysis indicated that 90% of the cells with the forward angle light scatter characteristics of oligodendrocytes were immunolabelled by the monoclonal antibody HNK-1. The FACS sorting capability was then used to correlate the forward angle light scatter and propidium iodide uptake characteristics of our cell preparations to cell debris, erythrocytes as well as viable and non-viable oligodendrocytes. By gating on a multiparameter basis on both defined forward light scatter and positive galactocerebroside immunolabelling, oligodendrocyte populations exceeding 98% purity were obtained which were suitable for long-term culture and further immunological and neurobiological studies.

Animals↗

Culture of purified rat astrocytes in serum-free medium supplemented with mitogen.

We have obtained a highly purified astrocyte population in cultures originating from neonatal (2-5 days) rat cerebrum by use of the selection process provided by a serum-free chemically defined medium (DM). The addition of a glial growth factor isolated from bovine pituitary glands to DM induced in these astrocyte cultures both a stimulation of astrocytic proliferation and a morphological transformation of the astrocytes from flat fibroblastic form to multipolar stellate form.

Animals↗

Ischemic colitis after aortic aneurysmectomy.

A retrospective analysis was conducted to quantitatively assess eight suspected risk factors for the development of bowel ischemia after abdominal aortic aneurysmectomy. Eighteen patients were studied and compared with 100 randomly selected control subjects who underwent similar operations during the same time period in five Honolulu hospitals, but in whom the complication did not develop. Prolonged cross-clamp time, hypoxemia, ruptured aneurysm, hypotension, and arrhythmia (supraventricular and ventricular) occurred with significantly greater frequency among the patients with ischemia when compared with the control subjects. Age and other preexisting cardiovascular or gastrointestinal diseases did not significantly correlate with risk of postoperative colon ischemia. In addition, the technique of aortic grafting did not significantly influence the risk of development of ischemic colitis, but the number of patients in this study is too small to provide meaningful data on that point.

Aged↗

Estimation of acetylcysteine and its preparations.

A sensitive, reproducible spectrophotometric procedure using Ellman's reagent for the determination of acetylcysteine in pharmaceutical dosage froms is presented. The method is based on the measurement of the absorbance of the anion of 2-nitro-5-thiolbenzoic acid at 412 nm, liberated as a result of the reaction of acetylcysteine and an alkaline solution of 5-5'-dithiobis-(2-nitrobenzoic acid). The optimum conditions for the reaction, speed of reaction and linearity relationship between concentration and absorbance are reported. It is concluded that the proposed method is simple, rapid and accurate for the determination of small quantities of acetylcysteine.

Acetylcysteine↗

Glomus tumor of the stomach: CT findings.

We present the radiologic findings of gastric glomus tumors in two patients, in whom upper gastrointestinal series and computed tomography (CT) were primarily used for diagnosis. The diagnosis was surgically confirmed. Contrast-enhanced CT showed peripheral nodular or homogeneous strong enhancement in the arterial phase and prolonged enhancement in the delayed phase.

Adult↗