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Biomedical subjects

S T Lee

Publications and source records attributed to S T Lee.

At least 109 records · Page 6Linked to original sources
PubMed1999

Classification of 'Nocardioides fulvus' IFO 14399 and Nocardioides sp. ATCC 39419 in Kribbella gen. nov., as Kribbella flavida sp. nov. and Kribbella sandramycini sp. nov.

By 16S rDNA sequence analysis, two strains identified previously as members of the genus Nocardioides, namely 'Nocardioides fulvus' IFO 14399 and Nocardioides sp. ATCC 39419, were found to form lines of descent distinct from the genus Nocardioides. Therefore, the two strains were studied taxonomically in detail by phenotypic, particularly chemotaxonomic, characterization, and by phylogenetic analysis including other related taxa. The genomic DNA G + C contents of 'N. fulvus' IFO 14399 and Nocardioides sp. ATCC 39419 are 70 and 68 mol%, respectively. The two strains contain LL-diaminopimelic acid as the diamino acid in their peptidoglycan, together with L-alanine at position 1 of the peptide subunit. The predominant menaquinone found in the two strains is MK-9(H4). The major cellular fatty acid found in the two strains is anteiso-C15:0' which is a minor component of members of the genus Nocardioides. The diagnostic polar lipid of the two strains is phosphatidylcholine. A phylogenetic tree was constructed which showed that the two strains from evolutionary lineages distinct from other LL-diaminopimelic-acid-containing taxa such as, for example, the genus Nocardioides. On the basis of our data, a new genus, Kribbella gen. nov., and two new species, Kribbella flavida gen. nov., sp. nov. and Kribbellla sandramycini gen. nov., sp. nov., are proposed. It is also proposed that the new genus be included in the family Nocardioidaceae.

Actinomycetales↗
PubMed1999

An open, phase III study of lanreotide (Somatuline PR) in the treatment of acromegaly.

Acromegaly is a disorder caused by excessive secretion of human growth hormone (GH). Somatostatin and its analogue-prolonged release formulation, lanreotide (Somatuline PR), inhibit the secretion of growth hormone. The aim of this open Phase III study was to investigate the clinical efficacy of lanreotide in the treatment of six acromegalic patients with a mean age of 44 +/- 13 yr including two patients with diabetes mellitus. All the patients previously received transsphenoidal or transcranial hypophysectomy. Lanreotide was given intramuscularly every 2 weeks at a fixed dose of 30 mg for 12 weeks. Serum GH and insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I) levels were evaluated before, 2, 6 and 12 weeks after treatment. After 12 weeks of treatment, mean (+/- SEM) GH levels decreased from 24.8 +/- 12.5 to 6.9 +/- 3.3 ng/ml and mean serum IGF-I levels decreased from 689 +/- 282 to 430 +/- 216 ng/ml. Abdominal ultrasonographic examinations showed no gallbladder stone or bile sand formation before or after the treatment. Three of the patients who did not receive octreotide presented with manifestations of mild gastrointestinal adverse effect such as mild abdominal pain and diarrhea. In conclusion, lanreotide is effective in the treatment of active postoperative acromegaly.

Acromegaly↗
PubMed1999

Symptomatic ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament of the lumbar spine. Case report.

The authors report a case of focal ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament (OPLL) behind the L-3 vertebral body. This is relatively rare among previously reported cases in the literature. Magnetic resonance (MR) imaging revealed that the ossifying portion of the PLL was impinging on the left L-3 nerve root. Contrast enhancing hypertrophic PLL was also demonstrated around the ossification and along the lumbosacral PLL. Via a laminectomy and wide excision of the PLL the lesion was removed. Pathological examination revealed a nodule composed of fibrous cartilage, lamina bone, and mature fat marrow. Enchondral ossification could be identified under a microscope. The authors believe that preoperative MR imaging evaluation is important for the detection of the relationship between an OPLL and the neural structure. Excision of the symptomatic OPLL should be performed when needed to obtain adequate nerve root decompression.

Back Pain↗
PubMed1999

[Utilizing the PRECEDE model to predict health examination behavior of the elderly].

Health examination of the elderly in Taiwan, the reported rates of health examination of the elderly were always below 30%. In order to explore the predictors related to the behavior of health examination of the elderly, the PRECEDE model was adopted for this study. Both the 1200 participants and spare samples were recruited from eleven districts of Kaohsiung city. 1193 participants had been completed by home interview. Sample size was based on the distribution of the elderly in the whole city and the stratified sampling method was applied. There was no significant difference after comparing the rates of gender, age, and examination between sample and population. The results showed that seven factors could be used to predict the behavior of health examination of the elderly. In the individual predisposing factors, "numbers of chronic diseases", "knowledge of health examination", "previous health examination", and "health promotion behavior" were related to the behavior of health examination of the elderly. In reinforcing factors, "attitude of family members for health examination", and in enabling factors "the guide and the convenience of health-examined services" also showed significantly affecting examination behavior. Therefore, referring to the improvement to be the examination rate, we can intervene or do something through academic, practical and administrative approaches.

Aged↗
PubMed1999

Epidemiology of cleft lip and palate in Singapore--a 10-year hospital-based study.

During the study period from January 1985 to December 1994, there were 1105 new cleft cases seen in the Department of Plastic Surgery, Singapore General Hospital. These included newborn as well as unoperated children and adult cases. During the same period, the total number of recorded births in Singapore was 474,542. Out of the 1105 new cleft cases seen, 984 were Singaporeans. The incidence of this hospital-based study of cleft population in Singapore was 2.07 per 1000 livebirths. Chinese had the highest incidence of 1.64 per 1000 as compared to Malay, Indian and other races. The most common type of cleft deformity was complete cleft lip and palate. The left side was found to be more affected than the right side in all types of cleft deformity. There was no significant difference in sex distribution; the male to female ratio was 1.1:1. However, females had a higher incidence of cleft palate than males. Associated congenital deformities occurred in 1.5% of the total cleft population.

Acrocephalosyndactylia↗
PubMed1999

Selective laser sintering: application of a rapid prototyping method in craniomaxillofacial reconstructive surgery.

Advances in technology have benefited the medical world in many ways and a new generation of computed tomography (CT) scanners and three-dimensional (3-D) model making rapid prototyping systems (RPS) have taken craniofacial surgical planning and management to new heights. With the development of new rapid prototyping systems and the improvements in CT scan technology, such as the helical scanner, biomedical modelling has improved considerably and accurate 3-D models can now be fabricated to allow surgeons to visualise and physically handle a 3-D model on which simulation surgery can be performed. The principle behind this technology is to first acquire digital data (CT scan data) which is then imported to the RPS to fabricate fine layers or cuts of the model which are gradually built up to form the 3-D models. Either liquid resin or nylon powder or special paper may be used to make these models using the various RPS available today. Selective laser sintering (SLS), which employs a CO2 laser beam to solidify special nylon powder and build up the model in layers is described in this case report, where a 23-year old Chinese female with panfacial fracture and a skull defect benefited from SLS biomodelling in the preoperative workup.

Accidents, Traffic↗
PubMed1999

New treatment and research strategies for the improvement of care of cleft lip and palate patients in the new millennium.

Surveillance studies have shown that cleft lip and palate (CLP) is one of the commonest craniofacial anomalies (CFA), occurring in approximately 1 in 500 livebirths. Taking into consideration the world population and annual birth rates, it is estimated that there are well over a quarter million babies born each year with CLP. The cost of managing this huge number of clefts is enormous and exceeds the available resources of most developing countries in Asia, Africa and Latin America. Thus, CLP constitutes a major health problem which requires globally-based strategies to deal with the issues of epidemiology, primary prevention and treatment strategies which are evidence-based and cost-effective. Basic research to unravel the aetiological factors responsible for clefting disorders is occurring on a worldwide scale, especially in the areas of molecular genetics and gene-environment interactions. There are also in place international organisations such as the WHO Task Force on CFA, the International Consortium on Oral Cleft Genetics (ICOCG), Interplast and other international volunteer cleft missions to help in the treatment of patients with cleft disorders in developing countries, in data collection, in pooling of genetic material and sharing of information. However, there is an urgent need for more randomised clinical trials (RCTs) to evaluate the outcomes of treatment so that clinical guidelines and treatment protocols are based on strong evidence. Currently, there is a dearth of RCT-based information and multicentre trials on treatment outcomes should therefore be actively pursued and encouraged.

Cleft Lip↗
PubMed1998

Exon-intron structure of the human PTK6 gene demonstrates that PTK6 constitutes a distinct family of non-receptor tyrosine kinase.

Partial PTK6 (also known as Brk) cDNA was initially isolated by reverse transcription-PCR of normal human melanocyte mRNAs and the full-length cDNA encodes a non-receptor protein tyrosine kinase with an SH3 domain, an SH2 domain, and a kinase catalytic domain. We have cloned the human PTK6 gene by screening human genomic lambda libraries using the full-length PTK6 cDNA as probe. The human PTK6 gene consists of 8 exons encompassing 8.8 kb and all the splicing junctions followed the conserved GT/AG rule. Coding sequence of the PTK6 gene was identical to that of the cDNA cloned from T-47D, human breast tumor cell line. Although the amino acid sequence of the PTK6 polypeptide showed the strongest homology to those of the Src family members of protein tyrosine kinases, exon-intron boundaries of the PTK6 gene were quite different from those of the Src family genes, which are evolutionarily conserved. The 813-bp 5'-flanking sequence of the PTK6 gene upstream of a luciferase reporter gene conferred significant promoter activity, at approximately 60% level of the SV40 promoter, in transient expression assays into MCF-7, human breast tumor cell line. PTK6 mRNA was expressed at very high level in colon and at high levels in small intestine and prostate, and at low levels in some tested fetal tissues. These results suggest that PTK6 constitutes an evolutionarily distinct family of non-receptor protein tyrosine kinases and may function as an intracellular signal transducer in specific tissues.

Base Sequence↗
PubMed1998

Synthesis of 17,20alpha/beta-dihydroxy-4-pregnen-3-one and 5beta-pregnanes in spermatozoa of primary and 17alpha-methyltestosterone-induced secondary male grouper (Epinephelus coioides).

The in vitro metabolism of [3H]17-hydroxyprogesterone by spermatozoa of primary and 17alpha-methyltestosterone (MT)-induced secondary male grouper (Epinephelus coioides) has been examined. With only the labeled precursor, the four predominant 5beta-pregnanes (17, 20alpha-dihydroxy-5beta-pregnan-3-one; 5beta-pregnan-3alpha,17, 20alpha-triol; 3alpha,17-dihydroxy-5beta-pregnan-20-one; and 17hydroxy-5beta-pregnan-3,20-dione) accounted for 75% of the total product yield, with the remainder comprising 17, 20alpha-dihydroxy-4-pregnen-3-one (17,20alphaP) and traces (3%) of 17,20beta-dihydroxy-4-pregnen-3-one. This is the first report of the synthesis of these 5beta-pregnanes by teleost spermatozoa. The addition of excess unlabeled precursor caused a marked shift to the synthesis of only 17,20alphaP. The steroidogenic profile in spermatozoa of the primary and secondary males appears similar in both cases. The shift to 17,20alphaP synthesis at high substrate concentration may suggest a gonadotropin (GtH) control of 17, 20alphaP synthesis, involving the competition for 17P between the high-activity, low-capacity 5beta-reductases and the low-activity, high-capacity 20alpha-HSD. Poor spermiation in MT-induced males may thus be due to the lack of 17P arising from low GtH secretion in vivo in the secondary males.

17-alpha-Hydroxyprogesterone↗
PubMed1998

Pituitary adenylate cyclase-activating peptide stimulates rat pancreatic secretion via secretin and cholecystokinin releases.

BACKGROUND & AIMS: Pituitary adenylate cyclase-activating polypeptide (PACAP) stimulates protein and/or amylase secretion from isolated rat pancreatic acini. The effect of PACAP on pancreatic secretion in vivo and its mechanism of action were studied. METHODS: Rats were prepared with pancreatic duct cannulation, pyloric ligation, and bile diversion into duodenum, and 2.5, 5, and 10 nmol/kg PACAP-27 was administered intravenously while pancreatic juice was collected for 30 minutes. In other groups of rats, the effect of 10 nmol/kg PACAP-27 was studied under the influence of either atropine; loxiglumide, an antisecretin serum; a combination of both loxiglumide and the antiserum; or a PACAP antagonist (PACAP 6-38). Plasma secretin and cholecystokinin concentrations were measured by radioimmunoassay. RESULTS: (1) PACAP dose-dependently increased pancreatic secretion of fluid, bicarbonate, and protein; (2) the increase in pancreatic secretion paralleled that of plasma secretin and cholecystokinin; (3) a combination of loxiglumide and antisecretin serum eliminated the PACAP-stimulated pancreatic secretion, whereas loxiglumide or antisecretin serum alone partially but significantly blocked pancreatic secretion; (4) atropine failed to influence PACAP-induced pancreatic secretion; and (5) PACAP antagonist profoundly suppressed the PACAP action. CONCLUSIONS: PACAP-27 dose-dependently stimulates pancreatic secretion of fluid, bicarbonate, and protein in rats. This effect is mediated by release of both secretin and cholecystokinin and is independent of cholinergic tone.

Animals↗
PubMed1998

Nasopharyngeal carcinoma presenting as an intracranial abscess.

BACKGROUND: There are many conditions related to brain abscess. Brain abscesses resulting from nasopharyngeal carcinoma is rare. It is unusual for an intracranial abscess to appear as the initial clinical presentation of nasopharyngeal carcinoma. CASE REPORT: A 43-year-old male patient suffering from nasopharyngeal carcinoma with the initial manifestation of an intracranial abscess without symptoms and signs suggestive of the primary nasopharyngeal carcinoma is reported. The diagnosis was particularly elusive and was not made until the third admission. CONCLUSION: Although it is rare, intracranial abscess should be considered as one of the possible manifestations of nasopharyngeal carcinoma.

Adult↗
PubMed1998

Anatomic basis of cleft palate and velopharyngeal surgery: implications from a fresh cadaveric study.

The purpose of this investigation was to apply the findings of an anatomic study of the levator veli palatini, palatopharyngeus, and superior constrictor muscles in 18 fresh cadaveric specimens of normal adults to analyze current controversies in velopharyngeal function and cleft palate surgery. The levator veli palatini was observed to form a muscular sling, suspending the velum from the cranial base. Its fibers occupied the middle 50 percent of the velum, lying in transverse orientation and without significant overlap across the midline. It is well placed to function as the prime mover in the velar component of velopharyngeal closure. The velar component of the palatopharyngeus consisted of two heads clasping the levator and inserting into the latter just short of the midline. Its pharyngeal component inserted into the superior constrictor in the lateral and posterior pharyngeal walls. Together, these two muscles formed a sphincter around the velopharyngeal port, suggesting that both muscles are involved in the pharyngeal component of velopharyngeal closure. Based on the premise that the goal of palatoplasty is to restore normal anatomy, the intravelar veloplasty has a sound basis, and theoretically improves both velar and pharyngeal wall function because it corrects the dysmorphology of both the levator and palatopharyngeus. Although the Furlow palatoplasty also reorients these velar muscles correctly in the transverse position, the resulting overlap of the levator and palatopharyngeus across the midline is morphologically abnormal. In addition, the use of large Z-plasty flaps in wide clefts may cause excessive lateral tension, increasing the risk of fistula formation and causing an impairment of velar stretch capacity. The raising of a vertical pharyngeal flap divides the fibers of the superior constrictor and has the potential to impair pharyngeal wall function. The sphincter pharyngoplasty interferes less with pharyngeal wall anatomy. The potential for an obstructive outcome seems to be related to the use of wide, long flaps and a tight, overlapping type of flap inset. In addition, the level of flap inset is important: an inset at the level of the uvula has the greatest risk of causing obstruction, whereas a higher inset at the level of attempted velopharyngeal closure seems to provide the best opportunity for achieving velopharyngeal competence while avoiding hyponasality and obstruction.

Adult↗
PubMed1998

Clinical implications of the velopharyngeal blood supply: a fresh cadaveric study.

The aim of this investigation was to examine the blood supply of the normal velopharyngeal musculature and its clinical implications. Detailed dissections were performed on each side of five fresh human adult cadaveric head and neck specimens (n = 10) following carotid artery injection with liquid neoprene latex stained with green pigment. The vascular network of the soft palate was situated within its glandular layer. The velopharyngeal muscles were supplied by the following four branches of the external carotid artery: (1) ascending palatine branch of the facial artery, which supplied the palatoglossus, palatopharyngeus, musculus uvulae, and the intravelar part of the levator veli palatini; (2) ascending pharyngeal artery, which supplied the superior constrictor; (3) the previously undescribed recurrent pharyngeal artery, which supplied the extravelar part of the levator veli palatini; and (4) maxillary artery, which supplied the tensor veli palatini. All muscles except the musculus uvulae had at least a dual blood supply. Analysis of this vascular anatomy suggests that (1) the overall generous blood supply of the velum allows it to tolerate the dissection performed during intravelar veloplasty and the Furlow double opposing Z-plasty; (2) dissection around the hamulus, along the medial pterygoid plate, and in the space of Ernst should be performed carefully to avoid damage to the ascending palatine artery, ascending pharyngeal, and recurrent pharyngeal arteries; (3) vertical pharyngeal flaps are random pattern in nature; and (4) the posterior tonsilar pillar flaps of the sphincter pharyngoplasty are adequately supplied by the hamular branch of the ascending palatine artery.

Adult↗
PubMed1998

Inter- and intraspecific phylogenetic analysis of the genus Nocardioides and related taxa based on 16S rDNA sequences.

The 16S rDNAs from 38 strains of the genus Nocardioides, two Aeromicrobium species and Terrabacter tumescens were directly sequenced and then analysed. The mean nucleotide similarity value between the type strains of validly described Nocardioides species was 96.1 +/- 3.0%. The mean nucleotide similarity value between the type strains of validly described Nocardioides species and the two Aeromicrobium species was 93.7 +/- 1.4% T. tumescens was distantly related to the genera Nocardioides and Aeromicrobium. The mean intraspecific nucleotide similarity value of 16S rDNA sequences from Nocardioides albus was 99.5 +/- 0.5%. The mean intraspecific nucleotide similarity of 16S rDNA sequences from Nocardioides simplex was 100%, except for N. simplex strains ATCC 13260, ATCC 19565 and ATCC 19566, which were shown not to be members of the genus Nocardioides. 'Nocardioides flavus' strains IFO 14396T and IFO 14397, and 'Nocardioides fulvus' JCM 3335T showed a 16S rDNA similarity value of 100% with Nocardioides luteus KCTC 9575T and Nocardioides albus JCM 5854. 'N. fulvus' IFO 14399 shared its highest 16S rDNA similarity with Nocardioides sp. ATCC 39419 at 99%. 'N. fulvus' IFO 14399 and Nocardioides sp. ATCC 39419 formed a phylogenetic lineage distinct from the genera Nocardioides and Aeromicrobium. 'Nocardioides thermolilacinus' strains IFO 14335T and IFO 14336 displayed a close relationship to the genus Streptomyces. From 16S rDNA sequence analyses, it is considered that some strains that have been attributed to the genus Nocardioides should be taxonomically re-evaluated.

DNA, Bacterial↗
PubMed1998

Genetic analyses of the genus Nocardioides and related taxa based on 16S-23S rDNA internally transcribed spacer sequences.

The 16S-23S internally transcribed spacer (ITS) sequences were analysed to clarify inter- and intraspecific relationships among strains of the genus Nocardioides and the relationship between two Aeromicrobium species. The 16S-23S ITS regions from 33 Nocardioides strains, two Aeromicrobium species and Terrabacter tumescens were sequenced directly after polymerase chain reaction (PCR0 amplification and gamma exonuclease treatment. The genomes of some Nocardioides strains included two types of 16S-23S ITS sequences. The sizes of the 16S-23S ITS sequences of Nocardioides strains ranged from 328 to 539 bp. The 16S-23S ITS sequences of Aeromicrobium erythreum NSP37T, Aeromicrobium fastidiosum NSP38T and T. tumescens NSP39T were 349, 355 and 386 bp long, respectively. Nucleotide similarity among 16S-23S ITS sequences of Nocardioides albus strains and of Nocardioides simplex strains was 84.1-100% and 97.7-100%, respectively. The 16S-23S ITS sequence of Nocardioides luteus was identical to that of 'Nocardioides fulvus' NSP32T and was only 1 bp different from that of 'Nocardioides flavus' strains. However, the 16S-23S ITS sequences of 'N. fulvus' NSP33 showed only a low degree of similarity to 'N. fulvus' NSP32T (54.8%). The degree of 16S-23S ITS similarity between N. luteus NSP20T and N. ablus strains ranged from 85 to 93%. The mean nucleotide similarity values between the type strains of validly described Nocardioides species were highly divergent at 68:1 +/- 16.8%. The two Aeromicrobium species showed a level of 16S-23S ITS similarity of 71.2%. In this study, 16S-23S ITS sequences of the members of the genera Nocardioides and Aeromicrobium were useful for inferring the relationships between closely related strains and species. However, they were not found to be appropriate for elucidating the phylogenetic relationships between distantly related organisms at the genus level.

Actinomycetales↗
PubMed1998

Paenibacillus campinasensis sp. nov., a cyclodextrin-producing bacterium isolated in Brazil.

An alkaliphilic, endospore-forming bacterium isolated from Brazilian soil was taxonomically studied and is proposed as a new Paenibacillus species. This organism (strain 324T) was particularly distinguishable from other Paenibacillus species by its ability to grow optimally at pH 10 and 40 degrees C. The DNA G+C content was 5.0 mol%. The diamine acid of the cell-wall peptidoglycan was meso-diaminopimelic acid. MK-7 was the predominant menaquinone and anteiso-C15:0 was the major fatty acid. Levels of 16S rDNA similarity between strain 324T and other Paenibacillus species were 90.6-95.9%. Phylogenetically, strain 324T formed an evolutionary lineage distinct from other species within the evolutionary radiation encompassing the genus Paenibacillus. Based on phenotyic and chemotaxonomic properties, and phylogenetic inference, it is proposed that strain 324T should be placed in the genus Paenibacillus as a new species is strain 324T should be placed in the genus Paenibacilus as a new species, Paenibacillus campinasensis. This type strain of the new species is strain 325T (= KCTC 0364BP).

Bacillus↗