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Biomedical subjects

Won Kim

Publications and source records attributed to Won Kim.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed2005

Protective effect of alpha-lipoic acid in lipopolysaccharide-induced endothelial fractalkine expression.

Fractalkine is a unique chemokine that functions as a chemoattractant as well as an adhesion molecule on endothelial cells activated by proinflammatory cytokines. Alpha-lipoic acid (LA), a naturally occurring dithiol compound, is an essential cofactor for mitochondrial bioenergetic enzymes. LA improves glycemic control, reduces diabetic polyneuropathies, and mitigates toxicity associated with heavy metal poisoning. The effects of LA on processes associated with sepsis, however, are unknown. We evaluated the antiinflammatory effect of LA on fractalkine expression in a lipopolysaccharide-induced endotoxemia model. Tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) and interleukin-1beta (IL-1beta) significantly induced fractalkine mRNA and protein expression in endothelial cells. LA strongly suppressed TNF-alpha- or IL-1beta-induced fractalkine expression in endothelial cells by suppressing the activities of nuclear factor-kappaB and specificity protein-1. LA also decreased TNF-alpha- or IL-1beta-stimulated monocyte adhesion to human umbilical vein endothelial cells. As shown by immunohistochemistry, fractalkine protein expression was markedly increased by treatment with lipopolysaccharide in arterial endothelial cells, endocardium, and endothelium of intestinal villi. LA suppressed lipopolysaccharide-induced fractalkine protein expression and infiltration of endothelin 1-positive cells into the heart and intestine in vivo. LA protected against lipopolysaccharide-induced myocardial dysfunction and improved survival in lipopolysaccharide-induced endotoxemia. These results suggest that LA could be an effective agent to reduce fractalkine-mediated inflammatory processes in endotoxemia.

Animals↗
PubMed2005

A combined approach for locating box H/ACA snoRNAs in the human genome.

A novel combined method for locating box H/ACA small nucleolar RNAs (snoRNAs) is described, together with a software tool. The method adopts both a probabilistic hidden Markov model (HMM) and a minimum free energy (MFE) rule, and filters possible candidate box H/ACA snoRNAs obtained from genomic DNA sequences. With our novel method 12 known box H/ACA snoRNAs, and one strong candidate were identified in 30 nucleolar protein genomic sequences.

Algorithms↗
PubMed2005

A specific and rapid HPLC assay for the determination of cefroxadine in human plasma and its application to pharmacokinetic study in Korean.

A specific and rapid high performance liquid chromatographic (HPLC) method with UV detection (254 nm) was developed for the determination of cefroxadine in human plasma. The sample extraction was performed by a simple procedure, vortexing and centrifugation of sample following addition of 60% trichloroacetic acid. Cephalexin was used as an internal standard (I.S.). The HPLC analysis was carried out on a Capcell Pak C18 analytical column with a mobile phase of 50 mM ammonium formate buffer/pH 3.5 and acetonitrile (90:10, v/v). No interference was observed near the peaks of cefroxadine and I.S. The calibration curve was linear over the range of 0.5-40 microg/mL and the lower limit of quantification (LLOQ) was 0.5 microg/mL. The method was validated with excellent sensitivity, accuracy, precision and stability. This assay was successfully applied to determine the pharmacokinetic parameters of cefroxadine in Korean healthy volunteers after an oral administration of two 250 mg cefroxadine capsules. As a result, the plasma half-life was 1.00+/-0.26 h and the mean AUC(0-6 h) was 46.25+/-6.41microgh/mL. The maximum plasma concentration (C(max)) of 17.62+/-4.87 microg/mL reached 1.44+/-0.39 h after administration.

Adult↗
PubMed2005

Phylogenetic relationships among six vetigastropod subgroups (Mollusca, Gastropoda) based on 18S rDNA sequences.

Complete 18S rDNA sequences were determined for 10 vetigastropods in order to investigate the phylogeny of Vetigastropoda, which is controversial. These sequences were analyzed together with published sequences for nine other vetigastropods and two nerites. With the two nerites as outgroups, the phylogeny was inferred by three analytical methods, neighbor-joining, maximum likelihood, and maximum parsimony. The 18S rDNA sequence data support the monophyly of four vetigastropod superfamilies, the Pleurotomarioidea, the Fissurelloidea, the Haliotoidea, and the Trochoidea. The present results yield the new branching order: (Pleurotomarioidea (Fissurelloidea ((Scissurelloidea, Lepetodriloidea) (Haliotoidea, Trochoidea)))) within the vetigastropod clade.

Animals↗
PubMed2005

Agonist of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-gamma, rosiglitazone, reduces renal injury and dysfunction in a murine sepsis model.

BACKGROUND: Agonists of the peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-gamma may help to regulate inflammation by modulating the production of inflammatory mediators and adhesion molecules. The purpose of this study was to determine the protective effects of rosiglitazone on renal injury in a sepsis model and to explore the mechanism. METHODS: In lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced mouse sepsis, we examined the effect of rosiglitazone on LPS-induced overproduction of inflammatory mediators, on the expression of adhesion molecules in renal tubular epithelial cells and on renal function. The mechanism of the protective effect was investigated in vitro using human renal tubular epithelial cells. RESULTS: Rosiglitazone significantly decreased serum tumour necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha and interleukin (IL)-1beta levels during sepsis. The levels of blood urea nitrogen and creatinine were significantly lower in mice pre-treated with rosiglitazone than that in LPS-treated mice. Rosiglitazone reduced the expression of intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) and vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM-1) in tubular epithelial cells and interstitium of LPS-treated mice. Pre-treatment with rosiglitazone reduced the infiltration of macrophages/monocytes in renal tissue. In cultured tubular epithelial cells, rosiglitazone significantly decreased the expression of ICAM-1 and VCAM-1 induced by TNF-alpha or IL-1beta, inhibited the degradation of inhibitor kappaBalpha (IkappaBalpha) and blocked the activation of the p65 subunit of nuclear factor (NF)-kappaB. CONCLUSIONS: These results indicate that pre-treatment with rosiglitazone attenuated the production of TNF-alpha and IL-1beta and reduced adhesion molecule expression in renal tubular epithelial cells of LPS-treated mice. Rosiglitazone has an anti-inflammatory effect in renal tubular epithelial cells through the inhibition of NF-kappaB activation.

Animals↗
PubMed2005

LC-MS determination and bioavailability study of imidapril hydrochloride after the oral administration of imidapril tablets in human volunteers.

The purpose of the present study was to develop a standard protocol for imidapril hydrochloride bioequivalence testing. For this reason, a specific LC-MS method was developed and validated for the determination of imidapril in human plasma. A solid-phase extraction cartridge, Sep-pak C18, was used to extract imidapril and ramipril (an internal standard) from deproteinized plasma. The compounds were separated using a XTerra MS C18 column (3.5 microm, 2.1 x 150 mm) and acetonitrile-0.1% formic acid (67:33, v/v) adjusted to pH 2.4 by 2 mmol/L ammonium formic acid, as mobile phase at 0.3 mL/min. Imidapril was detected as m/z 406 at a retention time of ca. 2.3 min, and ramipril as m/z 417 at ca. 3.6 min. The described method showed acceptable specificity, linearity from 0.5 to 100 ng/mL, precision (expressed as a relative standard deviation of less than 15%), accuracy, and stability. The plasma concentration-versus-time curves of eight healthy male volunteers administered a single dose of imidapril (10 mg), gave an AUC12hr of imidapril of 121.48 +/- 35.81 ng mL(-1) h, and Cmax and Tmax values of 32.59 +/- 9.76 ng/mL and 1.75 +/- 0.27 h. The developed method should be useful for the determination of imidapril in plasma with sufficient sensitivity and specificity in bioequivalence study.

Administration, Oral↗
PubMed2005

Aspiration thrombectomy of acute complete carotid bulb occlusion.

Two patients with acute complete carotid bulb occlusion were treated using intra-arterial aspiration thrombectomy a mean of 3 hours after stroke onset. A slightly angulated 8-F guiding catheter designed for general interventional use was employed to aspirate the thrombus in the carotid artery. Manual aspiration through a 50-mL syringe resulted in effective removal of the thrombus followed by good patency of the internal carotid artery. Aspiration thrombectomy is a simple, feasible and effective rescue procedure for patients with acute complete carotid bulb occlusion.

Acute Disease↗
PubMed2005

The effectiveness of mirtazapine in the treatment of post-traumatic stress disorder: a 24-week continuation therapy.

Few studies for the long-term effects of antidepressants on post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) have been conducted. The aim of the present study was to investigate the effectiveness of mirtazapine during the 24-week continuation treatment in patients with PTSD. Out of 15 patients who participated in the previous 8-week short-term study, 12 patients completed 24-week continuation treatment with mirtazapine. The effectiveness was evaluated at week 12 and week 24 using Impact of Event Scale-Revised (IES-R), Short PTSD Rating Interview (SPRINT), Interviewer-Administered Structured Interview for PTSD (SIP) and Montgomery-Asberg Depression Rating Scale (MADRS). The tolerability of continuation treatment was also reported. The scores on the IES-R, SPRINT, SIP and MADRS were significantly reduced over time from baseline to week 24, the end-point (F=36.1, d.f.=4, P<0.001; F=106.3, d.f.=4, P<0.001; F=121.1, d.f.=4, P<0.001; F=198.9, d.f.=4, P<0.001). On post-hoc analysis, the scores of all four measures were significantly reduced at the end point since week 8. However, after Bonferroni's correction, that was statistically significant in SPRINT only. The number of patients whose scores were reduced over 50% in all four scales had a tendency of incremental increase from three at week 8 to eight at the end point (P=0.063). No serious drug-related side-effects occurred. These results suggest that the mirtazapine may be effective in the continuation treatment of PTSD as well as short-term treatment. Further and better-designed studies are necessary.

Adult↗
PubMed2005

A new marine nematode species of the genus Dinetia (Nematoda: Draconematidae) from South Korea.

A new draconematid nematode species of the genus Dinetia Decraemer and Gourbault, 1997 is described from the subtidal sediments and small logs from the eastern coast of South Korea. Dinetia orientalis n. sp. mainly differs from D. nycterobia Decraemer and Gourbault, 1997 by the following characters: large number of cephalic adhesion tubes (38-42 in male and 37-40 in female), number of posterior sublateral adhesion tubes (9-11 in male and 13-14 in female) and posterior subventral adhesion tubes (17-22 in male and 19-24 in female), the buccal cavity (narrow and armed with a dorsal and two weak ventrosublateral teeth), spicules (strongly arcuated and with a pair of strongly dilated gubernaculums around distal part of spicules), and higher "c" value (8.3-10.4 in male and 8.5-10.7 in female). This is the first report on free-living marine nematodes from South Korea, and the first record of the genus Dinetia in the Northwest Pacific.

Animals↗
PubMed2005

Comparison of renal damage by iodinated contrast or gadolinium in an acute renal failure rat model based on serum creatinine levels and apoptosis degree.

This study was undertaken to compare renal damage, as determined by serum creatinine and degree of apoptosis, caused by iodinated contrast or gadolinium in an acute renal failure (ARF) rat model. Rats were divided into three groups; controls (n=3), a CT contrast medium group (n=9), and an MR contrast medium group (n=9). The CT and MR groups were further subdivided into three groups, namely, low, standard, and high dose subgroups. Renal function was evaluated by determining serum creatinine levels; before ARF, and 48 hr after ARF and contrast administration. Apoptosis was assayed by terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP nick-end labeling (TUNEL). No significant creatinine level differences were observed between the CT and MR groups (p=0.116). Degrees of apoptosis in the renal cortex and medulla were more severe in the CT contrast medium group than in the control or MR contrast medium group (p<0.05). The study shows that CT contrast medium did not aggravate renal function more so than MR contrast medium in this ARF rat model. However, apoptosis examination in the renal cortex and medulla indicated that CT contrast medium induced more severe apoptosis than MR contrast medium (p<0.05). We conclude that CT contrast medium can be used for renal imaging studies when subjects are well hydrated and preventive medication is administered.

Acute Kidney Injury↗
PubMed2005

Contemporary applications of transanal endoscopic microsurgery: technical innovations and limitations.

PURPOSE: Transanal endoscopic microsurgery (TEM) is a minimally invasive procedure used to transanally excise select benign and malignant tumors of the rectum. In properly selected patients, TEM can provide for decreased postoperative morbidity without compromising oncologic outcome. This report summarizes the recent literature concerning TEM, comprehensively analyzes the authors' experience with TEM, and describes recent technical innovations and indications. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Thirty-two consecutive patients scheduled for TEM were identified from our prospectively maintained colorectal service database. Clinicopathologic factors, postoperative complications, and oncologic outcomes were analyzed for all patients. In addition, a PubMed literature search was performed with use of the key words "transanal endoscopic microsurgery," "TEM," "rectal tumor," and "rectal cancer." RESULTS: Transanal endoscopic microsurgery was performed for rectal adenocarcinoma (n = 17; 53%), adenoma (n = 12; 38%), and carcinoid tumors (n = 3; 9%). Median tumor location was 9 cm from the anal verge (range, 3-15 cm). Of the 32 attempted TEM procedures, 27 (84%) were completed. Reasons for inability to complete TEM included narrow rectal lumen or contour of bony pelvis prohibiting passage of the operating proctoscope into the upper rectum and inability to maintain the proctoscope in the rectal lumen with carbon dioxide insufflation because of the distal location of the tumor. Innovations used in the excision of rectal tumors via TEM included the use of the harmonic scalpel, closure of the rectal defect with an extracorporeal slip knot, and a hybrid approach incorporating TEM and traditional transanal techniques. CONCLUSION: Transanal endoscopic microsurgery provides for low morbidity and does not appear to impair oncologic outcome in properly selected patients.

Adenocarcinoma↗
PubMed2005

Kimura's disease involving thoracic and abdominal lymph nodes in a hemodialysis patient.

We report the first observed case of Kimura's disease occurring during hemodialysis, involving the thoracic and abdominal lymph nodes, which spontaneously resolved nearly completely after two months. Early diagnosis and recognition of Kimura's disease may spare both the patient and doctor from the need for unnecessary invasive diagnostic procedures. Therefore, we emphasize that we need to have a high index of suspicion regarding Kimura's disease.

Abdomen↗
PubMed2005

A strategy for assigning new concepts in the MEDLINE database.

The MeSH indexing done in MEDLINE is engineered by humans. Humans define the MeSH concepts and human indexers assign MeSH terms to MEDLINE records. Methods have been designed in an attempt to assign MeSH terms to MEDLINE documents automatically with some success. Methods have also been designed to locate useful phrases as potential concepts for indexing. However, little work has been done on the problem of how one might automatically index with the concepts represented by such phrases. Here we examine this issue and present a method for such indexing.

Abstracting and Indexing↗
PubMed2004

Simultaneous determination of amoxicillin and clavulanic acid in human plasma by HPLC-ESI mass spectrometry.

A simple, fast and sensitive high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC)-mass spectrometric (MS) method has been developed for simultaneous determination of amoxicillin and clavulanic acid in human plasma using terbutaline as internal standard. After precipitation of the plasma proteins with acetonitrile, the analytes were separated on a C(8) reversed-phase column with formic acid-water-acetonirile (2:1000:100) and detected using electrospray ionization (ESI) mass spectrometry in negative selected ion monitoring (SIM) mode. The method was validated and successfully applied to analysis of amoxicillin and clavulanic acid in clinical studies. The limit of quantitation, 0.12 microg/ml for amoxicillin and 0.062 microg/ml for clavulanic acid, was five times lower than that of the published HPLC-UV method.

Amoxicillin↗
PubMed2004

A double blind study showing that two weeks of daily repetitive TMS over the left or right temporoparietal cortex reduces symptoms in patients with schizophrenia who are having treatment-refractory auditory hallucinations.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) on the left and right temporoparietal cortex compared with sham stimulation in schizophrenic patients with treatment-refractory auditory hallucinations (AH). Thirty-nine patients with schizophrenia with treatment-refractory AH were allocated randomly to one of three groups: daily left, right, and sham rTMS groups. rTMS was applied to the TP3 or 4 regions with the aid of the electroencephalography 10-20 international system at 1 Hz for 20 min per day for 10 treatment days. Symptoms were evaluated using the Auditory Hallucination Rating Scale (AHRS), the Positive and Negative Symptoms Scale (PANSS), the Clinical Global Impression--Severity (CGI-S), and Clinical Global Impression--Improvement (CGI-I) scale. For the time effect (within-subject comparison), there were significant changes in the frequency of AHs, positive symptoms of PANSS, and CGI-I. A between-group comparison revealed significant differences in the positive symptoms of PANSS, and CGI-I scores. Post hoc analysis revealed that both the right- and left-side rTMS treatment groups exhibited better CGI-I scores compared to the sham-stimulated group. This study suggests that 10 days of low-frequency rTMS applied daily for 20 min to either temporoparietal cortex significantly reduces the symptoms in patients with schizophrenia who are having refractory AH, but the left sided rTMS is not superior to right or sham rTMS.

Adolescent↗