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Biomedical subjects

Y K Kang

Publications and source records attributed to Y K Kang.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

A prospective correlation of Laurén's histological classification of stomach cancer with clinicopathological findings including DNA flow cytometry.

Between November 1990 and December 1992, 217 patients with stomach cancer were enrolled in a prospective study evaluating the prognostic value of DNA flow cytometry. Laurén's histological type was evaluated in 216 cases, of which 102 (47%) were of the diffuse type, 74 (34%) were of the intestinal type, and 40 (19%) were mixed type tumors. Laurén's histological type showed a significant correlation with age (p = 0.028), sex (p = 0.004), tumor size (p = 0.002), T stage (p = 0.006), overall TNM stage (p = 0.008), histological grade (p < 0.001), and tumor ploidy (p < 0.001). Intestinal type stomach cancer showed a significantly higher proportion of aneuploidy [diffuse vs. intestinal type; 41/102 (40%) vs. 52/74 (70%)]. After a median follow-up of 66.1 months (range, 29.6-78.1), 110 of 216 patients (51%) survived. Patients with intestinal type stomach cancer had a significantly better survival than did those with diffuse type stomach cancer (64% vs. 42% of patients surviving, p = 0.020). Our study suggests that there are biological differences between the two subtypes of Laurén's classification of stomach cancer in addition to the morphological differences. Laurén's classification should remain valid in future studies investigating the pathogenetic and clinical aspects of stomach cancer.

Adult↗

Bilateral conjunctival mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue lymphoma misdiagnosed as allergic conjunctivitis.

PURPOSE: This report aimed to discuss two nearly identical cases of primary conjunctival mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue (MALT) lymphoma mimicking allergic conjunctivitis. METHODS: Two patients were referred for intractability to conventional treatment of initial diagnoses of allergic conjunctivitis. On ocular examination, normally pigmented, giant papilla-like lesions were found bilaterally in the upper conjunctiva. Excisional biopsies were performed. RESULTS: Histopathologic and immunohistochemical examination of the conjunctival biopsies indicated MALT lymphoma in both patients. The patients subsequently received radiation therapy and achieved complete remission with no evidence of recurrence during follow-up periods of 13 and 11 months. CONCLUSION: Conjunctival low-grade lymphoma may share similar clinical features with allergic conjunctivitis. Ophthalmologists should be concerned that primary conjunctival low-grade malignant lymphoma can be misdiagnosed as allergic conjunctivitis

Adult↗

Combination of oxaliplatin, fluorouracil, and leucovorin in the treatment of fluoropyrimidine-pretreated patients with metastatic colorectal cancer.

There has been no standard therapy for patients with metastatic colorectal cancer who have failed to first-line fluorouracil-based treatment. The present study was designed to assess the efficacy and toxicities of a combination of oxaliplatin, 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) and leucovorin in fluoropyrimidine-pretreated patients with metastatic colorectal cancer. Chemotherapy consisted of oxaliplatin 85 mg/m2 on day 1, followed by leucovorin 20 mg/m2 and 5-FU 1,200 mg/m2 on days 1 and 2. Treatment courses were repeated every two weeks. Thirty-nine patients were enrolled in this study. All patients previously received fluoropyrimidine-based chemotherapy. Thirty-one patients were assessable for response and 33 for treatment toxicity. Six patients required dose reduction of 5-FU due to grade III/IV cytopenia. Nausea/vomiting and peripheral neuropathy were common non-hematologic toxicities. Overall response rate was 42.0% including 3 complete response and 10 partial response. The median response duration was 91 days (range, 28-224+). The median duration of progression-free survival was 132 days (range, 40-308). A combination of oxaliplatin, 5-FU, and leucovorin showed high response rate in fluoropyrimidine-pretreated patients with metastatic colorectal cancer, but the duration of response was relatively short. It may be worthwhile to explore its therapeutic potential in the first-line treatment setting.

Adult↗

Blastocyst viability and generation of transgenic cattle following freezing of in vitro produced, DNA-injected embryos.

This study examined whether the viability, determined in vitro, of DNA-injected bovine embryos produced in vitro was affected by freezing, and if the frozen embryos developed to term following transfer to recipients. In vitro fertilized zygotes were injected with the pBL1 gene and then co-cultured with mouse embryonic fibroblasts (MEF) in CR1aa medium. Embryos were prepared for cryopreservation by exposure to a 10% (v/v) glycerol solution, loaded into 0.25 ml straws and then frozen by conventional slow freezing. Thawing was by rapid warming in water (37 degrees C) and embryos were rehydrated in PBS diluents of 6%, 3% and 0% (v/v) glycerol supplemented with 0.25 M sucrose and 0.5% (w/v) BSA. In Experiment 1, blastocysts that developed from DNA-injected embryos were individually classified into three morphological groups and three stages of development prior to freezing. DNA-injected blastocysts of excellent quality at freezing showed a higher survival rate (78.8+/-10.6%) after thawing than those of good (60. 9+/-16.4%) or fair (12.5+/-5.9%) quality (P<0.05). Post-thaw survival rate, judged in vitro, increased with more advanced stage of blastocyst development at freezing (early 48.8+/-15.9%, mid 52. 1+/-12.6% and expanded 71.2+/-1.1; P<0.05). In Experiment 2, the frozen/thawed embryos were transferred to recipients to examine in vivo viability. Following transfer of one or two embryos per recipient, pregnancy rates at 60 days of gestation were 13.6% (13/96) for frozen embryos and 26.5% (43/162) for fresh embryos (P<0. 05). Of the 12 live calves born from the frozen/thawed embryos, two males (18.3%) were transgenic. None of the live-born calves derived from fresh embryos exhibited the transgene. One of transgenic bulls did not produce transgenic sperm. Three out of 23 calves (13.0%) produced from cows inseminated with semen of the other bull were transgenic, suggesting that this animal was a germ-line mosaic. These studies indicated that the viability of in vitro produced, DNA-injected bovine blastocysts was affected by freezing and by both the quality and stage of development of the embryo prior to freezing. The generation of transgenic cattle demonstrates that it is feasible to freeze DNA-injected, in vitro produced embryos.

Animals↗

Synthesis and antibacterial activity of new carbapenems containing isoxazole moiety.

The synthesis and biological activity of a series of new 1beta-methylcarbapenems 1a-g containing 5'-isoxazolopyrrolidin-3'-ylthio derivatives as C-2 side chain are described. Most compounds exhibited potent and well-balanced antibacterial activity as well as high stability to DHP-I comparable to that of meropenem. 1e and 1c showed the best combination of antibacterial activity and stability to DHP-I, respectively.

Anti-Bacterial Agents↗

Effect of short interspersed element sequences on the integration and expression of a reporter gene in the preimplantation-stage mouse embryos.

Based on the assumption that foreign DNA sequences may have increased chance of integration into the host genome if they are flanked by high copy-numbered genomic sequences such as SINEs (short interspersed elements), we investigated the integration frequency of Lac Z reporter gene flanked by a fused B1/B2 in an in vivo system using pronuclear microinjection technique in the mouse. The SINE-flanked DNA showed a 4-fold increased integration frequency of the reporter gene than the control DNA (63% vs. 16%). Moreover, the level of beta-galactosidase expression, estimated from the X-Gal staining intensity in transgenic embryos, was greatly higher in SINE-carrying DNA. These results suggest that the SINE sequences can serve a very useful tool in improving the efficiency of current transgenic animal technology.

Animals↗

Preferred conformations of a linear RGD tripeptide.

Conformational study of RGD tripeptides in the nonhydrated and hydrated states was carried out using an empirical potential function ECEPP/3 and the hydration shell model in order to investigate preferred conformations and factors responsible for their stability. RGD tripeptides in the nonhydrated and hydrated states can be interpreted as existing as an ensemble of feasible conformations rather than as a single dominant conformation from the analysis of distributions of backbone conformations, hydrogen bonds and beta-turns. The different distributions of conformations for the neutral and zwitterionic RGD tripeptides in both states may indicate that the conformation of the RGD tripeptide is liable to depend on solvent polarity and pH values. beta-Turn populations for the neutral tripeptide in both states are reasonably consistent with NMR measurements on linear RGD-containing peptides. The degradation of RGD tripeptide seems to be attributed mainly to the hydrogen bonds between the Asp side-chain and the backbone of Asp residue or C-terminal NHMe group, rather than to the flexible backbones of Gly and Asp residues.

Aspartic Acid↗

Allelotype analysis of intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma.

To identify the chromosomal loci of allelic loss in intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (ICC), we performed an allelotype study of 36 ICCs using 55 genome-wide microsatellite markers. Loss of heterozygosity was found most frequently on 8p (65.6%), 17p (64.7%), and 9p (64.5%), followed by 18q (54.2%), 1p (48.5%), 3p (44.8%), 9q (42.1%), 14q (41.7%), 6q (41.7%), and 1q (40.6%). The fractional allelic loss (FAL) values ranged from 0 to 0.731 (mean, 0.322). Analysis of the relationship between FAL values and clinicopathologic parameters disclosed significantly higher FAL values in moderately to poorly differentiated ICCs than in well-differentiated ones (P < .05). In summary, this study defined for the first time the overall number of chromosomes having allelic loss and the chromosomal arms and/or regions potentially involved in the development of ICC.

Alleles↗

beta-catenin expression and mutational analysis in renal cell carcinomas.

beta-Catenin acts as a downstream transcriptional activator of the Wingless-Wnt signaling pathway. The beta-catenin-Tcf complex transactivates the downstream genes that regulate cell proliferation or inhibit apoptosis. The activation of this pathway through stabilization of beta-catenin is caused either by inactivating mutations of adenomatous polyposis coli (APC) tumor suppressor gene or by activating mutations in beta-catenin exon 3. To determine whether the abnormal expression and activating mutations in exon 3 of the beta-catenin gene are implicated in renal cell carcinogenesis, 52 renal cell carcinomas (RCC) were analyzed by immunohistochemistry, polymerase chain reaction-single-strand conformational polymorphism analysis (PCR-SSCP), and direct DNA sequencing. Immunohistochemically, all cases, as well as normal kidneys, showed membranous and/or cytoplasmic staining patterns without nuclear localization. However, the cytoplasmic accumulations of beta-catenin were observed in five (22.7%) of 22 cases of conventional (clear cell) renal carcinoma, but not in papillary or chromophobe renal carcinomas. The beta-catenin mutation was identified in only one case of conventional renal carcinoma and was a single-base missense mutation on codon 61, leading to substitution of glutamine by arginine. In conclusion, this study demonstrates that beta-catenin mutations are a relatively rare event in RCC and that cytoplasmic accumulations of beta-catenin protein are found only in conventional (clear cell) renal carcinomas. These data suggest that the activation of the beta-catenin signaling pathway may partly play a role in the development of conventional RCC.

Adenocarcinoma↗

Pure trigeminal motor neuropathy: a case report.

Pure trigeminal motor neuropathy is a trigeminal motor paralysis unaccompanied by signs of trigeminal sensory or other cranial nerve involvement. We present a case of a 38-year-old man complaining of progressive weakness and wasting of the right masticatory muscles after a bout of mild cold symptoms. No sensory symptoms were present. History, neurologic examination, electrophysiologic studies, and magnetic resonance imaging of the brain led to the diagnosis of pure trigeminal motor neuropathy. The cause may have been an autoimmune reaction to a viral infection.

Adult↗

In vitro development of reconstructed porcine oocytes after somatic cell nuclear transfer.

This study was designed to examine the developmental ability of porcine embryos after somatic cell nuclear transfer. Porcine fibroblasts were isolated from fetuses at Day 40 of gestation. In vitro-matured porcine oocytes were enucleated and electrically fused with somatic cells. The reconstructed eggs were activated using electrical stimulus and cultured in vitro for 6 days. Nuclear-transferred (NT) embryos activated at a field strength of 120 V/mm (11.6 +/- 1.6%) showed a higher developmental rate as compared to the 150-V/mm group (6.5 +/- 2.3%) (P: < 0.05), but the mean cell numbers of blastocysts were similar between the two groups. Rates of blastocyst development from NT embryos electrically pulsed at different times (2, 4, and 6 h) after electrofusion were 11.6 +/- 2.9, 6.6 +/- 2.3, and 8.1 +/- 3.3%, respectively. The mean cell numbers of blastocysts developed from NT embryos were gradually decreased (30.4 +/- 10.4 > 24.6 +/- 10.1 > 16.5 +/- 7.4 per blastocyst) as exposure time (2, 4, and 6 h) of nuclei to oocyte cytoplast before activation was prolonged. There was a significant difference in the cell number between the 2- and 6-h groups (P: < 0. 05). Nuclear-transferred embryos (9.4 +/- 0.9%) had a lower developmental rate than in vitro fertilization (IVF)-derived (21.4 +/- 1.9%) or parthenogenetic embryos (22.4 +/- 7.2%) (P: < 0.01). The mean cell number (28.9 +/- 11.4) of NT-derived blastocysts was smaller than that (38.6 +/- 10.4) of IVF-derived blastocysts (P: < 0. 05) and was similar to that (29.9 +/- 12.1) of parthenogenetic embryos. Our results suggest that porcine NT eggs using somatic cells after electrical activation have developmental potential to the blastocyst stage, although with smaller cell numbers compared to IVF embryos.

Animals↗

Granulocytic sarcoma of the breast preceding acute myelogenous leukemia: a case report.

We report a case of granulocytic sarcoma presented as a recurrent breast tumor in a 42-year-old woman with no history of leukemia. The case was initially diagnosed as malignant lymphoma on a previous biopsy specimen and she refused chemotherapy. At the time of recurrence of the breast tumor, the patient showed full-blown features of leukemia. This case of rare tumor suggests that differential diagnosis should be considered when malignant lymphoma of the breast is detected.

Adult↗

Efficient integration of short interspersed element-flanked foreign DNA via homologous recombination.

We investigated whether mouse short interspersed elements (SINEs) could influence the recombination frequency of foreign DNA. Vectors harboring a reporter gene in combinations of SINEs B1 and/or B2 or a portion of long interspersed element-1 were prepared and tested in vitro by a colony assay using HC11 murine mammary epithelial cells and in vivo by microinjection into fertilized mouse eggs. In transfected HC11 cells, the number of colonies surviving G418 selection increased by 3.5-fold compared with control when the reporter was flanked by fused B1-B2 sequences. Similar results were obtained from microinjection study; in fetuses 11.5 days post coitum, transgene positives in control and SINE-flanked vectors were 16 and 53%, respectively. Individual B1- and B2-harboring vectors showed equivalent activities with each other, as determined by the colony assay (2.8-fold versus 3.2-fold compared with control). We determined the contribution of homologous recombination to the SINE-mediated increase in integration frequency through a polymerase chain reaction-based strategy; in more than half of embryos transgenes underwent homologous recombinations involving B1 sequences. These results demonstrate that the SINE sequences can increase the integration rate of foreign DNA and that such an increase is most likely due to the enhancement of homologous recombination.

Animals↗

TGF-beta-induced cell-cycle arrest through the p21(WAF1/CIP1)-G1 cyclin/Cdks-p130 pathway in gastric-carcinoma cells.

Transforming growth factor-beta1 (TGF-beta) inhibits cell-cycle progression of many types of cells by arresting them in G(1)/S phase through inhibition of the active cyclin-Cdk complexes that lead to inhibition of Rb phosphorylation. In gastric-cancer cells, SNU16, TGF-beta treatment induced enhanced expression of p21(WAF1/CIP1) (p21), which inhibited the kinase activity of cyclin-D- and cyclin-E-associated Cdks and blocked p130 phosphorylation. TGF-beta also enhanced the stability of p130, suggesting that hypophosphorylation of p130 and increased stability of p130 contribute to p130-mediated G(1) arrest in gastric-cancer cells. Our results demonstrate that p21 and p130 are major downstream targets of TGF-beta in gastric-cancer cells and that a p21-G(1) cyclin/Cdks-p130/E2F pathway mediates growth inhibition by TGF-beta in these cells.

Carcinoma↗

Synthesis and biological evaluation of novel 1beta-methylcarbapenems having a new moiety at C-2.

The synthesis and biological activity of the novel series of 1 beta-methylcarbapenems 1a-f, bearing a variety of 3",4"-disubstituted pyrrolidinamides as substituents at C-2, are described. Of these carbapenems, diol 1a showed the most potent and well balanced antibacterial activity against Gram-positive and Gram-negative. 1a was also evaluated for pharmacokinetics and in vivo therapeutic efficacy in systemic infections.

Animals↗

A phase II trial of DA-125, a novel anthracycline, in advanced non-small-cell lung cancer.

PURPOSE: DA-125 is a novel anthracycline derivative developed by Dong-A Pharmaceutical Company, Korea. Preclinical studies have suggested that DA-125 has greater efficacy and less toxicity than doxorubicin. The maximum tolerable dose has been shown to be 100 mg/m(2 )in a phase I trial. The purpose of this phase II study was to evaluate the efficacy and toxicity of DA-125 in patients with non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC). METHODS: Chemotherapy-naive patients with histologically confirmed measurable NSCLC which was not curable by surgery or radiation therapy because of metastasis, local invasion, or recurrence were eligible for this trial. Between May 1996 and April 1997, 20 patients entered into this trial and were treated with DA-125 administered as a 5-min intravenous infusion every 3 weeks. The dose of DA-125 was 80 mg/m(2 )during the first cycle, and was adjusted to between 60 and 100 mg/m(2) according to the observed toxicities during subsequent cycles. RESULTS: Among 19 evaluable patients, there was no objective response to DA-125. Anemia, leukopenia and granulocytopenia of grade 3 or over were observed in 4%, 6% and 12% of chemotherapy cycles, respectively. There were no treatment-related deaths. With regard to nonhematologic toxicities, diarrhea, infection and elevated serum alkaline phosphatase of grade 3 or over were observed in 2% of cycles, but were tolerable and reversible. CONCLUSION: DA-125 at these doses and in this schedule was highly tolerable, but was not active in patients with advanced NSCLC.

Adenocarcinoma↗

Parosteal lipoma with hyperostosis.

A case of parosteal lipoma of the femur combined with hyperostosis is presented. The parosteal lipoma is a rare benign tumor containing adipose tissue and is intimately related to the periosteum. We report the MRI features and correlative pathologic findings of a parosteal lipoma. The MRI technique is useful for evaluating the relationship between the periosteum and the lipoma.

Bone Neoplasms↗