Search PubMed⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

Y Kim

Publications and source records attributed to Y Kim.

At least 253 records · Page 14Linked to original sources

Thin film of low-crystalline calcium phosphate apatite formed at low temperature.

Surface modification of biomaterials to improve biocompatibility without changing their bulk properties is desired for many clinical applications and has become an emerging technology in biomaterial research and industry. In the present study, a simple method of coating the solid surfaces of metals, organic tissue matrices, glasses, inorganic ceramics as well as organic polymers with a thin film of low-crystalline apatite crystals (LCA) was developed. Acidic solution containing calcium and phosphate ions was neutralized with alkaline solution to form calcium phosphate precipitates at low temperature. Precipitates of solid calcium phosphate particles were, then, removed by filtration. Concentration of free ions in the filtered ion solution which were not involved in the formation of calcium phosphate precipitate was high enough to induce the heterogeneous nucleation on the solid surfaces at low temperature. Thin layers of calcium phosphate crystals were formed on the surfaces of metals, glasses, inorganic ceramics, organic polymers including hydrophobic ones, and biological tissue matrices with this solution. The thin layer of crystals consisted of poorly crystalline calcium phosphate apatite crystals which contain high amount of labile ions like bone crystals and did not dissolve in the physiologic solutions. Various cells attached to this crystal layer and proliferated well.

Biocompatible Materials↗

Naphthazarin derivatives (IV): synthesis, inhibition of DNA topoisomerase I and cytotoxicity of 2- or 6-acyl-5,8-dimethoxy-1, 4-naphthoquinones.

Some 2- or 6-acyl-5,8-dimethoxy-1,4-naphthoquinone (DMNQ) derivatives were synthesized and evaluated for inhibition of DNA topoisomerase I and cytotoxicity against L1210 cells. Compared with 2-acyl-DMNQ derivatives, 6-acyl-DMNQ compounds, bearing a higher electrophilic quinone moiety, showed a higher potency in the inhibition of DNA topoisomerase I and the cytotoxicity, implying the possible participation of electrophilic arylation in their bioactivities. Time and temperature dependence of the enzyme inhibition suggests that the arylation occurs irreversibly. Among the 6-acyl-DMNQ derivatives, the ones possessing an acyl group of an intermediate size (C(5)-C(9)) showed higher potency in their bioactivities than other derivatives. Furthermore, for the effective inhibition of DNA topoisomerase I, the size of acyl moiety of 6-acylated derivatives seems to be limited to < 12 carbon atoms.

Animals↗

Endothelium-dependent vasorelaxant and antiproliferative effects of apigenin.

This study was designed to determine whether the relaxant effect of apigenin was endothelium dependent and to examine the possible antiproliferative effect of apigenin. Apigenin relaxed the phenylephrine-precontracted endothelium-intact aortic rings with IC(50) value of 3.7+/-0.5 microM and removal of a functional endothelium significantly attenuated this relaxation (IC(50)=8.2+/-0.9 microM). However, apigenin did not affect the 0.1 microM phorbol 12,13-dibutyrate-induced contraction (IC(50)=34.6+/-1.2 microM) within the concentration range that relaxed the phenylephrine-contracted arteries, suggesting that apigenin did not influence protein kinase C-mediated contractile mechanisms in rat aorta. Pretreatment of apigenin significantly potentiated the relaxant effect of acetylcholine on phenylephrine-induced contraction. Pretreatment with N(G)-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME) or methylene blue reduced the relaxant effect of apigenin. Apigenin (10 microM) increased the guanosine 3',5'-cyclic monophosphate (cGMP) content of endothelium-intact tissues. Pretreatment with L-NAME (100 microM) or removal of endothelium significantly suppressed the effect of apigenin on cGMP production. In addition, apigenin significantly inhibited [3H]thymidine incorporation into DNA of primary cultured rat aortic smooth muscle cell in a dose-dependent manner. These findings suggest that besides influx and release of Ca(2+), nitric oxide (NO) and cGMP may account for the apigenin-induced endothelium-dependent relaxation and hypotensive activity. Both vasorelaxant and antiproliferative activities may contribute to a benefit of apigenin in the vascular system.

Animals↗

"Malgun" (clear) cell change of gastric epithelium in chronic Helicobacter pylori gastritis.

To characterize the Helicobacter pylori gastritis-associated epithelial change, we analyzed 251 randomly selected gastric biopsies. The "malgun" (clear) cell change of the gastric epithelium was noted in 229 biopsies (91.2%). Malgun cells were characterized by large, pale nuclei with a euchromatin pattern, enlarged nucleoli, and clear cytoplasm. In the proliferative zone, individual malgun cells and small clusters were often in close contact with infiltrating neutrophils, suggesting that they had developed individually in the background of acute foveolitis. Mitotic figures of malgun cells were not infrequent, including atypical ones. In the surface epithelium, most malgun cells were in clusters that were often large enough to occupy wide epithelial segments. With Warthin-Starry triple staining, they were distinguished by the absence of silver impregnation, while other cells showed staining of the heterochromatin. They displayed prominent immunostaining for low molecular weight cytokeratin (No. 8). Most malgun cells were PCNA-positive in both surface and proliferative zones, whereas Ki67-positive cells were found only in the proliferative zone. It was suggested that a population of malgun cells, which were positive for PCNA only, were in the process of active DNA repair. The malgun cell change may represent a "cellular pattern of activation" in a population which had significant DNA damage, but somehow escaped the detection by the apoptosis system. The notion of "damage at the genetic level" was supported by the observation that these cells remained at least for 8 weeks after eradication of the H. pylori infection.

Adult↗

Anti-inflammatory effects of fangchinoline and tetrandrine.

Fangchinoline and tetrandrine are the major alkaloids from Stephania tetrandrae S. Moore which has been used traditionally for the treatment of inflammatory diseases in oriental countries including Korea. Both fangchinoline and tetrandrine showed anti-inflammatory effects on mouse ear edema induced by croton oil. In addition, the effects of fangchinoline and tetrandrine on cyclooxygenase, murine interleukin-5 (mIL-5) and human interleukin-6 (hIL-6) were examined in vitro to investigate the anti-inflammatory action mechanisms. One hundred micromolar of fangchinoline showed 35% of inhibition on cyclooxygenase, but the same concentration of tetrandrine did not show any inhibition. On the other hand, 12.5 microM of tetrandrine exhibited 95% of inhibition on mIL-5 activity, while fangchinoline did not show any effects. However, 4 microM of fangchinoline and 6 microM of tetrandrine showed 63 and 86% of inhibitions on hIL-6 activity, respectively. These results suggest that biochemical mechanisms of fangchinoline and tetrandrine on anti-inflammation are significantly different even though they are similar in chemical structure.

Alkaloids↗

Antinociceptive mechanisms of dipsacus saponin C administered intrathecally in mice.

Dipsacus saponin C (DSC) administered intrathecally (i.t.) showed antinociceptive effect in a dose-dependent (from 3.75 to 30 microg) manner as measured by the tail-flick assay. The antinociception induced by DSC at the dose of 30 microg reached at peak 7.5 min and almost returned to the control level after 60 min. 5-Amino-valeric acid (5-AVA, a GABA(A) receptor antagonist, from 1 to 20 microg) and SR 95531 (a GABA(B) receptor antagonist, from 0.1 to 2 ng) dose-dependently attenuated i.t. administered DSC-induced increase of the inhibition of the tail-flick response. The i.t. injection of yohimbine (an alpha(2)-adrenergic receptor antagonist, from 1 to 20 microg) and methysergide (a serotonin receptor antagonist, from 1 to 20 microg), but not naloxone (from 2 to 8 microg), significantly attenuated inhibition of the tail-flick response induced by DSC (30 microg) administered i.t. Sulfated cholecystokinin (CCK, from 0.05 to 0.5 ng) injected i.t. significantly reduced the inhibition of the tail-flick response induced by DSC (30 microg) administered i.t. Our results suggest that DSC shows an antinociceptive effect when it is administered spinally and GABA(A), GABA(B), alpha(2)-adrenergic and serotonin receptors located at the spinal cord level, but not opioid receptors, may be involved in DSC-induced antinociception. Furthermore, CCK may play an important role for the modulation of i. t. injected DSC-induced antinociception.

Adrenergic alpha-Antagonists↗

Middle mediastinal lesions: imaging findings and pathologic correlation.

Lesions primarily involving the middle mediastinum are uncommon and include lymph node diseases, cystic lesions, neurogenic tumors, mesenchymal tumors, tumors of mediastinal organ, amd other benign processes. In this article, we illustrate imaging findings of a variety of middle mediastinal lesions with pathologic correlation.

Cysts↗

Stabilization effect of zeolite on DHFR mRNA in a wheat germ cell-free protein synthesis system.

The effects of zeolites and monocations on the protein synthesis in a cell-free system derived from wheat germ were investigated. M type of synthetic zeolite markedly enhanced the translation efficiency. Whereas this kind of stimulatory effect of zeolite in an Escherichia coli cell-free system resulted from a change in the salt compositions of the reaction solution with the addition of zeolite, the enhancement of protein synthesis in a wheat germ cell-free system was not due to the ion exchange reaction of zeolites. From the results of mRNA stability analysis, it was found that zeolite could stabilize the mRNA in a wheat germ cell-free protein synthesis system. The stabilization of mRNA by the simple addition of zeolites is useful for the enhancement of protein synthesis in a wheat germ cell-free system, since conventional methods to improve mRNA stability, such as the addition of nuclease inhibitor, have not been effective for a wheat germ cell-free system.

Journal Article↗

Transglycosylation of neohesperidin dihydrochalcone by Bacillus stearothermophilus maltogenic amylase.

Neohesperidin dihydrochalcone (NHDC), a sweet compound derived from citrus fruits, was modified to a series of its oligosaccharides by transglycosylation activity of Bacillus stearothermophilus maltogenic amylase (BSMA). Maltotriose as a donor was reacted with NHDC as an acceptor to glycosylate for the purpose of increasing the solubility of NHDC. Maltosyl-NHDC was a major transglycosylation product among the several transfer products by TLC analysis. The structure of the major transglycosylation product was determined to be maltosyl-alpha-(1,6)-neohesperidin dihydrochalcone by MALDI-TOF/MS and (1)H and (13)C NMR. Maltosyl-NHDC was 700 times more soluble in water and 7 times less sweet than NHDC.

Chalcone↗

Acylated flavonol glycosides from the flower of Inula britannica.

Three new acylated flavonol glycosides, patuletin 7-O-(6' '-isobutyryl)glucoside (1), patuletin 7-O-[6' '-(2-methylbutyryl)]glucoside (2), and patuletin 7-O-(6' '-isovaleryl)glucoside (3), were isolated from the n-BuOH extract of Inula britannica flowers by bioassay-guided fractionation, together with other known flavonoids. The structures were elucidated by 1D and 2D NMR, FABMS, and other spectral analyses. The eight flavonoids, including new compounds (1-3), patulitrin (7), nepitrin (8), axillarin (10), patuletin (11), and luteolin (12), showed profound antioxidant activity in DPPH assay and cytochrome-c reduction assay using HL-60 cell culture system.

Acylation↗

Jaw-closing muscles of kangaroos express alpha-cardiac myosin heavy chain.

The masseter muscle of eutherian grazing mammals typically express beta or slow myosin heavy chain (MyHC). Myosins in the masseter of 4 species of kangaroos and a slow limb muscle of one of them were compared with their cardiac myosin by pyrophosphate and sodium dodecyl sulphate (SDS) gel electrophoresis, immunoblotting and immunohistochemistry. It was found that ventricular muscle contains three isoforms homologous to V1 (alpha-MyHC homodimer), V2 (heterodimer) and V3 (beta-MyHC homodimer) of eutherian cardiac muscle, and that the masseter contained V1, with traces of V2 and V3, in great contrast to eutherian ruminants, which express only V3. A polyclonal antibody (anti-KJM) was raised in rabbits against red kangaroo masseter myosin. After cross-absorption against limb muscle myofibrils, anti-KJM specifically reacted in Westerns with MyHCs from masseter but not limb muscles, and immunohistochemically with masseter, but not limb muscle fibers. In pyrophosphate Western blots, anti-KJM reacted with V1 but not with V3. However, a monoclonal antibody specific for eutherian slow myosin stained all kangaroo slow muscle fibers but only weakly stained scattered fibers in the masseter. The SDS-PAGE revealed that light chain composition of masseter and ventricular myosins is identical, but isoforms of both light chains of kangaroo limb slow myosin were observed. These results confirm that kangaroo jaw muscle express alpha-MyHC rather than beta-MyHC. The difference in MyHC gene expression between marsupial and eutherian grazers may be related to the fact that kangaroos are not ruminants, and have only a single chance to comminute food into fine particles, hence the need for the greater speed and power of muscle contraction associated with V1 containing muscle fibers.

Animals↗

Relationship between the tertiary structures of mastoparan B and its analogs and their lytic activities studied by NMR spectroscopy.

Mastoparan B (MP-B), an antimicrobial cationic tetradecapeptide amide isolated from the venom of the hornet Vespa basalis, is an amphiphilic alpha-helical peptide. MP-B possesses a variety of biological activities, such as mast cells degradation histamine release, erythrocyte lysis and inhibition of the growth of gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria. In order to study the relationship between the structure and the biological activity of MP-B, we used four analogs by replacing amino acids with alanine. Tertiary structures of MP-B and its analogs in 2,2,2-trifluoroethanol (TFE)-containing aqueous solution have been determined by NMR spectroscopy and molecular modeling. The results indicate that [Ala4]MP-B and [Ala12]MP-B with higher hydrophobicity adopt a higher content of amphiphilic helical structures, and have better antimicrobial and hemolytic activities than MP-B. However, [Ala3]MP-B and [Ala9]MP-B with lower hydrophobicity have disordered structures. [Ala3]MP-B and [Ala9]MP-B have low antimicrobial activity and much less hemolytic activity relative to MP-B. It is likely that tryptophan residue in MP-B and appropriate hydrophobicity of MP-B to induce alpha-helical structure is essential for the antibacterial and hemolytic activity of MP-B. This study can aid understanding of the structure-activity relationship of MP-B and to design peptides to possess lytic activity.

Alanine↗

Relationships between age of onset, antisocial history and general psychopathological traits in Japanese alcoholics.

This study investigated the relationships of age of onset, antisocial history and general psychopathological traits measured by the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (MMPI) in Japanese alcoholics (n = 84). A 2 (earlier vs later onset) x 2 (antisocial vs non-antisocial) multivariate analysis of covariance showed that age of onset had a significant correlation with some subscales of the MMPI such as L (lie), Sc (schizophrenia), and Si (social introversion), whereas history of antisocial behavior had no significant correlation with any MMPI clinical subscales. This result indicated that age of onset was a more significant variable than was antisocial history with regard to the current general psychopathological traits on MMPI in Japanese alcoholics.

Adult↗

Phospholipase D2 activity suppresses hydrogen peroxide-induced apoptosis in PC12 cells.

Phospholipase D (PLD) plays an important role as an effector in the membrane lipid-mediated signal transduction. However, the precise physiological functions of PLD are not yet well understood. In this study, we examined the role of PLD activity in hydrogen peroxide (H(2)O(2))-induced apoptosis in rat pheochromocytoma (PC12) cells. Treatment of PC12 cells with H(2)O(2) resulted in induction of apoptosis in these cells, which is accompanied by the activation of PLD. This H(2)O(2)-induced apoptosis was enhanced remarkably when phosphatidic acid production by PLD was selectively inhibited by pretreating the PC12 cells with 1-butanol. Expression of PLD2, but not of PLD1, correlated with increased H(2)O(2)-induced PLD activity in a concentration- and time-dependent manner. Concomitant with PLD activation, the PLD2 activity suppressed H(2)O(2)-induced apoptosis in PC12 cells. Expression of PLD2 lipase-inactive mutant (K758R) had no effect on either PLD activity or apoptosis. PLD2 activity also suppressed H(2)O(2)-induced cleavage and activation of caspase-3. Taken together, the results suggest that PLD2 activity is specifically up-regulated by H(2)O(2) in PC12 cells and that it plays a suppressive role in H(2)O(2)-induced apoptosis.

1-Butanol↗

Flavonol glycoside gallate and ferulate esters from Persicaria lapathifolia as inhibitors of superoxide production in human monocytes stimulated by unopsonized zymosan.

Aerial parts of Persicaria lapathifolia S.F. Gray (Polygonaceae) exhibited an inhibitory effect on superoxide production in unopsonized zymosan-stimulated human monocytes. Two known compounds, quercetin 3-O-beta-(2"-galloyl)-glucopyranoside and quercetin 3-O-beta-(2"-galloyl)-rhamnopyranoside, and a new compound, quercetin 3-O-beta-(6"-feruloyl)-galactopyranoside, were isolated as the inhibitors of superoxide production by activity-guided fractionation. IC50 values were shown at the concentrations of 2.1 microM by quercetin 3-O-beta-(2"-galloyl)-glucopyranoside, 1.9 microM by quercetin 3-O-beta-(2"-galloyl)-rhamnoypranoside, and 3.5 microM by quercetin 3-O-beta-(6"-feruloyl)-galactopyranoside whose inhibitory potencies were similar to oxyphenylbutazone (IC50 = 1.9 microM) as a positive control.

Adult↗

Potentiating effect of obacunone from Dictamnus dasycarpus on cytotoxicity of microtuble inhibitors, vincristine, vinblastine and taxol.

The limonoid triterpene, obacunone, was found to enhance the cytotoxicity of vincristine against L1210 cells by approximately 10-fold. Further, it was found that the cytotoxicity of other microtubule inhibitors such as vinblastine and taxol in drug-sensitive KB-3-1 cells as well as in multidrug-resistant KB-V1 cells was enhanced greatly in the presence of obacunone. On the other hand, there was no remarkable potentiating effect of obacunone on the cytotoxicity of other antineoplastic drugs such as adriamycin, cisplatin or 5-fluorouracil. From these results, it is implied that the potentiating action of obacunone may be limited to microtubule inhibitors.

Animals↗