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Biomedical subjects

Y Seo

Publications and source records attributed to Y Seo.

At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources

1H double-quantum-filtered MR imaging as a new tool for assessment of healing of the ruptured Achilles tendon.

1H double-quantum-filtered magnetic resonance imaging (DQF MRI) was applied to monitor the healing process of the Achilles tendons in rabbits after tenotomy. DQF MRI provides a new contrast, which is based on the non-zero average of the dipolar interaction caused by anisotropic motion of water molecules, determined mainly by their interaction with the ordered collagen fibers. Tissues are characterized by the dependence of their DQF signal on the DQ creation time, tau. With the use of DQF MRI, higher tissue contrast is obtained between tendon, bone, skin, and muscle. The tendons, which give weak signals in standard MRI techniques, are highlighted in the (1)H DQF image. The image changed dramatically during the healing process of the injured Achilles tendon. These changes matched the phases of the healing process. By using a tau-weighted contrast, the DQF images indicate the part of tendon that has not completely healed, even after the conventional MRI appeared normal. Magn Reson Med 42:884-889, 1999.

Achilles Tendon↗

Intestinal energy metabolism during ischemia and reperfusion.

BACKGROUND: In order to evaluate acute ischemic damage in the small intestine induced by superior mesenteric artery occlusion (SMAO) and subsequent reperfusion, changes in ATP, ADP, and AMP were measured by high-performance liquid chromatography, and changes in tissue blood flow were measured (from the serosal surface) by the laser doppler flow meter in a rat model. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The superior mesenteric artery of the rat was occluded for 30, 60, 90, and 120 min and then reopened. Core temperature was maintained carefully at 37 +/- 0.3 degrees C. RESULTS: All rats that underwent 90 and 120 min of SMAO died within 2 days, but those with 30 and 60 min of SMAO survived. ATP (10.39 +/- 0.90 micromol/g dry weight), ADP (3.34 +/- 0.33), and total adenine nucleotides (TAN; 14.08 +/- 0. 86) decreased with longer SMAO times. After 30 and 60 min of SMAO followed by reperfusion, recoveries of ATP and TAN were relatively good and ADP levels remained fairly steady, but little or no recovery of these levels was observed after 90 and 120 min of SMAO followed by reperfusion. There were linear correlations between the levels of ATP and TAN after 30 min of reperfusion and the time of SMAO. Tissue blood flow levels were constant during SMAO. After reperfusion, those levels were recovered along with the SMAO periods. But recovery rates compared with control values were not related with those of ATP. CONCLUSIONs. ATP and TAN levels, particularly at 30 min after reperfusion, seemed to be in good agreement with the tissue damage and the viability of the small intestine. We propose that the measurement of these levels may be useful for the evaluation of intestinal damage and viability.

Adenosine Diphosphate↗

Sub-super bone scan caused by bone marrow involvement of prostate cancer.

A 67-year-old man presented with malaise and marked anemia. A diagnostic workup revealed severe pancytopenia on a complete blood count and diffuse sclerotic change in the axial skeleton on a plain abdominal radiograph. Bone metastases being suspected from these findings, bone scintigraphy was performed. The bone scan demonstrated uniformly increased skeletal activity with faint soft-tissue activity. The findings of the bone scan, however, appeared atypical of the super scan caused by diffuse bone metastases, without any decrease in radioactivities of the appendicular skeleton and kidneys. Bone marrow scintigraphy with In-111 chloride demonstrated central marrow failure and peripheral expansion, which indicated the possibility of myelophthisis. The patient underwent bone marrow biopsy, which revealed replacement of the bone marrow by metastatic adenocarcinoma. Further examinations detected the primary lesion in the prostate. In this case, the findings of the bone scan were insufficient for the super scan, and might be categorized as a sub-super scan. It would be important to recognize this incomplete form of super scan as a rare scintigraphic pattern of diffuse bone marrow metastases.

Adenocarcinoma↗

Forensic mtDNA hair analysis excludes a dog from having caused a traffic accident.

A dog was suspected of having caused a traffic accident. Three hair fragments were recovered from the damaged car and subjected to DNA sequence analysis of the canine mitochondrial D-loop control region. The results were compared to saliva and hair samples from the alleged dog, as well as to control hair samples from four unrelated dogs of different breeds. Two sequence types exhibiting five nucleotide differences in a 377 bp fragment were identified among the four controls. Whereas the evidence hair fragment was identical to the type 1 control sequence, the alleged dog shared the type 2 control sequence except for one position. Thus the dog could be excluded as the origin of the hair fragment. As canine mtDNA appears to exhibit only limited polymorphism, mitochondrial D-loop sequence comparison is currently only suitable for exclusions.

Accidents, Traffic↗

Y chromosome DNA polymorphisms and their haplotypes in a Japanese population.

Allele frequencies of two Y chromosome-specific short tandem repeats, locus DYS385 and DYS19, in addition to the Y Alu polymorphic (YAP) insert (DYS287) were investigated in blood samples obtained from 270 unrelated Japanese in Miyazaki Prefecture (south Japan). A total of 47 genotypes in DYS385 and 6 in DYS19 were detected, and the frequency of the YAP(+) allele was found to be 35.2% (95270). The allele distributions of each locus revealed significant differences compared with those in other populations. One hundred and twelve different haplotypes were observed in the combined 55 alleles of three loci. The gene diversity values range 0.96 for DYS385 and 0.71 for DYS19, and the combination haplotype diversity value is 0.98.

Journal Article↗

New acetylenic enol ethers of glycerol from the sponge Petrosia sp.

Ten acetylenic enol ethers of glycerols, including six new compounds (1-6) and a linear acetylenic alcohol (7), have been isolated from a sponge of the genus Petrosia. The structures of the novel compounds were elucidated by spectroscopic methods. The absolute stereochemistry of 1-7 was determined by chemical transformations and the Mosher method. Some of these compounds exhibited weak cytotoxicity against a human leukemia cell-line (K-562).

Acetylene↗

New Bis(Indole) alkaloids of the topsentin class from the sponge spongosorites genitrix

Four bis(indole) alkaloids of the topsentin class, including two new brominated compounds (1 and 2), have been isolated from the sponge Spongosorites genitrix collected from Jaeju Island, Korea. The structures of the novel compounds were determined by spectroscopic methods. These compounds exhibited moderate cytotoxicity against a human leukemia cell-line (K-562).

Journal Article↗

Improvement of molar ratio of branched-chain amino acids to tyrosine (BTR) associated with liver fibrosis in chronic hepatitis C patients treated with interferon-alpha.

The molar ratio of branched-chain amino acids (BCAA) to tyrosine (BTR), which has recently been possible to easily determine by an enzymatic method, can be clinically used as a substitute for that of BCAA to aromatic amino acids (AAA). We used this method to investigate the diagnostic implications of serum BTR in patients with chronic hepatitis C treated with interferon-alpha. There was a good correlation between BTR and staging (fibrosis) scores both before and after treatment. BTR increased significantly at 24 months after treatment in the responder group (P < 0.01). Moreover, a significant increase in BTR was observed in patients with improved staging (P = 0.015), but not grading (necroinflammatory), scores. BTR in chronic hepatitis C patients seems to be reflected by the extent of liver fibrosis, and, in the responder group, it can be improved, together with liver fibrosis, by interferon-alpha treatment.

Adult↗

Sleep patterns during 20-m nitrox saturation dives.

The sleep patterns were examined through three simulated 20-m nitrox saturation dives. The standard polysomnography of 12 divers was recorded respectively for a total of 204 nights, as were patterns of change or consistency in sleep variables. For the 11 divers in their 20s and 30s there was nothing unusual about their sleep variables. However, a reduction of total sleep time in accordance with the lengthening of sleep latency was observed. This was recognized from the latter part of the bottom period to the postdive period. This tendency was notable for the diver in his 50s. These findings suggest that the decompression environment and the psychological stress of the long-term closed environment of a hyperbaric chamber have effects on divers' sleep.

Adult↗

Pancreatic carcinoma associated with chronic pancreatitis.

The incidence of invasive ductal carcinoma of the pancreas was 3.1% (6 cases) in 196 patients with definite chronic pancreatitis. Five patients (3 men and 2 women) had calcific pancreatitis and 1 patient (man) had non-calcific pancreatitis. Large pancreatic stones were recognized in 2 women. Most of the patients complained of continuous intractable abdominal pain and/or back pain together with weight loss and appetite loss. Serum CA19-9 levels and exacerbation of glucose intolerance were retrospectively noted to have been elevated in 1 patient. However, it was difficult to obtain a definitive diagnosis by imaging examinations earlier, due to the presence of chronic pancreatitis. Median survival of the 6 patients was 6.5 months from admission.

Adenocarcinoma↗

Proton magnetic resonance assay of total and taurine-conjugated bile acids in bile.

Biliary bile acids, coexisting with phospholipid and cholesterol, are partly conjugated with taurine. In the present report we show that total and taurine-conjugated bile acids in bile can be simultaneously and quantitatively measured by high-resolution (1)H-nuclear magnetic resonance ((1)H-NMR) spectroscopy. We used a 7.05-Tesla NMR spectrometer to obtain the (1)H-NMR spectra of model and biological biles. Only addition of trimethylsilyl-3-propionic acid sodium salt-D(4) (TSP) to each sample as an internal standard was required in preparation for (1)H-NMR measurement. In (1)H-NMR spectra of rat bile, peaks of C-18 methyl protons of bile acids and of C-25 methylene protons on the taurine moiety of taurine-conjugated bile acids were detected at 0.7 ppm and 3.1 ppm, respectively. Peak areas, of C-18 and C-25 peaks, increased in proportion to the concentrations of bile acids or taurine-conjugated bile acids, even in the presence of phospholipid and cholesterol. The accuracy of NMR measurement of total and taurine-conjugated bile acids was confirmed by comparing the results of NMR with those of enzyme-fluorimetry. The results clearly demonstrate that (1)H-NMR spectroscopy can be applied to the quantitative determination of total and taurine-conjugated bile acids in bile without troublesome preparative steps.

Animals↗

Outcomes of stent-graft treatment of false lumen in aortic dissection.

BACKGROUND: Stent-graft treatment for aortic disease promises to lead to a less invasive therapy than conventional surgical therapy. However, this treatment has not been established as a therapy for aortic dissection. The aim of this study was to examine the effect of stent-graft treatment of aortic dissection, as measured by follow-up data on entry site closure, clotting in the false lumen, and the outcome of the false lumen from the acute to chronic phase after operation. METHODS AND RESULTS: We used a stent-graft of our own design to close the entry site of aortic dissection in 21 cases: 9 were acute (< 14 days), 8 subacute (< 6 months), and 4 chronic (> 6 months). Nine were type A and 12 were type B. In 15 cases, the stent-graft was inserted through the transverse arch, which had been surgically opened under median sternotomy. In the other 6 cases, the stent-graft was inserted by means of a transcatheter through a femoral artery. Using computed tomographic scans, we followed and examined clot formation in the false lumen and reduction in size of the false lumen at 3 levels: at the level of maximum aortic diameter, at the distal end of the stent-graft, and 50 mm distal to the stent-graft. The entry sites were successfully closed in 19 cases (90.4%); in the remaining 2 (both treated with a transcatheter) there was perigraft leakage into the false lumen. The hospital mortality rate of these stent-graft treatments was 14.3% (3 of 21). At 2 weeks after operation, the false lumen had completely clotted, respectively, in 100%, 77%, and 38% of cases at the 3 measurement levels. Substantial shrinkage (> 50% in diameter) of the false lumen at 6 months after the operation was observed in 72%, 60%, and 38% of cases at the respective levels. Shrinkage of the false lumen was particularly enhanced in patients treated within 6 months from the onset of dissection: The false lumen shrank by > 50% in 93%, 75%, and 50% of patients. CONCLUSIONS: In cases of aortic dissection, the stent-graft is an effective tool for closing the entry site and promoting clot formation in the false lumen and for reducing the size of the false lumen within 6 months of the onset of dissection if the entry site has been closed.

Adult↗

Sequence polymorphism of mitochondrial DNA control region in Japanese.

Sequence polymorphisms of the mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) control region, hypervariable regions I and II, from 100 unrelated Japanese were determined by PCR amplification and direct sequencing. Sequences of 404 nucleotides for hypervariable region I and 379 nucleotides for region II were obtained. Variable sites (85 and 45) were revealed in region I and region II, respectively, as compared to the reference sequence, and a total of 96 different genetic patterns from both regions I and II were determined. A point mutation heteroplasmy was observed at the ratio of approximately 50:50 from one individual at the sequence position 151 showing a nucleotide transition from C to T. The probability of identity was estimated as 2.3% for region I, 3.9% for region II, and 1.1% combined for both regions. These results suggest that sequence polymorphism of mtDNA control region would be very useful in forensic practice as a marker for individual identification.

Base Sequence↗

Tandem repeat structure of the duplicated Y-chromosomal STR locus DYS385 and frequency studies in the German and three Asian populations.

The Y-chromosomal short tandem repeat (STR) locus DYS385 can be typed using PCR amplification and separation of the resulting polymorphic fragments by non-denaturing high resolution polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis followed by silver staining. The PCR primers amplify a duplicated repeat sequence on the Y chromosome revealing a two-band pattern in male individuals. To determine the internal repeat structure as a basis for a consensus nomenclature, DNA sequence analysis was carried out after subcloning of PCR-amplified fragments revealing the uniform 4-bp repeat structure 'GAAA'. The shortest allele observed consisted of 10 repeat units thus providing the basis for the designation 'allele 10'. Except for isolated point mutations, no systematic differences could be observed either in the repeat sequence or in the flanking regions between the two fragments of a given individual. Thus it was not possible to discriminate between the two loci of the DYS385 system. Four population samples of German (n = 146), Chinese (n = 100), Japanese (n = 100), and Thai (n = 95) origin were studied. In the four groups, alleles 10 to 24 could be observed and genotype frequencies differed significantly. In Germans only one common genotype was present (11-14; 33.8% frequency). In the Asian populations, the frequencies were more evenly distributed with the 13-13 genotype (9%) in Chinese, the 13-17 genotype (14%) in Japanese and the 14-18 genotype (7%) in Thai being the most common. Overall, 69 different genotypes were found, of these 36 were observed in Germans, 36 in Chinese, 33 in Japanese and 44 in Thai. No mutations were detected in 62 father-son pairs. Thus DYS385 is a highly polymorphic STR system with population-specific genotype distributions.

Asia, Southeastern↗

Magnetic resonance imaging of experimental subacute spinal cord compression.

STUDY DESIGN: Subacute compression of the spinal cord was applied to rats. The animals were chronologically observed using magnetic resonance imaging for more than 8 weeks after surgery and were killed for histopathologic examination. OBJECTIVES: To investigate the correlation of changes in signal intensity on magnetic resonance images with those observed in histopathologic study and with the degree of spinal cord compression and paralysis. SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA: No consensus has been reached concerning the correlation of magnetic resonance images to clinical symptoms of compressive myelopathy. Few reports are available in which magnetic resonance imaging findings are compared with histopathologic features in chronic or subacute experiments. METHODS: In rats under general anesthesia, the T11 lamina was thinned and a slow increase in volume was applied. Hind limb paralysis appeared 1 week after the procedure and spontaneously subsided thereafter. The degree of spinal compression and signal intensity was observed chronologically using magnetic resonance imaging. The signal intensity on the final MR images was rated on a four-point scale and compared with histopathologic findings. RESULTS: As spinal compression increased, the incidence of high signal intensity on long spin-echo images became higher. Low signal intensities on short spin-echo images were visible in animals in which compression and paralysis were the most severe. In these animals, cavitation and a dilated central canal were visible. High signal intensities on long spin-echo images reflected various pathologic changes. CONCLUSIONS: Changes in signal intensity on MR images are visible after the induction of myelopathy by high-pressure compression. These signal intensities may be useful in predicting the outcome of compressive myelopathy.

Animals↗

Mapping strain exerted on blood vessel walls using deuterium double-quantum-filtered MRI.

A technique is described for displaying distinct tissue layers of large blood vessel walls as well as measuring their mechanical strain. The technique is based on deuterium double-quantum-filtered (DQF) spectroscopic imaging. The effectiveness of the double-quantum filtration in suppressing the signal of bulk water is demonstrated on a phantom consisting of rat tail tendon fibers. Only intrafibrillar water is displayed, excluding all other signals of water molecules that reorient isotropically. One- and two-dimensional spectroscopic imaging of bovine aorta and coronary arteries show the characteristic DQF spectrum of each of the tissue layers. This property is used to obtain separate images of the outer layer, the tunica adventitia, or the intermediate layer, the tunica media, or both. To visualize the effect of elongation, the average residual quadrupole splitting is calculated for each pixel. Two-dimensional deuterium quadrupolar splitting images are obtained for a fully relaxed and a 55% elongated sample of bovine coronary artery. These images indicate that the strong effect of strain is associated with water molecules in the tunica adventitia whereas the DQF NMR signal of water in the tunica media is apparently strain-insensitive. After appropriate calibration, these average quadrupolar splitting images can be interpreted as strain maps.

Animals↗

Submucosal gastric cancer with lymph node metastasis.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: The intraoperative assessment of lymph node metastasis of gastric cancer remains difficult and the characteristics of recurrence after gastrectomy are not well known regarding submucosal cancer. METHODS: We examined 452 patients with submucosal gastric cancer and compared the clinicopathologic features as well as recurrence patterns between the 71 cases with lymph node metastasis (group I) and the 381 without it (group II). RESULTS: The mean tumor sizes were 44.8 and 33.5 mm, respectively (P < 0.01). The incidences of lymphatic invasion and vascular invasion were 91.5% (65/71) and 45.1% (32/71) in group I, which were significantly higher than those in group II (36.7 and 14.2%, 140/381 and 54/381, respectively, P < 0.01). A total of 21 patients (4.6%, 21/452) experienced recurrence after undergoing a gastrectomy and hematogenic recurrence was the most frequent type of recurrence (2.0%, 9/452). However, in group I, lymphatic recurrence was most frequently observed (7.0%, 5/71), and it was more frequent than in group II (0.3%, 1/381, P < 0.01). The median intervals between gastrectomy and recurrence were 34.5 and 64.0 months in groups I and II, respectively (P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The submucosal cancer with larger size, lymphatic invasion, and vascular invasion has high risks for lymph node metastasis. Furthermore, a strict follow-up for lymphatic as well as hematogenic recurrence is important for the patients with node positive submucosal cancer, especially within 5 years after operation.

Female↗