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Biomedical subjects

B E Lee

Publications and source records attributed to B E Lee.

12 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2004

Influence of maternal serum levels of vitamins C and E during the second trimester on birth weight and length.

OBJECTIVE: It has been known that maternal oxidative stress during pregnancy plays an important role in fetal growth. However, the association between antioxidant vitamin levels and birth outcomes is not conclusive. We investigated the relationship between maternal serum levels of vitamins C and E during the second trimester and birth weight and length. DESIGN: Prospective cohort study. SETTING: Outpatient-clinic of obstetrics, Ewha Womans University Hospital, South Korea. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: The study subjects were 239 healthy, pregnant women who visited an obstetric clinic for antenatal care, and their singleton live births, in Seoul, Korea, between August 2001 and March 2003. We measured the levels of vitamins C and E in maternal serum during the period 24-28 gestational weeks. Each woman was interviewed for dietary intake by trained interviewers during the second trimester. RESULTS: The serum concentration of maternal vitamin C during the second trimester was significantly associated with birth weight and length in the group of full-term deliveries. An increase of 1 microg/ml in the serum vitamin C level increased the birth weight by 27.2 g and the birth length by 0.17 cm. When we considered the levels of vitamins C and E together in the relationship with birth weight and length, we found that the heaviest birth weight and the longest birth length belonged to the group of upper vitamin C/upper vitamin E. However, dietary intake estimated by 24-h recall method was not a predictor of the levels of serum vitamins C and E. CONCLUSION: We found that maternal serum vitamin C levels during the second trimester were positively correlated with birth weight and length in full-term babies. We also found that birth weight and length were highest when the levels of both vitamins C and E were high. Our results indicate the importance of antioxidant nutrient balance for pregnant women who are exposed to various oxidants through food, drinking water, or inhaled air.

Antioxidants↗
PubMed2003

Exposure to air pollution during different gestational phases contributes to risks of low birth weight.

BACKGROUND: Although there have been growing concerns about the adverse effects of air pollution on birth outcomes, little is known about which specific exposure times of specific pollutants contribute to low birth weight (LBW). METHODS: We evaluated the relationships between LBW and air pollution exposure levels in Seoul, Korea. Using the air pollution data, we estimated the exposure during each trimester and also during each month of pregnancy on the basis of the gestational age and birth date of each newborn. Generalized additive logistic regression analyses were conducted considering infant sex, birth order, maternal age, parental education level, time trend, and gestational age. RESULTS: The monthly analyses suggested that the risks for LBW tended to increase with carbon monoxide (CO) exposure between months 2-5 of pregnancy, with exposure to particles <10 micro m (PM(10)) in months 2 and 4, and for sulphur dioxide (SO(2)) and nitrogen dioxide (NO(2)) exposure between months 3-5. CONCLUSIONS: This study suggests that exposure to CO, PM(10,) SO(2) and NO(2) during early to mid pregnancy contribute to risks for LBW.

Air Pollutants↗
PubMed2001

Is air pollution a risk factor for low birth weight in Seoul?

Environmental factors contributing to reduced birth weight are of great concern because of the well-known relation of birth weight to infant mortality and adverse effects in later life. We examined the associations between air pollution exposures during pregnancy and low birth weight among all full-term births (gestational age 37-44 weeks) for a 2-year period (January 1996 through December 1997) in Seoul, South Korea. We evaluated these associations with a generalized additive logistic regression adjusting for gestational age, maternal age, parental educational level, parity, and infant sex. We used smoothing plots with generalized additive models to analyze the exposure-response relation for each air pollutant. The adjusted relative risk of low birth weight was 1.08 [95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.04-1.12] for each interquartile increase for carbon monoxide concentrations during the first trimester of pregnancy. The relative risks were 1.07 (95% CI = 1.03-1.11) for nitrogen dioxide, 1.06 (95% CI = 1.02-1.10) for sulfur dioxide, and 1.04 (95% CI = 1.00-1.08) for total suspended particles also for interquartile increase in exposure. Carbon monoxide, nitrogen dioxide, sulfur dioxide, and total suspended particle concentrations in the first trimester of pregnancy period are risk factors for low birth weight.

Adult↗
PubMed1999

Functional studies on the interaction between human replication protein A and Xeroderma pigmentosum group A complementing protein (XPA).

The human replication protein A (RPA; also known as human single-stranded DNA binding protein, HSSB) is a multisubunit complex (70, 34 and 11 kDa subunits) involved in the three processes of DNA metabolism; replication, repair, recombination. We found that both 34 and 70 kDa subunits (p34 and p70, respectively), of RPA interacts with the Xeroderma pigmentosum group A complementing protein (XPA), a protein that specifically recognizes UV-damaged DNA. Our mutational analysis indicated that no particular domains of RPA p70 were essential for its interaction with XPA. We also examined the effect of this XPA-RPA interaction on in vitro simian virus 40 (SV40) DNA replication catalyzed by the crude extract and monopolymerase system. XPA inhibited SV40 DNA replication in vitro through its interaction with RPA. Taken together, these results suggest that there is a role for RPA in the regulation of DNA metabolism through its ability to modulate the interactions of proteins involved in the processes of DNA metabolism.

Animals↗
PubMed1998

Comparative study of mortality and morbidity in premature infants (birth weight, < 1,250 g) with candidemia or candidal meningitis.

Little information is available on long-term neurodevelopment of premature neonates with invasive candidal infections. We retrospectively studied the outcomes for 25 premature neonates (birth weight, < 1,250 g) with candidemia or candidal meningitis (cases) and compared them with 25 neonates matched for birth weight (+/- 100 g) and gestational age (+/- 1 week) (controls). Durations of antibiotic therapy, artificial ventilation, invasive catheterizations, and hyperalimentation were longer for cases than for controls. Cases had a higher final grade of intraventricular hemorrhage than did controls (median: 3.0 vs. 2.5, respectively; P < .05). Forty-four percent (11 of 25) of cases and 16% (4 of 25) of controls died (P > .05), and 29% (4 of 14) of surviving cases and 14% (3 of 21) of controls were disabled (P > .05). More cases had combined mortality and neurodevelopmental disabilities than did controls (60% vs. 28%, respectively; P < .05). Use of invasive therapies should be minimized for premature neonates at risk for invasive candidal infection that is associated with adverse outcomes.

Candida↗
PubMed1998

A PHEX gene mutation is responsible for adult-onset vitamin D-resistant hypophosphatemic osteomalacia: evidence that the disorder is not a distinct entity from X-linked hypophosphatemic rickets.

Previous investigators described a kindred with an X-linked dominant form of phosphate wasting in which affected children did not have radiographic evidence of rickets, whereas older individuals were progressively disabled by severe bowing. They proposed that this kindred suffered from a distinct disorder that they referred to as adult-onset vitamin D-resistant hypophosphatemic osteomalacia (AVDRR). We recently identified a gene, PHEX, that is responsible for the disorder X-linked hypophosphatemic rickets. To determine whether AVDRR is a distinct form of phosphate wasting, we searched for PHEX mutations in affected members of the original AVDRR kindred. We found that affected individuals have a missense mutation in PHEX exon 16 that results in an amino acid change from leucine to proline in residue 555. Clinical evaluation of individuals from this family indicates that some of these individuals display classic features of X-linked hypophosphatemic rickets, and we were unable to verify progressive bowing in adults. In light of the variability in the clinical spectrum of X-linked hypophosphatemic rickets and the presence of a PHEX mutation in affected members of this kindred, we conclude that there is only one form of X-linked dominant phosphate wasting.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1994

Sequential contrast-enhanced MR imaging of the penis.

PURPOSE: To determine the enhancement patterns of the penis at magnetic resonance (MR) imaging. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Sequential contrast material-enhanced MR images of the penis in a flaccid state were obtained in 16 volunteers (12 with normal penile function and four with erectile dysfunction). RESULTS: Subjects with normal erectile function showed gradual and centrifugal enhancement of the corpora cavernosa, while those with erectile dysfunction showed poor enhancement with abnormal progression. CONCLUSION: Sequential contrast-enhanced MR imaging provides additional morphologic information for the evaluation of erectile dysfunction.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1992

Peritonitis caused by Mycobacterium kansasii in a patient undergoing continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis.

Mycobacterium kansasii was isolated from the peritoneal fluid, peritoneal biopsy, and the Tenckhoff catheter of a 62-year-old woman undergoing continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD) who presented with the clinical picture of peritonitis. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first case of CAPD-associated peritonitis caused by M kansasii. Routine susceptibility tests using standard concentrations of isoniazid indicated isoniazid resistance; however, the organism was inhibited in vitro by a higher concentration of this drug. The patient responded to combination therapy with isoniazid and rifampin, as well as removal of the catheter. This report emphasizes the importance of mycobacterial cultures, in certain circumstances, in patients with CAPD-associated peritonitis and the utility of quantitative in vitro susceptibility testing.

Drug Therapy, Combination↗
PubMed1988

Development of screening systems for evaluation of materials used in mammalian embryo transfer.

Embryo transfer units use a wide variety of materials that come in contact with embryos. Studies were conducted to evaluate procedures that could be utilized to determine the toxicity of some commonly used materials in embryo collection, culture and transfer. Forty-five female mice were sacrificed on Day 3 or 4 of gestation (Day 1 = vaginal plug), and the uterus and oviducts were removed and minced. A total of 522 embryos was collected (4-cell to blastocyst stages). Four to 16 cell embryos were cultured in Phosphate Buffered Saline (PBS) plus 20% fetal bovine serum. Morula to blastocyst stage embryos were cultured in Nutrient Mixture F10 (HAM) plus 20% fetal bovine serum gassed with 5% CO(2), 5% O(2) and 90% N(2). In Experiment I, embryos and culture media were placed in a covered embryological watch glass (EWG, control) or sealed in the lumen of a siliconized Foley catheter or a section of 1) latex tubing, 2) tygon tubing or 3) silastic tubing. In Experiment II, embryos were placed in EWG and cultured alone (control) or cocultured with sections of 1) tygon tubing, 2) silastic tubing or 3) latex tubing. In Experiment III, embryos were cultured in covered plastic petri dishes containing 15 ml of media, alone (control) or co-cultured with two new plunger tips from sterile Monoject syringes. All embryos were cultured at 32 to 34 degrees C for 24 h. The Criterion used for development was two or more cellular divisions within the 24-h period. Embryo development in Experiment I was lower (P<0.05) in latex (0%) and tygon (24%) tubing and in the siliconized Foley catheter (2%) than in silastic tubing (51%) and the EWG (46%), which did not differ. Experiment II embryos that were co-cultured with latex tubing (5%) showed very little development as compared with those co-cultured with tygon tubing (76%), silastic tubing (76%) and EWG (93%), the last of which were not significantly different. Embryos co-cultured with Monoject syringe plunger tips had a reduced embryo development rate compared to embryos in the control group (0% vs 52%). Although the embryos did not remain in contact with these seemingly toxic materials for prolonged periods, our results indicate that a significant reduction in embryo viability may occur due to this exposure.

Journal Article↗