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Biomedical subjects

D Choi

Publications and source records attributed to D Choi.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed2000

Hepatocellular carcinoma treated with percutaneous radio-frequency ablation: usefulness of power Doppler US with a microbubble contrast agent in evaluating therapeutic response-preliminary results.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the usefulness of power Doppler ultrasonography (US) with a microbubble contrast agent in assessing the therapeutic response of hepatocellular carcinomas (HCCs) treated with percutaneous radio-frequency (RF) ablation. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Forty patients with 45 nodular HCC lesions 1.0-3.8 cm in diameter underwent power Doppler US before and after intravenous injection of a microbubble contrast agent. The same procedures were repeated after US-guided percutaneous RF ablation. The results of these studies were compared with those of three-phase helical computed tomography (CT) performed immediately after RF ablation. RESULTS: Before RF ablation, nonenhanced power Doppler US demonstrated flow signals within tumor in 33 of 45 HCCs. After contrast agent administration, flow signals increased or newly appeared in all cases. After RF ablation, none of the ablated tumors showed intratumoral flow signals at nonenhanced power Doppler US, whereas six showed marginal intratumoral flow signals at contrast agent-enhanced power Doppler US. These six tumors were found to have small enhancing foci, suggestive of viable tumor, in corresponding areas at immediate follow-up CT. Additional RF ablation or transcatheter arterial chemoembolization was performed in these tumors. CONCLUSION: The results of power Doppler US with a microbubble contrast agent in HCCs treated with RF ablation correlated well with those of contrast-enhanced CT. Preliminary data suggest that contrast-enhanced power Doppler US can be a promising noninvasive technique for assessing therapeutic response.

Adult↗
PubMed2000

The incidence of neurosurgical disease in patients who are referred to a neurosurgical centre for CT scanning: should district general hospital scanners be more active?

This study assessed the incidence of neurosurgical intervention in those patients who were referred to a neurosurgical unit for a CT scan in whom the diagnosis was unclear. A prospective consecutive patient survey was performed over a 29 week period in a regional neurosurgical unit. One hundred patients were included. Twenty-eight patients required neurosurgical management, of whom, nine required surgery within 24 hours. Twenty-three patients required ventilation, of whom 14 did not have a neurosurgical condition. In this group of patients, the majority did not have a neurosurgical condition. Increasing the availability of scanning services in district hospitals may avoid the unnecessary transfer of potentially unstable patients.

Cerebral Hemorrhage↗
PubMed2000

Cervical x-rays and the atlanto-axial region: supplementary computed tomography may be required in trauma.

In cervical trauma, x-rays may require supplementation with dynamic x-rays, computed-tomography (CT), or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). A normal cervical x-ray does not always imply cervical stability. The mechanism of injury, symptoms and signs help to indicate whether further imaging is required. We report a patient with a fracture of the atlas that was not diagnosed by plain radiology, but seen on CT.

Adult↗
PubMed2000

Expression of osteopontin in calcified coronary atherosclerotic plaques.

Advanced atherosclerosis is often associated with dystrophic calcification and remodeling of extracellular matrix of vascular wall. Recently many studies have documented a general relationship between calcification and severity of coronary disease, and discussed the feasibility of electron beam computed tomography for detecting and quantifying the coronary artery calcification in the patients. The present study investigated the expression and the localization of osteopontin, one of noncollagenous bone matrix protein, within the calcified coronary arteries. Autopsy-derived coronary artery specimens were scanned and reconstructed to visualize the pattern of coronary calcification using a novel microscopic computed tomography technique. The localization of the osteopontin were evaluated by immunohistochemial stain with LF7. The present study showed that the pattern of coronary calcification is variable and the expression of osteopontin is localized mainly to calcified lesion. The smooth muscle cells in addition to macrophage expressed osteopontin protein in human coronary atherosclerotic plaques. Soluble osteopontin released near to the sites of vascular calcification may represent an adaptive mechanism aimed at regulating the process of vascular calcification.

Aged↗
PubMed2000

Intactness of zona pellucida does not affect the secretion of a trypsin-like protease from mouse blastocyst.

Assisted hatching (AH), which is known to improve the hatching potential of mammalian embryos, has been used to increase the pregnancy rate in in vitro fertilization cycles. However, the effect of AH on a trypsin-like protease, which is known to be associated with the hatching process, has not been studied. In this study, we evaluate whether the intactness of zona pellucida affects the secretion of a trypsin-like protease from mouse blastocyst. Four- to 8-cell stage mouse embryos were collected at 66- to 68 hr after hCG injection and divided into 3 groups according to the manipulation of zona pellucida. The groups are no treatment (control), drilling of zona pellucida (ZD) and thinning of zona pellucida (ZT). The activity of a trypsin-like protease, blastocyst development and hatching rate were compared among the three groups at 110 and 135 hr after hCG injection, respectively. The protease activity and blastocyst development were not significantly different among control, ZD and ZT groups at 110 and 135 hr after hCG injection, respectively. However, the hatching rate of ZD and ZT groups was significantly higher than that of control group at each time, respectively (p<0.001). Even in the zona pellucida removed embryos, the protease activity did not differ from the control group. In conclusion, the secretion of a trypsin-like protease from mouse blastocyst does not seem to be affected by the intactness of zona pellucida.

Animals↗
PubMed1999

Microarray analysis of replicative senescence.

BACKGROUND: Limited replicative capacity is a defining characteristic of most normal human cells and culminates in senescence, an arrested state in which cells remain viable but display an altered pattern of gene and protein expression. To survey widely the alterations in gene expression, we have developed a DNA microarray analysis system that contains genes previously reported to be involved in aging, as well as those involved in many of the major biochemical signaling pathways. RESULTS: Senescence-associated gene expression was assessed in three cell types: dermal fibroblasts, retinal pigment epithelial cells, and vascular endothelial cells. Fibroblasts demonstrated a strong inflammatory-type response, but shared limited overlap in senescent gene expression patterns with the other two cell types. The characteristics of the senescence response were highly cell-type specific. A comparison of early- and late-passage cells stimulated with serum showed specific deficits in the early and mid G1 response of senescent cells. Several genes that are constitutively overexpressed in senescent fibroblasts are regulated during the cell cycle in early-passage cells, suggesting that senescent cells are locked in an activated state that mimics the early remodeling phase of wound repair. CONCLUSIONS: Replicative senescence triggers mRNA expression patterns that vary widely and cell lineage strongly influences these patterns. In fibroblasts, the senescent state mimics inflammatory wound repair processes and, as such, senescent cells may contribute to chronic wound pathologies.

Blood Physiological Phenomena↗
PubMed1999

Molecular cloning of a catalase cDNA from Nicotiana glutinosa L. and its repression by tobacco mosaic virus infection.

Recent reports revealed that catalase has a role in the plant defense mechanism against a broad range of pathogens through being inhibited by salicylic acid (SA). During an effort to clone disease resistance-responsive genes, a cDNA encoding catalase (Ngcat1; Nicotiana glutinosa cat1) was isolated from a tobacco cDNA library. In N. glutinosa, catalase is encoded by a small gene family. The deduced amino acid sequence of the Ngcat1 cDNA has 98% homology with the cat1 gene of N. plumbaginifolia. The Ngcat1 expression is controlled by the circadian clock, and its mRNA level is the most abundant in leaves. Both the expression of Ngcat1 mRNA and its enzyme activity in the tobacco plant undergoing a hypersensitive response (HR) to TMV infection were repressed. The repression of the mRNA level was also observed following treatment with SA. These results imply that SA may act as an inhibitor of catalase transcription during the HR of tobacco. Cloning and expression of the Ngcat1 in tobacco following pathogen infection and SA treatment are presented.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1999

White-matter change in mesial temporal sclerosis: correlation of MRI with PET, pathology, and clinical features.

PURPOSE: To assess the magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), positron emission tomography (PET), pathology, and clinical findings of patients with the MRI feature of white-matter change (WMC) in the anterior temporal lobe. METHODS: Fifty-six patients with pathologically proven mesial temporal sclerosis were included in this study. MRI and 18F-2-deoxyglucose-(FDG) PET images were obtained before surgery in all patients. The patients were divided into two groups according to the presence of WMC on their MRI. WMC consists of an indistinct gray-white matter demarcation and an increased signal intensity of the anterior temporal lobe on T2-weighted images. The two groups were then compared in terms of MRI, PET, pathology, and clinical features. RESULTS: The MRI feature of WMC was observed in 18 (32%) of the 56 patients. PET images of those patients revealed more severe hypometabolism of the ipsilateral temporal lobes (p< 0.05). In terms of histologic findings, larger numbers of heterotopic neurons were observed in the anterior temporal lobe white matter of these patients who also shared the following clinical features: earlier seizure onset, frequent history of febrile convulsions, and favorable surgical outcomes. CONCLUSIONS: The MRI feature of WMC is an additive sign for correct seizure lateralization and may be related to a favorable surgical outcome in patients with temporal lobe epilepsy.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1999

Long-lasting sonographic and histopathological findings in cured clonorchiasis of rabbits.

To ascertain residual sonographic and histopathological findings of clonorchiasis after treatment, the present study evaluated sonographic findings in rabbits which were infected with 500 metacercariae of C. sinensis every 6 months for 18 months after treatment with praziquantel. The sonographic findings were analyzed in terms of intrahepatic bile duct dilatation and periductal echogenicity, and histopathological findings were observed after the last sonographic examination. Compared with the sonographic findings before treatment, dilatation of the intrahepatic bile ducts became mild to some degree in four of the seven cases and increased periductal echogenicity resolved in four of them. The histopathological specimens after 18 months showed that periductal inflammation has almost resolved but moderate dilatation of the intrahepatic ducts and mucosal hyperplasia persisted. The periductal fibrosis minimally resolved. The long-lasting sonographic findings in cured clonorchiasis make sonography less specific.

Animals↗
PubMed1998

Cadmium resistance in transgenic tobacco plants expressing the Nicotiana glutinosa L. metallothionein-like gene.

To understand the function of metallothioneins (MTs) in plants, we introduced the Nicotiana glutinosa MT gene into tobacco (N. tabacum) plants via an Agrobacterium mediated transformation. Full-length MT cDNA was fused between the cauliflower mosaic virus 35S (CaMV 35S) promoter and the nopaline synthase (nos) terminator of the pMBP1 binary vector in sense orientation. Tobacco leaf discs which were cocultivated with Agrobacterium carrying the chimeric MT gene, formed kanamycin-resistant shoots on medium containing kanamycin. The kanamycin-resistant shoots were subsequently rooted on medium containing 200 microM CdSO4. Approximately 30% of individual transgenic plants developed normally. Nontransgenic plants promptly underwent leaf chlorosis, and their growth and development were inhibited on MS medium containing 50 microM CdSO4. Genomic Southern blot analysis showed that the MT gene was stably integrated into the nuclear genome of transgenic tobacco plants. The expression level of MT transcripts was analyzed by RNA gel blot analysis. Self-pollinated seeds obtained from transgenic tobacco plants showing cadmium tolerance were germinated on a medium containing 100 microM CdSO4. PCR analysis from sensitive and stably resistant T2 seedlings for cadmium sulfate confirmed a high correlation between the phenotypic expression of the MT gene and the transgenic genotype, indicating that the MT gene is inherited in the next generation.

Cadmium↗
PubMed1998

Coordinated expression of defense-related genes by TMV infection or salicylic acid treatment in tobacco.

To understand the coordinated functions of the different classes of defense-related genes expressed in plant disease resistance, the expression patterns of pathogenesis related (PR) protein genes and genes involved in antioxidation and the production of secondary metabolites were examined. The expression patterns of the respective defense-related genes were monitored following TMV infection or salicylic acid treatment. Northern blot analyses showed that PR genes such as PR-1, beta-1,3-glucanase and chitinase were strongly induced in tobacco leaves upon TMV infection or salicylic acid treatment. 3-Hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl CoA reductase (HMGR) and phenylalanine ammonialyase (PAL), involved in isoprenoid and phenylpropanoid biosynthesis, respectively, were mildly induced at the late stage of normal hypersensitive response (HR) or after salicylic acid treatment when compared with the PR-gene expressions. However, in acute HR, they were strongly expressed at the early stage. Interestingly, the expression of the antioxidative genes, anionic peroxidase and ascorbate peroxidase, were inversely expressed following TMV infection and salicylic acid treatment. Differential expression of 3 groups of genes involved in plant defense responses are discussed in relation to different signal transduction pathways.

Anti-Infective Agents↗
PubMed1998

The role of tumor necrosis factor alpha in modulating the quantity of peripheral blood-derived, cytokine-driven human dendritic cells and its role in enhancing the quality of dendritic cell function in presenting soluble antigens to CD4+ T cells in vitro.

Because dendritic cells (DC) are critically involved in both initiating primary and boosting secondary host immune responses, attention has focused on the use of DC in vaccine strategies to enhance reactivity to tumor-associated antigens. We have reported previously the induction of major histocompatibility complex class II-specific T-cell responses after stimulation with tumor antigen-pulsed DC in vitro. The identification of in vitro conditions that would generate large numbers of DC with more potent antigen-presenting cell (APC) capacity would be an important step in the further development of clinical cancer vaccine approaches in humans. We have focused attention on identifying certain exogenous cytokines added to DC cultures that would lead to augmented human DC number and function. DC progenitors from peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) were enriched by adherence to plastic, and the adherent cells were then cultured in serum-free XVIVO-15 medium (SFM) for 7 days with added granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) and interleukin-4 (IL-4). At day 7, cultures contained cells that displayed the typical phenotypic and morphologic characteristics of DC. Importantly, we have found that the further addition of tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNFalpha) at day 7 resulted in a twofold higher yield of DC compared with non-TNFalpha-containing DC cultures at day 14. Moreover, 14-day cultured DC generated in the presence of TNFalpha (when added at day 7) demonstrated marked enhancement in their capacity to stimulate a primary allogeneic mixed leukocyte reaction (8-fold increase in stimulation index [SI]) as well as to present soluble tetanus toxoid and candida albicans (10- to 100-fold increases in SI) to purified CD4+ T cells. These defined conditions allowed for significantly fewer DC and lower concentrations of soluble antigen to be used for the pulsing of DC to efficiently trigger specific T-cell proliferative responses in vitro. When compared with non-TNFalpha-supplemented cultures, these DC also displayed an increased surface expression of CD83 as well as the costimulatory molecules, CD80 and CD86. Removal of TNFalpha from the DC cultures after 2 or 4 days reduced its enhancing effect on DC yield, phenotype, and function. Thus, the continuous presence of TNFalpha over a 7-day period was necessary to achieve the maximum enhancing effect observed. Collectively, our findings point out the importance of exogenous TNFalpha added to cultures of cytokine-driven human DC under serum-free conditions, which resulted in an enhanced number and function of these APC. On the basis of these results, we plan to initiate clinical vaccine trials in patients that use tumor-pulsed DC generated under these defined conditions.

Antigen Presentation↗
PubMed1998

Identification of binding sites for bepridil and trifluoperazine on cardiac troponin C.

The solution structure of cardiac troponin C (cTnC) (Sia, S., Li, M. X., Spyracopoulos, L., Gagne, S. M., Liu, W., Putkey, J. A. & Sykes, B. D. (1997) J. Biol. Chem. 272, 18216-18221) challenges existing structure/function models for this critical regulatory protein. For example, it is clear that the closed conformation of the regulatory N-terminal domain in Ca2+-bound cardiac troponin C (cTnC) presents a much different binding surface for Ca2+-sensitizing compounds than previously thought. We report here the use of Met methyl groups as site-specific structural markers to identify drug binding sites for trifluoperazine and bepridil on cTnC. Drug dependent changes in the NMR heteronuclear single-quantum coherence spectra of [methyl-13C]Met-labeled cTnC indicate that bepridil and trifluoperazine bind to similar sites but only in the presence of Ca2+. There are 3-4 drug binding sites in the N- and C-terminal domains of intact cTnC that exhibit fast exchange on the NMR time scale. Use of a novel spin-labeled phenothiazine and detection of isotope-filtered nuclear Overhauser effects allowed identification of drug binding sites in the shallow hydrophobic cup in the C-terminal domain and on two hydrophobic surfaces on the N-terminal regulatory domain. The data presented here, coupled with our previous study using covalent blocking groups, support a model in which the Ca2+-sensitizing binding site includes Met-45 in helix B of site I, and Met-60 and -80 in helices B and C of the regulatory site II. This subregion in cTnC makes a likely target against which to design new and selective Ca2+-sensitizing compounds.

Animals↗
PubMed1998

A glycine-rich RNA-binding protein gene is differentially expressed during acute hypersensitive response following Tobacco Mosaic Virus infection in tobacco.

During efforts for cloning disease resistance-responsive genes, a cDNA encoding a putative Nicotiana glutinosa glycine-rich RNA binding protein (ngRBP) was isolated from TMV induced cDNA library. Northern blot hybridization revealed that ngRBP gene is negatively regulated during early hours of TMV induced acute hypersensitive response (HR). Under greenhouse conditions induced expression of ngRBP gene was observed after 24 h following TMV infection. Salicylic acid and copper also induced ngRBP mRNA expression. Our findings are suggestive of some possible role for ngRBP in plant-pathogen interaction.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1998

Noradrenergic neurotoxin suppresses gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) and GnRH receptor gene expression in ovariectomized and steroid-treated rats.

The present study was designed to investigate whether noradrenergic neurotransmission regulates the gene expression of gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) in the preoptic area and GnRH receptor in the pituitary. To this end, N-(2-chloroethyl)-N-ethyl-2-bromobenzylamine (DSP4, 50 mg/kg), an intraperitoneal (i.p.) injection of selective noradrenergic neurotoxin, was administered 1 h before progesterone (1 mg) treatment in ovariectomized and estradiol-treated prepubertal rats. Treatment with DSP4 effectively blocked the progesterone-induced increase in hypothalamic noradrenaline content, but not dopamine content, indicating that DSP4 selectively inhibits noradrenergic neurotransmission. DSP4 significantly blocked progesterone-induced increase in serum luteinizing hormone (LH) concentrations as well as GnRH release from hypothalamic fragments incubated in vitro. DSP4 concomitantly down-regulated GnRH mRNA levels in the preoptic area, as determined by competitive reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction. DSP4 also clearly down-regulated progesterone-induced GnRH receptor mRNA levels in the pituitary, whereas it failed to alter LHbeta mRNA levels. In summary, blockade of noradrenergic neurotransmission with DSP4 resulted in profound reductions of hypothalamic GnRH and pituitary GnRH receptor gene expression.

Adrenergic Agents↗
PubMed1998

Biotic and abiotic stress-related expression of 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylate oxidase gene family in Nicotiana glutinosa L.

Three full length 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylate (ACC) oxidase cDNA clones (pNG-ACO1, 1,254 bp; pNG-ACO2, 1,198 bp; and pNG-ACO3, 1,053 bp) were isolated from the TMV-treated leaf cDNA library of Nicotiana glutinosa plant. They share a high degree of sequence identity (78-81%) throughout the coding regions but are divergent within the 3'-untranslated regions. The gene-specific probes were prepared using these regions to investigate the differential expression of the ACC oxidase gene family in various organs and in response to a multitude of biotic and abiotic stresses in N. glutinosa plants. All three genes were transcriptionally active displaying unique patterns of expression. Both the pNG-ACO1 and pNG-ACO3 transcripts highly accumulated during the senescence of leaves, while the pNG-ACO2 mRNA was constitutively present. In addition, the NG-ACO1 and NG-ACO3 transcripts were predominantly found in roots whereas the NG-ACO2 mRNA was mainly in stems. Upon TMV infection, both NG-ACO1 and NG-ACO3 were markedly induced, but in mock treatment which has an effect of mild wounding, only the NG-ACO3 gene was induced. Furthermore, salicylic acid and CuSO4 treatments of leaves increased the level of NG-ACO1 and NG-ACO3 transcripts, while they did not affect the NG-ACO2 gene expression. Results showed that both the NG-ACO1 and NG-ACO3 genes were highly inducible by ethylene and methyl jasmonate treatments, with NG-ACO3 being more responsive. By contrast, NG-ACO2 did not respond to these growth regulators. Thus, it appears that there are two groups of ACC oxidase transcripts expressed in leaf tissue of N. glutinosa, either stress-induced or constitutive. The possible molecular mechanism of differential regulation of ACC oxidase gene expression and its physiological significance are discussed.

Amino Acid Oxidoreductases↗