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Biomedical subjects

G Koh

Publications and source records attributed to G Koh.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

Disruptive doctors.

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Education, Medical↗

Unusual presentation of neonatal Behcets disease.

Intrauterine growth retardation and neonatal transient mucocutaneous lesions ("transient Behcet syndrome") have been reported in pregnancies complicated by Behcets disease (BD). Neonatal neurological manifestations have not been reported in such pregnancies. Vascular and neurological involvement is known to worsen the prognosis in adults with BD. The clinical course and outcome of a 34-weeks' gestation neonate born to a mother with BD is reported. Progressive recovery from minimal respiratory distress syndrome was followed by catastrophic presentation on 6th day of life with generalized seizures. Cranial ultrasound revealed multiple hyperechoic lesions in the frontal, parietal, and periventricular regions with a few surrounded by a ring of reduced echogenicity suggesting haemorrhage into ischemic areas. Death occurred after withdrawal of life support on Day 9, after extensive discussions with parents in view of the progressive deterioration in the neonates' general condition and the cranial ultrasound findings. Strong family history of BD, clinical course, and laboratory results (no evidence of disseminated intravascular coagulation, normal levels of protein C and S, absence of factor V Leiden and anticardiolipin antibodies) suggested neurological manifestations of BD as the most probable diagnosis.

Adult↗

Lipopolysaccharide activates matrix metalloproteinase-2 in endothelial cells through an NF-kappaB-dependent pathway.

Vascular endothelial cells release proteinases that degrade the extracellular matrix, thus enabling cell migration during angiogenesis and vasculogenesis. Endothelial cells secrete mainly the proform of matrix metalloproteinase-2 (proMMP-2). In this report, we examined several growth factors, cytokines, and other molecules for activation of MMP-2 by human umbilical vein endothelial cells. Of these factors, we found that lipopolysaccharide (LPS) is the strongest activator of MMP-2. LPS induced MMP-2 activation in a time- and dose-dependent manner. While pretreatment with zinc chelators or nuclear factor kappaB (NF-kappaB) inhibitors suppressed LPS-induced MMP-2 activation, pretreatment with phosphatidylinositol 3'-kinase inhibitors had no effect. These results indicate that, in endothelial cells, LPS can directly enhance angiogenesis by inducing MMP-2 activation mediated through an NF-kappaB pathway.

Cells, Cultured↗

CD11b mRNA expression in neutrophils isolated from peripheral blood and gingival crevicular fluid.

Adhesion molecule CD11b/CD18 expressed by neutrophils (PMNs) participates in cell migration and phagocytosis of C3bi derivatized bacteria. It is this phagocytic function that eliminates some of the known periodontal pathogens in periodontal pockets. In patients with advanced periodontitis, homotypic aggregation of crevicular fluid PMNs (CF-PMNs) may occur due to overexpression of CD11b/CD18 and this may lead to ineffective elimination of periodontal pathogens. We have previously shown that CF-PMNs isolated from the periodontal pockets overexpress CD11b compared to PB-PMNs. This study tested the hypotheses that (1) overexpression of surface CD11b correlates with expression of CD11b mRNA in CF-PMNs isolated from advanced periodontitis subjects, and (2) the intrinsic capacity of CD11b mRNA upregulation by PB-PMNs from periodontitis patients differs from that of control subjects. CF-PMNs and peripheral blood PMNs (PB-PMNs) were isolated from 13 subjects with healthy gingiva (control group) and 13 subjects with advanced periodontitis (patient group). The surface expression of CD11b was determined by flow cytometry and CD11b mRNA was determined by extraction of mRNA and reverse transcription to cDNA followed by DNA amplification using primers to detect a segment of the cDNA which encodes CD11b. The results of this study confirm that the surface expression of CD11b on CF-PMNs is significantly higher in periodontitis subjects vs control subjects (p = 0.03), whereas surface CD11b expression on PB-PMNs does not differ significantly between groups (p = 0.06). The level of surface CD11b expression on CF-PMNs did not correlate with the amount of mRNA present in CF-PMNs in either group (p = 0.056, 0.07 for control and periodontitis patients, respectively). Most (9 of 13) individuals in the patient group expressed CD11b mRNA whereas very few control subjects (2 of 11) had CD11b mRNA in their CF-PMNs. This difference between groups was statistically significant (p = 0.004). The capacity to upregulate CD11b mRNA upon stimulation with fMLP and/or GM-CSF was highly variable and there was no statistical difference between the 2 groups.

Adult↗

Delayed processing of the insulin proreceptor by hepatocytes from diabetic rats.

The effect of diabetes on insulin receptor processing was assessed in rat hepatocytes, 2-4 weeks after the induction of diabetes with streptozotocin. Isolated hepatocytes from control and diabetic rats were labelled for 30 min with [35S]methionine in methionine-free medium and chased with complete medium for 1-3 hrs. Solubilized cell extracts were immunoprecipitated with a site-specific anti-insulin receptor antibody, proteins were separated by electrophoresis and labelling quantified following autoradiography. After 1 hr chase, only the insulin proreceptor was labelled in both groups. After 3 hrs, the ratio of labelled proreceptors to labelled insulin receptors was 0.57 +/- 0.063 in controls and 1.33 +/- 0.24 in hepatocytes from diabetic rats. Insulin added in vitro did not affect transit time. Delayed processing of the insulin proreceptor may reflect altered N-glycosylation and may also involve other glycoproteins.

Animals↗

Circulating levels and bone contents of bone gamma-carboxyglutamic acid-containing protein in rat models of non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus.

In order to investigate the pathophysiology of the diabetic osteopenia observed in non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus, the circulating levels and the bone contents of bone gamma-carboxyglutamic acid-containing protein (osteocalcin) were determined in rat models of non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus, neonatally streptozotocin-induced rats and in genetic Wistar fatty rats. In Wistar fatty rats the plasma level of osteocalcin was 8.1 +/- 0.8 nmol/l, significantly lower than the value of 17.3 +/- 0.9 nmol/l in their lean littermates (p < 0.001). Bone length, bone strength, and weight of powdered bone in Wistar fatty rats were significantly decreased compared to control rats (p < 0.001, p < 0.02 and p < 0.001, respectively). Bone content of osteocalcin per femur in Wistar fatty rats was also significantly decreased compared to controls (p < 0.001). In addition, plasma osteocalcin in neonatally streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats was 2.9 +/- 0.3 nmol/l, which was also significantly decreased compared to the value of 5.6 +/- 0.5 nmol/l in their controls (p < 0.001). Since it has been established that the plasma level of osteocalcin is well related to bone formation and turnover, the low plasma values in these animal models suggest that bone formation and turnover are decreased in non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus. Low bone formation and turnover are, therefore, postulated to be one of the pathophysiological characteristics of the skeletal tissue in non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus, and to be at least in part responsible for the occurrence of this complication.

Animals↗

Insulin and glucose transporter gene expression in obesity and diabetes.

In order to determine the role of insulin and glucose transporter gene expression in the development of diabetes in obesity, we examined insulin and GLUT2-liver type and GLUT4-muscle-fat type glucose transporter mRNA levels in obese and diabetic rats. Ventromedial hypothalamus-lesioned (VMH), Zucker fatty (ZF), and Wistar fatty (WF) rats were used as models. VMH and ZF rats are most frequently used as models for simple obesity. In contrast, WF rats, which have been established by transferring the fa gene of ZF rats to Wistar Kyoto rats, develop both obesity and diabetes. Pancreatic insulin content of VMH rats at 10 weeks after the operation and of ZF rats at 5 and 14 weeks of age was significantly higher than that of controls. On the other hand, insulin content of WF rats at 5 and 14 weeks of age was not significantly different from that of lean littermates. The insulin mRNA levels of VMH rats were increased progressively and were significantly higher than those in sham-operated animals at 4 and 10 weeks after the operation. In ZF rats, the insulin mRNA levels at 5 and 14 weeks of age were significantly higher than those of their lean littermates. In WF rats, by contrast, the insulin mRNA levels were similar to those of lean littermates at 5 and 14 weeks of age. The insulin mRNA levels of WF rats were about 40% of that of ZF rats at 14 weeks of age. On the other hand, at 14 weeks of age, the GLUT2 mRNA levels of liver were significantly higher in ZF and WF rats than those in their respective littermates, but not at 5 weeks of age. The GLUT4 mRNA levels of skeletal muscle in both ZF and WF rats were not significantly different from those of controls. It is suggested that the inability of WF rats to augment insulin gene expression in response to a large demand for insulin is associated with the occurrence of diabetes, and that the activation of GLUT2 mRNA without the activation of GLUT4 mRNA is common to obesity with and without diabetes.

Animals↗

Liver and muscle-fat type glucose transporter gene expression in obese and diabetic rats.

In order to investigate the regulation of glucose transporter gene expression in the altered metabolic conditions of obesity and diabetes, we have measured mRNA levels encoding GLUT2 in the liver and GLUT4 in the gastrocnemius muscle from various insulin resistant animal models, including Zucker fatty, Wistar fatty, and streptozocin(STZ)-treated diabetic rats. Northern blot analysis revealed that GLUT2 mRNA levels were significantly (P less than 0.001) elevated in 14 wk Zucker fatty and Wistar fatty rats relative to lean littermates but were similar in these two groups at 5 wk of age. Furthermore, there was significant increase (P less than 0.01) in GLUT2 mRNA levels in STZ diabetic rats at 3 wk after treatment. GLUT4 mRNA levels were not significantly different between control and insulin resistant rats in all animal models. These results indicate that neither hyperinsulinemia nor hyperglycemia affects GLUT4 mRNA levels in the muscle. However, GLUT2 mRNA levels in the liver were elevated in obesity and diabetes, although this regulatory event occurred independently from circulating insulin or glucose concentrations.

Animals↗

Over-expression of facilitative glucose transporter genes in human cancer.

The expression of five facilitative glucose transporter genes, GLUT1 (erythrocyte type), GLUT2 (liver type), GLUT3 (brain type), GLUT4 (muscle/fat type), and GLUT5 (small intestine type), was examined in human cancer tissues of the digestive system by RNA blotting analysis. The amounts of the GLUT1, GLUT2, and GLUT3 transcripts were elevated in most cancer tissues studied, although the expression of the GLUT2 gene is primarily restricted to the liver. On the other hand, mRNA levels of GLUT4 and GLUT5 were below sensitivity in all cancer tissues examined. These results suggest that over-expression of GLUT1 and GLUT3 might be closely related with tissue development and that the acceleration of glucose uptake by transformed cells may result, at least in part, from the increase in the expression of these two glucose transporters.

Digestive System Neoplasms↗

Importance of imparied insulin-gene expression in occurrence of diabetes in obese rats.

To investigate the role of the beta-cell in the occurrence of diabetes in obesity, longitudinal changes of insulin-gene expression and pancreatic insulin content were compared among genetically obese diabetic (Wistar fatty) rats, genetically obese nondiabetic (Zucker fatty) rats, and ventromedial hypothalamus (VMH)-lesioned obese rats. Plasma glucose levels were significantly elevated with age in Wistar fatty rats, whereas they were virtually unchanged in VMH-lesioned and Zucker fatty rats. Obesity and hyperinsulinemia were evident in VMH-lesioned rats 1 wk after the operation and in Zucker and Wistar fatty rats at 5 wk of age. In VMH-lesioned rats, the pancreatic preproinsulin I mRNA (pplmRNA) level and pancreatic insulin content markedly increased approximately two- to threefold (P less than 0.001) with the development of hyperinsulinemia, whereas sham-operated rats showed no significant change. In Zucker and Wistar lean rats, the pplmRNA level and pancreatic insulin content increased with age, corresponding to increases in body weight. In Zucker fatty rats, the pplmRNA level and pancreatic insulin content at 5 and 14 wk of age were significantly higher than those of lean littermates. The pplmRNA level in Zucker fatty rats at 14 wk of age reached 290% of that of their lean littermates (P less than 0.001). On the other hand, the pplmRNA level and pancreatic insulin content in Wistar fatty rats at 5 and 14 wk of age did not increase more than those of their lean littermates at the corresponding ages and were therefore significantly lower than in Zucker fatty rats, which had a higher grade of hyperinsulinemia at 14 wk of age.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Animals↗

Short term effects of glucose and arginine on the preproinsulin messenger ribonucleic acid level in the perfused rat pancreas: comparison with insulin secretion.

To investigate the role of glucose and arginine in short term regulation of preproinsulin mRNA (ppImRNA) levels, the rat pancreas was perfused in the presence of glucose and/or arginine, and changes in ppImRNA levels in the pancreas were compared with the amount of insulin released during the perfusion. Perfusion of the pancreas with high glucose and arginine induced a significant increase in ppImRNA levels within 2 h, whereas perfusion with low glucose and arginine or high glucose alone had no significant effect during this period. The insulin release induced by perfusion of high glucose combined with arginine was 2 times greater than that induced by high glucose alone or low glucose with arginine. In conclusion, insulin gene transcription can be evoked during a short period in response to an extremely large secretory demand for insulin.

Animals↗

Effect of vitamin D on gastrin and gastric somatostatin secretion from the isolated perfused rat stomach.

We have studied the role of vitamin D in the regulation of gastrin and gastric somatostatin secretion from the isolated perfused rat stomach. In Ca-deficient vitamin D-deficient rats (Ca(-)D(-) group), the basal and bombesin-stimulated gastrin and gastric somatostatin release (basal IRGa, basal IRS, sigma delta IRGa, and sigma delta IRS) all were significantly lower than in Ca-replete vitamin D-replete rats (Ca(+)D(+) group), and also lower than in Ca-replete vitamin D-deficient rats (Ca(+)D(-) group) except for the basal IRGa. In the Ca(+)D(-) group, the basal IRGa and IRS, and sigma delta IRS were not significantly lower than in the Ca(+)D(+) group. Although there was no significant impairment in basal IRGa, sigma delta IRGa in the Ca(+)D(-) group was significantly lower than in the Ca(+)D(+) control group. Thus, the gastrin and gastric somatostatin secretion from the Ca-deficient vitamin D-deficient rats were impaired. In addition, the impaired gastrin and gastric somatostatin secretions seem to be caused not only by a decrease in serum Ca but also by the reduced effect of the vitamin D on the G and gastric D cells.

Animals↗

Effect of DG5128 on epinephrine and glucagon induced glucose output from the isolated perfused rat liver.

The effect of a specific alpha 2-adrenergic antagonist 2-[2-(4,5-dihydro-1.H-imidazol-2-yl)-1-phenyl-ethyl] pyridine dihydrochloride sesquihydrate (DG5128), on the glucose output by epinephrine and/or glucagon was studied using the perfused rat liver. The administration of DG5128 alone did not affect the glucose output. However, DG5128 produced a significant inhibition of the increased glucose output when induced by 10(-6) M epinephrine alone or 10(-6) M epinephrine plus 1.4 x 10(-10) M glucagon. There were no significant changes of the glucose output by 1.4 x 10(-10) M or 7.0 x 10(-11) M glucagon alone. On the other hand, addition of 1 mU/ml insulin to the perfusate suppressed the 7.0 x 10(-11) M glucagon-induced glucose output, but failed to decrease the 1.4 x 10(-10) M glucagon effect. DG5128 suppressed further the glucagon (7.0 x 10(-11) M)-induced increase of glucose output in the presence of insulin. These results suggest that DG5128 produces a hypoglycemic effect partly through an inhibition of the increased hepatic glucose output elicited by epinephrine and glucagon.

Animals↗

Characteristic features of insulin secretion in the streptozotocin-induced NIDDM rat model.

Male Wistar neonatal rats at age 1.5 days (Streptozotocin [STZ] group 1) and 5 days (STZ group 2) received a subcutaneous injection of 90 mg/kg STZ. After 10 weeks, the rats were subjected to an oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) (2 g/kg) in a conscious state. The pancreas perfusion experiments were conducted 2 weeks after the OGTT. There was no statistical difference in insulin response between the STZ group 1 and the control group. On the contrary, in the STZ group 2, the plasma glucose response to OGTT showed a typical diabetic pattern, and the plasma insulin response was markedly blunted. In the isolated perfused rat pancreas, the infusion of glucose evoked a biphasic insulin secretion, but the peak insulin levels induced by 16.7 mmol/L glucose in the STZ group 1 were significantly lower than in the controls. We further investigated characteristics of insulin secretion in response to different secretagogues in these animal models using isolated islets. The insulin content of the islets of the STZ group 1 were about one half that of the control group. Insulin secretion in the STZ group 1 was impaired in response to glucose stimulation, but remained normal in response to arginine and forskolin. These results suggest that insulin secretion of non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM) rat model is selectively impaired in response to glucose stimulation, possibly due to a disorder of signaling mechanism other than adenylate cyclase.

Animals↗

Comparative effect of somatostatin-14 and somatostatin-28 on glucagon-induced glycogenolysis from the perfused rat liver.

The effect of somatostatin (SS)-14 and SS-28 on glycogenolysis was studied, using a rat liver perfusion technique. Livers from nonfasted rats were perfused with 5.5 mmol/L glucose or perfusate without the glucose addition. Glucagon-induced glucose output was lower in the presence of 5.5 mmol/L glucose than in glucose free perfusate at every concentration of glucagon. Under glucose free conditions, SS-14 given at five minutes prior to the glucagon addition reduced the glucagon-induced glucose output dose-dependently. SS-14 given 15 minutes after glucagon addition also inhibited glucagon-induced glucose output significantly. However, various concentrations of SS-28 failed to affect glucose output. On the other hand, in the presence of 5.5 mmol/L glucose, neither SS-14 nor SS-28 affected glucagon-induced glucose output. It is suggested, therefore, that glycogenolysis induced by glucagon from the liver is reduced by SS-14, but not by SS-28, only under glucose free conditions.

Animals↗

Degradation and conversion of somatostatin in normal and diabetic rats in vivo and in vitro.

Plasma somatostatin-like immunoreactivity in the portal and jugular veins of streptozotocin diabetic rats was compared with that in normal control rats. In the diabetic group, somatostatin levels in the portal (p less than 0.05) and jugular (p less than 0.01) veins were both elevated compared with those in the control group. Moreover, the degree of elevation was greater in the jugular vein than in the portal vein. To further investigate the role of the liver in the clearance of somatostatin-28 in vivo, 2 micrograms of somatostatin-28 was administered as a bolus into the external jugular vein of intact and functionally hepatectomized rats. The mean half-time of somatostatin-28 was significantly longer in intact diabetic rats than in controls (p less than 0.05). The functional hepatectomy did not cause a significant difference in the half-time in diabetic rats but made it longer in control rats. These results suggest that the longer half-time of somatostatin-28 in diabetic rats in vivo is due to its slower hepatic clearance. The hepatic clearance of somatostatin-28 and somatostatin-14 was further studied in vitro using a recirculating liver perfusion method. The hepatic clearance of 1.2 nM of either somatostatin-28 or somatostatin-14 was significantly lower in diabetic rats than in controls (p less than 0.01). This indicates that elevated plasma somatostatin levels in diabetic rats are caused at least in part by decreased hepatic clearance of somatostatin.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Animals↗

Sequence of an intestinal cDNA encoding human motilin precursor.

A cDNA clone encoding the human motilin precursor was isolated from an intestinal library using synthetic oligonucleotide probes. The predicted amino acid sequence indicates that the motilin precursor consists of 115 amino acids and includes a 25-residue N-terminal signal peptide followed by the 22-amino-acid motilin sequence and a long, 68-residue C-terminal peptide. The amino acid sequence of human motilin predicted from the cDNA sequence is identical to its porcine counterpart, which has been determined by protein sequencing. Proteolytic processing of promotilin to motilin occurs at the sequence, Lys-Lys, this being the first reported instance of processing occurring at a pair of Lys residues. In other precursors it occurs at Lys-Arg, Arg-Arg, Arg, or very rarely Lys.

Amino Acid Sequence↗