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Biomedical subjects

Jee Eun Kim

Publications and source records attributed to Jee Eun Kim.

10 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2006

Regulation of UVB-induced IL-8 and MCP-1 production in skin keratinocytes by increasing vitamin C uptake via the redistribution of SVCT-1 from the cytosol to the membrane.

It is well known that UVB (290-320 nm) induces inflammation in skin by the transcription and release of cytokines and chemokines from skin keratinocytes. In addition, it is considered that intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) plays an important role in UVB-induced inflammatory response in the skin. Therefore, we investigated the effect of vitamin C, a potent antioxidant, on the regulation of UVB-induced skin inflammation via the modulation of chemokines production. Vitamin C uptake into keratinocytes is increased by UVB irradiation in a time- and dose-dependent manner through the translocation of sodium-dependent vitamin C transporter-1 (SVCT-1), a vitamin C-specific transporter, from the cytosol to the membrane. To evaluate the effect of vitamin C on the chemokine mRNA expression, we performed RNase protection assay. As a result, there was a remarkable change in chemokine mRNA expression, especially IL-8 and monocyte chemoattractant protein (MCP)-1 expression. In addition, increased IL-8 and MCP-1 mRNA expressions were suppressed by vitamin C treatment. We also confirmed the results of protein levels measured by ELISA. Taken together, vitamin C uptake is increased in UVB-irradiated keratinocytes through the translocation of SVCT-1 and regulates inflammatory response in the skin via the downregulation of IL-8 and MCP-1 production.

Antioxidants↗
PubMed2006

Constitutive expression of abiotic stress-inducible hot pepper CaXTH3, which encodes a xyloglucan endotransglucosylase/hydrolase homolog, improves drought and salt tolerance in transgenic Arabidopsis plants.

Xyloglucan endotransglucosylase/hydrolase (XTH) has been recognized as a cell wall-modifying enzyme, participating in the diverse physiological roles. From water-stressed hot pepper plants, we isolated three different cDNA clones (pCaXTH1, pCaXTH2, and pCaXTH3) that encode XTH homologs. RT-PCR analysis showed that three CaXTH mRNAs were concomitantly induced by a broad spectrum of abiotic stresses, including drought, high salinity and cold temperature, and in response to stress hormone ethylene, suggesting their role in the early events in the abiotic-related defense response. Transgenic Arabidopsis plants that constitutively expressed the CaXTH3 gene under the control of the CaMV 35S promoter exhibited abnormal leaf morphology; the transgenic leaves showed variable degrees of twisting and bending along the edges, resulting in a severely wrinkled leaf shape. Microscopic analysis showed that 35S-CaXTH3 leaves had increased numbers of small-sized cells, resulting in disordered, highly populated mesophyll cells in each dorsoventral layer, and appeared to contain a limited amount of starch. In addition, the 35S-CaXTH3 transgenic plants displayed markedly improved tolerance to severe water deficit, and to lesser extent to high salinity in comparison with the wild-type plants. These results indicate that CaXTH3 is functional in heterologous Arabidopsis cells, thereby effectively altering cell growth and also the response to abiotic stresses. Although the physiological function of CaXTHs is not yet clear, there are several possibilities for their involvement in a subset of physiological responses to counteract dehydration and high salinity stresses in transgenic Arabidopsis plants.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed2006

Effects of amlodipine orotate on hypertension-related complications in spontaneously hypertensive rats.

Hypertension is a common problem in elderly patients, which usually requires chronic therapy under various physiological conditions including low gastric acidity (hypo- or anacidity). This study investigated a new salt type of amlodipine (CAS 88150-42-9) on blood pressure and hypertension-related complications in stroke-prone spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR-SP). Amlodipine orotate was prepared by reacting orotic acid and amlodipine to increase the dissolution rate at higher gastric pH conditions. Twelve-week-old SHR-SP were randomly divided into five groups to receive either amlodipine orotate or amlodipine besylate (CAS 111470-99-6) at the doses of 3 and 10 mg/kg/day orally for four weeks. The age-matched normotensive Wistar Kyoto rats (WKY) served as the normal positive control group. The systolic blood pressure was reduced in the amlodipine treated SHR-SP in a dose-dependent manner with a similar potency irrespective of the salt type. Both amlodipines also reduced the left ventricular hypertrophy at high doses and concentration-dependently inhibited the Ca2+ induced contraction with a similar potency. Furthermore, semi-quantitative analysis of a cerebral injury revealed that the two salts of amlodipine reduced the stroke-re-lated lesions to a similar degree. These results suggest that the amlodipine orotate is effective in terms of its effects on hypertension, cardiac hypertrophy and stroke-related cerebral damage in SHR-SP.

Amlodipine↗
PubMed2005

Chronic treatment of DA-8159, a new phosphodiesterase type V inhibitor, attenuates endothelial dysfunction in stroke-prone spontaneously hypertensive rat.

This study examined the effects of chronic treatment of a new phosphodiesterase type 5 inhibitor, DA-8159, on endothelial dysfunction in stroke-prone spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR-SP). Six-week-old male SHR-SP were divided into 4 groups; vehicle control, DA-8159 1, 3, and 10 mg/kg/day. During a 32-week experimental period, the animals were administered DA-8159 orally and fed a 4% NaCl-loaded diet. The systolic blood pressure was measured every two weeks throughout the experimental period using the tail-cuff method. At the end of experiments, the vascular function (acetylcholine-induced vasodilation) in the endothelium-intact aortic rings was investigated. In addition, the mortality, the left ventricular hypertrophy index, the plasma parameters and the incidence of a cerebral infarction were assessed. In the DA-8159 treated-rats, the vascular reactivity improved significantly in a dose-dependent manner. Although DA-8159 did not alter the elevation of the systolic blood pressure directly, the 3 and 10 mg/kg/day DA-8159 treatment delayed the early death caused by stroke. DA-8159 significantly reduced the left ventricular heart weight/body weight ratio compared with the vehicle control group. Furthermore, the DA-8159 treatment significantly increased the plasma nitric oxide, cGMP, and the total antioxidative status. The DA-8159 treatment also reduced the occurrence of stroke-associated cerebral damage. These results indicate that DA-8159 can ameliorate an endothelial dysfunction-related vascular injury. Therefore, pharmacological intervention aimed at attenuating an endothelial dysfunction is important and might be useful in both preventing and treating endothelial dysfunction-related complications.

3',5'-Cyclic-GMP Phosphodiesterases↗
PubMed2005

Tailgut cyst: MRI evaluation.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of our study was to evaluate the MRI features of tailgut cysts in five patients. CONCLUSION: Our results suggest that MRI may be useful in the diagnosis of tailgut cyst. A multilocular cystic mass in the presacral space is a characteristic MRI finding of tailgut cyst, which may also be revealed as a cystic mass consisting of a large cyst accompanied by a small peripheral cyst. However, further studies are necessary to establish the usefulness of MRI for evaluating tailgut cysts.

Adult↗
PubMed2005

Torsed appendix testis: gray scale and color Doppler sonographic findings compared with normal appendix testis.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to compare the size, shape, echogenicity, and blood flow of the appendix testis on sonography in control subjects and in patients with a torsed appendix testis and to evaluate the usefulness as well as the limitations of these criteria. METHODS: This was a retrospective analysis of 11 lesions with torsed appendix testes and 15 normal appendix testes in 12 children. The following gray scale and color Doppler sonographic features were analyzed: size, shape, echogenicity, and blood flow of the appendix testis. RESULTS: The size of the appendix testis was larger in patients with a torsed appendix testis than in the control subjects (P < .05). A spherical shape of the appendix testis was more common in patients with a torsed appendix testis (P < .05). There was no blood flow within both the torsed and normal appendix testes. However, the frequency of increased periappendiceal blood flow was higher in patients with a torsed appendix testis (P < .05). There was no significant difference in the echogenicity between the torsed and normal appendix testes. CONCLUSIONS: Gray scale and color Doppler sonography may be helpful in the diagnosis of torsion of the appendix testis. A size of 5 mm or larger, spherical shape, and increased periappendiceal blood flow are indicative of a torsed appendix testis.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2005

Molecular mechanism of antitumor activity of taxanes in lung cancer (Review).

Lung cancer is the most common cause of cancer mortality in both male and female patients in the United States of America, as well as in the rest of the world. Over one million people are diagnosed with lung cancer every year worldwide. The taxane is one of the most powerful classes of novel antitumor agents and has become an integral part of several commonly used chemotherapy regimens in lung cancer management over the past few years. Although the ability of taxanes to disrupt microtubule dynamics is well documented, the molecular basis by which taxanes suppress cancer cell growth and induce apoptotic cell death is not clearly defined. In this review, we focus on the molecular mechanisms of the antitumor activity of taxanes (paclitaxel and docetaxel) in lung cancer, and discuss the interactions of taxanes with microtubules, the roles of cell cycle control and cell death induction in the anticancer action of taxanes, as well as the signal transduction pathways involved in the processes. In addition, we discuss the possible mechanisms of taxane resistance, because drug resistance to these anti-neoplastic agents affects therapy efficacy and is also a major obstacle in the clinic for the successful treatment of lung cancer. Understanding the molecular mechanisms underlying the antitumor effect of taxanes and the drug resistance to taxanes may lead to the design of biologically and pharmacologically targeted therapeutic strategies for taxane resistant tumors, and to the improvement of chemotherapy effect and cancer patient survival.

Antineoplastic Agents↗
PubMed2004

The Vr-PLC3 gene encodes a putative plasma membrane-localized phosphoinositide-specific phospholipase C whose expression is induced by abiotic stress in mung bean (Vigna radiata L.).

Phosphoinositide-specific phospholipase C (PI-PLC) catalyzes the hydrolysis of phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate to generate inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate and diacylglycerol, both of which act as secondary messengers in animal cells. In this report, we identified in Vigna radiata L. (mung bean) three distinct partial cDNAs (pVr-PLC1, pVr-PLC2, and pVr-PLC3), which encode forms of putative PI-PLC. All three Vr-PLC genes were transcriptionally active and displayed unique patterns of expression. The Vr-PLC1 and Vr-PLC2 transcripts were constitutively expressed to varying degrees in every tissue of mung bean plants examined. In contrast, the Vr-PLC3 mRNA level was very low under normal growth conditions and was rapidly induced in an abscisic acid-independent manner under environmental stress conditions (drought and high salinity). An isolated genomic clone, about 8.2 kb in length, showed that Vr-PLC1 and Vr-PLC3 are in tandem array in the mung bean genome. The predicted primary sequence of Vr-PLC3 (M(r)=67.4 kDa) is reminiscent of the delta-isoform of animal enzymes which contain core sequences found in typical PI-PLCs, such as the catalytic domain comprising X and Y motifs, a lipid-binding C2 domain, and the less conserved EF-hand domain. Results of in vivo targeting experiment using a green fluorescent protein (GFP) showed that the GFP-Vr-PLC3 fusion protein was localized primarily to the plasma membrane of the Arabidopsis protoplast. The C2 domain was essential for Vr-PLC3 to be targeted to the plasma membrane. The possible biological functions of stress-responsive Vr-PLC3 in mung bean plants are discussed.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Acute necrotizing encephalopathy in Korean infants and children: imaging findings and diverse clinical outcome.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of our study was to describe acute necrotizing encephalopathy in Korean infants and children, and we sought to evaluate the prognostic factors. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Acute necrotizing encephalopathy was diagnosed in 14 Korean infants and children. We retrospectively analyzed the neuroimaging findings including the follow-up changes. The clinical course of the disease was graded, and we evaluated prognostic factors including age, serum level of the aminotransferase, hemorrhage, and localized atrophy of the brain. RESULT: This encephalopathy predominantly affected the bilateral thalami (n = 14), pons (n = 12), and midbrain (n = 10) in a symmetrical pattern. Hemorrhage was observed in eight patients (57%). On the follow-up images (n = 12), the brain lesions were reduced in extent for all patients, and generalized atrophy was seen in six patients. Localized tissue loss was observed in five patients and a complete resolution occurred for one patient. All the patients survived and two recovered completely; mild (n = 6) to severe (n = 6) neurological deficits persisted in the remaining 12 patients. The significant prognostic factors identified in this study were the presence of hemorrhage (p = 0.009) and localized atrophy (p = 0.015). CONCLUSION: Acute necrotizing encephalopathy in Korean patients showed the characteristic patterns of the post-infectious encephalopathy as described in the literature. The high survival rate and the relatively favorable clinical course observed for the present study suggest a more diverse spectrum of disease severity than was previously described. The presence of hemorrhage and localized tissue loss on MR images may suggest a poor prognosis.

Brain↗