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Biomedical subjects

K Ko

Publications and source records attributed to K Ko.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed1999

[Evaluation of the efficacy and the cost-effectiveness of proton pump inhibitor-based dual and triple therapy regimens for H. pylori eradication in peptic ulcer disease].

To evaluate the efficacy and the cost-effectiveness of H. pylori eradication for the treatment of peptic ulcer disease, a randomized controlled trial to compare the efficacy of proton pump inhibitor-based dual and triple regimens was conducted. A decision analysis was also performed to assess H. pylori eradication compared to the conventional maintenance strategy. Two hundred and thirty-four peptic ulcer patients suffering from H. pylori infection were randomly treated with either omeprazole 20 mg bid + amoxicillin 500 mg qid + clarithromycin 400 mg bid (OAC) or with omeprazole 20 mg bid + clarithromycin 400 mg bid (OC) for 14 days. The eradication rate with OAC was 87.6% (92/105) (95% Confidence Interval (CI): 81-94%), which was significantly higher than that with OC (61.9% (60/97) (95% CI: 52-72%)) (p < 0.001, chi 2 test). Both regimens were safe and well tolerated. H. pylori eradication was more effective and less costly than conventional strategy in a long term perspective. OAC was more cost-effective than OC. In conclusion, H. pylori eradication is a cost-effective alternative to conventional treatment. We recommend 2 weeks triple regimen with omeprazole 20 mg bid + amoxicillin 500 mg qid + clarithromycin 400 mg bid (OAC) as a first-line treatment in all patients with peptic ulcers associated with H. pylori infection.

Amoxicillin↗
PubMed1998

GRIFIN, a novel lens-specific protein related to the galectin family.

The vertebrate lens is a relatively simple cellular structure that has evolved to refract light. The ability of the lens to focus light on the retina derives from a number of properties including the expression at high levels of a selection of soluble proteins referred to as the crystallins. In the present study, we have used differential cDNA display techniques to identify a novel, highly abundant and soluble lens protein. Though related to the family of soluble lectins called galectins, it does not bind beta-galactoside sugars and has atypical sequences at normally conserved regions of the carbohydrate-binding domain. Like some galectin family members, it can form a stable dimer. It is expressed only in the lens and is located at the interface between lens fiber cells despite the apparent lack of any membrane-targeting motifs. This protein is designated GRIFIN (galectin-related inter-fiber protein) to reflect its exclusion from the galectin family given the lack of affinity for beta-galactosides. Although the abundance, solubility, and lens-specific expression of GRIFIN would argue that it represents a new crystallin, its location at the fiber cell interface might suggest that its primary function is executed at the membrane.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1998

Superimposed holographic image-guided neurosurgery. Technical note.

Computerized tomography scanning-derived narrow band reflection holograms of patients undergoing craniofacial procedures were created to evaluate the applicability of superimposing these three-dimensional images (3-D) on the operative field during neurological surgery. These sterilized radiological holograms were positioned over the surgical site by using bone sutures as registration points between the skull and the 3-D image to serve as a visual template between the patient and surgeon. Surgeries were then performed with the surgeon looking through the radiological hologram at the patient. Holograms were accurate to within 2 mm (plus or minus) of the actual calvarial anatomy. The use of the holographic image as a visual guide during surgery eliminated intraoperative guesswork or free-handed contouring. To the author's knowledge, this is the first report of the superimposed holographic image used in situ during surgery.

Craniofacial Dysostosis↗
PubMed1997

A component of the chloroplast protein import apparatus functions in bacteria.

Toc36 is a family of 44-kDa envelope polypeptides previously identified as components of the chloroplast protein import apparatus by virtue of their close physical proximity to translocating proteins. An indication of their function thus remains at large. A heterologous in vivo approach for studying the function of Toc36 was developed in this study by introducing a member of Toc36 into E. coli to assess its effect on bacterial protein translocation. The presence of Toc36 enhances the translocation of two bacterial periplasmic proteins in a manner resembling the chloroplast system. Translocation of the two bacterial periplasmic proteins was less sensitive to sodium azide, resembling more the azide-insensitive nature of the chloroplast protein import process. Mutated Toc36 proteins were not capable of causing the same effect as that observed for unaltered Toc36. Toc36 was also capable of complementing bacterial strains with temperature-sensitive secA mutations that affected protein translocation. The combined results provide evidence that Toc36 plays a central role in the chloroplast protein translocation process.

Biological Transport↗
PubMed1997

The early stage of chloroplast protein import involves Com70.

The chloroplast envelope protein Com70 is a hsp70 homolog identified recently as a component of the protein translocation apparatus. The stage of protein import involving Com70 was determined by examining the nature of the association of Com70 with the envelope and its interaction with translocating proteins. Com70 is accessible to thermolysin, but its association with the envelope could not be disrupted by stringent washes. In light of the external membrane-bound location, the involvement of Com70 at the early stage of protein translocation was investigated using a combination of in vitro binding assays, chemical cross-linking, and coimmunoprecipitation. The results provide evidence that Com70 is in close physical proximity to different types of chloroplast protein precursors under conditions supporting binding rather than complete translocation. The formation of cross-linked complexes is dependent on the presence of a typical plastid transit signal and protease-accessible outer envelope components. The close proximity of Com70 and the translocating protein occurs while the protein is still exposed to the cytosol.

Cell Fractionation↗
PubMed1996

Transit peptides play a major role in the preferential import of proteins into leucoplasts and chloroplasts.

The in vitro import characteristics of six different precursors of plastid proteins were assessed to determine differences in the protein import pathways of leucoplasts and chloroplasts. Five of these precursor proteins are destined to different subchloroplast sites, and one is a leucoplast stromal precursor protein. The results indicate that some of these precursors can be imported equally into both plastid types and others preferentially into one type of plastid versus the other. The ability of plastids to import different proteins correlates with the in vivo steady state levels of these proteins. Additional differences were also observed in the intraorganellar portion of the translocation pathway for two thylakoidal proteins. The differences in import characteristics were found to be predominantly governed by information in the transit peptides, since attachment of the various transit peptides to different plastid and foreign proteins demonstrated that the import behavior of the proteins is transferable with the transit sequence. These results indicate that the import mechanisms of leucoplasts and chloroplasts are sufficiently different such that the plastids respond differently to the information present in the transit peptides.

Adenosine Triphosphate↗
PubMed1996

Bicarbonate permeability and immunological evidence for an anion exchanger-like protein in the red blood cells of the sea lamprey, Petromyzon marinus.

Physiological and immuno-blotting experiments were used to determine whether the red blood cell membrane of a primitive vertebrate, the sea lamprey Petromyzon marinus, contained a counterpart similar to the vertebrate anion exchange protein known as AE1 or band 3. Results of the physiological experiments which measured CO2 production after adding H14CO3- to the extracellular saline, indicated significant transmembrane bicarbonate movement in lamprey blood which unlike that in most vertebrates, was insensitive to inhibition by 4,4' diisothiocyanatostilbene-2,2' disulfonic acid. The present study also showed that lamprey red blood cells possess acetazolamide-sensitive carbonic anhydrase which is an important component of CO2 production by vertebrate red blood cells. Polyclonal immunoglobulins against a 12 amino acid domain in the C-terminus of the mouse AE1 recognized a trout red blood cell membrane protein with a relative molecular mass of 97 kDa, but failed to immunoreact with any membrane proteins from the red blood cells of lamprey. Antibodies against trout AE1 immunoreacted with trout red blood cell membrane proteins of approximately 97 kDa, 200 kDa and > 200 kDa. Interestingly, only a 200-kDa membrane protein from the red blood cells of the primitive lamprey immunoreacted with the trout anti-AE1 immunoglobulin proteins. Therefore, lamprey red blood cells appear to possess an AE1-like protein that may be physiologically different than that in most other vertebrates.

Animals↗
PubMed1996

In utero skull fracture: case report.

In this report the authors discuss the unique case of a 19-year-old pregnant victim of a motor vehicle crash, who did not have significant injuries but in whom a fracture of the fetal skull was diagnosed. Several traumatic intrauterine fetal skull fractures have been reported over the last 100 years. In the vast majority of episodes, severe maternal trauma involving fractures of the pelvis has been causally related to the injured infant. There has not been a previous report of a motor-vehicle-associated fetal skull fracture in the absence of maternal injury with dual good outcomes. After cesarean section necessitated by fetal distress, both the baby and the mother made an excellent recovery. This case underscores the importance of a thorough examination of every pregnant trauma victim and her infant, even when there are no detectable maternal injuries.

Accidents, Traffic↗
PubMed1996

Age associated changes in the distribution of lpr gene-induced B220-positive T cells in lymphoid organs of MRL/Mp-lpr/lpr mice using dual exposure microphotographs of double immunofluorescence staining.

Homozygous MRL/Mp-lpr/lpr [MRL/lpr] mice, which have an autosomal recessive mutant lpr gene and exhibit defects in Fas antigen, spontaneously develop autoimmune disease with progressive expansion and accumulation of characteristic abnormal CD4-CD8-double negative T cells that express B220 surface antigen, a B cell-specific surface marker in normal mice. We analyzed the distribution and age related changes of lpr gene-induced abnormal T cells (B220-positive lpr T cells) in the lymphoid organs of MRL/lpr mice. We studied cryostat sections of the spleen, peripheral lymph nodes, mesenteric lymph nodes, and Peyer's patches at different stages using FITC [fluorescein isothiocyanate)-conjugated monoclonal antibodies directed against B220 (RA3-6B2) and PE (phycoerythrin)-conjugated anti-mouse CD3 (2C11) monoclonal antibody, examining dual-exposure microphotographs of double-immunofluorescence stained preparations. We observed that in aged MRL/lpr mice, B220-positive abnormal lpr T cells were not present in the thymus-dependent area, and the majority of the follicular area cells were displaced by lpr T cells. These findings suggest that the cellular trafficking of B220-positive lpr T cells differs from that of conventional T cells and that these lpr-derived T cells play a role in the follicle.

Aging↗
PubMed1995

Isolation and characterization of a cDNA clone encoding a member of the Com44/Cim44 envelope components of the chloroplast protein import apparatus.

Many of the proteins in the chloroplast envelope play an important role in facilitating the biochemical and transport processes of the compartment. For the transport of proteins into the chloroplast, we have recently identified at least three different envelope proteins (Com44/Cim44, Com70, and Cim97) in close physical proximity to a partially translocated chimeric precursor protein (Wu, C., Seibert, F. S., and Ko, K. (1994) J. Biol. Chem. 269, 32264-32271). In this study we report the characterization of a cDNA clone encoding a member of the Com44/Cim44 envelope proteins. The combined data from nucleotide sequencing, and RNA and protein blot analyses indicate the existence of multiple forms of the 44-kDa envelope protein. Depending on the plant species examined, immunologically-related protein bands with molecular masses of 42 to 46 kDa were observed. Organelle subfractionation, protease treatment, and immunomicroscopic studies together provide an indication that the immunologically-related proteins may be present in both the outer and inner envelope membranes. Co-migration of the product synthesized from the cDNA insert with a 44-kDa immunoreactive band of the chloroplast envelope, and the in vitro import results, together suggest that the in vitro synthesized 44-kDa protein is targeted to the envelope membrane without any further processing.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1995

Import characteristics of a leucoplast pyruvate kinase are influenced by a 19-amino-acid domain within the protein.

Two cDNA clones encoding distinct forms of plastid pyruvate kinase (designated Pka and Pkg) have recently been characterized. Pkg is found in both leucoplasts and chloroplasts, whereas Pka is present only in leucoplasts. The precursors of these proteins have different in vitro import characteristics. The Pkg precursor behaves like a typical stromal protein precusor with both types of plastid. In contrast, Pka precursors accumulate on the outer envelope membrane of leucoplasts under the same assay conditions and require a higher level of ATP for import into the organelle. Interestingly, the binding of Pka precursors to chloroplasts cannot be detected at any tested level of ATP even though the precursors are imported into the organelle at higher concentrations of ATP. Various N-terminal deletions and chimeric fusions were used to examine the translocation signaling mechanism of the Pka precursor. The N-terminal 83-amino-acid segment of Pka contains a transit peptide that is capable of directing dihydrofolate reductase and the mature body of Pkg into both types of plastid. Unlike the complete Pka precursor, these fusion proteins behave like typical stromal protein precursors. The behavior of the Pka transit peptide is influenced by a 19-amino-acid domain (-P-S-S-I-E-V-D-A-V-T-E-T-E-L-K-E-N-G-F-) located immediately downstream of the N-terminal 83-residue segment. Deletion of this domain from Pka alters its import properties such that it resembles a typical stromal protein precursor. Re-introduction of the 19-residue domain into the Dhfr fusion protein alters its import characteristics to resemble that of the complete Pka precursor. This 19-amino-acid domain can also influence the function of transit sequences from other precursors when it is placed immediately behind the transit peptide. These results suggest that this 19-amino-acid domain plays an important role in governing the import characteristics of the Pka precursor. We have named this 19-residue segment the "import modifying domain."

Adenosine Triphosphate↗
PubMed1995

Molecular characterization of plastid pyruvate kinase from castor and tobacco.

Clones encoding two different forms of plastid pyruvate kinase (PKp; EC 2.7.1.40) have been isolated from both castor and tobacco seed cDNA libraries. One form, designated PKpA, from castor was described in a previous report, and the tobacco homologue of PKpA has now been isolated. In addition, a second cDNA, designated PKpG, has been identified and sequenced in both species. Western blot analysis, using antibodies raised against protein overexpressed from these clones, indicates that they encode the two predominant polypeptides of plastid pyruvate kinase from developing castor endosperm. In castor, both PKpA and PKpG are encoded by single genes. In the allotetraploid Nicotiana tabacum, there are two copies of each, one derived from each of the progenitors of this species. The expression of the genes for PKpA and PKpG was examined in various tissues from both castor and tobacco. In castor, both forms are expressed in developing and germinating endosperm and in the root but neither is expressed in the leaf. In tobacco, both forms are expressed in developing seeds but in mature tissues, PKpA is most abundant in roots and PKpG in leaves.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1995

Holographic imaging of human brain preparations--a step toward virtual medicine.

BACKGROUND: Holography is the only technique that can record the full tri-dimensional quality of an object, and allow the observer to easily see this as an image that is truly 3-D. The pulsed laser can capture even a moving object's three dimensional form as a hologram because of its short wavelength. METHODS: Using a modification of the Klinger processing sequence, formalin-fixed human brains were subjected to periods of freezing and thawing. This assisted the visual demarcation between white and gray matter during neuroanatomical dissection. Holographic methodology with the Lumonic HLS2 pulsed ruby laser was employed to create three dimensional images from brain preparations. RESULTS: Master holograms of the human brain preparations demonstrating the various pathways such as vision, cortico-spinal, etc. are made using the ruby laser at wavelength 694.3 nanometers. From this master an infinite number of holograms can be copied. CONCLUSION: By providing immediate three dimensional information, holograms uniquely facilitate the spontaneous understanding of human neuroanatomical relationships which cannot be as efficiently learned with photographs or diagrams. This points the way toward future educational and biomedical applications of this emerging technology.

Brain↗
PubMed1994

Identification of chloroplast envelope proteins in close physical proximity to a partially translocated chimeric precursor protein.

Translocation intermediates of the chimeric protein precursor Oee1-Dhfr were generated and used to identify envelope components in close proximity to the arrested precursor. The translocation of Oee1-Dhfr across the chloroplast envelope can be arrested at low ATP levels or by prebinding the fusion precursor with anti-Dhfr IgGs. The arrested Oee1-Dhfr precursor appears to span both the outer and inner envelope membranes. Translocational arrest of Oee1-Dhfr by low ATP levels was reversible, and import was restored upon resupplementation with higher ATP levels. Chemical cross-linking and co-immunoprecipitation with monospecific antibodies indicate that two outer envelope membrane proteins (Com44 and Com70) and at least one inner envelope protein (Cim44 and Cim97) were found to be in close proximity to Oee1-Dhfr during translocation. The Com70 protein was further studied and additional evidence for its role in chloroplast protein import is presented.

Algal Proteins↗
PubMed1994

Identification of alpha-cardiac myosin heavy chain mRNA and protein in extraocular muscle of the adult rabbit.

Extraocular muscles contain both fast-twitch and multiply-innervated, tonic-contracting fibres. In rat, these fibres collectively express numerous myosin heavy chain isoforms including fast-type embryonic and neonatal, adult slow twitch type I and fast twitch type II, and a fast isoform unique to extraocular muscle. Immunocytochemical and Western blotting results are presented which suggest that, in rabbit, an additional species, the alpha-cardiac myosin heavy chain, is present. The immunoreactive species is found in all rabbit extraocular muscles and in the extraocular muscles is expressed in almost all fibres which do not contain a fast myosin heavy chain. Positive identification of this isoform as the alpha-cardiac myosin heavy chain was obtained by sequencing a cloned PCR product derived from extraocular muscle mRNA unique to the 3'-end of rabbit alpha-cardiac myosin heavy chain mRNA. This is the first unequivocal demonstration of alpha-cardiac myosin heavy chain expression in extraocular muscle.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1994

Ruptured mycotic aneurysm presenting as an intraparenchymal hemorrhage and nonadjacent acute subdural hematoma: case report and review of the literature.

The case of a mycotic aneurysm presenting as an intraparenchymal hemorrhage and acute subdural hematoma is described. A 36-year-old man with a history of headaches and fever presented in coma. Brain computed tomography scan revealed a left occipital intraparenchymal hemorrhage and a nonadjacent acute subdural hematoma that was evacuated. Angiography demonstrated an aneurysm on the distal branch of the left posterior cerebral artery consistent with a mycotic aneurysm. This case and a review of the literature are discussed.

Acute Disease↗