PubMed Health⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

K S Song

Publications and source records attributed to K S Song.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

Regeneration of the proximal tibial epiphysis after infantile osteomyelitis: report of three cases with an eight- to 22-year follow-up.

We reviewed three infants with destructive osteomyelitis involving the proximal tibial epiphysis at a follow-up of eight to 22 years. All cases showed early radiographic destructive changes in the medial or lateral aspects of the epiphysis and metaphysis. Despite the ominous early appearance of the epiphysis, all cases showed spontaneous re-ossification of the epiphysis with restoration of the tibial condyle and preservation of joint congruity. The patients, however, developed a valgus or varus deformity which was treated satisfactorily with one to three proximal tibial osteotomies. The potential for regeneration of the epiphysis following infantile osteomyelitis of the proximal tibia suggests these cases should be treated expectantly with regard to joint congruity.

Bone Regeneration↗

Elevated levels of circulating platelet microparticles, VEGF, IL-6 and RANTES in patients with gastric cancer: possible role of a metastasis predictor.

The activation of coagulation, angiogenesis and inflammatory cytokines are considered to be related with tumour growth and metastasis. We investigated the plasma levels of platelet microparticles (PMP), vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), IL-6, and the chemokine RANTES in patients with gastric cancer (n=109) and in healthy controls (n=29). The plasma levels of PMP, IL-6 and RANTES were significantly higher in the patients than in the healthy controls, and plasma levels of PMP, VEGF, IL-6 and RANTES were significantly higher in patients with stage IV disease than those in patients with stage I or stage II/III. In terms of predicting distant metastasis, the sensitivities of PMP, VEGF, IL-6 and RANTES were 93.3%, 56.7%, 70.0% and 81.8%, respectively, and the corresponding specificities were 91.1%, 64.6%, 79.7% and 50.0%. Among these parameters, PMP had the highest diagnostic accuracy. Significant correlations were found between PMP, VEGF, IL-6 and RANTES. This study demonstrates that the plasma levels of PMP, VEGF, IL-6 and RANTES were markedly increased in patients with stage IV disease, and that these increased plasma levels of IL-6, RANTES, and especially PMP, might be useful for identifying metastatic gastric patients.

Aged↗

Genetic contribution to factor VII levels in families of patients undergoing coronary arteriography.

An elevated plasma level of factor VII is a risk factor for coronary artery disease. We investigated environmental, familial, and genetic influences on factor VII activity in 508 family members of 87 probands who underwent elective coronary arteriography. Maximum likelihood methods were used to fit several genetic and non-genetic models of inheritance to these data to determine whether an unobserved Mendelian major gene could explain the familial distribution of factor VII. Factor VII activities were adjusted for age, gender, body mass index, smoking, alcohol consumption, menopause status, and triglycerides prior to this segregation analysis (this model accounted for 33.5% of the total variation). Adjusted factor VII activities showed strong familial aggregation with an estimated parent-offspring correlation of 0.34, sibling correlation of 0.36 and a smaller spouse correlation of 0.16. Regressive models were used to test genetic and non-genetic models in these 87 families. Mendelian single-locus models with either two or three underlying genotypic distributions of factor VII activities were best supported by these data. Essentially, these Mendelian models suggest most individuals come from a low distribution (mean, 116%), with a few individuals homozygous for a high allele drawn from a distribution with a mean of 166%. Future linkage studies may be worthwhile to further clarify the mechanisms controlling factor VII activity.

Adolescent↗

Optimized flow cytometric assay for the measurement of platelet microparticles in plasma: pre-analytic and analytic considerations.

Platelet microparticles (PMP) are submicroscopic membrane vesicles released by platelets during activation. Flow cytometry is the most widely used method for quantifying PMP, but the optimization of the technical method has not yet been fully evaluated. This study was designed to assess the pre-analytical variables including blood sampling conditions, and to evaluate the analytical variations including effect of the platelet-specific antibodies and quantitative beads, precision, linearity and accuracy in comparison with beta-thromboglobulin, which is one of the platelet activation markers. Numbers of PMP collected into citrate-theophylline-adenosine-dipyridamole (CTAD) tubes were increased with time, but to a lesser extent than when collected into sodium citrate tubes. The precision of the PMP assay was relatively high. Excellent linear correlation was observed for dilution linearity. Regarding the platelet-specific antibodies used, anti-CD41a-labeled samples resulted in higher PMP levels than those labeled with anti-CD61 and anti-CD42a. There was no significant difference of PMP counts according to the quantitative beads. The PMP assay is well correlated with beta-thromboglobulin levels. Our findings suggest that blood samples for the PMP assay should be collected in a CTAD tube and delayed measurement is not allowed to avoid artefactual platelet activation. The PMP assay can be used successfully as a useful marker of the detection of in vivo platelet activation, provided that pre-analytical and technical points are optimally taken into consideration.

Adenosine↗

Homozygous VN (677C to T) and d/D (2756G to A) variants in the methylenetetrahydrofolate and methionine synthase genes in a case of hyperhomocysteinemia with stroke at young age.

Hyperhomocysteinemia is known to be associated with an increased risk of myocardial infarction, stroke, peripheral arterial disease, and venous thrombosis. Gene polymorphisms in methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) and methionine synthase (MS) may account for reduced enzyme activity and hyperhomocysteinemia. A recent study has documented evidence of polygenic regulation of plasma homocyteine. We report here on a case of occlusive stroke at young age and hyperhomocysteinemia with homozygous VN (677C to T) variant in the MTHFR gene as well as homozygous D/D (2756G to A) variant in the MS gene.

5-Methyltetrahydrofolate-Homocysteine S-Methyltran↗

Plasma fibronectin levels in ischemic heart disease.

Fibronectin is a paradigm adhesive protein which has been implicated in the regulation of several cellular processes and cell-cell interactions. Large amounts of fibronectin have been detected in atherosclerotic plaques, while hypertension in animal models has been shown to rapidly increase fibronectin expression in arterial walls. The aim of the present study was to determine the levels of plasma fibronectin (FN) in 133 patients with ischemic heart disease and in 36 normal controls, and to investigate the possible association with blood pressure. Plasma FN levels in patients with ischemic heart disease were found to be significantly elevated (mean+/-S.D.; 46.5+/-14.2 mg/dl) compared with the control group (38.0+/-14.2 mg/dl) (P=0.002). Plasma FN concentrations were significantly different between the hypertensive group (52.9+/-14.5 mg/dl) and the normal blood pressure group (41.4+/-11.8 mg/dl) among the patients with ischemic heart disease (P<0.001). Plasma FN concentration was positively correlated with total cholesterol, triglyceride, systolic blood pressure and body mass index. In conclusion, the plasma fibronectin level may have pathogenetic implications in association with lipid components and blood pressure in patients with ischemic heart disease.

Adult↗

Activated ras oncogene collaborates with HBx gene of hepatitis B virus to transform cells by suppressing HBx-mediated apoptosis.

The hepatitis B virus HBx protein is a promiscuous transactivator implicated in the development of hepatocellular carcinoma. The ectopic expression of HBx fails to transform both primary and immortalized rodent cells, but rather induces apoptosis. Furthermore, most transgenic mice harboring HBx do not develop liver tumors. Thus, it remains unclear whether and how HBx contributes to oncogenesis. Here, we show that HBx collaborates with activated H-ras to transform immortalized rodent cells. Indeed, REF52 cells transfected by both HBx and activated H-ras were morphologically transformed and were able to grow in soft agar. Remarkably, nude mice injected with REF52 cells transfected by both HBx and activated H-ras developed tumors, whereas the mice injected with REF52 cells transfected by either gene alone did not. Thus, we concluded that HBx could contribute to neoplastic transformation of cells in collaboration with other oncogenes, such as H-ras, that renders cells to overcome the HBx-mediated apoptosis. Further, we found that HBx mediated apoptosis was suppressed by activated H-ras through activation of the phosphatidylinositol-3 kinase and Akt pathway. Data presented here firmly established the oncogenic potential of HBx during multistage carcinogenesis. Oncogene (2001) 20, 16 - 23.

3T3 Cells↗

Prolyl endopeptidase inhibitors from green tea.

Three prolyl endopeptidase (PEP) inhibitors were isolated from the methanolic extract of green tea leaves. They were identified as (-)-epigallocatechin gallate, (-)-epicatechin gallate, and (+)-gallocatechin gallate with the IC50 values of 1.42 x 10(-4) mM, 1.02 x 10(-2) mM, and 1.09 x 10(-4) mM, respectively. They were non-competitive with a substrate in Dixon plots and did not show any significant effects against other serine proteases such as elastase, trypsin, and chymotrypsin, suggesting that they were relatively specific inhibitors against PEP. The isolated compounds are expected to be useful for preventing and curing of Alzheimer's disease.

Camellia sinensis↗

Identification of six novel MYH9 mutations and genotype-phenotype relationships in autosomal dominant macrothrombocytopenia with leukocyte inclusions.

The autosomal dominant macrothrombocytopenia with leukocyte inclusions, May-Hegglin anomaly (MHA), Sebastian syndrome (SBS), and Fechtner syndrome (FTNS), are rare platelet disorders characterized by a triad of giant platelets, thrombocytopenia, and characteristic Döhle body-like leukocyte inclusions. The locus for these disorders was previously mapped on chromosome 22q12.3-q13.2 and the disease gene was recently identified as MYH9, the gene encoding the nonmuscle myosin heavy chain-A. To elucidate the spectrum of MYH9 mutations responsible for the disorders and to investigate genotypephenotype correlation, we examined MYH9 mutations in an additional 11 families and 3 sporadic patients with the disorders from Japan. Korea, and China. All 14 patients had heterozygous MYH9 mutations, including three known mutations and six novel mutations (three missense and three deletion mutations). Two cases had Alport manifestations including deafness, nephritis, and cataracts and had R1165C and E1841K mutations, respectively. However, taken together with three previous reports, including ours, the data do not show clear phenotype-genotype relationships. Thus, MHA, SBS, and FTNS appear to represent a class of allelic disorders with variable phenotypic diversity.

Asia↗

The apolipoprotein(a) size, pentanucleotide repeat, C/T(+93) polymorphisms of apolipoprotein(a) gene, serum lipoprotein(a) concentrations and their relationship in a Korean population.

BACKGROUND: In addition to apolipoprotein(a) [apo(a)] kringle 4 variable number of tandem repeat (K4-VNTR), pentanucleotide repeat polymorphism (PNRP) and C/T(+93) polymorphism [C/T(+93)] of apo(a) gene have been suggested to be related to lipoprotein(a) [Lp(a)] concentration. We studied the distribution of these genetic polymorphisms and their relationship with Lp(a) concentrations in a Korean population. METHODS: One hundred thirty-two Korean adults were examined. Lp(a) was measured with enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Apo(a) K4-VNTR was measured by high-resolution SDS-agarose gel separation and ECL Western blotting method. PNRP was measured after DNA amplification. The C/T(+93) ratio was measured by a amplification refractory mutation system. RESULTS: Lp(a) was inversely correlated with K4-VNTR (r=0.732, p<0.0001), but was associated neither with any PNRP haplotype nor with C/T(+93) by multiple regression analysis, although we found a significant decrease of Lp(a) in PNRP 9/9 individuals (p<0.01). There was a strong linkage disequilibrium between 9 haplotypes of PNRP and the T haplotype of C/T(+93). CONCLUSIONS: Inverse relationship between serum Lp(a) and K4 number of apo(a) was confirmed in normal Korean adults. PNRP 9/9 genotype appeared to have a reducing effect on Lp(a), but neither 9 haplotype heterozygotes of PNRP nor the T haplotype C/T(+93) affected Lp(a) concentrations in Koreans.

Apolipoproteins A↗

Lung fibrosis in Sprague-Dawley rats, induced by exposure to manual metal arc-stainless steel welding fumes.

To investigate the disease process of pneumoconiosis induced by welding-fume exposure, a lung fibrosis model was established by building a stainless steel arc welding fume generation system and exposing male Sprague-Dawley rats for 90 days. The rats were exposed to welding fumes with concentrations of 57-67 mg/m3 (low dose) and 105-118 mg/m3 (high dose) total suspended particulates for 2 h per day in an inhalation chamber for 90 days. The concentrations of the main metals, Fe, Mn, Cr, and Ni, were measured in the welding fumes, plus the gaseous compounds, including nitrous gases and ozone, were monitored. During the exposure period, the animals were sacrificed after the initial 2-h exposure and after 15, 30, 60, and 90 days. Histopathological examinations were conducted on the animals' upper respiratory tract, including the nasal pathway and conducting airway, plus the gas exchange region, including the alveolar ducts, alveolar sacs, and alveoli. When compared to the control group, the lung weights did not increase significantly in the low-dose group, yet in the high-dose group there was a significant increase from day 15 to day 90. The histopathological examination combined with fibrosis-specific staining (Masson's trichrome) indicated that the lungs in the low-dose group did not exhibit any progressive fibrotic changes. Whereas, the lungs in the high-dose group exhibited early delicate fibrosis from day 15, which progressed into the perivascular and peribronchiolar regions by day 30. Interstitial fibrosis appeared at day 60 and became prominent by day 90, along with the additional appearance of pleural fibrosis. Accordingly, it would appear that a significant dose of welding-fume exposure was required to induce lung fibrosis.

Administration, Inhalation↗

Aspiration of an oropharyngeal airway during nasotracheal intubation.

The oropharyngeal airway (OPA) has been a remarkably safe device since its invention by Guedel in 1933. This plastic device is easily placed in the mouth and used for aiding in mask ventilation. We report a case of the aspiration of an OPA causing near total upper airway obstruction.

Adult↗

Lung cancer in patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis.

Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) was reported to be associated with increased risk of lung cancer as a result of the occurrence of atypical or dysplastic epithelial changes in fibrosis which progressed to invasive malignancy. In that situation, the cancer will develop in the area of major fibrosis. To investigate the direct relationship between fibrosis and cancer development, the real concordance rate of the two lesions in the chest computed tomography (CT) was analysed and compared to the histological types of lung cancer. The subjects included 63 patients with combined lung cancer and IPF (IPF-CA), 218 patients with lone IPF, and 2,660 patients with primary lung cancer. All patients were diagnosed at Asan Medical Center during the same period. The age, percentage of smokers, and the male sex were significantly higher in IPF-CA compared with lone IPF. The odds ratio of smoking was 2.71 compared to nonsmoking IPF controls. In IPF-CA, 56% of the cancer was located in the periphery of the lung and 52% in the upper lobe. The majority of the cancers (64%) were found in the nonfibrotic area at chest CT. The most frequent cell type was squamous cell carcinoma (35%), and there was no significant difference in the cancer cell type between IPF-CA and total lung cancer population. These findings suggest that in combined lung cancer and idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis patients, the features of the lung cancer are similar to the total lung cancer population.

Aged↗

Growth promotion of rice seedlings by allelopathic polysaccharide from Welsh onion.

The underground portion of the Welsh onion (Allium fistulosum) was extracted and separated into seven fractions to purify allelopathic compounds that were found to promote the growth of rice seedlings (Oryza sativa). The 80% (v/v) ethanol-insoluble fraction of the hot water extract showed the highest growth-promoting effect. Purification by DEAE-cellulose chromatography gave four fractions, AD-1, 2, 3 and 4. AD-3 at 1000 ppm stimulated root and shoot growth by about 2.4 and 1.5 times over the respective water and sucrose-treated controls. The molecular weight of AD-3 was roughly estimated as 630 kDa by gel permeation chromatography. Seventy two percent (by wt.) of AD-3 was a carbohydrate and no proteins were detected. A GC analysis of the neutral sugar composition revealed the presence of Gal (50.1%), Man (17.9%), Ara (10.4%), Rha (8.8%), Glc (7.2%) and Xyl (5.6%). About 3% (by wt.) of the total carbohydrate was uronic acid, which was identified as GalU by a GC analysis. The remainder of AD-3 was extracted in ethyl acetate after its hydrolysis with 2 M HCl. The major component of the ethyl acetate-soluble fraction was identified as unsaturated linear primary alcohols, 1-tetradecanol and 1-octadecanol (16% and 84% by peak areas from GC, respectively) by means of NMR and GC-MS. Sole or combined treatment of these alcohols did not affect the growth of rice seedlings. After partial hydrolysis with 0.2 M trifluoroacetic acid or by a sodium periodate treatment, the activity of AD-3 had completely disappeared, suggesting that the sugar moiety and/or molecular size were important for the activity.

Alcohols↗