Biomedical subjects

Seong Ho Kim

Publications and source records attributed to Seong Ho Kim.

16 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2006

Structure, expression, and mapping of two nodule-specific genes identified by mining public soybean EST databases.

Numerous nodule-specific genes, which are involved in the root nodule development and function, have been known and are still being discovered. Here, we reported the structure, expression, and genetic map location of two novel nodule-specific genes. First, two EST groups, one obtained from a nodule library and the other from all aboveground tissue libraries, were clustered with regard to in silico expression profiles. We compiled a pool of 103 putative nodule-specific sequence clusters. Then, two representative ESTs were selected for further experimental analyses. According to the full-length cDNA sequences, one was an EST of a novel nodule-specific polygalacturonase gene, GmPGN, and the other was an EST of a new short nodule-specific gene, GmEKN. The results of expression analyses of the GmPGN cDNAs indicated that GmPGN expression was not detectable in any of the soybean tissues except in the nodule tissue and may be regulated via alternative splicing. GmEKN expression was the most strongly detected in the nodule. The predicted GmEKN protein is both glutamic acid- and lysine-rich, and is also highly hydrophilic. Genetic mapping located GmPGN near the known quantitative trait locus conferring resistance to soybean cyst nematode on soybean molecular linkage group (MLG) B1, and GmEKN on MLG A2. These results provide useful information for the use of these genes in research on the orchestration of numerous genes in nodule development and function.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

PubMed2006

Primary percutaneous coronary intervention for acute myocardial infarction with idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura: a case report.

Acute myocardial infarction (AMI) is rare in patients with idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP). We describe a case of an AMI during thrombocytopenia in a patient with chronic ITP. A 47-yr-old woman presented with anterior chest pain and a low platelet count (21,000/microliter) at admission. Urgent coronary angiography revealed total occlusion of proximal right coronary artery and primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) was performed successfully. This case suggests that primary PCI may be a therapeutic option for an AMI in patients with ITP, even though the patient had severe thrombocytopenia.

Angioplasty, Balloon, Coronary↗

PubMed2006

Peri-infarct reorganization of motor function in patients with pontine infarct.

OBJECTIVES: Combined functional MRI (fMRI) and diffusion tensor tractography (DTT) imaging provides a powerful vehicle for the investigation of motor recovery mechanisms. Using this combined method, we investigated the motor recovery mechanism in patients with pontine infarct. DESIGN: We evaluated six healthy control subjects and two patients with pontine infarct at 6 months from onset. fMRI was performed at 1.5 T with timed hand grasp-release movements. For DTT, we used each of the 32 noncollinear diffusion-sensitizing gradients. Three-dimensional reconstructions of the fiber tracts were obtained with FA <0.3, angle >45 degrees as termination criteria. RESULTS: fMRI data revealed activation only in the contralateral primary sensorimotor cortex during movement of either hand. DTI findings from controls and the unaffected hemisphere of the patients showed that the corticospinal tract descended through the known corticospinal tract pathway. However, the tracts of the affected hemisphere in the patients were observed to pass along peri-infarct areas (patient 1: lateral, patient 2: posterior) in the pons. CONCLUSIONS: It seems that the peri-infarct areas compensate for corticospinal tract damage at the pons; this may be one mechanism of motor recovery for patients with pontine infarct.

Adult↗

PubMed2006

Focal lesions of the corticospinal tract demonstrated by diffusion tensor imaging in patients with diffuse axonal injury.

OBJECTIVES: Diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) with fiber tractography (FT) could be useful for exploration of the state of the corticospinal tract (CST) at the subcortical white matter level. The purpose of this study was to demonstrate focal lesions of the CST in patients with diffuse axonal injury (DAI), using DTI with FT. DESIGN: Two patients with DAI and six normal control subjects were recruited to this study. DTI was performed using 1.5-T with a synergy-L Sensitivity Encoding (SENSE) head coil. Fractional anisotropy (FA) and apparent diffusion coefficients (ADC) were measured using a region of interest (ROI) method. FTs were obtained with FA <0.3 and an angle change >45 degrees as termination criteria. RESULTS: On the DTI with FT, the focal lesions, which could not observed using routine brain MRI, were detected in the left brainstem of patient 1 and in the right pons and the left and right medulla of patient 2. The patients showed significantly decreased FA values in the focal lesions compared to normal controls. CONCLUSIONS: DTI with FT demonstrated focal lesions at the brainstem that had not been revealed by conventional brain MRI; these focal lesions explained the weaknesses of the patients. We conclude that DTI with FT may be a useful modality for use in investigating the status of CST in patients with DAI.

Adult↗

PubMed2005

Pro-inflammatory cytokine gene expression and nitric oxide regulation of aqueous extracted Astragali radix in RAW 264.7 macrophage cells.

Astragali radix, which has tonifying and circulatory effect as well as immune response, is one of the oldest and most frequently used crude drug for oriental medicine in many Asian countries. The present study was conducted to evaluate the effect of aqueous extract of Astragali radix (ARE) on the functions of murine macrophage cell line, RAW 264.7 macrophage cells. In the cell proliferation assay, methotrexate (MTX), an agent of immune suppression, decreased the cell proliferation of RAW 264.7 macrophage cells (IC(50): 100 microg/ml), but the suppression of cell proliferation was significantly protected by ARE treatment in RAW 264.7 macrophage cells. The expressions of cytokine gene by ARE were investigated using reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). In RT-PCR, IL-1alpha, IL-1beta and IL-6 mRNA expressions was induced in ARE-treated RAW 264.7 macrophage cells. We also investigated the effect of the nitric oxide (NO) synthesis and inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) mRNA expression by ARE. ARE alone had no effect on NO synthesis and iNOS mRNA expression in RAW 264.7 cells. In the case of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) stimulation, NO production and iNOS mRNA expression were detected in RAW 264.7 cells. However, NO production and iNOS mRNA expression which is induced by LPS decreased after treatment of ARE. These data demonstrate that ARE can reduce the suppression of macrophage cell proliferation induced by MTX, and induce IL-1alpha, IL-1beta and IL-6 mRNA expressions in RAW 264.7 macrophage cells. Also, ARE inhibit NO production in LPS-stimulated RAW 264.7 macrophage cells, and the inhibition of NO production may be associated with the inhibition of iNOS mRNA expression.

Animals↗

PubMed2005

Diffusion anisotrophy in the early stages of stroke can predict motor outcome.

PURPOSE: This study examined whether the degree of impairment of diffusion anisotrophy in the early stages of a stroke can predict the motor function outcome. METHODS: Thirty-one hemiplegic stroke patients were enrolled to this study. Diffusion anisotropy was measured by determining fractional anisotropy (FA) in the two ROIs (region of interests) at corona radiata (CR) and in the posterior limb of internal capsule (IC) during the early stages of stoke (average 7.9 days after stroke onset) and compared with motor outcome of the affected hand 3 months after stroke onset. RESULTS: Both ROIs (CR or IC) and lesion types (hemorrhage or infarction) did not have significant effect on the SBFA (symmetry of bilateral FA) and dMRC (medical research council score improvement), either. Patients with greater initial MRC score had significantly greater SBFA and dMRC. The regression equation between the dMRC (Y axis) and the SBFA (X axis) was semi-linear and significant (P < 0.05); for CR group, Y = 3.296 - 0.1192X + 0.0015X2; for IC group, Y = 2.342 - 0.0533X +0.0007(2). The regression lines had 'threshold points' where a minute SBFA change would make a steep increase in dMRC. CONCLUSION: The degree of impairment in diffusion anisotropy during the early stages of stroke appears to have the potential to predict motor outcome.

Analysis of Variance↗

PubMed2005

Motor recovery mechanism of diffuse axonal injury: a combined study of transcranial magnetic stimulation and functional MRI.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to investigate the motor recovery mechanism following diffuse axonal injury (DAI) using transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) and functional MRI (fMRI). METHODS: Twenty-six hands of 13 control subjects and 14 affected hands of 8 patients (two hemiparetics and six quadriparetics) were evaluated. All the patients were initially diagnosed with DAI and were evaluated after they had reached their maximal motor recovery. fMRI was performed at 1.5 T using a hand grasp-release movement paradigm and TMS was applied with a round coil over the vertex. RESULTS: fMRI revealed that both normal subjects and patients with DAI showed increased contralateral primary sensori-motor cortex activation during affected hand movement. The motor evoked potentials (MEPs) of the patient group was slightly delayed in latency and significantly increased in duration and turns. The relative MEP amplitude, phase, and excitatory threshold were not significantly different between the groups. CONCLUSIONS: These findings may indicate the heterogeneity of the axons in the recovery process of the corticospinal tract. It seems that the motor recovery in patients who had suffered DAI was attributable to the recovery of the corticospinal tract.

Adult↗

PubMed2004

Mutations of the BRAF gene in papillary thyroid carcinoma in a Korean population.

The B-type Raf kinase (BRAF) protein is a serine/threonine kinase that has an important role in cellular proliferation, differentiation, and programmed cell death. The BRAF gene has been recently found to be mutated in human carcinomas, predominantly in malignant melanoma. The aim of this study was to investigate the frequency of the BRAF mutation in papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) of Koreans through direct DNA sequencing of the polymerase chain reaction (PCR)- amplified exon 15 with clinicopathological features. Seventy paraffin-embedded conventional papillary carcinomas in the thyroid gland were evaluated. The BRAF missense mutation at V599E was found in 58 of 70 PTCs (83%). The frequency of our series was much higher than the frequencies of other PTC series (36 - 69%). The frequency of nodal metastasis was also significantly higher in the BRAF mutation group (p= 0.048). These results suggest that the BRAF mutation is involved in the carcinogenesis in most conventional PTCs, especially those occurring in Koreans, and this is a potentially valuable marker for the evaluation of prognosis of patients with PTC. These findings support the specific inhibitors of BRAF being promising targets for the disease outcome.

Adult↗

PubMed2004

The effect of selective tibial neurotomy and rehabilitation in a quadriplegic patient with ankle spasticity following traumatic brain injury.

Ankle spasticity following brain injury leads to abnormal posture and joint contracture; making standing or walking impossible. This study investigates the efficacy of selective tibial neurotomy (STN) and intensive rehabilitation in a patient who suffered ankle spasticity after brain injury. This case describes a 37-year-old man whose traumatic brain injury (TBI) resulted in severe right ankle spasticity and contracture. He was unable to stand due to severe right ankle spasticity and contracture. Intensive rehabilitation and STN allowed him to walk without brace at 6 months and run at 12 months after STN. STN is an effective procedure to resolve localized spasticity of the ankle and it may be considered as a management strategy after local injection to alleviate ankle spasticity and/or contracture prior to orthopaedic surgery.

Adult↗

PubMed2004

Alcohol neurolysis of tibial nerve motor branches to the gastrocnemius muscle to treat ankle spasticity in patients with hemiplegic stroke.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effectiveness of alcohol neurolysis of tibial nerve motor branches to the gastrocnemius muscle for the treatment of ankle plantarflexor spasticity in patients with hemiplegic stroke. DESIGN: Case series. SETTING: Inpatient and outpatient clinics in the rehabilitation department of a university hospital. PARTICIPANTS: Twenty-two patients with hemiplegic stroke (mean age, 48y). INTERVENTIONS: Motor branch block (MBB) of the tibial nerve to the gastrocnemius muscle with 50% ethyl alcohol in cases of spastic ankle. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The severity of spasticity was assessed using the Modified Ashworth Scale (MAS) score of ankle plantarflexor, clonus score of the ankle, and the passive range of motion (PROM) of ankle dorsiflexion. RESULTS: The MAS score was reduced in 17 (77%) of 22 patients during the 6-month follow-up, and spasticity reappeared at the level of the pre-MBB state in 5 patients (23%). The mean values of all parameters were significantly improved. The changes of mean values from the pre-MBB to the 6-month post-MBB stage were as follows: MAS score, 3.3+/-0.7 versus 1.7+/-1.1; clonus score, 1.6+/-0.7 versus 0.4+/-0.8; and PROM, 17.1 degrees +/-13.0 degrees versus 28.6 degrees +/-4.7 degrees. No serious complications were observed during the 6-month follow-up period. CONCLUSIONS: MBB of the tibial nerve to the gastrocnemius muscle is an effective and safe procedure for relieving localized spasticity of the ankle plantarflexors.

Adult↗

PubMed2003

Antioxidative properties of brown algae polyphenolics and their perspectives as chemopreventive agents against vascular risk factors.

Several polyphenolic compounds and complex mixtures were isolated from brown algae species. The 1,1-diphenyl-2-picryhydarzyl (DPPH) radical scavenging activity and ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) of these compounds were evaluated to determine their physiological usefulness as antioxidants for vascular protection. The antioxidative protection of low-density lipoprotein (LDL) was also evaluated and compared with that of catechin, because the generation of oxidized LDL is one of the most active and specific risk factors contributing to atherogenesis. Oral administration to rats of a commercially available sample (VNP) containing 30% of these polyphenolic compounds and 70% dietary fiber revealed that the serum reducing capacity measured in terms of FRAP value was significantly elevated 30 min after the treatment, but declined rather quickly thereafter, indicating the good oral absorption of the compounds and their fast binding to the lumenal surface of the blood vessels. An eight-week, human, clinical trial (n=31) of VNP showed significant improvement in erectile function measured by IIEF (international index of erectile function) score. These results collectively demonstrated the usefulness of these polyphenolic compounds as fundamental chemopreventive agents against vascular risk factors originating from oxidative stress.

Animals↗

PubMed2003

Does the anti-beta2-glycoprotein I antibody provide additional information in patients with thrombosis?

OBJECTIVE: To investigate whether the anti-beta(2)-glycoprotein I (anti-beta(2)GPI) antibody may provide additional information in patients with thrombosis in conjunction with the lupus anticoagulant (LAC) or anticardiolipin (aCL) antibody. METHODS: We selected 235 patients whose plasma were tested for the presence of all three antiphospholipid (aPL) antibodies (LAC, aCL, and anti-beta(2)GPI) and were positive for at least one aPL antibody from January 2000 to December 2001. The LAC test was performed using dilute activated thromboplastin time reagent (dAPTT) and dilute Russell viper venom time reagent (dRVVT). ACL (IgG/IgM) and anti-beta(2)GPI (IgG/IgM) were detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Clinical data were collected and analysed in all patients with aPL antibody. RESULTS: Of the 235 patients with aPL, thrombosis was detected in 76 patients (28.0%). Of the 76 patients with thrombosis, 29 were positive for LAC, 9 for aCL, 7 for anti-beta(2)GPI, 3 for LAC+aCL, 9 for aCL+anti-beta(2)GPI, 11 for LAC+anti-beta(2)GPI, and 8 for LAC+aCL+anti-beta(2)GPI. The rate of thrombosis was significantly different (p=0.01) among single positive patients (45/163, 27.6%), double positive patients (23/60, 38.3%), and triple positive patients (8/12, 66.7%). In single positive patients, the rate of thrombosis was highest in LAC positive patients (29/85, 34.1%). In double positive patients, the LAC+anti-beta(2)GPI positive group (11/24, 45.8%) and aCL+anti-beta(2)GPI positive group (9/22, 40.9%) had higher rates of thrombosis than the LAC+aCL positive group (3/14, 21.4%). CONCLUSION: Single positivity for anti-beta(2)GPI explained 9.2% of thrombotic events in the absence of LAC or aCL. Double or triple positivity for aPLs were associated with a higher rate of thrombosis than single positivity for aPL. Our results suggest that anti-beta(2)GPI provides additional information in patients with thrombosis in conjunction with LAC or aCL.

Antibodies, Anticardiolipin↗

PubMed2003

Immunomodulatory effects of aqueous-extracted Astragali radix in methotrexate-treated mouse spleen cells.

The present study was conducted to evaluate the immunomodulatory effect of aqueous-extracted Astragali radix (ARE) in methotrexate (MTX)-treated mouse spleen cells. In spleen cell proliferation assay, ARE enhanced mitogenic activity in the dose-response manner. We also investigated the effect of ARE on the reducing of immune suppression caused by MTX in mouse spleen cells. MTX decreased the spleen cell proliferation (IC(50):800 microg/ml). However, ARE significantly reduced the suppression of cell proliferation by MTX in mouse spleen cells. Immunomodulatory effect of ARE were further investigated using reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). In RT-PCR, we examined the expressions of various cytokines such as IL-6, IL-1alpha, IL-1beta, IL-12p40, GM-CSF and TNF. Enhancement of IL-1alpha and IL-12p40 mRNA expressions were shown in mouse spleen cells by ARE. In spite of MTX treatment, the expressions of IL-1alpha and IL-12p40 mRNA sustained in spleen cells. These data indicate that (1) ARE has a protective effect of immune suppression, and (2) the immunomodulatory effects of ARE may be, in part, associated with the expressions of IL-1alpha and IL-12p40 mRNA as well as the mitogenic effect on spleen cells.

Adjuvants, Immunologic↗

PubMed2002

An application of linear programming discriminant analysis to classifying and predicting the symptomatic status of HIV/AIDS patients.

This study presents an application of linear programming discriminant analysis (LPDA) to classify and to predict the symptomatic status of HIV/AIDS patients. We applied LPDA as well as several traditional discriminant analysis methods to the AIDS Cost and Services Utilization Survey data set in order to demonstrate the use of LPDA to classify the symptomatic status of HIV/AIDS patients. The potential benefit of LPDA in terms of the classification accuracy was also analyzed.

Diagnosis, Computer-Assisted↗

PubMed2002

A case of neurotoxicity following 5-fluorouracil-based chemotherapy.

5-Fluorouracil (5-FU) is a commonly used chemotherapeutic agent. However, its neurotoxicity is rare and not well recognized. We report a case of 5-FU neurotoxicity with organic brain syndrome and progression to multifocal leukoencephalopathy in a 44-year-old male patient having malignant gastrointestinal stromal tumor. 5-FU-induced neurotoxicity should, therefore, be considered as an important differential diagnosis in cancer patients with neurological abnormality and history of chemotherapy.

Adult↗

PubMed1973

[A Study on the ticks of Chejudo: IV. Monthly life flow of ticks]

Following is the result of a survey hold over a two year period(1971-1972), on the appearence and disappearence of ticks on cattle in Cheju. Number of Haemaphysalis longicornis. Larvae: From the beginning of July to mid September larvae abounded reaching their peak during July and August. In 1971 their period was from July to September. In 1972 their period was from May to October. In both years their number reached their highest point in July and August(Table 1.2) Nymph: Ticks were found from February to October(1971) and January to December (1972), and they were especially plentiful during the periods of may (1971)(Table 1.2). Adult : Ticks were in evidence from April to October(1971) and January to December(1972). They were especially plentiful during the periods of July and August(1971) and August(1972). However, in 1972 they were also quite plentiful in June and July(1972)(Table 1.2). Number of Boophilus microplus: larvae; Ticks were in evidence from April to October(1971) and January to December(1972). They were especially plentiful during the periods of June adn July(1971) and July to August(1972). However, in 1972 they were also quite plentiful in May. Nymph: Ticks were in evidence from January to December 1971 and 1972. They were especially plentiful during the periods of June and August(1971) and May to September(1972). However, in 1972 they were also quite plentiful in October and November. Adult: Ticks were in evidence from January to December 1971 and 1972. They were especially plentiful during the periods of July to September(1971) and July (1972). However, in 1972 they were also quite plentiful in May to August.

Journal Article↗