• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.16 no.17
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• pp.7825-7829
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• 2015

Background: Egypt has the highest prevalence of HCV infection in the world (~14.7%). Around 10-15% of HCV-infected persons will advance to cirrhosis within the first 20 years. The incidence of HCC is expected to grow in the next two decades, largely due to HCV related cirrhosis, and detection of HCC at an early stage is critical for a favorable clinical outcome. No simple reliable non-invasive marker has been available till now. B2M, a non-glycosylated polypeptide composed of 99 amino acids, is one of the components of HLA class I molecules on the surfaces of all nucleated cells. It has been reported that the level of serum B2M is elevated in patients with chronic hepatitis C and HCV-related HCC when compared to HCV-negative patients or healthy donors. Determining the clinical utility of serum B2M as a marker for disease progression in Egyptian patients with HCV related chronic hepatitis, cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma was the aim of the present study. Materials and Methods: In this analytical cross sectional study 92 participants were included in 4 equal groups: Group (1) non cirrhotic chronic HCV; Group (2) HCV related liver cirrhosis; Group (3) HCC on top of HCV,; and Group (4) healthy controls. History taking, clinical examination, routine labs and abdominal ultrasound were conducted for all patients, PCR and Metavir scores for group (1) patients, and triphasic CT abdomen and AFP for Group (3) patients. B2M levels were measured in serum with a fully-automated IMX system. Results: The mean serum B2M level of Group (1) was $4.25{\pm}1.48{\mu}g/ml$., Group (2) was $7.48{\pm}3.04$, Group (3) was $6.62{\pm}2.49$ and Group (4) was $1.62{\pm}0.63$. Serum B2M levels were significantly higher in diseased than control group (p<0.01) being significantly higher in cirrhosis ($7.48{\pm}3.04$) and HCC groups ($6.62{\pm}2.49$) than the HCV group ($4.25{\pm}1.48$) (p<0.01). There was a significant correlation between B2M Level and ALK, total and direct bilirubin and INR (p<0.05), and a significant inverse correlation between B2M level and albumin, total proteins, HB andWBCS values (p<0.05). There was no significant correlation between B2M level and viral load or Metavir score, largest tumour size or AFP (p>0.05). The best B2M cut-off for HCV diagnosis was 2.6 with a sensitivity of 100%, a specificity of 92%, a positive predictive value (PPV) of 97% and a negative predictive value (NPV) of 100%. The best B2M cut-off for HCC diagnosis was 4.55 which yielded sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, negative predictive values of 74%, 62%, 39.5, 87.8% respectively (p-value <0.01) while best cut-off for cirrhosis was 4.9, with sensitivity 74 % and specificity 74%.The sensitivity for HCC diagnosis increased upon B2M and AFP combined estimation to 91%, specificity to 79%, NPV to 95% and accuracy to 83%. Conclusions: Serum B2M level is elevated in HCV related chronic liver diseases and may be used as a marker for HCV disease progression towards cirrhosis and carcinoma.

• Journal of the Microelectronics and Packaging Society
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• v.10 no.3
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• pp.19-27
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• 2003

Surface finishes of PCB laminates are important in the solder joint reliability of flip chip package because the types and thicknesses of intermetallic compound(IMC), and compositions and hardness of solders are affected by them. In this study, effects of surface finishes of PCB on the low cycle fatigue resistance of Sn-based lead-free solders; Sn-3.5Ag, Sn-3.5Ag-XCu(X=0.75, 1.5), Sn-3.5Ag-XBi(X=2.5, 7.5) and Sn-0.7Cu were investigated for the Cu and Au/Ni surface finish treatments. Displacement controlled room temperature lap shear fatigue tests showed that fatigue resistance of Sn-3.5Ag-XCu(X=0.75, 1.5), Sn-3.5Ag and Sn-0.7Cu alloys were more or less the same each other but much better than that of Bi containing alloys regardless of the surface finish layer used. In general, solder joints on the Au/Ni finish showed better fatigue resistance than those on the Cu finish. Cross-sectional fractography revealed microcracks nucleation inside of the interfacial IMC near the solder mask edge, more frequently on the Cu than the Au/Ni surface finish. Macro cracks followed the solder/IMC interface in the Bi containing alloys, while they propagated in the solder matrix in other alloys. It was ascribed to the Bi segregation at the solder/IMC interface and the solid solution hardening effect of Bi in the $\beta-Sn$ matrix.

• Development and Reproduction
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• v.5 no.2
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• pp.175-180
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• 2001

The ectopic expression of gonadotropin releasing hormone(GnRH and luteinizing hormone(LH) in several tissues is a quite intriguing phenomenon. Recently, the presence of GnRH and its receptor has been clearly demonstrated in rodents and human mammary gland. In this context, one can postulate that the presence of local circuit composed of GnRH and LH in the gland. The present study was undertaken to elucidate whether there is a correlation between the LH expression in rat mammary gland and physiological status during the process of mammary differentiation. LH contents in mammary gland from cycling to weaning rats were measured by radioimmunoassay(RIA). In cycling rats, changes of the LH level in both serum and mammary gland showed similar pattern as the highest level in proestrus and the lowest level in diestrus II stage. While the serum LH levels were fluctuated from pregnant through involution stage, a sharp decline of mammary LH contents was observed in the lactating rats. This decrement was recovered in involuting rats to the level of proestrus stage. Reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and Southern blot analyses demonstrated that the transcriptional activities of the mammary LH and GnRH were increased from diestrus I stage to estrus stage, and the increased levels were maintained in pregnant, lactation and involution stages. To test the hypothesis that the alteration in mammary LH expression might be steroid-dependant, ovariectomy(OVX) and steroid supplement model was employed. As expected, supplement of estradiol(E$_2$) after OVX remarkably decreased serum LH level compared to that in serum from vehicle-only treated rats. Likewise, administration of E$_2$ significantly reduced the mammary LH content. The present study demonstrated that (i) the LH expression in mammary gland could be altered by some physiological parameters such as estrous cycle, pregnancy, lactation and involution, and (ii) ovarian steroid especially estrogen seems to be one of major endocrine factors which are responsible for regulation of mammary LH expression.

• KOREAN JOURNAL OF PACKAGING SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
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• v.5 no.1
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• pp.47-55
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• 1999

Applications of chitosan are related to molecular weight and degree of deacetylation(DOD) of chitosan completely. The molecular weight and DOD were greatly affected by the concentration of solution time and temperature. The degree of demineralization was not significantly different at $50^{\circ}C\;and\;70^{\circ}C$ after 30 minutes. Deproteinization decreased as process time increased. The nitrogen content was reached to 6.92% after 90 minute at $80^{\circ}C$, which is similar to theoretical nitrogen content of chitin. The DOD was 82.84% after 2 hours reaction and increased as the reaction time increased in the process. Viscosity and molecular weight are increased as recycling number of concentrated NaOH solution increased. Chemical, biological and physical properties of chitosan depend on the DOD and molecular size of the molecule. Tensile strength of the films from acetic acid solutions was between $28.9{\sim}33.6$ MPa and was generally higher than that of the films from lactic acid. Elongation of the films from lactic acid was between $97.0{\sim}109.7%$ and was generally higher than that of the films from the acetic acid. Water vapor permeability of the films prepared from lcetic acid solutions was between $1.9{\sim}2.3ng{\cdot}m/m^2{\cdot}s{\cdot}Pa$ and was generally higher than that of the films from the acetic acid.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Radiology
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• v.5 no.6
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• pp.401-407
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• 2011

The purpose of this study is to know the differences of MR spectra, obtained from normal volunteers by variable TE value, through the quantitative analysis of brain metabolites by peak integral and SNR between 1.5T and 3.0T, together with PRESS and STEAM pulse sequence. Single-voxel MR proton spectra of the human brain obtained from normal volunteers at both 3.0T MR system (Magnetom Trio, SIEMENS, Germany) and 1.5T MR system (Signa Twinspeed, GE, USA) using the STEAM and PRESS pulse sequence. 10 healthy volunteers (3.0T:3 males, 2 females; 1.5T : 3 males, 2 females) with the range from 22 to 30 years old (mean 26 years) participated in our study. They had no personal or familial history of neurological diseases and had a normal neurological examination. Data acquisition parameters were closely matched between the two field strengths. Spectra were recorded in the white matter of the occipital lobe. Spectra were compared in terms of resolution and signal-to-noise ratio(SNR), and echo time(TE) were estimated at both field strengths. Imaging parameters was used for acquisition of the proton spectrum were as follow : TR 2000msec, TE 30ms, 40ms, 50ms, 60ms, 90ms, 144ms, 288ms, NA=96, VOI=$20{\times}20{\times}20mm3$. As the echo times were increased, the spectra obtained from 3.0T and 1.5T show decreased peak integral and SNR at both pulse sequence. PRESS pulse sequence shows higher SNR and signal intensity than those of STEAM. Especially, Spectra in normal volunteers at 3.0T demonstrated significantly improved overall SNR and spectral resolution compared to 1.5T(Fig1). The spectra acquired at short echo time, 3T MR system shows a twice improvement in SNR compared to 1.5T MR system(Table. 1). But, there was no significant difference between 3.0Tand 1.5T at long TE It is concluded that PRESS and short TE is useful for quantification of the brain metabolites at 3.0T MRS, our standardized protocol for quantification of the brain metabolites at 3.0T MRS is useful to evaluate the brain diseases by monitoring the systematic changes of biochemical metabolites concentration in vivo.

• Radiation Oncology Journal
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• v.20 no.2
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• pp.93-99
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• 2002

Purpose : We intended to decrease late CNS reaction after radical radiotherapy for an intracranial germinoma by using combined neoadjuvant chemotherapy and involved-field radiotherapy. The efficacy in terms of its acute toxicity and short-term relapse patterns was analyzed. Materials and Methods : Eighteen patients were treated with combined neoadjuvant chemotherapy and radiotherapy between 1995 and 2001. The chemotherapy regimen used was the Children's Cancer Group (CCG) 9921A (cisplatin, cyclophosphamide, VP-16, vincristine) for 5 patients younger than 16 years, BEP (bleomycin, VP-16, cisplatin) for 12 patients, and EP (VP-16, cisplatin) for 1 patient. The radiotherapy covered the whole craniospinal axis for 5 patients, the whole brain for 1, and the partial brain (involved field) for 12. the primary lesion received tumour doses between 3,960 and 5,400 cGy. Results : The male to female ratio was 16:2 and the median age was 16 years old. The tumors were located in the pineal gland in 12 patients, in the suprasellar region in 1, in the basal ganglia In 1, in the thalamus in 1. Three patients had multiple lesions and ventricular seedings were shown at MRI. In 3 patients, tumor cells were detected in the cerebrospinal fluid and MRI detected a spinal seeding in 2 patients. The response to neoadjuvant chemotherapy was complete remission in 5 patients, partial remission in 12, and no response in 1. However, after radiotherapy, all except 1 patient experienced complete remission. The toxicity during or after chemotherapy greater than or equal to grade III was remarkable; hematologic toxicity was observed in 11 patients, liver toxicity in none, kidney toxicity in none, and gastrointestinal toxicity in one. One patient suffered from bleomycin-induced pneumonitis. Radiotherapy was therefore stopped and the patient eventually died of respiratory failure. The other 17 are alive without any evidence of disease or relapse during an average of 20 months follow-up. Conclusion : A high response rate and disease control was experienced, which was the same as observed other studies and the morbidity from chemotherapy-induced toxicity was similar. With these results, the results from adjuvant chemotherapy and involved-field radiotherapy cannot be concluded to be equal to those from extended-field radiotherapy. The long term follow-up study on later complications are required in order to draw definite conclusions on the optimal management with minimum side effects.

• The Korean Journal of Food And Nutrition
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• v.25 no.3
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• pp.570-578
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• 2012

Compound K(ginsenoside M1) is one of saponin metabolites and has many benefits for human health. This study was to investigate Compound K produced from ginseng crude saponin extract with commercial cellulolytic complex enzyme(cellulase, ${\beta}$-glucanase, and hemicellulase) obtained from Trichoderma reesei. The effect factors(temperature, pH, ginseng crude saponin extract and enzyme concentration, and reaction time) on production of Compound K from ginseng crude saponin extract were determined by one factor at a time method. The selected major factor variables were ginseng crude saponin extract of 2%(w/v), enzyme of 7%(v/v), reaction time of 48 hr. Based on the effect factors, response surface method was proceeded to optimize the enzymatic bioconversion conditions for the desirable Compound K production under the fixed condition of pH 5.0 and $50^{\circ}C$. The optimal reaction condition from RSM was ginseng crude saponin extract of 2.38%, enzyme of 6.06%, and reaction time of 64.04 hr. The expected concentration of Compound K produced from that reaction was 840.77 mg/100 g. Production of Compound K was 1,017.93 mg/100 g and 862.31 mg/100 g, by flask and bench-scale bioreactor($2.5{\ell}$) system, respectively.

• Journal of the Korean Crystal Growth and Crystal Technology
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• v.10 no.3
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• pp.189-198
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• 2000

The stochiometric mixture of evaporating materials for the $CuGaSe_2$single crystal thin films were prepared from horizontal furnace. Using extrapolation method of X-ray diffraction patterns for the polycrystal $CuGaSe_2$, it was found tetragonal structure whose lattice constant $a_0}$ and $c_0$ were 5.615 $\AA$ and 11.025 $\AA$, respectively. To obtains the single crystal thin films, $CuGaSe_2$mixed crystal was deposited on throughly etched GaAs(100) by the Hot Wall Epitaxy (HWE) system. The source and substrate temperature were $610^{\circ}C$ and $450^{\circ}C$ respectively, and the growth rate of the single crystal thin films was about 0.5$\mu\textrm{m}$/h. The crystalline structure of single crystal thin films was investigated by the double crystal X-ray diffraction (DCXD). Hall effect on this sample was measured by the method of van der Pauw and studied on carrier density and mobility depending on temperature. From Hall data, the mobility was likely to be decreased by pizoelectric scattering in the temperature range 30 K to 150 K and by polar optical scattering in the temperature range 150 K to 293 K. The optical energy gaps were found to be 1.68 eV for CuGaSe$_2$sing1e crystal thin films at room temperature. The temperature dependence of the photocurrent peak energy is well explained by the Varshni equation then the constants in the Varshni equation are given by $\alpha$ = $9.615{\times}10^{-4}$eV/K, and $\beta$ = 335 K. From the photocurrent spectra by illumination of polarized light of the $CuGaSe_2$single crystal thin films. We have found that values of spin orbit coupling $\Delta$So and crystal field splitting $\Delta$Cr was 0.0900 eV and 0.2498 eV, respectively. From the PL spectra at 20 K, the peaks corresponding to free bound excitons and D-A pair and a broad emission band due to SA is identified. The binding energy of the free excitons are determined to be 0.0626 eV and the dissipation energy of the acceptor-bound exciton and donor-bound exciton to be 0.0352 eV, 0.0932 eV, respectively.

• Journal of Periodontal and Implant Science
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• v.37 no.sup2
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• pp.325-338
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• 2007

The purposes of this study were to compare and quantify the expression of IL-6, e1stase and ${\alpha}_1-PI$ in the gingival tissues of patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus and healthy adults with chronic periodontitis. Gingival tissue samples were obtained during periodontal surgery or tooth extraction. According to the patient's systemic condition & clinical criteria of gingiva, each gingival sample was devided into three groups. Group 1 (n=8) is clinically healthy gingiva without bleeding and no evidence of bone resorption or periodontal pockets, obtained from systemically healthy 8 patients. Group 2 (n=8) is inflammed gingiva from patients with chronic periodontitis. Group 3 (n=8) is inflammed gingiva from patients with chronic periodontitis associated with type 2 diabetes. Tissue samples were prepared and analyzed by Western blotting. The quantification of IL-6, elastase and ${\alpha}_1-PI$ were performed using a densitometer and statistically analyzed by one-way ANOVA followed by Tukey test. 1. The expression levels of IL-6 showed increasing tendency in group 2 and 3, and It was highest in group 3. 2. The expression of elastase showed increasing tendency in group 2 and 3, and It was highest in group 3. 3. The expression of ${\alpha}_1-PI$ showed increasing tendency in group 3 compared to group 1. 4. The ${\alpha}_1-PI$/elastase ratio was decreased in group 2 and 3 compared to group 1, especially most decreased in group 3. 5. As IL-6 levels were increasing, elastase showed increasing tendency in group 3, and although IL-6 and elastase levels were increasing, ${\alpha}_1-PI$ level in group 3 showed slightly increasing pattern comparing to group 1. In conclusion, this study demonstrated that the expression levels of IL-6 and elastase will be inflammatory markers of periodontal inflammed tissue and DM. The ${\alpha}_1-PI$/elastase ratio also may be important measuring inflmmatory factors in the progression of periodontal inflammation associated to type 2DM.

• Journal of Radiation Protection and Research
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• v.25 no.4
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• pp.207-216
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• 2000

Continuous measurements of radon progeny concentrations in the open atmosphere and measurements of meteorological parameters were performed in Tajeon, using a continuous gross alpha/beta aerosol monitor and a weather measuring equipment between July 1999 and July 2000. These data were analyzed for half-hourly, daily, and seasonal variations. The distribution of daily averaged equilibrium equivalent radon concentration$(EEC_{Rn})$ had an arithmetic mean value of $11.3{\pm}5.86Bqm^{-3}$ with the coefficient of variation of about 50% and the geometric mean was $10.3Bqm^{-3}$. The $EEC_{Rn}$ varies between 0.83 and $43.3Bqm^{-3}$, depending on time of day and weather conditions. Half-hourly averaged data indicated a diurnal pattern with the outdoor $EEC_{Rn}$ reaching a maximum at sunrise and a minimum at sunset. The pattern of the seasonal variation of the $EEC_{Rn}$ in Taejon had a tendency of minimum concentration occurring in the summer(July) and maximum concentration occurring in the late autumn(November). But the seasonal variation of the $EEC_{Rn}$ is expect to vary greatly from place to place. The outdoor $EEC_{Rn}$ was highly dependent on the local climate features. Particularly the $EEC_{Rn}$an rapidly drops less than $5Bqm^{-3}$ in case of blowing heavily higher than wind speed of $6msec^{-1}$, reversely the days with more than $30Bqm^{-3}$ were at a calm weather condition with the wind speed of lower than $1msec^{-1}$.