• The Korean Journal of Pharmacology
• /
• v.25 no.1
• /
• pp.43-51
• /
• 1989

Responsiveness of muscarinic and alpha adrenoceptor activation on endothelial cells was studied in isolated canine renal artery rings. Ach (10-100 nM), dose dependently, relaxes endothelial intact rings precontracted with phenylephrine ($IC_{50}$ of Ach was 34.5 nM). Selective mechanical destruction of the endothelium transformed the activity of this substance from vasodilatation to vasoconstriction. Acetylcholine induced relaxations could be selectively inhibited competitively by atropine, but could not be inhibited by cyclooxygenase inhibitor. Methylene blue, however, an inhibitor of soluble guanylate cyclase activity, inhibited Ach as well as sodium nitroprusside (SNP) induced relaxation. Relaxation produced by prostacyclin was not modified by methylene blue. On the other hand, alpha adrenoceptor agonist did not relax but contract canine renal artery rings possessing an intact intima precontracted with U-46619. Clonidine, however, selective alpha-2 adrenergic agonist, is more susceptible than phenylepherine, selective alpha-1 adrenergic agonist, to the inhibitory effect of contraction. These results suggest that in canine renal artery rings, 1) muscarinic receptor is responsible for releasing endothelium dependent relaxation factor (EDRF). 2) alpha-1 and alpha-2 adrenergic receptors are present in canine renal artery. 3) relaxation via EDRF is antagonized by methylene blue, providing further evidence that EDRF acts through a cGMP mechanism.

• Korean Journal of Medicinal Crop Science
• /
• v.2 no.3
• /
• pp.181-186
• /
• 1994

Vegetative node and rhizome of Ligusticum chuanxiong Hort. were planted in spring and autumn and harvested after one and two years to determine the appropriate harvesting time which produced a high yield. Plant height, leaf number and branch number per plant were increased in order of rhizome planted in spring and harvested after two year(RST), rhizome planted in autumn and harvested after one year(RAO), vegetative node planted in autumn and harvested after one year(VNAO), and vegetative node planted in spring and harvested after one year(VNSO). Leaf area index and dry leaf weight in VNSO were highest on August 16, but dry weights of stem and rhizome was increased until harvesting time. The appropriate harvesting time was October 17, in RST, November 9 in RAO and VNAO, and November 13 in VNSO. Yield in autumn planting was more increased than that in spring planting and also that in RST was 443kg per 10a and increased by 2.8 times compared to RAO. However the yield in the rhizome planting was more increased by 17 percent than the vegetative node planting, the latter planting was inexpensive and economic for purchasing seed materials.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
• /
• v.37 no.12
• /
• pp.1560-1567
• /
• 2008

This study was designed to evaluate the effect of green tea products (GTP) on bone metabolism marker in ovariectomized (OVX) rats fed high cholesterol diet. Forty Sprague-Dawley female rats, 10 weeks of age ($279{\pm}2g$), were divided into 4 groups and fed on the experimental diets for 6 weeks: sham operated control (Sham-C) and OVX-control (OVX-C) groups treated high cholesterol diet. OVX-GTP 5% (OVX-G5) and OVX-GTP 20% (OVX-G20) groups were treated with high cholesterol diet containing 5% GTP and 20% GTP, respectively. Food efficient ratio was significantly (p<0.05) lower in OVX-G20 than in the other OVX groups. Bone mineral density of femur was not significantly different among the experimental groups in the order of Sham-C>OVX-G5 and OVX-G20>OVX-C. Alkaline phosphatase activities on serum was lower in the GTP supplement groups than in the OVX-C. Estradiol levels of serum were higher in the GTP supplement groups than in the OVX-C. Osteocalcin levels of serum was the lowest in the OVX-G20. Deoxypyridinoline crosslink values of urine, indicator of bone absorption, was the lowest in the OVX-G20 group. The GTP supplemented groups had a lower bone resorption ratio than in the OVX-C group. From the above results, these findings suggest the possibility of using GTP as a functional food materials related to bone metabolism in menopause.

• Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging
• /
• v.41 no.3
• /
• pp.201-208
• /
• 2007

Purpose: We investigated whether the diagnostic performance of SPECT scintimammography (SMM) can be improved by adding computer-aided diagnosis (CAD) of ultrasonography (US). Materials and methods: We reviewed breast SPECT SMM images and corresponding US images from 40 patients with breast masses (21 malignant and 19 benign tumors). The quantitative data of SPECT SMM were obtained as the uptake ratio of lesion to contralateral normal breast. The morphologic features of the breast lesions on US were extracted and quantitated using the automated CAD software program. The diagnostic performance of SPECT SMM and CAD of US alone was determined using receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis. The best discriminating parameter (D-value) combining SPECT SMM and the CAD of US was created. The sensitivity, specificity and accuracy of combined two diagnostic modalities were compared to those of a single one. Results: Both SPECT SMM and CAD of US showed a relatively good diagnostic performance (area under curve = 0.846 and 0.831, respectively). Combining the results of SPECT SMM and CAD of US resulted in improved diagnostic performance (area under curve =0.860), but there was no statistical differerence in sensitivity, specificity and accuracy between the combined method and a single modality. Conclusion: It seems that combining the results of SPECT SMM and CAD of breast US do not significantly improve the diagnostic performance for diagnosis of breast cancer, compared with that of SPECT SMM alone. However, SPECT SMM and CAD of US may complement each other in differential diagnosis of breast cancer.

• The Korean Journal of Nuclear Medicine Technology
• /
• v.16 no.1
• /
• pp.62-69
• /
• 2012

Purpose: The present study has an objective of effectively separating and making observations on a portion of radiopharmaceutical excreted via digestive organ to remain in the organ and invade a heart shadow. Materials and methods: When heart shadow is blocked by the organ in tests during a resting phase and a loaded phase, additional images were obtained using immobilization device. The immobilization devices were used to tilt the upper body forward from supine position. Results: In the reconstructed image for the separated case, as compared with the case where a part of organ is overlapped with heart, in terms of an overall mean value for each parameter, the end-diastolic volume increased by 2.75 mL, the end-systolic volume decreased by 3.16 mL, the left ventricle cardiac coefficient increased by 3.58%, and the area of defect region decreased by 3.58 and 3.92 cm for loading and resting phase, respectively. Conclusions: In the present study with myocardial perfusion SPECT, overlapped areas of heart and other organs could be effectively separated and visualization by the use of an immobilization device.

• Journal of Veterinary Clinics
• /
• v.27 no.6
• /
• pp.647-651
• /
• 2010

The advantages of the $CO_2$ laser are offset by the delay in laser wound healing secondary to thermal damage. To minimize the undesirable thermal damage of the $CO_2$ laser, investigators have developed technical advances in the delivery system of the laser energy. This study compared tissue healing of the continuous and the pulsed modes $CO_2$ laser wounds in an animal surgery model. Five healthy Landrace and Yorkshire mixed breeds of both genders were used (45-51 kg, 4-6 months old, three males and two females). A full thickness wound of skin ($2{\times}2{\times}2cm^2$) was made over on the each pig's both sides of dorsal midline at 0, 7, 14, and 18 days. The wounds created at 18, 14, 7 and 0 days were named post-wounding day (PWD) 3, 7, 14 and 21, respectively. In each pig, one wound (left side) was treated pulsed $CO_2$ laser and the other wound (right side) was treated continuous wave $CO_2$ laser. Each wound was closed with two interrupted suture of 3-0 sutures. At 21 days after initial wounding, each wound was taken for histological evaluations. The degrees of reepithelialization were performed more prominently in the pulsed mode group than in the continuous mode group. The degrees of granulation were greater significantly in pulsed mode group than those in the continuous mode on PWD 3 (p < 0.05). The degrees of fibroblasts in the pulsed mode group were greater significantly in comparison to those in the continuous mode group on PWD 7, (p < 0.05). In conclusion, reepithelialization, granulation and fibroblasts in the pulsed mode group were greater markedly in comparison to those in the continuous mode group. It was considered that pulsed mode $CO_2$ laser was more suitable for the skin incision than the continuous mode $CO_2$ laser.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
• /
• v.42 no.3
• /
• pp.283-291
• /
• 2009

Background: Tracheal reconstruction after extended tracheal resection still remains as a major surgical challenge because good clinical outcomes are usually correlated with limited tracheal resection. Recent investigations with a using cryopreserved trachea for the reconstruction of a trachea have been carried out to overcome this problem. In this study, we analyzed viability of tracheas, which is an important determining factor for the success of transplanting a cryopreserved trachea and the development of post-transplantation tracheal stenosis, according to three different experimental factors: 1) the warm-ischemic time, 2) the cryopreservation solution and 3) the preserving temperature, to determine a better cryopreservation protocol and a better composition of the cryopreservation solution. Material and Method: Rats tracheas were harvested for different warm-ischemic times (0 hr, 12 hrs, 24 hrs). The tracheas were treated with recombinant insulin growth factor-1 (IGF) and they were stored at three different temperatures $(4^{\circ}C,\;-80^{\circ}C,\;-196^{\circ}C)$ for two weeks. After two weeks, we thawed the stored trachea and isolated the cells of the tracheas with using type II collagenase. We cultured the cells for seven days and then we compared the cellular viability by the MTT reduction assay. Result: Though cryopreservation is required to preserve a trachea for a longer time period, the viability of the tracheas stored at $-80^{\circ}C$ and $-196^{\circ}C$ was significantly reduced compared to that of the tracheas stored at $4^{\circ}C$. The viability of the tracheas with warm-ischemic times of 12 hrs and 24 hrs was also reduced in comparison to the tracheas with a warm-ischemic time of 0 hrs. Our data showed that the warm ischemic time and the parameters of crypreservation negatively affect on trachea viability. However, a cryopresrvation solution containing IGF-1 improved the cellular viability better than the existing cryopreservation solution. For the warm ischemic time group of a 0 hr, the addition of IGF-1 improved the viability of trachea at all the preserving temperatures. Conclusion: These experiments demonstrate that the viability of cryopreserved trachea can improved by modifying the components of the crypreservation solution with the addition of IGF-1 and reducing the warm-ischemic time.

• The Korean Journal of Nuclear Medicine
• /
• v.33 no.5
• /
• pp.452-460
• /
• 1999

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the diagnostic usefulness of scintimammography per-formed with Tc-99m tetrofosmin in the detection of primary breast cancer Materials and Methods: Sixty-one patients underwent Tc-99m tetrofosmin scintimammography, plain-film mammography and ultrasonography. After intravenous injection of Tc-99m tetrofosmin (740 MBq), prone lateral and anterior scintimammograms were obtained. Scintimammogram was visually interpreted as positive, probably positive, probably negative and negative for malignancy. The tumor to background count ratio (T/B) was measured at 5 minutes and 1 hour. Plain-film mammogram was interpreted as one of 5 categories. Final diagnosis was achieved by surgical histology (58/61) or fine needle aspiration (3/61). Of 61 patients, 44 had cancer and 17 had benign lesion. Tumor size of malignant and benign lesions on ultrasonogram were $2.51{\pm}1.30cm$ (range 1-8 cm), $2.50{\pm}1.35cm$ (range 0.96-6 cm), respectively. Results: The sensitivity of plain-film mammography was 88.6%, specificity 58.8%, positive predictive value 84.7%, and negative predictive value 66.7% The sensitivity of Tc-99m tetrofosmin scintimammography was 90.9%; specificity, 88.2%; positive predictive value, 94.9%, negative predictive value, 18.9%. Of 25 patients with indeterminate degree of suspicion for malignancy on plain-film mammogram, 23 were correctly diagnosed by scintimammography. The T/B at 5 minutes and 1 hour were $3.78{\pm}2.21$, $3.25{\pm}1.80$ respectively. The T/B was decreased significantly at 1 hour (p<0.001). Conclusion: Tc-99m tetrofosmin scintimammography was useful dia-gnostic procedure in the detection of primary breast cancer, especially in patients with indeterminate degree of suspicion for malignancy on plain-film mammogram.

• The Korean Journal of Nuclear Medicine
• /
• v.33 no.6
• /
• pp.519-526
• /
• 1999

Purpose: This study was designed to evaluate the usefulness of a technetium-99m mercaptoacetyltriglycine (Tc-99m MAG3) single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) performed on transplanted kidney. Materials and Methods: Thirty renal transplant patients were included in this study. Planar scan was performed for 30 minutes using 555 MBq Tc-99m MAG3. A post-voiding SPECT scan was acquired on the third, seventh, fourteenth and twenty eighth day after transplantation. Results: SPECT scan showed interpretable image quality in 26 of 30 patients (86.7%) and 84 in 120 scans (70%). Fourteen of 26 patients with interpretable SPECT image showed decreased or increased radioactivity, but only 5 had abnormal findings on the planar scan. Focal SPECT defects were seen in allografts with normal function (n=3), acute tubular necrosis (n=3), and acute rejection (n=2). The defects are thought to reflect focally underperfused renal parenchyme or, in normal allografts, an artifact from uneven radioactivity distribution. Four of 10 patients with renal arterial variation showed focally decreased radioactivity and SPECT helped guide funker studies that confirmed the exact cause. Five of 10 patients with acute tubular necrosis or acute rejection showed focally decreased radioactivity, but its relation to the patients' clinical course was not clear. Focally increased radioactivity was observed in 5 allografts with normal function and 1 with double ureter in which local clearance delay was observed. Conclusion: Tc-99m MAG3 SPECT renal scan can detect additional focal abnormalities compared to planar scan. Further study is necessary to elucidate the exact clinical significance of the SPECT findings.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
• /
• v.49 no.5
• /
• pp.500-506
• /
• 2006

Purpose : We evaluated an outbreak of Serratia marcescens infections in 24 neonates in a neonatal intensive care unit(NICU). Methods : From January to August, 2004 a nosocomial outbreak of S. marcescens occurred in our NICU. We describe the clinical characteristics of the outbreak and analyse the risk factors for infections with S. marcescens. After the outbreak stopped, 7 isolates from blood were typed using rapid amplified polymorphic DNA analysis(RAPD). Results : S. marcescens was isolated from 24 neonates, 19 infected and 5 colonized. Seven out of nineteen neonates had bacteremia, 4 had ventilator associated pneumonia, 4 had purulent conjunctivitis, 2 had UTI, 1 had meningitis and 1 had a wound infection. Three neonates died due to S. marcescens infection, 2 of 3 had ventilator associated pneumonia, 1 had meningitis complicated with abscess. The mortality rate of S. marcescens infection was 15.8%. Factors associated with S. marcescens infections were previous antibiotic therapy, indwelling catheter and use of ventilators. The isolated strains were resistant to most antibiotics, but frequently sensitive to imipenem, bactrim and amikacin. RAPD typing results show that at least 3 epidemic strains were related with this outbreak. But one genotype was predominant type in this outbreak. The control measures were instituted and the outbreak stopped within 2 months. Conclusion : S. marcescens can cause rapidly spreading outbreaks associated with fatal infections in neonates. If S. marcescens is isolated from clinical specimens, meticulous infection control measures and epidemiologic investigations should be done at an early stage of the outbreak.