• The Journal of Korean Society for Radiation Therapy
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• v.24 no.2
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• pp.85-93
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• 2012

Purpose: It is essential to minimize the respiratory-induced motion of involved organs in the Tomotherapy for tumor located in the chest and abdominal region. However, the application of breathing control system to Tomotherapy is limited. This study was aimed to investigate the possible application of the ABCHES system and its efficacy as a means of breathing control in the tomotherapy treatment. Materials and Methods: Five subjects who were treated with a Hi-Art Tomotherapy system for lung, liver, gallbladder and pancreatic tumors. All patients undertook trained on two breathing methodes using an ABCHES, free breathing methode and shallow breathing methode. When the patients could carry out the breathing control, 4D-CT scan was a total of 10 4D tomographic images were acquired. A radiologist resident manually drew the tumor region, including surrounding nomal organs, on each of CT images at the inhalation phase, the exhalation phase and the 40% phase (mid-inhalation) and average CT image. Those CT images were then exported to the Tomotherapy planning station. Data exported from the Tomotherapy planning station was analyzed to quantify characteristics of dose-volume histograms and motion of tumors. Organ motions under free breathing and shallow breathing were examined six directions, respectively. Radiation exposure to the surrounding organs were also measured and compared. Results: Organ motion is in the six directions with more than a 5 mm displacement. A total of 12 Organ motions occurred during free breathing while organ motions decreased to 2 times during shallow breathing under the use of Abches. Based on the quantitative analysis of the dose-volume histograms shallow breathing showed lower resulting values, compared to free breathing, in every measure. That is, treatment volume, the dose of radiation to the tumor and two surrounding normal organs (mean doses), the volume of healthy tissue exposed to radiation were lower at the shallow breathing state. Conclusion: This study proposes that the use of ABCHES is effective for the Tomotherapy treatment as it makes shortness of breathing easy for patients. Respiratory-induced tumor motion is minimized, and radiation exposure to surrounding normal tissues is also reduced as a result.

• Journal of Bio-Environment Control
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• v.19 no.1
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• pp.49-54
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• 2010

The study was conducted to compare the postharvest physiology and storability of fresh cut paprika fruits classified by normal, blossom end rot(BER), and misshapen (or knots) fruit. Some disordered paprika fruits that were produced frequently during high temperature season in highland, were sorted out to non-marketable products. These fruits are mostly wasted, but some of them may be used for fresh cut. The respiration rate of fresh cut paprika fruits was lower and ethylene production rate was higher in normal fruits than in disordered fruits, but there was no significant difference. The fresh-cut paprika fruits were stored in MAP conditions at $4^{\circ}C$, $9^{\circ}C$ and room temperature in 25 ${\mu}m$ and 50 ${\mu}m$ thickness ceramic film packaging. The fresh weight of fresh cut paprika fruits decreased below to 1.1% regardless of fruit types, but the fresh weight loss increased in thinner packaging materials and lower storage temperatures. There were not significant different carbon dioxide and oxygen contents in MAP of all fruit types, while $4^{\circ}C$ storage temperature treatment and 25 ${\mu}m$ thickness ceramic film treatment had lower carbon dioxide and higher oxygen contents. Moreover, the carbon dioxide and oxygen contents were changed rapidly at 9 days in $4^{\circ}C$ storage and at 6 days in $9^{\circ}C$ storage when the visual quality of fresh cut decreased dramatically. The ethylene concentration of packages was below 7 ${\mu}l{\cdot}l^{-1}$ in all treatments during storage, while the treatments of thinner packaging material and lower storage temperature showed lower ethylene concentration. The fresh cut of disordered fruits showed less visual quality than normal fruit treatment in both $4^{\circ}C$ and $9^{\circ}C$ storage temperatures, but there was no significant difference. The value of $4^{\circ}C$ treatment that measured 12 days in storage was higher than $9^{\circ}C$ treatment that measured 9 days in storage. The results suggest that the disordered fruits may be used to fresh cut product without any concerns that they will decreased the value of commodities more quickly than the fresh cut made of marketable paprika fruits. As the fresh cut paprika fruits stored in MAP condition, the more effective storage temperature is $4^{\circ}C$ that may have induced chilling injury a whole fruit of the paprika.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.40 no.4
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• pp.395-403
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• 1993

Background: The cell cycle is composed of a series of steps which can be negatively or positively regulated by various factors. Alteration or inactivation of p53 by mutations, or by its interactions with oncogene products of DNA tumor viruses, can lead to cancer. Mutations of the p53 gene occur frequently in human primary lung cancers and the wild-type p 53 allele is often concomitantly deleted. These suggest that deprivation of suppressive role of the wild-type p53 may ensure tumor cell growth presumable by the mutant p53 gene. Methods: In an attempt to investigate this hypothesis, a mutant p53 gene was immunohistochemically demonstrated in the formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded tissue sections of lung cancers by using a monoclonal antibody p53 (Ab-3 and clone DO7). Results: The expression of p53 (DO7) was found in all four normal lung tissues, four small cell carcinomas, and four non small cell carcinomas in histologic types of lung cancer. In the six normal lung tissues the expressions of p53 (Ab-3) were not found. Contrarily, the expression of p53 (Ab-3) was found in the nuclei of lung cancers among fifteen (46.9%) of thirty-two cases studied. The expression of p53 (Ab-3) was disclosed in three case (37.5%) of eight small cell carcinomas and twelve cases (50.0%) of twenty-four non small cell carcinomas in histologic types of lung cancer. Conclusion: These findings suggest that expression of the mutant p53 is related to the one of events in the pathogenesis of human lung cancer and the role of the other oncogenes might be also related to the development of lung cancers.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.48 no.4
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• pp.416-424
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• 2005

Purpose : To find the risk factors associated with coronory artery lesions, non-responsiveness to intravenous immunoglobulin(IVIG) treatment, and recurrences in Kawasaki disease patients. Methods : We retrospectively analyzed 1,000 Kawasaki disease patients who were admitted to Yonsei University Medical Center from September 1990 to December 2003. We compared between responder and non-responder groups to IVIG treatment as well as between relapsed and non-relapsed groups, and as to the relapsed group, we also compared variables between patients in their first and second attack states. Finally, factors associated with longer-fever duration from disease onset were evaluated. Results : Longer fever durations before and after IVIG treatment, male sex, lower Hgb and Hct level, higher WBC count and segmented WBC proportion, and higher CRP and Harada's score were related with coronary artery lesions. Non-responsiveness was related to higher WBC count, segmented WBC proportion, CRP, SGPT, Harada's score, and pyuria. Moderate-to-severe coronary artery dilatations and recurrences were more commonly seen among the non-responder group. No significant predictive factors for recurrence were found. In the relapsed group, lower WBC count, CRP, and shorter fever duration from disease onset were observed in their second attack state. Fever duration from disease onset showed positive correlation with WBC count, CRP, and Harada's score and negative correlation with Hgb levels. Conclusion : Higher WBC count, CRP, and higher Harada's score were related to both higher incidences of coronary artery lesions and non-responsiveness to IVIG treatment, and these factors were also related with longer fever duration. Non-responders to IVIG treatment showed higher recurrence rate and more moderate-to-severe coronary artery dilatations than responders.

• Investigative Magnetic Resonance Imaging
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• v.10 no.2
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• pp.98-107
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• 2006

Magnetization Transfer (MT) imaging generates contrast dependent on the phenomenon of magnetization exchange between free water proton and restricted proton in macromolecules. In biological materials in knee, MT or cross-relaxation is commonly modeled using two spin pools identified by their different T2 relaxation times. Two models for cross-relaxation emphasize the role of proton chemical exchange between protons of water and exchangeable protons on macromolecules, as well as through dipole-dipole interaction between the water and macromolecule protons. The most essential tool in medical image manipulation is the ability to adjust the contrast and intensity. Thus, it is desirable to adjust the contrast and intensity of an image interactively in the real time. The proton density (PD) and T2-weighted SE MR images allow the depiction of knee structures and can demonstrate defects and gross morphologic changes. The PD- and T2-weighted images also show the cartilage internal pathology due to the more intermediate signal of the knee joint in these sequences. Suppression of fat extends the dynamic range of tissue contrast, removes chemical shift artifacts, and decreases motion-related ghost artifacts. Like fat saturation, phase sensitive methods are also based on the difference in precession frequencies of water and fat. In this study, phase sensitive methods look at the phase difference that is accumulated in time as a result of Larmor frequency differences rather than using this difference directly. Although how MT work was given with clinical evidence that leads to quantitative model for MT in tissues, the mathematical formalism used to describe the MT effect applies to explaining to evaluate knee disorder, such as anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) tear and meniscal tear. Calculation of the effect of the effect of the MT saturation is given in the magnetization transfer ratio (MTR) which is a quantitative measure of the relative decrease in signal intensity due to the MT pulse.

• Childhood Kidney Diseases
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• v.13 no.2
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• pp.176-188
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• 2009

Purpose : Peritoneal dialysis (PD) is the major form of dialysis in use for infants and children with end-stage renal disease (ESRD). The aim of this study was to gain insight into the current status of children on PD in Korea. Methods : In May 2008, questionnaires were sent to the pediatric nephrologists via e-mail. Four centers replied and those data were reviewed. Results : A total of 103 patients were included in this study. Male to female ratio was 1.6:1. Mean age was $11.5{\pm}4.9$ years (0-19 years). Primary renal diseases diagnosed were as follows: primary glomerular disease (34%), chronic pyelonephritis-reflux nephropathy (14.6%), systemic disease (9.7%), renal hypoplasia/dysplasia (8.7%), heredofamilial disease (6.8%), vascular disease (3.9%), drug-induced nephropathy (1.0%), and unknown (12.6%). PD modalities were as follows: CAPD (42.7%), CCPD (27.2%), NIPD (11.7%), and Hybrid (18.4%). Weekly total Kt/V was $2.1{\pm}0.7$ (0.3-4.1). Results of peritoneal equilibrium test were as follows: low 36.8%, low average 31.6%, high average 19.7%, and high 11.8%. Z-score for weight was $-1.00{\pm}1.20$ (-4.54~+2.50). Z-score for height was $-1.55{\pm}1.65$ (-9.42~+1.87). Growth hormone was administered in 24.3% of patients. Anti-hypertensive drugs were administered in 64.0% of patients. Laboratory findings were as follows: hemoglobin $10.5{\pm}1.4$ g/dL, calcium $9.7{\pm}0.7$ mg/dL, phosphorus $5.4{\pm}1.4$ mg/dL, and parathyroid hormone $324.2{\pm}342.8$ pg/mL. Conclusion : Primary glomerular disease was the most common cause of ESRD. CAPD was the most prevalent PD modality. Low and low average peritoneal transport type were common. Growth disturbance were noted in many patients. Some patients had hypertension even with anti- hypertensive drugs. Calcium-phosphorus levels were maintained adequately, but many patients had secondary hyperparathyroidism.

• Investigative Magnetic Resonance Imaging
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• v.17 no.3
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• pp.181-191
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• 2013

Purpose : To evaluate the usefulness of in vivo magnetic resonance (MR) imaging for tracking intravenously injected superparamagnetic iron oxide (SPIO)-labeled human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) in an acute renal failure (ARF) rat model. Materials and Methods: HUVECs were labeled with SPIO and poly-L-lysine (PLL) complex. Relaxation rates at 1.5-T MR, cell viability, and labeling stability were assessed. HUVECs were injected into the tail vein of ARF rats (labeled cells in 10 rats, unlabeled cells in 2 rats). Follow-up serial $T2^*$-weighted gradient-echo MR imaging was performed at 1, 3, 5 and 7 days after injection, and the MR findings were compared with histologic findings. Results: There was an average of $98.4{\pm}2.4%$ Prussian blue stain-positive cells after labeling with SPIOPLL complex. Relaxation rates ($R2^*$) of all cultured HUVECs at day 3 and 5 were not markedly decreased compared with that at day 1. The stability of SPIO in HUVECs was maintained during the proliferation of HUVECs in culture media. In the presence of left unilateral renal artery ischemia, $T2^*$-weighted MR imaging performed 1 day after the intravenous injection of labeled HUVECs revealed a significant signal intensity (SI) loss exclusively in the left renal outer medulla regions, but not in the right kidney. The MR imaging findings at days 3, 5 and 7 after intravenous injection of HUVECs showed a SI loss in the outer medulla regions of the ischemically injured kidney, but the SI progressively recovered with time and the right kidney did not have a significant change in SI in the same period. Upon histologic analysis, the SI loss on MR images was correspondent to the presence of Prussian blue stained cells, primarily in the renal outer medulla. Conclusion: MR imaging appears to be useful for in vivo monitoring of intravenously injected SPIO-labeled HUVECs in an ischemically injured rat kidney.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.42 no.5
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• pp.703-712
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• 1995

Background: Peripheral blood monocytes are important immune effector cells that play a fundamental role in cellular immunity. In addition to their antigen-presenting and phagocytic activities, monocytes/macrophage produce a vast array of regulatory and chemotactic cytokines. Interleukin-8(IL-8), a potent neutrophil-activating and chemotactic peptide, is produced in large quantities by mononuclear phagocytes and may be an important mediator of local and systemic inflammation. Overexpression by IL-8 of such inflammation may be an important step of tissue injury frequently seen in inflammatory reaction. So it could be hypothesized that the agents which block the production of IL-8 can decrease the inflammatory reaction and tissue injury. To evaluate this, we described the effect of Dexamethasone, $PGE_2$, Indomethacin and Interferon-$\gamma$(IFN-$\gamma$) on IL-8 mRNA and protein expression from LPS-stimulated human peripheral blood monocytes(PBMC). Method: PBMC was isolated from healthy volunteers. To evaluate the effect of Dexamethasone, $PGE_2$ & Indomethacin, these drug were treated for 1 hour before and after LPS stimulation and IFN-$\gamma$ was only treated I hour before the LPS stimulation. Northern blot analysis for IL-8 mRNA and ELISA for immunoreactive IL-8 protein in culture supernatant were performed. We repeated above experiment three times for Northern blot analysis and two times for ELISA and got the same result. Results: 1) Pre- and post-treatment of Dexamethasone suppressed both the LPS stimulated IL-8 mRNA expression and IL-8 protein release in PBMC. 2) IFN-$\gamma$ pre-treatment suppressed the IL-8 mRNA expression and IL-8 protein release in unstimulated cells. 3) In LPS stimulated cells, IFN-$\gamma$ suppressed the IL-8 mRNA expression but IL-8 protein release suppression was not observed. 4) $PGE_2$ and Indomethacin exert no effect on the LPS-stimulated IL-8 mRNA and protein expression in concentration used in this experiment ($PGE_2;10^{-6}M$, Indomethacin; $10{\mu}M$). Conclusion: One of the mechanism of antiinflammatory action of Dexamethasone can be explained by the suppressing effect of IL-8 production in some extent and by this antiinflammatory effect, dexamethasone can be used to suppress local and systemic inflammation mediated by IL-8.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.44 no.2
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• pp.379-390
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• 1997

Background : It has long been suggested that neutrophils and their products are implicated as the central mediators of the acute lung injuries. Contrary to the dominant role of neutrophils in ARDS, many cases of ARDS has occurred in the setting of severe neutropenia without pulmonary neutrophil infiltration. Therefore it is certain that effector cell(s) other than neutrophil play an important role in the pathogenesis of ARDS. This experiment was performed to define the mechanism of ARDS in the setting of neutropenia, 1) by comparing the severity of endotoxin-induced lung injury, 2) by measurement of hydrogen peroxide production and cytokine concentration in the bronchoalveolar lavage cells and fluids obtained from different rats with and without cyclophosphamide-pretreatment. Method : The male Sprague-Dawleys were divided into the normal control (NC)-, endotoxin (ETX)-, and cyclophosphamide (CPA)-group in which neutropenia was induced by injecting cyclophosphamide intraperitoneally. Acute lung injury was evoked by injecting lipopolysaccharide (LPS) into a tail vein. The bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) was performed at 3 and 6 hour after administration of LPS to measure the change of cell counts and concentrations of protein and cytokines, tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) and interleukin-6 (IL-6). Hydrogen peroxide (HPO) production from BAL cells was measured at 6 hour after LPS administration by phenol red microassay with and without zymosan stimulation. Results : The results were as follows. A change of leukocyte counts in the peripheral blood after treatment with CPA : More than 95% of total leukocytes and neutrophils were reduced after CPA administration, resulting in severe neutropenia. A change of BAL cells : In the ETX-group, the number of total cells (p < 0.01) and of macrophage and neutrophil (p < 0.05) were increased at 3 and 6 hour after LPS administration compared to those of NC-group. In the CPA-group, the number of total leukocyte and macrophage were not changed after LPS administration, but neutrophil counts were significantly reduced and it took part in less than 0.1% of total BAL cells (p < 0.01 vs NC-group). BAL cells in this group were almost all macrophages (99.7%). A change of protein concentration in the BALF : In the ETX-group, protein concentration was increased at 3 hour and was more increased at 6 hour after LPS administration (p < 0.05 and < 0.01 vs NC-group, respectively). In the CPA-group, it was also significantly elevated at 3 hour after LPS administration (p < 0.05 vs NC-group), but the value was statistically not different from that of ETX-group. The value measured at 6 hour after LPS administration in the CPA-group became lower than that of ETX-group (p < 0.05), but showed still a higher value compared to that of NC-group (p < 0.05). A change of cytokine concentration in the BALF : TNF -alpha and IL-6 were elevated in the ETX - and CPA-group compared to those of NC-group at both time intervals. There was no statistical difference in the values of both cytokines between the ETX- and CPA-groups. Measurement of hydrogen peroxide production from BAL cells : There was no intergroup difference of HPO production from resting cells. HPO production after incubation with opsonized zymosan was significantly elevated in all groups. The percent increment of HPO production was highest in the ETX-group (89.0%, p < 0.0008 vs NC-group), and was 42.85 in the CPA-group (p = 0.003 vs NC-group ). Conclusion : Acute lung injury in the setting of neutropenia might be caused by functional activation of resident alveolar macrophages.

• Korean Journal of Soil Science and Fertilizer
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• v.7 no.1
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• pp.29-34
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• 1974

On a newly reclamed acidic Song-jong soil (soil of a member of fine loamy, mesic family of Hapludults) an experiment was carried out to find out the proper measure of the improvement of soil fertility with soybean as test crop. Results are summarized as follow: 1. Application of compost (1 ton/10a), lime (lime requirement)and fused phosphate (equivalent to 5% of the phosphate fixation coefficient)resulted in the increase of soybean yield by 93.3% over the check plot (N: 6kg/10a, $P_2O_5$: 9kg/10a, $K_2O$: 6kg/10a). The application of fused phosphate at the level of 5% of phosphate fixation coefficient N (6kg/10a) and K(6kg/10a) brought the yield increase by 62.7% over the check plot. However, although the pH of the soil was adjusted to 7.0 by liming, the application of lime with moderate dose of phosphate ($P_2O_5$: 9kg/10a) did not increase the yield of soybean significantly. And the application of fused phosphate at the level of 5% of phosphate fixation coefficient increased the available soil P from 14 ppm to around 100 ppm as tested after harvest. 2. Application of compost (1 ton/10a) increased the organic matter content of soil by 0.8% when tested after harvest. While, the application of rice straw (0.5 ton/10a) did not alter the soil organic matter content. The CEC of the soil tested after havest found incereased significantly by the addition of lime and compost. 3. Plant analysis revealed that the $K_2O/Ca+Mg$ is better correlated with the yield than the absolute concentration of $K_2O$ in plant tissue. Between the concentration of $P_2O_5$ in plant tissue and the yield of soybean, a typical C-curve relationship was observed, indicating that in this particular soil, phosphate was the primary growth liming factor.