• Radiation Oncology Journal
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• v.14 no.4
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• pp.281-290
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• 1996

Purpose : Chest irradiation leads to a significant cardiac injury in a number of patients. To prevent, or to reduce the risk of radiation-induced cardiac injury, pentoxifylline(PTX), a haemorrheologic agent that improves the blood flow through small blood capillaries has been employed. Materials and Methods : One hundred and eighty ICR mice were divided into three study groups: control, radiation alone, and radiation-pentoxifylline. Each group was subdivided into 12 subgroups: 1 3, 6 and 10 days and 2, 3, 4, 6, 8, 12, 16 and 20 weeks by observation Period after irradiation. The total 15Gy of radiation was delivered in a single fraction through anterior mediastinal port. Pentoxifylline was injected subcutaneously daily 50mg/kg to the back of the mice from the first day of irradiation throughout the observation period. The mice of each group after a certain observation period were sacrificed and sectioned for histopathologic examination of the heart. Result : The findings of acute radiation-induced carditis i.e., heterophilic infiltration and vacuolization and ballooning of endothelial cells were observed upto 6 weeks and reduced sharply afterwards. The late radiation effects including pericarditis with mononuclear cell infiltration, pericardial fibrosis, endothelial cell changes, myocardial degeneration and fibrosis present from 4 weeks onwards after irradiation but with various degree of severity. The overall process of pathologic changes of radiation-pentoxifylline group was similar to those of radiation alone group but the duration of acute stage was relatively short and the severity of late cardiac toxicity was much lesser compared with those of radiation alone group. Conclusion : Pentoxifylline can effectively reduce the late radiation-induced cardiac injury and reslve the acute effects relatively rapidly.

• Journal of Veterinary Clinics
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• v.26 no.2
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• pp.144-149
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• 2009

Chondrocytes and synovial fluid derived markers are used to monitor for osteoarthritis(OA). Specific inhibitors, known as tissue inhibitors of metalloproteinases(TIMP), regulate the proteolytic activity of matrix metalloproteinases(MMP). This study investigated whether MMP and TIMP levels were altered in synovial fluid and cartilage following the experimental induction of OA in canines. Twenty mature beagle dogs underwent a unilateral surgical transection of the cranial cruciate ligament and the medial collateral ligament as well as a medial meniscectomy. Matrix metalloproteinase-2 and MMP-9 levels were assayed using Western blot and TIMP-2 levels were measured with enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays four weeks after OA induction. Increased MMP-2 expression was observed in chondrocytes isolated from cartilage following OA induction, but MMP-9 expression decreased. Matrix metalloproteinase-2 and MMP-9 levels in synovial fluid from the OA induced joint significantly increased compared to those of the sham group. Tissue inhibitors of metalloproteinase-2 concentrations were higher in chondrocytes from the OA cartilage, yet TIMP-2 remained lower in the synovial fluid of OA. This suggests the elevated release of MMP-9 over MMP-2 into the synovial fluid following the cartilage degradation-related death of chondrocytes after OA. Osteoarthritis can be further deteriorated by increased MMP activity in the synovial fluid because TIMP-2 exist low concentration into the extracellular matrix. As a result, MMP activity, particularly MMP-9 activity, can be useful as a biomarker in diagnosing and monitoring the early stages of canine OA.

• Pediatric Infection and Vaccine
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• v.11 no.1
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• pp.90-100
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• 2004

Objective : Urinary tract infection(UTI) is a frequent serious bacterial infection in young infants. The clinical presentation may be non-specific and variable, depends on factors such as the age and the level of infection. Children with renal involvement may be at risk of permanent renal damage. Experimental studies have shown that renal lesions caused by acute febrile UTI may be prevented or diminished by early diagnosis and treatment. Therefore, it is important to find a method that can permit early diagnosis and identification of patients who are at risk for progressive renal damage. We designed this study to identify related factors in culture positive UTI infants, and also to identify related factors in culture negative UTI infants, who are febrile with pyuria, by using renal imaging and functional studies including renal sonography, DMSA scan and VCUG. Methods : Retrospectively analyzed the medical records of 136 febrile infants with pyuria over 2 years(from January 2001 to February 2003). Urine culture was done in all cases, and regardless of urine culture findings, renal imaging study was done if symptomatic UTI suspected. Results : Total 57 organisms were isolated in 53 patients. E. coli was the most common organism(86%), followed by E. faecalis, M. morganii, Proteus species, P. aeruginosa, S. aureus and E. fergusonii. Most of the isolates had high sensitivity on cephalosporins or amikacin and had low sensitivities on aminopenicillins. Abnormal acute phase DMSA scan or VCUG findings were seen in both urine culture positive and negative group without statistical differences(P>0.05). In febrile infants with pyuria, fever over 48 hours, older age and high CRP related to abnormal acute phase DMSA scan findings regardless urine culture results. Conclusion : 1st or 3rd generation cephalosporins with amikacin could be the first choice of treatment for UTI. Febrile infants with positive urine culture dose mean urinary tract infection but not acute pyelonephritis which directly relates to cortical damage which could be confirmed by acute phase DMSA scan. Even cases with negative urine culture findings, acute pyelonephritis should be concerned in febrile infants with pyuria who are older than 3 months of age, has fever over 48 hours or high CRP level. And in such cases, acute phase DMSA scan and VCUG should be evaluated for early treatment and long term prognosis.

• Childhood Kidney Diseases
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.36-41
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• 2014

Purpose: Urinary tract infections (UTIs) are the most common source of bacterial infections in infants and young children. Accurate diagnosis and treatment is important because of their association with renal scarring, which can lead to complications. Urine endothelin-1 (ET-1) is the major renal isoform produced and released by renal mesangial cells in response to glomerular injury. This study aimed to investigate whether urinary levels of ET-1 can be used as a biomarker for UTI diagnosis. Method: We conducted a prospective study using medical records of 70 patients below the age of 18 years, who visited Chung-Ang University Hospital from July 2012 to July 2013. We classified the patients into the UTI and control groups based on urine culture studies. The UTI group was further divided into upper and lower UTI groups using 99m-Technetium dimercaptosuccinic acid scintigraphy. Urine ET-1 was measured using enzyme linked immunosorbent assay with 0.3 mL urine. Results: The UTI and control groups were comprised of 45 and 25 patients, respectively. Mean urine ET-1 levels were significantly higher in the UTI group than in the control group ($1.41{\pm}0.35$ pg/mL vs. $0.33{\pm}0.07$ pg/mL, P =0.04). There was no significance difference in the quantitative value between the upper and lower UTI groups (P =0.552). There was no correlation between urine ET-1 and serum C-reactive protein (Pearson correlation [R]=0.24), urine ET-1 and serum white blood cell count (R=0.19). Conclusion: Our study suggests that urine ET-1 can be used for early diagnosis of UTI in children.

• The Korean Journal of Nuclear Medicine
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• v.32 no.3
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• pp.298-304
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• 1998

Purpose: We evaluated the usefulness of Re-188 sulfur colloid for radiation synovectomy and therapy of intraperitoneal metastasis. Materials and Methods: We investigated the labeling efficiency of Re-188 sulfur colloid on various conditions. The stability of Re-188 sulfur colloid was observed at room temperature for 24 h and in human serum and synovial fluid for 72 h. The particle size distribution of Re-188 sulfur colloid was measured by filtering with various pore size filters. Animal experiment was performed in mice and rabbits. Results: The labeling efficiency of Re-188 sulfur colloid was $64.5{\pm}5.8%$ (n=5) at the conditions of sodium thiosulfate 40 mg, EDTA $Na_2.2H_2O$ 0.8 mg, $KReO_4$ 0.8 mg at pH 1. After purification, the radiochemical purity was higher than 99%. The stability of Re-188 sulfur colloid was high (>99%) at room temperature for 24 h and in human serum and synovial fluid for 72 h. The particle size distribution of Re-188 sulfur colloid was 0.3% ($<1{\mu}m$), 11.2% ($1{\sim}5{\mu}m$), 25.8% ($5{\sim}10{\mu}m$) and 52.8% ($>10{\mu}m$). In mice, 1 h postinjection of Re-188 sulfur colloid into tail vein, uptakes in lung, liver and muscle were $37.30{\pm}5.36$, $32.33{\pm}1.79$, $6.60{\pm}0.02%$ ID/organ respectively. After i.p. injection in mice, the uptakes of extraperitonial organs of Re-188 sulfur colloid at 1 and 24 h were $0.1{\pm}0.1$, $0.4{\pm}0.1%$ ID/organ, and the excretions through urine and feces (${\sim}70 h$) were low ($2.68{\pm}0.80$, $0.95{\pm}0.17%$). When Re-188 sulfur colloid was injected to synovial space of rabbit, the uptake in other organs except knee was very low. Conclusion: Re-188 sulfur colloid showed high labeling efficiency, stability and potency for clinical use.

• Food Science of Animal Resources
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• v.25 no.2
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• pp.175-188
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• 2005

This study investigated the effects of silkworm droppings (SWD) added diet feeding on quality characteristics of pork loin meat Pigs were divided into 7 treatment groups (10 pigs/group) and subjected to one of seven treatment diets $(0,\;1\%,\;2\%\;and\; 3\%\;SWD\;for\;4 weeks,\;1\%\;2\%\;3\%$ SWD for 8 weeks, SWD diets; total fed diets) before slaughter. Pork loin were collected from the animals (110kg body weight) slaughtered at a commercial slaughterhouse. Pork loin meat were packaged aerobically and then stored at $4^{\circ}C$ for 2, 5, 8, or 12 days. Samples were analyzed for general composition, texture characteristics and physico-chemical properties. pH value was not significantly different between the control and SWD treatment groups. pH of control and SWD treatment groups were increased as the storage period passed General composition, cooking loss and texture was not significantly different between the control and SWD treatment groups. WHC of SWD treatment group was higher than that of control group. WHC of control and SWD treatment groups were significantly decreased as the storage period passed (p<0.05). Meat and fat color (CIE $L^{\ast}$, $a^{\ast}$, $b^{\ast}$) were no significant differences between the control and SWD treatment groups. $L^{\ast}$ and $b^{\ast}$ value of meat color were decreased as the storage period passed There was a not significantly difference in shear force value among control and SWD treatment groups. Shear force value was decreased significantly during storage in all treatment groups. In all results, dietary SWD-supplementation was not affected in general components, texture characteristics and physico-chemical properties. It is suggested that dietary SWD-supplementation could produce of high quality pork.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.36 no.2
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• pp.137-146
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• 2003

Objectives : Impaired hearing is a prevalent occupational hazard, not only in industry, but also in the armed forces. In military life, noise has unusual characteristics, and constitutes a serious hazard to hearing. The aim of this study was to analyze the hearing threshold data in order to compare the hearing loss among shipyard workers, representing different workers, and a military service background. Methods : A cross-sectional audiological survey, combined with a questionnaire study, was conducted on a stratified random sample of 440 shipyard workers, with long-term exposure to noise. The employees were divided into four groups, according to their working and military service backgrounds, in relation to their exposure to noise. Results : As expected, the working and military noise exposure group (Group I) had significantly poorer hearing than the other groups. The high frequencies (2-8 kHz) showed the greatest difference in terms of poorer fearing in both ears. The prevalence of noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL) was highest in Group I. A logistic regression analysis was applied to determine the dependence of the NIHL in relation to age, smoking, drinking, working duration, ear protection, past history of ear diseases, and working and military sonics backgrounds, on the noise exposure The important factors found to be related to the NIHL, in relation to noise exposure were: age, work duration, and working and military service backgrounds. The adjusted odds ratio estimates for NIML in the right ear were 4.5 times greater (95% CI 1.7-11.6) for the military noise exposed group, and 7.9 times greater (95% CI 2.0-31.3) for the working noise exposed group than in the controls. The hearing thresholds at the pure-tone average and 4 kHz were significantly increased with age and work duration with both the working and military service backgrounds. Conclusions : From these results, specific preventive programs were planned, which should be assessed by epidemiological surveillance of the military noise exposed population.

• Radiation Oncology Journal
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• v.16 no.2
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• pp.195-202
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• 1998

Purpose : In order to obtain basic data for treatment plan in radiosurgery, we measured small fields of 6 MV X-rays and compared the measured data with our Monte Carlo simulations for the small fields. Materials and Methods : The small fields of 1.0, 2.0 and 3.0 cm in diameter were used in this study. Percentage depth dose (PDD) and beam Profiles of those fields were measured and calculated. A small semiconductor detector, water phantoms, and a remote control system were used for the measurement Monte Carlo simulations were Performed using the EGS4 code with the input data prepared for the energy distribution of 6 MV X-rays, beam divergence, circular fields and the geometry of the water phantoms. Results : In the case of PDD values, the calculated values were lower than the measured values for all fields and depths, with the differences being 0.3 to 5.7% at the depths of 20 to 20.0 cm and 0.0 to 8.9% at the surface regions. As a result of the analysis of beam profiles for all field sizes at a depth of loom in water phantom, the measured 90% dose widths were in good agreement with the calculated values, however, the calculated Penumbra radii were 0.1 cm shorter than measured values. Conclusion : The measured PDDs and beam profiles agreement with the Monte Carlo calculations approximately. However, it is different when it comes to calculations in the area of phantom surface and penumbra because the Monte Carlo calculations were performed under the simplified geometries. Therefore, we have to study how to include the actual geometries and more precise data for the field area in Monte Carlo calculations. The Monte Carlo calculations will be used as a useful tool for the very complicated conditions in measurement and verification.

• Radiation Oncology Journal
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• v.23 no.4
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• pp.230-235
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• 2005

Purpose: To evaluate the contralateral breast dose using a virtual wedge compared with that using a Physical wedge and an open beam in a Siemens linear accelerator. Materials and Methods: The contralateral breast dose was measured using diodes placed on a humanoid phantom. Diodes were placed at 5.5 cm (position 1), 9.5 cm (position 2), and 14 cm (position 3) along the medial-lateral line from the medial edge of the treatment field. A 6-MV photon beam was used with tangential irradiation technique at 50 and 230 degrees of gantry angle. Asymmetrically collimated $17{\times}10cm$ field was used. for the first set of experiment, four treatment set-ups were used, which were an open medial beam with a 30-degree wedged lateral beam (physical and virtual wedges, respectively) and a 15-degree wedged medial beam with a 15-degree wedged lateral beam (physical and virtual wedges, respectively). The second set of experiment consists of setting with medial beam without wedge, a 15-degree wedge, and a 50-degree wedge (physical and virtual wedges, respectively). Identical monitor units were delivered. Each set of experiment was repeated for three times. Results: In the first set of experiment, the contralateral breast dose was the highest at the position 1 and decreased in order of the position 2 and 3. The contralateral breast dose was reduced with open beam on the medial side ($2.70{\pm}1.46%$) compared to medial beam with a wedge (both physical and virtual) ($3.25{\pm}1.59%$). The differences were larger with a physical wedge ($0.99{\pm}0.18%$) than a virtual wedge ($0.10{\pm}0.01%$) at all positions. The use of a virtual wedge reduced the contralateral breast dose by 0.12% to 1.20% of the proscribed dose compared to a physical wedge with same technique. In the second experiment, the contralateral breast dose decreased in order of the open beam, the virtual wedge, and the physical wedge at the position 1, and it decreased in order of a physical wedge, an open beam, and a virtual wedge at the position 2 and 3. Conclusion: The virtual wedge equipped in a Siemens linear accelerator was found to be useful in reducing dose to the contralateral breast. Our additional finding was that the surface dose distribution from the Siemens accelerator was different from a Varian accelerator.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Radiology
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• v.6 no.1
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• pp.5-10
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• 2012

There is a still unsettled issue about the comparison of long-term clinical effects between sirolimus-(SES) and paclitaxel-eluting stents (PES) for the patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI). Therefore, we performed a retrospective analysis to evaluate the 4-year clinical outcome of SES as compared with PES after percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) in patients with AMI. From January 2004 to August 2006, all consecutive patients with acute ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) underwent primary PCI and acute NSTEMI underwent PCI by implantation either SES or PES were enrolled. The occurrence of death, cardiac death, recurrent infarction, target vessel revascularization (TVR) and stent thrombosis were analyzed. The composite of major adverse cardiac events (MACE; death, recurrent infarction and TVR) were also analyzed. During the study period, total 668 AMI patients had visited. Of them, total 522 patients (299 with SES and 223 with PES) were enrolled. During 4-year clinical follow-up, there were similar occurrences of death ($18.3{\pm}3.0%$ vs. $14.6{\pm}2.2%$, p=0.26), cardiac death ($11.2{\pm}2.6%$ vs. $6.8{\pm}1.52%$, p=0.39), re-infarction ($6.4{\pm}1.8%$ vs. $3.3{\pm}1.1%$, p=0.31), and stent thrombosis ($5.4{\pm}1.7%$ vs. $3.2{\pm}1.1%$, p=0.53) between the two groups, consecutively. The occurrences of TVR ($10.0{\pm}3.0%$ vs. $4.0{\pm}1.2%$, p=0.008) and MACE ($29.4{\pm}3.5%$ vs. $19.4{\pm}2.5%$, p=0.003) were significantly higher in patients treated with PES than SES. In AMI patients treated with either SES or PES implantation, SES had a significantly lower risk of TVR and MACE during 4-year clinical follow-up. Rates of death, cardiac death or recurrent infarction, and stent thrombosis were similar.