• Journal of Yeungnam Medical Science
• /
• v.16 no.2
• /
• pp.237-243
• /
• 1999

We conducted this study to find the optimal correction factor(${\alpha}$) of Lassen's linearization algorithm which has been applied for correction of flow-limited uptake at a high flow range in $^{99m}Tc$ d,l-hexamethylpropy leneamine oxime(HMPAO) and $^{99m}Tc$ ethyl cysteinate dimer(ECD). Ten patients with chronic cerebral infarction were involved in this study. We obtained the corrected $^{99m}Tc$ HMPAO and $^{99m}Tc$-ECD brain SPECT(single photon emission computed tomography) using the algorithm with ${\alpha}$ values that varied from 0.1 to 10 and compared the results with regional cerebral blood flow determined by positron emission tomography (PET-rCBF). The multi-modal volume registration by maximization of mutual information was used for matching between PET-rCBF and SPECT images. The highest correlation coefficient between $^{99m}Tc$-HMPAO and $^{99m}Tc$-ECD brain uptake and PET-rCBF was revealed at ${\alpha}$ 1.4 and 2.1, respectively. We concluded that the ${\alpha}$ values of Lassen's linearization algorithm for $^{99m}Tc$-HMPAO and $^{99m}Tc$-ECD brain SPECT images were 1.4 and 2.1, respectively to indicate cerebral blood flow with comparison of PET-rCBF.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Radiology
• /
• v.5 no.3
• /
• pp.143-148
• /
• 2011

The purpose of this study was to examine the usefulness of SPIO contrast agent in Magnetic Resonance Cholangiopancreatography (MRCP) by performing a quantitative comparative analysis in patients undergoing MRCP for gallbladder stones with and without oral injection of SPIO (Superparamagnetic iron oxide) contrast agent. The subjects were 36 patients undergoing MRCP for suspected gallbladder stones between January 2009 and February 2010 and they were divided into halves to compare the two groups of with and without SPIO agent. For each subject in both the injected and non-injected group, T2-weighted images on a 1.5T MR scanner were obtained, using both the breath-holding and respiratory-triggered methods, respectively. The following regions were measured; for breath-hold T2-weighted images, the measurement regions were located at the central part of the gallbladder, and the areas 15 mm away from its center, toward the front and back, respectively, which were chosen to include surrounding tissues, while for respiratory-triggered T2-weighted images, at the central part of the gallbladder, and segment 5 and 6 of liver. In a quantitative analysis, average signal to noise ratio (SNR) in each of regions of interest (ROI) for each group were calculated and then average contrast to noise ratio (CNR) in each of ROI were obtained by using the SNR in the gallbladder as the basis to compare and analyze the values between the two groups. The CNR were higher for the injected group in those regions.

• Korean Journal of Ecology and Environment
• /
• v.35 no.3 s.99
• /
• pp.152-159
• /
• 2002

The seasonal variations of nitrifying bacterial population sampled from 3 sites in Moon-Chon reservoir were analyzed by in situ hybridization with fluorescently labeled rRNA-targeted oligonucleotide probes from August 2000 until July 2001. In addition, physico-chemical parameters such as temperature, pH, chi-a and DOC were measured to determine correlations between those factors and the size of nitrifying bacterial populations. Total bacterial numbers varied in the range of $0.8{\sim}1.5{\times}10^6\;cells/ml$ independent of sites and had the maximal values in March at all 3 stations. The ratio of eubacteria to total bacteria ranged from 44.9% to 79.5%, and the ratio of each nitrifying bacteria to eubacterial numbers reached only $1.0{\sim}7.4%$. The variations of ammonia-oxidizing bacteria ranged from $1.1{\times}10^4$ to $3.0{\times}10^4\;cells/ml$ without noticeable peak values whereas those of nitrite-oxidizing bacteria varied in $1.3{\sim}5.7{\times}10^4\;cells/ml$ with the increasing tendency in winter regardless of the sites. Moreover it was observed that the numbers of nitrite-oxidizing bacteria were higher than those of ammonia-oxidizing bacteria. Total bacterial numbers correlated with water temperature (r = 0.355, p<0.05) and DOC (r = 0.58G, p<0.01) positively whereas nitrite-oxidizing bacteria correlated with temperature (r = -0.416, p<0.05) and pH (r = -0.568, p = 0.001) negatively. In addition, DOC represented good correlations with eubacterial numbers (r = 0.448, p<0.01). These results indicate that temperature, DOC and pH might be one of the main factors affecting variations of bacterial populations in the aquatic ecosystem. It was also suggested that FISH method is a useful tool for detection of slow growing nitrifying bacteria.

• Laboratory Medicine Online
• /
• v.6 no.1
• /
• pp.25-30
• /
• 2016

Background: The cell cycle-dependent enzyme thymidine kinase 1 (TK1) is known to increase during cancer cell proliferation and has been reported as a prognostic marker for various hematologic malignancies and solid tumors. This study aimed to determine the reference interval in Korean healthy controls and to evaluate the usefulness of TK1 as a biomarker for aggressive clinical behavior in B-cell lymphoma patients. Methods: We enrolled 72 previously untreated patients with B-cell lymphoma and 143 healthy controls. Serum TK1 levels were measured by chemiluminescence immunoassay ($Liaison^{(R)}$, DiaSorin, USA). We established the reference intervals in healthy controls. The diagnostic performance of serum TK1 was studied using receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis, and the correlation between the cutoff level for serum TK1 and clinical characteristics of B-cell lymphoma was evaluated. Results: The reference range (95th percentile) of serum TK1 in healthy controls was 5.4-21.8 U/L. There was a clear difference in TK1 levels between patients with B-cell lymphoma and healthy controls ($40.6{\pm}68.5$ vs. $11.8{\pm}4.4U/L$, P <0.001). The area under the curve of serum TK1 for the diagnosis of B-cell lymphoma was 0.73 (cutoff, 15.2 U/L; sensitivity, 59.7%; specificity, 83.2%). An increased TK1 level (${\geq}15.2U/L$) correlated with the advanced clinical stage (P <0.001), bone marrow involvement (P =0.013), international prognostic index score (P =0.001), lactate dehydrogenase level (P =0.001), low Hb level (<12 g/dL) (P =0.028), and lymphocyte count (P =0.023). Conclusions: The serum TK1 level could serve as a useful biomarker for aggressive clinical behavior in B-cell lymphoma patients.

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Landscape Architecture
• /
• v.51 no.1
• /
• pp.42-55
• /
• 2023

A methodology to predict the carbon performance of newly created urban greening plans is required as policies based on quantifying carbon performance are rapidly being introduced in the face of the climate crisis caused by global warming. This study developed a tree carbon calculator that can be used for carbon reduction designs in landscaping and attempted to verify its effectiveness in landscape design. For practical operability, MS Excel was selected as a format, and carbon absorption and storage by tree type and size were extracted from 93 representative species to reflect plant design characteristics. The database, including tree unit prices, was established to reflect cost limitations. A plantation experimental design to verify the performance of the tree carbon calculator was conducted by simulating the design of parks in the central region for four landscape design, and the causal relationship was analyzed by conducting semi-structured interviews before and after. As a result, carbon absorption and carbon storage in the design using the tree carbon calculator were about 17-82% and about 14-85% higher, respectively, compared to not using it. It was confirmed that the reason for the increase in carbon performance efficiency was that additional planting was actively carried out within a given budget, along with the replacement of excellent carbon performance species. Pre-interviews revealed that designers distrusted data and the burdens caused by new programs before using the arboreal carbon calculator but tended to change positively because of its usefulness and ease of use. In order to implement carbon reduction design in the landscaping field, it is necessary to develop it into a carbon calculator for trees and landscaping performance. This study is expected to present a useful direction for ntroducing carbon reduction designs based on quantitative data in landscape design.

• Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology & Nutrition
• /
• v.1 no.1
• /
• pp.45-55
• /
• 1998

Purpose: To make objective standards of small intestinal mucosal changes in cow's milk-sensitive enteropathy (CMSE) we analyzed histological changes of endoscopic duodenal mucosa biopsy specimens from normal children and patients of CMSE. Methods: We review the medical records of patients who had been admitted and diagnosed as CMSE by means of gastrofiberscopic duodenal mucosal biopsy following cow's milk challenge and withdrawal. Thirteen babies with CMSE, ranging from 14 days to 56 days of age, were studied. Five non-CMSE patients were used as control, ranging from 22 days to 72 days of age. The morphometric parameters under study were villous height, crypt zone depth, ratio of villous height to crypt zone depth, total mucosal thickness and length of surface epithelium by using H & E stained specimens under the drawing apparatus attached microscope. In addition, the numbers of lymphocytes in the epithelium and eosinophil cells in the lamina propria and epithelium were measured. Results: In the duodenal mucosal biopsy specimens in CMSE we found partial and subtotal villous atrophy with an increased number of interepithelial lymphocytes. The mean villous height($135{\pm}59\;{\mu}m$), ratio of villous height to crypt zone depth ($0.46{\pm}0.28$), total mucosal thickness ($499{\pm}56\;{\mu}m$), length of surface epithelium of small intestinal mucosa ($889{\pm}231\;{\mu}m$) in CMSE was significantly decreased compared with the control (p<0.05). The mean crypt zone depth ($311{\pm}65\;{\mu}m$) was significantly greater than the control ($188{\pm}24\;{\mu}m$)(p<0.05). Infiltration of interepithelial lymphocytes ($34.1{\pm}10.5$) were significantly greater than the control ($13.6{\pm}3.6$)(p<0.05). The number of eosinophil cells in both lamina propria and epithelium was no significant differences between groups (p>0.05). The small intestinal mucosa in treated CMSE showed much improved enteropathy of villous height, crypt zone depth, interepithelial lymphocytes compared with the control as well as untreated CMSE. Conclusion: Quantitation of mucosal dimensions confirmed the presence of CMSE. It seems to be a limitation in the capacity of crypt cells to compensate for the loss of villous epithelium in CMSE. Specimens obtained by gastrofiberscopic duodenal mucosal biopsy were suitable for morphometric diagnosis of CMSE. Improvement of CMSE also can be confirmed histologically after the therapy of protein hydrolysate.

• The Korean Journal of Nuclear Medicine Technology
• /
• v.16 no.2
• /
• pp.18-24
• /
• 2012

Purpose : Although lung ventilation SPECT (LV-SPECT) has a good sensitivity in detection of deep lung lesions, it is difficult to apply the LV-SPECT to patients having breathing problems due to limited examination time. In this study, we evaluated the usefulness of LEAP collimator, which provides high detection sensitivity and tolerable resolution, for the LV-SPECT in terms of diagnostic accuracy and examination time. Materials and Methods : Four volunteers inhaled Technegas (370 MBq) and the lung ventilation planar scan (LVPS, 300 counts/view (cpv)) with LEHR collimator was performed using Siemens E.cam scanner as a reference test. LV-SPECT scans were performed with three collimators, LEHR, LEUHR, and LEAP, in low (7 kcpv) and high (70 kcpv) counting modes. The count ratios of left (LT) and right (RT) lung segments were calculated on the geometric mean view of anterior and posterior images for LVPS and on the summed coronal images of LV-SPECT, respectively. Comparing to LVPS, the usefulness of three different collimators for LV-SPECT was evaluated through statistical analysis (paired t-test), on count ratios of lung segments. Results : The average LT:RT ratio in LVPS was 47:53. For LV-SPECT, there were negligible difference of the LT:RT ratios (48:52 on average) among three different collimators in low and high counting modes. Comparing to standard LVPS with LEHR, all LV-SPECTs with different collimators resulted in similar diagnostic accuracy through paired t-test (p>0.05). The scan time in LVPS (6 views) was 17.3 min. For LV-SPECT (128 views) in low counting mode, it took 18.7 (LEUHR), 15.0 (LEHR), and 12.3 min (LEAP), respectively. Conclusion : Comparing to standard LVPS, the LV-SPECT with LEAP in low counting mode provided the comparable diagnostic accuracy in addition to shortened scan time.

• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
• /
• v.17 no.1
• /
• pp.53-62
• /
• 2007

목적: 1990년대 초반부터 시작된 우리나라의 산업 보건에 대한 사회적 관심의 증대와 시장의 요구에 따라 산업위생기관의 양적인 팽창이 이루어지긴 하였으나 실험실 관련 안전보건규정이 미비한 상태에서 추진되어 산업위생 실험실에서 다양한 유해 위험성 인자를 취급함에도 불구하고 사용되는 량이 소규모로 인해 안전보건과 관련된 사항은 대부분 간과하고 있으며, 산업위생 실험실의 안전보건관리 실태는 선진외국에 비해 상당히 낙후되어 있는 실정이다. 따라서 본 연구는 우리나라 산업위생 실험실과 관련한 안전보건관리 실태를 평가함으로써 향후 실험실의 안전보건관리 수준을 향상 시키는데 효과적인 자료로 활용하는데 기여하고자 한다. 방법: 산업위생실험실의 안전보건 실태를 파악하기 위해 설문조사를 수행하였으며, 설문은 실험실의 전반적인 안전보건, 화학물질 저장 및 용기, 가연성 및 인화성 화학물질, 가스 실린더, 의사전달, 응급처치 및 비상사태 장비, 정리정돈, 소방안전, 전기안전, 개인보호구, 흄후드 및 환기, 및 이황화탄소 취급 사례로서 12개 영역으로 구성되었다. 연구대상은 2001년 한국산업안전공단 정도관리프로그램에 참여한 기관으로서 총 대상은 119개 기관이었다. 연구기간은 2002년 7월 01일부터 8월 30일까지 약 60일 이었다. 설문은 반송봉투에 넣어 설문완성 후 연구자에게 보낼 수 있도록 배려하였으며, 1차 설문을 보낸 후 2주 후에 설문 참여를 독려하기 위해 엽서를 발송하였고, 다시 2주 후에 각 산업위생기관에 개별 전화 연락을 취하였다. 그 결과 63% (75개 기관)의 완성된 설문을 얻을 수 있었다. 설문의 총 조사항목은 79문항으로 구성되어 있으며, 산업위생실험실의 안전보건 수준을 정량적으로 평가하기 위해 안전보건 매뉴얼, 교육훈련프로그램 및 한국산업안전공단 실험실 지침서를 보유한 기관과 그렇지 않은 기관간의 차이는 선별된 67문항에 대해 각 문항에 합당하거나 적절할 경우 1점을 부여하는 방식으로 점수화하였다. 이들의 관련성을 파악하기 위하여 Microsoft-Excel 2000 프로그램을 이용하여 two-tailed t-test 분석을 실시하였다. 결과 1. 산업위생실험실 운영과 관련한 67개 항목(항목별로 각 1점 부여)에 대한 안전보건 성과지수화 (100점으로 점수 환산) 결과 안전보건 매뉴얼을 보유한 기관은 $42.98{\pm}13.36$(p<0.001)점, 교육훈련프로그램을 보유한 기관은 $50.75{\pm}14.12$(p<0.01)점, 한국산업안전공단 실험실 지침서를 보유한 기관은 $43.58{\pm}11.92$(p<0.01)점으로 그렇지 않은 기관에 비해 통계적으로 유의하게 높은 점수분포를 보였다. 2. 화학물질 보관 캐비닛이 있는 기관 중 64.8%의 기관은 화학물질을 알파벳 순으로, 27.8%는 분류 기준에 따라, 그리고 7.4%는 무작위로 보관하고 있었다. 3. 단지 8.0% (6개)의 기관만이 실험실내에 눈세정 분수(2 개), 샤워기(3개) 및 눈세정물병(3개, 2개 중복 응답 기관)과 같은 응급처치 장치 및 물품을 갖추고 있었다. 4. 89.0%의 기관이 흄후드내에 화학물질을 보관하고 있었다. 5. 물질안전보건자료, 흄후드 기록지, 비상사태 절차서 및 한국산업안전공단 실험실 지침서와 같은 문서관리는 부적절하게 관리 및 기록되고 있었다. 6. 대부분의 산업위생 실험실은 응급처치 장비, 화학물질 또는 가스용기 보관실과 같은 실험실 안전설비가 부족할 뿐만 아니라 정리정돈, 화학물질 저장 캐비닛, 안전보호구 및 흄후드와 같은 관리가 미비하였다. 결론: 이상의 결과에 근거하여 기관장은 실험실의 안전보건관리를 위하여 문서관리체계를 제공하고, 모든 실험실 종사자가 적절한 개인보호구를 착용할 수 있도록 하며, 비상 장비를 설치하고, 실험실과 관련한 적절한 규정을 제정하며, 교육훈련 프로그램을 제공하여야 한다. 또한 실험실 종사자는 실험 중 적절한 개인보호구의 착용하고, 비상장비 이용에 대한 교육훈련에 참여하며, 적절한 실험실 운영관리에 대한 책임감을 가져야 한다. 위의 권고사항 이행을 위해서 KOSHA는 KQCP 프로그램에 실험실 안전보건관리 항목을 삽입하여 주기적인 평가를 수행할 필요가 있다. 우리나라 실험실의 특성을 고려할 때 본 연구결과는 일반 실험실에도 적용될 수 있을 것으로 생각된다.

• Journal of radiological science and technology
• /
• v.30 no.2
• /
• pp.129-138
• /
• 2007

The Purpose of this study is to suggest the basic data for making good quality image and maintaining equipment homeostasis by accepting image quality evaluation and radiation dose evaluation in Multi-detector CT. In this study we surveyed 14 CT equipments in Seoul. The results obtained were as follows ; CT number was $0.56{\pm}0.70\;HU$. Noise was $0.39{\pm}0.09\;HU$. Uniformity was $1.08{\pm}0.52\;HU$. High contrast resolution was $0.48{\pm}0.05\;mm$ and low contrast resolution was $3.65{\pm}1.16\;mm$. For CTDI, the central part and the peripheral part of head phantom were $43.2{\pm}15.4\;mGy$ and $45.6{\pm}17.5\;mGy$, respectively. For body phantom, the central part and the peripheral part of head phantom were $13.5{\pm}4.5$ and $29.2{\pm}10.2\;mGy$, respectively. CTDIw was $44.8{\pm}16.8\;mGy$ and CTDIw/100 mAs was $18.8{\pm}5.3\;mGy$ using head phantom. CTDIW was $24.0{\pm}8.3\;mGy$ and CTDIw/100 mAs was $10.1{\pm}2.5\;mGy$ using body phantom. Therefore, CT number, noise, high contrast resolution, low contrast resolution, CTDI, CTDIw and CTDIw/100 mAs of MDCT were showed excellently in all equipments.

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