• Journal of Radiation Protection and Research
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• v.28 no.2
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• pp.117-125
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• 2003

It was reported that radiopharamaceuticals induced radiation adaptive response (RAR) in patients undergoing nuclear medicine imaging studies. Individual variations of RAR were not studied well. The purpose of this study was to evaluate individual variation of RAR in patients undergoing nuclear medicine imaging studies. Peripheral lymphocytes were collected from 23 patients undergoing $^{99m}Tc-diethylenetriamine$ pentaacetic acid $(^{99m}Tc-DTPA)$ renal scintigraphy, 18 patients undergoing $^{99m}Tc-methylene$ diphosphonate $(^{99m}Tc-MDP)$ bone scintigraphy and 21 patients undergoing $^{99m}Tc-tetrofosmin\;(^{99m}Tc-TF)$ scintigraphy were collected before and 4 hours after injection of radiopharmaceuticals. The lymphocytes were exposed to challenge dose of 2 Gy gamma rays using a cell irradiator. Numbers of ring-form (R) and dicentric (D) chromosomes were counted under the light microscope. and used to calculate the frequency of chromosomal aberration [Ydr=(D+R)/total number of counted lymphocytes]. Adaptation index (k) was defined 3s ratio of Ydr in conditioned lymphocytes over Ydr in unconditioned lymphocytes. Coefficients of variance of k in $^{99m}Tc-DTPA,\;^{99m}Tc-MDP\;and\;^{99m}Tc-TF$ were 35%, 34% and 21%, respectively k was not dependent upon age, sex, and underlying diseases. There was a wide variation of RAR induced by radiopharmaceuticals among patients undergoing nuclear medicine procedures. It remains to be determined for causes of such variation.

• The Korean Journal of Nuclear Medicine
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• v.33 no.4
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• pp.362-367
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• 1999

Purpose: We conducted this study to evaluate the role of dacryoscintigraphy in the diagnosis and treatment of pediatric patients with epiphora. Materials and Methods: In 58 patients aged from 2 months to 15 years (mean age $2.8{\pm}2.3$ years), dacryoscintigraphy was performed using a gamma camera with 4 mm pinhole collimator. We correlated symptoms with dacryosicntigraphic findings in all patients. In 37 patients who underwent ophthalmologic procedures, we analyzed the agreements of dacryoscintigraphic findings with the operation. Results: High rates of agreements between epiphora and obstruction on dacryoscintigraphy (69/72, 95.8%), and between scintigraphic obstructive findings and operation sites (44/47, 93.6%) were noted. Nine of foully-four (20.5%) asymptomatic eyes showed obstructive findings on dacroscintigraphy. Conclusion: In pediatric patients with epiphora, dacryoscintigraphy is a useful tool not only in diagnosing nasolacrimal duct obstruction but also in making a decision for therapeutic procedures.

• Korean Journal of Remote Sensing
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.103-111
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• 2007

The spectral information based image analysis, visual interpretation and automatic classification have been widely carried out so far for remote sensing data processing. Yet recently, many researchers have tried to extract the spatial information which cannot be expressed directly in the image itself. Using the texture and wavelet scheme, we made a wavelet-based texture fusion image which includes the advantages of each scheme. Moreover, using these schemes, we carried out image classification for the urban spatial analysis and the geological structure analysis around the caldera area. These two case studies showed that image classification accuracy of texture image and wavelet-based texture fusion image is better than that of using only raw image. In case of the urban area using high resolution image, as both texture and wavelet based texture fusion image are added to the original image, the classification accuracy is the highest. Because detailed spatial information is applied to the urban area where detail pixel variation is very significant. In case of the geological structure analysis using middle and low resolution image, the images added by only texture image showed the highest classification accuracy. It is interpreted to be necessary to simplify the information such as elevation variation, thermal distribution, on the occasion of analyzing the relatively larger geological structure like a caldera. Therefore, in the image analysis using spatial information, each spatial information analysis method should be carefully selected by considering the characteristics of the satellite images and the purpose of study.

• The Korean Journal of Nuclear Medicine
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• v.34 no.6
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• pp.456-464
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• 2000

Purpose: To evaluate the effect of acupuncture on regional cerebral blood flow (rCBF) at acupoints suggested by oriental medicine to be related to the treatment of cerebrovascular diseases. Materials and Methods: Rest/acupuncture-stimulation Tc-99m ECD brain SPECT using a same-dose subtraction method was performed on 54 normal volunteers (34 males, 20 females, age range from 18 to 62 years) using six paradigms: acupuncture at acupoints GV. 20, GV. 26, LI. 4, ST. 36 and SP. 6. In the control study, needle location was chosen on a non-meridian focus 1 cm posterior to the right fibular head. All images were spatially normalized, and the differences between rest and acupuncture stimulation were statistically analyzed using SPM$^{(R)}$ for Windows$^{(R)}$. Results: Acupuncture applied at acupoint GV. 20 increased rCBF in both the anterior frontal lobes, the right frontotemporal lobes, and the left anterior temporal lobe and the left cerebellar hemisphere. Acupuncture at GV 26 increased rCBF in the left prefrontal cortex. Acupuncture at LI. 4 increased rCBF in the left prefrontal and both the inferior frontal lobes, and the left anterior temporal lobe and the left cerebellar hemisphere. Acupuncture at ST. 36 increased rCBF in the left anterior temporal lobe, the right inferior frontal lobes, and the left cerebellum. Acupuncture at SP. 6 increased rCBF in the left inferior frontal and anterior temporal lobes. In the control stimulation, no significant rCBF increase was observed. Conclusion: The results demonstrated a correlation between stimulation at each acupoint with increase in rCBF to the corresponding brain areas.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.38 no.6 s.175
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• pp.717-729
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• 2005

Peak cooling load of large buildings is generally greater than their peak heating load. Internal and solar heat gains are used fur selection of adquate equipment in large building in cold winter climate like Canada and even Korea. The cost of geothermal heat exchanger to meet the cooling loads can increase the initial cost of ground source heat pump system to the extend less costly conventional system often chosen. Thermal ice storage system has been used for many years in Korea to reduce chiller capacity and shift Peak electrical time and demand. A distribution system designed to take advantage of heat extracted from the ice, and use of geothermal loop (geothermal heat exchanger) to heat as an alternate heat source and sink is well known to provide many benifits. The use of thermal energy storage (TES) reduces the heat pump capacity and peak cooling load needed in large building by as much as 40 to $60\%$ with less mechanical equipment and less space for mechanical room. Additionally TES can reduce the size and cost of the geothermal loop by 1/3 to 1/4 compared to ground coupled heat pump system that is designed to meet the peak heating and cooling load and also can eliminate difficuties of geothermal loop installation such as space requirements and thermal conditions of soil and rock at the urban area.

• The Korean Journal of Nuclear Medicine
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• v.35 no.1
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• pp.75-80
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• 2001

Purpose: There was little evidence that Tc-99m labeled ciprofloxacin (Infecton) located inside of bacteria. Antimicrobial activity of Infecton could be an indirect evidence of its location. We compared in vitro antimicrobial activities of Infecton and ciprofloxacin. Materials and methods: Minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) of Infecton and ciprofloxacin against three standard strains of bacteria, Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 29213, Escherichia coli ATCC 25922 and Pseudomonas aeruginosa ATCC 27853 were measured using modified broth macrodilution techniques and pour plate methods, respectively. Data were expressed as mean${\pm}$SE (range). Results: MICs of Infecton and ciprofloxacin were $1.12{\pm}0.20\;(0.8{\sim}1.6){\mu}g/ml\;and\;0.35{\pm}0.04\;(0.2{\sim}0.4){\mu}g/ml$ for S. aureus, $0.03{\pm}0.005\;(0.025{\sim}0.05){\mu}g/ml\;and\;0.011{\pm}0.001\;(0.006{\sim}0.012){\mu}g/ml$ for E. coil, and $0.96{\pm}0.16\;(0.8{\sim}1.6){\mu}g/ml)\;and\;0.56{\pm}0.098\;(0.4{\sim}0.8){\mu}g/ml$ for P. aeruginosa, respectively. MBCs of Infecton and ciprofloxacin were $2.56{\pm}0.39\;(1.6{\sim}3.2){\mu}g/ml\;and\;0.88{\pm}0.2\;(0.4{\sim}1.6){\mu}g/ml$ for S. aureus, $0.04{\pm}0.05\;(0.025{\pm}0.05){\mu}g/ml\;and\;0.02{\pm}0.01\;(0.025{\sim}0.05)\;{\sim}g/ml$ for E coli, and $2.24{\pm}0.39\;(1.6{\sim}3.2){\mu}g/ml\;and\;1.44{\pm}0.16\;(0.8{\sim}1.6){\mu}g/ml$ for P. aeruginosa, respectively. Conclusion: Although both MICs and UBCs of Infecton were higher than those of ciprofloxacin, all three standard bacterial strains were sensitive to Infecton. It could be an indirect evidence that Tc-99m Infecton be a specific imaging agent for bacterial infection.

• The Korean Journal of Nuclear Medicine
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• v.32 no.6
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• pp.525-533
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• 1998

Purpose: Radiation adaptive response in human peripheral lymphocytes and mouse bone marrow cells was investigated using both metaphase analysis and micronucleus assay. We assessed the correlation between both tests. Materials and Methods: Two groups of the human peripheral lymphocytes and mouse bone marrow cells were exposed to low dose (conditioning dose, 0,18 Gy) or high dose (challenging dose, 2 Gy) ${\gamma}$-rays. The other 4 groups were exposed to low dose followed by high dose after several time intervals (4, 7, 12, and 24 hours, respectively). The frequencies of chromosomal aberrations in metaphase analysis and micronuclei in micronucleus assay were counted. Results: Chromosomal aberrations and micronuclei of preexposed group were lower than those of the group only exposed to high dose radiation. Maximal reduction in frequencies of chromosomal aberrations were observed in the group to which challenging dose was given at 7 hour after a conditioning dose (p<0.001). Metaphase analysis and micronucleus assay revealed very good correlation in both human lymphocytes and mouse bone marrow cells (r=0.98, p<0.001 ; r=0.99, p=0.001, respectively). Conclusion: Radiation adaptive response could be induced by low dose irradiation in both human lymphocytes and mouse bone marrow cells. There was a significant correlation between metaphase analysis and micronucleus assay.

• The Korean Journal of Nuclear Medicine
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• v.33 no.3
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• pp.247-261
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• 1999

Purpose: The aim of this study was to evaluate the normal values of regional cerebral blood flow (rCBF) and cerebrovascular reserve (CVR) in normal children to aged volunteers using Tc-99m HMPAO, Materials and Methods: Thirty four right-handed normal volunteers (20 males, 14 females, mean age $40.3{\pm}24.9$ years, range 4 to 82 years) were underwent rost/acetazolamide (ACZ) brain SPECT using Tc-99m HMPAO and the sequential injection and subtraction method. rCBF was estimated on the basis of a semiquantitative approach by means of right/left ratio, region/cerebellum and region to whole brain ratios in (rental, parietal, temporal, and occipital lobes, basal ganglia, thalami, and cerebellum. CVR was measured by means of % perfusion increase calculated as % mean count change compared to rest rCBF in each regions. Results: Mean values of right to left ratios range from 1.004 to 1.018, rCBF was highest in cerebellum and lowest in basal ganglia and thalami. Frontal and temporal rCBF decreased while occipital and thalamic rCBF increased according to age. No sexual difference of rCBF was noted. Mean CVR was $29.9{\pm}12.9%$. Mean CVR significantly increased to late teens, and declined thereafter. After 6th decade, CVR in both frontal lobes, left parietal lobe and right basal ganglia decreased significantly with advancing age. There was no sexual difference of CVR. Conclusion: Quantitative assessment of CVR was possible by ACZ Tc-99m HMPAO brain SPECT. It revealed that rCBF and CVR changed according to age in normal Korean volunteers. There was no sexual difference.

• The Korean Journal of Nuclear Medicine
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• v.33 no.1
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• pp.94-99
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• 1999

Purpose: Radiation-induced chromosomal damage and apoptosis were compared in human lymphocytes. Materials and Methods: Peripheral lymphocytes from 10 normal volunteers (6 males, 4 females, age range $23{\sim}41$ years) were irradiated by gamma rays from a cell irradiator. Doses of irradiation were 0 (control), 0.18, 2, 5, 10, 20 and 25 Gy. Irradiated lymphocytes were examined by metaphase analysis for chromosomal aberrations and by flow cytometry for apoptosis. Results of both studies were compared according to dose. Results: Number of dicentric and ring chromosomes (D+R) was $0.5{\pm}0.53$ at baseline, which was significantly increased after radiation according to the dose. The fraction of cells showing annexin V-fluorescein isothiocyanate uptake was $0.51{\pm}$0.39%, which increased to $3.58{\pm}1.85%$ by 2 Gy irradiation, and then decreased. The fraction of cells showing propidium iodide (PI) uptake was $0.52{\pm}0.12%$, which significantly increased according to dose (upto $15.64{\pm}5.99%$ by 20 Gy irradiation). D+R and PI uptake were well correlated (r=0.84, p<0.001). Conclusion: Radiation-induced chromosomal aberration was correlated to nuclear uptake of PI, a marker of late apoptosis.

• The Korean Journal of Nuclear Medicine
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• v.32 no.2
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• pp.129-136
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• 1998

Purpose: Myocardial SPECT is an effective test for detecting coronary artery disease in the general population. But the diagnostic accuracy between sexes is not defined. The purpose of this study is to compare the diagnostic accuracy between males and females. Materials and Methods: One hundred and seventy seven male and 98 female patients who underwent myocardial SPECT within 1 month of coronary angiography were studied. Myocardial SPECTS were considered abnormal if fixed or reversible perfusion defects were detected. Stenosis severity of ${\geq}$ 50% luminal diameter reduction of any artery defined coronary artery disease (CAD). Results: Overall sensitivity for detection of CAD was 98% in men and 97% in women (p=not significant). However, specificities, accuracies, and positive predictive values (PPV) in men and women were 49% vs 31% (p<0.05), 81% vs 57% (p<0.01), 78% vs 48% (p<0.01), respectively. Diagnostic accuracies for detection of right coronary artery disease were not different in both sexes, however, accuracies for detection of left anterior descending artery disease and left circumflex artery disease were significantly lower in female (p<0.05). Conclusion: A significant difference of diagnostic accuracy between sexes, especially in LAD and LCx disease, was noted. Artifacts from breast attenuation might be a cause for the lower diagnostic accuracy in female.