• Progress in Medical Physics
• /
• v.24 no.2
• /
• pp.85-91
• /
• 2013

At present, megavoltage computed tomography (MVCT) is the only method used to correct the position of tomotherapy patients. MVCT produces extra radiation, in addition to the radiation used for treatment, and repositioning also takes up much of the total treatment time. To address these issues, we suggest the use of a video image-guided setup (VIGS) system for correcting the position of tomotherapy patients. We developed an in-house program to correct the exact position of patients using two orthogonal images obtained from two video cameras installed at $90^{\circ}$ and fastened inside the tomotherapy gantry. The system is programmed to make automatic registration possible with the use of edge detection of the user-defined region of interest (ROI). A head-and-neck patient is then simulated using a humanoid phantom. After taking the computed tomography (CT) image, tomotherapy planning is performed. To mimic a clinical treatment course, we used an immobilization device to position the phantom on the tomotherapy couch and, using MVCT, corrected its position to match the one captured when the treatment was planned. Video images of the corrected position were used as reference images for the VIGS system. First, the position was repeatedly corrected 10 times using MVCT, and based on the saved reference video image, the patient position was then corrected 10 times using the VIGS method. Thereafter, the results of the two correction methods were compared. The results demonstrated that patient positioning using a video-imaging method ($41.7{\pm}11.2$ seconds) significantly reduces the overall time of the MVCT method ($420{\pm}6$ seconds) (p<0.05). However, there was no meaningful difference in accuracy between the two methods (x=0.11 mm, y=0.27 mm, z=0.58 mm, p>0.05). Because VIGS provides a more accurate result and reduces the required time, compared with the MVCT method, it is expected to manage the overall tomotherapy treatment process more efficiently.

• Investigative Magnetic Resonance Imaging
• /
• v.4 no.1
• /
• pp.42-51
• /
• 2000

Purpose: Projection-type Fast Spin Echo (PFSE) imaging is robust to patient motion or flow related artifact compared to conventional Fast Spin Echo (FSE) imaging, however, it has difficulty in controlling $T_2$ contrast. In this paper, Tz contrast in the PFSE method is analyzed and compared with those of the FSE method with various effective echo times by computer simulation. The contrasts in the FSE and PFSE methods are also compared by experiments with volunteers. From the analysis and simulation, it is shown that ${T_2}-weighted$ images can well be obtained by the PFSE method proposed. Materials and methods: Pulse sequence for the PFSE method is implemented at a 1.0 Tesla whole body MRI system and $T_2$ contrasts in the PFSE and FSE methods are analyzed by computer simulation and experiment with volunteers. For the simulation, a mathematical phantom composed of various $T_2$ values is devised and $T_2$ contrast in the reconstructed image by the PFSE is compared to those by the FSE method with various effective echo times. Multi-slice ${T_2}-weighted$ head images of the volunteers obtained by the PFSE method are also shown in comparison with those by the FSE method at a 1.0 Tesla whole body MRI system. Results: From the analysis, $T_2$ contrast by the PFSE method appears similar to those by the FSE method with the effective echo time in a range of SO-lOOms. Using a mathematical phantom, contrast in the PFSE image appears close to that by the FSE method with the effective echo time of 96ms. From experiment with volunteers, multi-slice $T_2-weighted$ images are obtained by the PFSE method having contrast similar to that of the FSE method with the effective echo time of 96ms. Reconstructed images by the PFSE method show less motion related artifact compared to those by the FSE method. Conclusion: The projection-type FSE imaging acquires multiple radial lines with different angles in polar coordinate in k space using multiple spin echoes. The PFSE method is robust to patient motion or flow, however, it has difficulty in controlling $T_2$ contrast compared to the FSE method. In this paper, it is shown that the PFSE method provides good $T_2$ contrast (${T_2}-weighted$ images) similar to the FSE method by both computer simulation and experiments with volunteers.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
• /
• v.51 no.5
• /
• pp.487-491
• /
• 2008

Purpose : Although Mycoplasma pneumoniae (M. pneumoniae) infection can cause wheezing in non-asthmatic children, the mechanisms of this symptom remain unclear. Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is a major mediator of angiogenesis and vascular permeability, and is also known to be elevated in cases of chronic pulmonary disease such as asthma. We hypothesized that VEGF may increase in children with acute M. pneumoniae pneumonia and wheezing. Methods : Nine patients with clinical and laboratory evidence of acute M. pneumoniae pneumonia were enlisted from children admitted to Korea University Hospital. They had had more than one episode of wheezing during the illness, which was confirmed by a physician; they comprised the wheezer group. The individuals with M. pneumoniae pneumonia without wheezing were 63 in number, and they comprised the non-wheezer group. Patients with a history of asthma or who had received asthma medications were excluded. Serum concentrations of VEGF, total IgE, eosinophil cationic protein (ECP), and peripheral blood eosinophil counts were measured. Results : The serum VEGF concentrations were higher in the wheezer group ($mean{\pm}SD$; $650.2{\pm}417.9pg/mL$) than in the non-wheezer group ($376.5{\pm}356.2pg/mL$, P=0.049). M. pneumoniae antibody (1:1,380 vs. 1:596, P=0.048) and serum total IgE (591.8 IU/mL vs. 162.2 IU/mL, P=0.032) were higher in the wheezer group than in the non-wheezer group. There were no differences between the two groups in terms of serum ECP concentration or blood eosinophil count. Conclusion : In the presence of wheezing, serum VEGF concentrations were higher in the children with M. pneumoniae pneumonia. This finding suggests that VEGF may associate with wheeze-related symptoms in children with acute M. pneumoniae pneumonia.

• Journal of Life Science
• /
• v.18 no.9
• /
• pp.1194-1201
• /
• 2008

Water temperature-dependent fluctuations of biochemical and molecular activities in the harmful dinoflagellate, Cochlodinium polykrikoides were studied. In terms of genomic DNA concentration, a similar value of 0.6 was observed at $12^{\circ}C$ and $15^{\circ}C$. However, DNA significantly increased beyond $18^{\circ}C$ (p<0.05), to a maximum of 1.8 at $24^{\circ}C$. DNA concentration significantly decreased to 0.6. The concentrations of RNA and total protein were likely at their highest values of 1.7 and 0.07 ${\mu}g$ $ml^{-1}$ at $24^{\circ}C$, respectively. RNA and total protein concentrations began to increase at $15^{\circ}C$. Oxygen availability between lower and higher temperatures was significantly different and increased from $18^{\circ}C$ according to light intensity, regardless of wavelengths (p<0.05). At $24^{\circ}C$, the highest value of the maximum electron transport rate ($ETR_{max}$), ranging from 537.9 (Ch 1) to 602.5 ${\mu}mol$ electrons $g^{-1}$ Chl ${\alpha}s^{-1}$ (Ch 4), was also apparent. Nitrate reductase (NR) and ATPase activities were at their highest values of 0.11 ${\mu}mol$ $NO_{2}^{-}$ ${\mu}g^{-1}$ Chl ${\alpha}h^{-1}$ and 0.78 pmol 100 $mg^{-1}$ at $24^{\circ}C$, respectively. In an analysis of CHN, the concentration of C and N also significantly increased (p<0.05). Most of the measurements for the cellular activities at $27^{\circ}C$, however, were less than at $24^{\circ}C$. These results suggest that the sub-cellular activities of C. polykrikoides are sensitive to changes in water temperature. It may be desirable to estimate at $18^{\circ}C$ the initiation of the massive blooming development of C. polykrikoides. In nature, it will be very difficult to maintain the massive blooms beyond $24^{\circ}C$ because of a possibly significant decrease in molecular activity of C. polykrikoides.

• Journal of Life Science
• /
• v.30 no.6
• /
• pp.555-562
• /
• 2020

This study analyzed the total polyphenol (TP), total flavonoid (TF), and protein content, the Absorbance at 400 nm (A400), and the antioxidant and hemolytic activities of 150 Korean honey products, including 41 chestnut (CH), 42 acacia (AH), 62 multi-floral (MH), and five Styrax japonica (TH) varieties. Our results showed that the components and antioxidant activities of honey are dependent on botanical origin rather than farming area or farmer. CH showed the highest levels of TP (88.6±29.8 mg/100 g) and TF (1.20±0.82 mg/100 g), whereas TH had the highest protein (21.5±5.1 mg/100 g). A400 was the highest in CH (0.161±0.044). All of the honey products exhibited negligible hemolytic activity against human red blood cells up to 1 mg/ml. Potent radical scavenging activities for 1,1-diphenyl-2-picryl hydrazyl (DPPH), 2,2-azobis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6- sulfonate) (ABTS), nitrite and reducing power were also observed in CH. Correlation coefficients (CCs) between analysis parameters were calculated and the highest was identified between TP and ABTS scavenging activity (0.726). The CCs between A400 and TP and A400 and ABTS scavenging activity were 0.644 and 0.661, respectively, suggesting that A400 could be used as a quality indicator for the polyphenol content and antioxidant activity of particular honeys. Future research on polyphenol by flower origin and the identification of compounds for A400 is necessary.

• Pediatric Infection and Vaccine
• /
• v.15 no.2
• /
• pp.180-187
• /
• 2008

Purpose : We wanted to determine the characteristics of patients with Kawasaki disease (KD) who were unresponsive to intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG). Methods : The patients with KD were divided into two groups: the IVIG responsive group (25 cases) and the IVIG unresponsive group (14 cases). We analyzed various parameters before and after the administration of IVIG, including the complete blood cell count with the differential count (%), the erythrocyte segmentation rate (ESR), the C-reactive protein (CRP) level and the protein and lipid profiles. Results : The IVIG unresponsive group had a prolonged duration of fever and a higher incidence of CAL compared to the IVIG responsive group (P<0.001, respectively). Before IVIG infusion, the neutrophil differential, the ESR and the CRP values were higher (P<0.001), and the total protein and albumin values were lower in the IVIG unresponsive group (P=0.01) compared to the IVIG responsive group. After IVIG infusion, there were no significant changes in the WBC count and CRP levels in the IVIG unresponsive group. The reduction of the HDL-cholesterol levels by IVIG was more significant in the unresponsive group (P=0.02). Conclusion : A more severe and prolonged inflammatory response occurred in the IVIG unresponsive group at an early stage, and this finding can be detected by such inflammatory parameters as the neutrophil count and the CRP and HDL-cholesterol levels after IVIG infusion.

• Korean Journal of Ecology and Environment
• /
• v.36 no.3 s.104
• /
• pp.322-335
• /
• 2003

Nutrient fluxes and sediment oxygen demands (SOD) were measured with intact sediment cores collected from three stations in the downstream of Nagdong River. The sediments were subjected to controlled oxic and hypoxic conditions and temperature gradients (from $10^{\circ}C$ to $30^{\circ}C$) of the overlying waters in laboratory batch system. The effect of temperature and labile layer thickness of the sediment on SOD were examined. $PO_4\;^{3-}$ and $NH_4\;^+$ fluxes were elevated above $20^{\circ}C$ and large mobilities were observed when they were coupled with a hypoxic and high-temperature condition. In the well oxygenated conditions, $PO_4\;^{3-}$ fluxes were negative or negligible but $NH_4\;^+$ fluxes ranged from 1.3 mg N $m^{-2}\;hr^{-1}$ to 2.3 $m^{-2}\;hr^{-1}$. Temperature quotients($Q_{10}$) of $PO_4\;^{3-}$ fluxes were 3.7 ${\sim}$ 7.3 ranges to have the most high values. $PO_4\;^{3-}$ and $NH_4\;^+$ fluxes had the logarithmic increase with temperature, while $NO_3\;^-$ was negatively absorbed to the sediment and linearly correlated with the temperature. $SiO_2$ fluxes showed no difference among oxic and hypoxic conditions and sediment texture. The nutrient fluxes would be closely correlated with pore water chemistry of sediments and activated by the top sediment layer composition such as labile organic matters or algal detritus. The ecological implications of the nutrient fluxes were discussed in terms of sources and sinks of nutrients coupled to algal productions in the Nagdong River.

• Fire Science and Engineering
• /
• v.15 no.1
• /
• pp.23-33
• /
• 2001

The utility tunnels are the important facility as a mainstay of country because of the latest communication developments. However, the utilities tunnel is difficult to deal with in case of a fire accident. When a cable burns, the black smoke containing poisonous gas will be reduced. This black smoke goes into the tunnel, and makes it difficult to extinguish the fire. Therefore, when there was a fire in the utility tunnel, the central nerves of the country had been paralyzed, such as property damage, communication interruption, in addition to inconvenience for people. This paper is based on the fire occurred in the past, and reenacting the fire by making the real utilities tunnel model. The aim of this paper is the scientific analysis of the character image of the fire, and the verification of each fire protection system whether it works well after process of setting up a fire protection system in the utilities tunnel at a constant temperature. The fire experiment was equipped with the linear heat detector, the fire door, the connection water spray system and the ventilation system in the utilities tunnel. Fixed portion of an electric power supply cable was coated with a fire retardant coating, and a heating tube was covered with a fireproof. The result showed that the highest temperature was $932^{\circ}c$ and the linear heat detector was working at the constant temperature, and it pointed at the place of the fire on the receiving board, and Fixed portion of the electric power supply cable coated with the fire retardant coating did not work as the fireproof. The heating tube was covered with the fireproof about 30 minutes.

• Food Science of Animal Resources
• /
• v.31 no.4
• /
• pp.570-579
• /
• 2011

This study created hamburger patties by substituting a portion of the meat with sea tangle (Laminaria japonica) powder and/or cooked rice to reduce fat and calories and to add the functional components of the sea tangle. Four types of experimental patties were prepared: Control, L, LI, and LII. L was the patty with sea tangle powder substituted for 2.5% of the meat and LI and LII were patties with cooked rice containing sea tangle powder substituted for 25 or 50% of the meat. In all experimental patties, moisture content increased and crude fat and cholesterol content decreased, pH increased, and malondialdehyde concentration decreased compared to those in the control. The substitutions made the color of the patties darker with dimmed redness and amplified yellowness. The substitutions also made the cooking loss weight and diameter of the patties lessen but that of thickness increased. In the sensory evaluation, symmetry and color of the patties improved significantly by substituting sea tangle powder and/or cooked rice for meat, and no adverse effect on preference for the experimental patties and hamburgers was observed. Therefore, substituting sea tangle and/or cooked rice for a portion of the meat could be used to develop healthier patties without any adverse influence on preference or sensory evaluation.

• Korean Journal of Ichthyology
• /
• v.10 no.1
• /
• pp.98-105
• /
• 1998

The effect of ammonia on survival and growth of the larval rockfish, Sebastes schlegeli was examined by a static renewal bioassay method. The tolerance of larvae to ammonia toxicity was more sensitive at the early larvae, but increased with the development of larvae. In 14 day-old-larvae after parturition, the mortality with treatment of each concentration of ammonia was 5% at control group and 0.0112 $NH_3$mg/l, whereas it was increased up to 27.5% at exposure group of 0.1230 $NH_3$mg/l with higher concentration. Regression equation between ammonium concentration(X) and mortality(Y) was followed; Y=0.516+3.482 X($r^2=0.4737$, P<0.01). The NOEC(no-observable-effect concentration) and LOEC (lowest-observable-effect concentration) to mortality compared to control group were 0.100 $NH_3mg/l$ and 0.1230 $NH_3$mg/l, respectively and chronic value(ChV) which is the geometric mean of the NOEC and LOEC was 0.1110 $NH_3$mg/l. Body length after 7-days exposure in control group, 0.0112 $NH_3$mg/l and 0.1230 $NH_3$mg/l were 7.8325mm, 7.700mm and 7.05mm, respectively. The NOEC, LOEC and chronic value(ChV) were 0.0335 $NH_3$mg/l, 0.0558 $NH_3$mg/l and 0.0432 $NH_3$mg/l, respectively.