• Radiation Oncology Journal
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• v.19 no.3
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• pp.265-274
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• 2001

Purpose : Proctitis is one of acute complications encountered when radiotherapy was appled to the pelvis. Radiation-induced proctitis represents similar microscopic findings that are observed in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Nitric oxide (NO) plays an important role in the inflammatory process and many data suggest a close relationship between NO production and gastrointestinal inflammation. This study was aimed to establish the optimal radiation dose for radiation-induced proctitis in rat and to find a relationship between radiation proctitis and NO production. Materials and methods : Female Wistar rats, weighing from 150 to 220 g, received various doses(10-30 Gy) of radiation to the rectum. On the 5th and 10th day after irradiation, rectal specimens were evaluated grossly and microscopically. In addition, the degree of NO production by irradiation dose was evaluated by study with NOS expression and nitrite production in the irradiated rectal tissue. To evaluate relationship between radiation proctitis and NO, we administered aminoguanidine, iNOS inhibitor and L-arginine, substrate of NOS to rats from 2 days before to 7 days after the irradiation. Results : There were obvious gross and hostological changes after 17.5 Gy or higher radiation dose but not with 15 Gy or less radiation dose. Twenty Gy or higher dose of radiation caused Grade 4 damage in most of rectal specimens which were more likely to be related to the late complications such as fibrosis, rectal bleeding and rectal obstruction. A single fraction of 17.5 Gy to the rat rectum is considered to be an optimal dose to produce commonly experienced proctitis in the clinic. The result demonstrated that severity of microscopic damage of rectal mucosa from irradiation significantly correlated with iNOS over-expression. However, administration of iNOS inhibitor or substrate of iNOS did not influence the degree of rectal damage. Conclusion : A single fraction of 17.5 Gy irradiation to the rat rectum considered to be an optimal dose for radiation induced proctitis model. These results indicated that an excess production of NO contributes to pathogenesis of radiation-induced proctitis in part but was not the direct cause of rectal damage.

• Radiation Oncology Journal
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• v.13 no.3
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• pp.205-214
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• 1995

Purpose : To investigate the effect of Ginkgo biloba extract (GBE) on hypoxic cell fraction and metabolic status in fibrosarcoma (FSa II) of C3H mouse. Materials and Methods : Fibrosarcoma (FSa II) 6 mm in diameter, growing in the right hindleg muscle of C3H mouse was used for estimation of hypoxic cell fraction using comparison of $TCD_{50}$. Radiation was given one hour after administration of GBE (100 mg/kg. i.p.) with or without priming dose of GBE (100 mg/kg, i.p.) given 24 hours earlier. Radiation was also given under air breathing condition or clamp hypoxia without GBE as controls. $^{31}p$ NMR spectroscopy was performed before and one hour after administration of GBE with or without priming dose of GBE. Results : $TCD_{50/120's}$ were 81.7 (77.7-86.0) Gy when irradiated under clamped hypoxia 69.6 (66.8-72.5) Gy under air breathing condition. 67.5 (64.1-71.1) Gy with a single dose of GBE (100 mg/kg) given one hour before irradiation, and 62.2 (59.1-65.5) Gy with two doses of GBE given at 25 hours and one hour before irradiation. The hypoxic cell fractions, estimated from $TCD_{50/120's}$, were $10.6{\%}$ under air breathing condition, $7.2{\%}$ after a single dose of GBE, and $2.7{\%}$ after two doses of GBE. The results of $^{31}P$ NMR spectroscopy were as follow. PCr/Pi ratio was $0.27{\pm}0.04$ and $0.40{\pm}0.04$ before and one hour after a single dose of GBE (p<0.05), respectively, without priming dose and $0.30{\pm}0.02$ and $0.71{\pm}0.04$, respectively, with priming dose (p<0.01). These findings indicate that the metabolic status is slightly improved after a single dose and markedly after repeated administrations. Conclusion : GBE decreases the hypoxic cell fraction and imprvoes the meta bolic status of tumor, probably by increasing the blood flow and delivery of oxygen and nutrients, resulting in increased radiosensitivity of tumor.

• Korean Journal of Soil Science and Fertilizer
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• v.35 no.1
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• pp.27-37
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• 2002

With increasing the concerns of health improving foods. the demands of C. boreale M., which is a perennial flower and has been historically used for a natural medicine, become higher, recently, However, wild C. boreale M. collected in a mountatinous area is limited and not enough to cover all demands. The cultivation system and fertilization strategy are required to produce much amount of C. boreale M. with a good quality. We investigated the effects of soil amendment application on plant growth and effective components of C. boreale M. to develop efficient cultivation system. C. boreale M. was cultivated in a pot scale, and lime, fly ash, poultry manure compost and swine manure compost as an amendment applied with rate of 2, 20, 150 and $150Mg\;ha^{-1}$, respectively. Here, chemical fertilizers were applied with the same level ($N-P_2O_5-K_2O=150-80-80kg\;ha^{-1}$) in all treatments. Flower yields of C. boreale M., edible part as a natural medicine, were increased to 37 and 27% by swine and poultry manure compost application, respectively. Poultry manure compost amending (NPK+PMC) increased 3.6 times of proline content and 58% of total amino acids in the flower part more than chemical fertilization (NPK). But the contents of amino acids did not increase with amending liming materials like lime and fly ash. Cumambrin A, which is a sesquiterpene compound and has the effect of blood-pressure reduction, increased to 34 and 19% by lime and fly ash applications, respectively. Cumambrin A was significantly correlated with calcium content in the flower part of C. boreale M. Conclusively, soil amendments like compost and liming materials might contribute to increase the yields and quality of C. boreale M.

• Pediatric Infection and Vaccine
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• v.24 no.2
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• pp.95-101
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• 2017

Purpose: Acute bacterial gastroenteritis (ABG) can cause more severe symptoms than acute viral gastroenteritis in children. This study was aimed at determining the etiologic trends and to examine the clinical characteristics of ABG in children. Methods: We sent stool samples from the children with acute gastroenteritis who were treated at a secondary hospital located in Seoul, Korea between January 2011 and December 2014 to Seoul Metropolitan Government Research Institute of Public Health and Environment to find the causative organisms. Clinical characteristics of patient were analyzed through a medical records review. Results: Out of 664 stool samples, 183 (27.6%) yielded bacterial pathogens. Staphylococcus aureus was the most common bacterial pathogen, found in 72 cases (39.3%), even though it was only tested for since 2012. The monthly isolation rate was the highest (24.6%) in August. The isolation rate of Campylobacter spp. by patient's age group was high (16.7%) in the 12- to 18-year-age group (P=0.04). In patients with bloody stool, Campylobacter spp. was the most commonly isolated (31.0%, P=0.04). When comparing C-reactive protein, the Salmonella spp.- or Campylobacter spp.-isolated group showed higher values than the S. aureus- or pathogenic Escherichia coli-isolated group ($5.7{\pm}0.6mg/dL$ vs. $2.1{\pm}0.3mg/dL$, P<0.01). Conclusions: S. aureus, Salmonella spp., pathogenic E. coli, and Campylobacter spp. were important pathogens of ABG among children. Considering the differences in pathogens found according to age, a clinical symptom and inflammation index might be helpful in assuming the causative organism.

• Pediatric Infection and Vaccine
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• v.24 no.2
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• pp.71-78
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• 2017

Purpose: The aim of this study was to identify the pathogens of blood stream infection (BSI) in children with hemato-oncologic disorders, to analyze susceptibility patterns of microorganisms to guide empirical antimicrobial therapy, and to compare temporal trends of the pathogen and antimicrobial susceptibility with those of previous studies. Methods: We retrospectively analyzed the medical records of children with hemato-oncologic disorders whose blood culture grew pathogens at the Seoul National University Children's Hospital between 2011 and 2015. Results: A total of 167 patients developed 221 episodes of bacteremia. Among 229 pathogens, gram-negative bacteria (GNB) accounted for 69.0% (64.0% in 2002 to 2005, 63.4% in 2006 to 2010); gram-positive bacteria (GPB) accounted for 28.8% (31.3% in 2002 to 2005, 34.6% in 2006 to 2010); and fungus accounted for 2.2%. Among GNB, Klebsiella species (53.2%, 84/158) and Escherichia coli (19.6%, 31/158) were common. Staphylococcus aureus (48.5%, 32/66) and viridans streptococci (21.2%, 14/66) were frequently isolated among GPB. The susceptibilities of oxacillin and vancomycin in GPB were 54.8% and 96.9% (51.5% and 95.5% in 2002 to 2005; 34.1% and 90.5% in 2006 to 2010), respectively, whereas in GNB, the susceptibilities of cefotaxime, piperacillin/tazobactam, and imipenem were 73.2%, 77.2%, and 92.6% (75.9%, 82.8%, and 93.4% in 2002 to 2005; 62.8%, 82.9%, 93.8% and in 2006 to 2010), respectively. There were no significant differences in the proportion of etiologic agents or the antimicrobial susceptibilities between the current study and that of the previous two studies from 2002 to 2010. Overall fatality rate was 13.1%. Conclusions: GNB predominated in BSI among children with hemato-oncologic disorders. The etiology of bacteremia and antimicrobial susceptibility were comparable to those of the previous studies. Thus, piperacillin/tazobactam can be used as the initial empirical antimicrobial agent in febrile neutropenia.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.28 no.4 s.51
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• pp.899-910
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• 1995

This study was conducted to determine the correlation between weighted needle pinprick sensory threshold(PPT) and sensory nerve conduction tests. The subjects were 53 healthy controls, 31 diabetic patients without peripheral neuropathic symptoms(DM) and 36 diabetic patients with peripheral neuropathic symptoms(DN). PPT was measured on the index and little fingers, bilaterally, as well as under the lateral malleolus, bilaterally. In electrophysiologic assessment the left and right median, ulnar and sural nerves were studied. Each mean PPTs was high in order of controls, DM and DN. Age adjusted PPT was significantly different among three groups on right little finger(p<0.05) and left malleolus(p<0.05), but not significantly different between DN and DM on other sites. Each sensory nerve conduction velocity and amplitude was statistically significantly different among three groups(p<0.05). Correlations of PPT with sensory nerve conduction velocity and amplitude were statistically significant on each site and ranged from -0.4203(left malleolus) to -0.5649(right index finger) and from -0.3897(left index finger) to -0.6200(right index finger), respectively. When electrophysiological study is not feasible, measurement of PPT may be helpful for the assessment of peripheral sensory neurological function.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.29 no.4 s.55
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• pp.801-814
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• 1996

Background: Korean people could abuse healthy foods as well as medications, which might cause serious side effects. The aim of this study was elucidating liver dysfunction due to the self-medications of hepatotonics, healthy foods and herb medications by nested case-control study. Methods: Study subjects were drawn from male members of Seoul Cohort Study who were recruited by self-administered structured questionnaire survey through mailing to the healthy men between the age of 40 and 59 years through the program of biennial health check-up offered by Korea Medical Insurance Corporation(KMIC). The liver dysfunction was defined as the level of serum AST and ALT above 40 IU/L and increased in more than one hunderd per-cent during the 2 year follow-up period. To estimate the odds ratio between self-medication and liver dysfunction after controlling for potential confounders, logistic regression was performed. Results: During the follow-up period, 30 members were identified to fit into case criteria and 2,625 members were selected as control. In logistic regression analyses, history of healthy foods intake, age under 45 years, obesity, and habit of regular exercise were significantly associated with liver dysfunction. The following factors exhibited no statistical significance: intake of hepatotonics, of herb medicine; history of disease in family, of operation, and of radiologic examination; smoking habits and drinking amounts. Conclusion: The significant association between the intake of healthy foods and the liver dysfunction illustrates that chronically optional overuse of healthy foods might bring to hazards to health. As the increasing trend of the size of purchasing healthy foods in Korea, pharmacoepidemiologic studies evaluating the safety and efficacy of the widely used healthy foods should be performed in the near future.

• Childhood Kidney Diseases
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• v.7 no.2
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• pp.157-165
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• 2003

Purpose : $Henoch-Sch\"{o}nlein$ purpura(HSP) is a systemic vasculitis that involves multiple organs, especially the kidney, which is the most important organ in determining the prognosis of the disease. The morbidity of HSP nephritis in adults is low and there have been little research done on its clinical course so far. Therefore, we have compared the clinical course of HSP nephritis in children and adults in Korea. Methods : We retrospectively analyzed 81 cases of HSP nephritis in children younger than 15 years of age, and 25 cases of adults older than 15 years of age who were admitted to Yonsei University Medical College Severance Hospital from Jan. 1986 to May 2003. Results : The male to female ratio was 1.5 : 1 in children and 1.3 : 1 in adults. The incidence of HSP nephritis for both age groups was found to be increased during the autumn and winter. Infection was the predisposing factor in 39 cases(48.1%) of children, 16 cases(64.0%) of adults, and drugs were the predisposing factor in 8 cases(9.9%) of children and 4 cases (16.0%) of adults. All patients initially presented with microscopic hematuria. Thirteen cases (16.0%) of children and 7 cases(28.0%) of adults initially showed proteinuria of nephrotic range. Thirty four cases(42.0%) of children and 4 cases(16.0%) of adults showed normal urinalysis after treatment. Asymptomatic urinary abnormalities were found in 41 cases(50.6%) of children and 18 cases(72.0%) of adults. Complications such as nephrotic syndrome and hypertension were found in 3 cases(3.7%) of children and 2 cases(8.0%) of adults. Three children(3.7%) and 1(4.0%) adult required dialysis or renal transplantation. Follow-up renal biopsies were performed on 21 children, of whom 10 cases(47.6%) did not show any histologic change, 9 cases(42.9%) showed low grade changes, and 2 cases(9.5%) showed high grade changes. Prognosis was gloomy when proteinuria of nephrotic range and high grade of abnormal histology were present at diagnosis, and there was no significant difference between the two groups(P<0.05) Conclusion : This study showed that there was no difference in terms of the clinical features and courses between the children and adults with HSP nephritis. Proteinuria of nephrotic range and the severity of abnormal histologic changes at diagnosis were found to be associated with a bad prognosis, therefore we recommend that patients with these features require long term follow-up and management.

• The Korean Journal of Nuclear Medicine
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• v.39 no.1
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• pp.44-48
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• 2005

Purpose: Ethylenediamine-tetramethylenephosphonic acid (EDTMP) has widely used chelator for the labeling of bone seeking radiopharmaceuticals complexed with radiometals. $^{153}Sm$ can be produced by the HANARO reactor at the Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute, Taejon, Korea. $^{153}Sm$ has favourable radiation characteristics $T1/2=46.7\;h,\;{\beta}_{max}=0.81\;MeV\;(20%),\;0.71\;MeV\;(49%),\;0.64\;MeV\;(30%)\;and\;{\gamma}=103\;keV\;(30%)$ emission which is suitable for imaging purposes during therapy. We investigated the labeling condition of $^{153}Sm$-EDTMP and imaging of $^{153}Sm$-EDTMP in normal rats. Materials and methods: EDTMP 20 mg was solved in 0.1 mL 2 M NaOH. $^{153}SmCl^3$ was added to EDTMP solution and pH of the reaction mixtures was adjusted to 3 and 12, respectively. Radiochemical purity was determined with paper chromatography. After 30 min. reaction, reaction mixtures were neutralized to pH 7.4, and the stability was estimated upto 120 hrs. Imaging studies of each reaction were perfomed in normal rats (37 MBq/0.1 mL). Results: The labeling yield of $^{153}Sm$-EDTMP was 99%. The stability of pH 8 reaction at 60, 96 and 120 hr was 99%, 95%, 89% and that of pH 12 at 36, 60, 96 and 120 hr was 99%, 95%, 88%, 66%, respectively. The $^{153}Sm$-EDTMP showed constantly higher bone uptake from 2 to 48 hr after injection. Conclusion: $^{153}Sm$-EDTMP, labeled at pH 8 reaction condition, has been stably maintained. Image of $^{153}Sm$-EDTMP at 2, 24, 48 hr after injection, demonstrate that $^{153}Sm$-EDTMP is a good bone seeking radiopharmaceuticals.

• The Korean Journal of Nuclear Medicine
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• v.36 no.6
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• pp.368-380
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• 2002

Purpose: Liver transplantation (LT), one of the therapeutic options of primary liver cancer has been suffering from recurrence caused by metastasis in 8-54% of patients. This study was performed to investigate whether FDG-PET is useful for detecting hidden metastasis in LT candidates. Materials and Methods: Twenty-six patients (male:female=23:3, mean age 55.7 years) underwent FDG-PET. Their previous conventional diagnostic studies (CDS) like abdomen US and CT, chest x-ray and CT, and bone scan were negative (n=22) or equivocal (n=4) for metastasis. Positive FDG-PET findings were confirmed by biopsy or clinical follow-up. Results: Among 4 patients with equivocal metastatic lesions on CDS, 3 had 6 hypermetabolic lesions on FDG-PET, which were confirmed as metastasis and subsequently LTs were cancelled. Of these, 5 lesions were initially negative on CDS. Remained 1 patient underwent LT with a negative FDG-PET result. Among 22 patients without metastasis on CDS, 5 had 7 hypermetabolic lesions on FDG-PET. One of these patients proved to have 2 metastatic lesions, and LT was cancelled. The other 4 patients had S hypermetabolic lesions on FDG-PET, which were confirmed as benign lesions, and 3 patients of them underwent LT. In summary, FDG-PET was useful in avoiding 4 unwarranted LT by detecting unsuspected metastatic lesions on CDS. A total of 17 patients underwent LT. In comparison with pathology, the sensitivity and specificity of FDG-PET for detecting viable primary liver cancer were 55.6% (5/9) and 87.5% (7/8), respectively. Conclusion: FDG-PET can detect additional hidden metastasis and contribute to reducing unwarranted LT in the patients with primary liver cancer.