• Journal of the Korean Society of Radiology
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• v.83 no.2
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• pp.360-371
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• 2022

Purpose This study aimed to assess the factors influencing aortic unfolding (AU) defined by aortic width on coronary artery calcium (CAC) scan and determine the normal limits for AU. Materials and Methods In this retrospective study, we measured AU in 924 asymptomatic subjects who underwent CAC scanning during routine health screening from June 2015 to June 2018. Multivariate regression analysis was used to evaluate the factors influencing AU. After the exclusion of subjects with risk factors associated with AU, 283 subjects were included in the analysis of normal values of AU. Mean AU, standard deviation, and upper normal limit were calculated. Results Sex, age, CAC score, body mass index, body surface area, hypertension, left ventricular hypertrophy, plasma creatinine, and smoking were significantly associated with AU. The mean AU was 102.2 ± 12.8 mm for men and 93.1 ± 10.7 mm for women. AU increased with advancing age (9.6 mm per decade). Conclusion AU determined from a single measurement on CAC scans was associated with cardiovascular risk factors. The normal limits of AU were defined by age, sex, and body surface area in low-risk subjects in this study.

• Korean Journal of Radiology
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• v.25 no.1
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• pp.103-112
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• 2024

Objective: To investigate the association of ultrasound (US) features of follicular thyroid carcinoma (FTC) with tumor invasiveness and prognosis based on the World Health Organization (WHO) classification and telomerase reverse transcriptase (TERT) promoter mutations. Materials and Methods: This retrospective study included 54 surgically confirmed FTC patients with US images and TERT promoter mutations (41 females and 13 males; median age [interquartile range], 40 years [30-51 years]). The WHO classification consisted of minimally invasive (MI), encapsulated angioinvasive (EA), and widely invasive (WI) FTCs. Alternative classifications included Group 1 (MI-FTC and EA-FTC with wild type TERT), Group 2 (WI-FTC with wild type TERT), and Group 3 (EA-FTC and WI-FTC with mutant TERT). Each nodule was categorized according to the US patterns of the Korean Thyroid Imaging Reporting and Data System (K-TIRADS) and American College of Radiology-TIRADS (ACR-TIRADS). The Jonckheere-Terpstra and Cochran-Armitage tests were used for statistical analysis. Results: Among 54 patients, 29 (53.7%) had MI-FTC, 16 (29.6%) had EA-FTC, and nine (16.7%) had WI-FTC. In both the classifications, lobulation, irregular margins, and final assessment categories showed significant differences (all Ps ≤ 0.04). Furthermore, the incidences of lobulation, irregular margin, and high suspicion category tended to increase with increasing tumor invasiveness and worse prognosis (all Ps for trend ≤ 0.006). In the WHO groups, hypoechogenicity differed significantly among the groups (P = 0.01) and tended to increase in proportion as tumor invasiveness increased (P for trend = 0.02). In the alternative group, punctate echogenic foci were associated with prognosis (P = 0.03, P for trend = 0.03). Conclusion: Increasing tumor invasiveness and worsening prognosis in FTC based on the WHO classification and TERT promoter mutation results were positively correlated with US features that indicate malignant probability according to both K-TIRADS and ACR-TIRADS.

• Korean Journal of Radiology
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• v.24 no.10
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• pp.974-982
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• 2023

Objective: Recent studies have highlighted the active and potential role of perivascular adipose tissue (PVAT) in atherosclerosis and aneurysm progression, respectively. This study explored the link between PVAT attenuation and abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) progression using computed tomography angiography (CTA). Materials and Methods: This multicenter retrospective study analyzed patients with AAA who underwent CTA at baseline and follow-up between March 2015 and July 2022. The following parameters were obtained: maximum diameter and total volume of the AAA, presence or absence of intraluminal thrombus (ILT), maximum diameter and volume of the ILT, and PVAT attenuation of the aortic aneurysm at baseline CTA. PVAT attenuation was divided into high (> -73.4 Hounsfield units [HU]) and low (≤ -73.4 HU). Patients who had or did not have AAA progression during the follow-up, defined as an increase in the aneurysm volume > 10 mL from baseline, were identified. Kaplan-Meier and multivariable Cox regression analyses were used to investigate the association between PVAT attenuation and AAA progression. Results: Our study included 167 participants (148 males; median age: 70.0 years; interquartile range: 63.0-76.0 years), of which 145 (86.8%) were diagnosed with AAA accompanied by ILT. Over a median period of 11.3 months (range: 6.0-85.0 months), AAA progression was observed in 67 patients (40.1%). Multivariable Cox regression analysis indicated that high baseline PVAT attenuation (adjusted hazard ratio [aHR] = 2.23; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.16-4.32; P = 0.017) was independently associated with AAA progression. This association was demonstrated within the patients of AAA with ILT subcohort, where a high baseline PVAT attenuation (aHR = 2.23; 95% CI, 1.08-4.60; P = 0.030) was consistently independently associated with AAA progression. Conclusion: Elevated PVAT attenuation is independently associated with AAA progression, including patients of AAA with ILT, suggesting the potential of PVAT attenuation as a predictive imaging marker for AAA expansion.

• Journal of Korean Dental Hygiene Science
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• v.6 no.2
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• pp.25-35
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• 2023

Background: In order to emphasize the importance of clinical dental hygienists-led dental hygiene management processes for those with systemic diseases, we tried to identify systemic diseases affecting dental implants based on clinical data. Methods: In order to identify systemic diseases affecting dental implants, literature review was conducted from March 1 to May 31, 2023, and the search period was for research papers published in domestic and foreign academic journals from January 2000 to December 2020. Domestic databases used for search use RISS, Nuri Media(DBpia), and Korea Academic Information (http://www.papersearch.net ; KISS), while overseas databases searched Pubmed for dental implant failures, implants, systemic diseases, and Dental implant and system disease. Results: The cumulative survival rate of implants averaged 94.3 percent and the failure rate was 5.7 percent. Clinical analysis of systemic diseases related to implants accounted for the highest frequency with 13 (100.0%), followed by 8 (61.5%) studies on high blood pressure and smoking, 7 (53.8%) cardiovascular diseases, and 5 (38.5%). In addition, liver disease, thyroid abnormalities, blood abnormalities, organ transplants and infectious diseases were confirmed. Conclusion: Since unregulated systemic diseases are a risk factor for implant failure, clinical dental hygienists should continue to maintain healthy oral conditions by sharing information with patients during periodic preventive dental hygiene management processes such as dental hygiene assessment.

• IMMUNE NETWORK
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• v.20 no.6
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• pp.48.1-48.11
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• 2020

Hyperprogressive disease (HPD) is a distinct pattern of progression characterized by acceleration of tumor growth after treatment with anti-PD-1/PD-L1 Abs. However, the immunological characteristics have not been fully elucidated in patients with HPD. We prospectively recruited patients with metastatic non-small cell lung cancer treated with anti-PD-1/PD-L1 Abs between April 2015 and April 2018, and collected peripheral blood before treatment and 7-days post-treatment. HPD was defined as ≥2-fold increase in both tumor growth kinetics and tumor growth rate between pre-treatment and post-treatment. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells were analyzed by multi-color flow cytometry to phenotype the immune cells. Of 115 patients, 19 (16.5%) developed HPD, 52 experienced durable clinical benefit (DCB; partial response or stable disease ≥6 months), and 44 experienced non-hyperprogressive progression (NHPD). Patients with HPD had significantly lower progression-free survival (p<0.001) and overall survival (p<0.001). When peripheral blood immune cells were examined, the pre-treatment frequency of CD39⁺ cells among CD8⁺ T cells was significantly higher in patients with HPD compared to those with NHPD, although it showed borderline significance to predict HPD. Other parameters regarding regulatory T cells or myeloid derived suppressor cells did not significantly differ among patient groups. Our findings suggest high pre-treatment frequency of CD39⁺CD8⁺ T cells might be a characteristic of HPD. Further investigations in a larger cohort are needed to confirm our results and better delineate the immune landscape of HPD.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Radiology
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• v.18 no.3
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• pp.283-292
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• 2024

Radiation side effects and complications on the ocular adnexa during electron beam therapy for orbital lymphoma can increase the incidence of posterior subcapsular cataracts. This study simulated a medical linear accelerator and a mathematical model of the eye using monte carlo simulations to evaluate the dose to the ocular adnexa and compare the shielding effectiveness on different parts of the ocular adnexa based on lens shield thickness. The dose assessment results of the ocular adnexa showed that the lens's sensitive area had the highest absorbed dose distribution when no shield was used, followed by the lens's non-sensitive area, the anterior chamber, vitreous humor, cornea, and eyelid in descending order. With the use of a shield, a 2 mm thick shield demonstrated a dose reduction effect of over 90% in the lens's sensitive area, over 83% in the non-sensitive area and anterior chamber, and a dose reduction effect of 30 to 62% in the vitreous body, cornea, and eyelid. For dose reduction in the lens's sensitive area during electron beam therapy for orbital lymphoma, it is necessary to use a shield of at least 2 mm thickness. Additionally, shielding strategies considering the thickness and area of the shield for other ocular adnexa besides the lens are required.

• Journal of Plant Biotechnology
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• v.50
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• pp.63-69
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• 2023

This study includes the transformation of genes such as ORE7, the increase of gene expression, and the use of the bar gene as a selectable marker that shows herbicide resistance with Agrobacterium tumefaciens using hypocotyls from the oilseed rape "Youngsan" cultivar. To establish an Agrobacterium transformation system for the production of oilseed rape with a high-yield trait, infection time and co-cultivation period with Agrobacterium were tested. Therefore, when hypocotyls from the oilseed rape "Youngsan" cultivar were infected with Agrobacterium for 20 min and co-cultivated for 3 days, approximately 32-36 putatively transformed hypocotyls with shoots including roots survived from 100 inoculated hypocotyls after 4 weeks of transformation on a selection medium containing 20 mg/L of phosphinothricin (PPT) as a selectable agent. Additionally, a PCR assay was performed to confirm the insertion of target genes and showed the presence of the ORE7 gene as a high-yielding trait and the bar gene as a selectable marker. Treatment with 0.5% (v/v) Basta solution as a selectable agent for 6 days with leaves from transformed oilseed rape expressed the bar gene. Therefore, this study can contribute to the development of special oilseed rapes containing agriculturally useful traits such as herbicide resistance, drought tolerance, high yielding traits, and high oleic acid content.

• Journal of Plant Biotechnology
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• v.50
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• pp.56-62
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• 2023

Transgenic lilies have been obtained using Agrobacterium tumefaciens (AGL1) with the plant scale explants, followed by DL-phosphinothricin (PPT) selection. In this study, scales of lily plants cv. "red flame" were transformed with the pCAMBIA3301 vector containing the gus gene as a reporter and the blpR gene as a selectable marker, as well as a gene of interest showing herbicide tolerance, both driven by the CaMV 35S promoter. Using a 20-minute infection time and a 5-day cultivation period, factors that optimized and demonstrated a high transformation efficiency were achieved. With these conditions, approximately 22-27% efficiency was observed for Agrobacterium-mediated transformation in lilies. After transformation with Agrobacterium, scales of lilies were transferred to MS medium without selective agents for 2 weeks. They were then placed on selection MS medium containing 5 mg/L PPT for a month of further selection and then cultured for another 4-8 weeks with a 4-week subculture regime on the same selection medium. PPT-resistant scales with shoots were successfully rooted and regenerated into plantlets after transferring into hormone-free MS medium. Also, most survived putatively transformed plantlets indicated the presence of the blpR gene by PCR analysis and showed a blue color indicating expression of the gus gene. In conclusion, when 100 scales of lily cv. "red flame" are transformed with Agrobacterium, approximately 22-27 transgenic plantlets can be produced following an optimized protocol. Therefore, this protocol can contribute to the lily breeding program in the future.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Physical Medicine
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• v.19 no.1
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• pp.81-94
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• 2024

PURPOSE: This study aimed to investigate the effect of a progressive balance training program with whole-body vibration stimulation on knee joint pain, dysfunction, psychosocial status, and balance ability in individuals aged ≥ 65 years with knee osteoarthritis. METHODS: A total of 40 individuals aged ≥ 65 years with osteoarthritis of the knees participated in the study. Using a randomization program, participants were assigned to an experimental group (n = 20) or a control group (n = 20). Both groups were assigned a knee strength training program, and a progressive balance training program with whole-body vibration stimulation was assigned to the experimental group. All interventions were conducted three times a week for four weeks. Participants were evaluated for the following: pain (numeric rating scale, NRS), knee dysfunction (Korean version of the Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Arthritis Index, K-WOMAC), fall efficacy (Korean Version Falls Efficacy Scale, K-FES), quality of life (Euro Quality of life 5 Dimension, EQ-5D), and advanced balance scale score (Fullerton advanced balance scale, FAB) before and after the intervention, and the effects of the intervention were compared accordingly between groups. RESULTS: Both groups showed significant differences in the results of the NRS, K-WOMAC, K-FES, and EQ-5D assessments before and after the intervention, and there was a significant difference in the amount of change between the two groups (p < .05). There was a significant improvement in FAB in all but items FAB 8 and FAB 9 after the intervention in the experimental group. In the control group, there was a significant improvement in FAB 1, FAB 2, FAB 7, and FAB total after the intervention (p < .05). In addition, there was a significant difference in the amount of change between the two groups in all items except FAB 8 and FAB 9 (p < .05). CONCLUSION: The progressive balance training program with whole body vibration stimulation is an effective intervention method with clinical significance in improving knee joint pain, knee disability index, psychosocial level, and balance ability in adults aged ≥ 65 with osteoarthritis of the knees.

• Journal of Ginseng Culture
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• v.6
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• pp.80-104
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• 2024

Ginseng, a representative medicinal plant of South Korea, is also highly valued in North Korea. However, due to limited access to information about North Korea, the actual cultivation, research and development trends, and related industry status of ginseng in North Korea are not well known. In this study, we aimed to understand the current status and research trends of the ginseng industry in North Korea based on limited available literature. In the North Korean pharmacopoeia, ginseng is referred to as "Koryo ginseng" and is defined as the roots of 6-year-old ginseng cultivated in the Kaesong region. The pharmacopoeia includes 22 types of ginseng preparations. In addition, 10 ginseng preparations are included in North Korea's Essential Drug List, and various health supplements, cosmetics, and toothpastes containing ginseng have been developed, distributed, and sold. Since 2014, the ginseng industry and research in North Korea have become more active overall. During this period, the ginseng cultivation area in Kaesong has been significantly expanded, and the facilities have been renovated. The Kaesong Koryo Ginseng Processing Plant has been equipped with sterilized, modernized facilities since 2016 and has been in operation. Since 2017, there has been a growing interest in quality control research, leading to the introduction of quality management regulations and certification systems in 2019. In the 1990s, there was significant research on ginseng product development, and since the 2000s, studies on the pharmacological effects and clinical research of ginseng have been reported. Additionally, research on ginseng cultivation and ginseng processing industries to increase yield has been emphasized. Ginseng, as a representative medicinal crop of Korea, holds great importance for both South and North Korea. Given its significance and the potential for synergy through mutual cooperation, ginseng serves as an ideal subject for inter-Korean exchange and collaboration.