• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.19 no.10
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• pp.1238-1243
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• 2009

The susceptibilities of major enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli (EHEC) strains to antimicrobial agents and the cytotoxicity of these agents were examined using a total of 38 strains of E. coli O26, O111, and O157, which are the major serogroups of EHEC. Among the 38 strains, 35, 36, and 36 were susceptible to amikacin, imipenem, and norfloxacin, respectively. These antimicrobial agents were further examined to determine their cytotoxicity on Vero cells as well as their effect on the release of Shiga toxins along with trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole. Each of the E. coli O26, O111, and O157 strains containing both the stx1 and stx2 genes were grown in the absence or presence of these agents at 1/4 minimal inhibitory concentration for 6 h, 12 h, and 18 h. At the concentrations used in this study, none of the agents significantly altered cell count compared with the control group. The level of cytotoxicity in the imipenem group was lower at 12 hand 18 h than their respective controls. In contrast, the level of cytotoxicity in cultures treated with trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole, norfloxacin, and amikacin was increased. The strains were also examined for the release of Shiga toxins 1 and 2 following treatment with the agents, which were measured by the reversed passive latex agglutination (RPLA) method. The RPLA assay showed a suppression of release of Shiga toxin 2 in the strain cultures containing imipenem. These results indicate that imipenem may be a safe and effective agent for inhibition of these bacteria, which has clinical implications for the treatment of EHEC infections.

• Investigative Magnetic Resonance Imaging
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• v.2 no.1
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• pp.73-82
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• 1998

Purpose : A precise NMR technique for measuring the rate of water exchange and cell membrane permeability across the hepatocyte membrane using liver-specific MR contrast agent is described. Materials and Methods : The rat hepatocytes isolated by perfusion of the livers were used for the NMR measurements. All experiments were performed on an IBM field cycling relaxometer operating from 0.02MHz to 60 MHz proton Larmor frequency. spin-echo pulse sequence was empolyed to measure spin-lattice relaxation time, T1. The continuous distribution analysis of water proton T1 data from rat hepatocytes containing low concentrations of the liver specific contrast agent, Gd-EOB-DTPA, modeled by a general two compartment exchange model. Results : The mean residence time of water molecule inside the hepatocyte was approximately 250 msec. The lower limit for the permeability of the hepatocyte membrane was $(1.3{\pm}0.1){\;}{\times}{\;}10^{-3}cm/sec$. The CONTIN analysis, which seeks the natural distribution of relaxation times, reveals direct evidence of the effect of diffusive exchange. the diffusive water exchange is not small in the intracellular space in the case of hepatocytes. Conclusions : Gd-EOB-DTPA, when combined with continuous distribution analysis, provides a robust method to study water exchange and membrane permeability in hepatocytes. Water exchange in hepatocyte is much slower thatn that in red blood cells. Therefore, tissue-specific contrast agent may be used as a functional agent to give physiological information such as cell membrane permeability.

• Korean Journal of Radiology
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• v.22 no.10
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• pp.1708-1718
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• 2021

Objective: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the magnetic resonance (MR) characteristics and applicability of new, uniform, extremely small iron-based nanoparticles (ESIONs) with 3-4-nm iron cores using contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance angiography (MRA). Materials and Methods: Seven types of ESIONs were used in phantom and animal experiments with 1.5T, 3T, and 4.7T scanners. The MR characteristics of the ESIONs were evaluated via phantom experiments. With the ESIONs selected by the phantom experiments, animal experiments were performed on eight rabbits. In the animal experiments, the in vivo kinetics and enhancement effect of the ESIONs were evaluated using half-diluted and non-diluted ESIONs. The between-group differences were assessed using a linear mixed model. A commercially available gadolinium-based contrast agent (GBCA) was used as a control. Results: All ESIONs showed a good T1 shortening effect and were applicable for MRA at 1.5T and 3T. The relaxivity ratio of the ESIONs increased with increasing magnetic field strength. In the animal experiments, the ESIONs showed peak signal intensity on the first-pass images and persistent vascular enhancement until 90 minutes. On the 1-week follow-up images, the ESIONs were nearly washed out from the vascular structures and organs. The peak signal intensity on the first-pass images showed no significant difference between the non-diluted ESIONs with 3-mm iron cores and GBCA (p = 1.000). On the 10-minutes post-contrast images, the non-diluted ESIONs showed a significantly higher signal intensity than did the GBCA (p < 0.001). Conclusion: In the phantom experiments, the ESIONs with 3-4-nm iron oxide cores showed a good T1 shortening effect at 1.5T and 3T. In the animal experiments, the ESIONs with 3-nm iron cores showed comparable enhancement on the first-pass images and superior enhancement effect on the delayed images compared to the commercially available GBCA at 3T.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.16 no.5
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• pp.1683-1686
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• 2015

Different types of treatment are available for patients with breast cancer, the most being radiotherapy, chemotherapy, hormonal therapy and combination therapy. Recently, nanoparticles have been emerging as promising agents for cancer therapy and are being investigated as contrast agents, drug carriers, radiosensitizers and also for hyperthermia effects. In this review the focus is on approaches for targeted treatment of breast cancer by combining nanoparticles, chemodrugs and radiation. The availble data suggest the possibility of increased roles for combined therapy, particularly by reducing the dose of each treatment modality, and consequently minimizing related side effects.

• BMB Reports
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• v.36 no.3
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• pp.269-274
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• 2003

In the fight against cancer, novel chemotherapeutic agents are constantly being sought to complement existing drugs. Various studies have presented evidence that the apoptosis that is induced by these anticancer agents is implicated in tumor regression, and Bcl-2 family genes play a part in apoptosis following treatment with various stimuli. Here, we present data that a styrylpyrone derivative (SPD) that is extracted from the plant Goniothalamus sp. showed cytotoxic effects on the human breast cancer cell line MCF-7. SPD significantly increased apoptosis in MCF-7 cells, as visualized by phase contrast microscopy and evaluated by the Tdt-mediated dUTP nick end-labeling assay and nuclear morphology. Western blotting and immunostaining revealed up-regulation of the proapoptotic Bax protein expression. SPD, however, did not affect the expression of the anti-apoptotic protein, Bcl-2. These results, therefore, suggest SPD as a potent cytotoxic agent on MCF-7 cells by inducing apoptosis through the modulation of Bax levels.

• Culinary science and hospitality research
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• v.13 no.3
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• pp.44-53
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• 2007

This study investigated the utilization of pumpkin cream soup mixture of pumpkin P1(sweet pumpkin 25%, pumpkin 75%), and S1(rice flour 100%) and S3(rice powder 50%, glutinous rice powder 50%) as thickening agents showed highest preference for pumpkin cream soup. Rice powder was used in pumpkin cream soup as a thickening agent. Hunter's color marked the lowest value in using group of flour roux, in contrast with the highest value in using glutinous rice powder roux. The results of viscosity were diverse according to the condition of relationships between the percentage of contents flour, rice and glutinous rice control. For the sensory evaluation, parameters such as appearance, color, viscosity and savory taste increased significantly from the control at glutinous rice roux, and overall acceptability marked the lowest result in flour roux control.

• Design Convergence Study
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• v.18 no.3
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• pp.71-87
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• 2019

Previous research has shown that the use of self-disclosure, the process of revealing personal thoughts and feelings, in conversational agents (CAs) increases overall user evaluations. However, research exploring the effects of self-disclosure in different situations or dialogue types is limited. This study investigated the effects of self-disclosure and dialogue type (task- vs. social-oriented) on trust, usefulness, and usage intention. Results showed significant interaction effects between self-disclosure and dialogue type. For CAs that did not use self-disclosure, trust, usefulness, and usage intention were higher in task-oriented dialogues. In contrast, CAs that did use self-disclosure had higher trust, usefulness, and usage intention in social-oriented dialogues. These results suggest that researchers and designers should consider the specific dialogue types and corresponding user goals when adding human qualities, such as self-disclosure, to CAs.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.15 no.8
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• pp.5124-5130
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• 2014

Dilution of the contrast agent by analyzing the change in the signal intensity during MR angiography in accordance with the viscosity and osmotic pressure minimizes the side effects, and improves the image quality. The contrast agent molarity changes by the dilution of the contrast agent in the blood, as it is injected, which leads to a change in signal intensity. Based on this principle, a phantom was prepared and experiments were performed. After the phantom experiment, a clinical experiment was conducted using the results of the phantom experiment. From November 2013 to January 2014, a group of patients were classified into diluted contrast agent (30 persons) and undiluted (30 persons), and the signal intensity of the cerebral vessels was compared. The signal intensity of the phantom according to the molarity of the contrast agent increased sharply from 0.0125 mmol, reached a peak at 20 mmol, and achieved equilibrium from 200 mmol. Based on the study results, the signal intensity of the blood vessels in the brain through were compared in a clinical experiment. All the brain vessels in the imaging range with diluting a high content of the gadolinium contrast agent showed high signal intensity. This result supports the phantom experiment and means that using the 500mmol diluted contrast agent is better than using 1000mmol undiluted contrast agent because it is easier to approach the 20mmol level needed to achieve the highest signal intensity. This study has significance in that it can minimize the high viscosity and osmotic pressure, which can cause side effects and improve the image quality using the method of the dilution rate.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.14 no.3
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• pp.1294-1300
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• 2013

The purpose of this study is to increase contrast to noise ratio(CNR) in myocardial viability test by using contrast agent which highly content gadolinium(1mmol/mL) maximizing diagnostic value. This research method that four hundred four patients were underwent the MRI scanning two hundred eighty four of them were injected commercial contrast media which have 0.5mmol/L and the rest of them were injected new contrast media(gadobutrol) which have 1mmol/mL of molarity to study the contrast difference depending on the molarity of the contrast agent signal intensities of normal ventricle and left ventricle were measured to compare and evaluate signal to noise ratio(SNR) and CNR of the images. As result, 1mmol/mL contrast agent showed higher SNR by 25.13% in myocardium and 30.74% in left ventricle. CNR was proved to be better in 1mmol/mL contrast agent by 31.29%. The results above were all statistically meaningful. Therefore, contrast agent contenting more gadolinium which was 1mmol/mL in this study, could more effectively shorten T1 relaxation time, increase the signal intensity and at the same time maximize CNR and diagnostic value. This study firstly report the usefulness of 1mmol/mL contrast agent in patients allegedly suffering cardiac diseases and it is considered to increase diagnostic value.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Service
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• v.17 no.2
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• pp.122-129
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• 1994

Teratogenic effects of diazinon were assessed morphologically and cholinergic blocking agents. Diazinon at doses ranging from 25 to 2000 ug /egg, was Injected on day 3 of incubation. TD50s were different for the various teratogenic signs (wry neck, micromelia, abnormal feathering, abnormal beak and curled claws). The threshould dose for wry neck was higher than threshould dose for other signs； 40 ug/egg produced substantial micromelia, abnormal feathering. abnormal beak and curled claws, but gave no signs of wry neck. In contrast to the teratogenic doses, the LD50 of diazinon was very high (above 2000 ug /egg). One of the characteristics of diazinon-induced teratogenesis was reduced body weight (78.7％) and body length (73.8%). Maximal teratogenic effects, scored as signs of retarded growth, wry neck micromelia, abnormal feathering, abnormal beak, and curled claws, were produced when the insectcide was administered on the third or fourth day. The threshold dose for type II teratogenic signs(such as wry neck and short neck) was higher than for type I (such as micromelia and abnormal feathering). Morphological studies, using atropine and gallamine, suggested that nicotine but not muscarinic receptors may be involved in the mechanism of diazinon induced type II malformations.