• Title/Summary/Keyword: Contrast Media

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Evaluation of Optimal Combination of Commercially Available Superparamagnetic Iron Oxide Nanoparticles and Transfection Agents for Labelling of Human Mesenchymal Stem Cells (인체 중간엽 줄기세포의 표지를 위한 상용화 된 Superparamagnetic Iron Oxide Nanoparticle과 Tansfection Agent의 적절한 병용을 위한 연구)

  • Kim, Sung-Hun;Oh, Soon-Nam;Park, Youn-Hee;Kang, Won-Kyung;Ahn, Kook-Jin;Chung, Soo-Kyo
    • Investigative Magnetic Resonance Imaging
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    • v.16 no.1
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    • pp.31-39
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    • 2012
  • Purpose : To determine the optimal combination of commercially available superparamagnetic iron oxide (SPIO) nanoparticles with transfection agents (TA). Materials and Methods: Protamine sulfate (Pro) and poly-L-lysin (PLL) were incubated with ferumoxide and ferucarbotran in human mesenchymal stem cells at various concentrations, and cellular viability were evaluated. Cellular iron uptake was qualitatively and quantitatively evaluated. Cell visibility was assessed via MR imaging and the T2-relaxation time was calculated. Results: The cellular viabilities with ferucarbotran were more significantly decreased than those with ferumoxide (p < 0.05). Iron uptake with ferumoxide was significantly higher than that for those with with ferucarbotran. The T2-relaxation time was observed to be shorter with ferumoxide in comparison to those with ferucarbotran (p < 0.05). Ferumoxide at a concentration of 25 ${\mu}g$/ml in combination with either Pro or PLL at a concentration of 3.0 ${\mu}g$/ml did not adversely impact cell viability, maximized iron uptake, and exhibited a lower T2-relaxation time in comparison to other combinations. Conclusion: Stem cells with ferumoxide exhibited a higher cellular viability and iron uptake in comparison to ferucarbotran-treated stem cells. A 25 ${\mu}g$/ml of ferumoxide with a 3.0 ${\mu}g$/ml of TA is sufficient to label mesenchymal stem cells.

A Study for Vulnerability Analysis and Guideline about Social Personal Broadcasting Service based on Smart-Phone Environment (focus on SNS or U-Health) (스마트폰 환경 하에서 소셜 개인방송 서비스의 취약점 분석과 가이드라인에 관한 연구 (SNS 및 U-Health를 중심으로))

  • Kang, Jang-Mook;Lee, Woo-Jin;Song, You-Jin
    • The Journal of the Institute of Internet, Broadcasting and Communication
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    • v.10 no.6
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    • pp.161-167
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    • 2010
  • Social individualized broadcasting increases rapidly in an environment that combines communication and broadcasting. Real-time individualized broadcasting is a service that is provided by multiple individuals to many and unspecified persons. In contrast, newly introduced individualized broadcasting service is a service that has not been experienced socially and culturally and therefore many problems are expected. The newly emerging real-time individualized broadcasting service may bring about various dysfunctions as well as desirable functions. Establishment of guideline and its implementation based in vulnerability analysis are necessary to prevent the expected dysfunctions and reinforce the desirable functions. Therefore, the purpose of this paper is to examine dysfunctions of the information-oriented society which threaten cyber-norms, cyber-morality, cyber-dangers, cyber-democracy, etc. at the level of social individualized broadcasting service and to propose appropriate guidelines. Through this paper, first, future changes of dysfunctions of the information-oriented society due to individualized broadcasting service can be forecast, and countermeasures and policy directions can be proposed. Second, Dysfunctions of ICT-based service that may emerge in individualized broadcasting service can be forecast and correct guideline can be prepared to reduce potential dangers and increase desirable functions of the service. This paper will analyze in various aspects the characteristics of a new media with the focus on individualized broadcasting service among the new ICT-integrated services, and forecast the appearance and aggravation of the dysfunctions and then draw the guideline.

Ovarian Masses: Is Multi-detector Computed Tomography a Reliable Imaging Modality?

  • Khattak, Yasir Jamil;Hafeez, Saima;Alam, Tariq;Beg, Madiha;Awais, Mohammad;Masroor, Imrana
    • Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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    • v.14 no.4
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    • pp.2627-2630
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    • 2013
  • Background: Ovarian cancer continues to pose a major challenge to physicians and radiologists. It is the third most common gynecologic malignancy and estimated to be fifth leading cancer cause of death in women, constituting 23% of all gynecological malignancies. Multi-detector computed tomography (MDCT) appears to offer an excellent modality in diagnosing ovarian cancer based on combination of its availability, meticulous technique, efficacy and familiarity of radiologists and physicians. The aim of this study was to compute sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive values and diagnostic accuracy of 64-slice MDCT in classifying ovarian masses; 95% confidence intervals were reported. Materials and Methods: We prospectively designed a cross-sectional analytical study to collect data from July 2010 to August 2011 from a tertiary care hospital in Karachi, Pakistan. A sample of 105 women aged between 15-80 years referred for 64-MDCT of abdomen and pelvis with clinical suspicion of malignant ovarian cancer, irrespective of stage of disease, were enrolled by non-probability purposive sampling. All patients who were already known cases of histologically proven ovarian carcinoma and having some contraindication to radiation or iodinated contrast media were excluded. Results: Our prospective study reports sensitivity, specificity; positive and negative predictive values with 95%CI and accuracy were computed. Kappa was calculated to report agreement among the two radiologists. For reader A, MDCT was found to have 92% (0.83, 0.97) sensitivity and 86.7% (0.68, 0.96) specificity, while PPV and NPV were 94.5% (0.86, 0.98) and 86.7% (0.63, 0.92), respectively. Accuracy reported by reader A was 90.5%. For reader B, sensitivity, specificity, PPV and NPV were 94.6% (0.86, 0.98) 90% (0.72, 0.97) 96% (0.88, 0.99) and 87.1% (0.69, 0.95) respectively. Accuracy computed by reader B was 93.3%. Excellent agreement was found between the two radiologists with a significant kappa value of 0.887. Conclusion: Based on our study results, we conclude MDCT is a reliable imaging modality in diagnosis of ovarian masses accurately with insignificant interobserver variability.

Effects of Dietary Zinc on Performance and Immune Response of Growing Pigs Inoculated with Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome Virus and Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae

  • Roberts, E.S.;Heugten, E. van;Spears, J.W.;Routh, P.A.;Lloyd, K.L.;Almond, G.W.
    • Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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    • v.17 no.10
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    • pp.1438-1445
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    • 2004
  • The objective of this study was to determine the effects of dietary Zn level on performance, serum Zn concentrations, alkaline phosphatase activity (ALP), and immune response of pigs inoculated with Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome virus (PRRSv) and Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae. A $2{\times}4$ factorial arrangement of treatments was used in a randomized design. Factors included; 1) PRRSv and M. hyopneumoniae inoculation (n=36 pigs) or sham inoculation (n=36 pigs) with media when pigs entered the grower facility (d 0) at 9 weeks of age and 2) 10, 50, 150 ppm supplemental Zn sulfate (${ZnSO}_4$) from weaning until the completion of the study, or 2,000 ppm supplemental ${ZnSO}_4$for two weeks in the nursery and then supplementation with 150 ppm ${ZnSO}_4$for the remainder of the trial. The basal diet contained 34 ppm Zn. Pigs were weighed on d 0, 10, 17, 24 and 31 and blood samples were collected on d 0, 7, 14, 21 and 28. Pigs inoculated with PRRSv were serologically positive at d 28 and control pigs remained negative to PRRSv. In contrast, the M hyopneumoniae inoculation was inconsistent with 33.3% and 52.8% of pigs serologically positive at d 28 in the control and infected groups, respectively. A febrile response was observed for approximately one week after inoculation with PRRSv. Feed intake (p<0.01) and gain (p<0.1) were less in PRRSv infected pigs than control pigs for the 31 d study. However, performance did not differ among pigs in the four levels of ${ZnSO}_4$. Assessments of immune responses failed to provide unequivocal influence of either PRRSv inoculation or ${ZnSO}_4$level. These data suggest that PRRSv and M. hyopneumoniae act to produce some performance deficits and the influence of Zn supplementation of nursery age pigs does not have clear effect in grower pigs affected with disease.

Spore Germination and Prothallium Development Conditions of Lygodium japonicum (Thunb.) Sw. (실고사리(Lygodium japonicum (Thunb.) Sw.) 포자발아와 전엽체 발달조건)

  • Kwon, Hyuk Joon;Shin, So Lim;Lim, Yun Kyung;Kim, Soo-Young
    • Korean Journal of Plant Resources
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    • v.29 no.4
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    • pp.400-406
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    • 2016
  • This study was conducted to determine the optimal conditions of growth medium, temperature, and light quality for efficient propagation of Lygodium japonicum spores. The rate of spore germination and prothalium development was high in Knop and 1/8MS and 1/4MS media, which had low mineral content; in particular, the germination rate exceeded 74%, and the germinated spores developed into heart-shaped prothallia. However, in Knop‘s medium with the lowest mineral content, a rapid prothallium senescence was observed; in 1/4MS medium, prothallium development was delayed. Germination rate increased with the increase in temperature and reached its maximum, 86.7%, at 30℃; however, at this temperature, the prothallia were thinner and abnormal development of rhizoids was observed compared to normally developed prothallia and rhizoids at 25℃. Therefore, the results suggested that the optimal temperature for L. japonicum spore germination was 25℃. The rate of germination was also measured under different light conditions, and the highest rate of 90.6% was observed under LED red light compared to fluorescent (77.2%) or LED blue (5.4%) lights. The germinated spores developed into heart-shaped prothallia under LED red light; however, 15 days after seeding, prothallium development decreased and the became elongated. In contrast, a normal and continuous development of heart-shaped prothallia was observed under fluorescent light.

The Creation of Ttukseom Pleasure Ground and Its Transformation to a Park (뚝섬유원지의 생성과 공원화)

  • Kim, Jeoung-Eun
    • Journal of the Korean Institute of Landscape Architecture
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    • v.46 no.1
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    • pp.127-142
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    • 2018
  • Ttukseom was once a suburban area that had a government horse ranch for national use and a naenogpo (area of royal farm land). During the Japanese colonial period, a pleasure ground was built at Ttukseom, and after independence, it has been used as a park through the process of urbanization. This study examines the creation of the Ttukseom Pleasure Ground and the process through which the pleasure ground were transformed to a park. This study also explores its landscape and cultural aspects. In the 1930s, Gyeongseonggwedo (京城軌道), a private railway company, built a pleasure ground at Ttukseom to attract passengers, according to the business model of Japanese railway companies, in which recreational areas were developed near railway routes. Mass media portrayed this area as a "rural landscape" in contrast to the city. The Ttukseom Pleasure Ground emerged as a popular summer resort for Gyeongseong citizens. At the same time, it was managed by Gyeongseongbu (京城府). The city of Seoul began to manage the Ttukseom Pleasure Ground following independence, and development plans for Ttukseom as a pleasure ground or a park were continuously drafted but never implemented. Even after Korea's independence, the operation and use of the pleasure ground did not change significantly from the colonial era. In the late 1980s, the Ttukseom Pleasure Ground became the Ttukseom Han River Citizen's Park, and the sandy beach of the Han River was removed. Nonetheless, the previous facilities and major activities such as an open-air swimming pool, camp ground, and areas for boat recreation remained as major park programs. When the urbanization of Ttukseom was completed, its idyllic image disappeared and it became a park instead of a pleasure ground. Since parks expand their programs, it can be concluded that by providing those kinds of programs, the Ttukseom Pleasure Ground transformed to a park.

Quality Improvement on Upper Gastrointestinal Series (위장조영검사에서 화질 개선 방법)

  • Lim, Byung-Hak;Chon, Kwon Su
    • Journal of the Korean Society of Radiology
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    • v.10 no.6
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    • pp.395-401
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    • 2016
  • Upper gastrointestinal series is a diagnostic test that X-ray passes through the stomach after administering contrast media such as barium or gastrografin. Upper gastrointestinal series with an advantage of no side effect except temporary constipation or abdominal pain has been widely used to diagnose diseases of the gastrointestinal system. However, image degradation and diagnostic accuracy frequently occurred when improper movement and breath control were carried out by lack of understanding the overall inspection process for the upper gastrointestinal series. The movie of the upper gastrointestinal series was made for improving inspection accuracy and image quality. The examinees encouraged to see the movie for waiting time before doing upper gastrointestinal series. In this study, image quality and diagnostic accuracy was examined for the effect of the movie about upper gastrointestinal series. 60 patients composed of each 10 people from 30s to 80s were selected randomly among both 2,940 examinees in 2014 and 3,076 examinees in 2015. Image quality was evaluated by the full width at half maximum of profile for each image using the Image J. The measurement of the full width at half maximum showed 0.208 mm and 0.133 mm for after and before seeing the movie. Thus it was verified that the movie education could improve the image quality and diagnostic accuracy for upper gastrointestinal series.

Effect of Fertilizer Application and Planting Method on Growth and Yield of 'Seolhyang' Strawberry in Seedling Stage (육묘과정 중 배양액 추비시용과 정식방법에 따른 '설향' 딸기 생육 및 수량에 미치는 영향)

  • Park, Gab-Soon;Kang, Tae-Ju;Kim, Young-Chil;Ann, Seoung-Won
    • Journal of Environmental Science International
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    • v.24 no.2
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    • pp.197-205
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    • 2015
  • This study was performed to identify the effect of fertilizer application and planting method on growth and yield of 'Seolhyang' strawberry during seedling raising. According to the concentration of fertilizer applied, the height of daughter plants was the highest at an EC of $0.8dS{\cdot}m^{-1}$. Leaf number and crown diameter were greatest at an EC of $0.6-0.8dS{\cdot}m^{-1}$. In the first measurement, root number was highest in non-fertilizer application, while root weight was heaviest in non-fertilizer application and EC $0.4dS{\cdot}m^{-1}$. The higher the concentration of fertilizer applied as culture media, the lower the growth rate. Thirty days after planting on the main field, plant height and number of new leaf were highest at an EC of $0.8dS{\cdot}m^{-1}$. However, no significant difference was found in leaf length and width and chlorophyll content according to fertilizer application. Marketable yield of 25 g or higher was greatest in EC $0.6dS{\cdot}m^{-1}$. In contrast, no significance was found in total marketable yield at an EC of $0.4-0.8dS{\cdot}m^{-1}$. Aconsistent pattern was exhibited in the growth of 1-5 harvesting flower clusters according to planting method. The length of leaf and flower cluster was short and chlorophyll content was low, when bed soil was removed 100% in harvesting of the first flower cluster. In all treatment, leaf length was shortened until harvesting of the second and third flower cluster, but rapidly lengthened in harvesting of the third and fourth flower clusters. Moreover, the length of flower cluster had a increasing tendency from harvesting of the third flower cluster. However, chlorophyll content was reduced continuously until harvesting of the fifth flower cluster, and was lowest in harvesting of the fourth flower cluster without removal of bed soil. Total yield was greatest in treatment of crown removal in bed soil between November and May. Late marketable yield between March and May was highest in treatment of 100% bed soil removal, followed by treatment of crown removal. Marketable yield of 25 g or higher was greatest in treatment of crown removal between December and February, while greatest in treatment of 100% bed soil removal between March and May.

Pro-apoptotic Effect of Pifithrin-α on Preimplantation Porcine In vitro Fertilized Embryo Development

  • Mulligan, Brendan;Hwang, Jae-Yeon;Kim, Hyung-Min;Oh, Jong-Nam;Choi, Kwang-Hwan;Lee, Chang-Kyu
    • Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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    • v.25 no.12
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    • pp.1681-1690
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    • 2012
  • The aim of this study was to investigate the impact of a reported p53 inhibitor, pifithrin-${\alpha}$ (PFT-${\alpha}$), on preimplantation porcine in vitro fertilized (IVF) embryo development in culture. Treatment of PFT-${\alpha}$ was administered at both early (0 to 48 hpi), and later stages (48 to 168 hpi) of preimplantation development, and its impact upon the expression of five genes related to apoptosis (p53, bak, bcl-xL, p66Shc and caspase3), was assessed in resulting d 7 blastocysts, using real-time quantitative PCR. Total cell numbers, along with the number of apoptotic nuclei, as detected by the in situ cell death detection assay, were also calculated on d 7 in treated and non-treated control embryos. The results indicate that PFT-${\alpha}$, when administered at both early and later stages of porcine IVF embryo development, increases the incidence of apoptosis in resulting blastocysts. When administered at early cleavage stages, PFT-${\alpha}$ treatment was shown to reduce the developmental competence of porcine IVF embryos, as well as reducing the quality of resulting blastocysts in terms of overall cell numbers. In contrast, at later stages, PFT-${\alpha}$ administration resulted in marginally increased blastocyst development rates amongst treated embryos, but did not affect cell numbers. However, PFT-${\alpha}$ treatment induced apoptosis and apoptotic related gene expression, in all treated embryos, irrespective of the timing of treatment. Our results indicate that PFT-${\alpha}$ may severely compromise the developmental potential of porcine IVF embryos, and is a potent apoptotic agent when placed into porcine embryo culture media. Thus, caution should be exercised when using PFT-${\alpha}$ as a specific inhibitor of p53 mediated apoptosis, in the context of porcine IVF embryo culture systems.

Evaluation of Tracking Performance: Focusing on Improvement of Aiming Ability for Individual Weapon (개인화기 조준 능력 향상 관점에서의 추적 기법의 성능평가)

  • Kim, Sang Hoon;Yun, Il Dong
    • Journal of Broadcast Engineering
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    • v.18 no.3
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    • pp.481-490
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    • 2013
  • In this paper, an investigation of weapon tracking performance is shown in regard to improving individual weapon performance of aiming objects. On the battlefield, a battle can last only a few hours, sometimes it can last several days until finished. In these long-lasting combats, a wide variety of factors will gradually lower the visual ability of soldiers. The experiments were focusing on enhancing the degraded aiming performance by applying visual tracking technology to roof mounted sights so as to track the movement of troops automatically. In order to select the optimal algorithm among the latest visual tracking techniques, performance of each algorithm was evaluated using the real combat images with characteristics of overlapping problems, camera's mobility, size changes, low contrast images, and illumination changes. The results show that VTD (Visual Tracking Decomposition)[2], IVT (Incremental learning for robust Visual Tracking)[7], and MIL (Multiple Instance Learning)[1] perform the best at accuracy, response speed, and total performance, respectively. The evaluation suggests that the roof mounted sights equipped with visual tracking technology are likely to improve the reduced aiming ability of forces.