• Journal of the Korean Magnetics Society
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• v.27 no.4
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• pp.145-152
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• 2017

The arterial spin labeling (ASL) is a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) method that can evaluate tissue perfusion using blood in the body. The characteristic of non-invasive examinations without contrast agents and the quantitative measurement of perfusion volume is possible, which are increasingly being used for clinical and research purposes. Up to the present, The ASL method has lower SNR than the perfusion imaging method using contrast agent and because optimization of various parameter in the imaging process is difficult, Which may result in measurement errors. To improve this, ASL methods using various technologies are introduced. This paper briefly introduces the outline of ASL, its features in imaging process, various techniques, and clinical application.

• Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society
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• v.30 no.4
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• pp.849-852
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• 2009

The work describes EPR and 17O NMR measurements followed by theoretical calculation of the rotational correlation time $({\tau}_R)$, the water residence time $({\tau}_m)$, and the longitudinal electronic spin relaxation time $(T_{le})$(T_1e) for two new gadolinium complexes 1 and 2 of the type [$Gd(L)(H_2O)$] (L = tranexamic esters) in order to investigate their efficiency as a paramagnetic contrast agent (PCA). Of three correlation times, τR plays a major and predominant role to the unusually high relaxivity of 1 and 2 as compared with that of clinically approved MR CAs such as [$Gd(DTPA)(H_2O)]2‐ (Magnevist${\circledR}$), [Gd(DTPA-BMA)(H2O)] (Omniscan${\circledR}$), and $[Gd(DOTA)(H_2O)]^-$ (Dotarem${\circledR}$). The presence of bulky tranexamic ester in the ligand seems to be responsible for the conformational rigidity, which in turn causes such great an increase in ${\tau}_R$.

• Progress in Medical Physics
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• v.33 no.4
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• pp.88-100
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• 2022

Purpose: Cerebral microbleeds are more susceptible than surrounding tissues and have been associated with a variety of neurological and neurodegenerative disorders that are indicative of an underlying vascular pathology. We investigated relaxivity changes and microvascular indices in the presence of microbleeds in an imaging voxel by evaluating those before and after contrast agent injection. Methods: Monte Carlo simulations were run with a variety of conditions, including different magnetic field strengths (B₀), different echo times, and different contrast agents. ΔR2^* and ΔR2 and microvascular indices were calculated with varying microvascular vessel sizes and microbleed loads. Results: As B₀ and the concentration of microbleeds increased, 𝜟R2^* and 𝜟R2 increased. 𝜟R2^* increased, but 𝜟R2 decreased slightly as the vessel radius increased. When the vessel radius was increased, the vessel size index (VSI) and mean vessel diameter (mVD) increased, and all other microvascular indices except mean vessel density (Q) increased when the concentration of microbleeds was increased. Conclusions: Because patients with neurodegenerative diseases often have microbleeds in their brains and VSI and mVD increase with increasing microbleeds, microbleeds can be altered microvascular signals in a voxel in the brain of a neurodegenerative disease at 3T magnetic resonance imaging.

• The Journal of the Acoustical Society of Korea
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• v.24 no.2
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• pp.78-86
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• 2005

This study considers the magnitude of the harmonic components radiated from the ultrasonic contrast agents (UCA) activated by a typical diagnostic ultrasound. The nonlinear dynamic response of UCA to a 2 MHz diagnostic ultrasound pulse was predicted using Gilmore Model. The elastic property of the shell membrane of the UCA was ignored in the numerical model. Simulation was carried out for the UCA varying from 1 - 9 $\mu$m in its initial radius and the driving diagnostic ultrasound whose mechanical index (MI) ranges from 0.125 to 8. The powers of the sub. ultra and second harmonics of the acoustic signal from the UCA activated were compared with that of the fundamental component. The results show that. if the UCA is bigger than its resonant size (2 $\mu$m in radius for the present case) the sub harmonic power was much bigger than the fundamental. In particular, the 2nd harmonic component currently used as an imaging parameter for the harmonic imaging, was predicted to be lower in power than both the sub and the ultra harmonic component. This study indicates that, for obtaining harmonic imaging with UCA, the sub or ultra harmonics could be taken as imaging parameters better than the 2nd harmonic component.

• Korean Journal of Radiology
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• v.22 no.5
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• pp.725-734
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• 2021

Objective: To intraindividually compare hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) washout between MRIs using hepatobiliary agent (HBA) and extracellular agent (ECA). Materials and Methods: This study included 114 prospectively enrolled patients with chronic liver disease (mean age, 55 ± 9 years; 94 men) who underwent both HBA-MRI and ECA-MRI before surgical resection for HCC between November 2016 and May 2019. For 114 HCCs, the lesion-to-liver visual signal intensity ratio (SIR) using a 5-point scale (-2 to +2) was evaluated in each phase. Washout was defined as negative visual SIR with temporal reduction of visual SIR from the arterial phase. Illusional washout (IW) was defined as a visual SIR of 0 with an enhancing capsule. The frequency of washout and MRI sensitivity for HCC using LR-5 or its modifications were compared between HBA-MRI and ECA-MRI. Subgroup analysis was performed according to lesion size (< 20 mm or ≥ 20 mm). Results: The frequency of portal venous phase (PP) washout with HBA-MRI was comparable to that of delayed phase (DP) washout with ECA-MRI (77.2% [88/114] vs. 68.4% [78/114]; p = 0.134). The frequencies were also comparable when IW was allowed (79.8% [91/114] for HBA-MRI vs. 81.6% [93/114] for ECA-MRI; p = 0.845). The sensitivities for HCC of LR-5 (using PP or DP washout) were comparable between HBA-MRI and ECA-MRI (78.1% [89/114] vs. 73.7% [84/114]; p = 0.458). In HCCs < 20 mm, the sensitivity of LR-5 was higher on HBA-MRI than on ECA-MRI (70.8% [34/48] vs. 50.0% [24/48]; p = 0.034). The sensitivity was similar to each other if IW was added to LR-5 (72.9% [35/48] for HBA-MRI vs. 70.8% [34/48] for ECA-MRI; p > 0.999). Conclusion: Extracellular phase washout for HCC diagnosis was comparable between MRIs with both contrast agents, except for tumors < 20 mm. Adding IW could improve the sensitivity for HCC on ECA-MRI in tumors < 20 mm.

• Composites Research
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• v.18 no.4
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• pp.14-20
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• 2005

To determine the effect of chemical structure of aromatic amino curing agents on thermal and mechanical properties, standard epoxy resin DGEBF (diglycidylether of bisphenol F) was cured with diaminodiphenyl methane (DDM) and diaminodiphenyl sulphone (DDS) in a stoichiometrically equivalent ratio. From this work the effect of aromatic amino curing agents on the thermal and mechanical properties is significantly influenced by the chemical structure of curing agents. In contrast, the results show that the DGEBF/DDS system having the sulfone structure between the benzene rings had higher values in the thermal stability, density, shrinkage ($\%$), thermal expansion coefficient, tensile modulus and strength, flexural modulus and strength than the DGEBF/DDM system having methylene structure between the benzene rings, whereas the DGEBF/DDS system presented low values in maximum exothermic temperature, conversion of epoxide, and grass transition temperature. These results are caused by the relative effects of sulfone group having strong electronegativity and methylene group having (+) repulsive property. The result of fractography shows that the grain distribution of DGEBF/DDS system is more irregular than that of the DGEBF/DDM system.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.17 no.3
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• pp.648-655
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• 2003

In this study, the effects of Gamgung-tang gamibang on the hyperthyroidism induced by the intraperitoneal injection of 3,5,3-triiodothyronine was examined by the measurement of physical changes, body weight, the volume of food intake and rectal temperature, and heart weight, heart beat, blood pressure with contrast to propranolol, one of beta-blocking agents. the obtained results were as follows. The Gamgung-tang gamibang extract showed to inhibit the decrease of body weight and rectal temperature, and decrease the food intake, so the inhibitory effects of Gamgung-tang gamibang extract on the experimental hyperthyroidism were exhibited. The Gamgung-tang gamibang extract showed the inhibitory effects on the circulatory functions changed and enhanced by the experimental induced hyperthyroidism, the action of Gamgung-tang gamibang extract was less effective than the propranolol of D-CONT group. The Gamgung-tang gamibang extract showed significant effects to inhibit the concentration of serum thyroid houmone, more effective than the propranolol, beta-blocking agents. The Gamgung-tang gamibang extract showed the effective inhibitory reaction on the biochemical changes in serum, cholesterol, ketone bodies, free fatty acid, glucose in hyperthyroid rats induced by 3,5,3-triiodothyronine.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Research
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• v.34 no.1
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• pp.49-54
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• 1994

Teratogenic effects of diazinon were assessed on morphology of chick embryos cholinergic blocking agents. Diazinon at doses ranging from 25 to $2000{\mu}g/egg$, was injected on Day 3 of incubation. $TD_{50S}$, were different for the various teratogenic sings such as wry neck, micromelia, abnormal feathering, abnormal beak and curled claws. The threshold dose for wry neck was higher than the threshold dose for other signs; $40{\mu}g/egg$ produced substantial micromelia, abnormal feathering, abnormal beak and curled claws, but gave no sings of wry neck. In contrast to the teratogenic doses, the $LD_{50}$ of diazinon was very high(above $2000{\mu}g/egg$). One of the characteristics of diazinon-induced teratogenesis was reduction of body weight(78.8%) and body length(73.8%). Maximal teratogenic effects, scored as sings 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 sings including wry neck and short neck was higher than for type I including micromelia and abnormal feathering. Morphorlogical studies, using atropine and gallamine, suggested that nicotinc but not muscarinic receptors may be involved in the mechanism of diazinon-induced type II malformations.

• Animal cells and systems
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• v.10 no.4
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• pp.203-209
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• 2006

Azoles are widely used antifungal agents, which inhibit the biosynthesis of fungal cell-membrane ergosterol. In this study, using an amphibian follicle culture system, the effects of azoles on follicular steroidogenesis in frogs were examined. Itraconazole (ICZ), clotrimazole (CTZ) and ketoconazole (KCZ) suppressed pregnenolone ($P_5$) production by the follicles ($ED_{50};\;0.04_{\mu}M,\;0.33_{\mu} M,\;and\;0.91_{\mu}M$, respectively) in response to frog pituitary homogenates (FPH). However, fluconazole (FCZ), miconazole (MCZ) and econazole (ECZ) were not effective in the suppression of $P_5$ production. Not all the azoles examined suppressed the conversion of exogenous $P_5$ to progesterone ($P_4$) (by $3{\beta}$- HSD) or $P_4$ to $17{\alpha}$-hydroxyprogesterone ($17{\alpha}$-OHP) (by $17{\alpha}$-hydroxylase), or androstenedione (AD) to testosterone (T) (by $17{\beta}$-HSD). In contrast, CTZ, MCZ and ECZ in medium partially suppressed the conversion of $17{\alpha}$-OHP to AD (by C17-20 lyase) ($ED_{50};\;0.25{\mu} M,\;4.5{\mu}M,\;and\;0.7{mu}M$, respectively) and CTZ, KCZ, ECZ and MCZ strongly suppressed the conversion of exogenous T to estradiol ($E_2$) (by aromatase) ($ED_{50};\;0.02{\mu}M,\;8{\mu}M,\;0.07{\mu}M,\;0.8{\mu}M$, respectively). These results demonstrated that some azole agents strongly suppress amphibian follicular steroidogenesis and particularly, P450scc and aromatase are more sensitive to azoles than other steroidogenic enzymes.

• Korean Chemical Engineering Research
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• v.54 no.2
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• pp.223-228
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• 2016

In this study, we described a simple and facile method to generate uniform microwells poly(dimethyl siloxane) (PDMS) microstamps through micro-molding for efficient, rapid and reliable cell patterning of adipocyte differentiation. In contrast to the conventional methods, the microstamp technologies are low expensive, non-toxic, and using a small amount of solution. Recently, Orlistat known as tetrahydrolipstatin is a prescription drug designed to treat obesity which is used to aid in weight loss and help to reduce overweight obesity. Here, 3T3-L1 cells were treated under various concentration manners of Orlistat $0.2{\mu}M{\sim}5.0{\mu}M$. and it was confirmed maximum 26.5% inhibition activity compared to control. Thus, we elucidated this platform can be used for the real-time analyzing of cell proliferation, adipocyte differentiation for evaluation of anti-obesity agents on cell chip. Furthermore, we except that this platform technology designed here might be readily be expanded to discover a wider variety of anti-obesity agents.