• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• v.45 no.2
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• pp.94-99
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• 2018

Objective: Prompt diagnosis and management are essential for saving the adnexal organs from infarction in cases of ovarian torsion (OT). This study aimed to determine the diagnostic significance of signal peptide, complement C1r/C1s, Uegf, and Bmp1 (CUB), and epidermal growth factor-like domain-containing protein-1 (SCUBE-1) levels in cases of OT, an emergent ischemic condition, and the relationship of SCUBE-1 with oxidative stress parameters. Methods: This prospective study was conducted among 15 OT patients and 20 age- and gravidity-matched healthy women. SCUBE-1 serum concentrations were determined by using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays. In addition, oxidative stress was evaluated by measuring the serum levels of advanced oxidation protein products (AOPP), ferric reducing ability of plasma (FRAP), and glutathione (GSH). Results: The SCUBE-1 titers were significantly higher in the patients with OT than in the controls (p=0.008). In addition, serum FRAP and GSH levels were significantly lower in the OT patients than in the controls (p<0.001 for both). Serum AOPP levels were higher in the OT patients, but this trend was not statistically significant (p>0.05). Furthermore, there were no correlations between SCUBE-1 levels and age, gravidity, parity, cyst size, and AOPP, FRAP, or GSH levels (p>0.05). Conclusion: We believe that SCUBE-1 may be a promising biomarker for the early diagnosis of OT.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• v.52 no.3
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• pp.568-574
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• 2020

The feasibility of the particle-in-cell (PIC) method is assessed to simulate the non-collective phenomena like non-collective Thomson scattering (TS). The non-collective TS in the laser-plasma interaction, which is related to the single-particle behavior, is simulated through a 2D relativistic PIC code (XOOPIC). For this simulation, a non-collective TS is emitted from a 50-50 DT plasma with electron density and temperature of n_e = 3.00 × 10¹³ cm^-3 and T_e = 1000 eV, typical for the edge plasma at ITER measured by ETS system, respectively. The wavelength, intensity, and FWHM of the laser applied in the ETS system are λ_i,0 = 1.064 × 10^-4 cm, I_i = 2.24 × 10¹⁷ erg=s·㎠, and 12.00 ns, respectively. The electron density and temperature predicted by the PIC simulation, obtained from the TS scattered wave, are n_e,TS = 2.91 × 10¹³ cm^-3 and T_e,TS = 1089 eV, respectively, which are in accordance with the input values of the simulated plasma. The obtained results indicate that the ambiguities rising due to the contradiction between the PIC statistical collective mechanism caused by the super-particle concept and the non-collective nature of TS are resolved. The ability and validity to use PIC method to study the non-collective regimes are verified.

• Journal of the Institute of Electronics and Information Engineers
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• v.51 no.6
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• pp.237-243
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• 2014

Heart sounds of patient's chest could be heard using an analog stethoscope. However, auscultation of a heart sound can be diagnosed differently by each doctor hearing it. Therefore the condition of each patient is determined by the subjective comments based on the hearing ability of a physician who has years of experience. In this paper, through analysis of heart sound and heart rate of the patient's condition, we will define minutely how to diagnose the condition of patient using a wireless digital stethoscope diagnostic system. And it is possible to perform an objective medical diagnosis by applying LCR (Level Crossing Rate) and to show the relationship of a disease using this system.

• Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging
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• v.43 no.3
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• pp.159-164
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• 2009

Coronary artery disease is on the rise over the world. Myocardial perfusion SPECT is a well established technique to detect coronary artery disease and to assess left ventricular function. In addition, it has the unique ability to predict the prognosis of the patients. Moreover, the application of ECC-gated images provided the quantitatve data and improved the accuracy. This approach has been proved to be cost-effective and suitable for the emerging economies as well as developed countries. However, the utilization of nuclear cardiology procedures vary widely considering the different countries and region of the world. Korea exits 2-3 times less utilization than Japan, and 20 times than the United States. Recently, with the emerging of new technology, namely cardiac CT, cardiac MR and stress echocardiography, the clinical usefulness of nuclear cardiology has been called in question and its role has been redefined. For the proper promotion of nuclear cardiology, special educations should be conducted since the nuclear cardiology has the contact points between nuclear medicine and cardiology. Several innovations are in horizon which will impact the diagnostic accuracy as well as imaging time and cost savings. Development of new tracers, gamma camera technology and hybrid systems will open the new avenue in cardiac imaging. The future of nuclear cardiology based on molecular imaging is very exciting. The newly defined biologic targets involving atherosclerosis and vascular vulnerability will allow the answers for the key clinical questions. Hybrid techniques including SPECT/CT indicate the direction in which clinical nuclear cardiology may be headed in the immediate future. To what extent nuclear cardiology will be passively absorbed by other modalities, or will actively incorporate other modalities, is up to the present and next generation of nuclear cardiologists.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• v.24 no.1
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• pp.67-81
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• 1997

To determine the concentration and the physiologic role of metal components in blood plasma and seminal plasma in relation to male infertility, the concentrations of twelve metal components in blood plasma and seminal plasma including Na, Mg, K, Ca, Cr, Mn, Fe, Cu, Zn, Se, Cd and Pb were measured by atomic absorbance spectrophotometery or ion selective electrode analysis. Semen and blood samples were obtained from a total of 110 men including 70 male infertility patients, 20 vasectomized persons and 20 fertility proven volunteers visited to the Male Infertility Clinic of Pusan National University Hospital. The concentrations of Ca, Zn, Mg, Cr and Cd in control group were higher in seminal plasma than in blood plasma, and additionally Pb were higher in infertility group. The concentrations of all metal components revealed no significant difference according to patients' age, resident, occupation, sperm density, motility and hormone level in blood plasma, but some metal components including Ca, Mg, Cu, Mn, Cd and Pb revealed a significant difference according to each these parameters except patient's age in seminal plasma. The concentrations of Mn, Cd and Pb in the vasectomy persons were higher than in the infertility group III including testicular and epididymal factors, but not in blood plasma. We conclude that the quantitative changes of metal components in the seminal plasma may have effects on not only spermatogenesis and sperm function, but also contribute to diagnostic parameter according to organ specificity of the metal in the male reproduction.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Research
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• v.55 no.2
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• pp.105-110
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• 2015

A real-time PCR assay using hybridization probe (HybProbe) has been developed to detect Brucella (B.) melitensis strains. The primer and HybProbe sets were designed based on the gap gene of chromosome I with a specific single nucleotide polymorphism of B. melitensis. Specificity of the assay was confirmed by comparison to reference Brucella species and other related strains. In the melting curve analysis, B. melitensis generated a peak at $67^{\circ}C$ unlike those for other Brucella species observed at $61^{\circ}C$. Sensitivity of the assay for B. melitensis ranged from 20 ng to 200 fg of genomic DNA. The ability to identify 94 Mongolian B. melitensis isolates using the real-time PCR assay was identical to that of classical biotyping methods and differential multiplex PCR. These data showed that this new molecular technique is a simple and quick method for detecting B. melitensis, which will be important for the control and prevention of brucellosis.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.17 no.1
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• pp.95-100
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• 2016

Background: Survival time of lymphoma patients can be estimated with the help of microarray technology. In this study, with the use of iterative Bayesian Model Averaging (BMA) method, survival time of Mantle Cell Lymphoma patients (MCL) was estimated and in reference to the findings, patients were divided into two high-risk and low-risk groups. Materials and Methods: In this study, gene expression data of MCL patients were used in order to select a subset of genes for survival analysis with microarray data, using the iterative BMA method. To evaluate the performance of the method, patients were divided into high-risk and low-risk based on their scores. Performance prediction was investigated using the log-rank test. The bioconductor package "iterativeBMAsurv" was applied with R statistical software for classification and survival analysis. Results: In this study, 25 genes associated with survival for MCL patients were identified across 132 selected models. The maximum likelihood estimate coefficients of the selected genes and the posterior probabilities of the selected models were obtained from training data. Using this method, patients could be separated into high-risk and low-risk groups with high significance (p<0.001). Conclusions: The iterative BMA algorithm has high precision and ability for survival analysis. This method is capable of identifying a few predictive variables associated with survival, among many variables in a set of microarray data. Therefore, it can be used as a low-cost diagnostic tool in clinical research.

• Biomedical Science Letters
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.23-31
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• 2015

Recently, specific antibodies have been used extensively to diagnose and treat various diseases. It is essential to assess the efficacy and specificity of antibodies, especially the in vivo environment. Anti-HER-2/neu mAb was evaluated as a possible transporting agent for radioimmunotherapy. The monoclonal antibody was successfully radio-labeled with $^{131}I$. In vitro binding assays were performed to confirm its targeting ability using another radio-iodine, $^{125}I$. Binding percentage of $^{125}I$ labeled anti-HER-2/neu mAb in HER-2/neu expressing CT-26 cells was found to be 4.5%, whereas the binding percentage of $^{125}I$ labeled anti-HER-2/neu mAb in wild-type CT-26 was only 0.45%. In vivo images were obtained and analyzed through $\gamma$-camera and an optical fluorescent modality, IVIS-200. $\gamma$-camera images showed that $^{131}I$ labeled anti-HER-2/neu mAb accumulated in HER-2/neu CT-26 tumors. Optical imaging based on near infrared fluorescence labeled anti-HER-2/neu mAb showed higher fluorescence intensities in HER-2/neu CT-26 tumors than in wild-type CT-26 tumors. Anti-HER-2/neu mAb was found to specifically bind to its receptor expressing tumor. Our study demonstrates that in vivo imaging technique is a useful method for the evaluation of an antibody's therapeutic and diagnostic potentials.

• The Korean Journal of Nuclear Medicine
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• v.3 no.1
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• pp.83-99
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• 1969

There have been reported numberous cases of liver scanning in use of $^{198}Au$ colloid by many investigators, however, one in use of $^{113m}In$ colloid has not been reported as yet in this country. The dose of $^{113m}In$ for high diagnostic value in examination of each organ was determined and the dignostic interpretability of liver scanning with the use of $^{113m}In$ was carefully evaluated in comparison with the results of the liver scanning by the conventionally applied radioisotopes. The comparative study of both figures of liver scannings with the use of $^{113m}In$ colloid and $^{198}Au$ colloid delivered following results: 1. The liver uptake rate and clearance into peripheral blood were accentuated more in case of $^{113m}In$ colloid than in case of $^{198}Au$ colloid. 2. The interpretability of space occupying lesion in liver scanning with $^{113m}In$ was also superior to one with $^{198}Au$. 3. The figure of liver scanning with $^{113m}In$ colloid corresponds not always to the figure with $^{198}Au$. This difference can be explained by differences of phagocytic ability of reticuloendotherial system within liver. 4. In the liver scanning with $^{113m}In$ colloid, the spleen is also visualized even in normal examinee. 5. In the cases of disturbed liver function, uptake is more decreased in use of $^{113m}In$ colloid than in $^{198}Au$, in the spleen, however, the way is contrary. 6. With use of $^{113m}In$ colloid, the time required for scanning could be shortened in comparison with $^{198}Au$. 7. The filtration of $^{113m}In$ colloid for scanning prior to human administration gives an expectation for better scanning figure.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.59 no.sup1
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• pp.161-164
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• 2016

Guillain-$Barr{\acute{e}}$ syndrome and acute transverse myelitis manifest as demyelinating diseases of the peripheral and central nervous system. Concurrency of these two disorders is rarely documented in literature. A 4-year-old girl presenting with cough, fever, and an impaired walking ability was admitted to hospital. She had no previous complaints in her medical history. A physical examination revealed lack of muscle strength of the lower extremities and deep tendon reflexes. MRI could not be carried out due to technical problems; therefore, both Guillain-$Barr{\acute{e}}$ syndrome and acute transverse myelitis were considered for the diagnosis. Intravenous immunoglobulin treatment was started as first line therapy. Because this treatment did not relieve the patient's symptoms, spinal MRI was carried out on the fourth day of admission and demyelinating areas were identified. Based on the new findings, the patient was diagnosed with acute transverse myelitis, and high dose intravenous methylprednisolone therapy was started. Electromyography findings were consistent with acute polyneuropathy affecting both motor and sensory fibers. Therefore, the patient was diagnosed with concurrency of Guillain-$Barr{\acute{e}}$ syndrome and acute transverse myelitis. Interestingly, while concurrency of these 2 disorders is rare, this association has been demonstrated in various recent publications. Progress in diagnostic tests (magnetic resonance imaging and electrophysiological examination studies) has enabled clinicians to establish the right diagnosis. The possibility of concurrent Guillain-$Barr{\acute{e}}$ syndrome and acute transverse myelitis should be considered if recovery takes longer than anticipated.