• Journal of Veterinary Clinics
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• v.29 no.1
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• pp.58-62
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• 2012

To protect aquatic animal health of importing countries from the potential risks associated with exotic diseases introduced through international trade of live aquatic animals, inspection of designated commodities at ports of entry is a critical component of the safeguarding system. The only way to be 100% confident that no fishes in a shipment are infected with a specific agent is to test every fish in the commodity imported with a perfect diagnostic test. For the majority of cases, this is unrealistic since the group of interest may very large particularly for aquatic animals, or imperfect tests are often available. It is, therefore, more common to test a fixed proportion of a group by preplanned sampling schemes. However, decision making based on results of testing the sample can provide quite a chance that infected groups may be misclassified as uninfected, depending on sampling strategy employed. The objective of this study was to determine the possibility that one or more fishes in the group imported being infected but tests negative after inspecting samples. This question is critical to government authorities to examine whether sampling plan is sufficient to achieve the purpose intended for. At fixed population size, the maximum number of infected fishes when all tests negative was decreased as the sampling fraction increased. The probability of including at least one undetected but infected fish in a group for negative tests increased with the number of fish tested or true prevalence. The risk was much lesser where high sensitivity test was assumed; when increasing test sensitivity from 0.9 to 0.99, this risk was dramatically reduced to about a tenth or a fourth for prevalence ranges from 2 to 10%, given sample size ranges from 10 to 200. Based on the preliminary analysis, the author concluded that current sampling plan testing 4-8% of the import proposal for human consumption still can yield high false negative results. Therefore, from the quarantine inspection point of view, an enforced commodity-specific sampling design that accounts for the cost of testing with an imperfect test at the specified design prevalence is urgent.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Research
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• v.44 no.2
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• pp.311-315
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• 2004

The detection of lymph node metastasis is an important step in tumor staging and is significant for therapy planning. It has been challenged to yield an appropriate image with diagnostic methods such as Magnetic Resonance (MR) and Computed Tomography (CT). Though CT has been used widely and accessed easily to show internal organs, it can hardly provide difference between lymph node and adjacent vessel or fat tissue. It has been well established that MR can reveal the subtle discrepancy within soft tissue. This study investigated the suitability of MR lymph node imaging without contrast enhancement by comparison of T1-weighted image (T1WI) and T2- weighted image (T2WI) in ten normal rabbits. According to the pulse sequence optimized from preliminary study, T1-weighted spin-echo (repetition time/echo time=400/12 ms) and T-2 weighted fast spin-echo (repetition time/echo time=3500/84 ms) images covering the hind limbs and pelvic region were acquired at 1.5 T. Two radiologists scrupulously evaluated the MR images in consensus. And signal intensity of lymph nodes was compared with that of adjacent fat. Statistical analysis showed that T1-weighted coronal image visualized the lymph nodes (iliac, superficial inguinal and popliteal lymph nodes) quickly and consistently rather than T2-weighted one. Conclusively, T1WI for evaluation of lymph nodes is moderately better than T2WI and appears to have potential for quick and sufficient mapping of the lymph nodes. In addition, this normal MR image of lymph nodes could be applied to further study for the evaluation of lymphatic system in abscess and tumor bearing animal model.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Laryngology, Phoniatrics and Logopedics
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• v.19 no.1
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• pp.43-46
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• 2008

Background and Objectives : Clinical suspicion and appropriate diagnostic procedures are essential for the timely management of extrapulmonary type of mycobacterial disease. In the hope of suggesting a suitable guideline for the early diagnosis of laryngeal tuberculosis, the authors reviewed their clinical pathways and the characteristics of patients with laryngeal tuberculosis who were managed in the recent 10 years at a single tertiary referral hospital, Samsung Medical Center. Subjects and Method : Retrospective chart review was performed for the 25 adult patients with laryngeal tuberculosis. Among 25 cases, 12 were pathologically confirmed by laryngeal biopsy and the other 13 were clinically diagnosed by cumulative clinical information; definite laryngitis on laryngoscopy, positive AFB (acid fast bacillus) smear/culture or active pulmonary tuberculosis on chest X-ray, and substantial response to anti-tuberculosis medication. Results : Chest X-ray revealed active pulmonary tuberculosis in 72% of patients (N=18/25). Sputum AFB smear/culture was positive in 95% of all tested patients (N=21/22) and in 100% of the tested patients who have stable or no evidence of pulmonary tuberculosis (N=5/5). All patients except one who had coexisting laryngeal malignancy showed considerable improvement in their subjective symptoms and laryngeal findings within the first 2 months of anti-tuberculosis medications and they achieved complete response on subsequent sputum studies, chest X-ray and laryngeal findings after $7.0{\pm}2.3$ months of the medications. Conclusion : We suggest that chest X-ray and sputum AFB smear/culture to be the first step of work-up for the patients having laryngeal tuberculosis in suspicion since laryngeal tuberculosis is largely associated with active pulmonary tuberculosis and/or sputum AFB study offers high yield even in case of primary laryngeal tuberculosis. However laryngeal biopsy must be considered in case showing unsatisfactory response to the anti-tuberculosis medication for more than 2 months.

• Journal of The Korean Astronomical Society
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• v.50 no.5
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• pp.139-149
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• 2017

The Korea Astronomy and Space Science Institute plans to develop a coronagraph in collaboration with National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) and to install it on the International Space Station (ISS). The coronagraph is an externally occulted one-stage coronagraph with a field of view from 3 to 15 solar radii. The observation wavelength is approximately 400 nm, where strong Fraunhofer absorption lines from the photosphere experience thermal broadening and Doppler shift through scattering by coronal electrons. Photometric filter observations around this band enable the estimation of 2D electron temperature and electron velocity distribution in the corona. Together with a high time cadence (<12 min) of corona images used to determine the geometric and kinematic parameters of coronal mass ejections, the coronagraph will yield the spatial distribution of electron density by measuring the polarized brightness. For the purpose of technical demonstration, we intend to observe the total solar eclipse in August 2017 with the filter system and to perform a stratospheric balloon experiment in 2019 with the engineering model of the coronagraph. The coronagraph is planned to be installed on the ISS in 2021 for addressing a number of questions (e.g., coronal heating and solar wind acceleration) that are both fundamental and practically important in the physics of the solar corona and of the heliosphere.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• v.33 no.3
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• pp.258-266
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• 2020

Background: The genicular nerve block (GNB) is demonstrated from several reports to alleviate pain and improve knee functionality in patients with chronic knee osteoarthritis (OA). Ultrasound (US)-guided GNB has been the most used imaging method. This study aimed to compare the effectiveness of US-guided versus blind GNB in the treatment of knee OA. Methods: This prospective, randomized clinical trial included patients with knee OA based on American College of Rheumatology diagnostic criteria. The patients were evaluated for clinical and dynamometer parameters at the baseline, 4 weeks after treatment, and 12 weeks after treatment. The patients underwent blind injection or US-guided injection. Results: When compared with the baseline, both groups showed significant improvement in pain, physical function, and quality of life parameters. Significant differences were observed between the groups for clinical parameters (30-second chair stand test, 6-minute walk test) in favor of the US-guided group. On the other hand, blind injection was more significantly effective on some parameters of the Nottingham Health Profile. There wasn't any significant improvement in isokinetic muscle strength for either group. Conclusions: This study demonstrated that both US-guided and blind GNB, in the treatment of knee OA, were effective in reducing symptoms and improving physical function. GNB wasn't an effective treatment for isokinetic muscle function. US-guided injections may yield more effective clinical results than blind injections.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.21 no.7
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• pp.719-727
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• 2011

Botulism is a neuroparalytic disease caused by Clostridium botulinum, which produces seven (A-G) antigenically diverse neurotoxins (BoNTs). BoNTs are the most poisonous substances known to humans, with a median lethal dose ($LD_{50}$) of approximately 1 ng/kg of body weight. Owing to their extreme potency and lethality, they have the potential to be used as a bioterrorism agent. The mouse bioassay is the gold standard for the detection of botulinum neurotoxins; however, it requires at least 3-4 days for completion. Attempts have been made to develop an ELISA-based detection system, which is potentially an easier and more rapid method of botulinum neurotoxin detection. The present study was designed using a synthetic gene approach. The synthetic gene encoding the catalytic domain of BoNT serotype B from amino acids 1-450 was constructed with PCR overlapping primers (BoNT/B LC), cloned in a pQE30 UA vector, and expressed in an E. coli M15 host system. Recombinant protein production was optimized at 0.5 mM IPTG final concentration, 4 h post induction, resulting in a maximum yield of recombinant proteins. The immunogenic nature of the recombinant BoNT/B LC protein was evaluated by ELISA. Antibodies were raised in BALB/c mice using various adjuvants. A significant rise in antibody titer (p<0.05) was observed in the Alum group, followed by the Titermax Classic group, Freund's adjuvant, and the Titermax Gold group. These developed high-titer antibodies may prove useful for the detection of botulinum neurotoxins in food and clinical samples.

• Advances in nano research
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• v.4 no.1
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• pp.1-14
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• 2016

Superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles (Nps), composed of magnetite, $Fe_3O_4$, or maghemite, ${\gamma}-Fe_2O_3$, core and biocompatible polymer shell, such as dextran or chitozan, have recently found wide applications in magnetic resonance imaging, contrast enhancement and hyperthermia therapy. For different diagnostic and therapeutic applications, current attempt is focusing on the synthesis and biomedical applications of various ferrite Nps, such as $CoFe_2O_4$ and $MnFe_2O_4$, differing from iron oxide Nps in charge, surface chemistry and magnetic properties. This study is focused on the synthesis of manganese ferrite, $MnFe_2O_4$, Nps by most commonly used chemical way pursuing better control of their size, purity and magnetic properties. Co-precipitation syntheses were performed using aqueous alkaline solutions of Mn(II) and Fe(III) salts and NaOH within a wide pH range using various hydrothermal treatment regimes. Different additives, such as citric acid, cysteine, glicine, polyetylene glycol, triethanolamine, chitosan, etc., were tested on purpose to obtain good yield of pure phase and monodispersed Nps with average size of ${\leq}20nm$. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM), X-ray diffraction, energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX), $M\ddot{o}ssbauer$ spectroscopy down to cryogenic temperatures, magnetic measurements and inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry were employed in this study.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• v.34 no.2
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• pp.146-153
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• 2002

To radiolabel bioactive molecules, we synthesized $^{99m}$Tc-tricarbonyl precursor, [$^{99m}$Tc(CO)$_3$($H_2O$)$_3$]$^{+}$ with a low oxidation state ( I ). The [$^{99m}$Tc(CO)$_3$($H_2O$)$_3$]$^{+}$ was prepared by low pressure carbonylation (1 atm of CO) of [$^{99m}$Tc $O_4$)]$^{[-10]}$ in the presence of NaB $H_4$ resulting in higher than 98% of labeling yield and stability up to 8 hrs. We evaluated the characteristics of $^{99m}$Tc- tricarbonyl labeled bioactive molecules by carrying out in vitro and in vitro study. Prepared [$^{99m}$Tc(CO)$_3$($H_2O$)$_3$]$^{+}$ was then reacted with some ligands of significance in modem diagnostic nuclear medicine and some amino acids. Labeling yields were checked by HPLC and found to be usually high, excluding $^{99m}$Tc-tricarbonyl-MDP, -EDTMP and -mIBG. And the biodistribution properties of $^{99m}$Tc-tricarbonyl complexes applied in rabbit showed different appearance comparing with that of the $^{99m}$Tc-labeling by conventional means. From these results, we conclude that [$^{99m}$Tc(CO)$_3$($H_2O$)$_3$]$^{+}$ is a potential precursor for development of radiopharmaceuticals, especially for labeling of biomolecules.

• Journal of Radiopharmaceuticals and Molecular Probes
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• v.8 no.2
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• pp.71-76
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• 2022

Indigenous diagnostic dose of ¹³¹I-labeled meta-iodobenzylguanidine ([¹³¹I]mIBG) was prepared via Cu⁺ catalyzed isotope exchange reaction generated in situ by sodium metabisulfite for imaging of neuroblastoma tumor. [¹³¹I]mIBG was produced in overall 85-90% radiochemical yield. The average amount of radioactivity of [¹³¹I]mIBG was 2164 MBq (1998-2331MBq) with an average specific activity > 1000 MBq/mg at the end of synthesis. The radiochemical purity was ≥ 99.9% after purification through Dowex-1 × 8 ion exchange resin (100-150 mesh) at the date of preparation. The stability of [¹³¹I]mIBG at concentration 480-555 MBq/mL was > 97% at 4 ℃ after 4 days. The room temperature (25 ℃) stability of [¹³¹I]mIBG was > 98% after 24 h. Biodistribution of [¹³¹I]mIBG in patient showed uptake in salivary glands, liver, spleen and excreted though urinary bladder. Neuroendocrine medicated uptake into tumor lesion and metastatic sites were noted which strongly correlate with the morphological abnormalities of patient.

• Journal of fish pathology
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• v.37 no.1
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• pp.147-153
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• 2024

The World Organization for Animal Health (WOAH) recommends two protocols (ITS and COI) for conventional PCR of G. salaris diagnosis. However, ITS PCR protocol may yield false-positive results, leading to unnecessary countermeasures. It's difficult to distinguish between G. salaris and false-positive by similar amplicon size of PCR, since the amplicon size of ITS PCR in G. salaris and false-positive was 1,300 and 1,187 bp, respectively. The nucleotide sequences of ITS false-positive in rainbow trout is 99.7% identical to previously reported host genome sequences of rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) and 95.3 to 89.1% identical to those of other salmonid fish species. To reduce false-positive PCR band, PCR was performed by the different annealing temperature, but PCR bands were still detected. In RFLP analysis by HaeIII, the PCR product of G. salaris was digested into four bands of 512, 399, 234 and 154 bp, while the false-positive was digested into seven bands of 297, 263, 242, 144, 93, 80 and 68 bp. In the RFLP patterns digested by HindIII, G. salaris showed two bands of 659 and 640 bp, while false-positive had one fragment of 1,187 bp without any digestion. Therefore, the RFLP method of ITS PCR with HaeIII and HindIII can be used for differentiation between G. salaris and false-positive. These results might provide important information on the improvement of PCR diagnostic method of G. salaris.