• KSII Transactions on Internet and Information Systems (TIIS)
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• v.14 no.6
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• pp.2480-2496
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• 2020

Considering that high-dose X-ray radiation during CT scans may bring potential risks to patients, in the medical imaging industry there has been increasing emphasis on low-dose CT. Due to complex statistical characteristics of noise found in low-dose CT images, many traditional methods are difficult to preserve structural details effectively while suppressing noise and artifacts. Inspired by the deep learning techniques, we propose a densely connected residual network (DCRN) for low-dose CT image noise cancelation, which combines the ideas of dense connection with residual learning. On one hand, dense connection maximizes information flow between layers in the network, which is beneficial to maintain structural details when denoising images. On the other hand, residual learning paired with batch normalization would allow for decreased training speed and better noise reduction performance in images. The experiments are performed on the 100 CT images selected from a public medical dataset-TCIA(The Cancer Imaging Archive). Compared with the other three competitive denoising algorithms, both subjective visual effect and objective evaluation indexes which include PSNR, RMSE, MAE and SSIM show that the proposed network can improve LDCT images quality more effectively while maintaining a low computational cost. In the objective evaluation indexes, the highest PSNR 33.67, RMSE 5.659, MAE 1.965 and SSIM 0.9434 are achieved by the proposed method. Especially for RMSE, compare with the best performing algorithm in the comparison algorithms, the proposed network increases it by 7 percentage points.

• Journal of radiological science and technology
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• v.47 no.1
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• pp.39-48
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• 2024

In this study, we optimized the FNLM algorithm through a simulation study and applied it to a phantom scanned by low-dose CT to evaluate whether the FNLM algorithm can be used to obtain improved image quality images. We optimized the FNLM algorithm with MASH phantom and FASH phantom, which the algorithm was applied with MATLAB, increasing the smoothing factor from 0.01 to 0.05 with increments of 0.001 and measuring COV, RMSE, and PSNR values of the phantoms. For both phantom, COV and RMSE decreased, and PSNR increased as the smoothing factor increased. Based on the above results, we optimized a smoothing factor value of 0.043 for the FNLM algorithm. Then we applied the optimized FNLM algorithm to low dose lung CT and lung CT under normal conditions. In both images, the COV decreased by 55.33 times and 5.08 times respectively, and we confirmed that the quality of the image of low dose CT applying the optimized FNLM algorithm was 5.08 times better than the image of lung CT under normal conditions. In conclusion, we found that the smoothing factor of 0.043 among the factors of the FNLM algorithm showed the best results and validated the performance by reducing the noise in the low-quality CT images due to low dose with the optimized FNLM algorithm.

• Natural Product Sciences
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• v.26 no.4
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• pp.334-339
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• 2020

A new compound, 3��-acetoxylanosta-7,9(11),24-triene-26-al (3), and seven known compounds (1 - 2 and 4 - 8) were isolated from Ganoderma tropicum (Jung.) Bres. collected in Tay Nguyen, Vietnam. The structures of these compounds were determined by one- and two-dimensional nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy, electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (ESI-MS), and high-resolution ESI-MS, and by comparison with literature data. All of the isolated compounds were tested for nitroblue tetrazolium (NBT) reduction activity in Saccharomyces cerevisiae-stimulated RAW 246.7 cells. Among them, compounds 2 - 4 and 6 - 8 enhanced the NBT reduction in a dose-dependent manner.

• Journal of the Korea Convergence Society
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• v.8 no.2
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• pp.113-120
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• 2017

The purpose of this present study was to evaluate the surface radiation dose reduction and radiograph artifact images in computed tomography (CT) for the manufactured radiation shields by using sea-shells. The radiation convergence shields were made from silicons, sea-shells, barium powders, producted circle types of diameter 50 mm, thickness 3.5 mm for 5 kinds (only silicon shield, only barium shield, mixed sea-shells with silicon shield, mixed barium with silicon shield, mixed sea-shells with barium and silicon shield). Radiation generation and acquisition were used 4-channel multi-detector CT. The results of this study showed that mixed sea-shells with silicon shields could reduce the surface dose of 5.3% without radiograph artifact images. In the future, we will expect the radiation convergence shield as environmentally friendly materials by using the recycling of sea-shells with the advantages of silicon which can make various shapes.

• Radiation Oncology Journal
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• v.37 no.4
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• pp.254-258
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• 2019

Purpose: Deep inspiration breath hold (DIBH) is a well-established technique that enables efficient cardiac sparing in patients with left-sided breast cancer. The aim of the current study was to determine if DIBH is effective for reducing radiation exposure of of liver and other organs at risk in right breast radiotherapy (RT). Materials and Methods: Twenty patients with right-sided breast cancer were enrolled in this study. Three-dimensional conformal RT plans were generated for each patient, with two different computed tomography scans of free breathing (FB) and DIBH. Nodes were contoured according to the Radiation Therapy Oncology Group contouring guidelines. Dose-volume histograms for the target volume coverage and organs at risk were evaluated and analyzed. Results: DIBH plans showed significant reduction in mean liver dose (5.59 ± 2.07 Gy vs. 2.54 ± 1.40 Gy; p = 0.0003), V_20Gy (148.38 ± 73.05 vs. 64.19 ± 51.07 mL; p = 0.0003) and V_10Gy (195.34 ± 93.57 vs. 89.81 ± 57.28 mL; p = 0.0003) volumes compared with FB plans. Right lung doses were also significantly reduced in DIBH plans. Heart and left lung doses showed small but statistically significant improvement with application of the DIBH technique. Conclusion: We report that the use of DIBH for right-sided breast cancer significantly reduces the radiation doses to the liver, lungs, and heart.

• Advances in Traditional Medicine
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• v.8 no.3
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• pp.243-251
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• 2008

The effect of alcoholic extracts of Costus specious (Family: Zingiberaceae) was evaluated in experimental models of pain and inflammation. Oral administration of 100, 200 and 300 mg/kg of C. specious extracts were used for the above study. Crude extracts of C. specious (300 mg/kg dose) showed maximum time needed for the response against thermal stimuli ($7.242\;{\pm}\;0.532\;s$) which is comparable to diclofenac sodium ($8.471\;{\pm}\;0.25\;s$) in the hot plate test. The MPH (Maximum Possible Analgesia) has been found to be 14.285 for 300 mg/kg dose of the crude extract while the MPH for diclofenac was 15.857 after 60 min of administration in the hot tail-flick method. The crude extract at 300 and 200 mg/kg doses showed significant reduction in acetic acid induced writhings in mice with a maximum effect of 59.661% reduction at 300 mg/kg dose which is comparable to standard diclofenac sodium (73.4%). Alcoholic extract of C. specious showed significant inhibition in serotonin and egg albumin induced hind paw oedema in rats at 100, 200 and 300 mg/kg of the crude extracts respectively (Serotonin induced edema 44.22; 53.75; 58.51%; egg albumin induced edema - 41.317; 53.892; 59.880% inhibition after 4 h respectively). The antiinflammatory effects showed by the extract were comparable to that of standard indomethacin 5 mg/kg (Serotonin induced edema 77.56%; egg albumin induced edema 77.844% inhibition after 4 h). These results suggest that the extract possesses both the anti-inflammatory and analgesic activity on mice and rat model.

• The Journal of the Korea Contents Association
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• v.14 no.2
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• pp.457-466
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• 2014

During irradiation of lesions in cancer treatment with high energy electrons, normal tissue and critical organs are protected by the shielding material. Scattered radiation that generated the shielding materials affect the depth dose and atomic number. Therefore, we want to examine secondary particles and the scattered photons through calculation and its associated analysis, and compare the measurement for the aluminum, copper, and lead shielding substance of which thickness has 95% charge reduction. Dose change rate which effected scattering radiation was found to be +0.88% for material thickness, +0.43% for atomic number, and +19.70%, +15.20%, +12.40% for measurement, +25.00%, +15.10%, +13.70% for calculation on the aluminum, copper, and lead materials of which thickness has 95% charge reduction, respectively, As a result, we found that scattering rate was dependent on thickness than atomic number. In the dose increasing rate, scattered electrons are more important than scattered photon. For the above mentioned reasons, I think that high atomic number materials should be applied to reduce scattered radiation that generated with thickness effect.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Radiology
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• v.14 no.3
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• pp.295-301
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• 2020

Radiation exposure exposed during mammography, which is performed for early examination of breast cancer, has also been suggested as a cause of carcinogenesis in the past, and scattered rays generated during examination may cause unnecessary radiation exposure to surrounding organs. In this study, the Monte Carlo simulation was used to evaluate the human organ doses exposed during conventional mammography, and to estimate the dose reduction effect for each organ when using 3D printing materials for radiation protection by scattered rays. As a result of organ dose evaluation, the breast on the opposite side of the examination was about 22.0% of the breast on the test side and about 58.6% on the eye, which was highly influenced by the scattering-ray. When using the 3D printing shield to protect it, the breast on the opposite side of the test showed an effective dose reduction effect at a thickness of 1 mm.

• Environmental Engineering Research
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• v.14 no.2
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• pp.81-87
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• 2009

The decomposition of antibiotics (cefaclor) by gamma irradiation in aqueous solutions was experimentally evaluated. To obtain a mutual interaction between two factors (antibiotics concentrations and radiation doses) and to optimize these factors during the process, experimental design and statistical analysis were employed. The decomposition capability of the gamma radiation was also mathematically described as a function of cefaclor concentration and gamma-ray dose using the statistical analysis. The results showed that the cefaclor concentration ($X_1$) in the response $Y_1$ (Reduction of cefaclor concentration) and gamma-ray dose ($X_2$) in the response $Y_2$ (Removal efficiency (%) of cefaclor concentration) exhibited a significantly positive effect, whereas gamma-ray dose ($X_2$) in the response $Y_1$ showed a significantly negative effect. The estimated ridge of maximum responses and optimal conditions for $Y_1$:($X_1$,$X_2$)=(25 mg/L, 350 Gy) and $Y_2$:($X_1$,$X_2$)=(21 mg/L, 565 Gy) using canonical analysis were 4.37 mg/L of reduction of cefaclor concentration and 98.35% of removal efficiency of cefaclor concentration, respectively. The measurement values agreed well with the predicted ones, thereby confirming the suitability of the model for $Y_1$ and $Y_2$ and the success of the experimental design in optimizing the conditions of the gamma irradiation process.

• Journal of Embryo Transfer
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• v.4 no.1
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• pp.46-55
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• 1989

The effects of an antiprogesterone (RU 486) and an antiestrogen (tamoxifen) on ovulatory response and oocyte morphology were examined in pregnant mare serum gonadotropin (PMSG)-primed immatare female rats (28 days of age): a comparison has been made on two different regirnens primed with a "control" dose (4 IU) and a "superovulatory" dose (40 IU) of PMSG. Females for control control regimen received three consecutive injections of lmg RU486, lmg tamoxifen, or vehicle at 24, 36 and 48hr, and were killed at 72l'r after PMSG. Animals for superovalatory regimen received lmg RU486, 2.5mg tamoxifen, or vehicle fouowlag the injection schedule comparable to control regimen, and were killed at 60 and 72hr after PMSG. Compared to vehicle group, there was a significant reduction in ovulatory response as judged by the proportion of rats ovulating andi or by the mean number of oocytes per rat for each treatment of RU486 and tamoxifen in both regimens. The activity of tamoxifen in inhibiting the ovulatory response was greater in control, but less in superovulatory regimen than that of RU486 based on the dose employed for each antisteroid. In both regimens, RU 486 did not have any effect 6n the changes in the proportion of degenerate oocytes as well as ovarian weight, well tamoxifen treatment resulted in a marked promotion of oocyte degeneration as well as a great reduction in ovarian weight, compared to each parameter of vehicle group. RU486 treatment in each regimen did not alter the serum levels of any steroid hormones observed. Howerver, tamoxifen treatment was associated with significant increases in serum 17$\beta$-estradiol and decreases in progesterone in both regimens; also significant increases in androgens in superovulatory regimen. The results illustrate the relative inhibitory activity of RU486 and tamoxifen indicating major steroid hormone involved in PMSG-induced ovulation: 17$\beta$-estradiol for control and progesterone for superovulatory regimen. It also appears that tamoxifen-associated elevation of circulating 17$\beta$-estradiol andi or androgens could be in part, a contributing factor to the promotion of oocyte degeneration presumably by producing a hostile oviductal environment after ovulation.ent after ovulation.