• Korean Journal of Radiology
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• v.23 no.4
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• pp.402-412
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• 2022

Objective: To evaluate the image quality and lesion detectability of lower-dose CT (LDCT) of the abdomen and pelvis obtained using a deep learning image reconstruction (DLIR) algorithm compared with those of standard-dose CT (SDCT) images. Materials and Methods: This retrospective study included 123 patients (mean age ± standard deviation, 63 ± 11 years; male:female, 70:53) who underwent contrast-enhanced abdominopelvic LDCT between May and August 2020 and had prior SDCT obtained using the same CT scanner within a year. LDCT images were reconstructed with hybrid iterative reconstruction (h-IR) and DLIR at medium and high strengths (DLIR-M and DLIR-H), while SDCT images were reconstructed with h-IR. For quantitative image quality analysis, image noise, signal-to-noise ratio, and contrast-to-noise ratio were measured in the liver, muscle, and aorta. Among the three different LDCT reconstruction algorithms, the one showing the smallest difference in quantitative parameters from those of SDCT images was selected for qualitative image quality analysis and lesion detectability evaluation. For qualitative analysis, overall image quality, image noise, image sharpness, image texture, and lesion conspicuity were graded using a 5-point scale by two radiologists. Observer performance in focal liver lesion detection was evaluated by comparing the jackknife free-response receiver operating characteristic figures-of-merit (FOM). Results: LDCT (35.1% dose reduction compared with SDCT) images obtained using DLIR-M showed similar quantitative measures to those of SDCT with h-IR images. All qualitative parameters of LDCT with DLIR-M images but image texture were similar to or significantly better than those of SDCT with h-IR images. The lesion detectability on LDCT with DLIR-M images was not significantly different from that of SDCT with h-IR images (reader-averaged FOM, 0.887 vs. 0.874, respectively; p = 0.581). Conclusion: Overall image quality and detectability of focal liver lesions is preserved in contrast-enhanced abdominopelvic LDCT obtained with DLIR-M relative to those in SDCT with h-IR.

• Particle and aerosol research
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• v.16 no.4
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• pp.73-94
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• 2020

Particulate infectious sources, including infectious viruses, can float in the air, causing airborne infections. To prevent indoor airborne infection, dilution control by ventilation and indoor air cleaners are frequently used. In this study, the risk of airborne infection by the operation of these two techniques was evaluated. In case of dilution control by ventilation, a high efficiency air filter was embedded at the inlet of supply air. In this study, infectious source reduction devices such as indoor air cleaner include all kinds of mechanical-filters, UV-photo catalysts and air ionizers through which air flow is forced by fans. Two mathematical models for influenza virus were applied in an infant care room where infants and young children are active, and the risk reduction efficiency was compared. As a result, in the case of individually operating the ventilator or the infectious source reduction device, the airborne infection risk reduction efficiencies were 55.2~61.2% and 53.8~59.9%, respectively. When both facilities were operated, it was found that the risk of airborne infection was reduced about 72.2~76.8%. Therefore, simultaneous operation of ventilation equipment and infectious source reduction device is the most effective method for safe environment that minimizes the risk of airborne infection of respiratory infectious diseases. In the case of a space where sufficient ventilation operation is difficult, it was found that the operation of an infectious source reduction device is important to prevent the spread of infectious diseases. This study is meaningful in that it provides an academic basis for strategies for preventing airborne infection of respiratory infectious diseases.

• Journal of Powder Materials
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• v.23 no.3
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• pp.228-234
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• 2016

Copper nanoparticles attract much attention as substitutes of noble metals such as silver and can help reduce the manufacturing cost of electronic products due to their lower cost and good conductivity. In the present work, the chemical reduction is examined to optimize the synthesis of nano-sized copper particles from copper sulfate. Sodium borohydride and ascorbic acid are used as reducing and antioxidant agents, respectively. Polyethylene glycol (PEG) is used as a size-control and capping agent. An appropriate dose of PEG inhibits the abnormal growth of copper nanoparticles, maintaining chemical stability. The addition of ascorbic acid prevents the oxidation of nanoparticles during synthesis and storage. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) are used to investigate the size of the synthesized nanoparticles and the coordination between copper nanoparticles and PEG. For chemical reduction, copper nanoparticles less than 100 nm in size without oxidized layers are successfully obtained by the present method.

• Carbon letters
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• v.16 no.1
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• pp.41-44
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• 2015

We report the preparation of sulfonated reduced graphene oxide (SRGO) by the sulfonation of graphene oxide followed by radiation-induced chemical reduction. Graphene oxide prepared by the well-known modified Hummer's method was sulfonated with the aryl diazonium salt of sulfanilic acid. Sulfonated graphene oxide (SGO) dispersed in ethanol was subsequently reduced by ${\gamma}$-ray irradiation at various absorbed doses to produce SRGO. The results of optical, chemical, and thermal analyses revealed that SRGO was successfully prepared by ${\gamma}$-ray irradiation-induced chemical reduction of the SGO suspension. Moreover, the electrical conductivity of SRGO was increased up to 2.94 S/cm with an increase of the absorbed dose.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.5 no.4
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• pp.315-321
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• 2001

This study was aimed to evaluate the effects of quercetin and desferrioxamine on the development of the reflux esophagitis induced surgically, on gastric secretion and on lipid peroxidation which is a marker of oxidative stress. Omeprazole was used as a positive control drug. Omeprazole significantly and dose-dependently prevented the development of reflux esophagitis, but quercetin or desferrioxamine prevented only at high dose. Omeprazole significantly and dose-dependently inhibited the gastric acid secretion (gastric volume, pH and acid output), but quercetin or desferrioxamine did not inhibit. Malonyldialdehyde content, the end product of lipid peroxidation, increased significantly after the induction of reflux esophagitis. Omeprazole prevented lipid peroxidation. Quercetin and desferrioxamine inhibited the lipid peroxidation independent of their actions on gastric secretion. This result indicates that omeprazole confirmed preventing effect of rat reflux esophagitis, but quercetin and desferrioxamine inhibited esophagitis by reduction of lipid peroxidation irrespective of gastric acid secretion.

• Archives of Pharmacal Research
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• v.27 no.11
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• pp.1154-1160
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• 2004

We investigated the neurotoxic effects of capsaicin (CAP) on pain sensitivity and on the expression of capsaicin receptor, the vanilloid receptor (VR1), in rats. High-dose application of CAP has been known to degenerate a large fraction of the sensory neurons. Although the neurotoxic effects of CAP are well documented, the effects of CAP on the vanilloid receptor (VR1) are not yet known. In this paper, we investigated the effects of high-dose application of CAP on the expression of VR1 in rats. Thermal and mechanical pain sensitivity was reduced when neonatal rats were treated with a high dose of CAP. This reduction of pain sensitivity was significantly decreased after initiating carrageenan-induced inflammation. The expression of VR1 in dorsal root ganglia (DRG) isolated from the CAP-treated rats was reduced compared to that from the vehicle-treated rats. Therefore, we can conclude that the neurotoxic effect of CAP is related to the decrease of VR1 expression.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.31 no.1
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• pp.47-54
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• 2005

To evaluate the hypoglycemic effect of propolis, streptozotocin (STZ) induced diabetic rats were divided into 4 groups such as, diabetic control group, low dose of propolis (0.1 ml) group, medium dose of propolis (0.3 ml) group and high dose of propolis (0.9 ml) group and feeded with propolis extracts for 30 days. After experiment, oral glucose tolerance test (Oral GTT) was carried, and 16 hours fasting blood sugar levels, body weights, blood lipid levels were measured. Finally, pancreatic histopathological study was performed. In conclusion, the propolis is effective to the treatment diabetes due to the reduction of the blood sugar level and the regeneration of the damaged $\beta$-cells shown in streptozotocininduced diabetic rats.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.2 no.1
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• pp.82-93
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• 1994

DA-125, a new anthracycline antitumor antibiotic, was at dose levels of 0, 0.1, 0.3 and 1.0 mg/kg/day administered intravenously to pregnant Sprague-Dawley rats during the organogenetic period. Two-third of dams per group were subjected to caesarean section on day 20 of pregnancy and the remaining 10 dams per group were allowed to deliver. Effects of test substance on dams, embryonal development of Fl fetuses, as well as growth, behaviour and mating performance of Fl offspring were examined. 1. At 1 mg/kg, one out of the 10 dams showed difficult delivery. A decrease in food consumption, a loss in body weight and a decrease of spleen weight were found in this dose level group. At 0.3 mg/kg, difficult deliverys were observed in two out of the 10 dams. 2. At 1 mg/kg, an increased resorption rate and a decreased fetal weight were found. In addition, various types of external, visceral and skeletal malformations occurred at an incidence of 11.9, 41.8 and 14.5%, respectively. 3. At 1 mg/kg, body weight reduction, small eyeball, hydrocephalus and atrophy of sexual organs were observed in Fl offspring. One male pup receiving 0.3 mg/kg died on day 2 of lactation. The results show that the no-effect dose levels (NOELs) for dams and Fl offspring are 0.1 mg/kg/day and NOEL for Fl fetuses is 0.3 mg/kg/day.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.32 no.4
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• pp.364-367
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• 1999

Background: The efficacy of the hemostasis of prophylactic aprotinin after cardiac valve replacement was evaluated from January 1994 to December 1996 at Pusan National University Hospital. Material and Method: In a randomized study, 20 patients received aprotinin(2${\times}$106 KIU as a loading dose for 30 minutes after anesthesia, 1${\times}$106 KIU for priming and 5${\times}$105 KIU/hr as a maintenance dose from the completion of loading dose till skin closure) and another 20 untreated patients served as controls. Result: Aprotinin produced a significant reduction in postoperative blood loss compared with controls and significantly decreased total exposure to allogenic blood products compared with the control group(p<0.05). Conclusion: We conclude that aprotinin effectively reduces postoperative blood loss and trasfusion in patient undergoing cardiac valve replacement.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.14 no.8
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• pp.4611-4614
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• 2013

Quercetin is one of the most abundant dietary flavonoids widely present in many fruits and vegetables. Previous in vitro studies has shown that quercetin acts as an antioxidant and anti-inflammatory agent and it has potent anticarcinogenic properties as an apoptosis inducer. In this study we examined apoptotic effects of quercetin on the K562 erythroleukemia cell line. K562 cells were induced to undergo apoptosis by hydrogen peroxide. Cell viability and apoptosis level were assessed by annexin V and PI staining methods using flow cytometry. Viability of K562 cells was increased by low dose of quercetin (5-100 ${\mu}M$) for 3 hours. High doses of quercetin proved toxic (100-500 ${\mu}M$, 24 hours) and resulted in decrease of K562 cell viability as expected (p<0.01). As to results, 100 ${\mu}M$ quercetin was defined as a protective dose. Also, K562 cell apoptosis due to hydrogen peroxide was decreased in a dose dependent manner. As indicated in previous studies, reduction of superoxides by free radical scavengers like quercetin could be beneficial for prevention of cancer but consumption of such flavonoids during cancer treatment may weaken effects of chemotherapeutics and radiotherapy. Especially cancer patients should be carefully considered for traditional phytotherapy during cancer treatment, which can lead to controversial results.