• 제목/요약/키워드: Group-delay

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Methylenetetrahydrofolate Reductase C677T Polymorphism in Gastric Cancer (위암에서 Methylenetetrahydrofolate Reductase C677T의 유전자 다형성)

  • Seo Won;Park Won Cheol;Lee Jeong Kyun;Kim Jeong Jung
    • Journal of Gastric Cancer
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    • v.5 no.1
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    • pp.10-15
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    • 2005
  • Purpose: Recently the role of vitamins, folate in particular, has been emphasized in the maintenance of health. Folate deficiency is known to give rise to developmental delay, immature vascular disease, neural tube defect, acute leukemia, atherosclerotic vascular disease, delivery defects, breast cancer, and particularly gastrointestinal neoplasia. Methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) is an essential enzyme in folate metaboism, and influences DNA synthesis and DNA methylation. Generally, folate deficiency is associated with gastrointestinal neoplasms. The amino-acid- changing and enzyme-activity-reducing nucleotide polymorphism (766C$\rightarrow$T/ Ala222Val) has been described in the MTHFR polymorphism and leads to low enzyme activity that may reduce the capacity of DNA methylation and possibly uracil mis-incorporation into DNA. These processes may be critical in the oncogenic transformation of human cells, especially in colorectal carcinomas. We investigated the relationship between the MTHFR polymorphism in gastric cancer and the tumor site, the smoking history, and the alcoholic history. Materials and Methods: Ninety-six (96) individuals with gastric cancer and 287 healthy persons were analyzed. Blood sampling was performed, PCR-RFLP was analyzed, and MTHFR polymorphism genotypes of C/C, C/T, and T/T were obtained and analyzed statistically for their correlation. Results: In the gastric cancer group there were 69 ($72\%$) males and 27 ($28\%$) females. There were also 58 cases ($60\%$) involving the gastric lower body, 20 cases ($21\%$) the gastric mid-body, and 18 cases ($19\%$) the gastric upper body. In the control group there were 169 ($59\%$) males and 118 ($41\%$) females. Among the gastric cancer, 56 ($61\%$) smoking patients, 40 ($39\%$) non-smoking patients, 45($47\%$) alcoholic patients, 51 ($53\%$) non-alcoholic patients. In the gastric cancer group, MTHER polymorphisms were C/C in 18 ($19\%$) cases, C/T in 59 ($61\%$) cases, T/T in 19 ($20\%$) cases. In the control group polymorphisms were C/C 116 ($40\%$) cases, C/T 103 ($36\%$) cases, and T/T 68 ($24\%$) cases (P=0.045). In cases of lower gastric body cancer, polymorphisms were C/C in 16 ($24\%$) C/C in 16 ($24\%$) cases and C/T or T/T in 42 ($72\%$) cases. In cases of upper and mid-body cancer, polymorphisms were C/C in 2 ($5\%$) cases and C/T or T/T 36 ($95\%$) cases (P=0.006). In the non-smoking patient group, polymorphisms were C/C in 5 (12%) cases and C/T or T/T in 35 ($88\%$) cases. In the smoking patient group, C/C in 13 ($23\%$) cases and C/T or T/T in 43 ($77\%$) cases (P=0.189). In the non-alcoholic patient group, polymorphisms were C/C in 6 ($12\%$) cases and C/T or T/T in 45 ($88\%$) cases. In the alcoholic patient group, polymorphisms were C/C in 12 ($26\%$) cases and C/T or T/T in 33 ($74\%$) cases (P=0.063) Conclusion: MTHFR polymorphisms are associated with gastric cancer and tumor site, but not with smoking and alcohol drinking.

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Phenotype-genotype correlations and the efficacy of growth hormone treatment in Korean children with Prader-Willi syndrome (프래더 윌리 증후군의 유전학적 발병 기전에 따른 표현형 및 성장 호르몬 치료 효과에 관한 연구)

  • Bae, Keun Wook;Ko, Jung Min;Yoo, Han Wook
    • Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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    • v.51 no.3
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    • pp.315-322
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    • 2008
  • Purpose : Prader-Willi syndrome (PWS) is a complex genetic disorder, caused by the deletion of the paternally derived 15q11-13 region or the maternal uniparental disomy of chromosome 15 (mUPD(15)). In this study, we compared phenotypic differences between those patients whose disease was caused by microdeletion and those caused by mUPD(15). In addition, a comparison of the efficacy of growth hormone (GH) therapy between these two PWS genotypes was analyzed. Methods : Fifty-three patients were diagnosed as having PWS based on molecular and cytogenetic analyses and clinical features. Data that included maternal age, birth weight, a feeding problem in the neonatal period, cryptorchidism, developmental delay or mental retardation, short stature, hypopigmentation, changes in height, weight, and body mass indexes (BMI) before and after GH treatment were obtained by a retrospective review of medical records. The data from the patients with microdeletion were compared with those from the patients with mUPD(15). Results : Of the 53 patients with genetically confirmed PWS, 39 cases had microdeletion and 14 mUPD(15). Maternal ages were significantly higher in the mUPD(15) group, and hypopigmentation and a feeding problem in the neonatal period were more frequent in the microdeletion group. Growth hormone was administered to 20 patients [14 with microdeletion, 6 with mUPD(15)]. There were no differences between the two groups in height velocity, weight and height SDS, and BMI after GH therapy. Conclusion : Phenotype and genotype correlations were observed in Korean PWS patients, such as more advanced maternal ages in the mUPD(15) group and more feeding problems and hypopigmentations in the microdeletion group. Further long-term prospective studies are needed to correlate other aspects of the phenotypes.

An Experimental Study on the Early Feeding of Infants (신생아의 조기수유에 관한 실험적 연구)

  • 하영수
    • Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing
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    • v.5 no.1
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    • pp.1-16
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    • 1975
  • The newborn human is the only mammalian whose mother does not have a food supply ready for it's offspring at birth. From two to four days usually elapse before the mother's supply If milk appears, and during this period, some kind of artificial feeding should be supplied to the infants. Because of this factor, there has been continued debate fog the past hundreds of years as to when the first feeding should be started Accordingly, many experiments were carried out by scholars and because of these, Pre-lateral feedings were believed to be necessary. Many types of pre-lateral feedings were tried and the conclusion was reached that glucose water was the best food for the first infants'feedings. Traditionally, This has been started 12 hours after birth. The causes for the 12 hours delay were thought to (1) provide rest for the infants: (2) prevent regurgitation ana vomiting which tended to be prevalent during this tine: (3) in cases of low weight infants, prevention of aspiration pneumonia. From recent studies of newborn physiology and as pediatric medicine has been rapidly advancing, many studies hare been carried out concerning the improvement of infant nutrition and the early feeding of infants has been emphasized. This author believes it would be very beneficial to try two different kinds of feedings for the infant. (1) experimental feedings ana (2) comparative feeding, and during this period to investigate and compare the infants blood sugar level, hematocrit, gamma globulin level weight changes and to observe the infant reaction ill order to search for a more desirable feeding program. This study was conducted from January to March 1974 with data related to 40 healthy newborn infants (male 21, female 19: weight, 2.79∼4.20㎏ : gestation, 39∼40 weeks) born at Ewha Womens University Hospital and the results obtained were as follows : 1. At time of birth the blood sugar level from the cord sample averaged 88.99㎎/100㎖, but the blood sugar level rapidly dropped after 2 to 3 hours and reached the lowest point after 10 to 11 hours (54.48㎎/100㎖) and rose again by the 24 hour time period (76.80㎎/100㎖). Changes in the blood sugar level of the experiments: groups and the compare-five group was not significantly different until the 6 to 7 hour period, but by the 10 to 11 hour period the blood sugar levels of the experimental group (49,10㎎/100㎖) and the comparative group (49.70㎎/100㎖) were lower than the remainder of the experimental groups. 9. There ware no significant weight changes between the two groups. Average weight at birth was 3.35㎏, but at the 24 hours period birth weight averaged 3.29㎏. (1.8% reduction of birth weight). It continually lowered until at 48 hours, average weight was 3.26㎏ (2.7% reduction from birth weight.) 3. Hematocrit readings showed no significant difference between the groups. Hematocrit, the average value at birth, was 28.07% and abruptly elevated to average 64.35% at the 2 to 3 hour period, then slowly lowered to an average of 59.67% at the 6 to 7 hour period, 55.10% at the 10 to 11 hour period, ana 53.70% at the 24 hour period. 4. At birth, average gamma globulin value averaged 1,39㎎/100㎖. and at the 24 hour period averaged 1,52㎎/100㎖ revealing no significant difference between the two feeding groups. 5. Such factors as voiding, passing of meconium, regurgitation and vomiting showed no significance between the two feeding groups. However, the number of infants voiding and passing meconium in the experimental groups during the first 12 hours was slightly greater. In general there was an increased tendency for regurgitation and. vomiting among a small group of the infants during the first 24 hours which thereafter decreased. 6. Fluid intake averaged 24.38cc at the first feeding and increased to average 30.48cc at the third feeding and further increased to 73. 00cc at the fifteenth feeding. Finally it was suggested that the most reasonable method of early feeding is to give less than 25cc of 5% glucose water and/or 8% powdered milk at 8 to 9 flours after birth in order to prevent hypoglycemia and dehydration.

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THE EFFECT OF IRRADIATION MODES ON POLYMERIZATION AND MICROLEAKAGE OF COMPOSITE RESIN (광조사 방식이 복합레진의 중합과 누출에 미치는 영향)

  • Park, Jong-Jin;Park, Jeong-Won;Park, Sung-Ho;Park, Ju-Myong;Kwon, Tae-Kyung;Kim, Sung-Kyo
    • Restorative Dentistry and Endodontics
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    • v.27 no.2
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    • pp.158-174
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    • 2002
  • The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of light irradiation modes on polymerization shrinkage, degree of cure and microleakage of a composite resin. VIP$^{TM}$ (Bisco Dental Products, Schaumburg, IL, USA) and Optilux 501$^{TM}$ (Demetron/Kerr, Danbury, CT, USA) were used for curing Filtek$^{TM}$ Z-250 (3M Dental Products, St. Paul., MN, USA) composite resin using following irradiation modes: VIP$^{TM}$ (Bisco) 200mW/$\textrm{cm}^2$ (V2), 400mW/$\textrm{cm}^2$ (V4), 600mW/$\textrm{cm}^2$ (V6), Pulse-delay (200 mW/$\textrm{cm}^2$ 3 seconds, 5 minutes wait, 600mW/$\textrm{cm}^2$ 30seconds, VPD) and Optilux 501$^{TM}$ (Demetron/Kerr) C-mode (OC), R-mode (OR). Linear polymerization shrinkage of the composite specimens were measured using Linometer (R&B, Daejeon, Korea) for 90 seconds for V2, V4, V6, OC, OR groups and for up to 363 seconds for VPD group (n=10, each). Degree of conversion was measured using FTIR spectrometer (IFS 120 HR, Bruker Karlsruhe, Germany) at the bottom surface of 2 mm thick composite specimens V2, Y4, V6, OC groups were measured separately at five irradiation times (5, 10, 20, 40, 60 seconds) and OR, VPD groups were measured in the above mentioned irradiation modes (n=5 each). Microhardness was measured using Digital microhardness tester (FM7, Future-Tech Co., Tokyo, Japan) at the top and bottom surfaces of 2mm thick composite specimens after exposure to the same irradiation modes as the test of degree of conversion(n=3, each). For the microleakage test, class V cavities were prepared on the distal surface of the ninety extracted human third molars. The cavities were restored with one of the following irradiation modes : V2/60 seconds, V4/40 seconds, V6/30 seconds, VPD , OC and OR. Microleakage was assessed by dye penetration along enamel and dentin margins of cavities. Mean polymerization shrinkage, mean degree of conversion and mean microhardness values for all groups at each time were analyzed using one-way ANOVA and Duncan's multiple range test, and using chi-square test far microleakage values. The results were as follows : . Polymerization shrinkage was increased with higher light intensity in groups using VIP$^{TM}$ (Bisco) : the highest with 600mW/$\textrm{cm}^2$, followed by Pulse-delay, 400mW/$\textrm{cm}^2$ and 200mW/$\textrm{cm}^2$ groups, The degree of polymerization shrinkage was higher with Continuous mode than with Ramp mode in groups using Optilux 501$^{TM}$ (Demetron/Kerr). . Degree of conversion and microhardness values were higher with higher light intensity. The final degree of conversion was in the range of 44.7 to 54.98% and the final microhardness value in the range of 34.10 to 56.30. . Microleakage was greater in dentin margin than in enamel margin. Higher light intensity showed more microleakage in dentin margin in groups using VIP$^{TM}$ (Bisco). The microleakage was the lowest with Continuous mode in enamel margin and with Ramp mode in dentin margin when Optilux 501$^{TM}$ (Demetron/Kerr) was used.

Distinction and Tracking of Multiple Pingers Using a Single Frequency (단일 주파수에 의한 복수의 초음파 핑거의 식별 및 추적)

  • 신현옥
    • Journal of the Korean Society of Fisheries and Ocean Technology
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    • v.26 no.4
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    • pp.360-364
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    • 1990
  • To testy time division scheme, we performed some experiments in a circular water tank(13m in diameter and 1m deep). A result of that is shown in figure 4. The 2-dimensional position of the pinger was calculated by the method of hyperbolic line of position calculation. The resolution of the time difference on the base line is 2.5cm. In experiments, the multiple pingers of a single frequency were distinguished and tracked successfully. When the experiment is carried out in the water tank, some multi-path pulses always occur. To delete it, several 10 ms of time delay is inserted onto the program after a group of the normal signals are received. Some normal pulses are not received by the time delay, however there is no problem, practically, for the distinction and the tracking of the pulse. In 2-dimensional positioning, the pinger position can be calculated with three hydrophones. However, if four hydrophones are available, the positioning accuracy will be higher than three hydrophones only by some techniques. Another good feature of the use of four hydrophones is that the positioning of the pinger is capable if a hydrophone fails in receiving them. We also tested this distinguishing method in the field using another type pingers(APPENDIXA).

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A Study of Performance Analysis on Effective Multiple Buffering and Packetizing Method of Multimedia Data for User-Demand Oriented RTSP Based Transmissions Between the PoC Box and a Terminal (PoC Box 단말의 RTSP 운용을 위한 사용자 요구 중심의 효율적인 다중 수신 버퍼링 기법 및 패킷화 방법에 대한 성능 분석에 관한 연구)

  • Bang, Ji-Woong;Kim, Dae-Won
    • Journal of Korea Multimedia Society
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    • v.14 no.1
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    • pp.54-75
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    • 2011
  • PoC(Push-to-talk Over Cellular) is an integrated technology of group voice calls, video calls and internet based multimedia services. If a PoC user can not participate in the PoC session for various reasons such as an emergency situation, lack of battery capacity, then the user can use the PoC Box which has a similar functionality to the MM Box in the MMS(Multimedia Messaging Service). The RTSP(Real-Time Streaming Protocol) method is recommended to be used when there is a transmission session between the PoC box and a terminal. Since the existing VOD service uses a wired network, the packet size of RTSP-based VOD service is huge, however, the PoC service has wireless communication environments which have general characteristics to be used in RTSP method. Packet loss in a wired communication environments is relatively less than that in wireless communication environment, therefore, a buffering latency occurs in PoC service due to a play-out delay which means an asynchronous play of audio & video contents. Those problems make a user to be difficult to find the information they want when the media contents are played-out. In this paper, the following techniques and methods were proposed and their performance and superiority were verified through testing: cross-over dual reception buffering technique, advance partition multi-reception buffering technique, and on-demand multi-reception buffering technique, which are designed for effective picking up of information in media content being transmitted in short amount of time using RTSP when a user searches for media, as well as for reduction in playback delay; and same-priority packetization transmission method and priority-based packetization transmission method, which are media data packetization methods for transmission. From the simulation of functional evaluation, we could find that the proposed multiple receiving buffering and packetizing methods are superior, with respect to the media retrieval inclination, to the existing single receiving buffering method by 6-9 points from the viewpoint of effectiveness and excellence. Among them, especially, on-demand multiple receiving buffering technology with same-priority packetization transmission method is able to manage the media search inclination promptly to the requests of users by showing superiority of 3-24 points above compared to other combination methods. In addition, users could find the information they want much quickly since large amount of informations are received in a focused media retrieval period within a short time.

A Validity Study of the Korean Ages and Stages Questionnaires: Screening for Developmental Delay in Preterm Infant (조산아의 발달 지연 선별 검사로 사용되고 있는 ASQ의 효용성)

  • Kim, Yoon-Joo;Lee, Ju-Young;Sohn, Jin-A;Lee, Eun-Hee;Lee, Jin-A;Choi, Chang-Won;Kim, Ee-Kyung;Kim, Han-Suk;Kim, Byeong-Il;Choi, Jung-Hwan
    • Neonatal Medicine
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    • v.17 no.2
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    • pp.217-223
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    • 2010
  • Purpose: To evaluate the validity of the Korean Ages and Stages Questionnaire (K-ASQ) in premature infants. Methods: Infants with a gestational age of less than 37 weeks were assessed with K-ASQ and Bayley Scales of Infant Development-III (BSID-III) at the outpatient clinic of Seoul National University Children's Hospital between October 30, 2006 and August 1, 2010. Less than 1 standard deviation of the ASQ was defined as positive, and the results were compared with those of BSID-III. Results: The mean gestational age of subjects in the study group was 28$\pm$2.87 weeks (median, 28.43 weeks; range, 23.57-35.86weeks), and the mean birth weight was 1,027$\pm$363 g (median, 950 g; range, 480-2,870 g). The sensitivity of K-ASQ at 8 month was 0.2, and the specificity was 0.93. The sensitivity of K-ASQ at 18 months was 0.72, and the specificity was 0.94. The validity of each of the 4 matched subunits was separately compared, and it also had a high specificity and a low sensitivity. In addition, KASQ showed a higher sensitivity at 18 months than at 8 months. Conclusion: ASQ was developed to screen the general population, and its specificity has been powered. The specificity was also proven in our study. The results of this study suggest that although screening use of K-ASQ in preterm infants may have some limitations, the specificities at 8 and 18 months can be clinically implicated. Further studies are needed to confirm our results.

The etiology of neonatal bacterial meningitis in Busan, Korea (부산 지역 신생아에서 발생한 세균성 수막염의 원인균에 관한 연구)

  • Kim, Seong Heon;Park, Hee Ju;Park, Su Eun;Hong, Yu Ra;Lee, Young Ah;Shin, Jong Beom
    • Pediatric Infection and Vaccine
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    • v.14 no.1
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    • pp.43-46
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    • 2007
  • Purpose : Neonatal bacterial meningitis has been known that its mortality and morbidity is high and its neurologic complications are common. This study was performed to review of the etiology of neonatal bacterial meningitis in Busan, Korea. Methods : We retrospectively analyzed 21 medical records of patients who were diagnosed neonatal bacterial meningitis in four university hospitals in Busan from January 1997 to December 2005. We analyzed age at onset of symptoms, symptoms at admission, causative organisms, and complications. Results : There were 11 male patients and 10 female patients. One premature neonate was included. 7 patients had symptoms at 2-3 weeks after birth and 6 patients at 1-2 weeks after birth. 18 cases had fever, 8 cases had seizure and some had poor feeding, lethargy and irritability. The most common organism causing neonatal bacterial meningitis was Group B streptococcus (GBS). 11 cases were due to GBS, 3 cases due to E. coli, 3 cases were due to Klebsiella pneumoniae, and 2 cases due to Streptococcus pneumoniae. one Listeria monocytogenes and one Enterobacter cloacae were included. 18 patients were alive and 3 patients died. Mental retardation, developmental delay and epilepsy occurred in a living patient. Conclusions : Although this was a retrospective study, we found that Group B streptococcus (GBS) was the most common organism causing neonatal bacterial meningitis and this data is nearly same as others in the world.

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Optimization of the Flip Angle and Scan Timing in Hepatobiliary Phase Imaging Using T1-Weighted, CAIPIRINHA GRE Imaging

  • Kim, Jeongjae;Kim, Bong Soo;Lee, Jeong Sub;Woo, Seung Tae;Choi, Guk Myung;Kim, Seung Hyoung;Lee, Ho Kyu;Lee, Mu Sook;Lee, Kyung Ryeol;Park, Joon Hyuk
    • Investigative Magnetic Resonance Imaging
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    • v.22 no.1
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    • pp.1-9
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    • 2018
  • Purpose: This study was designed to optimize the flip angle (FA) and scan timing of the hepatobiliary phase (HBP) using the 3D T1-weighted, gradient-echo (GRE) imaging with controlled aliasing in parallel imaging results in higher acceleration (CAIPIRINHA) technique on gadoxetic acid-enhanced 3T liver MR imaging. Materials and Methods: Sixty-two patients who underwent gadoxetic acid-enhanced 3T liver MR imaging were included in this study. Four 3D T1-weighted GRE imaging studies using the CAIPIRINHA technique and FAs of $9^{\circ}$ and $13^{\circ}$ were acquired during HBP at 15 and 20 min after intravenous injection of gadoxetic acid. Two abdominal radiologists, who were blinded to the FA and the timing of image acquisition, assessed the sharpness of liver edge, hepatic vessel clarity, lesion conspicuity, artifact severity, and overall image quality using a five-point scale. Quantitative analysis was performed by another radiologist to estimate the relative liver enhancement (RLE) and the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR). Statistical analyses were performed using the Wilcoxon signed rank test and one-way analysis of variance. Results: The scores of the HBP with an FA of $13^{\circ}$ during the same delayed time were significantly higher than those of the HBP with an FA of $9^{\circ}$ in all the assessment items (P < 0.01). In terms of the delay time, images at the same FA obtained with a 20-min-HBP showed better quality than those obtained with a 15-min-HBP. There was no significant difference in qualitative scores between the 20-min-HBP and the 15-min-HBP images in the non-liver cirrhosis (LC) group except for the hepatic vessel clarity score with $9^{\circ}$ FA. In the quantitative analysis, a statistically significant difference was found in the degree of RLE in the four HBP images (P = 0.012). However, in the subgroup analysis, no significant difference in RLE was found in the four HBP images in either the LC or the non-LC groups. The SNR did not differ significantly in the four HBP images. In the subgroup analysis, 20-min-HBP imaging with a $13^{\circ}$ FA showed the highest SNR value in the LC-group, whereas 15-min-HBP imaging with a $13^{\circ}$ FA showed the best value of SNR in the non-LC group. Conclusion: The use of a moderately high FA improves the image quality and lesion conspicuity on 3D, T1-weighted GRE imaging using the CAIPIRINHA technique on gadoxetic acid, 3T liver MR imaging. In patients with normal liver function, the 15-min-HBP with a $13^{\circ}$ FA represents a feasible option without a significant decrease in image quality.

Effect of Vinclozolin Administration on the Gene Expressions in Hypothalamus-Pituitary Axis of Immature Female Rats (미성숙 암컷 흰쥐 시상하부-뇌하수체 축 상의 유전자 발현에 미치는 Vinclozolin 투여 효과)

  • Lee, Woo-Cheol;Lee, Sung-Ho
    • Development and Reproduction
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    • v.12 no.1
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    • pp.97-105
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    • 2008
  • Vinclozolin (VCZ) is a systemic fungicide commonly used in fruits, vegetables and the wine industry. VCZ and its metabolites, butenoic acid (M1) and enanilide (M2) derivatives, act as anti-androgens through actions on the androgen receptor. Although there is growing body of evidence that VCZ's action as an endocrine disrupting chemical (EDC) in male reproductive physiology and pathphysiology, no evidence on the VCZ's EDC action in female is available yet. Previously we found that the prepubertal VCZ exposures could effectively delay the onset of puberty in female rats, suggesting the postponed or weakened activities of hypothalamus-pituitary-ovary (H-P-O) reproductive hormonal axis. The present study was performed to examine whether the VCZ administration affects the transcriptional activities of reproductive hormone-related genes in the same animal model. VCZ (10 mg/kg/day) was administered daily from postnatal day 21 (PND 21) through the day when the first vaginal opening (V.O.) was observed. To determine the transcriptional changes of reproductive hormone-related genes in hypothalamus and pituitary, total RNAs were extracted and applied to the semiquantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). As a result, treatment with VCZ significantly lowered the transcriptional activity of nitric oxide synthase-2 (NOS-2) which is known to adjust gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) secretion in the hypothalamus (p<0.01). Similarly, the mRNA levels of KiSS-1, G protein-coupled receptor 54 (GPR54) and GnRH were significantly decreased in hypothalamus (p<0.01) from VCZ-treated group. As expected, the transcriptional activities of luteinizing hormone-${\beta}$ (LH-${\beta}$) and follicle stimulating hormone-${\beta}$ (FSH-${\beta}$) in the anterior pituitary from VCZ-treated group were also significantly lower than those from the control group. The present study indicates that(i) the inhibitory effect of VCZ exposure on the onset of puberty in immature female rats could be derived from the reduced transcriptional activities of gonadotropin subunits and their upstream modulators such as GnRH and KiSS-1 in hypothalamus-pituitary neuroendocrine axis, and (ii) these inhibitory effects could be mediated by NO signaling pathway.

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