• Journal of Radiation Protection and Research
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• v.43 no.2
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• pp.66-74
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• 2018

Background: Tumor response to anticancer therapies can much be influenced by microenvironmental factors. In this study, we determined the effect of these microenvironmental factors on DNA methylation using A549 human lung adenocarcinoma cell line. Materials and Methods: We subjected A549 cells to various conditions mimicking tumor microenvironment including hypoxia, acidosis (sodium lactate), oxidative stress ($H_2O_2$), bystander effect (supernatant from doxorubicin (Dox)-treated or irradiated cells), and immune cell infiltration (supernatant from THP-1 or Jurkat T cells). Genomic DNA was isolated from these cells and analyzed for DNA methylation. Clonogenic cell survival, gene expression, and metabolism were analyzed in cells treated with some of these conditions. Results and Discussion: We found that DNA methylation level was significantly decreased in A549 cells treated with conditioned media from Dox-treated cells or Jurkat T cells, or sodium lactate, indicating an active transcription. To determine whether the decreased DNA methylation affects radiation sensitivity, we exposed cells to these conditions followed by 6 Gy irradiation and found that cell survival was significantly increased by sodium lactate while it was decreased by conditioned media from Dox-treated cells. We further observed that cells treated with conditioned media from Dox-treated cells exhibited significant changes in expression of genes including BAX and FAS (involved in apoptosis), NADPH dehydrogenase (mitochondria), EGFR (cellular survival) and RAD51 (DNA damage repair) while sodium lactate increased cellular metabolism rather than changing the gene expression. Conclusion: Our results suggest that various tumor microenvironmental factors can differentially influence DNA methylation and hence radiosensitivity and gene expression in A549 cancer cells.

• Korean Journal of Materials Research
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• v.23 no.3
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• pp.155-160
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• 2013

ZnO thin films co-doped with Mg and Ga (MxGyZzO, x + y + z = 1, x = 0.05, y = 0.02 and z = 0.93) were prepared on glass substrates by RF magnetron sputtering with different sputtering powers ranging from 100W to 200W at a substrate temperature of $350^{\circ}C$. The effects of the sputtering power on the structural, morphological, electrical, and optical properties of MGZO thin films were investigated. The X-ray diffraction patterns showed that all the MGZO thin films were grown as a hexagonal wurtzite phase with the preferred orientation on the c-axis without secondary phases such as MgO, $Ga_2O_3$, or $ZnGa_2O_4$. The intensity of the diffraction peak from the (0002) plane of the MGZO thin films was enhanced as the sputtering power increased. The (0002) peak positions of the MGZO thin films was shifted toward, a high diffraction angle as the sputtering power increased. Cross-sectional field emission scanning electron microscopy images of the MGZO thin films showed that all of these films had a columnar structure and their thickness increased with an increase in the sputtering power. MGZO thin film deposited at the sputtering power of 200W showed the best electrical characteristics in terms of the carrier concentration ($4.71{\times}10^{20}cm^{-3}$), charge carrier mobility ($10.2cm^2V^{-1}s^{-1}$) and a minimum resistivity ($1.3{\times}10^{-3}{\Omega}cm$). A UV-visible spectroscopy assessment showed that the MGZO thin films had high transmittance of more than 80 % in the visible region and that the absorption edges of MGZO thin films were very sharp and shifted toward the higher wavelength side, from 270 nm to 340 nm, with an increase in the sputtering power. The band-gap energy of MGZO thin films was widened from 3.74 eV to 3.92 eV with the change in the sputtering power.

• Radiation Oncology Journal
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• v.13 no.2
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• pp.113-120
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• 1995

Purpose : To investigate the effect of alkaloid fraction from Korean ginseng on radiation-induced DNA double strand breaks (dsb) formation and repair in murine lymphocytes Materials and Methods : We used the neutral filter elution technique to assay $^{60}Co\;{\gamma}$ ray-induced DNA double strand breaks formation and repair in C57BL/6 mouse spleen lymphocytes for evaluating the dose-response relationship in the presence of alkaloid fraction as a radioprotective agent. The lymphocytes were stimulated with Phytohemagglutinin (PHA, 2 u g/ml) to label $^3[H]-thymidine.$ Isotope-labelled lymphocytes in suspension were exposed to 100 Gy at $0^{\cdot}C$ in the alkaloid fraction-treated group and elution procedure was performed at PH 9.6. The extents of formation of radiation-induced DNA double strand breaks and repair were compared respectively via strand scission factor (SSF) and relative strand scission factor (RSSF). Results: Alkaloid fraction reduced the formation of double strand breaks with dose modification factor of 2 15, compared to control group Rejoining of DNA dsb appeared to take place via two components. The first fast component was completed within 20.4 minutes, but the second slow component was not completed until 220.2 minutes after irradiation. About $30\%$ of dsb formed by irradiation was ultimately unrejoined despite the administration of alkaloid fraction. The administration of alkaloid fraction had a great effect on the second slow component of repair; the half-time of fast component repair was not changed, but that of slow component was 621.8 minutes. Conclusion: Neutral filter elution assay Proved to be a very effective method to quantitate the extents of DNA dsb formation and its repair. By using this technique, we were able to evaluate the efficiency of alkaloid fraction from Korean ginseng as a valuable radioprotector. Alkaloid fraction can be used prophylactically to prevent or ameliorate the severe radiation damages in workers and neighbors around the atomic power plants. For more refined study, however, more advanced purification of alkaloid fraction wil be needed in the near future.

• Journal of Radiation Protection and Research
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• v.42 no.4
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• pp.189-196
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• 2017

Background: The effects of radiation on tissues vary depending on the radiation type. In this study, a minipig model was used to compare the effects of ${\beta}$-rays from $^{166}Ho$ and ${\gamma}$-rays from $^{60}Co$ on the skin. Materials and Methods: In this study, the detrimental effects of ${\beta}$- and ${\gamma}$-irradiation on the skin were assessed in minipigs. The histopathological changes in the skin from 1 to 12 weeks after exposure to 50 Gy of either ${\beta}$- (using $^{166}Ho$ patches) or ${\gamma}$- (using $^{60}Co$) irradiation were assessed. Results and Discussion: The skin irradiated by ${\beta}$-rays was shown to exhibit more severe skin injury than that irradiated by ${\gamma}$-rays at 1-3 weeks post-exposure; however, while the skin lesions caused by ${\beta}$-rays recovered after 8 weeks, the ${\gamma}$-irradiated skin lesions were not repaired after this time. The observed histopathological changes corresponded with gross appearance scores. Seven days post-irradiation, apoptotic cells in the basal layer were detected more frequently in ${\beta}$-irradiated skin than in ${\gamma}$-irradiated skin. The basal cell density and skin thickness gradually decreased until 4 weeks after ${\gamma}$- and ${\beta}$- irradiation. In ${\beta}$-irradiated skin lesions, and the density and thickness increased sharply back to control levels by 6-9 weeks. However, this was not the case in ${\gamma}$-irradiated skin lesions. In ${\gamma}$-irradiated skin, cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) was shown to be expressed in the epidermis, endothelial cells of vessels, and fibroblasts, while ${\beta}$-irradiated lesions exhibited COX-2 expression that was mostly limited to the epidermis. Conclusion: In this study, ${\beta}$-rays were shown to induce more severe skin injury than ${\gamma}$-rays; however, the ${\beta}$-rays-induced injury was largely repaired over time, while the ${\gamma}$-rays-induced injury was not repaired and instead progressed to necrosis. These findings reveal the differential effects of ${\gamma}$- and ${\beta}$-irradiation on skin and demonstrate the use of minipigs as a beneficial experimental model for studying irradiation-induced skin damage.

• Radiation Oncology Journal
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• v.13 no.3
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• pp.253-258
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• 1995

Purpose : To evaluate the effects of postoperative radiotherapy and chemotherapy on the pattern of failure and survival for locally advanced rectal carcinoma, we analyzed the two groups of patients who received curative resection only and who received postoperative radiochemotherapy retro-spectively. Materials and Methods : From June 1989 to December 1992, ninety nine patients with rectal cancer were treated by curative resection and staged as B2-3 or C. Group I(25) patients received curative resection only and group II(74) patients postoperative adjuvant therapy. Postoperative adiuvant group received radiation therapy (4500cGy/25fx to whole pelvis) with 5-FU (500mg/$m^2$, day 1-3 IV infusion) as radiosensitizer and maintenance chemotherapy with 5-FU(400mg/$m^2$ for 5 days) and leucovorin (20mg/m^2$ for 5 days) for 6 cycles. Results : The patients in group I and group II were comparable in terms of age sex, performance status, but in group II $74{\%}$ of patients showed stage C compared with $56{\%}$ of group I. All patients were followed from 6 to 60 months with a median follow up of 29 months. Three year overall survival rates and disease free survival rates were $68\%,\;64\%$ respectively in group I and $64\%,\;61\%$, respectively in group II. There was no statistical difference between the two treatment groups in overall survival rate and disease free survival rate. Local recurrences occurred in $28{\%}$ of group I, $21{\%}$ of group II (p>.05) and distant metastases occurred in $20{\%}$ of group I, $27{\%}$ of group II(p>.05). The prognostic value of several variables other than treatment modality was assessed. In multivariate analysis for prognostic factors stage and histologic grade showed statistically significant effect on local recurrences and lymphatic or vessel invasion on distant metastasis. Conclusion : This retrospective study showed no statistical difference between two groups on the pattern of failure and survival. But considering that group II had more advanced stage and poor prognostic factors than group I, postoperative adjuvant radiochemotherapy improves the results for locally advanced rectal carcinoma as compared with curative surgery alone.

• Journal of Radiation Industry
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• v.5 no.3
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• pp.211-220
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• 2011

This study was carried out to develop salt tolerant varities of rapeseed (Brassica napus L.) which can be grown in the high salty reclaimed land. The seeds of three varieties 'Naehan', 'Tammi', and 'Halla' were treated by proton ion beams and gamma rays with 0 to 2,000 Gy. For the selection of salt tolerant lines, emergence and survival rate, and growth characteristics of $M_2$ to $M_4$ generations were investigated in the Saemangeum reclaimed fields with the different salt concentrations. The lines with potential salt tolerance were selected in the $M_4$ generation and tested indoor for their growth characteristics. There was no significant changes in the soil pH for $M_4$ generation during growth period. However, soil EC was higher in early spring than sowing period (mid October). In $M_4$ generation test, the seeds of original and selected line showed high rates of emergence and survival, as determined one month after sowing. After wintering, however, the original varieties showed the significant reduction in the survival rate, while the selected lines showed a higher survival rate and good growth, leading to the completion of their life cycle. Consequently we selected 9 lines from $M_4$ generation with better performance in growth and yield. Soil EC was $2.8{\sim}4.3dS{\cdot}m^{-1}$ during $M_4$ generation growth period. The laboratory test of the lines selected from $M_4$ generation was made for their salt tolerance potential. The selected lines showed higher chlorophyll and proline contents than the original varieties. There was also no significant difference in the emergence rate of seed between the original and selected varieties. In 200 mM natural sea salt, the $N{\gamma}600-21-1-641$ line derived from 'Naehan' was the highest in growth rate, leaf chlorophyll and proline contents. $T{\gamma}800-20-2-461$ line derived from 'Tammi' didn't show significant difference in growth rate compared to original variety in 200 mM and withered in 250 mM like other lines as time passed. $H{\gamma}200-7-1-740$ line showed similar growth and chlorophyll content compared to its original variety.

• Korean Journal of Poultry Science
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• v.49 no.2
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• pp.89-98
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• 2022

This study compared the production and physiological characteristics of male and female Korean native commercial chickens. We investigated the growth performance, vitality, and stress response of 479 male and 608 female chickens from 1 d to 12 weeks of age. The body weight, feed consumption and feed conversion ratio were measured as growth performance. The survival rate, amount of telomeric DNA, DNA damage rate, heterophil-lymphocyte ratio (H/L ratio), and heat shock protein (HSP)-70, HSP-90α, and HSP-90β gene expression levels were analyzed as indicators of vitality and stress response. Body weight was significantly higher in male chickens than in female chickens after 2 weeks of age (P<0.01). Feed intake was higher in male chickens than in female chickens, whereas the feed conversion ratio showed the opposite trend. The survival rate was significantly higher in female chickens than in male chickens (82.8% vs. 73.8%, P<0.05). Stress response analysis revealed no differences between male and female chickens in terms of telomeric DNA content, DNA damage rate, H/L ratio, and HSP gene expression levels. Taken together, it was concluded that there was a significant difference in the growth performance and survival rate between male and female Korean native commercial chickens, whereas there was no difference in the degree of stress response between them. Therefore, in terms of the productivity of Korean native commercial chickens, it is judged that separate-sex rearing is much more advantageous than mixed rearing, regardless of the physiological characteristics of males and females.

• The Journal of Korean Society for Radiation Therapy
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• v.26 no.2
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• pp.297-303
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• 2014

Purpose : The purpose of this study is reproducibility evaluation of deep inspiration breath-hold(DIBH) technique by respiration data and heart position analysis in radiation therapy for Left Breast cancer patients. Materials and Methods : Free breathing(FB) Computed Tomography(CT) images and DIBH CT images of three left breast cancer patients were used to evaluate the heart volume and dose during treatment planing system( Eclipse version 10.0, Varian, USA ). The signal of RPM (Real-time Position Management) Respiratory Gating System (version 1.7.5, Varian, USA) was used to evaluate respiration stability of DIBH during breast radiation therapy. The images for measurement of heart position were acquired by the Electronic portal imaging device(EPID) cine acquisition mode. The distance of heart at the three measuring points(A, B, C) on each image was measured by Offline Review (ARIA 10, Varian, USA). Results : Significant differences were found between the FB and DIBH plans for mean heart dose (6.82 vs. 1.91 Gy), heart $V_{30}$ (68.57 vs. $8.26cm^3$), $V_{20}$ (76.43 vs. $11.34cm^3$). The standard deviation of DIBH signal of each patient was ${\pm}0.07cm$, ${\pm}0.04cm$, ${\pm}0.13cm$, respectively. The Maximum and Minimum heart distance on EPID images were measured as 0.32 cm and 0.00 cm. Conclusion : Consequently, using the DIBH technique with radiation therapy for left breast cancer patients is very useful to establish the treatment plan and to reduce the heart dose. In addition, it is beneficial to using the Cine acquisition mode of EPID for the reproducibility evaluation of DIBH.

• The Korean Journal of Nuclear Medicine Technology
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.33-38
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• 2014

Purpose Auto exposure control (AEC) in SPECT/CT automatically controls the exposure dose (mA) according to patient's shape and size. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of AEC in SPECT/CT on exposure dose reduction and image quality. Materials and Methods The model of SPECT/CT used in this study was Discovery 670 (GE, USA), Smart mA for AEC; and $^{99m}Tc$ as a radioisotope. To compare SPECT and CT images by CT exposure dose variation, we used a standard technique set at 80, 100, 120, 140 kVp, 10, 30, 50, 100, 150, 200, 250 mA, and AEC at 80, 100, 120, 140 kVp, 10-250 mA. To evaluate resolution and contrast of SPECT images, triple line phantom and flangeless Esser PET phantom were used. For CT images, noise and uniformity were checked by anthropomrphic chest phantom. For dose evaluation to find DLP value, anthropomorphic chest phantom was used and the CT protocol of torso was applied by standard technique (120 kVp, 100 mA) and AEC (120 kVp, 10-250 mA). Results When standard and AEC were applied, the resolutions at SPECT images with attenuation correction (AC) were the same as FWHM by center 3.65 mm, left 3.48 mm, right 3.61 mm. Contrasts of standard and AEC showed no significant difference: standard 53.5, 29.8, 22.5, 15.8, 6.0, AEC 53.5, 29.6, 22.4, 15.7, 6.1 In CT images, noise values at standard and AEC were 15.4 and 18.5 respectively. The application of AEC increases noise but the value of coefficient variation were 33.8, 24.9 respectively, obtaining uniform noise image. The values of DLP at standard and AEC were 426.78 and 352.09 each, which shows that the application of AEC decreases exposure dose more than standard by approximately 18%. Conclusion The results of our study show that there was no difference of AC in SPECT images based on the CT exposure dose variation at SPECT/CT images. It was found that the increased CT exposure dose leads to the improvement of CT image quality but also increases the exposure dose. Thus, the use of AEC in SPECT/CT contributes to obtaining equal AC SPECT images, and uniform noise in CT images while reducing exposure dose.

• Progress in Medical Physics
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• v.19 no.2
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• pp.102-112
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• 2008

We developed a high-resolution micro-CT system based on rotational gantry and flat-panel detector for live mouse imaging. This system is composed primarily of an x-ray source with micro-focal spot size, a CMOS (complementary metal oxide semiconductor) flat panel detector coupled with Csl (TI) (thallium-doped cesium iodide) scintillator, a linearly moving couch, a rotational gantry coupled with positioning encoder, and a parallel processing system for image data. This system was designed to be of the gantry-rotation type which has several advantages in obtaining CT images of live mice, namely, the relative ease of minimizing the motion artifact of the mice and the capability of administering respiratory anesthesia during scanning. We evaluated the spatial resolution, image contrast, and uniformity of the CT system using CT phantoms. As the results, the spatial resolution of the system was approximately the 11.3 cycles/mm at 10% of the MTF curve, and the radiation dose to the mice was 81.5 mGy. The minimal resolving contrast was found to be less than 46 CT numbers on low-contrast phantom imaging test. We found that the image non-uniformity was approximately 70 CT numbers at a voxel size of ${\sim}55{\times}55{\times}X100\;{\mu}^3$. We present the image test results of the skull and lung, and body of the live mice.