• Genomics & Informatics
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• 제20권4호
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• pp.44.1-44.13
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• 2022

Brugada syndrome (BS) is an autosomal dominant inheritance cardiac arrhythmia disorder associated with sudden death in young adults. Thailand has the highest prevalence of BS worldwide, and over 60% of patients with BS still have unclear disease etiology. Here, we performed a new viral metagenome analysis pipeline called VIRIN and validated it with whole genome sequencing (WGS) data of HeLa cell lines and hepatocellular carcinoma. Then the VIRIN pipeline was applied to identify viral integration positions from unmapped WGS data of Thai males, including 100 BS patients (case) and 100 controls. Even though the sample preparation had no viral enrichment step, we can identify several virus genes from our analysis pipeline. The predominance of human endogenous retrovirus K (HERV-K) viruses was found in both cases and controls by blastn and blastx analysis. This study is the first report on the full-length HERV-K assembled genomes in the Thai population. Furthermore, the HERV-K integration breakpoint positions were validated and compared between the case and control datasets. Interestingly, Brugada cases contained HERV-K integration breakpoints at promoters five times more often than controls. Overall, the highlight of this study is the BS-specific HERV-K breakpoint positions that were found at the gene coding region "NBPF11" (n = 9), "NBPF12" (n = 8) and long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) "PCAT14" (n = 4) region. The genes and the lncRNA have been reported to be associated with congenital heart and arterial diseases. These findings provide another aspect of the BS etiology associated with viral genome integrations within the human genome.

• 한국식생활문화학회지
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• 제22권2호
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• pp.235-245
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• 2007

This study was undertaken to develop web-based nutrition information contents for the older adults. Twenty six domestic web-sites were analyzed and then 12 foreign web-sites and 4 education materials for the elderly of foreign university were benchmarked. Also a lot of literatures on elderly education program were reviewed. A card-sorting task was performed with 8 older adults to ascertain how the target audience organized information about nutrition. The results were as fellows. Among 26 domestic web-sites, 2 sites(7.7%) were only for the elderly. Main topics of information contents for the elderly included 'Importance of Healthy Eating', 'DRI', 'Dietary Guidelines'. Four of twelve foreign web-sites were for the elderly nutrition education. Topics of 'Dietary Guideline', 'Meal Program' were found in 4 sites and 'Importance of Healthy Eating', 'Diet & Disease', 'DRI, 'Food Guide Pyramid', 'Nutrition Fact Labels' were found in 3 sites. Education materials of foreign university dealt with basic information on 'nutrient needs changes related with aging', 'Heart & Bone Healthy Eating Plan', 'Food Guide Pyramid'. Also topics on 'Eating on a budget', 'Eating Out Guideline' were included for practical use for the elderly. Based on card-sorting process, contents framework for web-site was developed and 4 main menus for framework were respectively named as 'Nutrition', 'Meals', 'Foods'. 'Check up Nutritional Health' by panel discussion. Finally we developed nutrition information contents for 4 main menus. We focused on helping older adults recognize the importance of healthy eating and apply the nutrition information to practical use. We expect that the developed framework of contents can be a guideline for indentifying the information needs of older adults in developing effective nutrition intervention program. And we suggest that the survey for target people should be peformed for the web-site to be user-friendly designed and the developed contents be evaluated and revised in the near future.

• 한국방사선학회논문지
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• 제17권7호
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• pp.1033-1039
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• 2023

폐 스크리닝 검사로 이용되고 있는 저선량 흉부 CT는 Scan 범위 내에 관상동맥 석회화에 대한 정보도 함께 포함하고 있어 이를 이용한 관상동맥 석회화 판별의 유용성을 알아보고자 한다. 저선량 흉부 CT 검사와 관상동맥 석회화 점수(CACS) 검사를 같은 날 시행 받은 자들을 대상으로 하였다. 관상동맥 석회화 점수 검사 결과를 Coronary artery calcium score categories and risks 분류법을 참고하여 4개 그룹(Low: 1〈CACS〈10, Mild: 10〈CACS〈100, Moderate: 100〈CACS〈400, High: 400〈CACS)으로 각각 30명을 선정한 후 관상동맥 석회화 수치 측정 업무에 종사하고 있는 경력 15년차 이상 5명의 방사선사가 저선량 흉부 CT 영상에서 관상동맥 석회화 유무를 후향적으로 분석하였다. 저선량 흉부 CT 영상에서 5명의 관찰자가 통일되게 판독한 결과가 관상동맥 석회화점수 CT 검사 결과와 일치한 경우는 Low 그룹: 56%, Mild 그룹: 96.6%, Moderate 그룹: 100%, High 그룹: 100%로 나타났다. Low 그룹에서 5명의 관찰자 모두가 석회화를 관찰한 것은 30건 중 17건이었으며, 5명이 모두 판별 불가로 결정한 경우 7건이었다. 무증상 성인을 대상으로 저선량 흉부 CT 검사에서 석회화 점수가 15 이상인 경우에는 관상동맥 석회화를 100% 관찰할 수 있었다. 판별이 가능한 최소 석회화 수치는 1로, 피검자의 체형이 작거나 심장의 움직임이 최소가 되는 시점에서 스캔이 이루어지는 경우 매우 작은 석회화까지도 판별할 수 있다는 것을 알 수 있었다.

• Korean Journal of Radiology
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• 제22권9호
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• pp.1525-1536
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• 2021

Objective: To investigate the feasibility of cine three-dimensional (3D) balanced steady-state free precession (b-SSFP) imaging combined with a non-local means (NLM) algorithm for image denoising in evaluating cardiac function in children with repaired tetralogy of Fallot (rTOF). Materials and Methods: Thirty-five patients with rTOF (mean age, 12 years; range, 7-18 years) were enrolled to undergo cardiac cine image acquisition, including two-dimensional (2D) b-SSFP, 3D b-SSFP, and 3D b-SSFP combined with NLM. End-diastolic volume (EDV), end-systolic volume (ESV), stroke volume (SV), and ejection fraction (EF) of the two ventricles were measured and indexed by body surface index. Acquisition time and image quality were recorded and compared among the three imaging sequences. Results: 3D b-SSFP with denoising vs. 2D b-SSFP had high correlation coefficients for EDV, ESV, SV, and EF of the left (0.959-0.991; p < 0.001) as well as right (0.755-0.965; p < 0.001) ventricular metrics. The image acquisition time ± standard deviation (SD) was 25.1 ± 2.4 seconds for 3D b-SSFP compared with 277.6 ± 0.7 seconds for 2D b-SSFP, indicating a significantly shorter time with the 3D than the 2D sequence (p < 0.001). Image quality score was better with 3D b-SSFP combined with denoising than with 3D b-SSFP (mean ± SD, 3.8 ± 0.6 vs. 3.5 ± 0.6; p = 0.005). Signal-to-noise ratios for blood and myocardium as well as contrast between blood and myocardium were higher for 3D b-SSFP combined with denoising than for 3D b-SSFP (p < 0.05 for all but septal myocardium). Conclusion: The 3D b-SSFP sequence can significantly reduce acquisition time compared to the 2D b-SSFP sequence for cine imaging in the evaluation of ventricular function in children with rTOF, and its quality can be further improved by combining it with an NLM denoising method.

• Korean Journal of Radiology
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• 제22권8호
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• pp.1369-1378
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• 2021

Objective: Few attempts have been made to investigate the prognostic value of dynamic contrast-enhanced (DCE) MRI or dynamic susceptibility contrast (DSC) MRI of non-enhancing, T2-high-signal-intensity (T2-HSI) lesions of glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) in newly diagnosed patients. This study aimed to investigate the prognostic values of DCE MRI and DSC MRI parameters from non-enhancing, T2-HSI lesions of GBM. Materials and Methods: A total of 76 patients with GBM who underwent preoperative DCE MRI and DSC MRI and standard treatment were retrospectively included. Six months after surgery, the patients were categorized into early progression (n = 15) and non-early progression (n = 61) groups. We extracted and analyzed the permeability and perfusion parameters of both modalities for the non-enhancing, T2-HSI lesions of the tumors. The optimal percentiles of the respective parameters obtained from cumulative histograms were determined using receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve and univariable Cox regression analyses. The results were compared using multivariable Cox proportional hazards regression analysis of progression-free survival. Results: The 95th percentile value (PV) of Ktrans, mean Ktrans, and median Ve were significant predictors of early progression as identified by the ROC curve analysis (area under the ROC curve [AUC] = 0.704, p = 0.005; AUC = 0.684, p = 0.021; and AUC = 0.670, p = 0.0325, respectively). Univariable Cox regression analysis of the above three parametric values showed that the 95th PV of Ktrans and the mean Ktrans were significant predictors of early progression (hazard ratio [HR] = 1.06, p = 0.009; HR = 1.25, p = 0.017, respectively). Multivariable Cox regression analysis, which also incorporated clinical parameters, revealed that the 95th PV of Ktrans was the sole significant independent predictor of early progression (HR = 1.062, p < 0.009). Conclusion: The 95th PV of Ktrans from the non-enhancing, T2-HSI lesions of GBM is a potential prognostic marker for disease progression.

• 대한영상의학회지
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• 제81권2호
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• pp.324-336
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• 2020

심혈관계 석회화는 다양한 심혈관계 질환에서 나타나며 심혈관 사건 발생의 표지자의 역할을 한다. CT의 기술이 발전함에 따라 심전도동기 CT뿐만이 아닌 비 심전도동기 CT에서도 심혈관계 석회화를 평가하는 것이 가능해졌다. 이번 종설에서는 비 조영증강 비 심전도동기 흉부 CT에서 발견되는 심혈관계 석회화를 심혈관 사건 발생과 연관되었다고 알려진 3가지 석회화(관상동맥, 흉부 대동맥, 판막 석회화)에 대해 자세히 살펴보고 추가적으로 우연적으로 발견될 수 있는 심막 석회화에 대해서도 간단히 기술하였다. 우리나라에서 2019년 하반기부터 폐암 검진이 시작되면서 고령 흡연자의 비 조영증강 비 심전도동기 저선량 CT의 영상의 수가 늘어나고 있고 이에 우연히 발견되는 심혈관계 석회화도 늘어나고 있다. 그러므로 비 조영증강 비 심전도동기 흉부 CT에서 발견되는 심혈관계 석회화의 의미를 이해하고 적절히 보고하는 것이 영상의학과 의사에게 중요할 것이다.

• 대한영상의학회지
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• 제82권5호
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• pp.1246-1257
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• 2021

목적 본 연구의 목적은 두경부암의 종격동 림프절 전이의 예측인자와 영상 소견을 알아보고자 함이다. 대상과 방법 이 연구에서 저자들은 두경부암 환자 중에서 종격동 림프절 전이그룹과 비전이 그룹 사이의 임상 소견 및 질병의 특성(성별, 연령, 원발성 종양 부위, 조직학적 유형, 악성종양에 대한 이전 치료이력, T-, N- 및 M- 단계, 경부 림프절 전이) 들을 비교하였다. 또한 저자들은 전이그룹에서 종격동 림프절 분류에 따라 림프절 전이의 흉부 전산화단층촬영(전이분포와 림프절 최대직경) 및 양전자방출단층촬영/전산화단층촬영(최대 표준섭취계수)의 소견을 평가하였다. 결과 두경부암 환자 470명 중 55명(11.7%)에서 150개의 종격동 station을 포함하는 종격동 림프절 전이가 발견되었다. 하인두암, 재발한 종양, T4, N2/N3, 및 M1 단계는 종격동 림프절 전이의 의미 있는 예측인자로 평가되었다. 종격동 림프절 전이의 가장 흔한 위치는 일측 station 2 (상부기관주위 림프절, 36.4%), 일측 station 11 (엽간 림프절, 27.3%), 일측 station 10(폐문 림프절, 25.5%) 순이었다. 결론 하인두암, 재발성 종양 및 높은 TNM 단계인 경우, 두경부암의 종격동 림프절 전이 가능성을 고려하여야 한다.

• Korean Journal of Radiology
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• 제23권12호
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• pp.1260-1268
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• 2022

Objective: To propose standardized MRI-proton density fat fraction (PDFF) cutoff values for diagnosing hepatic steatosis, evaluated using contemporary PDFF measuring methods in a large population of healthy adults, using histologic fat fraction (HFF) as the reference standard. Materials and Methods: A retrospective search of electronic medical records between 2015 and 2018 identified 1063 adult donor candidates for liver transplantation who had undergone liver MRI and liver biopsy within a 7-day interval. Patients with a history of liver disease or significant alcohol consumption were excluded. Chemical shift imaging-based MRI (CS-MRI) PDFF and high-speed T2-corrected multi-echo MR spectroscopy (HISTO-MRS) PDFF data were obtained. By temporal splitting, the total population was divided into development and validation sets. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis was performed to evaluate the diagnostic performance of the MRI-PDFF method. Two cutoff values with sensitivity > 90% and specificity > 90% were selected to rule-out and rule-in, respectively, hepatic steatosis with reference to HFF ≥ 5% in the development set. The diagnostic performance was assessed using the validation set. Results: Of 921 final participants (624 male; mean age ± standard deviation, 31.5 ± 9.0 years), the development and validation sets comprised 497 and 424 patients, respectively. In the development set, the areas under the ROC curve for diagnosing hepatic steatosis were 0.920 for CS-MRI-PDFF and 0.915 for HISTO-MRS-PDFF. For ruling-out hepatic steatosis, the CS-MRI-PDFF cutoff was 2.3% (sensitivity, 92.4%; specificity, 63.0%) and the HISTO-MRI-PDFF cutoff was 2.6% (sensitivity, 88.8%; specificity, 70.1%). For ruling-in hepatic steatosis, the CS-MRI-PDFF cutoff was 3.5% (sensitivity, 73.5%; specificity, 88.6%) and the HISTO-MRI-PDFF cutoff was 4.0% (sensitivity, 74.7%; specificity, 90.6%). Conclusion: In a large population of healthy adults, our study suggests diagnostic thresholds for ruling-out and ruling-in hepatic steatosis defined as HFF ≥ 5% by contemporary PDFF measurement methods.

• Korean Journal of Radiology
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• 제23권12호
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• pp.1251-1259
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• 2022

Objective: T1 mapping provides valuable information regarding cardiomyopathies. Manual drawing is time consuming and prone to subjective errors. Therefore, this study aimed to test a DL algorithm for the automated measurement of native T1 and extracellular volume (ECV) fractions in cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) imaging with a temporally separated dataset. Materials and Methods: CMR images obtained for 95 participants (mean age ± standard deviation, 54.5 ± 15.2 years), including 36 left ventricular hypertrophy (12 hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, 12 Fabry disease, and 12 amyloidosis), 32 dilated cardiomyopathy, and 27 healthy volunteers, were included. A commercial deep learning (DL) algorithm based on 2D U-net (Myomics-T1 software, version 1.0.0) was used for the automated analysis of T1 maps. Four radiologists, as study readers, performed manual analysis. The reference standard was the consensus result of the manual analysis by two additional expert readers. The segmentation performance of the DL algorithm and the correlation and agreement between the automated measurement and the reference standard were assessed. Interobserver agreement among the four radiologists was analyzed. Results: DL successfully segmented the myocardium in 99.3% of slices in the native T1 map and 89.8% of slices in the post-T1 map with Dice similarity coefficients of 0.86 ± 0.05 and 0.74 ± 0.17, respectively. Native T1 and ECV showed strong correlation and agreement between DL and the reference: for T1, r = 0.967 (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.951-0.978) and bias of 9.5 msec (95% limits of agreement [LOA], -23.6-42.6 msec); for ECV, r = 0.987 (95% CI, 0.980-0.991) and bias of 0.7% (95% LOA, -2.8%-4.2%) on per-subject basis. Agreements between DL and each of the four radiologists were excellent (intraclass correlation coefficient [ICC] of 0.98-0.99 for both native T1 and ECV), comparable to the pairwise agreement between the radiologists (ICC of 0.97-1.00 and 0.99-1.00 for native T1 and ECV, respectively). Conclusion: The DL algorithm allowed automated T1 and ECV measurements comparable to those of radiologists.

• International Journal of Stem Cells
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• 제16권3호
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• pp.281-292
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• 2023

Background and Objectives: Human induced pluripotent stem cell (hiPSC)-derived cardiomyocyte (CM) hold great promise as a cellular source of CM for cardiac function restoration in ischemic heart disease. However, the use of animal-derived xenogeneic substances during the biomanufacturing of hiPSC-CM can induce inadvertent immune responses or chronic inflammation, followed by tumorigenicity. In this study, we aimed to reveal the effects of xenogeneic substances on the functional properties and potential immunogenicity of hiPSC-CM during differentiation, demonstrating the quality and safety of hiPSC-based cell therapy. Methods and Results: We successfully generated hiPSC-CM in the presence and absence of xenogeneic substances (xeno-containing (XC) and xeno-free (XF) conditions, respectively), and compared their characteristics, including the contractile functions and glycan profiles. Compared to XC-hiPSC-CM, XF-hiPSC-CM showed early onset of myocyte contractile beating and maturation, with a high expression of cardiac lineage-specific genes (ACTC1, TNNT2, and RYR2) by using MEA and RT-qPCR. We quantified N-glycolylneuraminic acid (Neu5Gc), a xenogeneic sialic acid, in hiPSC-CM using an indirect enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and liquid chromatography-multiple reaction monitoring-mass spectrometry. Neu5Gc was incorporated into the glycans of hiPSC-CM during xeno-containing differentiation, whereas it was barely detected in XF-hiPSC-CM. Conclusions: To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study to show that the electrophysiological function and glycan profiles of hiPSC-CM can be affected by the presence of xenogeneic substances during their differentiation and maturation. To ensure quality control and safety in hiPSC-based cell therapy, xenogeneic substances should be excluded from the biomanufacturing process.