• Journal of Korea Association of Health Promotion
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• v.3 no.1
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• pp.72-83
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• 2005

The present pilot project was executed to recommend a strategy of clonorchiasis control in China. The pilot area of this project was Zhaoyuan, Hailin, and Ningan, Heiloagjiang province. A baseline survey subjecting 4,865 residents in Heilongjiang confirmed Zhaoyuan asa high endemic area and Hailin and Ningan as moderate endemic areas. Six different control strategies were implemented in Zhaoyuan, two were in Hailin, and one was in Ningan. Including the baseline survey and project programs from 2000 to 2004, total 63,274subject-times were examined of their feces for Clonorchiseggs, 26,680 were treated, 10,082 were screened by ELISA, and 6,130 subjects were examined of their liver by sonography. The egg Positive rates in 6 villages of Zhaoyuan were as high as 44.8% 70,0%. Following the protocolof each strategy, the subjected residents were examined of their feces and treated with 25 mg/kg praziquantel, 3 times. Except the control group, all of the villages showed 72.8% to 92.0% reduction of their original egg Positive rates at Zhaoyuan. Mass treatments of all subjected residents in 2001 and 2003 reduced the egg rate from 68.8% to18.7% and 4 annual mass treatments reduced the rate from 44.8% in 2001 to 8.7% in 2004.Selective annual treatments of egg positive subjects reduced the egg rates from 50.8% in2001 to 13.8% in 2004 or from 70.0% in 2001 to 11.6% in 2004, and two treatments in a year reduced the rate from 57.6% in 2001 to 4.6% in 2004. According to repeated treatments, EPG counts decreased remarkably. In moderate endemic areas, the original egg rates were 22.6% and 28.3% in 2001 but were 1.7% and 1.1% after 2 or 3 selective treatments. The present findings of the chemotherapeutic control of clonorchiasis prove that repeated medication is important. The reduction is directly correlated with dose of praziquantel but not with mass or selective treatments. Chemotherapeutic control of reservoirhosts has little effect on reinfection of clonorchiasis because the field along the Songhua-jiang is too wide to be impacted. ELISA confirmed many serologically positive cases to Clonorchisantigen but only a few cases were positive to other antigens (Paragonimus, cysticercus, sparganum). The abdominal soaography visualized intrahepatic bile duct dilatation and periductal echo in 2,002 of 6,070 examined subjects. In addition to these examinations and treatment, health education supplemented tㅗe control activities. The present findings prove clonorchiasis is very widely prevalent and heavily endemic along the rivers in Heiloagjiang. The results suggest that group chemotherapy with praziquantel is effective to reduce endemicity of clonorchiasis. Mass treatment without individual fecal examination is recommended in heavy endemic areas where the egg rate is over 40% while one selective treatment is effective enough in moderate endemic areas.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.45 no.11
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• pp.1411-1416
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• 2002

Purpose : Although the use of intravenous gamma-globulin(IVGG) in Kawasaki disease(KD) is effective in reducing clinical symptoms and coronary artery complications, 20-30% of patients have persistent or recrudescent fever and ongoing clinical symptoms. In these patients, the additional infusion of IVGG is considered. The authors studied the characteristics of patients who received IVGG retreatment, and compared them with the patients who did not need IVGG retreatment, for determination of IVGG retreatment. Methods : We reviewed the medical records of 117 KD patients who could be followed up at least six months. We studied the conventional laboratory findings, electrocardiogram(EKG), signal averaged ECG(SAECG) and echocardiogram. Results : Twenty three patients had early cardiac complications during the six months of follow-up. Four patients had late cardiac complications after six months. The early cardiac complication rate was higher in the IVGG retreatment group than the single infusion group(P<0.0001). The late complication rate was also higher in the retreatment group(P<0.0001). The patients who received methyl-prednisolone(m-PD) pulse therapy had much higher rates of early and late cardiac complications than those who received a single IVGG infusion. Among the clinical data and laboratory findings, only CRP increased significantly in patients who have had the cardiac complications. The IVGG retreatment group had increased CRP than the single infusion group. Conclusion : The patients with increased initial CRP may have an increased incidence of complications and an increased possibility of IVGG retreatment. We thought that retreated KD patients might have inflammations severe enough to need high dose IVGG as shown by high CRP levels, and IVGG retreatment could not prevent coronary artery lesions sufficiently.

• Journal of radiological science and technology
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• v.27 no.3
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• pp.43-50
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• 2004

The effects of ginseng extracts on liver damage induced by high energy x-ray were studied. To one group of ICR male mice were given white(50 mg/kg/day for 7 days, orally) and fermenta ginseng extracts(500 mg/kg/day for 7 days, orally)before irrdiation. To another group were irradiated by 5 Gy dose of high energy x-ray. Contrast group were given with saline(0.1 ml). This study also investigated the effect between MDA, protein content and ginseng extracts on hepatic damage. This study measured the level of MDA(malondialdehyde), protein content in liver tissue. Administrating orally white (50 mg/kg/day for 7 days, orally)and fermenta ginseng extracts(500 mg/kg/day), the level of MDA were generally decreased and the inhibition was increased. And the protein contents were identical with control group. After irradiation, the protein contents were increased and MDA(malondialdehyde) was increased. Therefore, ginseng extracts increased antioxidative enzyme activity. And We know that the antioxidatant effect of extracts from white and fermenta ginseng protect radiation damage by direct antioxidant effect involving SOD, CAT, GPX. It was included that ginsengs can protect against the lipid peroxidation in radiation damage through its antioxidatant properties.

• The Korean Journal of Nuclear Medicine Technology
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• v.15 no.1
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• pp.94-100
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• 2011

Purpose: Basal/Acetazolamide-challenged brain perfusion SPECT is very useful to assess cerebral perfusion and vascular reserve. However, as there is a trade off between sensitivity and spatial resolution in the selection of collimator, the selection of optimal collimator is crucial. In this study, we examined three collimators to select optimal one for 1-day brain perfusion SPECT. Materials and Methods: Three collimators, low energy high resolution-parallel beam (LEHR-par), ultra resolution-fan beam (LEUR-fan) and super fine-fan beam (LESFR-fan), were tested for 1-day imaging using Triad XLT 9 (TRIONIX). The SPECT images of Hoffman 3D brain phantom filled with 99mTc of 170 MBq and a normal volunteer were acquired with a protocol of 50 kcts/frame and detector rotation of 3 degree. Filterd backprojection (FBP) reconstruction with Butterworth filter (cut off frequencies, 0.3 to 0.5) was performed. The quantitative and qualitative assessments for three collimators were performed. Results: The blind tests showed that LESFR-fan provided the best image quality for Hoffman brain phantom and the volunteer. However, images for all the collimator were evaluated as 'acceptable'. On the other hand, in order to meet the equivalent signal-to-noise ratio (SNR), total acquisition time or radioactivity dose for LESFR-fan must have been increased up to almost twice of that for LEUR-fan and LEHR-par. The volunteer test indicated that total acquisition time could be reduced approximately by 10 to 14 min in clinical practice using LEUR-fan and LEHR-par without significant loss on image quality, in comparison with LESFR-fan. Conclusion: Although LESFR-fan provides the best image quality, it requires significantly more acquisition time than LEUR-fan and LEHR-par to provide reasonable SNR. Since there is no significant clinical difference between three collimators, LEUR-fan and LEHR-par can be recommended as optimal collimators for 1-day brain perfusion imaging with respect to image quality and SNR.

• Journal of Food Hygiene and Safety
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• v.24 no.4
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• pp.391-397
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• 2009

Carnosine is a dipeptide ($\beta$-alanyl-L-histidine) found in mammalian brain, eye, olfactory bulb and skeletal muscle at high concentrations. Its biological functions include antioxidant and anti-glycation activities. The objectives of this study were to investigate anti-diabetic effects of carnosine as determined by blood glucose levels in glucose tolerance test (GTT) and insulin tolerance test (ITT), insulin level and serum biochemical and lipid levels in male C57BL/6J db/db mice. There were five experimental groups including normal (C57BL/6J), control (vehicle), and three groups of carnosine at doses of 6, 30, and 150 mg/kg b.w. Carnosine was orally administered to the diabetic mice everyday for 8 weeks. There was no significant difference in body weight changes in carnosine-treated groups compared to the control. The treatments of carnosine significantly decreased the blood glucose level in the diabetic mice compared with the control (p < 0.05) after 5 weeks. The treatments of carnosine also significantly decreased the blood glucose levels in GTT and ITT and glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c), compared with the control (p < 0.05). Carnosine at the dose of 6 mg/kg significantly decreased the serum insulin level compared to the control (p < 0.05). Carnosine significantly increased total proteins but significantly decreased lactate dehydrogenase and blood urea nitrogen compared with the control (p < 0.05). Carnosine also significantly decreased glucose, LDL, and triglyceride in the serum of diabetic mice compared to the control (p < 0.05). These results suggest that carnosine has a hypoglycermic effect resulting from reduction of glucose and lipid levels and that high carnosine-containing diets or drugs may give a benefit for controlling diabetes mellitus in humans.

• Journal of Veterinary Clinics
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• v.27 no.4
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• pp.348-365
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• 2010

Artemisia capillaries THUNB is a perennial herb that belongs to the family compositae spp. and the most common plant among the various herbal folk remedies used in treatment of abdominal pain, hepatitis, chronic liver disease, jaundice and coughing in Korea. The object of this study is to observe the dosage-dependent anti-obestic effects of an aqueous extracts of dried aqueous extracts of stems of Artemisia capillaris Thunberg. [Artemisiae capillaris Herba, In-Jin in Korean, INJ] on 45%/Kcal high fat diet (HFD) supplied mice. 45%/Kcal rodent HFD are supplied to ICR mice from 1 week before initiation of INJ administration throughout the 12 weeks, and after the end of 12 weeks of 62.5, 125 and 250 mg/kg/day of INJ administration, the efficacy was divided into five categories 1) hypoglycemic, 2) hepato-protective, 3) nephroprotective, 4) hypolipemic, and 5) anti- obesity effects. The effects were compared to those of simvastatin (for hypolipemic activity), silymarin (for hepatoprotective and free radical scavenger effects) and metformin (for hypoglycemic and related anti-obesity effects). 7 animals per group (8 groups; total 56adapted mice on HFD were selected base on the body weight at 6 days after initiation of HFD supply) were used in this experiment. INJ and all three different reference drugs were directly suspended or dissolved in distilled water, and administered at a volume of 10 mL/kg, once a day for 84 days from 1 week after HFD supply. As results of 91 days of continuous HFD supply, mice showed marked obese states, hyperglycemia, hyperlipemia, liver damages and kidney damages. These mean the obesity, diabetes, diabetic hepatopathies, nephropathies and hyperlipemia were induced by HFD supply. After end of 84 days of continuous treatment of three different dosages of INJ, all diabetes related complications were inhibited; relatively favorable anti-obesity, hypolipemic, hepatoprotective, hypoglycemic and nephroprotective effects. These favorable effects showed relatively good dose-relations between all three different dosages of INJ treated, and INJ 250 mg/kg showed enough favorable effects on diabetes and related four complications tested as compared with one of each three different references. Otherwise, the efficacy of 62.5 and 125 mg/kg of INJ was somewhat slighter than those of all three reference drugs. Therefore, the suitable effective dosage of INJ is considered as 250 mg/kg/day in the present study. The overall anti-obesity effects of INJ 250 mg/kg-treated group was similar or more favorable than those of metformin 250 mg/kg-treated group, and INJ 250 mg/kg showed slighter hypoglycemic effects with silymarin 100 mg/kg and metformin 250 mg/kg, similar hypolipemic effects with simvastatin 10 mg/kg, and similar hepatoprotective effects with silymarin 100 mg/kg, and similar nephroprotective effects with that of silymarin 100 mg/kg and metformin 250 mg/kg, respectively. Obese, hyperglycemia, hyperlipemia, steatohepatitis and related nephropathies induced by HFD supply were dramatically inhibited by 84 days of continuous treatment of all three different dosages of INJ. It is, therefore expected that INJ extracts will be a favorable alternative agent for diet-related diabetes and complications.

• The Korean Journal of Nuclear Medicine
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• v.31 no.3
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• pp.339-345
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• 1997

To evaluate the effectiveness of I-131 in ablation of residual thyroid tissue, we analyzed 350 patients with thyroid cancer who were treated with various doses of I-131 after surgery for thyroid cancer Two hundred fifty five patients were treated with 1.1GBq(30mCi) of I-131 for ablation of remnant thyroid and one hundred seventeen patients received more than 2.8GBq(75mCi) of I-131. We determined the effectiveness of ablation by following I-131 whole body scan. Absent visible uptake or minimal uptake in thyroid tissue were considered as successful ablation. Of 255 patients who received doses of 30mCi I-131 therapy, 131 patients(51%) showed successful ablation of residual thyroid tissue with $2.6{\pm}1.7$ times of I-131 therapy. Of 117 patients who received doses of the more than 75mCi I-131, 84 patients(72%) had successful remnant thyroid ablation with $1.6{\pm}1.1$ times of I-131 therapy, According to the extent of surgery, successful ablation rates were 78%, 62%, 54%, 33% in patients who underwent total thyroidectomy, subtotal thyroidectomy, lobectomy and isthmectomy, lobectomy or tumorectomy, respectively. This study showed that ablation of remnant thyroid after surgery with 30mCi I-131 was successful only in 50%. Therefore, in cases of patients with high risk for recurrence, we recommend high dose I-131 for ablation of remnant after total thyroidectomy.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.41 no.2
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• pp.196-202
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• 2009

The effects of the salts fortified with seaweed functional components on blood pressure, serum minerals, and hematochemicals in spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR/NCrj) and normotensive rats (WKY/NCrj) were investigated. SHR and WKY rats were assigned to four groups, with 8 and 6 rats in each group: laver salt (A), fucoidan+laver high salt (B), fucoidan + laver low salt (C) and refined salt as a control (D). The final blood pressure (BP) of SHR and WKY species in contrast with reference BP were low in groups A and C as compared with control group. In terms of serum mineral content, $Na^+$ levels were similar in SHR and WKY, but $K^+$ levels were higher in the group B in SHR. Serum triglyceride levels were lower in groups A and C, but the levels of HDL- and LDL- cholesterol were significantly higher and lower in group A than those of controls, respectively (p<0.05). These results demonstrated that the salts fortified with laver might suppress blood pressure in rats, and also may improve mineral and lipid metabolism.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.55 no.5
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• pp.516-521
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• 2003

The Aspergillus species produces metabolic products that play a significant role in the destructive processes in the lung. We experienced a case of chronic necrotizing pulmonary aspergillosis caused by an Aspergillus niger infection, which contained numerous calcium oxalate crystals in the necrotic lung tissue. A 46-year-old man, who had a history of pulmonary tuberculosis, presented with high fever, intermittent hemoptysis and pulmonary infiltrations with a cavity indicated by the chest radiograph. Despite being treated with several antibiotics and anti-tuberculosis regimens, the high fever continued. The sputum cultures yielded A. niger repeatedly, and intravenous amphotericin B was then introduced. The pathological specimen obtained by a transbronchial lung biopsy revealed numerous calcium oxalate crystals in a background of acute inflammatory exudates with no identification of the organism. Intravenous amphotericin B was continued at a total dose of 1600 mg, and at that time he was afebrile, although the intermittent hemoptysis continued. On the $63^{rd}$ hospital day, a massive hemoptysis (about 800 mL) developed, which could not be controlled despite embolizing the left bronchial artery. He died of respiratory failure the next day. It is believed that the oxalic acid produced by A. niger was the main cause of the patient's pulmonary injury and the ensuing massive hemoptysis.

• Radiation Oncology Journal
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• v.12 no.3
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• pp.393-399
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• 1994

Spinal cord compression, an oncologic emergency, is a rare complication of hematologic malignancy Our experience was obtained with a series 32 Patients following retrospective analysis for assessing the role of radiation therapy and identifying the prognostic factors affecting on treatment outcome. Diagnosis was usually made by means of radiologic study such as myelography or computerized tomography (CT) or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and neurologic examination. Five cases were diagnosed by subjective symptom only with high index of suspicion. In 31 cases, the treatment consisted in radiation therapy alone and the remained one patient had laminectomy before radiation therapy because of diagnostic doubts. Total treatment doses ranged from 800 cGy to 4000 cGy with median of 2000 cGy. Initially large fraction size more than 250 cGy were used in 13 patients with rapidly progressed neurologic deficit. The clinical parameters considered in evaluating the response to treatment were backache, motor-sensory performance and sphincter function. Half of all patients showed good response. Partial response and no response were noted in $37.5\%$ and $12.5\%$, respectively. Our results showed higher response rate than those of other solid tumor series. The degree of neurologic deficit at that time of diagnosis was the most important predictor of treatment outcome. The elapsed time from development of symptoms to start of treatment was significantly affected on the outcome. But histology of primary tumor total dose and use of initial large fraction size were not significantly affect on the outcome. These results confirmed the value of early diagnosis and treatment especially in radiosensitive hematologic malignancy.