• Korean Journal of Radiology
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• 제25권3호
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• pp.289-300
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• 2024

Objective: To prospectively evaluate the outcomes of ultrasound (US)-guided radiofrequency ablation (RFA) in tertiary hyperparathyroidism (THPT). Materials and Methods: Patients with THPT underwent RFA between September 2017 and January 2022. Laboratory parameters, including serum intact parathyroid hormone (iPTH) levels, were monitored for 48 months after RFA and compared with the levels at baseline. Complications related to RFA and changes in hyperparathyroidism-related clinical symptoms were recorded before and after RFA. Results: A total of 42 patients with THPT were recruited for this study. Ultimately, 36 patients with renal failure and 2 patients who underwent successful renal transplantation (male:female, 17:21; median age, 54.5 years) were enrolled. The follow-up time was 21.5 ± 19.0 months in the 36 patients with renal failure. In these 36 patients, iPTH levels were significantly decreased to 261.1 pg/mL at 48 months compared with the baseline value of 1284.9 pg/mL (P = 0.012). Persistent hyperparathyroidism, defined as iPTH levels maintained at > 585.0 pg/mL for 6 months after treatment, occurred in 4.0% of patients (1/25). Recurrent hyperparathyroidism, defined as iPTH levels > 585.0 pg/mL after 6 months, were 4.0% (1/25) and 0.0% (0/9) at 6 months and 4 years after treatment, respectively. In two patients with THPT after successful renal transplantation, iPTH decreased from the baseline value of 242.5 and 115.9 pg/mL to 171.0 and 62.0 pg/mL at 6 months after treatment. All complications resolved within 6 months of ablation without medical intervention, except in 10.5% (4/38) patients with permanent hypocalcemia. The overall symptom recovery rate was 58.8% (10/17). The severity scores for bone pain, arthralgia, and itchy skin associated with hyperparathyroidism improved after treatment (P < 0.05). Conclusion: US-guided RFA is an effective and safe alternative to surgery in the treatment of patients with TPTH and improves hyperparathyroidism-related clinical symptoms.

• Korean Journal of Radiology
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• 제24권4호
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• pp.274-283
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• 2023

Objective: To compare the outcomes of digital breast tomosynthesis (DBT) screening combined with ultrasound (US) with those of digital mammography (DM) combined with US in women with dense breasts. Materials and Methods: A retrospective database search identified consecutive asymptomatic women with dense breasts who underwent breast cancer screening with DBT or DM and whole-breast US simultaneously between June 2016 and July 2019. Women who underwent DBT + US (DBT cohort) and DM + US (DM cohort) were matched using 1:2 ratio according to mammographic density, age, menopausal status, hormone replacement therapy, and a family history of breast cancer. The cancer detection rate (CDR) per 1000 screening examinations, abnormal interpretation rate (AIR), sensitivity, and specificity were compared. Results: A total of 863 women in the DBT cohort were matched with 1726 women in the DM cohort (median age, 53 years; interquartile range, 40-78 years) and 26 breast cancers (9 in the DBT cohort and 17 in the DM cohort) were identified. The DBT and DM cohorts showed comparable CDR (10.4 [9 of 863; 95% confidence interval {CI}: 4.8-19.7] vs. 9.8 [17 of 1726; 95% CI: 5.7-15.7] per 1000 examinations, respectively; P = 0.889). DBT cohort showed a higher AIR than the DM cohort (31.6% [273 of 863; 95% CI: 28.5%-34.9%] vs. 22.4% [387 of 1726; 95% CI: 20.5%-24.5%]; P < 0.001). The sensitivity for both cohorts was 100%. In women with negative findings on DBT or DM, supplemental US yielded similar CDRs in both DBT and DM cohorts (4.0 vs. 3.3 per 1000 examinations, respectively; P = 0.803) and higher AIR in the DBT cohort (24.8% [188 of 758; 95% CI: 21.8%-28.0%] vs. 16.9% [257 of 1516; 95% CI: 15.1%-18.9%; P < 0.001). Conclusion: DBT screening combined with US showed comparable CDR but lower specificity than DM screening combined with US in women with dense breasts.

• Journal of Animal Science and Technology
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• 제66권1호
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• pp.79-92
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• 2024

Global warming is a key challenge subjecting animals to heat stress conditions resulting in multiple physiological alterations in tropical climate. Dietary approach seems to be the more friendly approach to curb the adverse effects of heat stress in rabbits. Some herbs have been categorized to have high potential for promotion of immune responses for amelioration of heat stress. Thus, this research aims to evaluate the potential of Mistletoe (Viscum album), Moringa (Moringa oleifera) and Phyllanthus (Phyllanthus amarus) leaf meal as herbal supplements for the alleviation of heat stress in female rabbits by measuring improvement in sex and stress hormonal responses in serum biochemistry. 80 Rabbit does were exposed to 4 dietary groups supplemented with each of Mistletoe, Moringa, Phyllanthus and a control in an 84-day trial at the summit of thermal stress in South west Nigeria. Growth indices were monitored throughout the study, blood samples were compiled at the end of the trial to assess serum biochemistry, stress and sex hormonal responses of the Does using standard protocols. The results revealed that final weight and weight gain of Does fed on Phyllanthus were significantly (p < 0.05) higher (11.46% and 14.25%, respectively) than Does on control. The herbal supplements enhance glucose, protein, albumin and globulin, reduced cholesterol, and creatinine of Does under heat stress conditions. Among the herbal treatment groups, mistletoe, moringa and phyllanthus had 12.42%, 18.39% and 16.90%, respectively, lower corticosterone than control groups which had 39.76ng/ml. Triiodothyronine of Does fed control were significantly (p < 0.05) lower than Does on Moringa oleifera and Phyllanthus amarus supplements. Estradiol and Follicle stimulating hormone of rabbit Does fed on moringa supplement were significantly (p < 0.05) higher than other treatments. In conclusion, the herbal supplements tend to mitigate the detrimental outcome of thermal stress on Does by suppressing stress hormones. Moringa oleifera and Phyllanthus amarus enhanced sex hormones while Phyllanthus amarus confered growth promoting effects on the Does.

• 한국환경복원기술학회지
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• 제26권6호
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• pp.155-164
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• 2023

Sedirea japonica is one of the critically endangered species in South Korea mostly due to artificial harms such as illegal collection and habitat destruction. Therefore, artificial propagation through improving germination rate, increasing growth, and controlling flowering is meaningful for the conservation and reintroduction of S. japonica. It is suggested that cytokinins are one of the multi-factors that contribute to plant growth and floral responses. Especially, exogenous cytokinins have been known to induce or promote shoot growth or earlier flowering in orchids. Therefore, it was investigated how the application of 6-benzylaminopurine (BA) influenced the growth and inflorescence of S. japonica. A foliar spray containing BA at 100, 200, 300, and 400 ppm was applied from 1st July to 30th December 2021. Leaf length, leaf length growth rate, leaf width, and width and length ratio were measured as growth-related factors. Visible inflorescence rate, inflorescence length, the number of flowers per inflorescence, and the distance between the stalks were measured as flowering-related factors. Growth-related factors except for leaf growth rate were not affected by BA treatments, while leaf growth rate was significantly increased by 200 ppm of BA treatment. The visible inflorescence rate increased by 200 ppm of BA treatment, and there seems an optimal concentration and threshold of BA treatment. An iterative experiment with more seedlings and measurement factors would be helpful to figure out the effects of exogenous BA treatment on S. japonica, and it can be applied for mass propagation.

• Animal Bioscience
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• 제37권4호
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• pp.689-696
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• 2024

Objective: Our study examined the impact of propriety blends of Bacillus strain probiotics on the performance, egg quality, and faecal microflora of laying hens. Methods: A total of 183 Institut de selection Animale (ISA) brown laying hens aged 23 weeks with an average body weight of 1,894±72 g were randomly allocated into 3 groups as control (corn-soybean meal based diet, CON), 0.5 g/kg Enterosure probiotics (ET1, 3×10⁸ colony-forming unit [CFU]/kg feed), and 5 g/kg Enterosure probiotics (ET2, 3×10⁹ CFU/kg feed) administered in mashed form. At the completion of each phase hen day egg production (HDEP), average egg weight (AEW), feed intake, and faecal microbiota were evaluated. Results: HDEP and AEW were higher (p<0.05) in the ET2-supplemented diet in phase 3 (week 9 to 12) compared with CON. Egg mass (EM) was higher (p<0.05) in phase 2 at ET2, and also higher (p<0.05) in phase 3 at the ET1 and ET2-supplemented diets compared with CON. Feed conversion ratio was lower (p<0.05) in phase 3 at the ET1 and ET2-supplemented diets, with ET2 being the lowest compared with ET1 and CON. Yolk colour was higher (p<0.05) in the ET-supplemented diets at phase 3 compared with CON. Bifidobacterium spp. was higher (p<0.05) in the ET2- supplemented diet compared with CON in phase 2, while in In phase 3, Lactobacillus spp. and Bifidobacterium spp. were higher (p<0.05) in the ET-supplemented diets compared with CON. Coliforms were lower (p<0.05) in the ET-supplemented diets compared with CON in phase 3. Conclusion: The propriety blends of Bacillus strain probiotics supplements at 0.5 g/kg and 5 g/kg could improve the production and quality of eggs with more significance at 5 g/kg for HDEP, AEW and EM, which was achieved via the increase of beneficial microbiomes such as Lactobacillus spp., Bifidobacterium spp., and the decrease of pathogenic microbiomes like Escherichia coli and Coliforms which was speculated to improve gut barrier function and the reproductive hormone.

• 생명과학회지
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• 제34권6호
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• pp.426-433
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• 2024

식물이 가장 쉽게 노출되는 환경적 위험은 수분 스트레스이다. Abscisic acid (ABA)는 환경 스트레스에 적응하기 위해 식물에서 생성되는 식물 호르몬이다. 식물에서 기공의 가장 중요한 역할은 광합성 활성에 크게 영향을 주는 CO₂를 흡수하여 슈크로스의 합성을 활발하게 유도하는 것이다. 또한 기공은 증산작용을 통해 H₂O를 방출하는 통로이며, 식물의 뿌리가 토양에서 물과 무기 물질을 지속적으로 흡수할 수 있도록 수분퍼텐셜의 기울기를 형성하는 기능을 한다. 식물은 수분 스트레스 환경에 노출되면, 기공을 닫아 수분 손실을 최소화하는 메커니즘을 가진다. 환경에 따른 기공 닫힘 메커니즘들과 관련하여 가장 잘 밝혀진 가설은 수분 스트레스에 대한 기공 반응이다. 식물이 충분한 수분을 공급받은 상태일 때, 기공은 일주기 리듬에 따라 낮에는 열리고 밤에는 닫힌다. 또한 세포간극 안에 CO₂ 농도가 증가하면 기공이 닫힌다. 그러나 일주기 리듬과 세포간극 안의 CO₂ 농도 증가로 인한 기공 닫힘 메커니즘은 명확하게 알려져 있지 않다. 식물이 수분 스트레스에 놓이면, 공변세포 세포질의 ABA 농도 증가는 동일한 세포질 내에 Ca²⁺ 농도 증가를 유도하여 원형질막에서 탈분극이 발생한다. 그 결과, 액포막에 있는 외향성 K⁺-채널과 느린 음이온 채널들인 SLAC1, SLAH3가 활성화되어 K⁺, Cl^-, 그리고 malate^2-를 방출하여 기공이 닫히는 것으로 알려져 있다. 따라서 본 논문은 수분 스트레스로 인한 기공 닫힘 메커니즘에 대하여 조사하였다.

• Korean Journal of Radiology
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• 제20권1호
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• pp.58-68
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• 2019

Objective: To compare digital breast tomosynthesis (DBT) and conventional full-field digital mammography (FFDM) in the detectability of breast cancers in patients with dense breast tissue, and to determine the influencing factors in the detection of breast cancers using the two techniques. Materials and Methods: Three blinded radiologists independently graded cancer detectability of 300 breast cancers (288 women with dense breasts) on DBT and conventional FFDM images, retrospectively. Hormone status, histologic grade, T stage, and breast cancer subtype were recorded to identify factors affecting cancer detectability. The Wilcoxon signed-rank test was used to compare cancer detectability by DBT and conventional FFDM. Fisher's exact tests were used to determine differences in cancer characteristics between detectability groups. Kruskal-Wallis tests were used to determine whether the detectability score differed according to cancer characteristics. Results: Forty breast cancers (13.3%) were detectable only with DBT; 191 (63.7%) breast cancers were detected with both FFDM and DBT, and 69 (23%) were not detected with either. Cancer detectability scores were significantly higher for DBT than for conventional FFDM (median score, 6; range, 0-6; p < 0.001). The DBT-only cancer group had more invasive lobular-type breast cancers (22.5%) than the other two groups (i.e., cancer detected on both types of image [both-detected group], 5.2%; cancer not detected on either type of image [both-non-detected group], 7.3%), and less detectability of ductal carcinoma in situ (5% vs. 16.8% [both-detected group] vs. 27.5% [both-non-detected group]). Low-grade cancers were more often detected in the DBT-only group than in the both-detected group (22.5% vs. 10%, p = 0.026). Human epidermal growth factor receptor-2 (HER-2)-negative cancers were more often detected in the DBT-only group than in the both-detected group (92.3% vs. 70.5%, p = 0.004). Cancers surrounded by mostly glandular tissue were detected less often in the DBT only group than in the both-non-detected group (10% vs. 31.9%, p = 0.016). DBT cancer detectability scores were significantly associated with cancer type (p = 0.012), histologic grade (p = 0.013), T and N stage (p = 0.001, p = 0.024), proportion of glandular tissue surrounding lesions (p = 0.013), and lesion type (p < 0.001). Conclusion: Invasive lobular, low-grade, or HER-2-negative cancer is more detectable with DBT than with conventional FFDM in patients with dense breasts, but cancers surrounded by mostly glandular tissue might be missed with both techniques.

• Animal Bioscience
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• 제37권8호
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• pp.1345-1354
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• 2024

Objective: The objective of this study was to identify candidate genes that play important roles in skeletal muscle development in ducks. Methods: In this study, we investigated the transcriptional sequencing of embryonic pectoral muscles from two specialized lines: Liancheng white ducks (female) and Cherry valley ducks (male) hybrid Line A (LCA) and Line C (LCC) ducks. In addition, prediction of target genes for the differentially expressed mRNAs was conducted and the enriched gene ontology (GO) terms and Kyoto encyclopedia of genes and genomes signaling pathways were further analyzed. Finally, a protein-to-protein interaction network was analyzed by using the target genes to gain insights into their potential functional association. Results: A total of 1,428 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) with 762 being up-regulated genes and 666 being down-regulated genes in pectoral muscle of LCA and LCC ducks identified by RNA-seq (p<0.05). Meanwhile, 23 GO terms in the down-regulated genes and 75 GO terms in up-regulated genes were significantly enriched (p<0.05). Furthermore, the top 5 most enriched pathways were ECM-receptor interaction, fatty acid degradation, pyruvate degradation, PPAR signaling pathway, and glycolysis/gluconeogenesis. Finally, the candidate genes including integrin b3 (Itgb3), pyruvate kinase M1/2 (Pkm), insulin-like growth factor 1 (Igf1), glucose-6-phosphate isomerase (Gpi), GABA type A receptor-associated protein-like 1 (Gabarapl1), and thyroid hormone receptor beta (Thrb) showed the most expression difference, and then were selected to verification by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR). The result of qRT-PCR was consistent with that of transcriptome sequencing. Conclusion: This study provided information of molecular mechanisms underlying the developmental differences in skeletal muscles between specialized duck lines.

• 핵의학기술
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• 제23권2호
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• pp.51-58
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• 2019

핵의학 체외 검사실 에서는 시약 Lot가 변경될 때, Lot 간의 결과가 신뢰성이 있는지를 판단하기 위해 Lot 간 동등성 검사(comparability test between reagent lots) 또는 시약 병행 검사(reagent parallel test)를 시행하는데, 다수의 국내 검사실에서는 두 lot 간 결과 차이로부터 %difference를 구하여 저농도에서는 20% 이내, 중 고농도에서는 10% 이내로 설정하고 있으며 범위를 벗어 날 경우 재검사 시행으로 범위를 맞추는 실정이다. 따라서 본원의 핵의학 체외 검사실에서 시행되는 몇 가지 검사를 선정하여 parallel test의 결과를 분석해보았고, 검사별 맞춤 %difference 값 선정에 도움 될 만한 참고 자료를 마련해 보고자 하였다. Thyroid-stimulating hormone(TSH), Free thyroxine(FT4), Carcinoembryonic antigen(CEA), CA-125, Prostate-specific antigen(PSA) 그리고 HBs-Ab, insulin, 7종목에 대해 2018 1월부터 2018년 11월까지의 기간 동안의 시약 lot 변화에 따른 정도 관리 물질의 결과를 분석하였다. TSH, F-T4, CEA, CA-125, PSA의 측정에는 IRMA의 원리를 이용한 RIA-MAT 280 system이 사용되었고, Insulin의 측정에는 TECAN 자동화 분주 장비와 GAMMA-10 측정 장비가 사용되었다. HBs-Ab의 측정에는 HAMILTON 자동화 분주 장비와 GAMMA-10 측정 장비가 사용되었다. 각각 전용 시약과 전용 칼리브레이터, 전용 정도 관리 물질이 사용되었다. 1. TSH [%diffrence Max / Mean / Median] (P-value by t-test > 0.05) C-1(저농도) [14.8 / 4.4 / 3.7 / 0.0 ] C-2(중농도) [10.1 / 4.2 / 3.7 / 0.0] 2. FT4 [%diffrence Max / Mean / Median] (P-value by t-test > 0.05) C-1(저농도) [10.0 / 4.2 / 3.9 / 0.0] C-2(고농도) [9.6 / 3.3 / 3.1 / 0.0 ] 3. CA-125 [%diffrence Max / Mean / median] (P-value by t-test > 0.05) C-1(중농도) [9.6 / 4.3 / 4.3 / 0.3] C-2(고농도) [6.5 / 3.5 / 4.3 / 0.4] 4. CEA [%diffrence Max / Mean / median] (P-value by t-test > 0.05) C-1(저농도) [9.8 / 4.2 / 3.0 / 0.0] C-2(중농도) [8.7 / 3.7 / 2.3 / 0.3] 5. PSA [%diffrence Max / Mean / Median] (P-value by t-test > 0.05) C-1(저농도) [15.4 / 7.6 / 8.2 / 0.0] C-2(중농도) [8.8 / 4.5 / 4.8 / 0.9] 6. HBs-Ab [%diffrence Max / Mean / Median] (P-value by t-test > 0.05) C-1(중농도) [9.6 / 3.7 / 2.7 / 0.2] C-2(고농도) [8.9 / 4.1 / 3.6 / 0.3] 7. insulin [%diffrence Max / Mean / Median] (P-value by t-test > 0.05) C-1(중농도) [8.7 / 3.1 / 2.4 / 0.9] C-2(고농도) [8.3 / 3.2 / 1.5 / 0.1] 모두 정도 관리 물질의 lot 변경 시에도 유의미한 차이가 없었으며 표본 수가 늘어남에 따라 검사실과 검사 종목 별 맞춤 허용 기준을 설정할 수 있을 것이라 기대할 수 있었다. 면역 방사 계수 측정법에서 비교적 검출률이 높은 종목들을 선정해서 일 것이라 판단되며 여러 번 재 측정된 결과 값이기 때문일 수도 있겠다. 대부분의 검사 결과에서 허용 기준인 10%에 크게 못 미치는 차이를 보였으며 저농도 target 값을 가진 경우에도 허용 기준인 20%에 가까운 수치를 보이진 않았다. 더 오랜 기간 동안의 관찰과 연구를 통해 평균의 균질화가 이루어진다면 종목 별 검사실 맞춤 허용 기준을 얻을 수 있을 것으로 판단되며 더 다양한 변수를 고려한 관찰과 연구도 필요할 것이다.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• 제51권1호
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• pp.47-53
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• 2008

목 적 : 소아의 성장을 평가하는데 혈중 Insulin like growth factor(IGF)-I과 IGF binding protein(IGFBP)-3가 성장호르몬에 의존적이라는 사실이 확인되면서 선별검사로 널리 이용되고 있다. 그러나 실질적인 생물학적 활성을 가진 유리 IGF-I의 임상적인 유용성과 진단적 의의에 대해서는 국내에서 보고된 예가 거의 없다. 이에 저자들은 한국의 소아 및 청소년을 대상으로 유리 IGF-I의 혈중농도분포 및 총 IGF-I, IGFBP-3 농도와의 상관성을 규명하여 유리 IGF-I의 임상적 의의를 알아보고자 한다. 방 법 : 총 IGF-I과 IGFBP-3의 혈중 농도는 494명(남아 248명, 여아 246명)을 대상으로 하였으며, 이중 무작위로 206명(남아 103명, 여아 103명)을 선택하여 유리 IGF-I의 혈중농도를 측정하였다. 혈중 총 IGF-I는 RIA 방법으로, IGFBP-3와 유리 IGF-I은 IRMA 방법으로 측정하였다. 결 과 : 나이에 따른 혈중 유리 IGF-I 농도는 남아의 경우 7세부터 15세까지 지속적으로 증가하는 경향을 보였으며, 여아에서는 14세 이전까지는 증가하다가 이후 감소하는 양상을 나타냈다. 이는 총 IGF-I 및 IGFBP-3치의 변화와 유사한 양상을 보였다. 혈중 유리 IGF-I/총 IGF-I 농도비, 유리 IGF-I/IGFBP-3 농도비의 변화는 남녀에서 모두 나이에 따른 연령별 차이점은 보이지 않았다. 혈중 유리 IGF-I과 총 IGF-I, IGFBP-3 사이의 상관성 분석에서는 성별에 관계없이 유리 IGF-I과 총 IGF-I 사이에는 매우 유의하였고(r=0.46, P<0.001), 유리 IGF-I과 총 IGF-I/IGFBP-3 농도비 사이에도 유의한 상관관계(r=0.40, P<0.001)를 보였다. 결 론 : 소아 및 청소년에서 혈중 유리 IGF-I 농도는 나이에 따라 증가하였으며, 총 IGF-I과 유사한 양상을 보였고, 혈중 유리 IGF-I과 총 IGF-I 및 총 IGF-I/IGFBP-3 농도비 사이에도 유의한 상관관계가 관찰되어 생물학적 활성을 가진 유리 IGF-I의 측정이 임상적으로 유용하게 사용될 수 있다. 그러나, 유리 IGF-I/총 IGF-I 농도비는 연령별 분포차이를 보이지 않았으며 이는 유리 IGF-I이 총 IGF-I에 비해 사춘기적 성장을 평가하는데 더 유용하다고 보기는 힘들다.