• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.17 no.7
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• pp.3201-3206
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• 2016

Purpose: To evaluate the expression of p16 and Ki67 in cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN) and cancer. Materials and Methods: We performed a immunohistochemical study of p16 and Ki67 in 243 cervical tissues - 53 non-dysplastic lesions, 106 CIN1, 61 CIN2/3 and 23 squamous cell carcinomas. The expression of p16 and Ki67 was interpreted independently by 2 researchers and the sensitivity and specificity to detect clinically significant lesions (${\geq}CIN2$) were determined. Results: The overall agreement results of positive or negative immunostaining of intra-inter observer variability were 0.659 for p16 and 0.808 for Ki67. p16 expression was demonstrated in 91.3% of invasive carcinomas, 78.7% of CIN2/3, 10.4% of CIN1 and 9.4% of non-dysplasic lesions. The corresponding Ki67 expression was: 100% of all invasive carcinomas, 75.4% of CIN2/3, 22.6% of CIN1, and 11.3% with non-dysplasia. The expression was significantly different between CIN2/3 vs CIN1 for both p16 and Ki67 (p-values <0.001 both), and cancer vs CIN2/3 for Ki67 (p-value 0.008). The differences were not significant between CIN1 vs non-dysplasia (p-values 1.000 for p16 and 0.130 of Ki67), and cancer vs CIN2/3 for p16 (p value 0.219). The sensitivity and specificity to detect > CIN2 were 84.5% and 90.5% by p16 and 82.1% and 88.6% by Ki67. Conclusions: The rates for 16 and Ki67 expression were directly associated with the severity of cervical lesions. Significant differences in these markers expression may be useful in cases with equivocal histologic features among cervical intraepithelial lesions, but not between CIN1 and non-dysplastic lesions. The two markers had high sensitivity and specificity in determining >CIN2.

• Korean Journal of Radiology
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• v.22 no.5
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• pp.688-698
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• 2021

Objective: To compare the lumen parameters measured by the location-adaptive threshold method (LATM), in which the inter- and intra-scan attenuation variabilities of coronary computed tomographic angiography (CCTA) were corrected, and the scan-adaptive threshold method (SATM), in which only the inter-scan variability was corrected, with the reference standard measurement by intravascular ultrasonography (IVUS). Materials and Methods: The Hounsfield unit (HU) values of whole voxels and the centerline in each of the cross-sections of the 22 target coronary artery segments were obtained from 15 patients between March 2009 and June 2010, in addition to the corresponding voxel size. Lumen volume was calculated mathematically as the voxel volume multiplied by the number of voxels with HU within a given range, defined as the lumen for each method, and compared with the IVUS-derived reference standard. Subgroup analysis of the lumen area was performed to investigate the effect of lumen size on the studied methods. Bland-Altman plots were used to evaluate the agreement between the measurements. Results: Lumen volumes measured by SATM was significantly smaller than that measured by IVUS (mean difference, 14.6 mm³; 95% confidence interval [CI], 4.9-24.3 mm³); the lumen volumes measured by LATM and IVUS were not significantly different (mean difference, -0.7 mm³; 95% CI, -9.1-7.7 mm³). The lumen area measured by SATM was significantly smaller than that measured by LATM in the smaller lumen area group (mean of difference, 1.07 mm²; 95% CI, 0.89-1.25 mm²) but not in the larger lumen area group (mean of difference, -0.07 mm²; 95% CI, -0.22-0.08 mm²). In the smaller lumen group, the mean difference was lower in the Bland-Altman plot of IVUS and LATM (0.46 mm²; 95% CI, 0.27-0.65 mm²) than in that of IVUS and SATM (1.53 mm²; 95% CI, 1.27-1.79 mm²). Conclusion: SATM underestimated the lumen parameters for computed lumen segmentation in CCTA, and this may be overcome by using LATM.

• Korean Journal of Radiology
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• v.22 no.8
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• pp.1266-1278
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• 2021

Objective: We aimed to compare the aortic valve area (AVA) calculated using fast high-resolution three-dimensional (3D) magnetic resonance (MR) image acquisition with that of the conventional two-dimensional (2D) cine MR technique. Materials and Methods: We included 139 consecutive patients (mean age ± standard deviation [SD], 68.5 ± 9.4 years) with aortic valvular stenosis (AS) and 21 asymptomatic controls (52.3 ± 14.2 years). High-resolution T2-prepared 3D steady-state free precession (SSFP) images (2.0 mm slice thickness, 10 contiguous slices) for 3D planimetry (3DP) were acquired with a single breath hold during mid-systole. 2D SSFP cine MR images (6.0 mm slice thickness) for 2D planimetry (2DP) were also obtained at three aortic valve levels. The calculations for the effective AVA based on the MR images were compared with the transthoracic echocardiographic (TTE) measurements using the continuity equation. Results: The mean AVA ± SD derived by 3DP, 2DP, and TTE in the AS group were 0.81 ± 0.26 cm², 0.82 ± 0.34 cm², and 0.80 ± 0.26 cm², respectively (p = 0.366). The intra-observer agreement was higher for 3DP than 2DP in one observer: intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) of 0.95 (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.94-0.97) and 0.87 (95% CI, 0.82-0.91), respectively, for observer 1 and 0.97 (95% CI, 0.96-0.98) and 0.98 (95% CI, 0.97-0.99), respectively, for observer 2. Inter-observer agreement was similar between 3DP and 2DP, with the ICC of 0.92 (95% CI, 0.89-0.94) and 0.91 (95% CI, 0.88-0.93), respectively. 3DP-derived AVA showed a slightly higher agreement with AVA measured by TTE than the 2DP-derived AVA, with the ICC of 0.87 (95% CI, 0.82-0.91) vs. 0.85 (95% CI, 0.79-0.89). Conclusion: High-resolution 3D MR image acquisition, with single-breath-hold SSFP sequences, gave AVA measurement with low observer variability that correlated highly with those obtained by TTE.

• The korean journal of orthodontics
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• v.40 no.6
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• pp.421-431
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• 2010

Objective: This study aimed to verify the intra-individual reproducibility of the natural head position (NHP) in adult Korean patients in the centric relation (CR) position and to prove the inter-individual variability of the Frankfurt horizontal (FH) plane and sella-nasion (SN) line compared to the true horizontal line (THL). In addition, the study aimed to investigate the correlations between linear measurements from A-point and B-point to the nasion true vertical line (NTVL) and angular measurements from A-point and B-point to the SN line. Methods: Two lateral cephalograms were taken of 116 subjects (23 males, 93 females) with CR wax bites in a NHP at a one-week interval. Results: Method errors of three variables and intraclass correlation coefficients of six parameters proved the intra-individual reproducibility of NHP (p < 0.001). The angle of the FH to the THL was not significantly different from $0^{\circ}$ (p > 0.05), but it was clinically variable (SD $3.89^{\circ}$) on the inter-individual level. Conversely, the angle of the SN line to the THL was significantly different from $7^{\circ}$ (p < 0.05). Very low correlation was found between the linear measurements and angular measurements of A-point and B-point (p < 0.01). Conclusions: The NTVL could be a useful reference line for assessing the antero-posterior position of the maxilla and mandible of Korean adult patients in NHP and CR.

• Journal of the Korean Geographical Society
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• v.41 no.2 s.113
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• pp.168-187
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• 2006

Windy meteorological conditions and dried fire fuels due to higher atmospheric instability and dryness in the lower troposphere can exacerbate fire controls and result in more losses of forest resources and residential properties due to enhanced large wildland fires. Long-term (1979-2005) climatology of the Haines Index reconstructed in this study reveals that spatial patterns and intra-annual variability of the atmospheric instability and dryness in the lower troposphere affect the frequency of wildland fire incidences over the Korean Peninsula. Exponential regression models verify that daily high Haines Index and its monthly frequency has statistically significant correlations with the frequency of the wildland fire occurrences during the fire season (December-April) in South Korea. According to the climatic maps of the Haines Index created by the Geographic Information System (GIS) using the Digital Elevation Model (DEM), the lowlands below 500m from the mean sea level in the northwestern regions of the Korean Peninsula demonstrates the high frequency of the Haines Index equal to or greater than five in April and May. The annual frequency of the high Haines Index represents an increasing trend across the Korean Peninsula since the mid-1990s, particularly in Gyeongsangbuk-do and along the eastern coastal areas. The composite of synoptic weather maps at 500hPa for extreme events, in which the high Haines Index lasted for several days consecutively, illustrates that the cold low pressure system developed around the Sea of Okhotsk in the extreme event period enhances the pressure gradient and westerly wind speed over the Korean Peninsula. These results demonstrate the need for further consideration of the spatial-temporal characteristics of vertical atmospheric components, such as atmospheric instability and dryness, in the current Korean fire prediction system.

• Journal of Marine Life Science
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• v.9 no.1
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• pp.9-21
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• 2024

Paralytic shellfish poisoning (PSP) including Saxitoxin (STX) is caused by harmful algae, and poisoning occurs when the contaminated seafood is consumed. The mouse bioassay (MBA), a standard test method for detecting PSP, is being sanctioned in many countries due to its low detection limit and the animal concerns. An alternative to the MBA is the Neuro-2a cell-based assay. This study aimed to establish various test conditions for Neuro-2a assay, including cell density, culture conditions, and STX treatment conditions, to suit the domestic laboratory environment. As a result, the initial cell density was set to 40,000 cells/well and the incubation time to 24 hours. Additionally, the concentration of Ouabain and Veratridine (O/V) was set to 500/50 μM, at which most cells died. In this study, we identified eight concentrations of STX, ranging from 368 to 47,056 fg/μl, which produced an S-shaped dose-response curve when treated with O/V. Through inter-laboratory variability comparison of the Neuro-2a assay, we established five Quality Control Criteria to verify the appropriateness of the experiments and six Data Criteria (Top and Bottom OD, EC₅₀, EC₂₀, Hill slop, and R² of graph) to determine the reliability of the experimental data. The Neuro-2a assay conducted under the established conditions showed an EC₅₀ value of approximately 1,800~3,500 fg/μl. The intra- & inter-lab variability comparison results showed that the coefficients of variation (CVs) for the Quality Control and Data values ranged from 1.98% to 29.15%, confirming the reproducibility of the experiments. This study presented Quality Control Criteria and Data Criteria to assess the appropriateness of the experiments and confirmed the excellent repeatability and reproducibility of the Neuro-2a assay. To apply the Neuro-2a assay as an alternative method for detecting PSP in domestic seafood, it is essential to establish a toxin extraction method from seafood and toxin quantification methods, and perform correlation analysis with MBA and instrumental analysis methods.

• Investigative Magnetic Resonance Imaging
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• v.18 no.3
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• pp.193-199
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• 2014

Purpose : To evaluate the relationship between superior labral dimension of the glenohumeral joint on direct MRA and presence of SLAP lesion. Materials and Methods: IRB approval was obtained and informed consent was waived for this retrospective study. Direct MRA studies of the shoulder in 296 patients (300 shoulders) with arthroscopic surgery were analyzed by two radiologists blinded to the arthroscopic results, which were used as gold standard. One of the radiologists reviewed the images twice (session 1 and 2) for the evaluation of intra-observer variability. Transverse and longitudinal dimensions of superior labrum on coronal T1-weighted images were measured as base and height of the inverted triangular-shaped superior labrum and compared between patients with SLAP lesions vs. non-SLAP patients. Presence of meniscoid labrum was noted. Statistical analysis was done using unpaired t-test. Results: Among 279 patients (283 shoulders), 122 patients (43.1%) had SLAP lesions. The mean base/height of superior labrum in SLAP and non-SLAP patients measured on T1-weighted MR image were 8.8 mm / 5.2 mm, 8.5 mm / 4.9 mm for reader 1; 8.2 mm / 4.9 mm, 8.1 mm / 4.5 mm for session 1 of reader 2; 8.0 mm / 4.8 mm, 7.6 mm / 4.3 mm for session 2 of reader 2. In SLAP group, the mean labral height was larger than non-SLAP group with statistically significant difference (p<0.05). Fifteen patients (5.3%) had meniscoid labrum according to operation records. Conclusion: In patients with SLAP lesion, the height of the superior glenoid labrum on oblique coronal image of MRA was slightly larger than non-SLAP patients. A larger height of superior glenoid labrum may be associated with SLAP lesions.

• Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology & Nutrition
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• v.10 no.1
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• pp.44-50
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• 2007

Purpose: The role of plain, abdominal radiography in childhood constipation has not been fully evaluated. The aim of this study was to determine the accuracy and reliability of scoring systems assessing a fecal load on plain, abdominal radiographs in children with functional constipation. Methods: Plain, abdominal radiographs from 38 constipated children and 39 control children were examined by four independent inspectors, pediatric residents. Four inspectors independently scored the radiographs according to three different scoring systems Barr, Blethyn, and Leech. No clinical information about the patients was available to the inspectors. Each abdominal radiograph was evaluated on two separate occasions, one week apart. Kappa coefficients were calculated as indicators of inter-and intra-inspector variability, coefficients <0.20, 0.21~0.40, 0.40~0.60, 0.61~0.80 and 0.81~1.00 were considered to indicate poor, fair, moderate, good, and very good agreement, respectively. Results: The Leech score showed the highest reproducibility: the inter-inspector agreement was uniformly very good on two separate occasions (${\kappa}$ values of 0.88, 0.91, 0.92, 0.86 in the first time and 0.81, 0.88, 0.89, 0.84 in the second time). Agreement using the Barr score was good (${\kappa}$ values of 0.66, 0.67, 0.69, 0.66 in the first time and 0.68, 0.65, 0.71, 0.68 in the second time). However, agreement for the Blethyn score was the lowest of the three scoring systems. The Leech scoring system had the highest sensitivity and specificity compared to the Barr scoring system for the diagnosis of functional constipation by plain, abdominal radiographs. Conclusion: The Leech score appeared to be a more accurate and reliable method because of its high sensitivity and specificity for evaluating the fecal load on plain, abdominal radiographs in children with functional constipation. Therefore, the Leech scoring system was found to be the most useful for assessment for the degree of constipation on plain, abdominal radiographs in children.