• Korean Journal of Radiology
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• v.20 no.5
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• pp.773-780
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• 2019

Objective: To assess segmental liver stiffness (LS) with MRI before and after endovascular intervention in patients with Budd-Chiari syndrome (BCS). Materials and Methods: Twenty-three patients (13 males and 10 females; mean age, 42.6 ± 12.6 years; age range, 31-56 years) with BCS as a primary liver disease were recruited for this study. Two consecutive magnetic resonance elastography (MRE) examinations were performed before the endovascular treatment. Fifteen patients who underwent endovascular intervention treatment also had follow-up MRE scans within three days after the procedure. LS was measured in three liver segments: the right posterior, right anterior, and left medial segments. Inter-reader and inter-exam repeatability were analyzed with intraclass correlation coefficients (ICCs) and Bland-Altman analysis. Segmental LS and clinical characteristics before and after the intervention were also compared. Results: Within three days of the endovascular intervention, all three segmental LS values decreased: LS of the right posterior segment = 7.23 ± 0.88 kPa (before) vs. 4.94 ± 0.84 kPa (after), LS of the right anterior segment = 7.30 ± 1.06 kPa (before) vs. 4.77 ± 0.85 kPa (after), and LS of the left medial segment = 7.22 ± 0.87 kPa (before) vs. 4.87 ± 0.72 kPa (after) (all p = 0.001). There was a significant correlation between LS changes and venous pressure gradient changes before and after treatments (r = 0.651, p = 0.009). The clinical manifestations of all 15 patients significantly improved after therapy. The MRE repeatability was excellent, with insignificant variations (inter-reader, ICC = 0.839-0.943: inter-examination, ICC = 0.765-0.869). Bland-Altman analysis confirmed excellent agreement (limits of agreement, 13.4-19.4%). Conclusion: Segmental LS measured by MRE is a promising repeatable quantitative biomarker for monitoring the treatment response to minimally invasive endovascular intervention in patients with BCS.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.48 no.6
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• pp.649-654
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• 2005

Purpose : The present study examined how changes in cerebral hemodynamics in newborn piglets with bilirubin infusion can be evaluated by near infrared sepctroscopy(NIRS). Methods : Seventeen newborn piglets were randomly divided into the following three experimental groups : six in the control group(CG); seven in the bilirubin infusion group(BG), and four in the bilirubin infusion with 7-nitroindazole group(NG). To achieve the concentration of bilirubin above 20 mg/dL, we injected a bolus of 40 mg/kg of bilirubin intravenously, followed by 30 mg/kg/hr of bilirubin continuous intravenous infusion. All groups were monitored with cerebral hemodynamics using near infrared spectroscopy(NIRS) and their brain cortexes were harvested and the activities of $Na^+$, $K^+$-ATPase, level of conjugated dienes, ATP and phosphocreatine(PCr) were determined biochemically. Results : No changes took place in CG. In BG and NG, base excess, pH, and MABP decreased, and lactate level in blood increased. Cerebral $Na^+$, $K^+$-ATPase activity and ATP, PCr level in BG significantly decreased and conjugated dienes increased compared to CG. These abnormalities observed in the BG were significantly improved in the NG. In continuous NIRS monitoring, [$HbO_2$], [HbT], and [HbD] in BG were significantlly decreased compared to CG. However these abnormalities between NG and CG were not significantly different. There were no significant differences in $ScO_2$ between the study groups. Conclusion : Our study suggests cerebral hemodynamic changes could be monitored by non-invasive NIRS in newborn piglets with bilirubin infusion.

• Journal of Environmental Impact Assessment
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• v.23 no.6
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• pp.492-504
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• 2014

Feral pigeon (Columba livia) has been known as a good indicator for accumulations of chemical pollutants in urban areas. However, it is against the animal rights to kill the indicator species in order to monitor pollutants accumulations in wild birds. Eggs and feathers of birds, therefore, have been used as non-invasive monitoring materials. Even though eggs are a good indicator for accumulations of lipophilic pollutants, but unsuitable for some heavy metals such as lead and cadmium because bird's ovary builds a sort of barrier to inhibit higher accumulations of some heavy metals in the eggs. Therefore, feathers instead of eggs have been used as a non-invasive indicator for accumulations of heavy metals. However, there are few studies of heavy metal accumulations of feral pigeon in Korea. In this study, we characterized the characteristics of heavy metal accumulations of feathers in relation to internal organs (bloods, viscera and bones) in feral pigeons between two sites (Hangang Park representing urban area and Hampyeong Park for rural area). The samples from the Hangang Park showed significantly higher lead (Pb) concentrations in the blood, liver and bone than those from Hampyeong Park. The Pb concentration in the feathers was also significantly higher at Hangang Park than at Hampyeong Park. The analytical result for the breast, wing and tail feathers, and the internal organs (blood, lung, liver, kidney and bone) indicated that the Pb concentrations in the feathers were significantly positively correlated with the levels in the kidney and bone. Overall, feathers of feral pigeon may be candidate for bioindicator to monitor for Pb accumulations in urban areas.

• Journal of Environmental Impact Assessment
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• v.32 no.6
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• pp.450-462
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• 2023

This study suggested methodology of Citizen Science as a tool of ecosystem conservation and management to achieve Wetland Protected Area (WPA) Conservation Plan and examined whose applicability in 3 WPAs (Jangrok of Gwangju metropolitan city, Madongho of Goseong in South Gyeongsang Province, and Incheongang estuary of Gochang in North Jeolla Province). It consists of a) figuring out main interests and stakeholder or beneficiaries of WPA and their information demand based on conservation, utilization, and management target in the WPA Conservation Plan, b) conducting research activities to gain outcome to address stakeholder's demand, and c) returning the research outcome to citizen scientists and making diffusion to the society. Based on the suggested method and process, citizen scientists conducted ecosystem monitoring (plants including Invasive Alien Plants, terrestrial insects, traces of mammals, discovering unknown wetland). As a result, citizen scientists contributed to collecting species information of 16 plans, 43 species of terrestrial insects, 5 mammals including Lutra lutra (Endangered Species I) and Prionailurus bengalensis (Endangered Species II). The authors constructed and provided distribution map of Invasive Alien Plants, which included information of location and density which citizen scientists registered, for Environment Agencies and local governments who manage 3 WPAs to aid data-based ecosystem policy, In further studies, not only accumulating research data and outcomes acquired from citizen science to suffice the policy demands but also deliberate reviewing policy applicability and social·economic ripple effect should be processed for the suggested Citizen Science in WPA to be settled down as a tool of ecosystem conservation and management.

• Korean Journal of Environment and Ecology
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• v.36 no.6
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• pp.566-574
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• 2022

Heavy metals are one of the dangerous pollutants that threaten urban biodiversity due to their accumulation over a long period without being decomposed in vivo. Accordingly, there is a need for biological monitoring to compare accumulation concentrations in living organisms according to the degree of heavy metal exposure to evaluate heavy metal contamination in the air in urban areas. This study aims to examine the possibility of using nesting materials as heavy metal monitoring samples and determine the effects of heavy metals on Paridae. We installed 54 artificial nest boxes in the research areas that included campus green spaces (14), urban forests (11), and urban parks (29) on a university campus in Cheonan City, Chungcheongnam Province. The birds' use rate of artificial nest boxes was 11/14 (78.57%) in campus green spaces, 8/11 (72.72%) in urban forests, and 6/29 (20.68%) in urban parks. Moss materials were collected from collected nests, and the heavy metal accumulation characteristics of each type of urban green space and the effects of heavy metals on the success of fledging of Paridae were compared through heavy metal analysis. The analysis showed that the average concentrations of zinc and lead were 228.08±209.62 ㎍/dry g and 17.67 ± 6.72 ㎍/dry g, respectively. There was no significant difference in zinc concentration for each type of urban green space (Kruskal-Wallis test, p-value=0.28), but lead concentration showed a significant difference (Kruskal-Wallis test, p<0.05^*). Of the 21 Paridae, nests analyzed for heavy metals, fledging of birds was observed in 11 nests (52.38%). Fledging of birds observed in each urban green space type was 7 campus green spaces (77.78%), 6 in urban forests (85.71%), and 1 in urban park (20%), mainly in urban forests and green spaces on campus. Heavy metal concentrations were compared to check the effect of heavy metal accumulation on the successful fledging of Paridae, but there was no statistically significant difference (Zn: W=44, p-value=0.74, Pb: t=0.64676, df =7.2422, p-value=0.54). This study is a basic study using the nesting materials of Paridae as heavy metal monitoring samples, and it is determined that it can be used as basic data for non-invasive biological monitoring.

• Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology & Nutrition
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• v.7 no.2
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• pp.153-162
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• 2004

Purpose: The Helicobacter pylori stool antigen (HpSA) enzyme immunoassay is a non-invasive test for the diagnosis and monitoring of H. pylori infection. But, there are few validation studies on the HpSA test after eradication in children. The aim of this study was to assess the diagnostic accuracy of HpSA enzyme immunoassay for the detection of H. pylori to confirm eradication in children. Methods: From January 2001 to October 2003, 164 tests were performed in 146 children aged 1 to 17.5 years (mean $9.3{\pm}4.3$ years). H. pylori infection was confirmed by endoscopy-based tests (rapid urease test, histology, and culture). All H. pylori infected children were treated with quadruple regimens (Omeprazole, amoxicillin, metronidazole and bismuth subcitrate for 7 days). Stool specimens were collected from all patients for the HpSA enzyme immunoassay (Primier platinum HpSA). The results of HpSA tests were interpreted as positive for $OD{\geq}0.160$, unresolved for $$0.140{\leq_-}OD$$<0.160, and negative for OD<0.140 at 450 nm on spectrophotometer. Results: 1) One hundred thirty-one HpSA tests were performed before treatment. The result of HpSA enzyme immunoassay showed three false positive cases and one false negative case. The sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, and negative predictive value of HpSA enzyme immunoassay before treatment were 96.4%, 97.1%, 90%, and 99%, respectively. 2) Thirty-three HpSA enzyme immunoassay were performed at least 4 weeks after eradication therapy. The results of HpSA enzyme immunoassay showed two false positive cases and one false negative case. The sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, and negative predictive value after treatment were 88.9%, 91.7%, 80%, and 95.7%, respectively. Conclusion: Diagnostic accuracy of the HpSA enzyme immunoassay after eradication therapy was as high as that of the HpSA test before eradication therapy. The HpSA enzyme immunoassay was found to be a useful non-invasive method to confirm H. pylori eradication in children.

• Korean Journal of Plant Resources
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• v.35 no.1
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• pp.134-167
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• 2022

This study conducted monitoring of flora and vegetation in order to utilize basic data for forest wetland conservation targeting outstanding forest wetlands located in the eastern part of Jeonnam Province. The survey was carried out for a total of 54 times from May 2020 to October 2020, 1-2 times each for each season. The vascular plants of outstanding forest wetland in eastern Jeollanam-do were 93 families, 251 genera, 336 species, 5 subspecies, 47 varieties, 7 forma, and a total of 395 taxa. This was about 8.5% of 4,641 species of vascular plants in Korea Peninsula. A total of 8 taxa and 12 taxa were identified Korea endemic plants and rare plants respectively. A total of 68 taxa and 19 taxa of floristic target plants and invasive alien plants were classified each. the naturalized Index was 4.83% and the urbanized Index was 5.90%. As a result of the analysis by wetland type of the forest wetlands, obligate upland plants were the highest in the forest wetlands in the eastern Jeonnam province (61.4%), with unclassified wetland plants 19.1%, facultative wetland plants 8.2%, and obligate wetland plants 4.6%, facultative upland plants 4.5%, and facultative plants 2.3% were confirmed in the order.

• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
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• v.10 no.1
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• pp.1-17
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• 2000

Carcinogen-DNA adduct analysis has potential for biomonitoring the earliest effects of exposure to many chemical carcinogens. They are the covalent reaction products of electrophiles and nucleophilic sites on DNA and the initial damage to DNA induced by many carcinogens. So many researchers begin to use them as biomarker for monitoring the earliest exposure of carcinogens and develop the effective analytical techniques about them. Randerath, Gupta and coworkers(1981, 1982) has also developed a $^{32}P$-postlabelling method as one among them. A major project for biomonitoring workers with carcinogen-DNA adducts is to develop non-invasive samples instead of tissues of target organs such as baldder and lung. This study use the exfoliated urothelial cells in urine for examine benzidine-DNA adducts. The content of exfoliated urothelial cells is not enough to significantly measure DNA content with spectrophotometer, and require the another way. So firstly washing the collected cells with PBS and 70% ethanol and centrifuge them for removing the crystals in urine, which block the isolation of DNA adducts. And then, measure the total nucleotide after $^{32}P$-postlabelling for calculating RAL. $[{\gamma}-^{32}P]ATP$ using for $^{32}P$-postlabelling, can synthesize with $[^{32}P]H_3PO_4$, and reagent and enzyme mixture (RM, EM), which is very economic in case of requiring a lot of them. Chromatography was composed of two steps. First step was to separate adduct ones from unadducted nucleotide, and secondary step was separate each adduct, which were performed with 4 kinds of solvents and different directions on TLC. With this procedure, we measure the DNA adducts in exfoliated urothelial cells of workers who were employed in benzidine and benzidine-dye company. RAL of adducts were $89.0{\times}10^7$ and $57.0{\times}10^7$ in them. In conclusion, we can significantly measure the DNA adduct in exfoliated urothelial cells by using the above $^{32}P$-postlabelling procedures, and use them to be biomonitoring workers who exposed carcinogens.

• Korean Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.50 no.2
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• pp.195-206
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• 2017

We described a spatial distribution pattern and floral diversity on the Paspalum distichum community occurring at the ecological parks of Hwamyeong, Daejeo, Samnak, and Maekdo in the Nakdong river estuary. A total distribution area of P. distichum community was $303,462.6m^2$. Its largest area was found in Samnak eco-park ($185,910.1m^2$). The most richness of knotgrass patches in each ecological park was determined Maekdo eco-park (87). Cover class level-5 shows the largest area ($260,663.2m^2$). A total of 73 taxa (34 families, 55 genus, 65 species, and 8 varieties) were listed up on the P. distichum community. A welldeveloped population of knotgrass was found predominantly at sites linked into human impacts at the riverine floodplain, the stream courses flowing through the parks, and the man-made channels and wetlands. Finally we proposed an ecological management strategy for knotgrass population in the study area.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Research
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• v.41 no.3
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• pp.413-419
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• 2001

This study was performed to evaluate the renal hemodynamics using color Doppler ultrasonography in dogs with unilateral experimental hydronephrosis treated with transarterial embolization of the renal artery (TAE-RA). Experimental hydronephrosis was induced by ligation of unilateral ureter in 12 dogs. The mean resistive index (RI) value of kidney was significantly increased at 4, 9, 17 days after ligation of ureter. Unilateral hydronephrosis was established in 12 dogs at 17 days after ligation of ureter. Renal artery embolization was performed using selective catheterization in the hydronephrotic kidney of seven dogs and EKG, $SpO_2$body temperature, pulse, and respiratory rate were within normal ranges during procedures. There were no dogs expired after TAE-RA and no side effects associated with regurgitation of iohexol-ethanol solution. In color Doppler ultrasonographic findings, there was no blood flow into the embolized kidneys treated by TAE-RA, however, blood flow signal was found in contralateral normal kidney of dogs treated with TAE-RA compared to that of normal kidney in normal control group. It is concluded that TAE-RA does not affect the hemodynamics of contralateral normal kidney in dogs with experimental hydronephrosis and color Doppler ultrasonography is simple and non-invasive modality for the monitoring of the revascularization of the renal artery after TAE-RA.