• Journal of Dairy Science and Biotechnology
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• v.39 no.2
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• pp.78-85
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• 2021

Previously, we showed that oral administration of probiotics, Lactobacillus acidophilus NS1 (LNS1), improved insulin sensitivity in high-fat-diet-fed mice (HFD mice). Furthermore, LNS1-conditioned media (LNS1-CM) reduced HNF4α transcription activity and the expression of phosphoenol pyruvate carboxykinase (PEPCK), a key enzyme in gluconeogenesis in HepG2 cells. In this study, we demonstrated that LNS1 administration increased the expression of glycosyltransferase 2 (GYS2) and glucose transporter 2 (GLUT2), while reduced the expression of glucose-6-phosphatase (G6PC) expression in liver of HFD mice. Furthermore, LNS1 suppressed hepatic expression of glucokinase regulatory unit (GCKR) in HFD mice without changing the mRNA levels of glucokinase (GCK), suggesting that LNS1 may inhibit nuclear GCK activity. Consistently, addition of LNS1-CM to HepG2 cells increased the mRNA levels of GYS2 and GLUT2 with reduced mRNA levels of G6PC and GCKR. Moreover, hepatic glycogen contents were increased in HFD mice upon administration of LNS1. Together, these results suggest that LNS1 facilitates glycogen accumulation in liver by regulating the expression of genes involved in glycogen metabolism, contributing to improved insulin sensitivity in the HFD mice.

• Korean Journal of Radiology
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• v.21 no.5
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• pp.598-604
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• 2020

Objective: Proper management of lymph nodes (LNs) with ultrasonographic (US) indeterminate features in thyroid cancer patients remains elusive. We aimed to evaluate the malignancy risk and US findings predictive of malignancy for US indeterminate LNs in preoperative thyroid cancer patients through node-by-node correlation. Materials and Methods: A total of 348 LNs in 284 thyroid cancer patients, who underwent fine-needle aspiration or core-needle biopsy between December 2006 and June 2015, were included. We determined the malignancy risks for US probably benign, indeterminate, and suspicious categories. For US indeterminate LNs, which had neither echogenic hilum nor hilar vascularity in the absence of any suspicious finding, US findings were compared between benign and metastatic LNs using Mann-Whitney U test and Fisher's exact test. Results: US imaging diagnoses were probably benign in 20.7% (n = 72) cases, indeterminate in 23.6% (n = 82), and suspicious in 55.7% (n = 194). Malignancy risk of US indeterminate LNs (19.5% [16/82]) differed from those of the US probably benign (2.8% [2/72]) (p = 0.002) and US suspicious LNs (78.4% [152/194]) (p < 0.001). Among US indeterminate LNs, there were no significant differences in short, long, and long-to-short diameter (L/S) ratios between benign and metastatic LNs (3.9 vs. 3.8 mm, p = 0.619; 7.3 vs. 7.3 mm, p = 0.590; 1.9 vs. 1.9, p = 0.652). Conclusion: US indeterminate LNs were frequently encountered during preoperative evaluation and had intermediate malignancy risk. Given the lack of discriminative power of size criteria and L/S ratio, clinical factors such as surgical strategy and node size should be considered for proper triage of US indeterminate LNs in thyroid cancer.

• Journal of Gastric Cancer
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• v.14 no.2
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• pp.111-116
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• 2014

Purpose: The standard surgical procedure recommended to treat gastric cancer in advanced cases is dissection of D2 lymph nodes (LNs). However, the optimum number of LNs that should be retrieved in advanced gastric cancer (AGC) remains debatable. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the optimum number of retrieved LNs and determine the clinical implications of retrieved LN numbers on the treatment of AGC. Materials and Methods: Of 575 AGC patients reviewed, 369 who underwent open curative gastrectomy with D2 or more extensive LN dissection at our institution were analyzed according to their clinicopathologic characteristics and number of LNs retrieved. Results: Multivariate regression analysis revealed that tumor size (P=0.006), depth of invasion (P=0.000), LN metastasis (P=0.000), and stage (P=0.000) were independent variables with predictive value. The 5-year survival rates were differed significantly according to the numbers of LNs retrieved ([1] 15~25 vs. >25 and [2] 15~39 vs. ${\geq}40$) in patients with differentiated carcinoma. Conclusions: Tumor size, depth of invasion, LN metastasis, and stage were independent predictive factors for survival. The number of retrieved LNs was significantly associated with a long-term survival benefit in patients with differentiated carcinoma. Therefore, our data suggest that the retrieval of a minimum of 15 LNs may not be sufficient to warrant a recommendation for further curative surgery and that extensive LN dissection should be considered in advanced carcinoma of the differentiated type.

• Food Science of Animal Resources
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• v.37 no.4
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• pp.529-534
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• 2017

Probiotics have been known to reduce high-fat diet (HFD)-induced metabolic diseases, such as obesity, insulin resistance, and type 2 diabetes. We recently observed that Lactobacillus acidophilus NS1 (LNS1), distinctly suppresses increase of blood glucose levels and insulin resistance in HFD-fed mice. In the present study, we demonstrated that oral administration of LNS1 with HFD feeding to mice significantly reduces hepatic expression of phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase (PEPCK), a key enzyme in gluconeogenesis which is highly increased by HFD feeding. This suppressive effect of LNS1 on hepatic expression of PEPCK was further confirmed in HepG2 cells by treatment of LNS1 conditioned media (LNS1-CM). LNS1-CM strongly and specifically inhibited $HNF4{\alpha}-induced$ PEPCK promoter activity in HepG2 cells without change of $HNF4{\alpha}$ mRNA levels. Together, these data demonstrate that LNS1 suppresses PEPCK expression in the liver by regulating $HNF4{\alpha}$ transcriptional activity, implicating its role as a preventive or therapeutic approach for metabolic diseases.

• Physical Therapy Korea
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• v.9 no.4
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• pp.13-35
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• 2002

Lesch-Nyhan 증후근(LNS)은 hypoxanthine guanine phosphoribosyle transferase(HGPRT) 효소를 암호화 하는 X 염색체가 불완전해서 일어나는 유전적인 추제외로계(또는 기저핵)의 드문 병변이다. 출생시 LNS 유아는 정상적인 운동발달이 관찰되어진다. LNS에게서 현저하게 진단적인 특징으로 보여지는 운동심리적 행동인 self-mutilating 행위는 4살 이후에나 나타난다. LNS 아이들은 오히려 초기에 Rett's 증후근, 뇌성마비, 자폐, 다운증후근과 유사한 운동행위를 보인다. 그래서 LNS 아이들은 앞에 기술한 신경학적 장애로 오진을 받을 수가 있다. 오진으로 인해 초기에 적절한 치료를 받지 못한다면 LNS는 결과적으로 합병증(신장부전)과 self-mutilating 행위로 인하여 치명적일 수가 있다. 그러므로, 이 연구의 목적은 LNS 평가 동안 더 나은 진단을 하도록 하기 위하여 LNS와 관련된 기능부전에 대한 지식을 임상가들에게 제공하고자 함이었다. 연구 대상자는 10살인 2명의 쌍둥이 남아이었으며 실험은 뻗기 과제 수행(reaching task)시 움직임 특성을 보기 위하여 운동형상학적과 비디오 분석을 사용하였다. 기술통계로 분석 결과 움직임 시간과 단위가 증가됨을 보였고 사지의 분절적 움직임이 협응되지 않음을 보였다. ballistic과 jerky 움직임 양상은 dysmetric과 비긴장성 운동 행위에서 우세하였다. LNS은 추체로계 운동 장애 (과근긴장도나 저긴장도) 와 추체외로계의 운동 장애(dystonia와 choreoathetosis)의 혼합된 형태를 보였다. 결론으로 이 연구는 운동발달 장애를 가진 아이들을 치료하고자 할 때 임상가들한테 LNS 아이들의 움직임 장애의 다른 진단적 특징을 알아야 한다는 것을 제시하고자 한다.

• Korean Journal of Radiology
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• v.24 no.9
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• pp.912-923
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• 2023

Objective: This study aimed to validate the risk stratification system (RSS) and biopsy criteria for cervical lymph nodes (LNs) proposed by the Korean Society of Thyroid Radiology (KSThR). Materials and Methods: This retrospective study included a consecutive series of preoperative patients with thyroid cancer who underwent LN biopsy, ultrasound (US), and computed tomography (CT) between December 2006 and June 2015. LNs were categorized as probably benign, indeterminate, or suspicious according to the current US- and CT-based RSS and the size thresholds for cervical LN biopsy as suggested by the KSThR. The diagnostic performance and unnecessary biopsy rates were calculated. Results: A total of 277 LNs (53.1% metastatic) in 228 patients (mean age ± standard deviation, 47.4 years ± 14) were analyzed. In US, the malignancy risks were significantly different among the three categories (all P < 0.001); however, CT-detected probably benign and indeterminate LNs showed similarly low malignancy risks (P = 0.468). The combined US + CT criteria stratified the malignancy risks among the three categories (all P < 0.001) and reduced the proportion of indeterminate LNs (from 20.6% to 14.4%) and the malignancy risk in the indeterminate LNs (from 31.6% to 12.5%) compared with US alone. In all image-based classifications, nodal size did not affect the malignancy risks (short diameter [SD] ≤ 5 mm LNs vs. SD > 5 mm LNs, P ≥ 0.177). The criteria covering only suspicious LNs showed higher specificity and lower unnecessary biopsy rates than the current criteria, while maintaining sensitivity in all imaging modalities. Conclusion: Integrative evaluation of US and CT helps in reducing the proportion of indeterminate LNs and the malignancy risk among them. Nodal size did not affect the malignancy risk of LNs, and the addition of indeterminate LNs to biopsy candidates did not have an advantage in detecting LN metastases in all imaging modalities.

• Korean Journal of Radiology
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• v.23 no.11
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• pp.1102-1111
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• 2022

Objective: To evaluate the ultrasonography (US) features for diagnosing metastasis in cervical lymph nodes (LNs) in patients with thyroid cancer and compare the US classification of risk of LN metastasis between European and Korean guidelines. Materials and Methods: From January 2014 to December 2018, US-guided fine-needle aspiration was performed on 836 LNs from 714 patients for the preoperative nodal staging of thyroid cancer. The US features of LNs were retrospectively reviewed for the following features: size, presence of hilum, margin, orientation, cystic change, punctate echogenic foci (PEF), large echogenic foci, eccentric cortical thickening, abnormal vascularity, and cortical hyperechogenicity. A multiple logistic regression analysis was performed to identify the independent US features for the diagnosis of metastatic LNs. The diagnostic performance of independent US features was subsequently evaluated. LNs were categorized according to the Korean Thyroid Imaging Reporting and Data System (K-TIRADS) and European Thyroid Association (ETA) guidelines, and the correlation between the two sets of classifications was assessed. Results: Absence of the hilum, presence of cystic changes, PEF, abnormal vascularity, and cortical hyperechogenicity were independent US features of metastatic LNs. Cystic changes, PEF, abnormal vascularity, and cortical hyperechogenicity showed high specificity (86.8%-99.6%). The absence of the hilum had the highest sensitivity yet low specificity (66.4%). When LNs were classified according to the ETA guidelines and K-TIRADS, they yielded similar categorizations of malignancy risks and were strongly correlated (Spearman coefficient, 0.9766 [95% confidence interval, 0.973-0.979]). According to the ETA guidelines, 9.8% (82/836) of LNs were classified as "not specified." Conclusion: Absence of hilum, cystic changes, PEF, abnormal vascularity, and cortical hyperechogenicity were independent US features suggestive of metastatic LNs in thyroid cancer. Both K-TIRADS and the ETA guidelines provided similar risk stratification for metastatic LNs with a high correlation; however, the ETA guidelines failed to classify 9.8% of LNs into a specific risk stratum. These results may provide a basis for revising LN classification in future guidelines.

• Journal of the Korea Institute of Military Science and Technology
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• v.14 no.4
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• pp.548-555
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• 2011

This paper presents a new method of measuring the ground's gradient using LNS(land navigation system) navigation data. When a vehicle equipped with LNS arrives at any place, LNS provides its navigation data which contain the information on vehicle's motion. We developed some formulas which can explain correlation between the vehicle's motion and ground's gradient. The proposed method using those formulas is shown to be accurate and convenient.

• Journal of Gastric Cancer
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.20-29
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• 2018

Purpose: Pre-operative lymph node (LN) size is a valuable parameter for determining treatment strategy for gastric cancer. However, a correlation between LN size and metastasis has not been established. Materials and Methods: Thirty-six LN-positive (LNP) and matched 36 LN-negative (LNN) patients were included, and pathology slides of the LNs of these patients were reviewed. All the LNs were measured along the long-axis (LA) and short-axis (SA), manually. Results: Average retrieved LNs were $37.3{\pm}19.8$ and $40.5{\pm}11.6$ in the LNN and LNP groups, respectively. In total 2,800 LNs, including 136 metastatic LNs (MLNs) and 2,664 non-metastatic LNs (nMLNs), were evaluated. Mean length was significantly more in MLNs along both, the LA and SA (MLN_LA vs. nMLN_LA: $4.97{\pm}3.84$ vs. $3.37{\pm}2.40mm$, MLN_SA vs. nMLN_SA: $3.86{\pm}3.19$ vs. $2.43{\pm}1.59mm$; P<0.001). However, 92.6% (126/136) and 95.6% (130/136) of MLNs were <10 mm along the LA and SA, respectively. In addition, only 22.2% of the LNP group exhibited an MLN as the largest LN. Conclusions: Pre-operative multi-detector computed tomography has limited ability in estimating the presence of metastasis in LNs because most MLNs are less than 10 mm, and only a small proportion of the LNP group exhibits an MLN as the largest MLN.

• Journal of the Korea Society of Computer and Information
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• v.13 no.1
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• pp.185-192
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• 2008

The crosstalk is the most serious problem in playing audio signals with more than two speakers. Usually an inverse filter is employed to remove such a Phenomenon. The LNS method, one of most effective design techniques for an inverse filter, has some advantages such as easy implementation and quick computation. However, the inverse filter designed by the LNS method is not easy to adapt immediately for the delivery system change since the pre-measured impulse response is used to design the filter. In this work, we present an adaptive algorithm for the inverse filter design. With the present algorithm. the inverse filter is initially designed by the LNS methods and continuously adjusted to cope with the delivery system changes. To verify the proposed method. some simulations were carried out and the results confirmed that the performance of the crosstalk calculation can be improved in entire frequency range.