• The Korean Journal of Nuclear Medicine Technology
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• v.14 no.2
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• pp.3-8
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• 2010

Purpose: $^{11}C$-Acetate PET/CT is useful in detecting lesions that are related to livers in the human body and leads to a sensitivity of 87.3%. On the other hand, $^{18}F$-FDG PET/CT has a sensitivity of 47.3% and it has been reported that if both $^{18}F$-FDG and $^{11}C$-Acetate PET/CT are carried out together, their cumulative sensitivity is around 100%. However, the normal intake of the pancreas and the spleen in $^{11}C$-Acetate PET/CT can influence the $^{18}F$-FDG PET/CT leading to an inaccurate diagnosis. This research was aimed at the verification of the usefulness of how much influence these two radioactive medical supplies can cause on the medical images through comparative analysis between the one-day and two-day protocol. Materials and Methods: This research was carried out based on 46 patients who were diagnosed with liver cancer and have gone through the PET/CT (35 male, 11 female participants, average age: $54{\pm}10.6$ years, age range: 29-69 years). The equipment used for this test was the Biograph TruePoint40 PET/CT (Siemens Medical Systems, USA) and 21 participants who went through the one-day protocol test were first given the $^{11}C$-Acetate PET/CT and the $^{18}F$-FDG PET/CT, the latter exactly after one hour. The other 25 participants who went through the two-day protocol test were given the $^{11}C$-Acetate PET/CT on the first day and the $^{18}F$-FDG PET/CT on the next day. These two groups were then graded comparatively by assigning identical areas of interest of the pancreas and the spleen in the $^{18}F$-FDG images and by measuring the Standard Uptake Value (SUV). SPSS Ver.17 (SPSS Inc., USA) was used for statistical analysis, where statistical significance was found through the unpaired t-test. Results: After analyzing the participants' medical images from each of the two different protocol types, the average${\pm}$standard deviation of the SUV of the pancreas carried out under the two-day protocol were as follows: head $1.62{\pm}0.32$ g/mL, body $1.57{\pm}0.37$ g/mL, tail $1.49{\pm}0.33$ g/mL and the spleen $1.53{\pm}0.28$ g/mL. Whereas, the results for participants carried out under the one-day protocol were as follows: head $1.65{\pm}0.35$ g/mL, body $1.58{\pm}0.27$ g/mL, tail $1.49{\pm}0.28$ g/mL and the spleen $1.66{\pm}0.29$ g/mL. Conclusion: It was found that no statistical significant difference existed between the one-day and two-day protocol SUV in the pancreas and the spleen (p<0.05), and nothing which could be misconceived as false positive were found from the PET/CT medical image analysis. From this research, it was also found that no overestimation of the SUV occurred from the influence of $^{11}C$-Acetate on the $^{18}F$-FDG medical images where those two tests were carried out for one day. This result was supported by the statistical significance of the SUV of measurement. If $^{11}C$-Acetate becomes commercialized in the future, the diagnostic ability of liver diseases can be improved by $^{18}F$-FDG and one-day protocol. It is from this result where tests can be accomplished in one day without the interference phenomenon of the two radioactive medical supplies and furthermore, could reduce the waiting time improving customer satisfaction.

• Korean Journal of Head & Neck Oncology
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• v.19 no.2
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• pp.142-147
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• 2003

Purpose: Accurate evaluation of metastatic cervical lymph nodes plays a decisive role in the treatment and prognosis of patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck. The purpose of this study is to investigate the usefulness of FDG-PET for diagnosis of cervical metastasis in the head and neck cancer by comparing with the conventional imaging study. Materials and Methods: The subjects on this study were 30 patients (24 males and 6 females, aged 39 to 76, mean 57.1) diagnosed as pathologic-proven squamous cell carcinomas of the head and neck. All patients underwent preoperative FDG-PET, CT(n=27) or MRI (n=3). Their medical records were reviewed retrospectively. Using pathologic reports as a golden standard, the results of FDG-PET were compared with conventional imaging study (CT/MRI) in the evaluation of cervical metastasis. Results: Thirty patients had five different primary sites which were tongue (11), supraglottis (10), glottis (6), hypopharynx (2) and tonsil (1). A total of 40 neck dissections were performed unilaterally in 20 patients and bilaterally in 10 patients. Of these, 16 showed pathologically positive for lymph node metastasis. The sensitivity and specificity of FDG-PET for the diagnosis of cervical metastasis was 75% and 100% respectively, compared with conventional imaging of 56.3% and 95.8%, respectively. The difference of sensitivity was not statistically significant (p=0.453). Of 5 cases with small metastatic node (<1cm), 3 were detected on PET detected correctly but none were detected by CT. Conclusion: FDG-PET was more accurate than conventional imaging study in the diagnosis of metastatic lymph nodes in squamous cell carcinomas of the head and neck, especially detection of small metastatic node. FDG-PET might be useful adjunct to conventional image in the preoperative evaluation of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Radiology
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• v.15 no.6
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• pp.891-897
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• 2021

With the development of Amyloid PET Tracer, the accuracy of Alzheimer's diagnosis can be improved through the identification of beta-amyloid neurites. However, the long image acquisition time of 20 minutes can be difficult for the patient. PET/CT scans are sensitive to patient movement and may partially affect test results. In this study, we studied the proper image acquisition time without affecting the quantitative evaluation of the image through the list mode acquisition method according to the time of the distribution of radioactive drugs in the body. The list mode includes information about time compared to the existing frame mode, and it is easy to analyze data because it can reconstruct images about the time that researchers want. The research method obtained a reconstructed image by time using a list mode of 5min frame/bed, 10min frame/bed, 15min frame/bed, and 20min frame/bed to compare the difference between signal-to-pons take ratio (SNR) and lesion-to-pons uptake ratio (LPR) and the difference in reading time to obtain an appropriate image. As a result of quantitative analysis, when measuring in list mode, SUVmean values decreased in 6 regions of interest as the image acquisition time increased, but showed the largest difference in 5 min/bed images, followed by 10 min/bed and 15 min/bed. As a result, the difference in SUVmean values decreased. Therefore, it was found that SUVmean values at 15 min/bed did not differ enough to not affect image evaluation. There was no difference in LPR values. As a result of the qualitative analysis, there was no change in the reading findings according to the PET image acquisition time and there was no significant difference in the qualitative analysis score of the image reconstruction according to time. As a result of the study, there is no significant difference between 15 min/bed and 20 min/bed images during the ¹⁸F-flutemetamol PET/CT test, so it can be said that it is clinically useful to reduce the image acquisition time selectively using 15 min/bed via list mode depending on the patient's condition.

• THE JOURNAL OF KOREAN ORIENTAL ONCOLOGY
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• v.6 no.1
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• pp.81-97
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• 2000

Objectives: This experimental study was carried out to evaluate the effects of aqueous and methanol extracts of Hedyotis diffusa which has long been used for cancer treatment in oriental medicines on the induction of apoptotic cell death in human lymphoid leukemia cell line, HL-60. Methods: Cells were treated with various concentrations (200 to $0.4{\mu}g$) and periods (6 to 30 hr) of $H_2O$ and methanol extracts of Hedyotis diffusa. Then, cells were tested for viability by MTT assay. Cells wrere treated with $200{\mu}g/ml$ of methanol extract fork various periods. Genomic DNA was isolated, separated, on 1.5% agarose gels, stained with ethidium bromide and visualized under UV light. Cells were treated with $200{\mu}g/ml$ of each extract for 16 hr. Then, cells were treated with Hoechst dye 33342 and observed by fluorescence microscopy. Cells were treated with various doses of each for 12 hr and $100{\mu}g/ml$ of methanol extract for various periods. Lysate from the cells used to measure the activity of Caspase-1 and-3 proteases by using fluorogenic peptide substrates including acetyl-YVAD-AMC and acetyl-DEVD-AMC, respectively. Cells were treated with $200{\mu}g/ml$ of each extract for various periods. Cell lysates were immunoprecipated with anti-JNKl antibodies. The immune complex was reacted with $32^p-ATP$ and c-Jun as a substrate. The phosphotransferase activity of JNKI was measured by using PhosphoImage analyzer (Fuji Co., Japan). Nuclear extracts were isolated and incubated with oligonucleotide probe of $NF-{\kappa}B$. Transcriptional activation of ${\kappa}B$ was measured by using EMSA and visualized by PhosphoImage analyzer (Fuji Co, Japan). Cell lysates were prepared and analyzed by Western blotting with anti-Bc12 antibodies and anti-Bax antibodies. Cells were pretreated with various doses of methanol extract for 2 hr. Then, the extract was removed by centrifugation. Cells were resuspended with RPMI-1640 media containing 0.3% agarose, 10% FBS, overlayred onto bottom layer agarose and incubated at $CO_2$ incubator for 6 days. The number of colony was counted under light microscopy ($\time100$). Results: The death of HL-60 cells was markedly induced by the addition of methanol extract of Hedyotis diffusa in a dose and time-dependent manners. The apoptotic characteristic ladder pattern of DNA strand break was observed in death of HL-60 cells. In addition, it was shown nucleus chromatin condensation and fragmentation under Hoechst staining. Therefore, Hedyotis diffusa extract-induced death of HL-60 cells is mediated by apoptotic signaling processes. The activity of Caspase 3-like proteases remained in a basal level in HL-60 cells treated with aqueous extract of Hedyotis diffusa. However, it was markedly increased in HL-60 cells treated with methanol extract of Hedyotis diffusa. In addition, the phosphotransferase activity of JNKl was increased in HL-60 cells treated with methanol extract of Hedyotis diffusa. Furthermore, the activation of transcriptional activator, $NF-{\kappa}B$ was markedly induced by methanol extract of Hedyotis diffusa. Anti-apoptotic Bc12 was cleaved into 23Kda fragment by treatment of methanol extract of Hedyotis diffusa. However, expression of proapoptotic Bax protein was increased by treatment of methanol extract of Hedyotis diffusa in a time-dependent manner. Furthermore, methanol extract markedly inhibited the colony forming efficiency of HL-60 cells in semisolid agar culture. Conclusions: Above results suggest that methanol extract of Hedyotis diffusa induces the apoptotic death of human leukemic HL-60 cells via activations of Caspase-3 proteases, JNKI, transcriptional activator $NF-{\kappa}B$, In addition, our results also suggest that methanol extract of Hedyotis diffusa reduces the malignant potential of HL-60 cells via down regulation of colony forming effciency through cleavage of Bc12 as well as induction of Bax.

• Biomedical Science Letters
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• v.16 no.4
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• pp.365-376
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• 2010

The purpose of this study was to clarify the effect of light emitting diode (LED) irradiation on healing of impaired wound and alteration of mast cells in experimental diabetic rats. Twenty-four male Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into four groups: excision (Ex), excision-LED irradiation (Ex-LED), diabetes + excision (DM) and diabetes + excision + LED irradiation (DM-LED). Diabetes was induced in rats by streptozotocin (STZ) injection (70 mg/kg, single dose) and 6 mm punch excision wounds were created on the back after shaving hair. The LED-irradiated rats were treated to a daily dose of $5\;J/cm^2$ LED (630 nm) light for 11 days after surgery, and were killed at day 1, 3, 7 and 11. The lesion and adjacent skin tissues were excised, fixed with 10% buffered formalin and embedded with paraffin. For evaluation of wound healing, hematoxylin-eosin (HE) and Masson trichrome staining were performed. Mast cells (MCs) were stained with toluidine blue (pH 0.5) and quantified using a computerized image analysis system. The proliferation activity of keratinocyte in skin tissues was analyzed on sections immunostained with proliferative cell nuclear antigen (PCNA). The results showed that wound healing rate, collagen density and neo-epidermis length, number of PCNA-positive cells, fibroblasts and mast cells were significantly higher in the LED-irradiated rats than in the DM and Ex rats throughout the periods of experiment. Exceptionally, the number of MCs was significantly lower at day 11 compared with day 7 after surgery in the all groups. These findings suggest that the LED irradiation may promote the tissue repair process by accelerating keratinocyte and fibroblast proliferation and collagen production in normal rats as well as in diabetic rats, and MCs may play an important role at an early stage of skin wound healing in normal and diabetic rats.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.43 no.2
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• pp.326-334
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• 2019

Background: The objective of our study was to analyze the neuroprotective effects of ginsenoside derivatives Rb1, Rb2, Rc, Rd, Rg1, and Rg3 against glutamate-mediated neurotoxicity in HT22 hippocampal mouse neuron cells. Methods: The neuroprotective effect of ginsenosides were evaluated by measuring cell viability. Protein expressions of mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK), Bcl2, Bax, and apoptosis-inducing factor (AIF) were determined by Western blot analysis. The occurrence of apoptotic and death cells was determined by flow cytometry. Cellular level of $Ca^{2+}$ and reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels were evaluated by image analysis using the fluorescent probes Fluor-3 and 2',7'-dichlorodihydrofluorescein diacetate, respectively. In vivo efficacy of neuroprotection was evaluated using the Mongolian gerbil of ischemic brain injury model. Result: Reduction of cell viability by glutamate (5 mM) was significantly suppressed by treatment with ginsenoside Rb2. Phosphorylation of MAPKs, Bax, and nuclear AIF was gradually increased by treatment with 5 mM of glutamate and decreased by co-treatment with Rb2. The occurrence of apoptotic cells was decreased by treatment with Rb2 ($25.7{\mu}M$). Cellular $Ca^{2+}$ and ROS levels were decreased in the presence of Rb2, and in vivo data indicated that Rb2 treatment (10 mg/kg) significantly diminished the number of degenerated neurons. Conclusion: Our results suggest that Rb2 possesses neuroprotective properties that suppress glutamate-induced neurotoxicity. The molecular mechanism of Rb2 is by suppressing the MAPKs activity and AIF translocation.

• Advances in nano research
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• v.10 no.5
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• pp.461-470
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• 2021

Infection is one of the major mortality causes throughout the globe. Nuclear medicine plays an important role in diagnosis of deep infections such as osteomyelitis, arthritis infection, heart valve and heart prosthesis infections. Techniques such as labeled leukocytes are sensitive and selective for tracking the inflammations but they are not suitable for differentiating infection from inflammation. Anionic linear-globular dendrimer-G₂ was synthesized then conjugation to gemifloxacin antibiotic. The structures were identified by FT-IR, ¹H-NMR, C-NMR, LC-MS and DLS. The toxicity of gemifloxacin and dendrimer-gemifloxacin complex was compared by MTT test. Dendrimer-G₂-gemifloxacin was labeled by Technetium-99m and its in-vitro stability and radiochemical purity were investigated. In-vivo biodistribution and SPECT imaging were studied in a rabbit model. Identify and verify the structure of the each object was confirmed by FT-IR, ¹H-NMR, C-NMR and LC-MS, also, the size and charge of this compound were 128 nm and -3/68 mv respectively. MTT test showed less toxicity of the dendrimer-G₂-gemifloxacin than free gemifluxacin (P < 0.001). Radiochemical yield was > %98. Human serum stability was 84% up to 24 h. Biodistribution study at 50 min, 24 and 48 h showed that the complex is significantly absorbed by the intestine and accumulation in the lungs and affects them, finally excreted through the kidneys, biodistribution results are consistent with results from full image means of SPECT/CT technique.

• Journal of Radiopharmaceuticals and Molecular Probes
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• v.6 no.2
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• pp.61-68
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• 2020

Aggregated neurofibrillary tangles (NFTs) are a pathological hallmark in Alzheimer's disease (AD) and many radiopharmaceuticals targeting NFTs have been developed so far. Among these, [¹⁸F]flortaucipir (TAUVID^TM) is the first approved radiopharmaceutical in the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to image tau pathology. In the present study, we describe the optimized radiosynthetic method for the routine production of [¹⁸F] flortaucipir using a commercialized automation module (i.e. GE TRACERlab^TM FX_FN pro). [¹⁸F]Flortaucipir was prepared by nucleophilic substitution from its N-tert-butoxycarbonyl protected nitro precursor, tertbutyl 7-(6-nitropyridin-3-yl)-5H-pyrido[4,3-b]indole-5-carboxylate, at 130℃ for 10 min in dimethyl sulfoxide. The mean radiochemical yield was 20 ± 4.3% (decay-corrected, n = 47) with the molar activity of 218 ± 32 GBq/µmol at the end of synthesis. The radiochemical purity was determined to be above 95%. The overall production time including quality control is approximately 100min. The final produced [¹⁸F]flortaucipir injection meets the USP criteria for quality control. Thus, this fully automated system is validated for clinical use.

• Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging
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• v.40 no.3
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• pp.148-154
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• 2006

Purpose: Although radionuclide cisternography (RNC) is an useful study to detect cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) leakage in the patient with spontaneous intracranial hypotension (SIH), it sometimes fails to demonstrate the site of CSF leakage. The aim of the study is to improve the detection of leakage site of CSF and to reduce time for the study in RNC using modified protocol (m-RNC). Materials & methods : The study consists of 8 studies of 7 patients ($38{\pm}8$ years, M:F=2:5) with SIH, who underwent m-RNC following administration of 185-222 MBq of $^{99m}Tc$-DTPA into the lumbar subarachnoid space. Sequential images were obtained the whole spine with the head including urinary bladder at 10 minute, 30 minute, 1 hour, 2 hour, 4 hour and 6 hour. Radioactivity of extradural space and urinary bladder was evaluated. Results: Leakage site of CSF was identified in all 8 cases by m-RNC. Leakage site was cervicothoracic junction (CTJ, n=3), CTJ with C1-2 (n=2), CTJ with thoracic spine, thoracolumbar spine and lumbar spine (each n=1). All cases presented leakage sites within 1 hour and multiple sites, where CTJ was included in 6 cases. Only one case presented additional site in 6 hour image. Early radioactivity within the urinary bladder was noted in 6 cases, but that was fellowing after identification of the leakage site. Conclusion: Radionuclide cisternography is sensitive to detect the leakage site of CSF and is expected to improve the detection of CSF leakage site and reduce time for the study using modified protocol.

• Korean Journal of Biological Psychiatry
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• v.26 no.1
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• pp.22-31
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• 2019

Objectives Previous studies have revealed inconsistent results on amygdala volume in adult bipolar disorder (BD) patients compared to healthy controls (HC). Since the amygdala encompasses multiple subregions, the subtle volume changes in each amygdala nucleus might have not been fully reflected in the measure of the total amygdala volume, causing discrepant results. Thus, we aimed to investigate volume changes in each amygdala subregion and their association with subtypes of BD, lithium use and clinical status of BD. Methods Fifty-five BD patients and 55 HC underwent T1-weighted structural magnetic resonance imaging. We analyzed volumes of the whole amygdala and each amygdala subregion, including the anterior amygdaloid area, cortico-amygdaloid transition area, basal, lateral, accessory basal, central, cortical, medial and paralaminar nuclei using the atlas in the FreeSurfer. The volume difference was analyzed using a one-way analysis of covariance with individual volumes as dependent variables, and age, sex, and total intracranial volume as covariates. Results The volumes of whole right amygdala and subregions including basal nucleus, accessory basal nucleus, anterior amygdaloid area, and cortico-amygdaloid transition area in the right amygdala of BD patients were significantly smaller for the HC group. No significant volume difference between bipolar I disorder and bipolar II disorder was found after the Bonferroni correction. The trend of larger volume in medial nucleus with lithium treatment was not significant after the Bonferroni correction. No significant correlation between illness duration and amygdala volume, and insignificant negative correlation were found between right central nucleus volume and depression severity. Conclusions Significant volume decrements of the whole amygdala, basal nucleus, accessory basal nucleus, anterior amygdaloid area, and cortico-amygdaloid transition area were found in the right hemisphere in adult BD patients, compared to HC group. We postulate that such volume changes are associated with altered functional activity and connectivity of amygdala nuclei in BD.