• Journal of Biomedical Engineering Research
• /
• v.24 no.2
• /
• pp.77-82
• /
• 2003

Virtual colonoscopy is a non-invasive computerized procedure to detect polyps by examining the colon from a CT data set. To fly through the inside of colons. the extraction of a suitable flight-path is necessary to Provide the viewpoint and view direction of a virtual camera. However. manual path extraction by Picking Points is a very time-consuming and difficult task due 1,c, the long and complex shape of colon. Also, existing automatic methods are computationally complex. and tend to generate an improper and/or discontinuous path for complicated regions. In this paper, we propose a fast flight-path generation algorithm using the distance and order maps. The order map Provides all Possible directions of a path. The distance map assigns the Euclidean distance value from each inside voxel to the nearest background voxel. By jointly using these two maps. we can obtain a proper centerline regardless of thickness and curvature of an object. Also, we Propose a simple smoothing technique that guarantees not to collide with the surface of an object. The phantom and real colon data are used for experiments. Experimental results show that for a set of human colon data, the proposed algorithm can provide a smoothened and connected flight-path within a minute on an 800MHz PC. And it is proved that the obtained flight-Path provides successive volume-rendered images satisfactory for virtual navigation.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
• /
• v.16 no.2
• /
• pp.683-687
• /
• 2015

Aloe vera gel exhibits protective effects against insulin resistance as well as lipid-lowering and anti-diabetic effects. The anti-diabetic compounds in this gel were identified as Aloe-sterols. Aloe vera gel extract (AVGE) containing Aloe-sterols has recently been produced using a new procedure. We previously reported that AVGE reduced large-sized intestinal polyps in Apc-deficient Min mice fed a high fat diet (HFD), suggesting that Aloe vera gel may protect against colorectal cancer. In the present study, we examined the effects of Aloe vera gel powder (AVGP) and AVGE on azoxymethane-induced colorectal preneoplastic aberrant crypt foci (ACF) in mice fed a HFD. Male C57BL/6J mice were given a normal diet (ND), HFD, HFD containing 0.5% carboxymethyl cellulose solution, which was used as a solvent for AVGE (HFDC), HFD containing 3% or 1% AVGP, and HFDC containing 0.0125% (H-) or 0.00375% (L-) AVGE. The number of ACF was significantly lower in mice given 3% AVGP and H-AVGE than in those given HFD or HFDC alone. Moreover, 3% AVGP, H-AVGE and L-AVGE significantly decreased the mean Ki-67 labeling index, assessed as a measure of cell proliferation in the colonic mucosa. In addition, hepatic phase II enzyme glutathione S-transferase mRNA levels were higher in the H-AVGE group than in the HFDC group. These results suggest that both AVGP and AVGE may have chemopreventive effects on colorectal carcinogenesis under the HFD condition. Furthermore, the concentration of Aloe-sterols was similar between 3% AVGP and H-AVGE, suggesting that Aloe-sterols were the main active ingredients in this experiment.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
• /
• v.16 no.12
• /
• pp.4915-4920
• /
• 2015

Background: : Familial adenomatous polyposis (FAP) is an autosomal dominant inherited disease mainly caused by mutations of the adenomatous polyposis coli (APC) gene with almost complete penetrance. These colorectal polyps are precancerous lesions that will inevitable develop into colorectal cancer at the median age of 40-year old if total proctocolectomy is not performed. So identification of APC germline mutations has great implications for genetic counseling and management of FAP patients. In this study, we screened APC germline mutations in Chinese FAP patients, in order to find novel mutations and the APC gene germline mutation characteristics of Chinese FAP patients. Materials and Methods: The FAP patients were diagnosed by clinical manifestations, family histories, endoscope and biopsy. Then patients peripheral blood samples were collected, afterwards, genomic DNA was extracted. The mutation analysis of the APC gene was conducted by direct polymerase chain reaction (PCR) sequencing for micromutations and multiplex ligation-dependent probe amplification (MLPA) for large duplications and/or deletions. Results: We found 6 micromutations out of 14 FAP pedigrees, while there were no large duplications and/or deletions found. These germline mutations are c.5432C>T(p. Ser1811Leu), two c.3926_3930delAAAAG (p.Glu1309AspfsX4), c.3921_3924delAAAA (p.Ile1307MetfsX13), c3184_3187delCAAA(p.Gln1061AspfsX59) and c4127_4126delAT (p.Tyr1376LysfsX9), respectively, and all deletion mutations resulted in a premature stop codon. At the same time, we found c.3921_3924delAAAA and two c.3926_3930delAAAAG are located in AAAAG short tandem repeats, c3184_3187delCAAA is located in the CAAA interrupted direct repeats, and c4127_4128 del AT is located in the 5'-CCTGAACA-3', 3'-ACAAGTCC-5 palindromes (inverted repeats) of the APC gene. Furthermore, deletion mutations are mostly located at condon 1309. Conclusions: Though there were no novel mutations found as the pathogenic gene of FAP in this study, we found nucleotide sequence containing short tandem repeats and palindromes (inverted repeats), especially the 5 bp base deletion at codon 1309, are mutations in high incidence area in APC gene,.

• Journal of Biomedical Engineering Research
• /
• v.23 no.3
• /
• pp.197-205
• /
• 2002

The objectives of this Paper is to implement a diagnostic classifier of differential laryngeal diseases from acoustic signals acquired in a noisy room. For this Purpose, the voice signals of the vowel /a/ were collected from Patients in a soundproof chamber and got mixed with noise. Then, the acoustic Parameters were analyzed, and hierarchical neural networks were applied to the data classification. The classifier had a structure of five-step hierarchical neural networks. The first neural network classified the group into normal and benign or malign laryngeal disease cases. The second network classified the group into normal or benign laryngeal disease cases The following network distinguished polyp. nodule. Palsy from the benign laryngeal cases. Glottic cancer cases were discriminated into T1, T2. T3, T4 by the fourth and fifth networks All the neural networks were based on multilayer perceptron model which classified non-linear Patterns effectively and learned by an error back-propagation algorithm. We chose some acoustic Parameters for classification by investigating the distribution of laryngeal diseases and Pilot classification results of those Parameters derived from MDVP. The classifier was tested by using the chosen parameters to find the optimum ones. Then the networks were improved by including such Pre-Processing steps as linear and z-score transformation. Results showed that 90% of T1, 100% of T2-4 were correctly distinguished. On the other hand. 88.23% of vocal Polyps, 100% of normal cases. vocal nodules. and vocal cord Paralysis were classified from the data collected in a noisy room.

• Sleep Medicine and Psychophysiology
• /
• v.12 no.1
• /
• pp.64-67
• /
• 2005

Obstructive sleep apnea syndrome(OSAS) is a common disease in the field of otorhinolaryngology and is characterized by repeated upper airway occlusions occurring during sleep. OSAS can occur due to various etiologies of the nasal, oral, pharyngeal and laryngeal airway in adults. Nasal obstruction can be caused by septal deviation, nasal polyps, concha bullosa, choanal atresia, neoplasms, foreign body, postoperative/post-traumatic synechiae, various rhinitis and so on. There are various kinds of surgical treatment of OSAS including nasal surgery, LAUP, UPPP, surgery of tongue base, tracheostomy and so on, but the effect of nasal surgery on snoring and OSAS is controversial. The authors report the case of a patient who had experienced nasal obstruction, moderate snoring and OSAS and who improved after septoplasty and turbinoplasty.

• Korean Journal of Ecology and Environment
• /
• v.56 no.3
• /
• pp.250-258
• /
• 2023

Freshwater jellyfish, a type of jellyfish exclusively found in freshwater, has a limited number of species but is found globally. However, their ecology and causes of occurrence are largely unknown. Therefore, understanding the distribution of polyps, which produce the larvae of freshwater jellyfish, can provide important data for comprehending their ecology. This study aims to explore the COI gene of freshwater jellyfish using environmental DNA from the microbial film in the Miho River system. Among the 12 survey points in the Miho River watershed, genetic material of freshwater jellyfish was detected in 8 points, mainly located upstream near reservoirs. These genetic materials were identified as genes of the well-known freshwater jellyfish species, Craspedacusta sowerbii. Notably, the C. sowerbii genes found in the Miho River watershed survey points were closely related to a species previously discovered in Italy. Consequently, utilizing environmental DNA to explore the genetic traces of freshwater jellyfish enables rapid screening of areas with a high likelihood of freshwater jellyfish occurrence. This approach is deemed to provide crucial information for understanding the distribution and ecology of freshwater jellyfish in Korea.

• Journal of Radiation Protection and Research
• /
• v.38 no.4
• /
• pp.214-227
• /
• 2013

Computed tomographic scan as a screening procedures in asymptomatic individuals has seen a steady increase with the introduction of multiple-raw detector CT scanners. This report provides a brief review of the current controversy surrounding CT cancer screening, with a focus on the radiation induced cancer risks and clinical efficacy. 1. A large study of patients at high risk of lung cancer(the National Lung Screening Trial[NLST]) showed that CT screening reduced cancer deaths by 20%(1.33% in those screened compared with 1.67% in those not screened). The rate of positive screening tests was 24.2% and 96.4% of the positive screening results in the low-dose CT group were false-positive. Radiation induced lung cancer risk was estimated the most important in screening population because ERR of radiation induced lung cancer does not show the decrease with increasing age and synergistic connection between smoking and radiation risk. Therefore, the radiation risk may be on the same order of magnitude as the benefit observed in the NLST. Optimal screening strategy remain uncertain, CT lung cancer screening is not yet ready for implementation. 2. Computed tomographic colonography is as good as colonoscopy for detecting colon cancer and is almost as good as colonoscopy for detecting advanced adenomas, but significantly less sensitive and specific for smaller lesions and disadvantageous for subsequent therapeutic optical colonoscopy if polyps are detected. The average effective dose from CT colonography was estimated 8-10 $mS{\nu}$, which could be a significant dose if administered routinely within the population over many years. CT colonography should a) achieve at least 90% sensitivity and specificity in the size category from 6 and 10 mm, b) offer non-cathartic bowl preparation and c) be optimized and standardized CT parameters if it is to be used for mass screening. 3. There is little evidence that demonstrates, for whole-body scanning, the benefit outweighs the detriment. This test found large portion of patient(86~90.8%) had at least one abnormal finding, whereas only 2% were estimated to have clinically significant disease. Annual scans from ages 45 to 75 years would accrue an estimated lifetime cancer mortality risk of 1.9%. There is no group within the medical community that recommends whole-body CT. No good studies indicate the accuracy of screening CT, at this time. The benefit/risk balance for any of the commonly suggested CT screening techniques has yet to be established. These areas need further research. Therefore wild screening should be avoided.

• Proceedings of the KOR-BRONCHOESO Conference
• /
• 1981.05a
• /
• pp.9.1-10
• /
• 1981

The clinical study of 183 cases of laryngeal mass was observed and 88 cases of vocal nodule and polyp which is confirmed histopathologically, were clinically classified into 30 cases of vocal nodule, 48 cases of localized vocal polyp, 10 cases of diffuse vocal polyp, and the following results of microscopic examination were obtained. I. The clinical study of laryngeal mass 1. Among total cases of 183, vocal nodule is 82(45%) vocal polyp 53(29%) postintubation granuloma 3(1%) laryngeal papilloma 18(10%) tuberculosis 2(1%) cancer 25(14%). 2. The sex ratio of male to female is 3:4 in vocal nodule, 1:1 in vocal polyp, 1:2 in postintubation granuloma, 3:2 in laryngeal papilloma, 11:1 in cancer. 3. The age distribution is third-fourth decade in vocal nodule, fourth-fifth decade in vocal polyp, third decade in postintubation granuloma, second and fifth decade in laryngeal tuberculosis, sixth decade in laryngeal cancer. 4. The distribution of symptoms is 5 month. -1 year in vocal nodule and polyp, less than 1 year in laryngeal papilloma and postintubation granuloma, 1 year-3 year in laryngeal tuberculosis and cancer. 5. The location of the lesion is between the anterior 1/3 and middle 1/3 in vocal nodule and polyp and papilloma, middle 1/3 and posterior 1/3 in postintubation granuloma, and is diffusely spread on the entire vocal cord in laryngeal tuberculosis and cancer. 6. The side of the lesion is bilateral in vocal nodule and papilloma and the ratio of right to left is 5:3 in vocal polyp, 2:1 in postintubation granuloma. 7. The size is 1~2mm(67%) in vocal nodule, 3~5mm(42%) in vocal polyp, 6~10mm (67%) in postintubation granuloma, 1~2mm (39%) in papilloma, more than 10mm in tuberculosis and cancer. 8. Among the symptoms, the hoarseness is in more than 90% of disease entity, the sore-throat in tuberculosis and cancer, the dyspnea in postintubation granuloma and papilloma and tuberculosis and cancer. 9. In the past history, certain relationship with smoking is noted in cancer (40%) and tuberculosis(50%) and the history of frequent attack of URI is in papilloma(33%). 10. In occupation, certain statistical significance was not noted. II. The histopathological study of vocal nodule and polyp. 1. Most polyps and nodules were covered with stratified squamous epithelium, but focal hyperkeratosis, parakeratosis, acanthosis and atrophy were rather frequently observed. Hyperkeratosis and acanthosis was most frequently seen.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Toxicology Conference
• /
• 2002.05b
• /
• pp.106.2-132
• /
• 2002

형질전환 (유전자 결핍; Knockout) Min 마우스를 이용하여 대장암 발생에서 배추, 양배추 주성분인 indole-3-carbinol (I3C)의 대장암 예방효과를 규명하고자 하였다. 실험동물로는 C57BL/6J-Apc$^{min/+}$(Min 마우스)계의 5내지 6주령의 수컷 이형접합체 형질전환 마우스 70마리와 C57BL/6J계의 동일 산자, 동일 주령의 수컷 wildtype 비형질전환 마우스 10kfl를 The Jackson Laboratory 사 (Bar harber, ME, USA)로부터 직접 구입하였다. C57BL/6J-Apc$^{min/+}$계 수컷 이형접합체 형질전환 (Min)마우스 70마리를 각 군 20내지 25마리씩 세군으로 나누었다. Group 1에는 20마리, Group 2에는 25마리, Group 3에는 25마리를 배치하고, I3C 투여 실험군 (Group 1과 2)에는 실험시작시에 AIN-76A 분말사료에 I3C가 각각 100 및 300ppm이 함유되도록 조제하여 공급하였다. 그리고 실험군(Group 3)에는 실험시작부터 종료시까지 AIN-76A 정제고형사료(Teklad사, WI, USA)를 자유로이 급이하였다. 각군간의 체중, 사료 및 음수소비량을 매 2주마다 측정하였고, 10주간 (16주령)의 실험종료시에는 최종체중과 간장, 신장, 비장 등의 장기무게를 측정하여 상대장기 무게비를 산출하였다. 대조군으로서 C57BL/6J계의 동일 산자, 동일 주령의 수컷 wildtype 비형질전환 마우스 10마리는 같은 조건의 사육실에서 AIN-76A 정제고형사료를 33주간 자유로이 급이하였다. 실험동물은 부검전에 하룻밤 동안 절식하고 이산화탄소 흡입 마취하에서 흉대동맥을 절단하여 방혈하고 각 장기(심장, 폐, 위)를 적출하여 생리심염수에 넣어 장기무게를 측정하고 포르말린에 고정하였다. 소장과 대장의 검사를 위하여 위의 식도부위와 직장을 실로 결찰하여 적출하고 생리심염수를 주입하여 팽창시켜, 십이지장, 공장, 및 회장, 그리고 대장으로 나누어 여과지에 펼친 후 포르말린에 고정하였다. 소장과 대장은 육안 및 자동 영상분석길ㄹ 이용한 분석이 끝난 후에 각 부위별로 4-6개의 절편을 작제하여 포르말린에 재고정하고, 통상적인 조직처리과정, 파리핀 포매 및 3-4$\mu$m 두께의 조직절편을 제작하여 H&E 염색을 실시하여 현미경으로 검경하였다. 약 1주일간의 포르말린 고정이 끝난 소장 및 대장을 부위별, 별 종양개수 및 분포를 자동영상분석기(Kontron Co. Ltd., Germany)로 분석하였다. 체의 변화, 장기무게, 사료소비량 및 마리당 종양의 개수에 대한 통계학적 유의성 검증을 위하여 Duncan's t-test로 통계처리 하였고, 종양 발생빈도에 대하여는 Likelihood ration Chi-square test로 유의성을 검증하였다. C57BL/6J-Apc$^{min/+}$계 수컷 이형접합체 형질전환 마우스에 AIN-76A 정제사료만을 투여한 대조군의 대장선종의 발생률은 84%(Group 3; 21/25례)로써 I3C 100ppm 및 300ppm을 투여한 경우에 있어서는 각군 모두 60%(Group 1; 12/20 례, Group 2; 15/25 례)로 감소하는 경향을 나타내었다. 대장선종의 마리당 발생개수에 있어서는 C57BL/6J-Apc$^{min/+}$계 수컷 이형접합체 형질전환 마우스에 AIN-76A 정제사료만을 투여한 대조군은 1.40$\pm$0.24(100%)에 비하여 I3C 저농도 투여 실험군(Group 1; 0.85$\pm$0.23; 61%, P<0.01), 그리고 I3C 고농도 투여 실험군(Group 2 ; 1.32$\pm$0.29 ; 94%)의 순으로 감소하였다. 선종의 크기별 종양의 발생개수의 분포에 있어서 I3C 저농도 투여 실험군에 있어서는 선종의 크기가 3mm이하의 수가 현저하게 감소하였다. C57BL/6J-Apc$^{min/+}$계 수컷 이형접합체 형질전환 마우스에 AIN-76A 정제사료만을 투여한 대조군의 부위별 소장선종의 발생수는 십이지장부위를 제외하고 각 군에서 유의한 변화는 관찰되지 않았다. 십이지장 종양의 발생개수에서만 I3C 저농도 투여 실험군(Group 1 ; 3.11$\pm$0.85)이 대조군 (Group 3: 1.48$\pm$0.35) 및 I3C 고농도 투여 실험군(Group 2: 1.56$\pm$0.47)에 비하여 유의성 있게 증가하였다. (P<0.05). 따라서 I3C은 소장에서는 암예방 효과가 뚜렷하지 않으나, 대장에 대한 암에방 효과가 있을 것으로 생각된다. 소장 및 대장을 제외한 간장, 신장, 비장, 심장, 폐 그리고 위 등의 기타 장기에서의 조직병리학적 변화는 관찰되지 않았다. 소장 및 대장의 종양은 선종(polyps)으로 관찰되었다. 지난 10여년간 형질전환 및 유전자 결핍 실험동물의 종류가 기하 급수적으로 증가하여 이용되고 있다. 가족성 대장 선종성 용종증(FAP)의 대표적인 모델로 이용되고 있는 C57BL/6J-Apc$^{min/+}$계 수컷 이형접합체 형질전환 마우스를 사용하여 배추나 양배추의 주요성분인 Indole-3-carbinol(I3C)의 대장암 예방효과가 있는지를 검색하여 본 결과 AIN-76A정제사료만을 투여한 대조군의 대장선종의 발생률 84%에 비하여 I3C 100 및 300ppm을 투여한 실험군에 있어서 각군 모두 60%로서 감소하는 경향을 나타내었으며, 대장선종의 마리당 발생개수에 있어서는 대조군의 1.40$\pm$1.041를 100%로 환산하였을 경우 I3C 저농도 및 고농도 투여 실험군에서는 각각 약 61%와 94%를 나타내여 감소하였다. 특히 대장선종의 크기별 분포에 있어서 선종의 크기가 3mm이하의 수가 현저하게 감소하였다. 따라서 저농도 I3C의 투여는 실험적 유전성 가족성 대장 선종성 용종증 모델에 있어서 어느정도 암 예방효과가 있는 것으로 생각된다. 그러나 소장 선종의 발생에는 별 영향이 없는 것으로 생각된다. 그러나 본 실험에 사용된 C57BL/6J-Apc$^{min/+}$계 수컷 이형접합체 형질전환 마우스는 실험개시 시점이 7내지 8주령이 경과하여 이미 태생기부터 소장 및 대장의 선종 발생이 진행되어 온 것을 감안하고 특히 비스테로이드계 항염증 소염제(NSAIDS)와 같은 강력한 COX-2억제제가 아님을 고려하면, 상당한 선종의 발생을 억제할 수 있는 가능성이 매우 높다고 생각한다. 또한 이제까지 배추나 양배추 성분의 복합성분들에 대한 실험적 대장암 모델에서의 촉진효과 등에 대한 보고들이 있어 온 점을 고려할 때 위암(Kim 등, 1994) 간암(Kim 등, 1994), 유방암(Grubbs, 등, 1995; Bradlow 등, 1995)에 대한 예방효과가 있을 것으로 생각된다. 앞으로 이러한 종양조직내에서의 COX-2 및 iNOS mRNA와 단백질의 발현정도를 분자병리학적으로 연구중에 있으며, 향후 십자화과식물 성분인 indole-3-carbinol이 마우스뿐 만 아니라 랫드의 화학발암물질에 의한 대장종양에 대한 억제효과 있는지 연구 필요가 있다. Min 마우스와 같은 형질 전환(유전자결핍;knockout) 실험동물을 이용한 새로운 중기 발암성 시험범의 확립을 통한 각종 환경 유해물질의 발암성 유무 및 COX-2 억제작용이 있는 식품인자의 암예방 후보물질을 체계적으로 검색하는데 유용하게 활용될 수 있을 것으로 생각한다.