• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.15 no.3
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• pp.1327-1331
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• 2014

Background: Electrical impedance tomography (EIT) is a new non-invasive, mobile screening method which does not use ionizing radiation to the human breast; allows conducting quantitative assessment of the images besides the visual interpretation. The aim of this study was to correlate the quantitative assessment and visual interpretation of breast electrical impedance tomographs and associated factors. Materials and Methods: One hundred and fifty mammography patients above 40 years and undergoing EIT were chosen using convenient sampling. Visual interpretation of the images was carried out by a radiologist with minimum of three years experience using the breast imaging - electrical impedance (BI-EIM) classification for detection of abnormalities. A set of thirty blinded EIT images were reinterpreted to determine the intra-rater reliability using kappa. Quantitative assessment was by comparison of the breast average electric conductivity with the norm and correlations with visual interpretation of the images were determined using Chi-square. One-way ANOVA was used to compare the mean electrical conductivity between groups and t-test was used for comparisons with pre-existing Caucasians statistics. Independent t-tests were applied to compare the mean electrical conductivity of women with factors like exogenous hormone use and family history of breast cancer. Results: The mean electrical conductivity of Malaysian women was significantly lower than that of Caucasians (p<0.05). Quantitative assessment of electrical impedance tomography was significantly related with visual interpretation of images of the breast (p<0.05). Conclusions: Quantitative assessment of electrical impedance tomography images was significantly related with visual interpretation.

• Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society
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• v.35 no.4
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• pp.1133-1138
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• 2014

Ultrahigh performance liquid chromatography-electrospray ionization-tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC-ESI- MS/MS) provides a high-speed method to screen a large number of samples for small molecules with specific properties. In this study, UPLC-ESI-MS/MS with multiple reaction monitoring (MRM) was employed to screen urinary phospholipid (PL) content for biomarkers of prostate cancer. From lists of urinary PLs structurally identified using nanoflow LC-ESI-MS/MS, 52 PL species were selected for quantitative analysis in urine samples between 22 cancer-free urologic patients as controls and 45 prostate cancer patients. Statistical treatment of data by receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis yielded 14 PL species that differed significantly in relative concentrations (area under curve (AUC) > 0.8) between the two groups. Among PLs present at higher levels in prostate cancer urine, phosphatidylcholines (PCs) and phosphatidylinositols (PIs) constituted the major head group PLs (3 PCs and 7 PIs). For technical reasons, PL species of low abundance may be underrepresented in data from UPLC-ESI-MS/MS performed in MRM mode. However, the proposed method enables the rapid screening of large numbers of plasma or urine samples in the search for biomarkers of human disease.

• Toxicological Research
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.59-64
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• 2002

Substantial evidences have been accumulated about the hormone-like effects of exogenous substances such as pesticides and industrial chemicals during past years. The effects of these substances on the endocrine system are believed to be either enhancing or reducing of various endocrine action. It is necessary to identify putative causal agents by the batter system and to assess their ability to disrupt the endocrine system. A variety of in vitro and In vivo approaches have been used to determine the androgenic effects of environmental chemicals. To establish the method for assessment of the putative endocrine disruptors with androgenic activity, we carried out the cell proliferation assay by MTS method after treatment with the various concentration of testosterone in LNCaP cells (human prostatic cancer cell line) and also observed the expression of androgen-related genes by quantitative RT-PCR. In the cell proliferation assay, the results showed that the grouth of LNCaP cells increased within level of at least 10pM testosterone. We measured by quantitative RT-PCR method on the effects of testosterone on mRNA expression of androgen receptor (AR), prostate-specific antigen (PSA), bone morphogenetic protein (BMP) and BMP receptor (BMPR) In LNCaP cells. The results demonstrated that mRNA expression of PSA and BMPR-IB was observed differently within level of at least 0.01 pM testosterone compared with non-treated control. These observations suggest that the detection of PSA and BMPR-IB mRNA by the quantitative RT-PCR in LNCaP cells is very sensitive method to identify the endocrine disruptors to have the androgenic effects.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Safety
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• v.35 no.1
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• pp.87-96
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• 2020

The purpose of this paper is to develop a fire HRA (Human Reliability Analysis) procedure for full power operation of domestic NPPs (Nuclear Power Plants). For the development of fire HRA procedure, the recent research results of NUREG-1921 in an effort to meet the requirements of the ASME/ANS PRA Standard were reviewed. The K-HRA method, a standard method for HRA of a domestic level 1 PSA (Probabilistic Safety Assessment) and fire related procedures in domestic NPPs were reviewed. Based on the review, a procedure for the fire HRA required for a domestic fire PSA based on the K-HRA method was developed. To this end, HRA issues such as new operator actions required in the event of a fire and complexity of fire situations were considered. Based on the four kinds of HFE (Human Failure Event) developed for a fire HRA in this research, a qualitative analysis such as feasibility evaluation was suggested. And also a quantitative analysis process which consists of screening analysis and detailed analysis was proposed. For the qualitative analysis, a screening analysis by NUREG-1921 was used. In this research, the screening criteria for the screening analysis was modified to reduce vague description and to reflect recent experimental results. For a detailed analysis, the K-HRA method and scoping analysis by NUREG-1921 were adopted. To apply K-HRA to fire HRA for quantification, efforts to modify PSFs (Performance Shaping Factors) of K-HRA to reflect fire situation and effects were made. For example, an absence of STA (Shift Technical Advisor) to command a fire brigade at a fire area is considered and the absence time should be reflected for a HEP (Human Error Probability) quantification. Based on the fire HRA procedure developed in this paper, a case study for HEP quantification such as a screening analysis and detailed analysis with the modified K-HRA was performed. It is expected that the HRA procedure suggested in this paper will be utilized for fire PSA for domestic NPPs as it is the first attempt to establish an HRA process considering fire effects.

• Journal of Food Hygiene and Safety
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• v.5 no.3
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• pp.131-138
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• 1990

Aflatoxins is a chemically diverse group of toxic secondary metabolites that are produced by fungi and often occur in agricultural commodities. Because of their wide range of toxic effects, Aflatoxins cause severe economic losses to farmers and livestock producers and pose a health to human consuming contaminated foods. Long term prospects for biotechnological control of Aflatoxins require elucidation of the specific steps and regulation of their biosynthetic pathways . Aflatoxin determinations can be approached many ways. It is essential to safely handle all experimental materials associated with aflatoxin analysis or aflatoxigenic fungi Visual screening of suspect samples, base on the presence of conidial head of the aspergillus flavus group, and screening samples for the presence of bright greenish yellow flourescence are not chemical tests and such screening techniques may allow aflactoxin contaminated lots into commerce. Microcolumn screening procedures should always be used in conjunction with a quantitative method. Several thin layer chromatography(TLC) and high performance liquid chromatography(HPLC) methods are suitable for quantitation and are in general use. Immunochemical Methods such as the ELISA or affinity column chromatography methods are being rapidly developed. The chemical and immunochemical methods can be reliable if care is taken, using suitable controls and personnel that are well trained . All analytical laboratories should stress safety and include suitable analytical validation procedure. Especially a worldwide enquiry was undertaken in recent to obtain up-to-date information about aflatoxin legislation in as many countries of the world as possible. The information concerns aflatoxin in foodstuffs. aflatoxin MI in dairy products, aflatoxins in animal feedstuffs. Limits and regulations for aflatoxin have been expended in recent with more countries having legislation on subject, more products, and more aflatoxins covered by this legislation.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.15 no.4
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• pp.1667-1670
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• 2014

Background: Calprotectin in feces seems to be a more sensitive marker for gastrointestinal (GI) cancers than fecal occult blood, but its specificity may be too low for screening average risk populations. This study aims at evaluating the diagnostic value of fecal calprotectin as a screening biomarker for GI malignancies. Materials and Methods: In a case-control study, 100 patients with GI malignancies (50 patients with colorectal cancer and 50 patients with gastric cancer) and 50 controls were recruited in Tabriz Imam Reza and Sina hospitals during a 24-month period. One to two weeks after the last endoscopy/colonoscopy, fecal specimens were collected by the patients and examined by ELISA method for quantitative measurement of calprotectin content. The results were compared between the three groups. Results: The mean fecal calprotectin level was $109.1{\pm}105.3$ (2.3-454.3, median:74), $241.1{\pm}205.2$ (3.4-610.0, median:19.3) and $45.9{\pm}55.1{\mu}g/g$ (1.3-257.1, median:19.3) in gastric cancer, colorectal cancer and control group, respectively, the differences being significant (p<0.001) and remaining after adjustment for age. The optimal cut-off point for fecal calprotectin was ${\geq}75.8{\mu}g/g$ for distinguishing colorectal cancer from normal cases (sensitivity and specificity of 80% and 84%, respectively). This value was ${\geq}41.9{\mu}g/g$ for distinguishing gastric cancer from normal cases (sensitivity and specificity of 62%). Conclusions: Our results revealed that fecal calprotectin might be a useful and non-invasive biomarker for distinguishing colorectal cancer from non-malignant GI conditions. However, due to low sensitivity and specificity, this biomarker may not help physicians distinguishing gastric cancer cases from healthy subjects.

• Korean Journal of Clinical Laboratory Science
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• v.41 no.1
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• pp.42-46
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• 2009

Unlike most bacteria, Treponema pallidum subspecies cannot be readily isolated or sustained in cell culture for numerous generations. In korea, two non treponemal tests are currently considered as standard; the VDRL slide test and RPR card test. These tests are based on an antigen composed of an alcoholic solution containing measured amount of cardiolipin, cholesterol, and sufficient purified lecithin to produce reactivity. The nontreponemal reagin tests measure immunoglobulin M (IgM) and IgG to lipoidal material released from damaged host cells as well as to lipoprotein-like material and possibly by cardiolipin released from the treponemes. The object of the evaluation was to evaluate the performance of the Mediace RPR kit on the automated biochemistry analyzer system as a method for screen method of syphilis as well as to identify BFP possibility. For evaluation of routine screening test, a total 2,380 specimens tested by Mediace RPR from 28th Oct, 2007 to 22th Feb, 2008. For evaluation of BFP possiblility, we measured samples which have potential BFP reaction in Syphilis test such as ANA (anti-nuclear antibody) positive (135 samples), CRP (C-reactive protein) positive (100 samples), RF (Rheumatoid factor) positive (26 samples), and other potential BFP cases (17 samples) including total 278 samples. These samples were tested quantitative test Mediace RPR with Hitachi 7600 P module. For comparison with current manual test, VDRL slide test were performed. Of these 2380 specimens, 2350 were negative, 30 were positive, and one were positive with TPHA. Both methods agreed for 2356 (98.9%) samples. Of the 30 samples showed positive results over 1.0 R.U, 6 samples showed positive results with VDRL test. Of these 6 samples, 1 samples showed positive with TPHA test. The combination of the Automated Biochemistry analyzer and VDRL test for retest can be increase efficiency of syphilis screening test.

• KSBB Journal
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• v.15 no.3
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• pp.243-246
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• 2000

One of recent topics in the case of hepatits B virus(HVB) is the value of hepatitis B surface antigen(HBsAg) concentration as a prognostic maker. We developed uantitative method of rapid immunochromatographic assay(ICA) kit for HBsAg using computer image analysis (CIA) for the purpose of home diagnosis. uantitative ICA using CIA demonstrated integrated optical density(IOD) values proportional to log of reference HBsAg concentrations in the range of 2-200 ng/mL and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA) demonstrated the same in the range of 0.1-100 ng/mL however the test results with sample sear showed the same concentration on both kits. Furthermore repeated tests with the same samples revealed that this quantitative ICA using CIA would be reproducible and coefficient of variation(CV) of the results was 1.38~6.30%.

• Journal of Plant Biotechnology
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• v.34 no.3
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• pp.207-212
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• 2007

This study describes a simple and rapid method for quantitative determination of $\gamma$-aminobutyric acid (GABA) using $^1H$ NMR spectroscopy from whole cell extracts of plant suspension cultures. When 9 cell lines derived from 8 species of higher plants maintained in liquid Marashige and Skoog (MS) medium supplemented with 1 mg/L 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D) were subjected to $^1H$ NMR, a cell line of Coriandrum sativum L. exhibited the highest level of GABA. The level reached up to 16.9 mg/dry wt when cells were cultured in MS medium supplemented with 0.5 mg/L 2,4-D after 3 weeks of incubation. The method for quantitative determination of GABA using $^1H$ NMR established in this study could be applied to high-throughput screening of various plant resources for GABA production and the cell suspension culture system of C. sativum could be further developed for commercial production of GABA.

• Korean Journal Plant Pathology
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• v.14 no.4
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• pp.325-330
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• 1998

On the basis of the fact that the pycnidiospore of Botryosphaeria dothidea, the causal fungus of apple white rot is a typical water borne spore, a method for quantitative analysis of pycnidiospore dispersal from the warts produced on the diseased apple tree stem was developed. The warts on which cracks developed either on or around them were cut off at the base, and shaked in the water for 4hours at 2$0^{\circ}C$, in which condition the maximum number of spores were released. The volume of shaking solution was calculated as 1 ml per one wart. At the end of shaking, Trio, a household detergent was added to the shaking solution to the concentration of 0.1%, and shaked for additional 10 minutes at 35$^{\circ}C$ to take off the spores attached on the glass ware. One milliliter of the spore suspension thus prepared were passed through transparent membrane filter (pore size : 3.0 ${\mu}{\textrm}{m}$), and the spores attached on the filter were counted under a microscope ($\times$200) after staining them with lactophenol supplemented with aniline blue. The results thus obtained were statistically consistent when at least 30 warts were used simultaneously in single shaking. This method can be applicable in the elucidation of ecology of sporulation and spore dispersal, and also in the screening of the sporulation inhibitor which can be used in the control of the disease by reducing the inoculum density.