• Journal of Radiopharmaceuticals and Molecular Probes
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• v.9 no.1
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• pp.9-16
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• 2023

Liposomes as drug delivery system have proved useful carrier for various disease, including cancer. In addition, perfluorocarbon cored microbubbles are utilized in conjunction with high-intensity focused-ultrasound (HIFU) to enable simultaneous diagnosis and treatment. However, microbubbles generally exhibit lower drug loading efficiency, so the need for the development of a novel liposome-based drug delivery material that can efficiently load and deliver drugs to targeted areas via HIFU. This study aims to develop a liposome-based drug delivery material by introducing a substance that can burst liposomes using ultrasound energy and confirm the ability to target tumors using PET imaging. Liposomes (Lipo-DOX, Lipo-DOX-Au, Lipo-DOX-Au-RGD) were synthesized with gold nanoparticles using an avidin-biotin bond, and doxorubicin was mounted inside by pH gradient method. The size distribution was measured by DLS, and encapsulation efficiency of doxorubicin was analyzed by UV-vis spectrometer. The target specificity and cytotoxicity of liposomes were assessed in vitro by glioblastoma U87mg cells to HIFU treatment and analyzed using CCK-8 assay, and fluorescence microscopy at 6-hour intervals for up to 24 hours. For the in vivo study, U87mg model mouse were injected intravenously with 1.48 MBq of ⁶⁴Cu-labeled Lipo-DOX-Au and Lipo-DOX-Au-RGD, and PET images were taken at 0, 2, 4, 8, and 24 hours. As a result, the size of liposomes was 108.3 ± 5.0 nm at Lipo-DOX-Au and 94.1 ± 12.2 nm at Lipo-DOX-Au-RGD, and it was observed that doxorubicin was mounted inside the liposome up to 52%. After 6 hours of HIFU treatment, the viability of U87mg cells treated with Lipo-DOX-Au decreased by around 20% compared to Lipo-DOX, and Lipo-DOX-Au-RGD had a higher uptake rate than Lipo-DOX. In vivo study using PET images, it was confirmed that ⁶⁴Cu-Lipo-DOX-Au-RGD was taken up into the tumor immediately after injection and maintained for up to 4 hours. In this study, drugs released from liposomes-gold nanoparticles via ultrasound and RGD targeting were confirmed by non-invasive imaging. In cell-level experiments, HIFU treatment of gold nanoparticle-coupled liposomes significantly decreased tumor survival, while RGD-liposomes exhibited high tumor targeting and rapid release in vivo imaging. It is expected that the combination of these models with ultrasound is served as an effective drug delivery material with therapeutic outcomes.

• The Journal of the Acoustical Society of Korea
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• v.42 no.1
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• pp.50-56
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• 2023

The hydroxyl radical (·OH) and superoxide anion radical (·O₂^- ) generated by the shock wave generated during ultrasonic cavitation collapse in TiO₂ suspension are highly useful because they can sterilize and disinfect. For practical use as a sterilization method without any chemicals, in this study, we proposed a method for evaluating the generation of radicals generated by high-intensity ultrasound emitted to titanium dioxide suspension. In the proposed method, the sonoluminescence phenomenon, which emits light by ultrasonic cavitation decay energy, was utilized, and the degree of radical generation was evaluated through the amount of light energy by sonoluminescence. As a result, even at a low concentration of titanium dioxide of 0.02 wt%, light energy 5 times higher than in the absence of titanium dioxide was received. After that, as the concentration increased by 0.1 wt%, the luminous intensity of sonoluminescence increased linearly by about 14.8 × 10^-12 lm. Therefore, it was confirmed that the radicals generated by radiating high-intensity ultrasound to the titanium dioxide suspension increased linearly as the concentration of titanium dioxide increased within a given concentration range.

• Journal of the Korean Crystal Growth and Crystal Technology
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• v.33 no.3
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• pp.116-123
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• 2023

A high intensity focuses ultrasound (HIFU) is one of the emerging technologies in the biomedical field. The piezoelectric HIFU transducer is a device that utilizes the thermal energy generated by high ultrasound energy. Recently an operating frequency of the HIFU transducer is to expand above a 7 MHz. In this study, the acoustic pressures and temperature distributions in the tissue that generated by the HIFU transducer at 10 MHz were calculated with the finite element method. In addition, the pressure focusing characteristics of the device were analyzed. The geometrical variables are the piezomaterial thickness, lens shape, water height, and film thickness. The results shown that the acoustic pressure increased and saturated gradually when the height/radius (H_L/R_L) ratio of the lens increased. Moreover, the focal area was gradually decreases with H_L/R_L ratio of the lens. In case of the optimized HIFU transducer, the maximum pressure and temperature were analyzed about 19 MPa and 65℃ respectively. And the -3 dB focused distances in the axial and lateral direction are around 2.3 mm and 0.23 mm respectively.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• v.51 no.4
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• pp.1037-1040
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• 2019

For the past 50 years, graphite has been widely used as a moderator, reflector and fuel matrix in different kinds of gas-cooled reactors. Resulting in approximately 250,000 metric tons of irradiated graphite waste. One of the most significant long-lived radioisotope from graphite reactors is carbon-14 ($^{14}C$) with a half-life of 5730 years, this makes it a huge concern for deep geologic disposal of nuclear graphite (NG). Considering the lifecycle of NG a number of waste management options have been developed, mainly focused on the achievement the radiological requirements for disposal. The existing approaches for recycling depend on the cost to be economically viable. In this new study, an affordable process to remove $^{14}C$ has been proposed using samples taken from the Nuclear Power Plant in Latina (Italy) which have been used to investigate the capability of organic and inorganic solvents in removing $^{14}C$ from exfoliated nuclear graphite, with the aim to design a practicable approach to obtain graphite for recycling or/and safety disposed as L& LLW.

• Korean Journal of Radiology
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• v.25 no.2
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• pp.199-209
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• 2024

Objective: This study aimed to compare therapeutic efficacy and technical outcomes between adjustable electrode (AE) and conventional fixed electrode (FE) for radiofrequency ablation (RFA) of benign thyroid nodules. Materials and Methods: Between 2013 and 2021, RFA was performed on histologically proven benign thyroid nodules. For the AE method, AE length ≥ 1 cm with higher power and < 1 cm with lower power were utilized for ablating feeding vessels and nodules, especially those near anatomical structures, respectively. The therapeutic efficacy (volume reduction rate [VRR], complication rate, and regrowth rate) and technical outcomes (total energy delivery, ablated volume/energy, RFA time, and ablated volume/time) of FE and AE were compared. Continuous parameters were compared using a two-sample t-test or Mann-Whitney U test, and categorical parameters were compared using a chi-squared test or Fisher's exact test. Results: A total of 182 nodules (FE: 92 vs. AE: 90) in 173 patients (mean age ± standard deviation, 47.0 ± 14.7 years; female, 90.8% [157/173]; median follow-up, 726 days [interquartile range, 441-1075 days]) were analyzed. The therapeutic efficacy was comparable, whereas technical outcomes were more favorable for AE. Both electrodes demonstrated comparable overall median VRR (FE: 92.4% vs. AE: 84.9%, P = 0.240) without immediate major complications. Overall regrowth rates were comparable between the two groups (FE: 2.2% [2/90] vs. AE: 1.1% [1/90], P > 0.99). AE demonstrated a shorter median RFA time (FE: 811 vs. AE: 627 seconds, P = 0.009). Both delivered comparable median energy (FE: 42.8 vs. AE: 29.2 kJ, P = 0.069), but AE demonstrated higher median ablated volume/energy and median ablated volume/time (FE: 0.2 vs. AE: 0.3 cc/kJ, P < 0.001; and FE: 0.7 vs. AE: 1.0 cc/min, P < 0.001, respectively). Conclusion: Therapeutic efficacy between FE and AE was comparable. AE demonstrated better technical outcomes than FE in terms of RFA time, ablated volume/energy, and ablated volume/time.

• The Journal of Korean Orthopaedic Ultrasound Society
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• v.5 no.2
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• pp.66-74
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• 2012

Purpose: To compare the outcome of two methods of chronic calcific tendinitis (CCT) treatment, Multiple drilling alone versus combined drilling and extracorporeal shock-wave therapy (ESWT). Furthermore, to analyze the clinical and radiologic results of different energy level configurations of ESWT. Materials and Methods: Among the patients complaining shoulder pain who visited the clinic from June 2010 to August 2011, 98 were diagnosed with CCT of the supraspinatus and were divided into the following three groups. Multiple drilling alone (n=31), Multiple drilling followed by high-energy ESWT (n=31), Multiple drilling followed by low-energy ESWT (n=36). The study was conducted only with patients with chronic pain persisting longer than six months despite prolonged conservative therapy. Clinical evaluation was done before and after 12 weeks from treatment, in clinical terms using the ASES, KSS, CSS system reflecting performance and symptom improvement, and in radiologic terms by studying the change in size of the calcific nodules. Results: All of three groups showed effects for improvement of clinical function and decrease of calcification and clinical improvement was significantly high in comparison between the group fulfilled by only multiple needling (the third group) and the group fulfilled by additional ESWT (the first and second groups) and in the radiological evaluation, calcification size and the rate of calcification decrease showed significant improvement statistically. For the comparison among the groups, degree of clinical function improvement and rate of calcification decrease showed significant difference between high energy group (the first group) and multiple needling group (the third group) as well as low energy group (the second group) and multiple needling group (the third group). But, in comparison between high energy group (the first group) and low energy group (the second group), there was no significant difference for the degree of clinical function improvement and rate of calcification decrease. Conclusion: For the treatment of chronic calcific tendinitis, additional ESWT showed more superior effects on clinical function improvement and radiological improvement regardless of the energy standard rather than the exclusive fulfillment of needling. But, as the result of ESWT by the energy standard, there was no significant difference for the decrease of calcification and degree of clinical function improvement.

• Journal of Sensor Science and Technology
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• v.18 no.5
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• pp.377-384
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• 2009

The ultrasonic hyperthermia for oncology has been developed and studied. The HIFU(high intensity focused ultrasound) is the most recent method to treat the tumor by using ultrasound. In this study, an insertion-type transducer for treating a prostate cancer, which can focus the ultrasonic beam mechanically and electrically, was designed and developed. The developed transducer was composed of three arrays, and each array has 32 elements. For the purpose of the mechanical focusing, both side arrays are slanted to the center array by $15^{\circ}$. With this structure, NFL(near field length) was set up as 30 mm. The PZT-4 and two matching layers were used, and the backing layer was excepted to prevent energy losses. The acoustic field analysis and the heating test were performed to evaluate the performance of developed transducer. The shape of an acoustic field, peak pressure, and acoustic pressure distribution were compared with numerical simulation. The NFL was 32 mm, the beam width was 5 mm, focal area was $40\;mm^2$, and peak pressure was 5.5 MPa. With heating by using developed transducer, the temperature increased up to $33^{\circ}C$ at focal zone. As a result of this study, the usefulness of suggested transducer for prostate cancer hyperthermia was confirmed by the acoustic field analysis and the heating test with TMM(tissue mimicking) phantom.

• Journal of the Korean Wood Science and Technology
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• v.41 no.2
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• pp.164-172
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• 2013

The purpose of this research was development of quantitative ultrasonic test methodology for detecting internal defects in members of ancient wooden building. Connection part between wooden members and/or contacted or hidden part by wall of ceiling or other construction materials make it hard to apply direct way of ultrasonic test. So indirect way of ultrasonic test needed to be applied. Test methodology with newly developed prototype of ultrasonic system was proposed. Homogeneous material with polypropylene was also tested for establishing the criterion. Results showed that TOF(time of flight)-energy and pulse length were found out to be proper ultrasonic parameters for predicting depth of defect in wood different from polypropylene. It was not possible to directly apply prediction equation derived from polypropylene. Newly established prediction equation shows coefficient of determination of 0.73 for wood. Finally, defect of replaced rafter members was predicted with the coefficient of determination of 0.32. Various aspects of ultrasound propagation in wood including anisotropy need to be carefully considered to raise up the prediction accuracy.

• Journal of Korean Society on Water Environment
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• v.26 no.5
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• pp.810-815
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• 2010

Ultrasonic sludge pre-treatment has been studied to enhance the performance of anaerobic digestion by increasing sludge hydrolysis which is regarded as the rate-limiting-step of anaerobic digestion. In this study, the effect of ultrasonic pre-treatment on sludge hydrolysis (solubilization) and methane production was investigated. Sludge solubilization efficiency increased with ultrasonic energy input. However, it is uneconomical to apply more than 720 kJ/L as the solubilization efficiency per energy input declines afterwards. Volatile fatty acids concentration increased after the ultrasonic sludge hydrolysis. Anaerobic batch digestion showed that methane volume reached 64.7 and 84.5 mL after 18 days of incubation with the control sludge and ultrasonically hydrolyzed sludge, respectively. Methane production potential, maximum methane production rate, and the lag time of modified Gompertz equation were changed from 70 mL, 6.4 mL/day, and 1.2 days to 89 mL, 9.6 mL/day, and 0.5 day, respectively, after the ultrasonic sludge treatment. The results proved that ultrasonic pre-treatment contributed significantly not only for the methane production but also for the reduction of anaerobic digestion time which is critical for the performance of anaerobic sludge digestion.

• Korean Journal of Oriental Medicine
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• v.2 no.1
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• pp.454-484
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• 1996

There are many factors to evoke pain, for example cold, heat, seven emotion, digestion, fatigue, venemous worms, deficiency of blood etc., and its pathogenesis is complicated. Treatments for pain in oriental medicine are as follows. 1. Pharmacotherapy is a method to treat pain by different effects of herbal medicine, for example, regulating vital energy, activating blood circulation, eliminating phlegm, and dispelling the cold evil etc. 2. Acupuncture and moxibustion therapy is a kind of external application, it has a distinct effect in relieving pain. Recently its operation method has been more developed, so new acupuncture therapies are used in clinics. There are electroacupuncture, auricular acupuncture and injection of drugs at an acupuncture points etc. 3. Oriental physiotherapy is a treatment method to stimulate acupuncture points and meridians. (1) Hot pack, Paraffin bath, Microwave, Ultrasound, Short wave, Infra-red etc. are used to treat cold syndrome by dispersing cold by warming the channels. (2) E.S.T., I.C.T., T.E.N.S., S.S.P., cupping treatment etc. are used to treat disorders of vital energy. (3) Health ion, Carbon, T.D.P., etc are used to treat conic and deficiency syndrome.