• The Korean Journal of Nuclear Medicine Technology
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• v.17 no.2
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• pp.90-94
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• 2013

Purpose: In the PET/CT images, various artifacts cause degradation of the quantitative assessment. Most hotspot generated by radiopharmaceutical injection errors cause an artifact and degrade the quality of the images as well as the accuracy of the quantitative evaluation. The purpose of this study is to assess effectiveness of the elimination of the hotspot at the injection sites using shifting the center of DFOV (Display Field of View, DFOV) method and evaluate the quantitative evaluation of result. Materials and Methods: GE Discovery STE 16 (GE Healthcare, Milwaukee, USA) and 1994 NEMA phantom were used for imaging acquisition. Phantom was filled with 0.005 MBq/mL of $^{18}F-FDG$. A hotspot was artificially placed on the outside of the phantom. The ratio of hotspot area activity to background area activity was regulated as 200:1. After image acquisition with routine protocol, all of the images were reconstructed using the shifting the center of DFOV method that wasn't overlapped with hotspot. Those images obtained before and after applying the shifting reconstruction method were compared. ROIs (Region Of Interests) were set in the hotspot areas, meanSUVs and standard deviations were calculated. Percentage differences were calculated with those meanSUVs and standard deviations. The evaluation on the effects of the shifting reconstruction method was done by comparison of the meanSUVs and the standard deviations, which were calculated for background areas unaffected by hotspot. Results: In the areas of unaffected by hotspot, meanSUVs before and after applying the shifting of center of DFOV method were $0.67{\pm}0.06g/mL$ and $0.65{\pm}0.06g/mL$, respectively. In the artifact areas affected by hotspot, meanSUVs before and after applying the shifting of center of DFOV method were $0.32{\pm}0.08g/mL$ and $0.56{\pm}0.12g/mL$, respectively. The percentage differences of the area adjacent to the hotspot and the area distant from the hotspot were 65.3% and 97.4%, respectively. Conclusion: In the PET/CT images, meanSUV was improved by 32.1% when the effect of artifact was removed with application of the shifting the center of DFOV methode. In other areas unaffected by artifacts, meanSUVs were not significantly different after applying DFOV center shift method. As shown in the result, adverse effects of hotspot made by swelling in the injection site can be reduced by applying DFOV center shift method. Therefore, DFOV center shift method can be applied for the more precise quantitative evaluation, and contribute to the increase of the diagnostic value of the images.

• Journal of the Korean Arthroscopy Society
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• v.15 no.2
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• pp.83-91
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• 2011

Purpose: Microfracture has been used as a first-line treatment to repair articular cartilage defects. In this study, a new technique using an extracelluar matrix biomembrane to cover the cartilage lesions after microfracture was evaluated in terms of cartilage repairability and clinical outcome compared with conventional microfracture technique in a prospective randomized trial. Materials and Methods: A total of 53 patients (59 cases) without osteoarthritis who had focal full thickness articular cartilage lesions were randomly assigned in two group. Seventeen patients (17 cases) underwent conventional microfracture procedure (control group) and thirty-six patients (42 cases) received microfracture and placing biomembrane cover (ArtiFilm$^{TM}$) concomitantly (experimental group). Clinical assessment was done through 6 months postoperatively using the subjective International Knee Documentation Committee IKDC questionnaire, and visual analog scale (VAS) for pain and satisfaction. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) was performed at 6 months after the operation in all patients. Results: In clinical outcomes, the significant difference was observed between both groups in IKDC, but not in VAS for pain and for satisfaction (final outcomes of IKDC, p=0.001; VAS for pain, p=0.074; VAS for satisfaction, p=0.194). The MRI showed good to complete defect fill (67 to 100%) in 33 patients (78.6%) of experimental group and 4 patients (23.5%) of control group, respectively. In control group, 9 of 17 patients (52.9%) showed poor defect fill (less than 33%), whereas 5 (11.9%) in experimental group (p=0.001). Assessment of peripheral integration revealed no gap formation in 35 patients (83.3%) in experimental group and 6 patients (35.3%) in control group (p=0.001). No serious complications or adverse effects related to the biomembrane were found. Conclusion: Good short-term follow-up clinical results were obtained in the group whose cartilage defects in the knee joint were covered with biomembrane after the microfracture, with the MRI findings confirming the excellent regeneration of the defective cartilage area. This suggests that the surgery to cover the defective area with biomembrane (ArtiFilm$^{TM}$) after the microfracture procedure is a safe, more effective treatment to induce cartilage regeneration.

• Development and Reproduction
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• v.10 no.2
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• pp.147-154
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• 2006

Phthalates such as di(2-ethyl hexyl)phthalate(DEHP) are industrial chemicals with wide-ranging human exposures because of their use in plastics and other common consumer products. Consequently, their adverse effects as endocrine disruptor in the reproductive physiology of both laboratory rodents and human have been studied extensively. The present study was undertaken to examine whether prepubertal exposure to DEHP affects on the onset of puberty and the associated reproductive parameters such as hormone receptor expressions in female rats. DEHP(100mg/kg/day) was administered daily from postnatal day 25(PND 25) through the day when the first vaginal opening(VO) was observed, and the animals were sacrificed on the next day. Gross anatomy and weight of reproductive tissues were compared to test the DEHP's effects on the cell proliferation. Furthermore, histological studies were performed to assess the structural alterations in the tissues. Specific radioimmunoassay was carried out to measure serum LH levels. To determine the transcriptional changes in progesterone receptor(PR), total RNAs were extracted and applied to the semi-quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction(RT-PCR). As a result, delayed VO was shown in the DEHP group(PND $37.3{\pm}0.7$) compared to the control group(PND $35.3{\pm}0.7$; p<0.05). DEHP treatment significantly decreased the wet weight of ovaries and uteri compared to the control group(p<0.05). Interestingly, elevation of serum LH levels was shown in the DEHP group(p<0.05). Graafian follicles and corpora lutea were observed only in the ovaries from the control animals. Numerous primary, secondary follicles and small atretic follicles were observed in the ovaries from DEHP-treated animals. Similarly, hypotrophy of luminal and glandular uterine epithelium was found in the DEHP-treated group. These effects were probably due to the inhibitory effects of DEHP on the synthesis and secretion of estrogen from granulosa cells. In the semiquantitative RT-PCR studies, the transcriptional activities of PR in both ovary(p<0.05) and uterus(p<0.01) from DEHP-treated animals were significantly lower than those from the control animals. The present studies demonstrated that the acute exposure to DEHP during the critical period of prepubertal stage could inactivate the reproductive system resulting delayed puberty in female rats.

• Journal of Dairy Science and Biotechnology
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• v.33 no.1
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• pp.47-57
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• 2015

Sodium is an essential nutrient with very important functions, including regulation of the extracellular fluid volume and active transport of molecules across the cell membranes. Since high levels of dietary sodium are associated with a high prevalence of hypertension, prehypertension, and other adverse effects on health, many national and international health organizations (WHO, FAO, etc.) recommend that sodium intake should be significantly decreased. In developed nations, cheese products, from among many processed foods, can cause high salt intake. Hence, there is an urgent need to reduce the content of salt in cheese processing, using various substitutes of sodium chloride (NaCl). In general, salt (NaCl) has been used as a food preservative to limit and (or) kill the growth of foodborne pathogens and spoilage organisms by decreasing the water activity, and to improve texture and flavor. To maintain public health, the salt content in cheese should be decreased without influencing the physicochemical properties of cheese. Therefore, the objective of this review is to outline the upcoming technologies used to reduce the salt content in different types of cheese using various substitutes.

• Journal of Veterinary Clinics
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• v.29 no.3
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• pp.213-219
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• 2012

The recombinant bovine somatotropin (rbST) has been used for increasing milk production of dairy cows without adverse health effects. This study was conducted to compare effects of supplementation with $Boostin^{(R)}$-250 containing 250 mg of rbST on milk production with those of $Posilac^{(R)}$ and $Boostin^{(R)}$-S. And safety of rbST supplementation on target animals was also observed. Each twenty-five lactating dairy cows were assigned randomly to one of four groups. $Boostin^{(R)}$-250 and vehicle (control) were administered weekly. $Boostin^{(R)}$-S and $Posilac^{(R)}$ were administered two week intervals. Milk yield, milk components, milk somatic cell count, health status, and body condition score of cows were examined. Supplementation with $Posilac^{(R)}$, $Boostin^{(R)}$-S, and $Boostin^{(R)}$-250 induced more milk yield than control group by 2.9 kg/day (12.3%), 4.2 kg/day (17.9%), and 4.1 kg/day (17.4%), respectively. There was a significant difference in milk yield among three rbST treatment groups and control group (${\alpha}$ = 0.05). The rbST supplementation did not increase the incidence of clinical mastitis and milk somatic cell counts. Supplementation with rbST did not significantly affect milk components (milk fat, protein, and solid not fat). The rbST supplementation of the dairy cows after peak milk yield did not cause negative effect on BCS. However, some cows less than 100 days in milking had decreased BCSs after rbST supplementation. In conclusion, milk production in 250 mg of rbST administered cows every week was similar to that of 500 mg of rbST administered cows every 2 weeks. And supplementation of 250 mg of rbST every week could reduce metabolic stress in cows.

• Environmental and Resource Economics Review
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• v.13 no.3
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• pp.519-547
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• 2004

This paper analyze problems about scope of specific trade obligations(STOs), principle of dispute settlement procedure, and non-parties in context of the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety(POB), which based on sub-paragraph 31(i) of DDA WTO Ministrial Declaration. The implications based on result of this study are as follows. First, to accept the wider scope of STOs under POB in Korea, importing country, won't be harmful to LMOs and Bioindustry. Instead, it will ensure a high level of biosafety concerning the import of LMOs. Exporters can take different kinds of trade measures to countervail adverse effect on the export of LMOs in this case. Therefore importer will endure the aftereffect. However, if korea were in exporter's place, to accept the wider scope STOs under POB will not have a good influence on the export of LMOs. Korea, therefore, should devise scheme for responding to debate about the STOs in MEAs, which have to be based on cost-benefit analysis and scenarios taking into account of speed and level in biotechology progress, status and trend of LMOs R&D and production, and condition of other industries. Second, it is not easy to agree with applying to what's rule between the POB and WTO for settlement dispute. Because there is the incompatibility between the POB characterized according to social rationality and WTO's rules for safety and environmental protection characterized according to scientific rationality. This issue have to be discussed for long period due to gap like that. Accordingly Korea, one of major LMOs importing countries, should suggest continuously that the effort is needed to ensure an adequate level of protection in transboundary movements of LMOs and scientific, environmental and socio-economic study. Third, in case of dispute between party and non-party of the POB, the duties under the WTO of non-party of the POB(if WTO member country) is valid. The country, therefore, will try to settle dispute based on WTO's rules. However, international society have to ensure for sound and safe use of LMOs in the field of transboundary movements. Accordingly Korea should devise scheme for preventing the possibility of dispute between party and non-party of the POB(if WTO member country), which is supported by policy options under the POB.

• Journal of Yeungnam Medical Science
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• v.25 no.1
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• pp.31-40
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• 2008

Background/Aims : Entecavir is a synthetic nucleoside analogue, cyclopentyl guanine nucleoside, which has a potent antiviral effect and the least viral breakthrough in hepatitis B virus (HBV) replication. Entecavir has been available in Korea since 2007 but there are few reports on its effects. The aim of this study was to evaluate the virological response (VR) and biochemical response (BR) to entecavir in HBV patients at 3, 6 and 9 months after treatment with entecavir. Materials and Methods : Thirty-three chronic hepatitis B patients who took entecavir for at least 9 months were enrolled. We investigated VR and BR by retrospectively reviewing medical records. Patients who satisfied the following criteria were chosen: 1) initial alanine aminotransferase (ALT) levels = 1.5upper limit of normal (ULN) and 2) initial HBV DNA levels = $5\;log_{10}\;copies/ml$. We measured ALT levels every 3 months until month 9. HBV DNA was measured every 2 or 3 months by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) method. Results : Most patients taking entecavir showed good BR (ALT < 40 IU/L). The BR rates were 61%, 73% and 67% at months 3, 6 and 9, respectively. VR (HBV DNA < $5\;log_{10}\;copies/ml$ or 2 log lower than initial HBV DNA) rates were 82%, 91% and 91% at months 3, 6 and 9, respectively. Undetectable HBV DNA (HBV DNA < 4 log10 copies/ml) rates were 49%, 73% and 85% at months 3, 6 and 9, respectively. Two patients presented with virological breakthrough without adverse effects until month 9. Conclusions : Entecavir showed good BR and VR from month 3 and these effects continued through the 9-month observation period. This suggests that entecavir is also a good choice for the first line treatment of chronic hepatitis B (CHB). Further studies are needed to determine the long-term efficacy and drug resistance of entecavir in Korean CHB patients.

• Journal of Korean Society of Environmental Engineers
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• v.35 no.6
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• pp.422-429
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• 2013

It is generally known that the increase of the Earth surface temperature due to the global warming together with the land desertification by rapid urban development has caused severe climate and weather change. In desert or desertification land, it is observed that there are always severe flooding phenomena, even if desert sand has the high porosity, which could be believed as the favorable condition of rain water infiltration into ground water. The high runoff feature causes possibly another heavy rain by quick evaporation with the depletion of underground water due to the lack of infiltration. The basic physics of desert flooding is reasonably assumed due to the thermal buoyancy of the higher temperature of the soil temperature than that of the rain drop. Considering the importance of this topic associated with water resource management and climate disaster prevention, no systematic investigation has, however, been reported in literature. In this study, therefore, a laboratory scale experiment together with the effort of numerical calculation have been performed to evaluate quantitatively the basic hypothesis of run-off mechanism caused by the increase of soil temperature. To this end, first, of all, a series of experiment has been made repeatedly with the change of soil temperature with well-sorted coarse sand having porosity of 35% and particle diameter, 2.0 mm. In specific, in case 1, the ground surface temperature was kept at $15^{\circ}C$, while in case 2 that was high enough at $70^{\circ}C$. The temperature of $70^{\circ}C$ was tested as this try since the informal measured surface temperature of black sand in California's Coachella Valley up to at 191 deg. $^{\circ}F$ ($88^{\circ}C$). Based on the experimental study, it is observed that the amount of runoff at $70^{\circ}C$ was higher more than 5% compared to that at $15^{\circ}C$. Further, the relative amount of infiltration by the decrease of the surface temperature from 70 to $15^{\circ}C$ is about more than 30%. The result of numerical calculation performed was well agreed with the experimental data, that is, the increase of runoff in calculation as 4.6%. Doing this successfully, a basic but important research could be made in the near future for the more complex and advanced topic for this topic.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Biology
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• v.25 no.4
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• pp.326-335
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• 2007

This study was conducted to assess the environmental risks of anthracnose resistant transgenic chili peppers with the PepEST gene on non-target organisms in the agroecosystem environments during the chili pepper growing seasons in 2006. We quantitatively collected arthropods assemblages living on leaves and flowers of chili peppers on June 20, July 25, and August 25 by using an insect vacuum collector to compare the patterns of arthropod community structures between non-transgenic chili peppers (nTR, WT512) and anthracnose resistant transgenic chili peppers (TR, line 68). We found the seasonal difference with the highest species richness and Shannon's diversity in July's sampling among the growing seasons (P<0.05) and each sampling season showed the different arthropod community composition. We also found there was no statistical difference between the two types of crops, nTR and TR, at each sampling time (P>0.05). The significance level of arthropod community showed that there were lots of seasonal difference of functional groups as well as taxa but only the herbivore group in the functional groups was significantly different for the types of plants (P<0.05). So, we further examined the herbivore groups to find any potential damage and identified the possibility of herbivorous damage from some herbivores, grasshoppers, aphids and thrips. Although we couldn't find any adverse effects from the environmental risk assessment between the arthropod community structures on two types of plants from our results, we should keep working for the environmental risk assessment because of the herbivorous potential risk possibility.

• Journal of Veterinary Clinics
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• v.28 no.2
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• pp.244-248
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• 2011

Hypoadrenocorticism results from the deficient adrenal gland production of glucocorticoids or mineralocorticoids. Fludrocortisone have been used for the management of hypoadrenocorticism in dogs. But desoxycorticosterone pivalate (DOCP) have been administered for management of hypoadrenocorticism in dogs since several years because of the equivalent effect of fludrocortisone, and lessening of owner and patient's effort. The therapy of DOCP was evaluated in 14 dogs diagnosed with hypoadrenocorticism based on clinical signs, an electrolyte imbalance, and the results of an adrenocorticotropic hormone stimulation test. DOCP was administered at 25-day intervals at an initial dose of 2.2 mg/kg. The dogs were monitored for clinical signs and serum electrolyte, blood urea nitrogen, and creatinine concentrations every 25 days. Fludrocortisone was an effective treatment in dogs overall; however, a change to DOCP was necessary in 7 dogs because of adverse effects or poor responses. Another 7 dogs were treated with DOCP from the first time. A total of 14 dogs were treated with DOCP. Clinical signs and electrolyte imbalance resolved completely in 12 dogs. However, mild clinical signs, such as shivering, remained in 2 dogs, and 4 dogs required regular supplementation with prednisone. Improvements in clinical signs and electrolyte imbalance were significantly better after treatment with DOCP than with fludrocortisone. The results suggest that DOCP may be a better choice than fludrocortisone for the management of hypoadrenocorticism in dogs.