• Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging
• /
• v.43 no.5
• /
• pp.395-401
• /
• 2009

Purpose: We evaluated $^{18}F$-FDG PET/CT findings in initially diagnosed adenoid cystic carcinoma (ACC) of the head and neck in association with pathological subtype, staging, uptake comparison with squamous cell carcinoma (SqCC) and prognosis. Materials and Methods: The subjects were 16 patients with initially diagnosed ACC of head and neck who underwent pretreatment $^{18}F$-FDG PET/CT. Histological subtype (solid pattern vs. tubular/cribriform pattern), $SUV_{max}$ of size-matched SqCC of the head and neck as control group, disease-free survival (DFS) were compared with the $SUV_{max}$ of ACC of the head and neck. Results: Of total 16 patients, 6 had solid pattern and the remaining 10 had tubular/cribriform pattern. The $SUV_{max}$ were significantly higher in solid pattern group than in tubular/cribriform pattern group ($6.7{\pm}3.2$ vs. $4.2{\pm}0.9$, p=0.03). PET/CT found unexpected distant metastasis in 18.7% of patients (3/16) and changed the therapeutic plan in those patients. The $SUV_{max}$ of ACC was significantly lower than that of size-matched SqCC ($5.1{\pm}2.4$ vs. $13.6{\pm}6.0$, p<0.001). DFS was not significantly different according to the histological subtype. In contrast, patients with high $^{18}F$-FDG uptake ($SUV_{max}$ ${\geq}$6.0) had significantly shorter DFS than those with low $^{18}F$-FDG uptake ($SUV_{max}$ <6.0). Conclusion: $^{18}F$-FDG uptake of ACC of the head and neck is significantly associated with histological subtype and DFS. $^{18}F$-FDG PET/CT may be useful for detecting unexpected metastasis. Since $^{18}F$-FDG uptake of tubular/cribriform ACC compared with SqCC is relatively low, it is necessary to interpret PET images carefully in patients without alleged ACC.

• Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging
• /
• v.43 no.4
• /
• pp.294-300
• /
• 2009

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to evaluate if short-term serum thyroglobulin (Tg) elevation after radioiodine administration can predict successful radioiodine remnant ablation (RRA) and whether comparable RRA effectiveness is exhibited between a group administered with recombinant human thyrotropin (rhTSH) and a group experiencing thyroid hormone withdrawal (THW), in preparation for RRA. Materials and Methods: A retrospective chart review was performed on 39 patients in the rhTSH group and 46 patients in the THW group. They were treated for differentiated thyroid carcinoma by total or near total thyroidectomy, and referred for RRA between 2003 and 2006 (the rhTSH group) and between January and June of 2006 (the THW group). They were assessed for serum Tg levels just before I-131 administration (TgD0), reassessed 9 days later (TgD9), and again 6-12 months later. Results: RRA was successful in 64 (37 from the THW group and 27 from the rhTSH group) of the total 85 patients. The success rates of RRA had no statistically significant differences between the two groups. In both groups, TgD9/TgD0 values were significantly higher in the RRA success group (the rhTSH group; P = 0.03, the THW group; P = 0.04). By combining cutoff values of TgD0 and TgD9/TgD0, the successful RRA value was determined to be 96.7% (29/30) with TgD0$\leq$5.28 ng/mL and TgD9/TgD0>4.37 in both groups (the rhTSH group; 100% (16/16), the THW group; 92.9% (13/14)). Using logistic multivariate analysis, only TgD0 was independently associated with successful RRA. Conclusion: We may predict successful ablation by evaluating short-term serum Tg elevation after I-131 administration for RRA, in both rhTSH and THW patients.

• Korean Journal of Organic Agriculture
• /
• v.21 no.3
• /
• pp.423-435
• /
• 2013

The Codonopsis pilosula is traditional oriental herb associated with immune-modulatory functions and has anti-inflammatory properties and antioxidative activity. The present study was conducted to investigate the effects of dietary supplementation of Codonopsis pilosula extract powder (CEP) on the immunity and productivity in sows and piglets. A total of 20 pregnant sows were randomly assigned to two dietary treatments, which was given a corn-soybean meal diet with 0% and 0.5% CEP from 40 days prepartum to weaning (25 days postpartum). The immune system of piglets was expected to build up, because the feeding of CEP might increase the colostrum contents in sows. We also predicted that the growth performance of piglets also could be increased by some compensation effects due to the increased immunity of piglets. In results, immunities of sows and piglets as well as growth performance of piglets were not affected by the supplementation of CEP. The correlation between the colostrum and the serum on the IgG contents tended to have a positive correlation, although there was no significant (coefficient, 0.435; P=0.102). This result suggests that the supplementation of CEP may increase IgG contents in sows and piglets and contribute to improve immunity of piglets. In conclusion, it is thought that the physiologically active substances of CEP did not influence to the immune synergic effects in vivo of sows. Thus, the metabolic and action mechanism of the physiologically active substances of CEP should be explored to evaluate the availability of CEP as a feed additive for the immunomodulator.

• The Sea:JOURNAL OF THE KOREAN SOCIETY OF OCEANOGRAPHY
• /
• v.5 no.2
• /
• pp.95-104
• /
• 2000

Depths to four seismic sequence boundaries and the thickness of each sequence were estimated and mapped based on multi-channel seismic data in the Ulleung Basin. These depth-structure and isopach maps were incorporated into the interpretation of gravity and magnetic anomaly maps. The sediment thickness ranges from 3,000 m to 4,000 m in the central basin, while it reaches 6,000 m locally along the southwestern, western, and southeastern margins. The acoustic basement forms a northeast-southwest elongated depression deeper than 5000 m, and locally deepens up to 7,500 m in the southwestern and western margins. Low gravity anomalies along the western and southern margins are associated with basement depressions with thick sediment as well as the transitional crust between the continental and oceanic crusts. Higher gravity anomalies, dominant in the central Ulleung basin, broaden from southwest toward northeast, are likely due to the shallow mantle and a dense crust. A pair of magnetic elongations in the southeastern and northwestern margins appear to separate the central Ulleung basin from its margin. These magnetic elongations are largely dominated by intrusive or extrusive volcanics which occurred along the rifted margin of the Ulleung basin formed during the basin opening. The crust in the central Ulleung Basin, surrounded by the magnetic elongations, is possibly oceanic as inferred from the seismic velocity. The oceanic crust can be mapped in the central zone where it widens to 120 km from the southwest toward northeast. Bending of the crustal boundary in the southern part of the Ulleung Basin suggests that the Ulleung Basin has been deformed by a collision of the Phillipine plate into the Japan arc.

• The Sea:JOURNAL OF THE KOREAN SOCIETY OF OCEANOGRAPHY
• /
• v.4 no.1
• /
• pp.33-39
• /
• 1999

In order to understand the importance of tidal action and $NH_4{^+}$ -nitrification in the removal of dissolved oxygen (DO) and $NH_4{^+}$, concentrations of DO, $NH_4{^+}$, $NO_2{^-}$ and $NO_3{^-}$ were measured with time for water samples collected at different tidal state in the eutrophic macrotidal Han River estuary. Field measurements indicated that most environmental parameters, except for the water temperature and DO concentration, were tightly controlled by the eutrophic freshwater runoff and large-scale tidal action. Dark incubation of the water sample at $25^{\circ}C$ showed that the removal rates of DO and $NH_4{^+}$ in high tide sample were 2.76 ${\mu}M\;O_2\;d^{-1}$ and 1.76 ${\mu}M\;N\;d^{-1}$ respectively, and increased to 5.66 ${\mu}M\;O_2\;d^{-1}$ and 3.36 ${\mu}M\;N\;d^{-1}$ respectively, in low tide sample. These changes indicated that microbial degradation and uptake of organic matter and inorganic nutrients were more active during low tide. $NH_4{^+}$-nitrification responsible for total DO removal in low tide (23.81%) and $NH_4{^+}$ turnover rates due to $NH_4{^+}$-nitrification in low tide (0.18 $d^{-1}$) were approximately 3.7 times and 3 times, respectively, higher than those in high tide. These results indicated that $NH_4{^+}$ -nitrifying bacteria introduced into the Han River estuary during low tide played a significant role in the removal of DO and $NH_4{^+}$. The decreasing removal rates in DO and $NH_4{^+}$ with the increasing tidal level seemed to be associated with the salinity impact on the halophobic freshwater $NH_4{^+}$-nitrifying bacteria. The results implied that anthropogenic $NH_4{^+}$ sources should be treated prior to the freshwater runoff into the estuary for the effective control of $NH_4{^+}$ in the Han River estuary. These results also suggest that parallel ecological studies on the chemoautotrophic nitrifying bacteria are essential for the elucidation of nitrogen cycles in the eutrophic Han River estuary.

• The Sea:JOURNAL OF THE KOREAN SOCIETY OF OCEANOGRAPHY
• /
• v.19 no.1
• /
• pp.66-75
• /
• 2014

This study aims to understand environmental factors that determine spatial distribution of macrozoobenthic community in the southern area (ca 100-500 m depth) of East Sea, Korea, known as a candidate site for carbon storage under the seabed. From sixteen locations sampled in the summer of 2012, a total of 158 species were identified, showing density of $843indiv/m^2$ and biomass of $26.2g\;WW/m^2$, with increasing faunal density towards biologically higher diverse locations. Principal component analysis showed that a total of 33 environmental parameters were reduced to three principal components (PC), indicating sediment, bottom water, and depth, respectively. As sand content was increasing, number of species increased but biomass decreased. Six dominant species including two bivalve species favored high concentrations of ${\Omega}$ aragonite and ${\Omega}$ calcite, indicating that the corresponding species can be severely damaged by ocean acidification or $CO_2$ effluent. Cluaster analysis based on more than 1% density dominant species classified the entire study area into four faunal assemblage (location groups), which were delineated by characteristic species, including (A) Ampelisca miharaensis, (B) Edwardsioides japonica, (C) Maldane cristata, (D) Spiophanes kroeyeri, and clearly separated in terms of geography, bottom water and sediment environment. Overall, a discriminant function model was developed to predict four faunal assemblages from five simply-measured environmental variables (depth, sand content in sediment, temperature, salinity and pH in bottom water) with 100% accuracy, implying that benthic faunal assemablages are closed linked to certain combinations of abiotic factors.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
• /
• v.41 no.1
• /
• pp.74-81
• /
• 2008

Background: Fascin is an actin-bundling protein that induces membrane protrusions and it increases cell motility in various transformed cells. Esophageal cancer is one of the most lethal malignancies, and it exhibits extensive local invasion or frequent regional lymph node metastasis even after curative surgery. We investigate the expression of fascin by performing immunohistochemistry to evaluate the clinical characteristics and prognostic significance of its expression in esophageal cancer patients. Material and Method: Immunochemistry for fascin was performed on 76 tumor samples from 76 patients who underwent esophageal cancer operations. The expression levels of fascin in the 76 esophageal cancer tissues were compared with those in the corresponding normal esophageal epithelium. The fascin-positive samples were defined as those showing more than 75% of fascin-positive cells. Result: Overall, a fascin positive expression was detected in 39 (51.3%) out of the total 76 cases. The tumors with positive fascin expression tended to more frequently show a higher stage (p=0.030), and a higher T-factor (p=0.031). The prognosis of the fascin negative group was significantly better than that of the fascin positive group (p=0.004). Multivariate analysis revealed that lymphovascular invasion and the fascin expression were independent prognostic factors. Conclusion: Fascin was expressed in 513% of the esophageal cancer tissues and a positive expression of fascin was associated with more advanced tumor progression and recurrence. Our study suggests that the fascin expression may be an independent prognostic factor for an unfavorable clinical course few those patients suffering with esophageal cancer.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
• /
• v.40 no.10
• /
• pp.659-666
• /
• 2007

Background: Preserving the subvalvular apparatus after mitral valve replacement (MVR) results in better ventricular function and a better outcome. In conjunction, mitral valve repair (MVr) is associated with a better outcome, yet little is known about the hemodynamics and outcomes between patients undergoing MVr and MVR with chordal preservation. We prospectively evaluated the hemodynamic changes and outcomes of patients undergoing MVr and MVR with chordal preservation. Material and Method: Fifty-four patients with mitral regurgitation (MR) who under-went MVR with chordal preservation (n=21) or MVr (n=33) were studied. The patients' characteristics, the intra-and postoperative hemodynamics and the use of cardiac medications, the postoperative outcome and the complications were recorded during the hospital stay. All the patients were followed up for at least 6 months post-operatively for determining their morbidity and mortality. Result: The patients' characteristics were similar between the groups, except for the presence of atrial fibrillation and congestive heart failure which was more frequent in the MVR group. Also, the preoperative left ventricular ejection fraction was lower in the MVR group than in the MVr group ($64{\pm}9%$ versus $69{\pm}5%$, respectively, p=0.043). There were no significant differences of the hemodynamics between the groups. The use of inotropic drugs and pacemakers during the 12hrs postoperatively was more common in the MVR group than in the MVr group (48% versus 24%, p=0.025 and 52% versus 24%, p=0.035, respectively). The other postoperative outcomes were similar in both groups for at least the 6 months follow-up period. Conclusion: MVR with chordal preservation was comparable with regard to the hemodynamics and clinical outcomes, supporting the beneficial effect of preserving the subvalvular apparatus after MVR.

• Journal of the Mineralogical Society of Korea
• /
• v.20 no.1 s.51
• /
• pp.7-19
• /
• 2007

Four types of fluid inclusions are trapped within tourmaline from Daeyou pegmatite, Jangsu-Gun, Jeonllabukdo. They range $5{\sim}100\;{\mu}m$ in size and are grouped into I, II, III, and IV based on the phase behavior at the room temperature: (1) Type I inclusions are liquid-rich and NaCl equivalent salinity ranged $0{\sim}12\;wt%$, and the homogenization temperatures (Th) ranged $181{\sim}230^{\circ}C$ with eutectic temperatures (Te) $-54{\sim}-22^{\circ}C$. (2) Type II inclusions are vapor-rich and salinity ranged $3{\sim}8\;wt%$ NaCl, and Th ranged $177{\sim}304^{\circ}C$ also showing Te $-54{\sim}-29^{\circ}C$. (3) Type III inclusions contain a halite daughter mineral with $31{\sim}40\;wt%$ NaCl, Th $230{\sim}328^{\circ}C$. More than 90% of Type III homogenize by halite dissolution and are spatially associated with silicate melt inclusions. (4) Type IV inclusions are $CO_{2}$-bearing containing various daughter minerals such as sylvite and/or halite. The density of $CO_{2}$ system within the Type IV is $0.80{\sim}0.75\;g/cm^{3}$, Th $190{\sim}317^{\circ}C$, and salinity $2{\sim}35\;wt%$ NaCl. Type III fluid inclusions, considered as the earliest fluid, formed from the fluid exsolved from the crystallizing pegmatite. It is suggested that Type II fluid in the central part of tourmaline were exsolved earlier than Type I fluids in the margin indicating salinity fluctuation during the growth of tourmaline. It implies the fluctuation of the pressure since the salinity of fluid exsolved from the crystallizing melt is governed by the pressure. The last fluid was Type IV, which may be derived from the nearby limestone and metasedimentary rocks. It is suggested that Daeyou pegmatite containing muscovite without miarolitic cavities was formed by the partial melting resulted from the regional metamorphism. Subsequently, the exsolving fluids from the crystallizing melt were trapped in tourmaline at high pressure condition. The exsolved fluids contain various components such as $CaCl_{2}\;and\;MgCl_{2}$ as well as NaCl and KCl. The exsolution began at least at $2.7{\sim}5.3\;kbar\;and\;230{\sim}328^{\circ}C$ with the pressure fluctuation.

• Journal of the Mineralogical Society of Korea
• /
• v.22 no.3
• /
• pp.207-216
• /
• 2009

Three distinct types of fluid inclusions in amethyst and quartz crystals are associated with metamorphic events in the Korea Amethyst deposit from Uljin-Gun, Gyeongbuk Province. The amethyst displays bimodal grain size distribution in fine-grained, strain-free equigranular quartz with coarse-grained quartz grains with kink bands and undulose extinction. Type I inclusions are liquid-rich and salinity is 0~7 wt% NaCl and the homogenization temperatures ($T_h$) $91{\sim}231^{\circ}C$ with eutectic temperatures ($T_e$) $-52{\sim}-20^{\circ}C$. Type II inclusions are vapor-rich (80~90 vol%). The salinity and $T_h$ ranges 3~6 wt% NaCl and $230{\sim}278^{\circ}C$, respectively with $T_e$ $-56{\sim}-23^{\circ}C$. Type III inclusions contain a daughter mineral other than NaCl. The salinity ranges 32~36 wt% NaCl and $T_h$ $210{\sim}271^{\circ}C$. The textural and fluid inclusion evidences suggest that the host Buncheon granite gneiss and Amethyst pegmatite experienced dynamic recrystallization and the studied fluid inclusions are metamorphic in origin. The metamorphic event possibly occurred at higher temperature than $271{\sim}278^{\circ}C$. The amethysts from Uljin Korea Amethyst can be distinguished from the synthetic amethyst on basis of the distinctive two and three-phases fluid inclusions. Furthermore, it is noticeable that Korea amethyst do not contain NaCl-bearing and $CO_2$-rich fluid inclusions unlike those compared to those from Eonyang and Samcheonpo deposits related to unmetamorphosed granitic rocks.