• The Journal of the Acoustical Society of Korea
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• v.42 no.5
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• pp.403-411
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• 2023

Functional ultrasound imaging, such as elasticity imaging and micro-blood flow Doppler imaging, enhances diagnostic capability by providing useful mechanical and functional information about tissues. However, the implementation of functional ultrasound imaging poses limitations such as the storage of vast amounts of data in Radio Frequency (RF) data acquisition and processing. In this paper, we propose a sub-Nyquist approach that reduces the amount of acquired axial samples for efficient shear-wave elasticity imaging. The proposed method acquires data at a sampling rate one-third lower than the conventional Nyquist sampling rate and tracks shear-wave signals through RF signals reconstructed using band-pass filtering-based interpolation. In this approach, the RF signal is assumed to have a fractional bandwidth of 67 %. To validate the approach, we reconstruct the shear-wave velocity images using shear-wave tracking data obtained by conventional and proposed approaches, and compare the group velocity, contrast-to-noise ratio, and structural similarity index measurement. We qualitatively and quantitatively demonstrate the potential of sub-Nyquist sampling-based shear-wave elasticity imaging, indicating that our approach could be practically useful in three-dimensional shear-wave elasticity imaging, where a massive amount of ultrasound data is required.

• IMMUNE NETWORK
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• v.23 no.5
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• pp.39.1-39.15
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• 2023

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccination may non-specifically alter the host immune system. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of COVID-19 vaccination on hepatitis B surface Ag (HBsAg) titer and host immunity in chronic hepatitis B (CHB) patients. Consecutive 2,797 CHB patients who had serial HBsAg measurements during antiviral treatment were included in this study. Changes in the HBsAg levels after COVID-19 vaccination were analyzed. The dynamics of NK cells following COVID-19 vaccination were also examined using serial blood samples collected prospectively from 25 healthy volunteers. Vaccinated CHB patients (n=2,329) had significantly lower HBsAg levels 1-30 days post-vaccination compared to baseline (median, -21.4 IU/ml from baseline), but the levels reverted to baseline by 91-180 days (median, -3.8 IU/ml). The velocity of the HBsAg decline was transiently accelerated within 30 days after vaccination (median velocity: -0.06, -0.39, and -0.04 log₁₀ IU/ml/year in pre-vaccination period, days 1-30, and days 31-90, respectively). In contrast, unvaccinated patients (n=468) had no change in HBsAg levels. Flow cytometric analysis showed that the frequency of NK cells expressing NKG2A, an NK inhibitory receptor, significantly decreased within 7 days after the first dose of COVID-19 vaccine (median, -13.1% from baseline; p<0.001). The decrease in the frequency of NKG2A⁺ NK cells was observed in the CD56^dimCD16⁺ NK cell population regardless of type of COVID-19 vaccine. COVID-19 vaccination leads to a rapid, transient decline in HBsAg titer and a decrease in the frequency of NKG2A⁺ NK cells.

• Korean Journal of Digital Imaging in Medicine
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• v.16 no.2
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• pp.15-24
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• 2014

Currently commercially available phantom can reproduce and evaluate only a static situation, the study is incomplete research on phantom and system which is can confirmed functional situation in the kidney by time through dynamic phantom and blood flow velocity, various difference according to the amount of radioactive. Therefore, through this study, it has produced the dynamic kidney phantom to reproduce images through the dynamic flow of the kidney, it desires to evaluate the usefulness of nuclear medicine imaging. The production of the kidney phantom was fabricated based on the normal adult kidney, in order to reproduce the dynamic situation based on the fabricated kidney phantom, in this study it was applied the volume pump that can adjust the speed of blood flow, so it can be integrated continuously radioactive isotopes in the kidney by using 99mTc-pertechnate. Used the radioactive isotope was supplied through the two pump. It was confirmed the changes according to the infusion rate, radioactive isotopes and the different injection speeds on the left and right, analysis of the acquired images was done by drawn five times ROI in order to check the reproducibility of each on the front and rear of the kidney and bladder. Depending on the speed of injection, radioisotope was a lot of integrated and emissions up when adjusting the pressure of the pump as 30 stroke, it was the least integrated and emissions up when adjusting as 40 stroke. The integration of the left & right kidney was not reached in the amount of the highest when adjusting as 10 stroke. In the changes according to the amount of the radioactive isotope, 0.6 mCi(22.2 MBq), 0.8 mCi (29.6 MBq)was showed up similar tendency but, in the result of the injection 0.8 mCi, it was showed up counts close to double of 0.6 mCi. In the result of the differently injection speed of the left & right kidney, as a result of different conditions that injection speed was 20 stroke through left kidney phantom, the injection speed was 30 stroke through right kidney phantom, it was enough difference in the resulting image can be easily distinguished with the naked eye. Through this study, the results showed that the dynamic kidney phantom system is able to similarly reproduce renogram in the actual clinical. Especially, the depicted over time for the flow to be excreted through the kidney into the bladder was adequately reproduce, it is expected to be utilized as basic data to check the quality of the dynamic images. In addition, it is considered to help in the field of functional imaging and quality control.

• Imaging Science in Dentistry
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• v.50 no.3
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• pp.199-208
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• 2020

Purpose: This study was performed to introduce an in vivo hybrid multimodality technique involving the coregistration of micro-computed tomography (micro-CT) and high-resolution magnetic resonance imaging (HR-MRI) to concomitantly visualize and quantify mineralization and vascularization at follow-up in a rat model. Materials and Methods: Three adult female rats were randomly assigned as test subjects, with 1 rat serving as a control subject. For 20 weeks, the test rats received a weekly intravenous injection of 30 ㎍/kg zoledronic acid, and the control rat was administered a similar dose of normal saline. Bilateral extraction of the lower first and second molars was performed after 10 weeks. All rats were scanned once every 4 weeks with both micro-CT and HR-MRI. Micro-CT and HR-MRI images were registered and fused in the same 3-dimensional region to quantify blood flow velocity and trabecular bone thickness at T0 (baseline), T4 (4 weeks), T8 (8 weeks), T12 (12 weeks), T16 (16 weeks), and T20 (20 weeks). Histological assessment was the gold standard with which the findings were compared. Results: The histomorphometric images at T20 aligned with the HR-MRI findings, with both test and control rats demonstrating reduced trabecular bone vasculature and blood vessel density. The micro-CT findings were also consistent with the histomorphometric changes, which revealed that the test rats had thicker trabecular bone and smaller marrow spaces than the control rat. Conclusion: The combination of micro-CT and HR-MRI may be considered a powerful non-invasive novel technique for the longitudinal quantification of localized mineralization and vascularization.

• Journal of Pharmacopuncture
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• v.19 no.3
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• pp.197-206
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• 2016

Introduction: This study aims to investigate the effects of acupuncture stimulation on the radial artery's pressure pulse wave, along with various hemodynamic parameters, and to explore the possible underlying mechanism of pulse diagnosis in healthy participants in their twenties. Methods and analysis: This study is a prospective, single-arm, exploratory clinical study. A total of 25 healthy participants, without regard to gender, in their twenties will be recruited by physicians. Written informed consent will be obtained from all participants. The participants will receive acupuncture once at ST36 on both sides. The radial arterial pulse waves will be measured on the left arm of the subjects by using an applicable pulse tonometric device (KIOM-PAS). On the right arm (appearing twice), electrocardiogram (ECG), photoplethysmogram (PPG), respiration and cardiac output (CO) signals, will be measured using a physiological data acquisition system (Biopac module), while the velocity of blood flow, and the diameter and the depth of the blood vessel will be measured using an ultrasonogram machine on the right arm (appearing twice). All measurements will be conducted before, during, and after acupuncture. The primary outcome will be the spectral energy at high frequencies above 10 Hz ($SE_{10-30Hz}$) calculated from the KIOM-PAS device signal. Secondary outcomes will be various variables obtained from the KIOM-PAS device, ECG, PPG, impedance cardiography modules, and an ultrasonogram machine. Discussion: The results of this trial will provide information regarding the physiological and the hemodynamic mechanisms underlying acupuncture stimulation and clinical evidence for the influence of acupuncture on the pressure pulse wave in the radial artery. Ethics and dissemination: This study was approved by the Institutional Review Board (IRB) of Kyung Hee University's Oriental Medical Center, Seoul, Korea (KOMCIRB-150818-HR-030). The study findings will be published in peer-reviewed journals and presented at national and international conferences. Trial registration number: This trial was registered with the Clinical Research Information Service (CRIS) at the Korea National Institute of Health (NIH), Republic of Korea (KCT0001663), which is a registry in the World Health Organization's (WHO's) Registry Network.

• Journal of Pharmaceutical Investigation
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• v.20 no.4
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• pp.223-228
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• 1990

The contribution of endogenous transport systems to the blood-brain barrier (BBB) transport of basic and acidic drugs was studied by using a carotid injection technique in rats and an isolated bovine cerebrovascular disease state were compared between the normotensive rats (WKY) and stroke-prone spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHRSP) which have been well established as an animal model with pathogenic similarities to humans. Basic drugs such as eperisone, thiamine and scopolamine inhibited, in a concentration dependent manner the in vivo uptake of $[{^3}H]choline$ through BBB, whereas amino acids and acidic drugs such as salicylic acid and valproic acid did not inhibit the uptake. The uptake of $[^3H]choline$ by B-CAP increased with time and showed a remarkable temperature dependency. The uptake of $[^3H]choline$ by B-CAP showed the very similar inhibitory effects as observed in the in vivo brain uptake, and was competitively inhibited by a basic drug, eperisone. The in vivo BBB uptakes of $[^3H]acetic$ acid and $[^{14}C]salicylic$ acid were dependent on pH of the injectate and the concentration of drugs. Several acidic drugs such such as salicylic acid, benzoic acid and valproic acid inhibited the in vivo uptake of $[^3H]acetic$ acid, whereas amino acid, choline and a basic drug such as eperisone did not inhibit the uptake. The uptake of acetic acid by B-CAP was competitively inhibited by salicylic acid. The permeability surface area product (PS) through BBB for $[^3H]choline$ in SHRSP was significantly lower than that in WKY. The concentration of choline in the brain dialysate in SHRSP was about half of that in WKY, while no significant difference was observed in the plasma concentration of choline between SHRSP and WKY. No significant difference was observed in the transport of monocarboxylic acids, glucose and neutral amino acid through BBB between SHRSP and WKY. From these results, it was concluded that BBB transport system of choline contributes to the transport of basic drugs through BBB, that acidic drugs can be transported via a moncarboxylic acid BBB transport system and that the specific dysfuntion of the BBB choline transport in SHRSP was ascribed to the reduction of the maximum velocity of choline concentration in the brain interstitial fluids.

• Korean Journal of Clinical Laboratory Science
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• v.50 no.4
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• pp.477-483
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• 2018

Transcranial doppler is a non-invasive method that measures the blood flow velocity and the direction of cerebral blood vessels through the doppler principle. The pulsatility index is an index for measuring the transcranial doppler that reflects the distal vascular resistance and is used as an index for the presence and diffusion of cerebral small vessel diseases. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the risk factors affecting the basilar artery pulsatility index in ischemic stroke patients. From January 2014 to May 2015, 422 patients were selected by measuring the transcranial doppler pulsatility index, considering their basilar artery pulsatility index. Univariate analysis was performed using the basilar artery pulsatility index as a dependent variable. Multiple regression analysis was performed considering the factors affecting the pulsatility index as variables. Univariate analysis revealed age, presence of hypertension, presence of diabetes mellitus, presence of hyperlipidemia, and hematocrit (P<0.1) as factors. Multiple regression analysis showed statistically significant results with age (P<0.001), presence of diabetes (P=0.004), and presence of hyperlipidemia (P=0.041). The risk factors affecting the basilar artery pulsatility index of transcranial doppler were age, diabetes, and hyperlipidemia. Further research will be needed to increase the cerebral pulsatility index as a surrogate marker of the elderly, diabetes, and hyperlipidemia.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology
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• v.1 no.2
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• pp.199-213
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• 1967

Circulatory and respiratory activities were observed in men exposed to the environment of engine room of a cruising Republic of Korea Navy ship and compared to the control values obtained in an ordinary laboratory room on land. The environment of an engine room of cruising navy ship was presumed to be a multiple stress acting on men. The environment of the engine room included high temperature $(35-42^{\circ}C)$, low relative humidity (20-38% saturation), vibration (about 7 cycles per second), rolling and pitching of ship and noises. Sixteen men were divided into two groups consisted of each 8 subjects. Subjects of sea duty group had experience of continuous on board duty averaging 3.5 years. Men of land duty group had no experience of on board activity. On land observations were made on one day prior to the boarding and leaving the port and four days after landing. In between observations in the engine room were made on the first, 5 th, 9 th, 12 th, and 14 th day of on board activity. The whole experimental period lasted for 20 days. Measurements on circulatory and respiratory parameters were at standing resting state (after 30 minutes standing in the case of on land study and 15 minutes in engine room study) and within one minute after cessation of on the spot running of which rhythm was 30/min. and lasted for 5 minutes. Oxygen consumption and pulmonary function test were done in the period of two minutes from the 3rd to 5th minutes of running. The following results were obtained. 1. Body temperature showed no change regardless of group difference or on land or on board measurements. 2. Pulse rate increased markedly after boarding the ship id both groups. Pulse rate increased from the first day on board at rest and after exercise as compared to the on land control value. This increase in pulse rate was more marked after exercise. Sea duty group showed less increase in pulse rate at rest than the land duty group. Standing and resting pulse rate of sea duty group on lam was 81 and increased to 87 at the 5th day on board and remained smaller than the land duty group throughout the period on board. Control standing and resting pulse rate of land duty group on land was 76 and reached 89 at the 9th day on board and thereafter decreased a little. Pulse rate of land duty group at rest on board remained greater than that of sea duty group throughout the period on board. 3. Systolic blood pressure of sea duty group increased after boarding the ship and remained higher than the control value on land. In the land duty group, however, systolic blood pressure decreased during the period on board the ship. Diastolic blood pressure decreased in both groups. 4. Resting breathing rate of land duty group increased and remained higher than the control value on land. In sea duty group, however, resting breathing rate showed a transient increase on the 1st day on board and decreased thereafter to the control value on land and kept the same level throughout the period of cruise. Absolute value of breathing rate in the sea duty group was greater than the land duty group both at rest and after exercise. 5. There was a lowering of breathing efficiency in both groups. Thus, increases in tidal volume and minute ventilation volume and decreases in maximum breathing capacity, vital capacity, capacity ratio and air velocity Index were observed after boarding the ship. An increase in ventilation equivalent was also observed in both groups. The lowering of breathing efficiency was more marked in the land duty group than the sea duty group. 6. Energy expediture increased in both groups during their stay on the ship and was more marked in the sea duty group. 7, Lactate concentration in venous blood at rest and after exercise increased after boarding the ship and no group difference was observed.

• Journal of the Korean Applied Science and Technology
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• v.38 no.4
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• pp.951-962
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• 2021

The purpose of this study was to analyze the effects of smart machine circulation exercise on body composition, lung function, blood lipid and insulin resistance in obesity middle-aged women among 40-60 years by dividing them into a smart machine circulation exercise group(n=8), and control group(n=6). The smart machine circulation exercise program included 55-minutes sessions thrice each week at the following intensities: The strength of aerobic exercise is applied to smart machines by linking the smart machine with the POLAR T31; the 1-4 week is 40-50%HRR, 5-8 week is 50-60%HRR, and 9-10 week is 60-70%HRR. The strength of the resistance exercise was tested using a smart machine based on the constant velocity motion, and then, using the 1-RM data value, applied 40% 1-RM for 1-4 weeks, 60% 1-RM for 5-8 weeks, and 80% 1-RM for 9-10 week. As a results, body composition indicated that weight, BMI, %BF, WHR had a significant interaction effect. Lung function indicated that FVC levels significantly changes in the exercise group and the between groups difference in changes at 10week was significant. Also, FVC and FEV₁ significantly showed interaction effect. TC, TG and HDL-C levels significantly changes in smart machine circulation exercise group and the between-group difference in changes after 10 weeks was significant. TC, TG and HDL-C significantly showed interaction effect. Insulin resistance demonstrated that Insulin, Glucose and HOMA-IR levels significantly showed difference over 10 weeks between group. Therefore, the 10 weeks smart machine circulation exercise positively effects on the body composition, lung function, blood lipids, and insulin resistance in obesity middle-aged women and this smart machine circulation exercise can improve their obesity and prevent obesity.

• JSTS:Journal of Semiconductor Technology and Science
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• v.1 no.4
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• pp.239-247
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• 2001

The Fluorescence-Activated Cell Sorter (FACS) is a well-established instrument used for identifying, enumerating, classifying and sorting cells by their physical and optical characteristics. For a miniaturized FACS device, a disposable plastic microchip has been developed which has a hydrodynamic focusing chamber using soft lithography. As the characteristics of the spatially confined sample stream have an effect on sample throughput, detection efficiency, and the accuracy of cell sorting, systematic fluid dynamic studies are required. Flow visualization is conducted with a laser scanning confocal microscopy (LSCM), and three-dimensional flow structure of the focused sample stream is reconstructed from 2D slices acquired at $1\mutextrm{m}$ intervals in depth. It was observed that the flow structure in the focusing chamber is skewed by unsymmetrical velocity profile arising from trapezoidal cross section of the microchannel. For a quantitative analysis of a microscopic flow structure, Confocal Micro-PIV system has been developed to evaluate the accelerated flow field in the focusing chamber. This study proposes a method which defines the depth of the measurement volume using a detection pinhole. The trajectories of red blood cells (RBCs) and their interactions with surrounding flow field in the squeezed sample stream are evaluated to find optimal shape of the focusing chamber and fluid manipulation scheme for stable cell transporting, efficient detection, and sorting