• The Journal of Korean Obstetrics and Gynecology
• /
• v.30 no.3
• /
• pp.54-64
• /
• 2017

Objectives: The purpose of this study is to demonstrate Heart Rate Variability characteristics of menopausal patients with insomnia. Methods: From March 1, 2014 to June 20, 2017, Heart Rate Variability was measured in 102 menopausal patients who visited Cheonan Korean Medicine Hospital of Daejeon University. We compared accompanying symptoms and Heart Rate Variability values depending on sleep quality in menopausal women. Results: The accompanying symptoms of menopausal patients were as follows: hot flushes (45.1%), tiredness (25.49%), chest discomfort and palpitations (23.53%), headache (17.65%), arthralgia and muscular pain (17.65%), cold sensitivity of hands and feet (15.69%), urinary frequency (14.71%) and anxiety (10.78%). The frequency of chest discomfort and palpitation was significantly higher in the menopausal insomnia group than in normal sleep group. Comparing Heart Rate Variability between two groups, Standard deviation of the NN interval (SDNN), Total Power (TP), and Low Frequency (LF) values were significantly lower in insomnia group. Conclusions: Chest discomfort and palpitations were more frequent in insomnia patients in menopausal women than normal sleep group, and Standard deviation of the NN interval (SDNN), Total Power (TP), Low Frequency (LF) were significantly lower in HRV values.

• Journal of Pharmacopuncture
• /
• v.25 no.2
• /
• pp.130-137
• /
• 2022

Objectives: Insulin resistance (IR) is major cause of type 2 diabetes (T2D), and adipokines (e.g., adiponectin, leptin, and resistin) play an important role in insulin sensitivity. Medicinal plants are frequently used for T2D treatment. This study investigates the effect of Artemisia annua L. (AA) extracts on adipokines in mice with high-fat-diet (HFD)/streptozotocin (STZ)-induced T2D. Methods: We divided 60 mice into 12 groups (n = 5 per group): control, untreated T2D, treated T2D, and 9 other groups. T2D was induced in all groups, except controls, by 8 weeks of HFD and STZ injection. The treated T2D group was administered 250 mg/kg of metformin (MTF), while the nine other groups were treated with 100, 200, and 400 mg/kg of hot-water extract (HWE), cold-water extract (CWE), and alcoholic extract (ALE) of AA (daily oral gavage) along with 250 mg/kg of MTF for 4 weeks. The intraperitoneal glucose tolerance test (IPGTT) was performed, and the homeostasis model assessment of adiponectin (HOMA-AD) index and blood glucose and serum insulin, leptin, adiponectin, and resistin levels were measured. Results: Similar to MTF, all three types of AA extracts (HWEs, CWEs, and ALEs) significantly (p < 0.0001) decreased the area under the curve (AUC) of glucose during the IPGTT, the HOMA-AD index, blood glucose levels, and serum insulin, leptin, and resistin levels and increased serum adiponectin levels in the MTF group compared to the T2D group (p < 0.0001). The HWEs affected adipokine release, while the CWEs and ALEs decreased leptin and resistin production. Conclusion: Water and alcoholic AA extracts have an antihyperglycemic and antihyperinsulinemic effect on HFD/STZ diabetic mice. In addition, they decrease IR by reducing leptin and resistin production and increasing adiponectin secretion from adipocytes.

• Journal of Oral Medicine and Pain
• /
• v.47 no.2
• /
• pp.87-94
• /
• 2022

Purpose: This study aimed to evaluate the differences between clinical and quantitative sensory testing (QST) results among persistent idiopathic dentoalveolar pain (PIDP), inflammatory dental pain, and control group subjects to identify discriminative clinical features for differential diagnosis. Methods: Thirty-three patients (5 PIDP-a without surgical procedures 10 PIDP-b with surgical procedures, 8 dental pain patients, and 10 controls) were evaluated for clinical features and QST results. Cold pain threshold, heat pain threshold, mechanical pain threshold (MPT), mechanical pain sensitivity, and pressure pain threshold (PPT) were performed. Psychological factors were assessed using Symptom Checklist-90-Revision (SCL-90-R) and a chart review was conducted to evaluate additional discriminative clinical features such as pain quality and treatment prognosis. Results: The dental pain group had lower PPT than the PIDP-b and the control group. The PIDP-a group showed higher MPT and PPT than the PIDP-b and dental pain group but the difference was not statistically significant. Differences in SCL-90-R SOM (Somatization), O-C (obsessive-compulsive), ANX (anxiety), and PSY (Psychoticism) values were statistically significant among groups. PIDP-a and PIDP-b groups showed remaining symptoms after treatment and the pain tended to spread widely, whereas, in toothache patients, symptoms disappeared after treatment. However, factors that confound the diagnosis, such as an increase in pain during chewing and a decrease in the pain threshold at the affected site, could also be identified. Conclusions: PIDP and dental pain groups have distinct clinical symptoms, but there are also factors that cause confusing in diagnosis. Therefore, various clinical examination results should be carefully reviewed and comprehensively evaluated in the differential diagnosis process.

• The Journal of Korean Society for Radiation Therapy
• /
• v.21 no.1
• /
• pp.17-23
• /
• 2009

Purpose: In treating head and neck cancer, it is very important to irradiate uniform dose on the junction of the bilateral irradiation field of the upper head and neck and the anterior irradiation field of the lower neck. In order to improve dose distribution on the junction, this study attempted to correct non uniform dose resulting from under dose and over dose using the field-in-field technique in treating the anterior irradiation field of the lower neck and to apply the technique to the treatment of head and neck cancer through comparison with conventional treatment. Materials and Methods: In order to examine dose difference between the entry point and the exit point where beam diffusion happens in bilateral irradiation on the upper head and neck, we used an anthropomorphic phantom. Computer Tomography was applied to the anthropomorphic phantom, the dose of interest points was compared in radiation treatment planning, and it was corrected by calculating the dose ratio at the junction of the lower neck. Dose distribution on the junction of the irradiated field was determined by placing low-sensitivity film on the junction of the lower neck and measuring dose distribution on the conventional bilateral irradiation of the upper head and neck and on the anterior irradiation of the lower neck. In addition, using the field-in-field technique, which takes into account beam diffusion resulting from the bilateral irradiation of the upper head and neck, we measured difference in dose distribution on the junction in the anterior irradiation of the lower neck. In order to examine the dose at interest points on the junction, we compared and analyzed the change of dose at the interest points on the anthropomorphic phantom using a thermoluminescence dosimeter. Results: In case of dose sum with the bilateral irradiation of the upper head and neck when the field-in-field technique is applied to the junction of the lower neck in radiation treatment planning, The dose of under dose areas increased by 4.7~8.65%. The dose of over dose areas also decreased by 2.75~10.45%. Moreover, in the measurement using low-sensitivity film, the dose of under dose areas increased by 11.3%, and that of over dose areas decreased by 5.3%. In the measurement of interest point dose using a thermoluminescence dosimeter, the application of the field-in-field technique corrected under dose by minimum 7.5% and maximum 17.6%. Thus, with the technique, we could improve non.uniform dose distribution. Conclusion: By applying the field-in-field technique, which takes into account beam divergence in radiation treatment planning, we could reduce cold spots and hot spots through the correction of dose on the junction and, in particular, we could correct under dose at the entry point resulting from beam divergence. This study suggests that the clinical application of the field-in-field technique may reduce the risk of lymph node metastasis caused by under dose on the cervical lymph node.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Crop Science Conference
• /
• 2017.06a
• /
• pp.191-191
• /
• 2017

Hydroxy fatty acid (HFA) is an important industrial resource that known to be extracted from seeds of Castor or Lesquerella. However, mass production of HFA from those crops are difficult because of their behavior or life cycle. In this study, we applied HFA synthesis related gene FAH12, RcPDAT1, RcLPCAT, RcDGAT2, and RcPDCT on bioenergy crop Camelina sativa. Furthermore, we determined NaCl or cold stress tolerance changes of transgenic Camelina. RcFAH12, RcPDAT1, RcLPCAT, RcDGAT2, and RcPDCT genes were cloned into multigene expression vector which is engineered with seed specific promoter of FAE1 or Napin. Combination of HFA genes multi-expression vector constructs were divided into Set3 (RcFAH12, RcPDAT1-2, RcLPCAT), Set4 (RcFAH12, RcDGAT2, RCPDAT1-2, RcLPCAT), and Set5 (RcFAH12, RcDGAT2, RCPDAT1-2, RcLPCAT, RcPDCT). Transgenic HFA synthesis Camelina plants were generated using agrobacterium-mediated vacuum infiltration system. Results of fatty acid composition of T1 transgenic Camelina seeds analyzed by GC-MS showed 9.5, 9.0, and 13.6 % of HFA contents in Set3#6, Set4#8, and Set5#10, respectively. Therefore, seeds of T2 generation were harvest from Set5#10 which is shown highest HFA contents, and, 17.7, 8.1 and 10.5 % of HFA contents were determined in Set5#10-5, Set5#10-8, and Set#10-10, respectively. However, 7.7% of C18:2 and 22.3 % of C18:3 among unsaturated fatty acids were decreased in Set5#10-5 than WT. Meanwhile, we confirmed abiotic stress responses in T2 transgenic Camelina Set5#10-5 and Set5#10-10 under 0, 100, 150, and 200 mM NaCl or 25, 15, and $10^{\circ}C$ temperature for 5 weeks. Both Set5#10-5 and Set5#10-10 showed lower growth in height than WT in control and NaCl condition. Growth of leaf length and width were similar in WT and Set5#10-10 but lower in Set5#10-5 under NaCl stress. Number of opened flowers showed that both transgenic Camelina were lower than WT under normal condition. But, WT and Set5#10-10 showed similar opened flower number in 100 and 200 mM NaCl. In cold stress, 15 and $10^{\circ}C$ treatment for 5 weeks did not showed significant changes in between WT and both transgenic lines even they showed different growth rate in control condition. Taken together, growth and development are delayed by expression of exogenous HFA related genes in transgenic lines but relative abiotic stress sensitivity is similar with WT. In conclusion, reduced C18:2 or C18:3 fatty acid composition of seed by HFA synthesis is resulted from lack of resource supplement for development at seedling stage but it is not affect NaCl and cold stress tolerance.

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Landscape Architecture
• /
• v.40 no.6
• /
• pp.173-179
• /
• 2012

The experiments, which analyze the injury symptoms and diagnose growth conditions utilizing IRVT and analyzing each parts of H. helix L., had been held under a low temperature. Greenhouse and outdoor growing Genus hedera had been prepared and compared with each Genus hedera's peak and bottom leaves' surface temperature under the experimental categories $-6^{\circ}C$ and $-12^{\circ}C$. As results, analyzing the surface thermal property of peak part leaves' of outdoor growing Genus hedera, at experimental categories $-6^{\circ}C$, $-12^{\circ}C$ were ranged from $-2^{\circ}C{\sim}-7^{\circ}C$ and $-2^{\circ}C{\sim}-15^{\circ}C$. On the other hand, the surface thermal property of bottom part leaves at experimental categories $-6^{\circ}C$, $-12^{\circ}C$ were ranged $-2^{\circ}C{\sim}-11^{\circ}C$ and $-1^{\circ}C{\sim}-12^{\circ}C$. It appears that the thermal properties of leaves' surface on $-6^{\circ}C$ peaks and $-12^{\circ}C$ bottoms were more broadband than bottoms and peaks. It means that the peaks were more sensitive than bottoms, as like $-2^{\circ}C{\sim}-15^{\circ}C$, $-1{\sim}-12^{\circ}C$. Moreover, as similar results had seen to leaves surface temperature added to cold wind conditions. How the cold wind damaged the outdoor growing Genus hedera, analyzed the surface thermal property by IRVT data under $0^{\circ}C$, $-2^{\circ}C$, $-4^{\circ}C$ condition, it resulted to $-6.2^{\circ}C$, $-6.8^{\circ}C$, $-7.5^{\circ}C$. It appeared more $3.5{\sim}6.2^{\circ}C$ low temperature than experimental setting point. In addition, each parts thurmal property of peaks and bottoms was not similar, it referred to each parts' sensitivities of low temperature were different on the peak and bottom leaves surface temperature.

• The Korean Journal of Nuclear Medicine
• /
• v.39 no.6
• /
• pp.445-455
• /
• 2005

Purpose: We developed an animal SPECT system using clinical Philips ARGUS scintillation camera and pinhole collimator with specially manufactured small apertures. In this study, we evaluated the physical characteristics of this system and biological feasibility for animal experiments. Materials and Methods: Rotating station for small animals using a step motor and operating software were developed. Pinhole inserts with small apertures (diameter of 0.5, 1.0, and 2.0 mm) were manufactured and physical parameters including planar spatial resolution and sensitivity and reconstructed resolution were measured for some apertures. In order to measure the size of the usable field of view according to the distance from the focal point, manufactured multiple line sources separated with the same distance were scanned and numbers of lines within the field of view were counted. Using a Tc-99m line source with 0.5 mm diameter and 12 mm length placed in the exact center of field of view, planar spatial resolution according to the distance was measured. Calibration factor to obtain FWHM values in 'mm' unit was calculated from the planar image of two separated line sources. Te-99m point source with i mm diameter was used for the measurement of system sensitivity. In addition, SPECT data of micro phantom with cold and hot line inserts and rat brain after intravenous injection of [I-123]FP-CIT were acquired and reconstructed using filtered back protection reconstruction algorithm for pinhole collimator. Results: Size of usable field of view was proportional to the distance from the focal point and their relationship could be fitted into a linear equation (y=1.4x+0.5, x: distance). System sensitivity and planar spatial resolution at 3 cm measured using 1.0 mm aperture was 71 cps/MBq and 1.24 mm, respectively. In the SPECT image of rat brain with [I-123]FP-CIT acquired using 1.0 mm aperture, the distribution of dopamine transporter in the striatum was well identified in each hemisphere. Conclusion: We verified that this new animal SPECT system with the Phlilps ARGUS scanner and small apertures had sufficient performance for small animal imaging.

• Journal of Food Hygiene and Safety
• /
• v.27 no.2
• /
• pp.169-175
• /
• 2012

Five kinds of selective media, such as mannitol salt agar (MSA), Baird-Parker agar (BPA), Baird-Parker supplemented with rabbit plasma fibrinogen (BPA+RPF), CHROMagar Staphylococcus aureus (CSA), and Petrifilm Staph Express count system (Petrifilm), were compared to recommend the optimum selective media for isolation of Staphylococcus aureus from agricultural products. Seventy four target and non target bacteria were inoculated on five selective media to analyze sensitivity and specificity. In the recovery test of injured S. aureus cells, S. aureus was exposed to acid (1% lactic acid for 10 min), heat ($60^{\circ}C$ for 90s), and cold ($-20^{\circ}C$ for 1h) conditions. And artificially contaminated agricultural products (iceberg lettuce, green pepper, and cherry tomato) was enumerated on five selective media. The sensitivity of BPA+RPF, CSA, Petrifilm, MSA, and BPA were 100%, 100%, 100%, 90.5%, 90.5%, respectively. In addition, the specificity of BPA+RPF, CSA, MSA, BPA and Petrifilm were 100%, 100%, 84.6%, 75.0%, 67.3%, respectively. However, no difference among five selective media was observed in recovery on injured S. aureus cell and enumeration from agricultural products. This results suggest that BPA+RPF and CSA are the optimum media for detection of S. aureus from agricultural products.

• Pediatric Infection and Vaccine
• /
• v.6 no.1
• /
• pp.78-85
• /
• 1999

Purpose : Mycoplasma pneumoniae pneumonia has been to be developed frequently in school age children and adolescence and hard to see under 3 year-old children. But it seems to be increased in number of patients with Mycoplasma pneumoniae pneumonia under 3-year old in clinical practice in these days. We have aimed to examine the characteristics of clinical findings of Mycoplasma pneumonia under 3 year-old children. Methods : We had performed retrospective review of medical records of 30 patients with Mycoplasmal pneumonia under 3-year old children who admitted to Department of Pediatrics, Kyunghee University Hospital from Jan. 1994 to Dec. 1997. The diagnostic criteriae was Cold agglutinin titer>1:64 or Mycoplasma antibody titer>1:80. Results : Mycoplasmal pneumonia was 30 out of 235 cases(12.7%) of total pneumonia under 3 year old children. Male female ratio was 1.3 : 1 and age distributions were 0~1y : 0, 1~2y : 8, 2~3y : 22 cases. Clinical symptoms and signs were cough(100.0%), sputum(83.3%), fever(80.0%) rhinorrhea(33.3%), vomiting(33.3%), moist rale(86.7%), decreased breathing sound(26.7%), wheezing(20.0%), and pharyngeal injection(30.0%). Thirteen out of 30 cases(43.3%) had unilateral infiltration, 10 cases(33.4%) had bilateral infiltration, 1 case(3.3%) had pleural effusion, and 6 cases(20.0%) had negative findings on chest radiography and there was no cases of atelectasis. On laboratory findings, 6 out of 30 cases(20.0%) had leukocytosis, 1 case(3.3%) had neutrophilia, 10 cases(30.0%) had eosinophilia, 17 cases(56.7%) had increased ESR, and 18 cases(60.6%) had positive CRP. Positive cold agglutinin titers(>1 : 64) were 19 cases(63.3%), and positive mycoplasma antibody(M-ab) titers(>1 : 80) were 27 cases(93.3%). Mycoplasma antibody test was more valuable than cold agglutinin test for the diagnosis of Mycoplasmal pneumonia and there was no correlation between cold agglutinin titer and mycoplasma antibody titer. Mycoplasma-polymerase chain reaction(M-PCR) was done with 13 cases, 12 out of 13 cases(92.3%) were positive. M-PCR test was valuable to the diagnosis of Mycoplasmal pneumonia but it will be needed to further study for their clinical application. Among 30 cases, 5 cases(16.7%) had complications, 3 cases(10.0%) had skin rash, 1 case(3.3%) had pleural effusion, 1 case(3.3%) had arthralgia, but all complications were mild and recovered without residual sequelae. Conclusion : The occurrence of Mycoplasmal pneumonia under 3 year-old children was not rare from this study. Clinical characteristics of Mycoplasmal pneumonia under 3-year old were normal radiologic findings in many cases, low complication rate, mild clinical course, and tend to rapid recovery compared with general manifestations of Mycoplasmal infectionsin children and adolescence. There were likely to be missed patients with Mycoplasmal pneumonia which did not diagnose by conventional serologic tests that had low sensitivity and specificity. We have to pay attention to the Mycoplasmal infection of the young children with pneumonia during epidemic periods of Mycoplasmal infection.

• Annals of Clinical Neurophysiology
• /
• v.12 no.1
• /
• pp.21-26
• /
• 2010

Background: Although quantitative sensory test (QST) is being used with increasing frequency for measuring sensory thresholds in clinical practice and epidemiologic studies, there has been no age-matched normative data in Korean adults. The objective of this study is to evaluate the value of QST in diabetic polyneuropathy with normal range in Korean adults. Methods: The Computer Aided Sensory Examination IV 4,2 (WR Medical Electronics Co., Stillwater, Minnesota, U.S.A.), with 4,2,1 stepping algorithm was used to determine vibration and cold perception threshold in 70 normal controls and 19 patients with diabetic polyneuropathy aged from 21 to 79 years. The data were used to define age-matched upper and lower normal limits and normal range of side to side difference. We also evaluated the duration of diabetes, serum HbA1C level, and findings of nerve conduction study (NCS) and QST in patients with diabetic polyneuropathy. Results: In normal adults, sensory thresholds slightly increased with age, and a slight side-to-side difference was observed. The diagnostic sensitivity of QST was not higher than NCS in patients with diabetic polyneuropathy (36.8% vs. 42.1%, p=0.716), especially among elderly patients. Conclusions: QST might be used as a complementary test for NCS in the diagnosis of diabetic polyneuropathy. Although the QST is a simple method for the evaluation of peripheral nerve function, there are some limitations. Most of all, because the QST measuring is dependent on the subjective response of patients, the degree of concentration and cooperation of the patients can significantly affect the result. And thus, attention should be paid during the interpretation of QST results in patients with peripheral neuropathy.