• Childhood Kidney Diseases
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• v.11 no.2
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• pp.280-287
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• 2007

Purpose : Urinary lithiasis is uncommon in children, however, it may lead to chronic renal insufficiency and even end stage renal disease. The etiology of stone formation in children is largely unknown; although the most common causes are known to be associated with congenital anomalies of the genito-urinary(G-U) tract, urinary tract infections(UTI), and metabolic diseases. Methods : A total of 73 children(male:female=42:31, mean age $6.6{\pm}5.3$ years) presented with urinary lithiasis between Sep. 1998 and Jul. 2007 at Seoul National University Children's Hospital. The medical records were reviewed retrospectively. Results : The most common presenting symptoms were gross hematuria(28/73, 38%) and flank or abdominal pain(23/73, 32%). The stones were located in the upper urinary tract in 48 patients(66%), in the bladder in 18(24%), and in both the bladder and upper urinary tract in 2 (3%). Congenital anomalies of the G-U tract with/without UTI were detected in 30 children (41%), hypercalciuria with/without hypercalcemia in 15(20%), and other metabolic diseases in 8(11%). In 17 patients(23%), no underlying cause of stone formation was detected. The majority of stones were infected stones(24/36, 67%), which were followed by calcium stones(8/36, 22%), uric acid stones(3/36, 8%). and cystine stones(1/36, 3%). Thirty-four patients(46%) underwent surgical procedures and/or extracorporeal shockwave lithotripsy for stone removal, and 13(18%) passed stones spontaneously with/without medical management. Stones recurred in 6 patients(8%): 4 with neurogenic bladder augmented by ileocystoplasty, 1 with cystinuria, and 1 with unknown etiology. Conclusion : The common causes of urinary lithiasis in children were congenital anomalies of the G-U tract with/without UTI and metabolic disorders including hypercalciuria/hypercalcemia. For the management of stones, minimally invasive procedures should be chosen on the basis of accompanying symptoms and the composition, locations and etiology of stones.

• Journal of radiological science and technology
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• v.34 no.1
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• pp.17-25
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• 2011

In this study, we examined the impact caused by chronic exposure to Mn by investigating the degree of brain activation based on the data of recognition activities using fMRI (functional magnetic resonance imaging). A questionnaire survey, blood tests, and fMRI tests were carried out with respect to two groups. Group 1 was an exposure group consisting of 15 male workers who are 34 years old or older, and who worked for longer than 10 years in a shipbuilding factory as a welder. Group 2 was a control group consisting of 15 workers in manufacturing industries with the same gender and age. The results showed that blood Mn concentration of Group 1($1.3\;{\mu}g/dl$) was significantly higher than that of Group 2($0.8\;{\mu}g/dl$)(p < 0.001), and Pallidal Index (PI) of Group 1 was also significantly higher than that of Group 2 (p < 0.001). PI value of the group whose blood Mn concentration was $0.93\;{\mu}g/dl$ or higher was significantly higher than that of the group whose blood Mn concentration was less than $0.93 \;{\mu}g/dl$ (p < 0.001). As for brain activity area within the control group, the right and the left areas of occipital cortex showed significant activity and the left area of middle temporal cortex, the right area of superior inferior frontal cortex and inferior parietal cortex showed significant activity. Unlike the control group, the exposure group showed significant activity on the right area of superior inferior temporal cortex, the left of insula area. In the comparison of brain activity areas between the two groups, the exposure group showed significantly higher activation than the control group in such areas as the right inferior temporal cortex, the left area of superior parietal cortex and occipital cortex, and cerebellum including middle temporal cortex. However, in nowhere the control group showed more activated area than the exposure group. As the final outcome, chronic exposure to Mn increased brain activity during implementation of arithmetic task. In an identical task, activation increased in superior inferior temporal cortex, and insula area. And it was discovered that brain activity increase in temporal area and occipital area was more pronounced in the exposure group than in the control group. This result suggests that chronic exposure to Mn in the work environment affects brain activation neuro-network.

• Journal of radiological science and technology
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• v.32 no.3
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• pp.285-291
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• 2009

The aim of the present study was undertaken to investigate the association between diagnostic indices of metabolic syndrome(MetS) with carotid intima-media thickness using ultrasonography. The participants in the study were 315 male employees without carotid atherosclerosis and other cardiovascular disease. This study was approved by the Institutional Review Board of Occupational Safety and Health Research Institute. Written informed consent for the participants in this study was obtained from all individuals. Anthropometric parameters and biochemical characteristics were done using each specific equipments and the NCEP-ATP III criteria were used to define MetS. They were examined by B-mode ultrasound to measure the carotid intima-media thickness(carotid IMT) at the near and far walls of common carotid and bifurcation(bulb). The mean carotid IMT was $0.739{\pm}0.137\;mm$ and it's thickness significantly increased with the increase in age. Also, amounts of systolic and diastolic blood pressure, triglyceride and fasting glucose were significantly increased with the increase in age. Carotid IMT were significantly correlated with BMI(r=0.170, p=0.004), systolic(r=0.148, p=0.011) and diastolic blood pressure(r=0.123, p=0.036) and HDL-cholesterol(r=-0.164, p=0.005). On multiple logistic regression analysis for the diagnostic indices of MetS, carotid IMT were significantly associated with blood pressure(OR=4.220, p<0.01) and MetS(OR=1.301, p<0.05). The results indicate that blood pressure and MetS are important risk factors for carotid atherosclerosis.

• Journal of radiological science and technology
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• v.40 no.1
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• pp.109-120
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• 2017

In order to examine how Radiological Technologists perceive the oriental doctor's use of Medical Imaging Equipment, surveys were conducted for the members of the Korean Radiological Technologists Association. The total number of respondents were 515 and 481, with 34 insincere responses removed caused of nonvalidated answer. The results of the analysis are as follows. Although there were no statistical significance in the difference in perception by location of residence, work place, and educational background, respondents with higher education showed a tendency to agree on the use of comprehensive medical imaging equipment, but tended to oppose the use of special medical imaging equipment. Differences in perception by gender showed a greater negative perception toward the oriental doctor's use of medical imaging equipment by women than men. In particular, women showed more negative tendency for oriental doctor's use of special medical imaging equipment such as MRI, CT, and ultrasound equipment compared to men, and this was statistically significant. The difference in perception by age showed that the oriental doctor's use of medical imaging equipment was negative in the 20~30s, neutral in the 40~50s, and positive in the 60s, which were statistically significant. The difference in perception by work experience showed that the longer the work experience was, the more positive it was toward oriental doctor's use of medical imaging equipment. Specifically, the most favorable tendency was found with work experience of more than 30 years, which was statistically significant. The results of this study revealed the Radiological Technologists' perceptions on the oriental doctor's use of Medical Imaging Equipment and this can contribute to the direction of public health promotion in the future.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.37 no.8
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• pp.691-701
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• 2004

Background: Tissue hypoxia is a characteristic of many human malignant neoplasms, and hypoxia inducible factor-1 (HIF-1) plays a pivotal role in essential adaptive response to hypoxia, and activates a signal pathway for the expression of the hypoxia-regulated genes, resulting in increased oxygen delivery or facilitating metabolic adaptation to hypoxia. Increased level of HIF-1 a has been reported in many human malignancies, but in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma, the influence of HIF-1 a on tumor biology, including neovascularization, is not still defined. Material and Method: The influence of HIF-1 a expression on angiogenic factors, correlation between the tumor proliferation and HIF-1 a expression, interaction of HIF-1 a expression and p53, and correlation between HIF-1 a expression and clinicopathological prognostic parameters were investigated, using immunohistochemical stains for HIF-1 a, VEGF, CD34, p53, and Ki-67 on 77 cases of resected esophageal squamous cell carcinoma. Result: HIF-1 a expression in cancer cells was found in 33 of 77 esophageal squamous cell carcinoma cases. The 33 cases (42.9%) showed positive stain for HIF-1 a. High HIF-1 a expression was significantly associated with several pathological parameters, such as histologic grade (p=0.032), pathological TMN stage (p=0.002), the depth of tumor invasion (p=0.022), regional lymph node metastasis (p=0.002), distant metastasis (p=0.049), and lymphatic invasion (p=0.004). High HIF-1 a expression had significant VEGF immunoreactivity (p=0.008) and Ki-67 labeling index (p<0.001), but was not correlated with microvascular density within tumors (p=0.088). The high HIF-1 a expression was correlated with aberrant p53 accumulation with a marginal significance (p=0.056). The overall 5-year survival rate was 34.9%. The survival rate of patients with a high HIF-1 a expression was worse than that of patients with low-expression tumors (log-rank test, p=0.0001). High HIF-1 a expression was independent unfavorable factors although statistical significance is marginal in multivariate analysis. Conclusion: It is suggested that (1) high HIF-1 a expression in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma is associated with tumor hypoxia, or with genetic alteration in early carcinogenesis and progressive stages, (2) high HIF-1 a expression may be associated with intratumoral neovascularization through HIF-VEGF pathway, and (3) high HIF-1 a expression is associated with poor prognosis in patients with esophageal squamous cell carcinoma and may playa role as biomarker for regional lymph node metastasis.

• The Korean Journal of Nuclear Medicine
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• v.38 no.1
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• pp.62-73
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• 2004

Purpose: The herpes simplex virus type 1 thymidine kinase gene(HSV1-tk) is an attractive candidate as a reporter gene in noninvasive reporter gene monitoring system. The HSV1-tk gene was chosen as a reporter gene, because it has been extensively studied, and there are appropriate reporter probes, substrates of HSV1-tk gene product, to apply for HSV1-tk gene imaging. We used radiolabeled 5-iodovinyl-2'-deoxyuridine (IVDU) and 5-iodovinyl-2'-fluoro-2'-deoxyuridine (IVFRU) as reporter probes for HSV1-tk gene monitoring system. Materials and Methods: We prepared HSV1-tk gene transduced Morris hepatoma cell line using retroviral vector, MOLTEN containing HSV1-tk gene. And we confirmed the HSV1-tk gene expression by Northern blotting and Western blotting. We compared in vitro uptakes of radioiodinated IVDU and IVFRU to monitor HSV1-tk gene expression in Morris hepatoma cell line (MCA) and HSV1-tk gene tranduced MCA (MCA-tk) cells until 480 minutes. We also peformed correlation analysis between percentage of HSV1-tk gene tranduced MCA cell % (MCA-tk%) and uptakes of radiolabeled IVDU or IVFRU. Results: MCA-tk cell expressed HSV1-tk mRNA and HSV1-TK protein. Two compounds showed minimal uptake in MCA, but increased uptake was observed in MCA-tk. IVDU showed 4-fold higher accumulation than IVFRU at 480 min in MCA-tk (p<0.01). Both IVDU and IVFRU uptake were linearly correlated ($R^2>0.96$) with increasing MCA-tk%. Conclusion: The radiolabeld IVDU and IVFRU showed higher specific accumulation in retrovirally HSV1-tk gene transfected Morris hepatoma cell line. Both IVDU and IVFRU could be used as good substrates for evaluation of HSV1-tk gene expression.

• The Korean Journal of Nuclear Medicine Technology
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• v.15 no.1
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• pp.58-64
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• 2011

Objective: The 3-dimensional reconstruction method with resolution recovery modeling has advantages of high spatial resolution and contrast because of its precise modeling of spatial blurring according to the distance from detector plane. The aim of this study was to evaluate one of the resolution recovery reconstruction methods (Astonish, Philips Medical), compare it to other iterative reconstructions, and verify its clinical usefulness. Materials and Methods: NEMA IEC PET body phantom and Flanges Jaszczak ECT phantom (Data Spectrum Corp., USA) studies were performed using Skylight SPECT (Philips) system under four different conditions; short or long (2 times of short) radius, and half or full (40 kcts/frame) acquisition counts. Astonish reconstruction method was compared with two other iterative reconstructions; MLEM and 3D-OSEM which vendor supplied. For quantitative analysis, the contrast ratios obtained from IEC phantom test were compared. Reconstruction parameters were determined by optimization study using graph of contrast ratio versus background variability. The qualitative comparison was performed with Jaszczak ECT phantom and human myocardial data. Results: The overall contrast ratio was higher with Astonish than the others. For the largest hot sphere of 37 mm diameter, Astonish showed about 27.1% and 17.4% higher contrast ratio than MLEM and 3D-OSEM, in short radius study. For long radius, Astonish showed about 40.5% and 32.6% higher contrast ratio than MLEM and 3D-OSEM. The effect of acquired counts was insignificant. In the qualitative studies with Jaszczak phantom and human myocardial data, Astonish showed the best image quality. Conclusion: In this study, we have found out that Astonish can provide more reliable clinical results by better image quality compared to other iterative reconstruction methods. Although further clinical studies are required, Astonish would be used in clinics with confidence for enhancement of images.

• Journal of Hospice and Palliative Care
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• v.10 no.4
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• pp.195-201
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• 2007

Purpose: As a part of the analysis of home-based cancer patients management of public health renters in cities, counties and districts across the nation, this study is to understand the degree of patient demands for that management and the degree and scope of the supply for the patient's demand. Methods: Developed the questionnaire which was constituted of degree of demand and supply for home-based cancer patient management and analyzed data centering on the frequencies and percentages by utilizing SPSS WIN 12.0. Results: The services provided through the home-based cancer patients management project include physical, emotional, spiritual and education/informative services. A survey was conducted for home-based cancer patients about these services, and its result showed that the degree of demand and supply was highest for emotional service, followed by education/informative service, spiritual service and physical service in the order of the demand-supply degree. When main items for each service were examined, it was found that: in the case of physical service, pain control was provided murk lower than its demand, while excretion disorder control and individual hygiene is provided murk more than its demand. In the case of emotional service, the degree of demand was overall higher than that of supply; spiritual service was provided appropriately to the degree of demand. Conclusion: This study examines the home-based canter patients management project of public health centers and compares and analyzes the degree of demand for patient services and the degree of services that are actually provided. The findings could be used as based data for the development of effective programs in future on the basis of actual demands of home-based cancer patients.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.23 no.8
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• pp.989-997
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• 2013

In this study, based on the antioxidative effects in organic solvent fractions obtained from the main methanolic extract of L. japonica, the protective cellular effects and gene expression patterns of ethyl acetate fractions on $H_2O_2$-induced Raw 264.7 cell death ($IC_{50}$) were analyzed. The antioxidant activity of the fractions measured using DPPH free radical scavenging activity increased in a dose-dependent manner, and the $ED_{50}$ exhibited the highest $39.56{\mu}g/ml$ in the ethyl acetate fraction. In addition, the ethyl acetate fractions' cell viability on $H_2O_2$-induced Raw 264.7 cell damage increased in a concentration-dependent manner, showed a visible cell survival rate of 82.49% at a concentration of $100{\mu}g/ml$. The gene expression patterns related to the ethyl acetate fractions' cytoprotective effect in $H_2O_2$-induced Raw 264.7 cell damage presented similar patterns to those of BHA. In comparative analysis for antioxidant activity-related genes affected by ethyl acetate fractions and BHA in $H_2O_2$-induced Raw 264.7 cells, both ethyl acetate fractions and BHA showed very similar gene expression patterns, but the gene expression level of the heme oxygenase 1 (Hmox1) gene making antioxidant enzymes in cells was four times higher in ethyl acetate fractions than BHA. In inflammation-related genes in $H_2O_2$induced Raw 264.7 cells, the T-box transcription factor (Tbx21) gene was expressed about two times more frequently in the ethyl acetate fraction treatment group, while it was expressed half as frequently in the BHA treatment group.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.29 no.12
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• pp.1378-1385
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• 2019

The nutritional composition and optimal eating stage of the super mealworm, Zophobas atratus (Coleoptera : Tenebrionidae), were investigated to explore its use as a food ingredient. It was determined that 10^th instar larvae were most suitable for eating in terms of nutritional value as well as economic aspects. To improve the quality of powder production, the nutritional value of 10^th instar larvae before and after degreasing was analyzed. After drying the larvae powder, crude protein was the most abundant nutrient both before (52.3%) and after (60.6%) degreasing while crude fat measured 36.3% and 21.7% before and after degreasing, respectively. In terms of essential amino acids, leucine levels were highest and 1.3 times greater after degreasing (4.5%) than before (3.5%). Oleic acid, the highest unsaturated fatty acid in larvae, was 31.7% after degreasing which was 1.1 times higher than before (33.2%). Among various major minerals, potassium was most abundant and 1.4 times higher after degreasing (1267.0 mg/100 g) than before (879.3 mg/100 g). Harmful substances were 1.3 to 2.0 times lower in the degreased larvae, although mercury or pathogenic bacteria were not detected in either group. We therefore conclude that degreased Z. atratus larvae are more suitable for eating than before degreasing.