• Progress in Medical Physics
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• v.29 no.4
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• pp.150-156
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• 2018

This study aims to develop an improved Feldkamp-Davis-Kress (FDK) reconstruction algorithm using anisotropic total variation (ATV) minimization to enhance the image quality of low-dose cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT). The algorithm first applies a filter that integrates the Shepp-Logan filter into a cosine window function on all projections for impulse noise removal. A total variation objective function with anisotropic penalty is then minimized to enhance the difference between the real structure and noise using the steepest gradient descent optimization with adaptive step sizes. The preserving parameter to adjust the separation between the noise-free and noisy areas is determined by calculating the cumulative distribution function of the gradient magnitude of the filtered image obtained by the application of the filtering operation on each projection. With these minimized ATV projections, voxel-driven backprojection is finally performed to generate the reconstructed images. The performance of the proposed algorithm was evaluated with the catphan503 phantom dataset acquired with the use of a low-dose protocol. Qualitative and quantitative analyses showed that the proposed ATV minimization provides enhanced CBCT reconstruction images compared with those generated by the conventional FDK algorithm, with a higher contrast-to-noise ratio (CNR), lower root-mean-square-error, and higher correlation. The proposed algorithm not only leads to a potential imaging dose reduction in repeated CBCT scans via lower mA levels, but also elicits high CNR values by removing noisy corrupted areas and by avoiding the heavy penalization of striking features.

• Archives of Obesity and Metabolism
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• v.1 no.2
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• pp.78-82
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• 2022

Liraglutide (Saxenda^R) is prescribed to induce and sustain weight loss in obese patients. The starting dose of liraglutide is 0.6 mg/day for 1 week, which is increased by 0.6 mg/day every week until the full maintenance dose of 3 mg/day is achieved. Such dose titration is needed to prevent side effects, which primarily include gastrointestinal problems such as nausea, diarrhea, constipation, vomiting, dyspepsia, and abdominal pain. A 35-year-old, reportedly healthy obese man receiving liraglutide treatment for obesity visited the emergency room complaining of generalized weakness and dizziness accompanied by repeated diarrhea and vomiting. He reported over 20 episodes of diarrhea starting the day after liraglutide dose escalation from 1.2 mg/day to 1.8 mg/day. Laboratory findings suggested pre-renal acute kidney injury, including serum creatinine 4.77 mg/dl, blood urea nitrogen (BUN) 37 mg/dl, estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) 15 ml/min/1.73 m², and Fractional excretion of sodium 0.08. After volume repletion therapy, his renal function recovered to a normal range with laboratory values of creatinine 1.08 mg/dl, BUN 14 mg/dl, and eGFR 88 ml/min/1.73 m². This case emphasizes the need for caution when prescribing glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists, including liraglutide, given the risk of serious renal impairments induced by volume depletion and dehydration through severe-grade diarrhea and vomiting.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Radiology
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• v.12 no.4
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• pp.467-474
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• 2018

CBCT is useful for improving the accuracy of the treatment site, but Repeated use increases the exposure dose. In this study, we aimed to provide basic data for dose reduction in CBCT implementation by dataization the simulating and dose reduction effect using shielding substance. Material in this study, Analyzation the photon beam by simulate the CBCT Through MCNPX and then calculate the absorption dose of body organ at shooting moment of thoracic abdominal position as target UF-Revise simulated body. At this time. Dose reduction effects at this time were evaluated according to the texture of materials and presence of shielding materials( lead, antimony, barium, sulfate, tungsten, bismuth). When CBCT was taken without shielding, the dose was calculated to be high in the breast and spine, and the dose in the esophagus and lung was calculated to be low. The doses according to the shield material were calculated as barium sulfate, antimony, bismuth, lead, and tungsten. The shielding rate was the highest in the thymus (73.6%) and the breast (59.9%) compared with the dose reduction according to presence or absence of the shield. However, it showed the lowest shielding rate in lung (2.1%) and spine (12.6%).

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.26 no.2
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• pp.189-198
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• 2012

Our former study indicated efficacy of apoptotic cell death on animal study by using Egg white combined Chalcanthite (EC). Clinically, bamboo salt is using because of safety. Hence we investigated a toxicity study for determining safety by adding bamboo salt in former materiel. We had two studies: toxicity of EC and of Bamboo salt with egg white combined Chalcanthite (BC). Both were studied in 1-week single and 5-week repeated oral dose toxicity tests on male Imprinting Control Region mice. In EC, doses used in 1 week single oral dose toxicity tests were 0, 0.05, 0.5, 5 and 50 mg/kg/day and 0, 0.01, 0.05, 0.25 and 0.5 mg/kg/day. In BC, doses used by 0, 0.08, 8.3, 83.3 and 166.6 mg/kg/day in single oral dose toxicity and 0, 4.2, 8.3, 41.7 and 83.3 mg/kg/day in repeated oral dose toxicity tests. Their blood and urine were assayed and organ morphology were examined. Mann-Whitney U test and ANOVA tests were used by analysing methods. First, significant increased left renal weight in all groups of EC and BC. Second, increased ALT score was found in EC-S2 and increased relative liver weight was found in EC-S3. In addition, increased relative weight and urine bilirubin and urobilinogen were found in EC-R2 and EC-R3. There was no significant toxic change in BC. The Mixture of EC had a possibility of hepatotoxicity in the short and long term. Processed BC appears to be safe and non-toxic in these studies and a no-observed adverse effect level (NOAEL) was established at 83.3 mg/kg/day in mice. Relatively, The BC were safer than The EC.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.14 no.6
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• pp.3949-3953
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• 2013

Aim: To investigate the effectiveness and adverse effects of gemcitabine by fixed-dose rate infusion plus oxaliplatin (GEMOX regimen) as second-line therapy for advanced ovarian cancer. Methods: 64 patients with advanced ovarian cancer were divided into an experimental group (44 cases) and a control group (20 cases). The experimental group was treated with continuous intravenous infusion of gemcitabine at 1000 $mg/m^2$ with a fixed-dose rate of 10 $mg/m^2/min$, on days 1 and 8 and oxaliplatin at 100 $mg/m^2$ on day 1, IVGTT, repeated every 3 weeks. The control group was treated with intravenous infusion of gemcitabine at 1000 $mg/m^2$ within 30 min on days 1 and and oxaliplatin at 100 $mg/m^2$ on day 1, IVGTT, again repeated every 3 weeks. CT scans or MRI were used for review every 1-2 cycles. Results: The effective rate in the experimental group was significantly high than control group (43.2% vs 35.0%; P < 0.05), with no obvious difference of hematologic or non-hematologic toxicity between the two groups (P > 0.05). Conclusion: GEMOX regimen is very effective to treat advanced ovarian cancer, with low toxicity, good tolerance and improved life quality in patients.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.18 no.5
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• pp.1331-1336
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• 2004

The present study evaluated the beneficial effect of new diabetic formula(NDF) in diabetic rats. Adult Sprague-Dawley rats weighing 250-300 g were used. Diabetes mellitus was induced by intramuscular injections of streptozotocin(STZ, 50㎎/㎏). The extracts of NDF were orally administered at low or high dose two times a day to fasted diabetic rats for 3 weeks. Adminstration of NDF alliviated a significant reduction in weight gain in rats with STZ-induced diabetes. Following acute and repeated treatment, low dose of NDF suppressed the blood glucose concentrations of fasted diabetic rats. Repeated adminstration of NDF for 21 days improved liver and kidney functions in diabetic rats, as indicated by decline of serum alanine aminotransferase(AL T), alkaline phosphatase(ALP), blood urea nitrogen(BUN), creatinine level and kidney weights. The present study showed that NDF exerted antihyperglycemic effects and alliviated liver and renal damages caused by streptozotocin-induced diabetes.

• International Journal of Industrial Entomology and Biomaterials
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• v.32 no.1
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• pp.12-25
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• 2016

Recently, research investment in the improvement of food safety as a food source and specializing of nutritional source of edible insects is being actively conducted. Cricket especially has been attracting considerable interest in entomophagy; however, research on the safety assessment of cricket is limited. This study investigated the effects of cricket ethanol extract when orally administrated in Sprague-Dawley rats. Here, we performed a 4 wk repeated oral dose toxicity test in Sprague-Dawley rats following the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development test guidelines 407 under Good Laboratory Practice regulation. Rats were randomly allocated 4 groups: vehicle control, 250, 500, 1,000 mg/kg test groups and administrated based on body weight for 28 d. The animals were observed for mortalities and clinical signs, body weight changes, food and water consumption. At the end of treatment period, blood and urine were collected and analyzed. Subsequently, the animals were sacrificed and subjected to gross pathological examination and organ weight measurement. The organs were preserved for histopathological examination. The results showed that there were no systemic toxicological effects related with the cricket ethanol extract in the 4 wk oral repeated dose toxicity study. It is considered that NOAEL of cricket ethanol extract is greater than 1,000 mg/kg/d and there was no target organ detected.

• Preventive Nutrition and Food Science
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• v.11 no.2
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• pp.115-119
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• 2006

The object of this study was to examine whether the germanium fortified yeast administered to SD rat is accumulated in the liver and kidney. The administration doses were within 2,000 mg/kg which is the level of NOAEL (no observed adverse effect level) proved through the previous study of single/consecutive oral toxicity test. There were no significant clinical symptoms and mortality following the administration of organic germanium-fortified yeast (0, 500, 1,000, 2,000 mg/kg) during the whole test period, and also no difference in the consumed amount of feed and water for each group. No significant abnormalities of hematology and blood chemistry parameters were found in all groups of organic germanium-fortified yeast (0, 500, 1,000, 2,000 mg/kg). The amount of germanium accumulated in liver and kidney was 0 g/kg by ICP-AES method in the group of organic germanium-fortified yeast. In the positive control group of $GeO_2$ (150 mg/kg), the amount of accumulation was shown to 3135.0 and 4277.2 g/kg in each female and male kidney and 1044.3 and 2135.8 g/kg in each female and male liver, respectively. Organic germanium-fortified yeast, a biosynthetic product resulting from putting germanium into yeast, did not show any clinical symptoms, blood chemical significance, and residues in kidney and liver. It could be inferred that the non-toxic amount of organic germanium-fortified yeast was up to 2,000 mg/kg.

• Journal of Veterinary Clinics
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• v.17 no.2
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• pp.349-358
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• 2000

Effects of repeated administration of diminazene aceturate (Hoechst Veterin r GmbH. Ger- many) that has been introduced as effective compound against Babesiosis and trppanosomiasis were investigated in dogs experimentally infacted with Babesia gibsoni. Adull mongrel dogs of both sexes were inoculated will nonpreserved infected blood and then maintained chronic anemia. A single dose of diminazene aceturate of 7mg/kg b.w. was administrated intramnuscularIy on day 7.1 arid ,7. Clin- ical and hcmatological findings following inoculation and medication were observed and 7enlm bio chemical analysis also was monitored. Parasitemia was detected between 3 and 6 days after inoculation. The rate of parasitized erythrocytes,1 in peripheral blood reached the peak on the 13th day and was maintained the percentage of 0.1 to 1.0 until the medication of diminazene aceturate. RBC was significantly (p<0.01) decreased on the 3rd day and then kept on decreasing. The lowest value was observed on the 16th day. WBC remained generally within normal ranges. PCV revea1ed the sig-nificant (p<0.01) decrease within the range of 24-27% and platelet was significantly (p<0.05) decreased during the period. Senum chemical values (ALT, AST. total bilirubin. LDH BUN, area- tinine, total protein. albumin and glucose) were within normal ranges during the experimental period. Serum CPK values were significantly (p<0.01) increased on the 3rd day. There was no clinically, sig-nificant difference in a single dose of diminazene aceturate of 7 mg/kg b.w. But the administration of diminazene aceturate of 14 mg/kg b.w. revealed vomiting and anorexia and one dog died in 30 hours after administration. The administration of 14mg/kg b.w. resulted in vomiting, salivation, actor- exia, tremor of head and involuntary movement and one dog died in 27 hours after administration. WBC, RBC, PCV and Platelet values were no significant difference and hematological findings revealed persistent anemia and thrombocytopenia during chronic anemia after inoculation. AST activity its was significantly (p<0.01) increased 11\\`from 3 days after medication and AST activity was on the same trend. Serum CPK activity revealed significant (p<0.01) increase within 6 hors)\\`s after every administration and decreased in 48 howl·s after administration.

• Toxicological Research
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• v.35 no.4
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• pp.371-387
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• 2019

Although the dried root of Saposhnikovia divaricata (Turcz.) Schischk. (Umbelliferae) is a popular medicinal plant in East Asia, there has been no systemic toxicological evaluation of a water extract of Saposhnikoviae Radix (SRE). In this experiment, an oral acute and 13-week subchronic toxicological evaluations of SRE (500-5,000 mg/kg body weight) were performed in both sexes of Crl:CD(SD) rats. Based on the results from mortality, clinical signs, effects on body weight and organ weight, clinical biochemistry, hematology, urinalysis, and histopathology, significant acute, 4-week repeated dose range finding (DRF) and 13-week subchronic toxicity of SRE was not observed in either sex of rats; thus, the no observed adverse effect level (NOAEL) was 5,000 mg (kg/day). To identify anti-hyperuricemia potential of SRE, the suppressive effect of SRE was determined in mice challenged with potassium oxonate (PO; 250 mg/kg) via intraperitoneal injection for 8 days (each group; n = 7). SRE supplementation suppressed the uric acid level in urine through significant xanthine oxidase (XO) inhibitory activity. Kidney dysfunctions were observed in PO-challenged mice as evidenced by an increase in serum creatinine level. Whereas, SRE supplementation suppressed it in a dose-dependent manner. Collectively, SRE was safe up to 5,000 mg (kg/day) based on NOAEL found from acute and 13-week subchronic toxicological evaluations. SRE had anti-hyperuricemia effect and lowered the excessive level of uric acid, a potential factor for gout and kidney failure.