• Radiation Oncology Journal
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• v.20 no.2
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• pp.186-192
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• 2002

Purpose : Measurement of transmission dose is useful for in vivo dosimetry. In this study, previous algorithm for estimation of transmission dose was modified for use in cases with tissue deficit. Materials and Methods : The beam data was measured with flat solid phantom in various conditions of tissue deficit. New algorithm for correction of transmission dose for tissue deficit was developed by physical reasoning. The algorithm was tested in experimental settings with irregular contours mimicking breast cancer patients using multiple sheets of solid phantoms. Results : The correction algorithm for tissue deficit could accurately reflect the effect of tissue deficit with errors within ${\pm}1.0\%$ in most situations and within ${\pm}3.0\%$ in experimental settings with irregular contours mimicking breast cancer treatment set-up. Conclusion : Developed algorithm could accurately reflect the effect of tissue deficit and irregularly shaped body contour on transmission dosimetry.

• Radiation Oncology Journal
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• v.15 no.3
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• pp.263-268
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• 1997

Purpose : Authors designed a customized Small Bowel Displacement System (SBDS) to displace the small bowel from the Pelvic radiation fields and minimize treatment-related bowel morbidities. Materials and Methods : From August 1995 to Mar 1996. 55 consecutive patients who received pelvic radiation therapy with the SBDS were included in this study. The SBDS consists of a customized styrofoam compression device which can displace the small bowel from the radiation fields and an individualized immobilization abdominal board for easy daily setup in prone position After opacifying the small bowel with Barium3, the patients were laid Prone and posterior-anterior (PA) and lateral (LAT) simulation films were taken with and without the SBDS. The areas of the small bowel included in the radiation fields with and without the SBDS were compared. Results : Using the SBDS, the mean small bowel area was reduced by $59\%;on\;PA\;and\;51\%$ on LAT films (P=0.0001). In six Patients (6/55. $11\%$), it was Possible that no small bowel was included within the treatment fields. The mean upward displacement of the most caudal small bowel was 4.8 cm using the SBDS. Only $15\%$ (8/55) of patients treated with the SBDS manifested diarrhea requiring medication. Conclusion : The SBDS is a novel method that can be used to displace the small bowel away from the treatment portal effectively and reduce the radiation therapy morbidities. Compliance with setup is excellent when the SBDS is used.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Research
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• v.50 no.3
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• pp.213-220
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• 2010

Salmonella (S.) Enterica infection ranks among the most common food borne bacterial infections worldwide. Although there are six subspecies of S. Enterica, the vast majority of human and animal infections are caused by strains belonging to subspecies 1 serovar Typhimurium and Enteritidis. Recent reports on antibiotic resistance of Salmonella spp. are rising steadily. The increasing problem of antibiotic resistance has rekindled interest in bacteriophage to therapy. Therefore, we investigated the efficacy of bacteriophage in S. enterica serovar Enteritidis infected mice and pigs by measuring of body condition, body weight, bacterial colonization and weight of organs based on the in vitro analysis. In vitro experiment, phage cultured with S. Enteritidis showed clear lysis pattern, the plaque forming unit (PFU) of our phage culture was $1.5{\times}10^{11}PFU/mL$, and phage showed its maximum activity at 4 h post inoculation. In mouse experiment, there was no significant difference among experimental groups in the general body conditions and body weight of mice. However, there was difference in weight of liver and spleen depending on the experimental group (p < 0.05). The weight of liver and spleen were reduced by the phage treatment. Also bacterial colonization in spleen and liver were significantly reduced by the phage treatment. In pig experiment, the general body conditions and body temperature exhibited not much difference among the pigs except few pigs in group 3 which showed poor body conditions. From the feces in each group, we could isolate the S. Enteritidis only from group 3. Bacterial enrichment culture was necessary for isolating the bacteria from 5 dpi and 10 dpi, however direct isolation was possible from 15 dpi feces. In phage treated group, postmortem lesion was better than non-phage treated group. Recently, antibiotic resistance concerns on the food-borne bacterial pathogens have been increasing because of the wide spread of the antibiotics resistance genes. This concern is widely transmitted to the human related public health. As one of the alternative treatments on the bacterial pathogens, attempt using phages have been made to control the bacterial diseases. The positive possibility of the trail using phage was observed to control the S. enterica serovar Enteritidis in this study even though the further analysis has been remained.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.64 no.4
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• pp.285-292
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• 2008

Background: A diagnosis of malignant pleural effusion is clinically important, as the prognosis of lung cancer patients with malignant pleural effusion is poor. The diagnosis will be difficult if a cytological test is negative. This study was performed to investigate whether the detection of hypermethylation of the p16 (CDKN2A) and retinoic acid receptor b2 (RARB2) genes in pleural fluid is useful for a diagnosis of malignant pleural effusion. Methods: Pleural effusion was collected from 43 patients and was investigated for the aberrant promoter methylation of the RARB2 and CDKN2A genes by use of methylation-specific PCR. Results were compared with findings from a pleural biopsy and from pleural fluid cytology. Results: Of 43 cases, 17 cases of pleural effusion were due to benign diseases, and 26 cases were from lung cancer patients with malignant pleural effusion. Hypermethylation of the RARB2 and CDKN2A genes was not detected in the case of benign diseases, independent of whether or not the patients had ever smoked. In 26 cases of malignant pleural effusion, hypermethylation of RARB2, CDKN2A or either of these genes was detected in 14, 5 and 15 cases, respectively. The sensitivities of a pleural biopsy, pleural fluid cytology, hypermethylation of RARB2, hypermethylation of CDKN2A, or hypermethylation of either of the genes were 73.1%, 53.8%, 53.8%, 19.2%, and 57.7%, respectively; negative predictive values were 70.8%, 58.6%, 58.6%, 44.7%, and 60.7%, respectively. If both genes are considered together, the sensitivity and negative predictive value was lower than that for a pleural biopsy, but higher than that for pleural fluid cytology. The sensitivity of hypermethylation of the RARB2 gene for malignant pleural effusion was lower in small cell lung cancers than in non-small cell lung cancers. Conclusion: These results demonstrate that detection of hypermethylation of the RARB2 and CDKN2A genes showed a high specificity, and sensitivity was higher than for pleural fluid cytology. With a better understanding of the pathogenesis of lung cancer according to histological types at the molecular level, and if appropriate genes are selected for hypermethylation testing, more precise results may be obtained.

• The Journal of Korean Academy of Prosthodontics
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• v.48 no.2
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• pp.135-142
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• 2010

Purpose: This study was aimed to compare the margin and internal fitness of single anterior all-ceramic crown zirconia core made by three deferent CAD/CAM systems. Material and methods: Five single zirconia cores were manufactured by three deferent CAD/CAM systems($Cerasys^{(R)}$system, KaVo $Everest^{(R)}$system, $LAVA^{TM}$system). The manufactured zirconia cores were duplicated through the use of replica technique, and a replicated sample was sectioned in the center of bucolingual and mesiodistal direction to measure the marginal and internal gap. Measurement was carried out by using measuring microscope ($AXIO^{(R)}$) and $I-Solution^{(R)}$ and analysed through the use of ANOVA. Results: As for the mean marginal fitness of the zirconia core, it was $84.74{\pm}27.57{\mu}m$, in $Cerasys^{(R)}$, $80.23{\pm}21.07{\mu}m$ in KaVo $Everest^{(R)}$ and $96.37 {\pm}11.45{\mu}m$ in $LAVA^{TM}$, and as for the mean internal gap, it was $94.11{\pm}30.07{\mu}m$ in $Cerasys^{(R)}$, $92.31{\pm}25.18{\mu}m$ in KaVo $Everest^{(R)}$, and $94.99{\pm}18.74 {\mu}m$ in $LAVA^{TM}$. There was no significant statistically deference among the total average gap of three systems. The internal gap in KaVo $Everest^{(R)}$ seemed to be smaller than $LAVA^{TM}$ (P < .05). The internal gap in the incisal area was larger in all of the three systems. Conclusion: There was no difference in marginal fitness in $Cerasys^{(R)}$, KaVo $Everest^{(R)}$ and $LAVA^{TM}$. As for the internal fitness, it was smaller in KaVo $Everest^{(R)}$ system than $LAVA^{TM}$ system. In all of the three systems, there was a larger gap in incisal area. The marginal and internal gap was within the clinically allowed range in all of the three systems.

• Progress in Medical Physics
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• v.17 no.4
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• pp.232-237
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• 2006

The aim of this study was to develop the calculation algorithm of source strength of Ir-192 source In terms of the absorbed dose to water instead of an apparent activity (Ci). For this work the Multi Purpose Brachytherapy Phantom(MPBP) was developed, which was designed to locate the source and the chamber precisely at a specific position Inside the water phantom. The reference point of measurement was set at the 5 cm distance along the transverse axis of the source. For a brachytherapy source calibration, the absorbed dose to water calibration factor ($N_{D.W.Q}$) of an lonization chamber were determined and then apply standard protocols of absorbed dose to water. The calibration factor ($N_{D.W.Q}$) of the ion chamber (TM30013, PTW, Germany) was determined using the EGSnrcCPP Monte Carlo Code. The calculated calibration factor ($N_{D.W.Q}$) was 5.28 cGy/nC. The calculated factor was then used to determine the absorbed dose to water from which the air kerma strength for an Ir-192 source can be easily derived at the reference point (5 cm). The calculated air kerma strength showed discrepancies of -0.6% to +1.8% relative to the air kerma strength provided by the vendor, In this work we demonstrated that the air kerma strength ($S_k$) could be determined from the absorbed dose to water calibration factor for Ir-192 source. In audition, this source calibration method could be applied directly to the dose Calculation formalism of AAPM report TG-43.

• Progress in Medical Physics
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• v.24 no.1
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• pp.1-24
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• 2013

As image-guided radiation therapy (IGRT) has been commonly used for more accurate patient setup and monitoring tumor movement during radiation therapy, the necessity for management of imaging dose is increased. However, it has not been an interest issue to radiation therapy communities because the imaging dose is much lower than the therapeutic dose. However, since the cumulative dose from 4DCT and repeated imaging for daily setup verificationin would not be ignorable, appropriate dose management based on ALARA (As Low As Reasonably Achievable) principle is required. In this study, we aimed that (1) survey on imaging equipments and modalities used for IGRT, (2) estimation of IGRT imaging dose depending on treatment types and equipments, (3) collecting data of effective dose on treatment sites from each equipment and imaging protocol, and thus finally provide guideline for imaging dose reduction and optimization.

• Journal of the Mineralogical Society of Korea
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• v.31 no.2
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• pp.113-121
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• 2018

Baekasan Acheon cave located in Hwasun-gun, Jeollanam-do is a natural limestone cave only found in this province. In this study, the mineralogical and geochemical characteristics of speleothems collected from Baekasan Acheon cave were identified and the capability of carbonate mineral formation by aerobic microorganisms enriched from the cave and the mineralogical and geochemical characteristics of carbonate minerals formed by the microorganisms were investigated. The samples of sediments (clay) and speleothems (shelfstone and cave coral) were collected at three sites in the cave. The samples of shelfstone and cave coral were identified mainly as carbonate mineral, Mg-rich calcite, and clay minerals were composed of quartz, muscovite, and vermiculite by X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis. To cultivate the carbonate forming microorganisms, parts of the sediment and speleothems were placed in D-1 medium containing urea, respectively, and the growth of microorganisms was observed under the aerobic condition at room temperature. The capability of carbonate mineralization of the cultured Baekasan Acheon cave microorganisms was examined through adding 1% (v/v) of the cultured microorganisms and calcium sources, Ca-acetate or Ca-lactate, into the D-1 medium. XRD analysis showed that the microorganisms cultured in cave deposits formed calcium carbonate ($CaCO_3$) under all conditions, and these microbial carbonate minerals included calcite and vaterite. The morphological characteristics and chemical composition of biologically formed minerals were observed by SEM-EDS showed various crystal forms such as rhomboid, spherical, perforated surface with Ca, C, and O of major chemical components. The existence of such microorganisms in the cave can contribute the formation of carbonate minerals, and it is likely to affect the geochemical cycles of carbon and calcium in the cave.

• Radiation Oncology Journal
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• v.19 no.1
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• pp.1-9
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• 2001

Purpose : To establish the role of stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) for the treatment of patients with angiographically occult vascular malformation (AOVM). Materials and Methods : Eleven patients (12 lesions) with AOVM were treated with linear accelerator-based SRS between February 1995 and December 1999. A magnetic resonance imaging of each patients showed well-circumscribed vascular lesion with reticulated core of heterogeneous signal intensity and peripheral rim of low signal intensity. SRS were peformed with the median peripheral dose of 16 Gy (range 13~25). A single isocenter was used with median collimator size of 14 mm (range 8~20) diameter. Results : With a median follow-up period of 42 months (range 12~56), rebleeding occurred in 3 AOVMS at 5, 6 and 12 months after SRS but no further bleeding did. Two patients experienced radiation-induced necrosis associated with permanent neurologic deficit and one patient showed transient edema of increased 72 signal intensity. Conclusion : SRS may be effective for the prevention of rebleeding in AOVM located in surgically inaccessible region of the brain. Careful consideration should be needed in the decision of case selection and dose prescription because the incidence of radiation-induced complications is too high to be accepted.

• Radiation Oncology Journal
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.114-119
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• 2000

Purpose : To evaluate the e지ent and frequency of the inter- and intra-treatment isocenter deviations of the whole pelvis radiation field in using small bowel displacement system (SBDS). Methods and Materials : Using electronic portal imaging device (EPID), 302 postero-anterior 232 lateral portal images were prospectively collected from 11 patients who received pelvic radiation therapy (7 with cervix cancer and 4 with rectal cancer). All patients were treated in prone position with SBDS under the lower abdomen. Five metallic fiducial markers were placed on the image detection unit for the recognition of the isocenter and magnification. After aligning the bony landmarks of the EPID images on those of the reference image, the deviations of the isocenter were measured in right-left (RL), cranio-caudal (CC), and PA directions. Results : The mean inter-treatment deviation of the isocenter in each RL, CC, and PA direction was 1.2 mm ($\pm$ 1.6 mm), 1.0 mm ($\pm$3.0 mm), and 0.9 mm ($\pm$4.4 mm), respectively. Inter-treatment isocenter deviations over 5 mm and 10 mm in RL, CC, and PA direction were 2, 12, 24$\%$, and 0, 0, 5$\%$, respectively. Maximal deviation was detected in PA direction, and was 11.5 mm. The mean intratreatment deviation of the isocenter in RL, CC, and PA direction was 0 mm ($\pm$0.9 mm), 0.1 mm ($\pm$ 1.9mm), and 0 mm ($\pm$1.6 mm), respectively. All intra-treatment isocenter deviations over 5 mm in each direction were 0, 1, 1$\pm$, respectively. Conclusions : As the greatest and the most frequent inter-treatment deviation of the isocenter was along the PA direction, it is recommended to put more generous safety margin toward the PA direction on the lateral fields if clinically acceptable in pelvic radiotherapy with SBDD.