• Journal of Yeungnam Medical Science
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• v.24 no.2
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• pp.119-128
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• 2007

Purpose : The purpose of this study was a phantom study to measure the diffusion properties of water molecules by steady-state free precession diffusion-weighted imaging (SSFP- DWI) with a low b-value and to determine if this sequence might be useful for application to the evaluation of bone marrow pathology. Materials and methods : 1. The phantom study: A phantom study using two diffusion weighted sequences for the evaluation of the diffusion coefficient was performed. Three water-containing cylinders at different temperatures were designed: phantom A was $3^{\circ}C$, B was $23^{\circ}C$ and C was $63^{\circ}C$. Both SSFP and echo planar imaging (EPI) sequences (b-value: $1000s/mm^2$) were performed for comparison of the diffusion properties. The Signal to noise ratios (SNR) and apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) values of the three phantoms using each diffusion-weighted sequence were assessed. 2. The Clinical study: SSFP-DWI was performed in 28 patients [sacral insufficiency fractures (10), osteoporotic lumbar compression fractures (10), malignant compression fractures (8)]. To measure the ADC maps, a diffusion-weighted single shot stimulated echo-acquisition mode sequence ($650s/mm^2$) was obtained using the same 1.5-T MR imager Results : For the phantom study, the signal intensity on the SSFP as well as the classic EPI-based DWI was decreased as the temperature increased in phantom A to C. The ADC values of the phantoms on EPI-DWI were $0.13{\times}10^{-3}mm^2/s$ in phantom A, $0.22{\times}10^{-3}mm^2/s$ in B and $0.37{\times}10^{-3}mm^2/s$. in C. The SSFP can be regarded as a DWI sequence in view of the series of signal decreases. Conclusion : Bone marrow pathologies with different diffusion coefficients were evaluated by SSFP-DWI. All benign fractures were hypointense compared to the adjacent normal bone marrow where as the malignant fractures were hyperintense compared to the adjacent normal bone marrow.

• The Korean Journal of Zoology
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• v.39 no.1
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• pp.36-46
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• 1996

An endogenous phenoloxidase (EPO) from earthworm, Lumbricus rubellus, has been purified and characterized. The purified EPO using ammonium sulfate fractionation, Blue-2, Phenyl-, and Q-sepharose chromatography steps was revealed in SDS-PAGE as a single protein banri with Mr. of 59 kl)a. A native strudure of the enzyme was examined with an in situ staining of a nondenatudng-PAGE using DL-dopa as a substrate. The result showed that a single band due to the EPO activity was located siighdy above a standard polypeptide with Mr. of 210 kl)a. These fads indicate that the EPO is an oligomeric enzyme. The presence of a monophenolase activity of the purified EPO, which hydroxylates tyrosine to dopa, was confirmed by observing dopachrome accumulation at 475 nm at PH 8.0 with a typical lag phase during 60 mm. of meausrement. A series of inhibition study has been performed for the enzyme with several divalent cation chelators such as phenyithiourea (Flu), 1, lO-phenanthroline, EDTA, and EGTA. Among them, only V'flj inhibited the enzyme with 1C0.5 of 65 MM, which indicated that copper was critical for the catalysis of EPO. The enzyme was maximally active at 35'C and pH 8.0 when L-dopa to dopachrome conversion was spectrophotometricaily monitored at 475 nm. The apparent Km values of P0 for L-opa were obtained as 1.86 mM and 13.8 mM at pH 6.5 and 8.0, respectively. The catalytic efficiencies at both pH were almost identical [(kat/Km)pH8.0/(kcat/Km)pH6.5 = O.92] while the Vmax at p11 8.0 was 6.6-fold higher than that at pH 6.5. This fact may indicate that pH affeds the catalysis at substrate and/or enzyme-substrate complex level rather than the enzyme itself. Taken together, the EPO was an oligomeric enzyme which did not require proteolysis for its activation. These results also indicated that the enzyme can exist, at least, in part as a latent form In vivo, which might be distinct from the prophenoloxidase activating system. Therefore, it is pertinent to consider that there must be certain regulatory molecules or phenomena in L. rubellus which make the 1,0 in a latent form in vivo before the foreign invasions.

• Korean Journal of Crystallography
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• v.3 no.1
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• pp.9-22
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• 1992

Two crystal structures of bromine sorption complexes of vacuum dehydrated Cd(ll)-exchanged zeolite A have been determined by single-crystal xray diffraction techniques in the cubic space group Pm3m at 21(1) ℃. Both crystals were ion exchanged in flowing streams of exchange solution In which mole ratio of Cd(NO3)2 and Cd(OOCCH3)B was 1:1 with a total concentration of 0.05 M. First crystal was dehydrated at 450℃ and 2 ×10-6 Torr for two days. Second crystal was dehydrated at 650℃ and 2 ×10-6 Torr for two days. Both crystals were then treated with 160 Torr for two days. Second crystal was dehydrated at 650℃ and 2 × 10-6 Torr for two days. Both crystals were then treated with 160 Torr of zeolitically dried bromine vapor at 24℃. Full-matrix least-squares refinements of toe first crystal(a: 12.250(1) A )· and the second crystal(a: 12.204(2) A ) have contecoed to final error indices, Rl:0.075 and Ra:0.079 with 212 reflections, and Rl : 0.089 and Ra = 0.078 with 128 reflections, respectively, for which I >3σ(I). Crystallographic analyses of both crystals show that six Cd2+ ions are located on two different threefold axes of unit cell associated with 6-ring oxygens. Each 4.5 Cd2+ ion is recessed ca.0. 441 A Into the large cavity to complex either with Brsor with Br3from the (111) plane of 0(3), whereas each 1.5 Cd2+ ions recessed ca. 0.678 A into we sodalite unit. Approximately 1.5 Br5-and 1.5 Br3-ions are sorbed per unit cell. Each Brsion interacts and stabilized by complexing with two Cd2+ ions and framework oxide ions, while each Br3ion interacts with one Cd2+ ion and framework oxide ions. Because of residual water molecules the following reactions may be occurred inside of zeolite cavity:

• Journal of the Korean Chemical Society
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• v.32 no.6
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• pp.520-527
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• 1988

The crystal structures of $Co^{2+}\;and\;Ag^+\;exchanged\;zeolite\; A,\; Ag_6Co_3$-A(a = 12.131(5)$\AA$) and $Ag_3Co_{4.5}$-A(a = 12.145(1)$\AA$), have been determined by single crystal X-ray diffraction techniques. Both structures were solved and refined in the cubic space group Pm3m at 21(1)$^{\circ}C$. Full-matrix leastsquares refinement converged to the final error indices of R1 = 0.045 and R2 = 0.041 for $Ag_3Co_{4.5}-A,\; and\; R1 = 0.066\; and\; R2 = 0.076\; for\; Ag_6Co_3$-A using the 258 and 189 reflections, respectively, for which I > 3$\sigma$(I). Both structures indicate that CO(Ⅱ)ions are coordinated by three framework oxygens; the Co(II) to O(3) distances are 2.118(4)$\AA$ for $Ag_3Co_{4.5}$-A and 2.106(1)$\AA$ for $Ag_6Co_3-A$, respectively. In each structure, the angle substended at Co(II), O(3)-Co(II)-O(3) is ca 120°, close to the idealized trigonalplanar value. $Co^{2+}$ ions prefer to 6-ring sites and $Ag^+$ ions prefer to 8-ring site when total number of cations is more than 8. The crystals of hydrated and dehydrated $Ag_{12-2x}Co_x-A (x > 4.5)$ had no crystalline diffraction pattern, indicating the apparent exchange limit of $Co^{2+}\; into\; Ag_{12}-A\; is\; 4.5 Co^{2+}$ ions per unit cell. $Co^{2+}$ ions hydrolyze $H_2O$ molecules and $H_3O^+$ concentraction is accumulating. These $H_3O^+$ ions destroy the zeolite structures.

• Development and Reproduction
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• v.13 no.1
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• pp.1-11
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• 2009

Implantation itself is governed by an array of endocrine, paracrine and autocrine modulators, of embryonic and maternal origin. Window of implantation is the unique temporal and spatial expression of factors allows the embryo to implant via signaling, appositioning, attachment, and invasion in a specific time frame of $2{\sim}4$ days. When the embryo has arrived in the uterine cavity, a preprogrammed sequence of events occurs, which involves the production and secretion of a multitude of biochemical factors such as cytokines, growth factors, and adhesion molecules by the endometrium and the embryo, thus leading to the formation of a receptive endometrium. Cytokines such as LIF, CSF-1, and IL-1 have all been shown to play important roles in the cascade of events that leads to implantation. Integrin, L-selectin ligands, glycodelin, mucin-1, HB-EGF and pinopodes are involved in appositioning and attachment. The embryo also produces cytokines and growth factors (ILs, VEGF) and receptors for endometrial signals such as LIF, CSF-1, IGF and HB-EGF. The immune system and angiogenesis play an important role. The usefulness of these factors to assess endometrial receptivity and to estimate the prognosis for pregnancy in natural and artificial cycles remains to be proven. Integrins, pinopodes, glycodelin and LIF (from biopsies) are promising candidates; from uterine flushings, glycodelin and LIF are also candidates. The ideal serum marker is not available, but VEGF, glycodelin and CSF have some clinical implications. Further evaluation that includes larger groups of infertile women and fertile controls are needed to elucidate whether their presence in plasma, flushing fluid, or endometrial samples can be used as some kind of a screening tool to assess endometrial function and prognosis for pregnancy before and after artificial reproductive therapy. A better understanding of their function in human implantation may lead to therapeutic intervention, thereby improving the success rate in reproduction treatment. New molecular techniques are becoming available for measuring both embryonic and endometrial changes prior to and during implantation. The use of predictive sets of markers may prove to be more reliable than a single marker. Ultimately, the aim is to use these tools to increase implantation in artificial cycles and consequently improve live-birth rates.