• ETRI Journal
• /
• v.27 no.4
• /
• pp.449-452
• /
• 2005

The electrical characteristics of solid state devices such as the bipolar junction transistor (BJT), metal-oxide semiconductor field-effect transistor (MOSFET), and other active devices are altered by impinging photon radiation and temperature in the space environment. In this paper, the threshold voltage, the breakdown voltage, and the on-resistance for two kinds of MOSFETs (200 V and 100 V of $V_{DSS}$) are tested for ${\gamma}-irradiation$ and compared with the electrical specifications under the pre- and post-irradiation low dose rates of 4.97 and 9.55 rad/s as well as at a maximum total dose of 30 krad. In our experiment, the ${\gamma}-radiation$ facility using a low dose, available at Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute (KAERI), has been applied on two commercially available International Rectifier (IR) products, IRFP250 and IRF540.

• Korean Journal of Clinical Pharmacy
• /
• v.24 no.3
• /
• pp.193-198
• /
• 2014

Objective: This study was conducted to compare the adherence, clinical and economical utility of fixed-dose combination tablets of sitagliptin/metformin with concomitant administration of sitagliptin and metformin in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus. Methods: Adherence was measured as the medication possession ratio (MPR) of ${\geq}80%$, and MPR was calculated as the number of total prescription days divided by the total treatment period. Hemoglobin $A_{1C}$ ($HbA_{1c}$) differences between baseline and predetermined periods were analyzed. Proportions of patients who achieved $HbA_{1c}$ less than 6.5% for three or more consecutive times were compared. To evaluate cost-effectiveness, prices of sitagliptin, metformin and sitagliptin/metformin tablets were investigated. Results: More than 90% of patients showed adherence in both groups (92.0% in fixed-dose combination group vs 95.9% in concomitant administration group), and there was no statistically significant difference (P = 0.113). Proportion of patients with HbA1c less than 6.5% for three or more consecutive times tended to be somewhat higher in fixed dose combination group than in concomitant administration group without a statistically significant difference (32.6% vs. 28.0%, P = 0.344). Total price of metformin and sitagliptin was cheaper up to 222 KRW in the case of fixed-dose combination tablets compared to the case of concomitant administration. Conclusion: The sitagliptin/metformin fixed-dose combination tablet had a similar patient adherence and was not significantly different in efficacy to the concomitant administration of each component. In terms of drug prices, fixed-dose combination tablets were cheaper than concomitant administration of each tablet.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
• /
• v.51 no.1
• /
• pp.325-336
• /
• 2019

The activity concentrations of $^{226}Ra$, $^{232}Th$, and $^{40}K$ from 102 building materials samples were determined using a high-purity germanium (HPGe) detector. The activity concentrations were evaluated for possible radiological hazards to the human health. The excess lifetime cancer risks (ELCR) were also estimated, and the average values were recorded as $0.42{\pm}0.24{\times}10^{-3}$, $3.22{\pm}1.83{\times}10^{-3}$, and $3.65{\pm}1.85{\times}10^{-3}$ for outdoor, indoor, and total ELCR respectively. The activity concentrations were further subjected to RESRAD-BUILD computer code to evaluate the long-term radiation exposure to a dweller. The indoor doses were assessed from zero up to 70 years. The simulation results were $92{\pm}59$, $689{\pm}566$, and $782{\pm}569{\mu}Sv\;y^{-1}$ for indoor external, internal, and total effective dose equivalent (TEDE) respectively. The results reported were all below the recommended maximum values. Therefore, the radiological hazards attributed to building materials under study are negligible.

• Journal of Radiation Protection and Research
• /
• v.39 no.3
• /
• pp.134-141
• /
• 2014

Along with the wide use of radiotherapy in cancer treatment, there is growing interest in beneficial effect of low-dose irradiation (LDI) in cancer therapy. Therefore, we investigate how LDI affects immune responses in mice model. Total body irradiation (TBI) on C57BL/6 mice was given at low-dose rate of $1mGy{\cdot}min^{-1}$ using $^{137}Cs$ source at three times for consecutive three days. Hematological examination, total cell numbers of spleen, populations and characteristics of splenocytes were determined. Total numbers of RBC or platelet in irradiated mice showed no significant changes. WBC counts were decreased in a dose-dependent manner 2 days after TBI, however, these differences are gradually waned until 28 days. Dose-dependent decrease in the number of splenocytes of TBI mice at day 2 was also improved as time progressed. While the level of Foxp3 mRNA was decreased, the frequency of $CD4^+$ T cells and $CD69^+$ cells in spleen was increased at day 2 and 14. Fractionated low-dose TBI on mice exhibited normal body weight with no distinguishable behavior during whole experimental periods. These results suggest that some parameters of immune system could be altered and evaluated by fractionated low-dose TBI and be used to broaden boundary of low dose radiation research.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
• /
• v.16 no.18
• /
• pp.8553-8557
• /
• 2016

Background: Accurate dose assessment and correct identification of irradiated from non-irradiated people are goals of biological dosimetry in radiation accidents. Objectives: Changes in the FDXR and the RAD51 gene expression (GE) levels were here analyzed in response to total body exposure (TBE) to a 6 MV x-ray beam in rats. We determined the accuracy for absolute quantification of GE to predict the dose at 24 hours. Materials and Methods: For this in vivo experimental study, using simple randomized sampling, peripheral blood samples were collected from a total of 20 Wistar rats at 24 hours following exposure of total body to 6 MV X-ray beam energy with doses (0.2, 0.5, 2 and 4 Gy) for TBE in Linac Varian 2100C/D (Varian, USA) in Golestan Hospital, in Ahvaz, Iran. Also, 9 rats was irradiated with a 6MV X-ray beam at doses of 1, 2, 3 Gy in 6MV energy as a validation group. A sham group was also included. After RNA extraction and DNA synthesis, GE changes were measured by the QRT-PCR technique and an absolute quantification strategy by taqman methodology in peripheral blood from rats. ROC analysis was used to distinguish irradiated from non-irradiated samples (qualitative dose assessment) at a dose of 2 Gy. Results: The best fits for mean of responses were polynomial equations with a R2 of 0.98 and 0.90 (for FDXR and RAD51 dose response curves, respectively). Dose response of the FDXR gene produced a better mean dose estimation of irradiated "validation" samples compared to the RAD51 gene at doses of 1, 2 and 3 Gy. FDXR gene expression separated the irradiated rats from controls with a sensitivity, specificity and accuracy of 87.5%, 83.5% and 81.3%, respectively, 24 hours after dose of 2 Gy. These values were significantly (p<0.05) higher than the 75%, 75% and 75%, respectively, obtained using gene expression of RAD51 analysis at a dose of 2 Gy. Conclusions: Collectively, these data suggest that absolute quantification by gel purified quantitative RT-PCR can be used to measure the mRNA copies for GE biodosimetry studies at comparable accuracy to similar methods. In the case of TBE with 6MV energy, FDXR gene expression analysis is more precise than that with RAD51 for quantitative and qualitative dose assessment.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
• /
• v.13 no.1
• /
• pp.6-9
• /
• 2000

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of lower numbers of sperm $(3{\times}10^9)$ per dose liquid semen and type of semen used in artificial insemination (AI) on sow reproductive performance in subtropical area. Semen was supplied by two commercial AI centers. A total of 671 female pigs from seven farms were inseminated with either $3{\times}10^9$ or $5{\times}10^9$ sperm per dose. Two types of semen were used: heterospermic semen from two boars of the same breed and homospermic semen from a single boar. After insemination, conception rate, farrowing rate, total litter size, and number of dead piglets were recorded. The analysis of variance indicated that there was no significant effect of interactions between pig farm, type of semen, or number of sperm on any of the traits measured. There were significant differences in conception rate, farrowing rate, and total litter size among pig farms (p<0.05). The effect of number of sperm per dose liquid semen ($3{\times}10^9$ or $5{\times}10^9$) was not significant. Sows inseminated with homospermic semen showed significantly higher conception and farrowing rates but significantly lower total litter size (p<0.05). In conclusion, the number of sperm per dose liquid semen for AI could be lowered to $3{\times}10^9 $ without affecting reproductive performance in subtropical areas like Taiwan.

• Korean Journal of Radiology
• /
• v.23 no.2
• /
• pp.256-263
• /
• 2022

Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the image quality and dose reduction of low-dose three-dimensional (3D) rotational angiography (RA) for evaluating intracranial aneurysms. Materials and Methods: We retrospectively evaluated the clinical data and 3D RA datasets obtained from 146 prospectively registered patients (male:female, 46:100; median age, 58 years; range, 19-81 years). The subjective image quality of 79 examinations obtained from a conventional method and 67 examinations obtained from a low-dose (5-seconds and 0.10-μGy/frame) method was assessed by two neurointerventionists using a 3-point scale for four evaluation criteria. The total image quality score was then obtained as the average of the four scores. The image quality scores were compared between the two methods using a noninferiority statistical testing, with a margin of -0.2 (i.e., score of low-dose group - score of conventional group). For the evaluation of dose reduction, dose-area product (DAP) and air kerma (AK) were analyzed and compared between the two groups. Results: The mean total image quality score ± standard deviation of the 3D RA was 2.97 ± 0.17 by reader 1 and 2.95 ± 0.20 by reader 2 for conventional group and 2.92 ± 0.30 and 2.95 ± 0.22, respectively, for low-dose group. The image quality of the 3D RA in the low-dose group was not inferior to that of the conventional group according to the total image quality score as well as individual scores for the four criteria in both readers. The mean DAP and AK per rotation were 5.87 Gy-cm² and 0.56 Gy, respectively, in the conventional group, and 1.32 Gy-cm² (p < 0.001) and 0.17 Gy (p < 0.001), respectively, in the low-dose group. Conclusion: Low-dose 3D RA was not inferior in image quality and reduced the radiation dose by 70%-77% compared to the conventional 3D RA in evaluating intracranial aneurysms.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
• /
• v.40 no.2
• /
• pp.83-89
• /
• 2013

Objective: To investigate outcomes of stimulated IVF cycles in which GnRH antagonist was omitted on the ovulation triggering day. Methods: A total of 86 women who underwent controlled ovarian hyperstimulation with recombinant FSH and GnRH antagonist flexible multiple-dose protocols were recruited and prospectively randomized into the conventional group (group A) or cessation group (group B). The GnRH antagonist, 0.25 mg/day of cetrorelix, was started when the leading follicle reached 14 mm in diameter and was continuously administered until the hCG triggering day (group A, 43 cycles) or until the day before hCG administration (group B, 43 cycles). The maturity of oocytes, fertilization rate, embryo quality, and implantation and clinical pregnancy rates were evaluated. Results: The duration of ovarian stimulation, total dose of gonadotropins, serum estradiol levels on hCG administration day, and number of oocytes retrieved were not significantly different between the two groups. The total dose of GnRH antagonist was significantly lower in group B than group A ($2.5{\pm}0.9$ vs. $3.2{\pm}0.8$ ampoules, p<0.05). There was no premature luteinization in any of the subjects. The proportion of mature oocytes and fertilization rate were not significantly different in group B than group A (70.7% vs. 66.7%; 71.1% vs. 66.4%, respectively). There were no significant differences in the implantation or clinical pregnancy rates. Conclusion: Our prospective randomized study suggested that cessation of GnRH antagonist on the hCG administration day during a flexible multiple-dose protocol could reduce the total dose of GnRH antagonist without compromising its effects on pregnancy rates.

• Imaging Science in Dentistry
• /
• v.34 no.3
• /
• pp.137-144
• /
• 2004

Purpose: To investigate the effects of low dose irradiation on the calcium content and calcific nodule formation of the MC3T3-El osteoblastic cell line. Materials and Methods: Cells were irradiated with a single dose of 0.2, 0.4 and 0.6 Gy at a dose rate of 5.38 Gy/min using Cs-137 irradiator. After irradiation, the calcium content and calcific nodule formation were examined on the 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th week. Results: We did not find any significant difference of total calcium content after irradiation of 0.2, 0.4 and 0.6 Gy when compared with the unirradiated control group. There was no significant difference of total calcium content between 0.2, 0.4 and 0.6 Gy irradiated groups. We found an increased tendency of the calcific nodule formation after irradiation of 0.2, 0.4 and 0.6 Gy when compared with the unirradiated control group without significant difference of calcific nodule formation between 0.2, 0.4 and 0.6 Gy irradiated groups. Conclusion : The results showed an increased tendency of the calcific nodule formation after low dose irradiation. However, this tendency did not increase with the increase of irradiation dose.

• Journal of radiological science and technology
• /
• v.41 no.2
• /
• pp.129-134
• /
• 2018

The present study made a phantom for gamma ray of 140 keV radiated from $^{99m}Tc$, examined shielding effect of lead by thickness of the shielding material, and measured surface dose and depth dose by body depth. The OSL Nano Dot dosimeter was inserted at 0, 3, 15, 40, 90, and 180 mm depths of the phantom, and when there was no shield, 0.2 mm lead shield, 0.5 mm lead shield, The depth dose was measured. Experimental results show that the total cumulative dose of dosimeters with depth is highest at 366.24 uSv without shield and lowest at 94.12 uSv with 0.5 mm lead shield. The shielding effect of 0.2 mm lead shielding was about 30.18% and the shielding effect of 0.5 mm lead shielding was 74.30%, when the total sum of the accumulated doses of radiation dosimeter was 100%. The phantom depth and depth dose measurements showed the highest values at 0 mm depth for all three experiments and the dose decreases as the depth increases. This study proved that the thicker a shielding material, the highest its shielding effect is against gamma ray of 140 keV. However, it was known that shielding material can't completely shield a body from gamma ray; it reached deep part of a human body. Aside from the International Commission on Radiation Units and Measurements (ICRU) recommending depth dose by 10 mm in thickness, a plan is necessary for employees working in department of nuclear medicine where they deal with gamma ray, which is highly penetrable, to measure depth dose by body depth, which can help them manage exposed dose properly.