• The Korean Journal of Nuclear Medicine Technology
• /
• v.14 no.2
• /
• pp.93-99
• /
• 2010

Purpose: Currently, PET/CT scan has been known to provide useful information to both preoperative and postoperative examination of cancer patients. Contracted stomach by the long fasting could cause difficulties of interpretation because of its size on reconstructed image data. To solve this problem, after the whole body PET/CT scan, patients were administrated in drinking 300 mL of water to expand stomach and performed additional scan on stomach region. Not only PET/CT scan but also CT performs this water-administration, and patients were take oral solution to make stomach expand for stomach cancer. When this scan performed, patients lay supine position. In this study, we evaluated the capacity of stomach through PET/CT scan with drinking water performed in supine and prone position so that we can distinguish exact location of cancer around pylorus and inferior wall of stomach. Furthermore, image data from supine and prone positions were analyzed the difference of volume of stomach through the change of standardized uptake values. Materials and Methods: From July 2009 to January 2010 in severance hospital, 30 patients who were diagnosed as early gastric cancer or advanced gastric cancer were chosen. All patients had PET/CT scan before the operation and have had follow-up PET/CT. The patients fast for at least 8 hours, and had an injection intravenously with $^{18}F$-FDG, 7.4 MBq (0.2 mCi/kg) per kilogram. They were rested for 60 minutes. Before the examination, all patients were administrated to drink water for 300 mL Patients had PET/CT scan with supine position around the region of stomach, whole body, and around the region of stomach with prone position after drinking another 300 mL of water respectively. Results: As a results of comparison between stomach capacity of 30 patients in supine and prone position, the study draw results that average capacity of stomach body was 460.29 $mm^2$ in supine position, and 641.39 $mm^2$ in prone position for 30 patients. The change of capacity shows 41.3% expanded in prone position. And there was no noticeable difference at maximum standardized uptake values in supine position and prone position. Conclusion: As results, stomach would have more expanded capacity in prone position than supine position. For patients who have physical disabilities to move freely, additional scan in prone position will be obstacle to perform. However, if additional scan in supine position add with the scan in prone position, it will be easier to diagnose stomach cancer. Moreover, we believe that this study will help the research for inventing support tools for patients who have physical disabilities in prone position.

• Korean Journal of Soil Science and Fertilizer
• /
• v.25 no.3
• /
• pp.249-254
• /
• 1992

This research was conducted to investigate the effects of fly ash applications on growth and yield parameters of corn (Zea mays L.), and soil chemical properties. Corn height at silking stage, and height and dry matter ratio at harvesting stage were enhanced by applications of fly ashes derived from bituminous coal and anthracite, respectively. Effects of fly ash treatment on growth parameters of corn were varied with kinds and levels of fly ash application and growth periods, but relatively small without revealing a major negative effect as compared to the control. Yield of corn was increased by applying fly ash of anthracite origin, but other yield components were not influenced negatively by fly ash treatment. Soil total carbon contents, cation exchange capacity, and phosphorus contents of soils sampled after harvest of corn were significantly increased by fly ash treatment, although there were slightly different effects according to kinds and levels of fly ash application. Exchangeable cations of soils were varied within an experimental error range. Phosphorus taken up by corn was enhanced by treating fly ash of the bituminous coal to the soil and there were a positive correlation between phosphorus uptake and soil Phosphorus level. Cation uptake by corn was changed a little, but no significant reduction was observed in cation uptake due to fly ash treatment. It seems to be difficult to figure out the mechanism of fly ash effects on growth and nutrient uptake by corn with one year field experiment, however treatment of fly ash enhanced some parameters of growth and yield, and nutrient uptake by corn without revealing any major negative effects. To determine the value of fly ash as a fertilizer source, continuous researches under various soil and crop conditions were considered to be necessary.

• The Korean Journal of Food And Nutrition
• /
• v.26 no.4
• /
• pp.806-813
• /
• 2013

Agrimonia pilosa Ledeb. is a medicinal plant with anti-tumor, anti-oxidant, anti-inflammatory and anti-hyperglycemic activities. However, few studies of the anti-diabetic effect of A. pilosa on insulin resistance status have been performed. In the present study, the anti-diabetic effect of A. pilosa water extract (AP) was determined by investigating its ${\alpha}$-glucosidase inhibitory property, glucose utilization, and uptake, as well as insulin resistance mechanism of action in C2C12 skeletal muscle cells. Compared to positive control (acarbose), AP ($10mg/m{\ell}$) showed a similar ${\alpha}$-glucosidase inhibitory capacity. Glucose uptake was significantly increased by $1{\mu}m$ insulin treatment (p<0.05). However, palmitic acid (FFA, 1 mM) induced muscle insulin resistance and glucose uptake dysfunction. On the other hand, AP ($10{\mu}g/m{\ell}$) was capable of reversing the FFA-induced insulin resistance in C2C12 myotubes. Compared to control, AP ($100{\mu}g/m{\ell}$ without insulin) significantly increased the utilization of glucose (p<0.05) in C2Cl2 myotubes cultured in normal glucose (7 mM). AP treatment significantly increased the relative mRNA and protein expression levels of Akt. In particular, the effect of A. pilosa on the insulin signaling system is associated with the up-regulation of Akt genes and glucose uptake in C2Cl2 myotubes. These results suggest that A. pilosa is useful in the prevention of diabetes and the treatment of hyperglycemic disorders.

• Korean Journal of Soil Science and Fertilizer
• /
• v.43 no.6
• /
• pp.981-986
• /
• 2010

This study was carried out to investigate the effects of fertilizer and organic resource annual dressing for 30 years of Jeonbug series (silt loam) on soil properties and rice N uptake in paddy field soil. In the study field, treatments including control (NPK), NPK+rice straw, NPK+rice straw compost and nitrogen fertilization levels at 0, 100, 150, 200, 250 kg $ha^{-1}$ have been imposed for 30 years. Soil hardness and bulk density decreased from 15.7 mm and 1.381 Mg $m^{-3}$ in the control to 12.5 mm and 1.244 Mg $m^{-3}$ in NPK+rice straw compost treatment, respectively, indicating improvement of soil physical conditions such as porosity. Co-application of straw compost with NPK also result in a better chemical properties than NPK alone as it increased available phosphate (from 96 to 133 mg $kg^{-1}$), available silicate (from 81 to 116 mg $kg^{-1}$), and cation exchange capacity (from 9.8 to 11.4 $cmol_c\;kg^{-1}$). Soil organic matter concentration of top soil (0 to 7.5 cm in depth) was higher in NPK+rice straw and NPK+rice straw compost than in control. Fertilizer N uptake amount was much higher in NPK+rice straw (nitrogen fertilization level; 250 kg $ha^{-1}$) and NPK+rice straw compost (nitrogen fertilization levels; 200, 250 kg $ha^{-1}$) plots compared to the control (nitrogen fertilization level; 100 kg $ha^{-1}$) plot. Nitrogen use efficiency was showed significantly high in the NPK+rice straw compost (nitrogen fertilization levels; 100, 150 kg $ha^{-1}$) plot compared to the control (nitrogen fertilization level; 100 kg $ha^{-1}$) plot. Therefore, it was suggested that application of organic inputs is helpful in improving soil fertility and physical conditions and thus in N uptake.

• Proceedings of the Korean Environmental Sciences Society Conference
• /
• 1998.10a
• /
• pp.2-4
• /
• 1998

Proliferation of Nocardia amarae cells in activated sludge has often been associated with the generation of nuisance foams. Despite intense research activities in recent years to examine the causes and control of Nocardia foaming in activated sludge, the foaming continued to persist throughout the activated sludge treatment plants in United States. In addition to causing various operational problems to treatment processes, the presence of Nocardia may have secondary effects on the fate of heavy metals that are not well known. For example, for treatment plants facing more stringent metal removal requirements, potential metal removal by Nocardia cells in foaming activated sludge would be a welcome secondary effect. In contrast, with new viosolid disposal regulations in place (Code o( Federal Regulation No. 503), higher concentration of metals in biosolids from foaming activated sludge could create management problems. The goal of this research was to investigate the metal sorption property of Nocardia amarae cells grown in batch reactors and in chemostat reactors. Specific surface area and metal sorption characteristics of N. amarae cells harvested at various growth stages were compared. Three metals examined in this study were copper, cadmium and nickel. Nocardia amarae strain (SRWTP isolate) used in this study was obtained from the University of California at Berkeley. The pure culture was grown in 4L batch reactor containing mineral salt medium with sodium acetate as the sole carbon source. In order to quantify the sorption of heavy metal ions to N amarae cell surfaces, cells from the batch reactor were harvested, washed, and suspended in 30mL centrifuge tubes. Metal sorption studies were conducted at pH 7.0 and ionlc strength of 10-2M. The sorption Isotherm showed that the cells harvested from the stationary and endogenous growth phase exhibited significantly higher metal sorption capacity than the cells from the exponential phase. The sequence of preferential uptake of metals by N. amarae cells was Cu>Cd>Ni. The specific surFace area of Nocardia cells was determined by a dye adsorption method. N.amarae cells growing at ewponential phase had significantly less specific surface area than that of stationary phase, indicating that the lower metal sorption capacity of Nocardia cells growing at exponential phase may be due to the lower specific surface area. The growth conditions of Nocardia cells in continuous culture affect their cell surface properties, thereby governing the adsorption capacity of heavy metal. The comparison of dye sorption isotherms for Nocardia cells growing at various growth rates revealed that the cell surface area increased with increasing sludge age, indicating that the cell surface area is highly dependent on the steady-state growth rate. The highest specific surface area of 199m21g was obtained from N.amarae cell harvested at 0.33 day-1 of growth rate. This result suggests that growth condition not only alters the structure of Nocardia cell wall but also affects the surface area, thus yielding more binding sites of metal removal. After reaching the steady-state condition at dilution rate, metal adsorption isotherms were used to determine the equilibrium distributions of metals between aqueous and Nocardia cell surfaces. The metal sorption capacity of Nocardia biomass harvested from 0.33 day-1 of growth rate was significantly higher than that of cells harvested from 0.5- and 1-day-1 operation, indicatng that N.amarae cells with a lower growth rate have higher sorpion capacity. This result was in close agreement with the trend observed from the batch study. To evaluate the effect of Nocardia cells on the metal binding capacity of activated sludge, specific surface area and metal sorption capacity of the mixture of Nocardia pure cultures and activated sludge biomass were determined by a series of batch experiments. The higher levels of Nocardia cells in the Nocardia-activated sludge samples resulted in the higher specific surface area, explaining the higher metal sorption sites by the mixed luquor samples containing greater amounts on Nocardia cells. The effect of Nocardia cells on the metal sorption capacity of activated sludge was evaluated by spiking an activated sludge sample with various amounts of pre culture Nocardia cells. The results of the Langmuir isotherm model fitted to the metal sorption by various mixtures of Nocardia and activated sludge indicated that the mixture containing higher Nocardia levels had higher metal adsorption capacity than the mixture containing lower Nocardia levels. At Nocardia levels above 100mg/g VSS, the metal sorption capacity of activate sludge increased proportionally with the amount of Noeardia cells present in the mixed liquor, indicating that the presence of Nocardia may increase the viosorption capacity of activated sludge.

• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
• /
• v.10 no.2
• /
• pp.105-111
• /
• 1998

My prior questionnaire has applied to 12 male and 29 female adults over 30-69 years old suffering from lumbago fer 6 months at least or having diagnosis of lumbago. I had the following conclusions from physical characteristics and cardiopulmonary capacity of lumbago Patients caused by obesity 1) The rate of lipids in the body was rotated to the maximum heart rate in the male group of lumbago patients (P<0.01). 2) The rate of lipids in the body was related to the maximum intake of oxygen(O2) in the male group of lumbago patients(P<0.01). 3) The maximum heart rae was related to the maximum intake of oxygen in the male group of lumbago patients(P<0.01). 4) The rate of lipids in the body was related to the maximum intake of oxygen in the female group of lumbago patients(P<0.05). 5) The rate of lipids in the body showed no relation to the maximum heart rate in the female group of lumbago patients(P>0.05). 6) The maximum heart rate was related to the maximum intake of oxygen in the female group of lumbago patients(P<0.01). 7) The cardiovascular system showed no relation te the function of the lungs in the male and female groups of lumbago patients(P>0.05) 8) The lung capacity per second of lumbago patients(FEV $1.0\%$) measured less than normal adults. 9) The maximum intake of oxygen(V02max) and heart rate was less than normal adults. Thus I summarized the conclusion so follows: the cardiovascular system of lumbago patients showed no relation to their pulmonary function, and the rate of lipids in the body Showed a correlation with the maximum intake of oxygen but the rate of lipids in the body showed no relation to their pulmonary function.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
• /
• v.3 no.5
• /
• pp.513-519
• /
• 1999

Direct exposure of renal tubular brush-border membranes (BBM) to free cadmium (Cd) causes a reduction in phosphate (Pi) transport capacity. Biochemical mechanism of this reduction was investigated in the present study. Renal proximal tubular brush-border membrane vesicles (BBMV) were isolated from rabbit kidney outer cortex by Mg precipitation method. Vesicles were exposed to $50{\sim}200\;{\mu}M\;CdCl_2$ for 30 min, then the phosphate transporter activity was determined. The range of Cd concentration employed in this study was comparable to that of the unbound Cd documented in renal cortical tissues of Cd-exposed animals at the time of onset of renal dysfunction. The rate of sodium-dependent phosphate transport $(Na^+-Pi\;cotransport)$ by BBMV was determined by $^{32}P-Iabeled$ inorganic phosphate uptake, and the number of $Na^+-Pi$ cotransporters in the BBM was assessed by Pi-protectable $^{14}C-labeled$ phosphonoformic acid $([^{14}C]PFA)$ binding. The exposure of BBMV to Cd decreased the $Na^+-Pi$ cotransport activity in proportion to the Cd concentration in the preincubation medium, but it showed no apparent effect on the Pi-protectable PFA binding. These results indicate that an interaction of renal BBM with free Cd induces a reduction in $Na^+-Pi$ cotransport activity without altering the carrier density in the membrane. This, in turn, suggest that the suppression of phosphate transport capacity $(V_{max})$ observed in Cd-treated renal BBM is due to a reduction in $Na^+-Pi$ translocation by existing carriers, possibly by Cd-induced fall in membrane fluidity.

• Journal of Plant Biology
• /
• v.12 no.1
• /
• pp.7-14
• /
• 1969

Korea has a lots of margin for security of farm land from her coastal region. The area of saline soil may be reached about 10% of present farm land if the reclamation works are finished. This paper was conducted as a part of studying the possibilities of desalination of saline soil through the experiment of some halophytes. The halophytes in this works were Salicornia herbacea L., Suaeda glauca Bunge, chenopodium acuminatum Willd, and Scirpus triquerter L. Of the above halophytes, Salicornia was proved the most effective plant for desalination of saline soil referring to the following results; 1) The seasonal uptake of chloride by Salicornia was the highest of all. However, the general tendencies of all plants showed a decrease on August. 2) Salinity of soil showed the lowest value on the site where Salicornia was grwon densely. Comparing the other sites grouped by age of saline soil with the above site, the salinity of rice-paddy (10 years after reclamation) is similar to those of the site wehre Salicornia were as well as the 50 cm below the surface soil. 3) The maximum water holding capacity of surface soil appeared in the site of Salicornia, but in 50 cm below the surface, the maximum water holding capacity are almost on equat terms having no connection with the age of saline soil. Soil pH, other chemical compositions such as organic matter, magnesium, potassium, phosphorous, and nitrate were determined to elucidate the relationship between the changes of soil properties and chemical uptakes by certain halophytes. It is assumed that the above chemical compositions are frequently affected by the factors such as coastal circulation of salts, exchangeable base, microbial growth, climatic conditions, and irrigation of water.

• Polymer(Korea)
• /
• v.35 no.6
• /
• pp.586-592
• /
• 2011

In this study, we synthesized vinylbenzyl chloride-co-styrene-co hydroxyethyl acrylate (VBC-co-St-co-HEA) copolymer that can be applied to redox the flow battery process. The anion exchange membrane was prepared by the amination and crosslinking of VBC-co-St-co-HEA copolymer. The chemical structure and thermal properties of VBC-co-St-co-HEA copolymer and aminated VBC-co-St-co-HEA(AVSH) membrane were characterized by FTIR, $^1H$ NMR, TGA, and GPC analysis. The membrane properties such as ion exchange capacity(IEC), electrical resistance, ion conductivity and efficiency of all-vanadium redox flow battery were measured. The IEC value, electrical resistance, and ion conductivity were 1.17 meq/g, $1.9{\Omega}{\cdot}cm^2$, 0.009 S/cm, respectively. The charge-discharge efficiency, voltage efficiency and energy efficiency from all-vanadium redox flow battery test were 99.5, 72.6 and 72.1%, respectively.

• Korean Journal of Soil Science and Fertilizer
• /
• v.48 no.6
• /
• pp.582-587
• /
• 2015

This study was conducted to compare the plant growth and fruit quality of blueberries grown in different soil textures of Korea, in order to utilize the results for stable production and soil improvement. Rabbiteye blueberry cultivars 'Tifblue' and 'Baldwin' were planted and grown for three years from 2013 in wagner pot (1 $2000a^{-1}$) in a greenhouse of Namhae Sub-station, Institute of Horticultural and Herbal Science. The plants were grown in four soil textures, sand, sandy loam, loam and silt loam, and nutrient uptake and growth characteristics of plants were investigated. Leaf nitrogen and phosphorus contents of two cultivars grown in different soil textures ranged between 8.6 to $10.5gkg^{-1}$, which was lower than appropriate level for rabbiteye blueberry. However, the contents of potassium, calcium and magnesium in leaves were appropriate levels as $2.29{\sim}3.62gkg^{-1}$, $4.46{\sim}5.46gkg^{-1}$ and $1.45{\sim}2.12gkg^{-1}$, respectively. Nitrogen and phosphate contents in leaves were higher in the two cultivars grown in silt loam soil. There was no significant difference in plant volume and root dry weight among four soil textures in two cultivars. However, dry weight of leaves and branches were highest in loam soil. Fruit production was highest in loam and silt loam soil in two cultivars, showing negative correlation with the amount of sand in soil. However, sugar and acidity showed no correlation with sand content in soil. These results show the limit to the blueberry growth in soil that has no nutrient holding capacity; however, most of Korean soils that have good nutrient holding capacity can produce competitive fruits if the drainage is improved.