• Investigative Magnetic Resonance Imaging
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• v.18 no.4
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• pp.323-331
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• 2014

Purpose : To assess the usefulness of rectal filling using ultrasonographic gel in patients with lower rectal cancer. Materials and Methods: Twenty five patients with lower rectal cancer were enrolled. High resolution pelvic MR was performed twice before and after gel filling. Independently and retrospectively, two radiologists reviewed each set of MR images using five-grade scales for sphincter involvement, CRM (circumferential resection margin) involvement and depiction of the tumor. Same two radiologists retrospectively performed consensus review of each set of MR images for tumor distance from the anal verge and T&N staging. Results: Tumor depiction scores from MR with gel filling were significantly higher than those of MR without distention (p<0.001). Compared to MR without distension, MR with gel filling had no significant differences in prediction of CRM or sphincter involvement (p>0.05). Distance from the anal verge was significantly different between MR with gel filling and rigid endoscopy ($6.8{\pm}1.6cm$ vs. $5.8{\pm}1.6cm$, p=0.001). There were no significant differences between pathological staging and MR staging with or without gel filling. Conclusion: MR with gel filling improved tumor depiction. And also MR with gel filling revealed same ability for the predictions of CRM or sphincter invasion in patients with lower rectal cancer, comparing with MR without gel filling.

• Proceedings of the KOR-BRONCHOESO Conference
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• 1993.05a
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• pp.97-97
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• 1993

Primary tumor arises infrequently in the parotid gland and generally, only about 20 to 40 percent of which prove to be malignant. They are characterized by histopathologic diversity, slow tumor growth, significant proportion of patients who have received previous treatment elsewhere. We have reviewed retrospectively 101 cases of parotid gland tumors which were treated for the recent eight years (1985-1992), Non-neoplastic tumor-like lesions were all excluded.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.44 no.2
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• pp.379-390
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• 1997

Background : It has long been suggested that neutrophils and their products are implicated as the central mediators of the acute lung injuries. Contrary to the dominant role of neutrophils in ARDS, many cases of ARDS has occurred in the setting of severe neutropenia without pulmonary neutrophil infiltration. Therefore it is certain that effector cell(s) other than neutrophil play an important role in the pathogenesis of ARDS. This experiment was performed to define the mechanism of ARDS in the setting of neutropenia, 1) by comparing the severity of endotoxin-induced lung injury, 2) by measurement of hydrogen peroxide production and cytokine concentration in the bronchoalveolar lavage cells and fluids obtained from different rats with and without cyclophosphamide-pretreatment. Method : The male Sprague-Dawleys were divided into the normal control (NC)-, endotoxin (ETX)-, and cyclophosphamide (CPA)-group in which neutropenia was induced by injecting cyclophosphamide intraperitoneally. Acute lung injury was evoked by injecting lipopolysaccharide (LPS) into a tail vein. The bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) was performed at 3 and 6 hour after administration of LPS to measure the change of cell counts and concentrations of protein and cytokines, tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) and interleukin-6 (IL-6). Hydrogen peroxide (HPO) production from BAL cells was measured at 6 hour after LPS administration by phenol red microassay with and without zymosan stimulation. Results : The results were as follows. A change of leukocyte counts in the peripheral blood after treatment with CPA : More than 95% of total leukocytes and neutrophils were reduced after CPA administration, resulting in severe neutropenia. A change of BAL cells : In the ETX-group, the number of total cells (p < 0.01) and of macrophage and neutrophil (p < 0.05) were increased at 3 and 6 hour after LPS administration compared to those of NC-group. In the CPA-group, the number of total leukocyte and macrophage were not changed after LPS administration, but neutrophil counts were significantly reduced and it took part in less than 0.1% of total BAL cells (p < 0.01 vs NC-group). BAL cells in this group were almost all macrophages (99.7%). A change of protein concentration in the BALF : In the ETX-group, protein concentration was increased at 3 hour and was more increased at 6 hour after LPS administration (p < 0.05 and < 0.01 vs NC-group, respectively). In the CPA-group, it was also significantly elevated at 3 hour after LPS administration (p < 0.05 vs NC-group), but the value was statistically not different from that of ETX-group. The value measured at 6 hour after LPS administration in the CPA-group became lower than that of ETX-group (p < 0.05), but showed still a higher value compared to that of NC-group (p < 0.05). A change of cytokine concentration in the BALF : TNF -alpha and IL-6 were elevated in the ETX - and CPA-group compared to those of NC-group at both time intervals. There was no statistical difference in the values of both cytokines between the ETX- and CPA-groups. Measurement of hydrogen peroxide production from BAL cells : There was no intergroup difference of HPO production from resting cells. HPO production after incubation with opsonized zymosan was significantly elevated in all groups. The percent increment of HPO production was highest in the ETX-group (89.0%, p < 0.0008 vs NC-group), and was 42.85 in the CPA-group (p = 0.003 vs NC-group ). Conclusion : Acute lung injury in the setting of neutropenia might be caused by functional activation of resident alveolar macrophages.

• Journal of Gastric Cancer
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• v.9 no.4
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• pp.246-255
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• 2009

Purpose: The objectives of this study were to investigate the impact of the number of resected lymph nodes on the survival of gastric cancer patients who underwent curative resection, and to evaluate the cut-off values that can have an influence on survival on the tumor stage-stratified analysis. Materials and Methods: The subjects were 949 gastric cancer patients who underwent curative resection at Korea University Medical Center from 1992 to 2002. They were classified according to the depth of tumor invasion, and the influence of the number of resected lymph nodes on survival was investigated. The cut-off value for the number of resected lymph nodes was determined as the smallest value that showed a significant survival difference. Results: The tumor size, location, lymph node stage, the number of metastatic lymph nodes and the number of resected lymph nodes were significantly different according to the tumor stage. The average number of resected lymph nodes was about 39, and it showed linear correlation with the number of metastatic lymph nodes. On the Cox proportional hazard model, the cut-off values of the number of resected lymph nodes, as corrected by the number of metastatic lymph nodes, was 14 for all the patients, 15 for the pT1 patients, 28 for the pT2 patients and 37 for the pT3 patients, respectively. Conclusion: Retrieving a number of lymph nodes that is more than the cut-off value could improve the survival of gastric cancer patients. Surgeons should also make efforts to perform an exact and thorough D2 lymph node dissection. Therefore, we urge surgeons to perform D2 dissection and pathologists should examine an certain exact number of lymph nodes.

• The Journal of the Korean bone and joint tumor society
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• v.13 no.1
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• pp.22-30
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• 2007

Purpose: We describe clinical, radiographic, MRI and pathologic findings as well as final outcome after simple curettage and bone graft of cystic fibrous dysplasia (FD) in the long bone, which has been rarely documented in the literature. Materials and Methods: Clinical records, radiographs, MRI and histologic slides of 11 patients with cystic FD in the long bone were retrospectively analyzed. Results: Six patients complained pain for several months, 4 patients presented pain after trivial injury event, and 1 patient suffered pathologic fracture. The mode of involvement was monostotic in 10 patients and polyostotic in l patient. The femur was affected in 7 patients, the humerus in 3, and the radius in 1. Radiography showed prominent, expansive lysis associated with ground-glass density of FD. MRI revealed 2 different signals of FD and cyst. Microscopic examination revealed classic findings of FD and non-specific cystic degeneration. The final outcome was satisfactory in every patient. Local recurrence was not observed. Conclusion: Cystic FD in the long bone seems not as rare as the scarcity of reported cases would indicate. MRI features provide a basis for differential diagnosis between benign cystic change and malignant transformation. Cystic FD would be an indication for surgery and simple curettage with allo-chip-bone graft is effective.

• Journal of the Korean Applied Science and Technology
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• v.37 no.1
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• pp.91-101
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• 2020

The purpose of this study was to investigate the influence of obesity on the expression of autophagy-related proteins in cardiac muscle. To this end, obesity was induced in rats through 20 weeks of high-fat diet, and the animals were then subjected to 8 weeks of treadmill exercise. Subsequently, the expression of proteins that regulate the induction of autophagy, formation of autophagosome, and fusion of autophagosome and lysosome was confirmed. Obesity was induced in the experimental animals (SD rats) through 20 weeks of high-fat diet (carbohydrate: 20%, fat: 60%, and protein: 20%), and they were subsequently subjected to 8 weeks of treadmill exercise (5 days/week, 30 min/day, 5 minutes; 8m/min, 5 minutes; 11m/min, 20 minutes; 14m/min). The experimental groups comprised the normal diet control group (ND-CON, n=10), high-fat diet comparison group (HFD-CON, n=10), and high-fat exercise group (HFD-TE, n=10). Oral glucose tolerance test was conducted before and after 8 weeks of treadmill exercise, and the area under the curve (AUC) was calculated. Through fasting insulin and fasting glucose levels, HOMA-IR, which is an index of insulin resistance, and abdominal visceral fat/body weight (AVF/BW) were calculated for comparison. Moreover, autophagy-related proteins were analyzed from cardiac tissue to investigate the effects of exercise training. Obesity was successfully induced in the HFD-CON group through long-term high-fat diet, and the HFD-CON group had higher body weight, AUC, HOMA-IR, and AVF/BW compared to the ND-CON group. The HFD-TE group, which underwent 8 weeks of treadmill exercise, showed improvements in AUC, HOMA-IR, and AVF/BW. Although the body weight tended to decrease as well, there was no statistically significant difference. mTOR and AMPK, which are involved in the induction of autophagy, both decreased in obesity but increased upon exercise. Beclin-1, BNIP3, ATG-7, p62, and LC3, which are related to the formation of autophagosomes, all increased in obesity and decreased after exercise. Cathepsin L and LAMP2, which regulate the fusion of autophagosome and lysosome, both decreased in obesity and increased upon exercise. Physical activity, including treadmill exercise, was found to induce normal autophagy and improve pathological phenomena observed in metabolic diseases. Therefore, the findings suggest the need to consider treadmill exercise as a primary means to achieve effective prevention and treatment of cardiac diseases.

• Childhood Kidney Diseases
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• v.14 no.2
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• pp.143-153
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• 2010

Purpose: Recently, massive proteinuria has been observed in some transplant patients after switching cyclosporine A (CsA) to sirolimus. To evaluate the pathogenesis of sirolimus-associated proteinuria, we investigated the early changes in slit diaphragm molecules by various administrative conditions of sirolimus and CsA. Methods: In vitro-Mouse podocytes were incubated with buffer (C), sirolimus ($10\;{\mu}g/mL$) after CsA ($10\;{\mu}g/mL$) (C-S), sirolimus only (S) and CsA and sirolimus simultaneously (C+S) for 12, 24, and 48 hours. In vivo- twenty four SPF female Wistar rats were divided into 4 groups buffer (C), sirolimus after 2 weeks of CsA (C-S), sirolimus only (S) and CsA and sirolimus simultaneously (C+S). All groups were treated by intraperitoneal injection every other day for 4 weeks (CsA: 25 mg/kg, sirolimus: 0.5 mg/kg). The changes in mRNA of slit diaphragm molecules were examined by RT-PCR. Results: The mRNA of nephrin was significantly decreased in group C-S and C+S in vitro. In vivo, the mRNA of nephrin in all groups using sirolimus and the mRNA of podocin in group C-S and C+S were decreased. Microscopically, group C-S and C+S showed small vacuolization and calcification in proximal tubular epithelial cells. Immunohistochemistry using nephrin and podocin antibodies did not show remarkable decrease of staining along the glomerular capillaries. Electron-microscopically, focal fusion of foot processes was seen in group C-S and C+S. Conclusion: This study suggests the decrease of slit diaphragm molecules (nephrin and podocin) in podocyte may be one of the causes of sirolimus associated proteinuria, and podocyte injury by sirolimus may need a primary hit by CsA to develop the proteinuria.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.37 no.6
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• pp.989-996
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• 2005

Ultraviolet (UV) induces photo aging, erythema, sunburn, photo-toxicity, photo-allergy, and skin tumor, To investigate photo-protective effects of AmorePacific Beauty-03 (APB-03; mixture of red ginseng extract powder and soybean extract powder) on UV-induced damaged skins, 40 SKH hairless female mice were orally administered APB-03 or saline five times a week and irradiated with UV three times per week far up to 12 weeks. Visible skin changes and skin damage in dermis and epidermis by replica image analysis and histological analysis. In APB-03-treated group, better skin, negative replica appearance and less wrinkle formation were observed compared to the UV control group. These results demonstrate oral administration of APB-03 have photo-protective effects on UV-damaged hairless mouse skin.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.43 no.3
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• pp.388-402
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• 1996

Background : To compare the diagnostic accuracies of High-resolution CT(HRCI) and chest radiography in the diagnosis of diffuse infiltrative lung disease(DILD). Methods : This study included ninety-nine patients with a diagnosis of acute or chronic DILD, representing 20 different diseases. Twelve normal subjects were included as control. The disease state was confirmed either pathologically or clinically. Radiographs and CT scans were evaluated separately by three independent observers without knowledge of clinical and pathologic results. The observers listed three most likely diagnoses and recorded degree of confidence. Results : The sensitivity of HRCT in the detection of DILD was 98.9% compared to 97.9% of chest radiography. Overall, a correct first-choice diagnosis was made in 48% using chest radiographs and in 60% using HRCT images. The correct diagnosis was among the top-three choices in 64% when chest radiographs were used, and in 75% when HRCT images were reviewed. Overally a confident diagnosis was reached more often with HRCT(55%) than with chest radiography(26%). The correct first-choice diagnosis increased remarkably when the HRCT was used in usual interstitial pneumonia, miliary tuberculosis, diffuse panbronchiolitis and lymphangitic carcinomatosis. Conclusion : HRCT is confirmed to be superior to conventional radiography in the detection and accurate diagnosis of DILD. HRCT is especially valuable in the diagnosis of usual interstitial pneumonia, miliary tuberculosis, diffuse panbronchiolitis, and lymphangitic carcinomatosis.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.25 no.4
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• pp.463-472
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• 2015

Adrenomedullin (AM) is a peptide expressed in all body tissues, and its related receptors are increased in liver fibrosis. In this study, we evaluated the effect of AM deficiency on liver fibrogenesis induced by $CCl_4$ using AM heterozygous (HT) mice. The animals received a single injection of $CCl_4$ or olive oil for the acute experiment, and received $CCl_4$ or olive oil three times a week for 6 weeks for the chronic experiment. Fibrosis was accessed using histopathological analysis and the western blot. The AM HT mice showed mild pericentrilobular degeneration when compared to the AM wild type (WT) mice. In the acute experiment, there was no significant difference between the AM WT and AM HT mice. However, in the chronic experiment, the $CCl_4$-treated AM HT mice showed more severe liver fibrosis than that of the CCl₄-treated AM WT mice. The AST and ALT levels of the AM HT $CCl_4$ group were higher than those of the AM WT CCl₄ group. Additionally, the collagen deposition, $\alpha$- SMA protein and TGF-$\beta$ protein were increased in the AM HT $CCl_4$ group when compared to the AM WT $CCl_4$ group. The AM HT mice also exhibited severe lipid peroxidation through the GSH decrement. Taken together, our data suggest that AM deficiency increases the susceptibility to liver fibrosis induced by $CCl_4$, indicating a novel therapeutic target for patients with liver fibrosis.