• Childhood Kidney Diseases
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• v.3 no.1
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• pp.27-34
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• 1999

Purpose: This study was designed to investigate the changes in soluble interleukin-2 receptor (sIL-2R) level in sera and urines of children with primary nephrotic syndrome, eliminating the confounding effects of age, proteinuria, and steroid treatment. Methods: Soluble IL-2R was measured by ELISA in sera and urines from patients with minimal change nephrotic syndrome or focal segmental glomerulosclerosis as well as from healthy controls. The serum levels and urinary sIL-2R/creatinine ratios were compared between control group and the 12 patient groups divided by their ages (0-1, 2-4, over 5 years), and presence or absence of proteinuria and/or steroid treatment (PU+Tx-, PU+Tx+, PU-Tx+, PU-Tx-). Results: Though the differences were not statistically significant probably because of the small numbers, serum sIL-2R levels seemed to be higher in younger age groups both in patients and control group. Nephrotic children did not show higher serum levels than normal children. Among the patients, proteinuric condition seemed to raise and steroid treatment tended to suppress the serum sIL-2R levels. Urinary sIL-2R/creatinine ratios were higher in younger age groups, more significantly in patients (P<0.001). Proteinuria and steroid treatment affected the urinary sIL-2R/creatinine ratios by the same way as the serum sIL-2R levels. Serum sIL-2R levels and urinary sIL-2R/creatinine ratios were not different between groups of different histologic findings or steroid responsiveness (P>0.05). Conclusion: Serum sIL-2R levels and the urinary sIL-2R/creatinine ratios were higher in younger age, and they were not higher in nephrotic patients compared to control group. The patients in relapse showed higher levels, while the levels were suppressed with steroid treatment. In proteinuric state, urinary sIL-2R/creatinine ratios reflected serum sIL-2R levels.

• Childhood Kidney Diseases
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• v.11 no.1
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• pp.41-50
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• 2007

Purpose : Dialysis in children with chronic renal failure presents with many difficulies. The purpose of this study is to find an improved method in chronic dialysis in infants and children less than 2 years of age by analyzing the experience with 10 cases. Methods : A retrospective review of the medical records of 10 patients(6 boys and 4 girls) was conducted. The patients had chronic renal failure and underwent chronic dialysis at Samsung medical center from March 1999 to February 2007. Results : At Initiation of dialysis, the median age was 3 months old(22 days-20 months), the median body weight was 3.75 kg(2.2-10.3 kg), and the median serum creatinine level was 4.3 mg/dL(2.0-11.4 mg/dL). The median duration of dialysis was 29.5 months(3-62 months). Dysplastic kidney disease was the most common underlying renal disease. Two patients were treated with hemodialysis, 4 patients with peritoneal dialysis, and 4 patients eventually switched dialysis modality. Nine of the 10 patients took erythropoietin and anti-hypertensive drugs. At the end of the follow up period, 1 patient received kidney transplantation, 2 patients died due to sepsis, and 5 patients were treated with peritoneal dialysis. Two patients were lost to follow up. The most common complication of dialysis was infection. Achieving vascular access and maintaining proper catheter function were the most important factors in treating patients with hemodialysis. The growth status of patients was aggravated after 6 month of dialysis but improved after 1 year of dialysis. Patients showed better growth on peritoneal dialysis than hemodialysis. Conclusion : Chronic dialysis can be performed successfully in infants and children under 2 years of age. Vascular access was the main limitation of hemodialysis, and infection was the common problem in both hemodialysis and peritoneal dialysis. To improve the patients survival rate and quality of life, major efforts should be directed toward the prevention of infection and preservation of catheter function. (J Korean Soc Pediatr Nephrol 2007;11:41-50)

• Korean Journal of Poultry Science
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• v.30 no.1
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• pp.67-72
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• 2003

This study was conducted to investigate the effect of germanium biotite on the growth performance, blood composition , fecal NH$_3$-N and volatile fatty acid(VFA) in broiler chicks. Two hundred forty broiler chicks were randomly allocated into five treatments with four replicates for five weeks. Dietary treatments included 1) Control, 2) GB1(basal diet + 200 mesh 0.5%), 3) GB2(basal diet + 325 mesh 0.5%), 4) GB3(basal diet + 200 mesh 1.0%) and 5) GB4(basal diet +325 nesh 1.0%) For overall period, weight gain, feed intake and feed conversion were not significantly different among treatments (P>0.05). Digestibilities of nutrients were not affected by adding GB(P>0.05). No differences occurred in red blood cell(RBC), white blood cell(WBC), hematocrit(HCT), hemoglobin(Hb), lymphocyte, monocyte and platelet of blood among the treatments (P>0.05). Fecal NH$_3$-N concentration of chicks fed GB1.0 diets(GB3 and GB4) was lower(P<0.03) than chicks fed GB0.5 diets(GB1 and GB2). Propionic acid and butyric acid in feces of chicks fed GB diets were lower(P<0.04) than in chicks fed control diet. GB diets reduced fecal acetic acid significantly compared to control (P<0.01). Also, acetic acid of feces in chicks fed GB1.0 diets(GB3 and GB4) was lower(P<0.02) than GB 0.5 diets(GB1 and GB2) treatments. In conclusion, dietary germanium biotite was an effective means of decreasing fecal NH$_3$-N and volatile fatty acid(VFA) emission.

• Korean Journal of Poultry Science
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• v.42 no.2
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• pp.147-156
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• 2015

This study was conducted to investigate the effects of dietary resveratrol on growth performance, blood biochemical parameters, immunoglobulin, and blood antioxidant activity in broiler chicks. Three hundred twenty one-day old broiler chicks were divided 8 treatments (C(-), basal diet; C(+), basal diet with antibiotics; DL-${\alpha}$-tocopherol 20 IU; DL-${\alpha}$-tocopherol 200 IU; resveratrol 20 ppm; resveratrol 200 ppm; methylated resveratrol 20 ppm; methylated resveratrol 200 ppm) with 4 replicates and 10 birds per replicate. Birds were reared for 35 days, and, at the age of 35 days, eight birds of average weight from each replicate were selected for blood samples collection. There were no significant differences on feed intake and feed conversion ratio. But final body weight and weight gain in antibiotics, resveratrol and methylated resveratrol treatments were significantly higher than no-antibiotics and ${\alpha}$-tocopherol treatments (P<0.05). There were no significant differences on carcass rate and relative organ weights among treatments, however, weights of liver and bursa of februcius in antibiotics, resveratrol and methylated resveratrol treatment were lower than other treatments. Weight of pancreas was high in resveratrol and methylated treatment. On the cecal microflora (total microbes, Coliform bacteria, Salmonella spp., and lactic acid bacteria), these in resveratrol and methylated resveratrol treatments didn't show the differences compared with those in no-antibiotics, antibiotics, and ${\alpha}$-tocopherol treatments. In the serum, there were no significant differences on creatinine, blood urea nitrogen (BUN), total protein, albumin, globulin, alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) among treatments, though globulin contents of reseveratrol 200 ppm and methylated resveratrol 20 ppm treatments decreased compared to those of other treatments. Immunoglobulin (IgA, IgG and IgM) were significantly decreased in antibiotics and resveratrol treatments compared to that of no-antibiotics and ${\alpha}$-tocopherol treatments (P<0.05). Superoxide dismutase (SOD) like activity tended to increase in resveratrol groups (P<0.05), however, there was no significant difference on malondiakdehyde (MDA) content among treatments. In conclusion, these results showed that resveratrol derived from mulberry can be used as alternative of antibiotics through improvement of broiler's performance and maintain of health.

• International Journal of Highway Engineering
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• v.1 no.1
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• pp.107-119
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• 1999

The joints in the jointed concrete pavement provide a control against transverse or longitudinal cracking at slab, which may be caused by temperature or moisture variation during or after hydration. Without control of cracking, random cracks cause more serious distresses and result in structural or functional failure of pavement system. However, joints nay cause distresses due to its inherent weakness in structural integrity. Thus, the evaluation at joint is very important. and the joint-related distresses should be evaluated reasonably for economic rehabilitation. The purpose of this paper was to develop an evaluation system at joints of jointed concrete pavement using finite element analysis program, ILLI-SLAB, and nondestructive testing device. FWD. To develop an evaluation system for JCP, a sensitivity analysis was performed using ILLI-SLAB program with a selected variables which might affect fairly to on the performance of transverse joints. The most significant variables were selected from precise analysis. An evaluation charts were made for jointed concrete pavement by adopting the field FWD data. It was concluded that the variables which most significantly affect to pavement deflections are the modulus of subgrade reaction(K) and the modulus of dowel/concrete interaction(G), and limiting criteria on the performance of joints at JCP are 300pci. 500,000 lb/in. respectively. Using these variables and FWD test, a charts of load transfer ratio versus surface deflection at joints were made in order to evaluate the performance of JCP. Practically, Chungbu highway was evaluated by these evaluation charts and FWD field data for jointed concrete pavement. For Chungbu highway, only one joint showed smaller value than limiting criterion of the modulus of dowel/concrete interaction(G). The rest joints showed larger values than limiting criteria of the modulus of subgrade reaction(K) and the modulus of dowel/concrete interaction(G).

• The Korean Journal of Nuclear Medicine Technology
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• v.16 no.2
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• pp.131-134
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• 2012

Purpose : The labeling efficiency of radiopharmaceuticals in nuclear medicine is important in terms of accuracy and reliability of the examination. Usually $^{99m}Tc$-HMPAO used for brain SPECT scan is chemically unstable since lots of impurities are existing. Therefore, occurrence of loss of labeling efficiency is easy to appear. In this paper, labeling and use of $^{99m}Tc$-HMPAO should be helpful through experiments on factors affecting the labeling efficiency of $^{99m}Tc$-HMPAO. Materials and Methods : Domestic HMPAO vials (Dong-A) used for brain SPECT scan were tested. Domestic Samyeong Generator 55.5 GBq (1,500 mCi), TLC measurement sets (ITLC-SG, butanone, saline, TLC chamber) and radio-TLC scanner (Advantest, Bioscan) were used. In the first experiment, after eluting generator at 1, 8, 16, 24, 28 hours apart, each eluted $^{99m}Tc$-pertechnetate were labeled with HMPAO and the labeling efficiency was measured. In the second experiment, after eluting $^{99m}Tc$-pertechnetate from a generator, $^{99m}Tc$-pertechnetate was drawn at 0, 1, 3, 6 hours. And each drawn $^{99m}Tc$-pertechnetate were labeled with HMPAO for measuring labeling efficiency. In the third experiment, labeling efficiency was measured at 0, 0.5, 3, 5, 7 hours after labeling $^{99m}Tc$-HMPAO. Results : In the first experiment, measured values were appeared 95.05, 94.64, 94.94, 95.64, 96.76% in passing order of time. In the second experiment, measured values were appeared 94.38, 94.23, 93.26, 91.03% in passing order of time. In the third experiment, measured values were appeared 95.76, 94.17, 88.19, 83.6, 76.86% in passing order of time. Conclusion : In the first experiment of this paper, labeling efficiency of $^{99m}Tc$-HMPAO labeled with $^{99m}Tc$-pertechnetate eluted after 24 hours from first elution. Additional experiments will be needed to discuss for usability. In the second experiment, the labeling efficiency was slightly decreased in chronological order, but it was measured higher than 90%. Also, additional experiments will be needed to discuss for usability. In the third experiment, the labeling efficiency was decreased considerably. Especially, within 3 hours after the labeling is recommended to use $^{99m}Tc$-HMPAO

• The Korean Journal of Nuclear Medicine Technology
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• v.14 no.1
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• pp.54-60
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• 2010

Purpose: Nuclear medicine manufacturers provide various softwares which shorten imaging time using their own image processing techniques such as UlatraSPECT, ASTONISH, Flash3D, Evolution, and nSPEED. Seoul National University Hospital has introduced softwares from Siemens and Philips, but it was still hard to understand algorithm difference between those two softwares. Thus, the purpose of this study was to figure out the difference of two softwares in planar images and research the possibility of application to images produced with high energy isotopes. Materials and Methods: First, a phantom study was performed to understand the difference of softwares in static studies. Various amounts of count were acquired and the images were analyzed quantitatively after application of PIXON, Siemens and ASTONISH, Philips, respectively. Then, we applied them to some applicable static studies and searched for merits and demerits. And also, they have been applied to images produced with high energy isotopes. Finally, A blind test was conducted by nuclear medicine doctors except phantom images. Results: There was nearly no difference between pre and post processing image with PIXON for FWHM test using capillary source whereas ASTONISH was improved. But, both of standard deviation(SD) and variance were decreased for PIXON while ASTONISH was highly increased. And in background variability comparison test using IEC phantom, PIXON has been decreased over all while ASTONISH has shown to be somewhat increased. Contrast ratio in each spheres has also been increased for both methods. For image scale, window width has been increased for 4~5 times after processing with PIXON while ASTONISH showed nearly no difference. After phantom test analysis, ASTONISH seemed to be applicable for some studies which needs quantitative analysis or high contrast, and PIXON seemed to be applicable for insufficient counts studies or long time studies. Conclusion: Quantitative values used for usual analysis were generally improved after application of the two softwares, however it seems that it's hard to maintain the consistency for all of nuclear medicine studies because result images can not be the same due to the difference of algorithm characteristic rather than the difference of gamma cameras. And also, it's hard to expect high image quality with the time shortening method such as whole body scan. But it will be possible to apply to static studies considering the algorithm characteristic or we can expect a change of image quality through application to high energy isotope images.

• The Korean Journal of Nuclear Medicine Technology
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• v.21 no.2
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• pp.55-64
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• 2017

Purpose Recently, with the spread of SPECT/CT, various image correction methods can be applied quickly and accurately, which enabled us to expect quantitative accuracy as well as image quality improvement. Among them, the Collimator Detector Response(CDR) recovery is a correction method aiming at resolution recovery by compensating the blurring effect generated from the distance between the detector and the object. The purpose of this study is to find out quantitative change depending on the change in detection distance in SPECT/CT images with CDR recovery applied. Materials and Methods In order to find out the error of acquisition count depending on the change of detection distance, we set the detection distance according to the obit type as X, Y axis radius 30cm for circular, X, Y axis radius 21cm, 10cm for non-circular and non-circular auto(=auto body contouring, ABC_spacing limit 1cm) and applied reconstruction methods by dividing them into Astonish(3D-OSEM with CDR recovery) and OSEM(w/o CDR recovery) to find out the difference in activity recovery depending on the use of CDR recovery. At this time, attenuation correction, scatter correction, and decay correction were applied to all images. For the quantitative evaluation, calibration scan(cylindrical phantom, $^{99m}TcO_4$ 123.3 MBq, water 9293 ml) was obtained for the purpose of calculating the calibration factor(CF). For the phantom scan, a 50 cc syringe was filled with 31 ml of water and a phantom image was obtained by setting $^{99m}TcO_4$ 123.3 MBq. We set the VOI(volume of interest) in the entire volume of the syringe in the phantom image to measure total counts for each condition and obtained the error of the measured value against true value set by setting CF to check the quantitative accuracy according to the correction. Results The calculated CF was 154.28 (Bq/ml/cps/ml) and the measured values against true values in each conditional image were analyzed to be circular 87.5%, non-circular 90.1%, ABC 91.3% and circular 93.6%, non-circular 93.6%, ABC 93.9% in OSEM and Astonish, respectively. The closer the detection distance, the higher the accuracy of OSEM, and Astonish showed almost similar values regardless of distance. The error was the largest in the OSEM circular(-13.5%) and the smallest in the Astonish ABC(-6.1%). Conclusion SPECT/CT images showed that when the distance compensation is made through the application of CDR recovery, the detection distance shows almost the same quantitative accuracy as the proximity detection even under the distant condition, and accurate correction is possible without being affected by the change in detection distance.

• Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology & Nutrition
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• v.6 no.2
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• pp.161-166
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• 2003

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the efficiency of treatment of living-related liver transplantation (LRLT) with the parental heterozygote carrier graft in children with Wilson disease. Methods: We retrospectively evaluated 7 children with Wilson disease who had received liver transplantation from 1994 to 2002 at Asan Medical Center. All the donors were parental. Liver functions, Kayser-Fleischer ring, and other factors regarding to copper metabolism were analyzed. Results: Of the 7 children, 5 had fulminant hepatitis and 2 had decompensated liver cirrhosis irresponsive to medical therapy. All donors being parental, all grafts came to be heterozygote carrier grafts. Survival rate was 100% in those 7 children, 87% in all children with liver transplantation in the same period, and 84% in children with non-metabolic liver disease. After liver transplantation, all 7 children could stop low copper diet and penicillamine therapy and their AST, total bilirubin and prothrombin time were recovered to normal. After liver transplantation, ceruloplasmin and serum copper levels were also recovered to normal. A marked reduction in 24 hr-urinary copper excretion was observed in all recipients after transplantation. During follow-up, Kayser-Fleischer rings resolved completely after LRLT in 5 children and partially in 1 child. Conclusion: We concluded that living-related liver tranplantation in children with Wilson disease with parental heterozygote carrier graft is an effective treatment modality.

• Pediatric Infection and Vaccine
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• v.17 no.1
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• pp.36-48
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• 2010

Purpose : In children on anticancer chemotherapy, bloodstream infections (BSIs) are a major cause of morbidity and mortality. We investigated febrile episodes and bloodstream infections in pediatric cancer patients to guide proper selection of empiric antibiotics for febrile pediatric hemato-oncologic patients. Methods : All febrile episodes treated in the division of hematology-oncology, the department of pediatrics, Hanyang University Hospital, between July 2005 and June 2008 were reviewed. Episodes with and without bloodstream infections were compared. Results : Forty cases (18.9%, 25 patients) of BSI occurred in 212 febrile episodes (63 patients). Thirty-seven cases (23.6%, 22 patients) of BSI occurred in 157 febrile episodes with neutropenia (54 patients). Microorganisms identified in BSI corresponded to 23 gram-positive bacteria (51.2%), 20 gram-negative bacteria (44.5%), and 2 fungi (4.4%). Rates of BSI between those who had received umbilical cord blood transplantation and those who had received transplantation from other source were significantly different (55.0% vs. 7.7%, P =0.001). No differences in mortality rate were observed among organisms in BSI patients. For febrile episodes the rate of BSI was higher among those with Chemoport than those with Hickman catheter (P =0.029) and gram-positive pathogens were more likely to be associated with Chemoport (P =0.001). Conclusion : The study showed the rate of BSI, distribution of pathogens with regard to neutropenia, transplantation, central venous catheters, and antimicrobial susceptibility of pathogens in order to help guide in the choice of optimal empiric antibiotics in pediatric febrile neutropenic hemato-oncologic patients.