• Journal of Gastric Cancer
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• v.17 no.4
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• pp.384-393
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• 2017

Purpose: The tumor microenvironment is known to be associated with the metabolic activity of cancer cells and local immune reactions. We hypothesized that glucose metabolism measured by 2-deoxy-2-($^{18}F$)fluoro-D-glucose ($^{18}F-FDG$) positron emission tomography (PET)-computed tomography (CT) ($^{18}F-FDG$ PET-CT) would be associated with local immune responses evaluated according to the presence of tumor infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs). Materials and Methods: We retrospectively reviewed 56 patients who underwent $^{18}F-FDG$ PET-CT prior to gastrectomy. In resected tumor specimens, TIL subsets, including cluster of differentiation (CD) 3, CD4, CD8, Forkhead box P3 (Foxp3), and granzyme B, were subjected to immunohistochemical analysis. The prognostic nutritional index (PNI) was calculated as: ($10{\times}serum$ albumin value)+($0.005{\times}peripheral$ lymphocyte counts). Additionally, the maximum standard uptake value ($SUV_{max}$) was calculated to evaluate the metabolic activity of cancer cells. Results: The $SUV_{max}$ was positively correlated with larger tumor size (R=0.293; P=0.029) and negatively correlated with PNI (R=-0.407; P=0.002). A higher $SUV_{max}$ showed a marginal association with higher CD3 (+) T lymphocyte counts (R=0.227; P=0.092) and a significant association with higher Foxp3 (+) T lymphocyte counts (R=0.431; P=0.009). No other clinicopathological characteristics were associated with $SUV_{max}$ or TILs. Survival analysis, however, indicated that neither $SUV_{max}$ nor Foxp3 held prognostic significance. Conclusions: FDG uptake on PET-CT could be associated with TILs, especially regulatory T cells, in gastric cancer. This finding may suggest that PET-CT could be of use as a non-invasive tool for monitoring the tumor microenvironment in patients with gastric cancer.

• The Korean Journal of Food And Nutrition
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• v.34 no.2
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• pp.196-206
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• 2021

The main purpose of this study was to examine the correlation between the consumption of red ginseng-based 'SSR' for 30 days and the reduction in human fatigue, blood component changes, and immune cell activity in 35 human subjects. 'SSR' is composed of zinc oxide, folic acid, and D-α-tocopherol with red ginseng as the main component. According to the protocol criteria of the study, 35 subjects who understood the purpose of the study and signed an informed consent form were selected. The fatigue survey was conducted through a questionnaire, and after taking 'SSR', a decreased tendency of physical, mental, and neurosensory fatigue was observed. In hematological analysis, no significant changes were observed in the levels of WBC, RBC, and hemoglobin; however, AST (SGOT) and ALT (SGPT) levels were statistically significantly decreased. In immunological analysis, it was observed that the proliferative effect of T cells (CD3+CD4+) was greater than that of NK cells (CD16+CD56+). The collected data were subjected to t-test analysis using the SPSS 25.0 statistical program. The result from this study proposes that 'SSR' can be used as a functional food material as it reduces human fatigue and enhances immune function.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.45 no.2
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• pp.154-163
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• 2019

Objectives: The hazardous heavy metal contents of cosmetics were investigated and the resulting values were compared by type of cosmetics: skin care preparations (SCP), hair preparations (HP), makeup preparations (MP), and eye makeup preparations (EMP). Methods: The hazardous heavy metal contents (Pb, As, Cd, Sb, Ni and Hg) were analyzed for 358 cosmetics products (187 SCP, 82 HP, 56 MP, and 33 EMP). Hg was measured by the amalgamation method, and other hazardous heavy metals were measured by inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometer (ICP-OES) after decomposition using the microwave method. Results: The mean contents of Pb, As, Cd, Sb, Ni, and Hg in cosmetics were 0.424, 0.068, 0.024, 0.398, $0.567{\mu}/g$, and Not Detected, respectively. All of the hazardous heavy metals were detected in most products, but below the recommended maximums of the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety. The level of Cd was the lowest at 14.8%, and Sb was the highest at 41.2%. Pb, Sb and Ni showed the highest mean value and detection rate in EMP. As, Cd, and Hg showed the highest in SCP, HP, and MP, respectively. Conclusion: Hazardous heavy metals were detected in most products. In particular, Pb, Sb, and Ni were broadly detected in EMP, meaning more stringent quality control is required.

• Annals of Occupational and Environmental Medicine
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• v.35
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• pp.3.1-3.11
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• 2023

Background: Studies on the risk of mercury (Hg) in Korean fishery products focus primarily on total Hg levels as opposed to methylmercury (MeHg) levels. None of the few studies on MeHg in tuna investigated tuna from Japanese restaurants. Few have evaluated lead (Pb), cadmium (Cd) and arsenic (As) in tuna. Thus, this study aimed to conduct a risk assessment by evaluating heavy metal concentrations in tuna from Japanese restaurants. Methods: Thirty-one tuna samples were collected from Japanese restaurants in the Republic of Korea. They were classified according to region and species. The concentration of heavy metals in the samples was analyzed using the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety Food Code method. The rate of exceedance of maximum residue levels (MRLs) and the risk compared to the provisional tolerable weekly intake (PTWI) set by the Joint Food and Agriculture Organization/World Health Organization Expert Committee on Food Additives (%PTWI) were evaluated for risk assessment. Results: The mean of MeHg, Pb, Cd and As concentrations were 0.56 ± 1.47 mg/kg, 33.95 ± 3.74 ㎍/kg, 14.25 ± 2.19 ㎍/kg and 1.46 ± 1.89 mg/kg, respectively. No sample exceeded the MRLs of Pb and Cd, but 9.7% of the samples exceeded the MRL of MeHg. The %PTWIs of MeHg, Pb, Cd and As were 4.2037, 0.0162, 0.0244 and 1.1627, respectively. The %PTWI of MeHg by age group and sex was highest among men aged 19-29 years (10.6494), followed by men aged 30-49 years (7.2458) and women aged 19-29 years (4.8307). Conclusions: We found that 3 out of 31 samples exceeded the MRL of MeHg. The %PTWI of MeHg showed significant differences based on age and sex, and the value was likely to exceed a safe level depending on individuals' eating behaviors. Therefore, improved risk management for MeHg is required.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.31 no.3 s.62
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• pp.424-439
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• 1998

Urinary cadmium is used as a sensitive indicator for internal Cd dose, and increased excretion of $N-acetyl-\beta-D-glucosaminidase(NAG)$, $\beta_2-microglobulin(MG)$ and total protein are useful indices for renal dysfunction by chronic exposure to Cd. The target group was 184 inhabitant(82 men and 102 women) in an abandoned mine area known as exposure to low level Cd. The control group was took 160 individuals(64 men and 96 women) in Cd not-exposed area. Urinary Cd concentration was significantly higher in the target group than the control. The geometric mean of urinary Cd for male was $2.56{\mu}g/\ell,\;2.80{\mu}g/g$ creatinine and $2.50{\mu}g/S.G.$ in the target group and $1.19{\mu}g/\ell,\;1.36{\mu}g/g$ creatinine and $1.17{\mu}g/S.G.$ in the control. For female $2.69{\mu}g/\ell,\;3.94{\mu}g/g$ creatinine and $2.63{\mu}g/S.G.$ in the target group and $1.27{\mu}g/\ell,\;1.97{\mu}g/g$ creatinine and $1.25{\mu}g/S.G.$ in the control, respectively. In addition, urinary Cd of the target group had affected by the period of residence and dietary habit for the rice and the vegetables from the target area. These findings suggest the chronic exposure to Cd of the target population. Mean excretion of urinary NAG, $\beta_2-MG$ and total protein were not significant between two groups. In the target group, urinary NAG activity and total protein were significantly correlated with urinary Cd, but $\beta_2-MG$ was not related. Urinary excretion of NAG, $\beta_2-MG$ and total protein were significantly increased in $10\leqq$ than in <2 of urinary Cd level. In $2\sim10$ group of urinary Cd level, the excretion of NAG significantly increased while not showed for $\beta_2-MG$. In present study, urinary excretion of NAG was relatively sensitive than $\beta_2-MG$ in chronic exposure population to low level Cd.

• KSBB Journal
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• v.22 no.5
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• pp.328-335
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• 2007

In this work ursolic acid (UA), a poorly water-soluble compound, was inclusion complexed with 2-hydroxypropyl-$\beta$-cyclodextrin (HP-$\beta$-CD) by various methods such as kneading, solvent evaporation and two types of supercritical fluid processes. The solubility and characteristics of these UA/HP-$\beta$-CD complexes were investigated by scanning electron microscopy, x-ray diffraction and HPLC. The water solubilities of the two complexes obtained from solvent evaporation and ASES processes were observed to increase up to 6$\sim$240 folds and 12$\sim$56 folds, respectively, compared with that of unprocessed UA. The stability of UA/HP-$\beta$-CD complex samples in cosmetic formulations was examined at various temperatures for one month. The UA/HP-$\beta$-CD complex prepared by solvent evaporation was found to be most stable among all the cosmetic formulations tested in our experiments.

• Applied Chemistry for Engineering
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• v.19 no.3
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• pp.299-303
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• 2008

A thermally cross-linkable polymer, poly[(2,5-dimethoxy-1,4-phenylenevinylene)-alt-(1,4-phenylenevinylene)] (Cross-PPV), was synthesized by the Heck coupling reaction. In order for the polymer to be cross-linkable, 20 mol% excess divinylbenzene was added. The chemical structure of Cross-PPV and thermally crosslinked Cross-PPV were confirmed by FT-IR spectroscopy. From the FT-IR, UV-Vis, and PL spectral data, thermally crosslinked Cross-PPV was insoluble in common organic solvents. The HOMO and LUMO energy level of thermally cross-linked Cross-PPV were estimated -5.11 and -2.56 eV, respectively, which were determined by the cyclic voltammetry and UV-Vis spectroscopy. From the energy level data, one can easily notice that thermally crosslinked Cross-PPV can be used for hole injection layer effectively. Bilayer structured device (ITO/crosslinked Cross-PPV/PM-PPV/Al) was fabricated using poly(1,4-phenylenevinylene-(4-dicyanomethylene-4H-pyran)-2,6-vinylene-1,4-phenylenevinylene-2,5-bis(dodecyloxy)-1,4-phenylenevinylene (PM-PPV) as the emitting layer, which have HOMO and LUMO energy levels of -5.44 eV and -3.48 eV, respectively. The bilayered device had much enhanced the maximum efficiency (0.024 cd/A) and luminescence ($45cd/m^2$) than those of a single layer device (ITO/PM-PPV/Al, 0.003 cd/A, $3cd/m^2$). The enhanced performance originated from that fact that cross-linked Cross-PPV facilitatse the hole injection to the emissive layer and the injected hole and electron from ITO and Al are recombined in emitting layer (PM-PPV) effectively.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.39 no.4
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• pp.334-342
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• 1992

Background: The activated T lymphocyte by inhalaed mycobacterial antigen may evoke cell-mediated immunity in patients with active pulmonary tuberculosis. These activated lymphocyte may influence the response of tuberculin-purified protein derivative (PPD) in skin test. But occasionally, anergy to PPD appear in patients with pulmonary tuberculosis in spite of active stage. Thus we evaluated the effect of change of subtypes of lymphocyte in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BAL) and peripheral blood on anergy to PPD in patients with active pulmonary tuberculosis. Method: We performed tuberculin skin test and flow-cytometry analysis of lymphocytes obtained from BAL fluid and peripheral blood in 11 healthy normal volunteers and 20 patients with active pulmonary tuberculosis. Results: 1) The composition of lymphocyte significantly increased in patients with active pulmonary tuberculosis when compared with that in healthy control ($25.2{\pm}4.8$ vs $6.5{\pm}1.3%$, p<0.01), but composition of monocyte significantly decreased ($69.6{\pm}5.7$ vs $89.2{\pm}1.4%$, p<0.05) in analysis of BAL fluid. 2) There were no differences in compositions of cells in BAL fluid between responders and no-responders to PPD. 3) The compositions of CD3 (+), CD4 (+), CD3 (+) IL-2R (+), CD3 (+) HLA-DR (+) significantly increased in BAL fluid when compared with those in peripheral blood in patients with active pulmonary tuberculosis. But the composition of CDS (+), CD4/CDS were not different between BAL fluid and peripheral blood. 4) There were no correlations between response to PPD and compositions of cells and lymphocyte subtypes in BAL fluid and peripheral blood in all patients with tuberculosis, responders, and no-responders, respectively. Conclusion: From these results, we suggest no direct relationship between compositions of inflammatory cells in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid and we could not rule out the possibility of compartmentalization of activated lymphocyte involving in anergy to PPD in skin test in patients with active pulmonary tuberculosis.

• Korean Journal of Optics and Photonics
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• v.21 no.2
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• pp.53-60
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• 2010

An integrated light guide plate (LGP) was designed for liquid crystal displays (LCD) without using prism and diffuser sheets. The integrated LGP is textured with micro-patterns on both the top and bottom surfaces. The textures effectively substitute for a single prism-sheet and a diffuser sheet in LCD displays without decreasing the brightness and uniformity. A LCD display with our integrated light guide is simulated to give average luminance of 4560 cd/$m^2$, luminance uniformity of 83% horizontal viewing angle $60^{\circ}$ and vertical viewing angle $56^{\circ}$. Therefore an ultra thin (slim) back light unit can be constructed with fewer optical sheets, which reduces the manufacturing cost and so improves price competitiveness.

• Journal of Medicine and Life Science
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• v.19 no.2
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• pp.46-56
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• 2022

The incidence of fever complicating percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) is rare. However, little is known regarding the cause of fever after PCI. Therefore, this study aimed to determine the clinical characteristics of patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI), with or without fever, after PCI. We enrolled a total of 926 AMI patients who underwent PCI. Body temperature (BT) was measured every 4 hours or 8 hours for 5 days after PCI. Patients were divided into two groups according to BT as follows: BT<37.7℃ (no-fever group) and BT ≥37.7℃ (fever group). The 2 years clinical outcomes were compared subsequently. Fever after PCI was associated with higher incidence of major adverse cardiac events (MACE) (hazard ratio [HR], 1.56; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.07-2.28; P=0.021), all-cause death (HR, 2.32; 95% CI, 1.18-4.45; P=0.014), cardiac death (CD) (HR, 2.57; 95% CI, 1.02-6.76; P=0.049), and any revascularization (HR, 1.69; 95% CI, 1.02-2.81; P=0.044) than without fever. In women, prior chronic kidney disease, lower left ventricular (LV) ejection fraction, higher LV wall motion score index, white blood cell count, peak creatine kinase-myocardial band level, and longer PCI duration were associated with fever after PCI. Procedures such as an intra-aortic balloon pump, extracorporeal membrane oxygenation, continuous renal replacement therapy, central and arterial line insertion, and cardiopulmonary resuscitation were related to fever after PCI. Fever after PCI in patients with AMI was associated with a higher incidence of MACE, all-cause death, CD, and any revascularization at the 2 years mark than in those without fever.