• The Korean Journal of Nuclear Medicine Technology
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• v.15 no.1
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• pp.113-116
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• 2011

Purpose: Acetylcholine receptor antibodies cause acetylcholine receptor loss, which is responsible for failure of the neuromuscular junction in the acetylcholine receptor autoantibody. The disease characterized by muscle weakness and fatigue, myasthenia gravis(MG) occurs when the body inappropriately produces antibodies against acetylcholine receptors, and thus inhibits proper acetylcholine signal transmission. And this reason, the measurement of acetylcholine receptor antibodies can be of considerable value in disease diagnosis. Methods: From 2010. August to September, we tested orderd AchRAb 19 samples to get the results. 1. Pipette $5{\mu}{\ell}$ undiluted patient sera and kit control and add 125I AChR $50{\mu}{\ell}$ and incubate at R.T for 2 hours. 2. Pipette $50{\mu}{\ell}$ of anti-human IgG into each tube, and incubate at $2{\sim}8^{\circ}C$ for 2 hours. 3. Pipette $25{\mu}{\ell}$ precipitation enhancer into each tube and add 1mL washing solution into all tubes. 4. Centrifuge each tube for 20minutes at $2{\sim}8^{\circ}C$ at 1500g. 5. Aspirate or decant the supernatant. 6. Pipette 1 mL washing solution into all tubes and resuspend the pellet and repeat centrifugation. 7. Aspirate or decant the supernatant and count all tubes on a gamma counter. Results: Cut off value is 0.2 nmol/L and the results taken below 0.2 nmol/L are negative, the results above that identified as being positive values. We assayed the 19 patients samples and got 7 positive results. Of which, 6 patients were diagnosed as MG.(85.7%). Conclusions: Acetylcholine Receptor autoantibody test is intended for use by persons only for the quantitative determination of it in human serum. Even if measurement of the antibodies is not a routine test, it can be of considerable value in disease diagnosis.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.65 no.4
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• pp.277-284
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• 2008

Background: In principle, cervical tuberculous lymphadenitis (CTBL) is a medical disease that may require surgical treatment, particularly in young women who complain of psychosocial and cosmetic problems. We encountered 13 cases of aggravated CTBL treated surgically despite the appropriate course of antituberculous chemotherapy. We report the clinical characteristis of these cases. Methods: The clinical data of 13 patients with aggravated CTBL requiring surgical treatment from January 2000 to December 2006 at the Department of Chest Medicine, Internal Medicine and Plastic Surgery, National Medical Center was reviewed retrospectively. Results: Twelve of the 13 cases (92%) were female. The most common age was 21~30 years (69%). Multiple nodes were palpated in 11 cases (85%). The supraclavicular lymph nodes were sites the most commonly involved (54%). The other involved sites in the order of decreasing frequency were the jugular chain, posterior cervical, submandibular and infraauricular lymph nodes. A palpable mass was the most commonsymptom. Neck pain was reported in 3 cases (23%). General symptoms such as weight loss, fatigue, anorexia and night sweats were noted in 5 cases (38%). Respiratory symptoms such as cough, sputum, hemoptysis, dyspnea and chest pain were observed in 4 cases (31%). Pulmonary tuberculosis was noted in 11 cases (85%). Other extrapulmonary tuberculosis coexisted in 4 cases (31%). This suggests that surgical CTBLs may be manifestations of a systemic disease and might be difficult to treat. Most cases (92%) were stages 2 and 3 at the initial diagnostic period but all cases fell into stage 4 and 5 when reassesed before surgery. The average duration of anti-TB chemotherapy before and after surgery was 10.2 and 15.2 months, respectively. The 13 patients were followed up until June. 2008. Among them, 2 cases had newly developed CTBL and the other 11cases showed no recurrence. Conclusion: In principle, CTBL is the medical disease. However, despite the appropriate course of anti-TB chemotherapy, CTBL can progress to a more advanced stages and grow rapidly to a large-sized or fistulous mass with a persistent abscess. Surgical treatment may be inevitable for patients with psychosocial and cosmetic problems caused by these masses, particularly in young women.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• v.35 no.3
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• pp.203-212
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• 2008

Objective: During cryopreservation process, cold shock and cryo-injury affect the fertilizing capacity of the sperm by damaging cell membranes with loss of functional integrity. A longstanding concept for preventing the cryo-damage is to stabilize the plasma membrane by incorporating cholesterol. This study was to determine the effects of cholesterol in freezing media on the motility and functional integrity of human sperm after cryopreservation. Methods: Control group (non-cholesterol treated) and different concentrations of cholesterol-treated sperm (14 healthy males) were frozen and thawed. After freezing and thawing of sperm, the quality of sperm was evaluated by sperm analysis, acrosome reaction test and sperm chromatin structure assay. Results: When human sperm were incubated in sperm freezing medium (SFM) containing $0.5{\mu}g$ cholesterol and then freezing/thawing, the motility of sperm have significantly improved compared to those untreated cholesterol ($33.46{\pm}1.48%$ vs. $30.10{\pm}1.07%$, p<0.05). The rate of calcium ionophore-induced acrosome reactions in post-thawed sperm was significantly higher than that ($53.60{\pm}1.60%$ vs. $47.40{\pm}1.86%$, p<0.05) in SFM containing cholesterol. Sperm chromatin structure assay revealed that DNA damage to the sperm in the cholesterol-treated group was lower than that of non-treated group. Conclusion: These results suggest that increased cholesterol content of sperm plasma membrane by supplementation of cholesterol in SFM improves sperm motility, capacitation status, and DNA integrity. Therefore, addition of cholesterol into SFM could be a useful for protecting human sperm from cold shock and cryo-injury during cryopreservation.

• Applied Chemistry for Engineering
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• v.22 no.5
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• pp.532-539
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• 2011

The physical and chemical properties of the dried low rank coals (LRCs) before and after the surface treatment using ozone and ammonia were characterized in this study. The contents of moisture, volatiles, fixed carbon and ash consisting of dried LRCs before the surface treatment were about 2.0, 44.8, 44.9 and 8.9%, respectively. Also, it was composed of carbon of 62.66%, hydrogen of 4.33%, nitrogen of 0.94%, oxygen of 27.01% and sulfur of 0.09%. The dried LRCs was surface-treated with the various dry methods using gases such as ozone at room temperature, ammonia at $200^{\circ}C$ and then the dried LRCs before and after the surface treatment were characterized by the various analysis methods such as FT-IR, TGA, proximate and elemental analysis, caloric value, ignition test, adsorption of $H_2O$ and $NH_3-TPD$. As a result, the oxygen content increased and the calorific value, ignition temperature and the contents of carbon and hydrogen relatively decreased because the oxygen-contained functional groups were additionally generated by the surface oxidation with ozone which plays a role as an oxidant. Also, its $H_2O$ adsorption ability got higher because the hydrophilic oxygen-contained functional groups were additionally generated by the surface oxidation with ozone. On the other hand, it was confirmed that the dried LRCs after the surface treatment with $NH_3$ at $200^{\circ}C$ have the decreased oxygen content, but the increased calorific value, ignition temperature and contents of carbon and hydrogen because of the decomposition of oxygen-contained functional groups the on the surface. In addition, the $H_2O$ adsorption ability was lowered bucause the surface of the dried LRCs might be hydrophobicized by the loss of the hydrophilic oxygen-contained functional groups. It was concluded that the various physico-chemical properties of the dried LRCs can be changed by the surface treatment.

• Journal of Food Hygiene and Safety
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• v.37 no.2
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• pp.46-54
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• 2022

Known for its effectiveness in weight loss and diabetes prevention, Gymnema sylvestre products can be found in the US, Japanese, and Indian markets. However, the recommended dosage or safety of these products has not yet been proven. Therefore, development of an analytical method for detecting the content of Gymnema sylvestre in food products is required. Accordingly, this study proposes an analysis method that can examine Gymnema sylvestre in food using LC-ESI-MS/MS and KASP (Kompetitive Allele-Specific PCR) markers. In LC-ESI-MS/MS, a simultaneous analysis method for gymnemic acid and deacylgymnemic acid was optimized using negative ionization mode, and its validation test was completed for solid and liquid samples. In addition, KASP markers were prepared by finding the specific SNP of G. sylvestre in ITS2 and matK through DNA barcodes. The two KASP markers returned positive FAM fluorescence result when combined with G. sylvestre, and this aspect was confirmed in raw G. sylvestre as well. The applicability of the method was tested on 21 different food and healthy functional products containing G. sylvestre purchased on the internet. As a result, although there was a difference in the ratios of gymnemic acid and deacylgymnemic acid in LC-ESI-MS/MS, the index component was detected in all 21 products samples. In the KASP analysis, 9 products returned positive FAM result, and the rest of the products were found to be containing G. sylvestre extract. This study is the first study to use the dual system of LC-ESI-MS/MS and KASP for the analysis of G. sylvestre. The study has confirmed that these two methods are applicable to the examine G. sylvestre content in food products.

• Radiation Oncology Journal
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• v.19 no.2
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• pp.127-135
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• 2001

Purpose : This study is a prospective randomized clinical trial comparing the efficacy and complication of anti-emetic drugs for prevention of nausea and vomiting after radiotherapy which has moderate emetogenic potential. The aim of this study was to investigate whether the anti-emetic efficacy of ondansetron $(Zofran^{\circledR})$ 8 mg bid dose (Group O) is better than the efficacy of metoclopramide 5 mg lid dose (Group M) in patients undergoing fractionated radiotherapy to the abdominal region. Materials and Methods : Study entry was restricted to those patients who met the following eligibility criteria: histologically confirmed malignant disease; no distant metastasis; performance status of not more than ECOG grade 2; no previous chemotherapy and radiotherapy. Between March 1997 and February 1998, 60 patients enrolled in this study. All patients signed a written statement of informed consent prior to enrollment. Blinding was maintained by dosing identical number of tablets including one dose of matching placebo for Group O. The extent of nausea, appetite loss, and the number of emetic episodes were recorded everyday using diary card. The mean score of nausea, appetite loss and the mean number of emetic episodes were obtained in a weekly interval. Results : Prescription error occurred in one patient. And diary cards have not returned in 3 patients due to premature refusal of treatment. Card from one patient was excluded from the analysis because she had a history of treatment for neurosis. As a result, the analysis consisted of 55 patients. Patient characteristics and radiotherapy characteristics were similar except mean age was $52.9{\pm}11.2$ in group M, $46.5{\pm}9.5$ in group O. The difference of age was statistically significant. The mean score of nausea, appetite loss and emetic episodes in a weekly interval was higher in group M than O. In group M, the symptoms were most significant at 5th week. In a panel data analysis using mixed procedure, treatment group was only significant factor detecting the difference of weekly score for all three symptoms. Ondansetron $(Zofran^{\circledR})$ 8 mg bid dose and metoclopramide 5 mg lid dose were well tolerated without significant side effects. There were no clinically important changes In vital signs or clinical laboratory parameters with either drug. Conclusion : Concerning the fact that patients with younger age have higher emetogenic potential, there are possibilities that age difference between two treatment groups lowered the statistical power of analysis. There were significant difference favoring ondansetron group with respect to the severity of nausea, vomiting and loss of appetite. We concluded that ondansetron is more effective anti-emetic agents in the control of radiotherapy-induced nausea, vomiting, loss of appetite without significant toxicity, compared with commonly used drug, i.e., metoclopramide. However, there were patients suffering emesis despite the administration of ondansetron. The possible strategies to improve the prevention and the treatment of radiotherapy-induced emesis must be further studied.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.48 no.1
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• pp.14-23
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• 2000

Background: The evaluation of candidates for successful lung resection is important. Our study was conducted to determine the preoperative predictors of postoperative mortality and morbidity in lung cancer patients with impaired lung function. Method; Between October 1, 1995 and August 31, 1997, 36 lung resection candidates for lung cancer with $FEV_1$ of less than 2L or 60% of predicted value were included prospectively. Age, sex, weight loss, hematocrit, serum albumin, EKG and concomitant illness were considered as systemic potential predictors for successful lung resection. Smoking history, presence of pneumonia, dyspnea scale(l to 4), arterial blood gas analysis with room air breathing, routine pulmonary function test were also included for the analysis. In addition, predicted postoperative(ppo) pulmonary factors such as ppo-$FEV_1$ ppo-diffusing capacity(DLco), predicted postoperative product(PPP) of ppo-$FEV_1%{\times}$ppo-DLco% and ppo-maximal $O_2$ uptake($VO_2$max) were also measured. Results: There were 31 men and 5 women with the median age of 65 years(range, 44 to 82) and a mean $FEV_1$ of $1.78{\pm}0.06L$. Pneumonectomy was performed in 14 patients, bilobectomy in 8, lobectomy in 14. Pulmonary complications developed in 10 patients; cardiac complications in 3, other complications(empyema, air leak, bleeding) in 4. Twelve patients were managed in the intensive care unit for more than 48 hours. Two patients died within 30 days after operation. The ppo-$VO_2$max was less than 10 ml/kg/min in these two patients. MVV was the only predictor for the pulmonary complications. However, there was no predictor for the post operative death in this study. Conclusions: Based on the results, MVV was the useful predictor for postoperative pulmonary complications in lung cancer resection candidates with impaired lung function In addition, ppo-$VO_2$max value less than 10 ml/kg/min was associated with postoperative death, so exercise pulmonary function test could be useful as preoperative test. But further studies are needed to validate this result.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.50 no.4
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• pp.420-429
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• 2018

Skin ageing is associated with compromised performance of its fundamental barrier functions, with undesirable changes in appearance. Since this may introduce a detrimental impact on the quality of life, significant effort to discover effective ingredients against ageing is being invested. Recently, collagen hydrolysates containing tripeptides such as GlyPro-Hyp (GPH) have been developed with anticipation of improved effects compared to that of existing collagen hydrolysate-products. To evaluate the cutaneous hydration effect of collagen tripeptides (CTP), meaningful biomarkers in human dermal fibroblasts (HDF) and NC/Nga Tnd mice were analyzed in this study. Increased levels of ceramide kinase, hyaluronic acid, collagen 1A, and hyaluronan synthase-2 (HAS2), and decreased levels of hyaluronidase-1 (HYAL1) and CD44 in HDF cells were demonstrated. Furthermore, significant reduction of transepidermal water loss (TEWL), scratching behavior, HYAL1, $TNF-{\alpha}$ and IL-6 and increased water content and HAS2 were verified by in vivo tests. These results strongly suggest the potential of CTP as a skin hydration agent.

• The Korean Journal of Nuclear Medicine Technology
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• v.20 no.2
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• pp.42-45
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• 2016

Purpose Neuracep is used to other diagnostic evaluations of the brain to estimate beta-amyloid neuritic plaque density in adult patients with cognitive impairment and inspected cognitive impairment. $^{18}F-Florbetaben$ specially has moderate lipophilicity and property of the added ethanol. It is the subject of interest of the patient pain and residual activity after injecting. Our study is effective injection method of the radiopharmaceutical and patient care. So it is for the highest quality image. Materials and Methods Patients were targeted 70 subjects, it was injected mean $259{\pm}74MBq$ to the patients ($^{18}F-FDG$: 20 subjects, $^{18}F-FP-CIT$: 20 subjects, $^{18}F-Florbetaben$: 30 subjects). After injection (reflusing 2 times, reflusing 3 times) using a 3-way set, it measured the residual activity. When injecting $^{18}F-Florbetaben$, we evaluated the effective injection methods(3-way set method and heparin cap method). The average residual activity after the injection was compared using a statistical analysis of SPSS 12.0(ANOVA, t-test analysis). Also, elemental analysis was performed on $^{18}F-Florbetaben$ by GC (Gas Chromatography). Results When reflusing 2 times measured residual activity as follows ($^{18}F-FDG$: 1.48 MBq, $^{18}F-FP-CIT$: 7.4 MBq, $^{18}F-Florbetaben$: 32.6 MBq). And when reflusing 3 times measured residual activity as follows ($^{18}F-FDG$: 1.85 MBq, $^{18}F-FP-CIT$: 3.7 MBq, $^{18}F-Florbetaben$: 36.3 MBq). There was a significant difference when reflusing 2 times(P < 0.05) and reflusing 3 times (P < 0.05). But when reflusing 3 times, there was no significant difference relation FDG and FP-CIT (P > 0.05). $^{18}F-Florbetaben$ Residual activity according to the injection method was a significant difference (P < 0.05). GC analysis results were measured ethanol: 207665 ppm and acceton: 377.4 ppm. Conclusion $^{18}F-Florbetaben$ was high residual activity compared to FDG and FP-CIT. Heparin cap method was effective when $^{18}F-Florbetaben$ was injected. $^{18}F-Florbetaben's$ ethanol component analysis was highly measured. So it is recommended that inject to 6 sec/ml or more in order to reduce the pain.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.42 no.2
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• pp.165-174
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• 2009

Background: With the advances of cardiac surgery, the demand for an artificial prosthesis has increased, and this has led to the development and utilization of diverse alternative materials. We conducted this research to improve an artificial prosthesis by examining the changes of the physical qualities, the pressure related tensile strength, the change in elasticity and the thermostability of a xenograft valve (porcine) and pericardium (bovine, porcine) based on the type of fixation liquid we used. Material and Method: The xenograft valves and pericardium were assigned into three groups: the untreated group, the fixed with glutaraldehyde (GA) group and the glutaraldehyde with GA+solvent such as ethanol etc. group. The surgeons carried out each group's physical activities. Each group's uniaxial tension and elasticity was measured and compared. Thermostability testing was conducted and compared between the bovine and porcine pericardium fixed with GA group and the GA+solvent group. Result: On the physical activity test in the surgeon's hand, no significant difference between the groups was sensed on palpation. For suture and tension, the GA+solvent group was slightly firmer than the low GA concentration group. In general, the circumferential uniaxial tension and elasticity of the porcine aortic and pulmonary valves were better in the fixed groups than that in the untreated group. There was no significant difference between the GA and GA+solvent groups (p>0.05). Bovine and porcine pericardium also showed no significant difference between the GA group and the GA+solvent group (p>0.05). When comparing between the groups for each experiment, the elasticity tended to be stronger in most of the higher GA concentration group (porcine pulmonary valve, porcine pericardium). On the thermostability testing of the bovine and porcine pericardium, the GA group and the G+solvent group both had a sudden shrinking point at $80^{\circ}C$ that showed no difference (bovine pericardium: p=0.057, porcine pericardium: p=0.227). Conclusion: When fixing xenograft prosthetic devices with GA, adding a solvent did not cause a loss in pressure-tension, tension-elasticity and thermostability. In addition, more functional solvents or cleansers should be developed for developing better xenografts.