• Journal of fish pathology
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• v.37 no.1
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• pp.147-153
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• 2024

The World Organization for Animal Health (WOAH) recommends two protocols (ITS and COI) for conventional PCR of G. salaris diagnosis. However, ITS PCR protocol may yield false-positive results, leading to unnecessary countermeasures. It's difficult to distinguish between G. salaris and false-positive by similar amplicon size of PCR, since the amplicon size of ITS PCR in G. salaris and false-positive was 1,300 and 1,187 bp, respectively. The nucleotide sequences of ITS false-positive in rainbow trout is 99.7% identical to previously reported host genome sequences of rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) and 95.3 to 89.1% identical to those of other salmonid fish species. To reduce false-positive PCR band, PCR was performed by the different annealing temperature, but PCR bands were still detected. In RFLP analysis by HaeIII, the PCR product of G. salaris was digested into four bands of 512, 399, 234 and 154 bp, while the false-positive was digested into seven bands of 297, 263, 242, 144, 93, 80 and 68 bp. In the RFLP patterns digested by HindIII, G. salaris showed two bands of 659 and 640 bp, while false-positive had one fragment of 1,187 bp without any digestion. Therefore, the RFLP method of ITS PCR with HaeIII and HindIII can be used for differentiation between G. salaris and false-positive. These results might provide important information on the improvement of PCR diagnostic method of G. salaris.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.45 no.1
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• pp.1-10
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• 2024

Objectives: This study investigated the pattern identification (PI) and clinical index of Parkinson's disease (PD) for personalized diagnosis and treatment. Methods: This prospective observational multi-center study recruited 100 patients diagnosed with PD from two Korean medicine hospitals. To cluster new subtypes of PD, items on a PI questionnaire (heat and cold, deficiency and excess, visceral PI) were evaluated along with pulse and tongue analysis. Gait analysis was performed and blood and feces molecular signature changes were assessed to explore biomarkers for new subtypes. In addition, unified PD rating scale II and III scores and the European quality of life 5-dimension questionnaire were assessed. Results: The clinical index obtained in this study analyzed the frequency statistics and hierarchical clustering analysis to classify new subtypes based on PI. Moreover, the biomarkers and current status of herbal medicine treatment were analyzed using the new subtypes. The results provide comprehensive data to investigate new subtypes and subtype-based biomarkers for the personalized diagnosis and treatment of PD patients. Ethical approval was obtained from the medical ethics committees of the two Korean medicine hospitals. All amendments to the research protocol were submitted and approved. Conclusions: An objective and standardized diagnostic tool is needed for the personalized treatment of PD by traditional Korean medicine. Therefore, we developed a clinical index as the basis for the PI clinical evaluation of PD. Trial Registration: This trial is registered with the Clinical Research Information Service (CRIS) (KCT0008677)

• Korean Journal of Radiology
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• v.23 no.8
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• pp.821-827
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• 2022

Objective: To determine the anatomical characteristics of the petrous ridge and trigeminal nerve in trigeminal neuralgia (TN) without neurovascular compression (NVC). Materials and Methods: From May 2017 to March 2021, 66 patients (49 female and 17 male; mean age ± standard deviation [SD], 56.8 ± 13.3 years) with TN without NVC and 57 controls (46 female and 11 male; 52.0 ± 15.6 years) were enrolled. The angle of the petrous ridge (APR) and angle of the trigeminal nerve (ATN) were measured using magnetic resonance imaging with a high-resolution three-dimensional T2 sequence. Data on the symptomatic side were compared with those on the asymptomatic side in patients and with the mean measurements of the bilateral sides in controls. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis was conducted to evaluate the performance of APR and ATN in distinguishing TN patients from controls. Results: In TN patients without NVC, the mean ± standard deviation (SD) of APR on the symptomatic side (98.40° ± 19.75°) was significantly smaller than that of the asymptomatic side (105.59° ± 22.45°, p = 0.019) and controls (108.44° ± 15.98°, p = 0.003). The mean ATN ± SD on the symptomatic side (144.41° ± 8.92°) was significantly smaller than that of the asymptomatic side (149.67° ± 8.09°, p = 0.003) and controls (150.45° ± 8.48°, p = 0.001). The area under the ROC curve for distinguishing TN patients from controls was 0.673 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.579-0.758) for APR and 0.700 (CI: 0.607-0.782) for ATN. The sensitivity and specificity using the diagnostic cutoff yielding the highest Youden index were 81.8% (54/66) and 49.1% (28/57), respectively, for APR (with a cutoff score of 94.30°) and 65.2% (43/66) and 66.7% (38/57), respectively, for ATN (cutoff score, 148.25°). Conclusion: In patients with TN without NVC, APR and ATN were smaller than those in controls, which may explain the potential cause of TN and provide additional information for diagnosis.

• Korean Journal of Radiology
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• v.20 no.5
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• pp.781-790
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• 2019

Objective: To assess the relationship between contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) parameters and perfusion CT (PCT) parameters of gastric cancers and their correlation with histologic features. Materials and Methods: This prospective study was approved by our Institutional Review Board. We included 43 patients with pathologically-proven gastric cancers undergoing CEUS using SonoVue^® (Bracco) and PCT on the same day. Correlation between the CEUS parameters (peak intensity [PI], area under the curve [AUC], rise time [RT] from 10% to 90% of PI, time to peak [TTP_US], and mean transit time [MTT_US]) and PCT parameters (blood flow, blood volume, TTP_CT, MTT_CT, and permeability surface product) of gastric cancers were analyzed using Spearman's rank correlation test. In cases of surgical resection, the CEUS and PCT parameters were compared according to histologic features using Mann-Whitney test. Results: CEUS studies were of diagnostic quality in 88.4% (38/43) of patients. Among the CEUS parameters of gastric cancers, RT and TTP_US showed significant positive correlations with TTP_CT (rho = 0.327 and 0.374, p = 0.045 and 0.021, respectively); PI and AUC were significantly higher in well-differentiated or moderately-differentiated tumors (n = 4) than poorly-differentiated tumors (n = 18) (p = 0.026 and 0.033, respectively), whereas MTT_CT showed significant differences according to histologic types (poorly cohesive carcinoma [PCC] vs. non-PCC), T-staging (≤ T2 vs. ≥ T3), N-staging (N0 vs. N-positive), and epidermal growth factor receptor expression (≤ faint vs. ≥ moderate staining) (p values < 0.05). Conclusion: In patients with gastric cancers, CEUS is technically feasible for the quantification of tumor perfusion and may provide correlative and complementary information to that of PCT, which may allow prediction of histologic features.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Radiology
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• v.18 no.3
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• pp.231-237
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• 2024

Brain injury causes persistent disability in survivors, and epidural hematoma(EDH) and subdural hematoma (SDH) resulting from cerebral hemorrhage can be considered one of the major clinical diseases. In this study, we attempted to automatically segment and hematomas due to cerebral hemorrhage in three dimensions based on computed tomography(CT) images. An improved GVF(gradient vector flow) algorithm was implemented for automatic segmentation of hematoma. After calculating and repeating the gradient vector from the image, automatic segmentation was performed and a 3D model was created using the segmentation coordinates. As a result of the experiment, accurate segmentation of the boundaries of the hematoma was successful. The results were found to be good even in border areas and thin hematoma areas, and the intensity, direction of spread, and area of the hematoma could be known in various directions through the 3D model. It is believed that the planar information and 3D model of the cerebral hemorrhage area developed in this study can be used as auxiliary diagnostic data for medical staff.

• Journal of Gastric Cancer
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• v.24 no.2
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• pp.185-198
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• 2024

Purpose: Peritoneal washing cytology (PWC) is a widely used diagnostic tool for detecting peritoneal metastasis of advanced gastric cancer. However, the prognosis of patients with positive PWC remains poor even after gastrectomy, and treatments vary among institutions and eras. In this study, we identified the clinical factors that can help predict cytology-positive (CY(+)) gastric cancer. Materials and Methods: We retrospectively reviewed the national data of patients with gastric cancer from 2019, as provided by the Information Committee of the Korean Gastric Cancer Association. Of the 13,447 patients with gastric cancer, 3,672 underwent PWC. Based on cytology results, we analyzed the clinicopathological characteristics and assessed the possibility of CY(+) outcomes in relation to T and N stages. Results: Of the 3,270 patients who underwent PWC without preoperative chemotherapy, 325 were CY(+), whereas 2,945 were negative. CY(+) was more commonly observed in patients with Borrmann type IV gastric cancer, an undifferentiated histological type, and advanced pathological stages. Multivariate analysis revealed Borrmann type IV (odds ratio [OR], 1.821), tumor invasion to T3-4 (OR, 2.041), and lymph node metastasis (OR, 3.155) as independent predictors of CY(+). Furthermore, for circular tumor location, the N stage emerged as a significant risk factor for CY(+), particularly when the tumor was located on the posterior wall (PW) side. Conclusions: Lymph node metastasis significantly affects CY(+) outcomes, particularly when the tumor is located on the PW side. Therefore, PWC should be considered not only in suspected serosal exposure cases but also in cases of lymph node metastasis.

• The Plant Pathology Journal
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• v.40 no.2
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• pp.125-138
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• 2024

Citrus yellow vein clearing virus (CYVCV) is a member of the Alphaflexiviridae family that causes yellow vein clearing symptoms on citrus leaves. A total of 118 leaf samples from nine regions of six provinces in Korea were collected from various citrus species in 2020 and 2021. Viral diagnosis using next-generation sequencing and reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) identified four viruses: citrus tristeza virus, citrus leaf blotch virus, citrus vein enation virus, and CYVCV. A CYVCV incidence of 9.3% was observed in six host plants, including calamansi, kumquat, Persian lime, and Eureka lemon. Among the citrus infected by CYVCV, only three samples showed a single infection; the other showed a mixed infection with other viruses. Eureka lemon and Persian lime exhibited yellow vein clearing, leaf distortion, and water-soak symptom underside of the leaves, while the other hosts showed only yellowing symptoms on the leaves. The complete genome sequences were obtained from five CYVCV isolates. Comparison of the isolates reported from the different geographical regions and hosts revealed the high sequence identity (95.2% to 98.8%). Phylogenetic analysis indicated that all the five isolates from Korea were clustered into same clade but were not distinctly apart from isolates from China, Pakistan, India, and Türkiye. To develop an efficient diagnosis system for the four viruses, a simultaneous detection method was constructed using multiplex RT-PCR. Sensitivity evaluation, simplex RT-PCR, and stability testing were conducted to verify the multiplex RT-PCR system developed in this study. This information will be useful for developing effective disease management strategies for citrus growers in Korea.

• Journal of Radiation Industry
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• v.17 no.4
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• pp.385-390
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• 2023

The uterus, one of women's reproductive organs, is also closely related to women's health. Among them, hemorrhagic luteal cysts, one of the causes of pelvic pain that women often experience, were observed through CT and ultrasound, and the quality of images was evaluated through quantitative and qualitative evaluations. This study sought to find out whether the test method is more helpful to patients during CT and ultrasound. This study was conducted on 15 adolescent women and 15 adult women(21.31±3.45 average age). The equipment used for filming used EC3-10X (3~10 MHZ) and Philips Mx8000 iCT 256 among Endocavity Probes among Ecube Platinum. After setting a constant ROI on the cyst and the interface as a quantitative analysis method, SNR and CNR values were measured on a 5-point scale based on image quality, lesion clarity, image distortion, clarity of the interface, and motion artifacts (p<0.05). Independent t-test and Mann Whiteny U were performed, and the statistical program used was noted when SPSS (Version 22.0 for windows software package, Chicago, IL, USA) was statistically less than 0.05. Comparing the SNR and CNR values for this experiment, it can be seen that the SNR value was higher in the case of CT images(p<0.05). As a result of the qualitative evaluation, the quality of the image, the clarity of the lesion, the distortion of the image, the clarity of the interface, and the clarity of the boundary were measured on a 5-point scale based on the movement artifact. Comparing each score, CT images scored higher with a finer difference than ultrasound images(p<0.05). In conclusion, both test methods showed excellent results in finding the patient's lesions. However, in quantitative and qualitative evaluations, CT produced higher results in detecting lesions than ultrasound. However, for cyst tests that require continuous observation, ultrasonography, a non-invasive method that is advantageous for patients, will be clinically useful. Therefore, observing the patient's lesions by appropriately distributing these two test methods will provide optimal diagnostic information. These results will be useful for providing clinical basic data and educational materials to CT and US users in the future.

• Clinical Endoscopy
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• v.57 no.2
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• pp.141-157
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• 2024

Antithrombotic agents, including antiplatelet agents and anticoagulants, are widely used in Korea because of the increasing incidence of cardiocerebrovascular disease and the aging population. The management of patients using antithrombotic agents during endoscopic procedures is an important clinical challenge. The clinical practice guidelines for this issue, developed by the Korean Society of Gastrointestinal Endoscopy, were published in 2020. However, new evidence on the use of dual antiplatelet therapy and direct anticoagulant management has emerged, and revised guidelines have been issued in the United States and Europe. Accordingly, the previous guidelines were revised. Cardiologists were part of the group that developed the guideline, and the recommendations went through a consensus-reaching process among international experts. This guideline presents 14 recommendations made based on the Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development, and Evaluation methodology and was reviewed by multidisciplinary experts. These guidelines provide useful information that can assist endoscopists in the management of patients receiving antithrombotic agents who require diagnostic and elective therapeutic endoscopy. It will be revised as necessary to cover changes in technology, evidence, or other aspects of clinical practice.

• International Journal of Heart Failure
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• v.6 no.1
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• pp.11-19
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• 2024

The prevalence of heart failure (HF) is increasing, necessitating accurate diagnosis and tailored treatment. The accumulation of clinical information from patients with HF generates big data, which poses challenges for traditional analytical methods. To address this, big data approaches and artificial intelligence (AI) have been developed that can effectively predict future observations and outcomes, enabling precise diagnoses and personalized treatments of patients with HF. Machine learning (ML) is a subfield of AI that allows computers to analyze data, find patterns, and make predictions without explicit instructions. ML can be supervised, unsupervised, or semi-supervised. Deep learning is a branch of ML that uses artificial neural networks with multiple layers to find complex patterns. These AI technologies have shown significant potential in various aspects of HF research, including diagnosis, outcome prediction, classification of HF phenotypes, and optimization of treatment strategies. In addition, integrating multiple data sources, such as electrocardiography, electronic health records, and imaging data, can enhance the diagnostic accuracy of AI algorithms. Currently, wearable devices and remote monitoring aided by AI enable the earlier detection of HF and improved patient care. This review focuses on the rationale behind utilizing AI in HF and explores its various applications.