• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.52 no.2
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• pp.107-116
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• 2002

Background: Matrix metalloproteinases(MMP) are essential enzymes for tumor invasion and metastasis. Among the MMP family, elevated MMP-9 and stromelysin-3(STR-3) expression have been reported to be poor prognostic factors in lung cancer patients. To evaluate the possibility of a molecular diagnosis of lung cancer using peripheral blood, the mRNA expression level of MMP-9 and STR-3 was measured using a reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) in patients with lung cancer. Methods : Ninety six patients(44 patients with lung cancer, 19 pulmonary infection, and 33 control) were included. To detect MMP-9 and STR-3 mRNA expression, RT-PCR was performed in peripheral blood mononuclear cells. ELISA was also used to measure the serum level of MMP-9. Results : MMP-9 was expressed more frequently in patients with a pulmonary infection(18/19, 94.7%) compared to lung cancer patients(26/44, 59.1%) or the controls (23/33, 69.7%) (p=0.018). On the other hand, STR-3 expression was observed more frequently in patients with lung cancer(37/44, 84.1%) compared to the lung infection patients(8/19, 42.1%) or control(20/33, 60.6%) (p=0.003). Among the lung cancer patients, MMP-9 was expressed more frequently when a tumor invaded the lymph nodes(17/24, 70.8%) compared to when a tumor did not(3/13, 23.1%) (p=0.005). The MMP-9 and STR-3 expression levels had no relationship with age, sex, tumor size, distant metastasis, or tumor histology. The serum MMP-9 concentration was not higher in lung cancer patients compared to patients with a pulmonary infection or the control subjects. Conclusion : STR-3 may be used as a diagnostic marker in the peripheral blood of lung cancer patients using RT-PCR. Further studies to evaluate the clinical significance of elevated STR-3 expression in lung cancer patients is recommended.

• Biomedical Science Letters
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• v.17 no.4
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• pp.297-304
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• 2011

Influenza A virus of the Orthomyxoviridae family is a contagious respiratory pathogen that continues to evolve and burden in the human public health. It is able to spread efficiently from human to human and have the potential to cause pandemics with significant morbidity and mortality. It has been estimated that every year about 500 million people are infected with this virus, causing about approximately 0.25 to 0.5 million people deaths worldwide. Influenza A viruses are classified into different subtypes by antigenicity based on their hemagglutinin (HA) and neuraminidase (NA) proteins. The sudden emergence of influenza A virus subtypes and access for epidemiological analysis of this subtypes demanded a rapid development of specific diagnostic tools. Also, rapid identification of the subtypes can help to determine the antiviral treatment, because the different subtypes have a different antiviral drug resistance patterns. In this study, our aim is to detect influenza A virus subtypes by using real-time nucleic acid sequence based amplification (NASBA) which has high sensitivity and specificity through molecular beacon. Real-time NASBA is a method that able to shorten the time compare to other molecular diagnostic tools and is performed by isothermal condition. We selected major pandemic influenza A virus subtypes, H3N2 and H5N1. Three influenza A virus gene fragments such as HA, NA and matrix protein (M) gene were targeted. M gene is distinguished influenza A virus from other influenza virus. We designed specific primers and molecular beacons for HA, NA and M gene, respectively. In brief, the results showed that the specificity of the real-time NASBA was higher than reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). In addition, time to positivity (TTP) of this method was shorter than real-time PCR. This study suggests that the rapid detection of neo-appearance pandemic influenza A virus using real-time NASBA has the potential to determine the subtypes.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Research
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• v.42 no.3
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• pp.351-362
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• 2002

Newcastle disease (ND) is a highly contagious infection of poultry, Two pathology-based techniques, in situ RT-PCR and in situ hybridization (ISH) were applied to formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded tissues from chickens naturally infected with velogenic ND virus (VNDV). Two pairs of primers and a probe for ISH and in situ RT-PCR, respectively, were selected from highly conserved region of matrix gene of NDV. The ISH experiment was carried out using MicroProbe$^{TM}$ capillary action system within 2 hours. In situ RT-PCR was performed using MicroProbe$^{TM}$ capillary action system and GeneAmp In Situ PCR system. With ISH and in situ RT-PCR, viral nucleic acid was detected in the central nervous system of chickens from infected with neurotropic velogenic Newcastle disease virus (NVNDV), whereas viral nucleic acid was detected in various organs or tissues of chickens from infected with viscerotropic velogenic Newcastle disease virus (VVNDV). In the NVND group, positive signals were characteristically defined in the cytoplasm of neuron, vascular endothelial cells, and perivascular mononuclear macrophages in the central nervous system. One of NVND group, chicken from one farm exhibited positive signals in the bronchial epithelium. The VVND group chickens showed positive reaction in the macrophages, vascular endothelium, and bronchiolar epithelium. Markedly, viral nucleic acid was detected in the macrophages of morphologically normal tissues which were peripheral or located in distant areas from lesions. The central nervous system of chickens infected with VVND virus had positive signals in the vascular endothelial cell, perivascular mononuclear macrophages and some neuron. The number and intensity of the positive cells by in situ RT-PCR were more and stronger, respectively, in comparison with those by ISH. Particularly, positive reaction was detected in macrophages infiltrating in cardiac muscle by in situ RT-PCR, but not obtained by ISH. Therefore, these results demonstrated that ISH is a rapid diagnostic method for detection of NDV and in situ RT-PCR can be used as an efficient method for detection of low viral load infection or subclinical viral infection of NDV.

• Journal of the Korean Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons
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• v.31 no.5
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• pp.399-408
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• 2005

In the progression of the Temporomandibular Joint Disorder(TMD), not only deformation and perforation of disc occur. But also fibrotic adhesion and inflammatory changes to the retrodiscal tissue can be seen in addition to the condylar degenerative change (e.g. osteoarthritis). However, the correct diagnosis,?planning for appropriate treatment, and prediction of prognosis are limited, because there are no means to stage the progression of the disorder. In this study relative signal intensity of retrodiscal tissue in MRI and the synovial fluid concentration of matrix metalloproteinase-2 (MMP-2), MMP-9, and Interleukin-6(IL-6) in the 23 temporomandibular joints(TMJ), from 17 patients with TMD were evaluated as a possible diagnostic marker. The relative signal intensity of retrodiscal tissue was referenced to brain gray matter with same region of interest(ROI) size. The concentrations of MMP-2, MMP-9, and IL-6 were evaluated by Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA). The collected data were compared with condylar degenerative change, joint effusion and disc position observed in MRI. The relative signal intensity of the retrodiscal tissue was increased significantly when degenerative changes were present. In addition, there was significantly high signal intensity in the presence of a disc displaced without reduction. The concentration of IL-6 was significantly increased when condylar degenerative change was no observed. And there were no changes in the levels of IL-6 according to disc position and joint effusion measurement. Moreover, there were no significant relevance between the concentration of total MMP-2 and active MMP-9 in synovial fluid, relative to degenerative changes in the mandibular condyle, to joint effusion, and to disc position observed on MRI images. In conclusion, the relative signal intensity of the retrodiscal tissue can be regarded as a mean of diagnosing the procession of TMD in a non-invasive manner. But more additional studies are required for the levels of MMP-2. MMP-9, and IL-6 to determine their potentials as a diagnostic marker for TMD.

• Journal of Radiation Industry
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• v.10 no.4
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• pp.189-192
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• 2016

$^{68}Ga$ has emerged as a promising candidate for non-invasive diagnostic imaging within Positron Emission Tomography (PET) because of its advantageous radiochemical characteristics ($t_{1/2}=68min$, ${\beta}^+$ yield ~89%). $^{68}Ga$ forms a stable chelation with various ligands and it is possible to be quickly and easily study using a $^{68}Ge/^{68}Ga$ generator. Commercial $^{68}Ge/^{68}Ga$ generators are chromatographic system using the inorganic materials such as alumina and tin dioxide which are employed as column matrixes for $^{68}Ge$. In this study, we tried out to make $^{68}Ge/^{68}Ga$ generator system with the $^{68}GeO_2$ microstructures for column matrix. $^{68}Ge$ tends to have stable bond with oxide as $^{68}GeO_2$ microstructures. The $^{68}GeO_2$ has been synthesized by hydrolysis of $GeCl_4$ (sol-gel method) and characterized by X-ray diffraction and scanning electron microscope for geometrical analysis. The stability of $GeO_2$ was tested using eluents with diverse solvents(water, ethanol and 0.1 N HCl). The radioactivity of $^{68}Ga^{3+}$ in eluate through $GeO_2$ was measured to prove a function as column material for a generator.

• Journal of Periodontal and Implant Science
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• v.48 no.4
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• pp.251-260
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• 2018

Purpose: The aim of this retrospective cross-sectional study was to evaluate whether salivary findings of active matrix-metalloproteinase 8 (aMMP-8) chairside (point of care; POC) tests were associated with periodontal risk assessment parameters in patients receiving supportive periodontal therapy (SPT). Methods: A total of 125 patients receiving regular SPT were included, and their records were examined. The following inclusion criteria were used: a diagnosis of chronic periodontitis, at least 1 non-surgical periodontal treatment (scaling and root planning) with following regular SPT (minimum once a year), at least 6 remaining teeth, and clinical and aMMP-8 findings that were obtained at the same appointment. In addition to anamnestic factors (e.g., smoking and diabetes), oral hygiene indices (modified sulcus bleeding index [mSBI] and approximal plaque index), periodontal probing depth simultaneously with bleeding on probing, and dental findings (number of decayed, missing, and filled teeth) were recorded. Salivary aMMP-8 levels were tested using a commercial POC test system (Periomarker, Hager & Werken, Duisburg, Germany). Statistical analysis was performed using the t-test, Mann-Whitney U test, Fisher's exact test, and ${\chi}^2$ test, as appropriate (P<0.05). Results: Only the mSBI was significantly associated with positive salivary aMMP-8 findings (aMMP-8 positive: $27.8%{\pm}20.9%$ vs. aMMP-8 negative: $18.0%{\pm}14.5%$; P=0.017). No significant associations were found between aMMP-8 and smoking, diabetes, periodontal parameters, or parameters related to the maintenance interval (P>0.05). Conclusions: Salivary aMMP-8 chairside findings were not associated with common parameters used for periodontal risk assessment in patients receiving SPT. The diagnostic benefit of POC salivary aMMP-8 testing in risk assessment and maintenance interval adjustment during SPT remains unclear.

• Journal of Biomedical Engineering Research
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• v.27 no.2
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• pp.53-58
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• 2006

In this study, transverse relaxation time (T2) measurement and the evaluation of the characteristics of the spectral peak related to stomach tissue metabolites were performed using ex vivo proton magnetic resonance spectroscopic imaging (MRSI) at 1.5-T MRI/S instruments. Thirty-two gastric tissues resected from 12 patients during gastric cancer surgery, of which 19 were normal tissue and 13 were cancerous tissue, were used to measure the $T_2$ of the magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) peaks. The volume of interest data results from the MRSI measurements were extracted from the proper muscle (MUS) layer and the composite mucosa/submucosa (MC/SMC) layer and were statistically analyzed. MR spectra were acquired using the chemical shift imaging (CSI) point resolved spectroscopy (CSI-PRESS) technique with the parameters of pulse repetition time (TR) and echo times (TE) TR/(TE1,TE2)=1500 msec/(35 msec, 144 msec), matrix $size=24{\times}24$, NA=1, and voxel $size=2.2{\times}2.2{\times}4mm^3$. In conclusion, the measured $T_2$ of the metabolite peaks, such as choline (3.21ppm) and lipid (1.33ppm), were significantly decreased (p<0.01 and p<0.05, respectively) in the cancerous stomach tissue.

• Korean Journal of Acupuncture
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• v.28 no.3
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• pp.63-71
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• 2011

Objectives : The aim of this study is to develop the system and evaluate the optical analytical technique that reflects acupoint pigmentation and extravasated blood by cupping. Methods : We designed the system able to express XYZ coordinate on local skin color. To evaluate measurement-accuracy, we compared with 24 Color Checker Chart by standardized Commission Internationale de l'Eclairage. After confirming the performance of system, we experimented with cupping which was 80 kPa negative pressure for 1 minute on left/right BL13. The X, Y and Z values were converted to R, G and B, $L^*$, $a^*$ and $b^*$, Erythema Index (E.I.), and Melanin Index (M.I). We compared and analyzed two cases on before/after cupping. Results : The R, G and B values which were converted by X, Y and Z values had high linearity as a high level of R-square (R: 0.969, G: 0.996, and B: 0.992). Moreover, we confirmed that it was possible to quantitatively analyzed the change in skin color by cupping using R, G, B, $L^*$, $a^*$, $b^*$, E.I., and M.I. Conclusions : Therefore, we proposed the new analytical technique for objectifying the oriental medical diagnostic method using cupping and optical sensing technique.

• The Journal of the Korean bone and joint tumor society
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• v.10 no.1
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• pp.45-49
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• 2004

Chondroblastoma is a benign chondroid-forming tumor usually originating in the epiphysis. The base of metatarsal bone contains neither an epiphysis nor a secondary ossification center and so is the rare site of chondroblastoma. Here, we present a case of chondroblastoma of the base of fifth metatarsal bone in 34-year-old man. Histologically, the osteoclast-like giant cells were abundant enough to simulate a giant cell tumor. And the chondroid intercellular matrix was intermixed but scanty. However, the background mononuclear cells showed irregular and indented nuclei with longitudinal clefts and positive immunoreactivity for S-100 protein, as the evidence of chondroblasts.

• Transactions on Electrical and Electronic Materials
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• v.14 no.3
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• pp.121-124
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• 2013

The incorporation of 90 nm alumina particles into an epoxy matrix to form a composite microstructure is described in present study. It is shown that the use of ultrafine particles results in a substantial change in the behavior of the composite, which can be traced to the mitigation of internal charges when a comparison is made with conventional $Al_2O_3$ fillers. A variety of diagnostic techniques have been used to augment pulsed electro-acoustic space charge measurement to provide a basis for understanding the underlying physics of the phenomenon. It would appear that, when the size of the inclusions becomes small enough, they act cooperatively with the host structure and cease to exhibit interfacial properties. It is postulated that the $Al_2O_3$ particles are surrounded by high charge concentrations. Since $Al_2O_3$ particles have very high specific areas, these regions allow limited charge percolation through $Al_2O_3$ filled dielectrics. The practical consequences of this have also been explored in terms of the electric strength exhibited. It would appear that there was a window in which real advantages accumulated from the nano-formulated material. An optimum filler loading of about 0.5 wt.% was indicated.