• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.15 no.13
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• pp.5449-5454
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• 2014

Although genetic characteristics are considered to be a factor influencing the geographic variation in the prevalence of gallbladder cancer (GBC), they have not been well studied in Bolivia, which has a high prevalence rate of GBC. The purpose of this study was to examine the frequency of TP53 and K-ras mutations in Bolivian patients with GBC and to compare them with our previous data obtained in other high-GBC-prevalence countries, namely Japan, Chile, and Hungary. DNA was extracted from cancer sites in paraffin-embedded tissue from 36 patients using a microdissection technique. TP53 mutations at exons 5 to 8 and K-ras mutations at codons 12, 13 and 61 were examined using direct sequencing techniques. The data obtained were compared with those in the other high-GBC-prevalence countries. Of the 36 patients, 18 (50.0%) had a TP53 mutation (one mutation in each of 17 patients and three mutations in one patient), and only one (2.8%) had a K-ras mutation. Of the 20 TP53 mutations, 12 were of the transition type (60.0%). This rate was significantly lower than that in Chile (12/12, P<0.05). In addition, three mutations were of the CpG transition type (15.0%), which is a feature of endogenous mutation. All three were found in the hot spot region of the TP53 gene. In contrast, G:C to T:A transversion was found in Bolivia, suggesting the presence of exogenous carcinogens. Our findings suggest that the development of GBC in Bolivia is associated with both exogenous carcinogens and endogenous mechanisms. The identification of an environmental risk factor for GBC is needed to confirm these findings.

• Journal of the Korean Applied Science and Technology
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• v.22 no.4
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• pp.323-331
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• 2005

Fatty acid compositions of the seed oils of P. schinseng, A. continentalis and A. sessiliflorus, were analyzed by gas chromatography (GC) equipped with a capillary column. A large unusual peak was observed just before the peak corresponding to oleic acid $(cis-9-C_{18:1})$. This unknown fatty acid was isolated by silver ion chromatography and then derivatized into the picolinyl ester. The mass spectrum of the picolinyl ester showed molecular ion at m/z=373 with other diagnostic ions such as m/z=178, 218, 232, 246, 274, 288, 302 and 344. Characteristic absorption peaks at $720\;cm^{-1}$, $1640\;cm^{-1}$ and $3010\;cm^{-1}$ in IR spectrum indicated the presence of cis-configurational double bond in the molecule. The $^1H-NMR$ spectrum of this acid gave two quintets centered at ${\delta}1.638$ (2H, C-3) and ${\delta}1.377$ (2H, C-4), and two multiplets centered at ${\delta}2.022{\sim}2.047$ (2H, C-5) and ${\delta}2.000{\sim}2.022$ (2H, C-8), and multiplet signals of olefinic protons centered at ${\delta}5.3015{\sim}5.3426$ (C-6, J=9.5 Hz) and ${\delta}\;5.3465{\sim}5.3877$ (C-7, J=9.5 Hz). The $^13C-NMR$ spectrum showed 18 carbon resonance signals including an overlapped signal at ${\delta}29.7002$ for C-12 and ${\delta}29.6520$ for C-13 (or they can be reversed), and other highly resolved signals at ${\delta}33.950$, ${\delta}24.558$, ${\delta}26.773$ and ${\delta}27.205$ due to C-2, C-3, C-5 and C-8 of a ${\Delta}^6-octadecenoic$ acid, respectively. From analysis results this unknown fatty acid could be identified as cis-6-octadecenoic acid. The seed oils of P. schinseng and A. sessiliflorus contained petroselinic acid (59.7%, 56.0%), oleic acid (18.3%, 6.1%) and linoleic acid (16.2%, 30.4%) with small amount of palmitic acid (3.0%, 3.1%) while the seed oil of A. continentalis comprised mainly oleic acid (30.2%), petroselinic acid (29.0%), linoleic acid (24.1%) and palmitic acid (13.1%).

• Journal of radiological science and technology
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• v.40 no.3
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• pp.443-451
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• 2017

Mammography is commonly used for screening early breast cancer. However, mammographic images, which depend on the physical properties of breast components, are limited to provide information about whether a lesion is malignant or benign. Although a dual-energy subtraction technique decomposes a certain material from a mixture, it increases radiation dose and degrades the accuracy of material decomposition. In this study, we simulated a breast phantom using attenuation characteristics, and we proposed a technique to enable the accurate material decomposition by applying weighting factors for the dual-energy mammography based on a photon-counting detector using a Monte Carlo simulation tool. We also evaluated the contrast and noise of simulated breast images for validating the proposed technique. As a result, the contrast for a malignant tumor in the dual-energy weighted subtraction technique was 0.98 and 1.06 times similar than those in the general mammography and dual-energy subtraction techniques, respectively. However the contrast between malignant and benign tumors dramatically increased 13.54 times due to the low contrast of a benign tumor. Therefore, the proposed technique can increase the material decomposition accuracy for malignant tumor and improve the diagnostic accuracy of mammography.

• Radiation Oncology Journal
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• v.19 no.1
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• pp.10-15
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• 2001

Purpose : This is a retrospective study to evaluate the results of radiation therapy in nasopharyngeal carcinoma. Materials and Methods : From September 1989 to October 1996, 19 patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma completed planned radiation therapy course. Stages were 1 in 2 patients, II in 6, III in 2 IV in 9 patients, respectively. Pathology was squamous cell carcinoma in 5 patients, undifferentiated cell carcinoma in 14 patients. Fourteen patients were treated with radiation therapy only. Five patients received chemotherapy. The follow-up period ranged from 5 months to 115 months with a median of 33 months. Follow-up was possible in all patients. Results : Responses to radiation therapy were complete response in 15 patients, partial response in 2, and no response in 2, respectively. Patterns of failure were as follows : locoregional recurrence in 6 patients and distant metastasis in 4 patients. The sites of distant metastasis were bone, liver and lung. Five year survival rate was $47.8\%$ and five year disease free survival rate was $48.1\%$. Stage, T-stage, N-stage, central nervous system involvement, pathology type, performance status, response, radiation dose, chemotherapy were not significant prognostic factors. Conclusion : 5-year survival rate was $47.8\%$ and 5-year disease free survival rate was $48.1\%$. The advances in radiation therapy techniques and chemotherapy are needed.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Radiology
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• v.14 no.1
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• pp.61-68
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• 2020

The purpose of this study is to investigate the correlation of blooming artifacts according to dilution ratio of contrast agent on CT angiography images. A total of 10 sets were prepared by differently setting the ratio of contrast media and saline in a ball phantom made by a 3D printer. CT scan images were obtained and reconstructed by MIP and MPR techniques to obtain axial, sagittal and coronal images, respectively. After, the diameter of the ball phantom of the image obtained after the test was measured each 30 times, a total 1800 times. As a result, the dilution of 20:80 in the coronal plane was the smallest (p<0.05). Similarly, when dilute to 20:80 in the sagittal plane of MIP, it was the smallest as 20.39 ± 0.08 mm (p<0.05). Correlation analysis between dilution ratio and measurement size confirmed strong negative correlations in all reconstructed images (p<0.05). In conclusion, the higher the dilution ratio of the contrast agent, the more difficult it is to measure actual blood vessel measurement. Therefore, this study may provide basic data in future studies on actual measurement.

• The Korean Journal of Nuclear Medicine
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• v.26 no.2
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• pp.312-317
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• 1992

To evaluate the sensitivity and specificity of captopril renal scan for renovascular hypertension, we employed the captopril renal scan in conjunction with renal angiography in 81 patients, 159 kidneys, who were referred to evaluate the cause of hypertension. We defined the renovascular hypertension by the criteria of demonstration of renal artery stenosis by angiography, and improvement or cure of hypertension by revascularization. Visual and quantitative evaluation of $^{99m}Tc-DTPA$ renal scan was peformed pre and post captopril administration. The prevalence rate of renovascular hypertension was 40% in comparing with renal angiography, and 70% in confirmed cases. The causes of renovascular hypertension in 81 patients were Takayasu's arteritis, fibromuscular dysplasia, atherosclerosis, essential hypertension, chronic pyetonephritis etc. The sensitivity and specificity of captopril renal scan in comparing with renal angiography were 80%, 86.5%, respectively and also 84.2%, 72.6% in confirmed cases of renovascular hypertension, respectively. The causes of false negative cases were nonfunctioning kidney due to complete obstruction or long duration of disease in basal scan, segmental branch artery stenosis, unknown causes, and suspicious true negative cases without confirmation. The false positive cases were abdominal aortic stenosis or aneurysm, dehydration, unknown causes, and suspicious true positive cases. We conclude that captopril renal scintigraphy is highly sensitive, reasonably specific diagnostic method and comparable to other techniques very favorably.

• Journal of Trauma and Injury
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.170-174
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• 2010

Purpose: As techniques and instruments for video-assisted thoracic surgery (VATS) have been evolving, attempts to perform VATS for chest trauma have been increasing. Several studies have demonstrated the feasibility and safety of VATS for thoracic trauma. We reviewed our experience to evaluate the clinical feasibility and safety of VATS for thoracic trauma. Methods: Fifty-two patients underwent thoracic surgery for chest trauma in Asan Medical Center from January 1990 to December 2009. VATS was performed in 21 patients who showed stable vital signs. We reviewed retrospectively the medical records of those patients to investigate the results of VATS for thoracic trauma. Results: Thoracic exploration for chest trauma was performed in 52 patients. There were 46 males (88.5%) and 6 females (11.5%). The median age was 46.0 years (range: 11~81 years). There were 39 blunt and 13 penetrating traumas. A standard posterolateral thoracotomy was performed in 31 patients, and VATS was tried in 21 patients. We performed successful VATS in 13 patients; 11 males (84.5%) and 2 females (15.5%) with a median age of 46.0 years (range: 24~75 years). The indication of VATS was persistent intrathoracic hemorrhage in 10 patients and clotted hemothorax in 3 patients. There were no complications, but there were two mortalities due to multiple organ failure after massive transfusion. In 8 patients, VATS was converted to a standard posterolateral thoracotomy for several reasons. The reason was inadequate visualization for bleeding control or evacuation of the hematoma in 5 patients. In 3 patients, VATS was performed to evaluate diaphragmatic injury. After the diaphragmatic injury had been confirmed, a standard posterolateral thoracotomy was performed to repair the diaphragm. Conclusion: VATS should be safe and efficient method for diagnostic evaluation and surgical management of stable patients with thoracic trauma.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.35 no.3
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• pp.197-202
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• 1997

Diagnosis of early paragonimiasis is difficult because parasitological evidence is not easily obtained. Antibody tests have been proposed as a good substitute for classical diagnostic techniques. Using the crude extracts of Parnsonimus westermnni eggs, metacercariae. 4- and 7-week Juveniles, and 16-week adults as antigens, we observed the early antibody responses. Sera were obtained from 4 experimental cats, fed 50 metacercariae each, at intervals until 13 weeks post-infection. Antibody (IgG) responses were identified by ELISA using extracts of 4-week juveniles, followed by those of 7- and 16-week worms. Antibody responses were minimal against the metacercarial extracts. Antibodies to p. westemoni egg extracts were elevated after 10 weeks post-infection. In immunoblot analysis, more than nine protein bands in 4-week juveniles reacted with the early infection sera. Antigenic proteins in adult worms were different from those of juveniles. After four weeks of infection, 32 and 35 kDa bands in the adult extracts were increasingly reactive. Egg specific proteins at 28, 46 and 94 kDa were reactive only after 10 weeks. Antigenic components reactin료 to the early infection sera changed during the maturation stages of P. westermani; almost all juvenile antigens were replaced by adult antigen components.

• Journal of Sensor Science and Technology
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• v.4 no.3
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• pp.51-59
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• 1995

Stress-balanced flat 150 nm-$Si_{3}N_{4}$/300 nm-$SiO_{2}$/150 nm-$Si_{3}N_{4}$ dielectric membrane on silicon substrate has been fabricated. Analyses of stress-deflection and stress-temperature, and visual inspection for the strain diagnostic test patterns were performed in order to characterize stress properties of the membrane. The $SiO_{2}$ layers sandwiched between two $Si_{3}N_{4}$ layers were deposited by three different techniques(PECVD, LPCVD, and APCVD) for the purpose of investigating the dependence of stress on the deposition methods. Some extent of tensile stress in the membrane was always observed regardless of the deposition methods, however it could be balanced against silicon substrate by post-wet oxidation in $1,150^{\circ}C$. Stress-temperature characteristics of the membranes showed that APCVD-LTO was better as mid-$SiO_{2}$ layer than PECVD - or LPCVD - $SiO_{2}$ when there was no oxidation process.

• Journal of the Korean Society for Railway
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• v.20 no.2
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• pp.203-209
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• 2017

Research on condition monitoring and diagnosis of power facilities has been conducted to improve the safety and reliability of electric power supply. Although insulation diagnostic techniques for unit equipment such as gas-insulated switchgears and transformers have been developed rapidly, studies on monitoring of cables have only included aspects such as whether defects exist and partial discharge (PD) detection; other characteristics and features have not been discussed. Therefore, this paper dealt with PD characteristics against void sizes and positions, and with defect localization in XLPE cable. Four types of defects with different sizes and positions were simulated and PD pulses were detected using a high frequency current transformer (HFCT) with a frequency range of 150kHz~30MHz. The results showed that the apparent charge increased when the defect was adjacent to the conductor; the pulse count in the negative half of the applied voltage was about 20% higher than that in the positive half. In addition, the defect location was calculated by time-domain reflectometry (TDR) method, it was revealed that the defect could be localized with an error of less than1m in a 50m cable.