• Journal of radiological science and technology
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• v.39 no.1
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• pp.71-79
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• 2016

The purpose of this study is computed tomography contrast agent at low concentrations and low tube voltage technique to evaluate the usefulness on the phantom image. By varying the degree of mixture by the contrast medium concentration it was inserted in phantom. It was taken by changing the tube voltage and tube current step by step, and to evaluate the dose and the CT value obtained from the phantom image. As a result, low-contrast, low tube voltage(300 mgI/ml, 100 kV) was reduced by an average 21%(CTDIvol; computed tomography dose indexvol) more standard condition(350 mgI/ml, 120 kV). SNR was increased at all depths of the phantom, respectively 1:10 and 1:20(by diluting a contrast agent and normal saline) 12.2(26%) 6.2(17%). CNR was increased at all depths of the phantom, respectively 1:10 and 1:20(by diluting a contrast agent and normal saline) 11.5(32%), 6.3(26%). Research work on the CT scan is necessary in a variety of studies on the low contrast concentration and low tube voltage techniques for dose reduction and reducing of side effects the contrast agent.

• Korean Journal of Radiology
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• v.25 no.7
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• pp.634-643
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• 2024

Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the diagnostic efficacy and safety of low-contrast-dose, dual-source dual-energy CT before transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) in patients with compromised renal function. Materials and Methods: A total of 54 consecutive patients (female:male, 26:38; 81.9 ± 7.3 years) with reduced renal function underwent pre-TAVR dual-energy CT with a 30-mL contrast agent between June 2022 and March 2023. Monochromatic (40- and 50-keV) and conventional (120-kVp) images were reconstructed and analyzed. The subjective quality score, vascular attenuation, contrast-to-noise ratio (CNR), and signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) were compared among the imaging techniques using the Friedman test and post-hoc analysis. Interobserver reliability for aortic annular measurement was assessed using the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) and Bland-Altman analysis. The procedural outcomes and incidence of post-contrast acute kidney injury (AKI) were assessed. Results: Monochromatic images achieved diagnostic quality in all patients. The 50-keV images achieved superior vascular attenuation and CNR (P < 0.001 in all) while maintaining a similar SNR compared to conventional CT. For aortic annular measurement, the 50-keV images showed higher interobserver reliability compared to conventional CT: ICC, 0.98 vs. 0.90 for area and 0.97 vs. 0.95 for perimeter; 95% limits of agreement width, 0.63 cm² vs. 0.92 cm² for area and 5.78 mm vs. 8.50 mm for perimeter. The size of the implanted device matched CT-measured values in all patients, achieving a procedural success rate of 92.6%. No patient experienced a serum creatinine increase of ≥ 1.5 times baseline in the 48-72 hours following CT. However, one patient had a procedural delay due to gradual renal function deterioration. Conclusion: Low-contrast-dose imaging with 50-keV reconstruction enables precise pre-TAVR evaluation with improved image quality and minimal risk of post-contrast AKI. This approach may be an effective and safe option for pre-TAVR evaluation in patients with compromised renal function.

• Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging
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• v.40 no.5
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• pp.257-262
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• 2006

Purpose: The standard protocol using large volume of oral contrast media may cause gastrointestinal discomfort and contrast-related artifacts in PET/CT. The aim of this study was to evaluate the usefulness of low dose oral contrast in $^{18}F-FDG$ PET/CT. Materials and Methods: We retrospectively reviewed the whole-body PET/CT images in a total of 435 patients. About 200 ml of oval contrast agent (barium sulfate) was administered immediately before injection of $^{18}F-FDG$. The FDG uptake of intestines was analyzed by visual and semi- quantitative method on transaxial, coronal and saggital planes. Results: Seventy (16%, 113 sites) of 435 images showed high FDG uptake (peak SUV > 4); 50 (74%, 84 sites) with diffuse and 20 (15%, 29 sites) with focal uptake. The most commonly delivered site of oral contrast media was small bowel (n=27, 39%). On PET/CT images, FDG uptake coexisted with oral contrast media in 26 patients (54%, 38 sites) with diffuse pattern and 9 (45%, 9 sites) with focal pattern, and by sites, those were 38 (45%) and 9 (31%), respectively. In small bowel regions, the proportion of coexistence reached as high as 61% (29/47 sites). A visual analysis of available non-attenuation corrected PET images of 27 matched regions revealed no contrast-related artifact. Conclusion: We concluded that the application of low dose contrast media could be helpful in the evaluation of abdominal uptake in the FDG PET/CT image.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine Ophthalmology and Otolaryngology and Dermatology
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• v.23 no.3
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• pp.1-10
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• 2010

Objective : Erysipelas is an acute inflammation caused by pyogenic bacteria. This mainly involves the upper part of dermis. It begins as erythematous patches with tenderness, followed by fever, headache, chills and fatigue etc. It may results in edema, obstruction of lymphatics and sepsis. So this experiment is carried out for test whether the Bojeasodok-um subtracted Scrophulariae Radix, Lasiosphaera seu Calvatia, Isatidis Radix added indigo Naturalis, Lithospermi Radix have an anti-inflammatory effect and have suppression effect on immunocyte in the state of inflammation which induced by Erysipelas. Method : Experimental animals made use of 4-5 week-age(weight 20-25g) ICR(male) mouse. In the breeding farm, the lighting time was controlled from 7:00 am till 7:00 pm, the temperature was controlled So we concluded that BS is prospected as an anti-inflammatory agent to cure inflammation induced bywithin 18-23$23^{\circ}C$ and water and food were not limited.The freezing lyophilization powder which were extracted from Bojesodok-Um divided low dose group(200mg/kg-BSL) and high dose group(500mg/kg-BSH) and after melting in water, it was orally administered to the mouse. Compared with inflammation induced group which were induced by triggering-inflammation reagent Carageenan and Zymosan and normal contrast group, we measured the edema decrement effect,macrophage and spleen cell activation. Result : 1. BS has suppress inflammatory reaction induced by Carageenan. 2. BS has suppress increasing activation of abdominal cavity macrophage in the Carageenan and Zymosan induced inflammation. 3. BS has suppress increasing activation of spleen cell in the Carageenan and Zymosan induced inflammation. Based on the above result, BS was improved its suppression effect to the inflammatory reaction through the suppression of spleen cell and macrophage activation. So we concluded that BS is prospected as an anti-inflammatory agent to cure inflammation induced by Erysipelas.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.16 no.5
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• pp.914-920
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• 2002

This experiment is carried out for test whether the addition temperament drugs of Danchisoyo-san have an anti-inflammatory effect and have suppression effect on immunocyte in the state of inflammation which induced by carageenan and zymosan. The freezing lyophilization powder which were extracted from Danchisoyo-san divided low dose group(200mg/kg-DSL) and high dose group(500mg/kg-DSH) and after melting in water, it was orally administered to the mouse. Compared with inflammation induced group which were induced by triggering-inflammation reagent carageenan and zymosan and normal contrast group, we measured the edema decrement effect, macrophage and spleen cell activation. 1. Danchisoyo-san has suppress inflammatory reaction induced by carrageenan. 2. Danchisoyo-san has suppress increasing activation of abdominal cavity macrophage cell in the carrageenan induced inflammation. 3. Danchisoyo-san has suppress increasing activation of spleen cell in the carrageenan induced inflammation. 4. Danchisoyo-san has suppress increasing activation of abdominal cavity macrophage in the zymosan induced inflammation. 5. Danchisoyo-san has suppress increasing activation of spleen cell in the zymosan induced inflammation. Based on the above result, Danchisoyo-san was improved its suppression effect to the inflammatory reaction through the suppression of spleen cell and macrophage activation. So we concluded that Danchisoyo-san is prospected as a anti-inflammatory agent to cure inflammation.

• Development and Reproduction
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• v.27 no.1
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• pp.25-37
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• 2023

Acetaminophen [Paracetamol, N-acetyl-para-aminophenol (APAP)] is a common over-the-counter analgesic agent as nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). The high doses or the long-term treatment of acetaminophen via usual gavage feeding resulted in damage of testicles that presented recoverable impairment, as well as liver and kidney. The influence of acetaminophen was examined in male golden hamsters treated with acetaminophen-containing diet feeding. They were divided into 5 groups and subjected to this experiment for 4 weeks: animals housed in long photoperiod (LP) as LP control, animals housed in short photoperiod (SP) for 4 weeks as SP control (SP4), and groups of animals treated with low, middle, and high concentrations of acetaminophen (Low, Middle, High groups). Also animals housed in SP for 8 weeks were included (SP8) to contrast testicular activities, if necessary. As results, spermatozoa filled the seminiferous tubules of the testicles of animals in LP control and SP4 groups. The aspects were seen in the animals taken diets of low and middle doses of acetaminophen. The animals who fed high dose of acetaminophen showed large or small testicles. The large testicles displayed all germ cells at the steps of spermatogenesis. The small testicles presented no sperm as the animals housed in SP for 8 weeks. Thus these results indicate that acetaminophen invokes the antigonadal effects and accelerates the regressing process of the testicles in the animals compared to the animals exposed to SP.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.9 no.1
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• pp.33-39
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• 2001

Antidotal efficacy of combinational prophylactics composed of physostigmine plus procyclidine, alone or in combination with antidotes such as atropine plus 2-pralidoxime or atropine plus HI-6, was evaluated in rats. Physostigmine (0.1 mg/kg) plus procyclidine (3 mg/kg), pretreated subcutaneously 30 min prior to subcutaneous exposure to organophosphates of militarily importance, exerted protection ratios of 7.2, 6.5, 4.0, 2.9 and 8.0 fold for tabun, saris, soman, cyclosarin and V-agent, respectively. In comparison, low effects (1.7 fold for soman and 1.3 fold for cyclosarin) were achieved with the traditional antidotes atropine (17.4 mg/kg) plus 2-pralidoxime (30 mg/kg) administered intramuscularly immediately after organophosphate, in contrast to high effects (5.5 fold for soman and 160.0 fold for cyclosarin) with atropine (17.4 mg/kg) plus HI-6 (125 mg/kg), although the protection ratio markedly decreased when treatment of antidotes was delayed. Note- worthy, the combinational prophylactics markedly potentiated the effects of antidotes to higher than 5.0 fold in all cases. In addition, the combinational prophylactics fully prevented the seizures and excitotoxic brain injuries induced by a high dose (100 mg/kg, 1.3 LD$_{50}$) of soman. Taken together, it is suggested that the prophylactics composed of physostigmine and procyclidine, in combination with posttreatment antidotes, could be a promising regimen for the prevention of lethality, seizures and brain injuries induced by organophosphates possessing diverse properties.s.