• The Korean Journal of Nuclear Medicine Technology
• /
• v.23 no.1
• /
• pp.15-28
• /
• 2019

Purpose Nuclear medicine was initially introduced in Korea in 1969 and widely applied to treat hyperthyroidism with $^{131}I$. Also, gamma camera was adopted in 1969 in the first place and its application has been growing continually in many ways. We analyzed long-term trend in nuclear medicine examinations for the last 2 decades. The purpose of this paper is to make predictions and to set both plans and directions on the development of nuclear medicine. Materials and Methods We analyzed the performance of nuclear medicine examinations and therapies performed in Asan Medical Center from 1998 to 2017. Results Results from the last 20 years regarding Bone scan, Renal scan, MUGA scan and $^{18}F$-FPCIT, Bone Mineral Density were on a increase. And Myocardium perfusion SPECT, Thyroid scan, Lung scan were on a decrease while $^{18}F-FDG$ PET maintained on a steady course. Until 2010 there was a positive performance with the therapy but after the excessive medical care in thyroid examination performance is at status quo. Key events such as a medical strike(2000), Middle-East Respiratory Syndrome (2015) influenced the overall performance of the therapy. Conclusion In order to promote a long-term growth in nuclear medicine examination and therapy, it is inevitable to respond to the changes in current medical environment. Furthermore, it is strongly suggested to put efforts to maintain and develop new examinations and clinical indicators.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
• /
• v.53 no.4
• /
• pp.481-487
• /
• 2010

Purpose: Recently many studies show early exposure during childhood growth to endotoxin (lipopolysaccharides, LPS) and/or early exposure to allergens exhibit important role in development of allergy including bronchial asthma. The aim of this study was to evaluate the role of endotoxin and allergen exposure in early life via the airways in the pathogenesis of allergic airways inflammation and airway hyperresposiveness (AHR) in mouse model of asthma. Methods: Less than one week-old Balb/c mice was used. Groups of mice were received either a single intranasal instillation of sterile physiologic saline, 1% ovalbumin (OVA), LPS or $1.0{\mu}g$ LPS in 1% OVA. On 35th day, these animals were sensitized with 1% OVA for 10 consecutive days via the airways. Animals were challenged with ovalbumin for 3 days on 55th days, and airway inflammation, hyperresponsiveness, and cytokine expression were assessed. Measurements of airway function were obtained in unrestrained animals, using whole-body plethysmography. Airway responsiveness was expressed in terms of % enhanced pause (Penh) increase from baseline to aerosolized methacholine. Lung eosinophilia, serum OVA-IgE and bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) fluid cytokine levels were also assessed. ANOVA was used to determine the levels of difference between all groups. Comparisons for all pairs were performed by Tukey-Kramer honest significant difference test; $P$ values for significance were set to 0.05. Results: Sensitized and challenged mice with OVA showed significant airway eosinophilia and heightened responsiveness to methacholine. Early life exposure of OVA and/or LPS via the airway prevented both development of AHR as well as bronchoalveolar lavage fluid eosinophilia. Exposure with OVA or LPS also resulted in suppression of interleukin (IL)-4, 5 production in BAL fluid and OVA specific IgE in blood. Conclusion: These results indicate that antigen and/or LPS exposure in the early life results in inhibition of allergic responses to OVA in this mouse model of astham. Our data show that early life exposure with OVA and/or LPS may have a protective role in the development of allergic airway inflammation and development of allergen-induced airway responses in mouse model of asthma.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
• /
• v.46 no.1
• /
• pp.17-24
• /
• 1999

Background : A sizable percentage of tuberculous pleurisy patients are known to have residual pleural thickening(RPT) despite adequate anti-tuberculous chemotherapy. But, the predictive factors related to the development of RPT is not well known. Therefore, we studied to determine which factors are related to the development of RPT after completion of therapy. Methods: By retrospective review of medical records, fifty-eight patients initially diagnosed as having tuberculous pleurisy between March 1995 and January 1998 were separated into two groups : 27 patients in group 1 had RPT on simple chest radiography, while 31 patients in group 2 had no RPT after 6 month of anti-tuberculous chemotherapy. The clinical characteristics, radiologic findings and pleural fluid findings of the two group were compared at the time of diagnosis and during the course of therapy. Results: 47% of patients had RPT after 6 month of chemotherapy, and RPT was more common in man than in women(54% vs 29%, p=0.092). In group 2 patients, complete resorption of pleural lesion occurred rather late stage of therapy(1-2 month: 26%, 3-4 month: 29%, 5-6 month: 45%). Group 1 patients had increased percentage of loculated pleural lesion(26 % vs 19%) and increased white blood cell and lymphocyte count, lactate dehydrogenase level in pleural fluid ($3527\pm5652$ vs $2467\pm2201$/ml, $2066\pm2022$ vs $1698\pm1835$/ml and $1636\pm1143$ vs $1441\pm923$IU/mL respectively) than group 2 at the time of diagnosis, but statistically insignificant. Duration of symptom prior to treatment, size of pleural effusion, presence of parenchymal lung lesion, level of total protein, glucose and adenosine deaminase(ADA)activity in pleural fluid were similar in both group. Conclusion: 53% of tuberculous pleurisy patients showed slow but complete resorption of pleural lesion after 6 month of chemotherapy. But, no clinical, radiological and pleural fluid findings are predictive for the development of RPT.

• Herbal Formula Science
• /
• v.15 no.1
• /
• pp.163-173
• /
• 2007

Jeungaektang (JAT) is the herbal formula, has the effect of moistening the dryness by activating lung Qi and by nourishing Yin, has being used for dryness syndromes. Generally the herbal formulae for moistening dryness are used for exogenous or endogenous dryness syndromes. JAT has been clinically used for the treatment of endogenous dryness syndromes. It is composed of Scrophulariae Radix. Rehmanniae Radix and Liriopis Tuber. Recent studies showed that JAT has a protective effect against $CCl_{4}-induced$ hepatotoxicity and anti-inflammatory effects against ear swelling of mouse induced by Crotonis Fructus. However, the effect of JAT on the immunological activity was rarely studied. Therefore, this study evaluated the effects of JAT the regulatory mechanism of nitric oxide (NO) and cytokines in the lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated RAW 264.7 cells. After the treatment of JAT water extract, cell viability was measured by MTT assay, NO production was monitored by measuring the nitrite content in culture medium. Cyclooxygenase-2 (COX -2) and inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) were determined by immunoblot analysis, and levels of cytokine were analyzed by sandwich immunoassays. Results provided evidence that JAT inhibited the production of nitrite and nitrate ($0.1{\sim}1.0$ mg/ml), iNOS ($0.1{\sim}1.0$ mg/ml), $interleukin-1{\beta}$ ( $0.1{\sim}1.0$ mg/ml) and tumor necrosis $factor-{\alpha}$ ($0.1{\sim}1.0$ mg/ml) in RAW 264.7 cells activated with LPS. Furthermore, JAT inhibited the expression of COX-2 expression and production of prostagladin E2 ($0.1{\sim}1.0$ mg/ml). These findings suggest that JAT can produce anti-inflammatory effect, which may play a role in adjunctive therapy in Gram-negative bacterial infections.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
• /
• v.73 no.5
• /
• pp.258-265
• /
• 2012

Background: Vitamin D can translocate a vitamin D receptor (VDR) from the nucleus to the cell membranes. The meaning of this translocation is not elucidated in terms of a role in pathogenesis of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) till now. VDR deficient mice are prone to develop emphysema, suggesting that abnormal function of VDR might influence a generation of COPD. The blood levels of vitamin D have known to be well correlated with that of lung function in patients with COPD, and smoking is the most important risk factor in development of COPD. This study was performed to investigate whether cigarette smoke extracts (CSE) can inhibit the translocation of VDR and whether mitogen activated protein kinases (MAPKs) are involved in this inhibition. Methods: Human alveolar basal epithelial cell line (A549) was used in this study. 1,25-$(OH_2)D_3$ and/or MAPKs inhibitors and antioxidants were pre-incubated before stimulation with 10% CSE, and then nucleus and microsomal proteins were extracted for a Western blot of VDR. Results: Five minutes treatment of 1,25-(OH2)D3 induced translocation of VDR from nucleus to microsomes by a dose-dependent manner. CSE inhibited 1,25-$(OH_2)D_3$-induced translocation of VDR in both concentrations of 10% and 20%. All MAPKs inhibitors did not suppress the inhibitory effects of CSE on the 1,25-$(OH_2)D_3$-induced translocation of VDR. Quercetin suppressed the inhibitory effects of CSE on the 1,25-$(OH_2)D_3$-induced translocation of VDR, but not in n-acetylcysteine. Conclusion: CSE has an ability to inhibit vitamin D-induced VDR translocation, but MAPKs are not involved in this inhibition.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
• /
• v.27 no.4
• /
• pp.12-29
• /
• 2006

Background and Aims : Even though various strategies for cancer treatment have advanced with the remarkable development of genomic information and technology, it is far from giving relief to cancer patients. Recently there is accumulating evidence that the immune system is closely connected to anti-tumor defense mechanisms in a multistage process. This includes tumorigenesis, invasion, growth and metastasis. Cordyceps Militaris, a well-known oriental herbal medicine, is a parasitic fungus that has been used as an immune enhancing agent for a long period of time. However, little is known about the cancer-related immunomodulatory effects and anti-tumor activities. In the present study, we aimed to investigate the effects of Cordyceps Militaris extract (CME) on immune modulating and anti-tumor activity. Materials and Methods : To elucidate the effects of CME on macrophage and natural killer (NK) cell activity, we analyzed nitric oxide (NO) production, NK cytotoxicity and gene expression of cytokines related with macrophages and NK cell activity. Results and Conclusions : CME activated and promoted macrophage production of NO. It also enhanced gene expression of IL-1 and iNOS in RAW 264.7 cells. CME promoted cytotoxicity of NK cells against YAC-1 cells and enhanced NK cell related gene expression such as IL-1, IL-2, IL-12, iNOS, IFN-${\gamma}$ and　TNF-${\alpha}$ in mice splenocytes. It also Promoted protein expression of IL-10, IL-12, IFN-${\gamma}$ and TNF-${\alpha}$ in mice splenocytes and inhibited lung tumor metastasis induced by CT-26 cell line compared with the control group. From these results, it could be concluded that CME is an effective herbal drug for modulating the immune system and anti-cancer treatment by promoting macrophage and NK cell activity.

• The Korean Journal of Pharmacology
• /
• v.18 no.1
• /
• pp.65-72
• /
• 1982

It has been known that retinoids are intrinsically of critical importance for control of premalignant epithelial cell differentiation. In the absence of retinoids, normal cellular differentiation and growth does not occur in epithelia such as those of trachea and bronchi. Furthermore, it was also reported that retinoid deficiency enhanced susceptibility to chemical carcinogenesis in the respiratory system, in the bladder, and in the colon of the experimental animal. In 1974, Bollag examined the effects of synthetic retinoids in prevention of development of cancer and demonstrated synthetic retinoids to have more favorable therapeutic index than retinoic acid for causing regression of skin papilloma in mice. Therefore, it was assumed that this anticarcinogenic effect of vitamin A derivatives could be due to modification of the metabolism of the carcinogenic polycyclic hydrocarbon, which must first be activated to exert their effect. Hill and Shih reported that vitamin A compounds and analogs had inhibitory effect on drug metabolizing enzyme from liver and lung tissue of mouse and hamster. Lucy suggested that the chemoprevention effect of vitamin A derivatives is due to reaction with molecular oxygen, and it is possible that inhibition of hydroxybenzpyrene formation is a result of this property. On the other hand, butylated hydroxytoluene which is a potent antioxidant strongly inhibited the formation of mammary tumor induced by dimethylbenranthracene. Also, it was observed that this antioxidant inhibited cancer induction in rats by N-2-fluo-renylacetamide. The purpose of this experiment was to investigate the effect of vitamin A derivatives such as retinoic acid and retinoid on drug-metabolizing enzyme and to determine whether riboflavin tetrabutylate or vitamin E could prevent of modify any changes induced by vitamin A delivatives in the rats. The results obtained were as followings. 1) Body weight was significantly reduced by retinoic acid, but not by retinoid. 2) Retinoic acid markedly increased liver weight while retincid showed no effect on liver weight. Treatment of riboflavin tetrabutylate did not affect retinoic acid-induced change in both body weight and liver weight. 3) Both retinoic acid and retinoid remarkably decreased the activity of aminopyrine demethylase. Pretreatment of riboflavin tetrabutylate, however, prevented inhibitory effect of retinoic acid on the enzyme activity. 4) No significant effect of vitamin E on aminopyrine demethylase was observed in both groups treated with retinoic acid and retinoid.

• Journal of Biomedical Engineering Research
• /
• v.28 no.3
• /
• pp.387-391
• /
• 2007

An oxygenator is a very important artificial organ and widely used for patients with lung failure or during open heart surgery. Although an oxygenator has been widely studied worldwide to enhance its efficiency, studies on oxygenators, in particular when using a pulsatile blood flow, are domestically limited. Therefore, a new oxygenator was developed in the lab and animal experimental results are described in the paper. The oxygenator is composed of polycarbonate housing and polypropylene hollow fibers. It has a total length of 400 mm and a surface area of $1.7 m^2$. The animal experiment lasted for 4 hours. The blood flow rate was set to 2 L/min and a pulsatile blood pump, T-PLS (Twin-Pulse Life Support), was used. Samples were drawn at the oxygenator's inlet and outlet. The total hemoglobin (Hb), saturation oxygen ($sO_2$), and partial oxygen pressure ($pO_2$), partial $CO_2$ pressure ($pCO_2$), and plasma bicarbonate ion concentration ($HCO_3^-$) were measured. The oxygen and carbon dioxide transfer rates were also calculated based on the experimental data in order to estimate the oxygenator's gas transfer efficiency. The oxygen and carbon dioxide transfer rates were $16.4{\pm}1.58$ and $165.7{\pm}10.96 mL/min$, respectively. The results showed a higher carbon dioxide transfer rate was achieved with the oxygenator. Also, the mean inlet and outlet blood pressures were 162.79 and 137.92 mmHg, respectively. The oxygenator has a low pressure drop between its inlet and outlet. The aim of own preliminary study was to make a new oxygenator and review its performance when applying a pulsatile blood pump thus, confirming the possibility of a new oxygenator suitable for pulsatile flow.

• Journal of Korean Society of Environmental Engineers
• /
• v.39 no.4
• /
• pp.220-228
• /
• 2017

Since the fine particulate matters occurred from mainly combustion in industry and road transport effect to human respiratory health, the interest and importance are getting increased. In 2013, the World Health Organization (WHO) concluded that outdoor air pollution is carcinogenic to humans, with the particulate matter component ($PM_{10}$ and $PM_{2.5}$) of air pollution most closely associated with increased cancer incidence, especially cancer of the lung. Therefore, many researches have been studied in the quantification and data development of fine particulate matters. Currently, the Ministry of Environment and cities/regions are developing the fine particulate matter data and air emission information. Particularly just $PM_{10}$ and $PM_{2.5}$ data is used in the fine particulate matters warning and alert. The data of NOx, SOx, $NH_3$, which have the particulate matter formation potential are not well considered. Also, the researches related with particulate matter formation potential and respiratory effects by industrial sectors and cities/regions are not conducted well. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to evaluate and calculate particulate matter formation potential and respiratory effects in 11 industrial sectors and cities using NOx, SOx, $PM_{10}$, $NH_3$ data (developed by Ministry of Environment and National Institute of Environmental Research) in 2001 and 2013. The results of this study will be provided the particulate matter formation potential and respiratory effects and will be used for future the fine particulate matter researches.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
• /
• v.30 no.4
• /
• pp.462-469
• /
• 2017

Objective: The aim of this study is to identify genomic regions or genes controlling growth traits in pigs. Methods: Using a panel of 54,148 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), we performed a genome-wide Association (GWA) study in 562 pure Yorshire pigs with four growth traits: average daily gain from 30 kg to 100 kg or 115 kg, and days to 100 kg or 115 kg. Fixed and random model Circulating Probability Unification method was used to identify the associations between 54,148 SNPs and these four traits. SNP annotations were performed through the Sus scrofa data set from Ensembl. Bioinformatics analysis, including gene ontology analysis, pathway analysis and network analysis, was used to identify the candidate genes. Results: We detected 6 significant and 12 suggestive SNPs, and identified 9 candidate genes in close proximity to them (suppressor of glucose by autophagy [SOGA1], R-Spondin 2 [RSPO2], mitogen activated protein kinase kinase 6 [MAP2K6], phospholipase C beta 1 [PLCB1], rho GTPASE activating protein 24 [ARHGAP24], cytoplasmic polyadenylation element binding protein 4 [CPEB4], GLI family zinc finger 2 [GLI2], neuronal tyrosine-phosphorylated phosphoinositide-3-kinase adaptor 2 [NYAP2], and zinc finger protein multitype 2 [ZFPM2]). Gene ontology analysis and literature mining indicated that the candidate genes are involved in bone, muscle, fat, and lung development. Pathway analysis revealed that PLCB1 and MAP2K6 participate in the gonadotropin signaling pathway and suggests that these two genes contribute to growth at the onset of puberty. Conclusion: Our results provide new clues for understanding the genetic mechanisms underlying growth traits, and may help improve these traits in future breeding programs.