• Mass Spectrometry Letters
• /
• 제10권4호
• /
• pp.103-107
• /
• 2019

Low-temperature plasma (LTP) ionization is one of the ambient ionization methods typically used in mass spectrometry (MS) for fast screening of chemicals with minimal or no sample preparation. In spite of various advantages of LTP ionization method, including simple instrumentation and in-situ analysis, more general applications of the method are limited due to poor desorption of analytes with low volatilities and low ionization efficiencies in the negative ion mode. In order to overcome these limitations, an ultrasonic vibrator of a commercial hand-held humidifier was interfaced with an LTP ionization source, which generated microdroplets from sample solutions and assisted with LTP ionization. Ionization behaviors of various chemicals in microdroplet-assisted LTP (MA LTP) were tested and compared with typical LTP ionization from dried samples applied on a surface. MA LTP efficiently ionized small organic, amino, and fatty acids with low volatilities and high polarities, which were hardly ionized using the standard LTP method. Facile interaction of LTP with ultrafine droplets generated by ultrasonic resonator allows efficient ionization of relatively non-volatile and polar analytes both in the positive and negative ion modes.

• Mass Spectrometry Letters
• /
• 제12권2호
• /
• pp.31-40
• /
• 2021

Probable human carcinogenic compounds nitrosamines, have been detected as by-product impurities in sartan pharmaceuticals in recent years which has drawn worries for medication safety. To provide a sensitive and effective method for the quality control of sartan pharmaceuticals, this study established a feasible gas chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (GC-MS/MS) method for simultaneous determination of 13 nitrosamines. The target analytes were separated on a DB-WAX Ultra Inert column (30 m × 0.25 mm; i.d., 0.25 ㎛) and were then subjected to electron impact ionization in multiple reaction monitoring mode. The established method was validated and further employed to analyze authentic samples. Limits of detection (LODs) and limits of quantification (LOQs) of the 13 nitrosamines were 15-250 ng/g and 50-250 ng/g, respectively, which also exhibited intra-day and inter-day accuracies of 91.4-104.8%, thereby satisfying validation criteria. Five nitrosamines, viz., N-nitrosodiethylamine, N-nitrosodimethylamine, N-nitrosodiphenylamine, N-nitrosomorpholine, and N-nitrosopiperidine were detected at concentrations above their LODs in 68 positive samples out of 594 authentic samples from seven sartans.

• 한방비만학회지
• /
• 제4권1호
• /
• pp.33-43
• /
• 2004

Background: Recently obesity has become a social problem in all over the world including Korea. It is known that obesity is closely related with cardiovascular disease. Many studies are carrying out in the relation between several obesity indices, such as body mass index(BMI), waist-circumference(WC), body fat percent and risk factors of cardiovascular disease. Objective: This study was done in order to investigate correlation of obesity and cardiovascular risk factors. Method: We gathered totally 138 subjects who have taken health screening test in university hospital. With the exception of 40 abnormal cases on current illness and laboratory study, 98 healthy cases were analysed. We divided the groups as normal, overweight, obese group according to body mass index $(22.9kg/m^2\;and\;below\;/\;23{\sim}24.9kg/m^2\;/\;25kg/m^2\;and\;above)$and investigated the relationship between obesity based on body mass index(BMI) and cardiovascular risk factors. And investigated the relationship between each cardiovascular risk factor and body mass index, waist-hip ratio, body fat percent. Results: With the exception of blood pressure, other lab data such as total cholesterol, triglycerid, glucose were significantly different between the three groups divided by body mass index$(22.9kg/m^2\;and\;below\;/\;23{\sim}24.9kg/m^2\;/\;25kg/m^2\;and\;above)$. And Correlation coefficient of cardiovascular risk factors with body mass index, waist-hip ratio, body fat precent were acquired. Conclusion: We have concluded that the body mass index and waist-hip ratio body fat precent were predictive factors cardiovascular disease.

• 식물병연구
• /
• 제21권3호
• /
• pp.201-207
• /
• 2015

본 연구는 Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. melonis에 의해 발생하는 멜론 덩굴쪼김병의 간편 대량 저항성 검정법을 확립하기 위하여 수행하였다. 멜론의 덩굴쪼김병 저항성 검정에는 대부분 뿌리 침지(root-dipping) 접종 방법을 사용하고 있지만, 이 방법은 접종과정이 번거로워 노동력과 시간이 많이 소요된다. 간편 저항성 검정법을 개발하기 위해 뿌리 침지, scalpel, tip 및 토양관주 방법으로 F. oxysporum f. sp. melonis 균주를 감수성 및 저항성 멜론 품종에 접종하여 덩굴쪼김병 발생을 조사하였다. 그 결과 멜론 품종들은 scalpel 방법과 tip 방법에서 뿌리 침지 방법에서와 같은 분명한 저항성과 감수성 반응을 보였다. 하지만 tip 방법은 scalpel 방법보다 개체간의 발병도 차이가 약간 더 심하였으며 토양 관주 방법의 경우에는 감수성 멜론 품종들에서 덩굴쪼김병 발생이 매우 낮았다. 따라서 멜론 덩굴쪼김병의 간편 대량 저항성 검정을 위한 효율적인 접종 방법으로 scalpel 방법을 선발하였다. 그리고 scalpel 방법으로 접종할 때 접종 농도($1{\times}10^6$, $1{\times}10^7conidia/ml$)와 접종 후 재배 온도(25, $30^{\circ}C$)에 따른 멜론 품종들의 덩굴쪼김병 발생을 조사한 결과, 이들은 scalpel 방법으로 접종된 멜론 품종의 저항성 정도에 거의 영향을 미치지 않았다. 그리고 확립한 간편 검정법을 이용하여 시판 멜론 22개 품종의 덩굴쪼김병 저항성을 뿌리 침지 접종 방법과 비교하여 실험하여 이 방법의 효용성을 확인하였다. 이와 같은 결과로부터 멜론 덩굴쪼김병에 대한 간편 대량 저항성 검정법으로 멜론 종자를 파종하고 온실($25{\pm}5^{\circ}C$)에서 7일 동안 재배한 유묘의 뿌리를 scalpel을 이용하여 상처를 준 후에 $1{\times}10^6conidia/ml$ 농도의 멜론 덩굴쪼김병균 포자현탁액을 포트 당 10 ml씩 관주하고 $25-30^{\circ}C$에서 약 3주일 동안 재배하는 것을 제안하고자 한다.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
• /
• 제32권3호
• /
• pp.317-324
• /
• 1999

Objectives: Since 1991, nationwide massive neonatal screening program for phenylketonuria (PKU) and congenital hypothyroidism have been performed in Korea. As in many other countries, efficiency of this program has not been definitely concluded. For the purpose of evaluation of this program, from the perspective of efficiency, a cost-benefit analysis was carried out. Methods: Costs of the detection and the treatment program were compared with the projected benefit(avoided costs) that results from the prevention of the mental retardation associated with the disorders due to PKU and hypothyroidism. Costs and benefits were discounted at an annual rate of 5%, and duration of life-long labor was assumed to be 30 years. Cost and benefit were estimated based on the detection rates of one case of PKU per 5,572 and one case of congenital hypothyroidism per 32,554 babies screened during 1991-1997. Results: The benefit-cost ratio was 0.418. The sensitivity analysis for the discount rates and labor durations showed that most cost-benefit ratios were lower than one(1.0) except when discount rate was changed to 3% and detection rate to two- or threefold and/or labor duration to 40 years. Conclusion: The result of this study suggested that present program of mass screening for PKU and congenital hypothyroidism could not be justified in terms of efficiency. It doesn't coincide with the results of previous studies in major developed countries, presumably because of difference in detection rates and welfare cost for the disabled.

• BMB Reports
• /
• 제34권1호
• /
• pp.80-84
• /
• 2001

The human papillomavirus E7 protein can form a specific complex with a retinoblastoma tumor suppressor gene product (p105-Rb) that results in the release of the E2F transcription factor, which is critical for the growth-deregulation and transforming properties of the viral E7 oncoprotein. In an attempt to apply interaction between the E7 oncoprotein and a target cellular protein Rb for an in vitro screening system for drugs against human papillomavirus infection, we primarily investigated the E7Rb binding through a pull down assay and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The pull down assay showed that both glutathione S-transferase-tagged E7 and His-tagged E7 immobilized on resins specifically produced complexes with bacterially expressed Rb in a dose-dependent manner, as determined by immunoblot analyses. This result coincided with that of an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, which is a useful system for the mass screening of potential drugs. Taken together, this screening system (based on the interaction between E7 and Rb) can be a promising system in the development of drugs against cervical cancers caused by human papillomavirus infection.

• Molecules and Cells
• /
• 제44권7호
• /
• pp.500-516
• /
• 2021

Cardiac hypertrophic signaling cascades resulting in heart failure diseases are mediated by protein phosphorylation. Recent developments in mass spectrometry-based phosphoproteomics have led to the identification of thousands of differentially phosphorylated proteins and their phosphorylation sites. However, functional studies of these differentially phosphorylated proteins have not been conducted in a large-scale or high-throughput manner due to a lack of methods capable of revealing the functional relevance of each phosphorylation site. In this study, an integrated approach combining quantitative phosphoproteomics and cell-based functional screening using phosphorylation competition peptides was developed. A pathological cardiac hypertrophy model, junctate-1 transgenic mice and control mice, were analyzed using label-free quantitative phosphoproteomics to identify differentially phosphorylated proteins and sites. A cell-based functional assay system measuring hypertrophic cell growth of neonatal rat ventricle cardiomyocytes (NRVMs) following phenylephrine treatment was applied, and changes in phosphorylation of individual differentially phosphorylated sites were induced by incorporation of phosphorylation competition peptides conjugated with cell-penetrating peptides. Cell-based functional screening against 18 selected phosphorylation sites identified three phosphorylation sites (Ser-98, Ser-179 of Ldb3, and Ser-1146 of palladin) displaying near-complete inhibition of cardiac hypertrophic growth of NRVMs. Changes in phosphorylation levels of Ser-98 and Ser-179 in Ldb3 were further confirmed in NRVMs and other pathological/physiological hypertrophy models, including transverse aortic constriction and swimming models, using site-specific phospho-antibodies. Our integrated approach can be used to identify functionally important phosphorylation sites among differentially phosphorylated sites, and unlike conventional approaches, it is easily applicable for large-scale and/or high-throughput analyses.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
• /
• 제55권3호
• /
• pp.273-279
• /
• 2022

Objectives: The aim of this study was to present the baseline results of a pilot project conducted to evaluate the effectiveness of lung cancer screening using low-dose chest computed tomography (CT) in regions with excessive radon levels in the Republic of Kazakhstan. Methods: In total, 3671 participants were screened by low-dose chest CT. Current, former, and never-smokers who resided in regions with elevated levels of radon in drinking water sources and indoor air, aged between 40 and 75 with no history of any cancer, and weighing less than 140 kg were included in the study. All lung nodules were categorized according to the American College of Radiology Lung Imaging Reporting and Data System (Lung-RADS 1.0). Results: Overall, 614 (16.7%) participants had positive baseline CT findings (Lung-RADS categories 3 and 4). Seventy-four cancers were detected, yielding an overall cancer detection rate of 2.0%, with 10.8% (8/74) stage I and a predominance of stage III (59.4%; 44/74). Women never-smokers and men current smokers had the highest cancer detection rates, at 2.9% (12/412) and 6.1% (12/196), respectively. Compared to never-smokers, higher odds ratios (ORs) of lung cancer detection were found in smokers (OR,2.48; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.52 to 4.05, p<0.001) and former smokers (OR, 2.32; 95% CI, 1.06 to 5.06, p=0.003). The most common histologic type of cancer was adenocarcinoma (58.1%). Conclusions: Implementation of low-dose CT screening for lung cancer in regions with elevated radon levels is an effective method for both smokers and never-smokers.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
• /
• 제13권4호
• /
• pp.1407-1412
• /
• 2012

Background & Objectives: Gastric cancer is a leading cause of cancer-related deaths in both sexes in Iran. This study was designed to assess upper GI endoscopic findings among people > 50 years targeted in a mass screening program in a hot-point region. Methods: Based on the pilot results in Guilan Cancer Registry study (GCRS), one of the high point regions for GC-Lashtenesha- was selected. The target population was called mainly using two methods: in rural regions, by house-house direct referral and in urban areas using public media. Upper GI endoscopy was performed by trained endoscopists. All participants underwent biopsies for rapid urea test (RUT) from the antrum and also further biopsies from five defined points of stomach for detection of precancerous lesions. In cases of visible gross lesions, more diagnostic biopsies were taken and submitted for histopathologic evaluation. Results: Of 1,394 initial participants, finally 1,382 persons (702 women, 680 men) with a mean age of $61.7{\pm}9.0$ years (range: 50-87 years) underwent upper GI endoscopy. H. pylori infection based on the RUT was positive in 66.6%. Gastric adenocarcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma of esophagus were detected in seven (0.5%) and one (0.07%) persons, respectively. A remarkable proportion of studied participants were found to have esophageal hiatal hernia (38.4%). Asymptomatic gastric masses found in 1.1% (15) of cases which were mostly located in antrum (33.3%), cardia (20.0%) and prepyloric area (20.0%). Gastric and duodenal ulcers were found in 5.9% (82) and 6.9% (96) of the screened population. Conclusion: Upper endoscopy screening is an effective technique for early detection of GC especially in high risk populations. Further studies are required to evaluate cost effectiveness, cost benefit and mortality and morbidity of this method among high and moderate risk population before recommending this method for the GC surveillance program at the national level.

• 대한영상의학회지
• /
• 제83권1호
• /
• pp.54-69
• /
• 2022

심장 돌연사 환자들은 종종 흉통 또는 운동성 호흡곤란 등의 전조증상이 나타나지 않기 때문에 잠재적인 무증상 관상동맥 질환을 조기에 발견하는 것이 매우 중요하다. 관상동맥 전산화단층촬영 혈관조영술은 방사선 노출로 인한 위험성 때문에 무증상 환자에서 스크리닝 검사로 정당화되지 못했었지만 최근에 전산화단층촬영 기술의 비약적인 발전으로 방사선량을 1 mSv 미만으로 최소화함으로써 무증상 환자의 관상동맥 질환 선별 검사의 유용성에 대한 많은 연구가 진행되어 왔다. 그러나, 여전히 무증상 정상인 또는 환자의 관상동맥 질환 선별 검사에 대한 관상동맥 전산화단층촬영 혈관조영술의 유용성에 대해서는 다양한 의견들이 있다. 이 종설에서는 무증상 정상인 또는 환자들에게 관상동맥 질환 선별 검사로 관상동맥 칼슘 점수와 관상동맥 전산화단층촬영 혈관조영술 유용성에 대해서 다양한 문헌고찰을 통해서 알아보았다. 관상동맥 전산화단층촬영 혈관조영술상 무증상 정상인의 2.6%에서 70% 이상의 유의한 관상동맥 협착이 발견되었고, 선별 목적의 관상동맥 전산화단층촬영 혈관조영술이 무증상 건강한 사람의 미래의 심혈관 질환 발생을 예측할 수 있다. 그러나 현재 미국국립보건원에서 진행하고 있는 SCOT-HEART 2 연구가 끝나면 관상동맥 전산화단층촬영 혈관조영술이 무증상 성인의 심혈관 예방에 선별 검사로 적절한지 결정을 내릴 수 있을 것으로 생각된다.