• The Korean Journal of Nuclear Medicine
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.175-181
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• 1989

Visual assessment of regional wall motion abnormality (RWMA) by gated blood pol scan (GBPS) serves as an useful parameter in the diagnosis, functional evaluation, and follow up in various clinical settings, but are still subject to some inherent limitations. On important problem may be the interobserver as well as intraobsever variation that may well be present due to the subjective nature of the interpretations. This study was carried out to determine the reliability and reproducibility of visual assessments made in GBPSs, and to observe the degree to which the results would be influenced by observer variation. Fifty two patients with coronary heart disease had resting GBPS and contrast ventriculography within 4 days appall. Contrast ventriculography-showed normal wall motion in 6 patients and the remaining 46 had RWMA in one or more segments. The anterior and left anterolateral views of all 52 GBPSs were analyzed by three independent observers, who selected from 5 scales, their level of confidence that there was RWMA in that segment. Reciever operating characteristic (ROC) curves for each analysis was plotted and the area under the curve $(\theta)$ was used as a parameter representing each observer's performance in his interpretations. The findings of contrast ventriculographies were used as the standard for RWMA. The apical and inferoapical segments showed the best correlation with contrast ventriculography ($\theta=0.90-0.94$, 0.81-0.94, respectively), and the inferior wall showed the poorest correlation $(\theta=0.70-0.74)$. The interpretations of the inferior, septal, apical, and posteroinferior, segments showed no difference between the observers, but there was significantly better performance in assessment by observer A compared to that by B or C for the anterolateral segments ($\theta=0.87$, 0.78, 0.76, respectively. p<0.01 for A vs B, p<0.05 for A vs C), as well as when all segments were considered altogether ($\theta=0.88$, 0.83, 0.82, respectively. both p<0.05). This was also true for the infero-apical segment between A and C ($\theta=0.09$, 0.81, p<0.05). The intraobserver variation, however, did not appear significant, with only the inferior segment for observer B showing any significant difference when observer A and B repeated the analysis 10 days latter. There was no difference in assessing dyskinesia, with all observers showing a high performance ($\theta=0.98$, 0.87, 0.97, respectively). The visual assessment of left ventricular ejection fraction by all three observers correlated well with the calculated value from a semiautomated method (Spearman's r = 0.91, 0.83, 0.83. p<0.01, p<0.05, p < 0.05). The assessment of LV and RV size also correlated well between the three observers (Kendall's w = 0.80, 0.51, p<0.01 for both left and right ventricles). The above findings suggest that RWMA visually assessed by GBPS correlates well with that done by contrast ventriculography. And although the observer's experience or skill may influence the results in certain segments, visual analysis of GBPS may serve as a reliable and reproducible means for evaluating ventricular function.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.41 no.1
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• pp.55-60
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• 2008

Background: Circulating levels of brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) provide prognostic information for patients with heart failure. The aim of our study was to investigate whether preoperative and postoperative BNP levels could predict postoperative complications and outcomes in patients after coronary artery bypass graft (CABG). Material and Method: Data was collected prospectively on 30 patients (M/F=19/11, age $60.0{\pm}9.6$ years) undergoing conventional CABG during a 1-year period beginning on January 1, 2005. Patients underwent off-pump CABG, and combined surgery was excluded. The BNP assay was performed preoperatively, immediate postoperatively at the intensive care unit (ICU), and 1, 3, 5, and 7days postoperatively. Result: Preoperative BNP levels significantly correlated with preoperative echocardiographic ejection fraction and an ICU stay of 5 days or more (r=-0.4, p=0.028; r=0.39, p=0.031, respectively). A preoperative BNP cut-off value above 263 pg/mL demonstrated high specificity (90.5%) for predicting postoperative complications using the receiver operating characteristics curves. Preoperative and postoperative (7 days) BNP levels were different depending on the abscence (mean BNP=$99{\pm}23\;pg/mL$ vs. $296{\pm}74\;pg/mL$, p<0.05) and presence (mean BNP=$212{\pm}29\;pg/mL$ vs. $408{\pm}23\;pg/mL$, p<0.01). Conclusion: Preoperative BNP levels >263 pg/mL predict postoperative complications in patients receiving CABG.

• KSBB Journal
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• v.24 no.4
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• pp.383-392
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• 2009

Xanthii fructus which is well known as "Chang-ihjah" in Korea is the dried fruit of Xanthium strumarium L. (or Xanthium sibiricum PATR. Ex WIDD., Asteraceae. XS). Water extract of this fruit has been used for treatment of various inflammatory diseases such as tympanitis, allergic rhinitis, or ozena as alternative therapy material usually by oral administration in far Eastern countries including Korea. In this study, the effect of XS extract (XS-E) or XS-30% acetone fraction layer (XS-30% AFL) on the differentiation of $CD4^+$ T cells isolated from NC/Nga mouse and the production of IL-17 was investigated. The experimental results showed that $100\;{\mu}g$/mL of XS-E could decrease the production of IL-17 by $CD4^+$ Th17 cells by 2 fold and only $20\;{\mu}g$/mL of XS-30% AFL could inhibit 3.5 fold. The amount of IL-17A and IL-22 mRNA determined by real-time PCR was decreased remarkably when XS-E or XS-30% AFL was treated on $CD4^+$ Th17 cells(p<0.01, p<0.001). The amount of IL-17A protein determined by ELISA was also decreased remarkably(p<0.05, p<0.001). To study the effect of XS-E or XS-30% AFL on the proliferation of Th17 cells, $CD4^+$ T cells of a NC/Nga mouse was firstly differentiated by rIL-6/TGF-$\beta$ and then stimulated by rIL-23. The control group of Th17 cells were doubled every each day, while those of XS-E or XS-30% AFL treated group were shown to be delayed remarkably by these extracts. In conclusion, XS can inhibit the differentiation of Th17 cells of NC/Nga mouse and the production of IL-17 successfully, which may be a beneficial result for the treatment of atopic skin dermatitis.

• Journal of Korean Society of Environmental Engineers
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• v.31 no.3
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• pp.179-185
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• 2009

In this research, the removal capacity of Cr(VI) by the reused powdered wastes (RPW) containing aluminium oxides was studied. As a pre-treatment process for the preparation of calcined wastes, calcination was conducted at $550^{\circ}C$ to remove organic fraction in the raw wastes. In order to study the adsorption trend of Cr(VI) ions from aqueous solutions, the pH-edge adsorption, adsorption kinetic and adsorption isotherm were investigated using a batch reactor in the presence of four different background electrolytes($NO_3\;^-,\;CO_3\;^{2-},\;SO_4\;^{2-},\;PO_4\;^{3-}$). Cr(VI) adsorption was greatly reduced in the presence of $SO_4\;^{2-}$ and $PO_4\;^{3-}$ over the entire pH range. Meanwhile the inhibition effect by $NO_3\;^-$ and $CO_3\;^{2-}$ was relatively lower than that by $SO_4\;^{2-}$ and $PO_4\;^{3-}$. Cr(VI) adsorption was maximum around pH 4.5 in the presence of $NO_3\;^-$ and $CO_3\;^{2-}$. As the concentration of background electrolytes increased, Cr(VI) adsorption decreased. This result mightly suggests that adsorption between the surface of RPW and Cr(VI) occurs through outer-sphere complex. Cr(VI) adsorption onto the RPW was well described by second-order kinetics. From the Langmuir isotherm at initial pH 3, the maximum adsorbed amount of Cr(VI) onto the RPW was 11.1, 10, 3.3, 5 mg/g in the presence of $NO_3\;^-,\;CO_3\;^{2-},\;SO_4\;^{2-}$, and $PO_4\;^{3-}$, respectively.

• The Korean Journal of Nuclear Medicine
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• v.34 no.4
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• pp.294-302
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• 2000

Purpose: To investigate the mechanisms related to F-18-FDG uptake by tumors, F-18-FDG accumulation was compared with glucose transporter-1 (Glut-1) expression and hexokinase activity in various human cancer cell lines. Materials and Methods: Human colon cancer (SNU-C2A, SNU-C4, SNU-C5), hepatocellular carcinoma (SNU-387, SNU-423, SNU-449), lung cancer (NCI-H522, NCI-H358, NCI-H1299), uterine cervical cancer (HeLa, HeLa 229, HeLa S3) and brain tumor (A172, Hs 683) cell lines were used. After 24 hr incubation of $5{\times}10^5$ cells, 37 kBq F-18-FDG was added and the uptake by cells at 10 min was measured using a gamma counter. Hexokinase activity was measured by continuous spectrophotometric rate determination. To measure mitochondrial hexokinase activity, mitochondrial fraction was separated by a high speed centrifuge. Immunohistochemical staining of Glut-1 was performed, and graded as 0, 1, 2, or 3 according to expression. Results: There was difference among F-18-FDG uptake, total and mitochondrial hexokinase activity, and Glut-1 expression with different cancer cell lines. The correlations of F-18-FDG with total hexokinase and mitochondrial hexokinase activity were low (r=0.27 and 0.26, respectively). Glut-1 expression showed a good correlation with F-18-FDG uptake (p=0.81, p=0.0015). Previously, we reported no correlation of F-18-FDG uptake with hexokinase activity in colon cancer cell lines. Thus, when colon cancer cells were excluded, F-18-FDG uptake showed higher correlation with total hexokinase and mitochondrial hexokinase activity (r=0.81, p=0.0027 and r=0.81, p=0.0049, respectively). Conclusion: Both Glut-1 expression and hexokinase activity were contributing factors related to F-18-FDG accumulation in human cancer cell lines. The relative contribution of Glut-1 expression and hexokinase activity, however, was different among different cancer cell types.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.20 no.2
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• pp.260-268
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• 2010

The lactate dehydrogenase (EC 1.1.1.27, LDH) isozymes in tissues from Channa argus were purified and characterized by biochemical, immunochemical and kinetic methods. The activity of LDH in skeletal muscle was the highest at 380.4 units and those in heart, eye and brain tissues were 13.4, 3,5 and 5.4 units, respectively. Citrate synthase (EC 4.1.3.7, CS) activity in heart tissue was the highest at 20.7 units. LDH/CS in skeletal muscle, heart, eye and brain tissues were 172.9, 0.6, 0.32 and 0.47. Protein concentration in skeletal muscle tissue was 14.7 mg/g and specific activities of LDH in skeletal muscle, heart, eye and brain tissues were 25.88, 0.79, 0.31 and 1.38 units/mg, respectively. Therefore, skeletal muscle tissue was anaerobic and heart tissue was aerobic. The LDH isozymes in tissues were identified by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, immunoprecipitation and Western blot with antiserum against $A_4$, $B_4$, and eye-specific $C_4$. LDH $A_4$, $A_3B$, $A_2B_2$. $AB_3$ and $B_4$ isozymes were detected in every tissue, $C_4$, $AC_3$, $A_2C_2$ and $A_3C$ were detected in eye tissue, and $A_3C$ was found in brain tissue. LDH $A_4$, $A_3B$, $A_2B_2$, $AB_3$, $B_4$, eye-specific $C_4$ isozymes were purified by affinity chromatography and Preparative PAGE Cells. The LDH $A_4$ isozyme was purified in the fraction from elution with $NAD^+$ containing buffer of affinity chromatography. Eye-specific $C_4$ isozyme was eluted right after $A_4$, after which $B_4$ isozyme was eluted with plain buffer. As a result, one part of molecular structures in $A_4$, $B_4$ and eye-specific $C_4$ were similar, but were different from each other in $B_4$ and $C_4$. Therefore the subunit A may be conservative in evolution, and the evolution of subunit B seems to be faster than that of subunit A. The activity of LDH $A_4$, $A_2B_2$, $B_4$, and eye-specific $C_4$ isozymes remained at 39.98, 21.28, 19.67 and 16.87% as a result of the inhibition by 10 mM of pyruvate, so the degree of inhibition was very high. The $Km^{PYR}$ values were 0.17, 0.27 and 0.133 mM in $A_4$, $B_4$ and eye-specific $C_4$ isozymes, respectively. The optimum pH of LDH $A_4$, $B_4$, eye-specific $C_4$, $A_2B_2$, $A_3B$, and $AB_3$ were pH 6.5, pH 8.5, pH 5.5, pH 6.0-6.5, pH 5.0 and pH 7.5. The $A_4$ and heterotetramer isozymes stabilized a broad range of pH. Especially, LDH activities in skeletal muscle tissue were high, resulting in a high degree of muscle activity.LDH metabolism in eye tissue seems to be converted faster from pyruvate to lactate by eye-specific $C_4$ isozyme as eye-specific $C_4$ have the highest affinity for pyruvate, and right after the conversion, oxidation of lactate was induced by $A_4$ isozyme. It was found that expression of Ldh-C, affinity to substrate and reaction time of $C_4$ isozyme were different according to the ecological environmental and feeding capturing patterns.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.53 no.3
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• pp.294-308
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• 2002

Background : The cell-mediated immune response plays an important role in tuberculosis. After being activated by mycobacterial antigens, T lymphocytes express a high affinity receptor (IL-2R) for interleukin-2 (IL-2) on their own surface and release a soluble fraction of the IL-2 receptor (sIL-2R) from the cell membrane into the circulation. Neopterin is a metabolite of guanosine-triphosphate, which is produced by stimulated macrophages under the influence of IFN-$\gamma$ with a T lymphocyte origin. Therefore, the utility of sIL-2R, IFN-$\gamma$ and the neopterin levels as immunologic indices of the cell-mediated immune response and severity of disease in patients with pulmonary tuberculosis was assessed. Methods : The serum sIL-2R, IFN-$\gamma$ and neopterin levels were measured in 39 patients with pulmonary tuberculosis, 6 patients with tuberculous lymphadenitis prior to treatment and 10 healthy subjects. The serum and pleural sIL-2R, neopterin and ADA levels were measured in 22 patients with tuberculous pleurisy. The patients with pulmonary tuberculosis were divided into a mild, moderate and severe group according to the severity by ATS guidelines. To compare the results from these patients with those of the pretreatment levels, the sIL-2R, IFN-$\gamma$ and neopterin levels were measured in 36 of the 39 patients(1 patient, expired; 2 patients were referred to a sanitarium) with pulmonary tuberculosis after 2 months of treatment. Results : 1) the serum sIL-2R and IFN-$\gamma$ levels were elevated in patients with tuberculosis when compared to those of healthy subjects (p>0.05). The neopterin concentration in the serum was significantly lower in patients with pulmonary tuberculosis($2967{\pm}2132.8$ pg/ml) than in healthy controls($4949{\pm}1242.1$ pg/ml)(p<0.05). 2) In the pulmonary tuberculosis group, the serum sIL-2R and IFN-$\gamma$ levels were higher in patients with severe disease than those in patients with mild and moderate disease. However, the neopterin levels declined as the pulmonary tuberculosis became more severe (p<0.01). 3) The mean serum sIL-2R and IFN-$\gamma$ levels declined from $1071{\pm}1139.4$ U/ml to $1023{\pm}1920.9$ U/ml(p>0.05), $41{\pm}52.8$ pg/ml to $22{\pm}23.9$ gm/ml(p<0.05), respectively, after 2 month of treatment. The mean serum neopterin levels increased from $3158{\pm}2272.6$ pg/ml to $3737{\pm}2307.5$ pg/ml(p>0.05) after a 2 month of treatment. These findings were remarkable in the severe group of pulmonary tuberculosis with a clinical correlation. 4) In the patients with tuberculous pleurisy, the serum sIL-2R and ADA were significantly higher than those in the pleural fluid, However, the neopterin levels in the sera and pleural effusion were similar. Conclusion : On the basis of this study, sIL-2R, IFN-$\gamma$ and neopterin measurements may not only provide an insight into the present state of the cell-mediated immune response, but also serve as parameters monitoring of the prognosis of the disease, particularly in patients with severe pulmonary tuberculosis. In addition, an assay of the pleural sIL-2R levels might signal a stimulated local immunity including T cell activation in the tuberculous pleural effusion.

• Radiation Oncology Journal
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• v.9 no.1
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• pp.1-6
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• 1991

The effect of 2-deoxy-d-glucose (2-DDG) on $C_3H$ mouse fibrosarcoma(FSall) was studied. Metabolic status, especially for energy metabolism, was studied using in vivo $^{31}P$-MRS, proliferative capacity was observed on flow cytometry(FC) and growth rate was measured after transplantation of $10^6$ viable tumor cells in the dorsum of foot of $C_3Hf/Sed$ mice. One gram of 2-DDG Per kg of body weight was injected intraperitoneally on 12th day of implantation. Average tumor size on 12th day of implantion was $250mm^3$. Growth rate of Fsall tumor was measured by tumor doubling time and slope on semilog plot. After 2-DDG injection, growth rate slowed down. Tumor doubling time between tumor age 5-12 days was 0.84 days with slope 0.828 and tumor doubling time between tumor age 13-28 days was 3.2 days with slope 0.218 in control group. After 2-DDG injection, tumor doubling time was elongated to 5.1 days with slope 0.136. The effect of 2-DDG studied in vivo $^{31}P$-MRS suggested that the increase of phosphomonoester (PME) and inorganic phosphate (Pi) by increasing size of tumor, slowed down after 2-DDG injection. Flow cytometry showed significantly increased S-phase and $G_2+M$ phase fraction suggesting increased proliferative capacity of tumor cells in the presence of 2-DDG. Authors observed an interesting effect of 2-DDG on FSall tumor and attempt to utilize as an adjunct for radiotherapy.

• The Journal of the Korea Contents Association
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• v.14 no.5
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• pp.251-261
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• 2014

Primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) has been found to be superior, in terms of hospital mortality and long-term outcome, compared with thrombolytic therapy in patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI). However, the clinical benefits of primary PCI have not been precisely evaluated in elderly patients.1,974 patients (Group I: n=1,018, $age{\geq}65years$, $73.8{\pm}5.99years$; Group II: n=956, age<65years, $52.8{\pm}7.96years$) who underwent primary PCI for AMI at Chonnam National University Hospital between 2006 and 2010 were analyzed according to their clinical, angiographic characteristics for hospital and one-year survival. Group I had a higher percentage of women, diabetes mellitus, hypertension, multi-vessel disease and lower prevalence of current smoking, hyperlipidemia, familial history than Group II. Culprit lesions were at the left anterior descending artery, left circumflex artery, right coronary artery and left main artery in 42.8% vs. 45.0%, 34.1% vs. 29.6%, 14.6% vs 14.6, 2.7% vs. 1.6%, respectively (p=0.007). Stent diameter was smaller in group I ($3.17{\pm}0.39$ vs. $3.29{\pm}0.42mm$, p=0.001). In-hospital mortality was higher in group I (8.4 vs. 1.9%, p<0.001). There were significant differences in the rates of major adverse cardiac events between the two groups during one-year clinical follow-up (20.1 vs.14.0%, p<0.001). On multiple logistic regression analysis, systolic blood pressure<100mmHg, serum $creatinine{\geq}1.3mg/dL$, Killip class> I, multivessel disease, left ventricular ejection fraction <40% and cerebro vascular disease were independent predictors of one-year motality in patients over 65 years after PCI.

• Journal of the Korean Applied Science and Technology
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• v.29 no.2
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• pp.205-213
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• 2012

In this study, the stability of cream containing the ethyl acetate fraction of C. obtusa leaf extract was evaluated. The pH, viscosity, and absorbance were measured under the 4 different temperatures (4, 25, 37 and $45^{\circ}C$) and under the sun light during the 12 weeks. The control cream without containing the extract did not show pH change under the different temperatures mentioned above. However, the pH of the cream with the extract was decreased 0.11 at $4^{\circ}C$ and $25^{\circ}C$. Under the $37^{\circ}C$, $45^{\circ}C$ and sun light condition, the pH was decreased 0.55, 0.84 and 0.59, respectively. After treating the cream for 12 weeks under the different temperatures, the viscosity was measured for the cream containing the extract and control cream. The values were decreased by 2,404 cPs in average compared to the initial value for the former and control cream were decreased by 1,296 cPs in average for the latter. On the other hand, the viscosity of control cream treated under the $45^{\circ}C$ for 12 weeks was decreased (1,915 cPs) relative to the cream containing the extract, which showed 3,810 cPs decrease in viscosity. The cream containing the extract did not show absorbance change at $4^{\circ}C{\sim}37^{\circ}C$ for 12 weeks. Instead, the absorbance of the cream treated under $45^{\circ}C$ and sun light condition was decreased 32.5 % and 35.2 %, respectively. This decrease in absorbance is relatively small compared to the 54.8 % decrease of the extract sampled from the cream using ethanol solution. This indicates that the extract is stabilized in the cream. In addition, any change in color or smell was not observed through 12 weeks of the experimental time period. Also physical changes as creaming and cohesion were not shown. The results show that the cream containing C. obtusa leaf extract was relatively stable. However, it is concluded that it is still not clear in the stability of the cream containing the extract when it is stored for a long time. Accordingly, it is suggested that further study is needed for the application of the extract to cosmetics.