• Transactions of the Korean Society of Mechanical Engineers B
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• v.34 no.1
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• pp.67-71
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• 2010

Impingement of a high power laser pulse (above 1 GW/$cm^2$) on a metal foil causes its ablation, which is characterized by a rapid expulsion of matter and the initiation of a strong shock wave inside the solid metal. The shock propagates through the foil and reverberates on the rear side, causing its deformation and microparticle ejection, which were deposited on the foil prior to ablation. Based on this principle, we are developing a new drug delivery system - Biolistic gun. Current study is focused on the controllability, stability, efficiency of the system, and characterization of the penetration shapes in various conditions. We have tested the system by applying direct and confined ablation. Several different media combinations were used for confinement-BK7 glass, water, BK7 glass with water, and succulent jelly(ultrasono jelly, RHAPAPHRM). Biological tissue was replicated by a 3% gelatin solution. Present data shows that the confinement results in enhancement of penetration shape reached by 5 um cobalt microparticles. Based on the analysis of the experimental results we observe that the penetration shape of microparticles can be controlled by adjusting the thickness of confinement media.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.58 no.4
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• pp.368-372
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• 2015

Objective : The occurrence of acute cerebral infection following deep brain stimulation (DBS) is currently being reported with elevation of C-reactive protein (CRP) level. The aim of the present study was to establish normal range of the magnitude and time-course of CRP increases following routine DBS procedures in the absence of clinical and laboratory signs of infection. Methods : A retrospective evaluation of serial changes of plasma CRP levels in 46 patients undergoing bilateral, two-staged DBS was performed. Because DBS was performed as a two-staged procedure involving; implantation of lead and internal pulse generator (IPG), CRP was measured preoperatively and postoperatively every 2 days until normalization of CRP (post-lead implantation day 2 and 4, post-IPG implantation day 2, 4, and 6). Results : Compared with preoperative CRP levels ($0.12{\pm}0.17mg/dL$, n=46), mean CRP levels were significantly elevated after lead insertion day 2 and 4 ($1.68{\pm}1.83mg/dL$, n=46 and $0.76{\pm}0.38mg/dL$, n=16, respectively, p<0.001). The mean CRP levels at post-lead implantation day 2 were further elevated at post-IPG implantation day 2 ($3.41{\pm}2.56mg/dL$, n=46, respectively, p<0.01). This elevation in post-IPG day 2 rapidly declined in day 4 ($1.24{\pm}1.29mg/dL$, n=46, p<0.05) and normalized to preoperative value at day 6 ($0.42{\pm}0.33mg/dL$, n=46, p>0.05). Mean CRP levels after IPG implantation were significantly higher in patients whose IPGs were implanted at post-lead day 3 than those at post-lead day 5-6 ($3.99{\pm}2.80mg/dL$, n=30, and $2.31{\pm}1.56mg/dL$, n=16, respectively, p<0.05). However, there was no difference in post-IPG day 2 and 4 between them (p>0.05). Conclusion : The mean postoperative CRP levels were highest on post-IPG insertion day 2 and decreased rapidly, returning to the normal range on post-IPG implantation day 6. The duration of post-lead implantation period influenced the magnitude of CRP elevation at post-IPG insertion day 2. Information about the normal response of CRP following DBS could help to avoid unnecessary diagnostic and therapeutic efforts.

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

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.52 no.2
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• pp.187-193
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• 2009

Purpose : Adiponectin is a molecule that plays an important role in the metabolic syndrome. In addition, its concentration is known to be decreased in obesity, type 2 diabetes, and coronary artery disease. Although a relationship between hypertension and serum adiponectin concentrations has been reported by several authors, such findings continue to be debated. We investigated whether hypoadiponectinemia is related to hypertension in adolescents and studied the associated genetic polymorphism. Methods : Forty hypertensive adolescents (Age 16-17 years old) and twenty normotensive matched subjects were included. Serum adipo-nectin, insulin, renin, aldosterone and angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) levels were compared. Their carotid intima-media thickness (cIMT) and pulse wave velocity (PWV) were measured. Polymorphisms of the adiponectin I164T gene were investigated using polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Results : The hypertensive adolescents had significantly greater cIMT and PWV. In addition, the serum aldosterone, renin and insulin levels were significantly higher in the hypertensive group. The plasma concentrations of adiponectin did not differ significantly between the two groups. TC genotype was not found in our study subjects; they all had the TT genotype of the adiponectine gene. Conclusion : The results of our study showed that adiponectin levels were not significantly different in adolescents with hypertension. There was no distinctive genetic polymorphism observed in this group of patients. Further large scale studies are needed to clarify the association between genetic variations and adiponectin in hypertensive adolescents.

• Journal of Haehwa Medicine
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.19-28
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• 2009

Objectives: This study was conducted to help clinical studies for treating Functional Dyspepsia with acupuncture. We inspected tendency of studies of acupuncture treatment for functional dyspepsia and analyzed the assessing instrument for it by scrutinizing Pubmed recent publications. Materials and Methods: We inspected 8 theses and scrutinized their objectives, periods, participants, materials and methods, the instrument of assessment for the studies, and criteria and symptom score for questionaire, results and JADAD score. Results: 1. Most studies were published by oriental doctors except one which was published by an American doctor. More and more studies are being published in America and written in English recently. So it is considered that western doctors think that the acupuncture treatment is useful as unorthodox medicine for functional dyspepsia. 2. Among the 4 clinical studies, 2 studies were RCT and 1 study was not RCT and 1 study with vagueness. All 4 clinical studies were not double-blinded because they were about comparison between acupuncture treatment and medicine. 3. ST36, PC6, CV12, BL21 were chiefly used, and auricular point, ST40, SP6 were also used. Manual acupuncture were used in 2 studies, and low frequency pulse and electroacupuncture were used in other studies respectively. 4. 4 clinical studies used 0~3 points symptom score as the instrument of assessment. Additional assessments were on gastric emptying time, EGG and plasma level of motilin. All thesis were not verified of validity and reliability. 5. Among the 4 reviewed thesis, 2 theses were about acupuncture as one of the various treatment of functional dyspepsia, and the other 2 theses were about efficacy of acupuncture treatment. And the result generally showed effectivity of acupuncture treatment. Conclusion: Acupuncture treatment for functional dyspepsia is considered useful as in unorthodox medicine by western doctors, and it is necessary to provide objective instrument for assessing acupuncture treatment for functional dyspepsia.

• Journal of the Korean Chemical Society
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• v.41 no.4
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• pp.180-185
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• 1997

Zinc, cadmium, lead and copper were simultaneously determined by depositing metals at - 1.200 V vs. a Ag/AgCl(sat. KCl) reference electrode for 150 seconds on a hanging mercury drop electrode(HMDE) or a thin mercury film electrode(TMFE), followed by scanning towards anodic direction using differential pulse voltammetric(DPASV) and square wave voltammetric(SWASV) techniques. The linear calibration curves were obtained for four metal ions simultaneously determined by DPASV with a HMDE in the concentration range between 20 and 100 ppb. However, the linear calibration plots were obtained only for $Cd^{2+}$ and $Pb^{2+}$ in the simultaneous determinations with a TMFE in the concentration range up to 100 ppb using DPASV and up to 10 ppb using SWASV. DPASV with a TMFE was about 15 times more sensitive than DPASV with a HMDE for simultaneous determinations of $Cd^{2+}$ and $Pb^{2+}$. SWASV was about 5 times more sensitive than DPASV at a TMFE. Concentrations of zinc in seven different sediment samples determined by DPASV with a HMDE and inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry were compared, resulting with an excellent correlation coefficient of 0.9993 and with no significant difference between two methods after t-test.

• Journal of Hospice and Palliative Care
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• v.17 no.1
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• pp.18-26
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• 2014

Purpose: Anorexia is a common symptom in terminal cancer patients. Some data have suggested a role of visfatin in regulating feeding behavior. We studied the relationship of a serum visfatin level and anorexia in cancer patients provided with hospice care. Methods: After informed consent was obtained, 69 cancer patients over 20 years old at a hospice center were enrolled in the study from July 2009 to July 2010. We characterized patients by age, sex, body mass index, primary cancer site, and Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance status, etc. Also, blood tests were performed to measure the level of hemoglobin, white blood cell (WBC), C-reactive protein (CRP), total cholesterol, albumin, lymphocyte count, glucose, blood urea nitrogen (BUN), creatinine, tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-${\alpha}$), interukin-6, leptin and visfatin. Results: The mean age of subjects was 65.5 years old, According to univariate analysis, pulse, ECOG performance scale, opioid use and visfatin level were different between the anorexia and non-anorexic group (P<0.05). The median visfatin level was higher in the anorexia group than the good appetite group (P=0.0323). Serum visfatin concentrations were not related with either body mass index or serum leptin or total cholesterol levels, but it was negatively correlated with serum albumin levels (P=0.0198) and lymphocyte counts (P=0.0013). Conclusion: This study did not identify a novel link between visfatin levels and anorexia in cancer patients at a hospice.

• Applied Chemistry for Engineering
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• v.32 no.6
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• pp.684-689
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• 2021

In this paper, we develop a cost effective and disposable voltammetric sensing platform involving screen-printed carbon electrode (SPCE) modified with the nanocomposites composed of multi-walled carbon nanotubes, polyelectrolyte, and tyrosinase for bisphenol A. This is known as an endocrine disruptor which is also related to chronic diseases such as obesity, diabetes, cardiovascular and female reproductive diseases, precocious puberty, and infertility. A negatively charged oxidized multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) wrapped with a positively charged polyelectrolyte, e.g., polydiallyldimethylammonium, was first wrapped with a negatively charged tyrosinae layer via electrostatic interaction and assembled onto oxygen plasma treated SPCE. The nanocomposite modified SPCE was then immersed into different concentrations of bisphenol A for a given time where the tyrosinase reacted with OH group in the bisphenol A to produce the product, 4,4'-isopropylidenebis(1,2-benzoquinone). Cyclic and differential pulse voltammetries at the potential of -0.08 V vs. Ag/AgCl was employed and peak current changes responsible to the reduction of 4,4'-isopropylidenebis(1,2-benzoquinone) were measured which linearly increased with respect to the bisphenol A concentration. In addition, the SPCE based sensor showed excellent selectivity toward an interferent agent, bisphenol S, which has a very similar structure. Finally, the sensor was applied to the analysis of bisphenol A present in an environmental sample solution prepared in our laboratory.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.37 no.1
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• pp.1-10
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• 2004

Background: Currently, the cardiopulmonary machine with non-pulsatile pumps, which are low in internal circuit pressure and cause little damage to blood cells, is widely used. However, a great number of experimental studies shows that pulsatile perfusions are more useful than non-pulsatile counterparts in many areas, such as homodynamic, metabolism, organ functions, and micro-circulation. Yet, many concerns relating to pulsatile cardiopulmonary machines, such as high internal circuit pressure and blood cell damage, have long hindered the development of pulsatile cardiopulmonary machines. Against this backdrop, this study focuses on the safety and effectiveness of the pulsatile cardiopulmonary machines developed by a domestic research lab. Material and Method: The dual-pulsatile cardiopulmonary bypass experiment with total extracorporeal circulation was conducted on six calves, Extracorporeal circulation was provided between superior/inferior vena cava and aorta. The membrane oxygenator, which was placed between the left and right pumps, was used for blood oxygenation. Circulation took four hours. Arterial blood gas analysis and blood tests were also conducted. Plasma hemoglobin levels were calculated, while pulse pressure and internal circuit pressure were carefully observed. Measurement was taken five times; once before the operation of the cardiopulmonary bypass, and after its operation it was taken every hour for four hours. Result: Through the arterial blood gas analysis, PCO2 and pH remained within normal levels. PO2 in arterial blood showed enough oxygenation of over 100 mmHg. The level of plasma hemoglobin, which had total cardiopulmonary circulation, steadily increased to 15.87 $\pm$ 5.63 after four hours passed, but remained below 20 mg/㎗. There was no obvious abnormal findings in blood test. Systolic blood pressure which was at 97.5$\pm$5.7 mmHg during the pre-circulation contraction period, was maintained over 100 mmHg as time passed. Moreover, diastolic blood pressure was 72.2 $\pm$ 7.7 mmHg during the expansion period and well kept at the appropriate level with time passing by. Average blood pressure which was 83$\pm$9.2 mmHg before circulation, increased as time passed, while pump flow was maintained over 3.3 L/min. Blood pressure fluctuation during total extracorporeal circulation showed a similar level of arterial blood pressure of pre-circulation heart. Conclusion: In the experiment mentioned above, pulsatile cardiopulmonary machines using the doual-pulsatile structure provided effective pulsatile blood flow with little damage in blood cells, showing excellence in the aspects of hematology and hemodynamic. Therefore, it is expected that the pulsatile cardiopulmonary machine, if it becomes a standard cardiopulmonary machine in all heart operations, will provide stable blood flow to end-organs.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.37 no.3
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• pp.201-209
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• 2004

Extracorporeal life support (ECLS) system is a device for respiratory and/or heart failure treatment, and there have been many trials for development and clinical application in the world. Currently, a non-pulsatile blood pump is a standard for ECLS system. Although a pulsatile blood pump is advantageous in physiologic aspects, high pressure generated in the circuits and resultant blood cell trauma remain major concerns which make one reluctant to use a pulsatile blood pump in artificial lung circuits containing a membrane oxygenator. The study was designed to evaluate the hypothesis that placement of a pressure-relieving compliance chamber between a pulsatile pump and a membrane oxygenator might reduce the above mentioned side effects while providing physiologic pulsatile blood flow. The study was performed in a canine model of oleic acid induced acute lung injury (N=16). The animals were divided into three groups according to the type of pump used and the presence of the compliance chamber, In group 1, a non-pulsatile centrifugal pump was used as a control (n=6). In group 2 (n=4), a single-pulsatile pump was used. In group 3 (n=6), a single-pulsatile pump equipped with a compliance chamber was used. The experimental model was a partial bypass between the right atrium and the aorta at a pump flow of 1.8∼2 L/min for 2 hours. The observed parameters were focused on hemodynamic changes, intra-circuit pressure, laboratory studies for blood profile, and the effect on blood cell trauma. In hemodynamics, the pulsatile group II & III generated higher arterial pulse pressure (47$\pm$ 10 and 41 $\pm$ 9 mmHg) than the nonpulsatile group 1 (17 $\pm$ 7 mmHg, p<0.001). The intra-circuit pressure at membrane oxygenator were 222 $\pm$ 8 mmHg in group 1, 739 $\pm$ 35 mmHg in group 2, and 470 $\pm$ 17 mmHg in group 3 (p<0.001). At 2 hour bypass, arterial oxygen partial pressures were significantly higher in the pulsatile group 2 & 3 than in the non-pulsatile group 1 (77 $\pm$ 41 mmHg in group 1, 96 $\pm$ 48 mmHg in group 2, and 97 $\pm$ 25 mmHg in group 3: p<0.05). The levels of plasma free hemoglobin which was an indicator of blood cell trauma were lowest in group 1, highest in group 2, and significantly decreased in group 3 (55.7 $\pm$ 43.3, 162.8 $\pm$ 113.6, 82.5 $\pm$ 25.1 mg%, respectively; p<0.05). Other laboratory findings for blood profile were not different. The above results imply that the pulsatile blood pump is beneficial in oxygenation while deleterious in the aspects to high pressure generation in the circuits and blood cell trauma. However, when a pressure-relieving compliance chamber is applied between the pulsatile pump and a membrane oxygenator, it can significantly reduce the high circuit pressure and result in low blood cell trauma.