• Progress in Medical Physics
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• v.21 no.3
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• pp.291-297
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• 2010

This study examined the dosimetric influence of implanted gold markers in proton therapy and the effects of their positions in the spread-out Bragg peak (SOBP) proton beam. The implanted cylindrical gold markers were 3 mm long and 1.2 mm in diameter. The dosimetric influence of the gold markers was determined with markers at various locations in a proton-beam field. Spatial dose distributions were measured using a three-dimensional moving water phantom and a stereotactic diode detector with an effective diameter of 0.5 mm. Also, a film dosimetry was performed using Gafchromic External Beam Treatment (EBT) film. The GEANT4 simulation toolkit was used for Monte-Carlo simulations to confirm the measurements and to construct the dose-volume histogram with implanting markers. Motion data were obtained from the portal images of 10 patients to investigate the effect of organ motions on the dosimetric influence of markers in the presence of a rectal balloon. The underdosed volume due to a single gold marker, in which the dose was less than 95% of a prescribed amount, was 0.15 cc. The underdosed volume due to the presence of a gold marker is much smaller than the target volume. However, the underdosed volume is inside the gross tumor volume and is not smeared out due to translational prostate motions. The positions of gold markers and the conditions of the proton-beam field give different impacts on the dose distribution of a target with implanted gold markers, and should be considered in all clinical proton-based therapies.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.15 no.9
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• pp.4029-4032
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• 2014

Purpose: The aim of this study was to analyze any association between the metabolic syndrome (MetS) and risk of prostate cancer (PCa) and cancer grade among men undergoing radical prostatectomy for PCa. Materials and Methods: 50 patients with MetS and 50 patients without MetS who undervent radical prostatectomy (RP) were included in the study. Age at biopsy, height, weight, digital rectal examination (DRE), pre-biopsy PSA levels, prostate volume, histopathologic diagnosis after surgery and gleason scores were collected data from all patients. Histologic material obtained at biopsy was given a Gleason score; tumours with a Gleason score ${\geq}7$ were considered high grade and <7 were considered low grade. Results: The mean age at the time of biopsy was $63.7{\pm}5.94$ in patients with MetS and $61.6{\pm}6.14$ in patients without MetS. Men with MetS had significantly lower PSA levels (p=0.01) ($7.21{\pm}2.74$ and $8.81{\pm}2.72$, respectively). Also, the men with MetS had higher RP tumor grade (p=0.04). Conclusions: Men with MetS undergoing RP have lower PSA levels and have significantly higher grade PCa. We must be careful for screening PCa in patients with MetS. Although the patients had lower PSA levels, they may have high grade disease.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.13 no.6
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• pp.842-844
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• 2000

Changes in respiration rate (RR), rectal temperature (RT), respiratory moisture loss (RML), packed cell volume (PCV) and haemoglobin (Hb) were monitored in 2 adults female goats each of the Saanen (S) and Toggenburg (T) breeds during 60 min of exercise (walking at 3 km/h) on a moving-belt treadmill on each of 6 alternate days. A significant $time{\times}breed$ interaction was observed for RR; mean values in Sand T after 60 min of exercise were 130 and 223 /min ($p{\leq}0.01$). The observed time x breed interaction for RT indicated that S was less stressed by exercise than T; mean values after 60 min exercise were 40.4 and $40.8^{\circ}C$ respectively ($p{\leq}0.01$). For RML, the $day{\times}breed$ interaction ($p{\leq}0.001$) indicated that while S had higher values on day 1, thereafter the values for T were higher. The $time{\times}breed$ interaction for RML/breath indicated that values for T declined more rapidly (from 9.4 to 3.1 mgjbreath) than those for S (from 8.3 to 4.1 mgjbreath; ($p{\leq}0.01$). PCV declined during exercise ($p{\leq}0.05$) by 5.5 percentage points. The exercise imposed was stressful in that it led to increases in RR, RT and RML. S was most tolerant of exercise in that it recorded lower values of RT. The fact that the RML/breath was higher during exercies in S apparently allowed it to compensate for a lower RR. Despite higher RR and RML, T also had a higher RT, suggesting either higher muscular heat production during exercise in that breed, or higher sweating losses in S.

• Journal of Animal Science and Technology
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• v.59 no.3
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• pp.5.1-5.10
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• 2017

Background: Bovine respiratory disease (BRD) is one of the leading causes of economic losses in the beef and dairy industry. Reliable antemortem tools for diagnosing BRD would improve the efficacy of treatment and reduce costs. Here we examined whether the relatively simple technique of thoracoscopy can support BRD diagnosis under field conditions. We also compared various equipment set-ups in order to optimize the safety and efficacy of the procedure. A total of 24 thoracoscopic procedures were performed in 17 calves diagnosed with BRD and in 2 healthy control calves. Rigid and flexible endoscopes and industrial videoscopes were tested using various insertion approaches. The suitability of the technique was assessed in terms of duration, volume of air extracted, visualization score, and image quality. Safety was assessed in terms of rectal temperature, body weight, breaths/min, presence of fibrinogen, pain score, recovery time, intraoperative complications and risk of laceration or threatening collapse. Results: Insertion of a flexible endoscope via a right, dorso-caudal approach at the $5^{th}$ intercostal space allowed complete examination of the right lung in 15 min, as well as identification of main lung lesions and adherences in calves with BRD, without compromising calf welfare. While the dorso-caudal approach was optimal, it was associated with substantial discomfort when rigid endoscopes were used, minimal complications or mortality due to thoracoscopy were observed up to 28 days after the procedure. Videoscopes were as safe and easy to use as endoscopes, but endoscopes provided better image quality. Conclusion: This study provides the first field evidence that thoracoscopy can be safe to explore BRD-diseased calves. These results justify a larger study to rigorously assess the diagnostic performance of the technique.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.15 no.6
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• pp.2555-2558
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• 2014

Pirpose: The aim of this study to analyze the association between history of diabetes mellitus (DM) with risk of prostate cancer (PCa) and cancer grade among men undergoing radical prostatectomy for PCa. Materials and Methods: 50 patients with DM and 50 patients without DM who undervent radical prostatectomy (RP) were included in the study. Age at biopsy, height, weight, digital rectal examination (DRE), pre-biopsy PSA levels, prostate volume, histopathologic diagnosis after surgery and gleason scores were collected data from all patients. Histologic material obtained at biopsy was given a Gleason score; tumours with a Gleason score ${\geq}7$ were considered high grade and <7 were considered low grade. Results: The mean age at the time of biopsy was 63.7 in patients with DM and 61.6 in patients without DM. Diabetic men had significantly lower PSA levels (p=0.01). Mean PSA level $7.04{\pm}2.85$ in patients with DM and $8.7{\pm}2.86$ in patients without DM, respectively. Also, diabetic men had higher RP tumor grade than men without DM (p=0.04). We found that HbA1c levels were higher in patients who have high grade prostate cancer (p<0.05). Conclusions: Diabetic men undergoing RP have lower PSA levels and have significantly higher grade PCa. We must be careful for screening PCa in patients with DM. Although the patients had lower PSA levels, they might have high grade disease.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.10 no.3
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• pp.318-323
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• 1997

In order to assess the effect of solar exposure on pulmonary functions and evaporative losses from skin and pulmonary surfaces, in six healthy Sahiwal (S) and six Sahiwal ${\times}$ Holstein ($S{\times}H$) cattle were exposed to direct sun during summer. Breed differences were observed during exposure. Increase in sweating rate was higher in crossbreds (222%) than in Sahiwal (125%). Pre-exposure (ambient temperature, $32.6{\pm}0.85^\circ}C$, solar radiation, $0.9cal\;cm^{-2}min^{-1}$) evaporative loss from skin accounted for about 90% of the losses and remaining losses were contributed by pulmonary surfaces in Sahiwal. The contribution of evaporation through skin increased to 92% (ambient temperature $39.4{\pm}0.68^\circ}C$, solar radiation, $1.35cal\;cm^{-2}min^{-1}$). In crossbreds 80% of the evaporative losses were through skin before exposure which increased to 87% after exposure to solar radiations. Rectal temperature increase was higher in crossbreds ($1.5^{\circ}C$) than in Sahiwal ($0.8^{\circ}C$). With the increase in pulmonary evaporative losses, respiratory frequency increased to 2 fold in Sahiwal and pulmonary ventilation increased 1.6 times the resting value in Sahiwal due to solar exposure. In $S{\times}H$ crossbreds the respiratory frequency increased 3.5 times and pulmonary ventilation increased only to 1.8 times due to decrease in tidal volume. There was about 2 fold increase in alveolar ventilation in both the breeds, the increase in dead space ventilation was more in crossbreds than in Sahiwal. Behavioral symptoms exhibited by animals after exposure were profuse salivation, open mouth panting, tongue protrusion and general restlessness.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.14 no.10
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• pp.6085-6088
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• 2013

Prostate specidic antigen (PSA) and digital rectal examination (DRE) are the known predictive factors for positive prostate biopsies differing according to the age, region and race. There have been only very limited studies about the impact of PSA on histological findings at prostate biopsy in Turkey. The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of PSA and clinical stage on histologic findings of prostate biopsy in men older than 75 years of age as a first study in the Turkish population. A total of 1,645 consecutive prostate biopsies were included, with 194 men aged 75 or older. Cancer was identified in 104 patients (53.6%). Of the 104 positive biopsies, Gleason scores were less than 7 in 53 (49%) patients, 7 or greater in 51 (51%) patients. Positive prostate biopsies were significantly correlated with advanced age (p=0.0001), abnormal DRE (p=0.0001) and raised PSA (p=0.0001). The prostate volume was significantly correlated with advanced age especially in prostate cancer patients over 75 years, compared with those under 75 (p=0.0001). These results are useful for counseling men older than 75 years for prostate cancer detection. However, PCa screening decisions are currently based on urologist judgment and detection of latent asymptomatic disease is an important concern regarding costs, overdiagnosis, overtreatment and quality of life (QOL) for men aged 75 years and older. Healthy old patients with a long life expectancy need to be carefully evaluated for eligibility for PCa screening.

• Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology & Nutrition
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• v.16 no.3
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• pp.178-184
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• 2013

Purpose: The clinical presentations of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) prior to diagnosis are so diverse or vague that many of them waste time before final diagnosis. This study was undertaken to know the medical history of the pediatric patients until the final diagnosis could be reached. Methods: The medical records of all pediatric patients who were diagnosed with IBD (Crohn's disease [CD] in 14 children, ulcerative colitis [UC] in 17) during the last 13 years were reviewed. We investigated the length of the diagnostic time lag, chief clinical presentation, and any useful laboratory predictor among the routinely performed examinations. Indeterminate colitis was not included. Results: The mean ages of children at the final diagnosis was similar in both diseases. As for the pre-clinical past history of bowel symptoms in CD patients, 5 were previously healthy, 9 had had 1-3 gastrointestinal (GI) symptoms, weight loss, bloody stool, anemia and rectal prolapse. With UC, 9 were previously healthy, 8 had had 1-3 GI symptoms, bloody stool, anorexia. The average diagnostic time lag with CD was 3.36 months, and with UC 2.2 months. Body mass index (BMI) and the initial basic laboratory data (white blood cell, hemoglobin, mean corpuscular volume, serum albumin, and serum total protein) were lower in CD, statistically significant only in BMI. Conclusion: IBD shows diverse clinical symptoms before its classical features, making the patients waste time until diagnosis. It is important to concern possibility of IBD even in the mildly sick children who do not show the characteristic symptoms of IBD.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.7 no.3
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• pp.271-277
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• 1999

Safety evaluation of LB71350, a new HIV-1 protease inhibitor, was performed in mice, rats and dogs. For the general behavior of mice, LB71350 at an oral dose of 200 mg/kg did not show any significant effects on muscle tone and locomotor activity. In terms of central nervous system, at oral doses of 200 mg/kg and 1000 mg/kg, LB71350 inhibited acetic acid-induced pain response approximately 41% and 83% of control. respectively. At oral doses of 200 mg/kg and 500 mg/kg, it reduced the rectal body temperature in rats. Pentylenetetrazole-induced seizure in mice was slightly potentiated by oral administration of LB71350 at doses ranging from 200 mg/kg to 1000 mg/Ag. Single or five day treatment of LB71350 doubled the hexobarbital- induced sleeping time in mice at oral doses ranging from 50 mg/kg to 500 mg/kg. It did not cause any effects on gastric secretion and acidity in rat at oral doses of 200 mg/kg and 1000 mg/kg and also it did not change intestinal motility in mice up to 1000 mg/kg. Blood coagulation indices such as prothrombin time (PT), activated partial thromboplastin time (aPTT), and thrombin time (TT) in rats were not affected by the treatment of LB71350 up to 500 mg/kg. LB71350 caused no significant effects on the cardiac output, stroke volume, heart rate, and mean blood pressure when infused intravenously to the anesthetized rats and dogs. Taken together, LB71350 at high oral doses caused significant pharmacological effects on the central nervous system and the hexobarbital-induced sleeping time.

• Radiation Oncology Journal
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• v.18 no.3
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• pp.194-199
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• 2000

Purpose : Then determining the lower margin of post-operative pelvic radiation therapy field according to the traditional method (recommended by Gunderson), the organs located in the low pelvic cavity and the perineum are vulnerable to unnecessary radiation. This study evaluated the effect of individualized determination of the lower margin at 2 cm to 3 cm below the anastomotic site on the failure patterns. Materials and Methods . Authors included ぉ patients with modified Astler-Coiler (MAC) stages from B2 through C3, who received low anterior resection and post-operative pelvic radiation therapy from Sept. 1994 to May 1998 at Samsung Medical Center, Sungkyunkwan University. The numbers of male and female patients were 44 and 44, and the median age was 57 years (range: 32-81 years). Three field technique (posterior-anterior and bilateral portals) by 6, 10, 15 MV X-rays was used to deliver 4,500 cGy to the whole pelvis followed by Sn cGy's small field boost to the tumor bed over 5.5 weeks. Sixteen patients received radiation therapy by traditional field margin determination, and the lower margin was set either at the low margin of the obturator foramen or at 2 cm to 3 cm below the anastomotic site, whichever is lower. In 72 patients, the lower margin was set at 2 cm to 3 cm below the anastomotic site, irrespectively of the obturator foramen, by which the reduction of radiation volume was possible in 55 patients ($76\%$). Authors evaluated and compared survival, local control, and disease-free survival rates of these two groups. Results : The median follow-up period was 27 months (range : 7-58 months). MAC stages B2 in 32($36\%$), B3 in 2 ($2\%$), Cl in 2 ($2\%$), C2 in 50 ($57\%$), and C3 in 2 ($2\%$) Patients, respectively. The entire patients' overall survival rates at 2 and 4 years were $94\%$ and $68\%$, respectively, and disease-free survival rates at 2 and 4 years were $86\%$ and $58\%$, respectively. The first failure sites were local only in 4, distant only in 14, and combined local and distant in 1 patient, respectively. There was no significant difference with respect to local control and disease-free survival rates ( p=0.42, p=0.68) between two groups of different lower margin determination policies. Conclusion : The new concept in the individualized determination of the lower margin depending on the anastomotic site has led to the equivalent local control and disease-free survival rates, and is expected to contribute to the reduction of unnecessary radiation-related morbidity by reduction of radiation volume, compared with the traditional method of lower margin determination.