• Journal of Cardiovascular Imaging
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• v.31 no.2
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• pp.85-95
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• 2023

BACKGROUND: The prognostic utility of follow-up transthoracic echocardiography (FU-TTE) in patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) is unclear, specifically in terms of whether changes in echocardiographic parameters in routine FU-TTE parameters are associated with cardiovascular outcomes. METHODS: From 2010 to 2017, 162 patients with HCM were retrospectively enrolled in this study. Using echocardiography, HCM was diagnosed based on morphological criteria. Patients with other diseases that cause cardiac hypertrophy were excluded. TTE parameters at baseline and FU were analyzed. FU-TTE was designated as the last recorded value in patients who did not develop any cardiovascular event or the latest exam before event development. Clinical outcomes were acute heart failure, cardiac death, arrhythmia, ischemic stroke, and cardiogenic syncope. RESULTS: Median interval between the baseline TTE and FU-TTE was 3.3 years. Median clinical FU duration was 4.7 years. Septal trans-mitral velocity/mitral annular tissue Doppler velocity (E/e'), tricuspid regurgitation velocity, left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF), and left atrial volume index (LAVI) at baseline were recorded. LVEF, LAVI, and E/e' values were associated with poor outcomes. However, no delta values predicted HCM-related cardiovascular outcomes. Logistic regression models incorporating changes in TTE parameters had no significant findings. Baseline LAVI was the best predictor of a poor prognosis. In survival analysis, an already enlarged or increased size LAVI was associated with poorer clinical outcomes. CONCLUSIONS: Changes in echocardiographic parameters extracted from TTE did not assist in predicting clinical outcomes. Cross-sectionally evaluated TTE parameters were superior to changes in TTE parameters between baseline and FU at predicting cardiovascular events.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.32 no.3
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• pp.368-378
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• 2024

Cordycepin, a valuable bioactive component isolated from Cordyceps militaris, has been reported to possess anti-cancer potential and the property to enhance the effects of chemotherapeutic agents in various types of cancers. However, the ability of cordycepin to chemosensitize cholangiocarcinoma (CCA) cells to gemcitabine has not yet been evaluated. The current study was performed to evaluate the above, and the mechanisms associated with it. The study analyzed the effects of cordycepin in combination with gemcitabine on the cancer stem-like properties of the CCA SNU478 cell line, including its anti-apoptotic, migratory, and antioxidant effects. In addition, the combination of cordycepin and gemcitabine was evaluated in the CCA xenograft model. The cordycepin treatment significantly decreased SNU478 cell viability and, in combination with gemcitabine, additively reduced cell viability. The cordycepin and gemcitabine co-treatment significantly increased the Annexin V+ population and downregulated B-cell lymphoma 2 (Bcl-2) expression, suggesting that the decreased cell viability in the cordycepin+gemcitabine group may result from an increase in apoptotic death. In addition, the cordycepin and gemcitabine co-treatment significantly reduced the migratory ability of SNU478 cells in the wound healing and trans-well migration assays. It was observed that the cordycepin and gemcitabine cotreatment reduced the CD44^highCD133^high population in SNU478 cells and the expression level of sex determining region Y-box 2 (Sox-2), indicating the downregulation of the cancer stem-like population. Cordycepin also enhanced oxidative damage mediated by gemcitabine in MitoSOX staining associated with the upregulated Kelch like ECH Associated Protein 1 (Keap1)/nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) expression ratio. In the SNU478 xenograft model, co-administration of cordycepin and gemcitabine additively delayed tumor growth. These results indicate that cordycepin potentiates the chemotherapeutic property of gemcitabine against CCA, which results from the downregulation of its cancer-stem-like properties. Hence, the combination therapy of cordycepin and gemcitabine may be a promising therapeutic strategy in the treatment of CCA.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Radiology
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• v.84 no.4
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• pp.970-976
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• 2023

This study reports on diffuse leptomeningeal glioneuronal tumor (DL-GNT) in a 29- year-old male. DL-GNT is a rare central nervous system (CNS) tumor mostly seen in children and only few cases have been reported in adult patients. Our patient presented with a chronic headache that lasted for five months. MR imaging showed mild hydrocephalus, multiple rim-enhancing nodular lesions in the suprasellar cistern, diffuse leptomeningeal enhancement in the lumbosacral area, and multiple small non-enhancing cyst-appearing lesions not suppressed on fluid attenuated inversion recovery (FLAIR) images in the bilateral basal ganglia, thalami, and cerebral hemispheres. Under the impression of germ cell tumor with leptomeningeal seeding, the patient underwent trans-sphenoidal tumor removal. DL-GNT was pathologically confirmed and FGFR1 mutation was detected through a next-generation sequencing test. In conclusion, a combination of leptomeningeal enhancement and multiple parenchymal non-enhancing cyst-appearing lesions not suppressed on FLAIR images may be helpful for differential diagnosis despite overlapping imaging features with many other CNS diseases that have leptomeningeal enhancement.

• Korean Circulation Journal
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• v.52 no.7
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• pp.529-540
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• 2022

Background and Objectives: Limited data are available regarding long-term clinical outcomes of iliac artery endovascular therapy (EVT) in real-world practice. This study investigated long-term outcomes according to Trans-Atlantic Inter-Society Consensus (TASC) classifications. Methods: We analyzed data from 1,705 limbs of 1,364 patients from the retrospective cohort of the multicenter Korean Vascular Intervention Society Endovascular Therapy in Lower Limb Artery Disease registry. The primary endpoint was target lesion revascularization (TLR)-free survival. Results: TASC A, B, C, and D lesions were present in 19.4%, 26.2%, 28.7%, and 25.7% of the treated limbs, respectively. The technical success rate was 96.2% and did not differ between TASC lesion types. Complications occurred in 6.8% of cases and more occurred in TASC D (11.8%). Iliac artery EVT showed a 5-year TLR-free survival of 89.2%. The TASC D group had the lowest TLR-free rate of 79.3%. TASC D (hazard ratio [HR], 1.75; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.12-2.73; p=0.014), plain old balloon angioplasty (HR, 4.25; 95% CI, 2.03-8.88; p<0.001), current smoker (HR, 1.89; 95% CI, 1.26-2.83; p=0.002), previous bypass surgery (HR, 3.04; 95% CI, 1.28-7.19; p=0.011), combined femoropopliteal treatment (HR, 4.89; 95% CI, 3.19-7.50; p<0.001), combined below the knee treatment (HR, 2.20; 95% CI, 1.25-3.89; p=0.007), and complications (HR, 1.86; 95% CI, 1.07-3.24; p=0.028) were predictors for TLR. Conclusions: Iliac artery EVT achieved excellent technical success and 5-year TLR-free survival. TASC D showed a favorable but lower 5-year TLR-free survival rate and higher complication rate compared with other TASC groups.

• Annals of Hepato-Biliary-Pancreatic Surgery
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• v.26 no.4
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• pp.355-362
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• 2022

Backgrounds/Aims: Postoperative fluid collection is a common complication of pancreatic resection without clear management guidelines. This study aimed to compare outcomes of endoscopic ultrasound (EUS)-guided trans-gastric drainage and percutaneous catheter drainage (PCD) in patients who experienced this adverse event after pancreaticoduodenectomy (PD). Methods: Demographic and clinical data and intervention outcomes of 53 patients who underwent drainage procedure (EUS-guided, n = 32; PCD, n = 21) for fluid collection after PD between January 2015 and June 2019 in our tertiary referral center were retrospectively analyzed. Results: Prior to drainage, 83.0% had leukocytosis and 92.5% presented with one or more of the following signs or symptoms: fever (69.8%), abdominal pain (69.8%), and nausea/vomiting (17.0%). Within 8 weeks of drainage, 77.4% showed a diameter decrease of more than 50% (87.5% in EUS vs. 66.7% in PCD, p = 0.09). Post-procedural intravenous antibiotics were used for an average of 8.1 ± 4.3 days and 12.4 ± 7.4 days for EUS group and PCD group, respectively (p = 0.01). The EUS group had a shorter post-procedural hospital stay than the PCD group (9.8 ± 1.1 vs. 15.8 ± 2.2 days, p < 0.01). However, the two groups showed no statistically significant difference in technical or clinical success rate, reintervention rate, or adverse event rate. Conclusions: EUS-guided drainage and PCD are both safe and effective methods for managing fluid collection after PD. However, EUS-guided drainage can shorten hospital stay and duration of intravenous antibiotics use.

• Korean Circulation Journal
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• v.54 no.9
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• pp.565-576
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• 2024

Background and Objectives: The K-ELUVIA study aimed to investigate the clinical effectiveness and safety of Eluvia^TM, a polymer-coated, paclitaxel-eluting stent, for femoropopliteal artery disease using data from a prospective Korean multicenter registry. Methods: A total of 105 patients with femoropopliteal artery disease who received endovascular treatment (EVT) with Eluvia^TM stents at 7 Korean sites were enrolled in a prospective cohort and followed for 2 years. The primary endpoint was the 2-year clinical patency. The secondary endpoint was 2-year freedom from clinically driven target lesion revascularization (TLR). Results: Mean patient age was 68.2±10.4 years, and most patients (82.7%) were male. Mean lesion length was 168.3±117.6 mm. Chronic total occlusion was found in 57.7% of patients. Trans-Atlantic Inter-Society Consensus for the Management of Peripheral Arterial Disease (TASC II) type C or D lesions were present in 46.1% of patients. Procedural success was achieved in 99.0% of patients. The clinical patency rate was 84.4% at 1 year after EVT and 76.3% at 2 years post-EVT. The freedom from TLR rate was 89.1% at 1 year after EVT and 79.1% at 2 years post-EVT. Chronic total occlusion (hazard ratio [HR], 3.53; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.08-11.67; p=0.039) and smaller mean stent diameter (HR, 0.40; 95% CI, 0.16-0.98; p=0.044) were identified as independent predictors of loss of clinical patency at 2 years. Conclusions: The K-ELUVIA study demonstrated favorable 2-year clinical effectiveness and safety outcomes of Eluvia stent for femoropopliteal artery lesions in real-world practice.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.44 no.1
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• pp.162-174
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• 1997

Background : Metabolic cooperation via gap junctional intercellular communication (GJIC) is an important mechanism of the bystander effect in gene therapy using the Herpes Simplex Virus thymidine kinase/ganciclovir (HSVtk) "prodrug" system. Since retinoids have been reported to increase GJIC by induction of connexin 43 expression, we hyporthesized that treatment of tumor cells with retinoic acid could augment the bystander effect of the HSVtk/GCV system and result in improved tumor cell killing by enhancing GJIC. Methods : We transferred HSVtk gene to SKHep-J cell line that does not express connexin43, and also transferred the gene to human and murine mesothelioma cell lines that express connexin43. We verified that retinoic acid enhanced GJIC utilizing a functional double-dye transfer study and evaluated the effects of retinoic acid on the growth rate of tumor cells. We then tested the effects of retinoic acid on bystander-mediated cell killing. Results : Addition of all-trans retinoic acid (RA) increased GJIC in cell lines expressing connexin 43 and was asspciated with more efficient in vitro bystander killing in cells transduced with HSVtk via adenoviral and retroviral vectors. In contrast, there was no increase in the efficiency of the bystander effect after exposure to RA in a cell line which had no delectable connexin 43. Conclusion : These results provide evidence that retinoids can augment the efficiency of cell killing with the HSVtk/GCV system by enhancing bystander effect and may thus be a promising new approach to improve responses in gene therapy utilizing the HSVtk system to treat tumors.

• The korean journal of orthodontics
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• v.27 no.5 s.64
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• pp.781-789
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• 1997

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of fluoride relasing orthodontic sealant on the shear bond strength of light-and chemical-cured orthodontic rosins, to compare the shear bond strenth with light-and chemical-cured orthodontic resins, and to identify the changes of shear bond strength by rebonding in vitro. The brackets were divided into eight groups. Each group of metal brackets had different bonding mechanisms with adhesives. Group A : Transbond only Group B : Mono-Lok 2 only Group C : Light cured FluoroBond+Transbond Group D : Light cured FluoroBond+Mono-Lok 2 Group E : Transbond only(rebonded) Group F : Nomo-Lok 2 only(rebonded) Group G : Light cured FluoroBond+Transbond(rebonded) Group H : Light cured FluoroBond+Mono-Lok 2(rebonded) 65 extracted human premolars were prepared for bonding and 65 metal brackets for each group were bonded to prepared enamel surfaces of buccal surfaces as the above prescription. 24 hours bonding after, the Instron universal testing machine was used to test the shear bond strength of metal brackets to enamel. After debonding, same kind of metal brackets for each group were rebonded to prepared enamel surfaces of buccal surfaces to test the shear bond strength at the rebonding to enamel. Statistical analysis of the data was carried out Student's t-test ANOVA test, and Scheffe test using $SPSS/PC^+$ The results were as follows : 1. The order of shear bond strength was Group B(11.84MPa), Group A(10.75MPa), Group, D(9.69MPa), and Group C(9.39MPa)in lst bonded groups. 2. The order of shear bond strength was Group E(7.40MPa), Group G(6.48MPa), Group F(5.89MPa), and Group H(5.15MPa) in rebonded groups. 3. The shear bond strength of chemical cured orthodontic rosins had higher than that of light-cured orthodontic resins in all groups, but there was no statistical significance between groups(P>0.05). 4. In rebonded groups, the shear bond strength of light cured orthodontic rosins had higher than that of chemical cured orthodontic resins, but there was no statistical significance between groups(P>0.05). 5. The shear bond strength of all rebonded groups progressively decreased than that of 1st bonded groups, and there was statistical significance between groups(p<0.05, p<0.001).

• Journal of Animal Environmental Science
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• v.6 no.3
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• pp.175-184
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• 2000

A lab-scale MF membrane reactor was installed to investigate the membrane permeability, characteristics of membrane fouling at each conditions, and quality of permeate (liquid livestock manure) in the separation of solid-matters using membrane. Experiment was divided three filtration type such as follows; continuous filtration, gravity filtration, and intermittent filtration. As a result of experiment, flux 1 LMH was maintained for 7days, and trans-membrane pressure(TMP) was increased gradually under 10cmHg, but it was increased immediately after 10cmHg, respectively. However, the flux was increased, the Tmax was decreased exponential more and more. During the pure-flux test, most of the fouling of membrane was reversible. At the gravity filtration, permeate could be obtained as 1.75 LMH for 3.5days without any other electronic pressure. As an investigation of membrane surface, this study could be decided that the reason of fouling at the lower flux (Run 1 and 2) was attached matters in membrane surface, but at the higher flux (Run 4-6) was concentration polarization.

• Journal of Food Hygiene and Safety
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• v.24 no.3
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• pp.194-199
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• 2009

The effects of part of plum, alcohol content and addition of t-resveratrol on the formation of ethyl carbamate during the fermentation for wine were investigated at a time interval (45 days) for 6 months. The concentration of the ethyl carbamate in plum wine was determined according to KFDA guideline for ethyl carbamate analysis. In the plum wine with 16% or 30% alcohol content, the concentrations of ethyl carbamate were increased with time of fermentation periods. The maximum concentrations of ethyl carbamate in 16% and 30% plum wines after the fermentation for 6 months were $0.071{\mu}g$/g and $0.188{\mu}g$/g, respectively. When t-resveratrol was added at the level of $10{\mu}g$/g in both 16% and 30% plum wine, the concentrations of ethyl carbamate at 6 months were 0.078 and $0.216{\mu}g$/g, respectively. The addition of t-resveratrol at the level of $300{\mu}g$/g in both 16% or 30% plum wine, the concentrations of ethyl carbamate at 6 months were 0.078 and $0.169{\mu}g$/g, respectively. The ethyl carbamate in the plum wine was not formed during fermentation for 6 month as using the flesh of plum, but $0.588{\mu}g$/g of ethyl carbamate was formed as using plum with plum seed. The addition of $300{\mu}g$/g of t-resveratrol actually increased the concentration of the ethyl carbamate by $0.088{\mu}g$/g as fermented for 6 months using plum with seed. These results suggest that the flesh of plum should be used to reduce the formation of ethylcarbamate for production of plum wine and that the addition of t-resveratrol during fermentation of plum wine can not reduce the concentration of the ethyl carbamate.