• Korean Journal of Clinical Laboratory Science
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• v.53 no.3
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• pp.217-224
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• 2021

Fluoroquinolone (FQ) resistant gram-negative pathogens have emerged worldwide, and the recent increase in FQ resistant Escherichia coli is of great concern in Korea. This study investigated FQ resistance determinants and the epidemiological relationship of 56 ciprofloxacin-resistant E. coli isolated from a tertiary hospital in Daejeon, South Korea from June to December 2018. Molecular epidemiology was investigated by multilocus sequence typing (MLST). Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and sequence analysis were performed to identify chromosomal mutations in the quinolone resistance determining regions (QRDR) of gyrA, gyrB, parC, and parE and to describe the occurrence of the following plasmid-mediated quinolone resistance (PMQR) genes: aac(6)-Ib-cr, qepA, qnrA, qnrB, qnrC, qnrD, and qnrS. MLST analysis showed 12 sequence types (STs) and the most prevalent ST was ST131 (31/56, 55.4%), followed by ST1193 (13/56, 23.2%), and ST405 (3/56, 5.4%). In 56 ciprofloxacin-resistant E. coli isolates, Ser83→Leu and Asp87→Asn in gyrA and Ser80→Ile and Glu84→Val in parC (51.8%, 29/56) were the most frequent amino acid substitutions and aac(6)-Ib-cr (33.9%, 19/56) was the most common PMQR gene. These results of FQ resistance determinants were more frequently observed in ST131 compared with other clones. Continuous monitoring of the epidemiological characteristics of ciprofloxacin-resistant E. coli isolates and further investigation of FQ resistance determinants are necessary.

• Investigative Magnetic Resonance Imaging
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• v.25 no.3
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• pp.164-171
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• 2021

Purpose: Mild cognitive impairment (MCI) is a prodromal stage of Alzheimer's disease (AD). Brain atrophy in this disease spectrum begins in the medial temporal lobe structure, which can be recognized by magnetic resonance imaging. To overcome the unsatisfactory inter-observer reliability of visual evaluation, quantitative brain volumetry has been developed and widely investigated for the diagnosis of MCI and AD. The aim of this study was to assess the prediction accuracy of quantitative brain volumetry using a fully automated segmentation software package, NeuroQuant^®, for the diagnosis of MCI. Materials and Methods: A total of 418 subjects from the Korean Brain Aging Study for Early Diagnosis and Prediction of Alzheimer's Disease cohort were included in our study. Each participant was allocated to either a cognitively normal old group (n = 285) or an MCI group (n = 133). Brain volumetric data were obtained from T1-weighted images using the NeuroQuant software package. Logistic regression and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analyses were performed to investigate relevant brain regions and their prediction accuracies. Results: Multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed that normative percentiles of the hippocampus (P < 0.001), amygdala (P = 0.003), frontal lobe (P = 0.049), medial parietal lobe (P = 0.023), and third ventricle (P = 0.012) were independent predictive factors for MCI. In ROC analysis, normative percentiles of the hippocampus and amygdala showed fair accuracies in the diagnosis of MCI (area under the curve: 0.739 and 0.727, respectively). Conclusion: Normative percentiles of the hippocampus and amygdala provided by the fully automated segmentation software could be used for screening MCI with a reasonable post-processing time. This information might help us interpret structural MRI in patients with cognitive impairment.

• Korean Journal of Clinical Laboratory Science
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• v.53 no.2
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• pp.151-157
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• 2021

Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease (CMT) is a slowly progressive hereditary degenerative disease and chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyradiculoneuropathy (CIDP) is an acquired immune-mediated disorder characterized by weakness and sensory deficits. The purpose of this study was to analyze and compare the electrophysiological characteristics observed in sensory nerve conduction studies (SNCS) of both diseases. A retrospective study of 65 patients with a diagnosis of CIDP (N=35) and CMT type I (N=30) was performed. This study analyzed No potentials ratio, distal compound nerve action potential (dCNAP) of various nerve types, and a correlation coefficient analysis of the sensory nerve conduction velocity (SNCV). As a result, I found that CMT 1 was more severe systemic demyelinating and axonal polyneuropathy better than CIDP (P<0.05). In a quantitative analysis of dCNAP and SNCV, especially sural nerve was the most severe nerve injury observed in both diseases. In correlation and scatter plot analysis, CMT 1 showed relatively high correlations compared to CIDP based on the correlation coefficient analysis (Fisher's Z test) of SNCV. The results of this study suggested that CMT 1 showed the slowness in SNCV, one of the characteristics of demyelinating polyneuropathy, and this slowing had a uniform pattern. In conclusion, electrophysiological characteristic of SNCS may be useful in the diagnosis and research between patients with CMT 1 and CIDP.

• Journal of the Korean Applied Science and Technology
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• v.38 no.2
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• pp.356-367
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• 2021

This study investigated the effect of swimming exercise on inflammation in non-alcoholic fatty liver using animal models of postmenopausal obese women. Experimental animals were divided into a sham-operate + non-swimming trained group (S/N), an ovariectomize + non-swimming trained group (O/N) and an ovariectomize + swimming trained group (O/S), and were bred while eating a high fat diet for 8 weeks. Fat accumulation in liver tissue, liver weight, and serum AST and ALT increased in O/N compared to S/N, but decreased in O/S compared to O/N. Compared to S/N, O/N decreased the gene expression of IκBα in liver tissue and increased gene expression of MCP-1, IL-6, and TNF-α. But compared to O/N, O/S increased the gene expression of IκBα in liver tissue and decreased gene expression of MCP-1, IL-6, and TNF-α. In conclusion, this study suggested that swimming exercise was effective in improving physical health by improving inflammation in non-alcoholic fatty liver in obese mice induced obesity by high fat diet after ovariectomy.

• Journal of radiological science and technology
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• v.44 no.2
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• pp.91-100
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• 2021

High-Resolution thoracic CT (HRCT) is a scanning protocol in which thin slice thickness and sharpness algorithm are utilized to enhance image resolution for diagnosis and assessment of interstitial lung disease (ILD). This examination is sometimes performed in both supine and prone position to improve sensitivity to early changes of these conditions. Anatomical structures (the size of lung field and heart and descending aorta) of 150 patients who underwent HRCT were retrospectively compared. HRCT had been conducted in two positions (supine and prone). Data were divided into five groups according to patient body weights (from 40 to more than 80kg, 10kg intervals, 60 patients/each group). Quantitative analysis was utilized in Image J program. In the supine position defined as the control group, the average values of lung fields and heart size and aorta were compared with the prone position defined as the experimental group. The size of the lungs was found to be higher in the supine position, and it was confirmed that there was a statistically significant difference in patients over 70 kg (p<0.05). In addition, both sizes of the heart and descending aorta were larger in prone position, but in the case of the heart, there was no correlation with the presence or absence of ILD disease (p>0.05). Also, the area of prone in the descending aorta was higher than supine position, but there was no statistically significant difference between supine and prone position (p>0.05). In conclusion, when the severity of ILD disease was severe, there was no statistically significant difference in the area difference between supine and prone position, so it is considered that it will be helpful in diagnostic decision.

• Journal of radiological science and technology
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• v.44 no.5
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• pp.503-512
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• 2021

The purpose of this study is to check the extent to which "instruction of physician or dentist" defined in the Medical Service Technologists, etc. Act is applied in relation to radiography examination procedures for radiological technologists. In addition, it is intended to present basic data on the requirement to revise the Medical Service Technologists, etc. Act in the radiological technologist's duty area and scope of work, The subjects of this study were radiological technologists with license, and the response data were collected after sending the questionnaire link written on the online questionnaire form. The final number of respondents were 1,018, and the response rate was 6.8%. Most of the negative responses were "I have never received 'instruction' for radiologic examination by a physician or dentist, including a radiologist in a medical environment." There were a high perception that "the professionalism in radiation examination on radiological technologists are higher than that of a physician or dentist." They answered that the current continuing education has a great impact on maintaining and continuing professionalism and learning new knowledge in the radiology field. In addition, the radiological technologists provide a very high level of education in areas related to radiography procedure ethics such as patient care, patient safety, and patient privacy protection, as well as specialized fields such as radiation-related examination methods, radiography examination dose, and patient exposure dose. Radiological technologists replied that they were receiving it consistently. In conclusion, in the current medical environment, the 'instruction' of a physician or dentist cannot be seen as being realistically performed. The phrase 'instruction' of a physician or dentist as defined in the Medical Service Technologists, etc. Act is considered inappropriate in respect of the fact that the state recognizes the qualifications of the medical service technologist through a license. It is thought that revision to a new term suitable for the current medical environment is necessary.

• Journal of the Korean Crystal Growth and Crystal Technology
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• v.30 no.6
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• pp.244-250
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• 2020

β-Tricalcium phosphate (β-TCP, Ca3(PO4)2) is a kind of biodegradable calcium phosphate ceramics with chemical and mineral compositions similar to those of bone. It is a potential candidate for bone repair surgery. To improve the bioactivity and osteoinductivity of β-TCP, various ions doped calcium phosphate have been studied. Among them, Iron is a trace element and its deficiency in the human body causes various problems. In this study, we investigated the effect of Fe ions on the structural variation, degradation behavior of β-TCP. Fe-doped β-TCP powders were synthesized by the coprecipitation method, and the heat treatment temperature was set at 925 and 1100℃. The structural analysis was carried out by Rietveld refinement using the X-ray diffraction results. Fe ions existed in a different state (Fe2+ or Fe3+) with different heat treatment temperatures, and the substitution sites (Ca-(4) and Ca-(5)) also changed with temperature. The degradation rate was fastest at Fe-doped β-TCP with heated at 1100℃. The cell viability behavior was also enhanced with the substitution of Fe ions. Therefore, the substitution of Fe ion has accelerated the degradation of β-TCP and improved the biocompatibility. It could be more utilized in biomedical devices.

• Journal of Internet of Things and Convergence
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• v.6 no.4
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• pp.33-38
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• 2020

It was reported that a mobile application was designed to easily provide natural dyeing information such as natural dye related resources, colors and dyed fabrics in 2007. Since studies on the linkage, application, etc. between natural dye dyeing and IoT are still lacking, diversity of information on the change of dyeing pattern by natural dye dyeing is required. In this study, it was to construct dyeing information by natural dyes, e.g., Lithospermum erythrorhizon, on silk, which has been traditionally used as many fibers in Korea. The extraction of the dye from L. erythrorhizon was carried out under pH4. The dried root of L. erythrorhizon showed dark brownish purple. Silk fabric by a without a mordant typically showed a purple dyed pattern. In the staining by sodium tartrate plus citric acid, silk fabric was stained clear brown. Interestingly, the mordant of iron (II) sulfate, the silk fabric was dyed in a light gray color rather than black. When the mordant of aluminum potassium sulfate was treated with L. erythrorhizon-extracted dye, the results were almost the same as when the mordant was not treated. When the degree of dyeing was evaluated numerically, the treatment of the mordant of potassium dichromate was about 50% darker, and the dyeing by iron (II) sulfate was about 75% darker. These results will be helpful in the study of applying various dye colors using L. erythrorhizon, and it will provide information on dyeing controller and database system construction by dyeing parameters such as dyeing degree, pH concentration, and chromaticity change.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.31 no.3
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• pp.346-355
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• 2021

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the possibility that administration of Bacillus polyfermenticus KJS-2 (BP2), Bacillus mojavensis KJS-3 (Moja3), and their mixtures could control serum lipid levels. We observed changes in the blood cell level, metabolic function evaluation, and blood lipid levels after two weeks of oral administration of these microbial strains to hyperlipidemia-induced rats. Measurements of major cell changes in the white blood cells (WBC) indicated no significant effects due to the administration of the microbial strains. Platelet (PLT) levels decreased by 18.4% in the Triton WR-1339-treated group (NCON) and recovered to the control (CON) group levels in the positive control (PCON) group and the microbial strain-administered groups (p<0.05). No functional changes were observed in red blood cells (RBC) by Triton WR-1339-induced hyperlipidemia. The blood AST, ALT, BUN, and creatinine levels did not indicated effects on liver and kidney function, and all rats administered the microbial mixture recovered. The blood lipid levels in the microbe-treated groups indicated reduced levels of triglyceride (TG) and total cholesterol (TC), and increased levels of serum HDL cholesterol. The HMG-CoA inhibition rate of 7-O-succinyl macrolactin A (SMA) produced by BP2 showed similar activity at a concentration of 1,000 times lower than that achieved with atorvastatin. The administration of the microbial strains to the Triton WR-1339-induced rat model of hyperlipidemia resulted in reduced weight gain without affecting the food and water intake. Thus, blood circulation can be improved by controlling serum lipid levels by the combined administration of the BP2 and Moja3 microbial strains.

• Journal of the Korean institute of surface engineering
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• v.55 no.6
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• pp.390-397
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• 2022

Parylene-C which was mainly used for industries such as electronics, machinery and semiconductors has recently been in the spotlight in the medical field due to its properties such as corrosion resistance and biocompatibility. In this study we intend to derive a plan to improve the bonding strength of Parylene-C coating with the SUS304 base material for medical use which can be applied to various medical fields such as needles, micro needles and in vitro diagnostic device sensors. Through plasma pretreatment the bonding strength between Parylene-C and metal materials was improved. It was confirmed that the coated surface was hydrophobic by measuring the contact angle and the improvement of the surface roughness of the sample manufactured through CNC machining was confirmed by measuring the surface roughness with SEM. Through the above results, it is thought that it will be effective in increasing usability and reducing pain in patients by minimizing friction when inserting medical devices and in contact with skin. In addition it can be applied to various application fields such as human implantable stents and catheters, and is expected to improve the performance and lifespan of medical parts.