• Journal of the Korean Society of Radiology
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• v.84 no.4
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• pp.891-899
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• 2023

Purpose To survey perceptions of certified physicians on the protocol of chest CT in patients with coronavirus (COVID-19) using a negative pressure isolation stretcher (NPIS). Materials and Methods This study collected questionnaire responses from a total of 27 certified physicians who had previously performed chest CT with NPIS in COVID-19 isolation hospitals. Results The nine surveyed hospitals performed an average of 116 chest CT examinations with NPIS each year. Of these, an average of 24 cases (21%) were contrast chest CT. Of the 9 pulmonologists we surveyed, 5 (56%) agreed that patients who showed abnormalities in serum D-dimer required contrast chest CT. All 9 surveyed radiologists agreed that the image quality of the chest CT with NPIS was sufficient for CT image interpretation regarding pneumonia or pulmonary embolism. Furthermore, in our 9 surveyed infectionologists, 5 (56%) agreed that a risk of secondary infection in the CT room after temporary opening of NPIS could be prevented through a process of disinfection. Conclusion Experienced physicians considered that the effects of NIPS on chest CT image quality was minimal in patients with COVID-19, and the risk of CT room contamination was easily controlled.

• Elastomers and Composites
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• v.45 no.4
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• pp.298-308
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• 2010

The mechanical properties and surface characteristics of parylene thin film were improved using Xylydene-based dimers (DPX-C, DPX-D, and DPX-N). A single-parylene-C, D, N film and a hybrid chemical and physical parylene thin films in which two types are mixed were manufactured for each dimer by adjusting the deposition conditions and the thickness of the thin film by input. Parylene was deposited by chemical vapor deposition (CVD) and the thermal characteristics of the single thin film and the hybrid thin film were compared by thermal analysis. The mechanical properties of the thin films were characterized by tensile strength, elongation, and tear force tests, and the surface characteristics of the thin films were evaluated by contact angle and surface energy measurements. The hybrid chemical parylene thin film in which two types are mixed can complement the strengths and weaknesses of the different dimers, while the physical parylene thin film can freely adjust the thin film characteristics of the coated surface and the opposite surface.

• Journal of Veterinary Science
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• v.25 no.3
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• pp.36.1-36.15
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• 2024

Importance: The intravenous administration of adipose tissue-derived mesenchymal stem cells (AdMSCs) in veterinary medicine is an attractive treatment option. On the other hand, it can result in severe complications, including pulmonary thromboembolism (PTE). Objective: The present study assessed the occurrence of PTE after the intravenous infusion of canine AdMSCs (cAdMSCs) into experimental animals. Methods: Five-week-old male BALB/c hairless mice were categorized into groups labeled A to G. In the control group (A), fluorescently stained 2×10⁶ cAdMSCs were diluted in 200 µL of suspension and injected into the tail vein as a single bolus. The remaining groups included the following: group B with 5×10⁶ cells, group C with 3×10⁶ cells, group D with 1×10⁶ cells, group E with 1×10⁶ cells injected twice with a one-day interval, group F with 2×10⁶ cells in 100 µL of suspension, and group G with 2×10⁶ cells in 300 µL of suspension. Results: Group D achieved a 100% survival rate, while none of the subjects in groups B and C survived (p = 0.002). Blood tests revealed a tendency for the D-dimer levels to increase as the cell dose increased (p = 0.006). The platelet count was higher in the low cell concentration groups and lower in the high cell concentration groups (p = 0.028). A histological examination revealed PTE in most deceased subjects (96.30%). Conclusions and Relevance: PTE was verified, and various variables were identified as potential contributing factors, including the cell dose, injection frequency, and suspension volume.

• Macromolecular Research
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• v.15 no.1
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• pp.74-81
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• 2007

A series of photoreactive mesogens based on chalcone were prepared and their morphological behavior and reactivity were studied according to a variable number of alkyloxy tail carbons. The linear ester compounds 3a-h comprised two chalcone units connected to a benzene ring through ester linkages. All linear ester compounds showed enantiotropic liquid crystalline phases. The X-ray diffractograms for the mesophases of compounds 3a-h showed a set of reflections in the small-angle region which consisted of more than three sharp diffraction peaks with d spacings in the ratio of 1:1/2:1/3, confirming the well defined smectic A structures of the compounds. Compounds 3a-h were considered to be bifunctional monomers due to the presence of two photoreactive chalcone groups. Upon UV irradiation, its polymerization proceeded through the [2+2] addition reaction between chalcone units in a stepwise manner. An image pattern was obtained by the photopolymerization of the liquid crystal of the compound (3h) with decyloxy tails through a photomask. The irradiated part became dark while the masked part remained birefringent under polarized optical microscopy, which was ascribed to the production via the UV irradiation of a polymer or a dimer having cyclobutane rings by [2+2] addition, which thereby disrupted the alignment of the molecules.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.59 no.3
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• pp.149-152
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• 2016

We report a case of a 5-year-old girl who developed left hemiparesis and left facial palsy, 6 days after the initiation of fever and respiratory symptoms due to pneumonia. Chest radiography, conducted upon admission, showed pneumonic infiltration and pleural effusion in the left lung field. Brain magnetic resonance imaging showed acute ischemic infarction in the right middle cerebral artery territory. Brain magnetic resonance angiography and transfemoral cerebral angiography revealed complete occlusion of the right middle cerebral artery. Mycoplasma pneumoniae infection was identified by a 4-fold increase in IgG antibodies to M. pneumoniae between acute and convalescent sera by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Fibrinogen and D-dimer levels were elevated, while laboratory exams in order to identify other predisposing factors of pediatric stroke were all negative. This is the first reported pediatric case in English literature of a M. pneumoniae-associated cerebral infarction involving complete occlusion of the right middle cerebral artery.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.19 no.8
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• pp.818-822
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• 2009

A ${\beta}-1$,3-1,4-glucanase from the fungus Laetiporus sulphureus var. miniatus was purified as a single 26 kDa band by ammonium sulfate precipitation, HiTrap Q HP, and UNO Q ion-exchange chromatography, with a specific activity of 29 U/mg. The molecular mass of the native enzyme was 52 kDa as a dimer by gel filtration. ${\beta}-1$,3-1,4-Glucanase showed optimum activity at pH 4.0 and $75^{\circ}C$. The half-lives of the enzyme at $70^{\circ}C$ and $75^{\circ}C$ were 152 h and 22 h, respectively. The enzyme showed the highest activity for barley ${\beta}$-glucan as ${\beta}-1$,3-1,4-glucan among the tested polysaccharides and p-nitrophenyl-${\beta}$-D-glycosides with a $K_m$, of 0.67 mg/ml, a $k_{cat}$ of 13.5 $S^{-1}$ and a $k_{cat}/K_m$ of 20 mg/ml/s.

• Journal of Veterinary Clinics
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• v.31 no.4
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• pp.337-340
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• 2014

An 11-year-old male Maltese dog was presented with sudden onset of convulsion and right sided circling. On neurological examination, left side proprioception and menace reflexes were delayed. Blood examinations indicated severe thrombocytopenia and increased hepatic enzymes. On brain magnetic resonance imaging, lesions were founded on the left lateral subarachnoid space area. Those lesions showed hyperintense on T1-weighted images, hyperintense on T2-weighted images and hyperintense on fluid attenuated inversion recovery images. Cerebrospinal fluid analysis revealed xanthochromia and erythrophagocytosis. Coagulation test results demonstrated that fibrin degradation product and D-dimer concentrations were higher than normal range. The patient expired few hours after presentation. This case report demonstrates intracranial hemorrhage with disseminated intravascular coagulation in a dog.

• Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society
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• v.35 no.11
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• pp.3219-3223
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• 2014

Ochnaflavone, a naturally occurring biflavonoid composed of two units of apigenin (5,7,4'-trihydroxyflavone) joined via a C-O-C linkage, was first synthesized and evaluated its inhibitory activity on $PGE_2$ production. Total synthesis was accomplished through modified Ullmann diaryl ether formation as a key step. Coupling reactions of 4'-halogenoflavones and 3'-hydroxy-5,7,4'-trimethoxyflavone were explored in diverse reaction conditions. The reaction of 4'-fluoro-5,7-dimethoxyflavone (2c) and 3'-hydroxy-5,7,4'-trimethoxyflavone (2d) in N,N-dimethylacetamide gave the coupled compound 3 in 58% yield. Synthetic ochnaflavone strongly inhibited PGE2 production ($IC_{50}=1.08{\mu}M$) from LPS-activated RAW 264.7 cells, which was due to reduced expression of COX-2. On the contrary, the inhibition mechanism of wogonin was somewhat different from that of ochnaflavone although wogonin, a natural occurring anti-inflammatory flavonoid, showed strong inhibitory activity of $PGE_2$ production ($IC_{50}=0.52{\mu}M$), and seems to be COX-2 enzyme inhibition. Our concise total synthesis of ochnaflavone enable us to provide sufficient quantities of material for advanced biological studies as well as to efficiently prepare derivatives for structure-activity relationship study.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.52 no.3
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• pp.288-293
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• 2002

A 32-year-old woman presented with cough and hemoptysis. The radiologic findings showed increased interstitial markings in the right lung, a slightly decreased lung volume in the RLL and a hypoplastic right pulmonary artery with collaterals in the mediastinum and subpleural area. The pulmonary angiography showed an abrupt occlusion of the right lower pulmonary artery. The echocardiographic findings indicated pulmonary hypertension. A doppler leg ultrasonograph disclosed that the left popliteal vein was occluded with collateral veins, not filling the defect in the venous lumen. The D-dimer increased 1.0 ug/ml. This condition was initially misdiagnosed as a congenital pulmonary artery agenesis. Finally, a chronic pulmonary thromboembolism with a deep vein thrombosis was confirmed.

• KSBB Journal
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• v.27 no.6
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• pp.341-346
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• 2012

Indican (indoxyl-${\beta}$-D-glucoside) is a colorless natural compound and can be used as a precursor for the production of indigo. This production step only require an enzyme, ${\beta}$-glucosidase, that readily screened from microbial resource by using selective media supplemented with indican as a sole carbon source. Agrobacterium tumefaciens was well grown in this media and thus presumed to produce a related enzyme. The corresponding gene, encoding a protein with a calculated molecular mass of 51 kDa, was cloned and overexpressed as MBP fusion proteins. The purified enzyme was determined to be a dimer and showed the maximum activity for indican at pH 7.0 and $40^{\circ}C$. The kinetic parameters for indican, Km and Vmax, were determined to be 1.4 mM and 373.8 ${\mu}M/min/mg$, respectively. The conversion yield of indican into indigo using this enzyme was about 1.7-1.8 folds higher than that of previously isolated enzyme from Sinorhizobium meliloti. Additionally, this enzyme was able to hydrolyze various ${\beta}$-1,4 glycoside substrates.