• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.59 no.6
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• pp.651-655
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• 2005

Background : Diagnosing a pulmonary embolism is difficult because its presenting symptoms are nonspecific and there are limitations with all of the objective tests. The D-dimer is known to be a marker of the lysis of intravascular cross-linked fibrin as a result of the activation of the endogenous fibrinolytic pathways, and the D-dimer assay is these an objective method for diagnosing a pulmonary embolism. This study assessed the benefits of the D-dimer test for diagnosing a pulmonary embolism using semiquantitative latex agglutination. Methods : The latex agglutination results of 185 patients were retrospectively reviewed. The D-dimer test was performed at the time a pulmonary embolism was suspected. Ninety patients(group I) were diagnosis with PE through spiral chest CT or a chest CT angiogram, perfusion/ventilation scans, and/or pulmonary angiogram. Ninety-five patients (group II) were found not to have a pulmonary embolism through the above tests. Results : The male to female ratio and mean age in groups I and II was 37:55, and 57 years old to 50:45 and 52 years old, respectively. When the cut off value for a positive D-dimer assay was set to $500{\mu}g$, the sensitivity, positive predictive value, negative predictive value and specificity was 86.7%, 61.4%, 79.3%, and 48.4%, respectively. Conclusion : The semiquantitative latex agglutination method in the D-dimer test has a lower sensitivity and negative predictive value than the well known ELISA test particularly for small emboli. Therefore, this test is not a suitable screening test for excluding a pulmonary embolism.

• Proceedings of the Korean Vacuum Society Conference
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• 2011.02a
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• pp.301-301
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• 2011

We present theoretical investigations of the self-assembled growth of one-dimensional (1D) molecular lines directed across the dimer rows on the H-terminated Si(001) surface [1]. Based on density-functional theory calculations, a new growth mechanism of the 1D acetylacetone line is proposed [2], which involves the radical chain reaction initiated at two dangling-bond sites on one side of two adjacent Si dimers. It is also enabled that, if an H-free Si dimer were employed as the initial reaction site, a 1D acetylacetone line can grow along the dimer row. Our findings represent the first insight into the growth of 1D molecular lines not only across but also along the dimer rows on the H-terminated Si(001) surface.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.50 no.2
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• pp.205-208
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• 2007

Purpose : Vascular endothelial cell damage and alteration of a fibrinolytic system was suggested to play a role in the development of coronary artery abnormalities in Kawasaki disease (KD). D-dimer is one of the markers of endothelial damage and fibrinolysis. We evaluated the clinical usefulness of D-dimer to differentiate KD from other febrile diseases and predict coronary artery abnormalities in KD. Methods : Sixty eight patients diagnosed as KD and twenty eight patients presented with acute febrile illnesses other than KD from September 2005 to July 2006 were included. Blood levels of D-dimer and various inflammatory markers were measured before treatment and the clinical course of KD was followed. Serial echocardiography was performed at the onset of disease and thereafter at a monthly interval for at least 2 months. Results : KD patients showed a higher D-dimer level than febrile controls, but the difference was not significant ($1.21{\pm}0.77{\mu}g/mL$ vs $0.92{\pm}0.71{\mu}g/mL$, P=0.083). Neither was the difference between KD patients who had coronary artery abnormalities and those who had not ($1.49{\pm}0.98{\mu}g/mL$ vs $1.15{\pm}0.71{\mu}g/mL$, P=0.169). D-dimer was significantly correlated with other inflammatory markers, such as C-reactive protein and erythrocyte sedimentation rate in both KD patients and febrile controls. Conclusion : D-dimer was not specific for KD. But it may be useful as an inflammatory marker to assess the severity of KD.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Applied Pharmacology
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• 1994.04a
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• pp.267-267
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• 1994

In order to obtain insight into the mechanism by which DNA containing a thymine photo-dimer is recognized by the excision repair enzyme, T$_4$ endonuclease V, we have taken NMR study of this protein and its complex with oligonucleotides. The conformations of five different DNA duplexes DNA I : d(GCGGATGGCG).d(CGCCTACCGC), DNA II d(GCGGTTGGCG) .d(CGCCAACCGC), DNA III : d(GCGGT ^ TGGCG) .d(CGCCAACCGC), DNA IV d(GCGGGCGGCG).d(CGCCCGCCGC) and DNA V d(GCGGCCGGCG) . d(CGCCGGCCGC) were studied by $^1$H NMR. The NMR spectra of these five DNA duplexes in the absence of the enzyme clearly show that the formation of a thymine dimer within the DNA induces only a minor distortion in the structure, and that the overall structure of B type DNA is retained. The photo-dimer formation is found to cause a large change in chemical shifts at the GC7 base pair, which is located at the 3'-side of the thymine dimer, accompanied by the major conformational change at the thymine dimer site. The binding of a mutant T$_4$ endonuclease V (E23Q), which is unable to digest DNA containing a thymine dimer, to the DNA duplex d(GCGGT ^ TGGCG)ㆍd(CGCCAACCGC) causes a large down-field shift in the imino proton resonance of GC7. Therefore, this position is thought to be either the crucial point of the interaction wi th T$_4$ endonuclease V, or the si to of a conformational change in the DNA caused by the binding of T$_4$ endonuclease V. Usually, it is very difficult to assign NMR peaks in DNA * protein complex because of severe peak overlaps. In order to overcome these peak overlaps, we used a method of deuterium incorporation.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.14 no.1
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• pp.293-297
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• 2013

Background: : Chemotherapy-induced thrombocytopenia (CIT) is an important cause of morbitity in patients with cancer. Aim: To investigate the effect of the baseline plasma D-dimer level, an important marker for thrombotic activity, on chemotherapy-induced thrombocytopenia in patients with stage III colon cancer. Materials and Methods: A total of 43 (28 men) eligible patients were divided into two groups according to whether they exhibited chemotherapy-induced thrombocytopenia: Group 1 (n=21) and Group 2 (n=22). Comparison was made using demographic, histopathologic, and laboratory variables. Additionally, baseline plasma D-dimer levels underwent receiver operation characteristics curve analysis, and areas under the curve were calculated. Sensitivity, specificity, and positive and negative likelihood rates were then determined. Results: The incidence of chemotherapy-induced thrombocytopenia had a significant correlation with baseline platelet count (r=0.568, P=0.031) and baseline plasma D-dimer levels (r=0.617, P=0.036). When the cut-off point for the latter was set as 498 ng/mL, the area under the curve was 0.89 (95%CI: 0.74-0.93), the sensitivity was 91.4%, the specificity was 89.7%, the positive likelihood rate was 3.64 and the negative likelihood rate was 0.24 for chemotherapy-induced thrombocytopenia diagnosis. Conclusions: The baseline level of plasma D-dimer could help to differentiate high-risk patients for chemotherapy-induced thrombocytopenia.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.2 no.1
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• pp.28-33
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• 1994

In order to obtain insight into the repair mechanism of DNA containing thymine photo-dimer, the conformation of the duplex d(GCGGTTGGCG).d(CGCCAACCGC) with a thymine dimer incorporated has been studied by proton NMR. NOE data show that, although the local environment around the thymine dimer is altered, the gross structural changes are relatively small. T$_4$endonuclease V exhibited a conformational change on complex formation with DNA. This conformational change occurred around histidine 16 which was close to tyrosine 129 located in the aromatic segment (WYKYY) near the C-terminus. It is likely that the interaction between T$_4$endonuclease V and DNA is strong since the complex was not dissociated up to 1.6 M NaCl.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.55 no.2
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• pp.167-174
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• 2017

China still has more than 30,000 patients of advanced schistosomiasis while new cases being reported consistently. D-dimer is a fibrin degradation product. As ascites being the dominating symptom in advanced schistosomiasis, the present study aimed to explore a prediction model of ascites with D-dimer and other clinical easy-achievable indicators. A case-control study nested in a prospective cohort was conducted in schistosomiasis-endemic area of southern China. A total of 291 patients of advanced schistosomiasis were first investigated in 2013 and further followed in 2014. Information on clinical history, physical examination, and abdominal ultrasonography, including the symptom of ascites was repeatedly collected. Result showed 44 patients having ascites. Most of the patients' ascites were confined in the kidney area with median area of $20mm^2$. The level of plasma D-dimer and pertinent liver function indicators were measured at the initial investigation in 2013. Compared with those without ascites, cases with ascites had significantly higher levels of D-dimer ($0.71{\pm}2.44{\mu}g/L$ vs $0.48{\pm}2.12{\mu}g/L$, P=0.005), as well ALB (44.5 vs 46.2, g/L) and Type IV collagen (50.04 vs $44.50{\mu}g/L$). Receiver operating characteristic curve analyses indicated a moderate predictive value of D-dimer by its own area under curve (AUC) of 0.64 (95% CI: 0.54-0.73) and the cutoff value as $0.81{\mu}g/L$. Dichotomized by the cutoff level, D-dimer along with other categorical variables generated a prediction model with AUC of 0.76 (95% CI: 0.68-0.89). Risks of patients with specific characteristics in the prediction model were summarized. Our study suggests that the plasma D-dimer level is a reliable predictor for incident ascites in advanced schistosomiasis japonica patients.

• Polymer(Korea)
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• v.32 no.2
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• pp.189-192
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• 2008

A styrylpyrylium salt (DHSP) was synthesized and then photodimerized to obtain a cyclobutane-type dimer (DHSP dimer). Methacryloyl group was incorporated into DHSP dimer to obtain DMSP dimer. Based on FT-IR analysis of a crosslinked DMSP dimer, it was considered that the cyclobutane structure reversed to styryl C=C bonds upon crack formation. Fluorescence measurement of DHSP in solid state (excitation at 385 nm) showed emission centered at 626 nm, while DHSP dimer revealed very weak emission. Fluorescent emission from microcracks in a film of crosslinked DMSP dimer was observed upon exposure to $330{\sim}385\;nm$ light.

• KSBB Journal
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• v.19 no.4
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• pp.315-320
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• 2004

We examined the culture conditions and degrading characteristics of styrene dimer (endocrine disrupter) using microorganism. The isolated microbe were consisted of 3 kinds of strain. The strains were identified to Pseudomonas sp. and Klebsiella pneumoniae by API 20E kit, but one was not identified. Single strain was not grown on the C-medium containing styrene dimer. However the complex strain YH3 could grow and we confirmed it by the broth color and O.D$_{660nm}$ (optical density 660 nm). The optimal culture conditions of complex strain YH3 were 35$^{\circ}C$, 1,000 ppm (v/v) of styrene dimer and pH 7.0, respectively. In tolerance test against the organic solvents, the complex strain YH3 could grow above log P=3.1, and could degrade ethyl benzene and 2,4-D, one kind of herbicide. As a result of TLC (Thin Layer Chromatography) analysis, we confirmed that the metabolite of styrene dimer was created by YH3 after 5th day, but not at control samples.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Emergency Medicine
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• v.29 no.5
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• pp.430-436
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• 2018

Objective: The purpose of this study was to evaluate whether or not the d-dimer level indicating hyperfibrinolysis could be a predictor of early poor outcome (massive transfusion, death within 24 hours) associated with trauma-induced coagulopathy in blunt trauma without significant brain injury. Methods: This study was a retrospective observational study using 516 blunt trauma patients without significant brain injury. The poor outcome group, including patients receiving massive transfusion and those who died within 24 hours, consisted of 33 patients (6.4%). The variables were compared between the poor outcome group and good outcome group, and logistic regression analysis was performed using statistically significant variables. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis was performed to evaluate the poor outcome prediction ability of the initial d-dimer level. Results: The poor outcome group showed more serious anatomical, physiological, and laboratory data than the good outcome group. In the ROC curve analysis for evaluation of the poor outcome prediction of the d-dimer level, the area under the curve value was 0.87 (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.84-0.90) while the cut-off value was 27.35 mg/L. In the logistic regression analysis, the high d-dimer level was shown to be an independent predictor of poor outcome (adjusted odds ratio, 14.87; 95% CI, 2.96-74.67). Conclusion: The high d-dimer level (>27.35 mg/L) can be used as a predictor for the poor outcome of patients with blunt trauma without significant brain injury.