• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• v.19 no.1
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• pp.31-39
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• 1992

By means of the results of In vitro fertilization(IVF) of supernumerary oocytes, the possibility of predicting a pregnancy outcome following gamete intrafallopian transfer(GIFT) and the prognostic implications for future pregnancy were evaluated in 46 GIFT cycles excluding simultaneous program of GIFT and IVF from February, 1989 to July, 1991. IVF of supernumerary oocytes were identified in 21 cycles, but not in remaining 25 cycles. There was no significant difference in age, duration and etiologic factors of infertility, and serum levels of FSH, LH and $E_2$ on MCD #3 and $E_2$ on the day of hCG injection between fertilized(N=21) and unfertilized group(N=25). The number of oocytes retrieved was similar in both groups. The number of supernumerary oocytes available for IVF after transfer was $5.43{pm}2.95$ ranging from 2 to 12. The prenancy rate in fertilized group, 33.3%(7/21), was higher without statistical significance, compared with 8.0%(2/25) in unfertilized group. Using IVF of supernumerary oocytes as a test of pregnancy following GIFT, sensitivity was 77.8 %; specificity, 61.2%; positive predictive value(PPV), 33.3%; negative predictive value(NPV), 92%. The fertilization rate of supernumerary oocytes in pregnant group, $86.4{\pm}22.8%$ was significantly higher compared with $56.1{\pm}20.2%$ in nonpregnant group. In cases with fertilization rate ${\geq}80%$, pregnancy was expected with PPV of 85.7%. In conclusion, IVF of supernumerary oocytes in GIFT program can be a profitable method as a prognostic indicator of pregnancy following GIFT. More aggressive diagnostic and therapeutic measures should be performed in cases with failure in IVF of supernumerary oocytes.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.13 no.11
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• pp.5529-5533
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• 2012

Aim: To investigate the utility of prostate-specific antigen velocity (PSAV) and PSAV per initial volume (PSAVD) for early detection of prostate cancer (PCa) in Chinese men. Methods: Between January 2009 and June 2012, a total of 193 men (aged 49-84 years, median 67 years) with at least 2 transrectal ultrasonography (TRUS) procedures and concurrent serum PSA measurements underwent prostate biopsy because of suspicion of PCa. The total group were classified into PCa and non-PCa groups, and the variables of the two groups were compared. Univariate and multivariate analyses were used to investigate which variables were predictove. The diagnostic values of PSAV, PSAVD and prostate-specific antigen density (PSAD) were compared using receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis. Results: Prostate cancer was diagnosed in 44 (22.8%) of the 193 men. There were significant differences between the groups in last and initial prostate volumes determined by TRUS, initial age, last serum PSA levels, PSAV, PSAD and PSAVD. After adjusting for confounding factors, the odds ratios of PCa across the quartile of PSAVD were 1, 4.06, 10.6, and 18.9 (P for trend <0.001).The area under the ROC curves (AUCs) of PSAD (0.779) and PSAVD (0.776) were similar and both significantly greater than that of PSA (AUC 0.667). PSAVD was a significantly better indicator of PCa than PSAV (AUC 0.736). There was no statistical significant difference between the AUC of PSAV and that of last serum PSA level. The sensitivity and specificity of PSAVD at a cutoff of 0.023ng in participants with last serum PSA levels of 4.0ng/mL-10.0ng was 73.7% and 70.7%, respectively. Conclusions: The results of this study demonstrated PSAVD may be a useful tool in PCa detection, especially in those undergoing previous TRUS examination.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.41 no.5
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• pp.489-493
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• 1994

Background: Nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide glycohydrolase(NADase) is located on the surface of the cells. It is bound by glycosylphosphatidylinositol(GPI)-linkage, which can be cleaved by bacterial PI-specific phospholipase C(PI-PLC). Recently, it was studied that NADase was increased in infected tuberculosis animal, but absolute NADase is uncertainly increased because of high NADase in Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Therefore, we studied pure NADase activity in red blood cells of normal person and patients of tuberculosis. Method: We evaluated the 19 healthy adults and 16 tuberculosis infected patients, and then, the latter cases were evaluated after 3 months antituberculosis therapy. NADase activity was calculated by scintillated counting of cleaved radioactive [carbonyl-$^3H$] nicotinamide Result: NADase activity was $2021.1{\pm}824.0\;pmol/min/10^6$ erythrocytes in healthy adults vs. $3339.0{\pm}1568.0$ in tuberculosis infected patients, and was $3339.0{\pm}1568.0$ in pretreated patients vs. $2238.6{\pm}1013.1$ in same 3 months treated patients. Conclusion: NADase activity of erythrocytes is elevated in tuberculosis infection, and normalized afer antituberculosis therapy. Therefore, we suggested NADase activity as the new diagnostic and therapeutic indicator.

• Journal of Korean Society of Coastal and Ocean Engineers
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• v.26 no.4
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• pp.207-216
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• 2014

Total organic carbon (TOC) is an important indicator used as an direct biological index in the research field of the marine carbon cycle. It is possible to produce the sufficient TOC estimation data by using the Chemical Oxygen Demand(COD) data because the available TOC data is relatively poor than the COD data. The outlier detection and treatment (removal) should be carried out reasonably and objectively because the equation for a COD-TOC conversion is directly affected the TOC estimation. In this study, it aims to suggest the optimal regression model using the available salinity, COD, and TOC data observed in the Korean coastal zone. The optimal regression model is selected by the comparison and analysis on the changes of data numbers before and after removal, variation coefficients and root mean square (RMS) error of the diverse detection methods of the outlier and influential observations. According to research result, it is shown that a diagnostic case combining SIQR (Semi - Inter-Quartile Range) boxplot and Cook's distance method is most suitable for the outlier detection. The optimal regression function is estimated as the TOC(mg/L) = $0.44{\cdot}COD(mg/L)+1.53$, then determination coefficient is showed a value of 0.47 and RMS error is 0.85 mg/L. The RMS error and the variation coefficients of the leverage values are greatly reduced to the 31% and 80% of the value before the outlier removal condition. The method suggested in this study can provide more appropriate regression curve because the excessive impacts of the outlier frequently included in the COD and TOC monitoring data is removed.

• Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.41 no.7
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• pp.182-190
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• 2017

Background: Baekdudaegan was designated in 2005 as a protected area to prevent destruction and conserve. However, there are many disturbed and destroyed areas. The total disturbed area amounts to $25.9km^2$ (0.94%), including $13.4km^2$ (0.49%) in the core area and $12.5km^2$ (0.45%) in the buffer area. This study aims to classify the vegetation types established in the disturbed areas and diagnose the current conditions for ecological restoration in the forest ecosystem. Methods: We surveyed the vegetation in the disturbed areas of Daegwallyeong and Chupungryeong and the surrounding natural areas. The survey conducted from July to September 2015 targeted a total of 54 quadrats by Braun-Blanquet method (Daegwallyeong, 22; Chupungryeong, 32). We also investigated the height and coverage of each layer. We classified the vegetation types based on the field data and analyzed the ratio of life form and the exotic plants, species richness, and vegetation index (Hcl). The Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) was calculated from rapideye satellite imagery in 2014 and 2015. Results: Vegetation types were classified into 11 groups according to the criteria that included successional sere or plantation at first, followed by developmental stage and origins. As a result of the analysis of the survey data, species richness, vegetation index (Hcl), ratio of tree plants, and the NDVI tended to increase, while the ratio of the exotic plants tended to decrease with the time since disturbance. These indicators had the classified values according to the vegetation types with time since the disturbance. Conclusions: These indicators can be effectively used to diagnose the conditions of the present vegetation in the disturbed area of the Baekdudaegan area. In addition, the NDVI might be effective for the diagnosis of the disturbed status instead of the human efforts based on the higher spatial resolution of satellite imagery. Appropriate diagnosis of the disturbed forests in the Baekdudaegan area considering the established vegetation types is essential for the elaboration of restoration plans. In addition, restoration target and level should be different according to the disturbed status of restoration site.

• Korean Journal of Clinical Laboratory Science
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• v.49 no.4
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• pp.345-349
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• 2017

Diabetes mellitus is associated with a variety of adverse health outcomes, including metabolic syndrome and cardiovascular diseases. Recently, diabetes has been receiving increased scientific attention because of the rapid increase in the diabetic population. One of the features of type-2 diabetes mellitus is an elevated glucose level in blood. Fasting glucose level, which is the most basic test, is widely used as a diagnostic indicator of diabetes. Several previous studies reported that TLR4 expression is relatively high in the heart. However, few studies have investigated the association between TLR4 variants and fasting blood glucose to date. Thus, this study tested the association between single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the TLR4 gene and fasting glucose in the Korean population. A total of 994 subjects recruited from Seoul were used for the present study. When compared to fasting blood glucose, the TLR4 gene region was shown as a linkage disequilibrium owing to the relatively large gene range. This region also presented as several LD blocks. We found that specific SNPs in the TLR4 gene were associated with the mean fasting glucose (p<0.01). The minor allele frequency of rs1329067 was 16.4%, and individuals with the AA genotype had a higher fasting blood glucose level than those with the GG genotype, suggesting that genetic variants in TLR4 influence glucose levels in Korean adults.

• Korean Journal of Clinical Laboratory Science
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• v.50 no.2
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• pp.197-204
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• 2018

Multiple myeloma (MM) is the leading cause of death among hematologic neoplasms. Recently, microRNA has been reported to be useful in the diagnosis of multiple myeloma. This study examined whether miR-221 could be used as a diagnostic marker for multiple myeloma. The study was performed on 20 patients with multiple myeloma without any other hematological diseases. MicroRNA extraction was performed using formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded (FFPE) tissues obtained from the bone marrow of patients with multiple myeloma. miR-15a, miR-16, miR-21, miR-181a, and miR-221 were selected as the microRNA target genes for multiple myeloma. The significance of microRNA was based on a fold change of <1.5. To quantify the fold changes, data normalized to the human gene, SNORD43, were used as the values of the patient group. Fold change values greater than 1.5 were defined as "overexpression", whereas values less than -1.5 were defined as "underexpression". Of note, 65.0% (13/20) of samples showed significant "overexpression" in the levels of miR-221 expression and plasma cells with a group of more and less than 30% in MM patients did not show any significance of plasma cell (P<0.05). The results of other studies showing a correlation between the expression of miR-221 and MM in Caucasians were confirmed. These results suggest that miR-221 may be a useful indicator for diagnosing patients with MM. In conclusion, miR-221 is useful in the diagnosis and determining the prognosis of multiple myeloma in Koreans.

• The Korean Journal of Nuclear Medicine
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• v.29 no.3
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• pp.307-312
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• 1995

The present study has been carried out to assess the diagnostic usefulness of radioaerosol lung scan in complete bronchial obstruction (n=7) and bronchial narrowing (n=1) of varying causes. $^{99m}Tc$-phytate lung scan was performed using the aerosol generated by a BARC nebulizer. Scan alterations were correlated with those of chest radiography, bronchography, lung CT and/or brochoscopy. In every case scan showed characteristic intense deposition of radioaerosol in a short slightly dilated, bronchial segment immediately proximal to obstruction or stenosis. Characteristically it was accompanied by an airspace aerosol deposition defect distally. The finding of a short, clubbed, bronchial radioaerosol deposition with distal airspace defect is a sensitive, specific indicator of bronchial obstruction or stenosis. It was especially useful in the detection of the obstruction of a small bronchus at the lobar and sublobar levels. We propose to name it the prestenotic aerosol deposition sign.

• Journal of Biomedical Engineering Research
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• v.18 no.3
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• pp.301-306
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• 1997

Surgical removal of hepatic cancerous tissues have been widely performed due to its early detection. However, a patient can not survive if excessive hepatic tissues were removed. Therefore, quantitative evaluation of remaining hepatic function after surgery is a really important factor for surgeon. the currently used ICG Rmax and Lidocaine clearance tests have disadvantages such as tedium, complexity, and inability to estimate remaining hepatic function after surgery. While HEF has advantages such as simplicity, quickness, nonivasiveness, and quantification, its reliability has been doubtful. Thus, the program for calculation of HEF has been developed from serial gamma camera image data. And we compared the reliability of HEF with ICG Rmax and Lidocaine clearance test using 6normal and 18 abnormal rabbits with damaged livers. The correlation coefficient of HEF to ICG Rmax and MEGX was 0.91, 0.94, respectively. I was also found that the HEFs of normal and abnormal hepatic tissues was higher than 100% and lower than 80%, respectively. Thus we confirmed that HEF can be a good indicator distinguishing between abnormal tissues and normal ones. Finally, we could conclude that patients would survive if both the pre-and the post-operative HEF were greater than 60%.

• Journal of Sensor Science and Technology
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• v.20 no.4
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• pp.266-271
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• 2011

A reflection-type fiber-optic pH sensor, which is composed of a pH sol-gel film, plastic optical fibers, a mirror, a light source and a spectrometer, is developed in this study. As pH indicators, a bromthymol blue, a cresol red and a thymol blue are used, and they are immobilized in the sol-gel films. The emitted light from a light source is guided by a fiber-optic Y-coupler and plastic optical fibers to the pH sol-gel film in a pH sensing probe. The pH change in the sensing probe gives rise to a change in the color of the pH sol-gel film, and the optical characteristic of reflected light through the pH sol-gel film is also changed. Therefore, we have measured the spectra of reflected lights, which are changed according to the color variations of the pH sol-gel films with different pH values, by using of a spectrometer. Also, the relationships between the pH values and the intensities of reflected lights are obtained on the basis of the color variations of the pH sol-gel films.