• KIPS Transactions on Software and Data Engineering
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• v.3 no.6
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• pp.231-236
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• 2014

The transit time of contrast agents and the parameters of time-intensity curves in ultrasonography are important factors to diagnose various diseases of a digestive organ. We have implemented an automatic parametric imaging method to overcome the difficulty of the diagnosis by naked eyes. However, the micro-bubble noise and the respiratory motions may degrade the reliability of the parameter images. In this paper, we introduce an optimization technique based on MRF(Markov Random Field) model to enhance the quality of the parameter images, and present an image tracking algorithm to compensate the image distortion by respiratory motions. A method to extract the respiration periods from the ultrasound image sequence has been developed. We have implemented the ROI(Region of Interest) tracking algorithm using the dynamic weights and a momentum factor based on these periods. An energy function is defined for the Gibbs sampler of the image enhancement method. Through the experiments using the data to diagnose liver lesions, we have shown that the proposed method improves the quality of the parametric images.

• Journal of Biomedical Engineering Research
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• v.20 no.2
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• pp.199-204
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• 1999

As the correct measuring of the light dosimetry in biological tissues give the important affection to the effect of PDT treatment we used Monte Carlo simulation to measure the light dosimetry on this study. The parameters using in experiments are the optical properties of the real biological tissue, and we used Henyey-Greenstein phase function among the phase functions. As we results, we displayed the result the change of Fluence rate and the difference against the previous theory was at least 0.35%. Biological tissues using in experiment were Human tissue, pig tissue, rat liver tissue and rabbit muscle tissue. The most of biological tissue have big scattering coefficient in visible wavelength which influences penetration depth. The penetration depth of human tissue in visible region is 1.5~2cm. We showed that it is possible to measure fluence rate and penetration depth within the biological tissues by Monte Carlo simulation very well.

• Advances in nano research
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• v.4 no.3
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• pp.167-179
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• 2016

The detailed study of acute and sub-acute toxicity of the complex polyvinylpyrrolidon (PVP 20 kDa)-wrapped fullerene $C_{60}$ after intraperitoneal (ip) administration was carried out on adult male Wistar rats. The $LD_{50}$ value of $C_{60}/PVP$ complex was found to be 7, 8 g/kg. In sub-acute study which lasted for 30 days the rats were exposed to daily administration of the complex in the doses of 350 or 700 mg/kg. All animals survived during the study and had no significant changes in clinical signs, organ weight, hematological and biochemical parameters of blood. The electrophysiological properties of myocardium and the excretory function of kidneys remained normal. Histological analysis of liver, kidney and spleen at the end of the study also did not demonstrate toxic alterations. It was thus established that intraperitoneal administration of complex $C_{60}/PVP$ has no toxic effect. These results suggest that $C_{60}/PVP$ has no acute and sub-acute toxicity and is a perspective substance for potential application in biology and medicine.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.21 no.3
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• pp.626-633
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• 2007

To access the safety and efficacy of Chungyeoldodam-tang(CDT), a traditional herbal medicine prescription, on hypertension we examined various parameters involved in the pathogenesis of hypertension. CDT seems to be safe because CDT at the concentrations lower that 250 ug/ml showed no toxic effects in cultured human fibroblast and no toxic effects on liver function. The production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) were greatly decreased in CDT treated group compared with control, and angiotensin converting enzyme activities were reduced by CDT in a dose dependent manner. There was no differences in weight of hearts between control and CDT treated group. The blood pressure and pulse rate were significantly decreased. CDT greatly reduced the levels of plasma hormones including aldosterone, dopamine, and norepinephrine, but not epinephrine, and serum electrocytes including Na$^+$ and Cl$^-$, but not K$^+$. were also decreased. The levels of uric acid, BUN and creatinine were significantly decreased compared with control. These results suggested that CDT has suppressive effects on various pathologic factors in hypertension, and CDT has potential as a safe and effective therapeutics for hypertension.

• Journal of Korean Medicine for Obesity Research
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• v.19 no.1
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• pp.79-87
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• 2019

Although there has been many studies about the co-administration of herb formula and western medicine, there is none about obesity. The aim of this study was to report the effects of co-administration of herb formula containing ephedra sinica and lorcaserin on two obese patients for about 2~4 months. During the treatment, we checked body weight and body composition, and collected blood samples to evaluate liver, kidney, thyroid function and lipid profile. This treatment not only decreased body weight but also improved body composition and lipid profile in both patients. There was no hepatic or renal toxicity, nor any serious side effects of treatment. This study demonstrated that co-administration of herb formula containing ephedra sinica and lorcaserin is a safe and effective therapy to lose weight and improve metabolic parameters for obese patients. Further large-scale clinical trials are needed to evaluate the anti-obesity effect of the combination of herbal and western medicines.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.43 no.3
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• pp.444-450
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• 2022

Objectives: The aim of this study was to identify the effects of herbal medicine on the clinical symptoms and abnormal blood tests of a patient with myelodysplastic syndrome. Methods: A 64-year-old woman diagnosed with myelodysplastic syndrome in 2020 was prescribed Bojungikgi-tang-gagambang from January 6, 2022 to June 22, 2022 to reduce bleeding tendency and frequent defecation and to improve laboratory findings, such as platelet count. We observed changes in the symptoms and improvement of laboratory findings after six months of treatment. Results: In this study, approximately six months of treatment with Bojungikgi-tang-gagambang showed considerable improvement in laboratory findings and clinical symptoms, especially frequent defecation, petechiae, and gum bleeding, compared to the baseline parameters of the first visit. Also, no adverse effects, such as liver injury or decreased kidney function, were observed during herbal medicine treatment. Conclusion: This study suggests the availability of herbal medicine as a therapeutic option for managing patients with myelodysplastic syndrome.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.45 no.2
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• pp.323-333
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• 2024

Objectives: This case report describes the effect of complex Korean medical treatment on the clinical symptoms of a patient with fibromyalgia syndrome (FMS). Methods: A 60-year-old female woman diagnosed with FMS in 2015 was prescribed Youngsunjaetong-em-hap-Sopunghwalhyeol-tang from 2 May 2023 to 20 June 2023 to reduce excessive sweating and widespread pain. With the same objective, acupuncture, moxibustion, and cupping treatment were administered from 23 May 2023 to 11 June 2023. Changes in excessive sweating and widespread pain were recorded 2 months post-treatment. Results: Treatment with Youngsunjaetong-em-hap-Sopunghwalhyeol-tang led to a considerable improvement in clinical symptoms after 2 months, especially excessive sweating and widespread pain compared to the baseline parameters of the first visit. In addition, no adverse effects, such as liver injury or decreased kidney function, were recorded during the herbal medicine treatment. Conclusion: This case report points to the use of complex Korean medical treatment as a therapeutic option for the management of FMS.

• Korean Journal of Clinical Laboratory Science
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• v.49 no.3
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• pp.263-270
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• 2017

This study was conducted to investigate the dietary supplementation of fruiting body of Hericium erinaceus (HE) mushroom on lipid profiles of serum and histological changes of the liver in rats with high fat and cholesterol diet. Five-week old female Sprague-Dawley albino rats were divided into three groups of 8 rats each: The normal control diet (NC group), high fat and cholesterol diet (HFC group), and HFC diet supplemented with 5% fruiting powder of Hericium erinaceus (HFC+HE group). In the HFC+HE group, serum total cholesterol, low density lipoprotein, and triglyceride concentrations were significantly reduced compared with the NC group. Body weight gain of those in the HFC+HE group were lower than those in the HFC group; whereas HFC+HE had no effect on the levels of plasma albumin, creatinine, blood urea nitrogen, uric acid, glucose, and total protein. The enzyme activities related to the liver function, such as aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), and, alkaline phosphatase (ALP), were lower in the NC group than in the HFC group, but without significance. Feeding the mushroom increased the excretion of total lipid and cholesterol. A histopathological analysis showed that the those in the HFC group developed hepatic steatosis, whereas those in the HFC+HE group developed small fat droplet. In conclusion, these results suggest that 5% HE supplementation to HFC diet provided health benefits by acting on lowering atherogenic lipid profile in rats with high fat and cholesterol diet.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.33 no.7
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• pp.1156-1166
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• 2020

Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of compound organic acid calcium (COAC) on growth performance, hepatic antioxidant status and intestinal barrier of male broilers under high ambient temperature (32.7℃). Methods: Nine hundred healthy one-d-old Cobb-500 male broiler chicks were randomly assigned into three groups with six replicates of 50 birds each. A basal diet supplemented with 0% (control), 0.4% and 0.8% COAC, respectively were fed to birds for 6 weeks. All treatments were under high ambient indoor temperature of 32.7℃, and had a constant calcium and available phosphorus ratio. Results: The results showed that, compared with control, the average daily gain of broilers in 0.4% and 0.8% was significantly increased and the ratio of feed to gain in in 0.4% and 0.8% was significantly decreased at 1 to 21, 22 to 42 and 1 to 42 days of age (p<0.05). Compared with control, 0.8% COAC slightly decreased (p = 0.093) the content of malondialdehyde in liver at 42 days of age while 0.4% COAC significantly decreased (p<0.05) the activity of alkaline phosphatase. Furthermore, 0.4% COAC significantly enhanced the intestinal barrier function via increasing jejunal and ileal ocln transcription, promoting jejunal mucin 2 transcription at 42 days of age (p<0.05), and decreasing jejunal toll-like receptor 2 (TLR-2) and ileal TLR-15, inducible nitric oxide synthase compared with control group (p<0.05). Whereas, no significant differences on the transcription of interleukin-1β in jejunum and ileum were observed among three treatments (p>0.05). Overall, heat stress caused by high natural environment temperature may induce the damage to hepatic antioxidation and intestinal barrier. Conclusion: Dietary inclusion of COAC can improve the tolerance of broilers to thermal environment through the modification of antioxidative parameters in liver and the mRNA expression of genes in intestinal barrier, resulting in an optimal inclusion level of 0.4%.

• Toxicological Research
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• v.20 no.3
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• pp.195-203
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• 2004

4-Tert-Octylphenol (OP) is a surfactant additive widely used in the manufacture of a variety of detergents and plastic products. OP can disrupt endocrine function in humans and animals. This study was carried out to obtain toxicokinetic parameters of OP in male Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats. Male rats were administered with OP by single oral application of 200 mg/kg body weight. Blood, urine and tissues samples were taken at several time intervals after administration. Analysis of samples for OP was performed by column-switching high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). In addition, we exam-ined tissue distribution and accumulation of OP after single oral application of 50, 100, and 200 mg/kg, single intravenous injection of 1, 5 and 10 mg/kg or daily application of 50 mg/kg for 14 consecutive days. After single oral administration of 200 mg/kg, Cmax of 213 $\pm$ 123 ng/ml was reached within the first 1.3 hr (Tmax) in the plasma. AUC was calculated for 1,333$\pm$484 ngㆍhr/ml. The final elimination half-life of plasma was longer than that of urine, but urinary clearance was lower than oral. A very small fraction of OP (Fe < 0.0017%) was excreted in urine within 24 hr. These results indicated that the major excretion route of OP was not urine. The mean maximal tissue distribution of OP was obserbed at 6 hr after treatment and slowly decreased time-dependently. High OP concentrations were detected in fat at 24 hr. The OP in fat was slowly released with longer elimination half-life and lower clearance than that of other tissues. OP was not accumulated in the liver following single oral application but 14-day oral treatments resulted in two-fold accumulation. It was probably due to the saturation of detoxification pathways. On the other hand, the mRNA expression of cytochrome P450 isoforms except CYP2C11 was not affected by OP at any dose. The expression of CYP2C11 mRNA decreased in a dose-dependent manner. This result suggests that OP changes expression of the male-specific cytochrome P450 isoforms in rat liver, and these changes are closely related to the toxic and estrogenic effect of OP.