• BLOOD RESEARCH
• /
• v.53 no.4
• /
• pp.299-306
• /
• 2018

Background IgG-mediated anaphylaxis occurs after infusion of certain monoclonal antibody-based therapeutics. New in vitro tests are urgently needed to diagnose such reactions. We investigated whether allergens trigger neutrophil oxidative burst (OB) and if neutrophil OB occurs due to allergen-specific IgG (sIgG). Methods Neutrophil OB was measured by dihydrorhodamine 123 flow cytometry using a leukocyte suspension spiked with a very small patch of the allergen crude extract, Dermatophagoides farinae (Der f). The mean fluorescence intensity ratio of stimulated to unstimulated samples was calculated as the neutrophil oxidative index (NOI). Results The Der f-specific NOI (Der f-sNOI) showed a time-dependent increase after Der f extract addition. At 15 min activation, higher Der f-sIgG levels were associated with lower Der f-sNOI values in 31 subjects (P<0.05). This inverse relationship occurs due to the initial blocking effect of free Der f-sIgG. Additionally, neutrophil OB was nearly absent (Der f-sNOI of -1) in two cases: a subject with undetectable Der f-sIgG levels and washed leukocyte suspensions deprived of Der f-sIgG. Conclusion Allergens can trigger neutrophil OB via preexisting allergen-sIgG. Neutrophil OB can be easily measured in a leukocyte suspension spiked with the allergen. This assay can be used to diagnose IgG-mediated anaphylaxis.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
• /
• v.15 no.20
• /
• pp.8699-8703
• /
• 2014

18-fluoro-2-deoxyglucose positron emission tomography-computed tomography ($^{18}F$-FDG PET/CT) scans are commonly used for the staging and restaging of various malignancies, such as head and neck, breast, colorectal and gynecological cancers. However, the value of FDG PET/CT for detecting prostate cancer is unknown. The aim of this study was to evaluate the clinical value of incidental prostate $^{18}F$-FDG uptake on PET/CT scans. We reviewed $^{18}F$-FDG PET/CT scan reports from September 2009 to September 2013, and selected cases that reported focal/diffuse FDG uptake in the prostate. We analyzed the correlation between $^{18}F$-FDG PET/CT scan findings and data collected during evaluations such as serum prostate-specific antigen (PSA) levels, digital rectal examination (DRE), transrectal ultrasound (TRUS), and/or biopsy to confirm prostate cancer. Of a total of 18,393 cases, 106 (0.6%) exhibited abnormal hypermetabolism in the prostate. Additional evaluations were performed in 66 patients. Serum PSA levels were not significantly correlated with maximum standardized uptake values (SUVmax) in all patients (rho 0.483, p=0.132). Prostate biopsies were performed in 15 patients, and prostate cancer was confirmed in 11. The median serum PSA level was 4.8 (0.55-7.06) ng/mL and 127.4 (1.06-495) ng/mL in the benign and prostate cancer groups, respectively. The median SUVmax was higher in the prostate cancer group (mean 10.1, range 3.8-24.5) than in the benign group (mean 4.3, range 3.1-8.8), but the difference was not statistically significant (p=0.078). There was no significant correlation between SUVmax and serum PSA, prostatic volume, or Gleason score. $^{18}F$-FDG PET/CT scans did not reliably differentiate malignant or benign from abnormal uptake lesions in the prostate, and routine prostate biopsy was not usually recommended in patients with abnormal FDG uptake. Nevertheless, patients with incidental prostate uptake on $^{18}F$-FDG PET/CT scans should not be ignored and should be undergo further clinical evaluations, such as PSA and DRE.

• Journal of radiological science and technology
• /
• v.32 no.2
• /
• pp.183-194
• /
• 2009

Purpose : This study was performed not only to compare the brain activation regions associated with sexual arousal induced by visual stimulation and SP6 acupuncture, but also to evaluate its differential neuro-anatomical mechanism in healthy women using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) at 3 Tesla (T). Subjects and methods : A total of 21 healthy right-handed female volunteers (mean age 22 years, range 19 to 32) underwent fMRI on a 3T MR scanner. The stimulation paradigm for sexual arousal consisted of two alternating periods of rest and activation. It began with a 1-minute rest period, 3 minutes of stimulation with either of an erotic video film or SP6 acupuncture, followed by 1-minute rest. In addition, a comparative study on the brain activation patterns between an acupoint and a shampoint nearby GB37 was performed. The fMRI data were obtained from 20 slices parallel to the AC-PC line on an axial plane, giving a total of 2,000 images. The mean activation maps were constructed and analyzed by using the statistical parametric mapping (SPM99) software. Results : As comparison with the shampoint, the acupoint showed 5 times and 2 times higher activities in the neocortex and limbic system, respectively. Note that brain activation in response to stimulation with the shampoint was not observed in the regions including the HTHL in the diencephalon, GLO and AMYG in the basal ganglia, and SMG in the parietal lobe. In the comparative study of visual stimulation vs. SP6 acupuncture, the mean activation ratio of stimulus was not significantly different to each other in both the neocortex and the limbic system (p < 0.05). The mean activities induced by both stimuli were not significantly different in the neocortex, whereas the acupunctural stimulation showed higher activity in the limbic system (p < 0.05). Conclusions : This study compared the differential brain activation patterns and the neural mechanisms for sexual arousal, which were induced by visual stimulation and SP6 acupuncture by using 3T fMRI. These findings will be useful to understand the theory of traditional acupuncture and acupoint channel in scientific point of view.

• Research in Community and Public Health Nursing
• /
• v.15 no.4
• /
• pp.608-617
• /
• 2004

Purpose: This study was to investigate family functioning, self-concept and health promotion behavior of elementary school students and to find out the correlation among these variables. Method: The subjects were 277 students who participated voluntarily in the questionnaire. The instrument used in this study was family APGAR, self-concept and health promotion behavior tool. The data were collected from May 18th to 21st, 2004 with a self-administered questionnaire, using frequency, percentage, t-test, ANOVA, Pearson correlation coefficient and stepwise multiple regression with SPSS 10.0 win. Results: 1) The mean score of health promotion behavior by general characteristics was significant in educational status of mother (F=5.352, p=0.005), living standard (F=9.646, p=0.000) and perceived health status (F=8.349, p=0.000). 2) The mean score of family functioning was 3.57 (5 point scale), self-concept was 3.47 (5 point scale) and health promotion behavior was 3.67 (5 point scale). 3) In the relationship between family functioning and self-concept was correlated (r=.547), family functioning and health promotion behavior was correlated (r=.518) and self-concept and health promotion behavior was correlated (r=.670). 4) The most influencing variable was self-concept, accounting for 43% in stepwise multiple regression. A combination of self-concept, family functioning and perceived health status explained 47% of the variance for health promoting behavior. Conclusion: Considering the results above, we can recognize that there are close relations among the family functioning, self-concept and health promotion behavior. Therefore, it is necessary to elevate the level of self-concept and family functioning in order to get health promotion behavior of the elementary school students.

• International Journal of Reliability and Applications
• /
• v.7 no.2
• /
• pp.177-186
• /
• 2006

Typical confidence intervals for a mean or mean residual life (MRL) are centered about the mean or mean residual life. We discuss novel confidence intervals that produce statements like "we are 95% confident that the MRL function, e(t), is greater than a prespecified $\mu_o$ for all t in the interval [0, $\hat{\theta})$)" where $\hat{\theta}$ is determined from the sample data, confidence level, and $\mu_o$. Also, we can have statements like 'we are 95% confident that the MRL of population 1, namely $e_1$(t), is greater than the MRL of population 2, $e_2$(t), for all t in the interval [0, $\hat{\theta}$)" where $\hat{\theta}$ is determined from the sample data and confidence level. We illustrate these one and two sample confidence intervals on internal bonds (tensile strengths) for an important modem engineered wood product, called medium density fiberboard (MDF), used internationally.

• Radiation Oncology Journal
• /
• v.36 no.2
• /
• pp.122-128
• /
• 2018

Purpose: To investigate positional uncertainty and its correlation with clinical parameters in spine stereotactic body radiotherapy (SBRT) using thermoplastic mask (TM) immobilization. Materials and Methods: A total of 21 patients who underwent spine SBRT for cervical or upper thoracic spinal lesions were retrospectively analyzed. All patients were treated with image guidance using cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) and 4 degrees-of-freedom (DoF) positional correction. Initial, pre-treatment, and post-treatment CBCTs were analyzed. Setup error (SE), pre-treatment residual error (preRE), post-treatment residual error (postRE), intrafraction motion before treatment (IM1), and intrafraction motion during treatment (IM2) were determined from 6 DoF manual rigid registration. Results: The three-dimensional (3D) magnitudes of translational uncertainties (mean ${\pm}$ 2 standard deviation) were $3.7{\pm}3.5mm$ (SE), $0.9{\pm}0.9mm$ (preRE), $1.2{\pm}1.5mm$ (postRE), $1.4{\pm}2.4mm$ (IM1), and $0.9{\pm}1.0mm$ (IM2), and average angular differences were $1.1^{\circ}{\pm}1.2^{\circ}$ (SE), $0.9^{\circ}{\pm}1.1^{\circ}$ (preRE), $0.9^{\circ}{\pm}1.1^{\circ}$ (postRE), $0.6^{\circ}{\pm}0.9^{\circ}$ (IM1), and $0.5^{\circ}{\pm}0.5^{\circ}$ (IM2). The 3D magnitude of SE, preRE, postRE, IM1, and IM2 exceeded 2 mm in 18, 0, 3, 3, and 1 patients, respectively. No association were found between all positional uncertainties and body mass index, pain score, and treatment location (p > 0.05, Mann-Whitney test). There was a tendency of intrafraction motion to increase with overall treatment time; however, the correlation was not statistically significant (p > 0.05, Spearman rank correlation test). Conclusion: In spine SBRT using TM immobilization, CBCT and 4 DoF alignment correction, a minimum residual translational uncertainty was 2 mm. Shortening overall treatment time and 6 DoF positional correction may further reduce positional uncertainties.

• Journal of muscle and joint health
• /
• v.7 no.1
• /
• pp.5-24
• /
• 2000

Middle age for women is one of the most important stages of the whole normal life span and has unique problems concerning the psychological and physical health, specifically degenerative musculoskeletal diseases. Therefore middle age women should prepare in order to lead a healthy and fruitful life as they enter/begin old age. As the population of middle age women increase, the demands of nurses who care for this age group also continue to glow. Nurses must be interested in this middle age group of women in Korea. This study was designed to identify the extent of family support and self-esteem of the middle age women with degenerative musculoskeletal diseases and the relationship between them and nurse's contribution to middle age women's health promotion that maintain and promote qualify of her life. The population of this study was 112 women aged 40-60, attending the out patient clinic one University Hospital and one Hospital, in Pusan. The data was collected from 1st August to the 30th of September, 1998 by using 36 items questionnaire. The instrument used for measuring family support was of Chai's(1983) FSS which was modified by Kang's(1984) Family Support Scale. And that for self-esteem was Rosenberg's(1965) Self-esteem Scale. The reliability of Chai's FSS and Rosenberg's instruments were tested by Cronbach's alpha and showed that they were 0.93 and 0.89 each respectively. Data was analyzed by descriptive statistics, t-test, ANOVA, and Pearson's Correlation Coefficient using the SPSS computer program. The results of the study were summarized as follows : 1. The mean score of the perceived family support was $39.31{\pm}9.42$. 2. The mean score of the perceived self-esteem was $33.16{\pm}6.75$. 3. Statistically significant factors influencing the family support among sociodemographic variables was satisfaction of marriage(F=-3.069, p<0.003). 4. Statistically significant factors influencing the self-esteem among sociodemographic variables were age(F=3.992, p=0.000), education(F=2.260, P=0.026), housing (F=-1.987, P=0.049) and satisfaction of marriage(F=-2.305, P=0.023). 5. There was a significant correlation between family support and self-esteem (r=.621, p<.000). In conclusion, perceived the family support was important for middle age women to increase their self-esteem. Nurses should be aware of the necessity of family support in the supportive nursing of middle age women and should be able to make a plan to educate the family about supporting the wife/mother. The continuing study of the health promotion of middle age women to find out variables influencing middle age women' health must continue.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Fisheries and Ocean Technology
• /
• v.48 no.2
• /
• pp.118-127
• /
• 2012

The reproductive ecology of the glowbelly, $Acropoma$ $japonicum$ was examined using 637 specimens collected monthly from January to December 2006 in the coastal waters off Gori, Korea. The specimens ranged in standard length (cm, SL) from 2.9 to 11.4cm for female, 2.7 to 10.5cm for male. The gonadosomatic index (GSI) of female was highest in September and decreased until December, and the spawning season lasted from August to November. The monthly sex was not different significantly ($x^2$-test, p>0.05). The size at 50% maturity was estimated at 6.0cm SL. $A.$ $japonicum$ was multiple spawner that spawn on more than one occasion in a single spawning season, and the maximum egg diameter was 0.75mm. Fecundity (F) ranged from 12,052 to 104,246 eggs, with the mean of 38,321 eggs. The relationships between fecundity and standard length (cm, SL), body weight (g, BW) were estimated as $F=86.278SL^{2.9652}$ ($R^2$=0.7970) and $F=3036BW^{1.0081}$ ($R^2$=0.7992), respectively.

• Korean Journal of Human Ecology
• /
• v.19 no.4
• /
• pp.655-665
• /
• 2010

This study analyzed the effects of skinny jean on women's health by questionnaire survey and measuring the pressure experienced under the clothing and participants' subjective view of the pressure level. The average size women in their 20s' waists is 26 inches and so three pairs of jeans were prepared and worn by 4 female participants. A survey was conducted to investigate how often participants wear skinny jeans and whether they had had any feelings of discomfort as a result of this. Participants responded that they hadexperienced middle to high levels of discomfort due to the high pressure inside skinny jeans. For the maximum value of clothing pressures, jean f2 at the part of buttocks showed $48.7gf/cm^2$. The pressure inside the clothing was found to be highest around the buttocks followed by the knees and finally the belly. The mean values of 7 measuring parts are different according to the jean type; f3 $20.8gf/cm^2$ > f2 $16.4gf/cm^2$ > f1 $15.5gf/cm^2$, which is corresponding to the order of pressure sensation, but not corresponding to the order of ease amount of clothing pattern: f2 > f3 > f1. Mean pressure values were also measured according to the body posture: they were found to by highest when sitting on a chair (21.3gf/$cm^2$), second highest when sitting on the floor ($19.2gf/cm^2$) and lowest when standing ($15.0gf/cm^2$). This is not always same to the order of participants subjective perceptions of the pressure, which is, they estimated pressure to be highest when sitting on the floor followed by sitting on a chair and lowest in a standing position.

• Animal cells and systems
• /
• v.9 no.1
• /
• pp.27-35
• /
• 2005

Bupleurum euphorbioides is isolated and restricted to high mountains in Korea northeastern China. Its conservation depends on whether it is threatened by inbreeding or a loss of genetic diversity. We compared the genetic variability in B. euphorbioides with B. longiradiatum, a widespread congener, to understand how they differ in their population genetic structure. Although B. euphorbioides showed a little lower genetic variability than B. longiradiatum, $F_{IS}$ statistics for most loci were strongly positive in both B. euphorbioides (0.445) and B. longiradiatum (0.553). In addition, B. euphorbioides showed higher mean $F_{ST}$ value than B. longiradiatum (0.297 vs 0.194). It might be due to the polycarpic nature of B. longiradiatum, which holds higher genetic potentials effectively in homogeneous environment than the monocarpic B. euphorbioides. The results suggested that B. euphorbioides is a genetically viable species, and that they are threatened primarily by environmental factor.