• Journal of the korean academy of Pediatric Dentistry
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• v.42 no.1
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• pp.102-111
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• 2015

Due to the rapid advancements in detection technologies, saliva has the potential to become a first-line diagnostic sample of choice in the fields of medicine and dentistry. Saliva has many useful advantages to serum. Simple, non-invasive and cost-effective approaches can be made possible for the screening of large populations. There is minimal risk of infections during sample collection and saliva can be used in clinically challenging situations, such as obtaining samples from children, or disabled or anxious patients. This review examines the diagnostic application of saliva and provides a summary of recent research advancement.

• The Transactions of The Korean Institute of Electrical Engineers
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• v.59 no.12
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• pp.2349-2351
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• 2010

Photo Acoustic Tomography (PAT) is a hybrid imaging modality which combines high contrast of optical imaging and spatial resolution of ultrasound imaging, thus it is suitable to image biological tissue noninvasively. Laser-induced photoacoustic signals were measured from a sample by means of an unfocused ultrasound transducer, then PAT image was reconstructed based on a universal back-projection algorithm. To evaluate the feasibility of our system, phantom test was performed, consequently, the PAT images obtained using our system showed highly analogous shape and volume with those of the phantom. This result demonstrated that our system can provide a powerful tool for imaging the substructure of biological tissue in non-invasive manner.

• The Transactions of The Korean Institute of Electrical Engineers
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• v.61 no.4
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• pp.639-642
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• 2012

Optical coherence tomography(OCT) can provide real-time and non-invasive subsurface imaging with ultra-high resolution of micrometer scale. However, conventional OCT systems generally have a limited imaging depth range within a depth of only 1-2 mm. To overcome the limitation, we have proposed an active surface tracking algorithm used in common-path Fourier-domain OCT system in order to extend the imaging depth range. The surface tracking algorithm based on the threshold and Savitzky-Golay filter of A-scan data was applied to real-time tracking. The algorithm has controlled a moving stage according to the sample's surface variance in real time. An OCT image obtained by the algorithm clearly show an extended imaging depth range. Consequently, the proposed algorithm demonstrated the potential for improving the conventional OCT systems with limitary depth range.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.16 no.5
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• pp.1929-1934
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• 2015

Purpose: To determine the diagnostic yield of primary circulating tumor cells in women with suspicion of breast cancer, detected as a result of an abnormal mammography. Materials and Methods: Consecutive women presenting for breast biopsy as a result of a mammogram BiRADs of 3 or more, had an 8ml blood sample taken for primary circulating tumor cell (CTC) detection. Mononuclear cells were obtained using differential gel centrifugation and CTCs identified using standard immunocytochemistry using anti-mammoglobin. A test was determined to be positive if 1 CTC was detected. Results: A total of 144 women with a mean age of $54.7{\pm}15.6$ years participated, 78/144 (53.0%) had breast cancer on biopsy, 65/140 (46.3%) benign pathologies and 1(0.7%) non-Hogkins lymphoma. Increasing BiRADs scores were associated with increased cancer detection (p=0.004, RR 1.00, 4.24, 8.50). CTC mammoglobin positive had a sensitivity of 81.1% and specificity of 90.9%, with positive and negative predictive values of 90.9% and 81.1% respectively. Mammoglobin positive CTCs detected 87% of invasive cancers, while poorly differentiated cancers were negative for mammoglobin. Only 50% of in situ cancers and none of the intraductal cancers had CTCs detected. Menopausal status did not affect the diagnostic yield of the CTC test, which was higher in women with BiRADS 4 mammograms. There was a significant trend (p<0.0001 Chi squared for trends) in CTC detection frequency from intraductal, in situ and invasive (OR 1.00, 8.00, 472.00). Conclusions: The use of primary CTC detection in women suspected of breast cancer has potential uses, especially with invasive cancer, but it failed to detect intra-ductal cancer and 50% of in situ cancer. There was no difference in the diagnostic yield between pre and post menopausal women. To confirm its use in reducing biopsies in women with BIRADs 4a mammagrams and in the detection of interval invasive breast cancer, larger studies are needed.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.17 no.3
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• pp.1347-1350
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• 2016

Background: Breast cancer prognosis is influenced by several histopathology and clinical factors including expression of Ki67 which may have a predictive role in lymph node negative breast cancer patients. The aim of this study was to assess Ki67 expression in breast cancers without axillary lymph node involvement and to evaluate its prognostic value with regard to disease-free survival. Materials and Methods: Subjects were selected from non-metastatic invasive breast cancer patients who were referred to the oncology department of Ghaem hospital during 1 April 2001 to 1 April 2008. Ki67 levels were measured using immunohistochemistry (IHC) and compared with clinicopathological features. The relation of Ki67 expression with disease-free survival was also analysed. Results: A total of 106 women with a mean age of 49 were examined. Some 94.3% were classified as having invasive ductal carcinomas and the mean tumour diameter at the time of diagnosis was 2.8 cm. Some 50.9% of cases were ER positive and 47.2% were PR positive. P53 expression was positive in 48.1% of the cases. According to the IHC results, only 8.5% of the patients were Her2/neu positive. Ki67 was positive in 66 (62.3%) with a significant relation to lower age (p=0.0229) and P53 positivity (p=0.005). After an average of 40-months follow up, 13 (12.3%) demonstrated recurrence, most commonly systemic. Of 13 cases with relapse, 10 patients (77%) were Ki67 positive. Conclusions: In our population Ki67 appeared to be an independent prognostic factor for three-year survival. However, we stress that a survival study with a bigger sample size would help to support this conclusion.

• Journal of Oral Medicine and Pain
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• v.46 no.2
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• pp.21-32
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• 2021

Purpose: The purpose of the present study was to investigate the correlation between age and 34 radiomorphometric parameters on panoramic radiographs, and to provide generalized linear models (GLMs) as a non-invasive, inexpensive, and accurate method to the forensic judgement of living individual's age. Methods: The study included 417 digital panoramic radiographs of Korean individuals (178 males and 239 females, mean age: 32.57±17.81 years). Considering the skeletal differences between the sexes, GLMs were obtained separately according to sex, as well as across the total sample. For statistical analysis and to predict the accuracy of the new GLMs, root mean squared error (RMSE) and adjusted R-squared (R²) were calculated. Results: The adjusted R²-values of the developed GLMs in the total sample, and male and female groups were 0.623, 0.637, and 0.660, respectively (p<0.001), while the allowable RMSE values were 8.80, 8.42, and 8.53 years, respectively. In the GLM of the total sample, the most influential predictor of greater age was decreased pulp area in the #36 first molar (beta=-26.52; p<0.01), followed by the presence of periodontitis (beta=10.24; p<0.01). In males, the most influential factor was the presence of periodontitis (beta=9.20; p<0.05), followed by the number of full veneer crowns (beta=2.19; p<0.001). In females, the most influential predictor was the presence of periodontitis (beta=18.10; p<0.001), followed by the tooth area of the #16 first molar (beta=-11.57; p<0.001). Conclusions: We established acceptable GLM for each sex and found out the predictors necessary to age estimation which can be easily found in panoramic radiographs. Our study provides reference that parameters such as the area of tooth and pulp, the number of teeth treated, and the presence of periodontitis should be considered in estimating age.

• Biomedical Science Letters
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• v.27 no.1
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• pp.28-34
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• 2021

The main cause of cervical cancer is a persistent infection with high-risk human papillomavirus (HR-HPV). Cervical cancer is reported as a preventable cancer in more than 80% of cases with early diagnosis and appropriate treatment. Papanicolaou test (Pap test) has been a global strategy to prevent cervical cancer, and recently, HPV test has been reported to be effective against cervical cancer and precancerous lesions. However, pelvic examinations give patients anxiety, discomfort, pain, distress, and psychological stress. HPV test via a urine sample caused less physical and psychological stress and more advantage than the Pap test. Therefore, it is necessary to study the usefulness of the HPV test for easy-to-collect urine samples. A total of 220 samples were collected from a pair of cervical and urine samples from 110 women and only 108 pairs of samples out of 110 were used because 2 cases were not amplified by β-globin. Among 108 pairs of cervical and urine samples, the prevalence of HPV was 37.0% (40/108) in cervical samples, 34.3% (37/108) in urine samples and HR-HPV was 22.2% (24/108) in cervical samples, 18.5% (20/108) in urine samples. In this study, urine samples showed a lower positive rate of HPV than cervical samples. There were many variables that could affect the condition of the urine sample. However, the HR-HPV agreement rate of the cervix and urine samples was 94.44% and the Kappa value was 0.823, which was "almost perfect". Through these results showed the significance of cervical cancer screening using a urine sample. Cervical screening is crucial, as cervical cancer can be prevented in more than 90% of cases. Urine samples collected by non-invasive methods may have the potential advantage of increasing acceptance of cervical cancer screening. Therefore, it is necessary to develop a new cervical cancer screening strategy using urine samples through further study based on the results of this study.

• Journal of Biomedical Engineering Research
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• v.37 no.5
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• pp.178-185
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• 2016

Tear is a promising biological fluid for non-invasive health monitoring. It has been studied in the past to be a possible candidate for the diagnosis of certain systemic diseases, such as breast cancer, multiple sclerosis, prostate cancer, and diabetes. However, currently existing methods for collecting and extracting tear from the human eye causes inconsistencies in the biomolecule concentrations of the tear sample due to the irritating nature of the process. In response, we designed and fabricated a microfluidic system embedded soft contact-lens for the purpose of tear sampling. The lens was then tested with artificial tear for its tear sampling capability, and found to be able to find concentration equilibrium within 50 minutes. Additionally, simulation was carried out to further optimize the design so that tear sampling rate matched the natural tear turn-over rate of 1 microliter per minute.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.29 no.3
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• pp.35-42
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• 2003

Nitric Oxide(NO) is produced in many organs of the body, including the lung and airways, and it is detectable in the exhaled air. The measurement of exhaled NO(eNO) provides a simple non-invasive means for measuring airway inflammation, such as asthma. We measured eNO among adult male workers to examine the distribution of eNO in healthy people and to find factors affecting eNO. We measured eNO in a sample of 921 adult workers who also performed lung function test and skin prick test. Exhaled NO was measured in a sitting posture without using a nose clip and NO free gas. NO was measured at three expiratory rates(l8; 42; 71 $m\ell$/sec) and the flow rate of 71 $m\ell$/sec was used in analysis. The average eNO concentration was 5.29 $\pm$ 2.98 ppb. The level increased with age but not significantly(P=0.0529). Exhaled NO showed positive relations to the height(P=0.0001), pollen 1 (P=0.0124), asthma history(P=0.0212), allergic rhinitis symptom(P=0.0302). Exhaled NO Concentration of smokers( 4.62 ppb) was significantly lower than that of nonsmokers(5.99 ppb; P<0.0001).

• Mass Spectrometry Letters
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• v.8 no.4
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• pp.114-118
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• 2017

While saliva can be considered as good biological fluid for monitoring biomarkers due to many advantages including its communication with blood and the non-invasive nature during its sampling, its applications to that purpose is still limited. As a part of efforts to expand the applications of saliva to the protein biomarker research, we carried out global absolute quantitation of proteins in human whole saliva (WS) by bottom-up proteomics techniques mainly based on nLC-Q-IMS-TOF employing $MS^E$. From the analyses of a pooled WS sample collected from 22 healthy Korean volunteers, 93 proteins ranging from $5.89{\times}10^1ng/mL$ (immunoglobulin heavy chain) to $1.59{\times}10^4ng/mL$ (${\alpha}-amylase$ 1) were confirmed. For the validation of the present results, human serum albumin in the same sample was quantitated by ELISA and its result was compared with that from the nLC-Q-IMS-TOF study. As a result, there was no significant difference between two results from individual approaches ($1.18{\times}10^4{\pm}0.03{\times}10^4 ng/mL$ from nLC-Q-IMS-TOF experiments vs. $1.23{\times}10^4{\pm}0.07{\times}10^4ng/mL$ from ELISA experiments, n=3, p=0.309). To our knowledge, this is the first global absolute quantitation of proteins in human whole saliva and information from the present study can be widely used as the first level reference for the discovery of new protein biomarkers from human whole saliva as well as for quantitative applications of human whole saliva proteins.