• Korean Journal of Radiology
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• v.22 no.4
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• pp.604-611
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• 2021

Objective: The aim of this pilot study was to investigate the potential of early-phase single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT)/computed tomography (CT) using technetium-99m methyl diphosphonate (^99mTc-MDP) for diagnosing osteomyelitis (OM). Materials and Methods: Twenty-one patients with suspected OM were enrolled retrospectively. Three-phase bone scan (TPBS), early-phase SPECT/CT (immediately after blood pool planar imaging), and delayed-phase SPECT/CT (immediately after delayed planar imaging) were performed. The final diagnoses were established through surgery or clinical follow-up for over 6 months. We compared three diagnostic criteria based on (I) TPBS alone, (II) combined TPBS and delayed-phase SPECT/CT, and (III) early-phase SPECT/CT alone. Results: OM was diagnosed in 11 of 21 patients (nine surgically and two clinically). Of the 11 OM patients, criterion-I, criterion-II, and criterion-III were positive in six, seven, and 10 patients, respectively. Of the 10 non-OM patients, criterion-I, criterion-II, and criterion-III were negative in five, five, and seven patients, respectively. The sensitivity/specificity/accuracy of criterion-I, criterion-II, and criterion-III for diagnosing OM were 54.5%/50.0%/55.0%, 63.6%/50.0%/57.1%, and 90.9%/70.0%/87.5%, respectively. Conclusion: This pilot study demonstrated the potential of using the early-phase SPECT/CT to diagnose OM. Based on the results, prospective studies with a larger sample size should be conducted to confirm the efficacy of early-phase SPECT/CT.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Research
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• v.64 no.2
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• pp.10.1-10.9
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• 2024

Hyperthyroidism, characterized by elevated thyroid hormone levels and thyroid gland hyperplasia or adenoma, is a prevalent endocrinopathy in older cats. Treatment options include antithyroid drugs, surgical thyroidectomy, and radioiodine therapy (RAIT), which is non-invasive treatment option that can achieve complete remission. However, efficacy and safety of RAIT in hyperthyroid cats have not been investigated in South Korea. This study includes 10 hyperthyroid cats with RAIT. Initial assessments comprised history, physical examination, blood analysis, and serum total T4 (tT4) concentration. Thyroid scintigraphy revealed hyperactivity and enlargement of thyroid gland at 24 hours before the RAIT. Radioiodine (RAI) was injected subcutaneously with 2 to 6 mCi, determined by the fixed dose or the scoring system based on severity of clinical signs, tT4 concentration, and thyroid size individually. After RAIT, the concentration of serum tT4 and liver enzymes were significantly decreased at discharge. However, no significant differences were noted in blood urea nitrogen, creatinine, symmetric dimethylarginine, hematocrits, and white blood cell counts pre- and post-treatment. Although 4 cats received RAI twice, clinical signs disappeared and tT4 levels decreased following the RAIT. All 10 cats achieved complete remission after 6 months without critical adverse effect. The safety and the effectiveness of RAIT was confirmed based on protocols reported other countries. Therefore, RAIT could be considered the treatment option and prevent adverse effects from medication or surgery. This preliminary study presents the first evaluation of RAIT for hyperthyroid cats using locally produced RAI in South Korea and provide valuable insight for clinicians and further studies.

• Journal of Radiation Industry
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• v.17 no.4
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• pp.501-508
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• 2023

There are various factors that have a negative impact on safety over a long period of time after the closure of a radioactive waste disposal facility. In particular, it is important to limit substances that accelerate radionuclide migration while inhibiting adsorption between radionuclides and the subsurface medium. Through this study, a method for deriving a quantitative criteria evaluation method is proposed for cellulose among materials that accelerate the movement of these radionuclides after closure of the disposal facility. Since Sweden's SKB is representative worldwide for preparing criteria for cellulose in disposal facilities, it analyzed Sweden's acceptance criteria method and presented a method that can be applied domestically. The decomposition characteristics of cellulose and the adsorption and dissolution characteristics of ISA among degradation products were reviewed, and quantitative analysis of cement materials that create a high pH environment favorable for cellulose decomposition was also included. In addition, the total amount of the finally disposable cellulose material can be derived by using the volume information of the waste containing the cellulose material. Through this methodology for calculating the total amount of cellulose, it is expected that subsequent studies will be conducted to secure data reflecting the environmental conditions of radioactive waste disposal facilities in Korea. In addition, it is expected to be utilized as a good method to evaluate the impact of other complexing agents other than cellulose and to suggest the amount of disposal.

• Journal of Nuclear Fuel Cycle and Waste Technology(JNFCWT)
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• v.2 no.2
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• pp.87-96
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• 2004

Studies were conducted to select the candidate buffer material for a high-level waste (HLW) repository in Korea. This paper presents the hydraulic properties, the swelling properties, the thermal properties, and the mechanical properties as well as the radionuclide release-retarding capacity of Kyungju bentonite as part of those studies. Experimental results showed that the hydraulic conductivities of the compacted bentonite were very low and less than $10^{-11}$m/s. The values decreased with increasing the dry density of the compacted bentonite. The swelling pressures were in the range of 0.66 MPa to 14.4 ㎫ and they increased with increasing the dry density. The thermal conductivities were in the range of 0.80 ㎉/m $h^{\circ}C$ to 1.52 ㎉/m $h^{\circ}C$. The unconfined compressive strength, Young's modulus and Poison's ratio showed the range of 0.55 ㎫ to 8.83 ㎫, 59 ㎫ to 1275 ㎫, and 0.05 to 0.20, respectively, when the dry densities of the compacted bentonite were 1.4 Ms/㎥ to 1.8 Mg/㎥. The diffusion coefficients in the compacted bentonite were measured under an oxidizing condition. The values were $1.7{\times}10^{-10}$m^2$/s to 3.4{\times}10^{-10}$m^2$/s for electrically neutral tritium (H-3), 8.6{\times}10^{-14}$m^2$/s to 1.3{\times}10^{-12}$m^2$/s for cations (Cs, Sr, Ni), 1.2{\times}10^{-11}$m^2$/s to 9.5{\times}10^{-11}$m^2$/s for anions (I, Tc), and 3.0{\times}10^{-14} $m^2$/s to 1.8{\times}10^{-13}$m^2$/s $for actinides (U, Am), when tile dry densities were in the range of 1.2 Mg/㎥ to 1.8 Mg/㎥. The obtained results will be used in assessing the barrier properties of Kyungju bentonite as a buffer material of a repository in Korea.n Korea.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.43 no.2
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• pp.173-181
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• 1996

Background : Several studies have suggested that impaired mucociliary clearance plays a role in the pathophysiology of bronchial asthma. Cough productive of mucoid sputum is common, and mucous plugs in the airways are frequently observed. These clinical features are in keeping with the histologic lesions of asthma, which involve primarily the epithelial and mucous-producing structures of the conducting airways. Some studies have shown that the mucociliary clearance is impaired in adult asthma, but it has not been studied in childhood asthma. The objectives of this study were to examine whether the mucociliary clearance is impaired in childhood asthma and to estimate the degree of impairment in comparison with that of immotile cilia syndrome. Method : Thirteen children with mild stable asthma and eight patients with immotile cilia syndrome completed this study. Ten healthy children were recruited as a normal control group. The whole-lung mucociliary clearance was measured by the radioaerosol technique. Aerosols, tin colloid particles tagged with the radionuclide technetium-99m($^{99m}Tc$), were generated by means of nebulizer, and inhaled via a mouthpiece. The retention of radioactivity was measured at 30, 60, 90 and 120 minutes by gamma camera, and mucociliary clearance was calculated as percent retention at each time. Results: 1) In each subject, the percent retention decreased variably with the lapse of time. 2) The percent retention of radionuclide decreased at each time in order of normal control, bronchial asthma and immotile cilia syndrome and the percent retention of immotile cilia syndrome was significantly higher than that of normal control at each time(p<0.05). 3) At two hours, the percent retention of bronchial asthma($65.0{\pm}1.8$(SE)%) was significantly higher than that of the normal control($54.4{\pm}3.5%$, p<0.05), and significantly lower than that of immotile cilia syndrome($73.3{\pm}1.4%$, p<0.01). 4) When the percent retention was analyzed according to $PC_{20}$ in the children with bronchial asthma, they had no relationship with each other. Conclusion: Mucociliary clearance in the children with bronchial asthma was significantly lower than normal control. This finding indicates that impaired mucociliary clearance operates in childhood asthma as well, and suggests that it may be one contributing factor in the pathogenesis of asthma. The degree of impairment, however, was not so severe as immotile cilia syndrome.

• Journal of Korean Society of Coastal and Ocean Engineers
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• v.30 no.2
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• pp.69-83
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• 2018

The South China Sea (SCS) is a typical marginal sea characterized with the deep basin, shelf break, shallow shelf, many straits, and complex bathymetry. This study investigated the tidal characteristics and propagation, and reproduced typhoon-induced storm surge in this region using the regional real-time tide-surge model, which was based on the unstructured grid, resolving in detail the region of interest and forced by tide at the open boundary and by wind and air pressure at the surface. Typhoon Haiyan, which occurred in 2013 and caused great damage in the Philippines, was chosen as a case study to simulate typhoon's impact. Amplitudes and phases of four major constituents were reproduced reasonably in general, and the tidal distributions of four constituents were similar to the previous studies. The modelled tide seemed to be within the acceptable levels, considering it was difficult to reproduce the tide in this region based on the previous studies. The free oscillation experiment results described well the feature of tide that the diurnal tide is prevailing in the SCS. The tidal residual current and total energy dissipation were discussed to understand the tidal and sedimentary environments. The storm-surge caused by typhoon Haiyan was reasonably simulated using this modeling system. This study established the regional real-time barotropic tide/water level prediction system for the South China Sea including the seas around the Philippines through the validation of the model and the understanding of tidal characteristics.

• The Korean Journal of Nuclear Medicine Technology
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• v.13 no.1
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• pp.9-14
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• 2009

Purpose: Nowadays in the nuclear medicine, many studies and efforts are being made to reduce the scan time, as well as the waiting time to be needed to execute exams after injection of radionuclide medicines. Several methods are being used in clinic, such as developing new radionuclide compounds that enable to be absorbed into target organs more quickly and reducing acquisition scan time by increase the number of Gamma Camera detectors to examine. Each medical equipment manufacturer has improved the imaging process techniques to reduce scan time. In this paper, we tried to analyze the difference of image quality between FBP, 3D OSEM reconstruction methods that commercialized and being clinically applied, and Astonish reconstruction method (A kind of Iterative fast reconstruction method of Philips), also difference of image quality on scan time. Material and Methods: We investigated in 32 patients that examined the Bone SPECT from June to July 2008 at department of nuclear medicine, ASAN Medical Center in Seoul. 40sec/frame and 20sec/frame images were acquired that using Philips‘ PRECEDENCE 16 Gamma Camera and then reconstructed those images by using the Astonish (Philips’ Reconstruction Method), 3D OSEM and FBP methods. The blinded test was performed to the clinical interpreting physicians with all images analyzed by each reconstruction method for qualitative analysis. And we analyzed target to non target ratio by draws lesions as the center of disease for quantitative analysis. At this time, each image was analyzed with same location and size of ROI. Results: In a qualitative analysis, there was no significant difference by acquisition time changes in image quality. In a quantitative analysis, the images reconstructed Astonish method showed good quality due to better sharpness and distinguish sharply between lesions and peripheral lesions. After measuring each mean value and standard deviation value of target to non target ratio with 40 sec/frame and 20sec/frame images, those values are Astonish (40 sec-$13.91{\pm}5.62$ : 20 sec-$13.88{\pm}5.92$), 3D OSEM (40 sec-$10.60{\pm}3.55$ : 20 sec-$10.55{\pm}3.64$), FBP (40 sec-$8.30{\pm}4.44$ : 20 sec-$8.19{\pm}4.20$). We analyzed target to non target ratio from 20 sec and 40 sec images. And we analyzed the result, In Astonish (t=0.16, p=0.872), 3D OSEM (t=0.51, p=0.610), FBP (t=0.73, p=0.469) methods, there was no significant difference statistically by acquisition time change in image quality. But FBP indicates no statistical differences while some images indicate difference between 40 sec/frame and 20 sec/frame images by various factors. Conclusions: In the circumstance, try to find a solution to reduce nuclear medicine scan time, the development of nuclear medicine equipment hardware has decreased while software has marched forward at a relentless. Due to development of computer hardware, the image reconstruction time was reduced and the expanded capacity to restore enables iterative methods that couldn't be performed before due to technical limits. As imaging process technique developed, it reduced scan time and we could observe that image quality keep similar level. While keeping exam quality and reducing scan time can induce the reduction of patient's pain and sensory waiting time, also accessibility of nuclear medicine exam will be improved and it provide better service to patients and clinical physician who order exams. Consequently, those things make the image of department of nuclear medicine be improved. Concurrent Imaging - A new function that setting up each image acquisition parameter and enables to acquire images simultaneously with various parameters to once examine.

• Korean Journal of Soil Science and Fertilizer
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• v.19 no.2
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• pp.115-121
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• 1986

This experiment was conducted to examined the effects of the physico-chemical and mineral-logical properties of paddy soil on the desorption of $Cs^{137}$ from radionuclide, $Cs^{137}$ absorbed soils. 1. Adsorption of $Cs^{137}$ by paddy soil was very much and exchangeable fraction of $Cs^{137}$ extracted by ammonium acetate was very high compared to the water soluble fraction. Exchangeable fraction of $Cs^{137}$ in paddy soil decreased with the increase of potassium application and increased proportionally with the increase of $Cs^{137}$ treatment. 2. The distribution of several forms of $Cs^{137}$ in soils depend on the soil type. Average-distribution rates of water soluble, exchangeable and non-exchangeable fractions of $Cs^{137}$ in soils were 5.9%, 17.1% and 77.0%, respectively. 3. The desorption of $Cs^{137}$ from adsorbed soils decreased with increase of pH and exchangeable cations of the soils, but it increased as organic matter and clay content increase in soil. 4. Non-exchangeable adsorption of $Cs^{137}$ was high in the soils of which both Illite and Vermiculite were dominant.

• Journal of the Korean Society for Marine Environment & Energy
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• v.4 no.2
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• pp.25-34
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• 2001

/sup 226/Ra and /sup 228/Ra analysis were carried out at the representative station of Masan Bay from May to August, 1999. The high activities of /sup 226/Ra and /sup 228/Ra in the surface water were appeared in rainy season (August, 1). However, there is no significant variation in concentrations in the other season. A high negative linear correlation between /sup 226/Ra activities and salinity in the surface water suggests that /sup 226/Ra activity in the surface water was controlled by simple mixing between the two end-members low salinity high /sup 226/Ra activity water of inner Bay and a high salinity low /sup 226/Ra activity water of the continental shelf water out of Bay. /sup 226/Ra activities below the surface mixed layer were higher than those of expected level from the /sup 226/Ra versus salinity. And also /sup 228/Ra//sup 226/Ra ratios in the bottom water were lower compared to those in surface water due to the presence of potential source of /sup 226/Ra below the surface mixed layer. However, it is known that /sup 228/Ra compared to /sup 226/Ra is enriched in bottom sediments and pure water. Therefore, the most probable sources for low /sup 228/Ra//sup 226/Ra activity ration is submarine ground water discharge. Further studies are required to quantify the various sources of /sup 226/Ra and /sup 228/Ra and their relative contributions.

• Journal of Radiation Protection and Research
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• v.24 no.4
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• pp.205-213
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• 1999

Effective dose conversion coefficients from unit activity radionuclides contaminated on the ground surface were calculated by using MCNP4A rode and male/female anthropomorphic phantoms. The simulation calculations were made for 19 energy points in the range of 40 keV to 10 MeV. The effective doses E resulting from unit source intensity for different energy were compared to the effective dose equivalent $H_E$ of previous studies. Our E values are lower by 30% at low energy than the $H_E$ values given in the Federal Guidance Report of USEPA. The effective dose response functions derived by polynomial fitting of the energy-effective dose relationship are as follows: $f({\varepsilon})[fSv\;m^2]=\;0.0634\;+\;0.727{\varepsilon}-0.0520{\varepsilon}^2+0.00247{\varepsilon}^3,\;where\;{\varepsilon}$ is the gamma energy in MeV. Using the response function and the radionuclide decay data given in ICRP 38, the effective dose conversion coefficients for unit activity contamination on the ground surface were calculated with addition of the skin dose contribution of beta particles determined by use of the DOSEFACTOR code. The conversion coefficients for 90 important radionuclides were evaluated and tabulated. Comparison with the existing data showed that a significant underestimates could be resulted when the old conversion coefficients were used, especially for the nuclides emitting low energy photons or high energy beta particles.