• Radiation Oncology Journal
• /
• v.24 no.1
• /
• pp.51-57
• /
• 2006

Puroose: We examined whether intratumoral (i.t.) administration of dendritic cells (DCs) into a treated tumor could induce local and systemic antitumor effects in a mouse tumor model. Methods and Materials: C57BL/6 mice were inoculated s.c. in the right and left thighs with MCA-102 fibrosarcoma cells on day 0 and on day 7, respectively. On day 7, the tumors (usually 6 mm in diameter) on the right thigh were heated by immersing the tumor-bearing leg in a circulating water bath at $43^{\circ}C$ for 30 min; thereafter, the immature DCs were i.t administered to the right thigh tumors. This immunization procedure was repeated on days 7, 14 and 21. The tumors in both the right and left thighs were measured every 7 days and the average sizes were determined by applying the following formula, tumor $size=0.5{\times}(length+width)$. Cytotoxicity assay was done to determine tumor-specific cytotoxic T-lymphocyte activity. Results: Hyperthermia induced apoptosis and heat shock proteins (HSPs) in tumor occurred maximally after 6 hr. For the local treated tumor, hyperthermia (HT) alone inhibited tumor growth compared with the untreated tumors (p<0.05), and furthermore, the i.t. administered DCs combined with hyperthermia (HT + DCs) additively inhibited tumor growth compared with HT alone (p<0.05). On the distant untreated tumor, HT alone significantly inhibited tumor growth (p<0.05), and also HT + DCs potently inhibited tumor growth (p<0.001); however, compared with HT alone, the difference was not statistically significant. In addition, HT + DCs induced strong cytotoxicity of the splenocytes against tumor cells compared to DCs or HT alone. Conclusion: HT + DCs induced apoptosis and increased the expression of HSPs, and so this induced a potent local and systemic antitumor response in tumor-bearing mice. This regimen may be beneficial for the treatment of human cancers.

• Radiation Oncology Journal
• /
• v.20 no.3
• /
• pp.215-220
• /
• 2002

Purpose : Preoperative radiotherapy has been used to induce tumor regression and allow complete resection of rectal cancer with a sphincter preservation surgery. This study was performed to determine the effectiveness of preoperative radiotherapy for $T_2,\;T_3$ distal rectal carcinoma. Materials and Methods : From November 1995 to June 1997, fifteen patients with invasive distal rectal cancer were treated with preoperative radiotherapy followed by sphincter preservation surgery. Classification by preoperative T stage consisted of 7 $T_2$ and 8 $T_3$ tumors. Radiation therapy was delivered with 6 MV and 15 MV linear accelerator, at 1.8 Gy fractions for 5 days per week. Total radiation doses were 45 Gy to 50.4 Gy (median : 50.4 Gy). Sphincter preservation surgery was peformed $4\~6$ weeks after the completion of radiotherapy. Median follow-up was 22 months (range : $16\~37\;months$). Results : One patient $(6.7\%)$ had a complete pathologic response. Comparing the stage at the diagnostic workup with the pathologic stage, tumor downstaging of T stages occurred in 11 of 15 patients $(73.3\%)$ and $N_1$ stages occurred in 2 of 5 patients $(40\%)$. No patient developed progressive disease undergoing treatment. Two patients suffered local recurrence at 7 and 20 months, and one a distant metastasis at 30 months. No grade 3 or 4 toxicity was observed. Conclusion : Our experience suggests that preoperative radiotherapy followed by sphincter preservation surgery is well tolerated, and can significantly reduce the tumor burden for $T_2\;T_3$ distal rectal cancer.

• Radiation Oncology Journal
• /
• v.20 no.3
• /
• pp.264-273
• /
• 2002

Purpose : Three-dimensional radiation dosimetry using magnetic resonance imaging of polymer gel was recently introduced. This dosimetry system is based on radiation induced chain polymerization of acrylic monomers in a muscle equivalent gel and provide accurate 3 dimensional dose distribution. We planned this study to evaluate the clinical value of this 3-dimensional dosimetry. Materials and Methods: The polymer gel poured into a cylindrical glass flask and a spherical glass flask. The cylindrical test tubes were for dose response evaluation and the spherical flasks, which is comparable to the human head, were for isodose curves. T2 maps from MR images were calculated using software, IDL. Dose distributions have been displayed for dosimetry. The same spherical flask of gel and the same irradiation technique was used for film and TLD dosimetry and compared with each other. Results : The R2 of the gel respond linearly with radiation doses in the range of 2 to 15 Gy. The repeated dosimetry of spherical gel showed the same isodose curves. These isodose curves were identical to dose distributions from treatment planning system especially high dose range. In addition, the gel dosimetry system showed comparable or superior results with the film and TLD dosimetry. Conclusion : The 3-dimensional dosimetry for conformal radiation therapy using MRI of polymer gal showed stable and accurate results. Although more studies are needed for convenient clinical application, it appears to be a useful tool for conformal radiation therapy.

• Childhood Kidney Diseases
• /
• v.9 no.1
• /
• pp.38-45
• /
• 2005

Purpose : The purpose of this study was to analyze the therapeutic effect of plasmapheresis in various pediatric diseases. Methods : Therapeutic plasmapheresis was performed by COBE Spectra centrifugation. Nine cases were included in this study. The number an[;. method of plasmapheresis, together with the progress and prognosis of each case were retrospectively reviewed. Results : The patients' ages ranged from 26 mont]Is to 16 years of age, and the mean age was 9.9 years. There were S males and 4 females. The underlying diseases requiring plasmapheresis included 2 cases of hemolytic uremic svndrome(HUS), 1 case of lupus nephritis, 2 cases of rapidly Progressive glomerulonephritis(RPGN), 1 case of focal segmental glomorulosclerosis(FSGS), 1 case of systemic vasculitis after pulmonary hemorrhage, 1 case of acute renal failure associated with pulmonary hemoIThage, and 1 case of acute rejection after renal transplantation. The average number of plasmapheresis performed was 6.2 times with a range of 3 to 13 times. The patients with HUS, lupus nephritis, ANCA positive systemic vasculitis induced by pulmonary hemorrhage and ARF-associated pulmonary hemorrhage showed a good response to therapeutic plasmapheresis, but the patients with RPGN, refractory FSGS, and acute rejection after renal transplantation were not responsive to treatment. The most common side effect was hypocalcemia which was rarely symptomatic. Vital signs were not compromised. Conclusion : Although it is presumptuous to generalize the therapeutic effects of plasma pheresis in different diseases due to the small number of study subjects, this study shows that plasmapheresis may be an effective therapeutic modality in various pediatrics diseases and should be considered as a therapeutic option.

• Journal of Life Science
• /
• v.21 no.2
• /
• pp.183-193
• /
• 2011

Migration and differentiation of mesenchymal stem cells are crucial for tissue regeneration in response to injury. Sphingosine-1-phosphate (S1P) is a bioactive lipid that regulates a variety of biological processes, including proliferation, survival, differentiation and motility. In the present study, we determined the role of S1P in migration and differentiation of human bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs). S1P stimulated migration of BMSCs in a dose- and time-dependent manner, and pre-incubation of the cells with pertussis toxin completely abrogated S1P-induced migration, suggesting involvement of Gi-coupled receptors in S1P-induced cell migration. S1P elicited elevation of intracellular concentration of $Ca^{2+}$ ($[Ca^{2+}]_i$) and pretreatment with VPC23019, an antagonist of $S1P_1/S1P_3$, blocked S1P-induced migration and increase of $[Ca^{2+}]_i$. Small interfering RNA-mediated knockdown of endogenous $S1P_1$ attenuated S1P-induced migration of BMSCs. Furthermore, S1P treatment induced expression of $\alpha$-smooth muscle actin ($\alpha$-SMA), a smooth muscle marker, and pretreatment with VPC23019 abrogated S1P-induced $\alpha$-SMA expression. S1P induced phosphorylation of p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK), and pretreatment of cells with SB202190, an inhibitor of p38 MAPK, or adenoviral overexpression of a dominant-negative mutant of the p38 MAPK blocked S1P-induced cell migration and $\alpha$-SMA expression. Taken together, these results suggest that S1P stimulates migration and smooth muscle differentiation of BMSCs through an $S1P_1$-p38 MAPK-dependent mechanism.

• Journal of Hospice and Palliative Care
• /
• v.7 no.1
• /
• pp.17-28
• /
• 2004

Purpose: Even though there have been various efforts for the dying with dignity of terminal patients, no researches focused on the public attitudes. Methods: In February 2004, we sampled 1,055 persons over 20 years of age from the sixteen cities and local districts of Korea through the quota sampling method according to their gender, age, and location. We conducted a telephone survey with a structured questionnaire on the attitudes toward dying with dignity and hospice palliative care. Results: The most important conditions for the dying with dignity on the patients' views were 'removing burdens for other people' (27.8%). Over the half of the samples chose their home as a preference for place of death (54.8%). 82.3% of the respondents agreed to the idea of withdrawing the medically futile life-sustaining treatment. Fifty seven percents of the answered public said that they intended to use the hospice service in case of terminal illness. Eighty percents thought that health care insurance should cover hospice service, and 80.9% gave positive response to the necessity of advance directives. Respondents emphasized 'the financial support for the terminal patients' (29.8%), 'covering hospice service with health insurance' (16.5%), and 'the education and public relation for settlement of desirable dying culture and hospice service' (15.9%) as the roles and responsibilities of the government for the dying with dignity. Conclusion: This study shows that there is a possibility of significant consensus on hospice and palliative care system for the dying with dignity of patients and reduction of the suffering for their families among the general public.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Biology
• /
• v.35 no.4
• /
• pp.557-565
• /
• 2017

For our survey of insecticidal resistance of Palm thrips (Thrips palmi Karny), we established the discriminating time (DT) and concentration (DC) of nine insecticides, and we conducted a bioassay about seven local populations via leaf-dipping methods. The discriminating times of the recommended concentration (RC) were 24 h at emamectin benzoate EC and spinetoram SC, 48 h at chlorfenapyr EC, 72 h at spinosad SC, cyantraniliprole EC, acetamiprid WP, dinotefuran WG, imidacloprid WP and thiacloprid SC after treatment. The DC estimated the concentration which showed the difference within the mortalities of these local populations. The DCs were emamectin benzoate EC $0.013mg\;L^{-1}$ (RC, $10.8mg\;L^{-1}$), spinetoram SC $0.125mg\;L^{-1}$ (RC, $25.0mg\;L^{-1}$), chlorfenapyr EC $0.25mg\;L^{-1}$ (RC, $50.0mg\;L^{-1}$), spinosad SC $0.083mg\;L^{-1}$ (RC, $50.0mg\;L^{-1}$) and cyantraniliprole EC $5.0mg\;L^{-1}$ (RC, $50.0mg\;L^{-1}$), and DCs of neonicotinoids were their RCs, that is, acetamiprid WP (RC, $40.0mg\;L^{-1}$), dinotefuran WG (RC, $20.0mg\;L^{-1}$), imidacloprid WP(RC, $50.0mg\;L^{-1}$) and thiacloprid SC (RC, $50.0mg\;L^{-1}$). From our investigation into the resistance of the local populations with DT and DC application, the neonicotinoid insecticides have shown a high resistant level for all the local populations, and the other insecticides have demonstrated low or non-resistance. In the use of neonicotinoid insecticides to control Palm thrips, one must take caution. As a result, the establishment of DT and DC in the single dose bioassay method was helpful for surveying the insecticide response dynamics and the development of an insecticide resistance management strategy.

• Journal of Korean Society of Forest Science
• /
• v.79 no.4
• /
• pp.376-387
• /
• 1990

A research effort has been made to determine soil buffer capacity in forest soils nearby urban and industrialized regions. Buffer capacities of soils from four regions were measured by different pH levels of artificial acid precipitation. The following conclusions have been drawn in response to the overall research objectives. Soil Suffer capacity was the highest in Kangwondo followed by Uisan, Yeochon and Seoul when simulated acid precipitation were treated at the level of pH 3.0-5.7. With the acid precipitation treatment below pH 2.0 level, however, the capacity dropped seriously with no significant differences between the regions. In Kangwondo region soils weathered from granite and limestone showed significant differences in the buffer capacities. Soil collected in Seoul and Ulsean revealed that the capacities tended to increase with the distance from the pollution sources when treated at pH 3.0, 4.5 and 5.7 level of acid precipitation. The major mechanism of soil buffer observed during simulated acid precipitation experiment was canon exchange for Kangwondo forest soils. In Seoul region canon exchange also played an important role in soil buffering under artificial acid precipitation between 3.0 and 5.7 pH levels, yet under pH 2.0 level aluminum and silicate hydrolysis. In Ulsan canon exchange was a msjor determinant for the buffer capacity above pH 4.5 level, between pH 3.0-4.5 aluminum hydrolysis and below pH 3.0 aluminum and silicate hydrolysis. In Yeochon silicate hydrolysis led buffer capacity above pH 4.5 and below pH 4.5 aluminum hydrolysis.

• Asian Journal of Turfgrass Science
• /
• v.23 no.2
• /
• pp.229-240
• /
• 2009

The high temperature and water content in soil profile probably affect the physiological disorder especially on cool-season turfgrasses in warm and humid weather of Korean summer. The purpose of this research was to analyze the effect of soil temperature and water content on the growth and stress response of creeping bentgrass(Agrostis palustris Huds.) under a humid and warm temperature. USGA(United State of Golf Association) green profile in laboratory test, Daily temperature changes were tested under a dried sand, 70% water content of field capacity, and saturated condition at $34^{\circ}C$ of the USGA green in lab. In this test, the dried sand reached to $80^{\circ}C$, however, the surface temperature decrease of $10^{\circ}C$ on the saturated condition. In the thermal properties test in field, thermal conductivity, thermal diffusivity, and soil temperature were increased followed by irrigation practise. In the water-deficient condition, the highest soil temperature was reached temporally right after irrigation, however, the excessive soil water content higher than field water holding capacity showed the highest soil temperature after a while. This result indicated that a heat damage to root system was caused from the thermal conductivity of a high surface soil temperature. The excessive irrigation when a high turf surface temperature should occur a negative result on tufgrass growth, moreover, it would be fatal to root growth of creeping bentgrass, especially when associated with a poor draining system on USGA sand green. Overall, this study shows that high soil temperature with water-excessive condition negatively affects on cool-season grass during the summer season, suggesting that excessive irrigation, over 70% field capacity of soil condition, does not help to reduce soil temperature for summer season in Korea. In the study that cool-season grass were treated with different water content of soil, The soil had higher temperature and more water holding capacity when treatment rate of soil conditioner was increased. The best growth at the normal water condition and the worst state of growth at thee water-excessive condition were observed.

• Korean Journal of Soil Science and Fertilizer
• /
• v.40 no.1
• /
• pp.85-94
• /
• 2007

To determine the influence of food waste compost (FWC) application on paddy soil, FWC was applied to the paddy soil and then compared with farmer's practice as to the effects on rice and soil environment. Initially, pig manure compost (PMC) had high content of phosphorus ($15g\;kg^{-1}$) and potassium ($23g\;kg^{-1}$), while FWC had high content of total nitrogen ($13g\;kg^{-1}$) and salinity ($18.5g\;kg^{-1}$). Comparison was also made between chemical fertilizer and FWC use as a trial in the paddy field under the clay loam and sandy loam soil. In the panicle formation stage, chemical fertilizer application was proper in clay loam while PMC application was proper in sandy loam. However, chemical fertilizer produced higher yield compared to compost treatment, both on clay loam and sandy loam with 20~25% and 17~19%, respectively. The lower yield in sandy loam maybe due to slow mineralization of compost such that the crop did not effectively use it. Organic matter content in paddy soil after experiment was higher in FWC and PMC plots compared to that in chemical fertilizer plots. But the other soil properties were comparable. Therefore, the FWC compost had little effect on soil when it use as a trial in paddy field. Likewise, after the application of FWC as a trial, analysis of nitrate nitrogen and ammonium nitrogen in the surface water and 60 cm depth of paddy soil water nine days after planting was done. Results revealed that concentration of ammonium nitrogen was similar to irrigation water while nitrate nitrogen concentration was not detected, and hence did not contribute to water pollution. It is concluded that the application of FWC in the paddy field had not affected on environmental pollution in the paddy field. But its use as compost during rice culture reduced yield quantity. Such study should include selection of compost material, amount and method of compost application.