• Journal of Digital Contents Society
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• v.11 no.3
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• pp.283-290
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• 2010

The effectiveness of 3.0T phase array coil images was tested by comparing signal-to-noise ratios for the same coil images relative to 1.5T endorectal coil images. Signal intensities were measured in the three regions of prostate, central and peripheral (right and left) after 40 patients with prostate cancer were imaged during the period between Jan. 2008 and Oct. 2009 with T2 W, T1 W, and DW images obtained respectively using endorectal coil on a 1.5T MR scanner and phase array coil on a 3.0T MR scanner. For quantitative analysis, comparisons of average SNRs for the same ROIs were made between groups scanned with a 1.5T and a 3.0T MR scanner. The signal-to-noise ratios were shown to increase more sharply when using a phase array coil at a 3.0T MR scanner compared to using an endorectal coil at a 1.5T MR scanner.

• Proceedings of the KOSOMBE Conference
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• v.1997 no.11
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• pp.550-554
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• 1997

Acoustic or sound noise due to gradient pulsing has been one of the problems in MRI, both in patient scanning as well as in many areas of psychiatric and neuroscience research, such as unctional MRI (fMRI). Our recent observations in MRI or the visual and motor cortex show very different results with sound noise in comparison with the results obtained without sound noise. Although a number of ideas has been suggested in the literature about the possible elimination or reduction of sound noise, progress has been slow due to the basic role of gradient pulsing in MR imaging. Therefore, we report on some typical behavior of sound noise observed from MRI scanners and the analyses of their characteristics. Data are obtained both from a commercial MRI scanner (GE Signa 1.5-T EPI system).

• The Journal of the Korea Contents Association
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• v.20 no.2
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• pp.472-477
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• 2020

The purpose of this study is to correct the error of lower weight input method as an alternative to reduce the specific absorption rate(SAR) in MRI. In order to prove that the SAR values not change according to the weight entered into the patient information, the 50kg phantom is placed in the coil and the input weight is changed from 10 to 100 in 10kg units to compare the SAR values. As a result, T1-weighted images had a SAR rate of 0.2W/kg and T2-weighted images had an average of 0.4W/kg. In conclusions, the SAR does not change according to the weight input by the technician before the scan, a lower weight when inputting patient information cannot be an alternative to reduce the SAR.

• Progress in Superconductivity and Cryogenics
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• v.14 no.1
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• pp.44-47
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• 2012

The substantial improvement of the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) can be achieved with small-size samples or low-field MRI system by high-temperature superconducting(HTS) RF coil. The typical HTS RF coil made of HTS thin film is expensive and is limited the coil geometry to planar surface coil. In this study, commercial Bi-2223 HTS tapes was used as RF coil for a 0.35T permanent MRI system. It has advantages of both much lower cost and easier fabrication over HTS thin film coil. SNR gain of the image obtained from the HTS RF coil over a conventional Cu RF coil at room temperature was about 2.4-fold and 1.9-fold using the spin echo pulse sequence and gradient echo pulse sequence respectively.

• Journal of Veterinary Clinics
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• v.26 no.1
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• pp.104-108
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• 2009

Global cerebral ischemia occurs commonly in patients who have a variety of clinical conditions including cardiac arrest and shock. Cerebral ischemia results in a rapid depletion of energy stores that triggers resulting in excitotoxic death. Imaging studies of the brain with computed tomography(CT) or magnetic resonance imaging(MRI) are necessary to confirm the clinical neurolocalization, identify any associated mass effect, and rule out other causes of focal brain disorders. Cardiopulmonary arrest was occurred by propofol anesthesia in a 1 year old, intact female Beagle dog. After successful cardiopulmonary resuscitation was performed within 5 minutes, clinical signs such as vocalization, paddling, opisthotonus and seizure were represented. At the 12th day, CT and MRI examinations of the brain were performed to evaluate the brain. After euthanasia, histopathologic examination was performed. On transverse image of CT, lesions appeared as a hypodense in the right dorsal surface of the frontal lobe and level of optic canal, and dorsomedial surface of occipital lobe of cerebrum. No contrast enhancement was represented following intravenous contrast administration. On MR images of brain, the lesions were seen as a hyperintense on T2-weighted(T2W) images and a isointense or mild hypointense on T1-weighted(T1W) images. Hyperintense lesions both T2W and T1W images were observed at the surrounding cerebral sulcus. There was no significant signal changes on contrast T1WI. Histopathologic examination after euthanasia revealed that the lesion was necrosis of the cerebral cortex caused by cerebral ischemia.

• Korean Journal of Digital Imaging in Medicine
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• v.14 no.1
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• pp.31-35
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• 2012

To test the real image quality of a spectral attenuated inversion-recovery (SPAIR) fat-suppression (FS) techniquein clinical abdominal MRI by comparison to turbo spin echo inversion-recovery (TSEIR) fat-suppression (FS) technique. 3.0T MRI studies of the abdomen were performed in 30 patients with liver lesions (hemangiomas n: 15; HCC n: 15). T2W sequences were acquired using SPAIR TSEIR. Measurements included retroperitoneal and mesenteric fat signal-to-noise (SNR) to evaluate FS; liver lesion contrast-to-noise (CNR) to evaluate bulk water signal recovery effects; and bowel wall delineation to evaluate susceptibility and physiological motion effects. SPAIR-TSEIR images produce significantly improved FS and liver lesion CNR. The mean SNR of the retroperitoneal and mesenteric fat for SPAIR were 20.5, 10.2 and TSEIR were 43.2, 24.1 (P<0.05). SPAIR-TSEIR images produced higher CNR for both hemangiomas CNR 164.88 vs 126.83 (P<0.05) and metastasis CNR 75.27 vs 53.19 (P<0.05). Bowel wall visualization was significantly improved using in both SPAIR-TSEIR (P< 0.05). The real image quality of SPAIR was better than over conventional TSEIR FS on clinical abdominal MRI scans.

• Investigative Magnetic Resonance Imaging
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• v.7 no.2
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• pp.100-107
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• 2003

Purpose : To assess the usefulness of cardiac MR imaging (MRI) in the diagnosis of acute myocardial infarction and in the assessment of myocardial viability in comparision with T1-201 SPECT. Materials and Methods : We retrospectively studied 17 patients who complained of chest pain and dyspnea with cardiac MRI . The patients were evaluated for the presence or absence of high signal intensity on T2-weighted image (T2wI), abnormal wall motion on 2D-FIESTA, perfusion defect on Gd-DTPA enhanced T1WI, and delayed myocardial enhancement on 15-minutes delay Gd-DTPA enhanced T1WI. The results were correlated with the images on T1-201 SPECT, taken at rest and stress, through which reversibility of perfusion defect was assessed. Results : Both cardiac MRI and T1-201 SPECT proved to be useful methods for diagnosing acute myocardial infarction. In order of decreasing correspondence, T2WI, T1-201 SPECT, delayed enhancement study, and wall motion images all showed significant statistical correlation with the clinical diagnosis of myocardial infarction. Perfusion MRI, on the other hand, showed no significant statistical difference was found between T1-201 SPECT and cardiac MRI. The results on T2WI showed high accordance with those on Tl-201 SPECT, while delayed myocardial enhancement and wall motion studies showed no agreement with Tl-201 SPECT. Conclusion : Cardiac MRI is useful method for diagnosis of acute myocardiac infarction. With respect to the assessment of myocardial viability, the results obtained on cardiac MRI showed high agreement with those on Tl-201 SPECT. However, further study is necessary at this point for standardization and establishment of the methods for assessing myocardial viability on cardiac MRI.

• Investigative Magnetic Resonance Imaging
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• v.15 no.1
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• pp.48-56
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• 2011

Purpose : The aim of this study is to measure the typical MR variables such as $T_1$- and $T_2$-relaxation times according to morphological characteristics of gold nanopartides as a preliminary study to perform theragnosis using local heating by gold nanopartides. Materials and Methods : Two types of gold nanoparticles were used. Spheres were synthesized by various methods and stirring speed. Rods were synthesized by adding various concentrations of sphere nanopartides. Gold nanopartides were mixed with 2% agarose gel at 1:1 ratio and then signals were acquired using a 1.5T MRI. For the measurements of $T_1$-and $T_2$-relaxation times, TR and TE were varied, respectively. The results were acquired through $T_1$ and $T_2$ curves based on the intensities of MR image using self-developed software. And Statistical analysis was performed. Results : $T_1$ times were measured 1.86 sec and 2.08 sec for sphere and rod, respectively. On the other hands, $T_2$ times were measured 57 ms and 35.45 ms for sphere and rod. Conclusion : The changes of the MR variables according to the morphological characteristics of the gold nanopartides were confirmed. Optimal MR imaging conditions can be obtained by choosing proper TR and TE according to the type of nanoparticles.

• Investigative Magnetic Resonance Imaging
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• v.24 no.3
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• pp.132-140
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• 2020

Purpose: To retrospectively determine whether specialized magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) reading performed by an experienced radiologist affected the successful assessment of extraprostatic extension (EPE) in the presence of biopsy-related hemorrhage after prostate biopsy. Materials and Methods: Two hundred consecutive patients with biopsy-proven prostate cancer underwent MRI. General radiologist and subspecialized radiologist readings were unpaired and reviewed in random order by a radiologist who was blinded to patients' clinical details and histopathologic data. The extent of hemorrhage was assessed on T1-weighted (T1W) MRI using a 1-4 scale, and the likelihood of EPE was assessed for each of the four categories. Histopathologic specimens served as the reference standard. The area under the curve (AUC) of the standard reading was compared to that of the specialized reading. Results: Post-biopsy hemorrhage was subjectively graded as ≥ 3 in 101 patients (50.5%) by standard reading, and in 100 patients (50.0%) by specialized reading. The standard and specialized readings disagreed for 40 (20.7%) of the patients (kappa [κ] = 0.35; 95% CI, 0.14-0.48). Of these, specialized reading was the correct interpretation for 21 patients (52.5%). The sensitivity (75% vs. 44%; P = 0.002) and area under the receiver operating characteristics (AUROC) (0.83 vs. 0.67; P = 0.008) of the specialized readings were significantly higher than those of the standard readings, while there was no significant difference in specificity (84% vs. 87%; P = 0.434). Conclusion: The reinterpretation of MRI by experienced radiologists significantly improves the diagnosis of EPE in prostate cancer in the presence of post-biopsy hemorrhage.

• Investigative Magnetic Resonance Imaging
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• v.9 no.1
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• pp.30-35
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• 2005

Purpose : The purpose of this study is to observe the blood oxygen level dependent (BOLD) contrast changes due to the reaction of human brain at a gustatory sense in response to a salty-taste stimulation. Materials and Methods : Twelve healthy, non-smoking, right-handed male subjects (mean age: 25.6, range: 23-28 years) participated in this salty-taste stimulus functional magnetic resonance (fMRI) study. MRI scans were performed with 1.57 GE Signa, using a multi-slice GE-EPI sequence according to a blood-oxy-gen-level dependent (BOLD) experiment paradigm. Scan parameters included matrix size $128\times128$, FOV 250 mm, TR 5000 msec, TE 60 msec, TH/GAP 5/2 mm. Sequential data acquisitions were carried out for 42 measurements with a repetition time of 5 sec for each taste-stimulus experiments. Analysis of fMRI data was carried out using SPM99 implemented in Matlab. NaCl solution $(3\%)$ was used as a salty stimulus. The task paradigm consisted of alternating rest-stimulus cycles (30-second rest, 15-second stimulus) for 210 seconds. During the stimulus period, NaCl-solution was presented to the subject's mouth through plastic tubes as a bolus of delivered every 5 sec using -processor controlled auto-syringe pump. Results : Insula, frontal opercular taste cortex, amygdala and orbitofrontal cortex (OFC) were activated by a salty-taste stimulation $(NaCl,\;3\%)$ in the fMRI experiments. And dosolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) was also significantly responded to salty-taste stimuli. Activation areas of the right side hemisphere were more superior to the left side hemisphere. Conclusion : The results of this study well correspond to the fact that both insula, amygdala, OFC, DLPFC areas are established as taste cortical areas by neuronal recordings in primates. Authors found that laboratory-developed auto-syringe pump is suitable for gustatory fMRI study. Further research in this field will accelerate to inquire into the mechanism of higher order gustatory process.