• The Korean Journal of Nuclear Medicine Technology
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• v.12 no.3
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• pp.208-213
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• 2008

Purpose: Generally a whole body bone scan has been known as one of the most frequently executed exams in the nuclear medicine fields. Asan medical center, usually use various gamma camera systems - manufactured by PHILIPS (PRECEDENCE, BRIGHTVIEW), SIEMENS (ECAM, ECAM signature, ECAM plus, SYMBIA T2), GE (INFINIA) - to execute whole body scan. But, as we know, each camera's sensitivity is not same so it is hard to consistent diagnosis of patients. So our purpose is when we execute whole body bone scans, we exclude uncontrollable factors and try to correct controllable factors such as inherent sensitivity of gamma camera. In this study, we're going to measure each gamma camera's sensitivity and study about reasonable correction factors of whole body bone scan to follow up patient's condition using different gamma cameras. Materials and Methods: We used the $^{99m}Tc$ flood phantom, it recommend by IAEA recommendation based on general counts rate of a whole body scan and measured counts rates by the use of various gamma cameras - PRECEDENCE, BRIGHTVIEW, ECAM, ECAM signature, ECAM plus, IFINIA - in Asan medical center nuclear medicine department. For measuring sensitivity, all gamma camera equipped LEHR collimator (Low Energy High Resolution multi parallel Collimator) and the $^{99m}Tc$ gamma spectrum was adjusted around 15% window level, the photo peak was set to 140-kev and acquirded for 60 sec and 120 sec in all gamma cameras. In order to verify whether can apply calculated correction factors to whole body bone scan or not, we actually conducted the whole body bone scan to 27 patients and we compared it analyzed that results. Results: After experimenting using $^{99m}Tc$ flood phantom, sensitivity of ECAM plus was highest and other sensitivity order of all gamma camera is ECAM signature, SYMBIA T2, ECAM, BRIGHTVIEW, IFINIA, PRECEDENCE. And yield sensitivity correction factor show each gamma camera's relative sensitivity ratio by yielded based on ECAM's sensitivity. (ECAM plus 1.07, ECAM signature 1.05, SYMBIA T2 1.03, ECAM 1.00, BRIGHTVIEW 0.90, INFINIA 0.83, PRECEDENCE 0.72) When analyzing the correction factor yielded by $^{99m}Tc$ experiment and another correction factor yielded by whole body bone scan, it shows statistically insignificant value (p<0.05) in whole body bone scan diagnosis. Conclusion: In diagnosing the bone metastasis of patients undergoing cancer, whole body bone scan has been conducted as follow up tests due to its good points (high sensitivity, non invasive, easily conducted). But as a follow up study, it's hard to perform whole body bone scan continuously using same gamma camera. If we use same gamma camera to patients, we have to consider effectiveness of equipment's change by time elapsed. So we expect that applying sensitivity correction factor to patients who tested whole body bone scan regularly will add consistence in diagnosis of patients.

• The Korean Journal of Nuclear Medicine Technology
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.17-21
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• 2014

Purpose With the recent rise of social issue regarding radiation exposure, attention to medical radiation use has been placed under a great spotlight. During PET-CT examination, generally about 40% more of $^{18}F$-FDG is used than EANM recommendation. While maintaining the diagnostic test result, we hope to find optimal injection dose to minimize the $^{18}F$-FDG in patients by utilizing the latest PET-CT scanner which is equiped with the newest technology. Materials and Methods During this experiment, the Biograph Truepoint 40 (siemens, USA) installed in 2007 and mCT 64 (siemens, USA) installed in 2011 were used and evaluated NECR (noise-equivalent counting rate) by using a scatter phantom. For the image quality evaluation of each scanner, we injected 3.7, 4.44 and 5.18 MBq/kg of $^{18}F$-FDG in NEMA IEC Body Phantom and also evaluated SNR between two scanners by using the data acquired at 60, 70, 80, 90, 100, 110 and 120 sec per bed. For the clinical evaluation, actual data of patients who were injected $^{18}F$-FDG 3.7, 4.44, 5.18 MBq/kg were used to compare SNR and draw a final result. Results As a result, mCT 64 peak NECR value was 1.65e+005, which is 10% higher than Turepoint 40. SNR values using the IEC body phantom was 17.9%, 17.4% and 17.1% higher in $^{18}F$-FDG 3.7 MBq/kg, 4.44 MBq/kg and 5.18 MBq/kg. In clinical patients, SNR values of the image mCT 64 was 16.5, which is 25% higher than Turepoint 40 scanner. Conclusion To draw a conclusion from the test result of this experiment, the same quality of SNR could be attained even with 10% reduced injection dose, if when the duration is extended by 10 sec/bed. This optimal result was possible due to enhanced equipment. The NECR (one of the equipment's performance assessment criteria for the scanner) increased by 10% and the SNR (one of the image quality assessment criteria) also increased by 17.5%. Therefore, we can expect to reduce the injection dose without deterioration of image quality. In consequence, it will also help to decrease the patient's anxiety of the radiation exposure.

• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
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• v.17 no.1
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• pp.53-62
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• 2007

목적: 1990년대 초반부터 시작된 우리나라의 산업 보건에 대한 사회적 관심의 증대와 시장의 요구에 따라 산업위생기관의 양적인 팽창이 이루어지긴 하였으나 실험실 관련 안전보건규정이 미비한 상태에서 추진되어 산업위생 실험실에서 다양한 유해 위험성 인자를 취급함에도 불구하고 사용되는 량이 소규모로 인해 안전보건과 관련된 사항은 대부분 간과하고 있으며, 산업위생 실험실의 안전보건관리 실태는 선진외국에 비해 상당히 낙후되어 있는 실정이다. 따라서 본 연구는 우리나라 산업위생 실험실과 관련한 안전보건관리 실태를 평가함으로써 향후 실험실의 안전보건관리 수준을 향상 시키는데 효과적인 자료로 활용하는데 기여하고자 한다. 방법: 산업위생실험실의 안전보건 실태를 파악하기 위해 설문조사를 수행하였으며, 설문은 실험실의 전반적인 안전보건, 화학물질 저장 및 용기, 가연성 및 인화성 화학물질, 가스 실린더, 의사전달, 응급처치 및 비상사태 장비, 정리정돈, 소방안전, 전기안전, 개인보호구, 흄후드 및 환기, 및 이황화탄소 취급 사례로서 12개 영역으로 구성되었다. 연구대상은 2001년 한국산업안전공단 정도관리프로그램에 참여한 기관으로서 총 대상은 119개 기관이었다. 연구기간은 2002년 7월 01일부터 8월 30일까지 약 60일 이었다. 설문은 반송봉투에 넣어 설문완성 후 연구자에게 보낼 수 있도록 배려하였으며, 1차 설문을 보낸 후 2주 후에 설문 참여를 독려하기 위해 엽서를 발송하였고, 다시 2주 후에 각 산업위생기관에 개별 전화 연락을 취하였다. 그 결과 63% (75개 기관)의 완성된 설문을 얻을 수 있었다. 설문의 총 조사항목은 79문항으로 구성되어 있으며, 산업위생실험실의 안전보건 수준을 정량적으로 평가하기 위해 안전보건 매뉴얼, 교육훈련프로그램 및 한국산업안전공단 실험실 지침서를 보유한 기관과 그렇지 않은 기관간의 차이는 선별된 67문항에 대해 각 문항에 합당하거나 적절할 경우 1점을 부여하는 방식으로 점수화하였다. 이들의 관련성을 파악하기 위하여 Microsoft-Excel 2000 프로그램을 이용하여 two-tailed t-test 분석을 실시하였다. 결과 1. 산업위생실험실 운영과 관련한 67개 항목(항목별로 각 1점 부여)에 대한 안전보건 성과지수화 (100점으로 점수 환산) 결과 안전보건 매뉴얼을 보유한 기관은 $42.98{\pm}13.36$(p<0.001)점, 교육훈련프로그램을 보유한 기관은 $50.75{\pm}14.12$(p<0.01)점, 한국산업안전공단 실험실 지침서를 보유한 기관은 $43.58{\pm}11.92$(p<0.01)점으로 그렇지 않은 기관에 비해 통계적으로 유의하게 높은 점수분포를 보였다. 2. 화학물질 보관 캐비닛이 있는 기관 중 64.8%의 기관은 화학물질을 알파벳 순으로, 27.8%는 분류 기준에 따라, 그리고 7.4%는 무작위로 보관하고 있었다. 3. 단지 8.0% (6개)의 기관만이 실험실내에 눈세정 분수(2 개), 샤워기(3개) 및 눈세정물병(3개, 2개 중복 응답 기관)과 같은 응급처치 장치 및 물품을 갖추고 있었다. 4. 89.0%의 기관이 흄후드내에 화학물질을 보관하고 있었다. 5. 물질안전보건자료, 흄후드 기록지, 비상사태 절차서 및 한국산업안전공단 실험실 지침서와 같은 문서관리는 부적절하게 관리 및 기록되고 있었다. 6. 대부분의 산업위생 실험실은 응급처치 장비, 화학물질 또는 가스용기 보관실과 같은 실험실 안전설비가 부족할 뿐만 아니라 정리정돈, 화학물질 저장 캐비닛, 안전보호구 및 흄후드와 같은 관리가 미비하였다. 결론: 이상의 결과에 근거하여 기관장은 실험실의 안전보건관리를 위하여 문서관리체계를 제공하고, 모든 실험실 종사자가 적절한 개인보호구를 착용할 수 있도록 하며, 비상 장비를 설치하고, 실험실과 관련한 적절한 규정을 제정하며, 교육훈련 프로그램을 제공하여야 한다. 또한 실험실 종사자는 실험 중 적절한 개인보호구의 착용하고, 비상장비 이용에 대한 교육훈련에 참여하며, 적절한 실험실 운영관리에 대한 책임감을 가져야 한다. 위의 권고사항 이행을 위해서 KOSHA는 KQCP 프로그램에 실험실 안전보건관리 항목을 삽입하여 주기적인 평가를 수행할 필요가 있다. 우리나라 실험실의 특성을 고려할 때 본 연구결과는 일반 실험실에도 적용될 수 있을 것으로 생각된다.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.45 no.3
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• pp.536-545
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• 1998

Background: The studies on prediction equations of pulmonary function parameters for adults in Korea have been performed in a reference population mainly consisted of young and middle ages. So they included a relatively few elderly who conducted pulmonary function test frequently in clinic. We established prediction equations of pulmonary function parameters for healthy adults over 50 years old in rural area and compared this results with those of other studies. Therefore we attempted to consider normative values of pulmonary function tests for elderly in Korea. Method: Five hundred thirty-three women and men over 50 years old in rural area were participated. A "healthy" subgroup of 110 women and 32 men were identified by excluding those who had conditions that negatively influenced pulmonary function. We derived prediction equations for FVC, $FEV_1$ and $FEV_1%$ by multiple linear regression method from their age, heights and weights in each sex. Results: Prediction equations for FVC and $FEV_1$ in each sex were derived as follows Male; FVC (L)=0.02488Height(cm)-0.0269Age(years)+0.493 $FEV_1(L)$=0.01874Weight(kg)-0.0282Age(years)+2.906 Female; FVC(L)=0.02160Height(cm)-0.0192Age(years)-0.0125 $FEV_1(L)$=0.01720Height(cm)-0.0194Age(years)+0.3890 Prediction equations for $FEV_1%$ were not derived because $FEV_1%$ didn't have statistically significant terms. Comparing Predicted values that were calculated by substitution into the equations of various studies of mean values of age, heights and weights from this study, FVC and $FEV_1$ values in men of this study were lower than those of other studies. In women, FVC and $FEV_1$ values of this study were as similar as or lower than those of the study conducted for healthy elderly blacks in U.S.A respectively. Conclusion: We have got prediction equations of pulmonary function parameters which were driven from forced expiratory spirogram in adults over 50 years old in rural area. Predicted values of this study were lower than those of other studies which were conducted in Korea. So we consider that the study for spirometry reference values for elderly Korean using the method compatible with ATS recommendation need to be conducted more frequently forward.

• The Korean Journal of Nuclear Medicine Technology
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• v.13 no.3
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• pp.3-9
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• 2009

Purpose: It is well-known that stress-induced stunning and reversible perfusion defect have impact on ejection fraction (EF) when performing myocardial perfusion SPECT. Due to these reasons, gated SPECT is recommended at stress and rest studies. And there was many experiments to analyze between Stress and Rest EF by using $^{99m}Tc$-MIBI. The aim of this study is to analyze between stress EF and rest EF at myocardial perfusion SPECT by using $^{201}Tl$ and define possible predictors of EF variability. Materials and Methods: From 2008 June to 2009 February, we analyzed 144 patients undergoing $^{201}Tl$ gated myocardial perfusion SPECT in ASAN medical center. To analyze the data, we use QGS (Quantitative gated SPECT) software, and derived End-systolic volume (ESV), End-diastolic volume (EDV), EF from the result. In this study, we comparatively analyzed stress/rest EF correlation based on stress/rest EF, EDV, ESV and reversibility of myocardial perfusion defect by using paired t-test, Bland-Altman analysis. Results: Mached pairs of stress EF and rest EF demonstrated excellent correlation (r=0.92) with no statistically significant difference (p=0.11). Bland-Altman analysis demonstrated a mean ${\Delta}EF$ was 0.52% (95% confidential interval[CI], -1.17~0.12%). No statistically significant difference between a mean ${\Delta}EF$ and hypothetic mean of 0 (${\Delta}EF$=0) (p=0.10). In the correlation of ${\Delta}EF$ according to stress/rest EDV and ESV, except rest ESV of <28mL (p<0.05), there was no statistically significant difference. In the correlation of ${\Delta}EF$ according to reversibility of perfusion defect, patients with reversible perfusion defect has statistically significant difference of ${\Delta}EF$ (p<0.05). ${\Delta}EF$ of stress/rest EF showed no statistically significant difference except 55% of rest EF (p<0.05). Conclusion: Like studies with $^{99m}Tc$-MIBI, there was generally no statistically significant difference between stress and rest EF in this study results. However a stress EF of <55%, a rest ESV of <28mL and patients with reversible perfusion defect showed statistically significant difference in ${\Delta}EF$. If performing $^{201}T$ myocardial perfusion SPECT to patients with abnormal cardiac function or reversible perfusion defect, consider this study results and apply it. We expect this study results could be useful predictors of ${\Delta}EF$ variability.

• Journal of radiological science and technology
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• v.39 no.2
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• pp.163-170
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• 2016

To evaluate whether the difference in geometrical characteristics between high-dose-rate (HDR) $^{192}Ir$ sources would influence the dose distributions of intracavitary brachytherapy. Two types of microSelectron HDR $^{192}Ir$ sources (classic and new models) were selected in this study. Two-dimensional (2D) treatment plans for classic and new sources were generated by using PLATO treatment planning system. We compared the point A, point B, and bladder and rectum reference points based on ICRU 38 recommendation. The radial dose function of the new source agrees with that of the classic source except difference of up to 2.6% at the nearest radial distance. The differences of anisotropy functions agree within 2% for r=1, 3, and 5 cm and $20^{\circ}$ < ${\theta}$ < $165^{\circ}$. The largest discrepancies of anisotropy functions reached up to 27% for ${\theta}$ < $20^{\circ}$ at r=0.25 cm and were up to 13%, 10%, and 7% at r=1, 3, and 5 cm for ${\theta}$ > $170^{\circ}$, respectively. There were no significant differences in doses of point A, point B, and bladder point for the treatment plans between the new and classic sources. For the ICRU rectum point, the percent dose difference was on average 0.65% and up to 1.0%. The dose discrepancies between two treatment plans are mainly affected due to the geometrical difference of the source and the sealed capsule.

• Journal of Korean Elementary Science Education
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• v.24 no.3
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• pp.259-267
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• 2005

This study was to investigate the elementary students' preconception on the brightness of electric bulb and degree of consistency on their preconceptions. Participants were 160 students of fifth graders in Seoul area. They had already teamed about the brightness of series circuit and parallel circuit of batteries. After they solved six problems in the same context, we provided them a pair of circuit which was an anomalous situation. And then they conducted CCLT (Cognitive Conflict Level Test). Elementary school students showed various preconceptions when they explained the light of bulb of two Simple electric Circuits. Many Students Consistently Showed the Scientific misconceptions like 'the light of bulb of two simple electric circuits was that the more batteries and the fewer bulbs were brighter.' The level of consistency that students presented scientific misconceptions was grouped all of four, such as 'high, middle, low, and nothing.' Therefore the higher scientific achievement they have, the higher consistency they have. As the students had high consistency level, they revealed high cognitive conflict level significantly. This high consistency will help them to change their preconception on the brightness of electric bulb and their cognitive conflict.

• Progress in Medical Physics
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• v.26 no.4
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• pp.294-303
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• 2015

American Association of Physicists in Medicine (AAPM) Published Task Group 40 report which includes recommendations for comprehensive quality assurance (QA) for medical linear accelerator in 1994 and TG-142 report for recommendation for QA which includes procedures such as intensity-modulated radiotherapy (IMRT), stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) and stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT) in 2010. Recently, Nuclear Safety and Security Commission (NSSC) published NSSC notification no. 2015-005 which is "Technological standards for radiation safety of medical field". This notification regulate to establish guidelines for quality assurance which includes organization and job, devices, methods/frequency/tolerances and action levels for QA, and to implement quality assurance in each medical institution. For this reason, all of these facilities using medical machine for patient treatment should establish items, frequencies and tolerances for proper QA for medical treatment machine that use the techniques such as non-IMRT, IMRT and SRS/SBRT, and perform quality assurance. For domestic, however, there are lack of guidelines and reports of Korean Society of Medical Physicists (KSMP) for reference to establish systematic QA report in medical institutes. This report, therefore, suggested comprehensive quality assurance system such as the scheme of quality assurance system, which is considered for domestic conditions, based the notification of NSSC and AAPM TG-142 reports. We think that the quality assurance system suggested for medical linear accelerator also help establishing QA system for another high-precision radiation treatment machines.

• Progress in Medical Physics
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• v.25 no.1
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• pp.46-52
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• 2014

Liquid ionization chamber is filled with liquid equivalent material unlike air filled ionization chamber. The high density material allow very small-volume chamber to be constructed that still have a sufficiently high sensitivity. However liquid ionization chamber should be considered for both initial recombination and general recombination. We, therefore, studied using the Co-60 beam as the continuous beam and the microLion chamber (PTW) for comparing the ion collection efficiency by Greening theory, two-dose rate method and our experiment method. The measurements were carried out using Theratron 780 as the cobalt machine and water phantom and 0.6 cc Farmer type ionization chamber was used with microLion chamber in same condition for measuring the charge of microLion chamber according to the dose rates. Dose rate was in 0.125~0.746 Gy/min and voltages applied to the microLion chamber were +400, +600 and +800 V. As the result, the collection efficiency by three method was generally less than 1%. In particular, our experimental collection efficiency was in good agreement within 0.3% with Greening theory except the lowest two dose rates. The collection efficiency by two-dose rate method also agreed with Greening theory generally less than 1%, but the difference was about 4% when the difference of two dose rates were lower. The ion recombination correction factors by Greening theory, two-dose rate method and our experiment were 1.0233, 1.0239 and 1.0316, respectively, in SSD 80 cm, depth 5 cm recommended by TRS-398 protocol. Therefore we confirmed that the loss by ion recombination was about 3% in this condition. We think that our experiment method for ion recombination correction will be useful tool for radiation dosimetry in continuous beam.

• The Korean Journal of Nuclear Medicine Technology
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• v.17 no.1
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• pp.76-79
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• 2013

Purpose: It is very important to establish the appropriate reference range in the laboratory for preventing mistakes like false positive or false negative. Because the reference range in the laboratory is standard of patient test results interpretation. Proinsulin is precursor hormone of insulin, and the importance is increasing for diagnosing diabetes or insulinoma. Proinsulin reagent used in our laboratory is produced in the USA, and the reference range provided by manufacturer was adapted to our reference range after the validation test. But, it is generally recommend for the every laboratory to establish the their own reference range. So, we decided to re-evaluate the reference range with our patients' test results. Materials and Methods: Among 737 patients who had been to health promotion center in our hospital between Dec. $8^{th}$ 2011 and Dec. $21^{st}$ 2011, 563 patients are chosen with exception of diabetics patients and patients showing abnormal test results in Fasting Glucose, HbA1c, Insulin, and C-peptide. The 563 test results (275 males and 288 females) were classified with three groups(entire, male, female), and analysis of normal distribution was performed with aid of SPSS(version 19.0). Because Each group didn't show normal distribution, the reference range was set from the lowest limit of 2.5% to the highest limit of 97.5% with Percentile method used in non-normal distribution. Results: When evaluation values are sorted in ascending order, the entire range is 4.5~52.0 pM and 5.3~51.9 pM for male and 4.5~52.0 pM for female. The calculated reference range with percentile method shows 6.7~26.5 pM for entire group, 6.8~26.5 pM for male and 6.7~26.5 pM for female, respectively. Conclusion: The reference range provided by reagent manufacturer is 6.4~9.4 pM and the one established in this study is 6.7~26.5 pM. This difference might be caused by racial characteristics between Western people and Koreans. So an ideal reference range can be gotten with normal population visiting to every hospital. Our hospital has been using the newly re-establishing reference range under consultation with the department of endocrinology since Aug. $1^{st}$ 2012.