• Childhood Kidney Diseases
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• v.14 no.1
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• pp.42-50
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• 2010

Purpose : The clinical characteristics and associated anomalies in children with solitary kidney (SK) were analyzed retrospectively. Methods : Total 38 children diagnosed to have SK at our hospital between December 1989 and December 2009 were recruited, and the clinical records including imaging studies were retrospectively reviewed. SK was defined as unilateral renal agenesis by imaging studies only, and patients with regression of unilateral dysplastic kidney were excluded. Results : Among total 38 patients, 12 were male. The median age at the diagnosis of SK was 6.5 months (at birth-13 years). SK was detected by prenatal ultrasonography in 14 patients and during work-up for renal or urinary tract diseases in 13 (including urinary tract infection in 7). In 10 patients, SK was detected incidentally. Anomalies in the SK were noted in 17 patients including vesicoureteral reflux in 11. Other anomalies in the genitourinary tract were present in 16 patients, and multi-organ-involving syndromes or chromosomal anomalies were detected in 9. The mean duration of follow-up was 9 years (9 months-20 years). Two patients developed chronic renal failure during follow-up, and the median serum creatinine concentration of the remaining 36 at their last follow-up was 0.6 mg/dL. Conclusion : SK may be isolated and clinically asymptomatic; it is frequently accompanied by other anomalies in genitourinary tract and other organs, some of which can induce progressive renal dysfunction. Early recognition of associated anomalies with SK and regular follow-up is recommended to reduce long-term risk.

• The Korean Journal of Nuclear Medicine Technology
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• v.13 no.3
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• pp.147-151
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• 2009

Purpose: 2-[$^{18}F$]Fluoro-2-deoxy-D-glucose ([$^{18}F$]FDG) particularly plays as a important role in Positron Emission Tomography (PET) imaging in nuclear medicine. Domestic [$^{18}F$]FDG auto synthesizers are installed in Seoul National University Bundang Hospital (SNUBH) at June 2008, these modules were known that it's synthetic yields were guaranteed in average $45{\pm}5%$ so far. To improve yields and convenience of domestic [$^{18}F$]FDG auto synthesizer, numerous trials in reaction time, base concentration, pressure and temperature were performed to increase [$^{18}F$]FDG yields. Materials and Methods: Several synthetic factors (temperature, time and pressure) and shortcoming were corrected based on many evaporation test. Syringe dispensing of tetra-butylammonium bicarbonate (TBAB) was replaced with micro pipette to prepare tetrabutyl ammonium fluoride salt ([$^{18}F$]TBAF). Troublesome refill of liquid nitrogen every 2 hours which was used to protect vacuum system was changed to charcoal cartridge, base guard filter. To monitor the volume of delivered $[^{18}O]OH_2$ from cyclotron by surveillance camera, we set up the volumetric vial on the cover of the module. In addition to, the recovery vial was added in [$^{18}F$]FDG production system to recover [$^{18}F$]FDG loss due to the leak of valve ($V_{13,14}$) in [$^{18}F$]FDG purification process. Results: When we used micro pipette for adding TBAB ($30\;{\mu}L$ in 12% $H_2O$ in acetonitrile), this quantitative dispensation has enabled to improve $5.5{\pm}1.7%$ residual fluorine-18 activity in fluorine separation cartridge compared to syringe adding. Besides, the synthetic yields of [$^{18}F$]FDG has increased $58{\pm}2.6%$ (n=19), $58{\pm}2.9%$ (n=14), $60%{\pm}2.5%$ (n=17) for 3 months. The life cycle of charcoal cartridge and base vacuum was 3 months prior to filling liquid nitrogen every 2 hours and additional side separator can prevent pump corrosion by organic solvent. After setting of volumetric indicator vial, the operator can easily monitor the total volume of irradiated $[^{18}O]OH_2$ from cyclotron. The recovery vial can be used for the stabilizer when an irregular [$^{18}F$]FDG loss was generated by the leak of valves ($V_{13,14}$). Conclusions: We has optimized appropriate synthetic conditions (temperature, time, pressure) in domestic [$^{18}F$]FDG auto synthesizer. In addition to, the remodeling with several accessories improve yields of domestic [$^{18}F$]FDG auto synthesizer with reliable reproducibility.

• Geophysics and Geophysical Exploration
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• v.13 no.1
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• pp.24-30
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• 2010

This study utilises repeated numerical tests to understand the effects of variable near-surface conditions on time-lapse seismic surveys. The numerical tests were aimed at reproducing the significant scattering observed in field experiments conducted at the Naylor site in the Otway Basin for the purpose of $CO_2$ sequestration. In particular, the variation of elastic properties of both the top soil and the deeper rugose clay/limestone interface as a function of varying water saturation were investigated. Such tests simulate the measurements conducted in dry and wet seasons and to evaluate the contribution of these seasonal variations to seismic measurements in terms of non-repeatability. Full elastic pre-stack modelling experiments were carried out to quantify these effects and evaluate their individual contributions. The results show that the relatively simple scattering effects of the corrugated near-surface clay/limestone interface can have a profound effect on time-lapse surveys. The experiments also show that the changes in top soil saturation could potentially affect seismic signature even more than the corrugated deeper surface. Overall agreement between numerically predicted and in situ measured normalised root-mean-square (NRMS) differences between repeated (time-lapse) 2D seismic surveys warrant further investigation. Future field studies will include in situ measurements of the elastic properties of the weathered zone through the use of 'micro Vertical Seismic Profiling (VSP)' arrays and very dense refraction surveys. The results of this work may impact on other areas not associated with $CO_2$ sequestration, such as imaging oil production over areas where producing fields suffer from a karstic topography, such as in the Middle East and Australia.

• Korean Journal of Agricultural and Forest Meteorology
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.65-73
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• 2019

The MODIS (Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer) data in Hierarchical Data Format (HDF) have been processed using the Geospatial Data Abstraction Library (GDAL). Because of a relatively large data size, it would be preferable to build and install the data analysis tool with greater computing performance, which would differ by operating system and the form of distribution, e.g., source code or binary package. The objective of this study was to examine the performance of the GDAL for processing the HDF files, which would guide construction of a computer system for remote sensing data analysis. The differences in execution time were compared between environments under which the GDAL was installed. The wall clock time was measured after extracting data for each variable in the MODIS data file using a tool built lining against GDAL under a combination of operating systems (Ubuntu and openSUSE), compilers (GNU and Intel), and distribution forms. The MOD07 product, which contains atmosphere data, were processed for eight 2-D variables and two 3-D variables. The GDAL compiled with Intel compiler under Ubuntu had the shortest computation time. For openSUSE, the GDAL compiled using GNU and intel compilers had greater performance for 2-D and 3-D variables, respectively. It was found that the wall clock time was considerably long for the GDAL complied with "--with-hdf4=no" configuration option or RPM package manager under openSUSE. These results indicated that the choice of the environments under which the GDAL is installed, e.g., operation system or compiler, would have a considerable impact on the performance of a system for processing remote sensing data. Application of parallel computing approaches would improve the performance of the data processing for the HDF files, which merits further evaluation of these computational methods.

• Journal of Veterinary Clinics
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• v.11 no.2
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• pp.529-537
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• 1994

Sector scanner which has a conical end is used to image through the intercostal space because heart is protected by the ribs. Cardiac data published all around the world were also obtained by sector scanner. Although scanners being used in every small animal practice and animal hospital at college in Korea include convex ape and linear type, linear type is not appropriate f3r cardiac scan because of a wide contact surface. The purpose of this study is to establish ultrasonographic images of normal cardiac structures by measuring shape, size of reflectable cardiac structure according to restraint position in scanning normal heart of the puppies with 6.5 MHz convex scanner(SonoAce 4500, Medison, Korea) used in our veterinary teaching hospital, Seoul national university. Seventeen male and female puppies considered having healthy hear by X-ray and clinical examination are used feom April to July 1994. Scanning point selection of probe head and the distinction of imaged cardiac structures were accomplished by necropsy and cardiac scanning performed through thoracotomy under general anesthesia. At 10 o'clock position of transducer(at an angle of 30$^{\circ}$ between imaginary line from elbow joint to 3rd sternum and probe head, 60$^{\circ}$ from body surface, 4th intercostal space of right thorax) with the marker of scanner toward the head of dogs right atrium, left atrium and left ventricle were observed in 2, 3, 4, 5 intercostal space(2cm from the sternum) of experimental dog positioned ventrodorsally under general anesthesia. Under these conditions, the numerical values of imaged diastolic hear are as follows : the distance from skin to apex(mean$\pm$S.D) 47.53$\pm$6.94mm, thickness of left ventricular wall 6.00$\pm$1.60mm, length of left ventricle 16.27$\pm$5.31mm, width of left ventricle 15,33$\pm$4.25mm, length of left atrium 12.33$\pm$3.82mm, width of left atrium 11. 33$\pm$3.94mm, length of right atrium 1.00$\pm$2.41mm, width of right atrium 11.21$\pm$2.76mm and the area of left ventricle 270.92$\pm$109.81mm$^2$, area of left atrium 98.00$\pm$41.08mm$^2$, area of right atrium 62.75$\pm$21.04mm$^2$.

• Radiation Oncology Journal
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• v.27 no.2
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• pp.91-102
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• 2009

Purpose: To compare the accuracy and efficacy of EDR2 film, a 2D ionization chamber array (MatriXX) and an amorphous silicon electronic portal imaging device (EPID) in the pre-treatment QA of IMRT. Materials and Methods: Fluence patterns, shaped as a wedge with 10 steps (segments) by a multi-leaf collimator (MLC), of reference and test IMRT fields were measured using EDR2 film, the MatriXX, and EPID. Test fields were designed to simulate leaf positioning errors. The absolute dose at a point in each step of the reference fields was measured in a water phantom with an ionization chamber and was compared to the dose obtained with the use of EDR2 film, the MatriXX and EPID. For qualitative analysis, all measured fluence patterns of both reference and test fields were compared with calculated dose maps from a radiation treatment planning system (Pinnacle, Philips, USA) using profiles and $\gamma$ evaluation with 3%/3 mm and 2%/2 mm criteria. By measurement of the time to perform QA, we compared the workload of EDR2 film, the MatriXX and EPID. Results: The percent absolute dose difference between the measured and ionization chamber dose was within 1% for the EPID, 2% for the MatriXX and 3% for EDR2 film. The percentage of pixels with $\gamma$%>1 for the 3%/3 mm and 2%/2 mm criteria was within 2% for use of both EDR2 film and the EPID. However, differences for the use of the MatriXX were seen with a maximum difference as great as 5.94% with the 2%/2 mm criteria. For the test fields, EDR2 film and EPID could detect leaf-positioning errors on the order of -3 mm and -2 mm, respectively. However it was difficult to differentiate leaf-positioning errors with the MatriXX due to its poor resolution. The approximate time to perform QA was 110 minutes for the use of EDR2 film, 80 minutes for the use of the MatriXX and approximately 55 minutes for the use of the EPID. Conclusion: This study has evaluated the accuracy and efficacy of EDR2 film, the MatriXX and EPID in the pre-treatment verification of IMRT. EDR2 film and the EPID showed better performance for accuracy, while the use of the MatriXX significantly reduced measurement and analysis times. We propose practical and useful methods to establish an effective QA system in a clinical environment.

• Journal of Biomedical Engineering Research
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• v.17 no.1
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• pp.19-24
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• 1996

The purpose of this paper is to design high-order (or radial) surface gradient coil (SGC), which can provide multi-dimensional spatial selection. Although the spatial Selection with High-Order gradienT (SHOT) can provide a 2-D selection with only one selective RF pulse, the high-order gradient pro- duced by conventional cylindrical-shape coils has not been clinically useful due to the large selection size caused by the limited radial gradient intensity. However, by using the proposed high-order SGCs located near the imaging region, the size of volume selection can be reduced to a clinically useflll size of 1-2 cm in diameter by applying stronger radial gradient field with much less gradient driving power. So far radial SGCs have been designed by using the field component method and may cause distortion in the selection shapes. In this paper, by using the target field approach for the coil design, selected volumes became almost circular. A 40 cm-by-40 cm $z^2$_surface gradient coil has been designed and implemented by using the target field approach. Phantom and volunteer studies have been performed Experimental results using spatially localized MRI show good agreement to the theoretically predicted behavior.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Radiology
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• v.4 no.2
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• pp.13-20
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• 2010

True lateral scapula image was very important to diagnosis the scapula fracture and dislocation induced by traumatic injury. The aim of this study was to know the patient rotation angle to be showing the scapula true lateral in korean. d Materials Thirty patients(22men, 8 women, mean ages 53.4)with scapular pain, had supine Anteroposterior projection taken with $30^{\circ}$, $40^{\circ}$, $45^{\circ}$ trunk rotation angle changing the manual angulation material. Radiographs were evaluated independently by 5 experienced observers(1 orthopedics surgery specialist, 1 diagnostic radiology specialist, 3 radiological technologist) They assessed overlap of vertebral border and axillary border of scapula as follows; Totally overlapping of vertebral border and axillary border is 4, partially overlapping is 3, not overlapping is 2 and oblique location with two borders is 1. All observers scored using by PACS monitor.$30^{\circ}$ trunk rotation was scored $1.53{\pm}0.39$, $40^{\circ}$ trunk rotation was scored $3.83{\pm}0.15$ and $45^{\circ}$ trunk rotation was scored $2.17{\pm}0.43$. There was no difference(p<0.05) between group of more than 100cm of the girth of the chest and group of less than 100cm. Similarly, men and women group showed no difference(p<0.05) with trunk rotation statistically. There was no result of trunk rotation angle to radiograph the true scapula lateral image up to date. This studies were summarized as follows; Adaptation of $40^{\circ}$ trunk rotation was the best to show the true scapula lateral image in korean. Our results were very useful to get the true scapula lateral images in clinic.

• Investigative Magnetic Resonance Imaging
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• v.9 no.2
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• pp.117-133
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• 2005

For identifying the pathological findings in magnetic resonance images (MRIs), normal anatomical structures in MRIs should be identified in advance. For studying the anatomical structures in MRIs, a learning tool that includes the followings is necessary. First, MRIs of the entire body; second, horizontal, coronal, and sagittal MRIs; third, segmented images corresponding to the MRIs; fourth, three dimensional (3D) images of the anatomical structures in the MRIs; fifth, software incorporating the MRIs, segmented images, and 3D images. Such a learning tool, however, is hard to obtain. Therefore, in this research, such a learning tool which helps medical students and doctors study the normal anatomical structures in MRIs was made as follows. A healthy young Korean male adult with standard body shape was selected. Six hundred thirteen MRIs of the entire body were scanned (slice thickness 3 mm, interslice gap 0 mm, field of view 480 mm${\times}$480 mm, resolution 512${\times}$512, T1 weighted), and transferred to the personal computer. Sixty anatomical structures in the MRIs were segmented to make segmented images. Coronal, sagittal MRIs and coronal, sagittal segmented images were made. On the basis of the segmented images, forty-seven anatomical structures 3D images were made by manual surface reconstruction method. Software incorporating the MRIs, segmented images, and 3D images was composed. This learning tool that includes horizontal, coronal, sagittal MRIs of the entire body, corresponding segmented images, 3D images of the anatomical structures in the MRIs, and software is expected to help medical students and doctors study the normal anatomical structures in MRIs. This learning tool will be presented worldwide through Internet or CD titles.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.33 no.2
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• pp.21-34
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• 2016

Objectives : The aim of the present study is to examine the effect and mechanism of Erycibae Caulis and Corydalis Tuber Pharmacopuncture (ECP) on a mouse model with collagen induced rheumatoid arthritis (CIA). Methods : We evaluated the Aspartate aminotransferase (AST), Alanine aminotransferase (ALT), Creatinine, and the Blood urea nitrogen (BUN) of serum to examine the safety of this study. In vivo, we compared the results of the non-treated group, the normal saline pharmacopuncture treated control group, the indomethacin treated group and the ECP group. We evaluated rheumatoid arthritis manifestation and the Rheumatoid Arthritis Index (AI). Also, immune cells in blood affected by ECP were evaluated by calculating the level of white blood cells (WBC), neutrophil, lympocytes and monocytes. Next, the level of Immunoglobulin M (IgM), Immunoglobulin G (IgG), Interleukin (IL)-$1{\beta}$, IL-6, IL-17, Tumor Necrosis Factor (TNF)-${\alpha}$ and Granulocyte-macrophage Stimulating Factor (GM-CSF)in serum were measured. We examined the imaging of cartilage degeneration using micro CT-arthrography of the hind paw. Additionally, we examined the effects of reducing bone volume (BV) ratio and bone surface/bone volume (BS/BV) ratio with 3D Micro-CT. Finally, we did a histopathologic examination analysis. Results : The absence of liver and kidney toxicity was evident. In vivo, edema of the joints of the ECP group decreased greatly in macroscopic observation. AI measurement of the ECP group also decreased significantly compared to the control group. The level of WBC, neutrophil, lympocytes, and monocytes in the blood decreased but there was no statistical significance of this data. IgM of the ECP group decreased significantly compared to the control group. IL-$1{\beta}$, IL-6, TNF-${\alpha}$, and GM-CSF production of the ECP group decreased significantly compared to the control group. As a result of examining joint condition with 3D micro CT, deformation and destruction of the joint was shown to have decreased. Bone density of ECP group increased at a statistically significant level compared to the control group. Degree of joint inflammation of ECP group decreased significantly compared to the control group. After H&E and M-T staining, infiltration of immune cells, subsidence of the cartilage, damage to the synovial cells and joint erosion decreased. Conclusion : This study showed that ECP hindered the process of rheumatoid arthritis and protected joints and cartilage.