• The Korean Journal of Nuclear Medicine
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• v.28 no.3
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• pp.282-292
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• 1994

Brain perfusion SPECT shows typical regional perfusion abnormalities in Alzheimer's disease(AD) and is useful for its diagnosis. However, there is also arguement that these patterns show significant overlap with other causes, and the accuracy for SPECT in differentiating AD has shown conflicting results. We postulate that the variation in re-ported results are partly due to a difference in patient or control selection with special reference to the mixture of ischemic cerebral disease in the studied population. To deter-mine the effect of ischemic lesions and the nature of control subjects on SPECT studies for AD, we performed $^{99m}Tc$-HMPAO single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) in 11 probable AD patients with a low (<4) Hachinski ischemic score and 12 non-demented age matched controls. Magnetic resonance imaging(MRI) disclosed ischemic cerebral lesions in 27% (3/11) of the PAD group and 25% (3/12) of the control group. Regional perfusion indices were quantitated from the SPECT images as follows and the distribution of perfusion indices from both groups were compared. This was repeated with controls after excluding those with significant ischemic lesions by MRI : regional perfusion index = average regional count/average cerebellar count All PAD patients showed perfusion abnormality in SPECT. However, 53% (10/12) of controls also showed perfusion at-normalities, and no pattern could reliably differentiate the two groups. After excluding controls with significant cerebral ischemia, the difference in temporal and parietal perfusion index was increased. A decreased tempore-parietal and any parietal or temporal per-fusion index had a sensitivity of 18% and 36% in detecting AD, respectively. When using a separate group of normal age mathced controls, the indices showed an even more difference in the temporal and parietal lobes and the sensitivity of a decreased tempore-parietal and any parietal or temporal perfusion index had a sensitivity of 36% and 55% in detecting AD, respectively. Thus, the type of control with special reference to the pres-once of ischemic cerebral lesions contribute significantly to the accuracy of perfusion SPECT in diagnosing AD. This nay have particular importance in the diagnosis of AD in populations where the prevalance of cerebrovascular disease is high.

• The Korean Journal of Nuclear Medicine
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• v.30 no.4
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• pp.484-492
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• 1996

To detect ischemic tissue in experimental model of cerebral ischemia made by middle cerebral artery(MCA)-occlusion, we acquired triple image of $^{99m}Tc$-glucarate, [$^{18}F$]fluoro-deoxyglucose (FDG), and 2,3,5- triphenyltetrazolium (TTC) staining. We made cerebral infarction either with reperfusion (after occlusion of 2 hours) or without reperfusion in 10 Sprague-Dawley rats by inserting thread to MCA through internal carotid artery. After 22 hours, we injected 740 MBq of $^{99m}Tc$-glucarate and 55.5 MBq of [$^{18}F$]FDG through tail vein. Each 1 mm slice of rat brains was frozen and exposed to imaging plate for 20 minutes in freezer to get an [$^{18}F$]FDG image. After 20 hours enough to fade radioactivity of [$^{18}F$]FDG, the slices were again imaged by BAS1500 for $^{99m}Tc$-glucarate uptake. Finally, these brain tissues were stained with TTC. Semi-quantitative visual analysis was done by grading 0 to 3 points according to the degree of uptakes($^{99m}Tc$-glucarate) and decreased uptakes([$^{18}F$]FDG and TTC). Ten rats survived with neurologic symptoms. TTC staining confirmed the development of infarction. The size of the infarction was relatively larger in the group without reperfusion. [$^{18}F$]FDG images were similar to TTC-stained images. However, we found regions with intermediate uptake which were not stained with TTC. We found regions with intermediate [$^{18}F$]FDG uptake where TTC staining was normal. $^{99m}Tc$-glucarate uptake was round only in TTC non-stained region. In the TTC stained regions, there were no uptake of $^{99m}Tc$-glucarate. We could not find clear relation between $^{99m}Tc$-glucarate uptake with [$^{18}F$]FDG uptake. This was partly because percent uptake of $^{99m}Tc$-glucarate was so small (less than 1 percent of injected dose) and because there were quite heterogeneity of patterns of [$^{18}F$]FDG uptake and TTC. With these findings, we could conclude that $^{99m}Tc$-glucarate were taken up only in part of ischemic tissues which were proven to be nonviable. The establishment of MCA-occluded rat model with or without reperfusion and triple imaging for $^{99m}Tc,\;^{18}F$ and TTC helped the characterization of $^{99m}Tc$-glucarate uptakes. Further work is needed to clarify the meaning or diversities or [$^{18}F$]FDG and TTC and their relation with $^{99m}Tc$-glucarate.

• Korean Journal of Digital Imaging in Medicine
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• v.14 no.2
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• pp.23-31
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• 2012

There are AEC mode and fix mode to exposure when the whole spine antero-posterior radiography is done by using DR equipment. This study compared the utility of fix mode to AEC mode, by evaluating organ dose and effective dose and by examining the quality of radiographic image. GE DEFINIUM 8000 and ART-200X Rando Phantom manufactured by Flukebiometical were used for this study. The Rando phantom was set in front of wall detector of X-rays equipment. AEC mode was set at 80kVp and Fix mode was set at 80kVp, 25mAs, 32mAs, 40mAs, and 50mAs. Whole spine AP image were aquired by combining C, T-L and L-S spine images obtained through 3 exposures. When obtaining C, T-L and L-S spine images, were checked for Air kerma (mGy) value calculated by UNFORS Xi meter attached at the phantom surface of center of radiation field. The effective and organ doses were compared by PCXMC program (PC-Based Monte Carlo Program). The quality of obtained radiographic image was evaluated visually by 3 radiologists using resolution chart. When the effective doses was calculated based on tissue weighting factor of ICRP-103, 1.278mSv was measured by AEC mode, and Fix mode measured 0.405mSv at 25mAs, 0.518mSv at 32mAs, 0.649mSv at 40mAs, and 0.810mSv at 50mAS. In addition, the organ dose measured with esposure at 25mAs by Fix mode was almost equivalent to the organ dose by AEC mode, at the esophagus, thyroid, oral mucosa, salivaly glands located at the cervical spine part, while the organ dose by Fix mode was in general lower than the organ dose by AEC mode at the other organs. When Fix mode at 32mAs, 40mAs, and 50mAs was compared to AEC mode for organ dose in 26 organs, AEC mode had higher measurement in 21 organs but not for than brain, trachea, thyroid, oral mucosa, and salivaly glands which are located at the cervical spine part. The image quality evaluated by resolution test chart was much higher with AEC mode than the quality with Fix mode at all exposure conditions. However, while the image quality of cervical spine exposured at 50mAs by Fix mode was lower than the quality of AEC mode, thoraco-lumbar spine and lumbo-sacral spine were calculated and the quality was similar to AEC mode. Scoliosis occurs mainly at thoraco-lumbar and lumbo-sacral spine, not at cervical spine. Compared to AEC mode, Using the appropriate protocol (80kVp, 50mAs) of fix mode for whole spine AP radiography was thought to be useful because the image quality of the thoraco-lumar and lumbo-sacral spine was similar on AEC mode, Also organ and effective doses can be decreased with Fix mode. Therefore, It is considered that fix mode can be used properly with AEC mode for whole spine AP radiography when considering patient's body posture.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Radiology
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.73-81
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• 2024

This study compared the cortical thickness of patients with mood disorders and a control group to assess structural abnormalities. A retrospective study was conducted from September 2020 to August 2022 at the Department of Psychiatry, P Hospital in Yangsan, Gyeongsangnam-do. The study included 44 individuals diagnosed with mood disorders and 59 healthy individuals without any pathological lesions. The 3D-T1 MPRAGE images obtained from magnetic resonance imaging examinations were utilized, and FreeSurfer software was employed to measure cortical thickness. Statistical analysis involved independent samples t-tests to measure the differences in means between the two groups, and Cohen's d test was used to compare the effect sizes of the differences. Furthermore, the correlation between the measured average cortical thickness and Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale scores was analyzed. The research results revealed that patients with mood disorders exhibited decreased cortical thickness compared to the normal control group in both superior frontal regions, both rostral middle frontal regions, both caudal middle frontal regions, both pars opercularis, pars orbitals, pars triangularis regions, both superior temporal regions, both inferior temporal regions, both lateral orbitofrontal regions, both medial orbitofrontal regions, both fusiform regions, both posterior cingulate regions, both isthmus cingulate regions, both superior parietal regions, both inferior parietal regions, both supramarginal regions, left postcentral region, right bank of the superior temporal sulcus region, right middle temporal region, right rostral anterior cingulate region, and right insula region. Among them, regions that showed differences with effect sizes of 0.8 or higher were left fusiform (d=0.82), pars opercularis (d=0.94), superior frontal (d=0.88), right lateral orbitofrontal (d=0.85), and pars orbitalis (d=0.89). Additionally, there was a weak negative correlation between PANSS scores and average cortical thickness in both the left hemisphere (r=-0.234) and right hemisphere (r=-0.230). These findings are expected to be helpful in identifying areas of cortical thickness reduction in patients with mood disorders compared to healthy individuals and understanding the relationship between symptom severity and cortical thickness changes.

• The Korean Journal of Nuclear Medicine
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• v.39 no.6
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• pp.421-429
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• 2005

Purpose: It has been postulated that dopamine release in the striatum underlies the reinforcing properties of nicotine. Substantial evidence in the animal studies demonstrates that nicotine interacts with dopaminergic neuron and regulates the activation of the dopaminergic system. The aim of this study was to visualize the dopamine release by smoking in human brain using PET scan with $[^{11}C]raclopride$. Materials and Methods: Five male non-smokers or ex-smokers with an abstinence period longer than 1 year (mean age of $24.4{\pm}1.7$ years) were enrolled in this study $[^{11}C]raclopride$, a dopamine D2 receptor radioligand, was administrated with bolus-plus-constant infusion. Dynamic PET was performed during 120 minutes ($3{\times}20s,\;2{\times}60s,\;2{\times}120s,\;1{\times}180s\;and\;22{\times}300s$). following the 50 minute-scanning, subjects smoked a cigarette containing 1 mg of nicotine while in the scanner. Blood samples for the measurement of plasma nicotine level were collected at 0, 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 45, 60, and 90 minute after smoking. Regions for striatal structures were drawn on the coronal summed PET images guided with co-registered MRI. Binding potential, calculated as (striatal-cerebellar)/cerebellar activity, was measured under equilibrium condition at baseline and smoking session. Results: The mean decrease in binding potential of $[^{11}C]raclopride$ between the baseline and smoking in caudate head, anterior putamen and ventral striatum was 4.7%, 4.0% and 7.8%, respectively. This indicated the striatal dopamine release by smoking. Of these, the reduction in binding potential in the ventral striatum was significantly correlated with the cumulated plasma level of the nicotine (Spearman's rho=0.9, p=0.04). Conclusion: These data demonstrate that in vivo imaging with $[^{11}C]raclopride$ PET could measure nicotine-induced dopamine release in the human brain, which has a significant positive correlation with the amount or nicotine administered bt smoking.

• Pediatric Infection and Vaccine
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• v.4 no.1
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• pp.64-72
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• 1997

Purpose : The incidence of tuberculous meningitis in Korean children has been markedly decreased after 1980s, but this disease has still occurred with low rate. Therefore, it may be suspected that delayed diagnosis and treatment will be happened because of lacking of clinical experiences and indistinguishable other meningitis, so it is important to make early diagnosis and treatment of tuberculous meningitis concerning with the prognosis. In this aspect, we conducted study to concern and investigate sustainly about the diagnostic criteria, clinical characteristics, radiological findings, complications, and prognosis of typical or atypical tuberculous meningitis in children. Methods : Forty four children who were hospitalized and treated due to tuberculous meningitis in pediatric wards of Our Lady of Mercy Hospital, St. Holy Hospital, St. Vincent Hospital and Uijungbu St. Mary Hospital from January 1985 to June 1996 were included in this study. We reviewed medical records of these patients retrospectively. Results : 1) The tuberculous meningitis has occured continuosly since mid-1980s. The highest 2) The diagnosis was made by contact history of active tuberculous patients, positive tuberculin test, responses of antituberculous antibiotics and discovery of Mycobacterium tuberculosis from CSF or other specimens. Among patients, 7 children(16%) were not vaccinated with BCG, and only 18 children(40%) were positive in tuberculin test. 3) The symptoms and signs of our patients on initial examinations were fever, vomiting, headache, lethargy, poor feeding, weight loss, neck stiffness, convulsion, abdominal pain and motor deficits. 4) The findings of initial CSF samples revealed leukocyte $239.5/mm^3$(mean) with lymphocyte predominant, elevated protein levels(mean;259.5mg%) and low sugar level(mean;40.7mg%). And the ratio of CSF/blood sugar was 0.407. But, atypical CSF findings were seen in 31.8% patients. 5) On brain imaging study, 34 out of 39 children had findings of hydrocephalus, basilar meningeal enhancement, infarction and subarachnoidal inflammations etc. On chest X-ray, the findings of miliary tuberculosis(34.1%), normal finding(29.5%), parenchymal infiltrations (11.4%) and calcifications(9.1%) were showed. 6) In neurological clinical stage, there were twenty-six children(59%) in stage 1, fourteen children(32%) in stage 2 and four children(9%) in stage 3. The late sequeles were encountered by 29.5% with mild and 4.6% with severe neurological injury. The most common neurological injury was quadriplegia and the mortality rate was 6.8%. 7) The SIADH was developed in 20 children(45.5%) after the 4th hospital day. Half of all SIADH patients were symptomatic. Conclusion : Tuberculosis meningitis is still an important extrapulmonary disease with high morbidity and mortality. Early diagnosis with clinical contact history of active tuberculosis and radiological imaging examinations and early treatments are essential in order to prevent and decrase the rate of late sequeles and death.

• Radiation Oncology Journal
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• v.19 no.1
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• pp.53-65
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• 2001

Purpose : To improve the local control of patients with nasopharyngeal cancer, we have implemented 3-D conformal radiotherapy and forward intensity modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) to used of compensating filters. Three dimension conformal radiotherapy with intensity modulation is a new modality for cancer treatments. We designed 3-D treatment planning with 3-D RTP (radiation treatment planning system) and evaluation dose distribution with tumor control probability (TCP) and normal tissue complication probability (NTCP). Material and Methods : We have developed a treatment plan consisting four intensity modulated photon fields that are delivered through the compensating tilters and block transmission for critical organs. We get a full size CT imaging including head and neck as 3 mm slices, and delineating PTV (planning target volume) and surrounding critical organs, and reconstructed 3D imaging on the computer windows. In the planning stage, the planner specifies the number of beams and their directions including non-coplanar, and the prescribed doses for the target volume and the permissible dose of normal organs and the overlap regions. We designed compensating filter according to tissue deficit and PTV volume shape also dose weighting for each field to obtain adequate dose distribution, and shielding blocks weighting for transmission. Therapeutic gains were evaluated by numerical equation of tumor control probability and normal tissue complication probability. The TCP and NTCP by DVH (dose volume histogram) were compared with the 3-D conformal radiotherapy and forward intensity modulated conformal radiotherapy by compensator and blocks weighting. Optimization for the weight distribution was peformed iteration with initial guess weight or the even weight distribution. The TCP and NTCP by DVH were compared with the 3-D conformal radiotherapy and intensitiy modulated conformal radiotherapy by compensator and blocks weighting. Results : Using a four field IMRT plan, we have customized dose distribution to conform and deliver sufficient dose to the PTV. In addition, in the overlap regions between the PTV and the normal organs (spinal cord, salivary grand, pituitary, optic nerves), the dose is kept within the tolerance of the respective organs. We evaluated to obtain sufficient TCP value and acceptable NTCP using compensating filters. Quality assurance checks show acceptable agreement between the planned and the implemented MLC(multi-leaf collimator). Conclusion : IMRT provides a powerful and efficient solution for complex planning problems where the surrounding normal tissues place severe constraints on the prescription dose. The intensity modulated fields can be efficaciously and accurately delivered using compensating filters.

• Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging
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• v.42 no.1
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• pp.8-16
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• 2008

Purpose: To assess the effect of extracranial-intracranial (EC-IC) bypass surgery on hemodynamic improvement, we evaluated serial regional cerebral hemodynamic change of the middle cerebral artery (MCA) in symptomatic patients with atherosclerotic occlusion of the internal carotid artery (ICA) or MCA using $^{99m}Tc$-ECD acetazolamide stress brain perfusion SPECT (Acetazolamide SPECT). Materials and Methods: The patients who had suffered a recent stroke with atherosclerotic ICA or MCA occlusion underwent EC-IC bypass surgery and Acetazolamide SPECT at 1 week before and three to six months after surgery. For image analysis, attenuation corrected images were spatially normalized to SPECT templates with SPM2. Anatomical automated labeling was applied to calculate mean counts of each Volume-Of-Interest (VOI). Seven VOIs of bilateral frontal, parietal, temporal regions of the MCA territory and the ipsilateral cerebellum were defined. Using mean counts of 7 VOIs, cerebral perfusion index and perfusion reserve index were calculated. Results: Seventeen patients (M:F =12:5, mean age $53{\pm}2yr$) were finally included in the analysis. The cerebral blood flow of the parietal region increased at 1 week (p = 0.003) and decreased to the preoperative level at 3-6 months (p = 0.003). The cerebrovascular reserve of the frontal and parietal regions increased significantly at 1 week after surgery (p<0.01) and improved further at 3-6 months. Conclusion: Cerebrovascular reserve of the MCA territory was significantly improved at early postoperative period after EC-IC bypass and kept improved state during long-term follow-up, although cerebral blood flow did not significantly improved. Therefore, cerebrovascular reserve may be a good indicator of postoperative hemodynamic improvement resulted from bypass effect.

• Korean Journal of Psychosomatic Medicine
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• v.14 no.2
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• pp.102-107
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• 2006

Objectives : The aim of this study is to evaluate depressive symptom of methamphetamine(MA) dependent subjects and the association between depressive symptom and characteristics of methamphetamine use. Methods : Forty three MA dependent subjects and 40 healthy comparison subjects were recruited in this study. Characteristics of substance use and depressive symptom using Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) were evaluated. Results : Average BDI score of methamphetamine group is $14.1{\pm}7.7$, which is significantly higher than that of healthy comparison subjects $(7.3{\\pm}5.7)$ (t=4.04, df=65, p<0.001). Given that 38.9% of MA dependent subjects and 22.6% of healthy comparison subjects are attributed to mild to moderate depressed state and 27.8% of MA dependent subjects and 3.2% of healthy comparison subjects to moderate-severe depressed state, depressive symptom is more frequently observed in MA dependent subjects relative to healthy comparison subjects (p=0.001). On covariating as sex, age, alcohol use and smoking, prevalence of depressive symptom is still higher in MA dependent subjects than healthy comparison subjects (OR=300.7, p=0.012). BDI scores of MA dependent subjects are correlated with abstinence period (r=-0.35, n=36, p=0.042) but not with cumulative dose or duration of use (r=-0.08, n=36, p=0.677 : r=-0.08, n=36, p=0.658). Conclusion : Depressive symptom was severe and frequently observed in MA dependent subjects. This study suggested that depressive symptom of MA dependent subjects might be not associated with degree of MA use but decreased by persistent abstinence.

• The Korean Journal of Nuclear Medicine
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• v.32 no.5
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• pp.414-424
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• 1998

Purpose: Cross-modality coregistration of positron emission tomography (PET) and magnetic resonance imaging (MR) could enhance the clinical information. In this study we propose a refined technique to improve the robustness of registration, and to implement more realistic visualization of the coregistered images. Materials and Methods: Using the sinogram of PET emission scan, we extracted the robust head boundary and used boundary-enhanced PET to coregister PET with MR. The pixels having 10% of maximum pixel value were considered as the boundary of sinogram. Boundary pixel values were exchanged with maximum value of sinogram. One hundred eighty boundary points were extracted at intervals of about 2 degree using simple threshold method from each slice of MR images. Best affined transformation between the two point sets was performed using least square fitting which should minimize the sum of Euclidean distance between the point sets. We reduced calculation time using pre-defined distance map. Finally we developed an automatic coregistration program using this boundary detection and surface matching technique. We designed a new weighted normalization technique to display the coregistered PET and MR images simultaneously. Results: Using our newly developed method, robust extraction of head boundary was possible and spatial registration was successfully performed. Mean displacement error was less than 2.0 mm. In visualization of coregistered images using weighted normalization method, structures shown in MR image could be realistically represented. Conclusion: Our refined technique could practically enhance the performance of automated three dimensional coregistration.