• The Journal of the Korea Contents Association
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• v.12 no.10
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• pp.349-356
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• 2012

In the diagnosis of coronary artery atheromatous plaque, Cardiac computed tomography (Cardiac Computed Tomographic Angiography: CCTA) compared with IVUS(Intravascular Ultrasound: IVUS) investigate the diagnostic accuracy, Interested in CCTA atheromatous plaque in computed tomography values (Hounsfield Unit: HU) try to find out. From April 2006 to August 2008 among coronary artery disease(Coronary Artery Disease: CAD) patients with confirmed or suspicious of CAD by CCTA performed atherosclerotic plaques and found 200 patients who underwent IVUS were enrolled. 200 patients who underwent CCTA and IVUS results from the 476 plaque was found, IVUS results of the soft plaque(n; 84), fibrous plaque(n; 63), mixed plaque (n; 97), calcific plaque(n; 232). The results are classified according to the IVUS plaque in HU in the soft plaque : $53.8{\pm}10.5$, fibrous plaque : $108.1{\pm}20.0$, mixed plaque : $371.2{\pm}113.1$, and calcific plaque : $731.0{\pm}160.4$. CCTA had sensitivity of 97% and confidence interval of 95.0-98.3. This study that is the diagnosis of coronary atheromatous plaque for using CCTA, we confirm the high sensitivity and the confidence interval Based on IVUS results CCTA atheromatous plaque with HU in the analysis could be classified to characterize in the treatment of patients with CAD is expected to help.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.27 no.2
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• pp.169-178
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• 2014

Samples of Clitoria ternatea L. (Cunh$\tilde{a}$) were harvested at 35, 50, 70, and 90 d after a uniformity harvest in a field study designed as a completely randomized design with a total of 18 experimental plots. The dry matter yield of the whole plant was separated quantitatively into leaves, stems, and pods at each harvesting age. Chemical analyses and in vitro gas production kinetics were performed to assess the quality of the plant parts. Yields, chemical composition, and estimates of gas production parameters were analyzed by fitting a mixed statistical model with two types of covariance structures as follows: variance components and an unrestricted structure with heterogeneous variances. Fast and slow gas yielding pools were detected for both leaves and stems, but only a single pool was detected for pods. The homoscedasticity assumption was more likely for all variables, except for some parameters of the gas production kinetics of leaves and stems. There was no presence of typical pods at 35 and 50 d. In the leaves, the fibrous fractions were affected, whereas the non-fibrous fractions were unaffected by the harvesting age. The harvesting age affected the majority of the chemical constituents and gas kinetic parameters related to the stems. The leaves of this legume were the least affected part by the aging process.

• Korean Circulation Journal
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• v.54 no.7
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• pp.382-394
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• 2024

Background and Objectives: Fractional flow reserve (FFR) is an invasive standard method to identify ischemia-causing coronary artery disease (CAD). With the advancement of technology, FFR can be noninvasively computed from coronary computed tomography angiography (CCTA). Recently, a novel simpler method has been developed to calculate onsite CCTA-derived FFR (CT-FFR) with a commercially available workstation. Methods: A total of 319 CAD patients who underwent CCTA, invasive coronary angiography, and FFR measurement were included. The primary outcome was the accuracy of CT-FFR for defining myocardial ischemia evaluated with an invasive FFR as a reference. The presence of ischemia was defined as FFR ≤0.80. Anatomical obstructive stenosis was defined as diameter stenosis on CCTA ≥50%, and the diagnostic performance of CT-FFR and CCTA stenosis for ischemia was compared. Results: Among participants (mean age 64.7±9.4 years, male 77.7%), mean FFR was 0.82±0.10, and 126 (39.5%) patients had an invasive FFR value of ≤0.80. The diagnostic accuracy, sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, and negative predictive value of CT-FFR were 80.6% (95% confidence interval [CI], 80.5-80.7%), 88.1% (95% CI, 82.4-93.7%), 75.6% (95% CI, 69.6-81.7%), 70.3% (95% CI, 63.1-77.4%), and 90.7% (95% CI, 86.2-95.2%), respectively. CT-FFR had higher diagnostic accuracy (80.6% vs. 59.1%, p<0.001) and discriminant ability (area under the curve from receiver operating characteristic curve 0.86 vs. 0.64, p<0.001), compared with anatomical obstructive stenosis on CCTA. Conclusions: This novel CT-FFR obtained from an on-site workstation demonstrated clinically acceptable diagnostic performance and provided better diagnostic accuracy and discriminant ability for identifying hemodynamically significant lesions than CCTA alone.

• Korean Journal of Radiology
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• v.21 no.8
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• pp.967-977
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• 2020

Objective: To evaluate the effects of tube voltage on image quality in coronary CT angiography (CCTA), the estimated radiation dose, and DNA double-strand breaks (DSBs) in peripheral blood lymphocytes to optimize the use of CCTA in the era of low radiation doses. Materials and Methods: This study included 240 patients who were divided into 2 groups according to the DNA DSB analysis methods, i.e., immunofluorescence microscopy and flow cytometry. Each group was subdivided into 4 subgroups: those receiving CCTA only with different tube voltages of 120, 100, 80, or 70 kVp. Objective and subjective image quality was evaluated by analysis of variance. Radiation dosages were also recorded and compared. Results: There was no significant difference in demographic characteristics between the 2 groups and 4 subgroups in each group (all p > 0.05). As tube voltage decreased, both image quality and radiation dose decreased gradually and significantly. After CCTA, γ-H2AX foci and mean fluorescence intensity in the 120-, 100-, 80-, and 70-kVp groups increased by 0.14, 0.09, 0.07, and 0.06 foci per cell and 21.26, 9.13, 8.10, and 7.13 (all p < 0.05), respectively. The increase in the DNA DSB level in the 120-kVp group was higher than those in the other 3 groups (all p < 0.05), while there was no significant difference in the DSBs levels among these latter groups (all p > 0.05). Conclusion: The 100-kVp tube voltage may be optimal for CCTA when weighing DNA DSBs against the estimated radiation dose and image quality, with further reductions in tube voltage being unnecessary for CCTA.

• Korean Journal of Radiology
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• v.21 no.12
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• pp.1285-1293
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• 2020

Objective: To evaluate the effects of vasodilators on contrast enhancement and transluminal attenuation gradient (TAG) of coronary arteries at coronary computed tomography angiography (CCTA). Materials and Methods: We retrospectively reviewed CCTA scans of patients who underwent double-acquisition CCTA; CCTA without a vasodilator, and CCTA during a intravenous (IV) infusion of nitrate. Among them, we enrolled 19 patients who had no significant atherosclerotic lesions or coronary spasms. In the control group, 28 patients were enrolled who showed normal coronary arteries on CCTA, which was acquired by a conventional method (sublingual vasodilator). We measured the TAG and Hounsfield units for each of the three major epicardial coronary arteries (reported as 'ProxHU') and then compared the results between the nitrate administration methods (CT without vasodilator [CT_pre], CT with IV vasodilator [CT_iv], and CT with sublingual vasodilator [CT_sub]). Results: The mean TAG showed a significant difference between the coronary arteries (right coronary artery [RCA] > left anterior descending artery [LAD] > left circumflex artery [LCX], p < 0.05), while there was no difference in ProxHU of each coronary artery in all three types of nitrate administration methods (p > 0.05). The TAG of CT_pre group showed steeper slope than those of vasodilator groups (CT_iv and CT_sub) on LAD and LCX ([LAD: CT_pre = -22.1 ± 6.66, CT_iv = -16.76 ± 5.78, and CT_sub = -16.47 ± 5.78, p = 0.005], [LCX: CT_pre = -31.26 ± 17.43, CT_iv = -23.74 ± 14.06, and CT_sub = -20.94 ± 12.15, p = 0.051]), while that of RCA showed no significant differences (p = 0.600). When comparing proxHU, CT_iv showed higher proxHU than that of CT_pre or CT_sub, especially on LCX (CT_pre = 426.7 ± 68.3, CT_iv = 467.9 ± 84.9, and CT_sub = 404.9 ± 63.3, p = 0.013). ProxHU showed a negative correlation with TAG on all three of methods (r = -0.280, p < 0.001). Conclusion: TAG in CCTA was significantly affected by vasodilator administration. Both TAG and ProxHU of coronary arteries tend to increase with vasodilator administration on CCTA.

• Journal of radiological science and technology
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• v.39 no.4
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• pp.535-541
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• 2016

This study aimed to identify dose reduction measures by retrospectively analyzing the entrance surface dose at computed tomography and angiography in cardiovascular examination and to contribute the patients with renal impairmend and a high probability of side effects to determine the inspection's direction by measuring the contrast usages actually to active actions for the dose by actually measuring the contrast medium dose. The CTDIvol value and air kerma value, which are the entrance surface doses of the two examinations, and the contrast medium dose depending on the number of slides were compared and analyzed. This study was conducted in 21 subjects (11 males; 10 females) who underwent Cardiac Computed Tomographic Angiography (CCTA) and Coronary Angiography (CAG) in this hospital during the period from May 2014 to May 2016. The subject's age was 48~85 years old (mean $65{\pm}10$ years old), and the weight was 37.6~83.3 kg (mean $63{\pm}6kg$). Dose reduction could be expected in the cardiovascular examination using CCTA rather than in the examination using CAG. In terms of contrast medium dose, CAG used a smaller dose than CCTA. In particular, as the number of slides increases at CAG, the contrast medium dose increases. Therefore, in order to reduce the contrast medium dose, the number of slides suitable for the scan range must be selected.

• Korean Journal of Radiology
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• v.25 no.6
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• pp.518-539
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• 2024

Coronary computed tomography angiography (CCTA) has emerged as a pivotal tool for diagnosing and risk-stratifying patients with suspected coronary artery disease (CAD). Recent advancements in image analysis and artificial intelligence (AI) techniques have enabled the comprehensive quantitative analysis of coronary atherosclerosis. Fully quantitative assessments of coronary stenosis and lumen attenuation have improved the accuracy of assessing stenosis severity and predicting hemodynamically significant lesions. In addition to stenosis evaluation, quantitative plaque analysis plays a crucial role in predicting and monitoring CAD progression. Studies have demonstrated that the quantitative assessment of plaque subtypes based on CT attenuation provides a nuanced understanding of plaque characteristics and their association with cardiovascular events. Quantitative analysis of serial CCTA scans offers a unique perspective on the impact of medical therapies on plaque modification. However, challenges such as time-intensive analyses and variability in software platforms still need to be addressed for broader clinical implementation. The paradigm of CCTA has shifted towards comprehensive quantitative plaque analysis facilitated by technological advancements. As these methods continue to evolve, their integration into routine clinical practice has the potential to enhance risk assessment and guide individualized patient management. This article reviews the evolving landscape of quantitative plaque analysis in CCTA and explores its applications and limitations.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Radiology
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• v.85 no.2
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• pp.258-269
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• 2024

Treatment of patients with coronary artery disease commonly involves the use of balloon-expandable stent placements, currently recognized as the most prevalent approach for coronary artery revascularization. Nevertheless, the occurrence of restenosis remains a significant complication following percutaneous coronary interventions. The diagnostic role of coronary CT angiography (CCTA) in detecting stent restenosis has limitations primarily attributable to challenges in accurately discerning the lumen, due to issues such as blooming and motion artifacts. As a result, many cases often necessitate a transition to conventional coronary angiography. However, recent advancements in CT technology have led to notable improvements in both sensitivity and specificity, underscoring the growing significance of CCTA as a diagnostic tool. The consistent reporting of high negative predictive value is particularly noteworthy. This review aims to explore the historical context, current status, and recent trends in diagnosing coronary artery stent restenosis using CCTA.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Radiology
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• v.83 no.1
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• pp.54-69
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• 2022

Early detection of potential asymptomatic coronary artery disease is very important, as patients with sudden cardiac death often do not show symptoms such as chest pain or motor dyspnea. Coronary CT angiography (CCTA) has long been unjustified as a screening tool for asymptomatic patients because of the risks posed by radiation exposure. However, there are still various opinions regarding the usefulness of CCTA for screening for coronary artery disease (CAD) in asymptomatic healthy individuals or patients. This review investigated the usefulness of coronary artery calcium score and CCTA as screening tests for CAD in asymptomatic healthy individuals or patients through various literature reviews. With the development of CT technology, recent studies have been conducted in asymptomatic CAD patients with a reduced radiation dose of less than 1 mSv. A total of 2.6% of asymptomatic subjects on CCTA found significant CAD over 70%, and it was concluded that screening CCTA for CAD showed prognostic power in predicting the future occurrence of CAD in asymptomatic people. However, after the completion of the current NIH SCOT-HEART 2 study, it may be possible to determine whether CCTA is appropriate as a screening tool for CAD in asymptomatic healthy individuals.

• Korean Journal of Radiology
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• v.21 no.9
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• pp.1055-1064
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• 2020

Objective: To assess the incremental prognostic value of coronary computed tomography angiography (CCTA) in comparison to a clinical risk model (Framingham risk score, FRS) and coronary artery calcium score (CACS) for future cardiac events in ischemic stroke patients without chest pain. Materials and Methods: This retrospective study included 1418 patients with acute stroke who had no previous cardiac disease and underwent CCTA, including CACS. Stenosis degree and plaque types (high-risk, non-calcified, mixed, or calcified plaques) were assessed as CCTA variables. High-risk plaque was defined when at least two of the following characteristics were observed: low-density plaque, positive remodeling, spotty calcification, or napkin-ring sign. We compared the incremental prognostic value of CCTA for major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) over CACS and FRS. Results: The prevalence of any plaque and obstructive coronary artery disease (CAD) (stenosis ≥ 50%) were 70.7% and 30.2%, respectively. During the median follow-up period of 48 months, 108 patients (7.6%) experienced MACE. Increasing FRS, CACS, and stenosis degree were positively associated with MACE (all p < 0.05). Patients with high-risk plaque type showed the highest incidence of MACE, followed by non-calcified, mixed, and calcified plaque, respectively (log-rank p < 0.001). Among the prediction models for MACE, adding stenosis degree to FRS showed better discrimination and risk reclassification compared to FRS or the FRS + CACS model (all p < 0.05). Furthermore, incorporating plaque type in the prediction model significantly improved reclassification (integrated discrimination improvement, 0.08; p = 0.023) and showed the highest discrimination index (C-statistics, 0.85). However, the addition of CACS on CCTA with FRS did not add to the prediction ability for MACE (p > 0.05). Conclusion: Assessment of stenosis degree and plaque type using CCTA provided additional prognostic value over CACS and FRS to risk stratify stroke patients without prior history of CAD better.