• Korean Journal of Clinical Laboratory Science
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• v.52 no.4
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• pp.335-341
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• 2020

This study investigates the association of the AFB stain with the cycle threshold (Ct) value of the Cobas TaqMan MTB test (CTM test, Roche Diagnostics, Basel, Switzerland), and it establishes the base data for semi-quantitative identification of M. tuberculosis by the Ct value. CTM test were simultaneously conducted on 8,389 specimens submitted to the Samsung Medical Center from January 2015 to December 2015, and the results were analyzed and compared retrospectively investigates the association of the AFB stain with the Ct value of the CTM test, and it establishes the base data for semi-quantitative identification of M. tuberculosis by the Ct value. The Ct values for 135 positive specimens of the CTM were inversely correlated with the AFB stain (rs=-0.545, P<0.01). When the Ct value of the CTM test and the time to positivity (TTP) of the mycobacteria cultures were verified based on the AFB stain, they were found to have a positive correlation (rs=0.136, P<0.01). The negative correlation between the CTM test and the AFB stain grade was demonstrated. The clinical significance was verified by applying these criteria to the clinical results. The semi-quantitative criteria of this study can be used to facilitate the rapid isolation of patients with active tuberculosis and infection control in the hospital.

• Geomechanics and Engineering
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• v.34 no.4
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• pp.449-459
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• 2023

The design and development of underground nuclear waste repositories should cover the performance evaluation of the different components such as the construction materials because the long term stability will depend on their response to the surrounding conditions. In South Korea, Gyeonju bentonite has been proposed as a candidate to be used as buffer and backfilling material, especially in the form of blocks to speed up the construction process. In this study, various cylindrical samples were prepared with different dry density and water content, and their physical and mechanical properties were analyzed and correlated with X-ray CT observations. The main objective was to characterize the samples and establish correlations for non-destructive estimation of physical and mechanical properties through the utilization of X-ray CT images. The results showed that the Uniaxial Compression Strength and the P-wave velocity have an increasing relationship with the dry density. Also, a higher water content increased the values of the measure parameters, especially for the P-wave velocity. The X-ray CT analysis indicated a clear relation between the mean CT value and the dry density, Uniaxial Compression Strength, and P-wave velocity. The effect of the higher water content was also captured by the mean CT value. Also, the relationship between the mean CT value and the dry density was used to plot CT dry densities using CT images only. Moreover, the histograms also provided information about the samples heterogeneity through the histograms' full width at half maximum values. Finally, the particle size and heterogeneity were also analyzed using the Madogram function. This function identified small particles in uniform samples and large particles in some samples as a result of poor mixing during preparation. Also, the μ_max value correlated with the heterogeneity, and higher values represented samples with larger ranges of CT values or particle densities. These image-based tools have been shown to be useful on the non-destructive characterization of bentonite samples, and the establishment of correlations to obtain physical and mechanical parameters solely from CT images.

• The Korean Journal of Nuclear Medicine Technology
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.73-77
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• 2014

Purpose Find out about the significance of the GFR values calculated by the kidney depth is measured by comparing the values obtained for kidney depth was measured GFR in the CT image kidney depth and is calculated by Tonnesen law in $^{99m}Tc$-DTPA dynamic kidney scan with each applies. Materials and Methods Among patients with normal value (75~120 mL/min) computed GFR conducted of dynamic renal scan to visit from February 2013 to February 2014 and donor GFR values in patients with normal value. The mean age was 46.9 years with 14 men 13 females. We used abdomen CT image which checked before conducting dynamic Kidney scan for measuring the depth of kidney. We only used CT image that contains renal hilum and measured outermost front of the kidney from the skin surface (a) and the final surface (b) caculated the average depth of [(a + b) / 2] respectively. Using the same ROI in order to limit the change in GFR values by the other additional element was set before and after the depth value was excluded from the GFR falls kidney disease. Results Using Tonnesen law the average value was caculated 5.94 cm from the right kidney 5.90 cm from the left kidney. It was 6.83 cm, 8.71 cm in the left kidney and the right kidney average value of the depth measured on the basis of the CT image. The respective increase in left kidney 0.93 cm and right kidney 2.77 cm calculated on the basis of CT image actually measured values. GFR was calculated as the average depth of the subject calculated by the method Tonnesen $83.3{\pm}9.79mL/min$. $98.6{\pm}14.07mL/min$ GFR was applied to calculate the average depth of the subjects using the CT image, is the difference appears 15.26 mL/min was increased after seting up depth value, P value was less than 0.01 which is significant. Conclusion The difference between GFR before-after setting up depth value cause that the different of depth value. Is a measured depth of the extension value of the calculated estimates Whereas Tonnesen kidney depth method is to use in calculating the value of GFR in a typical dynamic elongation test depth derived using the CT image depth. Is thought to be able to calculate more accurately the GFR value by the distance to the center of kidney more accurately measured in the skin thereby.

• The Korean Journal of Nuclear Medicine
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• v.39 no.5
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• pp.269-277
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• 2005

Purpose: This study evaluated the diagnostic value of $^{18}F-FDG$ PET/CT in detecting cervical lymph node metastases in head and neck cancer patients. Materials & Methods: The patients were divided into two groups, 46 patients underwent PET/CT scan for initial staging before surgery, and 20 patients for restaging of recurrence after primary treatment. Increased FDG uptakes in cervical lymph nodes were evaluated retrospectively and correlated with the histopathologic results. Results: In the initial staging group, 21 lymph nodes were detected by PET/CT in 15 patients. 20 lymph nodes were confirmed as metastases with a mean peak SUV of 5.84, and the remaining one lymph node was an inflammatory lesion, with a peak SUV of 2.75. Seven metastatic lymph nodes were reported only by histopatholoay. The sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value and negative predictive value were 74.0%, 99.6%, 95.2% and 97.3%, respectively. In the recurrence group, 11 lymph nodes were detected in 9 patients, and 8 nodes were true positive, with a mean peak SUV of 5.65. The other three were inflammatous lymph nodes, and the peak SUVs were 2.16, 2.94 and 3.53. One false negative lymph node was reported. The sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value and negative predictive value were 88.8%, 97.7%, 72.7% and 92.9%, respectively. Conclusions: FDG-PET/CT shows higher positive predictive value in the initial staging group, and better sensitivity in the recurrence group. Therefore PET/CT could be useful for both initial staging and restaging of recurrent cervical lymph node metastases.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Radiology
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• v.5 no.2
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• pp.59-66
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• 2011

There is a difficulty because of classifying the anatomical structure in the neck CT scan by the beam hardening artifact no more than disease and it including the 6, 7 number cervical spine and intervertebral disk. In case of enforcing the neck CT scan cause of the inner diameter of beam artifact tried to be inquired by the image evaluation according to the change of the image evaluation according to the direction of the shoulder joint applying the variation method of a posture and location and Kernel value and it was most appropriate, the lion tax and Kernel value try to be searched for through an experiment. Somatom Sensation 16 (Siemens, Enlarge, Germany) equipment was used in a patient 30 people coming to the hospital for the neck CT scan. A workstation used the AW 4.4 version (GE, USA). According to a direction and location of the shoulder joint, the patient posture gave a change to the direction of the shoulder joint as the group S it gave a change as three postures and placed the both arms comfortably and helps a group N and augmented unipolar left in the wealthy merchant and group P it memorized the both hands and ordered the eversion and drops below to the utmost and enforced a scan. By using a reconstructing method as the second opinion, it gave and reconstructed the Kernel value a change based on scan data with B 10 (very smooth), B 20 (smooth), B 30 (medium smooth), B 40 (medium), B 50 (medium sharp), B 60 (sharp), and B 70 (very sharp). By using image data which gave the change of the examination posture and change of the Kernel value and are obtained, we analyzed through the noise value measurement and image evaluation of. The outside wire eversion orders the both hands and the examination posture is cost in the neck CT scan with the group P it drops below to the utmost. And in case of when reconstructing with B 40 (medium) or B 50 (medium sharp) being most analyzed into the inappropriate posture and Kernel value and applying the Kernel value to a clinical, it is considered to be very useful.

• Korean Journal of Bronchoesophagology
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• v.1 no.1
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• pp.82-93
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• 1995

Three-dimensional reconstruction of computed tomographic image(3D CT) is a well-established imaging modality which has been investigated in various clinical settings. It is commonly performed in case of congenital or developmental abnormalities, and traumatic fracture of skull and face that requires reconstruction of osseous structure. However reporting the 3D CT in laryngeal or tracheal stenosis is rare and its results are obscure. The authors performed 3D CT in six cases of tracheal stenosis and found diagnostic value of 3D CT. A Comparision of diagnostic information obtained from plain X-ray, 2D CT and 3D CT has performed in total six cases of tracheal stenosis. Surgical treatment of the tracheal stenosis was following in these cases : tracheal end to end anastomosis In 1 case, laryngotracheal end to end anastomosis in 2 cases. 3D CT information was compared with operative finding. In two of six cases, satisfactory information was not obtained from 3D CT in evaluating an exact stenosis of trachea. Future, it will be helped in evaluating of tracheal stenosis by 3D CT.

• Journal of Trauma and Injury
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• v.28 no.3
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• pp.149-157
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• 2015

Purpose: Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is the most common cause of pediatric trauma patients came to the emergency department. Without guidelines, many of these children underwent repeat brain computed tomography (CT). The purpose of this study was to evaluate the value of repeat brain CT in children with TBI. Methods: We conducted a retrospective study of TBI in children younger than 19 years of age who visited the emergency department (ED) from January 2011 to December 2012. According to the Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) and Pediatric Glasgow Coma Scale score of the patients, study population divided in three groups. Clinical data collected included age, mechanism of injury, type of TBI, and outcome. Results: A Total 83 children with TBI received repeat brain CT. There were no need for neurosurgical intervention in mild TBI (GCS score 13-15) group who underwent routine repeat CT. 4 patients of mild TBI group, received repeat brain CT due to neurological deterioration, and one patient underwent neurosurgical intervention. Routine repeat CT identified 12 patients with radiographic progression. One patient underwent neurosurgical intervention based on the second brain CT finding, who belonged to the moderate TBI (GCS score 9-12) group. Conclusion: Our study showed that children with mild TBI can be observed without repeat brain CT when there is no evidence of neurologic deterioration. Further study is needed for establish indication for repetition of CT scan in order to avoid unnecessary radiation exposure of children.

• Journal of Biomedical Engineering Research
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• v.39 no.3
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• pp.116-123
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• 2018

This study is a model experimental study using a phantom to propose an optimized brain CT scan protocol that can reduce the radiation dose of a patient and remain quality of image. We investigate the CT scan parameters of brain CT in clinical medical institutions and to measure the important parameters that determine the quality of CT images. We used 52 multislice spiral CT (SOMATOM Definition AS+, Siemens Healthcare, Germany). The scan parameters were tube voltage (kVp), tube current (mAs), scan time, slice thickness, pitch, and scan field of view (SFOV) directly related to the patient's exposure dose. The CT dose indicators were CTDIvol and DLP. The CT images were obtained while increasing the imaging conditions constantly from the phantom limit value (Q1) to the maximum value (Q4) for AAPM CT performance evaluation. And statistics analyzed with Pearson's correlation coefficients. The result of tube voltage that the increase in tube voltage proportionally increases the variation range of the CT number. And similar results were obtained in the qualitative evaluation of the CT image compared to the tube voltage of 120 kVp, which was applied clinically at 100 kVp. Also, the scan conditions were appropriate in the tube current range of 250 mAs to 350 mAs when the tube voltage was 100 kVp. Therefore, by applying the proposed brain CT scanning parameters can be reduced the radiation dose of the patient while maintaining quality of image.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Radiology
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• v.12 no.7
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• pp.821-826
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• 2018

This study was performed randomly from all the patients who visited the University Hospital in Gyeonggi-do from January 1, 2018 to June 30, 2018 for the abdominal CT scan. We divided the patients into three groups and evaluated the extent of effective dose and image quality according to the area of the abdominal CT image. As a result, the effective dose was 7.34 mSv in the average area group, 8.39 mSv in the average area and 5.89 mSv in the average area. For the analysis of image quality, ROI was plotted in the same three regions according to the abdominal area. As a result, CT values were significantly different in the abdominal area classified into 3 groups (p <0.05). The results of this study can be used as a basic data for the development of a protocol that can be applied in actual clinical practice. It is thought that it can help to reduce the image quality and the radiation dose.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.49 no.3
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• pp.290-297
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• 2000

Background : Current non-invasive methods for evaluating the mediastinum by computed tomographic (CT) scan have limited sensitivity and specificity. The recently introduced PET was reported to be a more sensitive and specific method for the mediastinal staging of NSCLC (sensitivity : 76-100 %, specificity : 81-100%) than CT or MRI. We assessed the usefulness of PET in the mediastinal staging of NSCLC. Methods : We reviewed the medical records of NSCLC patients that had undertaken staging work-up by both CT and PET before thoracotomy between January 1997 and December 1998. A total of 23 patients were enrolled in the study (14 males and 7 females) with a mean age of 61$\pm$9 years. By comparing the clinical(CT and PET) and pathologic stagings, we evaluated the sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, negative predictive value and accuracy of PET in thoracic nodal staging. Results : Sensitivity, specificity, positive predicted value and negative predicted value were 38%, 40%, 25% and 50% respectively for computed tomography, and 50%, 60%, 30% and 69% for PET. The accuracy of FDG-PET in our study was lower than that reported by previous other studies. Conclusion : The addition of FDG-PET to CT scanning has limited benefit for the thoracic nodal staging of NSCLC, but its value in our study was lower than that observed by others.