• Journal of the Institute of Electronics and Information Engineers
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• v.52 no.2
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• pp.182-192
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• 2015

In this paper, we introduce how to change the reaction rate as mol concentration when we scan enhanced MRI with GBCA(Gadolinium Based Contrast Agent), Also show the changing patterns depending on diverse MRI sequences which are made by different physical principle. For this study, we made MRI phantom ourselves. We mixed 500 mmol Gadoteridol with Saline in each 28 different containers from 500 to 0 mmol. After that, MR phantom was scanned by physically different MRI sequences which are T1 SE, T2 FLAIR, T1 FLAIR, 3D FLASH, T1 3D SPACE and 3D SPCIR in 1.5T bore. The results were as follows : *T1 Spin echo's Total SI(Signal Intensity) was 15608.7, Max peak was 1352.6 in 1 mmol. *T2 FLAIR's Total SI was 9106.4, Max peak was 0.4 1721.6 in 1 mmol. *T1 FLAIR's Total SI was 20972.5, Max peak was 1604.9 in 1 mmol. *3D FLASH's Total SI was 20924.0, Max peak was 1425.7 in 40 mmol. *3D SPACE 1mm's Total SI was 6399.0, Max peak was 528.3 in 3 mmol. *3D SPACE 5mm's Total SI was 6276.5, Max peak was 514.6 in 2 mmol. *3D SPCIR's Total SI was 1778.8, Max peak was 383.8 in 0.4 mmol. In most sequences, High signal intensity was shown in diluted lower concentration rather than high concentration, And also graph's max peak and pattern had difference value according to the each different sequence. Through this paper which have quantitative result of GBCA's reaction rate depending on sequence, We expect that practical enhanced MR protocol can be performed in clinical field.

• The Journal of the Korea Contents Association
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• v.20 no.6
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• pp.439-444
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• 2020

The purpose of this study is to seek an alternative method to prevent the contamination of normal saline caused by the back-flow of Gadolinium Based Contrast Agent(GBCA) by the use of auto-injector for dynamic MRI. The research method is to manufacture the non-return valve as an alternative to the existing, and to examine the usefulness of the normal saline by dividing the state of normal saline into three groups. The signal intensity were compared. As a result, there was no statistically significant difference between normal saline before injection of group 1 and group 3 non-return valve (p> 0.05). It is analyzed that the self-produced non-return valve completely blocked the GBCA back to normal saline when the GBCA was injected. In conclusion, the application of the non-return valve presented in this study for dynamic MRI imaging using the auto injector can prevent normal saline contamination due to GBCA back-flow.

• Korean Journal of Radiology
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• v.22 no.10
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• pp.1708-1718
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• 2021

Objective: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the magnetic resonance (MR) characteristics and applicability of new, uniform, extremely small iron-based nanoparticles (ESIONs) with 3-4-nm iron cores using contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance angiography (MRA). Materials and Methods: Seven types of ESIONs were used in phantom and animal experiments with 1.5T, 3T, and 4.7T scanners. The MR characteristics of the ESIONs were evaluated via phantom experiments. With the ESIONs selected by the phantom experiments, animal experiments were performed on eight rabbits. In the animal experiments, the in vivo kinetics and enhancement effect of the ESIONs were evaluated using half-diluted and non-diluted ESIONs. The between-group differences were assessed using a linear mixed model. A commercially available gadolinium-based contrast agent (GBCA) was used as a control. Results: All ESIONs showed a good T1 shortening effect and were applicable for MRA at 1.5T and 3T. The relaxivity ratio of the ESIONs increased with increasing magnetic field strength. In the animal experiments, the ESIONs showed peak signal intensity on the first-pass images and persistent vascular enhancement until 90 minutes. On the 1-week follow-up images, the ESIONs were nearly washed out from the vascular structures and organs. The peak signal intensity on the first-pass images showed no significant difference between the non-diluted ESIONs with 3-mm iron cores and GBCA (p = 1.000). On the 10-minutes post-contrast images, the non-diluted ESIONs showed a significantly higher signal intensity than did the GBCA (p < 0.001). Conclusion: In the phantom experiments, the ESIONs with 3-4-nm iron oxide cores showed a good T1 shortening effect at 1.5T and 3T. In the animal experiments, the ESIONs with 3-nm iron cores showed comparable enhancement on the first-pass images and superior enhancement effect on the delayed images compared to the commercially available GBCA at 3T.

• Journal of Biomedical Engineering Research
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• v.43 no.4
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• pp.193-198
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• 2022

Contrast enhanced magnetic resonance imaging using gadolinium-based contrast agent (GBCA) is a very useful in vivo technique to visualize the inner ear pathology including endolymphatic hydrops. Although systemic intravenous (IV) administration can visualize the perilymph space, the visualization was possible by indirect passage of contrast agent through blood-perilymph barrier. All animal experimental procedures were performed under anesthesia with 5% isoflurane. Lipopolysaccharide (LPS) was instilled into the left tympanic cavity through the tympanic membrane using a sterile 27gauge needle to induce hydrops model. Tucker-Davis Technologies system was used to measure Auditory Brainstem Responses (ABRs). For intracerebroven-tricular (ICV) administration, 25 µmol of GADOVIST (Bayer, Berlin, Germany) was used and diluted GADOVIST injection was 10 µl. MR imaging was acquired with a 9.4 Tesla MRI scanner. Transmit-receive volume coil with 40 mm inner diameter and 75 mm out diameter was used. ICV administration well demonstrated the strong enhancement along the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) microcirculation pathway including CSF fluid in the subarachnoid space and CSF space of the inner ear structures. On the other hand, IV administration showed no contrast enhancement along the CSF microcirculation pathway and showed weak enhancement in the inner ear structures. In case of rat hydrops model, ICV administration showed that the reduced contrast enhancement in the perilymph space of the hydrops induced inner ear compared to the contrast enhancement in the perilymph space of the normal inner ear. New systemic ICV administration method provide contrast enhancement of GBCA in the inner ear through CSF microcirculation pathway.

• Korean Journal of Radiology
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• v.22 no.9
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• pp.1547-1554
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• 2021

Objective: We aimed to investigate whether repeated intravascular administration of iodinated contrast media (ICM) or gadolinium-based contrast agents (GBCAs) within a short interval was associated with an increased risk of post-contrast acute kidney injury (PC-AKI). Materials and Methods: This retrospective study included 300 patients (mean age ± standard deviation, 68.5 ± 8.1 years; 131 male and 169 female) who had undergone at least one ICM-enhanced perfusion brain CT scan, had their baseline and follow-up serum creatinine levels available, and had not undergone additional contrast-enhanced examinations 72 hours before and after a time window of interest were included. The study population was divided into three groups: single-dose group and groups of patients who had received multiple contrast administrations in the time window of interest with the minimum contrast repeat interval either within 4 hours (0-4-hour group) or between 4 to 48 hours (4-48-hour group). Multivariable logistic regression analysis was conducted to evaluate the association between AKI and repeated ICM administrations. A similar supplementary analysis was performed including both ICM and GBCA. Results: When ICM was only considered ignoring GBCA, among 300 patients, 207 patients received a single dose of ICM, 58 had repeated doses within 4 hours (0-4-hour group), and 35 patients had repeated doses between 4 to 48 hours (4-48-hour group). Most patients (> 95%) had a baseline estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) of ≥ 30 mL/min/1.73 m². AKI occurred in 7.2%, 13.8%, and 8.6% of patients in the single-dose, 0-4-hour, and 4-48-hour groups, respectively. In the 0-4-hour and 4-48-hour groups, additional exposure to ICM was not associated with AKI after adjusting for comorbidities and nephrotoxic drugs (all p values > 0.05). Conclusion: Repeated intravascular administrations of ICM within a short interval did not increase the risk of AKI in our study patients suspected of acute stroke with a baseline eGFR of ≥ 30 mL/min/1.73 m².

• Journal of the Korean Society of Radiology
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• v.11 no.7
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• pp.589-595
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• 2017

This study evaluated the effect of gadolinium contrast agents on the spectrum of metabolites during $^1H-MRS$ of brain and to investigate whether the contrast agents injected before MR spectroscopy significantly affect the estimated peaks of MRS. From January to May 2017, brain MR spectroscopy was performed on 30 patients to compare the spectrum before and after contrast injection of the brain white matter tissue. As a result, the spectrum of metabolites decreased after the paramagnetic contrast agents injected. However, it was not statistically significant which indicated that the use of contrast agent did not meaningfully affect the spectrum of metabolites. In conclusion, the use of the paramagnetic contrast before the acquisition of the spectroscopy may aid voxel positioning especially when it is difficult to determine the exact location of the lesion or the contrast is low.

• Investigative Magnetic Resonance Imaging
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• v.24 no.3
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• pp.154-161
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• 2020

Purpose: A CT angiography spot sign (CTA-spot) is a significant predictor of the early expansion of an intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH-Ex). Dynamic-susceptibility-contrast magnetic resonance imaging (DSC-MRI) can track the real-time leaking of contrast agents. It may be able to indicate active bleeding, like a CTA-spot. Materials and Methods: From September 2014 to February 2017, we did non-contrast CT, CTA, and DSC-MRI examinations of seven patients with acute ICH. We investigated the time from symptom onset to the first contrast-enhanced imaging. We evaluated the time course of the contrast leak within the ICH at the source image of the DSC-MRI and the volume change of ICH between non-contrast CT and DSC-MRI. We compared the number of slices showing CTA-spots and DSC-MRI leaks. Results: The CTA-spot and DSC-MRI leak-sign were present in four patients, and two patients among those showed ICH-Ex. The time from the symptom onset to CTA or DSC-MRI was shorter for those with a DSC-MRI leak or CTA-spot than for three patients without either (70-130 minutes vs. 135-270 minutes). The leak-sign began earlier, lasted longer, and spread to more slices in the patients with ICH-Ex than in those without ICH-Ex. The number of slices of the DSC-MRI leak and the number of the CTA-spot were well correlated. Conclusion: DSC-MRI can demonstrate the leakage of GBCA within hyperacute ICH, showing the good contrast between hematoma and contrast. The DSC-MRI leakage sign could be related to the hematoma expansion in patients with ICH.

• Journal of the Institute of Electronics and Information Engineers
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• v.53 no.12
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• pp.131-138
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• 2016

In this study, we tried to analyze the influence of ICM(Iodinated Contrast Media) in MR imaging compare to GBCA(Gadolinium Based Contrast Agent), and as this result we discussed whether resonable or not the protocol which is MRI scan after enhanced CT scan without proper time interval in clinical field. For this research, we assembled two phantoms. which one was iodine and another one was gadolinium. We did test two phantoms in conventional MRI scan which is T1, T2, T2 FLAIR and 3D angio. After that, quantitative analysis was progressed. The results of study were as follow : SSI(Saline's Signal Intensity) was shown as each sequences 175, 1231, 333, 37 [a.u] at iodine. and 1297, 123, 757, 232 [a.u] was recorded at gadolinium. BDEPS(the Biggest Difference of EPS) was shown as each sequences 1297, 123, 757, 232 [a.u] at iodine and 793, 6, 1495, 365 [a.u] was recorded at gadolinium. At this time, EPS(Enhancement Percentage to Saline) was shown 641.1, -90.0, 127.3, 527% at iodine and 685.1, 99.4, 365.7, 1077.4% was recorded at gadolinium. BP(BDEPS's point) was shown 900, 900, 477, 900 mmol at iodine and 4, 0.2, 0.2, 40 mmol was recorded at gadolinium. CPSS(Change Point of SI to SSI) was shown 63, 423, 63, 29 mmol at iodine and each [50, 30], [4, 0.2], [4, 1], 0.2 mmol was recorded at gadolinium. According to this research, we could not only discover the fact that was iodine could effect on MR signal, but also the pattern is different as various sequences compare to gadolinium. Therefore, we expect useful diagnostic MR image in clinical field with this quantitative data for deciding protocol regarding MRI and CT scan order.

• Journal of the Institute of Electronics and Information Engineers
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• v.54 no.7
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• pp.115-124
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• 2017

The objective of study was to investigate the optimal echo phase for mouse brain enhancement scan using fast low angle shot (FLASH) sequence of 9.4T magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). For quantification based on this method, an MR phantom experiment and clinical research were done. The phantom experiment was conducted by fabricating three phantoms with different molar concentration of gadolinium to create changes in echo phase of 9.4T FLASH sequence used in mouse brain scans. In the phantom experiment, SSI was 25~27 [arbitrary units, a.u.] in each of 33 phases from $6{\pi}$ to $28{\pi}$, while RSP was 30~100 mmol. MPSI was 47~52 [a.u], while MPP, where MPSI is seen, was 0.8~9 mmol. EPMS was 80.8~108.0%, while ASIMP was formed between 21.1 and 31.8 [a.u]. In the clinical research, Finally, the occurrence rate of artifact that expressed -1 nd +1. The present study was able to quantify the degree of enhancement at FLASH sequence of 9.4T MRI, as well as identify the optimal echo phase during mouse brain enhancement scan.