• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.66 no.1
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• pp.44-52
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• 2023

Objective : This study aimed to investigate the efficacy of transverse process (TP) hook system at the upper instrumented vertebra (UIV) for preventing screw pullout in adult spinal deformity surgery using the pedicle Hounsfield unit (HU) stratification based on K-means clustering. Methods : We retrospectively reviewed 74 patients who underwent deformity correction surgery between 2011 and 2020 and were followed up for >12 months. Pre- and post-operative data were used to determine the incidence of screw pullout, UIV TP hook implementation, vertebral body HU, pedicle HU, and patient outcomes. Data was then statistically analyzed for assessment of efficacy and risk prediction using stratified HU at UIV level alongside the effect of the TP hook system. Results : The screw pullout rate was 36.4% (27/74). Perioperative radiographic parameters were not significantly different between the pullout and non-pullout groups. The vertebral body HU and pedicle HU were significantly lower in the pullout group. K-means clustering stratified the vertebral body HU ≥205.3, <137.2, and pedicle HU ≥243.43, <156.03. The pullout rate significantly decreases in patients receiving the hook system when the pedicle HU was from ≥156.03 to < 243.43 (p<0.05), but the difference was not statistically significant in the vertebra HU stratified groups and when pedicle HU was ≥243.43 or <156.03. The postoperative clinical outcomes improved significantly with the implementation of the hook system. Conclusion : The UIV hook provides better clinical outcomes and can be considered a preventative strategy for screw-pullout in the certain pedicle HU range.

• Maxillofacial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery
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• v.32 no.3
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• pp.229-235
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• 2010

Purpose: This study examined the significance of increased bone density according to time after implantation on maxilla using demographic data with CBCT and compared the bone density between before vs. after implantation using the Hounsfield index. Materials and Methods: Twenty-five implant site on maxilla were selected. Cone-beam computerized tomography (CBCT) scans were used for the analysis. The implant sites were evaluated digitally using the Hounsfield scale with EzImplant TM and the results were compared over time. Statistical data over time was carried out to determine the correlation between the recorded Hounsfield unit (HU) over time and gender difference using repeated ANOVA. Results: The bone density of implantation site over time showed an increase in the HU mean values. Immediately after implantation, bone density was significantly increased than bone density before implantation. Until 6 month follow-up, bone density showed stable increasement. There is no significant difference on gender. Conclusions: Using CBCT, bone density increased over time after implantation on maxilla. Bone density measurements using CBCT might provide an objective assessment of the bone quality as well as the correlation between bone density and stability of implant.

• Imaging Science in Dentistry
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• v.38 no.1
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• pp.1-5
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• 2008

Purpose: The primary aims of this retrospective study were to compare subjective bone quality and bone quality based on the Hounsfield scale in different segments of the edentulous jaw, and to establish quantitative and objective assessment of the bone quality. Materials and Methods: Twenty eight randomly selected cone-beam computed tomographic (CBCT) scans were analyzed. For evaluation one hundred and twelve edentulous areas were selected. Implant recipient sites were evaluated visually for Lekholm and Zarb classification. The same sites were subsequently evaluated digitally using the Hounsfield scale with Vimplant$2.0^{TM}$, and the results were correlated with visual classification. Data was subject for statistical analysis in order to determine correlation between recorded HU and the regions of the mouth with the Kruskal-Wallis test. Results: The highest unit/mean density value (311 HU) was found in the anterior mandible, followed by 259 HU for the posterior mandible, 216 HU for the anterior maxilla, and 127 HU for the posterior maxilla. These results demonstrate a strong correlation for HU depending on the region of the mouth (p<0.001). The relationship between HU and type 4 bone was found to be significant (r=0.74). Conclusion: Knowledge of the Hounsfield value as a quantitative measurement of bone density can be helpful as a diagnostic tool by using $CBMercuRa6^{TM}$ with $Vimplant^{TM}$ software.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.16 no.18
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• pp.8351-8358
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• 2016

Electronic cleansing is an image post processing technique in which the tagged colonic content is subtracted from colon using CTC images. There are post processing artefacts, like: 1) soft tissue degradation; 2) incomplete cleansing; 3) misclassification of polyp due to pseudo enhanced voxels; and 4) pseudo soft tissue structures. The objective of the study was to subtract the tagged colonic content without losing the soft tissue structures. This paper proposes a novel adaptive method to solve the first three problems using a multi-step algorithm. It uses a new edge model-based method which involves colon segmentation, priori information of Hounsfield units (HU) of different colonic contents at specific tube voltages, subtracting the tagging materials, restoring the soft tissue structures based on selective HU, removing boundary between air-contrast, and applying a filter to clean minute particles due to improperly tagged endoluminal fluids which appear as noise. The main finding of the study was submerged soft tissue structures were absolutely preserved and the pseudo enhanced intensities were corrected without any artifact. The method was implemented with multithreading for parallel processing in a high performance computer. The technique was applied on a fecal tagged dataset (30 patients) where the tagging agent was not completely removed from colon. The results were then qualitatively validated by radiologists for any image processing artifacts.

• Progress in Medical Physics
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• v.30 no.4
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• pp.155-159
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• 2019

Radiological properties of newly introduced and existing 3-dimensional (3D) printing materials were evaluated by measuring their Hounsfield units (HUs) at varying infill densities. The six materials for 3D printing which consisted of acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS), a unique ABS plastic blend manufactured by Zortrax (ULTRAT), high impact polystyrene (HIPS), polyethylene terephthalate glycol (PETG), polylactic acid (PLA), and a thermoplastic polyester elastomer manufactured by Zortrax (FLEX) were used. We used computed tomography (CT) imaging to determine the HU values of each material, and thus assess its suitability for various applications in radiation oncology. We found that several material and infill density combinations resembled the HU values of fat, soft tissues, and lungs; however, none of the tested materials exhibited HU values similar to that of bone. These results will help researchers and clinicians develop more appropriate instruments for improving the quality of radiation therapy. Using optimized infill densities will help improve the quality of radiation therapy by producing customized instruments for each field of radiation therapy.

• Journal of Korean Dental Science
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• v.6 no.2
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• pp.50-57
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• 2013

Purpose: Autogenous tooth bone graft is proven to be efficient. We evaluated the bone healing effect and clinical capabilities of autogenous tooth bone materials as a scaffold when growth factor is used together with this material. Materials and Methods: Subjects were those who needed implant placement and bone graft because of missing tooth or alveolar bone defect and who kept their autogenous tooth or needed extraction of other tooth. Group I included autogenous tooth bone graft with growth factor, whereas Group II had only autogenous tooth bone graft. We investigated the bone healing state through computed tomography taken just before surgery and 3 to 4 months after surgery to evaluate the effectiveness of bone graft. Group I had 9 patients, whereas Group II had 5 patients. We compared the pre- and post-operative increase of the Hounsfield unit and bone height by analyzing the computed tomography images. Result: Sinus bone grafts numbered 8 cases, and vertical ridge augmentation was performed together with 3 cases of these. Vertical ridge augmentation was performed in 2 cases, and horizontal ridge augmentation in 1 case alone. Socket graft was done in 3 cases. The post-operative mean value of the Hounsfield unit was 960 in Group I and 836.7 in Group II, but the increase was almost similar, i.e., 636.9 in Group I and 634.7 in Group II on the average. Increase of bone height was 7.6 mm in Group I and 11.1 mm in Group II on the average. This difference was attributable to the fact that most of the cases were sinus bone graft in Group II. Conclusion: In this study, we suggest the possibility of autogenous tooth bone graft materials as a scaffold besides their bone healing ability.

• Progress in Medical Physics
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• v.28 no.3
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• pp.106-110
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• 2017

The variable density phantom fabricated with varying the infill values of 3D printer to provide more accurate dose verification of radiation treatments. A total of 20 samples of rectangular shape were fabricated by using the $Finebot^{TM}$ (AnyWorks; Korea) Z420 model ($width{\times}length{\times}height=50mm{\times}50mm{\times}10mm$) varying the infill value from 5% to 100%. The samples were scanned with 1-mm thickness using a Philips Big Bore Brilliance CT Scanner (Philips Medical, Eindhoven, Netherlands). The average Hounsfield Unit (HU) measured by the region of interest (ROI) on the transversal CT images. The average HU and the infill values of the 3D printer measured through the 2D area profile measurement method exhibited a strong linear relationship (adjusted R-square=0.99563) in which the average HU changed from -926.8 to 36.7, while the infill values varied from 5% to 100%. This study showed the feasibility fabricating variable density phantoms using the 3D printer with FDM (Fused Deposition Modeling)-type and PLA (Poly Lactic Acid) materials.

• Journal of Veterinary Clinics
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• v.27 no.6
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• pp.686-692
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• 2010

Computed tomography (CT) is considered as gold standard in evaluating pancreatitis in human, but there have been only a few studies in veterinary field. Balthazar CT severity index (CTSI) used to assess the severity of acute necrotizing pancreatitis in human could be applicable to dogs, because the severity of acute pancreatitis depends on the area of pancreatic necrosis in dogs more than in human. In this study, 25 adult, clinically healthy beagle dogs were used. CT examinations was performed in normal pancreas, positive control group and acute necrotizing pancreatitis induced by autologous bile injection. Balthazar CTSI was applied to canine acute necrotizing pancreatitis in contrastenhanced CT image and compared with the result of histopathologic examination. The Hounsfield unit (HU) of normal canine pancreas was $52.44{\pm}4.58$ and the density was significantly decreased in acute necrotizing pancreatitis (P < .05). In contrast-enhanced CT examination, pancreatic density was decreased significantly and this area was compatible to pancreatic necrosis. Balthazar CTSI showed positive correlation with histopathologic evaluation with a sensitivity of 100% and a specificity of 88.89%. Balthazar CTSI can be applied to evaluate the severity of acute necrotizing pancreatitis in dogs.

• Journal of the Korea Convergence Society
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• v.9 no.9
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• pp.117-122
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• 2018

In this study, HU(hounsfield unit) value of CT generated by dental prosthesis was measured according to the type of metal when PET-CT was performed, and the degree of distortion and standard deviation of SUV(standard uptake value) and to propose a method to reduce errors in image reading. PET-CT was performed using actual teeth, metal crown, gold crown, titanium, and zirconia dental prosthesis. Compared with general teeth, the SUV value increased with increasing HU value. The SUV value of metal crown, titanium, and zirconia was increased by 37% and the gold crown increased by 45.4%. In addition, image distortions were small in general teeth, metal crown, titanium, and zirconia, but hard curing of the gold crown occurred and image distortion occurred. Therefore, since the metal type of the dental prosthesis affects the SUV value, the NAC(non attenuation correction) PET image of the dental prosthesis can be helpful in the diagnosis of the patient using the gold material.

• Journal of Dental Rehabilitation and Applied Science
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• v.23 no.4
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• pp.313-326
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• 2007

With rising prevalency of mouth breathing children caused by developing civilization and increasing pollution, there are many maxillary transverse discrepancy patients with undergrowth of maxilla. For improving this, maxillary mid-palatal suture splitting was often performed. The purpose of this study was to analyse the stress distribution on the craniofacial suture and cranium after rapid maxillary expansion by finite element model. The boy(13Y6M) was chosen for taking computed-tomography for finite element model. Three-dimensional model of maxilla, first premolar, first molar, buccal and lingual part of rapid maxillary expansion were constructed. 1. The alveolar bone adjacent to the first molar and the first premolar that was affected directly by rapid maxillary expansion was displaced laterally approximately 4.04mm at maximum. The force decreased toward anterior region and frontal alveolar bone displaced laterally about 3.18mm. 2. A forward maximum displacement was exhibited at zygomatic process middle region. 3. At maximum, maxillary median part experienced 0.973mm downward repositioning and 0.65mm upward repositioning at lateral alveolar bone. 4. Von mises stress was observed the largest stress distribution around teeth and zygomatic buttress. 5. The largest tensile force was observed around alveolar bone of teeth, while compression force was observed at zygomatic buttress.