• Investigative Magnetic Resonance Imaging
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• v.4 no.1
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• pp.34-41
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• 2000

Purpose: To evaluate the clinical usefulness of diffusion weighted MR imaging(DWI) in the differential diagnosis of brain tumors. Materials and methods: DWI and conventional MR images of nineteen patients with brain tumors(10 metastatic tumors, 4 high grade gliomas, 4 low grade astrocytomas, one oligodendroglioma)were obtained on 1.5T unit. DWI was obtained using single shot spin echo planar imaging with b-value near 1000. We analyzed the signal intensities of lesions including solid portion, necrotic or cystic portion and peritumoral edema of brain tumors (classified five grades comparison with the signal intensities of brain parenchyma and CSF)and calculate the SIR(signal intensity ratio)of lesions to the contralateral normal brain parenchyma. We analyzed statistically the signal intensities and SIR of tumors using independence T test. Results: In solid portions of tumors, all the metastatic tumors and high grade gliomas showed high signal intensities, but low grade astrocytomas and oligodendroglioma showed iso or slight high signal intensities to the normal brain parenchyma. The SIR of solid portion has positive correlation with malignant pot ential(metastatic tumors 1.52, high grade gliomas 1.38, low grade astrocytomas 1.16, oligodendroglioma 1.31)(p < 0.05). In peritumoral edema where seen in 14 tumors, seven of 10 metastatic tumors and two of 4 high grade gliomas showed iso signal intensities, whereas edemas in other 5 brain tumors showed hyperintense to the normal brain parenchyma. The SIRs of peritumoral edemas in metastatic tumors (1.14) was lower than high grade gliomas(1.31),but statistically insignificant. The SIR of cystic or necrotic portion of brain tumors was 0.63. In non enhancing solid portions, three of six cases showed hyperintense to the adjacent peritumoral edema. Conclusion: On DWI, the signal intensities of solid portion has positive correlation with malignant potential, and perilesional edema of brain tumors appear various signal intensities owing to "T2 shine through effect" and the extensiveness of vasogenic edema. Another merit using DWI on the evaluation of brain tumors is to improved better delineation of tumor margins from the adjacent edemas, especially at the non enhancing solid portion of the tumors.

• Journal of the Korean Magnetics Society
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• v.15 no.4
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• pp.226-230
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• 2005

In this research, magnetic properties and annealing effects of the spin valve structures were investigated, which have Ta underlayer deposited with Ar and $N_2$ gas mixture. Also, TaN underlayer as a diffusion barrier and the substrate were investigated. The structure of the spin valve was Si($SiO_2$)/Ta(TaN)/NiFe/CoFe/Cu/CoFe/FeMn/Ta. Deposition rate was decreased and resistivity and roughness of the TaN films were increased as the $N_2$ gas flow was increased. The XRD results after high temperature annealing showed that Silicides were created in Si/Ta layer, but not in Si/TaN layer. Magnetoresistance ratio (MR) and exchange coupling field ($H_{ex}$) were decreased when the $N_2$ gas flow was increased over 4.0 sccm. The MR of the spin valves with Ta and TaN films deposited with up to 4.0 sccm of $N_2$ gas flow was increased about $0.5\%$ until the annealing temperature of up to $200^{\circ}C$ and then, decreased. TaN film deposited with 8.0 sccm of $N_2$ gas flow showed twice the adhesion of the Ta film. The above results indicate that with 3.0 sccm of $N_2$ gas flow during the Ta underlayer deposition, the magnetic properties of the spin valves are maintained, while the underlayer may be used as a diffusion barrier and the adhesion between the Si substrate and the underlayer is increased.

• Investigative Magnetic Resonance Imaging
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• v.10 no.1
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• pp.1-7
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• 2006

Purpose : Recent development of diffusion tensor imaging enables the evaluation of the microstructural characteristics of the brain white matter. However, optimal imaging parameters for diffusion tensor imaging, particularly concerning the number of diffusion gradient direction, have not been studied thoroughly yet. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the influence of the number of diffusion gradient direction on the fiber tracking of the white matter. Materials and methods : 13 healthy volunteers (ten men and three women, mean age 30 years, age range 23-37 years) were included in this study. Diffusion tensor imaging was performed with different numbers of diffusion gradient direction as 6, 15, and 32, keeping the other imaging parameters constant. The imaging field ranged from 1 cm below the pons to 2-3 cm above the lateral ventricle, parallel to the anterior commissure-posterior commissure line. FA (fractional anisotropy) maps were created via image postprocessing, and then FA and its standard deviation were calculated in the genu and the splenium of the corpus callosum on each of FA maps. Fiber tracking of the corticospinal tract in the brain was performed and the number of the reconstructed fibers of the tract was measured. FA, standard deviation of FA and the number of the reconstructed fibers were compared statistically between the different diffusion gradient directions. Results : FA is not statistically significantly different between the different diffusion gradient directions. By increasing the number of diffusion gradient direction, standard deviation of FA decreased significantly, and the number of the reconstructed fibers increased significantly. Conclusion : The higher number of diffusion gradient direction provided better quality of fiber tracking.

• Journal of radiological science and technology
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• v.26 no.3
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• pp.25-31
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• 2003

This study was performed to evaluate the usefulness of Deconvolution perfusion CT in patients with acute cerebral infarction. Nine patients with acute cerebral infarction underwent conventional CT and cerebral perfusion CT within 23 hours of the onset of symptoms. The perfusion CT scan for each patient was obtained at the levels of basal ganglia and 1cm caudal to the basal ganglia. By special imaging software, perfusion images including cerebral blood volume(CBV), cerebral blood flow(CBF), and mean transit time(MTT) maps were created. The created lesions were evaluated on each perfusion maps by 3 radiolocical technician. MTT delay time was measured in the perfusion defect lesion and symmetric contralateral normal cerebral hemisphere. Lesion sire were measured on each perfusion map and compared with the value obtained by diffusion weighted MR imaging(DWMRI). All perfusion CT maps showed the perfusion defect lesion in all patients. There were remarkable CT delay in perfusion defect lesion. In comparison of lesion size between each perfusion map and DWMRI, the lesion on CBF map was the most closely correlated with the lesion on DWMRI(7/9). The size of perfusion defect lesion on MTT map was larger than that of lesion on DWMRI, suggesting that m map can evaluate the ischemic penumbra. Deconvolution Perfusion CT maps make it possible to evaluate not only ischemic core and ischemic penumbra but also hemodynamic status in perfusion defect area. These results demonstrate that perfusion CT can be useful to the diagnosis and treatment in the patients with acute cerebral ischemic infarction.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.16 no.8
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• pp.3407-3412
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• 2015

Background: The aim of this study was to evaluate and compare the accuracy of diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI), apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) value, and time-intensity curve (TIC) type analysis derived from dynamic contrast-enhanced MR imaging (DCE-MRI) in differentiating benign from malignant adnexal masses. Materials and Methods: 47 patients with 56 adnexal masses (27 malignant and 29 benign) underwent DWI and DCE-MRI examinations, prior to surgery. DWI signal intensity, mean ADC value, and TIC type were determined for all the masses. Results: High signal intensity on DWI and type 3 TIC were helpful in differentiating benign from malignant adnexal masses (p<0.001). The mean ADC value was significantly lower in malignant adnexal masses (p<0.001). An ADC value< $1.20{\times}10^{-3}mm^2/s$ may be the optimal cutoff for differentiating between benign and malignant tumors. The negative predictive value for low signal intensity on DWI, and type 1 TIC were 100%. The pairwise comparison among the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves showed that the area under the curve (AUC) of TIC was significantly larger than the AUCs of DWI and ADC (p<0.001 for comparison of TIC and DWI, p<0.02 for comparison of TIC and ADC value). Conclusions: DWI, ADC value and TIC type derived from DCE-MRI are all sensitive and relatively specific methods for differentiating benign from malignant adnexal masses. By comparing these functional MR techniques, TIC was found to be more accurate than DWI and ADC.

• Investigative Magnetic Resonance Imaging
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• v.18 no.3
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• pp.208-218
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• 2014

Purpose : To evaluate the relationship between the speed of enhancement of hepatic hemangiomas on gadolinium-enhanced MRI and ADC values by using various parameters, including the D, f, $D^*$ and $ADC_{fit}$ on intravoxel incoherent motion (IVIM) MR Imaging. Materials and Methods: The institutional review board approved this retrospective study. A total of 47 hepatic hemangiomas from 39 patients were included (20 men and 19 women). The hemangiomas were classified into three types according to the enhancement speed of the hepatic hemangiomas on gadolinium-enhanced dynamic T1-weighted images: rapid (Type A), intermediate (Type B), and slow (Type C) enhancement. The D, f, $D^*$ and $ADC_{fit}$ values were calculated using IVIM MR imaging. The diffusion/perfusion parameters and ADC values were compared among the three types of hemangiomas. Results: Both the $ADC_{fit}$ and D values of type C were significantly lower than those of type A (P = 0.0022, P = 0.0085). However, for the f and $D^*$, there were no significant differences among the three types. On DWI with all b values (50, 200, 500 and $800sec/mm^2$), the ADC values of type C were significantly lower than those of the type A (P < 0.012). For b values with $800sec/mm^2$, the $ADC_{800}$ values of the type C hemangiomas were significantly lower than those of type B (P = 0.0021). We found a negative correlation between hepatic hemangioma enhancement type and $ADC_{50}$ (${\rho}=-0.357$, P = 0.014), $ADC_{200}$ (${\rho}=-0.537$, P = 0.0001), $ADC_{500}$ (${\rho}=-0.614$, P = 0.0001), and $ADC_{800}$ (${\rho}=-0.607$, P = 0.0001). Therefore, four ADC values of $ADC_{50}$, $ADC_{200}$, $ADC_{500}$, and $ADC_{800}$ were decreased with decreasing enhancement speed. Conclusion: Hepatic hemangiomas had variable ADCs according to the type of enhancement, and the reduced ADCs in slowly enhancing hemangiomas may be related to the reduced pure molecular diffusion (D).

• Investigative Magnetic Resonance Imaging
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• v.20 no.3
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• pp.141-151
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• 2016

Purpose: Advances of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), especially that of the Ultra-High Field (UHF) MRI will be reviewed. Materials and Methods: Diffusion MRI data was obtained from a healthy adult young male of age 30 using a 7.0T research MRI scanner (Magnetom, Siemens) with 40 mT/m maximum gradient field. The specific imaging parameters used for the data acquisition were a single shot DW echo planar imaging. Results: Three areas of the imaging experiments are focused on for the study, namely the anatomy, angiography, and tractography. Conclusion: It is envisioned that, in near future, there will be more 7.0T MRIs for brain research and explosive clinical application research will also be developed, for example in the area of connectomics in neuroscience and clinical neurology and neurosurgery.

• Journal of The Korean Radiological Technologist Association
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• v.25 no.1
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• pp.201-209
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• 1999

• Proceedings of the KSMRM Conference
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• 2007.10a
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• pp.37-37
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• 2007

• Journal of the Korean Vacuum Society
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• v.5 no.3
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• pp.258-262
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• 1996

We have investigated the changes in magnetoresistive characteristics, interfacial roughness, and preferred orientation with the Fe buffer layer thickness, annealing temperature, and the stacking number of layers variation in Fe/[NiFe/Cu] multilayers by using the 3-gun d.c. magnetron sputtering method. Intensity of the (200) orientation was increased with the increment of the Fe-buffer layer thickness. We found a maximum magnetoresistance ration of 4.7%, when the buffer layer thickness was 70$\AA$, and the field sensitivity also showed a maximum value at the same thickness. We varied the stacking number of multilayers with fixing the Fe buffer layer thickness of 70$\AA$. When the stacking number was 40 layers, maximum MR ratio(5.3%) was observed. With the variation of annealing temperature no change in the MR ratio was found beyond $300^{\circ}C$. But decrement of MR ratio was observed above $300^{\circ}C$. This decrement of the MR ratio was responsible for the increment of paramagnetic mixed layer caused by the diffusion of Cu layer and the change of antiferromagnetic coupling.