• Progress in Medical Physics
• /
• v.16 no.1
• /
• pp.32-38
• /
• 2005

Impaired processing of facial information is one of the broad ranges of cognitive deficits seen in patients with schizophrenia. The purpose of this study was to elucidate the differences in brain activities involved in the process of facial working memory between schizophrenic patients and healthy comparison subjects. Ten patients with schizophrenia were recruited along with matched healthy volunteers as a comparison group. Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) was used to assess cortical activities during the performance of a 1-back working memory paradigm using images of neutral faces as mnemonic content. The patient group performed the tasks with reduced accuracy. Group analysis revealed that left fusiform gyrus, right superior frontal gyrus, bilateral middle frontal gyri/insula, left middle temporal gyrus, precuneus and vermis of cerebellum and showed decreased cortical activities in the patient group. On the other hand, an increased level of activation in lateral prefrontal cortex and parietal lobule was observed from the patient group, all in the right hemisphere. A decreased level of activity in the left fusiform gyrus among the patient group implicates inefficient processing of facial information. An increased level of activation in prefrontal and parietal neural networks from the patient group confirms earlier findings on the impaired working memory of patients with schizophrenia.

• Journal of the Mineralogical Society of Korea
• /
• v.29 no.3
• /
• pp.131-139
• /
• 2016

Detailed knowledge on maskelynite, a glassy phase of plagioclase found in shocked meteorites and impact craters, is essential to understand a shock metamorphism. Here, we explore an inhomogeneous shock metamorphism in the lunar meteorite Mount DeWitt (DEW) 12007 with an aim to understand the formation mechanism of maskelynite. Most plagioclase grains in the DEW 12007 partially amorphized into maskelynite with a unidirectional orientation. Back-scattered electron (BSE) images of maskelynite show a remnant of planar deformation fracture possibly indicating that the maskelynite would be formed by solid-state transformation(i.e., diaplectic glass). Plagioclase with flow texture is also observed along the rim of maskelynite, which would be a result of recrystallization of melted plagioclase. Results of Raman experiments suggest that shock pressure for plagioclase and maskelynite in the DEW 12007 is approximately 5-32 GPa and 26-45 GPa, respectively. The difference in shock pressures between plagioclase and maskelynite can be originated from 1) external factors such as inhomogeneous shock pressure and/or 2) internal factors such as chemical composition and porosity of rock. Unfortunately, Raman spectroscopy has a limitation in revealing the detailed atomic structure of maskelynite such as development of six- or five-coordinated aluminum atom upon various shock pressure. Further studies using nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy are necessary to understand the formation mechanism of maskelynite under high pressure.

• Journal of Korean Medicine Rehabilitation
• /
• v.26 no.1
• /
• pp.87-93
• /
• 2016

Objectives To analyze the resorption of herniated lumbar intervertebral disc on MRI in patients who were treated with Korean Medicine. Methods 78 patients with lumbar disc herniation were included, 47 males and 32 females. Patients' diagnosis was based on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). All of the patients were only treated with Korean Medicine for 6 months treatment, and underwent MRI examination twice, pre-treatment and post-treatment. MR images were assessed by reduction in diameter of T2-weighted image between pre-treatment and post-treatment, and analyzed by differences in sex, age and disc type. Results 91.2% (71 people) of total patients had extrusion type. Korean medicine treatment reduced lumbar disc herniation diameter of all the patients from 7.11 mm to 3.67 mm on average (p<0.001). The reduction of diameter in the male group was 3.52 mm on average. The reduction of diameter in the female group was 3.32 mm on average. The reduction of diameter was 3.28 mm in the group below age 29, 3.88 mm in the 30~39 age group, 3.39 mm in the 40~49 age group, and 2.71 mm in the above 50 age group on average. Conclusions The MRI results suggest that lumbar herniated disc can resorb with Korean Medicine treatment. The likelihood of lumbar disc resorption was higher at extrusion type. but there was not a significant difference between the sexes and between ages.

• Korean Journal of Digital Imaging in Medicine
• /
• v.13 no.2
• /
• pp.83-90
• /
• 2011

To prospectively determine the diagnostic performance a combination of standard bolus-chase magnetic resonance (MR) angiography and MR angiography with time-resolved imaging of contrast kinetics (TRICKS) for depicting severity of the head and neck vascular diseases. Over a period of two months, A total of 100 patients(average ages : $50{\pm}8$, male : 60, female : 40) with head and neck vascular diseases were performed on the GE excite 3.0 T units with 8-channel head coil and 4-channel NV coil. Imaging parameters for a typical study were as follow: SBC(TR/ TE/ FA/ SliceThicken./ Slab/ Freq./ FOV/ BW/Scan Time) = 5.4/ min/ 30/ 2/ zip2/ 70/ $224{\times}448$/ 30/ 62.50/ 28, TRICKS(TR/ TE/ FA/ Slice Thicken/Slab/ Freq./ FOV/ BW/ Temp Res./ Scan Time = 3.6/ min/ 25/ 4/ 30/ $160{\pm}384$, zip512/ 30/ 100/ 1 to 1.5/ 23). The analysis of all MR images, which have respect-ively classified two techniques into some diseases. The results of the former were divided into two groups(SBC, TRICKS)with 4 grading of two reader, respectively. Wilcoxon signed rank test was used to determine if a significant difference between imaging techniques existed(p < 0.05). In 33 of 100 patients, arterio-venous malformation was 11% at TRICKS, subclavian vein stenosis : 8%, fistular sinus : 4%, jugular vein stenosis:6%, Middle Cerebral Artery bypass surgery : 4%, p < 0.05). The rest of 67 patients were considered as the results of SBC(14% in the basilar artery stenosis, carotid stenosis : 16%, vertebral stenosis : 17%, central neuro-cytoma : 5%, meningioma : 5%, Not appliable : 10%, p < 0.05). Sensitivity and specificity of TRICKS MR angiography in SVS, FS, JVS, MCABS were improved compared with those at standard MR angiography. In SBS MR angiography which were improved in BAS, CS, VS, CN, Meningioma. In conclusion, TRICKS MR angiography of the SVS, FS, JVS, MCABS is superior to standard MR angiography regarding the number of diagnostic grading. The SBS MR angiography were improved in BAS, CS, VS, CN, Meningioma. and assessment of the degree of luminal narrowing on both TRICKS and SBS.

• Journal of Digital Convergence
• /
• v.11 no.11
• /
• pp.613-620
• /
• 2013

This study was conducted to measure and analyze the changes in paraspinal muscles of acute and chronic low back pain patients using MRI, and to provide clinical basic data for diagnosis and treatment for low back pain. For this purpose, 20 patients with acute low back pain frome August 2012 to January 2013 which occurred within 12 weeks, and 20 patients with chronic low back pain that progressed over 12 weeks, were chosen as subjects, and their MRI measurements were compared with one another. As a result, in relation to in the fatty degeneration ratio of the left spine and right spine, there were significant differences in erector spinae and multifidus(p<.001), and in relation to the Fat Infiltration ratio between all the groups, there were significant differences in psoas major, erector spinae and multifidus between the acute low back pain patient group and the chronic low back pain patient group(p<.001). In the post-hoc test, multifidus and erector spinae in the acute low back pain group and chronic low back pain group showed the highest Fat Infiltration ratio. The serious Fat Infiltration of multifidus and erector spinae in the chronic low back pain group led to weakened strength of muscles that stabilize the spine. In conclusion, it is considered that this study would present important data and basis in making acute and chronic low back pain patients pay more attention to multifidus and psoas major during rehabilitation exercise, and selecting a rehabilitation exercise program.

• Proceedings of the KSMRM Conference
• /
• 2002.11a
• /
• pp.133-133
• /
• 2002

Purpose： The purpose of paper is to implement software to visualize brain fiber tract using a 24-bit color coding scheme and to test its feasibility. Materials and Methods： MR imaging was performed on GE 1.5 T Signa scanner. For diffusion tensor image, we used a single shot spin-echo EPI sequence with 7 non-colinear pulsed-field gradient directions： (x, y, z)：(1,1,0),(-1,1,0),(1,0,1),(-1,0,1),(0,1,1),(0,1,-1) and without diffusion gradient. B-factor was 500 sec/$\textrm{mm}^2$. Acquisition parameters are as follows： TUTE=10000ms/99ms, FOV=240mm, matrix=128${\times}$128, slice thickness/gap=6mm/0mm, total slice number=30. Subjects consisted of 10 normal young volunteers (age：21∼26 yrs, 5 men, 5 women). All DTI images were smoothed with Gaussian kernel with the FWHM of 2 pixels. Color coding schemes for visualization of directional information was as follows. HSV(Hue, Saturation, Value) color system is appropriate for assigning RGB(Red, Green, and Blue) value for every different directions because of its volumetric directional expression. Each of HSV are assigned due to (r,$\theta$,${\Phi}$) in spherical coordinate. HSV calculated by this way can be transformed into RGB color system by general HSV to RGB conversion formula. Symmetry schemes： It is natural to code the antipodal direction to be same color(antipodal symmetry). So even with no symmetry scheme, the antipodal symmetry must be included. With no symmetry scheme, we can assign every different colors for every different orientation.(H =${\Phi}$, S=2$\theta$/$\pi$, V=λw, where λw is anisotropy). But that may assign very discontinuous color even between adjacent yokels. On the other hand, Full symmetry or absolute value scheme includes symmetry for 180$^{\circ}$ rotation about xy-plane of color coordinate (rotational symmetry) and for both hemisphere (mirror symmetry). In absolute value scheme, each of RGB value can be expressed as follows. R=λw｜Vx｜, G=λw｜Vy｜, B=λw｜Vz｜, where (Vx, Vy, Vz) is eigenvector corresponding to the largest eigenvalue of diffusion tensor. With applying full symmetry or absolute value scheme, we can get more continuous color coding at the expense of coding same color for symmetric direction. For better visualization of fiber tract directions, Gamma and brightness correction had done. All of these implementations were done on the IDL 5.4 platform.

• Advances in nano research
• /
• v.1 no.3
• /
• pp.159-169
• /
• 2013

A preparation method for gadolinium compound (GdC) nanoparticles coated with silica ($GdC/SiO_2$) is proposed. GdC nanoparticles were prepared with a homogeneous precipitation method at $80^{\circ}C$ using $1.0{\times}10^{-3}$ M $Gd(NO_3)_3$, 0.5 M urea and $0-3.0{\times}10^{-4}$ M ethylenediarinnetetraacetic acid disodium salt dihydrate (ETDA) in water. As a result of preparation at various EDTA concentrations, GdC nanoparticles with a size as small as $40.5{\pm}6.2$ nm, which were colloidally stable, were prepared at an EDTA concentration of $2.0{\times}10^{-4}$ M. Silica-coating of the GdC nanoparticles was performed by a St$\ddot{o}$ber method at $35^{\circ}C$ using $1.0-10.0{\times}10^{-3}$ M tetraethylorthosilicate (TEOS), 11 M $H_2O$ and $1.5{\times}10^{-3}$ M NaOH in ethanol in the presence of $1.0{\times}10^{-3}$ M GdC nanoparticles. Performance of preparation at various TEOS concentrations resulted in production of $GdC/SiO_2$ particles with an average size of $106.1{\pm}11.2$ nm at a TEOS concentration of $5.0{\times}10^{-3}$ M. The gadolinium (Gd) concentration of $1.0{\times}10^{-3}$ M in the as-prepared $GdC/SiO_2$ particle colloid solution was increased up to a Gd concentration of 0.2 M by concentrating with centrifugation. The core-shell structure of $GdC/SiO_2$ particles was undamaged, and the colloid solution was still colloidally stable, even after the concentrating process. The concentrated $GdC/SiO_2$ colloid solution showed images of X-ray and magnetic resonance with contrast as high as commercial Gd complex contrast agents.

• Asian Spine Journal
• /
• v.12 no.6
• /
• pp.1060-1068
• /
• 2018

Study Design: Retrospective study. Purpose: Lumbar intervertebral disc degeneration is an important cause of low back pain. Overview of Literature: Spinal fusion is often reported to have a good course for adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS). However, many studies have reported that adjacent segment degeneration is accelerated after lumbar spinal fusion. Radiography is a simple method used to evaluate the orientation of the vertebral column. magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is the method most often used to specifically evaluate intervertebral disc degeneration. The Pfirrmann classification is a well-known method used to evaluate degenerative lumbar disease. After spinal fusion, an increase in stress, excess mobility, increased intra-disc pressure, and posterior displacement of the axis of motion have been observed in the adjacent segments. Methods: we retrospectively secured and analyzed the data of 15 patients (four boys and 11 girls) with AIS who underwent a spinal fusion surgery. We studied the full-length view of the spine (anterior-posterior and lateral) from the X-ray and MRI obtained from all patients before surgery. Postoperatively, another full-length spine X-ray and lumbosacral MRI were obtained from all participants. Then, pelvic tilt, sacral slope, curve correction, and fused and free segments before and after surgery were calculated based on X-ray studies. MRI images were used to estimate the degree to which intervertebral discs were degenerated using Pfirrmann grading system. Pfirrmann grade before and after surgery were compared with Wilcoxon signed rank test. While analyzing the contribution of potential risk factors for the post-spinal fusion Pfirrmann grade of disc degeneration, we used generalized linear models with robust standard error estimates to account for intraclass correlation that may have been present between discs of the same patient. Results: The mean age of the participant was 14 years, and the mean curvature before and after surgery were 67.8 and 23.8, respectively (p<0.05). During the median follow-up of 5 years, the mean degree of the disc degeneration significantly increased in all patients after surgery (p<0.05) with a Pfirrmann grade of 1 and 2.8 in the L2-L3 before and after surgery, respectively. The corresponding figures at L3-L4, L4-L5, and L5-S1 levels were 1.28 and 2.43, 1.07 and 2.35, and 1 and 2.33, respectively. The lower was the number of free discs below the fusion level, the higher was the Pfirrmann grade of degeneration (p<0.001). Conversely, the higher was the number of the discs fused together, the higher was the Pfirrmann grade. Conclusions: we observed that the disc degeneration aggravated after spinal fusion for scoliosis. While the degree of degeneration as measured by Pfirrmann grade was directly correlated by the number of fused segments, it was negatively correlated with the number of discs that remained free below the lowermost level of the fusion.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Radiology
• /
• v.79 no.5
• /
• pp.247-253
• /
• 2018

The purpose of this study was to summarize the results of a survey for physicians with specialties other than radiology about imaging studies of patients referred from other institutions. The survey was promoted through individual contacts or social network service and physicians who voluntarily responded to the survey were the subjects of the study. The questionnaire consisted of 11 questions about basic information and referrals about medical imaging. A total of 160 physicians from 30 specialties participated in the survey and 95.6% of the respondents worked in tertiary care center or general hospital. Patients were frequently referred with outside medical images. The most frequently referred imaging modalities were computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging. However, radiological reports from outside institutions were rarely referred. Most physicians thought that reinterpretation for outside imaging is necessary to acquire a secondary opinion. In conclusion, considering that outside radiological reports are frequently missing and there are high demands on reinterpretation for outside imaging, guidelines for referral of radiological reports with medical imaging, basic elements of radiological reports, and reinterpretation need to be developed.

• Clinics in Shoulder and Elbow
• /
• v.24 no.1
• /
• pp.21-26
• /
• 2021

Background: To evaluate the demographics, clinical and radiographic features of calcific tendinitis of the shoulder in the Korean population, specifically focusing on the incidence of coexisting rotator cuff tear. Methods: Between October 2014 and January 2015, we performed a prospective multicenter study with 506 patients from 11 training hospitals in Korea. We collected data of demographics and radiographic analysis based on simple radiographs, clinical assessments based on visual analog scale (VAS) and the American Shoulder Elbow Surgeons (ASES) score, and treatment modalities that are used currently. We also evaluated coexisting rotator cuff tear by ultrasonography (US) or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) images. Results: There were 402 female patients (79%) with mean age of 55 years (range, 31-87 years). Mean duration of symptoms was 16 months. Mean size of calcific materials was 11.4 mm (range, 0-35 mm). Mean value of VAS and ASES scores were 6.5 (range, 1-10) and 47 (range, 8-95), respectively. Of 383 patients (76%), 59 (15%) had rotator cuff tear including 15 full-thickness tears on US or MRI. Patients with rotator cuff tears were significantly associated with older age, recurrent symptoms, menstrual disorders in females, and having undergone calcification removal surgery and rotator cuff repair (all p<0.05). Conclusions: This study reported demographic, radiographic, and clinical features of calcific tendinitis of the shoulder in Korean population, which were not different from those of Western population. Coexisting rotator cuff tear was found with 15% incidence in this large series, suggesting that further radiographic study to evaluate rotator cuff tear might be needed in some calcific tendinitis patients of older age and presenting with recurrent symptoms.