• Journal of the Korean Society of Radiology
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• v.18 no.4
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• pp.365-372
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• 2024

To analyze the image quality and disinfection effectiveness of alcohol gel application in ultrasound scans, we varied the application of alcohol gels with different alcohol content from ultrasound gels. The image quality analysis compared the Dead zone, axial and lateral resolution, sensitivity, and gray scale changes using the ATS-539 phantom, while the disinfection effectiveness analysis was performed by swabbing the three cover faces of convex probe used in clinical practice, collecting specimens and enrichment culture them for 24 hours before identification with Gram stain. image quality analysis showed that all items, regardless of the alcohol content, produced images that were not different from the ultrasonic gel application images, and pathogens such as staphylococcus aureus, streptococcus, and enterococcus were detected on all probes, and all were extinction by the application of alcohol gel. The application of alcohol gel during ultrasound examination was meaningful in terms of image quality maintenance and disinfection effect, and if the results of this study are further studied and commercialized, the application of alcohol gel as an alternative to ultrasound gel will be very useful in clinical examinations because it can consider not only image quality but also infection prevention.

• The Korean Journal of Nuclear Medicine
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• v.39 no.3
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• pp.191-199
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• 2005

Purpose: In order to obtain better quantitation of kidney uptake, this study is to evaluate a conjugate view method (CVM) using a geometric mean attenuation correction for kidney uptake and to compare it to Gate's method. Materials & Methods: We used a Monte Carlo code, SIMIND and a Zubal phantom, to simulate kidney uptake. SIMIND was both simulated with or without scatter for the Zubal phantom. Also, a real phantom test was carried out using a dual-head gamma camera. The activity of 0.5 mCi was infused into two small cylinder phantoms of 5 cm diameter, and then, they were inserted into a cylinder phantom of 20 cm diameter. The results by the CVM method were compared with ideal data without both of attenuation and scatter and with Gate's method. The CVM was performed with or without scatter correction. The Gate's method was performed without scatter correction and it was evaluated with regards to $0.12cm^{-1}\;and\;0.15cm^{-1}$ attenuation coefficients. Data were analyzed with comparisons of mean counts in the legions of interest (ROI), profiles drawn over kidney images and linear regression. Correlation coefficients were calculated with ideal data, as well. Results: In the case of the computer simulation, mean counts measured from ideal data, the CVM and the Gate's method were (right $998{\pm}209$, left: $896{\pm}249$), (right: $911{\pm}207$, left: $815{\pm}265$), and (right: $1065{\pm}267$, left: $1546{\pm}267$), respectively. The ideal data showed good correlation with the CVM and the correlation coefficients of the CVM, Gate's method were (right: 0.91, left: 0.93) and (right: 0.85, left: 0.90), respectively. Conclusion: The conjugate view method using geometric mean attenuation correction resulted in better accuracy than the Gate's method. In conclusion, the conjugate view method independent of renal depths may provide more accurate kidney uptake.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Radiology
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• v.17 no.4
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• pp.607-614
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• 2023

Clear overlapping of the bilateral epicondyle and proper separation of the elbow joint are crucial for obtaining accurate lateral general radiographs of the elbow. However, due to the complex anatomical structure of the elbow, achieving optimal positioning is challenging, leading to the need for repeated x-ray examinations. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to investigate the angle of the forearm in patients where accurate lateral images of the elbow joint can't be obtained after vertical incidence using a styrofoam device during elbow joint lateral x-ray imaging. Twenty patients were enrolled in our study following the established protocol. First, a vertical x-ray at an angle of 0° between the forearm and the table was taken (control group). Here, if the lateral image of the elbow joint was deemed inadequate, the forearm angle was adjusted using custom-made styrofoam supports with 5° and 10° inclinations (experimental groups). For the evaluation method, two assessors utilized a 5-point Likert scale to assess the images. The reliability of the assessments was analyzed using Cronbach's alpha coefficient. As a result, patients with inadequate overlap of the bilateral epicondyle and separation of the elbow joint in the initial examination (control group) were able to obtain the best images when setting a 10° angle between the forearm and the table. The subjective evaluation was 1.6 ± 0.8 points at 0°, 2.7 ± 0.8 points at 5°, and 4.4 ± 1.3 points at 10°, respectively. The reliability analysis for the angles of 0°, 5°, and 10° yielded Cronbach's alpha values of 0.867, 0.697, and 0.922, respectively. In conclusion, when it is not possible to obtain accurate images using the conventional position and X-ray beam direction, it is considered that by initially acquiring images with an angle of 10° between the forearm and the table, and gradually decreasing the angle while obtaining images, it would be possible to achieve the optimal image while reducing the number of repeat examinations.

• Journal of Radiation Protection and Research
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• v.35 no.2
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• pp.63-68
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• 2010

The ultimate goal of radiation treatment is to use enough radiation dosage in order to examine a tumor while protecting normal tissue. Respiratory guided radiotherapy is being clinically implemented to examine a given stabilized area in order to compensate for the problems of patient breathing. This study investigates the effects of breathing movements on 40 patients with liver cancer through the actual radiation therapy plan using 4D-CT and respiratory guided radiotherapy using RPM. Using a commercial RPM respiratory gating system 4D-CT, we acquired 4D CT on multislice helical CT scanners that use different approaches to 4D CT image reconstruction. The results from analyzing forty patients according to age and direction showed no relationship between gender and transition change. The mean left-right, anteroposterior, and craniocaudal total movements were $3.19{\pm}1.29$, $5.44{\pm}2.07$, and $12.54{\pm}4.70$ mm, respectively. Changes were the largest with CC directions and as patients advanced in age, movements were larger. Therefore, as changes occur in treatment areas because of movements caused from breathing, respiratory gating system is put into operation to revise movement and can increase the radiotherapeutics effects in treating liver cancer.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Radiology
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• v.6 no.5
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• pp.427-433
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• 2012

This study aimed at identifying changes in the acromiohumeral distance (AHD) and arm when the caudal gliding gradeII and III of Kaltenborn-Evjenth Concept$^{(R)}$ are applied to the right glenohumeral joint. The humeral head moved down about 5mm from the initial position when the gliding gradeII was applied, and about 8mm from the initial position when the gliding gradeIII was applied. Although men showed a higher acromiohumeral distance per grade than women in comparisons by gender for the acromiohumeral distance, there was no significant difference in statistics. The Abduction angle improved about $10^{\circ}$ from the initial angle when the gliding gradeII was applied, and about $12^{\circ}$ from the initial angle when the gliding gradeIII was applied. Although women showed the abduction angle greater than men for every grade in comparisons by gender for the abduction angle, there was no significant difference in statistics. Based on the aforesaid findings, the extent of kinematic changes in the humeral head could be identified when the gliding grades were applied. Accordingly, it is considered that more scientific evidence based treatments could be expected if influences on the surrounding structures by these changes could be learned through more studies in the future.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Radiology
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• v.13 no.1
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• pp.39-44
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• 2019

Radiation safety management is being considered very important since radioactive isotopes such as Co-60 and Ir-192 are widely used in fields such as non-destructive test(NDT). In this study, the applicability of Mercury(II) Iodide($HgI_2$) source for tracing system was evaluated. To make sure the unit cell sensor's reliability, we evaluated the electrical properties of the sensor made with $HgI_2$, and then position dependence of the sensor was analyzed and compared with the dose distribution from the planning system. As a result of the evaluation, high reliability of the sensor was shown through the linearity of R-sq > 0.990 and reproducibility of CV < 0.015. In the position dependence evaluation, the maximum value was measured at the isocenter of the sensor and gradually decreased according to the distance. However, the dose distribution data from the planning system was turned out that has difference with that of the sensor up to 30%. This seems to come from the difference between single-point measuring based planning system and area measuring based sensor.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.50 no.1
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• pp.7-13
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• 2012

$Toxoplasma$ $gondii$ can modulate host cell gene expression; however, determining gene expression levels in intermediate hosts after $T.$ $gondii$ infection is not known much. We selected 5 genes ($ALDH1A2$, $BEX2$, $CCL3$, $EGR2$ and $PLAU$) and compared the mRNA expression levels in the spleen, liver, lung and small intestine of genetically different mice infected with $T.$ $gondii$. ALDH1A2 mRNA expressions of both mouse strains were markedly increased at day 1-4 postinfection (PI) and then decreased, and its expressions in the spleen and lung were significantly higher in C57BL/6 mice than those of BALB/c mice. BEX2 and CCR3 mRNA expressions of both mouse strains were significantly increased from day 7 PI and peaked at day 15-30 PI ($P$<0.05), especially high in the spleen liver or small intestine of C57BL/6 mice. EGR2 and PLAU mRNA expressions of both mouse strains were significantly increased after infection, especially high in the spleen and liver. However, their expression patterns were varied depending on the tissue and mouse strain. Taken together, $T.$ $gondii$-susceptible C57BL/6 mice expressed higher levels of these 5 genes than did $T.$ $gondii$-resistant BALB/c mice, particularly in the spleen and liver. And ALDH1A2 and PLAU expressions were increased acutely, whereas BEX2, CCL3 and EGR2 expressions were increased lately. Thus, these demonstrate that host genetic factors exert a strong impact on the expression of these 5 genes and their expression patterns were varied depending on the gene or tissue.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.66 no.5
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• pp.365-369
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• 2009

Prompt and proper discovery of cause is important in lung cancer patients with signs and symptoms of intestinal obstruction because approach for treatment may differ according to its etiology and emergency operation can often be required to prevent more severe complications. In this report, we present two different causes of intestinal obstruction in lung cancer. Physicians need to be aware of these possibilities to differentiate the cause of intestinal obstruction in patients with lung cancer.

• Investigative Magnetic Resonance Imaging
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.52-58
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• 2014

Purpose : To establish a pH measurement system for a mouse tumor study using a clinical scanner, to develop the $^1H$ and 31P radio frequency (RF) coil system and to test pH accuracy with phantoms. Materials and Methods: The $^1H$ and the $^{31}P$ surface coils were designed to acquire signals from mouse tumors. Two coils were positioned orthogonally for geometric decoupling. The pH values of various pH phantoms were calculated using the $^1H$ decoupled $^{31}P$ MR spectrum with the Henderson-Hasselbalch equation. The calculated pH value was compared to that of a pH meter. Results: The mutual coil coupling was shown in a standard $S_{12}$. Coil coupling ($S_{12}$) were -73.0 and -62.3 dB respectively. The signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) obtained from the homogeneous phantom $^1H$ image was greater than 300. The high resolution in vivo mice images were acquired using a $^{31}P$-decoupled $^1H$ coil. The pH values calculated from the $^1H$-decoupled $^{31}P$ spectrum correlated well with the values measured by pH meter ($R^2$=0.97). Conclusion: Accurate pH values can be acquired using a $^1H$-decoupled $^{31}P$ RF coil with a clinical scanner. This two-surface coil system could be applied to other nuclear MRS or MRI.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.15 no.9
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• pp.3865-3871
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• 2014

It is becoming progressively more understandable that different phytochemicals isolated from edible plants interfere with specific stages of carcinogenesis. Cancer cells have evolved hallmark mechanisms to escape from death. Concordant with this approach, there is a disruption of spatiotemproal behaviour of signaling cascades in cancer cells, which can escape from apoptosis because of downregulation of tumor suppressor genes and over-expression of oncogenes. Genomic instability, intra-tumor heterogeneity, cellular plasticity and metastasizing potential of cancer cells all are related to molecular alterations. Data obtained through in vitro studies has convincingly revealed that curcumin, EGCG, resveratrol and quercetin are promising anticancer agents. Their efficacy has been tested in tumor xenografted mice and considerable experimental findings have stimulated researchers to further improve the bioavailability of these nutraceuticals. We partition this review into different sections with emphasis on how bioavailability of curcumin, EGCG, resveratrol and quercetin has improved using different nanotechnology approaches.