• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
• /
• 제62권1호
• /
• pp.10-26
• /
• 2019

Magnetic resonance-guided focused ultrasound (MRgFUS) is an emerging new technology with considerable potential to treat various neurological diseases. With refinement of ultrasound transducer technology and integration with magnetic resonance imaging guidance, transcranial sonication of precise cerebral targets has become a therapeutic option. Intensity is a key determinant of ultrasound effects. High-intensity focused ultrasound can produce targeted lesions via thermal ablation of tissue. MRgFUS-mediated stereotactic ablation is non-invasive, incision-free, and confers immediate therapeutic effects. Since the US Food and Drug Administration approval of MRgFUS in 2016 for unilateral thalamotomy in medication-refractory essential tremor, studies on novel indications such as Parkinson's disease, psychiatric disease, and brain tumors are underway. MRgFUS is also used in the context of blood-brain barrier (BBB) opening at low intensities, in combination with intravenously-administered microbubbles. Preclinical studies show that MRgFUS-mediated BBB opening safely enhances the delivery of targeted chemotherapeutic agents to the brain and improves tumor control as well as survival. In addition, BBB opening has been shown to activate the innate immune system in animal models of Alzheimer's disease. Amyloid plaque clearance and promotion of neurogenesis in these studies suggest that MRgFUS-mediated BBB opening may be a new paradigm for neurodegenerative disease treatment in the future. Here, we review the current status of preclinical and clinical trials of MRgFUS-mediated thermal ablation and BBB opening, described their mechanisms of action, and discuss future prospects.

• KSII Transactions on Internet and Information Systems (TIIS)
• /
• 제17권3호
• /
• pp.678-700
• /
• 2023

Diagnosing breast diseases using ultrasound (US) images remains challenging because it is time-consuming and requires expert radiologist knowledge. As a result, the diagnostic performance is significantly biased. To assist radiologists in this process, computer-aided diagnosis (CAD) systems have been developed and used in practice. This type of system is used not only to assist radiologists in examining breast ultrasound images (BUS) but also to ensure the effectiveness of the diagnostic process. In this study, we propose a new approach for breast lesion localization and segmentation using a multi-scale pyramid of the ultrasound image of a breast organ and a convolutional semantic segmentation network. Unlike previous studies that used only a deep detection/segmentation neural network on a single breast ultrasound image, we propose to use multiple images generated from an input image at different scales for the localization and segmentation process. By combining the localization/segmentation results obtained from the input image at different scales, the system performance was enhanced compared with that of the previous studies. The experimental results with two public datasets confirmed the effectiveness of the proposed approach by producing superior localization/segmentation results compared with those obtained in previous studies.

• 한국지하수토양환경학회지:지하수토양환경
• /
• 제26권4호
• /
• pp.1-7
• /
• 2021

The removal of PCBs (Polychlorinated biphenyls) in aqueous phase was investigated in the ultraviolet (UV) process, ultrasonics (US) process and ultraviolet/ultrasonic (UV/US) process using PCB No.7 and Aroclor 1260. For PCB No.7 relatively high removal efficiency over 90% was obtained during 20 min in the UV process and UV/US process. On the other hand, lower removal efficiency of 50 - 70% was achieved for it consisted of individual congeners of PCBs containing 3~8 of chlorine atom. It was found that the dechlorination reaction (the photolytic cleavage of C-Cl bond) was considered as a main removal mechanism in the UV process while PCBs were removed by cavitation-induced radical reaction in the US process. No significant dechlorination occurred in the US process. Consequently, it was suggested that the UV process or UV/US process was applicable for the removal of PCBs in aqueous phase in terms of the removal efficiency and operation time. In addition, the application of saturating gas such as Ar and Air could be considered to control redox condition and enhance the severity of acoustic cavitation for the removal of PCBs.

• 한국세라믹학회지
• /
• 제38권6호
• /
• pp.506-508
• /
• 2001

The ferrite plating with applying power ultrasound waves of 19.5 kHz and 600W enabled us to encapsulate entirely MnZn ferrite cores for transformers with Ni$\sub$x/Zn$\sub$y/Fe$\sub$3-x-y/O$_4$coating. Supplying a NH$_4$OH solution during the plating broke the limit of the solubility of Ni ions to ferrite-plated films. The electrical resistivity of the NiZn ferrite coating increased with increasing the Ni and Zn content, reaching 2.3${\times}$10$\^$5/Ωcm at the composition of Ni$\sub$0.24/Zn$\sub$0.30/Fe$\sub$2.46/O$_4$. The saturation magnetization was 540 emu/㎤. As a result, the MnZn ferrite cores were successfully encapsulated with the NiZn ferrite coatings for an insulation layer.

• Journal of Pharmaceutical Investigation
• /
• 제36권3호
• /
• pp.185-192
• /
• 2006

The purpose of this study was to determine the effects of iontophoresis on transdermal delivery of procaine hydrochloride in healthy volunteers, as well as to the synergic effect of high voltage current or ultrasound on the efficacy of transdermal delivery of iontophoresis. Forty healthy volunteers were randomly assigned to four groups topical application group (TA), iontophoresis group (IT), pre-treatment of high voltage current stimulation with iontophoresis (HVS + IT), and pre-treatment of ultrasound application with iontophoresis (US + IT). All subjects received procaine iontophoresis on the forearm using direct current with 4 mA f3r 15 minutes. All subject was measured the duration of local anesthesia, pressure pain threshold, pain perception threshold using rectangular wave at 0.2 ms, 1 ms, 50 ms of rectangular current stimulation after procaine iontophoresis. For comparisons of the sensory characteristics and efficacy of iontophoresis between the groups, an one-way ANOVA and Kruskal-Wallis were used. The significant difference the duration of local anesthesia were found between the groups (p<0.001). The local anesthetic duration of IT, HVS+IT were significantly longer than TA. Meanwhile, the local anesthetic duration of US+IT was significantly longer than HVS+IT, IT and TA group (p<0.05). Also, the pressure pain threshold, pain perception threshold at 0.2 ms, 1 ms, 50 ms were significant difference between the groups (p<0.001). All sensory characteristics including pressure pain threshold, pain perception threshold of IT, HVS+IT was significantly increased than TA, whereas, US+1T was significantly increased HVS+1T, IT and TA (p<0.05). This study showed that the procaine iontophoresis have increase the duration of local anesthesia concomitantly pressure pain threshold and pain perception threshold of sensory nerve fibers such as $A-{\beta}$, $A-{\delta}$ and C fiber. This findings suggest that the iontophoresis enhanced the transdermal delivery of drug ions in vivo. The combination of ultrasound application and iontophoresis synergized the transdermal delivery of drug ions. It is suggests that an electric field, mechanical and heating property of ultrasound may contribute to synergic effect due to temporary changes of structure in the stratum corneum.

• 대한방사선기술학회지:방사선기술과학
• /
• 제31권2호
• /
• pp.141-147
• /
• 2008

갑상선 질환은 임상에서 흔히 볼 수 있는 내분비계 질환이다. 기존의 FNA (미세침흡인검사)는 갑상선결절 진단에 매우 널리 이용되고 있으나 결절의 크기가 작고 불분명한 경우, 심부에 위치하여 촉진이 어렵거나, 복합 낭종인 경우에는 적절한 표본 획득의 어려움 등의 제한점을 가지고 있다. 이러한 제한점을 최소화하고 검사의 정확성을 높이기 위한 방법의 하나로써 최근에는 US-guided FNA (초음파유도 미세침흡인검사)가 활발히 시행되고 있다. 이에 이 연구에서는 한 대학병원에서 시행되고 있는 US-guided FNA의 결과를 분석하여 표본의 정확성을 파악함으로써 US-guided FNA의 진단적 유용성을 알아보고자 하였다. 갑상선 결절로 US-guided FNA를 시행 받은 364명의 연구대상자중 성별은 여성이 316명(86.8%)으로 월등히 많았으며 연령층은 40대의 비율(51.4%)이 가장 높은 것으로 나타났다. 결절의 위치는 오른쪽이 157명(43.1%), 왼쪽이 130명(35.7%), 협부 9명(2.5%)의 순이었다. 결절의 크기는 1cm 미만인 경우는 38.2%, 1cm 이상인 경우는 61.8%인 것으로 확인되었으며, 결절의 내부 에코 양상은 고형성인 경우가 255명(70.1%)으로 가장 많았으며 낭성은 39명(10.7%), 혼합형인 경우는 19.2%이었다. 병리검사 결과 양성 307명(84.3%), 악성은 20명(5.5%), 악성의심이 4명(1.1%)이었으며, 부적절한 검체는 33명(9.1%)이었다. US-guided FNA는 표본의 적절성과 진단적 정확성을 향상시킬 것으로 기대되며 향후 진단적 정확성과 관련하여 감수성과 특이성, 예측도 등의 지표에 대한 연구들이 보완되어야 할 것으로 사료된다.

• 대한의용생체공학회:의공학회지
• /
• 제41권5호
• /
• pp.195-202
• /
• 2020

Needle detection in ultrasound images is sometimes difficult due to obstruction of fat tissues. Accurate needle detection using continuous ultrasound (CUS) images is a vital stage of treatment planning for tissue biopsy and brachytherapy. The main goal of the study is classified into two categories. First, new detection model, i.e. D-Attention Unet, is developed by combining the context information of 3D medical data and CUS images. Second, the D-Attention Unet model was compared with other models to verify its usefulness for needle detection in continuous ultrasound images. The continuous needle images taken with ultrasonic waves were converted into still images for dataset to evaluate the performance of the D-Attention Unet. The dataset was used for training and testing. Based on the results, the proposed D-Attention Unet model showed the better performance than other 3 models (Unet, D-Unet and Attention Unet), with Dice Similarity Coefficient (DSC), Recall and Precision at 71.9%, 70.6% and 73.7%, respectively. In conclusion, the D-Attention Unet model provides accurate needle detection for US-guided biopsy or brachytherapy, facilitating the clinical workflow. Especially, this kind of research is enthusiastically being performed on how to add image processing techniques to learning techniques. Thus, the proposed method is applied in this manner, it will be more effective technique than before.

• 한국전문물리치료학회지
• /
• 제28권3호
• /
• pp.186-193
• /
• 2021

Background: While the formal test has been used to provide a quantitative measurement of core stability, studies have reported inconsistent results regarding its test-retest and intraobserver reliabilities. Furthermore, the validity of the formal test has never been established. Objects: This study aimed to establish the concurrent validity and test-retest reliability of the formal test. Methods: Twenty-two young adults with and without core instability (23.1 ± 2.0 years) were recruited. Concurrent validity was determined by comparing the muscle thickness changes of the external oblique, internal oblique, and transverse abdominal muscle to changes in core stability pressure during the formal test using ultrasound (US) imaging and pressure biofeedback, respectively. For the test-retest reliability, muscle thickness and pressure changes were repeatedly measured approximately 24 hours apart. Electromyography (EMG) was used to monitor trunk muscle activity during the formal test. Results: The Pearson's correlation analysis showed an excellent correlation between transverse abdominal thickness and pressure biofeedback unit (PBU) pressure as well as internal oblique thickness and PBU pressure, ranging from r = 0.856-0.980, p < 0.05. The test-retest reliability was good, intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC1,2) = 0.876 for the core stability pressure measure and ICC1,2 = 0.939 to 0.989 for the abdominal muscle thickness measure. Conclusion: Our results provide clinical evidence that the formal test is valid and reliable, when concurrently incorporated into EMG and US measurements.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
• /
• 제17권9호
• /
• pp.4463-4467
• /
• 2016

Purpose: To review the impact of using intra-operative ultrasound guided breast conserving surgery with frozen sections on final pathological margin outcome with the current guidelines set forth by the Society of Surgical Oncology (SSO) and the American Society of Surgical Oncology (ASTRO). Materials and Methods: A retrospective review including all cases of intra-operative ultrasound guided breast conserving surgery was performed at the National Cancer Institute Thailand between 2013 and 2016. Patient demographics, tumor variables, intraoperative frozen section and final pathological margin outcomes were collected. Factors for positive or close margins were analyzed. Results: A total of 86 patients aged between 27 and 75 years with intra-operative ultrasound guided breast conserving surgery were included. Three cases (3.5%) of positive margin were detected by intra-operative frozen section and 4 cases (4.7%) by final pathology reports. There were 18 cases (20.9%) with a close margin (<1 mm). Factors affecting this result comprised multi-foci, presence of invasive ductal carcinoma (IDC) combined with ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) and invasive lobular carcinoma (ILC). Conclusions: With the current SSO/ASTRO for adequate margin guidelines, using intra-operative ultrasound to locate the boundary for resection with breast conserving surgery provided a high success rate in obtaining final pathology free margin outcomes and minimizing re-operation risks especially when combined with intra-operative frozen section assessment. The chance of finding positive or close margins appears higher in cases of IDC combined with DCIS, ILC and with multi-foci cancers.

• Advances in environmental research
• /
• 제2권4호
• /
• pp.261-277
• /
• 2013

The degradation of alachlor has been investigated using sonolysis (US), photocatalysis (UV) and sonophotocatalysis (US/UV) using three photocatalyst viz. $TiO_2$ (mixture of anatase and rutile), $TiO_2$ (anatase) and ZnO. The effect of photocatalyst loading on the extent of degradation of alachlor has been investigated by varying $TiO_2$ (both types) loading over the range of 0.01 g/L to 0.1 g/L and ZnO loading over the range of 0.05 g/L to 0.3 g/L. The optimum loading of the catalyst was found to be dependent on the type of operation i.e., photocatalysis alone or the combined operation of sonolysis and photocatalysis. All the combined processes gave complete degradation of alachlor with maximum rate of degradation being obtained in the case of sonophotocatalytic process also showing synergistic effect at optimized loading of photocatalyst. About 50% to 60% reduction in TOC has been obtained using the combined process of sonophotocatalysis depending on the operating conditions. The alachlor degradation fitted first order kinetics for all the processes under investigation. It has been observed that the $TiO_2$ (mixtrure of anatase and rutile) is the most active photocatalyst among the three photocatalysts studied in the current work. The effect of addition of radical enhancers and scavengers on sonophotocatalytic degradation of alachlor has been investigated in order to decipher the controlling mechanism. The alachlor degradation products have been identified using LC-MS method.