• Korean Journal of Radiology
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• v.22 no.2
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• pp.159-167
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• 2021

Objective: The aim of this study was to compare the survival rates of Korean females aged 40 to 49 years with breast cancer detected by supplemental screening ultrasound (US) or screening mammography alone. Materials and Methods: This single-institution retrospective study included 240 patients with breast cancer (mean age, 45.1 ± 2.8 years) detected by US or mammography who had undergone breast surgery between 2003 and 2008. Medical records were reviewed for clinicopathologic characteristics and detection methods. Disease-free survival (DFS) and overall survival (OS) were compared between patients with breast cancer in the US and mammography groups using the log-rank test. Multivariable cox regression analysis was used to identify independent variables associated with DFS and OS. Results: Among the 240 cases of breast cancer, 43 were detected by supplemental screening US and 197 by screening mammography (mean follow-up: 7.4 years, 93.3% with dense breasts). There were 19 recurrences and 16 deaths, all occurring in the mammography group. While the US group did not differ from the mammography group in tumor stage, the patients in this group were more likely to undergo breast-conserving surgery and radiation therapy than the mammography group. The US group also showed better DFS (p = 0.016); however, OS did not differ between the two groups (p = 0.058). In the multivariable analysis, the US group showed a lower risk of recurrence (hazard ratio, 0.097; 95% confidence interval, 0.001-0.705) compared to the mammography group. Conclusion: Our study found that Korean females aged 40-49 years with US-detected breast cancer showed better DFS than those with mammography-detected breast cancer. However, there were no statistically significant differences in OS.

• Journal of Environmental Science International
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• v.20 no.2
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• pp.231-239
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• 2011

Diethyl phthalate (DEP) and nonylphenol (NP) are widely spread in the natural environment as an endocrine disruption chemicals (EDs). Therefore, in this study, ultrasound (US) and ultraviolet (UVC), including $TiO_2$, as advanced oxidation processes (AOPs) were applied to a DEP and NP contaminated solution. When only the application of US, the optimum frequency for significant DEP degradation and a high rate of hydrogen peroxide ($H_2O_2$) formation was 283 kHz. We know that the main mechanism of DEP degradation is radical reaction and, NP can be affected by both of radical reaction and pyrolysis through only US (sonolysis) process and combined US+UVC (sonophotolysis) process. At combined AOPs (sonophotolysis/sonophotocatalysis) such as US+UVC and US+UVC+$TiO_2$, significant degradation of DEP and NP were observed. Enhancement effect of sonophotolysis and sonophotocatalysis system of DEP and NP were 1.68/1.38 and 0.99/1.17, respectively. From these results, combined sonophotocatalytic process could be more efficient system to obtain a significant DEP and NP degradation.

• Korean Journal of Bronchoesophagology
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• v.17 no.1
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• pp.35-39
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• 2011

Objectives The high sensitivity of ultrasound and thyroglobulin determination for follow-up of differentiated thyroid cancer allows early detection of nonpalpable recurrences. Intraoperative localization of these small foci in previously dissected necks is a surgical challenge. We assessed the safety and effectiveness of ultrasound-guided tattooing (US-tattoo) with a charcoal suspension for localizing nonpalpable cervical recurrences after thyroidectomy for thyroid cancer. Subjects and Methods Between March 2009 and December 2010, we retrospectively reviewed 19 patients who underwent US-tattoo with injection of a charcoal suspension for recurrent thyroid papillary cancer on central neck compartment after thyroidectomy. All patients underwent the surgical dissection after US-tattoo. The complications and effectiveness of US-tattoo were evaluated. Results The technical success rate of US-tattoo for suspicious lesions was 100%. There was no complication with regard to US-tattoo. During surgery, all but one tattooed lesions were detected by surgeons. On final pathologic reports, all recurrence lesions but two cases were successfully removed. Conclusion Preoperative US-tattoo is a safe and effective method for successful reoperation of central neck compartment recurrences after thyroidectomy.

• Korean Journal of Radiology
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• v.22 no.4
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• pp.663-671
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• 2021

Objective: To determine the association of macrocalcification and rim calcification with malignancy and to stratify the malignancy risk of thyroid nodules with macrocalcification and rim calcification based on ultrasound (US) patterns. Materials and Methods: The study included a total of 3603 consecutive nodules (≥ 1 cm) with final diagnoses. The associations of macrocalcification and rim calcification with malignancy and malignancy risk of the nodules were assessed overall and in subgroups based on the US patterns of the nodules. The malignancy risk of the thyroid nodules was categorized as high (> 50%), intermediate (upper-intermediate: > 30%, ≤ 50%; lower-intermediate: > 10%, ≤ 30%), and low (≤ 10%). Results: Macrocalcification was independently associated with malignancy in all nodules and solid hypoechoic (SH) nodules (p < 0.001). Rim calcification was not associated with malignancy in all nodules (p = 0.802); however, it was independently associated with malignancy in partially cystic or isoechoic and hyperechoic (PCIH) nodules (p = 0.010). The malignancy risks of nodules with macrocalcification were classified as upper-intermediate and high in SH nodules, and as low and lower-intermediate in PCIH nodules based on suspicious US features. The malignancy risks of nodules with rim calcification were stratified as low and lower-intermediate based on suspicious US features. Conclusion: Macrocalcification increased the malignancy risk in all and SH nodules with or without suspicious US features, with low to high malignancy risks depending on the US patterns. Rim calcification increased the malignancy risk in PCIH nodules, with low and lower-intermediate malignancy risks based on suspicious US features. However, the role of rim calcification in risk stratification of thyroid nodules remains uncertain.

• Journal of Oral Medicine and Pain
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• v.43 no.2
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• pp.52-55
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• 2018

In the present case study, we reported a female patient with sialodochitis fibrinosa in which a conservative ultrasound (US)-guided irrigation method was used to relieve her symptoms. A 30-year-old female patient visited Kyung Hee University Dental Hospital with chief complaints of persistent swelling and discomfort in the left facial area. Her primary symptom was facial swelling that was accompanied by neuropathological symptoms, such as itching, tingling, and warmth that usually continued for 3 to 4 days. During clinical examination of orofacial area, mild swelling and fever were noted in the left face including parotid region, and mild induration could be felt at the corresponding site; sialadenitis of the left parotid gland was tentatively diagnosed. Herein, we performed intraductal irrigation of the left parotid gland in three times per month and prescribed some medication. Thus, her signs and symptoms have been improved, and she did not experience a recurrence for 12-month follow-up to date. This study can support the usefulness of the US-guided irrigation method to treat the sialodochitis fibrinosa without remarkable side effects.

• Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology & Nutrition
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• v.22 no.3
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• pp.282-290
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• 2019

Characterizing inflammation and fibrosis in Crohn's disease (CD) is necessary to guide clinical management, but distinguishing the two remains challenging. Novel ultrasound (US) techniques: contrast-enhanced US (CEUS) and shear wave elastography (SWE) offer great potential in evaluating disease activity in pediatric patients. Three patients ages 16 to 20 with known CD underwent CEUS and SWE to characterize bowel wall inflammation and fibrosis. Magnetic resonance enterography, endoscopy, or surgical pathology findings are also described when available. The patients' disease activity included acute inflammation, chronic inflammation with stricture formation, and a fibrotic surgical anastomosis without inflammation. CEUS was useful in determining the degree of inflammation, and SWE identified bowel wall fibrosis. Used together these techniques allow for better characterization of the degree of fibrosis and inflammation in bowel strictures. With further validation CEUS and SWE may allow for improved characterization of bowel strictures and disease flares in pediatric patients suffering from CD.

• Journal of Pharmaceutical Investigation
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• v.36 no.3
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• pp.185-192
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• 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.

• The Transactions of The Korean Institute of Electrical Engineers
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• v.59 no.12
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• pp.2349-2351
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• 2010

Photo Acoustic Tomography (PAT) is a hybrid imaging modality which combines high contrast of optical imaging and spatial resolution of ultrasound imaging, thus it is suitable to image biological tissue noninvasively. Laser-induced photoacoustic signals were measured from a sample by means of an unfocused ultrasound transducer, then PAT image was reconstructed based on a universal back-projection algorithm. To evaluate the feasibility of our system, phantom test was performed, consequently, the PAT images obtained using our system showed highly analogous shape and volume with those of the phantom. This result demonstrated that our system can provide a powerful tool for imaging the substructure of biological tissue in non-invasive manner.

• The Journal of Korean Academy of Orthopedic Manual Physical Therapy
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.57-63
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• 2012

Background: The number of old people with degenerative osteoarthritis one of the chronic disease, were constantly increased. Many researchers have made a great effort to verify the effects of ultrasound and laser therapy in degenerative osteoarthritis treatment. This study applied ultrasound-laser integration therapy on knee joint degenerative osteoarthritis and compared its effect with ultrasound and laser. Methods: We assigned 60 patients age 65 to 85 who had been diagnosed as knee joint degenerative osteoarthritis in G nursing home in Daejeon city. Randomization was done in blocks of three, holding twenty people per each group to receive either ultrasound, laser, ultrasound-laser integration therapy. This study carried out the experiment for 6 weeks to from April 17, 2010. We measured variables using visual analog scale (VAS) and pressure threshold meter (PTM) of the effects by before and after exercise. Results: It has been found that VAS was reduced and PTM was increased in all three groups. Compare with the other groups, Ultrasound-laser integration therapy group had lower VAS and higher PTM than ultrasound therapy and laser therapy group. Conclusions: These results lead us to the conclusion that ultrasound-laser integration have influenced the pain reduction of the knee degenerative osteoarthritis.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.62 no.1
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• pp.10-26
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• 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.