• Imaging Science in Dentistry
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• v.47 no.1
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• pp.25-31
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• 2017

Purpose: The aim of this study was to compare the diagnostic accuracy of previously trained endodontists in the detection of artificially created periapical lesions using cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) and digital periapical radiography (DPR). Materials and Methods: An ex vivo model using dry skulls was used, in which simulated apical lesions were created and then progressively enlarged using #1/2, #2, #4, and #6 round burs. A total of 11 teeth were included in the study, and 110 images were obtained with CBCT and with an intraoral digital periapical radiographic sensor (Instrumentarium dental, Tuusula, Finland) initially and after each bur was used. Specificity and sensitivity were calculated. All images were evaluated by 10 previously trained, certified endodontists. Agreement was calculated using the kappa coefficient. The accuracy of each method in detecting apical lesions was calculated using the chisquare test. Results: The kappa coefficient between examiners showed low agreement (range, 0.17-0.64). No statistical difference was found between CBCT and DPR in teeth without apical lesions (P=.15). The accuracy for CBCT was significantly higher than for DPR in all corresponding simulated lesions(P<.001). The correct diagnostic rate for CBCT ranged between 56.9% and 73.6%. The greatest difference between CBCT and DPR was seen in the maxillary teeth (CBCT, 71.4%; DPR, 28.6%; P<.01) and multi-rooted teeth (CBCT, 83.3%; DPR, 33.3%; P<.01). Conclusion: CBCT allowed higher accuracy than DPR in detecting simulated lesions for all simulated lesions tested. Endodontists need to be properly trained in interpreting CBCT scans to achieve higher diagnostic accuracy.

• Investigative Magnetic Resonance Imaging
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• v.5 no.1
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• pp.24-32
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• 2001

Purpose : We investigated the reproducibility of language lateralization by 4 different word generation paradigms or the rest contents in each paradigm using functional magnetic resonance imaging in normal volunteers Materials and Methods Nine normal volunteers with left-handedness (mean age: 25 yrs) were examined on a 1.57 MR unit using a single-shot gradient echo epibold sequence. Four different word generation paradigms of noun, verb, adjective and adverb were used in each normal volunteer for investigating language system. In each paradigm, two different rest contents consisted of only seeing the " +" symbol or reading the meaningless letters. Each task consisted of 96 phases including 3 activations and 6 rests of 2 different contents. Two activation maps in one task were obtained under two different rest contents using the correlation method. We evaluated the detection rates of Broca and Wernicke areas and the differences of language lateralization among four different word generation paradigms, or between the rest contents. Results : The detection rates of Broca and Wernicke areas were over 67 % in 4 different language paradigms and there was no significant difference of them among language paradigms, or between two different rest contents. Language dominances, in all 4 different language paradigms, were shown to be consistent in 66 %, but were contrary with language paradigms in some subjects. The rest contents made no significant effect on dominant language dominance determination, but the success rates of the dominant language dominances determined from 4 language paradigms were higher in reading the meaningless letter (100%, n=9) than in only seeing "+" on screen at the rest task (78%, n=7).

• The Korean Journal of Cytopathology
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• v.15 no.1
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• pp.33-39
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• 2004

We compared the diagnostic accuracy of liquid-based cervicovaginal cytology using $MonoPrep2^{TM}$ system (Monogen, Herndon, Virginia, USA), a manual system based on membrane filtration method, with conventional Pap smear. Study population included 92 patients visiting the gynecologic department under the suspicion of uterine cervical disease. In thirty of them, surgical biopsy was performed. $MonoPrep2^{TM}$ system provided well-preserved monolayer specimen with good nuclear morphology. However, about 19% of specimens were inadequate to interpret due to low cellularity. The detection rate of abnormal cells more than ASCUS (atypical squamous cells of unknown significance) was 23.9% and higher than 19.4 % of conventional Pap smear. Diagnostic concordance rate with conventional Pap smear was 81%, and severe discordance rate influencing on the management of patient was 7.6 %. Among these seven cases, $MonoPrep2^{TM}$ system was more diagnostic only in four. In comparison with histology, the sensitivity of diagnosis of $MonoPrep2^{TM}$ system was 78.9% and slightly higher than 73.5% of conventional Pap smear. However, the specificity was 81.1% and lower than 90.9% of Pap smear. In conclusion, $MonoPrep2^{TM}$ system provided diagnostic accuracies similar to the conventional Pap smear. The inexpertness of slide preparation and the low cellularity were considered to endow a limitation in more accurate evaluation.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Research
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• v.43 no.3
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• pp.471-476
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• 2003

Malignant catarrhal fever (MCF) is a systemic disease of ruminants caused by ovine herpesvirus 2 (OvHV-2). OvHV-2 is a gamma herpesvirus, which induces frequent latent infection and often difficult to detect its antigens and even specific nucleic acids because of its low viral copies in the infected tissues. Histopathology, serology and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) were compared for the diagnosis of MCF using 10 bison infected with OvHV-2. Histopathological diagnosis was performed using the criteria which was based upon the pathognomic lesions. Serological diagnosis was conducted using its serum with competitive ELISA for the detection of antibodies of OvHV-2. Also, the nest PCR was performed with peripheral blood leukocytes for the detection of OvHV-2-specific DNAs. Primers 556 and 775 were used for the primary amplification, and primers 556 and 555 were used for the secondary amplification. As the results, positive cases were 6 by histopahology, 9 by serology and 10 by PCR. As comparing with other diagnostic methods, PCR was found to be more sensitive than histopathology and serology. The recent development of molecular diagnostic assays has provided powerful tools for investigating how viruses survive in nature. Development of PCR specific for viruses has dramatically improved the accuracy of diagnosis of viruses in clinically infected animals. Furthermore, amplification of viral genomic material by nest PCR represents the most sensitive method for the detection of viruses and might be detected successfully even though very low viral DNA copies. So, it could be used as the first choice for the detection of viral DNAs with low copies such as the status of latent infection. However, it has also some limitation of application like as false negative results by PCR inhibitors and false positive results by contamination. The results of this study suggest that the use of molecular biological methods like PCR may increase the accuracy for the diagnosis of infectious diseases. However, in diagnostic laboratory, it is recommended that PCR assay must be conducted with other diagnostic methods for more reliable diagnosis.

• The Korean Journal of Nuclear Medicine
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• v.14 no.2
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• pp.45-51
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• 1980

In an attempt to evaluate the diagnostic significance of the serum thyroid hormones in various thyroid function states, the author measured serum $T_3$ uptake, serum $T_3$, serum $T_4$, serum free $T_4$ and free $T_3$ index in 27 cases of normal subjects, 11 cases of hypothyroidism, 152 cases of euthyroidism and 81 cases of hyperthyroidism by the radioimmunoassay method. The results were as follows: 1. The ranges of serum thyroid hormones in normal subjects were, serum $T_3$ uptake; $27.4{\sim}42.1%$, serum $T_3;\;93{\sim}245ng/dl$, serum $T_4;\;4.08{\sim}12.9ug/dl$ and serum free $T_4;\;0.57{\sim}1.53ng/dl(M{\pm}2S.D.)$. 2. Free $T_4$ index and serum $T_4$ show relatively high diagnostic value in euthyroidism group, and serum $T_3\;and\;T_4$ in hypothyroidism group, while serum $T_3$, free $T_4\;and\;T_4$ show relatively high diagnostic value in hyperthyroidism group. 3. There were significant correlation between free $T_4$ index and serum $T_4$(r=0.68), and between free $T_4$ index and serum free $T_4$(r=0.67) in hyperthyroidism group.

• The Korean Journal of Quaternary Research
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• v.19 no.2
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• pp.74-79
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• 2005

Recently, several attempts have been made to provide reasonable information on unusual severe weather phenomena such as tolerant heavy rains and very wild typhoons. Quantitative precipitation forecasts and probabilistic quantitative precipitation forecasts (QPFs and PQPFs, respectively) might be one of the most promising methodologies for early warning on the flesh floods because those diagnostic precipitation models require less computational resources than fine-mesh full-dynamics non-hydrostatic mesoscale model. The diagnostic rainfall model used in this study is the named QPM(Quantitative Precipitation Model), which calculates the rainfall by considering the effect of small-scale topography which is not treated in the mesoscale model. We examine the capability of probabilistic diagnostic rainfall model in terms of how well represented the observed several rainfall events and what is the most optimistic resolution of the mesoscale model in which diagnostic rainfall model is nested. Also, we examine the integration time to provide reasonable fine-mesh rainfall information. When we apply this QPM directly to 27 km mesh meso-scale model (called as M27-Q3), it takes about 15 min. while it takes about 87 min. to get the same resolution precipitation information with full dynamic downscaling method (called M27-9-3). The quality of precipitation forecast by M27-Q3 is quite comparable with the results of M27-9-3 with reasonable threshold value for precipitation. Based on a series of examination we may conclude that the proosed QPM has a capability to provide fine-mesh rainfall information in terms of time and accuracy compared to full dynamical fine-mesh meso-scale model.

• Journal of Biomedical Engineering Research
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• v.29 no.2
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• pp.151-158
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• 2008

To evaluate aortic wall stiffness without influence of different background blood pressure, a new technique was developed and verified. At eight swine descending aortae, volume-pressure measurement was performed using custom-made system. Based on averaged pressure-volume curve, aortic distensibility index was formulated to evaluate aortic wall stiffness regardless of variable blood pressure and aortic size. The variability of aortic distensibility index by pressure change was compared with other parameters for wall stiffness evaluation. Subsequently, the aortic distensibility index was calculated at 100 contrast-enhanced EBCT data sets of normal volunteers in regular health screening program. The measured aortic distensibility index was compared with age, coronary calcium score, and aortic calcium score. Between 50 and 360 mmHg of blood pressure, the coefficient of variance of aortic distensibility index was 22.00% as comparing with 88.99% of classical compliance. Based on age, aortic distensibility index showed correlation coefficient of 0.55, whereas classical compliance showed 0.26. The correlation coefficient with modified aortic calcification was 0.43. Linear regression study revealed statistical significance of correlation coefficients. The aortic distensibility index, the method to evaluate aortic wall stiffness free from variable blood pressure and aortic size, was developed and verified with significant practical feasibility.

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Illuminating and Electrical Installation Engineers
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.55-62
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• 2004

In this paper, the diagnostic expert system for silicone oil-filled transformer is developed using dissolved gas analysis(DGA). There are many diagnostic methods for diagnostic oil-immersed transformer. But DGA is used to the proposed expert system since it has been verified that DGA is very efficient diagnostic method for transformer. In addition, it is resonable that fuzzy rule, degree of inclusion and fuzzy measure must be considered to handle the uncertainty nature of gas boundary and rules. The proposed expert system consists of knowledge base module, inference engine module and human-machine interface(HMI) module. The knowledge base module consists of the knowledge using the rule. The inference engine module is used to the fuzzy rule. The history of the transformer gas data is managed by the database. the effect of the proposed expert system is verified by case studies.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.54 no.5
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• pp.212-218
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• 2011

Purpose: The diagnosis of acute pyelonephritis (APN) is often difficult, as its clinical and biological manifestations are non-specific in children. If not treated quickly and adequately, however, APN may cause irreversible renal damage, possibly leading to hypertension and chronic renal failure. We were suspecting the diagnostic value of $^{99m}Tc$-dimercaptosuccinic acid (DMSA) scan by experiences and so compared the results of DMSA scan to those of multi-detector row computed tomography (MDCT). Methods: We retrospectively selected and analyzed 81 patients who were diagnosed as APN by MDCT during evaluation of their acute abdomen in emergency room and then received DMSA scan also for the diagnostic work-up of APN after admission. We evaluated the results of imaging studies and compared the diagnostic value of each method by age groups, <2 years (n=45) and ${\geq}$2 years (n=36). Results: Among total 81 patients with MDCT-proven APN, DMSA scan was diagnostic only in 55 children (68%), while the remaining 26 children (32%) showed false negative normal findings. These 26 patients were predominantly male and most of them, 19 (73.1%) were <2 years of age. Conclusion: DMSA scan holds obvious limitation compared to MDCT in depicting acute inflammatory lesions of kidney in children with APN, especially in early childhood less than 2 years of age. MDCT showed hidden lesions of APN, those were undetectable through DMSA scan in children.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.75 no.4
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• pp.150-156
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• 2013

Background: Thoracoscopic pleural biopsy is often required for rapid and confirmative diagnosis in patients with suspected pleural tuberculosis (PL-TB). However, this method is more invasive and costly than its alternatives. Therefore, we evaluated the clinical utility of the chest computed tomography (CT)-based bronchial aspirate (BA) TB-polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test in such patients. Methods: Bronchoscopic evaluation was performed in 54 patients with presumptive PL-TB through diagnostic thoracentesis but without a positive result of sputum acid-fast bacilli (AFB) smear, pleural fluid AFB smear, or pleural fluid TB-PCR test. Diagnostic yields of BA were evaluated according to the characteristics of parenchymal lesions on chest CT. Results: Chest radiograph and CT revealed parenchymal lesions in 25 (46%) and 40 (74%) of 54 patients, respectively. In cases with an absence of parenchymal lesions on chest CT, the bronchoscopic approach had no diagnostic benefit. BA TB-PCR test was positive in 21 out of 22 (95%) patients with early-positive results. Among BA results from 20 (37%) patients with patchy consolidative CT findings, eight (40%) were AFB smear-positive, 18 (90%) were TB-PCR-positive, and 19 (95%) were culture-positive. Conclusion: The BA TB-PCR test seems to be a satisfactory diagnostic modality in patients with suspected PL-TB and patchy consolidative CT findings. For rapid and confirmative diagnosis in these patients, the bronchoscopic approach with TB-PCR may be preferable to the thoracoscopy.