• Journal of radiological science and technology
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• v.41 no.5
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• pp.457-462
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• 2018

The purpose of this study was to compare image quality of indirect digital radiography (IDR) system using the International Electro-technical Commission standard (IEC 62220-1), and to suggest the analysis of noise power spectrum (NPS) which were applied to IEC 62220-1 in medical imaging. In this study, Pixium 4600 (Trixell, France) which is indirect flat panel detector (FPD) was used. The size of image receptor (IR) is $7{\times}17$ inch (matrix $3001{\times}3001$) which performed 14bit processing and pixel pitch is $143{\mu}m$. In IEC standard, NPS evaluation were applied to RQA3, RQA5, RQA7 and RQA9. Because of different radiation quality, each region of interesting (ROI) were compared. The results of NPS indicated up to $3.5mm^{-1}$ including low Nyquist frequency. RQA5 indicated the lowest NPS and the others indicated higher NPS results relatively. NPS result of ROI a38 was higher than ROI a92 and this result indicated that there are more noise in left (cathode) than right (anode). This study were to evaluate NPS by using different radiation quality and setting the each ROI, and to suggest the quantitative methods of measuring NPS.

• Journal of the Korea Institute of Information and Communication Engineering
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• v.20 no.12
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• pp.2395-2400
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• 2016

Conventional drug carriers such as liposomes, nanoparticles, polymer micelles, polymeric conjugate and lipid microemulsion for cancer chemotherapy shield normal tissues from toxic drugs to treat cancer cells in tumors. However, inaccurate tumor targeting uncontrolled drug release from the carriers and unwanted accumulation in healthy sites can limit treatment efficacy with current conventional drug carriers with insufficient concentrations of drugs in the tumors and unexpected side effects as a result. Sickle red blood cells show natural tumor preferential accumulation without any manipulation due to the adhesive interaction between molecular receptors on the membrane surface and counter-receptor on endothelial cells. In addition, structural changes of microvascular in tumor sites enhances polymerization of sickle red blood cells. In this research, we examined the use of sickle red blood cells as a new drug carrier with novel tumor targeting and controlled release properties to quantify its therapeutic effects.

• Journal of Veterinary Clinics
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• v.31 no.4
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• pp.350-353
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• 2014

A 13-year-old, castrated male, Shih Tzu dog with a history of acute ataxia was referred to veterinary medical teaching hospital and anesthetized for diagnostic magnetic resonance imaging of cervical intervertebral disk disease. After preanesthetic evaluation including physical examination, blood chemistry, radiography and ultrasound, the patient was premedicated with intravenous butorphanol (0.2 mg/kg). Anesthesia was induced by intravenous propofol (6 mg/kg) and maintained with isoflurane at 1.2 minimal alveolar concentrations. Because the mean arterial pressure (MAP) decreased from 70 to 58 mmHg at 70 minutes after induction, dobutamine was administered by constant rate infusion ($5{\mu}g/kg/min$) to treat hypotension. However MAP did not increase, and heart rate rapidly decreased from 100 to 55 beats per minute (bpm). To treat bradycardia, intravenous glycopyrrolate ($5{\mu}g/kg$) was administered, and heart rate increased to 165 bpm. After extubation of endotracheal tube, the patient showed normal recovery without any problems related to cardiovascular system. Unexpected dobutamine-induced bradycardia was considered as Bezold-Jarisch reflex. It is recommended that clinicians know and prepare the possibility of bradycardia during dobutamine therapy under general anesthesia.

• Journal of Radiation Protection and Research
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• v.44 no.4
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• pp.149-155
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• 2019

Background: Magnetic resonance (MR) image guided radiation therapy system, enables real time MR guided radiotherapy (RT) without additional radiation exposure to patients during treatment. However, MR image lacks electron density information required for dose calculation. Image fusion algorithm with deformable registration between MR and computed tomography (CT) was developed to solve this issue. However, delivered dose may be different due to volumetric changes during image registration process. In this respect, synthetic CT generated from the MR image would provide more accurate information required for the real time RT. Materials and Methods: We analyzed 1,209 MR images from 16 patients who underwent MR guided RT. Structures were divided into five tissue types, air, lung, fat, soft tissue and bone, according to the Hounsfield unit of deformed CT. Using the deep learning model (U-NET model), synthetic CT images were generated from the MR images acquired during RT. This synthetic CT images were compared to deformed CT generated using the deformable registration. Pixel-to-pixel match was conducted to compare the synthetic and deformed CT images. Results and Discussion: In two test image sets, average pixel match rate per section was more than 70% (67.9 to 80.3% and 60.1 to 79%; synthetic CT pixel/deformed planning CT pixel) and the average pixel match rate in the entire patient image set was 69.8%. Conclusion: The synthetic CT generated from the MR images were comparable to deformed CT, suggesting possible use for real time RT. Deep learning model may further improve match rate of synthetic CT with larger MR imaging data.

• Journal of computational fluids engineering
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• v.22 no.1
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• pp.15-25
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• 2017

Swirl flow is often found in proximal coronary arteries, because the aortic valves can induce swirl flows in the coronary artery due to vortex formation. In addition, the curvature and tortuosity of arterial configurations can also produce swirl flows. The present study was performed to investigate fractional flow reserve alterations in a post-stenotic distal part due to the presence of pre-stenotic swirl flow by computational fluid dynamics analysis for virtual stenotic models by quantifying fractional flow reserve(FFR). Simplified stenotic coronary models were divided into those with and without pre-stenotic swirl flow. Various degrees of virtual stenosis were grouped into three grades: mild, moderate, and severe, with degree of stenosis of 0 ~ 40%, 50 ~ 60%, and 70 ~ 90%, respectively. In this study, three-dimensional computational hemodynamic simulations were performed under hyperemic conditions in virtual stenotic coronary models by coupling with a zero-dimensional lumped parameter model. The results showed that the influence of pre-stenotic swirl inflow is dominant on FFR alteration in mild stenosis, whereas stenosis is dominant on FFR alteration in moderate/severe stenosis. The decrease in FFR caused by swirl flow is more significant in mild stenosis than moderate/severe stenosis. Biomechanical modeling is useful for clinicians to provide insight for medical intervention strategies. This hemodynamic-based parameter study could play a critical role in the development of a non-invasive imaging-based strategy-support system for percutaneous transluminal angioplasty in cases of mild/moderate stenosis.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.59 no.sup1
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• pp.161-164
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• 2016

Guillain-$Barr{\acute{e}}$ syndrome and acute transverse myelitis manifest as demyelinating diseases of the peripheral and central nervous system. Concurrency of these two disorders is rarely documented in literature. A 4-year-old girl presenting with cough, fever, and an impaired walking ability was admitted to hospital. She had no previous complaints in her medical history. A physical examination revealed lack of muscle strength of the lower extremities and deep tendon reflexes. MRI could not be carried out due to technical problems; therefore, both Guillain-$Barr{\acute{e}}$ syndrome and acute transverse myelitis were considered for the diagnosis. Intravenous immunoglobulin treatment was started as first line therapy. Because this treatment did not relieve the patient's symptoms, spinal MRI was carried out on the fourth day of admission and demyelinating areas were identified. Based on the new findings, the patient was diagnosed with acute transverse myelitis, and high dose intravenous methylprednisolone therapy was started. Electromyography findings were consistent with acute polyneuropathy affecting both motor and sensory fibers. Therefore, the patient was diagnosed with concurrency of Guillain-$Barr{\acute{e}}$ syndrome and acute transverse myelitis. Interestingly, while concurrency of these 2 disorders is rare, this association has been demonstrated in various recent publications. Progress in diagnostic tests (magnetic resonance imaging and electrophysiological examination studies) has enabled clinicians to establish the right diagnosis. The possibility of concurrent Guillain-$Barr{\acute{e}}$ syndrome and acute transverse myelitis should be considered if recovery takes longer than anticipated.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.19 no.6
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• pp.275-279
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• 2018

A brain abscess is caused by an infection in the central nervous system and leads to significant neurological sequelae. Despite advances in neurocritical care, high morbidity and mortality rates are still associated with brain abscess, especially in certain high-risk patients. Thus, a brain abscess is a medical emergency requiring prompt diagnosis and treatment with antibacterial therapy. However, the recurrence of brain abscess is rare. A 59-year-old man presented at our neurology clinic with a headache and was found to have chronic otitis media. Serial brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans of the patient demonstrated a brain abscess in the right frontal lobe. Following stereotactic aspiration of the brain abscess and proper antimicrobial treatment, the patient recovered completely. Five months after discharge, the patient revisited our clinic with a headache and seizure symptoms, and recurrence of the brain abscess was confirmed by brain MRI. Recurrent brain abscess has been documented in patients with predisposing conditions such as retained foreign bodies, chronic sinusitis, arteriovenous fistula, and right-to-left shunt.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Oral and Maxillofacial Radiology
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• v.24 no.2
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• pp.361-368
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• 1994

Radiographic planning is needed for implant placement in order to determine implant length, jaw bone volume, anatomical stucture and so on. Radiographic examination includes conventional radiography, conventional tomography and CT scan. The most accurate mesurement can be obtained from CT scan. For the cross-sectional view of mandible, CT scan reconstruction is generally needed. But the cross-sectional view of mandible can be reformed by personal computer. This study was performed to examine the clinical usefulness of reformed image using personal computer in comparison with CT scan reconstructed image. CT axial slices of 4 mandibles of 4 volunteers were used. Digital imaging system was composed of Macintosh Ⅱ ci computer, high resolution Sony XC-77 CCD camera, Quick Capture frame grabber board and 'NIH Image' program. Seven reconstructed cross-sectional images within CT machine(CT group) were obtained. And seven reformed cross-sectional images(PC group) after digitization of CT axial slices into the personal computer were obtained. PC group was compared with CT group in the objective and subjective aspects. The results were as follow: 1. Measurement of mandibular height & width in both group showed insignificant difference(P>0.05). 2. Subjective assessment of the mandibular canal in both group showed insignificant difference(P>0.05). 3. Image reformation using personal computer could provide panoramic view, which could not be obtained in CT scan reconstruction.

• Journal of Korea Multimedia Society
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• v.14 no.8
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• pp.981-991
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• 2011

MIP(Maximum Intensity Projection) is a volume rendering technique which is essential for the medical imaging system. MIP rendering based on the ray casting method produces high quality images but takes a long time. Our aim is improvement of the rendering speed using GPGPU(General-purpose computing on Graphic Process Unit) technique. In this paper, we present the ray casting algorithm based on CUDA(an acronym for Compute Unified Device Architecture) which is a programming language for GPGPU and we suggest new acceleration methods for CUDA. In detail, we propose the block based space leaping which skips unnecessary regions of volume data for CUDA, the bisection method which is a fast method to find a block edge, and the initial value estimation method which improves the probability of space leaping. Due to the proposed methods, we noticeably improve the rendering speed without image quality degradation.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.48 no.1
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• pp.48-52
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• 2015

Objectives: This retrospective cohort study aimed at calculating some parameters of changes in the findings of the subsequent screening mammography (SSM) in female Korean volunteers. Methods: The study included screenees aged 30 to 79 years who underwent SSM voluntarily after testing negative in the baseline screenings performed between January 2007 and December 2011. A change to a positive result was defined as category 4 or 5 by using the American College of Radiology Breast Imaging Reporting and Data System. The proportion of results that had changed to positive (CP, %) was calculated by dividing the number of cases with results that were positive in the SSM by the total number of study participants. The rate of results that had changed to positive (CR, cases per 100 000 screenee-months) was calculated by dividing the number of cases with results that were positive in the SSM by the total number of months of the follow-up period. Results: The overall CP and CR in all age groups (n=77 908) were 2.26% and 93.94 cases per 100 000 screenee-months, respectively. The median CP interval in the subjects who had positive SSM results was 30 to 36 months, while that in the age group of 30 to 39 years was shorter. Conclusions: Different screening intervals should be considered among women aged between 30 and 59 years. In addition, a strategy for a screening program should be developed for the age group of 30 to 39 years, in particular.