• 한국환경보건학회지
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• 제38권5호
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• pp.380-385
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• 2012

Background: Manganese (Mn) has been found to increase the signal intensity of the globus pallidus (GP) on T1-weighted magnetic resonance images (MRI). We performed this study in order to determine the features of liver disease that correlate with pallidal signal intensities. Methods: We assessed blood Mn levels and pallidal signals in T1-weighted MRI in 49 patients with liver cirrhosis and 23 healthy controls. Results: Increased signal intensity in the GP was observed in 30 of 49 (61.2%) patients with liver cirrhosis, with the pallidal index (PI) in patients with Child-Pugh classes B and C differing significantly from the PI in controls. Multiple linear regression analysis showed that blood Mn concentrations and Child-Pugh scores in cirrhotics were significantly associated with increased PI after controlling for other confounders (p<0.05 each). Conclusions: Pallidal signals on T1-weighted MRI are mainly observed in advanced liver cirrhosis. The present study suggests that advanced liver cirrhosis may be a human model for manganism.

• 한국환경보건학회:학술대회논문집
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• 한국환경보건학회 2005년도 국제학술대회
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• pp.105-139
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• 2005

Increased signal in T1-weighted images was observed in the experimental manganese (Mn) poisoning of the non-human primate and a patient with Mn neurointoxication. However, our study showed that the increased signals in magnetic resonance images (MRI) were highly prevalent (41.6%) in Mn-exposed workers. Blood Mn concentration correlated with pallidal index. These changes in MRI tend to disappear following the withdrawal from the source of Mn accumulation, despite permanent neurological damage. Thus increased signal intensities on a T1-weighted image reflect exposure to Mn, but not necessarily manganism. Our study also showed that the concentration of Mn required to produce increased signal intensities on MRI is much lower than the threshold necessary to result in overt clinical signs of manganism. Increased signal intensities in the globus pallidus were determined by manganese accumulation in the animal experiment. Reanalysis of the previous data with the structural equation model revealed that pallidal index (Pl) on MRI reflects target organ dose of occupational Mn exposure

• Investigative Magnetic Resonance Imaging
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• 제21권3호
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• pp.125-130
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• 2017

Purpose: To evaluate the clinical significance of T1 high signal intensity on the globus pallidus as a predictor of severe hepatic encephalopathy in patients with acute-on-chronic liver failure (ACLF), which is a distinct syndrome characterized by multi-organ dysfunction including cerebral failure. Materials and Methods: From January 2002 to April 2014, we retrospectively reviewed the magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) findings and clinical and magnetic resonance (MR) features of 74 consecutive patients (44 men and 30 women; mean age, 59.5 years) with liver cirrhosis. The chronic liver failure-sequential organ failure assessment score was used to diagnose ACLF. The pallidal index (PI), calculated by dividing the mean signal intensity of the globus pallidus by that of the subcortical frontal white matter were compared according to ACLF. The PI was compared with the Model for End-Stage Liver Disease (MELD) score in predicting the development of ACLF. Results: Fifteen patients who were diagnosed with ACLF had higher hepatic encephalopathy grades (initial, P = 0.024; follow-up, P = 0.002), MELD scores (P < 0.001), and PI (P = 0.048). In the ACLF group, the mean PI in patients with cerebral failure was significantly higher than that in the patients without cerebral failure (1.33 vs. 1.20, P = 0.039). In patients with ACLF, the area under the curve (AUC) for PI was 0.680 (95% confidence intervals [CI], 0.52-0.85), which was significantly lower than that for the MELD score (AUC, 0.88; 95% CI, 0.77-0.99) (P = 0.04). Conclusion: The PI can be an ancillary biomarker for predicting the development of ACLF and severe hepatic encephalopathy.

• 대한방사선기술학회지:방사선기술과학
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• 제34권1호
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• pp.17-25
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• 2011

본 연구는 만성적인 망간(Mn) 노출 결과로써 초래될 수 있는 영향을 기능적 신경영상기법의 하나인 fMRI(functional magnetic resonance imaging)를 이용하여 인지 활동에 따른 뇌 활성화 정도를 분석, 평가하고자 하였다. 조선소에서 10년 이상 용접 작업을 해왔고 현재도 용접 전담 업무를 하고 있는 34세 이상의 남성 15명을 노출군으로 하였고, 노출군과 연령, 사회·경제적 지위와 행동 패턴이 비슷하며 다른 위험한 금속성 물질에 노출되지 않은 제조업 사업장에서 용접 작업을 하지 않는 생산직 근로자 15명을 대조군으로 구성하여 설문조사와 혈액 검사, fMRI를 실시하였다. 그 결과 fMRI 대상자(29명)의 평균 혈중 Mn 농도는 노출군($1.3\;{\mu}g/dl$)이 대조군($0.8\;{\mu}g/dl$)보다 유의하게 증가하였고, Pallidal Index(PI)도 노출군이 대조군보다 유의하게 증가하였다(p < 0.001). MRI 상의 PI값은 혈중 Mn 농도가 $0.93\;{\mu}g/dl$ 이상인 군이 $0.93\;{\mu}g/dl$ 미만인 군보다 유의하게 증가하였다(p < 0.001). 산술 과제를 수행하는 동안 실험군의 각 문항에 대한 평균 응답 시간은 노출군(1.3 sec)이 대조군(1.1 sec)보다 유의하게 증가하였다. 또한, 문항 전체에 대한 평균 응답 시간도 대조군(54.7 sec)이 노출군(45.0 sec)보다 느리게 나타났으며, 통계학적으로도 유의미한 차이를 보였다(p < 0.001). 대조군의 뇌 활성화 영역은 후두피질의 좌 우측, 상 중간전두피질과 하두정피질(inferior parietal cortex)의 우측, 중간측두피질의 좌측 영역에서 유의하게 증가하였다. 노출군의 뇌 활성화 영역은 대조군의 활성화 영역과 비슷한 위치에서는 보다 넓고 높은 활성화 상태를 보였다. 노출군은 대조군의 활성화 영역에 추가하여 상 하 측두피질의 우측, 뇌섬엽의 좌측, 뇌교량과 측뇌실 영역에서 유의한 증가로 나타났다. 두 집단간 뇌 활성화 영역 비교를 위한 t-test에서 노출군은 중간측두피질 영역을 포함하여 우측 하측두피질, 좌측 상두정피질, 좌측 후두피질, 좌측 소뇌 등의 영역에서 대조군보다 유의하게 더 높은 증가를 나타냈다. 하지만 어떤 영역도 노출군보다 대조군에서 더 활성화된 영역은 없었다. 이상의 결과에서 만성적인 Mn 노출은 인지 과제 수행 중에 뇌 활성화를 증가시켰다. 동일한 과제에서도 상 하 측두피질, 뇌도 영역에서 활성화가 증가되었고, 노출군이 일반인보다 측두영역 및 후두영역에서 뇌 활성화 상태가 증가되었음을 알아냈다. 이상의 결과에서 살펴 볼 때 작업환경 내에서의 만성적인 Mn 노출이 뇌 활성화의 신경 네트워크에 영향을 미친다는 것이 확인되었다.

• 한국환경보건학회지
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• 제37권2호
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• pp.102-112
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• 2011

Objectives: The purpose of this study is to analyze the effects of chronic exposure by welders to manganese (Mn) through an analysis of the degree of brain activity in different activities such as cognition and motor activities using the neuroimaging technique of functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI). The neurotoxic effect that Mn has on the brain was examined as well as changes in the neuro-network in motor areas, and the usefulness of fMRI was evaluated as a tool to determine changes in brain function from occupational exposure to Mn. Methods: A survey was carried out from July 2010 to October 2010 targeting by means of a questionnaire 160 workers from the shipbuilding and other manufacturing industries. Among them, 14 welders with more than ten years of job-related exposure to Mn were recruited on a voluntary basis as an exposure group, and 13 workers from other manufacturing industries with corresponding gender and age were recruited as a control group. A questionnaire survey, a blood test, and an fMRI test were carried out with the study group as target. Results: Of 27 fMRI targets, blood Mn concentration of the exposure group was significantly higher than that of the control group (p<0.001), and Pallidal Index (PI) of the welder group was also significantly higher than that of the control group (p<0.001). As a result of the survey, the score of the exposure group in self-awareness of abnormal nerve symptoms and abnormal musculoskeletal symptoms was higher than those of the control group, and there was a significant difference between the two groups (p<0.05, respectively). In the correlation between PI and the results of blood tests, the correlation coefficient with blood Mn concentration was 0.893, revealing a significant amount of correlation (p<0.001). As for brain activity area within the control group, the right and the left areas of the superior frontal cortex showed significant activity, and the right area of superior parietal cortex, the left area of occipital cortex and cerebellum showed significant activity. Unlike the control group, the exposure group showed significant activity selectively on the right area of premotor cortex, at the center of supplementary motor area, and on the left side of superior temporal cortex. In the comparison of brain activity areas between the two groups, the exposure group showed a significantly higher activation state than did the control group in such areas as the right and the left superior parietal cortex, superior temporal cortex, and cerebellum including superior frontal cortex and the right area of premotor cortex. However, in nowhere did the control group show a more activated area than did the exposure group. Conclusions: Chronic exposure to Mn increased brain activity during implementation of hand motor tasks. In an identical task, activation increased in the premotor cortex, superior temporal cortex, and supplementary motor area. It was also discovered that brain activity increase in the frontal area and occipital area was more pronounced in the exposure group than in the control group. This result suggests that chronic exposure to Mn in the work environment affects brain activation neuro-networks.