• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.14 no.4
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• pp.2477-2481
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• 2013

Aims and Background: The purpose of the research was to study the prognostic value of tumor 18F-FDG PET-based parameters in neoadjuvant chemoradiation for patients with squamous esophageal carcinoma. Methods: Sixty patients received chemoradiation therapy followed by esophagectomy and two 18FDG-PET examinations at pre- and post-radiation therapy. PET-based metabolic-response parameters were calculated based on histopathologic response. Linear regression correlation and Cox proportional hazards models were used to determine prognostic value of all PET-based parameters with reference to overall survival. Results: Sensitivity (88.2%) and specificity (86.5%) of a percentage decrease of SUVmax were better than other PET-based parameters for prediction of histopathologic response. Only percentage decrease of SUVmax and tumor length correlated with overall survival time (linear regression coefficient ${\beta}$: 0.704 and 0.684, P<0.05). The Cox proportional hazards model indicated higher hazard ratio (HR=0.897, P=0.002) with decrease of SUVmax compared with decrease of tumor size (HR=0.813, P=0.009). Conclusion: Decrease of SUVmax and tumor size are significant prognostic factors in chemoradiation of esophageal carcinoma.

• Journal of Biomedical Engineering Research
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• v.16 no.2
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• pp.223-230
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• 1995

This study investigates a combined mathematical model for the quantitative estimation of regional myocardial blood flow in experimental canine coronary artery occlusion and in patients with ischemic myocardial diseases using Rb-82 dynamic myocardial positron emission tomography. The coronary thrombosis was induced using the new catheter technique by narrowing the lumen of coronary vessel gradually, which finally led to partial obstruction of coronary artery. Thirty four Rb-82 dynamic myocardial PET scans were performed sequentially for each experiment using our 5, 10 and 20 second acquisition protocol, respectively, and six to seven regions of interest were drawn on each transaxial slices, one on left ventricular chamber for input function and the others on normal and decreased perfusion myocardial segments for the flow estimation in those regions. Two compartment model and graphical analysis method have been applied to the measured sets of regional PET data, and the rate constants of influx to myocardial tissue were calculated for regional myocardial flow estimates with the two parameter fits of raw data by the Levenberg-Marquardt method. The results showed that, (I) two compartment model suggested by Kety-Schmidt, with proper modification of the measured data and volume of distribution, could be used for the simple estimation of regional myocardial blood flow, (2) the calculated regional myocardial blood flow estimates were dependent on the selection of input function, which reflected partial volume effect and left ventricular wall motion in previously used graphical analysis, and (3) mathematically fitted input and tissue time activity curves were more suitable than the direct application of the measured data in terms of convergence.

• Science of Emotion and Sensibility
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• v.13 no.3
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• pp.551-558
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• 2010

Pain is very complex and multi-level experience that should be objective or subjective. Acupuncture is a traditional method to heal the pain and have been based on meridian theory. There have been many clinical evidences showing the pain-relieving effect of acupuncture but science-based understanding of it was poor. Furthermore in daily life, we feel huge gap between the source of pain and pain control by acupuncture stimulation. However, the underlying connection between pain control and acupuncture stimulation has been reported in many recent reports. In this paper, we briefly introduce the brain imaging techniques (functional magnetic resonance images, positron emission tomography, electroencephalograph, and magnetoencephalography) and review researches in pain and acupuncture. Through this, the brain areas that activated by pain and acupuncture will be verified, and compared each other regarding their specificity and similarity. In addition, detailed understanding of brain function which is related to pain and acupuncture analgesia through brain imaging techniques will be discussed.

• Proceedings of the KOSOMBE Conference
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• v.1997 no.05
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• pp.92-94
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• 1997

By measuring the increase of regional cerebral blood flow (rCBF) during the activation tasks, we can describe the brain regions that participate in certain specific functions. In this study, we composed the functional maps of verbal and nonverbal memory by performing the rCBF positron emission tomography (PET) activation studies and analyzing the differences between control and each activation state. Successive four tasks, which consist of one control state and three different activation tasks, were performed on 6 normal volunteers. All images were spatially normalized on standard atlas and the differences between control and activation states were statistically analyzed. The verbal memory activated predominantly left-sided structures, especially left superior temporal cortex, and the nonverbal short-term memory activated the right frontal cortex. Also, some regions ,where is thought to be related with short-term memory system, such as cingulate gyrus and hippocampus were activated. We conclude that biological validity of the brain regions for verbal and nonverbal memory could be tested using rCBF PET imaging technique and statistical analysis.

• Archives of Plastic Surgery
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• v.33 no.2
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• pp.233-236
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• 2006

Merkel cell carcinoma is rare skin malignancy originated from epidermal mechanoreceptor of neural origin. The tumor usually affects older individuals at sun exposed area such as head, neck and extremity. Subclinical involvement of regional lymph node is reported frequently at the time of initial treatment. Thus even asymptomatic patients who present with clinically localized tumor should undergo evaluation with computed tomography and lymphangiography. Positron emission tomography(PET) scans can imaging the metabolic difference of malignant tumors. Increased glucose uptake of malignant tumor cells are detected by PET scanner. PET scans can provide qualitative and quantitative informations about systemic metastasis of tumors. Although there are no data that define the efficacy of PET scans in the initial diagnostic evaluation of head and neck cancer, they could be considered. Current standards of treatment of Merkel cell carcinoma is wide surgical excision and regional lymphadenectomy if there are suspicious lymph nodes. The author reported a patient with Merkel cell carcinoma of cheek. Wide surgical excision and postoperative PET/CT was done for evaluation of regional lymph node and distant metastasis. There were two hot-uptakes in patient's neck, so they were considered as metastatic node, but finally they were proved to be tuberculosis lymphadenitis after excision.

• Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society
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• v.34 no.11
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• pp.3243-3248
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• 2013

The tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase-2 (TIMP-2) inhibits matrix metalloproteinases activity and modulates cellular proliferation and apoptosis. The human serum albumin-TIMP-2 with folic acid conjugate (termed HT2-folate) was synthesized to promote uptake through folate receptors (FRs), and a corresponding radio-labeled compound was prepared for tumor diagnosis by positron emission tomography (PET). $^{68}Ga$-NOTA-HT2-folate was synthesized from $^{68}Ga$ and the NOTA chelator with HT2-folate. The fusion protein was identified using MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry. The radioligand was prepared with a high radiochemical yield. Cell-surface association of $^{68}Ga$-NOTA-HT2-folate significantly increased over time in FR-positive tumor cells. In animal PET and biodistribution studies, tumor uptake was very high as early as 1 h after radioligand injection. Folate conjugation enhanced the selective receptor-targeting efficacy of HT2 in FRexpressing tumors, and its radioligand will be useful as an in vitro tool and for in vivo tumor diagnosis by PET imaging.

• Journal of Radiation Industry
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• v.9 no.3
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• pp.143-151
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• 2015

A PET-MR system is particularly useful in diagnosing brain diseases. We have developed a prototype positron emission tomography (PET) system which can be inserted into the bore of a whole-body magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) system that enables us to obtain PET and MRI images simultaneously with a reduced cost. Silicon photomultipliers (SiPM) are appropriated as a PET detector at PET/MR system because detectors have a high gain and are insensitive to magnetic fields. Despite of its improved performance compared to that of PMT-based detectors, there is a problem of the photo-peak channel shift which is due to the increase of the temperature inside the ring detector. This problem will occur decreasing sensitivity of the PET and image distortion. In this paper, I quantitative analyze parameters of the KAIST SiPM depending on temperature by experiments. And I designed cooling methods in consideration of the degradation of sensors for correction of the temperature in the PET gantry. According to this research, we expect that distortive images and degradation of the sensitivity will not be occurred with using the above idea to reduce heat even if the PET system operates for a long time.

• Dementia and Neurocognitive Disorders
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• v.17 no.3
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• pp.110-119
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• 2018

Background and Purpose: To analyze $^{18}F-THK5351$ positron emission tomography (PET) scans of patients with clinically diagnosed nonfluent/agrammatic variant primary progressive aphasia (navPPA). Methods: Thirty-one participants, including those with Alzheimer's disease (AD, n=13), navPPA (n=3), and those with normal control (NC, n=15) who completed 3 Tesla magnetic resonance imaging, $^{18}F-THK5351$ PET scans, and detailed neuropsychological tests, were included. Voxel-based and region of interest (ROI)-based analyses were performed to evaluate retention of $^{18}F-THK5351$ in navPPA patients. Results: In ROI-based analysis, patients with navPPA had higher levels of THK retention in the Broca's area, bilateral inferior frontal lobes, bilateral precentral gyri, and bilateral basal ganglia. Patients with navPPA showed higher levels of THK retention in bilateral frontal lobes (mainly left side) compared than NC in voxel-wise analysis. Conclusions: In our study, THK retention in navPPA patients was mainly distributed at the frontal region which was well correlated with functional-radiological distribution of navPPA. Our results suggest that tau PET imaging could be a supportive tool for diagnosis of navPPA in combination with a clinical history.

• Dementia and Neurocognitive Disorders
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• v.17 no.4
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• pp.163-173
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• 2018

Background and Purpose: Behavioral variant frontotemporal dementia (bvFTD) is a subtype of frontotemporal dementia, which has clinical symptoms of progressive personality and behavioral changes with deterioration of social cognition and executive functions. The pathology of bvFTD is known to be tauopathy or TDP-43 equally. We analyzed the $^{18}F-THK5351$ positron emission tomography (PET) scans, which were recently developed tau PET, in patients with clinically-diagnosed bvFTD. Methods: Forty-eight participants, including participants with behavioral variant frontotemporal dementia (bvFTD, n=3), Alzheimer's disease (AD, n=21) and normal cognition (NC, n=24) who completed 3T magnetic resonance images, $^{18}F-THK5351$ PET scans, and detailed neuropsychological tests were included in the study. Voxel-wise statistical analysis and region of interest (ROI)-based analyses were performed to evaluate the retention of THK in bvFTD patients. Results: In the voxel-based and ROI-based analyses, patients with bvFTD showed greater THK retention in the prefrontal, medial frontal, orbitofrontal, anterior cingulate, insula, anterior inferior temporal and striatum regions compared to NC participants. Left-right asymmetry was noted in the bvFTD patients. A patient with extrapyramidal symptoms showed much greater THK retention in the brainstem. Conclusions: The distribution of THK retention in the bvFTD patients was mainly in the frontal, insula, anterior temporal, and striatum regions which are known to be the brain regions corresponding to the clinical symptoms of bvFTD. Our study suggests that $^{18}F-THK5351$ PET imaging could be a supportive tool for diagnosis of bvFTD.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Radiology
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• v.16 no.3
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• pp.249-255
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• 2022

Positron emission tomography for small animals has very high spatial resolution for imaging very small organs. To achieve good spatial resolution, the system must be constructed using very small scintillation pixels. When a detector is constructed using very small scintillation pixels, the size of the applicable array varies depending on the photosensor pixel. In a previous study, a study was conducted to find the maximum scintillation pixel arrangement according to the size of the photosensor. In this study, a detector with a light guide was designed to configure the detector using a more extended array of scintillation pixels, and try to find the maximum arrangement in which all scintillation pixels are imaged. The detector was designed using DETECT2000, which can simulate a detector made of a scintillator. Simulations were performed by configuring the detectors from an 11 × 11 scintillation pixel array to a 16 × 16 array. After obtaining a flood image by collecting the light generated from the scintillation pixel with a photosensor, the largest arrangement without overlap was found through image analysis. As a result, the largest arrangement in which all scintillation pixels could be distinguished without overlapping was a 15 × 15 arrangement.