• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
• /
• v.38 no.6
• /
• pp.489-504
• /
• 2006

A review has been made for the previous studies on safety of a geologic repository for high-level radioactive wastes (HLW) related to autocatalytic criticality phenomena with positive reactivity feedback. Neutronic studies on geometric and materials configuration consisting of rock, water and thermally fissile materials and the radionuclide migration and accumulation studies were performed previously for the Yucca Mountain Repository and a hypothetical water-saturated repository for vitrified HLW. In either case, it was concluded that it would be highly unlikely for an autocatalytic criticality event to happen at a geologic repository. Remaining scenarios can be avoided by careful selection of a repository site, engineered-barrier design and conditioning of solidified HLW. Thus, criticality safety should be properly addressed in regulations and site selection criteria. The models developed for radiological safety assessment to obtain conservatively overestimated exposure dose rates to the public may not be used directly for the criticality safety assessment, where accumulated fissile materials mass needs to be conservatively overestimated. The models for criticality safety also require more careful treatment of geometry and heterogeneity in transport paths because a minimum critical mass is sensitive to geometry of fissile materials accumulation.

• The Korean Journal of Nuclear Medicine
• /
• v.25 no.2
• /
• pp.186-191
• /
• 1991

Radionuclide cardiac studies lend themselves exceptionally well to functional imaging. This is especially true for gated blood pool scan (GBP). Making functional images is also possible in radionuclide angiocardiography (RNAC). In this study we tried to validate the functional images obtained from RNAC by comparing it with GBP. Twenty three patients (16 patients with coronary artery diseases, 5 with hypertensive heart diseases, and 2 with nonspecific chest pains) underwent simultaneous RNAC and GBP at the same position (LAO $45^{\circ}$). From both studies, global ejection fraction, regional ejection fraction, phase image, amplitude image, stroke image, paradox image, maximum ejection and maximum filling rates were obtained. Global ejection fraction are almost same in both studies. Regional ejection fractions of apex and inferior portion of left ventricle calculated from RNAC are well correlated with those of GBP. Phase and paradox image, maximum ejection and maximum filling rates were obtained. Global ejection fraction are almost same in both studies. Regional ejection fractions of apex and inferior portion of left ventricle calculated from RNAC are well correlated with those of GBP. Phase and paradox images of RNAC are very similar to those of GBP. However, amplitude and stroke images are different. Regional ejection fractions of the left ventricular base, maximum ejection and maximum filling rates obtained from RNAC are significantly different from those of GBP. In conclusion, albeit all of functional images of RNAC is not same as GBP, regional walt motions and global left ventricular function are expected to be successfully analyzed by phase and paradox image and ejection fraction.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Marine Environment & Safety
• /
• v.27 no.5
• /
• pp.618-629
• /
• 2021

The Fukushima nuclear power plant (NPP) accident caused by the East Japan Earthquake in 2011 and the recent increase in the frequency of earthquakes in Korea have caused safety concerns regarding radionuclide exposure. In addition, the Tokyo Electric Power Company (TEPCO) in Japan recently decided to release radionuclide-contaminated water from Fukushima's NPP into the Pacific Ocean, raising public concerns that the possibility of radionuclide contamination through both domestic- and foreign fishery products is increasing. Although many studies have been conducted on the input of artificial radionuclides into the Pacific after the Fukushima NPP accident, studies on the distribution and accumulation of artificial radionuclides in marine products from East Asia are lacking. Therefore, in this study, we attempted to explore recent research on the distribution of artificial radionuclides (e.g., ¹³⁷Cs, ^239+240Pu, ⁹⁰Sr, and etc.) in marine products from Korean seas after the Fukushima NPP accident. In addition, we also discuss future research directions as it is necessary to prepare for likely radiation accidents in the future around Korea associated with the new nuclear facilities planned by 2030 in China and owing to the discharge of radionuclide-contaminated water from the Fukushima NPP.

• Proceedings of the Korean Nuclear Society Conference
• /
• 2004.10a
• /
• pp.1109-1110
• /
• 2004

• Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging
• /
• v.40 no.4
• /
• pp.200-204
• /
• 2006

Purpose: Determination of pulmonary to systemic blood flow ratio (QP/QS) is important for the management of patients with left-to-right shunt. This study was performed to assess the agreement of Qp/Qs ratio using the radionuclide method and oxymetry, to investigate the factors influencing the agreement, and to know how interchangeable the results of each technique. Materials and Methods: We compared the Qp/Qs measured by single-pass radionuclide angiocardiography and oxymetry during catheterization in 207 patients who underwent both studies. In radionuclide method, Qp/Qs was calculated from the pulmonary time-activity curves using a gamma variate fit. The correlation and Bland-Altman analysis were performed according to the levels of shunt and associated lesions. Results: The mean Qp/Qs was $1.83{\pm}0.50$ by radionuclide, and $1.74{\pm}0.51$ by oxymetry. The overall correlation coefficient was 0.86(p<0.001), and Bland-Altman range of agreement encompassing 4SD was 1.05. For atrial septal defect, ventricular septal defect, patent ductus arteriosus, tricuspid and mitral insufficiency, the correlation coefficient was 0.78, 0.90, 0.84, 0.63 and 0.44, and Bland-Altman range was 1.51, 0.74, 0.96, 1.57, and 1.50, respectively. Conclusion: There is good agreement but wide variance between the Qp/Qs ratios by radionuclide method and oxymetry. Associated atrioventricular valvar insufficiency decreases the correlation coefficient and widens the variance. Wide overall variance suggests that Qp/Qs measurements by two techniques should not be used interchangeably.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
• /
• v.19 no.1
• /
• pp.25-34
• /
• 1986

Recently, radionuclide angiocardiogram is one of the most common procedure for assessment of ventricular performance due to its distinctive advantages such as safety, accuracy, and ease of repeated studies. Also, measurement and comparison between pre and postoperative left ventricular ejection fraction [LVEF] are meaningful for assessing the severity of myocardial damage which occurred during open heart surgery and the status of myocardial recovery. We obtained pre and post operative LVEF using radionuclide angiocardiogram on 30 patients composed of atrial septal defect, ventricular septal defect, cyanotic congenital heart disease, and valvular heart disease who undergone the open heart surgery from March to august 1984. The study revealed that ventricular septal defect and mitral valvular heart disease showed 8.1% and 6.2% decreases of postoperative LVEF, respectively. But, there are little increases of postoperative LVEF in the atrial septal defect and cyanotic congenital heart disease. In ventricular septal defect, each group of Qp/Qs over 2.0 and systolic pulmonary artery pressure over 50mmHg showed significant 17% and 14.7% decreases of postoperative LVEF, respectively. Considering the duration of the aortic cross clamping times and closing methods of VSD, each group of duration over 30 min. and of patch closure showed 13.9% and 14.2% decreases of LVEF between pre and postoperative status respectively which was significant finding statistically.

• The Korean Journal of Nuclear Medicine
• /
• v.32 no.3
• /
• pp.211-224
• /
• 1998

The role of scintigraphic imaging has moved from the detection of lesions to the tissue-specific characterization of lesions over the past 2 decades. Major advances in nuclear medicine imaging include: 1) positron imaging, 2) improved instrumentation, such as the use of multidetector (dual or triple head) gamma cameras for single photon emission computed tomography, and 3) development of numerous new radiopharmaceuticals for positron or single photon imaging (labeled glucose analogue, amino acids, fatty acids, hormones, drugs, receptor ligands, monoclonal antibodies, etc). These advances have resulted in a significantly improved efficacy of radionuclide techniques for the evaluation of various tumors, including those within the liver. The current role of nuclear medicine in the evaluation of focal hepatic tumors is reviewed in this article with an emphasis on the clinical applications of various tracer studies and imaging findings.

• The Korean Journal of Nuclear Medicine
• /
• v.29 no.1
• /
• pp.61-72
• /
• 1995

The author performed radionuclide esophageal transit studies(RETS) with liquid and solid boluses using the same day protocol in 90 normal controls and 164 patients with various primary esophageal motility disorders who were diagnosed by manometric criteria and clinical courses. The authors calculated mean esophageal transit time(MTT) and mean residual retention(MRR) in each of the liquid and solid studies, and classified time-activity curve(TAC) patterns. The normal criteria of RETS with liquid bolus were MTT<24 sec, MRR<9%, and the TAC pattern that showed rapid declining slope and flat low residual(Type 1). The normal criteria of RETS with solid bolus were MTT<35 sec, MRR<9% and TAC of type 1. With these normal criteria, the sensitivity and the specificity of the liquid study were 62.2 % and 97.8%, respectively. The sensitivity increased to 75.4% with the solid study. The author also found that the RETS was highly reproducible. The achalasia typically showed no effective emptying of both liquid and solid boluses during the whole study period, and was well differentiated by its extremely long transit time and high retention from the other motility disorders. The diffuse esophageal spasm (DES) and nonspecific esophageal motility disorder(NEMD) showed intermediate delay in transit time and increased retention. In the groups of hypertensive lower esophageal sphincter(LES), hypotensive LES and nutcracker, there noted no significant difference with the normal control group in terms of MTT and MRR. The DES and NEMD could be more easily identified by solid studies that showed more marked delay in MTT and increased MRR as compared with the liquid study. In conclusion, esophageal scintigraphy is a safe, noninvasive and physiologic method for the evaluation of esophageal emptying.

• The Korean Journal of Nuclear Medicine
• /
• v.21 no.2
• /
• pp.183-190
• /
• 1987

In Raynaud's phenomenon, the authors measured finger blood flow after ice water exposure by analyzing the time activity curve of radionuclide angiography on both hands. The results were as follows: 1) The digital blood flow did not decrease after ice water exposure in normal subjects. 2) In the patients with Raynaud's phenomenon, there were two groups: the one had decreased digital blood flow after cold exposure, and the other had paradoxically increased digital blood flow after cold exposure. 3) There was no difference in the digital blood flow of hand in room temperature between the normal and the patients with reduced digital blood flow after cold exposure, but the digital blood flow of the hand in room temperature was markedly reduced in the patients with paradoxically increased flow after cold exposure. 4) In the static image the difference was not significant in comparision with the dynamic study, because it represents pooling of the blood in the vein rather than flow. 5) After the treatment with nifedipine, the digital blood flow increased. In conclusion, the radionuclide angiography was useful in measuring the digital blood flow in Raynaud's phenomenon, and further studies with various drugs is expected.

• The Korean Journal of Nuclear Medicine
• /
• v.29 no.1
• /
• pp.15-21
• /
• 1995

To evaluate availability of cerebral radionuclide imaging for diagnosis of brain death, we examined 25 patients with a suspected clinical diagnosis of brain death. 8 patients were studied by $^{99m}Tc$ DTPA and 15 patients were studied by $^{99m}Tc$ HMPAO (Hexamethyl propyleneamine oxime). Seven patients with $^{99m}Tc$ DTPA studies revealed absence of cerebral blood flow and sagittal sinus activity. All of 15 patients with $^{99m}Tc$ HMPAO studies revealed complete absence of cerebral perfusion. The results of the cerebral radionuclide studies of brain death correlated with other clinical conditions, such as intracranial pressure(ICP), EEG, transcranial doppler sonography(TCDS), and neurologic examination. The ICP of 8 patients, who are confirmed by brain death with $^{99m}Tc$ HMPAO study are elevated in all cases. In conclusion, cerebral radionuclide imaging for diagnosis of brain death is available. $^{99m}Tc$ HMPAO imaging is unequivocal, easily interpreted, well reflect the physiologic state of increased ICP, and provides adequate assessment of posterior fossa activity. In addition, the SPECT imaging with $^{99m}Tc$ HMPAO produces more accurate results due to it's superiority of image contrast and proper localization of radiopharmaceutical distribution than conventional planar imaging.