• The Journal of the Acoustical Society of Korea
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• v.33 no.5
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• pp.291-299
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• 2014

To probe the temperature elevation effect caused by ultrasound, a tissue mimicking phantom was newly suggested. A carrageenan gel was adopted to realize not only the required transparency for visualization but also acoustic characteristics similar to human tissue. To visualize the temperature elevation inside phantom, thermochromic film with a critical temperature of discoloration was introduced. Acoustic characteristics of the tissue mimicking phantom were examined when the concentrations of carrageenan and sucrose changed. As the results, the attenuation coefficient of the phantom could be controlled in the range of 0.44~0.49 dB/cm/MHz, and the acoustic impedance in the range of 1.52~1.77 Mrayls. We could control the acoustic characteristics of the phantom by different concentration of carrageenan and sucrose, and it was possible to examine the temperature elevation caused by ultrasound in the phantom. The suggested method was verified by noninvasively visualizing the temperature elevation due to planar and focused ultrasound using the fabricated phantom.

• Proceedings of the Korean Vacuum Society Conference
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• 2016.02a
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• pp.297.2-297.2
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• 2016

Photoacoustic generation of ultrasound is an effective approach for development of high-frequency and high-amplitude ultrasound transmitters. This requires an efficient energy converter from optical input to acoustic output. For such photoacoustic conversion, various light-absorbing materials have been used such as metallic coating, dye-doped polymer composite, and nanostructure composite. These transmitters absorb laser pulses with 5-10 ns widths for generation of tens-of-MHz frequency ultrasound. The short optical pulse leads to rapid heating of the irradiated region and therefore fast thermal expansion before significant heat diffusion occurs to the surrounding. In this purpose, nanocomposite thin films containing gold nanoparticles, carbon nanotubes (CNTs), or carbon nanofibers have been recently proposed for high optical absorption, efficient thermoacosutic transfer, and mechanical robustness. These properties are necessary to produce a high-amplitude ultrasonic output under a low-energy optical input. Here, we investigate carbon nanotube (CNT)-polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) composite transmitters and their nanostructure-originated characteristics enabling extraordinary energy conversion. We explain a thermoelastic energy conversion mechanism within the nanocomposite and examine nanostructures by using a scanning electron microscopy. Then, we measure laser-induced damage threshold of the transmitters against pulsed laser ablation. Particularly, laser-induced damage threshold has been largely overlooked so far in the development of photoacoustic transmitters. Higher damage threshold means that transmitters can withstand optical irradiation with higher laser energy and produce higher pressure output proportional to such optical input. We discuss an optimal design of CNT-PDMS composite transmitter for high-amplitude pressure generation (e.g. focused ultrasound transmitter) useful for therapeutic applications. It is fabricated using a focal structure (spherically concave substrate) that is coated with a CNT-PDMS composite layer. We also introduce some application examples of the high-amplitude focused transmitter based on the CNT-PDMS composite film.

• Journal of Oral Medicine and Pain
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• v.43 no.2
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• pp.52-55
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• 2018

In the present case study, we reported a female patient with sialodochitis fibrinosa in which a conservative ultrasound (US)-guided irrigation method was used to relieve her symptoms. A 30-year-old female patient visited Kyung Hee University Dental Hospital with chief complaints of persistent swelling and discomfort in the left facial area. Her primary symptom was facial swelling that was accompanied by neuropathological symptoms, such as itching, tingling, and warmth that usually continued for 3 to 4 days. During clinical examination of orofacial area, mild swelling and fever were noted in the left face including parotid region, and mild induration could be felt at the corresponding site; sialadenitis of the left parotid gland was tentatively diagnosed. Herein, we performed intraductal irrigation of the left parotid gland in three times per month and prescribed some medication. Thus, her signs and symptoms have been improved, and she did not experience a recurrence for 12-month follow-up to date. This study can support the usefulness of the US-guided irrigation method to treat the sialodochitis fibrinosa without remarkable side effects.

• The Journal of Korean Academy of Orthopedic Manual Physical Therapy
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• v.15 no.2
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• pp.15-24
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• 2009

Objectives : The purpose of this study is to compare the effectiveness between myofascial release technique and ultrasound in subjects with myofascial pain syndrome. Method : Twenty subjects with myofascial pain syndrome were randomly assigned to a myofascial release technique group(n=10) or an ultrsound group(n=10). The Cervical Range of Motion(C-ROM) instrument was used to measure cervical range of motion. Electromyography(EMG) was used to measure muscle power sternocleidomastoid and upper trapezius. Result : The result of this study shows there were no significant differences in ROM increase and muscle power increase between the myofascial release technique group and the ultrasound group. In the group with Myofascial Release Technique, the average score was $61.40{\pm}11.12$ in SCM flexion of C-ROM and $127.87{\pm}4.24$ in Rt. upper trapezius extension of EMG. In the group with ultra sound, the average score was $68.60{\pm}10.02$ in SCM flexion of C-ROM and $131.50{\pm}5.45$ in Rt. upper trapezius extension of EMG. Conclusion : The results suggest that there was no significant difference between two therapeutic techniques.

• Journal of the Korean Academy of Clinical Electrophysiology
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• v.11 no.1
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• pp.21-29
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• 2013

Purpose : The purpose of this study was to determine the changes in ultrasound imaging of the lower limbs in patients with degenerative osteoarthritis who received a total knee replacement (TKR). Methods : The participants for the study were ten patients who were to receive a total knee replacement. Measurements were taken a total of three times: before receiving a total knee replacement, and one week and two weeks after receiving a total knee replacement. The vastus medialis, rectus femoris muscle, tibialis anterior and gastrocnemius muscle were measured using ultrasound imaging. Results : Muscle thickness of the vastus medialis, rectus femoris muscle, tibialis anterior and gastrocnemius muscle had no significant interaction over time whether surgery was performed or not. White area index (WAI) and density of vastus medialis, rectus femoris muscle, tibialis anterior and gastrocnemius muscle had no significant interaction over time whether surgery was performed or not. Conclusion : In conclusion, lower quality muscles were due to a decrease in muscle fiber and an increase in fat fiber. Therefore, initial physical therapy after total knee replacement should consider this point and be designed appropriately as a therapeutic approach for total knee replacement patients.

• Journal of Magnetics
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• v.17 no.3
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• pp.225-228
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• 2012

Muscle contusion usually results from a direct blunt impact and is frequently associated with contact sports. Muscle contusion results from microscopic muscle fiber and capillary disruption causing a microhemorrhage dissecting torn fibers and remaining viable muscle fibers. Recent studies concluded that some physical methods, including pulsed ultrasound (PU) and pulsed electromagnetic field (PEMF) treatment, accelerate and facilitate wound healing, improve scar quality and have beneficial effects on muscle and tendon healing. However, there are few studies on the effects of the early use of physical methods, such as PU and PEMF, on the expression of neurotrophic factors. The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of the early application of PU and PEMF, measured through the expression of BDNF in the muscles (gastrocnemius) and spinal cords of rats after skeletal muscle contusion. In the spinal cords and muscles, there was a significant increase of BDNF expression in the PEMF and PU groups, a greater increase was found in the PEMF group than in the PU group. In conclusion, PEMF is a useful therapeutic method that improves muscle healing after muscle contusion.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.45 no.1
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• pp.22-31
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• 2021

Atherosclerosis (AS) is a leading cause of cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) and it results in a high rate of death worldwide, with an increased prevalence with age despite advances in lifestyle management and drug therapy. Atherosclerosis is a chronic progressive inflammatory process, and it mainly presents with lipid accumulation, foam cell proliferation, inflammatory response, atherosclerotic plaque formation and rupture, thrombosis, and vascular calcification. Therefore, there is a great need for reliable therapeutic drugs or remedies to cure or alleviate atherosclerosis and reduce the societal burden. Ginsenosides are natural steroid glycosides and triterpene saponins obtained mainly from the plant ginseng. Several recent studies have reported that ginsenosides have a variety of pharmacological activities against several diseases including inflammation, cancer and cardiovascular diseases. This review focuses on describing the different pharmacological functions and underlying mechanisms of various active ginsenosides (Rb1,-Rd, -F, -Rg1, -Rg2, and -Rg3, and compound K) for atherosclerosis, which could provide useful insights for developing novel and effective anti-cardiovascular drugs.

• Journal of the Korean Orthopaedic Association
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• v.54 no.5
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• pp.393-401
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• 2019

The shoulder pain is one of the most common problems to orthopaedic surgeons in clinic. Among therapeutic modality used to manage this pain, joint and periarticular injection, as well as suprascapular nerve block, show good clinical outcome. Ultrasound guidance is a safe technique, increasing the safety and accuracy of the procedure and reducing complications. An accurate understanding of the surface anatomy is important in performing the ultrasound-guided shoulder injections. This article aims to describe the surface anatomy and sono anatomy of both the shoulder and the surrounding structures and also summarize different infiltration techniques and peripheral nerve blocks.

• Clinical Pain
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.138-141
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• 2019

Lateral epicondylopathy represents pain in the lateral (radial aspect) of the elbow caused by degeneration in the common extensor tendon. Calcium deposit frequently developes in lateral epicondylopathy, with the prevalence up to 46%. There are considerable debates on its treatment protocols for lateral epicondylopathy so far, likewise, the effective treatment method for calcific lateral epicondylopathy has not been established. We report here a case of chronic intractable calcific lateral epicondylopathy treated with ultrasound-guided barbotage and focused type extracorporeal shock wave therapy (ESWT). To our knowledge, this is the first report of calcific lateral epicondylopathy treated by ultrasound-guided barbotage combined with ESWT.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Radiology
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• v.84 no.6
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• pp.1233-1243
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• 2023

Percutaneous ultrasound-guided biopsy is useful for the pathologic confirmation of variable body lesions to establish diagnostic and therapeutic approaches. However, deep pelvic lesions are a challenge for pathologic diagnoses because of the presence of the bowel, bladder, major vessels, and pelvic bones which make a percutaneous approach difficult and dangerous. In female, the vagina is elastic and near the pelvic internal organs. Therefore, transvaginal ultrasound may serve as an effective and safe guide for the pathologic diagnosis of pelvis lesions. This review aimed to introduce the indications for, and the method of transvaginal ultrasoundguided biopsy, and to describe the reported diagnostic accuracy and safety.