• Korean Journal of Radiology
• /
• v.21 no.6
• /
• pp.707-716
• /
• 2020

Objective: To evaluate pharmacokinetic variables from contrast-enhancing lesions (CELs) and non-enhancing T2 high signal intensity lesions (NE-T2HSILs) on dynamic contrast-enhanced (DCE) magnetic resonance (MR) imaging for predicting progression-free survival (PFS) in glioblastoma (GBM) patients. Materials and Methods: Sixty-four GBM patients who had undergone preoperative DCE MR imaging and received standard treatment were retrospectively included. We analyzed the pharmacokinetic variables of the volume transfer constant (Ktrans) and volume fraction of extravascular extracellular space within the CEL and NE-T2HSIL of the entire tumor. Univariate and multivariate Cox regression analyses were performed using preoperative clinical characteristics, pharmacokinetic variables of DCE MR imaging, and postoperative molecular biomarkers to predict PFS. Results: The increased mean Ktrans of the CEL, increased 95th percentile Ktrans of the CELs, and absence of methylated O⁶-methylguanine-DNA methyltransferase promoter were relevant adverse variables for PFS in the univariate analysis (p = 0.041, p = 0.032, and p = 0.083, respectively). The Kaplan-Meier survival curves demonstrated that PFS was significantly shorter in patients with a mean Ktrans of the CEL > 0.068 and 95th percentile Ktrans of the CEL > 0.223 (log-rank p = 0.038 and p = 0.041, respectively). However, only mean Ktrans of the CEL was significantly associated with PFS (p = 0.024; hazard ratio, 553.08; 95% confidence interval, 2.27-134756.74) in the multivariate Cox proportional hazard analysis. None of the pharmacokinetic variables from NE-T2HSILs were significantly related to PFS. Conclusion: Among the pharmacokinetic variables extracted from CELs and NE-T2HSILs on preoperative DCE MR imaging, the mean Ktrans of CELs exhibits potential as a useful imaging predictor of PFS in GBM patients.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
• /
• v.16 no.6
• /
• pp.2361-2368
• /
• 2015

Objective: To evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of contrast-enhanced ultrasonography (CEUS) in differentiating between benign and malignant enlarged lymph nodes using meta-analysis. Materials and Methods: Pubmed, Embase, SCI and Cochrane databases were searched for studies (up to September 1, 2014) reporting the diagnostic performance of CEUS in discriminating between benign and malignant lymph nodes. Inclusion criteria were: prospective study; histopathology as the reference standard; and sufficient data to construct $2{\times}2$ contingency tables. Methodological quality was assessed using Quality Assessment of Diagnostic Accuracy Studies-2 (QUADAS-2). Patient clinical characteristics, sensitivity and specificity were extracted. The summary receiver operating characteristic curve was used to examine the accuracy of CEUS. A meta-analysis was performed to evaluate the clinical utility in identification of benign and malignant lymph nodes. Sensitivity analysis was performed after omitting outliers identified in a bivariate boxplot and publication bias was assessed with Egger testing. Results: The pooled sensitivity, specificity and AUROC were 0.92 (95%CI, 0.85-0.96), 0.91 (95%CI, 0.82-0.95) and 0.97 (95%CI, 0.95-0.98), respectively. After omitting 3 outlier studies, heterogeneity decreased. Sensitivity analysis demonstrated no disproportionate influences of individual studies. Publication bias was not significant. Conclusions: CEUS is a promising diagnostic modality in differentiating between benign and malignant lymph nodes and can potentially reduce unnecessary fine-needle aspiration biopsies of benign nodes.

• Journal of the Institute of Electronics and Information Engineers
• /
• v.51 no.2
• /
• pp.124-132
• /
• 2014

In this paper, we present a novel backlit region detection and contrast enhancement method using fuzzy C-means clustering and adaptively partitioned block based contrast stretching. The proposed method separates an image into both dark backlit and bright background regions using adaptively partitioned blocks based on the optimal threshold value computed by fuzzy logic. The detected block-wise backlit region is refined using the guided filter for removing block artifacts. Contrast stretching algorithm is then applied to adaptively enhance the detected backlit region. Experimental results show that the proposed method can successfully detect the backlit region without a complicated segmentation algorithm and enhance the object information in the backlit region.

• Journal of Yeungnam Medical Science
• /
• v.39 no.1
• /
• pp.24-30
• /
• 2022

Background: Texture analysis has been used as a method for quantifying image properties based on textural features. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the usefulness of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) texture analysis for the evaluation of viable ovarian tissue on the perfusion map of ovarian endometriosis. Methods: To generate a normalized perfusion map, subtracted T1-weighted imaging (T1WI), T1WI and contrast-enhanced T1W1 with sequences were performed using the same parameters in 25 patients with surgically confirmed ovarian endometriosis. Integrated density is defined as the sum of the values of the pixels in the image or selection. We investigated the parameters for texture analysis in ovarian endometriosis, including angular second moment (ASM), contrast, correlation, inverse difference moment (IDM), and entropy, which is equivalent to the product of area and mean gray value. Results: The perfusion ratio and integrated density of normal ovary were 0.52±0.05 and 238.72±136.21, respectively. Compared with the normal ovary, the affected ovary showed significant differences in total size (p<0.001), fractional area ratio (p<0.001), and perfusion ratio (p=0.010) but no significant differences in perfused tissue area (p=0.158) and integrated density (p=0.112). In comparison of parameters for texture analysis between the ovary with endometriosis and the contralateral normal ovary, ASM (p=0.004), contrast (p=0.002), IDM (p<0.001), and entropy (p=0.028) showed significant differences. A linear regression analysis revealed that fractional area had significant correlations with ASM (r²=0.211), IDM (r²=0.332), and entropy (r²=0.289). Conclusion: MRI texture analysis could be useful for the evaluation of viable ovarian tissues in patients with ovarian endometriosis.

• Clinical Endoscopy
• /
• v.56 no.4
• /
• pp.510-520
• /
• 2023

Background/Aims: We aimed to investigate (1) promising clinical findings for the recognition of focal type autoimmune pancreatitis (FAIP) and (2) the impact of endoscopic ultrasound (EUS)-guided tissue acquisition (EUS-TA) on the diagnosis of FAIP. Methods: Twenty-three patients with FAIP were involved in this study, and 44 patients with resected pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) were included in the control group. Results: (1) Multivariate analysis revealed that homogeneous delayed enhancement on contrast-enhanced computed tomography was a significant factor indicative of FAIP compared to PDAC (90% vs. 7%, p=0.015). (2) For 13 of 17 FAIP patients (76.5%) who underwent EUS-TA, EUS-TA aided the diagnostic confirmation of AIPs, and only one patient (5.9%) was found to have AIP after surgery. On the other hand, of the six patients who did not undergo EUS-TA, three (50.0%) underwent surgery for pancreatic lesions. Conclusions: Homogeneous delayed enhancement on contrast-enhanced computed tomography was the most useful clinical factor for discriminating FAIPs from PDACs. EUS-TA is mandatory for diagnostic confirmation of FAIP lesions and can contribute to a reduction in the rate of unnecessary surgery for patients with FAIP.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
• /
• v.15 no.19
• /
• pp.8149-8153
• /
• 2014

Background: To compare the value of contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) qualitative and quantitative analysis in the identification of breast tumor lumps. Materials and Methods: Qualitative and quantitative indicators of CEUS for 73 cases of breast tumor lumps were retrospectively analyzed by univariate and multivariate approaches. Logistic regression was applied and ROC curves were drawn for evaluation and comparison. Results: The CEUS qualitative indicator-generated regression equation contained three indicators, namely enhanced homogeneity, diameter line expansion and peak intensity grading, which demonstrated prediction accuracy for benign and malignant breast tumor lumps of 91.8%; the quantitative indicator-generated regression equation only contained one indicator, namely the relative peak intensity, and its prediction accuracy was 61.5%. The corresponding areas under the ROC curve for qualitative and quantitative analyses were 91.3% and 75.7%, respectively, which exhibited a statistically significant difference by the Z test (P<0.05). Conclusions: The ability of CEUS qualitative analysis to identify breast tumor lumps is better than with quantitative analysis.

• The Journal of Dong Guk Oriental Medicine
• /
• v.11
• /
• pp.41-51
• /
• 2008

Dietary supplements are used by more than one-half of the adult US population. By contrast, herbal products in Germany are carefully regulated by the same standards as drugs, and efforts are under way to standardize their regulation in the entire European Union. Most herbal users do not inform their physicians that they are taking these supplements, and most physicians do not inquire. Although some herbal products have clinically proven benefits, it is increasingly apparent that many contain potentially toxic substances, particularly in relation to interactions with drugs. Hence, it is essential that practicing physicians develop a working knowledge of herbals-specifically, about claims for their usage and potential or proven efficacies and toxicities-and that they incorporate such knowledge into the evaluation and management of their patients. By contrast, functional foods-integral components of the diet that are understood to contribute added health benefits-are the subject of intense and widespread research in food and nutritional science. Examples include many polyphenolic substances, carotenoids, soy isoflavones, fish oils, and components of nuts that possess antioxidant and other properties that decrease the risk of vascular diseases and cancer. Practicing physicians are advised to stay abreast of these emerging findings in order to best advise their patients on the value of health-promoting diets in disease prevention.

• Proceedings of the KIEE Conference
• /
• 2004.11c
• /
• pp.319-321
• /
• 2004

The average glandular dose (AGD) is determined by the breast entrance skin exposure, x-ray tube target material, beam quality (half-value layer), breast thickness, and breast composition. Almost breast cancer always arises in glandular breast tissue. As a result, the average radiation absorbed dose to glandular tissue is the preferred measure of the radiation risk associated with mammography. If the normalized average glandular dose is known, the average glandular dose can be computed from the product of the normalized average glandular dose and breast entrance skin exposure. In this study, AGD was calculated by the breast thickness and various x-ray energy (HVL) in 50% glandular 50% adipose breast by Mo.-Rh. assembly. AGD is 84 mrad in compressed 5 cm breast. These results show that as increasing the breast thickness, dose also increases. But as increasing the x-ray tube voltage, dose decreases because of high penetrating ratio through the object. But high tube voltage is reducing the subject contrast. From this result, we have to consider the trade-off between subject contrast of image and dose to the patient and choose proper x-ray energy range.

• Korean Institute of Interior Design Journal
• /
• v.22 no.3
• /
• pp.127-134
• /
• 2013

Baroque is fundamentally in contrast with renaissance style classicism, which attempted to fix a world view itself as the value of perpetuity. Furthermore, it is interpreted as a topic of incompletion or transformation that is not defined or is not exemplary and which may be enjoyed by people in the classical life, which requires a microscopic concept in contrast with dualism, the central axis of western civilization, namely, rational lucidity. Also, such characteristics are estimated to serve as a lubricant in life while going beyond the formal aesthetic level of art even from a contemporary perspective, and to play a productive role and to have potential. Consequently, this paper assumed that the concepts expressed by the 20th century US contemporary architect Richard Meier of a complex space, namely architectural formative vocabularies such as overlapping, interpenetration, collision, and collage style mixture created by a layered structure, in his architecture are in common with the double surface technique and juxtaposition of a flat structure of Baroque architecture. Then, the paper analyzed and considered the characteristics. The paper considered the following two issues: Such Baroque style formal principle is reinterpreted against a backdrop in which his architectural flow based on the domino theory of Le Corbusier became established as his own unique architectural feature, and it may be proposed as one big flow that enables us to seek again modernistic architecture that attempts to make an architectural space absolute as an atypical formal contour.

• Journal of Environmental Science International
• /
• v.22 no.10
• /
• pp.1337-1344
• /
• 2013

We examined urban heat island intensity in Seongseo, Dae gu, South Korea, where a large area of water is located within the suburb. We found a maximum urban heat island intensity of $4.2^{\circ}C$, which occurred around 7 PM in the summer season. Throughout the remainder of the year, we observed the largest heat island intensity levels during late night hours. In contrast, the winter season displayed the smallest values for heat island intensity. Our results conflicted with heat island intensity values for cities where suburbs did not contain water areas. Generally, cities with suburbs lacking water displayed the largest heat island intensity levels before sunrise in the winter season. We also observed negative urban heat island intensity levels at midday in all seasons except for the summer, which is also in contrast with studies examining suburbs lacking water areas. The heat island intensity value observed in this study ($4.2^{\circ}C$) was relatively large and fell between the averages for, Asia and Europe according to the relationship between urban population and heat island intensity.