• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• 제51권1호
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• pp.8-13
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• 2012

Objective : This is prospective study of clinical outcomes of percutaneous plasma disc coagulation Therapy (PDCT) in patients with herniated lumbar disc disease (HLD) to evaluate the safety and efficacy in its clinical application and usefulness as a reliable alternative to microscopic discectomy. Methods : Forty-six patients were enrolled in this study from April 2006 to June 2010. All patients had one-level HLD. Disc degeneration was graded on routine T2-weighted magnetic resonance Image (MRI) using the Pfirrmann's grading system and all index levels were grade 3 and grade 4. Indications for surgery were radiculopathy caused by disc protrusion with soft consistency. MRI was done at one month after the procedure in all patients to check post-PDCT change. The clinical outcomes were evaluated using Visual Analog Scales (VAS) score and MacNab's criteria. Results : This study was approved by the Institutional Review Board of our institution. The age of the study population ranged from 16 to 59 years with a mean age of 37.2 years. There were 29 males and 17 females in this study. The mean period of clinical follow-up was 21 months. The average preoperative VAS score for radiculopathy was $7.4{\pm}1.4$, while the final follow-up VAS score was $1.4{\pm}0.7$ (p<0.001). In MacNab's criteria, 41 patients (89.1%) had achieved favorable improvement (excellent and good) until later follow-up. There were one patient from infection and two patients who needed to convert to open discectomy. Conclusion : PDCT is a safe and efficient treatment modality in a selective patient with HLD.

• Maxillofacial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery
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• 제19권1호
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• pp.93-107
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• 1997

Magnetic resonance imaging has been used in the temporomandibular joint(TMJ) primarily to define morphology and positional relationship of associating structures. This report examines signal intensity characteristics of the posterior attachment as they related to the severity of internal derangement. Fifty six joints in 35 patients with a history of TMJ dysfunction were imaged writ MR using $T_1$-weighted spin echo sequence. According to disk position, ability to reduction, and the presence of osteoarthritis, the joints were categorized into three groups. A group 1 was anterior disk displacement with reduction; a group 2 was anterior disk displacement without reduction; a group 3 was anterior disk displacement without reduction and condyle had osteoarthritic change. The control group was determined by the clinical absence of any signs or symptoms of current or past TMJ pain and dysfunction. Calculated the relative value of MR signal intensity in posterior attachment and disk to cerebral cortex of temporal lobe by means of computer program, we have compared them with each groups. The result showed statistically little significant difference of disk signal intensity among each groups. but, signal intensity from posterior attachment in group 2 and 3 were significantly(p<0.05) decreased than control group. this might reflect an fibrosis or hyalinization of posterior attachment, which was part of remodeling process that occurs in disk displacement without reduction. However, this study could not demonstrate histologic confirmation of the decreased signal intensity in the posterior attachment. So, further investigation could be needed to understand the association between them.

• 한국지역사회생활과학회지
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• 제14권3호
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• pp.99-109
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• 2003

This study was conducted to collect basic marketing and management data from businesses run by farmers producing traditional Kanjang and Doenjang, fermented soybean products. The actual conditions of the fermentation processing sites at farmhouses participating in the production of soybean fermentation products were investigated. The subjects of this survey were 130 small size farmhouse Kanjang and Doenjang processing sites nationwide. The frequency, percentage, t-value, chi-square, and ANOVA were used for statistical analysis. The farmhouse business surveyed were generally operated by rural women for non-farming business income. The percentage of co-worked sites was 71.2 while the percentage of sites operating with permits was 39.2. Generally, the the facilities, size, number of working people, and output were very small. The areas in which the products were sold, site-located regions and region metropolises, were equally weighted. Sales volumes in region metropolises for sites with permits were a little higher than sites without permits. Without regard to operation type, the percentage of sales was highest in cases of direct sale by customer order. Co-worked sites have been found to have more experience in publicity than individually operated sites. As for methods of publicity, co-worked sites use mass media such as newspapers and broadcasting. Individually operated sites usually use social organizations and acquaintances. It was found that the average sales of each site totaled 25 million Won. The average income of each site was 12 million Won, and average income per participant was 3 million Won. Total sales income for sites with permits was significantly higher than sites without permits. But personal income was much higher at individually operated sites without regard to whether the site had a permit or not. This kind of business was found to contribute to an individual's time management skills as well as instill a sense of pride.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• 제58권9호
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• pp.354-357
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• 2015

Parry-Romberg syndrome (PRS) is a rare, acquired disorder characterized by progressive unilateral facial atrophy of the skin, soft tissue, muscles, and underlying bony structures that may be preceded by cutaneous induration. It is sometimes accompanied by ipsilateral brain lesions and neurological symptoms. Here we present the case of a 10-year-old girl with right-sided PRS and recurrent monoplegic ataxia of the left leg. At 4 years of age, she presented with localized scleroderma over the right parietal region of her scalp; her face gradually became asymmetric as her right cheek atrophied. Brain magnetic resonance imaging revealed hemiatrophy of the face and skull base, and T2-weighted images showed increased signal in the right hemipons and hemicerebellar peduncle. Magnetic resonance angiography findings were unremarkable. She was treated with oral prednisolone, and her recurrent gait ataxia diminished within 2 months of the follow-up period. To the best of our knowledge, this is only the second case of PRS presenting with an abnormal involvement of the ipsilateral hemipons.

• 한방재활의학과학회지
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• 제26권3호
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• pp.109-117
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• 2016

Objectives The purpose of this study was to investigate the correlation between walking ability of lumbar spinal stenosis patients and the cross-sectional area (CSA) of lumbar paraspinal muscles. Methods This study was carried out on 62 lumbar spinal stenosis patients who had limited walking abilities because of neurogenic claudication (NC). All patients received more than 2 weeks of complex treatment at Mokhuri Neck&Back Hospital. CSA of lumbar paraspinal muscles was measured from axial T2-weighted MRI and divided by CSA of adjacent vertebral body to avoid influence of body statues (RCSA-Relative CSA). Pain Free Walking Distance and Numerical Rating Scale (NRS) was measured before and after treatment. Results The Pain Free Walking Distance had significantly increased in patients who had bigger RCSA of psoas muscle (r=0.313, p<0.05). Conclusions The psoas muscle can be a predictive factor for restoring walking ability of lumbar spinal stenosis patients who have limitations walking.

• 한국산업보건학회지
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• 제22권2호
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• pp.107-118
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• 2012

Objectives: This study examines the occurrence of disease resulting from low back pain and factors of working environment meaningfully influencing the occurrence of lumbago as well as analyzes '2nd Korean Working Condition Survey (KWCS)' conducted in 2010 so as to establish the prevention and improvement measures. Methods: The analysis method is that it is to compare the prevalence rate of low back pain according to working environment via odds ratio and to implement the test about the factors having the difference in working environment between low back pain group and normal group through weighted t-test. Results: As a result, it indicates that there is a meaningful difference for prevalence rate of low back pain according to age, status in employment and education level which are socio-demographical factors. The analysis in working hours shows that the period of work is a factor raising the prevalence rate of low back pain rather than weekly working hours. The analysis in the work risk factor indicates that the increase in prevalence rate of low back pain takes place to either workers with repetitive movement and continuously standing posture or those with heavy stress and emotional labour. Conclusions: Workers with low back pain have suffered from accident, depression, anxiety disorder and sleep. The factors in which the prevalence rate of low back pain decrease are to provide information on health and safety and working speed, and enough rest.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• 제39권3호
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• pp.198-203
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• 2006

Objective : To evaluate the natural histories and growth rates of meningiomas, the authors perform this retrospective observational study and attempt to identify those factors predicting tumor growth. Methods : Between 1993 and 2004, a total of 83 patients were diagnosed by computed tomography[CT] scans or magnetic resonance[MR] imaging as having an intracranial meningioma, and were treated by observation only using regular clinical and radiological examinations. Twenty-six of these 83 patients, with available data were included in this study. Follow up periods ranged from 9 to 137 months [mean, 55.6 mo.; median, 60 mo.]. The tumor volumes, absolute growth rates, and tumor doubling times were calculated. Results : Patient age and sex distributions were comparable to those of other studies, but exceptionally 16 meningiomas [62%] were located at the skull base in the present study. During follow-up monitoring, the majority of meningiomas grew, though 77% showed low absolute annual growth rates [$<1cm^3/yr$]. The tumor doubling times ranged from 2.87 to 201.72 years [mean, 42.91 yr]. Based on Imaging analysis, peritumoral edema and the absence of calcification were probable factors predicting tumor growth. Tumor-related symptoms seemed to be slightly related to tumor growth. Other factors, e.g., gender, age, tumor location, and T2-weighted signal Intensities on MR imaging, were not significantly related to tumor growth. Conclusion : This study shows that the majority of meningiomas are slow growing. However, variations in tumor growth are unexplained, thus individualized optimal treatment strategies should be provided in each meningioma.

• Journal of Yeungnam Medical Science
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• 제40권2호
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• pp.136-145
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• 2023

Hepatic encephalopathy (HE) is a severe neuropsychiatric abnormality in patients with either acute or chronic liver failure. Typical brain magnetic resonance imaging findings of HE are bilateral basal ganglia high signal intensities due to manganese deposition in chronic liver disease and hyperintensity in T2, fluid-attenuated inversion recovery, or diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) with hemispheric white matter changes including the corticospinal tract. Low values on apparent diffusion coefficient mapping of the affected area on DWI, indicating cytotoxic edema, can be observed in acute HE. However, neuropsychological impairment in HE ranges from mild deficits in psychomotor abilities affecting quality of life to stupor or coma with higher grades of hepatic dysfunction. In particular, the long-lasting compensatory mechanisms for the altered metabolism in chronic liver disease make HE imaging results variable. Therefore, the clinical relevance of imaging findings is uncertain and differentiating HE from other metabolic diseases can be difficult. The recent introduction of concepts such as "acute-on-chronic liver failure (ACLF)," a new clinical entity, has led to a change in the clinical view of HE. Accordingly, there is a need to establish a corresponding concept in the field of neuroimaging diagnosis. Herein, we review HE from a historical and etiological perspective to increase understanding of brain imaging and help establish an imaging approach for advanced new concepts such as ACLF. The purpose of this manuscript is to provide an understanding of HE by reviewing neuroimaging findings based on pathological and clinical concepts of HE, thereby assisting in neuroimaging interpretation.

• Annals of Clinical Neurophysiology
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• 제25권2호
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• pp.93-102
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• 2023

Background: We aimed to identify any differences in the structural covariance network based on structural volume and those in the functional network based on cerebral blood flow between the ipsilateral and contralateral hemispheres of pain in patients with episodic migraine without aura. Methods: We prospectively enrolled 27 patients with migraine without aura, all of whom had unilateral migraine pain. We defined the ipsilateral hemisphere as the side of migraine pain. We measured structural volumes on three-dimensional T1-weighted images and cerebral blood flow using arterial spin labeling magnetic resonance imaging. We then analyzed the structural covariance network based on structural volume and the functional network based on cerebral blood flow using graph theory. Results: There were no significant differences in structural volume or cerebral blood flow between the ipsilateral and contralateral hemispheres. However, there were significant differences between the hemispheres in the structural covariance network and the functional network. In the structural covariance network, the betweenness centrality of the thalamus was lower in the ipsilateral hemisphere than in the contralateral hemisphere. In the functional network, the betweenness centrality of the anterior cingulate and paracingulate gyrus was lower in the ipsilateral hemisphere than in the contralateral hemisphere, while that of the opercular part of the inferior frontal gyrus was higher in the former hemisphere. Conclusions: The present findings indicate that there are significant differences in the structural covariance network and the functional network between the ipsilateral and contralateral hemispheres of pain in patients with episodic migraine without aura.

• 대한영상의학회지
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• 제83권5호
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• pp.1116-1120
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• 2022

신장은 이소성 부신 선종의 드문 부위이다. 우리가 아는 한, 신장에서 발생한 이소성 부신 선종의 일부 증례가 보고되었지만, 이러한 증례들 중 병변의 컴퓨터단층촬영 및 자기공명영상소견을 설명하는 경우는 거의 없다. 47세 남자 환자가 정기 건강검진을 위해 복부 컴퓨터단층촬영을 시행한 결과 왼쪽 신장동에 1.2 cm 크기의 조영 증강이 되는 종괴가 발견되었다. 추가적으로 시행한 자기공명영상에서 지방 성분을 의미하는 신호 강하 소견을 보였다. 종괴는 수술 후 이소성 부신 선종으로 확인되었다.