• Investigative Magnetic Resonance Imaging
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• v.16 no.1
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• pp.31-39
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• 2012

Purpose : To determine the optimal combination of commercially available superparamagnetic iron oxide (SPIO) nanoparticles with transfection agents (TA). Materials and Methods: Protamine sulfate (Pro) and poly-L-lysin (PLL) were incubated with ferumoxide and ferucarbotran in human mesenchymal stem cells at various concentrations, and cellular viability were evaluated. Cellular iron uptake was qualitatively and quantitatively evaluated. Cell visibility was assessed via MR imaging and the T2-relaxation time was calculated. Results: The cellular viabilities with ferucarbotran were more significantly decreased than those with ferumoxide (p < 0.05). Iron uptake with ferumoxide was significantly higher than that for those with with ferucarbotran. The T2-relaxation time was observed to be shorter with ferumoxide in comparison to those with ferucarbotran (p < 0.05). Ferumoxide at a concentration of 25 ${\mu}g$/ml in combination with either Pro or PLL at a concentration of 3.0 ${\mu}g$/ml did not adversely impact cell viability, maximized iron uptake, and exhibited a lower T2-relaxation time in comparison to other combinations. Conclusion: Stem cells with ferumoxide exhibited a higher cellular viability and iron uptake in comparison to ferucarbotran-treated stem cells. A 25 ${\mu}g$/ml of ferumoxide with a 3.0 ${\mu}g$/ml of TA is sufficient to label mesenchymal stem cells.

• Journal of dental hygiene science
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• v.17 no.1
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• pp.46-55
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• 2017

Many people in Korea suffer from a fear of dental treatments; however, only a few studies have focused on this population. This study assessed the effectiveness of cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and its interventions in reducing dental anxiety, especially when administered by trained dental staff. Using case studies, the authors analyzed the content of each session and examined the process of reducing dental anxiety. First, the authors observed that the results of both dental fear scale and subjective unit of disturbance decreased significantly with changes in cognitive distortions related to dental anxiety and that rapid improvements were noted after two therapy sessions. Second, the study reported that practicing relaxation (deep-breathing) and muscle relaxation techniques; using hand signals to indicate anxiety or discomfort; establishing an empathic relationship with the therapist; making an anxiety list; and graded insensitive and exposure along with rehearsal, were effective in coping with dental anxiety and in changing negative thoughts towards the dentist. Third, a simple cognitive behavioral intervention can be effective in reducing dental anxiety. In summary, a short-term, five-session psychological intervention with CBT produced a sustained decrease in the symptoms of dental anxiety, allowing the patients to receive the required procedures. The authors discussed the study limitations and the implication of their results on future research.

• Progress in Medical Physics
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• v.6 no.2
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• pp.83-92
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• 1995

The T1 mapping of an human anatomy may give a characteristic contrast among the various tissues and the normal/abnormal tissues. Here, the methodology of constructing T1 map out of several images with different TRs, will be described using non-linear curve fitting. The general curve fitting algorithm requires the initial trial values T1t and Mot for the variables to be fitted. Three different methods of suppling the trial T1t and Mot are suggested and compared for the efficiency and the accuracy. The curve-fitting routine was written in ANSI C and excuted on a SUN workstation. Several distilled-water phantoms with various concentrations of Gd-DTPA were prepared to examine the accuracy of the curve-fitting program. An MR image was used as the true proton density image without any random noise, and several images with different TRs were generated with the theoretical T1 relaxation times 250, 500, and 1000msec. The random noise of 1, 5, and 10％ were embedded into the simulated images. These images were used to generate the T1 map, and the resultant T1 maps for each T1 were analyzed to study the effect of the random noise on the T1 map.

• The Journal of Korean Orthopaedic Ultrasound Society
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• v.1 no.1
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• pp.1-5
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• 2008

Purpose: We studied the diagnostic value of dynamic US in the extensor tendon dislocation at the metacarpophalangeal joint. Materials and Methods: From January 2007 to October, we studied 6 cases that had been diagnosed and followed over 5 months (2-10) in average. US examination using a 10-MHz linear transducer were performed in three cases. The causes of dislocations were traumatic in 5 cases and congenital in one case. Results: In only 3 cases which could not be diagnosed clinically, we performed US. In dynamic US, all three cases showed the extensor tendon dislocation evidently. Operative findings were sagittal band rupture in 4 cases, capsular loosening in one case and sagittal band thinning in one case. Sagittal band repair was performed in 4 cases and capsular augmentation in one case. In case of congenital dislocation showing 4 digital extensor tendon dislocations in right hand, we operated only the second extensor by sagittal band repair with augmentation by looping. At last follow-up, no case showed recurrence or limitation of motion. Conclusion: In case of extensor tendon dislocation without apparent clinical finding, US with dynamic study has so great value that it can detect the dislocation in real time, which is superior to MRI.

• Journal of the Korea Concrete Institute
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• v.22 no.5
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• pp.641-650
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• 2010

The concrete cracking from the restrained stress caused by the shrinkage may play significant cause of deterioration of concrete structures by allowing the permeation of sulphate and chloride ions which in turn triggers corrosion of steel reinforcement. In particular, the cracking becomes more critical as water binder ratio (W/B) is reduced and concrete strength increases. Therefore, it needs to evaluate correctly the comprehensive shrinkage behavior of concrete with high strength: high-strength concrete (HSC), ultra-highstrength concrete (UHSC). The unrestrained shrinkage tests, however, cannot estimate the net shrinkage effectively which affects cracking after full development of strength and stiffness because it does not consider the degree of restraint, strength development, stress relaxation, and so on. Therefore, in this study, both free and restrained shrinkage tests with variables of W/B (W/B of 30, 25 and 16%) and admixtures (fly ash (FA) and granulated blast-furnace slag (BFS)) for HSC, very-high-strength concrete (VHSC) and UHSC were performed. The test results indicated that the autogenous shrinkage and total shrinkage at drying condition were reduced as W/B increased and FA, BFS were added, and the cracking behavior was suppressed as W/B increased and FA was added.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.30 no.7
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• pp.907-915
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• 2001

Objective : Percutaneous vertebroplasty is often complicated by the presence of multiple fractures or non-localizing pain in the patients with osteoporotic vertebral fractures. The purpose of this study is to estimate the value of preoperative radiologic studies in the localization of symptomatic vertebrae and to determine the factors which can influence on the clinical results. Materials and Methods : We retrospectively reviewed the clinical and radiologic data of 57 vertebrae in 30 patients underwent percutaneous vertebroplasty for osteoporotic vertebral compression fractures. Inclusion criteria was severe pain(McGill-Melzack score 3, 4 or 5) associated with the acute vertebral fractures and absence of spinal nerve root or cord compression sign. Acute symptomatic vertebral fracture was determined by the presence of signal change on MR images or increased uptake on whole body bone scan. Results : Pain improvement was obtained immediately in all patients and favorable result was sustained in 26 patients(86.7%) during the mean follow-up duration of 4.7 months(5 complete pain relief, 21 marked pain relief). Those who underwent vertebroplasty for all acute symptomatic vertebrae had significantly better clinical result than those who did not. Further vertebral collapse and eventual bursting fracture occurred in 1 vertebra which showed intradiskal leakage of bone cement and disruption of cortical endplate on postoperative CT scan. Conclusion : Preoperative MR imaging and whole body bone scan are very useful in determining the symptomatic vertebrae, especially in the patients with multiple osteoporotic vertebral fractures. To obtain favorable clinical result, the careful radiologic evaluation as well as clinical assessment is required. Control of PMMA volume seems to be the most critical point for avoiding complications.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.20 no.10
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• pp.303-308
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• 2019

Non-traumatic acute myelopathy caused by cervical disc herniation is rare. To date, no case has been reported to be caused by extrusion cervical disc herniation, unrelated to patient posture during surgery. Here, we report the case of a 65-year-old male patient with cervical myelopathy who underwent subsequent arthroscopic rotator cuff surgery under general anesthesia; non-cervical spine surgery. Ed. Notes: I am unable to understand the insertion of the highlighted phrase. Please delete if not required, or revise the sentence appropriately. Patient showed acute postoperative tetraplegia in spite of optimal anesthetic management. He showed no limitation of neck movement at pre-operative airway evaluation, and had no history of trauma to the cervical spine. During surgery, there had been no overextension or twisting of the neck, including at the time of anesthetic induction by tracheal intubation. However, cervical disc herniation causing spinal canal cord compression was detected in the postoperative magnetic resonance imaging, which probably resulted in tetraplegia of the patient. Motor and sensory functions were recovered after 21 days of conservative treatment, including steroid pulse intravenous therapy without any surgical intervention. In this report, the disease is described after reviewing other reported cases; furthermore, we also discuss the pathophysiology of the disease. Based on our report, we propose that under general anesthesia, clinicians should pay attention to the possibility of pre-existing cervical disease, even in non-cervical spine surgeries of geriatric patients.

• The Korean Journal of Nuclear Medicine Technology
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• v.16 no.2
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• pp.68-80
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• 2012

Purpose : More recently, combined PET/MR scanners have been developed in which the MR data can be used for both anatometabolic image formation and attenuation correction of the PET data. For quantitative PET information, correction of tissue photon attenuation is mandatory. The attenuation map is obtained from the CT scan in the PET/CT. In the case of PET/MR, the attenuation map can be calculated from the MR image. The purpose of this study was to assess the quantitative differences between MR-based and CT-based attenuation corrected PET images. Materials and Methods : Using the uniform cylinder phantom of distilled water which has 199.8 MBq of $^{18}F$-FDG put into the phantom, we studied the effect of MR-based and CT-based attenuation corrected PET images, of the PET-CT using time of flight (TOF) and non-TOF iterative reconstruction. The images were acquired from 60 minutes at 15-minute intervals. Region of interests were drawn over 70% from the center of the image, and the Scanners' analysis software tools calculated both maximum and mean SUV. These data were analyzed by one way-anova test and Bland-Altman analysis. MR images are segmented into three classes(not including bone), and each class is assigned to each region based on the expected average attenuation of each region. For clinical diagnostic purpose, PET/MR and PET/CT images were acquired in 23 patients (Ingenuity TF PET/MR, Gemini TF64). PET/CT scans were performed approximately 33.8 minutes after the beginnig of the PET/MR scans. Region of interests were drawn over 9 regions of interest(lung, liver, spleen, bone), and the Scanners' analysis software tools calculated both maximum and mean SUV. The SUVs from 9 regions of interest in MR-based PET images and in CT-based PET images were compared. These data were analyzed by paired t test and Bland-Altman analysis. Results : In phantom study, MR-based attenuation corrected PET images generally showed slightly lower -0.36~-0.15 SUVs than CT-based attenuation corrected PET images (p<0.05). In clinical study, MR-based attenuation corrected PET images generally showed slightly lower SUVs than CT-based attenuation corrected PET images (excepting left middle lung and transverse Lumbar) (p<0.05). And percent differences were -8.01.79% lower for the PET/MR images than for the PET/CT images. (excepting lung) Based on the Bland-Altman method, the agreement between the two methods was considered good. Conclusion : PET/MR confirms generally lower SUVs than PET/CT. But, there were no difference in the clinical interpretations made by the quantitative comparisons with both type of attenuation map.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.42 no.6
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• pp.559-566
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• 2009

Effective nutrition educations for prevention of chronic diseases for the general population are of great importance these days. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the feasibility of nutrition education for cardiovascular risk factor reduction by e-mail education in male workers. The participants were divided into three groups by age; 28-39 age group, 40-49 age group, and 50-59 age group who got regular checkups for anthropometry and biochemistry. The 1 year program consisted of 15 topics containing information about metabolic syndrome (MS) and healthy eating behavior (intake of salt, fat and alcohol). Seven hundred thirty nine participants volunteered for the study [28-39 age group, n = 240; body mass index (BMI) = 24.9 $\pm$ 2.7 kg/m$^2$: 40' group, n = 276; BMI = 24.8 $\pm$ 2.6 kg/m$^2$: 50' group, n = 223; BMI = 24.9 $\pm$ 2.7 kg/m$^2$]. Percentage body fat (p < 0.05) and percentage of abdominal fat (p < 0.05), total cholesterol (p < 0.05), systolic blood pressure (p < 0.05), and diastolic blood pressure (p < 0.05) were significantly decreased in all participants after the 1 year program. The total number of participants who had MS was decreased from 216 to 199 and especially the incidence of MS was decreased 27% in the group of subjects who were under the age 39. The e-mail worksite nutrition education program shows a substantial contribution to the development of effective CVD and chronic disease control and lifestyle nutrition educations that are applicable to and attractive for the large population at risk.