• Investigative Magnetic Resonance Imaging
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• v.13 no.2
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• pp.161-170
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• 2009

Purpose : A parallel imaging method provides us to improve temporal resolution to obtain three-dimensional (3D) MR images. The objective of this study was to optimize three 3D MRI techniques by adjusting 2D SESNE factors of the parallel imaging method in phantom and human brain. Materials and Methods : With a 3 Tesla MRI system and an 8-channel phase-array sensitivity-encoding (SENSE) coil, three 3D MRI techniques of 3D T1-weighted imaging (3D T1WI), 3D T2-weighted imaging (3D T2WI) and 3D fluid attenuated inversion recovery (3D FLAIR) imaging were optimized with adjusting SESNE factors in a water phantom and three human brains. The 2D SENSE factor was applied on the phase-encoding and the slice-encoding directions. Signal-to-noise ratio(SNR), percent signal reduction rate(%R), and contrast-to-noise ratio(CNR) were calculated by using signal intensities obtained in specific regions-of-interest (ROI). Results : In the phantom study, SENSE factor = 3 was provided in 0.2% reduction of signals against without using SENSE with imaging within 5 minutes for 3D T1WI. SENSE factor = 2 was provided in 0.98% signal reduction against without using SENSE with imaging within 5 minutes for 3D T2WI. SENSE factor = 4 was provided in 0.2% signal reduction against without using SENSE with imaging around 6 minutes for 3D FLAIR. In the human brain study, SNR and CNR were higher with SENSE factors = 3 than 4 for all three imaging techniques. Conclusion : This study was performed to optimize 2D SENSE factors in the three 3D MRI techniques that can be scanned in clinical time limitations with minimizing SNR reductions. Without compromising SNR and CNR, the optimum 2D SENSE factors were 3 and 4, yielding the scan time of about 5 to 6 minutes. Further studies are necessary to optimize 3D MRI techniques in other areas in human body.

• Investigative Magnetic Resonance Imaging
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• v.17 no.2
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• pp.83-90
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• 2013

Purpose : To report our clinical experience with cardiac 3.0 T MRI in patients compared with 1.5 T using individually optimized imaging protocols. Materials and Methods: We retrospectively reviewed 30 consecutive patients and 20 consecutive patients who underwent 1.5 T and 3 T cardiac MRI within 10 months. A comparison study was performed by measuring the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR), the contrast-to-noise ratio (CNR) and the image quality (by grading each sequence on a 5-point scale, regarding the presence of artifacts). Results: In morphologic and viability studies, the use of 3.0 T provided increase of the baseline SNRs and CNRs, respectively (T1: SNR 29%, p < 0.001, CNR 37%, p < 0.001; T2-SPAIR: SNR 13%, p = 0.068, CNR 18%, p = 0.059; viability imaging: SNR 45%, p = 0.017, CNR 37%, p = 0.135) without significant impairment of the image quality (T1: $3.8{\pm}0.9$ vs. $3.9{\pm}0.7$, p = 0.438; T2-SPAIR: $3.8{\pm}0.9$ vs. $3.9{\pm}0.5$, p = 0.744; viability imaging: $4.5{\pm}0.8$ vs. $4.7{\pm}0.6$, p = 0.254). Although the image qualities of 3.0 T functional cine images were slightly lower than those of 1.5 T images ($3.6{\pm}0.7$ vs. $4.2{\pm}0.6$, p < 0.001), the mean SNR and CNR at 3.0 T were significantly improved (SNR 143% increase, CNR 108% increase, p < 0.001). With our imaging protocol for 3.0 T perfusion imaging, there was an insignificant decrease in the SNR (11% decrease, p = 0.172) and CNR (7% decrease, p = 0.638). However, the overall image quality was significantly improved ($4.6{\pm}0.5$ vs. $4.0{\pm}0.8$, p = 0.006). Conclusion: With our experience, 3.0 T MRI was shown to be feasible for the routine assessment of cardiac imaging.

• Progress in Medical Physics
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• v.5 no.1
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• pp.55-66
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• 1994

After proving home-made imaging pulse sequences including tailored RF pulse by phantom, susceptibility-contrast-enhanced MR venograms of cat brain were obtained using tailored RF gradient-echo(TRGE) method. Sagittal MR imaging of the cat brain obtained by TRGE technique shows several veins, for example, dorsal sagittal sinus, straight sinus, vein of corpus callosum and internal cerebral vein, etc., compared with cats anatomical figure. Tailored RF waveform was generated by PASCAL language in ASPECT 3000 computer(Switzland, Bruker). Rectangular-shaped slice profile with bi-linear ramp function as phase distribution in the slice, at which maximum value was 2$\pi$, was fourier transformed to make tailored RF pulse. Experimental MR imaging parameters were TR/TE=205/10 msec, slice thickness TH=7mm, maxtrix size=256$\times$256, in-plane resolution=0.62$\times$0.31mm$^2$, and field of view(FOV)=8cm for both conventional gradient-echo(GE) imaging and TRGE imaging techniques.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.30 no.1
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• pp.41-46
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• 2001

Objective : The exact position of the lesion during the pallidotomy is critical to obtain the clinical improvement of parkinson's disease without damage to surrounding structure. Ventriculogrphy, CT(computed tomograpy) or MRI(magnetic resonance imaging) have been used to determine the initial coordinates of stereotactic target for pallidotomy. The goal of this study was to determine whether microelectrode recording significantly improves the neurophysiologic localization of the target obtained from MRI. Methods : Twenty patients were studied. They underwent a unilateral pallidotomy. Leksell frame was applied and T1 axial images parallel to the AC-PC(anterior commissure-posterior commissure) plane using a 1.5 Tesla MRI with 3mm slice thickness were obtained. Anteroposterior coordinate of target was chosen at 2mm in front of the midcommissural point and lateral coordinate between 19 and 22mm from the midline. The vertical coordinate was calculated on coronal slice using a fast spin echo inversion recovery sequence(FSEIR) related to the position of the choroidal fissure and ranged over 4-5mm below the AC-PC plane. Confirmation of the anatomical target was done on axial slices using the same FSEIR sequence . Microrecording was done at the pallidum contralateral to the symptomatic side using an electrode with a tip diameter of $1{{\mu}m}$ diameter tip and 1.1-1.4 mOhm impedance at 1000Hz. Electrophysiologic localization of the target was also confirmed intraoperatively by macrostimulation. Results : Microrecording techniques were reliable to define the transition from the base of the pallidum which was characterized by the disappearance of spike activity and by the change of the audible background activity. Signals from high amplitude neurons firing at 200-400Hz were recorded in the pallidal base. X, Y and Z coordinates of target obtained from the MRI were within 1mm from the X, Y, Z coordinates obtained with microrecording in 16 patients (80%), 15 patients(75%), 10 patients(50%) respectively. The difference of Y coordinate between on MRI and on microrecording was 4mm in only one patient. Conclusion : The MRI was accurate to localize the target within 1mm of the error from microrecording target in 70% of the patients. 4mm discrepancy was observed only once. We conclude that MRI alone can be used to determine the target for pallidotomy in most patients. However, microrecording technique can still be extremely valuable in patents with aberrant anatomy or unusual MRI coordinates. We also consider physiologic confirmation of the target using macrostimulation to be mandatory in all cases.

• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
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• v.21 no.3
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• pp.87-93
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• 2009

Purpose: TThis study examined the effect of repetitive magnetic stimulation (RMS) on the viability and proliferative response of human adipose tissue-derived stromal cells (hATSCs) in vitro. Methods: The hATSCs were cultured primarily from human adipose tissue harvested by liposuction and incubated in a $37^{\circ}C$ plastic chamber. The cells were exposed to a repetitive magnetic field using a customized magnetic stimulator (Biocon-5000, Mcube Technology). The RMS parameters were set as follows: repetition rate=10Hz, 25Hz (stimulus intensity 100%= 0.1 Tesla, at 4cm from the coil), stimulated time= 1, 5, and 20 minutes. Twenty four hours after one application of RMS, the hATSCs were compared with the sham stimulation, which were kept under the same conditions without the application of RMS. The cells were observed by optical microscopy to determine the morphology and assessed by trypan blue staining for cell proliferation. The apoptosis and viability of the hATSCs were also analyzed by fluorescence-activated cell sorting (FACS) analysis of Annexin V and MTT assay. Results: After RMS, the morphology of the hATSCs was not changed and the apoptosis of hATSCs were not increased compared to the sham stimulation. The viability of the cells was similar to the cells given the sham stimulation. Interestingly, the level of hATSC proliferation was significantly higher in all RMS groups. Conclusion: The application of RMS may not cause a change in morphology and viability of hATSCs but can increase the level of cell proliferation in vitro. RMS might be useful as an adjuvant tool in combination with stem cell therapy without adverse effects.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Postharvest Science and Technology of Agricultural Products Conference
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• 2003.10a
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• pp.151-152
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• 2003

최근 NMR, MRI, x-선 등 전자파의 기술이 발전되면서 이들을 이용하여 내부품질을 검출하는 보다진보된 연구가 수행되고 있다. 관련 연구로는 자기공명영상을 이용하여 내공수삼 및 정상수삼의 내부를 촬영하여 T$_1$, T$_2$의 값을 측정하여 내부조직의 이상유무를 추정하였고, 또한 MRI에 의해 수삼의 내부품질 뿐만 아니라 연근 판정 가능성을 검토하는 등 많은 연구가 수행되고있다. 이 연구에서는 MRI 시스템을 이용하여 수삼의 내부단면 영상을 획득하여 내부결함 유무를 검출하고, 또한 동일한 수삼을 대상으로 홍삼 제조 후 내부품질의 변화 특성을 조사하고자 수행하였다. 공시재료는 충북 음성에 있는 인삼연초연구원에서 4~6년 근 된 수삼을 이용하였고, 시험 장비로는 국내 MRI 생산 전문 업체인 ISOL Tech. Co.에서 개발한 의료용 장비인 CHORUS 1.5T(자속밀도 1.5 Tesla)를 이용하였다. 슬라이스 두께/간격은 5mn/5mn, 촬영 단면수는 15장/시료, 영상영역(FOV)은 180mmx90mm, image size는 256$\times$128 pixels 그리고 TR/TE는 각각의 이완상수별로 500/13(Tl), 4,000/63(T2) 및 2,200/21(Pd)에 대한 단면영상을 얻었다. 5개의 수삼을 동시에 뇌두에서 뿌리 쪽으로 MR 단면영상을 획득하였다. 이완상수 T$_1$, T$_2$, Pd에 대해서 MR 영상을 획득하였으며, 총 15장의 단면 영상 중 내부 상태를 가장 잘 식별 할 수 있는 영상을 조사한 결과 T$_1$과 Pd에서 촬영한 영상에서는 내부상태가 잘 나타났으나, T$_2$에서 얻은 영상은 영상의 손실이 많이 발생되었다. 한편, T$_1$에 대해서 뇌두에서 뿌리쪽으로 가면서 각 위치에 따라 수삼 내부의 부패된 영상이 나타나 이에 대한 판정은 가능한 것으로 나타났다. 2000년도와 2001년도에 각각 수확.저장된 수삼을 부위별로 단면영상을 MRI로 측정하고, 그 시료를 인삼연초연구원(음성시험장)에서 홍삼으로 제조한 후 수삼 상태에서의 내부품질과 홍삼으로 제조된 후의 내부품질 변화를 조사하였다. 총 20본의 수삼을 MRI 시스템으로 영상을 획득하였고, 모든 시료에 대해서 내부조직의 상태를 관찰하였다. 수삼의 수분함량은 뇌두로부터 1cm부위를 절단하여 조사하였고, 수삼조직은 절단시 단면의 달관 조사에 의한 성적이며 홍삼품질은 제조삼의 조직상태를 절단하여 육안판별로 검사하였다. 총 20본의 수삼 중 정상은 16본 이었고, 이들은 홍삼으로 제조된 후 내공 내백 등이 혼재되어 나타났으며 정상수삼이 정상홍삼으로 나타난 경우는 5본이었고, 내백은 5본, 내공은 6본으로 조사되었다. 또한 수삼에서 4본은 썩은 부위가 포함되어있는 수삼이었는데 홍삼으로 제조되었을 때 3본은 내백으로 되었고 1 본은 수삼에서 썩은 부위가 1/4정도로 미미해서 홍삼 제조시 정상으로 나타났다. 일반적으로 홍삼 제조시 내공의 발생은 제조공정에서 나타나는 경우가 많으며, 내백의 경우는 홍삼으로 가공되면서 발생하는 경우가 있고, 인삼이 성장될 때 부분적인 영양상태의 불충분이나 기후 등에 따른 영향을 받을 수 있기 때문에 앞으로 이에 대한 많은 연구가 이루어져야할 것으로 판단된다.

• Journal of the Korean Arthroscopy Society
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• v.16 no.2
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• pp.128-133
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• 2012

Purpose: This study examined the relationship between graft appearance on follow-up magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and knee stability after double bundle anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction. Materials and Methods: For each patient, 1.5 tesla MRI's were obtained. The signal intensity of grafts was divided into 3 grades by Sononda's classification. The course of grafts was divided into two patterns: straight and curved. We assessed Lachman test, KT 2000 arthrometer and anterior drawer stress radiograph using Telos$^{(R)}$ in $30^{\circ}$ knee flexion for anterior stability and evaluated pivot shift test for rotatory stability. The correlation between graft appearance on MRI and the results of knee stability tests was evaluated. Results: The anteromedial (AM) graft was evaluated as being grade 1 in 66.7%, grade 2 in 26.7%, and grade 3 in 6.7% of the cases and the posterolateal (PL) graft was assessed as being grade 1 in 63.3%, grade 2 in 33.3%, and grade 3 in 3.3% of the cases according to the signal intensity. The AM graft was evaluated as being straight in 83.3% and curved in 16.7% of the cases, and the PL graft was assessed as being straight in 86.7% and curved in 13.3% of the cases according to the course. The course of AM graft was correlated with the results of anterior stability tests and the course of PL graft was correlated with the result of rotatory stability test. However, the signal intensity of grafts was not correlated with the results of anterior stability and rotatory stability tests. Conclusion: The course of AM is correlated with anterior stability and the course of PL is correlated with rotatory stability on follow-up MRI after double bundle ACL reconstruction.

• Investigative Magnetic Resonance Imaging
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• v.9 no.2
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• pp.94-100
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• 2005

Purpose : This study was designed to evaluate the usefulness of 3T-TOF MR angiography (3T-TOF MRA) compared with transcranial Doppler sonography (TCD) and conventional angiography (CA) in patients with suspected cerebral infarction. Materials and Methods : Fifty four patients with clinical symptoms of cerebral infarction were involved in this study, and had undergone 3T-TOF MRA and TCD, with CA in 11 patients. On the basis of divisions of the carotid artery, four groups were designated: group I, both vertebral arteries and basilar artery; group II, segment between 2 cm below bifurcation of common carotid artery and genu portion of internal carotid artery; group III, segment between petrous portion of internal carotid artery and bifurcation of anterior and middle cerebral artery; group IV, from bifurcation of anterior and middle cerebral artery to thier distal branches. Two radiologists retrospectively reviewed the vascular imaging and stenosis in 3T-TOF MRA, TCD, and CA. Results : A total of 432 arteries, 108 in each group, were available. The assessment of vascular imaging quality in 3T-TOF MRA is scored 2.98, 2.96, 2.91, 2.88 in 4 groups, respectively. Agreement among 3T-TOF MR angiography, TCD, and CA was high. Conclusion : 3T-TOF MR angiography may be useful method for the assessment of stenotic lesions of cranial vasculature in patients with cerebral infarction.

• Progress in Medical Physics
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• v.19 no.4
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• pp.256-262
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• 2008

To evaluate the metabolic changes in normal adult brains due to alterations SENSE and NEX (number of excitation) by multi voxel MR Spectroscopy at 3.0 Tesla. The study group was composed of normal volunteers (5 men and 8 women) with a mean ($\pm$ standard deviation) age of 41 (${\pm}11.65$). Their ages ranged from 28 to 61 years. MR Spectroscopy was performed with a 3.0T Achieva Release Version 2.0 (Philips Medical System-Netherlands). The 8 channel head coil was employed for MRS acquisition. The 13 volunteers underwent multi voxel spectroscopy (MVS) and single voxel spectroscopy (SVS) on the thalamus area with normally gray matter. Spectral parameters were as follows: 15 mm of thickness; 230 mm of FOV (field of view); 2000 msecs of repetition time (TR); 288 msecs of echo time (TE); $110{\times}110$ mm of VOI (view of interest); $15{\times}15{\times}15$ mm of voxel size. Multi voxel spectral parameters were made using specially in alteration of SENSE factor (1~3) and 1~2 of NEX. All MRS data were processed by the jMRUI 3.0 Version. There was no significant difference in NAA/Cr and Cho/Cr ratio between MVS and SVS likewise the previous results by Ross and coworkers in 1994. In addition, despite the alterations of SENSE factor and NEX in MVS, the metabolite ratios were not changed (F-value : 1.37, D.F : 3, P-value : 0.262). However, line-width of NAA peak in MVS was 3 times bigger than that in SVS. In the present study, we demonstrated that the alterations of SENSE factor and NEX were not critically affective to the result of metabolic ratios in the normal brain tissue.

• Journal of radiological science and technology
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• v.32 no.2
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• pp.177-182
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• 2009

Purpose : This study presents the optimization of flip angle (FA) to obtain higher contrast to noise ratio (CNR) and lower specific absorption rate (SAR). Materials and Method : T1-weighted images of the cerebrum of brain were obtained from 50$^\circ$ to 130$^\circ$ FA with 10$^\circ$ interval. Signal to noise ratios (SNRs) were calculated for white matter (WM), gray matter (GM), and background noise. The proper FA was analyzed by T-test statistics and Kruskal-wallis analysis using R1 = 1- exp ($\frac{-TR}{T1}$) and Ernst angle cos $\theta$ = exp ($\frac{-TR}{T1}$). Results : The SNR of WM at 130$^\circ$ FA is approximately 1.6 times higher than the SNR of WM at 50$^\circ$. The SNR of GM at 130$^\circ$ FA is approximately 1.9 times higher than the SNR of GM at 50$^\circ$. Although the SNRs of WM and GM showed similar trends with the change of FA values, the slowdown point of decrease after linear fitting were different. While the SNR of WM started decreasing at 120$^\circ$ FA, the SNR of GM started decreasing at less than 110$^\circ$. The highest SNRs of WM and GM were obtained at 130$^\circ$ FA. The highest CNRs, however, were obtained at 80$^\circ$ FA. Conclusion : Although SNR increased with the change of FA values from 50$^\circ$ to 130$^\circ$ at 3T SE T1WI, CNR was higher at 80$^\circ$ FA than at the usually used 90$^\circ$ FA. In addition, the SAR was decreased by using smaller FA. The CNR can be increased by using this optimized FA at 3T MR SE T1WI.