• Journal of The Korean Society of Clinical Toxicology
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• v.4 no.2
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• pp.131-136
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• 2006

Metronidazole is an antimicrobial drug widely used against various types of infectious agents, including protozoa, amoeba, Helicobacter pylori, and anaerobes. Metronidazole may produce some adverse effects on hematologic, immunologic, neurologic and other systems. We report a case of reversible metronidazole-induced encephalopathy. The toxic dose of metronidazole and the onset of encephalopathy were variable. Two patients showed abnormally high signal intensity in the bilateral dentate nucleus of cerebellum, and characteristic abnormalities were detected by brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and T2-weighted images, fluid-attenuated inversion recovery images and/or diffusion weighted imaging (DWI). Discontinuation of metronidazole resulted in the improvement of the neurologic symptoms over a period of two to three weeks. We followed up the brain MRI with DWI in one case following obvious clinical improvement, and the previously detected lesion had disappeared.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.56 no.4
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• pp.348-352
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• 2014

High-flow vertebral arteriovenous fistulas (VAVF) are rare complications of cervical spine surgery and characterized by iatrogenic direct-communication of the extracranial vertebral artery (VA) to the surrounding venous plexuses. The authors describe two patients with VAVF presenting with ischemic presentation after C1 pedicle screw insertion for a treatment of C2 fracture and nontraumatic atlatoaxial subluxation. The first patient presented with drowsy consciousness with blurred vision. The diffusion MRI showed an acute infarction on bilateral cerebellum and occipital lobes. The second patient presented with pulsatile tinnitus, dysarthria and a subjective weakness and numbness of extremities. In both cases, digital subtraction angiography demonstrated high-flow direct VAVFs adjacent to C1 screws. The VAVF of the second case occurred near the left posterior inferior cerebellar artery originated from the persistent first intersegmental artery of the left VA. Both cases were successfully treated by complete occlusion of the fistulous portion and the involved segment of the left VA using endovascular coil embolization. The authors reviewed the VAVFs after the upper-cervical spine surgery including C1 screw insertion and the feasibility with the attention notes of its endovascular treatment.

• Korean Journal of Remote Sensing
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• v.36 no.4
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• pp.503-513
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• 2020

This paper presents a method to evaluate denoising filters based on edge locations in their denoised images. Image quality assessment has often been performed by using structural similarity (SSIM). However, SSIM does not provide clearly the geometric accuracy of features in denoised images. Thus, in this paper, a method to localize edge locations with subpixel accuracy based on adaptive weighting of gradients is used for obtaining the subpixel locations of edges in ground truth image, noisy images, and denoised images. Then, this paper proposes a method to evaluate the geometric accuracy of edge locations based on root mean squares error (RMSE) and jaggedness with reference to ground truth locations. Jaggedness is a measure proposed in this study to measure the stability of the distribution of edge locations. Tested denoising filters are anisotropic diffusion (AF), bilateral filter, guided filter, weighted guided filter, weighted mean of patches filter, and smoothing filter (SF). SF is a simple filter that smooths images by applying a Gaussian blurring to a noisy image. Experiments were performed with a set of simulated images and natural images. The experimental results show that AF and SF recovered edge locations more accurately than the other tested filters in terms of SSIM, RMSE, and jaggedness and that SF produced better results than AF in terms of jaggedness.

• The Korean Journal of Financial Management
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• v.25 no.1
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• pp.23-49
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• 2008

We test the hypothesis that the gradual diffusion of information across asset markets leads to cross-asset return predictability in Korea. And, the aim of this paper is related to forecast the stock market, business cycle index and industrial production by various indicators of economic activities in Korea. For this, our paper sets models and focuses on empirical test. The stock market on this month correlate with industries in Korea. The stock market doesn't lead to industries. The industries and macroeconomic variables have high correlation. We test that gradual diffusion of industrial information will predict stock market in Korea. For this, we analysis on possibility of Granger cause by VAR models between industries and stock market. As a result, 21 portfolios cause to Kospi statistically significance at 5%. Especially, the Beverage portfolio has bilateral Granger causality to Kospi. In case of Internet and Cosmetics portfolio, Kospi has unilateral Granger causality to it. The predictability of specific industries has a relation to Macroeconomic variables. What industrial portfolios predict to Business Coincidence Index? The only 6 industrial portfolios of 36 portfolios have a statistically significance at 10%. And, 9 portfolios have a statistically significance at 5%.

• Korean Journal of Radiology
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• v.22 no.10
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• pp.1680-1689
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• 2021

Objective: To investigate the diagnostic yield of diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) in patients with transient global amnesia (TGA) and identify significant parameters affecting diagnostic yield. Materials and Methods: A systematic literature search of the MEDLINE and EMBASE databases was conducted to identify studies that assessed the diagnostic yield of DWI in patients with TGA. The pooled diagnostic yield of DWI in patients with TGA was calculated using the DerSimonian-Laird random-effects model. Subgroup analyses were also performed of slice thickness, magnetic field strength, and interval between symptom onset and DWI. Results: Twenty-two original articles (1732 patients) were included. The pooled incidence of right, left, and bilateral hippocampal lesions was 37% (95% confidence interval [CI], 30-44%), 42% (95% CI, 39-46%), and 25% (95% CI, 20-30%) of all lesions, respectively. The pooled diagnostic yield of DWI in patients with TGA was 39% (95% CI, 27-52%). The Higgins I² statistic showed significant heterogeneity (I² = 95%). DWI with a slice thickness ≤ 3 mm showed a higher diagnostic yield than DWI with a slice thickness > 3 mm (pooled diagnostic yield: 63% [95% CI, 53-72%] vs. 26% [95% CI, 16-40%], p < 0.01). DWI performed at an interval between 24 and 96 hours after symptom onset showed a higher diagnostic yield (68% [95% CI, 57-78%], p < 0.01) than DWI performed within 24 hours (16% [95% CI, 7-34%]) or later than 96 hours (15% [95% CI, 8-26%]). There was no difference in the diagnostic yield between DWI performed using 3T vs. 1.5T (pooled diagnostic yield, 31% [95% CI, 25-38%] vs. 24% [95% CI, 14-37%], p = 0.31). Conclusion: The pooled diagnostic yield of DWI in TGA patients was 39%. DWI obtained with a slice thickness ≤ 3 mm or an interval between symptom onset and DWI of > 24 to 96 hours could increase the diagnostic yield.

• Journal of Electrodiagnosis and Neuromuscular Diseases
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• v.20 no.2
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• pp.106-111
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• 2018

Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) has been a gold standard for investigating central motor pathways in humans. Diffusion tensor imaging with fiber tractography (DTI FT) is known for its usefulness in detecting white matter lesion in vivo. We investigated the clinical usefulness of elucidating the integrity and continuity of corticospinal tract (CST) by combined use of TMS and DTI FT in this study. We report two cases who have presented with left hemiparesis and evaluated by both TMS and DTI FT; 10-year-old boy with Mitochondrial Encephalomyopathy with Lactic Acidosis and Stroke-like episode syndrome and 20-year-old woman with traumatic brain injury. Combined use of TMS and DTI FT successfully led to localize the brain lesion that might cause motor impairment in patients with abnormal signal intensities in MRI. The results of this study suggest that TMS and DTI FT might provide the detailed information between function and anatomy of the CST, complementarily.

• Journal of Auto-vehicle Safety Association
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• v.10 no.2
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• pp.43-49
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• 2018

Southeast Asia is a strategic market for both technology and inspection system to enter simultaneously. At the core market is Vietnam which is know to have the fourth highest registration of motorcycles as of 2016. The Motorcycle Inspection System is a social regulation, furthermore, the impact of the system is delivered through indirect means such as minimization of social cost. Therefore, measurements on the perception of users on the needs for an inspection system serves as valuable data to simultaneously enter this markets. This research is an empirical study on the perception of Vietnamese users on the needs to adopt a motorcycle inspection system based on data collected through surveys and is aimed at conducting a preliminary investigation on consumer behavior in Vietnam. The empirical study conducted through surveys revealed that Vietnamese motorcycle users perceive the needs for an inspection system for maintenance, safe operations and selling used vehicles at a reasonable price. In addition, the study also verified that the safe operations factor has a moderating effect due to interaction between prevention of illegal vehicle and reduction of emission gases. This research results present implications in developing equipment adapted to the local area in order to enter into a strategic market. Moreover, it is expected that the findings will also serve as valuable data for bilateral cooperation between the two countries and the diffusion of technology.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.57 no.6
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• pp.264-270
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• 2014

Purpose: Acute necrotizing encephalopathy (ANE) is a fulminant disease of the brain characterized by bilateral thalamic lesions, and is prevalent among children in East Asia. The prognosis of ANE is usually poor with a high mortality rate and neurological sequelae. This study aimed to delineate the clinical characteristics and prognostic factors of ANE. Methods: We retrospectively analyzed clinical data of 399 pediatric patients with encephalitis who were admitted to Samsung Medical Center from December 1998 to March 2011. We enrolled ten patients (11 cases) with ANE and analyzed their demographic, clinical, and neuroimaging data. The location and extent of the brain regions were checked based on fluid-attenuated inversion recovery, T1-, and T2-weighted imaging findings; the presence of contrast enhancement, restricted diffusion, and hemorrhage. Results: Ten patients were identified, including one patient with two episodes. The median age of onset was 1.5 years (0.4-8.4 years). The mortality rate was 40%, and only 30% of patients survived without neurological sequelae. The definite involvement of the brainstem on brain magnetic resonance imaging was significantly correlated with mortality (P =0.04). Conclusion: Broad and extensive brainstem involvement suggested the fulminant course of ANE. Early diagnosis of ANE before brainstem involvement, through careful identification of symptoms of brain dysfunction, may be the best way to achieve better neurological outcomes.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Service
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• v.44 no.2
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• pp.103-111
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• 2021

Actinobacillus (A.) pleuropneumoniae is the etiological agent of a porcine pleuropneumonia and have great economic importance to the global swine industry. For recent 5 years, a total of 50 pleuropneumonia cases of 24 pig farms were selected from pig lungs submitted to the College of Veterinary Medicine, Jeju National University using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) analysis. Collected lungs were fixed in 10% neutral phosphate-buffered formalin and processed for histological examination. Serotypes of A. pleuropneumoniae in pneumonic lesions were analyzed by PCR methods. And the antimicrobial susceptibility of A. pleuropneumoniae isolates was determined by a disc diffusion test. Grossly, unilateral distribution of hemorrhagic or necrotic pneumonic lesions was more common than bilateral distribution in lungs. In peracute or acute cases, histopathologic changes were characterized by necrosis, hemorrhage, neutrophils infiltration, vascular thrombosis, widespread edema and fibrinous exudates. Following the acute response, macrophage infiltration, marked fibrosis around zonal necrotic areas, and marked fibrous pleuritis were characteristic in chronic cases. A total of 50 pleuropneumonia were associated with A. pleuropneumoniae serotype 5 in 46 cases (92%), serotype 2 in 3 cases (6%), and both 2 and 5 in 1 case (2%). More than 90% of collected isolates showed high sensitivity to ceftiofur, amoxicillin, and colistin. However, ampicillin, penicillin, and tylosin showed low susceptibility. The results of this study demonstrated that A. pleuropneumoniae serotype 5 was predominant at porcine pleuropneumonia cases in Jeju.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Radiology
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• v.84 no.3
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• pp.745-749
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• 2023

Gerstmann-Sträussler-Scheinker (GSS) disease is a rare hereditary prion disease which is clinically characterized by a progressive cerebellar ataxia followed by cognitive impairment. We report a rare case of GSS disease in a 39-year-old male patient who complained of a progressive gait disturbance followed by dysarthria with cognitive impairment, after five months from the onset of initial symptom. His brain MRI scan revealed multifocal symmetric diffusion restricted lesions with T2/FLAIR hyperintensities in bilateral cerebral cortices, basal ganglia, and thalami. His family members also manifested similar symptoms in their 40-50s, suggesting the possibility of a genetic disease. Finally, he was genetically diagnosed with GSS disease by real-time quaking-induced conversion and prion protein (PRNP) gene sequencing test.