• Title/Summary/Keyword: Blood Test

Search Result 3,583, Processing Time 0.03 seconds

Determination of Short Term Prognosis Among Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease with Acute Respiratory Failure According to Simplified Acute Physiology Score (만성 폐쇄성 폐질환에서 급성 호흡부전 발생시 Simplifed Acute Physiology Score에 따른 단기예후의 평가)

  • Lee, Sang-Pyo;Sung, Yun-Up;Kim, Sang-Hoon;Kim, Bong-Sik;Kim, Young-Jun;Park, In-Won;Choi, Byung-Whui;Hue, Sung-Ho
    • Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
    • /
    • v.40 no.5
    • /
    • pp.532-539
    • /
    • 1993
  • Background: Physician's estimates of patient survival often influence clinical decisions, especially those near the end of life. In addition. clinical decisions frequently reflect trade-offs between morbidity and length of survival. As a result, accurate estimates of survival can be extremely useful in clinical decision. When the episode of acute respiratory failure in chronic obstructive lung disease, evaluation of the severity of the condition and short term prognosis is difficulit based on the available clinical or paraclinical data at the time of admission. Method: In this study, we performed a retrospective study in Chung Ang University Hospital, 74 patients (51 males, 23 females), who were hospitalized with chronic obstructive lung disease with acute respiratory failure from 1980 to 1992. We evaluated these patients to determine lung prognostic factors at time of admission in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) that predict short term survival, and to determine the possible application of the Simplified Acute Phsiology Score (SAPS) to this population, All patients were treated with similar regimen during the hospitalization. Results: The results were as follows: 1) Hospital mortality was 34%(25/74 patients) and surival rate was 66%(49/74 patients) in COPD with acute respiratory failure. The prognosis of the older age was much poorer than those of the young age. 2) There was no difference in mortality according to the results of basal pulmonary test and arterial blood gas analysis. 3) The SAPS at admission was higher in those patients who expired(10.8) than the survived(6.5), and there was positive correlation between SAPS and mortality (r=0.91, p<0.05). 4) Prognostic factors in acute respiratory failure complicating COPD which were identifiable at time of admission to the ICU were as follows: cachexia, encephalopathy, serum creatinine and phosphate. Conclusion: In conclusion, the SAPS might have a good prognostic value for determination of short term survival among chronic obstructive lung disease with acute respiratory failure.

  • PDF

Clinical Validation of Nebulized Budesonide and Effect of Nebulized Budesonide on the Hypothalamic-Pituitary-Adrenal Axis in Adult Patients Admitted with Acute Asthmatic Attack (급성 발작으로 내원한 성인 천식 환자에서 Nebulized Budesonide의 임상적인 효과와 시상하부-뇌하수체-부신 축에 대한 작용)

  • Seo, Ki-Hyun;Moon, Seung-Hyug;Kim, Yong-Hoon
    • Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
    • /
    • v.52 no.5
    • /
    • pp.529-538
    • /
    • 2002
  • Background : Many clinicians are reluctant to prescribe systemic corticosteroids to manage an asthmatic attack because of many complications such as osteoporosis, cushing's syndrome, diabetes, hypertension and bleeding tendency. The use of nebulized budesonide may be of value in some infants, old men, and in particular adult asthmatic patients who complain of severe dyspnea. A clinical validation and steroid-sparing effect of nebulized budesonide in asthmatic adults and COPD were evaluated, and the short-term effects of budesonide use on the HPA axis were assessed. Materials and Methods : Study A was prospectively done with 41 patients diagnosed with pure asthma and 30 patients diagnosed with COPD (including asthmatic component) in Soonchunhyang Hospital, Chunan from June. 2000 to Sep. 2001. They were treated with nebulized budesonide including systemic steroids (Group 1), a budesonide tubuhaler including a systemic steroid (Group 2), or only the systemic steroid(Group 3). The peak flow rate, arterial blood gas in room air, pulmonary function test, symptom scoring, steroid amount and hospital stay were analyzed. Study B was conducted with 19 patients to evaluate the short-term effects on the HPA axis of treatment with nebulized budesonide 1mg twice daily and a budesonide turbuhaler 5 puffs twice daily. The adrenal function was assessed prior to budesonide inhalation and after 7 days of budesonide inhalation. Results : In the pure asthmatic patients, the mean value of the symptoms (dyspnea, wheezing, cough, night asthma) or the arterial BGAs, total amounts of steroid or hospital stay and the difference in the results of the pulmonary function tests or peak expiratory flow rate were similar in the three groups. In COPD with an asthmatic component, there were no significant differences among the three groups. Although nebulized budesonide suppressed HPA function,(p=0.006) the HPA responses from the nebulized budesonide and turbuhaler budesonide were similar (p=0.288) Conclusion : This result suggests that systemic steroid should only be made available for acute asthmatic patients irrespective of the inhaled budesonides. Nebulized budesonide at the therapeutic dose has similar effects on the HPA axis compared to that of turbuhaler budesonide.

Hypoglycemic and Hypolipidemic Effects of Orostachys japonicus with Medicinal Herbs in Streptozotocin-Induced Diabetic Rats (생약재와 와송 추출물의 복합조성물이 Streptozotocin 유발 당뇨성 흰쥐의 혈당강하 및 혈중 지질성분에 미치는 영향)

  • Lee, Soo-Jung;Shin, Jung-Hye;Ju, Jong-Chan;Kang, Shin-Kwon;Sung, Nak-Ju
    • Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
    • /
    • v.42 no.4
    • /
    • pp.587-594
    • /
    • 2013
  • The hypoglycemic and hypolipidemic effects from Wa-song (Orostachys japonicus) extracts with mixtures of medicinal herbs (such as Baekbokyung, Changchul and Sa-in) were evaluated in the streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic rats. Thirty-five Sprague-Dawley rats were assigned to five groups; normal, diabetic control (D-control), a group fed a medicinal herbs mixture (D-MH), and a group fed composites of O. japonicus with mixtures of medicinal herbs (1:1, D-MHOA and 3:1, D-MHOB). All were fed on their diet for 4 weeks. After 4 weeks, the body weight of all experimental groups increased compared to the diabetic control group, with the D-MHOB group having a significantly higher increase. Fasting glucose levels in all experimental groups (compared to the D-control group) significantly decreased after 2 weeks, but between 2~3 weeks, the levels in the D-MH group were similar to the D-MHOA group. After 4 weeks, the fasting glucose level of the D-MHOB group was the lowest compared to the other groups. In a test of oral glucose tolerance, blood glucose levels were highest 60 minutes after feeding glucose; however this level improved significantly in the groups fed an experimental diet compared to the D-control group. Glycosylated hemoglobin levels were 1.9 times higher in the D-control group than the normal (3.9%), but levels in the experimental groups were significantly decreased in D-MHOA and D-MHOB groups compared to the D-MH group. In the high amounts of O. japonicus to medicinal herbs mixture, total lipids and cholesterol significantly decreased in the serum, while HDL-C levels increased. GPT activity was significantly lower in the D-MHOB group compared to the other groups. Lipid peroxide levels decreased in the D-MHOA and D-MHOB groups compared to the D-MH group. Antioxidant activity was higher depending on the dose of O. japonicus. Overall, O. japonicus exhibited effective hypoglycemic and hypolipidemic actions enhanced by a combination of medicinal herbs.

A Study on the Serologic Parameters in Petients with Anemia of Chronic Renal Failure-According to Erythropoietin Treatment (만성 신부전환자의 빈혈에 있어서 Erythropoietin 치료에 따른 혈청지표의 양상)

  • Lim, Jong-Sik;Kang, Ho-Jung;Park, Jong-Won;Do, Joon-Yeung;Yoon, Kyung-Woo
    • Journal of Yeungnam Medical Science
    • /
    • v.11 no.1
    • /
    • pp.82-93
    • /
    • 1994
  • Clinical study was carried out on the 64 hemodialysis patients(HD) with chronic renal failure who had been treated from December 1992 to July 1993 in Yeungnam University Hospital. The following results were obitained. In hematologic parameters, MCH was $28.8{\pm}2.0pg$, and MCV was $92.4{\pm}4.7fl$. Result revealed normochromic and normocytic anemia. Mean values of serum ferritin were $657.4{\pm}292.0ng/ml$ in men and $511.5{\pm}370g$ in women. Mean valuses of serum iron were $145.5{\pm}63.7{\mu}g/dl$. Mean values of transferrin saturation was $61.6{\pm}28.4%$. Serum frerritin, serum iron and transferrin saturation were higher in HD group than normal reference. In erythropoeitin treatment group, Hb and Hct were significantly higher than non-erythropoietin treatment group. Amount of transfusion was significantly higher in non-erythropoietin treatment group than erythropoeitin treatment group(p<0.05). Values of iron, transferrin saturation were significantly higher in abnormal liver function test(LFT) hemodialysis group than normal LFT group(p<0.05). Transfusion amounts revealed positive correlation with ferritin(r=0.4675), transferrin satruation (r=0.3823) and iron(r=0.3386)(p<0.05). In conclusion, erythropoietin treatment cna reduce requirement of blood transfusion and transfusion related side effects such as iron overload, hemosiderosis and hemochromatosis.

  • PDF

Growth Performance, Humoral Immune Response and Carcass Characteristics of Broiler Chickens Fed Alkali Processed Karanj Cake Incorporated Diet Supplemented with Methionine

  • Panda, K.;Sastry, V.R.B.;Mandal, A.B.
    • Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
    • /
    • v.18 no.5
    • /
    • pp.677-681
    • /
    • 2005
  • A study was conducted to see the effect of dietary incorporation of alkali (1.5% NaOH, w/w) processed solvent extracted karanj cake (SKC) supplemented with methionine on growth performance, humoral immune response and carcass characteristics of broiler chickens from 0 to 8 weeks of age. One hundred and twenty, day- old broiler chicks were wing banded, vaccinated against Marek' disease and distributed in a completely randomized design (CRD) into 3 groups of 40 chicks each, which was further replicated to 4 and fed on diet containing soybean meal and those of test groups were fed diets containing alkali (1.5% NaOH) treated SKC partially replacing soybean meal nitrogen of reference diet (12.5%) without or with supplementation of methionine (0.2%). Individual body weight of chicks and replicate-wise feed intakes were recorded at weekly intervals throughout the experimental period. Feed consumption from 1 to 14, 28, 42 and 56 d of age was recorded for each replicate and feed conversion efficiency (weight gain/feed intake) for the respective period was calculated. Mortality was monitored on daily basis. On 28$^{th}$ day of experimental feeding, two birds of each replicate in each dietary group (8 birds/diet) were inoculated with 0.1 ml of a 1.0% suspension of sheep red blood cells (SRBC) and the antibody titre (log 2) was measured after 5 days by the microtitre haemmagglutination procedure. After 42 days of experimental feeding, a retention study of 4 days (43-47 d) duration was conducted on all birds to determine the retention of various nutrients such as DM, N, Ca, P and GE. On 43$^{rd}$ day of experimental feeding, one representative bird from each replicate of a dietary treatment (4/dietary group) was sacrificed, after fasting for two hours with free access to water, through cervical dislocation to observe the weight of dressed carcass, primal cuts (breast, thigh, drumstick, back, neck and wing), giblet (liver, heart and gizzard), abdominal fat and digestive organs. The body weight gain of chicks fed reference diet and those fed diet incorporated with NaOH treated SKC (12.5% replacement) with or without methionine supplementation was comparable during 0 to 4 weeks of age. However, dietary incorporation of alkali processed SKC replacing 12.5% nitrogen moiety of soybean meal resulted in growth retardation, subsequently as evidenced by significantly (p<0.05) lowered body weight gain during 0 to 6 weeks of age in birds fed diet incorporated with alkali processed SKC at 6.43% without methionine as compared to those supplemented with methionine or reference diet. Dietary incorporation of alkali (1.5% NaOH) processed SKC replacing 12.5% of soybean meal nitrogen in the diet of broiler chickens had no adverse effect on feed conversion ratio during all the weeks of experimental feeding. The humoral immune response (HIR) as measured by the antibody titre in response to SRBC inoculation was comparable among all the dietary groups. No significant difference in the intake and retention of DM, N, Ca, P or GE was noted among the chicks fed reference and alkali processed SKC incorporated diets with or without methionine supplementation. None of the carcass traits varied significantly due to dietary variations, except the percent weight of liver and giblet. The percent liver weight was significantly (p<0.05) higher in the birds fed diet incorporated with alkali processed SKC as compared to that in other two groups. Thus solvent extracted karanj cake could be incorporated after alkali (1.5% NaOH, w/w) processing at an enhanced level of 6.43%, replacing 12.5% of soybean meal nitrogen, in the broiler diets up to 4 weeks of age, beyond which the observed growth depression on this diet could be alleviated by 0.2% methionine supplementation.

Preoperative Evaluation of Brain Lesion with $^{201}Tl$ Brain SPECT: Is It Useful to Differentiate Benign and Malignant Lesions? (수술 전 뇌 병변의 $^{201}Tl$ 뇌 SPECT: 양성과 악성 병변을 감별하는데 유용한가?)

  • Sohn, Hyung-Sun;Kim, Euy-Neyng;Kim, Sung-Hoon;Chung, Yong-An;Chung, Soo-Kyo;Bong, Yong-Gil;Lee, Youn-Soo
    • The Korean Journal of Nuclear Medicine
    • /
    • v.34 no.5
    • /
    • pp.371-380
    • /
    • 2000
  • Purpose: Thallim-201 ($^{201}Tl$) brain SPECT, which can represent cellular activity of brain lesions, may provide more useful information in differentiating between benign and malignant brain lesions more so than CT of MRI, that merely represents anatomic changes or breakdown of blood brain barrier. We used $^{201}Tl$ brain SPECT prospectively to evaluate the utility of $^{201}Tl$-indices as an indicator of benign or malig nant lesions. Materials and Methods: We studied 28 patients. There were 13 cases of benign lesions (3: nonspecific benign lesion, 3: meningioma, 2: low grade glioma, 1: tuberculoma, central neurocytoma, hemangioblastoma, radiation necrosis, and choroid plexus papilloma) and 15 cases of malignant lesions (6: glioblastoma multiforme, 5: anaplastic glioma, 2: medulloblastoma, 1: metastasis and lymphoma). In all patients, CT and/or MRI were obtained and then $^{201}Tl$ brain SPECT was obtained with measuring mean $^{201}Tl$ index and peak $^{201}Tl$ index. An unpaired t-test was performed to compare the $^{201}Tl$-indices and pathologic diagnoses to evaluate the utility of $^{201}Tl$-indices as all indicator of benign or malignant lesions. Results: There were no statistically significant difference in $^{201}Tl$-indices between benign and malignant brain lesion (p>0.05). Conclusion: These results demonstrated that we could not use $^{201}Tl$ indices on brain SPECT alone as an indicator of benign or malignant brain lesions.

  • PDF

The Contents and Satisfation of Home Care Progral Delivered by Seoul Nurses Association (서울시 간호사회 가정간호시범사업 서비스 내용 및 만족도 분석)

  • Lim, Nan-Young;Kim, Keum-Soon;Kim, Young-lm;Kim, Kwuy-Bun;Kim, Si-Hyun;Park, Ho-Ran
    • The Korean Nurse
    • /
    • v.36 no.1
    • /
    • pp.59-76
    • /
    • 1997
  • The purposes of this study were to identify the contents and satisfaction level of the patients received home care service, and to compare the differences of the contents by the characteristics of the patients. Seventy eight patients received home care service from 1st Jan. to 30th Sept., 1996 were data-collected to analyze the contents and outcomes of home care service. Sixty-nine patients currently receiving home care service were participated to evaluate the satisfaction level of home care service. The data were analyzed using mean, standard deviation, $x^2$ test, and ANOVA by SPSS $PC^+$ program. The findings of this study were as follow : 1. The contents & outcomes of home care service 1) The mean age of the subjects was 64.4 years: 58% of them were female. Those who living in Seoul were 83% and the rest of the subjects was living in Kyung-Gi. 2) The subjects who had one diagnosis were 41%. Over 60% of them had the disease of neurologic & sensory system. 3) The mean number of visit was 6. Only one visit was 22%. The mean time of care was 79 minutes. Duration of visit from 31 minutes to 60 minutes were 47 %. The subjects who terminated the visit because of death were 67.3%. 62% of the persons who referred them to the home care service were nurses. 4) The pain after the service was more relieved than before. The amounts of intake, the degree of bed sore, edema & fracture after the service were more improved than before. Health status after the service was improved in general. 5) There were significant differences between initial and last conscious level in tracheostomy care & oxygen inhalation care. There was significant difference between initial and last degree of activity in blood sugar check. 6) There were significant differences on the number of visit in assessment of the status, evaluation & observation, vital sign check, skin care, injection, medication, bed sore care, colostomy care, relaxation therapy for pain relief, patient education, family care, exercise therapy, position change, supply of disinfected equipments and infection control. There were significant differences on visiting time in nasogastric tube care, drainage tube care and oxygen inhalation care. 2. The satisfaction level of home care service 1) 50% were male. Over 60 years of the subjects was 61 %. Those who living in Seoul were 82%. 2) The subjects who had one or two diagnosis were 32% respectively. 55% of the persons who referred them to the home care service were nurses. 3) Total level of satisfaction of home care service was very high. 4) The older the age, the higher the satisfaction level. The larger the number of visit, the higher the satisfaction level. 5) The subjects who were in cloudy state were higher level of satisfaction than in alert or coma state. The subjects whose activity were normal or who needed assistance were higher level of satisfaction than bedridden or immobilized subjects. These findings suggested that the patients had substantial need for posthospital care. They tended to be elderly and to have experienced the wide range of health problems associated with aging, chronicity, including limitations in activities, and other serious health problems. So, the nationwide home care systems beyond the limit of demonstration program by local association and the development of the effective financial system of home based health care are necessary for the clients who are in need of home care.

  • PDF

Effects of the Oriental Medicinal Prescriptions, Jahyulyangeuntang and Yanghyuljangeunkeonbohwan, on Calcium Absorption in the Human Colon Carcinoma Cell Line (Caco-2 Cells) (자혈양근탕 및 양혈장근건보환이 인체 소장 상피세포주 (Caco-2) 모델에서 칼슘 흡수에 미치는 영향)

  • 박태선;임현정;황귀서
    • Journal of Nutrition and Health
    • /
    • v.35 no.4
    • /
    • pp.446-453
    • /
    • 2002
  • Effects of the two oriental medicinal prescriptions, Jahyulyangeuntang (JH) and Yanghyuljangeunkeonbohwan (YH), on intestinal calcium absorption were examined in the human colon carcinoma tell line, Caco-2 cells. Intestinal calcium absorption was evaluated at the level of Ca uptake into the cells across the brush border membranes, as well as at the level of net Ca transport (implying the amount of intestinal Ca transported into the blood stream). When the Caco-2 cells were incubated for 4, 8, 16 and 24 days post seeding, the cells were differentiated continuously, and showed progressively increased activities of Ca uptake (1.13 $\pm$ 0.04, 1.19 $\pm$ 0.02, 1.94 $\pm$ 0.03, and 2.40 $\pm$ 0.12 nmole.mg protein$^{-1}$ .30 min$^{-1}$ , respectively). Pretreatment of confluent Caco-2 cells with 50 $\mu\textrm{g}$/ml of YH for 24 hours resulted in a 30% increase in Ca uptake (p < 0.07), while pretreatment of the cells with the same concentration of JH for 6 hours resulted in a 24% increase (p < 0.05) in Ca uptake, compared to the value for the control cells (2.34 $\pm$ 0.10 nmole.mg protein$^{-1}$ .30 min$^{-1}$ ). When the cells were pretreated with varied concentrations (5-100 $\mu\textrm{g}$/ml) of the test samples for 6 hours, maximal increases in Ca uptake were observed in the cells pretreated with 100 $\mu\textrm{g}$/ml of YH (a 23% increase), and 50 $\mu\textrm{g}$/ml of JH (a 28% increase), respectively : however, no influence was seen on the net Ca transport activity. These results show that pretreatment with JH or YH, the two oriental medicinal prescriptions commonly used for improvement of bone metabolism, could possibly increase Ca accumulation inside the cells. but not the intestinal Ca net transport in vitro.

The biologic effects of safflower(Carthamus tinctorius $Linn\acute{e}$) extract and Dipsasi Radix extract on periodontal ligament cells and osteoblastic cells (홍화 추출물이 치주인대세포, 조골세포 활성도에 미치는 영향)

  • Rhyu, In-Chul;Lee, Yong-Moo;Ku, Young;Bae, Ki-Whan;Chung, Chong-Pyoung
    • Journal of Periodontal and Implant Science
    • /
    • v.27 no.4
    • /
    • pp.867-882
    • /
    • 1997
  • Safflower(Carthamus tinctorius $Linn\acute{e}$ has been traditionally used for the treatment of blood stasis, and Dipsasi Radix has been used as a drug for fracture in Chinese medicine. The purpose of present study was to examine the biologic effects of safflower extract and Disasi radix extracts on the periodontal. ligament cells and osteoblastic cells and on the wound healing of rat calvarial defect. The ethanolic extract of safflower blossom, safflower seed and Dipsasi Radix(125, 250, and 500 ${\mu}g/ml$) were prepared as test group, and PDGF-BB(lOng/ml) and unsafonifiable fraction of Zea Mays L.(125, 250, and 500 ${\mu}g/ml$) were employed as positive control. The effects of each agents on the growth and survival, ALPase activity, expression of PDGF-BB receptor, chemotactic response of PDL cell and ATCC human osteosarcoma MG63 cells in vitro were examined. The tissue regenerative effect of each extracts was evaluated by histomorphometric measuring of newly formed bone on the 8mm defect in rat calvaria after oral administration of 3 different dosages groups : 0.02, 0.1 and 0.35g/kg, per day. It was also employed the same dosages of unsaponifiable fraction of Zea Mays L. as positive controls. Safflower blossom extract, safflower seed extract, and Dipsasi Radix extract stimulate the cellular activity of MG63 cells in concentration range of $125-500{\mu}g/ml$, and safflower bolssom extract and safflower seed extract stimulate also the cellular activity of periodontal ligament cells in concentration range of $250-500{\mu}g/ml$. In activity of ALPase, $250-500{\mu}g/ml$ of safflower blossom extracts showed significant stimulating effects on MG63 cells, and the same concentration range of safflower seed extracts showed significant effect on periodontal ligament cells. In the recovery on PDGF-BB receptor expression which was depressed by $IL-1{\beta}$, $125-250{\mu}g/ml$ of safflower blossom extracts and $250-500{\mu}g/ml$ of safflower seed extracts showed significant increasing effect on MG63 cells, and $500{\mu}g/ml$ of safflower blossom extract and $250-500{\mu}g/ml$ of safflower seed extracts showed significant effect on periodontal ligament cells. In chemotactic response, among all tested group, safflower seed extracts only were chemotactic to MG63 cells and periodontal ligament cells in concentration range of $125-500{\mu}g/ml$. Also in the view of bone regeneration in rat calvarial defect model, the only group that was orally administrated 0.35g/kg, day of safflower seed extract showed significant new bone formation. These results suggested that safflower extracts might have a potential possibilities as an useful drug for adjunct to treatment for regeneration of periodontal defect.

  • PDF

Voxel-based Investigations of Phase Mask Effects on Susceptibility Weighted Images (화소 간 분석을 이용하여 자화율 가중 영상(SWI)에 나타난 위상 마스킹의 효과 분석)

  • Hwang, Eo-Jin;Kim, Min-Ji;Kim, Hyug-Gi;Ryu, Chang-Woo;Jahng, Geon-Ho
    • Progress in Medical Physics
    • /
    • v.24 no.1
    • /
    • pp.25-34
    • /
    • 2013
  • To investigate effects of phase mask on susceptibility-weighted images (SWI) using voxel-based analyses in normal elderly subjects. A three-dimensional (3D) gradient echo sequence ran to obtain SWIs in 20 healthy elderly subjects. SWIs with two (SWI2) and four (SWI4) phase multiplications were achieved with positive (PSWI) and negative (NSWI) phase masks to investigate phase mask effects. The voxel-based comparisons were performed using paired t-tests between PSWI and NSWI and between SWI2 and SWI4. Differences of signal intensities between magnitude images and SWI4 were larger than those between magnitude images and SWI2s. Differences of signal intensities between magnitude images and PSWIs were larger than those between magnitude images and NSWIs. Moreover, the signal intensities from NSWI2s and NSWI4s were greater than those from PSWI2s and PSWI4s, respectively. More differences of signal intensities between NSWI4 and PSWI4s were found than those between NSWI2s and PSWI2s in the whole brain images. The voxel-based analyses of SWI could be beneficial to investigate susceptibility differences on the entire brain areas. The phase masking method could be chosen to enhance brain tissue contrast rather than to enhance venous blood vessels. Therefore, it is recommended to apply voxel-based analyses of SWI to investigate clinical applications.