• Investigative Magnetic Resonance Imaging
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• 제15권1호
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• pp.11-21
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• 2011

목적: 금속전극은 MRI 안에서 자기장의 왜곡을 일으켜 영상에 인공물이 나타난다. 본 논문에서는 전극이 B0와 수직으로 놓였을때 자기장 패턴의 특성을 이용하여 oblique-view angle imaging 방식을 통해 전극의 정확한 위치를 결정하는 방법을 제시하고자 한다. 대상 및 방법: 다양한 직경과 자화율을 가진 금속 전극모델의 시뮬레이션을 통하여 전극으로 인해 왜곡되는 field map의 양상을 파악하고 해상도에 따른 turbo spin-echo (TSE) 영상의 왜곡패턴을 분석하여 일반적인 영상기 법($90^{\circ}$ view)과 $45^{\circ}$ oblique-view에서의 위치 추정 기준을 마련하였으며 3.0T 임상용 장비에서 실제 전극의 TSE영상을 획득하여 시뮬레이션과 대조 검증하였다. 상대적으로 자기장의 왜곡에 민감한 gradient-refocused echo (GRE)시퀀스에서는 위상 영상을 이용해 위치를 추정하였다. 결과: 금속전극이 B0와 수직일 때 전극을 통과하는 $45^{\circ}$ 선상에서는 자기장 패턴의 변화가 매우 적었다. TSE 시퀀스의 경우 $45^{\circ}$ oblique-view 영상에서는 자화율의 크기에 관계없이 위치 추정기준이 잘 들어 맞았으며 자기장 왜곡에 의한 픽셀이 동양상이 양방향 대칭적으로 일어나므로 해상도가 낮은 경우에도 정확한 위치 추정이 가능하였다. 또한 GRE 시퀀스를 사용하였을때 $45^{\circ}$ oblique-view에서는 위상의 극성이 변화하는 선이 직교좌표계와 일치하기 때문에 일반적 방법보다 위치추정이 용이하였다. 결론: 시뮬레이션과 실제영상을 이용하여 일반적인 $90^{\circ}$ view에서보다 $45^{\circ}$ oblique-view에서 금속전극의 위치추정이 용이함을 확인하였다. 이는 전기 생리학적인 뇌연구 및 뇌수술 등을 MRI로 모니터링 하는데 적용 가능할 것으로 기대된다.

• 감성과학
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• 제20권4호
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• pp.15-30
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• 2017

본 연구의 목적은 뇌 영상 기술을 활용한 정서 연구를 근거로 기본정서 이론을 확인하는 것이다. 이를 위해 기능적 자기공명영상(functional magnetic resonance imaging, fMRI) 연구들에 대한 메타분석을 수행했다. 기본정서 이론을 확인하기 위해 즐거움, 행복, 공포, 분노, 혐오, 슬픔의 6개 개별정서를 선정했다. 개별정서의 fMRI 자료를 수집하기 위해 최근 10년간 289편의 fMRI 연구를 조사했으며, 이중에서 69편이 포함 기준을 충족시켰다. 6개 정서에 대해서 건강한 피험자들을 대상으로 실험한 fMRI 자료를 수집했으며, Talairach 또는 MNI 표준 좌표로 보고된 연구만을 포함시켰다. Talairach와 MNI 좌표 체계간의 차이를 없애기 위해 Talairach 좌표를 기준으로 분석하였다. 활성화 가능성 추정(ALE) 기법을 이용한 GingerALE 2.3 프로그램을 사용하여 메타분석을 수행했다. 연구 결과 기본정서 이론의 관점에서 개별정서들이 일관되고 구별 가능한 국부적인 뇌 반응과 관련 된다는 것을 확인했다. 각각의 개별 정서들과 관련된 뇌 반응 영역에 대한 본 연구의 결과는 선행연구들의 결과와 대체로 일치하였다. 본 연구의 결과를 일반화에 있어서 극복해야 할 제한점을 기술하고 후속 연구에 대해 몇 가지를 제언하였다.

• Investigative Magnetic Resonance Imaging
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• 제12권2호
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• pp.142-147
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• 2008

목적 : 본 연구는 핵자기공명 분광기를 개조한 미세영상 기법을 이용하여, 동물실험에 주류를 이루는 mouse를 대상으로, 0.1 mm 이내의 초고해상도 자기공명영상을 5분 정도 시간 안에 획득할 수 있는 방법을 개발하고자 하였다. 대상 및 방법 : 사용된 mouse는 C57BL/6로서 무게 50 그램 이내의 mouse를 사용하였다. 본 연구에 활용된 초전도 자석은 구경 89 mm, 4.7 T의 자기장 세기를 가진 수직형 자석이며, 사용된 샘플 코일의 직경은 30 mm 이고, 사용된 펄스시퀀스는 fast spin echo (FSE) 및 gradient echo (GE) 기법들이다. 결과 : 최적의 자기공명영상 파라미터를 확보하면서 2차원 영상으로서 수소밀도 및 T2 강조 영상을 획득하였다. 영상으로부터 mouse 뇌의 미세부분까지 상세히 해부학적 구조를 확인할 수 있었고, 또한 입체적인 정보를 획득하기 위하여 3D 영상도 부가적으로 획득하였다. 조영제를 이용한 dynamic contrast 연구에 3D 영상이 매우 유용하였다. 결론 : 본 연구를 통하여 mouse 뇌에 대한 고해상도 자기공명영상 획득을 위한 최적의 파라미터를 확보할 수 있었고, 또한 성공적인 자기공명영상도 획득하였다. 즉, 사람이나 다른 소동물뇌의 경우와 같이 mouse 뇌 조직의 다양한 부위의 미세부분을 확인할 수 있는 충분한 고해상도의 영상을 획득하였다. 최근 국내에서 mouse를 이용한 자기공명영상 연구가 시작되었으나 아직 초기단계라고 평가할 수 있고, mouse는 다른 동물에 비하여 취급/관리하기 쉬우므로 향후 mouse를 이용한 뇌 연구가 활성화 될 것으로 사료된다.

• Investigative Magnetic Resonance Imaging
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• 제23권2호
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• pp.114-124
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• 2019

Purpose: We investigate biases in the assessments of left ventricular function (LVF), by compressed sensing (CS)-cine magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Materials and Methods: Cardiovascular cine images with short axis view, were obtained for 8 volunteers without CS. LVFs were assessed with subsampled data, with compression factors (CF) of 2, 3, 4, and 8. A semi-automatic segmentation program was used, for the assessment. The assessments by 3 CS methods (ITSC, FOCUSS, and view sharing (VS)), were compared to those without CS. Bland-Altman analysis and paired t-test were used, for comparison. In addition, real-time CS-cine imaging was also performed, with CF of 2, 3, 4, and 8 for the same volunteers. Assessments of LVF were similarly made, for CS data. A fixed compensation technique is suggested, to reduce the bias. Results: The assessment of LVF by CS-cine, includes bias and random noise. Bias appeared much larger than random noise. Median of end-diastolic volume (EDV) with CS-cine (ITSC or FOCUSS) appeared -1.4% to -7.1% smaller, compared to that of standard cine, depending on CF from (2 to 8). End-systolic volume (ESV) appeared +1.6% to +14.3% larger, stroke volume (SV), -2.4% to -16.4% smaller, and ejection fraction (EF), -1.1% to -9.2% smaller, with P < 0.05. Bias was reduced from -5.6% to -1.8% for EF, by compensation applied to real-time CS-cine (CF = 8). Conclusion: Loss of temporal resolution by adopting missing data from nearby cardiac frames, causes an underestimation for EDV, and an overestimation for ESV, resulting in underestimations for SV and EF. The bias is not random. Thus it should be removed or reduced for better diagnosis. A fixed compensation is suggested, to reduce bias in the assessment of LVF.

• Korean Journal of Radiology
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• 제24권5호
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• pp.444-453
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• 2023

Objective: Meningeal lymphatic vessels are predominantly located in the parasagittal dural space (PSD); these vessels drain interstitial fluids out of the brain and contribute to the glymphatic system. We aimed to investigate the ability of dynamic contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (DCE-MRI) in assessing the dynamic changes in the meningeal lymphatic vessels in PSD. Materials and Methods: Eighteen participants (26-71 years; male:female, 10:8), without neurological or psychiatric diseases, were prospectively enrolled and underwent DCE-MRI. Three regions of interests (ROIs) were placed on the PSD, superior sagittal sinus (SSS), and cortical vein. Early and delayed enhancement patterns and six kinetic curve-derived parameters were obtained and compared between the three ROIs. Moreover, the participants were grouped into the young (< 65 years; n = 9) or older (≥ 65 years; n = 9) groups. Enhancement patterns and kinetic curve-derived parameters in the PSD were compared between the two groups. Results: The PSD showed different enhancement patterns than the SSS and cortical veins (P < 0.001 and P < 0.001, respectively) in the early and delayed phases. The PSD showed slow early enhancement and a delayed wash-out pattern. The six kinetic curve-derived parameters of PSD was significantly different than that of the SSS and cortical vein. The PSD washout rate of older participants was significantly lower (median, 0.09; interquartile range [IQR], 0.01-0.15) than that of younger participants (median, 0.32; IQR, 0.07-0.45) (P = 0.040). Conclusion: This study shows that the dynamic changes of meningeal lymphatic vessels in PSD can be assessed with DCE-MRI, and the results are different from those of the venous structures. Our finding that delayed wash-out was more pronounced in the PSD of older participants suggests that aging may disturb the meningeal lymphatic drainage.

• Investigative Magnetic Resonance Imaging
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• 제25권4호
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• pp.293-299
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• 2021

Purpose: To accelerate magnetic resonance fingerprinting (MRF) by developing a flexible deep learning reconstruction method. Materials and Methods: Synthetic data were used to train a deep learning model. The trained model was then applied to MRF for different organs and diseases. Iterative reconstruction was performed outside the deep learning model, allowing a changeable encoding matrix, i.e., with flexibility of choice for image resolution, radiofrequency coil, k-space trajectory, and undersampling mask. In vivo experiments were performed on normal brain and prostate cancer volunteers to demonstrate the model performance and generalizability. Results: In 400-dynamics brain MRF, direct nonuniform Fourier transform caused a slight increase of random fluctuations on the T2 map. These fluctuations were reduced with the proposed method. In prostate MRF, the proposed method suppressed fluctuations on both T1 and T2 maps. Conclusion: The deep learning and iterative MRF reconstruction method described in this study was flexible with different acquisition settings such as radiofrequency coils. It is generalizable for different in vivo applications.

• 한국자기공명학회논문지
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• 제1권1호
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• pp.7-20
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• 1997

The mapping of the spin-spin relaxation time T2 in pixed-by-pixel was suggested as a quantitative diagnostic tool in medicine. Although the CPMG pulse sequence has been known to be the best pulse sequence for T2 measurement in physics NMR, the supplied pulse sequence by the manufacture of MRI system was able to obtain the maximum of 4 CPMG images. Eight or more images with different echo time TEs are required to construct a reliable T2 map, so that two or more acquisitions were required, which easily took more than 10 minutes. 4-echo CPMG imaging pulse sequence was modified to generate the maximum of 8 MR images with evenly spaced echo time TEs. In human MR imaging, since patients tend to move at least several pixels between the different acquisitions, 8-echo CPMG imaging sequence reduces the acquisition time and may remove any misregistration of each pixel's signal for the fitting T2. The resultant T2 maps using the theoretically simulated images and using the MR images of the human brain suggested that 8 echo CPMG sequence with short echo spacing such as 17∼20 msec can give the reliable T2 map.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• 제58권3호
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• pp.242-247
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• 2015

Objective : The purpose of this study is to determine whether the changes of contralateral sensorimotor cortical activation on functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) can predict the neurological outcome among spinal cord injury (SCI) patients when the great toes are stimulated without notice. Methods : This study enrolled a total of 49 patients with SCI and investigated each patient's preoperative fMRI, postoperative fMRI, American Spinal Injury Association (ASIA) score, and neuropathic pain occurrence. Patients were classified into 3 groups according to the change of blood oxygenation level dependent (BOLD) response on perioperative fMRI during proprioceptive stimulation with repetitive passive toe movements : 1) patients with a response of contralateral sensorimotor cortical activation in fMRI were categorized; 2) patients with a response in other regions; and 3) patients with no response. Correlation between the result of fMRI and each parameter was analyzed. Results : In fMRI data, ASIA score was likely to show greater improvement in patients in group A compared to those belonging to group B or C (p<0.001). No statistical significance was observed between the result of fMRI and neuropathic pain (p=0.709). However, increase in neuropathic pain in response to the signal change of the ipsilateral frontal lobe on fMRI was statistically significant (p=0.030). Conclusion : When there was change of BOLD response at the contralateral sensorimotor cortex on perioperative fMRI after surgery, relief of neurological symptoms was highly likely for traumatic SCI patients. In addition, development of neuropathic pain was likely to occur when there was change of BOLD response at ipsilateral frontal lobe.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• 제60권8호
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• pp.266-271
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• 2017

Purpose: The aim of this study was to assess the clinical characteristics of hypertensive encephalopathy according to the underlying etiologies in children. Methods: We retrospectively evaluated 33 pediatric patients who were diagnosed as having hypertensive encephalopathy in Chonbuk National University Children's Hospital. Among the patients, 18 were excluded because of incomplete data or because brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) was not performed. Finally, 17 patients were enrolled and divided into a renal-origin hypertension group and a non-renal-origin hypertension group according to the underlying cause. We compared the clinical features and brain MRI findings between the 2 groups. Results: The renal group included renal artery stenosis (4), acute poststreptococcal glomerulonephritis (2), lupus nephritis (2), and acute renal failure (1); the nonrenal group included essential hypertension (4), pheochromocytoma (2), thyrotoxicosis (1), and acute promyelocytic leukemia (1). The mean systolic blood pressure of the renal group ($172.5{\pm}36.9mmHg$) was higher than that of the nonrenal group ($137.1{\pm}11.1mmHg$, P<0.05). Seizure was the most common neurologic symptom, especially in the renal group (P<0.05). Posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome (PRES), which is the most typical finding of hypertensive encephalopathy, was found predominantly in the renal group as compared with the nonrenal group (66.6% vs. 12.5%, P<0.05). Conclusion: We conclude that the patients with renal-origin hypertension had a more severe clinical course than those with non-renal-origin hypertension. Furthermore, the renal-origin group was highly associated with PRES on brain MRI.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• 제53권9호
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• pp.859-862
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• 2010

Transient magnetic resonance (MR) signal changes in the splenium of the corpus callosum (SCC) arise from many different conditions, including encephalopathy or encephalitis caused by infection, seizures, metabolic derangements, and asphyxia. Few case reports exist on reversible SCC lesions associated with rotavirus infection. A benign convulsion with mild gastroenteritis (CwG) is frequently associated with rotaviral infections. This entity is characterized by normal laboratory findings, electroencephalogram, neuroimaging, and good prognosis. We report a case of a 2.5-year-old Korean girl with rotavirus-associated CwG demonstrating a reversible SCC lesion on diffusion-weighted MR images. She developed 2 episodes of brief generalized tonic-clonic seizure with mild acute gastroenteritis without any other neurologic abnormality. Stool test for rotavirus antigen was positive. Brain MRI done on the day of admission showed a linear high signal intensity and decreased apparent diffusion coefficient values on the SCC. The lesion completely disappeared on follow-up MRI 6 days later. The patient fully recovered without any sequelae.