• Radiation Oncology Journal
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• v.32 no.3
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• pp.116-124
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• 2014

Purpose: To investigate the frequency and clinical significance of detected incidental lung nodules found on computed tomography (CT) simulation images for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) using computer-aided diagnosis (CAD) and a physician review. Materials and Methods: Sixty-seven treatment-$na{\ddot{i}}ve$ HCC patients treated with transcatheter arterial chemoembolization and radiotherapy (RT) were included for the study. Portal phase of simulation CT images was used for CAD analysis and a physician review for lung nodule detection. For automated nodule detection, a commercially available CAD system was used. To assess the performance of lung nodule detection for lung metastasis, the sensitivity, negative predictive value (NPV), and positive predictive value (PPV) were calculated. Results: Forty-six patients had incidental nodules detected by CAD with a total of 109 nodules. Only 20 (18.3%) nodules were considered to be significant nodules by a physician review. The number of significant nodules detected by both of CAD or a physician review was 24 in 9 patients. Lung metastases developed in 11 of 46 patients who had any type of nodule. The sensitivities were 58.3% and 100% based on patient number and on the number of nodules, respectively. The NPVs were 91.4% and 100%, respectively. And the PPVs were 77.8% and 91.7%, respectively. Conclusion: Incidental detection of metastatic nodules was not an uncommon event. From our study, CAD could be applied to CT simulation images allowing for an increase in detection of metastatic nodules.

• Investigative Magnetic Resonance Imaging
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• v.24 no.3
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• pp.154-161
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• 2020

Purpose: A CT angiography spot sign (CTA-spot) is a significant predictor of the early expansion of an intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH-Ex). Dynamic-susceptibility-contrast magnetic resonance imaging (DSC-MRI) can track the real-time leaking of contrast agents. It may be able to indicate active bleeding, like a CTA-spot. Materials and Methods: From September 2014 to February 2017, we did non-contrast CT, CTA, and DSC-MRI examinations of seven patients with acute ICH. We investigated the time from symptom onset to the first contrast-enhanced imaging. We evaluated the time course of the contrast leak within the ICH at the source image of the DSC-MRI and the volume change of ICH between non-contrast CT and DSC-MRI. We compared the number of slices showing CTA-spots and DSC-MRI leaks. Results: The CTA-spot and DSC-MRI leak-sign were present in four patients, and two patients among those showed ICH-Ex. The time from the symptom onset to CTA or DSC-MRI was shorter for those with a DSC-MRI leak or CTA-spot than for three patients without either (70-130 minutes vs. 135-270 minutes). The leak-sign began earlier, lasted longer, and spread to more slices in the patients with ICH-Ex than in those without ICH-Ex. The number of slices of the DSC-MRI leak and the number of the CTA-spot were well correlated. Conclusion: DSC-MRI can demonstrate the leakage of GBCA within hyperacute ICH, showing the good contrast between hematoma and contrast. The DSC-MRI leakage sign could be related to the hematoma expansion in patients with ICH.

• The Korean Journal of Nuclear Medicine Technology
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• v.16 no.2
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• pp.81-86
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• 2012

Purpose : Combined MR/PET scanners that use the MRI for PET AC face the challenge of absent surface coils in MR images and thus cannot directly account for attenuation in the coils. To make up for the weak point of MR attenuation correction, Three Modality System (PET/CT +MR) were used in Severance hospital. The goal of this work was to investigate the effects of MR Torso Coil on CT attenuation correction for PET. Materials and Methods : PET artifacts were evaluated when the MR Torso Coil was present of CTAC data with changing various kV and mA in uniformity water phantom and 1994 NEMA cylinderical phantom. They evaluated and compared the following two scenarios: (1) The uniform cylinder phantom and the MR Torso Coil scanned and reconstructed using CT-AC; (2) 1994 NEMA cylinderical phantom and the MR Torso Coil scanned and reconstructed using CT-AC. Results : Streak artifacts were present in CT images containing the MR Torso Coil due to metal components. These artifacts persisted after the CT images were converted for PET-AC. CT scans tended to over-estimate the linear attenuation coefficient when the kV and mA is increasing of the metal components when using conventional methods for converting from CT number. Conclusion : The presence of MR coils during PET/CT scanning can cause subtle artifacts and potentially important quantification errors. Alternative CT techniques that mitigate artifacts should be used to improve AC accuracy. When possible, removing segments of an MR coil prior to the PET/CT exam is recommended. Further, MR coils could be redesigned to reduce artifacts by rearranging placement of the most attenuating materials.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Radiology
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• v.8 no.6
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• pp.357-364
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• 2014

The filtered back projection in the image reconstruction algorithms for the clinic computed tomography system has been widely used. Noise of the reconstructed image was examined under the input noise for parallel and fan beam geometries. The reconstruction images of $512{\times}512$ size were carried out under 360 and 720 projection by the Visual C++ for parallel beam and fan beam, respectively, and those agreed with the original Shepp-Logan head phantom very much. Noise was generated because of intrinsic restriction (finite number of projections) for the image reconstruction algorithm, filtered back projection, when no input noise was applied. Because the result noise was rapidly increased under 0.5% input noise ratio, technologies for reducing noise in CT system and image processing is important.

• IMMUNE NETWORK
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• v.12 no.6
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• pp.261-268
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• 2012

Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) and influenza virus are the most significant pathogens causing respiratory tract diseases. Composite vaccines are useful in reducing the number of vaccination and confer protection against multiple infectious agents. In this study, we generated fusion of RSV G protein core fragment (amino acid residues 131 to 230) and influenza HA1 globular head domain (amino acid residues 62 to 284) as a dual vaccine candidate. This fusion protein, Gcf-HA1, was bacterially expressed, purified by metal resin affinity chromatography, and refolded in PBS. BALB/c mice were intranasally immunized with Gcf-HA1 in combination with a mucosal adjuvant, cholera toxin (CT). Both serum IgG and mucosal IgA responses specific to Gcf and HA1 were significantly increased in Gcf-HA1/CT-vaccinated mice. To determine the protective efficacy of Gcf-HA1/CT vaccine, immunized mice were challenged with RSV (A2 strain) or influenza virus (A/PR/8/34). Neither detectable viral replication nor pathology was observed in the lungs of the immune mice. These results demonstrate that immunity induced by intranasal Gcf-HA1/CT immunization confers complete protection against both RSV and homologous influenza virus infection, suggesting our Gcf-HA1 vaccine candidate could be further developed as a dual subunit vaccine against RSV and influenza virus.

• Journal of the Korean Magnetics Society
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• v.2 no.2
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• pp.132-139
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• 1992

We have designed a magnetic field gradient useful for cylindrical imaging in NMR-CT. The direc¬tion of the designed field is parallel to the axis and the gradient in the radial direction of cylindrical coordinate is monotonically increasing. The ratio of the gradient in the radial and axial direction is greater than 10 near the center of coordinate. This ratio depends on solenoid length, the number of reverse current turns at center, and the amount of the reverse current. We built a gradient coil based on the numerical simulation and tested the field generated by NMR-CT. The resulting image matches with the theoretical expectation within 10% error. Since the data acquisition time of 1-D imaging is significantly shorter than 2-D imaging, it becomes possible to image much more dynamic objects by the use of this gradient field.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Research
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• v.59 no.2
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• pp.55-58
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• 2019

This study was performed to examine the visualization and anatomical variants of the hepatic artery with dual-phase computed tomography (CT) angiography and three-dimensional volume rendering imaging analysis in clinically normal dogs. Seven healthy beagle dogs were enrolled and underwent dual CT angiography. Arterial phase images could be obtained with multi-detector CT angiography using the fixed-scan method in these dogs. Contrast enhancement of the hepatic parenchyma was quite minimal because of the unique blood supply system of the liver. In most dogs, the main hepatic arterial branches were the right lateral branch, left branch, and right medial branch. Although hepatic arterial variation appears to be common in dogs, only one dog in this study had the caudate lobar branch as the first branch of the hepatic artery. Further study on a larger number of dogs with CT images will be needed to identify and classify the pattern of hepatic arterial variations.

• Journal of dental hygiene science
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• v.23 no.1
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• pp.60-67
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• 2023

Background: In our study, a silver diamine fluoride (SDF) compound for the treatment of dental caries was synthesized to characterize its remineralization activity upon direct application to deciduous teeth. This study aimed to use microscopic computed tomography (microCT) and nanoindentation to evaluate whether SDF composite application could effectively arrest dental caries in five exfoliated primary molars. Methods: Carious teeth were extracted and visually examined using quantitative photofluorescence devices (Qraycam and QraypenTM). After performing microCT, the SDF composite was applied to the teeth according to the manufacturer's instructions. The researchers exchanged and precipitated the irritant saliva once daily for 1 week. The teeth were sectioned longitudinally through the centers of the mesial and distal surfaces, embedded, polished, and measured using nanoindentation. Thereafter, microCT was repeated. Statistical analyses were performed using GraphPad Prism software. Results: Following SDF composite application, a remineralized layer was observed on microCT images, and the hardness increased when measured using nanoindentation. We found that demineralized enamel presented with an increased number of irregular crystals in the deep carious lesion group compared with those in the shallow carious lesion group, resulting in a rougher surface. Conclusion: The SDF composite may be used for remineralization of early caries and cessation of advanced caries in primary molars.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Radiology
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• v.84 no.2
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• pp.372-385
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• 2023

Breast cancer is one of the most common cancers and causes several complications in females. Currently, MRI is a necessary method for preoperative studies in patients with breast cancer. A high frequency of breast MRI can lead to an increase in the number of incidental extramammary findings. Moreover, it can provide accurate preoperative workup; therefore, the prognosis of patients can be improved. Herein, we provide several extramammary findings, including the mediastinum, lung, upper abdomen, bone, and soft tissue, correlating with US, chest CT, liver MRI, PET-CT, and bone scan.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• v.56 no.9
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• pp.3758-3763
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• 2024

The current study aimed to evaluate the suitability of polyester resin as an alternative material to polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) for computed tomography (CT) dosimetry phantoms using the GEANT4/GATE Monte Carlo simulation platform. Cylindrical phantoms (32 cm diameter) constructed of polyester resin and PMMA were simulated and compared in terms of atomic composition, effective atomic number, electron density, mass density, and photon interaction mechanisms. Weighted CT dose index (CTDIw) values were calculated for each phantom at 80, 110, and 130 kVp tube voltages based on measurements of CTDI_100,c and CTDI_100,p. Results demonstrated that the physical properties of polyester closely matched those of PMMA, and the polyester phantom displayed equivalent dosimetric behavior to the PMMA phantom at all tube voltages tested. CTDIw values from the polyester phantom were within 1.4 % of the PMMA phantom across all tube voltages. Conversion coefficients were derived to equate polyester CTDIw values to PMMA dose equivalents. This study found that a polyester resin phantom exhibited radiation dosimetry commensurate with the standard PMMA phantom for CT dose assessment. Consequently, polyester resin represents a viable substitute material when PMMA is unavailable for construction of CT dosimetry phantoms.