• Korean Journal of Digital Imaging in Medicine
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• v.14 no.2
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• pp.63-67
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• 2012

Calcium density in human bones decreases as people are getting older due to the interior or exterior environmental factors. Bone aging forms osteoporosis. And this can bring out various spine fractures which develops a complications. Thus the prediction of seniliy is one of the important factors in spine diseases. Once spine aged, diverse fractures occur such as compression fracture and micro fracture. Side images of the spine by the digital radiography (DR) were prepared, and pixel arbitrary unit with Image J was measured from one spot in the lumbar bone part. By calculating pixel arbitrary unit of the simple contrast, it was obtained that the value of pixel arbitrary unit decreased as seniliy of bones increased. By simply applying Image J to the seniliy of patient's spine, the seniliy of bones predicts the level of danger with only digital radiography(2D) image. consequently we show that Image J value of pixel arbitrary unit index for predicts the level of precaution of osteoporosis patient.

• Restorative Dentistry and Endodontics
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• v.42 no.4
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• pp.290-300
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• 2017

Objectives: This study investigated the removal efficacy and cytotoxicity of a newly developed calcium hydroxide paste (cleaniCal, Maruchi) using N-2-methyl-pyrrolidone (NMP) as a vehicle in comparison with ApexCal (Ivoclar Vivadent) and Calcipex II (Nishika), which use different vehicles such as polyethylene glycol and propylene glycol, respectively. Materials and Methods: Thirty maxillary premolars with oval-shaped canals were divided into 3 groups and the teeth were filled with one of the pastes. After removal of the paste, micro-computed tomographic (${\mu}$-CT) imaging was obtained to assess the volume of residual paste in the root canal of each tooth. The teeth were then split longitudinally and the area of the paste-coated surface was evaluated by stereomicroscopy. The cytotoxicity of each product was assessed using an agar overlay assay. The effect of each vehicle on cell viability was evaluated using the 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay. The data were analyzed using one-way analysis of variance and Tukey's tests to detect any significance (p < 0.05). Results: In the ${\mu}$-CT and stereomicroscopic analysis, cleaniCal exhibited less remnants of medicament than ApexCal and Calcipex. cleaniCal showed a higher cytotoxicity than the other pastes in the agar overlay assay. Furthermore, NMP exhibited lower cell viability compared to the other vehicles. Conclusions: cleaniCal showed better removal efficacy compared to the other products. However, clinicians should be aware of the higher cytotoxicity of the NMP-based material and consider its possible adverse effects on periradicular tissue when it is overfilled.

• Restorative Dentistry and Endodontics
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• v.40 no.1
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• pp.44-49
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• 2015

Objectives: This study compared the ability of several techniques to remove calcium hydroxide (CH) from the root canal and determined the influence of CH residues on the accuracy of the electronic apex locator. Materials and Methods: Root canals of 90 human maxillary lateral incisors with confirmed true working length (TWL) were prepared and filled with CH. The teeth were randomly assigned to one of the experimental groups according to the CH removal technique (n = 14): 0.9% saline; 0.9% saline + master apical file (MAF); 17% ethylenediamine tetraacetic acid (EDTA); 17% EDTA + MAF; 5.25% sodium hypochlorite (NaOCl); 5.25% NaOCl + MAF. Six teeth were used as negative control. After CH removal, the electronic working length was measured using Root-ZX (Morita Corp.) and compared with TWL to evaluate Root-ZX accuracy. All specimens were sectioned longitudinally, and the area of remaining CH (CH) and total canal area were measured using imaging software. Results: The EDTA + MAF and NaOCl + MAF groups showed better CH removal than other groups (p < 0.05). Root-ZX reliability to prevent overestimated working length to be > 85% within a tolerance of ${\pm}1.0mm$ (p < 0.05). There was strong negative correlation between amount of CH residues and EAL accuracy (r = -0.800 for ${\pm}0.5mm$; r = -0.940 for ${\pm}1.0mm$). Conclusions: The mechanical instrumentation improves the CH removal of irrigation solutions although none of the techniques removed the dressing completely. Residues of CH medication in root canals affected the accuracy of Root-ZX adversely.

• Imaging Science in Dentistry
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• v.50 no.2
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• pp.93-98
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• 2020

Purpose: Little is known regarding the accuracy of clinical magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) protocols with acceptable scan times in sinus graft assessment. The aim of this study was to evaluate the correlations between MRI and cone-beam computed tomographic (CBCT) measurements of maxillary sinus grafts using 2 different clinical MRI imaging protocols. Materials and Methods: A total of 15 patients who underwent unilateral sinus lift surgery with biphasic calcium phosphate were included in this study. CBCT, T1-weighted MRI, and T2-weighted MRI scans were taken 6 months after sinus lift surgery. Linear measurements of the maximum height and buccolingual width in coronal images, as well as the maximum anteroposterior depth in sagittal images, were performed by 2 trained observers using CBCT and MRI Digital Imaging and Communication in Medicine files. Micro-computed tomography (micro-CT) was also performed to confirm the presence of bone tissue in the grafted area. Correlations between MRI and CBCT measurements were assessed with the Pearson test. Results: Significant correlations between CBCT and MRI were found for sinus graft height (T1-weighted, r=0.711 and P<0.05; T2-weighted, r=0.713 and P<0.05), buccolingual width (T1-weighted, r=0.892 and P<0.05; T2-weighted, r=0.956 and P<0.05), and anteroposterior depth (T1-weighted, r=0.731 and P<0.05; T2-weighted, r=0.873 and P<0.05). The presence of bone tissue in the grafted areas was confirmed via micro-CT. Conclusion: Both MRI pulse sequences tested can be used for sinus graft measurements, as strong correlations with CBCT were found. However, correlations between T2-weighted MRI and CBCT were slightly higher than those between T1-weighted MRI and CBCT.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.12 no.2
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• pp.43-49
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• 2008

Flavonoids have been shown to affect calcium signaling in neurons. However, there are no reports on the effect of apigenin on glutamate-induced calcium signaling in neurons. We investigated whether apigenin affects glutamate-induced increase of free intracellular $Ca^{2+}$ concentration ($[Ca^{2+}]_i$) in cultured rat hippocampal neurons, using fura-2-based digital calcium imaging and microfluorimetry. The hippocampal neurons were used between 10 and 13 days in culture from embryonic day 18 rats. Pretreatment of the cells with apigenin ($1{\mu}M$ to $100{\mu}M$) for 5 min inhibited glutamate ($100{\mu}M$, 1 min) induced $[Ca^{2+}]_i$ increase, concentration-dependently. Pretreatment with apigenin ($30{\mu}M$) for 5 min significantly decreased the $[Ca^{2+}]_i$ responses induced by two ionotropic glutamate receptor agonists, alpha-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazolepropionic (AMPA, $10{\mu}M$, 1 min) and N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA, $100{\mu}M$, 1 min), and significantly inhibited the AMPA-induced peak currents. Treatment with apigenin also significantly inhibited the $[Ca^{2+}]_i$ response induced by 50 mM KCl solution, decreased the $[Ca^{2+}]_i$ responses induced by the metabotropic glutamate receptor agonist, (S)-3,5-dihydroxy-phenylglycine (DHPG, 100 $[Ca^{2+}]_i$, 90 s), and inhibited the caffeine (10 mM, 2 min)-induced $[Ca^{2+}]_i$ responses. Furthermore, treatment with apigenin ($30{\mu}M$) significantly inhibited the amplitude and frequency of 0.1 mM $[Mg^{2+}]_o$-induced $[Ca^{2+}]_i$ spikes. These data together suggest that apigenin inhibits glutamate-induced calcium signaling in cultured rat hippocampal neurons.

• Molecules and Cells
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• v.26 no.2
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• pp.113-120
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• 2008

Laser light microscopy enables observation of various simultaneously occurring events in living cells. This capability is important for monitoring the spatiotemporal patterns of the molecular interactions underlying such events. Two-photon excited fluorescence microscopy (two-photon microscopy), a technology based on multiphoton excitation, is one of the most promising candidates for such imaging. The advantages of two-photon microscopy have spurred wider adoption of the method, especially in neurological studies. Multicolor excitation capability, one advantage of two-photon microscopy, has enabled the quantification of spatiotemporal patterns of $[Ca^{2+}]_i$ and single episodes of fusion pore openings during exocytosis. In pancreatic acinar cells, we have successfully demonstrated the existence of "sequential compound exocytosis" for the first time, a process which has subsequently been identified in a wide variety of secretory cells including exocrine, endocrine and blood cells. Our newly developed method, the two-photon extracellular polar-tracer imaging-based quantification (TEPIQ) method, can be used for determining fusion pores and the diameters of vesicles smaller than the diffraction-limited resolution. Furthermore, two-photon microscopy has the demonstrated capability of obtaining cross-sectional images from deep layers within nearly intact tissue samples over long observation times with excellent spatial resolution. Recently, we have successfully observed a neuron located deeper than 0.9 mm from the brain cortex surface in an anesthetized mouse. This microscopy also enables the monitoring of long-term changes in neural or glial cells in a living mouse. This minireview describes both the current and anticipated capabilities of two-photon microscopy, based on a discussion of previous publications and recently obtained data.

• Imaging Science in Dentistry
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• v.52 no.2
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• pp.155-164
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• 2022

Purpose: The aim of this study was to systematically screen the literature for studies reporting cosmetic material in the oral and maxillofacial complex to shed light on the types of cosmetic materials, their radiographic appearance, and possible complications. Materials and Methods: Five electronic databases were reviewed for eligible studies. The general search terms were "cosmetic," "filler," "face," and "radiograph." Demographics, material types, clinical and radiographic presentation, and complications were recorded. Results: Thirty-one studies with 53 cases met the inclusion criteria. The mean age was 52.6±15.4 years with a 4 : 3 female-to-male ratio. The most common material was calcium hydroxyapatite (CaHa) (n=14, 26.4%), found incidentally. The materials were generally located within the upper cheek and zygoma (n=35, 66.0%), radiographically well-defined (n=44, 83%), and had no effects on the surrounding structures (n=27, 50.9%). The internal structure was radiopaque (calcification, hyperdensity) for gold wires, CaHa, bone implants, and secondary calcification or ossification. Outdated cosmetic materials or non-conservative techniques were infiltrative, had effects on the surrounding structures, and presented with clinical signs, symptoms, or complications. Conclusion: Conventional radiography, cone-beam computed tomography, and multi-detector computed tomography are useful to differentiate several cosmetic materials. Their magnetic resonance imaging appearance was highly variable. The infrequent inclusion of cosmetic materials in the differential diagnosis implies that medical and dental specialists may be unfamiliar with the radiographic appearance of these materials in the face.

• Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging
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• v.43 no.3
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• pp.222-228
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• 2009

Risk stratification and assessment of prognosis in patients with known or suspected CAD is of crucial important for the practice of contemporary medicine. Noninvasive testing such as myocardial perfusion scintigraphy, coronary artery calcium scoring or CT coronary angiography is increasingly being used to determine the need for aggressive medical therapy and to select patients for catheterization. The integrated anatomic and functional information may provide more additional information for the cardiologist or other clinician by the improved risk stratification and diagnostic accuracy of integrated techniques. The development of SPECT/CT or PET/CT hybrid systems is therefore of important value for the nuclear cardiology.

• Proceedings of the Korean Biophysical Society Conference
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• 2003.06a
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• pp.56-56
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• 2003

Isolated single pancreatic acinar cells have long been used as a good model for studying many kinds of signaling processes due to their good structural and functional polarities without a significant validation. In this study, we have examined morphological and functional changes of the dissociated single pancreatic acinar cells by imaging cytosolic Ca$\^$2+/ concentration, exocytosis of granules, and by observing their shapes with confocal microscopy.

• Korean Journal of Biological Psychiatry
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• v.13 no.1
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• pp.38-42
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• 2006

The case of a 66- year-old woman with coexisting idiopathic basal ganglia calcification(IBGC) and dementia was presented. The calcification was detected in bilateral basal ganglia, dentate nucleus, and thalamus by brain imaging. Serum calcium and phosphorus levels were normal. The underlying diseases of calcification of basal ganglia such as parathyroid dysfunction and other infectious, toxic, or metabolic illness were excluded. The patient had memory impairment and frontal executive dysfunction without aphasia, agnosia, apraxia, and visuospatial impairment in neuropsychological test. It suggested that the cognitive impairment might be due to the dysfunction of frontal-subcortical circuit.