• The Korean Journal of Nuclear Medicine
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• v.39 no.2
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• pp.118-123
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• 2005

Positron emission tomography (PET) serves as a gold standard for noninvasive in vivo measurement of myocardial blood flow (MBF) and coronary flow reserve (CFR). CFR can be defined as the ratio of maximally vasodilated MBF over its basal flow. It is an important parameter for the evaluation of functional severity of coronary stenosis and prognositification in various diseases such as dilated cardiomyopathy. $^{13}NH_3,\;H_2^{15}O,\;^{82}Rb$ are widely used radiopharmaceuticals for measuring MBF and CFR, This review introduces imaging techniques and its clinical utility. Cardiac application or PET and PET/CT is expected to be increased in near future.

• Investigative Magnetic Resonance Imaging
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• v.11 no.1
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• pp.1-9
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• 2007

The obstacles for cardiac imaging are motion artifacts due to cardiac motion, respiration, and blood flow, and low signal due to small tissue volume of heart. To overcome these obstacles, fast imaging technique with ECG gating is utilized. Cardiac exam using MRI comprises of morphology, ventricular function, myocardial perfusion, metabolism, and coronary artery morphology. During cardiac morphology evaluation, double and triple inversion recovery techniques are used to depict myocardial fluidity and soft tissue structure such as fat tissue, respectively. By checking the first-pass enhancement of myocardium using contrast-enhanced fast gradient echo technique, myocardial blood flow can be evaluated. In addition, delayed imaging in 10 - 15 minutes can inform myocardial destruction such as chronic myocardial infarction. Ventricular function including regional and global wall motion can be checked by fast gradient echo cine imaging in quantitative way. MRI is acknowledged to be practical for integrated cardiac evaluation technique except coronary angiography. Especially delay imaging is the greatest merit of MRI in myocardial viability evaluation.

• Journal of radiological science and technology
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• v.39 no.2
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• pp.149-156
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• 2016

Measurement of cardiac blood flow using the magnetic resonance imaging has been limited due to breathing and involuntary movements of the heart. The present study attempted to improve the accuracy of cardiac blood flow testing through phase contrast magnetic resonance imaging by presenting the adequate breathing method and imaging variables by comparing the measurement values of cardiac blood flow. Each was evaluated by comparing the breath hold retrospective 1NEX and non breath hold retrospective 1-3NEX in the ascending aorta and descending aorta. As a result, the average blood flow amount/velocity of the breath hold retrosepctive 1NEX method in the ascending aorta were $96.17{\pm}19.12ml/sec$, $17.04{\pm}4.12cm/sec$ respectively, which demonstrates a statistically significant difference(p<0.05) with the non-breath hold retrospective method 1NEX of $72.31{\pm}13.27ml$ and $12.32{\pm}3.85$. On the other hand, the average 2NEX blood flow and mean flow velocity is $101.90{\pm}24.09$, $16.84{\pm}4.32$, 3NEX $103.06{\pm}25.49$, $16.88{\pm}4.19$ did not show statistically significant differences(p>0.05).The average blood flow amount/ velocity of the breath hold retrospective 1NEX method in the descending aorta were $76.68{\pm}19.72ml/s$, and $22.23{\pm}4.8$, which did not demonstrate a significant difference in comparison to non-breath hold retrospective method 1-3 NEX. Therefore, the non breath hold retrospective method does not significantly differ in terms of cardiac blood flow in comparison with the breath hold retrospective method in accordance with the increase of NEX, so pediatric patients or patients who are not able to breathe well must have the diagnostic value of their cardiac blood flow tests improved.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Radiology
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• v.85 no.2
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• pp.308-326
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• 2024

A comprehensive evaluation of cardiac function includes information in relation to cardiac output and systemic venous return. The heart is composed of four chambers: two atria and two ventricles, each with its own unique mechanical function. These four cardiac chambers, their valves, and the pulmonary circulation system are inter-related as they preload or afterload on each other. Cardiac dysfunction is a failure of global cardiac function, resulting in typical clinical manifestations. To investigate the underlying cause of cardiac dysfunction, a step-by-step evaluation of cardiac blood flow tracks is necessary. In this context, imaging markers showing details of the cardiac structures have an important role in assessing cardiac function. An image-based evaluation allows for investigation of function in terms of individual cardiac components. Evaluation of cardiac function using cardiac CT has recently been validated. This review aimed to discuss cardiac CT-based imaging markers for comprehensive and detailed cardiac function assessment.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.29 no.12
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• pp.1634-1641
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• 2000

Objective : The cerebrospinal fluid(CSF) pulsates within the craniospinal axis in response to rhythmic cerebral blood volume variation during the cardiac cycle. The aim of this study is to characterize the normal and abnormal CSF flow and its waveforms in the cervical spinal subarachnoid space. Methods : The magnetic resonance(MR) images were obtained with 1.5 T(GE Signa, GE Medical Systems, Milwaukee, USA) unit using the 2 dimensional cine PC(phase contrast) sequence with cardiac gating and gradient recalled echo imaging. This pulse sequence yielded 16 quantitative flow-encoded images per cardiac cycle. Sagittal and axial images of the cervical spinal CSF space were obtained, and target sites were analyzed for characteristic CSF flow (TR=50ms, TE=12.5-15ms). The region of interest(ROI) was 1mm 3 in volume. Twenty six persons were included in this study : 10 healthy volunteers and 16 patients with cervical myelopathy. The post-operative cine MR study were also done in five patients. Results : The normal CSF pulsation dynamics in the cervical spine showed discrete systolic and diastolic components. The CSF flow revealed a sine wave pattern, in which the systolic phase was shorter than the diastolic phase(ratio=2 : 3). The patient group revealed decreased amplitudes of the CSF flow and irregularly distored flow waves. The systolic phase was elongated in the ROI above the stenotic level, whereas the diastolic phase was lengthened below the level. In the postoperative images, the abnormal pattern and amplitude were found to be corrected. Conclusion : From these results, the authors believe that the CSF flow study provides valuable informations regarding the extent of cervical stenosis and may be useful for the surgical planning and post-operative evaluation.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.23 no.5
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• pp.295-303
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• 2019

A heart simulator, UT-Heart, is a finite element model of the human heart that can reproduce all the fundamental activities of the working heart, including propagation of excitation, contraction, and relaxation and generation of blood pressure and blood flow, based on the molecular aspects of the cardiac electrophysiology and excitation-contraction coupling. In this paper, we present a brief review of the practical use of UT-Heart. As an example, we focus on its application for predicting the effect of cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) and evaluating the proarrhythmic risk of drugs. Patient-specific, multiscale heart simulation successfully predicted the response to CRT by reproducing the complex pathophysiology of the heart. A proarrhythmic risk assessment system combining in vitro channel assays and in silico simulation of cardiac electrophysiology using UT-Heart successfully predicted drug-induced arrhythmogenic risk. The assessment system was found to be reliable and efficient. We also developed a comprehensive hazard map on the various combinations of ion channel inhibitors. This in silico electrocardiogram database (now freely available at http://ut-heart.com/) can facilitate proarrhythmic risk assessment without the need to perform computationally expensive heart simulation. Based on these results, we conclude that the heart simulator, UT-Heart, could be a useful tool in clinical medicine and drug discovery.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.28 no.10
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• pp.892-899
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• 1995

Pancreatitis is a known complication of cardiac surgery with cardiopulmonary bypass. Although ischemia is believed to be a factor, the exact cause of pancreatitis after cardiopulmonary bypass remains unknown.We prospectively studied 67 consecutive patients undergoing cardiac surgery with cardiopulmonary bypass for evaluation of the pancreatic injury after cardiopulmonary bypas. Serial measurement of amylase level in serum and urine was done postoperatively. Hyperamylasemia was detected in 15 patients[22.4% , of whom no patient had pancreatitis. There was no significant difference between serum amylase level and parameters such as cardiopulmonay bypass time, aortic cross clamp time, mean blood pressure, rectal temperature, flow rate, and use of circulatory arrest during cardiopulmonary bypass. Hyperamylasuria was detected in 8 patients[11.9% , and urine amylase level was elevated significantly in the groups with prolonged cardiopulmonary bypass, mean blood pressure more than 40mmHg, and rectal temperature more than 20 $^{\circ}$C. We recommend that serum amylase level and/or amylase-creatinine clearance ratio is measured for ealy detection and management of pancreatitis after cardiopulmonary bypass.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.21 no.2
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• pp.246-253
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• 1988

An in vitro model providing with a recirculating perfusion apparatus using an isolated canine heart and its autogenous blood, which was prepared for study of myocardial protection method. This apparatus was easily used by quick connect system and maintained well heart function for about 2 hours. The Langendorff perfusion was initiated for a 10 minute period by introducing perfusate at 37` into the aorta from aortic reservoir located 100 cm above the heart. The isolated perfused working canine heart model was a left heart preparation in which oxygenated perfusion medium [at 37K] entered the cannulated left atrium at a constant flow rate [900ml/ min] under 20 mmHg overflow system and was spontaneously ejected[no electrical pacing] via an cannula against a hydrostatic pressure of 80 cm H2O. During this working period, various indices of cardiac function were measured. The cardiac functions were stable for over 2 hours with perfusion of Krebs-Henseleit solution and autologous blood[1:1] mixture in volume and maintained heart rate ]]3-122/bpm peak systolic pressure 109-113 mmHg, cardiac output 900 ml / min and left atrial mean pressure 8-9 mmHg. In this model, the efficiency of myocardia] protection could be easily measured by means of functional, enzymatic, biochemical and ultrastructural assessment. And also, we believe this model to be a useful assessment screening model of recovery state after long duration of myocardial preservation of donor heart without difficult transplantation procedures.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.21 no.2
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• pp.211-222
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• 1988

Tetralogy of Fallot is a cyanotic congenital heart disease characterized by large ventricular septal defect[VSD] and stenosis of right ventricular outflow tract[RVOT] and the degree of RVOT stenosis and the state of pulmonary arteries are the major determinant of prognosis of this anomaly after operation. The sum of blood flow through RVOT and collateral flow from systemic arteries determine the total pulmonary blood flow and it is drained to left atrium and left ventricle. Therefore the degree of development of left ventricle not only reflects pulmonary blood flow and the status of peripheral pulmonary arteries but also affects postoperative prognosis as a systemic ventricle. In this article, left ventricular volume and its influence on postoperative cardiac function in tetralogy of Fallot were studied in 34 patients operated on at Department of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, Seoul National University Hospital in 1985. Mean age of the patients was 5 1/12*3 9/12 years[range 9/12 - 14 8/12 years], mean body surface area[BSA] 0.65*0.20m2[range 0.38 - 1.22m2], mean body weight 15.6k6.48kg[range 7.0 - 36kg]and mean hematocrit 50.6*9.77%[range 32.0 - 73.5%]. Left ventricular end-diastolic volume[LVEDV] of them were from 11.2 to 113cc and there was a good linear correlation between BSA[m2, X]and LVEDV[cc, Y][Y= - 20.0+923x, r= 0.84, p < 0.005]. Mean LVEDV/m2 was [57.6 * 18.3 cc / m2[range 28.7 - 95.8 cc / m2] and there was a significant reduction of volume compared with normal value. As body surface increases, there was a increasing tendency in LVEDV/m2 but there was no statistical significance. Mean total amount of postoperatively infused dopamine in these 33 patients[except one who expired postoperatively] was 65.6*74.5mg / kg and it was 40.6*44.0mg / kg in routine RVOT widening group [Group I] and 205*49.3mg / kg in transannular RVOT widening group[Group II]. There was a statistically significant difference between two groups. In group I patients there was a good linear inverse correlation between dopamine total amount[mg / kg, Y] and LV volume[cc / m2, X] [Y = 150 - 1.89 X, r = - 0. 77, p < 0.005]. But there were no correlations between dopamine total amount and Hct, cardiopulmonary bypass time and aorta cross clamp time. In conclusion, the patient with small preoperative left ventricular volume required more amount of dopamine as an inotropic agent for the maintenance of a cardiac function in postoperative period. But this is a result of immediate postoperative period and does not reflect the long term effect of left ventricular volume in tetralogy of Fallot. There must be more study for the evaluation of its long term effect.

• The Korean Journal of Nuclear Medicine
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• v.28 no.3
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• pp.331-337
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• 1994

In order to develop a $^{18}F$-labelled myocardial perfusion agent(flow tracer) for PET, $^{18}F$-labelled organic ammonium cations were synthesized and evaluated in relation to their biodistribution. Five quaternary organic ammonium compounds were labelled with $^{18}F$ in a side chain with moderate to good yields by direct introduction of $^{18}F$-fluoride. Radiochemical yields have been achieved in 30-40min by the precursors (tosylates) in dimethylsulfoxide 15-60% (decay corrected). The reaction was found to be autocatalyzed. A remote controlled procedure was developed in these synthesis. $^{18}F$-Labelling and HPLC-purification of com-pounds needed about 60 min(Yield; 7-20%). Up to now the two compounds N-4-[$^{18}F$]fluorobutyl-pyridinium cation(1) and N, N dibenzyl-4(2-[$^{18}F$]fluoroethyl)piperidinium cation(2) were investigated in relation to their biodistribution in mice. Compound 1 showed at 1 min post injection the high uptake of 19.22% ID/g organ in the myocardium but a following fast decline to 1.12% ID/g organ after 40min. Uptake of compound 2 was after 1min in the heart 5.90% ID/g organ but after 40min at the relative high value of 4.33% ID/g organ. Heart:blood ratio for compound(1) at 1 min was 8.3, at 40 min 2.6 for compound II 2.0(1min) and 15.0(40 min). As data of compound 2 showed greater heart uptake, slower myocardial release, and higher heart: blood ratios, compound 2 is a good candidate for further evaluation.