• 전자공학회논문지SC
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• 제40권5호
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• pp.341-349
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• 2003

고속 디지털신호처리기를 사용한 자기공명영상 실시간 대화형 제어기(스펙트로미터)를 개발하였다. 개발린 제어기는 rf 파형과 경사자계 파형을 만들고, 신호 측정을 위한 다중 측정기를 제어한다. TMS320C6701과 간은 높은 계산 능력을 가진 디지털신호처리기를 사용함으로써 복잡한 경사자계파형의 실시간 계산 및 출력이 가능해졌다. 또한 회전 행렬을 실시간으로 계산함으로써 심장과 같이 움직임이 큰 장기의 실시간 영상에서 얻고자하는 평면을 대화식으로 조절이 가능해졌다. 개발된 스펙트로미터를 1.5 테슬라 전신자기공명 영상시스템에 성공적으로 적용하였다. 개발된 스펙트로미터를 고속스핀에코나 echo planar imaging(EPI) 등과 같은 초고속자기공명영상에 적용하여 성능을 검증하였다. 이것은 이들 초고속 자기공명영상기법들이 측정 시간을 단축해주는 대신에 스펙트로미터의 송신부와 수신부 또는 경사자계부간의 동기나 위상에 에러가 있을 경우 문제점을 크게 부각시켜 시스템의 성능 평가에 적합하기 때문이다.

• Korean Journal of Radiology
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• 제22권9호
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• pp.1525-1536
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• 2021

Objective: To investigate the feasibility of cine three-dimensional (3D) balanced steady-state free precession (b-SSFP) imaging combined with a non-local means (NLM) algorithm for image denoising in evaluating cardiac function in children with repaired tetralogy of Fallot (rTOF). Materials and Methods: Thirty-five patients with rTOF (mean age, 12 years; range, 7-18 years) were enrolled to undergo cardiac cine image acquisition, including two-dimensional (2D) b-SSFP, 3D b-SSFP, and 3D b-SSFP combined with NLM. End-diastolic volume (EDV), end-systolic volume (ESV), stroke volume (SV), and ejection fraction (EF) of the two ventricles were measured and indexed by body surface index. Acquisition time and image quality were recorded and compared among the three imaging sequences. Results: 3D b-SSFP with denoising vs. 2D b-SSFP had high correlation coefficients for EDV, ESV, SV, and EF of the left (0.959-0.991; p < 0.001) as well as right (0.755-0.965; p < 0.001) ventricular metrics. The image acquisition time ± standard deviation (SD) was 25.1 ± 2.4 seconds for 3D b-SSFP compared with 277.6 ± 0.7 seconds for 2D b-SSFP, indicating a significantly shorter time with the 3D than the 2D sequence (p < 0.001). Image quality score was better with 3D b-SSFP combined with denoising than with 3D b-SSFP (mean ± SD, 3.8 ± 0.6 vs. 3.5 ± 0.6; p = 0.005). Signal-to-noise ratios for blood and myocardium as well as contrast between blood and myocardium were higher for 3D b-SSFP combined with denoising than for 3D b-SSFP (p < 0.05 for all but septal myocardium). Conclusion: The 3D b-SSFP sequence can significantly reduce acquisition time compared to the 2D b-SSFP sequence for cine imaging in the evaluation of ventricular function in children with rTOF, and its quality can be further improved by combining it with an NLM denoising method.

• Journal of Cardiovascular Imaging
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• 제31권1호
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• pp.26-38
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• 2023

BACKGROUND: Dobutamine and adenosine stress cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) imaging is relatively contraindicated in patients with moderate to severe aortic valve stenosis (AS). We aimed to determine the safety of dobutamine and adenosine stress CMR in patients with moderate to severe AS. METHODS: In this retrospective study patients with AS who underwent either dobutamine or adenosine stress CMR for exclusion of obstructive coronary artery disease were enrolled. We recorded clinical data, CMR and echocardiography findings, and complications as well as minor symptoms. Patients with AS were compared to matched individuals without AS. RESULTS: A total of 187 patients with AS were identified and compared to age-, gender- and body mass index-matched 187 patients without AS. No severe complications were reported in the study nor the control group. The reported frequency of non-severe complications and minor symptoms were similar between the study and the control groups. Nineteen patients with AS experienced non-severe complications or minor symptoms during dobutamine stress CMR compared to eighteen patients without AS (p = 0.855). One patient with AS and two patients without AS undergoing adenosine stress CMR experienced minor symptoms (p = 0.562). Four examinations were aborted because of chest pain, paroxysmal atrial fibrillation and third-degree atrioventricular block. Inducible ischaemia, prior coronary artery bypass grafting, prior stroke and age were associated with a higher incidence of complications and minor symptoms. CONCLUSIONS: Moderate to severe AS was not associated with complications during CMR stress test. The incidence of non-severe complications and minor symptoms was greater with dobutamine.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• 제57권4호
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• pp.360-368
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• 2024

Background: The left pulmonary artery (LPA) may be kinked and stenotic, especially in tetralogy of Fallot, because of ductal tissue and anterior deviation of the conal septum. If LPA stenosis is not effectively treated during total correction, surgical angioplasty is occasionally performed. However, whether pulmonary artery (PA) angioplasty in adolescents or adults improves perfusion in the ipsilateral lung remains unclear. Methods: This retrospective review enrolled patients who underwent PA angioplasty for LPA stenosis between 2004 and 2019. Among patients who underwent a lung perfusion scan (LPS) or cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (cMRI) pre- and post-pulmonary angioplasty, those aged >13 years with <40% left lung perfusion (p-left) in the pre-angioplasty study were included. Preoperative and postoperative computed tomography, LPS, and cMRI data were collected. The perfusion ratio was analyzed according to the LPA's anatomical characteristics. Results: Seventeen adolescents and 16 adults (≥18 years old) were finally included (median age, 17 years). The most common primary diagnosis was tetralogy of Fallot (87.9%). In all patients, LPA angioplasty was performed concomitantly with right ventricular outflow tract reconstruction. No patients died. Preoperative p-left was not significantly different between adolescents and adults; however, adolescents had significantly higher postoperative p-left than adults. P-left significantly increased in adolescents, but not in adults. Seven patients had significant stenosis (z-score <-2.0) confined only to the proximal LPA and demonstrated significantly increased p-left. Conclusion: PA angioplasty significantly increased ipsilateral lung perfusion in adolescents. If focal stenosis is confined to the proximal LPA, PA angioplasty may improve ipsilateral lung perfusion, regardless of age.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• 제54권1호
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• pp.45-52
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• 2021

Background: Atrial septal defect (ASD) is the most common congenital heart disease. However, the details of cardiac chamber remodeling after surgery are not well known, although this is an important issue that should be analyzed to understand long-term outcomes. Methods: Between November 2017 and January 2019, cardiac magnetic resonance imaging was performed preoperatively, at a 1-month postoperative follow-up, and at a 1-year postoperative follow-up. Cardiac chamber volume, valve regurgitation volume, and ejection fraction were measured as functions of time. Results: Thirteen patients (10 men and 3 women) were included. The median age at surgery was 51.4 years. The preoperative median ratio of flow in the pulmonary and systemic circulation was 2.3. The preoperative mean right ventricular (RV) end-diastolic volume index (EDVi) and RV end-systolic volume index (ESVi) had significantly decreased at the 1-month postoperative follow-up (p<0.001, p=0.001, respectively). The decrease in the RVEDVi (p=0.085) and RVESVi (p=0.023) continued until the postoperative 1-year follow-up, although the rate of decrease was slower. Tricuspid valve regurgitation had also decreased at the 1-month postoperative follow-up (p=0.022), and continued to decrease at a reduced rate (p=0.129). Although the RVEDVi and RVESVi improved after ASD closure, the RV volume parameters were still larger than the left ventricular (LV) volume parameters at the 1-year follow-up (RVEDVi vs. LVEDVi: p=0.016; RVESVi vs. LVESVi: p=0.001). Conclusion: Cardiac remodeling after ASD closure is common and mainly occurs in the early postoperative period. However, complete normalization does not occur.

• Korean Journal of Radiology
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• 제21권4호
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• pp.450-461
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• 2020

Objective: We performed a meta-analysis to evaluate the agreement of cardiac computed tomography (CT) with cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (CMRI) in the assessment of right ventricle (RV) volume and functional parameters. Materials and Methods: PubMed, EMBASE, and Cochrane library were systematically searched for studies that compared CT with CMRI as the reference standard for measurement of the following RV parameters: end-diastolic volume (EDV), end-systolic volume (ESV), stroke volume (SV), or ejection fraction (EF). Meta-analytic methods were utilized to determine the pooled weighted bias, limits of agreement (LOA), and correlation coefficient (r) between CT and CMRI. Heterogeneity was also assessed. Subgroup analyses were performed based on the probable factors affecting measurement of RV volume: CT contrast protocol, number of CT slices, CT reconstruction interval, CT volumetry, and segmentation methods. Results: A total of 766 patients from 20 studies were included. Pooled bias and LOA were 3.1 mL (-5.7 to 11.8 mL), 3.6 mL (-4.0 to 11.2 mL), -0.4 mL (5.7 to 5.0 mL), and -1.8% (-5.7 to 2.2%) for EDV, ESV, SV, and EF, respectively. Pooled correlation coefficients were very strong for the RV parameters (r = 0.87-0.93). Heterogeneity was observed in the studies (I² > 50%, p < 0.1). In the subgroup analysis, an RV-dedicated contrast protocol, ≥ 64 CT slices, CT volumetry with the Simpson's method, and inclusion of the papillary muscle and trabeculation had a lower pooled bias and narrower LOA. Conclusion: Cardiac CT accurately measures RV volume and function, with an acceptable range of bias and LOA and strong correlation with CMRI findings. The RV-dedicated CT contrast protocol, ≥ 64 CT slices, and use of the same CT volumetry method as CMRI can improve agreement with CMRI.

• Investigative Magnetic Resonance Imaging
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• 제25권1호
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• pp.10-22
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• 2021

Purpose: To overcome the difficulty in building a large data set with a high-quality in medical imaging, a concept of 'blended-transfer learning' (BTL) using a combination of both source data and target data is proposed for the target task. Materials and Methods: Source and target tasks were defined as training of the source and target networks to reconstruct cardiac CINE images from undersampled data, respectively. In transfer learning (TL), the entire neural network (NN) or some parts of the NN after conducting a source task using an open data set was adopted in the target network as the initial network to improve the learning speed and the performance of the target task. Using BTL, an NN effectively learned the target data while preserving knowledge from the source data to the maximum extent possible. The ratio of the source data to the target data was reduced stepwise from 1 in the initial stage to 0 in the final stage. Results: NN that performed BTL showed an improved performance compared to those that performed TL or standalone learning (SL). Generalization of NN was also better achieved. The learning curve was evaluated using normalized mean square error (NMSE) of reconstructed images for both target data and source data. BTL reduced the learning time by 1.25 to 100 times and provided better image quality. Its NMSE was 3% to 8% lower than with SL. Conclusion: The NN that performed the proposed BTL showed the best performance in terms of learning speed and learning curve. It also showed the highest reconstructed-image quality with the lowest NMSE for the test data set. Thus, BTL is an effective way of learning for NNs in the medical-imaging domain where both quality and quantity of data are always limited.

• Investigative Magnetic Resonance Imaging
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• 제7권2호
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• pp.100-107
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• 2003

목적 : 급성심근경색을 진단하는데 있어 심장자기공명영상의 유용성을 알아보고, 생존심근을 평가하는데 있어 Tl-201 심근관류 SPECT와 비교하고자 하였다. 대상 및 방법 : 흉통 및 호흡곤란이 있는 환자 중 심장자기공명영상과 Tl-201 SPECT를 시행한 17명을 후향적으로 조사하였다. 심장자기공명영상에서는 T2강조영상에서 심벽의 고신호 강도 유무, 영화영상에서 심벽 운동, Gd-DTPA 조영 증강 후 좌심실 벽의 관류 결손 및 주입 15분 후의 지연조영증강 유무를 평가하였다. T1-201 SPECT에서는 아데노신 부하 영상과 휴식기 영상을 얻어 관류 결손 유무와 관류 결손시 가역성 여부를 평가하였다. 결과 심장자기공명영상과 T1-201 SPECT 모두 급성심근경색을 진단하는데 통계적으로 의미가 있었고, T2강조영상, T1-201 SPECT, 지연조영증강 및 심벽운동 순으로 연관성이 있는 것으로 나타났고, 관류 결손은 통계적 유의성이 없었다. 생존심근 평가에 있어서는 두 검사간 유의한 차이가 없었으며, T2강조영상과 관류영상에서 T1-201 SPECT와 높은 일치율, 지연조영증강 및 심벽운동은 낮은 일치율을 보였다. 결론 : 심장자기공명영상은 급성심근경색을 진단하는데 매우 유의한 진단율을 보였고, 생존 심근여부의 판단에 있어 SPECT와 높은 일치율을 보였다. 그러나 각 검사별 판독 기준과 방법에서 많은 연구가 필요할 것으로 생각된다.

• 대한의용생체공학회:의공학회지
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• 제28권1호
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• pp.132-138
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• 2007

MR(magnetic resonance) image of moving organ such as heart shows serious distortion of MR image due to motion itself. To eliminate motion artifacts, MRI(magnetic resonance imaging) scan sequences requires a trigger pulse like ECG(electro-cardiography) R-wave. ECG-gating using cardiac cycle synchronizes the MRI sequence acquisition to the R-wave in order to eliminate image motion artifacts. In this paper, we designed ECG/PPG(photo-plethysmography) gating system which is for eliminating motion artifacts due to moving organ. This system uses nonmagnetic carbon electrodes, lead wire and shield case for minimizing RF(radio-frequency) pulse and gradient effect. Also, we developed a ECG circuit for preventing saturation by magnetic field and a finger plethysmography sensor using optic fiber. And then, gating pulse is generated by adaptive filtering based on NLMS(normalized least mean square) algorithm. To evaluate the developed system, we measured and compared MR imaging of heart and neck with and without ECG/PPG gating system. As a result, we could get a clean image to be used in clinically. In conclusion, the designed ECG/PPG gating system could be useful method when we get MR imaging of moving organ like a heart.

• Journal of Yeungnam Medical Science
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• 제34권2호
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• pp.238-241
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• 2017

Background: We investigated the difference in right ventricle (RV) volume and ejection fraction (EF) according to the pulmonary valve (PV) annular extension technique during Tetralogy of Fallot (TOF) total correction. Methods: We divided patients who underwent the procedure from 1993 to 2003 into two groups according to PV extension technique (group I: PV annular extension, group II: no PV annular extension) during TOF total correction. We then analyzed the three segmental (RV inlet, trabecular and outlet) and whole RV volume and EF by cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Results: Fourteen patients were included in this study (group I: 10 patients, group II: four patients; male: nine patients, female: five patients). Cardiac MRI was conducted after a 16.1 years TOF total correction follow-up period. There was no statistical difference in RV segmental volume index or EF between groups (all p>0.05). Moreover, the total RV volume index and EF did not differ significantly between groups (all p>0.05). Conclusion: The RV volume and EF of the PV annular extension group did not differ from that of the PV annular extension group. Thus, PV annular preservation technique did not show the surgical advantage compared to PV annular extension technique in this study.