• Korean Journal of Digital Imaging in Medicine
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• v.9 no.2
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• pp.31-38
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• 2007

To evaluate the accuracy and extent in the localization of cerebral motor coutex activation using a gradient- echo echo planar imaging(GE-EPI) compared to spin-echo echo planar iimaging(SE-EPI) on 3T MR imaging. Functional MR imaging of cerebral motor cortex activation was examined in GE-EPI and SE-EPI in five healthy male volunteers. A right finger movement was accomplished with a paradigm of 6 task and rest, periods and the cross-correlation was used for a statistical mapping algorithm. We evaluated any sorts of differenced of the time seried and the signal intensity changes between the rest and task periods obtained with two technoques. The qualitative analysis was distributed with activation sites of large veins and small veins by using two techniques and was found that both the techniques were clinically uesful for delineating large veins and small veins in fMRL Signal intensity charge of the rest and activation periods provided simmilar activations in both methods(GE-EPI : 0.93$\pm$0.11, SE-EPI : 0.80$\pm$.015) but the signal intensity in GE-EPI(133.95$\pm$15.76) was larger than in SE-EPI(74.5$\pm$18.90). The average SNRs of EPI raw data were higher at SMA in SE-EPI(48.54$\pm$12.37) than GE-EPI(41.4$\pm$12.54) and at M1 in SE-EPI(43.24$\pm$11.77) than GE-EPI(38.27$\pm$6.53). The localization of activation voxels of the GE-EPI showed a larger vein but the SE-EPI generally showed small vein. Then the analysis results of the two techniques were used for a statistacal paired student t-test. SE-EPI was found clinically useful for localizing the cerebral moter cortex cativation on 3.0T, but showed a little different activation patterns comparad to GE-EPI. In conclusion, SE-EPI may be feasible and can detect true cortical activation from capillaries and GE-EPI can obtain the large veins in the motor cortex activation on 3T MR imaging.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Inherited Metabolic disease
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• v.12 no.1
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• pp.49-53
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• 2012

X-linked adrenoleukodystrophy (ALD) is a rare inherited metabolic disease which results in impaired peroxisomal ${\beta}$-oxidation and the accumulation of very long chain fatty acids (VLCFA) in the adrenal cortex, the myelin of the central nervous system, and the testes. X-linked ALD is caused by mutations in the ABCD1 gene encoding an ATP-binding cassette transporter superfamily located in the peroxisomal membrane. This disease is characterized by a variety of phenotypes. The classic childhood cerebral ALD is a rapidly progressive demyelinating condition affecting the cerebral white matter before the age of 10 years in boys. We report the case of a 8-year-old with childhood cerebral X-linked ALD who developed inattention, hyperactivity, motor incoordination and hemiparesis. We diagnosed ALD with elevated plasma very long chain fatty acid level and diffuse high signal intensity lesions in both parieto-occipital white matter and cerebellar white matter in brain MRI. We identified a novel c.983delT (p.Met329CysfsX7) mutation of the ABCD1 gene. There is no correlation between X-ALD phenotype and mutations in the ABCD1 gene. Further studies for searching additional non-genetic factor which determine the phenotypic variation will be needed.

• Korean Journal of Radiology
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• v.24 no.3
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• pp.235-246
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• 2023

Objective: It is difficult to predict the treatment response of tissue after stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) because radiation necrosis (RN) and tumor recurrence can coexist. Our study aimed to predict tumor recurrence, including the recurrence site, after SRS of brain metastasis by performing a longitudinal tumor habitat analysis. Materials and Methods: Two consecutive multiparametric MRI examinations were performed for 83 adults (mean age, 59.0 years; range, 27-82 years; 44 male and 39 female) with 103 SRS-treated brain metastases. Tumor habitats based on contrast-enhanced T1- and T2-weighted images (structural habitats) and those based on the apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) and cerebral blood volume (CBV) images (physiological habitats) were defined using k-means voxel-wise clustering. The reference standard was based on the pathology or Response Assessment in Neuro-Oncologycriteria for brain metastases (RANO-BM). The association between parameters of single-time or longitudinal tumor habitat and the time to recurrence and the site of recurrence were evaluated using the Cox proportional hazards regression analysis and Dice similarity coefficient, respectively. Results: The mean interval between the two MRI examinations was 99 days. The longitudinal analysis showed that an increase in the hypovascular cellular habitat (low ADC and low CBV) was associated with the risk of recurrence (hazard ratio [HR], 2.68; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.46-4.91; P = 0.001). During the single-time analysis, a solid low-enhancing habitat (low T2 and low contrast-enhanced T1 signal) was associated with the risk of recurrence (HR, 1.54; 95% CI, 1.01-2.35; P = 0.045). A hypovascular cellular habitat was indicative of the future recurrence site (Dice similarity coefficient = 0.423). Conclusion: After SRS of brain metastases, an increased hypovascular cellular habitat observed using a longitudinal MRI analysis was associated with the risk of recurrence (i.e., treatment resistance) and was indicative of recurrence site. A tumor habitat analysis may help guide future treatments for patients with brain metastases.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Radiology
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• v.82 no.6
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• pp.1619-1627
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• 2021

Central venous stenosis is a relatively common complication in hemodialysis patients; however, jugular venous reflux (JVR) and increased intracranial pressure are rare, and associated progressive visual disturbance was reported in only a few cases. Here, we report a case of JVR with visual disturbance and increased intracranial pressure. Notably, the MRI was accompanied by a dilatation of the superior ophthalmic vein, which was mistaken for a cavernous sinus dural arteriovenous fistula (CSdAVF). The patient had JVR on time-of-flight MR angiography (TOF-MRA) and severe stenosis of the left brachiocephalic vein on conventional angiography. After balloon angioplasty for central venous stenosis, he was discharged after improvement of his visual disturbance. Although JVR due to central venous stenosis and CSdAVF might show similar symptoms, treatment plans are different. Therefore, it is important to distinguish radiologically based on a thorough review of MRI and TOF-MRA and confirm the central venous stenosis on cerebral angiography for the accurate diagnosis.

• Korean Journal of Biological Psychiatry
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• v.22 no.3
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• pp.140-148
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• 2015

Objectives The aim of this study is to investigate the correlation between degenerative changes in brain [i.e., global cortical atrophy (GCA), medial temporal atrophy (MTA), white matter hyperintensities (WMH)] and neurocognitive dysfunction in Korean patients with Alzheimer's disease. Methods A total of 62 elderly subjects diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease were included in this study. The degenerative changes in brain MRI were rated with standardized visual rating scales (GCA or global cortical atrophy, MTA or medial temporal atrophy, and Fazekas scales) and the subjects were divided into two groups according to the degree of degeneration for each scale. Cognitive function was evaluated with Korean version of the Consortium to Establish a Registry for Alzheimer's Disease (CERAD-K) and several clinical features, including apolipoprotein E ${\varepsilon}4$ status, lipid profile and thyroid hormones, were also examined. Chi-square test and Fisher's exact test were performed to analyze the relationship between the degree of cerebral degeneration and neurocognitive functions. Results Demographic and clinical features, except for the age, did not show any significant difference between the two groups divided according to the degree of cerebral degenerative changes. However, higher degree of GCA was shown to be associated with poorer performance in verbal fluency test, word list recall test, and word list recognition test. Higher degree of MTA was shown to be associated with poorer performance in Mini-Mental State Examination in the Korean Version of CERAD Assessment Packet (MMSE-KC), word list recognition test and construction praxis recall test. Higher degree of white matter hyperintensities was shown to be associated with poorer performance in MMSE-KC. Conclusions Our results suggest that severe brain degeneration shown in MRI is associated with significantly poorer performance in neurocognitive tests in patients with Alzheimer's disease. Moreover, the degree of GCA, MTA and white matter hyperintensities, represented by scores from different visual rating scales, seems to affect certain neurocognitive domains each, which would provide useful information in clinical settings.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.25 no.3
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• pp.418-426
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• 2004

Objectives : This study was designed to research whether transcranial doppler ultrasound(TCD) can yield a suitable diagnosis or prognosis for dizziness. Methods : To evaluate the blood flow, we measured the mean velocity(Vm), peak systolic velocity(Vs) and pulsatility index(PI) of the middle cerebral artery(MCA), vertebral artery(VA) and basilar artery(BA) in 54 dizziness patients and 44 normal subjects. To investigate the difference between dizziness patients and normal subjects, we selected 54 dizziness patients diagnosed normal by Brain MRI, and 44 normal subjects who did not have any symptoms of hyperlipemia, hypertension, diabetes melitus, heart disease, or smoking, diagnosed normal by Brain MRI. 30-69 year olds were divided into 30-49 year olds, 50-59 year olds and 60-69 year olds. Results : In normal subjects, there was a significantly higher Vm, Vs in the MCA and BA, and Vs in the VA of female subjects, and there was a significant difference in PI in the MCA and BA increasing with age. In comparison with normal subjects, dizziness patients had a significantly lower Vm in the BA. Male dizziness patients had significantly lower PI in the MCA. 30-49 year olds had significantly lower Vm in the BA. Conclusions : The significant difference in blood flow velocities in the BA between dizziness patients and normal subjects suggests that dizziness is related to blocking of blood flow in the BA and that diagnosis and prognosis can be made through TCD. More detailed study of dizziness patients will be needed.

• (The) Research of the performance art and culture
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• no.37
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• pp.365-389
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• 2018

This research aims to study Michael Chekhov's acting techniques scientifically, because his techniques has been studied only theoretically or empirically. Especially, this study focuses on 'imagination' and 'Psychological Gesture' from the perspective of cognitive psychology. Chekhov thought 'imagination' as the basis and core of all the works of acting. In cognitive psychology, it is called as 'imagery' and means 'a representation of the mind of the object not communicated by the sensory organs currently'. This study starts with defining imagery and takes a brief look at the features and kinds of imagery. Then the researcher will prove scientifically the possibility of training acting using imagery as Chekhov's assertion. For the proof of the validity of imagery, we'll look for the theoretical evidences-functional equivalence hypothesis, psychoneuromuscular theory, symbolic learning theory, psychophygiological information processing-and experimental ones-measurements of cerebral blood flow or event-related potential, experiments with fMRI(functional magnetic resonance imaging) or PET(positron emission tomography). As a result, we can see that imagery is functionally identical to perception and improves fulfillment of cognitive and physical tasks. As proving physical changes can draw out psychological changes(feeling) on the medium of imagery, we can also see the validity of Psychological Gesture. From the above research, even if Chekhov developed the acting techniques only on the basis of his experience, his techniques can be thought as having scientific validity. Though insufficient, this study can be a help for actors or students as they using Chekhov's techniques.

• Korean Journal of Radiology
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• v.22 no.11
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• pp.1875-1885
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• 2021

Objective: Central nervous system involvement in coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has been increasingly reported. We performed a systematic review and meta-analysis to evaluate the incidence of radiologically demonstrated neurologic complications and detailed neuroimaging findings associated with COVID-19. Materials and Methods: A systematic literature search of MEDLINE/PubMed and EMBASE databases was performed up to September 17, 2020, and studies evaluating neuroimaging findings of COVID-19 using brain CT or MRI were included. Several cohort-based outcomes, including the proportion of patients with abnormal neuroimaging findings related to COVID-19 were evaluated. The proportion of patients showing specific neuroimaging findings was also assessed. Subgroup analyses were also conducted focusing on critically ill COVID-19 patients and results from studies that used MRI as the only imaging modality. Results: A total of 1394 COVID-19 patients who underwent neuroimaging from 17 studies were included; among them, 3.4% of the patients demonstrated COVID-19-related neuroimaging findings. Olfactory bulb abnormalities were the most commonly observed (23.1%). The predominant cerebral neuroimaging finding was white matter abnormality (17.6%), followed by acute/subacute ischemic infarction (16.0%), and encephalopathy (13.0%). Significantly more critically ill patients had COVID-19-related neuroimaging findings than other patients (9.1% vs. 1.6%; p = 0.029). The type of imaging modality used did not significantly affect the proportion of COVID-19-related neuroimaging findings. Conclusion: Abnormal neuroimaging findings were occasionally observed in COVID-19 patients. Olfactory bulb abnormalities were the most commonly observed finding. Critically ill patients showed abnormal neuroimaging findings more frequently than the other patient groups. White matter abnormalities, ischemic infarctions, and encephalopathies were the common cerebral neuroimaging findings.

• The Korean Journal of Nuclear Medicine
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• v.34 no.6
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• pp.445-455
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• 2000

Purpose: We evaluated the distribution of hypoperfusion in patients with traumatic brain injury (TBI) and the relationship of thalamic hypoperfusion to severity of cognitive and behavioral sequelae. Materials and Methods: Tc-99m ECD SPECT and MRI were performed in 103 patients (M/F=81/22, mean age $34.7{\pm}15.4$ yrs) from 0.5 to 55 months (mean 10.3 months) after TBI. The patients were divided into three groups showing no abnormalities (G1), focal (G2) and diffuse injury (G3) on MRI. Psychometric tests assessed 11 cognitive or behavioral items. In all patients, we evaluated the distribution of hypoperfused areas in SPECT, and in 57/103 patients, neuropsychological (NP) abnormalities in patients with thalamic hypoperfusion were compared with those of patients without thalamic hypoperfusion. Results: The perfusion deficits were most frequently located in the frontal lobe (G1, 42.3%: G2 34.5%: G3 33.3%), temporal lobe ($24{\sim}26%$) thalami ($21{\sim}22.4%$), parietal and occipital lobe (${\leq}10%$). Numbers of NP abnormalities in the cases of cortical hypoperfusion with or without concomitant thalamic hypoperfusion were following: the former $4.7{\pm}1.5$ and the latter $3.2{\pm}1.4\;in\;G1,\;5.0{\pm}1.1\;and\;4.8{\pm}1.2\;in\;G2,\;6.8{\pm}1.8\;and\;6.3{\pm}1.1\;in\;G3$, respectively. This difference according to thalamic hypoperfusion was significant in G1 (p=0.002), but was not significant in G2 or G3. Conclusion: SPECT in patients with TBI had demonstrated hypoperfusion mostly involving the frontal, temporal and thalami. In normal group on MRI, frontal hypoperfusion was more prominent than that of any other group, Furthermore in this group, SPECT could predict severity of NP outcome by concomitant thalamic hypoperfusion with cerebral cortical abnormalities.

• Investigative Magnetic Resonance Imaging
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• v.7 no.2
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• pp.124-131
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• 2003

Purpose : To reveal clinical usefulness of functional MRI (fMRI) using sensorymotor and language stimuli for demonstrating anatomic relationship between sensorimotor or language cortices and lesions in the planning of brain tumor surgery. Materials and Methods : This study included 12 right-handed patients with brain tumors in or around sensorimotor or language cortices. Eleven patients were evaluated with primary motor and sensory stimuli. Of these patients, six patients were also evaluated with language stimuli. One patient was evaluated with language stimuli only. For fMR imaging, a 1.5T scanner was used and the EPI BOLD technique was employed. For postprocessing image, the SPM99 program and a program made by our department was utilized. We evaluated whether sensorimotor and language stimuli activate sensorimotor and language cortices. And also, clinical efficacy of revealing anatomic relationship between cerebral cortices and lesions for planning neurosurgical operation were evaluated. Finally, we compared post-operative neurologic function with pre-operative neurologic function in same patients. Results : The fMRI examination was successful in identifying the functional cortices and depicting anatomic relationship between functional cortices and lesions in all patients. In nine patients of 11 patients with identified sensorimotor cortices, postoperative grade of manual motor test was not changed, compared with preoperative grade. Whereas postoperative improved than preoperative grade in one patient of remaining two patients, postoperative aggravated than preoperative grade in the other. This result was due to atherosclerotic lacunar infarction, regardless of tumor resection. Postoperative deficit of language function was not found in seven patients with identified language cortices. Conclusion : fMRI could be a helpful method for determining the best approach to neurosurgical treatment in patients with brain tumors in or around sensorimotor or language cortices.