• Journal of Radiation Protection and Research
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• v.30 no.4
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• pp.175-183
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• 2005

Dose distribution of Korean radiation workers classified by occupational categories was analyzed. Statistics of the occupational radiation exposure(ORE) in 2002 of the radiation workers in diagnostic and dental radiology were obtained from the Korea Food and Drug Agency(KFDA) who maintains the database for individual radiation dose records. Corresponding statistics for the rest of radiation workers were obtained by processing the individual annual doses provided by the Korea Radioisotope Association(KRIA) after deletion of individual information. The ORE distribution was classified in term of 28 occupational categories, annual individual dose levels, age groups and gender of 52733 radiation workers as of the year of 2002. The total collective dose was 66.4 man-Sv and resulting average individual ORE was 1.26 mSv. Around 80% of the workers were exposed to minimal doses less than 1.2 mSv. However, it appeared that the recorded doses exceeded 20 mSv for 43 workers in the industrial radiography and for 147 workers in the field of radiology. Particularly, recorded doses of 23 workers in radiology exceeded the annual dose limits of 50 mSv, which is extraordinary when the working environment is considered. It is uncertain whether those doses are real or caused by careless placing of dosimeters in the imaging rooms while the X-ray units are in operation. No one in the workforce of 16 operating nuclear power plant units was exposed over 20 mSv in 2002. Number of workers was the largest in their 30's of age and the mean individual dose was the highest in their 20's. Women were around 20% of the radiation workers and their average dose was around one half of that of man workers.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.68 no.2
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• pp.80-86
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• 2010

Background: Recently, many institutions have acquired multi-detector computed tomography (MDCT) systems. This made it easier and more convenient to use MDCT as a initial diagnostic modality for hemoptysis. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the usefulness of MDCT before bronchoscopy and/or bronchial arterial embolization (BAE) for hemoptysis. Methods: We studied a total of 125 patients with hemoptysis who underwent, between 2006 and 2008, MDCT in a routine protocol before bronchoscopy and/or BAE. One hundred two patients underwent bronchoscopy and 29 patients underwent BAE. We compared the usefulness of MDCT and bronchoscopy for detecting the bleeding site and identifying the cause. We also evaluated our ability, using MDCT, to detect instances where the bronchial artery caused hemoptysis. Results: The rate of detection of a bleeding site was 75.5% on MDCT and 50.9% on bronchoscopy. MDCT and bronchoscopy detected the bleeding site in agreement in 62.7% of patients. MDCT alone found the bleeding site in 27.5% of cases. MDCT identified the cause of hemoptysis in 77.5% and bronchoscopy in 11.8%. In 29 patients who underwent BAE, we detected a total of 37 hypertrophied bronchial arteries that were causing hemoptysis. Of 37 bronchial arteries, 23 (62.2%) were depicted on MDCT. Conclusion: MDCT is superior to bronchoscopy for detecting the bleeding site and identifying the cause of hemoptysis. MDCT can also predict the side of affected bronchial artery with depiction of hypertrophied bronchial artery and localizing the bleeding site. Doing MDCT before bronchoscopy and BAE can provide a guideline for the next step.

• The Journal of the Korea Contents Association
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• v.17 no.9
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• pp.99-106
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• 2017

This study focused on the issue that when a diagnostic detector is found to have a defect, a patient would be exposed to radiation and image quality would be degraded. Though dose analysis, an experiment was conducted to evaluate detector performance as Signal to Noise Ratio (SNR) and Contrast to Noise Ratio (CNR). Absorbed dose, SNR and CNR were measured using a dosimeter and a tissue equivalent phantom. The experiment was conducted to compare whether the dose value shown after being attached to the back side of the phantom matches the dose value attached behind the detector, where in the conditions of skull, chest and abdomen were set at 75 kVp, 25 mAs, 110 kVp, 8 mAs, and 80 kVp, 20 mAs, respectively. As a result, there was a difference in that the dose values attached to the back side of the detector were 0.004 mGy, 0.006 mGy, 0.003 mGy, whereas those of the back side of the phantom were 0.006 mGy, 0.016 mGy, 0.017 mGy. In order to match both values, the condition was increased and SNR and CNR also increased from 88.32, 88.10, 4.09, 1.63, 87.94, 79.97 to 93.87, 93.75, 4.91, 4.03, 92.02, 84.92. Though this study, we found that when a detector is found to have a aging, it shortens the life of equipment and increases the dose of a patient, also the improvement effect of image quality is inadequate.

• Radiation Oncology Journal
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• v.4 no.2
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• pp.99-105
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• 1986

Optimal balance between control probability and risk of complication is emphasized even in present time, Although certain incidence of intestinal injury is accepted as an inevitable consequence after abdominopelvic irradiation, these complications still remain as problems. 60 mice were irradiated with 250 kVp orthovoltage x-ray machine and $200rad{\times}5/wk$ regimen. Histpathologic findings of colorectum and the relationship with occult blood test were analyzed and possible tolerable dose which would be safe from permanent complication was also estimated. Followings are the results: Mild mucosal and submucosal edema were observed in 1,000 rad irradiated group. Congestion of small vessels was prominent in 2,000 rad irradiated group and infiltration of inflammatory cells was observed in 3,000 rad irradiated group. Denuded mucosa was observed in 3,000 rad irradiated group. Occult blood test is not a proper indicator for rectal denuding or rectal ulcer, but our results suggest the possibility of using this as a relative scale of intestinal damage. Mitotic figures of crypt cells were observed even in 5,000 rad irradiated group, these suggest that the repair capacity of crypt cells are still functioning.

• Journal of Radiation Industry
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• v.10 no.4
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• pp.189-192
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• 2016

$^{68}Ga$ has emerged as a promising candidate for non-invasive diagnostic imaging within Positron Emission Tomography (PET) because of its advantageous radiochemical characteristics ($t_{1/2}=68min$, ${\beta}^+$ yield ~89%). $^{68}Ga$ forms a stable chelation with various ligands and it is possible to be quickly and easily study using a $^{68}Ge/^{68}Ga$ generator. Commercial $^{68}Ge/^{68}Ga$ generators are chromatographic system using the inorganic materials such as alumina and tin dioxide which are employed as column matrixes for $^{68}Ge$. In this study, we tried out to make $^{68}Ge/^{68}Ga$ generator system with the $^{68}GeO_2$ microstructures for column matrix. $^{68}Ge$ tends to have stable bond with oxide as $^{68}GeO_2$ microstructures. The $^{68}GeO_2$ has been synthesized by hydrolysis of $GeCl_4$ (sol-gel method) and characterized by X-ray diffraction and scanning electron microscope for geometrical analysis. The stability of $GeO_2$ was tested using eluents with diverse solvents(water, ethanol and 0.1 N HCl). The radioactivity of $^{68}Ga^{3+}$ in eluate through $GeO_2$ was measured to prove a function as column material for a generator.

• Korean Chemical Engineering Research
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• v.57 no.4
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• pp.445-454
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• 2019

Layered double hydroxides (LDHs) nanoparticles have emerged as novel nanomaterials for bio-imaging applications due to its unique layered structure, physicochemical properties, and good biocompatibility. Bio-imaging is one of the most important fields for medical applications in clinical diagnostics and therapeutics of various diseases. Enhanced diagnostic techniques are needed to realize new paradigm for next-generation personalized medicine through nanoscale materials. When nanotechnology is introduced into bio-imaging system, nanoparticle probes can endow imaging techniques with enhanced ability to obtain information about biological system at the molecular level. In this review, we summarize structural features of LDH nanoparticles with current issues of bio-imaging system. LDH nanoparticle probes are also discussed through in vitro as well as in vivo studies in various bio-imaging techniques including fluorescence imaging, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), positron emission tomography (PET), and computed X-ray tomography (CT), which will have the potential in the development of the advanced nanoparticles with high sensitivity and selectivity.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.82 no.3
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• pp.234-241
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• 2019

Background: The utility of computed tomography (CT) in the differential diagnosis of patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) exacerbation remains uncertain. However, due to the low cost associated with CT scan along with the impact of Koreas' health insurance system, there has been a rise in the number of CT scans in the patients with initial diagnosis of COPD exacerbations. Therefore, the utility of CT in the differential diagnosis was investigated to determine whether performing CT scans affect the clinical outcomes of the patients with an initial diagnosis of COPD exacerbation. Methods: This study involved 202 COPD patients hospitalized with an initial diagnosis of COPD exacerbation. We evaluated the change in diagnosis or treatment after performing a CT scan, and compared the clinical outcomes of patient groups with vs. without performing CT (non-CT group vs. CT group). Results: After performing CT, the diagnosis was changed for two (3.0%) while additional diagnoses were made for 27 of the 64 patients (42.1%). However, the treatment changed for only one (1.5%), and six patients (9.3%) received supplementary medication. There were no difference in the median length of hospital stay (8 [6-13] days vs. 8 [6-12] days, p=0.786) and intensive care unit care (14 [10.1%] vs. 11 [16.7%], p=0.236) between the CT and non-CT groups, respectively. These findings remained consistent even after the propensity score matching. Conclusion: Utility of CT in patients with acute COPD exacerbation might not be helpful; therefore, we do not recommend chest CT scan as a routine initial diagnostic tool.

• The Journal of the Korea Contents Association
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• v.19 no.6
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• pp.471-480
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• 2019

L-spine 3~4, L-spine 4~5, and L-spine 5~Sacrum 1 intervertebral disc(IVD) angle according to gender, age, body mass index(BMI), lumbar lordosis angle(LLA) were compared and analyzed. The anteriorposterior incidence angle of L-spine 3 ~ 4, L-spine 4 ~ 5 and L-spine 5~Sacrum 1 in body mass index were 5.66, 13.23 and 29.13 degrees in the head direction and L-spine 3 4, L-spine 4 ~ 5, L-spine 5~Sacrum 1 had 6.32 degrees, 16.09 degrees and 35.36 degrees in the head direction. The distortion area ratio comparison was performed with the phantom image using the proposed incidence angle. There was a significant difference in L-spine 4~5 and L-spine 5~Sacrum 1 IVD angle relative to body mass index and LLA(p<0.05), IVD angle and LLA were positively correlated(p<0.05).As a result of evaluating the usefulness of the image by applying the incidence angles of the disc angles according to the phantom angle of deviation to the head direction as 11 degrees for L4 and 26 degrees for L5, the distortion ratio area decreased from 14.90% to 12.11% in L4, And from 15.25% to 13.72% in L5. In anteriorposterior image of the Lumbar spine applying the incidence angle according to the measured disc angle, it is possible to reduce the distortion to purpose L4, L5. And improved the quality and diagnostic information of the target site.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Radiology
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• v.79 no.6
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• pp.303-310
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• 2018

Purpose: To evaluate the CT features of incidental breast lesions on chest CT and to suggest useful criteria for referral to a specialized breast unit. Materials and Methods: Between May 2009 and April 2014, enhanced chest CT examination reports containing the key word 'breast' were reviewed retrospectively. Patients who had incidental breast lesion and were referred to a specialized breast unit and then underwent pathological confirmation or follow-up over a 1-year period were included. Finally, 86 patients (all female, mean age, $48.9{\pm}12.6years$) were enrolled. Two radiologists evaluated lesion characteristics, including size, shape, margins, and enhancement. The correlations between the CT features and pathologies were evaluated, and the diagnostic accuracy of CT features in various combinations was assessed. Results: Among the CT features, irregular shape, non-circumscribed margin, and high contrast enhancement were different between malignant and benign lesions (p < 0.05). The combination of non-circumscribed margin and high contrast enhancement had the highest accuracy (97.7%). Conclusion: Reliable CT features for incidental malignant breast masses are irregular shape, non-circumscribed margin, and high contrast enhancement. The combination of non-circumscribed margin and high contrast enhancement could help distinguish incidental malignant breast lesions and indicate referral to a specialized breast unit.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.54 no.6
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• pp.412-421
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• 2021

Objectives: Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is an increasingly prevalent metabolic disease. Muscle is known to influence NAFLD development. Therefore, this study aimed to determine the relationships among low muscle mass, NAFLD, and hepatic fibrosis using various definitions of low muscle mass and NAFLD diagnostic methods, including magnetic resonance imaging-based proton density fat fraction (MRI-PDFF). Methods: This cross-sectional study included 320 participants (107 males, 213 females) from the Korean Genome and Epidemiology Study on Atherosclerosis Risk of Rural Areas in the Korean General Population cohort. Muscle mass was assessed using whole-body dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry and adjusted for the height squared, body weight, and body mass index (BMI). NAFLD was diagnosed using ultrasonography (US), MRI-PDFF, and the comprehensive NAFLD score (CNS). Hepatic fibrosis was assessed using magnetic resonance elastography. Multivariable logistic and linear regression analyses were performed to determine the aforementioned associations. Results: According to US, 183 participants (57.2%) had NAFLD. Muscle mass adjusted for body weight was associated with NAFLD diagnosed using US (odds ratio [OR], 3.00; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.70 to 5.31), MRI-PDFF (OR, 2.00; 95% CI, 1.13 to 3.53), and CNS (OR, 3.39; 95% CI, 1.73 to 6.65) and hepatic fibrosis (males: β=-0.070, p<0.01; females: β=-0.037, p<0.04). Muscle mass adjusted for BMI was associated with NAFLD diagnosed by US (OR, 1.71; 95% CI, 1.02 to 2.86) and CNS (OR, 1.95; 95% CI, 1.04 to 3.65), whereas muscle mass adjusted for height was not associated with NAFLD. Conclusions: Low muscle mass was associated with NAFLD and liver fibrosis; therefore, maintaining sufficient muscle mass is important to prevent NAFLD. A prospective study and additional consideration of muscle quality are needed to strengthen the findings regarding this association.