• Korean Journal of Radiology
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• 제21권11호
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• pp.1199-1209
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• 2020

The glymphatic system hypothesis is a concept describing the clearance of waste products from the brain. The term "glymphatic system" combines the glial and lymphatic systems and is typically described as follows. The perivascular space functions as a conduit that drains cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) into the brain parenchyma. CSF guided to the perivascular space around the arteries enters the interstitium of brain tissue via aquaporin-4 water channels to clear waste proteins into the perivascular space around the veins before being drained from the brain. In this review, we introduce the glymphatic system hypothesis and its association with fluid dynamics, sleep, and disease. We also discuss imaging methods to evaluate the glymphatic system.

• Korean Journal of Radiology
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• 제25권1호
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• pp.11-23
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• 2024

Objective: To investigate whether reader training improves the performance and agreement of radiologists in interpreting unenhanced breast magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans using diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI). Materials and Methods: A study of 96 breasts (35 cancers, 24 benign, and 37 negative) in 48 asymptomatic women was performed between June 2019 and October 2020. High-resolution DWI with b-values of 0, 800, and 1200 sec/mm² was performed using a 3.0-T system. Sixteen breast radiologists independently reviewed the DWI, apparent diffusion coefficient maps, and T1-weighted MRI scans and recorded the Breast Imaging Reporting and Data System (BI-RADS) category for each breast. After a 2-h training session and a 5-month washout period, they re-evaluated the BI-RADS categories. A BI-RADS category of 4 (lesions with at least two suspicious criteria) or 5 (more than two suspicious criteria) was considered positive. The per-breast diagnostic performance of each reader was compared between the first and second reviews. Inter-reader agreement was evaluated using a multi-rater κ analysis and intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC). Results: Before training, the mean sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy of the 16 readers were 70.7% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 59.4-79.9), 90.8% (95% CI: 85.6-94.2), and 83.5% (95% CI: 78.6-87.4), respectively. After training, significant improvements in specificity (95.2%; 95% CI: 90.8-97.5; P = 0.001) and accuracy (85.9%; 95% CI: 80.9-89.8; P = 0.01) were observed, but no difference in sensitivity (69.8%; 95% CI: 58.1-79.4; P = 0.58) was observed. Regarding inter-reader agreement, the κ values were 0.57 (95% CI: 0.52-0.63) before training and 0.68 (95% CI: 0.62-0.74) after training, with a difference of 0.11 (95% CI: 0.02-0.18; P = 0.01). The ICC was 0.73 (95% CI: 0.69-0.74) before training and 0.79 (95% CI: 0.76-0.80) after training (P = 0.002). Conclusion: Brief reader training improved the performance and agreement of interpretations by breast radiologists using unenhanced MRI with DWI.

• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
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• 제22권5호
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• pp.109-115
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• 2010

Purpose: This study was to delineate the structural change of neural pathway after sequential motor learning using diffusion tensor imaging (DTI). Methods: The participants were 16 healthy subjects, which were divided by training (n=8) and control (n=8) group. The task for the training was the Serial Reaction Time Task (SRTT) which was designed by Superlab program. When the 'asterisk' shows up in the 4 partition spaces on the monitor, the subject presses the correct response button as soon as possible. The training group participated in the training program of motor learning with SRTT composed of 24 digits pattern in one hour per daily through 10 days during 2 weeks. Results: In the behavioral results the training group showed significant changes in the increase of response number and the reduction of response time than those of the control group. There was significant difference in the left inferior frontal area in the fractional anisotropy (FA) map of the training group in DTI analysis. Conclusion: Motor sequential learning as like SRTT may be needed to the learning of language and visuospatial processing and may be induced for the experience-dependent structural plasticity during short period.

• 한국가시화정보학회:학술대회논문집
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• 한국가시화정보학회 2007년도 추계학술대회
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• pp.88-91
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• 2007

Animal cells show different behaviors in response to the mechanical properties of the substrates. We hypothesize that the rigidity of the substrates also affects the bacterial motility and controls the colony dynamics. It is found that the colony size of Escherichia colis and Bacillus subtilis grown on the agar plates is correlated with agarose gel concentrations and thus with the substrate rigidity. High- resolution microscopic imaging reveals that bacteria in single colonies form different aggregation patterns on the agar plates with varying gel concentration. We measured the apparent diffusion coefficients in the agarose gel plates made with different gel concentrations. Mathematical modeling and quantitative imaging of dye dispersion in the agar plates suggest that there is a close connection between the diffusion rate and the colony size. Nanoscale pore structures and kinetic constraints in the porous media may have an effect on bacterial colony dynamics.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• 제54권1호
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• pp.40-44
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• 2011

We present a case of tacrolimus-induced encephalopathy after successful kidney transplantation. An 11-year-old girl presented with sudden onset of neurologic symptoms, hypertension, and psychiatric symptoms, with normal kidney function, after kidney transplantation. The symptoms improved after cessation of tacrolimus. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) showed acute infarction of the middle cerebral artery (MCA) territory in the right frontal lobe. Three days later, she had normal mental function and maintained normal blood pressure with left hemiparesis. Follow-up MRI was performed on D19, showing new infarct lesions at both cerebral hemispheres. Ten days later, MRI showed further improvement, but brain single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) showed mild reduction of uptake in both the anterior cingulate gyrus and the left thalamus. One month after onset of symptoms, angiography showed complete resolution of stenosis. However, presenting as a mild fine motor disability of both hands and mild dysarthria, what had been atrophy at both centrum semiovale at 4 months now showed progression to encephalomalacia. There are two points of interest in this case. First, encephalopathy occurred after administration of tacrolimus and improved after discontinuation of the drug. Second, the development of right-side hemiplegia could not be explained by conventional MRI; but through diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) and diffusion tensor tractography (DTT) of white matter tract, visualization was possible.

• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
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• 제34권6호
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• pp.326-331
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• 2022

Purpose: The stroke patients have gait dysfunction due to impaired neural tracts; corticospinal tract (CST), corticoreticular pathway (CRP), and vestibulospinal tract (VST). In this study, we investigated characteristics of gait pattern according to the injury aspect of the neural track in a stroke patient. Methods: One patient and six control subjects of similar age participated. A 19-year-old male patient with spontaneous intracerebral hemorrhage on right basal ganglia, thalamus, corona radiata and cerebral cortex due to arteriovenous malformation rupture. Diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) data was acquired 21 months after the stroke. Kinematic and spatio-temporal parameters of gait were collected using a three-dimensional gait analysis system. Results: On 21 months DTI, the CST and CRP in affected hemisphere showed severe injury, in contrast, the VST in affected hemisphere showed intact integrity. Result of gait analysis, walking distance and speed were significantly decreased in a patient. The stance rate of unaffected lower limb, the swing rate of affected lower limb and the duration of double stance significantly increased compared with normal control. The knee and hip joint angle were significantly decreased in a patient. Conclusion: We found recovered independent gait ability may be associated with unimpaired VST in a patient with severe injury in CST and CRP.

• Korean Journal of Radiology
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• 제24권1호
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• pp.62-78
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• 2023

As the majority of incidentally detected lesions in the anterior mediastinum is small nodules with soft tissue appearance, the differential diagnosis has typically included thymic neoplasm and prevascular lymph node, with benign cyst. Overestimation or misinterpretation of these lesions can lead to unnecessary surgery for ultimately benign conditions. Diagnosing mediastinal cysts using MRI serves as a problem-solving modality in distinguishing between surgical and nonsurgical anterior mediastinal lesions. The pitfalls of MRI evaluation for anterior mediastinal cystic lesions are as follows: first, we acknowledge the limitation of T2-weighted images for evaluating benign cystic lesions. Due to variable contents within benign cystic lesions, such as hemorrhage, T2 signal intensity may be variable. Second, owing to extensive necrosis and cystic changes, the T2 shine-through effect may be seen on diffusion-weighted images (DWI), and small solid portions might be missed on enhanced images. Therefore, both enhancement and DWI with apparent diffusion coefficient values should be considered. An algorithm will be suggested for the diagnostic evaluation of anterior mediastinal cystic lesions, and finally, a management strategy based on MRI features will be suggested.

• 한국방사선학회논문지
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• 제6권1호
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• pp.19-26
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• 2012

급성 뇌졸중의 경우 빠른 시간 내의 진단과 치료가 예후에 큰 영향을 미친다. 본 연구에서는 초급성기 뇌경색 환자에서 관류CT와 확산강조MRI의 영상을 비교하여 허혈 부위와 경색부위에 나타나는 차이점을 알아보고자 하였다. 뇌관류 CT와 확산강조 자기공명영상(diffusion weighted MR imaging, DW-MRI)을 시행한 12명의 급성뇌경색 환자를 대상으로 병변부위와 정상부위에서 각각의 CBF, CBV, MTT, TTP지도와 DW-MRI의 신호강도 값을 비교하고, 관류CT와 DW-MRI에서 병변의 크기 비교를 해보았다. CBF, CBV, MTT, TTP는 모두 관류결손을 보였고, 관류 결손이 인지되는 부위에서 MTT와 TTP시간의 현저한 지연이 있었다. 뿐만 아니라, MTT와 TTP 지도의 결손부위 면적은 DW-MRI 보다 크게 나타나 허혈성 반음영을 추측할 수 있었고, 일부 DW-MRI에서 경색부위를 나타내지 못하는 경우도 있었다. 결론적으로 관류 CT의 지도를 이용하면 뇌경색의 조기 진단뿐만 아니라 허혈 중심부, 그리고 허혈성 반음영을 예측하여 관류결손 부위의 혈류 역학적 상태를 평가 할 수 있어 보다 효과적인 치료계획을 세울 수 있다.

• 대한의용생체공학회:의공학회지
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• 제25권1호
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• pp.43-47
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• 2004

뇌의 기능성과 분산 영역간의 연결성에 대한 관심이 매우 증대되고 있는 추세다. 그 중에서 DTI (확산 텐서 영상)는 비침습적으로 뇌에서의 물분자의 확산과 뇌의 회백질 신경 다발 구조에 대한 정보를 제공할 수 있는 자기공명영상 기법이다. 따라서 우리는 이 기법을 통해 다른 해부학적 혹은 기능적 자기공명영상 기법으로는 얼을 수 없는 뇌의 신경 섬유 다발과 대뇌 피질 영역의 연결성 정보를 얻을 수 있다. 본 연구에서는 컬러 코딩 방식에 의하여 뇌의 주된 신경 다발의 방향성을 가시화 하고자 한다. 인간 뇌의 방향성 지도는 연합섬유, 방사섬유. 교련섬유. 운동 및 감각회로 섬유의 다발들을 구별하기 쉽게 하여준다. 우리는 이 목적 하에 24비트 칼라코딩 방법을 윈도우 PC 환경에서 IDL을 이용하여 구현하였다. 덧붙여 방향성의 각각의 성분 및 이방성에 대한 컬러 코딩과 이들을 표현하기 위한 다양한 색상표를 구현하였다. 결론적으로 우리의 24 비트 킬러 코딩을 이용한 뇌 회백질의 신경 다발의 방향성 가시화에 성공하였다. 우리가 구현한 방법에 의해 뇌의 주요 신경 다발들이 잘 가시화됨을 확인하였다.

• Korean Journal of Radiology
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• 제22권6호
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• pp.867-879
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• 2021

Objective: To compare the screening performance of diffusion-weighted (DW) MRI and combined mammography and ultrasound (US) in detecting clinically occult contralateral breast cancer in women with newly diagnosed breast cancer. Materials and Methods: Between January 2017 and July 2018, 1148 women (mean age ± standard deviation, 53.2 ± 10.8 years) with unilateral breast cancer and no clinical abnormalities in the contralateral breast underwent 3T MRI, digital mammography, and radiologist-performed whole-breast US. In this retrospective study, three radiologists independently and blindly reviewed all DW MR images (b = 1000 s/mm² and apparent diffusion coefficient map) of the contralateral breast and assigned a Breast Imaging Reporting and Data System category. For combined mammography and US evaluation, prospectively assessed results were used. Using histopathology or 1-year follow-up as the reference standard, cancer detection rate and the patient percentage with cancers detected among all women recommended for tissue diagnosis (positive predictive value; PPV2) were compared. Results: Of the 30 cases of clinically occult contralateral cancers (13 invasive and 17 ductal carcinoma in situ [DCIS]), DW MRI detected 23 (76.7%) cases (11 invasive and 12 DCIS), whereas combined mammography and US detected 12 (40.0%, five invasive and seven DCIS) cases. All cancers detected by combined mammography and US, except two DCIS cases, were detected by DW MRI. The cancer detection rate of DW MRI (2.0%; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.3%, 3.0%) was higher than that of combined mammography and US (1.0%; 95% CI: 0.5%, 1.8%; p = 0.009). DW MRI showed higher PPV2 (42.1%; 95% CI: 26.3%, 59.2%) than combined mammography and US (18.5%; 95% CI: 9.9%, 30.0%; p = 0.001). Conclusion: In women with newly diagnosed breast cancer, DW MRI detected significantly more contralateral breast cancers with fewer biopsy recommendations than combined mammography and US.