• 한국전문물리치료학회지
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• 제13권1호
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• pp.47-53
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• 2006

Since ultrasound has different reflections depending on components of organization, analysis of ultrasound images of skeletal muscle can offer both quantitative and qualitative reports as concerns skeletal muscle structure. This study is focused on the ultrasound method for evaluating the structural characteristics of skeletal muscle and also conducted to examine its practicality. After obtaining images of the elbow flexors from an ultrasound image device with 88 normal subjects whose ages were between twenty and seventy years old (44 men and 44 women), muscular density and white area index (WAI) which indicated structural characteristics of skeletal muscle were analyzed with gray scale analysis. The study examined correlations between subject's age and items which obtained from measuring ultrasound images and the differences in relations to sex and age. Muscular density and WAI had a high correlation with age and were significantly increased in men and women with greater age. The quantitative evaluation method of skeletal muscle structure which analyzed the ultrasound images has high practicality because it is a non-invasive method which complements physical therapy diagnosis and research methods and promotes functionality evaluation.

• 한국음향학회지
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• 제41권5호
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• pp.525-533
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• 2022

초음파 영상 시스템의 수신 집속 과정에서, 채널 데이터를 2차원 푸리에 변환하여 부엽과 격자엽을 억제하는 방법을 제안하였다. 영상점에서 온 신호를 집속하면 모든 채널의 신호는 같은 위상을 가지는 직류로 나타난다. 그러나 영상점 밖에서 오는 신호를 집속하면 입사각에 따라서 다른 공간 주파수를 가지는 채널 신호로 나타난다. 따라서 집속 후의 채널 신호를 2차원 푸리에변환을 하면 입사각을 가지는 신호를 주파수 영역에서 효과적으로 분리할 수 있다. 수신 집속 지연 시간이 인가된 시간-채널 데이터를 2차원 푸리에변환을 하여 주파수 영역에서 직류 성분과 그 밖의 주파수 성분으로 분리하고, 두 값의 비율을 이용하여 가중치를 정의하였다. 초음파 영상에 가중치를 곱함으로써 부엽과 격자엽을 억제하였다. 64채널 선형 어레이에서 5 MHz의 주파수의 초음파 영상을 계산하였다. 초음파 영상에서 나타나는 격자엽은 제안한 방법을 적용하여 완전히 제거되었다. 또한 부엽이 줄어들어 측방향 해상도가 크게 증가되었다. 인체모사 영상의 시뮬레이션에서 대조도가 증가하여 병변의 진단에 도움을 줄 수 있음을 확인하였다.

• 대한전기학회:학술대회논문집
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• 대한전기학회 2001년도 합동 추계학술대회 논문집 정보 및 제어부문
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• pp.187-190
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• 2001

A new ultrasound imaging technique based on simultaneous multiple transmit focusing using orthogonal modified Golay codes is presented. modified Golay codes are used to increase signal-to-noise-ratio(SNR) and maximize the transmit power efficiency(TPE). Conventional Golay codes consist of a pair of complementary codes with same length and can be compressed into a delta-like signal due to their complementary property. In the present work, two modified Golay codes focused at different depths are transmitted at the same time, which are mutually orthogonal. On receive, these orthogonal modified Golay codes are separately compressed into two short pulses and individually focused. These two focused beam are combined to form a frame of image with improved lateral resolution. Computer simulations are performed to verity the proposed method improves the lateral resolution of image compared with the conventional echo system.

• Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society
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• 제34권1호
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• pp.154-158
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• 2013

Development of dual functional liposome has been studied for cancer theragnostics. Therefore, we focused on ultrasound-sensitive liposomes with doxorubicin (DOX) and gadolinium (Gd) as a theragnostic carrier having a potential for cancer therapy and diagnosis. In this study, Gd(III)-DOTA-modified sonosensitive liposomes (GL) was developed using chemically synthesized Gd(III)-DOTA-DPPE lipid. Sonosensitivity of GL to 1 MHz ultrasound induced 25% of DOX release. The relaxivities ($r_1$) of GL were $7.33-10.34\;mM^{-1}s^{-1}$, which was higher than that of MR-bester$^{(R)}$. Intracellular delivery of DOX from GL by ultrasound irradiation was evaluated according to ultrasound intensity, resulting in increase of uptake of DOX released from ultrasound-triggered GLs compared to GL3 or Doxil$^{(R)}$ without ultrasound. Taken together, this study shows that the paramagnetic and sonosensitive liposomes, GL, is a novel and highly effective delivery system for drug with the potential for broad applications in human disease.

• 한국임상수의학회지
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• 제28권4호
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• pp.408-414
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• 2011

This study was carried out to analyze the utilization of ultrasound machines in animal hospitals and focused on surveying the present condition of diagnostic ultrasound on veterinary medicine in South Korea. Total 279 veterinary hospitals were surveyed with e-mail questionnaires or telephone survey. E-mail questionnaires consist of 17 items of questions including existence of ultrasound machine, types of ultrasound machine, ultrasound examination costs, frequency, purposes, other diagnostic imaging equipments, and referring system of ultrasound. Telephone surveys asked about the existence of the ultrasound machine and types of the ultrasound machine to 279 animal hospitals. Two hundred and seventy-one out of 279 animal hospitals holds ultrasound machine. Seventy-two percents clinics purchased used ultrasonographic machines and mean years after the date of manufacture is 7.5 years and the proportion of superannuated machines are relatively high. Also many clinicians prefer single organ scanning rather than general scan technique and more than 60% of clinics perform ultrasonographic examination less than 5 times a week. Clinics located in Seoul area tend to have more expensive and brand-new ultrasonographic machines and the distribution of radiology specialist are higher in this area. Problems associated with the present condition were oversupply of machines, unequal distribution of the medical equipment in different localities, ineffective use of the medical equipment, and high percentage of old poor-quality medical equipments. There should be a viable alternative proposal to control amount and quality of the ultrasound machines. Also, the improved management system for the ultrasound machine is required.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• 제62권6호
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• pp.712-722
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• 2019

Objective : Although magnetic resonance guided focused ultrasound (MRgFUS) has been used as minimally invasive and effective neurosurgical treatment, it exhibits some limitations, mainly related to acoustic properties of the skull barrier. This study was undertaken to identify skull characteristics that contribute to optimal ultrasonic energy transmission for MRgFUS procedures. Methods : For ex vivo skull experiments, various acoustic fields were measured under different conditions, using five non-embalmed cadaver skulls. For clinical skull analyses, brain computed tomography data of 46 patients who underwent MRgFUS ablations (18 unilateral thalamotomy, nine unilateral pallidotomy, and 19 bilateral capsulotomy) were retrospectively reviewed. Patients' skull factors and sonication parameters were comparatively analyzed with respect to the cadaveric skulls. Results : Skull experiments identified three important factors related skull penetration of ultrasound, including skull density ratio (SDR), skull volume, and incidence angle of the acoustic rays against the skull surface. In clinical results, SDR and skull volume correlated with maximal temperature (Tmax) and energy requirement to achieve Tmax (p<0.05). In addition, considering the incidence angle determined by brain target location, less energy was required to reach Tmax in the central, rather than lateral targets particularly when compared between thalamotomy and capsulotomy (p<0.05). Conclusion : This study reconfirmed previously identified skull factors, including SDR and skull volume, for successful MRgFUS; it identified an additional factor, incidence angle of acoustic rays against the skull surface. To guarantee successful transcranial MRgFUS treatment without suffering these various skull issues, further technical improvements are required.

• 한국음향학회지
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• 제41권5호
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• pp.564-569
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• 2022

인체의 다른 장기들과 달리, 뇌는 혈뇌장벽(Blood-Brain Barrier, BBB)라는 보호 장치가 존재하여 뇌혈관내 물질들이 뇌조직으로 투과되는 것을 제한하는 역할을 한다. 이러한 BBB는 알츠하이머, 뇌종양 등 다양한 뇌질환에 직접적으로 전달이 필요한 약물의 투과까지 제한하기 때문에 치료 효능 검증 및 임상 적용이 어려운 것으로 보고되고 있다. 이러한 문제를 극복하기 위해 비침습적 특성의 집속 초음파(Focused Ultrasound, FUS)를 뇌의 국소 부위에 조사할 경우 마이크로버블의 음향공동화 현상으로 인해 BBB가 일시적으로 개방될 수 있는 기술이 개발되었으며, 해당 기술을 안전성 및 유효성 검증, 약물 전달 효율을 증대시킬 수 있는 다양한 연구가 전 세계적으로 수행되고 있다. 따라서, 본 논문에서는 알츠하이머, 뇌종양 등 뇌질환 치료를 위해 활발히 연구가 진행중인 집속초음파 기반 BBB 개방 기술에 대한 연구 동향을 분석하였다.

• Medical Lasers
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• 제8권1호
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• pp.13-18
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• 2019

Background and Objectives High-intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) can produce small zones of thermal damage. A HIFU procedure is non-invasive and it can achieve rejuvenation of facial skin. Fractional CO₂ laser resurfacing delivers thermal damage to the pixilated columnar zone of the skin and so evoke collagen remodeling, the same as HIFU. In many cases, the patients who want rejuvenation with HIFU are also good candidates for cutaneous photorejuvenation such as can be accomplished via fractional CO₂ resurfacing. If patients are treated in a single session by remodeling both the superficial and deep compartments of skin by using both modalities, then improvement in rhytides and tightening of sagging skin will optimize the aesthetic result. Materials and Methods Between May 2014 and January 2018, a total of 44 patients were treated with combination HIFU and fractional CO₂ laser resurfacing according to our protocol. First, the HIFU was applied to the entire face with an average of 300 treatment lines. Immediately after HIFU treatment, the ultrasound gel was washed off and then fractional CO₂ laser resurfacing was performed. We evaluated the patients using 4-point grading scales. The clinician examined the skin for evidence of complications after the completion of treatment. Results All the patients' skin quality showed improvement. Further. the clinical results after duel modality treatment were substantially better than that after the use of either modality alone. The recovery times and the incidence of adverse events when quickly and consecutively performing both treatments were similar as compared to those with employing stepwise treatment. We encountered no complications whatsoever. Conclusion When compared with stepwise therapy, combination therapy with HIFU and fractional CO₂ resurfacing offers better, safer and more effective clinical results. Thus, for targeting multiple layers of aging facial skin, this combination therapy can be safely performed in a single treatment session.

• Advances in environmental research
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• 제5권4호
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• pp.251-262
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• 2016

The biodegradability and decomposition efficiencies increase with the pre-treatment of sludge in a digestion process. In this study, the feasibility of ultrasound coupled with potassium permanganate oxidation as a disintegration method and digestibility of aerobic reactor fed with disintegrated sludge with ultrasound coupled potassium permanganate were investigated. The first stage of the study focused on determining the optimum condition for ultrasonic pre-treatment for achieving better destruction efficiency of sludge. The second part of the study, the aerobic digestibility of sludge disintegrated with ultrasound and potassium permanganate oxidation alone and combined were examined comparatively. The results showed that when 20 min of ultrasonic pre-treatment applied, the specific energy output was 49384 kJ/kgTS with disintegration degree of 58.84%. During the operation of aerobic digester, VS/TS ratios of digesters fed with disintegrated sludge decreased indicating that disintegration methods could obviously enhance aerobic digestion performance. The highest reduction in volatile solids was 75% in the digester fed with ultrasound+potassium permanganate disintegrated sludge at the end of the operation compared to digester fed with raw sludge. Total Nitrogen (TN) and Total Phosphorus (TP) levels in sludge supernatant increased with this combined method significantly. Besides, it promoted the production of ${\bullet}OH$, thus enhancing the release of Carbon (C), Nitrogen (N) and Phosphorus (P) from the sludge. Disintegration with all methods used in this study could not improve Capillary Suction Time (CST) reduction in disintegrated digesters during the operation. The results demonstrated that the combined ultrasound treatment and potassium permanganate oxidation method improves the biodegradability compared to control reactor or their single application.

• The Journal of the Acoustical Society of Korea
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• 제25권4E호
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• pp.159-165
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• 2006

Human, horse and rat bloods in a cylindrical chamber where flow was controlled by a stirring magnet were used for studying red blood cell aggregation. Ultrasound backscattered powers from blood were obtained from the backscattered signals measured by a 5 MHz focused transducer in a pulse-echo setup. The experimental results showed the differences in red blood cell (RBC) aggregation tendency among the three mammalian species with an order of horse > human > rat. The ultrasound backscattered power decreased with stirring speed in human and horse blood, but no variations were observed in rat blood. Sudden flow stoppage led to the slow increase of the backscattered power for human and horse blood. There was no self-aggregation tendency in rat blood. The enveloped echo images showed the spatial and temporal variations of RBC aggregations in the cylindrical chamber. These observations from the different mammalian species may give a better understanding of the mechanism of RBC aggregation.