• Macromolecular Research
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• v.11 no.6
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• pp.444-450
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• 2003

Hydrophobically End-capped polyethylene oxide Urethane Resin(HEUR)-associating polymers, HEUR 35(8), HEUR 35(12), and HEUR 35(18), comprise a polyethylene oxide (PEO) having a molecular weight of 35,000 that is end capped with two C$\_$8/H$\_$17/, C$\_$12/H$\_$25/, and C$\_$18/H$\_$37/ alkyl chains, respectively. These associating polymers were synthesized by condensation reactions with polyethylene oxides and alkyl isocyanates. The self-diffusion coefficients of HEUR-associating polymers were measured in aqueous solution by pulsed-gradient spin-echo (PGSE) nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy. All polymers underwent a decrease in their mean diffusion coefficients as the concentration was increased. However, the dispersion of the diffusion coefficients, ${\beta}$, about the mean fluctuated with changes in concentration. The large dispersion at low concentrations of HEUR 35(8) and HEUR 35(12) is related to the interaction between hydrophobic end groups, and the large dispersion at high concentrations of HEUR 35(18) is correlated with transient network formation. These results are valuable for predicting the associating mechanism of the large aggregates before and after their critical micelle concentration.

• Proceedings of the KOSOMBE Conference
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• v.1997 no.11
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• pp.571-574
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• 1997

fMRI, functional MRI introduced recently appears based on the gradient echo technique which is sensitive to the field inhomogeneity developed due to the local susceptibility changes of blood oxygenation and deoxygenation. Common to all the gradient echo techniques is that the signal due to the susceptibility effects is generally decreased with increasing inhomogeneity due to the $T2^*$ effect or conventionally known as blood oxygenation level dependent (BOLD) effect. It is, also found that the BOLD sensitivity is also dependent on the imaging modes, namely whether the imaging is in axial, or coronal or sagittal mode as well as the directions of the vessels against the main magnetic field. We have, therefore, launched a systematic study of imaging mode dependent signal change or BOLD sensitivity as well as the signal changes due to the tilting angle of the imaging planes. Study has been made or both TRFGE sequence and CGE sequence to compare the distinctions of the each mode since each technique has different sensitivity against susceptibility effect. Method of computation and both the computer simulations and their corresponding experimental results are presented.

• Investigative Magnetic Resonance Imaging
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• v.23 no.4
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• pp.390-394
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• 2019

Hemosiderosis is characterized by the deposition of excess iron in body tissues. The choroid plexus is an important part of the central nervous system that can be the primary site of iron overload. T2*-weighted gradient echo (GRE) sequence provides high sensitivity for demonstrating cerebral microhemorrhagic foci and iron deposition. In the present study, we describe the case of a 15-year-old boy with acute lymphoblastic leukemia, in whom repeated transfusion led to iron accumulation in the brain. GRE sequence effectively demonstrated hemosiderin deposition in the choroid plexus.

• Korean Journal of Digital Imaging in Medicine
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• v.14 no.2
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• pp.57-61
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• 2012

To compare the accuracy of breath-hold magnetic resonance imaging sequences to establish the most effective superparamagnetic iron oxide-enhanced sequence for detection of hepatic metastases. A total of 100 patients(50men and 50women, mean age: 60years) with liver disease(including malignant and benign liver lesions) were investigated at 3.0T machine (GE, General Electric Medical System, Excite HD) with 8Ch body coil. Pulse sequence for MR imaging decided to the FS-T2-FSE-RT(TR/TE/Thick./Freq./Phase=12857ms/100ms/7mm/512/384), MGRE(TR/TE/Thick./Freq./Phase=100ms/9.7ms/7mm/384/288), in-out of phase echo(TR/$TE_1$, $TE_2$/Thick./Freq./Phase=140ms/2.4, 5.8ms/7mm/352/300), Images obtained before the injection of SPIO. Six sequences were optimized for lesion detection: FS-T2-FSE-RT, multigradient recalled echo data image(MGRE), T2-weighted MGRE with an 9.7msec echo time. Images were reviewed independently by five blinded observers. The accuracy of each sequence was measured by using picture archiving communication system analysis. All results were correlated with findings at multidectator computed tomography examination. Differences between the mean results of the six observers were measured by using paired student t-test analysis. Postcontrast T2-weighted MGRE sequences were the most accurate and were significantly superior to postcontrast FS-T2-FSE-RT, T2-weighted MGRE, in-out of phase MR sequences(p < .05). For all lesions that were malignant or smaller than 1 cm, respectively, contrast to noise ratio of pre and postcontrast sequences were -1and -0.3 for T2-weighted FSE, 0.53 and 4.5 in-out of phase, 7, 7.08, 5.08, 3.32, 1.7, 1.16, 0.79, 0.68 for GRE with 2.9, 7.5, 12.1, 16.6, 21.2, 25.8, 30.4, 35.0 TE values. Breath-hold various TE precontrast sequences offer improvement in sensitivity compared with fixed multigradient recalled echo sequences alone.

• Progress in Medical Physics
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• v.10 no.1
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• pp.33-40
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• 1999

Purpose: To simulate and measure the signal intensity of various tissues near bone interface in 2D and 3D neurological MR images. Materials and Methods: In neurological proton density (PD) weighted images, every component in the head including cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), muscle and scalp, with the exception of bone, are visualised. It is possible to acquire images in 2D or 3D. A 2D fast spin-echo (FSE) sequence is chosen for the 2D acquisition and a 3D gradient-echo (GE) sequence is chosen for the 3D acquisition. To find out the signal intensities of CSF, muscle and fat (or scalp) for the 2D spin-echo(SE) and 3D gradient-echo (GE) imaging sequences, the theoretical signal intensities for 2D SE and 3D GE were calculated. For the 2D fast spin-echo (FSE) sequence, to produce the PD weighted image, long TR (4000 ms) and short TE$_{eff}$ (22 ms) were employed. For the 3D GE sequence, low flip angle (8$^{\circ}$) with short TR (35 ms) and short TE (3 ms) was used to produce the PD weighted contrast. Results: The 2D FSE sequence has CSF, muscle and scalp with superior image contrast and SNR of 39 - 57 while the 3D GE sequence has CSF, muscle and scalp with broadly similar image contrast and SNR of 26 - 33. SNR in the FSE image were better than those in the GE image and the skull edges appeared very clearly in the FSE image due to the edge enhancement effect in the FSE sequence. Furthermore, the contrast between CSF, muscle and scalp in the 2D FSE image was significantly better than in the 3D GE image, due to the strong signal intensities (or SNR) from CSF, muscle and scalp and enhanced edges of CSF. Conclusion: The signal intensity of various tissues near bone interface in neurological MR images has been simulated and measured. Both the simulation and imaging of the 2D SE and 3D GE sequences have CSF, fat and muscle with broadly similar image intensity and SNR's and have succeeded in getting all tissues about the same signal. However, in the 2D FSE sequence, image contrast between CSF, muscle and scalp was good and SNR was relatively high, imaging time was relatively short.

• Investigative Magnetic Resonance Imaging
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• v.16 no.1
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• pp.6-15
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• 2012

Purpose : The objective of this study was to develop background gradient correction method using excitation pulse profile compensation for accurate fat and $T_2{^*}$ quantification in the liver. Materials and Methods: In liver imaging using gradient echo, signal decay induced by linear background gradient is weighted by an excitation pulse profile and therefore hinders accurate quantification of $T_2{^*}$and fat. To correct this, a linear background gradient in the slice-selection direction was estimated from a $B_0$ field map and signal decays were corrected using the excitation pulse profile. Improved estimation of fat fraction and $T_2{^*}$ from the corrected data were demonstrated by phantom and in vivo experiments at 3 Tesla magnetic field. Results: After correction, in the phantom experiments, the estimated $T_2{^*}$ and fat fractions were changed close to that of a well-shimmed condition while, for in vivo experiments, the background gradients were estimated to be up to approximately 120 ${\mu}T/m$ with increased homogeneity in $T_2{^*}$ and fat fractions obtained. Conclusion: The background gradient correction method using excitation pulse profile can reduce the effect of macroscopic field inhomogeneity in signal decay and can be applied for simultaneous fat and iron quantification in 2D gradient echo liver imaging.

• Proceedings of the KOSOMBE Conference
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• v.1997 no.11
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• pp.555-558
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• 1997

A new approach to silent MR imaging using a rotating DC gradient has been explored and experimentally studied. As is known, acoustic or sound noise has been one of the major problems in handling patients, mainly due to the fast gradient pulsings in interaction with the main magnetic field. The sound noise is also proportionally louder as the magnetic field strength becomes larger. In this article, we have described a new imaging technique using a mechanically rotating DC gradient coil as an approach toward silent MR imaging, i.e., a mechanically rotated DC gradient effectively replaces both the phase encoding as well as the readout gradient pulsings and data obtained in this manner provides a set of project ion data which later can be used or the projection reconstructionorwithsomeinterpolation techniques one can also perform conventional 2-D FFT (Fast Fourier Transform) image reconstruction. We found, with this new technique, that the sound noise intensity compared with the conventional imaging technique, such as spin echo sequence, is reduced down to -20.7 dB or about 117.5 times. The experimental pulse sequence and its principle are described and images obtained by the new silent MR imaging technique are reported.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.21 no.4
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• pp.727-733
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• 1988

Two cases of the discrete membranous subaortic stenosis were experienced at the Department of Thoracic & Cardiovascular Surgery, National Medical Center, Seoul, Korea. Case I was 31 years old male with a history of aortic valve replacement[Ionescu-Shiley, 19mm] at the other hospital in 1980. Heart failure was noticed 6 years later. On cardiac catheterization, pressure gradient between left ventricle 4 aorta was 104 mmHg, but subvalvular aortic stenosis was not detected by preoperative 2-D echo <% left ventriculogram. Above case revealed stenoinsufficiency of the prosthetic valve. Under the diagnosis of the prosthetic valve failure, re-do aortic valve replacement[Bjork-Shiley, 23 mm] was done. During operation, the discrete membranous subaortic stenosis was incidentally found, and it was completely resected. So we thought that above discrete membranous subaortic stenosis was not detected at first operation, and it was progressed during 6 years, and accelerated the degeneration of the prosthetic valve. Case II was 20 years old female. Her complaints were exertional dyspnea, angina, syncope, which were aggravated since 5 years ago. 2-D echo <% left ventriculogram revealed the discrete membranous subaortic stenosis. Pressure gradient was 20 mmHg, but her symptoms were serious. Associated cardiac anomaly was the persistent left superior vena cava without connection with right superior vena cava. Complete excision of the membranous tissue was done. Post-operative pressure gradient between left ventricle & aorta was absent, and her complaints were nearly subsided. Both cases were type I according to the Newfeld classification of the discrete subvalvular aortic stenosis, and complete excision of the membranous tissue was done without myotomy or mymectomy. And short-term follow-up results[Case I:2 years, Case II: 1 ~ years] were good except soft systolic murmur[grade II/VI] at the aortic area in both cases.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Medical Physics Conference
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• 2002.09a
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• pp.356-358
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• 2002

MRI, particularly diffusion weighted imaging (DWI), plays vital roles in detection of the acute brain infarction$\^$1-4/ and others metabolic changes of biological tissues. In general, every molecule in biological tissues may diffuse and move randomly in three-dimensional space. However, in clinical diagnosis, only 2D-DWI is used. The authors have developed a new method for rapid three-dimensional DWI (3D-DWI). In this method, by refocusing of the magnetized spin with the applied gradient field, direction of which is opposite to phase encoding field. Magnetized spin of $^1$H is kept under the SSFP (steady state free precession)$\^$5-6/. Under SSFP, in addition of FID, spin echo and stimulated echo are also generated, so the acquired signal is increased. The signal intensity is increased depending on flip angle (FA) of magnetized spin. This phenomenon is confirmed by human brain and phantom studies. The performance of this method is quantitatively analyzed by using both of conventional spin echo DWI and 3D-DWI. From experimental results, three dimensional diffusion weighted images are obtained correctly for liquid phantoms (water, acetone and oil), diffusion coefficient is enhanced in each image. Therefore, this method will provide useful information for clinical diagnosis.

• Proceedings of the KSMRM Conference
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• 2001.11a
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• pp.141-141
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• 2001

목적： 최근 들어 컴퓨터 그래픽의 발전과 함께 가상 현실 등에 연구 및 응용이 급증하고 있다. 본 연구의 목적은 fMRI를 이용하여 이차원 및 삼차원 시각자극에 대한 뇌의 기능을 살펴보는 것이다. 같은 영상에 대한 2D와 3D영상을 보여 주면서, fMRI 영상 데이터를 얻었다. 사람에게 미치는 자극 중에 하나인 시각 자극에서 2D와 3D에 대해 반응하는 차이를 규명하고자 하였다. 대상 및 방법： Gradient echo를 기반으로 한 EPI 영상기법을 이용하여, 가톨릭 의대의 3.0 Tesla whole body MRI system에서 실험하였다. 해부학적 영상을 얻기 위해서는 spin echo를 이용하였다. 4명의 volunteer에 대해 같은 영상에 대한 2D와 3D영상을 보여주면서 실험을 수행하였다. 시각자극의 paradigm은 5단계 (rest, active, rest, active, rest)로 하였고, 3번의 rest와 2번의 active구간을 사이에 두었다. 각각의 구간은 10번의 iteration으로 이루어져 있고, 첫 번째 구간은 15번으로 하여 처음 5개의 결과를 버리고, 데이터를 얻었다. 결과는 spm99를 이용하여 분석하였다.