• Investigative Magnetic Resonance Imaging
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• 제22권2호
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• pp.94-101
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• 2018

Purpose: To determine the value of the appearance of the high signal intensity halo sign for detecting carotid intraplaque hemorrhage (IPH) on maximum intensity projection (MIP) of time-of-flight (TOF) MR angiography (MRA), based on high signal intensity on magnetization-prepared rapid acquisition with gradient-echo (MPRAGE) sequencing. Materials and Methods: A total of 78 carotid arteries in 65 patients with magnetization-prepared rapid acquisition gradient-echo (MPRAGE) positive on carotid plaque MR imaging were included in this study. High-resolution MR imaging was performed on a 3.0-T scanner prior to carotid endarterectomy or carotid artery stenting. Fast spin-echo T1- and T2-weighted axial imaging, TOF, and MPRAGE sequences were obtained. Carotid plaques with high signal intensity on MPRAGE > 200% that of adjacent muscle on at least two consecutive slices were defined as showing IPH. Halo sign of high signal intensity around the carotid artery was found on MIP from TOF MRA. Continuous and categorical variables were compared among groups using the Mann-Whitney test and Fisher's exact tests. Results: Of these 78 carotid arteries, 53 appeared as a halo sign on the TOF MRA. The total IPH volume of patients with a positive halo sign was significantly higher than that of patients without a halo sign ($75.0{\pm}86.8$ vs. $16.3{\pm}18.2$, P = 0.001). The maximum IPH axial wall area in patients with a positive halo sign was significantly higher than that of patients without a halo sign ($11.3{\pm}9.9$ vs. $3.7{\pm}3.6$, P = 0.000). Conclusion: High signal intensity halo of IPH on MIP of TOF MRA is associated with total volume and maximal axial wall area of IPH.

• Macromolecular Research
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• 제11권6호
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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.

• 대한의용생체공학회:학술대회논문집
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• 대한의용생체공학회 1997년도 추계학술대회
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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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• 제23권4호
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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.

• 대한디지털의료영상학회논문지
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• 제14권2호
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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.

• 한국의학물리학회지:의학물리
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• 제10권1호
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• pp.33-40
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• 1999

목적 : 본 논문은 2차원과 3차원 신경계 자기공명영상에서 뼈 주위에 있는 여러 조직의 신호세기를 계산하고 측정값과 비교 분석하는 데 목적을 두었다. 대상 및 방법 : 신경계 양성자 강조영상은 뼈를 제외한 뇌척수액과 근육 및 지방 등 모든 조직을 보여준다. 또한 자기공명영상을 이용하면 2차원이나 3차원 영상을 얻을 수 있다. 본 연구에서는 2차원 영상기법으로 2차원 고속스핀반향 (Fast spin-echo) 영상법을 사용하였고 3 차원 영상기법으로는 3차원 경사자계반향(Gradient-echo) 영상법을 사용하였다. 2차원 스핀반향 (Spin-echo)과 3차원 경사자계반향 영상법에 나타난 뇌척수액과 근육 및 지방의 신호세기를 알아내기 위해 2차원 스핀 반향과 3차원 경사자계반향의 신호세기의 이론값을 계산하였다. 2차원 고속스핀반향 영상법에서는 양성자 강조영상을 얻기 위해 긴 반복시간 (4000 ms) 과 짧은 반향시간(TE$_{eff}$ =22 ms)을 적용하였다. 3차원 경사자계반향 영상법에서는 양성자 강조영상을 얻기 위해 작은 꺽임각 (8$^{\circ}$) 과 짧은 반복시간 (35 ms) 및 짧은 반향시간 (3 ms)을 적용하였다. 결과: 2차원 고속스핀반향 영상법에서는 뇌척수액과 근육 및 지방의 영상 대조도가 우수하였고 신호 대 잡음비(SNR) 값은 39-57 사이였다. 3차원 경사자계반향 영상법에 나타난 뇌척수액과 근육 및 지방의 영상 대조도는 2차원 고속스핀반향 영상법의 결과와 비슷하였지만 신호 대 잡음비(SNR) 값은 26-33 사이였다. 신호 대 잡음비는 2차원 고속스핀반향 영상법이 3차원 경사자계반향 영상 법보다 높았고 가장자리 향상효과 때문에 2차원 고속스핀반향 영상에서 머리뼈의 가장자리를 쉽게 구별할 수 있었다. 덧붙여 2차원 고속스핀반향 영상에 나타난 뇌척수액과 근육 및 지방 사이의 대조도는 강한 신호세기와 향상된 뇌척수액의 가장자리 때문에 상당히 우수하였다. 결론 : 2차원과 3차원 신경계 자기공명영상에서 머리뼈 주위에 있는 여러 조직의 신호세기를 계산하고 측정값과 비교 분석하였다. 뇌척수액과 근육 및 지방의 계산값과 측정값의 영상 대조도와 신호 대 잡음비 값이 2차원 고속스핀반향 영상법과 3차원 경사자계반향 영상법에서 대체로 일치하였다. 그렇지만 2차원 고속스핀반향 영상에서 뇌척수액과 근육 및 지방 사이의 대조도가 우수하였고 신호 대 잡음비는 상대적으로 높았으며 상대적으로 짧은 영상시간이 소요되었다.

• Investigative Magnetic Resonance Imaging
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• 제16권1호
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• pp.6-15
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• 2012

목적: 이 연구의 목적은 excitation pulse profile을 이용하여 불균일 자장에 의하여 발생하는 배경 경사 자장에 의한 영향을 보상하여 2차원 다중 단면 경사에코 간 영상에서의 정확한 지방 및 $T_2{^*}$ 측정을 하는 데에 있다. 대상과 방법: 2차원 경사에코영상에서 불균일 자장에 의한 배경경사자장으로 인하여 유도되는 신호의 감소는 excitation pulse profile weighting으로 나타난다. 이에 의한 영향을 최소화 하기 위하여 $B_0$ field map을 통하여 단면선택방향으로의 선형 경사자장의 정도를 추정한 후, 획득한 신호를 excitation pulse profile을 이용하여 보정하였다. $T_2{^*}$ 및 지방은 보정된 신호로부터 측정되었으며 보정방법은 3.0T 임상용 장비에서 팬텀 및 in vivo 실험을 통하여 이루어 졌다. 결과: 팬텀 실험 결과는 보정 후 측정된 $T_2{^*}$ 및 지방의 양이 자장이 균일한 경우에 가까워 진 것을 보여 주었다. In vivo 실험에서는 간에서 배경경사자장의 크기가 약 120 ${\mu}T/m$ 정도 까지로 나타났으며 보정하기 전에 비하여 측정된 $T_2{^*}$ 및 지방의 정도의 균일도가 높아지는 것을 확인할 수 있었다. 결론: Excitation pulse profile을 이용한 배경경사자장 보정 방법은 경사 에코 신호에서의 거시적인 불균일 자장에 의한 영향을 줄여 주며 2차원 간 영상에서의 적용을 통하여 보다 정확한 지방 및 $T_2{^*}$의 측정에 도움이 될 수 있다.

• 대한의용생체공학회:학술대회논문집
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• 대한의용생체공학회 1997년도 추계학술대회
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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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• 제21권4호
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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.

• 한국의학물리학회:학술대회논문집
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• 한국의학물리학회 2002년도 Proceedings
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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.