• KSII Transactions on Internet and Information Systems (TIIS)
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• v.16 no.11
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• pp.3479-3492
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• 2022

Longitudinal quantification of brain changes due to development, aging or disease plays an important role in the filed of personalized-medicine applications. However, due to the temporal variability in shape and different imaging equipment and parameters, estimating anatomical changes in longitudinal studies is significantly challenging. In this paper, a longitudinal Magnetic Resonance(MR) brain image segmentation algorithm proposed by combining intensity information and anisotropic smoothness term which contain a spatial smoothness constraint and longitudinal consistent constraint into a variational framework. The minimization of the proposed energy functional is strictly and effectively derived from a fast optimization algorithm. A large number of experimental results show that the proposed method can guarantee segmentation accuracy and longitudinal consistency in both simulated and real longitudinal MR brain images for analysis of anatomical changes over time.

• Investigative Magnetic Resonance Imaging
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• v.3 no.1
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• pp.66-72
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• 1999

Purpose : To evaluate the usefulness of Dual Echo in Steady State(DESS) image in the diagnosis of chondromalacia of the knee compared with turbo spin-echo MR images Materials and Methods : We included 26 patients with chondromalacia of the knee. MR imaging was obtained with a 1.5T imager. Sagittal and coronal double echo T2 weighted images(TR/TE 3000-4200/16-96msec, FOV $140-160{\times}140-160mm$, matrix size $180{\times}256$, slice thickness 4.0mm, interslice gap 0.5mm), and sagittal DESS image(TR/TE 25.4/9.0msec, flip angle $35-45^{\circ}$, FOV $150-160{\times}150-160mm,{\;}matrix{\;}size{\;}192{\times}256$, effective slice thickness 1.5mm) were obtained. Cartilage lesions were staged according to a modified scheme proposed by Outerbirdge: grade 0, normal; grade 1, softening or/and swelling; grade 2, mild surface fibrillation or/and less than 50% of cartilage thickness; grade 3, severe surface fibrillation or/and loss of more than 50% of cartilage thickness but without exposure of subchondral bone; and grade 4, complete loss of cartilage with subchondral bone exposure. Gradings were determined by two readers with consensus, and patellofemoral, medial and lateral tibiofemoral compartments were evaluated. Results : Arthroscopic findings revealed grade 1 in seven cases, grade 2 in 21 cases, grade 3 in six cases, and grade 4 in 18 cases. Sensitivity of turbo spin-echo MR image was as follows; 0%, 14%, 0%, 61% in each grade, and sensitivity of DESS image was as follows; 0%, 33%, 50%, 67%, in each grade(p=0.001). In the detection of chondromalacic lesions regardless of gradings, sensitivity, specificity and accuracy of conventional MR image were 59.6% 88.6% 78.8%, and of DESS image, 73.1% 88.4%, 82.2%(p=0.007). Conclusion : For chondromalacia of knee joints, DESS images showed higher sensitivity than turbo spin-echo MR images. Therefore, DESS images will be helpful for diagnosis of chondromalacia of knee joints.

• Investigative Magnetic Resonance Imaging
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• v.5 no.2
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• pp.138-148
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• 2001

Purpose : Within a clinically acceptable time frame, we obtained the high resolution MR images of the human brain, knee, foot and wrist from 3T whole-body MRI system which was equipped with the world first 37 active shield magnet. Materials and Methods : Spin echo (SE) and Fast Spin Echo (FSE) images were obtained from the human brain, knee, foot and wrist of normal subjects using a homemade birdcage and transverse electromagnetic (TEM) resonators operating in quadrature and tuned to 128 MHz. For acquisition of MR images of knee, foot and wrist, we employed a homemade saddle shaped RF coil. Topical common acquisition parameters were as follows: matrix=$512{\times}512$, field of view (FOV) =20 cm, slice thickness = 3 mm, number of excitations (NEX)=1. For T1-weighted MR images, we used TR = 500 ms, TE = 10 or 17.4 ms. For T2-weighted MR images, we used TR=4000 ms, TE = 108 ms. Results : Signal to noise ratio (SNR) of 3T system was measured 2.7 times greater than that of prevalent 1.5T system. MR images obtained from 3T system revealed numerous small venous structures throughout the image plane and provided reasonable delineation between gray and white matter. Conclusion The present results demonstrate that the MR images from 3T system could provide better diagnostic quali\ulcorner of resolution and sensitivity than those of 1.5T system. The elevated SNR observed in the 3T high field magnetic resonance imaging can be utilized to acquire images with a level of resolution approaching the microscopic structural level under in vivo conditions. These images represent a significant advance in our ability to examine small anatomical features with noninvasive imaging methods.

• The Korean Journal of Nuclear Medicine
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• v.38 no.2
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• pp.205-208
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• 2004

The two major classes of magnetic resonance (MR) contrast agents are paramagnetic contrast agents, usually based on chelates of gadolinium generating T1 positive signal enhancement, and super-paramagnetic contrast agents that use mono- or polycrystalline iron oxide to generate strong T2 negative contrast in MR images. These paramagnetic or super-paramagnetic complexes are used to develop new contrast agents that can target the specific molecular marker of the cells or tan be activated to report on the physiological status or metabolic activity of biological systems. In molecular imaging science, MR imaging has emerged as a leading technique because it provides high-resolution three-dimension maps of the living subject. The future of molecular MR imaging is promising as advancements in hardware, contrast agents, and image acquisition methods coalesce to bring high resolution in vivo imaging to the biochemical sciences and to patient care.

• Investigative Magnetic Resonance Imaging
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• v.1 no.1
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• pp.130-134
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• 1997

Purpose: To analyze contrast-enhancement pattern of stomach cancer on dynamic MRI and to verify the efficacy of intravenous contrast agent in the evaluation of stomach cancer. Materials and Methods: Twelve patients with proven stomach cancer underwent dynamic MRI. By using l.OT scanner, we obtained precontrast FLASH images, and 30, 60, 90 second delay FLASH images after intravenous contrast injection. All patients ingested one liter of water and had intramuscular injection of Buscopan just before MR study. For quantitative analysis we measured signal to noise ratio (SiN) of stomach cancer on each image, and signal difference to noise ratio (SD/N) between cancer and intraluminal fluid, cancer and the pancreas. For qualitative analysis two radiologists evaluated lesion conspicuity on each image by grading system(grade 0, 1, 2, 3: poor, fair, good, excellent). Results: SiN of stomach cancer increased gradually by time(precontrast, 30, 60, 90 second delay: 38.7, 42.5, 57.4, 65.7). SD/N between cancer and intraluminal fluid significantly increased after contrast enhancement(l.24, 25.01, 39.30, 45.89). SD/Ns between cancer and the pancreas were 10.5, 9.33, 9.99, 10.66, respectively. In qualitative analysis, precontrast images were better than postcontrast images for delineation of stomach cancer. Postcontrast images showed clear endo-Iuminal side of stomach cancer, but outer margin of stomach cancer was more distinct on precontrast images. Conclusion: Precontrast MR images are better than postcontrast MR images in the depiction of stomach cancer. Intravenous contrast agent is not imperative in the evaluation of stomach cancer.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.62 no.4
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• pp.476-486
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• 2019

Objective : The functional information of $^{11}C$-methionine positron emission tomography (MET-PET) images can be applied for Gamma knife radiosurgery (GKR) and its image quality may affect defining the tumor. This study conducted the phantom-based evaluation for geometric accuracy and functional characteristic of diagnostic MET-PET image co-registered with stereotactic image in Leksell $GammaPlan^{(R)}$ (LGP) and also investigated clinical application of these images in metastatic brain tumors. Methods : Two types of cylindrical acrylic phantoms fabricated in-house were used for this study : the phantom with an array-shaped axial rod insert and the phantom with different sized tube indicators. The phantoms were mounted on the stereotactic frame and scanned using computed tomography (CT), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and PET system. Three-dimensional coordinate values on co-registered MET-PET images were compared with those on stereotactic CT image in LGP. MET uptake values of different sized indicators inside phantom were evaluated. We also evaluated the CT and MRI co-registered stereotactic MET-PET images with MR-enhancing volume and PET-metabolic tumor volume (MTV) in 14 metastatic brain tumors. Results : Imaging distortion of MET-PET was maintained stable at less than approximately 3% on mean value. There was no statistical difference in the geometric accuracy according to co-registered reference stereotactic images. In functional characteristic study for MET-PET image, the indicator on the lateral side of the phantom exhibited higher uptake than that on the medial side. This effect decreased as the size of the object increased. In 14 metastatic tumors, the median matching percentage between MR-enhancing volume and PET-MTV was 36.8% on PET/MR fusion images and 39.9% on PET/CT fusion images. Conclusion : The geometric accuracy of the diagnostic MET-PET co-registered with stereotactic MR in LGP is acceptable on phantom-based study. However, the MET-PET images could the limitations in providing exact stereotactic information in clinical study.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.55 no.10
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• pp.397-402
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• 2012

Pelizaeus-Merzbacher disease (PMD) is a rare, X-linked recessive disorder characterized by dysmyelination in the central nervous system. PMD results from deletion, mutation, or duplication of the proteolipid protein gene (PLP1) located at Xq22, leading to the failure of axon myelination by oligodendrocytes in the central nervous system. PMD may be suspected when there are clinical manifestations such as nystagmus, developmental delays, and spasticity, and genetic analysis can confirm the diagnosis. Further diagnostic manifestations of the disease include a lack of myelination on brain magnetic resonance (MR) imaging and aberrant N-acetyl aspartate (NAA) and choline concentrations that reflect axonal and myelination abnormalities on phroton MR spectroscopy. We report 5 cases of PMD (in 1 girl and 4 boys). PLP1 duplication was detected in 2 patients. Brain MR analyses and MR spectroscopy were performed for all the patients. The brain MR images showed white matter abnormalities typical of PMD, and the MR spectroscopic images showed diverse patterns of NAA, creatinine, and choline concentrations. We propose that MR spectroscopic analysis of metabolic alterations can aid the PMD diagnosis and can contribute to a better understanding of the pathogenesis of the disease.

• Korean Journal of Radiology
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• v.2 no.3
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• pp.151-158
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• 2001

Objective: To determine the ability of MR imaging to detect the pathological changes occurring in radiofrequency (RF) thermal lesions and to assess its accuracy in revealing the extent of tissue necrosis. Materials and Methods: Using an RF electrode, thermal lesions were created in the livers of 18 rabbits. The procedure involved three phases. In the acute phase, six animals were killed the day after performing thermal ablation with RF energy, and two on day 3. In the subacute and chronic phases, eight rabbits underwent percutaneous hepatic RF ablation. After performing MR imaging, two animals were sacrificed at 1, 2, 4, and 7 weeks after the procedure, and MRpathologic correlation was performed. Results: In the acute phase, the thermal ablation lesions appeared at gross examination as well-circumscribed, necrotic areas, representing early change in the coagulative necrosis seen at microscopic examination. They were hypointense on T2-weighted images, and hyperintense on T1-weighted images. Gadolinium-enhanced MR imaging showed that a thin hyperemic rim surrounded the central coagulative necrosis. In the subacute phase, ablated lesions also showed extensive coagulative necrosis and marked inflammation at microscopic examination. Beyond two weeks, the lesions showed gradual resorption of the necrotic area, with a peripheral fibrovascular rim. The size of lesions measured by MR imaging correlated well with the findings at gross pathologic examination. Conclusion: MR imaging effectively demonstrates the histopathological tissue change occurring after thermal ablation, and accurately determines the extent of the target area.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.40 no.4
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• pp.345-352
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• 1993

The role of magnetic resonance(MR) imaging in the evaluation of thoracic disease has been limited Nontheless, MR has inherent properties of better contrast resolution than CT allowing tissue-specific diagnosis. MR has capability of direct imaging in sagittal, coronal, and oblique planes which provide better anatomic information than axial images of CT such as lesions in the pulmonary apex, aorticopulmonary window, peridiaphragmatic region, and subcarinal region. MR is sensitive to blood flow making it an ideal imaging modality for the evaluation of cardiovascular system of the thorax without the need for intravenous contrast media. Technical developments and better control of motion artifacts have resulted in improved image quality, and clinical applications of MR imaging in thoracic diseases have been expanded. Although MR imaging is considered as a problem-solving tool in patients with equivocal CT findings, MR should be used as the primary imaging modality in the following situations: 1) Evaluation of the cardiovascular abnormalities of the thorax 2) Evaluation of the superior sulcus tumors 3) Evaluation of the chest wall invasion or mediastinal invasion by tumor 4) Evaluation of the posterior mediastinal mass, especially neurogenic tumor 5) Differentiation of fibrosis and residual or recurrent tumor, especially in lymphoma 6) Evaluation of brachial plexopathy With technical developments and fast scan capabilities, clinical indications for MR imaging in thorax will increase in the area of pulmonary parenchymal and pulmonary vascular imaging.

• Journal of Multimedia Information System
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• v.6 no.4
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• pp.209-216
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• 2019

Over the past decade, researchers were able to solve complex medical problems as well as acquire deeper understanding of entire issue due to the availability of machine learning techniques, particularly predictive algorithms and automatic recognition of patterns in medical imaging. In this study, a technique called transfer learning has been utilized to classify Magnetic Resonance (MR) images by a pre-trained Convolutional Neural Network (CNN). Rather than training an entire model from scratch, transfer learning approach uses the CNN model by fine-tuning them, to classify MR images into Alzheimer's disease (AD), mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and normal control (NC). The performance of this method has been evaluated over Alzheimer's Disease Neuroimaging (ADNI) dataset by changing the learning rate of the model. Moreover, in this study, in order to demonstrate the transfer learning approach we utilize different pre-trained deep learning models such as GoogLeNet, VGG-16, AlexNet and ResNet-18, and compare their efficiency to classify AD. The overall classification accuracy resulted by GoogLeNet for training and testing was 99.84% and 98.25% respectively, which was exceptionally more than other models training and testing accuracies.