• Korean Journal of Radiology
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• 제23권7호
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• pp.742-751
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• 2022

Objective: To assess focal mineral deposition in the globus pallidus (GP) by CT and quantitative susceptibility mapping (QSM) of MRI scans and evaluate its clinical significance, particularly cerebrovascular degeneration. Materials and Methods: This study included 105 patients (66.1 ± 13.7 years; 40 male and 65 female) who underwent both CT and MRI with available QSM data between January 2017 and December 2019. The presence of focal mineral deposition in the GP on QSM (GP_QSM) and CT (GP_CT) was assessed visually using a three-point scale. Cerebrovascular risk factors and small vessel disease (SVD) imaging markers were also assessed. The clinical and radiological findings were compared between the different grades of GP_QSM and GP_CT. The relationship between GP grades and cerebrovascular risk factors and SVD imaging markers was assessed using univariable and multivariable linear regression analyses. Results: GP_CT and GP_QSM were significantly associated (p < 0.001) but were not identical. Higher GP_CT and GP_QSM grades showed smaller gray matter (p = 0.030 and p = 0.025, respectively) and white matter (p = 0.013 and p = 0.019, respectively) volumes, as well as larger GP volumes (p < 0.001 for both). Among SVD markers, white matter hyperintensity was significantly associated with GP_CT (p = 0.006) and brain atrophy was significantly associated with GP_QSM (p = 0.032) in at univariable analysis. In multivariable analysis, the normalized volume of the GP was independently positively associated with GP_CT (p < 0.001) and GP_QSM (p = 0.002), while the normalized volume of the GM was independently negatively associated with GP_CT (p = 0.040) and GP_QSM (p = 0.035). Conclusion: Focal mineral deposition in the GP on CT and QSM might be a potential imaging marker of cerebral vascular degeneration. Both were associated with increased GP volume.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• 제38권1호
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• pp.1-9
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• 2024

Cognitive reserve (CR) is a concept that can explain the discrepancies between the pathologic burden of the disease and clinical manifestations. It refers to the individual susceptibility to age-related brain changes and pathologies related to Alzheimer's disease, thus recognized as a factor affecting the trajectories of the disease. The purpose of this study was to explore the current states of clinical studies on neural substrates of CR in Alzheimer's disease using functional magnetic resonance imaging. We searched for clinical studies on CR using fMRI in the Pubmed, Cochrane library, RISS, KISS and ScienceON on August 14, 2023. Once the online search was finished, studies were selected manually by the inclusion criteria. Finally, we analyzed the characteristics of selected articles and reviewed the neural substrates of CR. Total thirty-four studies were included in this study. As surrogate markers of CR, not only education and occupational complexity, but also composite score and questionnaire-based method, which cover various areas of life, were mainly used. The most utilized methods in resting-state fMRI were independent component analysis, seed-based analysis, and graph theory analysis. Through the analysis, we demonstrated that neuroimaging techniques could capture the neural substrates associated with cognitive reserve. Moreover, functional connectivity of brain regions centered on prefrontal and parietal cortex and network areas such as default mode network showed a significant correlation with CR, which indicated a significant association with cognitive performance. CR may induce differential effects according to the disease status. We hope that this perspective on cognitive reserve would be helpful when conducting clinical researches on the mechanisms of traditional Korean medicine for Alzheimer's disease in the future.

• Korean Journal of Radiology
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• 제20권5호
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• pp.854-861
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• 2019

Objective: To evaluate quantitative magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) parameters for differentiation of cysts from and solid masses in the anterior mediastinum. Materials and Methods: The development dataset included 18 patients from two institutions with pathologically-proven cysts (n = 6) and solid masses (n = 12) in the anterior mediastinum. We measured the maximum diameter, normalized T1 and T2 signal intensity (nT1 and nT2), normalized apparent diffusion coefficient (nADC), and relative enhancement ratio (RER) of each lesion. RERs were obtained by non-rigid registration and subtraction of precontrast and postcontrast T1-weighted images. Differentiation criteria between cysts and solid masses were identified based on receiver operating characteristics analysis. For validation, two separate datasets were utilized: 15 patients with 8 cysts and 7 solid masses from another institution (validation dataset 1); and 11 patients with clinically diagnosed cysts stable for more than two years (validation dataset 2). Sensitivity and specificity were calculated from the validation datasets. Results: nT2, nADC, and RER significantly differed between cysts and solid masses (p = 0.032, 0.013, and < 0.001, respectively). The following criteria differentiated cysts from solid masses: RER < 26.1%; nADC > 0.63; nT2 > 0.39. In validation dataset 1, the sensitivity of the RER, nADC, and nT2 criteria was 87.5%, 100%, and 75.0%, and the specificity was 100%, 40.0%, and 57.4%, respectively. In validation dataset 2, the sensitivity of the RER, nADC, and nT2 criteria was 90.9%, 90.9%, and 72.7%, respectively. Conclusion: Quantitative MRI criteria using nT2, nADC, and particularly RER can assist differentiation of cysts from solid masses in the anterior mediastinum.

• Korean Journal of Radiology
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• 제21권12호
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• pp.1326-1333
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• 2020

Objective: To evaluate urologist satisfaction on structured prostate MRI reports, including report with tumor-node-metastasis (TNM) staging (report B) and with Prostate Imaging Reporting and Data System (PI-RADS) score with/without TNM staging (report C, report with PI-RADS score only [report C-a] and report with PI-RADS score and TNM staging [C-b]) compared with conventional free-text report (report A). Materials and Methods: This was a prospective comparative study. Altogether, 3015 prostate MRI reports including reports A, B, C-a, and C-b were rated by 13 urologists using a 5-point Likert Scale. A questionnaire was used to assess urologist satisfaction based on the following parameters: correctness, practicality, and urologist subjectivity. Kruskal-Wallis H-test followed by Nemenyi test was used to compare urologists' satisfaction parameters for each report type. The rate of urologist-radiologist recalls for each report type was calculated. Results: Reports B and C including its subtypes had higher ratings of satisfaction than report A for overall satisfaction degree, and parameters of correctness, practicality, and subjectivity (p < 0.05). There was a significant difference between report B and C (p < 0.05) in practicality score, but no statistical difference was found in overall satisfaction degree, and correctness and subjectivity scores (p > 0.05). Compared with report C-b (p > 0.05), report B and C-a (p < 0.05) showed a significant difference in overall satisfaction degree and parameters of practicality and subjectivity. In terms of correctness score, neither report C-a nor C-b had a significant difference with report B (p > 0.05). No statistical difference was found between report C-a and C-b in overall satisfaction degree and all three parameters (p > 0.05). The rate of urologist-radiologist recalls for reports A, B, C-a and C-b were 29.1%, 10.8%, 18.1% and 11.2%, respectively. Conclusion: Structured reports, either using TNM or PI-RADS are highly preferred over conventional free-text reports and lead to fewer report-related post-hoc inquiries from urologists.

• Korean Journal of Radiology
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• 제25권9호
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• pp.824-832
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• 2024

Objective: To determine the preventive effect of changing gadolinium-based contrast agents (GBCAs) to reduce the recurrence of GBCA-associated acute adverse drug reactions (ADRs). Materials and Methods: This retrospective, observational, single-center study-conducted between January 2016 and December 2021-included 238743 consecutive GBCA-enhanced MRI examinations. We focused on a subgroup of patients who experienced acute GBCA-associated ADRs during any of these examinations and subsequently underwent follow-up GBCA-enhanced MRI examinations up until July 2023. The follow-up examinations involved either the same (non-change group) or different (change group) GBCAs compared to the ones that initially caused the acute ADR. Baseline participant characteristics, generic profile of the GBCAs, administration of premedication, history of prior ADR to iodinated contrast media, and symptoms of GBCA-associated acute ADRs were retrospectively analyzed. Multivariable logistic regression with generalized estimating equations and propensity score matching were used. Results: A total of 1042 instances of acute ADRs (0.44%; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.41%-0.46%) were reported. Three-hundred and seventy-three patients underwent GBCA-enhanced MRI examinations after experiencing GBCA-associated acute ADRs within the study period; 31.9% (119/373) reexperienced acute ADRs at any of the follow-up examinations. The ADR recurrence was significantly lower in the GBCA change group than in the non-change group according to multivariable logistic regression (adjusted odds ratio [OR]: 0.35; 95% CI: 0.13-0.90; P = 0.03) and analysis with propensity score matching (14.3% [6/42] vs. 36.9% [31/84], respectively; OR: 0.32, 95% CI: 0.11-0.94; P = 0.04). A history of an ADR to iodinated contrast media (OR: 1.14, 95% CI: 0.68-1.90; P = 0.62) and premedication (adjusted OR: 2.09, 95% CI: 0.93-4.68; P = 0.07) were not significantly associated with GBCA-associated acute ADR recurrence. A separate analysis for recurrent allergic-like hypersensitivity reactions demonstrated similar results (adjusted OR: 0.20, 95% CI: 0.06-0.65; P < 0.01). Conclusion: Changing GBCAs may reduce the risk of GBCA-associated acute ADR recurrence.

• Journal of Science Education
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• 제33권2호
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• pp.173-183
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• 2009

We aimed to examine difference between the brain activation pattern based upon hypothesis-generating and hypothesis-understanding among the pre-service teachers not majoring in biology, the pre-service teachers majoring in biology and the biologists using fMRI. We have designed two sets of task paradigm on the biological phenomena: hypothesis-generating and hypothesis-understanding and thirty six healthy participants (twelve participants per group) performed the tasks. The result was showed that 1) there were significant differences of brain activation patterns in hypothesis-generating on the biological phenomena among three groups, 2) the left middle frontal gyrus in the part of DLPFC region was play an important roles of hypothesis-generating and make a significant differences among three groups. The superior ability of biologists were based upon the activation of middle frontal gyrus which has secondary integration of abstract information, and 3) there were no significant differences of brain activation patterns in hypothesis-understanding on the biological phenomena among three groups. These findings provided that scientist might be skillful in generating a new scientific knowledge.

• Korean Journal of Cognitive Science
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• 제17권4호
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• pp.357-373
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• 2006

Virtual reality (VR) provides a virtual experiment (VE) context consisting of information presented to the senses of the user. The user perceiver and interprets the VE context, and then naturally recognizes a level of realism in the VE. Presence is often thought of as the sense of 'being there' in the n. Presence includes overall feelings about the information conveyed from a virtual avatar to the user. Therefore, there must be brain mechanisms for integrating sensory information about presence.'Feeling of presence' is related with the user's cognition and perception about information on communication through medium. Thus 'feeling of presence' may characterize perceptual mechanisms in the brain. We studied these mechanisms by presenting a VR that consisted of an avatar telling a story about a social conversation. We performed covariance analysis on subjective brain activity (fMRI) during the story presentation with a presence score. The data analysis revealed that activity in several brain areas was correlated with the presence store. A positive correlation was shown in the right lingual gyrus, right cuneus, left lingual gyrus, right fusiform gyrus, left inferior temporal gyrus, anterior cingulate cortex and right posterior cingulate cortex of the brain. This study showed the brain mechanism to be related the feeling of presence and brain activities in our subjects, using VR to communicate information.

• Clinics in Shoulder and Elbow
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• 제13권1호
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• pp.111-116
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• 2010

Purpose: There are many known treatment modalities for spinoglenoid ganglion cyst accompanied by suprascapular nerve palsy. However, to the author's knowledge, there is no report on the follow-up outcomes focused on remnant cysts. Materials and Methods: Six (n=6) patients with spinoglenoid ganglion cyst accompanied by suprascapular nerve palsy, with a mean follow-up of 15 months (12-23months) following arthroscopic cyst decompression and superior labral repair, were enrolled. Residual cyst was investigated by ultrasonography and MRI. Results: Immediate postoperative ultrasonography revealed complete remission of ganglion cyst in one patient and reduced ganglion cyst size in five patients. Three-month follow-up ultrasonography showed spontaneous complete remission of the residual cysts in all patients. No recurrence on MRI was seen at one-year follow-up. Conclusion: Residual spinoglenoid ganglion cyst remaining after arthroscopic decompression and superior labral repair tends to resolve spontaneously within 3 months of surgery.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• 제46권3호
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• pp.295-301
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• 2003

Glutaric aciduria type 1(GA1) is an autosomal recessive disorder of the lysine, hydroxylysine and tryptophan metabolism caused by the deficiency of mitochondrial glutaryl-CoA dehydrogenase. This disease is characterized by macrocephaly at birth or shortly after birth and various neurologic symptoms. Between the first weeks and the 4-5th year of life, intercurrent illness such as viral infections, gastroenteritis, or even routine immunizations can trigger acute encephalopathy, causing injury to caudate nucleus and putamen. But intellectual functions are well preserved until late in the disease course. We report a one-month-old male infant with macrocephaly and hypotonia. In brain MRI, there was frontotemporal atrophy(widening of sylvian cistern). In metabolic investigation, there were high glutarylcarnitine level in tandem mass spectrometry and high glutarate in urine organic acid analysis, GA1 was confirmed by absent glutaryl-CoA dehydrogenase activity in fibroblast culture. He was managed with lysine free milk and carnitine and riboflavin. He developed well without a metabolic crisis. If there is macrocephaly in an infant with neuroradiologic sign of frontotemporal atrophy, GA1 should have a high priority in the differential diagnosis. Because current therapy can prevent brain degeneration in more than 90% of affected infants who are treated prospectively, recognition of this disorder before the brain has been injured is essential for treatment.

• The Journal of the Korean bone and joint tumor society
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• 제11권1호
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• pp.40-45
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• 2005

Purpose: To suggest an accurate diagnosis and treatment of infiltrating intramuscular lipoma by analysis of the clinical, biological, radiological and pathological features. Materials & Methods: 20 patients who treated at our hospital for infiltrating intramuscular lipoma from 1998. to 2001 were selected for this study. Mean age was 45.8 years old. Four were male and eight female. All cases were checked preoperative radiographs, MRI and diagnosed by biopsy. The methods of surgical treatment included excision of tumor and peripheral tissue. We assessed the recurrence by follow up. Results: Tumors located in upper limbs 5 cases, lower limbs 3 cases, abdomen 3 cases, gluteal region 1 case. In preoperative radiographs, infiltrating intramuscular type were 7 cases. In 11 cases, tumors were completely excied with peripheral tissue. 1 cases was incompletely excised because it was very huge mass and infiltrated lung. Encapsulated tumors were 3cases and uncapsulated tumors 9 cases. There were no recurrence excepts 1 case that was infiltrated lung. Conclusion: Infiltrating intramuscular lipoma was wrongly diagnosed as well differentiated liposarcoma. To increase the rate of correct diagnosis, preoperative radiographs, MRI and pathologic diagnosis were performed. Careful wide excision is necessary to prevent the recurrence.