• Proceedings of the Korean Society for Emotion and Sensibility Conference
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• 2009.05a
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• pp.109-112
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• 2009

The purpose of this study was to examine the differences in the brain activation evoked by music arranged in major and minor key used with an identical motion film during the fMRI testing. A part of the audio-visual combinations composed by Iwamiya and Sano were used for the study stimuli. This audio- visual clip was originally developed by combining a small motion segment of the animation "The Snowman" and music arranged in both major and minor key from the original jazz music "Avalon" rewritten in a classical style. Twenty-seven Japanese male graduate and undergraduate students participated in the study. Brain regions more activated by the major key than the minor key when presented with the identical motion film were the left cerebellum, the right fusiform gyrus, the right superior occipital, the left superior orbito frontal, the right pallidum, the left precuneus, and the bilateral thalamus. On the other hand, brain regions more activated by the minor key than the major key when presented with the identical motion film were the right medial frontal, the left inferior orbito frontal, the bilateral superior parietal, the left postcentral, and the right precuneus. The study showed a difference in brain regions activated between the two different stimulus (i.e., major key and minor key) controlling for the visual aspect of the experiment. These findings imply that our brain systematically generates differently in the way it processes music written in major and minor key(Supported by the User Science Institute of Kyushu University, Japan and the Korea Science and Engineering Foundation).

• Journal of Veterinary Clinics
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• v.24 no.1
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• pp.26-28
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• 2007

An 11-year-old castrated male, Shih-tzu dog was admitted for progressive weight-bearing lameness and mass on the right hindlimb. Radiography and ultrasonography revealed a large well-marginated multinodular mass with mixed echogenicity. On T1 and T2-weighted magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), the mass has a heterogenous signal intensity similar to or higher than muscle. The masses were extended to the pelvic cavi쇼 through obturator foramen and displaced the rectum dorsally. It was diagnosed as synovial sarcoma which was composed with mesenchymal and epithelial elements on histopathological findings of the multifocal biopsied specimen. MRI was helpful to determine the definitive margin for surgical resection of the mass. The mass was recurred at the 6th month after surgery. On the 10th month, the patient was euthanasiuzed by owner's request.

• Korean Journal of Applied Biomechanics
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• v.17 no.1
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• pp.121-127
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• 2007

Muscle force produced by muscle fibers is transmitted to bones via tendinous structures(aponeuroses and tendon), resulting in joint(s) movement. As force-transmitting elements, mechanical behavior of aponeuroses and tendon are closely related with the function of muscle-tendon complex. The purpose of this study was to determine strain characteristics of aponeuroses for in-vivo human soleus muscle during submaximal voluntary contractions using an advanced medical imaging technique, velocity-encoded phase-contrast magnetic resonance imaging (VE-PC MRI). VE-PC MRI of the soleus muscle-tendon complex was acquired during submaximal isometric plantarflexion contraction-relaxation cycle (n = 7), using 3.0T Trio MRI scanner(Siemens AG, Malvern, MA). From the VE-PC MRI containing the tissue velocity in superior-inferior direction, twenty regions of interest(20 ROI; 10 on the anterior aponeurosis and 10 on the posterior aponeurosis) were tracked. During the isometric plantarflexion contraction-relaxation cycle, velocity and displacement profiles were different between the anterior and posterior aponeuroses, indicating heterogeneous strain behavior along the length of the leg. The anterior aponeurosis elongated while the posterior aponeurosis shortened during the initial phase of the contraction. Moreover, strain behavior of the posterior aponeurosis was different from that of the Achilles tendon. Possible explanation for the observed variations in strain behavior of aponeuroses was investigated with morphological assessment of the soleus muscle and it was found that the intramuscular tendinous structures significantly vary among subjects. In conclusion, the heterogeneous mechanical behavior of the soleus aponeuroses and the Achilles tendon suggests that the complexity of skeletal muscle-tendon complex should be taken into consideration when modeling the complex for better understanding of its functions.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.40 no.5
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• pp.938-947
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• 2019

Objective: This study was performed to report the changes in symptoms and radiological consequences of a patient diagnosed with spinal neurofibroma and complaining of lower back pain. Methods: The patient was diagnosed with a spinal neurofibroma after MRI examination and was treated with traditional Korean medicine, including traditional Korean medication and acupuncture. We measured the change in symptom severity using a numerical rating scale (NRS) and the Oswestry Disability Index (ODI). We also used the EQ-5D (EuroQoL-5D) scale to assess the patient's quality of life. In addition, we examined the change in the size of the cyst by MRI twice after discharge: at about 3 months after discharge and at about 8 months after discharge. Results: After about 6 weeks of treatment, most pathological symptoms had decreased. The patient showed a decline in NRS and ODI scores and showed an increase in quality of life. The two MRI examinations after the discharge revealed a decrease in the size of the cyst. Conclusions: Traditional Korean medicine can be a solution for patients with spinal neurofibroma causing neurological pain.

• Korean Journal of Radiology
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• v.21 no.12
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• pp.1355-1366
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• 2020

Objective: We aimed to evaluate the diagnostic value and prognostic relevance of FDG positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET-CT) in extrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma patients. Materials and Methods: This study included 234 extrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma patients who underwent FDG PET-CT between June 2008 and February 2016. The diagnostic performance of FDG PEG-CT was compared to that of contrast-enhanced multidetector row CT (MDCT) and MRI. Independent prognosticators for poor survival were also assessed. Results: The sensitivity of FDG PET-CT for detecting primary tumor and regional lymph node metastases was lower than that of MDCT or MRI (p < 0.001), whereas the specificity and positive predictive value for detecting regional lymph nodes metastases was significantly better in FDG PET-CT compared to MDCT and MRI (all p < 0.001). There was no significant difference in the diagnostic yield of distant metastases detection among three diagnostic imaging techniques. In a multivariate analysis, maximum standardized uptake values (SUV_max) of the primary tumor (adjusted hazard ratio [HR], 1.75; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.13-2.69) and of the metastatic lesions ≥ 5 (adjusted HR, 8.10; 95% CI, 1.96-33.5) were independent contributors to poor overall survival in extrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma patients. In a subgroup analysis of 187 patients with periductal infiltrating type of cholangiocarcinoma, an SUV_max of the primary tumor ≥ 5 was associated with an increased risk of regional lymph node (adjusted odds ratio [OR], 1.60; 95% CI, 0.55-4.63) and distant metastases (adjusted OR, 100.57; 95% CI, 3.94-2567.43) at diagnosis as well as with poor overall survival (adjusted HR, 1.81; 95% CI, 1.04-3.15). Conclusion: FDG PET-CT showed lower sensitivity for detecting primary tumor and regional lymph node involvement than MDCT and MRI. However, the SUV_max of primary tumors and metastatic lesions derived from FDG PET-CT could have significant implications for predicting prognoses in extrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma patients.

• Korean Journal of Radiology
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• v.24 no.8
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• pp.784-794
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• 2023

Objective: To determine whether dynamic susceptibility contrast-enhanced (DSC) perfusion magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) can be used to evaluate posterior cerebral circulation in pediatric patients with moyamoya disease (MMD) who underwent anterior revascularization. Materials and Methods: This study retrospectively included 73 patients with MMD who underwent DSC perfusion MRI (age, 12.2 ± 6.1 years) between January 2016 and December 2020, owing to recent-onset clinical symptoms during the follow-up period after completion of anterior revascularization. DSC perfusion images were analyzed using a dedicated software package (NordicICE; Nordic NeuroLab) for the middle cerebral artery (MCA), posterior cerebral artery (PCA), and posterior border zone between the two regions (PCA-MCA). Patients were divided into two groups; the PCA stenosis group included 30 patients with newly confirmed PCA involvement, while the no PCA stenosis group included 43 patients without PCA involvement. The relationship between DSC perfusion parameters and PCA stenosis, as well as the performance of the parameters in discriminating between groups, were analyzed. Results: In the PCA stenosis group, the mean follow-up duration was 5.3 years after anterior revascularization, and visual disturbances were a common symptom. Normalized cerebral blood volume was increased, and both the normalized time-topeak (nTTP) and mean transit time values were significantly delayed in the PCA stenosis group compared with those in the no PCA stenosis group in the PCA and PCA-MCA border zones. TTP_PCA (odds ratio [OR] = 6.745; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 2.665-17.074; P < 0.001) and CBV_PCA-MCA (OR = 1.567; 95% CI = 1.021-2.406; P = 0.040) were independently associated with PCA stenosis. TTP_PCA showed the highest receiver operating characteristic curve area in discriminating for PCA stenosis (0.895; 95% CI = 0.803-0.986). Conclusion: nTTP can be used to effectively diagnose PCA stenosis. Therefore, DSC perfusion MRI may be a valuable tool for monitoring PCA stenosis in patients with MMD.

• Korean Journal of Radiology
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• v.25 no.1
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• pp.24-32
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• 2024

Despite improvements in operative techniques and perioperative care, post-hepatectomy liver failure (PHLF) remains the most serious cause of morbidity and mortality after surgery, and several risk factors have been identified to predict PHLF. Although volumetric assessment using imaging contributes to surgical simulation by estimating the function of future liver remnants in predicting PHLF, liver function is assumed to be homogeneous throughout the liver. The combination of volumetric and functional analyses may be more useful for an accurate evaluation of liver function and prediction of PHLF than only volumetric analysis. Gadoxetic acid is a hepatocyte-specific magnetic resonance (MR) contrast agent that is taken up by hepatocytes via the OATP1 transporter after intravenous administration. Gadoxetic acid-enhanced MR imaging (MRI) offers information regarding both global and regional functions, leading to a more precise evaluation even in cases with heterogeneous liver function. Various indices, including signal intensity-based methods and MR relaxometry, have been proposed for the estimation of liver function and prediction of PHLF using gadoxetic acid-enhanced MRI. Recent developments in MR techniques, including high-resolution hepatobiliary phase images using deep learning image reconstruction and whole-liver T1 map acquisition, have enabled a more detailed and accurate estimation of liver function in gadoxetic acid-enhanced MRI.

• Korean Journal of Radiology
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• v.22 no.5
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• pp.759-769
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• 2021

Objective: To evaluate the application of laplacian-regularized mean apparent propagator (MAPL)-MRI to brain glioma-induced corticospinal tract (CST) injury. Materials and Methods: This study included 20 patients with glioma adjacent to the CST pathway who had undergone structural and diffusion MRI. The entire CSTs of the affected and healthy sides were reconstructed, and the peritumoral CSTs were manually segmented. The morphological characteristics of the CST (track number, average length, volume, displacement of the affected CST) were examined and the diffusion parameter values, including fractional anisotropy (FA), mean diffusivity (MD), axial diffusivity (AD), radial diffusivity (RD), mean squared displacement (MSD), q-space inverse variance (QIV), return-to-origin probability (RTOP), return-to-axis probabilities (RTAP), and return-to-plane probabilities (RTPP) along the entire and peritumoral CSTs, were calculated. The entire and peritumoral CST characteristics of the affected and healthy sides as well as those relative CST characteristics of the patients with motor weakness and normal motor function were compared. Results: The track number, volume, MD, RD, MSD, QIV, RTAP, RTOP, and RTPP of the entire and peritumoral CSTs changed significantly for the affected side, whereas the AD and FA changed significantly only in the peritumoral CST (p < 0.05). In patients with motor weakness, the relative MSD of the entire CST, QIV of the entire and peritumoral CSTs, and the AD, MD, RD of the peritumoral CST were significantly higher, whereas the RTPP of the entire and peritumoral CSTs and the RTOP of the peritumoral CST were significantly lower than those in patients with normal motor function (p < 0.05 for all). In contrast, no significant changes were found in the CST morphological characteristics, FA, or RTAP (p > 0.05 for all). Conclusion: MAPL-MRI is an effective approach for evaluating microstructural changes after CST injury. Its sensitivity may improve when using the peritumoral CST features.

• Korean Journal of Radiology
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• v.22 no.4
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• pp.525-534
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• 2021

Objective: To assess the effect of left atrial appendage (LAA) isolation on LAA emptying and left atrial (LA) function using cardiac MRI in patients who underwent successful catheter ablation of atrial fibrillation (AF). Materials and Methods: This retrospective study included 84 patients (mean age, 59 ± 10 years; 67 males) who underwent cardiac MRI after successful catheter ablation of AF. According to the electrical activity of LAA after catheter ablation, patients showed either LAA isolation or LAA normal activity. The LAA emptying phase (LAA-EP, in the systolic phase [SP] or diastolic phase), LAA emptying flux (LAA-EF, mL/s), and LA ejection fraction (LAEF, %) were evaluated by cardiac MRI. Results: Of the 84 patients, 61 (73%) and 23 (27%) patients showed LAA normal activity and LAA isolation, respectively. Incidence of LAA emptying in SP was significantly higher in LAA isolation (91% vs. 0%, p < 0.001) than in LAA normal activation. LAA-EF was significantly lower in LAA isolation (40.1 ± 16.2 mL/s vs. 80.2 ± 25.1 mL/s, p < 0.001) than in LAA normal activity. Furthermore, LAEF was significantly lower in LAA isolation (23.7% ± 11.2% vs. 31.1% ± 16.6%, p = 0.04) than in LAA normal activity. Multivariate analysis demonstrated that the LAA-EP was independent from LAEF (p = 0.01). Conclusion: LAA emptying in SP may be a critical characteristic of LAA isolation, and it may adversely affect the LAEF after catheter ablation of AF.

• Journal of Biomedical Engineering Research
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• v.45 no.1
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• pp.26-36
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• 2024

Functional brain imaging techniques have been used to diagnose psychiatric disorders such as dementia, depression, and autism. Recently, these techniques have also been actively used to study hearing loss. The present study reviewed the application of the functional brain imaging techniques in auditory research, especially those focusing on hearing loss, over the past decade. EEG, fMRI, fNIRS, MEG, and PET have been utilized in auditory research, and the number of research studies using these techniques has been increasing. In particular, fMRI and EEG were the most frequently used technique in auditory research. EEG studies mostly used event-related designs to analyze the direct relationship between stimulus and the related response, and in fMRI studies, resting-state functional connectivity and block designs were utilized to analyze alterations in brain functionality in hearing-related areas. In terms of age, while studies involving children mainly focused on congenital and pre- and post-lingual hearing loss to analyze developmental characteristics with and without hearing loss, those involving adults focused on age-related hearing loss to investigate changes in the characteristics of the brain based on the presence of hearing loss and the use of a hearing device. Overall, ranging from EEG to PET, various functional brain imaging techniques have been used in auditory research, but it is difficult to perform a comprehensive analysis due to the lack of consistency in experimental designs, analysis methods, and participant characteristics. Thus, it is necessary to develop standardized research protocols to obtain high-quality clinical and research evidence.