• Clinics in Shoulder and Elbow
• /
• 제24권3호
• /
• pp.166-171
• /
• 2021

Background: This study aims to compare the clinical outcomes of steroid injections during the rehabilitation period after arthroscopic rotator cuff repair (ACRC). Methods: Among patients who underwent ARCR, 117 patients who met the inclusion and exclusion criteria were enrolled. Pain and range of motion (ROM) recovery at the 3-, 6-, and 24-month follow-up visits and functional outcome at the 24-month follow-up were compared between 45 patients who received ultrasound-guided subacromial steroid injection at postoperative week 4 or 6 and 72 patients who did not. Functional outcome was assessed using the American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons (ASES) score and Constant score. Healing of the repaired tendon and retear were observed at the 6-month follow-up via magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) or computed tomography (CT) arthrography. Results: At the 3-month follow-up, the steroid injection group showed lower visual analog scale scores than the control group (p<0.05) and showed faster recovery of forward flexion and internal rotation (p<0.05). From the 6-month follow-up, the two groups did not show differences in pain and ROM, and the ASES score and Constant score also did not significantly differ at the 24-month follow-up. The two groups did not differ in retear rate as determined by MRI or CT arthrography at the 6-month follow-up. Conclusions: This study demonstrated that ultrasound-guided subacromial steroid injection at 4 or 6 weeks after ARCR leads to quick pain reduction and ROM recovery until 3 months after surgery. Therefore, subacromial steroid injection is speculated to be an effective and relatively safe method to assist rehabilitation.

• 대한의용생체공학회:의공학회지
• /
• 제43권4호
• /
• pp.193-198
• /
• 2022

Contrast enhanced magnetic resonance imaging using gadolinium-based contrast agent (GBCA) is a very useful in vivo technique to visualize the inner ear pathology including endolymphatic hydrops. Although systemic intravenous (IV) administration can visualize the perilymph space, the visualization was possible by indirect passage of contrast agent through blood-perilymph barrier. All animal experimental procedures were performed under anesthesia with 5% isoflurane. Lipopolysaccharide (LPS) was instilled into the left tympanic cavity through the tympanic membrane using a sterile 27gauge needle to induce hydrops model. Tucker-Davis Technologies system was used to measure Auditory Brainstem Responses (ABRs). For intracerebroven-tricular (ICV) administration, 25 µmol of GADOVIST (Bayer, Berlin, Germany) was used and diluted GADOVIST injection was 10 µl. MR imaging was acquired with a 9.4 Tesla MRI scanner. Transmit-receive volume coil with 40 mm inner diameter and 75 mm out diameter was used. ICV administration well demonstrated the strong enhancement along the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) microcirculation pathway including CSF fluid in the subarachnoid space and CSF space of the inner ear structures. On the other hand, IV administration showed no contrast enhancement along the CSF microcirculation pathway and showed weak enhancement in the inner ear structures. In case of rat hydrops model, ICV administration showed that the reduced contrast enhancement in the perilymph space of the hydrops induced inner ear compared to the contrast enhancement in the perilymph space of the normal inner ear. New systemic ICV administration method provide contrast enhancement of GBCA in the inner ear through CSF microcirculation pathway.

• 대한방사선기술학회지:방사선기술과학
• /
• 제46권1호
• /
• pp.53-61
• /
• 2023

The aim of this study analyzed the important level (IL) and understanding level (UL) including the Borich's need for students preparing of the national examination for radiological technologists at online open chatting room. A total of 254 survey were collected from a total of 1,016 students who used open chatting room from December 13 to December 16, 2022. A general characteristics were the age, gender, curriculum (3 or 4 years), grade and area. The IL, UL, learning satisfaction (LS), learning achievement (LA) and intention to continue using (ICU) were analyzed by using the 5 point Likert scale. There was no significant difference the LS, LA, and ICU according to general characteristics (p>0.05). There was a statistically significant difference a total of sixteen subjects based on the t-test results of the response values from the IL and UL (p<0.05). The total of ten subjects with the highest priority in the Locus for Focus models were the Ultrasonography, Human anatomy, Magnetic resonance imaging, Radiation therapy, Cardiovascular and intervention, Computed tomography, Human physiology, Radiographic imaging, Fluroscopic radiography, and Nuclear medicine) that the Borich's need was also the same as the top 10 ranked subjects. The LS (4.23±0.72), LA (4.18±0.73), and ICU (4.15±0.78) for open chatting room were high. This study identified the subjects most needed by college students by the Borich's need analysis. First, it is necessary to provide intensive education on subjects with high scores that are most needed by college students. Second, it is necessary to improve the teaching method for subjects with low need and low level of understanding.

• Advances in nano research
• /
• 제14권5호
• /
• pp.435-442
• /
• 2023

Sports activities, including playing tennis, are popular with many people. As this industry has become more professionalized, investors and those involved in sports are sure to pay attention to any tool that improves athletes' performance Tennis requires perfect coordination between hands, eyes, and the whole body. Consequently, to perform long-term sports, athletes must have enough muscle strength, flexibility, and endurance. Tennis rackets with new frames were manufactured because tennis players' performance depends on their rackets. These rackets are distinguished by their lighter weight. Composite rackets are available in many types, most of which are made from the latest composite materials. During physical exercise with a tennis racket, nanocomposite materials have a significant effect on reducing injuries. Materials as strong as graphite and thermoplastic can be used to produce these composites that include both fiber and filament. Polyamide is a thermoplastic typically used in composites as a matrix. In today's manufacturing process, materials are made more flexible, structurally more vital, and lighter. This paper discusses the production, testing, and structural analysis of a new polyamide/Multi-walled carbon nanotube nanocomposite. This polyamide can be a suitable substitute for other composite materials in the tennis racket frame. By compression polymerization, polyamide was synthesized. The functionalization of Multi-walled carbon nanotube (MWCNT) was achieved using sulfuric acid and nitric acid, followed by ultrasonic preparation of nanocomposite materials with weight percentages of 5, 10, and 15. Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) and Nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) confirmed a synthesized nanocomposite structure. Nanocomposites were tested for thermal resistance using the simultaneous thermal analysis (DTA-TG) method. scanning electron microscopy (SEM) analysis was used to determine pores' size, structure, and surface area. An X-ray diffraction analysis (XRD) analysis was used to determine their amorphous nature.

• 대한한방내과학회지
• /
• 제44권3호
• /
• pp.578-584
• /
• 2023

Objectives: This is a five-year survival and complete response (CR) report on rectal cancer treated with western medicine and Korean traditional medicine. Method: A 25-year-old woman diagnosed with rectal cancer visited ⃝⃝ Korean traditional medicine hospital after neoadjuvant concurrent chemoradiation therapy, chemotherapy, and low anterior resection with regional lymph node dissection. She was treated with Korean traditional medicine, including acupuncture, abdominal moxibustion, wild ginseng pharmacopuncture, and herbal medicine, which was based on integrated medicine therapy (IMT), from January 2018 to February 2022. The tumor size was measured by scanning with computed tomography (CT), magnetic resonance imaging, and positron-emission tomography/CT. Adverse events were evaluated using laboratory conclusion and National Cancer Institute Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events version 5.0. Result: During four years of treatment, IMT maintained safety. The patient finally reached five-year survival without any recurrence or complication (CR) on March 11, 2022. Conclusion: We suggest that an integrative approach including Korean traditional medicine can be a meaningful treatment option for rectal cancer. Further studies should be performed to establish the proper treatment protocol of integrative medicine for rectal cancer.

• Journal of Yeungnam Medical Science
• /
• 제40권2호
• /
• pp.202-206
• /
• 2023

Cesarean scar pregnancy (CSP) is a rare complication that occurs in less than 1% of ectopic pregnancies, and uterine didelphys is one of the rarest uterine forms. We report a successful laparoscopic excision and repair of CSP in a woman with uterine didelphys and a double vagina. A 34-year-old gravida one, para one woman with a history of low transverse cesarean section presented to our hospital with a suspected CSP. She was confirmed to have uterine didelphys with a double vagina during an infertility examination 7 years earlier. Magnetic resonance imaging showed a 2.5-cm gestational sac-like cystic lesion in the lower segment of the right uterus at the cesarean scar. We decided to perform a laparoscopic approach after informing the patient of the surgical procedure. The lower segment of the previous cesarean site was excised with monopolar diathermy to minimize bleeding. We identified the gestational sac in the lower segment of the right uterus, which was evacuated using spoon forceps. The myometrium and serosa of the uterus were sutured layer-by-layer using synthetic absorbable sutures. No remnant gestational tissue was visible on follow-up ultrasonography one month after the surgery. This laparoscopic approach to CSP in a woman with uterine didelphys is an effective and safe method of treatment. In women with uterine anomalies, it is important to confirm the exact location of the gestational sac by preoperative imaging for successful surgery.

• Clinical Pain
• /
• 제18권1호
• /
• pp.8-15
• /
• 2019

Objective: To determine the relationship between cervical sagittal parameters and the degree of the cervical disc degeneration at each cervical level by using cervical plain radiographs and disc degeneration grading. Method: This study analyzed 110 patients with posterior neck pain. Cervical radiographic measurements included the occipito-cervical (O~C2) angle; sagittal Cobb angles of C1~C2, C2~C7; and sagittal vertical axis (SVA) of C1~C7 and C2~C7. The degenerations of cervical discs at each level were evaluated through Pfirrmann grading system by magnetic resonance images of the cervical spine. The correlations between the cervical sagittal measurements and the disc degeneration at each level were analyzed by Spearman's correlation. Results: A significant correlation was found for the C2~C7 angle with disc degenerations at C2~C6 levels. O~C2 angle was correlated significantly with disc degenerations at C2~C4 and C5~C7 levels. There was significant correlation between C1~C2 angle and disc degeneration at C6~C7 level. No significant relationship was found between the cervical SVA and the cervical disc degeneration at all cervical levels. Conclusion: Cervical sagittal parameters representing cervical angles (C2~C7, O~C2, and C1~C2 angles) were significantly correlated with the degree of the cervical disc degeneration. These findings suggest that the loss of the natural cervical lordosis rather than loss of natural SVA could be correlated with progression of the cervical disc degeneration.

• Clinical Pain
• /
• 제18권2호
• /
• pp.65-69
• /
• 2019

Objective: This study aims to evaluate the efficacy of high-voltage microcurrent therapy in patients with herniated lumbar disc (HLD) presenting radicular or back pain. Method: This is a retrospective study with 33 patients who are complaining pain with HLD findings on magnetic resonance image. Microcurrent therapy was applied to leg or paralumbar area. Treatment was conducted for seven minutes with 250~1000 uA intensity as high as the patients could tolerate via stimulating probe with roller type and the frequency was 60 Hz with a sine wave pulse. The visual analogue scale (VAS) was measured just before and after the treatment. Results: The degree of pain reduction (△VAS) was 1.6 points after treatment on average. The △VAS according to the diagnosis, stenosis, dermatome area, medication, pain site and caudal epidural block was not statistically significant. However, the △VAS according to the number of treatments (< 3, ≥ 3 times) showed a statistically significant difference (p=0.04). Conclusion: High-voltage microcurrent therapy may help reduce lumbar or lumbosacral radiating pain after the procedure. The effect was better when microcurrent was applied three times or more. This result suggests that the microcurrent would have cumulative effect on reducing radicular or back pain in patients with HLD.

• Korean Journal of Radiology
• /
• 제22권3호
• /
• pp.354-365
• /
• 2021

Objective: To investigate the diagnostic performance of contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) and its role as a second-line imaging modality after gadoxetate-enhanced MRI (Gd-EOB-MRI) in the diagnosis of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) among at risk observations. Materials and Methods: We prospectively enrolled participants at risk of HCC with treatment-naïve solid hepatic observations (≥ 1 cm) of Liver Imaging Reporting and Data System (LR)-3/4/5/M during surveillance and performed Gd-EOB-MRI. A total of one hundred and three participants with 103 hepatic observations (mean size, 28.2 ± 24.5 mm; HCCs [n = 79], non-HCC malignancies [n = 15], benign [n = 9]; diagnosed by pathology [n = 57], or noninvasive method [n = 46]) were included in this study. The participants underwent CEUS with sulfur hexafluoride. Arterial phase hyperenhancement (APHE) and washout on Gd-EOB-MRI and CEUS were evaluated. The distinctive washout in CEUS was defined as mild washout 60 seconds after contrast injection. The diagnostic ability of Gd-EOB-MRI and of CEUS as a second-line modality for HCC were determined according to the European Association for the Study of the Liver (EASL) and the Korean Liver Cancer Association and National Cancer Center (KLCA-NCC) guidelines. The diagnostic abilities of both imaging modalities were compared using the McNemar's test. Results: The sensitivity of CEUS (60.8%) was lower than that of Gd-EOB-MRI (72.2%, p = 0.06 by EASL; 86.1%, p < 0.01 by KLCA-NCC); however, the specificity was 100%. By performing CEUS on the inconclusive observations in Gd-EOB-MRI, HCCs without APHE (n = 10) or washout (n = 12) on Gd-EOB-MRI further presented APHE (80.0%, 8/10) or distinctive washout (66.7%, 8/12) on CEUS, and more HCCs were diagnosed than with Gd-EOB-MRI alone (sensitivity: 72.2% vs. 83.5% by EASL, p < 0.01; 86.1% vs. 91.1% by KCLA-NCC, p = 0.04). There were no false-positive cases for HCC on CEUS. Conclusion: The addition of CEUS to Gd-EOB-MRI as a second-line diagnostic modality increases the frequency of HCC diagnosis without changing the specificities.

• International Journal of Computer Science & Network Security
• /
• 제24권2호
• /
• pp.43-52
• /
• 2024

Medical imaginings assume a important part in the analysis of tumors and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) leak. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is an image segmentation technology, which shows an angular sectional perspective of the body which provides convenience to medical specialists to examine the patients. The images generated by MRI are detailed, which enable medical specialists to identify affected areas to help them diagnose disease. MRI imaging is usually a basic part of diagnostic and treatment. In this research, we propose new techniques using the 4D-MRI image segmentation process to detect the brain tumor in the skull. We identify the issues related to the quality of cerebrum disease images or CSF leakage (discover fluid inside the brain). The aim of this research is to construct a framework that can identify cancer-damaged areas to be isolated from non-tumor. We use 4D image light field segmentation, which is followed by MATLAB modeling techniques, and measure the size of brain-damaged cells deep inside CSF. Data is usually collected from the support vector machine (SVM) tool using MATLAB's included K-Nearest Neighbor (KNN) algorithm. We propose a 4D light field tool (LFT) modulation method that can be used for the light editing field application. Depending on the input of the user, an objective evaluation of each ray is evaluated using the KNN to maintain the 4D frequency (redundancy). These light fields' approaches can help increase the efficiency of device segmentation and light field composite pipeline editing, as they minimize boundary artefacts.