• Proceedings of the Korea Society for Simulation Conference
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• 2004.05a
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• pp.118-122
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• 2004

본 논문에서는 인체의 머리 부분을 촬영한 의료 영상에서 뇌 영역만을 분할하는 방법에 대해 제시하고자 한다. 뇌의 해부학적 구조 및 기능적 이상 부위를 파악할 경우에 영상 내에 함께 보여지는 두개골과 뇌척수액 등을 제외한 대뇌피질 영역을 분할하면 보다 효과적인 정보 분석 및 진단이 가능하게 된다. 본 시스템에서는 3단계 알고리즘을 제시한다. 첫 번째 단계에서는 영상 내에 존재하는 잡음을 제거하기 위한 필터링이고, 두 번째 단계에서는 필터링된 결과에 대한 영상분할을 수행하는 것이다 이 때 정확한 결과 도출을 위하여 사용자의 인터렉션이 들어가게 된다. 세번째 단계에서는 형태학적 방법을 이용하여 분할 결과를 보완한다. 본 연구를 위한 실험에는 자기 공명 촬영 영상(MRI: Magnetic Resonance Imaging), 단일 광전자 방출 단층 촬영영상(SPECT: Single Photon Emission Computed Tomography), 양전자 방출 단층 촬영영상(PET: Positron Emission Tomography) 등을 사용하였다. 본 시스템에서는 다양한 모달리티의 뇌 영상에서 대뇌피질 부분을 정확하게 영상 분할함으로써 뇌의 구조적 이상을 판단하기 위한 해부학적 정보 분석을 가능케 하고 있다. 뿐만 아니라 뇌 질환에 대한 정확한 진단 시뮬레이션도 가능하게 하고자 한다.

• Toxicological Research
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• v.29 no.1
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• pp.1-6
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• 2013

The process of drug discovery and development requires substantial resources and time. The drug industry has tried to reduce costs by conducting appropriate animal studies together with molecular biological and genetic analyses. Basic science research has been limited to in vitro studies of cellular processes and ex vivo tissue examination using suitable animal models of disease. However, in the past two decades new technologies have been developed that permit the imaging of live animals using radiotracer emission, X-rays, magnetic resonance signals, fluorescence, and bioluminescence. The main objective of this review is to provide an overview of small animal molecular imaging, with a focus on nuclear imaging (single photon emission computed tomography and positron emission tomography). These technologies permit visualization of toxicodynamics as well as toxicity to specific organs by directly monitoring drug accumulation and assessing physiological and/or molecular alterations. Nuclear imaging technology has great potential for improving the efficiency of the drug development process.

• The Korean Journal of Nuclear Medicine
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• v.37 no.1
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• pp.53-62
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• 2003

After the development of two major techniques - SPECT (Single Photon Emission Computed Tomography) and PET (Positron Emission Tomography) to image the human subjects in a three-dimensional direction in the 1980s, many radiotracers have been used for functional neuroimaging. Still it would be very important study to develop selective radiotracers for functional neuroimaging. New radiotracers will help to expand the knowledge of neurotransmitter systems and of the genetic contribution to receptor or transporter availability. Neurotransmitter depletion-restoration studies, the distribution of brain functions and their modulation by neurotransmitter system aid in better understanding and limiting the side effects of drugs used as well as newly developed. In audition, these radiotracers will be thus very useful to gain a better understanding in biochemical and pharmacological interactions in living human. This review mentions the introduction of radioligands for the functional neuroimaging. Although significant progress has been achieved in the development of new PET and SPECT ligands for in vivo imaging of those receptors and transporters, there are continuous needs of new diagnostic radioligands.

• Journal of radiological science and technology
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• v.32 no.2
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• pp.195-203
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• 2009

Image registration is a fundamental task in image processing used to match two or more images. It gives new information to the radiologists by matching images from different modalities. The objective of this study is to develop 2D image registration algorithm for PET/CT and CT images acquired by different systems at different times. We matched two CT images first (one from standalone CT and the other from PET/CT) that contain affluent anatomical information. Then, we geometrically transformed PET image according to the results of transformation parameters calculated by the previous step. We have used Affine transform to match the target and reference images. For the similarity measure, mutual information was explored. Use of particle swarm algorithm optimized the performance by finding the best matched parameter set within a reasonable amount of time. The results show good agreements of the images between PET/CT and CT. We expect the proposed algorithm can be used not only for PET/CT and CT image registration but also for different multi-modality imaging systems such as SPECT/CT, MRI/PET and so on.

• The Korean Journal of Nuclear Medicine
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• v.38 no.6
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• pp.486-491
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• 2004

Purpose: factor analysis and independent component analysis (ICA) has been used for handling dynamic image sequences. Theoretical advantages of a newly suggested ICA method, ensemble ICA, leaded us to consider applying this method to the analysis of dynamic myocardial $H_2^{15}O$ PET data. In this study, we quantified patients' blood flow using the ensemble ICA method. Materials and Methods: Twenty subjects underwent $H_2^{15}O$ PET scans using ECAT EXACT 47 scanner and myocardial perfusion SPECT using Vertex scanner. After transmission scanning, dynamic emission scans were initiated simultaneously with the injection of $555{\sim}740$ MBq $H_2^{15}O$. Hidden independent components can be extracted from the observed mixed data (PET image) by means of ICA algorithms. Ensemble learning is a variational Bayesian method that provides an analytical approximation to the parameter posterior using a tractable distribution. Variational approximation forms a lower bound on the ensemble likelihood and the maximization of the lower bound is achieved through minimizing the Kullback-Leibler divergence between the true posterior and the variational posterior. In this study, posterior pdf was approximated by a rectified Gaussian distribution to incorporate non-negativity constraint, which is suitable to dynamic images in nuclear medicine. Blood flow was measured in 9 regions - apex, four areas in mid wall, and four areas in base wall. Myocardial perfusion SPECT score and angiography results were compared with the regional blood flow. Results: Major cardiac components were separated successfully by the ensemble ICA method and blood flow could be estimated in 15 among 20 patients. Mean myocardial blood flow was $1.2{\pm}0.40$ ml/min/g in rest, $1.85{\pm}1.12$ ml/min/g in stress state. Blood flow values obtained by an operator in two different occasion were highly correlated (r=0.99). In myocardium component image, the image contrast between left ventricle and myocardium was 1:2.7 in average. Perfusion reserve was significantly different between the regions with and without stenosis detected by the coronary angiography (P<0.01). In 66 segment with stenosis confirmed by angiography, the segments with reversible perfusion decrease in perfusion SPECT showed lower perfusion reserve values in $H_2^{15}O$ PET. Conclusions: Myocardial blood flow could be estimated using an ICA method with ensemble learning. We suggest that the ensemble ICA incorporating non-negative constraint is a feasible method to handle dynamic image sequence obtained by the nuclear medicine techniques.

• The Korean Journal of Nuclear Medicine Technology
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.44-49
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• 2017

Purpose Radiation exposure management has been strictly regulated for the radiation workers, but there are only a few studies on potential risk of radiation exposure to non-radiation workers, especially nurses in a general ward. The present study aimed to estimate the exact total exposure of the nurse in a general ward by close contact with the patient undergoing nuclear medicine examinations. Materials and Methods Radiation exposure rate was determined by using thermoluminescent dosimeter (TLD) and optical simulated luminescence (OSL) in 14 nurses in a general ward from October 2015 to June 2016. External radiation rate was measured immediately after injection and examination at skin surface, and 50 cm and 1 m distance from 50 patients (PET/CT 20 pts; Bone scan 20 pts; Myocardial SPECT 10 pts). After measurement, effective half-life, and total radiation exposure expected in nurses were calculated. Then, expected total exposure was compared with total exposures actually measured in nurses by TLD and OSL. Results Mean and maximum amount of radiation exposure of 14 nurses in a general ward were 0.01 and 0.02 mSv, respectively in each measuring period. External radiation rate after injection at skin surface, 0.5 m and 1 m distance from patients was as following; $376.0{\pm}25.2$, $88.1{\pm}8.2$ and $29.0{\pm}5.8{\mu}Sv/hr$, respectively in PET/CT; $206.7{\pm}56.6$, $23.1{\pm}4.4$ and $10.1{\pm}1.4{\mu}Sv/hr$, respectively in bone scan; $22.5{\pm}2.6$, $2.4{\pm}0.7$ and $0.9{\pm}0.2{\mu}Sv/hr$, respectively in myocardial SPECT. After examination, external radiation rate at skin surface, 0.5 m and 1 m distance from patients was decreased as following; $165.3{\pm}22.1$, $38.7{\pm}5.9$ and $12.4{\pm}2.5{\mu}Sv/hr$, respectively in PET/CT; $32.1{\pm}8.7$, $6.2{\pm}1.1$, $2.8{\pm}0.6$, respectively in bone scan; $14.0{\pm}1.2$, $2.1{\pm}0.3$, $0.8{\pm}0.2{\mu}Sv/hr$, respectively in myocardial SPECT. Based upon the results, an effective half-life was calculated, and at 30 minutes after examination the time to reach normal dose limit in 'Nuclear Safety Act' was calculated conservatively without considering a half-life. In oder of distance (at skin surface, 0.5 m and 1 m distance from patients), it was 7.9, 34.1 and 106.8 hr, respectively in PET/CT; 40.4, 199.5 and 451.1 hr, respectively in bone scan, 62.5, 519.3 and 1313.6 hr, respectively in myocardial SPECT. Conclusion Radiation exposure rate may differ slightly depending on the work process and the environment in a general ward. Exposure rate was measured at step in the general examination procedure and it made our results more reliable. Our results clearly showed that total amount of radiation exposure caused by residual radioactive isotope in the patient body was neglectable, even comparing with the natural radiation exposure. In conclusion, nurses in a general ward were much less exposed than the normal dose limit, and the effects of exposure by contacting patients undergoing nuclear medicine examination was ignorable.

• The Korean Journal of Nuclear Medicine
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• v.25 no.1
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• pp.1-5
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• 1991

• The Korean Journal of Nuclear Medicine Technology
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.68-72
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• 2014

Purpose The nuclear medicine examination, there is a difficulty to carry out the inspection of both on the day of residual isotope due to the half-life. In this study, by studying the mutual influence and $^{18}F$-FDG of $^{99m}TcO_4{^-}$, I would like to explain the matters to be considered in the case of performing the same day. Materials and Methods With the NEMA-1994 Phantom, and experiments were performed 3 times. Create a 1: 4 Background ratio HOT and the $^{99m}TcO_4{^-}$ The first experiment: After underwent SPECT in INFINIA (GE Healthcare, MI, USA), and were injected with $^{18}F$-FDG 37 MBq in the Background area, 13 once for 60 minutes under the same conditions was time Scan. Create a 1: 4 Background ratio HOT and the $^{18}F$-FDG second is: The Scan in PET/CT Discovery 600 (GE Healthcare, MI, USA), and 148 MBq after injection $^{99m}TcO_4{^-}$ the Background area, once for 60 minutes, 6 under the same conditions was time Scan. Create a 1: 4 Background ratio HOT and the $^{18}F$-FDG experiments las, increments of 296 MBq and 148 MBq the 1 Bed Scan after $^{99m}TcO_4{^-}$, was 1 Bed Scan under the same conditions. Non BKG area and HOT, I was measured comparing the Total Counts and SNR or CNR. Results Showed a significant difference in the ratio CNR of enforcement during SPECT $^{18}F$-FDG is, (p>0.05). The $^{99m}TcO_4{^-}$ was no significant difference between the SNR ratio of PET / CT at the time of the effective date (p<0.05). I got the results $^{99m}TcO_4{^-}$ that reduce the Total Counts of PET / CT scan. Conclusion If you make a PET / CT scan, may affect the test using the $^{99m}TcO_4{^-}$ up to 12 hours, when it is performed before the $^{99m}TcO_4{^-}$, does not affect the SNR and SUV, PET / CT scan I reduced the detection efficiency. The inspection of day, we'd like to recommend a way to complement the detection efficiency to increase the inspection time of PET / CT in move forward the inspection using the $^{99m}TcO_4{^-}$.

• 대한핵의학회:학술대회논문집
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• 2001.05a
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• pp.66-75
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• 2001

Although diverse mechanisms are involved in multidrug resistance for chemotherapeutic drugs, the development of cellular P-glycoprotein(Pgp) and multidrug-resistance associated protein (MRP) are important factors in the chemotherapy failure to cancer. Various detection assays provide information about the presence of drug efflux pumps at the mRNA and protein levels. However these methods do not yield information about dynamic function of Pgp and MRP un vivo. Single photon emission tomography (SPECT) and positron emission tomography (PET) are available for the detection of Pgp and MRP-mediated transport. $^{99m}Tc$-sestaMIBl and other $^{99m}Tc$-radiopharmaceuticals are substrates for Pgp and MRP, and have been used in clinical studies for tumor imaging, and to visualize blockade of Pgp-mediated transport after modulation of Pgp pump. Colchicine, verapamil and daunorubicin labeled with $^{11}C$ have been evaluated for the quantification of Pgp-mediated transport with PET in vivo and reported to be feasible substrates with which to image Pgp function in tumors. Leukotrienes are specific substrates for MRP and N-$[^{11}C]$acetyl-leukotriene E4 provides an opportunity to study MRP function non-invasively in vivo. Results obtained from recent publications are reviewed to confirm the feasibility of using SPECT and PET to study the functionality of MDR transporters in vivo.

• The Korean Journal of Nuclear Medicine Technology
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• v.20 no.2
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• pp.32-35
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• 2016

Purpose The goal for this study is to figure out that medical staff except Nuclear Medicine Department could be exposed to radiation from the patients who take Nuclear Medicine examination. Materials and Methods Total 250 patients (Bone scan 100, Myocardial SPECT 100, PET/CT 50) were involved from July to October in 2015, and we measured patient dose rate two times for every patients. First, we checked radiation dose rate right after injecting an isotope (radiopharmaceutical). Secondly, we measured radiation dose rate after each examination. Results In the case of Bone scan, dose rate were $0.0278{\pm}0.0036mSv/h$ after injection and $0.0060{\pm}0.0018mSv/h$ after examination (3 hrs 52 minutes after injection on average). For Myocardial SPECT, dose rate were $0.0245{\pm}0.0027mSv/h$ after injection and $0.0123{\pm}0.0041mSv/h$ after examination (2 hrs 09 minutes after injection on average). Lastly, for PET/CT, dose rate were $0.0439{\pm}0.0087mSv/h$ after examination (68 minutes after injection on average). Conclusion Compared to Nuclear Safety Commission Act, there was no significant harmful effect of the exposure from patients who have been administered radiopharmaceuticals. However, we should strive to keep ALARA(as low as reasonably achievable) principle for radiation protection.