• 대한핵의학회지
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• 제36권1호
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• pp.74-79
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• 2002

In addition to the well-established use of positron emission tomography (PET) in clinical oncology, novel roles for PET are rapidly emerging in the field of gene therapy. Methods for controlled gene delivery to living bodies, made available through advances in molecular biology, are currently being employed in animals for research purposes and in humans to treat diseases such as cancer. Although gene therapy is still in its early developmental stage, it is perceived that many serious illnesses could be treated successfully by the use of therapeutic gene delivery. A major challenge for the widespread use of human gene therapy is to achieve a controlled and effective delivery of foreign genes to target cells and subsequently, adequate levels of expression. As such, the availability of noninvasive imaging methods to accurately assess the location, duration, and level of transgene expression is critical for optimizing gene therapy strategies. Current endeavors to achieve this goal include methods that utilize magnetic resonance imaging, optical imaging, and nuclear imaging techniques. As for PET, reporter systems that utilize genes encoding enzymes that accumulate positron labeled substrates and those transcribing surface receptors that bind specific positron labeled ligands have been successfully developed. More recent advances in this area include improved reporter gene constructs and radiotracers, introduction of potential strategies to monitor endogenous gene expression, and human pilot studies evaluating the distribution and safety of reporter PET tracers. The remarkably rapid progress occurring in gene imaging technology indicates its importance and wide range of application. As such, gene imaging is likely to become a major and exciting new area for future application of PET technology.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• 제48권5호
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• pp.423-428
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• 2010

Objective : Neuralgic amyotrophy (NA) is a distinct clinical syndrome that is characterized by the acute onset of shoulder and arm pain, weakness, and sensory loss. The purpose of this study was to assess the clinical characteristics of NA and to determine appropriate diagnostic modalities. Methods : We reviewed the medical and radiologic records of 10 patients diagnosed with NA retrospectively. Neurophysiologic studies were performed in all patients and magnetic resonance neurography was performed in the last three patients. Results : A total of 10 patients were enrolled in our study. All patients had clinical findings compatible with NA. The most common clinical presentation was severe shoulder pain and weakness in seven patients (70%). Neurophysiologic study results were abnormal in all patients. Brachial plexus magnetic resonance neurography showed that the affected brachial plexus showed a thickened and hyper-intense trunk. All patients were managed conservatively with analgesics and physical therapy. The pain and paralysis of all patients improved clinically within 6 months of the initiation of treatment. Conclusion : NA is a rare disease but the symptoms of NA can mimic those of other diseases. Neurophysiologic studies and magnetic resonance neurography are extremely useful tools for the diagnosis of NA.

• 척추신경추나의학회지
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• 제7권1호
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• pp.75-83
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• 2012

Objectives : The purpose of this study is to investigate the clinical application of acupuncture treatment to a cervical herniated intervertebral disc patient with hyperventilation syndrome developed after magnetic resonance imaging(MRI). Methods : A patient with cervical herniated intervertebral disc got hyperventilation syndrome after taking magnetic resonance imaging. To relieve symptoms, we took paperbag breathing first aid, but it had no effect. So we used acupuncture therapy with strong stimulation. To measure the outcome of the patient's improvement, we observed change of vital sign and verbal numerical rating scale(VNRS). Results : After 8 minutes of acupuncture treatment, the patient had significant improvement in change of vital sign and verbal numerical rating scale(VNRS). Conclusions : In emergency situation, acupuncture treatment as a first aid has a positive effect to control hyperventilation syndrome.

• Radiation Oncology Journal
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• 제38권1호
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• pp.52-59
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• 2020

Purpose: To evaluate and compare the feasibilities of magnetic resonance (MR) image-based planning using synthetic computed tomography (sCT) versus CT (pCT)-based planning in helical tomotherapy for prostate cancer. Materials and Methods: A retrospective evaluation was performed in 16 patients with prostate cancer who had been treated with helical tomotherapy. MR images were acquired using a dedicated therapy sequence; sCT images were generated using magnetic resonance for calculating attenuation (MRCAT). The three-dimensional dose distribution according to sCT was recalculated using a previously optimized plan and was compared with the doses calculated using pCT. Results: The mean planning target volume doses calculated by sCT and pCT differed by 0.65% ± 1.11% (p = 0.03). Three-dimensional gamma analysis at a 2%/2 mm dose difference/distance to agreement yielded a pass rate of 0.976 (range, 0.658 to 0.986). Conclusion: The dose distribution results obtained using tomotherapy from MR-only simulations were in good agreement with the dose distribution results from simulation CT, with mean dose differences of less than 1% for target volume and normal organs in patients with prostate cancer.

• 대한의용생체공학회:의공학회지
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• 제36권6호
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• pp.241-250
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• 2015

Noninvasive temperature monitoring is feasible with Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) based on temperature sensitive MR parameters such as $T_1$ and $T_2$ relaxation times, Proton Resonance Frequency shift (PRFs), diffusion, exchange process, magnetization transfer contrast, chemical exchange saturation transfer, etc. While the temperature monitoring is very useful to guide the thermal treatment such as RF hyperthermia or thermal ablation, the optimization of the MR thermometry method is essential because the range of temperature measurement depends on the choice of the measurement methods. Useful temperature range depends on the purpose of treatment methods, for example, $42^{\circ}C$ to $45^{\circ}C$ for RF hyperthermia and over $50^{\circ}C$ for thermal ablation. In this paper, MR thermometry methods using $T_1$ and $T_2$ relaxation times and PRFs-based MR thermometry are tried on a 3.0 T MRI system and their results are reported and compared. In addition, the scanning protocol and temperature calculation algorithms from $T_1$ and $T_2$ relaxation times and PRFs are optimized for the different temperature ranges for the purpose of RF hyperthermia and/or thermal ablation.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• 제6권2호
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• pp.275-279
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• 1993

Reflex sympathetic dystrophy is a syndrome characterized by persistent, burning pain, hyperpathia, allodynia & hyperaesthesia in an extremity, with concurrent evidence of autonomic nervous system dysfunction. It generally develops after nerve injury, trauma, surgery, et al. The most successful therapies are directed towards blocking the sympathetic intervention to the affected extremity by regional sympathetic ganglion block or Bier block with sympathetic blocker; other traditional treatments include transcutaneous electrical stimulation, immobilization with cast & splint, physical therapy, psychotherapy, administration of sympathetic blocker, calcitonin, corticosteroid and analgesic agents. The purpose of this report is to evaluate and describe the effects of magnetic resonance following unsatisfactory results with traditional treatments of RSD. A 17 year old female patient, 1 year earlier, had received excision and drainage of pus at the right femoral triangle due to an injury caused by a stone. Afterwards, she experienced burning pain, knee joint stiffness, and muscle dystrophy of the right thigh, especially when standing and walking. Despite a year of number of traditional treatments such as: lumbar sympathetic block, continuous epidural analgesia, transcutaneous electrical stimulation, & administration of predisolone, her pain did not improve. Surprisingly, the patients was able to walk free from pain and difficulty after just one application of magnetic resonance. The patient has been successfully treated with further treatment of two to three times a week for approximately ten weeks. More recently, magnetic resonance has been demonstrated to produce effective results for the relief of pain in a variety of diseases. From our experiences we recognize magnetic resonance as a therapeutic modality which can provide excellent results for the treatment of RSD. It has been suggested that polysynaptic reflex which are disturbed in RSD may be modulated normally on the spinal cord level through the application of magnetic resonance.

• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
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• 제22권5호
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• pp.39-47
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• 2010

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to characterize changes in back muscles in patients with chronic back pain. Accordingly, we studied 154 patients with chronic low back pain with regard to area, aspect and triggering position of the pain. We also determined muscle atrophy in painful areas. Methods: Subjects were questioned about pain and a pain provoking test was done. On Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI), we measured cross sections of the multifidus, erector spinae, iliopsoas and quadratus lumborum muscles at each spinal level. Results: Muscles in painful regions (multifidus and erector spinae muscles) decreased in area significantly more than nonpainful regions, and showed a significant difference (p<0.05) at levels L3, L4, and L5. Painful regions of the iliopsoas and quadratus lumborum did not change significantly more than non-painful regionsexcept at L5 (p<0.05). The group that had unilateral low back pain showed a significant decrease in cross section compared to the group that had central or bilateral pain (p<0.05). Conclusion: Chronic low back pain causes variable decreases in cross-sectional areas of some but not all back muscles, and at some but not all spinal levels.

• Brain & NeuroRehabilitation
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• 제10권1호
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• pp.1-6
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• 2017

The brain necrosis induced by radiation therapy (RT) is an uncommon pathology of brain. A case of spontaneous hemorrhage at necrotic brain is also rare. A 52-year-old man who had nasopharyngeal carcinoma and had been treated with RT, presented with gait disturbance, dizziness, ataxia, dysarthria, and dysphagia. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) demonstrated progressed radiation necrosis of pons, and spontaneous hemorrhage at the site of necrosis. The hematoma was diminished by conservative treatment. However, the patient's neurologic symptoms did not recover. Two years later, spontaneous bleeding recurred at necrotic brain. His neurologic symptoms worsened. One year later, his neurologic symptoms were more progressed. He showed severe dysphagia, profound weakness and respiratory failure. This case provides the description of relapsed spontaneous hemorrhage and medullary dysfunction caused by pontine necrosis and progressed post-radiation injury, complicated with hemorrhage, and urges caution in that the necrotic brain tissue may be vulnerable to bleeding.

• 한국의학물리학회지:의학물리
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• 제32권2호
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• pp.25-39
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• 2021

Brachytherapy, along with external beam radiation therapy (EBRT), is an essential and effective radiation treatment process. In brachytherapy, in contrast to EBRT, the radiation source is radioisotopes. Because these isotopes can be positioned inside or near the tumor, it is possible to protect other organs around the tumor while delivering an extremely high-dose of treatment to the tumor. Brachytherapy has a long history of more than 100 years. In the early 1900s, the radioisotopes used for brachytherapy were only radium or radon isotopes extracted from nature. Over time, however, various radioisotopes have been artificially produced. As radioisotopes have high radioactivity and miniature size, the application of brachytherapy has expanded to high-dose-rate brachytherapy. Recently, advanced treatment techniques used in EBRT, such as image guidance and intensity modulation techniques, have been applied to brachytherapy. Three-dimensional images, such as ultrasound, computed tomography, magnetic resonance imaging, and positron emission tomography are used for accurate delineation of treatment targets and normal organs. Intensity-modulated brachytherapy is anticipated to be performed in the near future, and it is anticipated that the treatment outcomes of applicable cancers will be greatly improved by this treatment's excellent dose delivery characteristics.

• 한국동물위생학회지
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• 제47권2호
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• pp.101-105
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• 2024

Three dogs (7-year-old, neutered male Chihuahua; case 1, 1-year-old, spayed female mixed breed; case 2, 10-month-old, female Maltese; case 3) were referred to Jeju Veterinary Medicine Teaching Hospital for traumatic brain injury. All three patients exhibited abnormal neurological symptoms. The patients were diagnosed through medical history obtained from their caregivers and through computed tomography (CT) or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans. Structural brain abnormalities were observed in two dogs through CT scans and in one dog through MRI. Decompression therapy with mannitol was administered to all three dogs. Case 1, which showed CT findings of pulmonary hemorrhage but no significant brain injury, and case 2, which had mild brain damage on CT imaging, showed improvement in neurological symptoms and gait abnormalities after decompression therapy. However, case 3, which showed suspected brain hemorrhage and brain edema on MRI, did not respond to decompression therapy and was euthanized one month later. Imaging evaluation through CT or MRI in dogs with traumatic brain injury can assist clinical veterinarians in assessing the prognosis of patients.