• Investigative Magnetic Resonance Imaging
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• 제21권4호
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• pp.210-222
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• 2017

Purpose: To develop a novel combination of controlled aliasing in parallel imaging results in higher acceleration (CAIPIRINHA) with integrated SSFP (CAIPI-iSSFP) for accelerated SSFP imaging without banding artifacts at 3T. Materials and Methods: CAIPI-iSSFP was developed by adding a dephasing gradient to the balanced SSFP (bSSFP) pulse sequence with a gradient area that results in $2{\pi}$ dephasing across a single pixel. Extended phase graph (EPG) simulations were performed to show the signal behaviors of iSSFP, bSSFP, and RF-spoiled gradient echo (SPGR) sequences. In vivo experiments were performed for brain and abdominal imaging at 3T with simultaneous multi-slice (SMS) acceleration factors of 2, 3 and 4 with CAIPI-iSSFP and CAIPI-bSSFP. The image quality was evaluated by measuring the relative contrast-to-noise ratio (CNR) and by qualitatively assessing banding artifact removal in the brain. Results: Banding artifacts were removed using CAIPI-iSSFP compared to CAIPI-bSSFP up to an SMS factor of 4 and 3 on brain and liver imaging, respectively. The relative CNRs between gray and white matter were on average 18% lower in CAIPI-iSSFP compared to that of CAIPI-bSSFP. Conclusion: This study demonstrated that CAIPI-iSSFP provides up to a factor of four acceleration, while minimizing the banding artifacts with up to a 20% decrease in the relative CNR.

• Korean Journal of Radiology
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• 제22권9호
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• pp.1525-1536
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• 2021

Objective: To investigate the feasibility of cine three-dimensional (3D) balanced steady-state free precession (b-SSFP) imaging combined with a non-local means (NLM) algorithm for image denoising in evaluating cardiac function in children with repaired tetralogy of Fallot (rTOF). Materials and Methods: Thirty-five patients with rTOF (mean age, 12 years; range, 7-18 years) were enrolled to undergo cardiac cine image acquisition, including two-dimensional (2D) b-SSFP, 3D b-SSFP, and 3D b-SSFP combined with NLM. End-diastolic volume (EDV), end-systolic volume (ESV), stroke volume (SV), and ejection fraction (EF) of the two ventricles were measured and indexed by body surface index. Acquisition time and image quality were recorded and compared among the three imaging sequences. Results: 3D b-SSFP with denoising vs. 2D b-SSFP had high correlation coefficients for EDV, ESV, SV, and EF of the left (0.959-0.991; p < 0.001) as well as right (0.755-0.965; p < 0.001) ventricular metrics. The image acquisition time ± standard deviation (SD) was 25.1 ± 2.4 seconds for 3D b-SSFP compared with 277.6 ± 0.7 seconds for 2D b-SSFP, indicating a significantly shorter time with the 3D than the 2D sequence (p < 0.001). Image quality score was better with 3D b-SSFP combined with denoising than with 3D b-SSFP (mean ± SD, 3.8 ± 0.6 vs. 3.5 ± 0.6; p = 0.005). Signal-to-noise ratios for blood and myocardium as well as contrast between blood and myocardium were higher for 3D b-SSFP combined with denoising than for 3D b-SSFP (p < 0.05 for all but septal myocardium). Conclusion: The 3D b-SSFP sequence can significantly reduce acquisition time compared to the 2D b-SSFP sequence for cine imaging in the evaluation of ventricular function in children with rTOF, and its quality can be further improved by combining it with an NLM denoising method.

• 대한의용생체공학회:학술대회논문집
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• 대한의용생체공학회 1990년도 춘계학술대회
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• pp.25-27
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• 1990

By designing the gradient pulses to be velocity compensated during one pulse cycle in SSFP (steady state free precession) imaging, the flowing spins can be maintained in the steady state. In the new SSFP sequence the flow signal which might be lost in conventional SSFP imaging sequences can be restored owing to the signal contribution from the preceding pulse cycles. By using the proposed SSFP sequence substantial restoration of the flow signal has been observed for the CSF (cerebro spinal fluid) of the human head.

• Journal of Yeungnam Medical Science
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• 제24권2호
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• pp.119-128
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• 2007

목적 : 이 연구는 낮은 b값의 SSFP-확산강조영상에 의한 물분자의 확산 성질 측정이 가능한지를 알기 위한 모형연구를 하고 이 기법이 골수질환에 적용이 가능한 가를 아는 것이 목적이다. 재료 및 방법: 모형 연구：순수한 물로 구성된 모형에서 확산강조 영상을 시행하였다. 섭씨 3도, 23도 그리고 63도의 순수한 물로 구성된 모형에서 SSFP 확산강조영상과 echo plannar imaging (EPI) 확산강조영상 (b값: $1000s/mm^2$)을 모두 시행하여 각각에서 신호 대 잡음 비 (SNR; signal to noise ratio)와 확산계수를 얻었다. 임상 연구 : 10명의 천골 부족 골절, 10명의 골다공증에 의한 급성 요추 압박골절, 그리고 전이암에 의한 요추 압박골절 8명에서 각각 SSFP 확산강조영상을 시행하였다. SSFP 확산 강조영상 외 확산계수를 측정하기 위해 single shot stimulated echo-acquisition mode sequence 를 이용한 확산강조영상을 시행하였다. 결과: 모형연구에서 EPI 확산 강조영상뿐만 아니라 SSFP 확산강조영상에서 물의 온도가 증가됨에 따라 신호강도의 감소를 보였다. EPI-확산계수 영상에서 확산계수 값은 3도의 물은 $0.13{\times}10^{-3}mm^2/s$, 23도는 $0.22{\times}10^{-3}mm2/s$ 그리고 63도에서 $0.37{\times}10^{-3}mm^2/s$를 나타냈다. 이러한 결과는 SSFP 기법은 비록 낮은 b 값을 가지지만 확산 강조 영상으로 확신된다. SSFP 확산강조영상에서 모든 천골 부족 골절과 골다공증 척추 압박골절은 높은 확산계수를 의미하는 저신호강도를 전이암에 의한 압박골절은 낮은 확산 값을 나타내는 고신호 강도를 보였다. 결론 : SSFP 확산강조영상에서 다른 확산계수를 가진 골수질환이 영상화 되었으며 모든 양성골절은 주위 정상 골수에 비해 저신호강도, 악성 종양에 의한 골절은 고신호강도로 관찰되었다.

• 한국수산과학회지
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• 제57권4호
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• pp.489-496
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• 2024

This study has investigated ten different organic acids in 67 types of seasoning Jeotgal (seasoning salted fermented product, SSFP) and Sikhae (seasoning salted fermented product with rice, SSFPR) collected from the market. The levels of organic acids varied significantly depending on the raw materials used for the SSFP and SSFPR. The acetic acid and lactic acid content ranged from being not detected (ND) to 5,667.15 mg/kg for acetic acid in the SSFP, ND to 34,837.89 mg/kg for lactic acid in the SSFP, and 53.47 to 2,089.55 mg/kg for acetic acid in the SSFPR, and 10.69 to 1,733.27 mg/kg for lactic acid in the SSFPR. The range for succinic acid was 57.92 to 2,793.09 mg/kg in the SSFP and 21.21 to 453.32 mg/kg in the SSFPR. Propionic acid content ranged from 8.42 to 277.83 mg/kg in the SSFP and 13.21 to 133.07 mg/kg in SSFPR.The most abundant organic acids were succinic and lactic acid, comprising 48% of the seasoning Jeotgal (succinic acid) and more than 72% in Sikhae (lactic acid). Furthermore, this study suggests that the differences in the organic acid content of samples, based on their raw materials can be discriminated by principal component analysis (PCA).

• Investigative Magnetic Resonance Imaging
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• 제21권3호
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• pp.154-161
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• 2017

Purpose: To evaluate the diagnostic performance of diffusion-weighted steady-state free precession (DW-SSFP) in comparison to diffusion-weighted echo-planar imaging (DW-EPI) for differentiating the neoplastic and benign osteoporotic vertebral compression fractures. Materials and Methods: The subjects were 40 patients with recent vertebral compression fractures but no history of vertebroplasty, spine operation, or chemotherapy. They had received 3-Tesla (T) spine magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), including both DW-SSFP and DW-EPI sequences. The 40 patients included 20 with neoplastic vertebral fracture and 20 with benign osteoporotic vertebral fracture. In each fracture lesion, we obtained the signal intensity normalized by the signal intensity of normal bone marrow (SI norm) on DW-SSFP and the apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) on DW-EPI. The correlation between the SI norm and the ADC in each lesion was analyzed using linear regression. The optimal cut-off values for the diagnosis of neoplastic fracture were determined in each sequence using Youden's J statistics and receiver operating characteristic curve analyses. Results: In the neoplastic fracture, the median SI norm on DW-SSFP was higher and the median ADC on DW-EPI was lower than the benign osteoporotic fracture (5.24 vs. 1.30, P = 0.032, and 0.86 vs. 1.48, P = 0.041, respectively). Inverse linear correlations were evident between SI norm and ADC in both neoplastic and benign osteoporotic fractures (r = -0.45 and -0.61, respectively). The optimal cut-off values for diagnosis of neoplastic fracture were SI norm of 3.0 in DW-SSFP with the sensitivity and specificity of 90.4% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 81.0-99.0) and 95.3% (95% CI: 90.0-100.0), respectively, and ADC of 1.3 in DW-EPI with the sensitivity and specificity of 90.5% (95% CI: 80.0-100.0) and 70.4% (95% CI: 60.0-80.0), respectively. Conclusion: In 3-T MRI, DW-SSFP has comparable sensitivity and specificity to DW-EPI in differentiating the neoplastic vertebral fracture from the benign osteoporotic vertebral fracture.

• 한국의학물리학회:학술대회논문집
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• 한국의학물리학회 2002년도 Proceedings
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• pp.356-358
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• 2002

MRI, particularly diffusion weighted imaging (DWI), plays vital roles in detection of the acute brain infarction$\^$1-4/ and others metabolic changes of biological tissues. In general, every molecule in biological tissues may diffuse and move randomly in three-dimensional space. However, in clinical diagnosis, only 2D-DWI is used. The authors have developed a new method for rapid three-dimensional DWI (3D-DWI). In this method, by refocusing of the magnetized spin with the applied gradient field, direction of which is opposite to phase encoding field. Magnetized spin of $^1$H is kept under the SSFP (steady state free precession)$\^$5-6/. Under SSFP, in addition of FID, spin echo and stimulated echo are also generated, so the acquired signal is increased. The signal intensity is increased depending on flip angle (FA) of magnetized spin. This phenomenon is confirmed by human brain and phantom studies. The performance of this method is quantitatively analyzed by using both of conventional spin echo DWI and 3D-DWI. From experimental results, three dimensional diffusion weighted images are obtained correctly for liquid phantoms (water, acetone and oil), diffusion coefficient is enhanced in each image. Therefore, this method will provide useful information for clinical diagnosis.

• 대한의용생체공학회:학술대회논문집
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• 대한의용생체공학회 1995년도 추계학술대회
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• pp.173-176
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• 1995

We have developed a fast steady state free precession interferometry (SSFPI) technique which is useful for the fMRI (functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging). As is known, SSFP sequence with a suitable adjustment of gradient (readout) allows us to measure precession angle $\theta$ which is in turn related to the field inhomogeneity [1-3]. When the method is applied to the susceptibility effect based functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI), it was found that the direct susceptibility effect measurement was possible without perturbations such as the backgrounds and inflow effect. In this paper, simulation results and experimental results obtained with 2.0 Tesla MRI system are also presented.

• 대한의용생체공학회:의공학회지
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• 제17권4호
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• pp.525-534
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• 1996

We have developed a fast steady state free precession interferometry (SSFPI) technique which is useful for the fMRl (functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging). As is known, SSFP sequence with a suitable adjustment of Vadient (readeut) allows us to measure precession angle 6 which in tw relates to the field inhomogeneity. Combining the two pulses (known as FID and Echo) in FADE (Fast Acquisition Double Echo) sequence, for example, one can obtain the interference term which is directly related to the precession angle It has been known that a fast high resolution magnetic field mapping is possible by use of the modified FADE sequence or SSFPI, and we have attempted to use the SSFPI technique for the susceptibility-induced fMRl. When the method is applied to the susceptibility effect based functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRl), it was found that the direct susceptibility effect measurement was possible without perturbations such as the backgrounds and inflow effect. In this paper, simulation results and experimental results obtained with 2.0 Tesla MRI system are presented.

• Korean Journal of Radiology
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• 제24권12호
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• pp.1221-1231
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• 2023

Objective: To clinically validate the feasibility and accuracy of cine images acquired through the multitasking method, with no electrocardiogram gating and free-breathing, in measuring left ventricular (LV) function indices by comparing them with those acquired through the balanced steady-state free precession (bSSFP) method, with multiple breath-holds and electrocardiogram gating. Materials and Methods: Forty-three healthy volunteers (female:male, 30:13; mean age, 23.1 ± 2.3 years) and 36 patients requiring an assessment of LV function for various clinical indications (female:male, 22:14; 57.8 ± 11.3 years) were enrolled in this prospective study. Each participant underwent cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) using the multiple breath-hold bSSFP method and free-breathing multitasking method. LV function parameters were measured for both MRI methods. Image quality was assessed through subjective image quality scores (1 to 5) and calculation of the contrast-to-noise ratio (CNR) between the myocardium and blood pool. Differences between the two MRI methods were analyzed using the Bland-Altman plot, paired t-test, or Wilcoxon signed-rank test, as appropriate. Results: LV ejection fraction (LVEF) was not significantly different between the two MRI methods (P = 0.222 in healthy volunteers and P = 0.343 in patients). LV end-diastolic mass was slightly overestimated with multitasking in both healthy volunteers (multitasking vs. bSSFP, 60.5 ± 10.7 g vs. 58.0 ± 10.4 g, respectively; P < 0.001) and patients (69.4 ± 18.1 g vs. 66.8 ± 18.0 g, respectively; P = 0.003). Acceptable and comparable image quality was achieved for both MRI methods (multitasking vs. bSSFP, 4.5 ± 0.7 vs. 4.6 ± 0.6, respectively; P = 0.203). The CNR between the myocardium and blood pool showed no significant differences between the two MRI methods (18.89 ± 6.65 vs. 18.19 ± 5.83, respectively; P = 0.480). Conclusion: Multitasking-derived cine images obtained without electrocardiogram gating and breath-holding achieved similar image quality and accurate quantification of LVEF in healthy volunteers and patients.