• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.46 no.3
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• pp.215-220
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• 2009

Objective : Intraoperative ventriculostomy is widely adopted to make the slack brain. However, there are few reports about hemorrhagic or parenchymal injuries after ventriculostomy. We tried to analyze and investigate the incidence of these complications in a consecutive series of patients with aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH). Methods : From September 2006 to June 2007, 43 patients underwent surgical clipping for aneurysmal SAH at our hospital. Among 43 patients, we investigated hemorrhagic or parenchymal injuries after intraoperative ventriculostomy using postoperative computed tomographic scan in 26 patients. After standard pterional craniotomy, ventriculostomy catheter was inserted perpendicular to the cortical surface along the bisectional imaginary line from Paine's point. Results : Hemorrhagic injuries were detected in 12 of 26 patients (46.2%). Mean systolic blood pressure during anesthesia was with in statistically significant parameter related to hemorrhage (p=0.006). On the other hand, parenchymal injuries were detected in 11 of 26 patients (42.3%). Female and the amount of infused mannitol during anesthesia showed statistically significant parameters related to parenchymal injury (p=0.005, 0.04, respectively). However, there were no ventriculostomy-related severe complications. Conclusion : In our series, hemorrhagic or parenchymal injuries after intraoperative ventriculostomy occurred more commonly than previously reported series in aneurysmal SAH patients. Although the clinical outcomes of complications are generally favorable, neurosurgeon must keep in mind the frequent occurrence of brain injury after intraoperative ventriculostomy in the acute stage of aneurysmal SAH.

• Brain Tumor Research and Treatment
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• v.6 no.2
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• pp.54-59
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• 2018

Background Leptomeningeal metastasis (LM) is an uncommon, but devastating complication of advanced cancer and has no standard treatment. Herein, we analyzed the clinical characteristics and outcomes of patients with solid tumors who were diagnosed with LM. Methods Between January 2007 and December 2017, we retrospectively analyzed the medical records of patients with solid tumors who were diagnosed with LM. Results A total of 58 patients were enrolled in this study. The median age of patients was 51 years (range, 27-72 years), and 62.1% had a poor Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance status (PS) (>2). The common types of primary tumor were breast cancer (39.7%), gastric cancer (25.9%), and non-small cell lung cancer (20.7%). Forty-two patients (72.4%) were diagnosed with LM by MRI of the brain and/or spine and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) analysis, 14 were diagnosed by CSF analysis alone, and 2 were diagnosed by MRI alone. Treatments for LM were performed in 53 patients (91.4%), and best supportive care was provided for 5 patients (8.6%). Intrathecal chemotherapy, radiotherapy, and systemic chemotherapy were administered in 43 (74.1%), 17 (29.3%), and 24 (41.4%) patients, respectively. The median overall survival of the entire cohort was 2.4 months (95% confidence interval, 1.0-3.7). In the analysis of prognostic factors for survival, a good ECOG PS (${\leq}2$), administration of systemic chemotherapy after LM diagnosis, and a prior history of brain radiation were associated with prolonged survival. Conclusion Although the prognosis of LM in patients with solid tumors is poor, systemic chemotherapy might improve survival in selected patients with a good PS.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.64 no.2
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• pp.289-296
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• 2021

Objective : Though the operating microscope (OM) has been the standard optical system in neurosurgery, a new technology called three-dimensional (3D) exoscope has emerged as an alternative. Herein, two types of 3D exoscopes for brain tumor surgery are presented. In addition, the advantages and limitations compared with the OM are discussed. Methods : In the present study, 3D exoscope VOMS-100 or VITOM 3D was used in 11 patients with brain tumor who underwent surgical resection; the Kinevo 900 OM was used only in emergency. After completion of all surgeries, the participants were surveyed with a questionnaire regarding video image quality on the display monitor, handling of equipment, ergonomics, educational usefulness, 3D glasses, and expectation as a substitute for the OM. Results : Among 11 patients, nine patients underwent neurosurgical resection with only 3D exoscope; however, two patients required additional aid with the OM due to difficulty in hemostasis. Regarding video image quality, VITOM 3D was mostly equivalent to the OM, but VOMS-100 was not. However, both 3D exoscopes showed advantages in accessibility of instruments in the surgical field and occupied less space in the operating theater. Differences in ergonomics and educational usefulness between the exoscopes were not reported. Respondents did not experience discomfort in wearing 3D glasses and thought the exoscopes could be currently, and in the future, used as a substitute for the OM. Conclusion : Although many neurosurgeons are not familiar with 3D exoscopes, they have advantages compared with the OM and similar image quality. Exoscopes could be a substitute for OM in the future if some limitations are overcome.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Radiology
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• v.82 no.5
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• pp.1124-1139
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• 2021

The objective assessment of atrophy and the measurement of brain volume is important in the early diagnosis of dementia and neurodegenerative diseases. Recently, several MR-based volumetry software have been developed. For their clinical application, several issues arise, including the standardization of image acquisition and their validation of software. Additionally, it is important to highlight the diagnostic performance of the volumetry software based on expert opinions. We instituted a task force within the Korean Society of Neuroradiology to develop guidelines for the clinical use of MR-based brain volumetry software. In this review, we introduce the commercially available software and compare their diagnostic performances. We suggest the need for a standard protocol for image acquisition, the validation of the software, and evaluations of the limitations of the software related to clinical practice. We present recommendations for the clinical applications of commercially available software for volumetry based on the expert opinions of the Korean Society of Neuroradiology.

• Neonatal Medicine
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.310-319
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• 2011

Purpose: The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of perinatal risk factors on brain maturation and the relationship of brain maturation and neurodevelopmental outcomes with brain maturation scoring system in brain MRI. Methods: ELBWI infants born at the Seoul National University Children's Hospital from January 2006 to December 2010 were included. A retrospective analysis was performed with their medical record and brain MR images acquired at near full term. We read brain MRI and measured maturity with total maturation score (TMS). TMS is a previously developed anatomic scoring system to assess brain maturity. The total maturation score was used to evaluate the four parameters of maturity: (1) myelination, (2) cortical infolding, (3) involution of glial cell migration bands, and (4) presence of germinal matrix tissue. Results: Images from 124 infants were evaluated. Their mean gestational age at birth was 27.1${\pm}$2.1 weeks, and mean birth weight was 781.5${\pm}$143.9 g. The mean TMS was 10.8${\pm}$2.0. TMS was significantly related to the postmenstrual age (PMA) of the infant, increasing with advancing postmenstrual age (P<0.001). TMS showed no significance with neurodevelopmental delay, and with brain injury, respectively. Conclusion: TMS was developed for evaluating brain maturation in conventional brain MRI. The results of this study suggest that TMS was not useful for predicting neurodevelopmental delay, but further studies are needed to make standard score for each PMA and to re-evaluate the relationship between brain maturation and neurodevelopmental delay.

• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
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• v.43 no.3
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• pp.259-266
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• 2015

Observed trends in climate change, globalization and an aging population have an effect on public health conditions in Korea, prompting a reevaluation of current environmental regulations. In this study, we evaluated the performance of the total coliform (TC) standard, which is the only microbiological standard in the current regulation regime for hot spring water, by estimating correlation with the presence/absence of Legionella, a non-fecal opportunistic pathogen with heat-tolerance. Microbiological data in 7 studies that surveyed Legionella in hot spring waters were subjected to meta-analyses with the odds ratio (OR) as the effect size. The presence/absence of Legionella was significantly correlated to TC levels [OR = 3.1(1.5–6.4, 95% CI), p = 0.002]. Due to there being no direct explanation as to the reason for the occurrence of TC, mesophilic fecal bacteria, being coupled with Legionella presence, the mechanism of the correlation between the two kinds of bacteria was further investigated. Legionella presence was more prevalent with a high heterotrophic plate count [HPC; 4.0(2.2–7.2); p < 0.001] and water temperature [4.3(1.4–13.6), p = 0.011] when the temperature range was <40℃. However, it was reverse-correlated with water temperature when the temperature was >50℃ [0.2(0.1–0.4), p < 0.001]. Therefore, bacterial standing crops in hot spring waters appear to be determined by water temperature in general, and this forces TC and Legionella levels be correlated. In accordance with this relationship, HPC rather than TC reflect the levels of non-fecal contamination better. Therefore, employing HPC as the sole microbiological standard, or adding HPC into the current standard of hot spring water assessment, is suggested as a proactive measure to prevent health issues arising from contamination.

• Journal of electromagnetic engineering and science
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• v.7 no.2
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• pp.53-58
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• 2007

A general method to formulate the tissue-equivalent liquids for SAR measurement is proposed to make sucrose-free brain tissue applicable at 835 MHz as an example We suggest the tissue composition can be determined by measuring the dielectric constants and conductivities with the DI water and salt addition variation to the pre-manufactured auxiliary liquid of DGBE and TritonX-100 The manufactured liquid satisfies the specified electrical parameters of international standard at 835 MHz.

• International Journal of Control, Automation, and Systems
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• v.1 no.3
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• pp.385-389
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• 2003

In this paper, an improved technique for multiresolutive reconstruction of magnetoencephalography (MEG) source distribution is proposed. Using the proposed technique, focal solution with higher energy density can be reconstructed. Moreover, the proposed approach is very easy to implement compared to conventional ones. The usefulness of the proposed technique is verified by the application to a real brain model.

• The Journal of the Korean dental association
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• v.21 no.7 s.170
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• pp.573-577
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• 1983

The antimicrobial action of various dental cements evaluated against common micro-organisms most frequenty found within the components of the normal bacterial flora of oral cavity. They include Streptococcus mutans (2 strains), Lactobacillus acidophilus, Actinomyces viscosus, and Streptococcus sanguis. The test was done by the use of brain heart infusion (BHI) agar plates. A standard mix of each cement was made and placed on the plates which were seeded with a standard culture of microorganisms. After incubation, the halo of bacterial growth inhibition around the cement was identified and its size was measured. Some of the cements tested had obvious antibacterial effect. The cements listed in decreasing order of effectiveness are 1) zinc phosphate and oxyphosphate, 2) silicate, 3) zinc oxide-eugenol, 4) calcium hydroxide, and 5) carboxylate.

• International Journal of Vascular Biomedical Engineering
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• v.1 no.1
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• pp.3-12
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• 2003

Ultrasonic pulsed Doppler velocimetry has become a standard international method of classifying carotid disease. Because the measured angle adjusted velocity increases as the Doppler angle increases, examinations should be performed at a convenient standard Doppler examination angle. An angle of 60 degrees is achievable throughout most examinations. Multiple Doppler viewing angles allow the acquisition of velocity vectors during the cardiac cycle, revealing the complex velocity patterns. Ultrasonic velocimetry (whether Doppler or time domain) is based on changes in the phase of the ultrasound echo. Other examinations can be done based on the echo phase. Slow motions of organs such as the brain can be used to monitor changes in edema. Measurements of tissue strain due to the pulsatile filling of the arterioles. This plethysmographic imaging method can display differences in tissue perfusion because of different tissue types and changes in autonomic activity.