• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.31 no.1
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• pp.130-137
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• 2010

Objectives: So far it has been reported that acupuncture increases cerebral blood supply and stimulates the functional activity of brain nerve cells. Previous studies have demonstrated that frequently used electro-acupuncture (EA) therapies for stroke increased regional cerebral blood flow (rCBF) in normal volunteers. Though ST 36-ST 41 EA is another prevailing therapy for stroke, there had been no report about its effect on rCBF. This study was to evaluate the effect of ST 36-ST 41 EA on rCBF in normal volunteers using single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) and statistical parametric mapping (SPM). Methods: In the resting state, $^{99m}Tc$-ECD brain SPECT scans were performed on 10 normal volunteers (5 males, 5 female, mean age $23.6{\pm}0.5$ years). On the other study day, 7 days after the resting examination, 15 minutesEA were applied at ST 36 and ST 41 on the right side of the subjects. Immediately after ST36-ST41 EA, the second SPECT images were obtained in the same manner as the resting state. Significant increases and decreases of rCBF after EA were estimated by comparing their SPECT images with those of the resting state using paired t statistics at every voxel, which were analyzed by SPM with a threshold of p = 0.01, uncorrected (extent threshold: k=100 voxels). Results: EA applied at the right ST36-ST41 significantly increased rCBF in the right inferior parietal lobule (Brodmann area [BA] 40), right retrosubicular area (BA 48), left inferior parietal lobule (BA 40), left middle temporal gyrus (BA 21), left fusiform gyrus (BA 37), left inferior parietal lobule (BA 39), left inferior temporal gyrus (BA 20), and left somatosensory association cortex (BA 7). However, right ST36-ST41 EA significantly decreased rCBF in the right parahippocampal gyrus (BA 35), right cerebellum, left frontopolar area (BA 10), left orbitofrontal area (BA 11), left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (BA 9), and left dorsal anterior cingulate cortex (BA 32). Conclusions: These results demonstrate that rightST36-ST41 EA increased rCBF prominently in both inferior parietal lobule (BA 40) and right retrosubicular area (BA 48), which suggest that there be correlation between specific EA and corresponding rCBF.

• Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging
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• v.41 no.1
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• pp.9-15
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• 2007

Purpose: Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) has recently been clinically applied in the treatment of drug resistant depressed patients. There are mixed findings about the efficacy of rTMS on depression. Furthermore, the influence of rTMS on the physiology of the brain is not clear. We prospectively evaluated changes of regional cerebral blood flow (rCBF) between pre- and post-rTMS treatment in patients with drug resistant depression. Materials and Methods: Twelve patients with drug-resistant depression (7 male, 5 female; age range: $19{\sim}52$ years; mean age: $29.3{\pm}9.3$ years) were given rTMS on right prefrontal lobe with low frequency (1 Hz) and on left prefrontal lobe with high frequency (20 Hz), with 20-minute-duration each day for 3 weeks. Tc-99m ECD brain perfusion SPECT was obtained before and after rTMS treatment. The changes of cerebral perfusion were analyzed using statistical parametric mapping (SPM; t=3.14, uncorrected p<0.01, voxel=100). Results: Following areas showed significant increase in rCBF after 3 weeks rTMS treatment: the cingulate gyrus, fusiform gyrus of right temporal lobe, precuneus, and left lateral globus pallidus. Significant decrement was noted in: the precental and middle frontal gyrus of right frontal lobe, and fusiform gyrus of left occipital lobe. Conclusion: Low-frequency rTMS on the right prefrontal cortex and high-frequency rTMS on the left prefrontal cortex for 3 weeks as an add-on regimen have increased and decreased rCBF in the specific brain regions in drug-resistant depressed patients. Further analyses correlating clinical characteristics and treatment paradigm with functional imaging data may be helpful in clarifying the pathophysiology of drug-resistant depressed patients.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Medical Physics Conference
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• 2003.09a
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• pp.43-43
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• 2003

목적 : 남, 여 ADHD 환자에서 뇌 혈류상태의 차이점을 알아보기 위하여, 다른 정신과적 질환이 없는 ADHD 환자의 SPECT 뇌혈류 영상에 대하여 SPM을 통한 뇌 혈류상태의 차이점을 비교분석하였다. 대상 및 방법 : 남자 ADHD 환자군 51 명 (4-11세, 평균 9.0세)과 정상군 8명(6-17세, 평균, 9.6세) 그리고, 여자 ADHD 환자군 13명(6-12세 평균 9.0세)과 정상군 4 명(6-12세 평균 9.0세)의 SPECT영상을 비교분석하였다. 방사성의약품 $^{99m}$ Tc-ECD 0.33mCi/kg을 환자의 정맥내에 주사하고 30분후 잠을 재운상태에서 Multi SPECT3 camera를 이용하여 영상을 기록하였다. Matlab을 이용한 SPM program에서 남여별 ADHD환자의 뇌혈류지도 영상을 비교하였으며, BOLD(blood oxygenation level dependent effect) data plotting을 이용하여 혈류증가율과 감소율을 분석하였다. 결과 : 1) 남자 ADHD환자군의 혈류증가부위의 경우, P<0.02 에서 대상회전 (cingulate gyrus)이 나타나 P<0.05까지 한 부위에서만 나타났으며, 정상군에 비하여 15.61%의 혈류증가율을 나타내었다. 혈류감소부위로는 P<0.004에서 좌측 대뇌 도이랑 (insula gyrus), P<0.005에서 우측 대뇌 측두엽이랑, P<0.007에서는 우측 대뇌 전두엽아래이랑에서 각각 감소되었으며 P<0.01에서는 좌측 대뇌 전두엽 아래이랑에서도 나타났다. ADHD 환자군은 정상군에 비하여 각각의 클러스터에서 평균 14.97-15.28%의 혈류 감소율을 보였다. 뇌 혈류의 증가율과 감소율은 유의 수준변화에 영향을 받지 않았다. 2) 여자 ADHD환자의 혈류증가의 경우 P<0.003에서 소뇌 후엽 중앙부위, P<0.005에서는 좌측 대뇌 변연엽, P<0.009에서는 좌측 대뇌 측두엽 그리고 P<0.02에서는 소뇌 후엽을 비롯하여 9개부분에서 혈류증가 클러스터가 나타났으며, ADHD환자군은 정상군에 비하여 24.68-31.25%의 혈류증가율을 나타내었다. 혈류감소를 나타낸 부위로는 P<0.001에서 좌측 대뇌의 렌즈핵(lentiform nucleus), P<0.003에서 우측 대뇌의 렌즈핵 그리고 P<0.005에서 P<0.01까지 좌측 대뇌 측두엽중심에서 나타났다. 각각의 클러스터에서 평균 혈류감소율은 30.57-30.84%이었다. 결론 : 남여ADHD 환자의 혈류 증가와 감소부위는 서로 일치하지 않았으며 여자의 경우 혈류 증가와 감소율이 남자보다 더 크게 나타나, ADHD환자의 SPECT를 이용한 분석에서 남여환자를 동시에 분석하는 것 보다는 남여환자를 구분하여 실시하는 것이 더욱 정확한 진단정보를 제공할 수 있다고 판단된다.

• The Korean Journal of Nuclear Medicine
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• v.30 no.4
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• pp.469-475
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• 1996

목 적 : 측두엽 간질 환자의 발작간 뇌 스캔에서 관찰되는 측두엽 혈류 감소와 같은 쪽 시상 혈류 감소 소견의 빈도를 알아보고 이러한 소견이 간질 병소 국소화에 미치는 유용성에 대해 알아보고자 한다. 대상 및 방법 : Tc-99m-ECD를 이용하여 발작간 뇌 스캔을 시행한 67명의 측두엽 간질 환자에서 편측 측두엽과 같은 쪽 시상에 혈류 감소를 보인 12명의 환자를 대상으로 하였다. 간질 병소는 표면 뇌파 검사, 발작시 뇌파 검사, 심부 뇌파 검사, 자기 공명 영상 그리고 임상적 소견을 종합하여 국소화 하였다. 결 과 : 편측 측두엽과 같은 쪽 시상에 혈류 감소는 18%의 환자에서 관찰되었다. 7명의 환자는 왼쪽 측두엽과 시상에 혈류 감소를 보였다. 이들 7명중 4명은 자기공명영상 소견상 왼쪽 내측 측두엽 경화 소견을 보였다. 5명의 환자는 오른쪽 측두엽과 시상에 혈류 감소를 보였다. 이들 5명중 4 명은 자기공명영상 소견상 오른쪽 내측 측두엽 경화 소견을 보였다. 결 론 : 발작간 뇌 스캔상 관찰되는 편측 측두엽과 같은 쪽 시상의 혈류 감소 소견은 측두엽과 시상사이의 상호 연결에 의한 해리 현상으로 부분 발작의 병태 생리와 밀접한 연관이 있으리라 생각한다. 또한 이러한 소견은 간질 병소 국소화에 도움이 되리라 생각한다.

• The Korean Journal of Nuclear Medicine
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• v.31 no.3
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• pp.330-338
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• 1997

This study investigated the method to adjust acquisition time(a) and injection dose (i) to make the best basal and subtraction images in consecutive SPECT. Image quality was assumed to be mainly affected by signal to noise ratio(S/N). Basal image was subtracted from the second image consecutively acquired at the same position. We calculated S/N ratio in basal SPECT images($S_1/N_1$) and subtraction SPECT images(Ss/Ns) to find a(time) and i(dose) to maximize S/N of both images at the same time. From phantom images, we drew the relation of image counts and a(time) and i(dose) in our system using fanbeam-high-resolution collimated triple head SPECT. Noise by imaging process depended on Poisson distribution. We took maximum tolerable duration of consecutive acquisition as 30 minutes and maximum injectible dose as 1,850MBq(50 mCi)(sum of two injections) per study. Counts of second-acquired image($S_2$), counts($S_s$) and noise($N_s$) of subtraction SPECT were as follows. $C_1$ was the coefficient of measurement with our system. $$S_2=S_1{\cdot}(\frac{30-a}{a})+background{\cdot}(1-\frac{30-a}{a})+C_1{\cdot}(30-a){\cdot}{\epsilon}{\cdot}(50-i)$$ $$Ss=S_2-\{S_1{\cdot}(\frac{30-a}{a})+background{\cdot}(1-\frac{(30-a)}{a})\}$$ $$Ns={\sqrt{N_2^2+N_1^2{\cdot}\frac{(30-a)^2}{a^2}}={\sqrt{S_2+S_1{\cdot}\frac{(30-a)^2}{a^2}}$$ In case of rest/acetazolamide study, effect(${\epsilon}$) of acetazolamide to increase global brain uptake of Tc-99m-HMPAO could be 1.5 or less. Varying ${\epsilon}$ from 1 to 1.5, a(time) and i(dose) pair to maximize both $S_1/N_l$ and Ss/Ns was determined. 15 mCi/17 min and 35mCi/13min was the best a(time) and i(dose) pair for rest/acetazolamide study(when ${\epsilon}$ were 1.2) and came to be used for our clinical routine after this study. We developed simple method to maximize S/N ratios of basal and subtraction SPECT from consecutive acquisition. This method could be applied to ECD/HMPAO and brain activation studies as well as rest/acetazolamide studies.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.29 no.4
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• pp.205-212
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• 2008

Background and purpose: So far it was reported that acupuncture increased cerebral blood supply and stimulated the functional activity of brain nerve cells. A previous study demonstrated a correlation between LI4-11 electro-acupuncture (EA) and rCBF increase in frontal lobe. However, there remained a need to study further using various controls in acupuncture research. Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) has been used as a non-invasive control in acupuncture study. This study was to evaluate the effect of LI4-LI11 TENS on regional cerebral blood flow (rCBF) in normal volunteers using single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) and statistical parametric mapping (SPM). Methods: In the resting state, $^{99m}Tc-ECD$ brain SPECT scans were performed on 10 normal volunteers (9 males, 1 female, mean age 26.6$\pm$0.5 years; age range from 26 to 27 years). On the other day, 7 days after the resting examination, 15 minute TENS were applied at LI 4 and LI 11 on the right side of the subjects. Immediately after LI4-LI11 TENS, the second SPECT images were obtained in the same manner as the resting state. Significant increases and decreases of regional cerebral blood flow after LI4-LI11 TENS were estimated by comparing their SPECT images with those of the resting state using paired t statistics at every voxel, which were analyzed by statistical parametric mapping with a threshold of p = 0.001, uncorrected (extent threshold: k=100 voxels). Results: TENS applied at right LI4-LI11 increased rCBF in the left somatosensory association cortex (Brodmann area 5, 7). However there was no area where LI4-11 TENS decreased rCBF. Conclusion and suggestions: These results demonstrate that right LI4-LI11 TENS increased rCBF only in corresponding somatosensory association cortex, which was different from the previous results using LI4-11 EA. It is suggested that there be a different mechanism between TENS and EA.