• Progress in Medical Physics
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• v.16 no.4
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• pp.207-213
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• 2005

The severity of carotid Intima-media thickness (IMT) is an Independent predictor of atherosclerosis which causes transient cerebral ischemia, stroke, and coronary events such as myocardial Infarction. The IMT consists of Intima thickness (IT) and media thickness (MT). However, the Individual clinical significance of IT and MT has not been well studied. We devised a method of measuring IT, MT, and IMT using B-mode ultrasound Image processing technique for the diagnosis of atherosclerosis. To inspect the clinical significance of IT, MT, and IMT, one hundred forty-four consecutive patients (mean age; 57 years old, 72 males) were underwent common carotid artery scanning using high-resolution ultrasound. Results showed that, the IT (p<0.05), MT (p<0.05) as well as IMT (p<0.01) of patients with atherosclerotic disease were significantly thicker than that of the patients without atherosclerotic disease. Patients with hyperiension showed significantly thicker IT (p<0.01), MT (p<0.001), and IMT (p<0.001). However, only IT was thicker in patients with smoking (p<0.01). The IT (r=0.374, p=0.001), MT (r=0.433, p=0.000), and IMT (r=0.479, p=0.000) showed positive correlation with age. The coefficients of determination ($r^2$) were estimated to be $92.4\%$ for IMT and MT, $49.1\%$ for IMT and IT, and $27.4\%$ for IT and MT. This result suggests that the Intima layer of the carotid artery has a different physiology with the media layer.

• The Journal of Korean Orthopaedic Ultrasound Society
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• v.6 no.1
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• pp.1-9
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• 2013

Purpose: The purpose is to perform objective evaluation for rotator cuff using ultrasonography and validate factors influencing cuff integrity as well as efficacy of follow-up ultrasonography after unreamed antegrade intramedullary nailing for humerus fracture. Materials and Methods: Seventeen patients with an average age of $55.7{\pm}18.6$ years underwent antegrade intramedullary nailing for humerus fracture and follow-up ultrasonography of shoulder joint. Mean follow-up period was $43.5{\pm}32.2$ months. Intraoperative evaluation for preoperative cuff tear was performed, of which four cuffs were repaired by single row repair technique. Clinical evaluation included visual analogue scale (VAS), range of motion, Korean Shoulder Scoring System (KSS) and American Shoulder and Elbow Society (ASES) score. Ultrasonographic evaluation was performed on cuff integrity and protrusion of proximal nail tip as well. Radiographic evaluation included time to union, protrusion of proximal nail tip and migration of proximal interlocking screw which could affect shoulder joint function. Results: Mean VAS at last follow-up was $1.65{\pm}1.84$ points. Range of motion showed forward flexion of $137.0{\pm}33.5^{\circ}$, external rotation of $43.5{\pm}12.7^{\circ}$ and internal rotation of $16.4{\pm}2.0^{\circ}$ while KSS score and ASES score were $79.6{\pm}20.7$ and $83.7{\pm}17.0$ points, respectively. Bone union was demonstrated in all cases and average time to union was $3.4{\pm}1.3$ months. Migration of proximal interlocking screw was shown in 6 cases (35%). On ultrasonographic evaluation, there were normal in 8 (47%), weaving in 4 (24%), partial tear in 5 cases (29%), but no complete tear. Protrusion of proximal nail tip was demonstrated in 8 cases (47%) on plain radiographs whereas in 11 cases (65%) on ultrasonography and was associated with increasing age (p=0.038). Ultrasonographic weaving and partial tear was associated with protrusion of proximal nail tip (p=006), but not with repair of preoperative tear (p>0.05). Conclusion: Because weaving and partial tear on ultrasonography originated from protrusion of proximal nail tip, careful insertion of nail and meticulous repair of cuff during operation lead to stable fixation with satisfactory recovery of shoulder function follow-up ultrasonography can be a useful tool for evaluating protrusion of nail tip and rotator cuff tear, of which diagnosis is difficult on plain X-ray after antegrade intramedullary nailing for humerus fracture.

• The Journal of Korean Orthopaedic Ultrasound Society
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• v.1 no.2
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• pp.78-85
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• 2008

Purpose: The findings of preoperative magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and ultrasonography (US) examination in the diagnosis of rotator cuff tear were then compared with the findings of arthroscopic examination, and to evaluate the postoperative integrity of rotator cuff using serial US examination. Methods: Between February and May 2008, 29 patients with rotator cuff tear had undergone preoperative US and MRI examination and subsequent arthroscopic examination. And the results of MRI and US were compared with intra-operative results of the arthroscopic examination. We observed the postoperative integrity of rotator cuff using serial (postoperative 2 weeks, 6 weeks, 3 months) US examination. Results: The sensitivity of US and MRI for identifying rotator cuff tear were 100% and 100%. The sensitivity of US and MRI were 95% and 82% in full thickness tear, and 50%, 33% in partial thickness tear, respectively. Overall accuracy of US and MRI were 86%, 69%. Among 22 patients were operated for full thickness tear, intra-operative gap formation was identified in 11 patients (50%, small to medium 2 cases, large to massive 9 cases) which were identified at 2 weeks postoperative US. We could find 5 re-tears (23%, small to medium 1 case, large to massive 4 cases) on 6 weeks postoperative US after passive range of motion (ROM) exercise, and could also find 7 re-tears (32%, small to medium 2 cases, large to massive 5 cases)on 3 months postoperative US after active ROM exercise. Conclusion: Serial US after arthroscopic rotator cuff repair was useful to differentiate intra-operative gap formation from postoperative re-tear. We found 5 retears (23%) at 6 weeks and 7 retears (32%) at 3 months postoperative US, it was useful to make treatment plan during postoperative rehabilitation.

• The Journal of Korean Orthopaedic Ultrasound Society
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• v.7 no.1
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• pp.7-12
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• 2014

Purpose:The effectiveness of transdermal buprenorphine patch on the patients with frozen state of frozen shoulder was evaluated. Materials and Methods: Between March and September in 2013, 127 patients with pain and limited range of motion in shoulder joint over 6 months were included. Every patient was confirmed the diagnosis through MRI or ultrasonogram and each patient received intra-articular injection of steroid once. After 2~4 weeks, every patient was interviewed via telephone survey and finally 105 patients were included, 54 patients received only oral NSAIDs (NP group) while 51 patients received additional transdermal buprenorphine patch (BP group). Pain and functional visual analog scale (PVAS, FVAS), American Shoulder Elbow Society (ASES) score was checked. Results: Generally, every outcome variables showed improvements in both groups (p<0.001). PVAS score after treatment showed superior result in NP group but it was not significant (p=0.088). In ASES score, NP group had superior result than BP group and it had significant difference. Similarly in FVAS, NP group showed superior result but the data before treatment was significantly different (p=0.028) Conclusion: Transdermal buprenorphine patch didn't show superior treatment result in the patient with frozen state of frozen shoulder which was applied with oral NSAIDs after single intra-articular glenohumeral steroid injection in short-term follow-up.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.51 no.6
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• pp.559-569
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• 2001

Background : Pleural effusion is one of the most common clinical manifestations associated with a variety of pulmonary diseases such as malignancy, tuberculosis, and pneumonia. However, there are no useful laboratory tests to determine the specific cause of pleural effusion. Therefore, an attempt was made to analyze the various types of pleural effusion and search for useful laboratory tests for pleural effusion in order to differentiate between the diseases, especially between a malignant pleural effusion and a non-malignant pleural effusion. Methods : 93 patients with a pleural effusion, who visited the Severance hospital from January 1998 to August 1999, were enrolled in this study. Ultrasound-guided thoracentesis was done and a confirmational diagnosis was made by a gram stain, bacterial culture, Ziehl-Neelsen stain, a mycobacterial culture, a pleural biopsy and cytology. Results : The male to female ratio was 56 : 37 and the average age was $47.1{\pm}21.8$ years. There were 16 cases with a malignant effusion, 12 cases with a para-malignant effusion, 36 cases with tuberculosis, 22 cases with a para-pneumonic effusion, and 7 cases with transudate. The LDH2 fraction was significantly higher in the para-malignant effusion group compared to the para-pneumonic effusion group [$30.6{\pm}6.4%$ and $20.2{\pm}7.5%$, respectively (p<0.05)] and both the LDH1 and LDH2 fraction was significantly in the para-malignant effusion group compared to those with tuberculosis [$16.4{\pm}7.2%$ vs. $7.6{\pm}4.7%$, and $30.6{\pm}6.4%$ vs.$17.6{\pm}6.3%$, respectively (p<0.05)]. The pleural effusion/serum LDH4 fraction ratio was significantly lower in the malignant effusion group compared to those with tuberculosis [$1.5{\pm}0.8$ vs. $2.1{\pm}0.6$, respectively (p<0.05)]. The LDH4 fraction and the pleural effusion/serum LDH4 fraction ratio was significantly lower in the para-malignant effusion group compared to those with tuberculosis [$17.0{\pm}5.8%$ vs. $23.5{\pm}4.6%$ and $1.3{\pm}0.4$ vs. $2.1{\pm}0.6$, respectively (p<0.05)]. Conclusion : These results suggest that the LDH isoenzyme was the only useful biochemical test for a differential diagnosis of the various diseases. In particular, the most useful test was the pleural effusion/serum LDH4 fraction ratio to distinguish between a para-malignant effusion and a tuberculous effusion.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Radiology
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• v.7 no.1
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• pp.99-106
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• 2013

The purpose of this study was to after induced delayed onset muscle soreness, the purpose of this study is to present the effective way on skin temperature changes and cold pain for 14 subjects during to applied with only Cold-jet stream and Cold-jet stream with infra red. 14 healthy men and women who delayed onset muscle soreness eccentric contractions induced by exercise and then the biceps alone was applied to the Cold-jet stream. We measured the time that skin temperature fall from room temperature to $10^{\circ}C$(first period), the time rewarmed from $10^{\circ}C$ to $20^{\circ}C$(second period), the time fall again to $10^{\circ}C$(third period) and the time rewarmed again to $20^{\circ}C$(fourth period). Cold-jet stream with infrared combination therapy was performed with the same method. Results of this study were 1st and 2nd experimental cooling experiments in the to fall to $10^{\circ}C$ Cold-jet stream with infrared combination therapy than in the Cold-jet stream was longer(p<.05). At second period, It took longer in Cold-jet stream with infrared rewarmed than Cold-jet stream to rewarm skin(p<.05). Cold-jet stream with infrared combination therapy than Cold-jet stream had less incidence of cold pain(p<.05). Thickness of biceps brachii were found significant difference related measurment each group was consistent. In this study, Cold-jet stream with infrared combination therapy more effective than Cold-jet stream in reduced cold pain and lowering skin temperature. This work was supported by education capacity building project fund of Taegu Science University, 2012.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.14 no.4
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• pp.2627-2630
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• 2013

Background: Ovarian cancer continues to pose a major challenge to physicians and radiologists. It is the third most common gynecologic malignancy and estimated to be fifth leading cancer cause of death in women, constituting 23% of all gynecological malignancies. Multi-detector computed tomography (MDCT) appears to offer an excellent modality in diagnosing ovarian cancer based on combination of its availability, meticulous technique, efficacy and familiarity of radiologists and physicians. The aim of this study was to compute sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive values and diagnostic accuracy of 64-slice MDCT in classifying ovarian masses; 95% confidence intervals were reported. Materials and Methods: We prospectively designed a cross-sectional analytical study to collect data from July 2010 to August 2011 from a tertiary care hospital in Karachi, Pakistan. A sample of 105 women aged between 15-80 years referred for 64-MDCT of abdomen and pelvis with clinical suspicion of malignant ovarian cancer, irrespective of stage of disease, were enrolled by non-probability purposive sampling. All patients who were already known cases of histologically proven ovarian carcinoma and having some contraindication to radiation or iodinated contrast media were excluded. Results: Our prospective study reports sensitivity, specificity; positive and negative predictive values with 95%CI and accuracy were computed. Kappa was calculated to report agreement among the two radiologists. For reader A, MDCT was found to have 92% (0.83, 0.97) sensitivity and 86.7% (0.68, 0.96) specificity, while PPV and NPV were 94.5% (0.86, 0.98) and 86.7% (0.63, 0.92), respectively. Accuracy reported by reader A was 90.5%. For reader B, sensitivity, specificity, PPV and NPV were 94.6% (0.86, 0.98) 90% (0.72, 0.97) 96% (0.88, 0.99) and 87.1% (0.69, 0.95) respectively. Accuracy computed by reader B was 93.3%. Excellent agreement was found between the two radiologists with a significant kappa value of 0.887. Conclusion: Based on our study results, we conclude MDCT is a reliable imaging modality in diagnosis of ovarian masses accurately with insignificant interobserver variability.

• Journal of Korean Orthopaedic Sports Medicine
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• v.11 no.2
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• pp.75-81
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• 2012

Purpose: To evaluate the ultrasonographic (US) findings in both shoulders of asymptomatic high school baseball players and compare with healthy control. Materials and Methods: 42 individuals (age: $7.6{\pm}1.2$ years) participated in this study. We recruited two groups of high school male baseball players, 14 pitchers and 18 fielders without shoulder pain for recent 6 months as well as one control group of 10 untrained healthy high school students who were age-matched. Ultrasound measurements of thickness of the biceps and supraspinatus tendon and acromio-humral distance (AHD) at $0^{\circ}$ abduction were taken in dominant and nondominant shoulders. Results: On US examination, subacromial bursa effusion was observed in 7 of the dominant shoulders and in 2 of the nondominant shoulder of 32 baseball players and in none of the asymptomatic controls. The thickness of the biceps and supraspinatus tendons and AHD in both shoulders were significantly greater in the baseball players than in the controls (p<0.05). We also found that the biceps and supraspinatus tendon thickness and AHD of the dominant shoulder were significantly greater than the non-dominant shoulder in baseball players (p<0.05), but there were no differences between pitchers and fielders and between healthy controls. Conclusion: Subacromial effusion could be found even in the asymptomatic stage and the thickness of the biceps and supraspinatus tendons and AHD were significantly greater in the baseball players than in the healthy controls. Our data is useful reference guide for the ultrasonographic diagnosis of shoulder pathologies occurring in high school baseball players.

• Clinics in Shoulder and Elbow
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• v.11 no.2
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• pp.90-95
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• 2008

Purpose: We wanted to assess the accuracy of ultrasound for detecting abnormality of the long head of the biceps tendon in patients with rotator cuff disorders. Materials and Methods: Between January 2006 and March 2007, we reviewed the arthroscopic findings of biceps tendons in 67 patients with rotator cuff disorder and who underwent ultrasonography pre-operatively. The patients' average age was 58 years and there were 41 males and 26 females. The statuses of the biceps tendons were described as 'normal', 'dislocation', 'subluxation', 'partial or complete tears', and 'tendinopathy'. We investigated the correspondence between the arthroscopic and ultrasonographic findings. Results: On ultrasonography, the biceps tendons were 'normal' in 37 patients and 'abnormal' in 30 patients. On arthroscopy, 5 biceps tendons turned out to have partial tears, which were 'normal' on ultrasonography. On the other hand, 8 biceps tendons were 'normal' which were 'abnormal' on ultrasonography. Three dislocations and 4 complete tears of biceps tendons were identified on arthroscopy, and all of them were detected by ultrasonography. Of the 20 cases of 'tendinopathy' seen on ultrasonography, 15 patients had partial tears and the remaining 5 patients were normal on arthroscopy. Conclusion: Ultrasonography is accurate for detecting some biceps pathologies, such as dislocation or complete tear, but it is not accurate for the detection of partial tear.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Radiology
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• v.9 no.4
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• pp.227-234
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• 2015

In this paper, we studied possibility about application for CAD on diffuse liver disease through pixel texture analysis parameters(average gray level, skewness, entropy) which based statistical property brightness histogram and image analysis using brightness difference liver and kidney parenchyma. The experiment was set by ROI ($50{\times}50$ pixels) on liver ultrasound images.(non specific, fatty liver, liver cirrhosis) then, evaluated disease recognition rates using 4 types pixel texture analysis parameters and brightness gap liver and kidney parenchyma. As a results, disease recognition rates which contained average brightness, skewness, uniformity, entropy was scored 100%~96%, they were high. In brightness gap between liver and kidney parenchyma, non specific was $-1.129{\pm}12.410$ fatty liver was $33.182{\pm}11.826$, these were shown significantly difference, but liver cirrhosis was $-1.668{\pm}10.081$, that was somewhat small difference with non specific case. Consequently, pixel texture analysis parameter which scored high disease recognition rates and CAD which used brightness difference of parenchyma are very useful for detecting diffuse liver disease as well as these are possible to use clinical technique and minimize reading miss. Also, it helps to suggest correct diagnose and treatment.