• Clinics in Shoulder and Elbow
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• v.24 no.3
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• pp.156-165
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• 2021

Background: This study aimed to determine: the perspectives of the patient cohort that underwent telehealth consultation and shoulder rehabilitation during coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) and the differences in the patients' perspectives with the two different telehealth video applications (apps) used in the study. Methods: This is a prospective study carried out during the COVID lockdown period of April to July 2020. Thirty consecutive patients from the orthopedics department of a tertiary institute in India underwent their first-ever session of a video app-based (Zoom or WhatsApp) telehealth consultation with shoulder rehabilitation exercises on a handheld mobile, tablet, or laptop device. After the virtual consultation, the patients were sent a validated telehealth usability questionnaire (TUQ) to evaluate their perspectives. Scores obtained from the TUQ were the primary outcome measure. Results: The study was completed by 30 patients (16 men and 14 women) with an average age of 56 years (range, 20-77 years). The patients who contacted us during the lockdown period with either a stiff shoulder or a conservatively treated shoulder fracture were included in the study. The average TUQ score was 13.6 (median, 14.5; range, 6-21) out of a maximum of 21 points. Eighty percent of the patients were satisfied and found the telehealth service useful. Use of the Zoom app scored significantly higher (median, 17; average, 15.6) than the WhatsApp app (median, 8.5; average, 9.6) (p=0.004). Conclusions: Patients who received telehealth consultation and shoulder rehabilitation were overall satisfied. Telehealth apps with advanced video calling features such as Zoom should be preferred for higher patient satisfaction.

• Fire Science and Engineering
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• v.27 no.5
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• pp.75-79
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• 2013

Application of the left lateral tilt position has been recommended during cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) of pregnant patients. However, the left lateral tilt could displace the left ventricle (LV) besides the gravid uterus and may compromise the cardiac pump mechanism of CPR. Thus, we investigated the effect of left lateral tilt on the spatial relationship between the anterior-posterior axis (AP axis), which represents the direction of sternal displacement during CPR, and the LV. We retrospectively reviewed the medical records and multidetector computed tomography (MDCT) scans of 90 patients who underwent virtual gastroscopy using MDCT. Virtual gastroscopy was performed with the patient both in the left lateral tilt position and in the supine position. On an axial image showing the maximal area of the LV, the angle between the AP axis and the LV axis ($Angle_{AP-LV}$), the shortest distance between the AP axis and the mid-point of LV cavity ($D_{AP-MidLV}$) and the shortest distance between the AP axis and the LV apex ($D_{AP-Apex}$) were measured. In the supine scans, the LV was situated on the left side of the AP axis in 87 patients (96.7%). On the left lateral tilt scans, the mean tilt angle was $43.4{\pm}11.0^{\circ}$. $D_{AP-MidLV}$ and $D_{AP-Apex}$ were significantly longer in the left lateral tilt position (p<0.001), but $Angle_{AP-LV}$ was comparable between the positions. This study indicates that the left lateral tilt position may compromise the cardiac pump mechanism of chest compression in pregnant cardiac arrest patients.

• Korean Journal of Radiology
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• v.22 no.6
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• pp.951-958
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• 2021

Objective: To evaluate the usefulness of virtual monochromatic images (VMIs) obtained using dual-layer dual-energy CT (DL-DECT) for evaluating brain tumors. Materials and Methods: This retrospective study included 32 patients with brain tumors who had undergone non-contrast head CT using DL-DECT. Among them, 15 had glioblastoma (GBM), 7 had malignant lymphoma, 5 had high-grade glioma other than GBM, 3 had low-grade glioma, and 2 had metastatic tumors. Conventional polychromatic images and VMIs (40-200 keV at 10 keV intervals) were generated. We compared CT attenuation, image noise, contrast, and contrast-to-noise ratio (CNR) between tumor and white matter (WM) or grey matter (GM) between VMIs showing the highest CNR (optimized VMI) and conventional CT images using the paired t test. Two radiologists subjectively assessed the contrast, margin, noise, artifact, and diagnostic confidence of optimized VMIs and conventional images on a 4-point scale. Results: The image noise of VMIs at all energy levels tested was significantly lower than that of conventional CT images (p < 0.05). The 40-keV VMIs yielded the best CNR. Furthermore, both contrast and CNR between the tumor and WM were significantly higher in the 40 keV images than in the conventional CT images (p < 0.001); however, the contrast and CNR between tumor and GM were not significantly different (p = 0.47 and p = 0.31, respectively). The subjective scores assigned to contrast, margin, and diagnostic confidence were significantly higher for 40 keV images than for conventional CT images (p < 0.01). Conclusion: In head CT for patients with brain tumors, compared with conventional CT images, 40 keV VMIs from DL-DECT yielded superior tumor contrast and diagnostic confidence, especially for brain tumors located in the WM.

• The Journal of the Korean dental association
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• v.54 no.2
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• pp.134-141
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• 2016

Use of ready-made orthodontic appliance can lead to inefficiencies in the final stages of the orthodontic treatment. Because patients' teeth have anatomic variations, brackets that have been designed to fit on average tooth surface may result in positional discrepancies when leveling and alignment is completed. As a result, additional steps such as rebonding, wire bending and use of auxiliaries may be needed. Even in patients who have normal tooth anatomy and proper tooth size relationships, precise bracket placement is crucial in order to efficiently control the tooth positions. Digital models can provide advantages in clinical orthodontics as virtual tooth setup could be performed, and clinicians can easily visualize the predicted final occlusion. Through this setup model, customized brackets with individualized prescription and archwires that optimally fit with the patients' dental arches can be produced using CAD/CAM technology. Also, the brackets can be accurately placed with an aid of 3D-printed jigs. The purpose of this article is to introduce the commonly used labial and lingual customized orthodontic appliance systems using digital technology.

• The Journal of Korea Robotics Society
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• v.15 no.4
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• pp.323-329
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• 2020

This paper presents a control algorithm for a wearable walking aid robot for subjects with paraplegia after stroke. After a stroke, a slow, asymmetrical and unstable gait pattern is observed in a number of patients. In many cases, one leg can move in a relatively normal pattern, while the other leg is dysfunctional due to paralysis. We have adopted the so-called assist-as-needed control that encourages the patient to walk as much as possible while the robot assists as necessary to create the gait motion of the paralyzed leg. A virtual wall was implemented for the assist-as-needed control. A position based admittance controller was applied in the swing phase to follow human intentions for both the normal and paralyzed legs. A position controller was applied in the stance phase for both legs. A power controller was applied to obtain stable performance in that the output power of the system was delimited during the sample interval. In order to verify the proposed control algorithm, we performed a simulation with 1-DOF leg models. The preliminary results have shown that the control algorithm can follow human intentions during the swing phase by providing as much assistance as needed. In addition, the virtual wall effectively guided the paralyzed leg with stable force display.

• The korean journal of orthodontics
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• v.45 no.6
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• pp.275-281
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• 2015

Objective: To assess the accuracy of anterior tooth movement using clear aligners in integrated three-dimensional digital models. Methods: Cone-beam computed tomography was performed before and after treatment with clear aligners in 32 patients. Plaster casts were laser-scanned for virtual setup and aligner fabrication. Differences in predicted and achieved root and crown positions of anterior teeth were compared on superimposed maxillofacial digital images and virtual models and analyzed by Student's t-test. Results: The mean discrepancies in maxillary and mandibular crown positions were $0.376{\pm}0.041mm$ and $0.398{\pm}0.037mm$, respectively. Maxillary and mandibular root positions differed by $2.062{\pm}0.128mm$ and $1.941{\pm}0.154mm$, respectively. Conclusions: Crowns but not roots of anterior teeth can be moved to designated positions using clear aligners, because these appliances cause tooth movement by tilting motion.

• Imaging Science in Dentistry
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• v.51 no.4
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• pp.407-412
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• 2021

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the accuracy of virtual 3-dimensional (3D) cephalograms constructed using the principle of biplanar radiography by comparing them with cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) images. Materials and Methods: Thirty orthodontic patients were enrolled in this study. Frontal and lateral cephalograms were obtained with the use of a head posture aligner and reconstructed into 3D cephalograms using biplanar radiography software. Thirty-four measurements representing the height, width, depth, and oblique distance were computed in 3 dimensions, and compared with the measurements from the 3D images obtained by CBCT, using the paired t-test and Bland-Altman analysis. Results: Comparison of height, width, depth, and oblique measurements showed no statistically significant differences between the measurements obtained from 3D cephalograms and those from CBCT images (P>0.05). Bland-Altman plots also showed high agreement between the 3D cephalograms and CBCT images. Conclusion: Accurate 3D cephalograms can be constructed using the principle of biplanar radiography if frontal and lateral cephalograms can be obtained with a head posture aligner. Three-dimensional cephalograms generated using biplanar radiography can replace CBCT images taken for diagnostic purposes.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Radiology
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• v.81 no.4
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• pp.852-862
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• 2020

Interventional radiology (IR) embolization requires image guidance to steer catheters to the site of bleeding, where embolic agents such as Gelfoam or coils are administered to stem blood flow. In addition to treating iatrogenic trauma, embolization is suitable for injuries precluding surgery such as blush-bleeding of the liver or kidney and for locating and treating intimal blood vessel tears. However, during hospital off-hours (such as nights and holidays), experienced IR personnel are not always available. In such situations, there is a dire need to build a coordinated IR team to treat seriously injured patients rapidly and reliably. This article reviews the current principles and techniques used in IR such as virtual fluoroscopy and their usefulness, and makes a convincing case for emergency IR.

• Journal of the Ergonomics Society of Korea
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• v.36 no.1
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• pp.37-52
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• 2017

Objective: The present study developed a user-centered 3D virtual liver surgery planning (VLSP) system called Dr. Liver to provide preoperative information for safe and rational surgery. Background: Preoperative 3D VLSP is needed for patients' safety in liver surgery. Existing systems either do not provide functions specialized for liver surgery planning or do not provide functions for cross-check of the accuracy of analysis results. Method: Use scenarios of Dr. Liver were developed through literature review, benchmarking, and interviews with surgeons. User interfaces of Dr. Liver with various user-friendly features (e.g., context-sensitive hotkey menu and 3D view navigation box) was designed. Novel image processing algorithms (e.g., hybrid semi-automatic algorithm for liver extraction and customized region growing algorithm for vessel extraction) were developed for accurate and efficient liver surgery planning. Usability problems of a preliminary version of Dr. Liver were identified by surgeons and system developers and then design changes were made to resolve the identified usability problems. Results: A usability testing showed that the revised version of Dr. Liver achieved a high level of satisfaction ($6.1{\pm}0.8$ out of 7) and an acceptable time efficiency ($26.7{\pm}0.9 min$) in liver surgery planning. Conclusion: Involvement of usability testing in system development process from the beginning is useful to identify potential usability problems to improve for shortening system development period and cost. Application: The development and evaluation process of Dr. Liver in this study can be referred in designing a user-centered system.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.16 no.6
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• pp.2521-2526
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• 2015

Objective: The purpose of this study was to evaluate computed tomography (CT) virtual non-contrast (VNC) spectral imaging for gastric carcinoma. Materials and Methods: Fifty-two patients with histologically proven gastric carcinomas underwent gemstone spectral imaging (GSI) including non-contrast and contrast-enhanced hepatic arterial, portal venous, and equilibrium phase acquisitions prior to surgery. VNC arterial phase (VNCa), VNC venous phase (VNCv), and VNC equilibrium phase (VNCe) images were obtained by subtracting iodine from iodine/water images. Images were analyzed with respect to image quality, gastric carcinoma-intragastric water contrast-to-noise ratio (CNR), gastric carcinoma-perigastric fat CNR, serosal invasion, and enlarged lymph nodes around the lesions. Results: Carcinoma-water CNR values were significantly higher in VNCa, VNCv, and VNCe images than in normal CT images (2.72, 2.60, 2.61, respectively, vs 2.35, $p{\leq}0.008$). Carcinoma-perigastric fat CNR values were significantly lower in VNCa, VNCv, and VNCe images than in normal CT images (7.63, 7.49, 7.32, respectively, vs 8.48, p< 0.001). There were no significant differences of carcinoma-water CNR and carcinoma-perigastric fat CNR among VNCa, VNCv, and VNCe images. There was no difference in the determination of invasion or enlarged lymph nodes between normal CT and VNCa images. Conclusions: VNC arterial phase images may be a surrogate for conventional non-contrast CT images in gastric carcinoma evaluation.