• Journal of the Korean Magnetic Resonance Society
• /
• v.19 no.3
• /
• pp.124-131
• /
• 2015

Hyperpolarization methods are the most emerging techniques in the field of magnetic resonance (MR) researches since they make a contribution to overcoming sensitivity limitation of MR spectroscopy and imaging, leading to new fields of researches, real-time in vivo metabolic/molecular imaging and MR analysis of chemical/biological reactions in non-equilibrium conditions. Make use of enormous signal enrichments, it becomes feasible to investigate various chemical and biochemical systems with low ${\gamma}$ nuclei in real-time. This review deals with the theoretical principals of common hyperpolarization methods and their experimental features. In addition, more detailed theories, mechanisms, and applications of dissolution dynamic nuclear polarization (D-DNP) are discussed.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
• /
• v.38 no.5
• /
• pp.399-404
• /
• 2006

Noninvasive molecular targeting in living subjects is highly demanded for better understanding of such diverse topics as the efficient delivery of drugs, genes, or radionuclides for the diagnosis or treatment of diseases. Progress in molecular biology, genetic engineering and polymer chemistry provides various tools to target molecules and cells in vivo. We used chitosan as a polymer, and $^{99m}Tc$ as a radionuclide. We developed $^{99m}Tc-galactosylated$ chitosan to target asialoglycoprotein receptors for nuclear imaging. We also developed $^{99m}Tc-HYNIC-chitosan-transferrin$ to target inflammatory cells, which was more effective than $^{67}Ga-citrate$ for imaging inflammatory lesions. For an effective delivery of molecules, a longer circulation time is needed. We found that around 10% PEGylation was most effective to prolong the circulation time of liposomes for nuclear imaging of $^{99m}Tc-HMPAO-labeled$ liposomes in rats. Using various characteristics of molecules, we can deliver drugs into targets more effectively. We found that $^{99m}Tc-labeled$ biodegradable pullulan-derivatives are retained in tumor tissue in response to extracellular ion-strength. For the trafficking of various cells or bacteria in an intact animal, we used optical imaging techniques or radiolabeled cells. We monitored tumor-targeting bacteria by bioluminescent imaging techniques, dentritic cells by radiolabeling and neuronal stem cells by sodium-iodide symporter reporter gene imaging. In summary, we introduced recent achievements of molecular nuclear imaging technologies in targeting receptors for hepatocyte or inflammatory cells and in trafficking bacterial, immune and stem cells using molecular nuclear imaging techniques.

• Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging
• /
• v.43 no.3
• /
• pp.207-214
• /
• 2009

Positron emission tomogrpahy (PET) represents the most advanced scintigraphic imaging technology. With the increase in availability of PET, the clinical use of PET has grown in medical fields. This can be employed for cardiovascular research as well as for clinical applications in patients with various cardiovascular disease. PET allows non-invasive functional assessment of myocardial perfusion, substrate metabolism and cardiac innervation and receptors as well as gene expression in vivo. PET is regarded as the gold standard for the detection of myocardial viability, and it is the only method available for the quantitative assessment of myocardial blood flow. This review focuses on the clinical applications of myocardial perfusion PET in coronary artery disease.

• The Korean Journal of Nuclear Medicine
• /
• v.36 no.4
• /
• pp.209-223
• /
• 2002

By considering the biological properties of a tumor, it should be possible to realize better results in cancer therapy. PET imaging offers the opportunity to measure tumor growth non-invasively and repeatedly as an early assessment of response to cancer therapy. Measuring cellular growth instead of energy metabolism showed offer significant advantages in evaluating therapy. Thymidine and its derivative nucleoside compounds can be changed to mono, di- and tri- phosphate compounds by thymidine kinase and then be incorporated into DNA. Their bindings are increased in highly proliferating cells due to the high DNA synthesis rate. To evaluate cell proliferation, many kinds of thymidine and uridine derivatives have been labeled with positron emitter and radioactive iodine. Compared to radiopharmaceuticals which have radioisotope labeled base ring such as pyirmidine, the radiopharmacuticals which have radioisotope labeled sugar ring are more stable in vivo and have metabolic resistance. The biological properties such as DNA incorporation ratios are highly dependent on their chemical structures and metabolic processes. This overview describes synthesis of radiopharmaceuticals and their biological properties for imaging of tumor cell proliferation.

• The Korean Journal of Nuclear Medicine
• /
• v.37 no.1
• /
• pp.34-42
• /
• 2003

The dopamine transporter (DAT) is responsible for the re-uptake of dopamine from the synaptic cleft and is located on dopaminergic nerve terminals only. DAT single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) and positron omission tomography (PET) imaging, therefore, offer the unique opportunity to study via striatal uptake the integrity of presynaptic dopaminergic nerve terminals in vivo. In recent years SPECT and PET using specific ligands binding to DAT have evolved as an useful tool for diagnosing and monitoring progression of neurodegenerative disorders affecting dopaminergic systems. This article briefly reviews the literature dealing with DAT SPECT and PET imaging in parkinsonism and other neurodegenerative disorders.

• Journal of Radiopharmaceuticals and Molecular Probes
• /
• v.8 no.1
• /
• pp.25-32
• /
• 2022

Malignant melanoma has an aggressive nature and high metastatic potential that result in one of the highest cancer mortality rates. Over the past three decades, primary and metastatic melanoma incidence has rapidly increased. The recent advances in diagnostic technology have shown promise, but there is still an enormous need for specific detection methods to diagnose malignant melanoma. Positron emission tomography can visualize a particular biomarker of malignant melanoma and promise a noninvasive image of micrometastases. However, the development of PET radiopharmaceuticals remains necessary for diagnosing malignant melanoma by using positron emission tomography. In this review, the history and a general overview of PET radionuclide labeled benzamide derivatives, including their radiosynthesis, in vivo characterization, and evaluation, are provided as imaging agents for malignant melanoma.

• Journal of the korean academy of Pediatric Dentistry
• /
• v.33 no.1
• /
• pp.1-12
• /
• 2006

The purpose of this study were to evaluate the efficacy of the newly developed Digital Imaging Fiber-Optic Trans-illumination (DIFOTI) system in detecting carious lesions in vivo as gold standard with confocal laser scanning microscopy and compared the efficacy of traditional radiography and DIFOTI system in vito as gold standard with confocal laser scanning microscopy, too. For the in vivo study, the subject pool consisted of 23 grammar school age patients just prior to entering the mixed dentition phase Each patient was given a DIFOTI examination of the anterior and posterior teeth. During $6{\sim}8$ months, the naturally expire primary teeth were collected and the efficacy of DIFOTI system was compared with confocal laser scanning microscopy. For in vitro study, 40 primary teeth were collected and decalcified by Carbopol decalcification solution for 1, 2, 4 and 8 days. Every experiment period, all teeth were DIFOTI examined and sectioned to take an image of confocal laser scanning microscopy Sensitivity and specificity were calculated from the result of DIFOTI examine and confocal laser scanning microscopy analysis. The results are as follows : 1. From the in vivo study, the sensitivity of DIFOTI examine was 0. 61 and specificity was 0.63. 2. From the in vivo study, the sensitivity of DIFOTI examine was 0.71 and specificity was 0.75.

• Proceedings of the Optical Society of Korea Conference
• /
• 2008.07a
• /
• pp.281-282
• /
• 2008

• Investigative Magnetic Resonance Imaging
• /
• v.21 no.2
• /
• pp.65-70
• /
• 2017

Purpose: To optimize the saturation time and maximizing the pH-weighted difference between the normal and ischemic brain regions, on 3-tesla amide proton transfer (APT) imaging using an in vivo rat model. Materials and Methods: Three male Wistar rats underwent middle cerebral artery occlusion, and were examined in a 3-tesla magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scanner. APT imaging acquisition was performed with 3-dimensional turbo spin-echo imaging, using a 32-channel head coil and 2-channel parallel radiofrequency transmission. An off-resonance radiofrequency pulse was applied with a Sinc-Gauss pulse at a $B_{1,rms}$ amplitude of $1.2{\mu}T$ using a 2-channel parallel transmission. Saturation times of 3, 4, or 5 s were tested. The APT effect was quantified using the magnetization-transfer-ratio asymmetry at 3.5 ppm with respect to the water resonance (APT-weighted signal), and compared with the normal and ischemic regions. The result was then applied to an acute stroke patient to evaluate feasibility. Results: Visual detection of ischemic regions was achieved with the 3-, 4-, and 5-s protocols. Among the different saturation times at $1.2{\mu}T$ power, 4 s showed the maximum difference between the ischemic and normal regions (-0.95%, P = 0.029). The APTw signal difference for 3 and 5 s was -0.9% and -0.7%, respectively. The 4-s saturation time protocol also successfully depicted the pH-weighted differences in an acute stroke patient. Conclusion: For 3-tesla turbo spin-echo APT imaging, the maximal pH-weighted difference achieved when using the $1.2{\mu}T$ power, was with the 4 s saturation time. This protocol will be helpful to depict pH-weighted difference in stroke patients in clinical settings.

• Korean Journal of Radiology
• /
• v.24 no.11
• /
• pp.1114-1130
• /
• 2023

Magnetic resonance neurography (MRN) is increasingly used to visualize peripheral nerves in vivo. However, the implementation and interpretation of MRN in the brachial and lumbosacral plexi are challenging because of the anatomical complexity and technical limitations. The purpose of this article was to review the clinical context of MRN, describe advanced magnetic resonance (MR) techniques for plexus imaging, and list the general categories of utility of MRN with pertinent imaging examples. The selection and optimization of MR sequences are centered on the homogeneous suppression of fat and blood vessels while enhancing the visibility of the plexus and its branches. Standard 2D fast spin-echo sequences are essential to assess morphology and signal intensity of nerves. Moreover, nerve-selective 3D isotropic images allow improved visualization of nerves and multiplanar reconstruction along their course. Diffusion-weighted and diffusion-tensor images offer microscopic and functional insights into peripheral nerves. The interpretation of MRN in the brachial and lumbosacral plexi should be based on a thorough understanding of their anatomy and pathophysiology. Anatomical landmarks assist in identifying brachial and lumbosacral plexus components of interest. Thus, understanding the varying patterns of nerve abnormalities facilitates the interpretation of aberrant findings.