• Korean Journal of Digital Imaging in Medicine
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• v.13 no.2
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• pp.83-90
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• 2011

To prospectively determine the diagnostic performance a combination of standard bolus-chase magnetic resonance (MR) angiography and MR angiography with time-resolved imaging of contrast kinetics (TRICKS) for depicting severity of the head and neck vascular diseases. Over a period of two months, A total of 100 patients(average ages : $50{\pm}8$, male : 60, female : 40) with head and neck vascular diseases were performed on the GE excite 3.0 T units with 8-channel head coil and 4-channel NV coil. Imaging parameters for a typical study were as follow: SBC(TR/ TE/ FA/ SliceThicken./ Slab/ Freq./ FOV/ BW/Scan Time) = 5.4/ min/ 30/ 2/ zip2/ 70/ $224{\times}448$/ 30/ 62.50/ 28, TRICKS(TR/ TE/ FA/ Slice Thicken/Slab/ Freq./ FOV/ BW/ Temp Res./ Scan Time = 3.6/ min/ 25/ 4/ 30/ $160{\pm}384$, zip512/ 30/ 100/ 1 to 1.5/ 23). The analysis of all MR images, which have respect-ively classified two techniques into some diseases. The results of the former were divided into two groups(SBC, TRICKS)with 4 grading of two reader, respectively. Wilcoxon signed rank test was used to determine if a significant difference between imaging techniques existed(p < 0.05). In 33 of 100 patients, arterio-venous malformation was 11% at TRICKS, subclavian vein stenosis : 8%, fistular sinus : 4%, jugular vein stenosis:6%, Middle Cerebral Artery bypass surgery : 4%, p < 0.05). The rest of 67 patients were considered as the results of SBC(14% in the basilar artery stenosis, carotid stenosis : 16%, vertebral stenosis : 17%, central neuro-cytoma : 5%, meningioma : 5%, Not appliable : 10%, p < 0.05). Sensitivity and specificity of TRICKS MR angiography in SVS, FS, JVS, MCABS were improved compared with those at standard MR angiography. In SBS MR angiography which were improved in BAS, CS, VS, CN, Meningioma. In conclusion, TRICKS MR angiography of the SVS, FS, JVS, MCABS is superior to standard MR angiography regarding the number of diagnostic grading. The SBS MR angiography were improved in BAS, CS, VS, CN, Meningioma. and assessment of the degree of luminal narrowing on both TRICKS and SBS.

• Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society
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• v.30 no.12
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• pp.2993-2998
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• 2009

An enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA)-on-a-chip (EOC) biosensor combined with cell concentration technology based on immuno-magnetic separation (IMS) was investigated for use as a potential tool for early screening of Listeria monocytogenes (L. monocytogenes) in food products. The target analyte is a well-known pathogenic foodborne microorganism and outbreaks of the food poisoning typically occur due to contamination of normal food products. Thus, the aim of this study was to develop a rapid and reliable sensor that could be utilized on a daily basis to test food products for the presence of this pathogenic microorganism. The sensor was optimized to provide a high detection capability (e.g., 5.9 ${\times}\;10^3$ cells/mL) and, to eventually minimize cultivation time. The cell density was condensed using IMS prior to analysis. Since the concentration rate of IMS was greater than 100-fold, this combination resulted in a detection limit of 54 cells/mL. The EOC-IMS coupled analytical system was then applied to a real sample test of fish intestines. The system was able to detect L. monocytogenes at a concentration of 2.4 CFU/g after pre-enrichment for 6 h from the onset of cell cultivation. This may allow us to monitor the target analyte at a concentration less than 1 CFU/g within a 9 h-cultivation provided a doubling time of 40 min is typically maintained. Based on this estimation, the EOC-IMS system can screen and detect the presence of this microorganism in food products almost within working hours.

• Korean Chemical Engineering Research
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• v.57 no.4
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• pp.445-454
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• 2019

Layered double hydroxides (LDHs) nanoparticles have emerged as novel nanomaterials for bio-imaging applications due to its unique layered structure, physicochemical properties, and good biocompatibility. Bio-imaging is one of the most important fields for medical applications in clinical diagnostics and therapeutics of various diseases. Enhanced diagnostic techniques are needed to realize new paradigm for next-generation personalized medicine through nanoscale materials. When nanotechnology is introduced into bio-imaging system, nanoparticle probes can endow imaging techniques with enhanced ability to obtain information about biological system at the molecular level. In this review, we summarize structural features of LDH nanoparticles with current issues of bio-imaging system. LDH nanoparticle probes are also discussed through in vitro as well as in vivo studies in various bio-imaging techniques including fluorescence imaging, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), positron emission tomography (PET), and computed X-ray tomography (CT), which will have the potential in the development of the advanced nanoparticles with high sensitivity and selectivity.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Radiology
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• v.16 no.5
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• pp.575-583
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• 2022

Magnetic resonance diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) has revealed the disruption of brain white matter microstructure in normal aging and alcoholism undetectable with conventional structural MR imaging. we plan to analyze the FA measurements of the ROI of dangerous drinkers selected from Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT) and Tract-Based Spatial Statics (TBSS) tool was used to extract FA values in the ROI from the image acquired through the pre-processing process. TBSS has a higher sensitivity of the FA value and MD value in the white matter than the brain gray matter, and has the advantage of quantitatively deriving the unlimited degree of brain nerve fibers, and more specialized in the brain white matter. We plan to analyze the fractional anisotropy (FA) measurement value for damage by selecting the center of the anatomical structure of the white matter region of the brain with high anisotropy among the brain neural networks that are particularly vulnerable to alcohol as the region of interest (ROI). In this study, we expected that alcohol causes damage to the brain white matter microstructure from FA value in various areas including both Choroid plexus. Especially, In the case of the moderate drunker, the mean value of FA in Lt, Rt. Choroid plexus was 0.2831 and 0.2872, whereas, in the case of the severe drunker, the mean value of FA was 0.1972 and 0.1936. We found that the higher the score on the AUDIT scale, the lower the FA value in ROI region of the brain white matter. Using the AUDIT scale, the guideline for the FA value of DTI can be presented, and it is possible to select a significant number of potentially severe drinkers. In other words, AUDIT was proved as useful tool in screening and discrimination of severe drunker through DTI.

• Korean Journal of Radiology
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• v.22 no.10
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• pp.1628-1639
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• 2021

Objective: Based on the Liver Imaging Reporting and Data System version 2018 (LI-RADS, v2018), this study aimed to analyze LR-5 diagnostic performance for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) when threshold growth as a major feature is replaced by a more HCC-specific ancillary feature, as well as the frequency of threshold growth in HCC and non-HCC malignancies and its association with tumor size. Materials and Methods: This retrospective study included treatment-naive patients who underwent gadoxetate disodium-enhanced MRIs for focal hepatic lesions and surgery between January 2009 and December 2016. The frequency of major and ancillary features was evaluated for HCC and non-HCC malignancies, and the LR-category was assessed. Ancillary features that were significantly more prevalent in HCC were then used to either replace threshold growth or were added as additional major features, and the diagnostic performance of the readjusted LR category was compared to the LI-RADS v2018. Results: A total of 1013 observations were analyzed. Unlike arterial phase hyperenhancement, washout, or enhancing capsule which were more prevalent in HCCs than in non-HCC malignancies (521/616 vs. 18/58, 489/616 vs. 19/58, and 181/616 vs. 5/58, respectively; p < 0.001), threshold growth was more prevalent in non-HCC malignancies than in HCCs (11/23 vs. 17/119; p < 0.001). The mean size of non-HCC malignancies showing threshold growth was significantly smaller than that of non-HCC malignancies without threshold growth (22.2 mm vs. 42.9 mm, p = 0.040). Similar results were found for HCCs; however, the difference was not significant (26.8 mm vs. 33.1 mm, p = 0.184). Additionally, Fat-in-nodule was more frequent in HCCs than in non-HCC malignancies (99/616 vs. 2/58, p = 0.010). When threshold growth and fat-in-nodule were considered as ancillary and major features, respectively, LR-5 sensitivity (73.2% vs. 73.9%, p = 0.289) and specificity (98.2% vs. 98.5%, p > 0.999) were comparable to the LI-RADS v2018. Conclusion: Threshold growth is not a significant diagnostic indicator of HCC and is more common in non-HCC malignancies. The diagnostic performance of LR-5 was comparable when threshold growth was recategorized as an ancillary feature and replaced by a more HCC-specific ancillary feature.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Radiology
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• v.83 no.3
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• pp.620-631
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• 2022

Purpose This study aimed to investigate the diagnostic performance of features suggestive of nodal metastasis on preoperative MRI in patients with invasive breast cancer. Materials and Methods We retrospectively reviewed the preoperative breast MRI of 192 consecutive patients with surgically proven invasive breast cancer. We analyzed MRI findings of axillary lymph nodes with regard to the size, long/short ratio, cortical thickness, shape and margin of the cortex, loss of hilum, asymmetry, signal intensity (SI) on T2-weighted images (T2WI), degree of enhancement in the early phase, and enhancement kinetics. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis, chi-square test, t test, and McNemar's test were used for statistical analysis. Results Increased shorter diameter, uneven cortical shape, increased cortical thickness, loss of hilum, asymmetry, irregular cortical margin, and low SI on T2WI were significantly suggestive of metastasis. ROC analysis revealed the cutoff value for the shorter diameter and cortical thickness as 8.05 mm and 2.75 mm, respectively. Increased cortical thickness (> 2.75 mm) and uneven cortical shape showed significantly higher sensitivity than other findings in McNemar's test. Irregular cortical margins showed the highest specificity (100%). Conclusion Cortical thickness > 2.75 mm and uneven cortical shape are more sensitive parameters than other findings, and an irregular cortical margin is the most specific parameter for predicting axillary metastasis in patients with invasive breast cancer.

• Korean Journal of Radiology
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• v.23 no.6
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• pp.664-673
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• 2022

Objective: To evaluate the performance of baseline clinical characteristics and pretherapeutic histogram parameters derived from T2 mapping of the extraocular muscles (EOMs) in the prediction of treatment response to intravenous glucocorticoid (IVGC) therapy for active and moderate-to-severe thyroid-associated ophthalmopathy (TAO) and to investigate the effect of fat-suppression (FS) in T2 mapping in this prediction. Materials and Methods: A total of 79 patients clinically diagnosed with active, moderate-to-severe TAO (47 female, 32 male; mean age ± standard deviation, 46.1 ± 10 years), including 43 patients with a total of 86 orbits in the responsive group and 36 patients with a total of 72 orbits in the unresponsive group, were enrolled. Baseline clinical characteristics and pretherapeutic histogram parameters derived from T2 mapping with FS (i.e., FS T2 mapping) or without FS (i.e., conventional T2 mapping) of EOMs were compared between the two groups. Independent predictors of treatment response to IVGC were identified using multivariable analysis. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis was performed to evaluate the predictive performance of the prediction models. Differences between the models were examined using the DeLong test. Results: Compared to the unresponsive group, the responsive group had a shorter disease duration, lower kurtosis (FS-kurtosis), lower standard deviation, larger 75th, 90th, and 95th (FS-95th) T2 relaxation times in FS mapping and lower kurtosis in conventional T2 mapping. Multivariable analysis revealed that disease duration, FS-95th percentile, and FS-kurtosis were independent predictors of treatment response. The combined model, integrating all identified predictors, had an optimized area under the ROC curve of 0.797, 88.4% sensitivity, and 62.5% specificity, which were significantly superior to those of the imaging model (p = 0.013). Conclusion: An integrated combination of disease duration, FS-95th percentile, and FS-kurtosis was a potential predictor of treatment response to IVGC in patients with active and moderate-to-severe TAO. FS T2 mapping was superior to conventional T2 mapping in terms of prediction.

• Korean Journal of Radiology
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.246-255
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• 2022

Objective: To determine the usefulness of Silent MR angiography (MRA) for evaluating intracranial aneurysms treated with stent-assisted coil embolization. Materials and Methods: Ninety-nine patients (101 aneurysms) treated with stent-assisted coil embolization (Neuroform atlas, 71 cases; Enterprise, 17; LVIS Jr, 9; and Solitaire AB, 4 cases) underwent time-of-flight (TOF) MRA and Silent MRA in the same session using a 3T MRI system within 24 hours of embolization. Two radiologists independently interpreted both MRA images retrospectively and rated the image quality using a 5-point Likert scale. The image quality and diagnostic accuracy of the two modalities in the detection of aneurysm occlusion were further compared based on the stent design and the site of aneurysm. Results: The average image quality scores of the Silent MRA and TOF MRA were 4.38 ± 0.83 and 2.78 ± 1.04, respectively (p < 0.001), with an almost perfect interobserver agreement. Silent MRA had a significantly higher image quality score than TOF MRA at the distal internal carotid artery (n = 57, 4.25 ± 0.91 vs. 3.05 ± 1.16, p < 0.001), middle cerebral artery (n = 21, 4.57 ± 0.75 vs. 2.19 ± 0.68, p < 0.001), anterior cerebral artery (n = 13, 4.54 ± 0.66 vs. 2.46 ± 0.66, p < 0.001), and posterior circulation artery (n = 10, 4.50 ± 0.71 vs. 2.90 ± 0.74, p = 0.013). Silent MRA had superior image quality score to TOF MRA in the stented arteries when using Neuroform atlas (4.66 ± 0.53 vs. 3.21 ± 0.84, p < 0.001), Enterprise (3.29 ± 1.59 vs. 1.59 ± 0.51, p = 0.003), LVIS Jr (4.33 ± 1.89 vs. 1.89 ± 0.78, p = 0.033), and Solitaire AB stents (4.00 ± 2.25 vs. 2.25 ± 0.96, p = 0.356). The interpretation of the status of aneurysm occlusion exhibited significantly higher sensitivity with Silent MRA than with TOF MRA when using the Neuroform Atlas stent (96.4% vs. 14.3%, respectively, p < 0.001) and LVIS Jr stent (100% vs. 20%, respectively, p = 0.046). Conclusion: Silent MRA can be useful to evaluate aneurysms treated with stent-assisted coil embolization, regardless of the aneurysm location and type of stent used.

• Korean Journal of Radiology
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• v.20 no.5
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• pp.812-822
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• 2019

Objective: To assess the diagnostic value of combining diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) with conventional magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) for differentiating between pathologic and traumatic fractures at extremities from metastasis. Materials and Methods: Institutional Review Board approved this retrospective study and informed consent was waived. This study included 49 patients each with pathologic and traumatic fractures at extremities. The patients underwent conventional MRI combined with DWI. For qualitative analysis, two radiologists (R1 and R2) independently reviewed three imaging sets with a crossover design using a 5-point scale and a 3-scale confidence level: DWI plus non-enhanced MRI (NEMR; DW set), NEMR plus contrast-enhanced fat-saturated T1-weighted imaging (CEFST1; CE set), and DWI plus NEMR plus CEFST1 (combined set). McNemar's test was used to compare the diagnostic performances among three sets and perform subgroup analyses (single vs. multiple bone abnormality, absence/presence of extra-osseous mass, and bone enhancement at fracture margin). Results: Compared to the CE set, the combined set showed improved diagnostic accuracy (R1, 84.7 vs. 95.9%; R2, 91.8 vs. 95.9%, p < 0.05) and specificity (R1, 71.4% vs. 93.9%, p < 0.005; R2, 85.7% vs. 98%, p = 0.07), with no difference in sensitivities (p > 0.05). In cases of absent extra-osseous soft tissue mass and present fracture site enhancement, the combined set showed improved accuracy (R1, 82.9-84.4% vs. 95.6-96.3%, p < 0.05; R2, 90.2-91.1% vs. 95.1-95.6%, p < 0.05) and specificity (R1, 68.3-72.9% vs. 92.7-95.8%, p < 0.005; R2, 83.0-85.4% vs. 97.6-98.0%, p = 0.07). Conclusion: Combining DWI with conventional MRI improved the diagnostic accuracy and specificity while retaining sensitivity for differentiating between pathologic and traumatic fractures from metastasis at extremities.

• 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.