• Journal of Periodontal and Implant Science
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• v.47 no.1
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• pp.20-29
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• 2017

Purpose: The microstructural characteristics of trabecular bone were identified using micro-computed tomography (micro-CT), in order to develop a potential strategy for implant surface improvement to facilitate osseointegration. Methods: Alveolar bone specimens from the cadavers of 30 humans were scanned by high-resolution micro-CT and reconstructed. Volumes of interest chosen within the jaw were classified according to Hounsfield units into 4 bone quality categories. Several structural parameters were measured and statistically analyzed. Results: Alveolar bone specimens with D1 bone quality had significantly higher values for all structural parameters than the other bone quality categories, except for trabecular thickness (Tb.Th). The percentage of bone volume, trabecular separation (Tb.Sp), and trabecular number (Tb.N) varied significantly among bone quality categories. Tb.Sp varied markedly across the bone quality categories (D1: $0.59{\pm}0.22mm$, D4: $1.20{\pm}0.48mm$), whereas Tb.Th had similar values (D1: $0.30{\pm}0.08mm$, D4: $0.22{\pm}0.05mm$). Conclusions: Bone quality depended on Tb.Sp and number-that is, endosteal space architecture-rather than bone surface and Tb.Th. Regardless of bone quality, Tb.Th showed little variation. These factors should be taken into account when developing individualized implant surface topographies.

• The Journal of Advanced Prosthodontics
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• v.9 no.6
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• pp.470-475
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• 2017

PURPOSE. The purpose of this study was to identify the complex course of the mandibular canal using 3D reconstruction of microCT images and to provide the diagram for clinicians to help them understand at the interforaminal region in Korean. MATERIALS AND METHODS. Twenty-six hemimandibles obtained from cadavers were examined using microCT, and the images were reconstructed. At both the midpoint of mental foramen and the tip of anterior loop, the bucco-lingual position, the height from the mandibular inferior border, the horizontal distance between two points, and position relative to tooth site on the mandibular canal were measured. The angle that the mental canal diverges from the mandibular canal was measured in posterior-superior and lateral-superior direction. RESULTS. The buccal distance from the mandibular canal was significantly much shorter than lingual distance at both the mental foramen and the tip of anterior loop. The mandibular canal at the tip of anterior loop was significantly located closer to buccal side and higher than at the mental foramen. And the mental canal most commonly diverged from the mandibular canal below the first premolar by approximately $50^{\circ}$ posterior-superior and $41^{\circ}$ lateral-superior direction, which had with a mean length of 5.19 mm in front of the mental foramen, and exited to the mental foramen below the second premolar. CONCLUSION. These results suggest that it could form a hazardous tetrahedron space at the interforaminal region, thus, the clinician need to pay attention to the width of a premolar tooth from the mental foramen during dental implant placement.

• Imaging Science in Dentistry
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• v.43 no.4
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• pp.227-233
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• 2013

Purpose: This study was performed to analyze human maxillary and mandibular trabecular bone using the data acquired from micro-computed tomography (micro-CT), and to characterize the site-specific microstructures of trabeculae. Materials and Methods: Sixty-nine cylindrical bone specimens were prepared from the mandible and maxilla. They were divided into 5 groups by region: the anterior maxilla, posterior maxilla, anterior mandible, posterior mandible, and mandibular condyle. After the specimens were scanned using a micro-CT system, three-dimensional microstructural parameters such as the percent bone volume, bone specific surface, trabecular thickness, trabecular separation, trabecular number, structure model index, and degrees of anisotropy were analyzed. Results: Among the regions other than the condylar area, the anterior mandibular region showed the highest trabecular thickness and the lowest value for the bone specific surface. On the other hand, the posterior maxilla region showed the lowest trabecular thickness and the highest value for the bone specific surface. The degree of anisotropy was lowest at the anterior mandible. The condyle showed thinner trabeculae with a more anisotropic arrangement than the other mandibular regions. Conclusion: There were microstructural differences between the regions of the maxilla and mandible. These results suggested that different mechanisms of external force might exist at each site.

• Imaging Science in Dentistry
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• v.51 no.1
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• pp.27-34
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• 2021

Purpose: This study was performed to compare the ability of limited- and large-volume cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) to display isthmuses in the apical root canals of mandibular molars. Materials and Methods: Forty human mandibular first molars with isthmuses in the apical 3 mm of mesial roots were scanned by micro-computed tomography (micro-CT), and their thickness, area, and length were recorded. The samples were examined using 2 CBCT systems, using the smallest voxels and field of view available for each device. The Mann-Whitney, Friedman, and Dunn multiple comparison tests were performed (α=0.05). Results: The 3D Accuitomo 170 and i-Cat devices detected 77.5% and 75.0% of isthmuses, respectively (P>0.05). For length measurements, there were significant differences between micro-CT and both 3D Accuitomo 170 and i-Cat(P<0.05). Conclusion: Both CBCT systems performed similarly and did not detect isthmuses in the apical third in some cases. CBCT still does not equal the performance of micro-CT in isthmus detection, but it is nonetheless a valuable tool in endodontic practice.

• Restorative Dentistry and Endodontics
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• v.47 no.1
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• pp.2.1-2.11
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• 2022

Objectives: This study investigated the impact of micro-computed tomography (micro-CT)-based voxel size on the analysis of material/dentin interface voids and thickness of different endodontic cements. Materials and Methods: Following root-end resection and apical preparation, maxillary premolars were filled with mineral trioxide aggregate (MTA), Biodentine, and intermediate restorative material (IRM) (n = 24). The samples were scanned using micro-CT (SkyScan 1272; Bruker) and the cement/dentin interface and thickness of materials were evaluated at voxel sizes of 5, 10, and 20 ㎛. Analysis of variance and the Tukey test were conducted, and the degree of agreement between different voxel sizes was evaluated using the Bland and Altman method (p < 0.05). Results: All materials showed an increase in thickness from 5 to 10 and 20 ㎛ (p < 0.05). When evaluating the interface voids, materials were similar at 5 ㎛ (p > 0.05), while at 10 and 20 ㎛ Biodentine showed the lowest percentage of voids (p < 0.05). A decrease in the interface voids was observed for MTA and IRM at 20 ㎛, while Biodentine showed differences among all voxel sizes (p < 0.05). The Bland-Altman plots for comparisons among voxel sizes showed the largest deviations when comparing images between 5 and 20 ㎛. Conclusions: Voxel size had an impact on the micro-CT evaluation of thickness and interface voids of endodontic materials. All cements exhibited an increase in thickness and a decrease in the void percentage as the voxel size increased, especially when evaluating images at 20 ㎛.

• Anatomy and Cell Biology
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• v.56 no.2
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• pp.185-190
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• 2023

The root canal morphology undergoes aging-related changes, and relevant quantitative analyses have not yet been reported. We compared the cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) and micro-computed tomography (microCT) scans of extracted mandibular incisors to check the accuracy of morphological measurements. Thereafter, the root canal morphology and aging-related changes in the mandibular incisors of Japanese individuals were assessed using CBCT. Six extracted teeth were fixed in a phantom head and imaged using CBCT and micro-CT. The correlation between the findings of the two imaging modalities was examined. Further, CBCT reconstructed images of the mandibular incisors of 81 individuals were observed. Age-related changes of the root canals were compared between participants aged <30 years and those aged ≥30 years. The CBCT and micro-CT findings regarding the root canals of the extracted teeth coincided in 94.4% of the cases. Mandibular incisors exhibiting two root canals in either cross-section accounted for 9.9% of central incisors and 12.4% of lateral incisors. Mandibular central incisors with two root canals were observed in two (6.3%) individuals aged <30 years and six (12.2%) aged ≥30 years. Mandibular lateral incisors with two root canals were observed in one (3.1%) individual aged <30 years and nine (18.4%) aged ≥30 years. CBCT allows accurate evaluation of complex root canal morphologies and is useful for endodontic preoperative assessment. Mandibular incisors have more frequent occurrence of two root canals with aging.

• Journal of Biomedical Engineering Research
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• v.32 no.3
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• pp.257-263
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• 2011

Sparse-view CT imaging is considered to be a solution to reduce x-ray dose of CT. Sparse-view CT imaging may have severe streak artifacts that could compromise the image qualities. We have compared quality of sparseview images reconstructed with two representative iterative reconstruction techniques, SIRT and TV-minimization, in terms of image error and edge preservation. In the comparison study, we have used the Shepp-Logan phantom image and real CT images obtained with a micro-CT. In both phantom image and real CT image tests, TV-minimization technique shows the best performance in error reduction and preserving edges. However, the excessive computation time of TV-minimization is a technical challenge for the practical use.

• Journal of Biomedical Engineering Research
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• v.27 no.4
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• pp.189-196
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• 2006

Micro computed tomography (micro-CT) has been used for in vivo animal study owing to its noninvasive and high spatial resolution capability. However, the sizes of existing detectors for micro-CT systems are too small to obtain whole-body images of a small animal object with $\sim$10 micron resolution and a part of its bones or other organs should be extracted. So, we have introduced the zoom-in micro-tomography technique which can obtain high-resolution images of a local region of an live animal object without extracting samples. In order to verify our zoom-in technique, we performed in vivo animal bone study. We prepared some SD (Sprague-Dawley) rats for making osteoporosis models. They were divided into control and ovariectomized groups. Again, the ovariectomized group is divided into two groups fed with normal food and with calcium-free food. And we took 3D tomographic images of their femurs with 20 micron resolution using our zoom-in tomography technique and observed the bone changes for 12 weeks. We selected ROI (region of interest) of a femur image and applied 2D FDT (fuzzy distance transform) to measure the trabecular bone thickness. The measured results showed obvious bone changes and big differences between control and ovariectomized groups. However, we found that the reliability of the measurement depended on the selection of ROI in a bone image for thickness calculation. So, we extended the method to 3D FDT technique. We selected 3D VOI (volume of interest) in the obtained 3D tomographic images and applied 3D FDT algorithm. The results showed that the 3D technique could give more accurate and reliable measurement.

• Journal of Biomedical Engineering Research
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• v.25 no.6
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• pp.519-523
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• 2004

This study investigates micro-structural and mechanical properties of trabecular bone in human femoral head with and without osteoporosis using Micro-CT and finite element-model. 15 cored trabecular bone specimens with 20min of diameter were obtained from femoral heads with osteoporosis (T-score > -2.5 ) resected for total hip arthroplasty, and 5 specimens were removed from femoral head of cadavers, which has no history of musculoskeletal diseases. A high-resolution micro-CT system was used to scan each specimen to obtain histomorphometry indices. Based on obtained micro-images(pixel size=21.31㎛), a FE-model was created to determine mechanical property indices. While non-osteoporosis group had increases trabecular thickness, bone volume, bone volume fraction, degree of anisotropy and trabecular number compared with those of non-osteoporotic group, the non-osteoporotic group showed decreases in trabecular separation and structure model index. Regarding the mechanical property indices, reaction force, apparent stress and young's modulus were 1ower in osteoporotic group than in non-osteoporotic group. Our data shows salient deteriorations in trabecular micro-structural and mechanical properties in human femoral head with osteoporosis.

• The Korean Journal of Nuclear Medicine Technology
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• v.13 no.1
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• pp.51-56
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• 2009

Purpose: Recently, most hospitals are introducing the PACS system and use of the system continues to expand. But small-scaled PACS called MicroPACS has already been in use through open source programs. The aim of this study is to prove utility of operating a MicroPACS, as a substitute back-up device for conventional storage media like CDs and DVDs, in addition to the full-PACS already in use. This study contains the way of setting up a MicroPACS with open source programs and assessment of its storage capability, stability, compatibility and performance of operations such as "retrieve", "query". Materials and Methods: 1. To start with, we searched open source software to correspond with the following standards to establish MicroPACS, (1) It must be available in Windows Operating System. (2) It must be free ware. (3) It must be compatible with PET/CT scanner. (4) It must be easy to use. (5) It must not be limited of storage capacity. (6) It must have DICOM supporting. 2. (1) To evaluate availability of data storage, we compared the time spent to back up data in the open source software with the optical discs (CDs and DVD-RAMs), and we also compared the time needed to retrieve data with the system and with optical discs respectively. (2) To estimate work efficiency, we measured the time spent to find data in CDs, DVD-RAMs and MicroPACS. 7 technologists participated in this study. 3. In order to evaluate stability of the software, we examined whether there is a data loss during the system is maintained for a year. Comparison object; How many errors occurred in randomly selected data of 500 CDs. Result: 1. We chose the Conquest DICOM Server among 11 open source software used MySQL as a database management system. 2. (1) Comparison of back up and retrieval time (min) showed the result of the following: DVD-RAM (5.13,2.26)/Conquest DICOM Server (1.49,1.19) by GE DSTE (p<0.001), CD (6.12,3.61)/Conquest (0.82,2.23) by GE DLS (p<0.001), CD (5.88,3.25)/Conquest (1.05,2.06) by SIEMENS. (2) The wasted time (sec) to find some data is as follows: CD ($156{\pm}46$), DVD-RAM ($115{\pm}21$) and Conquest DICOM Server ($13{\pm}6$). 3. There was no data loss (0%) for a year and it was stored 12741 PET/CT studies in 1.81 TB memory. In case of CDs, On the other hand, 14 errors among 500 CDs (2.8%) is generated. Conclusions: We found that MicroPACS could be set up with the open source software and its performance was excellent. The system built with open source proved more efficient and more robust than back-up process using CDs or DVD-RAMs. We believe that the operation of the MicroPACS would be effective data storage device as long as its operators develop and systematize it.