• Journal of Biomedical Engineering Research
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• v.35 no.5
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• pp.142-150
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• 2014

The key to model-based iterative reconstruction (MBIR) algorithms for transmission computed tomography lies in the ability to accurately model the data formation process from the emitted photons produced in the transmission source to the measured photons at the detector. Therefore, accurately modeling the system matrix that accounts for the data formation process is a prerequisite for MBIR-based algorithms. In this work we compared quantitative performance of the three representative ray-driven methods for calculating the system matrix; the ray-tracing method (RTM), the distance-driven method (DDM), and the strip-area based method (SAM). We implemented the ordered-subsets separable surrogates (OS-SPS) algorithm using the three different models and performed simulation studies using a digital phantom. Our experimental results show that, in spite of the more advanced features in the SAM and DDM, the traditional RTM implemented in the OS-SPS algorithm with an edge-preserving regularizer out-performs the SAM and DDM in restoring complex edges in the underlying object. The performance of the RTM in smooth regions was also comparable to that of the SAM or DDM.

• Journal of Periodontal and Implant Science
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• v.52 no.1
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• pp.3-27
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• 2022

Purpose: This study was conducted to evaluate and compare the effects of different graft materials used in alveolar ridge preservation on dimensional hard tissue changes of the alveolar ridge, assessed using cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) scans. Methods: A systematic electronic search of MEDLINE and the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials and a manual search were conducted from November 2019 until January 2020. Randomized controlled trials were included if they assessed at least 1 variable related to vertical or horizontal hard tissue changes measured using CBCT scans. After a qualitative analysis of the included studies, subgroups were formed according to the graft material used, and a quantitative analysis was performed for 5 outcome variables: changes in vertical alveolar bone height at 2 points (midbuccal and midpalatal/midlingual) and changes in horizontal (buccolingual) alveolar bone width at 3 different levels from the initial crest height (1, 3, and 5 mm). Results: The search resulted in 1,582 studies, and after an independent 3-stage screening, 16 studies were selected for qualitative analysis and 9 for quantitative analysis. The metaanalysis showed a significantly (P<0.05) lower reduction of alveolar ridge dimensions for the xenogenic subgroup than in the allogenic subgroup, both vertically at the midbuccal aspect (weighted mean difference [WMD]=-0.20; standard error [SE]=0.26 vs. WMD=-0.90; SE=0.22) as well as horizontally at 1 mm (WMD=-1.32; SE=0.07 vs. WMD=-2.99; SE=0.96) and 3 mm (WMD=-0.78; SE=0.11 vs. WMD=-1.63; SE=0.40) from the initial crest height. No statistical analysis could be performed for the autogenic subgroup because it was not reported in sufficient numbers. Conclusions: Less vertical and horizontal bone reduction was observed when xenogenic graft materials were used than when allogenic graft materials were used; however, the loss of alveolar ridge dimensions could not be completely prevented by any graft material.

• Investigative Magnetic Resonance Imaging
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• v.25 no.2
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• pp.109-117
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• 2021

Purpose: To investigate the reliability of CT and MRI for quantitative and qualitative analyses of lumbar paraspinal muscle fatty infiltration (PSFI) and correlation of PSFI with intervertebral disc pathology. Materials and Methods: Lumbar spine CT and MRI of 36 subjects were reviewed retrospectively. Two observers independently outlined lumbar paraspinal muscles at each mid-intervertebral disc level. Paraspinal muscles on CT and MRI were graded according to the Goutallier grading system (GGS). The area, mean value, and standard deviation (SD) of the Hounsfield unit (HU) were obtained. Intervertebral discs were assessed on axial image of T2WI at each level. Correlations between qualitative and quantitative data and intervertebral disc pathology, age, and sex were evaluated. Results: Inter- and intra-observer agreements for results of GGS on MRI were substantial (κ = 0.79) and moderate (κ = 0.59), respectively. Inter- and intra-observer agreements for results of GGS on CT were almost perfect (κ = 0.88) and substantial (κ = 0.66), respectively. Quantitative measurements of HU showed almost perfect inter- and intra-observer reliabilities (κ = 0.82 and κ = 0.99, respectively). There were statistically significant correlations between intervertebral disc pathology and PSFI at L1-2, L2-3, and L4-5 levels on MRI and at L1-2 and L3-4 levels on CT. Age showed significant correlation with results of GGS at all levels on CT and MRI. Conclusion: This study showed that GGS results and HU measurements could be useful for evaluating PSFI because they showed correlations with intervertebral disc pathology results at certain levels.

• Journal of Periodontal and Implant Science
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• v.47 no.1
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• pp.30-40
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• 2017

Purpose: Optical coherence tomography (OCT) is a noninvasive diagnostic technique that may be useful for both qualitative and quantitative analyses of the periodontium. Micro-computed tomography (micro-CT) is another noninvasive imaging technique capable of providing submicron spatial resolution. The purpose of this study was to present periodontal images obtained using ex vivo dental OCT and to compare OCT images with micro-CT images and histologic sections. Methods: Images of ex vivo canine periodontal structures were obtained using OCT. Biologic depth measurements made using OCT were compared to measurements made on histologic sections prepared from the same sites. Visual comparisons were made among OCT, micro-CT, and histologic sections to evaluate whether anatomical details were accurately revealed by OCT. Results: The periodontal tissue contour, gingival sulcus, and the presence of supragingival and subgingival calculus could be visualized using OCT. OCT was able to depict the surface topography of the dentogingival complex with higher resolution than micro-CT, but the imaging depth was typically limited to 1.2-1.5 mm. Biologic depth measurements made using OCT were a mean of 0.51 mm shallower than the histologic measurements. Conclusions: Dental OCT as used in this study was able to generate high-resolution, cross-sectional images of the superficial portions of periodontal structures. Improvements in imaging depth and the development of an intraoral sensor are likely to make OCT a useful technique for periodontal applications.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Radiology
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• v.16 no.7
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• pp.889-896
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• 2022

This study attempted to evaluate the usefulness of the air mattress by analyzing the subjective comfort of the patient due to the application of the air mattress to the table of computed tomography through a questionnaire and analyzing the change in image quality through quantitative and qualitative evaluation of the patient's clinical images. The subjects who participated in the study were 221 men and 229 women, and the age range was from 18 to 86. To evaluate the change in image quality, a total of 150 patients, 50 patients per group, were selected for quantitative evaluation, and 20 patients per group, a total of 60 patients were selected for qualitative evaluation. As a result of this study, the subjective comfort of patients increased due to air mattresses, and there was no difference in image quality as a result of quantitative and qualitative evaluation of clinical images. From the above results, it is believed that the air mattress can be usefully applied in a way that can increase the subjective comfort of the patient without any harm to the diagnostic image.

• Imaging Science in Dentistry
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• v.39 no.1
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• pp.41-49
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• 2009

Purpose: To detect the progression of experimentally induced periapical lesions on periapical radiograph and cone beam computed tomograph (CBCT) by quantitative analysis. Materials and Methods: After the removal of coronal pulps from premolars of two Beagle dogs, the root canals of premolars were exposed to oral environment during one week and then sealed for 70 days. Digital periapical radiographs and CBCTs were taken at baseline and every 7 days for 77 days after pulp exposure. We examined occurrence and areas of periapical bone resorption. Three comparative groups of CBCT radiographs were prepared by average projection of thin slabs with different bucco-lingual thicknesses (0.1, 3.0, and 8.0 mm) using a 3D visualization software. Radiographic densities were compensated by image normalization. Digital images were processed with mathematical morphology operations. The radiographic density and morphological features of periapical lesions were compared among three groups of CBCT in different time points. Results: In the CBCT group with 0.1 mm thickness, radiographic density (p<0.05) and trabecular bone area (p<0.01) were significantly decreased at the fifth week. However, in the CBCT groups with 3 mm and 8 mm thickness and periapical radiographs, none of densitometric and morphological features showed any significant differences in different time points. Radiographic density of periapical lesion showed increasing tendency at the eleventh week after pulp exposure. Conclusion: Radiographic detection of periapical lesions was possible at the fifth week after pulp contamination by quantitative method and was affected by buccolingual bone thickness.

• Maxillofacial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery
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• v.32 no.1
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• pp.49-56
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• 2010

Objective: To evaluate nasal and upper lip changes after Le Fort I surgery by means of images taken with a three-dimensional computed tomography (3D-CT). Methods: Fifteen patients (9 female and 6 male, mean age 21.9 years) with preoperative and postoperative 3D-CT were studied. The patients underwent maxillary movement with impaction or elongation, and advancement or setback. With the 3D-CT which presents reconstructive soft tissue images, preoperative and postoperative measurement and analysis were performed for nasal tip projection angle, columellar angle, supratip break angle, nasolabial angle, interalar width, internostril width, columella length and nasal tip projection. Results: Postoperative interalar and internostril widening was significant for all categories of maxillary movement. However, there was little significant relation in all parameters between the amount and direction of maxillary movement. Interestingly, movement of the maxilla with upward did show a little decrease in the columellar angle, supra tip break angle and nasolabial angle. Also movement of the maxilla with forward did show a little advancement in the upper lip position. Conclusion: Changes to the nose clearly occur after orthognathic surgery. There was a significant increase in postoperative interalar width and internostril width with maxillary movement. However, no clear correlation could be determined between amount of change and maxillary movement. Interestingly, maxillary impaction did show a little decrease in the columellar angle, supra tip break angle and nasolabial angle. In addition, we used 3D-CT for more precise analysis as a useful tool.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.195-200
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• 2015

We tested the hypothesis that micro-computed tomography (micro-CT) analysis provides a better quantitative readout of the therapeutic potential of methotrexate (MTX) for treating collagen-induced arthritis (CIA) in rats and compared to conventional histopathological examination. Rats were divided into three groups: Group 1 (G1) was treated with 0.9% saline, whereas groups 2 (G2) and 3 (G3) were boosted with type II collagen at days 0 and 7. Following the first collagen immunization, rats in G1 and G2 were treated with 0.9% saline and those in G3 were treated with 1.5 mg/kg MTX from day 14 to 28. All rats were sacrificed on day 28, at which point and all hind knee joints were analyzed by micro-CT and histopathological examination. Micro-CT analyses showed that bone volume and trabecular number were significantly decreased in G2 and G3 compared to G1 (p<0.01), as was percent bone volume (p<0.05 and p<0.01, respectively). However, bone surface/bone volume was significantly increased in G2 and G3 compared to G1 (p<0.05 and p<0.01, respectively). Trabecular separation was significantly increased in G3 compared to G1 (p<0.05). Histopathological examination showed that knee joints of rats in G2 and G3 showed severe joint destruction with inflammatory cell infiltration. However, cartilage destruction was slightly reduced in G3 compared to G2. Taken together, these results suggest that MTX treatment reduced cartilage destruction in rats with CIA, and micro-CT analyses made it possible to quantify arthritic bony lesion.

• The korean journal of orthodontics
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• v.44 no.1
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• pp.36-43
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• 2014

Objective: The purpose of this study was to quantitatively evaluate the cortical bone densities of the maxillary and mandibular alveolar processes in adults with different vertical facial types using cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) images. Methods: CBCT images (n = 142) of adult patients (20-45 years) were classified into hypodivergent, normodivergent, and hyperdivergent groups on the basis of linear and angular S-N/Go-Me measurements. The cortical bone densities (in Hounsfield units) at maxillary and mandibular interdental sites from the distal aspect of the canine to the mesial aspect of the second molar were measured on the images. Results: On the maxillary buccal side, female subjects in the hyperdivergent group showed significantly decreased bone density, while in the posterior region, male subjects in the hyperdivergent group displayed significantly decreased bone density when compared with corresponding subjects in the other groups (p<0.001). Furthermore, the subjects in the hyperdivergent group had significantly lower bone densities on the mandibular buccal side than hypodivergent subjects. The maxillary palatal bone density did not differ significantly among groups, but female subjects showed significantly denser palatal cortical bone. No significant difference in bone density was found between the palatal and buccal sides in the maxillary premolar region. Overall, the palatal cortical bone was denser anteriorly and buccal cortical bone was denser posteriorly. Conclusion: Adults with the hyperdivergent facial type tend to have less-dense buccal cortical bone in the maxillary and mandibular alveolar processes. Clinicians should be aware of the variability of cortical bone densities at mini-implant placement sites.

• The korean journal of orthodontics
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• v.50 no.5
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• pp.314-323
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• 2020

Objective: To identify the available evidence on the effects of rapid maxillary expansion (RME) with three-dimensional imaging and provide meta-analytic data from studies assessing the outcomes using computed tomography. Methods: Eleven electronic databases were searched, and prospective case series were selected. Two authors screened all titles and abstracts and assessed full texts of the remaining articles. Seventeen case series were included in the quantitative synthesis. Seven outcomes were investigated: nasal cavity width, maxillary basal bone width, alveolar buccal crest width, alveolar palatal crest width, inter-molar crown width, inter-molar root apex width, and buccopalatal molar inclination. The outcomes were investigated at two-time points: post-expansion (2-6 weeks) and post-retention (4-8 months). Mean differences and 95% confidence intervals were used to summarize and combine the data. Results: All the investigated outcomes showed significant differences post-expansion (maxillary basal bone width, +2.46 mm; nasal cavity width, +1.95 mm; alveolar buccal crest width, +3.90 mm; alveolar palatal crest width, +3.09 mm; intermolar crown width, +5.69 mm; inter-molar root apex width, +2.85 mm; and dental tipping, +3.75°) and post-retention (maxillary basal bone width, +2.21 mm; nasal cavity width, +1.55 mm; alveolar buccal crest width, +3.57 mm; alveolar palatal crest width, +3.32 mm; inter-molar crown width, +5.43 mm; inter-molar root apex width, +4.75 mm; and dental tipping, 2.22°) compared to pre-expansion. Conclusions: After RME, skeletal expansion of the nasomaxillary complex was greater in most caudal structures. Maxillary basal bone showed 10% post-retention relapse. During retention period, uprighting of maxillary molars occurred.