• The Journal of Korean Orthopaedic Ultrasound Society
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• v.6 no.2
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• pp.81-93
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• 2013

This review was described to investigate the feasibility of using ultrasound as an image tool for interventions of lumbar spine. This article will first provide an overview of lumbosacral spine surface anatomy and sonoanatomy. A detailed understanding of anatomy is critical for interpretation of ultrasound and procedural performance at spine. Fluoroscopy is most commonly used in interventional spine procedures, but radiation exposure is the major concern when obtaining fluoroscopic images. Ultrasound is radiation-free, is easy to use, and can provide real-time images with high accuracy. Also this device can be used in virtually any clinical setting. Ultrasound guidance offers a reliable alternative to fluoroscopy or computed tomography for lumbar interventions and can be safely performed without radiation exposure.

• The Journal of Korean Orthopaedic Ultrasound Society
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• v.6 no.2
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• pp.94-100
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• 2013

Musculoskeletal ultrasound has unique advantages that may be free from exposure to radiation, low price compared to MRI, outpatient procedure that can be easily accessible, and better accuracy combined with physical examination. Dynamic ultrasound performed with stress tests are known to be useful for detecting the hidden lesions in the tendons, ligaments, nerves. Ultrasound in the elbow can be used easily in the outpatient for evaluation of the joint surface and synovial space; diagnosis for tendon diseases such as lateral epicondylitis, medial epicondylitis and morbidity of peripheral nerves; guide for anterior-posterior bursal and intra-articular injections.

• Physical Therapy Korea
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• v.14 no.2
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• pp.76-84
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• 2007

This study was designed to determine the efficacy of ultrasound and laser therapy for sub-acute lower back pain. Twenty-seven patients with sub-acute low back pain were recruited, who were randomly assigned to three groups: Ultrasound group (actual ultrasound, 1.1 MHz, $1.0W/cm^2$, duty cycle 100%, 10 min/session, n=9), laser group (actual laser, 904 nm, 155 ns, 13.5 W, 12 mW, 90 sec/point, n=9), and control group (placebo ultrasound or placebo laser, n=9). All of treatments including placebo procedures were applied to patients over a period of 2 weeks, five times a week. Visual Analogue Scale (VAS), Modified Schober's Test (MST), and Modified Oswestry Disability Questionnaire (MODQ) were used by the clinical and functional evaluations before and after intervention. At post-hoc, significant differences were observed in all groups with respect to VAS, MST (p<.05), except MODQ. VAS and MST score were more significantly improved in the ultrasound group than the laser and control group (p<.0167). However, no significant difference was present between the laser group and the control group. Therefore, this study revealed that ultrasound therapy was effective in pain relief and improvement of lumbar mobility in patients with sub-acute lower back pain. However, laser therapy did not show the effects for sub-acute lower back pain.

• Physical Therapy Korea
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• v.13 no.1
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• pp.47-53
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• 2006

Since ultrasound has different reflections depending on components of organization, analysis of ultrasound images of skeletal muscle can offer both quantitative and qualitative reports as concerns skeletal muscle structure. This study is focused on the ultrasound method for evaluating the structural characteristics of skeletal muscle and also conducted to examine its practicality. After obtaining images of the elbow flexors from an ultrasound image device with 88 normal subjects whose ages were between twenty and seventy years old (44 men and 44 women), muscular density and white area index (WAI) which indicated structural characteristics of skeletal muscle were analyzed with gray scale analysis. The study examined correlations between subject's age and items which obtained from measuring ultrasound images and the differences in relations to sex and age. Muscular density and WAI had a high correlation with age and were significantly increased in men and women with greater age. The quantitative evaluation method of skeletal muscle structure which analyzed the ultrasound images has high practicality because it is a non-invasive method which complements physical therapy diagnosis and research methods and promotes functionality evaluation.

• Journal of Korean Physical Therapy Science
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• v.9 no.4
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• pp.185-192
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• 2002

Ultrasound has been found useful as a therapeutic modality for the reduction of muscular and tendinous spasm. It has also been utilized for pain and other pathologic conditions through the ability of soundwaves to introduce molecules of chemical substances through the skin by a process. Choice of the transmission medium is very important for effective ultrasound treatment in clinical field. The purpose of this study was to analyze the effects of various ultrasound conduction media in regard to ultrasound conductivity and degree of absorption, evaporation and of skin irritation. The media used in this study were Antiphlamine, Sacch lotion, Stereogel, Trastgel, Antiphlamine S lotion, and Mentholatum lotion that have been used in clinical medicine. The study revealed that Antiphlamine was not compatible with a good ultrasound transmitter. Other media excluding Antiphlamine were compatible with a good ultrasound conductor, but they had some drawback with their nature of higher absorption, evaporation and skin irritation. The medium that was prepared by mixing of Antiphlamine with Gel in 1 to 10 ratio was a good ultrasound transmitter and extents of absorption and evaporation and of skin irritation of it were less than the other media.

• The Journal of Korean Academy of Orthopedic Manual Physical Therapy
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• v.29 no.3
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• pp.55-61
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• 2023

Background: The purpose of this study was to determine whether applying ultrasound after stretching the erector spinae muscle is an effective method for normal adults as a way to restore reduced back flexibility that causes back pain. Methods: The study was conducted on 60 healthy volunteers divided randomly into four groups (control group, stretching group, ultrasound group, ultrasound after stretching group). The flexibility-promoting effects were determined by assessing, each group, at the time of treatment, pre and post by modified fingertip to-floor (MFTF) and active straight leg raising (ASLR). The data were analyzed using the two-way ANOVA repeated measure with significant level α=.05. Results: Each group showed statistically significant changes in MFTF distance and ASLR degree. In the post-hoc test about this result, the length of MFTF and degree of ASLR in ultrasound after stretching group increased significantly compared to the others. Conclusion: The results suggest that using ultrasound after stretching is far more effective in increasing the flexibility of the erector spinae than using stretching or ultrasound intervention.

• Korean Journal of Radiology
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• v.23 no.3
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• pp.308-321
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• 2022

Transabdominal ultrasound (TAUS) is useful in all aspects of lesion screening, monitoring activity, or treating/diagnosing any related complications of inflammatory bowel disease. Its ability to screen or diagnose complications is almost the same as that of other methods, such as CT or MRI. Moreover, its noninvasiveness makes it a first-line examination method. A TAUS image depicting ulcerative colitis will show large intestinal wall thickening that is continuous from the rectum, which is mainly due to mucosal layer thickening, while for Crohn's disease, a TAUS image is characterized by a diversity in the areas affected, distribution, and layer structure. Indicators of activity monitoring include wall thickness, wall structure, and vascular tests that use Doppler ultrasound or contrast agents. While all of these have been reported to be useful, at this time, no single parameter has been established as superior to others; therefore, a comprehensive evaluation of these parameters is justified. In addition, evaluating the elasticity of lesions using elastography is particularly useful for distinguishing between fibrous and inflammatory stenoses. However, the lack of objectivity is the biggest drawback of using ultrasound. Standardizing and popularizing the ultrasound process will be necessary, including scanning methods, equipment settings, and image analysis.

• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.75-82
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• 2006

Purpose: This study conducted the following experiment to examine transdermal permeation effects or 500 KHz ultrasound with lidocaine HCl. Methods; First, to experiment skin permeation enhancement effects of 500 KHz ultrasound frequency, it produced apparatus and transducer of 500 KHz ultrasound and Franz diffusion cell for skim permenation experiment suitable to purposes of the experiment. Transdermal permeation experiment applied Lidocaine HCL gel to skin of hairless mouse depending on ultrasound frequency and duty cycle and analyzed permeation ratio with HPLC. Results: As a result of fixing lidocaine HCl gel at the same intensity with pulsed mode and continuous mode and comparing transdermal permeation ratio by frequency, transdermal permeation ratio was increased at 500 KHz ultrasound and remarkably increased at continuous ultrasound. It was found that 1 MHz and 500 KHz ultrasound in transdermal permeation experiment enhanced transdermal permeation of lidocaine HCl. In particular, transdermal permeation of 500 KHz using lidocaine HCl gel was highest. Conclusion: However, researches considering various frequencies, intensities and application hours in low frequency areas including 500 KHz ultrasound are needed to increase deep permeation or drugs.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.15 no.8
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• pp.3555-3559
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• 2014

Background: The triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is an aggressive cancer characterized by the absence of estrogen receptor (ER), progesterone receptor (PR) and human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2). Preoperative mammography and ultrasound features of TNBC may potentially suggest characteristics of the disease and assist in treatment decisions. Materials and Methods: The study covered 153 patients with TNBC from May 2011 to May 2012 who were confirmed by postoperative pathology results in our hospital. We compared the radiological findings among the patients and sought to determine the significant iconographic features. The biomarkers p53 and Ki-67 are regarded as significant factors in TNBC. They were therefore used to divide the TNBC into four groups for assessment of relationships with TNBC imaging features. Results: On mammography, most TNBCs exhibit obscure (44.3%) masses. On ultrasound, the majority of masses (95.4%) were predominantly indistinct (50.7%), irregular (76.0%) or featuring posterior echo enhancement/shadowing. Color Doppler flow imaging (CDFI) emphasized hypervascular (32.9%) masses. Differences in CDFI by ultrasound among the four groups were statistically significant (p=0.009). There were obvious differences in the percentages of spiculated margin (p=0.049) and intensive posterior echo (p=0.006) with spotty flow imaging by ultrasound between the Ki-67 (+) p53 (+) and other groups. Conclusions: A combination of mammography and ultrasound revealed the imaging characteristics of TNBC included an obscure mass with less attenuated posterior echoes and some vascularity. A worse prognosis was associated with spiculated margin and intensive posterior echoes with spotty flow imaging.

• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
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• v.16 no.4
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• pp.179-201
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• 2004

The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of application methods in ultrasound on skin temperature and muscle blood flow. Thirty healthy volunteers without known vascular problems participated and randomly divided into three groups such as continuous wave group (CWG) which received a ultrasound treatment of continuous-wave, intermittent wave group (IWG) which received a ultrasound treatment of intermittent-wave at a dosage of $1.5\;W/cm^2$ for a duration of 5 minutes, and placebo group (PG) which received a ultrasound treatment of no-wave and no-dosage ultrasound to the anterior forearm. Blood flow and skin temperature was measured using MP 150 before and after ultrasound administration. The results were as follows : 1. Administration of ultrasound in all groups had increased effect on skeletal muscle blood flow immediately after treatment and for up to 10 minutes posttreatment. 2. CWG and IWG showed increased skin temperature immediately after a ultrasound administration and maintained to 10 minutes posttreatment. PG showed increased skin temperature immediately after a ultrasound administration but returned to initial state to 10 minutes posttreatment. 3. The great change on skeletal muscle blood flow among three groups showed in CWG ($6.27{\pm}1.72$) and then displayed in PG ($5.12{\pm}1.66$) and IWG ($4.61{\pm}2.19$) in order. 4. The vast change on skin temperature among three groups showed in CWG and then IWG and PG in order.