• Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging
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• v.43 no.5
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• pp.421-428
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• 2009

Purpose: We have evaluated characteristics of adrenal masses incidentally observed in nonenhanced F-18 FDG PET/CT of the oncologic patients and the diagnostic ability of F-18 FDG PET/CT to differentiate malignant from benign adrenal masses. Materials and Methods: Between Mar 2005 and Aug 2008, 75 oncologic patients (46 men, 29 women; mean age, $60.8{\pm}10.2$ years; range, 35-87 years) with 89 adrenal masses incidentally found in PET/CT were enrolled in this study. For quantitative analysis, size (cm), Hounsfield unit (HU), maximum standardized uptake value (SUVmax), SUVratio of all 89 adrenal masses were measured. SUVmax of the adrenal mass divided by SUVliver, which is SUVmax of the segment 8, was defined as SUVratio. The final diagnosis of adrenal masses was based on pathologic confirmation, radiologic evaluation (HU<0 : benign), and clinical decision. Results: Size, HU, SUVmax, and SUVratio were all significantly different between benign and malignant adrenal masses.(P < 0.05) And, SUVratio was the most accurate parameter. A cut-off value of 1.0 for SUVratio provided 90.9% sensitivity and 75.6% specificity. In small adrenal masses (1.5 cm or less), only SUVratio had statistically significant difference between benign and malignant adrenal masses. Similarly a cut-off value of 1.0 for SUVratio provided 80.0% sensitivity and 86.4% specificity. Conclusion: F-18 FDG PET/CT can offer more accurate information with quantitative analysis in differentiating malignant from benign adrenal masses incidentally observed in oncologic patients, compared to nonenhanced CT.

• Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging
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• v.43 no.5
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• pp.468-477
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• 2009

Purpose: Hydrodynamic-based procedure is a simple and effective gene delivery method to lead a high gene expression in liver tissue. Non-invasive imaging reporter gene system has been used widely with herpes simplex virus type 1 thymidine kinase (HSV1-tk) and its various substrates. In the present study, we investigated to image the expression of HSV1-tk gene with 5-(2-iodovinyD-2'-deoxyuridine (IVDU) in mouse liver by the hydrodynamicbased procedure. Materials and Methods: HSV1-tk or enhanced green fluorescence protein (EGFP) encoded plasmid DNA was transferred into the mouse liver by hydrodynaminc injection. At 24 h post-injection, RT-PCR, biodistribution, fluorescence imaging, nuclear imaging and digital wholebody autoradiography (DWBA) were performed to confirm transferred gene expression. Results: In RT-PCR assay using mRNA from the mouse liver, specific bands of HSV1-tk and EGFP gene were observed in HSV1-tk and EGFP expressing plasmid injected mouse, respectively. Higher uptake of radiolabeled IVDU was exhibited in liver of HSV1-tk gene transferred mouse by biodistribution study. In fluorescence imaging, the liver showed specific fluorescence signal in EGFP gene transferred mouse. Gamma-camera image and DWBA results showed that radiolabeled IVDU was accumulated in the liver of HSV1-tk gene transferred mouse. Conclusion: In this study, hydrodynamic-based procedure was effective in liver-specific gene delivery and it could be quantified with molecular imaging methods. Therefore, co-expression of HSV1-tk reporter gene and target gene by hydrodynamic-based procedure is expected to be a useful method for the evaluation of the target gene expression level with radiolabeled IVDU.

• The Korean Journal of Nuclear Medicine Technology
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.89-93
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• 2014

Purpose: We investigated the quantitative evaluation of PET/CT images for evaluation after treatment in the treatment of liver metastasis of cancer with $^{90}YSIR$-Sphere. Materials and Methods: Confirmed the correlation between the measured counts was expressed by setting a region of interest from the image and a measure of the dose calibrator to see a correlation diagram of an image in a PET of $^{90}Y$. A portion uptake coefficients between PET images were acquired for 20 minutes LIST mode in 15 patients treated for liver metastasis of cancer using $^{90}Y$ SIR-Spheres high, intermediate portion, a lower portion, three measuring the coefficient of the region of interest is divided into parts, we studied the conditions for proper image acquisition. Results: Coefficient of sites that set the region of interest of the PET image and the measured counts of $^{90}Yappears$ that there is a correlation diagram statistically, ($R^2=0.956$), correlation diagram from the PET image of $^{90}Yis$, PET coefficient the coefficients of all regions of interest were increased in proportion to the image acquisition time, partial ROI coefficients of the PET image is higher about 10 minutes on average, about 14 minutes on average, the central portion is lower part 19 minute average in, confirmed the equilibrium of the standard deviation. Conclusion: Using the isotope $^{90}Y$, it is suitable to obtain a PET image, to obtain the time of proper image, the evaluation of PET/CT images, using the $^{90}Y$ SIR-Spheres and that in the treatment of liver metastases of cancer, it is useful for assessing treatment.

• The Korean Journal of Nuclear Medicine Technology
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.140-144
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• 2014

Purpose: The recent surge in breast carcinoma patients is reported in a variety of statistics. Breast cancer occurs mainly from duct and lobulus: 85% is from the breast ducts. The present study is aimed to distinguish the difference in $SUV_{max}$ changing over time by identifying the type of cancers attacking from the duct. Materials and Methods: The subjects of the study are 291 female breast cancer patients who have visited the present PET/CT center from July 1, 2012 to July 23, 2013. Based on the pathological results, 248 IDC (invasive ductal carcinoma) patients and 43 DCIS (ductal carcinoma in situ) patients were selected. In the same manner as the general PET/CT scan (3.7 MBq/Kg), F-FDG was injected, followed by the primary test (Routine tests) after 1 hr, and the secondary test (Delay test) after another hr. $SUV_{max}$ was measured after setting ROI in the lesion based on the data from the two tests. Results: As the comparative result of the change in the lesion $SUV_{max}$ between the two groups, IDC group's $SUV_{max}$ showed M=7.11 and SD=5.405 in the primary test and increased M=7.11 and SD=5.405 in the secondary test (P<0.05); DCIS group's $SUV_{max}$ showed M=2.739, SD=1.229 in the primary test and increased M=2.614, SD=1.470 in the secondary test (P<0.05). Conclusion: As the comparative result of $SUV_{max}$ over time between the groups, IDC showed increased $SUV_{max}$ in the secondary test (Delay test) compared to the primary test (Routine test) (P=0.000); DCIS showed decreased $SUV_{max}$ in the secondary test (Delay test) compared to the primary test (Routine test) (P=0.039). It was confirmed through this study that the change in $SUV_{max}$ has occurred over time by the type of breast cancer (IDC or DCIS) occurring from the breast ducts. However, the onset of breast cancers (ILC, LCIS) from the lobulus was not discussed due to the lack of samples. Future research on the breast cancers from the lobulus is suggested.

• The Korean Journal of Nuclear Medicine Technology
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.62-68
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• 2014

Purpose: After I-131 therapy, SPECT/CT is useful in identifying location of thyroid remnants and metastasis of thyroid cancers. An excessive uptake of thyroid leads to a ringing artifact in the SPECT images. The aim of this study is to investigate and suggest a proper post filters to remove ringing artifact and produce better image quality. Materials and Methods: A low-cost, customized thyroid-mimicking phantom, consisting of an acrylic bottle and a hollow sphere was used for SPECT/CT Discovery (GE Healthcare, USA). It was filled with I-131 solution. The ratio of hollow sphere to background were varied as 50:1, 200:1, 1000:1 and 4000:1. Acquired images were reconstructed by OSEM (2 iterations, 10 subsets) with and without Evolution (resolution recovery correction, GE). Three different post-filters were applied; Butterworth (cut off: 0.38 to 0.58 with intervals of 0.05), Hanning (cut off: 0.8 to 1 with intervals of 0.05) and Gaussian (FWHM: 3 to 5 with intervals of 0.5) filters. Contrast, background variability, air area variability, and full width half maximum (FWHM) were compared. Results: Higher contrasts were obtained from the SPECT images with Evolution than without Evolution. In the case of images without Evolution, image distortion such as star artifact was generated. For all sphere-to-background ratio, the Butterworth filter showed better constrasts and FWHMs than other two filters, but the ringing artifact was still generated in all studies except 50:1 and it was decreased as cutoff value was increased. The ringing artifact didn't appear with Hanning and Gaussian filters at all studies, however constrats and FWHMs with Gaussian was worse than Hanning filter. For the images having ringing artifacts, the background variability and air area variability were increased. Conclusion: In this study, we suggested that it is desirable to use Hanning filter when the ringing artifact is generated and to use Butterworth filter when ringing artifact is not generated in I-131 SPECT.

• The Korean Journal of Nuclear Medicine Technology
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• v.12 no.3
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• pp.214-221
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• 2008

Purpose: We make a qualitative analysis of whether Fusion SPECT/CT can find lesion's anatomical sites better than existing SPECT or not, and we want to show the usefulness of SPECT/CT through finding out effects of CT attenuation correction on SPECT images. Materials and Method: 1. The evaluation of fusion images: This study comprised patients who was tested $^{131}I$-MIBG, Bone, $^{111}In$-Octreotide, Meckel's diverticulum, Parathyroid MIBI with Precedence 16 or Symbia T2 from 2008 Jan to Aug. We compared SPECT/CT image with non fusion image and make a qualitative analysis. 2. The evaluation of attenuation correction: We classified 38 patients who was tested 201Tl myocardial exam with Symbia T2 into 5 sections by using Cedars Sinai' QPS program - Ant, Inf, Lat, Septum, Apex. And we showed each section's perfusion states by percentage. We compared the each section's perfusion-states differences between CT AC and Non AC by average${\pm}$standard deviation. Results: 1. The evaluation of fusion images : In high energy $^{131}I$ cases, it was hard to grasp exact anatomical lesions due to difference between regions and surrounding lesions' uptake level. After combining with CT, we could grabs anatomical lesion more exactly. And in meckel's diverticulum case or to find lesions around bowels or organs with $^{111}In$ cases, it demonstrates its superiority. Bone SPECT/CT images help to distinguish between disk spaces certainly and give correct results. 2. The evaluation of attenuation correction: There is no significant difference statistically in Ant and Lat (p>0.05), but there is a meaningful difference in Inferior, Apex and Septum (p<0.05). AC perfusion at inferior wall in the 5 sections of myocardium: The perfusion difference between Non AC perfusion image ($68.58{\pm}7.55$) and CT corrected perfusion image ($76.84{\pm}6.52$) was the largest by $8.26{\pm}4.95$ (p<0.01, t=10.29). Conclusion: Nuclear medicine physicians can identify not only molecular image which shows functional activity of lesions but also anatomical location information of lesions with more accuracy using the combination of SPECT and CT systems. Of course this combination helps nuclear medicine physician find out the abnormal parts. Moreover combined data sets help separate between normal group and abnormal group in complicated body part. So clinicians can carry out diagnosis and treatment planning at the same time with a single test image. In addition, when we examine a myocardium in thorax where attenuation can occur easily, we can trust perfusion more in a certain region in SPECT test because CT provides the capability for accurate attenuation correction. In these reasons, we think we can prove the justice after treatment fusion image.

• The Korean Journal of Nuclear Medicine Technology
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• v.12 no.3
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• pp.229-234
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• 2008

Hepatobiliary scintigraphy is very sensitivity of hepatic cell and gallbladder, biliary track atresia and biliary leakage. however, Hepatobiliary scan of biliary leakage diagnosis was separated determine biliary leakage and bowl drainage bile-juice. The object of this study will determine biliary leakage and bowl drainage bile-juice to hepatobiliary scintigraphy both decubitus position in bile leakage patients. Material & Methode: 31 patients (meal 14, Femeal 17), $51.1{\pm}14.4$ years. dynamic scan acquisition 60 farme for 60 minute on supine position. and delay scan was 2 hrs, 4 hrs, 24 hrs for 5 minute on supine, both decubitus position. Both decubitus position scan was kept for 5 minutes. Efficient of Hepatobiliary Scintigraphy both decubitus position in bile leakage patients was compared leakage size, density, image of supine position and both decubitus position. Results: 23 patients for 31 bile leakage patients was checked up function image or delay image, and 8 patients was checked up bile leakage on both decubitus. anatomical leakage location was supine position very well, but both decubitus position was separated bile leakage and moving bile-juice in bowl. also, uptake (counts/pixel) average of roi and bkg was supine 5.02, left decubitus 2.08, right decubitus 2.68. No. pixels of supine ROI counted 1.91 times than left decubitus, 1.05 times than right decubitus. Conclusion: 31 patient both decubitus position, but decubitus position was separated bile juice movement in bowl leakage location. also, It was compared ROI/BKG ratio and ROI No. pixels of supine, both decubitus in 38.5% patients. And No. pixels of supine position was large 19%, 5% than left decubitus, right decubitus, And density was in low 60%, 50% than left decubitus, right decubitus. It was mean bile leakage of ROI. so, If Hepatobiliary Scintigraphy was additional both decubitus position scan in bile leakage patients, this study will be more valuable in diagnosis of bile leakage.

• Korean Journal of Organic Agriculture
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• v.9 no.2
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• pp.101-115
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• 2001

Nitrogen applied as fertilizer for crop production is partly absorbed by plant , and the remaining nitrogen in soil might be leached out through complicated processes to the subsoil layer Especially, NO$_3$-N in leachate causes environmental pollution. The purpose of this study was focused on understanding of uptake of nutrients by plants, the behaviors of nutrients in soil and the possibility of leaching loss when nitrogen fertilizer and completely decomposed compost were applied. Lysimeters(Volume 0.15㎥, Diameter 62cm, Height 62.8cm) were installed for collecting leachate in the Jeju volcanic ash soils. Lysimeter study consisted of thirteen treatments : fallow, fallow with weeding, cropping without fertilizer and compost, three N fertilizer soil surface applications(16, 32, 64kg/10a), three N fertilizer and compost soil surface applications(16+800, 32+1600, 64+32kg/10a), two water dissolved N fertilizer applications(16, 32kg/10a), and low and high plant densities. N fertilizer was applied as urea. The growth of com(preceding crop) and potatoes(succeeding crop) and leaching loss were determined during the experimental period. The results obtained were summarized as follows ; With Increased N, pH of leachate tended to decrease and NO$_3$-N concentration of leachate increased. NO$_3$-N leaching loss was remarkably greater in soil from the bare plot without fertilization and the weed control than from plots with medium N rate and was least in the cropping plot without fertilization. NO$_3$-N concentration in leachates from the water dissolved N fertilizer application plots was 64% of that from the soil surface application plots. The concentration of Ca and K ions and the leaching loss of these ions were least from the cropping plot without fertilization and were greatest from bare plots(T1 and T2) without fertilization. The proportion of leaching and residual N in soil increased as N rate increased indicting that higher N rates increase the possibility of N leaching to subsoil layer The proportion of N leaching losses was lower at the low N rate and the high plant density. In future, fertilization prescription which can maximize fertilizer use efficiency and minimize the pollution of ground water will be needed for conserving the environments.

• Korean Journal of Organic Agriculture
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• v.17 no.1
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• pp.95-109
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• 2009

This study was carried out to determine the effect of application seasons and rates with animal liquid slurry on the rice yield and quality. The treatments were application seasons (autumn, spring) and application rates of animal liquid slurry 80, 100, 120, 140% N levels of based on 11kg N/10a, chemical fertilizer as control plot. Field experiment was conducted at Cheorwon, Gangwon-Do in 2007. The results was as follows; The plant height and tiller's number at the application of spring season were higher than that at the autumn application. In the plot of 140% level at the spring application, the plant height and tillers were higher, and the color of leaf was darker than that of the chemical fertilizer. The plot of 140% level in spring application was increased the lodging damage of rice. Rice yield was reduced at 7%, 13% in the plot of 120%, 140 N/10a slurry level in the spring application compared to the chemical fertilizer, respectively. But rice yield at the autumn application was not significantly difference between chemical fertilizer and plots of liquid manure. The rice quality of the 120 and 140% slurry in spring application was significantly lower than that of chemical fertilizer. Total nitrogen contents and nitrogen uptake in rice plant were higher at the plot of 120, 140%N in the spring than that of chemical fertilizer. To reduce the lodging damage and increase the yield and quality of rice was needed suitable application of liquid manure In spring season.

• Korean Journal of Organic Agriculture
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• v.27 no.2
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• pp.173-191
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• 2019

The study was initiated to compare seasonal nutrient variations and rice (Oryza sativa L.) productivity in each of leading rice farm with conventionally managed and recommended fertilized of the large-scale environment-friendly agricultural districts in Jangheung, Suncheon, and Okcheon provinces in 2017. Suncheon rice experimental farm plots included a recommended fertilization plot that had been additionally sown hairy vetch in the fall of previous year, while Okcheon rice farm included a recommended fertilization plot applying half amount of the compost in the conventional plot. A Jangheung rice farm only practiced crop-livestock farming system. Soil pH and EC in all experimental plots were suitable levels for rice growth to cultivate. Seasonal soil pH from March to September was the highest for Suncheon rice farm, and seasonal soil EC was the highest for Jangheung rice farm. Seasonal soil T-N increased in all the plots from March to June in particular for Suncheon rice farm, and Jangheung rice farm had the lowest seasonal soil P. Seasonal soil K decreased in all the plots, with the lowest levels observed for Okcheon farm. Seasonal soil NH₄⁺ mostly increased by up to 90 mg/kg in Jangheung rice farm from March to June. Seasonal plant T-N, P and K concentrations were the highest for Jangheung rice farm. Seasonal plant T-N and P concentrations decreased from June to September, but K leveles were fluctuated between 2.0% and 2.5%. Seasonal SPAD value was the lowest in Suncheon conventional plot. Jangheung rice farm plot produced 6,303 kg of rice per ha, which was approximately two times higher than those of Okcheon recommended plot. The seasonal T-N, P and K balance was the highest in Okcheon conventional plot, with the lowest values observed for Suncheon conventional plot. As a result, Suncheon recommended plot showed relatively low levels of seasonal macro-nutrient balance and the highest rice production, which could be the most environmentally friendly farm practiced conducted in this study.