Kwan-Woo Choi

The Relationship between Rehabilitation and Changes in Depression in Stroke Patients.

[Purpose] This study investigated the primary factors behind changes in depressive symptoms among stroke patients after 8 weeks of rehabilitation (physical, occupational, and cognitive therapy). [Methods] This study was conducted using a literature review, and electronic medical records from January, 2008 to December, 2009. Data were collected for 120 subjects with chronic stroke. [Results] Cardiac disorder, left-brain lesion, early-stage depression, activities of daily living, and cognitive function were significant predictors of the changes in depression in chronic stroke patients. [Conclusion] Post-stroke depression can be controlled by rehabilitation. Also, clinicians should comprehend and share the psychological and physical affliction, develop back-up programs, and make them comprehensively available to support the psychological and physical health of subjects with chronic stroke.

Neutron dosimetry depending on the number of portals for prostate cancer IMRT(Intensity-Modulated Radiation Therapy)

Abstract The aim of this study was provide basic information and establish the criteria in radiation therapy planningby measuring the absorbed neutron dose of normal tissues and lesions according to the number of portals. From September 2013 to January 2014, 20 patients who were diagnosed with prostate cancer and were previously treated with radiation therapy were replanned retrospectively to measure the absorbed neutron dose distribution according to the number of portals. The absorbed neutron dose was measured in each of the 5, 7 and 9 portals using a 15 MV energy, which meant a therapeutic dose of 220 cGy. The optical stimulation luminescence dosimeter was separated by 20cm and 60cm away from the center of the field of view. As a result, the average radiation dose in the abdomenappeared to have a positive relationship with the number of portals, which was statistically significant (p<.05). The average radiation dose was 4.34±1.08. The average radiation dose in the thyroid was 2.71±.37. Although it showeda positive relationship with the number of portals, it did not have statistical significance. The number of portals andthe neutron dose depending on the position showed a significant positive relationship, particularly in the abdomen. As a result of linear regression analysis, as the number of the portal increased in steps, the average volume of the neutrons increased significantly (0.416 times). In conclusion, efficient selection of the number of portals is needed considering the difference in the absorbed neutron dose in the normal tissues depending on the number of the portals.

A research on improving signal to noise ratio for magnetic resonance imaging through increasing filling factor inside surface coil

Abstract MRI signals are significantly reduced by the magnetic field inhomogenity result from human body itself being consisted of various materials like air, fat, muscle, bone and blood vessels. In this study we used silicon which is tissue equivalent to compensate wound body shapes. Objects were eight adults who do not have any special symptoms. Feet were scanned because of their complicated structures and consequently signal reduction occurs a lot. Thirty images were acquired from the middle of arcus pedis longitudinalis including five distal phalanges parallel to the line connecting metatarsal bone and phalanges. SNR data from bones and soft tissues were compared before and after sticking silion between toes and paired t test was performed. It was came out that SNR data from bone and soft tissue were both significantly higher after applying silicon on both T1 and T2 weighted images and it was statistically meaningful having positive corelation. As a result, this study dramatically increases SNR without affecting object by increasing the object volume inside the surface coil.

Analysis of radiation exposure in radiation worker in medical facility and student in clinical practice

This study was conducted to determine the appropriateness of systemic radiation exposure control for students in clinical practice by comparing radiation exposure in radiography employees at different stations of a hospital with that of students conducting clinical practice using identical stations. Overall, 121 students who conducted clinical practice in the department of radiology area of C university hospital from July 2014 to August 2014 and 62 workers working in the same medical facility (47 in the department of radiology, 8 in the department of radiation oncology, 7 in the department of nuclear medicine) were investigated. The radiation exposure experienced by students was measured for 8 weeks, which is the duration of the clinical practice. Additionally, radiation exposure of workers were classified into 4 groups, department of radiology, department of radiation oncology, and department of nuclear medicine was compared. Dose was measured with OSLD and differences among groups were identified by ANOVA followed by Duncans multiple range test. Among employees, those in the department of radiology, oncology and nuclear medicine were exposed depth doses of 0.127±0.331 mSv, 0.01±0.003 mSv, and 0.431±0.205 mSv, respectively, while students were exposed to 0.143±0.136 mSv. Additionally, workers in the department of radiology, oncology and nuclear medicine were exposed to surface doses of 0.131±0.331 mSv, 0.009±0.003 mSv, and 0.445±0.198 mSv, respectively, while students were exposed to 0.151±0.14 mSv, which was significantly different in both doses (p < 0.01). The average dose that students received is higher than that of the other groups (except for nuclear medicine workers), indicating that further improvements must be made in systemic controls for individual radiation exposure by including the students as subjects of management for protection from radiation.

The increase of blood vessels using a signal during the image acquisition phase T1 shortening effect

The purpose of this study is to obtain a useful diagnostic image by increasing the signal strength of the peripheral artery, was to use a T1 shortening effect of gadolinium contrast agents to improve the disadvantages of the phase image. From october to december 2014 thirty patients were underwent the MRI scanning, except for heart disease. Research method was evaluated comparing the image after gadolinium contrast MR image acquisition step before evaluating the difference between the signal intensity for T1 shortening effect. In frontal lobe 19.45%, temporal lobe 23.09%, occipital lobe 25.45%, parietal lobe 18.82%, cerebellum 20.93% after peripheral arterial signal strength results of gadolinium contrast agent injection was increased significantly after injection of gadolinium both statistically significant. After injecting a contrast agent gadolinium in SWI by increasing the signal strength of the T1 shortening effect can be obtained when using the phase image to give a useful image in diagnosis and treatment.

A study on image distortion improvement using silicon device in thyroid diffusion MRI images

This study was conducted to minimize the imaging distortion by reducing the differences in susceptibility between the tissue and air surrounding it while performing a thyroid diffusion imaging procedure. The study group was composed of 23 healthy adults. Thyroids with many distortions near the air, larynx, and trachea were chosen to test and evaluate the diffusion imaging difference between before and after an application of silicon. As a result, there was reduced distortion with silicon application, and the differences decreased from 30% to 10%. According to One-way ANOVA and Duncans post-hoc test, there were no significant differences between imaging with a silicon application and T2 imaging of the surface area, which was the standard image. In conclusion, this study presented a radical improvement in reducing the distortions in imaging by compensating for an uneven tissue surface near air without affecting the magnetic resonance contrast and complicating the imaging processes.

The usefulness of the contrast agent high in gadolinium for the contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance hip arthrography

The purpose of this study is to maximize diagnositc usefulness with increasing signal to noise ratio(SNR) and contrast to noise ratio(CNR) by using a 1mmol/mL gadolinium contrast agent. From January 2012 to June 2013 fourty-seven patients were underwent the MRI scanning to investigate the contrast difference in gadolinium content. Twenty of the patients were injencted the commercial contrast agent containing 0.5mmol/mL gadolinium and the rest of them were injected the new contrast agent containing 1mmol/mL gadolinium called gadobutrol. We measured and evaluated each SNR and CNR of the hip joint space, iliopsoas muscle and femoral head. As a result, using the 1mmol/mL gadolinium contrast agent had the higher SNR results than using the 0.5mmol/mL agent(27% in the hip joint, 30.01% in the femoral head). Also CNR using the 1mmol/mL gadolinium agent was proved to be higher than that of using 0.5mmol/mL agent(28.31% in the ilopsoas muscle and 26.74% in the femoral head). Therefore, the contrast agent containing more gadolinium like 1mmol/mL used in this study is more effective to shorten T1 relaxation time, so it increases the signal intensity and CNR and furthermore maximizes diagnostic value. This study reports the usefulness of the 1mmol/mL contrast agent in the contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance hip arthrography for the first. Therefore, it can be considered to have an meaningful academic value as showing the method for increasing the diagnostic usefulness by using the 1mmol/mL contrast agent.

Evaluation of quantitative on T-spine exhalation technique and T-spine breathing technique of natural breathing

Abstract Measurements of CNR(Contrast to Noise Ratio) and SNR(Signal to Noise Ratio) of T-spine breathing technique (TBT) using spontaneous breathing and T-spine exhalation technique (TET) with full exhalation were carried out, and with which the more appropriate method was suggested. Both TBT and TET were examined in a sample of fifty-three patients who visit to our hospital for spinal disease from June 2012 to November 2012. All images were evaluated with CNR measured from the differences between the mean pixels and contrast density as setting ROI of spinous process, pedicle, vertebral body, intervertebral foramen, and intervertebral disk using Image J. SNR was measured with the mean pixels and the standard deviation as setting ROI of vertebral body using Image J. In CNR comparison and SNR comparison of TET and TBT, TBT was indicated as excellent in ROI of pedicle, vertebral body, intervertebral foramen and intervertebral disk, and statistical analysis were significant(p<.01). As TBT indicated excellent images compared to the existing T-spine lateral radiography, T-spine lateral radiography would be reestablished and significant as applying to various medical institutions.

A study of contrast agent peak time using biomechanics factors experimental contrast medium infusion test using at contrast enhanced magnetic resonance angiography

Abstract In this study was explored minimize side effects due to the additional injection of contrast medium and maintaining a high resolution imaging applied to the inspection and analysis of the contrast medium that affect the peak time biomechanics factors. Included 48 patients using the test bolus method, after measuring a patients biomechanics factors of inspection before and during the test, correlation between contrast medium peak time and learn, matches the regression equation calculated and measured contrast medium peak time was assessed by the Bland Altman plot. Research result, inspections of SBP, HR contrast medium peak time and a significant negative correlation was, step 1, every increase, the contrast medium peak time significantly to -0.018 and -0.159 decreased, a fairly high concordance no difference between the two method. In conclusion, the regression equation using the existing methods, while maintaining excellent image quality that contrast medium is reduced to a patient, it can conclude that the alternative to the existing methods.

A study on the reduction on magnetic susceptible artifacts through the usage of silicon

This study used silicon that is similar to the density of the tissue of the human body to compensate for the uneven areas that are in contact with air in order to reduce susceptible artifacts. The subjects of the study were 16 normal people and the areas of the human body in which there are a lot of uneven areas with complicated structure and a lot of susceptible artifacts were formed since the surface area that comes into contact with the air is large were the areas that were chosen to be examined. A 3.0T superconducting magnetic resonance device was used as the test equipment and SPIR images that are sensitive to magnetic differences were obtained as sagittal planes on a line that extended the metatarsal and the phalanges, including the middle of the longitudinal arc and the 5 distal phalanxes. The method of analysis was to reduce the susceptibility between the tissue and the air to discover the reduction of susceptible artifacts by comparing the SNR and CNR before and after applying silicon. A statistical analysis was utilized for the sample matching T examination. The results of the study revealed that the susceptible artifacts were reduced in the images of the uneven areas that were compensated and applied with silicon. The SNR increased in significant amount in correlation from before application to after application and the CNR decreased in significant amount in correlation from before application to . In conclusion, this study did not affect the voxel but it was an innovative method of improvement that compensated for the fundamental issue of the difference in susceptibility between the air and the body. The application is simple and the study has great significance in that it proposed a method to reduce susceptible artifacts in a low cost and highly efficient manner.