Earticle

The purpose of this study would evaluate if having clinical effects on diffusion image with quantitative analysis through ADC values of brain’s normal tissue and lesions before and after contrast injections using a 3.0T. From November in 2007 until December in 2008, a total of 32 patient was performed on 3.0T(Signa Excite, GE Medical System, USA) with the normal or lesions in the patient who requests diffusion weighted image with 8channel head coil. The pulse sequence was used with spin echo EPI(TR: 10000msec, TE: 72.2 msec, Matrix: 128*128, FOV: 240 mm, NEX: 1, diffusion direction: 3, b-value: 1000). Measurement results of ADC values on lesions, CSF, white matter, gray matter, lesions after contrast injection were measured less 75% than before contrast injection, infarction: 100%, CSF: 78%(high), white matter: 71.4%(low), gray matter: 50%(high, low). The results of paired t-test on the deference of ADC values which statically is significant in three(lesions, CSF, white matter)regions except for white matter(p<0.05). Quantitative analysis of lesions, CSF, white matter, gray matter have difference on all regions. ADC values were low in lesions and white matter, normal CSF after contrast injection commonly is high than before contrast injection, ADC values which white matter were high and low (50:50) after contrast injection. 3.0T diffusion weighted image clinically supposed that performing DWI examination after contrast injection was not desirable because of having effects on brain tissue.

Ag2O를 첨가한 압축 벤토나이트에 대하여 관통 확산법으로 요오드 이온의 이동 특성을 관찰하였다. Ag2O를 첨가하지 않은 압축 벤토나이트와 마찬가지로 Ag2O를 첨가한 압축 벤토나이트에서도 요오드 이온은 확산에 의하여 이동하는데, Ag2O를 첨가한 압축 벤토나이트는 Ag2O를 첨가하지 않은 압축 벤토나이트에 비하여 요오드 이온의 초기 누출 시간이 지연되는 것으로 나타났다. Ag2O를 첨가한 압축 벤토나이트에서 요오드 이온의 초기 누출 시간 지연은 확산 용액으로 순수 요오드 이온 수용액을 사용하였을 때 뿐만 아니라 0.1 M NaCl-요오드 이온 수용액을 사용하였을 때에도 관찰되었다. 또한 Ag2O를 첨가한 압축 벤토나이트의 겉보기 확산 계수는 Ag2O를 첨가하지 않은 압축 벤토나이트의 겉보기 확산 계수보다 낮은 값을 나타내었다. Ag2O를 첨가하지 않은 압축 벤토나이트의 유효 확산 계수는 기존 문헌에 보고된 값 과 거의 일치하는 결과를 얻었으며, Ag2O를 첨가한 압축 벤토나이트에서 요오드 이온의 유효 확산 계수는 Ag2O 첨가에 따라 대체적으로 감소하는 경향을 나타내었다.

In the compacted bentonite containing Ag2O, the transport of iodide ion was investigated by Through-diffusion method. It is confirmed that Iodide ion is transported by diffusion process in the compacted bentonite containing Ag2O as well as in the compacted bentonite without Ag2O. However, the lag-time of iodide ion in the compacted bentonite containing Ag2O is larger than that in the compacted bentonite without Ag2O. The increase of the lag-time was observed in pure iodide ion solution and also in 0.1M NaCl-iodide ion solution. The apparent diffusion coefficient of iodide ion in the compacted bentonite containing Ag2O has lower value than that in the compacted bentonite without Ag2O. The effect of Ag2O on the effective diffusion coefficient was not clearly investigated in the compacted bentonite containing Ag2O while the values of effective diffusion coefficient of iodide ion in the compacted bentonite without Ag2O obtained in this study were similar to those in the compacted bentonite reported in the literature.

In this study, we compared the standardized value of each signal intensity, the apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) that digitizes the diffusion of water molecules, and the signal to noise ratio (SNR) using b value 0 400, 1400 ($s/mm^2$). From March 2013 to December 2013, patients with suspicion of simple compound fracture and metastatic spine cancer were included in the MR readout. We used a 1.5 Tesla Achieva MRI system and a Syn-Spine Coil. Sequence is a DWI SE-EPI sagittal (diffusion weighted imaging spin echo-echo planar imaging sagittal) image with b-factor ($s/mm^2$) 0, 400, 1400 were used. Data analysis showed ROI (Region of Interest) in diseased area with high SI (signal intensity) in diffusion-weighted image b value 0 ($s/mm^2$) Using the MRIcro program, each SI was calculated with images of b-value 0, 400, and 1400 ($s/mm^2$), ADC map was obtained using Metlab Software with each image of b-value, The ADC is obtained by applying the ROI to the same position. The standardized values ($SI_{400}/SI_0$, $SI_{400}/SI_0$) of simple compression fractures were $0.47{\pm}0.04$ and $0.23{\pm}0.03$ and the standardized values ($SI_{400}/SI_0$, $SI_{400}/SI_0$) of the metastatic spine were $0.57{\pm}0.07$ and $0.32{\pm}0.08$ And the standardized values of the two diseases were statistically significant (p < 0.05). The ADC ($mm^2/s$) for b value 400 ($s/mm^2$) and 1400 ($s/mm^2$) of the simple compression fracture disease site were $1.70{\pm}0.16$ and $0.93{\pm}0.28$ and $1.24{\pm}0.21$ and $0.80{\pm}0.15$ for the metastatic spine. The ADC ($mm^2/s$) for b value 400($s/mm^2$) was statistically significant (p < 0.05) but the ADC ($mm^2/s$) for b value 1400 (p > 0.05). In conclusion, multi - b value recognition of signal changes in diffusion - weighted imaging is very important for the diagnosis of various spinal diseases.

Objective : The aim of this study is to assess the significance of an apparent diffusion coefficient[ADC] study for diagnosis of ventriculitis. Methods : Seven patients with ventriculitis were enrolled in this study. Diffusion-weighted[DW] magnetic resonance images[MRI] and ADC maps in the dependent intraventricular collection, periventricular white matter and non-dependent cerebrospinal fluid[CSF] were obtained. The images and ADC data from the different lesions were compared. Results : The DW MRI showed marked hyperintensity in the purulent pus lesion, and the corresponding ADC maps revealed prominent hypointensity and restricted ADC values compared with the non-dependent CSF and normal white matter. Conclusion : The decreased ADC value and increased signal intensity of the dependent intraventricular fluid on the DW MRI show restricted water diffusion in the purulent fluid, which is indicative of a pyogenic ventriculitis diagnosis.

Aims: Apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) values of nodes in diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) are widely used in differentiating metastatic from non-metastatic lymph nodes. The purpose of this meta-analysis was to demonstrate whether DWI could contribute to the precise diagnosis of breast cancer (BC) with and without lymph node metastasis (LNM). Materials and Methods: English and Chinese electronic databases were searched for relevant studies followed by a comprehensive literature search. Two reviewers independently assessed the methodological quality of the included trials based on the quality assessment of diagnostic accuracy studies (QUADAS). Summary odds ratios (ORs) and corresponding 95% confidence intervals (95% CIs) were calculated. Results: Final analysis of 624 BC subjects (patients with LNM = 254, patients without LNM = 370) were incorporated into the current meta-analysis from 9 eligible cohort studies. Combined ORs of ADCs suggested that ADC values in BC patients without LNM were higher than in patients with LNM (OR=0.56, 95%CI: 0.11-1.01, p=0.015). Subgroup analysis stratified by country indicated a low ADC value in BC patients with LNM rather than those without LNM among Chinese (OR=1.27, 95%CI: 0.89-1.66, p<0.001), Italians (OR=0.75, 95%CI: 0.13-1.38, p=0.018), and Egyptians (OR=1.27, 95%CI: 0.71-1.84, p<0.001). The findings of subgroup analysis by MRI machine type revealed that ADC values from diffusion MRI may be potential diagnostic indicators for BC using Non-Philips 1.5T (OR=1.10, 95%CI: 0.84-1.36, p<0.001). Conclusions: The main findings of our meta-analysis demonstrated that increased signal intensity on DWI and decreased signals on ADC are helpful in diagnosis of BC patients with or without LNM. DWI could therefore be an important imaging investigation in patients suspected of BC.

Background: The aim of this meta-analysis was to assess the efficacy of the apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) value of diffusion-weighted MRI (DWI) for differentiating biliary tract cancer (BTC) from benign biliary tract diseases in Asians. Materials and Methods: We systematically searched Embase and PubMed prior to December 2014. Eight studies conducted in Asians met our predetermined inclusion criteria. Results: Our meta-analysis results showed that ADC values in BTC tissues were significantly lower than in benign biliary tract tissues (SMD = -1.54, 95%CI: -1.75~-1.33, P<0.001). Subgroup analysis based on the MRI machine type showed that the ADC values were consistent, accurate and reliable in the diagnosis of BTC when comparing cancer tissue vs. benign tissue under the Siemens 1.5 T/3.0 T, Philips 1.5 T/3.0 T, GE 1.5 T, and Toshiba 1.5 T types, respectively (all P<0.05). Further, ADC values were still consistent and accurate in the differential diagnosis of BTC under the b value of 800 and $1000s/mm^2$ (all P<0.05). Conclusions: Our findings supported potential clinical applications of DWI ADC values in differentiating BTC from benign biliary tract diseases in Asians.

Progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy (PML) is a rare disease that occurs mainly in immunocompromised patients. Despite the progressive nature of the disease, the changes on MRI during the disease course - which may help in monitoring the disease process - have seldom been reported. Here we describe a patient with polymerasechain- reaction-proven PML examined using serial diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) and apparent-diffusioncoefficient mapping. Magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) revealed that the demyelinating process was more active without significant neuronal loss at the newer and advancing edge of a lesion than in the older central part of the lesion. This case shows that MRI findings such as DWI and MRS may improve the diagnosis and the understanding of the pathophysiology of PML.

본 연구는 MRI를 이용한 기능검사 시 rectangular FOV를 적용하더라도 기능을 정량화한 대표 값은 차이가 없다는 것을 증명함으로써, FOV 불일치로 인해 발생되는 문제점을 개선하고자 하였다. 연구방법은 대표적인 기능 검사로 뇌졸증의 진단에 널리 사용되고 있는 확산강조영상 검사를 이용하여, 주파수부호화 방향의 FOV 변화에 따른 ADC 값의 변화 여부를 비교평가 하였다. 연구결과, 주파수부호화 방향의 FOV가 변화함에 따라 ADC값은 통계적으로 유의한 차이를 보이지 않았으며, 사후분석 결과도 유의수준 0.05에 대한 부집단이 모두 1개 밖에 존재하지 않아 FOV 변화에 따른 ADC 값의 차이가 없음을 알 수 있었다. 결론적으로 MRI를 이용한 기능 영상에서 rectangular FOV를 적용하더라도 기능을 정량화한 대표 값에는 차이가 없으므로, FOV 불일치로 인해 수반되는 공간왜곡이나 mismatching의 문제점을 개선할 수 있다.

The purpose of this study is to improve the mapping between functional image and conventional image by using rectangular FOV technique. Diffusion weighted imaging which is widely used for stroke was acquired by reducing the FOV and compared each Apparent Diffusion Coefficient(ADC). As a result, there is no significant difference of each ADC value in one-way-anova analysis and post-hoc analysis. Thus, Mismatching problem may be improved by matching the FOV with rectangular FOV technique because there is no difference in ADC values.

목적: 확산강조영상 (DW-MRI)과 역동적 조영증강 자기공명영상 (DCE-MRI)에서 도출한 정량적 매개변수들이 서로 연관되어 있는지 알아보고자 하였다. 대상과 방법: 치료시작 전 DWI와 DCE-MRI를 시행한 조직학적으로 혹은 임상적으로 진단된 골전이암을 가진 13명의 환자를 대상으로 하였다. 주 병변의 겉보기 확산계수 (ADC) 그리고 관류지수 중 $K^{trans}$와 $V_e$ 값을 측정하여 Pearson 연관분석을 사용하여 통계적으로 분석하였다. 결과: 15개의 병변 중 11개는 ADC와 $K^{trans}$ 값 간에 유의한 상관관계를 보였다. 이 중 7개의 병변은 음의 연관성을, 그리고 4개는 양의 연관성을 보였다. 9개의 병변은 ADC와 $V_e$ 값 간에 유의한 상관관계를 보였다. 이 중 4개는 음의 연관성을, 그리고 5개는 양의 연관성을 보였다. 결론: 골전이암의 ADC 값과 $K^{trans}$ 값, 혹은 ADC 값과 $V_e$ 값은 일정한 연관성이 없었다.

Purpose : To investigate whether quantitative parameters derived from Diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging (DW-MRI) correlate with those of Dynamic contrast-enhanced MRI (DCE-MRI). Materials and Methods: Thirteen patients with pathologically or clinically proven bony metastasis who had undergone MRI prior to treatment were included. The voxel size was $1.367{\times}1.367{\times}5mm$. A dominant tumor was selected and the apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) value and DCE-MRI parameters were obtained by matching voxels. DCE-MRI data were analyzed yielding estimates of $K^{trans}$ (volume transfer constant) and $v_e$. (extravascular extracellular volume fraction). Statistical analysis of ADC, $K^{trans}$, and $v_e$ value was conducted using Pearson correlation analyses. Results: Fifteen lesions in pelvic bones were evaluated. Of these, 11 showed a statistically significant correlation (P<0.05) between ADC and $K^{trans}$. The ADC and $K^{trans}$ were inversely related in 7 lesions and positively related in 4 lesions. This did not depend on the primary cancer or site of metastasis. The ADC and $v_e$ of 9 lesions correlated significantly. Of these, 4 lesions were inversely related and 5 lesions were positively related. Conclusion: Unlike our theoretic hypothesis, there was no consistent correlation between ADC values and $K^{trans}$ or between ADC values and $v_e$ in metastatic bone tumors.

본 연구는 정신분열병 환자들을 대상으로 한 DTI 연 구에 SPAM을 적용함으로써, 측두엽 부위의 다양한 영 역에서 ADC값이 증가한 소견을 발견하였다. 그리고 이 를 통해, ADC값의 증가가 뇌의 피질 위축(cortical brain atrophy)을 반영한다는 최근 가설을 지지하며, 회백질과 백질이 공동으로 관여하는 신경병리와도 관련될 가능성 을 제시한다.

Objectives：Diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) studies of schizophrenia, thus far, have mainly focused on white matter abnormalities reflected in anisotropy indices such as fractional anisotropy (FA), but recently, new implications of apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) have been proposed. This is, to our knowledge, the first study to analyze ADC maps of schizophrenic patients using statistical parametric anatomical mapping (SPAM). Methods：DTI was performed in 20 schizophrenic patients and an equal number of age- and sex-matched healthy controls. ADC maps were then generated, from which 98 volumes of interest were extracted using SPAM. Probability-weighted mean values of ADC were calculated from each volume of interest and compared between the two groups. Results：Significantly higher mean ADC values were observed in patients with schizophrenia compared to healthy controls in the following volumes of interest: bilateral hippocampal formation, bilateral uncus, right thalamus, right temporal lobe white matter, right superior temporal gyrus, bilateral insula and right lateral ventricle. Conclusion：The results support the recently proposed assertion that regionally increased ADC may reflect cortical brain atrophy. In addition, a new possibility is raised that a neuropathological event involving both the gray and the white matter may also play a role. (J Korean Neuropsychiatr Assoc 2006;45(4):316-323)

해안 지역에 시공된 철근 콘크리트 구조물은 해수 중의 염소 이온에 의해 내부 철근이 부식하게 된다. 특히 해안지역에서는 해수에 침지되는 경우뿐만 아니라 조수간만 및 비래염분의 영향을 받기 때문에 이에 대한 고려가 필수적이다. 본 연구에서는 3가지 수준의 노출 환경(침지대, 간만대, 비말대)과 노출기간 180일, 365일, 730일을 고려하여 해양환경노출실험을 실시하였다. 대상 배합은 3가지 수준의 물-결합재비 및 2가지 수준의 플라이애시 치환률(0 %, 30 %)을 고려하여 설정하였다. 모든 노출조건에서 플라이 애시 치환 배합이 OPC 배합 대비 낮은 겉보기 염화물 확산계수를 나타내었으며, 이는 플라이애시의 포졸란 반응이 원인으로 사료된다. 플라이애시 배합은 노출 기간 180일에서는 플라이애시 치환 배합이 OPC 배합 대비 최대 63 5 %의 감소율을, 노출 기간 730일 에서는 최대 55.8 %의 감소율을 나타내었다. 노출 조건에 따른 확산계수 거동을 평가한 결과, 플라이애시 치환 배합에서는 간만대, 침지대, 비말대 순으로 확산계수가 평가되었다. 간만대에서는 건습이 반복되어 염화물 이온의 침투가 빠르게 일어나는 것으로 보인다.

In case of RC(Reinforced Concrete) structures which are constructed in coastal areas, chloride ions in sea water corrode the steel rebar in concrete. Especially in coastal areas, RC structures are affected by not only immersion of sea water, but also tidal of sea water and airborne chloride ions. In this study, marine environment exposure tests are conducted, considering 3 types of exposure environments(immersion zone, tidal zone, splash zone) and the exposure periods of 180 days, 365 days, and 730 days. Also, the concrete mixtures for this study are established, considering 3 levels of W/B(Water to Binder) ratio(0.37, 0.42, 0.47) and 2 levels of substitution rate of Fly ash(0 %, 30 %). In all exposure environments, Fly ash concrete has lower apparent chloride diffusion coefficients than OPC concrete. It is thought that fly ash's pozzolan reaction improves chloride resistance of concrete. Fly ash concrete has up to 63.5 % of decreasing rate in 180 days of exposure and up to 55.8 % of decreasing rate in 730 days of exposure, based on diffusion coefficients of OPC concrete. As a result of evaluation about effects of exposure environments, apparent chloride diffusion coefficients of fly ash concrete are evaluated in order of tidal zone, immersion zone, and splash zone. In tidal zone, It is thought that repeated cycles of wetting and drying of sea water cause the diffusion of chloride ions rapidly.

Chloride diffusivity is one of the important properties of concrete affecting the durability of a structure. The diffusivity for porous materials is determined conventionally by immersion in a solution. However, this method is complicate and time-consuming, often requiring months or years to obtain results. Thus, the application of colorimetric method to estimate the apparent diffusivity of chloride ion was verified in this study. The result reveals that the apparent diffusivity of chloride ion can be predicted to use colorimetric method. Additionally the colorimetric method is capable to predict the profile of chloride ion.