PURPOSE: To compare various breath-hold T2 weighted sequences in imaging normal pancreas with a phased-arraycoil. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Eighteen patients without pancreatic disease were studied with breath-hold turbo spinecho (TSE) (TR/TE/ETL, 3500/138/29), TSE with fat suppression (FS-TSE), half-Fourier acquisition single-shot turbospin echo (HASTE) (TE/ETL, 87/128) and HASTE with fat suppression (FS-HASTE) at 1.0T magnet strength and using aphased-array coil. Signal difference-to-noise ratio (SD/N) between the pancreas and peripancreatic fat wasmeasured ; the delineation of the pancreatic border and pancreatic duct, and the amount of artifact were evaluatedby two radiologists who reached a consensus. RESULTS: HASTE showed a higher SD/N than TSE or FS-HASTE (p < 0.01),TSE was superior to FS- TSE or HASTE in the delineation of pancreatic border(p < 0.001). HASTE was superior to TSEin the delineation of pancreatic duct(p < 0.001). TSE showed more artifacts than FS-TSE(p < 0.001) ; HASTE andFS-HASTE showed no artifact. CONCLUSION: TSE is better than HASTE for the delineation of pancreatic margin but HASTE shows less artifacts and a more conspicuous pancreatic duct. Fat suppression decreases artifacts but makes the pancreatic margin indistinct.
Artifacts ; Consensus ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging* ; Pancreas* ; Pancreatic Diseases ; Pancreatic Ducts

PURPOSE: To evaluate contrast enhancement patterns of hemangioma according to size, as seen during thearterial and portal venous phase of spiral CT. MATERIAL AND METHODS: During a recent six month-period, 52patients with hemangiomas underwent two-phase spiral CT examination with 10mm collimation at 10mm/sec table speed,and with 100mL of contrast material(37g iodine) injected at a rate of 2.5 mL/sec. CT images of the hepaticarterial and portal venous phase were obtained with 30-second and 65-second delay, respectively. In 52 patients,82 hemangiomas were seen. The diameter of the tumors were as follows ; < or =10 mm(n=31), 11-20 mm(n=19), and> or =21mm(n=32). The enhancement patterns of tumors compared with attenuation of surrounding liver parenchyma weredivided into four types : peripheral high, uniform high, iso, and low. RESULTS: Overall, the most commonenhancement pattern was peripheral high(44/82, 53.7%), during the arterial and portal venous phase. The second andthird most common patterns were uniform high(11/82, 13.4%) and peripheral high-uniform high(9/82, 11.0%), alsoduring the arterial and portal venous phase. Sixty-one(74.4%) showed peripheral high attenuation andeleven(13.4%), uniform high attenuation, during the arterial and/or portal venous phase. In tumors smaller than20mm, low-low attenuation was seen in eight(9.8%), and iso-low attenuation in two(2.4%), during the arterial andportal venous phase, respectively. CONCLUSION: On two-phase spiral CT, the most common enhancement pattern ofhemangioma was peripheral high, seen during the arterial and portal venous phase. However, a small hemangioma lessthan 2 cm may show atypical patterns, including low and iso attenuation.
Hemangioma* ; Liver ; Tomography, Spiral Computed*

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to identify personal, contextual, and cognitive factors influencing the career preparation behavior of Korean nursing students. In this study, an examination was done of the fitness of a path model for the relationship among these factors based on the social cognitive career theory. METHODS: The participants were 413 nursing students in South Korea. Data were collected using self-report questionnaires that included self-esteem, social support, self-efficacy, outcome expectation, career decision level, and career preparation behavior. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, Pearson correlation analysis, and path analysis. RESULTS: The factors influencing career preparation behavior were self-efficacy, career decision level, self-esteem, outcome expectation, and social support. The factors influencing career decision level were self-efficacy, outcome expectation, self-esteem, and social support. CONCLUSION: The findings indicate that self-efficacy is an important factor influencing the career behavior of Korean nursing students. Nurse educators should consider personal, contextual, and cognitive factors of nursing students and develop systemic career guidance programs to help nursing students' career preparation behavior.
Career Choice ; Humans ; Korea ; Nursing* ; Students, Nursing*

For the treatment of carotid-cavernous fistula, detachable balloon occlusion(DBO) is the method of choice. When it fails, or when the fistula is incompletely occluded, alternative treatment methods include direct surgery and internal carotid artery occlusion at the proximal and distal portion of the fistula. Before ligation or occlusion of the internal carotid artery, however, coil embolization should be considered, as this preserves patent internal carotid artery. The authors used DBO in a 22-year-old male patient with carotid-cavernous fistula which developed after head injury. During the procedures the fistula was partially obstructed by one detachable balloon. In spite of several attempted occlusions with a second balloon, this could not be introduced into the small remnant fistula hole. The second stage of intervention involved embolization with a Guglielmi detachable coil(GDC) ; this was successfully introduced into the partially obstructed fistula, which was thus completely occluded, and the patient's clinical symptoms improved. In this case, GDC emboization was an effective tool for the treatment of carotid-cavernous fistula incompletely occluded by a detachable balloon.
Carotid Artery, Internal ; Craniocerebral Trauma ; Embolization, Therapeutic ; Fistula* ; Humans ; Ligation ; Male ; Young Adult

For the treatment of carotid-cavernous fistula, detachable balloon occlusion(DBO) is the method of choice. When it fails, or when the fistula is incompletely occluded, alternative treatment methods include direct surgery and internal carotid artery occlusion at the proximal and distal portion of the fistula. Before ligation or occlusion of the internal carotid artery, however, coil embolization should be considered, as this preserves patent internal carotid artery. The authors used DBO in a 22-year-old male patient with carotid-cavernous fistula which developed after head injury. During the procedures the fistula was partially obstructed by one detachable balloon. In spite of several attempted occlusions with a second balloon, this could not be introduced into the small remnant fistula hole. The second stage of intervention involved embolization with a Guglielmi detachable coil(GDC) ; this was successfully introduced into the partially obstructed fistula, which was thus completely occluded, and the patient's clinical symptoms improved. In this case, GDC emboization was an effective tool for the treatment of carotid-cavernous fistula incompletely occluded by a detachable balloon.
Carotid Artery, Internal ; Craniocerebral Trauma ; Embolization, Therapeutic ; Fistula* ; Humans ; Ligation ; Male ; Young Adult

PURPOSE: To compare T1-weighted FLASH and turbo spin echo (SE) T2-weighted sequences with conventional T1-and T2-weighted sequences in imaging normal pancreas and to describe the enhancing patterns on dynamic MR imging. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Forty-four patients with presumed hepatic hemangiomas were studied at 1.0T or 1.5T by using conventional SE sequences (T1-weighted, T2-weighted, and heavily T2-weighted), turbo-SE T2-weighted sequences, and breath-hold T1-weighted FLASH sequences acquired before, immediately on, and at 1, 2, 3, and 5 or10 minutes after injection of a bolus of gadopentetate dimeglumine. No patients had either a history or its clinical features of pancreatic disease. Images were quantitatively analyzed for signal-difference-to noise ratios(SD/Ns) between the pancreas and peripancreatic fat. Percentage enhancement of the pancreas was measured on each dynamic MR image. Conspicuity of the pancreatic border was qualitatively evaluated according to a consensus, reached by three radiologists. RESULTS: Turbo-SE T2-weighted images had a significantly higher SD/N ratio(p<0.001) and better conspicuity of the pancreatic border (p<0.001 ) than SE T2- and heavily T2-weighted images ; T1-weighted SE images had a significantly higher SD/N ratio than T1-weighted FLASH images (p<0.001), but there was no significant difference between them in qualitative analysis (p=0.346). Percentage enhancement immediately on and at 1, 2, 3, 5, and 10 minutes after administration of contrast material was 39.9%, 44.5%, 42.9%, 40.8%, 36.3%, 29.9%, respectively, with peak enhancement at 1 minute. CONCLUSION: In MR imaging of normal pancreas, turbo-SE T2-weighted imaging is superior to SE T2- and heavily T2-weighted imaging, and SE T1-weighted imaging is superior to T1-weighted FLASH imaging. On serial gadolinium-enhanced FLASH imaging, normal pancreas shows peak enhancementat 1 minute.
Consensus ; Gadolinium DTPA ; Hemangioma ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Noise ; Pancreas* ; Pancreatic Diseases

PURPOSE: To compare T1-weighted FLASH and turbo spin echo (SE) T2-weighted sequences with conventional T1-and T2-weighted sequences in imaging normal pancreas and to describe the enhancing patterns on dynamic MR imging. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Forty-four patients with presumed hepatic hemangiomas were studied at 1.0T or 1.5T by using conventional SE sequences (T1-weighted, T2-weighted, and heavily T2-weighted), turbo-SE T2-weighted sequences, and breath-hold T1-weighted FLASH sequences acquired before, immediately on, and at 1, 2, 3, and 5 or10 minutes after injection of a bolus of gadopentetate dimeglumine. No patients had either a history or its clinical features of pancreatic disease. Images were quantitatively analyzed for signal-difference-to noise ratios(SD/Ns) between the pancreas and peripancreatic fat. Percentage enhancement of the pancreas was measured on each dynamic MR image. Conspicuity of the pancreatic border was qualitatively evaluated according to a consensus, reached by three radiologists. RESULTS: Turbo-SE T2-weighted images had a significantly higher SD/N ratio(p<0.001) and better conspicuity of the pancreatic border (p<0.001 ) than SE T2- and heavily T2-weighted images ; T1-weighted SE images had a significantly higher SD/N ratio than T1-weighted FLASH images (p<0.001), but there was no significant difference between them in qualitative analysis (p=0.346). Percentage enhancement immediately on and at 1, 2, 3, 5, and 10 minutes after administration of contrast material was 39.9%, 44.5%, 42.9%, 40.8%, 36.3%, 29.9%, respectively, with peak enhancement at 1 minute. CONCLUSION: In MR imaging of normal pancreas, turbo-SE T2-weighted imaging is superior to SE T2- and heavily T2-weighted imaging, and SE T1-weighted imaging is superior to T1-weighted FLASH imaging. On serial gadolinium-enhanced FLASH imaging, normal pancreas shows peak enhancementat 1 minute.
Consensus ; Gadolinium DTPA ; Hemangioma ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Noise ; Pancreas* ; Pancreatic Diseases

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the relation between ocular discomfort and ocular Demodex infestation, and therapeutic effects of tea tree oil (TTO) in Demodex blepharitis patients. Three hundred and thirty-five patients with ocular discomfort were evaluated for ocular Demodex infestation and subjective symptoms with ocular surface discomfort index (OSDI) score. Among them, Demodex-infested patients were randomized to receive either eyelid scrubbing with TTO (TTO group,106 patients) or without TTO (Control group, 54 patients) for 1 month. Demodex were found in 84% of patients with ocular discomfort. The number of Demodex was significantly correlated with age (P = 0.04) and OSDI score (P = 0.024). After eyelid scrub treatment, Demodex count was reduced from 4.0 +/- 2.5 to 3.2 +/- 2.3 in the TTO group (P = 0.004) and from 4.3 +/- 2.7 to 4.2 +/- 2.5 in the control group (P = 0.27). Also, OSDI score was reduced from 34.5 +/- 10.7 to 24.1 +/- 11.9 in the TTO group (P = 0.001) and from 35.3 +/- 11.6 to 27.5 +/- 12.8 in the control group (P = 0.04). In conclusion, Demodex number showed a significant positive correlation with age and subjective ocular discomfort. The tea tree oil eyelid scrub treatment is effective for eliminating ocular Demodex and improving subjective ocular symptoms.
Adult ; Age Factors ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Animals ; Anti-Infective Agents, Local/pharmacology/therapeutic use ; Blepharitis/*drug therapy/pathology ; Eye Infections, Parasitic/*drug therapy/parasitology/pathology ; Eyelids/parasitology/pathology ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Mite Infestations/*drug therapy/parasitology/pathology ; Mites/drug effects ; Phytotherapy ; Tea Tree Oil/pharmacology/*therapeutic use ; Young Adult

BACKGROUND: Several studies have demonstrated that the transient administration of oxygen improves cognitive performance. However, the effect of long-term oxygen administration remains unknown. This study investigated the impact of long-term oxygen administration on cognitive enhancement. METHODS: Six week old Sprague-Dawley rats (n = 46) were randomly allocated to one of three groups: the control (Control; n = 15), 30 min/day oxygen administration (Oxy30min; n = 16) and 60 min/day oxygen administration groups (Oxy60min; n = 15). The rats in all three groups were administered air or oxygen for 10 weeks. The Morris water maze test was employed to assess the latency (L & Lt), dwelling time (DT) and the total fraction above the mean dwelling time (FmDT) for cognitive performance. RESULTS: Compared to the control group, the Oxy30min and Oxy60min groups showed no differences in their L and Lt. There was a dose-response trend due to oxygen administration. Compared to the control group, the Oxy60min group had a significantly improved DT (P< 0.05). The FmDT also significantly increased in both of the oxygen administration groups, which also showed a dose-response trend (P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The present results suggest that long-term (10 weeks) oxygen administration can dose-dependently enhance cognitive performance.
Animals ; Oxygen* ; Rats* ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley

For the physical characterization of neutron beam, dosimetric measurements had been performed to obtain physical data of KCCH cyclotron-produced neutrons for clinical use. The results are presented and compared with the data of other institutions from the literatures. The central aixs percent depth dose, build-up curves and open and wedge isodose curve values are intermediate between that of a 4 and 6 MV X-ray. The build-up level of maximum dose was at 1.35 cm and entrance dose was approximately 40%. Flatness of the beam was 9% at Dmax and less than+/-3% at the depth of 80% isodose line. Penumbra begond the 20% line is wider than corresponding photon beam. The output factors ranged 0.894 for 6 x 6 cm field to 1.187 for 30 x 30 cm field. gamma contamination of neutron beam was 4.9% at 2 cm depth in 10 x10 cm field.
Cyclotrons ; Neutrons*