PURPOSE: DIR image is relatively free from susceptibility artifacts therefore, DIR image can make it possible to reliably measure cortical thickness/volume. One drawback of the DIR acquisition is the long scan time to acquire the fully sampled 3D data set. To solve this problem, we applied a parallel imaging method (GRAPPA) and verify the reliability of using the volumetric study. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Six healthy volunteers (3 males and 3 females; age 25.33+/-2.25 years) underwent MRI using the 3D DIR sequence at a 3.0T Siemens Tim Trio MRI scanner. GRAPPA simulation was performed from the fully sampled data set for reduction factor 2. Data reconstruction was performed using MATLAB R2009b. Freesurfer v.4.3.0 was used to evaluate the cortical thickness of the entire brain, and to extract white matter information from the DIR image, Analyze 9.0 was used. The global cortical thickness estimated from the reconstructed image was compared with reference image by using a T-test in SPSS. RESULTS: Although reduced SNR and blurring are observed from the reconstructed image, in terms of segmentation the effect was not so significant. The volumetric result was validated that there were no significant differences in many cortical regions. CONCLUSION: This study was performed with DIR image for a volumetric MRI study. To solve the long scan time of 3D DIR imaging, we applied GRAPPA algorithm. According to the results, fast imaging can be done with reduction factor 2 with little loss of image quality at 3.0T.
Artifacts ; Brain ; Humans ; Male

PURPOSE: DIR image is relatively free from susceptibility artifacts therefore, DIR image can make it possible to reliably measure cortical thickness/volume. One drawback of the DIR acquisition is the long scan time to acquire the fully sampled 3D data set. To solve this problem, we applied a parallel imaging method (GRAPPA) and verify the reliability of using the volumetric study. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Six healthy volunteers (3 males and 3 females; age 25.33+/-2.25 years) underwent MRI using the 3D DIR sequence at a 3.0T Siemens Tim Trio MRI scanner. GRAPPA simulation was performed from the fully sampled data set for reduction factor 2. Data reconstruction was performed using MATLAB R2009b. Freesurfer v.4.3.0 was used to evaluate the cortical thickness of the entire brain, and to extract white matter information from the DIR image, Analyze 9.0 was used. The global cortical thickness estimated from the reconstructed image was compared with reference image by using a T-test in SPSS. RESULTS: Although reduced SNR and blurring are observed from the reconstructed image, in terms of segmentation the effect was not so significant. The volumetric result was validated that there were no significant differences in many cortical regions. CONCLUSION: This study was performed with DIR image for a volumetric MRI study. To solve the long scan time of 3D DIR imaging, we applied GRAPPA algorithm. According to the results, fast imaging can be done with reduction factor 2 with little loss of image quality at 3.0T.
Artifacts ; Brain ; Humans ; Male

The purpose of this study was to examine the association among bone mineral density (BMD), biochemical bone markers, nutrients, and salt intake in premenopausal and postmenopausal women. We evaluated 431 subjects who visited a health promotion center of a university hospital between January 2008 and July 2009. We excluded those who were taking medications or who had an endocrine disorder affecting osteoporosis. The subjects were divided into premenopausal (n = 283) and postmenopausal (n = 143) women. We evaluated the correlation among BMD of the lumbar spine, femoral neck, and total femoral, as well as biochemical bone markers, hormone, serum profiles, general characteristics, nutrient intakes, and food intake frequencies. From a stepwise multiple regression analysis, lumbar spine BMD was positively correlated with weight (p < 0.001) and negatively correlated with osteocalcin (OC)(p < 0.001), Femoral neck BMD was positively correlated with weight (p < 0.001) and negatively correlated with C-telopeptide (CTx) and alkaline phosphatase (ALP)(p < 0.001, p < 0.05). In premenopausal women, femoral total BMD was positively correlated with BMI (p < 0.001) and negatively correlated with CTx (p < 0.001). In postmenopausal women, lumbar spine BMD was positively correlated with calcium intake (p < 0.01) and negatively correlated with sodium intake (p < 0.01). Femoral neck and femoral total BMD were both positively correlated with weight (p < 0.001), and femoral neck BMD was negatively correlated with age and ALP (p < 0.001, p < 0.05). Femoral total BMD was negatively correlated with age and OC (p < 0.001, p < 0.01). These results suggest that reducing sodium intake may play an important role delaying bone resorption and preventing a decrease in BMD.
Alkaline Phosphatase ; Bone Density ; Bone Resorption ; Calcium ; Collagen Type I ; Eating ; Female ; Femur Neck ; Health Promotion ; Humans ; Osteocalcin ; Osteoporosis ; Peptides ; Sodium ; Spine

PURPOSE: To compare different MR sequences for quantification of gadolinium concentration. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Gadolinium contrast agents were diluted into 36 different concentrations. They were scanned using gradient echo (GRE) and ultrashort echo time (UTE) and R1, R2* and phase values were estimated from collected data. For analysis, ROI masks were made for each concentration and then ROI value was measured by mean and standard deviation from the estimated quantitative maps. Correlation analysis was performed and correlation coefficient was calculated. RESULTS: Using GRE sequence, R1 showed a strong linear correlation at concentrations of 10 mM or less, and R2* showed a strong linear correlation between 10 to 100 mM. The phase of GRE generally exhibited a negative linear relationship for concentrations of 100 mM or less. In the case of UTE, the phase had a strong negative linear relationship at concentrations 100 mM or above. CONCLUSION: R1, which was calculated by conventional GRE, showed a high performance of quantification for lower concentrations, with a correlation coefficient of 0.966 (10 mM or less). R2* showed stronger potential for higher concentrations with a correlation coefficient of 0.984 (10 to 100 mM), and UTE phase showed potential for even higher concentrations with a correlation coefficient of 0.992 (100 mM or above).
Contrast Media ; Gadolinium* ; Masks

Facial rejuvenation procedures can be roughly divided into face lift surgery and nonoperative, less invasive procedures, such as fat grafts, fillers, botulinum toxin injections, thread lifts, or laserbrasion. Face lift surgery or rhytidectomy is the procedure most directly associated with rejuvenation, due to its fundamental ability to restore the anatomical changes caused by aging. Various methods of face lift surgery have been developed over the last hundred years, thanks to advances in the understanding of facial anatomy and the mechanisms of aging, as well as the dedication of innovative surgeons. However, no generally applicable standard method exists, because the condition of each patient is different, and each operative method has advantages and disadvantages. Specific characteristics of the skin of Asians and their skeletal anatomy should be considered when determining the operative method to be used on Asian patients. Plastic surgeons should improve their ability to analyze the original aesthetic properties and problem areas of each patient, drawing on scientific knowledge about the aging process, and they should develop the skills necessary to perform various rejuvenative techniques. In the present article, we reviewed various face lift procedures and the current methods of modified double plane face lift, based on our clinical experience of over 30 years.
Aging ; Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; Botulinum Toxins ; Humans ; Lifting ; Plastics ; Rejuvenation* ; Rhytidoplasty* ; Skin ; Transplants

Background and Objectives: The aim of this study was to investigate the factors associated with decrease in speech discrimination ability seen in patients with presbycusis and whether aging has a significant effect on the observed decline. Subjects and Methods: We retrospectively analyzed the medical records of patients aged >40 years who had undergone pure-tone audiometry, speech audiometry, and auditory brainstem response for hearing loss at our hospital from January 2019 to June 2021, and investigated the factors that correlated with speech discrimination score. Results: We enrolled 103 patients with 120 ears, with a mean age of 65.8±11.9 years. The pure-tone average of the patients’ thresholds at 0.5, 1, 2, and 4 kHz was 37.2±27.7 dB HL, and their mean speech discrimination score was 82.5%± 22.3%. A correlation analysis revealed a significant negative correlation between the patients’ speech discrimination scores and age. In addition, all variables of pure-tone audiometry and the patients’ auditory brainstem responses were significantly correlated with the speech discrimination scores. The pure-tone average had the strongest negative correlation. On analyzing the significant predictors of lower speech discrimination scores, using a multiple linear regression analysis, pure-tone average and age showed significant results. Conclusions The speech discrimination ability of older patients with hearing loss significantly decreases with increasing pure-tone average and age.

Korean ginseng (Panax ginseng C. A. Meyer) is one of the most popular medicinal herbs in the world. This plant is known to have many health benefits and contain a wide variety of bioactive components. However, the knowledge on its lipid compound is still far from being fully explored. Although glycosyl inositol phosphoceramides (GIPCs) are the main sphingolipids in plant tissues, GIPCs of P. ginseng are unknown. The present study employed nanoESI-MS n , which generated characteristic fragmentation pattern that were used for the structural identification of P. ginseng GIPCs. In addition to detecting a typical mass fragmentation pattern for GIPC in positive ion mode, novel fragmentation correlating with cleavage of the last carbohydrate and fatty acyl chain of the ceramide moiety was identified. In total, 42 GIPC species were detected in P. ginseng. The major P. ginseng GIPC structure was hexose (R 1 )-hexuronic acid-inositol phosphoceramide, with three types of R 1 (amine, N-acetylamine, or hydroxyl). The most intense peak was found at m/z 1136.3 ([M+H] + ion), corresponding to a GIPC (d18:0/h16:0, R 1 = OH). Only three GIPC subtypes showed significantly different levels in five- and six-year-old P. ginseng tap roots.

OBJECTIVE: For localization of the motor cortex, seed-based resting-state functional MRI (rsfMRI) uses the contralateral motor cortex as a seed. However, research has shown that the location of the motor cortex could differ according to anatomical variations. The purpose of this study was to compare the results of rsfMRI using two seeds: a template seed (the anatomically expected location of the contralateral motor cortex) and a functional seed (the actual location of the contralateral motor cortex determined by task-based functional MRI [tbfMRI]). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Eight patients (4 with glioma, 3 with meningioma, and 1 with arteriovenous malformation) and 9 healthy volunteers participated. For the patients, tbfMRI was performed unilaterally to activate the healthy contralateral motor cortex. The affected ipsilateral motor cortices were mapped with rsfMRI using seed-based and independent component analysis (ICA). In the healthy volunteer group, both motor cortices were mapped with both-hands tbfMRI and rsfMRI. We compared the results between template and functional seeds, and between the seed-based analysis and ICA with visual and quantitative analysis. RESULTS: For the visual analysis, the functional seed showed significantly higher scores compared to the template seed in both the patients (p = 0.002) and healthy volunteers (p < 0.001). Although no significant difference was observed between the functional seed and ICA, the ICA results showed significantly higher scores than the template seed in both the patients (p = 0.01) and healthy volunteers (p = 0.005). In the quantitative analysis, the functional seed exhibited greater similarity to tbfMRI than the template seed and ICA. CONCLUSION: Using the contralateral motor cortex determined by tbfMRI as a seed could enhance visual delineation of the motor cortex in seed-based rsfMRI.
Brain Mapping ; Brain Neoplasms ; Glioma ; Healthy Volunteers ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging* ; Meningioma ; Motor Cortex*

OBJECTIVE: A developmental venous anomaly (DVA) is a vascular malformation of ambiguous clinical significance. We aimed to quantify the susceptibility of draining veins (χvein) in DVA and determine its significance with respect to oxygen metabolism using quantitative susceptibility mapping (QSM). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Brain magnetic resonance imaging of 27 consecutive patients with incidentally detected DVAs were retrospectively reviewed. Based on the presence of abnormal hyperintensity on T2-weighted images (T2WI) in the brain parenchyma adjacent to DVA, the patients were grouped into edema (E+, n = 9) and non-edema (E−, n = 18) groups. A 3T MR scanner was used to obtain fully flow-compensated gradient echo images for susceptibility-weighted imaging with source images used for QSM processing. The χvein was measured semi-automatically using QSM. The normalized χvein was also estimated. Clinical and MR measurements were compared between the E+ and E− groups using Student's t-test or Mann-Whitney U test. Correlations between the χvein and area of hyperintensity on T2WI and between χvein and diameter of the collecting veins were assessed. The correlation coefficient was also calculated using normalized veins. RESULTS: The DVAs of the E+ group had significantly higher χvein (196.5 ± 27.9 vs. 167.7 ± 33.6, p = 0.036) and larger diameter of the draining veins (p = 0.006), and patients were older (p = 0.006) than those in the E− group. The χvein was also linearly correlated with the hyperintense area on T2WI (r = 0.633, 95% confidence interval 0.333–0.817, p < 0.001). CONCLUSION: DVAs with abnormal hyperintensity on T2WI have higher susceptibility values for draining veins, indicating an increased oxygen extraction fraction that might be associated with venous congestion.
Brain ; Edema ; Humans ; Hyperemia ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Metabolism ; Oxygen ; Retrospective Studies ; Vascular Malformations ; Veins

OBJECTIVE: To compare apparent diffusion coefficients (ADCs) of brain segments by using two diffusion-weighted imaging acquisition modes, single-shot echo-planar imaging (ss-EPI) and read-out-segmented echo-planar imaging (rs-EPI), and to assess their correlation and agreement in healthy controls. MATERIALS AND METHODS: T2-weighted (T2W) images, rs-EPI, and ss-EPI of 30 healthy subjects were acquired using a 3T magnetic resonance scanner. The T2W images were co-registered to the rs-EPI and ss-EPI, which were then segmented into the gray matter (GM), white matter (WM), and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) to generate masking templates. ADC maps of rs-EPI and ss-EPI were also segmented into the GM, WM, and CSF by using the generated templates. ADCs of rs-EPI and ss-EPI were compared using Student's t tests and correlated using Pearson's correlation coefficients. Bland-Altman plots were used to assess the agreement between acquisitions.
Brain ; Cerebrospinal Fluid ; Diffusion ; Echo-Planar Imaging ; Gray Matter ; Healthy Volunteers ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Masks ; White Matter