• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.15 no.2
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• pp.1035-1039
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• 2014

Aim: To evaluate the operative, oncologic and obstetric outcomes of the loop electrosurgical excision procedure (LEEP) in cases with cervical neoplasia. Materials and Methods: A retrospective cohort study was conducted on patients who were suspected of cervical neoplasia and therefore undergoing LEEP at Siriraj Hospital, Mahidol University, Thailand, during 1995-2000. Outcome measures included operative complications in 407 LEEP patients and long-term outcomes in the 248 patients with cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN) who were treated with only LEEP. Results: There were 407 patients undergoing LEEP; their mean age was $39.7{\pm}10.5$ years. The histopathology of LEEP specimens revealed that 89 patients (21.9%) had lesions ${\leq}CIN$ I, 295 patients (72.5%) had CIN II or III, and 23 patients (5.6%) had invasive lesions. Operative complications were found in 15 patients and included bleeding (n=9), and infection (n=7). After diagnostic LEEP, 133 patients underwent hysterectomy as the definite treatment for cervical neoplasia. Of 248 CIN patients who had LEEP only, seven (2.8%) had suffered recurrence after a median of 16 (range 6-93) months; one had CIN I, one had CIN II, and five had CIN III. All of these recurrent patients achieved remission on surgical treatment with re-LEEP (n=6) or simple hysterectomy (n=1). A significant factor affecting recurrent disease was the LEEP margin involved with the lesion (p=0.05). Kaplan-Meier analysis showed 5-year and 10-year disease-free survival (DFS) estimates of 99.9%. Twelve patients became pregnant a total of 14 times, resulting in 12 term deliveries and two miscarriages - one of which was due to an incompetent cervix. Conclusions: LEEP for patients with cervical neoplasia delivers favorable surgical, oncologic and obstetric outcomes.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.14 no.2
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• pp.1101-1106
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• 2013

Background: Osteosarcoma is the most common primary bone tumor in childhood and adolescence. Carboplatin, a platinum-derived agent, is used as neoadjuvant chemotherapy for pediatric osteosarcoma because of its anti-tumor activity and had low toxicity as compared to cisplatin. Objective: To determine demographic data, prognostic factors and outcome of childhood osteosarcoma treated with a carboplatin-based chemotherapeutic protocol at Chiang Mai University. Method: A retrospective analysis was conducted on 34 osteosarcoma patients aged less than 18 years and treated between 2003 and 2011. Results: Overall limb-salvage and amputation rates were 23.5% and 70.6%, respectively. With the mean follow-up time of 29.5 months (1.5-108.9), the Kaplan-Meier analysis for 3-year disease-free survival (DFS) and 3-year overall survival (OS) were $20.2{\pm}7.7%$ and $47.1{\pm}9.5%$ respectively. Patients who had initial pulmonary metastasis were at significantly greater risk for developing recurrence (p=0.02, OR=7; 1.2-40.1) and had a tendency to have lower 3-year OS compared to those without initial pulmonary metastasis ($28.1{\pm}13%$, $63.1{\pm}12.3%$, respectively, p=0.202). On univariate analysis, age at diagnosis >14 years and patients who were declined surgery were significantly associated with lower 3-year OS (p=0.008 and <0.05, respectively). However, age at diagnosis, sex, tumor size and histological subtypes were not found to significantly affect recurrence or survival. Conclusions: In our study, the survival rate was far lower than those reported from developed countries. These might indicate the ineffectiveness of carboplatin in combination with doxorubicin as frontline treatment of pediatric osteosarcoma, especially in those with initial pulmonary metastasis. Refinement in risk and treatment stratification and dose intensification for pediatric osteosarcoma constitutes a future challenge to improve outcomes, especially in metastatic patients who may need a more intensive regimen.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.14 no.9
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• pp.5055-5060
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• 2013

Objective: Twist, a basic helix-loop-helix transcription factor, plays a key role in the metastatic progression of human cancer. Matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-9 is an endopeptidase that digests basement membrane type IV collagen, therefore being possibly related to tumor progression. It has been reported that Twist and matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) are expressed in gastric cancers. However, the exact roles of Twist and MMP-9 in tumor metastasis and prognosis remain unclear. The aim of this study was to casts light on this question. Methods:Twist and MMP-9 expression in tissue sections of 37 gastric carcinomas was evaluated with immunohistochemistry. The staining results were compared with clinicopatholgic features and to patients' outcome. Results: Twist positive expression was significantly increased in gastric cancer cases with lymph node metastasis (P=0.023). But no correlations were found between MMP-9 overexpression and clinicopathologic features, such as recurrence, TNM stage, and lymph node metastasis. Overall survival (OS) was significantly correlated with recurrence, serosa invasion, TNM stages, distant metastasis, and MMP-9 (P=0.027, 0.021, 0.000, 0.024 and 0.036, respectively). Disease-free survival (DFS) was prominently related to recurrence location, serosa invasion and TNM stages (P=0.000, 0.038 and 0.003, respectively). In the Cox regression multivariate analysis, TNM stage, distant metastasis and MMP-9 were significantly associated with prognosis of gastric cancer (P=0.002, 0.019, and 0.032, respectively). Conclusions: This study showed Twist positive expression to be significantly correlated with lymph node metastasis in gastric cancer. MMP-9 overexpression is associated with OS, suggesting that MMP-9 is a prognostic indicator for survival in patients with gastric cancer.

• Radiation Oncology Journal
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• v.35 no.1
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• pp.48-54
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• 2017

Purpose: This study aimed to assess the effects of body mass index (BMI) on survival in cervical cancer patients who had undergone surgery and radiotherapy (RT). Materials and Methods: We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of 70 cervical cancer patients who underwent surgery and RT from 2007 to 2012. Among them, 40 patients (57.1%) had pelvic lymph node metastases at the time of diagnosis. Sixty-seven patients (95.7%) had received chemotherapy. All patients had undergone surgery and postoperative RT. Median BMI of patients was $22.8kg/m^2$ (range, 17.7 to $35.9kg/m^2$). Results: The median duration of follow-up was 52.3 months (range, 16 to 107 months). Twenty-four patients (34.3%) showed recurrence. Local failure, regional lymph nodal failure, and distant failure occurred in 4 (5.7%), 6 (8.6%), and 17 (24.3%) patients, respectively. The 5-year actuarial pelvic control rate was 83.4%. The 5-year cancer-specific survival (CSS) and disease-free survival (DFS) rates were 85.1% and 65.0%, respectively. The presence of pelvic lymph node metastases (n = 30) and being overweight or obese (n = 34, $BMI{\geq}23kg/m^2$) were poor prognostic factors for CSS (p = 0.003 and p = 0.045, respectively). Of these, pelvic lymph node metastasis was an independent prognostic factor (p = 0.030) for CSS. Conclusion: Overweight or obese cervical cancer patients showed poorer survival outcomes than normal weight or underweight patients. Weight control seems to be important in cervical cancer patients to improve clinical outcomes.

• Journal of Nuclear Fuel Cycle and Waste Technology(JNFCWT)
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• v.3 no.4
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• pp.293-300
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• 2005

Ultrasonic decontamination of the type 304 stainless steel specimen loosely contaminated with $Eu_2O_3$ powders was investigated. Decontamination factors (DFs) by the three kinds of ultrasonic media such as water, pure PFC (Pefluorocarbon, $C_7F_{16}$) and a mixed solution of $99.9\;vol\%\;PFC\;and\;0.1\;vol\%$ anionic surfactant were determined. The determined DF values were 20, 50 and 200, respectively. This significant difference in the decontamination factors for the different decontamination solution was well explained by the surface tension of the media as well as the interaction between the positively charged surface of $Eu_2O_3$ powders and the anionic surfactant. Ultrasonic decontamination behavior of the loosely contaminated metal specimens such as plate, pipe, welding specimen and crevice specimen in the mixed solution of PFC and anionic surfactant was also investigated. The contaminants were completely removed for the tested specimens except for the longest specimen. For 6-cm long pipe specimen, however, $98.5\%$ of the contaminants were removed.

• Journal of Korean society of Dental Hygiene
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• v.14 no.6
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• pp.881-886
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• 2014

Objectives: The purpose of the study was to investigate the related factors to dental fear in some adults. Methods: A self-reported questionnaire was filled out by 320 adults in Seoul and Gyeonggi-do from April to June, 2013. Except 14 incomplete answers, data were analyzed by SPSS 18.0 program. The questionnaire consisted of general characteristics of the subjects(7 questions), dental fear related factor(18 questions), distrust for dentist(15 questions), and distrust for dental hygienist(11 questions). The instrument for dental treatment fear was Dental fear Survey(DFS) adapted from Kleinknecht and partly modified by Choi. Out of 20 questions, 18 questions were reconstructed and score by Likert 5 scale. Higher score means higher dental fear. Cronbach alpha was 0.959 in the study. The distrust for dentist and dental hygienist was adapted from Choi and reconstructed and score by Likert 5 scale. Higher score means higher distrust for dentist and dental hygienist. Cronbach alpha was 0.937 in distrust for dentist and 0.874 in distrust for dental hygienist in the study. Results: Those who experienced dental pain tended to have dental fear. The reasons for dental fear were as follows; bad breath(2.96 out of 5 points, hereafter represented as of 2.96/5), dental caries(2.88/5), missing teeth(2.87/5) and tooth pain(2.77/5). The distrust for the dentist was the main dental fear in the adults. Conclusions: The dental fear was closely related to gender, experience of dental pain, oral symptoms and distrust for the dentist. As the psychological pain in the patients was mainly influenced by the trustful atmosphere, it is necessary to make the patient easy before treatment.

• Food Science and Biotechnology
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• v.16 no.4
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• pp.509-514
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• 2007

In this study, we optimized the production of ${\gamma}-polyglutamic$ acid (PGA) in soybean milk cakes (SMC) fermented with Bacillus subtilis GT-D and B. subtilis KU-A, to be utilized as a functional food ingredient. PGA production was dependent upon the glutamate content, fermentation time, and type of Bacillus sp. The consistencies of the SMCs fermented by B. subtilis GT-D and B. subtilis KU-A were highest after 36 hr of fermentation, and then decreased gradually. The SMC fermented by B. subtilis KU-A had a higher consistency than the SMC fermented by B. subtilis GT-D. In the presence of 10% defatted soy flour (DFS), 5% glutamate in the SMC was efficiently converted into polyglutamic acid (PGA) for 24 hr, indicating a conversion yield above 96%, but its conversion then decreased with higher concentrations of glutamate. The soluble solid content (mucilage) of the SMC fermented with B. subtilis KU-A was 9.5%(w/w), and composed of 65.6% PGA (Mw 1,536 kDa) and some polysaccharides. However, the SMC fermented with B. subtilis GT-D had a mucilage content of 7.8%(w/w), and was composed of 66.4% PGA (Mw 1,409 kDa), 11.5% levan, and some polysaccharides. The viscoelastic values of the mucilage obtained using B. subtilis KU-A were much higher than those of mucilage obtained using B. subtilis GT-D. Also, the G'-value (elastic modulus) was higher than the G"-value (viscous modulus).

• Journal of the Korean institute of surface engineering
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• v.39 no.3
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• pp.137-141
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• 2006

Process window for infinite etch selectivity of silicon nitride $(Si_3N_4)$ layers to ArF photoresist (PR) was investigated in dual frequency superimposed capacitive coupled plasma (DFS-CCP) by varying the process parameters such as low frequency power $(P_{LF})$, $CH_2F_2$ and $H_2$ flow rate in $CH_2F_2/H_2/Ar$ plasma. It was found that infinite etch selectivities of $Si_3N_4$ layers to the ArF PR on both blanket and patterned wafers can be obtained for certain gas flow conditions. The etch selectivity was increased to the infinite values as the $CH_2F_2$ flow rate increases, while it was decreased from the infinite etch selectivity as the $H_2$ flow rate increased. The preferential chemical reaction of the hydrogen with the carbon in the polymer film and the nitrogen on the $Si_3N_4$ surface leading to the formation of HCN etch by-products results in a thinner steady-state polymer and, in turn, to continuous $Si_3N_4$ etching, due to enhanced $SiF_4$ formation, while the polymer was deposited on the ArF photoresist surface.

• The Journal of The Korea Institute of Intelligent Transport Systems
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• v.8 no.3
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• pp.100-111
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• 2009

Cognitive radio is an advanced technology for efficient utilization of under-utilized spectrum via spectrum sensing. CR users should move from current allocating channel to empty channel to avoid the interference to the primary user if the primary user is allocating that channel. Thus, CR system cannot support the CR user's QoS(Quaiity of Service). In this paper, we propose dynamic frequency selection method based on Genetic Algorithm with power control. It is to find the optimization channel for satisfying various CR user's needs with the power control method to minimize the CR user's interference to the primary user. And, we propose the Genetic Algorithm(GA) which determines the best configuration for CR communication systems. The computer simulation results show that the proposed method guaranteed the primary user's decodability and the optimized solution for various channel status.

• Proceedings of the Korean Vacuum Society Conference
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• 2010.02a
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• pp.458-458
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• 2010

The process window for the etch selectivity of silicon nitride ($Si_3N_4$) layers to extreme ultra-violet (EUV) resist and variation of line edge roughness (LER) of EUV resist were investigated durin getching of $Si_3N_4$/EUV resist structure in a dual-frequency superimposed capacitive coupled plasma (DFS-CCP) etcher by varying the process parameters, such as the $CH_2F_2$ and $N_2$ gas flow rate in $CH_2F_2/N_2$/Ar plasma. The $CH_2F_2$ and $N_2$ flow rate was found to play a critical role in determining the process window for infinite etch selectivity of $Si_3N_4$/EUV resist, due to disproportionate changes in the degree of polymerization on $Si_3N_4$ and EUV resist surfaces. The preferential chemical reaction between hydrogen and carbon in the hydrofluorocarbon ($CH_xF_y$) polymer layer and the nitrogen and oxygen on the $Si_3N_4$, presumably leading to the formation of HCN, CO, and $CO_2$ etch by-products, results in a smaller steady-state hydrofluorocarbon thickness on $Si_3N_4$ and, in turn, in continuous $Si_3N_4$ etching due to enhanced $SiF_4$ formation, while the $CH_xF_y$ layer is deposited on the EUV resist surface. Also critical dimension (and line edge roughness) tend to decrease with increasing $N_2$ flow rate due to decreased degree of polymerization.