• Journal of Korean Library and Information Science Society
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• v.36 no.1
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• pp.415-440
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• 2005

This paper analyses meta-data systems for serials in order to provide the fundamental infrastructure for serials-sharing systems based on semantic interoperability. According to the primitive features of serials information, meta-data for serials are classified into 3 main subsystems: serial identification Information, serial bibliographic information and serial holding information. The serial identification information that play the important role of the primary key in library management systems should be refined to accommodate serials with digital formats. Although MARC formats have been commonly used for the description of serial bibliographic information, a new meta-data format for serial bibliographic information that harmonize with the abundance of meta-data elements in MARC and the simplicity of DCMI. For serial holding information, the newly proposed standards such as ANSI/NSIO Z39.50 are adequate to grasp the varieties of serial holding patterns. It should be able to differentiate the level of description by means of the types of serial information services. As the current computing technology generally uses XML for the representation and Process of information, the meta-data system for serials should be based on XML.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.13 no.6
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• pp.2605-2610
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• 2012

Background: Studies investigating the association of 2R/3R polymorphism in the thymidylate synthase 5'-untranslated enhanced region (TSER) and colorectal cancer (CRC) risk have reported conflicting results. Thus, a meta-analysis was performed to summarize the data on the potential association. Methods: Pubmed, Embase and CBM databases were searched for all available studies. Links between the TSER 2R/3R polymorphism and CRC risk were estimated by odds ratios (ORs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Results: Seven case-control studies with a total of 2723 cases and 4030 controls were included in this meta-analysis. The results showed that the 3R variant of TSER 2R/3R polymorphism contributes to CRC risk in two comparison models (OR 3R vs. 2R =1.10, 95%CI 1.02-1.18, P = 0.015; OR Homozygote comparison model = 1.22 1.04-1.43, 95%CI 1.04-1.43, P = 0.012). Subgroup analyses by ethnicity further demonstrated a contribution in Caucasians with three comparison models (OR 3R vs. 2R = 1.10, 95%CI 1.02-1.19, P = 0.015; OR Homozygote comparison model = 1.21, 95%CI 1.03-1.41, P = 0.019; OR Recessive comparison model = 1.18, 95%CI 1.05-1.33, P = 0.008). However, the association in the Asian population was still uncertain due to the limited data (all P values were more than 0.05). Conclusions: Our meta-analysis suggests that the 3R variant of Thymidylate synthase 5'-untranslated enhanced region 2R/3R polymorphism contributes to gastric cancer risk in the Caucasian population, while any association in Asian populations needs further study.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.13 no.6
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• pp.2687-2693
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• 2012

Objective: Passive smoking has been considered as a risk factor of many cancers. To examine whether it might also pose a risk for cervical cancer, we performed a meta-analysis based on published case-control studies. Methods: We searched the PubMed database and references of included studies up to February 10th, 2012 for relevant studies. After two authors independently assessed the methodological quality and extracted data, a meta-analysis was conducted using CMA v2 software. Publication bias was evaluated by funnel plot, using Egger's and Begg's tests. Results: Finally 11 eligible studies yielded, involving 3,230 cases and 2,982 controls. The results showed that women who never smoke but exposed to smoking experience a 73% increase in risk of cervical cancer compared with non-exposed women (OR = 1.73, 95% CI = 1.35 - 2.21, p<0.001). Subgroup and sensitivity analyses indicated this result to be robust. Moderate publication bias was detected by visualing funnel plot, Egger's and Begg's tests. Conclusion: Based on currently available evidence, the findings of this meta-analysis suggests that passive smoking significantly and independently increases the risk of cervical cancer.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.15 no.3
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• pp.1345-1349
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• 2014

Although many epidemiologic studies investigated the methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) polymorphisms and their associations with esophageal cancer, definite conclusions could not be drawn. To clarify the effects of MTHFR polymorphisms on the risk of esophageal cancer, a meta-analysis was here performed in Chinese populations. A total of 16 studies including 3,040 cases and 4,127 controls were involved in this metaanalysis. Overall, significant associations were found between the MTHFR C677T polymorphism and esophageal cancer risk when all studies in Chinese populations were pooled into the meta-analysis (T vs. C, OR = 1.19, 95% CI = 1.06-1.34; TT vs. CC, OR = 1.35, 95% CI = 1.07-1.70; TT+ CT vs. CC, OR = 1.29, 95% CI = 1.08-1.54; TT vs. CC + CT, OR = 1.19, 95% CI = 1.03-1.37). In subgroup analyses stratified by ethnicity and source of controls, the same results were found in Kazakh (TT vs. CC, OR = 1.38, 95% CI = 1.02-1.87; TT + CT vs. CC, OR = 1.50, 95% CI = 1.03-2.18), in not stated populations (T vs. C, OR = 1.24, 95% CI = 1.08-1.42; TT vs. CC, OR = 1.47, 95% CI = 1.10-1.96; TT + CT vs. CC, OR = 1.30, 95% CI = 1.05-1.60; TT vs. CC + CT, OR = 1.32, 95% CI = 1.12-1.56), and in hospital-based studies (T vs. C, OR = 1.34, 95% CI = 1.19-1.51; TT vs. CC, OR = 1.81, 95% CI = 1.37-2.39; TT + CT vs. CC, OR = 1.51, 95% CI = 1.26-1.83; and TT vs. CC + CT, OR = 1.39, 95% CI = 1.13-1.70). In conclusion, this meta-analysis provides evidence that the MTHFR C677T polymorphism contributes to esophageal cancer development in Chinese populations.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.15 no.3
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• pp.1205-1210
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• 2014

Background: Previous studies on the association of oral contraceptives (OC) use and lung cancer generated inconsistent findings. The aim of this study was to confirm any definite correlation between OC use and lung cancer risk. Methods: Publications were reviewed and obtained through PubMed and EMBASE databases literature search up to November, 2013. Reference lists from retrieved articles were also reviewed. The language of publication was restricted to English. A meta-analysis was performed to evaluate the association by calculating pooled odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Results: A total of 14 studies consisting of 9 case-control studies and 5 cohort studies were finally included in this meta-analysis. There was no significant association observed between OC use and lung cancer risk in the overall analysis (OR=0.91; 95% CI=0.81-1.03). There was a significant protective effect in Europe (OR=0.74; 95% CI=0.60-0.91) and a borderline significant protective effect with an adenocarcinoma histology (OR=0.90; 95% CI=0.80-1.01) in subgroup analyses. No association was observed for methodological quality of study, study design, smoking status and case number of study. Conclusion: This meta-analysis suggests that OC use is not likely to be associated with the risk of lung cancer at all. While a significant protective effect of OC use on lung cancer was observed in Europe, interpretation should be cautious because of the potential biases of low-quality studies. At the same time, more attention should be paid to the possible association of OC use with adenocarcinoma of lung. Our findings require further research, with well-conducted and large-scale epidemiological studies to confirm effects of OC use on lung cancer.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.15 no.6
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• pp.2571-2576
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• 2014

Background: Published studies on the association between the exonuclease 1 (EXO1) Glu589Lys polymorphism and cancer susceptibility have yielded conflicting results. Thus, a meta-analysis of published studies was performed to assess the possible association. Materials and Methods: All eligible case-control studies published up to January 2013 on the association between the EXO1 Glu589Lys polymorphism and cancer susceptibility were identified by searching PubMed, Web of Science, Science Direct and hand search. Either fixed-effect or random-effect models were used to calculate pooled odds ratios (ORs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) using the Comprehensive Meta-Analysis software version 2.2. Results: A total of 4,391 cancer cases and 4,339 controls from 10 studies were included. Overall, no significant association between the EXO1 Glu589Lys polymorphism and cancer susceptibility was observed in either genetic model. However; in subgroup analyses by cancer type, a significant association between EXO1 Glu589Lys and lung cancer risk was found (Lys vs Glu: OR=1.23, 95%CI=1.07-1.41, $p_{heterogeneity}$=0.05). Further, subgroup analysis by ethnicity indicated that there was a statistically increased cancer risk in Asians (Lys vs Glu: OR=1.42, 95%CI=1.30-1.55, $p_{heterogeneity}$=0.07; Lys/Lys vs Glu/Glu: OR=1.93, 95%CI=1.20-3.12, $p_{heterogeneity}$=0.01; Lys/Lys+Glu/Lys vs Glu/Glu: OR=1.52, 95%CI=1.37-1.68, $p_{heterogeneity}$=0.42; Lys/Lys vs Glu/Lys+Glu/Glu: OR=1.68, 95%CI=1.07-2.65, $p_{heterogeneity}$=0.02). However, significant association was absent in Caucasians. Conclusions: This meta-analysis suggests, for the first time, that the EXO1 Glu589Lys polymorphism is not associated with overall cancer susceptibility, although marginal associations were found for lung cancer and Asian subgroups. Additional well-designed studies with larger sample size focusing on different ethnicities and cancer types are needed to confirm these findings.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.15 no.3
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• pp.1263-1267
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• 2014

Background: Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) play important roles in pathogenesis and development of cancer. Recently, many studies have show associations between polymorphisms in the promoter regions of MMPs and risk of gastric cancer. The present meta-analysis was conducted in order to investigate the potential association between four polymorphisms in the MMP gene and gastric cancer risk. Methods: A computerized literature search was conducted in databases of Med-line, Embase, Science Citation Index and PubMed till June 2013 for any MMP genetic association study of gastric cancer. Odds ratios (ORs) and 95 % confidence intervals (CIs) were estimated for each gene under dominant and recessive models, and heterogeneity between studies was assessed using the Q test and $I^2$ value. Overall and subgroup analyses according to ethnicity were carried out with Stata 12.0. Results: 14 reports covering 8,146 patients (2,980 in the case group and 5,166 in the control group) were included in the present meta-analysis. We found that the MMP-7 (-181A>G) polymorphism increased the gastric cancer risk in therecessive model (GG vs. AA/AG, OR=1.768, 95% CI =1.153-2.712). For MMP2 -1306 C>T, MMP1-1607 1G/2G, and MMP9-1 562 C>T, there were no associations between these polymorphisms and the risk of gastric cancer under dominant or recessive models. Conclusion: This meta-analysis suggested that the MMP7-181 A>G polymorphism may contribute to gastric cancer susceptibility. More studies are needed, especially in Europeans, in the future.

• Cartoon and Animation Studies
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• s.16
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• pp.211-221
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• 2009

are cartoon-expressions called cartoon itself to show the characteristic and limit of the presentation system, cartoon, by constitution. These followings are typical examples. First, a character regarded as a cartoonist shows up in the cartoon and constitutes the readers' recognition of the cartoon by himself or herself. Second, the line dividing two cuts is transformed or destroyed and likened to another thing so that can help the readers understand the cuts are physical existence. Most of the approaches to cartoon criticism studies which have been done before are external analyses focused on how to use cuts, balloons, and the two-dimensional expression meaning the relationship between script and picture. The purpose of this research is understanding meta-expressions in online and offline cartoons based on these outcomes. The research on meta-expressions of cartoon is considered to help understanding about the structure of Webcomics and the expansion of expression field in media by examining the expressions of the genre called cartoon.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.16 no.2
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• pp.411-420
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• 2015

Ki-67 has been widely used as an indicator of cell proliferation in gliomas. However, the role of Ki-67 as a prognostic marker is still undefined. Thus, we conducted a meta-analysis of the published literatures in order to clarify the impact of Ki-67 on survival in glioma cases. Eligible studies were identified in PubMed, EMBASE, ISI Web of Science, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, Science Direct and Wiley Online Library with the last search updated on August 31, 2014. The clinical characteristics, overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS) together with Ki-67 expression at different time points were extracted. A total of 51 studies, covering 4,307 patients, were included in the current meta-analysis. The results showed that overexpression of Ki-67 can predict poor OS (HR=1.66, 95%CI: 1.53-1.80; Z=11.87; p=0.000) and poor PFS (HR=1.67, 95%CI: 1.47-1.91; Z=7.67; p=0.000) in gliomas. Moreover, subgroup analyses also indicated that high level of Ki-67 expression was related to poor OS and PFS in glioma patients regardless of region, pathology type, cut-off value and statistical method. In conclusion, the current meta-analysis revealed that Ki-67 expression might be a predicative factor for poor prognosis of glioma patients, emphasizing its importance as a predictor.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.14 no.1
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• pp.523-528
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• 2013

Background: The possibility that electromagnetic fields (EMF) exposure may increase male breast cancer risk has been discussed for a long time. However, arguments have been presented that studies limited by poor quality could have led to statistically significant results by chance or bias. Moreover, data fo the last 10 years have not been systematically summarized. Methods and Results: To confirm any possible association, a meta-analysis was performed by a systematic search strategy. Totals of 7 case-control and 11 cohort studies was identified and pooled ORs with 95% CIs were used as the principal outcome measures. Data from these studies were extracted with a standard meta-analysis procedure and grouped in relation to study design, cut-off point, exposure assessment method, adjustment and exposure model. A statistical significant increased risk of male breast cancer with EMF exposure was defined (pooled ORs = 1.32, 95% CI = 1.14-1.52, P < 0.001), and subgroup analyses also showed similar results. Conclusions: This meta-analysis suggests that EMF exposure may be associated with the increase risk of male breast cancer despite the arguments raised.