• Korean Journal of Radiology
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• v.22 no.12
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• pp.1974-1984
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• 2021

Objective: This study aimed to compare the efficacy between no-touch (NT) radiofrequency ablation (RFA) and conventional RFA using twin internally cooled wet (TICW) electrodes in the bipolar mode for the treatment of small hepatocellular carcinomas (HCC). Materials and Methods: In this single-center, two-arm, parallel-group, prospective randomized controlled study, we performed a 1:1 random allocation of eligible patients with HCCs to receive NT-RFA or conventional RFA between October 2016 and September 2018. The primary endpoint was the cumulative local tumor progression (LTP) rate after RFA. Secondary endpoints included technical conversion rates of NT-RFA, intrahepatic distance recurrence, extrahepatic metastasis, technical parameters, technical efficacy, and rates of complications. Cumulative LTP rates were analyzed using Kaplan-Meier analysis and the Cox proportional hazard regression model. Considering conversion cases from NT-RFA to conventional RFA, intention-to-treat and as-treated analyses were performed. Results: Enrolled patients were randomly assigned to the NT-RFA group (37 patients with 38 HCCs) or the conventional RFA group (36 patients with 38 HCCs). Among the NT-RFA group patients, conversion to conventional RFA occurred in four patients (10.8%, 4/37). According to intention-to-treat analysis, both 1- and 3-year cumulative LTP rates were 5.6%, in the NT-RFA group, and they were 11.8% and 21.3%, respectively, in the conventional RFA group (p = 0.073, log-rank). In the as-treated analysis, LTP rates at 1 year and 3 years were 0% and 0%, respectively, in the NT-RFA group sand 15.6% and 24.5%, respectively, in the conventional RFA group (p = 0.004, log-rank). In as-treated analysis using multivariable Cox regression analysis, RFA type was the only significant predictive factor for LTP (hazard ratio = 0.061 with conventional RFA as the reference, 95% confidence interval = 0.000-0.497; p = 0.004). There were no significant differences in the procedure characteristics between the two groups. No procedure-related deaths or major complications were observed. Conclusion: NT-RFA using TICW electrodes in bipolar mode demonstrated significantly lower cumulative LTP rates than conventional RFA for small HCCs, which warrants a larger study for further confirmation.

• Journal of Korea Technology Innovation Society
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• v.7 no.3
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• pp.681-709
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• 2004

The purpose of this study is to classify customers by e-mail responsiveness on time-series analysis and testify the effectiveness of grouping by ROI analysis. Response recency, response frequency and Activity(RFA) of e-mailing systems are adapted for Customer segmentations. ROI analysis are consisted of open, click-through, duration time, personalization, conversion rate and email loyalty index of email systems. Major findings are as follows: RFA analysis is used for customer segmentations that is fundamental process of e-CRM applications. Customers can be grouped into loyal customers, odds customers, dormant customers, secession customers, and observation customers by RFA grouping. Loyal customer group has high point in all ROI index compared to other groups. These results indicated that customer responsiveness of e-mail systems were appropriate methods to group the customer with demographic variables. Therefore, effective e-mail marketing strategy of e-Biz should have suitable active DB and Behavior targeting is best approach to enforce the target e-mail marketing.

• Korean Journal of Radiology
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• v.25 no.5
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• pp.438-448
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• 2024

Objective: To evaluate the therapeutic outcomes of no-touch radiofrequency ablation (NT-RFA) using twin cooled wet (TCW) electrodes in patients experiencing recurrent hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) after undergoing locoregional treatments. Materials and Methods: We conducted a prospective, single-arm study of NT-RFA involving 102 patients, with a total of 112 recurrent HCCs (each ≤ 3 cm). NT-RFA with TCW electrodes was implemented under the guidance of ultrasonography (US)-MR/CT fusion imaging. If NT-RFA application proved technically challenging, conversion to conventional tumor puncture RFA was permitted. The primary metric for evaluation was the mid-term cumulative incidence of local tumor progression (LTP) observed post-RFA. Cumulative LTP rates were estimated using the Kaplan-Meier method. Multivariable Cox proportional hazard regression was used to explore factors associated with LTP. Considering conversion cases from NT-RFA to conventional RFA, intention-to-treat (ITT; including all patients) and per-protocol (PP; including patients not requiring conversion to conventional RFA alone) analyses were performed. Results: Conversion from NT-RFA to conventional RFA was necessary for 24 (21.4%) out of 112 tumors. Successful treatment was noted in 111 (99.1%) out of them. No major complications were reported among the patients. According to ITT analysis, the estimated cumulative incidences of LTP were 1.9%, 6.0%, and 6.0% at 1, 2, and 3 years post-RFA, respectively. In PP analysis, the cumulative incidence of LTP was 0.0%, 1.3%, and 1.3% at 1, 2, and 3 years, respectively. The number of previous locoregional HCC treatments (adjusted hazard ratio [aHR], 1.265 per 1 treatment increase; P = 0.004), total bilirubin (aHR, 7.477 per 1 mg/dL increase; P = 0.012), and safety margin ≤ 5 mm (aHR, 9.029; P = 0.016) were independently associated with LTP in ITT analysis. Conclusion: NT-RFA using TCW electrodes is a safe and effective treatment for recurrent HCC, with 6.0% (ITT analysis) and 1.3% (PP analysis) cumulative incidence of LTP at 2 and 3-year follow-ups.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.12 no.5
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• pp.826-828
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• 2002

In our previous studies, we have cloned and characterized a gene region from Bradyrhizobium japonicum ,which is involved in the synthesis of lipopolysaccharide (LPS). In this study, we have expanded the sequence analysis of the region and found an additional open reading frame (orf), which appeared to be divergently transcribed from the rfaF gene. Sequence alignment of the orf revealed a significant similarity with rfaD genes of Salmonella typhimurium , Escherichia coli, and Neisseria gonorrhoeae. These genes encode a heptose-6-epimerase, which catalyzes the interconversion of ADP -D -glycerol-D-manno-heptose to ADP-L-glycero-D-manno-heptose. This divergent organization of the rfaF and rfaD genes is different from that of other Gram-negative bacteria where two genes form an operon. A rfaD- mutant of E. coli was successfully transformed with plasmid constructs containing the rfaD gene of B. japonicum. Novobiocin sensitivity test showed that the rfaD gene from B. japonicum could complement the rfaD mutation in E. coli, which confirms the functionality of the cloned B. japonicum gene.

• The Journal of Advanced Prosthodontics
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• v.5 no.4
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• pp.428-433
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• 2013

PURPOSE. The present study was aimed to evaluate the influence of implant contact ratio and stiffness of implant-surrounding materials on the resonance frequency analysis (RFA) values. MATERIALS AND METHODS. Seventy resin blocks that had the different amounts (100, 50, 30, 15%) of resin-implant contact (RIC) were fabricated. Ten silicone putty blocks with 100% silicone-implant contact were also made. The implants with ${\phi}5.0mm{\times}13.0mm$ were placed on eighty specimen blocks. The RFA value was measured on the transducer that was connected to each implant by Osstell Mentor. Kruskal-Wallis and Scheffe's tests (${\alpha}$=.05) were done for statistical analysis. RESULTS. The control resin group with 100% RIC had the highest RFA value of 83.9, which was significantly different only from the resin group with 15% RIC among the resin groups. The silicone putty group with 100% contact had the lowest RFA value of 36.6 and showed statistically significant differences from the resin groups. CONCLUSION. Within the limitations of this in vitro study, there was no significant difference in the RFA values among the resin groups with different RIC's except when the RIC difference was more than 85%. A significant increase in the RFA value was observed related to the increase in stiffness of material around implant.

• Journal of Dental Rehabilitation and Applied Science
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• v.34 no.2
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• pp.80-88
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• 2018

Purpose: Implant surface modification and implant design are the principle targets for achieving successful primary stability. The aim of this study was to measure implant stability quotient (ISQ) values of sandblasted, large-grit, acid-etched (SLA) implants with tapered straight body design during the healing period, and to determine the various factors affecting implant stability. Materials and Methods: To measure implant stability, resonance frequency analysis (RFA) was performed in 26 patients (13 women and 13 men) with 44 SLA implants with tapered straight body design. Implant stability (ISQ values) was evaluated at baseline and healing abutment connection (12 weeks), and the correlations between RFA and insertion torque (IT), bone quality, and jawbone were determined. Results: The mean ISQ value of the implants was $69.4{\pm}10.2$ at the time of implant placement (baseline) and $81.4{\pm}6.9$ at the time of healing abutment connection (P < 0.05). Significant differences were found between RFA and bone quality and between RFA and jawbone (P < 0.05). No significant differences were found between RFA and IT, insertion area, fixture diameter, and implant length (P > 0.05). Conclusion: ISQ values of SLA implants with tapered straight body design were high at baseline and healing abutment connection. It was concluded that SLA implants with tapered straight body design show improved primary and secondary stability, and that immediate or early loading may be applicable.

• Journal of Korea Water Resources Association
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• v.52 no.10
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• pp.657-669
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• 2019

To estimate accurate design quantiles considering statistical characteristics of hydrological data is one of the most important procedures in the design of hydraulic structures. While at-site frequency analysis estimates design quantile using observed data at a site of interest, regional frequency analysis (RFA) utilizes a number of sites included in a hydrologically homogeneous region. Therefore, RFA could provide a more accurate design quantile at ungauged site or sites with short observation period. In this review article, RFA is classified into stationary RFA and nonstationary RFA depending on the characteristic of hydrological data, and the basic concept, procedure, and application of each technique are explained in detail focused on the index flood method. Additionally, a review of the state of the art for RFA procedure is presented. This paper is finalized by describing the stationary regional rainfall frequency analysis over South Korea contained in the amendment of "Standard guidelines for design flood estimation" and various future study topics related to nonstationary RFA.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.14 no.11
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• pp.6637-6641
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• 2013

Background: To evaluate the results of various types of radiofrequency ablation (RFA) treatment of renal tumors in patients with excessive anesthetic and surgical risk. Materials and Methods: Data for RFA performed in in high risk patients were retrospectively evaluated. Other RFA applications in patients with no anesthetic and/or surgical risk were excluded. RFA was by ultrasound or CT guided percutaneous (USG/CT-PRFA) and retroperitoneally or transperitoneally laparoscopic (R/T-LRFA) techniques under general or local anethesia. Follow-up data of enhanced CT or MRI after 1, 3 and 6 months were analysed for twelve RFA applications. Results: The RFA applications included 4 (40%) left-sided, 5 (50%) right-sided and 1 (10%) bilaterally RFA (simultaneously 1 right and 2 left). The localizations of tumors were 2 (16.6%) upper, 5 (41.6%) mid and 5 (41.6%) lower pole. The RFA applications included 9 (75%) USG-PRFA, 1 (8.3%) CT-PRFA, 1 (8.3%) T-LRFA and 1 (8.3%) R-LRFA. The mean age was $65.3{\pm}8.5$ (52-76) years. The mean tumor size was $29.6{\pm}6.08$ (15-40) mm. No complications related to the RFA were encountered in any of the cases. Failure (residual tumour) was determined in 8.3% (1/12) of USG-RFA application. The success rate was thus 91.7% (11/12). Other 1st, 3rd and 6th months follow-up data revealed no residua and recurrence. Conclusions: RFA application appears to be safe as a less invasive and effective treatment modality in selected cases of small renal tumors in individuals with excessive anesthetic and also surgical risk.

• Maxillofacial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery
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• v.32 no.2
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• pp.107-111
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• 2010

Purpose: The aim of this study is to compare the stability between Mg-incorporated implant, TiUnite and Machined implant. Materials and Methods: Premolars of 3 Mini pigs (24 months) were extracted. After 2 months later, total 27 fixtures of implants (9 of each design : Machined/ TiUnite/ Mg-incorporated) were inserted into the mandible of 3 mini-pig. Implant stability was estimated by RFA in installation to 2, 4 & 6 weeks. Statistical analysis of RFA values was performed with time and between groups using repeated measure ANOVA and turkey's multiple comparison test. Results: In analyzing the mean value for the observation periods, three types of implants yielded a slight decrease in RFA mean value after 2 week, followed by increase at 4-6 weeks. Mg incorporated oxidized implants demonstrated significantly higher RFA mean values at 6 weeks comparing other groups. The difference of RFA value with time and between groups was statistically significant. Conclusion: We concluded that Mg implants may reduce failure rates of clinical implants In the early period of bone healing and Mg implants may shorten the bone healing time from surgery to functional loading.

• Korean Journal of Radiology
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• v.19 no.6
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• pp.1099-1109
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• 2018

Objective: In a proof of concept study, we compared no-touch radiofrequency ablation (NtRFA) in bipolar mode with conventional direct tumor puncture (DTP) in terms of local tumor control (LTC), peritoneal seeding, and tumorigenic factors, in the rabbit VX2 subcapsular hepatic tumor model. Materials and Methods: Sixty-two rabbits with VX2 subcapsular hepatic tumors were divided into three groups according to the procedure: DTP-RFA (n = 25); NtRFA (n = 25); and control (n = 12). Each of the three groups was subdivided into two sets for pathologic analysis (n = 24) or computed tomography (CT) follow-up for 6 weeks after RFA (n = 38). Ultrasonography-guided DTP-RFA and NtRFA were performed nine days after tumor implantation. LTC was defined by either achievement of complete tumor necrosis on histopathology or absence of local tumor progression on follow-up CT and autopsy. Development of peritoneal seeding was also compared among the groups. Serum hepatocyte growth factor (HGF), vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and interleukin-6 (IL-6) were measured via ELISA (Elabscience Biotechnology Co.) after RFA for tumorigenic factor evaluation. Results: Regarding LTC, there was a trend in NtRFA (80%, 20/25) toward better ablation than in DTP-RFA (56%, 14/25) (p = 0.069). Complete tumor necrosis was achieved in 54.5% of DTP-RFA (6/11) and 90.9% of NtRFA (10/11). Peritoneal seeding was significantly more common in DTP-RFA (71.4%, 10/14) than in NtRFA (21.4%, 3/14) (p = 0.021) or control (0%). Elevations of HGF, VEGF or IL-6 were not detected in any group. Conclusion: No-touch radiofrequency ablation led to lower rates of peritoneal seeding and showed a tendency toward better LTC than DTP-RFA.