• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.15 no.16
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• pp.6805-6810
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• 2014

Background: Previous studies have suggested a link between obesity and breast cancer (BC). However, there is no universal consensus, especially in population based studies. Because only few studies have been conducted on African women, we aimed here to assess the relationship between BMI at time of diagnosis and the BC histopathological features among Tunisian patients according to menopausal status using a hospital-based prospective cohort study. Materials and Methods: Clinical and pathological data were collected from 262 patients stratified on four groups according to their BMI. The relationship between BMI and histopathological features at diagnosis was analysed using univariate and multivariate analysis. Receiver-operating characteristic (ROC) curves were used to evaluate the performance of BMI in predicting of high tumor grade, in comparison to ki-67 index of proliferation. Results: Obesity was correlated with larger tumors, advanced grade and with ER-PR-Her2+ BC subtype. An association of BMI with tumor size and tumor grade was observed in both premenopausal and postmenopausal women. Additionally, a significant association between BMI and ER+, ER+PR+Her2+ and ER-PR-Her2+ status was revealed for premenopausal patients, while only ER+PR+Her2+ was associated with BMI for postmenopausal women. Finally, our results showed that compared to Ki67 proliferation index, BMI is a useful prognostic marker of high grade BC tumors. Conclusions: These data are the first to show that in Tunisia obese women suffering from BC have significantly larger tumors and advanced tumor grade and that higher BMI might influence tumor characteristics and behavior.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.14 no.1
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• pp.435-440
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• 2013

Background: Breast cancer is the leading cause of cancer-related death among women in Malaysia. A diagnosis is very stressful for women, affecting all aspects of their being and quality of life. As such, there is little information on quality of life of women with breast cancer across the different ethnic groups in Malaysia. The purpose of this study was to examine the quality of life in Malay and Chinese women newly diagnosed with breast cancer in Kelantan. Materials and Methods: A descriptive study involved 58 Malays and 15 Chinese women newly diagnosed with breast cancer prior to treatment. Quality of life was measured using the Malay version of the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire (EORTC QLQ-C30) and its breast-specific module (QLQ-BR23). Socio-demographic and clinical data were also collected. All the data were analyzed using SPSS version 20.0. Results: Most of the women were married with at least a secondary education and were in late stages of breast cancer. The Malay women had lower incomes (p=0.046) and more children (p=0.001) when compared to the Chinese women. Generally, both the Malay and Chinese women had good functioning quality-of-life scores [mean score range: 60.3-84.8 (Malays); 65.0-91.1 (Chinese)] and global quality of life [mean score 60.3, SD 22.2 (Malays); mean score 65.0, SD 26.6 (Chinese)]. The Malay women experienced more symptoms such as nausea and vomiting (p=0.002), dyspnoea (p=0.004), constipation (p<0.001) and breast-specific symptoms (p=0.041) when compared to the Chinese. Conclusions: Quality of life was satisfactory in both Malays and Chinese women newly diagnosed with breast cancer in Kelantan. However, Malay women had a lower quality of life due to high general as well as breast-specific symptoms. This study finding underlined the importance of measuring quality of life in the newly diagnosed breast cancer patient, as it will provide a broader picture on how a cancer diagnosis impacts multi-ethnic patients. Once health care professionals understand this, they might then be able to determine how to best support and improve the quality of life of these women during the difficult times of their disease and on-going cancer treatments.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.17 no.8
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• pp.4037-4041
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• 2016

Background: Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a common cancer that is frequently diagnosed at an advanced stage. Transarterial chemoembolisation (TACE) is an effective palliative treatment for patients who are not eligible for curative treatment. The two main methods for performing TACE are conventional (c-TACE) or with drug eluting beads (DEB-TACE). We sought to compare survival rates and tumour response between patients undergoing c-TACE and DEB-TACE at our centre. Materials and Methods: A retrospective cohort study of patients undergoing either treatment was carried out from January 2009 to December 2014. Tumour response to the procedures was evaluated according to the modified Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors (mRECIST). Kaplan-Meier analysis was used to assess and compare the overall survival in the two groups. Results: A total of 79 patients were analysed (34 had c-TACE, 45 had DEB-TACE) with a median follow-up of 11.8 months. A total of 20 patients in the c-TACE group (80%) and 12 patients in the DEB-TACE group (44%) died during the follow up period. The median survival durations in the c-TACE and DEB-TACE groups were $4.9{\pm}3.2$ months and $8.3{\pm}2.0$ months respectively (p=0.008). There was no statistically significant difference noted among the two groups with respect to mRECIST criteria. Conclusions: DEB-TACE demonstrated a significant improvement in overall survival rates for patients with unresectable HCC when compared to c-TACE. It is a safe and promising approach and should potentially be considered as a standard of care in the management of unresectable HCC.

• Korean Journal of Ichthyology
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• v.24 no.2
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• pp.84-93
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• 2012

Fish species composition and abundance in the waters of nearby Nakdong River estuary were investigated non-continuously and seasonally by shrimp beam trawl in summer 2007, winter 2009, and from spring 2010 to autumn 2010. During the study period, total fish species were collected 92 species, 36 families in study area. Shannon index was 1.893~2.962, and evenness was 0.050~0.231. Fish species composition was shown interannually and seasonally variations in the waters of nearby Nakdong River estuary. We carryed out cluster analysis to contain the data in previous and current study. Fish species composition was divided 3 groups which were 1987~1988 and 1998, 2001~2002, and 2007~2008 and 2009~2010. Average and minimum length in this study was longer than its in previous studies, and length range in this study was wider than its in previous studies, too. Dominant fish increased individuals and weight per unit area in this study. Especially Lophius litulon, Raja kenojei, Eopsetta grigorjewi, and Zeus faber were much better than past 2002. Liparis tanakai, Repomucenus valenciennei and Leiognathus nuchalis were dominant fish in previous study, but those decreased individuals and weight per unit area in this study.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.14 no.2
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• pp.619-624
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• 2013

Background: Colorectal cancer (CRC) exists in a more common sporadic form and less common hereditary forms, associated with the Lynch syndrome, familial adenomatous polyposis (FAP) and other rare syndromes. Sporadic CRC is believed to arise as a result of close interaction between environmental factors, including dietary and lifestyle habits, and genetic predisposition factors. In contrast, hereditary forms such as those related to the Lynch syndrome result from inheritance of germline mutations of mismatch repair (MMR) genes. However, in certain cases, the influence of low penetrance alleles in familial colorectal cancer susceptibility is also undeniable. Aim: To investigate the genotype frequencies of MLH1 promoter polymorphism -93G>A and to determine whether it could play any role in modulating familial and sporadic CRC susceptibility risk. Methods: A case-control study comprising of 104 histopathologically confirmed CRC patients as cases (52 sporadic CRC and 52 Lynch syndrome patients) and 104 normal healthy individuals as controls was undertaken. DNA was extracted from peripheral blood and the polymorphism was genotyped employing PCR-RFLP methods. The genotypes were categorized into homozygous wild type, heterozygous and homozygous variants. The risk association between these polymorphisms and CRC susceptibility risk was calculated using binary logistic regression analysis and deriving odds ratios (ORs). Results: When risk association was investigated for all CRC patients as a single group, the heterozygous (G/A) genotype showed a significantly higher risk for CRC susceptibility with an OR of 2.273, (95%CI: 1.133-4.558 and p-value=0.021). When analyzed specifically for the 2 types of CRC, the heterozygous (G/A) genotype showed significantly higher risk for sporadic CRC susceptibility with and OR of 3.714, (95%CI: 1.416-9.740 and p-value=0.008). Despite high OR value was observed for Lynch syndrome (OR: 1.600, 95%CI: 0.715-3.581), the risk was not statistically significant (P=0.253). Conclusion: Our results suggest an influence of MLH1 promoter polymorphism -93G>A in modulating susceptibility risk in Malaysian CRC patients, especially those with sporadic disease.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.42 no.4
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• pp.438-444
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• 2010

Fermented skate has a unique ammonia-like flavor. The flavor is preferred by a few lovers of skate muscle, while women and young people may be sensitive to the odor. Organic acids were used to reduce the ammonia-like odor in fermented skate and to investigate the physicochemical properties. Fermented skate muscles were sprayed with 20 mL of acetic acid or citric acid (3, 5, and 7%) for 30 seconds and stored at $4^{\circ}C$ for 15 days. The physicochemical properties of organic acid-treated fermented skate were investigated during storage. The control, which was treated with distilled water, showed a higher pH value than the samples treated with organic acids. The $L^*$ value increased with increasing organic acid concentration, while the $a^*$ and $b^*$ values were not significantly different among the samples. The trimethylamine (TMA) decreased with increasing in the organic acid concentration, but it was not significantly different after 9 days of storage. Ammonia-type nitrogen and ammonia-like flavoring, decreased with increasing in the organic acid concentration, whereas ammonia-type nitrogen increased with a storage period more than 6 days. In conclusion, fermented skate treated with 7% citric acid was the best treatment to reduce the ammonia-like odor.

• Journal of Korean Society on Water Environment
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• v.32 no.2
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• pp.142-148
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• 2016

The characterization of stormwater runoff from mix land-use catchments with an inadequate sewer network is a challenge. This study focused on characterizing stormwater runoff from the Paldang watershed area based on land-use type and sewer system coverage. A total of 76 sites were monitored during wet weather from seven different counties within Paldang watershed. Public sewer system (PSS) was installed at 48 sites, while 28 sites had no or individual sewer system (ISS) coverage. The results indicated that the sites included in the ISS group with higher forest and paddy land-use percentage exhibit higher values of average event mean concentrations (EMCs) and first flush intensity for suspended solids (SS), total nitrogen (TN), and total phosphorous (TP). In addition, upgrading runoff interception system can capture 59 % of the TP load in the first 43% of runoff within these sites. Similarly, rainfall depth and storm duration showed a positive correlation (R > 0.6) with nutrient loads within ISS group sites, as compared to PSS group. Therefore, these sites are likely to contribute higher TP and TN loads during heavier storm events and should be selected as priority management areas to combat the problem of eutrophication in Paldang reservoir.

• KSCE Journal of Civil and Environmental Engineering Research
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• v.30 no.3C
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• pp.141-148
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• 2010

Electrical noises like self potential, burst noises and 60-Hz electrical noises are one of the causes to reduce reliability of electrical resistivity survey. Even the PDC-R (Pseudo DC resisitivity) technique, recently developed, is suffering from the problem of low reliability due to electrical noises. That is, both DC-based and AC-based resistivity technique is subject to reliability problem due to electrical noises embedded in urban geotechnical sites. In this research, a new technique to enhance reliability of the PDC-R technique by minimizing influence of electrical noises was proposed. In addition, an automated procedure was also proposed to facilitate data analysis and interpretation of PDC-R measurements. The proposed technique is composed of two steps: 1. to extract information only related with the input current by means of multiple-filter technique, and 2. to undertake a task to sort out signal information only to show stable and reliable characteristics. This automated procedure was verified by a synthetic harmonic wave including DC shift, burst random noises and 60-Hz electrical noises. Also the procedure was applied to site investigation at urban areas for proving its feasibility and accuracy.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Fisheries and Ocean Technology
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• v.26 no.2
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• pp.133-142
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• 1990

For the purpose of investigation of demersal fisheries resources of the East China Sea, joint research between Hokkaido University and National Fisheries University of Pusan was carried out during the period from November 5 to November 12 in 1989. This joint research is due to continue for the next three years. In this report, the authors analyzed the catch of 24 draughts of trawl operating by the Oshorumaru of the training ship of Hokkaido University in the north area of the East China Sea, in order to hold the present condition of the demersal resources. The specimens collected were composed of 76 species of fishes, 6 of mollusca and 7 of crustacea. And the main species of the large catch were Raja kenojei, Zeus faber, Miichthys miiuy, Collichthys lucidus, Dentex tumifrons, Carangoides caeruleopinnatus, Trachurus japonicus, Parastromateus niger, Trichiurus leptulus, Scomberomorus niphonius, Pampus argenteus, Pampus echinogaster, Psenopsis anonala, Liparis tanakai, Thammaconus modestus, Tadarodes pacificus, Loligo edulis, and Portunus trituberculatus. Especially, Trichiurus leptulus, Pampus agrenteus and Thammaconus modestus had different modes of classes of body size individually, with changing of fishing ground. But, Tadarodes pacificus, Loligo edulis and Portunus trituberculatus were caught the maxed sizes of body individually in the same ground.

• Korean Journal of Ichthyology
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• v.22 no.3
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• pp.168-178
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• 2010

Fish assemblages associated with rock reef and non-rock reef were studied using specimens collected at three sites in Geomun Island waters of the Southern Sea, Korea, in February, May, August and October, 2006. Two survey methods for the study were followed: collection by a gill net, and video observation by scuba diving. The gill-net survey was conducted during the night, the scuba-diving observations were conducted during the day. From the gill-net survey, a total of 40 species, 380 inds. and 71,426.9 g was caught at the three sites. The dominant species was Trachurus japonicus; other species were Raja kenojei, Dasyatis akajei, Stephanolepis cirrhifer, Narke japonica, Pagrus major, Sebastes inermis, and Sphyraena pinguis. At the rock-reef site, a total of 26 species, 264 inds. and 46,776.7 g was caught by gill net, and the dominant species was T. japonicus. A total of 17 species, 45 inds., 10,535.1 g was caught at the flat-bottom 1 site, and 19 species, 71 inds. and 14,115.1 g were caught at the flat-bottom 2 site. The scuba-diving survey resulted in 13 species and 1,749 inds. observed at the three sites through the survey period. The main observed fishes were rock-dwelling species such as Chromis notatus, Microcanthus strigatus, S. cirrhifer, Ditrema temmincki, Evistias acutriostris, Girella punctata, Halichoeres poecilopterus, Hexagrammos agrammus, Prionurus scalprum, Sebastes inermis, and Semicossyphus reticulatus. Seven species and 1,739 inds. observed at the rock-reef site comprised 99.4% of the inds. of the three sites. Therefore, the fish community in Geomun Island waters included many rock-reef. species, but a few were migratory species like T. japonicus and Scomber japonicus. The abundance of fish at the rock-reef site was high in comparison with those at two non-rock reefs. The dominant species were very different between the day and the night, although rock-reef species comprised the main part of the fish community. We conclude that the high abundance of fish in Geomun Island waters is most closely related to physical structure, such as rock reefs, which is the main habitat of many fishes.