• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.16 no.4
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• pp.1435-1442
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• 2015

Purpose: To study the patient load, treatment pattern, survival outcome and its predictors in patients with brain metastases treated by radiotherapy. Materials and Methods: Data for patients with brain metastases treated by radiotherapy between 2003 and 2007 were collected from medical records, the hospital information system database, and a population-based tumor registry database until death or at least 5 years after treatment and retrospectively reviewed. Results: The number of treatments for brain metastases gradually increased from 48 in 2003 to 107 in 2007, with more than 70% from lung and breast cancers. The majority were treated with whole brain radiation of 30 Gy (3 Gy X 10 fractions) by cobalt-60 machine, using radiation alone. The overall median survival of the 418 patients was 3.9 months. Cohort analysis of relative survival after radiotherapy was as follows: 52% at 3 months, 18% at 1 year and 3% at 5 years in males; and 66% at 3 months, 26% at 1 year and 7% at 5 years in females. Multivariate analysis demonstrated that the patients treated with combined modalities had a better prognosis. Poor prognostic factors included primary cancer from the lung or gastrointestinal tract, emergency or urgent consultation, poor performance status (ECOG 3-4), and a hemoglobin level before treatment of less than 10 g/dl. Conclusions: This study identified an increasing trend of patient load with brain metastases. Possible over-treatment and under-treatment were demonstrated with a wide range of survival results. Practical prognostic scoring systems to assist in decision-making for optimal treatment of different patient groups is absolutely necessary; it is a key strategy for balancing good quality of care and patient load.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.15 no.21
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• pp.9453-9458
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• 2014

Background: Breast cancer is the second leading cause of cancer death for women in the United States. Differences in survival of breast cancer have been noted among racial and ethnic groups, but the reasons for these disparities remain unclear. This study presents the characteristics and the survival curve of two racial and ethnic groups and evaluates the effects of race on survival times by measuring the lifetime data-based half-normal model. Materials and Methods: The distributions among racial and ethnic groups are compared using female breast cancer patients from nine states in the country all taken from the National Cancer Institute's Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results cancer registry. The main end points observed are: age at diagnosis, survival time in months, and marital status. The right skewed half-normal statistical probability model is used to show the differences in the survival times between black Hispanic (BH) and black non-Hispanic (BNH) female breast cancer patients. The Kaplan-Meier and Cox proportional hazard ratio are used to estimate and compare the relative risk of death in two minority groups, BH and BNH. Results: A probability random sample method was used to select representative samples from BNH and BH female breast cancer patients, who were diagnosed during the years of 1973-2009 in the United States. The sample contained 1,000 BNH and 298 BH female breast cancer patients. The median age at diagnosis was 57.75 years among BNH and 54.11 years among BH. The results of the half-normal model showed that the survival times formed positive skewed models with higher variability in BNH compared with BH. The Kaplan-Meir estimate was used to plot the survival curves for cancer patients; this test was positively skewed. The Kaplan-Meier and Cox proportional hazard ratio for survival analysis showed that BNH had a significantly longer survival time as compared to BH which is consistent with the results of the half-normal model. Conclusions: The findings with the proposed model strategy will assist in the healthcare field to measure future outcomes for BH and BNH, given their past history and conditions. These findings may provide an enhanced and improved outlook for the diagnosis and treatment of breast cancer patients in the United States.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.13 no.5
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• pp.1863-1867
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• 2012

Background: Maintenance chemotherapy is one strategy pursued in recent years with intent to break through the chemotherapy plateau for advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). However, given the toxicity, platinum-based combinations are rarely given for this purpose. We carried out the present prospective study of triplet platinum-based combination sequential chemotherapy in advanced NSCLC to investigate if patients could tolerate and benefit from such intensive treatment. Methods: From Dec 2003 to Dec 2007, 190 stage IIIB and IV NSCLC patients in Sun yat-sen University sequentially received the 3 platinum-based combination (TP-NP-GP) treatment (T: paclitaxol175$mg/m^2$ d1; N: vinorelbine25$mg/m^2$ d1 and 8; G: gemcitabine1$g/m^2$ d1 and 8; P: cisplatin20$mg/m^2$ d1-5; repeated every 3 weeks). Patients were followed up to at least 3 years to obtain survival data. Treatment toxicities and the quality of life (QOL) were assessed during the whole treatment. Results: There were 187 patients evaluable. The TP, NP and GP response rates with sequential use were 42.8% (80/187), 41.1% (65/158) and 28.8% (21/73) respectively. Median survival time was 18.2 months and the 1, 2 and 3 year overall survival (OS) rates were 78.7%, 38.5% and 21.3%. Patients receiving > 6 cycles of chemotherapy had significantly longer OS and TTP (MST 25.3 vs. 14.5 months, TTP 15.1 vs. 9.1 months). The QOL on the whole for the patients was improved after chemotherapy. Conclusions: The sequential chemotherapy strategy with triplet platinum-based combination regimens can improve the survival outcome and the quality of life of advanced non-small cell lung cancer patients.

• Asia-Pacific Journal of Business Venturing and Entrepreneurship
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• v.11 no.3
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• pp.97-109
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• 2016

In Korea, the survival rate of start-up of 5-year after foundation is as low as 29.6% of the country. This low survival rate is from because of insufficient resources in start-ups compared to those of mid-sized companies. Therefore, the marketing characteristics of entrepreneurship has emerged as a major cause. Therefore, In this study, because learning orientation, marketing experience, competition orientation and etc are differently owned in start-ups, marketing impact to marketing strategy in start-up companies are differently investigated. Therefore, the relationship of learning orientation, marketing experience, competition Orientation with marketing strategies was examined. Based on this, Business performance was examined to suggest contents related to eco-system of start-up companies to representative of start-up companies. For this study, Survey was conducted for 250 start-up entrepreneurs within 3 and half year since foundation from Nov. 20 to Dec. 20, 2015. In result of data-cleaning, 207 meaningful samples were gathered. Based on these, conclusion was obtained. Using SPSS 20.0 statistical program, frequency analysis, reliability analysis, correlation analysis and regression analysis were conducted. the following conclusions were drawn. First, in the impact of marketing environment of Phase 1 start-up companies on marketing strategy, product strategy, distribution strategy and promotion strategy were positively affected by learning orientation, marketing experience and competition orientation. Second, in the effect of 2nd phase marketing strategy to business performance, the financial performance and the non-financial performance. Were positively affected by product strategy, distribution strategy and promotion strategies. Third, The effect of learning orientation, marketing experience and competition orientation to financial performance was positively mediated by product strategy and distribution strategy among 3rd phase meditation strategies. the effect of learning orientation, marketing experience and competition orientation to non-financial performance was positively mediated by products strategy. In comprehensive summary, in order to increase business performance in start-up companies, marketing strategy should be applied in. Especially, the role of learning orientation and marketing experience is vital. In increasement of business performance to characteristics of star up marketing, financial performance can be increased by product strategy and distribution strategy. And, both of financial and non-financial performance can be increased by product strategy. Therefore, in conducting of marketing characteristics of start-up, to increase business performance, the apply of marketing strategy to marketing characteristics of start-up should be required.

• Journal of Aquaculture
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• v.20 no.1
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• pp.56-59
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• 2007

Effect of dietary nutrient composition on growth and body composition of juvenile olive flounder Paralichthys olivaceus with different feeding strategy was determined. Twenty-five fish averaging 16 g were randomly distributed into 12, 180 L flow-through tank each. Four treatments in triplicates were prepared: fish were fed to satiation twice daily by the control diet for 8 weeks as the control group (Con) and fish were fed to satiation twice daily by the control and high nutrient diets for 6 weeks after 2-week fasting (2WS-6WFC, 2WS-6WFHN, respectively) and finally, fish were fed to satiation twice daily by the high nutrient diet for the consecutive 3 days after 4-day fasting for 8 weeks (4DS-3DFHN). No significant difference was found in either survival or weight gain of flounder among treatments. Feed efficiency ratio (FER) for fish in the 2WS-6WFHN treatment was significantly higher than that for fish in the Con and 2WS-6WFC treatments. Protein efficiency ratio (PER) of fish in the 2WS-6WFHN and 4DS-3DFHN treatments was significantly higher than that of fish in the 2WS-6WFC treatment. In conclusion, manipulation of dietary nutrient composition and/or feeding strategy can effectively improve growth of juvenile olive flounder without growth retardation at restricted feeding regime.

• Journal of Distribution Science
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• v.19 no.12
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• pp.57-69
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• 2021

Purpose: This study aims to measure whether the business performance of Padang restaurants in North Jakarta is primarily affected by service distribution strategy and other factors, specifically the local-based organizational culture and entrepreneurial orientation. Research design, data and methodology: This quantitative research has used Structural Model-Partial Least Square (PLS-SEM) with SMART PLS 3.0 as the analytical tool. The study's sample focus is the owner or person in charge of the Padang restaurant business in North Jakarta. Data has been collected using a questionnaire instrument with a Likert scale scale ('1-strongly disagree' to '5-strongly agree'). A total of 86 samples with a random technique were obtained from three areas in North Jakarta: Kelapa Gading, Pademangan, and Penjaringan. Results: Interestingly, this research finds that service distribution strategy does not affect business performance, either directly or indirectly. Business performance in this study is affected by entrepreneurial orientation. In additional results, the local organizational culture significantly affects the entrepreneurial orientation, but does not affect the business performance in terms of management process. Conclusions: This study provides practical implications for restaurant businesses regarding the use of local cultural concepts to consider strategies for survival in today's challenging times while continuing operations during limitations.

• The Journal of Asian Finance, Economics and Business
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• v.8 no.2
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• pp.1157-1168
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• 2021

Hotels drive the growth and development of tourism. Despite their important role, many hotels are small and medium-sized firms (SME) that are struggling to survive against fierce competition. Experts agree that strategic planning is vital for SME survival, but it is not wholly applicable for SME managers. Meanwhile, Mintzberg's concept of crafting strategy offers a more productive insight into SME strategic planning, but its abstract nature has historically discouraged empirical research on its practical benefits. This study will be the first to empirically explore the operationalization of Mintzberg's crafting strategy characteristics, and analyze its influence on organizational learning using structural equation model. Using a sample of 50 hotels in Bali, Indonesia, this study reveals that managing pattern and stability, detecting discontinuity, and knowing the business have a positive but weak effect, whereas reconciling change and continuity proves to have a positive and significantly strong effect on organizational learning. This study has bridged the gap between the abstract concepts of crafting strategy, which is a potentially better approach for SMEs, with daily operational practices. This study also proves that Mintzberg's approach can be used to predict organizational learning. This relationship is crucial since previous studies concluded that organizational learning improves company performance.

• Neonatal Medicine
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• v.25 no.1
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• pp.29-36
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• 2018

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to investigate the outcome after changes in the treatment strategies for very low birth weight infant (VLBWI) in a single neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) center. Methods: We performed a retrospective review of 300 VLBWI born from 1st January 2010 to 31th December 2016. We compared the outcomes including survival rate, birth weight (BW), gestational age (GA), and morbidities between period I (2010-2013, P-I) and period II (2014-2016, P-II). Results: The average survival rate was not different between P-I and P-II. However, the survival rate of ${\leq}24$ weeks' GA, 25 weeks' GA, 26 weeks' GA were 57%, 69%, 93% respectively in P-II and 31%, 59%, 87% in P-I respectively. The survival rate of infants with birth weight <500 g, 500-749 g, 750-999 g were 100%, 55%, 90% respectively in P- II and 50%, 24%, 80%, respectively in P-I. The incidence of bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) was higher in P-II than in P-I (P=0.012) and moderate-to-severe BPD was also higher in P-II (P=0.004). Incidence of patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) with treatment, necrotizing enterocolitis (stage ${\geq}2$), and abnormal brain sonography were significantly lower in P-II (P=0.027, P=0.032, P=0.005). Incidences of retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) with laser treatment and early sepsis were not different. Conclusion: The survival rate and complications of VLBWI were improved in period II, especially in less than 750 g and below 26 weeks, except incidence of BPD. Changes of NICU strategies were effective to improve mortality and morbidity in VLBWI.

• Journal of Gastric Cancer
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• v.2 no.4
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• pp.200-204
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• 2002

Purpose: The aim of this study was to compare the clinicopathological characteristics and postoperative prognosis of two age groups with gastric cancer in order to establish the proper treatment strategy in these groups of patients. Materials and Methods: Among patients with gastric cancer who underwent a gastrectomy between 1990 and 1996 at the Department of Surgery, Kyungpook National University, the clinicopathological characteristics, including the postoperative survival, of patients younger than 40-years old were compared with those of patients over 69-years old. Results: During that period 1,125 gastric cancer patients underwent a gastrectomy. Among them, 111 patients ($9.9\%$) were less than 40-years old, and 96 patients ($8.5\%$) were over 69-years old. In the young group, 79 patients ($71.2\%$) had a poorly differentiated adenocarcinoma, and 59 patients from the elderly group ($61.5\%$) had a well- or moderately differentiated adenocarcinoma (P<0.05). Curative surgery was performed for 88 ($79.3\%$) patients in the young group and 78 ($81.3\%$) patients in the elderly group. This difference was not statistically significant. There was no statistically significant difference in the 5-year survival rates between the young and the elderly ($66.3\%\;vs.\;47.2\%$) groups, but the 5-year survival rate of the young group was significantly higher than that of the elderly group after a curative resection ($83.2\%\;vs.\;53.3\%$; P<0.05). Also the 5-year survival rate of the elderly group was significantly higher than that of the young group after a non-curative resection ($20.4\%\;vs.\;4.6\%$; P<0.05). Conclusions: For young patients, more efforts are needed to detect gastric cancer in its early stages so that a curative surgery can be performed. However, for the elderly, surgical treatment is recommended at any stage because of the relatively high survival rate, even after non-curative surgery.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.16 no.3
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• pp.869-874
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• 2015

Background: The prognostic value of microvessel density (MVD), reflecting angiogenesis, detected in ovarian cancer is currently controversial. Here we performed a meta-analysis of all relevant eligible studies. Materials and Methods: A comprehensive search of online PubMed, Medline, EMBASE and Sciencedirect was performed to identify all related articles. The search strategy was designed as 'microvessel density', 'ovarian cancer', 'ovarian neoplasm', 'CD34' and 'angiogenesis'. Results: The studies were categorized by author/year, number of patients, FIGO stage, histology, cutoff value for microvessel density, types of survival analysis, methods of hazard rations (HR) estimation, HR and its 95% confidence interval (CI). Combined hazard ratios suggested that high MVD was associated with poor overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS), with HR and 95% CIs of 1.84 (1.33-2.35) and 1.36 (1.06-1.66), respectively. Subgroup analysis showed that high MVD detected by CD34 was relevant for OS [HR=1.67 (1.36-2.35)], but not MVD detected with other antibodies [HR=2.11 (0.90-3.31)]. Another subgroup analysis indicated that high MVD in patients without pre-chemotherapy, but not with pre-chemotherapy, was associated with OS [HR=1.88(1.59-2.18 and HR=1.70 (-0.18-3.59)]. Conclusions: The OS and PFS with high MVD were significant poorer than with low MVD in ovarian cancer patients. However, high MVD detected by CD34 seems to be more associated with survival for patients without pre-chemotherapy.