• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.15 no.21
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• pp.9101-9105
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• 2014

Background: The purpose of this study was to compare the accuracy and effectiveness of automated breast volume scanning (ABVS) and hand-held ultrasound (HHUS) in the detection of breast cancer in a large population group with a long-term follow-up, and to investigate whether different ultrasound systems may influence the estimation of cancer detection. Materials and Methods: Institutional review board approval was obtained for this retrospective study, and informed consent was waived. From September 2010 to August 2011, a total of 1,866 ABVS and 3,700 HHUS participants, who underwent these procedures at our institute, were included in this study. Cancers occurring during the study and subsequent follow-up were evaluated. The reference standard was a combination of histology and follow-up imaging (${\geq}12months$). The recall rate, cancer detection yield, diagnostic accuracy, sensitivity, specificity, and positive (PPV) and negative (NPV) predictive values were calculated with exact 95% confidence intervals. Results: The recall rate was 2.57 per 1,000 (48/1,866) for ABVS and 3.57 per 1,000 (132/3,700) for HHUS, with a significant difference (p=0.048). The cancer detection yield was 3.8 per 1,000 for ABVS and 2.7 per 1,000 for HHUS. The diagnostic accuracy was 97.7% for ABVS and 96.5% for HHUS with statistical significance (p=0.018). The specificity of ABVS and HHUS were 97.8%, 96.7%, respectively (p=0.022). Conclusions: ABVS shows a comparable diagnostic performance to HHUS. ABVS is an effective supplemental tool for mammography in breast cancer detection in a large population.

• Progress in Medical Physics
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• v.19 no.3
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• pp.178-185
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• 2008

Living donor liver transplantation is increasingly performed as an alternative to cadaveric transplantation. Preoperative screening of the donor candidates is very important. The quality, size, and vascular and biliary anatomy of the liver are best assessed with magnetic resonance (MR) imaging or computed tomography (CT). In particular, the volume of the potential graft must be measured to ensure sufficient liver function after surgery. Preoperative liver segmentation has proved useful for measuring the graft volume before living donor liver transplantations in previous studies. In these studies, the liver segments were manually delineated on each image section. The delineated areas were multiplied by the section thickness to obtain volumes and summed to obtain the total volume of the liver segments. This process is tedious and time consuming. To compensate for this problem, automatic segmentation techniques have been proposed with multiplanar CT images. These methods involve the use of sequences of thresholding, morphologic operations (ie, mathematic operations, such as image dilation, erosion, opening, and closing, that are based on shape), and 3D region growing methods. These techniques are complex but require a few computation times. We made a phantom for volume measurement with pig and evaluated actual volume of spleen and liver of phantom. The results represent that our semiautomatic volume measurement algorithm shows a good accuracy and repeatability with actual volume of phantom and possibility for clinical use to assist physician as a measuring tool.

• Journal of Korean Society of Forest Science
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• v.101 no.2
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• pp.291-296
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• 2012

Triploids are a useful tool for biomass production and molecular breeding of trees with a long life span. Triploids of the poplar 'Hyunsasi' (Populus alba ${\times}$ P. glandulosa) have been developed by crossing between female diploids and a male tetraploid. The tetraploid was developed around the 1970s at Korea Forest Research Institute by colchicine-induced chromosome doubling. Seedlings of the $F_1$ generation were analyzed using flow cytometry to verify their ploidy status. The mean relative fluorescence index of 3 F1 poplars, labeled as Line- 1, Line-17, Line-18, were approximately 1.5 times higher than those of diploid poplars, and the results clearly indicated that they were triploids. The phenotype of the F1 poplars included larger leaves and thicker stem than diploids, and abnormal leaf morphology, especially in the triploid 'Line-18'. Three triploid lines developed roots more slowly and had less roots than diploid. However, 3 poplar cytotypes (2x, Line-1, Line-17) rooted within 10 days on MS medium. In contrast, compared with the 3 cytotypes, the Line-18 showed about 80% and 70% in the rooting rate and the number of roots. The triploid poplars could be directly utilized for biomass production and with their sterility, they could serve as basic material for genetic transformation. In addition, flow cytometric analysis proved to be an effective and reliable method for screening forest trees for their ploidy level.

• Journal of Gastric Cancer
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• v.9 no.3
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• pp.78-87
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• 2009

Serum pepsinogen (sPG) is a marker of gastric mucosal atrophy, a condition that has been associated with an increased risk of gastric neoplasia. A low sPGI level and a low PG I/II ratio have been associated with severe gastric atrophy, and are frequently found in gastric cancer. Because the prevalence of gastric cancer is high in Korea, it would be convenient if a good biomarker for gastric cancer were developed. Two studies recently investigated the efficacy of sPG along with Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) as a screening tool for gastric cancer. In these studies, sPG was measured using a Latex enhanced Turbidimetric Immunoassay. We found that H. pylori IgG status, age and gender were associated with serum pepsinogen levels. Thus, to increase the ability of the PG I/II ratio to detect atrophic gastritis, the cutoff value for the PG I/II ratio should be stratified according to the H. pylori IgG status. In addition, a PG I/II ratio ($\leq3.0$), which has been widely used as an international standard for gastric cancer, was found to be a reliable marker for the detection of gastric dysplasia or gastric cancer, especially of the intestinal type. The efficacy of the test in Korea was lower than the efficacy in Japan. However, the detecting power of a PG I/II ratio ($\leq3.0$) was significantly increased in the presence of H. pylori. The ratio together with H. pylori psotivitiy could provide a means of identifying persons at high risk of developing gastric cancer in Korea.

• Journal of the Korean Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
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• v.15 no.2
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• pp.168-177
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• 2004

Objectives : This study was done to develop Korean form of Reynolds' SIQ-JR(Suicidal Ideational Questionnaire-Junior). Through this study we evaluated reliability and validity of Korean form SIQ-JR. Methods : Subjects were 1,160 middle and high school students and 114 adolescent psychiatric patients. SIQ-JR and 8 self-reporting scales highly related with suicidal ideation and suicide behaviors were applied to them. Results : In reliability aspect of Korean form of SIQ-JR, internal consistency, test-retest reliability and item-total correlation were statistically significant results. In factor analysis, concerning about other person was extracted as a indepenedent factor. This results reflect our cultural characteristics. There were statistical differences of SIQ-JR scores in groups by sex and age. Clinical group showed significantly(P<0.01) higher scores than general population. Among the 8 suicidal relating scales, depression(r=0.42), aggression(r=0.36), trait anxiety(r=0.35), and anger-in(r=0.31) were highly related with suicidal ideation but impulsivity and hopelessness were not significantly related with suicidal ideation. Conclusion : Korean form of SIQ-JR was useful instrument in reliability and validity. We hope that this instrument widely used in school mental health, community psychiatry and clinical setting for screening tool.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.38 no.5
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• pp.691-698
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• 2006

The purpose of this study was to investigate how herb extracts may improve blood circulation. Twenty-six extracts from nine different herbs (marjoram, lavender, dill, rosemary, hyssop, rose, lemon balm, pineapple sage, and echinacea) were evaluated for their anti-hypertensive effects via angiotensin I converting enzyme (ACE) inhibition. Their cholesterol-lowering effects via hydroxy-methyl-glutaryl coenzyme A (HMG-CoA) reductase inhibition and their fibrinolytic activity via fibrin-plate method were also evaluated. Both water extraction of rose flowers and 70% EtOH extraction of pineapple sage leaves effectively reduced the ACE activity with inhibition rates of 133.8% and 91.2%, respectively. Similarly, both water and 70% EtOH extracts of rose flowers strongly inhibited the enzymatic activity of HMG-CoA reductase by 48.9% and 80.5%, respectively. Water and 70% EtOH extracts of rose flowers also showed relatively high fibrinolytic activity. Based on these observations, rose flower extracts can be developed as a functional tool for use in the improvement of blood circulation.

• Anxiety and mood
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• v.11 no.2
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• pp.91-105
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• 2015

Objectives : After disaster, some people develop posttraumatic stress sequelae such as posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), major depression, substance use disorders, and suicide. To date, numerous screening and assessment tools for behavioral health issues including mental health problems, psychosocial maladjustment and status of recovery after disaster have been developed. In this condition, one of important topics is to choose instruments that can quickly and accurately measure the issues. Methods : This article reviewed several self-reported scales in adults for disaster behavioral health, which were searched using academic search engines like PubMed, Scopus, KoreaMed and KISS from the earliest available date of indexing through January 31, 2015. Results : More than 40 eligible instruments evaluating the disaster behavioral health issues containing posttraumatic stress sequelae, psychological and social resources, non-disaster stress, and general functions were presented in terms of availability, effectiveness, and expeditiousness. Also, we introduced basic frame aiming on practical usage, which includes standard version and brief version of the instruments for disaster behavioral health. Conclusion : We suggest the accessibility and the applicability of assessment instruments for disaster behavioral health. The systemic review of this article will provide further directions for them.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.16 no.15
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• pp.6769-6772
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• 2015

Background: High risk human papillomaviruses (HPVs) are the leading cause of cervical cancer (CC) and Pap smear screening has not been successful in preventing CC in Tunisia. HPV vaccination that targets HPV16 and 18 offers a new efficient prevention tool. Identification of HPV types in CC is thus essential to determine the impact of HPV vaccine implementation. The aim of this study is to provide specific data from Tunisia. Materials and Methods: A total of 89 histological confirmed paraffin embedded samples isolated from patients with CC diagnosed between 2001 and 2011 were collected from five medical centres from Northern and Southern Tunisia. HPV DNA was detected using a nested PCR (MY09/MY11-GP5+/GP6+) and genotyping was assessed using a reverse blot line hybridisation assay that enables the detection of 32 HPV types. Results: HPV DNA was detected in all samples. Twelve high risk types were detected; HPV16 and/or 18 were predominant, accounting together for 92.1% of all the CC cases (HPV16: 83.1%). Single infections accounted for 48.8% of the cases and were mostly linked to HPV 16 (32.6%) and less frequently to HPV 18 (2.4%). The other high risk HPV single infections were linked to HPV 35 (4.6%), 45 (4.6%), 58 (2.3%) and 59 (2.3%). Multiple infections with mixing of 2 to 4 genotypes predominately featrued HPV16 and/or 18 with HPV 35 and 45 (96.6 %) and less frequently with HPV 59, 40, 66, 73 and 58. There was no statistically significant variation in the relative distribution of HPV types with age. Conclusions: These results strongly indicate that prophylactic HPV vaccines can have a major impact in preventing CC in Tunisia.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.45 no.6
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• pp.791-795
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• 2013

The aim of this study was to compare the performance of a standard culture method and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) for the detection of Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) in milk and meat products. Milk, dried infant formula, sausage and ground beef that had been artificially inoculated with S. aureus were enriched in tryptic soy broth. After the enrichment, a loopful was inoculated onto Baird-Parker agar with egg-yolk-tellurite. In parallel, 23S rRNA was amplified by PCR from samples of the enriched broth. Suspected S. aureus colonies grown on selective agars were finally confirmed by a coagulase test and colony PCR. No significant statistical differences were observed between the incidence of S. aureus detected by the culture method and the incidence detected by PCR, in milk or dried infant formula. However, in sausage and ground beef, the number of positives detected by PCR was significantly higher than by the culture method (p<0.05). Our findings suggest that PCR could be an effective screening tool for the detection of S. aureus compared to the standard culture method.

• Journal of Science and Technology Studies
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.177-217
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• 2018

This study examines the case of living lab applied in the R&D initiatives for solving societal problems and challenges. It discusses how to use the living lab in national R&D projects. The analyzed cases are 'Develop portable fundus camera for eye disease screening test to resolve health inequalities' and 'Auto-sensing integrated system development in rural pedestrian crosswalk'. As a result of the analysis, both cases were designed as a user participatory R&D structure by utilizing living lab. In other words, living lab has operated as a system that evolves technology-products-services into an infrastructure. It can realize final demand specification, product, service improvement and demonstration through continuous interaction of end users. As a result of the case analysis, the following policy tasks can be derived. First, living lab is a new concept and it is in the early stage of implementation in Korea. Therefore, it is necessary to monitor and evaluate living lab experiments and build suitable models for Korean society by sharing cases and achievements. Second, the strategic niche management are necessary for the introduction of living lab. Third, living lab can be used as a tool to transform the existing technology acquisition centered innovation policy to the policy for customer needs and problem solving. Fourth, there is a need for flexibility and adaptability in strategy and system to correct errors that appear in the living lab processes.