• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.7 no.4
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• pp.330-335
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• 2013

Data are limited on the association between dietary patterns and screen time among Korean adolescents. The present study identified dietary patterns of 691 adolescents, aged 13-18 years, who had participated in the Third Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES III) and analyzed their associations with screen time. Screen time was defined as the time spent watching TV, using a computer, or playing video games was calculated as a sum of all these times. Dietary patterns and their factor scores were derived from a food frequency questionnaire using the factor analysis method. To analyze the association between dietary patterns and screen time, we conducted multiple linear regression analysis. We also performed multiple logistic regression analysis to estimate odds ratios (OR) of excessive screen time (2 hours or longer per day) and 95% confidence intervals (CI). We identified 2 dietary patterns labeled "the Korean healthy dietary pattern" and "the Western diet and fast foods pattern". The former included mixed grains, legumes, potatoes, red meat, eggs, fish, dairy products, fruits, vegetables, seaweeds, and mushrooms, whereas the latter included noodles, bread, red meat, poultry, fast foods, snack, and soft drinks. After controlling for potential confounding factors, factor scores for the Korean healthy dietary pattern were inversely associated (P-value for trend < 0.01) and those for the Western diet and fast foods pattern were positively associated with the screen time (P-value for trend < 0.01). Adolescents in the top tertile of the scores for the Korean healthy dietary pattern had a multivariable-adjusted OR [95% CI] of 0.44 (0.25-0.75) for excessive screen time compared with those in the lowest tertile. On the basis of these findings, adolescents who have excessive screen time may need to be encouraged to consume a more healthy diet.

• Journal of Pathology and Translational Medicine
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• v.52 no.6
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• pp.386-395
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• 2018

Background: Previous studies on synchronous colorectal carcinoma (SCRC) have reported inconsistent results about its clinicopathologic and molecular features and prognostic significance. Methods: Forty-six patients with multiple advanced tumors (T2 or higher category) who did not receive neoadjuvant chemotherapy and/or radiotherapy and who are not associated with familial adenomatous polyposis were selected and 99 tumors from them were subjected to clinicopathologic and molecular analysis. Ninety-two cases of solitary colorectal carcinoma (CRC) were selected as a control considering the distributions of types of surgeries performed on patients with SCRC and T categories of individual tumors from SCRC. Results: SCRC with multiple advanced tumors was significantly associated with more frequent nodal metastasis (p=.003) and distant metastasis (p=.001) than solitary CRC. KRAS mutation, microsatellite instability, and CpG island methylator phenotype statuses were not different between SCRC and solitary CRC groups. In univariate survival analysis, overall and recurrence-free survival were significantly lower in patients with SCRC than in patients with solitary CRC, even after adjusting for the extensiveness of surgical procedure, adjuvant chemotherapy, or staging. Multivariate Cox regression analysis revealed that tumor multiplicity was an independent prognostic factor for overall survival (hazard ratio, 4.618; 95% confidence interval, 2.126 to 10.030; p<.001), but not for recurrence-free survival (p=.151). Conclusions: Findings suggested that multiplicity of advanced T category-tumors might be associated with an increased risk of nodal metastasis and a risk factor for poor survival, which raises a concern about the guideline of American Joint Committee on Cancer's tumor-node-metastasis staging that T staging of an index tumor determines T staging of SCRC.

• Journal of Soil and Groundwater Environment
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• v.18 no.5
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• pp.15-25
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• 2013

In this study, two kinds of soil-based proficiency testing materials (PTMs), NICE-012L and NICE-012R were prepared and certified for Benzen, Toluene, Etylbenzene and Xylene with evaluation of uncertainties. In order to analyse BTEX (Benzen Toluene Etylbenzene Xylene) for the candidate materials, GC/MS was used after pretreatment according to methods of soil analysis by Ministry of Environment. For the homogeneity test among bottles in terms of candidate materials, ISO 13528 and IUPAC Protocol were used and according to the result, both candidate materials showed sufficient homogeneity. Also, the stability test over the candidate materials was accessed according to the ISO Guide 35 by classifying short-term and long-term stability and the result showed that both candidate materials showed decent stability. The reference values of the two candidate materials depending on BTEX components were derived from the average of the 11 samples that were used for verification of the samples' homogeneity. Uncertainty of measurement was combined by uchar that was caused by a characteristic value, $u_{bb}$ that was caused by between-bottle homogeneity, and $u_{stab}$ that was caused by stability, and then combined uncertainty ($u_{PTM}$) was multiplied to the coverage factor (k) derived from the effective degree of freedom from each factor that leads to expanded uncertainty (U) in about 95% of confidence level. The proficiency testing materials developed through this study were supplied to National Institute of Environmental Research (NIER) and utilized as an external proficiency testing materials for evaluating analysis capacity of soil agencies with specialty in terms of soil analysis approved by Minister of Environment.

• Korean Journal of Clinical Oncology
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• v.14 no.2
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• pp.128-134
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• 2018

Purpose: Previous studies have addressed the role of the hypercoagulable state in the pathogenesis of cancer progression and metastasis. In this study, we investigated the association between coagulation factors, including tissue factor (TF) expression, platelet count, and fibrinogen level, and disease recurrence in patients with non-metastatic colorectal cancer. Methods: Patients who underwent curative resection for stage II or III colorectal cancer between 2000 and 2007 were included in this study. Data from a prospectively maintained database were retrospectively reviewed. TF expression was determined by immunohistochemistry using an anti-TF monoclonal antibody. The Kaplan-Meier method was used to estimate 5-year disease-free survival. Results: TF was highly expressed in 257 of 297 patients (86.5%). TF expression was not significantly associated with the platelet counts (P=0.180) or fibrinogen level (P=0.281). The 5-year disease-free survival rate was lower in patients with high TF expression than in patients with low TF expression (72.3% vs. 83.9%, P=0.074). In Cox hazard analysis, high TF expression was an independent risk factor for tumor recurrence (hazard ratio [HR] 2.446; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.054-5.674; P=0.037). Undifferentiated histologic type (HR, 2.911; 95% CI, 1.308-6.481; P=0.009), venous invasion (HR, 2.784; 95% CI, 1.431-5.417; P=0.003), and lymph node metastasis (HR, 2.497; 95% CI, 1.499-4.158; P<0.001), were also significantly associated with disease recurrence. Conclusion: TF expression is associated with a recurrence in patients with non-metastatic colorectal cancer. However, further studies are required to clarify the underlying mechanisms relating TF expression with oncologic outcomes and its potential role as a therapeutic target.

• The Mathematical Education
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• v.58 no.3
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• pp.337-346
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• 2019

The purpose of this paper is to investigate the differences of the mathematics anxiety and mathematical achievement of high school students according to gender and grade, and to find out which mathematics anxiety causes have more influence on mathematical achievement and how much it is. The subjects of this study consist of 459 students selected for a class of unit, in high schools located in Seoul, Korea. Huh(1996)'s Mathematics Anxiety Scale was used. The collected data were analyzed by using the 24.0 SPSS program. The data were also tested by using the t-test, correlation and multiple regression. The major results of this study were as follows: Firstly, there was no difference in mathematics score according to gender, but mathematics anxiety was higher in girl students. Mathematics score and mathematics anxiety have significantly related each other. Boy students' mathematics scores were significantly explained by interest, Mathematical Achievement factor, and mathematical confidence factor. For girl students, mathematics achievement factor, interest were the significant predictors. Secondly, mathematical anxiety and mathematics scores were correlated in the first and third grades, and the variables that predict mathematics scores significantly in all grades were interest.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• v.51 no.6
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• pp.1708-1714
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• 2019

The purpose of the critical evaluation of the spent fuel pool (SFP) is to verify that the maximum effective multiplication factor ($K_{eff}$) is less than the critical safety limit at 100% stored condition of the spent fuel with the maximum reactivity. At nuclear power plants, the storage standard of spent fuel, ie, the loading curve, is established to prevent criticality from being generated in SFP. Here, the loading curve refers to a graph showing the minimum discharged burnup versus the initial enrichment of spent fuel. Recently, US NRC proposed the new critical safety assessment guideline (DSS-ISG-2010-01, Revision 0) of PWR SFPs and most of utilities in US is following it. Of course, the licensed criterion of the maximum effective multiplication factor of SFP remains unchanged and it should be less than 0.95 from the 95% probability and the 95% confidence level. However, the new guideline is including the new evaluation methodologies like the application of the axial burnup profile, the validation of depletion and criticality code, and trend analysis. Among the new evaluation methodologies, the most important factor that affects $K_{eff}$ is the axial burnup profile of spent fuel. US NRC recommends to consider the axial burnup profiles presented in NUREG-6801 in criticality analysis. In this paper, criticality effect was evaluated considering three profiles, respectively: i) Axial burnup profiles presented in NUREG-6801. ii) Representative PWR axial burnup profile. iii) Uniform axial burnup profile. As the result, the case applying the axial burnup profiles presented in NUREG-6801 showed the highest $K_{eff}$ among three cases. Therefore, we need to introduce a new methodology because it can be issued if the axial burnup profiles presented in NUREG/CR-6801 are applied to the domestic nuclear power plants without any other consideration.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.62 no.2
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• pp.256-262
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• 2019

Objective : Pituitary adenomas (PAs) are often detected as incidental findings. However, the natural history remains unclear. The objective of this study was to evaluate the natural history and growth pattern of untreated PAs. Methods : Between 2003 and 2014, 59 PAs were managed with clinico-radiological follow up for longer than 12 months without any kind of therapeutic intervention. Tumor volumes were calculated at initial and last follow-up visit, and tumor growth during the observation period was determined. Data were analyzed according to clinical and imaging characteristics. Results : The mean initial and last tumor volume and diameter were $1.83{\pm}2.97mL$ and $13.77{\pm}6.45mm$, $2.85{\pm}4.47mL$ and $15.75{\pm}8.08mm$, respectively. The mean annual tumor growth rate was $0.33{\pm}0.68mL/year$ during a mean observation period of $46.8{\pm}32.1months$. Sixteen (27%) PAs showed tumor growth. The initial tumor size (HR, 1.140; 95% confidence interval, 1.003-1.295; p=0.045) was the independent predictive factor that determined the tumor growth. Six patients (11%) of 56 conservatively managed non-symptomatic PAs underwent resection for aggravating visual symptoms with mean interval of 34.5 months from diagnosis. By Cox regression analysis, PAs of last longest diameter over 21.75 mm were a significant prognostic factor for eventual treatment. Conclusion : The initial tumor size of PAs was independently associated with the tumor growth. Six patients (11%) of conservatively managed PAs were likely to be treated eventually. PAs of last follow-up longest diameter over 21.75 mm were a significant prognostic factor for treatment. Further studies with a large series are required to determine treatment strategy.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.15 no.4
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• pp.528-540
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• 2021

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: In a healthy person, from 35 years of age, there is an annual loss of muscle mass at the rate of 1-2% and is associated with a decline in the quality of life. This study aimed to identify the particular dietary patterns associated with the risk of lower lean muscle mass in Korean postmenopausal women. SUBJECTS/METHODS: The Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES) is a population-based, continuous cross-sectional annual survey. The participants of the KNHANES IV (2008-2009) and V (2010-2011) were considered for this study. The study sample consisted of 1548 postmenopausal women, aged 45-86 years. Lower lean muscle mass was defined as having appendicular skeletal muscle mass corrected for body weight less than 1 standard deviation of the young reference group aged 20 to 39 years in KNHANES IV and V. To identify the dietary pattern using factor analysis, 24-h recall data was used. RESULTS: The prevalence of lower lean muscle mass was 31.3% in this study population. Four dietary patterns were identified by factor analysis; 'Diverse', 'Western', 'Traditional', and 'Snacks and beverages'. The 'Western' pattern, highest factor loadings for flour and bread, potatoes, red meat, processed meat, eggs, and cheese, was significantly associated with a high (60%) risk of lower lean muscle mass (odds ratio [95% confidence interval] = 1.60 [1.07-2.39], P for trend = 0.01) after adjustments for potential covariates. The other 3 dietary patterns were not associated with lower lean muscle mass. CONCLUSIONS: The study findings suggest that the 'Western' dietary pattern that includes flour and bread, potatoes, red meat, processed meat, eggs, and cheese, may be associated with a higher risk of lower lean muscle mass in Korean postmenopausal women.

• Journal of Gastric Cancer
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• v.21 no.4
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• pp.335-351
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• 2021

Purpose: An underlying factor for the failure of several clinical trials of anti-epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) therapies is the lack of an effective method to identify patients who overexpress EGFR protein. The quantitative dot blot method (QDB) was used to measure EGFR protein levels objectively, absolutely, and quantitatively. Its feasibility was evaluated for the prognosis of overall survival (OS) of patients with gastric cancer. Materials and Methods: Slices of 2×5 ㎛ from formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded gastric cancer specimens were used to extract total tissue lysates for QDB measurement. Absolutely quantitated EGFR protein levels were used for the Kaplan-Meier OS analysis. Results: EGFR protein levels ranged from 0 to 772.6 pmol/g (n=246) for all gastric cancer patients. A poor correlation was observed between quantitated EGFR levels and immunohistochemistry scores with ρ=0.024 and P=0.717 in Spearman's correlation analysis. EGFR was identified as an independent negative prognostic biomarker for gastric cancer patients only through absolute quantitation, with a hazard ratio of 1.92 (95% confidence interval, 1.05-3.53; P=0.034) in multivariate Cox regression OS analysis. A cutoff of 208 pmol/g was proposed to stratify patients with a 3-year survival probability of 44% for patients with EGFR levels above the cutoff versus 68% for those below the cutoff based on Kaplan-Meier OS analysis (log rank test, P=0.002). Conclusions: A QDB-based assay was developed for gastric cancer specimens to measure EGFR protein levels absolutely, quantitatively, and objectively. This assay should facilitate clinical trials aimed at evaluation of anti-EGFR therapies retrospectively and prospectively for gastric cancer.

• Research in Community and Public Health Nursing
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• v.32 no.4
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• pp.415-429
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• 2021

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to develop the Self-Care Non-adherence Risk Assessment Scale (SCNRAS) for patients with chronic illness in South Korea. Methods: This study was conducted from April to July, 2020 and utilized a convenience sampling method to recruit 336 patients with chronic illness from three hospitals located in South Korea. The content, factorial structure, item-convergent/discriminant validity, convergent validity, internal consistency reliability, and test-retest reliability of the scale were evaluated. The data were analyzed using exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses, Pearson's correlation coefficient, Cronbach's α, and intra-class correlation coefficient. Results: The exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses yielded six-factors. Convergent validity was demonstrated using measures of defining issues. Internal consistency reliability and test-retest reliability were found to be acceptable, as indicated by a Cronbach's α of .65~.81 and an intra-class correlation coefficient of .93~.98. The Self-Care Non-adherence Risk Assessment Scale for patients with chronic illness is a new instrument that comprehensively measures the knowledge, skill, physical function status, access to health care, social support, motivation, and confidence. It comprises 18 items scored on a 5-point Likert scale. The validity and reliability of the scale were verified. Conclusion: The scale developed through this study is expected to screen those who need nursing intervention early by predicting the self-care non-adherence risk group.