• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.13 no.5
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• pp.2179-2184
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• 2012

Introduction and aim: To compare reproductive factor influence on patients with pathological diagnosed malignant and benign tumor in the Breast Department, The First Peoples' Hospital of Kunming in Yunnan province, China. Methods: A hospital-based case-control study was conducted on 263 breast cancer (BC) cases and 457 non-breast cancer controls from 2009 to 2011. The cases and controls information on demographics, medical history, and reproductive characteristics variables were collected using a self-administered questionnaire and routine medical records. Histology of breast cancer tissue and benign breast lesion were documented by pathology reports. Since some variables in data analysis had zero count in at least one category, binomial-response GLM using the bias-reduction method was applied to estimate OR's and their 95% confidence intervals (95% CI). To adjust for age and menopause status, a compound variable comprising age and menopausal status was retained in the statistical models. Results: multivariate model analysis revealed significant independent positive associations of BC with short menstrual cycle, old age at first live birth, never breastfeeding, history of oral contraception experience, increased number of abortion, postmenopausal status, and nulliparity. Categorised by age and menopausal status, perimenopausal women had about 3-fold and postmenopausal women had more than 5-fold increased risk of BC compared to premenopausal women. Discussion and Conclusion: This study has confirmed the significant association of BC and estrogen related risk factors of breast cancer including longer menstrual cycle, older age of first live birth, never breastfeeding, nulliparity, and number of abortions more than one. The findings suggest that female hormonal factors, especially the trend of menopause status play a significant role in the development of BC in Yunnan women.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.14 no.5
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• pp.2753-2758
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• 2013

Various studies examining the relationship between Ezrin overexpression and response to chemotherapy and clinical outcome in patients with osteosarcoma have yielded inconclusive results. We accordingly conducted a meta-analysis of 7 studies (n = 318 patients) that evaluated the correlation between Ezrin and histologic response to chemotherapy and clinical prognosis (death). Data were synthesized in receiver operating characteristic curves and with fixed-effects and random-effects likelihood ratios and risk ratios. Quantitative synthesis showed that Ezrin is not a prognostic factor for the response to chemotherapy. The positive likelihood ratio was 0.538 (95% confidence interval [95% CI], 0.296- 0.979; random-effects calculation), and the negative likelihood ratio was 2.151 (95% CI, 0.905- 5.114; random-effects calculations). There was some between-study heterogeneity, but no study showed strong discriminating ability. Conversely, Ezrin positive status tended to be associated with a lower 2-year survival (risk ratio, 2.45; 95% CI, 1.26-4.76; random-effects calculation) with some between-study heterogeneity that disappeared when only studies that employed immunohistochemistry were considered (risk ratio, 2.97; 95% CI, 2.01- 4.40; fixed-effects calculation). To conclude, Ezrin is not associated with the histologic response to chemotherapy in patients with osteosarcoma, whereas Ezrin positivity was associated with a lower 2-year survival rate regarding risk of death at 2 years. Expression change of Ezrin is an independent prognostic factor in patients with osteosarcoma.

• Radiation Oncology Journal
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• v.37 no.3
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• pp.185-192
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• 2019

Purpose: The effectiveness of thoracic radiation therapy (TRT) in extensive-stage small cell lung cancer (ES-SCLC) patients is increasingly reported, but there is no definite consensus on its application. The aim of this study was to identify factors associated with better outcomes of TRT among patients with ES-SCLC, focusing on whether a higher TRT dose could improve treatment outcome. Materials and Methods: The medical records of 85 patients with ES-SCLC who received TRT between January 2008 and June 2017 were retrospectively reviewed. Eligibility criteria were a biological effective dose with α/β = 10 (BED) higher than 30 Gy₁₀ and completion of planned radiotherapy. Results: During a median follow-up of 5.3 months, 68 patients (80.0%) experienced disease progression. In univariate analysis, a BED >50 Gy₁₀ was a significant prognostic factor for overall survival (OS; 40.8% vs. 12.5%, p = 0.006), progression-free survival (PFS; 15.9% vs. 9.6%, p = 0.004), and intrathoracic PFS (IT-PFS; 39.3% vs. 20.5%, p = 0.004) at 1 year. In multivariate analysis, a BED >50 Gy₁₀ remained a significant prognostic factor for OS (hazard ratio [HR] = 0.502; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.287-0.876; p = 0.015), PFS (HR = 0.453; 95% CI, 0.265-0.773; p = 0.004), and IT-PFS (HR = 0.331; 95% CI, 0.171-0.641; p = 0.001). Response to the last chemotherapy was also associated with better OS in both univariate and multivariate analysis. Conclusion: A TRT dose of BED >50 Gy₁₀ may be beneficial for patients with ES-SCLC. Further studies are needed to select patients who will most benefit from high-dose TRT.

• Transactions of the Korean Society of Mechanical Engineers A
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• v.36 no.4
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• pp.373-378
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• 2012

The objective of this research is to examine the probabilistic approach to evaluating turbine ejection frequency considering common-cause failure. This paper identifies basic turbine ejection mechanisms under high and low speeds and presents a detailed probabilistic methodology (fault tree) for assessing ejection frequency. The alpha factor methodology is applied to common-cause failure evaluations. The frequencies under different test schemes are compared and the propagation of uncertainty through the fault tree model is evaluated. The following conclusions were reached: (1) the turbine blade ejection frequency due to ductile failure under high speed is around 8.005E-7/yr; (2) if common-cause failure is considered, the frequency will be increased by 11% and 33% depending on the test scheme; and (3) if the parameter uncertainties are considered, the frequency is estimated to be in the range of 9.35E-7 to 1.13E 6, with 90% confidence.

• The Korean Journal of Health Service Management
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• v.7 no.4
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• pp.23-32
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• 2013

This study aimed to explore possible relationships between self-efficiency and intention to leave in dental hygienists so as to provide basic data for developing solutions to effectively manage dental hygienist man power. A total of 206 dental hygienists from different dental care institutions in Cheonbuk Province were chosen as subjects by a convenience sampling method. Data were collected through a self-reported survey. The results were as follows. The self-efficiency was higher among dental hygienists who were more than 36 years of age, had graduated university, were at their cuurent job longer than 11 years, and reported their annual income to be more than 25 million won. As their age was younger and their education and income levels were lower, their intention to leave was stronger. Also subjects who were unmarried, did not feel satisfaction with their current job, and did not want to stay any longer at the location where they were currently working tended to have higher intention to leave. The higher their self-efficiency, the lower their turnover intention. An examination of the three factors offered by a factor analysis on self-efficiency, 1) sense of competence, 2) sense of confidence, and 3) strong drive, revealed that the higher their sense of competence, the lower their turnover intention. It was also revealed that their self-efficiency had a significant influence on their turnover intention and the most influential factor was their sense of competence.

• Journal of Periodontal and Implant Science
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• v.44 no.6
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• pp.274-279
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• 2014

Purpose: To evaluate whether the levels of immunoglobulin G (IgG) antibody to Tanerella forsythia are associated with periodontal status. Methods: Patients with a diagnosis of chronic periodontitis were considered candidates for the study; thus 80 chronic periodontitis patients and 28 healthy persons (control group) were invited to participate in this investigation. The presence of T. forsythia was detected by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) analysis using primers designed to target the respective 16S rRNA gene sequences. Peripheral blood was collected from each subject to identify the IgG1 and IgG2 serum antibodies against T. forsythia. All microbiological and immunological laboratory processes were completed blindly, without awareness of the clinical status of the study patients or of the periodontal sites tested. Results: The bivariate analysis showed that lower mean levels of clinical attachment level (CAL) and probing depth were found in the presence of the IgG1 antibody titers against whole-cell T. forsythia; however, only the difference in CAL was statistically significant. In the presence of the IgG2 antibody titers against whole-cell T. forsythia, the periodontal parameters evaluated were higher but they did not show statistical differences, except for plaque. The unadjusted linear regression model showed that the IgG1 antibody against whole-cell T. forsythia in periodontitis patients was associated with a lower mean CAL (${\beta}=-0.654$; 95% confidence interval [CI], -1.27 to -0.28; P<0.05). This statistically significant association remained after adjusting for possible confounders (${\beta}=-0.655$; 95% CI, -1.28 to -0.29; P<0.05). On the other hand, smoking was a statistically significant risk factor in the model (${\beta}=0.704$; 95% CI, 0.24 to 1.38; P<0.05). Conclusions: Significantly lower mean levels of CAL were shown in the presence of the IgG1 antibody titers against whole-cell T. forsythia in periodontitis patients. Thus, the results of this study suggest that IgG1 antibody to T. forsythia may have been a protective factor from periodontitis in this sample.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.81 no.2
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• pp.148-155
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• 2018

Background: Although targeted therapy and immuno-oncology have shifted the treatment paradigm for lung cancer, platinum-based combination is still the standard of care for advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Pemetrexed continuation maintenance therapy has been approved and increasingly used for patients with nonsquamous NSCLC. However, the efficacy of this strategy has not been proven in patients without driving mutations. The objective of this study was to compare the clinical benefit of pemetrexed continuation maintenance to conventional platinum-based doublet in epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR)-negative lung adenocarcinoma. Methods: A total of 114 patients with EGFR-negative lung adenocarcinoma who were treated with platinum doublet were retrospectively enrolled. We compared the survival rates between patients received pemetrexed maintenance after four-cycled pemetrexed/cisplatin and those received at least four-cycled platinum doublet without maintenance chemotherapy as a first-line treatment. Results: Forty-one patients received pemetrexed maintenance and 73 received conventional platinum doublet. Median progression-free survival (PFS), which was defined as the time from the day of response evaluation after four cycles of chemotherapy to disease progression or death, was significantly higher in the pemetrexed maintenance group compared to conventional group (5.8 months vs. 2.2 months, p<0.001). Median overall survival showed an increasing trend in the pemetrexed maintenance group (22.3 months vs. 16.1 months, p=0.098). Multivariate analyses showed that pemetrexed maintenance chemotherapy was associated with better PFS (hazard ratio, 0.73; 95% confidence interval, 0.15-0.87). Conclusion: Compared to conventional platinum-based chemotherapy, premetrexed continuation maintenance treatment is associated with better clinical outcome for the patients with EGFR wild-type lung adenocarcinoma.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• v.47 no.2
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• pp.140-146
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• 2020

Objective: To investigate whether the degree of post-warming embryo or blastocyst development is associated with clinical pregnancy in vitrified embryo or blastocyst transfer cycles. Methods: Ninety-six vitrified cleavage-stage embryos and 58 vitrified blastocyst transfer cycles were selected. All transfer cycles were performed from February 2011 to March 2019, and all vitrified embryos or blastocysts were warmed from 4 PM to 6 PM and then transferred the next morning from 9 AM to 10 AM. The scores of the cleavage-stage embryos and blastocysts were assessed at warming and at transfer using the modified Steer method and the Gardner method, respectively. The mean embryo or blastocyst score, score of the single top-quality embryo or blastocyst, and the difference in the score between warming and transfer were compared between nonpregnant and pregnant women. Results: In the cleavage-stage embryo transfer cycles, both the top-quality embryo score at transfer and the difference in the score between warming and transfer were significantly associated with clinical pregnancy. A top-quality embryo score at transfer of ≥ 60.0 (area under the curve [AUC], 0.673; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.531-0.815) and a difference in the score between warming and transfer of ≥ 23.0 (AUC, 0.675; 95% CI, 0.514-0.835) were significant predictors of clinical pregnancy. In blastocyst transfer cycles, the top-quality blastocyst score at transfer was the only significant factor associated with clinical pregnancy. A top-quality blastocyst score at transfer of ≥ 38.3 was a significant predictor of clinical pregnancy (AUC, 0.666; 95% CI, 0.525-0.807). Conclusion: The top-quality embryo score at transfer and the degree of post-warming embryo development were associated with clinical pregnancy in vitrified cleavage-stage embryo transfer cycles. In vitrified blastocyst transfer cycles, the top-quality blastocyst score at transfer was the only significant factor affecting clinical pregnancy.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• v.21 no.2
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• pp.73-88
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• 1989

Ten methods of the total two-phase pressure drop prediction based on five existing models and correlations have been examined for their accuracy and applicability to pressurized water reactor conditions. These methods were tested against 209 experimental data of local and bulk boiling conditions : Each correlations were evaluated for different ranges of pressure, mass velocity and Quality, and best performing models were identified for each data subsets. A computer code entitled 'K-TWOPD' has been developed to calculate the total two-phase pressure drop using the best performing existing correlations for a specific property range and a correction factor to compensate for the predicted error of the selected correlations. Assessment of this code shows that the present method fits all the available data within $\pm$11% at a 95% confidence level compared with $\pm$25%, for the existing correlations.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Clothing and Textiles
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.284-295
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• 1999

The purpose of this study was to investigate characteristics on Department stores consumers and to compare consumer characteristics among shopper types and department store types. For this purpose an ethnographic approach which is a kind of qualitative analysis was performed first. And then The data were collected from 600 female consumers over twenties and residing in Pusan Finally 499 data were used for the statistical analysis. 1. The results of clothing shopping orientations study were as follows : As a result of qualitative analysis those who patronize department stores were recreational/convenience shoppers. From quantitative analysis clothing shopping orientations were factor analyzed. which resulted in eight factors ; Recreational Shopping Convenience Shopping. Sensibility Seeking Well-Known Brand Preference Fashion Seeking Economic Shopping Sel-confidence in clothing shopping Convenient store shopping. 2. The results of store choice criteria study were as follows: As a result of concentrative observation eight store choice criteria dimensions were categorized : Service Store Atmosphere Promotion/Facilities Product Convenience Advertisement VMD Traffic/Location Convenience. From quantitative analysis eight store choice criteria factors emerged; Service Store Atmosphere Promotion/Facilities Assortment Shopping Convenience Advertisement VMD Traffic/Location Convenience. 3. According to the factor scores of recreational shopping and Convenience shopping consumers were segmented into four shopper types ; High Shopping-involved Shopper Recreational Shopper Convenience Shopper and Low Shopping-involved Shopper. Department types were divided into a large enterprise department stores and local department stores. Consumer characteristics such as clothing shopping orientations store choice criteria purchase behavior variables and demographic variables were significantly different in shopper types and department store types were significantly different in clothing shopping orientations and tore choice criteria.