• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
• /
• 제15권2호
• /
• pp.691-694
• /
• 2014

Background: Tumor length in patients with esophageal cancer (EC) has recently received great attention. However, its prognostic role for EC is controversial. The purpose of our study was to characterize the prognostic value of tumor length in EC patients and offer the optimum cut-off point of tumor length by reliable statistical methods. Materials and Methods: A retrospective analysis was conducted on 71 consecutive patients with EC who underwent surgery. ROC curve analysis was used to determine the optimal cut-off point for tumor length, measured with a handheld ruler after formalin fixation. Correlations between tumor length and other factors were surveyed, and overall survival (OS) rates were compared between the two groups. Potential prognostic factors were evaluated by univariate Kaplan-Meier survival analysis. A P value less than 0.05 was considered significant. Results: There were a total of 71 patients, with a male/female divide of 43/28 and a median age of 59. Characteristics were as follows: squamous/adenocarcinoma, 65/6; median tumor length, 4 (0.9-10); cut-off point for tumor length, 4cm. Univariate analysis prognostic factors were tumor length and modality of therapy. One, three and five year OS rates were 84, 43 and 43% for tumors with ${\leq}4cm$ length, whereas the rates were 75, 9 and 0% for tumors >4 cm. There was a significant association between tumor length and age, sex, weight loss, tumor site, histology, T and N scores, differentiation, stage, modality of therapy and longitudinal margin involvement. Conclusions: Future studies for modification of the EC staging system might consider tumor length too as it is an important prognostic factor. Further assessment with larger prospective datasets and practical methods (such as endoscopy) is needed to establish an optimal cut-off point for tumor length.

• 대한통합의학회지
• /
• 제10권3호
• /
• pp.107-117
• /
• 2022

Purpose : The purpose of this study was to establish a model of the predictive factors for success or failure of examinees undertaking the Korean physical therapist licensing examination (KPTLE). Additionally, we assessed the pass/fail cut-off point. Methods : We analyzed the results of 10,881 examinees who undertook the KPTLE, using data provided by the Korea Health Personnel Licensing Examination Institute. The target variable was the test result (pass or fail), and the input variables were: sex, age, test subject, and total score. Frequency analysis, chi-square test, descriptive statistics, independent t-test, correlation analysis, binary logistic regression, and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analyses were performed on the data. Results : Sex and age were not significant predictors of attaining a pass (p>.05). The test subjects with the highest probability of passing were, in order, medical regulation (MR) (Odds ratio (OR)=2.91, p<.001), foundations of physical therapy (FPT) (OR=2.86, p<.001), diagnosis and evaluation for physical therapy (DEPT) (OR=2.74, p<.001), physical therapy intervention (PTI) (OR=2.66, p<.001), and practical examination (PE) (OR=1.24, p<.001). The cut-off points for each subject were: FPT, 32.50; DEPT, 29.50; PTI, 44.50; MR, 14.50; and PE, 50.50. The total score (TS) was 164.50. The sensitivity, specificity, and the classification accuracy of the prediction model was 99 %, 98 %, and 99 %, respectively, indicating high accuracy. Area under the curve (AUC) values for each subject were: FPT, .958; DEPT, .968; PTI, .984; MR, .885; PE, .962; and TS, .998, indicating a high degree of fit. Conclusion : In our study, the predictive factors for passing KPTLE were identified, and the optimal cut-off point was calculated for each subject. Logistic regression was adequate to explain the predictive model. These results will provide universities and examinees with useful information for predicting their success or failure in the KPTLE.

• 한국방사선학회논문지
• /
• 제13권2호
• /
• pp.201-207
• /
• 2019

본 연구는 갑상샘 초음파에서 K-TIRADS 분류와 K-TIRADS 분류에 따른 Different risk group의 조합을 이용한 방법이 양성과 악성 결절의 감별진단에 유용한지를 평가하였다. 갑상샘 초음파를 시행한 210명을 대상으로 하였으며, 세침흡인세포검사 결과를 바탕으로 후향적인 분석을 하였다. 갑상샘 결절의 양성과 악성에 따른 K-TIRADS와 Different risk group의 점수체계의 차이 분석은 카이제곱 검정을 하였다. ROC 곡선 분석을 통해 악성 결절의 예측을 위한 K-TIRADS 점수와 Different risk group의 최적 cut off 값을 결정하였다. 양성과 악성 결절 군의 분류에 따른 K-TIRADS와 Different risk group의 차이검증 결과에서 각각 통계적으로 유의한 차이를 보였다(p=.001). ROC 곡선 분석에서 양성과 악성 결절의 예측을 위한 K-TIRADS에 따른 점수분류에서는 AUC 0.786, Cut-off value> 2를 나타내었으며, Different risk group에서는 AUC 0.640, Cut-off value> 2로 결정되었다(p=.001). 갑상샘 초음파에서 결절을 발견했을 때 양성과 악성 갑상샘 결절을 감별하는 데 도움을 주는 K-TIRADS에 따른 분류체계가 Different risk group에 따른 분류체계보다 갑상샘 결절의 감별진단에 도움을 줄 것으로 생각하며 K-TIRADS에 따른 분류체계를 적용하면, 불필요한 세포 검사를 줄일 수 있고, 악성 결절의 조기발견에 도움이 될 것으로 생각된다.

• 대한통합의학회지
• /
• 제9권3호
• /
• pp.37-45
• /
• 2021

Purpose : This study aimed to present normative data and cut-off points for older Korean adults completing the Montreal Cognitive Assessment - Korean (MoCA-K), which is used as a screening test for mild cognitive impairment in Korea. Methods : A total of 195 healthy adults ≥60 years were recruited. All participants completed the MoCA-K and the Korean - Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE-K) to assess their cognitive function. Participants were divided into six groups based on their age: 60-64 years, 65~69 years, 70~74 years, 75~79 years, 80~84 years, and 85~89 years. Results : The results revealed that MoCA-K score decreased significantly with age (mean score ± standard deviation [SD]; 27.63±2.80 in subjects aged 60~64 years; 27.00±2.39 in subjects aged 65~69 years; 24.94±2.96 in subjects aged 70~74 years; 24.74±3.37 in subjects aged 75~79 years; 22.59±4.72 in subjects aged 80~84 years; and 18.83±5.38 in subjects aged 85~89 years; p<.001). Additionally, MoCA-K score also increased significantly with educational level (mean score±standard deviation [SD]; 19.95±4.78 in no formal education group; 24.95±2.22 in elementary school graduated group; 26.35±2.72 in middle school graduated group; 28.32±1.36 in high school graduated group; and 28.50±1.51 in more than college graduated group; p<.001). The optimal cut-off points were 24/25 for 60~69 years old group, 21/22 for 70~79 years old group, 17/18 for 80~84 years old group, and 13/14 for 85~89 years old group. The optimal cut-off points were 15/16 for individuals who were illiterate, 22/23 for individuals with 6 years of education, 22/24 for individuals with 9 years of education, and 26/27 for individuals with 12 or more years of education. Conclusions : This study presents normative data and cut-off points for the MoCA-K in older Korean adults. This data will facilitate more accurate detection and follow-up of the risk of mild cognitive impairment in this population, taking into consideration age and education. Future studies are required that should focus on the cut-off score on the level of education according to age.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
• /
• 제17권sup3호
• /
• pp.5-10
• /
• 2016

Breast cancer, the second cause of cancer-related death after lung cancer and the most common cancer in women after skin cancer, is curable if detected in early stages of clinical presentation. Knowledge as to any age cut-off points which might have significance for prognostic groups is important in screening and treatment planning. Therefore, determining a change-point could improve resource allocation. This study aimed to determine if a change point for survival might exist in the age of breast cancer diagnosis. This study included 568 cases of breast cancer that were registered in Breast Cancer Research Center, Tehran, Iran, during the period 1986-2006 and were followed up to 2012. In the presence of curable cases of breast cancer, a change point in the age of breast cancer diagnosis was estimated using a mixture survival cure model. The data were analyzed using SPSS (versions 20) and R (version 2.15.0) software. The results revealed that a change point in the age of breast cancer diagnosis was at 50 years age. Based on our estimation, 35% of the patients diagnosed with breast cancer at age less than or equal to 50 years of age were cured while the figure was 57% for those diagnosed after 50 years of age. Those in the older age group had better survival compared to their younger counterparts during 12 years of follow up. Our results suggest that it is better to estimate change points in age for cancers which are curable in early stages using survival cure models, and that the cure rate would increase with timely screening for breast cancer.

• 대한물리의학회지
• /
• 제14권4호
• /
• pp.29-35
• /
• 2019

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to provide the standard value of the Five Times Sit to Stand Test (FTSST) measurement on the daily life independence of the elderly in Korea and examine the effects of this test on their daily lives. METHODS: This study was conducted on elderly people over 65 years of age living in Gyeongsangbuk-do, Korea. FTSST was performed while sitting position on a chair. The subjects were classified into independent and dependent living groups according to their lifestyle, and their influence was then examined through logistic regression analysis. To determine the usefulness and cut-off value of the FTSST, the analysis was performed using the ROC curve. RESULTS: The elderly were more likely to live in a group rather than independently as the FTSST time increased (p<.05) (OR=1.098). The area of the lower part of the ROC curve was .707, and as the FTSST increased, a subject was more likely to live in a group rather than independently (p<.05). The cut-off value was assigned to the point where both the specificity and sensitivity were at the coordinates. The sensitivity and specificity were .626 and .753, respectively at 15.62 seconds. CONCLUSION: The elderly in Korea are more likely to live a group-dependent lifestyle than live independently; the likelihood of this outcome is increased further for every additional second beyond 15.62 seconds. The loss of independence of daily life could be predicted based on the status of a subject's lower leg strength using the FTSST.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
• /
• 제16권9호
• /
• pp.3875-3879
• /
• 2015

Background: The neutrophil/lymphocyte ratio (NLR) is a simple index of systemic inflammatory response, and has been shown to be a prognostic indicator in some types of cancer. Inflammation has been implicated in the initiation and progression of thyroid cancer. The aim of this study was to examine the relationship of NLR with papillary thyroid cancer (PTC) and different benign thyroid pathologies like multinodular goiter (MNG) and lymphocytic thyroiditis (LT). Materials and Methods: We retrospectively evaluated the neutrophil, lymphocyte counts and NLR calculated from these parameters of 232 patients with histologically confirmed as multinodular goiter (group MNG) (n=70), lymphocytic thyroiditis (group LT) (n=97), LT with PTC (group LT-PTC) (n=25) and PTC (group PTC) (n=40). The optimal cut-off value for NLR was determined. Results: NLR level was significantly higher in groups LT-PTC and PTC as compared to groups MNG and LT (p<0.05). NLR of LT subgroups according to TSH levels were not different (p>0.05). When we grouped the patients as benign and malignant according to PTC presence, the optimum NLR cut-off point obtained from ROC analysis was 1.91 (sensitivity 89.0% and specificity 54.5%). Conclusions: Since NLR was significantly elevated in group LT-PTC and group PTC, NLR value may give an opinion as a potential marker in differentiation of benign and malign thyroid disorders. For this purpose a cut-off value of 1.91 for NLR may be accepted.

• 대한물리의학회지
• /
• 제10권3호
• /
• pp.87-93
• /
• 2015

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of the 8.5seconds cut-off of the 8-foot up-and-go test as a predictor of falling and a good discriminator of fallers and non-fallers in women in their 60s to 80s. METHODS: The final subjects of this study were 98 elderly women from six senior centers of B metropolitan city. The 8-foot up-and-go test evaluated agility and dynamic balance. The chair-stand test measured the muscle strength for of the lower body. Ankle dorsiflexion and plantar flexion were measured to assess the ankle mobility of the subjects in this study. RESULTS: The below 8.5seconds group showed significantly low values in age and high values in chair-stand (times/30 s), plantar flexion ($^{\circ}$), and K-MMSE (score) compared to the over 8.5seconds group. This group was significantly faster compared to the over 8.5seconds group. In the below 8.5seconds group, only plantar flexion ($^{\circ}$) of all the items showed significantly higher values among those in their 60s compared to those in their 70s and 80s. CONCLUSION: The 8.5seconds cut-off on the 8-foot up-and-go test as a good discriminator and predictor of falling showed differences among fall risk factors (age, lower extremity strength, cognition, and ankle mobility) in women in their 60s to 80s without having regular exercise and a fall experience over the past ones year.

• 한국콘텐츠학회논문지
• /
• 제17권10호
• /
• pp.567-575
• /
• 2017

본 연구는 PET/CT 장비로 $^{18}F--FDG$ 방사성 의약품 주입 후 60분에서 검출된 췌장질환자 60명의 SUVm 데이터 분포를 정규분포 화 시키는 가설을 설정하여 PET/CT 이중시간 검사에서 지연 검사 시행을 결정할 수 있는 기준으로 제시하였다. 비정규분포를 나타내는 SUVm 데이터를 BOX-COX 변환과 Johnson 변환을 통해 정규분포 화 하였다. 정규 분포 95% 신뢰구간 하단에서 지연검사를 결정할 수 있는 경계값 SUVm 2.52를 제시하였다. 통계적 검증을 통해 제안된 경계값은 췌장암 구별을 위한 지연시간 검사에서 (120분, 180분)두 실험군 모두 적용할 수 있는 유의한 상관관계를 보였으며, 통계적으로 유의하다(p<0.05). C-Value는 췌장암 군과 췌장염 군을 감별에서는 췌장암 판별에 통계적으로 유의하다 (p<0.01). C-Value graph를 이용해서 지연시간 120분 검사가 지연시간 180분 검사보다 유용성이 있음을 확인하였다. 경계값 SUVm 2.52를 기준으로 이중시간 검사를 결정했을 때, 현재 대다수의 핵의학과 개설병원에서 시행하고 있는 단일 시간 PET/CT 검사보다, 췌장암 조기 발견과 감별에 도움을 줄 수 있을 것으로 사료된다.

• International Journal of Contents
• /
• 제15권1호
• /
• pp.52-57
• /
• 2019

The purpose of this research is to evaluate teachers' perception of Korean's achievement standard-based testing system (ASTS) and its process of implementation, and to propose a method of evaluating students' academic aptitude based on university entrance examinations. The core of the 2015 Revised National Curriculum is asserted by changes in classroom instruction, specifically encouraging students' participation in class based on a new method to evaluate student achievement. A total of 124 teachers in charge of student career counseling in middle and high schools in the Jeonbuk province participated in the study. The schools implementing the new method of ASTS were using 61.6% for unit school cut-off point, as opposed to the existing fixed cut-off point of 38.4%. The teachers understanding of the achievement evaluation method was rated 3.54 on the 5-point Likert scale, implying that they had a relatively good understanding of the method. Some of the challenges associated with reflecting the scores from the new student ASTS include difficulty of comparing scores across schools; grade inflation; advantages and disadvantages associated with the type of high school; and the increased importance of university entrance examination. In the ASTS, the fairness during the evaluation of the high school grades and the consequently the reliability of the evaluation prove worrying. As an ultimate result, selecting students based on university admissions data became untrustworthy. There should be further discussions on how students' achievement obtained from the new ASTS should be applied during the university admission process and how students' academic aptitude can be assessed in order to set a direction for secondary school education.