• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• 제16권11호
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• pp.4719-4722
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• 2015

Background: This study aimed to determine the utility and a cut-off level of serum squamous cell carcinoma antigen (SCC-Ag) to predict lymph node metastasis in locally advanced cervical cancer cases. We also investigated the correlation between SCC-Ag level and lymph node status. Materials and Methods: From June 2009 to June 2014, 232 patients with cervical cancer stage IB2-IVA, who were treated at Ramathibodi Hospital, were recruited. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves were used to identify the best cut-off point of SCC-Ag level to predict lymph node metastasis. Quantile regression was performed to evaluate the correlation between SCC-Ag levels and pelvic lymph node metastasis, paraaortic lymph node metastasis, and parametrial involvement as well as tumor size. Results: Pelvic lymph node metastasis and paraaortic lymph node metastasis were diagnosed in 46.6% and 20.1% of the patients, respectively. The median SCC-Ag level was 6 ng/mL (range, 0.5 to 464.6 ng/mL). The areas under ROC curves between SCC-Ag level and pelvic lymph node metastasis, paraaotic lymph node metastasis, parametrial involvements were low. SCC-Ag level was significantly correlated with paraaortic lymph node status (p=0.045) but not with pelvic lymph node status and parametrial involvement. SCC-Ag level was also related to the tumor diameter (p<0.05). Conclusions: SCC-Ag level is not a good predictor for pelvic and paraaortic lymph node metastasis. However, it is still beneficial to assess the tumor burden of squamous cell carcinoma of the cervix.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• 제17권4호
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• pp.2177-2183
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• 2016

Background: To evaluate the predictive role of a risk of malignancy index in discriminating between benign and malignant adnexal masses preoperatively. Materials and Methods: A total of 408 patients with adnexal masses managed surgically between January 2010 and February 2014 were included. The risk of malignancy indices (RMI) 1, 2, 3 and 4 were calculated using findings for ultrasonography, menopausal status, and CA125 levels. Histopathologic results were the end point. ROC analysis was used for the sensitivity and the specificity of the models. Results: Some 37.6 % of the cases were malignant in the postmenopausal group while 7.9 % were malignant in the premenopausal group. Pelvic pain was the most common complaint, and the majority of the cases were diagnosed at stage 3. The RMI 1, 2, 3 and 4 yielded percentage sensitivities of 76.1, 79.1, 76.1 and 76.1 and specificities of 91.5, 89.1, 90.6, 88.6, respectively. RMI 1 was the most reliable test in the general population according to AUC levels and Kappa statistics. From ROC analysis results of post/premenopausal women, the RMI 1 (cut off: 200) yielded sensitivities of 84.0/60.9 and specificities of 87.7/92.5. With RMI 2 they were 88.6/60.9 and 80.0/91.0, with RMI 3 84.0/60.9 and 87.7/91.8, and with RMI 4 (cut off:400) 81.8/47.8 and 83.6 /44.0. Although test performance of RMI methods were good in a general population and postmenopausal women, the RMI inter-agreement validity was only moderate or fair in premenopausal women. Conclusions: Our study confirms the effectiveness of RMI algorithms in postmenopausal women. However, more sensitive tests are needed for premenopausal women.

• 대한기계학회논문집
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• 제13권1호
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• pp.67-76
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• 1989

본 논문에서는 표면거칠기 측정에 있어 70% 이상을 차지하는 촉침식을 이용하여 필터의 cut-off치와 위상특성에 따른 표면거칠기 값의 변화와 필터의 선택에 따른 장점 및 문제점에 대하여 알아보고자 한다.

• Journal of the Korean Data and Information Science Society
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• 제22권4호
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• pp.619-630
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• 2011

본 연구에서는 두 분포함수의 혼합된 자료에서 적절한 분류점을 추정하고 평가하기 위하여 많이 사용하는 아홉 종류의 분류정확도 측도인 MVD, Youden지수, (0,1)까지최단기준, 수정된 (0,1)까지 최단기준, SSS, 대칭점, 정확도면적, TA, TR을 다섯 개의 조건범주로 군집시킨다. 신용평가분석에서 정상과 부도상태의 스코어 확률변수가 정규분포를 따르며 전체부도율로 혼합되었다고 가정한다. 다양한 정규혼합분포의 상황에서 군집된 측도들의 최적분류점을 발견하고, 그 분류점에 대응하는 제I종 오류율과 제II종 오류율 그리고 두 종류의 오류율 합을 구하여 각각의 오류율이 최소인 경우를 탐색적으로 살펴본다. 현실자료에 적합한 정규혼합분포를 추정하여 본 연구 결과를 적용하면 최소 오류율이 보장되는 분류정확도를 선택할 수 있으며, 이를 사용하여 모형의 판별력을 향상시킬 수 있다.

• 비교문화연구
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• 제27권
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• pp.31-57
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• 2012

The 19th century could not relatively receive attention from local researchers because it was treated as the past cut off from the present as the formative period of modern states of Latin America. According to the characteristics of area studies which focus on changes of politics and society, studies on past affairs could not have been the main focus of attention. But as new liberalism has appeared in Latin America, is throwing the spotlight on liberalism. In addition, the studies on the 19th century have been activated and gradually expanded. And interpretation about the 19th century's history has been variously arranged. Especially, discussion on liberalism and conservatism was established as the key words which can understand and reconsider Latin America in the 19th century. Colombian liberalism which could not overcome heritage of the colonial period in the 19th century and did appear advocating reformation was another form of authoritarianism. Reformation promoted by liberalism was utilized to keep privilege of the ruling class, not to remove the social and economic structure derived from the colonial period. New reformist forces which advocated mercantilism after the middle of the 19th century but they were formed based on the existing system. Colombian Liberal Party was developed as "Another name of conservatization" by reflecting understanding of the conservatives. Colombian liberalists preferred federalism to cut off from repressive characteristics of Spanish colonial rule and secure autonomy of local control through reformation based on economic understanding. Therefore, discussion on the form of government which focused on federalism and centralism acted as the causes of conflict between Colombian liberalism and conservatism. Based on this point, this study tries to analyze liberalism reforms which is the main issue in the Colombian history in the 19th century and consider history of Colombian political conflicts focusing on federalism. The origin of Violencia which is the political violence and Colombian history in the 19th century which has been a series of rebellion can be considered through this procedure.

• Smart Structures and Systems
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• 제23권2호
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• pp.141-153
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• 2019

This research deals with wave propagation of the functionally graded (FG) nano-beams based on the nonlocal elasticity theory considering surface and flexoelectric effects. The FG nano-beam is resting in Winkler-Pasternak foundation. It is assumed that the material properties of the nano-beam changes continuously along the thickness direction according to simple power-law form. In order to include coupling of strain gradients and electrical polarizations in governing equations of motion, the nonlocal non-classical nano-beam model containg flexoelectric effect is used. Also, the effects of surface elasticity, dielectricity and piezoelectricity as well as bulk flexoelectricity are all taken into consideration. The governing equations of motion are derived using Hamilton principle based on first shear deformation beam theory (FSDBT) and also considering residual surface stresses. The analytical method is used to calculate phase velocity of wave propagation in FG nano-beam as well as cut-off frequency. After verification with validated reference, comprehensive numerical results are presented to investigate the influence of important parameters such as flexoelectric coefficients of the surface, bulk and residual surface stresses, Winkler and shear coefficients of foundation, power gradient index of FG material, and geometric dimensions on the wave propagation characteristics of FG nano-beam. The numerical results indicate that considering surface effects/flexoelectric property caused phase velocity increases/decreases in low wave number range, respectively. The influences of aforementioned parameters on the occurrence cut-off frequency point are very small.

• 중환자간호학회지
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• 제15권3호
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• pp.75-87
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• 2022

Purpose : This retrospective investigation study aimed to determine the predictive validity of superficial surgical site infection assessment tools by measuring the risk score at the surgical site. Methods : This study included patients hospitalized to the general surgery department of a Hospital from January 2021 to December 31, 2021. The inclusion criteria were age ≥19 years, general abdominal surgery under general anesthesia, and hospital stay longer than 2 days. Patients who had undergone transplantation were excluded. Results : Tool validity results showed that tools including surgical time and operative procedure were more accurate than previously developed tools, with a sensitivity of 71.1%, specificity of 71.4%, positive prediction of 12.3%, negative prediction of 97.8%, and area under the curve of 0.743 (95% confidence interval, 0.678~0.745). The tool's cut-off score was 15, and the risks of infection was increased by 6.14 times at or above this cut-off point. Preoperative hair removal period, surgical wound classification, surgery time, body temperature on the second day after surgery, drainage tube type, and suture type affected the risk of infection at the surgical site. Conclusion : The incidence of healthcare-associated infections has been declining in the past decade; however, surgical site infections still account for a considerable proportion. Therefore, early identification of high-risk groups for surgical site infection is crucial for reducing the incidence of surgical site infection using appropriate management.

• 대한한의학회지
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• 제43권1호
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• pp.1-5
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• 2022

Objectives: Using algometer, measure the pressure pain threshold (PPT) of the epigastric pain(心下痞硬) and calculate the cut-off value, and this can serve as the basis for prognostic diagnosis of functional dyspepsia so we would like to evaluate its diagnostic value. Methods: We investigated 353 patients with functional dyspepsia symptoms who admitted Gangnam Weedahm Oriental Hospital from February 1, 2021 to February 27, 2021. At the time of the patient's visit, an oriental medical doctor measured the pressure at the first pain point on the Algometer of (CV14), twice each, at 1minute intervals. The ROC (receiver operating characteristic) curve and the optimal cut-off value derived through the diagnosis of the (CV14) PPT value for epigastric pain(心下痞硬) and the gold standard of oriental medical doctor, it was evaluated through. Results: In 353 patients, the area under the ROC curve (AUC) was 0.909 (p=0). In addition, the optimal cutting value was 10.05 (kg/cm2), which was statistically significant. Additionally, the sensitivity of the Algometer's PPT measurement was 0.704 and the specificity was 0.884. As a result, if the PPT value of the Algometer exceeds 10.05 (kg/cm²) in terms of the optimal cutting value, it can be seen that epigastric pain(心下痞硬) is lost. Conclusion: Algometer's PPT value measurement can be a reliable test method for quantification of epigastric pain(心下痞硬) diagnosis and can be useful as an objective indicator.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• 제50권1호
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• pp.15-21
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• 2012

In Iran, $Plasmodium$ $vivax$ is responsible for more than 80% of the infected cases of malaria per year. Control interventions for vivax malaria in humans rely mainly on developed diagnostic methods. Recombinant $P.$ $vivax$ apical membrane antigen-1 (rPvAMA-1) has been reported to achieve designing rapid, sensitive, and specific molecular diagnosis. This study aimed to perform isolation and expression of a rPvAMA-1, derived from Iranian patients residing in an endemic area. Then, the diagnostic efficiency of the characterized Iranian PvAMA-1 was assessed using an indirect ELISA method. For this purpose, a partial region of AMA-1 gene was amplified, cloned, and expressed in pET32a plasmid. The recombinant $His-tagged$ protein was purified and used to coat the ELISA plate. Antibody detection was assessed by indirect ELISA using rPvAMA-1. The validity of the ELISA method for detection of anti-$P.$ $vivax$ antibodies in the field was compared to light microscopy on 84 confirmed $P.$ $vivax$ patients and compared to 84 non-$P.$ $vivax$ infected individuals. The ELISA cut-off value was calculated as the mean+2SD of OD values of the people living in malaria endemic areas from a south part of Iran. We found a cut-off point of OD=0.311 that showed the best correlation between the sera confirmed with $P.$ $vivax$ infection and healthy control sera. A sensitivity of 81.0% and specificity of 84.5% were found at this cut off titer. A good degree of statistical agreement was found between ELISA using rPvAMA-1 and light microscopy (0.827) by Kappa analysis.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• 제14권1호
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• pp.20-24
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• 2020

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Malnutrition has multiple impacts on surgical success, postoperative complications, duration of hospital stay, and costs, particularly for cancer patients. There are various nutrition risk screening tools available for clinical use. Herein, we aim to determine the most appropriate nutritional risk screening system for esophageal cancer (EC) patients in China. SUBJECTS/METHODS: In total, 138 EC patients were enrolled in this study and evaluated by experienced nurses using three different nutritional screening tools, the Nutrition Risk Screening 2002 tool (NRS2002), the Patient-generated Subjective Globe Assessment (PG-SGA), and the Nutrition Risk Index (NRI).We compared sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative likelihood ratios, and Youden index generated by each of the three screening tools. Finally, cut-off points for all three tools were re-defined to optimize and validate the best nutritional risk screening tool for assessing EC patients. RESULTS: Our data suggested that all three screening tools were 100% sensitive for EC patients, while the specificities were 44.4%, 2.96%, and 59.26% for NRS 2002, PG-SGA, and NRI, respectively. NRI had a higher positive likelihood ratio as well as a higher area under the receiver operating characteristic curve compared to those of NRS 2002 and PG-SGA; although, all three tools had null negative likelihood ratios. After adjusting the cut-off points, the specificity and accuracy for all tools were significantly improved, however, the NRI remained the most appropriate nutritional risk screening system for EC patients. CONCLUSIONS: The NRI is the most suitable (highest sensitivity and accuracy) nutritional risk screening tool for EC patients. The performance of the NRI can be significantly improved if the cut-off point is modified according to the results obtained using MedCalc software.