• Korean Journal of Clinical Laboratory Science
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• v.49 no.2
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• pp.114-120
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• 2017

There have been many studies to develop methods for predicting diabetes and to prevent diabetes. The validity of glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c), one of the commonly known tools in predicting diabetes, has been verified by many previous studies. In this study, we examined the cutoff value of HbA1c for diabetes and impaired fasting glucose (IFG). Based on this study, we proposed a proper clinical guideline and evaluated the validation of the guideline. Excluding those without blood glucose and HbA1c data, we used the data of 5,161 subjects (2,281 men and 2,880 women) over the age of 20 years from the 2015 Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. The correlation efficient of fasting plasma glucose (FPG) and HbA1c was 0.79, indicating a strong relationship. Howeve, the correlation efficient of FPG and HbA1c was low, showing 0.27 in non-diabetes, 0.39 in IFG, and 0.66 in diabetes, showing a strong relationship. The cutoff value of HbA1c for predicting diabetes using ROC curve was 6.05% (sensitivity 84.6%, and specificity 92.0%), and AUC was 0.941 (0.937 in men, and 0.946 in women). The cutoff value of HbA1c for predicting IFG using ROC curve was 5.55% (sensitivity 64.5%, and specificity 70.0%), and AUC was 0.733 (0.708 in men, and 0.764 in women). Therefore, it may not be appropriate to apply the guidelines for diagnosing IFG since sensitivity and specificity were below 70%. For future studies retarding the cutoff value of HbA1c in predicting IFG, high sensitivity and specificity are expected if we segment the reference range of IFG.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.62 no.9
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• pp.353-359
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• 2019

Background: Researchers have shown that eosinophil peroxidase (EPO) is a relatively accurate marker of eosinophilia and eosinophil activity. However, its use as a marker of eosinophilic inflammation in nasal secretions is limited because the diagnostic cutoff values of EPO for use as a one-time test for allergic diseases such as allergic rhinitis have not been established. Purpose: To identify the correlation between nasal eosinophil count and EPO in children and adolescents with rhinitis. Methods: We recruited patients <18 years of age with rhinitis for more than 2 weeks or more than 2 episodes a year whose nasal eosinophil and EPO were measured at a single allergy clinic. The eosinophil percentage was calculated by dividing the eosinophil count by the number of total cells under light microscopy at ${\times}1,000$ magnification. EPO and protein were measured from nasal secretions. We retrospectively analyzed the correlation between nasal eosinophils and protein-corrected EPO (EPO/protein) value. Results: Of the 67 patients enrolled, 41 were male (61.2%); the mean age was $8.2{\pm}4.0years$. The median nasal eosinophil count was 1 and percentage was 1%. The median protein-corrected EPO value was $12.5ng/{\mu}g$ (range, $0-31ng/{\mu}g$). There was a statistically significant correlation between eosinophil count and percentage (P<0.001). However, the eosinophil percentage and EPO did not correlate. The eosinophil count and EPO had a statistically significant correlation (P=0.01). The EPO cutoff value examined for nasal eosinophil counts of 2, 5, 10, and 20 was $17.57ng/{\mu}g$ regardless of the reference count. The largest area under the curve value was obtained when the receiver operating characteristic curve was drawn using the eosinophil count of 2. Conclusion: Nasal eosinophil count was significantly associated with protein-corrected EPO.

• Women's Health Nursing
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• v.12 no.4
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• pp.308-315
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• 2006

Purpose: This study was conducted to identify sexual functioning in women with gynecologic cancer. Method: Sexually active women with gynecologic cancer without evidence of distant metastasis were recruited in Seoul, Korea from a university medical center. Subjects were asked to complete an anonymous mail-back survey on their sexual functioning. Result: One hundred eighty four women completed questionnaires. Their mean age was 51.0 years and 96.2% lived with their husbands. Subjects were diagnosed with cervical cancer(53.8%), ovarian cancer (27.7%), or endometrial cancer(18.5%). Sexual functioning for women with gynecologic cancer was relatively low, 15.4, in comparison to Rosen's cutoff scores of 26.6. Univariate analyses indicated that age, employment status, and their monthly income were significantly associated with sexual functioning. Tumor staging, treatment modality, and hormone replacement therapy were also significantly associated factors with women's sexual functioning. Sexual arousal, orgasm, and pain were affected by time since last treatment. Conclusion: Sexual counselling or education for women with gynecologic cancer should be considered by medical professionals in order to improve their quality of life including sexual functioning.

• Korean Journal of Organic Agriculture
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• v.29 no.4
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• pp.507-521
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• 2021

The livestock farmers are producing under uncertainties such as Foot-and-Mouth Disease (FMD) and Free Trade Agreement (FTA). The purpose of this study is to strengthen the management capabilities of Hanwoo farmers to prepare them for the uncertainties just mentioned. To this end, this study was conducted to find the optimal rearing period in order to reduce the feed cost, which accounts for the largest portion of the operation cost of Hanwoo. Using the universal lattice model, 41,139 of 289,000 Hanwoo slaughter data from 2010 to 2019 were used for the FMD period and 246,605 heads for the general period. The results show that the maximum cutoff price of Hanwoo steer is 6,394,457 won at the 4th week of 27 months of age in general period, where as 6,242,752 won at the 2nd week of 26 months of age in the FMD period. Therefore, it is judged that it will be helpful for Hanwoo farms to maximize their business profits by slaughtering one month and two weeks earlier in the FMD period than in the general period. In addition, Hanwoo farmers need to break away from the conventional rearing method and improve their management efficiency through a more flexible rearing method.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.53 no.5
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• pp.297-300
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• 2020

Background: This study aimed to assess the effect of vessel size and flow characteristics on the maturation of autogenous radiocephalic arteriovenous fistulae (RCAVFs). Methods: We retrospectively reviewed records of patients undergoing RCAVF creation at a single medical center from January 2013 to December 2019. Operative variables were compared between patients whose fistulae matured and those whose fistulae failed to mature. Results: Overall, 152 patients (33 of whom were women) with a mean age of 62.6±13.6 years underwent RCAVF creation; functional maturation was achieved in 123. No statistically significant differences were observed between patients in whom maturation was or was not achieved in terms of the following variables: female sex (20.3% vs. 25.0%), radial artery size (2.5 vs. 2.4 mm), and pulsatility index (0.69 vs. 0.62). Low intraoperative transit time flowmetry (TTF; 150.4 vs. 98.1 mL/min) and small vein size (2.4 vs. 2.0 mm) were associated with failure of maturation. The best cutoff diameter for RCAVF TTF and cephalic vein size were 105 mL/min and 2.45 mm, respectively. Conclusion: In patients who undergo RCAVF creation, vein diameter on preoperative ultrasonography and intraoperative TTF are predictors of functional maturation. We identified an intraoperative TTF cutoff value that can be used for intraoperative decision-making.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.60 no.9
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• pp.290-295
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• 2017

Purpose: Airway pathology in children with atopic asthma can be reflected by the concave shape of the maximal expiratory flow-volume (MEFV) curve and high fractional exhaled nitric oxide (FeNO) values. We evaluated the capacity of the curvilinearity of the MEFV curve, FeNO, and their combination to distinguish subjects with atopic asthma from healthy individuals. Methods: FeNO and angle ${\beta}$, which characterizes the general configuration of the MEFV curve, were determined in 119 steroid-naïve individuals with atopic asthma aged 8 to 16 years, and in 92 age-matched healthy controls. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analyses were performed to determine the cutoff points of FeNO and angle ${\beta}$ that provided the best combination of sensitivity and specificity for asthma detection. Results: Asthmatic patients had a significantly smaller angle ${\beta}$ and higher FeNO compared with healthy controls (both, P<0.001). For asthma detection, the best cutoff values of angle ${\beta}$ and FeNO were observed at $189.3^{\circ}$ and 22 parts per billion, respectively. The area under the ROC curve for the combination of angle ${\beta}$ and FeNO improved to 0.91 (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.87-0.95) from 0.80 (95% CI, 0.75-0.86; P<0.001) for angle ${\beta}$ alone and 0.86 (95% CI, 0.82-0.91; P=0.002) for FeNO alone. In addition, the combination enhanced sensitivity with no significant decrease in specificity. Conclusion: These data suggest that the combined use of the curvilinearity of the MEFV curve and FeNO is a useful tool to differentiate between children with and without atopic asthma.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.48 no.5
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• pp.335-344
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• 2015

Background: A raised carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) may be associated with significant pathology during the postoperative follow-up of lung adenocarcinoma. Methods: We reviewed the medical records of 305 patients who underwent surgical resections for primary lung adenocarcinoma at a single institution between April 2006 and February 2013. Results: Preoperative CEA levels were significantly associated with age, smoking history, pathologic stage including pT (pathologic tumor stge), pN (pathologic nodal stage) and overall pathological stage, tumor size and differentiation, pathologically positive total lymph node, N1 and N2 lymph node, N2 nodal station (0/1/2=1.83/2.94/7.21 ng/mL, p=0.019), and 5-year disease-free survival (0.591 in group with normal preoperative CEA levels vs. 0.40 in group with high preoperative CEA levels, p=0.001). Preoperative CEA levels were significantly higher than postoperative CEA levels (p<0.001, Wilcoxon signed-rank test). Postoperative CEA level was also significantly associated with disease-free survival (p<0.001). A follow-up serum CEA value of >2.57 ng/mL was found to be the appropriate cutoff value for the prediction of cancer recurrence with sensitivity and specificity of 71.4% and 72.3%, respectively. Twenty percent of patients who had recurrence of disease had a CEA level elevated above this cutoff value prior to radiographic evidence of recurrence. Postoperative CEA, pathologic stage, differentiation, vascular invasion, and neoadjuvant therapy were identified as independent predictors of 5-year disease-free survival in a multivariate analysis. Conclusion: The follow-up CEA level can be a useful tool for detecting early recurrence undetected by postoperative imaging studies. The perioperative follow-up CEA levels may be helpful for providing personalized evaluation of lung adenocarcinoma.

• Radiation Oncology Journal
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• v.31 no.3
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• pp.111-117
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• 2013

Purpose: To determine whether the maximum standardized uptake value (SUV) of [$^{18}F$] fluorodeoxyglucose uptake by positron emission tomography (FDG PET) ratio of lymph node to primary tumor (mSUVR) could be a prognostic factor for node positive non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients treated with definitive radiotherapy (RT). Materials and Methods: A total of 68 NSCLC T1-4, N1-3, M0 patients underwent FDG PET before RT. Optimal cutoff values of mSUVR were chosen based on overall survival (OS). Independent prognosticators were identified by Cox regression analysis. Results: The most significant cutoff value for mSUVR was 0.9 with respect to OS. Two-year OS was 17% for patients with mSUVR > 0.9 and 49% for those with mSUVR ${\leq}0.9$ (p = 0.01). In a multivariate analysis, including age, performance status, stage, use of chemotherapy, and mSUVR, only performance status (p = 0.05) and mSUVR > 0.9 (p = 0.05) were significant predictors of OS. Two-year OS for patients with both good performance (Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group [ECOG] ${\leq}1$) and mSUVR ${\leq}0.9$ was significantly better than that for patients with either poor performance (ECOG > 1) or mSUVR > 0.9, 23% (71% vs. 23%, p = 0.04). Conclusion: Our results suggested that the mSUVR was a strong prognostic factor among patients with lymph node positive NSCLC following RT. Addition of mSUVR to performance status identifies a subgroup at highest risk for death after RT.

• Journal of the Korean Geographical Society
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• v.48 no.5
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• pp.615-628
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• 2013

The waterfall can be formed by difference between the height of up and down part in new channel, is formed by channel avulsion that rapidly changing of river channel course. This study described types and processes of waterfalls by channel avulsion, and analyzed rates and factors of waterfall recession, on object to 7 waterfalls in South Korea. Bulyeong falls at Uljin-gun, Yongchu falls at Yeongdeok-gun, Jikyeon falls at Yanggu-gun and Gwangpum falls at Uljin-gun are formed by natural incised meander cutoff. Samhyeongje falls at Taebaek-si and Guryong falls are formed by river capture processes, and Palbong falls at Chungju-si is formed by artificial channel cutting for farm land secured. The locations of waterfalls gradually moved to upstream over time by head erosion. The recession rates were measured by 3~4m/ka on Bulyeong falls, Yongchu falls, Jikyeon falls and Samhyeongje falls, to estimate of formation age. Recession rates of these 4 waterfalls were analyzed that have clearly positive correlations with drainage area, precipitation, corrosion and weathering capability of bedrock, and initial height of waterfall.

• Hip & pelvis
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• v.30 no.4
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• pp.219-225
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• 2018

Purpose: Ischiofemoral impingement (IFI)-primarily diagnosed by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)-is an easily overlooked disease due to its low incidence. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the usefulness of false profile view as a screening test for IFI. Materials and Methods: Fifty-eight patients diagnosed with IFI between June 2013 and July 2017 were enrolled in this retrospective study. A control group (n=58) with matching propensity scores (age, gender, and body mass index) were also included. Ischiofemoral space (IFS) was measured as the shortest distance between the lateral cortex of the ischium and the medial cortex of lesser trochanter in weight bearing hip anteroposterior (AP) view and false profile view. MRI was used to measure IFS and quadratus femoris space (QFS). The receiver operating characteristics (ROC), area under the ROC curve (AUC) and cutoff point of the IFS were measured by false profile images, and the correlation between the IFS and QFS was analyzed using the MRI scans. Results: In the false profile view and hip AP view, patients with IFI had significantly decreased IFS (P<0.01). In the false profile view, ROC AUC (0.967) was higher than in the hip AP view (0.841). Cutoff value for differential diagnosis of IFI in the false profile view was 10.3 mm (sensitivity, 88.2%; specificity, 88.4%). IFS correlated with IFS (r=0.744) QFS (0.740) in MRI and IFS (0.621) in hip AP view (P<0.01). Conclusion: IFS on false profile view can be used as a screening tool for potential IFI.