• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.16 no.15
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• pp.6773-6777
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• 2015

We used to LASSO-Cox method for determining prognostic factors of male breast cancer survival and showed the superiority of this method compared to Cox proportional hazard model in low sample size setting. In order to identify and estimate exactly the relative hazard of the most important factors effective for the survival duration of male breast cancer, the LASSO-Cox method has been used. Our data includes the information of male breast cancer patients in Fars province, south of Iran, from 1989 to 2008. Cox proportional hazard and LASSO-Cox models were fitted for 20 classified variables. To reduce the impact of missing data, the multiple imputation method was used 20 times through the Markov chain Mont Carlo method and the results were combined with Rubin's rules. In 50 patients, the age at diagnosis was 59.6 (SD=12.8) years with a minimum of 34 and maximum of 84 years and the mean of survival time was 62 months. Three, 5 and 10 year survival were 92%, 77% and 26%, respectively. Using the LASSO-Cox method led to eliminating 8 low effect variables and also decreased the standard error by 2.5 to 7 times. The relative efficiency of LASSO-Cox method compared with the Cox proportional hazard method was calculated as 22.39. The19 years follow of male breast cancer patients show that the age, having a history of alcohol use, nipple discharge, laterality, histological grade and duration of symptoms were the most important variables that have played an effective role in the patient's survival. In such situations, estimating the coefficients by LASSO-Cox method will be more efficient than the Cox's proportional hazard method.

• Journal of the Korea Society of Computer and Information
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• v.24 no.12
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• pp.191-199
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• 2019

In this paper, we propose to develop a diagnosis tool for measuring digital competence for university student. To this end, 223 students participated for the survey research. Based on the survey by 6 domain and 40 questions, 6 factors and 18 questions for digital competence measurement were drawn throughout the factors analysis. The results of the confirmatory factor analysis showed the fact that 6 factors and 18 questions that satisfied the model-fit indexes statistically were finally confirmed. And the developed tool demonstrated good results in reliability and validity verification, which were suitable for measuring digital competence for university students. The developed measurement tool of digital competence for university students consisted of 6 sub-components such digital device operation, communication and collaboration, information searching, processing, and management, problem solving and learning, security, digital ethics. The digital competence measuring tool developed in this study is expected to be used to identify the current level of competences for university student, and to enhance their own digital competences through educational supports.

• Research in Community and Public Health Nursing
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• v.15 no.2
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• pp.209-217
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• 2004

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to construct the structure, process and outcome of community-based home care nursing service and to examine their validity. Method: There were two steps. The first step was developing the structure and process of community-based home care and the second was evaluating the outcome of community-based home care. Home care services were provided to 25 clients who had health problems. Data on these clients were analyzed. Result: According to Albrecht Model, in the developed structure and process of community-based home care, structure contained facility's philosophy, organization, delivery system, steering committee, office, equipments, medical instruments, the home care nurse and client of home care nursing. Process contained classification of client. nursing diagnosis and nursing intervention. The majority of clients were men (56%). The service was used mostly by people aged over 50 (82%). The most frequent nursing diagnoses were altered urinary elimination (23.2%). impaired skin integrity (21.8%) and risk for infection (17.6%). Nursing interventions included wound care (16.7%), tube care (15.1%) and catheter care (14.5%). Conclusion: Several strategies are suggested from this study: first, activate a referral system within the national health care system: second, increase public information on home care nursing: third, develop home care nursing services for elderly people: and fourth, construct a cooperation system between home care services and social welfare services.

• Proceedings of the KIEE Conference
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• 2015.07a
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• pp.1200-1201
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• 2015

고전압 전력설비 진단은 기기의 열화 상태를 측정하여 이상 사고를 미리 예측하여 방지하는 것을 목적으로 실시한다. 고전압 전력설비의 유지관리 방안은 일정 시간 경과후 보수하는 개념(TBM: Time Based Maintenance) 이후 설비의 상태를 진단하여 유지보수 방안을 결정하는 개념(CBM: Condition Based Maintenance)으로 진보해 감에 따라 전력설비의 상태진단 기술의 중요성은 증대될 전망이다. 고전압 전력설비의 절연진단은 직류시험(절연저항, PI)과 교류시험($tan{\delta}$, PD)이 실시되며 과거 진단 데이터의 추세분석을 통한 정확한 상태진단이 요구되고 있다. 고압 유도 전동기 절연진단 데이터 관리 전산화 모델은 고전압 전력기기(발전기, 변압기, 전동기, 케이블 등)의 절연진단 및 유지보수 이력에 관한 자료들을 저장, 조회 및 검색을 하기 위한 데이터베이스를 구축하고 구축된 데이터를 활용하여 과거 이력조회, 추이분석, 진단 데이터의 분석기법을 통한 전력기기의 상태평가로 합리적인 개 대체 의사결정을 지원한다. 또한, 유입식 변압기의 절연유 가스분석 알고리즘을 전산화 하여 10종 가연성 가스에 따른 Gas Pattern 평가로 고장 원인, 현상 및 조치 등에 대한 출력이 가능한 프로그램의 개발로 고전압 전력설비 진단기술과 IT기술의 융 복합 기술로서 고전압 전력설비의 유지관리 기술을 한 차원 더 진보시킬 것으로 판단된다.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.13 no.7
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• pp.3529-3533
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• 2012

Objectives: To investigate the current prevalence and knowledge of cervical cancer, breast cancer and reproductive tract infections (RTIs) in rural Chinese women, and to explore the acceptance and feasibility of implementing a combined screening program in rural China. Methods: A population-based, cross-sectional study was conducted among women aged 30 to 59 years old in Xiangyuan County, Shanxi Province from 2009 to 2010. Socio-demographic characteristics, knowledge of cervical cancer, breast cancer and RTIs, and the attitude toward single or combined screening were collected by an interview questionnaire. Each participant received a clinical examination of the cervix, breast and reproductive tract. Examinations included visual inspection, mammography, laboratory tests and pathological diagnosis. Results: A total of 1,530 women were enrolled in this study. The prevalence of cervical precancerous lesions, suspicious breast cancer, suspicious benign breast disease and RTIs was 1.4%, 0.2%, 14.0% and 54.3%, respectively. Cervicitis, trichomonas vaginitis, and bacterial vaginitis were the three most common RTIs among our participants. Television, radio broadcast, and public education during screening were the major source of healthcare knowledge in rural China. Moreover 99.7% of women expressed great interest in participating in a combined screening project. The affordable limit for combined screening project was only 50 RMB for more than half of the rural women. Conclusion: A combined screening program would be more effective and popular than single disease screening projects, while appropriate accompanied education and a co-pay model for its successful implementation need to be explored, especially in low-resource settings.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.15 no.20
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• pp.8861-8869
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• 2014

Background: The prognostic value of Bcl-2 protein expression in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is under debate. We therefore systematically reviewed the evidence for Bcl-2 protein effects on NSCLC survival to elucidate this issue. Materials and Methods: An electronic search in Pubmed and Embase complemented by manual searches in article references were conducted to identify eligible studies to evaluate the association between Bcl-2 protein expression and overall survival (OS) as well as disease free survival (DFS) of NSCLC patients. Combined hazard ratios (HRs) with corresponding 95% confidence intervals (95%CIs) were pooled using the random-effects model. Results: A total of 50 trials (including 52 cohorts) encompassing 7,765 patients were pooled in the meta-analysis regarding Bcl-2 expression and OS of NSCLC patients. High expression of Bcl-2 protein had a favorable impact (HR=0.76, 95%CI=0.67-0.86). In the group of Bcl-2 expression and DFS, 11 studies including 2,634 patients were included. The synthesized result indicated high expression of Bcl-2 protein might predict good DFS (HR=0.85, 95%CI=0.75-0.95). Conclusions: Our present meta-analysis demonstrated favorable prognostic values of Bcl-2 expression in patients with NSCLC. Further prospective trails are welcomed to validate the utility of assessing Bcl-2 in NSCLC patient management.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.15 no.7
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• pp.2971-2977
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• 2014

Background: Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) have been recently observed in various human cancers. However, the role of lncRNAs in pancreatic duct adenocarcinoma (PDAC) remains unclarified. The aim of this study was to detect the expression of lncRNA MALAT1 in PDAC formalin-fixed, paraffin embedded (FFPE) tissues and to investigate the clinical significance of the MALAT1 level. Methods: The expression of MALAT1 was examined in 45 PDAC and 25 adjacent non-cancerous FFPE tissues, as well as in five PDAC cell lines and a normal pancreatic epithelium cell line HPDE6c-7, using qRT-PCR. The relationship between MALAT1 level and clinicopathological parameters of PDAC was analyzed with the Kaplan-Meier method and Cox proportional hazards model. Results: The relative level of MALAT1 was significantly higher in PDAC compared to the adjacent normal pancreatic tissues (p=0.009). When comparing the MALAT1 level in the cultured cell lines, remarkably higher expression of MALAT1 was found in aspc-1 PDAC cells compared with the immortal pancreatic duct epithelial cell line HPDE6c-7 (q=7.573, p<0.05). Furthermore, MALAT1 expression level showed significant correlation with tumor size (r=0.35, p=0.018), tumor stage (r=0.439, p=0.003) and depth of invasion (r=0.334, p=0.025). Kaplan-Meier analysis revealed that patients with higher MALAT1 expression had a poorer disease free survival (p=0.043). Additionally, multivariate analysis indicated that overexpression of MALAT1, as well as the tumor location and nerve invasion, was an independent predictor of disease-specific survival of PDAC. Conclusion: MALAT1 might be considered as a potential prognostic indicator and may be a target for diagnosis and gene therapy for PDAC.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.15 no.5
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• pp.2027-2033
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• 2014

Background: We aimed to assess RET proto-oncogene polymorphisms in three different Iranian families with medullary thyroid cancer (MTC), and performed molecular dynamics simulations and free energy stability analysis of these mutations. Materials and Methods: This study consisted of 48 patients and their first-degree relatives with MTC confirmed by pathologic diagnosis and surgery. We performed molecular dynamics simulations and free energy stability analysis of mutations, and docking evaluation of known RET proto-oncogene inhibitors, including ZD-6474 and ponatinib, with wild-type and mutant forms. Results: The first family consisted of 27 people from four generations, in which nine had the C.G2901A (P.C634Y) mutation; the second family consisted of six people, of whom three had the C.G2901T (P.C634F) mutation, and the third family, who included 12 individuals from three generations, three having the C.G2251A (P.G691S) mutation. The automated 3D structure of RET protein was predicted using I-TASSER, and validated by various protein model verification programs that showed more than 96.3% of the residues in favored and allowed regions. The predicted instability indices of the mutated structures were greater than 40, which reveals that mutated RET protein is less thermo-stable compared to the wild-type form (35.4). Conclusions: Simultaneous study of the cancer mutations using both in silico and medical genetic procedures, as well as onco-protein inhibitor binding considering mutation-induced drug resistance, may help in better overcoming chemotherapy resistance and designing innovative drugs.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.17 no.4
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• pp.2151-2157
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• 2016

Scabraside D, a sulfated triterpene glycoside, was extracted from the sea cucumber Holothuria scabra. It shows anti-proliferation in many of cancer cell lines, but the function and mechanisms of action of scabraside D in human cholangiocarcinoma (HuCCA) have not previously determined. In this study, we investigated the activity of scabraside D on HuCCA cell apoptosis, lymphangiogenesis and metastasis in a nude mouse model. Scabraside D induced signs of apoptosis, such as cell shrinkage, nuclear condensation, nuclear fragmentation and DNA fragmentation on TUNEL assays, while effectively decreasing expression of BCl-2 but increasing caspase-3 gene level expression. Immunohistochemistry revealed that scabraside D significantly reduced lymphatic vessel density (LVD). Moreover, scabraside D treatment significantly decreased VEGF-C, MMP-9 and uPA gene expression, which play important roles in the lymphangiogenesis and invasion of cancer cells in metastasis processes. Quantitative real-time PCR showed that scabraside D significantly decreased iNOS and STAT-3 gene expression. This study demonstrated that scabraside D plays a role in activation of HuCCA tumor apoptosis and inhibition of lymphangiogenesis, invasion and metastasis through decreasing BCl-2, MMP-9, uPA and VEGF-C and increasing caspase-3 expression by suppression of iNOS and STAT-3 expression. Therefore, scabraside D could be a promising candidate for cholangiocarcinoma treatment.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.17 no.4
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• pp.1729-1732
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• 2016

In the patients with metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC), RAS testing is the first step to identify those that could benefit from anti-EGFR therapy. This study examined associations between KRAS mutations and clinicopathological and survival data in Iranian patients with mCRC. Between 2008 to2015 in a retrospective study, 83 cases of mCRC were referred to the Clinic of Medical Oncology. The mean follow-up was 45 months that there were 27 deaths. The 3 patients that did not complete follow-up were censored from the study. KRAS and NRAS were analyzed using allele-specific PCR primers and pyrosequencing in exons 2, 3 and 4. Multivariate survival analysis using Cox's regression model was used for affecting of variables on overall survival (OS). The mean age at diagnosis for patients was 57.7 (range, 18 to 80 years) and 61.4% were male. There was no significant different between prognostic factors and KRAS mutation with wild-type. Also, There was no significant different between KRAS mutation and KRAS wild-type for survival, but there was a significant different between KRAS 12 and 13 mutations for survival (HR 0.13, 95% CI 0.03-0.66, P=0.01). In conclusion, the prevalence of KRAS mutations in CRC patients was below 50% but higher than in other studies in Iran. As in many studies, patients with KRAS 12 mutations had better OS thn those with KRAS 13 mutation. In addition to KRAS testing, other biomarkers are needed to determine the best treatment for patients with mCRC.