• Journal of Distribution Research
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• v.17 no.3
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• pp.1-24
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• 2012

Franchises have recently emerged as the most rapidly expanding industry positioned to create a large impact in the domestic economic. The Chinese franchise industry developed rapidly in the period prior and subsequent to WTO accession with more than 50% of new franchises brands emerging since 2000. M&A transactions in the Chinese franchise industry have progressed actively. In the period from 2005-2007, due to the wholesale and retail market opening in accordance with the guidelines laid forth within the MOU by the WTO the Chinese franchise market is now the largest market in the world all despite a short history of only 20 years. The amount of franchise market research on China is disproportional to its current size and development potential. Beginning in the 1990s, market research conducted by the International Franchise Association focused on emerging markets in Eastern Europe and China. While the research dealt with the Chinese investment environment, it insufficiently explained the market region and cultural environment. The purpose of this research is (i) to investigate the determinants of the performance of franchise systems in China and (ii) new contract renewals based on performance factors. This study will complement existing research in terms of the franchisee perspective. This study may also prove of the benefit to the franchise companies entering the Chinese franchise market enabling them to develop an effective strategy. This study shows that support, incentives, and system standardization by franchisor yielded a positive effect on management performance. This is consistent with previous studies by Shin (2000) and Kim (2008) targeting Korean franchises. Therefore, in the Chinese market, the franchisor must focus on support, incentives, and system standardization rather than concentrate only on the recruitment of franchisees in order to improve revenue. Hypotheses regarding franchisor control have been dismissed in existing research, in the opinion of this study, due to their complexity and inability to control the merchant as a one-kind-assessment-standard. Our findings show that the franchisees' financial condition, management ability and entrepreneurial spirit, among franchisee's characteristics, have a positive effect on franchisor's business performance and satisfaction for the franchisee. This is consistent with previous studies on headquarters' management performance of Lussier (1996), Heo and Jang (2008), and franchisees' financial condition, management ability and entrepreneurial spirit effect on franchisor's satisfaction of Weaven and Franzer (2007), Kim (2009), Han (2009), and Yoon etc. (2008). Therefore, when permitting a franchisee, financial condition, management ability, entrepreneurship of the franchisee should be carefully considered. Among relational factors between franchisor and franchisee, trust has the positive influence on the management performance of the franchisor while conflict has a negative effect. However, trust, commitment and conflict factors have been shown not to have any impact on the satisfaction of the franchise headquarters. This result is consistent with the previous studies of Pavlou and Ba (2000), Morrison (1999), Weaven and Frazer (2007), Kim and Park (1994), Sohn (2007) which show that trust between franchisor and the franchisees have a positive effect and that conflict has a negative impact on franchisor's management performance. Other factors causing a negative effective on the franchisor's management performance are a rapid environmental changes and uncertainty in the business. This is consistent with Campbell et al (2007), Kim and Kim (2009), Han and Baek (2008). Finally, the high management performance and satisfaction of the franchise headquarters has a positive effect on the intention of franchise renewal. In the case of large markets such as China, the franchisor's strategy and the role is very important. In this study, we also investigated the characteristics of franchisor and franchisee, relationship, and environmental uncertainty affecting on the management performance and satisfaction of franchisor. Recently, Korean franchises are attempting to enter foreign markets through the rise in popularity of Korean culture and entertainment commonly referred to as the Korean wave. This study provides recommendations for Korean franchises intending on entering the Chinese market. First, in order to achieve stable profits, the franchise corporation needs to support the operation of the individual franchisee through incentives and standardization of services. Second, because trust between the franchisor and franchisee has a positive effect on management performance, on-going discussion and cooperation is necessary to reduce the level of conflict.

• Radiation Oncology Journal
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.27-31
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• 2000

Purpose : The aim of this study was to investigate treatment results, toxicity and efficacy of hypefractionated radiation therapy combined with paclitaxel for paraaortic node recurrence in cervix cancer. Materials and Methods: Between September 1997 to March 1999, 12 patients with paraaortic node recurrence in cervix cancer who previously received radical or postoperative radiotherapy were treated with hypefractionated radiation therapy combined with paclitaxel. Of these, 2 patients who irradiated less than 30 Gy were excluded, 10 patients were eligible for this study. Median age was 51 years. Initial FIGO stage was 1 stage IBI, 2 stage IIA, 7 stage IIB. For initial treatment, 7 patients received radical radiotherapy and 3 received postoperative radiotherapy. The paraaortic field encompassed the gross recurrent disease with superior margin at T12, and inferior margin was between L5 and S1 with gap for previously pelvic radiation field. The radiation field was initially anterior and posterior opposed field followed by both lateral field. The daily dose was 1.2 Gy, twice daily fractions, and total radiotherapy dose was between 50.4 and 60 Gy(median, 58.8 Gy). Concurrent chemotherapy was done with paclitaxel as a radiosensitizer. Dose range was from 20 mg/m$^{3}$ to 30 mg/m$^{3}$ (median, 25 mg/m$^{3}$), and cycle of chemotherapy was from 3 to 6 (median, 4.5 cycle). Follow-up period ranged from 3 to 21 months. Results : Interval between initial diagnosis and paraaortic node recurrence was range from 2 to 63 months (median, 8 months). The 1 year overall survival rate and median survival were 75$\%$ and 9.5 months, respectively. The 1 year disease free survival rate and median disease free survival were 30$\%$ and 7 months, respectively. At 1 month after treatment, 4 (40$\%$) achieved a complete response and 6 (60$\%$) experienced a partial response and all patients showed response above the partial response. There was distant metastasis in 6 patients and pelvic node recurrence In 2 patients after paraaortic node irradiation. There was 2 patients with grade 3 to 4 leukopenla and 8 patients with grade 1 to 2 nausea/ vomiting which was usually tolerable with antlemetic drug. There was no chronic complication in abdomen and pelvis during follow up period. Conclusion : hypefractionated radiation therapy combined with paclitaxel chemotherapy diosensitizer showed high response rate and few complication rate in paraaortic node recurrence in cervix cancer Therefore, present results suggest that hypefractionated radiation therapy combined with paclitaxel chemotherapy can be used as optimal treatment modality in this patients.

• Radiation Oncology Journal
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• v.25 no.4
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• pp.242-248
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• 2007

Purpose: To study the effect of recombinant human epidermal growth factor (rhEGF) on oral mucositis induced by cisplatin and radiotherapy in a mouse model. Materials and Methods: Twenty-four ICR mice were divided into three groups-the normal control group, the no rhEGF group (treatment with cisplatin and radiation) and the rhEGF group (treatment with cisplatin, radiation and rhEGF). A model of mucositis induced by cisplatin and radiotherapy was established by injecting mice with cisplatin (10 mg/kg) on day 1 and with radiation exposure (5 Gy/day) to the head and neck on days $1{\sim}5$. rhEGF was administered subcutaneously on days -1 to 0 (1 mg/kg/day) and on days 3 to 5 (1 mg/kg/day). Evaluation included body weight, oral intake, and histology. Results: For the comparison of the change of body weight between the rhEGF group and the no rhEGF group, a statistically significant difference was observed in the rhEGF group for the 5 days after day 3 of. the experiment. The rhEGF group and no rhEGF group had reduced food intake until day 5 of the experiment, and then the mice demonstrated increased food intake after day 13 of the of experiment. When the histological examination was conducted on day 7 after treatment with cisplatin and radiation, the rhEGF group showed a focal cellular reaction in the epidermal layer of the mucosa, while the no rhEGF group did not show inflammation of the oral mucosa. Conclusion: These findings suggest that rhEGF has a potential to reduce the oral mucositis burden in mice after treatment with cisplatin and radiation. The optimal dose, number and timing of the administration of rhEGF require further investigation.

• Childhood Kidney Diseases
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• v.4 no.2
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• pp.120-126
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• 2000

Purpose : This retrospective study has been undertaken to find out the clinical outcome of children with HS nephntis and its relationship with initial clinical presentation and/or renal pathologic finding. Patients and methods : Study population consisted of 59 children with HS nephritis who have been admitted to the Pediatric department of Kyungpook University Hospital from 1987 to 1999, and biopsy was done with indications of heavy proteinuria (> 1 g/m2/day) lasting over 1 month, nephrotic syndrome, and persistent hematuria and/or proteinuria over 1 year. Patients were divided clinically into 3 groups ; isolated hematuria, hematuria with proteinuria and heavy proteinuria (including nephrotic syndrome). Biopsy findings ore graded from I-V according to International Study of Kidney Disease in Children (ISKDC). Results : Mean age of presentation was $8.1{\pm}3.0$ years and slight male preponderance m noted (33 boys md 26 girls). Histopathologic grading showed Grade I ; 2, Grade II ; 44, and Grade III ; 13 cases. Clinical outcome at the follow-up period of 1-2 year (49 cases) and 3-4 years (30 cases) shooed normal urinalysis in 75 (30.6$\%$) and 18 cases (60.0$\%$), persistent isolated hematuria in 20 (40.8$\%$) and 2 cases (6.7$\%$), hematuria with proteinuria in 11 (22.5$\%$) and 8 cases (26.6$\%$), and persistent heavy proteinuria in 3 (6.1$\%$) and 2 cases (6.7$\%$) respectively. Clinical outcome according to histopathologic grading showed the frequency of normalization of urinalysis being lower in Grade III compared to grade I or II. Clinical outcome according to initial clinical presentation showed no relationship to the normalization or urinalysis at follow-up periods. However, 15-20$\%$ of children with initial heavy proteinuria showed persistent heavy proteinuria (3 out of 20 cases at 1-2 years, and 2 out of 10 case at 3-4 years of follow-up periods). Conclusion : The majority of children with HS nephritis (histopathologic grade I, II, III) improved within 3-4 years and persistent heavy proteinuria was seen only in a kw of children with initial clinical presentation of heavy proteinuria.

• Childhood Kidney Diseases
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• v.11 no.2
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• pp.168-177
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• 2007

Purpose : The purpose of this study was to investigate whether hypercalciuria patients with hematuria show different renal indices compared to non-hypercalciuria patients with hematuria. Methods : We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of patients with gross or microscopic hematuria whose blood chemistry and 24 hour urine chemistry were examined. After excluding the patients with more than $4 mg/m^2/day$ proteinuria or the patients with urinary calcium excretion between 3 and 4 mg/kg/day, we divided the patients into two groups: a hypercalciuria group whose calcium excretion was more than 4 mg/kg/day(n=30) and a non hypercalciuria group whose calcium excretion was less than 3 mg/kg/day(n=41). The urinary excretion, clearance, and fractional excretion(FE) of Na, K, Cl, Ca, P, urea, and creatinine were calculated and compared between the two groups. Results : The hypercalciuria group had more calcium excretion($6.1{\pm}2.9$ vs $1.5{\pm}0.9 mg/kg/day$), more urea excretion($341{\pm}102$ vs $233{\pm}123 mg/kg/day$), greater glomerular filtration rate(GFR) ($93.7{\pm}31.1$ vs $79.5{\pm}32.0 mL/min$) but lower FENa($1.0{\pm}0.4%$ vs $1.3{\pm}0.6%$) than the nonhyper-calciuria group, although the urinary sodium excretion was similar between the two groups. Conclusion : The greater urea excretion and GFR in hypercalciuric patients suggest that they might be on a higher protein diet than the non-hypercalciuria group. The increased glomerular filtration of sodium and calcium induced by the higher GFR in hypercalciuria would have increased their delivery to the distal tubule, where sodium is effectively reabsorbed but calcium is not, which is suggested by the lower FENa but higher FECa in hyercalciuria. It is recommended that the diet of hematuria patients be reviewed in detail at initial presentation and during treatment.

• Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging
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• v.42 no.5
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• pp.383-393
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• 2008

Purpose: Cancer specific killing can be achieved by therapeutic gene activated by cancer specific promotor. Expression of sodium iodide symporter (NIS) gene causes transportation and concentration of iodide into the cell, therefore radioiodine treatment after NIS gene transfer to cancer cell could be a form of radionuclide gene therapy. luciferase (Luc) gene transfected cancer cell can be monitored by in vivo optical imaging after D-luciferin injection. Aims of the study are to make vector with both therapeutic NIS gene driven by AFP promoter and reporter Luc gene driven by CMV promoter, to perform hepatocellular carcinoma specific radiodiodine gene therapy by the vector, and assessment of the therapy effect by optical imaging using luciferase expression. Materials and Methods: A Vector with AFP promoter driven NIS gene and CMV promoter driven Luc gene (AFP-NIS-CMV-Luc) was constructed. Liver cancer cell (HepG2, Huh-7) and non liver cancer cell (HCT-15) were transfected with the vector using liposome. Expression of the NIS gene at mRNA level was elucidated by RT-PCR. Radioiodide uptake, perchlorate blockade, and washout tests were performed and bioluminescence also measured by luminometer in these cells. In vitro clonogenic assay with 1-131 was performed. In vivo nuclear imaging was obtained with gamma camera after 1-131 intraperitoneal injection. Results: A Vector with AFP-NIS-CMV-Luc was constructed and successfully transfected into HepG2, Huh-7 and HCT-15 cells. HepG2 and Huh-7 cells with AFP-NIS-CMV-Luc gene showed higher iodide uptake than non transfected cells and the higher iodide uptake was totally blocked by addition of perchlorate. HCT-15 cell did not showed any change of iodide uptake by the gene transfection. Transfected cells had higher light output than control cells. In vitro clonogenic assay, transfected HepG2 and Huh-7 cells showed lower colony count than non transfected HepG2 and Huh-7 cells, but transfected HCT-15 cell did not showed any difference than non transfected HCT-15 cell. Number of Huh-7 cells with AFP-NIS-CMV-Luc gene transfection was positively correlated with radioidine accumulation and luciferase activity. In vivo nuclear imaging with 1-131 was successful in AFP-NIS-CMV-Luc gene transfected Huh-7 cell xenograft on nude mouse. Conclusion: A Vector with AFP promoter driven NIS and CMV promoter driven Luc gene was constructed. Transfection of the vector showed liver cancer cell specific enhancement of 1-131 cytotoxicity by AFP promoter, and the effect of the radioiodine therapy can be successfully assessed by non-invasive luminescence measurement.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.19 no.6
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• pp.765-769
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• 2009

Recent studies have reported that the distribution of HPV-16 sequence variation differs geographically, and more specifically that HPV-16 E6/E7 intratypic variants might carry a high risk for development of ICC (invasive cervical cancer) and CIN (cervical intraepithelial neoplasia) in a given population. To investigate the genetic diversities of HPV-16 E6/E7 oncogene by region, we collected nineteen HPV-16 isolates from sexually high-risk women in Busan, and analyzed the HPV-16 E6/E7 coding regions (nt 34 to 880) with HPV-16 E6/E7 specific PCR amplification. At the nucleotide levet eleven variants of the E6 genes and nine variants of the E7 genes were identified as follows: E6 T178G (n=l1), E6 T178A (n=l), E6 T350G (n=3), E6 A442C (n=2), E6 AI04T, E6 All1G, E6 C116T, E6 G145T, E6 T183G, E6 C335T, E6 G522C and E7 A647G (n=12), E7 A645C, E7 A777C, E7 G663A, E7 T732C, E7 T760C, E7 A775T, E7 T789C and E7 T795G, respectively. At the amino acid levet the isolated HPV-16 E6 and E7 genes showed eleven E6 variants: E6 D25E (n=12), E6 L83V (n=4), E6 E113D (n=2), E6 MIL, E6 Q3R, E6 P5S, E6 Q14H, E6 D25N, E6 127R, E6 H78Y, E6 C140S and three E7 variants: N29S (n=12), L28F, T72S. HPV16 E6 L83V, the dominant variant in the Caucasian population, showed relatively low frequencies in our study population. We elucidated that the dominant HPV-16 E6/E7 variants were HPV-16 E6 D25E (63.2%) and HPV-16 E7 N29S (63.2%), which were phylogenetically included in Asian lineage. Further study is needed to evaluate the risk of cervical cancer related HPV-16 E6/E7 intratypic variants in the Korean population.

• Korean Journal of Poultry Science
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• v.30 no.4
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• pp.235-244
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• 2003

This study was carried out to estimate the effects of strain and generation on the major production performances of Korean native chicken. The data were collected from 11,583 birds of the 7 generations over the year 1995 through 2001 at National Livestock Research Institute, Korea. Results obtained were summarized as follows: The body weights at 150 and 270 days of age were 1,557.7 and 1880.7, 1,471.7 and 1,738.2, 1,393.5 and 1,694.9, 1,591.2 and 1,910.0, 1,545.6 and 1,763.6g in Red Brown, Yellow Brown, Gray Brown, Black, and White strains, respectively. The Coefficient of Variations (CVs) of the body weights at 150 and 270 days of age were 9.65~13.79% and 13.29~15.16%. The ages at first egg were 150.0, 148.3, 149.5, 152,8 and 147.7 days in Red Brown, Yellow Brown, Gray Brown, Black and White strains, respectively and the CVs were between 9.33 and 10.11%. The egg weights at the first egg and 270 days of age were 33.2 and 50.8, 32.2 and 49.2, 32.2 and 49.1, 33.0 and 50.0, 30.7 and 47.8g respectively. The CVs of the egg weights of the first egg and at 270 days of age were 13.54~15.27% and 6.93~7.36%. The numbers of eggs produced by 270 days of age were 77.0, 79.3, 77.3, 73,7, 75.4, respectively, and observed CVs were between 29.98~36.99%. The significant strain effects were investigated in all the major economic traits in Korean native chicken. The significant strain effects were investigated in all the major economic traits in Korean native chicken. The highest least square (LS) means of the body weights at 150 and 270 days of age were observed in Black strain as 1,594.38 and 1,911.57g. The earliest LS mean of the ages at first egg was 146.88days in White strain. The heaviest LS means of egg weights at the first egg and 270 days of age were observed in Red Brown strain as 32.20 and 50.74g. The LS mean of the largest number of egg production was 79.50 eggs in Yellow Brown strain. Also, The significant generation effects were investigated in all the major economic traits. The highest LS means of the body weights at 150 and 270 days of age were observed in the generation 3 as 1,599.74 and 1,905.01g. The earliest LS mean of the age at first egg was 143.31 days in 4th generation. The heaviest LS means of egg weights at the first egg and 270 days of age were observed in 7th and 5th generation as 35.68 and 50.42g. The LS means of the largest number of egg production was 78.53 eggs in generation 6. In general, light body weight, short time for the age at first egg, heavy egg weight, and large number of egg production were observed as the generation proceeded.

• Radiation Oncology Journal
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• v.17 no.3
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• pp.209-216
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• 1999

Purpose : To evaluate the effectiveness of external radiation therapy and the prognostic factors, we retrospectively analyzed therapeutic results of malignant extrahepatic biliary obstruction (EHBO). Methods and Materials : We analyzed the results of the external radiation therapy in 59 patients of inoperable malignant EHBO who had been treated with more than 10 Gy of external radiation therapy from April 1984 to December 1990. There were 21 stomach cancer ($35.6\%$), 12 pancreas cancer ($20.3\%$), 15 extrahepatic biliary cancer ($18.0\%$) and 11 another cancer ($18.0\%$). Their pathologies were confirmed in 31 patients ($52.5\%$). They divided into 27 adenocarcinoma and 4 nonadenocarcinoma. Their chief complaints were jaundice in 47 patients ($79.7\%$) and abdominal pain in 15 patients ($49.2\%$). Twelve patients had slightly increased bilirubin level in liver function test without jaundice. We treated twenty four patients ($40.6\%$) with percutaneous transhepatic biliary drainage (PTBD) and 32 patients ($54\%$) with systemic chemotherapy (CT). We performed external radiation therapy (ERT) upto $10.8\~55.8$ Gy (median 37.8 Gy) with palliative aim. Results : Overall median survival duration was $7.80\pm1.15$ months. The response rates of jaundice were $81.8\%$ in PTBO group and $66.7\%$ in non-PTBD group without statistical significance. The improving rate of jaundice was not significantly different in decreased ratio of total bilirubin level. But abdominal pain was more decreased in CT group than non-CT group (p<0.05). The significant prognostic factors were high performance status (Karnofski Performance Status >70), total radiation dose more than 35 Gy and good response of pain after therapy. There were increased in bacterial cholagitis in PTBD group and gastrointestinal complications in CT group. Conclusion : External radiotheapy could improve jaundice and abdominal pain in malignant EHBO patients, Overall survival duration was prolonged in patients with higher performance status and patients who had been treated with more than 35 Gy of total radiation dose. In the future, we expect not only better palliative role but also the prolongation of survival of using the ERT combined with other treatment method. But to achieve certain conclusion, we need luther study consisted with many kinds of treatment methods including new technologies in RT.

• Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging
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• v.43 no.4
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• pp.323-329
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• 2009

Purpose: Radioimmunoassay (RIA) was usually performed by the batch assay. To improve the efficiency of RIA without increase of the cost and time, random assay could be a choice. We investigated the possibility of the random assay using automatic dispenser by assessing the agreement between batch assay and random assay. Materials and Methods: The experiments were performed with four items; Triiodothyronine (T3), free thyroxine (fT4), Prostate specific antigen (PSA), Carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA). In each item, the sera of twenty patients, the standard, and the control samples were used. The measurements were done 4 times with 3 hour time intervals by random assay and batch assay. The coefficient of variation (CV) of the standard samples and patients' data in T3, fT4, PSA, and CEA were assessed. ICC (Intraclass correlation coefficient) and coefficient of correlation were measured to assessing the agreement between two methods. Results: The CVs (%) of T3, fT4, PSA, and CEA measured by batch assay were 3.2$\pm$1.7%, 3.9$\pm$2.1%, 7.1$\pm$6.2%, 11.2$\pm$7.2%. The CVs by random assay were 2.1$\pm$1.7%, 4.8$\pm$3.1%, 3.6$\pm$4.8%, and 7.4$\pm$6.2%. The ICC between the batch assay and random assay were 0.9968 (T3), 0.9973 (fT4), 0.9996 (PSA), and 0.9901 (CEA). The coefficient of correlation between the batch assay and random assay were 0.9924(T3), 0.9974 (fT4), 0.9994 (PSA), and 0.9989 (CEA) (p<0.05). Conclusion: The results of random assay showed strong agreement with the batch assay in a day. These results suggest that random assay using automatic dispenser could be used in radioimmunoassay.