• Journal of Technology Innovation
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• v.13 no.3
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• pp.175-196
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• 2005

This Paper examines analytic studies of the evaluation system used for evaluating government-supported R&D Institutes (GSRIs), and designs a new model for analyzing the evaluation system's effectiveness. The analytic models in existing studies use the meta evaluation and balanced scorecard (BSC) models. However, theses studies focused on the structure and elements of the evaluation system for examples, the appropriateness of the elements within the evaluation system and the balance of the evaluation index. Accordingly, the effectiveness of the GSRI evaluation system, that is, the evaluation's influence on GSRI performance improvement was not analyzed. This study uses the institution theory and contingency theory perspectives as related to government organization management to develop an analytical model of GSRI evaluation system effectiveness. The new model proposes an analytical approach for improving the effectiveness of the GSRI evaluation system in an institutionalized environment.

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Intelligent Systems
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• v.16 no.5
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• pp.594-600
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• 2006

The optimization has been performed to search an economical running pattern in the view point of trip time and energy consumption. Fuzzy control model has been applied to build the meta-model. To identify the structure and its parameters of a fuzzy model, fuzzy c-means clustering method and differential evolutionary scheme ate utilized, respectively. As a result, two meta-models for trip time and energy consumption are constructed. The optimization to search an economical running pattern is achieved by differential evolutionary scheme. The result shows that the proposed methodology is very efficient and conveniently applicable to the operation of railway system.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.14 no.4
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• pp.2413-2419
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• 2013

Background: Use of epidermal growth factor receptor inhibitors (EGFR-TKIs ) is now standard for non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC). However, the effects of EGFR-TKIs in maintenance therapy for advanced NSCLC patients are still unclear. The preent meta-analysis was performed to examine pooled data of randomized control trials (RCT) where EGFR-TKIs were compared against placebo in maintenance regimens for patients with advanced NCSLC to quantify potential benefits and determine safety. Methods: Several data bases were searched, including PubMed, EMBASE and CENTRAL, and we performed an internet search of conference literature. The endpoints were objective response rates (ORR), progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS). We performed a meta-analysis of the published data, using Comprehensive Meta Analysis software (Version 2.0). with a fixed effects model and an additional random effects model, when applicable. The results of the meta-analysis are expressed as hazard ratios (HRs) or risk ratios (RRs), with their corresponding 95% confidence intervals (95%CIs). Results: The final analysis included six trials, covering 3,758 patients. Compared with placebo, EGFR-TKIs maintenance therapy improved ORR and PFS for patients with advanced NSCLC, the difference being statistically significant (P<0.05), but proved unable to prolong patients' OS. The main adverse reactions were diarrhea and rashes. Conclusion: EGFR-TKIs demonstrated encouraging efficacy, safety and survival when delivered as maintenance therapy for patients with advanced NSCLC after first-line chemotherapy, especially for the patients who had adenocarcinomas, were female, non-smokers and patients with EGFR gene mutations.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.34 no.3
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• pp.262-268
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• 2001

Objectives : To integrate the results of studies which assess an association between blood lead and blood pressure. Methods : We surveyed the existing literature using a MEDLINE search with blood lead and blood pressure as key words, including reports published from January 1980 to December 2000. The criteria for quality evaluation were as follows: 1) the study subjects must have been workers exposed to lead, and 2) both blood pressure and blood lead must have been measured and presented with sufficient details so as to estimate or calculate the size of the association as a continuous variable. Among the 129 articles retrieved, 13 studies were selected for quantitative meta-analysis. Before the integration of each regression coefficient for the association between blood pressure and blood lead, a homogeneity test was conducted. Results : As the homogeneity of studies was rejected in a fixed effect model, we used the results in a random effect model. Our quantitative meta-analysis yielded weighted regression coefficients of blood lead associated with systolic blood pressure and diastolic blood pressure results of 0.0047 (95% confidence interval [CI]: -0.0061, 0.0155) and 0.0004 (95% CI: -0.0031, 0.0039), respectively. Conclusions : The published evidence suggested that there may be a weak positive association between blood lead and blood pressure, but the association is not significant.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.49 no.6
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• pp.367-375
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• 2016

Objectives: The established theory that breast density is an independent predictor of breast cancer risk is based on studies targeting white women in the West. More Asian women than Western women have dense breasts, but the incidence of breast cancer is lower among Asian women. This meta-analysis investigated the association between breast density in mammography and breast cancer risk in Asian women. Methods: PubMed and Scopus were searched, and the final date of publication was set as December 31, 2015. The effect size in each article was calculated using the interval-collapse method. Summary effect sizes (sESs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated by conducting a meta-analysis applying a random effect model. To investigate the dose-response relationship, random effect dose-response meta-regression (RE-DRMR) was conducted. Results: Six analytical epidemiology studies in total were selected, including one cohort study and five case-control studies. A total of 17 datasets were constructed by type of breast density index and menopausal status. In analyzing the subgroups of premenopausal vs. postmenopausal women, the percent density (PD) index was confirmed to be associated with a significantly elevated risk for breast cancer (sES, 2.21; 95% CI, 1.52 to 3.21; $I^2=50.0%$). The RE-DRMR results showed that the risk of breast cancer increased 1.73 times for each 25% increase in PD in postmenopausal women (95% CI, 1.20 to 2.47). Conclusions: In Asian women, breast cancer risk increased with breast density measured using the PD index, regardless of menopausal status. We propose the further development of a breast cancer risk prediction model based on the application of PD in Asian women.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.14 no.7
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• pp.4283-4287
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• 2013

Background: In this meta-analysis we review evidence suggesting that exposure to cadmium is a cause of breast cancer. Materials and Methods: We conducted Medline/PubMed and Scopus searches using selected MeSH keywords to identify papers published from January 1, 1980 through January 1, 2013. Data were merged and summary mean differences were estimated using either a random-effects model or a fixed-effects model. Results: There were 13 studies including 978 exposed cases and 1,279 controls. There was no statistically significant difference in the frequencies of breast cancer between cadmium-exposed and control groups, and the summary estimate of mean difference was 0.71 (95%CI: 0.33-1.08). However, stratification showed that there were statistically significant differences in the frequencies of breast cancer between cadmium-exposed and control groups among Asian compared with Caucasian population, and the summary estimates of mean difference were 1.45 (95%CI: 0.62-2.28) vs. 0.25 (95%CI: -0.09-0.6), respectively. There was a difference in the frequencies of breast cancer between cadmium-exposed and control groups in peripheral venous blood sampling methods, and the summary estimate of mean difference was 1.41 (95%CI: 0.46-2.37). Conclusions: Data indicate that the frequencies of breast cancer might be an indicator of early genetic effects for cadmium-exposed populations. However, our meta-analysis was performed on population-based studies; meta-analysis based on individual data might provide more precise and reliable results. Therefore, it is necessary to construct an international database on genetic damage among populations exposed to cadmium that may contain all raw data of studies examining genetic toxicity.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.14 no.8
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• pp.4871-4875
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• 2013

This meta-analysis was performed to evaluate and compare the outcomes of robotic gastrectomy (RG) and laparoscopic gastrectomy (LG) for treating gastric cancer. A systematic literature search was carried out using the PubMed database, Web of Knowledge, and the Cochrane Library database to obtain comparative studies assessing the safety and efficiency between RG and LG in May, 2013. Data of interest were analyzed by using of Review Manager version 5.2 software (Cochrane Collaboration). A fixed effects model or random effects model was applied according to heterogeneity. Seven papers reporting results that compared robotic gastrectomy with laparoscopic gastrectomy for gastric cancer were selected for this meta-analysis. Our metaanalysis included 2,235 patients with gastric cancer, of which 1,473 had undergone laparoscopic gastrectomy, and 762 had received robotic gastrectomy. Compared with laparoscopic gastrectomy, robotic gastrectomy was associated with longer operative time but less blood loss. There were no significant difference in terms of hospital stay, total postoperative complication rate, proximal margin, distal margin, numbers of harvested lymph nodes and mortality rate between robotic gastrectomy and laparoscopic gastrectomy. Our meta-analysis showed that robotic gastrectomy is a safe technique for treating gastric cancer that compares favorably with laparoscopic gastrectomy in short term outcomes. However, the long term outcomes between the two techniques need to be further examined.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.13 no.5
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• pp.1923-1927
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• 2012

Background: Studies investigating the association between 2R/3R polymorphisms in the thymidylate synthase 5'-untranslated enhanced region (TYMS 5'-UTR) and gastric cancer risk have generated conflicting results. Thus, a meta-analysis was performed to summarize the data on any association. Methods: Pubmed, Embase, and CNKI databases were searched for all available studies. The strength of association between TYMS 5'-UTR 2R/3R polymorphism and gastric cancer risk was estimated by odds ratios (ORs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Results: Six individual case-control studies with a total of 1, 472 cases and 1, 895 controls were included into this meta-analysis. Analyses of total six relevant studies showed that there was no obvious association between the TYMS 5'-UTR 2R/3R polymorphism and gastric cancer risk. Subgroup analyses based on ethnicity showed 2R of TYMS 5'-UTR 2R/3R contributes to gastric cancer risk in the Asian population ($OR_{Homozygote\;model}$ = 1.71, 95%CI 1.19-2.46, P = 0.004; $OR_{Recessive\;genetic\;model}$ = 1.70, 95%CI 1.18-2.43, P = 0.004). However, the association in Caucasian populations was uncertain due to the limited studies. Conclusions: Our meta-analysis suggests that 2R of TYMS 5'-UTR 2R/3R contributes to gastric cancer risk in the Asian population, while this association in Caucasians populations needs further study.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.14 no.9
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• pp.5483-5487
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• 2013

Background: Associations between Arg399Gln, Arg194Trp and Arg280His polymorphisms of the XRCC1 gene and risk of differentiated thyroid carcinoma (DTC) have been widely studied but the findings are contradictory. Methods: We performed a meta-analysis in the present study using STATA 11.0 software to clarify any associations. Electronic literature databases and reference lists of relevant articles revealed a total of 10, 6 and 6 published studies for the Arg399Gln, Arg194Trp and Arg280His polymorphisms, respectively. Results: No significant associations were observed between Arg399Gln and DTC risk in all genetic models within the overall and subgroup meta-analyses, while the Trp/Trp vs Arg/Arg and recessive model of the Arg194Trp polymorphism was associated with DTC susceptibility, and the dominant model of Arg280His polymorphism contributed to DTC susceptibility in Caucasians. Conclusions: Our meta-analysis suggests that XRCC1 Arg194Trp may be a risk factor for DTC development.

• Journal of Korean society of Dental Hygiene
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• v.20 no.3
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• pp.269-279
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• 2020

Objectives: Previous studies have reported inconsistent findings in the association between dental diagnostic X-ray exposure and thyroid cancer. This study was a meta-analysis of case-control studies evaluating the association between exposure to dental radiation and the thyroid cancer risk. Methods: We searched the PubMed and EMBASE databases to identify studies on dental radiation and thyroid cancer risks that were published up to September 2018. Quality of studies was assessed using the Newcastle-Ottawa scale. A fixed-effects model was used to estimate pooled odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) using STATA 14.0. Potential publication biases were evaluated using Egger's test and Begg's funnel plot. Results: From the literature search, we included six case-control studies in this meta-analysis. The meta-analysis using the fixed-effects model found that dental X-ray exposure was associated with 2.34 times increased risk for thyroid cancer (OR=2.34, 95% CI=1.79-3.21). There was no heterogeneity in the data (p=0.662, I² =0%). Egger's test showed that there was no publication bias (p=0.532). Conclusions: This meta-analysis confirmed the association of dental X-ray exposure and thyroid cancer risk. The current results underscore the importance of applying safety regulations at dental clinics to protect thyroid glands during dental radiography examinations.