• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.15 no.3
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• pp.1369-1373
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• 2014

Objectives: To study application of the maximum standardized uptake value (SUVmax), metabolic tumor volume (MTV) and total lesion glycolysis (TLG) with $^{18}F$-FDG PET/CT for predicting prognosis of esophageal squamous cell cancer (ESC) patients. Methods: Eighty-six patients with ESC staged from I to IV were prospectively enrolled. Cisplatin-based chemoradiotherapy (CCRT) or palliative chemoradiotherapy were the main treatment methods and none received surgery. $^{18}F$-FDG PET/CT scans were performed before the treatment. SUVmax, MTV, and TLG were measured for the primary esophageal lesion and regional lymph nodes. Receiver operating characteristic curves (ROCs) were generated to calculate the P value of the predictive ability and the optimal threshold. Results: MTV and TLG proved to be good indexes in the prediction of outcome for the ESC patients. An MTV value of 15.6 ml and a TLG value of 183.5 were optimal threshold to predict the overall survival (OS). The areas under the curve (AUC) for MTV and TLG were 0.74 and 0.70, respectively. Kaplan-Meier analysis showed an MTV less than 15.6 ml and a TLG less than 183.5 to indicate good media survival time (p value <0.05). In the stage III-IV patient group, MTV could better predict the OS (P < 0.001), with a sensitivity and specificity of 0.80 and 0.67, respectively. Conclusions: Pre-treatment MTV and TLG are useful prognostic factors in nonsurgical ESC.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.15 no.12
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• pp.4933-4938
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• 2014

Background: Although various tumor markers have been utilized in management of stomach cancer (SC), only a few reports have described relevance of examples such as CYFRA 21-1 and neuron-specific enolase (NSE). The purpose of this study was to evaluate the potential diagnostic performance of carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA), CA 19-9, CA72-4, CYFRA 21-1 and NSE in patients with SC. Materials and Methods: Ninety-six SC patients with pathologic confirmation between 2012 and 2013 were enrolled. Serum levels of five tumor markers were analyzed using a solid-phase immunoradiometric assay. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves were plotted for the five tumor markers to investigate their diagnostic powers and adjusted cutoff values derived from analysis of ROC curves were evaluated to calculate the sensitivity of each for SC with recommended cutoff values. Results: Based on two different cutoff values (recommended and adjusted), CYFRA 21-1 (${\geq}2.0$ and 1.2 ng/ml) had a respective sensitivity of 50% and 78.1%, compared with 8.3% and 18.8% for CEA (${\geq}7.0$ and 3.9 ng/ml), 15.6% and 18.8% for CA 19-9 (${\geq}37$ and 26.7 ng/ml), 28.1% and 9.6% for CA 72-4 (${\geq}4.0$ and 13 ng/ml) and 7.3% and 7.3% for NSE (${\geq}14.7$ and 15.0 ng/ml) in the initial staging of primary SC. The area under the curve (AUC) for CYFRA 21-1, with a value of 0.978 (95% confidence interval, 0.964-0.991) was comparatively the highest. Univariate analysis revealed significant relationships between tumor marker level and lymph node involvement, metastasis and staging with CYFRA 21-1, CA 72-4 and NSE. Conclusions: CYFRA 21-1 was the most sensitive tumor marker and showed the most powerful diagnostic performance among the five SC tumor markers. NSE and CA 72-4 are significantly related to lymph node involvement, metastasis or stage. Further evaluations are warranted to clarify the clinical usefulness and prognostic prediction of these markers in SC.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.15 no.21
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• pp.9301-9305
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• 2014

Background: Pain is one of the most terrifying symptoms for cancer patients. Although most patients with cancer pain need opioids, complete relief of pain is hard to achieve. This study investigated the factors influencing persistent pain-free survival (PPFS) and opioid efficiency. Materials and Methods: A prospective study was conducted on 100 patients with cancer pain, hospitalized at the medical oncology clinic of Akdeniz University. Patient records were collected including patient demographics, the disease, treatment characteristics, and details of opioid usage. Pain intensity was measured using a patient self-reported visual analogue scale (VAS). The area under the curve (AUC) reflecting the pain load was calculated from daily VAS tables. PPFS, the primary measure of opioid efficacy, was described as the duration for which a patient reported a greater than or equal to two-point decline in their VAS for pain. Predictors of opioid efficacy were analysed using a multivariate analysis. Results: In the multivariate analysis, PPFS was associated with the AUC for pain (Exp (B)=0.39 (0.23-0.67), P=0.001), the cumulative opioid dosage used during hospitalisation (Exp (B)=1.00(0.99-1.00), P=0.003) and changes in the opioid dosage (Exp (B)=1.01 (1.00-1.01), P=0.016). The change in VAS score over the standard dosage of opioids was strongly associated with current cancer treatment (chemotherapy vs. others) (${\beta}=-0.31$, T=-2.81, P=0.007) and the VAS for pain at the time of hospitalisation (${\beta}=-0.34$, T=-3.07, P= 0.003). Conclusions: The pain load, opioid dosage, concurrent usage of chemotherapy and initial pain intensity correlate with the benefit received from opioids in cancer patients.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.75 no.6
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• pp.244-249
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• 2013

Background: Conventional biomarkers cannot always establish the cause of pleural effusions; thus, alternative tests permitting rapid and accurate diagnosis are required. The primary aim of this study is to assess the ability of pentraxin-3 (PTX3) in order to diagnose the cause of pleural effusion and compare its efficacy to that of other previously identified biomarkers. Methods: We studied 118 patients with pleural effusion, classified as transudates and exudates including malignant, tuberculous, and parapneumonic effusions (MPE, TPE, and PPE). The levels of PTX3, C-reactive protein (CRP), procalcitonin (PCT) and lactate in the pleural fluid were assessed. Results: The levels of pleural fluid PTX3 were significantly higher in patients with PPE than in those with MPE or TPE. PTX3 yielded the most favorable discriminating ability to predict PPE from MPE or TPE by providing the following: area under the curve, 0.74 (95% confidence interval, 0.63-0.84), sensitivity, 62.07%; and specificity, 81.08% with a cut-off point of 25.00 ng/mL. Conclusion: Our data suggests that PTX3 may allow improved differentiation of PPE from MPE or TPE compared to the previously identified biomarkers CRP and PCT.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Radiology
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• v.11 no.4
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• pp.205-212
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• 2017

Chronic diffuse hepatopathy is one of the important clinical tasks to reduce mortality and morbidity due to liver cirrhosis, liver failure, and liver cancer. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the criteria for predicting liver and chronic liver disease using Fibroscan based on ultrasound diagnosis. Serum and liver stiffness measurement(kPa) were analyzed in 280 patients and cut-off values of liver stiffness measurement for predicting fatty liver and chronic diffuse hepatopathy were determined using ROC curve analysis. Bilirubin and PT(prothrombin time) were not related to disease prediction(p=0.243, p=0.115). Serum glucose and triglyceride levels were significantly higher in the liver (p<0.05). The cut-off value for predicting chronic diffuse hepatopathy was determined as 10.3 kPa(AUC 0.98, sensitivity 94.94%, specificity 94.93%) in the order of control group, fatty liver and chronic diffuse hepatopathy. Therefore, it will be used as a primary tool for the diagnosis of chronic liver disease patients with quantitative evaluation.

• Journal of Food Hygiene and Safety
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• v.26 no.2
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• pp.120-124
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• 2011

Predictive mathematical models were developed for predicting the kinetics of growth of Listeria monocytogenes in smoked salmon, which is the popular ready-to-eat foods in the world, as a function of temperature (4, 10, 20 and $30^{\circ}C$). At these storage temperature, the primary growth curve fit well ($r^2$=0.989~0.996) to a Gompertz equation to obtain specific growth rate (SGR) and lag time (LT). The Polynomial model for natural logarithm transformation of the SGR and LT as a function of temperature was obtained by nonlinear regression (Prism, version 4.0, GraphPad Software). Results indicate L. monocytogenes growth was affected by temperature mainly, and SGR model equation is $365.3-31.94^*Temperature+0.6661^*Temperature^{\wedge^2}$ and LT model equation is $0.1162-0.01674^*Temperature+0.0009303^*Temperature{\wedge^2}$. As storage temperature decreased $30^{\circ}C$ to $4^{\circ}C$, SGR decreased and LT increased respectively. Polynomial model was identified as appropriate secondary model for SGR and LT on the basis of most statistical indices such as bias factor (1.01 by SGR, 1.55 by LT) and accuracy factor (1.03 by SGR, 1.58 by LT).

• Ocean and Polar Research
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• v.29 no.2
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• pp.87-99
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• 2007

This study was conducted to understand the source and behavior of organic matter using the fluorescent technique (excitation-emission matrix) as a part of environmental monitoring program in the Korea manganese nodule mining site in the Northeastern Pacific Ocean. Water samples were collected at $0^{\circ},\;6^{\circ}N$, and $10.5^{\circ}N$ along $131.5^{\circ}W$ in August 2005. The concentration of total organic carbon (TOC) ranged from 58.01 to $171.93\;{\mu}M-C$. The vertical distribution of TOC was characterized as higher in the surface layer and decreased with depth. At $6^{\circ}N$, depth-integrated (from surface to 200 m depth) TOC was $337.1\;gC/m^2$, which was 1.4 times higher value than other stations. The exponential decay curve fit of vertical profile of TOC indicated that 59% of organic carbon produced by primary production in the surface layer could be decomposed by bacteria in the water column. Dissolved organic matter is generally classified into two distinctive groups based on their fluorescence characteristics using three-dimensional excitation/emission (Ex/Em) fluorescence mapping technique. One is known as biomacromolecule (BM; protein-like substance; showing max. at Ex 280/Em 330), mainly originated from biological metabolism. The other is geomacromolecule (GM; humic-like substance; showing max. at Ex 330/Em 430), mainly originated from microbial degradation processes. The concentration of BM and GM was from 0.42 to 7.29 TU (tryptophan unit) and from 0.06 to 1.81 QSU (quinine sulfate unit), respectively. The vertical distribution of BM was similar to that of TOC as high in the surface and decreased with depth. However, the vertical distribution of GM showed the reverse pattern of that of BM. From these results, it appeared that BM occupied a major part of TOC and was rapidly consumed by bacteria in the surface layer. GM was mainly transformed from BM by microbial processes and was a dominant component of TOC in the deep-sea layer.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.59 no.sup1
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• pp.57-59
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• 2016

Chronic granulomatous disease (CGD) is a primary immunodeficiency disease caused by impaired phagocytic function. Hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) is a definitive cure for CGD; however, the use of HSCT is limited because of associated problems, including transplantation-related mortality and engraftment failure. We report a case of a patient with CGD who underwent successful HSCT following a targeted busulfan and fludarabine reduced-toxicity myeloablative conditioning. Intravenous busulfan was administered once daily for 4 consecutive days (days -8 to -5), and the target area under the curve was $75,000{\mu}g{\cdot}hr/L$. Fludarabine ($40mg/m^2$) was administered once daily for 6 consecutive days from days -8 to -3. Antithymocyte globulin (2.5 mg/kg/day) was administered from days -4 to -2. The patient underwent successful engraftment and did not have any severe toxicity related to the transplantation. Conditioning with a targeted busulfan and fludarabine regimen could provide a better outcome for HSCT in CGD, with close regulation of the busulfan dose.

• Journal of Dairy Science and Biotechnology
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• v.28 no.2
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• pp.13-18
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• 2010

Electron Spin Resonance (ESR) spectroscopy has been used to detect the presence of radiation-induced free radicals in biological samples since the mid 1950s and to irradiate foods containing cellulose, crystalline sugar, and bone. Therefore, we analyzed the ESR spectrum of irradiated infant formula and its ingredients in this study. Samples were irradiated with 2 different radiation sources of $^{60}Co$ gamma rays and electron beams (EBs), and the absorbed doses were 0, 1, 3, 5, and 7 kGy. ESR measurements were performed under normal atmospheric conditions using a JEOL JES-FA100 spectrometer equipped with an X-band bridge. Irradiated infant formula showed anunsymmetrical spectrum ($g_1$=2.0050, $g_2$=2.0006); in contrast, non-irradiated samples showed asymmetrical spectrum. The ingredients of irradiated samples showed a multi-component ESR signal in glucose and lactose and a singlet-type spectrum in milk powder (g=2.0050). $R^2$ of the dose-response curve showed a fine linearity of over 0.95 across the entire sample. We also compared the spectra of identical samples irradiated with $^{60}Co$ gamma rays and EBs, because EBs can be used for food irradiation in foreign countries, although this is not permitted in Korea. However, we could not find any significant differences according to the types of radiation source. Thus, ESR spectroscopy can be used to detect irradiated infant formula and several types of primary ingredients in this formula.

• The Journal of Korean Academy of Prosthodontics
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• v.43 no.2
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• pp.264-279
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• 2005

Statement of problem. Intraoral corrosion not only affects the esthetic and function of metallic dental restoration, but also has biologic consequences as well. Therefore, corrosion is considered a primary factor when choosing the dental alloy and laboratory technique. Purpose. The objective of this study was to compare the effects of solder and laser weld on corrosion Material and methods. Test specimens were made of 2 types of gold alloys, Co-Cr and Ni-Cr alloy and fabricated 3 methods, respectively: as cast, solder, and laser weld. For the analysis of corroding properties, potentiodynamic polarization test and immersion test conducted. The potentiodynamic polarization scan curve were recorded in 0.9% NaCl solution(pH 7) using Potentiostat/Galyanostat Model 273A. All specimens were exposed to 0.9% NaCl solution(pH 2.3) during 14 days. Elemental release into corrosive solution was measured by atomic emission spectrometry Differences in corrosion potential and mass release were determined using ANOVA. Results and conclusion. Through analyses of the data, following results were obtained. 1. In Pontor MPF and Wiron 99, corrosion potential of the solder group was statistically lower than as cast and laser weld group (p<0.05) , but there was no difference between corrosion potential of solder group and laser weld group in Pontor MPF and no differences between as cast and laser weld group (p>0.05). In Jel-Bios 10 and Wirobond, there was no difference of corrosion potential according to joining methods(p>0.05). 2. In all tested alloys, the amount of released metallic ion was greatest in the solder group(p<0.05). There was no difference between as cast group and laser weld group in Jel-Bios 10 and Wirobond(p>0.05). 3. In scanning electron microscopic examination. except soldered Wiron 99 specimens, it is impossible to discriminate the corrosive property of solder and laser weld. 4. Under the this experimental circumstances, laser weld appears superior to the solder when corrosion is considered.