• The Korean journal of internal medicine
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• v.39 no.3
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• pp.448-457
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• 2024

Background/Aims: Improved knowledge of local epidemiology and predicting risk factors of multidrug-resistant (MDR) bacteria are required to optimize the management of infections. This study examined local epidemiology and antibiotic resistance patterns of liver cirrhosis (LC) patients and evaluated the predictors of MDR bacteremia in Korea. Methods: This was a retrospective study including 140 LC patients diagnosed with bacteremia between January 2017 and December 2022. Local epidemiology and antibiotic resistance patterns and the determinants of MDR bacteremia were analyzed using logistic regression analysis. Results: The most frequently isolated bacteria, from the bloodstream, were Escherichia coli (n = 45, 31.7%) and Klebsiella spp. (n = 35, 24.6%). Thirty-four isolates (23.9%) were MDR, and extended-spectrum beta-lactamase E. coli (52.9%) and methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (17.6%) were the most commonly isolated MDR bacteria. When Enterococcus spp. were cultured, the majority were MDR (MDR 83.3% vs. 16.7%, p = 0.003), particularly vancomycin-susceptible Enterococcus faecium. Antibiotics administration within 30 days and/or nosocomial infection was a significant predictor of MDR bacteremia (OR: 3.40, 95% CI: 1.24-9.27, p = 0.02). MDR bacteremia was not predicted by sepsis predictors, such as positive systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS) or quick Sequential Organ Failure Assessment (qSOFA). Conclusions: More than 70% of strains that can be treated with a third-generation cephalosporin have been cultured. In cirrhotic patients, antibiotic administration within 30 days and/or nosocomial infection are predictors of MDR bacteremia; therefore, empirical administration of broad-spectrum antibiotics should be considered when these risk factors are present.

• Radiation Oncology Journal
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• v.11 no.2
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• pp.259-265
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• 1993

Between January 1985 and July 1992, 52 patients with locally advanced nasopharyngeal carcinoma were studied retrospectively for the effectiveness of sequential chemotherapy and radiation therapy. The male to female ratio was 3.3:1 with a median age of 41 years. Forty patients had squamous cell carcinoma and the remaining 12 had undifferentiated carcinoma. Seven patients had stage III disease and the remainder had stage IV disease at time of presentation. All patients were treated two courses of chemotherapy followed by radiation therapy. Chemotherapy consisted of either CVB (cisplatin, vincristine and bleomycin) or CF (cisplatin and 5-FU). Total radiation dose to the primary site ranged from 6000 cGy to 7500 cGy. Neck nodes were given booster treatment to maximum of 7000 cGy, depending on the extent of disease. Local control, overall survival and disease-free survival rates were analyzed. The complete response (CR) rate to chemotherapy was $15\%$ and the partial response (PR) rate was $46\%,$ for overall major response rate of $61\%.$ The CR rate was $87\%$ after radiation therapy. Median follow-up time was 51 months. The overall survival and disease-free survival rates at 36 months were $54\%\;and\;49\%,$ respectively. Median time to relapse was 15 months. The patterns of initial relapse in CR patients was as follows: locoregional failure only, 12 patients; distant metastasis only,11: both,2. Cox's multivariate regression model revealed that nodal status was the single most important independant prognostic factor influencing disease-free survival (p=0.001). Comparision of these results with other published reports with radiation therapy alone showed that a high rate of initial response to chemotherapy did not translate into local control or survival. At present time radiation therapy alone remains the standard treatment for locoregional cancer of the nasopharyngeal cancer. More controlled clinical trials must be completed before acceptance of chemotherapy as a part of treatment of advanced nasopharyngeal carcinoma.

• Korean journal of applied entomology
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• v.51 no.2
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• pp.91-97
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• 2012

The dispersion indices, spatial pattern and sampling plan for pink citrus rust mite (PCRM), Aculops pelekassi, monitoring was investigated. Dispersion indices of PCRM indicated the aggregated spatial pattern. Taylor's power law provided better description of variance-mean relationship than Iwao's patchiness regression. Fixed-precision levels (D) of a sequential sampling plan were developed using by Taylor's power law parameters generated from PCRM on fruit sample (cumulated number of PCRM in $cm^2$ of fruit). Based on Kono-Sugino's empirical binomial the mean density per $cm^2$ could be estimated from fruit ratio with more than 12 rust mites per $cm^2$: $ln(m)=4.61+1.23ln[-ln(1-p_{12})]$. To determine the optimal tally threshold, the variance (var(lnm)) for mean (lnm) in Kono-Sugino equation was estimated. The lower and narrow ranged change of variance for esimated mean showed at a tally threshold of 12. To estimate PCRM mean density per $cm^2$ at fixed precision level 0.25, the required sample number was 13 trees, 5 fruits per tree and 2 points per fruit (total 130 samples).

• Journal of Dental Rehabilitation and Applied Science
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• v.36 no.3
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• pp.145-157
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• 2020

Purpose: This study was to determine the possible effects of trichloroacetic acid (TCA) and epidermal growth factor (EGF) through cell survival genes of the PI3K-AKT signaling pathway when applying an hydrophobically modified glycol chitosan (HGC)-based nanocontrolled release system to human gingival fibroblasts in oral soft tissue regeneration. Materials and Methods: An HGC-based nano-controlled release system was produced, followed by the loading of TCA and EGF. The group was divided into control (CON), TCA-loaded nano-controlled release system (EXP1), and the TCA- and EGF- individually loaded nano-controlled release system (EXP2). A total for 29 genes related to the PI3K-AKT signaling pathway were analyzed after 48h of culture in human gingival fibroblasts. Real-time PCR, 1- way ANOVA and multiple regression analysis were performed. Results: Cell survival genes were significantly upregulated in EXP1 and EXP2. From multiple regression analysis, ITGB1 was determined to be the most influential factor for AKT1 expression. Conclusion: The application of TCA and EGF through the HGC-based nano-controlled release system can up-regulate the cell survival pathway.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.55 no.4
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• pp.389-398
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• 2022

Many studies have been conducted to accurately predict the correlations between As and heavy metals content in contaminated soil and cultivated crops; however, due to the low correlation between the two, few clear results were obtained to date. This study aimed to create statistical models that predict the As content transferred from soil to polished rice, considering the physicochemical properties of the soil, as well as the total content and the single-extracted content of As in the soil. Predictive models were derived through regression analysis while sequentially classifying soil samples according to pH, soluble As content by single extraction, and organic matter content of the soil. The correlation coefficients between the As content in 80 polished rice and total As content and Mehlich soluble As content in the soil were low, 0.533 and 0.493, respectively. However, the models derived after sequential classification of the soil by pH, a ratio of total As content to Mehlich soluble As content, and organic matter content greatly increased the predictive power; ① 0.963 for 13 soils with a pH higher than 6.5, ② 0.849 for 15 soils with pH lower than 6.5 and a high ratio of As_Tot/As_Mehlich, ③ 0.935 for 30 soils with pH lower than 6.5, a high ratio of As_Tot/As_Mehlich, and organic matter content lower than 8.5%. The suggested prediction model of As transfer from soil to polished rice derived by soil classification may serve as a statistically significant methodology in establishing a rice cultivation standard for arsenic-contaminated soil.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.15 no.4
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• pp.1811-1815
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• 2014

Background: In clinical trials with no upper age limit, the proportion of older patients is usually small, probably reflecting the more conservative approach adopted by clinicians when treating the elderly. An exploratory analysis of elderly patients in the RECORD-1 Trial showed that patients ${\geq}$ 65 y.o. had superior median PFS than overall RECORD-1 population (5.4 months and 4.9 months, respectively). We investigated the efficacy, relative benefit and safety of Everolimus (EVE) as sequential therapy after failure of VEGFr-TKI therapy for older patients with metastatic renal cell cancer (mRCC), in daily practice. Materials and Methods: 172 consecutive IRB approved patients with mRCC (median age 65, M:F 135/37, 78% clear cell) who received salvage EVE at 39 tertiary institutions between October 2009 and August 2011 were included in this analysis. Some 31% had progressed on sunitinib, 22% on sorafenib, 1% on axitinib, 41% on sequential therapy, and 5% had received other therapy. Patients with brain metastases were not included and 95% of the patients had a ECOG (Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group) performance status (PS) of 0 or 1. Previous radiotherapy was an exclusion criterion, but prior chemotherapy was permitted. Adequate organ function and hematologic parameters were mandatory. EVE administration was approved by the institutional review board at each participating institution and signed informed consent was obtained from all patients. Results: Median time of the whole cohort to last follow-up was 3.5 months (range 0.4-15.2 months). Forty four percent were continuing to take EVE at last followup. There were 86 (50%) patients ${\geq}$ 65 y.o. and 86 (50%) <65 y.o. The percentage of patients who showed PR/SD was higher in the older group than in the younger one (5.9%/61.2% vs 1.2%/46.5%, respectively). Median survival of older patients was also significantly longer (3.5 +/- 0.31 vs 3.1 +/- 0.34, hazard ratio=0.45, CI; 0.255-0.802). Analysis using Cox regression model adjusted for gender, PS, number of metastases, site of metastases, histology, smoking history and age detected an association between age and PFS (p=0.011). The frequency of adverse events in elderly patients treated with EVE was no greater than that in younger patients, although such toxicity may have had a greater impact on their quality of life. Conclusions: Older patients should not generally be excluded from accepted therapies (mTOR inhibitors after failure of VEGFr-TKI therapy) for mRCC.

• The Journal of Korean Academy of Prosthodontics
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• v.59 no.4
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• pp.379-394
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• 2021

Purpose. In our previous studies, application of trichloroacetic acid (TCA) to gingival fibroblasts or to canine palatal soft tissue was verified to alter the expression of several genes responsible for cell cycle progression. In order to confirm this effect in a system allowing sequential release of TCA and epidermal growth factor (EGF), expression of various cell cycle genes following the application of the agents, using hydrophobically modified glycol chitosan (HGC)-based nano-controlled release system, was explored in this study. Materials and methods. HGC-based nano-controlled release system was developed followed by loading TCA and EGF. The groups were defined as the control (CON); TCA-loaded nano-controlled release system (EXP1); TCA- and EGF- individually loaded nano-controlled release system (EXP2). At 24- and 48 hr culture, expression of 37 cell cycle genes was analyzed in human gingival fibroblasts. Correlations and the influential genes were also analyzed. Results. Numerous genes such as cyclins (CCNDs), cell division cycles (CDCs), cyclin-dependent kinases (CDKs), E2F transcription factors (E2Fs), extracellular signal-regulated kinases (ERKs) and other cell cycle genes were significantly up-regulated in EXP1 and EXP2. Also, cell cycle arrest genes of E2F4, E2F5, and GADD45G were up-regulated but another cell cycle arrest gene SMAD4 was down-regulated. From the multiple regression analysis, CCNA2, CDK4, and ANAPC4 were determined as the most influential factors on the expression of ERK genes. Conclusion. Application of TCA and EGF, using the HGC-based nano-controlled sequential release system significantly up-regulated various cell cycle progression genes, leading to the possibility of regenerating oral soft tissue via application of the proposed system.

• Management & Information Systems Review
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• v.29 no.1
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• pp.79-96
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• 2010

The purpose of this study is to investigate factors that affect corporate CEOs' tax avoidance, ultimately helping find how to fundamentally prevent the avoidance, establish a tax system that ensures tax payers' compliance and revise tax laws and regulations in a positive way. For the purpose, this researcher surveyed corporate CEOs with a questionnaire that contained many questions of various types, which was developed based on previous studies. Findings of the study can be summarized as follows. Main factors affecting tax avoidance were the application of tax provisions, the ability to understand tax laws and the expectation of tax avoidance. The more corporate CEOs' were influenced by the first and the third factors, the higher their propensity for tax avoidance was. On the contrast, corporate CEOs were lower in propensity for tax avoidance when they were more able to understand tax laws. Regarding the three factors' relative influences, tax avoidance was most affected by the expectation of tax avoidance, followed by the ability to understand tax laws and the application of tax provisions in order. Meanwhile, a multi-regression analysis using the sequential deletion technique showed that tax avoidance were affected by the application of tax provisions and the expectation of tax avoidance and that tax avoidance was most influenced by the application of tax provisions, followed by the expectation of tax avoidance. These findings indicate that the degree of corporate CEOs' tax avoidance may vary depending on social and environmental changes that their business face. Meanwhile, positive factors such as tax-bearing capacity and the procedure of tax calculation and negative factors such as management ethics and tax authorities' regulation are all thought to be not helping prevent tax avoidance.

• Journal of Korean society of Dental Hygiene
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• v.17 no.2
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• pp.247-258
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• 2017

Objectives: This study was conducted to identify the correlation between belief in hand hygiene, activities and related hand hygiene performance rates among dental staff. Methods: This study was based on the evaluation of 329 dental practitioners, including dental hygienists who work at dental clinics, dental hospitals, general and university dental hospitals in Seoul, Gyeonggi-do Province, and Incheon. The questionnaire consisted of a total of 46 questions, including 7 questions on general characteristics, and 25 questions on hand hygiene beliefs, and 5 questions on hand hygiene activities, and 9 questions on hand hygiene practices. This study used 291 subjects for the final analysis, excluding subjects who had provided incomplete or inappropriate responses to the questionnaire. The collected data were analyzed using an independent t-test, ANOVA, $x^2$ test, correlation analysis, and multiple linear regression analysis, where p-values of <0.05 were considered statistically significant. Results: Longer clinical career was associated with a significant increase in behavior and norm beliefs, but no sequential difference in control beliefs. The hand hygiene performance was higher in staff at larger hospitals after contact with pollutants and contaminated environments. Higher age was associated with a significant increase in hand hygiene performance rates, but profession was not statistically significant in the performance rate of hand hygiene. The hand hygiene performance rate was ranked higher among those with average work hours per week of greater than 8 hours followed by those who worked fewer than 8 hours. Fewer work hours per week, a stronger belief in hand hygiene, less frequent exposure to contaminated environments, and a greater number of hand hygiene performance had a positive effect on higher hand hygiene performance rates. Conclusions: In order to increase the hand hygiene performance rate of dental practitioners, it is considered that required time for hand washing should be ensured sufficiently. Proper usage of hand sanitizers should also be promoted efficiently.

• Korean Journal of Agricultural and Forest Meteorology
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• v.7 no.2
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• pp.148-155
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• 2005

An accurate prediction of blooming date is crucial for many authorities to schedule and organize successful spring flower festivals in Korea. The Korea Meteorological Administration (KMA) has been using regression models combined with a subjective correction by forecasters to issue blooming date forecasts for major cities. Using mean monthly temperature data for February (observed) and March (predicted), they issue blooming date forecasts in late February to early March each year. The method has been proved accurate enough for the purpose of scheduling spring festivals in the relevant cities, but cannot be used in areas where no official climate and phenology data are available. We suggest a thermal time-based two-step phenological model for predicting the blooming dates of spring flowers, which can be applied to any geographic location regardless of data availability. The model consists of two sequential periods: the rest period described by chilling requirement and the forcing period described by heating requirement. It requires daily maximum and minimum temperature as an input and calculates daily chill units until a pre-determined chilling requirement for rest release. After the projected rest release date, it accumulates daily heat units (growing degree days) until a pre- determined heating requirement for flowering. Model parameters were derived from the observed bud-burst and flowering dates of cherry tree (Prunus serrulata var. spontanea) at KMA Seoul station along with daily temperature data for 1923-1950. The model was applied to the 1955-2004 daily temperature data to estimate the cherry blooming dates and the deviations from the observed dates were compared with those predicted by the KMA method. Our model performed better than the KMA method in predicting the cherry blooming dates during the last 50 years (MAE = 2.31 vs. 1.58, RMSE = 2.96 vs. 2.09), showing a strong feasibility of operational application.