• Korean Journal of Clinical Pharmacy
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• v.25 no.2
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• pp.74-79
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• 2015

Objective: Treatment with sulfonylureas in combination with metformin improves glycemic control in type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), but is associated with hypoglycemia and weight gain. This retrospective study aims to compare the effectiveness of dipeptidylpeptidase-4 (DPP-4) inhibitors and sulfonylureas as an add-on therapy to metformin in patients with T2DM. Methods: Data from medical records of 355 T2DM patients received therapy either DPP-4 inhibitors (DPP-4 inhibitor group) or sulfonylurea (SU group) in combination with metformin from 1 March 2009 to 30 September 2011 were retrospectively reviewed. Of total 355 patients, 231 patients were in DPP-4 inhibitor group and 124 patients were in SU group. Baseline Hemoglobin $A_{1c}$ ($HbA_{1c}$) level in SU group was higher than DPP-4 inhibitor group with a statistically significant difference (8.6% vs. 7.8%). Comparative analysis between DPP-4 inhibitor group and SU group was performed for $HbA_{1c}$ values, amounts of $HbA_{1c}$ changes, and rates of $HbA_{1c}$ changes from baseline at 6-month intervals and incidence rates of major cardiocerebral events. Results: SU group showed larger $HbA_{1c}$ changes in both amounts and rates compared to DPP-4 inhibitor group, although statistical significance was not found in all study periods. Proportions of patients with stable $HbA_{1c}$ <6.5% or 7% were significantly higher in DPP-4 inhibitor group than SU group (<6.5%: 30.4% vs. 13.4%, <7%: 72.3% vs. 41.2%). Time to achieve stable $HbA_{1c}$ <6.5% was not significantly different, but time to achieve stable $HbA_{1c}$ <7% was shorter in DPP4 inhibitor group than SU group with a significant difference. The incidence rate of cardiocerebral events in group of patients with or without previous events was 1.7%, not significantly lower than that in DPP-4 inhibitor group (4.0%). For newly encountered cardiocerebral events during the treatment, incidence rates of two groups did not differ significantly. Conclusion: DPP-4 inhibitors were as effective as sulfonylureas in achieving the $HbA_{1c}$ goal of less than 6.5% or 7% and cardiocerebral event rates did not differ between the two drugs.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.14 no.4
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• pp.2243-2248
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• 2013

Background: To compare the dosimetric coverage of target volumes and organs at risk in the radical treatment of nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) between intensity-modulated radiotherapy (IMRT) and three-dimensional conformal radiotherapy (3DCRT). Materials and Methods: Data from 10 consecutive patients treated with IMRT from June-October 2011 in Penang General Hospital were collected retrospectively for analysis. For each patient, dose volume histograms were generated for both the IMRT and 3DCRT plans using a total dose of 70Gy. Comparison of the plans was accomplished by comparing the target volume coverage (5 measures) and sparing of organs at risk (17 organs) for each patient using both IMRT and 3DCRT. The means of each comparison target volume coverage measures and organs at risk measures were obtained and tested for statistical significance using the paired Student t-test. Results: All 5 measures for target volume coverage showed marked dosimetric superiority of IMRT over 3DCRT. V70 and V66.5 for PTV70 showed an absolute improvement of 39.3% and 24.1% respectively. V59.4 and V56.4 for PTV59.4 showed advantages of 18.4% and 16.4%. Moreover, the mean PTV70 dose revealed a 5.1 Gy higher dose with IMRT. Only 4 out of 17 organs at risk showed statistically significant difference in their means which were clinically meaningful between the IMRT and 3DCRT techniques. IMRT was superior in sparing the spinal cord (less 5.8Gy), V30 of right parotid (less 14.3%) and V30 of the left parotid (less 13.1%). The V55 of the left cochlea was lower with 3DCRT (less 44.3%). Conclusions: IMRT is superior to 3DCRT due to its dosimetric advantage in target volume coverage while delivering acceptable doses to organs at risk. A total dose of 70Gy with IMRT should be considered as a standard of care for radical treatment of NPC.

• Journal of Korean Ophthalmic Optics Society
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• v.16 no.4
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• pp.363-373
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• 2011

Purpose: To establish basic data for effective management and quality improvement on clinical practice by investigating the clinical practice satisfaction of ophthalmic optics students and optical shop owners. Methods: A survey was administered for 281 students with experience in clinical practices and 105 optical shop owners regarding satisfaction of ophthalmic optics students and optical shops. And a statistical analysis was performed on the survey results. Results: 92.% (97 shops) of optical shop owners responded that clinical practice was necessary and there was a significant difference (p=0.004) according to gender. 4 weeks was the preferred length of practice period (53.3%) and there was a significant difference according to the size of the optical shops (p=0.000). Clinical practice satisfaction of students was 3.50 ${\pm}$ 0.68 and satisfaction for clinical practice program, clinical practice time and clinical practice shop (3.74 ${\pm}$ 0.80) were the highest and there was a significant difference according to the age of the students (p<0.05). Clinical practice satisfaction for optical shops was 4.08 ${\pm}$ 0.64 which is higher than student satisfaction. Satisfaction for clinical practice program was (4.17 ${\pm}$ 0.54) was the highest. Conclusions: To maximize the effects of clinical practice, a clinical practice program reflecting the satisfaction of students and optical shops is required and further research and attention are required.

• Journal of Korean Medicine Rehabilitation
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• v.20 no.4
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• pp.139-146
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• 2010

Objectives : To compare the differences between the symptoms and the findings of MRI(magnetic resonance imaging) and x-ray, we studied the patients with neck pain or radiating pain, which has been diagnosed as cervical herniated disc recently. Methods : We randomly selected among the 143 patients with x-ray and cervical spine(C-spine) MRI films who have visited Ja-seng hospital with neck pain and neck and radiating pain from April 1 of 2010 to May 1. We used SPSS 13.0 for windows in analyzing statistical data of study results and the level of significance was below 0.05. Results : 1. There were no significant differences between the presence of radiating pain and the amount of cervical herniation(p>0.05). 2. If the finding of a x-ray showed narrowing, based on MRI findings, the amount of herniation was more severe(p>0.05). 3. There were no significant differences between the presence of radiating pain and the findings of x-ray(p>0.05). 4. Among the 143 cases, which showed findings beside HIVD(herniation of intervertebral disc) were 13 cases. 88 cases of straightening(61.5%). 78 cases of uncovertebral joint arthrosis(54.5%). 25 cases of stenosis(17.5%), 13 cases of retrolisthesis(9.1%), 8 cases of osteophyte(6.6%), 4 cases of spondylolisthesis(2.8%), 2 cases of hemangioma(1.4%), 3 cases of OPLL(ossification of posterior longitudinal ligament)(2.1%), 2 cases of block vertebrae(1.4%), 2 cases of spondylitis(1.4%), 1 case of kyphosis(0.1) and 1 case of ligamentum flavum hypertrophy(0.1%). Conclusions : The findings from this study suggest that there was no relation between radiating pain and radiological result. On the other hand, diagnosis of x-ray and MRI showed significant relevance. The narrower disc space there were, the severer the state of herniation there existed.

• Journal of dental hygiene science
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• v.13 no.2
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• pp.174-181
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• 2013

The objective of this research is to compare and analyze regional accessibility of Korean primary school students to oral health services from the perspective of public health geography by using geographic information system in which the choropleth map has been regarded as the most popular method. Statistical proximity on the basis of calculus of 205 regions-based school oral health data is optimized to set five class intervals for five maps. These choropleth maps of oral heal programs such as oral health education, tooth-brushing method education, preventive dental care and curative dental care, demonstrate that there exist wide regional discrepancies throughout the country in terms of primary school students' accessibility to oral health services within the programs. The paper not just contributes to overcoming the existing paradigm by actively considering an interdisciplinary research among public health dentistry, dental hygiene and geography of public health, but provides clear evidence for national oral health policy in South Korea.

• Journal of the Korean Society for Library and Information Science
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• v.46 no.1
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• pp.183-200
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• 2012

The purpose of this study was to assess the activities and satisfaction of school library parent volunteers. The questionnaire survey, which consisted of questions regarding personal background, volunteering experience, training, interpersonal relation, and satisfaction, was administered for two weeks in November 2011 to volunteers in 34 elementary schools in Anyang and Gwacheon area. Data collected from 524 volunteers (response rate was 60.6%) were analyzed by descriptive statistics, t-test, ANOVA, and correlation analysis. Most of the volunteers were female, 36-40 in age, and with college education. The biggest group had seven to 12 months volunteering experience, less than six hours, and frequencies for the last six months. Seventy-four percent had training before the volunteer service and 50.9% had continuing education experience. The mean score of satisfaction was 3.64 on a five-point Likert scale. There were significant statistical differences in satisfaction, depending on sex, education, level of volunteering experience, and continuing education. There was a positive correlation between interpersonal relationship and satisfaction. Based on the results, recommendations for systematic volunteer management were suggested to improve effectiveness and satisfaction.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.13 no.10
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• pp.4711-4716
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• 2012

This study was conducted to investigate the association between soy protein intake and bone mineral density (BMD) in women using data from 2008 and 2009 Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES). The study sample comprised 686 Korean women who were within the first 12 years of postmenopause and had no history of hysterectomy. Adjusting for age, weight, height and calcium intake, statistical analysis was performed among women under 4 years postmenopausal and at least 4 years postmenopausal, respectively. Among women under 4 years postmenopausal, there was no significant association between soy protein intake and BMD at lumbar spine or proximal femur. On the other hand, in the later postmenopausal women, there was a reverse correlation between soy protein intake and BMD, especially at the femoral neck and the total hip. However, the correlation disappeared with additional adjustment for total protein intake, Na intake and energy intake. In conclusion, there may be no correlation between soy protein intake and bone density in Korean menopausal women.

• Korean Journal of Construction Engineering and Management
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• v.13 no.6
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• pp.33-44
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• 2012

This study is as to payment improvement method of additional incidental cost to be occurred upon extension of public construction time. According to the result of analysis about the cause of non-payment of additional incidental cost of construction time extension through site examples, it was found that difficulties exist in disputes & proofing over the scope of actual cost recognition, and in this regard the result of experts opinion indicated that a construction extension pre-agreement system can be executed which agrees the scope of recognition of additional incidental cost of construction time extension once the statistical standard is clear and accurate. Accordingly, in this study, by totalling multiple sites data, calculations were implemented in terms of type of construction projects, amount of constructions, period of constructions. According to the result of calculation, the element of type of construction project and construction period appears to have none direct effect to the occurrence of additional cost of construction time extension, but direct relationship was indicated related to the contract amount element. In view of above, in this study a standard additional incidental cost of construction time extension was proposed, and presented a system improvement plan to implement the construction extension pre-agreement system.

• Journal of Korean Society for Atmospheric Environment
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• v.28 no.5
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• pp.581-594
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• 2012

The goal of this study is to investigate the effects of the chemical lateral boundary conditions (CLBCs) on Community Multi-scale Air Quality (CMAQ) simulations of tropospheric ozone for East Asia. We developed linking tool to produce CLBCs of CMAQ from Goddard Earth Observing System-Chemistry (GEOS-Chem) as a global chemistry model. We examined two CLBCs: the fixed CLBC in CMAQ (CLBC-CMAQ) and the CLBC from GEOS-Chem (CLBC-GEOS). The ozone fields by CMAQ simulation with these two CLBCs were compared to Tropospheric Emission Spectrometer (TES) satellite data, ozonesonde and surface measurements for May and August in 2008. The results with CLBC-GOES showed a better tropospheric ozone prediction than that with CLBC-CMAQ. The CLBC-GEOS simulation led to the increase in tropospheric ozone concentrations throughout the model domain, due to be influenced high ozone concentrations of upper troposphere and near inflow western and northern boundaries. Statistical evaluations also showed that the CLBC-GEOS case had better results of both the index of Agreement (IOA) and mean normalized bias. In the case of IOA, the CLBC-GEOS simulation was improved about 0.3 compared to CLBC-CMAQ due to the better predictions for high ozone concentrations in upper troposphere.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.11 no.5
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• pp.559-565
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• 1998

This study was conducted to investigate the effects of different feeding regimen on the growth and nutrients excretion in finishing pigs. A total of 80 pigs (59.91 kg BW) and 6 pigs (85 kg BW) were employed in a growth trial and metabolic trial, respectively. Treatments were grower-grower (GG), grower-early finisher(GE), early finisher-early finisher (EE), and early finisher-late finisher (EL) diet feeding regimens for feeding trial and G, E, L diets for metabolic trial. Through whole experimental period, no significant difference was found in any of the criteria measured. Pigs fed on a GG regimen gained slightly faster than pigs fed on other feeding regimens, with no significant difference. Although there was a trend that pigs fed on a GG or GE regimen showed improved feed/gain over pigs fed on a EE or EL regimen, the difference also was not significant. In the metabolic trial, dry matter and phosphorus digestibility was not affected by diets, however, phosphorus digestibility tended to be decreased as nutrients contents was decreasing in the diets. Crude protein digestibility was significantly influenced by the nutrients contents in th diets. The data suggested that 11.7% crude protein seemed to be low for the 85 kg pigs. Though nutrients excretion was not significantly influenced by dietary treatment except phosphorus, there was a trend that pigs fed diets with low nutrient content excreted less amount of nitrogen and phosphorus than pigs fed diets with high nutrients content. There was a trend that GG or GE feeding regimen gad a favorable effect on carcass grade when only 10 lighter pigs of each treatment were subjected to statistical analysis. However, with 10 heavier pigs, EE and EL feeding regimen showed better carcass grade, though the difference was not significant. In summary, it seemed that producers generally oversupply the expensive nutrients for the finishing pigs. High nutrient diets do not always guarantee high growth rate of pigs. It rather seems that to meet nutrient requirements for the each growth phase is more important in economical pork production.