• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.48 no.4
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• pp.530-542
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• 2000

Background : Nonspecific interstitial pneumonia (NSIP) has been reported recently to have shown much better response to medical treatment and better prognosis compared with idiopathic UIP. However, clinical characteristics of idiopathic NSIP discriminating it from UIP have not been clearly defined. Method : Among 120 patients with biopsy-proven diffuse interstitial lung diseases admitted to the Samsung Medical Center between July 1996 and March 2000, 18 patients with idiopathic NSIP were included in this study. Retrospective chart review and radiographic analysis were performed. Results : 1) At diagnosis, 17 patients were female and the average age was $55.2{\pm}8.4$ years (44~73 years). The average duration from development of respiratory symptom to surgical lung biopsy was $9.9{\pm}17.1$ months. Increase in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid lymphocytes ($23.0{\pm}13.1%$) was noted. On HRCT, ground glass and irregular linear opacity were observed, but honeycombing was absent in all patients. 2) Corticosteroids were initially given to 13 patients, but the medication was stopped in 3 patients due to severe side effects. Further medical therapy was not possible in 1 patient who experienced streroid-induced psychosis. Herpes zoster (n=3), tuberculosis (n=1), avascular necrosis of the hip (n=1), cataract (n=2) and diabetes mellitus (n=1) developed during prolonged corticosteroid administration. Of the 7 patients receiving oral cyclophosphamide therapy, hemorrhagic cystitis hindered one patient from continuing with the medication. 3) After medical treatment, 14 of 17 patients improved, and 3 patients remained stable (mean follow-up ; $24.1{\pm}11.2$ months). FVC increased by $20.2{\pm}11.2%$ of predicted value and the extent of ground glass opacity on HRCT decreased significantly ($15.7{\pm}14.7%$). 4) Of the 14 patients who had stopped medication, 5 showed recurrence of NSIP and 2 became aggravated during steroid tapering. All patients with recurrence showed deterioration within one year after completion of initial treatment. Conclusion : Since idiopathic NSIP has unique clinical profiles and shows good prognosis, diagnosis different from UIP, and aggressive medical treatment are needed.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.59 no.5
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• pp.510-516
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• 2005

Backgroud : Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer deaths in Korea and the number of lung cancer deaths is increasing. The higher response rates, decreased toxicity and improved performance status of the first-line treatments have resulted in an increased number of patients becoming candidates for second-line therapy. Several new antineoplastic agents, including gemcitabine, docetaxel and paclitaxel, have recently demonstrated second-line activity. This phase II study evaluated the efficacy and toxicity of gemcitabine and vinorelbine as combination chemotherapy for Korean patients with NSCLC as a second-line treatment. Methods : Sixty response-evaluable patients were enrolled from December 2000 to July 2003. We conducted a phase II study of a combination gemcitabine and vinorelbine chemotherapy for patients with histologically confirmed NSCLC that was stage IIIB and IV disease at the time of diagnosis, and the disease had progressed onward or the patients had relapsed after first-line platinum-based chemotherapy. They were treated with intravenous gemcitabine $1000mg/m^2$ and intravenous vinorelbine $25mg/m^2$ on days 1 and 8. This chemotherapy regimen was repeated every 3 weeks. Results : A total of 215 cycles of treatment were given and the mean number of cycles was 3.6 cycles. All the patients were evaluable for the toxicity profile. The response rate was 10% according to the WHO criteria. The median progression free survival was 3.8 months and the median survival time was 10.1 months. The 1-year survival rate was 32.9%. Grade III and IV neutropenia were seen in 20 (33.3%) and 7 (11.7%) patients, respectively. Conclusion : The combination of gemcitabine and vinorelbine is active and well tolerated as a second-line therapy for patients with advanced nonsmall cell lung carcinoma.

• Journal of Intelligence and Information Systems
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• v.20 no.1
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• pp.35-48
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• 2014

According to the 2013 construction market outlook report, the liquidation of construction companies is expected to continue due to the ongoing residential construction recession. Bankruptcies of construction companies have a greater social impact compared to other industries. However, due to the different nature of the capital structure and debt-to-equity ratio, it is more difficult to forecast construction companies' bankruptcies than that of companies in other industries. The construction industry operates on greater leverage, with high debt-to-equity ratios, and project cash flow focused on the second half. The economic cycle greatly influences construction companies. Therefore, downturns tend to rapidly increase the bankruptcy rates of construction companies. High leverage, coupled with increased bankruptcy rates, could lead to greater burdens on banks providing loans to construction companies. Nevertheless, the bankruptcy prediction model concentrated mainly on financial institutions, with rare construction-specific studies. The bankruptcy prediction model based on corporate finance data has been studied for some time in various ways. However, the model is intended for all companies in general, and it may not be appropriate for forecasting bankruptcies of construction companies, who typically have high liquidity risks. The construction industry is capital-intensive, operates on long timelines with large-scale investment projects, and has comparatively longer payback periods than in other industries. With its unique capital structure, it can be difficult to apply a model used to judge the financial risk of companies in general to those in the construction industry. Diverse studies of bankruptcy forecasting models based on a company's financial statements have been conducted for many years. The subjects of the model, however, were general firms, and the models may not be proper for accurately forecasting companies with disproportionately large liquidity risks, such as construction companies. The construction industry is capital-intensive, requiring significant investments in long-term projects, therefore to realize returns from the investment. The unique capital structure means that the same criteria used for other industries cannot be applied to effectively evaluate financial risk for construction firms. Altman Z-score was first published in 1968, and is commonly used as a bankruptcy forecasting model. It forecasts the likelihood of a company going bankrupt by using a simple formula, classifying the results into three categories, and evaluating the corporate status as dangerous, moderate, or safe. When a company falls into the "dangerous" category, it has a high likelihood of bankruptcy within two years, while those in the "safe" category have a low likelihood of bankruptcy. For companies in the "moderate" category, it is difficult to forecast the risk. Many of the construction firm cases in this study fell in the "moderate" category, which made it difficult to forecast their risk. Along with the development of machine learning using computers, recent studies of corporate bankruptcy forecasting have used this technology. Pattern recognition, a representative application area in machine learning, is applied to forecasting corporate bankruptcy, with patterns analyzed based on a company's financial information, and then judged as to whether the pattern belongs to the bankruptcy risk group or the safe group. The representative machine learning models previously used in bankruptcy forecasting are Artificial Neural Networks, Adaptive Boosting (AdaBoost) and, the Support Vector Machine (SVM). There are also many hybrid studies combining these models. Existing studies using the traditional Z-Score technique or bankruptcy prediction using machine learning focus on companies in non-specific industries. Therefore, the industry-specific characteristics of companies are not considered. In this paper, we confirm that adaptive boosting (AdaBoost) is the most appropriate forecasting model for construction companies by based on company size. We classified construction companies into three groups - large, medium, and small based on the company's capital. We analyzed the predictive ability of AdaBoost for each group of companies. The experimental results showed that AdaBoost has more predictive ability than the other models, especially for the group of large companies with capital of more than 50 billion won.

• The Journal of Korean Society for Radiation Therapy
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• v.16 no.2
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• pp.9-17
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• 2004

Purpose : Although Improve of CT, MRI Radio-diagnosis and Radiation Therapy Planing, but we still use ICRU38 Planning system(2D film-based) broadly. 3-Dimensional ICR plan(CT image based) is not only offer tumor and normal tissue dose but also support DVH information. On this study, we plan irradiation-goal dose on CTV(CTV plan) and irradiation-goal dose on ICRU 38 point(ICRU38 plan) by use CT image. And compare with tumor-dose, rectal-dose, bladder-dose on both planning, and analysis DVH Method and Material : Sample 11 patients who treated by Ir-192 HDR. After 40Gy external radiation therapy, ICR plan established. All the patients carry out CT-image scanned by CT-simulator. And we use PLATO(Nucletron) v.14.2 planing system. We draw CTV, rectum, bladder on the CT image. And establish plan irradiation-$100\%$ dose on CTV(CTV plan) and irradiation-$100\%$ dose on A-point(ICRU38 plan) Result : CTV volume($average{\pm}SD$) is $21.8{\pm}26.6cm^3$, rectum volume($average{\pm}SD$) is $60.9{\pm}25.0cm^3$, bladder volume($average{\pm}SD$) is $116.1{\pm}40.1cm^3$ sampled 11 patients. The volume including $100\%$ dose is $126.7{\pm}18.9cm^3$ on ICRU plan and $98.2{\pm}74.5cm^3$ on CTV plan. On ICRU planning, the other one's $22.0cm^3$ CTV volume who residual tumor size excess 4cm is not including $100\%$ isodose. 8 patient's $12.9{\pm}5.9cm^3$ tumor volume who residual tumor size belows 4cm irradiated $100\%$ dose. Bladder dose(recommended by ICRU 38) is $90.1{\pm}21.3\%$ on ICRU plan, $68.7{\pm}26.6\%$ on CTV plan, and rectal dose is $86.4{\pm}18.3\%,\;76.9{\pm}15.6\%$. Bladder and Rectum maximum dose is $137.2{\pm}50.1\%,\;101.1{\pm}41.8\%$ on ICRU plan, $107.6{\pm}47.9\%,\;86.9{\pm}30.8\%$ on CTV plan. Therefore CTV plan more less normal issue-irradiated dose than ICRU plan. But one patient case who residual tumor size excess 4cm, Normal tissue dose more higher than critical dose remarkably on CTV plan. $80\%$over-Irradiated rectal dose(V80rec) is $1.8{\pm}2.4cm^3$ on ICRU plan, $0.7{\pm}1.0cm^3$ on CTV plan. $80\%$over-Irradiated bladder dose(V80bla) is $12.2{\pm}8.9cm^3$ on ICRU plan, $3.5{\pm}4.1cm^3$ on CTV plan. Likewise, CTV plan more less irradiated normal tissue than ICRU38 plan. Conclusion : Although, prove effect and stability about previous ICRU plan, if we use CTV plan by CT image, we will reduce normal tissue dose and irradiated goal-dose at residual tumor on small residual tumor case. But bigger residual tumor case, we need more research about effective 3D-planning.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.39 no.3 s.260
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• pp.184-193
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• 2006

Background: Off-pump coronary artery bypass grafting (OPCAB) has been proven to result in less morbidity. The patients who have left ventricular dysfunction may have benefits by avoiding the adverse effects of the cardiopulmonary bypass. The present study compared early and midterm outcomes of off-pump versus on-pump coronary artery bypass grafting (On pump CABG) in patients with severe left ventricular dysfunction. Material and Method: Ninety hundred forth six patients underwent isolated coronary artery bypass grafting by one surgeon between January 2001 and Febrary 2005.. Data were collected in 100 patients who had left ventricular ejection fraction (L VEF) less than $35\%$ (68 OPCAB; 32 On pump CABG). Mean age of patients were 62.9$\pm$9.0 years in OPCAS group and 63.8$\pm$8.0 years in On pump CABG group. We compared the preoperative risk factors and evaluated early and midterm outcomes. Result: In OPCAB and On pump CABG group, mean number of used grafts per patient were 2.75$\pm$0.72, 2.78$\pm$0.55 and mean number of distal anastomoses were 3.00$\pm$0.79, 3.16$\pm$0.72 respectively. There was one perioperative death in OPCAB group ($1.5\%$). The operation time, ventilation time, ICU stay time, CK-MB on the first postoperative day, and occurrence rate of complications were significantly low in OPCAB group. Mean follow-up time was 26.6$\pm$12.8 months (4${\~}$54 months). Mean LVEF of OPCAB and On pump CABG group improved significantly from $27.1\pm4.5\%$ to $40.7\pm13.0\%$ and $26.9\pm5.4\%$ to $33.3\pm13.7\%$. The 4-year actuarial survival rate of OPCAB and On pump CABG group were $92.2\%,\;88.3\%$ and the 4-year freedom rates from cardiac death were $97.7\%,\;96.4\%$ respectively. There were no significant differences between two groups in 4 year freedom rate from cardiac event and angina. Conclusion: OPCAS improves myocardial function and favors early and mid-term outcomes in patients with severe left ventricular dysfunction compared to On pump CABG group. Therefore, OPCAB is a preferable operative strategy even in patients with severe left ventricular dysfunction.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.40 no.1 s.270
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• pp.37-44
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• 2007

Background: It is known that long-term survival rate in patients underwent bronchial sleeve lobectomy for primary lung cancer is at least equal to that in patients underwent pneumonectomy, and bronchial sleeve lobectomy is performed in patients with suitable tumor location even in patients have adequate pulmonary function. Sleeve pneumonectomy is performed when carina was invaded by tumor or tumor location was near to the carina. We performed this study to know our results of sleeve resection for primary lung cancer. Material and Method: We analyzed retrospectively the medical records of 45 patients who underwent sleeve lobectomy or sleeve pneumonectomy for primary lung cancer by one thoracic surgeon from May 1990 to July 2003 in Department of Thoracic & Cardiovascular Surgery, College of Medicine, Kyung Hee University. Follow-up loss was absent and last follow-up was performed in April 5, 2005. Kaplan-Meyer method and log-lank test were used to know long-term survival rate and p-value. Result: Mean age was 60 years old and male to female ratio 41:1. Histologic types were squamous cell carcinoma were 39, adenocarcinoma were 4, and others were 2 patients. Pathologic stages were I 14, II 14, and III 17 patients. Nodal stages were N0 23, N1 13, and N2 9 patients. Types of operation were sleeve lobectomy 40 and sleeve pneumonectomy 5 patients. Operative mortality was 3 patients and its cause was respiratory complications. Early complications were pneumonia 4, atelectasis 8, air leakage more than 7 days 6, and atrial fibrillation 4 patients. In 19 patients tumor was recurred. Local recurrence was 10 and systemic metastasis was 9 patients. Overall 5, 10-year survival rate were 54.2%, 42.5%. The 5, 10-year survival rates according to the pathologic stage were 83.9%, 67.1% in stage I, 55%, 47.1% in II, 33.3%, 25% in III, and significance difference was present between stage I and III. The 5, 10-year survival rate according to the lymph node involvement were 63.9%, 54.6% in N0, 53,8%, 46.5% in N1, 28.5%, 14.2% in N2, and significance difference was present between N0 and N2. Conclusion: Because bronchial sleeve lobectomy for primary lung cancer could be performed safely and shows acceptable long-term survival rate, it could be considered primary in case of suitable tumor location if complete resection is possible. Although sleeve pneumonectomy for primary lung cancer shows somewhat high operative mortality rate, it could be considered in view of curative treatment.

• Childhood Kidney Diseases
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• v.7 no.2
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• pp.166-173
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• 2003

Purpose : The cause and pathogenesis of $Henoch-Sch\"{o}nlein$ purpura has been studied for many years but the results are disappointing. Recently the hypothesis that abnormalities involving the glycosylation of the hinge region of immunoglobulin Al(IgAl) may have an important role in the pathogenesis of $Henoch-Sch\"{o}nlein$ purpura is being approved. $Henoch-Sch\"{o}nlein$ purpura is the most common vasculitis Ihat affects children and the prognosis is good. But if kidney invovement occurs, the course may be chronic and troublesome. So we evaluated children with $Henoch-Sch\"{o}nlein$ purpura especially from the point of epidemiology and clinical manifestations. Methods : Investigation of 124 children who were diagnosed with $Henoch-Sch\"{o}nlein$ purpura at Inje University Ilsan Paik Hospital from December 1999 to July 2003 was performed retrospectively through chart review. Efforts were made to get informations about the profile, epidemiology, clinical manifestations, progress of the disease and recurrence rate of patients. Results : The patients were 69 boys and 55 girls, with a mean age of $6.1{\pm}2.7$ years at the time of data collection. The male to female ratio was 1.25 : 1. The occurrence rate was much higher in autumn(from September to November, 31.5%) and winter(from December to February, 28.2%) than in spring and summer, with a peak in November. Joint involvement was shown in 66.9% of patients mostly on the foot/ankle(75.9%), knee(39.8%). Seventy(56.5%) out of 124 patients had abdominal pain and 10 patients(8.1%) showed bloody stools. Renal involvement was observed in 24 patients(19.4%) after 21.1 days on the average. IgA was elevated in 10 of 21 patients(47.6%). $C_3$ and $C_4$ levels were normal in 40 of 49 patients (81.7%) and 47 of 48 patients(97.9%), respectively Antistreptolysin-O(ASO) titer was elevated over 250 Todd units in 29 of 62 Patients(46.8%). Mycoplasma antibody titer was elevated in 21 of 49 patients(42.9%) equal or greater than 1:80. Radiologic studies were peformed in 23 patients. Seven patients(30.4%) showed bowel wall thickening and one of them received intestinal resection and anastomosis operation due to terminal ileum necrosis. Eighty four patients took steroid 1.4 mg/kg/day in average. Recurrence rate was 2.5 in 37 patients(29.8%). Conclusion : $Henoch-Sch\"{o}nlein$ purpura in childhood appears most in about 6 years of age. The occurrence rate is much higher in autumn and winter relatively. Diagnosis can be made through the perspective history taking and the inspection of clinical manifestations, but the laboratory findings are not of great help. A small portion of the patients might show abdominal pain or arthritis before purpura develops, therfore various diagnosis can be made. Radiologic evaluation should be performed to avoid surgical complications in cases accompanying abdominal pain, and long term follow up should be needed especially in patients suffering from kidney involvement. In about 30% of the patients $Henoch-Sch\"{o}nlein$ purpura would recur. Steroid can be used safely without side effects.

• Journal of Hospice and Palliative Care
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• v.6 no.1
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• pp.51-57
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• 2003

Purpose : Anorexia-cachexia syndrome is one of the most common symptoms and main cause of death in terminal cancer patients. This symptom is due to the enlarged cancer mass as well as tumor released cytokines. Some doctors have suggested that vitamin C was preferentially toxic to tumor cells in vitro and in vivo, and improved clinical symptoms in terminal cancer patients. Therefore, we measured cytokines in serum of terminal cancer patients to determine whether vitamin C treatment improved the anorexia-cachexia syndrome. Methods : We investigated that 49 terminal cancer patients admitted to the department of family medicine, National Health Insurance Corporation Ilsan hospital from March 1, 2002 to August 31, 2002. The study was done on 22 patients who were given 10 g/day of vitamin C infusions during 1 week and 27 patients who were not infused. We measured the cytokines levels ($IL-1{\beta}$, IL-6, and $TNF-{\alpha}$) before and after 1 week between terminal cancer patients treated vitamin C and without vitamin C. Results : Out of 49 patients, patents treated with vitamin C infusions were 22 (12 male, 10 female), and these without vitamin C were 27 (18 male, 9 female). In patients treated with vitamin C, $IL-1{\beta}\;were\;6.19{\pm}5.17$ before day and $8.76{\pm}5.72$ after 1 week, IL-6 were $3.07{\pm}8.09$ before day and $1.31{\pm}2.36$ after 1 week, and $TNF-{\alpha}\;were\;2.74{\pm}14.24$ before day and $0.50{\pm}2.00$ after 1 week. In patients treated without vitamin C, $IL-1{\beta}\;were\;2.50{\pm}3.58$ before day and $6.49{\pm}12.01$ after 1 week, IL-6 were $1.00{\pm}2.19$ before day and $17.16{\pm}81.55$ after 1 week, and $TNF-{\alpha}\;were\;1.19{\pm}2.98$ before day and $1.27{\pm}1.52$ after 1 week. The level of cytokines in patients treated with vitamin C decreased more than those without vitamin C. However, this represented no statistical value (P=0.0598 in $IL-1{\beta}$, P=0.1664 in IL-6, and P=0.5395 in $TNF-{\alpha}$). Conclusion : In terminal cancer, even if there was no statistical difference in the cytokines levels between patients treated with vitamin C and those not treated, those who were treated had a decrease all cytokines levels. Vitamin C is very safe with almost no side effects. Therefore, vitamin C treatment in terminal cancer patients can be seen as beneficial and helpful for clinical symptoms.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.36 no.9
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• pp.1172-1181
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• 2007

This research involved 226 Jeonbuk Province school dietitians as subjects to investigate intake and perceptions of the healthy functional foods. Sixty nine percent of the school dietitians didn't even know about the law enforcement concerning the health functional foods. Although 68.1% of the respondents said that they slightly knew about health functional foods, only 25% knew exactly what it was. As shown in the survey, most didn't have the cognitive understanding did not understand which should be obtained by education. Sixty two percent of the answerers said they had experience of taking health various functional food products of various kinds such as supplements (57.9%), red ginseng products (52.9%), and chlorella products (30.0%). The motive of intake was in the order of fatigue restoration (25.7%), sickness prevention (22.9%), and nutrient replenishment (22.9%). A fascinating fact from this study was that the reason for healthy functional product intake was different between groups that was primarily interested in the products and those that was not. For those who had interest, the reason for intake was for sickness prevention. On the other hand, for those who didn't have any interest, the reasons was primarily for fatigue restoration and they were mostly persuaded by close friends and relatives. Main concerns were in the order of side effects (4.72), efficacy after intake (4.59), cleanliness (4.51), reliability of the company (4.29), and price (4.23). In view of the study, it is clear that a lot of people are showing interest in healthy functional food products. However, dietitians who are experts in food and nutrition lacked knowledge and information on healthy functional food.

• Korean Journal of Soil Science and Fertilizer
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• v.9 no.4
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• pp.235-244
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• 1976

Following results are obtained by re-evaluating N. P. K. and soil improvement trials conducted from 1964 to 1969 in valley paddy soils in rolling lands (Jisan-series, imperfectly drained and Yongji-series, moderately well drained). 1. Average grain yield of rice in no fertilizer plots and the highest yield plots for Yongji-series (31 experiments) were 319 and 507kg/10a respectively, and that of Jisan-series (15 experiments) were 396 and 567kg/10a respectively. The fertility difference between two series may have been a result of the cultivation history. Jisan-series is a mature soil which has a long cultivation history and Yongji-series is sub-mature soil 2. Soil chemical characteristics for Jisan-series are charaterized by 12.8meq/100g in CEC, 6.5meq/100g in exchangeable Ca, 3.9% in OM, and 64 ppm in available $P_2O_5$ For Yongji-series they were 10.4meq/100g in CEC, 4.7meq/100g in exchangeable Ca, 3.2% in OM and 103ppm in available $P_2O_5$. 3. Deep plowing and application of organic matter and lime are expected to be effective in increasing fertility level of soils of Yongji-series. The same will be effective in some soils of Jisan series where the fertility level is low. 4. Jisan-series shows high response to nitrogen, while Yongji series shows sharp decrease in rice yield at the high levels of nitrogen. Both series, however, showed high response to nitrogen only when the OM level was higher than 3%. 5. The optimum level of nitrogen was 8~9kg for Jisan-series, and 10~11kg/10a for Yongji-series. The yield increase per kg of applied nitrogen was 12kg for Jisan-series and 13kg for Yongji series. 6. The optimum level of phosphorus at the optimum level of nitrogen was 6kg/10a for Yongji-series and 3kg/10a for Jisan-series. The optimum level of phosphorus, however, was different depending upon the nitrogen level. It was assumed that Yongji-series required more fertilizer (available $P_2O_5$ was 110ppm) than Jisan-series (available $P_2O_5$ was 64ppm) because the availability of P was higher in Jisan-series than Yongji-series due to the severe reduction of Jisan-series. 7. The response of potassium was also depending upon the nitrogen level. In Yongji-series the potassium response at 8kg/10a nitrogen level decreased with increasing levels of potassium, but the higher level of introgen, potassium response was also higher. In Jisan-series potassium response was recognized at all nitrogen levels. The optimum level of potassium at the optimum level of nitrogen was 8kg/10a in both serieses. 8. The reasonable ratio of NPK fertilizer seems to be 1:0.6:0.6:for Yongji-series and 1:0.4:1 for Jisan-series as N:$P_2O_5$:K.