• Korean Journal of Soil Science and Fertilizer
• /
• v.31 no.3
• /
• pp.277-284
• /
• 1998

The raw food waste of Korea contained markedly high sodium chloride and such high sodium chloride concentration in the soil is a factor limiting plant growth and impairing soil physicochemical properties. This study was carried out to assess the effect of NaCl-containing compost on the growth of lettuce(Lactuca satjva L.) and on the soil chemical properties. For the experiment, six treatments applying 0, 0.5, 1, 3, 6, and 9% NaCl-containing composts at the rate of $20Mg\;ha^{-1}$ were conducted established in a greenhouse. Growth measurements, chemical analysis of lettuce foliage, and soil chemical properties after the harvest were investigated. Lettuce yield in the treatments applied to composts over 3% NaCl was gradually reduced and mortality of lettuce as well as Na concent ration of lettuce foliage progressively increased with successively higher NaCl concentration of composts. With an increase of NaCl concentration of composts, the values of ESP and exchangeable sodium concentration in the surface soil were significantly increased. Especially, ESP of surface soil in the treatment incorporated with 9% NaCl-containing compost after the harvest attained by about 15, suggesting that sodification of surface soil under a greenhouse condition can occur when the compost over 9% NaCl is applied to soil. In conclusion, the application of over 3% NaCl-containing compost at the rates of $20Mg\;ha^{-1}$ can cause undesirable influences in plant growth and also the treatments of over 6% NaCl-containing composts can create conspicuous deteriorations in soil chemical properties in the current year.

• Journal of The Korean Ophthalmological Society
• /
• v.59 no.11
• /
• pp.1039-1048
• /
• 2018

Purpose: To evaluate the effects of anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) treatment on the healthcare-related finances of patients with age-related macular degeneration. Methods: Changes in health care financing due to newly introduced benefit standards were predicted over the coming 5-year period (2018-2022). We also analyzed the financial impact of scenarios in which agents similar to anti-VEGF, such as the over-licensed drug bevacizumab, were introduced. For this purpose, the future number of patients receiving anti-VEGF treatments was estimated for various scenarios based on National Health Insurance Corporation claims data followed by an estimate of the financial burden. Results: In the case of age-related macular degeneration, the current standard of care (14 times in a lifetime) was maintained in scenario 1. In 2018, the insurance budget for the coming 5-year period was estimated at approximately 440.3 billion won. The insurance cost for that period was estimated at approximately 560.1 billion won under the revised standard of December 2017 (scenario 2). For scenarios wherein, after 2020, similar treatments (scenario 3) and bevacizumab (scenario 4) were introduced, the estimated health insurance costs were 521 billion won and 419.7 billion won, respectively. Conclusions: Health insurance costs are projected to increase substantially due to the elimination of the 14 time pay standard; however, the actual budget will only moderately increase, due to new limitations of visual acuity ${\leq}0.1$ or in case of scarring/atrophic lesions. Clinically similar agents and bevacizumab could be considered as alternatives to anti-VEGF treatment for age-related macular degeneration.