• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.15 no.20
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• pp.8993-9004
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• 2014

Background: The incidence rate and the treatment costs of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) are high, especially in Thailand. Previous studies indicated that early detection by a surveillance program could help by down-staging. This study aimed to compare the costs and health outcomes associated with the introduction of a HCC surveillance program with no program and to estimate the budget impact if the HCC surveillance program were implemented. Materials and Methods: A cost utility analysis using a decision tree and Markov models was used to compare costs and outcomes during the lifetime period based on a societal perspective between alternative HCC surveillance strategies with no program. Costs included direct medical, direct non-medical, and indirect costs. Health outcomes were measured as life years (LYs), and quality adjusted life years (QALYs). The results were presented in terms of the incremental cost-effectiveness ratio (ICER) in Thai THB per QALY gained. One-way and probabilistic sensitivity analyses were applied to investigate parameter uncertainties. Budget impact analysis (BIA) was performed based on the governmental perspective. Results: Semi-annual ultrasonography (US) and semi-annual ultrasonography plus alpha-fetoprotein (US plus AFP) as the first screening for HCC surveillance would be cost-effective options at the willingness to pay (WTP) threshold of 160,000 THB per QALY gained compared with no surveillance program (ICER=118,796 and ICER=123,451 THB/QALY), respectively. The semi-annual US plus AFP yielded more net monetary benefit, but caused a substantially higher budget (237 to 502 million THB) than semi-annual US (81 to 201 million THB) during the next ten fiscal years. Conclusions: Our results suggested that a semi-annual US program should be used as the first screening for HCC surveillance and included in the benefit package of Thai health insurance schemes for both chronic hepatitis B males and females aged between 40-50 years. In addition, policy makers considered the program could be feasible, but additional evidence is needed to support the whole prevention system before the implementation of a strategic plan.

• Nutritional Sciences
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• v.9 no.2
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• pp.92-96
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• 2006

Studies were carried out to determine the effect of feeding diet containing 5% canola oil on growth, feed efficiency, and fatty acid profile of bacon in finishing pigs and of longissimus muscle in horses fattening for meat production. In experiment 1, twenty cross-bred barrows and twenty cross-bred gilts (average weight, 80 kg) were blocked by sex and weight, and five barrows or five gilts were allotted to one of eight pens $(6.25m^2/pen)$, respectively. Four pens (two with barrows and two with gilts) randomly selected were assigned to a control diet containing 5% tallow and the remaining four pens to a diet containing 5% canola oil. The average daily weight gain, daily feed intake and feed efficiency over a 6-wk feeding period were not different (p>0.05) between the two diets, nor was backfat thickness. Fatty acid profile in bacon fat showed that the 0-3 fatty acid ($\alpha-linolenic$ acid) content in pigs fed diet containing 5% canola oil was approximately three times (P<0.01) as much as in pigs fed tallow. In experiment 2, thirty-two Jeju horses (average $weight{\pm}SE,\;244{\pm}5kg$) were blocked by sex and weight, and two horses of the same sex and similar body weight were allotted to one $(15m^2/pen)$ of eight pens. Eight pens (four with males and four with females) selected randomly were assigned to a control diet containing 5% tallow and the remaining eight pens to a diet containing 5% canola oil. The average daily weight gain, daily feed intake and feed efficiency for concentrates without roughages over a 5-month feeding period were not different (P>0.05) between the two diet groups. Fatty acid profile in the muscle fat showed that the 0-3 fatty acid (a-linolenic acid) content in horses fed diet containing 5% canola oil was approximately two times (P<0.01) that in horses fed tallow. The increased (P<0.01) 0-3 fatty acid content in pigs and horses fed canola oil decreased the ratio of n-6 to n-3 fatty acids compared to the control, indicating a significant improvement in pork and horsemeat fatty acid profile for health benefit. Our study demonstrated that feeding diet containing 5% canola oil may help produce pork and horsemeat with more health benefit, increasing their $\alpha-linolenic$ acid content without deleterious effects on growth of pigs and horses.

• Journal of the Korea Society of Computer and Information
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• v.25 no.2
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• pp.221-229
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• 2020

As the cosmetics beauty industry grows into a key next-generation industry, the establishment of an industrialization center is needed, but failure to verify the adequacy and feasibility of the investment could lead to financial burdens. In this study, the project costs and facilities of an industrial center are reviewed to analyze its economic feasibility based on the cost estimates, revenue estimates, estimated profit or loss calculations, and estimated operating cash flows. The profit estimation criteria were analyzed by applying 90 per cent of expected orders for research projects (24 billion won) and 12 per cent of rental rates for testing equipment (4.5 billion won for construction), and the benefit/cost ratio is higher than 1.02 per cent and the net present value is higher than '0' won, and the internal rate of return is also more than 5.06 per cent for all three analytical methods. Therefore, in order for the construction of a cosmetics beauty industrialization center to be economically feasible, it is necessary to maintain research project orders of more than 90 percent and return on equipment rent of more than 12 percent, and a strategic approach is needed to diversify business profits.

• The Korean journal of internal medicine
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• v.33 no.6
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• pp.1194-1202
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• 2018

Background/Aims: This study evaluated the role of hypomethylating agents (HMA) compared to best supportive care (BSC) for patients with high or very-high (H/VH) risk myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) according to the Revised International Prognostic Scoring System. Methods: A total of 279 H/VH risk MDS patients registered in the Korean MDS Working Party database were retrospectively analyzed. Results: HMA therapy was administered to 205 patients (73.5%), including 31 patients (11.1%) who then received allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation (allo-HCT), while 74 patients (26.5%) received BSC or allo-HCT without HMA. The 3-year overall survival (OS) rates were $53.1%{\pm}10.7%$ for allo-HCT with HMA, $75%{\pm}21.7%$ for allo-HCT without HMA, $17.3%{\pm}3.6%$ for HMA, and $20.8%{\pm}6.9%$ for BSC groups (p < 0.001). In the multivariate analysis, only allo-HCT was related with favorable OS (hazard ratio [HR], 0.356; p = 0.002), while very poor cytogenetic risk (HR, 5.696; p = 0.042), age ${\geq}65years$ (HR, 1.578; p = 0.022), Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status (ECOG PS) 2 to 4 (HR, 2.837; p < 0.001), and transformation to acute myeloid leukemia (AML) (HR, 1.901; p = 0.001) all had an adverse effect on OS. Conclusions: For the H/VH risk group, very poor cytogenetic risk, age ${\geq}65years$, ECOG PS 2 to 4, and AML transformation were poor prognostic factors. HMA showed no benefit in terms of OS when compared to BSC. Allo-HCT was the only factor predicting a favorable long-term outcome. The use of HMA therapy did not seem to have an adverse effect on the transplantation outcomes. However, the conclusion of this study should be carefully interpreted and proven by large scale research in the future.

• Environmental and Resource Economics Review
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• v.28 no.2
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• pp.307-326
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• 2019

The electric vehicle is a representative measure to reduce greenhouse gas and local air pollutants in the transportation sector. Most countries provide purchase subsidies and tax reductions to promote electric vehicle sales. The electric vehicles have been considered as zero-emission vehicles(ZEV) in light of the fact that there has been no pollutant emission during driving. However, recent studies have pointed out that the pollutant emitted from the process of generating electricity used for charging the electric vehicles need to be treated as emissions of the electric vehicles. Furthermore, the environmental benefits of electric vehicle replacing the internal combustion vehicle vary with the power mix. In line with the recent studies, this study analyzes the impact of electric vehicles based on the current power mix and future energy transition scenarios in Korea. To estimate the precise air pollutants emission profile, this study uses hourly electricity generation and TMS emission data for each power plant from 2015 to 2016. The estimation results show that the electric vehicles under the current power mix generate the environmental benefits of only -0.41~10.83 won/km. Also, we find that the environmental benefit of electric vehicle will significantly increase only when the ratio of the coal-fired power plant is reduced to a considerable extent.

• Journal of Korea Port Economic Association
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• v.38 no.3
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• pp.69-86
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• 2022

This study analyses the necessity of the large-size shipyard and explores competitiveness factors of it. Furthermore, the competitiveness is evaluated and the economic feasibility of building and operation of shipyard is examined. As a result of AHP analysis of the determining factors of the competitiveness of the repairing shipyard, the importance of the factors was found in the order of arrival and departure safety, repair technology, dock and wharf facilities, repair cost, repair period (on time delivery), and repair parts supply. Moving distance, repair service quality, repair parts supply, arrival and departure safety, repair technology, dock and quay wall facilities, and repair period (on time delivery) were identified as key factors in the AHP analysis for competitiveness of the Busan Port repair shipyard to be built in the future. As a result of the analysing economic feasibility, the net present value of the Busan Port repair shipyard construction and operation investment project was KRW 435.6 billion, and the internal rate of return was 9.8%, higher than the social discount rate (4.5%), and the cost-benefit ratio (B/C) was high at 1.167. As a result of the study, the necessity and economic feasibility of the Busan Port repair shipyard are sufficiently ensured, and the competitiveness assessment was highly positive.

• Korean Journal of Clinical Pharmacy
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• v.30 no.1
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• pp.1-10
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• 2020

Objective: The aim of the study was to perform a meta-analysis of randomized clinical trials to compare the clinical efficacy and safety between combination of cyclin-dependent kinase (CDK) 4/6 inhibitors with aromatase inhibitors (AIs) and AIs alone in patients with hormone receptor+/human epidermal growth factor receptor type2-(HR+/HER2-) advanced breast cancer. Methods: Published clinical studies were identified through electronic database searches until February 2019. Literature qualities were assessed by the Scottish Intercollegiate Guidelines Network Checklist. Key endpoints of efficacy were progression-free survival (PFS), objective response rate (ORR), and clinical benefit (CB). Endpoints of safety were adverse events (AEs) (neutropenia, leukopenia, any grade 3/4 AEs, and serious AEs) and on-treatment death. Meta-analysis was performed using the RevMan 5.3 software. Results: The selected five studies were evaluated as "good" in quality assessment. Compared to AIs alone, the combination therapy significantly improved PFS (pooled hazard ratio=0.55; 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.49-0.62), ORR (odds ratio=1.78; 95% CI=1.49-2.13), and CB (odds ratio=1.86; 95% CI=1.51-2.28). The prevalence of AEs was significantly higher in the combination group than in the AIs alone group. On-treatment death was greater in the combination group than in the AIs alone group, although insignificant. Conclusion: The combination therapy of CDK4/6 inhibitors with AIs was more effective for the treatment of HR+/HER2- advanced breast cancer, but less safe than AIs alone. The combination therapy should be effectively managed through patient monitoring, and further studies are needed to reduce AEs in the combination therapy of CDK4/6 inhibitors with AIs.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.58 no.4
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• pp.309-315
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• 2015

Objective : An advantage of surgical treatment over conservative treatment of spontaneous intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) is controversial. Recent reports suggest that contrast extravasations on CT angiography (CTA) might serve as a crucial predictor of hematoma expansion and mortality. The purpose of this study was aimed at investigating the efficacy of surgical treatment in patients with spot sign positive ICH. Methods : We used our institutional medical data search system to identify all adult patients who admitted for treatment of ICH between January 1, 2007 and January 31, 2012. Patients were classified two groups into a surgical group (n=27) and a conservative treatment group (n=28). Admission criteria were the following: age 20-79 years, spontaneous supratentorial ICH, Glasgow Coma Score Ranging from 9 to 14, ICH volume ${\geq}20mL$, and treatment within 24 hours. Results : Fifty-five patients were analyzed. There was no significant difference in the ICU stay between the conservative treatment group ($7.36{\pm}3.66days$) and the surgical treatment group ($6.93{\pm}2.20days$; p=0.950). There was a significant difference in the in-hospital stay between the conservative treatment group ($13.93{\pm}8.87days$) and the surgical treatment group ($20.33{\pm}6.37days$; p=0.001). Overall mortality at day 90 after ICH was 36.4%; this included 16 of 28 patients (57.1%) in the conservative group and 4 of 27 patients (14.8%) in the surgical group. In univariate analysis, there was a positive effect of the surgical treatment in reducing mortality at 90 days (p=0.002), Glasgow Outcome Scale (GOS) at 90-day (p=0.006), and modified Rankin Scale (mRS) at 90-day (p=0.023). In multivariate logistic analysis, there was a significant difference in mortality (odds ratio, 0.211; 95% confidence interval, 0.049-0.906; p=0.036) between the groups at 90-day follow-up. However, there was no significant difference in GOS (odds ratio, 0.371; 95% confidence interval, 0.031-4.446; p=0.434) and mRS (odds ratio, 1.041; 95% confidence interval, 0.086-12.637; p=0.975) between the groups at 90-day follow-up. Conclusion : In this study of surgical treatment of supratentorial ICH in patients with spot sign positive in CTA was associated with less mortality despite of long duration of in-hospital stay. We failed to show that clinical outcome benefit of surgical treatment compared with conservative treatment in patients with spot sign positive ICH.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.15 no.12
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• pp.4781-4786
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• 2014

Background: The purpose of this study was to analyze the predictive value of neutrophil/lymphocyte ratio (NLR) to better clarify which patient groups will benefit the most from particular treatments like bevacizumab. Materials and Methods: A total of 245 treatment-naive metastatic colorectal cancern (mCRC) patients were retrospectively enrolled and divided into 2 groups: 145 group A patients were treated with chemotherapy in combination with bevacizumab, and 100 group B patients were treated as above without bevacizumab. Results: Group A patients had better median overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS) (24.0 and 9.0 months) than group B patients (20 and 6.0 months) (p=0.033; p=0.015). In patients with low NLR, OS and PFS were significantly longer in group A patients (27 vs 18 months, p=0.001; 11 vs 7 months, p=0.017). Conclusions: We conclude that NLR, a basal cancer related inflammation marker, is associated with the resistance to bevacizumab-based treatments in mCRC patients.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.15 no.17
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• pp.7049-7054
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• 2014

Background: Almost half of the breast cancer patients with positive sentinel lymph nodes have no additional disease in the remaining axillary lymph nodes. This group of patients do not benefit from complete axillary lymph node dissection. This study was designed to assess the clinicopathologic factors that predict non-sentinel lymph node metastasis in Iranian breast cancer patients with positive sentinel lymph nodes. Materials and Methods: The records of patients who underwent sentinel lymph node biopsy, between 2003 and 2012, were reviewed. Patients with at least one positive sentinel lymph node who underwent completion axillary lymph node dissection were enrolled in the present study. Demographic and clinicopathologic characteristics including age, primary tumor size, histological and nuclear grade, lymphovascular invasion, perineural invasion, extracapsular invasion, and number of harvested lymph nodes, were evaluated. Results: The data of 167 patients were analyzed. A total of 92 (55.1%) had non-sentinel lymph node metastasis. Univariate analysis of data revealed that age, primary tumor size, histological grade, lymphovascular invasion, perineural invasion, extracapsular invasion, and the number of positive sentinel lymph nodes to the total number of harvested sentinel lymph nodes ratio, were associated with non-sentinel lymph node metastasis. After logistic regression analysis, age (OR=0.13; 95% CI, 0.02-0.8), primary tumor size (OR=7.7; 95% CI, 1.4-42.2), lymphovascular invasion (OR=19.4; 95% CI, 1.4-268.6), extracapsular invasion (OR=13.3; 95% CI, 2.3-76), and the number of positive sentinel lymph nodes to the total number of harvested sentinel lymph nodes ratio (OR=20.2; 95% CI, 3.4-121.9), were significantly associated with non-sentinel lymph node metastasis. Conclusions: According to this study, age, primary tumor size, lymphovascular invasion, extracapsular invasion, and the ratio of positive sentinel lymph nodes to the total number of harvested sentinel lymph nodes, were found to be independent predictors of non-sentinel lymph node metastasis.