• Journal of applied mathematics & informatics
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• v.41 no.6
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• pp.1341-1364
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• 2023

This article introduces a method for estimating the conditional hazard function of a real-valued response variable based on a functional variable. The method uses local linear estimation of the conditional density and cumulative distribution function and is applied to a functional stationary ergodic process where the explanatory variable is in a semi-metric space and the response is a scalar value. We also examine the uniform almost complete convergence of this estimation technique.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.14 no.4
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• pp.2401-2406
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• 2013

From January 1, 2008 to March 31, 2010, 101 patients with stage II-III breast cancer were enrolled in this study and subjected to an anthracycline-based neoadjuvant chemotherapy regimen with or without docetaxel. Surgery was performed after 2-6 cycles of chemotherapy, and the clinical response was determined by pathological and histochemical assessments. The clinical response rate, as indicated by complete response (CR), partial response (PR), stable disease (SD), and progressive disease (PD), were 6.9, 52.5, 36.6, and 4.0%, respectively. A multivariable correlation analysis indicated that the overall clinical response rate correlated with the number of metastatic lymph nodes, number of chemotherapy cycles, and vessel invasion status. Importantly, the CR rate was only associated with the number of chemotherapy cycles. Nonparametric tests failed to detect a correlation between HER2 or Topo $II{\alpha}$ status and clinical response to neoadjuvant chemotherapy in these patients. When they were stratified by HER2 or HR status, for HER2-positive patients the CR rate was associated with vessel invasion and Topo $II{\alpha}$ status. Based on our findings, we propose that HR, HER-2 and Topo $II{\alpha}$ are not putative predictive biomarkers of chemotherapy outcome for breast cancer patients. Topo $II{\alpha}$ expression level was only inversely correlated with CR rate among HR-positive patients. Importantly, the achievement of CR was largely related to the number of chemotherapy cycles.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.14 no.6
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• pp.3881-3885
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• 2013

Objective: The objective of this study was to identify clinical predictive factors for tumor response after neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy (nCRT) in locally advanced rectal cancer (LARC). Methods: All factors were evaluated in 88 patients with LARC treated with nCRT. After a long period of 4-8 weeks of chemoradiotherapy, 3 patients achieved clinical complete response (cCR) and thus aggressive surgery was avoided, and the remaining 85 patients underwent a curative-intent operation. The response to nCRT was evaluated by tumor regression grade (TRG) system. Results: There were 32 patients (36.4%) with good tumor regression (TRG 3-4) and 56 (63.6%) with poor tumor regression (TRG 0-2). Lymphocyte counts and ratios were higher in good response cases (P=0.01, 0.03, respectively) while neutrophil ratios and N/L ratios were higher in poor response cases (P=0.04, 0.02, respectively). High lymphocyte ratios before nCRT and good tumor regression (TRG3-4) were significantly associated with improved 5-year disease-free survival (P<0.05). Pretreatment nodal status was also significantly associated with 5-year disease-free survival and 5-year overall survival (P<0.05). Multivariate analysis confirmed that the pretreatment lymphocyte ratio and lymph nodal status were independent prognostic factors. Conclusion: Our study suggested that LARC patients with high lymphocyte ratios before nCRT would have good tumor response and high 5-year DFS and OS.

• Radiation Oncology Journal
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• v.34 no.4
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• pp.305-312
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• 2016

Purpose: The objective of this prospective study was to evaluate the relationship between the circulating lymphocyte subpopulation counts during preoperative chemoradiotherapy (CRT) and tumor response in locally advanced rectal cancer. Materials and Methods: From August 2015 to June 2016, 10 patients treated with preoperative CRT followed by surgery were enrolled. Patients received conventional fractionated radiotherapy (50.4 Gy) with fluorouracil-based chemotherapy. Surgical resection was performed at 4 to 8 weeks after the completion of preoperative CRT. The absolute blood lymphocyte subpopulation was obtained prior to and after 4 weeks of CRT. We analyzed the association between a tumor response and change in the lymphocyte subpopulation during CRT. Results: Among 10 patients, 2 (20%) had evidence of pathologic complete response. In 8 patients with clinically node positive, 4 (50%) had nodal tumor response. All lymphocyte subpopulation counts at 4 weeks after CRT were significantly lower than those observed during pretreatment (p < 0.01). A high decrease in natural killer (NK) cell, count during CRT (baseline cell count - cell count at 4 weeks) was associated with node down staging (p = 0.034). Conclusion: Our results suggest that the change of lymphocyte subset to preoperative CRT may be a predictive factor for tumor response in rectal cancer.

• Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology & Nutrition
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• v.17 no.1
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• pp.31-36
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• 2014

Purpose: Infliximab (IFX) is considered safe and effective for the treatment of ulcerative colitis (UC) in both adults and children. The aim of this study was to evaluate the short- and long-term clinical course of IFX in Korean children with UC. Methods: Pediatric patients with UC who had received IFX infusions between November 2007 and May 2013 at Samsung Medical Center were retrospectively investigated. The clinical efficacy of IFX treatment was evaluated at 8 weeks (short term) and 54 weeks (long term) after the initiation of IFX treatment using the Pediatric Ulcerative Colitis Activity Index (PUCAI). The degree of response to IFX treatment was defined as complete response (PUCAI score=0), partial response (decrement of PUCAI score${\geq}20$ points), and non-response (decrement of PUCAI score <20 points). Adverse events associated with IFX treatment were also investigated. Results: Eleven pediatric patients with moderate to severe UC had received IFX. The remission rate after IFX treatment was 46% (5/11) and 82% (9/11) at 8 weeks and 54 weeks after IFX treatment, respectively. All patients who were steroid-dependent before treatment with IFX achieved remission at 54 weeks and were able to stop treatment with corticosteroids, while all steroid-refractory patients failed to achieve remission at 54 weeks after treatment with IFX. Conclusion: Response to IFX treatment after 8 weeks may predict a favorable long-term response to IFX treatment in Korean pediatric UC patients.

• Korean Journal of Clinical Pharmacy
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• v.12 no.1
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• pp.1-6
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• 2002

Central Cancer Registry of Korean National Cancer Center in 1999 reported that mortality from lung cancer is higher than mortality from stomach cancer or hepatocellular carcinoma in Korean male. Lung cancer is classified into small cell cancer and non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), and NSCLC patients account for $70\%$ of the whole lung cancer patients. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the efficacy and toxicity of docetaxel and cisplatin combination in Korean patients with NSCLC. All patients who had received the combination therapy of docetaxel and cisplatin for histologically confirmed NSCLC in Ajou University Hospital between 2000. $2\~2001$. 4 were retrospectively evaluated for the responses and toxicities of that combination therapy. Nineteen patients were treated with docetaxel 75 $mg/m^2$ on Day 1 and cisplatin 25 $mg/m^2$ on Day 1-3 every 4 weeks. The response for combination regimen was evaluated by CT scans after 2 or 3 cycles of treatments. Seventeen patients were evaluated for the responses and the 19 patients far the toxicities. Among the 19 patients (14 men and 5 women), there were one patient $(5.3\%)$ with stage I disease, 4 patients $(21.1\%)$ with stage III disease, and 14 patients $(73.1\%)$ with stage IV disease. Of the 17 patients who were evaluable for response, complete response (CR) was not observed in any patient while partial response (PR) was observed in 5 patients $(29.4\%)$. The overall response rate (CR+PR) was $29.4\%$. Stable disease (SD) was observed in 11 patients $(64.7\%)$ and progressive disease (PD) in 1 patient $(5.9\%)$. The toxicities were graded by NCI (National Cancer Institute) Common Toxicity Criteria for the evaluable 70 cycles. Grade 3 or 4 neutropenia occurred in 53 cycles $(76\%)$. Four patients were hospitalized due to febrile neutropenia. The combination chemotherapy of docetaxel and cisplatin was effective as NSCLC treatments, however, the regimen must be administered carefully due to its hematological side effects.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.14 no.5
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• pp.611-624
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• 2002

In this paper, a complete solution is presented for dynamic plastic response of a rigid, perfectly plastic hinged-free beam, of which one end is simply supported or hinged and the other end free, subjected to a transverse strike by a travelling mass at an arbitrary location along its span. The governing differential equations are expressed in non-dimensional forms and solved numerically to obtain the instantaneous deflection of the beam and the plastic dissipated energy in the beam. The dynamic behavior for a hinged-free beam is more complicated than that of a free-free beam. It transpires that the mass ratio and impact position have significant influence on the final deformation. In the aspect of energy dissipation, unlike simply supported or clamped beams for which the plastic deformation consumes almost the total input energy, a considerable portion of the input energy would be transferred as rigid-body motion of hinged-free beam, and the energy dissipated in its plastic deformation is greatly reduced.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.38 no.5
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• pp.338-343
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• 2005

Objective : The sacroiliac joint complex is often related with functionally incapacitating pain in old aged people. The purpose of this study is to delineate the investigation strategies and to determine the long-term effect of radiofrequency [RF] neurotomies for pain arising from sacroiliac Joint dysfunction[SIJD]. Methods : Sixteen patients were diagnosed as having chronic pain from SIJD by comparative controlled blocks on L5 dorsal rami, sacroiliac Joints and deep interosseous ligaments. After confirming the positive response [more than 50% of pain relief], sensory stimulation was applied to detect the 'pathological' branches. Subsequently, RF neurotomies were performed on the selected nerve branches. Surgical outcome was graded as successful, moderate improvement, and failure after a 6month follow-up period. Results : Stimulation intensity was 0.45V to elicit pain response in the L5 dorsal rami and lateral sacral branches. The number of RF-lesioned nerve branches was 6per patient. The average number of lesions for each branch was 1.3. Most commonly selected branches were L5 dorsal ramus [88%] and S2-upper division [88%]. Ten patients [63%] reported a successful outcome according to the outcome criteria after 6months of follow-up, and five patients [31%] reported complete relief [100%]. Five patients [31%] showed moderate improvements. One patient reported failure. Conclusion : RF neurotomy of lateral sacral branches is an excellent treatment modality for the pain due to SIJD, provided that comparative controlled block shows a positive response.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.49 no.1
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• pp.1-22
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• 2014

A seismic evaluation is made of the response to horizontal ground shaking of cantilever retaining walls using the finite element model in three dimensional space whose verification is provided analytically through the modal analysis technique in case of the assumptions of fixed base, complete bonding behavior at the wall-soil interface, and elastic behavior of soil. Thanks to the versatility of the finite element model, the retained medium is then idealized as a uniform, elastoplastic stratum of constant thickness and semi-infinite extent in the horizontal direction considering debonding behavior at the interface in order to perform comprehensive soil-structure interaction (SSI) analyses. The parameters varied include the flexibility of the wall, the properties of the soil medium, and the characteristics of the ground motion. Two different finite element models corresponding with flexible and rigid wall configurations are studied for six different soil types under the effects of two different ground motions. The response quantities examined incorporate the lateral displacements of the wall relative to the moving base and the stresses in the wall in all directions. The results show that the wall flexibility and soil properties have a major effect on seismic behavior of cantilever retaining walls and should be considered in design criteria of cantilever walls. Furthermore, the results of the numerical investigations are expected to be useful for the better understanding and the optimization of seismic design of this particular type of retaining structure.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.20 no.1
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• pp.54-62
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• 2010

A novel harpin-like protein, HpaXm, was described from cotton leaf blight bacteria, Xanthomonas citri subsp. malvacearum. The hpaXm was found to be localized between hrp2 and hrcC. A phylogenetic analysis of the complete amino acid sequence or solely the 13 highly conserved residues $H_2N$-SEKQLDQLLTQLI-COOH in the N-terminal $\alpha$-helix indicates that HpaXm is evolutionarily closer to HpaGXag and HpaXac than to Hpa1Xoo and Hpa1Xoc. A synthesized peptide containing two heptads, 39-LDQLLTQLIMALLQ-52, from the N-terminal a-helical region of HpaXm displayed comparable activity in inducing a hypersensitive response, but two other synthesized derivatives, $HpaXm{\Delta}T44C$ and $HpaXm{\Delta}M48Q$, showed reduced HR-triggering activity. The data from a GST trap test revealed that HpaXm was released into the extracellular medium, hpaXm mutant deficient for the leader peptide (1-MNSLNTQIGANSSFL-15) was unable to be secreted outside cells but still induced HR in tobacco leaves.