• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.6 no.1
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• pp.10-21
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• 1979

In preventing the infection of Clonorchis sinensis, there is one way in which life cycle of Clonorchis sinensis is cut off by eradicating the first intermediate host viz Parafossarulus manchuoricus, with molluscicides or insecticides. This survey was carried out in order to evaluating the molluscicidal effect of several insecticides upon P. manchauricus. In this survey, diazinon, heptachlor, E.P.N., E.M., and malathion was applied as molluscidies. Those insecticides had been generaly used in farming area. The results are summarized as follows. 1) In molluscicidal effect, E.M. showed the higher molluscicidal effect than any other insecticides in all experiment parts, and the order of insecticides upon molluscicidal effect was that of E.M., E.P.N., heptachlor and malathion. 2) $LD_{50}$ values are varied according to the exposure time in insecticide solution, and the longer the exposure time is, the lower the values of $LD_{50}$ is. 3) To take the exposure time in low concentration of insecticide solution for the long time would obtain the more molluscicidal effect. 4) The mortality rate increases in proportion as the concentration of insecticides increases.

• Korean Journal of Adult Nursing
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• v.27 no.1
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• pp.29-38
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• 2015

Purpose: The purpose of the study was to validate fall risk assessment scales among hospitalized adult patients in South Korea using the electronic medical records by comparing sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive values, and negative predictive values of Morse Fall Scale (MFS), Bobath Memorial Hospital Fall Risk Assessment Scale (BMFRAS), and Johns Hopkins Hospital Fall Risk Assessment tool (JHFRAT). Methods: A total of 120 patients who experienced fall episodes during their hospitalization from June 2010 to December 2013 was categorized into the fall group. Another 120 patients, who didn't experience fall episodes with age, sex, clinical departments, and the type of wards matched with the fall group, were categorized to the comparison group. Data were analyzed for the comparisons of sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive values, and the area under the curve of the three tools. Results: MFS at a cut-off score of 48 had .806 for ROC curves, 76.7% for sensitivity, 77.5% for specificity, 77.3% for positive predictive value, and 76.9% for negative predictive value, which were the highest values among the three fall assessment scales. Conclusion: The MFS with the highest score and the highest discrimination was evaluated to be suitable and reasonable for predicting falls of inpatients in med-surg units of university hospitals.

• Korean Journal of Radiology
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• v.21 no.4
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• pp.431-441
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• 2020

Objective: To compare the diagnostic performance and interobserver variability of strain ratio obtained from one or two regions of interest (ROI) on breast elastography. Materials and Methods: From April to May 2016, 140 breast masses in 140 patients who underwent conventional ultrasonography (US) with strain elastography followed by US-guided biopsy were evaluated. Three experienced breast radiologists reviewed recorded US and elastography images, measured strain ratios, and categorized them according to the American College of Radiology breast imaging reporting and data system lexicon. Strain ratio was obtained using the 1-ROI method (one ROI drawn on the target mass), and the 2-ROI method (one ROI in the target mass and another in reference fat tissue). The diagnostic performance of the three radiologists among datasets and optimal cut-off values for strain ratios were evaluated. Interobserver variability of strain ratio for each ROI method was assessed using intraclass correlation coefficient values, Bland-Altman plots, and coefficients of variation. Results: Compared to US alone, US combined with the strain ratio measured using either ROI method significantly improved specificity, positive predictive value, accuracy, and area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) (all p values < 0.05). Strain ratio obtained using the 1-ROI method showed higher interobserver agreement between the three radiologists without a significant difference in AUC for differentiating breast cancer when the optimal strain ratio cut-off value was used, compared with the 2-ROI method (AUC: 0.788 vs. 0.783, 0.693 vs. 0.715, and 0.691 vs. 0.686, respectively, all p values > 0.05). Conclusion: Strain ratios obtained using the 1-ROI method showed higher interobserver agreement without a significant difference in AUC, compared to those obtained using the 2-ROI method. Considering that the 1-ROI method can reduce performers' efforts, it could have an important role in improving the diagnostic performance of breast US by enabling consistent management of breast lesions.

• Korean Journal of Radiology
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• v.21 no.12
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• pp.1317-1325
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• 2020

Objective: The aim of this study was to prospectively evaluate whether liver stiffness (LS) assessments, obtained by two-dimensional (2D)-shear wave elastography (SWE) with a propagation map, can evaluate liver fibrosis stage using histopathology as the reference standard. Materials and Methods: We prospectively enrolled 123 patients who had undergone percutaneous liver biopsy from two tertiary referral hospitals. All patients underwent 2D-SWE examination prior to biopsy, and LS values (kilopascal [kPa]) were obtained. On histopathologic examination, fibrosis stage (F0-F4) and necroinflammatory activity grade (A0-A4) were assessed. Multivariate linear regression analysis was performed to determine the significant factors affecting the LS value. The diagnostic performance of the LS value for staging fibrosis was assessed using receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis, and the optimal cut-off value was determined by the Youden index. Results: Reliable measurements of LS values were obtained in 114 patients (92.7%, 114/123). LS values obtained from 2D-SWE with the propagation map positively correlated with the progression of liver fibrosis reported from histopathology (p < 0.001). According to the multivariate linear regression analysis, fibrosis stage was the only factor significantly associated with LS (p < 0.001). The area under the ROC curve of LS from 2D-SWE with the propagation map was 0.773, 0.865, 0.946, and 0.950 for detecting F ≥ 1, F ≥ 2, F ≥ 3, and F = 4, respectively. The optimal cut-off LS values were 5.4, 7.8, 9.4, and 12.2 kPa for F ≥ 1, F ≥ 2, F ≥ 3, and F = 4, respectively. The corresponding sensitivity and specificity of the LS value for detecting cirrhosis were 90.9% and 88.4%, respectively. Conclusion: The LS value obtained from 2D-SWE with a propagation map provides excellent diagnostic performance in evaluating liver fibrosis stage, determined by histopathology.

• Journal of Navigation and Port Research
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• v.29 no.10 s.106
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• pp.859-863
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• 2005

This paper describes the improvement of power control characteristics of ship's emergency lighting power supply(SELPS), by which electric power is controlled extensively, and power ON-OFF is controlled and system parameter monitored in remote distance by PC serial communication. Proposed system is composed of step-down converter(SDC), emergency power supply circuit(EPSC), half bridge(HB) inverter, fluorescent lamp(FL) starting circuit, microprocessor control and multi communication circuit. Experimental works confirm that relative system stops when over current is detected and speedy and stable emergency power is supplied when main power source cut-off, and controls input power up to 35[$\%$] by adjusting pulse frequency of the HB inverter, and ON-OFF control of multiple SELS, real time transmission and monitor of parameters as to voltage, current, and power values are performed appropriately by PC communication.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• v.37 no.2
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• pp.115-124
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• 2010

Objective: To testify whether the increased peripheral blood natural killer (pbNK) cells fraction and their cytolytic activity could coincide with patient's history of recurrent spontaneous abortion (RSA) and to evaluate these factors are can be valuable diagnostic markers in RSA. Methods: Women with a history of RSA comprised the patient group (n=35). Normal fertile women, who were experienced at least one healthy term birth without history of infertility or recurrent miscarriage, were included as the healthy control group (n=15). The pbNK cells of $CD3^-/CD56^+/CD16^+$ and their cytolytic activities against K562 cells were measured by flow cytometry and the values were compared between study and control groups. Results: Proportions of pbNK cells among peripheral blood monocytes (PBMC) ($14.2{\pm}5.2$ vs. $9.4{\pm}3.7%$, p=0.002, 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.8 to 7.8) was significantly higher in the patient group. The odds ratio of having RSA history was increased as 8.4 folds (59% of sensitivity, 80% of specificity, and 95% CI: 2.0 to 35.8) in patients who showed pbNK cells fraction above 12.1% which was determined as cut-off value by using ROC curve analysis. The cytolytic activities of pbNK cells which measured by three different ratio of effecter pbNK cells to target K562 cells and calculated by the percent of cytolytic K562 cells, were significantly higher in study group than that of control group (in 50:1 ratio, $48.3{\pm}19.0$ vs. $31.3{\pm}11.9%$, p=0.002; in 25:1 ratio, $37.0{\pm}18.1$ vs. $20.2{\pm}9.2%$, p<0.001; in 12.5:1 ratio, $23.5{\pm}12.7$ vs. $12.4{\pm}7.3%$, p=0.001). With the cut-off values of cytolytic activity of pbNK cells as 43.1% (50:1), 26.9% (25:1), and 17.4% (12.5:1) each, the risk of having RSA history was increased by 10.0, 11.4, and 15.0 folds in patients who had increased in each effector of pbNK to target of K562 cells ratio. Conclusion: The analysis of pbNK cells fraction and their cytolytic activity can be valuable diagnostic markers for RSA. We are going to planning the large scaled studies which include the data of obstetric outcomes in subsequent pregnancies to clarify our results of this study.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.50 no.1
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• pp.15-21
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• 2012

In Iran, $Plasmodium$ $vivax$ is responsible for more than 80% of the infected cases of malaria per year. Control interventions for vivax malaria in humans rely mainly on developed diagnostic methods. Recombinant $P.$ $vivax$ apical membrane antigen-1 (rPvAMA-1) has been reported to achieve designing rapid, sensitive, and specific molecular diagnosis. This study aimed to perform isolation and expression of a rPvAMA-1, derived from Iranian patients residing in an endemic area. Then, the diagnostic efficiency of the characterized Iranian PvAMA-1 was assessed using an indirect ELISA method. For this purpose, a partial region of AMA-1 gene was amplified, cloned, and expressed in pET32a plasmid. The recombinant $His-tagged$ protein was purified and used to coat the ELISA plate. Antibody detection was assessed by indirect ELISA using rPvAMA-1. The validity of the ELISA method for detection of anti-$P.$ $vivax$ antibodies in the field was compared to light microscopy on 84 confirmed $P.$ $vivax$ patients and compared to 84 non-$P.$ $vivax$ infected individuals. The ELISA cut-off value was calculated as the mean+2SD of OD values of the people living in malaria endemic areas from a south part of Iran. We found a cut-off point of OD=0.311 that showed the best correlation between the sera confirmed with $P.$ $vivax$ infection and healthy control sera. A sensitivity of 81.0% and specificity of 84.5% were found at this cut off titer. A good degree of statistical agreement was found between ELISA using rPvAMA-1 and light microscopy (0.827) by Kappa analysis.

• Nutritional Sciences
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• v.8 no.1
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• pp.50-55
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• 2005

This study was conducted to determine the relationship between the body fat percent (BF%) and body mass index (BMI) of Koreans and the differences with Caucasians. Complete data were collected from 3297 subjects (2441females and 856 males) between the ages of 18 and 79. Data were collected between September 2001 and November 2001 in Seoul and Pusan. For the statistical analysis, only the data on subjects between the ages of 18 and 65(3200) were used Body weight and height were measured BMI (kg/$m^2$) was computed From BMI, BF (%) was calculated using age- and sex-specific prediction formulas. BF% was assessed using an INBODY 2.0 body fat analyser. Data analysis showed that the females were significantly younger than the males, were smaller, lighter and had a lower body mass index. Body fat percent of the females was higher than that of the males. 1he differences between actual measured BF% and BF% as predicted from prediction equations from the literature, based on BMI, age and sex, were correlated with level of body fat and age. There is a significant age-related decrease in body fat in Koreans for any given BMI and sex, which is remarkably different compared to age-related increases in body fat in the European reference group. For the same age and BF%, Korean females have a slightly lower BMI than their European counterparts. Korean males have, for the same age and BF%, a higher BMI than their European counterparts. The differences between females and males were not significant. It was concluded that, assuming that the data on body fat percent was correct, that the relationship between BF% and BMI is quite different in Koreans than in European Caucasians. Thus, for younger Koreans cut-off values for obesity should be slightly lower than those for Caucasians whereas for older Koreans the cut-off points for obesity should be higher than those for Caucasians.

• Journal of the Computational Structural Engineering Institute of Korea
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• v.28 no.1
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• pp.63-69
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• 2015

In this paper, infrared reflector design targeting infrared stealth effect is presented using structural optimization based on the phase field method. The analysis model was determined to accomplish the design that an incident infrared wave was reflected to a desired direction. The design process was to maximize the objective value at the measuring domain located in a target region and the design objective was set to the Poynting vector value which represents the energy flux. Optimization results were obtained according to the variation of some parameter values related to the phase field method. The model with a maximum objective value was selected as the final optimal model. The optimal model was modified to eliminate the gray scale using the cut-off method and it confirmed improved performance. In addition, to check the desired effect in the middle wave infrared range(MWIR), the analysis was performed by changing the input wavelength. The finite element analysis and optimization process were performed by using the commercial package COMSOL combined with the Matlab programming.

• Physical Therapy Rehabilitation Science
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• v.7 no.3
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• pp.102-108
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• 2018

Objective: To investigate whether the Minimal Clinically Important Difference (MCID) clinically defines improvement of Berg Balance Scale (BBS) scores in people with acute stroke in response to rehabilitation. Design: Retrospective study. Methods: Seventy-three participants with acute stroke participated in the study. Balance evaluation was performed using the BBS. All patients received rehabilitation with physical therapy for 4 weeks, 5 times a week, for 2 hours and 20 minutes a day. An anchor-based approach using the clinical global impression was used to determine the MCID of the BBS. The MCID was used to define the minimum change in the BBS total score (postintervention-preintervention) that was needed to perceive at least a 3-point improvement on the global rating of change. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves was used to define the cut-off values of the optimal MCID of the BBS in order to discriminate between improvement and no improvement groups. Results: The optimal MCID cut-off point for the BBS change scores was 12.5 points for males with a sensitivity (Sn) of 0.62 and a specificity (Sp) of 0.89, and 12.5 points for females with a Sn of 0.69 and Sp of 0.85. The area under the curve of the ROC curve for all participants were 0.84 (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.72; 0.95, p<0.001), and 0.89 (95% CI, 0.77; 1.00, p<0.001), respectively. Conclusions: The MCID for improvement in balance as measured by the BBS was 13.5 points, indicating that the MCID does clinically detect changes in balance abilities in persons with stroke.