• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
• /
• v.15 no.14
• /
• pp.5921-5926
• /
• 2014

A large proportion of patients with thyroid nodules in China undergo thyroidectomy in order to get confirmatory histology diagnosis. The financial impact of this modality remains to be investigated. To evaluate rationality of performing thyroidectomy without a routine FNA preoperatively from the economic perspective, we conducted a retrospective, observational study of all archival thyroidectomies with records of cost per stay (CPS), cost per day (CPD) and length of stay (LOS) from 2008 to 2013 in the First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University. We compared all the parameters between cancer and non-cancer thyroidectomies. We recruited 6, 140 thyroidectomies with valid records of CPS, CPD and LOS in this period. The CPS of cancer thyroidectomy was significantly higher than non-cancer thyroidectomy. The percentage of cancer thyroidectomy increased from 26.5% to 41.6%. The percentage of annual cost of cancer thyroidectomies rose from 30.2% to 45.2%. The LOS for cancer and non-cancer thyroidectomy decreased while the CPD increased in the past six years. The estimated national cost in 2012 for all thyroidectomies would be USD 1.86 billion with USD 1.09 billion for non-cancer thyroidectomies. We have witnessed great improvement in the healthcare for patients with thyroid nodules in China. However, given limited healthcare resources, currently thyroid FNA for more precise preoperative diagnosis may help to curb the rapidly increasing demand in healthcare costs in the future for nodular thyroid disease in China.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
• /
• v.15 no.14
• /
• pp.5691-5696
• /
• 2014

Background: Many clinical trials have been conducted to evaluate sorafenib for the treatment of advanced NSCLC, but the results for efficacy have been inconsistent. The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy and safety of sorafenib in patients with advanced NSCLC in more detail by meta-analysis. Methods: This meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) was performed after searching PubMed, EMBASE, ASCO Abstracts, ESMO Abstracts, and the proceedings of major conferences for relevant clinical trials. Two reviewers independently assessed the quality of the trials. Outcomes analysis were disease control rate (DCR), progression- free survival (PFS), overall survival (OS) with 95% confidence intervals (CI) and major toxicity. Subgroup analysis was conducted according to sorafenib monotherapy, in combination with chemotherapy or EGFR-TKI to investigate the preferred therapy strategy. Results: Results reported from 6 RCTs involving 2, 748 patients were included in the analysis. Compared to sorafenib-free group, SBT was not associated with higher DCR (RR 1.31 (0.96- 1.79), p=0.09), PFS (HR 0.82 (0.66-1.02), p=0.07) and OS (HR 1.01 (0.92-1.12), p=0.77). In terms of subgroup results, sorafenib monotherapy was associated with significant superior DCR and longer PFS, but failed to show advantage with regard to OS. Grade 3 or greater sorafenib-related adverse events included fatigue, hypertension, diarrhea, oral mucositis, rash and HFSR. Conclusions: SBT was revealed to yield no improvement in DCR, PFS and OS. However, sorafenib as monotherapy showed some activity in NSCLC. Further evaluation may be considered in subsets of patients who may benefit from this treatment. Sorafenib combined inhibition therapy should be limited unless the choice of platinum-doublet regimen, administration sequence or identification of predictive biomarkers are considered to receive better anti-tumor activity and prevention of resistance mechanisms.

• Journal of the Korean Arthroscopy Society
• /
• v.16 no.2
• /
• pp.121-127
• /
• 2012

Purpose: To compare coagulation test results of the arthroscopic surgery patients who received thromboprophylaxis with typical two kinds of anticoagulation drugs, we performed coagulation tests before and after surgery with two groups and then compared the results. Materials and Methods: Forty-seven patients who underwent arthroscopic surgery were randomly divided into two groups to rivaroxaban and enoxaparin group, and we performed coagulation tests before and 5 days after arthroscopic surgery to two drugs groups in order to investigate about the difference in clotting capacity. Results: Preoperative coagulation tests did not differ significantly between the two groups. However, coagulation tests after 5 days of the surgery, the level of prothrombin time-international normalized ratio (PT-INR), activated partial thromboplastin time (aPTT) increased, particularly in patients with rivaroxaban compared with enoxaparin (P<0.05). Conclusion: Anticoagulation for arthroscopic surgery with a drug is effective and has safe range in terms of bleeding tendency, but in the rivaroxaban group, there was one patient who showed high bleeding tendency with abnormal range. Therefore it should be careful of using rivaroxaban for thromboprophylaxis.

• Journal of The Korean Association of Information Education
• /
• v.13 no.3
• /
• pp.383-391
• /
• 2009

The goal of cyber teaching is to reduce the cost of private lessons, dissipate the educational disparity amongst regions, make classes apt to the given level of every group of students, make up for systematic defects of the public education, and ultimately strengthen its role. This study intends to analyze the capabilities of cyber teachers and clarify their qualifications, as the whole new e-Learning system is about to take root. In this study, the activities of cyber teachers are analyzed and some standards of applicability of cyber teachers, or the so-called ISSCT, are presented. Firstly, the activities are divided into teaching, counselling, process management, development of professionality. Based upon these four activities, nine tasks have been formed and the structure of 22 sub-tasks has been completed. This is the way the standards of applicability of cyber teachers are established in consideration with their activities. Secondly, the standards of information capability of cyber teachers have 53 elements in total, and the aforementioned ISSCT are presented in relation to the ISST, based upon the standards of information capability of cyber teachers.

• Nutritional Sciences
• /
• v.9 no.2
• /
• pp.97-105
• /
• 2006

Beans are well known to be high-protein diets. Bean seeds contain arginine, lysine, or glycine-rich proteins which are effective to maintain lower glucose levels. In this study, the synergistic effect of fermented small soybean (Chounggukjang) and mulberry leaf on metabolism and hexokinase activity was investigated in streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic rats. We divided 8 groups as follows: non-diabetic rat group fed with only water diet (NC: control), and STZ-induced diabetic rat groups fed with water (DC), fermented Rhynchosia Nulubilis (Bbc), fermented Glycine max Merr (Ybc), Bbc and YBc (BYbc), mulberry leaf and Bbc (MBbc), mulberry leaf and Ybc (MYbc), or the mulberry leaf, Bbc, and Ybc (MBYbc). Diabetes mellitus was induced in rats by subcutaneous STZ administration (70 mg/kg of body weight). All diet groups were fed with Chounggukjang in a powder form. Three ml of Chounggukjang solution (0.75 mg per gram of body weight) dissolved in distilled water was orally administered to all rat groups after STZ administration except for NC rat group. In groups fed with fermented soybeans, the body weight (increased), food efficiency ratio (FER) (increased), glucose level (decreased) and hexokinase (HK) activity (increased) significantly differed to NC. Among them, particularly in the groups fed with both fermented soybeans and mulberry leaf, kidney weight significantly decreased, whereas HK activity significantly increased compared to DC. These results suggest that Chounggukjang of both fermented soybeans and mulberry leaf is potentially used as an effective functional food to prevent diabetes complications.

• Journal of Conservation Science
• /
• v.29 no.2
• /
• pp.139-147
• /
• 2013

This study focused on iron making related information through analyzing slags and furnace wall collected from iron production site of Suryong-ri Wonmorongi, Chungju. Total Fe content of slags were from 36.98% to 44.47% and this range was general recovery rate of iron in ancient. Compounds of calcium included slags was supposed to add intentionally during smelting process as deoxidation agent in order that these helped to separate iron from impurities. Furnace wall didn't make of high alumina clay because of low $Al_2O_3$. Microstructure and main components of slags show that No. 1 to 3 slags with fayalite and wustite were products of iron ore smelting. However, No.4 slag is more likely to smelt by iron sand because of ulvospinel with $TiO_2$ in No. 4 slag. Therefore, iron ore were not only used but iron sand in smelting and furnace wall made of general clay with low $Al_2O_3$ content in this area.

• Journal of Conservation Science
• /
• v.29 no.2
• /
• pp.127-138
• /
• 2013

Plastic, widely used as a material for contemporary art, get damaged as directly exposed to temperature, humidity, ultra violet, etc. And it is very quickly damaged in early time, once damaged, it can't recover into original state. But like this characteristics, there is a few advanced research in Korea. So this study deal with a rising value of plastic artifacts in other country, United Kingdom and France, current conservation state, identification and cleaning method. Also 5 types of cleaners(distilled water, ethanol, acetone, eraser) and adhesives(cyanoacrylate, epoxy, acrylic, chloroprene rubber) were evaluated by produced plastics(PVC, PE, PP, PS, PU). As a result of experiment, ethanol and acetone that were previous evaluated in other research performed in other country are the best cleaner. Result of degradation after adhesive, cyanoacrylate and epoxy resin showed better performance and stability. As a basic research, this study is expected that can be used in future researches.

• Journal of Distribution Science
• /
• v.13 no.10
• /
• pp.135-142
• /
• 2015

Purpose - Following the speedy development of the smart phone industry, tourism companies started to increase their brand recognition and sales volume by adopting mobile applications. However, applications for tourism industries are still insignificant. This study tries to analyze empirical evidence from Korean and Chinese consumers who have used mobile tour applications. By using an expansion of the technology acceptance model (TAM), this study will find what factors have effects on user intention for mobile tour applications. The findings will be helpful for the development of mobile tour applications and the tourism industries. Research design, data, and methodology - This study uses the TAM, which was presented by Davis in 1989. This study uses consumer acceptance level, consumer choice attitude, and use intention as the basic variables to fit to the TAM, and adopts choice content quality, brand value, and usage motivation as additional variables to analyze. This study has developed several hypotheses and collected data from 620 users who used mobile applications for tourism during April 1 to April 30, 2015. A total of 612 valid questionnaires were collected and used in the data analysis. The data was analyzed with structural equation modeling using SPSS Win/pc and Amos 22.0. Results - The findings can be summarized as follows: First, the content quality affects the consumer acceptance degree and choice attitude. Second, the brand value has a directly positive effect on the consumer acceptance degree and choice attitude. It is clear that the content quality and brand value play important roles in raising consumer acceptance and choice attitude. Third, usage motivation has no effect on the consumer acceptance degree and choice attitude. Fourth, the acceptance degree does not have any effect on the consumer choice attitude. Fifth, the acceptance degree affects the use intention. Last, the consumer choice attitude affects the use intentions. This indicates that consumer acceptance and choice attitude must both be achieved to induce use intention among consumers. Finally, the effects of the mobile tour application content quality and brand value on consumer acceptance degree and choice attitude were confirmed. Additionally, the effects of the consumer acceptance degree and choice attitude on use intentions were analyzed. Conclusion - It is not meaningful for tourism marketing to launch tour applications in the mobile market without understanding tourism consumer characteristics. When developing mobile tour applications, companies should focus on the characters of consumer choice attitudes as high quality, high brand value, usefulness, and ease of mobile tour applications. This study has limitations in that it did not consider negative factors such as perceived risks or analyze whether there are differences between Korean and Chinese consumers. In the future, we will consider equipping the same mobile tour applications commonly used by both Korean and Chinese consumers, and then examine negative factors as well as the differences in mobile tour applications between Korean and Chinese consumers.

• Journal of Distribution Science
• /
• v.12 no.12
• /
• pp.75-82
• /
• 2014

Purpose - Due to the rapidly changing environment, the needs of information distribution are emphasized more than ever before. As information changes to cater to diversity, professionalism, and detailed segmentation, this information is produced exponentially. Many researchers working in intelligence agencies are feeling the need to establish a comprehensive information management and information distribution system in a systematic and more effective manner. Mobile marketing is based on communication when consumers can access information using GPS systems whatever their location may be when they are on a trip. Until recently, Korean companies have been struggling to perform well in the larger mobile tourism information service (MTIS) for Chinese tourists, which is regarded as a blue ocean area. The principal dimensions of the characteristics of a mobile tourism information service were analyzed, and the influence on perceived value and satisfaction was identified. Moreover, the relationship among the variable satisfaction and using intentions was empirically analyzed. Research design, data, and methodology - This study examined the structural relationship among mobile tourism information features, perceived value, satisfaction, and behavioral intentions. It is based on analyzed data from questionnaires involving advanced research. A questionnaire survey targeting Chinese students using a mobile tourism information service in Korea was conducted. A total of 230 questionnaires were circulated, and 221 questionnaires were used for empirical analysis, excluding invalid data. The data were analyzed with structural equation modeling with SPSS 21.0 statistic package reliability analysis, factor analysis, and regression analysis were implemented, and the effects of the mobile tourism information service features on perceived value, satisfaction, and using intentions were presented. Results - First, mobile tourism information service features have a direct positive effect on the practical value, and do not affect the hedonic value. Second, perceived value has a statistically positive effect on satisfaction. Third, perceived value has a positive effect on behavioral intentions. Fourth, satisfaction has a direct positive effect on behavioral intentions. Conclusion - MTIS (mobile tourism information service) involves personal, social, and technical characteristics. We have analyzed the effects of mobile tourism information service on perceived value, and on satisfaction and using intentions. First, the study shows that the characteristics of mobile tourism information service and perceived value in relation to mobile tourism information service usage are important for marketing in the Chinese market. Moreover, after using a mobile tourism information service, the effect on practical value is more than on hedonic value. We could not analyze the program for tourism information service extensively, and used only questionnaires from Chinese students in Korea. In the future, there should be research on the programs for a tourism information service. We expect to study the MTIS program in greater detail, and to improve the quality and reputation of MTIS through the analysis of its program. We hope that this research will allow an evaluation of the relationship between Korea and China regarding MTIS.

• Journal of Periodontal and Implant Science
• /
• v.35 no.1
• /
• pp.163-176
• /
• 2005

3개월 동안 사용한 마모된 칫솔의 마모 정도와 양상을 관찰하고, 새 칫솔과 마모된 칫솔의 잇솔질 전 ${\cdot}$ 후 치태제거효율을 single-use design으로 비교 ${\cdot}$ 평가하여 3개월 주기의 칫솔 교체 주기의 근거를 임상적으로 확인 해보고자 하였다. 치주적으로 건강한 치과 대학생 42명을 대상으로 설문지를 통해 잇솔질 습관을 조사하고, 3개월간 동일한 칫솔과 치약을 사용하게 하였다. 3개월 후 피시험자를 무작위로 두 군(I, II)으로 나누고, 치석제거술을 시행한 뒤 2주후에 내원하도록 하였으며 내원 전 48시간동안은 잇솔질을 하지 않도록 지시하였다. 2주후 I군은 새 칫솔을, II군은 마모된 칫솔을 사용하도록 하였으며 잇솔질 전 ${\cdot}$ 후에 각각 구강 내를 erythrosin으로 염색한 후 6개의 Ramfjord 치아의 plaque score를 Patient Hygiene Performance (PHP) index로 측정하였다. 2주간의 washout period 후에 다시 치석제거술을 시행한 뒤, I군이 마모된 칫솔을, II군은 새 칫솔을 사용하게 하여 동일한 방법으로 PHP index를 각각 측정하였다. 마모된 칫솔은 수거하여 brushing surface area의 면적으로 마모도를 평가하였다. 결과는 paired t-test와 Pearson's correlation analysis로 통계처리 하였다. 2명이 탈락하였고 잇솔질 전 ${\cdot}$ 후에 대한 전체 부위, 치간 부위, 변연치은 부위의 plaque score는 두 칫솔 모두 통계학적으로 유의성 있게 감소하였으며 (p<0.0001), 두 칫솔을 비교한 경우에는 새 칫솔이 마모된 칫솔보다 치태 감소량이 통계학적으로 유의성 있게 많았다 (p<0.0001). 칫솔의 마모도는 평균 50.6% 증가하였으며, 마모도 증가에 따른 치태 감소량에는 직선적인 상관관계가 있었으나 통계학적인 유의성은 없었다. (전체 부위 r=-0.58, p=0.72 / 변연치은 부위 r=-0.50, p=0.76). Single-use design에서 3개월 동안 마모된 칫솔은 치태제거 능력에 있어서 새 칫솔보다 덜 효율적이였다. 칫솔의 마모도는 구강 위생 관리에 영향을 미치는 중요한 요인이며, 마모된 칫솔은 정기적인 교체가 요구된다. 또한, 치간 부위를 포함한 변연치은 부위의 치태를 정확하게 평가할 수 있는 치태지수에 대한 연구가 필요하겠다.