• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• 제15권2호
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• pp.807-812
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• 2014

Background: The clinical course of the neoplasm may vary due to both patient and tumor cell characteristics. Aim: The aim of this study was to research the influence of certain clinical and pathological features on the prognosis of early stage breast cancer. Materials and Methods: This study included 117 women that were treated and followed-up in between the years 2001-2011. The demographic, clinical and histopathological features of the cases were reviewed retrospectively. Statistical analysis: In categorical comparisons between groups, cross-tab statistics were provided and significance levels were estimated using chi-square test. Cox regression analysis, Pearson and Spearman correlation tests, and the Kaplan-Meier test were also used. Results: With an average of 35-months follow-up, the mean disease-free survival of patients was 91 months and the mean overall survival time was 132 months. In the whole study group, the disease-free survival rates were 88, 84, 83 and 52%, while the overall survival rates 95, 94, 83, and 83% within the first, third, fifth and tenth years, respectively. The disease-free and overall survival rates were decreased with increasing tumor grades, though this was not statistically significant. The presence of lymphovascular invasion, positive staining with Ki67 and postmenopausal status were associated with shorter disease-free and overall survival times. In multivariate analysis, only age and Her2/neu receptor status influenced the prognosis significantly. Conclusions: In parallel to clinical, histopathological, and immunohistochemical prognostic features in breast cancer, in this study positive Her2/neu receptor status, a previously accepted poor prognostic factor, was found to have positive influence after trastuzumab treatment.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• 제5권2호
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• pp.389-395
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• 1992

Nutritional status of trace minerals (Se, Cu and Zn) in goats grazed on the native pasture was investigated during 2 years in Luzon Island, Republic of the Philippines. Three regions (South, Central and North) were objected to collect the samples of blood of goats and forages on the pasture. Se content of major species forages in the pasture was $24.7{\mu}g/kg$ DM, and was clearly lower than the value ($200{\mu}g/kg$ DM) required commonly for ruminant feed. The Cu and Zn contents of all forage samples ranged from 7.6 to 24.3 and 11.4 to 50.6 mg/kg DM, respectively, and these values almost exceeded the dietary level required for sheep. The blood Se levels in about 55% of goats grazed alone were under the normal range ($20{\mu}g/l$), but it in goats fed some concentrates as a supplement were almost within a normal ranges ($20-200{\mu}g/l$), though the Cu content of forages almost exceeded the dietary level required commonly. The 4-13% of plasma samples of goats without supplement showed the Zn level below the lower limit (0.6 mg/l) of normal range. The Zn deficiency was mostly improved by the addition of a small amount of concentrates. From these results, it will be necessary to study about unstable Cu status of grazed goats in Luzon Island regarding an interaction of Cu and other elements known to relate to the malabsorption of dietary Cu.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• 제53권5호
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• pp.362-370
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• 2020

Objectives: Despite greater access to training positions and the presence of more women in emergency medicine, it has remained a men-dominated field. This study aims to identify the key issues causing the gender gap in Korea and establish measures to overcome them. Methods: Using the annual statistical reports of the National Emergency Medical Center and data published on the Korean Society of Emergency Medicine website, cases that listed the current status and positions of members in its organization and its committees were analyzed. Secondary analysis was conducted using data from the 2015 Korean Society of Emergency Survey that included physicians' demographics, academic ranking, years of experience, clinical work hours, training and board certification, core faculty status, position, and salaries. Results: As of September 2019, women account for only 12.7% of the total number of emergency physicians (EP) in Korea; of 119 chair/vice-chair academic positions, women represented only 9.2%. Women EP were more often assistant professors and fellowship-trained, with fewer in core faculty. However, they worked the same numbers of clinical hours as their men counterparts. The median annual salary of women EP was less than that of men EP after adjusting for academic hospital rank, clinical hours, and core faculty status. Conclusions: A gender gap still exists among Korean EP, and women earn less than men regardless of their rank, clinical hours, or training. Future studies should evaluate more data and develop system-wide practices to eliminate gender disparities.

• Safety and Health at Work
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• 제1권2호
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• pp.149-157
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• 2010

Objectives: To quantify disability level in salespeople with concurrent low back pain (LBP) and to determine the relative associations between demographic, occupational, psychosocial and clinical factors and back disability. LBP is the most common cause of work-related disability in people under 45 years of age and the most expensive cause of work-related disability, in terms of workers' compensation and medical expenses. Evidence suggests high prevalence of LBP in salespeople. Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted in which 184 saleswomen with a current episode of self-reported LBP working in a large up-scale department store filled out a battery of 6 self-administered questionnaires and received a standardised physical examination. Results: Saleswomen with concurrent LBP had low disability levels. Factors significantly associated with disability were pain intensity, measured by a visual analogue scale, in the past week (p < 0.001), physical and mental health status (p < 0.001, p = 0.003, respectively), fear avoidance scores for both work and physical activities (p = 0.031, p = 0.014, respectively), past history of LBP (p = 0.019), and self-reported frequency of pushing or pulling objects placed in high positions during work (p = 0.047). A significant level (45%) of the variance in disability status was explained by these variables. Conclusion: In clinical management of LBP workers who required prolonged standing, such as salespeople, clinicians should look for modifiable risk factors associated with disability. Specific measures need to be taken to prevent disability due to LBP among salespeople.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• 제64권11호
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• pp.588-595
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• 2021

Background: Acute respiratory infections (ARIs), especially pneumonia, remain a major cause of infant mortality worldwide. In Indonesia, pneumonia is the second most common cause of infant and toddler deaths. Exclusive breastfeeding and basic immunization can protect infants and children from contracting pneumonia. Purpose: Our goal was to assess the risk factors for childhood pneumonia in regions with a high prevalence of pneumonia in Indonesia. Methods: This case-control study was conducted between March and April 2019. A total of 176 infants and toddlers aged 10-59 months were enrolled and selected from among patients who visited the community health center. Cases of pneumonia were diagnosed clinically based on the World Health Organization guidelines, and the control was nonpneumonia. Results: The risk factors for the diagnosis of pneumonia included no or nonexclusive breastfeeding (odds ratio [OR], 7.95; 95% confidence interval [CI], 3.52-17.94), incomplete basic immunizations (OR, 4.47; 95% CI, 2.22-8.99), indoor air pollution (OR, 7.12; 95% CI, 3.03-16.70), low birth weight (OR, 3.27; 95% CI, 1.19-8.92), and a high degree of wasting (OR, 2.77; 95% CI, 1.06-7.17). Other variables such as nutritional status (height-for-age z score), age, sex, and educational status of the mother were not risk factors for pneumonia. Conclusion: No or nonexclusive breastfeeding, incomplete basic immunizations, indoor air pollution, a history of low birth weight, and severe malnutrition were risk factors for childhood pneumonia. Breastfeeding was the dominant factor, while sex modified the relationship between exclusive breastfeeding and the incidence of pneumonia.

• 의학교육논단
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• 제25권1호
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• pp.17-34
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• 2023

This study aimed to investigate the current status of faculty development (FD) programs operated by medical colleges and institutions in Korea, and to suggest future-oriented directions for FD. A survey was conducted targeting medical colleges and medical education institutions that operate FD programs. We investigated the reasons for selecting topics, program themes, program operation methods, longitudinal program status, program improvement and quality control methods, the evaluation of the program effects, the outcomes and problems of the programs, and opinions on the latest trends. Twenty-nine out of 40 medical colleges and three out of six institutions responded. Topics were selected based on an analysis of medical education trends and the educational environment in both groups. The most common program themes were assessments in medical colleges, and teaching/learning and curriculum themes in institutions. FD was perceived to induce professors' and administrators' interest in medical education and improve the quality of medical education. The most common program method was workshops. Three medical colleges and one institution had longitudinal programs. Participant surveys constituted the most common method of evaluating programs' effects. Difficulties in publicizing programs and inducing voluntary participation were the most common problems in both groups. New attempts for FD were perceived as the role of external institutions. Based on the results, it is necessary to develop a framework and quality improvement indications for FD programs in the future, and FD programs are expected to be developed through new initiatives, such as longitudinal programs and those focusing on the community of practice.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• 제15권1호
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• pp.117-122
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• 2014

Background: Breast cancer is the most common malignancy and the second leading cause of cancer-related death among women in the developed countries. Despite advances in screening, improved local therapies and adjuvant systemic treatments, median survival of metastatic breast cancer patients (MBC) is in the range of 2-3 years at most. We aimed to investigate whether the prognostic factors and therapeutic responses of our Turkish patients are similar to those in the literature. Materials and Methods: We reviewed the medical records of MBC patients who had been treated in our institution between 1999-2009 and analyzed their clinicopathological features and survival outcomes retrospectively Results: A hundred and sixty patients were included. Median age was 47 (23-82), median follow up was 24 (2-186) months. At the time of diagnosis 59% of patients were under the age of 50 and 46% were postmenopausal. The majority (37%) had multiple sites of metastases. Forty percent received endocrine therapy and 40% chemotherapy as first line metastatic treatment. Thirty (20%) patients were treated with molecular targeting agents like trastuzumab, lapatinib and sunitinib, frequently combined with a chemotherapy agent. Five-year overall survival (OS) was 32% and median OS was 38 months for the whole group. Five year progression free survival (PFS) was 10% and median PFS was 10 months. Menopausal status, hormone receptor expression and disease free status had a significant impact on overall survival in the multivariate analysis (p 0.018, p 0.018 and p:0.003, respectively). Conclusions: All our patients were treated with the modern oncologic therapies recommended by the international guidelines. From our data, MBC patients live up to 3-4 years, indicating that further improvement beyond that requires development of new treatment modalities. The survival outcomes of our patients were consistent with the data reported in the literature.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• 제15권6호
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• pp.2501-2504
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• 2014

Background: Capecitabine is an oral fluoropyrimidine derivative which is frequently used alone or in combination regimens for the treatment of metastatic breast cancer. Although overall and progression free survivals have increased in recent years with the use of new generation drugs, predictive factors that would further improve the outcomes are needed. Previous studies have demonstrated the relation between post-treatment increase in mean corpuscular volume (MCV) and predicting therapy response as well as survival. The present study investigated the clinical impact of MCV elevation in metastatic breast cancer patients treated with capecitabine. Materials and Methods: The data of a total of 82 patients from three centers followed between June 2005 and June 2013 were retrospectively analyzed. The demographic data and hormone receptor status of the patients, as well as initial examination before and after treatment and data concerning progression were recorded. MCV ${\geq}100$ fl was considered as macrocytosis. Capecitabine was given at a dose of $2500mg/m^2$ daily for 14 days every three weeks. Pre-treatment and post-treatment MCV and other parameters of complete blood count were recorded. Post-treatment initial evaluation was performed after 2 cycles of therapy. Results: The median age of the patients was 46.5 years (range 26-72 years) and 54% were premenopausal. Performance status was ECOG 0 and 1 in 81 (99%) patients. The median number of cycles for capecitabine therapy was 5 (min-max: 2-18). The median ${\Delta}MCV$ level (post-treatment values at sixth week - baseline) was 6.4. Whilst ${\Delta}MCV$ was ${\geq}6.4$ in 42 patients, it was <6.4 in 40 patients. Clinical benefit (complete response+partial response+stable disease) was observed in 37 (88%) of 42 patients with a median ${\Delta}MCV$ ${\geq}6.4$ and in 30 (75%) of 40 patients with ${\Delta}MCV$ <6.4 with no statistically significant difference (p=0.158). No significant difference was determined between the group with ${\Delta}MCV$ ${\geq}6.4$ and the group with ${\Delta}MCV$ <6.4 in terms of progression-free survival (11 vs 12 months) (p=0.55) and overall survival (20 months vs. 24 months) (p=0.11). Conclusions: The identification of new predictive markers in metastatic breast cancer is very important. In some recent studies, increase in MCV has been suggested as a marker in tumor response. In the present study, however, no significant difference was determined between tumor response and increase in MCV. Further studies including higher numbers of patients are needed to determine whether increase in MCV is a predictive marker or not.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• 제9권3호
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• pp.278-287
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• 2015

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Diet plays an important role in growth and development of children. However, dietary intakes of children living in either rural or urban areas can be influenced by household income. This cross-sectional study examined energy, nutrient and food group intakes of 749 urban children (1-10 years old) by household income status. SUBJECTS/METHODS: Children's dietary intakes were obtained using food recall and record for two days. Diet adequacy was assessed based on recommended intakes of energy and nutrients and food group servings. RESULTS: For toddlers, all nutrients except dietary fiber (5.5 g) exceeded recommended intakes. Among older children (preschoolers and school children), calcium (548 mg, 435 mg) and dietary fiber (7.4 g, 9.4 g) did not meet recommendations while percentage of energy from total fat and saturated fats exceeded 30% and 10%, respectively. The mean sodium intakes of preschoolers (1,684 mg) and school children (2,000 mg) were relatively high. Toddlers in all income groups had similar energy and nutrient intakes and percentages meeting the recommended intakes. However, low income older children had lowest intakes of energy (P < 0.05) and most nutrients (P < 0.05) and highest proportions that did not meet recommended energy and nutrient intakes. For all food groups, except milk and dairy products, all age groups had mean intakes below the recommended servings. Compared to middle and high income groups, low income preschoolers had the lowest mean intake of fruits (0.07 serving), meat/poultry (0.78 serving) and milk/dairy products (1.14 serving) while low income toddlers and school children had the least mean intake of fruits (0.09 serving) and milk/dairy products (0.54 serving), respectively. CONCLUSION: Low socioeconomic status, as indicated by low household income, could limit access to adequate diets, particularly for older children. Parents and caregivers may need dietary guidance to ensure adequate quantity and quality of home food supply and foster healthy eating habits in children.

• 한국동물생명공학회지
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• 제38권4호
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• pp.236-246
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• 2023

Background: This study helps to evaluate the Ovarian potential of Cameroonian Zebu cattle (Bos indicus) slaughtered in Etoudi - Yaoundé for implementing Assisted Reproductive Techniques (ARTs). The aim was to enhance the productivity of the cattle sub-sector in Cameroon while conserving local genetic resources. Methods: A total of 144 cows, including 94 cycled cows and 50 pregnant cows, were included in the study. Live weights were determined by measuring the thoracic perimeter of each cow using a Rondo measuring tape. Age was determined postmortem through examination of dentition and horns, while the uterus and ovaries were removed, weighed, and classified based on physiological status (pregnant or nonpregnant). Follicles were counted, and their diameters were measured and categorized into small (Ø < 3 mm), medium (Ø 3-8 mm), and large (Ø > 8 mm). Results: The results revealed an average follicular population of 32.02 ± 9.31 per cow, with 22.43 ± 8.45 small follicles, 8.42 ± 3.87 medium follicles, and 0.76 ± 0.34 large follicles. The weight of the right ovary was significantly higher than that of the left ovary (p < 0.05), and cows aged 6 to 9 years exhibited a higher number of follicles compared to other age groups. Cows with medium (BCS = 3) and large (BCS = 4-5) body reserves had the heaviest ovaries. Additionally, pregnant cows had heavier uteri compared to non-pregnant cows, and cows with a body condition score of 3 or higher had higher uterine weights than lean cows (BCS = 1-2). Conclusions: This study demonstrates that age, body condition score, and pregnancy status influence ovarian weight. Body Condition Score serves as a reliable indicator of cow nutritional status, and cows with BCS of 3-5 are excellent candidates for in vitro production of embryos.