• Journal of Food Hygiene and Safety
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• v.31 no.2
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• pp.74-84
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• 2016

Literacy on food additives of elementary school teachers (ET) and nutrition teachers (NT) could be influential factor on safe dietary education for school children. Therefore, the perceptions and information needs on food additives were surveyed from 351 elementary school teachers and nutrition teachers in metropolitan area of Korea, and the basic data for the promotion of risk communication on food additives among them were obtained. Compared to ET who consider 'taste' (39.1%) as the most important factor while purchasing food, NT considered 'safety' (68.1%) first (p < 0.001). Among the food labelling items, the level of understanding on food additives was the lowest both in ET (3.53) and NT (4.17), and NT showed better levels of understanding overall on food labels. Both ET and NT regarded hazardous factors of food as environmental pollutants, foodborne pathogens, and food additives in order, and tended to select 'no additives' or 'no artificial color' products while purchasing processed food. Although NT answered that they know all food additives had been passed the evaluation of safety and effectiveness tests (100%) and have standards of use (81.9%), majority of them (87.5%) believed the consumption of food additives are harmful on human health. ET (75.2%) also regarded food additives as dangerous materials. Above results suggested the necessity of proper and enough risk communication for both ET and NT. Both ET and NT wanted to have information on the safety or hazard of food additives. Most preferred media to get the information on food additives was TV (3.80) among ET and lecture (3.65) among NT. ET and NT trusted hospital, research institution/universities or the personnels working in these institutions as the provider of information on food additives. The result that the trust levels of ET and NT on government were relative low suggested the weakness of risk communication in Korean government. Although ET and NT answered that they do not trust mass media, their behaviors were affected by them such as reading food labels in ET (39.4%) and reducing the consumption of food additives in NT (50%). They also indicated mass media's problem of sensitive approach on food additives and asked the urgent reaction of government by providing sound information through experts on food additives. Above results revealed that ET and NT have different perceptions and information needs on food additives, therefore, proper risk communication should be provided for them to serve as dietary educators for elementary school children.

• Journal of Gastric Cancer
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• v.9 no.4
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• pp.246-255
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• 2009

Purpose: The objectives of this study were to investigate the impact of the number of resected lymph nodes on the survival of gastric cancer patients who underwent curative resection, and to evaluate the cut-off values that can have an influence on survival on the tumor stage-stratified analysis. Materials and Methods: The subjects were 949 gastric cancer patients who underwent curative resection at Korea University Medical Center from 1992 to 2002. They were classified according to the depth of tumor invasion, and the influence of the number of resected lymph nodes on survival was investigated. The cut-off value for the number of resected lymph nodes was determined as the smallest value that showed a significant survival difference. Results: The tumor size, location, lymph node stage, the number of metastatic lymph nodes and the number of resected lymph nodes were significantly different according to the tumor stage. The average number of resected lymph nodes was about 39, and it showed linear correlation with the number of metastatic lymph nodes. On the Cox proportional hazard model, the cut-off values of the number of resected lymph nodes, as corrected by the number of metastatic lymph nodes, was 14 for all the patients, 15 for the pT1 patients, 28 for the pT2 patients and 37 for the pT3 patients, respectively. Conclusion: Retrieving a number of lymph nodes that is more than the cut-off value could improve the survival of gastric cancer patients. Surgeons should also make efforts to perform an exact and thorough D2 lymph node dissection. Therefore, we urge surgeons to perform D2 dissection and pathologists should examine an certain exact number of lymph nodes.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Radiology
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• v.14 no.3
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• pp.319-336
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• 2020

The purpose of this study was to compare the outcomes of two interventional methods, overlapping drug-eluting stents (DES) and long DES, for long-term clinical outcomes in patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI). A total of 438 patients with AMI (65.9±11.0 years, 306 males) from June 2008 to March 2019 who had diffuse long coronary artery lesion, more than 30mm were divided into two groups; group I (overlapped DES group; n=140) and group II (long DES group; n=298). We compared the incidences of major adverse cardiac events [MACEs; cardiac death, myocardial infaction (MI), target lesion revascularization (TLR) and stent thrombosis (ST)] during 12 months between the two groups. Everolimus-eluting stent was more commonly used in group II than in group I (28.1% vs. 51.8% p<0.001). Mean lesion diameter was slightly longer in group II (3.1±0.3mm vs. 3.2±0.3mm, p=0.042), and prevalence of ACC/AHA lesion type C was higher in group I (41.7% vs. 25.4%, p<0.001). Incidences of MACEs during 12 months were higher in group I than group II (18.5% vs. 14.4%, p=0.034). The rates of cardiac death (2.1% vs. 4.4%, p=0.667), MI (5.0% vs. 2.7%, p=0.260) and stent thrombosis rate (0.7% vs. 1.7%, p=0.669) were similar between the two groups. However, TLR rate was higher in group I (10.7% vs. 5.6%, p=0.041). In multivariate logistic regression analysis, presence of diabetes mellitus [Hazard ratio (HR) 2.383, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.332-4.260, p=0.003] and use of paclitaxel-eluting stent (HR) 2.367, 95% CI 1.371-4.086, p=0.002) were independent predictors of 12-month MACEs, without significant differences in prevalence between the two groups. In AMI patients with diffuse long lesion, TLR rate was higher in the overlapped DES group during 12-month follow-up. Presence of diabetes and use of paclitaxel-eluting stent were independent predictors of MACEs.

• Journal of Food Hygiene and Safety
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• v.26 no.2
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• pp.182-185
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• 2011

This study was conducted to develop an appropriated management for safety of children snacks sold around school. Total 598 items as targeted food were collected; 66 biscuits, 320 candies, 57 chocolates, 40 ice creams and 115 beverages. Microbiological hazards such as total aerobic bacteria, Coliforms, Escherichia coli, Bacillus ceruse, Yeasts & molds were measured by analytical method in Korean food code. Total aerobic bacteria and Yeasts & molds were detected in cookies at the level of less than 2.69 and 2.65 $log_{10}$ CFU/g and the detection rates were 54.55 and 62.12%, respectively. Bacillus cereus was detected in 1 snack only at the level of 1.39 $log_{10}$ CFU/g but it was less than Korean microbial standards and specifications (3 $log_{10}$ CFU/g). Total aerobic bacteria and Yeasts & molds were detected in candies less than 2.86, 3.36 $log_{10}$ CFU/g and the detection rates were 46,8% respectively. Total aerobic bacteria, Yeast & mold were detected in chocolates at the levels less than 2.52 and 1.87 $log_{10}$ CFU/g and the detection rates were 33 and 22% respectively. Total aerobic bacteria in both ice creams and beverages were detected at the levels less than 3.39 and 1.35 $log_{10}$ CFU/g and the detection rates were 82 and 5% respectively. Coliforms were found in one ice cream (1.39 $log_{10}$ CFU/g) only. The result of this study indicated that all children snacks around school were suitable for microbial standard and specifications in Korean Food Code. However, since most children snacks around school are circulated without proper storage temperature and handing condition, consistent microbial management for children snacks are needed.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.66 no.4
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• pp.280-287
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• 2009

Background: The epidermal growth factor receptor tyrosine kinase inhibitors (EGFR-TKIs), became an attractive therapeutic option for advanced non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Several studies suggested that there might be some different efficacy or response predictors between gefitinib and erlotinib. We compared the efficacy and toxicity of gefitinib and erlotinib in Korean patients with advanced NSCLC and evaluated specific predictors of response for both gefitinib and erlotinib. Methods: We collected the clinical information on patients with advanced NSCLC, who were treated with gefitinib or erlotinib at the Ewha Womans University Hospital, between July 2003 and February 2009. Median survival times were calculated using the Kaplan-Meier method. Results: Eighty-six patients (52 gefitinib vs. 34 erlotinib) were enrolled. Patient median age was 64 years; 53 (62%) subjects were male. Out of the 86 patients treated, 83 received response evaluation. Of the 83 patients, 35 achieved a response and 12 experienced stable disease while 36 experienced progressive disease, resulting in a response rate of 42% and a disease control rate of 57%. After a median follow-up of 502 days, the median progression-free and overall survival time was 129 and 259 days, respectively. Comparing patients by treatment (gefitinib vs erlotinib), there were no significant differences in the overall response rate (44% vs. 39%, p=0.678), median survival time (301 days vs. 202 days, p=0.151), or time to progression (136 days vs. 92 days, p=0.672). Both EGFR-TKIs showed similar toxicity. In a multivariate analysis using Cox regression model, adenocarcinoma was an independent predictor of survival (p=0.006; hazard ratio [HR], 0.487; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.292-0.811). Analyses of subgroups did not show any difference in response predictors between gefitinib and erlotinib. Conclusion: Comparing gefitinib to erlotinib, there were no differences in the response rate, overall survival, progression-free survival, or toxicity. No specific predictor of response to each EGFR-TKI was identified.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.47 no.4
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• pp.300-312
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• 2014

Purpose: This study was performed to examine the sanitary knowledge level and degree of HACCP (hazard analysis critical control point) practice in school culinary staff in order to provide basic information for improving hygiene of school meals. Methods: Exactly 305 culinary staff members were selected from elementary, middle, and high schools in 14 cities and rural areas, including whole administrative districts in Chungnam province. Surveyed schools were selected by convenience sampling, and one subject was selected randomly from each school. Surveys were taken by self-administered questionnaires developed by researchers and questionnaire were distributed and collected by postal mail. Results: Sanitary education administered by school dietitians to culinary staff was more frequent and longer in elementary schools, followed by middle and high schools (p < 0.001). Sanitary knowledge level and degree of HACCP practice, except for a few CCP or CP of culinary staff, were highest in elementary schools and middle school followed by high schools (p < 0.05), respectively. School class was negatively correlated with sanitary knowledge level of culinary staff (p < 0.01), and frequency of sanitary education was positively correlated with sanitary knowledge level of culinary staff (p < 0.01). Sanitary knowledge level of culinary staff was positively correlated with degree of HACCP practice (p < 0.01). School class, daily frequency of meal service, work experience, rice washing machine, and total score of sanitary knowledge were significant variables influencing degree of HACCP practice in culinary staff. Conclusion: The above results show that the following points should be considered to improve hygiene of school meals. Sanitary education should be administered more frequently by school dietitians to culinary staff, especially to those in high schools, which showed the lowest sanitary knowledge level and degree of HACCP practice. In addition, facilities and equipment required for HACCP practice should be supported in small-sized elementary schools.

• Korean Journal of Psychosomatic Medicine
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• v.27 no.2
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• pp.138-146
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• 2019

Objectives : This study examined the association between depression and survival time in terminal cancer patients admitted to the palliative care unit. Emotional problems are important for terminal cancer patients in the palliative care unit, and evaluation of patients' depression plays an important role in treatment planning. Methods : From October 2015 to August 2018, we conducted a retrospective study of 291 terminal cancer patients admitted to a palliative care unit at a university hospital and evaluated depression with PHQ-9 at admission. Of the 291 patients, 146 (50.2%) completed PHQ-9 but 145 (49.8%) were not evaluated due to loss of consciousness or rejection. Results : 4-week survival rate in the Kaplan-Meier survival analysis were 45.4% in the non-depressed group (PHQ-9<10) and 18.7% in the depressed group (PHQ-9≥10). According to the severity of depression, in the Cox proportional hazard model, the risk of mortality in moderate, moderately sever and severe group was 2.778, 1.882 and 3.423 times higher than minimal group, respectively. Conclusions : Of the patients with terminal cancer who were admitted to the palliative care unit, the survival time was shorter in the depressed group than in the non-depressed group. Further research is needed to determine if treatment of depression increase the survival in terminal cancer patients.

• Radiation Oncology Journal
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• v.17 no.2
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• pp.129-135
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• 1999

Purpose : This study evaluated early bowel complications in cervix cancer patients, following external radiotherapy (ERT and high dose rate intracavitary radiation (HDR ICR). Factors affecting the risk of developing early bowel complications and its incidence are analyzed and discussed Materials and Methods : The study is the retrospective review of 66 patients who received radiotherapy at Chungbuk National University Hospital from April 1994 to December 1998. The patients underwent 41.4 or 50.4 Gy ERT according to FIGO stage and tumor size, then A point dose was boosted to 71.4 or 74.4 Gy using a remotely controlled afterloading Buchler HDR ICR. The EORTC/RTOG morbidity criteria were used to grade early bowel complications, which are valid from day 1, the commencement of therapy, through day 90. The actuarial incidence, severity of complications were investigated and clinical pretreatment factors relevant to complications were found through univariate (Wilcoxon) and multivariate (Cox proportional hazard model) analysis. Results : Of the 66 patients, 30 patients (46$\%$) developed early bowel complications; 25 patients (38$\%$) with grade 1 or 2, 4 patients (0$\%$) with grade 3 and 1 patient (2$\%$) with grade 4. The complications usually began to occur 3 weeks after the commencement of radiotherapy. The actuarial incidence of early bowel complications was 41$\%$ at 10 weeks. The early bowel complications were associated significantly with an old age and a history of previous abdomino-pelvic surgery. All three patients who had a protracted overall treatment time (about 2 weeks) due to severe bowel complication, suffered from pelvic recurrences. Conclusion : Forty six percent of patients experienced early bowel complications, most of which were grade 1 or 2 and relieved spontaneously or by medication. The patients with an old age or a previous surgery have a high probability of early complications and they may be less compliant with planned radiotherapy. So more careful precaution is necessary for these patients.

• Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging
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• v.43 no.5
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• pp.429-435
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• 2009

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to assess the prognostic value of preoperative FDG-PET in colorectal cancer (CRC) patients with hepatic metastasis (HM). Materials and Methods: 24 CRC patients (M:F=14:10; age, $63{\pm}10$ yrs) with HM who had undergone preoperative FDG PET were included. Cure-intent surgery was performed in all the patients and HMs were controlled using resection (n=13), radio-frequency ablation (RFA) (n=7), and resection plus RFA (n=4). Potential prognostic markers tested were maxSUV of primary tumor, maxSUV of HM, maxSUV ratio of HM over primary tumor (M/P ratio), histologic grade, CEA level, venous/lymphatic/nerve invasion, T stage, N stage, no. of HM, no. of lymph node metastasis, and treatment modality of HM. Results: 14 CRC patients developed a recurrence with a median follow-up duration of 244 days, whereas 10 patients did not develop recurrence with a median follow-up duration of 504 days. M/P ratios but other potential prognostic markers were significantly higher in the recurrent patients ($0.72{\pm}0.14$) than recurrence-free patients ($0.54{\pm}0.23$) (p=0.038). M/P ratio only was found to predict recurrence by Cox multivariate analysis (hazard ratio 37.7, 95% confidence interval 2.01-706.1, p=0.016). The 11 patients with lower M/P ratio of <0.61 had significantly better disease-free survival rate than the 13 patients with higher M/P ratio (${\geq}0.61$) (p=0.026). Conclusion: maxSUV ratio of HM over primary tumor (M/P ratio) may be useful for prognosis prediction of CRC patients with HM. Higher FDG uptake of HM than that of primary tumor may indicate a more advanced status in stage IV CRC.

• 한국해양학회지
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• v.14 no.1
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• pp.15-25
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• 1979

A study on field bioassay test using four species of commercially important shellfish was carried out to assess the effect of pollutants and determine the extent of marine environmental pollution of the Masan Bay from 9 to 15 August 1978. Water quality analysis and planktological examination of sea water were made during the experiment and the examination gave the following results. The water temperature was so high at 31.7$^{\circ}C$ in maximum and rather subject to change on weather condition of the land than on the effect of the water mass from outer bay. The range of DO,COD and SS at the stations were 0.3-7.08cc/l, 0.07-3.31ppm and 5.5-117ppm, respectively with the high values of COD and SS at the stations 7 and 1. The concentrations of the dissolved inorganic nitrogen in sea water, NH$\sub$4/-N, NO$\sub$2/-N, NO$\sub$3/-N, and PO$\sub$4/-P were 18.90-99.80, 2.48- 19.60, 13.00-39.00 and 1.04-14.0$\mu\textrm{g}$ at/l, respectively with decrease of their values in the outer part of the Bay. The high values mentioned above were caused by the sewage and industrial activities. The effects of organic waste are increased oxygen demand, nutrient concentration, turbidity and a higher input of pathogens, leading to structural changes in the marine ecosystems and to a considerable hazard to public health. The percentage composition of phytoplankton standing crop between diatom and dinoflagellate was characterized by making a difference between the two groups in respect of location: a decrease of diatom and a increase of dinoflagellate in numerical abundance toward inner part from outer part of the bay. Namely phytoplankton organisms were composed of 80% of diatom and 20% of dinoflagellate in outer bay, on the contrary, only 4% of diatom and 96% of dinoflagellate occupied by 94% of prorocentrum micans known as tolerant species to polluted reaas in the inner bay. On the occurrence and composition of zooplankton, there are two significant communities in the bay:one is characterized by the predominance of Oithona nana and the other by Favella sp They were composed of a range from 84% to 90% of the total organisms and monotonously constituted of themselves only at most inner station 3 even small numbers. From the results mentioned above, Oithona nana, Favella and prorocentrum micans recommed themselves as valuable indicators for judging the extent of the marine pollution.During the period of the biossays Mytilus edulis showed the highest mortality and Tapes japonica the lowest one between the four test species. The highest death rate by stations was found at most inner stations 3'and 4near Masan Free Export Zone with the most sensitive response and the lowest one occured at outer station 13 where no death specimen of oyster and arkshell was found during the whole test period.As for mussel,85 percent death rate appeared after 72 hours and 100percent rate after 120hours at station 4. It was found that the significant high mortality of the test shellfish mentioned above was caused by severe pollution with mainly organic pollutants from domestic sewage and industrial wastes from the results of too much higher concentrations of dissolved inorganic nitrogen especially ammonia-N,COD,SS and lack of dissolved oxygen,and furthermore occurrence and abundance composition of Prorcentrum,Favella and Oithona nana by stations, valuable indicator species of coastal pollution by orgnic and boilogical pollutants.