• Annals of dermatology
• /
• v.30 no.6
• /
• pp.668-675
• /
• 2018

Background: Drug survival, defined as the time until discontinuation, is a parameter reflecting real-world therapeutic effectiveness. Few studies have examined the influence of economic factors on the drug survival of biologic agents for psoriasis, particularly in Asian countries. Objective: To determine the drug survival for ustekinumab in real-life settings and investigate the factors affecting drug survival for psoriasis patients in Korea. Methods: We evaluated 98 psoriasis patients who were treated with ustekinumab at a single center. We analyzed the efficacy and drug survival of ustekinumab. Cox proportional hazard analysis and competing risk regression analysis were performed to reveal the factors affecting the drug survival of ustekinumab. Results: The overall mean drug survival was 1,596 days (95% confidence interval [CI], 904~2,288). Among the 39 cessations of ustekinumab treatment, 9 (23.1%) patients discontinued treatment after experiencing satisfactory results. Multivariate Cox proportional hazard analysis revealed that paying on patients' own expense was the major predictor for the discontinuation of ustekinumab (hazard ratio [HR], 9.696; 95% CI, 4.088~22.998). Competing risk regression analysis modeling of discontinuation because of factors other than satisfaction of an event also revealed that ustekinumab treatment at the patient's expense (HR, 4.138; 95% CI, 1.684~10.168) was a predictor of discontinuation rather than satisfaction. Conclusion: The results of our study revealed that the cost of biologics treatment affects the drug survival of ustekinumab and suggested that economic factors affect the drug survival of ustekinumab treatment in Korea.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Hazard Mitigation
• /
• v.11 no.1
• /
• pp.7-13
• /
• 2011

Accurate response analysis of long span bridges subjected to seismic excitation is important for earthquake hazard mitigation. In this paper, the performance of a typical four span continuous reinforced concrete bridge model subjected to asynchronous multiple seismic excitations at the supports is investigated in both the time and frequency domains and the results are compared with that from a relevant uniform support excitations. In the time domain analysis, a linear modal superposition approach is used to compute the peak response values. In the frequency domain analysis, linear random vibration theory is used to determine the root mean square response values where the cross correlation effects between the modal and the support excitations on the seismic response of the bridge model are included. From the two sets of results, a practical range of peak factors which are defined to be the ratio of peak and the root mean square responses are suggested for displacements and forces in members. With reliable practical values of peak factors, the frequency domain analysis is preferred for the performance based design of bridges because of the computational advantage and the generality of the results as the time domain analysis only yields results for the specific excitation input.

• Korean Journal of Ophthalmology
• /
• v.32 no.6
• /
• pp.470-477
• /
• 2018

Purpose: To investigate the relationship between the progression of visual field (VF) loss and changes in lamina cribrosa depth (LCD) as determined by spectral-domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT) enhanced depth imaging in patients with primary open angle glaucoma (POAG). Methods: Data from 60 POAG patients (mean follow-up, $3.5{\pm}0.7$ years) were included in this retrospective study. The LCD was measured in the optic disc image using SD-OCT enhanced depth imaging scanning at each visit. Change in the LCD was considered to either 'increase' or 'decrease' when the differences between baseline and the latest two consecutive follow-up visits were greater than the corresponding reproducibility coefficient value ($23.08{\mu}m$, as determined in a preliminary reproducibility study). All participants were divided into three groups: increased LCD (ILCD), decreased LCD (DLCD), and no LCD change (NLCD). The Early Manifest Glaucoma Trial criteria were used to define VF deterioration. Kaplan-Meier survival analysis and Cox's proportional hazard models were performed to explore the relationship between VF progression and LCD change. Results: Of the 60 eyes examined, 35.0% (21 eyes), 28.3% (17 eyes), and 36.7% (22 eyes) were classified as the ILCD, DLCD, and NLCD groups, respectively. Kaplan-Meier survival analysis showed a greater cumulative probability of VF progression in the ILCD group than in the NLCD (p < 0.001) or DLCD groups (p = 0.018). Increased LCD was identified as the only risk factor for VF progression in the Cox proportional hazard models (hazard ratio, 1.008; 95% confidence interval, 1.000 to 1.015; p = 0.047). Conclusions: Increased LCD was associated with a greater possibility of VF progression. The quantitative measurement of LCD changes, determined by SD-OCT, is a potential biomarker for the prediction of VF deterioration in patients with POAG.

• Annals of Hepato-Biliary-Pancreatic Surgery
• /
• v.28 no.2
• /
• pp.229-237
• /
• 2024

Backgrounds/Aims: While patients with borderline resectable pancreatic cancer (BRPC) are a target population for neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC), formal guidelines for neoadjuvant therapy are lacking. We assessed the perioperative and oncological outcomes in patients with BRPC undergoing NAC with FOLFIRINOX for patients undergoing upfront surgery (US). Methods: The AHPBA criteria for borderline resectability and/or a CA19-9 level > 100 µ/mL defined borderline resectable tumors retrieved from a prospectively populated institutional registry from 2007 to 2020. The primary outcome was overall survival (OS) at 1 and 3 years. A Cox Proportional Hazard model based on intention to treat was used. A receiver-operator characteristics (ROC) curve was constructed to assess the discriminatory capability of the use of CA19-9 > 100 µ/mL to predict resectability and mortality. Results: Forty BRPC patients underwent NAC, while 46 underwent US. The median OS with NAC was 19.8 months (interquartile range [IQR], 10.3-44.24) vs. 10.6 months (IQR, 6.37-17.6) with US. At 1 year, 70% of the NAC group and 41.3% of the US group survived (p = 0.008). At 3 years, 42.5 % of the NAC group and 10.9% of the US group survived (p = 0.001). NAC significantly reduced the hazard of death (adjusted hazard ratio, 0.20; 95% confidence interval, 0.07-0.54; p = 0.001). CA19-9 > 100 µ/mL showed poor discrimination in predicting mortality, but was a moderate predictor of resectability. Conclusions: We found a survival benefit of NAC with FOLFIRINOX for BRPC. Greater pre-treatment of CA19-9 and multivessel involvement on initial imaging were associated with progression of the disease following NAC.

• The Korean journal of internal medicine
• /
• v.39 no.2
• /
• pp.306-317
• /
• 2024

Background/Aims: To determine whether metformin, which is considered a host-directed therapy for tuberculosis (TB), is effective in improving the prognosis of patients with TB and diabetes mellitus (DM), who have higher mortality than those without DM. Methods: This cohort study included patients who were registered as having TB in the National Tuberculosis Surveillance System. The medical and death records of matched patients were obtained from the National Health Information Database and Statistics Korea, respectively, and data from 2011 to 2017 were collected retrospectively. We classified patients according to metformin use among participants who used diabetes drugs for more than 28 days. The primary outcome was all-cause mortality during TB treatment. Double propensity score adjustment was applied to reduce the effects of confounding and multivariable Cox proportional hazard models were used to estimate adjusted hazard ratio (aHR) with 95% confidence interval (CI). Results: The all-cause mortality rate during TB treatment was lower (9.5% vs. 12.4%, p < 0.01) in the metformin user group. The hazard of death due to all causes after double propensity score adjustment was also lower in the metformin user group (aHR 0.76, 95% CI 0.67-0.86, p < 0.01). There was no significant difference in mortality between metformin users and non-users for TB-related deaths (p = 0.22); however, there was a significant difference in the non-TB-related deaths (p < 0.01). Conclusions: Metformin use in patients with TB-DM co-prevalence is associated with reduced all-cause mortality, suggesting the potential for metformin adjuvant therapy in these patients.

• Journal of the Korean Data and Information Science Society
• /
• v.23 no.2
• /
• pp.257-269
• /
• 2012

Global crisis expedites the change in the environment of industry and puts small size enterprises in danger of mass bankruptcy. Because of this, domestic small size enterprises is an urgent need of restructuring. Based on the small business data registered in the Credit Guarantee Fund, we estimated the survival probability in the context of the survival analysis. We also analyzed the survival time which are distinguished depending on the types of business in the small business. Financial variables were also conducted using COX regression analysis of small businesses by types of business. In terms of types of business wholesale and retail trade industry and services were relatively high in the survival probability than light, heavy, and the construction industries. Especially the construction industry showed the lowest survival probability. In addition, we found that construction industry, the bigger BIS (bank of international settlements capital ratio) and current ratio are, the smaller default-rate is. But the bigger borrowing bond is, the bigger default-rate is. In the light industry, the bigger BIS and ROA (return on assets) are, the smaller a default-rate is. In the wholesale and retail trade industry, the bigger bis and current ratio are, the smaller a default-rate is. In the heavy industry, the bigger BIS, ROA, current ratio are, the smaller default-rate is. Finally, in the services industry, the bigger current ratio is, the smaller a default-rate is.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
• /
• v.13 no.11
• /
• pp.5665-5669
• /
• 2012

Background: The vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) mediates vasculogenesis and angiogenesis through promoting endothelial cell growth, migration and mitosis, and has involvement in cancer pathogenesis, progression and metastasis. However, the prognostic value of VEGF in patients with prostate cancer remains controversial. Objectives: The aim of our study was to evaluate the prognostic value of VEGF in prostate cancer, and summarise the results of related research on VEGF. Methods: In accordance with an established search strategy, 11 studies with 1,529 patients were included in our meta-analysis. The correlation of VEGF-expression with overall survival and progression-free survival was evaluated by hazard ratio, either given or calculated. Results: The studies were categorized by introduction of the author, demographic data in each study, prostate cancer-relatived information, VEGF cut-off value, VEGF subtype, methods of hazard ratio (HR) estimation and its 95% confidence interval (CI). High VEGF-expression in prostate cancer is a poor prognostic factor with statistical significance for OS (HR=2.32, 95%CI: 1.40-3.24). However, high VEGF-expression showed no effect on poor PFS (HR=1.30, 95%CI: 0.88-1.72). Using Begg's, Egger's test and funnel plots, we confirmed lack of publication bias in our analysis. Conclusion: VEGF might be regarded as a prognostic maker for prostate cancer, as supported by our meta-analysis. To achieve a more definitive conclusion enabling the clinical use of VEGF in prostate cancer, we need more high-quality interventional original studies following agreed research approaches or standards.

• Korean Journal of Head & Neck Oncology
• /
• v.31 no.2
• /
• pp.11-15
• /
• 2015

Background and Objectives: This study aimed to analyze the features of patients with papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) recurred as distant metastases (DM). Materials and Method: We retrospectively reviewed and analyzed clinical records of 63 patients who were treated for PTC recurred as DM between 2000 and 2006. Univariate and multivariate analyses of various clinical factors were performed. Results: Male patients were 12, and female patients were 51. The 5- and 10-year survival rates for PTC recurred as DM were 85% and 73%, respectively. Size of tumor, multiplicity of tumor, lateral neck node metastasis, and RAI ablation therapy with other treatments such as surgery were associated with survival rate (p < 0.005) in univariate analysis. The lateral neck node metastasis[p =0.039, hazard ratio=2.2(95% CI. 1.18~3.24)] and multiple organ DM[p =0.041, hazard ratio=2.18(95% CI. 1.03~2.89)] were related to the survival in multivariate analysis. Conclusion: PTC recurred as DM is uncommon (2.2%). The size of tumor, the multiplicity of tumor, lateral neck node metastasis and RAI ablation therapy with other treatments for DM were revealed as associated factors for the survival. Evaluation of DM should be considered in patients with PTC during long-term follow-up.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Hazard Mitigation
• /
• v.9 no.4
• /
• pp.29-35
• /
• 2009

In this study, quantitative homogeneity analysis was performed between rainfall observation data set of Chukwooki(CWK) and rainfall observation data set of modern rain gage(MRG) using statistical methods such as basic statistics, K-S test and Boxplots. To analyze the homogeneities of CWK and MRG four rainfall characteristic series such as monthly rainfall, the ratio of maximum daily rainfall to monthly rainfall, number of rainy days for each month, and the ratio of monthly rainfall to numbers of rainy days are made, and the homogeneity tests using two sample K-S test and quantitative comparisons were performed. The test results showed that observation precisions between CWK and MRG of original data set(M00) were differed because M00 clearly showed the statistical significances on differences of numbers of monthly rainy days of CWK and MRG. But, rainfall showed a little differences which were not significant between CWK and MRG.

• Fire Science and Engineering
• /
• v.13 no.4
• /
• pp.7-12
• /
• 1999

Thermal properties of EVA dust and its risks of coexisting with oxidizer were investigated by a pressure vessel. The decomposition of EVA dust with temperature using DSC and the weight loss with temperature using TGA were also investigated to find the thermal hazard of EVA dust. Using the pressure vessel which can estimate ignition and explosion of EVA dust coexisting with oxidizer by bursting of a rupture disc, many experiments have been conducted by varying the orifice diameter, heating rate, the weight ratio of the sample coexisting with oxidizer, and the species of oxidizer. According to the results of the thermal analysis of EVA dust, a little change of the decomposition initiation temperature with the heating rate could be found and the decomposition temperature zone of EVA dust was 250 to 50$0^{\circ}C$. The risk of EVA dust coexisting with oxidizer was increased as the orifice diameter was decreased. On the other hand, it was increased as the heating rate and the weight ratio of the sample coexisting with oxidizer were increased. In addition, the risk of EVA dust coexisting with oxidizer was affected by the decomposition temperature of the sample and oxidizer, respectively, at slow heating rate, but it was affected by the oxygen weight percent of oxidizer at fast heating rate.