• Journal of Korean Medical Science
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• v.33 no.44
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• pp.275.1-275.15
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• 2018

Background: We compared the efficacy between trifocal and bifocal diffractive intraocular lens (IOL) implantation. Methods: Through PubMed, MEDLINE, EMBASE, and CENTRAL, we searched potentially relevant articles published from 1990 to 2018. Defocus curves, visual acuities (VAs) were measured as primary outcomes. Spectacle dependence, postoperative refraction, contrast sensitivity (CS), glare, and higher-order aberrations (HOAs) were measured as secondary outcomes. Effects were pooled using random-effects method. Results: We included 11 clinical trials, with a total of 787 eyes (395 subjects). The trifocal IOL group showed better binocular distance VA corrected with defocus levels of -0.5, -1.0, -1.5, and -2.5 diopter than the bifocal IOL group (All $P{\leq}0.004$). The trifocal IOL group showed better monocular uncorrected distance and intermediate VAs (mean difference [MD], -0.04 logarithm of the minimum angle of resolution [logMAR]; 95% confidence interval [CI], -0.07, -0.01; P = 0.006 and MD, -0.07 logMAR; 95% CI, -0.13, -0.01; P = 0.03, respectively). Postoperative refraction, glare, CS, and HOAs were not significantly different from each other. Conclusion: The overall findings indicate that trifocal diffractive IOL implantation is better than the bifocal diffractive IOL in intermediate VA, and provides similar or better in distance and near VAs without any major deterioration in the visual quality.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.19 no.4
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• pp.500-506
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• 2006

An experiment was conducted with twenty crossbred male calves (7-15 days old) divided into 4 different experimental groups on the basis of body weights to study the effect of vitamin E supplementation on the serum ${\alpha}$-tocopherol concentration and immune response of the calves. All the calves were fed on milk and calf starter up to 13 weeks and afterwards, they were fed on concentrate mixture and oat hay up to 32 weeks of age. In addition, the calves in groups I, II, III and IV were supplemented with 0, 125, 250 and 500 IU feed grade DL-${\alpha}$-tocopheryl acetate, respectively. Blood samples were collected at 0 day and subsequently at 1, 2, 3, 4, 6 and 8 months of age to monitor the serum ${\alpha}$-tocopherol concentration in crossbred calves. After 24 weeks of experimental feeding, 4 animals from each group were intramuscularly inoculated with single dose (3 ml) of Haemorrhagic septiceaemia (Pasteurella multocida P52 strain) oil adjuvant vaccine. The cumulative group mean serum ${\alpha}$-tocopherol concentration (${\mu}g/100ml$) was 88.12, 210.11, 235.21 and 294.02 in-groups I, II, III and IV, respectively and differed significantly (p<0.001) among the four groups. Lymphocyte stimulation indices (LSI) did not differ among the groups significantly. The pooled mean ELISA antibody titer against Pasteurella multocida (P52 strain) was 788.02, 926.85, 1,214.00 and 1,109.51 for group I, II, III and IV, respectively, which indicated higher antibody titer in groups supplemented with vitamin E as compared to the control group. It may be concluded that vitamin E supplementation increased the ${\alpha}$-tocopherol concentration in serum and dietary supplementation of vitamin E at higher level has a humoral immune enhancing effect against killed bacterial antigen.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.57 no.1
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• pp.25-35
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• 2024

Background: Prothrombin complex concentrate (PCC) and fresh frozen plasma (FFP) are commonly used to manage bleeding in patients during cardiac surgery. However, the relative efficacy and safety of these 2 strategies remain uncertain. Methods: MEDLINE, Embase, and Cochrane were searched for studies comparing PCC and FFP in patients who underwent cardiac surgery complicated by bleeding. Review Manager (RevMan) ver. 5.4 (Nordic Cochrane Centre, The Cochrane Collaboration) was used for statistical analysis. Binary and continuous outcomes were compared using pooled risk ratios and mean differences, respectively. The meta-analysis protocol was registered in the International Prospective Register of Systematic Reviews under protocol number CRD42022379144. Results: We included 8 studies with 1,500 patients, of whom 613 (40.9%) received PCC. The mean follow-up period ranged from 28 to 90 days. The PCC group had significantly lower chest tube drainage at 24 hours (mean difference [MD], -148.50 mL; 95% CI, -253.02 to -43.99 mL; p=0.005; I² =42%). Fewer units of red blood cells (RBCs) were transfused within the first 24 hours (MD, -1.02 units; 95% CI, -1.81 to -0.24 units; p=0.01; I² =56%), and fewer patients required RBC transfusion within the first 24 hours (risk ratio, 0.85; 95% CI, 0.78-0.93; p<0.007; I² =45%) in the PCC group. There were no statistically significant differences in secondary outcomes. Nonetheless, a subgroup analysis of randomized controlled trials failed to corroborate the results obtained from the main analysis. Conclusion: Our findings suggest that PCC can be effective, without increased adverse events, when compared with FFP in patients undergoing cardiac surgery complicated by bleeding.

• Korean Journal of Health Education and Promotion
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• v.24 no.4
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• pp.131-147
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• 2007

As overweight and obese people have increased, obesity management programs have generated much concern in Korea. Many types of obesity management programs were operated, aimed at reducing weight, BMI, body fat percentage and so on. This study was conducted to review the features of studies in obesity management programs and systematically assess the effects which were published from 1995 to 2006 in Korea. Databases were systematically searched for published data in Korea. It were KISS (Korean studies information services system) and KERIS (Korean Education research information system), which were major literature search systems for all academic fields in Korea. Total 114 studies were initially identified, of which 21 satisfied our inclusion data. The effects of obesity management programs were assessed on the results in weight, BMI (body mass index), HDL (high density lipids), body fat percentage, self-efficacy. Effect size estimated on the equation of M1 - M2 / Sp, where M1 was mean of the experimental group, M2 was the mean of control group, and Sp was the pooled standard deviation. Magnitude of effect size was interpreted by using Cohen's definition. Cohen described small, medium, and large effect sizes as 0.2, 0.5, and 0.8 respectively. The studies about obesity management programs were the most published in 2005(26.1%). Obesity management programs were popularly operated as the type of 12 weeks intervention, exercise intervention(52.4%), quasi-experimental study(85.7%). Ten studies reported significant effects on weight, and nine studies reported significant effects on BMI and HDL. Only five and three studies reported significant effects on body fat percentage and self-efficacy respectively. The effects of each outcome were generally significant when the studies included these elements, intervention over 10 weeks, evaluation over 3 times, a comprehensive program (exercise, nutrition education, behavior modification) and reinforcing factors (self-monitoring, group discussion, one's goal setting, and etc.). Effective obesity management programs should contain these essential elements and objectives of obesity management programs must be set out evident at the beginning. The participants should be registered, educated and evaluated by continuous obesity management programs.

• Safety and Health at Work
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• v.13 no.2
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• pp.240-247
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• 2022

Background: Although insomnia and constipation are highly prevalent worldwide, studies examining a possible association between them are lacking. We examined the relationship between insomnia and constipation in shift workers who have a high prevalence of insomnia and other diseases. Methods: This study had a multicenter cross-sectional design and conducted using health examination data including self-reported questionnaires. In total, 12,879 and 4,650 shift workers were enrolled in Severance Hospital and Wonju Severance Hospital, respectively, during 2015-2017. Multivariate logistic regression models and subgroup analysis were performed in each center with the same protocol, using a common data model. Results: The mean age of the total population was 44.35 (standard deviation = 8.75); the proportion of males was 56.9%. Female sex, being underweight and non-smoker were strongly associated with an increased risk of constipation symptom (p < 0.001). Pooled odds ratios (ORs) were calculated using ORs of both centers with weights; there was a significant dose-response relationship (sub-threshold 1.76 [95% confidence interval [CI] 1.62-1.91]; moderate 2.28 [95% CI 2.01-2.60]; severe 4.15 [95% CI 3.18-5.41] in the final model, p for trend < 0.001). Subgroup analysis performed by stratifying sex and pooled ORs showed a similar trend to that of the entire group. Conclusion: We observed a strong correlation between insomnia and constipation in this population. Our findings may help in formulating guidelines and policies to improve quality of life in shift workers through the management of sleep quality and proper bowel function. This study is the first to report this relationship among people working in shifts.

• The Journal of Asian Finance, Economics and Business
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• v.8 no.10
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• pp.109-117
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• 2021

This study investigates the effects of FDI and other macroeconomic variables on Total Factor Productivity (TFP) in selected ASEAN+3 countries from 1981 till 2016. Total Factor Productivity (TFP) for each ASEAN+3 country was constructed using the Malmquist productivity index method. Then, a panel ARDL framework (dynamic heterogeneous panel), namely Pooled Mean Group (PMG), Mean Group (MG), and Dynamic Fixed Effect (DFE) are employed in examining the effects of FDI and other controlling variables on TFP. The new findings show that FDI has a significant and positive impact on TFP in the long run and the short run in ASEAN+3 countries. Besides, the results also reveal that in the long run, other variables such as the average number of years of schooling and the ratio of high-skilled to low-skilled labor also have a significant and positive effect on TFP. However, economic openness, government expenditure on R&D, and interaction between countries and FDI have a negative and significant impact on TFP. These findings implied that the recipient countries must ensure their political stability and offer various incentives to attract more investors. Furthermore, the influx of foreign investors, especially large ones and lower costs, should be encouraged by each country as FDI inflows can boost their TFP growth.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.13 no.3
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• pp.941-944
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• 2012

Objective: The aim of current study was to evaluate the changes of health-related quality of life (HRQoL) and its clinical, demographic and socioeconomic determinants during chemotherapy and 4 months follow-up in women with breast cancer using a repeated measures framework. Methods and Materials: A double blind cohort study was performed in 100 breast cancer patients given fluorouracil, doxorubicin and cyclophosphamide (FAC) or docetaxel, doxorubicin, cyclophosphamide (TAC) in south of Iran. HRQoL was assessed at baseline, end of chemotherapy and four months thereafter using the QLQ-C30 questionnaire from European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC). Generalized estimating equations (GEE) was applied for statistical analysis. Results: The mean of age at baseline was $48.5{\pm}10.6$. 70% and 14% of patients were married and smokers, respectively, and 20% suffered from another disease besides breast cancer. The results of GEE showed that after control for baseline scores, the HRQoL significantly improved over time. Although, the patients in FAC group had higher scores than the TAC group, the differences also diminished over time. Smoking, marital status and having child affected some scales of HRQoL. None of other variables were significantly related to HRQoL. Conclusion: Although patients in TAC groups had lower level of HRQoL over 8 months follow up, they experienced faster improvement than the FAC group. This implies that in long-term, improvements in TAC group are higher than FAC. Having children was positively correlated with HRQoL. Generally, there were no demographic and socio-economic differences in HRQoL in these patients between the chemotherapeutic regimens.

• The Journal of Asian Finance, Economics and Business
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• v.7 no.6
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• pp.173-183
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• 2020

The paper investigates the determinants of foreign direct investment (FDI) in Vietnam in 2000-2019 period. This study uses difference Generalized Methods of Moments (GMM) and Pooled Mean Group (PMG) to analyse panel data officially provided by General Statistical Office of Vietnam. The results show that market size impacts positively significant on FDI attraction: 1% -1.45% (PMG) and 1% -1.25% (GMM). Besides, some other factors have positive influences as labor force, macroeconomic policy, macroeconomic stability and skilled labor. Meantime, the trade openness negatively affects FDI inflows in the short-term, while not being statistically significant in the long-term. Moreover, economic shocks often have a negative impact on FDI inflows. The findings of this study lead to the following recommendations. First, authorities should pay special attention to encourage economic growth rate in Vietnam to expand market size because this is the first priority of foreign investors. Second, authorities need to continue increasing the rate of skilled labor, especially highly qualified management force, engineers and well-skilled workers. Third, the authorities should adjust trade openness to boost the role of its determinant in attracting FDI inflows. Fourth, macroeconomic stability needs to be governed by international standards in order to secure the belief of foreign investors in the long-term.

• Restorative Dentistry and Endodontics
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.353-359
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• 1996

The purpose of this study was to investigate the concentrations of Leukotriene B4 in relation to the clinical symptom of pulpitis in human dental pulp. Pulps obtained from 3 groups of teeth: normal uniflamed teeth(N=22), asymptomatic teeth with deep caries or large restorations(N = 21) and symptomatic teeth with the clinical diagnosis of irreversible pulpitis(N = 15). Pulps were dissected from normal un inflamed teeth and extirpated from asymptomatic and symptomatic teeth during routine endodontic treatment and stored in liquid nitrogen ($-70^{\circ}C$). The levels of Leukotriene B4 in individual or pooled pulps were measured by radioimmunoassay and the mean levels of each group were compared statistically(Kruskall-Wallis oneway ANOVA test). The results were as followings : 1. In normal pulp, low levels of Leukotriene B4 were measured. 2. In pulps from asymptomatic and symptomatic teeth had significantly higher levels of Leukotriene B4 than normal pulps(p<0.01). 3. The levels of Leukotriene B4 in pulps from symptomatic teeth were significantly higher than those of pulps from asymptomatic teeth(p<0.01). These results suggest that Leukotriene B4 play a cretain role in inflammatory process of dental pulp and have a relationship with clinical symptoms of pulpitis.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• v.31 no.5
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• pp.522-528
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• 1999

The effect of a water-soluble extract from natural materials on radiation-induced mutations was studied by means of TSH assay in Tradescantia 4430 stamen hair cells. Inflorescence cuttings, with or without pretreatments of natural extracts for 3 hours, were exposed to 1 Gy of gamma ray. Comparisons were made on the basis of pooled data during the peak interval between the mean pink mutation frequencies of the experimental groups. Pretreatments of FB or FB-I resulted in about two-fold increases of the pink mutation frequencies, compared to those of the control group. Synergism between certain fractions and radiation was a possible cause of the increased DNA damage. FB and FB-I had a radiosensitizing effects on the pink mutations in Tradescantia 4430 stamen hair cells (p<0.001). On the other hand, the extract PP in a proper concentration significantly reduced the pink mutation frequencies (p<0.05). The result means that PP has a protective effect on the radiation-induced cell damage.