• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.15 no.9
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• pp.4091-4094
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• 2014

Background: This study used the receiver operating characteristic curve (ROC) to analyze Surveillance, Epidemiology and End Results (SEER) bronchioaveolar carcinoma data to identify predictive models and potential disparity in outcomes. Materials and Methods: Socio-economic, staging and treatment factors were assessed. For the risk modeling, each factor was fitted by a Generalized Linear Model to predict cause specific survival. The area under the ROC was computed. Similar strata were combined to construct the most parsimonious models. A random sampling algorithm was used to estimate modeling errors. Risk of cause specific death was computed for the predictors for comparison. Results: There were 7,309 patients included in this study. The mean follow up time (S.D.) was 24.2 (20) months. Female patients outnumbered male ones 3:2. The mean (S.D.) age was 70.1 (10.6) years. Stage was the most predictive factor of outcome (ROC area of 0.76). After optimization, several strata were fused, with a comparable ROC area of 0.75. There was a 4% additional risk of death associated with lower county family income, African American race, rural residency and lower than 25% county college graduate. Radiotherapy had not been used in 2/3 of patients with stage III disease. Conclusions: There are socio-economic disparities in cause specific survival. Under-use of radiotherapy may have contributed to poor outcome. Improving education, access and rates of radiotherapy use may improve outcome.

• Archives of Plastic Surgery
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• v.46 no.6
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• pp.566-571
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• 2019

Background In Western nations, hidradenitis suppurativa (HS) typically affects the apocrine gland-bearing skin of people of African origin, women, smokers, and individuals with obesity. The clinical characteristics of HS in Korea and Japan, however, are reportedly different from those in the West. We therefore hypothesized that wet earwax is associated with HS because most East Asian people are genetically predisposed to produce dry earwax. Methods The medical charts of 53 Japanese patients with HS were reviewed retrospectively. Results Unlike the results of surveys conducted in Western nations, most of our patients were men (72%), whose buttocks were the most commonly affected site. Apocrine gland-bearing areas, such as the axilla, were affected less often. The proportion of HS patients with wet earwax was 51%, which was substantially higher than that found in the general Japanese population. Moreover, when patients with gluteal HS were excluded, the proportion of patients with wet earwax became even higher (68%). Conclusions Although the etiology of HS is unknown, our survey indicated that HS in apocrine gland-bearing skin, such as the axillary and anogenital areas, may be associated with wet earwax. As this study was conducted in a limited clinical setting, a nationwide, multicenter survey is warranted to clarify the clinical characteristics of HS in Japan.

• Strategy21
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• s.34
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• pp.149-177
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• 2014

Today distant oceans around the world are regarded as a major 'global commons' for international trade and transportation. Korea is not an exception, because Korea hugely depends on sea lines of communication (SLOC) for supplying vital commodities such as food and energy resource. As a result, assuring a free and safe use of distant ocean beyond territory is also an important agenda for Korea's maritime security. However there are a number of challenges for Korea to enjoy a free and safe use of distant ocean; dangers of regional maritime conflict in East Asia, naval arms race of China and Japan, and concerns on possible decline of U.S naval presence and power projection capabilities. These factors provide a reasonable basis for Republic of Korea Navy (ROKN) to pursue capabilities for major naval operations at distant ocean in a long-term perspective toward the year 2030. The introduction of aircraft carrier and nuclear-powered submarine is a key requirement for achieving this goal. ROKN needs to acquire a 'multi-role strategic landing platform' type of light aircraft carrier, which takes a role to escort naval task force by providing air superiority at distant ocean. Additionally nuclear-powered submarine will offer ROKN a formidable power to carry out offensive missions effectively at distant ocean.

• Journal of the Korean housing association
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.125-133
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• 2012

The purpose of this study was to explore characteristics and housing satisfaction of multifamily renter households in metropolitan areas using 2009 American Housing Survey public-use microdata. A total of 8,139 multifamily renter household residing in metropolitan statistical areas were selected for data analysis. The findings are as follows: (1) In comparison with other types of households in the metropolitan areas, multifamily renter households tended to show a smaller household size, younger householders, a greater proportion of households with householders who have never married, or have been widowed, divorced or separated; (2) housing cost related variables such as monthly rent or rent per square footage were found not to have significant influence on housing satisfaction of multifamily renter households in metropolitan areas; (3) factors influencing housing satisfaction of multifamily renter households with householder's age 34 years or younger were neighborhood satisfaction, householder's race, structure age and per-person unit size; and (4) neighborhood satisfaction was found to have the strongest influence on housing satisfaction of multifamily renter households in metropolitan areas.

• International Journal of Costume and Fashion
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• v.5 no.1
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• pp.26-41
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• 2005

In this study homosexuality as a discourse represented in contemporary fashion magazines is explored in context. The main concerns are the contemporary construction of homosexuality, fashion symbols to identify homosexuals, and relationships between homosexuality and heterosexual masculinity in fashion images today. After elaborating homosexuality conceptualized historically, an analytical framework from Foucault's discursive approach was made up to interpret the fashion spreads since 2000. As a result, as it is assumed that the concept of homosexuality is constructed by historical specificity, homosexual fashion styles are dynamic. So, it should be recognized that they are formed by power relationships with heterosexuality, and other social factors such as class, race, age, and consumer culture and market trends. On the basis of photographic themes and fashion looks homosexual images are classified into 3 kinds of versions, the effeminate trend setter, the masculine athlete or biker, and the neo camp. However, most of contemporary homosexual photographs are not also so conspicuously different from heterosexual ones. Therefore, in the contemporary structure at least from fashion images, homosexuals can be recognized equally with heterosexual people only except for sexual preference. Thus, homosexual fashion also shares a lot of fashionable products with heterosexual one, with often homosexuals' role as trend -setter.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.14 no.12
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• pp.7117-7120
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• 2013

Background: This study hypothesized living in a poor neighborhood decreased the cause specific survival in individuals suffering from carcinoid carcinomas. Surveillance, Epidemiology and End Results (SEER) carcinoid carcinoma data were used to identify potential socioeconomic disparities in outcome. Materials and Methods: This study analyzed socioeconomic, staging and treatment factors available in the SEER database for carcinoid carcinomas. The Kaplan-Meier method was used to analyze time to events and the Kolmogorov-Smirnov test to compare survival curves. The Cox proportional hazard method was employed for multivariate analysis. Areas under the receiver operating characteristic curves (ROCs) were computed to screen the predictors for further analysis. Results: There were 38,546 patients diagnosed from 1973 to 2009 included in this study. The mean follow up time (S.D.) was 68.1 (70.7) months. SEER stage was the most predictive factor of outcome (ROC area of 0.79). 16.4% of patients were un-staged. Race/ethnicity, rural urban residence and county level family income were significant predictors of cause specific survival on multivariate analysis, these accounting for about 5% of the difference in actuarial cause specific survival at 20 years of follow up. Conclusions: This study found poorer cause specific survival of carcinoid carcinomas of individuals living in poor and rural neighborhoods.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.16 no.18
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• pp.8053-8058
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• 2016

Metformin is known as a hypoglycaemic agent that regulates glucose homeostasis by inhibiting liver glucose production and increasing muscle glucose uptake. Colorectal cancer (CRC) is one of the most common cancers worldwide, with about a million new cases diagnosed each year. The risk factors for CRC include advanced age, smoking, black race, obesity, low fibre diet, insulin resistance, and the metabolic syndrome. We have searched Medline for the metabolic syndrome and its relation to CRC, and metformin as a potential treatment of colorectal cancer. Administration of metformin alone or in combination with chemotherapy has been shown to suppress CRC. The mechanism that explains how insulin resistance is associated with CRC is complex and not fully understood. In this review we have summarised studies which showed an association with the metabolic syndrome as well as studies which tackled metformin as a potential treatment of CRC. In addition, we have also provided a summary of how metformin at the cellular level can induce changes that suppress the activity of cancer cells.

• Journal of the Korean Home Economics Association
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• v.42 no.5
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• pp.27-37
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• 2004

This study was initiated for the purpose of improving the visual effect of lingerie design, and it focused on the image factors and their characteristics of the lingerie design. Images of 105 lingerie design were evaluated by 3-5 images/participant with each image being evaluated 15 times through the SD method 5-scale questionnaire. The lingerie design elements were also analyzed by a committee. For data analysis, SPSS 10.0 program was used, and the principal component analysis, Ward-cluster, K-mean cluster analysis, ANOVA, duncan-test were conducted. The results are as follows: 1) The three major characteristics of the visual images in the lingerie design were aesthetics, dignity, and youth, which were supported 76.78% by the responses. 2) The visual image types can be categorized into four clusters; a dignified style, a sprightly style, a practical style, and a sexual style. 3) The design elements that allowed different design characteristics among the image types were style(one-piece/two-piece), total length, waist fit, matching color, silky lustrous, see-through on waist, hip, race percentages. 4) The ABC(apparel-body-construct) observed that a practical style was perceived as flat and whole rather than a dignified style or a sprightly style, while a sexual style was seen as round and partial.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.17 no.1
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• pp.347-352
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• 2016

Background: This study used receiver operating characteristic curve to analyze Surveillance, Epidemiology and End Results (SEER) adenosquamous carcinoma data to identify predictive models and potential disparities in outcome. Materials and Methods: This study analyzed socio-economic, staging and treatment factors available in the SEER database for adenosquamous carcinoma. For the risk modeling, each factor was fitted by a generalized linear model to predict the cause specific survival. An area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (ROC) was computed. Similar strata were combined to construct the most parsimonious models. Results: A total of 20,712 patients diagnosed from 1973 to 2009 were included in this study. The mean follow up time (S.D.) was 54.2 (78.4) months. Some 2/3 of the patients were female. The mean (S.D.) age was 63 (13.8) years. SEER stage was the most predictive factor of outcome (ROC area of 0.71). 13.9% of the patients were un-staged and had risk of cause specific death of 61.3% that was higher than the 45.3% risk for the regional disease and lower than the 70.3% for metastatic disease. Sex, site, radiotherapy, and surgery had ROC areas of about 0.55-0.65. Rural residence and race contributed to socioeconomic disparity for treatment outcome. Radiotherapy was underused even with localized and regional stages when the intent was curative. This under use was most pronounced in older patients. Conclusions: Anatomic stage was predictive and useful in treatment selection. Under-staging may have contributed to poor outcome.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.17 no.7
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• pp.3363-3367
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• 2016

Background: Breast cancer (BC) is a major health issue worldwide as well as in Pakistan. All women belonging to any race, ethnicity or lineage are in danger of developing breast cancer. Significant factors influencing the development of breast malignancies are the genetic background, environmental conditions, reproductive parameters, the consequences of female hormones both intrinsic and extrinsic, alteration of immune status, and biologic determinants. Materials and Methods: Overall 150 biopsy proven patients were included in the study. Samples were submitted for histopathology and determination of estrogen and progesterone receptor expression and HER-2/neu status. Associations with other characteristics like age, tumor stage, node involvement, histological grade were also studied. Results: Mean age at presentation was 46.7 years. The majority had invasive ductal carcinoma, 100 (84.7%), and were in stage pT3, 54 (45.7%). Important relationships (P<0.05) were found among ER, PR positivity, and Her 2 neu overexpression. However, no noteworthy link was identified amongst ER, PR, Her 2 neu and tumor grade, stage, age, lymph node involvement except for the menopausal status. Conclusions: In summary, breast cancer patients featured an advanced stage of disease, more lymph node involvement, and moderately high grade tumors and with more estrogen, progesterone receptor and HER-2 positive tumors.