• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.17 no.12
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• pp.71-80
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• 2016

Purpose: The aim of this study was to identify sexual experiences and associated factors among middle and high school students in Korea. Methods: Data were analyzed from 74,186 participants who completed the 2012 Korea Youth Risk Behavior Web-based Survey. Descriptive statistics were used to identify the condition of sexual behavior, and a complex sample logistic regression was used to examine the factors related to sexual behavior. Results: Data showed that 4.3% of adolescents had engaged in sexual intercourse (5.9% of males and 2.6% of females). According to the logistic regression analysis for complex samples, the school level, socioeconomic status, experience of part time work, and living with parents, were all factors associated with the decision to engage in sexual intercourse among boys and girls. In particular, sex education in schools was associated with a reduced risk of sexual intercourse. Conclusion: The results of this study highlight the importance of developing a program that focuses on enhancing sex education and promoting refusal and better decision-making skills in order to effectively reduce the likelihood of sexual experience among adolescents in Korea.

• Journal of Veterinary Clinics
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• v.28 no.1
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• pp.101-107
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• 2011

This study aimed to determine dose-response (DR) curve of avian influenza (AI) virus to predict the probability of illness or adverse health effects that may result from exposure to a pathogenic microorganism in a quantitative microbial risk assessment. To determine the parametric DR relationship of several strains of AI virus, 7 feeding trial data sets challenging humans (5 sets) and chickens (2 sets) for strains of H3N2 (4 sets), H5N1 (2 sets) and H1N1 (1 set) from the published literatures. Except for one data set (study with intra-tracheal inoculation for data set no. 6), all were obtained from the studies with intranasal inoculation. The data were analyzed using three types of DR model as the basis of heterogeneity in infectivity of AI strains in humans and chickens: exponential, beta-binomial and beta-Poisson. We fitted to the data using maximum likelihood estimation to get the parameter estimates of each model. The alpha and beta values of the beta-Poisson DR model ranged 0.06-0.19 and 1.7-48.8, respectively for H3N2 strain. Corresponding values for H5N1 ranged 0.464-0.563 and 97.3-99.4, respectively. For H1N1 the parameter values were 0.103 and 12.7, respectively. Using the exponential model, r (infectivity parameter) ranged from $1.6{\times}10^{-8}$ to $1.2{\times}10^{-5}$ for H3N2 and from $7.5{\times}10^{-3}$ to $4.0{\times}10^{-2}$ for H5N1, while the value was $1.6{\times}10^{-8}$ for H1N1. The beta-Poisson DR model provided the best fit to five of 7 data sets tested, and the estimated parameter values in betabinomial model were very close to those of beta-Poisson. Our study indicated that beta-binomial or beta-Poisson model could be the choice for DR modeling of AI, even though DR relationship varied depending on the virus strains studied, as indicated in prior studies. Further DR modeling should be conducted to quantify the differences among AI virus strains.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.16 no.15
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• pp.6783-6787
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• 2015

Background: Despite consistent pharmacogenetic effects of CYP2D6 on tamoxifen exposure, there is considerable controversy regarding the validity of CYP2D6 as a predictor of tamoxifen outcome. Understanding the current state of evidence in this area and its limitations is important for the care of patients who require endocrine therapy for breast cancer. Materials and Methods: A total of 101 patients with breast cancer who received tamoxifen therapy for at least 3 years, were genotyped for common alleles of the CYP2D6 gene by nested-PCR and restriction fragment length polymorphism PCR. Patients were classified as extensive or poor metabolizers (PM) based on CYP2D6*4 alleles in 3 different groups according to the menopause, Her2-neu status, and stage 3. Results: The mean age of the patients with the disease recurrence was $50.8{\pm}6.4$ and in non recurrent patients was $48.2{\pm}6.8$. In this study 63.3% (n=64) patients were extensive metabolizers and 36.6% (n=37) were poor metabolizers. Sixty four of the 101 patients (63.3%) were Her2-neu positive. For tamoxifen-treated patients, no statistically significant difference in rate of recurrence observed between CYP2D6 metabolic variants in stage 3 and post-menopausal patients. However, there was a significant association between CYP2D6 genotype and recurrence in tamoxifen-treated Her2-neu positive patients. Compared with other women with breast cancer, those with Her2-neu positive breast cancer and extensive metabolizer alleles had a decreased likelihood of recurrence. Conclusions: This study for the first time demonstrated significant effects of CYP2D6 extensive metabolizer alleles on risk of recurrence in Her2-neu positive breast cancer patients receiving adjuvant tamoxifen therapy. Therefore, CYP2D6 metabolism, as measured by genetic variation, can be a predictor of breast cancer outcome in Her2-neu positive women receiving tamoxifen.

• The Journal of Engineering Geology
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• v.26 no.2
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• pp.197-205
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• 2016

Rainfall-induced landslide disaster case histories are typically required to establish critical lines based on the decrease coefficient for judging the likelihood of slope collapse or failure; however, reliably setting critical lines is difficult because the number of nationwide disaster case histories is insufficient and not well distributed across the region. In this study, we propose a method for setting the critical area to judge the risk of slope collapse without disaster case history information. Past 10 years rainfall data based on decrease coefficient are plotted as points, and a reference line is established by connecting the outermost points. When realtime working rainfall cross the reference line, warning system is operating and this system can be utilized nationwide through setting of reference line for each AWS (Automatic Weather Station). Warnings were effectively predicted at 10 of the sites, and warnings could have been issued 30 min prior to the landslide movement at eight of the sites. These results indicate a reliability of about 67%. To more fully utilize this model, it is necessary to establish nationwide rainfall databases and conduct further studies to develop regional critical areas for landslide disaster prevention.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.31 no.5
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• pp.494-501
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• 1998

From May 1, 1993 to May 31 1995, the authers studied retrospectively 211 patients who underwent cardiovascular operation with cardiopulmonary bypass(CPB). Because we were interested in new development of ARF(prevalence, mortality rate, and main risk factors), we performed a multivariate statistical analysis about data of patients with preoperative serum creatinine values of less than 1.5 mg/dL. Normal renal function before operation(serum creatinine level less than 1.5 mg/dL) was registered in 198(74%) patients. Of these, 27(14%) patients showed postoperative renal complication, including 20(10%) patients classified as renal dysfunction(serum creatinine level between 1.5 and 2.5 mg/dL) and 7(4%) patients as acute renal failure(serum creatinine level higher than 2.5 mg/dL). The mortality rate was 5.8% in normal patients, 5% in patients with renal dysfunction, and 43% when acute renal failure developed(p=0.036). Indeed, the renal impairment proved to be an independent predictor of mortality(odd ratio 2.52∼11.25), along with cardiovascular(odd ratio 4.20) and respiratory(odd ratio 2.18) complications. Multivariate analysis identified the following variables as independent risk factors for postoperative renal impairment : advanced age(odd ratio 1), need for emergency operation(odd ratio 3.78), low-output syndrome(odd ratio 3.66), respiratory complication(odd ratio 1.30), need for deep hypothermic circulatory arrest(odd ratio 1.4). The 13 patients(7%) with preoperative renal failure showed a significantly higher morbidity and mortality rate than those without renal complications before operation. We concluded that the likelihood of severe renal complications is resonably low in the patients undergoing cardiac operation without preexisting renal dysfunction, but associated mortality remains high. A prominant role of hemodynamic factor in the development of postoperative acute renal failure must be recognized during preoperative, intraoperative, and postoperative periods.

• Health Policy and Management
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• v.29 no.1
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• pp.4-10
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• 2019

The term new tobacco products (NTPs) refers to the new alternatives to conventional cigarettes. There are several kinds of NTPs in South Korea. The present study discusses the most widely used NTPs namely electronic cigarette (ECs) and heated tobacco products (HTPs). The aims of this study are to evaluate the risk related to the use of ECs and HTPs, introduce policy examples across different countries of management of this issue, and finally, present some policy implications of the problem and our response strategies. Since the advent of ECs, there has been a lot of debate about its risk. Some studies have reported that ECs are less harmful than conventional cigarettes and that they are effective in aiding smoking cessation. Nevertheless, the efficacy of ECs in smoking cessation and its potential health risks are still unclear. However, the obvious fact is that it is not harmless. Regulations on ECs differ from country to country. In many countries, they are strictly regulated as tobacco or toxic substances; however, in the United Kingdom, the use of ECs are included as part of their smoking cessation policy, and in Japan, they are treated as a form of medication. On the other hand, HTPs are the most recently introduced NTPs and they have attained sensational popularity because of the wrongly held belief that they are less harmful to health. So, what about our policy response to these two tobacco products? The research on ECs requires more systematic statistical monitoring, such as monitoring the ratio of dual-users. Further, the new EC smokers should be identified taking into account that the arguments for the use of ECs often emphasize smoking cessation or less risks to health, the government should further strengthen its policy to prevent those claims. The HTPs market experienced a very sharp growth and continues to grow because the government policy is too passive. Taking this as a lesson, it is necessary to approach NTPs, such as HTPs, proactively and increase their contribution to the National Health Promotion Fund by imposing greater taxes on them. Finally, considering the likelihood of NTPs being promoted as a less harmful tobacco product, it is essential to strictly regulate tobacco companies' publicity from the very beginning to ensure that potential consumer s are not mislead.

• Proceedings of The Korean Society of Agricultural and Forest Meteorology Conference
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• 2014.10a
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• pp.25-48
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• 2014

Increased frequency of climate extremes is another face of climate change confronted by humans, resulting in catastrophic losses in agriculture. While climate extremes take place on many scales, impacts are experienced locally and mitigation tools are a function of local conditions. To address this, agrometeorological early warning systems must be place and location based, incorporating the climate, crop and land attributes at the appropriate scale. Existing services often lack site-specific information on adverse weather and countermeasures relevant to farming activities. Warnings on chronic long term effects of adverse weather or combined effects of two or more weather elements are seldom provided, either. This lecture discusses a field-specific early warning system implemented on a catchment scale agrometeorological service, by which volunteer farmers are provided with face-to-face disaster warnings along with relevant countermeasures. The products are based on core techniques such as scaling down of weather information to a field level and the crop specific risk assessment. Likelihood of a disaster is evaluated by the relative position of current risk on the standardized normal distribution from climatological normal year prepared for 840 catchments in South Korea. A validation study has begun with a 4-year plan for implementing an operational service in Seomjin River Basin, which accommodates over 60,000 farms and orchards. Diverse experiences obtained through this study will certainly be useful in planning and developing the nation-wide disaster early warning system for agricultural sector.

• Archives of Plastic Surgery
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• v.49 no.1
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• pp.91-98
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• 2022

Background Predicting the need for post-traumatic reconstruction of lower extremity injuries remains a challenge. Due to the larger volume of cases in adults than in children, the majority of the medical literature has focused on adult lower extremity reconstruction. This study evaluates predictive risk factors associated with the need for free flap reconstruction in pediatric patients following lower extremity trauma. Methods An IRB-approved retrospective chart analysis over a 5-year period (January 1, 2012 to December 31, 2017) was performed, including all pediatric patients (<18 years old) diagnosed with one or more lower extremity wounds. Patient demographics, trauma information, and operative information were reviewed. The statistical analysis consisted of univariate and multivariate regression models to identify predictor variables associated with free flap reconstruction. Results In total, 1,821 patients were identified who fit our search criteria, of whom 41 patients (2.25%) required free flap reconstruction, 65 patients (3.57%) required local flap reconstruction, and 19 patients (1.04%) required skin graft reconstruction. We determined that older age (odds ratio [OR], 1.134; P =0.002), all-terrain vehicle accidents (OR, 6.698; P<0.001), and trauma team activation (OR, 2.443; P=0.034) were associated with the need for free flap reconstruction following lower extremity trauma in our pediatric population. Conclusions Our study demonstrates a higher likelihood of free flap reconstruction in older pediatric patients, those involved in all-terrain vehicle accidents, and cases involving activation of the trauma team. This information can be implemented to help develop an early risk calculator that defines the need for complex lower extremity reconstruction in the pediatric population.

• Korean Journal of Agricultural and Forest Meteorology
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• v.25 no.4
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• pp.245-257
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• 2023

The representative crop in the Republic of Korea, rice, is cultivated over extensive areas every year, which resulting in reduced resistance to pests and diseases. One of the major rice diseases, rice blast disease, can lead to a significant decrease in yields when it occurs on a large scale, necessitating early detection and effective control of rice blast disease. Drone-based crop monitoring techniques are valuable for detecting abnormal growth, but frequent image capture for potential rice blast disease occurrences can consume significant labor and resources. The purpose of this study is to early detect rice blast disease using remote sensing data, such as drone and satellite images, along with weather data. Satellite images was helpful in identifying rice cultivation fields. Effective detection of paddy fields was achieved by utilizing vegetation and water indices. Subsequently, air temperature, relative humidity, and number of rainy days were used to calculate the risk of rice blast disease occurrence. An increase in the risk of disease occurrence implies a higher likelihood of disease development, and drone measurements perform at this time. Spectral reflectance changes in the red and near-infrared wavelength regions were observed at the locations where rice blast disease occurred. Clusters with low vegetation index values were observed at locations where rice blast disease occurred, and the time series data for drone images allowed for tracking the spread of the disease from these points. Finally, drone images captured before harvesting was used to generate spatial information on the incidence of rice blast disease in each field.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.51 no.11
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• pp.1158-1164
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• 2008

Purpose : To investigate the discriminative ability of pediatric index of mortality 2 (PIM2) and pediatric risk of mortality III (PRISM III) in predicting mortality in children admitted into the intensive care unit (ICU). Methods : We retrospectively analyzed variables of PIM2 and PRISM III based on medical records with children cared for in a single hospital ICU from January 2003 to December 2007. Exclusions were children who died within 2 h of admission into ICU or hopeless discharge. We used Students t test and ANOVA for general characteristics and for correlation between survivors and non-survivors for variables of PIM2 and PRISM III. In addition, we performed multiple logistic regression analysis for Hosmer-Lemeshow goodness-of-fit, receiver operating characteristic curve (ROC) for discrimination, and calculated standardized mortality ratio (SMR) for estimation of prediction. Results : We collected 193 medical records but analyzed 190 events because three children died within 2 h of ICU admission. The variables of PIM2 correlated with survival, except for the presence of post-procedure and low risk. In PRISM III, there was a significant correlation for cardiovascular/neurologic signs, arterial blood gas analysis but not for biochemical and hematologic data. Discriminatory performance by ROC showed an area under the curve 0.858 (95% confidence interval; 0.779-0.938) for PIM2, 0.798 (95% CI; 0.686-0.891) for PRISM III, respectively. Further, SMR was calculated approximately as 1 for the 2 systems, and multiple logistic regression analysis showed ${\chi}^2(13)=14.986$, P=0.308 for PIM2, ${\chi}^2(13)=12.899$, P=0.456 for PRISM III in Hosmer-Lemeshow goodness-of-fit. However, PIM2 was significant for PRISM III in the likelihood ratio test (${\chi}^2(4)=55.3$, P<0.01). Conclusion : We identified two acceptable scoring systems (PRISM III, PIM2) for the prediction of mortality in children admitted into the ICU. PIM2 was more accurate and had a better fit than PRISM III on the model tested.