• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.82 no.3
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• pp.194-200
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• 2019

Background: Tuberculosis (TB) is a major infectious disease in South Korea causing substantial disease burden, particularly in the elderly. This study aimed to identify the case detection rate of mobile TB screening for the elderly conducted in the Jeollanam-do region and to analyze risk factors of active TB. Methods: We screened the elderly population (${\geq}65$ years old) in Jeollanam-do from August to December 2017. Chest radiography was performed for all participants. Participants with TB presumptive signs were asked to submit sputum specimen(s). Sputum smear, culture, and polymerase chain reaction analyses were performed. Cascade analysis, chi-squared tests, and Fisher exact tests were used to evaluate screening performance. Results: In total, 12,402 participants were screened, and 211 (1.7%) were suspected to have active TB; 181 of the suspected patients (85.8%) underwent sputum smear test, and 16 (8.8%) patients were confirmed to have TB. The TB prevalence among the elderly was bacteriologically confirmed to be 129 per 100,000 individuals, which was similar to national TB notification data for the same age groups. The proportion of active TB cases increased with age, and differed based on sex and past TB history. However, TB-related symptoms, comorbidity status, and TB screening history within 12 months were not predictive of active TB. Conclusion: This study identified that the prevalence rate was similar to national TB notification data from the same age groups. Periodic, community-based, systematic TB screening among the elderly population is recommended.

• Clinical Endoscopy
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• v.55 no.1
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• pp.101-112
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• 2022

Background/Aims: The aim of our study was to determine the efficacy of computed tomography colonography (CTC) in screening for colorectal cancer (CRC). Methods: A total of 612 females and 588 males aged 45 to 75 years were enrolled in CTC screening. CTC was performed following standard bowel preparation and colonic insufflation with carbon dioxide. The main outcomes were the detection rate of CRC and advanced adenoma (AA), prevalence of colorectal lesions in relation to socio-demographic and health factors, and overall diagnostic performance of CTC. Results: Overall, 56.5% of the 1,200 invited subjects underwent CTC screening. The sensitivity for CRC and AA was 0.89 and 0.97, respectively, while the specificity was 0.71 and 0.99, respectively. The prevalence of CRC and AA was 3.0% (18/593) and 7.1% (42/593), respectively, with the highest CRC prevalence in the 66-75 age group (≥12 times; odds ratio [OR], 12.11; 95% confidence interval [CI], 4.45-32.92). CRC and AA prevalence were inversely correlated with Asian descent, physical activity, and negative fecal immunochemical test results (OR=0.43; 95% CI, 0.22-0.83; OR=0.16; 95% CI, 0.04-0.68; OR=0.5; 95% CI, 0.07-3.85, respectively). Conclusions: Our study revealed high accuracy of CTC in diagnosing colonic neoplasms, good compliance with CTC screening, and high detection rate of CRC.

• KSBB Journal
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• v.23 no.1
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• pp.96-100
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• 2008

In this work, we describes analysis of the antioxidant potential of Korean green tea phenolics using an high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) on-line $ABTS^{+}$ antioxidant screening method. In conjunction with the analysis of their 2,2'-azinobis-(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid (ABTS+) radical scavenging ability, the extraction of catechine compounds from Korean green tea were performed by various temperature and time. The optimum operating conditions were experimentally determined to analyze the catechine compounds in the pretreatment extracts. From the results, the extraction temperature $60^{\circ}C$, time 3 min was selected as an optimal antioxidant activity condition. The analysis by $C_{18}$ column was performed, the flow rate of mobile phase and UV wavelength was fixed at 1.0 ml/min and 254 nm, respectively. the mobile phase was composed from acetonitrile and water, and the gradient elution mode were applied.

• Journal of Information Processing Systems
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• v.12 no.4
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• pp.724-740
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• 2016

The performance issues of screening large database compounds and multiple query compounds in virtual screening highlight a common concern in Chemoinformatics applications. This study investigates these problems by choosing group fusion as a pilot model and presents efficient parallel solutions in parallel platforms, specifically, the multi-core architecture of CPU and many-core architecture of graphical processing unit (GPU). A study of sequential group fusion and a proposed design of parallel CUDA group fusion are presented in this paper. The design involves solving two important stages of group fusion, namely, similarity search and fusion (MAX rule), while addressing embarrassingly parallel and parallel reduction models. The sequential, optimized sequential and parallel OpenMP of group fusion were implemented and evaluated. The outcome of the analysis from these three different design approaches influenced the design of parallel CUDA version in order to optimize and achieve high computation intensity. The proposed parallel CUDA performed better than sequential and parallel OpenMP in terms of both execution time and speedup. The parallel CUDA was 5-10x faster than sequential and parallel OpenMP as both similarity search and fusion MAX stages had been CUDA-optimized.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.33 no.10
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• pp.1257-1267
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• 2023

Although rational genetic engineering is nowadays the favored method for microbial strain improvement, building up mutant libraries based on directed evolution for improvement is still in many cases the better option. In this regard, the demand for precise and efficient screening methods for mutants with high performance has stimulated the development of biosensor-based high-throughput screening strategies. Genetically encoded biosensors provide powerful tools to couple the desired phenotype to a detectable signal, such as fluorescence and growth rate. Herein, we review recent advances in engineering several classes of biosensors and their applications in directed evolution. Furthermore, we compare and discuss the screening advantages and limitations of two-component biosensors, transcription-factor-based biosensors, and RNA-based biosensors. Engineering these biosensors has focused mainly on modifying the expression level or structure of the biosensor components to optimize the dynamic range, specificity, and detection range. Finally, the applications of biosensors in the evolution of proteins, metabolic pathways, and genome-scale metabolic networks are described. This review provides potential guidance in the design of biosensors and their applications in improving the bioproduction of microbial cell factories through directed evolution.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.17 no.9
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• pp.4313-4318
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• 2016

Background: This study documented the performance of providers of visual inspection with acetic acid (VIA) at primary health centers, assessing their compliance with the VIA skills checklist and determinants of non-compliance, and exploring their perceptions of VIA training sessions. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among VIA providers in the $Mekn\grave{e}s$-Tafilalet region of Morocco. Structured observation of their performance was conducted through supervisory visits and multiple focus group discussions (FGDs). Results: Performance of all the recommended steps for effective communication was observed in a low proportion of procedures (36.4%). Midwives/nurses had higher compliance than general practitioners (GPs) (p<0.001). All recommended steps for VIA examination were performed for a high proportion of procedures (82.5%). Compliance was higher among midwives/nurses than among GPs (p<0.001) and among providers in rural areas than those in urban areas (p<0.001). For pre-VIA counselling, all recommended steps were performed for only 36.8% of procedures. For post-VIA counseling, all recommended steps were performed in a high proportion (85.5% for VIA-negative and 85.1% for VIA-positive women). Midwives/nurses had higher compliance than GPs when advising VIA-positive women (p=0.009). All infection prevention practices were followed for only 14.2% of procedures, and compliance was higher among providers in rural areas than those in urban areas (p<0.001). Most FGD participants were satisfied with the content of VIA training sessions. However, they suggested periodic refresher training and supportive supervision. Conclusions: Quality assurance of a cervical cancer screening program is a key element to ensure that the providers perform VIA correctly and confidently.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Radiology
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• v.82 no.5
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• pp.1218-1230
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• 2021

Purpose To compare the per-patient diagnostic performance of simulated abbreviated MRI (AMRI) to that of conventional MRI (CMRI) with full-sequence dynamic gadoxetic acid (GA) enhancement for early-stage hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) screening in high-risk patients. Materials and Methods A total of 201 consecutive patients at high-risk for HCC, who underwent 3T liver MRI, were included in this retrospective study. The AMRI protocol comprised T2-weighted imaging, hepatobiliary phase imaging after GA injection, and diffusion-weighted imaging. For each patient, two AMRI and CMRI image sets were independently reviewed by two radiologists. Inter-reader agreement was assessed using Cohen's kappa value. A composite reference standard was used to determine the diagnostic performance of each image set for each reader. Results A total of 93 HCCs were detected in 79 patients. The inter-reader agreement was almost perfect for both image sets (κ = 0.839, 0.948). In AMRI, the per-patient sensitivity and negative predictive values (NPV) were 94.9% and 96.4%, respectively. In CMRI, the per-patient sensitivity and NPV were 96.2% and 97.5%, respectively. Conclusion AMRI, using only three sequences, had a comparable diagnostic performance to CMRI in screening early-stage HCC. AMRI could be an alternative HCC screening tool for high-risk HCC patients.

• Journal of Korean Society of Coastal and Ocean Engineers
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• v.13 no.3
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• pp.230-236
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• 2001

The numerical investigations on the wave-screening characteristics of floating breakwaters are presented. The fluid motion is idealized as linearized, two dimensional potential flow. A finite element model is adopted to analyze the performance of floating breakwaters. Numerical experiments are carried out for two type floating breakwater. One is a conventional pontoon type breakwater with rectangular cross-section, and the other is a side float breakwater which consists of two rectangular shaped floats connected to each other by a frame. To improve the performance of the floating breakwaters, especially for long-period wave conditions, numerical experiments are carried out for the cases attaching the thin plates at the bottom of folats in the vertical direction.

• Journal of Korean Traditional Oncology
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• v.24 no.2
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• pp.1-11
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• 2019

Objectives : We investigated whether a single center nutrition screening tool (Kyunghee Neo Nutrition Risk Screening, KNNRS) can predict survival in patients with metastatic cancer. Methods : We retrospectively reviewed data of inpatients with metastatic cancer from April 2016 to August 2019. Data on demographic and clinical parameters were collected from electronic medical records, and overall survival was estimated using the Kaplan-Meier method. Stepwise Cox regression analysis was used to determine factors associated with survival. Patients with a KNNRS score of 0 to 3 were classified as "no-risk", 4 to 10 as "low-risk", and 11 to 20 as "high-risk". Results : Total 105 patients were included in the study. According to nutritional screening at baseline, 25 patients (23.8%, median age 57.0) were classified as ""no risk"" group; 80 patients (76.2%, median age 68.5) as "low risk" group; No patients as "high risk" group. Predictors of survival were Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group Performance Status score of 3 or 4 (hazard ratio [HR] = 1.93; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.21-3.10), hemoglobin less than 10 g/dL (HR = 1.97; 95% CI = 1.25-3.10) and C-reactive protein more than 1.0 mg/dL (HR = 1.95; 95% CI = 1.21-3.13). Kaplan-Meier survival analysis showed significant differences in the survival between KNNRS groups: ""no risk"" group: 6.1 ± 1.4 months (95% CI = 3.37-8.83); ""low risk"" group: 3.4 ± 0.9 months (95% CI = 1.5-5.37). Conclusions : Nutritional status according to KNNRS wasn't significant predictor of survival for patients with metastatic cancer. Improvement of KNNRS score thresholds is needed.

• The Journal of Korean Society of Virology
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• v.29 no.3
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• pp.175-182
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• 1999

An attractive target for anti-herpes chemotherapy is the herpes simplex virus 1 (HSV-1) protease encoded by the UL26 gene. HSV-1 protease is essential for DNA packaging and virus maturation. To perform high throughput for potent inhibitors, the efficient production of larger amounts of highly purified enzyme and protease activity assay method must be established. In this report, expression in E. coli and purification of the protease gene of HSV-1 strain F was investigated. The protease gene was cloned pET28, and the nucleotide sequence of protease catalytic domain of HSV-1 compared strain F with other strains (KOS and CL101). In these results the F strain was different in base sequence. However, the amino acid sequence was identifical. The HSV-1 protease was purified with His-tagged affinity column. The analysis of HSV-1 protease activity was performed by high performance liquid chromatography.