• Journal of Gastric Cancer
• /
• v.20 no.3
• /
• pp.267-276
• /
• 2020

Purpose: The American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program (ACS NSQIP) risk calculator is useful in predicting postoperative adverse events. However, its accuracy in specific disorders is unclear. We validated the ACS NSQIP risk calculator in patients with gastric cancer undergoing curative laparoscopic surgery. Materials and Methods: We included 207 consecutive early gastric cancer patients who underwent laparoscopic gastrectomy between January 2018 and January 2019. The preoperative characteristics and risks of the patients were reviewed and entered into the ACS NSQIP calculator. The estimated risks of postoperative outcomes were compared with the observed outcomes using C-statistics and Brier scores. Results: Most of the patients underwent distal gastrectomy with Roux-en-Y reconstruction (74.4%). We did not observe any cases of mortality, venous thromboembolism, urinary tract infection, renal failure, or cardiac complications. The other outcomes assessed were complications such as pneumonia, surgical site infections, any complications requiring re-operation or hospital readmission, the rates of discharge to nursing homes/rehabilitation centers, and the length of stay. All C-statistics were <0 and the highest was for pneumonia (0.65; 95% confidence interval: 0.58-0.71). Brier scores ranged from 0.01 for pneumonia to 0.155 for other complications. Overall, the risk calculator was inconsistent in predicting the outcomes. Conclusions: The ACS NSQIP surgical risk calculator showed low predictive ability for postoperative adverse events after laparoscopic gastrectomy for patients with early gastric cancer. Further research to adjust the risk calculator for these patients may improve its predictive ability.

• Journal of Fisheries and Marine Sciences Education
• /
• v.29 no.3
• /
• pp.665-676
• /
• 2017

Over the past several years, sea trade have increased traffic by ships which highlighted a problem of unwanted species invading the surrounding seas through ship's ballast water discharge. Maritime trade volume has continuously increased worldwide and the problem still exists. The respective countries are spending billions of dollars in an effort to clean up the contamination and prevent pollution. As part of an effort to solve marine environmental problem, BWM(Ballast Water Management) convention was adopted at a diplomatic conference on Feb. 13 2004. In order to comply harmoniously this convention by each country. This convention will be effective after 12 months from the date which 30 countries ratified accounting for more than 35% of the world merchant shipping volume. On Sep. 8 2016, Finland ratified this convention and effective condition was satisfied as 52 states and world merchant vessel fleet 35.1441%. Thus, after Sep. 8 2017, all existing vessels shall be equipped with BWTS(Ballast Water Treatment System) in accordance with D-2 Regulation, which physically handles ballast water from ballast water exchange system(D-1 Regulation). In this study, we analyzed in detail the optimal design method using the Risk Analysis and Evaluation technique which is mainly used in the manufacturing factory or the risky work site comparing with the traditional design concept method applying various criteria. The Risk Assessment Method is a series of processes for finding the Risk Factors in the design process, analyzing a probility of the accident and size of the accident and then quantifying the Risk Incidence and finally taking measures. In this study, this method was carried out for Electrolysis treatment type on DWT 180K Bulk Carrier using "HAZOP Study" method among various methods. In the Electrolysis type, 63 hazardous elements were identified.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
• /
• v.15 no.6
• /
• pp.2689-2692
• /
• 2014

Purpose: To investigate the risk factors for appendiceal metastasis of epithelial ovarian cancer and compare findings with the previous studies. Materials and Methods: One hundred and thirty-four patients with epithelial ovarian cancer were assessed in this study. All of them had undergone a surgical procedure including appendectomy. Of these, 21 (15.7%) patients who had appendiceal metastasis were analyzed as the case group and the patients with no metastasis were the controls, compared according to stage, grade, histology of tumor, preoperative Ca125 levels, presence of ascites, peritoneal cytology, diameter and site of tumor considered as risk factors. Results: We found statistically significant differences between the groups in terms of stage, grade, right-sided tumor location, presence of ascites, diameter of tumor${\geq}10cm$ and positive peritoneal cytology (p<0.05). In the logistic regression model, stage, grade, presence of ascites, right-sided location and diameter of tumor were independent risk factors. ROC curve analysis showed that stage, grade and diameter of the tumor were discriminative factors for appendiceal metastasis. Conclusions: In epithelial ovarian cancer, stage, grade, presence of ascites, right-sided location and large tumor size have importance for estimation of risk of appendiceal metastasis. As we compare our findings with previous studies, there is no definite recommendation for the risk factors of appendiceal metastasis in epithelial ovarian cancer and more studies are needed.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
• /
• v.17 no.3
• /
• pp.1453-1461
• /
• 2016

Regarding 'mate' intake (infusion of Ilex paraguariensis herb, a staple beverage in temperate South American regions), most epidemiologic studies showed positive associations with risk of some cancers, (e.g. upper aerodigestive tract), but evidence on breast cancer (BC) risk is limited to a previous multi-site study, which reported a non significant odds ratio [OR]=0.85, 95% confidence interval [95% CI] 0.67-1.09, p for trend=0.31) for the highest quartile of intake. The present study was conducted in order to further assess associations of 'mate' intake with BC risk. We combined two databases of women belonging to public and private healthcare hospitals. The sample included 572 BC incident cases and 889 controls interviewed with a specific questionnaire featured by socio-demographic, reproductive and lifestyle variables, and a food frequency questionnaire of 64 items, also analyzing 'mate' intake (consumer status, daily intake, age at start, age at quit, duration of habit, intensity of intake). ORs and their 95%CI were calculated through unconditional logistic regression, adjusting for relevant potential confounders. The highest quartile of 'mate' intake was inversely associated with BC risk (OR=0.40, 95%CI 0.26-0.57, p for trend <0.001). Stratified analyses also displayed strong significant inverse associations for 'mate' in frequent tea drinkers (OR=0.22), high energy intake (OR=0.23), high body mass index (OR=0.29) and in postmenopausal women (OR=0.36), among other results. As conclusions, we found evidence of a significant inverse association for 'mate' intake and BC risk.

• Journal of the Korea Safety Management & Science
• /
• v.11 no.2
• /
• pp.111-115
• /
• 2009

As shown in the accident analysis from 2007, it has been found that causes of accidents on large-scale projects are different from those found in general construction projects. A 300-question survey regarding systematic and practical aspects of safety problems at construction sites was distributed to ten (10) different companies. Participants were to respond subjectively, so that the results could be used to assemble the first formal questionnaire survey. They were collected and compiled by an advisory committee for this study. The resulting surveys were then sent to the division chiefs of the top 100 construction companies in Korea, in order to improve the response rate. The Department of Safety & Health Direction, and the :Ministry of Labor, ROK sent the same sheets to medium and small construction companies that placed within 101-200th of all Korea construction companies. The above safety engineers were classified into four (4) levels, from 1st to 4th, followed by the project dollar amount and risk level. Formulae were developed to assign safety engineers to construction sites by engineer level, the project dollar amount, and the project risk level. Conclusions are summarized as follows: 1) Reviewing the assignment system of experienced safety engineers to large scaled projects - The more experienced the engineers assigned to a project, the higher the level of accident prevention. 2) Enforcing the assignment of advanced level safety engineers to large-scaled sites - At least one advanced-level safety engineer should be assigned to construction sites with projects valued at $15million USD (15,000,000,000). 3) For assigning safety engineers by risk level - Twenty models have been developed to calculate the number of safety engineers to be assigned by risk level. In the future, risk level for each job should be established by the government (as is now the practice in Germany).

• Journal of Korean Tunnelling and Underground Space Association
• /
• v.5 no.3
• /
• pp.241-250
• /
• 2003

Rock mass is very inhomogeneous in nature and data obtained by site investigations and tests are very limited. For this reason, many uncertainties are to be included in the process of constructing structures in rock mass. In the design of a tunnel, support pattern, advance rate, and excavation method, which are important design parameters, must be determined to be optimal. However, it is not easy to determine those parameters. Moreover if those parameters are determined incorrectly, unexpected risk occurs such as decrease in the stability of a tunnel or economic loss due to the excessive supports etc. In this study, how to determine an optimal support pattern and advance rate, which are the important tunnel design parameters, is introduced based on a risk analysis. It can be confirmed quantitatively that the more supported a tunnel is, the larger reliability index becomes and the more stable the tunnel becomes. Also an optimal support pattern and advance rate can be determined quantitatively by performing a risk analysis considering construction cost and the cost of loss which can be occurred due to the collapse of a tunnel.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
• /
• v.40 no.3
• /
• pp.187-203
• /
• 2014

Objectives: As the demand to deal with pathogens in domestic research institutions has expanded and biological accidents have increased, the need for systematic biosafety management in infectious disease laboratories has grown. According to international standards, risk assessment (RA) is required for biosafety management. However, RA criteria have not been clearly established in Korea, so to this end I have attempted to determine RA criteria meeting international levels Methods: In order to provide RA criteria for application, I analyzed the RA criteria in use in the U.S., Europe and at international organizations. In order to ensure the public nature of the RA criteria, I constructed the research model through modified management consulting methodology reflecting the model of Radnor and O'Mahoney. Results: According to the results of the study, existing laboratory biosafety regulations were comparable to domestic laboratory safety laws. Existing laboratory biosafety standards that are designed around risk factors were found to be insufficient. An RA case to be carried out in infectious disease laboratories at the National Institute of Health of KCDC was identified. Conclusion: To establish a systematic risk management system meeting international standards, it was necessary first to harmonize the systems of national and international standards. In addition, in order to provide specific biosafety management on-site, I recognized a need for methodology and planning strategies to discover biosafety management so that it can be carried out as required through the RA of individual laboratories.

• Environmental Analysis Health and Toxicology
• /
• v.25 no.3
• /
• pp.223-228
• /
• 2010

Neocaridina denticulata is a small freshwater shrimp indigenous to Korea. As an indigenous species has long-adapted to particular water environments, the species can be a suitable indicator to assess environmental risks caused by hazard chemicals in the particular site. Thus Neocaridina denticulata, a small freshwater shrimp indigenous to Korea, is worth considering for a test species for such purpose. N. denticulata were exposed to pentachlorophenol sodium salt, sodium azide and potassium dichromate using automatic flow-through system for 96 hours. The 96 hr lethal concentrations ($LC_{50}$) of these chemicals were calculated as $0.53{\pm}0.09\;mg/L$, $2.40{\pm}0.61\;mg/L$ and $1.21{\pm}0.09\;mg/L$ respectively and showed relatively small deviation from repetitive test results. When compared with the toxicity values of other species for each chemical, N. denticulata had moderate or high sensitivity to the toxicity of these chemicals. It can be concluded that N. denticulata is a good test species to evaluate acute toxicity of various hazardous chemicals.

• Korean Chemical Engineering Research
• /
• v.60 no.4
• /
• pp.506-511
• /
• 2022

In the Chemicals Control Act, a system was implemented to unify off-site risk assessment and risk management plan into the prevention and management system for chemical accidents. Among the hazardous chemicals which have been covered in system, the accident preparation substances are designated as chemical substances that are likely to occur and of which damage scale are likely to be large in the event of chemical accidents. In this study, risks were compared by selecting accident preparation substances with similar regulated quantities. In addition, risk assessment studies were conducted applying the accident scenarios. Four types of materials such as ammonia, hydrogen chloride, carbon disulfide and benzene were selected for the study, and risks were finally analyzed using Safeti 8.0, a quantitative risk assessment program by DNV. As a result, some materials are identified to have high risks comparing to other substances having similar regulated quantities.

• Geomechanics and Engineering
• /
• v.35 no.6
• /
• pp.581-591
• /
• 2023

North Anatolian Fault Zone is tectonically active with recent earthquakes (Mw7.6 1999-Kocaeli and Mw7.2 1999-Düzce earthquakes) and it passes through Marmara region, which is highly industrialized, densely populated and economically important part of Turkey. Many power plants, located in Marmara region, are exposed to high seismic hazard. In this study, open source OpenQuake software has been used for the probabilistic earthquake hazard analysis of Marmara region and risk assessment for the specified energy facility. The SHARE project seismic zonation model has been used in the analysis with the regional sources, NGA GMPEs and site model logic trees. The earthquake hazard results have been compared with the former and existing earthquake resistant design regulations in Turkey, TSC 2007 and TBSCD 2018. In the scope of the study, the seismic hazard assessment for a typical natural gas combined cycle power plant located in Marmara region has been achieved. The seismic risk assessment has been accomplished for a typical control building located in the power plant using obtained seismic hazard results. The structural and non-structural fragility functions and a consequence model have been used in the seismic risk assessment. Based on the seismic hazard level with a 2% probability of exceedance in 50 years, considered for especially these type of critical structures, the ratios of structural and non-structural loss to the total building cost were obtained as 8.8% and 45.7%, respectively. The results of the study enable the practical seismic risk assessment of the critical facility located on different regions.