• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.15 no.3
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• pp.1313-1320
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• 2014

Introduction: Although most prostate cancers initially respond to castration with luteinizing hormonereleasing analogues or bilateral orchiectomy, progression eventually occurs. Based on the exciting results of several randomized controlled trials (RCTs), it seems that patients with metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC) might benefit more from treatment withabiraterone. Therefore we conducted a systematic review to evaluate the efficacy and toxicity of abiraterone in the treatment of mCRPC. Methods: Literature was searched from Embase, PubMed, Web of Science, and Cochrane Library up to July, 2013. Quality of the study was evaluated according to the Cochrane's risk of bias of randomized controlled trial (RCT) tool, then the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation (GRADE) System was used to rate the level of evidence. Stata 12.0 was used for statistical analysis. Summary data from RCTs comparing abiraterone plus prednisone versus placebo plus prednisone for mCRPC were meta-analyzed. Pooled hazard ratios (HRs) for overall survival (OS), radiographic progression-free survival (RPFS) and time to PSA progression (TTPP); Pooled risk ratios (RR) for PSA response rate, objective response rate and adverse event were calculated. Results: Ten trials were included in the systematic review; Data of 2,283 patients (1,343 abiraterone; 940 placebo) from two phase 3 trials: COU-AA-301 and COU-AA-302 were meta-analyzed. Compared with placebo, abiraterone significantly prolonged OS (HR, 0.74; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.66 to 0.84), RPFS (HR, 0.59; 95% CI, 0.48 to 0.74) and time to PSA progression (HR, 0.55; 95% CI, 0.43 to 0.70); it also significantly increased PSA response rate (RR, 3.63; 95% CI, 1.72 to 7.65) and objective response rate (RR, 3.05; 95% CI, 1.51 to 6.15). This meta-analysis suggested that the adverse events caused by abiraterone are acceptable and can be controlled. Conclutios: Abiraterone significantly prolonged OS, RPFS and time to progression patients with mCRPC, regardless of prior chemotherapy or whether chemotherapy-na$\ddot{i}$ve, and no unexpected toxicity was evident. Abiraterone can serve as a new standard therapy for mCRPC.

• Journal of the Korean Recycled Construction Resources Institute
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• v.3 no.1
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• pp.7-14
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• 2015

The aim of this research is suggesting dry processed bottom ash as a new and economical source of lightweight aggregate for mortar and concrete. The dry process of bottom ash is an advance method of water-free and no chloride because only cooled down by double dry conveyer belt systems. Furthermore, because of relatively slow cooling down process helps burning up the remaining carbon in bottom ash. Using this dry process bottom ash, to evaluate the feasibility of using as a lightweight aggregate for mortar and concrete, two-phase of experiments were conducted: 1) improving shape of the bottom ash, and 2) controlling grade of the bottom ash. From the first phase of experiment, additional abrasing process was conducted for round shape bottom ash, hence improved workability and compressive strength was achieved while unit weight was increased comparatively. Based on the better shape of bottom ash, from the second phase, various grades were adopted on cement mortar, standard grade showed the most favorable results on fresh and hardened properties. It is considered that the results of this research contribute on widening sustainable method of using bottom ash based on the dry process and increasing value of bottom ash as a lightweight aggregate for concrete.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.42 no.4
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• pp.237-242
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• 2009

Objectives : The incidence of zoonoses in Korea has increased recently. However, the study of high risk groups for zoonoses has not been conducted to date in Korea. Thus, we did this study to obtain data on brucellosis among slaughterhouse workers in Korea. Methods : We evaluated the structure of slaughterhouses and the process of slaughtering by reviewing the relevant literature and doing field studies. We visited 73 slaughterhouses and 62 residual products handle houses across the country. In addition, we conducted a questionnaire survey of the work activities, and obtained blood samples in order to determine the seroprevalence and risk factors of brucellosis. The titers of brucellosis antibodies were measured using the standard tube agglutination test SAT). We diagnosed subjects as seropositive for Brucellosis if the titers were more than 1:160. The data collected was evaluated using SPSS ver. 17.0. Results : We included 1,503 subjects and obtained 1,482 blood samples among them: 849 workers involved in slaughtering, 351 handlers of residual products, 190 inspectors and their assistants, and 92 grading testers and their assistants. The seroprevalence of brucellosis among the slaughterhouse workers was 0.8% (95% CI=0.4-1.5). Broken down, the seroprevalence of brucellosis among the workers involved in slaughtering was 0.7% (95% CI=0.3-1.6), the handlers of residual products was 1.7% (95% CI=0.7-3.9) respectively. Risk factors for contracting brucellosis among slaughterhouse workers were being splashed with cattle blood around the mouth, cattle secretions around the body and not putting on protective apron while at work. Conclusions : An educational program is needed for high risk groups on zoonoses about the prevention of infection. Thus, effective working guidelines for workers who participate in the slaughter of animals must be developed in order to protect them from zoonoses.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Clinical Toxicology
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• v.5 no.2
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• pp.99-105
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• 2007

Purpose: Pyrethroid is an insecticide that produces moderate intoxication in mammals, with neither exposure to skin nor inhalation resulting in severe systemic manifestations. In 2005 we made a nationwide survey of agrichemical human intoxication. The object of this study is to analyze pyrethroid intoxications based on the 2005 survey. Methods: We prospectively collected data from 1 August 2005 to 31 July 2006 by a standard investigation protocol. We analyzed demographic data, exposure data (cause, amount, ingredients), clinical features, and courses. Results: A total of 125 cases of pyrethroid intoxication were surveyed. The mean patient age was $56.78{\pm}16.158$ years old, and the mean amount ingested was $121.85{\pm}110.732ml$. Patients were classified into four severity groups according to symptoms and mental status: the asymptomatic group (27 patients, 21.6%), the mild symptom group (48, 38.4%), the moderate symptom group (21, 16.8%), and the severe symptom group (7, 5.6%). There were statistically significant differences in mental status, severity, and mean ICU days between two groups. Admission days by severity grade for the asymptomatic, mild, moderate, and severe symptom groups were $5.49{\pm}16.051,\;3.65{\pm}4.143,\;4.59{\pm}3.335,\;and\;8.14{\pm}7.199days$, respectively (p=0.047). Conclusion: Nationwide surveillance was extremely telling in uncovering a high frequency of agrichemical intoxication in Korea. In pyrethroid intoxication, severity grading can be a useful prognostic tool.

• The Journal of the Korea Contents Association
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• v.13 no.4
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• pp.170-186
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• 2013

As the population is getting older, medical expenses amount of the whole is keep increasing. So, the pressure of the finances, Health Insurance, Medical Care Assistance Act and etc, is getting higher. The share of healthcare-expense is increasing due to elderly illness. And it became a social problem; we analysed present state of senior healthcare in South Korea-looked into current laws and policies, and found problems. We tried to suggest improvements that drew from the current state of foreign country senior healthcare of those problems. For the result, we found the problem in relevant-law system of senior healthcare guarantee. In this study, we proposed the ways to qualitatively upgrade of medical standard that considered on elderly' features: the strengthened guarantee for healthcare, financial secure for long-term convalescence benefit, linking and functional reinforcement for elderly welfare and long-term convalescence insurance, the solution for overlapped laws about convalescence in long-term convalescence insurance and elderly welfare, a betterment of grading, and a home service consolidation. We need to secure right amount of emergency medical service budget, and effective management system for the improved level of senior severely emergency medical service. Furthermore, we suggested that South Korea needs to legislate [The Law for Senior Medical Secure] to respond to rapidly increasing senior healthcare fee.

• Korean journal of applied entomology
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• v.44 no.4 s.141
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• pp.307-315
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• 2005

In this study we tried to develop a biological method for evaluating environment using the potter wasps as an indicator. Wasp species in family Eumenidae, were collected from 13 locations including agricultural area using nest trap. The wasps collected were classified and selected candidate species as an environmental evaluation indicator. Seven species were collected and the Anterhynchium flavomarginatum was the most dominant species. The number of the nest of potter wasps was 12.8/m both in the non-fertilizer and the non-pesticide areas and 7.2/m in the general agricultural areas. The number of nests was 13.4/m in the location where the Degree of Green Naturality (DGN) was high (4.28) and it was 1.2/m where the DGN was low (1.00), suggesting that the index of both richness and diversity tend to increase in locations with more nests. Based on these results, A. flavomarginatum, Orancistrocerus drewseni (Saussure), Isodontia nigellus and Chalicodoma sculpturalis were selected as indicator species for the evaluation of environment including agricultural ecosystem. And a standard for grading an environment (I to IV) was made based on the occurrence, the total number of nesting and the species diversity of potter wasps.

• Journal of Gifted/Talented Education
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• v.26 no.4
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• pp.677-697
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• 2016

This study analyzed the difference in evaluation results in evaluating identical products by applying two different types of evaluating scales, Creative Product Analysis Matrix (CPAM) and Creative Product Semantic Scale (CPSS) by O'Quin and Bessember (1989). As a result, evaluation based on explicit knowledge scored lower than evaluation based on implicit knowledge, implying that the evaluation becomes stricter. When evaluated with CPSS, which as relatively more segmentalized grading criteria, all sub-dimensions of creativity showed low scores, and it show that when evaluator's first impression or personal evaluation standard on the products is firm, they may not be evaluated by the evaluation tools. Gifted education teachers were giving similar evaluations as experts in creative product evaluation, and understanding the product evaluation tool fully in advance before teaching or evaluating products may lead to the generation of newer, more useful and appropriate, and highly creative product with high solvability.

• Journal of Animal Science and Technology
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• v.49 no.4
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• pp.523-530
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• 2007

A total of 127 Korean native black pigs(gilt 30, boar 97) were used to investigate the carcass properties, yields of retail cut and meat quality. The average live weight, chilled carcass percentage and retail cut percentage used in this study were 74.69kg, 71.14% and 61.09% for boar, and 75.5kg, 73.88% and 56.25% for gilt, respectively. Although gilts were higher in live weight and chilled carcass percentage whereas lower in retail cut percentage when compared to boars, there was no significantly difference between gender(p<0.05). Gilts had higher fat contents than boars regardless of weight range groups. Protein contents increased as slaughter weight increased for gilt and boar groups. Gilts contained high intramuscular fat contents had significantly lower Warner-Bratzler shear force(WBS) and water holding capacity(WHC) when compared to boar in the same weight range group(p<0.05). There was no significantly different in meat color(p>0.05) although gilts had higher L(lightness), a(redness) and b(yellowness) values when compared to the same group of boar. From the result of this study can be used for the grading guideline and quality evaluation standard of Korean native black pigs by gender and live weight.

• Journal of Animal Science and Technology
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• v.49 no.4
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• pp.531-538
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• 2007

A total of 127 Korean native black pigs(gilt 30, boar 97) were used to investigate the carcass properties, yields of retail cut and meat quality. The average live weight, chilled carcass percentage and retail cut percentage used in this study were 74.69kg, 71.14% and 61.09% for boar, and 75.5kg, 73.88% and 56.25% for gilt, respectively. Although gilts were higher in live weight and chilled carcass percentage whereas lower in retail cut percentage when compared to boars, there was no significantly difference between gender(p<0.05). Gilts had higher fat contents than boars regardless of weight range groups. Protein contents increased as slaughter weight increased for gilt and boar groups. Gilts contained high intramuscular fat contents had significantly lower Warner-Bratzler shear force(WBS) and water holding capacity(WHC) when compared to boar in the same weight range group(p<0.05). There was no significantly different in meat color(p>0.05) although gilts had higher L(lightness), a(redness) and b(yellowness) values when compared to the same group of boar. From the result of this study can be used for the grading guideline and quality evaluation standard of Korean native black pigs by gender and live weight.

• Asian Spine Journal
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• v.12 no.6
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• pp.1060-1068
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• 2018

Study Design: Retrospective study. Purpose: Lumbar intervertebral disc degeneration is an important cause of low back pain. Overview of Literature: Spinal fusion is often reported to have a good course for adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS). However, many studies have reported that adjacent segment degeneration is accelerated after lumbar spinal fusion. Radiography is a simple method used to evaluate the orientation of the vertebral column. magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is the method most often used to specifically evaluate intervertebral disc degeneration. The Pfirrmann classification is a well-known method used to evaluate degenerative lumbar disease. After spinal fusion, an increase in stress, excess mobility, increased intra-disc pressure, and posterior displacement of the axis of motion have been observed in the adjacent segments. Methods: we retrospectively secured and analyzed the data of 15 patients (four boys and 11 girls) with AIS who underwent a spinal fusion surgery. We studied the full-length view of the spine (anterior-posterior and lateral) from the X-ray and MRI obtained from all patients before surgery. Postoperatively, another full-length spine X-ray and lumbosacral MRI were obtained from all participants. Then, pelvic tilt, sacral slope, curve correction, and fused and free segments before and after surgery were calculated based on X-ray studies. MRI images were used to estimate the degree to which intervertebral discs were degenerated using Pfirrmann grading system. Pfirrmann grade before and after surgery were compared with Wilcoxon signed rank test. While analyzing the contribution of potential risk factors for the post-spinal fusion Pfirrmann grade of disc degeneration, we used generalized linear models with robust standard error estimates to account for intraclass correlation that may have been present between discs of the same patient. Results: The mean age of the participant was 14 years, and the mean curvature before and after surgery were 67.8 and 23.8, respectively (p<0.05). During the median follow-up of 5 years, the mean degree of the disc degeneration significantly increased in all patients after surgery (p<0.05) with a Pfirrmann grade of 1 and 2.8 in the L2-L3 before and after surgery, respectively. The corresponding figures at L3-L4, L4-L5, and L5-S1 levels were 1.28 and 2.43, 1.07 and 2.35, and 1 and 2.33, respectively. The lower was the number of free discs below the fusion level, the higher was the Pfirrmann grade of degeneration (p<0.001). Conversely, the higher was the number of the discs fused together, the higher was the Pfirrmann grade. Conclusions: we observed that the disc degeneration aggravated after spinal fusion for scoliosis. While the degree of degeneration as measured by Pfirrmann grade was directly correlated by the number of fused segments, it was negatively correlated with the number of discs that remained free below the lowermost level of the fusion.