• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.14 no.1
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• pp.20-24
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• 2020

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Malnutrition has multiple impacts on surgical success, postoperative complications, duration of hospital stay, and costs, particularly for cancer patients. There are various nutrition risk screening tools available for clinical use. Herein, we aim to determine the most appropriate nutritional risk screening system for esophageal cancer (EC) patients in China. SUBJECTS/METHODS: In total, 138 EC patients were enrolled in this study and evaluated by experienced nurses using three different nutritional screening tools, the Nutrition Risk Screening 2002 tool (NRS2002), the Patient-generated Subjective Globe Assessment (PG-SGA), and the Nutrition Risk Index (NRI).We compared sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative likelihood ratios, and Youden index generated by each of the three screening tools. Finally, cut-off points for all three tools were re-defined to optimize and validate the best nutritional risk screening tool for assessing EC patients. RESULTS: Our data suggested that all three screening tools were 100% sensitive for EC patients, while the specificities were 44.4%, 2.96%, and 59.26% for NRS 2002, PG-SGA, and NRI, respectively. NRI had a higher positive likelihood ratio as well as a higher area under the receiver operating characteristic curve compared to those of NRS 2002 and PG-SGA; although, all three tools had null negative likelihood ratios. After adjusting the cut-off points, the specificity and accuracy for all tools were significantly improved, however, the NRI remained the most appropriate nutritional risk screening system for EC patients. CONCLUSIONS: The NRI is the most suitable (highest sensitivity and accuracy) nutritional risk screening tool for EC patients. The performance of the NRI can be significantly improved if the cut-off point is modified according to the results obtained using MedCalc software.

• The Plant Pathology Journal
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• v.20 no.3
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• pp.206-211
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• 2004

Transgenic Nicotiana benthamiana plants harboring coat protein (CP) gene of Zucchini green mottle mosaic virus (ZGMMV) were generated for virus-resistant screening and complementation analysis of related viruses for environmental safety assessment (SA) of living modified organism (LMO) purposes. Transformation of leaf disc of N.benthamiana was performed by using Agrobacterium-mediated method and the pZGC-PPGA748 containing the ZGMMV CP and NPTII genes. Two kinds of transgenic homozygous groups, virus-resistant and virus-susceptible N.benthamiana lines, were obtained by screening of challenging homologous virus for Tl generations. These two pathologically different lines can be useful for host-virus interactions and LMO environmental SA.

• The Korean Journal of Rehabilitation Nursing
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• v.13 no.1
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• pp.5-12
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• 2010

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to examine the psychometric properties of the Korean version of the General Practitioner Assessment of Cognition (K-GPCog) scale. Method: The K-GPCog consists of the 2 subscales, patients and caregivers. Using a sample of 412 community-based Korean older adults, internal consistency reliability was estimated using Cronbach's alpha. To evaluate validity of the K-GPCog, correlational analysis was conducted using Pearson r between K-GPCog and the Korean Dementia Screening Questionnaire (KDSQ). Results: Cronbach's alpha coefficients of the K-GPCog patients' and caregivers' subscales .788 and .794 respectively. Pearson's correlation coefficients were r=-.374, r=-.481, and r=-.493, respectively for the subscales of patients and primary caregivers, and total K-GPCog. The degree of diagnostic agreement about the risk for cognitive disorders of older adults showed 11.7% and 11.2% respectively for the K-GPCog and the KDSQ. Conclusion: The findings provided preliminary evidence of the K-GPCog as a useful screening measure for detecting mild cognitive disorders of Korean older adults. The K-GPCog is particularly useful to identify cognitive disorders from primary caregivers when it is difficult to assess the level of cognition of older adults.

• Quality Improvement in Health Care
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• v.22 no.2
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• pp.27-40
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• 2016

Purpose: Globally, falls are a major public health problem. The study aimed to evaluate the predictive validity of the Timed Up and Go test (TUGT) as a screening tool for fall risk. Methods: An electronic search was performed Medline, EMBASE, CINAHL, Cochran Library, KoreaMed and the National Digital Science Library and other databases, using the following keywords: 'fall', 'fall risk assessment', 'fall screening', 'mobility scale', and 'risk assessment tool'. The QUADAS-II was applied to assess the internal validity of the diagnostic studies. Thirteen studies were analyzed using meta-analysis with MetaDisc 1.4. Results: The selected 13 studies reporting predictive validity of TUGT of fall risks were meta-analyzed with a sample size of 1004 with high methodological quality. Overall predictive validity of TGUT was as follows. The pooled sensitivity 0.72 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.67-0.77), pooled specificity 0.58 (95% CI: 0.54-0.63) and sROC AUC was 0.75 respectively. Heterogeneity among studies was a moderate level in sensitivity. Conclusion: The TGUT's predictive validity for fall risk is at a moderate level. Although there is a limit to interpret the results for heterogeneity between the literature, TGUT is an appropriate tool to apply to all patients at a potential risk of accidental fall in a hospital or long-term care facility.

• Child Health Nursing Research
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• v.18 no.3
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• pp.95-100
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• 2012

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to facilitate home visits to assess the current rate of child abuse in order to provide an agenda for the early detection and prevention of child abuse and neglect in Korea. Methods: For this retrospective descriptive research, 20 public health centers were selected, 1,991 families were visited and 2,680 children were assessed. Results: We found 415 cases (15.5%) of potential abuse and 7 cases (0.3%) of actual abuse. The greatest risk group was to children age 4 to 6 years. According to the HOME Inventory, there were 17 infants (5.8%) presenting a potential risk for child abuse and neglect. Conclusion: Visitation screening is highly recommended for prevention in the high-risk preschool age group.

• Journal of Environmental Impact Assessment
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• v.18 no.3
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• pp.131-141
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• 2009

We studied improvement in marine environmental impact assessment and related management systems of coastal sediments that are dredged inshore but disposed offshore. After reviewing and diagnosing the existing assessment procedures and problems, we recommend to design the core assessment items and improve the reliability of assessment byenhancing the quality assurance/quality control (QA/QC) and verification processes. We proposed eco-friendly disposal plan for dredging sediment such as reuse system in land development was explored. A marine environmental database system was established to support the assessment processes. Guidelines for marine research and modelling were proposed for improving assessment of dredging and disposal of coastal sediment. Also, applying of screening and scoping for marine environmental assessment was reviewed.

• Journal of the Korean Dietetic Association
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.11-24
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• 2015

This study investigated the general status of tube feeding for intensive care unit (ICU) inpatients and evaluated the consequent nutritional status of patients. This study was approved by the Institutional Review Board (IRB) of a general hospital located in Daegu metropolitan city. The subjects of this study were 80 adult patients who had been admitted to the ICU of a hospital, received fed tube feeding, and then been discharged. The differences in nutrition screening indicators, including percentage ideal body weight (PIBW), serum albumin, hemoglobin, total lymphocyte count, and total cholesterol, before and after tube feeding according to body mass index (BMI) or nutrient feeding levels were investigated. The ratios of actually provided amounts to calorie and protein requirements of patients were $72.8{\pm}15.8%$ and $72.6{\pm}19.8%$, respectively. The change in PIBW before and after tube feeding was significantly different among the BMI groups (P<0.01). The change in hemoglobin concentration before and after tube feeding was also significantly different among the BMI groups (P<0.01). When subjects were divided into three groups (<60%, 60~79%, ${\geq}80%$) according to the ratio of actually provided calories to required calories, there was no significant difference in nutrition screening indicators before and after tube feeding. When the subjects were divided into three groups (<60%, 60~79%, ${\geq}80%$) according to the ratio of actually provided protein to required protein, serum albumin concentration showed a significant difference among the groups before and after tube feeding (P<0.05). Therefore, an intensive nutrition intervention program would be needed for the nutritional improvement of ICU inpatients receiving tube feeding.

• Journal of Environmental Impact Assessment
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• v.13 no.2
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• pp.57-71
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• 2004

This study aims to review the environmental impact assessment systems of Japanese local governments, to compare its outcome with the systems of Korean local governments, and to suggest the development direction for the environmental impact assessment systems of Korean local governments based on the result. The study results showed that, first, due to distinction in the political systems of Japan and Korea, while Japan has bottom-up environmental impact assessment systems, Korea has topdown environment impact assessment systems. Second, although introduction of national systems on planning was put on hold as a future initiative, local governments including Tokyo and Saitama are experimenting evaluation procedures tailored to local features by legislating them as regulations. On the other hand, while 'prior environmental review system' was in effect as a national system, nothing was practiced at all by local governments. Third, in a total of 47 Japanese local governments, about 45 projects and 44 assessment items were added to local government environmental impact assessment only and designated as target projects and assessment items. Fourth, in both national and local environment impact assessment systems in Japan, screening procedures to determine assessment by separating into Type 1 projects and Type 2 projects and scoping procedures to discuss assessment items in advance were introduced and in effect. This Japanese EIA system may serve as a good reference to the Korean national and local government EIA systems.

• Molecular & Cellular Toxicology
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• v.3 no.3
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• pp.185-189
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• 2007

Gene expression levels of choriogenin, vitellogenin and estrogen receptor were determined using Reverse transcription (RT)-PCR technique after exposure to estrogenic chemical bisphenol A in the Korean wild medaka (Oryzias sinensis). These genes have been known to be induced in male test fish when the fish are exposed to estrogenic chemicals. Therefore they can be suggested as a possible biomarker of endocrine disruption in fish, however, relatively little has been known about these genes expression by estrogenic chemicals in Korean wild fish. Mature male Oryzias sinensis were treated with bisphenol A at nominal concentrations of 0.02, 0.2 and 2 mg/L for 6 days and total RNA was extracted from the livers of treated fish for RT-PCR. When the five biomarker genes were amplified by RT-PCR in the same condition, mRNA induction level of each gene was elevated with different sensitivities. Conclusively, the results of this work indicated that measurement of vitellogenin and choriogenin using RT-PCR is effective as a simple tool for the screening of estrogenic chemicals and suggested that O. sinensis would be a suitable model fish for the environmental risk assessment of potential endocrine disruptors.

• Journal of Nuclear Fuel Cycle and Waste Technology(JNFCWT)
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.149-164
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• 2023

As part of the safety case development for generic disposal sites in Korea, it is necessary to develop generic assessment models using various geosphere-biosphere interfaces (GBIs) and potentially exposed groups (PEGs) that reflect the natural environmental characteristics and the lifestyles of people in Korea. In this study, a unique modeling strategy was developed to systematically construct and select Korean generic biosphere assessment models. The strategy includes three process steps (combination, screening, and experts' scoring) for the biosphere system conditions. First, various conditions, such as climate, topography, GBIs, and PEGs, were combined in the biosphere system. Second, the combined calculation cases were configured into interrelation matrices to screen out some calculation cases that were highly unlikely or less significant in terms of the exposure dose. Finally, the selected calculation cases were prioritized based on expert judgment by scoring the knowledge, probability, and importance. The results of this study can be implemented in the development of biosphere assessment models for Korean generic sites. It is believed that this systematic methodology for selecting the candidate calculation cases can contribute to increasing the confidence of future site-specific biosphere assessment models.