Mercury is one of the most common heavy metals and a major environmental pollutant that affects ecosystems. Since mercury and its compounds are toxic to humans, even at low concentrations, it is very ...important to monitor mercury contamination in water and foods. Although conventional mercury detection methods, including inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry, atomic absorption spectroscopy, and gas chromatography–mass spectrometry, exhibit excellent sensitivity and accuracy, they require operation by an expert in a sophisticated and fully controlled laboratory environment. To overcome these limitations and realize point-of-care testing, many novel methods for direct sample analysis in the field have recently been developed by improving the speed and simplicity of detection. Commonly, these unconventional sensors rely on colorimetric, fluorescence, or electrochemical mechanisms to transduce signals from mercury. In the case of colorimetric and fluorescent sensors, benchtop methods have gradually evolved through technology convergence to give standalone platforms, such as paper-based assays and lab-on-a-chip systems, and portable measurement devices, such as smartphones. Electrochemical sensors that use screen-printed electrodes with carbon or metal nanomaterials or hybrid materials to improve sensitivity and stability also provide promising detection platforms. This review summarizes the current state of sensor platforms for the on-field detection of mercury with a focus on key features and recent developments. Furthermore, trends for next-generation mercury sensors are suggested based on a paradigm shift to the active integration of cutting-edge technologies, such as drones, systems based on artificial intelligence, machine learning, and three-dimensional printing, and high-quality smartphones.
Herein, we review the recent progress in the synthesis of representative nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), ibuprofen and naproxen. Although these drugs were discovered over 50 years ago, ...novel practical and asymmetric approaches are still being developed for their synthesis. In addition, this endeavor has enabled access to more potent and selective derivatives from the key frameworks of ibuprofen and naproxen. The development of a synthetic route to ibuprofen and naproxen over the last 10 years is summarized, including developing methodologies, finding novel synthetic routes, and applying continuous-flow chemistry.
The EQ-5D-5L valuation study in Korea Kim, Seon-Ha; Ahn, Jeonghoon; Ock, Minsu ...
Quality of life research,
07/2016, Letnik:
25, Številka:
7
Journal Article
Recenzirano
Purpose This study aimed to estimate Korean preference weights for EQ-5D-5L based on values elicited from Korean population by applying the EuroQol Valuation Technology (EQ-VT) program and the ...standard protocol by the EuroQol Group. Methods The multistage quota sampling method was used to recruit 1085 subjects from the general population in Korea. Each respondent valuated 10 health states using the composite time trade-off (cTTO) and 7 health states using discrete choice experiment. The EQ-VT program was developed by the EuroQol Group and translated into Korean with the Korean research team. Computer-assisted, face-to-face interviews were conducted. A range of predictive models were explored using cTTO. The most appropriate model was determined after assessing goodness of fit, logical consistency, and parsimony. Results Of 3206 contacted, 1085 subjects completed interviews (33.8 %) and 1080 were used for modeling. A model with dummy variables for each level of severity and dimension and a term that picked up whether any dimension in the state was at level 4 or 5 was selected as the best predictive model. All coefficients of the final model were statistically significant and logically consistent. In addition, it was parsimonious. This model had mean absolute error of 0.027, and the absolute error for all 86 health states was below 0.1. Conclusions The final model built in this study appears to predict the utilities of the states which were valuated directly. This model could be used to interpolate quality weights for all EQ-5D-5L health states.
The psychometric properties of the Korean Short Form-12 Health Survey, version 2 (SF-12 v2) have not been assessed in the general population. Therefore, the aim of our study was to evaluate the ...psychometric properties of the Korean version of the SF-12 v2 in the general population and to provide SF-12 v2 domain scores according to the general characteristics of the study population.
A total of 1,000 participants from the general Korean population were recruited using a multistage quota sampling method. Psychometric properties were evaluated by descriptive statistics, validity, reliability, and exploratory factor analysis.
Item convergent and discriminant validity met the criteria established by the instrument developer. In the known-group comparison, male gender, age <60 years, high educational status, and absence of any comorbidity were significantly associated with high scale scores. The reliability of all SF-12 v2 items was 0.88.
The findings of this study generally support the idea that the Korean SF-12 v2 is a feasible, valid, and reliable instrument for assessing health-related quality of life in the general population. The SF-12 v2 seems to be a viable alternative health-related quality of life instrument for the Korean population.
We compared surgical resection (SR) and radiofrequency ablation (RFA) as first-line treatment in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) based on the risk of microvascular invasion (MVI).
The ...best curative treatment modality between SR and RFA in patients with HCC with MVI remains unclear.
Data from 2 academic cancer center-based cohorts of patients with a single, small (≤3 cm) HCC who underwent SR were used to derive (n = 276) and validate (n = 101) prediction models for MVI using clinical and imaging variables. The MVI prediction model was developed using multivariable logistic regression analysis and externally validated. Early recurrence (<2 years) based on risk stratification between SR (n = 276) and RFA (n = 240) was evaluated via propensity score matching.
In the multivariable analysis, alpha-fetoprotein (≥15 ng/mL), protein induced by vitamin K absence-II (≥48 mAU/mL), arterial peritumoral enhancement, and hepatobiliary peritumoral hypointensity on magnetic resonance imaging were associated with MVI. Incorporating these factors, the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve of the predictive model was 0.87 (95% confidence interval: 0.82-0.92) and 0.82 (95% confidence interval: 0.74-0.90) in the derivation and validation cohorts, respectively. SR was associated with a lower rate of early recurrence than RFA based on the risk of MVI after propensity score matching (P < 0.05).
Our model predicted the risk of MVI in patients with a small (≤ 3 cm) HCC with high accuracy. Patients with MVI who had undergone RFA were more vulnerable to recurrence than those who had undergone SR.
The prevalence of metabolic syndrome (MS) is increasing among the elderly, and new lifestyle-based treatment strategies are warranted. We conducted a randomized, double-blind controlled trial of the ...effects of aquatic exercise (AE) and/or consumption of burdock root extract (BE) on body composition and serum sex hormones, i.e., testosterone, estradiol, sex hormone-binding globulin (SHBG), and dehydroepiandrosterone-sulfate (DHEA-S) in elderly women with MS. The percentage of abdominal fat was decreased in the AE group. Waist circumference was increased in the control (CON) group, but not in the other groups. SHBG and estradiol levels were enhanced by both AE and BE and correlated with changes in fat-related body composition. DHEA-S levels only increased in the BE group, which was consistent with changes in lean body mass. Testosterone levels decreased in the CON group, which correlated with changes in lean body mass, skeletal muscle mass, body fat, and waist circumference. Our findings suggested that the combined AE/BE intervention exerted no synergistic and/or additive effects on any sex-related outcome measures in elderly women with MS.
Microalgae not only serve as raw materials for biofuel but also have uses in the food, pharmaceutical, and cosmetic industries. However, regulated gene expression in microalgae has only been achieved ...in a few strains due to the lack of genome information and unstable transformation. This study developed a species-specific transformation system for an oleaginous microalga, Ettlia sp. YC001, using electroporation. The electroporation was optimized using three parameters (waveform, field strength, and number of pulses), and the final selection was a 5 kV cm
field strength using an exponential decay wave with one pulse. A new strong endogenous promoter CRT (Pcrt) was identified using transcriptome and quantitative PCR analysis of highly expressed genes during the late exponential growth phase. The activities of this promoter were characterized using a codon optimized cyan fluorescent protein (CFP) as a reporter. The expression of CFP was similar under Pcrt and under the constitutive promoter psaD (PpsaD). The developed transformation system using electroporation with the endogenous promoter is simple to prepare, is easy to operate with high repetition, and utilizes a species-specific vector for high expression. This system could be used not only in molecular studies on microalgae but also in various industrial applications of microalgae.
Purpose The EQ-5D-5L was developed to compensate for a high ceiling effect and lack of descriptive richness of the EQ-5D-3L. We evaluated psychometric properties of EQ-5D-5L in the general ...population. Methods Six hundred of adults were sampled from the general population in South Korea using a multistage stratified quota sampling method. Participants completed the EQ-5D-5L, EQ-5D-3L, and SF-36v2. One hundred participants were resurveyed for reliability evaluation. The ceiling effect, known-groups construct validity, convergent and discriminant validity, and reliability of EQ-5D-5L were evaluated. Results A smaller proportion of participants answered ‘no problem’ to all dimensions of EQ-5D-5L (61.2 %) than EQ-5D-3L (65.7 %, p < 0.01), indicating a reduced ceiling effect. Female, elderly, low-educated, and low-income participants reported health problems more frequently, indicating known-groups construct validity. The mobility dimension of EQ-5D-5L was better correlated with the physical component score (|r| = 0.48) than the mental component score (|r| = 0.25) of the SF-36v2, and the anxiety/depression dimension was better correlated with mental component score (|r| = 0.45) than physical component score (|r| = 0.34), indicating convergent and discriminant validity. The intraclass correlation coefficient of EQ-5D-5L index was 0.75. Conclusions The EQ-5D-5L has a smaller ceiling effect than the EQ-5D-3L and is a valid and reliable instrument to measure health-related quality of life in the general population.
ABSTRACT
Aim
Although a National Health Screening Program (NHSP) for chronic kidney disease (CKD) has been implemented in Korea since 2002, its cost‐effectiveness has never been determined. This ...study aimed to estimate the cost‐utility of NHSP for CKD in Korea.
Methods
A Markov decision analytic model was constructed to compare CKD screening strategies of the NHSP with no screening. We developed a model that simulated disease progression in a cohort aged 20–120 years or death from the societal perspective.
Results
Biannual screening starting at age 40 for CKD by proteinuria (dipstick) and estimated glomerular filtration ratio had an ICUR of $66 874/QALY relative to no screening. The targeted screening strategy had an ICUR of $37 812/QALY and $40 787/QALY for persons with diabetes and hypertension, respectively. ICURs improved with lower cost strategies. The most influential parameter that might make screening more cost‐effective was the effectiveness of treatment on CKD to decrease disease progression and mortality.
Conclusions
The Korean NHSP for CKD is more cost‐effective for patients with diabetes or hypertension than the general population, consistent with prior studies. Although it is too early to conclude the cost‐effectiveness of the Korean NHSP for CKD, this study provides evidence that is useful in evaluating the cost‐effectiveness of CKD interventions.
Summary at a Glance
The authors successfully demonstrate that the Korean National Health Screening Program (NHSP) for CKD is more cost‐effective for patients with diabetes or hypertension than the general population.
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