Magnetic Resonance Elastography and Diffusion Weighted Imaging in the Evaluation of Hepatic Fibrosis in Chronic Hepatitis B

( Tiffany P. Hennedige ),( Gang Wang ),( Fiona P. Leung ),( Hind S. Alsaif ),( Lynette Ls Teo ),( Seng Gee Lim ),( Aileen Wee ),( Sudhakar K. Venkatesh ) 대한간학회 2017 Gut and Liver Vol.11 No.3

Background/Aims: Comparison of the accuracy of magnetic resonance elastography (MRE) and diffusion weighted imaging (DWI) for the diagnosis of liver fibrosis in patients with chronic hepatitis B (CHB). Methods: In this retrospective analysis, we investigated 63 patients with CHB and liver fibrosis. DWI was performed with both breath-hold (DWIBH) and free-breathing (DWI-FB) sequences (b=0, 500). The mean liver stiffness and apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) were calculated by drawing regions of interest maps. Fibrosis staging according to the METAVIR system was independently performed by an experienced pathologist. A receiver operating curve (ROC) analysis was conducted to determine the accuracy of MRE, DWI-BH and DWI-FB in the detection and stratification of liver fibrosis. The performance of the detection of significant fibrosis (≥F2), advanced fibrosis (≥F3), and cirrhosis (F4) was also evaluated by comparing areas under the ROC. Results: There was a moderate and significantly negative correlation between the ADC values and liver stiffness. The accuracies for the detection of ≥F2/≥F3/F4 stage fibrosis with DWI-FB, DWI-BH and MRE were 0.84/0.76/0.72, 0.72/0.83/0.79 and 0.99/0.99/0.98, respectively. The performance of MRE was significantly better than DWI-FB and DWI-BH. There were no significant differences between the performance of DWI-FB and DWI-BH. Conclusions: MRE is more accurate than DWI for the detection and stratification of liver fibrosis in CHB. (Gut Liver 2017;11:401-408)

A Cross-region Analysis on Commercial Food Waste Recycling Behaviour

Tiffany M.W. Mak,Daniel C. W. Tsang,Nastaein Q. Zaman,Nurashikin Yaacof 대한환경공학회 2019 대한환경공학회 학술발표논문집 Vol.2019 No.-

How the size of governing coalitions shape legislative behavior: A subnational analysis of Argentine legislative chambers, 1992–2009

Tiffany D. Barnes,Jinhyeok Jang 한국외국어대학교 국제지역연구센터 2016 International Area Studies Review Vol.19 No.4

In presidential democracies, minority governments are widespread and the size of the governing coalition varies dramatically across legislatures. Despite substantial variation across legislatures, no significant research has been conducted to explore how the size of the governing coalition shapes legislative behavior. We argue that executives supported by a legislative majority have the necessary resources to promote the party; consequently, members of the governing coalition are subject to less partisan pressure. However, as the size of the governing coalition decreases, so does the executive’s political capital; thus, party leaders are required to exert party discipline to convalesce the party’s image. Using a unique comparative research design from Argentine provincial legislatures over an 18-year period, we provide strong empirical support for our theory of the conditional effect of inter-branch relations on legislative behavior.

Atypical Ductal Hyperplasia of the Breast on Core Needle Biopsy: Risk of Malignant Upgrade on Surgical Excision

Tiffany Sin Hui Bong,Jun Kiat Thaddaeus Tan,Juliana Teng Swan Ho,Puay Hoon Tan,Wing Sze Lau,Tuan Meng Tan,Jill Su Lin Wong,Veronique Kiak Mien Tan,Benita Kiat Tee Tan,Preetha Madhukumar,Wei Sean Yong 한국유방암학회 2022 Journal of breast cancer Vol.25 No.1

Purpose This study identified factors predicting malignant upgrade for atypical ductal hyperplasia (ADH) diagnosed on core-needle biopsy (CNB) and developed a nomogram to facilitate evidence-based decision making. Methods This retrospective analysis included women diagnosed with ADH at the National Cancer Centre Singapore (NCCS) in 2010–2015. Cox proportional hazards regression was used to identify clinical, radiological, and histological factors associated with malignant upgrade. A nomogram was constructed using variables with the strongest associations in multivariate analysis. Multivariable logistic regression coefficients were used to estimate the predicted probability of upgrade for each factor combination. Results Between 2010 and 2015, 238,122 women underwent mammographic screening under the National Breast Cancer Screening Program. Among 29,564 women recalled, 5,971 CNBs were performed. Of these, 2,876 underwent CNBs at NCCS, with 88 patients (90 lesions) diagnosed with ADH and 26 lesions upgraded to breast malignancy on excision biopsy. In univariate analysis, factors associated with malignant upgrade were the presence of a mass on ultrasound (p = 0.018) or mammography (p = 0.026), microcalcifications (p = 0.047), diffuse microcalcification distribution (p = 0.034), mammographic parenchymal density (p = 0.008). and ≥ 3 separate ADH foci found on biopsy (p = 0.024). Mammographic parenchymal density (hazard ratio [HR], 0.04; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.005–0.35; p = 0.014), presence of a mass on ultrasound (HR, 10.50; 95% CI, 9.21–25.2; p = 0.010), and number of ADH foci (HR, 1.877; 95% CI, 1.831–1.920; p = 0.002) remained significant in multivariate analysis and were included in the nomogram. Conclusion Our model provided good discrimination of breast cancer risk prediction (C-statistic of 0.81; 95% CI, 0.74–0.88) and selected for a subset of women at low risk (2.1%) of malignant upgrade, who may avoid surgical excision following a CNB diagnosis of ADH.

Factors affecting millennials’ intentions to use social commerce in fashion shopping

Tiffany Bounkhong,조은주 복식문화학회 2017 服飾文化硏究 Vol.25 No.6

Social media has become an integral part of consumers’ daily lives. Individuals connect with one another on social networking sites to like, share, and post information and experiences. As social media become popular among millennials, a growing number of fashion retailers use social media networks in the context of online commerce transactions. Accordingly, an increased number of fashion retailers has been using social media as an advertising tool and a retail channel. Despite the popularity of social media among millennials, empirical findings are limited to reveal factors associated with young consumers’ intentions to use social commerce in fashion shopping. This study sought to examine factors affecting millennials’ intentions to use social commerce in fashion shopping by adopting the technology acceptance model. A total of 524 college students completed an online survey in the U.S. The results of structural equation model confirmed that perceived ease of use, usefulness, and enjoyment had a positive impact on millennials’ attitudes and intentions toward fashion shopping in social commerce. While both perceived ease of use and usefulness positively influenced enjoyment, usefulness had a stronger impact than ease of use. Compared to usefulness, enjoyment had much stronger impact on attitudes. Further structural model analysis revealed a direct, positive influence of perceived usefulness of social commerce on perceived enjoyment of social commerce, which has not been explored in prior studies. These findings provide theoretical and managerial implications.

Corrigendum: Magnetic Resonance Elastography and Diffusion Weighted Imaging in the Evaluation of Hepatic Fibrosis in Chronic Hepatitis B

( Tiffany P. Hennedige ),( Gang Wang ),( Fiona P. Leung ),( Hind S. Alsaif ),( Lynette Ls Teo ),( Seng Gee Lim ),( Aileen Wee ),( Sudhakar K. Venkatesh ) 대한소화기학회 2020 Gut and Liver Vol.14 No.4

Economic analysis of biomass torrefaction plants integrated with corn ethanol plants and coal-fired power plants

Tiffany, Douglas G.,Lee, Won Fy,Morey, Vance,Kaliyan, Nalladurai Techno-Press 2013 Advances in energy research Vol.1 No.2

Torrefaction technologies convert assorted biomass feedstocks into energy-concentrated, carbon neutral fuel that is economically transported and easily ground for blending with fossil coals at numerous power plants around the world without needs to retrofit. Utilization of torrefied biomass in conventional electric generating units may be an increasingly attractive alternative for electricity generation as aging power plants in the world need to be upgraded or improved. This paper examines the economic feasibility of torrefaction in different scenarios by modeling torrefaction plants producing 136,078 t/year (150,000 ton/year) biocoal from wood and corn stover. The utilization of biocoal blends in existing coal-fired power plants is modeled to determine the demand for this fuel in the context of emerging policies regulating emissions from coal in the U.S. setting. Opportunities to co-locate torrefaction facilities adjacent to corn ethanol plants and coal-fired power plants are explored as means to improve economics for collaborating businesses. Life cycle analysis was conducted in parallel to this economic study and was used to determine environmental impacts of converting biomass to biocoal for blending in coal-fired power plants as well as the use of substantial flows of off-gasses produced in the torrefaction process. Sensitivity analysis of the financial rates of return of the different businesses has been performed to measure impacts of different factors, whether input prices, output prices, or policy measures that render costs or rewards for the businesses.

The impact of consumer familiarity on edible insect food product purchase and expected liking: The role of media trust and purchase activism

Tiffany S. Legendre,조용훈,한연수,김영욱,류정표,장세진,김진 한국곤충학회 2019 Entomological Research Vol.49 No.4

This study aims to investigate the impact of consumer familiarity with edible insect food products on purchase intentions and expected liking. Based on persuasion and information processing theories, this study examines the roles of media trust and purchase activism as underlying psychological mechanisms. The findings of this study indicate that consumer familiarity contributes to the formation of media trust. It adds credibility to the media information and consumers can be more motivated to exercise their purchase activism as the edible insect food movement is closely related to social causes like sustainability. Activist motivation, then, changes consumers' behavioral outcomes such as purchase intention and expected liking of edible insect food products.

Sugammadex versus neostigmine reversal of moderate rocuronium-induced neuromuscular blockade in Korean patients

Tiffany Woo,김교상,심연희,김미경,임영진,양홍석,Phillip Phiri,전진영,윤석민 대한마취통증의학회 2013 Korean Journal of Anesthesiology Vol.65 No.6

Background: Rapid and complete reversal of neuromuscular blockade (NMB) is desirable at the end of surgery. Sugammadex reverses rocuronium-induced NMB by encapsulation. It is well tolerated in Caucasian patients, providing rapid reversal of moderate (reappearance of T2) rocuronium-induced NMB. We investigated the efficacy and safety of sugammadex versus neostigmine in Korean patients. Methods: This randomized, safety assessor-blinded trial (NCT01050543) included Korean patients undergoing general anesthesia. Rocuronium 0.6 mg/kg was given prior to intubation with maintenance doses of 0.1-0.2 mg/kg as required. Patients received sugammadex 2.0 mg/kg or neostigmine 50 μg/kg with glycopyrrolate 10 μg/kg to reverse the NMB at the reappearance of T2, after the last rocuronium dose. The primary efficacy endpoint was the time from sugammadex or neostigmine administration to recovery of the train-of-four (TOF) ratio to 0.9. The safety of these medications was also assessed. Results: Of 128 randomized patients, 118 had evaluable data (n = 59 in each group). The geometric mean (95% confidence interval) time to recovery of the TOF ratio to 0.9 was 1.8 (1.6, 2.0) minutes in the sugammadex group and 14.8 (12.4, 17.6) minutes in the neostigmine group (P < 0.0001). Sugammadex was generally well tolerated, with no evidence of residual or recurrence of NMB; four patients in the neostigmine group reported adverse events possibly indicative of inadequate NMB reversal. Conclusions: Sugammadex was well tolerated and provided rapid reversal of moderate rocuronium-induced NMB in Korean patients, with a recovery time 8.1 times faster than neostigmine. These results are consistent with those reported for Caucasian patients.

Ovarian cancer screening in menopausal females with a family history of breast or ovarian cancer

Tiffany Lai,Bruce Kessel,Hyeong Jun Ahn,Keith Y. Terada 대한부인종양학회 2016 Journal of Gynecologic Oncology Vol.27 No.4

Objective: To determine whether annual screening reduces ovarian cancer mortality in women with a family history of breast or ovarian cancer. Methods: Data was obtained from the Prostate, Lung, Colorectal, and Ovarian cancer trial, a randomized multi-center trial conducted to determine if screening could reduce mortality in these cancers. The trial enrolled 78,216 women, randomized into either a screening arm with annual serum cancer antigen 125 and pelvic ultrasounds, or usual care arm. This study identified a subgroup that reported a first degree relative with breast or ovarian cancer. Analysis was performed to compare overall mortality and disease specific mortality in the screening versus usual care arm. In patients diagnosed with ovarian cancer, stage distribution, and survival were analyzed as a secondary endpoint. Results: There was no significant difference in overall mortality or disease specific mortality between the two arms. Ovarian cancer was diagnosed in 48 patients in the screening arm and 44 patients in the usual care arm. Screened patients were more likely to be diagnosed at an earlier stage than usual care patients. Patients in the screening arm diagnosed with ovarian cancer experienced a significantly improved survival compared to patients in the usual care arm; relative risk 0.66 (95% CI, 0.47 to 0.93). Conclusion: Screening did not appear to decrease ovarian cancer mortality in participants with a family history of breast or ovarian cancer. Secondary endpoints, however, showed notable differences. Significantly fewer patients were diagnosed with advanced stage disease in the screening arm; and survival was significantly improved. Further investigation is warranted to assess screening efficacy in women at increased risk.