A Case Study on Restaurant Online Coupon Redemption Behavior of Resting Customers / 대한지역사회영양학회지

The purposes this study were to a) analyze the revisiting ratio of resting customers after issuing online coupons, b) compare the characteristics of coupon redemption customers with non-redemption customers. For this study, the customers of M restaurant who did not revisit during the last 8 months were classified as 'resting customers', totaling 4,052 customers. The online coupons, valid for 9 months, were sent via e-mail to those customers. After that, the data collected from those who redeemed the coupon in September 2006 was utilized. As a result of sending the coupon to 4,052 resting customers, 1,288 customers redeemed the coupon during the study period, showing relatively high redemption ratio (31.6%). The average check of customers with the online coupon was decreased by 22% compared with customers without the coupon, but the party size remained almost the same, 2.6 customers, and also the redemption ratio was increasing as the expiration date of the coupon was approaching. The redemption ratio of female (35.3%) was much higher than male (19.2%), representing higher redemption possibility of the female customers by issuing the coupon. The redemption ratio of the twenties (69.1%) was obviously higher than other age groups. Also, the non-redemption ratio of other groups except the twenties was higher than the redemption ratio. The redemption ratio of low-educated was higher, under college degree (58.6%), college degree (35.4%), and over college degree (16.6%). Following the result of the average visiting frequency of redemption customers during last the 8 months was 4.2, the frequency of non-redemption customers was 9.8. The total average visiting of non-redemption customer was 10.5, and that of redemption customers was 8.6. Customers who visited the restaurant less frequently in the past have higher possibility to revisit after receiving the coupon

Efficiency Analysis of Contract-managed Business and Industry Foodservice Operations Using Data Envelopment Analysis / 대한지역사회영양학회지

This study was performed to suggest a new efficiency measurement indicator is necessary for evaluating management efficiency of food service operations in contract-managed foodservice companies, to distinguish efficient food service providers and inefficient ones by measuring comparative efficiency among food service operations, and to provide guidance for effective management through showing benchmarking targets for improving inefficient food service providers. The subjects of this study were the 93 B&I foodservice Operations of a domestic contract food service company. The analysis was conducted using CCR model in DEA model. A software, 'Frontier analyst', was used for the analysis. Based on the results derived from comparison of efficiency evaluation classified by providers with use of DEA, it was possible to identify efficient food providers and inefficient providers, and subsequently provide benchmarking guidelines for improvement of the inefficient groups. In analyzing the differences between the results of DEA efficiency evaluation by detailed operation status of food service providers, there was significant difference of efficiency outcomes in terms of contract types, while there was no significant difference in terms of business condition.

Personnel Scheduling of Restaurant using Integer Programming / 대한지역사회영양학회지

The purpose of this study is to investigate an efficient use of labor in personnel scheduling for the restaurant industry. More specifically, this study attends to reduce overall labor cost while not sacrificing both full-time and part-time employees' schedules. The customers' demands were measured by sales in this analysis. Historically, server scheduling in the restaurant has been practiced by manager's experience and intuition; however, those practices provided drawbacks because managers often fail to consider external factors such as a employees' working conditions and change in a restaurant's size. The result of a new method in personnel scheduling provided significant cost saving compared to a previous scheduling technique. This study found that a new method in personnel scheduling allowed the restaurant to save labor cost. The outcome of this study should offer important strategic implication for the restaurant managers.

The Clinical Usefulness of SPIO-MRI in Detection and Staging of Hepatocellular Carcinoma / 대한간학회지

BACKGROUND/AIMS: It is still unclear whether Super Paramagnetic Iron Oxide-Magnetic Resonance Imaging (SPIO-MRI) is a clinically useful imaging modality for patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). This study searched for the clinical usefulness and limitations of SPIO-MRI with respect to tumor detection capacity, false positive and negative rate, and early recurrence rate. METHODS: From December 1999 to February 2001, 218 patients who were surgical candidates by 3-phase dynamic helical CT (3dHCT) were enrolled. We reviewed the medical records and radiologic findings, retrospectively, and postulated the post-operative pathologic findings and the early recurrences within 3 months as the standards for the true positive lesion. RESULTS: The mean number of nodules detected by SPIO-MRI was significantly more numerous than that of 3dHCT (p<0.01). Modifications of treatment strategy due to the discordant findings between SPIO-MRI and 3dHCT for tumor resectability were observed in 22 (10.1%) out of 218 patients. Early recurrences were observed in 10 patients (7.8%). The false positive and negative rates of SPIO-MRI were 6.3% and 13.3%, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: We demonstrated that the tumor detection rate of SPIO-MRI was better than that of 3dHCT. Given the relatively acceptable false positive and negative rates, SPIO-MRI could be an appropriate preoperative imaging modality for patients with HCCs.

Etiology of Gastrointestinal Bleeding in Intensive Care Unit / 대한소화기내시경학회지

BACKGOUND/AIMS: Gastrointestinal (GI) bleeding remains a common medical problem, with morbidity and mortality rates of GI bleeding in intensive care unit (ICU) believed to have remained unchanged. There has been no report about the etiology and clinical manifestation of GI bleeding in ICU in Korea. Therefore, we performed this study to determine the frequency, etiology, risk factors, and outcome of clinically significant GI bleeding that occurred after admission to ICU. METHODS: We reviewed medical records of 1829 patients admitted to medical ICU in Samsung Medical Center from October 1994 to May 1999. Cases were enrolled the patients who developed GI bleeding more than 24 hours after admission to the medical ICU. The cases were compared with control populations: a set of ICU patients without GI bleeding matched with cases for age, gender, and length of ICU stay to evaluate the risk factors of GI bleeding. RESULTS: Clinically significant GI bleeding, confirmed by endoscopy, occurred in 71 patients of 1,829 patients (3.9%) after a mean ICU stay of 14+/-2.6 days. Gastric ulcer bleeding was the most common source of GI bleeding, accounting for 29.6% of cases overall. There were no statistical differences in underlying disease, mechanical ventilator use, heparin or steroid use, prothrombin time, prophylactic drug use such as H2 blocker and antacid use between cases and controls. However, thrombocytopenia (<50,000/mm3) was more common in cases who had GI bleeding than controls (P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Gastric ulcer was the most common cause of GI bleeding in ICU and careful attention was necessary to patients with thrombocytopenia (<50,000/mm3) in ICU.

A Case of Gastric Tuberculosis Presenting with Hematemesis / 대한소화기내시경학회지

Gastric tuberculosis is quite rare and usually combined with pulmonary tuberculosis. Its diagnosis is so difficult as it is often unsuspected. We report a patient with gastric tuberculosis who presented with hematemesis in Korea. Upper endoscopy showed large, deep penetrating ulcer containing an exposed vessel and adherent clot in the body. Gastric biopsies revealed only chronic inflammation and no evidence of granuloma or malignancy. Diffuse mural thickening was noted on abdominal CT. The diagnosis was made postoperatively following gastrectomy for bleeding gastric ulcer. Microscopic examination of resected stomach showed peptic detritus and noncaseating granulomas. However, multiple caseating granulomas with Lagerhan's giant cells were found on the examination of lymph nodes. The patient was treated with antituberculous therapy for 12 months without any complications.

Risk Factors Associated with Rebleeding and Recurrence Following Endoscopic Variceal Ligation / 대한소화기내시경학회지

the first EVL was associated with rebleeding (p=0.01); whereas, age, Child class, grade and extent of varices, presence of gastric varices and/or portal hypertensive gastropathy, total number of bands and sessions for successful EVL were not (p >0.05). Persistence of esophageal ulcer at 2 weeks after the first EVL was associated with rebleeding also in multivariate analysis (relative risk 5.87, p=0.01). 3) In univariate analysis, grade (p=0.01) and extent (p=0.01) of varices were related to recurrence; whereas, age, Child class, presence of gastric varices and/or portal hypertensive gastropathy, total number of bands and sessions for successful EVL were not (p >0.05). In multivariate analysis, grade of varices was the only risk factor associated with recurrence (relative risk 3.76, p=0.01). CONCLUSIONS: 1) Persistence of esophageal ulcer at second week after the first EVL was associated with rebleeding. 2) Frequent follow-up endoscopic examinations are necessary in patients who present with high grade of varices since risk of recurrence is high even after successful EVL.

Effects of Chelators on Liver Cadmium Contents in Chronic Cadmium Intoxication Rats / 대한간학회지

BACKGROUND/AIMS: The heavy metals like cadmium (Cd) are neither destroyed nor produced in human body and may infiltrated into air, water, soil, food, human body and redistributed by biological and geographical circulation. With advent of recent industrialization detrimental heavy metal poisoning in human body is increased by industrial pollution. We aimed to establish the relative abilities of chelators to mobilized liver cadmium contents in chronic cadmium intoxication rats. METHODS: Sprague-Dawley albino male rats weighing 200 to 250 mg were used. All animals were loaded with 3 intraperitoneal injections of cadmium chloride (1.5 mg/kg) given at % hourly interval. Intraperitoneal injection of chelators commenced 1 week after the last loading injection and continued every 72 hour for a total of 10 injections. Chelators were given at a level of 1 mmole/kg (except 0.01 mmol/kg of BAL). The chelators used in present experiment are 1,2-diaminocyclohexane tetra acetate (CDTA), disodium calcium ethylene diamine tetra acetate (EDTA), sodium 2.3-dimer capto propane sulfonate (DMPS), sodium di ethyl dithio carbamate (DDTC), dimercapto succinate (DMSA), 2,3-dimer capto propanol (BAL), diethylene triamine penta acetate (DTPA), triethylene tetr amine hexa acetate (TTHA), D-penicillamine(DPA), Nacetyl penicillamine (NAPA). RESULTS: 1) The residual liver cadmium content was reduced in rats administered DPA, EDTA, NAPA, CDTA, DDTC and DMSA (32%, 23%, 19%, 17%, 16% and 15% respectively) compared with control group. 2) The residual kidney cadmium content was reduced in rats administered DPA, DDTC, CDTA and EDTA (33%, 21%, 18% and 17% respectively) 3) The summation of residual cadmium content in liver and kidney was reduced in rats administered DPA, EDTA, DDTC and CDTA (33%, 20%, 18% and 17% respectively) compared with control group. CONCULUSIONS: We suggested that DPA, EDTA, CDTA and DDTC might have protective role against the toxic effects of cadmium.

Role of hyperinsulinemia and glucose intolerance in the pathogenesis of nonalcoholic fatty liver in patients with normal body weight

OBJECTIVES: The pathogenesis of nonalcoholic fatty liver in non-obese persons is poorly understood. We aimed to elucidate whether hyperinsulinemia and glucose intolerance are associated with development of fatty liver in patients with normal body weight. METHODS: Forty-seven patients with fatty liver were divided into non-obese (n = 25) and obese groups (n = 22) according to age adjusted body mass index. Inclusion criteria were as follows: (1) elevated transaminase levels during more than 3 months of follow up period, (2) no detectable HBsAg or anti-HCV in the serum, (3) alcohol consumption less than 40 gm/week, (4) no use of potential hepatotoxic drugs within 3 months and (4) sonographic evidence of fatty liver(moderate to severe degree). Baseline insulin levels and oral glucose tolerance test using 75gm of glucose were performed and the results were compared in each group of patients. RESULTS: Mean baseline insulin levels were elevated in both groups above the reference value, 9.3 +/- 3.5 microU/L in non-obese group and 9.9 +/- 3.5 microU/L in obese group (p = 0.26). Seventeen of non-obese patients (68%) had elevated basal insulin level and 16 of obese patients (73%) had elevated basal insulin level (p = 0.39). In oral glucose tolerance test, there was no difference in glucose level between non-obese and obese groups from O minute to 180 minutes (p > 0.05). Eleven patients from the non-obese group (44%) and 8 patients from the obese group (36%) had either impaired glucose tolerance or diabetes (p = 0.29). CONCLUSION: Our data suggest that hyperinsulinemia and glucose intolerance may play a role in the pathogenesis of fatty liver in patients with normal body weight as well as in patients with obesity.

Functional Dyspepsia and Subgroups in Korea and Short Term Outcome of Therapeutic Trial of Cisapride: Multicenter Study / 대한소화관운동학회지

BACKGROUND/AIMS: The aims of this study were to determine subgoups of functional dyspesia and to evaluate the short-term effect of cisapride in patients with functional dyspepsia in Korea. METHODS: 1025 patients, with a mean age of 42.6 years, with symptoms of functional dyspepsia, were recruited consecutively and upper gastrointestinal symptoms were investigated by interview in 41 hospitals in Korea. In an open, multicenter trial, 1025 patients received Smg of cisapride three times a day (TID) for at least .2 weeks for the treatment of symptoms of functional dyspepsia. When necessary, the dose of cisapride was increased to 10mg TID and the duration of therapy was extended to 4 weeks. RESULTS: The most frequently reported symptoms of functional dyspepsia were epigastric discomfort or fullness (85%), bloating (70%), belching (53%), early satiety (52%) and epigastric pain (46%) retrospectively. Subgroups of functional dyspepsia were as follows; dysmotility-like 73.5%, ulcer-like 39.7%, reflux-like 13.0%, and unspecified dyspepsia 14.0%. However, 33.2% of subjects with functional dyspepsia could be classified into more than one subgroup. Upper gastrointestinal symptoms were decreased to average 50.3% (range; 42.2 to 59.2%) after 2 weeks of cisapride treatment and to 25% (19.2 to 29.9%) after 4 weeks. cisapride therapy resulted in good or excellent improvement in 59.0% of the patients after two weeks, in 75% of patients after 4 weeks. Adverse events were occurred in 52 patients (5.8% of all patients), most commonly, loose stools or diarrhea (3.5%), abdominal pain (1.1%), and dizziness (0.3%). The majority of adverse events was mild and transient in nature and led to premature discontinuation of treatment in 4 patients. CONCLUSIONS: Although the majorities of patients with functional dyspepsia have dysmotility like symptoms in Korea, there is such overlap among the dyspepsia subgroups. Most patients responded well to a short therapeutic trial with cisapride without significant side effects.

A Case of Pseudomyxoma Peritonei Diagnosed by a Peritoneoxcopy / 대한소화기내시경학회지

Pseudomyxoma peritonei is a benign mucin producing tumor of the peritoneum which is usually diagnosed using a laparotomy. It is uncommon to find a case of pseudomyxoma peritonei which has been diagnosed using a peritoneoscopy in Korea; there are only two cases reported in the literature. We recently experienced a case of pseudomyxoma peritonei in a 61 year old woman who manifested a typical case using a peritoneoscopy. Thick, jelly-like materials were adherent to polypoid nodular masses of the parietal peritoneum, which originated from the mucinous cystadenocarcinoma of an ovary. In this report we discuss the case with relevant review of the literature.

A Case of Primary Gastric Amyloidosis Diagnosed by Endoscopy / 대한소화기내시경학회지

Amyloidosis is characterized by deposition of amyloid, which is resistant to proteolysis & phagocytosis, in intercellular spaces & vascular walls. The amyloid deposition provokes dysfunction of an accumulated organ & displays variable clinical symptoms depending upon the involved organ. A diagnosis is rendered through a biopsy of the affected organ, followed by staining using congo red which reveals an apple greenish refractile birefringence via polarizing microscopy. Using an electro-microscopy specific filaments can be found. Amyloidosis is classified into primary amyloidosis, composed of light chain filaments (AL) and secondary amyloidosis, comprised of A protain (AA). The AL type of amyloidosis shows deposition of amyloid in muscularis mucosa & muscularis externa. Priunary amyloidosis on the other hand, is relatively rare. We experienced primary stornach amyloidosis (AL), which was mistaken for stomch cancer.

Esophagus, Stomach & Intestine; Fundic Gland Polyps: A Clinical and Pathologic Analysis with Special Reference to Familial Adenomatous Polyposis / 대한소화기내시경학회지

BACKGROUND/AIMS: The aims of this study are to clarify the morphology of fundic gland polyp (FGP) and to compare the features of FGP between familial adenomatous polyposis-associated group and sporadic development group. METHODS: A total of 15 endo- scopic biopsy specimens of FGP from 13 patients were divided into three groups; Group A(3 cases; familial adenomatous polyposis family, multiple FGPs), Group B(3 cases; sporadic development, multiple FGPs) and Group C(7 cases; sporadic development, single FGP), and their endoseopic /microscopic features including mucin histochemistry and immunohistoc- hemistty(for PCNA) were compared. RESULTS: FGPs were confined to the gastric body and fundus in all 3 groups, and measured 2-8 mm. Their numbers varied even in Group A and Group B, The difference was observed in their median age: 26 years in Group A and 55 years in Group B, respectively, but there were no differences in endoscopic, histologic, mucin histochemical and immunohistochemical(for PCNA) features. Micro-scopically, all FGPs were composed of fundic glands and scattered microcysts with a spectrum of disordered glandular architecture which ranged from convoluted gland to Y-shaped gland, to stellateshaped gland, and to irregular tortuous glancl with dilated lumen. CONCLUSIONS: We assume that diversity af morphologic features of FGP may develop from progression of hyperplastic/hamartomatous fundic glandular proliferation which may end up with microcyst formation as an evolutional change. Familial adenomatous polyosis-associated FGPs were not endoscopically and histologically distingishable from sporadic deveoped FGPs.

Prediction of the Clinical Course According to the Macroscopic Type by Colonoscopy in Behcet's Colitis / 대한소화기내시경학회지

The intestinal lesion of Behcet's colitis shows aphthoid or punched-out ulceration. But these morphological characteristics are variable and the clinical course of Behcet's colitis is also diverse. There have been many case reports since 1962, but there is few study for clinical course or for morphological characteristics of intestinal lesion of Behcet's colitis. So we retrospectively investigated the clinical course of Behcet's colitis according to colonoscopic findings. Thirty-two patients with Behcet's colitis were investigated retrospectively from January 1984 to July l994. The patients who had at least two major stigmata of Behcet's syndrome with intestinal lesions were included, and whose colonoscopic films were available and whose follow-up studies were done. The studies used at their follow-up were colonoscopy and/or barium enema. In our study the patients ranged in age from 15 to 64 years old, with mean age of 37 years old; 28% were in 3rd decade. The mean follow-up period was 33 months.

A Novel Method for Overtube Placement in Endoscopic Variceal Ligation / 대한소화기내시경학회지

Endoscopic variceal ligation (EVL) is effective for the management of bleeding esophageal varices, and its use is widespread now. EVL necessitates the use of overtubes. Two primary techniques have been used for overtube placement; one is with endoscope, and the other is with bougie dilator. Overtube placement with endoseope is not without risk. There are reportd of esophageal or pharyngeal laceration or perforation. Overtube placement with bougie dilator circumvents this risk, but it is rather cumbersome to use. The authors devised a safe and easy method for overtube placement, and applied it to a number of patients to test its safety and convenience. First, overtube-dilator assembly was prepared as follows. A Rigiflex achalasia dilator (balloon 30mm OD, 10cm length; Microvasive Co) was lubricated and inserted into the overtube. A tenth of the balloon tip was protruded out of the overtube, then the balloon was insufflated with air at 10-15 psi. Second, standard endoscopy was performed, followed by placement of guide wire in the stomach. Overtube-dilator assembly was lubricated and introduced over the wire as a rail. Once the overtube was properly positioned, the balloon was deflated, and the balloon and wire were removed as a whole, which completed overtube placement. For 65 patients with esophageal variceal bleeding, 82 procedures of EVL were performed using the new technique. Overtube-dilator assembly was easy to prepare and handle. This technique added little time to the procedure and minimizes patients discomfort. No patient suffered major complications such as bleeding, laceration or perforation. This novel method for overtube placement was safe and convenient for use in EVL. It can also be applied to other procedures using overtube such as endoscopic foreign body removal.

Transcervical GIFT & ZIFT by tactile sensation / 대한산부인과학회잡지

No abstract available.

Cecal Sparganosis Manifested as Chronic Intestinal Obstruction: Case report / 대한소화기내시경학회지

Sparganosis is a parasitic infectious disease by sparganum which is a plerocercoid larva of spirometra, a kind of cestode. We experienced a case of intramural sparganosis of cecum presenting as chronic intermittent abdominal pain. A 39 year old man was hospitalized due to intermittent abdominal pain for 6 months and the operation was done under the impreesion of the intestinal tuberculosis or submucosal tumor of cecum after diagnostic work-up. Resected cecum revealed diffuse wall thickening and luminal narrowing. The microscopic findings showed a degenerated larva in the muscle layer with typical tissue reaction which was basically noncaseating cavitary granulomatous inflammation and many calcareous corpuscles which were pathognomonic features of cestode were prominent within the degenerated worm.