Due to the diversification of the food industry and its heightened competition, the marketing strategy to be required the most would be to improve competitiveness by enhancing customer loyalty as a resulting variable of customer satisfaction. Thus, this study, taking a food service provider as a subject, is to find factors and the scope of the perceived quality ; and to analyze how far the perceived service quality factor as such could explain customer's overall satisfaction and customer loyalty ; finally to provide basic data for establishing a customer satisfaction marketing strategy as related to customer loyalty. The results of the study are as below. 1) 25 factors of service quality perceived by a food service provider have been categorized into 8 independent dimensions through factor analysis. Each of them are named 'Employee attitude', 'Cleanliness', 'Reputation', 'Reliability', 'Food', 'Price', 'Convenience', 'Variety', all of which explain 64.3% of the service again quality perception level. 2) After classifying customers into 3 groups according to two criteria -"will buy the service again" and "will suggest it to others" and making a pair of service providers with each customer, each customer loyalty group compared the service quality perception factor of the food service provider. The result was that the group having both the "will buy the service again" and "will suggest to others" criteria, that is, with higher loyalty, tend to have higher points than other group s in the dimension of 'Employee attitude' and 'Cleanliness'(p<0.05), which means these two dimensions are closely related to customer loyalty. 3) From a regression analysis for the service quality perception level of the food service provider and overall satisfaction, it has been found that : the regression models are different for each group, that 'Employee attitude' seems to be related more closely to the group with higher loyalty(p<0.05); that the 'Price' dimension is found to be a meaningful factor to the group categorized not having "will buy the service again" and "will suggest to others" criteria(p<0.05).
Food Industry ; Food Services ; Marketing ; Restaurants*

Service quality has become an important factor to meet customer satisfaction in the food service industry where competition is getting severe. Organizations are focused upon strengthening customer loyalty through customer satisfaction. Therefore, this study, taking customers as subjects, is intended to analyze factors affecting customer loyalty, on the basis of service quality satisfaction. In doing. so, the analysis has been done with 232 customers who are purchasing service from the food services industry, for general information, and service quality expectation, service quality satisfaction and overall satisfaction. The results of the study are as below. 1) From a factor analysis, the service quality expectation level of customer has been categorized into 4 factors, which are named General 'General management ', 'Food', 'Reliability' and 'Reputation'. 2) From the factor analysis, the service quality satisfaction level of customer has been categorized into 6 factors, which are named 'Employee attitude', 'Food', 'Reliability', 'Atmosphere', 'Reputation' and 'Price'. 3) After classifying customers into 3 groups according to two criteria-"will buy the service again" and "will suggest to others", a comparison has been done for the service quality expectation dimension of customers by each customer group. The result shows that the group having both the "will buy the service again" and "will buy the service again "and "will suggest to others" criteria, that is, with higher customer loyalty, tend to have higher point than other group in factors of 'Food', 'Reliability', 'Reputation'(p<.05). 4) As per the dimension of customer's service quality satisfaction level, factors like 'Employee attitude', 'Food', 'Reliability', 'Atmosphere', 'Reputation', and 'Price' have shown differences according to each loyalty group(P<.001). 5) Customers' overall satisfaction level according to each customer loyalty group has been found to be more important for the group having a higher loyalty level(p<.001) 6) From the discriminant analysis with employing judging variables, such as the customer's service quality expectation level, service quality satisfaction level and general satisfaction level, customer loyalty groups have been identified as accurately as 68.9% of the explanatory power.
Food Services ; Restaurants*

Cirrhosis can occur with the development of portal vein thrombosis (PVT). PVT may aggravate portal hypertension, and it can lead to hepatic decompensation. The international guideline recommends for anticoagulation treatment to be maintained for at least 3 months in all patients with acute PVT. Low-molecular-weight-heparin and changing to warfarin is the usual anticoagulation treatment. However, warfarin therapy is problematic due to a narrow therapeutic window and the requirement for frequent dose adjustment, which has prompted the development of novel oral anticoagulants for overcoming these problems. We report a 63-year-old female who experienced complete resolution of recurrent acute PVT in liver cirrhosis after treatment with rivaroxaban.
Administration, Oral ; Factor Xa Inhibitors/*therapeutic use ; Female ; Humans ; Liver Cirrhosis/*complications/diagnosis ; Middle Aged ; Portal Vein ; Recurrence ; Rivaroxaban/*therapeutic use ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed ; Venous Thrombosis/complications/diagnostic imaging/*drug therapy

BACKGROUND: Angiotensin II type 1 receptor (AT1R) is responsible for cardiovascular effects mediated by angiotensin II. This study aimed to investigate the impact of antibodies directed against AT1R (anti-AT1R) in renal allograft rejection. METHODS: We evaluated 53 patients who had biopsy-proven rejection including antibody-mediated rejection (AMR) (N=22), T-cell-mediated rejection (TCMR) (N=29), and mixed AMR and TCMR (N=2). Donor specific HLA antibodies (DSA) and anti-AT1Rs were simultaneously determined. RESULTS: Anti-AT1Rs were detected in 9.4% (5/53) of rejection patients (one with acute AMR, two with chronic active AMR, one with acute TCMR, and one with mixed acute AMR & TCMR). HLA antibodies and DSA were detected in 75.5% (40/53) and 49.1% (26/53) of patients, respectively. There was no significant difference in transplant characteristics between anti-AT1R(+) and anti-AT1R(-) patients except for the association of HLA class-I DSA(+) and anti-AT1R(+). Four of five anti-AT1R(+) patients had DSA and were also found to have AMR. A single anti-AT1R(+)/DSA(-) patient developed acute TCMR. Detection rates of DSA, HLA antibodies, or anti-AT1R were not different between AMR and TCMR. However, DSA(+)/anti-AT1R(+) was more frequently found in AMR than in TCMR (P=0.036). Patients with anti-AT1R showed a greater tendency to develop high-grade rejection as Banff IIA/IIB or AMR. CONCLUSIONS: The presence of anti-AT1R was significantly associated with HLA class-I DSA in renal allograft rejection patients. Both anti-AT1R and DSA positivity was associated with AMR in patients with renal allograft rejection.
Adult ; Antibodies/blood ; Female ; Graft Rejection/*etiology ; HLA Antigens/immunology ; Humans ; Kidney/pathology ; Kidney Transplantation/*adverse effects ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Receptor, Angiotensin, Type 1/*immunology ; Tissue Donors ; Transplantation, Homologous

Antidepressants are widely used to treat depression in Korea, however, only a few studies have focused on the provider of the treatment. The aim of the study is to compare the differences between patients who were prescribed antidepressants by psychiatrists and those who were prescribed antidepressants by non-psychiatrists in South Korea. Patients with a diagnosis of depressive disorder who had been newly prescribed antidepressants in 2012 were selected from the Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service database. They were classified into two groups depending on whether they received the antidepressant prescription from a psychiatrist or non-psychiatrist. Sociodemographic, clinical, and depression related cost has been investigated. Treatment resistant depression, which is defined as a failure of two antidepressant regimens to alleviate symptoms, was also investigated. Prescription adequacy was assessed based on whether a regimen was maintained for at least 4 weeks. Among the 834694 patients with pharmaceutically treated depression (PTD) examined in this study, 326122 (39.1%) were treated by psychiatrists. Patients who were treated by psychiatrists were younger and had more psychiatric comorbidities than those treated by non-psychiatrists. They had longer PTD duration (229.3 days vs. 103.0 days, p < 0.05) and a larger proportion of treatment resistant depression (9.3% of PTD) when compared to those patients treated by non-psychiatrists. The patients treated by psychiatrists had a smaller proportion of inadequate antidepressant use compared to those patients in the non-psychiatrist group (44.5% vs. 65.1%, p < 0.05). The costs related to depression corrected with PTD duration were higher in the nonpsychiatrist group (32214 won vs. 56001 won, p < 0.05). Patients who receive antidepressants from psychiatrists are patients with more severe, treatment-resistant depression. Psychiatrists prescribe antidepressants more adequately and cost-effectively than non-psychiatrists.
Antidepressive Agents ; Comorbidity ; Depression ; Depressive Disorder ; Depressive Disorder, Treatment-Resistant ; Diagnosis ; Epidemiology ; Humans ; Insurance, Health ; Korea ; Prescriptions ; Psychiatry

Suppressors of cytokine signaling (SOCS) have emerged as potential regulators of macrophage function. We have investigated mechanisms of SOCS3 action on type 2 macrophage (M2) differentiation induced by glucocorticoid using human monocytic cell lines and mouse bone marrow-derived macrophages. Treatment of THP1 monocytic cells with dexamethasone (Dex) induced ROS generation and M2 polarization promoting IL-10 and TGF-β production, while suppressing IL-1β, TNF-α and IL-6 production. SOCS3 over-expression reduced, whereas SOCS3 ablation enhanced IL-10 and TGF-β induction with concomitant regulation of ROS. As a mediator of M2 differentiation, glucocorticoidinduced leucine zipper (GILZ) was down-regulated by SOCS3 and up-regulated by shSOCS3. The induction of GILZ and IL-10 by Dex was dependent on ROS and p38 MAPK activity. Importantly, GILZ ablation led to the inhibition of ROS generation and anti-inflammatory cytokine induction by Dex. Moreover, GILZ knock-down negated the up-regulation of IL-10 production induced by shSOCS3 transduction. Our data suggest that SOCS3 targets ROS- and p38-dependent GILZ expression to suppress Dex-induced M2 polarization.

Background: Early trauma is known to be a risk factor of suicide-related behavior. On the other hand, people who attempt suicide using a fatal method are reported to be more likely to complete suicide. In this study, we assumed that early trauma affects an individual's temperament and character and thereby increases the risk of a fatal method of suicide attempts. Methods: We analyzed 92 people with a history of previous suicide attempts. We compared the Temperament and Character Inventory-Revised scores between the groups with and without early trauma, and between the groups with and without a history of suicide attempt using fatal methods through an analysis of covariance with age, sex, and presence of a psychiatric history as covariates. A mediation analysis was conducted of the relationship between early trauma and fatal methods of suicide attempt with self-transcendence as a mediator. Results: Higher self-transcendence was reported in the fatal group (27.71 ± 13.78 vs. 20.97 ± 12.27, P = 0.010) and the early trauma group (28.05 ± 14.30 vs. 19.43 ± 10.73, P = 0.001), respectively. The mediation model showed that self-transcendence mediates the relationship between early trauma and fatal methods of suicide attempt. The 95% confidence intervals for the direct and indirect effect were (−0.559, 1.390) and (0.026, 0.947), respectively. Conclusion Self-transcendence may mediate the relationship between early trauma and fatal methods of suicide attempt. Self-transcendence may be associated with unhealthy defenses and suicidal behavior for self-punishment and may constitute a marker of higher suicide risk.

Background: Early trauma is known to be a risk factor of suicide-related behavior. On the other hand, people who attempt suicide using a fatal method are reported to be more likely to complete suicide. In this study, we assumed that early trauma affects an individual's temperament and character and thereby increases the risk of a fatal method of suicide attempts. Methods: We analyzed 92 people with a history of previous suicide attempts. We compared the Temperament and Character Inventory-Revised scores between the groups with and without early trauma, and between the groups with and without a history of suicide attempt using fatal methods through an analysis of covariance with age, sex, and presence of a psychiatric history as covariates. A mediation analysis was conducted of the relationship between early trauma and fatal methods of suicide attempt with self-transcendence as a mediator. Results: Higher self-transcendence was reported in the fatal group (27.71 ± 13.78 vs. 20.97 ± 12.27, P = 0.010) and the early trauma group (28.05 ± 14.30 vs. 19.43 ± 10.73, P = 0.001), respectively. The mediation model showed that self-transcendence mediates the relationship between early trauma and fatal methods of suicide attempt. The 95% confidence intervals for the direct and indirect effect were (−0.559, 1.390) and (0.026, 0.947), respectively. Conclusion Self-transcendence may mediate the relationship between early trauma and fatal methods of suicide attempt. Self-transcendence may be associated with unhealthy defenses and suicidal behavior for self-punishment and may constitute a marker of higher suicide risk.

Background/Aims: To investigate if BK virus (BKV)-specific T cell immunity measured by an interferon-γ enzyme-linked immunospot (ELISPOT) assay can predict the outcome of BK virus infection in kidney transplant recipients (KTRs). Methods: We included 68 KTRs with different viremia status (no viremia [n = 17], BK viremia [n = 27], and cleared viremia [n = 24]) and 44 healthy controls (HCs). The BK viremia group was divided into controller (< 3 months) and noncontroller (> 3 months) according to sustained duration of BKV infection. We compared BKV-ELISPOT results against five BKV peptides (large tumor antigen [LT], St, VP1-3). Results: BKV-ELISPOT results were higher in three KTRs groups with different BKV infection status than the HCs group (p < 0.05). In KTR groups, they were higher in cleared viremia group than no viremia or BK viremia group. Within the BK viremia group, controller group had higher LT-ELISPOT results compared to noncontroller group (p = 0.032). Also, KTRs without BK virus-associated nephropathy (BKVN) had higher LT, St, VP1, and VP2-ELISPOT results than those with BKVN (p < 0.05). Conclusions BKV-ELISPOT assay may be effective in predicting clinical outcomes of BKV infection in terms of clearance of BK virus and development of BKVN.

OBJECTIVE: We examined whether amantadine can prevent the development of dyskinesia. METHODS: Patients with drug-naïve Parkinson's disease (PD), younger than 70 years of age and in the early stage of PD (Hoehn and Yahr scale < 3), were recruited from April 2011 to December 2014. The exclusion criteria included the previous use of antiparkinsonian medication, the presence of dyskinesia, significant psychological disorders, and previous history of a hypersensitivity reaction. Patients were consecutively assigned to one of 3 treatment groups in an open label fashion: Group A-1, amantadine first and then levodopa when needed; Group A-2, amantadine first, dopamine agonist when needed, and then levodopa; and Group B, dopamine agonist first and then levodopa when needed. The primary endpoint was the development of dyskinesia, which was analyzed by the Kaplan-Meier survival rate. RESULTS: A total of 80 patients were enrolled: Group A-1 (n = 27), Group A-2 (n = 27), and Group B (n = 26). Twenty-four patients were excluded from the analysis due to the following: withdrawal of amantadine or dopamine agonist (n = 9), alternative diagnosis (n = 2), withdrawal of consent (n = 1), and breach in the protocol (n = 12). After exclusion, 5 of the 56 (8.93%) patients developed dyskinesia. Patients in Group A-1 and A-2 tended to develop dyskinesia less often than those in Group B (cumulative survival rates of 0.933, 0.929, and 0.700 for A-1, A-2, and B, respectively; p = 0.453). CONCLUSION: Amantadine as an initial treatment may decrease the incidence of dyskinesia in patients with drug-naïve PD.
Amantadine ; Diagnosis ; Dopamine Agonists ; Dyskinesias ; Humans ; Hypersensitivity ; Incidence ; Levodopa ; Parkinson Disease ; Survival Rate