• Radiation Oncology Journal
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• v.19 no.3
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• pp.205-210
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• 2001

Purpose : This study tried to evaluate the effectiveness of combined treatment using radiation therapy and concurrent cisplatin as a radiosensitizer in the management of locally advanced head and neck cancer. Materials and methods : From January 1995 to August 1998, 29 evaluable patients with locally advanced head & neck cancels (AJCC stage $II\~IV$) were received curative radiation therapy $(total\;70\~75.6\;Gy/35\~42\;fractions,\;1.8\~2\;Gy/fraction)$ and concurrent cisplatin chemotherapy ($100\;mg/m^2$, D1, D22, D43). The neck dissections were peformed for residual lymphadenopathy. Follow-up ranged from 5 to 55 months (median 24 months). Results : Twenty-one $(72.4\%)$ patients achieved clinical complete responses. The partial response and minimal response rates were $17.2\%\;and\;10.4\%$, respectively. Locoregional failure rate was $27.6\%$, and included 6 patients with local failures, 4 patients with regional failures, and 2 patients with combined local and regional failures. Four of 29 patients $(13.8\%)$ developed distant metastasis. The disease free survival rate at 3 years was $60\%$. Nasopharyngeal primary tumors or complete responders showed significantly higher disease free survival rate. The grade 3 mucositis and nausea/vomiting was noted in $34.5\%$, respectively. Major prolongation of radiation therapy duration was inevitable in three patients. Twenty-one patients $(72.4\%)$ completed 3 courses of cisplatin and 5 patients received 2 courses of cisplatin. Three patients received only one course of cisplatin due to nephrotoxicity and neurotoxicity, and then changed to 5-FU regimen. Conclusions : Concurrent cisplatin-radiation therapy in locally advanced head and neck cancer showed high response rate, reasonable locoregional control, and survival rate. As expected, acute toxicities were increased, but compliance to treatment was acceptable. Assessment of the effect of the combination in this setting requires further accrual and follow-up.

• Journal of Food Hygiene and Safety
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• v.37 no.3
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• pp.189-197
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• 2022

Asthma is a chronic inflammatory disease characterized by recurring symptoms, airflow obstruction, and bronchial hyper-responsiveness. The onset of asthma for most patients begins early in life, and current asthma treatment with anti-inflammatory agents can have adverse effects, eventually leading to impaired quality of life. In the pathogenesis of asthma, macrophages and basophils play a vital role during progression. Macrophages not only induce inflammation by secreting inflammatory cytokines but also promote DNA damage and mucus production through nitric oxide (NO) production. Basophils enhance eosinophil recruitment and aggravate asthma through the FcεRIα receptor with high affinity for histamine and IgE. Therefore, in this study, we investigated whether the activation of macrophages and basophils is suppressed by the individual extracts of 28 natural products. RAW 264.7 cells (mouse macrophages) were treated with the natural products in LPS, and 4 natural product extracts resulted in decreased NO production. In β-hexosaminidase assay using RBL-2H3 cells (rat basophils), 19 natural product extracts decreased β-hexosaminidase production. In NO production and β-hexosaminidase assay using macrophages and basophils, 3 natural product extracts (Plantago asiatica, Centella asiatica, and Perilla frutescens var. japonica) significantly inhibited NO production and β-hexosaminidase release. Overall, we examined the inhibitory effects of 28 natural product extracts on macrophage and basophil activity, and the findings demonstrated the potential of natural product extracts for treating asthma and macrophage- and basophil-related diseases.

• Pediatric Infection and Vaccine
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• v.8 no.2
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• pp.213-221
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• 2001

Propose : Tsutsugamushi fever is a acute febrile disease, which is caused by O. tsutsugamushi. Recently, this disease is increasingly reported in children. This study was undertaken to investigate clinical features of tsutsugamushi fever in children. Methods : This study involved 17 children with tsutsugamushi fever who were admitted to Masan Samsung hospital between September 1997 and December 2000. We investigated the age, sex ratio, clinical manifestations, laboratory findings, response of therapy and prognosis. Results : The age of patients was $6.9{\pm}3.6$ years, ranging from 6 months to 12 years and male predilection(58.8%) was noted and all cases of patients occured in October or November. The most common symptoms were fever in all cases and headache in 8(47.1%). The most common signs were skin rash in all cases, eschar in 14(82.4%) and lymphadenopathy 8(47.1%). Locations of the eschars were back and inguinal area in each 3 cases, neck and chest in each 2, popliteal area in 2, scalp and thigh in each 1. Laboratory findings included anemia in 1 case, leukopenia and thrombocytopenia in each 5, hematuria and proteinuria in each 1, ESR elevation in 2 and positive CRP in 12, AST elevation in 9 and ALT elevation in 7. Serologic diagnosis was made by passive hemagglutination assay(PHA) in 8 cases(47%) on admission, 4 cases in initial negative group were performed follow-up test at 2nd or 3rd weeks of illness and then all cases of 4 were converted to positive reaction. Clinical improvement was noticed in all cases after treatment to chloramhenicol or doxycycline. Mean duration for defervescence after treatment was $1.4{\pm}0.8$ days. Complications were interstitial pneumonia in 1 case and aseptic meningitis in 3, but all cases of patients were recovered without sequelae or recurrence. Conclusions : Tsutsugamushi fever in children was similiar to adult in the clinical features except male predilection. Early diagnosis and empirical treatment based on clinical manifestations such as fever, skin rash, eschar, lymphadenopathy is important and serologic diagnosis need to perform follow-up test at 2nd or 3rd weeks of illness.

• Radiation Oncology Journal
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• v.13 no.4
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• pp.359-368
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• 1995

Purpose : This is a retrospective analysis for pattern of failure, survival rate and prognostic factors of 114 patients with histologically proven invasive cancer of the uterine cervix treated with definitive irradiation. Materials and Methods : One hundred fourteen patients with invasive carcinoma of the cervix were treated with a combination of intracavitary irradiation using Fletcher-Suit applicator and external beam irradiation by 6MV X-ray at the Ewha Womans University Hospital between March 1982 and Mar 1990. The median age was 53 years(range:30-77 years). FIGO stage distribution was 19 for IB, 23 for IIA, 42 for IIB, 12 for IIIA and 18 for IIIB. Summation dose of external beam and intracavitary irradiation to point A was 80-90 Gy(median:8580 cGy) in early stage(IB-IIA) and 85-100 Gy(median:8850 cGy) in advanced stage(IIB-IIIB). Kaplan-Meier method was used to estimate the survival rate and multivariate analysis for progrostic factors was performed using the Log likelihood for Weibull Results : The pelvic failure rates by stage were $10.5{\%}$ for IB. $8.7{\%}$ for IIA, $23.8{\%}$ for IIB, $50.0{\%}$ for IIIA and $38.9{\%}$ for IIIB. The rate of distant metastasis by stage were $0{\%}$ for IB, $8.7{\%}$ for IIA, $4.8{\%}$ for IIB. $0{\%}$ for IIIA and $11.1{\%}$ for IIIB. The time of failure was from 3 to 50 months and with median of 15 months after completion of radiation therapy. There was no significant coorelation between dose to point A($\leq$90 Gy vs >90 Gy) and pelvic tumor control(P>0.05). Incidence rates of grade 2 rectal and bladder complications were $3.5{\%}$(4/114) and $7{\%}$(8/114), respectively and 1 patient had sigmoid colon obstruction and 1 patient had severe cystitis. Overall 5-year survival rate was $70.5{\%}$ and disease-free survival rate was $53.6{\%}$. Overall 5-year survival rate by stage was $100{\%}$ for IB, $76.9{\%}$ for IIA, $77.6{\%}$ for IIB $87.5{\%}$ for IIIA and $69.1{\%}$ for IIIB. Five-rear disease-free survival rate by stage was $81.3{\%}$ for IB, $67.9{\%}$ for IIA, $46.8{\%}$ for IIB, $45.4{\%}$ for IIIA and $34.4{\%}$ for IIIB. The prognostic factors for disease-free survival rate by multivariate analysis was performance status(p= 0.0063) and response rate after completion of radiation therapy(p= 0.0026) but stage, age and radiation dose to point A were not siginificant. Conclusion : The result of radiation therapy for early stage of the uterine cervix cancer was relatively good but local control rate and survival rate in advanced stage were poor inspite of high dose irradiation to point A above 90 Gy. Prospective randomized studies are recommended to establish optimal tumor doses for various stages and volume of carcinoma of uterine cervix, And ajuvant chemotherapy or radiation-sensitizing agents must be considered to increase the pelvic control and survival rate in advanced cancer of uterine cervix.

• Radiation Oncology Journal
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• v.14 no.3
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• pp.191-199
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• 1996

Purpose : To evaluate 5-year survival rate, patterns of failure and complications of cervical cancer treatment, fifty nine patients treated by curative radiotherapy for the uterine cervical cancer were analyzed retrospectively. Materials and Methods : From March 1986 to May 1990, fifty nine patients with histologically proven uterine cervical cancer were analyzed. According to FIGO stage, there were 2 patients ($3.4\%$) in stage Ib, 2 patients ($3.4\%$) in stage IIa, 31 patients ($52.5\%$) in stage IIb, 15 patients ($25.4\%$) in stage IIIb, 9 patients ($15.3\%$) in stage IV. External RT was per formed by 6 MVLINAC with daily 1.8 Gy, 5 times per week and followed by ICR. A point dose of ICR was calculated to 30-43.66 Gy (median: 34.6 Gy). These techniques delivered total A Point dose of 80.4 to 109.8 Gy (median: 85 Gy). Patients had been followed up from 2 to 110 months (median: 61 months) Results : The overall 5-year survival rate & disease free survival rate were $55.9\%$ and $55.0\%$ respectively. According to FIGO stage, the 5-year survival rate for less than IIa, IIb, IIIb, IV were $75.0\%$, $74.8\%$, $26.7\%$, $33.3\%$, respectively. In univariate analysis, the 5-year survival rate for stage IIb and below versus stage IIIa and above revealed $74.8\%$, $29.2\%$ respectively (P<0.005). According to the hemoglobin level during RT, the 5-rear survival rate of was $73.3\%$ for patients with Hg 10 gm/dL or higher, in contrast to $0\%$ for those with lower than 10 gm/dL (p<0.005). In 18 patients with nonbulky tumor (<5cm), the 5-year survival rates were $71.8\%$. The 5-rear survival rates for 18 patients with 5 cm or greater in tumor diameter were $22.2\%$ (p<0.005). The 5-year survival rate for Patient age of above 50 years and below were $65.3\%$ $34.2\%$ respectively (p<0.05). ECOG performance status. pathologic finding, total dose, total treatment time were not statistically significant factors. The significant prognostic factors affecting overall 5-year survival rate by multivariate analysis showed the hemoglobin level during RT (P=0.0001), tumor size (p=0.0390), FIGO stage (p=0.0468). Total recurrence rate was $23.7\%$ local failure $15.2\%$ (9/59), distant metastasis $6.8\%$ (4/59), local and distant metastasis $1.7\%$ (1/59). According to the RTOG/EORTC Soma Scales, the late complication rate was $23.8\%$ (14/59) The late complication rate of colorectum and genitourinary tract were $15.3\%$ (9/59), $8.5\%$ (5/59), respectively: 10 patients ($17.0\%$) were grade 2, 3 Patients ($5.1\%$) were grade 3 and one patient ($1.7\%$) was grade 4. The late complications were radiation proctitis, rectal bleeding, radiation colitis, diarrhea and radiation cystitis in decreasing order. Conclusion : For improvement of therapeutic results, prospective randomized trials are recomended to discover new prognostic factors and more aggressive radiation therapeutic methods are needed for poor prognostic patients. The adjuvant chemotherapy or radiation-sensitizing agents must be considered to inhibit regional and distant metastasis.

• Radiation Oncology Journal
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• v.18 no.4
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• pp.257-264
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• 2000

Purpose: For early stage non-small-cell lung cancer, surgical resection is the treatment of choice. But when the patients are not able to tolerate it because of medical problem and when refuse surgery, radiation therapy is considered an acceptable alternative. We report on the treatment results and the effect of achieving local control of primary tumors on survival end points, and analyze factors that may influence survival and local control. Materials and Method : We reviewed the medical records of 32 patients with medically inoperable non-small cell lung cancer treated at our institution from June, 1987 through June, 1997. All patients had a pathologic diagnosis of non-small cell lung cancer and were not candidate for surgical resection because of either patients refusal (4), old age (2), lung problem (21), chest wail invasion (3) and heart problems (3). In 8 patients, there were more than 2 problems. The median age of the patients was 68 years (ranging from 60 to 86 years). Histologic cell type included souamous (24), adenocarcinoma (6) and unclassiried squamous cell (2). The clinical stages of the patients were 71 in 5, 72 in 25, 73 in 2 patients. Initial tumor size was 3.0 cm in 11, between 3.0 cm and 5.0 cm in 13 and more than 5.0 cm in 8 patients. Ail patients had taken chest x-rays, chest CT, abdomen USG and bone scan. Radiotherapy was delivered using 6 MV or 10 MV linear accelerators. The doses of primary tumor were the ranging from 54.0 Gy to 68.8 Gy (median; 61.2 Gy). The duration of treatment was from 37 days through 64 days (median; 0.5 days) and there was no treatment interruption except 1 patient due to poor general status. In 12 patients, concomitant boost technique was used. There were no neoadjuvant or adjuvant treatments such as surgery or chemotherapy. The period of follow-up was ranging from 2 months through 93 months (median; 23 months). Survival was measured from the date radiation therapy was initiated. Results : The overall survival rate was 44.6$\%$ at 2 years and 24.5$\%$ at 5 years, with the median survival time of 23 months. of the 25 deaths, 7 patients died of intercurrent illness, and cause-specific survival rate was 61.0$\%$ at 2 years and 33.5$\%$ at 5 years. The disease-free survival rate was 38.9$\%$ at 2 years and 28.3$\%$ at 5 years. The local-relapse-free survival rate was 35.1$\%$, 28.1$\%$, respectively. On univariate analysis, tumor size was significant variable of overall survival (p=0.0015, 95$\%$ C.1.; 1.4814-5.2815), disease-free survival (P=0.0022, 95$\%$ C.1., 1.4707-5.7780) and local-relapse-free survival (p=0.0015, 95$\%$ C.1., 1.2910- 4.1197). 7 stage was significant variable of overall survival (p=0.0395, 95$\%$ C.1.; 1.1084-55.9112) and had borderline significance on disease-free survival (p=0.0649, 95$\%$ C.1.; 0.8888-50.7123) and local-relapse-free survival (p=0.0582, 95$\%$ C,1.; 0.9342-52.7755). On multivariate analysis, tumor size had borderline significance on overall survival (p=0.6919, 955 C.1., 0.9610-5.1277) and local-relapse-free survival ( p=0.0585, 95$\%$ C.1.; 0.9720-4.9657). Tumor size was also significant variable of disease-free survival (p=0.0317, 95% C.1.; 1.1028-8.4968). Conclusion : Radical radiotherapy is an effective treatment for small (71 or f3 cm) tumors and can be offered as alternative to surgery in elderly or infirmed patients. But when the size of tumor is larger than 5 cm, there were few long-term survivors treated with radiotherapy alone. The use of hypefractionated radiotherapy, endobronchial boost, radisensitizer and conformal or IMRT should be consider to improve the local control rate and disease-specific survival rate.