• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.53 no.2
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• pp.113-126
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• 2002

Background : DNA repair plays a crucial role in protection from cancer-causing agents. Therefore, a reduced DNA repair capacity can increase the susceptibility to lung cancer. The XPC gene contains 15 exons and encodes a 940 amino acid protein that plays a central role in DNA damage recognition of the nucleotide excision repair pathway, which is a major DNA repair mechanisim removing the bulky-helix distorting DNA lesions caused by smoking. Recently several polymorphisms in the XPC gene were identified. In addition, it is possible that these polymorphisms may affect the DNA repair capacity, which modulate cancer susceptibility. The relationship between codon 499 and 939 polymorphisms, and a poly(AT) insertion/deletion polymorphism in the XPC gene, and the lung cancer risk were investigated. Materials and Methods : The genotypes were determined using either PCR or PCR-RFLP analysis in 219 male lung cancer patients and 150 healthy males controls. Results : The frequencies of the genotypes (Val499Ala, PAT and Lys939Gln) among the cases were not significantly different from those of the controls. There was no significant associantion between these polymorphi는 and the lung cancer risk when the analyses were stratified according to age, smoking status and the pack-years of smoking. Moreover, the genotypes had no apparent relationship with any of the histological types of lung cancer. There was a linkage disequilibrium among the Val499Ala, PAT and Lys939Gln polymorphisms. The PAT polymorphism had a strong linkage disequilibrium with the Lys939Gln polymorphism (kappa value=0.87). The XPC haplotypes showed no significant association with the lung cancer risk. Conclusion : These results suggest that XPC Val499Ala, PAT and Lys939Gln polymorphisms are not major contributors to the individual lung cancer susceptibility in Koreans.

• Journal of dental hygiene science
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• v.4 no.1
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• pp.13-20
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• 2004

The purpose of this study was to examine how dental hygienists health management and to what extent they used medical care services due to occupational diseases. It's ultimately attempted to improve the health care of dental hygienists and promote their health. After relevant literature and data were reviewed, a survey was conducted for five months from June through October, 2003. The subjects in this study were 160 dental hygienists who worked at dental hospital and clinics across the nation. And the collected data were analyzed. The findings of this study were as follows: (1) Concerning job-related health education experience, 83.1 percent, the greatest rate, had no experience to receive education, and the type of service made a significance difference to that(p<0.05). (2) As to in-house medical examination, 98.6 percent felt the need for medical examination, and 56.3 percent had ever their bodies examined. Their health examination experience was significantly different according to age(p<0.01), marital status(p<0.01), type of service(p<0.01), career(p<0.01) and yearly income(p<0.01). (3) Concerning how much they used hospitals after working as dental hygienists, 85.6 percent, the biggest group, had no experience to be hospitalized, and that was significantly different according to age(p<0.05), type of service(p<0.05), career(p<0.01) and yearly income(p<0.05). 51.9 percent had no experience to receive treatment as outpatients, and their career(p<0.01) made a significant difference to that. (4) As for how to cope with casual diseases, 34.4 percent, the largest group, visited pharmacies, and 32.5 percent, the next largest group, saw the doctors. In regard to herb restorative, 68.1 percent had no experience to take herb restorative, and that experience varied significantly with age(p<0.01), career(p<0.05) and annual income(p<0.01).

• Radiation Oncology Journal
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• v.28 no.4
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• pp.205-210
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• 2010

Purpose: To evaluate the predictive factors for treatment response and prognostic factors affecting survival outcomes after concurrent chemoradiotherapy (CCRT) for patients with anal squamous cell carcinoma. Materials and Methods: Medical records of forty two patients with histologically confirmed analsquamous cell carcinoma, who had complete CCRT between 1993 and 2008, were reviewed retrospectively. Median age was 61.5 years (39~89 years), and median radiotherapy (RT) dose was 50.4 Gy (30.0~64.0 Gy). A total of 36 patients had equal to or less than T2 stage (85.7%). Fourteen patients (33.3%) showed regional nodal metastasis, 36 patients (85.7%) were treated with 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) plus mitomycin, and the remaining patients were treated by 5-FU plus cisplatinum. Results: The median follow-up time was 62 months (2~202 months). The 5-year overall survival, loco regional relapse-free survival, disease-free survival, and colostomy-free survival rates were 86.0%, 71.7%, 71.7%, 78.2%, respectively. Regarding overall survival, the Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance status and complete response were found to be significant prognostic factors on univariate analysis. For multivariate analysis, only the ECOG performance status was significant. No significant factor was found for locoregional relapse-free survival or disease-free survival and similarly for treatment response, no significant factor was determined on logistic regression analysis. There were 7 patients who had local or regional recurrences and one patient with distant metastasis. The only evaluable toxicity in all patients was radiation dermatitis of perianal skin (grade 3), which developed in 4 patients (9.5%) and grade 2 in 22 patients (52.4%). Conclusion: This study revealed that patients with a performance score of ECOG 0-1 survived significantly longer than those with a poorer score. Finally, there was no significant predicting factors tested for treatment response.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.49 no.2
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• pp.181-186
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• 2006

Purpose : The hematologic change during the treatment of acute lymphoblastic leukemia(ALL) is critical as a prognostic determinant and a variable to determine the dose of chemotherapeutic agents. It is known that the dose of vincristine used in the maintenance phase of ALL is small enough to increase the count of platelet. To investigate the change of platelet count according to the vincristine administration in maintenance phase of ALL chemotherapy, we performed this study. Methods : Eleven patients eligible under the criteria of Children's Cancer Study Group(CCG)-1882 and who had completed chemotherapy were enrolled in this study. The count of platelets before vincristine administration was compared with those of vincristine administration 1, 2 and 3 weeks after the early and last periods of maintenance phases. The platelet count before vincristine administration was defined as 100 percent and that after vincristine were compared. In addition, we tentatively defined an enhancing effect of vincristine as positive when the relative count was more than 120 percent. Results : Platelet count did not differ according to the early and last periods of maintenance phase. Platelet count at first week after vincristine administration increased more significantly than that before vincristine in early and last periods. There was an enhancing effect in 10(90.9 percent) of 11 patients after 1 week vincristine administration both in the early and last periods of the maintenance phase. Conclusion : Vincristine, used in ALL maintenance phases as a low dose, increased platelet count 1 week after administration. The increased platelet count resumed to the previous level 2-3 weeks later. However, the thrombocytosis observed in the maintenance phase by vincristine was not high enough to induce thrombosis. In addition, vincristine is known to reduce the activity of platelets. Therefore, the risk of thrombosis in the maintenance phase of ALL chemotherapy would be low.

• Journal of Gastric Cancer
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• v.6 no.1
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• pp.6-10
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• 2006

Purpose: The most common metabolic defect appearing following a gastrectomy is anemia. Two types have been identified: One is related to a deficiency in iron and the other is related to an impairment in vitamin B12 metabolism. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the incidence and treatment of vitamin B12 deficiency after a total gastrectomy. Materials and Methods: Serum vitamin B12 concentrations were measured in 128 patients who had undergone a total gastrectomy. The group with a serum concentration under 200 pg/ml was supplemented at one-month intervals with Actinamide and five-six months later, serum concentrations of the vitamin B12 were rechecked. Results: The group with vitamin B12 under 200 pg/ml was 61 (47.6%) of the 128 patients who had undergone a total gastrectomy. In this group, the cumulative incidences of vitamin B12 deficiency were 7.0, 23.4, 33.6, 39.1, 41.4, and 47.7% at 6 months, 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 or more years, respectively. The treated group with vitamin B12 under 200 pg/ml had 36 (28.17%) of the 128 patients. The 16 of those cases with vitamin B12 levels of $100{\sim}150\;pg/ml$ were supplemented 5.21 times and the vitamine B12 was elevated to above 650 pg/ml. The other 20 cases with an average of vitamin B12 levels of $150{\sim}200pg/ml$ were supplemented an average of 4.75 times, and the vitamin B12 was elevated to above 780 pg/ml. Conclusion: It is necessary to supplement vitamin B12 even 1 year later after a total gastrectomy. The group with vitamin B12 under 200 pg/ml was supplemented $5{\sim}6$ times at one-month intervals with Actinamide $1,000\;{\mu}g$ IM injections and reached normal levels. (J Korean Gastric Cancer Assoc 2006;1:6-10)

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.44 no.2
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• pp.298-308
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• 1997

Background : Portable devices for measuring peak expiratory flow(PEF) are now of proved value in the diagnosis and management of asthma and many lightweight PEF meters have become available. However, it is necessary to determine whether peak expiratory flow rate(PEFR) measurements measured with peak flowmeters is accurate and reproducible for clinical application. The aim of the present study is to define accuracy, agreement, and precision of mini-Wright peak flow meter(MPFM) against standard pneumotachygraph. Methods : The lung function tests by standard pneumotachygraph and PEFR measurement by MPFM were performed in a random order for 2 hours in 22 normal and 17 asthmatic subjects and also were performed for 3 successive days in 22 normals. Results : The PEFR measured with MPFM was significantly related to the PEFR and $FEV_1$ measured with standard pneumotachygraph in normal and asthmatics(for PEFR, r = 0.92 ; p < 0.001 ; for $FEV_1$, r = 0.78 ; p < 0.001). The accuracy of MPFM was within 100(limits of accuracy recommeded by NAEP) in all the subjects or 22 normal, mean difference from standard pneumotachygraph being 16.5L/min(percentage of difference being 2.90%) or 10.6L/min(percentage of difference being 1.75%), respectively. According to the method proposed by Bland and Altman, the 95% limits of the distribution of differences between MPFM and standard pneumotachygraph after correction of PEFR using our regression equation were +38.2 and -71.5L/min in all the subjects or 20.49~+9.49L/min in 22 normal and was similar to the intraindividual agreements for 3 successive days in normal. There was no statistically significant difference of PEFR measured with MPFM and standard pneumotachygraph among three days(p > 0.05) and the coefficient of variation($2.4{\pm}1.2%$) of PEFR measured with MPFM was significantly lower than that($5.2{\pm}3.5%$) with standard pneumotachygraph in normal (p < 0.05). Conclusion : This results suggest that the MPFM was as accurate and reproducible as standard pneumotachygraph for monitoring of PEFR in the asthmatic subjects.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.63 no.2
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• pp.154-164
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• 2007

Background: Irinotecan hydrochloride, a topoisomerase I inhibitor, is effective against small-cell lung cancer. Irinotecan also can act as a potential radiation sensitizer along with cisplatin. To evaluate efficacy and toxicity of irinotecan plus cisplatin (IP) with concurrent thoracic radiotherapy, we conducted a phase II study of IP followed by concurrent IP plus hyperfractionated thoracic radiotherapy in patients with previously untreated limited-stage small-cell lung cancer. Methods: Twenty-four patients with previously untreated small-cell lung cancer were enrolled onto the study since November 2004. Irinotecan $60mg/m^2$ was administered intravenously on days 1 and 8 in combination with cisplatin $60mg/m^2$ on day1 every 21 days. From the first day of third cycle, twice-daily thoracic irradiation (total 45 Gy) was given. Prophylactic cranial irradiation was given to the patients who showed complete remission after concurrent chemoradiotherapy. Restaging was done after second and sixth cycle with chest CT and/or bronchosocpy. Results: Up to November 2004, 19 patients were assessable. The median follow-up time was 12.5 months. A total of 99 cycles (median 5.2 cycles per patient) were administered. The actual dose intensity values were cisplatin $19.6mg/m^2$/week and irinotecan $38.2mg/m^2$/week. Among the 19 patients, the objective response rate was 95% (19 patients), with 9 patients (47%) having a complete response (CR). The major grade 3/4 hematological toxicities were neutropenia (35% of cycles), anemia (7% of cycles), thrombocytopenia (7% of cycles). Febrile neutropenia was 4% of cycles. The predominant grade 3/4 non-hematological toxicities was diarrhea (5% of cycles). Toxicities was not significantly different with concurrent administration of irinotecan and cisplatin with radiotherapy, except grade 3/4 radiation esophagitis (10% of patients). No treatment-related deaths were observed. The 1-year and 2-year survival rate of eligible patients was 89% (16/18) and 47% (9/18), respectively. Conclusion: Three-week schedule of irinotecan plus cisplatin followed by concurrent IP plus hyperfractionated thoracic radiotherapy is an effective treatment for limited disease small-cell lung cancer, with acceptable toxicity.

• The korean journal of orthodontics
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• v.34 no.5 s.106
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• pp.394-407
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• 2004

The Purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of the lower third molar on treatment time and distal en masse movement of the lower dentition in Giass III malocclusions. Thirty subjects (9 males and 27 females) were selected, all of whom were diagnosed as Glass III malocclusion and treated by fixed appliances without premolar and/or molar extraction. They were divided into three groups Group 1 consisted of 12 subjects. whose lower third molars were not extracted during the whole orthodontic treatment. Group 2 consisted of 8 subjects. whose lower third molars were extracted after WEAW application and before removal of the orthodontic appliances. Group 3 consisted of 10 subjects whose lower third molars were extracted before MEAW application. For each subject. overall treatment time and duration of MEAW application were determined. In addition. pre-treatment and post-treatment lateral cephalometric radiographs were analyzed. All data were Processed statistically with ANOVA, and the conclusions were as follows: There was no significant difference among the groups in overall treatment time However, duration of MEAW application was longer in Group 2 than in Group 1 or Group 3. The overjet that was established after orthodontic treatment was largest in Group 3, in which the lower third molars were extracted befor MEAW application. After orthodontic treatment, IMPA decreased in Group 3. but increased in Group 1 and Group 2. There was no significant difference among the three groups in the translation of lower second molars However the tipping movement of lower second molars was significantly different, highest in Group 2 and lowest in Group 1 Therefore. it is thought to be better for the orthodontic treatment of Class III malocclusions to extract the lower third molars before MEAW application. In Group 2, the mandibular plane angle was decreased as a result of forward rotation of the mandible This skeletal change was thought to bring about the difficulty of treatment.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.52 no.1
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• pp.5-13
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• 2002

Background: DNA repair plays a crucial role in protecting the genome from cancer-causing agents. Therefore, a reduced DNA repair capacity can increase the susceptibility to cancer. The human OGG1 (hOGG1) gene encodes DNA glycosylase/apurinic lyase and excise 8-hydroxyguanine, one of the major premutagenic DNA lesions, which is produced by oxygen radical forming agents including smoking. Recently several polymorphisms in the hOGG1 gene were identified, and it is possible that these polymorphism') may affect the DNA repair capacity and thus modulate cancer susceptibility. The relationship between the codon 326 polymorphism (Ser to Cys) in the hOGG1 gene and lung cancer risk was investigated. Materials and Method: The Ser326Cys genotypes were determined using PCR-RFLP analysis in 299 primary lung cancer patients and 186 healthy controls who were frequency (case:control=3:2) matched according to age and sex. Result: The frequencies of the Ser326Cys genotypes (Ser/Ser, Ser/Cys and Cys/Cys) among cases (23.4%, 51.8%, and 24.7%, respectively) were not significantly different from those among the controls (22.6%,52.1% and 25.3%, respectively). When the analyses were stratified according to age, sex, smoking status and packyears of smoking, no significant association between this polymorphism and lung cancer risk was found. Moreover, the Ser326Cys genotype showed no apparent relationship with any of the histological types of lung cancer. Conclusion: These result suggest that the hOGG1 Ser326Cys polymorphism is not a major contributor to individual lung cancer susceptibility in Koreans.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.49 no.6
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• pp.715-723
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• 2000

Background : Obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS) affects systemic blood pressure and cardiac function. The development of cardiovascular dysfunction including the changes of systemic blood pressure and cardiac rhythm, suggests that recurrent hypoxia and arousals from sleep may increase a sympathetic nervous system activity. Continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) therapy has been found to be an effective treatment of OSAS. However, only a few studies have investigated the cardiovascular and sympathetic effects of CPAP therapy. We evaluated influences of nasal CPAP therapy on the cardiovascular system and the sympathetic activity in patients with OSAS. Methods : Thirteen patients with OSAS underwent CPAP therapy and were monitored using polysomnography, blood pressure, heart rate, presence of arrhythmia and the concentration of plasma catecholamines, before and with CPAP therapy. Results: The apnea-hypopnea index (AHI) was significant1y decreased (p<0.01) and the lowest arterial oxygen saturation level was elevated significantly after applying CPAP (p<0.01). Systolic blood pressure tended to decrease after CPAP but without statistical significance. Heart rates during sleep were not significantly different after CPAP. However, the frequency and number of types of arrhythmia decreased and sinus bradytachyarrhythmia disappeared after CPAP. Although there was no significant difference in the level of plasma epinephrine concentration, plasma norepinephrine concentration significantly decreased after CPAP (p<0.05). Conclusion : CPAP therapy decreased the apnea-hypopnea index, hypoxic episodes and plasma norepinephrine concentration. In addition, it decreased the incidence of arrhythmia and tended to decrease the systemic blood pressure. These results indicate that CPAP may play an important role in the prevention of cardiovascular complications in patients with OSAS.