• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.55 no.3
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• pp.247-254
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• 2017

ELISA has been used for the diagnosis of toxoplasmosis, but it is being gradually replaced by a rapid diagnostic test (RDT). We compared and analyzed ELISA and RDT results using the sera collected during 4 consecutive years from residents of Gyodong-do (Island), Incheon-city, Korea. Sera from 921, 993, 940, and 838 adult residents were collected on a yearly basis (2010-2013). ELISA was performed by using a crude extract of T. gondii RH strain antigen and IgG/IgM RDT mounted with recombinant fragment of major surface antigen (SAG1), GST-linker-SAG1A, were applied to the sera. Comparison between groups was analyzed by the Student's t-test. The positive seroprevalence surged from 14.7% (135/921, 2010), 23.1% (231/993, 2011), 23.6% (222/940, 2012), and 32.1% (269/838, 2013) by ELISA. In contrast, RDT showed a more moderate increasing trend from 21.7% (200/921, 2010), 25.5% (253/993, 2011), 28.9% (272/940, 2012) and 33.1% (277/838, 2013). Discrepancies between ELISA and RDT were noted near the cut-off value. At the OD 0.15-0.24 range, RDT could detect 16.1% (169/1051) more positives, which suggests an early or acute toxoplasmosis, but at the OD 0.25-0.34 range, ELISA could detect 35.9% (92/256) more positives of possible chronic infections. Over the OD > 0.35 ELISA and RDT agreed in the majority of the cases. This surge in seroprevalence may be caused by the organic agriculture in addition to eating behavior or increase in pets among Koreans. These facts may be applied on a full-scale national survey using RDT to supplement ELISA to define the characteristics of the infection.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.17 no.3
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• pp.1519-1529
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• 2016

Background: Matrix metalloproteinase -2 (gelatinase-A, Mr 72,000 type IV collagenase, MMP-2) and -9 (gelatinase-B, Mr 92,000 type IV collagenase, MMP-9) are key molecules that play roles in tumor growth, invasion, tissue remodeling, metastasis and stem-cell regulation by digesting extracellular matrix barriers. MMP-2 and -9 are well known to impact on solid cancer susceptibility, whereas, in hematological malignancies, a paucity of data is available to resolve the function of these regulatory molecules in bone marrow mononuclear cells (BM-MNCs) and stromal cells of myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) and acute myeloid leukemia (AML). Objectives: The present study aimed to investigate mRNA expression and gelatinase A and B secretion from BM-MNCs in vitro and genotypic associations of MMP-2 (-1306 C/T; rs243865), MMP-9 (-1562 C/T; rs3918242), tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase -1 (TIMP-1) (372T/C; rs4898, Exon 5) and TIMP-2 (-418G/C; rs8179090) in MDS and AML. Results: The study covered cases of confirmed MDS (n=50), AML (n=32) and healthy controls (n=110). MMP-9 mRNA expression revealed 2 fold increased expression in MDS-RAEB II and 2.5 fold in AML M-4 (60-70% blasts). Secretion of gelatinase-B also revealed the MMP-9 mRNA expression and ELISA data also supported these data. We noted that those patients having more blast crises presented with more secretion of MMP-9 and its mRNA expression. In contrast MMP-9 (-1562 C/T) showed significant polymorphic associations in MDS (p<0.02) and AML (p<0.02). MMP-9 mRNA expression of C/T and T/T genotypes were 1.5 and 2.5 fold increased in MDS and AML respectively. In AML, MMP-2 C/T and T/T genotypes showed 2.0 fold mRNA expression. Only MMP-9 (-1306 C/T) showed significant 4 fold (p<0.001) increased risk with chemical and x-ray exposed MDS, while tobacco and cigarette smokers have 3 fold (p<0.04) risk in AML. Conclusions: In view of our results, MMP-9 revealed synergistic secretion and expression in blast crises of MDS and AML with 'gene' polymorphic effects and is significantly associated with increased risk with tobacco, cigarette and environmental exposure. Release and secretion of these enzymes may influence hematopoietic cell behavior and may be important in the clinical point of view. It may offer valuable tools for diagnosis and prognosis, as well as possible targets for the treatments.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.16 no.15
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• pp.6451-6455
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• 2015

Background: Primary bone neoplasms are rare, contributing only 0.2% of the global burden of all human malignancies. Osteosarcoma (OS) and chondrosarcoma (CS) are the most common malignancies of bone. The giant cell tumor of bone (GCTb) is a benign tumor with behavior characterized by osteolytic bone destruction. The OS, CS and GCTb affect both sexes, all races and generally have incidence peaks regarding the age of the patient which vary according to the tumor type. We analyzed the incidences of OS, CS and GCTb and their relations with gender and age in patients treated in the National Rehabilitation Institute (INR, for its acronym in Spanish) over a period of nine years. Materials and Methods: In the study period, clinic pathological data for 384 patients were obtained with clinical, radiological and histopathological diagnosis for OS, GCTb and CS. Data analysis was performed using the chi-square and Fisher's exact tests. Results: From 2006 to 2014 were recorded 384 cases of bone malignancies in the database of INR. The GCTb had the highest incidence (53.1%), followed by OS (31.3%) and finally the CS (15.6%). The overall average age was $33.6{\pm}15.8$ years and the overall frequency of gender had a ratio of 1/1.03 male/female. The states with the highest incidence were Distrito Federal and Estado de Mexico with 29.2% and 25.3% respectively. Malignant neoplasms of bone assessed in the course of nine years show three significant increases in 2008, 2011 and 2014 (p=0.14). We found association between sex and tumor type (p=0.03), GCTb and CS predominated in females (54.9% and 56.6% respectively), while for the OS males were most affected (59.1%). Age was different in relation with tumor type (p=0.0001), average age was $24.3{\pm}11.2$ years for OS, $34.5{\pm}13$ years for GCTb and $49.2{\pm}18.5$ years for CS. Furthermore, associations of tumor type with topographic location of the primary tumor (P=0.0001) were found. Conclusions: In this study we can see that incidence of musculoskeletal tumor in our population is continuously increasing and in nine years an approximately 200% increase of musculoskeletal tumor cases was observed.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.17 no.9
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• pp.4491-4501
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• 2016

Verruco-papillary lesions (VPLs) of the oral cavity described in the literature involve a spectrum of conditions including squamous papilloma, verruca vulgaris, focal epithelial hyperplasia, condyloma, proliferative verrucous leukoplakia and verrucous carcinoma. A majority of the VPLs are slow growing, benign in nature and have a viral aetiology. Virus associated benign mucosal outgrowths are not too difficult to diagnose either clinically or by microscopy. Apart from virus-associated lesions, VPLs harboring malignant potential or behaviour such as verrucous carcinoma, proliferative verrucous leukoplakia, oral verrucous hyperplasia (OVH), oral papillary squamous cell carcinoma (PSCC) and oral conventional squamous cell carcinoma with papillary features (CSCC) need to be further clarified for better understanding of their predictable biologic behavior and appropriate treatment. Current understanding of potentially malignant VPLs is perplexing and is primarily attributed to the use of confusing and unsatisfactory terminology. In particular, the condition referred to as oral verrucous hyperplasia (OVH) poses a major diagnostic challenge. OVH represents a histopathological entity whose clinical features are not well recognised and is usually clinically indistinguishable from a verrucous carcinoma and a PSCC or a CSCC. A consensus report published by an expert working group from South Asia as an outcome of the 'First Asian Regional Meeting on the Terminology and Criteria for Verruco-papillary Lesions of the Oral Cavity' held in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, recognised the clinical description of these OVH as a new entity named 'Exophytic Verrucous Hyperplasia'. Previously described clinical features of OVH such as the 'blunt' or 'sharp' variants; and the 'mass' or 'plaque' variants can now collectively fall under this newly described entity. This paper discusses in detail the application of the standardized criteria guidelines of 'Exophytic Verrucous Hyperplasia' as published by the expert group which will enable clinicians and pathologists to uniformly interpret their pool of OVH cases and facilitate a better understanding of OVH malignant potential.

• Korean Journal of Head & Neck Oncology
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• v.8 no.2
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• pp.72-81
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• 1992

Thyroid cancer, the most common cancer of endocrine neoplasms, has tremendous variation in tumor biologic behavior. There is no consensus about treatment mode to prevent recurrences despite of recent advance in understanding characteristics of thyroid cancer. So, we have made a clinical analysis and follow-up study of recurred 27 cases among 189 cases treated under the diagnosis of thyroid carcinoma in the department of surgery, Chonnam University Hospital from February, 1982 to February, 1992 to clarify our experience about the characteristics of recurred thyroid cancer. The results were as follow: According to the pathological classification of recurred thyroid cancer, recurrence rate was 11.6% in papillary carcinoma, 15.6% in follicular carcinoma, 37.5% in medullary carcinoma, 66.7% in undifferentiated carcinoma, respectively, and the mean recurrence rate of thyroid cancer was 14.3%. The recurrence rate according to age was 28.6% in 8th decade and 17.9% in 4th decade. The recurrence rate according to sex was not singificant(15.6% in male: 14% in female). The mean period to relapse was 4 years 6 months in papillary carcinoma, 2 years 5 months in follicular carcinoma, 2 years 1 months in medullary carcinoma, 2 years 6 months in undifferentiated carcinoma. The recurrence rate according to previous operating methods, such as performing lymph node dissection or not, mode of thyridectomy, type of lymph node dissection was statisfically non-specific. Common recurrent sites of papillary and follicular carcinoma was cervical lymph node and remained thyroid tissue. Medullary and undifferentiated carcinoma was noted in multiregional or systemic involvement Reoperation was performed with complete resection of recurred or metastatic mass, such as radical neck dissection or mass extirpation from involved organs as possible. The postoperative complications were 2 cases of horseness, and 1 case with hematoma, transient hypocalcemia, wound infection, and pulmonary insufficency, respectively. 5-year survival rate was 85.5% in papillary carcinoma, 66.7% in follicular carcinoma. 50% in medullary carcinoma, and 50% in undifferentiated carcinoma. We concluded that recurrence in thyroid cancer give a reconsideration to previous conservative therapy and more extensive surgical procedures for thyroid cancer including lymphatic dissection are recommanded to prevent recurrences in selected cases if possible.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.65 no.5
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• pp.396-399
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• 2008

Factitious hemoptysis is the bleeding type of Munchausen's syndrome, and this describes a group of patients who intentionally produce symptoms. Because factitious hemoptysis is a very rare manifestation of hemoptysis, it generally passes unnoticed. We report here on a case of factitious hemoptysis in a 15-year-old boy who presented with hemoptysis. During his three hospitalizations, we conducted many diagnostic procedures, including chest CT, laryngoscopy, bronchoscopy and bronchial arteriography, yet we failed to find the definitive cause of the patient's hemoptysis. He kept on complaining of repetitive hemoptysis and seizure-like activity. His father discovered that he had collected his blood into the specimen cup via an intravenous line. After we removed the intravenous line, he did not show blood to us again. We suggest that factitious hemoptysis should be considered in the differential diagnosis of hemoptysis of an unclear bleeding focus, and especially when the patient has a bizarre hospital course or unusual behavior. We also include a review of the relevant literature.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Fundamentals of Nursing
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• v.6 no.3
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• pp.493-506
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• 1999

The purpose of the study is to evaluate the effectiveness and competence level of trainees of Cardiopulmonary resuscitation training targeted for nursing students. 70 nursing students of Y nursing college are recruited as subjects from Dec. 1st, 1998 through Dec. 8th. 1998. For the pre-test. demographic data related to CPR and knowledge of CPR were evaluated. For the post-test, the next week of pre-test, three difference groups of subjects were tested their knowledge of CPR. CPR training was designed by two components which were 90 mins lecture and demonstration by one professor and individual practice using two educational models with two professors. As the tool of measurement estimating pre or post knowledge of CPR. questionnaires were developed based on self-diagnosis questionnaires of American Heart Association(AHA). The questionnaires were multiple choices (50 questions) and open end questions regarding CPR process. Each multiple choices questions valued 2 points (Score varied min. 0 point to max 100 points.). Collected data were computerized and analyzed by SPSS-WIN. Frequency and percentage of each questions analyzed. The differences of the knowledge and competency level of subjects between pre and post test was analyses by paired t-test. The followings are research outcome. 1. In the pre-test, 95% of subjects answered that they already knew what CPR was. but only 82% described correctly what CPR was. 49% learned CPR before, and 80s5 of them learned at high school. 2. 37 questions scores increases, and 10 questions scores decreased. 3 questions didnt change their score. After getting training, ratio of 80% correct score significantly increased 4 times. 3. In post-test. knowledge level of trainees increased compared to that of pre-test. (t=-15.075, p=.000) 4. Competence level also increased (t=-14.86, p=.00). In result, after getting CPR training, most CPR knowledge increased except open the air tract, toddler CPR, and alternative behavior when the air tract is blocked. CPR training needs to extend the educational scope not only CPR lecture but also psychomotor skill practice. CPR trainees are in need of appropriate feedback as well as enough opportunities of skill practice.

• Journal of Yeungnam Medical Science
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• v.8 no.2
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• pp.24-34
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• 1991

Delayed emergence of speech or language are frequent causes for concern about development during early childhood. Dealy in evaluation and proper management until school entry in more likely to result in frustration, anxiety and school failure. Many language disturbances and their attendant behavior disorders respond to intensive language therapy. Authors analyzed the medical recoreds of 52 children with delayed language development evaluated during 30 months from January 1986 through June 1988. The results were as follows : 1. The majority of cases were evaluated at the age of 2-2.9 year old(16 cases, 30.8%) and 3-3.9 year old(11 cases, 21.2%) 2. Male to female ratio was 3 : 1 3. The most common cause was mental retardation(53.8%), followed by developmental language disorder(23.1%) and autism(13.5%) 4. The most common associated condition was dysarticulation(17.3%), followed by strabismus(9.6%) and seizures(7.7%) 5. Special education was recommended in cases of 23(44.2%), speech therapy in 12 cases(23.1%) and consultation to child psychiatry in 7 cases (13.5%). Making diagnosis of underlying disorders is not simple because assessment of intelligence in young children is difficult and only a few tests are standardized. More detailed study on children with delayed language development and development of psychometric tests for the handicapped children are necessary, especially in Korea.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.13 no.5
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• pp.1887-1893
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• 2012

The aim of this study was to detail characteristics of mammary Paget's disease (PD) representing the whole population in China. A total of 4211 female breast cancer inpatients at seven tertiary hospitals from seven representative geographical regions of China were collected randomly during 1999 to 2008. Data for demography, risk factors, diagnostic imaging test, physical examination and pathologic characters were surveyed and biomarker status was tested by immunohistochemistry. The differences of demography and risk factors between PD with breast cancer and other lesions were compared using Chi-square test or t-test, with attention to physical examination and pathological characters. The percentage of PD was 1.6% (68/4211) in all breast cancers. The mean age at diagnosis was 48.1, and 63.2% (43/68) patients were premenopausal. There is no difference in demography and risk factors between PD with breast cancer and other breast cancer (P > 0.05). The main pattern of PD in physical exam and pathologic pattern were patients presenting with a palpable mass in breast (65/68, 95.6%) and PD with underlying invasive cancer (82.4%, 56/68) respectively. The rate of multifocal disease was 7.4% (5/68). PD with invasive breast cancer showed larger tumor size, more multifocal disease, lower ER and PR expression and higher HER2 overexpression than those in other invasive breast cancer (P < 0.05). These results suggested that PD in China is a concomitant disease of breast cancer, and that PD with underlying invasive cancer has more multiple foci and more aggressive behavior compared with other breast invasive cancer. We address the urgent needs for establishing diagnostic and therapeutic guidelines for mammary PD in China.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.14 no.2
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• pp.717-722
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• 2013

Background: Breast cancer is the most common cancer among women worldwide. The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between tumor size and axillary lymph node involvement (ALNI) in patients with invasive lesions, to find the best candidates for a full axillary dissection. Additionally, we evaluated the association between tumor size and invasive behavior. The study was based on data from 789 patients with histopathologically proven invasive breast cancer diagnosed in Shohada University hospital in Tehran, Iran (1993-2009). Cinical and histopathological characteristics of tumors were collected. Patients were divided into 6 groups according to primary tumor size: group I ($0.1-{\leq}1cm$), II ($1.1-{\leq}2cm$), III ($2.1-{\leq}3cm$), IV ($3.1-{\leq}4cm$), V ($4.1-{\leq}5cm$) and VI (>5cm). The mean(${\pm}SD$) size of primary tumor at the time of diagnosis was $3.59{\pm}2.69$ cm that gradually declined during the course of study. There was a significant correlation between tumor size and ALNI (p<0.001). A significant positive correlation between primary tumor size and involvement of surrounding tissue was also found (p<0.001). The mean number of LNI in group VI was significantly higher than other groups (p<0.05). We observed more involvement of lymph nodes, blood vessels, skin and areola-nipple tissue with increase in tumor size. We found 15.3% overall incidence of ALNI in tumors ${\leq}2cm$, indicating the need for more investigation to omit full axillary lymph node dissection with an acceptable risk for tumors below this diameter. While in patients with tumors ${\geq}2cm$, 84.3% of them had nodal metastases, so the best management for this group would be a full ALND. Tumor size is a significant predictor of ALNM and involvement of surrounding tissue, so that an exact estimation of the size of primary tumor is necessary prior to surgery to make the best decision for management of patients with invasive breast cancer.