• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.15 no.2
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• pp.847-853
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• 2014

There is a lot of debate on the relationship between vitamin D receptor polymorphisms and risk of breast cancer. Herein, we quantitatively analyzed the published case-control studies on this relationship by meta-analysis, performing a bibliographic search from Pubmed and CNKI up to July 31, 2013. The included case-control studies for Fok1, Bsm1, Taq1, Apa1, Cdx2 and Poly-A were 16, 19, 20, 10, 4, 6, respectively. Crude and adjusted odd ratios and 95% confidence intervals were calculated to present and compare the strength of any associations. The results of combined analyses indicated that Fok1, Bsm1, Apa1, Cdx2 and Poly-A were not significantly associated with the risk of breast cancer. In contrast, the tt genotype of Taq1 was a modest risk factor for breast cancer development (tt vs. TT: OR = 1.21, 95% CI: 1.01-1.44). To further confirm the above results, adjusted effects for the six polymorphisms were pooled based on adjusted ORs reported in the original studies. Adjusted ORs of Fok1, Apa1, Cdx2 and Poly-A were similar to the crude ORs. However, Bsm1 and Taq1 showed inconsistent results. For Bsm1, OR for BB vs. bb was 0.85, 95% CI: 0.74-0.98; for Taq1, OR for tt vs. TT was 1.03, 95% CI: 0.92-1.15, and not associated with risk. Subgroup analyses for crude ORs showed some association between Bsm1, Taq1 and breast cancer in Caucasians only, but for adjusted ORs, no associations were found. This meta-analysis suggests that the roles that Fok1, Apa1, Cdx2 and Poly-A polymorphisms play in breast cancer risk are negligible, with Bsm1 and Taq1 as possible exceptions. To be conservative, we still assumed that they may play a modest role in determining breast cancer risk. Further studies are needed to validate our findings.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.14 no.11
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• pp.6807-6812
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• 2013

Background: Lung cancer is a major cause of Korean female mortality and is clearly associated with smoking. The Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES IV-2,3), which included both self-reports of smoking and urinary cotinine data, revealed a significant discrepancy between the prevalence of self-reported and biochemically-verified female smokers. The factors associated with accurate self-reporting of current smoking status remain poorly understood, however. Materials and Methods: We assessed the prevalence of smoking in KNHANES using both self-report and urinary cotinine data. Subsequently, using univariate and multivariate tests, we assessed whether age, intensity of smoking, marital status, relationship with cohabitants, education, occupation, residential area, or annual household income were associated with inaccurate self-reporting in Korean females. We also investigated whether the prevalence of inaccurate self-reports changed over the survey period, 2008-2009. Results: The prevalence of self-reported smoking was 47.8% in males and 6.6% in females. By contrast, the prevalence of smoking as assessed by urinary cotinine levels was 52.2% in males and 14.5% in females. Of the 746 females with urinary cotinine levels >50ng/ml, 407 (56.0%) provided inaccurate self-reports. In a multivariate model, age group(40-49: OR 3.54, 95%CI 1.42-8.86, p=0.007; ref :20-29), cotinine intensity(OR 0.999, 95%CI 0.998-0.999, p<0.001), marital status (married but without spouse: OR 0.37, 95%CI 0.15-0.94, p=0.037; ref :never married), relationship with cohabitants (living with a spouse and unmarried child: OR 2.63, 95%CI 1.44-4.80, p=0.002; living with 2 generations except unmarried child: OR 2.53, 95%CI 1.09-5.87, p=0.030; living with ${\geq}3$ generations: OR 3.25, 95%CI 1.48-7.10, p=0.003; ref :spouse only) and education(college or higher: OR 2.73, 95%CI 1.04-7.18, p=0.042; ref :elementary or less) were independently associated with inaccurate self-reports. Conclusions: The trend of smoking prevalence of Korean females is likely to decrease. However, an elevated prevalence of inaccurate self-reports by females remains. Factors related to the intensity of smoking and family status appear to influence whether a Korean female provides an accurate self-report when asked about smoking behavior.

• Pediatric Infection and Vaccine
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• v.19 no.2
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• pp.61-70
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• 2012

Purpose: This study was performed to compare the clinical characteristics of 2009 pandemic influenza A(H1N1) [A(H1N1) pdm09] and seasonal influenza A infection in the pediatric cancer patients. Methods: A retrospective review was performed in the pediatric cancer patients who had confirmed A(H1N1)pdm09 infection at Samsung Medical Center from August 2009 to February 2010. For the comparison, the medical records of pediatric cancer patients with seasonal influenza A from January 2000 to May 2009 were reviewed retrospectively. Results: Eighty-two A(H1N1)pdm09 infections were confirmed in the pediatric cancer patients. Ten patients (12.2%) developed complicated clinical course by lower respiratory infections or extrapulmonary infections; 4 pneumonia, 1 bronchitis, 1 pericarditis with pneumonia, 1 encephalitis with pneumonia, 2 meningitis and 1 pericarditis. Three patients received mechanical ventilator and ICU care. Three pediatric cancer patients (3.7%) died. The risk factors related to complicated A(H1N1)pdm09 infections were date of infection (44-45th week 2009) and nosocomial infection. When comparing with previous seasonal influenza A infections, more prompt and aggressive antiviral therapy was given in A(H1N1)pdm09 infections. Conclusion: The A(H1N1)pdm09 infections caused a various clinical manifestations including fatal cases in pediatric cancer patient during pandemic season. There was no significant difference in clinical course between influenza A(H1N1)pdm09 and seasonal influenza A infections except the antiviral treatment strategy.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.13 no.11
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• pp.5637-5642
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• 2012

Objective: Gastric cancer (GC) is one of the most common malignancies and its mortality ranks third among all cancers in China. We previously noted that XRCC1 Arg194Trp was associated with GC risk in Western China in a study on XRCC1 Arg194Trp and ADPRT Val762Ala. We aimed to further explore the association of these polymorphisms with risk of the noncardia subtype. Methods: We enrolled 176 noncardia GC patients and 308 controls from four hospitals and a community between October 2010 and August 2011. Genotyping was performed in a 384-well plate format on the Sequenom MassARRAY platform. A self-designed questionnaire was utilized to collect epidemiological data from the subjects regarding demographic factors and potential risk factors. Results: Subjects were aged $56.8{\pm}11.8$ (mean ${\pm}$ standard deviation) and $57.6{\pm}11.1$ years in the case and control groups, respectively. Individuals carrying the XRCC1 Trp/Trp or Arg/Trp variant genotype were at significantly increased risk of noncardia GC (adjusted OR, 1.48; 95% CI, 1.00-2.17), after adjustment for family history of cancer, drinking, and smoking. The increased risk of XRCC1 Arg194Trp variant genotype was more pronounced among subjects below 60 years old (adjusted OR, 1.78; 95% CI, 1.07-2.96), compared to older individuals. ADPRT Val762Ala variants (Ala/Ala or Val/Ala) were not associated with noncardia GC (adjusted OR, 1.03; 95% CI, 0.69-1.54). Conclusions: Our study suggests that XRCC1 Arg194Trp is a genetic susceptibility factor for developing noncardia GC in Han Chinese in Western China. In particular, individuals with the XRCC1 Arg194Trp variant genotype are at increased risk for GC below 60 years old.

• Child Health Nursing Research
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• v.24 no.4
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• pp.527-536
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• 2018

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to investigate the needs for pediatric palliative care (PPC) among parents of children with complex chronic conditions (CCCs) and to investigate differences in the needs for PPC according to their general characteristics. Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted between March 28 and May 18, 2018. Parents (N=96) who had a child under 18 years with a CCC were recruited. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, independent t-test, and one-way ANOVA. Results: The overall average need for PPC was $3.58{\pm}0.33$ out of 4.00. In terms of care for the subjects' children, the highest need was physical care, followed by psychosocial and spiritual care. In the sub-dimensions, preservation of physical function received the highest score. Of the items, the highest need was for seizure control. In terms of care for the subjects themselves, the highest need was for psychosocial care, followed by bereavement and spiritual care. In the sub-dimensions, communication received the highest score. Of the items, the highest need was for smooth communication with medical staff. Differences in needs for PPC according to participants' general characteristics were not statistically significant. Conclusion: Medical staff should provide PPC according to the priorities of parents' perceived needs.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.17 no.3
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• pp.1235-1242
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• 2016

Background: A school-based smoke free home (SFH) program is useful in empowering the mother and child to reduce secondhand smoke exposure but the effects of pretesting on knowledge and attitude has been largely ignored. We aimed to test whether such a program can be effective in Southern Thailand with an additional assessment of the net effect of the pretest. Materials and Methods: A Solomon four-group design was used. Twelve rural primary schools were assigned to one of the four conditions (each with 3 schools): intervention with and without a pretest, control with and without the same pretest. The intervention was performed in the classroom and home over a period of 1 month. Outcomes were assessed at baseline and 3 months after the intervention on whether the home was smoke free and related knowledge and attitude. Results: The intervention could lead to a smoke-free home without statistical significance. Attitude, knowledge and self-confidence on creating a smoke-free home, and self-confidence in avoidance of secondhand smoke exposure and persuading smokers to not smoke in their home were significantly improved. No pretest effect was observed. Conclusions: Gain in attitude, knowledge and self-confidence among family members from the brief school-based education should be enhanced by other measures.

• Journal of Convergence for Information Technology
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• v.10 no.10
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• pp.88-99
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• 2020

This study aimed to explore the effects of perceived family stress, supportive resources, intentional rumination, and coping behaviors on posttraumatic growth of cancer survivors based on the Double ABCX Family Stress Model. Data were collected from 200 cancer survivors currently living with their spouses and analyzed by path analysis using AMOS program. The results of this study were as follows. First, perceived family stress of cancer survivors had direct effects on supportive resources, intentional rumination, and coping behaviors, and had indirect effects on posttraumatic growth mediated by supportive resources, intentional rumination, and coping behaviors. Second, supportive resources, intentional rumination, and coping behaviors had direct effects on posttraumatic growth. Third, supportive resources and intentional rumination had direct effects on coping behaviors and had an indirect effect on posttraumatic growth mediated by coping behaviors. The current study supported the applicability of the Double ABCX Family Stress Model to the posttraumatic growth process of cancer survivors.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.15 no.6
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• pp.2923-2927
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• 2014

Background: Hepatocellular cancer (HCC) is one of the important health problems in Turkey, being very common and highly lethal. The aim of this study was to determine clinical, demographic features and risk factors. Materials and Methods: Nine hundred and sixth-three patients with HCC from 13 cities in Turkey were included in this study. Results: Only 205 (21%) of the 963 patients were women, with a male:female predominance of 4.8:1 and a median age of 61 years. The etiologic risk factors for HCC were hepatitis B in 555 patients (57.6%), 453 (81%) in men, and 102 (19%) in women, again with male predominance, hepatitis C in 159 (16.5%), (14.9% and 22.4%, with a higher incidence in women), and chronic alcohol abuse (more than ten years) in 137 (14.2%) (16.8% and 4.9%, higher in males). The Child-Pugh score paralleled with advanced disease stage amd also a high level of AFP. Conclusions: According to our findings the viral etiology (hepatitis B and hepatitis C infections) in the Turkish population was the most important factor in HCC development, with alcohol abuse as the third risk factor. The Child-Pugh classification and AFP levels were determined to be important prognostic factors in HCC patients.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.7 no.4
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• pp.315-325
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• 2013

We evaluated folate status of child-bearing age women diagnosed with abnormal pap smear in the US post-folic acid (FA) fortification era and assessed the determinants of NTD-protective and supra-physiologic (SP) concentrations of folate. The distribution of 843 women according to NTD-protective concentrations of RBC folate, plasma folate and SP concentrations of plasma folate were tested in relation to demographic and life-style factors. Logistic regression models specified NTD-protective concentrations of RBC and plasma folate or SP concentrations of plasma folate as dependent variables and demographic and life-style factors as independent predictors of interest. More than 82% reached NTD-protective concentrations of RBC and plasma folate and ~30% reached SP concentrations of plasma folate. FA supplement use was associated with having SP concentrations of plasma folate rather than NTD-protective concentrations of folate. African American (AA) women and smokers were significantly less likely to achieve NTD-protective concentrations of RBC and plasma folate. A large majority of women reached NTD-protective concentrations of folate with the current level of FA fortification without using supplementary FA. Therefore, the remaining disparities in AA women and in smokers should be addressed by targeted individual improvements in folate intake.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.14 no.7
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• pp.4359-4363
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• 2013

Background: Pediatric lymphadenopathy is a challenging medical situation for the child patient, the parents, and the physician. Although the bulk of masses will be benign the fear of malignancy is omnipresent. Therefore, the objective of this study was to identify the common cytopathological patterns of lymphadenopathy among Sudanese children. Methods: One hundred pediatric patients presenting with peripheral lymphadenopathy were included in the study, their ages ranging from 2 to 14 years, with a mean age of 7 years. Demographic characteristics, clinical manifestations and FNA materials were prospectively obtained. Results: FNA was performed in 100 cases (100%). There were no technical complications. All cases confirmed adequacy of specimen. Overall, FNA demonstrated 90 (90%) benign lesions and 10 (10%) malignant diagnosis. The benign lesions were reactive lymphoid hyperplasia (n=64), followed by benign granulomatous disease (n=26). Of the 10 cases diagnosed with malignancy, 7 (7%) were cases of non-Hodgkin`s lymphoma and the remaining 3 (3%) were Hodgkin's lymphomas. Conclusion: Pediatric lymphadenopathy is common in Sudan. CLA is the common frequent site. Lymphoma represents a major challenge in this setting.