• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
• /
• v.15 no.1
• /
• pp.381-384
• /
• 2014

Background: Evidence indicates that Dickkopf-1 (DKK-1) levels may be a biomarker for cancer risk. The aim of this study was to assess DKK-1 and its correlation with clinic-pathological features in patients with bladder cancer. Materials and Methods: DKK-1 levels were determined in serum samples from 90 patients with bladder cancer before transurethral tumor resection. The concentrations of DKK-1 were determined by using enzyme linked immune-sorbent assay (ELISA). Results: Elevated preoperative DKK-1 levels were associated with tumor stage (p<0.001), grade (p<0.001) and histological grade (p<0.001). Conclusions: The results of our study demonstrated that the level of serum DKK-1 is correlated with both disease progression and increase in the tumor grade. Preoperative serum DKK-1 elevation may thus represent a novel marker for the determination of bladder cancer and the detection of patients with a likely poor clinical outcome.

• Korean Medical Education Review
• /
• v.21 no.1
• /
• pp.41-50
• /
• 2019

The aim of this study is to analyze the current status and performance evaluation systems of faculty in Korean medical colleges and professional graduate medical schools (called medical schools). We developed a research tool based on previous studies and distributed it to 40 medical schools from July to October 2017. The response rate was 100%. We calculated the number of faculty members and analyzed the faculty evaluation systems and awareness according to national and private medical schools. As of 2017, the number of medical faculty in Korea was 11,111 (4,973 faculty were employed by their alma mater, which is 44.76% of the total), with non-medical doctor faculty accounting for 754 of the total. The medical schools reflect research achievements as most important for re-appointment and screening to promote faculty, and the area of education is secondary excepting clinical faculty of private medical schools. However, important issues in the faculty evaluation deal with the relevance of research achievement and the need for qualitative assessment. Some medical schools revised or have been revising the faculty evaluation system in areas such as minimum standards of education for promotion and separation of promotion and tenure review. Opening non-tenure track lines for faculty show positive effects such as increasing the number of positions for hire and easing the financial burdens of medical schools. Downfalls include inconsistencies between the responsibilities and actual practices of tenure not being available and the instability of faculty's status. In conclusion, medical schools need to prepare a faculty evaluation system that fits the position of faculty members and attempt to establish a reasonable compensation system.

• Proceedings of the Zoological Society Korea Conference
• /
• 1997.10b
• /
• pp.292.2-292
• /
• 1997

No Abstract, See Full Text

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
• /
• v.15 no.15
• /
• pp.6227-6232
• /
• 2014

Background: Oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) remains as one of the most difficult malignancies to control because of its high propensity for local invasion and cervical lymph node dissemination. The aim of present study was to evaluate the efficacy of novel pH and temperature sensitive doxorubicin-methotrexate-loaded nanoparticles (DOX-MTX NP) in terms of their potential to change the VEGF-C expression profile in a rat OSCC model. Materials and Methods: 120 male rats were divided into 8 groups of 15 animals administrated with 4-nitroquinoline-1-oxide to induce OSCCs. Newly formulated doxorubicin-methotrexate-loaded nanoparticles (DOX-MTX NP) and free doxorubicin were IV and orally administered. Results: Results indicated that both oral and IV forms of DOX-MTX-nanoparticle complexes caused significant decrease in the mRNA level of VEGF-C compared to untreated cancerous rats (p<0.05). Surprisingly, the VEGF-C mRNA was not affected by free DOX in both IV and oral modalities (p>0.05). Furthermore, in DOX-MTX NP treated group, less tumors characterized with advanced stage and VEGF-C mRNA level paralleled with improved clinical outcome (p<0.05). In addition, compared to untreated healthy rats, the VEGF-C expression was not affected in healthy groups that were treated with IV and oral dosages of nanodrug (p>0.05). Conclusions: VEGF-C is one of the main prognosticators for lymph node metastasis in OSCC. Down-regulation of this lymph-angiogenesis promoting factor is a new feature acquired in group treated with dual action DOX-MTX-NPs. Beside the synergic apoptotic properties of concomitant use of DOX and MTX on OSCC, DOX-MTX NPs possessed anti-angiogenesis properties which was related to the improved clinical outcome in treated rats. Taking together, we conclude that our multifunctional doxorubicin-methotrexate complex exerts specific potent apoptotic and anti-angiogenesis properties that could ameliorate the clinical outcome presumably via down-regulating dissemination factor-VEGF-C expression in a rat OSCC model.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
• /
• v.14 no.9
• /
• pp.5355-5360
• /
• 2013

Background: Clarifying the prognostic impact of histological type is an essential issue that may influence the treatment and follow-up planning of newly diagnosed cervical cancer cases. This study aimed to evaluate the prognostic impact of histological type on survival and mortality in patients with cervical squamous cell carcinoma (SCC), adenocarcinoma (ADC) and small cell neuroendocrine carcinoma (SNEC). Materials and Methods: All patients with cervical cancer diagnosed and treated at Chiang Mai University Hospital between January 1995 and October 2011 were eligible. We included all patients with SNEC and a random weighted sample of patients with SCC and ADC. We used competing-risks regression analysis to evaluate the association between histological type and cancer-specific survival and mortality. Results: Of all 2,108 patients, 1,632 (77.4%) had SCC, 346 (16.4%) had ADC and 130 (6.2%) had SNEC. Overall, five-year cancer-specific survival was 60.0%, 54.7%, and 48.4% in patients with SCC, ADC and SNEC, respectively. After adjusting for other clinical and pathological factors, patients with SNEC and ADC had higher risk of cancer-related death compared with SCC patients (hazard ratio [HR] 2.6; 95% CI, 1.9-3.5 and HR 1.3; 95% CI, 1.1-1.5, respectively). Patients with SNEC were younger and had higher risk of cancer-related death in both early and advanced stages compared with SCC patients (HR 4.9; 95% CI, 2.7-9.1 and HR 2.5; 95% CI, 1.7-3.5, respectively). Those with advanced-stage ADC had a greater risk of cancer-related death (HR 1.4; 95% CI, 1.2-1.7) compared with those with advanced-stage SCC, while no significant difference was observed in patients with early stage lesions. Conclusion: Histological type is an important prognostic factor among patients with cervical cancer in Thailand. Though patients with SNEC were younger and more often had a diagnosis of early stage compared with ADC and SCC, SNEC was associated with poorest survival. ADC was associated with poorer survival compared with SCC in advanced stages, while no difference was observed at early stages. Further tailored treatment-strategies and follow-up planning among patients with different histological types should be considered.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
• /
• v.14 no.9
• /
• pp.5519-5525
• /
• 2013

Background: Cervical cancer is the second most common cancer in Thai women after breast cancer. Currently, the Papanicolaou (Pap) smear is the recommended procedure for cervical cancer screening in Thailand, but only a relatively small percentage of women follow this screening program. An alternative method to detect HPV genotypes associated with cervical cancer is self-sampling of urine, which is a more widely accepted method. Our study aimed to evaluate the prevalence of HPV in Thai women using urine and cervical swabs and prevalence of HPV in Thai men using urine samples. Materials and Methods: Tumorigenic HPV detection was accomplished by electrochemical DNA chip and PCR/direct sequencing. In addition to HPV prevalence, we report the concordance between different methods and sample types. One-hundred and sixteen women and 100 men were recruited. Histological examination revealed normal cytology in 52 women, atypical squamous cells of undetermined significance (ASCUS) in 9, low-grade squamous intraepithelial lesions (LSIL) in 24, and high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesions (HSIL) in 31. One-hundred men were classified as heterosexuals (n=45) and homosexuals (n=55). Results: The most prevalent HPV genotype in our study was HPV16. The HPV detection rate was generally lower in urine samples compared with cervical samples. Overall, there was good agreement for the detection of carcinogenic HPV from female cervical samples between the DNA chip and PCR/sequencing, with 88.8% total agreement and a kappa value of 0.76. In male urine samples, the level of agreement was higher in heterosexuals compared with homosexuals. Conclusions: Further improvement is required to increase an overall yield of HPV DNA detection in urine samples before clinical application of a urine-based HPV screening program. The electrochemical DNA chip test is a promising technique for carcinogenic HPV detection.

• YAKHAK HOEJI
• /
• v.57 no.3
• /
• pp.219-225
• /
• 2013

The Korean pharmacy education has introduced new curriculum since 2011. In the new curriculum, pharmacy students have been provided strenthen experimental education and clinical pharmacy has been more important than previous curriculum. Thus, faculties in the college of pharmacy should prepare the circumstances correlated with the changed curriculum. To accomplish successful setting, all faculty and practice experts must work together and need financial assisstant from the college. However, there are many different obstacles among 35 colleges of pharmacy in Korea. In order to narrow a gap among students and find the way to overcome it together, we studied the problem of preparation process in Korean colleges of Pharmacy. We studied the process of practical education in college of pharmacy by means of self-reporting questionnaire from November 29th 2012 to December 31th 2012. The questionaire comprised of syllabus related to clinical pharmacy, the number of professor in charge of clinical pharmacy or pharmacotherapeutics, the plan of securing faculties in the field of clinical pharmacy, the budget, site, instrument for preparing experimental education, the lesson time number of experimental education, MOU, education and treatment of preceptor in the practice site and committee of experimental education in the college. Total 21 of 35 colleges participated in this survey. They showed different composition of syllabus, budget, the circumstances of experimental education, the education and treatment of preceptor. Most colleges are unclear the site and preceptor of experimental education and they did not contract the MOU with the sites. 9 of 21 also did not have the committee of experimental education in the colleges. From 2013, some colleges of pharmacy start actual experimental education. Inadequete preparation and different quality of education can make student incomplete pharmacists, so it will be negative effect on public health. To overcome challenge and obtain desirable goal, funding/administrative assistant from the college and networking within 35 colleges of pharmacy are needed.

• The Journal of Korean Academic Society of Nursing Education
• /
• v.6 no.2
• /
• pp.247-261
• /
• 2000

It is important for nursing faculties to try to improve their professional knowledge and skill in nursing education. Thus it is essential for them to participate in clinical training program. The purpose of this study was to identify the effect and satisfaction of faculty clinical training programs which were managed by Korean Academic Society of Nursing Education and 4 Hospitals(Samsung Medical Center, Seoul National University Hospital, Seoul, Asan Medical Center, Yeonsei Sebrance Medical Center) in Seoul. The data collection was done from July, 1999 to December, 1999 and the 125 subjects were used for the analysis. The purpose of participation of professor to clinical training course was found that to observe of up-to-date treatment method($3.57{\pm}.60$) and to connect between knowledge and practice ($3.63{\pm}.50$). The professors were highly satisfied with 'can see the high-tech institution and facilities($3.45{\pm}.62$)' and 'can confirm in advanced nursing field and practice ($3.38{\pm}.58$)' in clinical training program. And it was found that nursing professors applied the experience of participation in clinical training program to lecture and clinial practice for students. But they were dissatisfied with 'they had no or not enough time to practice'. In conclusion, the clinical training program was useful for nursing professor to educate and instruct the students. It is suggested that the more advanced course and practical program have to be developed for nursing faculties.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
• /
• v.15 no.7
• /
• pp.3233-3238
• /
• 2014

Background: The aim of this study was to analyze the demographic and clinical characteristics of male breast cancer patients in Serbia, and furthermore to determine overall survival and predictive factors for prognosis. Materials and Methods: In the period of 1996-2006 histopathological diagnosis of breast cancer was made in 84 males at the Institute for Oncology and Radiology of Serbia. For statistical analyses the Kaplan-Meier method, long-rank test and Cox proportional hazards regression model were used. Results: The mean age at diagnosis with breast cancer was $64.3{\pm}10.5$ years with a range from 35-84 years. Nearly 80% of the tumors showed ductal histology. About 44% had early tumor stages (I and II) whereas 46.4% and 9.5% of the male exhibitied stages III and IV, respectively. Only 7.1% of male patients were grade one. One-fifth of all patients had tumors measuring ${\leq}2cm$, and 14.3% larger than 5 cm. Lymph node metastasis was recorded in 40.4% patients and 47% relapse. Estrogen and progesterone receptor expression was positive in 66.7% and 58.3%, respectively. Among 14.3% of individuals tumor was HER2 positive. About two-thirds of all male patients had radical mastectomy (66.7%). Adjuvant hormonal (tamoxifene), systematic chemotherapy (CMF or FAC) and adjuvant radiotherapy were given to 59.5%, 35.7% and 29.8% patients respectively. Overall survival rates at five and ten years for male breast cancer were 55.0% and 43.9%, respectively. According to the multivariate Cox regression predictive model, a lower initial disease stage, a lower tumor grade, application of adjuvant hormone therapy and no relapse occurrence were significant independent predictors for good overall survival. Conclusions: Results of the treatment would be better if disease is discovered earlier and therefore health education and screening are an imperative in solving this problem.

• Imaging Science in Dentistry
• /
• v.51 no.2
• /
• pp.203-208
• /
• 2021

Ghost cell odontogenic carcinoma (GCOC) is a rare malignant neoplasm characterized by the presence of ghost cells. It is considered to originate from either a calcifying odontogenic cyst(COC) or a dentinogenic ghost cell tumor(DGCT). Its clinical and radiographic characteristics are non-specific, including slow growth, locally aggressive behavior, and eventual metastasis. This case report describes a 43-year-old Thai man with plain radiographs and cone-beam computed tomographic images revealing a unilocular radiolucency with non-corticated borders surrounding an impacted left canine associated with radiopaque foci around the cusp tip. Based on the microscopic findings, the lesion was diagnosed as GCOC. Partial maxillectomy of the right maxilla was performed, and radiotherapy was administered. An obturator was made to support masticatory functions Three years later, the lesion showed complete bone remodeling and no signs of recurrence, and long-term follow-up was done regularly.