• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.17 no.8
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• pp.3911-3916
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• 2016

Background: Triple negative (TN) and triple positive (TP) breast cancers both are aggressive types but TN generally has a shorter survival. Objectives: To compare the clinical characteristics and treatment outcomes for patients with TN versus TP breast cancer and to assess various prognostic factors affecting overall survival. Materials and Methods: A retrospective audit of 85 breast cancer patients was conducted in the Department of Radiation Oncology and Medical Oncology on patients from 2006 to 2013 for whom IHC for ER, PgR and Her-2 neu were available. The patients were stratified into: ER-, PR- and Her-2 neu- (Arm A, n=47) and ER+, PgR+ and Her-2 neu+ (Arm B, n=38). Results: TN subtype had higher numbers of premenopausal and advanced stage patients as compared to TP subtype. The locoregional recurrence (LRR) and distant metastatic rate was also higher in TN subtype but there was no definite pattern in both the arms. Among the prognostic factors, patients with premenopausal status and advanced stage in TN breast cancer had inferior survival (P=0.07) whereas for those with postmenopausal status and early stage there was no survival difference between the two arms. Conclusions: TN subtype tends to be more aggressive in terms of younger age and advanced stage at presentation, higher tumour grade, LRR and metastasis, suggesting need for future research efforts on providing aggressive treatment to these patients. We could attribute better outcome for TP subtype to receptor positivity enabling role of hormonal treatment and targeted therapy, although less number of patients received targeted therapy.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• v.42 no.3
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• pp.106-110
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• 2015

Objective: This study aimed to investigate the effect of a new clomiphene citrate (CC) regimen on preventing thin endometrial lining in polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) patients receiving CC plus gonadotropin treatment with a timed intercourse cycle. Methods: A total of 114 women with PCOS were included in this trial. Patients were divided into two groups and treated in accordance with the controlled ovarian stimulation (COS) protocol. In group A, 104 COS cycles in 67 patients were included, and in each cycle 150 mg CC was given for three days, starting from day 3. In group B, 69 COS cycles in 47 patients were included, in which 100 mg CC was given for five days, starting from day 3. The thickness of the endometrium was measured on the day of human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) injection. Timed intercourse was recommended at 24 and 48 hours after the hCG injection. Results: Additional doses of human menopausal gonadotropin and the number of days of hCG administration were not significantly different between the two groups. Endometrial thickness on the day of hCG administration was significantly larger in group A than group B (4$9.4{\pm}2.1mm$ vs. $8.5{\pm}1.7mm$, p=0.004). The pregnancy rate was significantly higher in group A than in group B (38.4% vs. 21.7%, p=0.030). Conclusion: Three-day CC treatment resulted in a significantly higher pregnancy rate than the standard five-day CC treatment in a timed intercourse cycle in PCOS patients. Facilitating adequate endometrial growth via the early discontinuation of CC might be a crucial factor in achieving a higher pregnancy rate.

• Advances in pediatric surgery
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• v.13 no.1
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• pp.52-60
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• 2007

Pediatric laparoscopic appendectomy is controversial particularly in complicated appendicitis. We evaluated the outcomes of laparoscopic appendectomy (LA) and open appendectomy (OA) in simple appendicitis and complicated appendicitis respectively. Since June 2004, initial LA has been our policy in all appendicitis including complicated ones. A total of 160 patients were included in this study, consisting of 80 OA (August 2001 - August 2003) and 80 LA (June 2004 - June 2006). We compared the operating time, the length of hospital stay, the length of antibiotics use, and the postoperative complications between LA and OA. In simple appendicitis (73), there were no differences between LA and OA. However in the 87 patients with complicated appendicitis, the operating time was longer in LA (64.8 min vs. 50.2 min) but the length of hospital stay was shorter in LA than OA (8.5 days vs. 9.6 days). There was one complication in simple appendicitis group and six in complicated appendicitis group (3 cases in LA, 3 cases in OA). There was no difference in the results of LA versus OA in simple appendicitis. Therefore for simple appendicitis, LA is recommended in consideration of the cosmetic effect (fewer scar). In complicated appendicitis, early discharge was an advantage and there were no differences in complications in LA despite a longer operative time. So we conclude LA can be considered as the first choice of treatment for all pediatric appendicitis including complicated appendicitis. To confirm our impressions, more well controlled randomized prospective studied need to be done.

• Archives of Craniofacial Surgery
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.46-49
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• 2017

Nevus sebaceus is a hamartoma of the sebaceous gland that occurs congenitally, from which various secondary tumors can arise with a prevalence of 5%-6%. Benign neoplasms commonly arise from nevus sebaceous, but they have a very low malignant potential. Two neoplasms may occasionally arise within the same lesion, but it is rare for three or more neoplasms to occur in a nevus sebaceus simultaneously. A 61-year-old male patient was admitted to our hospital for a $4cm\times2.5cm$ growing tumor in a verrucous form arising within a periauricular nevus sebaceus in the post auricle of the left ear that had developed 30 years earlier. The nodule was diagnosed as 3 different types of tumors: trichilemmoma, desmoplastic trichilemmoma, and basal cell carcinoma. To our knowledge, this is the first report of the coexistence of three different tumors arising from nevus sebaceous. It contain malignant neoplasm also. Surgeons should be aware of the need for close monitoring and early complete surgical excision of sebaceous nevus in order to improve patient outcomes.

• Journal of Gastric Cancer
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• v.14 no.3
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• pp.187-195
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• 2014

Purpose: Laparoscopic gastrectomy in obese patients has been investigated in several studies, but its feasibility has rarely been examined in morbidly obese patients, such as in those with a body mass index (BMI) of ${\geq}30kg/m^2$. The present study aimed to evaluate the technical feasibility and safety of laparoscopic gastrectomy in morbidly obese patients with gastric cancer. Materials and Methods: A total of 1,512 gastric cancer patients who underwent laparoscopic distal gastrectomy (LDG) were divided into three groups: normal (BMI< $25kg/m^2$, n=996), obese (BMI $25{\sim}30kg/m^2$, n=471), and morbidly obese ($BMI{\geq}30kg/m^2$, n=45). Short-term surgical outcomes, including the course of hospitalization and postoperative complications, were compared between the three groups. Results: The morbidly obese group had a significantly longer operating time (240 minutes vs. 204 minutes, P=0.010) than the normal group, but no significant differences were found between the groups with respect to intraoperative blood loss or other complications. In the morbidly obese group, the postoperative morbidity and mortality rates were 13.3% and 0%, respectively, and the mean length of hospital stay was 8.2 days, which were not significantly different from those in the normal group. Subgroup analysis showed that postoperative complication rates were not high in morbidly obese patients, independent of the type of anastomosis technique used and level of lymph node dissection. Conclusions: LDG is technically feasible and safe in morbidly obese patients with a BMI of ${\geq}30kg/m^2$ and early gastric carcinoma. Except for a longer operating time, LDG might represent a reasonable treatment option in these patients.

• Journal of Gastric Cancer
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• v.14 no.4
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• pp.229-237
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• 2014

Purpose: Laparoscopic distal gastrectomy (LDG) is a well-established procedure for the treatment of early gastric cancer. Several reconstruction methods can be adopted after LDG according to tumor characteristics and surgeon preference. This study aimed to compare the remnant gastric functions after different reconstructions. Materials and Methods: In total, 221 patients who underwent LDG between March 2005 and October 2013 were reviewed retrospectively. The patients were classified into four groups based on the reconstructive procedure: Billroth I (BI) anastomosis, Billroth II (BII) with Braun anastomosis, Roux-en-Y (RY) reconstruction, or uncut RY reconstruction. Patient demographics, surgical outcomes, and postoperative endoscopic findings were reviewed and compared among groups. Results: Endoscopic evaluations at $11.8{\pm}3.8$ months postoperatively showed less frequent gastritis and bile reflux in the remnant stomach in the RY group compared to the BI and BII groups. There was no significant difference in the gastric residue among the BI, BII, and RY groups. The incidence of gastritis and bile reflux in the uncut RY group was similar to that in the RY group, while residual gastric content in the uncut RY group was significantly smaller and less frequently observed than that in the RY group (5.8% versus 35.3%, P=0.010). Conclusions: RY and uncut RY reconstructions are equally superior to BI and BII with Braun anastomoses in terms of gastritis and bile reflux in the remnant stomach. Furthermore, uncut RY reconstruction showed improved stasis compared to conventional RY gastrojejunostomy. Uncut RY reconstruction can be a favorable reconstructive procedure after LDG.

• KDI Journal of Economic Policy
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• v.30 no.1
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• pp.211-246
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• 2008

This paper evaluates the role of Korean government in the venture capital industry, in particular in the stages of fund-raising and venture investment. Utilizing data from Korean Venture Capital Association (KVCA), the analysis is conducted for the venture boom and post-boom periods separately. Empirical results show that the government played a significant role in the fund-raising stage in both venture boom and post-boom periods. When it comes to the investment stage, however, the empirical results indicate that the government did not accomplish expected roles. In particular, the government failed to induce investments in the outside funds of which the government had a larger stake toward early-staged firms and guide common stock investments during the venture boom period. The empirical outcomes also show that the government has not properly increased venture investments on high-tech industries during the post-boom period. This paper argues tentative reasons why the policy failures were observed in relation to the policy implications and provide several pieces of supporting evidence.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing
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• v.20 no.3
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• pp.300-306
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• 1990

Colorectal cancer is second only to lung cancer as a cause of death due to cancer in the united States. Studies have shown that fecal occult blood(FOB) tests are effective in detecting colorectal cancer in its early stages. To motivate worksite FOB testing, a randomized controlled trial was conducted. Employees 40 years or older from three federal agencies in Washington State were randomized to a control group(n＝139) which received a letter stating the availability of the FOB test at the worksite clinic or to an intervention group(n＝139) which received the letter about facts on colorectal cancer and a Colorectal Cancer Risk Appraisal. The Colorectal Cancer Risk Appraisal included a feedback on an individual's risk of developing colorectal cancer compared to his / her peers in terms of ‘normal’, ‘moderate’, or ‘high’ risk status. After 3 months, a follow-up questionnaire was sent to all participants to measure the effectiveness of the intervention. In the analysis of the three major outcomes, two possible confounding factors(dietary fat and family history of colorectal cancer) were controlled by logistic regression. Based on a review of the worksite clinic records, the Intervention group had 4.3% higher compliance rate with the FOB test during the follow-up period compared to the control group(p＝.10). The largest effect of the intervention was on the employees' intention to get a FOB test within the next year(62.6% in the intervention group vs. 36.2% in the control group, OR＝3.18, p＜.001). In the final Multivariate logistic model, the employees who were more likely to intend to get a FOB test within the next year were in the intervention group ; were at ‘moderate’ or ‘high’ risk of colorectal cancer ; knew more about the availability of the FOB test at the worksite clinic ; and had a FOB test during the last three years.

• Journal of Periodontal and Implant Science
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• v.45 no.5
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• pp.169-177
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• 2015

Purpose: Despite the high success rates of endosseous dental implants, their placement is restricted according to the height and volume of bone available. The use of short or mini dental implants could be one way to overcome this limitation. Thus, this study aimed to compare standard, short, and mini dental implants with regard to associated clinical parameters and peri-implant crevicular fluid (PICF) levels of cathepsin-K (CTSK), RANK ligand (RANKL), and osteoprotegerin (OPG), after prosthodontic loading. Methods: A total of 78 non-submerged implants (Euroteknika, $Aesthetica^{+2}$, Sallanches, France) were installed in 30 subjects (13 male, 17 female; range, 26-62 years) who visited the clinic of the Periodontology Department, Faculty of Dentistry, Selcuk University. Sampling and measurements were performed on the loading date (baseline) and 2, 14, and 90 days after loading. Assessment of the peri-implant status for the implant sites was performed using the pocket probing depth (PPD), modified plaque index, modified gingival index, modified sulcular bleeding index, and radiographic signs of bone loss. PICF samples collected from each implant were evaluated for CTSK, RANKL, and OPG levels using the ELISA method. Keratinized tissue and marginal bone loss (MBL) were also noted. Results: Clinical parameters statistically significantly increased in each group but did not show statistical differences between groups without PPD. Although implant groups showed a higher MBL in the upper jaw, only the standard dental group demonstrated a statistically significant difference. At 90 days, the OPG:sRANKL ratio and total amounts of CTSK for each group did not differ from baseline. Conclusions: Within the limitations of this study, both short and mini dental implants were achieving the same outcomes as the standard dental implants in the early period after loading.

• Publications of The Korean Astronomical Society
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• v.7 no.1
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• pp.89-96
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• 1992

Recent spectroscopic observations indicate concentration of dark masses in the nuclei of nearby galaxies. This has been usually interpreted as the presence of massive black holes in these nuclei. Alternative explanations such as the dark cluster composed of low mass stars (brown dwarfs) or dark stellar remnants are possible provided that these systems can be stably maintained for the age of galaxies. For the case of low mass star cluster, mass of individual stars can grow to that of conventional stars in collision time scale. The requirement of collision time scale being shorter than the Hubble time gives the minimum cluster size. For typical conditions of M31 or M32, the half-mass radii of dark clusters can be as small as 0.1 arcsecond. For the case of clusters composed of stellar remnants, core-collapse and post-collapse expansion are required to take place in longer than Hubble time. Simple estimates reveal that the size of these clusters also can be small enough that no contradiction with observational data exists for the clusters made of white dwarfs or neutron stars. We then considered the possible outcomes of interactions between the black hole and the surrounding stellar system. Under typical conditions of M31 or M32, tidal disruption will occur every $10^3$ to $10^4$ years. We present a simple scenario for the evolution of stellar debris based on basic principles. While the accretion of stellar material could produce large amount of radiation so that the mass-to-light ratio can become too small compared to observational values it is too early to rule out the black hole model because the black hole can consume most of the stellar debris in time scale much shorter than mean time between two successive tidal disruptions. Finally we outline recent effort to simulate the process of tidal disruption and subsequent evolution of the stellar debris numerically using Smoothed Particle Hydrodynamics technique.