• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.16 no.5
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• pp.1803-1811
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• 2015

Hepatoma-derived growth factor (HDGF) is a novel jack-of-all-trades in cancer. Here we quantify the prognostic impact of this biomarker and assess how consistent is its expression in solid tumors. A comprehensive search strategy was used to search relevant literature updated on October 3, 2014 in PubMed, EMBASE and WEB of Science. Correlations between HDGF expression and clinicopathological features or cancer prognosis was analyzed. All pooled HRs or ORs were derived from random-effects models. Twenty-six studies, primarily in Eastern Asia, covering 2,803 patients were included in the analysis, all of them published during the past decade. We found that HDGF overexpression was significantly associated with overall survival (OS) ($HR_{OS}=2.35$, 95%CI=2.04-2.71, p<0.001) and disease free survival (DFS) ($HR_{DFS}=2.25$, 95%CI =1.81-2.79, p<0.001) in solid tumors, especially in non-small cell lung cancer, hepatocellular carcinoma and cholangiocarcinoma (CCA). Moreover, multivariate survival analysis showed that HDGF overexpression was an independent predictor of poor prognosis ($HR_{OS}=2.41$, 95%CI: 2.02-2.81, p<0.001; $HR_{DFS}=2.39$, 95%CI: 1.77-3.24, p<0.001). In addition, HDGF overexpression was significantly associated with tumor category (T3-4 versus T1-2, OR=2.12, 95%CI: 1.17-3.83, p=0.013) and lymph node status (N+ versus N-, OR=2.37, 95%CI: 1.31-4.29, p=0.03) in CCA. This study provides a comprehensive examination of the literature available on the association of HDGF overexpression with OS, DFS and some clinicopathological features in solid tumors. Meta-analysis results provide evidence that HDGF may be a new indicator of poor cancer prognosis. Considering the limitations of the eligible studies, other large-scale prospective trials must be conducted to clarify the prognostic value of HDGF in predicting cancer survival.

• Journal of Radiation Protection and Research
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• v.14 no.2
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• pp.10-17
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• 1989

A study for the assessment of dose given by outdoor radon to respiratory system has been carried out by making use of radon-cups containing CR-39 plastic track detectors. Detection efficiencies were determined by irradiation of the radon-cups in a standard radon chamber of known concentration. Thus determined detection factors of CR-39 plastic track detector in bare, open cup and filtered cup geometry are found to be 0.273, 0.0813 and 0.0371 $trmm^{-2}$/(37$Bqm^{-3}{\cdot}d$), respectively, which are chemically etched in 30% NaOH solution of $70^{\circ}C$ for 220 minutes. The outdoor radon concentrations measured at Taejeon(Chungnam National University) from May 1988 to March 1989 are in the range of 27.4 - 135.8 Bq/$m^3$(0.74 - 3.67pCi/l)by open cup and 16.7 - 143.9 Bq/$m^3$(0.45 - 3.89 pCi/l) by filtered cup, which yield overall annual average value of outdoor radon concentration of $70.8Bq/m^3$(1.91 pCi/l). Corresponding effective dose equivalent rate to respiratory system of ICRP standard man is assessed to be 520 nSv /h.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.13 no.10
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• pp.5177-5182
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• 2012

Purpose: To compare the efficacy and safety of epidermal growth factor receptor tyrosine kinase inhibitormonotherapy (EFGR-TKIs: gefitinib or erlotinib) with standard second-line chemotherapy (single agent docetaxel or pemetrexed) in previously treated advanced non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Methods: We systematically searched for randomized clinical trials that compared EGFR-TKI monotherapy with standard second-line chemotherapy in previously treated advanced NSCLC. The end points were overall survival (OS), progression-free survival (PFS), overall response rate (ORR), 1-year survival rate (1-year SR) and grade 3 or 4 toxicities. The pooled hazard ratio (HR) or risk ratio (RR), with their corresponding 95% confidence intervals (CI) were calculated employing fixed- or random-effects models depending on the heterogeneity of the included trials. Results: Eight randomized controlled trials (totally 3218 patients) were eligible. Our meta-analysis results showed that EGFR-TKIs were comparable to standard second-line chemotherapy for advanced NSCLC in terms of overall survival (HR 1.00, 95%CI 0.92-1.10; p=0.943), progression-free survival (HR 0.90, 95%CI 0.75-1.08, P=0.258) and 1-year-survival rate (RR 0.97, 95%CI 0.87-1.08, P=0.619), and the overall response rate was higher in patients who receiving EGFR-TKIs(RR 1.50, 95%CI 1.22-1.83, P=0.000). Sub-group analysis demonstrated that EGFR-TKI monotherapy significantly improved PFS (HR 0.73, 95%CI: 0.55-0.97, p=0.03) and ORR (RR 1.96, 95%CI: 1.46-2.63, p=0.000) in East Asian patients, but it did not translate into increase in OS and 1-year SR. Furthermore, there were fewer incidences of grade 3 or 4 neutropenia, febrile neutropenia and neutrotoxicity in EGFR-TKI monotherapy group, excluding grade 3 or 4 rash. Conclusion: Both interventions had comparable efficacy as second-line treatments for patients with advanced NSCLC, and EGFR-TKI monotherapy was associated with less toxicity and better tolerability. Moreover, our data also demonstrated that EGFR-TKImonotherapy tended to be more effective in East Asian patients in terms of PFS and ORR compared with standard second-line chemotherapy. These results should help inform decisions about patient management and design of future trials.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.15 no.11
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• pp.4643-4650
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• 2014

Background: For decades, studies have been performed to evaluate the association between ABO blood groups and risk of cancer. However, whether ABO blood groups are associated with overall cancer risk remains unclear. We therefore conducted a meta-analysis of observational studies to assess this association. Materials and Methods: A search of Pubmed, Embase, ScienceDirect, Wiley, and Web of Knowledge databases (to May 2013) was supplemented by manual searches of bibliographies of key retrieved articles and relevant reviews. We included case-control studies and cohort studies with more than 100 cancer cases. Results: The search yielded 89 eligible studies that reported 100,554 cases at 30 cancer sites. For overall cancer risk, the pooled OR was 1.12 (95%CI: 1.09-1.16) for A vs. non- A groups, and 0.84 (95%CI: 0.80-0.88) for O vs. non-O groups. For individual cancer sites, blood group A was found to confer increased risk of gastric cancer (OR=1.18; 95%CI: 1.13-1.24), pancreatic cancer (OR=1.23; 95%CI: 1.15-1.32), breast cancer (OR=1.12; 95%CI: 1.01-1.24), ovarian cancer (OR=1.16; 95%CI: 1.04-1.27), and nasopharyngeal cancer (OR=1.17; 95%CI: 1.00-1.33). Blood group O was found to be linked to decreased risk of gastric cancer (OR=0.84; 95%CI: 0.80-0.88), pancreatic cancer (OR=0.75; 95%CI: 0.70-0.80), breast cancer (OR=0.90; 95%CI: 0.85-0.95), colorectal cancer (OR=0.89; 95%CI: 0.81-0.96), ovarian cancer (OR=0.76; 95%CI: 0.53-1.00), esophagus cancer (OR=0.94; 95%CI: 0.89-1.00), and nasopharyngeal cancer (OR=0.81; 95%CI: 0.70-0.91). Conclusions: Blood group A is associated with increased risk of cancer, and blood group O is associated with decreased risk of cancer.

• Corrosion Science and Technology
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• v.4 no.1
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• pp.19-22
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• 2005

Two Au-Ag-Cu-Pd dental casting alloys (Au:12% and 20%) used. The test solutions used 0.9 % NaCl solution (isotonic sodium chloride solution), 0.9 % NaCl solution containing 1 % lactic acid, and 0.9 % NaCl solution containing 1 % lactic acid and 0.1 mol $dm^{-3}$ $Na_2S$. The surface of two samples in three sample solutions was not natural discoloration during one year. The alloy containing 12 % gold was easily alloyed and the composition was uniform comparing with the alloy containing 20 % gold. The rest potentials have not a little effect after three months. The kinds of metals could not definitely from the oxidation and reduction waves of metal on the cyclic voltammograms. The dissolutions of gold and palladium were 12 % Au sample in the 0.9 % NaCl solution containing 1 % lactic acid and 0.1 mol $dm^{-3}$ $Na_{2}S$. The pH of solution had an affect on dissolution of copper, and sulfur ion had an affect on dissolution of silver. The copper dissolved amount from 20 % gold sample was about 26 times comparing with that of 12 % gold sample in the 0.9 % solution containing 1 % lactic acid. Corrosion products were silver chloride and copper chloride in NaCl solution, and silver sulfide and copper sulfide in NaCl solution containing $Na_{2}S$.

• Korean Journal of Poultry Science
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• v.21 no.4
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• pp.239-247
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• 1994

A study was conducted to investigate the effects of the addition of varied levels of NaCi and phosphates on the physicochernical properties of the breast meat of the spent layers(2 \pm 0.2 kg) which were stabilized for over 24 h before slaughter. Within 1 h after slaughter, breast meats were removed and treated with NaGl(0, 1, 2, 3%) and phosphates(0.25% and 0.5%) using a hot-salted method. The breast meat was stored at 4 \pm $1^{\circ}C$ for 3 d. The results obtained were summarized as follows. 1. The pH values of salt-treated groups were significantly higher than that of the control(P<0.05) ; the higher the salt level, the higher the pH. The pH values were significantly increased in both control and treatment groups during storage(P<0.05). Among salt-treated groups, the 0.5% phosphates level showed significantly high pH(P<0.05) compared to other levels of salt groups. 2. The moisture contents were significantly lower in all salt4reated groups than the control(P<0.05), and showed a negative relationship with the levels of salt. It decreased in control group gradually as the storage period extended, but not significantly changed in salt-treated groups. 3. The shear force values in salt-treated groups were lower than that of the control and showed a negative relationship with salt levels. At a constant level of NaCI, the shear force value was higher in 0.25% phosphates level than in 0.5% level. It decreased in both control and salt-treated groups during storage. 4. The salt treatments tended to increase the sodium content proportionately. The sodium content decreased in both control and salt treatment groups during storage(P<0.05). In addition, the combination of high levels of NaCl and phosphates rather than those of low levels of NaCI and phosphates resulted in elevated levels of sodium. 5. The phosphorus contents in salt-treated groups were higher than that of control. Between 0.5% and 0.25% phosphates levels this value showed significant difference(P<0.05). Its contents in both control and treatment groups were significantly decreased during storage (P<0.05).

• The Korean Journal of Physiology
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• v.23 no.1
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• pp.13-21
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• 1989

The present study was designed to investigate i) the action of various nucleotides on membrane permeability of rat red blood cell and hepatocyte for $Na^{+}$ and $Rb^{+}$ ii) the characteristics of purinoceptors on these cell membranes. Blood from Sprague-Dawley rats was obtained by carotid arterial cannulation. Red blood cells were then washed 3 times with saline at $4{\circ}C$. Hepatic parenchymal cells were isolated from rat livers by using a modification of the Berry and Friend (1969) method. For the $Na^{+}$ influx studies, isolated RBC and hepatocyte were incubated in incubation medium containing $^{22}Na^{+}0.2\;{\mu}Ci/ml$ at $37^{\circ}C$. After various time intervals samples were removed from the incubation flask and washed out 3 times with ice-cold washing solutions. Cells were destroyed by adding Triton X-100 and TCA solution. After centrifugation, the supernatants were assayed for $^{22}Na^{+}$ by gamma counter. $^{86}Rb^{+}$ was used to simulate $K^{+}$ in these $K^{+}efflux$ studies. Isolated hepatocytes were incubated for 60 min in the loading solution containing $^{86}Rb^{+}\;10\;{\mu}Ci/ml$ at $37^{\circ}C$. After loading, the cells washed out 3 times by centrifugation with washing solution. The cells were incubated in buffer solution at $37^{\circ}C$. At intervals thereafter, samples were removed and centrifuged. The supernatants were analyzed for $^{86}Rb^{+}$ by liquid scintillation counter. The main results of the experiments were: 1) ATP and ATPP increased in both $^{22}Na^{+}$ influx and $^{86}Rb^{+}$ efflux in the red blood cell. Although ADP showed a tendency to increase in RBC membrane permeability for $^{22}Na^{+}$ and $^{86}Rb^{+}$, the changes were not significantly different from the control. 2) The Significant changes in $^{22}Na^{+}$ and $^{86}Rb^{+}$ flux by ATP were also demonstrated in hepatocyte. ATPP and ADP showed a tendency to increase in hepatocyte membrane permeability for both ions. 3) Other nucleoside triphosphates-ITP, GTP and CTP-did not change in membrane permeability for $^{22}Na^{+}$ and $^{86}Rb^{+}$ in RBC and hepatocyte. In conclusion, not only ATP but also ATPP activate purinoceptors and change in membrane permeability for $Na^{+}$ and $K^{+}$. In order to activate purinoceptors on the cell membrane, the nucleotides have to possess intact adenine moiety and three phosphates or more in its molecule.

• Journal of Biomedical Engineering Research
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• v.20 no.6
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• pp.515-521
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• 1999

Scintillator crystal is an important part and detcrmines performance characteristics of the gamma camera. We investigated the offects of scintillation crystal surface treatment on gamma camera imaging. Nal(TI) and Csl(Tl) scintillators. 20 mm diameter and 10 mm thickness, applied with two different surface treatments, white and black reflcetors, were applied to Nal(Tl) and Csl(Ti). The optical properties of generated scintillation light were evaluated by Monte Carlo simulation method and by actual measurement using a position sensitive photomultiplier tube (PSPMT). We measured sensitivity, energy resolution and spatial resolution of gamma camera with the various scintillators coupled to a PSPMT. In the simulation. Nal(Tl)-white prosented the best sensitivity. In the measurements, the sensitivities and the intrinsic spatial resolutions of Nal(Tl)-white, Nal(Tl)-black. CsI(Tl)-white, CsI(Tl)-black were 2920, 2322, 1754, 1401 cps/$\mu$ci and 5.2, 4.5, 7.0, 6.3 mm FWHM. respectively. Their intrinsic energy resolutions were mesured 12.5, 23.5, 20.5, 33.3% FWHM at 140 keV Tc-99m. In this study, we investigated the offects of a side surface treatment of the scintillator on the gamma camera imaging. Simulation and measurement prescnted similat trends. Based on the results, we concluded that the surface of th NaI(Tl)seintillator must be treated by absorptive materials in order to develop the gamma camera having good spatial resolution.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.15 no.18
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• pp.7583-7588
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• 2014

Background: Colorectal cancer (CRC) is a major cause of cancer-related death and cancer-related incidence worldwide. The potential of microRNA-21 (miR-21) as a biomarker for CRC detection has been studied in several studies. However, the results were inconsistent. Therefore, we conducted the present meta-analysis to systematically assess the diagnostic value of miR-21 for CRC. Materials and Methods: Using a random-effect model, the pooled sensitivity (SEN), specificity (SPE), positive likelihood ratio (PLR), negative likelihood ratio (NLR), and diagnostic odds ratio (DOR) were calculated to evaluate the diagnostic performance of miR-21 for CRC. A summary receiver operating characteristic (SROC) curve and an area under the curve (AUC) were also generated to assess the diagnosis accuracy of miR-21 for CRC. Q test and I2 statistics were used to assess between-study heterogeneity. Publication bias was evaluated by the Deeks' funnel plot asymmetry test. Results: A total of 986 CRC patients and 702 matched healthy controls from 8 studies were involved in the meta-analysis. The pooled results for SEN, SPE, PLR, NLR, DOR, and AUC were 57% (95%CI: 39%-74%), 87% (95%CI: 78%-93%), 4.4 (95%CI: 2.4-8.0), 0.49 (95%CI: 0.32-0.74), 9 (95%CI: 4-22), and 0.83 (95%CI: 0.79-0.86), respectively. Subgroup analyses further suggested that blood-based studies showed a better diagnostic accuracy compared with feces-based studies, indicating that blood may be a better matrix for miR-21 assay and CRC detection. Conclusions: Our findings suggest that miR-21 has a potential diagnostic value for CRC with a moderate level of overall diagnostic accuracy. Hence, it could be used as auxiliary means for the initial screening of CRC and avoid unnecessary colonoscopy, which is an invasive and expensive procedure.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• v.37 no.1
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• pp.59-72
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• 2024

Background: This study assessed the postoperative analgesic efficacy and safety of the quadratus lumborum block (QLB) in pediatric patients. Methods: Electronic databases were searched for studies comparing the QLB to conventional analgesic techniques in pediatric patients. The primary outcome was the need for rescue analgesia 12 and 24 hours after surgery. Secondary outcomes covered the Face-Legs-Activity-Cry-Consolability Scale (FLACC) scores at various time points; parental satisfaction; time to the first rescue analgesia; hospitalization time; block execution time; block failure rates, and adverse events. Results: Sixteen randomized controlled trials were analyzed involving 1,061 patients. The QLB significantly reduced the need for rescue analgesia both at 12 and 24 hours after surgery (12 hours, relative risk [RR]: 0.45; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.01, 0.88; 24 hours, RR: 0.51; 95% CI: 0.31, 0.70). In case of 24 hours after surgery, type 1 QLB significantly reduced the need for rescue analgesia (RR: 0.56; 95% CI: 0.36, 0.76). The QLB also exhibited lower FLACC scores at 1 hour (standardized mean difference [SMD]: -0.87; 95% CI: -1.56, -0.18) and 6 hours (SMD: -1.27; 95% CI: -2.33, -0.21) following surgery when compared to non-QLB. Among QLBs, type 2 QLB significantly extended the time until the first rescue analgesia (SMD: 1.25; 95% CI: 0.84, 1.67). No significant differences were observed in terms of parental satisfaction, hospitalization time, block execution time, block failure, or adverse events between QLB and non-QLB groups. Conclusions: The QLB provides non-inferior analgesic efficacy and safety to conventional methods in pediatric patients.