• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.15 no.3
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• pp.329-345
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• 2021

BACKGROUD/OBJECTIVES: Evidence has suggested an association between serum vitamin D and metabolic syndrome (MetS), but prospective studies are very limited. The objective was to assess the dose-response association between serum vitamin D concentration and MetS risk using a systematic review and meta-analysis of updated observational studies. MATERIALS/METHODS: Using MEDLINE, PubMed, and Embase, a systematic literature search was conducted through February 2020 and the references of relevant articles were reviewed. A random-effects model was used to estimate the summary odds ratio/relative risk and 95% confidence interval (CI). Heterogeneity among studies was evaluated with I² statistic. In total, 23 observational studies (19 cross-sectional studies, and four cohort studies) were included in the meta-analysis. RESULTS: The pooled estimates (95% CI) for MetS per 25-nmol/L increment in serum vitamin D concentration were 0.80 (95% CI, 0.76-0.84; I² = 53.5) in cross-sectional studies, and 0.85 (95% CI, 0.72-0.98; I² = 85.8) in cohort studies. Similar results were observed, irrespectively of age of study population, study location, MetS criteria, and adjustment factors. There was no publication bias for the dose-response meta-analysis of serum vitamin D concentrations and MetS. CONCLUSIONS: Dose-response meta-analysis demonstrated that a 25-nmol/L increment in the serum vitamin D concentration was associated with 20% and 15% lower risks of MetS in cross-sectional studies and cohort studies, respectively.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.14 no.7
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• pp.4131-4134
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• 2013

Objective: To evaluate the relationship between allium vegetable intake and risk of prostate cancer. Methods: A systematic literature search up to May 2013 was carried out in PubMed, EMBASE, Scopus, Web of Science, Cochrane register, and Chinese National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI) databases, and the references of retrieved articles were also screened. The summary relative risks with 95% confidence interval for the highest versus the lowest intake of allium vegetables were calculated. Heterogeneity and publication bias were also evaluated. Results: A total of nine epidemiological studies consisting of six case-control and three prospective cohort studies were included. We found a significantly decreased risk of prostate cancer for intake of allium vegetables (OR=0.82, 95% CI 0.70, 0.97). Moreover, in the subgroup analysis stratified by allium vegetable types, significant associations were observed for garlic (OR=0.77, 95% CI 0.64-0.91) but not onions (OR=0.84, 95% CI 0.62-1.13). Conclusions: Allium vegetables, especially garlic intake, are related to decreased risk of prostate cancer. Because of the limited number of studies, further well-designed prospective studies are warranted to confirm the findings of our study.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.16 no.12
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• pp.5125-5135
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• 2015

Background: Total fat intake may be associated with increased risk of breast cancer, and fish oil has been suggested as a protection factor to breast cancer. But the effect of vegetable oils is inconclusive. We aimed to investigate the association with high vegetable oils consumption and breast cancer risk, and evaluated their dose-response relationship. Design: We systematically searched the MEDLINE, EMBASE, Cochrane databases, and CNKI updated to December 2014, and identified all observational studies providing quantitative estimates between breast cancer risk and different vegetable oils consumption. Fixed or random effect models were used to estimate summary odds ratios for the highest vs. lowest intake, and dose-response relationship was assessed by restricted cubic spline model and generalized least-squares trend (GLST) model. Results: Five prospective cohort studies and 11 retrospective case-control studies, involving 11,161 breast cancer events from more than 150,000 females, met the inclusion criteria. Compared with the lowest vegetable oils consumption, higher intake didn't increased the risk of breast cancer with pooled OR of 0.88 (95% CIs:0.77-1.01), and the result from dose-response analyses didn't show a significant positive or negative trend on the breast cancer risk for each 10g vegetable oil/day increment (OR=0.98, 95% CIs: 0.95-1.01). In the subgroup analyses, the oils might impact on females with different strata of BMI. Higher olive oil intake showed a protective effect against breast cancer with OR of 0.74 (95% CIs: 0.60-0.92), which was not significant among the three cohort studies. Conclusions: This meta-analyses suggested that higher intake of vegetable oils is not associated with the higher risk of breast cancer. Olive oil might be a protective factor for the cancer occurrence among case-control studies and from the whole. Recall bias and imbalance in study location and vegetable oils subtypes shouldn't be ignored. More prospective cohort studies are required to confirm the interaction of the impact of vegetable oils on different population and various cancer characteristic, and further investigate the relationship between different subtype oils and breast cancer.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.14 no.3
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• pp.1691-1695
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• 2013

Objective: To evaluate the association between tea consumption and the risk of renal cell carcinoma. Methods: We searched PubMed, Web of Science and Scopus between 1970 and November 2012. Two evaluators independently reviewed and selected articles based on predetermined selection criteria. Results: Twelve epidemiological studies (ten case-control studies and two cohort studies) were included in the final analysis. In a meta-analysis of all included studies, when compared with the lowest level of tea consumption, the overall relative risk (RR) of renal cell carcinoma for the highest level of tea consumption was 1.03 (95% confidence interval [CI] 0.89-1.21). In subgroup meta-analyses by study design, there was no significant association between tea consumption and renal cell carcinoma risk in ten case-control studies using adjusted data (RR=1.08, 95% CI 0.84-1.40). Furthermore, there was no significant association in two cohort studies using adjusted data (RR=0.95, 95% CI 0.81-1.12). Conclusion: Our findings do not support the conclusion that tea consumption is related to decreased risk of renal cell carcinoma. Further prospective cohort studies are required.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.54 no.1
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• pp.37-45
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• 2021

Objectives: Bisphenol A (BPA) is used in the electrical, mechanical, medical, and food industries. Previous studies have suggested that BPA is an endocrine disruptor. Regulation of BPA has led to increased use of bisphenol F (BPF) and bisphenol S (BPS). However, few studies have investigated the associations of BPF and BPS with thyroid dysfunction in children. Our study investigated the associations of prenatal BPA and early childhood BPA, BPF, and BPS exposure with thyroid function in 6-year-old children. Methods: Prenatal BPA concentrations were measured during the second trimester of pregnancy in an established prospective birth cohort. We measured urinary BPA, BPF, and BPS concentrations and thyroid hormone levels (thyroid-stimulating hormone, total T3, and free T4) in 6-year-old children (n=574). We examined the associations between urinary bisphenol concentrations and percentage change of thyroid hormone concentrations using multivariate linear regression. We also compared thyroid hormone levels by dividing the cohort according to BPA, BPF, and BPS concentrations. Results: The associations between prenatal BPA and total T3 levels were statistically significant in all models, except for girls when using a crude model. The associations between urinary BPA and BPS concentrations and levels of all thyroid hormones were not statistically significant. However, we observed that lower free T4 levels (-1.94%; 95% confidence interval, -3.82 to -0.03) were associated with higher urinary BPF concentrations in girls only. Conclusions: Our findings identified significant associations between prenatal BPA exposure and total T3 levels in all children and between BPF exposure and free T4 levels in girls only.

• Archives of Craniofacial Surgery
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• v.13 no.1
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• pp.1-3
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• 2012

The case series is a descriptive study that follows a group of patients who have a similar diagnosis or who are undergoing the same procedure and is the most prevalent type of research in the field of plastic surgery. Results of case series can generate hypotheses that are useful in designing further studies, including randomized controlled trials or a prospective cohort study. However, no causal inferences should be made from case series regarding the efficacy of the investigated treatment. The authors provide a guide to the design and report on the case series.

• Korean Journal of Transplantation
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• v.31 no.4
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• pp.177-181
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• 2017

Living donor liver transplantation (LDLT) has become an inevitable procedure due a shortage of deceased donors under the influence of religious and native cultures. The most important concern in LDLT is donor safety. This study reviewed the safety of LDLT donors from reported studies of morbidity and mortality. Many studies have reported mortality and morbidity rates ranging from 0% to 33% for healthy liver donors. Use of laparoscopic surgery on LDLT donors has advantages of reduced blood loss, lower postoperative morbidity and shorter hospital stay relative to conventional open surgery. There is a consensus that remnant liver volume (RLV), degree of steatosis, and donor age are the most important factors influencing donor safety. In LDLT, donor hepatectomy can be performed successfully with minimal and easily controlled complications. However, a large-scale prospective cohort study is needed to better understand the risk factors and accurately determine the complication rates for LDLT.

• Journal of Hospice and Palliative Care
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• v.27 no.2
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• pp.82-86
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• 2024

Purpose: This study examined the quality of life (QoL) and quality of care (QoC) in inpatient hospice settings in Korea before and during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. Methods: Data were obtained from three institutions that participated in two prospective cohort studies. The primary outcomes measured were the QoL of patients with terminal cancer and their family caregivers (FCs), as well as the QoC as perceived by the FCs. Results: Multivariable regression analysis revealed that during the COVID-19 pandemic, both patients and FCs experienced better QoL than before the pandemic, and FCs reported a higher QoC. Conclusion: Health policymakers should consider our findings when planning for future pandemics.

• Radiation Oncology Journal
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• v.35 no.4
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• pp.325-331
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• 2017

Purpose: There is controversy regarding the cosmetic outcome after accelerated partial breast radiation (APBR). We report the cosmetic outcome from a single-arm prospective clinical trial of APBR delivered using intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) in elderly patients with stage I breast cancer (BC), using a novel fractionation schedule. Materials and Methods: Forty-two patients aged ${\geq}65$, with Stage I BC who underwent breast-conserving surgery were enrolled in a phase I/II study evaluating a 2-week course of APBR. Thirty eligible patients received 40 Gy in 4 Gy daily fractions. Cosmetic outcome was assessed subjectively by physician/patient and objectively by using a computer program (BCCT.core) before APBR, during, and after completion of the treatment. Results: The median age was 72 years, the median tumor size was 0.8 cm, and the median follow-up was 50.5 months. The 5-year locoregional control in this cohort was 97% and overall survival 87%. At the last follow-up, patients and physicians rated cosmesis as 'excellent' or 'good' in 100% and 91 %, respectively. The BCCT.core program scored the cosmesis as 'excellent' or 'good' in 87% of the patients at baseline and 81% at the last follow-up. The median $V_{50}$ (20 Gy) of the whole breast volume (WBV) was 37.2%, with the median WBV $V_{100}$ (40 Gy) of 10.9%. Conclusion: An excellent rate of tumor control was observed in this prospective trial. By using multiple assessment techniques, we are showing acceptable cosmesis, supporting the use of IMRT planned APBR with daily schedule in elderly patients with early stage BC.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.17 no.10
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• pp.4681-4688
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• 2016

Objective: Our aim was to estimate whether diabetes mellitus (DM) may be associated with an increased risk of colorectal cancer (CRC) mortality in Japan. Methods: The Japan Collaborative Cohort (JACC) Study is a nationwide prospective study, initiated in 1988, which involves 110,585 subjects (age range: from 40 to 79 years; 46,395 males and 64,190 females). Our present analysis population comprised 96,081 (40,510 men and 55,571 women) who provided details on DM history. The questionnaire also included age, sex, weight, height, family history of CRC, smoking, drinking and exercise habits, and education. Cox proportional-hazard regression was used to estimate the hazard ratio (HR). We used SPSS 21 software to analyze all data. Results: Among the participants with DM, we followed up for 71,174 person-years and 640. deaths from CRC were confirmed; and, among the non-diabetic participants, 785 CRC deaths were identified during 1,499,324 person-years. After adjusting for multivariate confounding factors, such as age, sex, body mass index (BMI), family history of colorectal cancer, smoking habit, drinking habit, physical activity (sports and walking) and education, DM was associated with an increased risk of CRC death (HR 1.4, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.0-2.0). Diabetic women, but not diabetic men, experienced increased mortality from CRC (HR 1.7, 95% CI 1.0-3.0). Conclusion: The risk of CRC mortality is significantly increased in both sexes and women with diabetes, but no significant increase was seen for diabetic men among Japanese.