• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.52 no.5
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• pp.360-367
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• 2019

Background: Primary chest wall sarcoma is a rare disease with limited reports of surgical resection. Methods: This retrospective review included 41 patients with primary chest wall sarcoma who underwent chest wall resection and reconstruction from 2001 to 2015. The clinical, histologic, and surgical variables were collected and analyzed by univariate and multivariate Cox regression analyses for overall survival (OS) and recurrence-free survival (RFS). Results: The OS rates at 5 and 10 years were 73% and 61%, respectively. The RFS rate at 10 years was 57.1%. Multivariate Cox regression analysis revealed old age (hazard ratio [HR], 5.16; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.71-15.48) as a significant risk factor for death. A surgical resection margin distance of less than 1.5 cm (HR, 15.759; 95% CI, 1.78-139.46) and histologic grade III (HR, 28.36; 95% CI, 2.76-290.87) were independent risk factors for recurrence. Conclusion: Long-term OS and RFS after the surgical resection of primary chest wall sarcoma were clinically acceptable.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.13 no.4
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• pp.1105-1109
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• 2012

Breast cancer is the second most common cancer in women in India and the disease burden is increasing annually. The lack of awareness initiatives, structured screening, and affordable treatment facilities continue to result in poor survival. We present a breast cancer survival scenario, in urban population in India, where standardised care is distributed equitably and free of charge through an employees' healthcare scheme. We studied 99 patients who were treated at our hospital during the period 2005 to 2010 and our follow-up rates were 95.95%. Patients received evidence-based standardised care in line with the tertiary cancer centre in Mumbai. One-, three- and five-year survival rates were calculated using Kaplan-Meier method. Socio-demographic, reproductive and tumor factors, relevant to survival, were analysed. Mortality hazard ratios (HR) were calculated using Cox proportional hazard method. Survival in this series was compared to that in registries across India and discrepancies were discussed. Patients mean age was 56 years, mean tumor size was 3.2 cms, 85% of the tumors belonged to T1 and T2 stages, and 45% of the patients belonged to the composite stages I and IIA. Overall 5-year survival was 74.9%. Patients who presented with large-sized tumors (HR 3.06; 95% CI 0.4-9.0), higher composite stage (HR 1.91; 0.55-6.58) and undergone mastectomy (HR 2.94; 0.63-13.62) had a higher risk of mortality than women who had higher levels of education (HR 0.25; 0.05-1.16), although none of these results reached the significant statistical level. We observed 25% better survival compared to other Indian populations. Our results are comparable to those from the European Union and North America, owing to early presentation, equitable access to standardised free healthcare and complete follow-up ensured under the scheme. This emphasises that equitable and affordable delivery of standardised healthcare can translate into early presentation and better survival in India.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.14 no.9
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• pp.5175-5178
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• 2013

Background: The prognostic value of tumor osteopontin (OPN) in patients with squamous-cell head and neck cancer (SCHNC) was investigated. Materials and Methods: OPN expression was assessed by immunohistochemical methods in 50 patients, who were treated with primary radiotherapy (RT) for locally advanced SCHNC. The effects of OPN on clinical parameters, local-regional control after RT and metastasis-free survival, was assessed. Results: The rate of OPN expression in tumor tissue was 76%. OPN positive cases had lower Hb levels (p=0.088). Mean time to local recurrence was 53.8 months (SE 3.9) in OPN-negative cases and 39.1 months (SE 4.7) in OPN-positive cases (p=0.047). OPN increased the risk of local recurrence 5.9 times (p=0.085). It had no effect on metastasis-free (p=0.116) or overall survival (p=0.123). OPN was positive in 12 of 19 cases that developed grade 3-4 acute radiation dermatitis (p=0.096). Conclusions: OPN expression is associated with an increase in local recurrence in patients who were treated with primary RT for locally advanced SCHNC.

• Journal of Gastric Cancer
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• v.15 no.1
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• pp.39-45
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• 2015

Purpose: Recent studies have revealed recurrent alterations in the cell adhesion gene FAT4, a candidate tumor suppressor gene, in cancer. FAT atypical cadherin 4 (FAT4) is a transmembrane receptor involved in the Hippo signaling pathway, which is involved in the control of organ size. Here, we investigated the loss of FAT4 expression and its association with clinicopathological risk factors in gastric cancer. Materials and Methods: We assessed the expression of FAT4 by using immunohistochemistry on three tissue microarrays containing samples from 136 gastric cancer cases, radically resected in the Soonchunhyang University Cheonan Hospital between July 2006 and June 2008. Cytoplasmic immunoexpression of FAT4 was semi-quantitatively scored using the H-score system. An H-score of ${\geq}10$ was considered positive for FAT4 expression. Results: Variable cytoplasmic expressions of FAT4 were observed in gastric cancers, with 33 cases (24.3%) showing loss of expression (H-score <10). Loss of FAT4 expression was associated with an increased rate of perineural invasion (H-score <10 vs. ${\geq}10$, 36.4% vs. 16.5%, P=0.015), high pathologic T stage (P=0.015), high tumor-node-metastasis stage (P=0.017), and reduced disease-free survival time (H-score <10 vs. ${\geq}10$, mean survival $62.7{\pm}7.3$ months vs. $79.1{\pm}3.1$ months, P=0.025). However, no association was found between the loss of FAT4 expression and tumor size, gross type, histologic subtype, Lauren classification, lymphovascular invasion, or overall survival. Conclusions: Loss of FAT4 expression appears to be associated with invasiveness in gastric cancer.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Propulsion Engineers
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• v.2 no.1
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• pp.13-20
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• 1998

A steady-state and dynamic simulation program for a small multi-purpose turboshaft engine with the free power turbine was developed. In order to reduce developing cost, time and risk, a turbojet engine whose performance was well-known was used for the gas generator, and life time was improved by replacing turbine material and by using Larson-Miller curves. The component characteristic of the power turbine was derived from scaling the gas generator turbine. Equilibrium equations of mass flow rate and work were used for the steady-state performance analysis, and the Constant Flow Method(CMF) was used for the dynamic performance simulation. The step fuel scheduling was carried out for acceleration in the dynamic simulation. Through this simulation, it was found that the overshoot of the turbine inlet temperature exceeded over the compressor turbine limit temperature.

• Korean Journal of Clinical Oncology
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• v.14 no.2
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• pp.128-134
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• 2018

Purpose: Previous studies have addressed the role of the hypercoagulable state in the pathogenesis of cancer progression and metastasis. In this study, we investigated the association between coagulation factors, including tissue factor (TF) expression, platelet count, and fibrinogen level, and disease recurrence in patients with non-metastatic colorectal cancer. Methods: Patients who underwent curative resection for stage II or III colorectal cancer between 2000 and 2007 were included in this study. Data from a prospectively maintained database were retrospectively reviewed. TF expression was determined by immunohistochemistry using an anti-TF monoclonal antibody. The Kaplan-Meier method was used to estimate 5-year disease-free survival. Results: TF was highly expressed in 257 of 297 patients (86.5%). TF expression was not significantly associated with the platelet counts (P=0.180) or fibrinogen level (P=0.281). The 5-year disease-free survival rate was lower in patients with high TF expression than in patients with low TF expression (72.3% vs. 83.9%, P=0.074). In Cox hazard analysis, high TF expression was an independent risk factor for tumor recurrence (hazard ratio [HR] 2.446; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.054-5.674; P=0.037). Undifferentiated histologic type (HR, 2.911; 95% CI, 1.308-6.481; P=0.009), venous invasion (HR, 2.784; 95% CI, 1.431-5.417; P=0.003), and lymph node metastasis (HR, 2.497; 95% CI, 1.499-4.158; P<0.001), were also significantly associated with disease recurrence. Conclusion: TF expression is associated with a recurrence in patients with non-metastatic colorectal cancer. However, further studies are required to clarify the underlying mechanisms relating TF expression with oncologic outcomes and its potential role as a therapeutic target.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.14 no.4
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• pp.2377-2381
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• 2013

A total of 285 patients with stage Ib2 and IIa2 cervical cancer were categorized into three groups, and received preoperative neoadjuvant chemotherapy combined with vaginal intracavitary irradiation, neoadjuvant chemotherapy alone or radiotherapy, respectively. The effective rate of 70.6 % in group 1 was much higher than 41.4% in group 2 (P=0.000) and 46.9 % in group 3 (P=0.000); The percentage of patients receiving postoperative adjuvant therapy was 44.1% in group 1, much lower than 67.8% in group 2 (P=0.001) and 64.6% in group 3 (P=0.004); The percentage of patients with no postoperative risk factor in group 1 was 52.0%, much higher than 32.2% in group 2 (P=0.006) and 35.4% in group 3 (P=0.019); The occurrence rate of surgery-related complications in groups 1, 2 and 3 were 29.4%, 28.7%, and 33.3%, respectively, with no statistical differences among the groups (P=0.981). Regarding preoperative neoadjuvant complications, none were obvious in group 3, while occurrence rates of myelosuppression in groups 1 and 2 were 89.1% and 86.6%, of nausea and vomitting were 78.4% and 78.2%, but without significant differences (all P>0.05). Among 166 patients who received postoperative adjuvant therapy in the three groups, the occurrence rates were: 65.4%, 64.3% and 61.1% respectively for myelosuppression; 42.3%, 38.1%, and 38.9% for nausea and vomiting; 9.6%, 9.5% and 9.7% for urocystitis; and 63.5%, 69.0% and 65.3% enteritis and rectitis. There were no statistically significant differences among them (all P>0.05). The five-year disease-free survival rates (DFS) in groups 1, 2, 3 were 78.3%, 75.1%, 80.9%, respectively; the five-year overall survival rates (OS) were 81.4%, 78.2%, and 81.1%, respectively. The five-year OS of 166 patients receiving postoperative in the three groups were 72.4%, 69.5%, and 71.8%, respectively, with no significant variation (all P>0.05). Although there were no differences among three groups in DFS and OS, preoperative neoadjuvant chemotherapy combined with intracavitary radiotherapy may increase the effective rate and the percentage of patients with no postoperative risk factors and decrease the percentage of patients receiving postoperative adjuvant therapy, thereby decreasing complications indirectly and increasing quality of life.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.51 no.5
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• pp.386-399
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• 2018

Purpose: This study examined whether the supply of healthy Korean diets for 12 weeks is effective in improving the risk factors related to serum GGT and cardiovascular diseases in patients with hypertension and diabetes. Methods: This study selected 41 patients, who were treated with hypertension and diabetes. The Korean diet was composed of cooked-rice, soup, kimchi, and various banchan with one serving called bapsang, which emphasize proportionally high consumption of vegetables and fermented foods, moderate to high consumption of legumes and fish, and low consumption of animal foods. The control group was instead instructed to "eat and exercise as usual" while following the Korean Diabetes Association's dietary guidelines with an intake that can assist in glycemic control, maintain adequate weight, and meet the nutritional requirements. The Korean diet group (21 patients) were served three healthy Korean meals a day for 12 weeks, and the control group (20 patients, who trained in the diet guideline of diabetes) maintained their usual diabetic diet. The serum GGT, blood pressure, heart rate, glycemic control data, cardiovascular risk indicators, and changes in diet measured at the four visits (week 0, 4, 8, and 12) during the course of 12 weeks were compared and evaluated. Results: The serum GGT (p < 0.001), HbA1c (p = 0.004), heart rate (p = 0.007), weight (p = 0.002), Body Mass Index (p = 0.002), body fat mass (p < 0.001), body fat (%) (p < 0.001), and free fatty acid (p = 0.007) in the Korean diet group decreased significantly after the dietary intervention compared to the control group. The amount of intake of rice, whole grains, green vegetables, Kimchi, and soybean fermented food were increased significantly compared to the control group (p < 0.001). The Korean diet group showed significant decreases (p < 0.001) in the intake of animal protein, lipid, and cholesterol derived from animal foods compared to the control group but significant increases (p < 0.001) in the intake of total calories, folic acid, dietary fiber, sodium, potassium, and vitamins A, E, and C. Conclusion: In patients with hypertension and diabetes, it was confirmed that regular eating of a healthy Korean diet helps improve the risk factors for GGT and cardiovascular diseases.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.14 no.4
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• pp.2167-2172
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• 2013

Lung cancer remains a major cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide, accounting for more deaths than any other cause. All the clinical practice guidelines recommended against routine screening for lung cancer have cited lack of robust evidence, at least until a few years back. However, the potential to screen lung cancers has received renewed interest due to superior performance of low dose CT (LD-CT) in detecting early stage cancers. The incremental costs and risks involved due to the invasive procedures in the screened population due to a high false positivity rate questions the use of LD-CT scan as a reliable community based screening tool. There is therefore an urgent need to find a less invasive and a more reliable biomarker that is crucial to increase the probability of early lung cancer detection. This can truly make a difference in lung cancer survival and at the same time be more cost and resource utilization effective. Sampling blood serum being minimally invasive, low risk and providing an easy to obtain biofluid, needs to be explored for potential biomarkers. This review discusses the use of circulatory miRNAs that have been able to discriminate lung cancer patients from disease free controls. Several studies conducted recently suggest that circulating miRNAs may have promising future applications for screening and early detection of lung cancer.

• Korean Management Science Review
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• v.32 no.1
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• pp.15-33
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• 2015

Under complete information, introducing additional constraints to a portfolio will have a negative impact on performance. However, real-life investments inevitably involve use of error-prone estimations, such as expected stock returns. In addition to the reality of incomplete data, investments of most Korean domestic equity funds are regulated externally by the government, as well as internally, resulting in limited maximum investment allocation to single stocks and risk free assets. This paper presents an investment framework, which takes such real-life situations into account, based on a newly developed portfolio selection model considering realistic constraints under incomplete information. Additionally, we examined the effects of additional constraints on portfolio's performance under incomplete information, taking the well-known Samsung and SK group stocks as performance benchmarks during the period beginning from the launch of each commercial fund, 2005 and 2007 respectively, up to 2013. The empirical study shows that an investment model, built under incomplete information with additional constraints, outperformed a model built without any constraints, and benchmarks, in terms of rate of return, standard deviation of returns, and Sharpe ratio.