• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.15 no.6
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• pp.2647-2650
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• 2014

Background: Colorectal cancers(CRC) are the third most common cancer in the western world, with surgery preferred for management of non-metastatic disease and post surgical treatment usually arranged according to the TNM staging system. However, there is still prognostic variation between patients who have the same stage. It is increasingly recognized that variations within disease course and clinical outcome in colorectal cancer patients are influenced by not only oncological characteristics of the tumor itself but also host response factors. Recent studies have shown correlation between the inflammatory response and clinical outcomes in various cancers. The neutrophil/lymphocyte ratio (NLR) has been described as a marker for immune response to various stimuli including cancer. Material-Methods: Two hundred eighty-one CRC patients were included in our retrospective analysis, separated into two groups according to a cut-off value for the NLR. Patient data including age, gender, vertical penetration, anatomic location, and differentiation of the tumor, TNM stage, survival rate, and disease-free survival were analyzed for correlations with the NLR. Results: Using ROC curve analysis, we determined a cut-off value of 2.2 for NLR to be best to discriminate between patient survival in the whole group. In univariate analysis, high pretreatment NLR (p=0.001, 95%CI 1.483-4.846), pathologic nodal stage (p<0.001, 95%CI 1.082-3.289) and advanced pathologic TNM stage (p<0.001, 95%CI 1.462-4.213) were predictive of shorter survival. In multivariate analysis, advanced pathologic TNM stage (p=0.001, 95%CI 1.303-26.542) and high pretreatment NLR (p=0.005, 95%CI 1.713-6.378) remained independently associated with poor survival. Conclusions: High pre-treatment NLR is a significant independent predictor of shorter survival in patients with colorectal cancer. This parameter is a simple, easily accessible laboratory value for identifying patients with poorer prognosis.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.15 no.12
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• pp.4957-4961
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• 2014

Background: Head and neck cancer without distant metastases is amenable to various modalities of treatment. However, the stage at presentation is a very important determinant for treatment success. The present study was conducted to determine the stage-wise presentation of non-metastatic head and neck cancer patients from the hilly regions in Kumaon division of Uttarakhand, India. Materials and Methods: The hospital records for non-metastatic head and neck cancer patients from the only functional cancer centre of the region for the period of two-years (January 2012-December 2013) were included. Nasopharyngeal carcinoma was excluded due to its staging system being different. Non-squamous histopathologies were also excluded. Patients hailing from nearby regions of Uttar Pradesh and Nepal were excluded, as were patients from non-hilly regions of Kumaon. Results: Of the 271 patients of head and neck cancer, 27 with distant metastases at diagnosis were excluded from the analysis. Of the 244 eligible patient records, 90.1% (n=222) were male, and 9.9% (n=22) were female. The proportions of patients with carcinoma of the larynx, oropharynx, oral cavity, hypopharynx and maxillary antrum were 31.9% (n=78), 27.9% (n=68), 20.5% (n=50), 12.7% (n=31) and 1.2% (n=3). A further 5.7% (n=14) were diagnosed as having secondary involvement of neck nodes with unknown primaries. The proportion of patients presenting in stages I, II, III, IVA and IVB were 0.8% (n=2), 2.5% (n=6), 9.4% (n=23), 51.6% (n=126) and 35.7% (n=87) respectively. Conclusions: An abysmally low proportion (3.3%) of non-metastatic head and neck cancer patients presented in the early stages (I and II). A vast majority of the patients (88.1%) presented with stages IVA and IVB. Not only does this reflect a poor therapeutic outlook, but also exposes the dire need for programmes focusing on cancer awareness and early detection in the region.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.15 no.12
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• pp.4857-4860
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• 2014

Background: Colorectal cancer is common in Iran. However our knowledge about survival of rectal cancer in our province is low. The aim of this study is to evaluate this question. Materials and Methods: Patients with documented pathology of adenocarcinoma of the rectum and rectosigmoid junction referred to our center from September 2004 to September 2012 were enrolled in this study. Metastatic and recurrent patients were excluded. A questionnaire including clinicopathologic parameters, quality and sequence of treatment modalities was filled in for each patient. Patients treated with a combination of surgery, chemotherapy and radiation therapy were divided into standard and non-standard treatment groups, according to the sequence of treatment. Results: One hundred and nineteen patients were evaluated. Mean age was 60.8 year. The median overall survival was 62 months and five year survival was 55%. TNM staging system was not possible due to (Nx) in 21 (17.6%) patients. The others were in stage I, 20 patients (16.8%), II, 35 (29%.5) and III, 43(36.1%). According to our definition only 25 patients (21%) had been treated with standard treatment and 79% had not received it. A five year survival in patients with standard treatment was 85% and in the non-standard group it was 52%.Age, sex, stage and grade of tumor did not show any significant relation to survival. Conclusions: Our study showed a five year survival of rectal cancer in our patients was about 10% lower than the rate which is reported for developed countries. Preoperative concurrent chemoradiation significantly improved local control and even overall survival.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.16 no.11
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• pp.4521-4524
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• 2015

Background: Endometrial carcinoma is the most common malignant tumor of the female genital tract and the fourth most common cancer in Iranian women after breast, colorectal and lung cancers. Various genetic alterations appear to be early events in the pathogenesis of endometrial carcinoma and it seems that PTEN is the most commonly mutated gene in the endometrioid subtype. The aim of the present study was to investigate the correlation between mutations in exon 7 of PTEN gene and endometrial carcinoma. Materials and Methods: Seventy-five patients with endometrial carcinoma and 75 females whose underwent hysterectomy for non tumoral indication were selected for evaluation of PTEN mutations in exon 7 by PCR-SSCP and sequencing. Correlations between the frequency and type of mutation and the pathologic findings of the cancer (tumor subtype, stage and grade) were assessed. Results: All of the samples were obtained from Iranian patients. 60 % (45 cases) of the tumors were endometriod and 40% (30 cases) were of serous type. The grade distributions of the 75 cases according to the FIGO staging system were as follows: low grade, 20 cases; high grade 55 cases, low stage, 41 cases; high stage 34 cases. For exon 7 of the PTEN gene, the analysis showed that there were no mutations in our cases. Conclusions: Our findings in the present study suggest that exon 7 of PTEN does not play any significant role in the development of endometrial carcinoma in Iranian cases.

• Sleep Medicine and Psychophysiology
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• v.3 no.2
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• pp.18-31
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• 1996

Jet-lag can be defined as the cumulative physiological and psychological effects of rapid air travel across multiple time zones. Many reports have suggested that age-related changes in sleep reflect fundamental changes in the circadian system and in significant declines in slow wave sleep. Jet lag is a dramatic situation in which the changes of the phase of circadian process and homeostatic process of sleep occur. Thus the authors evaluatead the changes of sleep-wake cycle from jet lag by age. Thirty-eight healthy travellers were studied for 3 days before and 7 days after jet-flights across seven to ten time zone. They were aged 19-70, They trareled eastbound, Seoul to North America (USA, Canada). Sleep onset time, wake-up time, sleep latency, awakening frequency on night sleep, awakening duration on night sleep, sleepiness at wake-up and nap length were evaluated. Our results suggest that by the 7 to 10 time zone shift, the old age group was significantly influenced in sleep-wake cycles. The date on which subjective physical condition was recovered was $6.23{\pm}83$ day after arrivals for old age group, while for young and middle age group, $4.46{\pm}1.50$ day and $4.83{\pm}1.52$ day, respectively. In old age group, sleep onset time was later than baselines and could not recover untill 7th day. But in other groups, the recovery was within 5th day. Nap dura fion was longer in old age group through jet lag than younger age group. In other parameters, there was no definite difference among three age groups. Our results suggested that the old age was significantly influenced by the disharmony between internal body clock and sleep-wake cycle needed at the travel site. Thus we proved that recovery ability from jet lag was age-dependent as well as travelling direction-dependent. To demonstrate more definite evidence, EEG monitoring and staging of sleep were funthun encouraged.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.16 no.10
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• pp.4257-4260
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• 2015

Background: Uterine papillary serous tumors are rarely seen and behave aggressively. Our aim was to evaluate uterine papillary serous tumors arising from polyps. Materials and Methods: Clinicopathological data of patients with uterine serous cancer arising from a polyp at the Gynecological Oncology Department of Zekai Tahir Burak Women's Health Education and Research Hospital were reviewed retrospectively. Results: We analyzed patients according to FIGO 2009 staging system as stage 1A and higher than stage 1A (3 and 6, respectively). All the patients were postmenopausal. Mean CA-125, CA-19.9 and CA15.3 levels were elevated in higher than stage 1A group. However we did not find a statistical difference between age, parity, polyp size, CA-125, CA-15.3, CA-19.9 and CEA levels. Lympho-vascular space invasion (LVSI) showed predictivity for advanced disease (p=0.025). Conclusions: The histopathologic nature of uterine serous carcinoma is a unique entity. LVSI is a prognosticator for defining an advanced stage uterine papillary tumor.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.63 no.4
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• pp.415-426
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• 2020

Arteriovenous malformations (AVMs) are congenital anomalies of the cerebrovascular system. AVM harbors 2.2% annual hemorrhage risk in unruptured cases and 4.5% annual hemorrhage risk of previously ruptured cases. Stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) have been shown excellent treatment outcomes for patients with small- to moderated sized AVM which can be achieved in 80-90% complete obliteration rate with a 2-3 years latency period. The most important factors are associated with obliteration after SRS is the radiation dose to the AVM. In our institutional clinical practice, now 22 Gy (50% isodose line) dose of radiation has been used for treatment of cerebral AVM in single-session radiosurgery. However, dose-volume relationship can be unfavorable for large AVMs when treated in a single-session radiosurgery, resulting high complication rates for effective dose. Thus, various strategies should be considered to treat large AVM. The role of pre-SRS embolization is permanent volume reduction of the nidus and treat high-risk lesion such as AVM-related aneurysm and high-flow arteriovenous shunt. Various staging technique of radiosurgery including volume-staged radiosurgery, hypofractionated radiotherapy and dose-staged radiosurgery are possible option for large AVM. The incidence of post-radiosurgery complication is varied, the incidence rate of radiological post-radiosurgical complication has been reported 30-40% and symptomatic complication rate was reported from 8.1% to 11.8%. In the future, novel therapy which incorporate endovascular treatment using liquid embolic material and new radiosurgical technique such as gene or cytokine-targeted radio-sensitization should be needed.

• Journal of the Korean Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons
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• v.37 no.1
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• pp.15-20
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• 2011

Introduction: The characteristics of oral tongue squamous cell carcinomas (SCC) and the treatment results were reviewed to determine the appropriate treatment strategies. Materials and Methods: The medical records of 140 patients diagnosed and treated for oral tongue SCC at Yonsei University Health System from January 1995 to December 2004 were reviewed. For statistic analysis, the survival rate was determined using the Kaplan-Meier method with SPSS version 12.0, and the difference in survival rates was evaluated using a log-rank test. Results: The mean age of the patients with oral tongue SCC patients was 55 (19-85 years old). According to the T, N and pathologic stage, the patients were distributed from a higher to a lower incidence of cases, as follows: T2 (46.4%), T1 (37.9%), T4 (8.5%), and T3 (7.1%); N0 (65%), N1 (20.7%), N2 (13.6%), and N3 (0.7%); and stage I (31.4%), stage II(25.7%), stage IV (22.2%), and stage III (20.7%). Local and regional recurrence and distant metastasis was present in 13.6%, 5% and 4.2% of patients, respectively. The five-year survival rate was 72.2%, and the prognostic factors for oral tongue SCC included neck metastasis, pathologic stage of the disease, cell differentiation, treatment modality, neck dissection as part of the treatment plan, and neck node recurrence. Discussion: It is suggested that ipsilateral neck dissection or bilateral neck dissection should be selected as a treatment of tongue SCC patients with advanced stage.

• Journal of Korean Foot and Ankle Society
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• v.15 no.4
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• pp.217-222
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• 2011

Purpose: The aim of this study was to evaluate the result of combined Weil and dorsal closing wedge osteotomy for Freiberg's disease. Materials and Methods: We performed combined Weil and dorsal closing wedge osteotomy of the second metatarsal under the diagnosis of Freiberg's disease in 7 patients, 7 feet (2 male and 5 female). The mean age at the time of operation was 29 years and the mean follow-up period was 31 months. Patients had no trauma history and no combined deformity of the foot. The surgical results were evaluated by VAS and weight bearing radiographs in antero-posterior and oblique projection. Results: According to Smillie staging system, there were 1 of stage II, 2 of stage III and 4 of stage IV patients. The osteotomy site was united at 8 weeks and the second metatarsal was shortened in length of average 2.8 mm. Remodeling of the metatarsal head was observed at 24 months. The mean VAS was decreased from 8.2 points preoperatively to 2.7 points at follow-up. And average range of motion of second metatarso-phalangeal joint was increased from 30o preoperatively to 45o at follow-up. There was no transfer metatarsalgia or arthritis of the metatarsal head during follow-up. Conclusion: Combined Weil and dorsal closing wedge osteotomy of the metatarsal appears to be an effective procedure for the treatment of Freiberg's disease with a view to shortening of metatarsal length and elevation of metatarsal head.

• Radiation Oncology Journal
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• v.11 no.1
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• pp.91-96
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• 1993

From September 1989 to June 1992,22 patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma were treated in Asan Medical Center with an external beam of 60 Gy followed by a boost dose of 15 Gy HDR brachytherapy. There were 5 females and 17 males with median age of 44 years (range: 20-69 years). All patients were histologically confirmed and staged by physical examination, CT scan and/or MRI. By the AJCC TNM staging system, there were 2 patients with stge II (T2NO), 4 with stage III (T3NO, T1-3N1), and 16 with stage IV (T4 or N2-3). Four patients received chemotherapy with 5-FU and cisplatin prior to radiotherapy. All patients were followed up periodically by a telescopic examination and radiologic imaging study of CT scan or MRI with a median follow-up time of 13 months (range: 3-34 months). Twenty one patients showed a complete response ore month after completing therapy and one patient showed a complete response after three months. At the time of this analysis, seventeen patients remain alive without evidence of disease, but four patients developed distant metastasis and one patient died a month after treatment. The local control rate was $100{\%}$ in a median follow-up time of 13 months. The two year overall and disease free survival rates by the Kaplan-Meier method were $94{\%}$ and $67{\%}$, respectively. Serious radiation sequelae have not been observed yet. Although longer follow-up is needed, this retrospective analysis suggests that HDR brachytherap. given as a boost therapy for nasoharyngeal carcinoma may improve the local control. To reduce the incidence of distant metastasis, we need to develop a more effective systemic chemotherapy.