• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.27 no.1
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• pp.288-293
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• 2006

Background : Monoplegia is the paralysis of a limb. It is commonly caused by an injury to the cerebral cortex, and rarely caused by injury to the internal capsule, brain stem, or spinal cord. Most problems with cerebral cortex is derived from the occlusion of a brain cortex blood vessel due to thrombus or embolus. Objectives : This study is to see if there is a significance in thermal differences of acupoints in diagnosis and treatment of monoplegia on an upper extremity to test the validity of acupuncture and herbal treatment for it. Methods : By using Digital Infrared Thermographic Imaging(DITI), thermal differences$({\Delta}T)$ of acupoints on the upper extremity in a patient with monoplegia on the right upper extremity were measured after an attack of the disease. By giving Mangeum-tang(萬金湯) and treating the patient with acupuncture. the temperature changes of the upper extremity were examined through DITI and improvement was observed. Results : Compared with the left arm which suffered no such injury, the right recovered about 80% of sensation, and the grade of monoplegia improved from Grade O to Grade V. Also, the temperatures of right palmar-dorsal hand and the region of Weiguan(外關, Waiguan, TE5) were $1^{\circ}C$ and $1.45^{\circ}C$ higher than the same left region on admission day, but the thermal differences$({\Delta}T)$ narrowed to $0.5^{\circ}C$ by the last day. Conclusions : Results suggest that DITI screening is a reliable method of prognosis and that the time required for treatment can be estimated through this method in cases of monoplegia to an upper extremity. Also, progress in treatment is reflected in thermal differences of acupoints of the monoplegic upper extremity in accordance with the theory of meridian. This supports a role for acupuncture and herbal treatment for monoplegia.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.34 no.4
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• pp.172-179
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• 2017

Background: This study was designed to evaluate the clinical effectiveness of traditional Korean medicine treatment for lumbar spinal stenosis as assessed by radiological criteria. Methods: This was an observational study of 122 patients who were diagnosed with lumbar spinal stenosis and admitted to Jaseng Hospital between January 2016 and June 2017. They were analyzed according to sex, age, cause of disease, disease stage, length of admission, type of stenosis, morphological grade, and dural sac cross-sectional area. All patients were treated with traditional Korean medicine. Patients were assessed with the Numeric Rating Scale (NRS), Oswestry Disability Index (ODI) and EQ-5D before and after treatment. Results: Regarding the distribution of the factors analyzed, these were of note: more females than males (1:3.52); and highest proportions were age more than 70 years (37.70%), cause of lumbar spinal stenosis unknown (67.21%), and subacute stage (42.62%). Comparing before and after treatment, the NRS score for low back and pelvic pain decreased from $6.14{\pm}1.71$ to $4.28{\pm}1.91$ (p < 0.001), and the NRS score for radiating pain and numbness decreased from $6.27{\pm}1.61$ to $2.02{\pm}1.54$ (p < 0.001). ODI decreased from $46.86{\pm}19.40$ to $33.63{\pm}18.66$ (p < 0.001), and gait-related ODI decreased from $3.34{\pm}1.23$ to $2.80{\pm}1.11$ (p < 0.001). There were no statistically significant differences in improvement of the NRS, ODI, gait-related ODI, and EQ-5D for morphological grade and dural sac cross-sectional area. Conclusion: Traditional Korean medicine is effective treatment for patients with lumbar spinal stenosis. Even in patients with severe radiological findings, it is possible to reduce pain and improve quality of life.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.15 no.15
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• pp.6275-6281
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• 2014

Nasal-type extranodal natural killer (NK)/T-cell lymphoma (ENKL) is a highly invasive cancer with a poor prognosis. More effective and safer treatment regimens for ENKL are needed. Pegaspargase (PEG-Asp) has a similar mechanism of action to L-asparaginase (L-Asp), but presents lower antigenicity. The aim of the present research was to evaluate the safety profile and the latent efficacy of a PEG-Asp-based treatment regimen in patients with ENKL. Data collected from 20 patients with histologically confirmed ENKL, admitted to the Third Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-Sen University from January 2009 to August 2013, were included in the study. All patients received $2500IU/m^2$/IM PEG-Asp on day 1 of every 21-day treatment cycle. Patients received combination chemotherapy with CHOP (n=5), EPOCH (n=7), GEMOX (n=7) or CHOP with bleomycin (n=1). After 2-5 treatment cycles (median, 4 cycles) of PEG-Asp-based chemotherapy, five patients (25%) showed a complete response (CR), and the overall response rate (ORR) was 60%. Grade 3/4 neutropenia occurred in fourteen patients (70%). Grade 3 alanine aminotransferase (ALT) elevation was observed in two. Grade 1-2 non-hematological toxicity consisted of activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT) elongation (n=9), hypofibrinogenemia (n=6), hypoproteinemia (n=17), hyperglycemia (n=3), and nausea (n=6). No allergic reactions were detected. No treatment related death was reported. Our results suggested that PEG-Asp-based chemotherapy presented an acceptable tolerance and a potential short-term outcome in patients with nasal-type ENKL.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.13 no.5
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• pp.1935-1941
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• 2012

Introduction: Uterine sarcomas are a group of heterogenous and rare malignancies of the female genital tract and there is a lack of consensus on prognostic factors and optimal treatment. Objective and Methodology: To perform a retrospective evaluation of clinicopathological characteristics, prognostic factors and treatment outcomes of 93 patients with uterine sarcomas who were diagnosed and treated at 4 different centers from November 2000 to October 2010. Results: Of the 93 patients, 58.0% had leiomyosarcomas, 26.9% malignant mixed Mullerian tumors, 9.7% endometrial stromal sarcomas, and 5.4% other histological types. According to the last International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics (FIGO) staging, 43.0% were stage I, 20.4% were stage II, 22.6% were stage III and 14.0 % were stage IV. Median relapse free survival (RFS) was 20 months (95% confidence interval (CI), 12.4-27.6 months), RFS after 1, 2, 5 years were 66.6%, 44.1%, 16.5% respectively. Median overall survival (OS) was 56 months (95% CI, 22.5-89.5 months), and OS after 1, 2, 5 years was 84.7%, 78%, 49.4% respectively. Multivariate analysis showed that age ${\geq}60$ years and high grade tumor were significantly associated with poor OS and RFS; patients administered adjuvant treatment with sequential chemotherapy and radiotherapy had longer RFS time. Among patients with leiomyosarcoma, in addition to age and grade, adjuvant treatment with sequential chemotherapy and radiotherapy after surgery had significant effects on OS. Conclusion: Uterine sarcomas have poor progrosis even at early stages. Prognostic factors affecting OS were found to be age and grade.

• Korean Journal of Head & Neck Oncology
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• v.19 no.2
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• pp.127-132
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• 2003

Objectives: The best treatment for the malignant parotid tumor still remains to be defined, and a better knowledge about the tumor features that predict the treatment result is needed. The aim of this study is to evaluate the treatment outcomes and to suggest the optimal treatment modality for the parotid cancer. Materials and Methods: The clinicopathologic characteristics of 113 patients who were treated for parotid cancer from January 1990 to December 2002 were retrospectively analysed. Univalate analyses were performed to establish the prognostic influence of pateint age, gender, tumor size, histologic grade and lymph node metastasis. Results: The mean age was 46.4 years old (15-81 years) and. The male to female ratio was 1 : 1.1. The chief complaint was a palpable mass in 85%, pain was in 12.4% and facial nerve palsy was accompanied with 2.7%. The mean tumor size was 3.5cm in diameter. The most common malignant tumor was mucoepidermoid carcinoma (33.6%), followed by acinic cell carcinoma (15%), adenoid cystic carcinoma (11%), carcinoma expleomorhpic adenoma (11%), basal cell carcinoma (7%). The most common operative procedure was total parotidectomy (47.8%) and various types of cervical lymph node dissection were added in 69.9%. Postoperative radiotherapy was done in 61.1 %. Postoperative complications developed in 54 cases (47.8%), including 46 cases (40.7%) of facial nerve palsy and 9 cases (8%) of Frey's syndrome. Recurrences developed in 21 cases (18.6%) and deaths in 15 (13.3%). Cumulative survival at 5 year was 75.4%. Univariate analysis of clinical factors showed that histologic grade and positive cervical lymph node significantly influenced survival (p<0.05). Conclusion: These results suggests that the radical resection with lymph node dissection and postopertaive XRT would be necessary to improve the survival of the patients with high grade cancer or positive lymphnode metastasis.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.67 no.3
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• pp.191-198
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• 2009

Background: Pemetrexed, a multi-targeted antifolate has been used as a second line treatment against non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). We aimed to clarify the efficacy and survival according to line of treatment, histologic type, and expression of thymidylate synthase (TS). Methods: Ninety-eight patients were treated with pemetrexed as a second line treatment (n=43) or as an additional course of treatment (n=55). TS expression was studied with immunohistochemistry and graded as 0 to 3 based on the extent of expression. Results: The response rate (RR) in 98 subjects was 10.2% and the disease control rate (DCR=PR+SD) was 30.6%. RR and DCR were 12.7% and 32.7% in non-squamous cell carcinoma (NSQC) compared to 7.0% and 27.9% in squamous cell carcinoma (SQC) (p>.05). No significant differences in RR and DCR were observed between a second line group (4.7%, 20.9%) and a further line group (14.5%, 38.2%). A similar trend was observed in the 88 response evaluable subjects. TS was expressed in 28.6% (grade 1), 24.5% (grade 2) and 7.1% (grade 3), respectively, and it was not expressed in 39.8% of subjects. TS expression rate was significantly higher in the SQC (72.1%) compared to NSQC (50.9%, p=0.033). However, the efficacy of pemetrexed was not significantly different by the extent of TS expression. Conclusion: Pemetrexed showed efficacy, not only in a second-line setting, but also in further lines of treatment for NSCLC. The efficacy of pemetrexed tended to be higher in patients with NSQC compared to SQC. TS expression rate was significantly higher in SQC compared to NSQC.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Environmental Restoration Technology
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• v.20 no.1
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• pp.25-34
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• 2017

The objective of this study is to seek for improvement measures to make the Ecosystem and Nature Map by analyzing causes for grade changes and distributional characteristics of areas with public objections to the Ecosystem and Nature Map notified by e-official gazette from 2014 to June 2016. The receipt of public appeals has been recently increased from average 23 cases a year(2007-2013) to average 33 cases a year(2014-June 2016) while there were 42 areas with public appeals for less than the minimum area($62,500m^2$) for the evaluation of grade of the Ecosystem and Nature Map. Most of the public appeals focused on the 1st grade zone of the Ecosystem and Nature Map. Before grade changes by public appeals, the 1st grade zone of the Ecosystem and Nature Map were 76.0% of the whole areas with public appeals. However, after grade changes by public appeals, it was rapidly decreased to 25.2%, which means that a lot of the 1st grade zone with public appeals were lowered. In the results of analyzing the distributional characteristics of areas with public appeals, they were mostly distributed in lowland(less than 250m altitude), section with $10{\sim}20^{\circ}$ slope, and areas close to or within 100m from built-up area. Regarding areas with public appeals, the biggest time difference between the period of the existing research by National Ecosystem Survey and the period of notice after completing the treatment of public appeals was 18 years while areas showing 6-15 years of time difference were about 70%. Thus, there were huge differences in time of research and notice. Also, the biggest causes for grade changes were boundary errors caused by small-scale survey, and then followed by changes in evaluation of endangered species and occurrence of built-up area and damaged land. Analyzing areas with public appeals in each evaluation item of the Ecosystem and Nature Map, vegetation part was 73.0%, and endangered species area was 23.1% while topography and wetland was less.

• The Korean Journal of Emergency Medical Services
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• v.14 no.2
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• pp.41-55
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• 2010

Objective : This study is designed to present the direction and the necessity of education on the biomedical ethics the establish desirable ethical view of paramedic students by understanding on the consciousness of students of department of emergency medical technology on biomedical ethics on euthanasia. Method : Data were collected from on 335 students of department of emergency medical technology in 4-year-college located in districts of Chungcheong-do, from March 4 to April 22, 2010. The questionnaire consisted of total 29 items, i.e., 11 items of general characteristics, 11 items of characteristics related to biomedical ethics and 7 items of consciousness on euthanasia. Result : In general characteristics, the first grade showed the most dense distribution of 37.3%, the second grade was 20.0%, the third grade was 20.9% and the fourth grade was 21.8%. In the consciousness of biomedical ethics on euthanasia, the third and the fourth grades showed a higher ratio(${\chi}^2$ = 136.327, p= .000), in comparison with the first and the second grades, the higher year they were, the higher degree of consciousness they had. The consciousness on each item of euthanasia showed significant differences in grade (F = 8.203, p= .000), experience of clinical practice or none (t = 3.731, p= .000), experience of biomedical ethics education or none (t = 1.997, p = .047) and degree of consciousness on DNR (F = 8.240, p = .000) regarding 'CPR shall not be required in any cases if a patient wants DNR', in experience of biomedical ethics education or none (t = 2.452, p= .015) and degree of consciousness on DNR (F = 2.725, p = .044) regarding if a patient refuses all treatments, the patient's opinion shall be respected', and in degree of consciousness on DNR (F = 2.858, p = . 037) regarding 'after determination of DNR, if the family wants a positive treatment, it shall follow the family's request'. Conclusion : It seemed that the differences in consciousness according to grade and experience of clinical practice were influenced by experiences to treat patients in personally. Moreover, it showed that the higher grade they are, the more experience of education they have, the experiences of education had influences on the consciousness. Development of educational programs is required in order to supply accurate knowledge on biomedical ethics for euthanasia to lower-grade students the to let them establish ethical views properly, and in order to correct wrong knowledge and to establish ethical views while supplying knowledge on biomedical ethics for euthanasia to higher-grade students.

• Journal of the Korean Arthroscopy Society
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• v.4 no.1
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• pp.61-66
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• 2000

Purpose : The diagnosis of the causes of residual pain after ankle fractures and the treatment is not simple. The authors analyzed the clinical results of the patients with residual pain after ankle fracture fur whom ankle arthroscopy was undertaken, for the purpose of evaluating the efficacy of arthroscopic diagnosis and treatment. Materials and Methods : From January 1997 to June 1998, ankle arthroscopy was done for the seventeen patients suffering from residual ankle pain and limitation of motion after ankle fracture. Their symptoms were not improved despite conservative treatment. There were sixteen men and one woman, and their mean age was 37.4 years. Result : Radiological examination revealed loose bodies in two patients, and osteophytes at the anterior rim of the tibia in fourteen patients. By the classification of osteoarthritic change, three ankles were assigned to grade 0, eight to grade I, six to grade II, and none to grade III. On arthroscopic examination, soft tissue impingement was found In thirteen cases, loose bodies in five cases, and osteochondral lesions in four cases. For arthroscopic treatments, removal of soft tissue, abrasion of osteophytes, cartilage shaving and removal of loose bodies were done. Clinical results were evaluated using Evanski and Waugh score. Preoperative overall score of 58.7 points jumped to 74.6 points after the operation, and in fourteen patients$(82\%)$ the symptoms were improved. Conclusion : Ankle arthroscopy is considered to be a very useful diagnostic and treatment method fer the patients with residual complaints after ankle fracture.

• Radiation Oncology Journal
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• v.24 no.3
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• pp.171-178
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• 2006

[ $\underline{Purpose}$ ]: To determine the efficacy and safety of concurrent chemotherapy and radiation therapy with high-dose-rate brachytherapy for cervical cancer. $\underline{Materials\;and\;Methods}$: From January 2001 to December 2002, 30 patients with cervical cancer were treated with concurrent chemotherapy (cisplatin and 5-FU) and definitive radiation therapy. The median age was 58 (range $34{\sim}74$) year old. The pathology of the biopsy sections was squamous cell carcinoma in 29 patients and one was adenocarcinoma. The distribution to FIGO staging system was as follows: stage IB, 7 (23%); IIA, 3 (10%); IIB, 12 (40%); IIIA, 3 (10%); IIIB, 5 (17%). All patients received pelvic external beam irradiation (EBRT) to a total dose of $45{\sim}50.4\;Gy$ (median: 50.4 Gy) over $5{\sim}5.5$ weeks. Ir-192 HDR intracavitary brachytherapy (ICBT) was given after a total dose of 41.4 Gy. HDR-ICBT was performed twice a week, with a fraction point A dose of 4 Gy and median dose to point A was 28 Gy (range: $16{\sim}32\;Gy$) in 7 fractions. The median cumulative biologic effective dose (BED) at point A (EBRT+ICBT) was $88\;Gy_{10}$ (range: $77{\sim}94\;Gy_{10}$). The median cumulative BED at ICRU 38 reference point (EBRT+ICBT) was $131\;Gy_3$ (range: $122{\sim}140\;Gy_3$) at point A, $109\;Gy_3$ (range: $88{\sim}125\;Gy_3$) at the rectum and $111\;Gy_3$ (range: $91{\sim}123\;Gy_3$) at the urinary bladder. Cisplatin ($60\;mg/m^2$) and 5-FU ($1,000\;mg/m^2$) was administered intravenously at 3 weeks interval from the first day of radiation for median 5 (range: $2{\sim}6$) cycles. The assessment was performed at 1 month after completion of radiation therapy by clinical examination and CT scan. The median follow-up time was 36 months (range: $8{\sim}50$ months). $\underline{: The complete response rate after concurrent chemoradiation therapy was 93.3%. The 3-yr actuarial pelvic control rate was 87% and 3-yr actuarial overall survival and disease-free survival rate was 93% and 87%, respectively. The local failure rate was 13% and distant metastatic rate was 3.3%. The crude rate of minor hematologic complications (RTOG grade 1-2) occurred in 3 patients (10%) and one patient had suffered from severe leukopenia (RTOG grade 4) during concurrent treatment. Acute minor enterocolitis (RTOG grade 1-2) occurred in 11 patients (37%) and one patient (3%) was suffered from colon perforation during radiation therapy. Late colitis of RTOG grade 1 occurred in 5 patients (15%). Acute cystitis of RTOG grade 1 occurred in 12 patients (40%) and late cystitis of RTOG grade 2 occurred in one patient (3%). No treatment related death was seen. $\underline{Conclusion}$: The results of this study suggest that the concurrent chemoradiation therapy with HDR brachytherapy could be accepted as an effective and safe treatment for cervical cancer.