• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• 제17권4호
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• pp.2321-2323
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• 2016

Background: Inflammatory hematological parameters like the neutrophil/lymphocyte (N/L) ratio have been investigated in many cancer types and significant relationships found with prognosis, for example. The aim of this present study was to investigate the impact of hematological parameters notably on N/L ratio and mean platelet volume (MPV) in papillary thyroid cancer cases. Materials and Methods: A total of 79 patients who underwent a thyroidectomy operation in Findikli, Goiter Research and Treatment Center during 2011-2015 period were enrolled in the study, 41 with papillary thyroid cancer and 38 with benign goiter confirmed by pathological examination. We collected clinical and laboratory data for the patients from hospital records retrospectively. Blood samples taken at admission were assessed for parameters compared between the groups. Results: No significant differences between papillary thyroid cancer and benign goiter groups were apparent in terms of age, the N/L ratio, MPV, white blood cell count (WBC), red blood cell count (RBC), hemoglobin, hematocrit, platelet, neutrophil, lymphocyte, red blood cell distribution width (RDW) and platelet crit (PCT) levels (p>0.05). Only the level of platelet distribution width (PDW) significantly differed, being lower in the papillary cancer group (p<0.05). Conclusions: No significant relationship between papillary thyroid cancer and inflammatory hematological parameters including in particular the N/L ratio and MPV. The relevance of the PDW values remains unclear.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• 제17권4호
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• pp.1833-1835
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• 2016

Background: Multiple myeloma (MM) is an acquired clonal B-cell malignancy which primarily affects elderly individuals with an annual incidence of approximately 1% of all malignancies. Our aim is to study demographic and clinicopathological features of adult Pakistani MM patients at presentation. Materials and Methods: This single centre retrospective study extended from January 2010 to December 2014. Data were retrieved from the patients' maintained records on predetermined performa. Results: Overall, 61 patients were diagnosed at our institution with MM during the study period. There were 43 males and 18 females. Age ranged between 34 and 81 years with a mean of $56.1{\pm}12.8$ and a median of 57 years. The male to female ratio was ~2:1. Common presenting complaints included fatigue (81.9%), backache (80.3%) and bone pain (67.2%). Physical findings revealed pallor (44.2%) as a presenting clinical feature. The mean hemoglobin value was $8.9{\pm}1.7g/dl$ with a mean MCV of $85.3{\pm}11.0fl$. Severe anemia with hemoglobin <8.5 gm/dl was seen in 40.9%. The mean total leukocyte count was $8.9{\pm}8.2{\times}10^9/l$, the ANC was $5.0{\pm}3.1{\times}10^9/l$ and the mean platelet count was $188.4{\pm}150.6{\times}10^9/l$. Conclusions: MM in Pakistani patients is seen in a relatively young population with male preponderance. The majority of patients present with symptomatic anemia and backache to seek medical attention. However, clinico-pathological features appear comparable to the published literature.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• 제16권4호
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• pp.1587-1590
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• 2015

Background: Chronic lymphoid leukemia (CLL) is the most frequent type of adult leukemia. The Rai and Binet staging systems have been well recognized as standards for assessing the treatment requirements and overall survival in CLL patients. However, there is a need to seek newer prognostic markers to identify stable or progressive forms of CLL that will facilitate risk-adapted treatment strategies. Currently a molecular biomarker ZAP-70 has attracted interest as providing prognostic information in CLL patients. Objective: To determine the frequency of ZAP-70 positivity in B-CLL patients at disease presentation. Materials and Methods: From January 2011 to September 2014, 89 patients were diagnosed to have chronic lymphoid leukemia. Complete blood count was done on an automated analyzer (Cell Dyne, Abott Architect, USA), while immunophenotyping was conducted for each patient to establish the diagnosis of the disease. ZAP-70 expression was evaluated by flow cytometry. Data were compiled and analyzed by SPSS version 21. Results: Out of the total of 89 B-CLL patients, 62 (69.7%) were male and 27 (30.3%) were females with a male to female ratio of 2:1. The mean age was $57.5{\pm}12.1years$. The frequency of ZAP-70 positivity in our B-CLL patients was found to be 13.5%. ZAP-70 positivity was significantly correlated with stage III disease and high absolute lymphocytic count (P<0.05). No correlation of ZAP-70 could be established with age and gender (p>0.05). Conclusions: The frequency of ZAP-70 in our patients appears low. It is approximately half that in international data. We would recommend to screen all the newly diagnosed patients with CLL for ZAP-70 protein expression for risk stratification, family counseling and to predict overall survival.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• 제14권9호
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• pp.5473-5476
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• 2013

Background: In our study, the LDH, albumin, hemoglobin, neutrophile, thrombocyte, lymphocyte counts and prognostic significance of neutrophile-lymphocyte and thrombocyte-lymphocyte ratios in NSCLC derived from these counts obtained during regular examinations of patients were examined. Materials and Methods: Histopathologically diagnosed non-small-cell-lung cancer patients between 2008 and 2010 were included in the study. Before the treatment, full blood count including routine lymphocyte count, blood biochemistry examinations including liver (AST, ALT, total protein, Albumin), LDH and kidney (BUN, Cre) function tests were performed. Results: A total of 156 patients, 76 of whom (48.7%) were female and 80 of whom (51.3%) were male were included. Mean hemoglobin level was determined as 12. Overall survival was found to be significantly dependent on whether patients were anemic or not (p: 0.005). Mean LDH level was determined as 233.4. There was nosurvival difference between patients with and without high LDH (p: 0.532). In patients where NLR showed systemic inflammatory response, overall survival was 10.8 months whereas this duration was 19.6 months in patients where the systemic inflammatory response was negative (p: 0.012). In patients where TLR showed systemic inflammatory response, overall survival was 13.6 months whereas this duration was 21.9 months in patients where the systemic inflammatory response was negative (p: 0.04). Conclusions: Molecular methods have been changing rapidly in today's world and they manage the treatment besides defining the prognosis of patients. However, easily accessible and cheap laboratory parameters should be considered in the prognosis of patients besides these new methods.

• Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• 제22권11호
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• pp.26.1-26.7
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• 2019

Background: The monitoring of pathogens of fishery auction markets is important to obtain safe fishery products regarding hygiene and sanitation. In this study, aerobic, coliform, Escherichia coli, and Vibrio cholerae were monitored in the fishery products and environmental samples obtained from fishery auction markets. Methods: The fishery products (flounder, octopus, skate, rock cod, sea bass, snail, monkfish, flatfish, comb pen shell, corb shell, conger eel, hairtail, croaker, and pilchard) were placed in filter bags, and the environmental samples (samples from the water tanks at the fishery auction markets, seawater from the fishery distribution vehicles, ice from wooden or plastic boxes, and surface samples from wooden and plastic boxes used for fish storage) were collected. Aerobic bacteria, E. coli, and coliform in the samples were enumerated on aerobic count plates and E. coli/coliform count plates, respectively. For V. cholerae O1 and V. cholerae non-O1 quantification, most probable number (MPN)-PCR analysis was performed. Results: Aerobic and coliform bacteria were detected in most samples, but E. coli was not detected. Wooden boxes were contaminated with high levels of aerobic and coliform bacteria in all seasons (spring, summer, and fall). During fall, V. cholerae non-O1 were detected in snails, hairtails, croakers, flatfishes, pilchards, plastic boxes, and water samples. Conclusions: These results indicate an increased prevalence of V. cholerae contamination in fishery products in fall, including food contact samples, which can be vehicles for cross-contamination.

• 대한한방내과학회지
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• 제26권1호
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• pp.169-181
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• 2005

Background & Objective : Idiopathic Lung Fibrosis(IPF) is chronic fibrotic interstitial pneumonia. The pathogenesis is unclear. Fritillariae Rhizoma is the most commonly used antitussive and expectorant Oriental medicinal herb. The effects of Fritillariae Rhizoma on bleomycin-induced lung fibrosis is here evaluated. Material and Methods : Fritillariae Rhizoma extract was daily given to the normal rats, control(bleomycin) rats and treated(bleomycin and Fritillariae Rhizoma) rats at 9.0 mg per body weight 10g for 14 days. 14 days later, the change in Leukocyte count and percentages were observed, as well as IFN-gamma and 1L-4 in BALF, and the change in Semiqualitative histological index(SHI). Results : Compared to control rats, Fritillariae Rhizoma treated rats showed a lower leukocyte count(P<0.05) lymphocyte, neutrophil percentage, SHI(p<0.05), IFN-gamma and IL-4(p<0.05) in treated rats. Conversely, macrophage percentages went higher(p<0.05) in treated rats. Conclusion : This study supports a role for Fritillariae Rhizoma in reducing the maintaining inflammatory cells and cytokines in rats with bleomycin-induced lung fibrosis and in the reduction of fibrosis tissues. Further research is needed in order to develop an effective treatment for lung fibrosis.

• 한국전문물리치료학회지
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• 제24권1호
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• pp.79-85
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• 2017

Background: The wall squat is considered an effective exercise because it can reduce the knee load and prevent excessive lumbar movement. However, the relationship between wall squat performance and strength of knee extensors and hip extensors remained unclear. Objects: The purpose of this study was to compare the strengths of the knee extensors and hip extensors between groups with low and high wall squat performance. Method: Nineteen males (low performance group: 9 subjects, high performance group: 10 subjects) participated in this study and performed wall squats. The subjects who were performing less than 30% of the average wall squat count were classified into the low wall squat performance group (less than or equal to 4 times) and the subjects who performed more than 30% of the average wall squat count were classified into the high wall squat performance group (greater than or equal to 8 times). Knee extensor and hip extensor strength were measured with a strength measurement system. An independent t-test was used to compare the strengths of the knee extensors and hip extensors between the groups with low and high wall squat performance. Results: The ratios of knee extensor and hip extensor strength to bodyweight were greater in the high wall squat performance group than in the low wall squat performance group (knee extensors: p<.001; hip extensors: p=.03). In the high- and low-performance groups, the ratios of knee extensor strength to bodyweight were $42.74{\pm}5.72$ and $30.76{\pm}8.54$, respectively, and the ratios of hip extensor strength to bodyweight were $31.95{\pm}10.61$ and $20.66{\pm}11.25$, respectively. Conclusion: Our findings suggest that knee extensor and hip extensor strength are needed for high wall squat performance. Thus, exercise to increase the knee and hip extensors strength can be recommended to improve squat performance.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• 제80권4호
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• pp.392-400
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• 2017

Background: Most patients with influenza recover spontaneously or following treatment with an anti-viral agent, but some patients experience pneumonia requiring hospitalization. We conducted a retrospective review to determine the incidence and risk factors of pneumonia in hospitalized patients with influenza A or B. Methods: A total of 213 patients aged 18 years or older and hospitalized with influenza between January 2012 and January 2015 were included in this study. A reverse-transcriptase polymerase chain reaction assay was used to detect the influenza A or B virus in the patients' sputum samples. We collected demographic and laboratory data, combined coexisting diseases, and radiologic findings. Results: The incidence of pneumonia was higher in patients in the influenza A group compared to those in the influenza B group (68.6% vs. 56.9%), but this difference was not statistically significant. The presence of underlying respiratory disease was significantly associated with pneumonia in the influenza A group (adjusted odds ratio [OR], 3.975; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.312-12.043; p=0.015). In the influenza B group, the white blood cell count (adjusted OR, 1.413; 95% CI, 1.053-1.896; p=0.021), platelet count (adjusted OR, 0.988; 95% CI, 0.978-0.999; p=0.027), and existence of an underlying medical disease (adjusted OR, 15.858; 95% CI, 1.757-143.088; p=0.014) were all significantly associated with pneumonia in multivariate analyses. Conclusion: The incidence of pneumonia was 65.7% in hospitalized patients with influenza A or B. The risk factors of pneumonia differed in hospitalized patients with influenza A or B.

• Clinics in Shoulder and Elbow
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• 제19권1호
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• pp.15-19
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• 2016

Background: To investigate how many rookie pitchers suffered from injuries while playing in the amateur league without guidelines for prevention of excessive pitching, we analyzed their amateur pitching patterns based on the pitch count, use of breaking balls, and pitches during winter camp. Methods: Forty-one rookie pitchers who graduated from high school or university in 2013 and joined professional baseball teams. Participants were interviewed by a trainer using our questionnaire. Injury inclusion criteria were 1) history of shoulder surgery, 2) history of elbow surgery, 3) shoulder pain requiring treatment, and 4) elbow pain requiring treatment. Results: Mean number of pitches per game and warm-up pitches for practice was 84.5 pitches (range, 15 to 130 pitches) and 16.4 pitches (range, 2 to 210 pitches), respectively. Mean number of pitches during the last year was 906.9 (range, 80 to 2,000). Mean number of maximal pitches was 127 pitches (range, 50 to 210 pitches). Fourteen pitchers had pitched over 150 pitches. Twenty-seven pitchers (65.9%) had pitched in spite of enduring pain. During winter training (mean 1.8 months), mean number of pitches per day was 162.5 pitches, and 20 pitchers (48.8%) had practiced pitching excessively despite the cold weather. Twenty-six rookies (63.4%) had shoulder pain or history of shoulder surgery, and 31 pitchers (75.6%) had elbow pain or history of elbow surgery. Only four participants (9.8%) did not have pain and history of surgery. Conclusions: For young baseball pitchers, guidelines for prevention of excessive pitching and for regulating the winter training program may be needed.

• 한국환경농학회지
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• 제34권1호
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• pp.14-20
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• 2015

BACKGROUND: Contamination of source water by odorous compounds are one of the problems related to the water quality management, especially in Korea where surface water is used as drinking water. Geosmin (1, 10-trans-dimethyl-trans-9-decalol) and 2-MIB (2-methyl isoborneol : 1,2,7,7-tetramethyl-exo-bicycloheptan-2-ol) are commonly recognized earthy-musty odor compounds produced by algae causing serious problems to the drinking water purification facilities. METHODS AND RESULTS: In this study, spatial and temporal distribution of the odor compounds, geosmin and 2-MIB were investigated along with the development of phytoplankton in the Daechung reservoir from July 2012 to October 2013. CONCLUSION: Concentrations and frequencys of detection of both compounds increased from April to October which were related to cyanobacterial bloom periods. However, concentrations of odor compounds were not related to the number of cyanobacteria. Concentrations of both cyanobacteria and geosmin showed similar trends with depth. Pearson correlation analyses showed that geosmin concentration exhibited significant correlation with the count of Anabaena macrospora and Aphanizomenon flos-aquae. On the other hand, 2-MIB concentration showed a significant correlation with the count of Anabaena smithii.