• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Toxicology Conference
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• 2002.05a
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• pp.75-75
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• 2002

Two types of normal human breast epithelial cells (HBECs) have already been established and characterized. Type I HBECs are deficient in gap junctional intercellular communication and are capable of anchorage-independent growth and of expressing luminal epithelial cell markers, a variant estrogen receptor (ER), and stem cell characteristics.(omitted)

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.63 no.4
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• pp.141-145
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• 2020

Background: For children and adolescents with cancer, going back to school is a key milestone in returning to "normal life." Purpose: To identify the support vital for a successful transition, we evaluated the parents' needs and the challenges they face when their children return to school. Methods: This multi-institutional study was conducted by the Korean Society of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology. The written survey comprised 24 questions and was completed by 210 parents without an interviewer. Results: Most parents (165 of 206) reported that their children experienced difficulties with physical status (n=60), peer relationships (n=30), academic performance (n=27), emotional/behavioral issues (n=11), and relationships with teachers (n=4) on reentering school. Parents wanted to be kept informed about and remain involved in their children's school lives and reported good parent-teacher communication (88 of 209, 42.1%). Parents reported that 83.1% and 44.9% of teachers and peers, respectively, displayed an adequate understanding of their children's condition. Most parents (197 of 208) answered that a special program is necessary to facilitate return to school after cancer therapy that offers emotional support (n=85), facilitates social adaptation (n=61), and provides tutoring to accelerate catch up (n=56), and continued health care by hospital outreach and school personnel (n=50). Conclusion: In addition to scholastic aptitude-oriented programs, emotional and psychosocial support is necessary for a successful return to school. Pediatric oncologists should actively improve oncology practices to better integrate individualized school plans and educate peers and teachers to improve health literacy to aid them in understanding the needs of children with cancer.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.15 no.8
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• pp.3593-3599
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• 2014

Background: Efficacy of childhood cancer treatment in low-income countries may be impacted by parents' and health-care providers' perspectives on chemotherapy-related side-effects. This study explores prevalence and severity of side-effects in childhood cancer, and compares health beliefs about side-effects between parents and health-care providers, and between nurses and doctors in Indonesia. Materials and Methods: Semi-structured questionnaires were filled in by 40 parents and 207 health-care providers in an academic hospital. Results: Parents exporessed a desire to receive more information about side-effects (98%) and worried about this aspect of treatment (90%), although side-effects were less severe than expected (66%). The most frequent was behavior alteration (98%) and the most severe was hair loss. Only 26% of parents consulted doctors about side-effects. More parents, compared to health-care providers, believed that medicines work better when side-effects are more severe (p<0.001), and accepted severe side-effects (p=0.021). More health-care providers, compared to parents, believed that chemotherapy can be stopped or the dosage altered when there are side-effects (p=0.011). More nurses, compared to doctors, stated that side-effects were unbearable (p=0.004) and made them doubt efficacy of treatment (p<0.001). Conclusions: Behavior alteration is the most frequent and hair loss the most severe side-effect. Apparent discrepancies in health beliefs about side-effects exist between parents and health-care providers. A sustainable parental education program about side-effects is recommended. Health-care providers need to update and improve their knowledge and communication skills in order to give appropriate information. Suchmeasures may improve outcome of childhood cancer treatment in low-income countries, where adherence to therapy is a major issue.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.21 no.10
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• pp.299-307
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• 2020

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to investigate the financial hardships affecting the quality of life of cancer survivors. Method: Data were collected from five convalescent hospitals using self-administered questionnaires, and 422 questionnaires were used for the final analysis. We used a 5-step hierarchical multiple-regression analysis by entering each sociodemographic variable, medical variable, and three types of financial hardship (a material situation, the psychological response, and coping behavior coming from cancer treatment cost) into each step. Results: The results of statistical analysis indicate that the most influential factor in the quality of life was the financial difficulty, which was the frustration that they could not work as usual or support their family financially. In addition, the performance of physical activity, accompanying diseases, women patients, psychological burden on cancer treatment cost, the satisfaction of communication with medical staff for medical expenses, and the feeling unsuccessful financial coping strategy were predictors for the quality of life of cancer survivors. Conclusion: This study provides a blueprint for the development of intervention programs in practice to improve the quality of life of cancer patients, clinical intervention plans, and health policies.

• The Journal of the Acoustical Society of Korea
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• v.29 no.1E
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• pp.1-10
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• 2010

The difference in echogenicity between cancerous and normal tissues is not quite distinguishable in ultrasound B-mode imaging. However, tumor or cancer in breast or prostate tends to be stiffer than the surrounding normal tissue. Thus, imaging the stiffness contrast between the two different tissue types is helpful for quantitative diagnosis, and such a method of imaging the elasticity of human tissue is collectively referred to as ultrasound elasticity imaging. Recently, elasticity imaging has established itself as an effective diagnostic modality in addition to ultrasound B-mode imaging. The purpose of this paper is to present various elasticity imaging methods that have been reported up to now and to describe their principles of operation and characteristics.

• Journal of Sensor Science and Technology
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• v.28 no.1
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• pp.7-12
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• 2019

Significant progress has been made recently in detection of highly sensitive volatile organic compounds (VOCs) using chemical sensors. Combined with the progress in design of micro sensors array and electronic nose systems, these advances enable new applications for detection of extremely low concentrations of breath-related VOCs. State of the art detection technology in turn enables commercial sensor systems for health care applications, with high detection sensitivity and small size, weight and power consumption characteristics. We have been developing an intelligent electronic nose system for detection of VOCs for healthcare breath analysis applications. This paper reviews our contribution to monitoring of respiratory diseases and to diabetic monitoring using an intelligent electronic nose system for detection of low concentration VOCs using breath analysis techniques.

• Journal of Hospice and Palliative Care
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• v.23 no.4
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• pp.252-255
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• 2020

This article aims to discuss the barriers hindering cancer patients from receiving early palliative care, which has been demonstrated to be more effective in improving quality of life and controlling symptoms. Specifically, there are barriers in four aspects of delivering early palliative care. First, the difficulty of starting discussions about early palliative care and the lack of adequate appointment time can impede communication between oncologists and patients and their family members. Second, determining the timing of referral and deciding upon and applying a standard for referral can be barriers in the process of referral from oncology to palliative care. Third, palliative care patients and their family members can face difficulties regarding in what format and by whom the services will be delivered. Fourth, biases, misinformation, and inaccurate beliefs can be barriers in the process of patients and their family members accepting care. In order to facilitate early palliative care, research and policy regarding these barriers are necessary, along with efforts made by medical staff.

• Journal of the Korean Society of School Health
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• v.30 no.2
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• pp.93-102
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• 2017

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to identify the factors that influence the practices and the intentions of human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination among adolescent daughters' mothers. The focus is on the mothers' HPV knowledge and sex-related communication with their daughters. Methods: The participants were 298 mothers with middle or high school student daughters. Participants were conveniently selected from a mothers' association and churches in Seoul, Cheonan and Asan city. Information on their demographics, HPV vaccination-related knowledge, sex-related communication, and intention of receiving HPV vaccination were obtained through questionnaires. The results were analyzed using descriptive statistics, the $x^2$ test and logistic regression with SPSS for Windows 21.0 software. Results: The rate of HPV vaccination, the awareness of the HPV vaccine and the rate of giving correct answers to HPV knowledge questions were 13.1%. 84.6%, and 36.3%, respectively. The factors that influenced HPV vaccination most were their family history of cervical cancer, educational backgrounds and awareness of the HPV vaccine. The intention to receive HPV vaccination was mainly influenced by HPV knowledge. However, sex-related communication did not affect the mothers' intention of obtaining HPV vaccination. Conclusion: The results of this study suggest that strategies to educate mothers with adolescent daughters on HPV are necessary. In addition, this study strongly recommends further studies be planned to examine sex-related communication between mothers and daughters.

• The Journal of the Institute of Internet, Broadcasting and Communication
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• v.9 no.2
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• pp.1-6
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• 2009

One of the most important problems in bioinformatics is how to extract the useful information from a huge amount of data, and make a decision in diagnosis, prognosis, and medical treatment applications. This paper proposes a weighted kernel function for support vector machine and its learning method with a fast convergence and a good classification performance. We defined the weighted kernel function as the weighted sum of a set of different types of basis kernel functions such as neural, radial, and polynomial kernels, which are trained by a learning method based on genetic algorithm. The weights of basis kernel functions in proposed kernel are determined in learning phase and used as the parameters in the decision model in classification phase. The experiments on several clinical datasets such as colon cancer indicate that our weighted kernel function results in higher and more stable classification performance than other kernel functions.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.13 no.12
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• pp.5969-5973
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• 2012

Introduction: Andhra Pradesh (AP) is one of the largest tobacco producing states in India. About 29% of adults in AP currently use tobacco in some form. Almost 24% of males and 4% of females are smokers. The prevalence of tobacco use in the state is higher than the national average of 15% for male and 2% for female smokers. However, few attempts have been made to understand the current situation of tobacco control resources, activities and strategies in the context of such a high tobacco prevalence state. The present study aimed to identify the gaps in existing tobacco control program and areas where tobacco control efforts can be integrated. Methods: Data were collected using both quantitative and qualitative methods. Semi-structured interviews were undertaken with a total of 95 key officials of state health departments, program managers, and project directors in six districts to understand ongoing tobacco control efforts. To facilitate the interviews, semi-structured guides were developed. Simple descriptive statistical analysis was conducted on the quantitative data using SPSS version 17. Results: The results of the situational analysis suggest that a sufficient health workforce and infrastructure with the potential to integrate tobacco control activities is available in the surveyed districts. However, lack of integration of the tobacco control program intothe tuberculosis control program and the National Rural Health Mission was observed. Information, education and communication activities were lacking at block level health facilities. Conclusions: Our findings indicate that lack of trained health professionals, paucity of dedicated funds, lack of information, education and communication materials and low priority given to tobacco control activities are some of the factors which impede integration of tobacco control into existing health and developmental programmes in the districts of Andhra Pradesh, India.