• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• 제15권2호
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• pp.637-642
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• 2014

The pathogenesis of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) related to habitual betel quid (BQ) chewing is unclear. Risk of HCCis increased with adverse hepatic fibrosis. This study aimed to assess the impact of chronic viral hepatitis on adverse hepatic fibrosis in HCC related to BQ chewing. This hospital-based case-control study enrolled 200 pairs of age- and gender-matched patients with HCC and unrelated healthy controls. Serologic hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg), antibodies to hepatitis C virus (anti-HCV), ${\alpha}$-fetoprotein (AFP), and surrogate markers for significant hepatic fibrosis were measured. Information on substance-use habits was obtained with a questionnaire. By analysis of surrogate markers for hepatic fibrosis, the prevalence of significant hepatic fibrosis in patients chewing BQ was between 45.8% and 91.7%, whereas that for patients without BQ chewing was between 18.4% and 57.9%. The difference was significant (P <0.05 for each surrogate marker). Multivariate analysis indicated that cirrhosis with Child-Pugh C (odds ratio (OR) = 3.28; 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.29-8.37), thrombocytopenia (OR = 3.92, 95% CI, 1.77-8.68), AFP >400 mg/L (OR = 2.21, 95% CI, 1.05-4.66) and male gender (OR = 4.06, 95% CI, 1.29-12.77) were independent factors associated with habitual BQ chewing. In conclusion, adverse hepatic fibrosis and severe liver damage play important roles in the pathogenesis of BQ-related HCC, which could be aggravated by chronic hepatitis B and hepatitis C. BQ-cessation programs and prevention of chronic HBV/HCV infection are needed to prevent HCC related to BQ chewing.

• 한국산업보건학회지
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• 제27권4호
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• pp.302-312
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• 2017

Objectives: In this study, an evaluation of the working environment of furnace workers was performed and the work-relatedness of the occupational diseases were examined Methods: In this study, two electric furnaces at a single casting business site producing manganese-based iron alloy were selected, and occupational exposures to hazardous substances were evaluated for furnace workers and furnace worker assistants. Results: As a result, total dust concentration were $0.407{\sim}3.001mg/m^3$ and respirable dust concentration were $0.196{\sim}0.584mg/m^3$. The highest concentration of crystalline silica was $0.079mg/m^3$ In the case of Masato and Sosuckwhoi crystalline silica, they contained 90.85% and 4.17% respectively. Manganese concentration was the highest at a $0.205mg/m^3$ maximum. The average of black carbon is $11.56{\mu}g/m^3$ and the maximum concentration is $604.23{\mu}g/m^3$. PAHs concentration was the highest at a $78.301{\mu}g/m^3$ of naphthalene. The concentration of carbon monoxide was 18.82 ppm(total average 3.89 ppm) during pouring, and the maximum is 131 ppm. The formaldehyde concentration was 0.003 to 0.007 ppm. Conclusions: It seems that conditions in the past were worse, since casting has recently been performed only twice per day for about 20 minutes, reducing the amount of pouring, and local exhaust systems have been installed one-by-one. In addition, it was judged that the past exposure levels were higher considering the points measured on the back-side due to the risk of damage to the individual samples. It was found that operators could be exposed to high concentrations of crystalline silica, and that they were also exposed to high concentrations of metal(fume) and carbon monoxide during pouring. Therefore, there is a risk that occupational diseases such as lung cancer and COPD may occur with long-term work in such a process.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• 제47권6호
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• pp.327-335
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• 2014

Objectives: Several epidemiological studies on medical care utilization prior to suicide have considered the motivation of suicide, but focused on the influence of physical illnesses. Medical care expenditure in suicide completers with non-illness-related causes has not been investigated. Methods: Suicides motivated by non-illness-related factors were identified using the investigator's note from the National Police Agency, which was then linked to the Health Insurance Review and Assessment data. We investigated the medical care expenditures of cases one year prior to committing suicide and conducted a case-control study using conditional logistic regression analysis after adjusting for age, gender, area of residence, and socioeconomic status. Results: Among the 4515 suicides motivated by non-illness-related causes, medical care expenditures increased in only the last 3 months prior to suicide in the adolescent group. In the younger group, the proportion of total medical expenditure for external injuries was higher than that in the older groups. Conditional logistic regression analysis showed significant associations with being a suicide completer and having a rural residence, low socioeconomic status, and high medical care expenditure. After stratification into the four age groups, a significant positive association with medical care expenditures and being a suicide completer was found in the adolescent and young adult groups, but no significant results were found in the elderly groups for both men and women. Conclusions: Younger adults who committed suicide motivated by non-illness-related causes had a higher proportion of external injuries and more medical care expenditures than their controls did. This reinforces the notion that suicide prevention strategies for young people with suicidal risk factors are needed.

• 대한두경부종양학회지
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• 제30권2호
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• pp.39-42
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• 2014

Background and Objectives : Pharyngocutaneous fistula is the most common complication after total laryngectomy. The objective of this study was to determine the incidence of pharyngocutaneous fistula after total laryngectomy in patients operated on in our department and to establish whether specific factors predispose to fistula formation. Materials and Methods : For 10 years(2003-2014), 49 cases of patients who were diagnosed with laryngeal cancer and underwent total laryngectomy in our department. Patients who underwent radiotherapy before the surgery was 24 cases(48.9%) of all total laryngectomy patients. And those who were needed flap reconstruction because of extensive tumor involvement to hypopharynx were also 24 cases(48.9%), whereas primary closure were performed in 25 cases(51%). Results : The postoperative pharyngocutaneous fistula was found in 12 of the 49 patients(24.5%). The radiotherapy before surgery was a statistically significant factor that increase the incidence of postoperative fistulas(p=0.037). Large extent of surgery including flap reconstruction was almost statistically significant factor of raising postoperative fistula rates(p=0.051). Conclusion : According to this study, the presence of postoperative fistula seems to be influenced by previous radiotherapy and the extent of surgery. These could be the risk factors of pharyngocutaneous fistula after total laryngectomy.

• Korean Journal of Radiology
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• 제19권6호
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• pp.1130-1139
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• 2018

Objective: To compare the therapeutic efficacy between conventional transarterial chemoembolization (cTACE) and combined therapy using cTACE and radiofrequency ablation (RFA) in ultrasound (US)-invisible early stage hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Materials and Methods: From January 2008 to June 2016, 167 patients with US-invisible early stage HCCs were treated with cTACE alone (cTACE group; n = 85) or cTACE followed by immediate fluoroscopy-guided RFA targeting intratumoral iodized oil retention (combined group; n = 82). Procedure-related complications, local tumor progression (LTP), time to progression (TTP), and overall survival (OS) were compared between the two groups. Multivariate analyses were performed to identify prognostic factors. Results: There was no major complication in either group. The cTACE group showed higher 1-, 3-, and 5-year LTP rates than the combined group; i.e., 12.5%, 31.7%, and 37.0%, respectively, in the cTACE group; compared to 7.3%, 16.5%, and 16.5%, respectively, in the combined group; p = 0.013. The median TTP was 18 months in the cTACE group and 24 months in the combined group (p = 0.037). Cumulative 1-, 3-, and 5-year OS rates were 100%, 93.2%, and 87.7%, respectively, in the cTACE group and 100%, 96.6%, and 87.4%, respectively, in the combined group (p = 0.686). Tumor diameter > 20 mm and cTACE monotherapy were independent risk factors for LTP and TTP. Conclusion: Combined therapy using cTACE followed by fluoroscopy-guided RFA is a safe and effective treatment in US-invisible early stage HCCs. It provides less LTP and longer TTP than cTACE alone.

• Journal of Hospice and Palliative Care
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• 제25권2호
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• pp.55-65
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• 2022

Caring for patients with cancer is highly stimulating and rewarding, attracting health professionals to the field who enjoy the challenge of managing a complex illness. Health professionals often form close bonds with their patients as they confront ongoing disease or treatment impacts, which may be associated with multiple losses involving function and/or eventual loss of life. Ongoing exposure to patient loss, along with a challenging work setting, may pose significant stress and impact health professionals' well-being. The prevalence rates of burnout and compassion fatigue (CF) are significant, yet health professionals have little knowledge on these topics. A 6-week continuing education program consisting of weekly small-group video-conferencing sessions, case-based learning, and an online community of practice was delivered to health care providers providing oncology care. Program content included personal, organization and team-related risk and protective factors associated with CF, grief models, and strategies to mitigate against CF. Content analysis was completed as part of the program evaluation. In total, 189 participants (93% nurses) completed the program, which was associated with significant improvements in confidence and knowledge of CF and strategies to support self and team resilience. Qualitative themes and vignettes from experiences with the program are presented. Key themes included knowledge gaps, a lack of support related to CF and strategies to support resilience, organization-and team-based factors that can inhibit expression about the impacts of clinical work, the health professional as a "person" in caregiving, and the role of personal variables, self-skill practices, and recommendations for education and support for self and teams.

• 한국자원식물학회:학술대회논문집
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• 한국자원식물학회 2023년도 임시총회 및 춘계학술대회
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• pp.55-55
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• 2023

With the COVID-19 pandemic, there is increasing interest in anti-obesity strategies. According to the National Statistical Office, the obesity rate in Korea was 38.3% in 2020 and 37.1% in 2021. Obesity is a risk factor for several severe diseases, including stroke, heart disease, type 2 diabetes, and certain types of cancer. Pinus rigida × Pinus taeda is a hybrid of Pinus rigida Mill and Pinus taeda Linn, and its cones are considered a by-product. Although previous studies have investigated their pharmacological effects on antioxidant activity and protection against oxidative DNA damage, few researchers have explored their potential as functional natural materials. Therefore, we evaluated the anti-obesity effects of the cone of ethyl acetate fraction of P. rigida × P. taeda (ERT), specifically its ability to inhibit lipid accumulation. Our analysis showed that ERT contains phytochemicals (catechin and caffeic acid) which are known to improve immune function and inhibit cell damage. ERT inhibited lipid droplet accumulation at the cellular levels through Oil Red O staining. Furthermore, ERT suppressed the expression of adipogenic transcription factors (PPARγ and CEBP/α) as well as downstream lipogenic target genes (FAS and SREBP-1) thereby inhibiting adipogenesis. ERT also down-regulated key adipogenic markers, including aP2α, while inducing the phosphorylation of AMPK. It has been reported that PPARγ and CEBP/α are expressed in the early stages of adipose differentiation, while SREBP-1 is expressed in the late stage. Therefore, our findings suggest that ERT activates AMPK signaling pathways, which inhibits adipogenic transcription factors (PPARγ, C/EBPα, and SREBP1) and lipogenic genes (FAS and aP2α), thereby blocking lipid accumulation and preventing obesity and related disorders. ERT showed potential as a new resource for developing a functional material for anti-obesity agents.

• Journal of Genetic Medicine
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• 제8권2호
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• pp.105-112
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• 2011

목적: 유전성 유방암 가계에서 BRCA 유전자 돌연변이 결과 공유의 중요성은 가족검사를 통해 돌연변이 보인자를 확인하고 적극적인 암 발생 감시와 예방적 치료를 제공하는데 있다. 본 연구를 통하여 유전성 유방암 가계에서 돌연변이 사실에 대한 공유 정도, 등친 별 의사소통 차이와 이에 영향을 미치는 요인을 확인하고자 한다. 대상 및 방법: 한국인 유전성유방암 연구에 등록되어 BRCA1 또는 BRCA2 돌연변이가 확인된 발단자 106명을 대상으로 검사 후 유전상담, 유전성 유방암 지식도 평가, 돌연변이 사실에 대한 가족간의 의사소통 과정, 가족 검사 현황에 대해 설문조사를 시행하였다. 결과: 최종 응답자 106명 중 99명은 적어도 한 명 이상의 친족에게 자신의 유전자 검사결과를 알렸으며, 일등친 가족에게만 알린 경우는 68.7%, 일등친과 이등친 이상의 가족에게 돌연변이 사실을 알린 경우는 31.3%였다. 단변량 분석결과 일등친 가족에게만 검사결과를 알린 군이 이등친 또는 삼등친 가족에게 돌연변이 사실을 알린 군에 비해 기혼자의 비율이 더 높았으며, 검사 후 유전상담일로부터 설문조사 시점까지 기간이 유의하게 짧은 것으로 나타났다. 가족에게 돌연변이 사실을 알린 이유에 대해서는 가족들에게 BRCA 유전자 돌연변이 가능성과 유방암 발병위험성을 알리기 위함에 가장 큰 비중을 차지하였다. 결론: 유전성 유방암 가계에서 BRCA 돌연변이 사실에 대한 정보를 보다 많은 가족과 공유하기 위해서는 유전상담 시 환자 개개인의 가계 구조를 파악하여 차별화된 의사소통 방법을 제시해 주어야 할 것이다.

• Journal of Hospice and Palliative Care
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• 제2권2호
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• pp.125-137
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• 1999

목적 : 본 연구는 한국판 BDI를 이용하여 통증이 있는 암환자의 우울 정도, 우울과 통증의 관계 및 우울과 관련된 변인들을 조사하여 암환자의 우울 관리에 도움이 되는 기초자료를 제공하기 위함이다. 방법 : 1999년 2월부터 6월까지 서울대학교병원 혈액종양내과에 입원 및 외래치료중인 암환자 142명을 대상으로 하였으며, 우울은 한국판 Beck Depression Inventory, 통증정도는 간이 통증 평가도구의 일부문항인 숫자척도를 이용하여 자기 보고형 질문지를 통하여 수집되었고, 인구학적 및 임상학적 자료는 의무기록 열람 및 주치의의 의견을 참조하여 수집되었다. t-test와 ANOVA를 사용하여 변인에 따른 집단간 우울정도 차이를 분석하였으며, 변인간 상관관계분석은 Pearson 상관계수를 구하였다. 결과 : 1) 연구대상자는 142명으로 이중 남자가 79명 여자가 63명이었으며, 평균연령은 51.86세였다. 2) 연구대상자의 24시간 동안 가장 심했을 때 통증의 평균은 6.08(SD=2.23), 24시간 평균통증의 평균은 4.44(SD=1.85), 조사 당시 느끼는 통증의 평균은 3.48(SD=2.25), 가장 약했을 때 통증의 평균은 2.25(SD=1.83)이었다. 3) 연구대상자의 평균 BDI 점수는 23.73(SD=10.99) 이었으며, 대상자의 55.6%가 우울군(절단점 21)에 속했다. 4) 24시간 동안 가장 심했을 때의 통증정도와 우울(r=0.252, P=0.002), 24시간 평균통증정도와 우울(r=0.225, P=0.007, 조사당시 바로 지금 느끼는 통증정도와 우울(r=0.291, P=0.000)은 통계적으로 매우 유의한 정적 상관관계를 보였으나, 가장 약했을 때 통증정도와 우울은 통계적으로 유의한 상관관계를 보이지 않았다. 5) 통증이 있은 암환자의 우울에 유의하게 영향을 미치는 인구학적 특성은 성별(t=3.59, P=0.000)과 교육정도(F=4.063, P=0.009)였으며, 임상적 특성은 ECOG에 의한 활동도(F=3.352, P=0.021)였다. 또한 대상자의 연령과 우울은 유의한 정적 상관관계(r=0.171, P=0.042)가 있었다. 결론 : 통증이 있는 암환자에 있어서 우울은 과반수 이상이 경험하는 정서적 증상임이 확인되었다. 또한 통증, 성별, 교육정도, 활동도, 연령 등이 우울에 영향을 미치거나 관계가 있음을 밝혔다. 그러므로 암환자들을 대하고 있는 의료진들은 이상의 연구결과를 적용하여 우울의 고위험군을 미리 예상하여 통증뿐 아니라 우울정도를 자주 사정하고 우울에 대한 효과적인 중재를 제공하여야 한다.

• Radiation Oncology Journal
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• 제26권4호
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• pp.213-221
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• 2008

목 적: 직장암에 수술 전 항암화학요법과 방사선치료를 동시에 병용시행한 후 완치절제술 후 병리학적 완전관해율과 종양 병기 하향률에 영향을 주는 예측인자를 후향적으로 분석하여 환자에 따른 맞춤치료의 가능성을 알기 위하여 본 연구를 시도하였다. 대상 및 방법: 2000년 5월부터 2008년 3월까지 국소적으로 진행된 직장암으로 진단받고 원격전이가 없는 환자 39명을 대상으로 수술 전 항암화학요법과 골반강에 방사선치료 50.4 Gy ($45{\sim}59.4\;Gy$)를 시행한 후 완치적 수술후 절제된 조직을 병리학적으로 관찰하여 완전관해율과 종양 및 림프절의 병기하향률을 측정하였다. 항암화학요법은 39명 중 38명은 방사선치료 1주와 5주에 각각 1주간 5-fluorouracil과 leucovorin을 연속적으로 정맥 주입하였으며 1명은 방사선치료기간 중 하루에 2회 capecitabine를 복용하였다. 결 과: 병리학적 완전관해를 보인 환자는 39명 중 12명(31%), 종양-병기하향을 보인 환자는 24명(63%)이었으며 임상적으로 림프절이 양성인 환자 28명 중 12명은(43%) 병리학적으로 하향되었으며 2명은 임상적으로 림프절이 음성이었으나 병리학적으로 양성을 보였다. 단변량분석에 의하면 종양의 둘레범위가 직장의 50% 미만(p=0.031), 종양의 길이가 5 cm 미만(p=0.004), 치료 후 CEA 수치가 3.0 mg/mL 이하(p=0.015)인 환자에서 병리학적 완전관해율이 높았다. 또한 선암(p=0.045), 방사선량이 50 Gy 이상(p=0.021)인 환자에서 병기-하향률이 높았고, 방사선 치료 기간이 42일 이하인(p=0.018)환자에서 림프절-병기하향률이 높았다. 다변량분석에 의하면 종양의 둘레범위가 50% 미만(HR 0.150; p=0.028), 종양의 길이가 5 cm 미만인(HR 0.084; p=0.005) 환자에서 통계학적으로 유의하게 병리학적 완전관해율이 높았으며, 방사선량이 50 Gy 이상 높은 경우(HR 0.115; p=0.025) 종양-병기하향률이 높았고 방사선치료 기간이 42일 이하인(HR 0.028; p=0.010) 경우 림프절-병기하향률이 높았다. 병리학적 완전관해에 영향을 주는 예측인자는 종양의 둘레범위와 종양의 길이이었으며, 종양-병리하향에 영향을 주는 예측인자는 방사선량, 림프절-병기하향에 영향을 주는 예측인자는 방사선치료 기간이었다. 이러한 예측인자를 파악함으로써 환자의 치료결과를 예측할 수 있으며 위험인자가 있는 환자에 좀 더 적극적인 치료계획을 설정하는 데 도움이 될 것으로 생각한다.