• Journal of Korean Traditional Oncology
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.23-31
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• 2013

Objectives : The purpose of this case study is to demonstrate the effectiveness of Traditional Korean Medicine as an adjunctive management for breast cancer treatment. Methods : A 56 year-old female patient diagnosed with stage IA(pT1cN0M0) of breast cancer was admitted our hospital. The patient had surgical resection followed by radiation therapy, and conducted adjuvant therapy with aromatase inhibitor. The patient's chief complaints were dry cough, thirst and fatigue, all of which were caused by radiation therapy. Traditional Korean herbal medicine was prescribed for symptom management. The patient's subjective symptoms such as cough, thirst and fatigue were evaluated by NRS. Results : Fatigue was significantly improved within a week. The severity of dry cough and thirst also was decreased after a few courses of herbal medicine treatment. Conclusion : This case study suggests that Tradition Korean Medicine would be beneficial for the patients who are suffering from adverse effects of the standard treatment of cancer.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.30 no.9
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• pp.1297-1304
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• 2020

Elevated serum levels of alpha-1-acid glycoprotein (AGP) are known to be associated with several types of cancer. In addition, some reports have indicated that changes in glycosylation of AGP are associated with cancer progression. However, changes in AGP levels of serum and changes in glycosylation of AGPs in breast cancer have not been specifically studied. In the present study, serum AGP levels in benign (BN) cancer and breast cancer stage I (BC I), BC IIA, BC IIB, and BC III in Korean women were measured using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). AGP was purified from individual sera by hot phenol extraction and then subjected to AGP glycosylation analysis. Three types of AGP glycosylation (fucosylation, high-mannose-type and sialylation) were detected using enzyme-linked lectin assays (ELLAs). Serum AGP levels were higher in BC I, BC IIA, BC IIB, and BC III, than in the BN group, and the level in BC I and BC IIA was high enough to be distinguished from BN. Meanwhile, terminal fucosylation and high-mannose-type glycans appeared to be lowest in BC I. The glycosylation levels of BC I provide sensitivity and specificity that make BC I clearly distinguishable from BC IIA, BC IIB, and BC III as well as BN. Therefore, determination of serum AGP or AGP glycosylation level could be useful for detecting the early stages of breast cancer.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.35 no.4
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• pp.110-115
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• 2014

Objectives: A 54-year-old advanced gastric cancer patient developed severe fluid retention after docetaxel chemotherapy, at cumulative dose of $930mg/m^2$, with no improvement using diuretics or prophylactic glucocorticoids. Consequently, he changed chemotherapy regimen from docetaxel to paclitaxel. After he treated with herbal decoction Bangkihwangki-tang (BHT), which is widely used to treat several symptoms including edema in traditional Korean medicine, docetaxel-induced fluid retention (DIFR) was significantly improved along with associated symptoms, such as peripheral edema, pleural and pericardial effusion, pain, scleroderma, and hypoesthesia. As the symptoms were relieved, his performance status and ambulatory ability were improved. During herbal treatment, he continued chemotherapy without any problems and didn't show any adverse events related to herbal medicine. Although there is possibility of natural improvement progress after withdrawal of docetaxel, he showed shorter recovery period and significant improvement despite of severity of initial symptoms.

• Korea Journal of Hospital Management
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• v.17 no.4
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• pp.133-166
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• 2012

Hospitals tend to provide uniformed service to patients despite their various demands stemming from the severity of disease stages or the uncertainties in information of treatment stages. To identify service factors and provide effective contextually aware service models that patients demand depending on their evolving circumstances, the study conducted a survey on service quality based on importance and satisfaction of cancer patients. The study surveyed 286 patients and caregivers on importance and satisfaction through a questionnaire comprising of 17 questions at the outpatient clinic of cancer centers of university hospitals in 5 cities. Based on the risks of the disease and uncertainties in information of treatment stages, the cancer patients were grouped into diagnosis stage; low-risk treatment stage; high-risk treatment stage; stabilization stage. Depending on the patient's situation, the importance and satisfaction of service factors were ranked. These factors were categorized into 4 groups from a managerial perspective into 'keep it up area', 'focus here area', 'low priority area', 'overdone area'. This study provides an effective medical service model that can accommodate patients based on management areas of cancer patients.

• Asian Oncology Nursing
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• v.12 no.1
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• pp.77-83
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• 2012

Purpose: This study was designed to describe outcomes of pain management, to identify pain intensity, pain management and barriers to pain management, and to test correlation among the variables in cancer patients who are registered in public health centers. Methods: By using a descriptive survey design, 3 instruments were used to collect data: the Numeric Rating Scale for pain, the Barriers Questionnaire-Korean version, and a one-item self-report tool about patient satisfaction. A sample of 190 patients with cancer was recruited from a public health center. Results: The mean rating for pain during the past 24 hours was mild and the mean score of barriers to pain management was 3.20. Patients were satisfied with pain management but they also had concerns it. A negative correlation was found among pain severity, pain relief and satisfaction of pain management. However, there was not significant correlation between the patient-related barriers to pain management and other variables. Conclusion: These results suggest that the intervention for cancer patients should focus not only on patient-related barriers to pain management, but also address health-care system related barriers.

• The Korean Journal of Nuclear Medicine
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• v.24 no.2
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• pp.307-316
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• 1990

Irradiation is widely used for the treatment of malignant diseases, and possibly cause the osteoporosis. The densitometry and bone scintigraphy are valuable when used to monitor the patients longitudinally to access the progression of osteoporosis and risk of osteoradionecrosis. To evaluate the osteoporosis after irradiation of Cobalt-60 gamma ray on the lumbar spines of New Zealand white rabbits, bone densitometry by dual photon absorptiometry and bone scintigraphy were performed weekly. The decrease of bone density began at the first week after irradiation, and were in the nadir at 4-6th week. The osteoblastic activity measured by bone scintigraphy decreased in the first week, and was in the nadir at 4-6th week. The severity of these changes were related to the radiation dose. In conclusion, the osteoporosis before the presentation of the osteoradionecrosis can be diagnosed early with the dual photon absorptionmetry and bone scintigraphy.

• Journal of Digestive Cancer Research
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• v.10 no.2
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• pp.107-111
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• 2022

In 2019, coronavirus disease (COVID-19), which originated in Wuhan, has spread worldwide. In most people, COVID-19 symptoms are not severe. However, the mortality rate and severity were high in risk groups such as in older people and patients with underlying diseases. As patients with cancer are one of the risk groups, the vaccination for COVID-19 is emphasized in these patients. However, COVID-19 vaccines are not tested enough in special groups such as in patients with cancer because these vaccines are developed at an unprecedented speed. This causes confusion about whether patients undergoing chemotherapy should be vaccinated or not. In this study, international guidelines and studies were reviewed. Most of the studies recommended vaccination. No evidences of any negative effects for the efficacy or safety were recorded in patients undergoing cytotoxic, targeted, and immune agents. However, in critical conditions such as cytopenia, vaccination must be decided according to the patient's condition. COVID-19 vaccines were also recommended for patients on surgery or radiation therapy. If possible, vaccine is given before surgery to avoid confusion between surgical complications and side effects of the vaccine. The radiation recall phenomenon after vaccination has been reported in some cases of radiation therapy. Clinicians should consider these situations before vaccinating each patient. We hope that clearer guidelines will be established by accumulating verified data.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Radiology
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• v.82 no.5
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• pp.1083-1102
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• 2021

Uterine cervical cancer is a common gynecological cancer prevalent in Korea. Early detection, precise diagnosis, and appropriate treatment can affect its prognosis. Imaging approaches play an important role in staging, treatment planning, and follow-up. MRI specifically provides the advantage of assessing tumor size and disease severity with high soft tissue contrast. The revised version of the International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics (FIGO) staging system has been introduced in 2018, which incorporates subdivided primary tumor size and lymph node metastasis. In this review, the staging of uterine cervical cancer based on previous studies, the recently revised FIGO staging, and various post-treatment images are primarily described using MRI.

• Korean Journal of Clinical Pharmacy
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.129-136
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• 2013

Objectives: Among many new drugs that are under investigation with intent to treat cancer, oral kinase inhibitors are proven to be effective in numerous clinical trials and easy to administer. Due to these advantages the use of oral kinase inhibitors is increasing. Oral kinase inhibitors are metabolized by CYP450 which can result either increase of adverse effect or decrease of drug effect by drug interaction when used concurrently with other agents. In this research, the medication records of patients on oral kinase inhibitors from Oct. 2010 to Nov. 2011 were reviewed to investigate potential drug interactions. Methods: From Oct. 2010 to Nov. 2011, cancer patients in Inha University Hospital who took oral kinase inhibitors more than once were included. The patients' medication records were reviewed to list out concurrent medications that have interaction potential with oral kinase inhibitors, the frequency of concurrent use, and the severity of interaction result using Micromedex$^{(R)}$ and Lexicomp-online$^{(R)}$ as references. Results: As a result, 90 cases of drug with interaction potential were prescribed by Micromedex$^{(R)}$ and 179 cases by Lexicomp-online$^{(R)}$ data. In case of severity, 33.3% by Micromedex$^{(R)}$ and 26.3% by Lexicomp-online$^{(R)}$ were categorized as Major and 65.6% by Micromedex$^{(R)}$ and 72.6% by Lexicomp-online$^{(R)}$ as Moderate. The number of adverse events was 92 cases which 58.7% were on skin and 19.6% on Gastro-intestinal tract. Conclusions: Considerable number of drug with interaction potential was used though each oral kinase inhibitors showed differences in extent. Hence there exists the risk of drug interaction in patients taking oral kinase inhibitors with other drugs.

• Journal of East-West Nursing Research
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• v.15 no.1
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• pp.26-33
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• 2009

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to examine the effect of Nei-Guan acupressure on nausea, vomiting, and anorexia in gynecological cancer patients receiving chemotherapy. Methods: Subjects consisted of 40 patients with cancer who were hospitalized and had chemotherapy at a general hospital located in Gyeonggi province, Korea. Control subjects (n=20) received only chemotherapy and intervention subjects (n=20) received Nei-Guan acupressure during their chemotherapy. The data were collected from February to October in 2008. Nausea and vomiting were measured with the Rhode's Index of Nausea, Vomiting, and Retching, and anorexia was measured using a Visual Analog Scale. Data were analyzed by X$^2$-test, t-test, repeated measures ANOVA. Results: Severity of nausea and vomiting in the intervention group was significantly less than in the control group. Repeated measure ANOVA revealed significant group effect (F=28.09, p=.000), time effect (F=321.48, p=.000), and interaction effect (F=7.90, p=.000). Severity of anorexia in the intervention group was significantly less than in the control group. Repeated measure ANOVA revealed significant group effect (F=28.68, p=.000), time effect (F=52.32, p=.000), and interaction effect (F=6.35, p=.000). Conclusions: Acupressure can be applied as a supportive nursing intervention to relieve nausea, vomiting, and anorexia in patients receiving chemotherapy.