• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.15 no.8
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• pp.3425-3428
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• 2014

Objective: To explore the value of computed tomography (CT) in the differential diagnosis of glioma stroke and simple cerebral hemorrhage. Materials and Methods: A total of 45 patients with glioma stroke and stroke as the initial symptom in our hospital from Jun., 2009 to Oct., 2013 were selected along with 50 individuals with simple cerebral hemorrhage in the same period randomly collected as a control group. The CT results in both groups were analyzed and compared. Results: In the observation group, there were 25 patients with astrocytoma (55.6%), 11 with oligodendroglioma (24.4%), 8 with ependymoma (17.2%) and 1 with glioblastoma multiforma (GBM, 2.22%). Additionally, the major CT manifestation was coexistence of hemorrhage and tumor signs. By comparison, it could be found that the proportions of patients respectively with peripheral edema and space-occupying effect in the observation group were significantly higher than in the control group (P<0.01). Conclusions: Application of CT examination combined with medical history in patients has very important clinical value in the differential diagnosis of glioma stroke and simple cerebral hemorrhage.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.16 no.8
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• pp.3419-3423
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• 2015

Background: Liposarcoma of the spermatic cord is rare and frequently misdiagnosed. The standard therapeutic approach has been radical inguinal orchiectomy with wide local resection of surrounding soft tissues. The current trend of organ preservation in the treatment of several cancers has started to evolve. Herein we present our testis-sparing surgery experience in the treatment of spermatic cord liposarcoma and a pooled analysis on this topic. Materials and Methods: Clinical information from patient receiving organ-sparing surgery was described. Clinical studies evaluating this issue were identified by using a predefined search strategy, e.g., Pubmed database with no restriction on date of published papers. The literature search used the following terms: epidemiology, surgery, chemotherapy, radiotherapy, testis sparing surgery, spermatic cord sarcomas/liposarcomas. Results: Patient received a complete excision of the lesion, preserving the spermatic cord and the testis. The final pathological report showed a well differentiated liposarcoma with negative surgical margins and no signs of local invasion. After 2-year of follow-up, there was no evidence of local recurrence. Since the first case reported in 1952, a total of about 200 well-documented spermatic cord liposarcoma cases have been published in English literature. Among these patients, only three instances were reported to have received an organ-sparing surgery in the treatment of spermatic cord liposarcoma. Conclusions: Radical inguinal orchiectomy and resection of the tumor with a negative microscopic margin is the recommended treatment for liposarcoma of the spermatic cord. But for small, especially well-differentiated, lesions, testis-sparing surgery might be a good option if an adequate negative surgical margin is assured.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Inherited Metabolic disease
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• v.13 no.1
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• pp.48-53
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• 2013

Tyrosinemia I (fumarylacetoacetate hydrolase deficiency) is an autosomal recessive inborn error of tyrosine metabolism that produces liver failure in infancy or a more chronic course of liver disease with cirrhosis, often complicated by hepatocellular carcinoma in childhood or early adolescence. We studied a 37-year-old woman with tyrosinemia I whose severe liver disease in infancy and rickets during childhood were resolved with dietary therapy. From 14 years of age, she resumed unrestricted diet with the continued presence of the biochemical features of tyrosinemia, yet maintained normal liver function. In adult years, she accumulated only a small amount of succinylacetone. Despite this evolution to a mild biochemical and clinical phenotype, she eventually developed hepatocellular carcinoma. Her fumarylacetoacetate hydrolase genotype consists of a splice mutation, IVS6-1G>T, and a novel missense mutation, p.Q279R. Studies of resected liver revealed the absence of hydrolytic activity and immunological expression of fumarylacetoacetate hydrolase in tumour. In the non-tumoral areas, however, 53% of normal hydrolytic activity and immunologically present fumarylacetoacetate hydrolase were found. This case demonstrates the high risk of liver cancer in tyrosinemia I even in a seemingly favorable biological environment. In this study of tyrosinemia I, Case 2 with negative succinylacetone accumulation and the recovery of acute liver failure was compared with Case 1. Diet restriction and NTBC treatment are crucial to prevent hepatocellular carcinoma until liver transplant can take place and cure the condition. Further studies are needed to examine cases where liver cancer did not result despite clinical symptoms/signs of tyrosinemia type I.

• Journal of Gastric Cancer
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• v.3 no.4
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• pp.186-190
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• 2003

Purpose: The balance between cell proliferation and apoptosis is crucial for homeostatic maintenance in a cell population. Decreased apoptosis or uncontrolled proliferation can lead to cancer. The Fas receptor signal through a cytoplasmic death domain is very important in the apoptotic pathway. To identify the effect of the death domain of the Fas gene in the development and/or progression of gastric cancer, we examined the apoptotic potential of five known Fas mutants detected in gastric cancers. Materials and Methods: A wild-type Fas gene was cloned with cDNA from normal liver tissue and full length Fas was sequenced. Mutants of the gene were generated with sitedirected mutagenesis by using the wild-type gene and specific primers. Wild- and mutant-type genes were transfected to HEK293 cells. Forty-eight hours after transfection the cells were stained with DAPI and cell death was counted under fluorescent microscopy. Results: In wild-type Fas-transfected cells, the percentage of apoptotic cells was $85.9\pm3.6\%$, and significant cell death and classic morphologic signs of apoptosis were observed. However, the percentages of apoptotic cells transfected with N239D, E240G, D244V, and R263H of tumor-derived mutant Fas were $29.5\pm2.08\%,\;28.5\pm3.34\%,\;25.225\pm2.06\%,\;and\;36.625\pm4.49\%$, respectively. Conclusion: These results suggest that inactivation of Fas caused by mutations in the death domain of the Fas gene may be one of the possible escape mechanisms against Fas-mediated apoptosis and that inactivating mutation of the Fas may contribute to the development or progression of gastric cancers.

• Journal of Hospice and Palliative Care
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• v.18 no.4
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• pp.329-334
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• 2015

Purpose: This study was aimed at analyzing the characteristics and symptoms in home-based hospice-palliative care (HBHPC) patients registered at local public health centers. Methods: A retrospective study was performed; Data of 144 HBHPC patients registered at six public health centers in Pusan City were analyzed, including their initial visit records (registration cards, initial pain evaluation and symptom evaluation). Results: The average age of the patients was 67.7 years old. Among all, 46.2% of the patient lived alone, and 65% had middle school education or lower. The most popular (36.3%) religion was Buddhism, and 47.5% received medical assistance from the government. The most frequent diagnosis was lung cancer followed by stomach cancer and liver cancer in that order. Of all, 48.9% were functionally too weak to lead a daily life, 39.6% were under cancer treatment when registered at the public health center, and 84.5% were aware of the fact that they have reached the terminal phase. Moreover, 83.6% complained about pain, and the pain level was moderate or severe in 36.5% of them. Besides pain, fatigue was the most complained symptom (84.7%), and 49.3% of them rated their fatigue as moderate or severe. Conclusion: Most of the HBHPC patients were socio-economically underprivileged and complained about moderate or worse pain and symptoms. Therefore, it appears necessary to develop an integrated strategy that is tailored for each patient reflecting their characteristics.

• Journal of Hospice and Palliative Care
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• v.7 no.1
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• pp.49-63
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• 2004

Purpose: The Hospice Oriented Medical Record (HOMR) was developed for assessing the pain and symptoms of terminal cancer patients. Methods and Results: The HOMR consists of an instruction for users and 2 assessment pages which include the graph showing vital signs (temperature, blood pressure, pulse, respiration rate and pain score), current problem lists, performance status, laboratory data, pain characteristics and management, sedation score, associated symptoms and drug side effects, etc. Pilot study was performed in the inpatient Hospice Care Unit in Guro Hospital, Korea University Medical Center. Because an one-week progress data was recorded in HOMR as a flow sheet, the patient's condition and pain control status could be seen at a glance. Conclusion: The HOMR is useful for assessing the terminal cancer patients because it is simple and convenient to use. Further research is needed before it can be universally used in the clinical settings.

• Journal of Korean Biological Nursing Science
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• v.6 no.1
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• pp.5-15
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• 2004

목적 : 이 연구는 항암제를 투여받는 여성암환자에서 발반사마사지가 스트레스반응(활력징후, 코티졸)과 면역반응에 미치는 효과를 평가하기 위함이다. 방법 : 11명의 여성암 환자를 임의로 표출한 후 단일군 전후실험설계로 진행하였다. 종속변수는 스트레스 반응으로 활력징후(수축기 혈압, 이완기 혈압, 맥박수, 호흡수)와 혈중 코티졸, 면역반응으로 림프구 아군(CD3, CD4, CD8, CD19)과 자연살세포(NK cells)이며, 독립변수는 발반사마사지이었다. 중재 전후 종속변수의 변화를 보기 위해 Wilcoxon signed rank test를 실시하였다. 결과 : 중재 전에 비해 중재 후 수축기 혈압, 이완기 혈압, 맥박수, 혈중 코티졸치, CD4와 CD19는 유의한 변화를 보였으나 호흡수, CD3, CD8, 그리고 자연살세포는 유의한 변화를 보이지 않았다. 결론 : 이러한 연구결과는 발반사마사지가 항암화학요법을 받는 여성암 환자의 스트레스 호르몬과 면역관련세포에 영향을 보였지만 표본수가 작고 중재가 1회에 그쳤기 때문에 이러한 단점을 보완한 추후연구를 통해 발반사마사지의 효과를 좀더 잘 규명할 수 있을 것이다.

• Biomedical Science Letters
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• v.7 no.3
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• pp.133-138
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• 2001

The recently proposed Bethesda system for cervical/vaginal cytology has made a standardization related to "atypia". In cellular change due to inflammation or repair, the word "benign cellular change" has been suggested as a substitute for atypia. Terminology related to atypia cells may become standardized, but the cytologic criteria has not been well defined yet Among 8113 cases screened, we evaluated 182 cases as atypia squamous cells undetermined significance (ASCUS) by the Bethesda system (TBS): 52 cases of ASCUS were cytologically diagnosed and 33 cases were histologically verified. ASCUS was diagnosed based on nuclear enlargement and nonclassical signs of condyloma. The results are as follows; Six cases (16.6%) turned out to have benign cellular change. Twenty five cases (69.1%) demonstrated squamous intraepthelial lesion, condyloma was 2 cases (6.0%) and mild dysplasia was not revealed. Moderate and severe dysplasia were 1 case (3.0%) and 16 cases (48.4%), squamous cell carcinoma and adenocarcinoma were 4 (12.1%) and 1 cases (3.0%), respectively. Our data suggested that patients with ASCUS are highly recommended to be examined colposcopic biosy to cornfim.

• Applied Microscopy
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• v.9 no.1
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• pp.35-56
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• 1979

To investigate ultrastructural characteristics of cancer cells of the nervous system, 25 cases; i.e. astrocytoma(9), oligodendroglioma(1), medulloblastoma(1), meningioma(5), pinealoma(2) and pituitary adenomas(7). The common findings were marked irregularity of nuclear membrane with pronounced infoldings, clumping of heterochromatin along inner nuclear membrane, enlargement of nucleolus, and frequent observations of nuclear bodies and nuclear inclusions. But these findings are also the signs that can be observed in hyperactive cells. Thus, ultrastructural characteristics of cancerous nucleus are the great variability of nuclear size, shape and composition. but none of them appear to be specific. Among cytoplasmic organelles, massive fibrils are characteristic of astrocytoma and meningiomas, cytoplasmic protofibrils such as glial process and microvesicles in oligodendroglioma, secretory granules are characteristic in pituitary adenomas, and fine filamentous fibrils and desmosomes are characteristic of fibroblastic type of meningioma. Intercellular relationships and cell membrane specialization are important features in the differential diagnosis of various undifferentiated tumors. The frequent resolution of difficult diagnosis problems by electron microscopy outweighs the disadvantages of this technique, such as the expense and time required.

• Toxicological Research
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• v.31 no.1
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• pp.77-88
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• 2015

Lithospermum erythrorhizon has long been used in traditional Asian medicine for the treatment of diseases, including skin cancer. The oral toxicity of a hexane extract of Lithospermum erythrorhizon root (LEH) was investigated in Beagle dogs by using single escalating doses, two-week dose range-finding, and 4-week oral repeat dosing. In the single dose-escalating oral toxicity study, no animal died, showed adverse clinical signs, or changes in body weight gain at LEH doses of up to 2,000 mg/kg. In a 2 week dose range-finding study, no treatment-related adverse effects were detected by urinalysis, hematology, blood biochemistry, organ weights, or gross and histopathological examinations at doses of up to 500 mg LEH/kg/day. In the 4 week repeat-dose toxicity study, a weight loss or decreased weight gain was observed at 300 mg/kg/day. Although levels of serum triglyceride and total bilirubin were increased in a dose dependent manner, there were no related morphological changes. Based on these findings, the sub-acute no observable adverse effect level for 4-week oral administration of LEH in Beagles was 100 mg/kg/day.