• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.15 no.6
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• pp.2465-2472
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• 2014

Background: The American Joint Committee on Cancer (AJCC) published a new staging system ($7^{th}$ edition) in 2009. In our study, we evaluated the survival results and prognostic factors among T4 local advanced non-small cell lung cancer (LA-NSCLC) patients in a large heterogeneous group, in accordance with this new system. Materials and Methods: We retrospectively evaluated the files of 122 T4 N0-3 M0 LA-NSCLC patients, identified according to the new staging system, treated at two centers between November 2003 and June 2012. Variables correlating with univariate survival at p<0.20 were later included in multivariate Cox regression analysis. Here, selection of relevant predictors of survival was carried out in accordance with the likelihood ratio formula with p<0.05 regarded as significant. Results: The median age was 60 and the median follow-up period was 17.4 months. Median overall survival (OS) was 18.3 months, the 1 year overall survival (OS) rate was 72%, and the 5 year OS rate was 28%. Statistically significant predictors of survival were (p<0.20) ECOG-PS (Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group Performance Status), age, T4 factor subgroup, stage and primary treatment in OS univariate analysis. On multivariate analysis for OS ECOG-PS (p=0.001), diagnostic stage (p=0.021), and primary treatment (p=0.004) were significant. In the group receiving non-curative treatment, the median OS was 11.0 months, while it was 19.0 months in the definitive RT group and 26.6 months in the curative treatment group. There was a significant difference between the non-curative group and the groups which had definitive RT and curative operations (respectively p<0.001 and p=0.001) in terms of OS, but not between the groups which had definitive RT and curative operations. The median event free survival (EFS) rate was 9.9 months, with rates of 46% and 19% at 3 and 5 years, respectively. On univariate analysis of EFS rate with ECOG-PS, weight loss and staging, statistical significance was found only for thorax computerized tomography (CT)+18F-fluorodeoxy-glucose positron emission tomography-CT (PET-CT) use, stage and primary treatment (p<0.20). In multivariate analysis with EFS, only the primary treatment was statistically significant (p=0.001). In the group receiving non-curative treatment, the median EFS was 10.5 months while in the curative operation group it was 14.7 months. When all the primary treatment groups were taken into consideration, grade III/IV side effect swas observed in 57 patients (46.6%). Esophagitis was most prominent among those that received definitive radiotherapy. Conclusions: Independent prognostic factors among these 122 heterogeneous LA-NSCLC T4 N0-3 M0 patients were age at diagnosis, ECOG-PS, stage and primary treatment, the last also being a significant prognostic indicator of EFS. Our findings point to the importance of appropriate staging and a multidisciplinary approach with modern imaging methods in this patient group. In those with T4 lesions, treatment selection and the effective use of curative potential should be the most important goal of clinical care.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.23 no.3
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• pp.119-133
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• 2002

Objectives : This study was designed to investigate significant differences between the first attack and reattack groups to form fundamental data for decreasing recurrence and secondary prevention of stroke. Methods : I studied 204 patients admitted within 7 days of onset, after the diagnosis of stroke, in the Oriental Medical Hospital of Dongeui University from February to July in 2001.compared the reattack group with the first attack group for risk factors, clinical symptoms and progress, average mark and degree of improvement in Activity Index. Results : 1. Meaningful risk factors associated with the reattack group were male sex, a past history of hypertension and transient ischemic attack, and a family history of stroke. 2. The reattack group had conscious or cognitive disorder in early stage of onset, dysphagia, constipation, urinary incontinence, visual field defect in acute stage, high blood pressure and tachycardia in abnormalvital sign in acute stage, neuropsychosis, shoulder pain and rigidity, and pneumonia in complications more than the first attack group. 3. In Activity Index, the average mark of reattack group was lower than that of the first stroke group and improvement of the reattack group was delayed compared with the first attack group. Conclusions : The reattack group had more severe symptoms and clinical progress than the first attack group.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.15 no.3
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• pp.278-284
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• 1982

As of today, the frequency of primary lung cancer is one of the improved problems in modern medicine and is increasing rapidly year by year. This study dealed with 138 cases of primary lung cancer proved by histopathologic examination in Thoracic & Card iovascular Surgery Dept. of N.M.C. from Sept. 1966 through June 1981. The majority of patients belong to 5th and 6th decade. Ratio between male and female was 3.7: 1. Initial symptoms were cough, blood tinged sputum, hemoptysis, chest pain, dyspnea and duration of symptoms before admission was within 6 months [60%] and 12 months [78%]. Histopathologically, 64 cases [61%] of them were the squamous cell carcinoma, 21 cases [15%] were the adenocarcinoma, 20 cases [14.8%] were the anaplastic carcinoma. Fifty-six cases were resectable: 43 cases were subjected to pneumonectomy and 13 cases were to lobectomy. The remaining 82 cases were nonresectable, but exploratory thoracotomy was performed in 22 cases of them. Among 56 resected cases, 33 cases were radically operated and 17 cases were subjected to palliative operation and 6 cases were subjected to extended operation. [Concomitant pericardium resection in 1 case and concomitant chest wall resection in 5 cases]. Surgical mortality was 10.7% and causes of death were aspiration of contralateral lung, respiratory insufficiency, postop. empyema with B.P.F, cardiogenic failure. This study analysed the cancer stage between preop clinical T.N.M. stage and postop. T.N.M. stage in 78 cases; resectable 56 cases and non-resectable 22 cases.

• Journal of Gastric Cancer
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• v.15 no.2
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• pp.121-126
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• 2015

Purpose: We evaluated the socio-personal and clinical factors that can affect preoperative quality of life to determine how to improve preoperative quality of life in patients with gastric cancer. Materials and Methods: The preoperative quality of life data of 200 patients (68 females and 132 males; mean age $58.9{\pm}12.6years$) with gastric cancer were analyzed according to socio-personal and clinical factors. The Korean versions of the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC) Quality of Life Questionnaire Core (QLQ) 30 and the EORTC QLQ-STO22, a gastric cancer-specific module, were used to assess quality of life. Patients were asked to complete the questionnaire preoperatively by themselves. Results: Patients with a higher academic background and stage I disease tended to have higher global health status scores. Highly educated younger men had better physical functioning scores. Highly educated and well-nourished patients with stage I cancer had higher role functioning scores. Married patients had better emotional scores. The symptom scales were affected by sex, age, education level, nutrition, and cancer stage. Conclusions: Preoperative quality of life in patients with gastric cancer can be improved by nutritional support and treatment of symptoms caused by disease progression. Psychological support may be helpful for patients with a poor quality of life.

• Annals of Clinical Neurophysiology
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• v.7 no.2
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• pp.80-82
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• 2005

Background: Idiopathic Parkinson's disease (IPD) is closely related to Lewy body pathology. Pathological changes in medullar oblongata and pontine tegmentum have been reported in patients with subclinical motor symptom. Vestibular evoked myogenic potential (VEMP) is mediated by vestibular nuclei in lower brainstem and reflects the function of lower brainstem. The purpose of our study is to estimate the lower brainstem function in IPD patients. Methods: Ten patients with idiopathic Parkinson's disease underwent VEMP test. The patients were divided into Hohn-Yahr (H-Y) stage I (unilateral motor involvement) group and H-Y stage II or more severe (bilateral motor involvement) group. VEMP results were compared between groups using Mann-Whitney U test. Results: Among patients, 6 patients showed abnormal VEMP (unilateral abnormality 2, bilateral abnormalities 4). Between H-Y stage I group and H-Y II,III group, there was no statistical difference in the results of VEMP. Conclusions: We concluded that the lower brainstem dysfunction reflected in VEMP could occur in IPD regardless of the progression of the disease.

• Annals of Clinical Neurophysiology
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• v.3 no.2
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• pp.122-127
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• 2001

Background : Bell's palsy(BP) is defined as an idiopathic peripheral facial paralysis of sudden onset and account more than 50% of facial paralysis. It's etiology is unclear, but herpes simplex virus type-1(HSV-1) has been the most suspicious causative agent of BP that ever been studied. We evaluated the effect of add-on acyclovir in acute stage of BP. Methods : Subject consisted of 35 patients who developed acute idiopathic unilateral facial nerve palsy(16 men and 19 women with age 9-78 years old). The treatments were started within 10 days after onset of BP. Facial nerve function was assessed by the House-Brackman facial nerve grading scale and facial nerve conduction study including blink reflex. Follow-up evaluation were made 2 month after onset. Twenty of 35 patients were treated with combined therapy of acyclovir and prednisone. As a control group, 15 patients were treated with prednisone only. We compared the improvement of neurologic defects at recovery phase. Results : Compared with two groups, difference in grading scale at recovery phase is statistically significant(p<0.01). So, acyclovir-prednisone group showed a significant improvement in grading scale at recovery phase compared with prednisone group. Conclusion : We identified the benefits of add-on acyclovir in the acute stage of BP.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.21 no.2
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• pp.203-212
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• 2000

Objective : We studied only patients at the acute stage but existing studies on stroke didn't almost classify the stage. We examined 243 patients admitted to the Woo Suk university oriental medical hospital from January 1998 to December 1999 for 2 years. Methods : We analyzed patients into sex, Sasang constitution, the incidence and lesion according to the stroke types, post and family history, onset time, period to admission and physical treatment from onset, and symptom, blood pressure, cholesterol level and herb medicine at entry. Results : Our study was similar to existing studies in the distribution of sex, age and the lesion of stroke, post and family history, and symptoms at entry. But it differed in the constitution, incidence of cerebral infarction and intracranial hemorrhage, attack time, period to admission and physical treatment from onset day, and the symptoms, blood pressure, cholesterol level and herb medication. In comparison between infarction and hemorrhage patients, there was some difference in the distribution of onset time, but wasn't in the cholesterol level. Conclusions : Our study on the acute stage of stroke was similar to existing studies in the general characteristics. But it showed some differences in the herb medicine at entry. In particular, there were much differences in the blood pressure at entry and the incidence of infarction and hemorrhage. We hoped that stroke patients would be synthetically studied in western and oriental medicine.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.21 no.5
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• pp.897-902
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• 2000

Objective : The study was to investigate Diagnosis and Treatment Based on an Overall Analysis of Signs and Symtoms(證治) of a patient on stomach cancer stage IV by means of the clinical symptoms. Methods : The observation of the clinical progress was carried out by conducting Diagnosis and Treatment Based on an Overall Analysis of Signs and Symtoms(證治) with the patient diagnosed stomach cancer stage IV. Results : Treatments such as the invigoration of qi(補氣), the flow of qi(行氣), and the relieving pain(止痛) was given because the patient showed the qi deficiency of the spleen and stomach(脾胃氣虛). There were moderate effects for anorexia, indigestion, nausea, and general weakness, but there was not any clear effect for alleviation of abdominal pain except the first period. Specially, compared with two hospitalization treatments in 1998, the third hospitalization treatment did not show any apparent improvement. It was believed that this caused by the patients bodily weakness because of deterioration of anemia from bleeding in the progress of cancer. Conclusion : Diagnosis and treatment based on an overall analysis of signs and symtoms(證治) of a patient on stomach cancer stage IV had moderate effects on the improvement of the patients condition, but in this case we had difficulty in long-term observation because of short hospitalizations or insufficient examination by an oriental-western combined medicine group.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.41 no.3
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• pp.166-170
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• 2007

Objective : The purpose of this study is to evaluate the clinical outcome of the two-stage operation for thoracic tuberculous spondylitis. Methods : Eleven patients [4 male, 7 female] with thoracic tuberculous spondylitis were treated with two-stage operation. First stage consisted of anterior debridement and interbody fusion using rib graft and second with posterior instrumentation with fusion. Mean age was 46 years, and mean follow-up period was 18 months. All patients were treated with 12 months of antituberculotic medication postoperatively, and evaluated before and after surgery with respect to pain level, neurological status, associated lesions, hematological parameters and change of kyphotic angle. Results : The associated lesions were pulmonary tuberculosis in 4 cases. There were no recurrences of infection and bone union was obtained within 6 months of the operation in all cases. Changes in the pain severity, neurological status, and hematological parameters demonstrated significant clinical improvement in all patients. The mean kyphotic angle was corrected from $17.8^{\circ}$ to $9.8^{\circ}$ after surgery. The most recent follow-up of the mean kyphotic angle was $12.3^{\circ}$, with a loss of correction of $2.5^{\circ}$. The preoperative VAS averaged to be 7.18 [range, 4-10]. It decreased significantly an average of 1.45 [p <0001]. Conclusion : These results indicate that two-stage surgical treatment for thoracic tuberculous spondylitis provid safe and satisfactory results. Spine instability and kyphosis can be also prevented by two-stage operation.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.15 no.6
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• pp.2541-2546
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• 2014

Background: Primary hepatic neuroendocrine carcinoma (PHNEC) is rarer than extrahepatic gastrointestinal neuroendocrine carcinoma (NEC). It is difficult to make a correct diagnosis and poses a challenge for management. Materials and Methods: Ten PHNEC patients were admitted to our hospital from June 2006 to June 2011. Laboratory tests and imaging scans were performed for diagnosis and exclusion of extrahepatic NEC. All patients were AFP - and CA199-. Seven patients had solid tumors with cystic changes on ultrasonography, CT and/or MRI. For the initial treatment, four patients received combined-therapy and six monotherapy. Considering overall treatment, six patients received combined-therapy and four patients monotherapy. Staging criteria of primary hepatocellular carcinoma (PHC, AJCC 7th edition) were used to differentiate the stage of all patients: 3 patients were stage I, 2 stageII, 4 patients stageIII and 1 stageIV. All patients were followed up and clinical data were gathered. Results: The median follow-up duration was 38.5 months. The 1-year, 2-year, 3-year and 6-year disease-free survival was 80.0%, 46.2% and 46.2% and 0% respectively. The overall survival rates were 100%, 67.1%, 67.1% and 33.6% respectively. Patients in early-stages (I/II) had similar disease-free and overall survival as those in advanced-stages (III/IV). Patients with monotherapy had significant shorter disease-free and overall survival than the patients with combination-therapy. Conclusions: PHNEC has a unique specificity during its occurrence and development. The staging criteria of PHC might not be suitable for the PHENT. More convenient and effective features need to be found in imaging and laboratory detection. Surgical resection, TACE, chemotherapy and radiofrequency ablation should be performed in combination and actively for patients with PHNEC or recurrence to get the best effectiveness; they might extend the disease-free and overall survival.