• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.41 no.3
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• pp.247-259
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• 2020

Objectives: This review aims to investigate clinical studies related to bee venom pharmacopuncture for cancer patients and to analyze the research trend for further study. Methods: We searched for clinical studies using bee venom pharmacopuncture therapy on patients with cancer through the electronic databases including Pubmed, Cochrane library, OASIS, KISS, NDSL, and KMBASE. There was no restriction on language and publication date, and after selection/exclusion process, the study design, target disease, intervention details including acupoints, treatment frequency and period, outcomes, study results and adverse events were extracted. Results: Thirteen clinical studies were finally selected. There were a randomized controlled trial RCT about the effect of sweet bee venom pharmacopuncture on cancer-related pain, and three case series about chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy. In case reports, there were nine studies about oligodendroglioma, plexiform neurofibroma, breast cancer, prostate cancer, lung cancer, urachal adenocarcinoma, malignant melanoma, and atypical squamous cells of undetermined significance. The bee venom therapy affected the improvement of outcomes such as symptoms, quality of life, tumor response, and lab findings. Conclusions: The present study found that bee venom therapy is applicable to the treatment of cancer patients, and showed some effect on various symptoms. However, due to insufficient number and quality of studies, well designed and high-quality clinical trials are necessary to confirm the effectiveness and safety of bee venom pharmacopuncture therapy in patients with cancer.

• Journal of Gastric Cancer
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• v.12 no.1
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• pp.7-12
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• 2012

More than ten years have passed since the sentinel node (SN) concept for gastric cancer surgery was first discussed. Less invasive modified surgical approaches based on the SN concept have already been put into practice for malignant melanoma and breast cancer, however the SN concept is not yet placed in a standard position in gastric cancer surgery even after two multi-institutional prospective clinical trials, the Japan Clinical Oncology Group trial (JCOG0302) and the Japanese Society for Sentinel Node Navigation Surgery (SNNS) trial. What is the problem in the clinical application of the SN concept to gastric cancer surgery? There is no doubt that we need reliable indicator(s) to determine with certainty the absence of metastasis in the lymph nodes in order to avoid unnecessary lymphadenectomy. There are several matters of debate in performing the actual procedure, such as the type of tracer, the site of injection, how to detect and harvest, how to detect metastases of SNs, and learning period. These issues have to be addressed further to establish the most suitable procedure. Novel technologies such as indocyanine green (ICG) fluorescence imaging and one-step nucleic acid amplification (OSNA) may overcome the current difficulties. Once we know what the problems are and how to tackle them, we can pursue the goal.

• Korean Journal of Head & Neck Oncology
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• v.32 no.2
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• pp.61-64
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• 2016

There are various types of malignancy in eyelid, such as squamous cell carcinoma, melanoma, and sarcoma. These malignant tumors have potential of metastasis by regional lymph node drainage. The lymph node around parotid gland has been known as a common site of regional lymph node metastasis. The rarity of malignant tumors in the periorbital area makes it difficult to determine the optimal extent of treatment. We report a case of parotid metastasis after eyelid cancer operation in a 60-year-old man.

• Archives of Plastic Surgery
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• v.41 no.6
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• pp.654-660
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• 2014

Background Reactive oxygen species (ROS) damages cell molecules, and modifies cell signaling. The nuclear factor E2-related factor (Nrf2) is a critical transcription regulator, which protects cells against oxidative damage. Nrf2 expression is increased in a large number of cancers. However, little information has been reported regarding the expression of Nrf2 in skin cancers. Hence, we explored the expression of Nrf2 protein in skin cancers. Methods The Nrf2 protein expression in 24 specimens, including 6 malignant melanomas (MM), 6 squamous cell carcinomas (SCC), 6 basal cell carcinomas (BCC), and 6 normal skin tissues, was evaluated by western blotting. Immunohistochemical staining was performed. The expression of Kelch-like ECH-associated protein 1 (Keap1), the key regulator of Nrf2, was also analyzed by western blotting. Results Small interfering RNA transfection to the melanoma cell line G361 confirmed that an approximately 66 kDa band was the true Nrf2 band. The western blot revealed that the Nrf2 protein was definitely expressed in normal skin tissues, but the Nrf2 expression was decreased in MM, SCC, and BCC. Immunohistochemical examination showed that expression of Nrf2 was decreased in all skin cancer tissues compared to the normal skin tissues. Keap1 was not expressed in all malignant skin tumors and normal skin tissues by western blot. Conclusions ROS was increased in various types of cancers which proteins were highly expressed or underexpressed. This study demonstrated that the expression of Nrf2 protein was down-regulated in human malignant skin tumors. We suggest that decreased expression of Nrf2 is related to skin cancers.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.32 no.4
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• pp.531-540
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• 2022

Due to the high incidence of malignant melanoma, the establishment of in vitro models that recapitulate the tumor microenvironment is of great biological and clinical importance for tumor treatment and drug research. In this study, 3D printing technology was used to prepare GelMA/PEGDA composite scaffolds that mimic the microenvironment of human malignant melanoma cell (A375) growth and construct in vitro melanoma micro-models. The GelMA/PEGDA hybrid scaffold was tested by the mechanical property, cell live/dead assay, cell proliferation assay, cytoskeleton staining and drug loading assay. The growth of tumor cells in two- and three-dimensional culture systems and the anti-cancer effect of luteolin were evaluated using the live/dead staining method and the Cell Counting Kit-8 (CCK-8) method. The results showed a high aggregation of tumor cells on the 3D scaffold, which was suitable for long-term culture. Cytoskeleton staining and immunofluorescent protein staining were used to evaluate the degree of differentiation of tumor cells under 2D and 3D culture systems. The results indicated that 3D bioprinted scaffolds were more suitable for tumor cell expansion and differentiation, and the tumor cells were more aggressive. In addition, luteolin was time- and dose-dependent on tumor cells, and tumor cells in the 3D culture system were more resistant to the drug.

• Medical Lasers
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• v.10 no.3
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• pp.123-131
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• 2021

Optical imaging modalities with properties of real-time, non-invasive, in vivo, and high resolution for image-guided surgery have been widely studied. In this review, we introduce two optical imaging systems, that could be the core of image-guided surgery and introduce the system configuration, implementation, and operation methods. First, we introduce the optical coherence tomography (OCT) system implemented by our research group. This system is implemented based on a swept-source, and the system has an axial resolution of 11 ㎛ and a lateral resolution of 22 ㎛. Second, we introduce a fluorescence imaging system. The fluorescence imaging system was implemented based on the absorption and fluorescence wavelength of indocyanine green (ICG), with a light-emitting diode (LED) light source. To confirm the performance of the two imaging systems, human malignant melanoma cells were injected into BALB/c nude mice to create a xenograft model and using this, OCT images of cancer and pathological slide images were compared. In addition, in a mouse model, an intravenous injection of indocyanine green was used with a fluorescence imaging system to detect real-time images moving along blood vessels and to detect sentinel lymph nodes, which could be very important for cancer staging. Finally, polarization-sensitive OCT to find the boundaries of cancer in real-time and real-time image-guided surgery using a developed contrast agent and fluorescence imaging system were introduced.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.46 no.2
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• pp.82-88
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• 2013

Objectives: Unprotected leisure time exposure to ultraviolet radiation from the sun or artificial tanning beds is the most important environmental risk factor for melanoma, a malignant skin cancer with increasing incidences over the past decades. The aim of the present study was to assess the impact of skin health information provided by several sources and different publishing issues on knowledge, risk perception, and sun protective behavior of sunbathers. Methods: A cross-sectional questionnaire survey was conducted among Austrian residents (n=563) spending leisure time outdoors in August 2010. Results: Print media, television, and family were perceived as the most relevant sources of information on skin health, whereas the source physician was only ranked as fourth important source. Compared to other sources, information provided by doctors positively influenced participants' knowledge on skin risk and sun protective behavior resulting in higher scores in the knowledge test (p=0.009), higher risk perception (p<0.001), and more sun protection (p<0.001). Regarding gender differences, internet was more often used by males as health information source, whereas females were more familiar with printed information material in general. Conclusions: The results of this survey put emphasis on the demand for information provided by medical professionals in order to attain effective, long-lasting promotion of photoprotective habits.

• Biomedical Science Letters
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• v.18 no.4
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• pp.413-419
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• 2012

The melanoma differentiation-associated gene-7 (MDA-7) protein, also known as interleukin-24 (IL-24), is a novel candidate of tumor suppressor that can induce apoptosis experimentally in a variety of human malignant cells. However, there have been few studies about its role in colorectal cancer. We performed immunohistochemical detection of MDA-7/IL-24 in 399 tissue samples from primary colorectal adenocarcinoma patients using a tissue microarray. Western blotting was then done to confirm the immunohistochemical observations. MDA-7/IL-24 immunoreactivity was observed in 116 (29.1%) of the 399 colorectal adenocarcinoma cases. Analysis of the MDA-7/IL-24 expression by Western blotting confirmed the immunohistochemical results. The tumors with a negative MDA-7/IL-24 expression more frequently showed poor differentiation (P=0004), lymph node metastasis (P=0.001), deep invasion (P=0.008) and high stage (P=0.001). A subset of colorectal adenocarcinoma revealed a decreased expression of MDA-7/IL-24, and this was associated with progressive pathologic features. These findings suggest that loss of MDA-7/IL-24 expression may play a role in tumor growth and progression of colorectal adenocarcinomas.

• Journal of the Korean Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons
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• v.33 no.6
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• pp.660-668
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• 2007

We investigated 248 patients who were diagnosed as malignant tumor in the department of Oral and maxillofacial Surgery of Kyungpook National University from 1999 to 2006, and following results were obtained. 1. Among 248 patients who have malignant tumor, 164 were men and 84 were women, which made the ratio of male to female 1.95:1. 2. The average age of oral cancer patients was 58.3. 3. As of the primary origin site, lower alveolus and gingiva were the greatest with 70 cases(28.2%), followed by tongue(l6.9%), upper alveolus and gingiva(14.9%), palate(13.7%), mouth floor(9.7%), buccal mucosa(4.8%), retromolar trigone(4.4%), Mx. & Mn. bone(3.2%) and lip(2.8%). 4. As of histologic distribution, squamous cell carcinoma was the greatest with 170 cases(68.6%), followed by sarcoma with 17 cases(6.9%), adenoid cystic carcinoma with 17 cases(6.9%), malignant lymphoma with 15 cases(6.0%), mucoepidermoid carcinoma with 13 cases(5.2%), metastatic carcinoma with 6 cases(2.4%) and malignant melanoma with 4 cases(1.6%). 5. Period between recognition of the symptom and the first visit to hospital was less than 3 months for 58.9% of the patients, and more than 3 months for 41% of the patients. 6. Investigation of whether the patients drink or smoke revealed that the number of non-smoking and non-drinking patients was 63 among 170 patients(37.0%) that were able to investigate. The number of patients who smoke only was 29(17.1%) and both drinking and smoking patients were 78(45.9%). 7. In clinical stage order, Stage IV(61.7%) was found th be the largest, followed by stage I(17.2%), stage II(13%) and stage III(7.8%). 8. The 5-year survival rate of the entire oral cancer patients appeared to be 57.7%. The survival rate was higher in younger group and women had higher survival rate but there was no statistical significance to this. In the aspect of stage, the survival rate was Stage I, Stage II, Stage IV and Stage III in decreasing order. The order according to T classification was the same. In N classification, patients with N0 had the highest survival rate and the survival rate decreased in the order of N1 and N2. Survival rate was especially low in patients with N2.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.29 no.4
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• pp.1061-1074
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• 2008

Objectives : Recently, the number of cancer patients who use complementary and alternative medicine (CAM), including oriental medicine, are increasing. Also, evidence for efficacy and safety of cancer CAM is reported continuously. This study was designed to evaluate the quality of the published papers for clinical studies about oriental medical cancer treatment in Korea. Methods : We searched for clinical research papers on the websites of the Korean oriental medical society and subsidiary academies, Korean traditional knowledge portal. Koreanstudies information service system (KISS), etc. We used the reference words 'cancer', 'malignant tumor', 'leukemia', 'lymphoma', 'multiple myeloma', 'melanoma', etc, We then chose studies that had been presented between 1991 and 2008 and analyzed them by publication year, design, cancer type, intervention, subject and journal. Results : There were 86 clinical research papers that were published between 1991 and 2008. The number of clinical studies has increased in a time-dependent manner. Case reports and case series studies account for 78% of total clinical research. Studies of lung cancer account for 17%. Studies of cancer-related symptoms of cancer patients account for 38%. Studies of Hang-Am-Dan account for 33%. Studies published in the journal of the Korean Society of Oriental Internal Medicine account for 35%. Conclusion : The clinical research papers about oriental medicine are increasing over time, but most of the studies are retrospective case reports or case series. Well-designed and prospective clinical trials would be recommended to provide more reliable evidence.