• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• 제17권4호
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• pp.2185-2193
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• 2016

Background: The pathogenesis of sporadic colorectal cancer (CRC) is influenced by the patient genetic background and environmental factors. Based on prior understanding, these are classified in two major pathways of genetic instability. Microsatellite instability (MSI) and CPG island methylator phenotype (CIMP) are categorized as features of the hypermethylated prototype, and chromosomal instability (CIN) is known to be indicative of the non-hypermethylated category. Secreted frizzled related protein 2 (SFRP2), APC1A in WNT signaling pathway and the DNA repair gene, O6-methylguanine-DNA methyltransferase (MGMT), are frequently hypermethylated in colorectal cancer. Detection of methylated DNA as a biomarker by easy and inexpensive methods might improve the quality of life of patients with CRC via early detection of cancer or a precancerous condition. Aim: To evaluate the rate of SFRP2 and MGMT hypermethylation in both polyp tissue and serum of patients in south Iran as compared with matched control normal population corresponding samples. Materials and Methods: Methylation-specific PCR was used to detect hypermethylation in DNA extracted from 48 polypoid tissue samples and 25 healthy individuals. Results: Of total polyp samples, 89.5% had at least one promoter gene hypermethylation. The most frequent methylated locus was SFRP2 followed by MGMT-B (81.2 and 66.6 percent respectively). Serologic detection of hypermethylation was 95% sensitive as compared with polyp tissue. No hypermethylation was detected in normal tissue and serum and its detection in patients with polyps, especially of serrated type, was specific. Conclusions: Serologic investigation for detection of MGMT-B, SFRP2 hypermethylation could facilitate prioritization of high risk patients for colonoscopic polyp detection and excision.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• 제13권2호
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• pp.559-562
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• 2012

Serum alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) is a significant marker for clinical diagnosis and prognosis evaluation in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patients. However, some proportion of liver cancer patients are AFP-negative (AFP ${\leq}$20ng/ml). In order to study the differences between clinicopathological factors and prognosis of alpha-fetoprotein negative and positive patients, a total of 114 cases (41 AFP-negative and 73 AFP-positive) were selected for our research. By systematically statistical analysis, the results demonstrated that compared with AFP-negative patients, AFP-positive examples were more likely to feature cirrhosis nodules, non-complete neoplasm capsules, and a poor Edmondson-steiner grade. Furthermore, AFP-negative patients demonstrated a favorable long-term prognosis. By univariate analysis and multivariate analysis with Cox's proportional hazards model, multiple tumors were found to be independent risk factors for worse survival of AFP negative patients; however, less tumor-free margins, multiple tumors and Edmondson-steiner grades III/IV, proved to be independent risk factors leading to a poor prognosis of AFP positive cases. Finally, we can infer that high levels of AFP signify a highly malignant tumor and unfavorable prognosis.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• 제15권14호
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• pp.5721-5727
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• 2014

Objectives: To evaluate the performance of clustering methods used in the prognostic assessment of categorical clinical data for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patients in China, and establish a predictable prognostic nomogram for clinical decisions. Materials and Methods: A total of 332 newly diagnosed HCC patients treated with hepatic resection during 2006-2009 were enrolled. Patients were regularly followed up at outpatient clinics. Clustering methods including the Average linkage, k-modes, fuzzy k-modes, PAM, CLARA, protocluster, and ROCK were compared by Monte Carlo simulation, and the optimal method was applied to investigate the clustering pattern of the indices including platelet count, platelet/lymphocyte ratio (PLR) and serum aspartate aminotransferase activity/platelet count ratio index (APRI). Then the clustering variable, age group, tumor size, number of tumor and vascular invasion were studied in a multivariable Cox regression model. A prognostic nomogram was constructed for clinical decisions. Results: The ROCK was best in both the overlapping and non-overlapping cases performed to assess the prognostic value of platelet-based indices. Patients with categorical platelet-based indices significantly split across two clusters, and those with high values, had a high risk of HCC recurrence (hazard ratio [HR] 1.42, 95% CI 1.09-1.86; p<0.01). Tumor size, number of tumor and blood vessel invasion were also associated with high risk of HCC recurrence (all p< 0.01). The nomogram well predicted HCC patient survival at 3 and 5 years. Conclusions: A cluster of platelet-based indices combined with other clinical covariates could be used for prognosis evaluation in HCC.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• 제64권2호
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• pp.271-281
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• 2021

Objective : Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) are approved for treating non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC); however, the safety and efficacy of combined ICI and Gamma Knife radiosurgery (GKS) treatment remain undefined. In this study, we retrospectively analyzed patients treated with ICIs with or without GKS at our institute to manage patients with brain metastases from NSCLC. Methods : We retrospectively reviewed medical records of patients with brain metastases from NSCLC treated with ICIs between January 2015 and December 2017. Of 134 patients, 77 were assessable for brain responses and categorized into three groups as follows : group A, ICI alone (n=26); group B, ICI with concurrent GKS within 14 days (n=24); and group C, ICI with non-concurrent GKS (n=27). Results : The median follow-up duration after brain metastasis diagnosis was 19.1 months (range, 1-77). At the last follow-up, 53 patients (68.8%) died, 20 were alive, and four were lost to follow-up. The estimated median overall survival (OS) of all patients from the date of brain metastasis diagnosis was 20.0 months (95% confidence interval, 12.5-27.7) (10.0, 22.5, and 42.1 months in groups A, B, and C, respectively). The OS was shorter in group A than in group C (p=0.001). The intracranial disease progression-free survival (p=0.569), local progression-free survival (p=0.457), and complication rates did not significantly differ among the groups. Twelve patients showed leptomeningeal seeding (LMS) during follow-up. The 1-year LMS-free rate in treated with ICI alone group (69.1%) was significantly lower than that in treated with GKS before ICI treatment or within 14 days group (93.2%) (p=0.004). Conclusion : GKS with ICI showed no favorable OS outcome in treating brain metastasis from NSCLC. However, GKS with ICI did not increase the risk of complications. Furthermore, compared with ICI alone, GKS with ICI may be associated with a reduced incidence of LMS. Further understanding of the mechanism, which remains unknown, may help improve the quality of life of patients with brain metastasis.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• 제16권18호
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• pp.8293-8298
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• 2016

Background: Urinary stones are known predisposing factors for upper urinary tract carcinoma (UUTC) which are commonly detected at advanced stage with poor outcome because of rarity and lack of specific criteria for early detection. Aims and objectives: The main aim was to evaluate the impact of age, gender andstone characteristics on risk of developing UUTC in patients with chronic nephrolithiasis. We also discuss the role of aberrant angiogenesis (AA) and immunohistochemical expression of p53, p16INK4a, CK20 and Ki-67 in diagnosis of pelvicalyceal neoplastic (NL) and pre-neoplastic lesions (PNL) in these patients. Materials and Methods: Retrospective analysis of pelvicalyceal urothelial lesions from 88 nephrectomy specimens were carried out in a tertiary care centre from June 2012 to December 2014. Immunohistochemistry (IHC) was performed on 37 selected cases. Computed image analysis was performed to analyse aberrant angiogenesis. Results: All UUTC (5.7%) and metaplastic lesions were found to be associated with stones. Some 60% were pure squamous cell carcinoma and 40% were transitional cell carcinoma. Odd ratios for developing NL and PNL lesions in presence of renal stone, impacted stones, multiple and large stag horn stones were 9.39 (95% CI 1.15-76.39, p value 0.05), 6.28 (95% CI 1.59-24.85, p value 0.000) and 7.4 (95% CI, 2.29-23.94, p value 0.001) respectively. When patient age was ${\geq}55$, the odds ratio for developing NL was 3.43 (95% CI 1.19-9.88, p value 0.019). IHC analysis showed that mean Ki-67 indices were $3.15{\pm}3.63%$ for non-neoplastic lesions, $10.0{\pm}9.45%$ for PNL and $28.0{\pm}18.4%$ for NL. Sensitivity and specificity of CK20, p53, p16INK4a, AA were 76% and 95.9%; 100% and 27.5%; 100% and 26.5%; 92.3 % and 78.8% respectively. Conclusions: Age ${\geq}55years$, large stag horn stones, multiple stones and impacted stones are found to be associated with increased risk of NL and PNL in UUT. For flat lesions, a panel of markers, Ki 67 index >10 and presence of aberrant angiogenesis were more useful than individual markers.

• 한국방사선학회논문지
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• 제6권2호
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• pp.129-136
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• 2012

본 연구는 64-절편 단선원 CT(SSCT)와 128-절편 이중선원(DSCT)을 이용한 관상동맥조영 CT 검사 시 방사선량에 대해 알아보고, 이 선량으로 인한 암 발생의 잠재적 위험(LAR)을 평가해 보았다. SSCT의 후향적동조화(RGH)스캔의 유효선량은 13.86 mSv 이었고, DSCT의 RGH 스캔의 유효선량은 11.87 mSv 이었다. DSCT의 전향적동조화 (PGT) 스캔 중 선량변조를 적용치 않은 모드의 유효선량은 5.61 mSv, 선량변조를 적용하였을 때는 3.04 mSv 이었다. 1회 스캔하는 FLASH 모드는 0.98 mSv 이었다. SSCT의 RGH 스캔의 LAR은 1,176명 중 1명, DSCT의 RGH에서는 1,960명 중 1명이었다. DSCT의 PGT는 3,030명 중 1명, 선량변조를 하면 5,882명 중 1명에서 발암 위험이 있었다. 따라서 SSCT와 DSCT를 이용한 관상동맥조영 CT 검사는 암발생 귀속위험과 관련성이 있음을 인지하여야 하고, 환자선량을 줄이기 위해 RGH보다 PGT, FLASH 등의 프로토콜을 적용하는 것이 필요하다.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• 제16권17호
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• pp.7675-7681
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• 2015

Background: Hazardous health behaviour in young people is an important factor that affects the individual risk for non-communicable diseases and other disorders later in life. This study aimed to determine the hazardous health behaviour of first and last class medical students of Erciyes University. Materials and Methods: This descriptive study was carried out with 240 medical students from the first and 130 students from the last (sixth) class. Data were obtained by questionnaire between March-April 2012. In total, 339 students were included with a response rate of 91.6%. Socio-demographic characteristics, school success, self-reported economic difficulties, health perceptions, hazardous health behaviour related to chronic disease, tobacco, alcohol, substance use, body weight, height, traffic, violence and nutrition were assessed in line with the literature. Results: Of the participants; 64.0% were from first and 36.0% were from the last class. Mean ages for the first and last classes were $19.4{\pm}1.5$ and $24.0{\pm}1.5years$, respectively. In the current study, males exhibited more hazardous behaviour than females. Sime 19.8% of the students in the study group used alcohol, 35.4% used a waterpipe, and 24.8% used tobacco at least once. These rates increased in both genders in the last class and the increase in males was significant. Some 3.8% of the students in the current study used pleasure-inducing illegal substances at least once. All the students participating in the current study were single, the number of males reported not using condoms (8.6%) was 4.56 times higher compared to females. Some 64.0% of the students did not perform physical activity lasting at least 30 minutes for five times a week, 13.0% did not sleep for mean 7-8 hours daily, males having a 2.9 times higher risk. More than 1/3 of the students did not consume cooked vegetable dishes and 1/4 did not consume fresh fruits and salads, the rates were higher among males. Conclusions: In the current study, hazardous health behaviour was prevalent among medical students, with higher risks among males and last class students. According to these results, medical curriculum may be focused on decreasing hazardous health behaviour. In addition, in order to prevent unhealthy behaviour, the number of youth-friendly health facilities should be increased.

• Asian Journal of Atmospheric Environment
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• 제8권1호
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• pp.35-47
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• 2014

The purpose of the study is to evaluate the pollution level (gaseous and particle phase) in the public facilities for the PAHs, non-regulated materials, forecast the risk level by the health risk assessment (HRA) and propose the guideline level. PAH assessments through sampling of particulate matter of diameter < 2.5 ${\mu}m$ ($PM_{2.5}$). The user and worker exposure scenario for the PAHs consists of 24-hour exposure scenario (WIES) assuming the worst case and the normal exposure scenario (MIES) based on the survey. This study investigated 20 PAH substances selected out of 32 substances known to be carcinogenic or potentially carcinogenic. The risk assessment applies major toxic equivalency factor (TEF) proposed from existing studies and estaimates individual Excess Cancer Risk (ECR). The study assesses the fine dusts ($PM_{2.5}$) and the exposure levels of the gaseous and particle PAH materials for 6 spots in each 8 facility, e.g. underground subway stations, child-care facilities, elderly care facilities, super market, indoor parking lot, terminal waiting room, internet caf$\acute{e}$ (PC-rooms), movie theater. For internet caf$\acute{e}$ (PC-rooms) in particular, that marks the highest $PM_{2.5}$ concentration and the average concentration of 10 spots (2 spots for each cafe) is 73.3 ${\mu}g/m^3$ (range: 6.8-185.2 ${\mu}g/m^3$). The high level of $PM_{2.5}$ seen in internet cafes was likely due to indoor smoking in most cases. For the gaseous PAHs, the detection frequency for 4-5 rings shows high and the elements with 6 rings shows low frequency. For the particle PAHs, the detection frequency for 2-3 rings shows low and the elements with 6 rings show high frequency. As a result, it is investigated that the most important PAHs are the naphthalene, acenaphthene and phenanthrene from the study of Kim et al. (2013) and this annual study. The health risk assessment demonstrates that each facility shows the level of $10^{-6}-10^{-4}$. Considering standards and local source of pollution levels, it is judged that the management standard of the benzo (a)pyrene, one of the PAHs, shall be managed with the range of 0.5-1.2 $ng/m^3$. Smoking and ventilation were considered as the most important PAHs exposure associated with public facility $PM_{2.5}$. This study only estimated for inhalation health risk of PAHs and focused on the associated cancer risk, while multiple measurements would be necessary for public health and policy.

• Radiation Oncology Journal
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• 제18권4호
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• pp.277-282
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• 2000

목적 : 방사선간염(radiation hepatitis)의 발생에는 방사선 조사량, 조사체적 등의 요인이 작용하는 것으로 알려져 왔으나 이러한 요인들의 관계를 양적으로 나타내지는 못하였다. 그러나 최근 3차원 입체조형 치료계획체계의 발전으로 간암의 방사선조사시 간의 선량-체적에 대한 분석이 가능하게 되었고 나아가 이를 이용한 수학적 변수인 정상조직손상확률을 계산할 수 있게 되었다. 이에 저자들은 정상조직손상확률값을 연계시켜서 방사선간염의 예측 가능성을 평가하고자 본 연구를 진행하였다. 대상 및 방법 : 1992년 3월부터 1994년 12월 사이에 방사선 치료를 받은 환자중에서 간암 환자 10명, 담도암 환자 10명을 대상으로 하였다. 치료 전 혈청학적 검사에서 간암 환자 2명에서 간경화가 있었고 (각각의 prothrombin time 73$\%$, 68$\%$) 다른 18명의 간기능은 정상이었다. 조사된 방사선량은 1일 1.8$\~$2.0 Gy씩 22회에서 30회를 시행하여 39.6$\~$60.0 Gy (중앙값은 50.4 Gy)였으며, 조사면수는 2$\~$6 ports (중앙값은 4 ports)였다. 이 환자들의 치료 전 전산화단층촬영을 이용하여 간의 선량체적분석 및 Lyman의 공식을 적용하여 정상조직손상확률값을 구하였다. 방사선간염은 alkaline phosphatase의 값이 2배이상 증가 되고 비암성 복수가 동반된 경우로 정의하였으며 환자의 병력 기록을 이용하여 방사선간염 발생여부를 파악하여 정상조직손상확률값과 상관 관계를 분석하였다. 결과 :정상조직손상확률값은 0.001$\~$0.840까지 분포하였고 중앙값은 0.05였다. 방사선간염은 방사선 치료후 약1주에서 5주사이에 20명중 3명에서 발생하였으며, 이들의 정상조직손상확를값은 각각 0.390, 0.528, 0.844 (평균값 0.58$\pm$0.23)이었고, 방사선간염이 생기지 않은 환자의 정상조직손상확률값은 0.00l$\~$0.308 (평균값 0.09$\pm$0.09) 사이에 분포하였다. 정상조직손상확률을 체적인자가 0.32로 계산한 경우에는 비교적 높은 값인 0.39이상에서 방사선 간염이 발생한 것을 알 수 있으나, n 을 0.69로 하여 계산한 경우에는 비교적 낮은 정상조직손상확률(0.03, 0.18)에서도 방사선 간염이 발생하는 것을 보여 체적인자 0.32가 비교적 임상적 결과와 일치하는 값이었다. 결론: 정상조직손상확률값이 일정값 이상의 환자에서 방사선간염이 발생하는 것으로 보아 정상조직손 상확률값으로 방사선간염의 발생을 예측할 수 있을 것이다.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• 제57권5호
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• pp.460-466
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• 2024

Background: Numerous studies have investigated methods of predicting postoperative pulmonary complications (PPCs) in lung cancer surgery, with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and low forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV₁) being recognized as risk factors. However, predicting complications in COPD patients with preserved FEV₁ poses challenges. This study considered various diffusing capacity of the lung for carbon monoxide (DL_CO) parameters as predictors of pulmonary complication risks in mild COPD patients undergoing lung resection. Methods: From January 2011 to December 2019, 2,798 patients undergoing segmentectomy or lobectomy for non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) were evaluated. Focusing on 709 mild COPD patients, excluding no COPD and moderate/severe cases, 3 models incorporating DL_CO, predicted postoperative DL_CO (ppoDL_CO), and DL_CO divided by the alveolar volume (DL_CO/VA) were created for logistic regression. The Akaike information criterion and Bayes information criterion were analyzed to assess model fit, with lower values considered more consistent with actual data. Results: Significantly higher proportions of men, current smokers, and patients who underwent an open approach were observed in the PPC group. In multivariable regression, male sex, an open approach, DL_CO <80%, ppoDL_CO <60%, and DL_CO/VA <80% significantly influenced PPC occurrence. The model using DL_CO/VA had the best fit. Conclusion: Different DL_CO parameters can predict PPCs in mild COPD patients after lung resection for NSCLC. The assessment of these factors using a multivariable logistic regression model suggested DL_CO/VA as the most valuable predictor.