• Journal of Biomedical Engineering Research
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• v.39 no.6
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• pp.229-236
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• 2018

Liver cancer is one of the highest incidents in the world, and the mortality rate is the second most common disease after lung cancer. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the diagnostic ability of deep learning in the classification of malignant and benign tumors in CT images of patients with liver tumors. We also tried to identify the best data processing methods and deep learning models for classifying malignant and benign tumors in the liver. In this study, CT data were collected from 92 patients (benign liver tumors: 44, malignant liver tumors: 48) at the Gil Medical Center. The CT data of each patient were used for cross-sectional images of 3,024 liver tumors. In AlexNet and VggNet, the average of the overall accuracy at each image size was calculated: the average of the overall accuracy of the $200{\times}200$ image size is 69.58% (AlexNet), 69.4% (VggNet), $150{\times}150$ image size is 71.54%, 67%, $100{\times}100$ image size is 68.79%, 66.2%. In conclusion, the overall accuracy of each does not exceed 80%, so it does not have a high level of accuracy. In addition, the average accuracy in benign was 90.3% and the accuracy in malignant was 46.2%, which is a significant difference between benign and malignant. Also, the time it takes for AlexNet to learn is about 1.6 times faster than VggNet but statistically no different (p > 0.05). Since both models are less than 90% of the overall accuracy, more research and development are needed, such as learning the liver tumor data using a new model, or the process of pre-processing the data images in other methods. In the future, it will be useful to use specialists for image reading using deep learning.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.30 no.7
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• pp.855-860
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• 2001

Introduction : It has been reported that the survival of low-grade glioma patients depends upon the time of malignant transformation. The authors presents the clinical analysis of histologically proven trasformed gliomas. Materials and Method : A total 92 patients who were consecutively treated and histologically confirmed hemispheric low-grade gliomas between 1980 and 1998 were analyzed and followed. All cases meet the criteria of WHO glioma classification of grade II. Results : The mean follow-up period was 73 months. Twenty two among 92 cases(24%) were histologically proven to be transformed into malignant ones. The mean time to transformation was 56 months. The 5-year and 10-year survival rates of the transformed group were 66% and 30% respectively and significantly different from the survival rates of the non-transformed group(p=0.0018). Among clinical factors at presentation, the initial tumor volume had a tendency to be larger in the transformed group than that of the non-transformed group and became significant when it was divided into more than $30cm^3$ or not(p=0.02). Among therapeutic factors, the extent of removal had no influence on the rate of malignant transformation. But postoperative radiation therapy were more frequently given to the pre-transformed group than the non-transformed group and the frequency was significantly different(p=0.02). Conclusions : The authors had found that the initial tumor volume and radiation therapy could be clinical prognostic factors for the malignant transformation of low-grade gliomas.

• Investigative Magnetic Resonance Imaging
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• v.25 no.2
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• pp.118-128
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• 2021

Purpose: To investigate the value of MR textural analysis, including use of diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) to differentiate malignant from benign soft-tissue tumors on 3T MRI. Materials and Methods: We enrolled 69 patients (25 men, 44 women, ages 18 to 84 years) with pathologically confirmed soft-tissue tumors (29 benign, 40 malignant) who underwent pre-treatment 3T-MRI. We calculated MR texture, including mean, standard deviation (SD), skewness, kurtosis, mean of positive pixels (MPP), and entropy, according to different spatial-scale factors (SSF, 0, 2, 4, 6) on axial T1- and T2-weighted images (T1WI, T2WI), contrast-enhanced T1WI (CE-T1WI), high b-value DWI (800 sec/mm²), and apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) map. We used the Mann-Whitney U test, logistic regression, and area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) for statistical analysis. Results: Malignant soft-tissue tumors had significantly lower mean values of DWI, ADC, T2WI and CE-T1WI, MPP of ADC, and CE-T1WI, but significantly higher kurtosis of DWI, T1WI, and CE-T1WI, and entropy of DWI, ADC, and T2WI than did benign tumors (P < 0.050). In multivariate logistic regression, the mean ADC value (SSF, 6) and kurtosis of CE-T1WI (SSF, 4) were independently associated with malignancy (P ≤ 0.009). A multivariate model of MR features worked well for diagnosis of malignant soft-tissue tumors (AUC, 0.909). Conclusion: Accurate diagnosis could be obtained using MR textural analysis with DWI and CE-T1WI in differentiating benign from malignant soft-tissue tumors.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.17 no.11
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• pp.4945-4949
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• 2016

Background: Breast cancer is the commonest cancer in Egyptian females. Nrf2 is involved in oxidative stress while P73 functions in response to DNA damage. This study aimed to assess the role of Nrf2 promoter and P73 G4C14 to A4T14 SNPs in breast cancer in Egypt. Patients: Eighty-five female patients with breast tumours (41 malignant, 44 benign) were included. Nrf2 (rs6721961) and p73 (G4A) SNPs were determined by PCR- CTPP assay. Results: Genotype frequencies of the Nrf2 promoter SNP were 34.2% and 37.9% for AA in benign and malignant groups respectively, and 43.9% and 40.5% for CC and, 21.9 % and 21.6% for CA. Genotype frequencies for the P73 G4A SNP were 52.9% and 44.7% for GA in benign and malignant groups respectively, and 47.1% and 55.3% for GG. Discussion: Nrf2 genotypes in pre - and post-menopausal patients, showed significantly different distributions in the 2 patient groups, the AA genotype being significantly more common in pre-menopausal patients. The P73 G4A SNP showed no relation to age of disease onset. Conclusion: The Nrf2 (rs6721961) AA genotype might be related to early breast cancer onset. In contrast the P73 G4A polymorphism showed no relation to either disease risk or age at presentation.

• Journal of Genetic Medicine
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• v.6 no.1
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• pp.91-94
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• 2009

Werner syndrome (WRN), or adult progeria, is a very rare, autosomal recessive disorder characterized by the appearance of accelerated aging, including cataracts, gray hair, skin atrophy, and atherosclerosis. This syndrome is caused by mutations in the WRN gene and had a high risk of a spectrum of rare neoplasms including: i) non-epithelial malignant or pre-malignant tumors/conditions, osteosarcomas and soft tissue sarcomas, malignant melanomas, myeloid leukemia and myelodysplastic syndrome; ii) an epithelial neoplasm, thyroid carcinoma, and iii) meningiomas. Recently, authors experienced a case of Werner syndrome complicated by bone metastasis of rhabdomyosarcoma in a 20-year old Korean man. The patient revealed a painful mass on his right knee and progeroid features, short stature, scalp alopecia, abnormal dentition, craniofacial disproportion, hypothyroidsm, cataracts and osteoporosis. The onset of symptoms of Werner syndrome generally precedes any later symptoms of associated conditions, such as malignant tumor. Therefore, early recognition of Werner syndrome is important to assist identification of malignant tumors at an early stage in this patient group.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.50 no.5
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• pp.426-433
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• 2011

Objective : The Histoculture Drug Response Assay (HDRA), which measures chemosensitivity using minced tumor tissue on drug-soaked gelfoam, has been expected to overcome the limitations of in vitro chemosensitivity test in part. We analyzed interim results of HDRA in malignant gliomas to see if the test can deserve further clinical trials. Methods : Thirty-three patients with malignant gliomas were operated and their tumor samples were examined for the chemosensitivity to 10 chosen drugs by HDRA. The most sensitive chemotherapy regimen among those pre-established was chosen based on the number of sensitive drugs or total inhibition rate (IR) of the regimen. The response was evaluated by 3 month magnetic resonance image. Results : Among 13 patients who underwent total resection of the tumor, 12 showed no evidence of disease and one patient revealed progression. The response rate in 20 patients with residual tumors was 55% (3 complete and 8 partial responses). HDRA sensitivity at the cut-off value of more than one sensitive drug in the applied regimen showed a sensitivity of 100%, specificity of 60% and predictability of 70%. Another cut-off value of >80% of total IR revealed a sensitivity of 100%, specificity of 69%, and predictability of 80%. For 12 newly diagnosed glioblastoma patients, median progression-free survival of the HDRA sensitive group was 21 months, while that of the non-sensitive group was 6 months ($p$=0.07). Conclusion : HDRA for malignant glioma was inferred as a feasible method to predict the chemotherapy response. We are encouraged to launch phase 2 clinical trial with chemosensitivity on HDRA.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.45 no.1
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• pp.251-256
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• 2024

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to report the short-term blood pressure-lowering effects observed in a patient with malignant hypertension through slow breathing maneuver with heart rate variability(HRV) biofeedback. Methods: Biofeedback sessions, totaling 13, each lasting 10 minutes, were administered. Blood pressure was measured pre and post-treatment, as well as thrice daily at 10 am, 4 pm, and 8 pm. Systolic blood pressure(SBP), diastolic blood pressure(DBP), and pulse rate were recorded for comparative analysis. Results: Before biofeedback, the average SBP, DBP, and pulse rate were 227.2±18.3, 135.2±11.0, and 104.4±5.3, respectively. Immediately post-biofeedback, these values changed to 213.7±15.2, 126.9±8.5, and 99.2±3.6. However, sustained long-term blood pressure reduction was not observed. Conclusions: The findings suggest that biofeedback therapy induces a short-term reduction in blood pressure in cases of malignant hypertension, potentially associated with autonomic nervous system regulation. Integrating biofeedback with other Korean medicine treatments, such as acupuncture or moxibustion, may offer a comprehensive approach for managing malignant hypertension.

• Environmental Mutagens and Carcinogens
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• v.25 no.2
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• pp.66-70
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• 2005

Telomerase, a specialized RNA-directed DNA polymerase that extends telomeres of eukaryotic chromosomes, has activity in most malignant tumors and provides a mechanism for the unlimited potential for division of neoplastic cells. Although telomerase is known to be a regulated enzyme, the factors and mechanisms involved in telomerase regulation are not well understood. In the present study, we compared the effect of 12-O­tetradecanoyl-phorbol-13-acetate (TPA) and non-phorbol ester tumor promoters such as okadaic acid, anthralin and benzoyl peroxide on the expression of telomerase in the mouse skin carcinogenesis system, a well characterized model for studying pre-malignant and malignant progression. We found that most early papillomas harvested after 10 weeks of TPA promotion showed telomerase activity. Other papillomas harvested after 10 weeks of okadaic acid, anthralin and benzoyl peroxide promotion and after single treatment of DMBA only also showed telomerase activity, respectively. On the other hand, normal and all skins surrounded by papillomas harvested after 10 weeks of these promoters has no telomerase activity. Taken together these results, there appears to be no clear association between the level of telomerase activity and protein phosphorylation in mouse skin papillomas and telomerase may be useful as bio-markers in early detection of tumors.

• The Korean Journal of Cytopathology
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• v.1 no.1
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• pp.36-42
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• 1990

The fluoroscopy-guided fine needle aspiration biopsy has been gaining widespread acceptance as a rapid and effective method to make a pre-operative diagnosis of mediastinal tumors including thymoma, malignant lymphoma, and metastatic carcinoma. Although thymoma is a most common tumor of the superior mediastinum, most cytopathologists are not experted in cytologic diagnosis of this tumor because of limited experience. In order to define the diagnostic cytologic features of thymoma, we have retrospectively reviewed imprinting smears and corresponding tissue sections from four cases of this tumor. All cases revealed an apparent biphasic pattern of epithelial cell clusters and lymphocytes with occasional branching capillary fronds extending from three dimensional epithelial cell clusters. Epithelial cell clusters predominated in one case and lymphocytes in two cases. Mixed epithelial cell and lymphocyte type represented in one of four cases. In the lymphocyte predominant type, the presence of epithelial cell clusters and small mature lymphocytes are helpful features to differentiate from a malignant lymphoma.

• Investigative Magnetic Resonance Imaging
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• v.21 no.4
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• pp.269-272
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• 2017

Periductal stromal sarcoma (PSS) is a type of rare malignant fibroepithelial tumor. PSS is a recently introduced diagnostic entity and there are few reports about radiological features of this tumor. Pre-operative diagnosis is difficult because it reveals similar symptoms with other benign and malignant tumors with absence of specific radiologic findings. We present a woman age 30 that underwent mammotome biopsy for a BI-RADS 4 lesion on her left breast and received histopathology diagnosis of a phyllodes tumor. Additionally, she underwent a wide excision depending on her histopathology diagnosis. Her final diagnosis was PSS. Six months later, no recurrence was detected. However, frequent follow-up is needed because PSS can develop into phyllodes tumor or entity of breast cancer.