• Toxicological Research
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• v.6 no.2
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• pp.159-166
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• 1990

The ability of many toxigenic fungi to invade and develop in a wide variety of raw ingredients of human diet renders human exposure to mycotoxing very difficult to avoid. Most of the energy-rich commodities, such as cereal grains, oil seeds, tree nuts, and dehydrated fruits, are susceptible to mycotoxin contamination. Mycotoxins therefare have been recognized as an important class of hazardous substances in the human food chain. Although human exposure to mycotoxins is largely through ingestion, inhalation and skin contact may also be significant under conditions other than consumption of foods. Human ingestion of mycotoxins is due to consumption of contaminated dietary ingredients and the edible tissues and products of domestic animals that have been exposed to mycotoxins in moldy feed. Large scale acute human mycotoxicoses, such as ergotism in France, alimentary toxic aleukia in Russia, yellow rice syndrome in Japan, endemic nephropathy in Balkan countries, and acute aflatoxin poisonings in India and Taiwan, have been well documented, indicating that mycotoxicosis is a global problem. In some incidents, hundreds of victims were killed and many more became seriously ill. The mycotoxins that have been implicated in the etiology of these human diseases include aflatoxins, citreoviridin, cyclopiazonic acid, ergot alkaloids, moniliformin, ochratoxin A, trichothecenes, tenuazonic acid, and zearalenone. Among these, aflatoxins have been also implicated in the etiology of human primary liver cancer in those high-incidence countries in Africa and southeast Asia. It is well recognized that cause-effect relationship between mycotoxins and human diseases is very difficult to establish, especially for the cancer connection. Careful risk assessment must be performed to determine whether a mycotoxin indeed warrants costly regulatory actions.

• Annals of Hepato-Biliary-Pancreatic Surgery
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• v.28 no.1
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• pp.1-13
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• 2024

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the sixth most diagnosed cancer worldwide. Healthcare resource constraints may predispose treatment delays. We aim to review existing literature on whether delayed treatment results in worse outcomes in HCC. PubMed, Embase, The Cochrane Library, and Scopus were systematically searched from inception till December 2022. Primary outcomes were overall survival (OS) and disease-free survival (DFS). Secondary outcomes included post-treatment mortality, readmission rates, and complications. Fourteen studies with a total of 135,389 patients (delayed n = 25,516, no delay n = 109,873) were included. Age, incidence of male patients, Child-Pugh B cirrhosis, and Barcelona Clinic Liver Cancer Stage 0/A HCC were comparable between delayed and no delay groups. Tumor size was significantly smaller in delayed versus no delay group (mean difference, -0.70 cm; 95% confidence interval [CI]: -1.14, 0.26; p = 0.002). More patients received radiofrequency ablation in delayed versus no delay group (OR, 1.22; 95% CI: 1.16, 1.27; p < 0.0001). OS was comparable between delayed and no delay in HCC treatment (hazard ratio [HR], 1.13; 95% CI: 0.99, 1.29; p = 0.07). Comparable DFS between delayed and no delay groups (HR, 0.99; 95% CI: 0.75, 1.30; p = 0.95) was observed. Subgroup analysis of studies that defined treatment delay as > 90 days showed comparable OS in the delayed group (HR, 1.04; 95% CI: 0.93, 1.16; p = 0.51). OS and DFS for delayed treatment were non-inferior compared to no delay, but might be due to better tumor biology/smaller tumor size in the delayed group.

• Korean Journal of Radiology
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• v.23 no.4
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• pp.389-401
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• 2022

Objective: This study aimed to determine a factor for predicting suboptimal image quality of the hepatobiliary phase (HBP) of gadoxetic acid-enhanced MRI in patients with extrahepatic bile duct (EHD) cancer before MRI examination. Materials and Methods: We retrospectively evaluated 259 patients (mean age ± standard deviation: 68.0 ± 8.3 years; 162 male and 97 female) with EHD cancer who underwent gadoxetic acid-enhanced MRI between 2011 and 2017. Patients were divided into a primary analysis set (n = 184) and a validation set (n = 75) based on the diagnosis date of January 2014. Two reviewers assigned the functional liver imaging score (FLIS) to reflect the HBP image quality. The FLIS consists of the sum of three HBP features, each scored on a 0-2 scale: liver parenchymal enhancement, biliary excretion, and signal intensity of the portal vein. Patients were classified into low-FLIS (0-3) or high-FLIS (4-6) groups. Multivariable analysis was performed to determine a predictor of low FLIS using serum biochemical and imaging parameters of cholestasis severity. The optimal cutoff value for predicting low FLIS was obtained using receiver operating characteristic analysis, and validation was performed. Results: Of the 259 patients, 140 (54.0%) and 119 (46.0%) were classified into the low-FLIS and high-FLIS groups, respectively. In the primary analysis set, total bilirubin was an independent factor associated with low FLIS (adjusted odds ratio per 1-mg/dL increase, 1.62; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.32-1.98). The optimal cutoff value of total bilirubin for predicting low FLIS was 2.1 mg/dL with a sensitivity of 95.1% (95% CI: 88.9-98.4) and a specificity of 89.0% (95% CI: 80.2-94.9). In the validation set, the total bilirubin cutoff showed a sensitivity of 92.1% (95% CI: 78.6-98.3) and a specificity of 83.8% (95% CI: 68.0-93.8). Conclusion: Serum total bilirubin before acquisition of gadoxetic acid-enhanced MRI may help predict suboptimal HBP image quality in patients with EHD cancer.

• Journal of Gastric Cancer
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• v.9 no.3
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• pp.110-116
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• 2009

Purpose: The aim of this study was to examine the usefulness of positron emission tomography (PET)-computed tomography (CT) in the pre-operative staging of gastric cancer. Materials and Methods: Between February 2006 and August 2008, PET-CT and CT were performed on 70 patients diagnosed with gastric cancer by gastrofiberscopic biopsy. The sensitivities, specificities, Positive predictive value (PPV), and negative predictive value (NPV) of PET-CT and CT imaging for the detection of gastric cancer TNM staging were compared. Results: The detection rates for the primary tumor were as follows: PET-CT, 81.4% (57/70); and CT, 42.9% (30/70). For both early gastric cancer (EGC) and advanced gastric cancer (AGC), PET-CT was more accurate than CT in detecting the lesions. As the size of the tumor exceeded 3 cm, the detection rate increased. The sensitivities, specificities, PPV, and NPV of PET-CT for lymph node staging were 55.6%, 81%, 86.2%, and 45.9%, while the sensitivities, specificities, PPV, and NPV of CT were 40.0%, 85.7%, 85.7% and 40%, respectively. One case of multiple liver metastasis and two cases of dual primary cancer (rectal and pancreatic cancers) were detected by PET-CT. PET-CT also had a higher detection rate for all histologic types of primary tumors. PET-CT was more accurate than CT in detecting primary gastric cancer lesions. The detection of nodal metastasis by PET-CT was similar to CT; small-sized tumors or EGC detection rates were not high. However, PET-CT provided additional information to detect distant metastases and dual primary cancers and reduced unnecessary laparotomies to detect peritoneal seeding or carcinomatosis. Conclusion: It would be useful to make a pre-operative diagnosis of gastric cancer and determine treatment if PET-CT were added to other routine pre-operative studies.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Radiology
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• v.84 no.5
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• pp.999-1008
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• 2023

Thyroid cancer, characterized by high incidence rates, good prognosis, and frequent recurrence, is typically treated surgically. However, since the early 2000s, radiofrequency ablation, which is commonly utilized in liver, lung, and kidney cancers, is being performed for management of primary and recurrent thyroid cancers. Many studies have focused on inoperable cases of low-risk papillary microcarcinoma (≤ 1 cm) and some have investigated its role in larger lesions (up to 4 cm). Overall, these studies have reported positive results. Radiofrequency ablation for recurrent cancer has primarily been performed for locally recurrent cervical cancer, and this therapeutic approach has been attempted for treatment of distant metastases in lungs and bones, with encouraging outcomes. A growing global trend, particularly in South Korea, the United States, and Europe supports radiofrequency ablation for thyroid cancer. However, this therapy is currently not recognized as a treatment option recommended by universally accepted clinical guidelines such as those established by the National Comprehensive Cancer Network. Based on past efforts and future research, radiofrequency ablation is expected to play a key role in thyroid cancer treatment in the near future.

• The Journal of the Korea Contents Association
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• v.12 no.4
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• pp.358-366
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• 2012

Cirrhosis is a consequence of chronic liver disease characterized by replacement of liver tissue by fibrosis, scar tissue and regenerative nodules leading to loss of liver function. Liver Cirrhosis is most commonly caused by alcoholism, hepatitis B and C, and fatty liver disease, but has many other possible causes. Some cases are idiopathic disease from unknown cause. Abdomen of liver Computed tomography(CT) is one of the primary imaging procedures for evaluating liver disease such as liver cirrhosis, Alcoholic liver disease(ALD), cancer, and interval changes because it is economical and easy to use. The purpose of this study is to detect technique for computer-aided diagnosis(CAD) to identify liver cirrhosis in abdomen CT. We experimented on the principal components analysis(PCA) algorithm in the other method and suggested texture information analysis(TIA). Forty clinical cases involving a total of 634 CT sectional images were used in this study. Liver cirrhosis was detected by PCA method(detection rate of 35%), and by TIA methods(detection rate of 100%-AGI, TM, MU, EN). Our present results show that our method can be regarded as a technique for CAD systems to detect liver cirrhosis in CT liver images.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.15 no.1
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• pp.118-123
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• 1982

Fourteen cases of pericardia I tumor were clinically experienced from June 1966 to July 1981, for 15 years in St. Mary's Hospital, Department of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, Catholic Medical College. There were three primary tumors of the pericardium, liposarcoma, teratoma and malignant mesothelioma, and 11 metastatic pericardial tumors. In metastatic pericardial tumors, eight were originated from the lung, one was breast, and the other two cases were unknown origin. There were 6 adenocarcinoma, one small cell carcionoma ~nd one alveolar cell carcinoma in 8 cases from the lung, and 5 male and 3 female patients were composed the metastatic pericardial cancer from the lung. In clinical symptoms were dyspnea in all cases, and 9 cases had the generalized edema and enlarged liver size. Six patients had been operated, three of the primary pericardial tumor and three of metastatic pericardial tumor. Two of the primary tumors were cured satisfactorily by the mass removal, but one died due to cardiac arrest at postoperative one day. In metastatic tumors, operation were performed as two pericardial window formation and one left lower lobectomy with pericardial fenestration, but one was died in second operative day. Other nine metastatic tumors were diagnosed by needle biopsy in one case and by cell block of effusion in eight cases.

• Archives of Craniofacial Surgery
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• v.21 no.3
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• pp.198-201
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• 2020

Primary lung cancer commonly metastasizes to the brain, bones, liver, and adrenal glands. In some cases, bone metastasis serves as the first presenting sign of lung cancer with bone pain and headache, but it is not common. The incidence of skull metastasis in lung squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) is low, and there have been only a few cases of skull metastases serving as the first sign of malignancy with skull mass and epidural bleeding; however, no similar cases have been reported regarding that of hematoma. We report a case of an 84-year-old man who first presented with a simple forehead hematoma and was eventually diagnosed with SCC of the lung.

• Investigative Magnetic Resonance Imaging
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• v.13 no.2
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• pp.213-217
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• 2009

Solitary necrotic nodule (SNN) of the liver is a very uncommon benign lesion, and it is detected incidentally as a rule. It is important to differentiate SNN radiologically from various single hepatic nodules because SNN mimics hepatic metastasis, especially in staging work up of known primary malignancy. The reported imaging findings of SNN are well-defined nodule without enhancement or with subtle peripheral enhancement. There has been no report about the target-like SNN of the liver and about the imaging finding of 3T magnetic resonance imaging and positron emission tomography. We report a case of targetlike SNN of the liver, mimicking hepatic metastasis, with findings of various imaging modalities and try to find a cause of this nodule according to the pathologic and literature review.

• Journal of Digestive Cancer Research
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• v.5 no.2
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• pp.91-96
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• 2017

Background: To evaluate whether DM affects the SUVmax of metastatic lesions on ¹⁸F-FDG PET/CT and whether the SUVmax can influence the prognosis of metastatic PDAC patients. Methods: We conducted a retrospective study of 86 patients with metastatic PDAC who underwent PET/CT before treatment. The SUVmax of primary and metastatic lesions and the ratios of the SUVmax were measured. Long-term survival was evaluated using clinical parameters. Results: The mean SUVmax of primary lesion was lower in the DM group than in the non-DM group (4.74 vs. 5.96, p=0.009). The SUVmax for all metastatic lesions, except those in the lung, were lower in the DM group than in the non-DM group, and these differences were statistically significant in the lymph nodes and peritoneum. In the 35 patients with hepatic metastasis, higher ratios of the liver SUVmax significantly correlated with shorter OS (HR, 2.625; p=0.013). Conclusion: DM can influence the lower SUVmax of metastatic lesions as well as primary lesions. The SUVmax ratio of hepatic metastasis could influence on prognosis in metastatic PDAC patients.