• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.15 no.5
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• pp.1989-1992
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• 2014

Background: The aim of this study was to assess the response rates (clinical and pathological ) with docetaxel and epirubicin combination chemotherapy and its effect on outcome. Materials and Methods: We retrospectively analysed locally advanced breast cancer (LABC) patients who received NACT from January 2008 to December 2012 in our tertiary care centre. LABC constituted 37% of all breast cancer cases and 120 patients fulfilled the eligibility criteria. The regimens used for NACT were, six cycles of DEC (docetaxel $75mg/m^2$, epirubicin $75mg/m^2$, cyclophosphamide $50mg/m^2$ on Day 1, 3 weekly) and a sequential regimen (4 cycles of FEC, 5-flurouracil $600mg/m^2$, epirubicin $75mg/m^2$, cyclophosphamide $600mg/m^2$ followed by 4 cycles of docetaxel $85mg/m^2$). Results: The median age was 47 years (range 23-72). Ninety six ( 80 %) had T4 disease and 90% had clinically palpable lymph nodes at diagnosis. The median size of primary tumor at presentation was 5.9 cm. Hormone receptor positivity was seen in 55% and HER2/neu positivity, in 25%. Triple negative breast cancers constituted 25 % of the cases. The overall clinical response rate (complete or partial ) was 85% and pathological complete responses were obtained in 15%. Four cases defaulted, 5 patients died of treatment related toxicity and 15% developed febrile neutropenia on DEC. The median duration of follow up was 22 months. The median time to relapse was 20 months and the 3 year relapse free and overall survival rates were 50% and 70% respectively. Conclusions: LABC constituted 37% of all breast cancer cases at our institute. With NACT, pCR was seen in 15% of the cases. Sequential chemotherapy was better tolerated than concurrent anthracyline and taxane chemotherapy with a similar pCR.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.15 no.13
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• pp.5383-5387
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• 2014

Purpose: To investigate whether pretreatment serum carbohydrate antigen 19-9 (CA 19-9) levels are associated with pathological responses to preoperative chemoradiotherapy (CRT) in patients with rectal cancer. Materials and Methods: In total, 260 patients with locally advanced rectal cancer (cT3-4NanyM0) who underwent preoperative CRT and radical surgery were analyzed retrospectively. CRT consisted of 50.4 Gy pelvic radiotherapy and concurrent chemotherapy. Radical surgery was performed at a median of 7 weeks after CRT completion. Pathological CRT response criteria included downstaging (ypStage 0-I) and ypT0-1. A discrimination threshold of CA 19-9 level was determined using a receiver operating characteristics analysis. Results: The median CA 19-9 level was 8.0 (1.0-648.0) U/mL. Downstaging occurred in 94 (36.2%) patients and ypT0-1 in 50 (19.2%). The calculated optimal threshold CA 19-9 level was 10.2 U/mL for downstaging and 9.0 U/mL for ypT0-1. On multivariate analysis, CA 19-9 (${\leq}9.0U/mL$) was significantly associated with downstaging (odds ratio, 2.089; 95% confidence interval, 1.189-3.669; P=0.010) or ypT0-1 (OR, 2.207; 95%CI, 1.079-4.512; P=0.030), independent of clinical stage or carcinoembryonic antigen. Conclusions: This study firstly showed a significant association of pretreatment serum CA 19-9 levels with pathological CRT responses of rectal cancer. The CA 19-9 level is suggested to be valuable in predicting CRT responses of rectal cancer cases before treatment.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.14 no.10
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• pp.5867-5870
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• 2013

Background: Cervical cancer is the second most common cancer among Malaysian women with an ASR of 17.9 and a mortality rate of 5.6 per 100,000 population in 2008 (GLOBOCAN, 2008). The 5 year prevalence was estimated to be 14.5 per 100,000 population. As the second most common cancer affecting productive females, cervical cancer imposes an impact to the socioeconomic aspect of the country. However, the poor uptake of cervical cancer screening is a major problem in detecting early pre-cancerous lesions and thus, delay in initiating treatment for cervical cancer. Realizing the urgency to increase the uptake of PAP smear, besides enhancing the promotion of PAP smear screening for women above 35 years old, the call-recall system for pap smear screening had been piloted in one of the suburban districts which aimed to improve regular participation of women for cervical and breast cancer screening. This is of public health importance as identifying the best feasible option to increase patient's respond to participate in the screening program effectively in our setting will be helpful in implementing an organized regular population based screening program tailored to our setting. The pilot program of cervical cancer screening in Klang was an opportunity to assess different options in recalling patients for a repeat pap smear to increase their participation and adherence to the program. Methods and Results: This was a population based randomized control trial. Women aged 20-65 years in the population that matched the inclusion and exclusion criteria were re-called for a repeat smear. There are four different intervention groups; letter, registered letters, short messages services (SMS) and phone calls where 250 subjects were recruited into each group. Samples were generated randomly from the same population in Klang into four different groups. The first group received a recall letter for a repeat smear similar to the one that has been given during the first invitation. The intervention groups were either be given a registered letter, an SMS or a phone call to re-call them. The socio-demographic data of the patients who came for uptake were collected for further analysis. All the groups were followed up after 8 weeks to assess their compliance to the recall. Conclusions: The study will provide recommendations about the most effective methods for recall in a population based pap smear screening program on two outcomes: i) patients response; ii) uptake for repeat pap smear.

• Progress in Medical Physics
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• v.29 no.2
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• pp.59-65
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• 2018

This paper describes the clinical use of the dose verification of multileaf collimator (MLC)-based CyberKnife plans by combining the Octavius 1000SRS detector and water-equivalent RW3 slab phantom. The slab phantom consists of 14 plates, each with a thickness of 10 mm. One plate was modified to support tracking by inserting 14 custom-made fiducials on surface holes positioned at the outer region of $10{\times}10cm^2$. The fiducial-inserted plate was placed on the 1000SRS detector and three plates were additionally stacked up to build the reference depth. Below the detector, 10 plates were placed to avoid longer delivery times caused by proximity detection program alerts. The cross-calibration factor prior to phantom delivery was obtained by performing with 200 monitor units (MU) on the field size of $95{\times}92.5mm^2$. After irradiation, the measured dose distribution of the coronal plane was compared with the dose distribution calculated by the MultiPlan treatment planning system. The results were assessed by comparing the absolute dose at the center point of 1000SRS and the 3-D Gamma (${\gamma}$) index using 220 patient-specific quality assurance (QA). The discrepancy between measured and calculated doses at the center point of 1000SRS detector ranged from -3.9% to 8.2%. In the dosimetric comparison using 3-D ${\gamma}$-function (3%/3 mm criteria), the mean passing rates with ${\gamma}$-parameter ${\leq}1$ were $97.4%{\pm}2.4%$. The combination of the 1000SRS detector and RW3 slab phantom can be utilized for dosimetry validation of patient-specific QA in the CyberKnife MLC system, which made it possible to measure absolute dose distributions regardless of tracking mode.

• Journal of Mushroom
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• v.18 no.3
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• pp.268-273
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• 2020

This study aimed to assess the feasibility of composting spent mushroom substrate (SMS) materials of Lentinula edodes (Le), Hericium erinaceus (He), and Pleurotus ostreatus (Po). The different SMSs were composted for 7 to 10 days at high temperatures over 50℃; the composting procedure was completed in 30 days. A maturity test was conducted using the radish seed germination index and CoMMe-100. The composted SMS (CSMS) from Le and He showed gemination indices of 130% and 81%, respectively, that satisfied the criteria of maturity standard (gemination index over 70%) and the CoMMe-100 analysis. The physicochemical changes of CSMSs included an increase in the pH range from 4-5 to 6-7, slight reduction in the EC to 1-1.4 dS/m, and an organic content of 36.9% in LeCSMS. In LeCSMS, the contents of N, P, and K were 1.2%, 2.3%, and 0.77%, respectively, and heavy metals were detected below the standard value in all CSMSs; the Ca and Mg contents in the CSMSs were increased from 30% to 60% when compared to those in the SMSs. The C/N ratio (from 26-33) in LeSMS and HeSMS decreased to 15.3-15.9 in CSMSs. The growth effect of LeCSMS treatment on pepper seedlings was 60% higher than that in the control groups, one of which was treated with commercial organic compost; the former showed a superior growth effect on the leaf width, leaf length, and leaf number compared to other control groups. In conclusion, LeCSMS and HeCSMS could be utilized as compost resources capable of efficient soil amendment and plant growth promotion.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.27 no.12
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• pp.1744-1748
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• 2014

A dose-response experiment with seven supplemental pyridoxine levels (0, 0.66, 1.32, 1.98, 2.64, 3.30, and 3.96 mg/kg) was conducted to investigate the effects of pyridoxine on growth performance and plasma aminotransferases and homocysteine of White Pekin ducks and to estimate pyridoxine requirement for these birds. A total of 336 one-day-old male White Pekin ducks were divided to 7 experimental treatments and each treatment contained 8 replicate pens with 6 birds per pen. Ducks were reared in raised wire-floor pens from hatch to 28 d of age. At 28 d of age, the weight gain, feed intake, feed/gain, and the aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase, and homocysteine in plasma of ducks from each pen were all measured. In our study, the pyridoxine deficiency of ducks was characterized by growth depression, decreasing plasma aspartate aminotransferase activity and increasing plasma homocysteine. The ducks fed vitamin $B_6$-deficient basal diets had the worst weight gain and feed/gain among all birds and this growth depression was alleviated (p<0.05) when pyridoxine was supplemented to basal diets. On the other hand, plasma aspartate aminotransferase and homocysteine may be the sensitive indicators for vitamin $B_6$ status of ducks. The ducks fed basal diets had much lower aspartate aminotransferase activity and higher homocysteine level in plasma compared with other birds fed pyridoxine-supplemented diets (p<0.05). According to quadratic regression, the supplemental pyridoxine requirements of Pekin ducks from hatch to 28 days of age was 2.44 mg/kg for feed/gain and 2.08 mg/kg for plasma aspartate aminotransferase and the corresponding total requirements of this vitamin for these two criteria were 4.37 and 4.01 mg/kg when the pyridoxine concentration of basal diets was included, respectively. All data suggested that pyridoxine deficiency could cause growth retardation in ducks and the deficiency of this vitamin could be indicated by decreasing plasma aspartate aminotransferase activity and increasing plasma homocysteine.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.16 no.8
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• pp.3485-3491
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• 2015

Background: Nodal invasion by colorectal cancer is a critical determinant in estimating patient survival and in choosing appropriate preoperative treatment. The present meta-analysis was designed to evaluate the diagnostic value of endorectal ultrasound (EUS) in preoperative assessment of lymph node involvement in colorectal cancer. Materials and Methods: We systematically searched PubMed, Web of Science, Embase, and China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI) databases for relevant studies published on or before December 10th, 2014. The sensitivity, specificity, likelihood ratios, diagnostic odds ratio (DOR) and area under the summary receiver operating characteristics curve (AUC) were assessed to estimate the diagnostic value of EUS. Subgroup analysis and meta-regression were performed to explore heterogeneity across studies. Results: Thirty-three studies covering 3,016 subjects were included. The pooled sensitivity and specificity were 0.69 (95%CI: 0.63-0.75) and 0.77 (95%CI: 0.73-0.82), respectively. The positive and negative likelihood ratios were 3.09 (95%CI: 2.52-3.78) and 0.39 (95%CI: 0.32-0.48), respectively. The DOR was 7.84 (95%CI: 5.56-11.08), and AUC was 0.80 (95%CI: 0.77-0.84). Conclusions: This meta-analysis indicated that EUS has moderate diagnostic value in preoperative assessment of lymph node involvement in colorectal cancer. Further refinements in technology and diagnostic criteria are necessary to improve the diagnostic accuracy of EUS.

• Korean Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.24 no.1
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• pp.21-30
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• 1991

In Summer, oxygen-deficient water masses were developed extensively in the closed eutrophic bays such as Chinhae Bay which results in mass mortality of marine organisms and severe decrease the production of the bay every year. Under the circumstances, this study was performed to investigate the oxygen depletion relating to eutrophication, and also to evaluate self-purfication capacity of Buk Bay by dissolved oxygen mass balance in 1988. The mean concentration of total inorganic nitrogen, phosphate phosphorus and chlorophyll-a were $11.06{\mu}g-at/l,\;0.80{\mu}g-at/l\;and\;1.11mg/m^3$ respectively, which were over eutrophication criteria. Oxygen-deficient water mass was formed in July with the minimum concentration of 2.08ml/l(mean) at the bottom of all stations and recovered slowly in August. The decay and reaeration coefficient calculated from dissloved oxygen sag curve were 0.222/day and 0.018ml/l/day, respectively. To maintain above 4ml/l of oxygen to prevent oxygen-deficient water mass, it is recommendable to supply as much as 0.856ml/l/day of dissolved oxygen or should be reduced the same mass loading of BOD from watershed by the construction of wastewater treatment plant.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.30 no.5
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• pp.137-145
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• 2009

Objectives: This study was performed to elicit the effectiveness of a herbal formula, Kamisoyo-san (Jiaweixiaoyaosan) on enhancing ovarian function in infertile woman with ovarian dysfunction. Methods: 28 patients who initially visited between November 2006 and February 2009 and were administered Kamisoyo-san until May 2009 were retrospectively evaluated for their ovarian function by means of basal FSH (b-FSH), menstrual cycle, body mass index (BMI), and body fat ratio. To identify the major factor of improving ovarian function, 28 patients were classified into two groups by criteria of patent factors, such as pre-administration b-FSH, patient age, and treatment duration, respectively. Two groups were compared in terms of pregnancy percentage, b-FSH, menstrual cycle, BMI, and body fat ratio. Results: Post-administration b-FSH significantly decreased in comparison with pre-administration (p=0.004). The higher group (b-FSH $\geq$ 25mIU/mL) in pre-administration b-FSH was more effective in decrease of post-administration b-FSH than the lower one (10mIU/mL < b-FSH < 25mIU/mL). Conclusion: Kamisoyo-san may have a therapeutic effect on the infertility of child bearing period woman with ovarian dysfunction.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.19 no.8
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• pp.1197-1205
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• 2006

This experiment was conducted to compare the effects of feeding DL-2-hydroxy-4-(methylthio)butanoic acid (HMTBA) and DL-methionine (DLM) supplemented corn-soybean-cottonseed meal diets on growth performance, carcass composition, and muscle color of broilers. The trial was designed as a $2{\times}3{\times}2$ factorial experiment, including two methionine (Met) sources (HMTBA and DLM), three equimolar graded levels of Met supplementation (i.e., 0.08, 0.16, and 0.24% in the starter diet and 0.07, 0.14, and 0.21% in the grower and finisher diets, respectively), and two sexes (male and female). Additionally, one basal diet for each sex was formulated to be limiting in Met to test the dosage response of increasing supplemental Met levels. Four hundred and twenty 10-d-old broilers were randomly allotted to 14 treatments (seven each for males and females), with five replicate pens per treatment and six chicks per pen. There was no difference (p>0.05) between the two Met sources in growth performance and muscle deposition of broilers throughout the whole experimental period (d 10 to 49). With the increasing Met supplementation levels, average daily gain was increased (quadratic; p<0.01) during the starter, grower, and overall phases, average daily feed intake was increased (quadratic; p<0.01) during the starter phase, and feed:gain ratio was decreased (quadratic; p<0.05) during the grower and overall phases. At the end of finisher phase, Met supplementation increased breast muscle content (quadratic; p<0.01) and thigh muscle content (linear; p<0.05), and decreased abdominal fat content (quadratic; p<0.02). Compared to the broiler fed DLM, broilers fed HMTBA had superior breast and thigh muscle coloration (p<0.01). Male broilers had higher weight gain and feed intake and better feed conversion than female broilers (p<0.01). The fat content of thigh muscle in female broilers was higher than that of male broilers (p<0.03). The best fit comparison of HMTBA vs. DLM was determined by Schwarz Bayesian Criteria index, which indicated that the average relative bioefficacy of HMTBA vs. DLM was 120% with 95% confidence limit 67 to 172%. These results indicated that Met supplementation improved growth performance and carcass quality of broilers fed corn-soybean-cottonseed meal diets irrespective of Met sources. Compared to DLM, HMTBA has the same molar bioefficacy on improving the growth performance and carcass quality of broilers; however, HMTBA fed birds had superior meat color to DLM fed birds.