• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
• /
• v.35 no.4
• /
• pp.269-274
• /
• 2002

Objectives : To evaluate the elect of glutathione(GSH) on lead induced modulation of nitric oxide(NO) synthesis, and to examine how lead modulates NO production in macrophages. Methods : This study was observed in a culture of RAW 264.7 cells, which originated from a tumor in a Balb/c mouse that was induced by the Abelson murine leukemia virus. The compounds investigated were lead chloride, N-acetyl-cystein(NAC), and Buthionine Sulfoximine( BSO). Results : ATP synthesis in RAW 264.7 cells was unchanged by each lead concentration exposure in a dose dependent manner. The NO synthesis was decreased when exposed to lead($PbCl_2$) concentration $0.5{\mu}M$. The presence of $300{\mu}M$ NAC, used as a pretreatment in the culture medium, caused the recovery of the lead induced decrease in NO synthesis, but in the presence of $300{\mu}M$ BSO as a pretreatment, there was no recoverey. Pretreatment with NAC and BSO had no affect on ATP synthesis at any of the lead concentrations used. Conclusions : These results indicated that GSH has a protective effect toward lead toxicity, and suggested that the inhibition of NO production in macrophage due to lead toxicity may be related to cofactors of iNOS (inducible nitric oxide synthase)

• Journal of the Korean Society of Radiology
• /
• v.83 no.2
• /
• pp.317-330
• /
• 2022

Purpose To evaluate the various factors that affect renal function following percutaneous radiofrequency ablation (RFA) therapy in patients with renal tumors. Materials and Methods Between 2010 and 2018, 91 patients diagnosed with renal tumors using ultrasonography and CT-guided RFA were enrolled. We retrospectively investigated the serum creatinine (SCr) level and estimated glomerular filtration rates immediately prior to RFA and during post-treatment follow-up. The patients were divided into two groups based on the degree of change in SCr level (0.3 mg/dL). Group comparisons were performed using univariable and multivariable logistic regression analyses to determine the factors impacting renal function. Results Impaired renal function was associated with solitary kidney, chronic kidney disease (CKD) over stage 3, and pyeloureteral injury. Sex, age, other cancers, tumor size, location, growth pattern, and proximity to the collecting system were not significantly associated with impaired renal function. There was a difference in the overall change over time between the association with and without solitary kidney, CKD stage 3, and pyeloureteral injury. Conclusion Among the medical conditions present prior to RFA, solitary kidney and CKD over stage 3 could be considered as risk factors for impaired renal function. Post-procedural pyeloureteral injury can also be considered a risk factor.

• Journal of Life Science
• /
• v.30 no.6
• /
• pp.563-569
• /
• 2020

Oncoplastic surgery (OPS) combines oncologically safe tumor resection with aesthetically satisfying reconstruction of defects using established plastic surgery techniques. OPS is characterized by initial excision as extensive as is beneficial for oncological safety, and, once sufficient resection is complete, displacement or replacement techniques are selected based on remnant volume. The size of the lesion and the individual patient are important factors when considering the appropriate approach, and when pre-operative imaging, including MRI, is used to determine the technique, the complete removal of cancer cells by permanent pathology is essential. A frozen section is used during the operation to reduce the reoperation rate, but it is difficult to cover the entire margin surface theoretically and even harder in practice. A recent report about adequate margins has empowered OPS in its oncological safety. Considering the patients to whom each modality could be applied, basic breast volume is an important factor, and this is influenced by ethnic differences. In Europe or the US, for example, the average breast size is 36D (600 ㎤) and reduction mammoplasty is predominantly used. However, the average size of patients in our institution is 33A (300 ㎤), and so quite different approaches are selected in most cases. New techniques involving radiofrequency and fluorescence have been proposed as safe and easily accessible ways of reducing complications.

• Applied Chemistry for Engineering
• /
• v.29 no.2
• /
• pp.138-146
• /
• 2018

Photodynamic therapy (PDT) is a great potential approach for the localized tumor removal with fewer metastatic potentials and side effects in treating the disease. In the treatment process, a photosensitizer (PS) that absorbs a light energy to generate reactive oxygen is essential. In general, a visible light is used as a light source of PDT, so that side effects from the light source are inevitable. For this reason, upconversion nanoparticles (UCNPs) using near-infrared (NIR) as an excitation source are attracting attention in the field of disease diagnosis and treatment. UCNPs have the low cytotoxicity and phototoxicity, and also advantages such as deep tissue penetration and low background autofluorescence. For PDT, UCNPs should be combined with a PS which absorbs the light energy from UCNPs and transfers it to the surrounding oxygen to produce reactive oxygen. In addition, the therapeutic efficacy can be improved by modifying nanoparticle surfaces, adding anti-cancer drugs, or combining with photothermal therapy (PTT). In this review, we summarize the recent research to improve the efficiency of PDT using UCNPs.

• Korean Journal of Head & Neck Oncology
• /
• v.21 no.2
• /
• pp.196-200
• /
• 2005

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the incidence and predictive factors of contralateral occult lymph node metastasis in oral cavity squamous cell carcinomas to form a rational basis for elective contralateral neck management. Materials and Methods: We performed a retrospective analysis of 66 N0-2 oral cavity cancer patients undergoing elective neck dissection for contralateral clinically negative necks from 1991 to 2003. Results: Clinically negative but pathologically positive contralateral lymph nodes occurred in 11%(7 of 66) . Of the 11 cases with a clinically ipsilateral node positive neck, contralateral occult lymph node metastases developed in 36%(4 of 10, in contrast with 5%(3/55) in the cases with clinically ipsilateral node negative necks(p<0.05). Based on the clinical staging of the tumor, 8%(3 of 37) of the cases showed lymph node metastases in T2 tumors, 25%(2 of 8) in T3, and 18%(2 of 11) in T4. None of the T1 tumors(10 cases) had pathologically positive lymph nodes. The rate of contralateral occult neck metastasis was significantly higher in advanced stage cases and those crossing the midline, compared to early stage or unilateral lesions(p<0.05). Patients with no evidence of contralateral nodal cancer had significantly improved disease-specific survival over patients with any pathologically positive nodes(5-year disease-specific survival rate was 79% vs. 43%, p<0.05). Conclusion: The risk of contralateral occult neck involvement in the oral cavity squamous cell carcinomas above the T3 stage or those crossing the midline with unilateral metastases was high. Therefore, we advocate an elective contralateral neck treatment with surgery or radiotherapy in oral cavity squamous cell carcinoma patients with ipsilateral node metastases or tumors that are greater than stage T3 or crossing the midline.

• Journal of Hospice and Palliative Care
• /
• v.19 no.4
• /
• pp.331-334
• /
• 2016

Purpose: Advanced cancer may accompany cold sweat as paraneoplastic symptom. Few studies have been performed on the efficacy of non-steroid anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) in advanced cancer patients who sweated without fever. Methods: To select study participants, medical records were retrospectively reviewed for patients who satisfied the following criteria: 1) incurable, advanced solid cancer; 2) Cold sweating of 4 or higher on the numeric rating scale (NRS) 4; 3) No evidence of infection or hypoglycemia; 4) No newly started opioid or anti-hormonal agents within one month; 5) NSAID prescription for the management of cold sweating and 6) Documented NRS information before and after NSAID administration. Results: A total of 13 patients were selected after excluding four patients due to lack of NRS information or fever. The mean age was 59 years old (range: 50~71), and nine patients (69%) were male. Bile duct cancer was the most common primary tumor followed by pancreatic cancer, gastric cancer and prostate cancer. The mean NRS of cold sweating dropped from baseline 6.5 (min-max: 4~10) to 1.9 at the follow-up assessment (min-max: 0~5). The mean follow-up period was 9.1 days (range: 2~30 days) from NSAID treatment to assessment. Conclusion: NSAID was effective medication for management of sweating without fever in patients with advanced cancer.

• Radiation Oncology Journal
• /
• v.11 no.2
• /
• pp.397-401
• /
• 1993

We investigated the usefulness of tumor-associated antigen (TA-4) by a radioimmunoasay method in estimating the extent of disease and tracking the clinical course of disease in 58 patients with cervical cancer. According to our results and those of other authors, the normal range of serum TA-4 was arbitrarily taken to be less than 2 ng/ml. The proportion of the pretreatment positive serum TA-4 level of 48 squamous cell carcinoma patients was $60\%.$ And $40\%$ in 5 adenocarcinoma patients. Advanced disease group showed higher incidence of positive serum TA-4 level; $40\%,\;72\%,\;63\%,\;and\;100\%$ in stage I to IV, respectively. And the absolute values of TA-4 were higher in advanced disease. In patients treated with radiation, elevated serum TA-4 level usually declined after 3000 cGy and further dropped to normal range in $44\%$ after 5000 cGy. The positive rate in primary cervical cancer was $59\%,$ (32/54) and $100\%$ (4/4) in recurrent conical cancer. And 15 patients with recurrent or persistent disease during follow-up revealed $80\%$ positive serum TA-4 level. In conclusion, it would be suggested that serial serum TA-4 measurements may be helpful in tracking the clinical course during and after treatment.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
• /
• v.34 no.12
• /
• pp.930-936
• /
• 2001

Background: The origin site of carcinoma invading esophagogastric junction is variable. It may arise from squamous cell carcinoma of low esophagus, adenocarcinoma arising from Barrett's esophagus, adenocarcinoma of gastric cardia, or extension from proximal stomach cancer. In Korea, the majority of adenocarcinoma invading esophago-gastric junction seems to arise from proximal gastric carcinoma. Material and Method: We reviewed the data of surgically-resected gastric adenocarcinoma involving esophagogastric junction in KCCH between 1988 and 1999. Result: There were 212 cases. Male to female ratio was 156 to 56. Age distribution was between 22 and 78. Variable surgical approaches including median laparotomy, laparotomy with left or right thoracotomy, left thoracotomy, and thoracoabdominal approach were used. Postoperative pathologic stages were : Stage IA-7, IB-11, Ⅱ-25, ⅢA-73, ⅢB-34, and Ⅳ-57. Curative resection was performed in 199 patients, and total gastrectomy was performed in 200 patients. There were 77.4%(164 cases) with esophageal involvement, 74.1％(157 cases) with tumor involvement in the abdominal LN, and 8%(17 cases) with mediastinal LN metastasis. Operative mortality was 3.3%, and over-all 5 year survival rate was 35%. Conclusion: There are various surgical approaches and many things to consider for surgical resection, thoracic and abdominal approach may need for obtain proper resection margin and adequate lymph node dissection in stomach cancer invading esophagogastric junction.

• Radiation Oncology Journal
• /
• v.28 no.1
• /
• pp.1-8
• /
• 2010

Purpose: This retrospective study was performed to evaluate the efficacy of radiation therapy (RT) and to investigate the prognostic factors for thymoma when treated with RT. Materials and Methods: We analyzed 21 patients with thymoma and also received RT from March 2002 to January 2008. The median follow-up time was 37 months (range, 3 to 89 months). The median patient age was 57 years (range, 24 to 77 years) and the gender ratio of males to females was 4：3. Of the 21 patients, complete resections (trans-sternal thymectomy) and R2 resections were performed in 14 and 1 patient, respectively. A biopsy was performed in 6 patients (28.7%). The WHO cell types in the 21 patients were as follows: 1 patient (4.8%) had type A, 10 patients (47.6%) had type B1-3, and 10 patients (47.6%) had type C. Based on Masaoka staging, 10 patients (47.6%) were stage II, 7 patients (33.3%) were stage III, and 4 patients (19.1%) were stage IVa. Three-dimensional RT was adminstered to the tumor volume (planned target volume), including the anterior mediastinum and the residual disease. The total RT dose ranged from 52.0 to 70.2 Gy (median dose, 54 Gy). Consistent with the WHO criteria, the response rate was only analyzed for the 6 patients who received a biopsy only. The prognostic factors analyzed for an estimate of survival included age, gender, tumor size, tumor pathology, Masaoka stage, the possibility of treatment by performing surgery, the presence of myasthenia gravis, and RT dose. Results: The 3-year overall survival rate (OS) and the progression free survival rate (PFS) were 80.7% and 78.2%, respectively. Among the 10 patients with WHO cell type C, 3 of 4 patients (75%) who underwent a complete resection and 3 of 6 patients (50%) who underwent a biopsy survived. Distant metastasis developed in 4 patients (19.1%). The overall response rate in the 6 patients who received biopsy only were as follows: partial remission in 4 patients (66.7%), stable disease in 1 patient (16.6%), and progressive disease in 1 patient (16.6%). Acute RTOG radiation pneumonitis occurred in 1 patient (4.8%), grade 2 occurred in 2 patients (9.5%), grade 3 occurred in 1 patient (4.8%), and grade 4 occurred in 1 patient (4.8%). A univariate analysis revealed that the significant prognostic factors for OS were age (${\geq}60$, 58.3%; <60, 100%; p=0.0194), pathology (WHO cell type A-B3, 100%; C, 58.3%; p=0.0194) and, whether the patient underwent surgery (yes, 93.3%; no, 50%; p=0.0096). Conclusion: For the 15 patients who received surgery, there was no local failure within the radiation field. In patients with WHO cell type C, surgical procedures could have resulted in a more favorable outcome than biopsy alone. We report here our clinical experience in 21 patients with thymoma who were treated by radiation therapy.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
• /
• v.56 no.6
• /
• pp.646-656
• /
• 2004

Background : The aim of this study was to elucidate the mediastinal lymphatic drainage of nonsmall- cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Methods : We retrospectively analyzed the frequency of enlarged mediastinal lymph node (LN) in 256 NSCLC patients with N2 or N3 diseases on CT scan, especially with respect to the location of primary tumor. Results : In 57 patients with right upper lobe (RUL) tumors, right lower paratracheal LN (89.5%) was the most commonly enlarged, followed by subcarinal LN (54.4%). In 61 patients with left upper lobe (LUL) tumors, left lower paratracheal (70.5%) and subaortic LNs (52.5%) were commonly enlarged. Subcarinal LN enlargement without ipsilateral superior mediastinal LN enlargement was rarely found in both upper lobe tumors; RUL 8.8%, LUL 6.6%. In patients with right or left lower lobe (RLL or LLL) tumors, the most commonly enlarged LN was subcarinal; 88.2%, 65.7%, respectively. In RLL tumors with both subcarinal and superior mediastinal LN enlargements, the frequency of ipsilateral superior mediastinal LN involvement was similar to that of bilateral superior mediastinal involvement. In LLL tumors with both subcarinal and superior mediastinal LN enlargements, bilateral superior mediastinal involvement was more frequent than ipsilateral superior mediastinal involvement. Conclusion : The results of this study suggest that both upper lobe tumors are mainly drained directly to ipsilateral superior mediastinal LNs, and that both lower lobe lesions are drained to superior mediastinal LN via subcarinal LNs.