• Radiation Oncology Journal
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• v.16 no.2
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• pp.107-114
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• 1998

Purpose : Ginkgo biloba extract(GBE) is known to increase the peripheral blood circulation. This study was designed to evaluate the effect of GBE on the acute normal tissue radiation reaction. Materials and Methods : mice were divided into two groups, radiation alone and two doses GBE plus radiation, for both acute skin reaction and jejunal crypt assay. GBE was given i.p. one hour before irradiation with priming dose given one day earlier. Thirty to Fifty Gy for acute skin reaction and 11 to 14 Gy for jejunal crypt were irradiated to right hind leg and whole body, respectively. Results : Radiation doses($RD_{50}$) for Peak skin score of 2.0 were 44.2Gy (40.6-48.2Gy) for radiation alone and 44.4Gy(41.6-47.4Gy) for two doses GBE plus radiation, showing no effect of GBE on acute radiation skin damage. The numbers of regenerating jejunal crypts per circumference were also almost the same for each radiation dose level(p=0.57-0.94), and the mean lethal doses($D_o$) were 1.800y(1.57-2.09Gy) for radiation alone and 1.88Gy(1.65-2.18Gy) for two doses GBE plus radiation, indicating no effect of GBE on jejunal crypt cell survival after radiation. Conclusion : GBE doesn't increase acute normal tissue radiation reaction in this model system. As GBE was verified to enhance radiation effect on tumor, high therapeutic gain is expected when GBE is combined with radiation therapy.

• Investigative Magnetic Resonance Imaging
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• v.2 no.1
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• pp.113-119
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• 1998

Purpose : Because adenocarcinomas of the uterine cervix have lower 5-year survival rate than squamous cell carcinomas due to early lymph node metastasis and local extension, scrutiny of lymph node metastasis and local extension by radiologic examination is necessary in case of clinically diagnosed or suspected adenocarcinomas. The purpose of this study is to evaluate whether there are specific findings of these tumors, compared with squamous cell carcinomas, through the analysis of magnetic resonance (MR) imaging findings. Materials and Methods : Of 21 pathologically proven cervical adenocarcinomas, MR imaging findings of 18 tumors (histologic staging : two Ib, four IIa, two IIb, one IIIa, and one IIIb) were retrospectively analyzed and compared with those of 40 wquamous cell carcinoma in consecutive patients as a control group. T1-wetighted and fast spin echo T2-weighted images were obtained on the axial and sagittal planes, using a 1.5-T MR scanner. The largest diameter, location, signal intensity and degree of contrast enhancement contour, shape and longitudinal extent of the tumor and associated findings on MR image were analyzed. Results : The largest diameters of cervical adenocarcinomas ranged from 0.8 to 4.1 cm(mean, 2.2 cm). Of 18 adenocarcinomas, nine were of endocervical type. All adenocarcinomas were isointense to surrounding cervical stroma on T1-weighted images and hyperintense(homogeneous in ten, inhomogeneous in eight) on fast spin echo T2-weighted images. Adenocarcinomas enhanced on contrast study in all patients (homogeneous in six, inhomogeneous in 12 with hyperintese enhnacing rim in two). Eight adenocarcinomas had smooth contours and ten had irregular ones. The shape of adenocarcinoma was irregular in eight patients, barrel shape in six, papillary/polypod in three, and nodular in one. All adenocarcinomas involved lower half of the uterine cervix and six tumors extended up to the upper half. Pelvic lymph nodes of more than 1.5cm in diameter in two adenocarcinomas pateints and no detectable small pelvic lymph nodes on MR imaging in one patient were pathologically positive. Hydrometra was associated in two adenocarcinomas patients, and hematometra in one patient. Compared with squamous cell carcinomas, more frequent MR findings of endocervical type and barrel shape in cervical adenocarcinomas were statistically significant. Conclusion : Cervical adenocarcinomas had more frequent MR findings of endocervical type and barrel shape, compared with wquamous cell carcinomas. Adenocarcinoma of the uterine cervix may be suspected on MR imaging, when a cervical carcinoma is of barrel shape along the endocervical canal and tends to involve lymth nodes in earlier stages.

• Radiation Oncology Journal
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• v.28 no.4
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• pp.193-204
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• 2010

Purpose: To analyze the treatment outcomes, complications, prognostic factors after a long-term follow-up of patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma treated with radiation therapy (RT) alone or concurrent chemoradiation therapy (CCRT). Materials and Methods: Between December 1981 and December 2006, 190 eligible patients with non-metastatic nasopharyngeal carcinoma were treated at our department with a curative intent. Of these patients, 103 were treated with RT alone and 87 patients received CCRT. The median age was 49 years (range, 8~78 years). The distributions of clinical stage according to the AJCC 6th edition included I: 7 (3.6%), IIA: 8 (4.2%), IIB: 33 (17.4%), III: 82 (43.2%), IVA: 31 (16.3%), IVB: 29 (15.3%). The accumulated radiation doses to the primary tumor ranged from 66.6~87.0 Gy (median, 72 Gy). Treatment outcomes and prognostic factors were retrospectively analyzed. Acute and late toxicities were assessed using the RTOG criteria. Results: A total of 96.8% (184/190) of patients completed the planned treatment. With a mean follow-up of 73 months (range, 2~278 months; median, 52 months), 93 (48.9%) patients had relapses that were local 44 (23.2%), nodal 13 (6.8%), or distant 49 (25.8%). The 5- and 10-year overall survival (OS), disease-free survival (DFS), and disease-specific survival (DSS) rates were 55.6% and 44.5%, 54.8% and 51.3%, in addition to 65.3% and 57.4%, respectively. Multivariate analyses revealed that CCRT, age, gender, and stage were significant prognostic factors for OS. The CCRT and gender were independent prognostic factors for both DFS and DSS. There was no grade 4 or 5 acute toxicity, but grade 3 mucositis and hematologic toxicity were present in 42 patients (22.1%) and 18 patients (9.5%), respectively. During follow-up, grade 3 hearing loss in 9 patients and trismus in 6 patients were reported. Conclusion: The results of our study were in accordance with findings of previous studies and we confirmed that CCRT, low stage, female gender, and young age were related to improvement in OS. However, there are limitations in the locoregional control that can be achieved by CCRT with 20 conventional radiation therapy. This observation has led to further studies on clarifying the efficacy of concurrent chemotherapy by intensity modulated radiation therapy.

• Journal of Veterinary Clinics
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• v.24 no.4
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• pp.479-485
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• 2007

A retrospective study of 94 hypercalcemic dogs was performed to find out most common causes that lead to hypercalcemia through investigating dogs referred to the Veterinary Teaching Hospital of Konkuk University from 2002 to 2004. During the study period, hypercalcemia was found in 94 dogs of 19 breeds, and they were evaluated as case group. Control group was made up of 94 dogs of 18 breeds without hypercalcemia admitted for the same study period. For general signalments, there were no significant differences between case and control group with the exception of age distribution. Shih-tzu(17.02%) and Yorkshire terrier(26.60%) was the most common breed in case and control group, respectively. The most common diseases associated with hypercalcemia were chronic renal failure (18.09%), acute renal failure(14.89%), and renal calculi(6.38%). Malignant neoplasia(lymphoma, hemangiosarcoma, chronic lymphocytic leukemia, mammary gland tumor, and multiple myeloma) and endocrinopathies(hyperadrenocorticism, hyperthyroidism, hypoadrenocorticism, and hypothyroidism) occupied 8.5% and 6.4%, respectively. This report is a first retrospective study of hypercalcemic dogs in South Korea.

• Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology & Nutrition
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• v.1 no.1
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• pp.90-99
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• 1998

Purpose: The aim of this study was to clarify the serum cytokine pattern in patients with chronic HBV infection in terms of their clinical state. Methods: Intravenous blood samples were taken from 35 patients who were seropositive for HBsAg for at least 6 months and 7 healthy controls. Samples were initially tested for serum aminotransferases and serologic markers for hepatitis B virus by EIA. Serum levels of interleukin(IL)-2, tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-${\alpha}$), interferon-gamma (IFN-${\gamma}$), IL-4, and IL-10 were measured by ELISA. Results: Among 35 patients, seropositive for HBeAg was 20 and for anti-HBe was 15. The histologic diagnosis of 19 patients underwent liver biopsy were chronic persistent hepatitis (CPH) in 10 and chronic active hepatitis (CAH) in 9. Serum IL-10 level in patients seropositive for HBeAg was significantly higher than that in patients seropositive for anti-HBe (p<0.05). All measured cytokine levels in patients with CAH were higher than those of patients with CPH. High values of all measured cytokines except IL-4 were seen in patients with AST and ALT > 100 U/L. High level of IL-4 was seen in patients with normal aminotransferase levels. Conclusion: These results were thought to indicate that anti-inflammatory Th2-like cytokine (IL-10) production in chronic HBV infection is related to circulating HBeAg rather than activity of hepatitis and that Th1 cytokines seem to be associated with the increasing activity of hepatitis.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.47 no.1
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• pp.50-56
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• 1999

Background : Pleural effusion is a common clinical problem and many clinical and laboratory evaluations, such as tumor marks, have been studied to discriminate malignant pleural fluid from benign pleural fluid. However their usefulness in the diagnosis of pleural effusion is still not established fully. We studied the diagnostic value of cyfra 21-1 in diagnosis of malignant pleural effusion. Methods: Pleural fluid was obtained from 45 patients with malignant diseases(32 lung cancer patients, 13 metastatic malignant diseases) and 47 patients with benign diseases. The level of cyfra 21-1 in the pleural fluid and serum were determined using a CYFRA 21-1 enzyme immunoassay kit(Cis-Bio International Co.). The t-test was used for comparison between two diseases groups and receiver operating characteristic(ROC) curves were constructed by calculating the sensitivities and specificities of the cyfra 21-1 at several points to determine the diagnostic accuracy of the cyfra 21-1. Results: In patients with primary lung cancer, the level of cyfra 21-1 in the pleural fluid was significantly higher than those of patients with benign diseases and had positive correlations between the level of cyfra 21-1 in the pleural fluid and serum levels. In the ROC curve analysis of the pleural fluid, the curve for primary lung cancer group was located closer to the left upper comer and the cut off value, sensitivity and specificity of the cyfra 21-1 of the primary lung cancer group was determined as 22.25ng/ml, 81.8% and 78.7% respectively. Conclusions: Our data indicates that the measurement of cyfra 21-1 level in pleural effusion has useful diagnostic value to discriminate malignant pleural effusion in primary lung cancer from benign pleural effusion.

• Journal of Yeungnam Medical Science
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• v.16 no.2
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• pp.208-218
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• 1999

Background: Lung cancer-associated hypercalcemia is one of the most disabling and life-threatening paraneoplastic disorders. Humoral hypercalcemia is responsible for most lung cancer-associated hypercalcemia. Patients with hypercalcemia are usually in the advanced stage with obvious bulky tumor and carry a poor prognosis. Materials and Methods: Total 29 patients satisfied the following criteria: histologically proven primary lung cancer, corrected calcium level ${\geq}$ 10.5 mg/dL, and symptoms which could possibly be attributed to hypercalcemia. In this retrospective study, we evaluated the various clinical aspects of hypercalcemia, in relation to cancer stage, histologic cell type, mass size, bone metastasis, performance status, and other possible characteristics. Results: Total 29 lung cancer patients with hypercalcemia were studied, and most of them had squamous cell carcinoma in their histologic finding. The incidence of hypercalcemia was significantly higher between 50 and 69 years of age, and in the advancement of cancer stage. Although serum calcium level showed positive correlation with mass size, performance status, and bone metastasis, it was not significant statistically. Altered consciousness was significantly more frequent in the patients with higher serum calcium level. There were no differences in effectiveness among therapeutic regimens. Hypercalcemia was more frequently in the later stage of disease than during the initial diagnosis of lung cancer. Most of the patients died within 1 month after development of hypercalcemia. Conclusion: We concluded that hypercalcemia in lung cancer is related to extremely poor prognosis, and may be one of the causes of death and should be treated aggressively to prevent sudden deterioration or death.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.51 no.1
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• pp.78-83
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• 2008

Purpose : Osteosarcoma is the most common primary malignant bone tumor in children and adolescents. Although survival rate of osteosarcoma patients has markedly improved, about 20-30% of patients still have a relapse. This study was aimed to find factors that influence postrelapse survival of osteosarcoma in childhood and adolescents. Methods : Between 1985 and 2004, of 461 patients who were diagnosed and treated as osteosarcoma in Korean Cancer Center Hospital, 180 patients with recurrent osteosarcoma were retrospectively reviewed. We examined survival rates and analyzed prognostic factors, such as relapse site, post-relapse treatment methods, pathologic response to neoadjuvnat chemotherapy, metastasis at first diagnosis, and relapse free interval. Results : The overall recurrence rate of patients with osteosarcoma was 39%. The 5-year and 10-year postrelapse survival rates in the recurrent osteosarcoma were 13% and 4%, respectively. The 5-year post-relapse survival rate was influenced by site of relapse (lung, 39%; local, 0%; lung & bone, 25%; others, 12%; P<0.05), relapse-free interval (<12 months, 13%; ${\geq}12$ months, 44%, P<0.05), and post-relapse treatment methods (with surgery, 38%; without surgery, 11%; P<0.05). Conclusion : The survival rate of recurrent case is very low after 10 years, so new second-line chemotherapy and active treatment is needed to increase survival. Aggressive surgery with the removal of recurrence sites combined with multi-agent chemotherapy could either cure patients with recurrent osteosarcoma or significantly prolong their survival.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.52 no.3
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• pp.230-240
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• 2002

Background : The majority of chemotherapy-treated small cell lung cancers(SCLC) patients eventually recur. Although many patients are in excellent physical condition at the time of recurrence, few drugs or drug combinations are capable of effecting a tumor regression in this setting. Topotecan, a topoisomerase I inhibitor, is one of the more widely studied single afents in SCLC. The aim of this study was to determine the response rate, survival and toxicity of topotecan as a second line traeatment SCLC. Materials and Methods : 19 patients with measurable SCLC, progressive during the first line chemotherapy (9 cases) or recurrent after the first line chemotherpy(10 cases), were enrolled in this study. Topotecan was administered as a 30-minute daily infusion at a dose of 1.5mg/$m^2$ for 5 consecutive days, every 3 weeks. Results : The overall response rate was 26.3%(5/19, CR 2, PR 3, SD 3, PD 11). The median survival was 24 weeks. The response rate and survival were poor in the nonresponders during first chemotherapy, those who were refractory to the first chemotherapy(recurrent within 3 months after completion of first chemotherapy) and extensive disease, but the results were not statistically significant. The toxicities were mainly hematologic and anemia grade III 1/90, leukopenia grade III 6/90 IV 4/90, thrombocytopenia grade III 1/90 IV 1/90, vomiting grade III 1/90 of cycles were occurred. There was no treatment-related deaths due to severe myelosuppression. Conclusion : Topotecan can be an active second line chemotherapeutic agent for treating SCLC.

• Journal of Gastric Cancer
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• v.7 no.4
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• pp.213-218
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• 2007

Purpose: Laparoscopy-assisted distal gastrectomy (LADG) is gaining wider acceptance for the treatment of early gastric cancer. However, firm evidence supporting the long-term outcome after LADG for gastric cancer is unknown. This study compared long-term quality of life after LADG versus an open distal gastrectomy (ODG) for early gastric cancer. Methods: This study included 29 patients who underwent LADG and 57 patients who underwent ODG for the treatment of stage I gastric cancer. Quality of life was evaluated based on the Korean version of EORTC QLQ-C30 (version 3.0) and EORTC QLQ-STO22 one year after surgery. All patients underwent a Billroth II gastrectomy for stage I gastric cancer between January 2003 and December 2004. Results: A total of 86 (58%) out of 154 patients responded to the questionnaire. Demographic features showed no difference between the two groups of patients for age, sex, depth of invasion, lymph node metastasis except for tumor size and the number of retrieved lymph nodes. The mean score for global health status was not statistically different (LADG, $60.3{\pm}20.4$ vs ODG, $57{\pm}20.6$; P=0.413). The total score of 21 items related to stomach cancer (EORTC QLQ-STO22) also was not statistically different (LADG, $68.9{\pm}64.9$ vs ODG, $94.5{\pm}97.3$; P=0.340). Conclusion: Based on the results of the Korean version of EORTC QLQ-C 30 (version 3.0) and EORTC. QLQ-STO22, LADG does not seem to have any long-term benefit over ODG on 'quality of life'.