• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
• /
• v.45 no.3
• /
• pp.335-341
• /
• 2024

Objectives: Patients with cancer eventually fail to respond to therapy when malignant cells develop effective ways to evade immunosurveillance. Conventional cancer treatments, such as radiation therapy and chemotherapy, aim to cure the disease or prolong the patient's life. However, the toxicity and side effects of conventional treatments limit their efficacy. Herbal medicine is a typical complementary and integrative form of medicine for cancer treatment in Asia. This protocol evaluates the effectiveness of herbal medicines in improving the immune function of patients with cancer. Methods: The following electronic databases will be searched: MEDLINE via PubMed, EMBASE via Elsevier, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), and Korean databases including Regional Information Sharing Systems (RISS), National Digital Science Library (NDSL), and Oriental Medicine Advanced Searching Integrated System (OASIS). Additionally, prospective randomized controlled trials that evaluate the effectiveness of herbal medicines on immune function in patients with cancer will be included in this review. All outcomes related to the immune function of patients with cancer (e.g., CD3, CD4, CD8, CD4/CD8 ratio, CD19 (B cells), dendritic cells (CD11), CD56 (NK cells), and macrophages) will be included in this review. Results: This review is expected to provide data on the effectiveness of herbal medicines on improving immune functions in patients with cancers. Conclusion: This systematic review will help patients and clinicians establish new management options for cancer treatment.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
• /
• v.31 no.10
• /
• pp.939-944
• /
• 1998

Background: The sugical results of the Cox-Maze procedure (CMP) for lone atrial fibrillation(AF) have proven to be exellent. However, those for AF associated with mitral valve(MV) disease have been reported to be a little inferior. Materials and methods: To assess the efficacy and safety of the CMP as a combined procedure with MV operation, we studied retrospectively our experiences. Between April 1994 and October 1997, we experienced 70 (23 males, 47 females) cases of CMP concomitantly with MV operation. Results: The etiologies of MV disease were rheumatic in 67 and degenerative in 3 cases. The mean duration of AF before sugery was 66$\pm$70 months. Fifteen patients had the past medical history of thromboembolic complications, and left atrial thrombi were identified at operation in 24 patients. Twelve cases were reoperations. Aortic cross clamp (ACC) time was mean 151$\pm$44 minutes, and cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) time was mean 246$\pm$65 minutes. Concomitant procedures were mitral valve replacement (MVR) in 19, MVR and aortic valve replacement (AVR) in 14, MVR and tricupid annuloplasty (TAP) in 8, MVR with AV repair in 3, MV repair in 11, MVR and coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) in 2, MVR and AVR and CABG in 1, redo-MVR in 10, redo-MVR and redo-AVR in 2 patients. The rate of hospital mortality was 1.4%(1/70). Perioperative recurrence of AF was seen in 44(62.9%), and atrial tachyarrhythmias in 10(14.3%), low cardiac output syndrome in 4(5.7%), postoperative bleeding that required mediastinal exploration in 4(5.7%) patients. Other complications were acute renal failure in 2, aggravation of preoperative hemiplegia in 1, and transient delirium in 1 patient. We followed up all the survivors for 16.4 months(3-44months) on an average. Sinus rhythm has been restored in 65(94.2%) patients. AF has been controlled by operation alone in 73.9% and operation plus medication in 20.3%. Two patients needed permanent pacemaker implantation; one with sick sinus syndrome, and the other with tachycardia- bradycardia syndrome. Only two patients remained in AF. We followed up our patients with transthoracic echocardiography to assess the atrial contractilities and other cardiac functions. Right atrial contractility could be demonstrated in 92% and left atrial contractility in 53%.We compared our non-redo cases with redo cases. Although the duration of AF was significantly longer in redo cases, there was no differences in ACC time, CPB time, postoperative bleeding amount and sinus conversion rate. Conclusions: In conclusion, the CMP concomitant with MV operation demonstrated a high sinus conversion rate under the acceptable operative risk even in case of reoperation.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
• /
• v.41 no.3
• /
• pp.408-417
• /
• 2012

This study examined the satisfaction of a school milk program as well as the preference of school milk and flavored milk. The subjects of this study were $4^{th}$ , $5^{th}$ and $6^{th}$ grade students in 4 different elementary schools, who were attending the school milk program in Ulsan. The survey was conducted from April 10, 2009 to April 30, 2009. Of the 403 questionnaires distributed, 347 responded and analyzed (usage rate: 86%). The results were as follows. Of the 347 respondents, 53.9% were boys and 46.1% were girls. 34%, 31.1% and 34.9% of the students were $4^{th}$, $5^{th}$ and $6^{th}$ graders, respectively. Second, 80.1% of the students reported 'have milk everyday', and 89.9% of the students reported 'have milk as it is'. Third, the overall satisfaction with the school milk program was 3.32 based on a 5-point likert scale, the 'guidance of nutrition teachers and class teacher' was 3.21 and 'taste of school milk' was 3.37. There were significant positive correlations between the school milk satisfaction variables and overall satisfaction (p<0.01). Fourth, the preference for school milk was 3.33. The preference for flavored-milk were 3.63 (coffee milk), 4.44 (chocolate milk), 4.16 (strawberry milk), 4.26 (banana milk) and 3.53 (black bean milk). Fifth, to improve the school milk program, 85.9% of students wanted a provision for flavored milk. In conclusion, schools need to find a way to increase the satisfaction of the school milk program and the preference of school milk to increase the milk intake of students. Nutrition education for students and parents should be conducted systematically and choices for various kinds of milk and milk products should be given to the students.