• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.15 no.18
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• pp.7603-7609
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• 2014

Glutathione is a thiol compound that plays an important role in the antioxidant defense system of the cell and its deficiency leads to an increased susceptibility to oxidative stress and, thus, progression of many disease states including head and neck cancer. In the present study, alterations of glutathione levels were investigated in study cohort of 500 samples (cohort 1 containing 200 head and neck cancer blood samples along with 200 healthy controls and cohort II with 50 head and neck squamous cell carcinoma tissue samples along with 50 control tissues) by high performance liquid chromatography. The results indicated that mean blood glutathione levels were significantly reduced in head and neck cancer patients (p<0.001) compared to respective controls. In contrast, the levels of glutathione total (p<0.05) and glutathione reduced (p<0.05) were significantly elevated in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma tissues compared to the adjacent cancer-free control tissues. In addition to this, pearson correlation performed to correlate different tissue glutathione levels (GSH) with clinical/pathological parameters demonstrated a significant negative correlation between pT-stage and GSH level ($r=-0.263^{**}$; p<0.01), C-stage and GSH level ($r=-0.335^{**}$; p<0.01), grade and GSH ($r=-0.329^{**}$; p<0.01) and grade versus redox index ($r=-0.213^{**}$; p<0.01) in HNSCC tissues. Our study suggests that dysregulation of glutathione levels in head and neck cancer has the potential to predict metastasis, and may serve as a prognostic marker.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.15 no.24
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• pp.10933-10935
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• 2015

Background: Many scientists have reported Candida species to be of great concern because of the high frequency that they colonize and infect human hosts, particularly cancer patients. Moreover, in the last decades Candida species have developed resistance to many antifungal agents. Based on this, we aimed to identify and determine the prevalence of Candida spp from blood culture bottles among cancer patients and their antifungal resistance pattern. Materials and Methods: From the blood culture bottles isolation and identification of the Candida spp were performed by conventional microbiological techniques. The in vitro antibiotic resistance pattern of the isolates was determined by CLSI guidelines. Genomic DNA was isolated and amplified. Each gene was separated by agar gel electrophoresis. Results: Identification of Candida spp was based on the presence of yeast cells in direct examination, culture and DNA extraction. Of the 68 blood samples collected during the study period (April 2013 to October 2013), five (7.35%) were positive for the presence of Candida spp, 2 (40%) of which were identified as Candida albicans and 3 (60%) were Candida non-albicans. Conclusions: High resistance to amphotricin B was observed among all the Candida non-albicans isolates. Regular investigations into antifungal resistance will help us to get an updated knowledge about their antibiotic resistance pattern which may help the physician in selecting the antibiotics for empirical therapy.

• Journal of Pharmacopuncture
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• v.17 no.1
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• pp.20-26
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• 2014

Objectives: The study aimed to determine changes in laboratory data for cancer patients receiving Korean medicine (KM) care, with a focus on patients' functional status, cancer-coagulation factors and cancer immunity. Methods: We conducted an observational study of various cancer patients in all stages admitted to the East-West Cancer Center (EWCC), Dunsan Korean Hospital of Daejeon University, from Mar. 2011 to Aug. 2011. All patients were under the center's multi-modality Korean-medicine-based inpatient cancer care program. The hospitalization stay at EWCC ranged from 9 to 34 days. A total of 80 patients were followed in their routine hematologic laboratory screenings performed before and after hospitalization. Patients were divided into three groups depending on the status of their treatment: prevention of recurrence and metastasis group, KM treatment only group, and combination of conventional and KM treatment group. The lab reports included natural killer cell count (CD16 + CD56), fibrinogen, white blood cell (WBC), lymphocytes, monocytes, neutrophil, red blood cell (RBC), hemoglobin, platelet, Erythrocyte Sedimentation Rate (ESR), and Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance status. Results: With a Focus on patients' functional status, cancer-coagulation factors and cancer immunity, emphasis was placed on the NK cell count, fibrinogen count, and ECOG scores. Data generally revealed decreased fibrinogen count, fluctuating NK cell count and decreased ECOG, meaning improved performance status in all groups. The KM treatment only group showed the largest decrease in mean fibrinogen count and the largest increase in mean NK cell count. However, the group's ECOG score showed the smallest decrease, which may be due to the concentration of late-cancer-stage patients in that particular group. Conclusions: Multi-modality KM inpatient care may have positive effect on lowering the cancer coagulation factor fibrinogen, but its correlation with the change in the NK cell count is not clear.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.17 no.5
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• pp.2527-2533
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• 2016

Sensitising cancer cells and at the same time desensitizing normal cells is a double task in cancer management. Agents which can combat the debilitating side effects of cancer therapeutics and simultaneously synergize with anticancer agents in specifically targeting cancer cells are needed. Selenium, a proven anticarcinogen, gains due importance in terms of its efficacy to combat the side effects of cancer therapy. This study is a comparative analysis of the chemoprotective effects of selenium compounds, methyl selenol (generated from organic selenomethionine (5mmol/L ; METase 40U/L)) and sodium selenite (inorganic form)($30{\mu}M$) in peripheral blood human lymphocytes exposed to cisplatin and mitomycin. Biochemical alterations occurring in many cells during apoptosis include loss of plasma membrane phospholipid asymmetry, DNA fragmentation, and activation of caspase-3. The present study demonstrated that the selenium metabolite and selenite are efficient in protecting lymphocytes undergoing DNA damage and exerted their activity by reducing caspase 3 expression. Interestingly organic methylselenol (MeSe) was found to offer more protective effects compared to inorganic selenite (SeL), by reducing the induction of apoptosis by the cytotoxic agents. This suggests that MeSe and to a lesser extent selenite might have potential for assessment in clinical trials and could be considered as strong candidates in pharmacogenomics or in the nutriprotective arena.

• The Korea Journal of Herbology
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• v.22 no.4
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• pp.187-199
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• 2007

Objectives : The present study purposed to compare the antioxidant effect, anti inflammatory effect and cancer cell multiplication inhibition effect of Fructificatio Inonoti Obliqui aqueous extract according to extraction temperature. Methods : We medicated animal models, which had experimental oxidation, with Fructificatio Inonoti Obliqui total extract and $50^{\circ}C$ low temperature leachate, and performed hematological analysis and blood chemical analysis with measuring SOD, GSH, catalase, NO and MDA content in the liver. In addition, we made comparative observation of anti inflammatory effect and anti-cancer effect. Results : Compared to the control group, both the group medicated with Fructificatio Inonoti Obliqui total extract and with $50^{\circ}C$ low-temperature leachate were found to decrease the number of thrombocytes in blood plasma and NO content while to increase SOD activity and catalase activity significantly. Both groups also showed anti-inflammatory effect against THP-1 cells and a multiplication inhibition effect against liver cancer cells and stomach cancer cells significantly. Conclusions : Both Fructificatio Inonoti Obliqui total extract and Fructificatio Inonoti Obliqui $50^{\circ}C$ low-temperature leachate have significant antioxidant effect, anti inflammatory effect and anti cancer effect.

• Biomedical Science Letters
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• v.4 no.2
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• pp.121-128
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• 1998

We studied on the expression of apoptosis in colorectal cancer, lymph node, their corresponding normal mucosa and colorectal cancer patient's blood by genomic DNA electrophoresis and TUNEL labeling method. From 7 cases among 37, 20 cases among 47 and 5 cases among 15, DNA ladders were expressed in normal tissues, colorectal tissues and Iymph node tissues, respectively. A DNA ladder was not observed in 7 cases of colorectal cancer patients blood. In case of TUNEL labeling, we could observe TUNEL color espression in colorectal cancer and lymph node tissues. As these result suggest that apoptotic index may be associated with the colorectal cancer development, and mat be used as a prognostic indicator but further evaluations will be needed.

• The Korean Journal of Nuclear Medicine
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• v.25 no.1
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• pp.110-116
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• 1991

To elucidate alteration of peripheral T cell subsets in thyroid tumors, the author enumerated T cell subsets in periphral blood by indirect immunofluorescent method, using monoclonal antibodies (CD3, CD4 and CD8) in 17 cases of thyroid cancer, 12 cases of thyroid adenoma, and 16 cases of adult healthy subjects as controls. Diagnoses were confirmed histopatologically in thyroid cancer and adenoma, and were established on the basis of commonly accepted clinical and biochemical criteria in Hashimoto's thyroiditis. The blood was drawn from veins of the patients and control subjects in Pusan National University Hospital during the period of January to October 1990. The results obtained were summarized as follow: 1) The percentage of CD3+ cells was significantly decreased in thyroid cancer as compared with healthy subjects. 2) The percentage of CD4+ cells was not different among thyroid cancer, thyroid adenoma, Hashimoto's thyroiditis and control subjects each other. 3) The percentage of CD8+ cells was significantly decreased in thyroid cancer as compared with adult healthy subjects, and tended to be decreased as compared with thyroid adenoma and Ha-shimoto's thyroiditis. 4) The CD/CD8 ratio was significantly increased in thyroid cancer as compared with control subjects, and tended to be increased as compared with thyroid adenoma and Hashimoto's thyroiditis. On the basis of the results, it can be suggested that the immunodysfunction may be due to decreased soppressor/cytotoxic T cells in thyroid cancer.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.16 no.2 s.30
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• pp.149-176
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• 1995

The results were as follow: 1. In classification of the virulence of medicines, it is the virulent animal that have a deadly poison and the rest is the animal of weak nor non-toxic. 2. In classification of the channel distribution, the most is the medicine that belongs to liver channel, the next are the stomach, lung, kidney and spleen channel. 3. In classification of four characters, the most parts are cool, common and warm medicine and there is a few that is hot and cooling. 4. In classification of five tastes, the most numerous tastes are sweet and salty and the next are acrid, bitter and sour tastes. 5. In classification of the medical action, there are few medicine of invigorating vital energy, tonic therapy and astringent and a great part of the medicine are regulating vital energy and blood, removing blood stasis and mass, clearing away heat-evil and eliminating sputum, calming the river to inhibit the wind-evil and pain control. 6. In classification of the application of cancer, the most numerous disease is the liver cancer and the next are stomach cancer, esophageal cancer, lung cancer, leukemia, uterine cancer,mastitis, brain tumor.

• Journal of Haehwa Medicine
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.87-96
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• 2012

Aim : Natural killer (NK) cells are cytotoxic lymphocytes that lyse certain tumor- and virus-infected cells without any prior stimulation or immunization. This article aims to review the significance of evaluating peripheral blood NK cells to predict anti-tumor immune function and prognosis in cancer patients. Methods : PubMed was used to create a database for this review. Search words of cancer, natural killer cell, prognosis were used to retrieve related articles. References of the collected articles were also reviewed. Results : Current evidence indicates that decreased or absent NK cell count or activity is mostly associated with the development or progression of cancer. In patients with various types of cancer, NK cell activity was mostly associated with the cancer prognosis and survival despite some conflicting results. Conclusion : The data shows the evaluation of anti-tumor immunity in cancer patients through natural killer cell measurement still remains a controversial matter. However, it is clear that the NK cell activity plays an important role in cancer and is associated with prevention of both early stage and metastatic cancer.

• Journal of Korean Clinical Nursing Research
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• v.18 no.3
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• pp.368-380
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• 2012

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of a home-based video exercise program on cancer-related fatigue, physiological and psychological status in patients with colon and rectal cancers undergoing chemotherapy. Methods: The study design was a non-equivalent control group non-synchronized design. Data were collected from patients with colo-rectal cancers in Yonsei cancer center from July 5th to October 31st in 2011. There were 40 participants; 20 in the experimental group and 20 in the control group. The structured questionnaire was used to measure fatigue, physical function and emotional status. Data were analyzed using SPSS 18.0 and a chi-squre test, Fisher's exact test, Mann-Whitney U test and Wilcoxon signed- rank test were conducted to examine the homogeneity and the research hypotheses. Results: There was a statistically significant difference in White Blood Cell count in the experimental group compared with that of the control group. The exercise group showed a slight decrease of White Blood Cell count compared with that of the control group after 4 week program (z=-2.935, p=.003). However, there were no significant differences in fatigue, physiological and psychological status between the two groups. Conclusion: In this study, the developed video exercise program was effective in markedly slightly decreasing White Blood Cell count in patients with colo-rectal cancers undergoing chemotherapy. Therefore, utilizing the video exercise program can be an useful method to promote health among patients with cancer in clinical practice.