• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• 제15권14호
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• pp.5721-5727
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• 2014

Objectives: To evaluate the performance of clustering methods used in the prognostic assessment of categorical clinical data for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patients in China, and establish a predictable prognostic nomogram for clinical decisions. Materials and Methods: A total of 332 newly diagnosed HCC patients treated with hepatic resection during 2006-2009 were enrolled. Patients were regularly followed up at outpatient clinics. Clustering methods including the Average linkage, k-modes, fuzzy k-modes, PAM, CLARA, protocluster, and ROCK were compared by Monte Carlo simulation, and the optimal method was applied to investigate the clustering pattern of the indices including platelet count, platelet/lymphocyte ratio (PLR) and serum aspartate aminotransferase activity/platelet count ratio index (APRI). Then the clustering variable, age group, tumor size, number of tumor and vascular invasion were studied in a multivariable Cox regression model. A prognostic nomogram was constructed for clinical decisions. Results: The ROCK was best in both the overlapping and non-overlapping cases performed to assess the prognostic value of platelet-based indices. Patients with categorical platelet-based indices significantly split across two clusters, and those with high values, had a high risk of HCC recurrence (hazard ratio [HR] 1.42, 95% CI 1.09-1.86; p<0.01). Tumor size, number of tumor and blood vessel invasion were also associated with high risk of HCC recurrence (all p< 0.01). The nomogram well predicted HCC patient survival at 3 and 5 years. Conclusions: A cluster of platelet-based indices combined with other clinical covariates could be used for prognosis evaluation in HCC.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• 제15권14호
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• pp.5685-5689
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• 2014

Background: It is well known that smoking is a preventable factor for all-cause mortality; however, it is still questionable how many years after smoking cessation that people will have reduced risk for mortality, in particular in those with a high interest in their own health. We aimed to examine the association between time since quitting smoking and total mortality among past-smokers relative to current smokers. Materials and Methods: We enrolled 36,446 health examinees that voluntarily taken with diverse health check-up packages of high cost burden in 1995-2003 and followed them till death by 2004. The history of cigarette smoking consumption was collected using a self-administrative questionnaire at the first visit time. Mortality risk by smoking cessation years was analyzed using Cox's proportional hazard model. Results: Compared to non-smokers, male smokers over 15 pack-years had higher risk for total mortality (HR=1.60, 95%CI 1.23-2.14). The mortality risk in female smokers with same pack-years was more pronounced than that in male smokers (HR=2.83, 95%CI 1.17-7.04) despite a small number of cases. Compared to current smokers, a decrease of total mortality was observed among those who ceased smoking, and inverse dose-response was found with years after cessation: RR 0.98 (95%CI, 0.64-1.41) (<2 yrs), 0.60 (95%CI, 0.43-0.83) (3-9 yrs), and 0.58 (95%CI, 0.43-0.79) (${\geq}10$ yrs). Conclusions: A reduced risk of total mortality was observed after 3 years of smoking cessation. Our findings suggest that at least 3 years of smoking cessation may contribute to reduce premature mortality among Asian men.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• 제14권2호
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• pp.1083-1087
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• 2013

Background: Colorectal cancer has several modifiable behavioural risk factors but their relationship to the risk of colon and rectum cancer separately and between countries with high and low incidence is not clear. Methods: Data from participants in the Asia Pacific Cohort Studies Collaboration (APCSC) were used to estimate mortality from colon (International Classification of Diseases, revision 9 (ICD-9) 153, ICD-10 C18) and rectum (ICD-9 154, ICD-10 C19-20) cancers. Data on age, body mass index (BMI), serum cholesterol, height, smoking, physical activity, alcohol and diabetes mellitus were entered into Cox proportional hazards models. Results: 600,427 adults contributed 4,281,239 person-years follow-up. The mean ages (SD) for Asian and Australia/New Zealand cohorts were 44.0 (9.5) and 53.4 (14.5) years, respectively. 455 colon and 158 rectum cancer deaths were observed. Increasing age, BMI and attained adult height were associated with increased hazards of death from colorectal cancer, and physical activity was associated with a reduced hazard. After multiple adjustment, any physical activity was associated with a 28% lower hazard of colon cancer mortality (HR 0.72, 95%CI 0.53-0.96) and lower rectum cancer mortality (HR 0.75, 95%CI 0.45-1.27). A 2cm increase in height increased colon and all colorectal cancer mortality by 7% and 6% respectively. Conclusions: Physical inactivity and greater BMI are modifiable risk factors for colon cancer in both Western and Asian populations. Further efforts are needed to promote physical activity and reduce obesity while biological research is needed to understand the mechanisms by which they act to cause cancer mortality.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• 제14권9호
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• pp.5219-5223
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• 2013

The number of axillary lymph nodes involved and retrieved are important prognostic factors in breast cancer. The purpose of our study was to investigate whether the lymph node ratio (LNR) is a better prognostic factor in predicting disease-free survival (DFS) for breast cancer patients as compared with pN staging. The analysis was based on 804 breast cancer patients who had underwent axillary lymph node dissection between 1999 and 2008 in Sun Yat-Sen University Cancer Center. Optimal cutoff points of LNR were calculated using X-tile software and validated by bootstrapping. Patients were then divided into three groups (low-, intermediate-, and high-risk) according to the cutoff points. Predicting risk factors for relapse were performed according to Cox proportional hazards analysis. DFS was estimated using the Kaplan-Meier method and compared by the log-rank test. The 5-year DFS rate decreased significantly with increasing LNRs and pN. Univariate analysis found that the pT, pN, LNR, molecule type, HER2, pTNM stage and radiotherapy well classified patients with significantly different prognosis. By multivariate analysis, only LNR classification was retained as an independent prognostic factor. Furthermore, there was a significant prognostic difference among different LNR categories for pN2 category, but no apparent prognostic difference was seen between different pN categories in any LNR category. Therefore, LNR rather than pN staging is preferable in predicting DFS in node positive breast cancer patients, and routine clinical decision-making should take the LNR into consideration.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• 제14권9호
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• pp.5185-5188
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• 2013

Background: We aimed to evaluate prognostic factors and response rates to various treatment approaches to patients with synovial sarcoma in an advanced setting. Materials and Methods: We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of 55 patients (18 pts; 32.7% women) diagnosed with synovial sarcomas. Twenty had metastatic disease at the time of diagnosis while the remainder of the study group consisted of patients who developed metastatic or inoperable locally advanced disease during follow up. Results: The median follow up time was 15 months (range: 1-53). Regarding outcomes for the 55 patients, 3 and 5 year overall survival rates were 26% and 14%, respectively. In univariate analyses among demographic factors female gender was associated with a better outcome (p=0.030). Patients with early progressing disease (<2 years) had a worse prognosis when compared to patient group with late relapse, but this difference did not reach statistical significance (p=0.056). According to multivariate Cox regression analysis patients who had undergone metastasectomy had a significant survival advantage (p=0.044). The overall response rate to different salvage chemotherapy regimens given as second line treatment was around 42.9-53.9% for all regimes. There were no statistically significant differences between chemotherapy regimens given in either second or third line settings in terms of overall survival. Conclusions: We observed no major differences in terms of response rate and survival between different salvage chemotherapy regimens. Although metastatic disease still carries a poor prognosis, metastasectomy was found to be associated with improved survival.

• 대한본초학회지
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• 제35권6호
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• pp.21-28
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• 2020

Objectives : The objective of this study was to investigate the improvement effect of Sprout of Coix lacryma-jobi var. mayuen Stapf water extract (SC) on the dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)-induced ulcerative colitis mice. Methods : The antioxidant activity of SC was measured through total polyphenol and total flavonoid content in vitro. The experiment was conducted with seven-week-old male Balb/c mice. After 1 week adaptation, acute colitis was induced by oral administration of 5% DSS dissolved in drinking water, for 7 days. And normal mice received drinking water without DSS throughout the entire experimental period. For each experiment, the mice were divided into 4 groups and 24 colitis mice were arbitrarily allocated into 3 groups (n = 8/group); Normal group, Control group, SC 100 mg/kg treated group (SCL), SC 200 mg/kg treated group (SCH). Serum and colon tissues were collected after one weeks of drug administration. Results : ROS levels, ONOO^- levels, AST, and ALT in serum were decreased in SC treated groups compared to the control group. Western blotting measurements of Nrf2, HO-1, SOD, catalase, GPx-1/2, IL-4, IL-10, and Bcl2 showed that the SC treated groups was increased compared to the Control group. Also, western blot measurements of NF-κBp65, p-IκBα, COX-2, iNOS, TNF-α, IL-1β, Bax, and Caspase-3 showed that the SC treated groups was reduced compared to the Control group. Conclusion : Taken together, these results suggest that SC treatment can attenuate the DSS-induced colitis though inhibiting NF-κB pathway and enhancing Nrf2 pathway. Therefore, SC was the potential to be used as a natural therapeutic drug.

• 지식경영연구
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• 제21권3호
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• pp.67-87
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• 2020

사용자가 컨텐츠의 소비자에 그치는 것이 아니라 생산자 역할까지 담당하는 웹 2.0 시대에는 사용자의 지속적 컨텐츠 생산이 온라인 사이트의 성공에 핵심 요소가 된다. 온라인 Q&A 사이트는 웹 2.0 트렌드의 대표적 사례로, 고품질의 지식을 반복적으로 공유하는 핵심 사용자들이 지속적으로 지식을 공유하도록 하는 것이 사이트의 성패를 결정짓는다. 본 연구는 핵심 사용자의 지식공유 지속행위를 유발하는 두가지 경로, 즉 지속의도로 대표되는 정교한 의사결정 과정(elaborate decision process)와 과거행위로 대표되는 자동화된 인지적 과정(automated cognitive process)을 제안하였다. 네이버 지식인의 핵심 사용자 337인의 주관적 의도 데이터와 객관적 온라인 행동 데이터를 수집한 뒤, 지속의도와 과거행위의 직접효과 및 둘 간의 조절효과를 검증해 보았다. 종속변수로 이전 연구에서 주로 사용되었던 지식공유 빈도를 측정하는 것과 더불어, 특정 기간 이상 답변활동이 없을 경우 지식공유를 중단한 것으로 판단하는 지식공유 지속여부를 측정하였다. 콕스비례위험 회귀분석과 음이항 회귀분석을 사용하여 지속의도와 과거행위가 지속행위의 두가지 유형에 미치는 효과를 살펴본 결과, 지식공유 지속여부에는 과거행위만 유의한 영향력을 보였으며, 지식공유 빈도에는 지속의도와 과거행위 모두 유의한 영향력을 보였다. 또한, 과거행위가 지속의도의 지식공유 빈도에 대한 영향력을 부정적으로 조절하는 것까지 확인할 수 있었다. 온라인 Q&A 사이트에서 핵심 사용자들의 지식공유 행위를 지속시키기 위해서는 꾸준한 지식공유를 통해 습관화 과정을 거치는 것이 중요하며, 지식공유 빈도를 높이고자 할 경우에는 습관화와 더불어 지식공유 지속의도를 높일 수 있는 적절한 혜택의 마련이 필요하다.

• 한국약용작물학회지
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• 제21권2호
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• pp.91-96
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• 2013

This study describes the identification of Panax species using mitochondrial consensus primers. Initially, a total of thirty primers were tested in ten Korean ginseng cultivars and two foreign Panax species, P. quinquefolius and P. notoginseng. In the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplification results, three primers (cox1, nad1/2-3 and nad2/1-2) generated co-dominant polymorphic banding patterns discriminating Korean ginseng cultivars from P. quinquefolius and P. notoginseng. However, these primers could not generated polymorphisms among the Korean ginseng cultivars, and simply represented species-specific polymorphisms for P. quinquefolius and P. notoginseng. Primers PQ91 and PN418 were designed from the consensus sequence of nad1/2-3 region. Two banding patterns (A or B) were detected in PQ91. Korean ginseng cultivars and P. notoginseng shared the same banding pattern (A type) and P. quinquefolius was identified another banding pattern (B type). In the case of PN418, two banding patterns (A or B) were detected in the Korean ginseng cultivars and two foreign Panax species. Korean ginseng cultivars and P. quinquefolius shared the same banding pattern (A type) and P. notoginseng was identified another banding pattern (B type). The combination banding patterns of three Panax species, Korean ginseng cultivars (Panax ginseng C. A. Mey.), P. quinquefolius and P. notoginseng, was identified as 'AA', 'BA' and 'AB', respectively. Consequently, PQ91 and PN418 primer sets can be used to distinguish among Panax species.

• 한국산학기술학회논문지
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• 제20권12호
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• pp.298-305
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• 2019

꾸지뽕나무 뿌리 추출물은 항염, 항암, 항산화와 같은 효과를 갖는 많은 생리활성 물질을 포함하고 있다고 알려져 있다. 그러나 꾸지뽕나무 뿌리 추출물(이하 CTE)의 사람 혈소판 응집 억제 기전에 관하여는 알려진 바 없다. 본 연구에서는 CTE가 혈소판에 미치는 영향을 확인하고자 하였다. CTE는 collagen으로 유도한 혈소판 응집 반응에서 cyclooxygenase-1 활성을 억제하고, 세포 내 칼슘 농도를 낮추는 방식으로 thromboxane A₂ 생성을 억제하였다. 또한, phospholipase Cγ2와 syk의 인산화 반응을 억제하였으며, guanosine monophosphate (cGMP)에 의존적인 방식으로 vasodilator-stimulated phosphoprotein(VASP)의 Ser²³⁹ 위치를 인산화하여 항혈소판 효과를 나타내었다. 또한, 고지방 식이로 혈소판 활성화를 유도한 랫드에서 CTE를 경구 투여 하였을 때, 간독성 없이 콜라겐으로 유도한 혈소판 응집반응을 thromboxane A₂ 생성을 억제함으로써 항혈소판 효과를 보였다. 이는 in vivo와 in vitro에서 같은 결과를 제시하고 있다. 결론적으로, CTE는 항혈소판 작용 및 심혈관계 질환 예방을 위한 천연물 유래의 안전하고, 새로운 물질임을 제시하는 바이다.

• 대한한의학방제학회지
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• 제24권4호
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• pp.243-257
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• 2016

Objectives : Illicium verum Hook. f. has been known to possess antimicrobial, antioxidant, antifungal, anti-inflammatory, insecticidal, analgesic, sedative, convulsive activities, it has been rarely conducted to evaluate the immuno-biological activity. The present study was examined to evaluate the anti-inflammatory effects of the Illicium verum Hook. f. water extracts (IVE) in vivo and in vitro. Methods : Cell viability was measured by MTT assay. The relative levels of NO were measured with Griess reagent. iNOS, COX-2, $NF-{\kappa}B$ and target proteins were detected by immunoblot analysis, and levels of cytokines were analyzed by ELISA kit. Anti-edema effect was determined in the carrageenan (CA)-induced paw edema model in rats. Results : All dosages of IVE used in MTT assay had no significant cytotoxicity. The increases of NO production and iNOS expression were detected in LPS-treated cells compared with control. However, these increases were attenuated by treatment with IVE. Also, IVE reduced the elevated production of $TNF-{\alpha}$, $IL-1{\beta}$ and IL-6 by LPS. IVE inhibited the $p-I{\kappa}B$ and translocation of $NF-{\kappa}B$ to nuclear. Furthermore, IVE significantly inhibited the increases of hind paw swelling, skin thicknesses and inflammatory cell infiltrations induced by CA injection. Therefore, IVE will be favorably inhibited the acute edematous inflammations. Conclusion : These results provide evidences that anti-inflammatory effect of IVE is partly due to the reduction of some inflammatory mediators by suppression of $NF-{\kappa}B$ pathway.