• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• 제16권16호
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• pp.7331-7335
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• 2015

Background: Concurrent chemoradiation with three weekly high dose cisplatin is the non-surgical standard of care for the treatment of locally advanced head and neck cancers. Although this treatment regime is efficacious, it has high acute toxicity, which leads not only to increased treatment cost, but also to increased overall treatment time. Hence, the current study was undertaken to evaluate the acute toxicity and tumor response in head and neck cancer patients treated with concurrent chemoradiation using $40mg/m^2$ weekly cisplatin, which has been our institutional practice. Materials and Methods: This single institution retrospective study included data for 287 head and neck cancer patients treated with concurrent chemoradiation from 2012 to 2014. Results: The mean age of the patients was 48.8 years. The most common site of involvement was oral cavity. Most of the study patients presented with advanced stage disease. The mean overall treatment time was 56.9 days. Some 67.2% had overall complete response to treatment as documented till 90 days from the start of treatment. According to the Radiation Therapy Oncology Group (RTOG) acute radiation morbidity scoring criteria, mucositis was seen in 95.1% of the patients. Dermatitis and emesis were observed in 81.9% and 98.6%, respectively. Regarding haematological toxicity, 48.8% and 29.6% suffered from anaemia and leukopenia, respectively, during treatment. Acute kidney injury was assessed using the Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events (CTCAE), and was found in 18.8% of the patients. Conclusions: Concurrent chemoradiotherapy with weekly cisplatin is an effective treatment regime for head and neck cancers with reasonable toxicity which can be used in developing countries, where cost of treatment is so important.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• 제13권9호
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• pp.4733-4738
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• 2012

Background: Tobacco use is a leading cause of preventable morbidity and mortality from non-communicable diseases. The objectives of the study were to determine the percentage of annual income used to purchase tobacco-related products and treat tobacco-related illnesses, and assess the characteristics of smokers and their awareness of the health-related risks of smoking. Method: Stratified and snowball sampling methods were used to obtain information (via a 17-item, close-ended questionnaire) from 85 adult respondents (49 males and 36 females). The instrument comprised of demographic characteristics, smoking behavioural/lifestyle, health, and micro socio-economics. Results: There were no significant differences between individuals who were affected by chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder (COPD) (14.1%) and cardiovascular disease (18.8%). It was found that respondents spend 30-39% of their annual income on tobacco-related products. Forty percent (40.0%) and 41.7% of respondents with lung cancer and COPD respectively spend more than 50% of their annual income to treat these diseases. The majority (80%) of those who continues to consume tobacco-related products were uncertain as to why they were doing it. Not all the smokers were aware of the dangers of tobacco consumption despite their level of education. Conclusion: The majority of the respondents who had tobacco-related illnesses such as lung cancer and COPD spend a significant amount of their income on their health care. Not all the smokers were aware of the dangers of tobacco consumption despite their level of education. This suggests the need for increase public awareness where both smokers and non smokers are being fully or adequately informed about the dangers or health risks of tobacco consumption.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• 제50권5호
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• pp.346-354
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• 2017

Background: Ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) is a common disease that may contribute to morbidity and mortality among trauma patients in the intensive care unit (ICU). This study evaluated the associations between trauma factors and the development of VAP in ventilated patients with multiple rib fractures. Methods: We retrospectively and consecutively evaluated 101 patients with multiple rib fractures who were ventilated and managed at our hospital between January 2010 and December 2015, analyzing the associations between VAP and trauma factors in these patients. Trauma factors included sternal fracture, flail chest, diaphragm injury, traumatic aortic dissection, combined cardiac injury, pulmonary contusion, pneumothorax, hemothorax, hemopneumothorax, abbreviated injury scale score, thoracic trauma severity score, and injury severity score. Results: Forty-six patients (45.5%) had at least 1 episode of VAP, 10 (21.7%) of whom died in the ICU. Of the 55 (54.5%) patients who did not have pneumonia, 9 (16.4%) died in the ICU. Using logistic regression analysis, we found that VAP was associated with severe lung contusion (odds ratio, 3.07; 95% confidence interval, 1.12 to 8.39; p=0.029). Conclusion: Severe pulmonary contusion (pulmonary lung contusion score 6-12) is an independent risk factor for VAP in ventilated trauma patients with multiple rib fractures.

• Journal of Haehwa Medicine
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• 제12권2호
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• pp.1-9
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• 2004

1. Purpose Stroke is the most frequent cause of mortality and morbidity rate in Korea with coronary heart disease and cancer. The ischemic type of stroke is increasing tendency. The purpose of this studies is to examine the hematologic difference between cb infarction patients and Korean normal adults. 2. Method The study group consisted of neurologically confirmd 50 cb-infarction patients as the case group and 278 patients as control group that they had no significant result by CT through early examination of stroke in Cheonan oriental hospital of Daejeon university. We tested and compared RBC, hemoglobin, hematocrit, WBC, PT, PTT, total protein, albumin, total bilirubin, direct bilirubin, GOT GPT, $\gamma$-GTP, total cholesterol, triglyceride, HDL-C, glucose, BUN, creatinine, Na, K in the both group. 3. Result In the sample group(cb infarction group), there were many patients with low RBC count but no significant and with low hemoglobin, hematocrit(p<0.05). Thereas, increased WBC count and delayed PTT were showed respectively 20%, 36% in patient group, 7.9%, 4.7% in normal group(p<0.05). Comparing the LFT between cb infarction patients and normal adults, we founded significant cases with low HDL-C level, high glucose level, low potassium level in patient group(p<0.05). But the percentage of high total cholesterol level and triglyceride level were 18%, 29%(norma1 group), 20%, 28%(cb infarction group) respectively, there were no significant difference. 4. Conclusion In this study, we demonstrated that low HDL-C level and high glucose level is one of important risk factor of cb infarction. Also prospective studies are needed to evaluate many risk factor(hemoglobin, hematocrit, WBC, cholesterol, triglyceride, K, etc) of cb infarction.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• 제27권4호
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• pp.838-843
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• 2017

Sepsis is a major health problem worldwide, with an extremely high rate of morbidity and mortality, partly due to delayed diagnosis during early disease. Currently, sepsis diagnosis requires bacterial culturing of blood samples over several days, whereas PCR-based molecular diagnosis methods are faster but lack sensitivity. The use of biosensors containing nucleic acid aptamers that bind targets with high affinity and specificity could accelerate sepsis diagnosis. Previously, we used the systematic evolution of ligands by exponential enrichment technique to develop the aptamers Antibac1 and Antibac2, targeting the ubiquitous bacterial peptidoglycan. Here, we show that these aptamers bind to four gram-positive and seven gram-negative bacterial sepsis agents with high binding efficiency. Thus, these aptamers could be used in combination as biological recognition elements in the development of biosensors that are an alternative to rapid bacteria detection, since they could provide culture and amplification-free tests for rapid clinical sepsis diagnosis.

• The Korean Journal of Applied Statistics
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• 제31권4호
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• pp.529-538
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• 2018

Tuberculosis causes high morbidity and mortality. However, Korea still has the highest tuberculosis (TB) incidence and mortality among OECD countries despite decreasing incidence and mortality due to the development of modern medicine. Korea has now implemented various policy projects to prevent and control tuberculosis. This study analyzes the effects of public-private mix (PPM) tuberculosis control program on treatment outcomes and identifies the factors that affecting the success of TB treatment. We analyzed 130,000 new tuberculosis patient cohort from 2012 to 2015 using data of tuberculosis patient reports managed by the Disease Control Headquarters. A cumulative incidence function (CIF) compared the cumulative treatment success rates for each factor. We compared the results of the analysis using two popular types of competition risk models (cause-specific Cox's proportional hazards model and subdistribution hazard model) that account for the main event of interest (treatment success) and competing events (death).

• Radiation Oncology Journal
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• 제1권1호
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• pp.47-53
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• 1983

CT scans obtained on 15 patients of head and neck malignant tumors were evaluated for their utility in ratiotherapy treatment planning. To evaluate the advantage of incorporating CT scans in radiotherapy treatment planning of head and neck malignant tumors, the dose distributions of treatment plan with and without CT scan were compared in 15 patients. And then the dose distributions of the first and second treatment plan were compared. 1. Tumor extend and localization were clearly delineated on CT scan in 12 of 15 cases (80%), suggestive in 2 (13.3%), and not seen in only one (6.7%) which had been in the postoperative state. 2. Tumor coverage after CT scan was adequate in 14 of 15 cases (93.3%) and not in only one. In one case of inadequate tumor coverage the target volume lay inside the field but reached within 0.5cm of the field margin (marginal miss). 3. The volume of normal tissue irradiated was reduced after CT scan in 12 of 15 cases (80%), increased in 1 (6.7%) and not changed in 2 (13.3%). 4. We could maximize the local control of disease and minimize unnecessary morbidity by delineating the location and extent of tumor and normal tissue with CT for treatment plannings.

• Journal of the korean academy of Pediatric Dentistry
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• 제26권1호
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• pp.146-150
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• 1999

With the improved cure rates for childhood malignant conditions in the past decade, late effects of cancer therapy must be recognized to minimize their impact on the quality of life in long-term survivors. Chemoradiation therapy is a major part of pediatric oncology treatment and is implicated in causing tooth agenesis, microdontia, root shortening, early apical closure, and coronal hypocalcification. Dental development may be affected by illness, trauma, chemotherapy, or radiation therapy at any point prior to complete maturation. Treatment given during the first 3.5 years of life was more likely to affect the dental lamina and crown formation and result in a small tooth. Dental treatment affected by chemoradiation damage to developing teeth includes orthodontic tooth movement, prosthetic abutment consideration, periodontal health, space maintenance, requirement for home fluoride regimens to protect hypomineralized teeth, and enodontic procedures. Dental abnormalities are common in patients treated for cancer, and these children require aggressive dental follow-up. Meticulous surveillance may facilitate detection of abnormalities, enabling the dental practitioner to intervene earlier in promoting a more aggressive regimen of oral care, thus reducing the morbidity associated with dental sequelae of oncotherapy, specifically periodontal disease and malocclusion. In this case, we report microdontia of all permanent second premolar and second molar in an 8 year old boy treated with chemotherapeutic agents during period of active dental development(14 months to 38 months of age).

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• 제17권4호
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• pp.348-352
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• 2009

Over the last decade, the incidence of overweight and obesity has nearly doubled in many countries and is considered a pandemic. Obesity was identified as a major risk factor for cardiovascular disease as the same level as smoking and diabetes. Visceral fat is considered one of the key contributors to outcome and certain ethnic groups such as Asians seem to be more affected than others. Weight reduction through lifestyle changes was found to be impactful to improve overall health, but weight loss and maintenance thereof is limited and difficult to sustain. Surgical intervention demonstrated a greater weight loss in the severely obese and was associated with improved all-cause mortality. Despite numerous pharmacological targets and a high medical need, only few drugs have been successfully developed. Earlier studies with amphetamine-derived compounds showed significant weight loss but their critical safety profiles led to market withdrawals and disappointment. More recent compounds; orlistat - a lipase inhibitor, rimonabant - a cannaboid-1-receptor antagonist, and sibutramine - a combined serotonin/norepinephrine re-uptake inhibitor, all demonstrated similar significant efficacy; however, they carry specific safety profiles making them unsuitable for every patient. The main limitation of pharmacotherapy is the absence of clear benefit-risk assessments through outcome studies. Such a study - the SCOUT trial - was designed to compare sibutramine versus placebo and the effect on morbidity and mortality in nearly 10,000 obese patients with additional risk factors. Such studies could provide new scientific evidence for obesity treatment and may support future pharmacological approaches.

• Journal of Oral Medicine and Pain
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• 제45권1호
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• pp.12-16
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• 2020

Chronic otitis media (COM) is a chronic inflammatory disease which affects the middle ear, mastoid cavity. It presents hearing loss, ear pain, dizziness, headache, temporomandibular joint (TMJ) inflammation and intracranial complication. Intracranial complications such as skull base osteomyelitis (SBO) may occur secondary to COM due to transmission of infection by a number of possible routes. SBO is an uncommon condition with a significant morbidity and mortality if not treated in the early stages. We report a-67-year-old male patient with diabetes and untreated COM who presented atypical severe TMJ, periorbital and postmandibular pain. By computerized tomography (CT), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and whole body bone scan (WBBS), he was diagnosed with SBO spreading from untreated COM via infective arthritis of TMJ. Through this case, we suggest proper utilization of diagnostic imaging, especially CT or MRI for the early detection of SBO in the case of COM accompanying with the greater risk of infection developments such as diabetes.