• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.57 no.3
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• pp.204-207
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• 2015

We are reporting an unusual case of dural arteriovenous fistula (AVF) of the superior sagittal sinus (SSS) after tamoxifen treatment for breast cancer. A 30-year-old female arrived at the emergency room with a sudden headache and left sided weakness and sensory loss. In her past medical history, she was diagnosed with breast cancer 1 year prior, and subsequently underwent a breast conserving mastectomy with whole breast radiation and adjuvant chemotherapy with tamoxifen. At the time of admission, computed tomography showed a small acute intracerebral hemorrhage at the right parietal cortex, and magnetic resonance imaging showed that a dural AVF at the SSS with a prominent and tortuous venous enhancement along the centrum semiovale was present. Cerebral angiography showed that the dural AVF at the mid-portion of the SSS with meningeal arterial feeding vessels entering the wall of the SSS, then draining through the dilated cortical veins. Our patient had no signs of active malignancy or any abnormalities in her coagulation profile, so it can be concluded that the tamoxifen was the likely cause of the SSS thrombosis and dural AVF. The dural AVF was treated by an endovascular coil embolization for the arterialized segment of the SSS. The patient dramatically recovered favorably from left side motor and sensory deficit. The best clinical approach is to screen potential patients of tamoxifen hormonal therapy and educate them on the sign and symptoms of life threatening thromboembolic events while taking tamoxifen.

• Maxillofacial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery
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• v.34 no.6
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• pp.480-483
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• 2012

Schwannoma is a benign, slow-growing, tumor of the peripheral nerves without specific symptoms, so that early diagnosis may be difficult. Though approximately 25~40% of all schwannomas occur extracranially in the head and neck region, only 1% of schwannomas are reported in the oral cavity. An 18-years-old female patient visited our clinic with a mass on the middle-right-dorsal surface of the tongue slowly growing for 1.5 years. The patient underwent the surgical removal of the neoplasia under general anesthesia. The mass was well capsulated and a cleavage plane was easily found. There was no recidivation during the course of a one-year follow-up. The treatment for schwannoma is surgical excision of the lesion and recurrence after excision of schwannoma is rare. The final diagnosis is made after a histological examination. Differential diagnoses must be made in relation to malignant tumors and in relation to numerous benign neoformations based on epithelial and connective tissues.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.17 no.4
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• pp.1789-1795
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• 2016

Background: Breast cancer is the commonest female cancer worldwide and its propensity to metastasize negatively impacts on therapeutic outcome. Several clinicopathological parameters with prognostic/predictive significance have been associated with metastatic suppressor expression levels. The role of metastatic suppressor gene (MSG) KiSS1 in breast cancer remains unclear. Our goal was to investigate the possible clinical significance of KiSS1 breast cancer. Materials and Methods: The study was conducted on 87 histologically proven cases of breast cancer and background normal tiisue. Quantitative reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (qRT PCR) and immunohistochemistry (IHC) were used to investigate KiSS1 at gene and protein levels, respectively, for correlation with several patient characteristics including age, family history, hormonal receptor status, stage, tumor size, nodal involvement and metastatic manifestation and finally with median overall survival (OS). Results: Our study revealed (i) KiSS1 levels were generally elevated in breast cancer vs normal tissue (P < 0.05). (ii) however, a statistically significant lower expression of KiSS1 was observed in metastatic vs non metastatic cases (P = 0.04). (iii) KiSS1 levels strongly correlated with T,N,M category, histological grade and advanced stage (p<0.001) but not other studied parameters. (iv) Lastly, a significant correlation between expression of KiSS1 and median OS was found (P = 0.04). Conclusions: Conclusively, less elevated KiSS1 expression is a negative prognostic factor for OS, advancing tumor stage, axillary lymph node status, metastatic propensity and advancing grade of the breast cancer patient. Patients with negative KiSS1 expression may require a more intensive therapeutic strategy.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.14 no.10
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• pp.5693-5697
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• 2013

Background: Changes in the attitudes and behavior of relatives of breast cancer patients concerning cancer prevention and screening after diagnosis in a loved one were evaluated. Materials and Methods: Forty-three questions were used to collect data from the relatives of the breast cancer patients who had been living with their relatives for at least one year. Results: The study group was composed of 171 female relatives (median age: 43, range: 17-82 yr). After the patients were diagnosed with breast cancer, changes in the attitudes and behavior of their relatives toward the prevention and screening of cancer were evident in 78 (45.6%) of the study participants (e.g. eating habits, quit or reduced smoking, exercise habits). In addition, it was noted that some characteristics of the relatives had different effects on different attitudes and behavior. Conclusions: Awareness on breast cancer among the relatives of breast cancer patients is useful for the management of health and social problems that can be seen in these individuals. At the same time, this information could help countries determine whether their actual level of healthcare for early cancer diagnosis, prevention, and screening are adequate.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.58 no.5
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• pp.571-576
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• 2020

Extra-enteric infections by Blastocystis spp. have rarely been documented. Here, we report a case of extra-enteric blastocystosis in a patient with minimal cervicitis symptoms. A 47-year-old Hispanic female patient was attended in a primary health centre in Michoacan state, Mexico, for her routine gynaecological medical examination. As only symptom, she referred to a slight vaginal itching. The presence of several vacuolar-stages of Blastocystis spp. were identified by Papanicolaou staining; molecular identification was attempted by culture-PCR sequencing of a region of 18S gene from cervical and faecal samples obtained 2 months after cytological examination, even when patient declared that she tried self-medicating with vaginal ovules. Blastocystis ST1 was identified only in the faecal sample. The presence of Blastocystis spp. in the cervix of a patient with scarce symptomatology, demonstrates the extraordinary flexibility of this microorganism to adapt to new environments and niches.

• Journal of Hospice and Palliative Care
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• v.1 no.1
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• pp.65-68
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• 1998

The neuropathic pains are not well controlled by common analgesics and opioid drugs in terminal cancer patients. The types of these pains are divided within the two cages, one is due to continuous central sensitization and the other is due to paroxymal peripheral sensitization. The mechanism of continuous central sensitization is the activity of dorsal horn neurones that are activated by C-fiber input. The tricyclic antidepressants, non-tricyclic antidepressants, and oral local anaesthesia probably produce analgesic effects in neuropathic pains through suppression of this activity. The mechanism of paroxymal peripheral sensitization is the hyper-excitability of peripheral neurones. The neuropathic pains due to peripheral sensitization respond relatively the anticonvulsants and baclofen that stabilize membranes and suppress paroxymal electrical discharge. The patients was a 38-year-old female who complained of hyperthemia on upper right extremity. The symptom of this patient was improved with anticonvulsant(dilantin 600mg).

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.38 no.2
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• pp.235-239
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• 2017

This case study describes the effect of Bojungikki-tang on chemotherapy-induced alopecia. Alopecia is a well-documented cause of distress to patients undergoing cancer treatment, but no approved pharmacological treatment exists for chemotherapy-induced hair loss. A 70-year-old female diagnosed with a cholangiocarcinoma and liver metastasis received chemotherapy, including gemcitabine and cisplatin, every three weeks. As a result of the continuous chemotherapy, she suffered various toxicity-related side effects, including bone marrow suppression, general weakness, nausea, peripheral numbness, and hair loss. Bojungikki-tang was initially administered to improve the patient's general weakness and fatigue. After three months of treatment, the patient's hair loss and general condition improved, and the color of the new hair was dark, despite the chemotherapy. The treatment did not improve other symptoms, such as bone marrow suppression and peripheral numbness. This case suggests that Bojungikki-tang could have a beneficial effect on chemotherapy-induced alopecia.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.12 no.1
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• pp.61-66
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• 1979

This is a report of a case of tuberculous esophageal perforation, which was surgically treated.. The patient was 32-year-old Korean female patient, who complained swallowing difficulty for` 4 weeks duration. Esophagogram was shown irregular filling defects in the upper one third of esophagus, about 4 cm in length. It was noticed that a small amount of contrast media was leaked out from the involved area of esophagus into the right mediastinum. It was highly suggested that abscess formation was due to perforation of esophageal cancer. Esophagoscopy revealed no definitive evidence of perforation of esophagus, but punch biopsy specimen of esophageal mucosa was shown acute and chronic inflammatory changes. Operation was performed under impression of esophageal cancer. In the right-sided upper mediastinum, a walnut-sized abscess cavity which was connected with esophagus through a fistulous tract was noted. A portion of cavity submitted for frozen section was shown tuberculous inflammation. The abscess cavity, fistula tract, and involved esophageal wall were removed. The perforated esophagus was closed layer by layer. The tuberculous changes were confirmed by histopathologic examination postoperatively. The postoperative course was uneventful.

• CELLMED
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• v.13 no.12
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• pp.44.1-44.7
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• 2023

Objective: A case of reducing adverse effects associated with imatinib using Cyaplex F. Methods: The 52-year-old female with past medical history of stage 1 triple-positive breast cancer 10 years ago, and current metastatic melanoma has been complaining adverse effects after imatinib was started. Results: After OCNT was initiated, the patient's headache and muscle pain have been much tolerable and her AST/CPK levels were returned close to her baseline. Conclusion: OCNT may reduce side effects caused by Imatinib and help patient to stay with the current chemotherapy regimen.

• Radiation Oncology Journal
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• v.13 no.3
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• pp.267-275
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• 1995

Radiotherapy and chemotherapy can effectively control cancer but can also cause new second cancers to develop as long-term complications especially in childhood cancer. We experienced two patients with second malignant solid neoplasm who had been treated with radiation and chemotherapy for childhood cancers One female patient with rhabdomyosarcoma of the right popliteal fossa was treated with radiotherapy at total dose of 54Gy Three years and seven months later, osteosarcoma developed in the field of radiation therapy The other male patient with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma of the small bowel was treated with radiotherapy and leiomyosarcoma developed in the field of radiotherapy 18 years later. We reviewed the literature of the second malignant neoplasm in children in respect of risk factors. The risk for a second primary cancer following radiotherapy or chemotherapy emphasizes the need for life long follow-up of patients receiving such treatments, particularly patients treated for childhood cancers.