• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.14 no.4
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• pp.2433-2437
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• 2013

Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is a potent regulator of angiogenesis and thereby involved in the development and progression of solid tumours. Associations between three VEGF gene polymorphisms (-634 G/C, +936 C/T, and +1612 G/A) and breast cancer risk have been extensively studied, but the currently available results are inconclusive. Our aim was to investigate associations between three VEGF gene polymorphisms and breast cancer risk in Chinese Han patients. We performed a hospital-based case-control study including 680 female incident breast cancer patients and 680 female age-matched healthy control subjects. Polymerase chain reaction restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) analysis was performed to detect the three VEGF gene polymorphisms. We observed that women carriers of +936 TT genotypes [odds ratio (OR) =0.46, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 0.28, 0.76; P=0.002] or 936 T-allele (OR=0.81, 95% CI= 0.68, 0.98; P=0.03) had a protective effect concerning the disease. Our study suggested that the +1612G/A polymorphism was unlikely to be associated with breast cancer risk. The -634CC genotype was significantly associated with high tumor aggressiveness [large tumor size (OR=2.63, 95% CI=1.15, 6.02; P=0.02) and high histologic grade (OR=1.47, 95% CI= 1.06, 2.03; P=0.02)]. The genotypes were not related with other tumor characteristics such as regional or distant metastasis, stage at diagnosis, or estrogen or progesterone receptor status. Our study revealed that the VEGF -634 G/C and +936 C/T gene polymorphisms may be associated with breast cancer in Chinese Han patients.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.14 no.1
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• pp.373-379
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• 2013

Background: Although caregiving to patients with terminal illness is known to be a stressful burden to family members, little attention has been focused on work-related problems. We aimed to investigate employment status and work-related difficulties of family caregivers of terminal cancer patients, comparing with the general population. Methods: Using structured questionnaires, we assessed family caregivers of 481 cancer patients determined by physicians to be terminally ill, from 11 university hospitals and the National Cancer Center in Korea. Results: Among 381 family caregivers of terminal cancer patients (response rate, 87.6%), 169 (43.9%) were not working before cancer diagnosis, but currently 233 (63.7%) were not working. Compared with the general population (36.5%), the percentage of not working among the family caregivers was higher (OR=2.39; 95%CI=1.73-3.29). A major reason for not working was to provide assistance to the patients (71.6%). 40.6% of those who continued working and 32.3% of those who not working family members reported extreme fatigue. Caregivers of old age, those who were female, those with a lower household income, and those caring for patients with a low performance status were not working at a more significant rate. Conclusion: Family caregivers of terminal cancer patients suffer job loss and severe work-related difficulties, probably due to caregiving itself and to fatigue. We need to develop supportive programs to overcome the burden of caregivers of the terminally ill.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.15 no.3
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• pp.1415-1418
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• 2014

The ABO blood group has been recently proposed to influence development of oral cancer. The aim ofthis study was to evaluate the association between the type of ABO blood group and oral cancer. In a case-control study, 104 patients with oral cancer were compared with 90 blood donors without cancer as controls. Data regarding the patient demographics, blood groups, Rh status, cancer characteristics and oral habits were also compared between two subgroups of squamous and non-squamous oral cancers. For statistical analysis, Chi-square test, t-student Test and Logistic Regression were used to analyze the relationship between ABO blood groups and oral cancer. The frequency of blood group B was significantly higher in oral cancer patients than controls (32% vs 13%) (p value=0.01), but Rh factor did not show significant difference between cases and controls. According to Logistic Regression, people with blood group B and those older than 50 had 3.5 and 19.4 times elevated risk of developing oral cancer, respectively. The frequency of squamous cell cancer was also significantly higher in men and people older than 50. On the other hand, females, people under 50, and those with blood group B were at 5.6, 2.9 and 4.3 times higher risk of developing non-squamous cell oral cancer,respectively. People with blood group B are at a greater risk of developing oral cancer, and female patients under 50 years of age with blood group B have the highest risk to develop non-squamous cell oral cancer.

• Journal of Oriental Neuropsychiatry
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• v.27 no.2
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• pp.119-130
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• 2016

Objectives The Purpose of this study was to conduct a characteristic study on cancer patients using the Core Seven Emotions Inventory (CSEI) followed by a correlation analysis with STAI, STAXI and BDI.Methods This study was conducted by analyzing the medical records of 21 patients who had visited ○○ University Oriental hospital and completed the Core Seven Emotions Inventory (CSEI), BAI, and BDI. A total of 21 patients diagnosed with Cancer were analyzed using SPSS (Statistical Package for the Social Science, IBM, United States of America, Version 22.0). Frequency Analysis, independent t-test, one-sample t-test, and correlation analysis were conducted.Results 1. The Seven Emotion Characteristics of the Cancer patients showed a fairly stable emotional Distribution. The Gong (恐) and Kyeong (驚) emotions were relatively higher than U (憂), Bi (悲), Sa (思), Hui (喜), No (怒). 2. According to Gender, Female patients exhibited higher Sa (思) and Kyeong (驚) emotions while male patients exhibited higher Bi (悲) Emotion. 3. No (怒), U (憂), Bi (悲), Sa (思), Gong (恐), and Kyeong (驚) emotions showed a high correlation with the BDI and BAI scores of cancer patients.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.15 no.21
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• pp.9467-9470
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• 2014

Background: Research indicates that oxidative stress induced by smoking plays a role in breast cancer. In view of these reports, we aimed to study th relationship between smoking and oxidative stress in breast cancer patients from the western region of Nepal. Materials and Methods: The study included a control group of 42 females (non-smoking healthy women) and a test group sudivided into Group I consisting of 46 female breast cancer patients who were smokers and Group II consisting of 42 non-smoking breast cancer patients. Detailed history of the patients was collected with the help of pre-test proforma. Plasma levels of malondialdehyde (MDA), total antioxidant activity (TAA) which represents total dietary antioxidants, vitamin C and ${\alpha}$- tocopherol were estimated by standard methods. Statistical analysis was done using SPSS version 16. Results: The plasma MDA, TAA, vitamin C and ${\alpha}$- tocopherol were $1{\pm}1.4nmol/ml$, $918{\pm}207{\mu}mol/L$, $1{\pm}0.24mg/dL$ and $0.94{\pm}0.31mg/dL$ in controls, $5{\pm}1.2nmol/ml$, $458{\pm}166{\mu}mol/L$, $0.64{\pm}0.32mg/dL$ and $0.5{\pm}0.3mg/dL$ in Group-I and $2.56{\pm}1.2nmol/ml$, $663{\pm}178{\mu}mol/L$, $0.78{\pm}0.2mg/dL$ and $0.77{\pm}0.2mg/dL$ in Group- II, respectively. Vitamin C, ${\alpha}$- tocopherol and TAA (p=0.001) were significantly reduced whereas MDA (p=0.001) was significantly raised in Group-I when compared to controls and Group-II. Conclusions: We observed a significant rise in oxidative stress and low levels of antioxidants in breast cancer patients with smoking habit. It is well known that free radicals facilitate the progression of breast cancer, possibly increasing the risk of progression to the next stage.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.17 no.8
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• pp.4101-4105
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• 2016

Background: Mortality among Iranian patients with colorectal cancer has not been fully examined and the factors associated with their survival are still controversial. This study aimed to determine the mortality rate and its related factors among the patients with colorectal cancer in southwestern regions in Iran. Materials and Methods: This prospective cohort study was conducted on 220 patients with colorectal cancer referred to Fahighi Hospital, Shiraz, Iran from 2009 to 2014. Data were collected from the patients' medical records and were analyzed using Cox regression analysis. Results: Over a median follow-up of 29.3 months, 56 out of the 220 patients (25.5%) died, 32 (14.5%) aged below 40 years, and 45.5% were female. Based on the results of multiple Cox regression analysis, family history of gastrointestinal cancer, stage III, former smoking, type of lesion (fungative and polypoid), and opium use were associated with a greater risk of colorectal cancer mortality (all P<0.05). Conclusions: This cohort study found that the mortality rate of colorectal cancer in Iran is lower than that in European countries. In addition, behavioral and clinical factors were significantly associated with the survival rate. Addressing the related factors would help healthcare providers and physicians provide the best care and improve the survival rate.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.24 no.9
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• pp.895-902
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• 1991

The surgical experience on 18 patients with benign or malignant stricture of the esophagus who underwent isoperistaltic interposition of left colon from April 1989 to July 1991 was reviewed. During same period 22 esophageal reconstructions with colon were performed, but 3 patients who had intraabdominal adhesion in the left upper quadrant and one patient who had uncertainty of blood supply of left colic artery could not undergo iso-peristaltic interposition of left colon. There were 12 male and 6 female patients ranging from 16 to 65 years of age. 12 patients had corrosive esophageal stricture, two had cancer of esophagus, and another two had hypopharyngeal cancer. The postoperative complications developed in 7 patients [38.8%] and most frequently encountered complication was cervical anastomotic leakage, which was successfully managed with simple drainage in all cases but one malignant patient. There was no operative mortality. The esophageal reconstruction with isoperistaltic left colon resulted in good function in 14 patients[77.8%], fair in 3 patients[16.7], and poor in 1 patient[5.6%]. In this experience esophageal reconstruction using isoperistaltic left colon is a satisfactory method that can be accomplished with acceptable morbidity and mortality.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.13 no.9
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• pp.4431-4433
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• 2012

Aim: The aim of the present study was to evaluate retrospectively histopathologically-diagnosed lesions that were detected in the kidney after radical nephrectomy for a preoperative diagnosis of kidney cancer. Methods: The medical records of 83 patients (51 male, 32 female) were included. Preoperative staging was accomplished by various methods including physical examination, blood hemography and biochemistry, abdominal ultrasonography (US), chest x-ray, abdominal computed tomography (CT) and abdominal magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Results: Totals of 70 patients underwent radical nephrectomy and 13 nephron sparing surgery. Of the 83 patients, 70 had malignant lesions (renal cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma or other malignancies) 13 had a variety of benign lesions, the most frequently detected being oncoytoma (6), angiomyolipoma (3), xanthogranulamatous pyelonephritis (2), cortical cyst (1) and chronic pyelonephritic change (1). Conclusion: It was concluded that in spite of great technological developments regarding radiological imaging modalities such as US, CT and MRI, benign lesions might still be detected pathologically in patients who undergo radical nephrectomy with the preoperative diagnosis of renal cancer. But, all renal masses should be regarded as malignant and should be managed surgically otherwise proven benign.

• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
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• v.27 no.5
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• pp.339-344
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• 2015

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to determine the effects of high and low resistance exercise using an elastic band on the strength and lymphedema of upper extremity in patients with breast cancer. Methods: Seventeen female patients with breast cancer related lymphedema were randomly allocated to the high (n=9) or low (n=8) resistance exercise group. Both groups participated in the elastic band exercise program three times a week for eight weeks. For the high resistance exercise group (HR), the resistance was gradually increased, while maintaining constant intensity of exercise for the low resistance exercise group (LR). Assessments made include the upper extremity muscle strength and lymphedema before and after training. Results: After the exercise program, the HR showed significantly improved shoulder flexion and elbow flexion strength variation compared to the LR (p<0.05). Upper arm edema rate was significantly decreased in HR (p<0.05), but the difference between the two groups was not significant. Conclusion: These findings suggest that the elastic band exercise helps improve the strength and lymphedema of upper extremity in patients with breast cancer. In particular, high resistance exercise is more effective in improving muscle strength and does not exacerbate lymphedema, rather may improve upper arm edema if it is applied with a low elastic bandage or compression sleeve.

• Korean Journal of Health Education and Promotion
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• v.6 no.1
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• pp.60-65
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• 1989

A statistical analysis was made on 15,971 surgically operated patients at D-Medical Center in the year of 1978 and 1988. 1,416 cancer patients among them were classified by sex, age, and malignant tumor site. The obtained results indicated that trend of male cancer was generally similar to the results of nation wide study. But, specific phenomenon was found in the case of female cancer in Daegu-Kyungbuk area. Among females the frequency rank was uterine cervix (35.77%), breast (17.97%), stomach (11.65%) in 1988. The frequency of uterine cervix was higher than other area. Breast cancer was highly ranked tumor compare with other area, and its age distribution also appeared in much younger decade.