• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.14 no.6
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• pp.3509-3514
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• 2013

The prognostic value of the fibroblast growth factor-inducible 14 (Fn14) expression in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is unknown. Real-time PCR (RT-PCR), western blot assays and immunohistochemistry analysis were here performed in order to compare Fn14 expressios in paired liver samples of HCC and normal liver tissue. Most of the tumor tissues expressed significantly higher levels of Fn14 compared to adjacent non-tumor tissues, with Fn14High accounting for 54.6% (142/260) of all patients. The Pearson ${\chi}^2$ test indicated that Fn14 expression was closely associated with serum alpha fetal protein (AFP) (P=0.002) and tumor number (p=0.019). Univariate and multivariate analyses revealed that along with tumor diameter and portal vein tumor thrombosis (PVTT ) type, Fn14 was an independent prognostic factor for both overall survival (OS) (HR=1.398, p=0.008) and recurrence (HR=1.541, p=0.001) rates. Fn14 overexpression HCC correlated with poor surgical outcome, and this molecule may be a candidate biomarker for prognosis as well as a target for therapy.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.47 no.1
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• pp.30-35
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• 2010

Objective: The purpose of this study is to explain the effect and reciprocal action among tumor necrosis factor (TNF) like weak inducer of apoptosis (TWEAK), fibroblast growth factor-inducible 14 (Fn14), and transforming growth factor-$\beta1$ (TGF-$\beta1$) on degeneration of human intervertebral disc (IVD). Methods: Human intervertebral disc tissues and cells were cultured with Dulbecco's Modified Eagle's Medium/Nutrient F-12 Ham (DMEM/F-12) media in $37^{\circ}C$, 5% $CO_2$ incubator. When IVD tissues were cultured with TWEAK, Fn14 that is an antagonistic receptor for TWEAK and TGF-$\beta1$, the level of sulfated glycosaminoglycan (sGAG) was estimated by dimethyl methyleneblue (DMMB) assay and sex determining region Y (SRY)-box 9 (Sox9) and versican messenger ribonucleic acid (mRNA) levels were estimated by reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). Results: When human IVD tissue was cultured for nine days, the sGAG content was elevated in proportion to culture duration. The sGAG was decreased significantly by TWEAK 100 ng/mL, however, Fn14 500 ng/mL did not change the sGAG production of IVD tissue. The Fn14 increased versican and Sox9 mRNA levels decreased with TWEAK in IVD tissue TGF-$\beta1$ 20 ng/mL elevated the sGAG concentration 40% more than control. The sGAG amount decreased with TWEAK was increased with Fn14 or TGF-$\beta1$ but the result was insignificant statistically. TGF-$\beta1$ increased the Sox9 mRNA expression to 180% compared to control group in IVD tissue. Sox9 and versican mRNA levels decreased by TWEAK were increased with TGF-$\beta1$ in primary cultured IVD cells, however, Fn14 did not show increasing effect on Sox9 and versican. Conclusion: This study suggests that TWEAK would act a role in intervertebral disc degeneration through decreasing sGAG and the mRNA level of versican and Sox9.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.16 no.14
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• pp.5945-5950
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• 2015

A 6-year retrospective cohort study was conducted among Thai hematologic malignancy (HM) patients receiving intensive chemotherapy. Of the 145 eligible patients receiving 893 chemotherapy sessions, 46.9% were female, median age was 52 years, and the most common HM diagnosis was diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (46.2%). Febrile neutropenia (FN) occurred in 14.9% of chemotherapy sessions with an incidence of 24.8 per 1,000 chemotherapy cycles per year. Independent factors associated with FN were receiving the first chemotherapy cycle [adjusted hazard ratio (aHR) 4.1], having hemoglobin ${\leq}100g/L$ (aHR 3.7) and platelet ${\leq}140,000/{\mu}L$ (aHR 2.7) on chemotherapy day and receiving acute myeloid leukemia regimens (aHR 20.8). Granulocyte colony stimulating factor was significantly associated with reduced rate of FN when given in those receiving CHOP regimen. With the median follow-up time of 16 months, the overall survival time was significantly longer in patients without FN than those with FN (61.7 vs. 20.8 months; p<0.001).

• Journal of the Korea Safety Management & Science
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• v.14 no.1
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• pp.167-177
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• 2012

In this paper, we raised the performance of heuristic algorithm to assign job to workers in parallel line inspection process without sequence. In previous research, we developed the heuristic algorithm. But the heuristic algorithm can't find optimal solution perfectly. In order to solve this problem, we proposed new method to make initial solution called FN(First Next) method and combined the new FN method and old FE method using previous heuristic algorithm. Experiments of assigning job are performed to evaluate performance of this FE+FN heuristic algorithm. The result shows that the FE+FN heuristic algorithm can find the optimal solution to assign job to workers evenly in many type of cases. Especially, in case there are optimal solutions, this heuristic algorithm can find the optimal solution perfectly.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.16 no.14
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• pp.5691-5695
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• 2015

Background: Continuous surveillance of pattern of blood stream infection is necessary in febrile neutropenia (FN)especially with the recent escalating trend in the management of pediatric cancer patients towards intensified regimens and with the increase in infections caused by resistant organisms limiting the choice of antibiotics. Aim: To monitor change in pattern of blood stream infections (BSI) in FN pediatric cancer patients. Materials and Methods: Surveillance of FN episodes with positive BSI was prospectively monitored and compared to a previous surveillance in the same pediatric oncology unit. Results: A total of 232 BSI positive episodes were documented in 192 patients during a 6 months period. The results of recent surveillance analysis showed an increase in intensified regimens of chemotherapy, antimicrobial resistance, fungal infections, and prolonged duration of episodes when compared to previous surveillance, with p value sof <0.001, 0.005, 0.021, and <0.001, respectively. There was an apparent decrease in the crude mortality but this was not statistically significant, to 6% in 2011 from 10 % in 2006. Conclusions: The pattern of BSI at our institution is still inclining towards gram positive organisms but is showing a shift towards more antibiotic resistance and fungal infections.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.42 no.6
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• pp.450-454
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• 2007

Objective : The aim of this study was to identify the anatomical location and course of the facial nerve (FN) and their relationship to the tumor size in surgically treated vestibular schwannomas. Methods : A retrospective study was conducted on 163 patients who had been treated by the microsurgical resection for a newly diagnosed vestibular schwannoma between 1995 and 2005 (mean age of 46.1 years; 108 females and 55 males). Surgery was carried out via retrosigmoid approach in all patients with the electromyographic monitoring for the FN function. The anatomical location and course of the FN along the tumor surface were verified in each patient during the microsurgery, and were classified into 4 groups : 1) the FN displaced along the ventral and superior surface of the tumor (VS); 2) the ventral and central (VC); 3) the ventral and inferior (VI); and 4) the dorsal (Do). Results : The FN displacement was identified as the followings : VS in 91 patients (55.8%); VC in 57 (35.0%); VI in 14 (8.6%); and Do in 1 (0.6%). In the subgroup with tumors less than 2 cm in diameter (n=23), the FN was displaced along the ventral and central surface of the tumor in the majority (65.2%), whereas, in the patients with tumors larger than 2cm (n=140), it was displaced along the ventral and superior surface most frequently (59.3%). Conclusion : The FN can be displaced variably in vestibular schwannomas, and most frequently along the ventral and superior surface of the tumor, especially in large ones.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.13 no.8
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• pp.4203-4208
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• 2012

Aim: This study assessed if onfFN mRNA in the peripheral blood of patients with DTC can identify individuals with metastatic disease. Methods: Comparison of onfFN mRNA was made among 3 groups: disease-free, lymph node metastasis, and distant metastasis using real-time RT-PCR on 5 ml blood samples from each DTC patient. Results: Fifty-one patients were included: 30 (59%) were disease-free; 7 (13.7%) had lymph node metastasis; and 14 (27.5%) had distant metastasis. OnfFN mRNA levels in the 3 groups were significantly different (P=0.001) but with a large overlap and the expression being highest in the disease-free group. Subgroup analysis of the metastatic groups did not show any effect of age, cell type, and serum TSH, Tg, and antiTg on onfFN mRNA. The within-run and between-run root mean square coefficients of variations were <2%. Conclusion: OnfFN mRNA in patients with DTC cannot identify those with metastatic disease.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.14 no.2
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• pp.1115-1119
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• 2013

Background: Febrile neutropenia (FN) is a serious complication following chemotherapy and is associated with significant mortality and financial expenditure. The aim of this study was to evaluate risk factors for longer length of stay (LOS) and mortality and cost of treatment among hospitalized adults with cancer who developed febrile neutropenia in Thailand. Materials and Methods: Information on illness of inpatients and casualties came from hospitals nationwide and from hospital withdrawals from the 3 health insurance schemes in fiscal 2010. The data covered 96% of the population and were analyzed by age groups, hospital level, and insurance year schemes in patients with febrile neutropenia. Results: A total of 5,809 patients were identified in the study. The mortality rate was 14%. The median LOS was 8.67 days and 69% of patients stayed for longer than 5 days. On bivariate analysis, age, cancer type, and infectious complications (bacteremia/sepsis, hypotension, fungal infections, and pneumonia) were significantly associated with longer LOS and death. On multivariate analysis, acute leukemia and infectious complications were linked with longer LOS and death significantly. The median cost of hospitalized FN was THB 33,686 (USD 1,122) with the highest cost observed in acute leukemia patients. Conclusions: FN in adult patients results in significant mortality in hospitalized Thai patients. Factors associated with increased mortality include older age (>70), acute leukemia, comorbidity, and infectious complications.

• Journal of the Korean Recycled Construction Resources Institute
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• v.9 no.2
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• pp.152-160
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• 2021

Converter steel slag(BOF slag) is a vast amount of solid waste generated in the steelmaking process which has very low utilization rate in Korea. Due to the presence of free CaO which can derive bad volume stability in BOF slag, it usually land filled. For recycling BOF and identify its applicability as fine aggregate, this study investigates the fundamental characteristics of mortar with cement replaced ferronickel slag(FNS), which has the potential to be used as a binder. The results suggest that the mineral phases of BOF slag mainly include larnite(CaSiO₄), mayenite(Ca₁₂Al₁₄O₃₃) and wuestite(FeO) while olivine crystallines are shown in FNS. The results of flow and setting time reveals that the flowability and process of hardening increased when the amount of FNS and BOF slag incorporated was increased. The length change shows that the amount of change in the length of the mortar was almost constant regardless of mix proportion while compressive strength was reduced. Micro structure test results revealed that FNS or/and BOF slag mix took a long time to react in the cement matrix to form a complete hydration products. To achieve the efficient utilization of B OF slag as construction materials, proper replacement rate is necessary.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.16 no.4
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• pp.1449-1453
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• 2015

Background: Oral capecitabine is increasingly replacing intravenous 5-fluorouracil in many chemotherapy regimens. However, data on the risk of febrile neutropaenia (FN) and treatment related death (TRD) with the drug remain sparse outside of clinical trial settings despite its widespread usage. This study aimed to determine these rates in a large cohort of patients treated in the University of Malaya Medical Centre (UMMC). Materials and Methods: We reviewed the clinical notes of all patients prescribed with oral capecitabine chemotherapy for any tumour sites in University Malaya Medical Centre (UMMC) from $1^{st}$ January 2009 till $31^{st}$ June 2010. Information collected included patient demographics, histopathological features, treatment received including the different chemotherapy regimens and intent of treatment whether the chemotherapy was given for neoadjuvant, concurrent with radiation, adjuvant or palliative intent. The aim of this study is to establish the pattern of usage, FN and TRD rates with capecitabine in clinical practice outside of clinical trial setting. FN is defined as an oral temperature > $38.5^{\circ}C$ or two consecutive readings of > $38.0^{\circ}C$ for 2 hours and an absolute neutrophil count < $0.5{\times}10^9/L$, or expected to fall below $0.5{\times}10^9/L$ (de Naurois et al., 2010). Treatment related death was defined as death occurring during or within 30 days of last chemotherapy treatment. Results: Between $1^{st}$ January 2009 and $30^{th}$ June 2010, 274 patients were treated with capecitabine chemotherapy in UMMC. The mean age was 58 years (range 22 to 82 years). Capecitabine was used in 14 different tumour sites with the colorectal site predominating with a total of 128 cases (46.7%), followed by breast cancer (35.8%). Capecitabine was most commonly used in the palliative setting accounting for 63.9% of the cases, followed by the adjuvant setting (19.7%). The most common regimen was single agent capecitabine with 129 cases (47.1%). The other common regimens were XELOX (21.5%) and ECX (10.2%). The main result of this study showed an overall FN rate of 2.2% (6/274). The overall TRD rate was 5.1% (14/274). The FN rate for the single agent capecitabine regimen was 1.6% (2/129) and the TRD rate was 5.4% (7/129). All the TRDs were with single agent capecitabine regimen were used for palliative intent. Conclusions: Oral capecitabine is used widely in clinical practice in a myriad of tumour sites and bears a low risk of febrile neutropaenia. However, capecitabine like any other intravenous chemotherapeutic agent carries a significant risk of treatment related death.