• Journal of Pharmacopuncture
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• v.19 no.3
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• pp.259-263
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• 2016

Lung cancer has a high mortality rate and is often diagnosed at the metastatic stage. Gefitinib is a targeted molecular therapeutic drug used to treat patients with non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Korean herbal medicines may also have therapeutic efficacy against lung cancer, reduce the side effects associated with chemotherapy, and improve patient quality of life (QOL). This case report describes the effects of a Korean herbal medicine regimen combined with gefitinib in a patient with NSCLC and bone metastasis. The Korean herbal medicine regimen included woohwanggeosa-dan, hwanggibujeong-dan and geonchilgyebok-jeong. The computed tomography (CT) findings showed that following combination treatment, the size of the tumor was markedly decreased without serious adverse events. Moreover, the Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance status was improved and cancer-related pain was decreased. These results suggest that a combination of Korean herbal medicines and gefitinib may be an effective therapeutic option for patients with advanced NSCLC and bone metastasis. Further studies are needed to examine the mechanism and the clinical efficacy of Korean herbal medicines against NSCLC.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.30 no.6
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• pp.112-117
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• 2009

Objective: Rhus verniciflua Stokes (RVS) has anticancer effect confirmed by preclinical studies and historical records. We thus tried to evaluate retrospectively the effect of RVS as a complementary medicine for patients with advanced non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) showing refractory to conventional chemotherapy. Patients and Methods: From June 1, 2006 to June 30, 2007, patients with advanced NSCLC who received both the standardized RVS extract and a standard course of second or more line therapy such as pemetrexed ($Alimta^{(R)}$), erlotinib ($Tarceva^{(R)}$), and gefitinib ($Iressa^{(R)}$) were checked. A total of 13 patients were eligible for the final analysis after fulfilling inclusion/exclusion criteria. Time to progression (TTP) of these patients treated with the standardized RVS extract was checked in the aftercare period. Results: Patients received RVS treatment for a median period of 296 (range 84-698) days. The median TTP was 220.5 (range 36-489) days, and three patients (23.1%) had TTP values of 15 more months. No significant side effects from RVS treatment have been observed. Conclusion: The standardized RVS extract might have synergetic effects by assisting apoptosis in advanced NSCLC with concurrent standard therapy agents, since it prolonged TTP without significant adverse effects. This study suggests that the standardized RVS extract is beneficial to patients with chemotherapy-refractory NSCLC. Further clinical trials and preclinical studies are necessary to determine the efficacy and safety of the standardized RVS extract in NSCLC.

• Animal cells and systems
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• v.2 no.1
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• pp.1-8
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• 1998

Hepatocyte growth factor (HGF), originally discovered and cloned as a powerful mitogen for hepatocytes, is a four kringle-containing growth factor which specifically binds to membrane-spanning tyrosine kinase, c-Met/HGF receptor. HGF has mitogenic, motogenic (enhancement of cell movement), morphogenic (e.g., induction of branching tubulogenesis), and anti-apoptotic activities for a wide variety of cells. During embryogenesis, HGF supports organogenesis and morphogenesis of various tissues, including liver, kidney, lung, gut, mammary gland, and tooth. In adult tissues HGF elicits an organotrophic function which supports regeneration of organs such as liver, kidney, lung, and vascular tissues. HGF is also a novel member of neurotrophic factor in nervous systems. Together with the preferential expression of HGF in mesenchymal or stromal cells, and c-Met/HGF receptor In epithelial or endothelial cells, the HGF-Met coupling seems to orchestrate dynamic morphogenic processes through epithelial-mesenchymal (or-stromal) interactions for organogenesis and organ regeneration. HGF or HGF gene may well become unique therapeutic tools for treatment of patients with various organ failure, through its actions to reconstruct organized tissue architectures. This review focuses on recently characterized biological and physiological functions integrated by HGF-Met coupling during organogenesis and organ regeneration.

• Journal of Korean Traditional Oncology
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.1-14
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• 2016

The incidence rate of cervical cancer in Korea is still higher than in other developed countries, notwithstanding the national mass screening program. Cervical cancer prognosis is good due to an effective treatment such as surgery or radiation therapy, concurrent chemotherapy in the early stage. However, it is still a poor prognosis when advanced stage or recurrent. Some studies said that combined oriental and western medicine can improve the survival, quality of life, immune function, and decrease side effects in cervical cancer. In the western medical part, clinical practice guideline was published in 2006, 2007 and 2010 in Korea. In China, oriental medicine clinical practice guideline have been published in 2014. But there is no Korean medicine clinical practice guideline. This study will introduce the methods of diagnosis and the medical therapeutics which is commonly utilized for cervical cancer in Korea, and existing Korean medicine clinical practice guideline for Disease Analysis and Treatment (辨證論治). This study will be a meaningful study to establish clinical practice guidelines of Korean Medicine for cervical cancer.

• Journal of Hospice and Palliative Care
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• v.19 no.3
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• pp.256-261
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• 2016

Radiation therapy is an effective modality to alleviate cancer-related symptoms. To deliver radiation accurately, it is essential to secure stability of the treatment position in patients during each treatment time. However, some patients could be less cooperative due to their psychoemotional issues. We present two cases of terminal-stage cancer patients who were initially unable to lie still on the treatment table before simulation. A relaxation technique was taught to them on the bed, and they could relax and undergo radiation therapy with effective symptom relief.

• Journal of Korean Traditional Oncology
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• v.13 no.1
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• pp.63-69
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• 2008

Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is the leading cause of cancer-related mortality worldwide. Standard treatment such as chemotherapy, radiotherapy, and surgery have many limitations in the treatment of this disease. Therefore, new molecular-targeted therapies needed and being developed. Patients with advanced NSCLC have a short life expentancy; therefore, in addition to increasing their survival, improving their quality of life (QoL) is also an important treatment goal. In this case report, we introduce NSCLC patient treated with Allergen Removed Rhus Verniciflua Stokes(aRVS). In this case, survival time incresed as traditional korean medicine using aRVS. And the general condition of the patient became better. Further case study will be needed in order to determine the effects of aRVS on NSCLC.

• Journal of Korean Traditional Oncology
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• v.13 no.1
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• pp.33-42
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• 2008

Objective: To investigate a clinical effect of Taichichuan training focussing on improvement of quality of life in cancer patients. Methods: The subject of study consisted of 10 cancer patients at the East-West Cancer Center of Dunsan Oriental hospital. The survey method of this study is Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-General (FACT-G) korean version. Patients performed Taichichuan twice a week and filled out FACT-G questionnaire before and after training. Results: Although total FACT-G score decreased 0.7 point after training, emotional well-being score increased 1.0 point after training. Male improved FACT-G score better than female. Over 50 age improved FACT-G score better than under 50 age. Over stage Ⅲ improved FACT-G score better than Under Stage II. Patients who were treated integrative treatment improved FACT-G score better than patients who were only treated conventional treatment. But all results were not significant statistically. Conclusions: Emotional well-being tends to improve after training, but this study cannot proved Taichichuan training improve quality of life in cancer patients. Well designed advanced study will be needed to prove its benefits.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.14 no.10
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• pp.5995-6000
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• 2013

Background: Nausea and vomiting after transcatheter arterial chemoembolization (TACE) for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) are common in clinical practice, but few studies have reported the incidence and risk factors of such events. Objective: The purpose of this study was to analyze the incidence and risk factors of nausea and vomiting after TACE for HCC. Methods: This study was a single-center retrospective analysis of a prospectively maintained database. Between May 2010 and October 2012, 150 patients with HCC were analyzed for incidence and preprocedural risk factors. Results: The incidence of postembolization nausea and vomiting was 38.8% and 20.9%, respectively, in patients with HCC. Patients who developed nausea had lower levels (<100 IU/L) of serum alkaline phosphatase (ALP) compared to those without nausea ($123.04{\pm}69.38$ vs. $167.41{\pm}138.95$, respectively, p=0.044). Female gender correlated to a higher incidence of nausea as well (p=0.024). Patients who developed vomiting, compared to those who did not, also had lower levels (<100 IU/L) of serum ALP ($112.52{\pm}62.63$ vs. $160.10{\pm}127.80$, respectively, p=0.010), and serum alanine transferase (ALT) ($35.61{\pm}22.87$ vs. $4.97{\pm}29.62$, respectively, p=0.045). There were no statistical significances in the incidences of nausea and vomiting between male patients over 50 years old and female patients who have entered menopause (p=0.051 and p=0.409, respectively). Multivariate analysis by logistic regression analysis demonstrated that female gender and ALP>100 IU/L were the most independent predictive factors of postembolization nausea (odds ratio (OR): 3.271, 95% CI: 1.176-9.103, p=0.023 and OR: 0.447, 95% CI: 0.216-0.927, p=0.030, respectively). ALP>100 IU/L was also the most independent predictive risk factor of postembolization vomiting (OR: 0.389, 95% CI: 0.159-0.952, p=0.039). Conclusions: Postembolizaiton nausea and vomiting are common in patients with HCC. Recognition of the risk factors presented above before TACE is important for early detection and proper management of postembolization nausea and vomiting. Nevertheless, future studies are required.

• Journal of Korean Medical classics
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• v.23 no.4
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• pp.39-62
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• 2010

Background : I investigated clinical research methodology of Traditional Korean Medicine(TKM) for treatment of lung cancer with Evidence Based Medicine(EBM) approach. Methods : I conducted the internet search of National Central Library, the National Assembly Library, Korea Education & Research Information Service, Korea Institute of Science and Technology Information for Korean theses and papers, and MEDLINE for the outside articles. Conclusion : In addition to outcomes of clinical trial, abundant clinician's experience and patients' preference are also considered. Pragmatic trials and quasi-experimental trials are better than clinical trials to plan clinical design of TKM for lung cancer and appropriate endpoints includes overall survival, disease-free survival, patient reporting outcome.

• Advances in Traditional Medicine
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• v.3 no.4
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• pp.212-216
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• 2003

This study assessed the effects of Qi therapy (QT) on premenstrual symptoms in women with premenstrual syndrome (PMS). Forty-six college women were randomly allocated to receive QT (QT group: n=23) or complete diary of PMS (control group: n=22, 1 was dropped out). The experimental group receives 12 minutes Qi therapy for 5 times (7, 4, 1 day before and 7, 14 day after menstruation), and control group relaxed in the same procedure with experimental group. We measured pain, depression and anxiety level with visual analogue scale (VAS) to investigate participants responses. There were significant reductions on pain, depression and anxiety in QT group compared with control. These findings suggest that Qi therapy may have a role in helping the women with PMS to cope with their pain, depression and anxiety symptoms.