• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.16 no.18
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• pp.8589-8594
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• 2016

Background: Liver cancer is one of the most common causes of death in the world. In Korea, hepatitis B virus (HBV) is a major risk factor for liver cancer but infection rates have been declining since the implementation of the national vaccination program. In this study, we examined the secular trends in liver cancer mortality to distinguish the effects of age, time period, and birth cohort. Materials and Methods: Data for the annual number of liver cancer deaths in Korean adults (30 years and older) were obtained from the Korean Statistical Information Service for the period from 1984-2013. Joinpoint regression analysis was used to study the shapes of and to detect the changes in mortality trends. Also, an age-period-cohort model was designed to study the effect of each age, period, and birth cohort on liver cancer mortality. Results: For both men and women, the age-standardized mortality rate for liver cancer increased from 1984 to 1993 and decreased thereafter. The highest liver cancer mortality rate has shifted to an older age group in recent years. Within the same birth cohort group, the mortality rate of older age groups has been higher than in the younger age groups. Age-period-cohort analysis showed an association with a high mortality rate in the older age group and in recent years, whereas a decreasing mortality rate were observed in the younger birth cohort. Conclusions: This study confirmed a decreasing trend in liver cancer mortality among Korean men and women after 1993. The trends in mortality rate may be mainly attributed to cohort effects.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.13 no.2
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• pp.731-736
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• 2012

Background and Aims: The National Cancer Screening Program (NCSP) for liver cancer was initiated in 2003 in Korea. The objective of this study was to evaluate the participation rate of the program and to provide preliminary information on its results based on data collected by the NCSP in 2009. Methods: The target population of the NCSP for liver cancer in 2009 was comprised of 373,590 adults aged ${\geq}40$ years at high risk for liver cancer. Participation rates and positivity rates were assessed in this population. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was performed to determine the factors associated with participation in the NCSP for liver cancer. Results: The overall participation rate was 37.9% and 1,126 participants were positive at screening. The highest participation rates were observed in women, those in their 60s, National Health Insurance beneficiaries, and individuals positive for hepatitis B surface antigen. Positivity rates for men, those in their 70s, Medical Aid Program recipients and individuals with liver cirrhosis were the highest in the respective categories of gender, age, health insurance type, and risk factor for liver cancer. Conclusions: The participation rates of the NCSP for liver cancer are still low, despite the fact that the program targets a high-risk group much smaller than the general population. Efforts to facilitate participation and to reduce disparities in liver cancer screening among Korean men and women are needed. These results provide essential data for evidence-based strategies for liver cancer control in Korea.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.26 no.2
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• pp.333-340
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• 2005

Background: Cancer reseach is done in earnest world-wide, because cancer is one of most threatening diseases to humans. Orostachyos Herba is a widely used herb that has long been in use in Korea as an anti-inflammatory and anti-cancer therapy. The purpose of this study is to verify any anti-cancer effects on stomach and liver cancer in vitro. Materials & Methods: AGS and KATO III stomach cancer cells and Hep3B and HepG2 liver cancer cells, all obtained from Korean Cell Line Bank, were used. The boiled extract of Orostachyos Herba(20 and 40 microliters) were injected into cultures and observed at 0 hours, and at 24-hour intervals up to 96 hours. The destruction of stomach and liver cancer cells was measured through Trypan blue exclusion testing. The suppression on viability of stomach and liver cancer cells was observed, and anti-cancer mechanisms was examined by analyzing the cell cycle. Results: In morphologic change, AGS, KATO III, HepG2 and Hep3B showed some of the withdrawn and floating appearance that is typical in cellular imparment. AGS, KATO III, HepG2 and Hep3B showed more destruction of stomach cancer cells in each test group than in the control group to a statistically significant degree. Analysis of the cell cycle after introduction of Orostachyos Herba showed very little inhibition of divisions of all cell lines. Conclusions: This experiment suggests that Orostachyos Herba has some anti-tumor effects on stomach and liver cancer cells. Progressive research on Orostachyos Herba and it's anti-tumor effects will be needed to determine its practicability as a cancer treatment.

• Journal of Pharmacopuncture
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• v.7 no.1 s.12
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• pp.27-36
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• 2004

Objective : This study was aimed to validate the Herbal Acupuncture Therapies(HAT) for cancer patients. Patients and methods : This retrospective study was performed on 8 patients who were diagnosed as cancer in Korea and treated with HAT in the oriental hospital of Daejeon University, from January 2003 to January 2004. We retrospectively analyzed the medical records of 8 patients for improvement of symptoms, toxic effects of liver and kidney, myelosupression and changes of Quality of Life(QOL). Results : Analysis of change of chief complaints showed that 75% patients replied moderate relief and 25% replied complete relief in Likert scale. Analysis of Liver Function Test(LFT), Renal Function Test(RFT) level showed that HAT does not have toxic effects on liver and kidney. Analysis of Complete Blood Count(CBC) level showed that HAT does not have myelosuppression effects on bone marrow. Analysis of QOL showed that 100% patients replied improvement in Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group status(ECOG) status. Conclusion : Our findings suggest that HAT offer potential benefits for cancer patients.

• The Korea Journal of Herbology
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• v.22 no.4
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• pp.187-199
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• 2007

Objectives : The present study purposed to compare the antioxidant effect, anti inflammatory effect and cancer cell multiplication inhibition effect of Fructificatio Inonoti Obliqui aqueous extract according to extraction temperature. Methods : We medicated animal models, which had experimental oxidation, with Fructificatio Inonoti Obliqui total extract and $50^{\circ}C$ low temperature leachate, and performed hematological analysis and blood chemical analysis with measuring SOD, GSH, catalase, NO and MDA content in the liver. In addition, we made comparative observation of anti inflammatory effect and anti-cancer effect. Results : Compared to the control group, both the group medicated with Fructificatio Inonoti Obliqui total extract and with $50^{\circ}C$ low-temperature leachate were found to decrease the number of thrombocytes in blood plasma and NO content while to increase SOD activity and catalase activity significantly. Both groups also showed anti-inflammatory effect against THP-1 cells and a multiplication inhibition effect against liver cancer cells and stomach cancer cells significantly. Conclusions : Both Fructificatio Inonoti Obliqui total extract and Fructificatio Inonoti Obliqui $50^{\circ}C$ low-temperature leachate have significant antioxidant effect, anti inflammatory effect and anti cancer effect.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.35 no.1
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• pp.24-32
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• 2002

Objective : Few studies have examined the relationship between the risk of cancer and exposure to pesticides in Korea or in other East Asian that have until recently used chlorophenoxy herbicides. The aim of this study was to evaluate the relationship between the exposure to pesticides and cancer incidence. Methods : We conducted a prospective cohort study with a follow-up period of 13 years (1985-1998). The subjects included 2,687 male and 3,589 female Kangwha Island residents, Koreans aged fifty-five or more as of March 1985, who received a personal health interview and completed a health examination survey. A Cox proportional hazards models were used to estimate relative risks(RR). Results : At baseline, the mean age of the study participants in 1985 was 66.4 for males and 67.1 for females. During the 13 years follow-up, a total of 300 incidents of cancer in males and 140 in females developed. In males, the total cancer incidence in the highest group was RR, 1.4 (95%. CI=1.0-1.9), p for trend=0.041, for digestive organ cancer Incidence in the highest group, RR, 1.5 (95% CI=1.0-2.3), p for trend=0.057, for stomach cancer, incidence in the highest group, RR, 1.6 (95% CI=0.9-2.8), p for trend=0.094, for gallbladder cancer incidence in the highest group, RR, 9.1 (95% CI=1.1-77.0), p for trend=0.014 were elevated according to the higher frequency of pesticide use per year. In particular, the risk of gallbladder cancer was very high. Although not significant, the risk of liver cancer was higher than in the non-exposed group (in the highest group, RR, 2.0(95% CI=0.7-5.9)). In females, although not significant, breast cancer incidence in the highest exposure group was higher than in the non-exposed group (in the highest group, RR, 4.7 (95% CI=0.5-27.9)). Conclusions : This study demonstrates that Korean farmers who use pesticides, particularly males, have a significantly higher total cancer incidence, particularly from digestive organ cancers such as, stomach, gallbladder, and liver cancer. In particular, the risk of gallbladder cancer was very high.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.39 no.3
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• pp.255-262
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• 2006

Objectives: This study is conducted to identify the cancer incidence in Gwangju during the 5-year period from 1998 to 2002 and to assess the completeness and validity of the cancer registry data during this time period. Methods: All cases that had a diagnosis of invasive cancer (ICD-10 sites C00-C97) during the study period were retrieved from the records of the Gwangju Cancer Registry (GCR), which theoretically includes all the cancer cases in Gwangju. All the cases during the study period were analyzed by gender, age group and cancer sites. The completeness (mortality/incidence ratio and age-specific incidence curve) and validity (histologic verification, primary site unknown, age unknown and death certificate only) of the cancer registry in Gwangju were analyzed by gender, age group and cancer sites for the 5-year period. Results: The overall cancer incidence was higher in the males than in the females (age-standardized incidence rates (ASR) 299.8 and 172.4 per 100,000, respectively). In males, the most common cancer was stomach (ASR: 65.8), followed by liver (ASR: 50.5), bronchus and lung (ASR: 50.5), colo-rectum (ASR: 26.7), oesophagus (ASR: 10.6), and bladder (ASR: 10.3) in descending order. In females, the most common cancer was stomach (ASR: 26.8), followed by thyroid (ASR: 20.7), breast (ASR: 20.4), cervix uteri (ASR: 14.3), bronchus and lung (ASR: 13.0), liver (ASR: 10.7) and colo-rectum (ASR: 17.2) in descending order. The overall quality (completeness and validity) of the cancer registry was at the in 'good' level. Conclusions: These results will be useful in the overall context of planning and evaluating of cancer control activities in Gwangju.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.27 no.4 s.48
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• pp.735-745
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• 1994

The incidence data (1991. 7. 1$\sim$1992. 6. 30) from the Implementation Study of Seoul Cancer Registry (ISSCR) were evaluated in terms of its completeness and validity. Two indicators for the completeness, Mortality/Incidence ratio (M/I ratio) and Age-specific Incidence Curve, showed fairy good registration throughout the age-sex specific strata, except the strata aged over 75 years old. The strata had very high M/I ratio (over 100%) and decreasing pattern of incidence, which suggested incomplete registration of cancer in this group. The active surveillance by a ISSCR staff improved the registration rate especially among elderlies. From the site specific M/I ratio, we found that liver cancer had oddly high M/I ratio. Since this high M/I ratio of liver cancer appears consistently in other reliable cancer registries, it is more like to be due to the high fatality of it rather than incomplete registration. The validity of the incidence data was assessed by three indicators; Histological Verification (HV%), Primary Site Unknown (PSU%), and Age Unknown (Age UNK%). The average HV% were 77% for men and 85% for women, which were slightly lower than those of other reliable cancer registries. This low HV% might be due to the considerable size of relative frequency of liver cancer in Korea, regarding the fact that the diagnosis of liver cancer is made mostly by non-biopsical radiologic methods (CT, Ultrasono, Angiography, MRI etc.). The level of PSU% and Age UNK% were in acceptable range, but not low enough, especially in terms of Age UNK%. Although ISSCR data had acceptable quality in general, it is needed to have more hospitals participate in the registry surveillance, to make registery data merged with death certificate data regulary, and educate the registration stans to be more competent and dedicated.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.33 no.2
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• pp.231-238
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• 2000

Objective : To estimate the burden of diseases in Korea especially caused by major cancers using the YLL(years of life lost due to premature death) measurement. Methods : First, we determined the parameters: such as age-specific standard life expectancy, age on death, sex, cause of death by analyzing the national death certificate data and life table collected during 1996 provided by the National Statistical Office. Secondly, we estimated the age group-specific YLL by employing standard expected years of life lost(SEYLL). Thirdly, final burden of disease due to premature death was estimated by using YLLs measurement which developed by global burden of disease study group. Results : The burden of premature death by cancer for male was attributed mainly to liver cancer(514.5 person-year), stomach cancer(436.4 person-year), and lung cancer(367.7 person-year). Each of these cancers was responsible for the loss of over 100 person-year based on our YLL measurement. The burden of premature death by cancer for female was attributed mainly to liver cancer(135.1 person-year), stomach cancer(252.1 person-year), and lung cancer(121.8 person-year). Each of these cancers was responsible for the loss of over 100 person year based on our YLL measurement. Conclusion : We found the YLL method employed in this study was appropriate to quantify the burden of premature death. Thereby, it would provide a rational bases to plan a national health policy regarding premature death caused by cancer.

• Journal of Korean Traditional Oncology
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• v.20 no.1
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• pp.55-79
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• 2015

Hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC) is the fifth most common cancer worldwide (fifth in male, seventh in female) and the third most common cause of cancer mortality. Since 2001, the various research group in the United States, Europe and Asia have published clinical practice guidelines for HCC. In Korea, a clinical practice guideline for HCC have been published by The Korean Liver Cancer Study Group in 2003, revised in 2009 and 2014. In China, oriental medicine clinical practice guideline have been published for the first time in 2014, and in the oriental medical profession of Korea, there is growing need for the guideline. This study will introduce the methods of diagnosis and the medical therapeutics which is commonly utilized for HCC in Korea, and existing korean medicine clinical practice guideline for Disease Analysis and Treatment(辨證論治) and herbal therapy of HCC. Further clinical research about various herbal medicines are needed to develop more advanced guideline of HCC.