• Journal of Yeungnam Medical Science
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• v.38 no.4
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• pp.366-370
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• 2021

Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) have become the main drugs for programmed cell death receptor-1 or ligand-1 expressing non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) combined with conventional chemotherapy. ICIs are generally more tolerable than cytotoxic chemotherapies in terms of toxicity, and ICI-related adverse events are mild and manageable. However, these drugs may lead to unexpected severe adverse events such as immune-related hematologic toxicities, which could be life-threatening. Here, a rare case of a pembrolizumab-related adverse event in a patient with NSCLC who showed early-onset hemolytic anemia and recovered by high-dose steroid and a series of plasma exchanges is reported.

• Journal of Society of Preventive Korean Medicine
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• v.26 no.1
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• pp.11-23
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• 2022

Objectives : The aim of this study was to develop a clinical pathway (CP) model for the integrative treatment of non-invasive breast cancer, with western medicine and Korean traditional medicine. Methods : The checklist model was composed in four types according to the target patients: DCIS inpatients, DCIS outpatients, LCIS inpatients, LCIS outpatients. The vertical axis of the pathway consists of 11 categories of actions applied to the patient. The horizontal axis was in accordance with the flow of time, comprising three periods during inpatient care and seven periods during outpatient care. In addition, CP was also composed in flow chart form. The pathway model was developed through a literature review of clinical practice guidelines, conference publications, papers, books, and websites. Results : The integrative CP model for non-invasive breast cancer was developed. Conclusions : The goal of the CP suggested in this study was to improve non-invasive breast cancer patients' quality of life and to supplement conventional treatment, by alleviating the side effects. The model developed through this study could serve as the basis when developing CPs in a real-world integrative medical environment. This could lead to a reduction in cost and time for CP development, thus bringing about efficiency in the clinical setting.

• Women's Health Nursing
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• v.11 no.1
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• pp.67-76
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• 2005

Purpose: This study was to identify the influence of sexual behavior, body image, social support, and other characteristics on sexual satisfaction in patients with breast cancer according to their participation in a support group. Method: Data was collected by self-report questionnaires. Participants included 63 patients attending a support group and 76 patients who did not participate in the support group. The questionnaire sections consisted of sexual satisfaction, sexual behavior, body image, social support and information on general characteristics, disease-related characteristics, and sexual life-related characteristics. Result: There was no statistically significant difference in sexual behavior, body image and sexual satisfaction between the two groups. Social support scores were significantly higher in the support group. Sexual satisfaction was positively related with sexual behavior, post-op change of sexual intercourse frequency, body image, and patient's education level, and negatively related to age in the support group. Sexual satisfaction was positively related with sexual behavior, social support and body image in the non support group. Sexual behavior is predictable 37.0% of sexual satisfaction in the support group. Sexual behavior, body image, and social support is predictable for 38.0% of the sexual satisfaction in non support group participants. Conclusion: Implications point to the need for the development and implementation of programs that focus specifically on sexual life issues for breast cancer patients, as well as further research measuring the effects of such intervention programs. Continuous education and counseling through participation in support groups can contribute to promote and affirm a healthy sexual life for patients with breast cancer.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.15 no.20
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• pp.8861-8869
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• 2014

Background: The prognostic value of Bcl-2 protein expression in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is under debate. We therefore systematically reviewed the evidence for Bcl-2 protein effects on NSCLC survival to elucidate this issue. Materials and Methods: An electronic search in Pubmed and Embase complemented by manual searches in article references were conducted to identify eligible studies to evaluate the association between Bcl-2 protein expression and overall survival (OS) as well as disease free survival (DFS) of NSCLC patients. Combined hazard ratios (HRs) with corresponding 95% confidence intervals (95%CIs) were pooled using the random-effects model. Results: A total of 50 trials (including 52 cohorts) encompassing 7,765 patients were pooled in the meta-analysis regarding Bcl-2 expression and OS of NSCLC patients. High expression of Bcl-2 protein had a favorable impact (HR=0.76, 95%CI=0.67-0.86). In the group of Bcl-2 expression and DFS, 11 studies including 2,634 patients were included. The synthesized result indicated high expression of Bcl-2 protein might predict good DFS (HR=0.85, 95%CI=0.75-0.95). Conclusions: Our present meta-analysis demonstrated favorable prognostic values of Bcl-2 expression in patients with NSCLC. Further prospective trails are welcomed to validate the utility of assessing Bcl-2 in NSCLC patient management.

• IMMUNE NETWORK
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• v.20 no.1
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• pp.10.1-10.14
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• 2020

Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) have shown remarkable benefit in the treatment of patients with non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and have emerged as an effective treatment option even in the first-line setting. ICIs can block inhibitory pathways that restrain the immune response against cancer, restoring and sustaining antitumor immunity. Currently, there are 4 PD-1/PD-L1 blocking agents available in clinics, and immunotherapy-based regimen alone or in combination with chemotherapy is now preferred option. Combination trials assessing combination of ICIs with chemotherapy, targeted therapy and other immunotherapy are ongoing. Controversies remain regarding the use of ICIs in targetable oncogene-addicted subpopulations, but their initial treatment recommendations remained unchanged, with specific tyrosine kinase inhibitors as the choice. For the majority of patients without targetable driver oncogenes, deciding between therapeutic options can be difficult due to lack of direct cross-comparison studies. There are continuous efforts to find predictive biomarkers to find those who respond better to ICIs. PD-L1 protein expressions by immunohistochemistry and tumor mutational burden have emerged as most well-validated biomarkers in multiple clinical trials. However, there still is a need to improve patient selection, and to establish the most effective concurrent or sequential combination therapies in different NSCLC clinical settings. In this review, we will introduce currently used ICIs in NSCLC and analyze most recent trials, and finally discuss how, when and for whom ICIs can be used to provide promising avenues for lung cancer treatment.

• Journal of Korean Traditional Oncology
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• v.16 no.1
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• pp.41-53
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• 2011

Background and Objectives: Iodine is an essential constituent of the thyroid hormones associated with the growth and development of humans and animals as an inorganic nutrition. This element may be accumulated in human blood, tissues and body through the intake of foodstuffs, a beverage, a nutritional supplement and a medicine, among others. The aim of the research is to find out a better medicinal stuff for the thyroid cancer patient who required a low level of iodine diet. Methods: Neutron activation analysis (NAA) used for the iodine analysis is one of nuclear analytical techniques using radiation and radioisotopes and very useful as sensitive analytical technique for performing both qualitative and quantitative multi-elemental non-destructive analysis of major, minor and trace components in variety of environmental and biological materials. In this study, iodine contents in ten kinds of oriental herb medicinal products, which is frequently used to cancer patients are determined by using instrumental neutron activation analysis (INAA) at the HANARO research reactor. The samples prescribed are manufactured as powdered form for taking medicine easily. The analytical quality control is performed to assure an uncertainty of the measurement and to compensate the measured data using a biological certified reference material, NIST SRM 1572, Citrus Leaves. The measured value is $1.89{\pm}0.35mg/kg$, and the relative error is 2.88%, and relative standard deviation is 19 % due to high counting error by small counts of gamma ray spectrum. The standard deviations for other elements such as Cl, K, Mn and Na were in the range of 2 to 8%. Result: The level of iodine contents of Biki-huan, Chungryong-huan and Chungcho-huan, samples detected is less than 6 mg/kg except Hangam Plus sample (more than 210 mg/kg) and six samples were not detected. Iodine in the samples of Shoxiho-tang, Shopunghualhyl-tang, Shocungryong-tang, Banhasaxim-tang, Insampaedox-san and Myunyuk Plus were not measured, but possible level of content can be estimated from the detection limits. In addition, the concentrations of some major elements like Cl, K, Mn, Na, in the samples were determined with the detection limits. Conclusions: Most of samples showed low iodine contents of less than 6 mg/kg but it turned out that most of testing samples can be used to classify the level of iodine diet samples considering the recommended low level of iodine diet 50 ${\mu}g$/day, and a better medicinal stuff for the thyroid cancer patient can be found.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.14 no.5
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• pp.3159-3161
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• 2013

Aim: We designed this study to investigate the neutrophil lymphocyte ratio as a biomarker in distinguishing colonic polyps which are neoplastic or non-neoplastic. Materials and Methods: One hundred and twenty-five patients with colonic polyps were enrolled into the study. The following data were obtained from a computerized patient registry database: mean platelet volume (MPV), uric acid (UA), platelet count (PC), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase (GGT) and the neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio (NLR). Exclusion criteria were active infectious disease, hematological disorders, and malignancies. Colonic polyps divided into two groups as neoplastic polyps (tubular adenoma, villous adenoma, tubulovillous adenoma) and non-neoplastic polyps (hyperplastic polyps, inflammatory pseudopolyps etc). The relationship between colonic polyp type and NLR was evaluated with statistical analysis. Results: There were 67 patients (53.6%) with neoplastic and 58 (46.4%) patients with non-neoplastic polyps. Mean NLRs of neoplastic and non-neoplastic groups were respectively $3.32{\pm}2.54$ and $2.98{\pm}3.16$ (P<0.05). Conclusion: Although sensitivity and specificity are not high, NLR may be used as a biomarker of neoplastic condition of colonic polyps.

• Proceedings of the Korean Institute of Information and Commucation Sciences Conference
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• 2008.05a
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• pp.967-970
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• 2008

The liver cancer in our country cancerous occurrence frequency to be the gastric cancer in the common cancer, to initially at second unique condition or symptom after the case which is slowly advanced without gets condition many the case which will be diagnosed in the liver cancer, most there was not a reasonable treatment method especially and if what kind of its treated and convalescence of the patient non quantity one, the case which will be discovered in early rising the treatment record was considered seriously about under the early detection. The system which it sees with the system for the early detection of the liver cancer reacts the blood of the control group other than the patient who is confirmed as the liver cancer and the liver cancer to the bio chip and bio chip Profiles mechanical studying leads and it is a system which it classifies. 1149 each other it reacted blood samples of the control group other than the liver cancer patient who is composed of the total 50 samples and the liver cancer which is composed of 100 samples to the bio chip which is composed with different oligo from the present paper and it was a data which it makes acquire worker the neural network it led and it analyzes the classification efficiency of the result $92{\sim}96%$ which it was visible.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.17 no.sup3
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• pp.305-309
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• 2016

PTEN protein is an important tumour suppressor factor detectable by immunohistochemistry. The goal of the present study was to investigate the prognostic role of PTEN gene expression focusing on length of survival in breast cancer patients. This descriptive-analytical study was conducted on 100 breast cancer cases referred to Sabzevar hospitals in the north east of Iran between 2010 and 2011, followed up to 2015. The PTEN gene expression of tumour tissue samples was determined using specific monoclonal antibodies. The data were analyzed using Chi-square test and Fisher's exact test. Patient length of survival was analyzed after 4 years of follow-up using the Cox regression model. The PTEN gene was expressed in 70 of 100 samples, while being found at a high level in all noncancerous samples. There was an inverse significant relationship between expression of PTEN and tumour stage and grade (p<0.001). In addition, expression of PTEN in invasive ductal tumours was less than in non-invasive tumours. There was also an inverse significant relationship between the likelihood of death and PTEN gene expression (p<0.01). These findings indicate that lack of PTEN gene expression can be sign for a worse prognosis and poor survival in breast cancer.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.15 no.12
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• pp.4839-4842
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• 2014

Background: Although the Cox's proportional hazard model is the popular approach for survival analysis to investigate significant risk factors of cancer patient survival, it is not appropriate in the case of log-term disease free survival. Recently, cure rate models have been introduced to distinguish between clinical determinants of cure and variables associated with the time to event of interest. The aim of this study was to use a cure rate model to determine the clinical associated factors for cure rates of patients with breast cancer (BC). Materials and Methods: This prospective cohort study covered 305 patients with BC, admitted at Shahid Faiazbakhsh Hospital, Tehran, during 2006 to 2008 and followed until April 2012. Cases of patient death were confirmed by telephone contact. For data analysis, a non-mixed cure rate model with Poisson distribution and negative binomial distribution were employed. All analyses were carried out using a developed Macro in WinBugs. Deviance information criteria (DIC) were employed to find the best model. Results: The overall 1-year, 3-year and 5-year relative survival rates were 97%, 89% and 74%. Metastasis and stage of BC were the significant factors, but age was significant only in negative binomial model. The DIC also showed that the negative binomial model had a better fit. Conclusions: This study indicated that, metastasis and stage of BC were identified as the clinical criteria for cure rates. There are limited studies on BC survival which employed these cure rate models to identify the clinical factors associated with cure. These models are better than Cox, in the case of long-term survival.