• Journal of Hospice and Palliative Care
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• v.11 no.4
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• pp.181-187
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• 2008

Purpose: In order to establish efficient palliative treatment plans. It is important to estimate the survival time of a terminally ill cancer patient as accurate as possible. Proper estimation of life expectancy aids not only in improving the quality of life of the patient, it also promotes productive communication between the medical staff and the patient. The aim of this study is to determine the efficacy of neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio as a predictor of survival time in terminally ill cancer patients. Methods: Between January 2004 and June 2007, 67 terminally ill cancer patients who were admitted or transferred for palliative care, were included. Patients were categorized into three groups by Neutrophil-Lymphocyte Ratio. Demographic characteristics, clinical characteristics and blood samples were analyzed. Results: In univariate analysis, survival time of the highest Neutrophil-Lymphocyte Ratio group (${\geq}12.5$) was significantly shorter than that of the others (hazard ratio (HR)=3.270, P=0.001). After adjustment for low performance status (ECOG score 4) and dyspnea, high Neutrophil-Lymphocyte Ratio (${\geq}12.5$) was significantly and independently associated with short survival time (HR=2.907, P=0.007). Neutrophil-Lymphocyte Ratio was also significantly increased before death (P=0.001). Conclusion: Neutrophil-Lymphocyte Ratio can be useful in predicting life expectancy in terminally ill cancer patients.

• Journal of Korean Traditional Oncology
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• v.14 no.1
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• pp.29-35
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• 2009

Approximately 10 percent of advanced stomach cancer patients have internal bleeding in their stomach. It is crucial to treat internal bleeding since it severely deteriorates patient's condition, and disturbs process of chemotherapy. There are hemostatic agents and dressing, radiotherapy, endoscopic ligation and coagulation, surgical methods to treat bleeding. However, these methods cannot be executed in some cases in which patient is in terminal stage or not in desirable condition to take these treatments. We are going to introduce a case of advanced gastric cancer patient having stomach bleeding who made a choice to take oriental medical treatments. The patient was on third stage of stomach cancer, had 3200cc of blood transfusion for five times. After diagnosed as not being able to have resection, he started to oriental medical treatments to stop bleeding. From March 28, 2009 to April 16, 2009, we administer 120cc Bojungikgi-tang gamibang to the patient in 90minutes after each meal. During 19days of having Bojungikgi-tang gamibang, we observed that the patient needed significantly lower amount blood transfusion, to 640cc. The patient improves in performance, and was able to eat more. Despite of short period of observation, this case indicates that Bojungikgi-tang gamibang treatment to the patient could work as hemostat, further improved quality of patient's life.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Laryngology, Phoniatrics and Logopedics
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• v.14 no.2
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• pp.110-116
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• 2003

Background and Objectives : Laryngeal cancer discrimination using voice signals is a non-invasive method that can carry out the examination rapidly and simply without giving discomfort to the patients. n appropriate analysis parameters and classifiers are developed, this method can be used effectively in various applications including telemedicine. This study examines voice analysis parameters used for laryngeal disease discrimination to help discriminate laryngeal diseases by voice signal analysis. The study also estimates the laryngeal cancer discrimination activity of the Gaussian mixture model (GMM) classifier based on the statistical modelling of voice analysis parameters. Materials and Methods : The Multi-dimensional voice program (MDVP) parameters, which have been widely used for the analysis of laryngeal cancer voice, sometimes fail to analyze the voice of a laryngeal cancer patient whose cycle is seriously damaged. Accordingly, it is necessary to develop a new method that enables an analysis of high reliability for the voice signals that cannot be analyzed by the MDVP. To conduct the experiments of laryngeal cancer discrimination, the authors used three types of voices collected at the Department of Otorhinorlaryngology, Pusan National University Hospital. 50 normal males voice data, 50 voices of males with benign laryngeal diseases and 105 voices of males laryngeal cancer. In addition, the experiment also included 11 voices data of males with laryngeal cancer that cannot be analyzed by the MDVP, Only monosyllabic vowel /a/ was used as voice data. Since there were only 11 voices of laryngeal cancer patients that cannot be analyzed by the MDVP, those voices were used only for discrimination. This study examined the linear predictive cepstral coefficients (LPCC) and the met-frequency cepstral coefficients (MFCC) that are the two major cepstrum analysis methods in the area of acoustic recognition. Results : The results showed that this met frequency scaling process was effective in acoustic recognition but not useful for laryngeal cancer discrimination. Accordingly, the linear frequency cepstral coefficients (LFCC) that excluded the met frequency scaling from the MFCC was introduced. The LFCC showed more excellent discrimination activity rather than the MFCC in predictability of laryngeal cancer. Conclusion : In conclusion, the parameters applied in this study could discriminate accurately even the terminal laryngeal cancer whose periodicity is disturbed. Also it is thought that future studies on various classification algorithms and parameters representing pathophysiology of vocal cords will make it possible to discriminate benign laryngeal diseases as well, in addition to laryngeal cancer.

• Journal of Hospice and Palliative Care
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• v.27 no.2
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• pp.82-86
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• 2024

Purpose: This study examined the quality of life (QoL) and quality of care (QoC) in inpatient hospice settings in Korea before and during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. Methods: Data were obtained from three institutions that participated in two prospective cohort studies. The primary outcomes measured were the QoL of patients with terminal cancer and their family caregivers (FCs), as well as the QoC as perceived by the FCs. Results: Multivariable regression analysis revealed that during the COVID-19 pandemic, both patients and FCs experienced better QoL than before the pandemic, and FCs reported a higher QoC. Conclusion: Health policymakers should consider our findings when planning for future pandemics.

• Journal of Hospice and Palliative Care
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• v.23 no.3
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• pp.162-165
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• 2020

Purpose: The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has brought the world to a standstill and has exposed the lack of preparedness of most nations' health care systems. Even in usual times, palliative care has not received its fair share of recognition as an important component of patient care; instead, the emphasis is often placed on aggressive patient management. Now, with the entire medical community and decision-making committees focussed on intensive patient care, end-of-life care has taken a backseat. Methods: This article is a brief communication. Results: COVID 19 infection has been shown to lead to greater mortality and morbidity in patients with pre-existing illnesses such as hypertension, diabetes, renal failure, and cancer. Patients typically in need of end-of-life care, such as those with late-stage cancer or heart failure, are therefore at a higher risk of both contracting COVID-19 and suffering a more severe disease course. The strict nationwide lockdowns being imposed in most countries have deterred patients from seeking medical attention or hospice care. Every day new research is coming to light regarding COVID 19. This has helped significantly in creating awareness and limiting the spread of disease. However, misinformation is also rampant, leading to discrimination and mistreatment of infected patients. Conclusion: This pandemic has been a terrifying ordeal for all and has exposed our entire population physically, psychologically, emotionally, and financially to unimaginable stresses. In the present scenario, EOL care is as much a necessity as intensive care and should be given at least a fraction of its importance.

• Journal of Hospice and Palliative Care
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• v.12 no.4
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• pp.220-227
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• 2009

Purpose: The purpose of the study was to investigate how much understand about artificial hydration in patients with terminal cancer, according to the subject groups, including patients, families, and general public. Methods: Data were collected from June 2007 to December 2007 and the participants included 22 hospitalized patients in the hospice unit of S Hospital, 100 families, and 101 participants who participated in a hospice education program for the general public. The questionnaire was developed through literature review, interview with patients' families, and expertise consultation. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics with an SAS program. Results: Understanding of artificial hydration among patients, families and general public was examined from three perspectives. From an ethical perspective, 'if you receive artificial hydration, you can live longer', 45.5%, 63%, and 52.4% of the above three groups, respectively, answered "yes". From an emotional perspective, 'artificial hydration must be provided', 81.8%, 70% and 58.4%, respectively, agreed. From a cultural perspective, 'if artificial hydration is not provided for the patient, the families will feel painful', 95.5%, 83%, and 88.2%, respectively, answered "yes". Conclusion: This study found the differences in understanding of artificial hydration among patients, families and general public, and also found that less than 50 percent of the participants understood artificial hydration appropriately. We suggest, therefore, that patients' understanding about artificial hydration should be determined in the clinical setting and then followed by individualized education according to given medical situations.

• Journal of Hospice and Palliative Care
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• v.9 no.1
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• pp.1-10
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• 2006

Purpose: Terminal cancer influences on patients as well as their family members. This research was performed to evaluate the quality of lift of primary family caregivers and to investigate the influencing factors. Methods: The results of survey were collected from 81 family caregivers who were taking care of hospitalized terminal cancer patients at an oncology department of university hospital in Daejeon from March 2005 to January 2006 with questionnaires. The questionnaires were consisted of the general characteristics of the subjects, and 36-items short-form Health Survey (SE-36) Korean version to evaluate the quality of life of family caregivers, the characteristics of patients and family caregivers' caring trait. Results: Family caregivers' mean (${\pm}SD$) SF-36 score was 47.9 (${\pm}20.7$). Influential factors on family caregivers' life quality were daily raring hours, economic burden, type of treatment; only supportive care, caring duration, sex, the numbers of ADLs (activity of daily livings) items that patients needed help in order by stepwised multiple logistic regression analysis (overall $R^2=0.639$, P=0.044). Conclusion: Daily raring hours and economic burden were two influential modifiable factors on family caregivers' quality of life. Therefore, social supportive systems are required to reduce family caregivers' daily caring hour and economic burden.

• Korean Journal of Hospice Care
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• v.5 no.2
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• pp.75-85
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• 2005

The objective of this research is to provide the basic material for effective hospice care by analyzing the recognition of families who have terminally ill patients over death. To do so, this research is designed to investigate the general tendency toward death and changes after hospice care. To analyse the initial status of the recognition about the death, questionnaires were provided to the families of the terminally ill patients who were taken hospice care from June 1st, 2005 to September 10th, 2005 at Saemmul Hospice. The same questionnaires were distributed to research some changes of the recognition of the death after 3 weeks. As the Data Analysis Methodology, SPSS v.10.0 statistics program were utilized. The summary of this research is as follows. First, by gender, it is analyzed that women have more fear than men in terms of incompetence sense after death. By religion, Christians have less fear than other religious people in terms of fear toward after death and general sense of death. Second, those who experienced deaths of close family members, relatives, friends for the past 3 years have more fear toward the moment of death than those who did not experience it. Third, statistically valid difference was found in terms of fear toward the moment of death, fear toward incompetence, fear toward after death, and fear toward death before and after the hospice care was taken. Based on the result of this research, terminally ill patients' families facing death have shown significant differences on fear and incompetence before and after hospice care was offered. It is necessary that the hospice care should be settled more professionally by expanding the opportunities of hospice care and institutionalizing the system. In addition, hospice activities which are focused on providing hope after death and facing death with dignity and peace should be expanded increasingly as the family members who experienced deaths showed higher degree of fear and powerlessness and Christians have less fear toward death with the help of biblical influence. It is also required that hospice care specialized in recognizing the importance of terminal cancer patients and their families at the same time.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.14 no.10
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• pp.5805-5810
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• 2013

This study was conducted to analyze the molecular mechanisms responsible for anti-proliferation effects of glaucocalyxin A in cultured MCF-7 and Hs578T breast cancer cells. The concentration that reduced cell viability to 50% (IC50) after 72 h treatment was derived and potential molecular mechanisms of anti-proliferation using the IC50 were investigated as changes in cell cycle arrest and apoptosis. Gene and protein expression changes related to apoptosis were investigated by semi-quantitative RT-PCR and western blotting, respectively. Involvement of phosphorylated mitogen-activated protein kinases and JNK signaling in regulation of these molecules was characterized by western blotting. Cell viability decreased in a concentration-dependent manner and the IC50 was determined as $1{\mu}M$ in MCF-7 and $4{\mu}M$ in Hs578T cell. Subsequently, we demonstrated that the GLA-induced MCF-7 and Hst578T cell death was due to cell cycle arrest at the G2/M transition and was associated with activation of the c-jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) pathway. We conclude that GLA has the potential to inhibit the proliferation of human breast cancer cells through the JNK pathway and suggest its application forthe effective therapy for patients with breast cancer.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.16 no.6
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• pp.2495-2499
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• 2015

Mitogen-activated protein kinase/extracellular signal-regulated kinase kinase kinase 3 (MEKK3) is an important serine/threonine protein kinase and a member of the MAPK family. MEKK3 can effectively activate the MEK/ERK signaling pathway and promote an autocrine growth loop critical for tumor genesis, cell proliferation, terminal differentiation, apoptosis and survival. To explore the relationship between MEKK3 and cell apoptosis, clinicopathology and prognosis, we characterize the expression of MEKK3, pERK and FoxP3 in the renal clear cell carcinoma (RCCC). Protein expression was detected by tissue microarray and immunochemistry in 46 cases of RCCC and 28 control cases. Expression levels of CD3+,CD3+CD4+,CD3+CD8+,CD4+CD25+, CD4+CD25+ FoxP3+ were assessed by flow cytometry and analyzed for their association with pathological factors, correlation and prognosis in RCCC. Expression of MEKK3, pERK and FoxP3 was significantly up-regulated in RCCC as compared to control levels (p<0.01), associated with pathological grade (p<0.05)and clinical stage (p<0.05). CD4+CD25+ Foxp3+ Treg cells were also significantly increased in RCCC patients (p<0.05). Cox multivariate regression analysis showed that MEKK3, pERK expression and patholigical stage were independent prognostic factors in patients with RCCC (p<0.05). MEKK3 can be used as an important marker of early diagnosis and prognostic evaluation in RCCC. It may be associated with imbalance of anti-tumor immunity and overexpression of pERK. Expression of MEKK3 and pERK are significantly increased in RCCC, with protein expression and clinical stage acting as independent prognostic factors.