• Genes and Genomics
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• v.40 no.12
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• pp.1339-1349
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• 2018

Cerebral palsy (CP) is a non-progressive neurological disease, of which susceptibility is linked to genetic and environmental risk factors. More and more studies have shown that CP might be caused by multiple genetic factors, similar to other neurodevelopmental disorders. Due to the high genetic heterogeneity of CP, we focused on investigating related molecular pathways. Ten children with CP were collected for whole-exome sequencing by next-generation sequencing (NGS) technology. Customized processes were used to identify potential pathogenic pathways and variants. Three pathways (axon guidance, transmission across chemical synapses, protein-protein interactions at synapses) with twenty-three genes were identified to be highly correlated with CP. This study showed that the three pathways associated with CP might be the molecular mechanism of pathogenesis. These findings could provide useful clues for developing pathway-based pharmacotherapies. Further studies are required to confirm potential roles for these pathways in the pathogenesis of CP.

• Yonsei Medical Journal
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• v.59 no.9
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• pp.1026-1033
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• 2018

Purpose: Consistent evidence indicates that cervical and breast cancer screening rates are low among socioeconomically deprived women. This study aimed to assess trends in cervical and breast cancer screening rates and to analyze socioeconomic inequalities among Korean women from 2005 to 2015. Materials and Methods: Data from the Korean National Cancer Screening Survey, an annual nationwide cross-sectional survey, were utilized. A total of 19910 women were finally included for analysis. Inequalities in education and household income status were estimated by slope index of inequality (SII) and relative index of inequality (RII), along with calculation of annual percent changes (APCs), to show trends in cancer screening rates. Results: Cervical and breast cancer screening rates increased from 54.8% in 2005 to 65.6% in 2015 and from 37.6% in 2005 to 61.2% in 2015, respectively. APCs in breast cancer screening rates were significant among women with higher levels of household income and education status. Inequalities by household income in cervical cancer screening uptake were observed with a pooled SII estimate of 10.6% (95% CI: 8.1 to 13.2) and RII of 1.4 (95% CI: 1.3 to 1.6). Income inequalities in breast cancer screening were shown to gradually increase over time with a pooled SII of 5.9% (95% CI: 2.9 to 9.0) and RII of 1.2 (95% CI: 0.9 to 1.3). Educational inequalities appeared to diminish over the study period for both cervical and breast cancer screening. Conclusion: Our study identified significant inequalities among socioeconomically deprived women in cervical and breast cancer screening in Korea. Especially, income-related inequalities were greater than education-related inequalities, and these were constant from 2005 to 2015 for both cervical and breast cancer screening.

• Journal of Gastric Cancer
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• v.22 no.4
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• pp.264-272
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• 2022

Purpose: The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has significantly disrupted cancer screening services worldwide. We aimed to measure the impact of COVID-19 on gastric cancer screening rates based on age, sex, household income, and residential area. Materials and Methods: We analyzed data from the Korean National Cancer Screening Survey from 2017 to 2021 for adults aged 40-74 years. We evaluated the gastric cancer screening rate within two years in accordance with the National Cancer Screening Program protocol recommendations and that within the previous year. We compared the trends in the pre- and post-COVID-19 outbreak periods. Results: Before the COVID-19 outbreak, there was little change in the gastric cancer screening rates until 2019. After the COVID-19 outbreak, the screening rate as per recommendation decreased from 70.8% in 2019 to 68.9% in 2020 and that for one year decreased from 32.7% in 2019 to 27.2% in 2020. However, as the COVID-19 pandemic continued after 2020, both gastric cancer screening rates as per recommendations and for one year rebounded. Although a similar trend was observed for the upper endoscopy screening rate, the upper gastrointestinal series screening rate decreased from 7.8% in 2020 to 3.1% in 2021. During the pandemic, the screening rate decreased among younger adults (40-49), those residing in metropolitan regions, and those with high incomes. Conclusions: Despite a decline in gastric cancer screening rate during the COVID-19 pandemic, the rate surged in 2021. Further studies are needed to estimate the impact of cancer screening delays on future cancer-related mortalities.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.15 no.6
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• pp.2607-2612
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• 2014

Background: Cancer screening rates in Japan are much lower than those in Western countries. This study evaluated the relationship between cancer screening rates and strategies used to improve screening rates, and determined which strategy is the most effective. Materials and Methods: All municipalities are responsible for conducting gastric, lung, colorectal, cervical, and breast cancer screenings in Japan. Of the 1,746 municipalities in total, 92-99% were included in the analyses for each cancer screening. Using national data in 2009, the correlations between cancer screening rates and strategies for improving screening rates of all municipalities, both large (populations of over 30,000) and small (populations of under 30,000), were determined. The strategies used were as follows: sending personal invitation letters, personal visits by community health workers, use of a clinical setting for screening, and free screening. Results: Of all four strategies used to improve cancer screening rates, sending personal invitation letters had the highest correlations with all screening rates, with the exception of breast cancer screening. The partial correlation coefficients linking this strategy with the screening rates in all municipalities were 0.28, 0.32, 0.30, and 0.26 for gastric, lung, colorectal, and cervical cancer screening, respectively. In large municipalities, the correlations between the number of examinees in a clinical setting and the screening rates were also relatively high, particularly for cervical cancer screening (r=0.41). Conclusions: Sending personal invitation letters appears to be particularly effective in improving cancer screening rates in all municipalities. All municipalities should implement a system that sends personal invitation letters for cancer screening. In large municipalities, increasing the availability of screening in a clinical setting is also effective in improving cancer screening rates.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.13 no.4
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• pp.1097-1104
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• 2012

Background/Aim: Pristimerin isolated from Celastrus and Maytenus spp can inhibit proteasome activity. However, whether pristimerin can modulate cancer metastasis is unknown. Methods: The impacts of pristimerin on the purified and intracellular chymotrypsin proteasomal activity, the levels of regulator of G protein signaling 4 (RGS 4) expression and breast cancer cell lamellipodia formation, and the migration and invasion were determined by enzymatic, Western blot, immunofluorescent, and transwell assays, respectively. Results: We found that pristimerin inhibited human chymotrypsin proteasomal activity in MDA-MB-231 cells in a dose-dependent manner. Pristimerin also inhibited breast cancer cell lamellipodia formation, migration, and invasion in vitro by up-regulating RGS4 expression. Thus, knockdown of RGS4 attenuated pristimerin-mediated inhibition of breast cancer cell migration and invasion. Furthermore, pristimerin inhibited growth and invasion of implanted breast tumors in mice. Conclusion: Pristmerin inhibits proteasomal activity and increases the levels of RGS4, inhibiting the migration and invasion of breast cancer cells.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.38 no.4
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• pp.473-481
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• 2005

Objectives : We wanted to identify those factors associated with stomach, colon, breast and cervix cancer screening. Methods : A population-based telephone survey was conducted for 2 weeks (the 9th-23th of July, 2004) by trained interviewers with using a questionnaire. 2,598 respondents (females aged 30 years or over, and the males aged 40 years or over) were selected by random-digit dialing that was based on the 2000 Population and Housing Census. The data on socio-demographic, health behavior and enabling factors were collected. 2,571 respondents were included in analysis. The cancer screening rate was classified into 2 categories : the life time screening rate and the screening rate with recommendations. Results : For the 2,571 respondent s, the life time screening rate was as follows: 52.0% (Stomach), 25.3% (Colon), 55.9% (Breast) and 76.8% (Cervix). The screening rate with recommendation was as follows : 3 9.2% (Stomach), 20.6% (Colon), 42.5% (Breast) and 58.3% (Cervix). On a multiple logistic regression analysis of the life time screening, statistically significant relationships were observed for the screening intention, the health exam, the disease history, the age of the patients and the cancer screening rates. On a multiple logistic regression analysis of the screening with recommendation, statistically significant relationships were observed for the screening intention, the health exam, the age of the patients, the concern about the risk of cancer, the voluntary health insurance for cancer and the cancer screening rates. Conclusions : The results of this study suggest that the cancer screening intention, the health exam and the age of the patients are the most important factors to participate in life time cancer screening and also screening with recommendations. A positive association was also observed for the concern about the risk of cancer, the voluntary health insurance for cancer. It is hoped that this study will be a base line data for suggesting the representative cancer screening rate in Korea.

• Korean Journal of Health Education and Promotion
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• v.23 no.4
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• pp.29-45
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• 2006

Objectives: The aim of this study was to determine the distribution of stages of adoption in stomach cancer screening and elucidate differences among stages. Methods: A randomly selected sample of 712 Korean males and females aged 40 years or over were interviewed. Stomach cancer screening intention and behavior, sociodemographic characteristics, beliefs, self-efficacy and reinforcing characteristics were assessed. Results: The majority of participants were not on-schedule screening(unaware 3.2%, unengaged 20.8%, deciding about acting 24.0%, decided not to act 9.6%, decided to act 14.5%, acting 9.7%, maintenance 18.3%). Perceived susceptibility, perceived barriers, self-efficacy, other cancer screening experiences were significantly associated with higher compared to lower Precaution Adoption Process Model(PAPM) stages. Conclusions: This study appears to be applicable of the Precaution Adoption Process Model to understanding stomach cancer screening behavior. Our results suggest that it is needed to develop the tailored message for adherence of stomach cancer screening.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.13 no.2
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• pp.671-676
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• 2012

Objectives: Screening for second primary cancer (SPC) is one of the key components of cancer survivorship care. The aim of the present study was to explore oncologists' experience with promoting second primary cancer screening. Methods: Two focus group interviews were conducted with 12 oncologists of diverse backgrounds. Recurrent issues were identified and placed into thematic categories. Results: Most of the oncologists did not consider SPC screening promotion as their responsibility and did not cover it in routine care. All of the study participants had experience with unexpected SPC cases, and they were under emotional tress. There was no systematic manner of providing SPC screening. Oncologists usually prescribe SPC screening in response to patients' requests, and there was no active promotion of SPC screening. Short consultation time, limited knowledge about cancer screening, no established guideline for SPC screening, and disagreement with patients about oncologists' roles were major barriers to its promotion. An institution-based shared care model was suggested as a potential solution for promoting SPC screening given current oncology practices in Korea. Conclusion: Oncologists could not effectively deal with the occurrence of SPC, and they were not actively promoting SPC screening. Lack of knowledge, limited health care resources, and no established guidelines were major barriers for promoting SPC screening to cancer survivors. More active involvement of oncologists and a systematic approach such as shared-care models would be necessary for promoting SPC screening considering increasing number of cancer survivors who are vulnerable.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.17 no.2
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• pp.609-614
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• 2016

Background: Although breast cancer is the most common cancer in women, economic evaluation of breast cancer screening is not fully addressed in developing countries. The main objective of the present study was to analyze the cost-effectiveness of breast cancer screening using mammography in 35-69 year old women in an Iranian setting. Materials and Methods: This was an economic evaluation study assessing the cost-effectiveness of a population-based screening program in 35-69 year old women residing in rural areas of South east Iran. The study was conducted from the perspective of policy-makers of insurance. The study population consisted of 35- to 69-year old women in rural areas of Kerman with a population of about 19,651 in 2013. The decision tree modeling and economic evaluation software were used for cost-effectiveness and sensitivity analyses of the interventions. Results: The total cost of the screening program was 7,067.69 US$ and the total effectiveness for screening and no-screening interventions was 0.06171 and 0.00864 disability adjusted life years averted, respectively. The average cost-effectiveness ratio DALY averted US$ for screening intervention was 7,7082.5 US$ per DALY averted and 589,027 US $ for no-screening intervention. The incremental cost-effectiveness ratio DALY averted was 6,264 US$ per DALY averted for screening intervention compared with no-screening intervention. Conclusions: Although the screening intervention is more cost-effective than the alternative (noscreening) strategy, it seems that including breast cancer screening program in health insurance package may not be recommended as long as the target group has a low participation rate.

• Health Policy and Management
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• v.26 no.4
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• pp.382-389
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• 2016

Background: National cancer screening reduces mortality from stomach, colon, breast, and cervical cancer. However, cancer screening rates remain lower than 50% in Korea. This research was designed to make effective guidelines for cancer screening promotion to increase participation rate in cancer screening. Methods: Data was collected from Incheon regional cancer center's telephone survey 'Recognition of cancer prevention and control' of 861 Incheon citizens over age 40. Logistic regression was used to analyse a relationships between cancer screening rates and promotional methods. PASW SPSS ver. 18.0 program (SPSS Inc., Chicago, IL, USA) was used for statistical analysis. Results: About 27.4% of respondents (236 of 861 respondents) have recognized the promotional program of Incheon regional cancer center for cancer screening participation. Cancer screening rate was associated with age group, educational level for stomach cancer, age group, bus advertisement (odds ratio, 1.19 to 2.75) for colon cancer, educational level, residential area for breast cancer, and age group for cervical cancer. Conclusion: There was relationship between stomach cancer screening rates and promotional methods. Therefore, cancer screening promotion guidelines to increase participation rate should be considered.