• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• 제28권2호
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• pp.386-397
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• 1995

A cross sectional study was performed to evaluate the neurobehavioral effects of chronic exposure of complex organic solvents, using NCTB(Neurobehavioral Core Test Battery) recommended by WHO(World Health Organization). Forty female shoe factory workers and twenty-two controls matched with age were participated. The tests were performed in the morning before start of work, to exclude the effects of acute exposure. Workers were exposed mainly to toluene, methyl ethyl ketone, n-hexane, cyclo-hexane, dichloroethylene, trichloroethylene, benzene, xylenes etc. The ranges of present solvent exposure of hygienic effect were $0.46\sim0.71$ in the process using adhesives indirectly, and $1.83\sim2.39$ in the process using it directly. We reclassified the subjects, according to cumulative exposure. It showed significantly poorer performances in high exposed group on Santa Ana Dexterity and Benton Visual Retention, compared with control group. After controlling confounder, the significances were still remained. But, further cohort studies, having the information of personal exposure dose from entering a factory, are required to clarify the effects of chronic exposure of complex organic solvents in relation to dose and duration of exposure.

• 대한한방내과학회지
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• 제28권4호
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• pp.733-740
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• 2007

Objective : This study investigated the relationship between warning signs and Sasang constitution (SC) in acute stroke patients. Methods : From October in 2005 to March in 2007, 629 acute stroke patients were studied. Patients were hospitalized within 14 days after the onset ofstroke at one of 3 oriental medical hospitals in Seoul and Kyong-gi province. We assessed the type of SC of acute stroke patients by Questionnaire for Sasang Constitution Classification II (QSCC II). We investigated warning signs (motor weakness, blindness, dysarthria, sensory disturbance, finger dullness, facial & eyelid spasm, neck stiffness), general characteristics, etc. Results : This study showed a higher proportion of Tae-eum & So-eum experience upper extremity sensory disturbance but So-yangexperience lower extremity sensory disturbance. Smoker So-eumexperience 1st & 2nd finger dullness more than non-smoker So-eum. So-eum women experience motor weakness more than So-eum men. Conclusion : Besides these results, we could observe almost no relationship between warning signs and Sasang constitution (SC) in acute stroke patients. More data from prospective cohort studies will help people better understand the relationship between warning signs and Sasang constitution (SC) in acute stroke patients.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• 제56권3호
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• pp.130-134
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• 2013

Purpose: Anthracyclines have been utilized in the treatment of children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). Recent studies have shown that anthracyclines may induce toxicity in the vascular endothelium. This study was performed using brachial artery reactivity (BAR) to evaluate vascular endothelial function in ALL patients who were treated with anthracycline chemotherapy. Methods: We included 21 children with ALL who received anthracycline chemotherapy and 20 healthy children. The cumulative dose of anthracyclines in the ALL patients was $142.5{\pm}18.2/m^2$. The last anthracycline dose was administered to the patients 2 to 85 months prior to their examination using BAR. The diameter of the brachial artery was measured in both groups using echocardiography, and BAR was calculated as the percentage change in the arterial diameter after release of the cuff relative to the baseline vessel diameter. Results: In the anthracycline-treated group, BAR was observed to be $3.4%{\pm}3.9%$, which was significantly lower than that observed in the control group ($12.1%{\pm}8.0%$, P<0.05). The time elapsed after the last anthracycline treatment and the age at the time of treatment did not affect the change in BAR (P =0.06 and P =0.13, respectively). Conclusion: These results provided evidence that treatment of ALL patients with anthracycline results in endothelial dysfunction. A larger cohort study and a longer follow-up period will be required to clarify the relationship between endothelial dysfunction resulting from anthracycline treatment for childhood ALL and occurrence of cardiovascular diseases later in life.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• 제28권2호
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• pp.338-346
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• 2018

Two molecular epidemiologic methods, IS6110 restriction fragment length polymorphism (IS6110-RFLP) and 24-locus mycobacterial interspersed repetitive unit-variable-number tandem repeat (MIRU-VNTR), are used worldwide in studies of Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MTB). Conversely, because of its poor resolution, pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) is not widely used for MTB. In this study, we improved the 24-locus MIRU-VNTR and PFGE protocols and compared the effectiveness of these approaches for the molecular typing of MTB using 75 clinical isolates obtained from a cohort investigation of high-risk populations infected with MTB. The 24-locus MIRU-VNTR method demonstrated superior discriminatory ability, followed by PFGE and IS6110-RFLP. Next, we analyzed six isolates with clear epidemiologic connections; that is, isolates from patients who attended the same school. IS6110-RFLP and PFGE identified these samples as the same type. By contrast, according to MIRU-VNTR, two isolates differed from four other isolates at one locus each; one isolate was identified as Mtub29 and the other as QUB-26. In summary, the 24-locus MIRU-VNTR assay was the most useful molecular typing method among the three methods investigated due to its discriminatory power, short time required, and availability as an epidemiologic investigation tool. PFGE was the second-best method. Compared with the other loci assessed in the 24-locus MIRU-VNTR assay, the Mtub29 and QUB-26 loci appeared to exhibit greater variability during transmission.

• 한국정보과학회논문지:컴퓨팅의 실제 및 레터
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• 제15권12호
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• pp.928-932
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• 2009

생체 내에서 질병 발생은 다양한 요인들의 복합적인 작용에 의해 발생한다. 하지만, 대부분의 질병 관련 원인을 발견하고자하는 연구들에서는 여러 요인들의 다양한 조합들을 복합적으로 고려하여 분석하기에는 한계가 있는 경우가 많다. 단 하나의 질병 관련 요인들을 찾는 것데 그치고 있다. 본 연구에서는 유전체 정보과 임상 정보를 이용하여 질병 분류 모델 기반 인자 조합들의 진화적 학습 방법을 제안한다. 이 방법을 이용하여 본 연구에서는 질병 관련 주요 인자를 찾고, 이를 시각화할 수 있는 시스템을 만드는 것을 목적으로 한다. 본 연구를 통해 정확도 높은 당뇨병 환자군 분류 모델을 만들고, 당뇨병 발생에 중요한 영향을 미치는 인자들의 조합을 찾을 수 있었다. 또한 생뭍학적인 분석을 통해 본 연구에서 찾은 인자들의 조합이 실제로도 당뇨병 발생에 영향을 미치는 인자가 될 수 있음을 확인하고, 특히 각 인자들이 하나씩 존재할 때보다. 조합으로 존재할 경우 당뇨병 발생 가능성이 높아질 수 있음을 확인할 수 있었다.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• 제15권1호
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• pp.221-227
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• 2014

Background: Aberrant phenotypes in acute leukemia have variable frequency and their prognostic and predictive relevance is controversial, despite several reports of clinical significance. Aims: To determine the prevalence of aberrant antigen expression in acute leukemia, assess clinical relevance and demonstrate immunophenotype-karyotype correlations. Materials and Methods: A total of 73 (40 AML and 33 ALL) newly diagnosed acute leukemia cases presenting to KAMC, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, were included. Diagnosis was based on WHO criteria and FAB classification. Immunophenotyping by flow cytometry, conventional karyotyping and fluorescence in situ hybridization for gene rearrangements were performed. Results: Aberrant antigens were detected in 27/40 (67.5%) of AML and in 14/33 (42.4%) in ALL cases. There were statistically significant higher TLC in Ly+ AML than in Ly-AML (p=0.05) and significant higher blast count in ALL with aberrant antigens at presentation and day 14 (p=0.005, 0.046). There was no significant relation to clinical response, relapse free survival (RFS) or overall survival (p>0.05), but AML cases expressing ${\geq}2$ Ly antigens showed a lower median RFS than those expressing a single Ly antigen. In AML, CD 56 was expressed in 11/40. CD7 was expressed in 7/40, having a significant relation with an unfavorable cytogenetic pattern (p=0.046). CD4 was expressed in 5/40. CD19 was detected in 4/40 AML associated with M2 and t (8; 21). In ALL cases, CD33 was expressed in 7/33 and CD13 in 5/33. Regarding T Ag in B-ALL CD2 was expressed in 2 cases and CD56 in 3 cases. Conclusions: Aberrant antigen expression may be associated with adverse clinical data at presentation. AML cases expressing ${\geq}2$ Ly antigens may have shorter median RFS. No specific cytogenetic pattern is associated with aberrant antigen expression but individual antigens may be related to particular cytogenetic patterns. Immunophenotype-karyotype correlations need larger studies for confirmation.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• 제15권12호
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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.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• 제63권2호
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• pp.202-209
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• 2020

Objective : The purpose of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of the anterior approach following intraoperative reduction under general anesthesia in patients with cervical facet fracture and dislocation. Methods : Twenty-three patients with single level cervical facet fracture and dislocation who were subjected to the anterior approach alone following immediate intraoperative reduction under general anesthesia from March 2013 to December 2017 were enrolled in this study. Neurological status, clinical outcome, and radiological studies were evaluated preoperatively, postoperatively, and during the follow-up period. Results : The cohort comprised 15 men and eight women with a mean age of 57 years (from 24 to 81). All patients were operated on within the first 8 hours following the injury. After gentle manual reduction or closed reduction with Gardner-Wells traction, under general anesthesia monitored by somatosensory-evoked potentials, all operations were successfully completed using the anterior approach alone except in two patients, who had a risk of over-distraction. In them, a satisfactory gentle manual reduction or closed reduction was not possible, and required open posterior reduction of the locked facets followed by anterior cervical discectomy and fusion. In one patient, screw retropulsion was observed in 1 month after surgery. There were no reduction-related complications or neurological aggravations after surgery. All patients showed evidence of stability at the instrumented level at the final follow-up (mean follow-up, 12 months). Conclusion : Anterior approach following intraoperative reduction monitored by somatosensory-evoked potentials under general anesthesia for cervical dislocation and locked facets is a relatively safe and effective alternative when cervical alignment is achieved by intraoperative reduction.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• 제16권18호
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• pp.8625-8628
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• 2016

Background: Central lymph node metastasis(CLNM) is common in papillary thyroid microcarcinoma (PTMC). The aim of this study was to define the pathohistologic risk grading based on surgical outcomes. Materials and Methods: Statistical analysis was performed to figure out the optimal cut-off values of size in preoperative ultrasound images for defining the risk of CLNM in papillary thyroid microcarcinoma. Receiver operating characteristic curves (ROC) studies were carried out to determine the cutoff value(s) for the predictor(s). All the patients were divided into two groups according to the above size and the clinic-pathological and immunohistochemical parameters were compared to determine the significance of findings. Results: The optimal cut-off value of tumor size to predict the risk of CLNM in papillary thyroid microcarcinoma was 0.575 cm (area under the curve 0.721) according to the ROC curves. Significant differences were observed on the multifocality, extrathyroidal extension and central lymph node metastasis between two groups which were divided according to the tumor size by the cutoff values. Patients in two groups showed different positive rate and intensity of Ki67. Conclusions: The size of PTMC in ultrasound images are helpful to predict the aggressiveness of the tumors, it could be an easy predictor for PTMC prognosis and assist us to choose treatment.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• 제17권8호
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• pp.3733-3736
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• 2016

HER2/neu is a well-established prognostic and predictive factor for invasive breast cancer. However, the role of HER2/neu in ductal breast carcinoma in situ (DCIS) is debated and recent data have suggested that it is mainly linked to in situ local recurrence. Although molecular data suggest that atypical ductal hyperplasia (ADH) and duct carcinoma in situ (DCIS) are related lesions, albeit with vastly different clinical implications, the role of HER2/neu expression in atypical ductal hyperplasia is not well defined either. The aim of this study was to evaluate over expression of HER2/neu in DCIS and cases of ADH in comparison with invasive breast carcinoma. Archival primary breast carcinoma paraffin blocks (n=15), DCIS only (n=10) and ductal epithelial hyperplasia and other breast benign lesions (n=25) were analyzed for HER2/neu immunoexpression. Follow up was available for 40% of the patients. HER2/neu was positive in 80%of both DCIS and invasive carcinoma, and 67% of atypical ductal hyperplasia (ADH) cases. Thus at least a subset of patients with preinvasive breast lesions were positive, which strongly suggests a role for Her2/neu in identifying high-risk patients for malignant transformation. Although these are preliminary data, which need further studies of gene amplification within these patients as well as a larger patient cohort with longer periods of follow up, they support the implementation of routine Her2/neu testing in patients diagnosed as pure DCIS and in florid ADH.