• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• 제16권7호
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• pp.2903-2908
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• 2015

Background: Head and neck cancer (HNC) is the eighth most common cancer as estimated from worldwide data. The incidence of HNC in Peninsular Malaysia was reported as 8.5 per 100,000 population. This study was aimed to determine the treatment outcomes for HNC patients treated in the Oncology Unit of University Malaya Medical Centre (UMMC). Materials and Methods: All newly diagnosed patients with squamous cell carcinoma of head and neck (HNSCC) referred for treatment to the Oncology Unit at UMMC from 2003-2010 were retrospectively analyzed. Treatment outcomes were 5-year overall survival (OS), cause specific survival (CSS), loco-regional control (LRC) and radiotherapy (RT) related side effects. Kaplan-Meier and log rank analyses were used to determine survival outcomes, stratified according to American Joint Committee on Cancer (AJCC) stage. Results: A total of 130 cases were analysed. Most cases (81.5%) were at late stage (AJCC III-IVB) at presentation. The 5-year OS for the whole study population was 34.4% with a median follow up of 24 months. The 5-year OS according to AJCC stage was 100%, 48.2%, 41.4% and 22.0% for stage I, II, III and IVA-B, respectively. The 5-year overall CSS and LCR were 45.4% and 55.4%, respectively. Late effects of RT were documented in 41.4% of patients. The most common late effect was xerostomia. Conclusions: The treatment outcome of HNSCC at our centre is lagging behind those of developed nations. Efforts to increase the number of patients presenting in earlier stages, increase in the use of combined modality treatment, especially concurrent chemoradiotherapy and implementation of intensity modulated radiotherapy, may lead to better outcomes for our HNC patients.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• 제79권3호
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• pp.127-133
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• 2016

Tuberculosis (TB) is one of the most important occupational risks for healthcare workers (HCWs) in South Korea. Many policies regarding the control and prevention of TB in healthcare settings recommend that HCWs are tested for latent tuberculosis infection (LTBI) in addition to active TB. Moreover, the Korean Tuberculosis Prevention Act also recommends that HCWs receive regular testing for LTBI. However, there are no specific or detailed guidelines for dealing with LTBI in HCWs. Herein, we discuss the diagnosis and treatment of LTBI in HCWs and focus particularly on the baseline screening of hired HCWs, routine follow-up, and contact investigation.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• 제15권20호
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• pp.8557-8562
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• 2014

Pain is a public health problem affecting more than half of cancer patients. Despite the success of the protocols currently used, pain cannot still be reduced satisfactorily in the large majority of patients. In order to improve pain management, all healthcare professionals involved with pain should have sufficient knowledge on pain assessment and treatment, and should inform patients to prevent patient-related barriers. In this compilation, the prevalence values and the treatment methods of cancer pain, and the barriers to pain management have been assessed.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• 제15권8호
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• pp.3825-3828
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• 2014

Surgical outcomes of colorectal cancer treatment depend not only on good surgery and tumor biology but also on an optimal perioperative care. The enhanced recovery program (ERP) - a multidisciplinary and multimodal approach, or so called 'fast-track surgery' - has been designed to minimize perioperative and intraoperative stress responses, and to support the recovery of organ function aiming to help patients getting better sooner after surgery. Compared with conventional postoperative care, the enhanced recovery program results in quicker patient recovery, shorter length of hospital stay, faster recovery of gastrointestinal function, and a lower incidence of postoperative complications. Although not firmly established as yet, the enhanced recovery program after surgery could be of oncological benefit in colorectal cancer patients because it can enhance recovery, maintain integrity of the postoperative immune system, increase feasibility of postoperative chemotherapy, and shorten the time interval from surgery to chemotherapy. This commentary summarizes short-term outcomes and potential long-term benefits of enhanced recovery programs in the treatment of colorectal cancer.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• 제16권4호
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• pp.1307-1313
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• 2015

Colangiocarcinoma (CCA) is a progressively fatal disease which generally occurs due to malignant transformation of hepatic biliary cholangiocytes. The incidence of CCA has been increasing worldwide and there is an urgent requirement for effective diagnosis and treatment strategies against this devastating disease. Different factors including liver-fluke infestation, viral hepatitis, exogenous nitrosamine-mediated DNA damage, and chronic inflammation have been linked to CCA genesis. However, the risk factors and underlying complex mechanisms leading to development of CCA are not sufficiently understood to devise an effective targeted treatment therapy. In this review, we summarize currently known epidemiological and pathological aspects of the disease and briefly describe various potential biomarkers and experimental anticancer phytochemicals related to CCA research. In addition, we also sum up recent findings that link chronic inflammation of hepatic biliary cholangiocytes with CCA. The collective information concisely presented in this article would provide useful insights into the current understanding of this cancer.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• 제17권7호
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• pp.3651-3658
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• 2016

Computer-aided diagnosis of breast cancer is an important medical approach. In this research paper, we focus on combining two major methodologies, namely fuzzy base systems and the evolutionary genetic algorithms and on applying them to the Saudi Arabian breast cancer diagnosis database, to aid physicians in obtaining an early-computerized diagnosis and hence prevent the development of cancer through identification and removal or treatment of premalignant abnormalities; early detection can also improve survival and decrease mortality by detecting cancer at an early stage when treatment is more effective. Our hybrid algorithm, the genetic-fuzzy algorithm, has produced optimized systems that attain high classification performance, with simple and readily interpreted rules and with a good degree of confidence.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• 제15권11호
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• pp.4683-4688
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• 2014

Background: Breast conservation treatment (BCT) has long been recognised to provide survival outcomes equivalent to mastectomy for the treatment of breast cancer. However, published reports of BCT rates in Asian communities are lower than those from Western countries. This study sought to investigate the eligibility and utilisation of BCT in a predominantly Asian population. Materials and Methods: All patients treated surgically by a single surgeon at a private medical facility between 2009 and 2011 were included in the study. Patients were deemed to have successful BCT if they underwent breast conserving surgery with pathologic clear margins and completed all recommended adjuvant treatment. Those who did not complete adjuvant treatment were excluded from the analysis. Results: Data from a total of 161 patients who underwent treatment during the study period were analysed. The mean age was 48.8 years. One hundred and six patients (65.8%) were of Chinese ethnicity, 12 were Indian (7.5%), 11 were Malay (6.8%), 18 were Caucasian (11.2%) and 14 (8.7%) were of other Asian ethnicity. One hundred and thirty-eight women (85.7%) underwent BCT. Of the 23 (14.3%) who underwent mastectomy, 8 (5.4%) elected to undergo a mastectomy despite being eligible for BCT. In total, it was assessed that 146 of 161 patients (90.7%) were eligible for BCT and utilisation was 94.5%. Conclusions: In this study, eligibility, utilisation of BCT and eventual successful breast conservation rates are similar to published rates in Western communities. Additional research is needed to investigate the reasons for the lower published BCT rates in Asian countries and determine ways to improve them.

• 대한물리치료과학회지
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• 제9권1호
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• pp.159-166
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• 2002

The purpose of this study was to review the knowledge related to historic background, causes, symptoms, etiology and rehabilitation methods related to this disease and suggest some ways to reduce complications from it. The importance of underwater pressure disease was not emphasized, therefore, there is a need for continuous research on treatment methods and prevention for it. As one goes into the deeper water, they will be affected by the hydraulic pressure rather then the atmospheric pressure, and it will be increased 1mmHg by 10meters. Underwater pressure disease can be occurred when one comes out of deeper water too quicked. This results the imbalance of the composition rate of nitrogen in blood. However, there is not enough facilities to treat this disease and these facilities are located in limited areas. Therefore, there is an urgent need to set up a medial center that is specialized in prevention and treatment of underwater pressure disease.

• 혜화의학회지
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• 제10권2호
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• pp.167-177
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• 2002

Objectives : There are a lot of food used herb medicine among the people in order to cure diseases. A medicinal gruel is the easiest and most universal among alimmentotherapy. The purpose of this thesis is to understand a medicinal gruel therapy. Methods: I researched the definition, history, ingredients, application and special feature. Result and conclusion : A medicinal gruel therapy is alimmentotherapy for diseases prevent and diseases treatment which get mixed with her medicine and rice, based on oriental medicine theory. A medicinal gruel therapy was put on record in ${\ll}$A historical book${\gg}$. A medicinal gruel therapy can be used in chronic diseases, convalescent stage, assistant treatment for acute disease, disease prevention, aging prevention, diet food and substitute food for breakfast.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• 제27권3호
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• pp.254-264
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• 2019

Atherosclerosis is a widespread and chronic progressive arterial disease that has been regarded as one of the major causes of death worldwide. It is caused by the deposition of cholesterol, fats, and other substances in the tunica intima which leads to narrowing of the blood vessels, loss of elasticity, and arterial wall thickening, thus causing difficulty in blood flow. Natural products have been used as one of the most important strategies for the treatment and prevention of cardiovascular diseases for a long time. In recent decades, as interests in natural products including medicinal herbs have increased, many studies regarding natural compounds that are effective against atherosclerosis have been conducted. The purpose of this review is to provide a brief overview of the natural compounds that have been used for the treatment and prevention of atherosclerosis, and their mechanisms of action based on recent research.