OBJECTIVES: The aim of the present study was to evaluate changes in the management and 5-year survival rates of patients with oral cancer in our department over a 30-year period. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We investigated the patient distributions, treatment methods, method of neck dissection according to cancer stage, and 5-year survival rates for 700 oral cancer patients over the periods of 1982-1996 (256 patients), 1999-2006 (248 patients), and 2007-2011 (196 patients). RESULTS: Stage IV patients were the largest group in all of the time periods evaluated. Although surgery and radiotherapy were the most common methods in all periods (over 50%), the prevalence of patients who underwent concomitant chemoradiotherapy increased from 7.0% to 16.2%. The use of radical neck dissection decreased from 43.0% to 5.3%, while conservative surgical methods increased from 24.1% to 76.3%. Lastly, the overall 5-year survival rate increased from 31.6% to 63.5% during the study period. CONCLUSION: Although the 5-year survival rate reached the same level as that of other developed countries during the course of our study, most patients continue to come to the hospital with stage IV disease. In order to increase the 5-year survival rate of oral carcinoma, it may be necessary to improve public education and social efforts relevant to early diagnosis.
Chemoradiotherapy ; Developed Countries ; Early Diagnosis ; Education ; Humans ; Mouth Neoplasms* ; Neck Dissection ; Neoplasm Staging ; Prevalence ; Radiotherapy ; Survival Rate*

Ulva compressa Linnaeus (UCL) is a green algae seaweed that performs photosynthesis and is used as a food material in some Asian regions including Korea. It is known to be the dominant species in copper ion-contaminated seas, and many studies on copper ion resistant mechanisms have been reported. UCL is known to have an excellent antioxidant effect, but limited information is available regarding its other physiological activities. In this study, we investigated the anticancer activity of 30% prethanol extracts of Ulva compressa Linnaeus (30% PeUCL) and the underlying mechanisms of its activity on human FaDu hypopharyngeal squamous carcinoma cells. The 30% PeUCL extracts suppressed FaDu cell viability without affecting normal cells (L929), as determined by MTT and viability assays. Furthermore, the 30% PeUCL extracts induced apoptosis, as determined by DAPI staining. The 30% PeUCL extracts inhibited colony formation effectively as well as wound-healing of FaDu cells, even at noncytotoxic concentrations. In addition, 30% PeUCL extracts induced apoptosis significantly through proteolytic cleavage of caspase-3, -7, and -9, and poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase, and by downregulation of Bcl-2 and upregulation of Bax in FaDu cells, as determined by Western blot analysis. Collectively, these results suggest that the inhibitory effect of 30% PeUCL extracts on the growth of oral cancer cells, colony formation and wound-healing may be mediated by caspase- and mitochondrial-dependent apoptotic pathways in human FaDu hypopharyngeal squamous carcinoma cells. Therefore, 30% PeUCL extracts can be administered as a natural chemotherapeutic drug for the treatment of human oral cancers.

Tibolone, a selective tissue estrogenic activity regulator, is a synthetic steroid with distinct pharmacological and clinical characteristics in contrast to conventional menopausal hormone therapy. Tibolone induces estrogenic activity in the brain, vagina, and bone but remains inactive in the endometrium and breast. In particular, several studies have investigated whether tibolone usage increases the risk of breast cancer. This study aims to determine the effects of tibolone on the breast by focusing on the relation between tibolone use and breast cancer. Our investigation emphasizes recent studies, particularly those based on Asian populations.

OBJECTIVES: Menopause is a natural aging process causing estrogen deficiency, accelerating atherogenic processes including dyslipidemia. Prevalence of thyroid dysfunction is also high in postmenopausal women, and it is known to elevate the risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD). Therefore, we are to study on the associations in between serum thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) and prevalence of CVD in postmenopausal women who have normal thyroid function. METHODS: We performed a retrospective review of 247 Korean postmenopausal women who visited the health promotion center from January, 2007 to December, 2009. Postmenopausal women with normal serum TSH were included in the study. Coronary atherosclerosis was assessed by 64-row multidetector computed tomography. RESULTS: In multiple linear regression analysis, serum TSH was associated with serum triglyceride (TG) (β = 0.146, P = 0.023). In multiple logistic regression analysis, increasing age and serum TSH were associated with an increased risk of coronary atherosclerosis in euthyroid postmenopausal women (odds ratio [OR] = 1.107 [1.024-1.197], P = 0.011 and OR = 1.303 [1.024-1.658], P = 0.031, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: It revealed that significant predictor of serum TSH was serum TG, and increasing age and TSH were found to have associations with an increased risk of coronary atherosclerosis in euthyroid postmenopausal women. Screening and assessing risks for CVD in healthy postmenopausal women would be helpful before atherosclerosis develops.
Aging ; Atherosclerosis ; Cardiovascular Diseases ; Coronary Artery Disease* ; Dyslipidemias ; Estrogens ; Female ; Health Promotion ; Humans ; Linear Models ; Logistic Models ; Mass Screening ; Menopause ; Multidetector Computed Tomography ; Postmenopause ; Prevalence ; Retrospective Studies ; Thyroid Gland* ; Thyrotropin* ; Triglycerides

Malignant mixed mullerian tumor of the ovary are very aggressive tumors that were usually diagnosed at an older age. They are usually at an advanced stage at the time of diagnosis, and survival after diagnosis varies by stage of disease and histological type. Despite aggressive treatment that includes surgery and chemotherapy, women with these tumors have a significantly increased risk of death giving them a very poor prognosis. The poor prognosis associated with this rare disease represents a need to new therapeutic regimens to improve patients' survival. We experienced two cases of primary malignant mixed mullerian tumor of the ovary.
Diagnosis ; Drug Therapy ; Female ; Humans ; Ovary* ; Prognosis ; Rare Diseases

PURPOSE: A tumor and mature ovarian cystic teratoma rarely coexist, but since it may affect treatment andprognosis, appropriate pre-surgical diagnosis is important. The purpose of this study was to evaluate thedifference in CT findings between a tumor coexisting with a mature ovarian cystic teratoma and a simple matureovarian cystic teratoma. MATERIALS AND METHODS: CT scans of seven cases of tumor coexisting with mature ovariancystic teratoma were reviewed. In each case, size, margin, nature, septation, solid portion, ascites, invasion,and metastasis were analysed. RESULTS: Coexistent tumors were histopathologically diagnosed as squamous cellcarcinoma in three patients, carcinoid in three, and fibrothecoma in one. In contrast with a simple matureteratoma, a tumor coexisting with a mature cystic teratoma developed in older patients and had a more solidportion, which showed contrast enhancement but did not show calcification or a fat component. Where a tumor andmature cystic teratoma coexisted, ascites and the invasion of adjacent structures were also common. CONCLUSION: If, in an older patient, CT scanning reveals an ovarian cystic tumor with a large solid portion but nocalcification or fat, coexistent tumor should be suspected.
Ascites ; Carcinoid Tumor ; Diagnosis ; Female ; Humans ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Ovarian Cysts ; Teratoma* ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed

Malignant mixed mullerian tumor of the ovary are very aggressive tumors that were usually diagnosed at an older age. They are usually at an advanced stage at the time of diagnosis, and survival after diagnosis varies by stage of disease and histological type. Despite aggressive treatment that includes surgery and chemotherapy, women with these tumors have a significantly increased risk of death giving them a very poor prognosis. The poor prognosis associated with this rare disease represents a need to new therapeutic regimens to improve patients' survival. We experienced two cases of primary malignant mixed mullerian tumor of the ovary.
Diagnosis ; Drug Therapy ; Female ; Humans ; Ovary* ; Prognosis ; Rare Diseases

No abstract available.
Catheters* ; Cystic Adenomatoid Malformation of Lung, Congenital* ; Fetal Therapies* ; Lung*

Implant overdenture exhibits higher retention, masticatory function, and patient's satisfaction compared to conventional dentures. Particularly, in treatment of severe alveolar bone resorption, implant overdenture can be considered as the first treatment option. The types of attachments used for implant overdenture can be classified into solitary type, which implants are not connected to each other, and bar type in which implants are connected. In the case of solitary type commonly used in clinical practice, parallel relationship is important. When it is not established, there is a higher risk of attachment wear, retention loss, and frequent visits for maintenance. In this case, satisfactory results have been obtained with implant overdentures using milled bar on two unparallel implants placed on the mandible.
Bone Resorption ; Denture, Overlay* ; Dentures ; Mandible