PURPOSE: Tumor invasion and metastasis are multistep phenomina, involving proteolytic degradation of extracellular matrix (ECM) and alteration of cell adhesion. It is another oncologic therapeutic strategy to block tumor invasion and metastasis through analyzing the molecules which are involved in these processes. We examined the expressions of some of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) in colorectal cancer and analyze the correlation with clinical factors and survival. METHODS: Fifty-five patients with colorectal cancer who underwent surgical resection were included. The expressions of the MMP-2, -7, -9, and -12 in tumor tissue and normal mucosa using RT-PCR technique was carried out. We evaluated and analyzed the correlation among these molecules, clinical characteristics, and survival. RESULTS: Expressions of MMP-7, -9, and -12 were significantly higher in tumor tissue than in normal mucosa (P=0.00). The expressions of MMP-2 between cancer and normal mucosa had no significant difference but it had a significant difference according to the lymph node (LN) invasion (P=0.03) in tumor tissues. Three-year overall survival was worse in patient with high expression of MMP-2 compared to low expression. CONCLUSION: The expressions of MMP-7, -9, -12 in tumor tissue were higher than in normal mucosa and MMP-2 expression of tumor tissues had a significant difference according to LN invasion. MMP-2 overexpression seems to be a prognostic factor for 3-yr overall survival. But, large scale study with long term survival analysis will be needed for the prognostic significance of MMPs.
Cell Adhesion ; Colorectal Neoplasms ; Extracellular Matrix ; Humans ; Lymph Nodes ; Matrix Metalloproteinase 2 ; Matrix Metalloproteinases ; Mucous Membrane ; Neoplasm Metastasis

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to develop and test the psychometric properties of the newly developed instrument, Meaning in Life, for elderly Korean people. METHODS: Ten older adults participated in the qualitative research used to develop the initial items. Participants for the psychometric testing were 371 community-dwelling older adults. Validity and reliability analyses included content, construct, and criterion-related validities, internal consistency, and test-retest reliability. RESULTS: The Meaning in Life Scale consisted of 12 items with three distinct factors; value of life, source of life, and will to live, which explained 86.7% of the total variance. A three-factor structure was validated by confirmatory factor analysis. Criterion-related validity was supported by comparison with the Purpose in Life Test (r=.74). Reliabilities were secured with test-retest reliability of Intra-class Correlation Coefficient (ICC) .85 and the Cronbach's alpha coefficient .90. CONCLUSION: The results of this study indicate that this instrument is useful to measure meaning in life in Korean elders.
Adult* ; Aged ; Factor Analysis, Statistical ; Humans ; Psychometrics ; Qualitative Research ; Reproducibility of Results ; Value of Life

PURPOSE: This study was done to examine the prevalence of suicidal ideation and predictors of suicidal ideation in community-dwelling older men, comparing young-old (65 to 74) and old-old (75 and over). METHODS: The 2014 National Elderly Survey was used with a sample of 2,790 elderly men. Multivariable logistic regression analysis was used to identify the predictive factors for suicidal ideation in elderly men. RESULTS: The proportions of participants with suicidal ideation were significantly different between young-old and old-old men (χ²=4.46, p=.035). The multivariable logistic regression analyses revealed that being a recipient of basic livelihood security, experiencing discrimination, conflicting with children, and being depressed were significantly associated with suicidal ideation in young-old men. In old-old men, living arrangements, conflicting with children, and being depressed were significantly associated with suicidal ideation. CONCLUSION: Results indicate that the development of suicide prevention programs requires different approaches young-old and old-old men.
Aged ; Child ; Discrimination (Psychology) ; Humans ; Logistic Models ; Male ; Mental Health ; Prevalence ; Residence Characteristics ; Suicidal Ideation* ; Suicide

No abstract available.
Drug Eruptions ; Humans ; Melanoma

PURPOSE: Diallyl disulfide (DADS) is a major organosulfur compound derived from garlic. It has been reported that DADS is able to inhibit the proliferation of several tumor cells. In this study, the effect of DADS was investigated in terms of the proliferation of AGS, gastric adenocarcinoma cell line at various concentrations. METHODS: The viability of cultured cells was determined by 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyl-tetrazolium bromide assay. To detect the induction of apoptosis, Annexin V-FITC/propodium iodide (PI) staining assay was performed. Analysis of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and the distribution of cells in the cell cycle were measured by a flow cytometer. And using the Western blot analysis, the change of Fas, caspase-3, Bax, Bcl-2 activity was measured. RESULTS: The percentage of live AGS cells was decreased to 23% of that in the control group after 400 microM DADS treatment for 48 hours. The Annexin V positive/PI negative (apoptosis portion) area increased from low concentration of DADS to high concentration. When comparing among the DADS treatment groups, the amount of ROS production increased in a dose dependent manner. The percentage of sub-diploid DNA content increased from 8.71% at 50 microM to 25.74% at 400 microM DADS treatment group. The expressions of Fas, caspase-3, Bax were increased and that of Bcl-2 was decreased in a dose dependent manner. CONCLUSION: DADS decreases the viability of AGS cell lines and induces apoptosis in a dose-dependent manner. But the relationship of the anti-proliferative effect of DADS and related molecular changes were not clearly proportional to the concentration of DADS.
4-Acetamido-4'-isothiocyanatostilbene-2,2'-disulfonic Acid ; Adenocarcinoma ; Allyl Compounds ; Annexin A5 ; Apoptosis ; Blotting, Western ; Caspase 3 ; Cell Cycle ; Cell Line ; Cells, Cultured ; Disulfides ; DNA ; Garlic ; Reactive Oxygen Species ; Stomach Neoplasms

No abstract available.
Humans ; Liver Cirrhosis* ; Liver* ; Sepsis* ; Vibrio cholerae* ; Vibrio*

Cutis verticis gyrata(CVG) is a morphologic syndrome of the scalp characterized by folds and furrows resembling the surface of brain. The primary form of cutis verticis gyrata is commonly associated with a neuropsychiatric condition and a secondary form occurs as a response of inflammatory or neoplastic process. The patient was a 1-day-old girl, who had a 15x11 cm sized, convoluted mass over whole scalp. Skin biopsy from the lesion was consistent with cerebriform intradermal nevus. The baby girl was followed up as an outpatient with monitoring of the scalp lesion for 2 years and showed improvement of folds and furrows of the lesion.
Biopsy ; Brain ; Female ; Humans ; Infant, Newborn* ; Nevus, Intradermal* ; Outpatients ; Scalp ; Skin

PURPOSE: The purposes of this study were to identify job definition, duties and tasks of Korean oncology Advanced Practice Nurses (APNs) and assess frequency, importance, and difficulty for each of duty and task using the DACUM method. METHODS: The DACUM committee was organized with nine oncology APNs. The committee documented the job definition, duties and tasks based on their daily job descriptions. Validity of the elicited duties and tasks was tested by a study team and 6 oncology APNs. Data were collected using a questionnaire survey from 53 oncology APNs. RESULTS: The job description of oncology APNs was identified 12 duties and 66 tasks. Among the twelve duties, 'education for patients/ families' was the most frequently performed and was the most important duty. 'Case management' was the most difficult duty. Among 66 tasks, 'providing education for patients/families' was most frequently performed. 'Providing education for patients/families' and 'assessing patient condition comprehensively' were the most important tasks. 'Implementation research' as the principal investigator was perceived as the most difficult task. CONCLUSION: In this study, Korean oncology APNs' job performances were identified and analyzed. It is recommended that job description for oncology APNs needs to be standardized and reshaped in advanced way in future.
Humans ; Job Description ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Research Personnel

Castleman's disease is a rare non-neoplastic lymphoproliferative disorder of unknown etiology. It is divided into three histologic subtypes; hyaline-vascular(HV), plasma cell(PC) type and mixed type (HV-PC). It has two clinical expressions. The localized form, which presents as a slow growing mass, has a relatively benign clinical course. The multicentric form is multilocated and holds significant morbidity. The mainstay of treatment of the localized form is surgical resection. The multicentric form requires medical treatment comprising prednisolone and other immunosuppressor drugs. The disease in children seems to have a more favorable course than in adults. We report a 13-year- old boy with Castleman's disease of multicentric form who was successfully treated with prednisolone and intravenous immunoglobulin.
Adult ; Child* ; Giant Lymph Node Hyperplasia* ; Humans ; Immunoglobulins ; Lymphoproliferative Disorders ; Male ; Plasma ; Prednisolone*

PURPOSE: The purpose of study was to identify how patients experienced chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN) and quality of life related to CIPN. METHODS: This was a descriptive research. We collected data from 105 patients with chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy. They completed a self-reported questionnaire including Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (EORTC) CIPN20 and items related to their disease and peripheral neuropathy. The investigators filled in part of items about disease and treatment. RESULTS: In the study, duration of peripheral neuropathy was 9.4 month and 54.3% of patients used pharmacological or non-pharmacological interventions. Patients reported the highest score for sensory scale and it's score was 38.74+/-20.24. The scores for motor scale and autonomic scale were 21.95+/-19.19 and 26.61+/-21.0 respectively. This showed that patients more suffered from sensory neuropathy than any other domain of neuropathy. The most frequently selected two items were 'did you have tingling fingers or hands?' and 'did you have tingling toes or feet?'. CONCLUSION: The results of this study will provide useful information for chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy.
Fingers ; Humans ; Peripheral Nervous System Diseases ; Quality of Life ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Research Personnel ; Toes