No abstract available.
Pigmentation*

No abstract available.
Pigmentation*

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is common cancer in Korea. Although HCC has been decreased recently, mortality rate is still high, especially in the 6th decades in men. While hepatitis B and C viral hepatitis is the most common cause of HCC, alcoholic hepatitis is being the major risk factor in Korea. For early detection of HCC, it is important to identify the risk group and to monitor with regular interval. Serum alpha fetoprotein and abdominal ultrasonography is mainstay for screening of HCC. Recently, new advanced techniques, including new biomarkers have been developed and introduced, but it is not certain for its usefulness as a screening method. The screening program suggested by National Cancer Center and associated society of liver disease is widely used in Korea. Based on screening programs, individual personalized surveillance program is needed for the high risk patients in practice.
alpha-Fetoproteins ; Biomarkers ; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular ; Hepatitis ; Hepatitis B ; Hepatitis, Alcoholic ; Humans ; Korea ; Liver Diseases ; Male ; Mass Screening ; Organothiophosphorus Compounds ; Risk Factors

Type 1 diabetes (T1D) is a chronic autoimmune disease characterized by selective autoimmune- mediated destruction of pancreatic islet beta- cells leading gradually to absolute insulin deficiency. T1D is under polygenic control. The HLA complex attributes 50% of the genetic risk for T1D while as many as 20 genes influence susceptibility to T1D. The autoimmune beta-cell destruction could be triggered by environmental factors. While the exact trigger of anti-islet autoimmunity remains elusive, it can lead to an imbalance between regulatory T cells and autoimmune effector T cells. During the initiation of insulitis, emerging evidences suggest that the infiltrating macrophages via toll-like receptor 2 (TLR2) activation lead to induction and amplification of insulitis. Following the priming of diabetogenic T-cells, autoreactive T effector cells destroy the beta cells by direct contact- dependent cytolysis or by soluble mediators secreted from macrophages or CD4 T effector cells. The hyperglycemia occurs late in its course after 80% of the beta cells have been destroyed. Although no current cure exists, refinement of genetic studies and islet autoantibodies has improved the ability to predict the risk of T1D and aid the establishment of rationally designed preventive therapies. Other strategies involve beta-cell replacement by islet transplantation. Extensive and long-term research on the efficacy of islet transplantation and preservation of beta-cell function is keenly needed.
Apoptosis ; Autoantibodies ; Autoimmune Diseases ; Autoimmunity ; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1 ; Hyperglycemia ; Insulin ; Islets of Langerhans ; Islets of Langerhans Transplantation ; Macrophages ; T-Lymphocytes ; T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory ; Toll-Like Receptor 2

Type 1 diabetes (T1D) is a chronic autoimmune disease characterized by selective autoimmune- mediated destruction of pancreatic islet beta- cells leading gradually to absolute insulin deficiency. T1D is under polygenic control. The HLA complex attributes 50% of the genetic risk for T1D while as many as 20 genes influence susceptibility to T1D. The autoimmune beta-cell destruction could be triggered by environmental factors. While the exact trigger of anti-islet autoimmunity remains elusive, it can lead to an imbalance between regulatory T cells and autoimmune effector T cells. During the initiation of insulitis, emerging evidences suggest that the infiltrating macrophages via toll-like receptor 2 (TLR2) activation lead to induction and amplification of insulitis. Following the priming of diabetogenic T-cells, autoreactive T effector cells destroy the beta cells by direct contact- dependent cytolysis or by soluble mediators secreted from macrophages or CD4 T effector cells. The hyperglycemia occurs late in its course after 80% of the beta cells have been destroyed. Although no current cure exists, refinement of genetic studies and islet autoantibodies has improved the ability to predict the risk of T1D and aid the establishment of rationally designed preventive therapies. Other strategies involve beta-cell replacement by islet transplantation. Extensive and long-term research on the efficacy of islet transplantation and preservation of beta-cell function is keenly needed.
Apoptosis ; Autoantibodies ; Autoimmune Diseases ; Autoimmunity ; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1 ; Hyperglycemia ; Insulin ; Islets of Langerhans ; Islets of Langerhans Transplantation ; Macrophages ; T-Lymphocytes ; T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory ; Toll-Like Receptor 2

No abstract available.
Animals ; Brain Stem* ; Brain* ; Electroshock* ; Hypothalamus* ; Mice*

PURPOSE: This study was conducted to analyze industrial workers' stresses from physical symptoms, PWI, JCQ and tasks in classification of Sasang constitutions. METHOD: Data were collected from industrial workers in J Province from May 2003 to June 2003. Questionnaires were distributed and collected on the day of their physical examination. Collected data were analysed through chi2-test. RESULT: Health-related characteristics showed that most of smokers and drinkers were Taeumins and this result was statistically significant. Physical symptoms related to constitutions indicated that GI and neurologic symptoms are significantly more frequent in Soeumin. The percentage of subjects with moderate risk was high in order of Soyangin, Taeumin and Soeumin while the percentage of subjects with high risk was high in order of Soeumin, Taeumin and Soyangin. CONCLUSION: Through this study, Lee Jae Ma's theory was be confirmed compatible with disease characteristics. However, research with more various subjects and variables needs to be made.
Classification ; Constitution and Bylaws* ; Neurologic Manifestations ; Physical Examination ; Surveys and Questionnaires

The clinical outcome in advanced cancer has improved since the development of targeted therapies and immune checkpoint inhibitors. We can expect better overall survival after a combination treatment with these therapeutic agents. Classical cytotoxic chemotherapeutic agents directly kill tumor cells by destroying the cell structure and DNA of tumor cells or inhibiting their metabolism. Targeted therapy also directly affects tumor cells by inhibiting the cell growth signaling system. Conversely, immune checkpoint inhibitors can enhance immune responses by using the host immune system in the tumor microenvironment, leading to the direct killing of tumor cells. Therefore, immune checkpoint inhibitors are less toxic and have longer response durations. Even in solid tumors with nonimmunogenic backgrounds, cytotoxic chemotherapy or targeted treatment can induce immune responses to place the tumor microenvironment in an immunogenic state. Synergistic anticancer effects can be expected when immune checkpoint inhibitors are added during this state. Moreover, drug resistance may be overcome by combination therapies. If patients with cancer are treated with a combination of these therapeutic agents and the characteristics of each tumor are identified with data from next generation sequencing, personalized treatments can be tailored, making it possible to control cancers as a curable disease just like other benign chronic diseases.

Purpose: This study aimed to evaluate the validity and reliability of the Korean version of the Quality of Life in LifeThreatening Illness - Family Carer Version 3 (QOLLTI-F v3) among Korean family caregivers of patients with terminal cancers. Methods: A total of 198 family caregivers of terminal cancer patients were investigated using the Korean version of QOLLTI-F v3. Its psychometric properties were examined in terms of factor structure, convergent validity, discriminant validity, criterion validity and internal consistency. Results: The convergent validity of the Korean version of QOLLTI-F v3 showed that the standardized regression weights for each item were above .50 except for two out of 16 items, the average variance extracted was above .50 for four out of five factors, and the critical ratio ranged from .50 to .85. The discriminant validity of the items across all factors was confirmed. The value for Cronbach’s α of 16 items was .84. Conclusion The Korean version of the QOLLTI-F v3 is a reliable instrument with acceptable convergent and high discriminant validity for measuring the quality of life of families of people with life-threatening illnesses, including families of people with terminal cancers.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to confirm the factor structure of the McGill Quality of Life Questionnaire-Revised (MQOL-R) in the context of Korean culture and to verify its reliability and validity. Methods: The participants comprised terminal cancer patients aged 25 or older, and data from 164 participants were analyzed. The study was conducted in the following order: translation, expert review, reverse translation, preliminary investigation and interviews, and completion of the final version. Confirmatory factor analysis was applied to evaluate the validity of the instrument, and the Beck Depression Inventory, Korean version (K-BDI) was applied to confirm the criterion validity of the MQOLR Korean version. The Cronbach’s alpha coefficient, representing internal consistency, was measured to evaluate reliability. Results: Cronbach’s alpha for all 14 questions was 0.862. The model fit indices for confirmatory factor analysis were within the acceptance criteria. The factor loadings of all four factors were over 0.50, and convergent validity and discriminant validity were confirmed. Regarding criterion validity, a negative correlation was found between the four factors of MQOL-R Korean version and the K-BDI. Conclusion The MQOL-R Korean version, the reliability and validity of which were verified in this study, is a 15-item tool consisting of 14 items dealing with four physical, psychological, existential, and social factors and a single item evaluating the overall quality of life. The MQOL-R Korean version is an instrument that can more concisely and effectively measure the quality of life of patients with life-threatening diseases.