The Western model of integrative oncology: the contribution of Chinese medicine / 中国结合医学杂志

Western integrative oncology (IO) combines conventional mainstream medicine with complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) for the care of cancer patients. Since it includes patient orientation and the holistic approach of many CAM options, IO offers not only preventive measures, but also a wide spectrum of treatment modalities for all stages of illness, from the acute phases through the rehabilitation period. Many therapeutic methods of IO are supported by scientific evidence, for example, dietary and nutritional counseling, exercise, and mind-body medicine, among others. IO also includes therapeutic interventions of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM). At present acupuncture, qigong, and foot massage play an important role in the Western care of cancer patients. However, unlike in China, in Western countries herbal remedies are usually only used during those periods in which chemotherapy is not applied in order to avoid herb-drug interactions. Instead, acupuncture is widely used to manage the side-effects that often accompany chemotherapy. This paper focuses on the role of Chinese medicine in Western IO and reviews the scope and limitations of IO in the care of cancer patients today. The future challenges of IO will also be discussed in this paper.

Interfering Factors of Breastfeeding in the Postpartum Care Centers / 대한주산의학회잡지

PURPOSE: Recently, mothers stay in postpartum care centers (PPCCs) instead of their home for a few weeks after child birth in Korea. The policies of breastfeeding in those facilities can affect the success of breastfeeding. We studied the breastfeeding practice of mothers who stayed in PPCCs and the policies of these facilities. METHODS: We conducted a survey using questionnaires about breastfeeding practice on mothers who visited the Departments of Pediatrics of Cheil General Hospital, Yeungnam University Hospital, Dongsan Medical Center and Chonnam University Hospital, from February 2010 to July 2010. We also conducted another survey on the PPCCs. RESULTS: We collected 349 replies from mothers and 151 responses from PPCCs. 97.4% of mothers had been encouraged breastfeeding, but only 60.3% of mothers practiced rooming-in care, and only 15.2% of them performed it for 24 hours. Milk bottle was used in 92.6% to supply formula instead of cup or spoon. 54.8% of mothers used breast pump unnecessarily to collect breast milk to feed their babies using bottle. 77.3% of mothers withheld breastfeeding in case of cracked nipples, mild jaundice or loose stool. Only 18% of personnels in PPCCs was educated about breastfeeding. Educational materials were provided in only 67.1% of PPCCs. Regional difference was noted in rooming-in care, lecture, feeding device for supplementation and breastfeeding in case of mild jaundice, loose stool or cracked nipples. CONCLUSION: Insufficiently trained people in PPCC may make mothers difficult to breastfeed. It is necessary for the people in PPCCs to be educated for breastfeeding appropriately.

Subtypes of Epstein - Barr Virus in Malignant Lymphoma in Korea / 대한암학회지

PURPOSE: Epstein-Barr virus(EBV) exists in the human population in two genetic forms, usually referred to as type 1 and type 2 which have been defined on the basis of sequence divergence in the EBNA-2 and EBNA-3 family genes. In this study, we were intended to investigate whether the subtypes of EBV in malignant lymphoma in Korea were associated with specific disease entities and geographical distribution. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Biopsy samples obtained from 18 Korean patients with malignant lymphoma including Hodgkin's disease(3 cases), B cell lymphoma(1 case), and NK/T cell lymphoma(14 cases) were analyzed to determine the subtype of EBV infected therein. DNA was extracted from formalin-fixed, paraffin-embeded tissues by ordinary method and specific viral sequences were sought using the polymerase chain reaction(PCR) and Southern blot hybridization assay. Oligonucleotide primers used for examination of EBV strain type were derived from the EBNA-3B and EBNA-3C coding regions. As a control, four cases of reactive hyperplasia were analyzed. RESULTS: The two of four reactive hyperplasia cases were associated with type 1 and the rest of two cases with both types. Among the 18 cases with malignant lymphoma, thirteen cases(72%) had type 1, one(6%) had type 2, and four(22%) had dual infections with both types. In case of NK/T cell lymphoma(14 cases) occupying 78% of 18 biopsy samples, 86%(12 cases) were associated with type 1, 7%(1 case) with type 2, and 7%(1 case) with both types. In case of Hodgkin's disease, all of three cases had both types. B cell lymphoma taking only one case of twenty two cases was determined as type 1. CONCLUSION: These observations indicated that type 1 EBV was predominant in Korean patients with malignant lymphoma, especially NK/T cell lymphoma and showed high frequency of dual viral infections(22%) in Hodgkin's disease as well as in reactive hyperplasia.