Use of Complementary and Alternative Medicine among Korean Cancer Patients

BACKGROUND: Complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) is now being increasingly used among cancer patients. The objectives of our study were to assess the prevalence, types, cost, subjective effects, and side effects of CAM use, reasons for CAM use, characteristics of CAM users compared to those of nonusers, and patients' expectations of doctors regarding their CAM use among Korean cancer patients at a single cancer center. METHODS: From April to August, 2003, we interviewed 186 cancer patients hospitalized in the Korea Cancer Center Hospital using a structured questionnaire, and analyzed the data. RESULTS: 78.5% of experimental subjects (146 patients) had been treated with at least one type of CAM, in addition to conventional Western treatment, with a mean monthly cost of 1, 380, 000 Won/person (approximately, 1, 100 U.S. dollars on July, 2004). The most prevalent types of CAM used by these patients included medicinal mushrooms (67.1%), herbs (54.1%), vegetable diets (50.6%), and ginseng (46.5%). The main reported reasons for the use of CAM in addition to conventional medicine were nutritional support (19.1%) and physical strengthening (17.8%). 5% of CAM users experienced side effects. The younger and more educated the patients were, the more likely they were to employ CAM. 66% of CAM users wanted to discuss CAM techniques with their doctors. CONCLUSION: More than two-thirds of cancer patients used various kinds of CAM, incurring considerable costs. Therefore, in order to help patients make informed decisions, medical society should be open to communication with patients. Not only the scientific aspects, but also the economic aspects of CAM usage should be examined more thoroughly, in order to ensure proper distribution of medical resources.

A Case of Cushing's Syndrome Associated with Ectopic Corticotropin Production in Patient with Small-Cell Lung Cancer / 결핵

Small cell lung cancer(SCLC) is frequently associated with paraneoplastic syndromes, which occur in approximately 20% of patients at presentation. Clinical Cushing's syndrome secondary to ectopic ACTH production is uncommon, occurring in approximately 5% of all SCLC patients. However, biochemical evidence of hypercortisolism can be detected in up to 50% of patients. Patients with Cushing's syndrome from ectopic ACTH production show hypertension, weakness, hyperglycemia, and hypokalemic metabolic alkalosis, but differ from patients with classic Cushing's disease in that symptoms develop more rapidly. Ectopic ACTH production is associated with a poor response to chemotherapy, short survival, and a high risk of treatment-related complications. We report a case of Cushing's syndrome associated with ectopic corticotropin production in 59-year-old male patient with extensive stage of SCLC.

Effects of combination timing of recombinant human interferon-?and adriamycin on cytotoxicity to human stomach cancer cells / 대한면역학회지

No abstract available.

Effect of Coronary Collateral Circulation on Left Ventricular Function in Acute Myocardial Infarction

To evaluate effect of coronary collateral circulation on left ventricular function in patients with acute myocardial infarction, global ejection fraction(EF), left ventricular end distolic pressure(LVEDP), peak creatine kinase(CK) level and regional wall motion were analysed and compared in 30 patients with acute myocardial infarction according to grade of coronary collateral circulation. Patients with total or near total(above 95% of diameter) occlsion of left anterior descending coronary artery without significant lesion in right coronary artery or left circumflex artery were selected and divided into 3 groups according to the degree of collateral circulation on coronary angiography, to be compared by the index of ejection fraction, peak creatine kinase level, left ventricular and diastolic pressure and regional wall motion. The result are as following : 1) There were no statistically significant differences in ejection fraction, peak creatine kinase level, left ventricualr and diastolic pressure among the groups. 2) Regional wall motion of infarct related area of G2+3 group(adequate collateral) were better than that of G0(no collateral) group(p<0.05). Therefore, adequate coronary collateral circulation in acute myocardial infarction is thought to have beneficial effect on left ventricular function especially in regional wall motion of infarct related area.