Erratum: The Palatability of Cereal Based Nutritional Supplements in Cancer Patients

We would like to correct the affiliation for the first author.

The Palatability of Cereal Based Nutritional Supplements in Cancer Patients

Recently, it is reported that intervention of oral nutritional supplement improves the nutritional status of cancer patients, and the effectiveness is affected by the sensory preference of cancer patients on the oral nutritional supplement. However, the variety of oral nutritional supplement is extremely limited and the number of patient's benefits from using the products are restricted mostly due to sensory dislikes. The objective of this study was to provide sensory preference score of trial manufactured products with different accessory ingredients to maximize the use of oral nutritional supplements. Cancer patients (n = 30) and age, sex-matched healthy volunteers (n = 30) participated in the sensory assessments (taste, flavor, viscosity, color and overall preference) of three types of oral supplements (cereal base, cereal base+herb and cereal base+fruit) and a control supplement product with scorched cereal flavor, a top seller in current Korean market. Results indicate that the cancer patients' overall preference was significantly higher for the control supplement, and fruit added supplement was preferred over plain cereal and herb added products, although the difference was insignificant. However, there was no significant preference difference for the supplements among the control group for all sensory factors. These results suggest that cancer patients are more sensitive to sensory preferences compared to the control group, and the patients prefer the flavor of cooked cereal which is a staple food in Korea.

The Results of Postoperative Radiation Therapy for Perihilar Cholangiocarcinoma / 대한방사선종양학회지

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to evaluate the results of postoperative radiotherapy in a case of perihilar cholagiocarcinoma by analyzing overall survival rate, patterns of failure, prognostic factors for overall survival, and toxicity. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Between January 1998 and March 2008, 38 patients with perihilar cholangiocarcinoma underwent a surgical resection and adjuvant radiotherapy. The median patient age was 59 years (range, 28 to 72 years), which included 23 men and 15 women. The extent of surgery was complete resection in 9 patients, microscopically positive margins in 25 patients, and a subtotal resection in 4 patients. The tumor bed and regional lymphatics initially received 45 Gy or 50 Gy, but was subsequently boosted to a total dose of 59.4 Gy or 60 Gy in incompletely resected patients. The median radiotherapy dose was 59.4 Gy. Concurrent chemotherapy was administered in 30 patients. The median follow-up period was 14 months (range, 6 to 45 months). RESULTS: The 3-year overall survival and 3-year progression free survival rates were 30% and 8%, respectively. The median survival time was 28 months. A multivariate analysis showed that differentiation was the only significant factor for overall survival. The 3-year overall survival was 34% in R0 patients and 20% in R1 patients. No statistically significant differences in survival were found between the 2 groups (p=0.3067). The first site of failure was local in 18 patients (47%). No patient experienced grade 3 or higher acute toxicity and duodenal bleeding developed in 2 patients. CONCLUSION: Our results suggest that adjuvant RT might be a significant factor in patients with a positive margin following a radical resection. However, there was still a high locoregional recurrence rate following surgery and postoperative radiotherapy. Further study is necessary to enhance the effect of the adjuvant radiotherapy.

The expression of annexin I and thymosin beta4 in cervical cancer / 대한산부인과학회지

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to compare the expression of annexin I and thymosin beta4 in invasive cervical cancer including normal cervix and CIN. METHODS: In Ewha Womans University Mokdong Hospital, normal cervical tissues were obtained from healthy women (n=10), from patients with cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN, n=10) and from patients with cervical cancer (n=33). The expressions of annexin I and thymosin beta4 mRNA and protein were examined by quantitative competitive-PCR and by western blot analysis. The expressions of annexin I and thymosin beta4 protein were measured by western blot analysis with thymosin beta4 peptides non treated and treated SiHa cells. RESULTS: The expression of thymosin beta4 mRNA and protein in cervical cancer were higher than that in normal cervix (p0.05). But thymosin beta4 and annexin I protein expressions were increased according to the cancer stage. The expression of annexin I was slightly higher in thymosin beta4 treated SiHa cells than that in nontreated SiHa cells. CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggest that overexpression of thymosin beta4 and annexin I may play roles in progression of invasive cervical cancer. Thymosin beta4 upregulates expression of annexin I in invasive cervical cancer. Therefore, thymosin beta4 and annexin I may be biological markers in detecting the progression of invasive cervical cancer, and their interaction is important in invasive cervical cancer.

The annexin II expression in invasive cervical cancer / 부인종양

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to determine annexin II expression in cervical cancer. METHODS: In Ewha Womans University Mokdong Hospital, normal and cervical cancer tissues were obtained from healthy women (n=11), from patients with cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN, n=11) and from patients with cervical cancer (n=33). The expressions of annexin II mRNA and protein were examined by quantitative competitive-PCR and by western blot analysis. Annexin II mRNA and protein expressions were examined with repects to the clinical characteristics including tumor sizes and cancer stages. RESULTS: The expression of annexin II mRNA in cervical cancer was higher than that in the normal cervix, and CIN (p0.05). The expression of annexin II protein in cervical cancer was higher than that in CIN but its expression was decreased according to the cervical cancer stage. CONCLUSION: Our results suggest that overexpression of annexin II mRNA and protein may be a biologic marker of cervical carcinogenesis.

Tissue viability of human placental explants in normoxic and hypoxic culture / 대한산부인과학회지

OBJECTIVE: In vitro study systems for research of placental hypoxia are needed, among which human placental villous explant culture technique under experimentally variable condition is commonly used. So we performed this study to assess the viability of placental villous explant in normoxic and hypoxic culture that can provide validity for that system. METHOD: Placental villous explant tissues obtained from 9 cases of normal term pregnancies were incubated in normoxic (20% O2) and hypoxic (2~5% O2) condition for 72 hours. The viability of tissue was evaluated morphologically by microscopic examination and biochemically by LDH assay at variable time interval (0, 6, 12, 24, 48, 72 hours). The apoptosis of the tissue was assessed by TUNEL assay. RESULT: By light microscope, all of H&E stained placental explant tissue sections in normoxic and hypoxic culture showed intact villous integrities without definitive syncytial sloughing and fibrinoid necrosis as time elapsed. Tissue viability of LDH assay during 6, 24, 48, 72 hours of placental villous explants showed over all 52.3~67.6% and didn't show statistically significant difference between normoxic and hypoxic culture. Tissue viability in both groups maintained 61.2~67.6% for the first 24 hours and eventually decreased with time. TUNEL assay showed over all negative findings in normoxic and hypoxic culture at different time periods. CONCLUSION: In vitro human placental explant culture system can be a useful and feasible technique for research of placental hypoxia which is related to development of obstetrical complications such as preeclampsia, intrauterine fetal growth restriction and preterm labor and so on. But our in vitro placental explant system needs some modification in culture condition and technique for maximizing viability of the tissue.