Pattern of distant recurrence according to the molecular subtypes in Korean women with breast cancer

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Distant recurrence is one of the most important risk factors in overall survival, and distant recurrence is related to a complex biologic interaction of seed and soil factors. The aim of the study was to investigate the association between the molecular subtypes and patterns of distant recurrence in patients with breast cancer.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>In an investigation of 313 women with breast cancer who underwent surgery from 1994 and 2000, the expressions of estrogen and progestrone receptor (ER/PR), and human epithelial receptor-2 (HER2) were evaluated. The subtypes were defined as luminal-A, luminal-HER2, HER2-enriched, and triple negative breast cancer (TNBC) according to ER, PR, and HER2 status.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Bone was the most common site of distant recurrence. The incidence of first distant recurrence site was significantly different among the subtypes. Brain metastasis was more frequent in the luminal-HER2 and TNBC subtypes. In subgroup analysis, overall survival in patients with distant recurrence after 24 months after surgery was significantly different among the subtypes.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>Organ-specific metastasis may depend on the molecular subtype of breast cancer. Tailored strategies against distant metastasis concerning the molecular subtypes in breast cancer may be considered.</p

Incidental thyroid lesions detected by FDG-PET/CT: prevalence and risk of thyroid cancer

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Incidentally found thyroid lesions are frequently detected in patients undergoing FDG-PET/CT. The aim of this study was to investigate the prevalence of incidentally found thyroid lesions in patients undergoing FDG-PET/CT and determine the risk for thyroid cancer.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>FDG-PET/CT was performed on 3,379 patients for evaluation of suspected or known cancer or cancer screening without any history of thyroid cancer between November 2003 and December 2005. Medical records related to the FDG-PET/CT findings including maximum SUV(SUV_max) and pattern of FDG uptake, US findings, FNA, histopathology received by operation were reviewed retrospectively.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Two hundred eighty five patients (8.4%) were identified to have FDG uptake on FDG-PET/CT. 99 patients with focal or diffuse FDG uptake underwent further evaluation. The cancer risk of incidentally found thyroid lesions on FDG-PET/CT was 23.2% (22/99) and the cancer risks associated with focal and diffuse FDG uptake were 30.9% and 6.4%. There was a significant difference in the SUV_maxbetween the benign and malignant nodules (3.35 ± 1.69 vs. 6.64 ± 4.12; P < 0.001). There was a significant correlation between the SUV_maxand the size of the cancer.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>The results of this study suggest that incidentally found thyroid lesions by FDG-PET/CT, especially a focal FDG uptake and a high SUV, have a high risk of thyroid malignancy. Further diagnostic work-up is needed in these cases.</p

Production of Reducing Sugars from Laminaria japonica by Subcritical Water Hydrolysis

AbstractThis study was to investigate the production of reducing sugars in hydrolysates from raw and deoiled Laminaria japonica produced by subcritical water hydrolysis. Deoiled Laminaria japonica was collected by supercritical carbon dioxide (SCO2) extraction process. Experiments were performed in a batch-type reactor with stirring. It investigated that the effects of reaction temperature and acetic acid as catalyst on content of reducing sugar production. The addition of acetic acid led to an increase in content of reducing sugar. But Removal of oil in Laminaria japonica by SCO2 and increasing of temperature led to decrease in content of reducing sugar production. The highest content of reducing sugar was 814.10mg/100g raw dried sample at 200°C, adding of 1% acetic acid as catalyst

Increase in mortality rate following coprescription of cisapride and contraindicated drugs

BACKGROUND: No epidemiologic study, as of this writing, has been published on the use of cisapride with contraindicated drugs and its relation to mortality rates in a population-based setting. OBJECTIVE: To estimate the prevalence of concomitant use of cisapride with contraindicated drugs and evaluate the association between this and the risk of mortality. METHODS: Claims data were obtained from the Health Insurance Review Agency of Korea. The study population consisted of patients younger than 85 years who visited clinics or hospitals in the city of Busan as new users of cisapride between November 1, 2000, and April 30, 2002. The coprescription of cisapride was defined as prescribing cisapride with one or more contraindicated drugs with the same prescription. Nationwide mortality data were also used. The prevalence of coprescribing cisapride was estimated and the association between this and the risk of mortality was assessed by rate ratios (RRs). The RRs were estimated using Cox's regression model with time-dependent covariate, adjusted for age, sex, and comorbidities. RESULTS: A total of 36,865 patients out of 56,012 claims were newly prescribed cisapride; of these, 1175 patients (3.2%) were concomitantly prescribed at least one contraindicated drug, which suggested adjusted mortality RRs of 14.08 (95% CI 7.41 to 26.76) for recent users and 1.33 (95% CI 0.92 to 1.93) for past users of cisapride. CONCLUSIONS: Despite the discontinuation of the drug's commercial marketing, cisapride was still in use in clinics and hospitals in Busan. In many cases, cisapride was co-prescribed with contraindicated drugs, which is associated with increased mortality rates