Quality of life outcomes in terminal cancer patients attending regional cancer centers in South Korea: protocol for a prospective cohort study.

Introduction: Patients with cancer experience physical, mental, and social pain that affects themselves and their families. The increasing cancer incidence and advances in treatment have increased the number of cancer survivors in Korea, and there is an influx of patients in Seoul and other metropolitan areas, leading to shortages of continuous care and comprehensive life support facilities. Patients must travel long distances for treatment, which poses logistical and quality-of-life challenges.

Rare primary gastric peripheral T-cell lymphoma not otherwise specified: A case report.

Background: Gastrointestinal lymphoma typically arises in the stomach, small bowel, or colorectum and is usually a B-cell lymphoma. However, primary T-cell lymphomas originating in the stomach are particularly rare. Gastric peripheral T-cell lymphoma-not otherwise specified (PTCL-NOS) is an extremely rare subtype.

Unmet Needs of Patients With Chronic Urticaria: A Survey in Korea.

Chronic urticaria (CU) is a common problem with a high disease burden that has a significant negative impact on quality of life. Many patients are undertreated, and awareness of management strategies is low among clinicians. The present study aimed to improve understanding of CU from the patients' perspective, including the disease burden and current healthcare system use.

Clinical outcomes of targeted therapies in elderly patients aged ≥ 80 years with metastatic colorectal cancer.

Background: The 5-fluorouracil-based chemotherapy combined with oxaliplatin or irinotecan is usually used in colorectal cancer (CRC). The addition of a targeted agent (TA) to this combination chemotherapy is currently the standard treatment for metastatic CRC. However, the efficacy and safety of combination chemotherapy for metastatic CRC in patients aged above 80 years has yet to be established.

Isolated Peritoneal Metastasis of Prostate Cancer Presenting with Massive Ascites: A Case Report.

The peritoneal carcinomatosis of prostate cancer without bone or other visceral organ involvement is extremely rare. We report a case of an isolated peritoneal metastasis of prostate cancer in a patient without other metastatic sites and a history of prostate surgery. A 63-year-old male with locally advanced prostate cancer without known distant metastasis on androgen deprivation therapy presented with abdominal distension that had persisted for a month.

The Positive Effects of Cancer Survivor Support Service on Distress in South Korea: A Nationwide Prospective Study.

Background And Aim: Cancer survivors are gradually increasing, however, they suffer from various difficulties. We aimed to investigate the characteristics of cancer survivors and the effects of the services of the Korean Cancer Survivorship Center Pilot Project launched by the South Korean government on distress.

Methods: A prospective observational cohort study was performed on cancer survivors who completed primary treatment.

Primary central nervous system lymphoma presenting as a single choroidal lesion mimicking metastasis: A case report.

Background: Primary choroidal lymphoma is usually an indolent B-cell lymphoma and rarely progresses to extraocular sites. Herein, we report a case of primary choroidal lymphoma diagnosed as diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBL), which progressed to the brain parenchyma after 4 mo.

Case Summary: A 78-year-old man presented with diminution of vision in his right eye.

Metachronous squamous cell carcinoma of pancreas and stomach in an elderly female patient: A case report.

Background: Squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) in pancreas and stomach is a rare histologic subtype with aggressive behavior, poor prognosis, and no standardized therapy. Pancreatic SCC or gastric SCC has been previously reported. However, case of SCC occurring in both the pancreas and the stomach has not been reported yet.

Heterogeneity of Adult Rhinitis for Multimorbidity and Age at Onset among Non-Sensitized Rhinitis and Mono-/Poly-Sensitized Rhinitis: A Retrospective Cross-Sectional Study.

Background: Recent studies have proposed that clinical and immunological differences exist between mono- and poly-sensitized subjects with allergic diseases, and poly-sensitization was related to multimorbidity of allergic diseases among children and adolescents.

Objective: We compared the clinical characteristics and multimorbidity of allergic diseases between adult rhinitis patients mono- and poly-sensitized to common aeroallergens using a retrospective cross-sectional study for tertiary care subjects.

Methods: The medical records of 1,615 patients who were clinically diagnosed with rhinitis by an otolaryngologist and evaluated with skin prick tests were reviewed.

Introducing psychology services to advanced cancer patients: A randomized double-blind trial.

Context: Psychology services utilization in cancer patients remains low due to barriers such as patient/caregiver acceptance of counseling.

Objective: We aimed to determine if the manner of introducing psychology services impacted patients' acceptance of services and to identify factors associated with acceptance and barriers to psychology utilization.

Methods: In this double-blind randomized cross-over trial, cancer patients with no prior psychology services observed two video vignettes: (a) physician introducing counselor and psychology services to the patient (PI) and (b) counselor introducing psychology services alone (CI).

Patterns of Opioid Prescription, Use, and Costs Among Patients With Advanced Cancer and Inpatient Palliative Care Between 2008 and 2014.

Purpose: An understanding of opioid prescription and cost patterns is important to optimize pain management for patients with advanced cancer. This study aimed to determine opioid prescription and cost patterns and to identify opioid prescription predictors in patients with advanced cancer who received inpatient palliative care (IPC).

Materials And Methods: We reviewed data from 807 consecutive patients with cancer who received IPC in each October from 2008 through 2014.

Frequency, Outcomes, and Associated Factors for Opioid-Induced Neurotoxicity in Patients with Advanced Cancer Receiving Opioids in Inpatient Palliative Care.

Opioid-induced neurotoxicity (OIN) is an underdiagnosed yet distressing symptom in palliative care patients receiving opioids. However, there have been only a limited number of studies on OIN. Our aim was to determine the frequency of and risk factors for OIN in patients receiving opioids during inpatient palliative care.

Association between Advanced Cancer Patients' Perception of Curability and Patients' Characteristics, Decisional Control Preferences, Symptoms, and End-of-Life Quality Care Outcomes.

Background: There are limited studies on factors associated with cancer patients' perception of curability.

Objective: To examine advanced cancer patient's perception of curability and its association with patient's sociodemographic and clinical characteristics, decisional control preference (DCP), symptoms, and end-of-life quality care outcomes.

Design: Secondary analysis of a study to determine the DCP and illness understanding of advanced cancer patients receiving palliative care (PC).

A Double-Blind, Randomized, Placebo-Controlled Trial of for Cancer-Related Fatigue in Patients With Advanced Cancer.

Despite the high frequency, severity, and effects of cancer-related fatigue (CRF) on the quality of life (QoL) of patients with cancer, limited treatment options are available. The primary objective of this study was to compare the effects of oral extract (PG) and placebo on CRF. Secondary objectives were to determine the effects of PG on QoL, mood, and function.

The Conversion Ratio From Intravenous Hydromorphone to Oral Opioids in Cancer Patients.

Context: The lack of knowledge of the accurate conversion ratio (CR) between intravenous (IV) and oral hydromorphone and opioid rotation ratio (ORR) between IV hydromorphone and oral morphine equivalent daily dose (MEDD) may lead to poorly controlled pain or overdosing in cancer inpatients.

Objectives: We aimed to determine the CR and ORR from IV hydromorphone to oral hydromorphone and MEDD (obtained from oral morphine and oxycodone).

Methods: A total of 4745 consecutive inpatient palliative care consults during 2010-14 were reviewed for conversions from IV hydromorphone to oral hydromorphone, morphine or oxycodone.

Feasibility of Modified FOLFOX in Elderly Patients Aged ≥80 Years with Metastatic Gastric Cancer or Colorectal Cancer.

Objective: The aim of this study was to assess the feasibility of a modified FOLFOX regimen as first-line treatment in elderly patients with metastatic gastric cancer (GC) or colorectal cancer (CRC).

Methods: We included chemotherapy-naïve patients over 80 years old with metastatic GC or CRC in our study. From September 2008 to November 2014, 28 consecutive patients were enrolled and treated with modified FOLFOX.

Occult gastric cancer with distant metastasis proven by random gastric biopsy.

Krukenberg tumor, a rare metastatic ovarian tumor arising from gastrointestinal adenocarcinoma mainly, tends to occur in premenopausal females. Finding the origin of a Krukenberg tumor is crucial for determining prognosis. In Eastern countries, the most common origin of Krukenberg tumor is stomach cancer, which is generally diagnosed via endoscopic biopsy to investigate an abnormal mucosal lesion.

The effect of telemedicine on the duration of treatment in dementia patients.

We studied 442 patients who met the DSM-IV-TR criteria for dementia and whose treatment was initiated at the Kangwon National University Hospital (KNUH) in Chuncheon. Over a five-year period, there were 259 patients who regularly visited the KNUH dementia clinic in person, and 168 patients who received medical services from the dementia clinic via telemedicine. The telemedicine patients attended a public health centre in Hongcheon, a facility located in a rural area about 50 km south east of the KNUH.

Bleomycin-induced flagellate erythema: A case report and review of the literature.

Bleomycin has been used most commonly in the treatment of Hodgkin's lymphoma, certain germ cell tumors (GCT) and for the sclerosis of recurrent pleural effusions. Bleomycin toxicity predominantly affects the skin and lungs. Skin toxicity includes Raynaud's phenomenon, hyperkeratosis, nail-bed changes and palmoplantar desquamation.

Efficacy and feasibility of gemcitabine and carboplatin as first-line chemotherapy in elderly patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer.

Background: Although platinum-based chemotherapy is a standard first-line treatment in advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), further research for the safety and efficacy of combination chemotherapy in elderly patients has been required. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the efficacy and safety of gemcitabine and carboplatin as first-line treatment in elderly patients with advanced NSCLC and to evaluate the prognostic factors.

Methods: Eligibility included: (1) age of 70 years or more, (2) histologically confirmed NSCLC, (3) chemotherapy-naïve, (4) advanced disease with stage IIIB or IV, (5) Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance status (PS) 0-2, (6) adequate organ function.

Interstitial Pneumonitis after Treatment with Pemetrexed for Non-small Cell Lung Cancer.

Pemetrexed is approved as a first-line treatment for advanced non-squamous non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) with cisplatin and as a single agent for second-line treatment or for patients who show no disease progression after four cycles of platinum-based doublet induction chemotherapy as maintenance therapy. Pemetrexed has a modest toxicity profile and has not traditionally been regarded as a cause of interstitial pneumonitis. Here, we report on a rare case of pemetrexed-induced pneumonitis in a patient with NSCLC.

Outcome of infusional 5-fluorouracil, doxorubicin, and mitomycin-C (iFAM) chemotherapy and analysis of prognostic factors in patients with refractory advanced biliary tract cancer.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to determine the efficacy and safety of infusional 5-fluorouracil (5-FU), doxorubicin, and mitomycin-C (iFAM) as salvage chemotherapy in biliary tract cancer (BTC) and to identify prognostic factors.

Methods: Fifty patients received 5-FU 800 mg/m(2) over 10 h on days 1-5, doxorubicin 30 mg/m(2) on day 1 and mitomycin-C 8 mg/m(2) on day 1, every 4 weeks. The primary endpoint was the overall survival (OS) rate at 6 months.

Smad7 sensitizes A549 lung cancer cells to cisplatin-induced apoptosis through heme oxygenase-1 inhibition.

Smad7, an inhibitory Smad, acts as a key regulator forming autoinhibitory feedback loop in transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-β) signaling. However, a growing body of evidences suggests that Smad7 is capable of apoptotic function. In the present study, we have demonstrated a proapoptotic function of Smad7 as a negative regulator of survival protein heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1).