Association between Regular Use of Analgesics before Cancer Diagnosis and Occurrence of Mood Disorders.

We aimed to determine the relationship between the use of analgesics prescribed for pain management and the onset and progression of mood disorders using a large-scale cohort database. We calculated hazard ratios (HR) with 95% confidence intervals (CI) for patient risk of developing mood disorders based on age, income, health-related variables, disease history, Charlson comorbidity index, and analgesics prescription behavior (Models 1-3). Additionally, we determined the risk of mood disorder occurrence by age group (Model 4) using a proportional hazards regression model.

Association between WHO First-Step Analgesic Use and Risk of Breast Cancer in Women of Working Age.

We assessed the association between breast cancer and analgesic use in women of a specific working-age group. The Korean National Health Insurance Service-National Sample Cohort database (KNHIS-NSC) data were analyzed. We calculated hazard ratios (HRs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for patients' cancer risk based on whether the women participated in economic activity (PEA or not PEA (NPEA) groups) and analgesic use.

Association between first-step analgesic use and cancer in patients with diabetes.

Objectives: This study aimed to determine the effectiveness of analgesics in inhibiting cancer development in patients with diabetes based on a sample cohort supplied by the Korean National Health Insurance Service.

Materials And Methods: Regular users of analgesics included those using prescription analgesics ≥ 15 days per month at least 6 times over 2 years after the diagnosis of diabetes mellitus (baseline). The effectiveness of analgesics in patients with diabetes was evaluated using metformin adherence and three models: model 1 was adjusted for age and sex; model 2 was further adjusted for body mass index (BMI), exercise, cholesterol, hypertension, and Charlson comorbidity index (CCI); and model 3 was further adjusted for analgesics.

Temporal patterns of chronic disease incidence after breast cancer: a nationwide population-based cohort study.

We conducted a retrospective cohort study to evaluate the temporal pattern of incidence of chronic conditions after developing breast cancer using a population-based national registry. We selected 84,969 women with newly diagnosed breast cancer between 2002 and 2016 and a 1:10 sample of age-matched non-breast cancer controls (N = 1,057,674). The main study exposure was incident breast cancer, considered as a time-varying exposure.

Impact of objective financial burden and subjective financial distress on spiritual well-being and quality of life among working-age cancer survivors.

Purpose: To assess objective financial burden (OFB) and subjective financial distress (SFD) amikong working-age cancer survivors and evaluate their association with spiritual well-being and health-related quality of life (HRQoL).

Methods: This is a multicenter cross-sectional survey of cancer survivors working at diagnosis between 2017 and 2018. OFB was defined as patients with high medical payments for individuals/households, debt due to cancer care costs, or bankruptcy.

Effects of early medication treatment and metformin use for cancer prevention in diabetes patients: a nationwide sample cohort study in Korea using extended landmark time analysis.

Objectives: This study investigated the effectiveness of early medication treatment and metformin use for cancer prevention in type 2 diabetes patients.

Methods: Population-based cohort data were used from the Korean National Health Insurance Service-National Sample Cohort database (KNHIS-NSC) for 2002-2013. Patient-specific medication prescription status was defined by the landmark time (LMT; a fixed time after cohort entry), considering both pre- and post-LMT prescriptions to control methodological biases in observational research.

Validation of Cancer Diagnosis Based on the National Health Insurance Service Database versus the National Cancer Registry Database in Korea.

Purpose: This study aimed to assess the feasibility of operational definitions of cancer patients in conducting cancer-related studies using the claims data from the National Health Insurance Service (NHIS).

Materials And Methods: Cancer incidence data were obtained from the Korean Central Cancer Registry, the NHIS primary diagnosis, and from the rare and intractable disease (RID) registration program.

Results: The operational definition with higher sensitivity for cancer patient verification was different by cancer type.

Prescribing patterns in breast cancer survivors: A Korean National Health Insurance Service cohort study.

Purpose: Breast cancer survivors often manifest comorbidities that require medication management. This study aimed to investigate the prescription patterns of drugs prescribed frequently among breast cancer survivors and to provide data to monitor adverse effects using other covariates in these patients.

Materials And Methods: We analyzed a Korean national sample cohort database.

Influence of Metabolic Syndrome on Risk of Breast Cancer: A Study Analyzing Nationwide Data from Korean National Health Insurance Service.

Background: To investigate the influence of metabolic syndrome and its components on the risk of breast cancer.

Methods: Retrospective nationwide cohort study analyzing data of 13,377,349 women older than 19 years from Korean National Health Insurance Service was performed. Cox proportional hazards model was used to calculate HR and 95% confidence interval (CI) of breast cancer risk.

Care Pathway for Cancer Survivorship in Korea: Trend of Breast Cancer Pathway from 2003 to 2010.

Objectives: The survival rate of cancer patients has exceeded 60%. Although cancer survivors may die of other diseases except cancer, the health management system including chronic disease prevention-management for cancer survivors, has not been established in the diverse aspects. Therefore, services according to care pathway of cancer patients need to be provided through a support system based on a platform concept that can be used to meet patient needs in various ways.

Acceptability of Service Targets for ICT-Based Healthcare.

Objectives: In order to adopt and activate telemedicine it is necessary to survey how medical staff, who are providers of medical service, and consumers, who are the service targets, perceive information and communication technology (ICT)-based healthcare service.

Methods: This study surveyed the awareness and acceptability of ICT-based healthcare by involving service targets, specifically workers and students living in the Seoul and Gyeonggi regions who are consumers of healthcare service. To determine the correlation among awareness of ICT-based healthcare, the need for self-management, and acceptability, this study conducted a correlation analysis and a simple regression analysis.

Development of a Tailored Analysis System for Korean Working Conditions Survey.

Background: Korean Working Conditions Surveys (KWCS), referencing European Working Conditions Surveys, have been conducted three times in order to survey working condition and develop work-related policies. However, we found three limitations for managing the collected KWCS data: (1) there was no computerized system for managing data; (2) statistical KWCS data were provided by limited one-way communication; and (3) the concept of a one-time provision of information was pursued. We suggest a web-based public service system that enables ordinary people to make greater use of the KWCS data, which can be managed constantly in the future.

HealthTWITTER Initiative: Design of a Social Networking Service Based Tailored Application for Diabetes Self-Management.

Objectives: Diabetes is a chronic disease of continuously increasing prevalence. It is a disease with risks of serious complications, thus warranting its long-term management. However, current health management and education programs for diabetes mainly consist of one-way communication, and systematic social support backup to solve diabetics' emotional problems is insufficient.

Standard based deposit guideline for distribution of human biological materials in cancer patients.

Background: Human biological materials from cancer patients are linked directly with public health issues in medical science research as foundational resources so securing "human biological material" is truly important in bio-industry. However, because South Korea's national R and D project lacks a proper managing system for establishing a national standard for the outputs of certain processes, high-value added human biological material produced by the national R and D project could be lost or neglected. As a result, it is necessary to develop a managing process, which can be started by establishing operating guidelines to handle the output of human biological materials.

CCR+: Metadata Based Extended Personal Health Record Data Model Interoperable with the ASTM CCR Standard.

Objectives: Extension of the standard model while retaining compliance with it is a challenging issue because there is currently no method for semantically or syntactically verifying an extended data model. A metadata-based extended model, named CCR+, was designed and implemented to achieve interoperability between standard and extended models.

Methods: Furthermore, a multilayered validation method was devised to validate the standard and extended models.

Comprehensive evaluation of matrix factorization methods for the analysis of DNA microarray gene expression data.

Background: Clustering-based methods on gene-expression analysis have been shown to be useful in biomedical applications such as cancer subtype discovery. Among them, Matrix factorization (MF) is advantageous for clustering gene expression patterns from DNA microarray experiments, as it efficiently reduces the dimension of gene expression data. Although several MF methods have been proposed for clustering gene expression patterns, a systematic evaluation has not been reported yet.

A SWOT Analysis of the Various Backup Scenarios Used in Electronic Medical Record Systems.

Objectives: Electronic medical records (EMRs) are increasingly being used by health care services. Currently, if an EMR shutdown occurs, even for a moment, patient safety and care can be seriously impacted. Our goal was to determine the methodology needed to develop an effective and reliable EMR backup system.

Palmatine attenuates osteoclast differentiation and function through inhibition of receptor activator of nuclear factor-κb ligand expression in osteoblast cells.

Osteoclasts are the only cell type capable of resorbing mineralized bone, and they act under the control of numerous cytokines produced by supporting cells such as osteoblasts and stromal cells. Among cytokines, receptor activator of nuclear factor-κB ligand (RANKL) was found to be a key osteoclastogenetic molecule that directly binds to its cognate receptor, RANK, on osteoclast precursor cells. In turn, RANKL, which is an essential factor for differentiation and activation of osteoclasts, is one of the major targets of anti-resorptive agents.

Alisol-B, a novel phyto-steroid, suppresses the RANKL-induced osteoclast formation and prevents bone loss in mice.

Osteoclasts, bone-resorbing multinucleated cells, are differentiated from hemopoietic progenitors of the monocyte/macrophage lineage. Bone resorption by osteoclasts is considered a potential therapeutic target to the treatment of erosive bone diseases, including osteoporosis, rheumatoid arthritis, and periodontitis. In the present study, we found that alisol-B, a phyto-steroid from Alisma orientale Juzepczuk, exhibited inhibitory effects on osteoclastogenesis both in vitro and in vivo.

Inhibitory effect of luteolin on osteoclast differentiation and function.

Osteoclasts are multinucleated cells that play a crucial role in bone resorption, and are formed by the fusion of mononuclear osteoclasts derived from osteoclast precursors of the macrophage lineage. Compounds that specifically target functional osteoclasts would be ideal candidates for anti-resorptive agents for clinical applications. In the present study, we investigated the effects of luteolin, a flavonoid, on the regulation of receptor activator of nuclear factor-kappaB ligand (RANKL)-induced osteoclastogenesis, functions and signaling pathway.

Inhibitory effect of immature plum on PMA-induced MMP-9 expression in human hepatocellular carcinoma.

The goal of this study was to evaluate the anticancer effect of Prunus salicina Lindl. cv. Soldam at three maturity stages (immature, midmature and mature).

Defining structural constraints for the development of structured operation note for breast cancer based on Clinical Document Architecture.

Clinical Document Architecture (CDA) has been proven to be a useful and powerful standard for structured exchange of clinical documents between heterogeneous information systems. This study demonstrates how CDA can be used to structure different types of clinical document forms like discharge summary consultation note and operation note with formal constraints. Structured documents offer improved possibility of searching for specific information within them.