An observational, prospective, open label, multicenter study to evaluate the safety and effectiveness of pegfilgrastim as secondary prophylaxis to decrease the incidence of febrile neutropenia in Korean female patients with breast cancer.

Purpose: Pegfilgrastim is a widely used long-acting granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) that prevents febrile neutropenia (FN) in patients with breast cancer receiving chemotherapy. This study aimed to evaluate the incidence of chemotherapy-related FN events and other adverse events (AEs) during chemotherapy in Korean patients with breast cancer treated with pegfilgrastim as secondary prophylactic support.

Materials And Methods: This was a multicenter, open-label, prospective, observational study.

Clinical Outcomes Following Letrozole Treatment according to Estrogen Receptor Expression in Postmenopausal Women: LETTER Study (KBCSG-006).

Purpose: In this trial, we investigated the efficacy and safety of adjuvant letrozole for hormone receptor (HR)-positive breast cancer. Here, we report the clinical outcome in postmenopausal women with HR-positive breast cancer treated with adjuvant letrozole according to estrogen receptor (ER) expression levels.

Methods: In this multi-institutional, open-label, observational study, postmenopausal patients with HR-positive breast cancer received adjuvant letrozole (2.

The Practice Patterns and Perceptions of Korean Surgeons Regarding Margin Status after Breast-Conserving Surgery.

Two consecutive surveys for breast surgeons in Korea were conducted to comprehend the practice patterns and perceptions on margin status after breast-conserving surgery. The surveys were conducted online in 2014 (initial) and 2016 (follow-up). A total of 126 and 88 responses were obtained in the initial and follow-up survey, respectively.

Development of individual survival estimating program for cancer patients' management.

Objectives: The goal of this report is to present an individual patient's survival estimation curve using the each institution's survival data after Cox proportional hazard analysis.

Methods: The program was developed in three parts: input of basic data from Cox proportional hazard analysis, input of individual patient's covariates, and presentation of individual patient's survival curve. In the first part, the average survival rates with each survival time were entered as the means of covariates using the results of Cox proportional hazard analysis.

Validation of risk assessment models for predicting the incidence of breast cancer in korean women.

Purpose: The Gail model is one of the most widely used tools to assess the risk of breast cancer. However, it is known to overestimate breast cancer risk for Asian women. Here, we validate the Gail model and the Korean model using Korean data, and subsequently update and revalidate the Korean model using recent data.

Development and validation of web-based nomograms to predict postoperative invasive component in ductal carcinoma in situ at needle breast biopsy.

Objectives: Although sonography-guided core needle biopsy is a highly targeted method, there is a possibility of an invasive component after surgical excision of ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) of the breast. This study was performed to develop and validate nomograms to predict the postoperative invasive component in DCIS at core needle biopsy.

Methods: Two nomograms were developed using the data of previous meta-analysis and multivariate analysis.

Korean risk assessment model for breast cancer risk prediction.

Purpose: We evaluated the performance of the Gail model for a Korean population and developed a Korean breast cancer risk assessment tool (KoBCRAT) based upon equations developed for the Gail model for predicting breast cancer risk.

Methods: Using 3,789 sets of cases and controls, risk factors for breast cancer among Koreans were identified. Individual probabilities were projected using Gail's equations and Korean hazard data.

The prevalence of BRCA mutations among familial breast cancer patients in Korea: results of the Korean Hereditary Breast Cancer study.

The primary aim of this study was to estimate the prevalence of BRCA1/2 mutations among familial breast cancer (BC) patients in Korea. We analyzed 775 familial BC patients who were enrolled in the Korean Hereditary Breast Cancer (KOHBRA) study and treated at 36 institutions between May 2007 and May 2010. Patients with familial BC were defined as BC patients with family histories of BC or ovarian cancer (OC) in any relatives.

Oncologic manifestations of neurofibromatosis type 1 in Korea.

Purpose: The aim of this study was to investigate the incidence and spectrum of malignant tumors in Korean neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1) patients.

Methods: We retrospectively reviewed 125 patients who were diagnosed with NF1 at a single institution from 1995 to 2010. The incidence, location, histologic type, and radiologic findings of malignant tumors as well as development of multiple primary tumors were analyzed.

Estimating the risks and benefits of tamoxifen for prophylactic breast cancer chemoprevention in Korea.

Purpose: According to the National Surgical Adjuvant Breast and Bowel Project P1 (NSABP-P1) study, tamoxifen can prevent 49% of invasive breast cancers in patients who have a 5-year risk of 1.67% or more. Because tamoxifen is associated with both adverse effects (endometrial cancer, stroke, pulmonary embolism) and protective effect (fracture prevention), it is necessary to weigh the risks and benefits of using tamoxifen for prevention in Korean women.

Bilateral adrenal pheochromocytoma with a germline L790F mutation in the RET oncogene.

About ten percent of pheochromocytomas are associated with familial syndrome. Hereditary pheochromocytoma has characteristics of early onset, multifocality and bilaterality. We experienced a case of 44-year-old man with bilateral pheochromocytoma without evidence of medullary thyroid cancer.

Modification of hydroxyapatite/gelatin nanocomposite using polyacrylamide.

A hydroxyapatite (HAp)/gelatin (GEL) nanocomposite was mixed with mineralized polyacrylamide (PAM) to produce a macrocomposite. The mineralization of PAM was carried out by solution-precipitation using Ca(OH)(2) and H(3)PO(4). The crystal growth of HAp in PAM was moderately changed from amorphous-like nanocrystalline to crystalline with the increase of PAM.

Calcium phosphate formation in gelatin matrix using free ion precursors of Ca2+ and phosphate ions.

Objectives: Hydroxyapatite (HAp)/gelatin (GEL) nanocomposite has been developed as a bone substitute. The nanocomposite formation in the GEL matrix is greatly affected by the reaction between Ca(2+) and phosphate ions. The mineralization of GEL macromolecules was investigated through a co-precipitation of calcium phosphates (Ca-P) by using free ions of Ca(2+) and phosphate ions, Pi.

Organic-inorganic interaction between hydroxyapatite and gelatin with the aging of gelatin in aqueous phosphoric acid solution.

Hydroxyapatite (HAp)/gelatin (GEL) nanocomposite was prepared by the solution-precipitation process using Ca(OH)(2) in water and aqueous solution of H(3)PO(4) in GEL. Before the co precipitation process the GEL powders were dissolved in the aqueous phosphoric acid solution for the phosphorylation of GEL molecules. The chemical variation of the phosphorylated GEL macromolecules was investigated by using attenuated total reflection (ATR) measurement.

Fluoride incorporation in hydroxyapatite/gelatin nanocomposite.

The incorporation of fluoride ion into hydroxyapatite (HAp)/gelatin (GEL) nanocomposite was investigated. The F(-) ion incorporation into OH(- )site of HAp phase was an energetically active process, which could be confirmed from the spray solution reaction. The precursors of Ca(2+) in water and phosphates in aqueous gelatin were mixed in the humidified air chamber by air spray, and then the precipitates were aged in a reactor.

Cross-linkage of hydroxyapatite/gelatin nanocomposite using imide-based zero-length cross-linker.

Hydroxyapatite [HAp]/Gelatin [GEL] nanocomposite was prepared at 37 and 48 degrees C through coprecipitation process. The HAp/GEL nanocomposite slurries were cross-linked by imide-based zero-length cross-linking agent such as N-(3-dimethylaminopropyl)-N'-ethylcarbodiimide (EDC) and N-hydroxysuccinimide (NHS). The chemical bond formation and microstructure in HAp/GEL nanocomposite was investigated as a function of cross-linking agents and temperature.

Organic-inorganic interaction and the growth mechanism of hydroxyapatite crystals in gelatin matrices between 37 and 80 degrees C.

The crystal development of hydroxyapatite[HAp] phase in gelatin[GEL] matrices was investigated in the temperature range 37 to 80 degrees C by using X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy(SEM), thermoanalytical measurement(DT/TGA), Fourier-Transformed Infra-Red(FT-IR) spectroscopy, and transmission electron microscopy(TEM) with electron diffraction(ED). It was found that during the coprecipitation of apatite phase in GEL matrices and the next aging process the crystallites were formed and developed through the two reaction mechanisms of organic-inorganic interaction between apatite phase and GEL molecules, and thermodynamic reaction for the crystal growing. The analytical evidences showed that there was a definite competition between these two mechanisms with the reaction temperature.

RET oncogene expression of papillary thyroid carcinoma in Korea.

Purpose: To identify the prevalence of RET/PTC oncogene expression in Korea, and to investigate the correlation between RET/PTC oncogene expression and the known prognostic factors of papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) in 22 patients.

Methods: We performed reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) for RET/PTC1, RET/PTC2, and RET/PTC3 rearrangements and immunohistochemical staining for the RET gene. Patient information was obtained from medical records.

Conformational change of hydroxyapatite/gelatin nanocomposite by glutaraldehyde.

The hydroxyapatite (HAp)/gelatin (GEL) nanocomposite was prepared through the coprecipitation and then cross-linked by using glutaraldehyde (GA). From FT-IR measurement the spectral features for amide bands and phosphate bands were severely modified by the cross-linkage and the organic content increased with the degree of cross-linkage. From Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM) and electron diffraction analyses we could confirm the preferentially directional growth of needle-like HAp particles, which were embedded in GEL by the mineralization.

Preparation of hydroxyapatite-gelatin nanocomposite.

A nanocomposite of gelatin[GEL]-hydroxyapatite[HAp] was prepared using the biomimetic process. The hydroxyapatite nanocrystals were precipitated in aqueous solution of gelatin at pH 8 and 38 degrees C. The chemical bonding between calcium ions of HAp and carboxyl ions of GEL molecules induced a red-shift of the 1339 cm(-1) band of GEL in FT-IR analysis.

FT-IR study for hydroxyapatite/collagen nanocomposite cross-linked by glutaraldehyde.

FT-IR analysis was performed for the hydroxyapatite (HAp)/collagen (COL) nanocomposite cross-linked by glutaraldehyde (GA). The amide bands I, II and III from COL matrix, and phosphate and carbonate bands from HAp were identified. The amide B band arising from C-H stretching mode showed a sensitive conformation by the degree of cross-linking.

XPS study for the microstructure development of hydroxyapatite-collagen nanocomposites cross-linked using glutaraldehyde.

X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) was measured for the dry body of hydroxyapatite (HAP)-collagen (COL) nanocomposites cross-linked using glutaraldehyde (GA). Survey scan XPS showed the elemental spectra of N, C, O, Ca and P, which came from HAP and COL. The covalent bond formation between Ca2+ of HAP and RCOO- of COL molecule was confirmed by XPS.