Journal of Korean Medical Science

Our medical research library holds 15 studies published in Journal of Korean Medical Science (1989–2018). Each entry links to the study's record on PubMed and, where there is one, to the publisher's page and a free full text. 15 have an abstract, the authors' own summary as PubMed records it: open "Abstract" to read it.

About the journal

• Publisher: Korean Academy of Medical Science
• Published: 1986 to the present, Korea (South)
• Language: English
• ISSN: 1011-8934 (print), 1598-6357 (electronic)
• Its record in the NLM Catalog

2010s

• Occupational Burden of Asbestos-Related Diseases in Korea, 1998-2013: Asbestosis, Mesothelioma, Lung Cancer, Laryngeal Cancer, and Ovarian Cancer. D.M. Kang, J.E. Kim, Y.K. Kim, et al. 2018;33(35):e226. PubMed · Publisher · Free full text

  Abstract

  Background: Asbestos exposure causes asbestos-related diseases (ARDs) including asbestosis, malignant mesothelioma, lung cancer, laryngeal cancer, and ovarian cancer. Although Korea used substantial amounts of asbestos in the past, no study has focused on its occupational burden of disease (OBD). Therefore, this study aimed to determine the OBDs of ARDs in Korea.

  Methods: The CARcinogen Exposure (CAREX) database was used to determine the proportion of exposed population. Relative risks for lung cancer, laryngeal cancer, and ovarian cancer were used to determine the population-attributable fraction. Data for deaths caused by ARDs during 1998-2013 were obtained from the World Health Organization mortality database. The potential years of life lost (PYLL) and annual average PYLL (APYLL) indicated OBDs.

  Results: In Korea, the number of ARD-attributable deaths and PYLL due to all ARDs during 1998-2013 were 4,492 and 71,763.7, respectively. The number of attributable deaths and PYLL due to asbestosis, malignant mesothelioma, lung cancer, laryngeal cancer, and ovarian cancer were 37 and 554.2, 808 and 15,877.0, 3,256 and 47,375.9, 120 and 1,605.5, and 271 and 6,331.1, respectively; additionally, the APYLL were 15.0, 19.7, 14.6, 13.4, and 23.4, respectively, and the average age at death was 70.4, 62.6, 69.1, 69.9, and 61.8, respectively. Our study showed that although the use of asbestos has ceased in Korea, the incidence of ARDs tends to increase.

  Conclusion: Therefore, efforts to reduce future OBDs of ARDs, including early detection and proper management of ARDs, are needed in Korea.

• A Case Report of Primary Pericardial Malignant Mesothelioma Treated with Pemetrexed and Cisplatin. J.S. Kim, S.Y. Lim, J. Hwang, et al. 2017;32(11):1879-1884. Case report PubMed · Publisher · Free full text

  Abstract

  Primary pericardial malignant mesothelioma (PPM) is a very rare malignancy, with an incidence of less than 0.002% and represents less than 5% of all mesotheliomas. The cause of pericardial mesothelioma is uncertain that differ from pleural mesothelioma which is associated with asbestos exposure. This malignancy is terribly aggressive and has very poor prognosis with less than six months of overall survival. We present a case of a 71-year-old woman who was diagnosed with cardiac tamponade caused by PPM and received chemotherapy with pemetrexed and cisplatin for six months. During two years she was alive without disease progression. To better understand the clinical, pathologic features and treatment outcome of this entity, we reviewed 23 cases described in the English literature from 2009, together with our case, provided a total of 24 cases. Based on this review, we suggest that PPM must be considered in patients who have unexplained massive pericardial effusion and recommend chemotherapy with pemetrexed and cisplatin for the better outcome of PPM.

  © 2017 The Korean Academy of Medical Sciences.

• CT Findings in People Who Were Environmentally Exposed to Asbestos in Korea. E.K. Lee, J.S. Kim, Y. Kim, et al. 2015;30(12):1896-901. PubMed · Publisher · Free full text

  Abstract

  Asbestos related pleuropulmonary disease has been emerging health problem for recent years. It can cause variable clinical symptoms and radiological abnormalities. However, there has been no report for their characteristics in subjects who were environmentally exposed to asbestos. We reviewed the CT images of 35 people who were environmentally exposed to asbestos in Chungnam province, Korea. The study result showed high incidence of pleural plaque and pulmonary fibrosis on chest CT (94% and 77%, respectively). The common CT findings of lung parenchymal lesions were as follows: centrilobular opacities (94%), subpleural dot-like or branching opacities (80%), interlobular septal thickening (57%), intralobular interstitial thickening (46%), parenchymal bands (43%) and subpleural curvilinear line (29%). There were no significant differences in the prevalence of pulmonary fibrosis and pleural plaques according to sex, age and duration of exposure. In conclusion, pleural plaque and pulmonary fibrosis are common asbestos-related CT finding in the exposed people. Asbestos related lung parenchymal CT findings in the participants with environmental exposure show similar to those observed in the occupational exposure.

• Compensation for occupational cancer. I. Kim, E.A. Kim, J.Y. Kim. 2014;29 Suppl(Suppl):S40-6. PubMed · Publisher · Free full text

  Abstract

  The legal scope and criteria for occupational cancer in Korea was out of date. The aim of this study was to review the current criteria for occupational cancer and amend the existent criteria on the basis of recent scientific evidence. The scientific evidence and the legal list of occupational cancer were analyzed to identify the causes of occupational cancer on a global scale. The relationship between compensated occupational cancer cases and carcinogen exposure in Korea was examined. The factors associated with specific causes and target cancers were determined to produce additional criteria. Five-hundred and nineteen cases of 2,468 were awarded compensation for occupational cancer including lung, malignant mesothelioma, lymphohematopoietic, and liver cancers from January 2000 to October 2012. Between 1996 and 2005, benzene accounted for 84.4% of cases, and between 1999 and 2005, asbestos was associated with 62.3% of cases. Fourteen novel causative agents and 12 additional target cancers were identified and the final guidelines were amended to include 23 causative agents and 21 target cancers. This amendment of the criteria for occupational cancer represents the widest change in Korean history and is expected to improve the understanding of occupational cancer by providing an up-to-date and accurate reference guide.

• Epidemiologic characteristics of compensated occupational lung cancers among Korean workers. Y.S. Ahn, K.S. Jeong. 2014;29(11):1473-81. PubMed · Publisher · Free full text

  Abstract

  An understanding of the characteristics of occupational lung cancer is important to establish policies that prevent carcinogen exposure and to compensate workers exposed to lung carcinogens. This study analyzed the characteristics of occupational lung cancers in workers who were compensated under the Industrial Accident Compensation Insurance Law between 1994 and 2011. A total of 179 occupational lung cancers were compensated. The main carcinogenic exposure was asbestos, followed by crystalline silica and hexavalent chromium. The mean exposure duration and latency were 19.8 and 23.2 yr. The most common industry was manufacturing, followed by construction and transportation. The most common occupation was maintenance and repair, followed by foundry work, welding, painting, and spinning or weaving. Although asbestos was predominant carcinogen, the proportion of these cases was relatively low compared to other developed countries. Proper surveillance system is needed to monitor occupational lung cancer and improve prevention measures.

• Knockdown of Bcl-xL enhances growth-inhibiting and apoptosis-inducing effects of resveratrol and clofarabine in malignant mesothelioma H-2452 cells. Y.J. Lee, I.S. Hwang, Y.J. Lee, et al. 2014;29(11):1464-72. PubMed · Publisher · Free full text

  Abstract

  Mcl-1 and Bcl-xL, key anti-apoptotic proteins of the Bcl-2 family, have attracted attention as important molecules in the cell survival and drug resistance. In this study, we investigated whether inhibition of Bcl-xL influences cell growth and apoptosis against simultaneous treatment of resveratrol and clofarabine in the human malignant mesothelioma H-2452 cells. Resveratrol and clofarabine decreased Mcl-1 protein levels but had little effect on Bcl-xL levels. In the presence of two compounds, any detectable change in the Mcl-1 mRNA levels was not observed in RT-PCR analysis, whereas pretreatment with the proteasome inhibitor MG132 led to its accumulation to levels far above basal levels. The knockdown of Bcl-xL inhibited cell proliferation with cell accumulation at G2/M phase and the appearance of sub-G0/G1 peak in DNA flow cytometric assay. The suppression of cell growth was accompanied by an increase in the caspase-3/7 activity with the resultant cleavages of procaspase-3 and its substrate poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase, and increased percentage of apoptotic propensities in annexin V binding assay. Collectively, our data represent that the efficacy of resveratrol and clofarabine for apoptosis induction was substantially enhanced by Bcl-xL-lowering strategy in which the simultaneous targeting of Mcl-1 and Bcl-xL could be a more effective strategy for treating malignant mesothelioma.

• Workers' compensation for occupational respiratory diseases. S.Y. Park, H.R. Kim, J. Song. 2014;29 Suppl(Suppl):S47-51. PubMed · Publisher · Free full text

  Abstract

  The respiratory system is one of the most important body systems particularly from the viewpoint of occupational medicine because it is the major route of occupational exposure. In 2013, there were significant changes in the specific criteria for the recognition of occupational diseases, which were established by the Enforcement Decree of the Industrial Accident Compensation Insurance Act (IACIA). In this article, the authors deal with the former criteria, implications of the revision, and changes in the specific criteria in Korea by focusing on the 2013 amendment to the IACIA. Before the 2013 amendment to the IACIA, occupational respiratory disease was not a category because the previous criteria were based on specific hazardous agents and their health effects. Workers as well as clinicians were not familiar with the agent-based criteria. To improve these criteria, a system-based structure was added. Through these changes, in the current criteria, 33 types of agents and 11 types of respiratory diseases are listed under diseases of the respiratory system. In the current criteria, there are no concrete guidelines for evaluating work-relatedness, such as estimating the exposure level, latent period, and detailed examination methods. The results of further studies can support the formulation of detailed criteria.

• Development of standard digital images for pneumoconiosis. W.J. Lee, B.S. Choi, S.J. Kim, et al. 2011;26(11):1403-8. PubMed · Publisher · Free full text

  Abstract

  We developed the standard digital images (SDIs) to be used in the classification and recognition of pneumoconiosis. From July 3, 2006 through August 31, 2007, 531 retired male workers exposed to inorganic dust were examined by digital (DR) and analog radiography (AR) on the same day, after being approved by our institutional review board and obtaining informed consent from all participants. All images were twice classified according to the International Labour Office (ILO) 2000 guidelines with reference to ILO standard analog radiographs (SARs) by four chest radiologists. After consensus reading on 349 digital images matched with the first selected analog images, 120 digital images were selected as the SDIs that considered the distribution of pneumoconiosis findings. Images with profusion category 0/1, 1, 2, and 3 were 12, 50, 40, and 15, respectively, and a large opacity were in 43 images (A = 20, B = 22, C = 1). Among pleural abnormality, costophrenic angle obliteration, pleural plaque and thickening were in 11 (9.2%), 31 (25.8%), and 9 (7.5%) images, respectively. Twenty-one of 29 symbols were present except cp, ef, ho, id, me, pa, ra, and rp. A set of 120 SDIs had more various pneumoconiosis findings than ILO SARs that were developed from adequate methods. It can be used as digital reference images for the recognition and classification of pneumoconiosis.

• Occupational respiratory cancer in Korea. H.E. Lee, H.R. Kim. 2010;25(Suppl):S94-8. Review PubMed · Publisher · Free full text

  Abstract

  Malignant mesothelioma and lung cancer are representative examples of occupational cancer. Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer death, and the incidence of malignant mesothelioma is expected to increase sharply in the near future. Although information about lung carcinogen exposure is limited, it is estimated that the number of workers exposed to carcinogens has declined. The first official case of occupational cancer was malignant mesothelioma caused by asbestos exposure in the asbestos textile industry in 1992. Since then, compensation for occupational respiratory cancer has increased. The majority of compensated lung cancer was due to underlying pneumoconiosis. Other main causative agents of occupational lung cancer included asbestos, hexavalent chromium, and crystalline silica. Related jobs included welders, foundry workers, platers, plumbers, and vehicle maintenance workers. Compensated malignant mesotheliomas were associated with asbestos exposure. Epidemiologic studies conducted in Korea have indicated an elevated risk of lung cancer in pneumoconiosis patients, foundry workers, and asbestos textile workers. Occupational respiratory cancer has increased during the last 10 to 20 yr though carcinogen-exposed population has declined in the same period. More efforts to advance the systems for the investigation, prevention and management of occupational respiratory cancer are needed.

2000s

• Overview of asbestos issues in Korea. H.R. Kim. 2009;24(3):363-7. Review PubMed · Publisher · Free full text

  Abstract

  Asbestos is a carcinogen that causes diseases such as mesothelioma and lung cancer in humans. There was a sharp increase in the use of asbestos in Korea in the 1970s as Korea's economy developed rapidly, and asbestos was only recently banned from use. Despite the ban of its use, previously applied asbestos still causes many problems. A series of asbestos-related events that recently occurred in Korea have caused the general public to become concerned about asbestos. Therefore, it is necessary to take proper action to deal with asbestos-related events, such as mass outbreaks of mesothelioma among residents who lived near asbestos textile factories or asbestos mines. Although there have been no rapid increases in asbestos-related illnesses in Korea to date, such illnesses are expected to increase greatly due to the amount of asbestos used and long latency period. Decreasing the asbestos exposure level to levels as low as possible is the most important step in preventing asbestos-related illnesses in the next few decades. However, there is a lack of specialized facilities for the analysis of asbestos and experts to diagnose and treat asbestos-related illnesses in Korea; therefore, national-level concern and support are required.

• E-cadherin and cytokeratin subtype profiling in effusion cytology. J. Han, M.K. Kim, S.J. Nam, et al. 2004;19(6):826-33. PubMed · Publisher · Free full text

  Abstract

  Diagnostic utility of E-cadherin (E-CD) and cytokeratin (CK) subtype profiling in effusion cytology was investigated, employing immunocytochemistry on cellblock sections available from 211 metastatic carcinomas (MC), 6 mesotheliomas and 73 reactive mesothelial hyperplasias (MH). E-CD and monoclonal carcinoembryonic antigen (mCEA) stained 85% (120/141) and 65% (138/211) of MC, respectively. E-CD staining of MC was frequently heterogeneous (76/120) and absent in all anaplastic carcinomas (0/2). E-CD stained none (0/57) of MH while mCEA and epithelial membrane antigen (EMA) stained 12% (9/73) and 32% (16/32) of MH, respectively. Of 6 mesotheliomas, E-CD focally stained in 2 while mCEA stained none and EMA stained all. CK20 and CK17 stained none of MH or mesotheliomas. CK20 stained 15% of MC and CK 17 stained 22% of MC. CK5/6 and high molecular weight CK stained all mesotheliomas, 56% and 88% of MH, 26% and 39% of MC, respectively. MC showed predominant CK7+/20-expression, with the exceptions of MC from mucinous type of colon/rectum and ovary showing predominant CK20 positive. E-CD may be a useful positive marker for MC in effusion cytology, although it may focally stain in some mesotheliomas. Any positive staining for CK20 of MC suggests MC from the gastrointestinal tract or ovary among others.

• Epithelioid angiosarcoma of the pleura: a case report. M.S. Roh, J.Y. Seo, S.H. Hong. 2001;16(6):792-5. Case report PubMed · Publisher · Free full text

  Abstract

  Angiosarcomas of the pleura are very rare tumors and it is difficult to differentiate them from other common pleural tumors such as mesothelioma and metastasic carcinoma clinically and pathologically. We report a case of a young Korean woman with angiosarcoma arising in the pleura. A 34-yr-old woman presented with dyspnea and chest tightness and pain for several months. A computed tomographic scan of the chest showed diffuse thickening of the left pleura and effusion with passive atelectasis. At thoracotomy the left pleura was thick and indurated. Histologically, the decorticated pleura revealed infiltration of sheets or cords of polygonal and epithelioid tumor cells showing rudimentary vascular differentiation. Immunohistochemically, the tumor cells were strongly positive for CD31, CD34, and vimentin, whereas weakly positive for factor VIII, and negative for cytokeratin, which are characteristic and specific findings of angiosarcoma.

1990s

• Calcifying fibrous pseudotumor of mediastinum--a case report. H.S. Jeong, G.K. Lee, R. Sung, et al. 1997;12(1):58-62. Case report · Review PubMed · Publisher · Free full text

  Abstract

  This report presents a case of calcifying fibrous pseudotumor arising in the posterior mediastinum of a 54-year-old woman. The histopathologic features of this case were identical to that of calcifying fibrous pseudotumor first designated in 1993. It is a distinctive benign fibrous lesion characterized by the presence of characteristics psammomatous or dystrophic calcification, abundant hyalinized collagen and lymphoplasmacytic cell infiltrate. Immunohistochemically most of the scattered fibroblasts were positive for vimentin, but not for CD-34 and cytokeratins, distinguishing it from solitary fibrous tumor of pleura and desmoplastic mesothelioma. The unusual site of the posterior mediastinum and the old age characterize this case.

• Cytotoxicity and multinucleate giant cell formation in Chinese hamster lung fibroblast caused by crocidolite and chrysotile. Y.C. Hong, S.S. Choi. 1997;12(2):99-104. PubMed · Publisher · Free full text

  Abstract

  The mechanism of carcinogenic action of asbestos remains unclear but the physical properties of the fiber appear to be important in this process. Asbestos may cause multinucleate giant cell formation primarily by interfering with the normal course of mitosis. We evaluated the cytotoxicity and multinucleate giant cell formation induced by crocidolite and chrysotile in Chinese hamster lung fibroblast (V79 cell) with observation of phagocytic activities. Asbestos fibers were rapidly ingested by V79 cells and most fibers were inside the cells. Cytotoxicity was evaluated by observing inhibition of V79 cell proliferation with trypan blue exclusion test. For determination of frequency of multinucleate giant cells, the cells were treated with different doses of crocidolite or chrysotile for 72 hours. Crocidolite and chrysotile induced cytotoxicity in V79 cells in a dose-dependent manner. The pattern of inhibition of cell proliferation is similar for both types of fibers, but chrysotile was more potent at the highest level (20.0 micrograms/ml) of fiber concentration. There was a good relationship (regression coefficientcrocidolite = 0.02, P < 0.01; regression coefficientchrysotile = 0.04, P < 0.01) between the dose of both asbestos fibers and the frequency of multinucleate giant cells. Chrysotile was again more potent at inducing multinucleate giant cells in higher levels of fiber concentrations. We found that asbestos fibers were cytotoxic after phagocytosis and induced multinucleate giant cells by interfering mitosis.

1980s

• Benign cystic mesothelioma of the peritoneum--a case report. Y.L. Suh, W.J. Choi. 1989;4(2):111-5. Case report PubMed · Publisher · Free full text

  Abstract

  A case of benign cystic mesothelioma in a 53-year-old woman is presented. The patient had abdominal pain and a palpable mass for 4 days. This mass was noticed incidentally by an obstetrician. A computed tomographic scan of the abdomen and pelvic sonography showed a cystic mass, 6 x 4 cm, in the right lower quadrant close to the cecum and suggested cystadenocarcinoma of the ovary. Operation showed that the mass involved peritoneum in region of the appendix. Complete removal of the mass was done. Grossly it consisted of multilocular cyst containing clear, serous, gelatinous fluid. The light microscopic examination revealed that this lesion consisted of cystic spaces of various size and intervening connective tissue stroma. The cells lined the cysts varied from flattened to cuboidal with occasionally a picket-fence or hobnailed appearance in areas. Brush borders were seen on the luminal surface of some cells. Electron microscopic examination confirmed that the cells were mesothelial origin. This lesion mimics cystic lymphangioma of the abdomen grossly and light microscopically, from which differential features are discussed.

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