PURPOSE: This study was conducted to examine the effects of osteoporosis prevention education on Korean breast cancer patients' knowledge and health promoting behavior. METHODS: The participants in this study included breast cancer patients who were registered at a self-help group organized by the Breast Cancer Center of a university hospital in Seoul, Korea. The intervention group received 60 minutes'didactic instruction followed by 30 minutes' interactive session, and reinforcement education with leaflets was given three weeks after the group intervention. In order to measure the effects of the intervention, this study used valid and reliable scales on the knowledge of osteoporosis and health promoting behavior for preventing osteoporosis. A post-test was conducted 12 weeks after the intervention. RESULTS: The results showed significant improvement in three of the five factors of osteoporosis knowledge including bone physiology, the characteristics of osteoporosis, and preventive behaviors in the intervention group. Overall health promoting behavior for preventing osteoporosis had significantly increased in the intervention group compared to the control group. CONCLUSION: Osteoporosis preventive education improved breast cancer patients' knowledge of osteoporosis and health promoting behavior for preventing osteoporosis by inducing their voluntary participation in self-care activities.
Breast Neoplasms* ; Breast* ; Education ; Health Promotion ; Humans ; Korea ; Osteoporosis* ; Physiology ; Self Care ; Self-Help Groups ; Seoul ; Weights and Measures

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) usually metastasizes to the lung, breast, lymph nodes, gastrointestinal tract, bone, kidney, and/or adrenal gland. Metastasis of HCC to the hard palate and tonsils is a rare phenomenon. Thus, we report a case of HCC with metastasis to the hard palate and both tonsils in a 45-year-old man. The patient was admitted to our hospital with a complaint of oral bleeding. Physical examination revealed a bleeding tumor located in the hard palate and histological examination showed metastasis from HCC. The patient died 2 months later due to multiple organ failure, although bleeding was controlled by radiotherapy.
Adrenal Glands ; Breast ; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular ; Gastrointestinal Tract ; Hemorrhage ; Humans ; Kidney ; Lung ; Lymph Nodes ; Middle Aged ; Mouth ; Multiple Organ Failure ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Palate, Hard ; Palatine Tonsil ; Physical Examination

PURPOSE: Pylorus-preserving pancreatoduodenectomy (PPPD) is an alternative surgical procedure for periampullary lesions. Early delayed gastric emptying is the most common and frustrating complication in the immediate postoperative period after PPPD and late delayed gastric emptying has been reported in some long-term follow-up studies. We evaluated the incidence of early delayed gastric emptying and analyzed temporal changes in gastrointestinal function after PPPD. METHODS: The incidence of early delayed gastric emptying was retrospectively evaluated from the medical records of 15 patients who underwent PPPD. Gastric emptying tests (GETs) using 99mTc-DTPA scan were performed on 11 of the patients every three months until 1 year, where possible. RESULTS: The incidence of early delayed gastric emptying was 6.7%. Five of the eight patients (62.5%) and six of the eight (75%) who underwent scintigraphy at 3 months and 6 months respectively, showed delayed gastric emptying. But at 12 months, all of the four patients who underwent GETs showed normal gastric emptyings. CONCLUSION: The incidence of early delayed gastric emptying after PPPD was 6.7%. Though there were few symptoms in long-term follow-up study using 99mTc-DTPA scan, delayed gastric emptying was frequently observed 3 to 9 months after PPPD. However, gastric emptying might be normalized in almost all patients around 1 year after PPPD.
Follow-Up Studies ; Gastric Emptying* ; Humans ; Incidence ; Medical Records ; Pancreaticoduodenectomy* ; Postoperative Period ; Radionuclide Imaging ; Retrospective Studies

PURPOSE: Mouse liver nonparenchymal cells play an important role in the development of active apoptosis in graft- infiltrating cytotoxic T lymphocytes, and this apoptosis can be an explanation for liver graft acceptance. We intended to clarify whether immature mouse liver dendritic cells can induce apoptosis in allogeneic activated T cells and determine which mechanism is involved in this phenomenon. METHODS: A radiometric DNA fragmentation test ("JAM" assay) was used to determine whether mouse liver dendritic cells were able to induce activated T-cell apoptosis in vitro. In addition, immunohistochemical staining for Bax and Bcl-2 was examined to clarify whether Bax or Bcl-2 was involved in this apoptosis. RESULTS: Immature mouse liver dendritic cells were quite strong inducers of activated T cell apoptotic death in allogeneic mice in vitro (39.2+/-13.2% at E/T ratio=12.5/1) compared with spleen cells as effectors (4.7+/-13.4% at E/T ratio=12.5/1) (P<0.0001). By using immunohistochemical staining, we also showed that Bax might play some role in this phenonenon, but that Bcl-2 might not. CONCLUSION: Our data indicate that immature mouse liver dendritic cells might have a strong apoptotic activity toward activated T cells in allogeneic mice in vitro through a Bax-involved mechanism.
Animals ; Apoptosis* ; Dendritic Cells* ; DNA Fragmentation ; Liver* ; Mice* ; Spleen ; T-Lymphocytes* ; T-Lymphocytes, Cytotoxic ; Transplants

PURPOSE: Anomalies in the thyroglossal duct are the most common midline, or paramedian cervical lesions of congenital origin. Presenting as a thyroglossal duct cyst (TGDC) or a thyroglossal duct sinus (TGDS), they are found in all age groups. This clinical study was intended to elucidate the clinical characteristics, and the outcomes, of surgical treatment of these anomalies. METHODS: Between January 1992 and May 2002, 91 patients underwent surgery for a TGDC or a TGDS at 4 hospitals affiliated to Hallym University. The demographics of the patients, the clinical characteristics of the lesions, and the outcomes of the treatments were retrospectively evaluated. These characteristics were evaluated according to age groups; younger than 15 (38 patients) and older than 15 (53 patients) years. RESULTS: The male to female ratio was 1.67: 1 (It is better to give the actual figures.), with the first decade showing the highest incidence in the age distribution (33%). Painless masses (83.6%) were the most common presenting symptom, with most symptoms having been manifest for less than 1 year (67%). TGDCs were 90% and TGDSs were 10%. There were 62 cases of infrahyoid and 18 of suprahyoid lesions, with 80 cases on the midline and 11 on the paramedian within 2 cm from the midline. Of the paramedian lesions, 2 cases were in the younger group and 9 were in the older group. This tendency of laterality in the location by age group showed no statistical significance (p=0.172). All the patients underwent a Sistrunk operation, and one experienced a recurrence. CONCLUSION: This study justified the Sistrunk operation as the treatment of choice for anomalies of the thyroglossal duct. The lateral lesions occurred in the old age groups more frequently. A careful approach is needed with paramedian cervial lesions in adults to avoid the loss of the proper treatment of possible hidden congenital lesions.
Adult ; Age Distribution ; Demography ; Female ; Humans ; Incidence ; Male ; Recurrence ; Retrospective Studies ; Thyroglossal Cyst*