PURPOSE: To compare the clinical characteristics of unilaterally progressing glaucoma (UPG) and simultaneously bilaterally progressing glaucoma (BPG) in medically treated cases. METHODS: Primary open angle glaucoma patients were classified as having UPG or BPG according to an assessment of optic disc and retinal nerve fiber layer photographs and visual field analysis. Risk factors including the presence of systemic diseases (hypertension, diabetes, cerebrovascular accident, migraine, and dyslipidema) were compared between the UPG and BPG groups. Baseline characteristics and pre- and post-treatment intraocular pressure (IOP) were compared between the progressing eye (PE) and the non-progressing eye (NPE) within the same patient in the UPG group and between the faster progressing eye and the slower progressing eye in the BPG group. RESULTS: Among 343 patients (average follow-up period of 4.2 years), 43 were categorized into the UPG group and 31 into the BPG group. The prevalence of all analyzed systemic diseases did not differ between the two groups. PEs in the UPG group had more severe pathology in terms of baseline visual field parameters than NPEs (mean deviation -6.9 ± 5.7 vs. -2.9 ± 3.9 dB, respectively; p < 0.001). However, baseline IOP, mean follow-up IOP, and other clinical characteristics were not significantly different between the PE and the NPE in the UPG group. The progression rate was significantly higher in the faster progressing eye in patients with BPG than in the PE for patients with UPG (-3.43 ± 3.27 vs. -0.70 ± 1.26 dB/yr, respectively; p = 0.014). CONCLUSIONS: There were no significant differences in the prevalence of systemic diseases between the UPG and BPG groups. Simultaneously bilaterally progressing patients showed much faster progression rates than those with a unilaterally progressing eye.
Disease Progression ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Glaucoma, Open-Angle/*diagnosis/physiopathology ; Humans ; Intraocular Pressure/*physiology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Optic Disk/*pathology ; Retina/*pathology ; Retrospective Studies ; Time Factors ; Visual Fields/*physiology

Background: Early trauma is known to be a risk factor of suicide-related behavior. On the other hand, people who attempt suicide using a fatal method are reported to be more likely to complete suicide. In this study, we assumed that early trauma affects an individual's temperament and character and thereby increases the risk of a fatal method of suicide attempts. Methods: We analyzed 92 people with a history of previous suicide attempts. We compared the Temperament and Character Inventory-Revised scores between the groups with and without early trauma, and between the groups with and without a history of suicide attempt using fatal methods through an analysis of covariance with age, sex, and presence of a psychiatric history as covariates. A mediation analysis was conducted of the relationship between early trauma and fatal methods of suicide attempt with self-transcendence as a mediator. Results: Higher self-transcendence was reported in the fatal group (27.71 ± 13.78 vs. 20.97 ± 12.27, P = 0.010) and the early trauma group (28.05 ± 14.30 vs. 19.43 ± 10.73, P = 0.001), respectively. The mediation model showed that self-transcendence mediates the relationship between early trauma and fatal methods of suicide attempt. The 95% confidence intervals for the direct and indirect effect were (−0.559, 1.390) and (0.026, 0.947), respectively. Conclusion Self-transcendence may mediate the relationship between early trauma and fatal methods of suicide attempt. Self-transcendence may be associated with unhealthy defenses and suicidal behavior for self-punishment and may constitute a marker of higher suicide risk.

Background: Early trauma is known to be a risk factor of suicide-related behavior. On the other hand, people who attempt suicide using a fatal method are reported to be more likely to complete suicide. In this study, we assumed that early trauma affects an individual's temperament and character and thereby increases the risk of a fatal method of suicide attempts. Methods: We analyzed 92 people with a history of previous suicide attempts. We compared the Temperament and Character Inventory-Revised scores between the groups with and without early trauma, and between the groups with and without a history of suicide attempt using fatal methods through an analysis of covariance with age, sex, and presence of a psychiatric history as covariates. A mediation analysis was conducted of the relationship between early trauma and fatal methods of suicide attempt with self-transcendence as a mediator. Results: Higher self-transcendence was reported in the fatal group (27.71 ± 13.78 vs. 20.97 ± 12.27, P = 0.010) and the early trauma group (28.05 ± 14.30 vs. 19.43 ± 10.73, P = 0.001), respectively. The mediation model showed that self-transcendence mediates the relationship between early trauma and fatal methods of suicide attempt. The 95% confidence intervals for the direct and indirect effect were (−0.559, 1.390) and (0.026, 0.947), respectively. Conclusion Self-transcendence may mediate the relationship between early trauma and fatal methods of suicide attempt. Self-transcendence may be associated with unhealthy defenses and suicidal behavior for self-punishment and may constitute a marker of higher suicide risk.

PURPOSE: Lung cancer has been the leading cause of death in South Korea since the year 2000. Adenocarcinoma became the most frequent type in the national survey of lung cancer since year 2005. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We analyzed 5,456 cases with lung cancer from 2004 to 2012 in a community cancer center. The mean age was 69.9 years, and 78.9% was male. RESULTS: Adenocarcinoma (ADC, 40.8%) was the most frequent type, followed by squamous cell carcinoma (SQC, 36.4%), small cell carcinoma (SCC, 14.8%) and non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) not otherwise specified (8.1%). In male patients, SQC was the most frequent type (43.5%), while ADC showed highest incidence in females (72.6%). Anatomic stage at diagnosis in NSCLC was I (10.3%), II (5.8%), IIIA (15.7%), IIIB (19.2%), and IV (49.0%). In SCC, 41.7% was in limited stage and 58.3% was diagnosed in extensive stage. The proportion of never smoker has been increased from 19.1% in 2004~2008 to 25.4% in 2009~2012. Never-smokers are more likely to be female (68.2% vs. 4.0%, p<0.001), have ADC (69.9% vs. 31.3%, p<0.001), and manifest as stage IV disease (58.5% vs. 45.2%, p<0.001), compared to smokers. Among 1,908 cases whose initial treatment was recorded, 42.5% received chemotherapy, 25.7% received radiation treatment, 20.5% received surgery and the remaining 11.3% received supportive cares only or transferred to other health care facilities. CONCLUSION: In conclusion, proportion of lung cancer in never-smoker is increasing. As screening for smokers will miss this growing population, we need to discover biomarkers to find high risk population of lung cancer.
Adenocarcinoma ; Biomarkers ; Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung ; Carcinoma, Small Cell ; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell ; Cause of Death ; Delivery of Health Care ; Female ; Humans ; Incidence ; Lung ; Lung Neoplasms ; Male ; Mass Screening ; Republic of Korea ; Smoking