PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to explore educational needs for sexual health, to identify relations among educational needs for sexual health, depression and quality of life, and to identify the factors affecting quality of life in patients with prostate cancer aged > 40 years. METHODS: A sample of 78 patients was recruited from a university hospital in Seoul. A cross-sectional design was used in which participants completed the questionnaires to assess educational needs for sexual health, depression and quality of life. The data were analyzed using the t-test, ANOVA, correlation analysis and stepwise regression analysis. RESULTS: The quality of life of participants differed significantly by occupation status before and after diagnosis, stage at diagnosis, underlying disease, performance status, and in the Gleason sum score. Stepwise regression analysis of the data showed that depression, sexual interaction, Gleason sum score, and occupation since diagnosis were the statistically significant factors associated with quality of life of patients with prostate cancer. This regression model explained 55.1% of the quality of life. CONCLUSION: These results indicate that depression and sexual interaction had the greatest impact on quality of life in prostate cancer patients. In clinical practice, we recommend that healthcare professionals take the initiative to provide adequate and accurate information about sexual health to prostate cancer survivors.
Delivery of Health Care ; Depression* ; Diagnosis ; Humans ; Needs Assessment ; Occupations ; Prostate* ; Prostatic Neoplasms* ; Quality of Life* ; Reproductive Health* ; Seoul ; Survivors

PURPOSE: This study was designed to examine both actor and partner effects of perceived marital relationship on quality of life, as well as the mediating effect of holding back cancer-related concerns.METHODS: This was a cross-sectional study in an outpatient setting. Participants were 150 couples consisting of patients with lung cancer and their spouses. Perceived marital relationship, holding back cancer-related concerns, and quality of life were measured with self-report scales. Actor and partner effects on quality of life were analyzed using the actorepartner interdependence mediation model by using structural equation modeling.RESULTS: A couple's quality of life had a significant direct actor effect on the perceived marital relationship. However, the partner effect and the indirect effect of holding back cancer-related concerns on quality of life was not significant.CONCLUSION: When patients with lung cancer and their spouses perceived their marital relationship positively, they assessed their quality of life positively. They were also found to be less hesitant when talking about cancer-related concerns. However, holding back on talking concerns did not have a significant impact on the quality of life (of either oneself or the spouse). Therefore, nurses should first check how they perceive their marital relationship before encouraging communication between patients with lung cancer and their spouses. Nurses can assess these risk factors and intervene if needed, along their cancer trajectory.
Cross-Sectional Studies ; Family Characteristics ; Humans ; Lung Neoplasms ; Lung ; Marriage ; Negotiating ; Outpatients ; Quality of Life ; Risk Factors ; Spouses ; Weights and Measures

Objectives: This study aimed to determine the status of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) in children in South Korea between 2010 and 2019), as well as to establish preventive maintenance guidelines to reduce the incidence of STIs in children. Methods: Data reports from 590 STI surveillance systems in community clinics, hospital-level medical institutions with urology or obstetrics/gynecology departments and public hospitals between 2010 and 2019 in the integrative disease management system of the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency as of December 2020 were analyzed. Results: A total of 172,645 cases of STIs were reported over the 10-year period (2010–2019), of which 2,179 cases (1.26%) represented STIs in children below the age of 18 years. A higher incidence of infections was observed in girls (1,499 cases, 68.79%) than in boys (680 cases, 31.21%). The STIs that had the highest incidence were, in descending order, chlamydia (997 cases, 45.75%), gonorrhea (592 cases, 27.17%), genital warts (338 cases, 15.51%), genital herpes (250 cases, 11.47%), and chancroid (2 cases, 0.09%). In adolescents aged 14 to 17 years, chlamydia, genital herpes, and gonorrhea were most frequently reported. Genital warts, in particular, have been consistently reported in children below the age of 14 years. Conclusion Children must be protected legally and institutionally from sexual abuse. Specific management protocols for STIs in children must be established by local governments and associated organizations. National human papillomavirus vaccination programs should be expanded to include boys, and anti-STI educational efforts using modern media should be implemented.

Objectives: This study aimed to determine the status of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) in children in South Korea between 2010 and 2019), as well as to establish preventive maintenance guidelines to reduce the incidence of STIs in children. Methods: Data reports from 590 STI surveillance systems in community clinics, hospital-level medical institutions with urology or obstetrics/gynecology departments and public hospitals between 2010 and 2019 in the integrative disease management system of the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency as of December 2020 were analyzed. Results: A total of 172,645 cases of STIs were reported over the 10-year period (2010–2019), of which 2,179 cases (1.26%) represented STIs in children below the age of 18 years. A higher incidence of infections was observed in girls (1,499 cases, 68.79%) than in boys (680 cases, 31.21%). The STIs that had the highest incidence were, in descending order, chlamydia (997 cases, 45.75%), gonorrhea (592 cases, 27.17%), genital warts (338 cases, 15.51%), genital herpes (250 cases, 11.47%), and chancroid (2 cases, 0.09%). In adolescents aged 14 to 17 years, chlamydia, genital herpes, and gonorrhea were most frequently reported. Genital warts, in particular, have been consistently reported in children below the age of 14 years. Conclusion Children must be protected legally and institutionally from sexual abuse. Specific management protocols for STIs in children must be established by local governments and associated organizations. National human papillomavirus vaccination programs should be expanded to include boys, and anti-STI educational efforts using modern media should be implemented.

PURPOSE: MUC1 is a large transmembrane glycoprotein, which is overexpressed in the majority of carcinomas. The high expression of MUC1 is associated with aggressive tumors, with the MUC1 antigen used as a marker to monitor disease progression in breast cancer patients. Although the MUC1 tumor marker is both sensitive and specific for predicting a relapse in breast cancer, it is not commonly used during the follow-up of breast cancer patients. The aim of this study was to evaluate whether the differential patterns of MUC1 expression in different histological types of breast carcinoma could be used to distinguish tumors from benign lesions, and determine its prognostic relevance with other biological parameters. METHODS: 22 normal breast, 7 intraductal hyper-plasia (IDH) and 307 malignant lesions were selected and immunostained with MUC1. The patterns of reaction were classified as intraluminal border (ILB), cytoplasmic, intercellular membrane (ICM), intranuclear or mixed staining. RESULTS: All the normal breast samples showed weak cytoplasmic staining in the ducts and lobules. All the IDH samples showed moderate cytoplasmic and ILB staining. Of the 307 malignant lesions, only 2 (0.8%) showed negative staining; MUC1 positivity was observed in 4 (1.3%), with only ILB staining; 8 (2.6%) with weak cytoplasmic staining, 16 (5.2%) with weak cytoplasmic and intranuclear staining, 168 (54.7%) with moderate cytoplasmic and ILB staining, and 109 (35.5%) with strong cytoplasmic and ICM staining. MUC1 positivity with a moderate to strong staining intensity was observed in 90.6% of the infiltrating ductal carcinomas (221/244), 96.5% of the intraductal carcinomas (28/29), 87.5% of the infiltrating lobular carcinomas (7/8), 66.6% of the mucinous and secretory carcinomas (10/15), 100.0% of the apocrine carcinomas (5/5) and 100.0% of the medullary carcinomas (6/6). The expression of MUC1 was statistically significant between the histological tumor types (p = 0.034), tumor size (p = 0.046), and HER-2/neu (p = 0.004). CONCLUSION: These data suggest the expression of MUC1 was different in normal breast, IDH and malignant breast tumors, and was significantly correlated with the histological tumor types, tumor size and HER-2/neu oncogene.
Breast Neoplasms ; Breast* ; Carcinoma, Ductal ; Carcinoma, Intraductal, Noninfiltrating ; Carcinoma, Lobular ; Carcinoma, Medullary ; Cytoplasm ; Disease Progression ; Follow-Up Studies ; Glycoproteins ; Humans ; Immunohistochemistry ; Membranes ; Mucins ; Negative Staining ; Oncogenes ; Prognosis ; Recurrence

Determining of HER-2/neu oncogene amplification has become clinically important for managing breast cancer. Fluorescent in situ hybridization (FISH) and immunohistochemistry (IHC) are currently regarded as the standard methods. Chromogenic in situ hybridization (CISH) was investigated as a new modification with an accurate, sensitive technique. From 1998 to 2002, using CISH and IHC, the amplification and protein expression of the HER-2/neu oncogene were examined using paraffin sections in 130 breast carcinomas and to determine the prognostic role of HER-2/neu for outcome after a follow-up of 24- 64 months. Amplifications by CISH and overexpression by IHC were observed in 28 (22%) and 27 cases (20.8%), respectively. Of the 104 patients, 20 patients (19.2%) with amplification had a shorter disease-free interval (34.9 months vs. 38.0 months in controls) (p=0.372). 15 patients (14.4%) had a disease recurrence, but there is no significant difference between 3 patients amplifying the oncogene and 12 patients without oncogene (20.6 months vs. 19.6 months) (p=0.862). 6 patients (5.8%) of these died. CISH is a useful alternative, particularly for confirming the IHC results. There is no relationship between the early recurrence and the HER-2/neu positive group, but lymph node status was statistically significant.
Adult ; Aged ; Breast Neoplasms/*genetics/metabolism/mortality ; Disease-Free Survival ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Genes, erbB-2/*genetics ; Human ; Immunohistochemistry ; In Situ Hybridization ; In Situ Hybridization, Fluorescence ; Lymphatic Metastasis ; Middle Aged ; *Oligonucleotide Array Sequence Analysis ; Prognosis ; Protein Array Analysis ; Receptor, erbB-2/biosynthesis ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Support, Non-U.S. Gov't ; Treatment Outcome

PURPOSE: This study was designed to describe outcomes of pain management, to identify pain intensity, pain management and barriers to pain management, and to test correlation among the variables in cancer patients who are registered in public health centers. METHODS: By using a descriptive survey design, 3 instruments were used to collect data: the Numeric Rating Scale for pain, the Barriers Questionnaire-Korean version, and a one-item self-report tool about patient satisfaction. A sample of 190 patients with cancer was recruited from a public health center. RESULTS: The mean rating for pain during the past 24 hr was mild and the mean score of barriers to pain management was 3.20. Patients were satisfied with pain management but they also had concerns it. A negative correlation was found among pain severity, pain relief and satisfaction of pain management. However, there was not significant correlation between the patient-related barriers to pain management and other variables. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that the intervention for cancer patients should focus not only on patient-related barriers to pain management, but also address health-care system related barriers.
Delivery of Health Care ; Humans ; Pain Management ; Patient Satisfaction ; Public Health

PURPOSE: Pregnancy and hCG treatments are considered essential for inhibiting breast cancer. The effect of hCG is accompanied by the synthesis of inhibin, a transforming growth factor involved in cell differentiation and proliferation. Inhibin is considered a tumor suppressor, but its role in the breast is unclear. The aim of this study was to determine the frequency and tissue distribution of the expressions of inhibin-alpha and beta-hCG in breast cancer, and their prognostic relevance with other biological parameters. MATERIALS AND METHODS: 334 of formalin-fixed, paraffin embedded tissue blocks were selected, and then immunostained for inhibin-alpha and beta-hCG. The inhibin-alpha expression was compared with those of beta-hCG, ER, PR and HER-2/neu, as well as the tumor characteristics and recurrences. RESULTS: Inhibin-alpha and beta-hCG were expressed in 87 (26.0%) and 44 cases (13.2%), respectively. Inhibin-alpha was found in 25.1% of infiltrating ductal carcinomas (67/267), 26.7% of intraductal carcinomas (8/30), 33.3% of lobular tumors (3/9), 80.0% of apocrine carcinomas (4/5) and 21.7% of the other types (5/23). Inhibin-alpha was correlated with beta-hCG (p<0.0001), PR (p=0.010) and HER-2/ neu (p=0.021). HCG was focally expressed in the cytoplasm of the conventional types, but the apocrine type displayed diffusely intense cytoplasmic staining, which correlated with histological tumor types (p<0.001). CONCLUSION: Inhibin was significantly correlated with the expressions of hCG, PR and HER-2/neu. Therefore, it might be a useful marker in the prevention and hormonal treatment of breast cancer, such as hCG and progesterone. HCG was expressed significantly higher in the apocrine type than the conventional types, suggesting it can be a useful adjunct in differentiating other cancer types.
Breast Neoplasms* ; Breast* ; Carcinoma, Ductal ; Carcinoma, Intraductal, Noninfiltrating ; Cell Differentiation ; Chorion* ; Cytoplasm ; Humans* ; Inhibins* ; Paraffin ; Pregnancy ; Progesterone ; Recurrence ; Tissue Distribution ; Transforming Growth Factors

Uncoupling protein-1 (UCP-1) plays a major role in thermogenesis at brown adipose tissues and has been implicated in the pathogenesis of obesity and metabolic disorders. The purpose of this study was to estimate the effects of A-3826G polymorphism in 117 Korean prepubertal children aged 8-11 years olds. Anthropometry by bioelectrical impedance analysis method, plasma lipid profiles by auto-biochemical analyzer and UCP-1 genotyping by PCR-RFLP were done. The frequencies of UCP-1 genotypes were AA; 17.7%, AG; 57.8%, GG; 26.6%. The frequencies of each G allele (55.5%) was similar to Japanese's (49%) and higher than Caucacian's (25%). No correlation UCP-1 polymorphism and BMI (kg/m2) or the degree of obesity described by the relative percentiles of the standard weight according to height in prepubertal children. However, plasma total- and LDL-cholesterol were significantly increased in G allele when sex, age and weight were adjusted. Our results suggested that G allele of UCP-1 gene was stronger risk factors in hyperLDLcholesterolemia than A allele. This impact might be progressed as the precaution against the revalence of obesity based-metabolic disease.
Aged ; Alleles ; Anthropometry ; Child ; Cholesterol, LDL ; Electric Impedance ; Genotype ; Humans ; Obesity ; Plasma ; Risk Factors ; Thermogenesis

OBJECTIVE: The effect of induced hypothermia on severe acute carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning remains to be addressed further. We investigated the effect of induced hypothermia on severe acute CO poisoning. METHODS: Retrospective chart review was conducted for patients who diagnosed as severe acute CO poisoning in emergency department and underwent induced hypothermia from May 2013 to May 2014. Hospital courses with critical medication and major laboratory results were investigated through the chart review. RESULTS: Among total 227 patients with acute CO poisoning during the period of study, patients with severe acute CO poisoning were 15. All patients underwent induced hypothermia with a temperature goal 33°C. Initial and follow-up levels of S100B protein after induced hypothermia were 0.47 μg/L (interquartile range, 0.11 to 0.71) and 0.10 μg/L (interquartile range, 0.06 to 0.37), respectively (P = 0.01). The mean Glasgow Coma Scales at emergency department admission was 6.87 ± 3.36. Except 1 patient who expired after cardiopulmonary resuscitation, Glasgow Coma Scales at 30-day of hospital discharge were 15 in 10 patients (71.4%), 14 in 1 patient (7.1%), 13 in 1 patient (7.1%), and 6 in 2 patients (14.2%). Seven patients (46.7%) developed delayed neurologic sequelae. Four patients showed mild types of delayed neurologic sequelae and 3 showed moderate to severe types of delayed neurologic sequelae. CONCLUSION: Most of patients underwent induced hypothermia had a good recovery from severe acute CO poisoning. Therefore, induced hypothermia may be considered as a possible treatment in severe acute CO poisoning.
Carbon Monoxide Poisoning* ; Carbon Monoxide* ; Carbon* ; Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation ; Coma ; Emergency Service, Hospital ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Hypothermia, Induced* ; Poisoning ; Retrospective Studies ; Weights and Measures