Posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome (PRES) is a transient condition characterized by altered mental status, seizure, headache, and visual disturbance with typical neuro-imaging findings in the bilateral parieto-occipital regions. Clinicians should be aware of this syndrome because delayed diagnosis and treatment result in irreversible neurologic deficits. We present the case of a 77-year-old male diagnosed with PRES in the setting of postoperative critical illness caused by small-bowel strangulation.
Aged ; Critical Illness* ; Delayed Diagnosis ; Headache ; Humans ; Intensive Care Units ; Male ; Neurologic Manifestations ; Posterior Leukoencephalopathy Syndrome* ; Postoperative Period ; Seizures

PURPOSE: This study was a latitudinal descriptive effort to understand the degree of quality of life of patients who had undergone a rectal cancer operation. METHODS: The Korean versions of European Orgaization for Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC)-Quality of life Questionnaire 30 (QLQ-C30) and Colorectal Cancer-specific Core Questionnaire (QLQ-CR38) were used to examine the degree of quality of life of patients who had undergone a rectal cancer operation. The subjects of this study were 155 patients who had been diagnosed as having rectal cancer and who had received an anterior resection (AR), a low anterior resection (LAR), or an abdominoperineal resection (APR). RESULTS: In our study, patients' responses were combined and converted to a 0-100 scale according to the guidelines provided by the EORTC Center. From these guidelines, high functional scores (0-100) represent good function and high symptom scores (100-0) signify more problems. The APR patients had their social and family life disrupted (social functioning) and were less able to get about and look after themselves (physical functioning), and they felt themselves to be less attractive (body image). In addition, the scores for stoma problems were worse than those for pain and for male sexual problems. The AR patients and the LAR patients, despite suffering diarrhea, symptoms of insomnia, and defecation problems, had better quality of life than the APR patients without anorectal function. CONCLUSION: If the quality of life of rectal cancer patients is to be maintained and their rate of survival is to be increased, an understanding of the patients' situation, education on self-management related to stoma, and active provision of support from medical teams to solve the discomfort caused by the operation are needed.
Defecation ; Diarrhea ; Humans ; Male ; Quality of Life ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Rectal Neoplasms ; Self Care ; Sleep Initiation and Maintenance Disorders ; Stress, Psychological

PURPOSE: This research was conducted to explore the relationship between spiritual well being and life attitude among breast cancer patients who were operated, and to increase understanding for wholistic nursing care. METHOD: With spiritual well being from quality of life questionnaire in breast cancer survivors (QOL-BR 23) of Ferrell et al (1998) and Life attitude profile (LAP) of Recker & Peacock (1981), the data were collected by research assistant in a sample of 56 women with stage 1-stage 3 breast cancer at surgery OPD after follow-up care. RESULT: Mean spiritual wellbeing score of subject was 5.83 (0-10) and life attitude was 4.96 (1-7). There were significant differences in life attitude according to monthly income (F=3.22, p=.03), and in spiritual wellbeing according to monthly income (F=4.16, p=.01) and religion (t=-3.67, p=.001) among demographic characteristics. There was significant difference in spiritual wellbeing according to the period passed after operation (F=2.89, p=.04) among disease characteristics. From life attitude domain, the mean score of "will to meaning" was the highest (5.30) and "existential vacuum" was the lowest (4.58). There was a significant relationship between spiritual wellbeing and "will to meaning" subscale of life attitude (r=.521, p=.000). The correlation coefficient showed r=.513 between spiritual well being and life attitude. CONCLUSION: Nurses could promote positive life attitude for breast cancer patients by improving spiritual well being with the encouragement of having religion expecially for long term breast cancer survivors in the process of their rehabilitation.
Breast Neoplasms* ; Breast* ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Nursing Care ; Quality of Life ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Rehabilitation ; Survivors

PURPOSE: This study was to identify behaviors preventing the recurrence of breast cancer and the level of quality of life. METHODS: This descriptive study was conducted using a structured questionnaire from November 1, 2006 to December 25, 2006 . One hundred and twenty two women breast cancer survivors were recruited by convenience sampling. RESULTS: The most frequent behavior for preventing recurrence of the breast cancer was dietary treatment (90.9%) and exercise (86.8%) was the second behavior. In addition, most of them perceived these behaviors as 'very effective' (82.8%). The degree of the quality of life of a breast cancer survivor was 5.34 point indicating a 'medium level'. CONCLUSION: Breast cancer survivors pursued various behaviors for preventing recurrence of breast cancer. Therefore, the nursing interventions should be focused on a systematic educational approach considering healthy behaviors to prevent breast cancer recurrence for breast cancer survivors.
Adaptation, Psychological ; Adult ; Aged ; Breast Neoplasms/prevention & control/*psychology/therapy ; Data Interpretation, Statistical ; Demography ; Dietary Supplements ; Exercise Therapy ; Female ; *Health Behavior ; Humans ; Life Style ; Middle Aged ; Neoplasm Recurrence, Local/*prevention & control ; *Quality of Life ; Questionnaires ; Recurrence ; Survivors/*psychology

No abstract available.
Catheters* ; Peritoneal Dialysis, Continuous Ambulatory*

PURPOSE: The effects of neoadjuvant chemoradiation therapy (NCRT) in cases of locally advanced rectal cancer include tumor downstaging with respect to a curative resection and a decreasing incidence of local recurrence. The aim of this study is to evaluate the oncologic results according to the tumor regression grade (TRG) after NCRT and radical surgical resection in cases of locally advanced rectal cancer. METHODS: From 1999 to 2003, 140 consecutive patients, who suffered from locally advanced rectal cancer (T3 or T4, or lymph node positive) were enrolled in this study. They all received neoadjuvant chemoradiation therapy and a radical resection. Chemotherapy was based on 5-fluorouracil (5-FU), and the total radiation dose was 5,040 cGy over 6 weeks. A radical surgical resection, including a total mesorectal excision, was done 6 to 8 weeks after the completion of NCRT. We classified patients into subgroups by using the TRG; then, we investigated the overall and the disease-free survival rates and the local recurrence and the distant metastasis rates. RESULTS: One hundred twenty-six (126, 90%) patients responded to radiation therapy. According to the TRG, the numbers of non- responders (Grade I, NR), partial responders (Grade II, PR), and patients who went into complete remission (Grade III, CR) were 14 (10%), 98 (70%), and 28 (20%), respectively. The overall survival (OS) and the disease-free survival (DFS) rates for 3 years (n=140) were 91.43% and 74.29%, and the rates for 5 years (n=117) were 81.20% and 67.52%, respectively. While there was no significant difference in the 3-year OS or DFS between the three groups stratified by TRG (P=0.1136, P=0.1215), the 5-year OS and DFS showed a statistical difference (P=0.0485, P=0.0458). Furthermore, the 3-year OS and DFS rates (P=0.0451, P=0.0458), as well as the 5-year OS and DFS rates (P=0.0139, P=0.0131) were significantly better for patients in the CR group than for the other patients. Still, no statistical significance differences existed between the CR group and the non-CR groups or between the TRG groups in terms of the local recurrence and the distant metastasis rates (P=0.447, P=0.271). CONCLUSIONS: Any tumor response group that shows complete Rremission after NCRT and radical surgical resection has an oncologic benefit in overall survival and disease- free survival in our study.
Disease-Free Survival ; Fluorouracil ; Humans ; Incidence ; Lymph Nodes ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Rectal Neoplasms ; Recurrence

BACKGROUND: Weaning from mechanical ventilation is difficult in the intensive care unit (ICU). Many controversial questions remain unanswered concerning the predictors of weaning failure. This study investigates patient characteristics and delayed weaning after lung transplantation. METHODS: This study retrospectively reviewed the medical records of 17 lung transplantation patients from October 2012 to December 2013. Patients able to be weaned from mechanical ventilation within 8 days after surgery were assigned to an early group (n = 9), and the rest of the patients were assigned to the delayed group (n=8). Patients' intraoperative and postoperative characteristics were collected and analyzed, and conventional weaning predictors, including rapid shallow breathing index (RSBI), were also assessed. RESULTS: The results of the early group showed a significantly shorter ICU stay in addition to a shorter hospitalization overall. Notably, the early group had a higher body mass index (BMI) than the delayed group (20.7 vs. 16.9, p = 0.004). In addition, reopening occurred more frequently in the delayed group (1/9 vs. 5/8, p = 0.05). During spontaneous breathing trials, tidal volume (TV) and arterial oxygen tension were significantly higher in the early group compared to the delayed weaning group, but differences in RSBI and respiratory rate (RR) between groups were not statistically significant. CONCLUSIONS: Low BMI might be associated with delayed ventilator weaning in lung transplantation patients. In addition, instead of the traditional weaning predictors of RSBI and RR, TV might be a better predictor for ventilator weaning after lung transplantation.
Body Mass Index* ; Hospitalization ; Humans ; Intensive Care Units ; Lung Transplantation* ; Medical Records ; Oxygen ; Respiration ; Respiration, Artificial ; Respiratory Rate ; Retrospective Studies ; Tidal Volume ; Ventilator Weaning* ; Weaning

Pseudomyxoma peritonei may result from implantation of benign or malignant tumor in peritoneal cavity and is filled with gelatinous material (termed "Jelly Belly") in abdominal cavity. Its origin is usually an appendiceal or ovarian mucinous adenoma or cystadenocarcinoma, but other primary origin such as uterus, intestine, pancreas and stomach umor have been reported. Generally, pseudomyxoma peritonei is slowly progressive and has low grade malignant potential. This report presents a unusual long term survival after evacuation of 15,000 cc of gelatinous material from abdominal cavity which was the low grade mucinous adenocarcinoma and a review of the current literature, management and new its concept. The origin of pseudomyxoma peritonei of this case was most likely from appendiceal mvcinous adenocarcinoma.
Abdominal Cavity ; Adenocarcinoma ; Adenocarcinoma, Mucinous ; Adenoma ; Butyrates ; Colitis* ; Cystadenocarcinoma ; Gelatin ; Intestines ; Mucins ; Pancreas ; Peritoneal Cavity ; Pseudomyxoma Peritonei ; Stomach ; Uterus

PURPOSE: This study examined breast cancer screening practice and health promoting behaviors and the predicting factors of breast cancer screening practice in Chinese women. METHODS: A correlational research design was used to recruit a convenience sample of 770 women living in four cities (Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, and Xi'an) in China. Participants completed self-report questionnaire consisting of general characteristics, breast cancer screening, health promoting behaviors, perceived benefits and perceived barriers. RESULTS: The participants were mostly 36-55 years old (51.3%), married (86.8%), premenopause (77.7%), had children (83.4%), and breastfed (73%). About 60% of Chinese women participated in some type of breast cancer screening practices, among them only 60 (7.8%) women used mammography, ultrasonogram and breast self-examination. The main reason for doing breast cancer screening was "feeling necessary for the screening". About 36% of the participants reported they did not perform any of screening practices, because they "don't feel it necessary". The women who had breast cancer screening regularly reported better health promoting behavior and perceived benefits and less perceived barriers than those who did not (F = 10.45, p < .001). Logistic regression showed that model 1 (age, higher education, being employed) and model 2 (perceived benefits and health behaviors) were the significant predicting factors (p < .05), explaining 10-13.8% of variance in breast cancer screening practice. CONCLUSION: On the basis of these results, public education about importance of breast cancer screening and health promoting behavior should be strongly advocated by health professionals and mass media in China.
Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; Breast ; Breast Neoplasms ; Breast Self-Examination ; Child ; China ; Female ; Health Behavior ; Health Occupations ; Humans ; Logistic Models ; Mammography ; Mass Media ; Mass Screening ; Premenopause ; Research Design ; Surveys and Questionnaires

Background/Aims: Esophageal cancer is not an uncommon cancer in Korea, however, the prognosis still remains very poor with a 5 year survival rate bemg less than l0% mainly becauae of the delayed diagnosis. Although chromoscopy with lugol solution has been received to diagnose the esophageal cancer in an early stage without difficulty, its clinical use has not been popular yet in Korea. This study was performed prospectively to evaluate the usefulness of the chromoscopy for the detection of superficial esophageal cancer in risk patients for esophageal cancer. Methods: Ninety-five patients were selected among persons who received gasiroscopy at Asan Medical Center between Jan. 1996 and May 1996 and were prospectively included for chromoscopy. Inclusion criteria for the chromoscopy were patients older than 60 years of age with smoking history of more than 30 packyears, and/or past or family history of cancers. After conventional endoscopic examination, lugol solution was sprayed to stain the glycogen granules in the epithelial cells. The size of unstained lesion was measured and stainability was classified into 5 grades. All lesions unstained were biopsied for histological diagnosis.(continue...)
Chungcheongnam-do ; Delayed Diagnosis ; Epithelial Cells ; Esophageal Neoplasms* ; Glycogen ; Humans ; Korea ; Prognosis ; Prospective Studies ; Smoke ; Smoking ; Survival Rate