Elastofibroma is a rare benign tumor-like condition manifesting as firm and spherical mass with poorly circumscribed margins of fibroelastic tissue, occuring in the subscapular region or the chest wall of elderly persons. It is not a true neoplasm but rather a reactive or degenerative process causing abnormal elastogenesis. It is unilateral in the majority of cases and the right side is affected more commonly than the left. We report a case of bilateral elastofibromas removed from both subscapular regions of a 73-year-old female farmer. She was presented with tender masses on the bilateral subscapular areas for seven years. Microscopically, it consisted of a mixture of intertwining broad eosinophilic collagen bundles and elastic fibers associated with a few fibroblasts and mature fat cells. The elastic fibers had a degenerated beaded appearance or were fragmented into serrated globules in a linear arrangement.
Adipocytes ; Aged ; Collagen ; Elastic Tissue ; Eosinophils ; Female ; Fibroblasts ; Humans ; Thoracic Wall

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to find the factors affecting the decisional conflict of patients undergoing chemotherapy.METHODS: Participants were 137 patients undergoing chemotherapy in a hospital. The Quality Quantity Questionnaire, a distress thermometer and the Decisional Conflict Scale were used to gather self-reported data. The collected data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, t-tests, ANOVA, post-hoc Scheffe's tests, Pearson's correlations coefficients and stepwise multiple regression.RESULTS: The decisional conflict showed that the score for severe to high distress groups were higher than that of the mild distress group. The levels of distress and satisfaction of chemotherapy decisional conflict were positively correlated (p=.043). Decisional conflict was significantly affected by age (p=.041), the burden of treatment costs (p=.047), the support system(p=.049), the current feeling of health(p=.024), and comorbidity (p=.039). The significant predictors of decisional conflict were support system, current feeling of health, age, and the burden of treatment costs, which explained 15% of the variance.CONCLUSION: To improve the decisional conflict patients who are receiving chemotherapy, it is deemed to be necessary to develop an intervention program, for oncology nurses to use regarding decisional conflict over cancer treatment in consideration of the variables we have identified.
Comorbidity ; Drug Therapy ; Health Care Costs ; Humans ; Longevity ; Quality of Life ; Thermometers

PURPOSE: This study was a descriptive survey research to identify the factors that influence sick role behavior compliance in patients on hemodialysis. METHODS: Structured surveys were used to collect data from 170 patients who are on hemodialysis three times a week through outpatient care at a university hospital located in G City using tools measuring resilience, family support, and sick role behavior compliance. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, t-test, one-way ANOVA, Pearson's correlation coefficient, and Stepwise multiple linear regression. RESULTS: The results showed that factors that influenced sick role behavior compliance in the subjects were in the order of family support (β=.27, p < .001), age (β=.27, p < .001), and resilience (β=.23, p=.003). Resilience, family support, and sick role behavior compliance were positively correlated. Factors influencing hemodialysis patients' sick role behavior compliance included family support, age, and resilience. These variables explained 30.2% of the variance in sick role behavior compliance. CONCLUSION: Based on these results, care intervention and the development of a training program that involves family in the treatment plan and process to support and encourage patients are needed to increase the sick role behavior compliance in patients on hemodialysis.
Ambulatory Care ; Compliance ; Education ; Humans ; Linear Models ; Patient Compliance ; Renal Dialysis ; Sick Role

Benign cystic mesothelioma (BCM) is a rare mesothelial lesion that forms multicystic masses in the upper abdomen, pelvis and retroperitoneum. Although it is categorized as a benign lesion, it has a tendency to recur. It is uncertain whether the nature of this lesion is reactive or neoplastic, but many articles support the conclusion that it is reactive rather than neoplastic. The majority of cases were associated with a history of a previous abdominal or pelvic operation, or an evidence of endometriosis or a pelvic inflammatory disease, or a combination of these findings. In a 26-year-old woman we experienced a case of BCM which was incidentally discovered at cesarean delivery revealing multilocular thin and translucent walled cysts in the pelvic cavity. Microscopic examination revealed a thin cyst wall that was composed of fibrous connective tissue and lined by internal stratified and external nonstratified single cuboidal epithelia.
Abdomen ; Adult ; Connective Tissue ; Endometriosis ; Female ; Humans ; Mesothelioma, Cystic* ; Pelvic Inflammatory Disease ; Pelvis

PURPOSE: To evaluate the effect of Bog Bilberry (Vaccinium uliginosum) extract in eyes with early age-related macular degeneration (AMD). METHODS: Forty-four eyes of forty four patients with early AMD were included in this randomized, double-blinded, and placebo-controlled study. All participants were randomly assigned to either the placebo group (n = 24), or the bog bilberry extract group (n = 20). Before drug administration, an ophthalmic examination which included slit lamp microscopy, best corrected visual acuity, and intraocular pressure was performed, and repeated 1and 3 months after treatment. Objective scatter index, glare and tear film break-up time were checked by Optical Quality Analysis System (OQAS, Visiometrics, Spain) and drusen volume, central macular thickness, and RPE and IS/OS junction thickness were investigated with spectral-domain optical coherence tomography (Spectralis, Heidelberg, Germany). RESULTS: In the bog bilberry extract group, RPE and IS/OS junction thickness was significantly increased compared to the placebo group after 3 months of drug administration. CONCLUSIONS: Bog Bilberry extract may play a favorable role in preventing the atrophic change of RPE and IS/OS junction layer and the progression of early macular degeneration.
Eye ; Glare ; Humans ; Intraocular Pressure ; Macular Degeneration ; Microscopy ; Tears ; Tomography, Optical Coherence ; Vaccinium ; Vaccinium myrtillus ; Visual Acuity ; Wetlands

Newborn gastrointestinal tract emergency diseases include various disorders that occur anywhere along the digestive tract. Most of them are congenital malformations, not acquired diseases. Many of them cannot be confirmed on prenatal examination, and consequently, postnatal evaluation is required. Unlike adults, in newborn babies, detailed evaluations with computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) are often limited, so making the diagnosis based on early abdominal radiography is most important. Therefore, it is necessary to be familiar with the radiologic findings that may be seen on imaging studies. In addition, it is important to understand abdominal ultrasound and fluoroscopy findings, which can be used in addition to simple radiography and indications that can be used for further diagnosis and appropriate treatment. Therefore, this study describes and organizes the various imaging findings that may occur in neonatal gastrointestinal emergencies.

Background and Objectives: A mobile application (app)-based electrocardiogram (ECG) consultation system (InterMD Co., Ltd., Seoul, Korea) using the collective intelligence (CI) and the availability of large-scale digitized ECG data would extend the utility of ECGs beyond their current limitations, while at the same time preserving interpretability that remains critical to medical decision-making. Methods: We developed a new mobile app-based ECG consultation system by CI for general practitioners. We compared the responses of ECG reading between the mobile app-based CI system and the conventional system in a tertiary referring hospital. Results: We analyzed 376 consecutive ECGs between December 2017 and May 2019. Of these, 159 ECGs (42.3%) were interpreted by CI through the mobile app-based ECG consultation system and 217 ECGs (57.7%) were analyzed by cardiologists in the conventional systems based on electronic medical record data in a tertiary hospital. All ECG readings were confirmed by an electrophysiologist (EP). The time to an initial response by the CI system was faster than that of the conventional system (6.6 hours vs. 35.8 hours, p<0.0001). The number of responses of each ECG in CI system outnumbered those of the conventional system in the tertiary hospital (3.1 vs. 1.2, p<0.0001). The consensus of the ECG readings with EP was similar in both systems (98.6% vs. 100%, p=0.158). Conclusions The mobile app-based ECG consultation system by CI is as reliable method as the conventional referral system. It would expand the app of the 12-lead ECG with the collaboration of physicians in clinics and hospitals without time and space constraints.

Background and Objectives: A mobile application (app)-based electrocardiogram (ECG) consultation system (InterMD Co., Ltd., Seoul, Korea) using the collective intelligence (CI) and the availability of large-scale digitized ECG data would extend the utility of ECGs beyond their current limitations, while at the same time preserving interpretability that remains critical to medical decision-making. Methods: We developed a new mobile app-based ECG consultation system by CI for general practitioners. We compared the responses of ECG reading between the mobile app-based CI system and the conventional system in a tertiary referring hospital. Results: We analyzed 376 consecutive ECGs between December 2017 and May 2019. Of these, 159 ECGs (42.3%) were interpreted by CI through the mobile app-based ECG consultation system and 217 ECGs (57.7%) were analyzed by cardiologists in the conventional systems based on electronic medical record data in a tertiary hospital. All ECG readings were confirmed by an electrophysiologist (EP). The time to an initial response by the CI system was faster than that of the conventional system (6.6 hours vs. 35.8 hours, p<0.0001). The number of responses of each ECG in CI system outnumbered those of the conventional system in the tertiary hospital (3.1 vs. 1.2, p<0.0001). The consensus of the ECG readings with EP was similar in both systems (98.6% vs. 100%, p=0.158). Conclusions The mobile app-based ECG consultation system by CI is as reliable method as the conventional referral system. It would expand the app of the 12-lead ECG with the collaboration of physicians in clinics and hospitals without time and space constraints.