BACKGROUND: The need for a new healthcare system is growing due to the paradigm shift from health supervision to health maintenance. Previously, we performed a pilot study that examined the effectiveness of a ubiquitous healthcare (U-healthcare) diabetes management program which consists of self-monitoring of blood glucose (SMBG) and mobile phone services for elderly patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus. In this study, we investigated the effect of a diabetes management program using U-healthcare based on the self-care skills of elderly patients with diabetes mellitus. METHODS: From July to October 2005, 17 patients were recruited and provided with a blood glucometer with the ZigBee module and a mobile phone. In addition, the patients' understanding of diabetes self-care skills was examined at the beginning and end of the study. At the end of the study, we determined the level of patient satisfaction regarding U-healthcare services. RESULTS: The patients' test scores on their understanding of diabetes mellitus improved from 57.2 +/- 20.7 to 72.7 +/- 13.4%. Specifically, patient knowledge of the basic principles for a proper diabetic diet (52.9% vs. 82.4%, P = 0.046), foods that influence blood sugar level (41.2% vs. 76.5%, P = 0.007) and the influence of beverage choice (41.2% vs. 64.7%, P = 0.007), all increased. In addition, a significant increase in knowledge of living standards regarding diabetes mellitus was observed (64.7% vs. 88.2%, P = 0.0032). CONCLUSION: We conclude that the U-healthcare incorporating SMBG could be promising, as it improves self-management skills of diabetes mellitus patients, as well as their understanding of the disease.
Aged ; Beverages ; Blood Glucose ; Blood Glucose Self-Monitoring ; Cellular Phone ; Delivery of Health Care ; Diabetes Mellitus ; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 ; Diet, Diabetic ; Health Services Research ; Humans ; Organization and Administration ; Patient Satisfaction ; Pilot Projects ; Self Care ; Socioeconomic Factors

Serum carcinoembryonic antigen (s-CEA) is used to detect recurrence and predict prognosis in colorectal cancer. However, the cutoff values of s-CEA for prognosis have not been determined. We therefore tried to determine the preoperative s-CEA levels predictive of survivals in colorectal cancer patients. We retrospectively analyzed the medical records of 989 patients who underwent curative resection for colorectal cancer between July 1990 and December 1997, with a mean followup of 46 months (range, 3-129 months). When patients were divided into four subgroups with the cutoff values of s-CEA at 3,6, and 17 ng/mL, their 5-yr diseasefree survival rates were 85.3% (<3.0 ng/mL), 70.0% (3-6 ng/mL), 64.2% (6-17 ng/mL), and 55.2% (>17 ng/mL) (p<0.001). Multivariate analysis showed that factors predictive of survival included age (p=0.028), tumor stage (p<0.001), cell differentiation (p=0.016), and gross type (p=0.007), location (p=0.003) and preoperative s-CEA (p<0.001). Using the above-described cutoff levels, a significant difference in survival was observed only in patients with stage III tumors (p=0.007) when analyses were performed by stage. We can suggest the new cutoff values of s-CEA used in the present study.
Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Carcinoembryonic Antigen/*blood ; Colorectal Neoplasms/blood/*pathology/surgery ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Multivariate Analysis ; Neoplasm Staging ; Predictive Value of Tests ; Preoperative Care ; Prognosis ; Survival Analysis

PURPOSE: The TNM classification for carcinoma of the colon and the rectum provides more detail than other staging systems. This study was performed to evaluate the effectiveness of AJCC staging system (5th ed., 1997) for the colorectal cancer in predicting prognosis. METHODS: We analyzed a data base of 1,233 colorectal cancer patients (M:F=673:560) who underwent surgery in Asan Medical Center during July 1989-December 1996. Survival analysis was performed between the stages and the subgroups in same stage by using Kaplan-Meier method and log rank test. Borderline subgroup comparison between the stages was performed, also. Significance was assigned to a P value of <0.05. RESULTS: Mean age of the patients was 57 (19-90) years old. Median follow-up period was 42 (6-129) months. The number of patients in each stage were 0: 15, I: 152, II: 390, III: 465, IV: 199. The 5 year overall & disease free survival rates of each stage were 100%, 100% (in stage 0), 96.4%, 93.6% (in stage I), 82.7%, 82.2% (in stage II), 59.9%, 55.3% (in stage III), and 7.3%, 24.9% (in stage IV), respectively (P=0.000). Subgroup analysis in stage I (T1N0 vs. T2N0) and II (T3N0 vs. T4N0) revealed no differences. However, in stage III, N1 (n=246) group showed better survival than N2 (n=219) group (70.3%, 65.5% vs. 49.2%, 44.6%: P=0.000). Borderline survival analysis between stage I and II (T2N0 vs. T3N0) was significantly different (96.6%, 95.7% vs 82.7%, 82.3%: P=0.006). However, between stage II and III (T4N0 vs. T1N1), appropriate analysis was impossible due to small number of cases. CONCLUSIONS: AJCC staging system for colorectal cancer was reliable and effective in predicting prognosis. However, substages are needed in stage III.
Chungcheongnam-do ; Classification ; Colon ; Colorectal Neoplasms* ; Disease-Free Survival ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Prognosis ; Rectum

PURPOSE: The clinical significance of a mucinous-type colorectal adenocarcinoma is still controversial. Mucinous colorectal adenocarcinomas have been suggested to have distinct clinicopathologic features, i.e., early-onset, right-side dominancy, and poor prognosis. We aimed to verify the biological behaviors of and survivals for mucinous adenocarcinomas compared with non-mucinous adenocarcinomas. METHODS: Using a database of colorectal cancers at Asan Medical Center between 1989 and 2000, we enrolled 121 mucinous adenocarcinoma and 2,289 non-mucinous adenocarcinoma patients in this study. Clinical, pathological characteristics of and prognoses for mucinous adenocarcinomas were analyzed and compared with those for non-mucinous adenocarcinomas, retrospectively. The median follow-up period was 24 (0~113) months for mucinous adenocarcinomas and 32 (0~130) months for non-mucinous adenocarcinoma. RESULTS: Compared to non-mucinous adenocarcinomas, mucinous adenocarcinomas showed distinctive clinicopathologic features of early-onset (P<0.001), frequent family history (P<0.001), right-side dominancy (P=0.010), advanced stage at diagnosis (P<0.001), and common peritoneal seeding at diagnosis (P<0.001). The recurrence rate in the mucinous adenocarcinoma group was 45.2% during the follow-up period: 21.6% distant metastasis, 14.3% peritoneal dissemination, 5.7% local recurrence, and 3.6% simultaneous local recurrence and distant metastasis. The five-year survival rates in stages II and III were 70% and 48.7%, respectively, for mucinous adenocarcinomas and 92% and 50.2%, respectively, for non-mucinous adenocarcinomas. This difference was statistically significant. CONCLUSIONS: Mucinous adenocarcinomas seem to have distinct biologic behaviors with different clinicopathologic features and poor prognosis. A surgical approach with a follow-up schedule considering the characteristics of mucinous adenocarcinomas is needed.
Adenocarcinoma ; Adenocarcinoma, Mucinous* ; Appointments and Schedules ; Chungcheongnam-do ; Colon* ; Colorectal Neoplasms ; Diagnosis ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Mucins* ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Prognosis* ; Rectum* ; Recurrence ; Retrospective Studies ; Survival Rate

BACKGROUND: In low rectal cancer, creating a permanent stoma can be avoided by applying a low anterior resection using the double stapling technique. However, the problem of local recurrence is still a major pattern of tumor recurrence in rectal cancer. We aimed to verify the clinicopathologic variables related to exfoliation of tumor cells and searched for an efficient method to remove the tumor cells from the rectal stump during a low anterior resection. METHODS: Forty-four patients who underwent a low anterior resection using the double stapling technique were enrolled prospectively. For patient, we irrigated each rectal stump twice with 500 cc of normal saline through the anus. Two specimens from each irrigation were obtained and examined for any malignant tumor cells. Cases in which no tumor cells were found from the two specimens were defined as Group I, cases in which tumor cells were found in only the first specimen were defined as Group II, and cases in which tumor cells were found in both the first and the second specimens were defined as Group III. Clinicopathologic variables were analyzed with regard to the presence of exfoliated tumor cells in irrigated saline. RESULTS: There were sixteen (36%), fourteen (32%), and fourteen cases (32%) in Groups I, II, and III, respectively, according to the examination results. Age classification (P=0.05) and metastatic lymph nodes (P=0.013) were associated with the presence of tumor cells in irrigated saline (I vs. II, II). CONCLUSIONS: Stump irrigation during a low anterior resection using the double stapling technique is recommended as an easy and simple method to remove exfoliated tumor cells from anastomosis sites, although further study is necessary to elucidate the association between exfoliated tumor cells and local recurrence.
Anal Canal ; Classification ; Humans ; Lymph Nodes ; Prospective Studies ; Rectal Neoplasms ; Recurrence ; Surgical Stapling

PURPOSE: Regular monitoring of serum carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) has been used as a tool to detect recurrence of colorectal cancer postoperatively. This study aimed to evaluate the significance of perioperative serum CEA level in patients with curative colorectal cancer. METHODS: We analyzed the data obtained from the 420 patients with colorectal cancer who underwent curative resection. Preoperative serum CEA level (ng/ml) was divided into 3 groups, i.e. groups I: or=20. Each group of preoperative serum CEA level was analyzed in accordance with location, histologic differentiation, stage of tumor, recurrence and survival. Postoperative serum CEA level was analyzed in accordance with preoperative serum CEA level and recurrence. RESULTS: Preoperative serum CEA level correlated with tumor stage (P=0.009). Ninety six patients among 420 patients showed recurred and recurrences were more common in patients with high preoperative serum CEA level (P =0.002). Systemic recurrences were more common in patients with high preoperative serum CEA levels than normal levels (P=0.029). In recurrence cases, 75 patients (78.1%) had elevated serum CEA levels and 55 patients had high preoperative serum CEA levels (P=0.008). The disease free 5-year survival rate in preoperative serum CEA group I, II, and III were 91.4%, 70.5%, and 58.3% respectively (P= 0.000) CONCLUSION: Preoperative serum CEA levels seemed to be closely correlated with distant metastasis and survival. Meticulous follow-up evaluation and generous use of adjuvant therapy are recommanded in patients with high preoperative CEA level.
Carcinoembryonic Antigen* ; Colorectal Neoplasms* ; Humans ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Recurrence ; Survival Rate

Sarcopenia has been defined as the considerable loss of skeletal muscle mass and strength that results in frailty in the elderly. Because muscle tissue plays diverse important roles in human, sarcopenia presents many negative health-related consequences including impaired energy homeostasis, falls and cardiovascular disease, and subsequently higher mortality. It is becoming evident that sarcopenia has a negative impact on the healthy life of the elderly. The European Working Group on Sarcopenia, the International Working Group on Sarcopenia and the Asian Working Group on Sarcopenia have released position statement regarding sarcopenia, and more recently the Foundation for the National Institutes of Health Sarcopenia Project has provided a new guideline for assessment of sarcopenia. At this time, there have been several data delineating the status of sarcopenia in Korea. This review focuses on largescale cohorts that assessed sarcopenia and highlights the controversies surrounding the clinical definition and prevalence of sarcopenia in Korea.
Aged ; Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; Cardiovascular Diseases ; Cohort Studies ; Homeostasis ; Humans ; Korea ; Mortality ; Muscle, Skeletal ; National Institutes of Health (U.S.) ; Prevalence* ; Sarcopenia*

PURPOSE: Local excision of early rectal cancers with favorable histologic features can provide comparable survival rate to radical surgery with minimal morbidity and mortality, showing excellent functional results. But, still worried about high local recurrence rate and poor survival rates for local excision. This study was performed to investigate complications and evaluate oncological out comes after local excision for rectal cancers. METHODS: We evaluated 80 cases underwent local excision among 1681 patients with rectal cancer between January 1989 and December 2000. The mean age was 58+/-11 years and median follow up period was 24 (range: 1-82) months. Type of surgery for early rectal cancer were transanal excision in 51 cases (63.8%), transsphincteric approach in 12 cases (15%) and endoscopic submucosal resection alone in 17 cases (21.2%). RESULTS: The distance from the anal verge was 5.9+/-2.6 cm and the mean tumor size was 2.5+/-2.0 cm. Pathological depth of invasion revealed 52 Tis, 21 T1, 6 T2, and 1 T3 tumors. Cellular differentiation was well-differentiated tumor in 73% and moderately-differentiated in 27%. On histologic examination, 65% of them comprised underlying adenoma component. Leakage from the closure site was observed in two cases of transsphincteric approach. One case required abdominoperineal resection and the other was managed by temporary colostomy. Adjuvant chemoradiation was performed in 10 cases: one Tis with positive resection margin, 6 deep T1, and 3 T2 tumors. Five tumors was salvaged by immediate surgery: one T1 with positive resection margin, 3 T2 with positive resection margin, and 1 T3. During the follow up period, one local recurrence was developed after 25 months of surgery and salvaged by low anterior resection. CONCLUSION: Local excision for rectal cancer can be performed safely in strictly selected patients and meticulous surgical technique according to tumor location is mandatory to reduce postoperative complications.
Adenoma ; Colostomy ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Mortality ; Postoperative Complications ; Rectal Neoplasms* ; Recurrence ; Survival Rate

BACKGROUND: Abdominoperineal resection (APR) combined with autonomic nerve preservation (ANP) is proven to reduce sexual dysfunction. However, Sexual dysfunction after APR combined ANP occurs as many as 59% of case. PURPOSE: The aims of this study were to assess prog nostic value of various postoperative factors affective sexual function after APR combined with ANP and to suggest a clinical relevant factors for the improvement of sexual function. METHODS: This was a cross sectional descriptive study. Data were collected using individual-based interviews from 63 patients who underwent APR during the period of Feb. 2001 and April. 2001. The tool for this study was developed by the researcher through modification of the QLQ-CR38 (European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer, 1999). RESULTS: The severity of sexual function showed significant differences according to occupation, intervals after operation, colostomy irrigation. Intervals of longer than 18 month after operation was associated with better sexual function. In multiple regression analysis, colostomy related problems, colostomy irrigation, colostomy complications, intervals after operation, recurrence affected sexual function significantly. CONCLUSIONS: Colostomy related problems, colostomy irrigation, colostomy complications, intervals after operation and recurrence appear to be associated with sexual function after APR.
Atrial Natriuretic Factor ; Autonomic Pathways ; Colostomy ; Humans ; Occupations ; Rectal Neoplasms* ; Recurrence

Many immune down-regulatory molecules have been isolated from parasites, including cystatin (cystain protease inhibitor). In a previous study, we isolated and characterized Type I cystatin (CsStefin-1) of the liver fluke, Clonorchis sinensis. To investigate whether the CsStefin-1 might be a new host immune modulator, we induced intestinal inflammation in mice by dextran sodium sulfate (DSS) and treated them with recombinant CsStefin-1 (rCsStefin-1). The disease activity index (DAI) increased in DSS only-treated mice. In contrast, the DAI value was significantly reduced in rCsStefin-1-treated mice than DSS only-treated mice. In addition, the colon length of DSS only-treated mice was shorter than that of rCsStefin-1 treated mice. The secretion levels of IFN-gamma and TNF-alpha in the spleen and mesenteric lymph nodes (MLNs) were significantly increased by DSS treatment, but the level of TNF-alpha in MLNs was significantly decreased by rCsStefin-1 treatment. IL-10 production in both spleen and MLNs was significantly increased, and IL-10+F4/80+ macrophage cells were significantly increased in the spleen and MLNs of rCsStefin-1 treated mice after DSS treatment. In conclusion, rCsStefin-1 could reduce the intestinal inflammation occurring after DSS treatment, these effects might be related with recruitment of IL-10 secreting macrophages.
Animals ; Antigens, Differentiation/analysis ; Clonorchis sinensis/*enzymology ; Colon/pathology ; Cystatins/*metabolism ; Cytokines/secretion ; Dextran Sulfate/toxicity ; Female ; Helminth Proteins/*metabolism ; Immunologic Factors/*metabolism ; Inflammation/chemically induced/*pathology ; Interleukin-10/analysis ; Intestines/*drug effects/pathology ; Lymph Nodes/immunology ; Macrophages/chemistry/*immunology ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; Severity of Illness Index ; Spleen/immunology