Purpose: The purpose of this study was to identify the knowledge and attitudes of oncology nurses towards clinical trials and to provide evidence for the development of clinical trial education programs for oncology nurses. Methods: The study was conducted on 142 nurses who had more than six months of nursing experience working with cancer patients at a tertiary hospital in Seoul, Korea. A structured questionnaire was used to measure the knowledge and attitudes of oncology nurses towards clinical trials. Results: The participants scored an average of 15.03±3.52 out of 19 in terms of knowledge about clinical trials. In terms of attitudes towards clinical trials, the participants scored an average of 5.91±1.37 out of 8. There was a significant positive correlation between the knowledge and attitudes of the participants towards clinical trials (r=.23, p=.007). Conclusion This study found that there was a relationship between the knowledge and attitudes of oncology nurses towards clinical trials. To improve the competency of oncology nurses and provide high-quality care to patients participating in clinical trials, more systematic and sustainable education is needed.

Purpose: Acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL) is a rare disease in children and there are some different characteristics between children and adult. We aimed to evaluate incidence, clinical characteristics and treatment outcomes of pediatric APL in Korea. Materials and Methods: Seventy-nine pediatric APL patients diagnosed from January 2009 to December 2016 in 16 tertiary medical centers in Korea were reviewed retrospectively. Results: Of 801 acute myeloid leukemia children, 79 (9.9%) were diagnosed with APL. The median age at diagnosis was 10.6 years (range, 1.3 to 18.0). Male and female ratio was 1:0.93. Thirty patients (38.0%) had white blood cell (WBC) count greater than 10×109/L at diagnosis. All patients received induction therapy consisting of all-trans retinoic acid and chemotherapy. Five patients (6.6%) died during induction chemotherapy and 66 patients (86.8%) achieved complete remission (CR) after induction chemotherapy. The causes of death were three intracranial hemorrhage, one cerebral infarction, and one sepsis. Five patients (7.1%) suffered a relapse during or after maintenance chemotherapy. The estimated 4-year event-free survival and overall survival (OS) rates were 82.1%±4.4%, 89.7%±5.1%, respectively. The 4-year OS was significantly higher in patients with initial WBC < 10×109/L than in those with initial WBC ≥ 10×109/L (p=0.020). Conclusion This study showed that the CR rates and survival outcomes in Korean pediatric APL patients were relatively good. The initial WBC count was the most important prognostic factor and most causes of death were related to serious bleeding in the early stage of treatment.

In November 2021, 14 international travel-related severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) B.1.1.529 (omicron) variant of concern (VOC) patients were detected in South Korea. Epidemiologic investigation revealed community transmission of the omicron VOC. A total of 80 SARS-CoV-2 omicron VOC-positive patients were identified until December 10, 2021 and 66 of them reported no relation to the international travel.There may be more transmissions with this VOC in Korea than reported.

Background: In accordance with the guidelines for the expectant management of women exposed to previable preterm premature rupture of membrane, we compared neonatal outcomes according to the latent period from membrane rupture to delivery among extremely preterm infants exposed to maternal preterm premature rupture of membrane using the Korean Neonatal Network database. Methods: Of the 3,305 extremely preterm infants born at 23–27 weeks' gestation between 2014 and 2017 who were registered in the Korean Neonatal Network, 1,464 infants were born to pregnant women who were exposed to preterm premature rupture of membrane. The short latency group was defined as infants born with a latent period between membrane rupture and delivery < 7 days (n = 450), whereas the prolonged latency group was defined as infants born with a latent period of ≥ 7 days (n = 434). Using well-established risk factors for adverse short-term outcomes, multivariate logistic regression analysis was performed to assess a prolonged latent period in preterm premature rupture of membrane as an independent risk factor for neonatal outcomes in extremely preterm infants exposed to preterm premature rupture of membrane. Results: The mean gestational age at membrane rupture in the prolonged latency group was significantly lower than that in the short latency group (22.7 ± 2.5 vs. 25.4 ± 1.3 weeks, P < 0.001). Nevertheless, the mean gestational age at delivery and birth weight were not significantly different between the two groups. The incidence of oligohydramnios and histologic chorioamnionitis in the prolonged latency group was significantly higher than that in the short latency group (38.7 [155/401] vs. 26.1 [105/403], 69.8 [270/384] vs. 61.0 [242/397], respectively, P < 0.05). The survival rate in the prolonged latency group did not differ from that in the short latency group (71.2 [309/434] vs. 73.3 [330/450], P = 0.478). Although the prolonged latency group was not associated with mortality during hospitalization in the multivariate logistic regression analysis, the prolonged latency group's early pulmonary hypertension and bronchopulmonary dysplasia rates were increased by 1.8 and 1.5 times, respectively. Conclusion A prolonged latent period of 7 days or more does not affect the survival rate but increases the risk of bronchopulmonary dysplasia occurrence among extremely preterm infants who are exposed to maternal preterm premature rupture of membrane.

Background: In accordance with the guidelines for the expectant management of women exposed to previable preterm premature rupture of membrane, we compared neonatal outcomes according to the latent period from membrane rupture to delivery among extremely preterm infants exposed to maternal preterm premature rupture of membrane using the Korean Neonatal Network database. Methods: Of the 3,305 extremely preterm infants born at 23–27 weeks' gestation between 2014 and 2017 who were registered in the Korean Neonatal Network, 1,464 infants were born to pregnant women who were exposed to preterm premature rupture of membrane. The short latency group was defined as infants born with a latent period between membrane rupture and delivery < 7 days (n = 450), whereas the prolonged latency group was defined as infants born with a latent period of ≥ 7 days (n = 434). Using well-established risk factors for adverse short-term outcomes, multivariate logistic regression analysis was performed to assess a prolonged latent period in preterm premature rupture of membrane as an independent risk factor for neonatal outcomes in extremely preterm infants exposed to preterm premature rupture of membrane. Results: The mean gestational age at membrane rupture in the prolonged latency group was significantly lower than that in the short latency group (22.7 ± 2.5 vs. 25.4 ± 1.3 weeks, P < 0.001). Nevertheless, the mean gestational age at delivery and birth weight were not significantly different between the two groups. The incidence of oligohydramnios and histologic chorioamnionitis in the prolonged latency group was significantly higher than that in the short latency group (38.7 [155/401] vs. 26.1 [105/403], 69.8 [270/384] vs. 61.0 [242/397], respectively, P < 0.05). The survival rate in the prolonged latency group did not differ from that in the short latency group (71.2 [309/434] vs. 73.3 [330/450], P = 0.478). Although the prolonged latency group was not associated with mortality during hospitalization in the multivariate logistic regression analysis, the prolonged latency group's early pulmonary hypertension and bronchopulmonary dysplasia rates were increased by 1.8 and 1.5 times, respectively. Conclusion A prolonged latent period of 7 days or more does not affect the survival rate but increases the risk of bronchopulmonary dysplasia occurrence among extremely preterm infants who are exposed to maternal preterm premature rupture of membrane.

Many previous studies have shown reduced glucose uptake in the ischemic brain. In contrast, in a permanent unilateral common carotid artery occlusion (UCCAO) mouse model, our pilot experiments using 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography (FDG PET) revealed that a subset of mice exhibited conspicuously high uptake of glucose in the ipsilateral hemisphere at 1 week post-occlusion (asymmetric group), whereas other mice showed symmetric uptake in both hemispheres (symmetric group). Thus, we aimed to understand the discrepancy between the two groups. Cerebral blood flow and histological/metabolic changes were analyzed using laser Doppler flowmetry and immunohistochemistry/Western blotting, respectively. Contrary to the increased glucose uptake observed in the ischemic cerebral hemisphere on FDG PET (p<0.001), cerebral blood flow tended to be lower in the asymmetric group than in the symmetric group (right to left ratio [%], 36.4±21.8 vs. 58.0±24.8, p=0.059). Neuronal death was observed only in the ischemic hemisphere of the asymmetric group. In contrast, astrocytes were more activated in the asymmetric group than in the symmetric group (p<0.05). Glucose transporter-1, and monocarboxylate transporter-1 were also upregulated in the asymmetric group, compared with the symmetric group (p<0.05, respectively). These results suggest that the increased FDG uptake was associated with relatively severe ischemia, and glucose transporter-1 upregulation and astrocyte activation. Glucose metabolism may thus be a compensatory mechanism in the moderately severe ischemic brain.

Background: Hodgkin's lymphoma (HL) constitutes 10%–20% of all malignant lymphomas and has a high cure rate (5-year survival, around 90%). Recently, interest has increased concerning preventing secondary complications (secondary cancer, endocrine disorders) in long-term survivors. We aimed to study the epidemiologic features and therapeutic outcomes of HL in children, adolescents, and young adults in Korea. Methods: We performed a multicenter, retrospective study of 224 patients aged < 25 years diagnosed with HL at 22 participating institutes in Korea from January 2007 to August 2016. Results: A higher percentage of males was diagnosed at a younger age. Nodular sclerosis histopathological HL subtype was most common, followed by mixed cellularity subtype.Eighty-one (36.2%), 101 (45.1%), and 42 (18.8%) patients were classified into low, intermediate, and high-risk groups, respectively. Doxorubicin, bleomycin, vinblastine, dacarbazine was the most common protocol (n = 102, 45.5%). Event-free survival rate was 86.0% ± 2.4%, while five-year overall survival (OS) rate was 96.1% ± 1.4%: 98.7% ± 1.3%, 97.7% ± 1.6%, and 86.5% ± 5.6% in the low, intermediate, and high-risk groups, respectively (P = 0.021). Five-year OS was worse in patients with B-symptoms, stage IV disease, highrisk, splenic involvement, extra-nodal lymphoma, and elevated lactate dehydrogenase level.In multivariate analysis, B-symptoms and extra-nodal involvement were prognostic factors for poor OS. Late complications of endocrine disorders and secondary malignancy were observed in 17 and 6 patients, respectively. Conclusion This is the first study on the epidemiology and treatment outcomes of HL in children, adolescents, and young adults in Korea. Future prospective studies are indicated to develop therapies that minimize treatment toxicity while maximizing cure rates in children, adolescents, and young adults with HL.

BACKGROUND: This study investigated characteristics according to demographic, occupational factors of Maslach Burnout Inventory-General Survey (MBI-GS) and related scales to MBI-GS. METHODS: The subjects of the study were 3,331 workers in 3 different workplaces of one electronics company. They filled in demographic factors surveys, occupational factors surveys, MBI-GS, Korean Occupational Stress Scale-Short Form (KOSS-SF), Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9), and World Health Organization Quality Of Life-Abbreviated version (WHOQOL-BREF). The correlations between sub-scales of MBI-GS and KOSS-SF, PHQ-9, WHOQOL-BREF were analyzed respectively. And KOSS-SF, PHQ-9, and WHOQOL-BREF were categorized; mean scores of sub-scales of MBI-GS were compared; and the quartiles of sub-scales of MBI-GS were presented. RESULTS: A comparison of mean scores of MBI-GS according to demographic and occupational factors showed a significant difference according to age, problem drinking behavior, working time, and working duration in exhaustion regardless of sex. In professional efficacy, a significant difference was observed in age, marital status, working type, and working duration. And as a result of correlation analysis, the correlation coefficient between exhaustion and PHQ-9 was the highest regardless of sex. In addition, regardless of sex, exhaustion and cynicism scores tended to increase and professional efficacy score tended to decrease as the work stress level rose. Same tendency is shown in case of the more severe the symptom of depression and the lower quality of life. When the quartile for sub-scales' score of MBI-GS were investigated, the burnout was more pronounced in female than in male. CONCLUSIONS: Many demographic and occupational factors affect burnout were identified in one electronics company, and we investigated which sub-scales of MBI-GS were affected. Through this study, burnout characteristics were identified in a few population group of Korea, and the results are expected to be useful for burnout risk group identification, counseling, etc.
Counseling ; Demography ; Depression ; Drinking Behavior ; Female ; Humans ; Korea ; Male ; Marital Status ; Population Groups ; Quality of Life ; Social Identification ; Weights and Measures ; World Health Organization

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: This study examined the expressions of p16 and the programmed cell death 1 ligand (PD-L1) in patients with oropharyngeal cancer (OPC) treated with radiotherapy (RT) to identify the correlation between p16 and PD-L1 expression, and to examine the prognostic significance of these markers for OPC patients receiving RT.SUBJECTS AND METHOD: Forty-eight OPC patients diagnosed and treated at a tertiary referral hospital were enrolled in this retrospective analysis. Patients were initially treated with RT or chemoradiotherapy (CRT) with curative intent and completed the planned schedule. Expression of p16 and PD-L1 by primary tumors was evaluated by immunohistochemistry, and results were interpreted separately and dichotomized according to outcome analyses. RESULTS: Of the 48 patients, 25 (52.1%) expressed p16 and 15 (31.3%) expressed PD-L1. Expression of these markers showed a mutual positive correlation (p=0.046). Positive PD-L1 expression was associated with poor complete remission (CR) rates after RT (p=0.040). Positive p16 expression was associated with better recurrence-free survival (RFS) (p=0.004) but not overall survival (OS) (p=0.192). PD-L1 expression showed no independent association with survival (p>0.05); however, PD-L1 expression tended toward poorer RFS, even in p16-positive individuals. CONCLUSION There was a positive correlation between the expression of p16 and PD-L1 in OPCs. PD-L1 expression was associated with poorer CR rates after RT or CRT. PD-L1 alone did not show an association with RFS or OS, but when combined with p16, it tended toward poorer RFS, even in p16-positive cases.