OBJECTIVES: This study investigated the reliability and validity of the Korean Self-Compassion Scale in a sample of 405 adult women in a community. METHODS: We examined the sample using the Korean version of the Self-Compassion Scale (K-SCS), the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), SCL-90-R, and the Psychological Well-Being Scale (PWBS) and conducted a confirmatory factor analysis and correlation analysis. RESULTS: Confirmatory factor analysis results showed that a six-factor model, consisting of Self-Kindness, Self-Judgment. Common Humanity, Isolation, Mindfulness, and Over-identified, fit better than a three-factor model did. The validity analysis results indicated that self-compassion was significantly correlated with positive mental health outcomes, such as less depression and anxiety and greater psychological well-being. CONCLUSION: These findings suggest that the Korean version of the Self-Compassion Scale is a reliable and valid scale for measuring self-compassion. We also discuss the implications of this study and directions for future study.
Adult ; Anxiety ; Depression ; Female ; Humans ; Mental Health ; Reproducibility of Results

BACKGROUND: Open surgical repair of abdominal aortic aneurysms was initiated by Dubost in 1952. Despite the rapid expansion of percutaneous endovascular repair, open surgical repair is still recognized for curative intent. We retrospectively analyzed surgical outcome, complications, and mortality-related factors for patients with abdominal aortic aneurysms over a 6 year period. MATERIAL AND METHOD: We analyzed 18 patients who underwent surgery for abdominal aortic aneurysms between March 2002 and March 2008. The indications for surgery were rupture, a maximal aortic diameter >60 mm, medically intractable hypertension, or pain. RESULT: The mean age was 66.6+/-9.3 years (range, 49~81 years). Twelve patients (66.7%) were males and 6 patients were females. Extension of the aneurysm superior to the renal artery existed in 6 patients (33.3%), and extension to the iliac artery existed in 13 patients (72.2%). Five patients (27.8%) had ruptured aortic aneurysms. The mean maximal diameter of the aorta was 72.2+/-12.9 mm (range, 58~109 mm). Surgery was performed by a midline laparotomy, and 6 patients underwent emergency surgery. The mean total ischemic time from aorta clamping to revascularization was 82+/-42 minutes (range, 35~180 minutes). The mortality rate was 16.7%; the mortality rate for patients with ruptured aneurysms was 60%, and the mortality rate for patients with unruptured aneurysms was 0%. The postoperative complications included one each of renal failure, femoral artery and vein occlusion, and wound infection. The patients who were discharged had a long-term survival of 34+/-26 months (range, 4~90 months). Rupture and emergency surgery had a statistically significant mortality-related factor (p<0.05). CONCLUSION: Emergency surgery for ruptured aortic aneurysms continues to have a high mortality, but unruptured cases are repaired with relative safety. Successfully operated patients had long-term survival. Even though endovascular aortic repair is the trend for abdominal aortic aneurysms, aggressive application should be determined with care. Experience and systemic support of each center is important in the treatment plan
Aneurysm ; Aneurysm, Ruptured ; Aorta ; Aorta, Abdominal ; Aortic Aneurysm, Abdominal ; Aortic Rupture ; Constriction ; Emergencies ; Female ; Femoral Artery ; Humans ; Hypertension ; Iliac Artery ; Laparotomy ; Male ; Postoperative Complications ; Renal Artery ; Renal Insufficiency ; Retrospective Studies ; Rupture ; Veins ; Wound Infection

Pyrazinamide (PZA) is an anti-tuberculosis drug and an essential component of the standard four-drug regimen for tuberculosis. Here, we report a case of immediate angioedema secondary to PZA administration intended for pulmonary tuberculosis treatment. A previously healthy 48-year-old woman was diagnosed with pulmonary tuberculosis and tuberculous lymphadenitis. Thirty minutes after taking the first dose of isoniazid, rifampicin, pyrazinamide, and ethambutol, the patient developed facial edema, generalized rash, and dizziness. An oral provocation test was performed on the four drugs, and 1,000 mg pyrazinamide showed a positive result characterized by 50 minutes of urticaria, angioedema, and hypotension. As the prevalence of tuberculosis increases, prescriptions for anti-tuberculosis drugs may increase as well. Clinicians should be aware of the possibility of immediate hypersensitivity as well as delayed hypersensitivity to anti-tuberculosis drugs.
Angioedema* ; Dizziness ; Drug Hypersensitivity ; Edema ; Ethambutol ; Exanthema ; Female ; Humans ; Hypersensitivity, Delayed ; Hypersensitivity, Immediate ; Hypotension ; Isoniazid ; Middle Aged ; Prescriptions ; Prevalence ; Pyrazinamide ; Rifampin ; Tuberculosis ; Tuberculosis, Lymph Node ; Tuberculosis, Pulmonary ; Urticaria*

Background/Aims: The first autologous peripheral blood stem cell transplantation (ASCT) in Korea was performed for a small-cell lung cancer patient at Asan Medical Center (AMC) in 1993. Recently, lymphoma and myeloma have been the main indications; there has been progress in the treatments for these lymphoid malignancies. We explored the real-world experience of ASCT for lymphoma and myeloma at AMC over a 25-year period. Methods: We used the AMC ASCT registry, which has collected ASCT data prospectively since January 1993. Data for Hodgkin lymphoma, non-Hodgkin lymphoma, and multiple myeloma patients were analyzed. Patients transplanted up to December 2018 were included to assess adequate survival data. The ASCT time period was divided arbitrarily into 1994-1999, 2000-2009, and 2010-2018. In cases of multiple myeloma, we analyzed the 1st ASCT data only. Results: Survival of these lymphoid malignancy patients after ASCT has progressively improved. The increase in survival may be related to advances in various medical skills supporting ASCT. However, overall survival has improved much more than progression-free survival. This suggests that better salvage therapies after ASCT failure have mainly affected the improvement in overall survival. The hematopoietic cell transplantation-specific comorbidity index could not be used as a survival indicator in this analysis. Conclusions This real-world experience study showed that the survival of lymphoid malignancy patients treated with ASCT has improved over the past 25 years.

Background/Aims: The incidence of multiple myeloma (MM) in Korea is rapidly increasing. The diagnostic criteria of MM have been updated and novel therapeutic agents are available. This study explored the features of MM patients registered at Asan Medical Center (AMC) and the outcomes over the past 15 years. Methods: Data were obtained from the AMC MM registry, which has been collecting the data of MM patients prospectively. The 774 MM patients included in our analysis were diagnosed from 2003, when thalidomide became available as a novel therapeutic agent, until April 2019. The 2-year survival rate of these patients was assessed. Patients were divided into two groups based on whether they were older or younger than 65 years, which is the cutoff age for the indication of autologous stem cell transplantation. Patients were also grouped according to the year of diagnosis: up to 2006, when bortezomib became available, and up to 2010, when the cost of lenalidomide was reimbursed. Results: Patients < 65 years of age had better prognostic features, including a better performance, less advanced disease stage, and fewer abnormalities in their fluorescent in-situ hybridization (FISH) analysis results. A comparison of our Korean patients with patients registered in the Myeloma Related Disorder Registry data of Australia and New Zealand, showed ethnic discrepancies. The median overall survival of all patients was 3.7 years, with a 5-year survival rate of 41.8% and a 10-year survival rate of 23.4%. Survival progressively improved in patients diagnosed later. Age, performance status, renal function, C-reactive protein level, lactate dehydrogenase level, and cytogenetic findings were identified as significant prognostic factors. Conclusions This real-world survey revealed the clinical features and survival rates of patients at a tertiary Korean Hospital who were diagnosed with MM at the beginning of 21st century.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: To determine the changes in body weight and bone mineral density in patients with ankylosing spondylitis (AS) receiving anti-tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) treatment. METHODS: Thirty-one patients with AS (25 males and 6 females) who fulfilled the Modified New York Criteria for AS were included in this retrospective study. All patients had active disease that eventually required anti-TNF-alpha treatment. Each patient received anti-TNF-alpha treatment (etanercept 25 mg twice weekly or adalimumab 40 mg twice monthly) for more than 2 years. Body weight, disease activity as Bath ankylosing spondylitis disease activity index (BASDAI), C-reactive protein, erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), lumbar bone mineral density (LBMD), and femoral bone mineral density (FBMD) were measured at baseline and at 1 and 2 years after initiating anti-TNF-alpha treatment. RESULTS: There was a significant increase in mean body weight at 1 year (1.1 +/- 3.8 kg) and at 2 years (1.7 +/- 4.8 kg) compared with baseline. The gains in mean BMD of the lumbar spine were significant at 1 year (0.4 +/- 0.4) and 2 years (0.5 +/- 0.7) compared with baseline. Mean BMD of the femur was also increased at 1 year (0.08 +/- 0.7) and 2 years (0.1 +/- 0.8) compared with baseline, but these differences were not statistically significant. There were significant decreases in BASDAI at 1 year (-3.3 +/- 2.8) and at 2 years (-3.6 +/- 2.8) compared with baseline. CONCLUSIONS: This study showed significant increases in body weight, lumbar BMD, and BASDAI at 1 year and 2 years in patients with ankylosing spondylitis after receiving anti-TNF-alpha treatment.
Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized ; Baths ; Blood Sedimentation ; Body Weight* ; Bone Density* ; C-Reactive Protein ; Cachexia ; Femur ; Humans ; Male ; Necrosis* ; Retrospective Studies ; Spine ; Spondylitis ; Spondylitis, Ankylosing* ; Adalimumab

BACKGROUND/AIMS: To determine the changes in body weight and bone mineral density in patients with ankylosing spondylitis (AS) receiving anti-tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) treatment. METHODS: Thirty-one patients with AS (25 males and 6 females) who fulfilled the Modified New York Criteria for AS were included in this retrospective study. All patients had active disease that eventually required anti-TNF-alpha treatment. Each patient received anti-TNF-alpha treatment (etanercept 25 mg twice weekly or adalimumab 40 mg twice monthly) for more than 2 years. Body weight, disease activity as Bath ankylosing spondylitis disease activity index (BASDAI), C-reactive protein, erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), lumbar bone mineral density (LBMD), and femoral bone mineral density (FBMD) were measured at baseline and at 1 and 2 years after initiating anti-TNF-alpha treatment. RESULTS: There was a significant increase in mean body weight at 1 year (1.1 +/- 3.8 kg) and at 2 years (1.7 +/- 4.8 kg) compared with baseline. The gains in mean BMD of the lumbar spine were significant at 1 year (0.4 +/- 0.4) and 2 years (0.5 +/- 0.7) compared with baseline. Mean BMD of the femur was also increased at 1 year (0.08 +/- 0.7) and 2 years (0.1 +/- 0.8) compared with baseline, but these differences were not statistically significant. There were significant decreases in BASDAI at 1 year (-3.3 +/- 2.8) and at 2 years (-3.6 +/- 2.8) compared with baseline. CONCLUSIONS: This study showed significant increases in body weight, lumbar BMD, and BASDAI at 1 year and 2 years in patients with ankylosing spondylitis after receiving anti-TNF-alpha treatment.
Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized ; Baths ; Blood Sedimentation ; Body Weight* ; Bone Density* ; C-Reactive Protein ; Cachexia ; Femur ; Humans ; Male ; Necrosis* ; Retrospective Studies ; Spine ; Spondylitis ; Spondylitis, Ankylosing* ; Adalimumab

Here we report a case of a 76-year-old man with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) with simultaneous involvement of the right breast and left testicle. The patient underwent complete resection of the involved testis, followed by immunochemotherapy with rituximab, cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, vincristine, and prednisolone (R-CHOP) and prophylactic radiotherapy to the contralateral testis. Following this multimodal therapy, he achieved a complete response. This is a rare case of DLBCL involving both the breast and the testis in a male patient.
Aged ; Breast* ; Cyclophosphamide ; Doxorubicin ; Humans ; Lymphoma, B-Cell* ; Male ; Prednisolone ; Radiotherapy ; Testis* ; Vincristine

BACKGROUND: Abbreviated chemotherapy followed by radiotherapy or full cycles of chemotherapy is recommended as a standard treatment for limited-stage (LS) diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL). After complete resection of tumors, however, Burkitt and childhood B-cell Non-Hodgkin lymphoma show favorable outcomes, even after abbreviated chemotherapy of only 2 or 3 cycles. We investigated the effectiveness of abbreviated chemotherapy in patients with LS DLBCL after complete tumor resection. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed 18 patients with LS DLBCL who underwent complete tumor resection followed by either 3 or 4 cycles of chemotherapy between March 2002 and May 2010. RESULTS: With a median follow-up period of 57.9 months (range, 31.8-130.2 months), no patients experienced disease relapse or progression; however, 1 patient experienced secondary acute myeloid leukemia during follow-up. The 5-year progression-free survival rate and overall survival rate were 93.3% and 94.1%, respectively. CONCLUSION: These results warrant further investigation into abbreviated chemotherapy as an alternative treatment for patients who have undergone complete resection of LS DLBCL.
B-Lymphocytes ; Disease-Free Survival ; Drug Therapy* ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute ; Lymphoma, B-Cell* ; Lymphoma, Non-Hodgkin ; Radiotherapy ; Recurrence ; Retrospective Studies ; Survival Rate

The buccal fat pad is specialized fat tissue located anterior to the masseter muscle and deep to the buccinator muscle. Possessing a central body and four processes it provides separation allowing gliding motion between muscles, protects the neurovascular bundles from injuries, and maintains facial convexity. Because of its many advantageous functions, the use of the buccal fat pad during oral and maxillofacial procedures is promoted for the reconstruction of defects secondary to tumor resection, and those defects resulting from oroantral fistula caused by dento-alveolar surgery or trauma. We used the pedicled buccal fat pad in the reconstruction of intraoral defects such as oroantral fistula, maxillary posterior bone loss, or defects resulting from tumor resection. Epithelization of the fat tissue began 1 week after the surgery and demonstrated stable healing without complications over a long-term period. Thus, we highly recommend the use of this procedure.
Adipose Tissue ; Masseter Muscle ; Muscles ; Oral Surgical Procedures ; Oroantral Fistula