Korean women doctors have expanded their activities globally in various fields within the international community. This study conducted face-to-face interviews or e-mail surveys of representatives among internationally active women doctors with experience in working with the Medical Women's International Association and the World Health Organization. Conveying the activities of these senior women doctors will be valuable to the younger generation of doctors who are interested in international health and who aspire to become potential leaders in the international health care scene in the future.
Delivery of Health Care ; Electronic Mail ; Female ; Humans ; Korea ; World Health Organization

OBJECTIVES: Cognitive complaints are reported frequently after breast cancer treatments. The causes of cognitive decline are multifactorial, a result of the effect of cancer itself, chemotherapy, and psychological factors such as depression and anxiety. However, cognitive decline does not always correlate with neuropsychological test performance. The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship of subjective cognitive decline with objective measurement and to explore associated factors of cognitive function in breast cancer survivors. METHODS: We included 29 breast cancer survivors who complain cognitive decline at least 6 months after treatment and 20 age-matched healthy controls. Neuropsychological tests were performed in all participants. Multivariable regression analysis evaluated associations between neuropsychological test scores and psychological distress including depression and anxiety, also considering age, education, and comorbidity. RESULTS: There were no statistically significant differences in neuropsychological test performances. However, the breast cancer survivors showed a significantly higher depression(p=0.002) and anxiety(p < 0.001) than the healthy controls did. Among the cancer survivors, poorer executive function was strongly associated with higher depression(β=−0.336, p=0.001) and anxiety(β=−0.273, p=0.009), after controlling for age, education, and comorbidity. In addition, poorer attention was also significantly related with depression(β=−0.375, p=0.023) and anxiety (β=−0.404, p=0.013). CONCLUSIONS: The results of this study showed the discrepancies between subjective complaints and objective measures of cognitive function in breast cancer survivors. It suggests that subjective cognitive decline could be indicators of psychological distress such as depression and anxiety.
Anxiety ; Breast Neoplasms ; Breast ; Cognition ; Comorbidity ; Depression ; Drug Therapy ; Education ; Executive Function ; Humans ; Neuropsychological Tests ; Psychology ; Survivors

Korean women doctors have expanded their activities globally in various fields within the international community. This study conducted face-to-face interviews or e-mail surveys of representatives among internationally active women doctors with experience in working with the Medical Women's International Association and the World Health Organization. Conveying the activities of these senior women doctors will be valuable to the younger generation of doctors who are interested in international health and who aspire to become potential leaders in the international health care scene in the future.

PURPOSE: To report the clinical results after the implantation of intrastromal corneal ring segments (Intacs(R)) for the correction of keratoconus or keratectasia. METHODS: This retrospective study was comprised of 16 eyes treated by insertion of intrastromal corneal ring and 30 eyes treated by penetrating keratoplasty (PKP) who were diagnosed with keratoconus or keratectasia. Visual acuity, refractive outcome, keratometric values were evaluated before and at 3 months, 6 months, and 12 months postoperatively. In addition, the implanted ring segment depth was measured by anterior segment optical coherence tomography and the results were compared based on the depth of the ring. RESULTS: Twelve months after treatment, best corrected visual acuity (BCVA) was log MAR 0.32 at the ring group and log MAR 0.20 at the PKP group. BCVA change was larger at the PKP group than the ring group. Postoperative keratometric value was smaller at the ring group than at the PKP group. 3 mm irregular astigmatism was larger at the ring group than at the PKP group. The shallowly implanted ring group had a larger effect than the deeply implanted ring group. CONCLUSIONS: Intrastromal corneal ring segment implantation appears to be effective in improving the visual acuity and refractive outcome, although it cannot substitute for PKP.
Astigmatism ; Keratoconus* ; Keratoplasty, Penetrating ; Retrospective Studies ; Tomography, Optical Coherence ; Visual Acuity

Asbestos is widely used in the textile, asbestos cement, construction products, friction material, paper products, insulation products, chemical and plastic products because of its heat resistance, flexibility, tensile strength, and texturability. It is now generally recognized that longterm and excessive inhalation of asbestos dust causes asbestosis, lung cancer, malignant mesothelioma and malignancies in other organs such as cancer of gastrointestinal tract, leukemia, lymphoma. Although eighty thousand tons of asbestos has been annually consumed since 1979 in korea, it has not been reported asbestos and lung cancer by asbestos dust so far, while a case of mesothelioma was officially diagnosis as a occupational disease at 1993. We experienced firstly a case of asbestosis and lung cancer caused simultanously by occupational asbestos exposure 11 years, which was confirmed by chest x-ray, pulmonary function test, chest CT and HRCT, bronchoalveolar lavage, and gallium scan. And so We present a case of asbestosis, pleural effusion and lung cancer with a review literature.
Asbestos* ; Asbestosis* ; Bronchoalveolar Lavage ; Diagnosis ; Dust ; Friction ; Gallium ; Gastrointestinal Neoplasms ; Hot Temperature ; Inhalation ; Korea ; Leukemia ; Lung Neoplasms* ; Lung* ; Lymphoma ; Mesothelioma ; Occupational Diseases ; Plastics ; Pleural Effusion* ; Pliability ; Respiratory Function Tests ; Tensile Strength ; Textiles ; Thorax ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed

The aims of this study were to evaluate the clinicopathologic features of Helicobacter heilmannii-associated gastritis and to compare H. heilmannii-associated gastritis with H. pylori-associated gastritis. We reviewed 5,985 consecutive gastric biopsy specimens. All cases of chronic gastritis with Helicobacter infection were evaluated with the Updated Sydney System, and the grades of all gastritis variables were compared between H. heilmannii-associated gastritis and H. pylori-associated gastritis groups. There were 10 cases of H. heilmannii-associated gastritis (0.17%) and 3,285 cases of H. pylori-associated gastritis (54.9%). The organisms were superficially located within the mucous layer without adhesion to epithelial cells. Interestingly, in one case many intracytoplasmic H. heilmannii organisms were observed in parietal cells with cell damage. A case of low-grade mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue (MALT) lymphoma concomitant with H. heilmannii infection was detected. Compared to H. pylori-associated gastritis, H. heilmannii-associated gastritis showed less severe neutrophilic activity (p<0.0001), mononuclear cell infiltration (p=0.0029), and endoscopic findings of chronic gastritis devoid of erosion or ulcer (p=0.0309). In conclusion, we present the detailed clinicopathologic findings of H. heilmanniiassociated gastritis compared to H. pylori-associated gastritis. H. heilmannii-associated gastritis is uncommon and milder than H. pylori-associated gastritis, however it may be noteworthy with respect to the development of MALT lymphoma.
Stomach Neoplasms/etiology/pathology ; Middle Aged ; Male ; Lymphoma, Mucosa-Associated Lymphoid Tissue/etiology/pathology ; Humans ; *Helicobacter pylori ; *Helicobacter heilmannii ; Helicobacter Infections/*pathology ; Gastritis/*pathology ; Female ; Adult

PURPOSE: Recently, conjunctivochalasis repair surgery using electrocauterization has been gaining popularity. However, patients with electrocauterized conjunctivoplasty tend to complain of more postoperative pain than patients undergoing simple excision with suturing. Therefore, we investigated the effects of electrocauterization on inflammation of the conjunctiva using an experimental animal model and compared these with the effects of simple excision with suturing. METHODS: Ten New Zealand white rabbits underwent cauterization in the right eyes and excision and suturing in the left eyes. For each eye, we excised or electrocauterized the inferior bulbar conjunctiva, 1 mm in width and 6 mm in length, 2 mm from the limbus. A fine-needle electrode was inserted subconjunctivally, and electrocauterization was performed. In the contralateral eye, the corresponding area was excised and re-approximated with 10-0 nylon sutures. Sutures were removed after 14 days. Tissue samples were obtained at 21 days post-procedure, and inflammatory cells were counted in five randomly selected fields (x200) on hematoxylin-eosin stained slides. Tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha and interleukin (IL)-1beta concentrations in tears were measured using enzyme linked immunosorbent assays. RESULTS: All cauterized eyes demonstrated smooth surface healing without scarring after 5 days, whereas sutured eyes presented with mild edema with some scarring until the suture was removed. The number of inflammatory cells was significantly greater in sutured eyes compared with cauterized eyes (p = 0.035, Mann-Whitney U-test) at 21 days post-procedure. Tear TNF-alpha and IL-1beta concentrations at 21 days were similar in both groups. CONCLUSIONS: Electrocauterization for conjunctivoplasty seems to be advantageous in terms of inflammation compared with simple suturing and excision.
Animals ; Conjunctiva/pathology ; Conjunctivitis/*pathology/*surgery ; Disease Models, Animal ; Edema/pathology/prevention & control ; Electrocoagulation/*methods ; Humans ; Male ; Pain, Postoperative/pathology/*prevention & control ; Rabbits ; *Suture Techniques ; Treatment Outcome

The aim of this study was to evaluate surface characteristics and biological properties of the dentin-derived hydroxyapatite (HA) coating on titanium substrate. Dentin-derived HA was obtained from extracted human teeth using a calcination method at 850degrees C. The commercially pure titanium (cp-Ti, ASTM Grade II) was used as a metallic substrate and a radio frequency magnetron sputtering method was employed as a coating method. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and energy dispersive X-ray analysis (EDX) were utilized to investigate the coating aspects and composition. Atomic forced microscopy (AFM) and a surface profiler were used to assess the surface morphology and roughness. Corrosion tests were performed in phosphate-buffered saline at a 36.5 +/- 1degrees C in order to determine the corrosion behavior of the uncoated and coated specimens. The biocompatibility of dentin-derived HA coated specimens with fetal rat calvarial cells and human gingival fibroblasts was assessed by SEM and cell proliferation analysis. The results showed that the dentin-derived HA coatings appeared to cover thinly and homogeneously the surfaces without changing of the titanium substrate. The EDX analysis of this the coating surface indicated the presence of Ca and P elements. The mean surface roughness of cp-Ti and dentin-derived coating specimens was 0.27 microm and, 1.7 microm, respectively. Corrosion tests indicated a stable passive film of the dentin-derived HA coating specimens. SEM observations of fetal rat calvarial cells and human fibroblast cells on coated surfaces showed that the cells proliferated and developed a network of dense interconnections. The cells on all specimens proliferated actively within the culture period, showing good cell viability. At day 1 and 3, dentin-derived coating specimens showed 89% and 93% cell viability, respectively, when normalized to cp-Ti specimens. These results suggest that dentin-derived HA coating using the RF magnetron sputtering method has good surface characteristics and biocompatibility.
Animals ; Cell Proliferation ; Cell Survival ; Corrosion ; Durapatite ; Fibroblasts ; Humans ; Microscopy ; Microscopy, Electron, Scanning ; Rats ; Titanium ; Tooth

BACKGROUND: Recently, social concern about occupational stress and disputes, which are surrounded with judgements of work relatedness for various psychiatric sequels, is increasing. OBJECTIVE: We present a case of work-related illness judgement in which panic disorder and adjustment disorder with conversion symptoms were associated with work stress due to job reallocation. METHODS: We performed psychiatric assessment including mental status examination and neuropsychological test batteries. We also assessed job stress profiles using the Korean version of the Occupational Stress Inventory(K-OSI). RESULTS: The patient showed no specific psychological or physical problems and had previously demonstrated suitable coping skills. However, the patients case, who was sensitive to emotional stress, suffered chronic stress symptoms after a role change from a car mechanic to office manager which required continuous interaction with customers and a strong emotional burden. Panic attack and conversion symptoms were judged to be associated with disharmony between individual characteristics and environmental needs. CONCLUSION: It is noteworthy that this is the first reported case considered as a psychiatric illness related with psychological work stress. A further study will be attempted to assign standards of judgment for similar cases through systematic source collection and tool development.
Adaptation, Psychological ; Adjustment Disorders ; Dissent and Disputes ; Humans ; Judgment ; Neuropsychological Tests ; Panic Disorder ; Stress, Psychological

The enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS) program aims to maximize the recovery of patients by minimizing pre- and postoperative complications and stress. The program recommends providing preoperative carbohydrate (CHO) supplements and starting an early postoperative diet to reduce the fasting duration. Based on these recommendations, we implemented preoperative CHO supplementation and initiated an early postoperative diet in patients undergoing laparoscopic colorectal resection. We observed 3 patients as follows: a non-ERAS case, preoperative ERAS case, and pre- and postoperative ERAS case. The preoperative well-being and compliance of patients improved after implementation of the ERAS program. Moreover, the length of hospital stay was reduced. Therefore, we consider that the ERAS program may be helpful for the recovery of patients undergoing laparoscopic colorectal resection.
Colorectal Surgery ; Compliance ; Diet* ; Fasting ; Food Habits* ; Humans ; Length of Stay ; Postoperative Complications