The survival between Western and Eastern studies differs markedly except the early stage. Whereas the 5-year survival rates for patients with stage II and III a gastric carcinoma in the United States are around 30% and 15%, respectively, the rates are 45% and 30% in Germany and 75% and 60% in Japan and Korea. Loco-regional failures are common even after radical resection. Gastric carcinoma is as sensitive as other types of adenocarcinoma to radiation. Preoperative radiation was proven to be effective in reducing the tumor bulk and lymph node metastasis. There are substantial data to show that adequate radiation dose with combined chemotherapy is effective in management of local failure and improvement of survival. But there is no well designed randomized study to evaluate the adjuvant treatment for patients after optimal radical operation. In summary, 1) radical operation has improved the cure rate of stomach cancer, 2) local failure is still one of the common failure patterns, 3) abdominal radiation can be delivered safely in the modern era, and 4) study of pattern of failure on patients after radical surgery is necessary before designing clinical trial to evaluate the efficacy of adjuvant radiation/chemotherapy.
Adenocarcinoma ; Drug Therapy ; Germany ; Humans ; Japan ; Korea ; Lymph Nodes ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Stomach Neoplasms* ; Survival Rate ; United States

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study is to find taxi drivers' smoking behavior, self-efficacy and expectation level of success in smoking cessation. It will provide useful information for developing nursing interventions in health promotion programs. METHOD: The subjects of this study were 271 taxi drivers in Seoul and its metropolitan area. Data were collected using a self-reported questionnaire asking smoking history, smoking behaviors, health problem, stages of change for smoking cessation, self-efficacy and the expectation level of success in smoking cessation. Data were analyzed through descriptive statistics. Pearson's correlation, Mann-Whitney U test, Kruskal-Wallis test and Cronbach's a. RESULTS: Of the taxi drivers, 83.8% were current smokers. Stages of change were as follows: 45.8% were in the precontemplation stage, 26.2% in the contemplation stage, 13.7% in the maintenance stage, 12.2% in the preparation stage and 1.5% in the action stage. In addition. 20.3% of the subjects reported health problems such as hypertension, heart disease, diabetes mellitus and respiratory disease. The expectation level of success in smoking cessation was positively related with self-efficacy. There were statistically significant differences in the expectation level of success in smoking cessation according to the number of cigarettes per day and nicotine dependency. In addition. there were statistically significant differences in self-efficacy according to the number of cigarettes per day, duration of smoking (years) and nicotine dependency. CONCLUSION: The results of this study suggest that taxi drivers' health problems and smoking rate were serious. Therefore more systematic health promotion programs for smoking cessation should be developed and executed by health care specialists at individual taxi companies.
Delivery of Health Care ; Diabetes Mellitus ; Health Behavior ; Health Promotion ; Heart Diseases ; Hypertension ; Nicotine ; Nursing ; Seoul ; Smoke* ; Smoking Cessation* ; Smoking* ; Specialization ; Tobacco Products ; Surveys and Questionnaires

Magnetic resonance (MR) is rapidly emerging technique that provides high quality images and potentially provides much more diagnostic information than do conventional imaging modalities. MRI is conceptually quite different from currently used imaging methods. The complex nature of MRI allows a great deal of flexibility in image production and available information, and key points are as follows. 1. MR offers a non-invasive technique with which to generate in vivo human images without ionizing radiation and with no known adverse biological effects. 2. Imaging mechanism of MRI is quite different from conventional imaging modality and for more accurate diagnostic application, It is necessary for physician to understand imaging mechanism of MRI 3. M.R. makes available basic chemical parameters that may provide to be useful for diagnostic medical imaging and more specific pathophysiologic information which are not available by alternate techniques. 4. M.R. can be produced by number of different methods. This flexibility allows the imaging technique to be applicated for particular clinical purpose. Multiplanar and three dimensional imaging may extend the imaging process beyond the single section available with current CT. 5. Future directions include efforts to; a. Further development of hard ware b. More fastening scan time c. Respiratory and cardiac gated imaging d. Imaging of additional nuclei except hydrogen. e. Further development of contrast media f. MR in vivo spectroscopy g. Real time MR imaging
Comprehension* ; Contrast Media ; Diagnostic Imaging ; Humans ; Hydrogen ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Pliability ; Radiation, Ionizing ; Spectrum Analysis

Computerized Tomography is now well established and important noninvasive method of diagnosting mediastinal mass lesions because of its superior imaging of their size, location and internal composition. Authors analyzed and present CT findings of 30 surgically proven mediastinal tumors and cysts that were studied and treated at the Yeungnam University Hospital during recent 6 years. The most common tumor was thymoma (9 cases), and teratoma (6 cases), lymphoma (6 cases), bronchogenic cyst (4 cases), neurogenic tumor (4 cases), pericardial cyst (1 case) were next in order of frequency. There were 5 cases of thymoma showing homogenous solid density mass, 2 cases were malignant thymoma and myasthenia gravis was present in 2 cases. A case of thymolipoma and a case of thymic carcinoma were included. All teratomas were cystic masses but pathognomonic fat, and calcified density were seen only in 4 cases. 5 cases were located in anterior mediastinum and 1 case was in posterior mediastinum. Lymphoma (3 Hodgkin's and 3 non-Hodgkin's) appeared as irregular lobulated mass in anterior mediastinum. Neurogenic tumor (2 ganglioneuroma and 2 neurilemmoma) appeared as homogenous density mass located in posterior mediastinum. Among the 4 bronchogenic cysts, 2 were located in retrotracheal area, 1 was located in subcarinal and 1 was in parathoracic area. One case of pericardial cyst was oval shaped cystic mass located in left pericardiac border.
Bronchogenic Cyst ; Ganglioneuroma ; Lymphoma ; Mediastinal Cyst ; Mediastinum ; Methods ; Myasthenia Gravis ; Teratoma ; Thymoma

The goal of therapy in patients with traumatic carotid-cavernous fistulas is to occlude the fistula preferably while maintaining the carotid blood flow. Since the introduction of the concepts of detachable balloon technique to occlude arteriovenous fistulas, the technique has become the treatment of choice in the management of traumatic carotid-cavernous fistulas. The major symptoms of traumatic CCFs are (1) pulsating exophthalmos, (2) orbital and cephalic bruit and murmur, (3) headache, (4) chemosis, (5) extraocular palsies, and (6) visual failure. Traumatic CCFs are combined with multiple associated lesion. We tried the occlusion of fistulas using Goldvalve balloons in 8 consecutive cases of traumatic CCF and the result of our experience is reported. Transarterial approach with manually-tied latex balloons is tried in all cases and the fistulas was successfully occluded in all cases. In 5 cases, the internal carotid artery was preserved and the arterial lumen was occluded along with fistula opening in cases. In one case, surgical ligation was done because of symptoms recurred and incomplete occlusion of fistula. We experienced hemiparesis as a major complication in one case during occlusion tolerance test, which was remitted spontaneously. The results of Debrun balloon treatment were relatively excellent. We consider that the first choice of treatment of traumatic CCF is occlusion of the fistula by a detachable balloons.
Arteriovenous Fistula ; Carotid Artery, Internal ; Exophthalmos ; Fistula* ; Headache ; Humans ; Latex ; Ligation ; Orbit ; Paralysis ; Paresis

Brain metastases are a common cause of disability and death in patients with cancer, but their management remains a major clinical problem. They can, however, be effectively controlled by radiation therapy, possible modalities being external radiotherapy, brachytherapy(implantation), stereotactic radiosurgery(SRS), or a combination of the above modalities. It can be expected that the neurologic status of patients thus treated will remain stable or improve for most of the period during which they survive; using whole brain radiotherapy, the possible palliation index is 75-80%. Despite treatment, however, as many as 1/3 to 2/3 of patients are expected to die from complications related to the progression of brain metastases. With regard to survival, randomized trials involving dose escalation have not yet shown any advantage over the conventional dose; the same palliation index of 75-80% is expected for 40Gy/20 fractions, 30Gy/10 fractions, and 20Gy/5 fractions. It is clear, however, that a smaller daily dose of radiation(the conventional dose is 200cGy/fraction) will reduce the incidence of radiation induced dementia and improve the quality of life in long term survivors. In certain conditions such as solitary brain metastasis without extracranial disease and good performance status(KPS>or=70), a more aggressive approach, including surgical resection and stereotactic radiosurgery can be considered.
Brachytherapy ; Brain* ; Dementia ; Humans ; Incidence ; Neoplasm Metastasis* ; Quality of Life ; Radiosurgery ; Radiotherapy ; Survivors

Congenital origin intestinal obstruction are important disease due to required emergency operation. So accurate and rapid diagnosis needed for decreased mortality and morbidity. Radiologic must defect to accurate obstruction site and also associated other congenital anomalies. And also embryological basis are very important role to the diagnosis of these diseases. We were analyzed radiologically and clinically 25 cases with congenital origin intestinal obstruction with review of literature. 1. Hypertrophic pyloric stenosis 6 cases, midgut malrotation 4 cases, congenital megacolon 8 cases, imperforated anus 5 cases, ileal atresia 1 case and duodenal atresia 1 case. 2. Male and female radio was 16:9. Especially on hypertrophic pyloric stenosis, 5 cases were male infants. 3. All cases of hypertrophic pyloric stenosis represented string sign and also pyloric beak sign, shoulder sign on UGI. 4. 1 case duodenal atresia showed double bubble sign on simple abdomen x-ray and ileal atresia showed mechanical small bowel obstruction sign with microcolon. 5. On midgut malrotaton, cecum was located in right upper abdomen on 4 cases. And 2 cases were associated with Ladd's band, 1 case with volvulus and 1 case with mesenteric defect. 6. Involved site of all congenital megacolon were localized to rectosigmoid colon. 7. On 5 cases imperforated anus, 3 cases were low type and 2 case high type. Rectoperitoneal and rectourogenital fistula were demonstrated on 4 cases.
Abdomen ; Anal Canal ; Animals ; Beak ; Cecum ; Colon ; Diagnosis ; Emergencies ; Female ; Fistula ; Hirschsprung Disease ; Humans ; Infant ; Infant, Newborn* ; Intestinal Obstruction* ; Intestinal Volvulus ; Male ; Mortality ; Pyloric Stenosis, Hypertrophic ; Shoulder

No abstract available.
Compliance* ; Rehabilitation*

BACKGROUND: An epidemiologic study was performed after the outbreak of carbapenem-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii (CRAB) in the medical intensive care unit (MICU) from December 2006 to May 2007. METHODS: A retrospective case-control study was performed using the medical records of the patients. The case and control patients were compared for age, gender, total length of stay in MICU, prior carbapenem use, Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation II (APACH II) score, presence of central line, effect of mechanical ventilation, and sputum suction. Environmental and hand-washing studies were performed during the outbreak. RESULTS: Ten CRAB-affected patients and 29 controls were enrolled in this study. Univariate analysis showed that the age, total length of stay in MICU, presence of central line, and prior carbapenem use were associated with the CRAB outbreak. However, multivariate analysis showed that only prior carbapenem use was associated with the CRAB outbreak (odd ratio: 8.67, P=0.01). The outbreak disappeared after implementing a combined infection control strategy, including the sequential disinfection of MICU and strict compliance with cross-transmission prevention protocols. CONCLUSION: The use of carbapenem was associated with an increased risk of CRAB infection. This study suggests that the MICU contamination and infection transmission by health-care workers played a major role in the CRAB outbreak. Novel strategies such as restricted use of broad-spectrum antibiotics, strict hand hygiene, strict isolation of the patients, and MICU disinfection may be required to prevent the CRAB outbreak.
Acinetobacter ; Acinetobacter baumannii ; Anti-Bacterial Agents ; APACHE ; Case-Control Studies ; Compliance ; Disease Transmission, Infectious ; Disinfection ; Epidemiologic Studies ; Hand Hygiene ; Humans ; Infection Control ; Critical Care ; Intensive Care Units ; Length of Stay ; Medical Records ; Multivariate Analysis ; Respiration, Artificial ; Retrospective Studies ; Risk Factors ; Sputum ; Suction

The abdominal tumors in children are different from those of adult. These tumors are the third most common one, preceded by leukemia and brain tumors, in children under 15 years. X-ray examination is the most important method among diagnostic approaches. The role of diagnostic imaging is to identify the precise anatomic location and extent of pathologic process with the minimal number of imaging procedures. 23 cases of abdominal tumors were reviewed in respect of age incidence, site of origin, radiologic findings. The results are briefly summarized as follows: 1. Neuroblastoma was the most common (6 cases) and wilm's tumor (5 cases), choledocal cyst (4 cases), ovarian mass (3 cases), hydronephrosis (2 cases), were descending order in frequency. 2. The most common site was retroperitoneum (60%) Kidney was the single most common site of origin. 3. Radiologic findings. The most common findings of plain radiography was ill defined soft tissue mass and this method was helpful in the presence of calcification especially in neuroblastoma. Ultrasonographic pattern was anechoic (cystic), echoic or mixed pattern, but this method provide less precise anatomical details, nevertheless Ultrasonography was particularly useful imaging modality for the pediatric abdominal tumors. IVP findings were renal displacement, caliceopelvic system distortion or nonvisualization of kidney, these information was helpful in determining the location of tumors. CT scan showed homogenous or inhomogeneous, cystic or solid, mass with their anatomic location. 4. Ultrasonography was the most widely used specific diagnostic method, but had limited value in detecting the anatomic location of tumors. CT scan was superior to ultrasound for determining the extent of tumors.
Adult ; Brain Neoplasms ; Child ; Diagnostic Imaging ; Humans ; Hydronephrosis ; Incidence ; Kidney ; Leukemia ; Methods ; Neuroblastoma ; Radiography ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed ; Ultrasonography ; Wilms Tumor