PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to explore the direction for development of the Korean Journal of Adult Nursing toward becoming an international journal through analysing the accepted and rejected papers during the last three years (2007-2009). METHODS: Two hundred and ten accepted papers were analyzed focusing on research methodology and key words using descriptive statistics. In addition, rejected papers were reviewed to analyze their study designs and key words. RESULTS: The proportion of quantitative research was 86.4% while the proportion of qualitative research was 9.5%. The majority of the qualitative research design was survey (71.8%). Sixty percent of the research had verbal consent and 32.7% had written consent from the participants. The prevailing data collection settings were hospitals (52.1%), and community (22.7%). The most frequently used research domain was health. It was noted that theoretical framework was rarely presented. The paper rejection rate was 31.5% and among the rejected paper, 75.3% was survey. CONCLUSION: The results of this analysis suggest that published studies have been improved and diversified compared with the papers published before the year 2007. However, translation research, clinical trials by nurses, and more detailed evaluation process for ethics in research need to be facilitated.
Adult ; Data Collection ; Humans ; Nursing Research ; Qualitative Research ; Rejection (Psychology) ; Research Design

We report here on a case of diffuse sclerosing papillary carcinoma (DSPC), which is a subtype of papillary carcinoma of thyroid, in a 27-year-old female. The ultrasound images showed diffuse enlargement of the thyroid lobes and this was associated with underlying diffuse scattered microcalcifications and a heterogeneous hypoechoic background parenchyma that was without any masses. The CT image showeddiffuse scattered dot-like hyperdensities with bilateral multiple metastastic lymph nodes. Because making the cytological diagnosis of DSPC is still challenging, the radiological findings that show this disease's characteristic features may be important clues for making the correct diagnosis.
Adult ; Carcinoma, Papillary* ; Diagnosis ; Female ; Humans ; Lymph Nodes ; Thyroid Gland* ; Ultrasonography*

Objective: We aimed to determine the differences in stage at diagnosis of cervical cancer among Korean women according to screening history. Methods: Using linkage data from the Korean Central Cancer Registry and Korean National Cancer Screening Program (KNCSP), we included 18,388 women older than 30 years who were newly diagnosed with cervical cancer between 2013 and 2014 and examined their screening history. Between individuals, age group and socioeconomic status were matched to control for potential confounders. Results: Significantly more cases of carcinoma in situ (CIS) were diagnosed in the ever-screened (71.77%) group than in the never-screened group (54.78%), while localized, regional, distant, and unknown stage were more frequent in the never-screened group. Women in the ever-screened group were most likely to be diagnosed with CIS than with invasive cervical cancer (adjusted odds ratio [aOR]=2.40; 95% confidence interval [CI]=2.18–2.65). The aOR for being diagnosed with CIS was highest among women who were screened 3 times or more (aOR=5.10; 95% CI=4.03–6.45). The ORs were highest for women screened within 24 months of diagnosis and tended to decrease with an increasing time since last screening (p-trend <0.01). Conclusion The KNCSP for cervical cancer was found to be positively associated with diagnosis of cervical cancers at earlier stages among women aged 30 years or older. The benefit of screening according to time was highest for women screened within 24 months of diagnosis.

Appendiceal mucocele is a rare mucin-producing neoplasm of appendiceal origin. Due to its location and imaging findings, appendiceal mucocele is easily confused with tumors of the right adnexa. We present a rare case of a patient initially misdiagnosed with an ovarian tumor intraoperatively diagnosed as an appendiceal mucocele and successfully treated. A 66-year-old postmenopausal woman was admitted to the gynecology department for an asymptomatic pelvic mass. Preoperative pelvic imaging showed an 8-cm cystic mass. Exploratory laparoscopy for the suspected epithelial borderline tumor from the right ovary revealed a cystic mass in the right pelvic area and normal uterus, fallopian tubes, and ovaries. Intraoperative consultation with the general surgery department confirmed the appendiceal origin. Laparoscopic appendectomy was performed. Histopathological examination confirmed a low-grade mucinous neoplasm of appendiceal origin. The patient was discharged on a postoperative day 5 without complications. The outpatient follow-up performed 1 month later showed no evidence of disease progression. Despite the use of advanced diagnostic tools, appendiceal mucocele may be confused for ovarian malignancies. Because the clinical features of appendiceal mucocele are nonspecific, clinicians and radiologists know the specific imaging findings. A multidisciplinary approach including general surgery, gynecology, and radiology is required for preoperative diagnosis and treatment.