PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to identify the effects of pain management education on knowledge, concern, and attitude about pain management for cancer patients receiving chemotherapy in outpatient settings. METHODS: This study used a nonequivalent control group pre-post test design. Data collection was conducted from June to September 2012. The participants of this study were 56 patients (Experimental group; 28, Control group; 28) at one University Hospital in D city. The data were analysed with a SPSS/WIN program. RESULTS: There was a significant difference on knowledge about pain management (t=2.139, p=.037), but there were no difference on concern (t=-1.355, p=.181) and attitude (F=3.276, p=.076) about pain management between experimental group and control group. CONCLUSION: The pain management education had positive effects on knowledge about pain management for cancer patients receiving chemotherapy in outpatient settings. Therefore, to validate the effectiveness of pain management education, customized program and further research should be considered focusing on demographic and disease-specific characteristics.
Data Collection ; Evaluation Studies as Topic ; Humans ; Outpatients ; Pain Management

PURPOSE: Paraquat is a lethal herbicide and induces acute renal failure, hepatic dysfunction, and progressive respiratory failure. The aims of this study are to investigate the correlation between plasma paraquat concentrations and initial laboratory data at Emergency Medical Center and to investigate whether initial laboratory data is useful for predicting outcomes of paraquat-poisoned patients. METHODS: A retrospective analysis by chart review was done on 83 patients who ingested paraquat and who had presented to Emergency center of within 24 hours. Plasma paraquat concentrations, urine dithionite test and initial laboratory parameters including white blood cell count, urine pH, and AST, ALT, BUN, Creatinine, Amylase, Glucose, pH, PaCO2, PaO2, HCO3. Base Excess, Na, K, Cl were obtained at the time of Emergency Center visit. We compared urine dithionite test, plasma paraquat concentrations and Severity Index of Paraquat Pisoning (SSPI) of the survival group to those of the dead group. The patients were divided into four subgroups based on the level of plasma paraquat concentration, their initial laboratory data was compared and analyzed. RESULTS: The mean plasma paraquat concentration in the mortality group was higher than that in the survival group (88.44+/-81.56 vs. 1.32+/-1.72 microgram/mL). Among the initial laboratory data of four subgroups, WBC, Glucose, Cr, pH, HCO3, Bass excess were significantly different between the group of low level of plasma paraquat concentration and higher group. ANCOVA analysis revealed that WBC, HCO3, Bass excess correlated with the level of plasma paraquat concentration significantly. CONCLUSION: The plasma paraquat concentration and SIPP were higher in the mortality group significantly. Initial laboratory data including WBC, Glucose, Cr, pH, HCO3, Bass excess were proven to be significant prognostic factors. Especially WBC, HCO3, Bass excess can be used to predict the outcome of paraquat poisoning.
Acute Kidney Injury ; Amylases ; Bass ; Creatinine ; Dithionite ; Emergencies ; Glucose ; Humans ; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration ; Leukocyte Count ; Paraquat ; Plasma ; Prognosis ; Respiratory Insufficiency ; Retrospective Studies

OBJECTIVE: Ventriculoperitoneal (VP) shunt complication is a major obstacle in the management of hydrocephalus. To study the differences of VP shunt complications between children and adults, we analyzed shunt revision surgery performed at our hospital during the past 10 years. METHODS: Patients who had undergone shunt revision surgery from January 2001 to December 2010 were evaluated retrospectively by chart review about age distribution, etiology of hydrocephalus, and causes of revision. Patients were grouped into below and above 20 years old. RESULTS: Among 528 cases of VP shunt surgery performed in our hospital over 10 years, 146 (27.7%) were revision surgery. Infection and obstruction were the most common causes of revision. Fifty-one patients were operated on within 1 month after original VP shunt surgery. Thirty-six of 46 infection cases were operated before 6 months after the initial VP shunt. Incidence of shunt catheter fracture was higher in younger patients compared to older. Two of 8 fractured catheters in the younger group were due to calcification and degradation of shunt catheters with fibrous adhesion to surrounding tissue. CONCLUSION: The complications of VP shunts were different between children and adults. The incidence of shunt catheter fracture was higher in younger patients. Degradation of shunt catheter associated with surrounding tissue calcification could be one of the reasons of the difference in facture rates.
Adult ; Age Distribution ; Catheters ; Child ; Humans ; Hydrocephalus ; Incidence ; Retrospective Studies* ; Ventriculoperitoneal Shunt*

PURPOSE: Thoracic radiotherapy is a major treatment modality of stage III non-small cell lung cancer. The normal lung tissue is sensitive to radiation and radiation pneumonitis is the most important dose-limiting complication of thoracic radiation therapy. This study was performed to identify the clinical and dosimetric parameters related to the risk of radiation pneumonitis after definitive radiotherapy in stage III non-small cell cancer patients. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The medical records were reviewed for 49 patients who completed definitive radiation therapy for locally advanced non-small cell lung cancer from August 2000 to February 2010. Radiation therapy was delivered with the daily dose of 1.8 Gy to 2.0 Gy and the total radiation dose ranged from 50.0 Gy to 70.2 Gy (median, 61.2 Gy). Elective nodal irradiation was delivered at a dose of 45.0 Gy to 50.0 Gy. Seven patients (14.3%) were treated with radiation therapy alone and forty two patients (85.7%) were treated with chemotherapy either sequentially or concurrently. RESULTS: Twenty-five cases (51.0%) out of 49 cases experienced radiation pneumonitis. According to the radiation pneumonitis grade, 10 (20.4%) were grade 1, 9 (18.4%) were grade 2, 4 (8.2%) were grade 3, and 2 (4.1%) were grade 4. In the univariate analyses, no clinical factors including age, sex, performance status, smoking history, underlying lung disease, tumor location, total radiation dose and chemotherapy were associated with grade > or =2 radiation pneumonitis. In the subgroup analysis of the chemotherapy group, concurrent rather than sequential chemotherapy was significantly related to grade > or =2 radiation pneumonitis comparing sequential chemotherapy. In the univariate analysis with dosimetric factors, mean lung dose (MLD), V20, V30, V40, MLDipsi, V20ipsi, V30ipsi, and V40ipsi were associated with grade > or =2 radiation pneumonitis. In addition, multivariate analysis showed that MLD and V30 were independent predicting factors for grade > or =2 radiation pneumonitis. CONCLUSION: Concurrent chemotherapy, MLD and V30 were statistically significant predictors of grade > or =2 radiation pneumonitis in patients with stage III non-small cell lung cancer undergoing definitive radiotherapy. The cutoff values for MLD and V30 were 16 Gy and 18%, respectively.
Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung ; Humans ; Lung ; Lung Diseases ; Medical Records ; Multivariate Analysis ; Radiation Pneumonitis ; Smoke ; Smoking

PURPOSE: Three-dimensional conformal radiation therapy (3DCRT) and intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) were found to reduce the incidence of acute and late rectal toxicity compared with conventional radiation therapy (RT), although acute and late urinary toxicities were not reduced significantly. Acute urinary toxicity, even at a low-grade, not only has an impact on a patient's quality of life, but also can be used as a predictor for chronic urinary toxicity. With bladder filling, part of the bladder moves away from the radiation field, resulting in a small irradiated bladder volume; hence, urinary toxicity can be decreased. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the impact of bladder volume on acute urinary toxicity during RT in patients with prostate cancer. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Forty two patients diagnosed with prostate cancer were treated by 3DCRT and of these, 21 patients made up a control group treated without any instruction to control the bladder volume. The remaining 21 patients in the experimental group were treated with a full bladder after drinking 450 mL of water an hour before treatment. We measured the bladder volume by CT and ultrasound at simulation to validate the accuracy of ultrasound. During the treatment period, we measured bladder volume weekly by ultrasound, for the experimental group, to evaluate the variation of the bladder volume. RESULTS: A significant correlation between the bladder volume measured by CT and ultrasound was observed. The bladder volume in the experimental group varied with each patient despite drinking the same amount of water. Although weekly variations of the bladder volume were very high, larger initial CT volumes were associated with larger mean weekly bladder volumes. The mean bladder volume was 299+/-155 mL in the experimental group, as opposed to 187+/-155 mL in the control group. Patients in experimental group experienced less acute urinary toxicities than in control group, but the difference was not statistically significant. A trend of reduced toxicity was observed with the increase of CT bladder volume. In patients with bladder volumes greater than 150 mL at simulation, toxicity rates of all grades were significantly lower than in patients with bladder volume less than 150 mL. Also, patients with a mean bladder volume larger than 100 mL during treatment showed a slightly reduced Grade 1 urinary toxicity rate compared to patients with a mean bladder volume smaller than 100 mL. CONCLUSION: Despite the large variability in bladder volume during the treatment period, treating patients with a full bladder reduced acute urinary toxicities in patients with prostate cancer. We recommend that patients with prostate cancer undergo treatment with a full bladder.
Incidence

Background: The Controlling Nutritional Status (CONUT) score is an immunonutritional test tool based on serum albumin, total cholesterol, and lymphocyte counts. It has been studied as a simple prognostic predictor for various carcinomas. This study aimed to investigate the association between preoperative CONUT scores and the clinicopathological characteristics in papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) patients. Methods: This study included 2,403 PTC patients who underwent total thyroidectomy between 2012 and 2016 at a single tertiary medical center. The CONUT scores were calculated based on preoperative blood tests. The clinicopathological characteristics were retrospectively reviewed. The patients were categorized by the CONUT score (relatively low, 0–2; relatively high, 3–5). Results: Among the 2,997 PTC patients who underwent total thyroidectomy at Pusan National University Hospital between 2012 and 2016, those without preoperative blood test were excluded (n=149). Finally 2,403 patients were analyzed after excluding 439 patients taking lipid-lowering drugs and six patients without available T stage data after surgery. Based on the CONUT score, the relatively high score group had a lower body mass index (23.7±3.3 kg/m2 vs. 21.9±2.9 kg/m2, P<0.001), more advanced T stage (T stage 3/4, 5.9% vs. 11.4%, P=0.045), and higher extrathyroidal extension (2.1% vs. 7.6%, P=0.005). Conclusion Patients included in this large, single-center study all had a preoperative CONUT score of 0–5, but this study demonstrated that higher preoperative CONUT scores were significantly associated with advanced T stage and extrathyroidal extension. The CONUT score, which can be easily used in clinical practice, is thought to be helpful in predicting the aggressiveness of PTC.

Background: The Controlling Nutritional Status (CONUT) score is an immunonutritional test tool based on serum albumin, total cholesterol, and lymphocyte counts. It has been studied as a simple prognostic predictor for various carcinomas. This study aimed to investigate the association between preoperative CONUT scores and the clinicopathological characteristics in papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) patients. Methods: This study included 2,403 PTC patients who underwent total thyroidectomy between 2012 and 2016 at a single tertiary medical center. The CONUT scores were calculated based on preoperative blood tests. The clinicopathological characteristics were retrospectively reviewed. The patients were categorized by the CONUT score (relatively low, 0–2; relatively high, 3–5). Results: Among the 2,997 PTC patients who underwent total thyroidectomy at Pusan National University Hospital between 2012 and 2016, those without preoperative blood test were excluded (n=149). Finally 2,403 patients were analyzed after excluding 439 patients taking lipid-lowering drugs and six patients without available T stage data after surgery. Based on the CONUT score, the relatively high score group had a lower body mass index (23.7±3.3 kg/m2 vs. 21.9±2.9 kg/m2, P<0.001), more advanced T stage (T stage 3/4, 5.9% vs. 11.4%, P=0.045), and higher extrathyroidal extension (2.1% vs. 7.6%, P=0.005). Conclusion Patients included in this large, single-center study all had a preoperative CONUT score of 0–5, but this study demonstrated that higher preoperative CONUT scores were significantly associated with advanced T stage and extrathyroidal extension. The CONUT score, which can be easily used in clinical practice, is thought to be helpful in predicting the aggressiveness of PTC.

Background: The Controlling Nutritional Status (CONUT) score is an immunonutritional test tool based on serum albumin, total cholesterol, and lymphocyte counts. It has been studied as a simple prognostic predictor for various carcinomas. This study aimed to investigate the association between preoperative CONUT scores and the clinicopathological characteristics in papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) patients. Methods: This study included 2,403 PTC patients who underwent total thyroidectomy between 2012 and 2016 at a single tertiary medical center. The CONUT scores were calculated based on preoperative blood tests. The clinicopathological characteristics were retrospectively reviewed. The patients were categorized by the CONUT score (relatively low, 0–2; relatively high, 3–5). Results: Among the 2,997 PTC patients who underwent total thyroidectomy at Pusan National University Hospital between 2012 and 2016, those without preoperative blood test were excluded (n=149). Finally 2,403 patients were analyzed after excluding 439 patients taking lipid-lowering drugs and six patients without available T stage data after surgery. Based on the CONUT score, the relatively high score group had a lower body mass index (23.7±3.3 kg/m2 vs. 21.9±2.9 kg/m2, P<0.001), more advanced T stage (T stage 3/4, 5.9% vs. 11.4%, P=0.045), and higher extrathyroidal extension (2.1% vs. 7.6%, P=0.005). Conclusion Patients included in this large, single-center study all had a preoperative CONUT score of 0–5, but this study demonstrated that higher preoperative CONUT scores were significantly associated with advanced T stage and extrathyroidal extension. The CONUT score, which can be easily used in clinical practice, is thought to be helpful in predicting the aggressiveness of PTC.

Background: The Controlling Nutritional Status (CONUT) score is an immunonutritional test tool based on serum albumin, total cholesterol, and lymphocyte counts. It has been studied as a simple prognostic predictor for various carcinomas. This study aimed to investigate the association between preoperative CONUT scores and the clinicopathological characteristics in papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) patients. Methods: This study included 2,403 PTC patients who underwent total thyroidectomy between 2012 and 2016 at a single tertiary medical center. The CONUT scores were calculated based on preoperative blood tests. The clinicopathological characteristics were retrospectively reviewed. The patients were categorized by the CONUT score (relatively low, 0–2; relatively high, 3–5). Results: Among the 2,997 PTC patients who underwent total thyroidectomy at Pusan National University Hospital between 2012 and 2016, those without preoperative blood test were excluded (n=149). Finally 2,403 patients were analyzed after excluding 439 patients taking lipid-lowering drugs and six patients without available T stage data after surgery. Based on the CONUT score, the relatively high score group had a lower body mass index (23.7±3.3 kg/m2 vs. 21.9±2.9 kg/m2, P<0.001), more advanced T stage (T stage 3/4, 5.9% vs. 11.4%, P=0.045), and higher extrathyroidal extension (2.1% vs. 7.6%, P=0.005). Conclusion Patients included in this large, single-center study all had a preoperative CONUT score of 0–5, but this study demonstrated that higher preoperative CONUT scores were significantly associated with advanced T stage and extrathyroidal extension. The CONUT score, which can be easily used in clinical practice, is thought to be helpful in predicting the aggressiveness of PTC.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study is to identify risk factors for transient lymphedema (TLE) and persistent lymphedema (PLE) following treatment for breast cancer. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 1,073 patients who underwent curative breast surgery were analyzed. TLE was defined as one episode of arm swelling that had resolved spontaneously by the next follow-up; arm swelling that persisted over two consecutive examinations was considered PLE. RESULTS: At a median follow-up period of 5.1 years, 370 cases of lymphedema were reported, including 120 TLE (11.2%) and 250 PLE (23.3%). Initial grade 1 swelling was observed in 351 patients, of which 120 were limited to TLE (34%), while the other 231 progressed to PLE (66%). All initial swelling observed in TLE patients was classified as grade 1. In multivariate analysis, chemotherapy with taxane and supraclavicular radiation therapy (SCRT) were associated with development of TLE, whereas SCRT, stage III cancer and chemotherapy with taxane were identified as risk factors for PLE (p < 0.05). The estimated incidence of TLE among initial grade 1 patients was calculated using up to three treatment-related risk factors (number of dissected axillary lymph nodes, SCRT, and taxane chemotherapy). The approximate ratios of TLE and PLE based on the number of risk factors were 7:1 (no factor), 1:1 (one factor), 1:2 (two factors), and 1:3 (three factors). CONCLUSION: One-third of initial swelling events were transient, whereas the other two-thirds of patients experienced PLE. Estimation of TLE and PLE based on known treatment factors could facilitate prediction of this life-long complication.
Arm ; Breast Neoplasms* ; Breast* ; Combined Modality Therapy* ; Drug Therapy ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Incidence ; Lymph Nodes ; Lymphedema* ; Multivariate Analysis ; Risk Factors*