PURPOSE: Cancer patients are at a higher risk of being unemployed or facing difficulty in returning to work (RTW) than individuals without health concerns. The aim of this study is to identify and describe interventions developed specifically to assist cancer patients to RTW after treatment. METHODS: A comprehensive search was conducted from September to October 2018 in different international databases: PubMed, Medline, and Embase. Studies using qualitative, quantitative, or mixed designs were included if they satisfied the following criteria: (a) described an intervention to assist cancer patients to RTW during or after treatment; (b) conducted on patients aged 18 and over and diagnosed with cancer; (c) written in English; (d) published in peer-reviewed journals. RESULTS: Fourteen studies met the inclusion criteria. Counseling with physical activity intervention, behavioral training to reduce fatigue, and multi-disciplinary rehabilitation programs were found to be effective. CONCLUSION: Interventions adopting a multidisciplinary approach were effective for RTW in cancer patients. This literature review emphasizes the need for more tailored interventions based on survivors' needs and characteristics in the RTW field.
Counseling ; Fatigue ; Humans ; Motor Activity ; Rehabilitation ; Return to Work ; Survivors

PURPOSE: Cancer patients are at a higher risk of being unemployed or facing difficulty in returning to work (RTW) than individuals without health concerns. The aim of this study is to identify and describe interventions developed specifically to assist cancer patients to RTW after treatment. METHODS: A comprehensive search was conducted from September to October 2018 in different international databases: PubMed, Medline, and Embase. Studies using qualitative, quantitative, or mixed designs were included if they satisfied the following criteria: (a) described an intervention to assist cancer patients to RTW during or after treatment; (b) conducted on patients aged 18 and over and diagnosed with cancer; (c) written in English; (d) published in peer-reviewed journals. RESULTS: Fourteen studies met the inclusion criteria. Counseling with physical activity intervention, behavioral training to reduce fatigue, and multi-disciplinary rehabilitation programs were found to be effective. CONCLUSION Interventions adopting a multidisciplinary approach were effective for RTW in cancer patients. This literature review emphasizes the need for more tailored interventions based on survivors' needs and characteristics in the RTW field.

PURPOSE: Granulocyte colony stimulating factor (G-CSF) has been known to increase neutrophil production and have anti-inflammatory properties, but the effect of G-CSF on pulmonary system is in controversy. We investigated whether G-CSF treatment could attenuate hyperoxia-induced lung injury, and whether this protective effect is mediated by the down-modulation of inflammatory responses in a neonatal rat model. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Newborn Sprague-Dawley rats (Orient Co., Seoul, Korea) were subjected to 14 days of hyperoxia (90% oxygen) beginning within 10 h after birth. G-CSF (20 microg/kg) was administered intraperitoneally on the fourth, fifth, and sixth postnatal days. RESULTS: This treatment significantly improved hyperoxia-induced reduction in body weight gain and lung pathology such as increased mean linear intercept, mean alveolar volume, terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated deoxyuridine triphosphate nick end labeling positive cells. Hyperoxia-induced activation of nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate oxidase, which is responsible for superoxide anion production, as evidenced by upregulation and membrane translocation of p67phox was significantly attenuated after G-CSF treatment, as were inflammatory responses such as increased myeloperoxidase activity and mRNA expression of transforming growth factor-beta. However, the attenuation of other proinflammatory cytokines such as tumor necrosis factor-alpha and interleukin-6 was not significant. CONCLUSION: In sum, G-CSF treatment significantly attenuated hyperoxia-induced lung injury by down-modulating the inflammatory responses in neonatal rats.
Animals ; Animals, Newborn ; Blotting, Western ; Female ; Granulocyte Colony-Stimulating Factor/*therapeutic use ; Hyperoxia/*complications ; In Situ Nick-End Labeling ; Interleukin-6/genetics ; Lung/*drug effects/*metabolism ; Lung Injury/*drug therapy/etiology/genetics/metabolism ; NADPH Oxidase/metabolism ; Peroxidase/metabolism ; Pregnancy ; Random Allocation ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Transforming Growth Factor beta/genetics ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha/genetics ; Weight Gain/drug effects

PURPOSE: This study was conducted to determine the incidence, causative pathogens, risk factors and mortality for early onset sepsis in the first three days in very low birth weight infants. METHODS: The medical records of 1,124 very low birth weight infants admitted to the neonatal intensive care unit of Samsung Medical Center between November 1994 and December 2008 were retrospectively reviewed. The incidence, causative pathogens, risk factors, and mortality for early onset sepsis in the first 3 days of life in very low birth weight infants were evaluated. RESULTS: Early onset sepsis, as confirmed by positive blood cultures, was present in 17 of 1,124 infants (1.5%). Sixty-four percent of the isolated pathogens were gram-positive bacteria and 35% of the isolated pathogens were gram-negative bacteria. The dominant pathogens of early onset sepsis included Staphylococcus aureus (23.5%), Esherichia coli (23.5%), and Enterococcus (17.6%). Vaginal delivery (adjusted odds ratio [OR], 3.7; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.3-10.3; P=0.01) was associated with early onset sepsis. The overall mortality (adjusted hazard ratio, 3.0; 95% CI, 1.4-6.5; adjusted P=0.0039) and mortality within 72 hours of life (adjusted hazard ratio, 6.5; 95% CI, 2.2-18.9; adjusted P=0.0005) of infants with early onset sepsis were higher than that of uninfected infants. CONCLUSION: Early onset sepsis remains an uncommon, but potentially lethal problem among very low birth weight infants. Knowledge of the likely causative organisms and risk factors for early onset sepsis can aid in instituting prompt and appropriate therapy, in order to minimize mortality.
Enterococcus ; Gram-Negative Bacteria ; Gram-Positive Bacteria ; Humans ; Incidence ; Infant ; Infant, Newborn ; Infant, Very Low Birth Weight ; Intensive Care, Neonatal ; Medical Records ; Odds Ratio ; Retrospective Studies ; Risk Factors ; Sepsis ; Staphylococcus aureus

BACKGROUND: Cancer is the second cause of childhood death following accident, and leukemia is the most frequent childhood cancer in Korea. For the desirable control of childhood leukemia, of which the mortality is still high, the basic data for the incidence has a great importance. This is the second report from the data during 1991~1995 following the first one that analyzed the data from 328 cases of childhood leukemia during 1981~1990 in the same area, Pusan city, Korea. METHODS: The data were obtained from 138 new cases(84 males and 54 females from 0 to 15 years old) of childhood leukemia who had been living in the city of Pusan and were admitted to the 4 university hospitals and 11 general hospitals from 1991 to 1995. The cases were confirmed by CBC and bone marrow examination. RESULTS: The crude annual incidence rate per 100,000 population varied 1.50~5.30, 2.59~6.00 and 1.58~2.61 in the age group of 0~4 years, 5~9 years and 10~14 years, respectively. The standardized annual incidence rate per 100,000 population varied from 2.05 to 3.46(male 2.96~4.89, female 0.98~3.57). Sex ratio(male to female) was 1.58:1, 1.44:1, and 1.82:1 in total cases, ALL and AML, respectively, while incalculable in CML. By the major types of childhood leukemia, the cases were composed of 105 ALL (76.1%), 31 AML(22.5%), 2 CML(1.4%). CONCLUSION: It was concluded that the annual incidence rate of childhood leukemia per 100,000 population in Pusan city during 1991~1995 was similar to that of previous report during 1981~1990, while the proportion of ALL had tendency to increase up to that of United States, in contrast to the low proportions of ALL in the previous reports.
Bone Marrow Examination ; Busan* ; Female ; Hospitals, General ; Hospitals, University ; Humans ; Incidence* ; Korea* ; Leukemia* ; Male ; Mortality ; United States

PURPOSE: With improved survival of extremely low birth weight infants (ELBWI), there is an increase in the incidence of necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) requiring laparotomy, and the risk of morbidity and mortality in these ELBWI is increased. Thus, we determined the prognostic factors in ELBWI who underwent laparotomy for NEC. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of 35 ELBWI who underwent laparotomy for NEC from January 2001 to December 2008 at Samsung Medical Center. RESULTS: Of 480 ELBWI, 35 required laparotomy for NEC; the mortality rate was 20% (Alive group n=28, Dead group n=7). The values of preoperative score for neonatal acute physiology-II (P=0.022) and fraction of inspired oxygen (P<0.001) were significantly higher in the dead group and values of base excess (P=0.004) were significantly lower in the dead group. Values of preoperative heart rate, respiration rate, mean blood pressure, pH, CO2, and potassium ion were not significantly different between the study groups. Intraoperative fluid volume was significantly higher in the alive group than in the dead group (P=0.045). Postoperative infusion rate was significantly lower in the alive group than in the dead group (P=0.022). CONCLUSION: Good preoperative condition, more intraoperative fluid infusion, and stable postoperative hemodynamic condition were factors associated with favorable prognosis of laparotomy for NEC in ELBWI.
Blood Pressure ; Enterocolitis, Necrotizing ; Heart Rate ; Hemodynamics ; Humans ; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration ; Incidence ; Infant ; Infant, Low Birth Weight ; Infant, Newborn ; Laparotomy ; Medical Records ; Oxygen ; Potassium ; Prognosis ; Respiratory Rate ; Retrospective Studies

Urinary angiotensinogen (AGT) is potentially a specific biomarker for the status of the intrarenal renin-angiotensin system (RAS) in patients with diabetes mellitus. We explored whether changes in urinary AGT excretion levels were associated with the deterioration of kidney function in type 2 diabetes patients with preserved kidney function. Urinary baseline AGT levels were measured in 118 type 2 diabetic patients who were not taking RAS blockers and who had estimated glomerular filtration rates (eGFRs) ≥ 60 mL/min/1.73 m². A total of 91 patients were followed-up for 52 months. Changes in urinary levels of AGT (ΔAGT) were calculated by subtracting urinary AGT/creatinine (Cr) at baseline from urinary AGT/Cr after 1 year. ΔAGT was significantly inversely correlated with annual eGFR change (β = −0.29, P = 0.006; β = −0.37, P = 0.001 after adjusting for clinical factors). RAS blockers were prescribed in 36.3% of patients (n = 33) during follow-up. The ΔAGT values were lower in the RAS blockers users than in the non-RAS blockers users, but the differences were not statistically significant (7.37 ± 75.88 vs. 22.55 ± 57.45 μg/g Cr, P = 0.081). The ΔAGT values remained significantly correlated with the annual rate of eGFR change (β = −0.41, P = 0.001) in the patients who did not use RAS blockers, but no such correlation was evident in the patients who did. ΔAGT is inversely correlated with annual changes in eGFR in type 2 diabetes patients with preserved kidney function, particularly in RAS blocker-naïve patients.
Angiotensinogen* ; Diabetes Mellitus ; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2* ; Diabetic Nephropathies ; Follow-Up Studies ; Glomerular Filtration Rate ; Humans ; Kidney* ; Renin-Angiotensin System

BACKGROUND: BRAF V600E mutation status and prevalence of non-invasive follicular thyroid neoplasm with papillary-like nuclear features (NIFTP) has not yet been reported in Korea. The aim of this study was to investigate the significance of the BRAF V600E mutation in the follicular variant of papillary thyroid carcinoma (FVPTC) and to determine the prevalence of NIFTP in BRAF V600E mutation-prevalent Korean patients. METHODS: This study retrospectively analyzed 1,417 consecutive patients who underwent total thyroidectomy with routine prophylactic central lymph node dissection for papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC). BRAF V600E mutation analysis was performed routinely using multiplex polymerase chain reaction by applying dual priming oligonucleotide. Clinicopathological characteristics and ultrasonographic findings were compared between BRAF V600E mutation-positive and -negative groups for FVPTC. Pathologists reviewed the pathology slides according to consensus diagnostic criteria for the encapsulated FVPTC and NIFTP. RESULTS: The prevalence of the BRAF V600E mutation in all subtypes of PTC was 61.0% (861/1,411). FVPTC presented a BRAF V600E mutation rate of 27.3%. The FVPTC patients with BRAF V600E mutation were older than those with no BRAF V600E mutation (P = 0.021). The prevalence of NIFTP was 0.18% among all PTC patients (2/1,411) and the proportion of NIFTP among FVPTC was 9.1% (2/22). CONCLUSION: The BRAF V600E mutation is prevalent in Korean patients with FVPTC in a region with high frequency of the BRAF V600E mutation and very low prevalence of NIFTP compared with that reported in western studies.
Carcinoma, Papillary ; Consensus ; Humans ; Korea ; Lymph Node Excision ; Multiplex Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Mutation Rate ; Pathology ; Prevalence* ; Retrospective Studies ; Thyroid Gland* ; Thyroid Neoplasms* ; Thyroidectomy

BACKGROUND: Although clinicians, nurse specialists, pharmacists, and nutritionists expend significant time and resources in optimizing care for patients with diabetes, the effectiveness of integrated diabetes care team approach remains unclear. We assessed the effects of a multidisciplinary team care educational intervention on glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) levels among diabetes patients. METHODS: We conducted a matched case-control study in Korean patients with type 2 diabetes, comparing the propensity scores pertaining to the effectiveness in reducing HbA1c levels between a group receiving an educational intervention and a control group. We included 40 pairs of patients hospitalized between June 2014 and September 2016. HbA1c values measured at baseline, 3 months, and 6 months were compared between the two groups. RESULTS: The educated group showed an improvement in HbA1c levels compared to the control group at 3 months (6.3 ± 2.3% vs. 9.5 ± 4.0%; P = 0.020) and at 6 months (7.5 ± 1.5% vs. 9.6 ± 3.0%; P = 0.106). There was a significant difference in the change in mean HbA1c from baseline to 3 months between the two groups (−35.7 ± 26.1% vs. −9.1 ± 20.5%; P = 0.013). CONCLUSION: A multidisciplinary team care education intervention was advantageous for improving glucose control in patients with type 2 diabetes, and may help to optimize glycemic control in clinical practice.
Case-Control Studies ; Diabetes Mellitus ; Education* ; Glucose ; Health Education ; Hemoglobin A, Glycosylated ; Humans ; Nurse Clinicians ; Nutritionists ; Pharmacists ; Propensity Score ; Specialization

The aim of this study was to observe the effects of prophylactic palivizumab on hospitalization secondary to respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) infection (RSVhospitalization) in former very low birth weight infants (VLBWI) with bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD). This study also sought to identify the risk factors of RSVhospitalizationin this particular infant population. A prospective observational study was conducted between September 2007 and April 2008 in seven Korean hospitals. Children with a history of very low birth weight, a diagnosis of BPD and who were <2 yr old at the onset of the RSV season were included in this study. Palivizumab injections were administered monthly for a maximum of five months during the RSV season. RSVhospitalization rates were reviewed, and RSVhospitalization rates between subgroups were categorized by gestational age, birth weight, and duration of ventilator care. A total of 90 subjects completed the follow-up interviews. The mean gestational age at birth was 26.1+/-1.7 weeks, and the mean birth weight was 889.4+/-222.2 g. The incidence of RSVhospitalization in the study population was 8.9% (8/90), and the mean hospital stay was 11.0+/-5.5 days, including one death. There were no statistically significant differences in the patients' demographic characteristics or risk factors for RSV hospitalization. When subgroup analyses were conducted, there were still no statistically significant differences. The administration of palivizumab prophylaxis during the entire RSV season is important in VLBWI with BPD, regardless of their gestational age and birth weight, or previous ventilator dependency.
Antibiotic Prophylaxis/*methods ; Antiviral Agents/*therapeutic use ; Birth Weight ; Bronchopulmonary Dysplasia/*complications ; Female ; Gestational Age ; Hospitalization/statistics & numerical data ; Humans ; Infant ; Infant, Newborn ; Infant, Premature ; *Infant, Very Low Birth Weight ; Length of Stay ; Male ; Palivizumab/*therapeutic use ; Prospective Studies ; Respiratory Syncytial Virus Infections/drug therapy/*epidemiology/prevention & control ; Respiratory Syncytial Viruses/drug effects ; Risk ; Risk Factors