PURPOSE: The purpose of the present study was to analyze and evaluate prior studies published in Korea on the cardiovascular disease-related quality of life, in order to make recommendations for further research. METHODS: A total of 15 studies were selected from four databases(Digital library of Research Information Center for Health, Korea Medical Database, MedRic, and National Assembly Library). The selected studies were analyzed according to criteria, such as diagnosis/operation, used instrument, generic/specific instrument, dimension of quality of life, translation/ back-translation, sample size, reliability, validity, responsiveness, number of items, type of scale, time required, and independent variables. RESULTS: Of the 15 cardiovascular disease-related quality of life studies, approximately half of them were conducted with hypertension or ischemic heart disease patients. All studies asserted that the concept of quality of life had multidimensional attributes. With respect to the questionnaire used for measuring the quality of life, only one study used a cardiovascular disease specific- instrument and most studies did not consider whether or not the validity of their instrument had been established. In addition, when using questionnaires developed in other languages, only one study employed a translation/ back-translation technique. The types of variables tested for their influence on quality of life were quite limited. CONCLUSION: It is recommended to develop a reliability and validity established cardiovascular disease specific- quality of life for Korean patients and to identify associated new variables.
Cardiovascular Diseases ; Humans ; Hypertension ; Information Centers ; Korea* ; Myocardial Ischemia ; Quality of Life* ; Reproducibility of Results ; Sample Size ; Surveys and Questionnaires

In general, the long head of the biceps brachii originates from the superior glenoid labrum and the supraglenoid tubercle, crosses the rotator cuff interval, and extends into the bicipital groove. However, rare anatomic variations of the origins of the long head have been reported in the past. In this report, we review the clinical history, radiologic findings, and arthroscopic identifications of 3 anatomic variants of the biceps tendon long head. As the detection of long head of biceps tendon pathology during preoperative radiologic assessment can be difficult without prior knowledge, surgeons should be aware of such possible anatomic variations.
Anatomic Variation ; Head* ; Pathology ; Rotator Cuff ; Shoulder ; Tendons

No abstract available.
Teratoma*

Fertility preservation (FP) is an effort to retain the fertility of cancer patients, and as an emerging discipline, it plays a central role in cancer care. Because of improvement in diagnostic and therapeutic strategies, an increasingly large number of patients are surviving with cancer. FP specialists should make an effort to spread the significance of FP among reproductive women with cancer and provide appropriate education both for associated physicians and for cancer patients who wish to preserve their fertility. Physicians who take part in the initial diagnosis and management of cancer should consider the importance of early referral of young cancer patients to FP specialists and take care of those patients by providing timely information and appropriate counseling. Individualized treatment strategies should be delivered depending on the patient's situation with appropriate team approach.
Counseling ; Female ; Fertility ; Fertility Preservation ; Humans ; Referral and Consultation ; Specialization

In general, the long head of the biceps brachii originates from the superior glenoid labrum and the supraglenoid tubercle, crosses the rotator cuff interval, and extends into the bicipital groove. However, rare anatomic variations of the origins of the long head have been reported in the past. In this report, we review the clinical history, radiologic findings, and arthroscopic identifications of 3 anatomic variants of the biceps tendon long head. As the detection of long head of biceps tendon pathology during preoperative radiologic assessment can be difficult without prior knowledge, surgeons should be aware of such possible anatomic variations.
Anatomic Variation ; Head ; Pathology ; Rotator Cuff ; Shoulder ; Tendons

Mucin-hypersecreting bile duct tumors, which closely resemble intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasms of the pancreas, are rare, and both the clinical features and management thereof are poorly understood. As the biliary tract and the pancreas share a common origin, the two diseases may exhibit homologous histopathological features. Certain intraductal papillary tumors of the bile duct are associated with production of large amounts of mucin that disturb bile flow and cause severe biliary dilatation, obstructive jaundice, and cholangitis. Herein, we report on a patient with an extensive intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasm of the bile duct, involving both the right and left intrahepatic ducts. The ducts were subjected to photodynamic therapy, followed by left hepatectomy. The surgical specimen revealed an adenocarcinoma with a negative resection margin. Photodynamic therapy of the intrahepatic ducts was well-tolerated in the present case, and may serve as a useful therapeutic option for selected patients with intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasms of the bile duct.
Adenocarcinoma ; Bile ; Bile Duct Neoplasms ; Bile Ducts* ; Biliary Tract ; Cholangitis ; Dilatation ; Hepatectomy* ; Humans ; Jaundice, Obstructive ; Mucins* ; Pancreas ; Photochemotherapy*

PURPOSE: Pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors (PNET) are a rare subgroup of tumors. For PNETs, the predictive factors for survival and prognosis are not well known. The purpose of our study was to evaluate the predictive factors for survival and disease progression in PNETs. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed 37 patients who were diagnosed with PNET at Severance Hospital between November 2005 and March 2010. Prognostic factors for survival and disease progression were evaluated using the Kaplan-Meier method. RESULTS: The mean age of the patients was 50.0+/-15.0 years. Eight cases (21.6%) were described as functioning tumors and 29 cases (78.4%) as non-functioning tumors. In univariate analysis of clinical factors, patients with liver metastasis (p=0.002), without resection of primary tumors (p=0.002), or American Joint Committee on Cancer/Union for International Cancer Control (AJCC/UICC) stage III/IV (p=0.002) were more likely to demonstrate shorter overall survival (OS). Patients with bile duct or pancreatic duct invasion (p=0.031), sized-lesions larger than 20 mm (p=0.036), liver metastasis (p=0.020), distant metastasis (p=0.005), lymph node metastasis (p=0.009) or without resection of primary tumors (p=0.020) were more likely to demonstrate shorter progression-free survival (PFS). In multivariate analysis of clinical factors, bile duct or pancreatic duct invasion [p=0.010, hazard ratio (HR)=95.046] and tumor location (non-head of pancreas) (p=0.036, HR=7.381) were confirmed as independent factors for predicting shorter PFS. CONCLUSION: Patients with liver metastasis or without resection of primary tumors were more likely to demonstrate shorter OS. Patients with bile duct or pancreatic duct invasion or tumors located at body or tail of pancreas were more likely to demonstrate shorter PFS.
Bile Ducts ; Disease Progression ; Disease-Free Survival ; Humans ; Joints ; Liver ; Lymph Nodes ; Methods ; Multivariate Analysis ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Neuroectodermal Tumors, Primitive ; Neuroendocrine Tumors* ; Pancreas ; Pancreatic Ducts ; Prognosis ; Retrospective Studies ; Tail

PURPOSE: Cholecystectomy in patients with an intact gallbladder after endoscopic removal of stones from the common bile duct (CBD) remains controversial. We conducted a case-control study to determine the risk of recurrent CBD stones and the benefit of cholecystectomy for prevention of recurrence after endoscopic removal of stones from the CBD in Korean patients. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 317 patients who underwent endoscopic CBD stone extraction between 2006 and 2012 were included. Possible risk factors for the recurrence of CBD stones including previous cholecystectomy history, bile duct diameter, stone size, number of stones, stone composition, and the presence of a periampullary diverticulum were analyzed. RESULTS: The mean duration of follow-up after CBD stone extraction was 25.4+/-22.0 months. A CBD diameter of 15 mm or larger [odds ratio (OR), 1.930; 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.098 to 3.391; p=0.022] and the presence of a periampullary diverticulum (OR, 1.859; 95% CI, 1.014 to 3.408; p=0.045) were independent predictive factors for CBD stone recurrence. Seventeen patients (26.6%) in the recurrence group underwent elective cholecystectomy soon after endoscopic extraction of CBD stones, compared to 88 (34.8%) in the non-recurrence group; the difference was not statistically significant (p=0.212). CONCLUSION: A CBD diameter of 15 mm or larger and the presence of a periampullary diverticulum were found to be potential predictive factors for recurrence after endoscopic extraction of CBD stones. Elective cholecystectomy after clearance of CBD stones did not reduce the incidence of recurrent CBD stones in Korean patients.
Adult ; Aged ; Bile Duct Diseases/*diagnosis/epidemiology/surgery ; Case-Control Studies ; Cholangiopancreatography, Endoscopic Retrograde ; Cholecystectomy/*methods ; Common Bile Duct/*pathology/radiography ; Elective Surgical Procedures ; Female ; Gallstones/epidemiology/*surgery ; Humans ; Incidence ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Recurrence ; Republic of Korea/epidemiology ; Risk Factors ; *Sphincterotomy, Endoscopic

Eosinophilic fasciitis (EF) is a relatively rare disorder characterized by eosinophilia of the peripheral blood and inflammation of fascia and skin. The etiology of EF is unknown but it can precede or occur concomitantly with hematologic disorders including malignancy. EF can rarely occur after bone marrow transplantation and is a feature of chronic graft-versus-host disease (cGVHD). We report a 49-year-old man who developed EF as the first manifestation of cGVHD after allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (AlloHSCT).
Bone Marrow Transplantation ; Eosinophilia ; Eosinophils ; Fascia ; Fasciitis ; Graft vs Host Disease ; Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation ; Humans ; Inflammation ; Middle Aged ; Skin

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Among borderline resectable pancreatic cancer (BRPC), group B BRPC patients have findings that are suggestive but not diagnostic of metastasis. In this study, we attempted to validate whether group B could truly be categorized as a borderline resectable group. METHODS: We placed the BRPC patients into group A or group B. The survival outcomes were compared between the groups. RESULTS: A total of 53 patients with pancreatic adenocarcinoma was classified as either group A or B borderline resectable. In group A, 23 (60.5%) of 38 patients underwent pancreatectomy after concurrent chemoradiotherapy or chemotherapy, but in group B, only five (33.3%) of 15 patients underwent pancreatectomy, mainly because of the progression of suspected distant metastasis. There was a significant difference in overall survival (OS) between group A and B patients (median OS, 21.2 months vs 10.2 months, respectively; p=0.007). Of the patients who underwent pancreatectomy, group B had a higher recurrence rate compared to group A (recurrence rate: 11 of 23 patients [47.8%] vs five of five patients [100%], respectively; p=0.033). CONCLUSIONS: This report is the first to validate the definition of BPRC. Group B had much worse outcomes, and whether group B BRPC can be categorized as BRPC together with group A is questionable.
Adenocarcinoma/classification/mortality/pathology/surgery ; Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Chemoradiotherapy ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Neoplasm Recurrence, Local ; Pancreatectomy ; Pancreatic Neoplasms/*classification/mortality/pathology/*surgery ; Retrospective Studies ; Treatment Outcome