Germ cell tumors(GCT) are not infrequently encounted tumor in pediartic age group. In order to study the clinical behaviors of the disease, we reviewed 29 cases of GCT diagnosed and treated at Kosin Medical Center in the period of 7 years form Jan. 1984 to Dec. 1991 and the results are summarized as follows: 1) The age distribution is the highest between 10 and 15 years(45%) and girls have 1.9 times higher frequency than that of boys. 2) The most frequent primary site of GCT was ovary(15). The next common primary site was testis(5), pineal body(4), sacrococcygeal region(2), retroperitoneum(1), soft palate(1), anterior mediastinum(1) in descending order of frequency. 3) In the pathological analysis of tumors, the most frequent type was mature teratoma(12). The next common type was endodermal sinus tumor(6), immature teratoma(5), dysgerminoma(3), mixed type(2), and choriocarcinoma(1)in descending order of frequency. 4) All the 5 cases of EST have elevated serum levels of alpha-fetoprotein. Two of the three dysgerminoma, one of the two mixed type tumors both of which have germinoma components, and one choriocarcinoma have elevated serum levels of beta-HCG above the age related physiological levels. 5) Among 17 cases of malignant GCT, 9 cases have metastatic areas such as regional lymph nodes, scrotum, pleura, retroperitoneum, omentum and lumbar spine. 6) All except on case of immature teratoma in the anterior mediastinum underwent surgery. Chemotherapy was given to 12 of 17 malignant GCT and radiotherapy was given to 4 of 17 malignant GCT. 7) Among the 4 expired cases within 12 months of follow up, three were originated from pineal body, which had been underwent simple V-P shunt or incomplete resection, and one case was metastatic immature teratoma of anterior mediastinum to the pleura which had not been undergone surgery. Finally, in review of literature and or cases, the survival of properly managed GCT except some of those difficult surgical access is relatively good. To continue the survival of children of GCT to be impoved, we should use all the treatment modalit properly with more positive outlook about the disease.
Age Distribution ; alpha-Fetoproteins ; Child* ; Choriocarcinoma ; Drug Therapy ; Dysgerminoma ; Endoderm ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Germ Cells* ; Germinoma ; Humans ; Lymph Nodes ; Mediastinum ; Neoplasms, Germ Cell and Embryonal* ; Omentum ; Pineal Gland ; Pleura ; Pregnancy ; Radiotherapy ; Scrotum ; Spine ; Teratoma

The clinical studies were performen on 304 patients with heart disease who had been received corrective heart surgery at Kosin Medical Center from July, 1984 to December, 1991. The results were as follows: 1) Out of 304 patients, 162 cases (53.3%) were male and 142 cases (46.7%) were female and sex ratio was 1.15:1. 35 cases (11.5%) had clinical cyanosis and 269 cases (88.5%) had no evidence of cyanosis. 2) As age distribution of patients, under 2 years, 3~5 years, 6~10 years, 11~15 years, 16~18 years consist of 22.0%, 26.0%, 29.0%, 16.1% and 6.9%, respectively. 3) As disease distribution, out 304 patients, ventricular septal defect (57.9% of all) was the most common disease, and then atrial septal defect (13.2%), tetralogy of Fallot (11.2%), patent ductus arteriosus (9.9%) and pulmonic stenosis (5.3%), in their order. 4) As sex distribution of each disease, ventricular septal defect, atrial septal defect and tetralogy of Fallot were more common in male and patent ductus arteriosus and pulmonic stenosis were more common in female. 5) The most frequent cardiac anomaly associated with ventricular septal defect and atrial septal defect was pulmonic stenosis. In the case of subarterial ventricular septal defect, aortic insufficiency was associated in 13.3%. 6) Respiratory problems (11.3%), tricuspid regurgitation (9.5%), arrhythmia (6.2%) and congestive heart failure (5.8%) were the major complications after surgery. 7) Case fatality reat was 4.4%. Mortality rate in ventricular septal defect, tetralogy of Fallot and tricuspid atresia were 1.7%, 20.6% and 100%, respectively, Majority (75.0%) of expired patients were died within 24 hours after sugery and the cause of death was hypoxia due to low cardiac output syndrome.
Age Distribution ; Anoxia ; Arrhythmias, Cardiac ; Cardiac Output, Low ; Cause of Death ; Cyanosis ; Ductus Arteriosus, Patent ; Female ; Heart Diseases* ; Heart Failure ; Heart Septal Defects, Atrial ; Heart Septal Defects, Ventricular ; Heart* ; Humans ; Male ; Mortality ; Pulmonary Valve Stenosis ; Sex Distribution ; Sex Ratio ; Tetralogy of Fallot ; Thoracic Surgery ; Tricuspid Atresia ; Tricuspid Valve Insufficiency

PURPOSE: Although influenza is regarded as one of the major causes of morbidity and mortality in children with cancer, the actual vaccine coverage remains poor. We conducted evaluation of immunogenicity and safety of influenza vaccine in children with cancer. METHODS: In this study, 25 children with cancer who received influenza vaccine (SK influenza IX vaccine(R)) at the Korea Cancer Center Hospital between October and December 2009 were analyzed. Blood samples of patients were collected twice (at the beginning of this study and at 30th day after vaccination) and their antibody titers were measured using the hemagglutination-inhibition (HI) assay. Immunogenicity of the influenza vaccine was assessed by seroprotection rate on days 0 and 30, seroconversion rate on day 30, and mean fold increase (MFI) of geometric mean titer (GMT) of HI between days 0 and 30. RESULTS: Any of the subjects in our study did not experienced serious adverse events after influenza vaccination. Seroprotection rates were 68% for H1N1, 40% for H3N2, and 36% for B. Seroconversion rates were 12% for H1N1, 16% for H3N2, and 20% for B. MFIs were 0.9 for H1N1, 1.2 for H3N2, and 1.8 for B. CONCLUSION: In the study, we found a limited protective immune response to influenza vaccine, among subjects with cancer. However, some subjects showed seroconversion, and there were no severe adverse events among all subjects, supporting the recommendation of annual influenza vaccination in children with cancer.
Child ; Humans ; Influenza Vaccines ; Influenza, Human ; Korea ; Vaccination

PURPOSE: This study investigated various factors relatied to wandering behavior of Korean elders with dementia (KED). METHODS: A sample of 160 ambulatory residents with dementia from 14 long term care facilities was used to examine demographic, individual, cognitive, physical health, and environmental characteristics by comparing wanderers (N=108) to nonwanders (N=52). Subjects were evaluated by Korean versions of the Mini-mental State Exam (K-MMSE), the Physical and Instrumental Activities of Daily Living (K-PIADL), and the Revised Algase Wandering Scale Nursing Home version (KRAWS-NH) along its six dimensions. Demographic and environmental data were also obtained. Independent sample ttests, Chi-square test, Fisher's Exact tests, and ANCOVAs were used to examine differences between wanderers and nonwanders. RESULTS: Wanderers were significantly (p<.05) older and had more limitations in K-PADL and K-IADL. The degree of overall wandering and certain features of wandering were significantly different (p<.05) by total number of residents in the facility, type of bedroom (i.e., "Ondol"), and color of bedroom and living-room walls (i.e., sky blue). CONCLUSIONS: Findings of this study may be useful in understanding wandering behavior of KEDs and thus developing more culturally specific management strategies.
Activities of Daily Living ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Dementia/*psychology ; Demography ; Female ; Homes for the Aged ; Humans ; Korea ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Nursing Homes ; *Wandering Behavior

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Wandering is one of the most common behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia, and associated with some of the adverse outcomes in dementia, such as getting lost or even death. The etiology of wandering is not yet clearly known. As depression and wandering are both very common among the patients with dementia, this study examined the relationship between the depression and wandering among the community dwelling patients with dementia. METHODS: Fifty community dwelling patients diagnosed with dementia were included in this study if they had primary family caregiver, older than age 18 in Seoul, South Korea. The Geriatric Depression Scale, Korean Version (GDS-K), Korean Version of the Mini-Mental State Examination (K-MMSE) and Korean Version of Revised Algase Wandering Scale-Community Version (K-RAWS-CV) were used to measure the severity of depression, cognitive function and wandering. RESULTS: Thirty percents of the patients showed wandering. Mean score of GDS-K was significantly higher in wanderers than non-wanderers. Severity of depression was significantly correlated with the total score of K-RAWS-CV and subscales of persistent walking, repetitive walking, eloping behavior, and mealtime impulsivity in whole sample. K-MMSE score also was related to wandering behavior. The prevalence odds ratio for wandering in depressed patients compared with undepressed group was 8.386 (95% confidence interval: 1.978-35.561). CONCLUSIONS: This study implicates that not only cognitive impairment but also psychosocial aspects should be considered in wandering patients with dementia and suggests assessing the depression in patients would be helpful in identifying the causes of wandering.
Caregivers ; Dementia* ; Depression* ; Humans ; Impulsive Behavior ; Korea ; Meals ; Odds Ratio ; Prevalence ; Seoul ; Walking ; Wandering Behavior

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to identify the relationship between self-esteem and meaning of life in higher grade elementary school students. METHODS: Four hundred eighty four elementary school students in their 4 ~ 6th-grade at S, G and C City were recruited by convenient sampling. Data were collected from August to October, 2008 using a self-reported questionnaire. The collected data were analyzed by the SPSS/WIN 12.0 program with mean, standard deviation, t-test, ANOVA, Duncan's test, and Pearson's correlation. RESULTS: The average score of meaning of life was 3.07 +/- 0.38 and that of self-esteem was 3.43 +/- 0.62. There were significant differences in self-esteem according to variables region and religion, and in meaning of life scores according to variables region, grade, sex and religion. There was a significant positive correlation between self-esteem and meaning of life. CONCLUSION: Self-esteem and meaning of life should be considered as important factors for healthy development in the elementary school period. Self-esteem should be considered as a main content in developing programs for finding meaning of life for higher grade elementary school students.
Humans ; Religion and Sex ; Self Concept ; Surveys and Questionnaires

OBJECTIVE: In order to compare the clinical effect and frequency of side effects between d-penicillamine and bucillamine, a chemical derivative of d-penicillamine, we conducted a randomized, controlled clinical trial. METHODS: 22 and 24 patients were allocated in each treatment arm, after stratification according to functional class, anatomical stage, and concomittant steroid use. We evaluated tender joint count, swollen joint count, tenderness score, duration of morning stiffness, and grip strength every 4 weeks. Westergren ESR, hemoglobin, leucocyte and platelet count were also checked every 4 weeks, and C-reactive protein(CRP)quantitation and rheumatoid factor(RF) titration were checked at baseline and 16 weeks. Study period spanned 16 weeks. RESULTS: At the end of the trial, both swollen joint count and tenderness score decreased significantly from baseline in both groups, whereas tender joint count decreased siginficantly in bucillamine-treated group only. Grip strength also improved significantly in bucillamine group. Duration of morning stiffness decreased in both groups. When we arbitrarily defined response as more than 30% decrease in both tender and swollen joint count from baseline, 27% of bucillamine group and 33% of d-penicillamine group responded. The response rate did not differ significantly between the 2 groups. ESR and RF decreased in both groups, whereas CRP decreased significantly only in bucillamine group. The frequency of side effects lasting more than 1 day and possibly related to drug was 14% and 37% in bucillamine and d-penicillamine group, respectively. The difference was statistically not significant. CONCLUSIONS: Bucillamine is as effective as d-penicillamine in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis. The frequency of side effect tended to be lower.
Arm ; Arthritis, Rheumatoid* ; Hand Strength ; Humans ; Joints ; Penicillamine* ; Platelet Count

OBJECTIVES: Avascular necrosis of bone has been frequently documented in association with systemic lupus erythematosus and it has been suggested by many investigators that systemic factors may be implicated in its pathogenesis. In order to define the incidence, clinical feature and related risk factors of avascular necrosis in corticosteroid- treated rheumatic disease patients, we conducted this retrospective study. METHODS: Medical records of 278 patients with diagnoses of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), polymyositis/dermatomyositis, overlap syndrome comprising either of SLE, polymyositis, or dermatomyositis, and mixed connective tissue disease were reviewed with regards to the following: 1) duration of disease, risk factors of avascular necrosis, such as the presence of Raynaud phenomenon, small vessel vasculitis, alcoholism. 2) history of steroid treatment, including duration, initial dose, cumulative dose and mean daily dose during follow-up, cumulative dose and mean daily dose during the first year of disease, history of steroid pulse therapy, and history of cytotoxic drug therapy. 3) laboratory findings including false positive VDRL, lupus anticoagulant, anti-phospholipid antibody, and activated partial thromboplastin time. 4) Development of avascular necrosis, duration of disease, activity of disease at the time of diagnosis of avascular necrosis, and the site. RESULTS: Nineteen patients developed avascular necrosis leading to the incidence rate of 18.5/1,000 patient-year. Sites of involvement were hip in 16 cases(84.2%), talus in 2 cases(10.5% ), and phalanx, scaphoid, and humerus in 1 case(5.3% ), respectively. Fifty-eight percent of patients had involvement in more than one site. Presence of Raynaud phenomenon, small vessel vasculitis, history of cytotoxic therapy, history of steroid pulse therapy, cumulative dose and mean daily dose of steroid during follow-up and 1st year of diagnosis were not significantly different between the 2 groups. CONCLUSIONS: The incidence of avascular necrosis in our patient population was similar to that reported in SLE patients previously, but other risk factor including steroid dosage could not be identified.
Alcoholism ; Dermatomyositis ; Diagnosis ; Drug Therapy ; Follow-Up Studies ; Hip ; Humans ; Humerus ; Incidence ; Lupus Coagulation Inhibitor ; Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic ; Medical Records ; Mixed Connective Tissue Disease ; Necrosis* ; Osteonecrosis ; Partial Thromboplastin Time ; Polymyositis ; Raynaud Disease ; Research Personnel ; Retrospective Studies ; Rheumatic Diseases* ; Risk Factors ; Talus ; Vasculitis

PURPOSE: This study attempted to identify influential variables on types of smoking in adult smokers, which have been derived from Q-study. METHODS: A survey was conducted with 328 adult smokers at community settings in Seoul, South Korea from April 2006 to July 2006. To identify the influential variables related to smoking, variables from the Trans-theoretical model(i.e., self-efficacy for smoking abstinence, smoking temptation, process of change, decisional balance(pros and cons)) and nicotine dependency were analysed by ANOVA. Post-comparison tests were also done. RESULTS: The scores of nicotine dependency and smoking temptation were higher in habitual craving types than any other types, while the scores of self-liberation and self-efficacy for smoking abstinence were higher in self control types than any other types. CONCLUSION: Specific smoking intervention methods for each of the smoking types needs to be developed, based on how different groups of individuals gets into a decisions to quit smoking within their contexts.
Adult ; Dependency (Psychology) ; Humans ; Nicotine ; Republic of Korea ; Smoke ; Smoking

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to explore the effects of A-solution on halitosis and oral status in preoperative NPO patients. METHODS: A nonequivalent control group, non-synchronized pretest-posttest design was used in this study. The participants in this study were 66 patients who were admitted for gynecologic surgery. The experimental treatment was to give oral gargling with A-solution, blended essential oils and diluted with distilled water. To identify the experimental treatment effects, halitosis, salivary pH, and oral status were measured by a portable halitosis detector, visual analogue scale, Bromo Thymol Blue (BTB), Bromo Cresol Purple (BCP) test paper and oral assessment guide. Data were analyzed using chi2-test, t-test with PASW 18.0 version. RESULTS: Participants were homogeneous before experimental treatment. Objective halitosis in the experimental group, measured by a portable halitosis detector (t= -8.34, p<.001) was significantly lower than the control group. Subjective halitosis was significantly lower in the experimental group (t= -9.29, p<.001). Salivary pH was significantly different between two groups (t=8.81, p<.001). Oral status was significantly better in the experimental group (t= -13.31, p<.001). CONCLUSION: These findings indicate that oral gargling using A-solution is effective in reducing patient halitosis, and improving oral status.
Adult ; Female ; Genital Diseases, Female/surgery ; Halitosis/*prevention & control ; Humans ; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration ; Middle Aged ; Mouthwashes/*therapeutic use ; Preoperative Care ; Saliva/chemistry