Purpose: This study aimed to investigate the oncofertility experiences of young women with breast cancer and elucidate their process of coping. Methods: Employing a grounded theory approach, in-depth interviews were conducted with 12 women aged 27~37 with breast cancer who experienced fertility challenges. Data analysis was conducted using the constant comparative method. Results: The core category identified was a journey to restore daily life with inevitable damage to fertility, and young women with breast cancer experienced three stages: the crisis stage, life restructuring stage, and daily life recovery stage. The causal conditions were chemotherapy and pregnancy planning. The contextual conditions were anxiety about embryo or oocyte cryopreservation, the need to make a decision quickly, and expectations for natural pregnancy. The central phenomenon of oncofertility in women with breast cancer was “choices for an uncertain future.” The action/interaction strategies included increasing immunity, weight control, having a strong mind, and finding knowledge related to breast cancer. The intervening conditions were support from health care providers and family support. The consequences were early onset of menopause and “desperate pregnancy.” Conclusion Nurses need to be interested in the decline in fertility of young women with breast cancer and play a role in understanding and actively helping them.

Purpose: This study aimed to investigate the oncofertility experiences of young women with breast cancer and elucidate their process of coping. Methods: Employing a grounded theory approach, in-depth interviews were conducted with 12 women aged 27~37 with breast cancer who experienced fertility challenges. Data analysis was conducted using the constant comparative method. Results: The core category identified was a journey to restore daily life with inevitable damage to fertility, and young women with breast cancer experienced three stages: the crisis stage, life restructuring stage, and daily life recovery stage. The causal conditions were chemotherapy and pregnancy planning. The contextual conditions were anxiety about embryo or oocyte cryopreservation, the need to make a decision quickly, and expectations for natural pregnancy. The central phenomenon of oncofertility in women with breast cancer was “choices for an uncertain future.” The action/interaction strategies included increasing immunity, weight control, having a strong mind, and finding knowledge related to breast cancer. The intervening conditions were support from health care providers and family support. The consequences were early onset of menopause and “desperate pregnancy.” Conclusion Nurses need to be interested in the decline in fertility of young women with breast cancer and play a role in understanding and actively helping them.

Purpose: This study aimed to investigate the oncofertility experiences of young women with breast cancer and elucidate their process of coping. Methods: Employing a grounded theory approach, in-depth interviews were conducted with 12 women aged 27~37 with breast cancer who experienced fertility challenges. Data analysis was conducted using the constant comparative method. Results: The core category identified was a journey to restore daily life with inevitable damage to fertility, and young women with breast cancer experienced three stages: the crisis stage, life restructuring stage, and daily life recovery stage. The causal conditions were chemotherapy and pregnancy planning. The contextual conditions were anxiety about embryo or oocyte cryopreservation, the need to make a decision quickly, and expectations for natural pregnancy. The central phenomenon of oncofertility in women with breast cancer was “choices for an uncertain future.” The action/interaction strategies included increasing immunity, weight control, having a strong mind, and finding knowledge related to breast cancer. The intervening conditions were support from health care providers and family support. The consequences were early onset of menopause and “desperate pregnancy.” Conclusion Nurses need to be interested in the decline in fertility of young women with breast cancer and play a role in understanding and actively helping them.

Purpose: This scoping review aimed to identify the research trends for dysphagia among older Korean adults in long-term care facilities. Methods: A literature search was performed using Korean Studies Information Service System, Research Information Sharing Service, ScienceON, Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature, and PubMed. A total of 1,395 articles were identified, and 10 articles were selected for the final analysis. Two reviewers independently performed the study selection and extraction using pre-tested forms to confirm those for final inclusion. Results: Most of the studies were published between 2011 and 2014. The quasi-experimental design was most frequently applied. The Gugging Swallowing Screen was the most widely used assessment tool. All studies, including dysphagia intervention programs, involved oral and facial exercise programs. In addition, they all used swallowing-related outcome variables to assess the effectiveness of the interventions. Conclusion Additional studies on dysphagia among older Korean adults in long-term care facilities should be conducted, and various interventions and assessment tools should be developed and implemented. This study is anticipated to establish a fundamental foundation for further dysphagia-related research and help improve the quality of life of Korean older adults in long-term care.

In addition to cellular damage, ischemia-reperfusion (IR) injury induces substantial damage to the mitochondria and endoplasmic reticulum. In this study, we sought to determine whether impaired mitochondrial function owing to IR could be restored by transplanting mitochondria into the heart under ex vivo IR states. Additionally, we aimed to provide preliminary results to inform therapeutic options for ischemic heart disease (IHD). Healthy mitochondria isolated from autologous gluteus maximus muscle were transplanted into the hearts of Sprague–Dawley rats damaged by IR using the Langendorff system, and the heart rate and oxygen consumption capacity of the mitochondria were measured to confirm whether heart function was restored. In addition, relative expression levels were measured to identify the genes related to IR injury. Mitochondrial oxygen consumption capacity was found to be lower in the IR group than in the group that underwent mitochondrial transplantation after IR injury (p < 0.05), and the control group showed a tendency toward increased oxygen consumption capacity compared with the IR group. Among the genes related to fatty acid metabolism, Cpt1b (p < 0.05) and Fads1 (p < 0.01) showed significant expression in the following order: IR group, IR + transplantation group, and control group. These results suggest that mitochondrial transplantation protects the heart from IR damage and may be feasible as a therapeutic option for IHD.

Background: Skin diseases associated with Malassezia species include malassezia folliculitis, pityriasis versicolor, and seborrheic dermatitis. Although several treatment options are available for the treatment of pityriasis versicolor, there is a lack of research data on sulfur preparation, which is a time-honored therapeutic agent; furthermore, data comparing topical antifungal agent and sulfur preparation is not available. Objective: The purpose of this study was to compare the efficacy and usefulness of a mixture of diflucortone valerate 1 mg/g and isoconazole nitrate 10 mg/g ointment (Travocort) and sodium thiosulfate solution 25% for pityriasis versicolor. Methods: A retrospective review was performed with 185 patients diagnosed with pityriasis versicolor who presented to the Department of Dermatology, Daegu Catholic University Medical Center between August 2002 and December 2021. Results: Of the 185 patients, 82 used Travocort while 103 used sodium thiosulfate solution. The average duration of the treatment was 19.3 days for Travocort and 28.8 days for sodium thiosulfate solution (p=0.001). The success rate of the treatment after 2 weeks was 65.8% for Travocort and 56.3% for sodium thiosulfate solution. Side effects occurred in 12.1% and 4.8% of the patients in the Travocort and sodium thiosulfate solution group, respectively. Conclusion Travocort had a faster healing rate than sodium thiosulfate solution. However, topical antifungal agents can cause side effects like localized cutaneous reaction. Furthermore, the glucocorticoid portion in combination therapy may induce various side effects with long-term use. Therefore, considering the side effects of Travocort, sodium thiosulfate solution can be used as a safe alternative when long-term treatment is required.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: A substantial proportion of patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) are not treated optimally; however, the inappropriateness of drug therapy has never been evaluated before or after a stroke event. We investigated the adherence to guidelines for therapy in AF patients hospitalized with acute ischemic stroke (AIS) before stroke onset and at discharge, with the aim of identifying the factors associated with inappropriate therapy. METHODS: AIS patients with AF hospitalized within 7 days of onset were identified from a prospective nine-center stroke registry database. Two cohorts were defined: patients diagnosed with AF prior to the stroke event (admission cohort) and patients diagnosed with AF at discharge from hospital (discharge cohort). Any of the following conditions were regarded as nonadherence to guidelines in this study: use of anticoagulant or nonuse of antithrombotics with CHADS2 score=0, nonuse of antithrombotics with CHADS2 score=1, or nonuse of anticoagulant with CHADS2 score > or =2. RESULTS: Overall, 406 patients were enrolled in the admission cohort and 518 in the discharge cohort. The rates of nonadherence before a stroke event and at discharge were 77.8% and 33.3%, respectively. These rates varied widely for both cohorts, with interhospital differences being statistically significant. Multivariable analysis revealed that old age, stroke history, and congestive heart failure were associated with nonadherence before stroke. At discharge, males, coronary heart disease, inappropriate antithrombotic use before stroke, and functional disability at discharge were associated with nonadherence. CONCLUSIONS: This study shows that antithrombotic use in AIS patients with AF might be not optimal before and after stroke in Korea.
Atrial Fibrillation* ; Cerebral Infarction ; Cohort Studies ; Coronary Disease ; Drug Therapy ; Drug Utilization Review ; Guideline Adherence ; Heart Failure ; Humans ; Korea* ; Male ; Morinda ; Observational Study* ; Prospective Studies ; Stroke*

The present study was conducted to determine the antibiotic susceptibilities of local Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae (Mhp) and Mycoplasma hyorhinis (Mhr) filed isolates. Minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) of Mhp and Mhr field isolates (twelve each) obtained from enzootic pneumonia-like lung lesions during 2009-2011 from Korea were determined using the broth microdilution method. Tylvalosin showed the highest activity against Mhp and Mhr field isolates, with MIC90 values of 0.06 µg/mL and 0.12 µg/mL, respectively. Therefore, Korean Mhp and Mhr isolates are highly susceptible to tylvalosin.
In Vitro Techniques* ; Korea* ; Lung ; Methods ; Microbial Sensitivity Tests ; Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae* ; Mycoplasma hyorhinis* ; Mycoplasma*

We experienced a case of carcinoma ex pleomorphic adenoma arising in the submandibular gland of a 47-year-old male patient. The patient underwent submandibular gland ressection and supraomohyoid neck dissection. Histologic examination revealed that the malignant component of carcinoma ex pleomorphic adenoma was adenosquamous carcinoma. The patient refused postoperative radiation therapy and tumor recurred at the neck and lung about 18 month later. Modified radical neck dissection was carried out, and additional postoperative radiotherapy and palliative chemotherapy were initiated. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first case of carcinoma ex pleomorphic adenoma, of which the malignant component is adenosquamous carcinoma in the submandibular gland. Therefore the authors report this rare case with a literature review.
Adenoma, Pleomorphic* ; Carcinoma, Adenosquamous* ; Drug Therapy ; Humans ; Lung ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Neck ; Neck Dissection ; Radiotherapy ; Submandibular Gland*