OBJECTIVES: The survival rate of all childhood cancers has been increasing, and latent effects on childhood cancer survivors have been gaining researchers' attention. It has been shown that childhood cancer survivors experience social maladaptation and a decreased quality of life. Although neuroblastoma is one of the most common solid cancers in childhood, there are few reports on psychosocial status in neuroblastoma survivors. The purpose of this study was to investigate temporal changes in psychosocial status in neuroblastoma survivors. METHODS: This study was conducted by undertaking retrospective chart reviews of neuroblastoma survivors that were treated between January 1997 and February 2016 at Samsung Medical Center, Seoul, Korea. Among the 54 survivors identified, data for 28 patients who underwent psychological evaluation before and after treatment completion were selected for further analysis. We compared intelligence score, Korea-Child Behavior Checklist (K-CBCL), and Korean Personality Rating Scale for Children (K-PRC) scores before and after treatment completion. Time derivatives for each variable were calculated to identify temporal changes in scores. RESULTS: After treatment completion, K-CBCL scores for total competence (t=−2.34, p=0.044), somatic complaints (t=−2.43, p=0.022), and thought problems (t=−3.03, p=0.006) were higher than the scores prior to treatment. Familial relationship in K-PRC was significantly improved after treatment (t=2.11, p=0.045). Time derivatives of the significant K-CBCL subscales, except for the withdrawal and externalizing symptom scores, showed a tendency to increase with time. CONCLUSION: Although familial relationship and social competence improved after treatment, the levels of somatic complaints and thought problems increased following neuroblastoma treatment.
Checklist ; Child ; Humans ; Intelligence ; Korea ; Mental Competency ; Mortuary Practice ; Neuroblastoma* ; Quality of Life ; Retrospective Studies ; Seoul ; Social Skills ; Survival Rate ; Survivors*

BACKGROUND: Analysis of mutations in the epidermal growth factor receptor gene (EGFR) is important for predicting response to EGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitors. The overall rate of EGFR mutations in Korean patients is variable. To obtain comprehensive data on the status of EGFR mutations in Korean patients with lung cancer, the Cardiopulmonary Pathology Study Group of the Korean Society of Pathologists initiated a nationwide survey. METHODS: We obtained 1,753 reports on EGFR mutations in patients with lung cancer from 15 hospitals between January and December 2009. We compared EGFR mutations with patient age, sex, history of smoking, histologic diagnosis, specimen type, procurement site, tumor cell dissection, and laboratory status. RESULTS: The overall EGFR mutation rate was 34.3% in patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and 43.3% in patients with adenocarcinoma. EGFR mutation rate was significantly higher in women, never smokers, patients with adenocarcinoma, and patients who had undergone excisional biopsy. EGFR mutation rates did not differ with respect to patient age or procurement site among patients with NSCLC. CONCLUSIONS: EGFR mutation rates and statuses were similar to those in published data from other East Asian countries.
Adenocarcinoma ; Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; Biopsy ; Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung* ; Diagnosis ; Epidermal Growth Factor* ; Female ; Humans ; Lung Neoplasms ; Mutation Rate ; Pathology ; Protein-Tyrosine Kinases ; Receptor, Epidermal Growth Factor* ; Smoke ; Smoking

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy (PEG) is the most common method of enteral nutrition for patients who require long term artificial nutrition. PEG has been used as a method of nutritional support; however, improvement of nutritional support via PEG has not yet been reported. In this study, we analyzed the efficacy of nutritional support via PEG. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective analysis of 196 consecutive patients who underwent PEG at Kyung Hee University Hospital in Gang Dong from 2006 to 2012. We analyzed clinical characteristics, the method of nutritional support, and the proportion of intake to establish recommendations for nutritional requirements and the duration needed to reach the level of appropriate nutrition. RESULTS: A total of 196 patients included 130 men and 66 women, and their mean age (standard deviation) was 69.1+/-14.0 years. Compared with caloric and protein supplementation before PEG, 113 kcal (13.8% of baseline) and 4.8 g of protein (17.5% of baseline) could be additionally supplied with PEG (P=0.001, respectively). The number of patients who could take more than 90% of the recommended requirements of caloric and protein supplementation after PEG showed increased caloric and protein intake by 25.4% and 20.2%, respectively, in comparison with those before PEG (P=0.001 and P=0.001, respectively). The mean duration of catch-up for more than 90% of the recommended caloric and protein intake was approximately 11 days. Procedure related complications and early mortality were reported in 8.1% and 0% of patients, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: PEG is an effective and safe nutritional support method for patients who require long term artificial nutrition.
Endoscopy ; Enteral Nutrition ; Female ; Gastrostomy ; Humans ; Male ; Nutritional Requirements ; Nutritional Status ; Nutritional Support ; Retrospective Studies

PURPOSE: The glutathione-S-transferase (GST)P1, GSTM1, and GSTT1 genotypes have been associated with an increased risk of prostate, bladder, and lung cancers. The aim of this study was to investigate the association between the GSTP1, GSTM1, and GSTT1 genotypes and the risk of prostate cancer in Korean men. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study group consisted of 166 patients with histologically confirmed prostate cancer. The control group consisted of 327 healthy, cancer-free individuals. The diagnosis of prostate cancer was made by transrectal ultrasound-guided biopsy. Patients with prostatic adenocarcinoma were divided into organ-confined (< or =pT2) and non-organ-confined (> or =pT3) subgroups. The histological grades were subdivided according to the Gleason score. The GSTP1, GSTM1, and GSTT1 genotypes were determined by using polymerase chain reaction-based methods. The relationship among GSTP1, GSTM1, and GSTT1 polymorphisms and prostate cancer in a case-control study was investigated. RESULTS: The frequency of the GSTM1 null genotype in the prostate cancer group (54.2%) was higher than in the control group (odds ratio=1.53, 95% confidence interval=1.20-1.96). The comparison of the GSTP1, GSTM1, and GSTT1 genotypes and cancer prognostic factors, such as staging and grading, showed no statistical significance. CONCLUSIONS: An increased risk for prostate cancer may be associated with the GSTM1 null genotype in Korean men, but no association was found with the GSTT1 or GSTP1 genotypes.
Adenocarcinoma ; Biopsy ; Case-Control Studies ; Genotype ; Glutathione Transferase ; Humans ; Lung Neoplasms ; Male ; Neoplasm Grading ; Prostate ; Prostatic Neoplasms ; Urinary Bladder

BACKGROUND: Active re-donation is important for the whole blood donation program. Preparation of the blood-collection environment to minimize vasovagal reaction (VVR) is very important because VVR is the most common factor for stopping re-donation. METHODS: From the 1st of January to the 30th of November in 2005 at Busan Red Cross Blood Center, a total 195,247 donations from 138,093 donors were investigated for VVR. RESULTS: The total frequency of VVR was 0.14%. The frequency of VVR of the group donors who donated in indoor collecting places was the highest and the next highest VVR frequency was for the outdoor donors group. Unexpectedly, the frequency of VVR was the lowest in donors who donated in a blood bus. Teenage donations of blood were most frequent, and the next were people in their twenties. The frequency of VVR was the highest in first-time donor group. The more blood donated, the less the subjects experienced VVR. CONCLUSION: To recruit and retain the blood donors, the blood collection environment should be reconsidered for the group-donors in indoor- or outdoor places and not for those in the blood bus. In these places, it is important to educate the staff and prepare the blood-collecting environment where individual attention can be given to donors of the high-risk group for preventing VVR.
Blood Donors ; Busan ; Humans ; Red Cross ; Tissue Donors

A primary pulmonary artery sarcoma is a rare malignant tumor derived from the intimal layer of the pulmonary artery. Its clinical presentation can lead to a misdiagnosis of more common diseases such as thromboembolic disease. It is known to have a very poor prognosis. Therefore, the correct diagnosis of a primary pulmonary artery sarcoma is difficult and often delayed. We experienced a case of primary pulmonary artery sarcoma mimicking a pulmonary thromboembolism. The patient was admitted as a result of progressive dyspnea and coughing. The lung perfusion scan showed a large perfusion defect involving almost the entire right lung and suspicious small perfusion defects in the left upper lobe. Magnetic resonance imaging of the chest showed an enhancing nodule within the thrombus in the right pulmonary artery. The mass was removed completely by surgery, but the patient died as a result of shock.
Cough ; Diagnosis ; Diagnostic Errors ; Dyspnea ; Humans ; Lung ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Perfusion ; Prognosis ; Pulmonary Artery* ; Pulmonary Embolism ; Sarcoma* ; Shock ; Thorax ; Thrombosis

OBJECTIVES: The cost of psychiatric service is increasing every year in Korea. The length of inpatient stay (LOS) is an important factor determining in-patient service cost. This study was aimed to find the factors that influence LOS in a psychiatric open ward of a general hospital. METHODS: The study includes 134 inpatients who were consecutively admitted to a psychiatric open ward in a general hospital from January 1st to June 30th in 2001. Demographic data, clinical characteristics on admission and discharge, global functioning, social support levels and life stressors were collected. RESULTS: The mean LOS for the 134 patients was 15.5 days (S.D 9.2). The occupation of housekeeper and those secred high in phobic anxiety subscale on SCL-90-R were statistically significant predictor for longer LOS in the univariate analysis. No significant differences in LOS were found by diagnostic groups and social support. In multiple regression analysis, the scores of phobic anxiety subscale, occupation and presence of physical illness were statistically significant predictor for LOS. CONCLUSION: This study failed to find the significant variables to account for substantial proportion of variance for LOS.
Anxiety ; Diagnosis ; Hospitals, General* ; Humans ; Inpatients ; Korea ; Length of Stay* ; Occupations

A survey was conducted to investigate the current status of utilization of cyber nutritional information for teenagers and the reason for their need of such website content. In the four cities of Seoul, Daejeon, Gwangju and Daegu, in September and October, 2000, 1262 secondary school students were randomly selected. Survey results are summarized as follows: The participants searched for nutritional information by means of internet/PC communication for 137.0 +/- 100.6 (Mean +/- S.D.) minutes per day, mainly for the purpose of playing games, entertainment, chatting, or doing homework. Of the participants, 4.5% searched for nutritional information by means of internet/PC communication primarily for doing homework, and secondarily for reasons related to their own health or diet. Their satisfaction levels with the web sites used to obtain nutritional information was average. Needs assessments regarding the content of the web sites and the screen design showed that the teenagers wanted simple, clearly explained content, current information, easy access, less complicated screens and more use of characters. Only 8.1% of the participants had received nutritional counseling by means of internet/PC communication and 91% of them used it less than once a month, showing the very low utilization of nutritional counseling. The teenagers' main reasons for using nutritional counseling were related to their homework or diets, and their satisfaction levels regarding the counseling were below average. Poorly understood answers, and slow responses were mentioned. They had high interests in 'Diet for better growth,' 'Acne and diet,' 'Dental health and diet,' and 'Adolescent development'. These topics are mostly related to appearance. In conclusion, it is necessary to provide for teenagers, on nutritional information web sites, simple and well organized information, including simple graphics and characters, appropriate for their gender and age, as well as counseling sites offering kind and satisfying responses.
Adolescent* ; Counseling* ; Daegu ; Diet ; Gwangju ; Humans ; Needs Assessment* ; Seoul

The spontaneous rupture of splenic artery aneurysm during pregnancy is a rare but catastrophic event. Two thirds of all ruptures happen during the third trimester. Clinical presentation is often non-specific, with good hemodynamic compensation, followed by a rapid deterioration. Active management and operation are the most important procedures for diagnosis and therapy of the bleeding. Abdominal delivery will help to establish diagnosis and should be performed immediately. We report a case of a patient at 38 weeks of gestation suffering epigastric pain and fetal distress. At emergency cesarean delivery, an aneurysmal rupture of the splenic artery was found to be the reason for the hemoperitoneum. Spleen, aneurysm and the tail of the pancreas were removed. In spite of fatal hemorrhage, the patient survived but her fetus was dead. With a review of the literature on this topic, diagnostic aspects and treatment options are discussed.
Aneurysm* ; Cesarean Section ; Compensation and Redress ; Diagnosis ; Emergencies ; Female ; Fetal Distress ; Fetus ; Hemodynamics ; Hemoperitoneum ; Hemorrhage ; Humans ; Pancreas ; Pregnancy ; Pregnancy Trimester, Third* ; Rupture ; Rupture, Spontaneous* ; Spleen ; Splenic Artery*

Although many reseraches have been persued to detect the molecular tumor marker to define the cancer, ideal tumor marker which speak for the characteristics of malignancy and has high sensitivity and specificity is not known. One of the characteristics of the malignant cells is indefinite proliferative potential, in other word, immortality. The expression of telomerase and stabilization of telomeres are concomitant with the attainment of immortality in tumor cells; thus the measurement of telomerase activity in clinically obtained tumor samples may provide important information which would be useful as a diagnostic marker to detect immortal cancer cells. Telomerase activity was analyzed in 12 non-small cell lung cancer cell lines and 41 primary non-small cell lung cancers with the use of a PCR-based assay. All the cell lines and the majority of tumors displayed telomerase activity, but telomerase was not detectable in most of the corresponding pathologically-normal tissues. Telomere length was not correlated with telomerase activity. The present study indicate that measurement of telomerase activity may be useful as a molecular tumor marker in non-small cell lung cancer.
Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung* ; Cell Line ; Lung Neoplasms ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Telomerase* ; Telomere