BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: To prevent getting wrong information and improve high quality of life, it is necessary to provide accurate information and patient education. This study aimed to collect basic data and develop educational program for thyroid cancer patient by understanding their educational needs. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Between April 16 and June 15, 2012, 159 patients who underwent thyroid cancer surgery were enrolled. This survey consisted of 5 areas including management of the symptom and the complication after surgery, postoperative wound and dietary management, treatment plan after discharge, medication management, and daily life. RESULTS: The most common way for the patients to acquire information about the disease was Internet and the patients who used INTERNET as their information source were 54.7%. Doctors (76.1%) and nurses (21.4%) were the preferred educators for the patients, and small group education was the preferred education method. Specifically the need for "management of the symptom and the complication after surgery" was the highest (3.33), followed by "treatment plan after discharge" (3.31), "medication management" (3.19), "postoperative wound and dietary management" (3.17). CONCLUSION: Medical team including doctors and nurses should be the center to activate small group education for patients. Professional and individualized education program should be developed to give the proper education to patients and their family.
Education ; Health Surveys ; Humans ; Internet ; Methods ; Patient Education as Topic ; Quality of Life ; Thyroid Gland* ; Thyroid Neoplasms* ; Wounds and Injuries

Acute appendicitis is very rare in premature neonates. Preoperative diagnosis of this condition is difficult, and then it leads to high morbidity and mortality. We report 9-day-old premature male with ruptured acute appendicitis presented with pneumoperitoneum on plain films of the abdomen. Awareness of this rare condition and possible differential diagnosis in this age group is also discussed.
Abdomen ; Appendicitis ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Humans ; Infant, Low Birth Weight ; Infant, Newborn ; Male ; Pneumoperitoneum

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

The neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF-1) is a rare hereditary disease of autosomal dominant fashion with the overall incidence of one in 3,000. It is characterized by cafe-au-lait spots of skin, multiple cutaneous neurofibromas and a broad spectrum of clinical finding. Plexiform neurofibroma is a frequent complication of NF-1 but symptomatic involvement of the gastrointestinal tract in children with NF-1 is rare. It may present with complications such as obstruction, dysfunction, pain and hemorrhage. We report that a 13-year-old female diagnosed with NF-1 at the age of 10 years had abdominal pain and showed huge plexiform neurofibromas of right mesocolon in abdominal cavity. She also presented with multiple cafe-au-lait spots and axillary freckling. She was performed a right hemicolectomy with complete excision of the mass and had an uneventful course.
Abdominal Cavity ; Abdominal Pain ; Adolescent ; Cafe-au-Lait Spots ; Child* ; Colon, Ascending* ; Female ; Gastrointestinal Tract ; Genetic Diseases, Inborn ; Hemorrhage ; Humans ; Incidence ; Mesentery* ; Mesocolon ; Neurofibroma ; Neurofibroma, Plexiform* ; Neurofibromatosis 1 ; Skin

Inguinal hernia is the most common disease treated by the pediatric surgeon. There are several controversial aspects of management 1)the optimal timing of surgical repair, especially for preterm babies, 2)contralateral groin exploration during repair of a clinically unilateral hernia, 3)use of laparoscope in contralateral groin exploration, 4)timing of surgical repair of cord hydrocele, 5)perioperative pain control, 6)perioperative management of anemia. In this survey, we attempted to determine the approach of members of KAPS to these aspects of hernia treatment. A questionnaire by e-mail or FAX was sent to all members. The content of the questionnaire were adapted from the "American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) Section on Surgery hernia survey revisited (J Pediatr Surg 40, 1009-1014, 2005)". For full-term male baby, most surgeons (85.7 %) perform an elective operation as soon as diagnosis was made. For reducible hernia found in ex-preterm infants already discharged from the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU), 76.2 % of surgeons performed an elective repair under general anesthesia (85.8 %). 42.9 % of the surgeons performed the repair just before discharge. For same-day surgery for the ex-premature baby, the opinion was evenly divided. For an inguinal hernia with a contralateral undescended testis in a preterm baby, 61.9 % of surgeons choose to 'wait and see' until 12 month of age. The most important consideration in deciding the timing of surgery of inguinal hernia in preterm baby was the existence of bronchopulmonary dysplasia (82.4 %), episode of apnea/bradycardia on home monitoring (70.6 %). Most surgeons do not explore the contralateral groin during unilateral hernia repair. Laparoscope has not been tried. Most surgeons do not give perioperative analgesics or blood transfusion.
Analgesics ; Anemia ; Anesthesia, General ; Blood Transfusion ; Bronchopulmonary Dysplasia ; Child* ; Cryptorchidism ; Diagnosis ; Electronic Mail ; Groin ; Hernia ; Hernia, Inguinal* ; Herniorrhaphy ; Humans ; Infant ; Infant, Newborn ; Intensive Care, Neonatal ; Korea* ; Laparoscopes ; Male ; Pediatrics ; Surveys and Questionnaires

The followings are the results for external quality assessment (EQA) in immunoserology for 2004: 1. Evaluation of EQA was done in 2 trials in May and November, about 99% of laboratories participating average 8.4 items. EQA for anti-HBc test was newly started in 2004. 2. Commercial control, MASR Immunology Control from Medical Analysis Systems (Camarillo, CA, USA) was used to assure the quality of quantitative results of C-reactive protein (CRP), rheumatoid factor (RF) and anti-streptolysin O (ASO) tests in 2004. All the specimens for Immunoserology in EQA were delivered refrigerated for the first time, being received within 48 hours after sending. 3. EQA for detection of HBsAg mutants was tried for the first time, using the recombinant HBsAg mutant (Gly/Arg 145) kindly provided by Abbott Laboratories, USA. 4. The laboratories using immunochromatography assay (ICA) were increased, however, many laboratories using ICA reported falsely negative for the positive specimens. The sensitivity of ICA test kits as well as various factors influencing the ICA results should be evaluated. 5. Standardization of methods including calibrators for quantitative results should be required for the harmonization of results.
Allergy and Immunology ; C-Reactive Protein ; Hepatitis B Surface Antigens ; Immunochromatography ; Korea* ; Nephelometry and Turbidimetry ; Rheumatoid Factor

The followings are the results for external quality assessment (EQA) in immunoserology for 2003: 1.Evaluation of EQA was done in 2 trials in May and November, about 99% of laboratories participating average 8.2 items. 2.In C-reactive protein (CRP), rheumatoid factor (RF) and anti-streptolysin O (ASO) tests, about 63%, 49% and 44% of the participating laboratories respectively have used quantitative assays. Because the laboratories using quanitiative assays were on the increase annually, commercial control, Liquicheck(TM) Immunology Contol from Bio-Rad Laboratories (Irvine, CA, USA) was used to assure the quality of quantitiavie results in 2003. A few laboratories reproted the outlier results, comparing with the reference ranges presented by the company. 3.Over 92% of participating laboratoreis have used imunoassays including enzyme immunoassay (EIA), microparticle EIA (MEIA), chemiluminescence immunoassay (CIA), immunochromatography assay (ICA) or radioimmunoassay (RIA) for detedting viral antigens or antibodies. Especially for anti-HCV, over 98% of participating laboratoreis have used various kind of imunoassays. Laboratories using ICA increased and about 24% of participating laboratoreis have used ICA for anti-HCV and anti-HIV. However, many laboratories using ICA for detecting anti-HCV reported false negative results, suggesting lower sensitivity of ICA than those of other immunoassays. 4.The criteria of interpretation were considered to be evaluated in Widal test and laboratories using ICA increased in serological tests for syphilis.
Allergy and Immunology ; Antibodies ; Antigens, Viral ; C-Reactive Protein ; Hepatitis B Surface Antigens ; Immunoassay ; Immunochromatography ; Immunoenzyme Techniques ; Korea* ; Luminescence ; Nephelometry and Turbidimetry ; Radioimmunoassay ; Reference Values ; Rheumatoid Factor ; Serologic Tests ; Syphilis

BACKGROUND: During ex vivo expansion of cord blood (CB) CD34+ cells, differentiation of the expanded cells happened and hematopoietic potential of the progenitor cells decreased. In this study, we evaluate the effect of the expression of Fas antigen, Bcl-2, and Bax on CD34+ or AC133+ hematopoietic progenitor cells during ex vivo expansion. METHODS: CD34+ and AC133+ cells isolated from human CB were cultured in serum free medium supplemented with several cytokines for 7 days. After expansion culture, we re isolated CD34+ and AC133+ cells and compared the numbers of granulocyte-macrophage colony-forming units (CFU-GM) and granulocyte, erythrocyte, monocyte, and macrophage colony-forming units (CFU-GEMM), and expression of Fas antigen, Bcl-2, and Bax with unexpanded cells. RESULTS: CFU-GM was expanded 23.94 fold in CD34+ cells and 15.22 fold in AC133+ cells at day 7 of culture but CFU-GEMM was not expanded. The expression of Fas antigen and Bax was 7.44% and 2.75%, respectively, in fresh isolated CD34+ cells and increased to 19.71 % and 33.67%, respectively, in expanded CD34+ cells at day 7 culture, but Bcl-2 was not changed. In case of AC133+ cells, the expression of Fas antigen and Bax were also increased from 5.87% and 6.19% to 24.85% and 22.83%, respectively, and Bcl-2 was slightly decreased. Apoptosis was not changed in CD34+ cells and AC133+ cells during ex vivo expansion. CONCLUSION: These results indicate that the nature of expansion was similar between CD34+ and AC133+ cells, and expression of Fas antigen and Bax increased on CD34+ and AC133+ cells during ex vivo expansion. Selection of the expanded progenitor cells without apoptosis may be useful for the hematopoietic stem cell transplantation.
Antigens, CD95* ; Apoptosis* ; Cytokines ; Erythrocytes ; Fetal Blood ; Granulocyte-Macrophage Progenitor Cells ; Granulocytes ; Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation ; Hematopoietic Stem Cells* ; Humans ; Macrophages ; Monocytes ; Myeloid Progenitor Cells ; Stem Cells

BACKGROUND: Data on the clinicopathologic features of hair follicle tumors in Korea are limited. OBJECTIVE: The purpose was to investigate the clinical and histopathologic characteristics of hair follicle tumors in Korea. METHODS: Two hundred sixty four cases of hair follicle tumors seen from 1999 to 2001 in Korea were analyzed clinically and histopathologically. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: The most common hair follicle tumor in Korea was pilomatricoma(81.0%), followed by trichoepithelioma(6.4%), dilated pore of Winer(3.8%), and proliferating trichilemmal tumor(2.2%). Hair follicle tumors usually occurred as a solitary skin-colored nodule. The most commonly involved site was the face, and the peak age of presentation was 10 to 19. Pilomatricoma usually occurred as a solitary skin-colored nodule. The most commonly involved site was the arm, and more than 50% of tumors occurred before the age of 20. Histopathologically, the tumor was often surrounded by fibrous capsule and was composed of basophilic and shadow cells. It was usually located in the dermis and extended into the subcutis. Retraction spaces between tumor nests and stroma were frequently observed. Trichoepithelioma usually occurred as multiple skin-colored papules on the face. Histopathologically, the tumor was usually located in the dermis with sometimes connected to the epidermis. It frequently showed peripheral palisading. Dilated pore of Winer usually occurred as a solitary brownish to pigmented papule on the face in middle-aged persons. Proliferating trichilemmal tumor occurred as a solitary or multiple tumors. Histopathologically, the tumor was usually surrounded by incomplete fibrous capsule. Tumor cells frequently showed clear cell formation, nuclear atypia, mitosis, peripheral palisading, trichilemmal keratinization, and individual keratinization.
Arm ; Basophils ; Dermis ; Epidermis ; Hair Follicle* ; Hair* ; Humans ; Korea ; Mitosis ; Pilomatrixoma

The followings are the results for external quality assessment (EQA) in immunoserology for 2002: 1. Evaluation of EQA was done in 2 trials in May and November, about 96% of laboratories participating average 8.3 items. 2. In C-reactive protein (CRP), rheumatoid factor (RF) and anti-streptolysin O (ASO) tests, about 40%, 53% and 52% of the participating laboratories respectively have used qualitative assays, mainly latex agglutination. And about 55%, 43% and 40% of the participating laboratories have used quantitative assays, turbidimetric immunoassay (TIA) or nephelometry in CRP, RF and ASO tests respectively. Laboratories using TIA increased and those using nephelometry decreased. The instruments which were the most frequently used in nephelometry were BN series (Dade Behring Inc., Germany). The instruments of Hitachi series (Hitachi Ltd., Japan), Cobas Integra and Mira series (Roche Diagnostics GmbH, Germany), Toshiba series (Toshiba Corporation, Japan) and Olympus AU series (Olympus Optical Co., Ltd., Japan) were frequently used in TIA. The quantitative results were quite variable according to the methods or reagents, especially in RF and ASO. 3. Over 90% of participating laboratoreis have used imunoassay including enzyme immunoassay (EIA), microparticle EIA (MEIA), chemiluminescence immunoassay (CIA), immunochromatography assay (ICA) or radioimmunoassay (RIA). Laboratories using CIA and ICA increased. Sensitivities of ICA were lower than those of other immunoassays in the results of HBsAg and anti-HCV. The sensitivity of SD HCV (Standard Diagnostics, Inc., Korea) was especially lower in anti-HCV results. Sensitivities of CIA and ICA were also lower than those of EIA including MEIA in the results of anti-HIV. 4. The criteria of interpretation were considered to be evaluated in Widal test and laboratories using ICA increased in serological tests for syphilis.
Agglutination ; C-Reactive Protein ; Hepatitis B Surface Antigens ; Immunoassay ; Immunochromatography ; Immunoenzyme Techniques ; Indicators and Reagents ; Korea* ; Latex ; Luminescence ; Nephelometry and Turbidimetry ; Radioimmunoassay ; Rheumatoid Factor ; Serologic Tests ; Syphilis