• Journal of Hospice and Palliative Care
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• v.3 no.1
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• pp.18-27
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• 2000

Purpose : This study aims to find out the quality of life of patients admitted to the hospice unit at Kangnam St. Mary's Hospital, at admission and after weeks hospice service and to assess the effects of hospice service on the quality of life of terminal cancer patients. Methods : This study subjects were 100 patients admitted to the hospice unit at Kangnam St. Mary's Hospital, Catholic University between October 1999 and March 2000, and their primary caregivers. Quality of life data were collected using a questionnaire revised by the authors and were analyzed by means of repeated measures ANOVA. Results : 1) Patient's quality of life as perceived by the primary caregiver was significantly improved and the mean score was 3.31, 3.68, 3.56, 3.73, 3.75 at admission and week 1, 2, 3, 4. With the detailed item analysis, the following items were shown to be significantly improved: "clean bodies"(F=6.50, P=0.0001) "pain control"(F=18.01, P=0.0001) constipate"(F=2.96, P=0.0237) "sleep"(F=3.99, P=0.0048) "nausea/vomiting"(F=4.50, P=0.0022) "medical team's comfortable care" (F=3.95, P=0.0051) "family's care"(F=2.76, P=0.0317) "anxiety" (F=3.14, P=0.0177) "comfort"(F=3.63, P=0.0085) "treat with dignity"(F=3.32, P=0.0136). The item of "death is not the end of life rather the beginning" was significantly decreased(F=2.54, P=0.0450). 2) Patient's quality of life as perceived by the patient showed an improvement but statistically insignificant and the mean score was 3.63 and 3.83 at admission and week 1. With the detailed item analysis, the item of "pain control" was shown to be significantly improved(F=9.19, P=0.0251). 3) The quality of score in the last week of life of patient were 3.48, 3.51, 3.44, 3.46, 3.50, respectively, from 5 week prior to 1 week prior to death and these changes were insignificant. Conclusion : The findings of this study showed a positive effect of hospice service on quality of life of the terminal cancer patients admitted to the hospice unit. To improve the quality of life, we need first of all to develop hospice interventions with a particular emphasis on the spiritual aspect of patient. Secondly, measurement instruments need to be developed to collect the quality of life of the hospice patients who become weakened especially in the last weeks of their life and with this effort more representative data of hospice patients may be collected.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.53 no.6
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• pp.644-649
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• 2002

Background : Pulmonary hamartomas are the most common form of benign tumors, occurring in approximately 0.2% of routine autopsies. However, only a few reports on the clinical characteristics of pulmonary hamartoma in Korea have been published. Materials and Methods : The charts, X-rays and pathological specimens of 29 pulmonary hamartoma patients who were diagnosed by a pathological examination from 1990 to 1999 at the Catholic Medical Center were retrospectively reviewed. Results : The peak incidence of the tumor occurred in the sixth decade of life (37.5%). Seventeen patients (58.6%) were asymptomatic and 12 patients (41.4%) had symptoms. Chest discomfort was the most common symptom (31.0%). A total of 25 tumors (86.2%) were parenchymal, and 4 (13.8%) were endobronchial. Twenty cases were in the right lung and 9 cases were in the left lung (approximately 1:2.2). The RLL was the most commonly involved lobe (31.0%). Calcification was noted in 5 cases(19.2%) on a plain X-ray and in 5 cases (29.4%) on chest CT. Accompanied neoplasms were observed in 2 cases. Twenty-four hamartomas (82.8%) were diagnosed by a surgical resection and 4 cases(13.8%) were diagnosed by a fine needle aspiration biopsy. Twenty-six hamartomas (89.7%) were managed by a surgical resection. The follow up ranged from 4 to 55 months (mean, 19.6 months) and no recurrent pulmonary hamartomas were noted. Conclusion : Pulmonary hamartoma is more common in females and more commonly in the right lung. Calcification was noted only in 19.2% on a plain chest X-ray and 29.4% on a chest CT. No recurrent hamartomas had developed during the follow up period.

• Journal of agricultural medicine and community health
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• v.49 no.1
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• pp.1-12
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• 2024

Objectives: Presenteeism is known to be a much more economically damaging social cost than disease rest while going to work despite physical pain. Since COVID-19, social discussions on the sickness benefit have been taking place as a countermeasure against presenteeism, and in particular, farmers and fishermen do not have an institutional mechanism for livelihood support when a disease other than work occurs. This study attempted to examine the relationship between agricultural, fishing, and forestry workers and presenteeism using the 6th Korean Work Conditions Survey. Methods: From October 2020 to January 2021, data from the 6th working conditions survey conducted on 17 cities and provinces in Korea were used, and a total of 34,981 people were studied. Control variables were gender, age, self-health assessment, education level, night work, shift work, monthly income, occupation, working hours per week, and employment status. Results: As a result of the analysis, farmers and fishermen showed the characteristics of the self-employed and the elderly, and as a result of the regression analysis, when farmers and fishermen analyzed the relationship with presenteeism tendency compared to other industry workers, farmers and fishermen increased by 23% compared to other industry groups. Conclusion: This study is significant in that it has representation by utilizing the 6th working conditions survey and objectively suggests the need for a sickness benefit for farmers and fishermen who may be overlooked in the sickness benefit.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.35 no.4
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• pp.291-294
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• 1997

On July and August 1997 two 15-year-old mates of a football team of Tongjin Middle School in northern Kyon99i-do, Korea were consecutively diagnosed as vivax malaria by peripheral blood smear. They had no histories of travelling abroad or drug abuse. Thry witnessed that othev mates in the tram were ill of fever in the same period. A small survey was therefore undertaken to determine whether vivax malaria was outbroken locally. A total of 57 students of the team living together in a dormitory was examined for history of fever. presence of splenomegaly, blood smear and anti-p. uiuax antibody test by immunofluorescent antibody test (IFAT) . Except for the above two patients, only one case rrvraled a marginal tiler of IFAT. No other positive findings of vivax malaria were found. In the results of this local survey. no move cases of vivax malaria were revealed except the two sporadic cases.

• Radiation Oncology Journal
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• v.25 no.1
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• pp.43-53
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• 2007

[ $\underline{Purpose}$ ]: To evaluate the relationship between the expression of EGFR, p53, Cox-2, Bcl-2 and the clinical parameters of NPC (nasopharyngeal carcinoma) patients treated with radiotherapy with/without chemotherapy, and to determine if these could be used as a biologic marker. $\underline{Materials\;and\;Methods}$: This study retrospectively examined 75 NPC patients who were pathologically diagnosed at St. Mary's Hospital and Kangnam St Mary's Hospital from March 1988 to August 2002 and treated with radiotherapy with/without chemotherapy. The levels of EGFR, p53, Cox-2, and Bcl-2 expression were determined immunohistochemically. The relationship between the levels of EGFR, p53, Cox-2 and Bcl-2 expression and the H- E staining findings including the WHO classification, TNM stage, tumor response to chemotherapy and radiotherapy, disease free survival (DFS), and overall survival (OS) was analyzed. $\underline{Results}$: At a median follow up of 50.8 months (range: $5.5{\sim}201$ months), the 3 years OS rate and PFS rate were 68.7% and 68.2%, respectively. The five year OS rate and PFS rate were 53.5% and 51.1%, respectively. The median OS duration and PFS duration were 85.5 months and 61.1 months, respectively. The WHO classification correlated with the complete response rate, lymph node metastasis and distant metastasis. The expression of p53 was associated with increased mitosis and poor overall survival. The expression of Bcl-2 correlated with the DFS and WHO classification. The expression of Cox-2 correlated with a poor overall survival and response rate in the lymph node. However, EGFR was not correlated with any factors. $\underline{Conclusion}$: These results suggest that the expression of p53, Cox-2, Bcl-2 plays role in predicting prognostic factors for NPC treated with radiotherapy with/without chemotherapy. However, further study on a larger number of patients will be needed to identify more useful biomarkers of NPC.

• Journal of Gastric Cancer
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• v.5 no.1
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• pp.23-28
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• 2005

Purpose: Bone metastasis is not a common event in patients with gastric cancer. Therefore, most studies of bone metastasis in such patients have been in the form of case reports, so the clinical features of the bone metastasis are not well understood. To clarify metastatic patterns, the efficacy of radiation or chemotherapy, and the prognosis, we analyzed 29 cases of patients with bone metastases after curative surgery for gastric cancer. Materials and Methods: Twenty-nine (29) gastric cancer patients with bone metastasis who underwent curative resection from January 1989 to December 2002 at the Departments of Surgery, Kangnam St. Mary's Hospital and Our Lady of Mercy's Hospital, The Catholic University of Korea, were analyzed. Results: Nineteen (19) patients were males and, 10 patients were females. The mean age of the patients was $53\pm12$ years. There were more Borrmann type-3 and type-4 cancers and more undifferentiated histologic types. Most of the original cancers were stage III or IV. The most frequently involved bone was the spine. Treatment after recurrence was done in 16 patients ($55.2\%$). The median survival time after recurrence of the patients who received treatment was seven (7) months ($0\∼75$ months in range), which was significantly longer than that of the patients who did not received treatment (P=0.019). However, there was no difference according to the treatment modality (P=0.388). Conclusion: Bone metastasis after a curative resection of gastric cancer tends to occur in Borrmann type-3 and type-4 cancers, cancers with undifferentiated histology and, in stage III/IV disease. The prognosis of bone metastasis is dismal, and aggressive treatment is the only way to prolong survival.

• Radiation Oncology Journal
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• v.10 no.1
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• pp.21-26
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• 1992

From July 1988 through November 1991,26 patients with inoperable arteriovenous malformations were treated with 6 MV linear accelerator at the Kangnam St. Mary's Hospital, Catholic University Medical College. There were 5 females and 21 males with median age of 29 years (range: $6\~63$ years) and median follow up times of 15 months (range: $4\~40$ months). The arteriovenous malformation volumes treated ranged from 1 cm diameter to 3.5 cm rectangular size. The prescribed doses at the isocenter varied from 15 to 30 Gy and were given as a single fraction. To date, all patients performed follow-up not only clinically but also through CT or angiography based radiologic modalities every 6 month. A complete obliteration was achieved in 6 ($23\%$) and partial obliteration in 8 ($31\%$) and no change in 1 ($4\%$). We observed 14 ($54\%$) responsiveness of arteriovenous malformations after radiosurgery by 2 years afterward. Whereas, the decision of the remaining 11 ($42\%$) patients was considered too early to expect the therapeutic response following radiosurgery. No complications through treatment related were observed, yet. Our initial outcome in these first 26 patients with arteriovenous malformations is recommended further follow-up.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.32 no.5
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• pp.456-460
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• 1999

Background: Thoracic sympathectomy for hyperhidrosis has been recognized as an effective treatment using thoracoscopic devices and operative techniques, but the satisfaction has decreased due to a compensatory hyperhidrosis. Therefore, the postoperative results and compensatory hyperhidrosis were analyzed. We also measured the temperature differences in the hand and foot during the preoperative and postoperative periods and measured the blood flow of upper and lower extremities. Material and Method: From December 1995 to July 1998, total of 47 patients with hyperhidrosis underwent sympathectomy via VATS at the Department of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, Kangnam St. Mary's Hospital. The patients were evaluated for preoperative and postoperative temperature changes on the finger and toe, and preoperative and postoperative blood flows were measured by the Doppler examination on the digital artery, radial artery and dorsalis pedis artery. Result: There were no operative deaths but some complications existed: 7 pneumothorax, 3 recurrence and 1 Honor syndrome. Ninety-five percent of the patients also had compensatory sweating especially in the trunk. There were 5 patients who regretted recurring the operation because of the compensatory sweating. Sweating decreased in 46% of the sole hyperhidrosis patients. The temperature difference between preoperation and postoperation was 1$^{\circ}C$ on the right hand side and 1.9$^{\circ}C$ on the left hand side(P<0.05). There was no significant temperature difference on the sole. Blood flow increased significantly in the palm, but no difference in the sole. Conclusion: In conclusion, thoracic sympathectomy for hyperhidrosis is a safe and effective treatment but satisfaction has been decreased by the compensatory sweating; therefore, it is important to thoroughly explain the compensatory sweating prior to surgery. Improvement of the plantar hyperhidrosis is not due to a physiological change, but to a psychological stability.

• Journal of Hospice and Palliative Care
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• v.11 no.2
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• pp.99-105
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• 2008

Purpose: In terminally ill cancer patients, accurate prediction of survival is necessary for clinical and ethical reasons, especially in helping to avoid harm, discomfort and inappropriate therapies and in planning specific care strategies. The aim of the study was to investigate prognostic factor of dying patients. Methods: We enrolled the terminal cancer patients from Kangnam St. Mary's Hospital from 2004 until their death. We observed symptoms shown in dying patients and assess 17 common symptoms shown in terminally ill cancer patients, performance status, pain and analgesic use. Results: Average period from hospitalization to death was 11.7 days. The most important prognostic factor is performance status (KPS), average KPS at enrollment is 48% and at last 48 hours is 25%. Physical symptoms that have significant prognostic importance are poor oral intake, weakness, constipation, decreased Karnofsky performance status, bed sore, edema, jaundice, dry mouth, dyspnea. Dying patients showed markedly decreased systolic blood pressure, cyanosis, drowsiness, abnormal respiration, death rattle frequently at 48 hours before death. Conclusion: If we assess the symptoms more carefully, we can predict the more accurate prognosis. The communication about the prognostic information will influence the personal therapeutic decision and specific care planning.

• Radiation Oncology Journal
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• v.6 no.1
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• pp.55-61
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• 1988

Fifty patients with residual, unresectable or recurrent rectal cancer were treated with external irradiation using a 6-MV linear accelerator at the Division of Therapeutic Radiology, Department of Radiology, Kangnam St. Mary's Hospital, Catholic University Medical College during the period of April 1983 to December 1987. This paper describes the results of a retrospective analysis of the results of external irradiation for the residual, unresectable and recurrent rectal cancer in 46 patients. Four patients were lost to follow-up. Of the 46 patients, $18 (39\%)$ presented with unresectable primary lesions and $28 (61\%)$ with residual or recurrent rectal cancer. In $93\%$, the pathologic diagnosis was adenocarcinoma. Resonse to irradiation was observed in $22 (73\%)$ out of 30 patients who were treated for pain, $12 (86\%)$ out of 14 patients who were treated for mass, and $17 (77\%)$ out of 22 patients who were treated for bloody discharge. The actuarial postoperative 2-year and 3-year survival rates in recurrent and unresectable patients were $43\%$ and $22\%$, respectively. However, the post-RT 2-year survival rate was $13\% (6/46)$.