• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.37 no.12
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• pp.1010-1014
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• 2004

Though acute pulmonary thromboembolism is usually managed medically with the use of thrombolytics or anticoagulants, an emergent life-saving surgery would be required. In a case of acute pulmonary thromboembolism with acute severe right heart failure and deferment of it could result in fatal outcomes in a short time. In addition, the mortality is raised considerably if it is combined with right heart thrombi. Despite paradoxical thromboembolism via patent foramen ovale was reported, few report might be presented, in which showed the thrombus in right atrium has traversed atrial septal defect into left atrium and left ventricle like this case as the evidence of paradoxical thromboembolism. We report a case of acute pulmonary thromboembolism with acute right heart failure arising from deep vein thrombosis, developed immediately after low anterior resection for colon cancer in a 63-year-old male, who was managed successfully by emergent thromboembolectomy with cardiopulmonary bypass.

• Radiation Oncology Journal
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• v.17 no.3
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• pp.217-222
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• 1999

Purpose : To evaluate prognostic factors and survival rates of the patients who received radiation therapy for locally recurrent uterine cervical cancer after curative surgery. Materials and Methods : Between October 1983 and July 1990, fifty three patients who received radiation therapy for locally recurrent cervical cancer after curative surgery at the Department of Therapeutic Radiology, Kangnam St. Mary's Hospital, The Catholic University of Korea were analysed retrospectively. Age at diagnosis ranged from 33 to 69 years (median 53 years). Pathological analysis showed that forty five ($84.9\%$) patients had squamous cell carcinoma, seven ($13.2\%$) patients had adenocarcinoma, and one (1.9%) patient had adenosquamous cell carcinoma. The interval between hysterectomy and tumor recurrence ranged from 2 months to 25 years (mean 34.4 months). The recurrent sites were vaginal stump in 41 patients ($77.4\%$) and pelvic side wall in 12 patients ($22.6\%$). Recurrent tumor size was devided into two groups : less than 3 cm in 43 patients ($81.1\%$) and more than 3 cm in 10 patients ($18.9\%$). External beam irradiation of whole pelvis was done first up to 46.8 Gy to 50.4 Gy in 5 weeks to 6 weeks, followed by either external beam boost to the recurrent site in 18 patients ($34\%$) or intracavitary irradiation in 24 patients ($45.3\%$). Total dose of radiation ranged from 46.8 Gy to 111 Gy (median 70.2 Gy). Follow up period ranged from 2 to 153 months with a median of 35 months. Results : Overall response rate was $66\%$ (35/53). Among them, six patients ($17.1\%$) relapsed between 7 months and 116 months after radiation therapy (mean 47.7 months), Therefore overall recurrence rate was $45.3\%$. Overall five-year actuarial survival rate was $78.9\%$ and distant failure rate was $10\%$ (5/50). The significant prognostic factors affecting survival rate were interval between primary surgery and tumor recurrence (p=0.0055), recurrent tumor size (p=0.0039), and initial response to radiation therapy (p=0.0428). Complications were observed in 10 ($20/%$) patients, which included mild to moderate lower gastrointestinal, genitourinary, or skin manifestations. One patient died of pulmonary embolism just after intracavitary irradiation. Conclustion : Radiation therapy is the effective treatment for the patients with locally recurrent cervical cancer after curative surgery. These results suggest that interval between primary surgery and tumor recurrence, recurrent tumor size, and initial response to radiation therapy were significant prognostic factors for recurrent cervical cancer.

• Journal of Gastric Cancer
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• v.4 no.4
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• pp.207-212
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• 2004

Purpose: Invasion and metastasis in solid tumors require the action of tumor-associated proteases. The serine protease urokinase-type plasminogen (uPA) and receptor (uPAR) appear to have a major function in these processes. Expression of the uPAR is elevated in breast and colon carcinomas, and this is often associated with invasiveness and poor prognosis. The purpose of this study was to determine whether the expression of the uPAR gene correlates with clinico-pathological parameters in human gastric carcinomas. Materials and Methods: We examined the expression of uPAR mRNA by using northern blot analysis and RT-PCR in 35 gastric carcinomas and the surrounding normal mucosa. Macroscopic and histopathological tumor findings and survival rates were obtained from the patient records and from endoscopic, surgical, and pathological reports. Results: The expression of uPAR and was higher in most neoplasms than in the corresponding normal mucosal tissue. uPAR mRNA expression in tumors correlated well with lymph-node metastasis (P<0.02) and tumor stage (P<0.01). The survival rate of patients with tumors displaying high uPAR expression levels was significantly lower (P<0.04) than that of patients without uPAR expression, but IL-8 showed only the tendency of survival difference. Conclusion: These results suggest that uPAR may be an important prognostic factor in human gastric carcinomas.

• Health Policy and Management
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• v.34 no.2
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• pp.196-210
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• 2024

Background: In January 2018, revised elderly fixed outpatient copayment for the elderly were implemented. When people ages 65 years and older receive outpatient treatment at clinic-level medical institutions (clinic, dental clinic, Korean medicine clinic), with medical expenses exceeding 15,000 won but not exceeding 25,000 won, their copayment rates have decreased differentially from 30%. This study aimed to examine the changes of health utilization of elderly after revised elderly fixed outpatient copayment. Methods: We used Korea health panel data from 2016 to 2018. The time period is divided into before and after the revised elderly fixed outpatient copayment. We conducted Poisson segmented regression to estimate the changes in outpatient utilization and inpatient utilization and conducted segmented regression to estimate the changes in medical expenses. Results: Immediately after the revised policy, the number of clinic and Korean medicine outpatient visits of medical expenses under 15,000 won decreased. But the number of clinic outpatient visits in the range of 15,000 to 20,000 won and Korean medicine clinic in the range of 20,000 to 25,000 won increased. Copayment in outpatient temporarily decreased. The inpatient admission rates and total medical expenses temporarily decreased but increased again. Conclusion: We confirmed the temporary increase in outpatient utilization in the medical expense segment with reduced copayment rates. And a temporary decrease in medical expenses followed by an increase again. To reduce the burden of medical expense among elderly in the long run, efforts to establish chronic disease management policies aimed at preventing disease occurrence and deterioration in advance need to continue.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.31 no.9
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• pp.877-883
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• 1998

Background: Cardiopulmonary bypass(CPB), a standard adjunct for open heart surgery, can also play an important role in treating patients with noncardiac diseases. Material and Method: We report a collective analysis of noncardiac applications of cardiopulmonary bypass experienced at Seoul National University Hospital from 1969 to 1996. Out of a total of 20 patients, 8 were treated for membranous obstruction of inferior vena cava(MOVC), 5 for malignant melanoma, 3 for pulmonary embolism, 1 for double lung transplantation, 1 for intracranial giant aneurysm(GA), 1 for renal cell carcinoma(RC), and 1 for liposarcoma. CPB was used to induce profound hypothermia with circulatory arrest in 6 patients(MOVC 4, GA 1, RC 1). Result: CPB time was 113 mins on average for MOVC, 161 mins for GA, and 156 mins for RC, while the lowest rectal temperature was 26$^{\circ}C$ on average in MOVC, and 19$^{\circ}C$ in GA and RC. Postoperative recovery was good in all MOVC patients. The patient with GA, who underwent reoperation for the removal of hematoma, died 14 days postoperatively. The patient with RC recovered from the operation in a good condition but died from metastatic spread 6 months later. CPB was instituted for pulmonary embolectomy in 3 patients, in whom postoperative courses were uneventful, except in 1 patient who showed transient neurologic symptoms. CPB was used in a patient with double-lung transplantation for hemodynamic and ventilatory support. The patient was weaned successfully from CPB but died from low output and septicemia 19 days postoperatively. CPB without circulatory arrest was used to treat in 4 patients with MOVC. These patients showed good postoperative courses. CPB was used to administer high concentrations of chemotherapeutic agents to the extremities in 6 patients(malignant melanoma 5, recurrent liposarcoma 1). CPB time was 153 mins on average. No complications such as edema and neurologic disability were found. Conclusion: Although CPB has a limited indication in noncardiac diseases, if properly applied, it can be a very useful adjunct in a variety of surgical cases.

• Radiation Oncology Journal
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• v.11 no.2
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• pp.241-247
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• 1993

Between July 1988 and December 1992, we treated 45 patients who had deep seated inoperable or residual and/or recurrent intracranial tumors using LINAC based stereotactic radiosurgery at the Department of Therapeutic Radiology, Kangnam St. Mary's Hospital, Catholic University Medical College. Treated intracranial tumors included pituitary tumors (n=15), acoustic neurinomas (n=8), meningiomas (n=7), gliomas (n=6), craniopharyngiomas (n=4), pinealomas (n=3), hemangioblastomas (n=2), and solitary metastatic tumor from lung cancer (n=1). The dimension of treatment field varied from 0.23 to 42.88 $cm^3\;(mean;\;7.26\;cm^3)$. The maximum tumor doses ranging from 5 to 35.5 Gy (mean; 29.9 Gy) were given, and depended on patients' age, target volume, location of lesion and previous history of irradiation. There were 22 male and 23 female patients. The age was varied from 5 to 74 years of age (a median age; 43 years). The mean duration of follow-up was 35 months (2~55 months). To date, 18 $(39.1\%)$ of 46 intracranial tumors treated with SRS showed absent or decrease of the tumor by serial follow-up CT and/or MRI and 16 $(34.8\%)$ were stationary, e.g. growth arrest. From the view point of the clinical aspects, 34 $(73.9\%)$ of 46 tumors were considered improved status, that is, alive with no evidence of active tumor and 8 $(17.4\%)$ of them were stable, alive with disease but no deterioration as compared with before SRS. Although there showed slight increase of the tumor in size according to follow-up imagings of 4 cases (pituitary tumor 1, acoustic neurinomas 2, pinealoma 1), they still represented clinically stable status. Clinically, two $(4.4\%)$ Patients who were anaplastic astrocytoma (n=1) and metastatic brain tumor (n=1) were worsened following SRS treatment. So far, no serious complications were found after treatment. The minor degree headache which could be relieved by steroid or analgesics and transient focal hair loss were observed in a few cases. There should be meticulous long term follow-up inall cases.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.40 no.5
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• pp.495-500
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• 1993

Background: For the relief of the occlusion of major bronchi, laser therapy, radiation therapy or combined therapy is generally used. But the effect of radiation therapy is very slow and not consistent and laser therapy requires expensive equipments and technical expertise with occasional serious side effects. Direct ethanol injection has been widely used for the control of bleeding in gastrointestinal lesion, esophageal varices or renal cell carcinoma with good results. So we tried direct injection of ethanol into the tumor to relieve the obstruction of major bronchus in 11 patients. Method: All procedures were done under the fiberoptic bronchoscopy with continuous oxygen supplement and aliquoted 0.5-1.0 ml of absolute ethanol directly into the tumor through the endobronchial aspiration needle. The tumor was endoscopically removed with a biopsy forceps immediately after ethanol injection. The whole procedure was repeated 3-4 days interval until the lumen opens. Usually after 2-3 trials of ethanol injection, the lumen opened up. Results: The immediate effect of ethanol injection was whitening of the mucosa and prompt cessation of bleeding. The late effect was necrosis of the tumor. The final results of this procedure were improvement of symptoms and reexpnasion of the lung in all patients. $FEV_{1.0}$ and FVC were improved and $PaO_2$ was increased from $68.1{\pm}9.2$ mmHg to $83.9{\pm}8.1$ mmHg, $SaO_2$: from $94{\pm}8.5%$ to $96.6{\pm}1.1%$, and $AaDO_2$ was reduced from $26.5{\pm}8.5$ mmHg to $10.9{\pm}9.1$ mmHg. Conclusion: Direct ethanol injection into the tumor tissue is a rapid, cheap and relatively safe method of relieving the complete occlusion of major bronchus.

• Radiation Oncology Journal
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• v.17 no.2
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• pp.136-140
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• 1999

Purpose : Prostate specific antigen (PSA) is a useful tumor marker, which is widely used as a diagnostic index and predictor of both treatment and follow-up result in prostate cancer. A prospective analysis was carried out to obtain the period of PSA normalization and the half life of PSA and to analyze the factors influencing the period of PSA normalization. The PSA level was checked before and serially after radical radiotherapy. Materials and Method : Twen쇼 patients with clinically localized prostate cancer who underwent radical external beam radiotherapy were enrolled in this study. Accrual period was from April 1993 to May 1998. Median follow-up period was 20 months. Radiotherapy was given to whole pelvis followed by a boost to prostate. Dose range for the whole pelvis was from 45 Gy to 50 Gy and boost dose to prostate, from 14 Gy to 20 Gy. The post-irradiation PSA normal value was under 3.0 ng/ml. The physical examination and serum PSA level evaluation were performed at 3 month interval in the first one year, and then at every 4 to 6 months. Results : PSA value was normalized in nineteen patients (95%) within 12 months. The mean period of PSA normalization was 5.3 (${\pm}$2.7) months. The half life of PSA Of the nonfailing patients was 2.1 (${\pm}$0.9) month. The nadir PSA level Of the nonfailing Patients waS 0.8 (${\pm}$0.5) ng/ml. The period of PSA normalization had the positive correlation with pretreatment PSA level (R$^{2}$=0.468). The nadir PSA level had no definite positive correlation with the pretreatment PSA level (R$^{2}$=0.075). The half life of serum PSA level also had no definite correlation with pretreatment PSA level (R$^{2}$=0.029). Conclusion :The PSA level was mostly normalized within 8 months (85%). If it has not normalized within 12 months, we should consider the residual disease in prostate or distant metastasis. In 2 patients, the PSA level increased 6 months or 20 months before clinical disease was detected. So the serum PSA level can be used as early diagnostic indicator of treatment failure.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.30 no.6
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• pp.591-597
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• 1997

Cardiopulmonary bypass in children is associated with capillary leak which results in an increase in total body water after open heart surgery The purpose of these studies was to assess the cardiopulmonary effects of modified ultrafiltration after pediatric open heart surgery Study h: Twenty-six consecutive children aged 0.1 ~ 10 years(median 7 months) underwent cardiac operation inc rporating modified ultrafiltration. After completion of cardiopulmonary bypass, modified ultrafiltration was commenced at the flow rate of 100~ 15011min for 3 ~ 14 min. After modified ultrafiltration, elevation of hematocrit(28.3% $\pm$ 3.6% vs. 33.8olo $\pm$ 4.Ooloi p < 0.001), increased systolic 1)loots Pressure(66.7 $\pm$ 11.2mmHg vs. 76.2$\pm$ 11.BmmHg, p < 0.02), and decreased central venous pressure(7.8 $\pm$ 3.7mmHg vs. 6.9$\pm$ 2.gmmHg, p<0.001) were observed. Study B: Twenty-six children who underwent cardiac operation with the diagnosis of VSD under 2 years were assigned to control(n= 14) or modified ultrafiltration(n= 12). Peak inspiratory pressure checked immediately after operation was significantly lower in modified ultrafiltration group than in control group(20.0$\pm$ 2.4 cmH20 vs.22.4$\pm$ 2.3cmH20, p < 0.03). Modified ultrafiltration after cardiopillmonary bypass in children improves early homodynamics and pulmonary mechanics, and represents an excellent option for perioperative managemen of accumulation of fluid in the tissues. We will continually employ the modified ultrafiltration technique in pediatric cardiac operations.