• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.41 no.6
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• pp.777-781
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• 2008

Benign metastasizing leiomyoma is a rare disease that histologically shows features of a benign tumor; however it can metastasize to the lung or other organs. We report here on a case of a 53-year-old Woman with benign metastasizing leiomyoma, and she was admitted to the hospital with symptoms of coughing for 2 months; she showed multiple diffuse nodular opacities of both lungs on a chest radiograph. She had undergone hysterectomy for leiomyoma of the uterus 13 years previously. Thoracoscopic lung biopsy was performed to rule out metastatic lung cancer. The pulmonary nodules appeared benign with a very low mitotic rate and they consisted of smooth muscle cells. The pathologic findings of the pulmonary nodules were consistent with benign metastasizing leiomyoma. The patient has been followed up closely without any specific therapy.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing
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• v.27 no.3
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• pp.627-638
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• 1997

Most patients having leukemia suffer severely from emotional turmoil due to the generalized perception that cancer will be fatal. The conventional chemotherapy results in side effects such as severe bone marrow depression which interfere with self-care management, vital for improvement in their condition. Bandura's theory of the self-efficacy suggests that self- efficacy can be enforced by performance attainments, vicarious experiences, verbal per-suasion and the release of emotional arousal. Self-efficacy can be enforced by a program of vicarious experiences and verbal persuasion, while the emotional arousal can be relieved through a hope promotion program, If once self-efficacy increases, the patient's self-care behaviors and the quality of life will also increase. The purpose of this study was to empirically test the effects of a program, to promote self-efficacy and hope, on self-care behaviors and quality of life in patients having leukemia. In this study, three types of approaches to enhance self-efficacy and hope were used : 1) a 20-minute long slide /tape for vacarious experiences : 2) a 10-minute long telephone call coaching for verbal persuasion ; and 3) two booklets for information about the symptoms of leukemia and treatment modalities and hope promotion. Thirty one patients were recruited in the experimental group and 29 in the control group with a nonequivalent pretest-posttest design. The subjects were patients with leukemia undergoing chemotherapy. Sherer and Maddux's self-efficacy scale, Nowotny's hope scale, and Padilla's quality of life scale were employed with some modifications. A self-care behavior scale was developed by the researchers. Statistical analyses including paired t-test, Chi-square, ANCOVA and ANOVA, were used. The results are as follows : The levels of self-efficacy, self-care behavior and quality of life were higher in the experimental group than in the control group after four weeks of intervention(F=28.71, P=.0001 ; F=63.35, P=.0001 F=16.57, P=.0001). After ten weeks of intervention, all of the dependent variables(self-efficacy, self-care behavior, hope & quality of life) in the experimental group were higher than in the control group (F=74.12, P=.0001 ; F=108.34, P=.0001 ; F=13,11, P=.001 : F=43.52, P=.0001). In conclusion, self-care behavior and quality of life increased mainly through an increase in self-efficacy, while increases in hope took more time and effort.

• Korean Journal of Clinical Pharmacy
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• v.22 no.4
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• pp.356-366
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• 2012

Background: Chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN) involving sensory and motor nerve damage or dysfunction is a common and serious clinical problem that affects many patients receiving cancer treatment. This condition may pose challenges for the clinician to diagnose and manage, particularly in patients with coexisting conditions or disorders that involve the peripheral nervous system. Many chemotherapeutic agents used today are associated with the development of serious and dose-limiting CIPN that can adversely affect the administration of planned therapy and can impair quality of life by interference with the patients' activities of daily living. The most important clinical objective in the evaluation of patients with CIPN is to determine their level of functional impairment involving activities of daily living. These findings are used to make medical decisions to continue, modify, delay, or stop treatment. The most commonly reported drugs to cause CIPN include taxanes, platinum agents, vinca alkaloids, thalidomide, and bortezomib. We aimed to determine PN incidence during cisplatin, carboplatin and oxaliplatin administration. Methods: We collected data from 125 patients who received at least one cycle of cisplatin, carboplatin or oxaliplatin. They completed a self-reported questionnaire and items related to their disease and peripheral neuropathy. The investigators filled in part of items about disease and treatment. Patient Neurotoxicity Qeustionnaire developed by Bionumerik company were applied for PN assessment. Results: The incidences of sensory neurotoxicities of cisplatin, carboplatin and oxaliplatin were respectively 23%, 56% and 50%. The incidences of motor neurotoxicities of cisplatin, carboplatin and oxaliplatin were respectively 18%, 42% and 19%. The incidences of severe neurotoxicities of cisplatin, carboplatin and oxaliplatin were respectively 13%, 28% and 14%. The incidences of PN were associated with cumulative dose but not age, gender and concurrent illness. 19.2% of the patients (24/125) were prescribed with gabapentin, nortriptyline or gabapentin plus nortriptyline to reduce these peripheral symptoms and 75% of the patients answered the drug were effective. Conclusion: Incidence of PN after cisplatin or oxaliplatin administration is cumulative dose-related. Physician-based assessments under-reported the incidence and severity of CIPN. To overcome this limitation, diagnostic tools specifically designed to assess peripheral neuropathy severity associated with chemotherapy must be developed.

• Journal of Oral Medicine and Pain
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• v.38 no.3
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• pp.247-253
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• 2013

Renal osteodystrophy(RO) is characterized by skeletal changes in patients with renal disease and developed as a result of alterations in the metabolism of calcium, phosphate and secondary hyperparathyroidism. Bony changes in the craniofacial region include decreased bone density, radiolucent lesions(brown tumors), depletion of cortical bone and loss of lamina dura, but such changes rarely occur in the temporomandibular joint(TMJ). We report an uncommon case of bony changes and pain of both TMJs in a patient with RO. A 41-year-old man with RO came to our clinic due to TMJ pain and sounds. Occlusal change was also reported. Radiographs revealed degenerative changes of the both condyles. The patient had medical history of renal cancer therapy and hemodialysis. The patient was diagnosed with TMJ arthritis of RO and referred for systemic management through medication of calcium and vitamin D and parathyroidectomy. At 15-month follow-up, most of TMD symptoms disappeared and second radiographs revealed that bone density and cortical thickness of the mandible increased and the skeletal outline of the both condyles became relatively clear. As bony changes may begin in the early stage of the renal disease, dentists should be alert to detect the sign of the disease. In addition, it is important to differentiate TMJ arthritis of systemic cause because the treatment protocol is quite different.

• Journal of the korean academy of Pediatric Dentistry
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• v.38 no.3
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• pp.284-289
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• 2011

Lesch-Nyhan syndrome is a disease caused by metabolic disorder of purine. General muscle stiffness and hyposomia are shown from infancy and symptoms can include involuntary or irregular movements of arms and legs, mental retardation, and compulsive self-mutilating behaviors. Self-mutilating behaviors begin at approximately the first year or sometimes at late teens. The patients bite their lips, especially lower lip, tongue, buccal mucosa, hands and fingers. Tongue and lips can be injured or mutilated in severe cases. As the patient gets older, self-mutilating behaviors become more serious and extensive and secondary infection of injured areas is possible. Periodic soft tissue damage due to self-mutilating may evolve to cancer. Medical treatment, appliance treatment, extraction of tooth and surgical operation was attempted to control self-mutilaing behaviors. We hereby report the case of child Lesch-Nyhan syndrome patient who has self-inflicted labial damage as chief complaint. When patient was treated with conservate therapy, such as removable or fixed appliance, the frequency of labial damage could be subdued and yielded favorable results.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.55 no.3
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• pp.88-92
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• 2012

Purpose: Mucopolysaccharidosis type II (MPS II or Hunter syndrome) is a rare lysosomal storage disorder caused by iduronate-2-sulfatase (IDS) deficiency. MPS II causes a wide phenotypic spectrum of symptoms ranging from mild to severe. IDS activity, which is measured in leukocyte pellets or fibroblasts, was reported to be related to clinical phenotype by Sukegawa-Hayasaka et al. Measurement of residual plasma IDS activity using a fluorometric assay is simpler than conventional measurements using skin fibroblasts or peripheral blood mononuclear cells. This is the first study to describe the relationship between plasma IDS activity and clinical phenotype of MPS II. Methods: We hypothesized that residual plasma IDS activity is related to clinical phenotype. We classified 43 Hunter syndrome patients as having attenuated or severe disease types based on clinical characteristics, especially intellectual and cognitive status. There were 27 patients with the severe type and 16 with the attenuated type. Plasma IDS activity was measured by a fluorometric enzyme assay using 4-methylumbelliferyl- ${\alpha}$-iduronate 2-sulphate. Results: Plasma IDS activity in patients with the severe type was significantly lower than that in patients with the attenuated type ($p$=0.006). The optimal cut-off value of plasma IDS activity for distinguishing the severe type from the attenuated type was 0.63 $nmol{\cdot}4hr^{-1}{\cdot}mL^{-1}$. This value had 88.2% sensitivity, 65.4% specificity, and an area under receiver-operator characteristics (ROC) curve of 0.768 (ROC curve analysis; $p$=0.003). Conclusion: These results show that the mild phenotype may be related to residual lysosomal enzyme activity.

• Journal of Hospice and Palliative Care
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• v.19 no.3
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• pp.201-210
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• 2016

Delirium is a common symptom in patients with terminal cancer. The prevalence increases in the dying phase. Delirium causes negative effects on quality of life for both patients and their families, and is associated with higher mortality. However, some studies reported that it tends to remain unrecognized in palliative care setting. That may be related with difficulties to distinguish the symptom from others with overlapping characteristics such as depression and dementia, and a lack of knowledge regarding assessment and diagnostic tools. We suggest that accurate recognition with validated tools and early diagnosis of the symptom should be highly prioritized in delirium management in palliative care setting. After diagnosing delirium, it is important to identify and address reversible precipitants such as medication, dehydration, and infection. Non-pharmacological interventions including comfortable environment for the patient and family education are also essential in the management strategy. If such interventions prove ineffective or insufficient to control hyperactive symptoms, pharmacologic interventions with antipsychotics and benzodiazepine can be considered. Until now, low levels of haloperidol remains the standard treatment despite a lack of evidence. Atypical antipsychotics such as olanzapine, quetiapine and risperidone reportedly have similar efficacy with a stronger sedating property and less adverse effect compared to haloperidol. Currently, delirium medications that can be used in palliative care setting require more clinical trials, and thus, clinical guidelines are not sufficiently available. We suggest that it is warranted to develop clinical guidelines based on well-designed clinical studies for palliative care patients.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.37 no.5
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• pp.776-785
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• 2016

The purpose of this study is to report and demonstrate the effect of Korean medical treatment on a wedge resection of a lung patient with mucinous adenocarcinoma. The patient was an 84-year-old female who was diagnosed with mucinous adenocarcinoma and underwent wedge resection. The patient was treated with acupuncture and herbal medicine (Banhahubak-tang and Gamiondam-tang). The EORTC Quality of Life Questionnaire, Core 30 (EORTC QLQ-C30), EORTC Quality of Life Questionnaire, Lung Cancer 13 (EORTC QLQ-LC13), numeric rating scale (NRS), and the Global Assessment (G/A) were used to assess the changes in symptoms, including operation site pain and dyspnea. After treatment, the patient showed improvement in operation site pain and dyspnea, based on the NRS and G/A. However, dyspnea and pain were aggravated based on the EORTC QLQ-C30 and EORTC QLQ-LC13. Therefore, Korean medicine may have a substantial benefit for patients with mucinous adenocarcinoma after wedge resection of the lung.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.37 no.2
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• pp.160-165
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• 2004

Successful treatment of multi-loculated pleural effusion or thoracic empyema requires effective drainage and definitive diagnosis of causative organism. The purpose of this study was to assess the efficacy of the video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery in the management of thoracic empyema or multi-loculated pleural effusion after chest tube drainage treatment had failed. Material and Method: Between April 2000 and July 2002, 20 patients with thoracic empyema or multi-loculated pleural effusion that failed to chest tube drainage or other procedures who underwent an operation. All patients were assessed by chest-computed tomogram and underwent video assisted thoracoscopic drainage, debridement, biopsy and irrigation of pleural cavity. Result: In 18 cases (90%), underwent successful video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery. In 2 cases, decortications by mini-thoracotomy were necessary. The ratio of sex was 4 : 1 (16 male: 4 female), mean age was 48.9 years old (range, 17∼72 years), mean duration of postoperative chest tube placement was 8.2 days (range, 4∼22 days), mean postoperative hospital stay was 15.2 days (range, 7∼33 days). Causative disease was tuberculosis, pneumonia, trauma and metastatic breast cancer, There were no major postoperative complications. Symptoms improved in all patients and were discharged with OPD follow up. Conclusion: In an early organizing phase of empyema or multi loculated pleural effusion, video-assisted thoracoscopic drainage and debridement are safe and suitable treatment.

• Journal of Hospice and Palliative Care
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• v.19 no.2
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• pp.145-153
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• 2016

Purpose: This study was conducted to investigate patients' characteristics and actual conditions of home-based services offered by a free-standing hospice center. Methods: A retrospective review was performed with the medical records of 75 patients who received home-based hospice care from a free-standing hospice center from January 2014 through December 2014. Results: Most patients (54.7%) were enrolled via self-directed referral. The reason for the service termination was death at home 25.3%, admission to a hospice ward 50.7%, hospitalization 22.6% and patients' refusal 2.7%. Seventy three patients had cancer, and two patients had ALS. Among all, 58.7% were in a dying phase, and 34.7% were almost completely bedfast at the time of their enrollment in this study. When they enrolled, the patients' physical symptoms were characterized as pain (89.4%), sleep disturbance (71.2%), urinary difficulties (35.8%) and defecation difficulties (47.8%). Among all, 77.4% terminated the home visit service within one month. The mean frequency of the home visits was 3.25 (${\pm}3.98$), and less than five in 82.7% of patients. The mean frequency of the phone service was 3.40 (${\pm}3.12$). The frequency of doctor's home visits was $1.21{\pm}0.79$ on average, and the figure increased when patients' conditions turned unstable. Conclusion: It is necessary to develop a home-based hospice care model with consideration of patients' characteristics and the actual service conditions delivered by free-standing hospice facilities.