• Journal of Korean Biological Nursing Science
• /
• 제24권4호
• /
• pp.219-226
• /
• 2022

Purpose: This study aimed to investigate the status and factors associated with self-management behavior (SMB) of patients with type 2 diabetes (T2DM) in a border area of southwest China. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted with T2DM patients in Dali, China. The participants filled in the questionnaires including demographic and disease-related characteristics, psychosocial status, resources of DM knowledge, knowledge of DM care, competency in DM care skills, the Chinese Diabetes Management Self-Efficacy Scale (C-DMSES), and the Chinese Summary of Diabetes Self-Care Activities (C-SDSCA). All the data were analyzed with SPSS version 26. Multiple linear regression analysis examined associations between predictors and SMB. Results: A total of 470 valid questionnaires have been collected. The score for overall SMB was 50.71± 11.99; 19.6% of patients were at a good level, 48.3% were moderate, and 32.1% were poor. The significant factors that influenced SMB included self-efficacy (β= 0.37; p< .001), competency in DM care skills (β= 0.22; p< .001) and lacked in the treatment confidence (β= -0.09; p= .023). Conclusion: The level of self-management among T2DM patients in this area was medium-low state. For future studies, our findings suggest that self-efficacy, competency in DM care skills, and treatment confidence should be considered essential factors in improving the self-management behavior of T2DM patients in the border area of southwest China.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
• /
• 제65권1호
• /
• pp.138-144
• /
• 2022

To report two cases of type 1.5 split cord malformation (SCM), a subtype of SCM with combined characteristics of types I and II and to review the relevant literature and propose a new possible pathogenetic theory for type 1.5 SCM. A 52-year-old woman had hemicords within a single dural sac with a dorsal bony septum at the L5 level. A 9-year-old boy had hemicords within a single dural sac with a ventral bony septum and fibrous extension at the L3 level. Both patients underwent microsurgical treatments for removing the bony septum, detethering the spinal cord, and sectioning the filum terminale. The surgical procedure revealed an extradural partial bony septum and hemicords within an intact single dural sac in each patient. Both patients were discharged from the hospital without de novo nerve dysfunction. Published cases have validated that types I and II SCM can overlap. We recommend recent type 1.5 SCM as a normative terminology for this overlapping SCM and report two rare cases of this SCM. We propose an associated pathogenesis consisting of uneven distribution and regression to explain type 1.5 SCM. Furthermore, we postulate that the amount of condensing meninx primitiva might determine whether the left bony septum has fibrous extensions to the opposite dura in type 1.5 SCM.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
• /
• 제15권2호
• /
• pp.775-780
• /
• 2014

Objectives: TCR-gamma-delta+T cells (${\gamma}{\delta}$ T cells) are non-conventional T lymphocytes that can recognize and eradicate tumor cells. Our previous studies showed that infiltration and function of ${\gamma}{\delta}$ T cells were substantially attenuated in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). However, their prognostic value was not clarified. Methods: The association between ${\gamma}{\delta}$ T cells and the clinical outcomes was determined by immunohistochemistry (IHC) in a HCC patient cohort (n = 342). Results:Immunohistochemistry showed decreased infiltration of ${\gamma}{\delta}$ T cells in tumoral tissues compared with paired peritumoral tissues. The counts of ${\gamma}{\delta}$ T cells in peritumoral tissues were negatively correlated with tumor size (P = 0.005). Survival analysis showed that the levels of peritumoral ${\gamma}{\delta}$T cells were related to both time to recurrence (TTR) and overall survival (OS) (P = 0.010 and P = 0.036, respectively) in univariate analysis, and related to TTR in multivariate analysis (P = 0.014, H.R. [95% CI] = 0.682 [0.502-0.927]). Furthermore, the level of peritumoral ${\gamma}{\delta}$ T cells showed independent prognostic value for TTR in Barcelona Clinic Liver Cancer (BCLC) stage A patients (P = 0.038, H.R. [95% CI] = 0.727 [0.537-0.984]). However, tumoral ${\gamma}{\delta}$ T cells did not show independent prognostic value for either TTR or OS in HCC patients. Conclusions: Low counts of ${\gamma}{\delta}$ T cells in peritumoral liver tissue are related to a higher incidence of recurrence in HCC and can predict postoperative recurrence, especially in those with early-stage HCC.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
• /
• 제15권14호
• /
• pp.5691-5696
• /
• 2014

Background: Many clinical trials have been conducted to evaluate sorafenib for the treatment of advanced NSCLC, but the results for efficacy have been inconsistent. The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy and safety of sorafenib in patients with advanced NSCLC in more detail by meta-analysis. Methods: This meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) was performed after searching PubMed, EMBASE, ASCO Abstracts, ESMO Abstracts, and the proceedings of major conferences for relevant clinical trials. Two reviewers independently assessed the quality of the trials. Outcomes analysis were disease control rate (DCR), progression- free survival (PFS), overall survival (OS) with 95% confidence intervals (CI) and major toxicity. Subgroup analysis was conducted according to sorafenib monotherapy, in combination with chemotherapy or EGFR-TKI to investigate the preferred therapy strategy. Results: Results reported from 6 RCTs involving 2, 748 patients were included in the analysis. Compared to sorafenib-free group, SBT was not associated with higher DCR (RR 1.31 (0.96- 1.79), p=0.09), PFS (HR 0.82 (0.66-1.02), p=0.07) and OS (HR 1.01 (0.92-1.12), p=0.77). In terms of subgroup results, sorafenib monotherapy was associated with significant superior DCR and longer PFS, but failed to show advantage with regard to OS. Grade 3 or greater sorafenib-related adverse events included fatigue, hypertension, diarrhea, oral mucositis, rash and HFSR. Conclusions: SBT was revealed to yield no improvement in DCR, PFS and OS. However, sorafenib as monotherapy showed some activity in NSCLC. Further evaluation may be considered in subsets of patients who may benefit from this treatment. Sorafenib combined inhibition therapy should be limited unless the choice of platinum-doublet regimen, administration sequence or identification of predictive biomarkers are considered to receive better anti-tumor activity and prevention of resistance mechanisms.

• Korean Journal of Radiology
• /
• 제25권4호
• /
• pp.384-394
• /
• 2024

Objective: To evaluate the image quality of novel dark-blood computed tomography angiography (CTA) imaging combined with deep learning reconstruction (DLR) compared to delayed-phase CTA images with hybrid iterative reconstruction (HIR), to visualize the cervical artery wall in patients with Takayasu arteritis (TAK). Materials and Methods: This prospective study continuously recruited 53 patients with TAK (mean age: 33.8 ± 10.2 years; 49 females) between January and July 2022 who underwent head-neck CTA scans. The arterial- and delayed-phase images were reconstructed using HIR and DLR. Subtracted images of the arterial-phase from the delayed-phase were then added to the original delayed-phase using a denoising filter to generate the final-dark-blood images. Qualitative image quality scores and quantitative parameters were obtained and compared among the three groups of images: Delayed-HIR, Dark-blood-HIR, and Dark-blood-DLR. Results: Compared to Delayed-HIR, Dark-blood-HIR images demonstrated higher qualitative scores in terms of vascular wall visualization and diagnostic confidence index (all P < 0.001). These qualitative scores further improved after applying DLR (Dark-blood-DLR compared to Dark-blood-HIR, all P < 0.001). Dark-blood DLR also showed higher scores for overall image noise than Dark-blood-HIR (P < 0.001). In the quantitative analysis, the contrast-to-noise ratio (CNR) values between the vessel wall and lumen for the bilateral common carotid arteries and brachiocephalic trunk were significantly higher on Dark-blood-HIR images than on Delayed-HIR images (all P < 0.05). The CNR values were significantly higher for Dark-blood-DLR than for Dark-blood-HIR in all cervical arteries (all P < 0.001). Conclusion: Compared with Delayed-HIR CTA, the dark-blood method combined with DLR improved CTA image quality and enhanced visualization of the cervical artery wall in patients with TAK.

• 한국병원경영학회지
• /
• 제19권4호
• /
• pp.34-44
• /
• 2014

The objective of this study is to analyze the effects of DINESCAPE on patient satisfaction and the intention of maintaining long-term relationship for Chinese Patients who received medical services at plastic surgery clinics in South Korea. For an empirical analysis, a total of 250 respondents were surveyed from may 1 to october 20, 2014. Of these, 200 respondents were considered to be reliable for statistical analysis. According to the analysis results, among the components of DINESCAPE, atmosphere, cleanliness, convenience and accessibility, employees service, and the convenience of using the websites had positive effects on patient satisfaction, which exerted a positive effect on the intention of maintaining long-term relationship with patients.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
• /
• 제13권9호
• /
• pp.4823-4826
• /
• 2012

Objective: To explore serum angiogenic factor expression in patients with osteosarcoma and its relationship with metastasis. Methods: Immunohistochemistry was used to test the expression of CD34 and FVIII-Rag in osteosarcoma tissues of 36 patients (osteosarcoma group) and microvessel density (MVD) was also recorded. In addition, ELISA was used to test the level of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF), transforming growth factor-${\beta}1$ (TGF-${\beta}1$) and endostatin (ES) in the osteosarcoma group and in a control group. Results: VEGF and ES level were significantly higher than in the control group before operation (P<0.01), VEGF, bFGF and TGF-${\beta}1$ correlating with the ES level (P<0.01). Serum VEGF and ES levels of osteosarcoma patients before surgery were closely related to relapse and metastasis; moreover, serum VEGF increased with MVD (P<0.01). Postoperative VEGF and ES levels were lower than the preoperation values (P<0.01); ES level in relapse group was significantly higher than that of the non-relapse group (P<0.01). Conclusion: Preoperative serum VEGF and postoperative ES levels have great predictive value with regard to relapse of osteosarcoma patients.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
• /
• 제13권8호
• /
• pp.3747-3750
• /
• 2012

Aim: The aim of this study was to investigate the quality of life (QOL) of breast cancer patients by using the Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-Breast (FACT-B) questionnaires. Methods: A total of 522 adult patients who were admitted to our hospital with breast cancer were collected during the period of Jun. 2007 to Dec. 2009. Results: Our FACT-B questionnaire study suggested that women below 50 years old, employed, higher education and annual income, lower TNM stage and receiving modified radical mastectomy manifested significantly better QOL using the assessment tool of the FACT-B subscale. Moreover, regression analysis indicated patients with young age, low stage cancer, high education and income were more likely to have high score of QOL, with ORs (95% CI) of 2.8 (1.52-4.56), 2.1 (1.15-3.95), 3.1 (1.45-5.12) and 3.54 (1.54-5.43), respectively. Conclusions: Our study showed younger age, lower stage of cancer, higher education and income could influence the QOL of breast cancer patients in our Chinese population. Further large sample studies are still needed for confirmation.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
• /
• 제13권7호
• /
• pp.3465-3469
• /
• 2012

Aim: Platinum agents have shown to be effective in the treatment of colorectal cancer. We assessed whether single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in GSTP1, ERCC1 Asn118Asn and ERCC2 Lys751Gln might predict the overall survival in patients receiving oxaliplatin-based chemotherapy in a Chinese population. Methods: SNPs of GSTP1, ERCC1 Asn118Asn and ERCC2 Lys751Gln in 335 colorectal cancer patients were assessed using TaqMan nuclease assays. Results: At the time of final analysis on Nov. 2011, the median follow-up period was 37.7 months (range from 1 to 60 months). A total of 229 patients died during follow-up. Our study showed GSTP1 Val/Val (HR=0.44, 95% CI=0.18-0.98), ERCC1 C/C (HR=0.20, 95% CI=0.10-0.79) and ERCC2 G/G (HR=0.48, 95% CI=0.19-0.97) to be significantly associated with better survival of colorectal cancer. GSTP1 Val/Val, ERCC1 C/C and ERCC2 G/G were also related to longer survival among patients with colon cancer, with HRs (95% CIs) of 0.41 (0.16-0.91), 0.16 (0.09-0.74) and 0.34 (0.16-0.91), respectively. Conclusion: GSTP1, GSTP1, ERCC1 Asn118Asn and ERCC2 Lys751Gln genotyping might facilitate tailored oxaliplatin-based chemotherapy for colorectal cancer patients.

• 동의생리병리학회지
• /
• 제22권5호
• /
• pp.1132-1139
• /
• 2008

The structure of medical profession is composed of multiple relations among state, patients, and medical professions. There are conflicts between the nation and medical professions because the nation controls the monopoly of medical professions through medical policies. Patients make relations with medical profession as medical consumers. And medical professions compete each other in order to gain the control of the medical market. This paper attempts to review the dynamic relations between the nation and medical professions. The medical professions and the nation are in conflict about the control of the autonomy of medical professions. The medical professions want to exercise the monopoly rights in their own area and, on the other had, the nation wants to prevent problems that might result from the monopoly by regulations and to have the control over the national operation. Given this, the common view of medical sociology is that the nation and the medical professions are in constant conflict. The arguments that the present medical sociology has on the relationship between the nation and medical professions can be summarized like these: first, the nation is the authenticator of medical system; second, the nation is a medical provider and consumer; and, third, the nation is a mediator of regulations and conflicts. Based on the above mentioned relations between the nation and medical professions, this paper attempts to see how the nation, which is one component of the medical structure, make influences on Korean Oriental doctors and Traditional Chinese doctors. So as to do this, the changes in medical policies and promoting policies for Korean Oriental medicine and Traditional Chinese medicine are analyzed. Finally, the differences in national policies of Korean Oriental medicine and Traditional Chinese medicine are compared.