• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
• /
• v.17 no.1
• /
• pp.353-356
• /
• 2016

Background: This study used receiver operating characteristic curve to analyze Surveillance, Epidemiology and End Results (SEER) for glassy cell carcinoma data to identify predictive models and potential disparities in outcome. Materials and Methods: This study analyzed socio-economic, staging and treatment factors. For risk modeling, each factor was fitted by a generalized linear model to predict the cause specific survival. Area under the receiver operating characteristic curves (ROCs) were computed. Similar strata were combined to construct the most parsimonious models. A random sampling algorithm was used to estimate modeling errors. Risk of glassy cell carcinoma death was computed for the predictors for comparison. Results: There were 79 patients included in this study. The mean follow up time (S.D.) was 37 (32.8) months. Female patients outnumbered males 4:1. The mean (S.D.) age was 54.4 (19.8) years. SEER stage was the most predictive factor of outcome (ROC area of 0.69). The risks of cause specific death were, respectively, 9.4% for localized, 16.7% for regional, 35% for the un-staged/others category, and 60% for distant disease. After optimization, separation between the regional and unstaged/others category was removed with a higher ROC area of 0.72. Several socio-economic factors had small but measurable effects on outcome. Radiotherapy had not been used in 90% of patients with regional disease. Conclusions: Optimized SEER stage was predictive and useful in treatment selection. Underuse of radiotherapy may have contributed to poor outcome.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
• /
• v.33 no.4
• /
• pp.33-38
• /
• 2016

Objectives : To identify potential correlation between patients' expectations and clinical outcome in a randomized control study of acupuncture. Methods : In a clinical trial of acupuncture for hypertension, 60 participants with pre and mild hypertension were randomized into an acupuncture group and a control group. After randomization, all participants were asked to rate their expectation for the intervention on a scale of 0 to 10. To analyze the effect of expectation on clinical outcome, change of blood pressure was compared between high and low expectation groups. Results : There was no significant difference of baseline blood pressure between low expectation group and high expectation group. Proportion of acupuncture group and control group was also not different between low and high expectation groups (p = 0.638). The change of systolic blood pressure was -1.55 mmHg in low expectation group and -3.07 mmHg in high expectation group, and it was not significantly different (p = 0.54). There was no significant difference in the change of diastolic blood pressure between two groups (p = 0.58), with -3.24 mmHg in low expectation group and -2.34 mmHg in high expectation group. Conclusion : In this study, the expectation of intervention (including acupuncture treatment) was not associated with the effect of intervention.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
• /
• v.16 no.7
• /
• pp.2903-2908
• /
• 2015

Background: Head and neck cancer (HNC) is the eighth most common cancer as estimated from worldwide data. The incidence of HNC in Peninsular Malaysia was reported as 8.5 per 100,000 population. This study was aimed to determine the treatment outcomes for HNC patients treated in the Oncology Unit of University Malaya Medical Centre (UMMC). Materials and Methods: All newly diagnosed patients with squamous cell carcinoma of head and neck (HNSCC) referred for treatment to the Oncology Unit at UMMC from 2003-2010 were retrospectively analyzed. Treatment outcomes were 5-year overall survival (OS), cause specific survival (CSS), loco-regional control (LRC) and radiotherapy (RT) related side effects. Kaplan-Meier and log rank analyses were used to determine survival outcomes, stratified according to American Joint Committee on Cancer (AJCC) stage. Results: A total of 130 cases were analysed. Most cases (81.5%) were at late stage (AJCC III-IVB) at presentation. The 5-year OS for the whole study population was 34.4% with a median follow up of 24 months. The 5-year OS according to AJCC stage was 100%, 48.2%, 41.4% and 22.0% for stage I, II, III and IVA-B, respectively. The 5-year overall CSS and LCR were 45.4% and 55.4%, respectively. Late effects of RT were documented in 41.4% of patients. The most common late effect was xerostomia. Conclusions: The treatment outcome of HNSCC at our centre is lagging behind those of developed nations. Efforts to increase the number of patients presenting in earlier stages, increase in the use of combined modality treatment, especially concurrent chemoradiotherapy and implementation of intensity modulated radiotherapy, may lead to better outcomes for our HNC patients.

• The korean journal of orthodontics
• /
• v.45 no.6
• /
• pp.308-321
• /
• 2015

Objective: The efficacy of mandibular advancement devices (MADs) in the treatment of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) ranges between 42% and 65%. However, it is still unclear which predictive factors can be used to select suitable patients for MAD treatment. This study aimed to systematically review the literature on the predictive value of cephalometric analysis for MAD treatment outcomes in adult OSA patients. Methods: The MEDLINE, Google Scholar, Scopus, and Cochrane Library databases were searched through December 2014. Reference lists from the retrieved publications were also examined. English language studies published in international peer-reviewed journals concerning the predictive value of cephalometric analysis for MAD treatment outcome were considered for inclusion. Two review authors independently assessed eligibility, extracted data, and ascertained the quality of the studies. Results: Fifteen eligible studies were identified. Most of the skeletal, dental, and soft tissue cephalometric measurements examined were widely recognized as not prognostic for MAD treatment outcome; however, controversial and limited data were found on the predictive role of certain cephalometric measurements including cranial base angle, mandibular plane angle, hyoid to mandibular plane distance, posterior nasal spine to soft-palate tip distance, anterior nasal spine to epiglottis base distance, and tongue/oral cross sectional area ratio thus justifying additional studies on these parameters. Conclusions: Currently available evidence is inadequate for identification of cephalometric parameters capable of reliably discriminating between poor and good responders to MAD treatment. To guide further research, methodological weaknesses of the currently available studies were highlighted and possible reasons for their discordant results were analyzed.

• Journal of Oral Medicine and Pain
• /
• v.41 no.2
• /
• pp.54-60
• /
• 2016

Purpose: Mandibular advancement devices (MAD) are used effectively and widely for the treatment of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) and rapid-eye-movement (REM) dependency of the patients can affect the treatment outcome of OSA. The aim of this study was to compare treatment outcomes of MAD between REM-related and not-REM-related OSA patients. Methods: Fifty-six consecutive patients with OSA who received MAD therapy were evaluated using full night polysomnography before and after insertion of the MADs. The patients were divided into REM-related (REM apnea-hypopnea index [AHI] at least two times higher than their non-REM AHI) and not-REM-related (REM AHI less than two times higher than their non-REM AHI) OSA groups. Results: MAD is used for the treatment of OSA effectively. In respect of AHI, MAD therapy were effective both in REM-related OSA and not-REM-related OSA, but MAD therapy was more effective in not-REM-related OSA than REM-related OSA in overall sleep and non-REM sleep. $SpO_2$ saturations were improved after MAD therapy, but were not different between two groups. Epworth sleepiness scale scores were not improved after MAD therapy. Percentage of REM sleep was increased after MAD therapy but was not different between two groups. Conclusions: MAD therapy was more effective in not-REM-related OSA than REM-related OSA and REM dependency can be a predictive factor of treatment outcome of oral appliance for OSA patients.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
• /
• v.7 no.2
• /
• pp.285-292
• /
• 1974

It is well known fact that many tuberculosis patients have often experienced interuption of treatment while their treatment. Because most of cases were inproved subjective symptome by adequate treatment for 3-6 months and patients misunderstood to be heal completely by their own dicision, It become the cause of emergency of drug resistance and chronic incurable diseases. The author intended to clarify the duration of treatment and its outcome by some characteristics of tuberculosis patients. The results obtained were as follows: 1. The rate of treatment for tuberculosis patients by each duration with 1-6, 7-12, 13-13, 19-24 and 25 or more months were 16, 23, 20, 14 and 25 percents respectively. The duration of treatment increased in patients with advancing age, better educated and registered at health center between 7-12 months after diagnosis for tuberculosis. 2. The rate of complete treatment, defaulters, death and migration were 43, 13, 8, and 10 percents respectively. The rate of complete treatment were high in older, better educated and registered at health center between 7-12 months after diagnosis. The rate of defaulters were high in younger, no educated and registered within 1 month after diagnosis. The rate of death was high in older and migration was high in younger.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
• /
• v.30 no.5
• /
• pp.567-574
• /
• 2001

Objective : As for growth hormone(GH) secreting pituitary adenoma, it's remission should be declared on the basis of satisfactory controlling of the tumor, normalization of hormonal level, and symptomatic improvement of the patient. Several modalities of treatment have been applied and administered, and yet, this disease still remains as inveterate one to be fully treated. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the outcome of gamma knife radiosurgery(GKRS) for GH secreting pituitary adenoma, and to identify various factors affecting the outcome of the treatment. Method : A group of 24 out of 35 patients, treated by Leksell gamma knife unit during the period of March of 1992 through October of 1997, had been observed for more than two years. The mean target volume of microadenoma was $449.3mm^3(range 216-880mm^3)$, and that of macroadenoma was $3183.1mm^3(range 1456-13125mm^3)$. The tumor margin was covered with 50% isodose profile, and mean marginal dose was 25.2Gy(range 15-32.4Gy). The mean number of isocenter was 4.3(range 1-6). The exposed dose to the optic apparatus was less than 8Gy. The mean follow-up period was 37.8months(range 24-102months). Result : No patients showed any increase in the tumor volume during the follow-up period. And definite shrinkage of tumor volume(tumor volume reduction rate, TVRR : more than 50%) was obtained in 10 patients(41.7%). Twenty one patients(87.5%) had reduced hormonal level compared than pre-treatment level. Among them, normalization of the hormonal level was achieved in 12 patients(50%). Clinicoendocrinological remission was seen in 3 patients (12.5%). According to the results of statistical analysis, tumor volume(p=0.016),duration of symptoms(p=0.046), initial GH level(p=0.017), and the invasion of cavernous sinus(p=0.036) were significantly favorable to post-radiosurgical outcome. The TVRR was significantly related to post-radiosurgical reduction of serum GH level. Permanent complication was not seen. Conclusion : The authors concluded that GKRS is a safe and effective treatment modality for acromegaly. To otain the better outcome of GKRS in GH secreting pituitary adenoma, more careful and sophisticated treatment-planning is recommended.

• Korea Journal of Hospital Management
• /
• v.19 no.2
• /
• pp.44-54
• /
• 2014

In spite of effective curative therapy, morbidity and mortality remain high for hospitalized patients with tuberculosis(TB) in Korea. The purpose of this study was to identify patient and hospital characteristics associated with hospital care outcome. Using annual patient survey data produced by Korea Institute for Health and Social Affair, we identified 8,562 hospital discharge with primary diagnosis of TB. Logistic regression analyses were performed on a model that included age, gender, residence area, insurance status, hospital admission source, length of stay, hospital ownership and class of hospital as the explanatory variables and outcome of treatments as the dependent variable. The results show that negative outcome was associated with the patients older than 65 years, medical aid beneficiary, admission through emergency department, and the patients admitted to public owned hospitals. On the other hand, the patients who were admitted to teaching hospitals were associated with positive outcome. To improve hospital treatment outcome of TB patients, more vigorous strategies should be implemented targeting the older and poor population in regard to social support as well as the clinical management and prevention.

• Korean Medical Education Review
• /
• v.15 no.1
• /
• pp.39-45
• /
• 2013

The recent medical education paradigm shift from teacher-centered to student-centered education, has led to a concentration on students' performance and competency. This means that a physician should be able to provide adequate health care in any real medical treatment situation. In order to reflect such a paradigm shift, The Catholic University of Korea School of Medicine launched a new curriculum in 2009 that emphasizes students' performance and competency-based education, known as "outcome-based education." In outcome-based education, the educational process is determined by the desired outcome, signifying the detailed competency that a graduating student should have. Thus, in outcome-based education, we should first determine the competency that results from adequate training and education, followed by specific teaching and learning strategies, methods, and assessment. This paper reviews how The Catholic University School of Medicine developed its new curriculum according to the development steps of outcome-based education.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
• /
• v.40 no.3
• /
• pp.148-153
• /
• 2006

Objective : The authors conducted this study to present the long-term treatment outcomes [minimum 2 years] of Gamma knife radiosurgery[GKS] for trigeminal neuralgia[TN] and to demonstrate the correlation of treatment outcomes and the anatomical characteristics of TN. Methods : From 1997 to 2003, 44 consecutive patients suffering from medically intractable pain underwent GKS for TN. A single 4mm collimator was used with a median maximum dose of 80Gy [range $75{\sim}80Gy$] prescribed to the root entry zone of the trigeminal nerve. Median follow up duration was 30 months [range $24{\sim}78\;months$]. Anatomical measurements of trigeminal nerve in magnetic resonance images during GKS planning were correlated with clinical outcome. Results : Twenty-two patients [50%] achieved an excellent outcome [BNI grade I & II], 20 patients [45.5%] a good outcome [grade IIIa & IIIb], and only 2 patients [4.5%] a poor outcome [grade IV & V]. Eleven patients [25.0%] experienced pain recurrence after initial pain relief. Smaller volume of trigeminal nerve area irradiated more than 40Gy was significantly correlated with excellent outcome in both univariate and multivariate analyses respectively [P=0.033 and 0.040]. Conclusion : Anatomical considerations during the planning of GKS would be helpful for predicting clinical outcome in TN.