• Title/Summary/Keyword: Veterans Affairs

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Clinical and biochemical outcomes of men undergoing radical prostatectomy or radiation therapy for localized prostate cancer

  • Schreiber, David;Rineer, Justin;Weiss, Jeffrey P.;Safdieh, Joseph;Weiner, Joseph;Rotman, Marvin;Schwartz, David
    • Radiation Oncology Journal
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    • v.33 no.1
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    • pp.21-28
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    • 2015
  • Purpose: We analyzed outcomes of patients with prostate cancer undergoing either radical retropubic prostatectomy (RRP) +/- salvage radiation or definitive radiation therapy (RT) +/- androgen deprivation. Materials and Methods: From 2003-2010 there were 251 patients who underwent RRP and 469 patients who received RT (${\geq}7,560cGy$) for prostate cancer. Kaplan-Meier analysis was performed with the log-rank test to compare biochemical control (bCR), distant metastatic-free survival (DMPFS), and prostate cancer-specific survival (PCSS) between the two groups. Results: The median follow-up was 70 months and 61.3% of the men were African American. For low risk disease the 6-year bCR were 90.3% for RT and 85.6% for RRP (p = 0.23) and the 6-year post-salvage bCR were 90.3% vs. 90.9%, respectively (p = 0.84). For intermediate risk disease the 6-year bCR were 82.6% for RT and 59.7% for RRP (p < 0.001) and 82.6% vs. 74.0%, respectively, after including those salvaged with RT (p = 0.06). For high risk disease, the 6-year bCR were 67.4% for RT and 41.3% for RRP (p < 0.001) and after including those salvaged with RT was 67.4% vs. 43.1%, respectively (p < 0.001). However, there were no significant differences between the two groups in regards to DMPFS or PCSS. Conclusion: Treatment approaches utilizing RRP +/- salvage radiation or RT +/- androgen deprivation yielded equivalent DMPFS and PCSS outcomes. Biochemical control rates, using their respective definitions, appeared equivalent or better in those who received treatment with RT.

Stereotactic radiotherapy of the prostate: fractionation and utilization in the United States

  • Weiner, Joseph P.;Schwartz, David;Shao, Meng;Osborn, Virginia;Choi, Kwang;Schreiber, David
    • Radiation Oncology Journal
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    • v.35 no.2
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    • pp.137-143
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    • 2017
  • Purpose: To analyze the utilization and fractionation of extreme hypofractionation via stereotactic body radiotherapy (SBRT) in the treatment of prostate cancer. Materials and Methods: Data was analyzed on men diagnosed with localized prostate cancer between 2004-2012 and treated with definitive-intent radiation therapy, as captured in the National Cancer Database. This database is a hospital-based registry that collects an estimated 70% of all diagnosed malignancies in the United States. Results: There were 299,186 patients identified, of which 4,962 (1.7%) were identified as receiving SBRT as primary treatment. Of those men, 2,082 had low risk disease (42.0%), 2,201 had intermediate risk disease (44.4%), and 679 had high risk disease (13.7%). The relative utilization of SBRT increased from 0.1% in 2004 to 4.0% in 2012. Initially SBRT was more commonly used in academic programs, though as time progressed there was a shift to favor an increased absolute number of men treated in the community setting. Delivery of five separate treatments was the most commonly utilized fractionation pattern, with 4,635 patients (91.3%) receiving this number of treatments. The most common dosing pattern was $725cGy{\times}5fractions$ (49.6%) followed by $700cGy{\times}5fractions$ (21.3%). Conclusions: Extreme hypofractionation via SBRT is slowly increasing acceptance. Currently $700-725cGy{\times}5fractions$ appears to be the most commonly employed scheme. As further long-term data regarding the safety and efficacy emerges, the relative utilization of this modality is expected to continue to increase.

A Proposal to Change Welfare Policy Principles for Agent Orange Exposed Korean Veterans (고엽제 피해자에 대한 국가 보상 현황 및 보훈 정책 원리 수정 제안)

  • Chung, Injae
    • Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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    • v.40 no.2
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    • pp.157-170
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    • 2014
  • Objectives: Agent Orange TCDD has been related to serious diseases among Korean veterans who were exposed to it. Decades after the end of the war, however, its effects are still being debated. The object of this study was to examine various unmet needs raised among Agent Orange exposed veterans and their families and to find grounds of a new welfare policy for providing alternative legislation. Methods: Literatures concerning Agent Orange, TCDD, the associated diseases, compensation for veterans and Supreme Court sentencing were searched using PubMed, ProQuest, press news and relevant homepages. Results: Agent Orange exposed veterans are eligible for various benefits from the government, including disability compensation for diseases associated with exposure. The Ministry of Patriots and Veterans Affairs has classified certain diseases into two categories, Agent Orange sequela diseases and sequela suspect diseases and has provided differential benefits based on separated laws. Big differences exist in benefits to veterans and their families between the two laws. The absence of definite standards to classify the Agent Orange associated diseases was confirmed by recent Supreme Court sentencing which ruled in favor of US manufacturers. Conclusion: It appears that the evidence for cause and effect of Agent Orange related diseases would never be perfect. The results suggest a need to change welfare principles from presumptive or indefinite disease basis to exposure experiences combined with integrated disability evaluation. We propose to extend eligibility by enacting a new law for Agent Orange exposed Korean veterans.

Pilot Study on Recruiting Medical Checkup Participant by Mail Survey among Korean Vietnam Veterans (베트남 참전군인에서 우편으로 검진대상자를 모집하기 위한 예비조사)

  • Yi, Sang-Wook;Hong, Jae-Seok;Ohrr, Hee-Choul
    • Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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    • v.36 no.2
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    • pp.171-178
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    • 2003
  • Objective : The aim of this study was to identify the validity of recruiting medical checkup participants of Vietnam veterans using a mail survey, and to identify the 'Vietnam service related characteristics' and 'general characteristics' of Vietnam veterans groups, Method : In this study, a total 900 veterans were randomly selected from the list of Vietnam veterans from f964 to 1973. The veterans were classified into 5 groups, taking into consideration their registered status in the Ministry of Patriots and Veterans Affairs: the VRD (veterans who have agent orange-related diseases), VSD (veterans who have agent orange-suspected disease), VM (veterans who peformed meritorious deeds during the war), VR (veterans who were registered with the Ministry of Patriots and Veterans Affair) and OV (other veterans) groups. By means of postal surveys, the veterans' intention to participate in the medical checkup for our research, and their socioeconomic and general characteristics were investigated. 52 surveys were returned due to the subjects not residing at the listed address, and were excluded from the analysis. Result : 699 of the 848 veterans (82.4%) responded to the survey, of which 619 (88.6%) intended to participate in the medical checkup for our research. The S veterans groups all had similar ages, Vietnam service period, Agent Orange exposure, troop characteristic and wartime class, with the exception of VM, who were older, and with a greater number of officers than the other 4 groups, There was a big difference in the health statius among the Vietnam veterans group. The VM and OV were much healthier than VRD, VSD and VR groups, The socioeconomic stati of the VRD, VSD and VR groups were lower than those of the VM and OV groups. Conclusion : Although there were some limitations, the recruitment, by mail, of medical checkup participants from Vietnam veterans is a valid and feasible method. The VM and OV groups were much healthier, and with higher socioeconomic stati, than the VRD, VSD, and VR groups.

Korean War and Veterans Public Diplomacy (한국전쟁과 보훈외교: 발전방향과 과제)

  • Yechan Moon
    • The Journal of the Convergence on Culture Technology
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    • v.10 no.5
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    • pp.99-105
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    • 2024
  • 63 nations from all continents took part in the Korean War, which was an international war. These aspects of the Korean War point to the potential for global veteran issues. In order to strengthen veterans' public diplomacy in time for the 70th year of the Korean War's armistice, this study will look at the current situation of veterans with nations that took part in the conflict. It will also make suggestions for future directions and tasks. From the standpoint of broadening the reach to include material assistance countries, expressing their intention to help South Korea, and strengthening veterans of current UN veterans, this study offered suggestions for how to promote veterans' public diplomacy. There are many veterans institutions in Korea, and it is anticipated that the active development of dark tourism employing them would help increase interest in the Korean War both domestically and abroad. The Korean War is a crucial event that brought the world and Korea together. It's time to prepare for sustainable international veterans affairs while paying tribute to the past through public diplomacy among veterans.

The Influence of Post-Traumatic Stress and Social Support on Depression of Vietnam Veterans (베트남 참전군인의 외상 후 스트레스와 사회적 지지가 우울에 미치는 영향)

  • Hyun, Hye-Sun;Kim, Tae-Yeol;Kim, Yun-Young
    • The Korean Journal of Health Service Management
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    • v.12 no.1
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    • pp.137-147
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    • 2018
  • Objectives : The purpose of this study was to identify the post-traumatic stress, social support, and depression of Vietnam veterans and the effects of post-traumatic stress and social support on depression. Methods : This study was carried out from June 2017 to September 2017 with the cooperation of the Korean Society of Veterans' Affairs and 250 Vietnamese veterans from D city were randomly sampled and collected. The collected data were used by SPSS 24.0 Statistics Program. Results : Social support was inversely correlated with post-traumatic stress (r=-.268, p<.001) and depression (r=-.333, p<.001), and post-traumatic stress and depression (r=.592, p<.001) were positively correlated. Post-traumatic stress and social support of veterans had a significant effect on depression, and post-traumatic stress and social support showed an explanatory power of 37.7% in depression. Conclusions : It is necessary to improve soldiers' mental health by mediating their post-traumatic stress and reducing their depression level by establishing a social support system.

Theoretical axial wall angulation for rotational resistance form in an experimental-fixed partial denture

  • Bowley, John Francis;Kaye, Elizabeth Krall;Garcia, Raul Isidro
    • The Journal of Advanced Prosthodontics
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    • v.9 no.4
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    • pp.278-286
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    • 2017
  • PURPOSE. The aim of this study was to determine the influence of long base lengths of a fixed partial denture (FPD) to rotational resistance with variation of vertical wall angulation. MATERIALS AND METHODS. Trigonometric calculations were done to determine the maximum wall angle needed to resist rotational displacement of an experimental-FPD model in 2-dimensional plane. The maximum wall angle calculation determines the greatest taper that resists rotation. Two different axes of rotation were used to test this model with five vertical abutment heights of 3-, 3.5-, 4-, 4.5-, and 5-mm. The two rotational axes were located on the mesial-side of the anterior abutment and the distal-side of the posterior abutment. Rotation of the FPD around the anterior axis was counter-clockwise, Posterior-Anterior (P-A) and clockwise, Anterior-Posterior (A-P) around the distal axis in the sagittal plane. RESULTS. Low levels of vertical wall taper, ${\leq}10-degrees$, were needed to resist rotational displacement in all wall height categories; 2-to-6-degrees is generally considered ideal, with 7-to-10-degrees as favorable to the long axis of the abutment. Rotation around both axes demonstrated that two axial walls of the FPD resisted rotational displacement in each direction. In addition, uneven abutment height combinations required the lowest wall angulations to achieve resistance in this study. CONCLUSION. The vertical height and angulation of FPD abutments, two rotational axes, and the long base lengths all play a role in FPD resistance form.

A Study on Comparing the Veteran Affair System Between Korea and the Other Countries (우리나라와 세계 각국의 보훈제도 비교 연구)

  • Sang-Hyuk Park;Seung-Woo Wang;Jae-Geon Lee
    • The Journal of the Convergence on Culture Technology
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    • v.9 no.1
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    • pp.395-400
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    • 2023
  • Korea has been in a truce state for about 70 years, not an end-of-war country. Even in a situation with this specificity, Korea's veterans' system is insufficient compared to other countries. In addition, Korea's veteran policy lacks an "honor of veterans" system compared to veterans' advanced countries (the United States, Canada, Australia, France, and Germany), and a representative example of it is the "support system for veterans and discharged soldiers." After analyzing the major veterans' policy systems in the veterans' developed countries (US, Canada, Australia, France, and Germany), this study suggests that we should expand the major anniversaries related to veterans and suggest a policy alternative as it is necessary to introduce public awareness education on the promotion of veterans. In the end, it is necessary to properly recognize the pain and agony of division to the generations before and after, laying the foundation for the advanced country-type veteran affair system.

An Analysis on Compensation for Special Mission Executors -Focused on Theoretical Frameworks of Gilbert and Terrell- (특수임무 수행자 보상에 대한 분석 -길버트와 테렐 분석틀을 중심으로-)

  • Song, Byeong-Keun;Park, Seong-su;Yu, Soo-Min
    • The Journal of the Convergence on Culture Technology
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    • v.9 no.1
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    • pp.287-298
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    • 2023
  • The purpose of this study is to analyze the compensation law for Special Mission Executors enacted to compensate for sacrifices for the state based on the policy framework proposed by Gilbert and Terrell and to present the limitations and development directions of the compensation policy. In particular, this study presents the characteristics of each dimension of the policy through the bases of social allocation, the types of social provisions, the strategies for the delivery, and the ways to finance. Through the analysis, We deduce problems of the compensation law for Special Mission Executors. Representative limitations of the compensation policy can be summarized as follows. Due to extreme selectivism, the limitations are the narrow selection criteria of the targets, the benefits which are not out of proportional to contributions, delayed benefits and the decrease in the size of public resources. These limitations suggest that the compensation policy for Special Mission Executors does not contain the significance of the Patriots and Veterans Affairs Policy. The value the Patriots and Veterans Affairs can be considered as a means for repaying the contributions who sacrificed for the nation. Therefore, the government needs to make efforts to develop a policy with the true significance of the Patriots and Veterans Affairs.