• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.63 no.1
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• pp.119-135
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• 2020

Objective : To investigate the epidemiology of newly-diagnosed, histologically-confirmed (NDHC) central nervous system (CNS) tumours and its changes over a 21-year period in a regional hospital in Hong Kong. Methods : This is a single-institute retrospective descriptive study of patients undergoing surgery for CNS tumours in a regional hospital of Hong Kong in the period from January 1996 to December 2016. The histological definition of CNS tumours was according to the World Health Organization classification, while the site definition for case ascertainment of CNS tumours was as set out by the Central Brain Tumour Registry of the United States. Patients of any age, who had NDHC CNS tumours, either primary or secondary, were included. The following parameters of the patients were retrieved : age at diagnosis, gender, tumour location, and histological diagnosis. Population data were obtained from sources provided by the Government of Hong Kong. The incident rate, estimated by the annual number of cases per 100000 population, for each histology grouping was calculated. Statistical analyses, both including and excluding brain metastases, were performed. Statistical analysis was performed with Microsoft Excel, 2016 (Microsoft, Redmond, WA, USA). Results : Among the 2134 cases of NDHC CNS tumours, there were 1936 cases of intracranial tumours and 198 cases of spinal tumours. The annual number of cases per 100000 population of combined primary intracranial and spinal CNS tumours was 3.6 in 1996, and 11.1 in 2016. Comparing the 5-year average annual number of cases per 100000 population of primary CNS tumours from the period 1996-2000 to 2011-2015, there was an 88% increase, which represent an increase in the absolute number of cases by 4.52 cases/100000 population. This increase was mainly contributed by benign histologies. In the aforementioned periods, meningiomas increased by 1.45 cases/100000 population; schwannomas by 1.05 cases/100000 population, and pituitary adenomas by 0.91 cases/100000 population. While gliomas had a fluctuating 5-year average annual number of cases per 100000 population, it only had an absolute increase of 0.51 cases/100000 population between the 2 periods, which was mainly accounted for by the change in glioblastomas. Conclusion : This retrospective study of CNS tumour epidemiology revealed increasing trends in the incidences of several common CNS tumour histologies in Hong Kong, which agrees with the findings in large-scale studies in Korea and the United States. It is important for different geographic locations to establish their own CNS tumour registry with well-defined and structured data collection and analysis system to meet the international standards.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.17 no.12
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• pp.5063-5069
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• 2016

Background: Breast cancer is the most common cancer among women in most countries of the world. It is ranked first in females in Morocco (accounting for 33.4% of the total cancer burden) and more than 60% of cases are diagnosed at stage III or IV. During the last decade, health-related quality of life (HRQOL) has become an important aspect of breast cancer treatment. The objective of this study was to describe self-reported HRQOL in patients with breast cancer and to investigate its associations with sociodemographic and clinical variables. Methods: A prospective study was carried out in the main oncology centers in Morocco. Quality of life was measured using the Moroccan Arabic versions of the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire C 30 (EORTC QLQ C30) and the Breast Cancer-Specific Quality of Life Questionnaire (EORTC QLQ-BR23). Statistical analyses were performed using descriptive statistics and multivariate analyses. Results: A total of 1463 subjects were included in the study, with a mean age of 55.6 (SD. 11.2) years, 70% being married. The majority had stage II (45.9%) and a few cases stage IV (12.9%) lesions. The participants' global health mean score was 68.5 and in "functional scales", social functioning scored the highest (Mean 86.2 (SD=22.7)). The most distressing symptom on the symptom scale was financial difficulties (Mean 63.2 (SD=38.2)). Using the disease specific tool, it was found that future perspective scored the lowest (Mean 40.5 (SD=37.3)). On the symptom scale, arm symptoms scored the highest (Mean 23.6 (SD=21.6)). Significant mean differences were noted for many functional and symptom scales. Conclusion: Our results emphasized that the general HRQOL for our study population is lower than for corresponding populations in other countries. This study provided baseline information on the quality of life for a large sample of Moroccan women diagnosed with breast cancer.

• Safety and Health at Work
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• v.4 no.3
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• pp.160-165
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• 2013

Background: Occupational accidents are unplanned events that cause damage. The socio-economic impacts and human costs of accidents are tremendous around the world. Many fatalities happen every year in workplaces such as electricity distribution companies. Some electrical injuries are electrocution, electric shock, and burns. This study was conducted in an electricity distribution company (with rotational 12-hour shift work) in Iran during an 8-year period to survey descriptive factors of injuries. Methods: Variables collected included accident time, age of injured worker, employment type, work experience, injury cause, educational background, and other information about accidents. Results: Results indicated that most of the accidents occurred in summer, and 51.3% were during shift work. Worker negligence (malpractice) was the cause of 75% of deaths. Type of employment had a significant relationship with type of injuries (p < 0.05). Most injuries were electrical burns. Conclusion: High rate of accidents in summer may be due to the warm weather or insufficient professional skills in seasonal workers. Shift workers are at risk of sleep complaints leading to a high rate of work injuries. Acquiring knowledge about safety was related to job experiences. Temporary workers have no chance to work all year like permanent workers, therefore impressive experiences may be less in them. Because the lack of protective equipment and negligence are main causes of accidents, periodical inspections in workshops are necessary.

• Journal of muscle and joint health
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• v.14 no.2
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• pp.118-126
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• 2007

Purpose: The purpose of the study was to examine the relationship between the level of pain and depression in middle-aged women with chronic low back pain. Method: A descriptive correlational research design was utilized. The participants were middle-aged women who visited two back pain clinics in Wonju from October, 2006 through February, 2007. A total of 195 low back pain patients agreed to participate in this study, and data from 177 were analyzed. Data was collected using a questionnaire which included Visual Analogue Scale (VAS), Center Epidemiology Studies Depression Scale(CES-D), and general characteristics. Descriptive statistics, t-test, ANOVA and Pearson correlation coefficients were utilized in the analysis. Results: The mean score for chronic low back pain as measured by the VAS was 4.99 (SD 2.41). The average score for depression as measured by the CES-D was 22.00 (SD 10.18). There was a significant relationship between the level of pain and depression (r=.372, p<.001). Conclusion: Nurses need to take into consideration depression of middle-age women with chronic low back pain for assessment and intervention. In the future, developing a strategy for integrating intervention of pain-control and depression will be needed in nursing care for middle-aged women with chronic low back pain.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing
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• v.35 no.1
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• pp.47-55
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• 2005

Purpose: This study was to evaluate the validity of the Pediatric Index of Mortality Ⅱ(PIM Ⅱ). Method: The first values on PIM Ⅱ variables following ICU admission were collected from the patient's charts of 548 admissions retrospectively in three ICUs(medical, surgical, and neurosurgical) at P University Hospital and a cardiac ICU at D University Hospital in Busan from January 1, 2002 to December 31, 2003. Data was analyzed with the SPSSWIN 10.0 program for the descriptive statistics, correlation coefficient, standardized mortality ratio(SMR), validity index(sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, negative predictive value), and AUC of ROC curve. Result: The mortality rate was 10.9% (60 cases) and the predicted death rate was 9.5%. The correlation coefficient(r) between observed and expected death rates was .929(p<.01) and SMR was 1.15. Se, Sp, pPv, nPv, and the correct classification rate were .80, .96, .70, .98, and 94.0% respectively. In addition, areas under the curve (AUC) of the receiver operating characteristic(ROC) was 0.954 (95% CI=0.919～0.989). According to demographic characteristics, mortality was underestimated in the medical group and overestimated in the surgical group. In addition, the AUCs of ROC curve were generally high in all subgroups. Conclusion: The PIM Ⅱ showed a good, so it can be utilized for the subject hospital. better.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.45 no.6
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• pp.600-612
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• 2012

Nutritional researchers world-wide are using large-scale sample survey methods to study nutritional health epidemiology and services utilization in general, non-clinical populations. This article provides a review of important statistical methods and software that apply to descriptive and multivariate analysis of data collected in sample surveys, such as national health and nutrition examination survey. A comparative data analysis of the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES) was used to illustrate analytical procedures and design effects for survey estimates of population statistics, model parameters, and test statistics. This article focused on the following points, method of approach to analyze of the sample survey data, right software tools available to perform these analyses, and correct survey analysis methods important to interpretation of survey data. It addresses the question of approaches to analysis of complex sample survey data. The latest developments in software tools for analysis of complex sample survey data are covered, and empirical examples are presented that illustrate the impact of survey sample design effects on the parameter estimates, test statistics, and significance probabilities (p values) for univariate and multivariate analyses.

• Women's Health Nursing
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• v.17 no.3
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• pp.285-293
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• 2011

Purpose: This study was designed to examine the relationship between perceived entrapment to depression and subjective well-being of women as family caregivers caring for elderly dementia patients. Methods: One hundred and sixty-nine women family caregivers were recruited from two high schools located in Seoul, Korea for this descriptive study. The instruments used were The Entrapment Scale, The Center for Epidemiology Studies Depression Scale (CES-D) and Subjective well-being scale. Results: The score of perceived entrapment significantly correlated with depression and subjective well-being. The significant predictor of depression in women caregivers was perceived entrapment, 50.3% of the variance in depression. Also, perceived entrapment was predictor of subjective well-being in women caregivers, explaining 41.4% of the variance in depression. Conclusion: This study showed that perceived entrapment is an important predictor for depression and subjective well-being. Therefore, in order to reduce depression in women caregivers, it is necessary to design an intervention program that helps with coping and reduces perceived entrapment.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.15 no.16
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• pp.6969-6972
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• 2014

Cancer is a major health problem facing the entire world, and Kazakhstan is not the exception. The aim of this study was to present an epidemiological assessment of leukemia in the population of Kazakhstan during 2003-2012. This descriptive and retrospective study was based on data obtained from all oncological organizations of the whole country. Age standardized incidence rates per 100,000 population for leukemia were calculated. Totally, 6,741 new cases of leukemia were registered in Kazakhstan during the 10 year period. The mean age of patients with leukemia was 48.5. The ASRs for leukemia among men and women were 5.3 and 3.6, respectively (p<0.001). In conclusion, our results showed a high incidence rate of leukemia in Kazakhstan, especially in the north of the country. The incidence of leukemia was significantly higher in males and increased with age. Determining and controlling important risk factors of leukemia may lead to decrease in its burden.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.15 no.21
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• pp.9475-9478
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• 2014

Cancer is the third highest cause of premature mortality in Iran. We aimed to determine trend of common cancers in Khuzestan province, Iran. Methods: It was a hospital based survey on 4065 subjects from their hospital files, those had registered as cancer case in Shafa hospital which has known as a biggest center of cancer in khuzestan province, Iran during 2005-2011.All data has entered by SPSS (version 19), descriptive statistic and adjusted odds ratio of common cancers for age and sex were calculated from multiple logistic regression model. Results: From all subjects; (51% & 49%) were male and female respectively. The most frequent age group was 60-50 years and common cancers were breast 16%, colorectal 6.3%, blood 2%, lung 8% and stomach 8%. Conclusion: Prevalence of cancers has increased markedly with age in Khuzestan Providence. Therefore, it is essential to prevent through early prevention, using screening and identifying cases in initial stages.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.15 no.5
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• pp.2201-2204
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• 2014

Russian rates for melanoma incidence and mortality are relatively low as compared to some other white populations but the tumor is of increasing importance. In this paper, data are based on a retrospective descriptive analysis of melanoma epidemiology and clinicopathological characteristics in Krasnoyarsk Territory belonging to the Siberian Federal District of the Russian Federation. The age-adjusted incidence and mortality rates for the period 1996-2009 were determined with subsequent retrospective analysis of clinicopathological data of 103 primary melanoma cases. Our results showed that incidence and mortality rates in the region under consideration match the Russian national trends and correspond to epidemiological data of the countries of Eastern Europe. Stratification of melanoma cases by age, sex, clinicopathological state and localization revealed a prevalence of lesions on the trunk and lower extremities. Most melanomas diagnosed were of superficial spreading type and the third Clark's level of tumor invasion and stage II according to AJCC. In spite of comparatively low rates of incidence and mortality the trend to increase of melanoma cases in the region under consideration obviously calls for more attention and further investigation.