• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.16 no.17
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• pp.7627-7632
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• 2015

Background: The present study was conducted to evaluate the technical feasibility, safety and adequacy of surgical margins with salvage transoral robotic surgery (TORS) for recurrent or residual head and neck squamous cell carcinoma patients. Materials and Methods: Thirty patients who underwent salvage TORS using the 'DaVinci' robot were enrolled in the study and data related to their surgical time, complications and functional outcome were recorded. Results: The feasibility of salvage TORS in our study was observed to be 100%. Positive margins were encountered in only 6.7% of patients. Mean blood loss was 23.3 ml with no patient requiring blood transfusion. Postoperative complications in the form of primary haemorrhage requiring active surgical intervention occurred in 13.3%. Oral feeding could be started as early as the 3rd postoperative day in a few patients, with nasogastric tubes being removed on the 12th postoperative day. Long term gastrostomy tube dependency was seen in 10% cases. Median survival of patients was 19 months. Conclusions: Salvage TORS is a safe, effective and feasible option in the management of treatment failure cases. It offers an alternative surgical approach with unexpected benefits in terms of tracheostomy tube use, Ryle's tube and gastrostomy dependence.

• Archives of Craniofacial Surgery
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• v.21 no.5
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• pp.269-275
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• 2020

Background: The advance in microsurgical technique has facilitated a proper approach for reconstruction of extensive head and neck defects. For the success of free tissue reconstruction, selection of the recipient vessel is one of the most important factors. However, the vascular anatomy of this region is very complex, and a clear guideline about this subject is still lacking. In this study, we present our 30 years of experiences of free tissue reconstruction for head and neck defects. Methods: In this retrospective study, we analyzed a total of 138 flaps in 127 patients who underwent head and neck reconstruction using free tissue transfer following tumor resection between October 1986 to August 2019. Patients who underwent facial palsy reconstruction were excluded. Medical records including patient's demographics, detailed operation notes, follow-up records, and photographs were collected and analyzed. Results: Among a total of 127 patients, 10 patients underwent a secondary operation due to cancer recurrence. The most commonly used type of flap was radial forearm flap (n=107), followed by the anterolateral thigh flap (n=18) and fibula flap (n=10). With regard to recipient vessels, superior thyroid artery was most commonly used in arterial anastomosis (58.7%), and internal jugular vein (51.3%) was the first choice for venous anastomosis. The flap survival rate was 100%. Four cases of venous thrombosis were resolved with thrombectomy and re-anastomosis. Conclusion: Superior thyroid artery and internal jugular vein were reliable choices as recipient vessels. Proper recipient vessel selection could improve the result of head and neck reconstruction.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.15 no.8
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• pp.3561-3566
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• 2014

Background: Recurrent nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) after previous radiotherapy is challenging. There is no standard approach for salvage treatment. Here we present toxicity and treatment results for recurrent NFC patients who underwent fractionated stereotactic radiotherapy (FSRT) as second line radiotherapy (RT). Materials and Methods: Between April 2009 and July 2012, 24 patients, with a male to female ratio of 3:1, were treated with CykerKnife$^{(R)}$ FSRT for recurrent NFC in our institution. Seven out of 24 patients had metastatic recurrent disease. Median age was 53 years (range, 20-70 years). Initial RT dose was 70Gy. The time period between initial RT and FSRT was a median of 33.2 months. The median prescription dose for FSRT was 30Gy (range, 24-30 Gy) in a median of 5 fractions (range, 4-6). Results: The median follow-up for all patients was 19.5 months (IQR: 12.2.-29.2 months). The locoregional control; progression free survival and overall survival (OS) rates for 1-, 2- and 3-year were 64%, 38%, 21%; 60%, 30%, 17% and 83%, 43%, 31%, respectively. Median OS for the entire cohort was 22 months (95% CI: 16.5-27.5). On multivariate analysis recurrent tumor stage was the only prognostic factor for OS (p=0.004). One patient exhibited grade III temporal lobe necrosis. One died because of grade IV mucositis and overlapping infection. Conclusions: The treatment of recurrent NPC is controversial. Fractionated stereotactic radiotherapy is promising. However, the published trials are heterogeneous with respect to the selection criteria and treatment details. Prospective studies with long term follow-up data are warranted.

• Korean Medical Education Review
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• v.17 no.3
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• pp.140-147
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• 2015

Medical education can provide students with an opportunity to encounter marginalized communities and motivate them to become involved with the needs of disadvantaged people. The College of Medicine of The Catholic University of Korea includes a social service program in the medical humanities and social sciences curriculum. The course has lectures on social welfare, human rights, and social service, as well as four days of social service in 'Flower Village,' which is a Catholic social welfare institution. This study analyzes the satisfaction, feedback, and reflection papers of students who completed the social service program and provides an educational model for the medical humanities and social sciences. Students' satisfaction with the program was scored at 4.23 out of 5. A qualitative study of students' reflection papers derived 7 key phrases, among which 'nature and practice of social service,' 'holistic understanding of humans,' 'empathy and communication,' and 'social responsibility' are identified as goals of this program and 'happiness,' 'respect for human life,' and 'compassion' are good indicators of students' compassionate participation. Encounters with marginalized communities within the medical curriculum allows students to serve people with social difficulties and work for the improvement of their living conditions. Students learn to approach social needs with concern and empathy and seek ways to contribute to those communities.

• Korea Journal of Hospital Management
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• v.20 no.3
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• pp.36-44
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• 2015

The Activity Based Costing(ABC) means the process that makes clear how the actions and input resources have changed into service to calculate medical services costs. These days, the number of hospital which is using the ABC system is increasing to make their policy decision making efficient and run the hospitals more resonable. This study analyzes the unbalance in the level of health insurance service fee and the improvement plans based from 8 hospitals(ABC system) and 95 clinics(ABC survey). The cost recovery ratio has shown different levels according to each service type. A surgery service type recorded 76.8% and an evaluation & management service type is 84.6%, a treatment procedure type(85.8%), a function test type(91.6%) and health insurance fee even did not reach to the original cost. Meanwhile, a laboratory test type and imaging test type show high level of cost recovery ratio. they recorded 188.3% and 158.8%. Resultingly now of unbalance in the level of health insurance service fee accelerates supply of every test. so there is a need to make laboratory test type and imaging test type lower to keep balance with the surgery and medical service. These methods should be performed gradually with monitoring the unbalance fee ratio and for this, a panel medical institution have to be established for generalizations of studying result, fairness of selecting researching sample.

• Hip & pelvis
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• v.30 no.4
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• pp.254-259
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• 2018

Purpose: Internal fixation using compression hip screws (CHS) and traction tables placing patients in the supine position is a gold standard option for treating intertrochanteric fractures; however, at our institution, we approach this treatment with patients in a lateral decubitus position. Here, the results of 100 consecutive elderly (i.e., ${\geq}45$ years of age) patients who underwent internal fixation with CHS in lateral decubitus position are analyzed. Materials and Methods: Between March 2009 and May 2011, 100 consecutive elderly patients who underwent internal fixation with CHS for femoral intertrochanteric fracture were retrospectively reviewed. Clinical outcomes (i.e., Koval score, Harris hip score [HHS]) and radiographic outcomes (i.e., bone union time, amount of sliding of lag screw, tip-apex distance [TAD]) were evaluated. Results: Clinical assessments revealed that the average postoperative Koval score decreased from 1.4 to 2.6 (range, 0-5; P<0.05); HHS was 85 (range, 72-90); and mean bone union time was 5.0 (range, 2.0-8.2) months. Radiographic assessments revealed that anteroposterior average TAD was 6.95 (range, 1.27-14.63) mm; lateral average TAD was 7.26 (range, 1.20-18.43) mm; total average TAD was 14.21 (range, 2.47-28.66) mm; average lag screw sliding was 4.63 (range, 0-44.81) mm; and average angulation was varus $0.72^{\circ}$(range, $-7.6^{\circ}-12.7^{\circ}$). There were no cases of screw tip migration or nonunion, however, there were four cases of excessive screw sliding and six cases of varus angulation at more than $5^{\circ}$. Conclusion: CHS fixation in lateral decubitus position provides favorable clinical and radiological outcomes. This technique is advisable for regular CHS fixation of intertrochanteric fractures.

• International Journal of Computer Science & Network Security
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• v.21 no.9
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• pp.267-274
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• 2021

The article deals with problems of innovation development on a network basis, which require effective mechanisms of innovation communications. In research the organizational aspects of ICT infrastructure development for innovation networks sustainable development based on cooperative marketing principles is considered. The proposed research idea is based on the idea that ICT implementation is based not only on the operational approach for innovation management as a factor of efficiency of internal communications, but also on knowledge economy and post-industrial economy trends. Therefore, the purpose of study is to develop an ICT model of innovation infrastructure to improve its effectiveness (strategic character) and efficiency (operative character) through increasing the efficiency of network communication interactions. Creation of information space and communication tools to support innovation network sustainable development and cooperation activities in research is proposed to be solved with the help of specialized ICT platform. It is shown, that ICT platform of innovation cooperation innovation network is important tool for common work of participants. ICT platform is considered as an integrated information system designed to automate business processes related to the sustainable development of innovation network, segment management and integration with HEI information systems and industrial cooperation. The main factors that determine the need to use a special ICT platform for innovation network cooperation were considered. The main issues of concurrent engineering (C-technology) application in high-technology industries and innovation cooperation for integrated product development were studied.

• Journal of Gastric Cancer
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• v.20 no.4
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• pp.376-384
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• 2020

Purpose: The role of prophylactic abdominal drainage in total gastrectomy is not well-established. This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of abdominal drainage in the prevention and management of major intra-abdominal complications after total gastrectomy for gastric carcinoma. Materials and Methods: We retrospectively reviewed the data of 499 patients who underwent total gastrectomy for gastric carcinoma in a high-volume institution. The patients were divided into drainage and non-drainage groups and compared for the development and management of major intra-abdominal complications, including anastomotic leak, abdominal bleeding, abdominal infection, and pancreatic fistulas. Results: The drainage group included 388 patients and the non-drainage group included 111 patients. The 2 groups showed no significant differences in clinicopathological characteristics or operative procedures, except for more frequent D2 lymphadenectomies in the drainage group. After surgery, the overall morbidity (drainage group vs. non-drainage group: 24.7% vs. 28.8%, P=0.385) and incidence of major intra-abdominal complications (6.4% vs. 6.3%, P=0.959) did not significantly differ between the two groups. The non-drainage group showed no significant increase in the incidence rate of major intra-abdominal complications in the subgroups divided by age, sex, comorbidity, operative approach, body mass index, extent of lymphadenectomy, and pathological stage. Abdominal drainage had no significant impact on early diagnosis, secondary intervention or reoperation, or recovery from major intra-abdominal complications. Conclusions: Prophylactic abdominal drainage showed little demonstrable benefit in the prevention and management of major intra-abdominal complications of total gastrectomy for gastric carcinoma.

• Journal of Positioning, Navigation, and Timing
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• v.12 no.1
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• pp.23-35
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• 2023

Korea Augmentation Satellite System (KASS) is a satellite-based augmentation system (SBAS) that provides approach procedure with vertical guidance-I (APV-I) level corrections and integrity information to Korea territory. KASS is used to monitor navigation performance in real-time, and this paper introduces the design, implementation, and verification process of mission monitoring (MIMO) in KASS. MIMO was developed in compliance with the Minimum Operational Performance Standards of the Radio Technical Commission for Aeronautics for Global Positioning System (GPS)/SBAS airborne equipment. In this study, the MIMO system was verified by comparing and analyzing the outputs of reference tools. Additionally, the definition and derivation method of accuracy, integrity, continuity, and availability subject to MIMO were examined. The internal and external interfaces and functions were then designed and implemented. The GPS data pre-processing was minimized during the implementation to evaluate the navigation performance experienced by general users. Subsequently, tests and verification methods were used to compare the obtained results based on reference tools. The test was performed using the KASS dataset, which included GPS and SBAS observations. The decoding performance of the developed MIMO was identical to that of the reference tools. Additionally, the navigation performance was verified by confirming the similarity in trends. As MIMO is a component of KASS used for real-time monitoring of the navigation performance of SBAS, the KASS operator can identify whether an abnormality exists in the navigation performance in real-time. Moreover, the preliminary identification of the abnormal point during the post-processing of data can improve operational efficiency.

• Journal of Hospice and Palliative Care
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• v.26 no.2
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• pp.42-50
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• 2023

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to identify barriers to effective conversations about advance care planning (ACP) and palliative care reported by health care and community-based service providers in Massachusetts, USA. Methods: This qualitative research analyzed open-ended responses to two survey questions, inquiring about perceived barriers to having conversations about ACP and palliative care with patients and consumers. Data were collected between November 2017 and June 2019 from nine organizations in Massachusetts, including health care provider organizations, health insurers, community-based organizations, and a nursing education institution. Two researchers reviewed and coded the responses and identified common themes inductively. Results: Across 142 responses, primary barriers to ACP included hesitation and lack of understanding and knowledge, discomfort and resistance among service providers, lack of staff knowledge, difficulties with followup, and differences in ACP policies across regions. Common barriers to palliative care were misconceptions about palliative care and lack of knowledge, service providers' lack of preparedness, and limited policy support and availability. Challenges relevant to both ACP and palliative care were fear and discomfort around serious illness discussions, lack of knowledge and awareness, discussions that occur too late, and cultural and language barriers. Conclusion: Health care practitioners and community-based professionals reported consumer-, service provider-, and system-level barriers to facilitating conversations about ACP and palliative care with patients experiencing serious illness. There is a need for more tools and support to strengthen service providers' ACP and palliative care competencies and to promote a structured approach to health care planning conversations.