• Journal of Genetic Medicine
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• v.9 no.1
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• pp.17-21
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• 2012

Purpose: The aim of this study was to analyze parental decisions regarding pregnancies in which the fetus had sex chromosome abnormalities (SCA) over a ten-year period. Materials and Methods: We collected and reviewed records from our hospital for 2001-2010 and a genetic specialist provided-genetic counseling. Results: We diagnosed 130 cases (0.71%) with SCA out of 18,376 prenatal cases from 2001 to 2010. We reviewed the records and the results of all pregnancies. We also included cases (n=84) of apparently normal anatomic fetuses to analyze the factors influencing parental decisions. We excluded 34 cases with an obvious anomaly or a presumably bad outcome and 12 cases that were not followed up. Forty-three couples (51.2%) continued their pregnancies while forty-one (48.8%) terminated them. Of 38 mosaicism cases, 21 (55.3%) were continued. Among the 20 pregnancies assisted by reproductive techniques, 15 (75%) were continued (P=0.02). More pregnancies were continued when genetic counseling was provided (61.9%) compared to cases in which it was not provided (19%) (P=0.01). Conclusion: Genetic counseling is important in providing appropriate information to parents. Establishing guidelines and protocols will help both obstetricians and parents to make informed decisions.

• Women's Health Nursing
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• v.24 no.1
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• pp.58-70
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• 2018

Purpose: To provide accurate information on induced labor and find strategies to enhance women's childbirth satisfaction. Methods: Participants were pregnant women expected to have normal vaginal delivery. A total of 113 women with induced labor and 61 women with spontaneous labor were surveyed. Data were collected using a questionnaire and electronic medical records. Results: The following variables related to labor progress showed significant differences between the induced labor group and the spontaneous labor group: length of the first stage of labor in primigravidas, use of analgesic, incidence of uterine hyperstimulation, incidence of fetal distress, and medical treatment for the expectant mother. Delivery type and the incidence of postpartum complications showed significant difference between the two groups. Induced labor women's childbirth satisfaction was mainly affected by the process of labor whereas spontaneous labor women's childbirth satisfaction was affected by the outcome of childbirth. Conclusion: Medical staff should have accurate information on the risk of induced labor and the benefits of a natural delivery. Moreover, medical staff should provide necessary information and environment for women to participate in the decision-making process.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.14 no.11
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• pp.6501-6505
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• 2013

To obtain a screening and early detection reference for individuals who have a family history of cancer on the paternal side, we collected and analyzed data from 240 pairs in which both fathers and their children were diagnosed with cancer. Disease categories of fathers and sons were similar to that of the general population of China, whereas daughters were different from general female population with high incidence of breast cancer and gynecological cancer. Sons were more likely than daughters to have the same type of cancer, or to have cancer in the same organ system as their fathers (P < 0.0001). Sons and daughters developed malignant diseases 11 and 16 years earlier than their fathers, respectively (P < 0.0001 for both sons and daughters). Daughters developed malignant diseases 5 years earlier than sons (P < 0.0001). Men with a family history of malignant tumors on the paternal side should be screened for malignancies from the age of 45 years, or 11 years earlier than the age of their fathers' diagnosis, and women should be screened from the age of 40 years, or 16 years earlier than the age at which their fathers were diagnosed with cancer. Lung cancer should be investigated in both men and women, whilst screening should focus on cancer of the digestive system in men and on breast and gynecological cancer (ovary, uterine and cervical cancer) in women.

• Korean Journal of Radiology
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• v.20 no.1
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• pp.5-17
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• 2019

The diagnosis and management of pancreatic neuroendocrine neoplasms (NENs) have evolved significantly in recent years. There are several diagnostic and therapeutic challenges and controversies regarding the management of these lesions. In this review, we focus on the recent significant changes and controversial issues regarding the diagnosis and management of NENs and discuss the role of imaging in the multidisciplinary team approach.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.17 no.7
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• pp.3095-3099
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• 2016

Background: Cervical cancer is the most frequently diagnosed cancer among women in India. Understanding quality of life (QOL) in women undergoing chemo-radiotherapy for cervical cancer will help in introducing interventions for better care and outcomes in these women. This study assessed QOL before and after chemo-radiotherapy in cervical cancer patients. Materials and Methods: This follow-up study covered sixty-seven newly diagnosed women with advanced cervical cancer (stages 2b to 4b). Structured questionnaires (the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer, EORTC QLQ-C30 and EORTC QLQ-CX24) were used to assess the change in QOL after 6 months of treatment. Results: The mean age of women at the time of detection of cervical cancer was $52.3{\pm}11.29$ years (Range 30-75 years). Six months survival was 92.53%. The mean global health score of cervical cancer patients after six months of treatment was 59.52, which was significantly higher than the pre-treatment score of 50.15 (p=0.00007). Physical, cognitive and emotional functioning improved significantly (p<0.05) after treatment. Fatigue, pain, insomnia and appetite loss improved but episodes of diarrhea increased after treatment. The mean "symptoms score" using EORTC QLQ-CX24 post treatment was 20.0 which was significantly lower as compared to the pre- treatment score 30.0 (p<0.00001). Sexual enjoyment and sexual functioning decreased significantly after treatment. Conclusions: QOL of newly diagnosed cervical cancer patients improved significantly following chemo-radio therapy. Enhancement was also demonstrated on three of the five functional scales of EORTC QLQ-C30. To further improve QOL, interventions focusing on social and psychological support and physical rehabilitation may be needed.

• Korean Medical Education Review
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• v.15 no.1
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• pp.54-58
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• 2013

There has been an increase in the number of female doctors worldwide. Women now represent half of all medical students, with almost the same numbers of men and women becoming physicians. There is a pool of talented women in our midst, and it is our responsibility as leaders to find those individuals and groom them for progress. However, residency training and academic education still resemble the historical model when there were few women in medicine. Gender differences in medical specialty choices can cause a maldistribution of doctors by specialty and geographical area, which could cause significant problems at the national health care system level. Major challenges facing female physicians include gender discrimination and sexual harassment, and work/family conflicts. Women are largely under-represented in academic medicine and experience discrimination in the academic environments. Recent issues about related to the "feminization of medicine" raise important questions forabout how academic medicine deals with gender issues. To better accommodate the needs of female doctors and ensure that they will have successful careers, structural and cultural changes to medical educations are needed.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.18 no.4
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• pp.788-794
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• 2008

The aim of the present study is to estimate the overall prevalence and type distribution of human papillomavirus (HPV) in Korean women, through literature review and meta-analysis. We searched published data for the period between 1995 and 2007 using the following inclusion criteria; (1) studies using type-specific HPV tests, (2) data from Korean female, (3) with cytologic or pathologic results, (4) having more than 20 cases for each subgroup classified by cytologic results, and (5) HPV detection including types 16, 18, and at least one other type. In total, 18 studies (13,842 cases) published up to April 2007 were identified and selected. Adjusted overall HPV prevalence was 23.9% (95% CI: 23.8-24.1%) in women with normal cytology and 95.8% (95% CI: 95.4-96.2%) in women with cervical cancer. Type 16 was predominant regardless of cervical disease status, and type 58 occupied a significantly larger proportion in high-grade cervical intraepitheliallesions and cervical cancer in Korean women. HPV types 58, 33, and 52 together accounted for about 20% of infections in cervical cancer and high-grade intraepitheliallesions. After introduction of HPV prophylactic vaccines, extended protection, especially against types 58, 33, and 52, will be an important issue for cervical cancer prevention in Korea. The future dominant genotypes will require follow-up epidemiological studies with a large-scale, multicentered, and prospective design.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.14 no.11
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• pp.6579-6584
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• 2013

Background: With effective early treatments, many breast cancer patients suffer from psychological distress due to adverse effects and lifelong physical disfigurement. Our study aimed to evaluate the psychopathological profile of breast cancer patients in comparison with healthy women and explored demographic correlates. Method: We consecutively enrolled breast cancer patients who came to the hospital for follow-up or rehabilitation care after primary treatment, and healthy female relatives or friends of inpatients in the Cancer Institute of Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences between August 30, 2010 and January 1, 2012. Psychopathological profile was assessed based on the Symptom Checklist-90-R (SCL-90-R) for patients and controls. We compared demographics such as age, ethnicity, education, marriage, and occupation, and incorporated these data plus cancer status for the association with the general SCL-90-R index and scores for 9 major symptom dimensions in multiple regression analysis. Results: We surveyed a total of 291 female breast cancer patients and 531 healthy women. The average age was $55.1{\pm}6.40$ years for breast cancer patients and $43.1{\pm}12.8$ for healthy controls (P<0.01). The mean survival was 5.20 years for cancer patients (range, 0.60-9.90 years). There were statistically significant differences in education, marriage, and occupation between the two groups (P<0.01). General index ($1.45{\pm}0.45$ versus $1.32{\pm}0.37$) and 8 dimension scores (excluding anxiety) on SCL-90-R were significantly higher in patients (P<0.05). Multiple regression analysis showed that the breast cancer status was positively correlated with general SCL-90-R index and 6 dimension scores (excluding the anxiety, phobic anxiety and paranoid ideation dimensions) (P<0.05). Regression coefficients ranged from 0.10 (depression) to 0.19 (somatization). Higher interpersonal sensitivity was noticed in single women compared to married women. Conclusions: Chinese patients with breast cancer demonstrate greater psychopathology compared to healthy controls. The breast cancer status is an independent contributing factor to the general psychopathological profile. Breast cancer patients should be given particular counseling and care to alleviate their psychological distress.

• Journal of Genetic Medicine
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• v.2 no.2
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• pp.53-57
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• 1998

Spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) type I is a common severe autosomal recessive inherited neuromuscular disorder that has been mapped to chromosome 5q11.2-13.3. The survival motor neuron (SMN) gene, a candidate gene, is known to be deleted in 96% of patients with SMA type I. Presently, PCR and single strand conformation polymorphism (PCR-SSCP) analyses have been made possible for application to both archival slides and paraffin-embedded tissues. Archival materials represent valuable DNA resources for genetic diagnosis. We applied these methods for the identification of SMN gene of SMA type I in archival specimens for the prenatal diagnosis. In this study, we performed the prenatal diagnosis with chorionic villus sampling (CVS) cells on two women who had experienced neonatal death of SMA type I. DNA extraction was done from archival slide and tissue materials and PEP-PCR was performed using CVS cells. In order to identify common deletion region of SMN and neuronal apoptosis-inhibitory protein (NAIP) genes, cold PCR-SSCP and PCR-restriction site assay were carried out. Case 1 had deletions of the exons 7 and 8, and case 2 had exon 7 only on the telomeric SMN gene. Both cases were found to be normal on NAIP gene. These results were the same for both CVS and archival biopsied specimens. In both cases, the fetuses were, therefore, predicted to be at very high risk of being affected and the pregnancy were terminated. These data clearly demonstrate that archival slide and paraffin-embedded tissues can be a valuable source of DNA when the prenatal genetic diagnosis is needed in case any source for genetic analysis is not readily available due to previous death of the fetus or neonate.

• Journal of Genetic Medicine
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• v.6 no.2
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• pp.175-178
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• 2009

The 22q11.2 duplication syndrome is an extremely variable disorder with a phenotype ranging from normal to congenital defects and learning disabilities. Recently, the detection rate of 22q11.2 duplication has been increased by molecular techniques, such as array CGH. In this study, we report a familial case of 22q11.2 duplication detected prenatally. Her first pregnancy was terminated because of 22q11.2 duplication detected incidentally by BAC array CGH. The case was referred due to second pregnancy with same 22q11.2 duplication. We perfomed repeat amniocentesis for karyotype and FISH analysis. Karyotype analysis from amniocytes and parental lymphocytes were normal, while FISH analysis of interphase cells presented a duplication of 22q11.2 in the fetus and phenotypically normal mother. The fetal ultrasound showed grossly normal finding. After genetic counseling about variable phenotype with intrafamilial variability with 50% recurrence rate, the couple decided to continue the pregnancy. The newborn had no apparent congenital abnormalities until 2 weeks after birth. We recommend that family members of patients with a 22q11.2 duplication be tested by the interphase FISH analysis. Also, we point out the importance of genetic counseling and an evaluation of the clinical relevance of diagnostic test results.