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Effect of Automatic Exposure Control Marker with Chest Radiography in Radiation Reduction (자동노출제어를 사용한 X선 흉부촬영에서 AEC 표지자 사용에 따른 환자 피폭선량 감소 효과)

  • Jung, Ji-Sang;Choi, Byoung-Wook;Kim, Sung-Ho;Kim, Young-Mo;Shim, Ji-Na;Ahn, Ho-Sik;Jin, Duk-Eun;Lim, Jae-Sik;Kang, Sung-Ho
    • Journal of radiological science and technology
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    • v.37 no.3
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    • pp.177-185
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    • 2014
  • This study focused on effects of patient exposure dose reduction with AEC (Auto Exposure Control) marker that is designed for showing location of AEC in X-ray Chest radiography. It included 880 adults who have to use Chest X-ray Digital Radiography system (DRS, LISTEM, Korea). AEC (Ion chambers are posited in top of both sides) are used to every adult and set X-ray system as Field size $17{\times}17inch$, 120kVp, FFD 180cm. 440 people of control group are posited on detector to include both sides of lung field and the other 440 people of experimental group are set to contact their lung directly to Ion chamber (making marker to shows location). Then, measured every DAP and, estimated patient effective dose by using PCXMC 2.0. The average age of control group (M:F=245:195) is 53.9 and the average BMI is 23.4. BMI ranges from under weight: 35, normal range: 279, over weight: 106 to obese: 20 and average DAP is 223.56mGycm2, Mean effective dose is 0.045mSv. The average age of experimental group (M:F=197:243) is 53.7 and the average BMI is 22.7. BMI ranges from under weight: 34, normal range: 315, over weight: 85 to obese: 6 and average DAP is 207.36mGycm2, Mean effective dose is 0.041mSv. Experimental group shows less Mean effective dose as 0.004mSv (9.7%) than control group. Also, patient numbers who got over exposure more than 0.056mSv (limit point to know efficiency of AEC marker) is 65 in control group (14.7%), 19 in experimental group (4.3%) and take statistics with t-Test. The statistical difference between two groups is 0.006. In order to use proper amount of X-ray in auto exposure controlled chest X-ray system, matching location between ion chamber and body part is needed, and using AEC marker (designed for showing location of ion chamber) is a way to reduce unnecessary patient exposure dose.

Analysis of Growth and Hematologic Characteristics of Endangered Korean Native Cattle (멸종위기의 백한우(체세포복제 포함)의 성장 및 혈액학적 특성 분석)

  • Kim, Hyun;Choe, Changyong;Seong, Hwan-Hoo
    • Journal of Embryo Transfer
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    • v.30 no.3
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    • pp.175-181
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    • 2015
  • The objective of this study was to monitor health conditions of genetically identical somatic cells cloned Korean white cattle, endangered indigenous cattle (EIC) and indigenous cattle (IC) by analysis of hematologic characteristics. Naturally ovulated oocytes and donor cells were used for somatic cell nuclear transfer (SCNT). Donor cells and enucleated oocytes were followed by electric fusion, chemical activation and surgical embryo transfer into the oviducts of surrogate females. Two recipients became pregnant; two maintained pregnancy to term, and one live cattle were delivered by caesarean section. The cloned Korean white cattle were genetically identical to the nuclear donor cattle. As a result, the mean values of RBC and platelet of cloned cattle and white cattle were significantly decreased by age (P<0.05). The mean values of RBC, HCT, MCV and MCHC between cloned cattle and IC of the same age (1~2 years) showed the statistical significance (P<0.05). Also, in the WBC of Korean white cattle, the estimated values were decreased according to the age from $12.0{\times}10^3/{\mu}l$ under 1 year to $11.0{\times}10^3/{\mu}l$ over 1 years respectively. Although clone-cattle had lower numbers of RBC than reference range, the most of RBC and WBC related heamatologic results of cloned cattle were not different when compared to reference range. This study suggests that cloned Korean white cattle derived from SCNT did not have remarkable health problems, at least in the growth pattern and hematological parameters. In addition, this study provides a valuable resource for further investigations of the preservation of rare genetic stocks underlying traits of interest in cattle.

About Short-stacking Effect of Illite-smectite Mixed Layers (일라이트-스멕타이트 혼합층광물의 단범위적층효과에 대한 고찰)

  • Kang, Il-Mo
    • Economic and Environmental Geology
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    • v.45 no.2
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    • pp.71-78
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    • 2012
  • Illite-smectite mixed layers (I-S) occurring authigenically in diagenetic and hydrothermal environments reacts toward more illite-rich phases as temperature and potassium ion concentration increase. For that reason, I-S is often used as geothermometry and/or geochronometry at the field of hydrocarbons or ore minerals exploration. Generally, I-S shows X-ray powder diffraction (XRD) patterns of ultra-thin lamellar structures, which consist of restricted numbers of sillicate layers (normally, 5 ~ 15 layers) stacked in parallel to a-b planes. This ultra-thinness is known to decrease I-S expandability (%S) rather than theoretically expected one (short-stacking effect). We attempt here to quantify the short stacking effect of I-S using the difference of two types of expandability: one type is a maximum expandability ($%S_{Max}$) of infinite stacks of fundamental particles (physically inseparable smallest units), and the other type is an expandability of finite particle stacks normally measured using X-ray powder diffraction (XRD) ($%S_{XRD}$). Eleven I-S samples from the Geumseongsan volcanic complex, Uiseong, Gyeongbuk, have been analyzed for measuring $%S_{XRD}$ and average coherent scattering thickness (CST) after size separation under 1 ${\mu}m$. Average fundamental particle thickness ($N_f$) and $%S_{Max}$ have been determined from $%S_{XRD}$ and CST using inter-parameter relationships of I-S layer structures. The discrepancy between $%S_{Max}$ and $%S_{XRD}$ (${\Delta}%S$) suggests that the maximum short-stacking effect happens approximately at 20 $%S_{XRD}$, of which point represents I-S layer structures consisting of ca. average 3-layered fundamental particles ($N_f{\approx}3$). As a result of inferring the $%S_{XRD}$ range of each Reichweite using the $%S_{XRD}$ vs. $N_f$ diagram of Kang et al. (2002), we can confirms that the fundamental particle thickness is a determinant factor for I-S Reichweite, and also that the short-stacking effect shifts the $%S_{XRD}$ range of each Reichweite toward smaller $%S_{XRD}$ values than those that can be theoretically prospected using junction probability.

Investigation of some harmful bacteria in commercial Kimchi (시판김치 중 유해세균의 조사)

  • Shin Sun-Mi;Park Ju-Yeon;Kim Eun-Joung;Hahn Young-Sook
    • Korean journal of food and cookery science
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    • v.21 no.2 s.86
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    • pp.195-200
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    • 2005
  • Three different commercial Kimchi industry-made packaged, department store-made and ordinary market-made were analyzed for their pH, acidity and microbiological characteristics including certain harmful bacteria on selective media during a storage-fermentation period of 7 days at $2^{\circ}C\;or\;20^{\circ}C$ The pH of all the Kimchi samples wasdecreased from 5.85 to 3.82 and their total acidities increased from 0.2 to 1.18 as the fermentation continued during the storage-fermentation. E. coli and Salmonella sp. of $0\~1101$ cfu/mL were found in the industry-made Kimchi just after purchase time. As the storage-fermentation proceeded, the viable numbers of these bacteria had been reduced in all Kimchi samples tested and no bacteria were detected after 5 days at $2^{\circ}C$ and 2 days at $20^{\circ}C$, respectively. On the other hand, a range of $7.9102\~2.9103$ cfu/mL of Staphylococcus sp. was detected in the department store-made and ordinary market-made Kimchi samples at the purchase time, which was higher than that of the industry-made Kimchi, and this range wasn't reduced during storage-fermentation. The viable number of yeasts in the market-made Kimchi was 2.1103 cfu/mL. These results suggest that some commercial Kimchis were contaminated by some harmful bacteria and that a portion of these bacteria remained alive in the Kimchi, even with high acidity during the edible period.

Mouse model system based on apoptosis induction to crypt cells after exposure to ionizing radiation (방사선에 전신 조사된 마우스 음와 세포의 아포토시스 유도를 이용한 생물학적 선량 측정 모델 개발 연구)

  • Kim, Tae-Hwan
    • Korean Journal of Veterinary Research
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    • v.41 no.4
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    • pp.571-578
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    • 2001
  • To evaluate if the apoptotic fragment assay could be used to estimate the dose prediction after radiation exposure, we examined apoptotic mouse crypt cells per 1,000 cells after whole body $^{60}Co$ $\gamma$-rays and 50MeV ($p{\rightarrow}Be^+$) cyclotron fast neutron irradiation in the range of 0.25 to 1 Gy, respectively. The incidence of apoptotic cell death rose steeply at very low doses up to 1 Gy, and radiation at all doses tigger rapid changes in crypt cells in stem cell region. These data suggest that apoptosis may play an important role in homeostasis of damaged radiosensitive target organ by removing damaged cells. The curve of dose-effect relationship for the data of apoptotic fragments was obtained by the linear-quadratic model $y=0.18+(9.728{\pm}0.887)D+(-4.727{\pm}1.033)D^2$ ($r^2=0.984$) after $\gamma$-rays irradiation, while $y=0.18+(5.125{\pm}0.601)D+(-2.652{\pm}0.7000)D^2$ ($r^2=0.970$) after neutrons in mice. The dose-response curves were linear-quadratic, and a significant dose-response relationship was found between the frequency of apoptotic cell and dose. These data show a trend towards increase of the numbers of apoptotic crypt cells with increasing dose. Both the time course and the radiation dose-response curve for high and low linear energy transfer (LET) radiation modalities were similar. The relative biological effectiveness (RBE) value for crypt cells was 2.072. In addition, there were significant peaks on apoptosis induction at 4 and 6h after irradiation, and the morpholoigcal findings of the irradiated groups were typical apoptotic fragments in crypt cells that were hardly observed in the control group. Thus, apoptosis in crypt cells could be a useful in vivo model for studying radio-protective drug sensitivity or screening test, microdosimetric indicator and radiation-induced target organ injury. Since the apoptotic fragment assay is simple, rapid and reproducible in the range of 0.25 to 1 Gy, it will also be a good tool for evaluating the dose response of radiation-induced organ damage in vivo and provide a potentially valuable biodosimetry for the early dose prediction after accidental exposure.

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The Study on the investigation of oriental medical theraphy(oriental medical theraphy by symptoms and signs and Sasang constitutional medicine)and the each effect of oriental medicine, occidental medicine and both joint control (뇌졸중(腦卒中)에 대(大)한 한방치료법(韓方治療法) 연구(硏究)(증치의학(證治醫學)과 사상의학(四象醫學)) 및 한방(韓方), 양방(洋方), 양(洋)·한방(韓方) 협진치료(協診治療) 효과(效果)에 관(關)한 연구(硏究))

  • Kim, Jong-won;Kim, Young-kyun;Kim, Beob-young;Lee, In-seon;Lee, In-seon;Jang, Kyung-jeon;Gwon, Jeong-Nam;Lee, Won-oe;Song, Chang-won;Park, Dong-il
    • Journal of Sasang Constitutional Medicine
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    • v.10 no.2
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    • pp.351-429
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    • 1998
  • The Purpose of Study 1. Inspection of clinical application on TCD to CVA 2. Objective Comparement and analysis about treatment effect of Western-Medicine, Korean Medicine, Cooperative consultation of Korean and Western medicice for CVA The Subject of Study We intended for the eighty six patient of CVA who had been treated in the Oriental Medical Hospital at Dong Eui Medical Center from 1997. 8. I to 1998. 7. 31 1. View of CT, MRI : the patient of Cb infarction 2. Attack Time : The patient who coming hospital falling ill within the early one week The method of study 1. Treat four group of Korean medicine, Constitution medicine, Western medicine, cooperative consultation of Korean medicine and Western medicine. 2. Application of TCD Check the result for three times, immediatly after the attack, two months later, four months later 3. Comparative analysis of each treatment effect by clinical symptoms and pathologic examination 4. The Judgement of the patient The Result From 8/1/1997 to 7/31/1998, We have the following result by clinical analysis intended for CVA 86 patients who had been treated in the Oriental Medical Hospital at Dong Eui Medical Center from 1997. 8. 1 to 1998. 7. 31 in 1. Analysis according to Age The first stage of thirties, forties, seventies is heavier than forties, fifties in improvement and Index of improvement of symptom 2. Analysis according to sex We have no special relation in an average of symptom and improvement, Index improvement 3. Analysis according to Family History We have the better result in first stage and improvement, index improvement when no family history. 4. Analysis according to Past History We have no special relation in past history like hypertension, DM, heart problem 5. Analysis devided two group, above group and under group on the basis of the average in first stage of all patient. We have the better result when the first stage is light, that the first score of barthel index and CNS is high. 6. Analysis of the effect of treatment about Korean medical treatment, Western medical treatment, cooperative treatment. In this study, the highest group of rate of treatment at four contrast groups (Korean medicine, Constitution medicine, Western medicine, cooperative treatment according to dyagnosis and range of treatment was the patient group of doing dyagnosis and method of treatment based on constitution medicine theory. This is that of doing demostation, A-Tx, po-herb-medication according to dyagnosis and treat method of constitution of Lee Je-ma In case of left, the case of dyagnosis any disease according to doctor view but, normal in TCDwas 22-beginning of attack, 20- two weeks later, 11 case-four weeks later in case of right, 15-beginning of attack, 12-two weeks later, 9 case four weeks later. So left vessel compares to right vessel is more interference, in fact more than a 1/2 of the patients of MCA disease can't do dyagnosis. In rate of imparement, the state of pacient improved but there isn't the improved case of result in TCD. 7. In TCD dyagnosis, between the case of inconsus the doctor view specially MCA in brain blood vessel is in large numbers and in total 86's patient, impossible case of dyagnosis according to interferiance of temporal is 21 case. 7. Result study about application of Kreaan medical treatment 1) The impossible patient of observation MCA blood vescular for interference temporal bone happened in large numbers. 2) There is the case having difference result to CT,MRI, MRA result. 3) Because individual difference is large, excluding to ananalogy of symptom. This is normal numerical value that has possibility of being checked as abnormal numerical value 4) there are a lot of cases that the speed of normal part is as similarly measured as that of abnormal part. It means that we cannot judge the disease by this measure 5) It is rare that this measure represent degree of improvement in patient's condition of disease. When we observe patient's condition become better, but we have no case that the result of TCD test better. 6) The result could be appear differently by the technique of the tester or by the experience of the tester 7) In the TCD test, abnormal symptoms is checked at 0 week, but at 2th week, normal symptoms is checked, again at 4th week abnormal is checked. According to the above result, CVA diagnosis is difficult only with TCD, as it appear in diagnosis error check which is suggested in the problem connected to project, for the aged persons who have the worst hardening of part of the cranium (1998. 5. 26 77 of 83 patients is 50s) there is a lot of cases that the measurement is impossible by TCD and the correction of measurement numerical value is decreased, as the age of cerebral infarction is high, TCD is inappropriate to diagnosis equipment through this study.

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Indication of Dissection of the 14v Lymph Node in Advanced Distal Gastric Cancer (원위부 진행성 위암에서의 상장간막정맥(14v) 림프절 절제술의 적응증)

  • Lim, Jung-Taek;Jung, Oh;Kim, Ji-Hoon;Oh, Sung-Tae;Kim, Byung-Sik;Park, Kun-Choon;Yook, Jeong-Hwan
    • Journal of Gastric Cancer
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    • v.6 no.3
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    • pp.154-160
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    • 2006
  • Purpose: According to the 2nd English Edition of the Japanese Gastric Cancer Association (JGCA) in 1998, in case of distal gastric cancer, the 14v (superior mesenteric vein) lymph node (LN) is included in the N2 group. However, in Korea, a modified radical gastrectomy is performed, and a 14v LN dissection is not done as a routine procedure. Thus, we investigated the rate of metastatic 14v LNs, evaluated the necessity of dissection of the 14v LN, and searched for indications of 14v LN dissection. Materials and Methods: From April 2004 to August 2005, we enrolled the patients who were diagnosed as having advanced gastric cancer in the distal third portion of the stomach. We peformed a distal gastrectomy with D2 lymph node dissection as defined in the 2nd English edition of the JGCA classification. We calculated the positive rate of metastatic LNs of each station and analyzed the relationship between the positive rates of No.6 LNs and 14v LNs. We also compared the positive 14v LN group with the negative 14v LN group. Results: The total number of patients was 50, the mean age was 56 (range $30{\sim}80$) years, and sex ratio (Male/Female) was 1.63 : 1. In 47 (94%) cases, distal a gastrectomy with gastroduodenostomy was done, and in the remaining 3 (6%) cases, a distal gastrectomy with gastrojejunostomy was done. The most frequently metastatic LNs were nos. 3 and 6 (54%). The metastatic rate of the f4v LN was 10%, which was similar to that of LN no. 9. In the comparison of the 14v positive group with the 14v negative group, there were significant differences in the numbers of metastatic LNs (mean 25.4 vs 4.91, P<0.001) and the numbers of metastatic no. 6 LNs, (mean 6.8 vs 1.42, P<0.001), and if no. 6 LNs were metastatic, the possibility of metastasis to the 14v LN was 19.2%. In the 14v positive group, all cases were more than stage 3 by the UICC 6th edition. Conclusion: In cases of advanced cancer with metastasis to the no. 6 IN, there was a good chance of metastasis to the 14v LN. Thus, in the operative field, if the tumor is advanced to more than stage 3 by the UICC classification and the no. 6 LN is metastatic, a 14v LN dissection is necessary. However, the usefulness of a 14v LN dissection should be evaluated prospectively through an analysis of tumor recurrence and long-term survival.

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Radiotherapy in Incompletely Resected Gastric Cancers (불완전 절제된 위암의 방사선 치료)

  • Kim Jong Hoon;Choi Eun Kyung;Cho Jung Gil;Kim Byung Sik;Oh Sung Tae;Kim Dong Kwan;Chang Hyesook
    • Radiation Oncology Journal
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    • v.16 no.1
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    • pp.17-25
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    • 1998
  • Purpose : Although local recurrence rates of stomach cancer after radiocal surgery have been reported in the range of $30-70\%$, the role of postoperative adjuvant therapy has not been established. We report the result of radiotherapy in resected stomach cancer with positive surgical margin to elucidate the role of postoperative radiotherapy. Materials and Methods : From June 1991 to August 1996, twenty five patients with positive surgical margins after radical gastrectomy were treated with postoperative radiotherapy and chemotherapy. Median dose of radiation was 55.8Gy and the range was 44.6-59.4Gy. Second cycle of chemotherapy was delivered concurrently with radiation and total number of six cycles were delivered. Twenty three had adenocarcinoma and the other two had leiornyosarcoma. The numbers of patients with stage I B, II, III A, III B, and IV were 1, 2, 11, 10 and 1 respectively. Positive margins at distal end of the stomach were in 17 patients and proximal in 5. The other three patients had positive margin at the sites of adjacent organ invasion Minimum and median follow-up periods were 12 months and 18 months, respectively, Results : Twenty-four of 25 patients received prescribed radiation dose and RTOG grade 3 toxicity of UGI tract was observed in 3, all of which were weight loss more than $15\%$ of their pretreatment weight. But hematemesis. melena, intestinal obstruction or grade 4 toxicity were not found. Locoregional failure within the radiation field was observed in 7 patients, and distant metastasis in 10 patients. Sites of locoregional recurrences involve anastomosis/remnant stomach in 3, tumor bed/duodenal stump in 3, regional lymph node in 1 patient Peritoneal seeding occurred in 6, liver metastases months and median disease free survival time was 26 months. Stages andradiation dose were not significant prognostic factors for locoregional in 2, and distant nodes in 2 patients. Four year disease specificsurvival rate was $40\%$ and disease free survival was $48\%$. Median survival was 35 failures. Conculsion : Although all patients in this study had positive surgical margins, locoregional failure rate was $28\%$, and 4 year disease specific survival rate was $40\%$. Considering small number of patients and relatively short follow-up period, it is not certain that postoperative radiotherapy lowered locoregional recurrences. but we could find a Possibility of the role of postoperative radiotherapy in Patients with high risk factors.

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Individualized Determination of Lower Margin in Pelvic Radiation Field after Low Anterior Resection for Rectal Cancer Resulted in Equivalent Local Control and Radiation Volume Reduction Compared with Traditional Method (하전방 절제술을 시행한 직장암 환자에서 방사선조사 영역 하연의 개별화)

  • Park Suk Won;Ahn Yong Chan;Huh Seung Jae;Chun Ho Kyung;Kang Won Ki;Kim Dae Yong;Lim Do Hoon;Noh Young Ju;Lee Jung Eun
    • Radiation Oncology Journal
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    • v.18 no.3
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    • pp.194-199
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    • 2000
  • Purpose : Then determining the lower margin of post-operative pelvic radiation therapy field according to the traditional method (recommended by Gunderson), the organs located in the low pelvic cavity and the perineum are vulnerable to unnecessary radiation. This study evaluated the effect of individualized determination of the lower margin at 2 cm to 3 cm below the anastomotic site on the failure patterns. Materials and Methods . Authors included ぉ patients with modified Astler-Coiler (MAC) stages from B2 through C3, who received low anterior resection and post-operative pelvic radiation therapy from Sept. 1994 to May 1998 at Samsung Medical Center, Sungkyunkwan University. The numbers of male and female patients were 44 and 44, and the median age was 57 years (range: 32-81 years). Three field technique (posterior-anterior and bilateral portals) by 6, 10, 15 MV X-rays was used to deliver 4,500 cGy to the whole pelvis followed by Sn cGy's small field boost to the tumor bed over 5.5 weeks. Sixteen patients received radiation therapy by traditional field margin determination, and the lower margin was set either at the low margin of the obturator foramen or at 2 cm to 3 cm below the anastomotic site, whichever is lower. In 72 patients, the lower margin was set at 2 cm to 3 cm below the anastomotic site, irrespectively of the obturator foramen, by which the reduction of radiation volume was possible in 55 patients ($76\%$). Authors evaluated and compared survival, local control, and disease-free survival rates of these two groups. Results : The median follow-up period was 27 months (range : 7-58 months). MAC stages B2 in 32($36\%$), B3 in 2 ($2\%$), Cl in 2 ($2\%$), C2 in 50 ($57\%$), and C3 in 2 ($2\%$) Patients, respectively. The entire patients' overall survival rates at 2 and 4 years were $94\%$ and $68\%$, respectively, and disease-free survival rates at 2 and 4 years were $86\%$ and $58\%$, respectively. The first failure sites were local only in 4, distant only in 14, and combined local and distant in 1 patient, respectively. There was no significant difference with respect to local control and disease-free survival rates ( p=0.42, p=0.68) between two groups of different lower margin determination policies. Conclusion : The new concept in the individualized determination of the lower margin depending on the anastomotic site has led to the equivalent local control and disease-free survival rates, and is expected to contribute to the reduction of unnecessary radiation-related morbidity by reduction of radiation volume, compared with the traditional method of lower margin determination.

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A Theory Construction on the Care Experience for Spouses of Patients with Chronic Illness (만성질환자 배우자의 돌봄 경험에 대한 이론 구축)

  • Choi, Kyung-Sook;Eun, Young
    • Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing
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    • v.30 no.1
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    • pp.122-136
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    • 2000
  • Chronic illness requiring attention and management during a long period of time puts great burden onto patients, their family and society. For patients with chronic illnesses, providing social support is the most important, and the fundamental support comes from their spouses. Amount and quality of support from spouses seems to differentiated according to the sex of patients. Female patients tend to believe that their spouses are not very supportive. Therefore, the researchers assessed the burden of husbands of female arthritis patients to discover the factors that result in greater burden. Also, they developed a theoretical model of husbands′ care for their wives through a qualitative research into husbands′ experience. Method 1: The study material was 650 female arthritis patients registered in an arthritis clinic. The questionnaire about the disease experience of female arthritis patients and the burden of husbands were sent. Returned questionnaires numbered 210(32.3%) and 27 were excluded because of inadequate answers. The remaining 183 questionnaires were analyzed. The mean age of the patients was 51 years and the mean age of spouses was 55 years. The mean marital period was 28 years. The average duration since diagnosis was 9.1 years. Education level was varied from primary school to graduate school, and average income/month was 1,517,300 won. Method 2: Initial questionnaire studies on the burden of husbands were performed. Among 183 responding husbands, 23 consented to participate for a qualitative research. Data was obtained by direct and telephone interviews. The mean age of participants was 58 years, and the educational level and socioeconomic status also varied. Result: 1. Husbands′ burden: The average burden was 57.68 with a range of 6-96. 2. Burden and general characteristics: The husband′s burden correlated with the age of the patients, numbers in the family, therapy methods, patient′s level of discomfort, patient′s disease severity, patient′s level of dependence and the husband′s understanding of the level of severity. 3. Linear correlation analysis on burden: The husbands′ burden is explained in 22.5% by husband′s recognition of level of severity and husbands′ age. 4. There were four patterns of the burden on husbands: both objectve burden and subjective burden were high(pattern I), both of objectve burden and subjective burden were low(pattern II), objective burden was high but subjective burden was low(pattern III), objective burden was low but subjective burden was high(pattern IV). The pattern was correlated with the family income, educational level of the patients and their husbands, therapy methods, patient′s level of discomfort, patient′s disease severity, patient′s level of dependence and husband′s understanding of level of severity. 5. The core category of the caring experience of the husbands with arthritis patients was "companionship". The causal factor was the patients′ experience due to symptoms : physical disfigurement, pain, immobility, limitation of house chores, and limitation of social activities. Contextural factors are husbands′ identification of housework and husbands′ concern about the disease. The mediating factors are economic problems, fear of aging, feeling of limitation and family support. The strategy for interaction is mind control and how to solve emotional stress. The "companionship" resulted from caring activities, participation of household activities, helping patients′ to coping with emotional experience. 6. Companionship is established through the process of entering intervention, and caring state of mind. Entering intervention is the phase of participation of therapy and involvement of houseworks. The caring phase consists of decision on therapy, providing therapy, providing direct care, and taking over the household role of wife. Through caring phase, the changing phase set a stage in which husbands consolidate the relationship with their wives, and are reminded of the meaning of marriage. As a result, in changing phase, husbands′ companionship is enhanced. In conclusion, nursing care of chronic illnesses should include a family member especially the spouse. All information on disease shoud be provided to patients and whole family member. Strong support should also be provided to overcome difficulties in taking over role of other sex. Then the quality of life of patients and families will be much improved.

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