• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• 제52권3호
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• pp.210-214
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• 2012

Objective : This retrospective study aimed to compare clinical outcomes in terms of pain relief and recurrence rate between fragmentectomies and conventional microdiscectomies in patients with lumbar disc herniation (LDH). Methods : Between January 2008 and May 2011, a total of 175 patients met the inclusion criteria of this study. The visual analogue scale (VAS) scores of back and radicular pains were recorded before surgery, 2 and 6 weeks after surgery. Recurrence was defined when a patient had the same pattern of preoperative symptoms and was confirmed with magnetic resonance imaging. Results : Seventy-four patients (42.3%) were suitable for fragmentectomy, and 101 patients underwent conventional microdiscectomy. There were no significant differences in VAS scores between the fragmentectomy and conventional microdiscectomy groups 2 and 6 weeks after surgery. During the follow-up period, 3 patients (4.05%) in the fragmentectomy group and 7 patients (6.93%) in the conventional microdiscectomy group relapsed. Conclusion : If patients are selected according to well-defined criteria, fragmentectomy can be a good surgical option for LDH, in the physiological aspect of preserving healthy intervertebral disc materials.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• 제17권8호
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• pp.4095-4099
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• 2016

Background: Use of spiritual/ religious resources is one important coping strategy for breast cancer patients. However, the relationship between spiritual coping and adjustment to cancer diagnosis has not been well investigated among Iranian breast cancer patients. Materials and Methods: This descriptive-correlational study was undertaken among 266 breast cancer patients referred to two educational centers in north-western Iran. They were selected using a convenience sampling method. The Iranian Religious Coping Scale and Iranian Coping Operations Preference Enquiry were used for data collection. The data were analyzed using SPSS version 13.0. Results: The study findings showed that Iranian cancer patients had a high level of spiritual coping. Also, positive religious coping strategies were used more frequently than negative approaches. In addition, there was a positive and significant correlation between spiritual coping and adjustment to cancer among study participants. Conclusions: Using spiritual coping strategies may play a vital role in adjustment process in patients with breast cancer. Therefore, having spiritual counseling and incorporating coping strategies into the treatment regimen may be effective for enhancing illness adjustment in such patients.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• 제16권15호
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• pp.6381-6384
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• 2015

Background: The purpose of this retrospectively study was to examine the effectiveness and tolerability of a radiotherapy technique for the palliation of symptomatic liver metastases. Materials and Methods: Twentyseven patients with liver metastases were enrolled and received targeted whole liver irradiation consisting of mean 1, 8 Gy in five to twelve fractions to a total mean dose 17Gy. Symptoms at baseline were hepatic pain (26 patients), lost of weight (6), lack of appetite (2), and night sweats (1). Seventeen patients (63%) had failed previous treatment with chemotherapy and/or high-dose steroids. Results: Individual symptom response rates were 100% at 4 weeks. Partial or complete global symptomatic responses were noted in 11 patients (40%) after 2 months. After 3 months, 8 patients (28%) reported loss of pain. The treatment was well tolerated with one patient (3%) experiencing grade 3 toxicity (one vomiting and one diarrhoea). Overall the median survival time was 4.9 months (range 1 - 14 months). One year survival was 39%. Conclusions: This is simple and well-tolerated treatment but to achieve good palliation effects we should carefully selected patients whose conventional treatment does not bring good analgesic control.

• 대한한방내과학회지
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• 제34권1호
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• pp.86-99
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• 2013

Objectives : The purpose of this study was to analyze the general features of patients with idiopathic faical paralysis. Methods : We investigated the various features and HBGS (House-Brackmann Grading System) of 505 patients who were diagnosed with idiopathic facial paralysis. Results and Conclusions : 1. The sex distribution was 264 male cases, and 241 female cases, and the majority of them were in their 40s. 2. Overwork was the most frequent contributing factor to their paralysis. 3. The treatment of most patients was completed within 2 months. 4. Their recovery was faster if their first hospital visit was sooner and their paralysis was partial. On average, the patients recovered within 19.5 to 27.8 days and it took much less time than natural recovery. 5. When looking at the BMI of the selected patients for this study, 62.00% were obese while 14.37% were under-weight. Among the obese patients, there were more with Xu mai (虛脈) than Shi mai (實脈). For the under-weight patients, most had Shuo mai (數脈) while none had Chi mai (遲脈).

• Asian Journal for Public Opinion Research
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• 제2권2호
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• pp.121-139
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• 2015

"Living in the present moment," a Buddhist concept, was applied in this research. This concept urges the patients to cling neither to the past nor the future as well as being mindful of their body, feelings, mind, and mental qualities. The purpose of the study was to develop a "living in the present moment" model and to evaluate the power of "living in the present moment" in terms of physical and mental results. The study used non-participatory action research with quasi-experimental research design that included 3 camps composed of 6 main activities. The percentages, SD, and paired t-test statistics were used to analyze and compare 17 purposively selected diabetic patients from Pak Thong Chai Hospital before and after they attended the 3 camps. The patients improved significantly in terms of waistline, body weight, body mass index (BMI) and blood pressure (SBP and DBP). The mean of fasting plasma glucose (FPG) level was also changed considerably. The results revealed that the treatment helped the patients to gain self-awareness and self-realization (Yonisomanasikara), as well as knowledge and increased support from friends (Kalyanamitta). They also let go of their attachment to their physical and mental oppressions. This helped the patients to relieve their daily pain, fatigue, insomnia, and diabetes-related complications. About 75% of all patients were able to achieve lifestyle modifications. Therefore, implementation of the model should be expanded and utilized in other diabetic centers. The model might also be expanded to pre-diabetes.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• 제26권11호
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• pp.833-837
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• 1993

In an effort to reduce the stroke rate of patients after coronary artery bypass, many authors have studied the prevalence of the extracranial carotid disease and its role in determining neurologic morbidity and mortality rates. From April 1992 to August 1993, Seventy-five patients undergoing coronary artery bypass were preoperatively evaluated for presence of carotid and femoral stenosis by Duplex sono. Among them, fourteen patients was positive by Duplex sono and overall prevalence of carotid or femoral stenosis was 18.7%. And significant carotid stenosis [ > 60% ] had proved to be in 3 patients [ 4.0% ].Prophylatic bilateral carotid endarterectomy was performed in one patient, at 5 months prior to and , 1 week prior to coronary artery bypass respectively. Their mean age was 57.6 years [ ranged from 40 to 70 years] and were composed of 10 males and 4 females. There was no postoperative morbidiry and mortality related to neurologic complications. Our data, although small, suggest that preoperative carotid screening is helpful to determine patients at high risk of stroke, and significant simultaneous carotid and coronary atherosclerosis should be corrected in selected patients by staged operations when feasible.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• 제28권1호
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• pp.18-22
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• 1995

From January 1989 to December 1993, cardiac catheterization and open heart surgery for ventricular septal defect closure were performed in 115 pediatric patients who were selected as meeting the criteria for elective closure of restrictive ventricular septal defect. These criteria included age greater than 1 year and less than 15 years, no evidence of congestive heart failure, Qp/Qs 2.0, pulmonary artery systolic pressure 35mmHg, and no associated cardiac anomalies. Mean age of patients was 5.25$\pm$ 3.53, and 72 patients were male, 43 patients were female[male:female=1.9:1 . Mean systolic pulmonary artery pressure was 19.66$\pm$4.79mmHg, and mean pulmonary to systemic flow ratio was 1.27$\pm$ 0.28. Aortic cusp prolapse was present in 30 patients [26% , aortic insufficiency was present in 1 paient, and 1 patient had prior bacterial endocarditis. There were no instances of complete atrioventricular dissociation, reoperations for bleeding, or reoperations for recurrent ventricular septal defect, but wound infection was present in 1 patient, and there were 7 patients who had the hemodynamically insignificant remnant shunt. There were no early or late deaths or major morbidity.

• 대한치과교정학회지
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• 제20권3호
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• pp.565-581
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• 1990

This study was undertaken to investigate the degree of asymmetry in each part of the head in skeletal craniofacial asymmetric patients, and secondarily to determine the nature of difference existed between asymmetric patients and normal persons. The subjects consisted of 49 asymmetric adult patients and 52 normal adults, and the average ages were 21 years 5 months and 23 years 5 months, respectively. The computerized analyses of 33 linear measurements, 12 angular measurements, and 8 surface areas from posteroanterior cephalometric radiograph were carried out. The conclusions were as follows; 1. Asymmetry was a common finding in both normal and asymmetric group. 2. When the analyses were undertaken after the head was divided into 3 parts anteroposteriorly and superoinferiorly in the asymmetric patients, there were significant asymmetries in all parts excepts in the cranial base region. 3. When the analyses were undertaken after the head was divided into respective 3 parts anteroposteriorly in the asymmetric patients, the more posterior part showed relative stability than the more anterior part. 4. When the analyses were undertaken after the head was divided into 3 parts superoinferiorly in the asymmetric patients, the more superior part showed relative stability than the more inferior part. 5. Twelve variables indicating asymmetry were selected and the highest ranked variable was Me-Mid-sagittal reference line.

• 음성과학
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• 제5권1호
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• pp.105-119
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• 1999

Cleft palate patients have general speech problems with resonance disorders and articulation disorders. The aim of this study is to find the aerodynamic and acoustic characteristics of the nasalization in cleft palate speakers. Thirteen control groups and three cleft palate patients pre- and post operation were selected for these studies. The test words are composed by polysyllabic words: consonants between high vowel /i/ analysis. The cleft palate patients repeated test words pre- and post-operation from one, three and six month periods. The subjects repeated test words on Macquirer and on Nasometer Model 6200-3. The aerodynamic and acoustic results of nasalization show as follows: (1) The nasal rate in overall airflow of aspirated consonant for cleft palate patients shows higher levels than that of the control group. It had decreased since one month after operation. (2) The overall airflow of cleft palate patients is higher than in the control group, however oral air pressure is lower than control group. (3) The nasal airflow and the nasal rate in overall airflow of cleft palate patients has higher than the control group, however its decreased after operation. (4) The nasalance scores of cleft palate patients were 40% higher than that of the control group. The scores did not decrease after operation. The nasalance score of lateral and fricative sounds did not decrease after operation.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• 제78권4호
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• pp.309-314
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• 2015

Background: In tuberculosis (TB) patients, health-related quality of life (HRQoL) is significant in self-management, which in turn can be effective in therapeutic acceptance and prevention of treatment failure due to multi-drug resistant TB. This study was conducted to evaluate HRQoL and associated factors in TB patients referred to the National Research Institute of Tuberculosis and Lung Disease (NRITLD). Methods: In this study, patients were selected from TB clinics of the NRITLD in Tehran. In addition to an Iranian version of the Short-Form Health Survey (SF-36), demographic and disease characteristic questionnaires were used for data collection. The data were then analyzed using SPSS software. Results: Two hundred five TB patients, with the average age of $42.33{\pm}17.64$ years, participated in this study. The HRQoL scores in different domains ranged from $14.68{\pm}11.60$ for role limitations due to emotional problems to $46.99{\pm}13.25$ for general health perceptions. The variables of sex, marital status, education, job status, place of residence, and cigarette smoking, influenced the HRQoL scores in different dimensions. Conclusion: According to the study findings are the important variables that influenced the HRQoL of TB patients. The consideration of its can improve the HRQoL of TB patients.