• Journal of Hospice and Palliative Care
• /
• v.21 no.1
• /
• pp.9-13
• /
• 2018

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to assess the factors influencing the rescue medication decisions for breakthrough cancer patients and evaluate treatments using the factors. Methods: Based on the results of an online survey conducted by the Korean Society of Hospice and Palliative Care from September 2014 through December 2014, we assessed the level of agreement on nine factors influencing rescue medication preference. The same factors were used to evaluate oral transmucosal fentanyl lozenge, oral oxycodone and intravenous morphine. Results: Agreed by 77 physicians, a rapid onset of action was the most important factor for their decision of rescue medication. Other important factors were easy administration, strong efficacy, predictable efficacy and less adverse effects. Participants agreed that intravenous morphine produced a rapid onset of action and strong and predictable efficacy and cited difficulty of administration and adverse effects as negative factors. Oral oxycodone was desirable in terms of easy administration and less adverse effects. However, its onset of action was slower than intravenous morphine. While many agreed to easy administration of oral transmucosal fentanyl lozenge, the level of agreement was low for strength and predictability of its efficacy, long-term durability and sleep improvement. Conclusion: Rapid onset of action is one of the important factors that influence physicians' selection of rescue medication. Physicians' assessment of rescue medication differed by medication.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
• /
• v.18 no.4
• /
• pp.957-964
• /
• 2004

Herbal medicines are increasingly used to treat various diseases and lots of studies have been reported that they had benefits in treating and preventing of diseases. But organic toxicity is increasingly recognized as herbal medicines become more popular in industrialized countries. Some herbal products potentially benefit people with lots of diseases, however these benefits remain generally unproved in humans, and a greater awareness for potential adverse effects is required. A herb containing a wide variety of, mostly unknown, substances may well include some with unwanted effects. This review focuses on emerging organic toxicities that have been observed associated with various herbal preparations involving the liver, kidney, and heart, and patterns of organ injury, potential risk factors for organic toxicities. In addition to the potential for organic toxicities, drug drug interactions between herbal medicines and conventional agents may affect the efficacy and safety of concurrent medical therapy. Appropriate reporting and regulatory system to monitor herbal toxicity are required, in conjunction with ongoing scientific evaluation of the potential benefits of phytotherapy.

• Journal of Korea Technical Association of The Pulp and Paper Industry
• /
• v.47 no.1
• /
• pp.84-92
• /
• 2015

Fillers have been used to improve the optical and printing properties and to reduce the production cost while increasing the filler content in paper causes adverse effects on paper strength. In the previous study, it was shown that the thick stock addition of filler can increase the filler content without significantly sacrificing paper strength. This study was carried out to elucidate the effect of the location of starch addition (before or after the filler addition) on handsheet properties and a papermaking process as a part of developing the thick stock loading technology. In addition, effects of dual flow addition of cationic starch were evaluated. It was found that paper strength was superior when cationic starch was added after the filler addition. No adverse effects on optical properties, formation and filler retention were observed. Drainage was a bit slower when starch was added after the filler addition, which shall be resolved with regulating other factors. Dual flow addition of cationic starch before and after filler addition did not show any special advantage.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
• /
• v.50 no.3
• /
• pp.137-143
• /
• 2017

Acute complicated type B aortic dissection (TBAD) is a potentially catastrophic, life-threatening condition. If left untreated, there is a high risk of aortic rupture, irreversible organ or limb damage, or death. Several risk factors have been associated with acute complicated TBAD, including age and refractory hypertension. In the acute phase, even uncomplicated patients are more prone to develop complications if hypertension and pain are left medically untreated. Innovations in stent graft technologies have incrementally improved outcomes since their first use for this condition in 1999, though improvement is needed in mitigating periprocedural complications, adverse events, and mortality. In the past decade, endovascular repair has become the preferred treatment because of its superior outcomes to open repair and medical therapy. The Valiant Captivia Thoracic Stent Graft System is a third-generation endovascular stent graft with advancements in minimally invasive delivery, conformability to the anatomy, and the minimization of adverse sequelae. Herein, this stent graft is briefly reviewed and its 3-year outcomes are presented. Freedom from all-cause and dissection-related mortality was 79.1% and 90.0%, respectiv ely. The Valiant Captiv ia Stent Graft represents a safe, effective intervention for acute complicated TBAD. Continued surveillance is needed to verify its longer-term durability.

• Biomedical Science Letters
• /
• v.16 no.4
• /
• pp.323-330
• /
• 2010

Although copper and zinc are essential metals for human health, excessive level of these metals is toxic. Besides, aluminum is known to induce various adverse health effects including neurological disorders. Therefore, monitoring the human body burden of these metals is important in preventing adverse health effects. In this study, we assessed the exposure to copper, zinc, and aluminum among an adult population residing in Daegu and Kyungbuk areas. Based on data from 171 participants, we found that the geometric mean copper, zinc, and aluminum concentrations in hair were $15.1\;{\mu}g/g$ [95% confidence interval (CI): 13.1~17.5], 76.9 (95% CI: 70.4~84.1), and $1.11\;{\mu}g/g$ (95% CI: 0.81~1.51), respectively. The copper concentrations in hair were significantly related to age, education, and residence area. In addition, zinc concentrations in hair were significantly related to age, whereas higher hair aluminum concentrations were related to alcohol drinking. Correlations between copper and zinc in hair had a significant positive correlation. Our findings suggest that the body burden of copper, zinc, and aluminum varies according to demographic factors, and hair could be used as a valuable biological medium for metal exposure.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
• /
• v.13 no.8
• /
• pp.4081-4086
• /
• 2012

Complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) use is prevalent among individuals with cancer, especially breast cancer survivors. This study was conducted among 394 breast cancer survivors in selected regions of Peninsular Malaysia to identify the pattern and factors associated with CAM use. About 51% of the respondents reported CAM use as complementary treatment. Vitamins (47.2%), spiritual activities (33.2%) and other dietary supplements (30.7%) were the most commonly used CAM therapies. Common reasons for CAM use were to increase the body's ability to perform daily activities (70.9%), enhance immune function (58.3%) and improve emotional well-being (31.7%). Users obtained CAM information mainly from friends and family members (62.5%), physicians (25.0%) and mass media (13.9%). Ethnicity and years of education were significantly associated with CAM use. Although no adverse effects of CAM were reported, breast cancer survivors should discuss their CAM use with health professionals to prevent potential adverse effects of these therapies.

• The Research Journal of the Costume Culture
• /
• v.27 no.1
• /
• pp.1-10
• /
• 2019

Firefighters wear Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) for protection from environmental hazards. However, due to the layers of protective functions, the PPE inevitably adds excessive weight, bulkiness, and thermal stress to firefighters. This study investigated the adverse impact of wearing PPE as an occupational stressor on the firefighter's cognitive functioning. Twenty-three firefighters who had been involved in firefighting at least for 1 year were recruited. The overall changing trend in the firefighter's cognitive functioning (short-term memory, long-term memory, and inductive reasoning) was measured by the scores of three standardized cognitive tests at the baseline and the follow-up, after participating in a moderate-intensity physical activity, wearing a full ensemble of the PPE. The study findings evinced the negative impact of the PPE on the firefighter's cognitive functioning, especially in short-term memory and inductive reasoning. No significant influence was found on the firefighter's long-term memory. The results were consistent when the participant's age and BMI were controlled. The outcomes of the present study will not only fill the gap in the literature, but also provide critical justification to stakeholders, including governments, policymakers, academic communities, and industry, for such efforts to improve human factors of the firefighter's PPE by realizing the negative consequences of the added layers and protective functions on their occupational safety. Study limitations and future directions were also discussed.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
• /
• v.13 no.9
• /
• pp.4505-4510
• /
• 2012

Purpose: To determine the efficacy of post-operative chemotherapy with cisplatin plus vinorelbine (NP) in Chinese patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Methods: A total of 451 patients with NSCLCs at stages I, II, and IIIA after surgical resection were treated with cisplatin plus vinorelbine for 4 cycles or volunteers observed between January 2002 and November 2004 and were followed for five years. The therapeutic efficacy was evaluated with reference to overall survival (OS) and disease-free survival (DFS), and adverse effects were also recorded. Potential factors affecting the lengths of OS and DFS were analyzed by multivariate analysis. Results: Most patients (86.7%) completed at least 4 cycles of treatment. Patients with chemotherapy survived significantly longer than those in the observation group (p<0.001). The absolute improvements in the 2 and 5-year OS were 3.8% [hazard ratio (HR) =0.674, 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.554-0.820, P<0.0001] and 13.0% (HR=0.732, 95% CI: 0.579-0.926, P=0.009), respectively. The improvement at 4-year DFS was 2.1% (HR=0.327, 95% CI: 0.214-0.500, P<0.0001). Stratification analysis revealed that older age, histological type, pathological degree, but not the gender and smoking status, are independent factors affecting the length of survival in this population. Many patients (63.3%) had grade 1-III tolerable adverse effects, and there was no treatment-related death. Conclusions: Post-operative chemotherapy with NP regimen is effective and tolerable in Chinese patients with NSCLC.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing
• /
• v.23 no.4
• /
• pp.555-568
• /
• 1993

The purposed of this study was to identify compliance with sick role behavoir and support by families of patients with pulmonary tuberculosis and to identify factors affecting these variables md factors that increase compiance with sick role behavoior This study was a survey design done in K. general hospital from 1992. 7 1 to 1992. 7. 20. The data were collected through personal interviews with 70 subjects who had pulmonary tuberculosis. A questionnaire was used to collect the data. 1. Demographic characteristics of the subjects The factor causing the tuberculosis for 28.6% of the subjects was that they lived with another family member who had pulmonary tuberculosis, 11.4％ of the subjects had a family member who died of tuberculosis, 24.3% of the subjects had experienced an adverse reaction to medication. Gastroenteric disorders(28.6%) had the highest rate for this kind of adverse reaction to medication. 2. Support by families for patients with pulmonary tuberculosis The items which showed high support for compliance were taking medicine regularly(80.0% ) eat-ing a balanced diet(80.0%), loving them(84.3%), taking care of them(82.8%), getting the support from people for being sick(81.1%) The items which showed low support for compliance were meeting relatives or clergymen(20%), talking with the people suffering from pulmenary tuberculosis to relieve frustrated because they were not recovering. 3. General characteristics and family support The degree of family support showed that 75 was highest score and 30, the lowest score with 55.5(74. 1%)the average score. The degree of family support appeared similar in cases where the person was married and where the person did not have a family member with pulmonary tuberculosis(P〈.01) 4. The degree of compliance with sick role behavior by patients with pulmonary tuberculosis The degree of compliance with sick role behavior showed that 100 was the highest scoure47, the low-est score and 76.4, the average score out of a Possible score of 100. 5. Correlation between compliance with sick role behavior and family support The compliance with sick role behavior and family support showed a positive correlation(r=.2094 p〈.5) So for patients with pulmonary tuberculosis. compliance with sick role behavior is related to the sup-port given by their families.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
• /
• v.14 no.11
• /
• pp.6267-6271
• /
• 2013

Objective: To determine clinical efficacy, safety and prognostic factors of pemetrexed plus platinum as first-line treatment in patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Materials and Methods: Clinical characteristics, short-term efficacy, survival and adverse reactions of 47 advanced non-squamous NSCLC patients who had received pemetrexed plus platinum as first-line treatment in Shanghai Pulmonary Hospital from January 2009 to June 2011 were retrospectively analyzed. The Chi-squared test was applied to statistically analyze the overall response rate (ORR), disease control rate (DCR) and toxicity reactions in both groups, while survival data wereanalyzed by Kaplan-Meier and logrank methods, and the COX proportional hazards model was adopted for a series of multi-factor analyses. Results: Only two patients were lost to follow-up. The ORR, DCR, medium progression-free survival time (PFS) and medium overall survival (OS) were 31.9%, 74.5%, 5 months and 15.2 months, while 1- and 2-year survival rates were 63.8% (30/47) and 19.2% (9/47), respectively. Single-factor analysis showed that tumor pathological patterns and efficacy were in association with medium PFS (P<0.05), whereas tumor pathological patterns, smoking history and efficacy were closely connected with medium OS (P<0.05). Multi-factor analyses demonstrated that pathological patterns and efficacy were independent factors influencing OS (P<0.05). The rate of toxicity reactions in degree III/IV was low, including hematologic toxicity marked by decline in white blood cell count and decrease in the platelet count (PLT), and non-hematologic toxicity manifested by gastrointestinal reactions, such as nausea and vomiting. Conclusions: Pemetrexed plus platinum as first-line treatment has excellent efficacy and slight adverse reactions with favorable drug-tolerance in patients with advanced non-squamous NSCLC.