• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.15 no.2
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• pp.695-701
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• 2014

The main objective of palliative treatment for cancer patients has been to maintain, if not improve, the quality of life (QoL). There is a lack of local data on satisfaction and QoL among cancer patients receiving palliative treatment in Malaysia. This study covers patients with incurable, progressive cancer disease receiving palliative treatment in a teaching hospital in Kuala Lumpur, comparing the different components of QoL and correlations with patient satisfaction. A cross-sectional survey using Malay validated SF36 QoL and PSQ-18 (Short Form) tools was carried out between July 2012 -January 2013 with 120 cancer patients receiving palliative treatment, recruited into the study after informed consent using convenient sampling. Results showed that highest satisfaction were observed in Communication Aspect ($50.6{\pm}9.07$) and the least in General Satisfaction ($26.4{\pm}5.90$). The Mental Component Summary ($44.9{\pm}6.84$) scored higher when compared with the Physical Component Summary ($42.2{\pm}7.91$). In this study, we found that patient satisfaction was strongly associated with good quality of life among cancer patients from a general satisfaction aspect (r=0.232). A poor significant negative correlation was found in Physical Component (technical quality, r=-0.312). The Mental Component showed there was a poor negative correlation between time spent with doctor (r=-0.192) and accessibility, (r=-0.279). We found that feeling at peace and having a sense of meaning in life were more important to patients than being active or achieving good physical comfort. More studyis needed to investigate patients who score poorly on physical and mental component aspects to understand their needs in order to achieve better cancer care.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.17 no.7
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• pp.3369-3375
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• 2016

MicroRNAs, a novel class of small non-coding RNAs, are key players in many cellular processes, including cell proliferation, differentiation, invasion and regeneration. Tissue and circulatory microRNAs could serve as useful clinical biomarkers and deregulated expression levels have been observed in various cancers. Gene variants may alter microRNA processing and maturation. Thus, we aimed to investigate the association of MIR-196a2 rs11614913 (C/T), MIR-499a rs3746444 (A/G) polymorphisms and their combination with cancer susceptibility in an Egyptian population. Sixty five renal cell carcinoma (RCC) and 60 hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patients and 150 controls were enrolled in the study. They were genotyped using real-time polymerase chain reaction technology. Both $miR-196a2^*T$ and $miR-499a*G$ were associated with RCC risk, but only $miR-196a^*T$ was associated with HCC development. Carriage of the homozygote combinations ($MIR196a2^*TT+MIR499a^*AA$) and ($MIR196a2^*CC+MIR499a^*GG$) was associated with 25 and 48 fold elevation of likelhood to develop RCC, respectively. The miR-196a2 SNP was also linked with larger tumor size in RCC and advanced tumor stage in HCC. miR-196a2 and miR-499a combined genotypes were associated with RCC and HCC. Further functional analysis of SNPs is required to confirm relationships between genotypes and phenotypes.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.59 no.sup1
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• pp.45-48
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• 2016

Short-chain acyl-CoA dehydrogenase deficiency (SCADD) is a rare autosomal recessive mitochondrial disorder of fatty acid ${\beta}$-oxidation, and is associated with mutations in the acyl-CoA dehydrogenase (ACADS) gene. Recent advances in spectrometric screening for inborn errors of metabolism have helped detect several metabolic disorders, including SCADD, without symptoms in the neonate period. This allows immediate initiation of treatment and monitoring, so they remain largely symptomless metabolic disease. Here, we report a 15-month-old asymptomatic male, who was diagnosed with SCADD by newborn screening. Spectrometric screening for inborn errors of metabolism 72 hours after birth revealed an elevated butyrylcarnitine (C4) concentration of $2.25{\mu}mol/L$ (normal, < $0.99{\mu}mol/L$). Urinary excretion of ethylmalonic acid was also elevated, as detected by urine organic acid analysis. To confirm the diagnosis of SCADD, direct sequencing analysis of 10 coding exons and the exon-intron boundaries of the ACADS gene were performed. Subsequent sequence analysis revealed compound heterozygous missense mutations c.164C>T (p.Pro55Leu) and c.1031A>G (p.Glu344Gly) on exons 2 and 9, respectively. The patient is now growing up, unretarded by symptoms such as seizure and developmental delay.

• Journal of Korean society of Dental Hygiene
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• v.16 no.5
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• pp.741-750
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• 2016

Objectives: This study aims to identify dentists' opinions about the return to work of the dental hygienists with career interrupted. Convenience sampling was made of 22 dentists with the clinical experience (about 0.25%) of the 4,944 members of Gyeonggi-do Dental Association. Data were collected through an electronic survey using e-mails and telephone interviews and analyzed using the constant comparison method. Methods: Open coding was assigned to the initial data from the survey in an explicit language, and focusing on the types of their employment, working conditions, etc. Summarization and conceptualization were made of the second data in an implicit language. Results: Most of the dentists were found to have positive attitudes toward the return to work of career interrupted dental hygienists and hope to adjust their wages based on their job performance or after their probational period expires. Most of the dentists were found to have positive attitudes towards the hygienists' flexible working although their concerns about work efficiency and hospital atmosphere. This study is a qualitative study that describes dentists' opinions and presents the need for the career interrupted dental hygienists to return to work. Conclusions: The study proposed that the educational institutions should take into account the hygienists' opinions when implementing the programs for promoting their return to work and their evaluative studies.

• Child Health Nursing Research
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• v.19 no.2
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• pp.102-110
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• 2013

Purpose: This study was done to develop a theory on the early childhood caring experience of North Korean refugee mothers and how such caring affects how they deal with the socio-psychological problems they face as North Korean refugees. Methods: Data were gathered by indepth interviews, participant observation, and medical records, and were analyzed using the Grounded Theory methods of Strauss and Corbin (1998). Results: From open coding 62 concepts, 23 subcategories and 11 categories were derived, and the North Korean refugee mothers' caring experience was revealed to be 'hopeful upbringing'. A central theme common to the participants was 'coexistence of expectations and worries'. Conclusion: The results of this study provide theoretical grounds to understand North Korean refugee mothers' child care experiences and offer personalized nursing and a deeper understanding of their needs by looking at their experience. Findings may also be useful to help nurses who care for North Korean refugee mother-child dyads in the community and in clinical settings to gain insight on this special needs group, and facilitate the development of interventions based on better understanding of the mothers' experiences.

• KIISE Transactions on Computing Practices
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• v.21 no.3
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• pp.183-191
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• 2015

Recent developments in IT have made real-time ECG monitoring possible, and this represents a promising application for the emerging HL7 standard for the exchange of clinical information. However, applying the HL7 standard directly to real-time ECG monitoring causes problems, because the partial duplication of data within an HL7 message increases the amount of data to be transmitted, and the time taken to process it. We reduce these overheads by Feature Scaling, by standardizing the range of independent variables or features of data, while nevertheless generating HL7-compliant messages. We also use a De-Duplication algorithm to eliminate the partial repetition of the OBX field in an HL7 ORU message. Our strategy shortens the time required to create messages by 51%, and reduces the size of messages by 1/8, compared to naive HL7 coding.

• Journal of Biomedical Engineering Research
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• v.29 no.3
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• pp.212-221
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• 2008

The total hip replacement (THR) has been used as the most effective way to restore the function of damaged hip joint. However, various factors have caused some side effects after the THR. Unfortunately, the success of the THR have been decided only by the proficiency of surgeons so far. Hence, It is necessary to find the way to minimize the side effect caused by those factors. The purpose of this study was to suggest the definite data, which can be used to design and choose the optimal hip implant. Using finite element analysis (FEA), the biomechanical condition of bone cement was evaluated. Stress patterns were analyzed in three conditions: cement mantle, procimal femur and stem-cement contact surface. Additionally, micro-motion was analyzed in the stem-cement contact surface. The 3-D femur model was reconstructed from 2-D computerized tomography (CT) images. Raw CT images were preprocessed by image processing technique (i.e. edge detection). In this study, automated edge detection system was created by MATLAB coding for effective and rapid image processing. The 3-D femur model was reconstructed based on anatomical parameters. The stem shape was designed using that parameters. The analysis of the finite element models was performed with the variation of parameters. The biomechanical influence of each parameter was analyzed and derived optimal parameters. Moreover, the results of FE A using commercial stem model (Zimmer's V erSys) were similar to the results of stem model that was used in this study. Through the study, the improved designs and optimal factors for clinical application were suggested. We expect that the results can suggest solutions to minimize various side effects.

• Journal of Genetic Medicine
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• v.9 no.1
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• pp.42-46
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• 2012

Short-chain acyl-CoA dehydrogenase deficiency (SCADD; OMIM # 201470) is an autosomal recessive inborn error of mitochondrial fatty acid ${\beta}$-oxidation, presenting with a variety of clinical signs and symptoms. Developmental delay, hypertonia or hypotonia, ketotic hypoglycemia, and epilepsy are most frequently reported. In general, patients diagnosed through newborn screening have shown normal growth and development in contrast to those diagnosed as a result of clinically initiated evaluations. Here, the case of an asymptomatic Korean newborn with SCADD identified by tandem mass spectrometry is reported. The patient showed an elevated concentration of butyrylcarnitine detected on newborn screening. Urinary excretion of ethylmalonic acid was elevated by urine organic acid analysis. To confirm the diagnosis of SCADD, a direct sequencing analysis of 10 coding exons and the exon-intron boundaries of the ACADS gene were performed. Genetic analysis of ACADS showed the following novel compound heterozygous missense mutations: c.277C>A (p.Leu93Ile) on exon3 and c.682G>A (p.Glu288Lys) on exon6. These results will provide further evidence of mutational heterogeneity for SCADD.

• Journal of Veterinary Science
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• v.22 no.5
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• pp.73.1-73.11
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• 2021

Background: Feline calicivirus (FCV) is a common pathogen of felids, and FCV vaccination is regularly practiced. The genetic variability and antigenic diversity of FCV hinder the effective control and prevention of infection by vaccination. Improved knowledge of the epidemiological characteristics of FCV should assist in the development of more effective vaccines. Objectives: This study aims to determine the prevalence of FCV in a population of cats with FCV-suspected clinical signs in Hangzhou and to demonstrate the antigenic and genetic relationships between vaccine status and representative isolated FCV strains. Methods: Cats (n = 516) from Hangzhou were investigated between 2018 and 2020. The association between risk factors and FCV infection was assessed. Phylogenetic analyses based on a capsid coding sequence were performed to identify the genetic relationships between strains. In vitro virus neutralization tests were used to assess antibody levels against isolated FCV strains in client-owned cats. Results: The FCV-positive rate of the examined cats was 43.0%. Risk factors significantly associated with FCV infection were vaccination status and oral symptoms. Phylogenetic analysis revealed a radial phylogeny with no evidence of temporal or countrywide clusters. There was a significant difference in the distribution of serum antibody titers between vaccinated and unvaccinated cats. Conclusions: This study revealed a high prevalence and genetic diversity of FCV in Hangzhou. The results indicate that the efficacy of FCV vaccination is unsatisfactory. More comprehensive and refined vaccination protocols are an urgent and unmet need.

• Genomics & Informatics
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• v.16 no.4
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• pp.19.1-19.11
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• 2018

MicroRNAs (miRNAs), small non-coding RNAs, have been implicated in various diseases and cellular functions as microregulators of gene expression. Although the history of miRNA investigation in autoimmune $Sj{\ddot{o}}gren^{\prime}s$ syndrome (SjS) is fairly short, a substantial amount of data has already been accumulated. These findings clearly indicate potential clinical implications of miRNAs, such as autoantigen expression and autoantibody production, viral miRNAs regulating the calcium signaling pathway, and aberrant immune cell regulation and cytokine production. Research endeavors in the field are currently underway to select disease-specific diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers by utilizing different types of tissues or biological specimens of SjS patients. Various techniques for miRNA analysis with different stringencies have been applied, with the most recent one being next-generation sequencing. This review compiles and highlights differentially-expressed miRNAs in various samples collected from SjS patients and their potential implications in the pathogenesis of SjS. To facilitate the development of miRNA-targeted personalized therapy in the future, we urge more follow-up studies that confirm these findings and elucidate the immunopathological roles of differentially-expressed miRNAs. Furthermore, improved diagnostic criteria for the disease itself will minimize sampling errors in patient recruitment, preventing the generation of inconsistent data.