• Journal of Yeungnam Medical Science
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• v.37 no.4
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• pp.321-328
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• 2020

Background: This study aimed to investigate the incidences of and risk factors for perioperative events following anticoagulant discontinuation in patients with non-valvular atrial fibrillation (NVAF) undergoing non-cardiac surgery. Methods: A total of 216 consecutive patients who underwent cardiac consultation for suspending perioperative anticoagulants were enrolled. A perioperative event was defined as a composite of thromboembolism and major bleeding. Results: The mean anticoagulant discontinuation duration was 5.7 (±4.2) days and was significantly longer in the warfarin group (p<0.001). Four perioperative thromboembolic (1.9%; three strokes and one systemic embolization) and three major bleeding events (1.4%) were observed. The high CHA₂DS₂-VASc and HAS-BLED scores and a prolonged preoperative anticoagulant discontinuation duration (4.4±2.1 vs. 2.9±1.8 days; p=0.028) were associated with perioperative events, whereas the anticoagulant type (non-vitamin K antagonist oral anticoagulants or warfarin) was not. The best cut-off levels of the HAS-BLED and CHA₂DS₂-VASc scores were 3.5 and 2.5, respectively, and the preoperative anticoagulant discontinuation duration for predicting perioperative events was 2.5 days. Significant differences in the perioperative event rates were observed among the four risk groups categorized according to the sum of these values: risk 0, 0%; risk 1, 0%; risk 2, 5.9%; and risk 3, 50.0% (p<0.001). Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that the HAS-BLED score was an independent predictor for perioperative events. Conclusion: Thromboembolic events and major bleeding are not uncommon during perioperative anticoagulant discontinuation in patients with NVAF, and interrupted anticoagulation strategies are needed to minimize these.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing
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• v.4 no.1
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• pp.121-134
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• 1974

This study is an attempt to evaluate the use of an oral contraceptive by: 1. Deforming the acceptance rate of the oral contraceptive according to socio-demographic characteristics 5. Estimating the duration of the use of the contraceptive f. Discovering reasons why the contraceptive was discontinued 4. Computing the cumulative continuation and discontinuation rate according to socio-demographic characteristics, history of pregnancies, and attitude of husband at the time of selection of the contraceptive. One hundred sixty-eight women of child bearing age (14-49 years), residing in Yonhee Dong, Seoul, Korea and registered as oral contraceptive accepters at Yonsei Community Health Center, were interviewed during a three week period in 1973. The questionnaire was designed to determine the socio-demographic characteristics of the oral contraceptive accepters, the current status of their family planning practice, medical reactions if any, discontinuation practice, and the duration of the use of the contraceptive. The major findings of the study were as follows; 1. The acceptance rate was highest for women between 30 and 34 years of age, the mean age being 34.4 years. 2. Fifty six point five percent of all respondents said that thirty years of age was the ideal age to stop having children. 3. The average number of living children was 3.5 and fifty four point eight percent of respondents felt 2 boys and I girl was the ideal number of children. 4. The average number of pregnancies was 5.2 and the average number of induced abortion was I. 4. 5. Fifty eight point eight percent of the respondents had experience in the use of contraceptive methods in the past. 6. Forty one point seven percent of the respondents replied that they chose the oral contraceptive because, "it was not complicated to use." 7. Sixty four point eight percent of the women said their husband approved of their taking the pill. 8. The cumulative discontinuation rate was sixty point five percent of the total respondents for one year in first segment. 9. Sixty six point nine percent of the respondents had experienced side-effect while using the pill. The side effects for 68.9 percent of these women were castro-intestinal upsets. Twenty point eight percent of the women who had side effects consulted with medical personnel about them. Women who had more education had more side effects. 10. Seventy three point two percent of the women who discontinued the pill did so because of medical reasons. Women who were younger discontinued the pill for personal reasons more-often than older women. Among personal reasons listed for discontinuing the pill was the attitude of the husband. 11. The average duration of continuance of the contraceptive was 5.3 cycles under 29 years of age; 7.4 cycles between 30 and 34 years of age; and 8.4 cycles over 40 years of age. 12. The discontinuation rate was seem to increase sharply in the early cycle and increase more slowly in later cycle. Conclusions and suggestions: Since the attitude of the husband was shown to be important, the current family planning program should be expended to include approach to husband. For women who must use the oral contraceptive, education and support must be enhanced so that the discontinuation rate due to side effects will be decreased.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.14 no.1
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• pp.225-230
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• 2013

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to determine patient characteristics and other factors associated with discontinuation of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) among cancer patients in Korea. Methods: A national, multicenter, cross-sectional survey of cancer patients was performed in which 674 of 2,661 patients were analyzed for their use of CAM after cancer diagnosis. Multiple logistic regression was used to identify the factors related to CAM discontinuation. Results: Among the surveyed cancer patients, 25.3% (674 of 2,661) had used CAM, whereas 38.3% (258 of 674) of those with CAM experience had discontinued CAM therapy. The most frequently used form of CAM was herbs (43.5%). The major reasons for the discontinuation of CAM included absence of effects (23.9%), financial burden (22.9%), and physician opposition (13.7%). Other factors associated with the discontinuation of CAM included metastatic cancer (OR = 2.06), a long duration of cancer treatment (OR = 3.34), dissatisfaction (OR = 4.34), and side effects (OR = 4.23) of CAM therapy. Conclusions: For cancer patients to correctly employ CAM therapy, increase their satisfaction, and reduce their side effects, efforts should be made to analyze the cost effectiveness of CAM, and valid information must be provided to physicians and cancer patients.

• International Journal of Advanced Culture Technology
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• v.10 no.1
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• pp.108-115
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• 2022

The purpose of this study is to investigate the actual status of antithrombotic management before and after the procedure or surgery, the difference between the duration of medication suspension by clinical and demographic characteristics, and the patient's understanding and satisfaction after medication management by a dedicated nurse. The results were as follows. The most commonly used antithrombotic agents were aspirin and flavitol. The drug discontinuation period according to antithrombotic, procedures, and underlying diseases, there was a significant difference in duration for each variables(p<.000). In the case of antiplatelet drugs, 5-day suspension was the most frequent, and anticoagulants 2-day suspension was the most frequent. Depending on the procedure,colonoscope,nucleoplasty,rotator cuff repair,and total knee arthroplasty commonly showed more than 80% of 5-day discontinuation. The differences according to underlying diseases are as follows. 64.7% of all diseases discontinued on the 5th. The patient's understanding of the nurse's medication management performed before and after the procedure was found to be lower in Angina patients than those with other diseases. In terms of age, those in their 50s showed higher understanding than other age groups. There were no differences in understanding and satisfaction with the remaining characteristics.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.30 no.6
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• pp.562-569
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• 2022

Etretinate, an acitretin metabolite, has a long retention duration in adipose tissues with a teratogenic potential. FDA advises a contraceptive period of at least three years after discontinuing acitretin. However, the effect of accumulated etretinate in adipose tissues on fetus is unknown. Although the teratogenic threshold for serum concentration of etretinate has been presented as higher than 2 ng/mL, that of acitretin is unknown. To examine factors affecting body retention of acitretin and etretinate, effects of acitretin dosage, acitretin-taking duration, elapsed time after stopping acitretin, age, sex, concomitant alcohol consumption, and foods and supplements rich in vitamin A intake on serum concentrations of acitretin and etretinate were analyzed in 14 acitretin-taken patients and 58 controls without taking acitretin or etretinate. Serum concentrations of acitretin, but not etretinate, tended to be inversely related to the discontinuation duration. They were also related to old age. Different from a published result that alcohol consumption could promote the metabolism of acitretin into etretinate, alcohol intake did not affect serum concentrations of etretinate. Unexpectedly, more frequent intake of vitamin A or provitamin A-rich food and supplements was associated with higher serum acitretin, whereas less frequent intake of vitamin A or provitamin A-rich food and supplements was associated with higher serum levels of etretinate in acitretin-taken patients. Despite preliminary data, inter-individual variations in serum retention of etretinate suggest the necessity of further research before applying the same guidelines to everyone to minimize unnecessary contraception.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.15 no.16
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• pp.6559-6564
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• 2014

Objective: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of bevacizumab in the treatment of patients with metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC). Methods: In a single-center, observational study of 91 Chinese patients with mCRC who received bevacizumab in combination with chemotherapy was conducted. Objective response rates (ORRs), progression-free survival (PFS), overall survival (OS) and adverse events were recorded, and the relationships between various clinical factors and PFS or OS were evaluated by Cox proportional hazards models. Results: Treatment with bevacizumab and chemotherapy was effective and tolerable. Univariate analysis showed that PFS and OS were significantly associated with the Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status (ECOG-PS) score, duration of bevacizumab exposure, and whether chemotherapy was continued after discontinuation of bevacizumab treatment. A multivariate analysis showed that the duration of bevacizumab exposure and whether chemotherapy was continued after discontinuation of bevacizumab were independent prognostic factors for PFS and OS. Conclusion: In Chinese mCRC population, the shorter the duration of exposure to bevacizumab and chemotherapy, the worse the prognosis is.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.78 no.3
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• pp.161-167
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• 2015

Tuberculosis (TB) remains a major global health problem, and the incidence of TB cases has not significantly decreased over the past decade in Korea. The standard short course regimen is highly effective against TB, but requires multiple TB-specific drugs and a long treatment duration. Recent studies using late-generation fluoroquinolones and/or high-dose rifapentine-containing regimens to shorten the duration of TB treatment showed negative results. Extending the treatment duration may be considered in patients with cavitation on the initial chest radiograph and positivity in sputum culture at 2 months of treatment for preventing TB relapse. Current evidence does not support the use of fixed-dose combinations compared to separate drugs for the purpose of improving treatment outcomes. All patients receiving TB treatment should be monitored regularly for response to therapy, facilitation of treatment completion, and management of adverse drug reactions. Mild adverse effects can be managed with symptomatic therapy and changing the timing of the drug administration, but severe adverse effects require a discontinuation of the offending drugs.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• v.32 no.1
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• pp.47-50
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• 2019

Background: It is uncommon for patients who have received a permanent implant to remove the spinal cord stimulator (SCS) after discontinuation of medication in complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS) due to their completely painless state. This study evaluated CRPS patients who successfully removed their SCSs. Methods: This 10-year retrospective study was performed on patients who had received the permanent implantation of an SCS and had removed it 6 months after discontinuation of stimulation, while halting all medications for neuropathic pain. Age, sex, duration of implantation, site and type of CRPS, and their return to work were compared between the removal and non-removal groups. Results: Five (12.5%, M/F = 4/1) of 40 patients (M/F = 33/7) successfully removed the permanent implant. The mean age was younger in the removal group ($27.2{\pm}6.4$ vs. $43.5{\pm}10.7$ years, P < 0.01). The mean duration of implantation in the removal group was $34.4{\pm}18.2$ months. Two of 15 patients (13.3%) and 3 of 25 patients (12%) who had upper and lower extremity pain, respectively, had removed the implant. The implants could be removed in 5 of 27 patients (18.5%) with CRPS type 1 (P < 0.01). All 5 patients (100%) who removed their SCS returned to work, while only 5 of 35 (14.3%) in the non-removal group did (P < 0.01). Conclusions: Even though this study had limited data, younger patients with CRPS type 1 could remove their SCSs within a 5-year period and return to work with complete pain relief.

• The Journal of the Korean dental association
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• v.57 no.10
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• pp.623-628
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• 2019

Warfarin is an anticoagulant involved in the production of vitamin K dependent blood clotting factors. Dentists should be familiar with the appropriate assessment methods and considerations for the treatment of patients taking warfarin. Dental surgery with the moderate risk of bleeding can be performed without stopping the drug through preoperative examination of the INR(international normalized ratio) value and evaluation. When performing a surgery with a high risk of bleeding, it is necessary to evaluate whether the drug can be discontinued, what the duration is, and the risk of discontinuation. Hemostasis can be obtained by local methods in most cases of postoperative bleeding in patients taking appropriately adjusted doses of warfarin.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.52 no.1
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• pp.50-55
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• 2009

Purpose : This study aimed to determine the influence of low-dose oxygen ($FiO_2$ <25%) therapy through nasal cannulae on the progress and prognosis of retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) as well as methods of preventing ROP. Methods : Our subjects comprised premature infants (gestation period <37 weeks; birth weight <1,750 g) born in Daegu Fatima Hospital between February 1, 2001 and January 31, 2006. We retrospectively reviewed and analyzed the medical records of 273 patients who were available for eye examination and follow up over 6 months. Results : The factors maximally influencing the occurrence of ROP were low gestation age and low birth weight. We observed that the incidence of ROP increased with the increasing duration of low-dose oxygen therapy. ROP onset was delayed during ongoing oxygen therapy; however, rapid progression of ROP occurred after the discontinuation of oxygen therapy among premature infants up to the prethreshold stage. Conclusion : To prevent of occurrence of severe ROP and its rapid progression, the period of low-dose oxygen therapy needs to be shortened. Moreover, frequent eye examinations should be performed after the discontinuation of oxygen therapy.