• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.41 no.4
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• pp.463-468
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• 2008

Background: Descending necrotizing mediastinitis (DNM) is a life-threatening cervico-mediastinal infection extending from the oropharynx or periodontal space. We reviewed clinical outcomes of DNM patients that underwent surgical management. Material and Method: We analyzed the demographic and surgical data from 8 patients (6 males and 2 females) that underwent surgical management for DNM between August 2003 and August 2007. Result: The mean age was $56.6{\pm}12.3$ ($34{\sim}72$) years, Types of DNM were I (n=2), IIA (n=1), and IIB (n=5), based on the classification system of Endo et al. Four patients were septic at the time of operation. The infectious organism was identified in three cases and turned out to be Streptococcus. ICU stay was $24.3{\pm}17.9$ ($3{\sim}58$) days, and hospital stay was $49.1{\pm}33.8$ ($20{\sim}125$) days, There were two deaths (25%), both of which were due to multi-organ failure. Conclusion: Despite aggressive surgical drainage and appropriate medical management, DNM still had a high mortality rate, Early diagnosis and prompt surgical intervention are key to DNM management. In addition, transcervical drainage should be used in limited disease only.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.53 no.3
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• pp.104-113
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• 2020

Background: Accurate intraoperative assessment of mediastinal lymph nodes is a critical aspect of lung cancer surgery. The efficacy and potential for upstaging implicit in these dissections must therefore be revisited in the current era of uniportal video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS). Methods: A retrospective study was conducted in which 544 patients with stage I (T1abc-T2a, N0, M0) primary lung cancer were analyzed. To assess risk factors for nodal upstaging and to limit any imbalance imposed by surgical choices, we constructed an inverse probability of treatment-weighted (IPTW) logistic regression model (in addition to non-weighted logistic models). We also evaluated risk factors for early locoregional recurrence using IPTW logistic regression analysis. Results: In the comparison of uniportal and multiportal VATS, the resected lymph node count (14.03±8.02 vs. 14.41±7.41, respectively; p=0.48) and rate of nodal upstaging (6.5% vs. 8.7%, respectively; p=0.51) appeared similar. Predictors of nodal upstaging included tumor size (odds ratio [OR], 1.74; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.12-2.70), carcinoembryonic antigen level (OR, 1.11; 95% CI, 1.04-1.18), and histologically confirmed pleural invasion (OR, 3.97; 95% CI, 1.89-8.34). The risk factors for locoregional recurrence within 1 year were found to be number of resected N2 nodes, age, and nodal upstaging. Conclusion: Uniportal and multiportal VATS appear similar with regard to accuracy and thoroughness, showing no significant difference in the extent of nodal dissection.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.53 no.3
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• pp.132-139
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• 2020

Background: The double-lumen cannula (DLC) has begun to be used worldwide for venovenous (VV) extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO). We aimed to examine whether the DLC could be an effective tool in the treatment of pediatric respiratory failure in Korea. Methods: We reviewed the records of patients weighing under 15 kg who underwent ECMO due to respiratory failure between January 2017 and December 2018. Outcomes of ECMO using a DLC and conventional ECMO using central method or 2 peripheral cannulas were compared. Results: Twelve patients were treated with ECMO for respiratory failure. Among them, a DLC was used in 5 patients, the median age of whom was 3.8 months (interquartile range, 0.1-49.7 months). In these patients, the median values of pH, partial pressure of carbon dioxide, and partial pressure of oxygen were 7.09, 74 mm Hg, and 37 mm Hg before ECMO and corrected to 7.31, 44 mm Hg, and 85 mm Hg, respectively, after ECMO cannulation. Median blood flow rate in the patients treated with ECMO using a DLC was slightly higher than that in the conventional ECMO group, but this difference was not statistically significant (86.1 mL/kg/min and 74.3 mL/kg/min, respectively; p=1.00). One patient from the DLC group and 3 patients from the conventional group were weaned off ECMO. Conclusion: VV ECMO using a DLC provided adequate oxygenation, ventilation, and blood flow rate in Korean pediatric patients with respiratory failure. Further prospective and randomized studies are warranted.

• Journal of the Korean Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
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• v.26 no.4
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• pp.258-265
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• 2015

Objectives : Children with attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) have problems in social interactions. We compared the effect of 10-session social skill training (SST) among two groups, children with pure ADHD, and those with ADHD with comorbidity. Methods : Consecutive 10-session SST was conducted for 34 children from 2006 to 2012. There were 22 children with pure ADHD (male 20, female 2), and 12 children suffering from ADHD with comorbidity (male 11, female 1). All children took medication as prescribed by their doctors before the start of SST. The Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL), the Korean Personality Inventory for Children (K-PIC), the Conner's Rating Scale, the ADHD Rating Scale, and the Home Situation Questionnaire were completed by mothers before and after the SST. All children completed the Child Depression Inventory, the Stat-Trait Anxiety Inventory for Children, the Self-Concept Scale and the ADHD Diagnostic System before and after the SST. Results : Only children with pure ADHD showed improvement in anxiety and self-concept in scales rated by children. In the CBCL rated by parents, the pure ADHD group and the ADHD with comorbidity showed improvement in both externalizing and internalizing subscales. In the K-PIC rated by parents, the pure ADHD group showed improvement in most outcomes and ADHD with comorbidity showed positive change in verbal development. Conclusion : These results suggest that SST has significant positive effects on both the pure ADHD and ADHD with comorbidity group. Further research is needed in order to target diverse comorbidity groups with ADHD to improve the effectiveness of the SST.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.14 no.10
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• pp.5867-5870
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• 2013

Background: Cervical cancer is the second most common cancer among Malaysian women with an ASR of 17.9 and a mortality rate of 5.6 per 100,000 population in 2008 (GLOBOCAN, 2008). The 5 year prevalence was estimated to be 14.5 per 100,000 population. As the second most common cancer affecting productive females, cervical cancer imposes an impact to the socioeconomic aspect of the country. However, the poor uptake of cervical cancer screening is a major problem in detecting early pre-cancerous lesions and thus, delay in initiating treatment for cervical cancer. Realizing the urgency to increase the uptake of PAP smear, besides enhancing the promotion of PAP smear screening for women above 35 years old, the call-recall system for pap smear screening had been piloted in one of the suburban districts which aimed to improve regular participation of women for cervical and breast cancer screening. This is of public health importance as identifying the best feasible option to increase patient's respond to participate in the screening program effectively in our setting will be helpful in implementing an organized regular population based screening program tailored to our setting. The pilot program of cervical cancer screening in Klang was an opportunity to assess different options in recalling patients for a repeat pap smear to increase their participation and adherence to the program. Methods and Results: This was a population based randomized control trial. Women aged 20-65 years in the population that matched the inclusion and exclusion criteria were re-called for a repeat smear. There are four different intervention groups; letter, registered letters, short messages services (SMS) and phone calls where 250 subjects were recruited into each group. Samples were generated randomly from the same population in Klang into four different groups. The first group received a recall letter for a repeat smear similar to the one that has been given during the first invitation. The intervention groups were either be given a registered letter, an SMS or a phone call to re-call them. The socio-demographic data of the patients who came for uptake were collected for further analysis. All the groups were followed up after 8 weeks to assess their compliance to the recall. Conclusions: The study will provide recommendations about the most effective methods for recall in a population based pap smear screening program on two outcomes: i) patients response; ii) uptake for repeat pap smear.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.15 no.2
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• pp.775-780
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• 2014

Objectives: TCR-gamma-delta+T cells (${\gamma}{\delta}$ T cells) are non-conventional T lymphocytes that can recognize and eradicate tumor cells. Our previous studies showed that infiltration and function of ${\gamma}{\delta}$ T cells were substantially attenuated in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). However, their prognostic value was not clarified. Methods: The association between ${\gamma}{\delta}$ T cells and the clinical outcomes was determined by immunohistochemistry (IHC) in a HCC patient cohort (n = 342). Results:Immunohistochemistry showed decreased infiltration of ${\gamma}{\delta}$ T cells in tumoral tissues compared with paired peritumoral tissues. The counts of ${\gamma}{\delta}$ T cells in peritumoral tissues were negatively correlated with tumor size (P = 0.005). Survival analysis showed that the levels of peritumoral ${\gamma}{\delta}$T cells were related to both time to recurrence (TTR) and overall survival (OS) (P = 0.010 and P = 0.036, respectively) in univariate analysis, and related to TTR in multivariate analysis (P = 0.014, H.R. [95% CI] = 0.682 [0.502-0.927]). Furthermore, the level of peritumoral ${\gamma}{\delta}$ T cells showed independent prognostic value for TTR in Barcelona Clinic Liver Cancer (BCLC) stage A patients (P = 0.038, H.R. [95% CI] = 0.727 [0.537-0.984]). However, tumoral ${\gamma}{\delta}$ T cells did not show independent prognostic value for either TTR or OS in HCC patients. Conclusions: Low counts of ${\gamma}{\delta}$ T cells in peritumoral liver tissue are related to a higher incidence of recurrence in HCC and can predict postoperative recurrence, especially in those with early-stage HCC.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.17 no.7
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• pp.3147-3153
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• 2016

Background: Many strategies are required for cervical cancer reduction e.g. provision of education cautious sexual behavior, HPV vaccination, and early detection of pre-invasive cervical lesions and invasive cancer. Basic health data for cervical cytology/ HPV DNA and associated factors are important to make an appropriate policy to fight against cervical cancer. Aims: To assess the prevalence of abnormal cervical cytology and/or HPV DNA and associated factors, including sexual behavior, among Bangkok Metropolitan women. Materials and Methods: Thai women, aged 25-to-65 years old, had lived in Bangkok for ${\geq}5$ years were invited into the study. Liquid-based cervical cytology and HPV DNA tests were performed. Personal data were collected. Main Outcomes Measures: Rates of abnormal cytology and/ or high-risk HPV (HR-HPV) and factors associated with abnormal test (s) were studied. Results: Abnormal cytology and positive HR-HPV were found in 6.3% (279/4442 women) and 6.7% (295/4428), respectively. The most common abnormal cytology was ASC-US (3.5%) while the most common HR-HPV genotype was HPV 16 (1.4%) followed by HPV 52 (1.0%), HPV 58 (0.9%), and HPV 18 and HPV 51 at equal frequency (0.7%). Both tests were abnormal in 1.6% (71/4428 women). Rates of HR-HPV detection were directly associated with severity of abnormal cytology: 5.4% among normal cytology and 13.0%, 30.8%, 40.0%, 39.5%, 56.3% and 100.0% among ASC-US, ASC-H, AGC-NOS, LSIL, HSIL, and SCC, respectively. Some 5% of women who had no HR-HPV had abnormal cytology, in which 0.3% had ${\geq}$ HSIL. Factors associated with abnormal cytology or HR-HPV were: age ${\leq}40$ years, education lower than (for cytology) or higher than bachelor for HR-HPV), history of sexual intercourse, and sexual partners ${\geq}2$. Conclusions: Rates for abnormal cytology and HR-HPV detection were 6.3% and 6.7% HR-HPV detection was directly associated with severity of abnormal cytology. Significant associated factors were age ${\leq}40$ years, lower education, history of sexual intercourse, and sexual partners ${\geq}2$.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.14 no.9
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• pp.5185-5188
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• 2013

Background: We aimed to evaluate prognostic factors and response rates to various treatment approaches to patients with synovial sarcoma in an advanced setting. Materials and Methods: We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of 55 patients (18 pts; 32.7% women) diagnosed with synovial sarcomas. Twenty had metastatic disease at the time of diagnosis while the remainder of the study group consisted of patients who developed metastatic or inoperable locally advanced disease during follow up. Results: The median follow up time was 15 months (range: 1-53). Regarding outcomes for the 55 patients, 3 and 5 year overall survival rates were 26% and 14%, respectively. In univariate analyses among demographic factors female gender was associated with a better outcome (p=0.030). Patients with early progressing disease (<2 years) had a worse prognosis when compared to patient group with late relapse, but this difference did not reach statistical significance (p=0.056). According to multivariate Cox regression analysis patients who had undergone metastasectomy had a significant survival advantage (p=0.044). The overall response rate to different salvage chemotherapy regimens given as second line treatment was around 42.9-53.9% for all regimes. There were no statistically significant differences between chemotherapy regimens given in either second or third line settings in terms of overall survival. Conclusions: We observed no major differences in terms of response rate and survival between different salvage chemotherapy regimens. Although metastatic disease still carries a poor prognosis, metastasectomy was found to be associated with improved survival.

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Landscape Architecture
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• v.44 no.5
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• pp.92-102
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• 2016

While there have many completions of large parks recently under development, there has been a dearth of quality assessments. Studies focused on post-evaluation have been made to resolve this, but most of these are biased toward user satisfaction after completion and therefore behaviour analysis has limitations on solving problemsduring the actual design implementation processes. Therefore, this study examined the internal phenomenon and structure of the implementation process of design competition through the ground theory and microscopic independent perspective. As a result, maintaining the identity and differentiation of parks derived from the preserved design competition scheme contributed greatly to completeness and satisfaction. Outcomes were mainly caused by the trust of public officials as the ordering organization, the will of policy decision-makers, and the competence of operational enterprises, etc. Negative factors such as undermining the whole concept of the park and landscape occurred as external pressure and related subjects intruded on change design factors due to variations in social conditions. Additionally, illogical construction processes occurred, such as a reinvestigation of the budget for restoration after damaging on original landscape. There have been needs for the improvement of the work processing system. On balance, an interventional role is very important in the park construction process, especially the PA and operation committee in terms of maintaining the basic direction, landscape design supervision for detailed designs, and expert construction management on LA in terms of rational work management in the field. The study, using the microscopic perspective of the designer and ground theory, deliver significant meaning as an early study by suggesting alternative methods for the after-evaluation of large parks and structurally looking into main influence factors driven during the construction process.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.50 no.7
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• pp.665-671
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• 2007

Purpose : The purpose of this study was to investigate the clinical features and outcome in newborns undergoing cardiac surgery. Methods : Eighty two neonates underwent heart surgery for congenital heart defect at Kyungpook National University Hospital between March 2000 and February 2006. Patient characteristics (sex, age, diagnosis), pre-operative conditions, operation type, postoperative complications and mortality were reviewed retrospectively. Results : In 82 patients, 41 (50%) were male. The mean age and weight at operation were 12 days and 3.2 kg, respectively. The common cardiac anomalies were complete transposition of the great arteries (TGA), Tetralogy of Fallot (TOF), pulmonary atresia with intact ventricular septum, and single ventricle variants. Fifty seven operations were performed with cardiopulmonary bypass and corrective surgery was done on 54 patients. Arterial switch operation and modified Blalock-Taussig shunt were most frequently performed as corrective and palliative operations, respectively. The early hospital mortality rate was 7%; the late mortality was 3.9%. Complications were acute renal insufficiency, delayed sternal closure, wound infection, arrhythmia, and brain hemorrhage. Conclusion : During the last 6 years, the outcomes of cardiac surgery for congenital heart defects in neonates improved by progress in perioperative, anaesthetic, surgical, and postoperative care.