• Journal of Medicine and Life Science
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• v.20 no.2
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• pp.73-82
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• 2023

Multiple studies have reported on unilateral axillary adenopathy following coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccination, which is currently recognized as a common finding. Here, we present a series of eight adult patients with reactive axillary lymphadenopathy following COVID-19 vaccination, in whom the follow-up ultrasonography (US) showed resolution of a previously noted unilateral axillary adenopathy. From March 2021 to March 2022, 2,599 consecutive women underwent breast US in Jeju National University Hospital. We identified 10 patients with unilateral axillary lymphadenopathy following COVID-19 vaccination detected on the breast US. The 10 patients were recommended for follow-up US. Two patients were lost to follow-up, whereas the remaining eight patients underwent follow-up US, in whom resolution of the unilateral axillary lymphadenopathy was noted. Radiologists should be aware of evolving guidelines for evaluating and managing axillary lymphadenopathy to avoid false positive biopsies. Recent studies on lymphadenopathy following COVID-19 vaccination show that a prolonged duration until resolution is often observed. Therefore, a follow-up US examination at least 12 weeks after vaccination may be reasonable. Furthermore, management guidelines should include a risk-stratified approach considering both vaccination timing and the patient's overall risk of metastatic disease.

• Korean Journal of Childcare and Education
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• v.16 no.6
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• pp.19-34
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• 2020

Objective: This study investigated the effects of the firstborn's gender and temperament on the fertility intention and follow-up childbirth of parents. Methods: A total 120 firstborns and their mothers were selected from the sample of the Panel Study on Korean Children. Child temperament traits were measured by Early Childhood Behavior Questionnaire(ECBQ) and mothers stated their fertility intention in 2009 when their first child was under 2 years old. Follow-up childbirth of mothers was assessed from the data of PSKC in 2016. Results: The results indicated that there was a significant difference by gender in follow-up birth. Among aspects of temperament, fertility intention was affected by the firstborn's inhibitory control and follow-up birth was affected by the firstborn's gender and discomfort. For mothers with a boy, the firstborn's soothability affected mothers' follow-up childbirth. Conclusion/Implications: These results imply that gender and temperament of the first child are connected to mothers' fertility intention and follow-up childbirth. Extra studies are required to clarify how those factors affect mothers' parenting or psychological status. Meanwhile, the firstborn's gender and temperament should be considered when developing support programs for families with one child in order to increase follow-up birth rate.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.55 no.5
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• pp.464-474
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• 2022

Objectives: We introduced the cohort studies included in the Korean Cohort Consortium (KCC), focusing on large-scale cohort studies established in Korea with a prolonged follow-up period. Moreover, we also provided projections of the follow-up and estimates of the sample size that would be necessary for big-data analyses based on pooling established cohort studies, including population-based genomic studies. Methods: We mainly focused on the characteristics of individual cohort studies from the KCC. We developed "PROFAN", a Shiny application for projecting the follow-up period to achieve a certain number of cases when pooling established cohort studies. As examples, we projected the follow-up periods for 5000 cases of gastric cancer, 2500 cases of prostate and breast cancer, and 500 cases of non-Hodgkin lymphoma. The sample sizes for sequencing-based analyses based on a 1:1 case-control study were also calculated. Results: The KCC consisted of 8 individual cohort studies, of which 3 were community-based and 5 were health screening-based cohorts. The population-based cohort studies were mainly organized by Korean government agencies and research institutes. The projected follow-up period was at least 10 years to achieve 5000 cases based on a cohort of 0.5 million participants. The mean of the minimum to maximum sample sizes for performing sequencing analyses was 5917-72 102. Conclusions: We propose an approach to establish a large-scale consortium based on the standardization and harmonization of existing cohort studies to obtain adequate statistical power with a sufficient sample size to analyze high-risk groups or rare cancer subtypes.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.53 no.4
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• pp.465-470
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• 2010

The number of long-term survivors is increasing in the western countries due to remarkable improvements in the treatment of childhood cancer. The long-term complications of childhood cancer survivors in these countries were brought to light by the childhood cancer survivor studies. In Korea, the 5-year survival rate of childhood cancer patients is approaching 70%; therefore, it is extremely important to undertake similar long-term follow-up studies and comprehensive long-term care for our population. On the basis of the experiences of childhood cancer survivorship care of the western countries and the current Korean status of childhood cancer survivors, long-term follow-up study and long-term care systems need to be established in Korea in the near future. This system might contribute to the improvement of the quality of life of childhood cancer survivors through effective intervention strategies.

• Journal of Environmental Impact Assessment
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• v.24 no.4
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• pp.375-385
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• 2015

This study analyzed international case studies on Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) follow-up and suggested implications based on the study's findings to aid implementation of SEA follow-up in Korea. SEA requires follow-up in order to identify unforseen adverse effects and enable appropriate remedial action to be taken. Tool kits and methodological framework for effective SEA follow-up are only being researched recently. Based on the study's findings, following implications for implementing SEA follow-up in Korea were drawn. First, the system of carrying out SEA follow-up would be different depending on the PPP topic. During the scoping stage, significant impacts should be identified according to the PPP topic, and thus help determine the indicators to be developed in the later stage. Secondly, responsibility, method, time, intervals and actions from SEA follow-up may vary depending on the target SEA consultation. Thirdly, the indicators of SEA follow-up may be considered together with various environmental standards and current political, social and economic indicators which are a big issue in society. Fourthly, SEA follow-up can be used as an integration system of its target planning and environmental planning. Finally, SEA feedback system should be needed. The result of SEA follow-up should be used for target PPP. These would lead to improvements to the target PPP. If SEA follow up is successfully implemented and actively carried out for domestic PPPs, Korea can be a step closer to realization of sustainable development.

• Journal of Environmental Impact Assessment
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• v.17 no.1
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• pp.57-66
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• 2008

Follow-up process consists of two steps. First, it monitors whether project proponents comply with reviews made by KEI. The second steps is to survey environmental impacts during and after implementation of the proposed action. The follow-up requires the proper participation of stakeholders: project proponents, compliance monitors, impact monitors, and environmental agencies approving and reviewing said projects. Currently, follow-up process does not work well because each stakeholder does not play his proper role for various reasons such as mutual distrust among stakeholders and problems associated with institutional settings. This study intends to improve effectiveness of follow-up process and, ultimately, to improve quality of EIA in Korea by devising a follow-up system that delineates clear roles and build a strong network among stakeholders. In order to do so, the study identifies current problems associated with follow-up process and examines basic concepts and procedures involved in it. Secondly, it analyzes relational dynamics among stakeholders to identify what's behind the current mutual distrust. Third, it proposes a way to delineate clear roles to each stakeholder so that follow-up process runs efficient as an organic network.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.58 no.1
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• pp.1-7
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• 2015

Gonadotropin-releasing hormone analogs (GnRHa) are widely used to treat central precocious puberty (CPP). The efficacy and safety of GnRHa treatment are known, but concerns regarding long-term complications are increasing. Follow-up observation results after GnRHa treatment cessation in female CPP patients up to adulthood showed that treatment (especially <6 years) was beneficial for final adult height relative to that of pretreated or untreated patients. Puberty was recovered within 1 year after GnRHa treatment discontinuation, and there were no abnormalities in reproductive function. CPP patients had a relatively high body mass index (BMI) at the time of CPP diagnosis, but BMI standard deviation score maintenance during GnRHa treatment seemed to prevent the aggravation of obesity in many cases. Bone mineral density decreases during GnRHa treatment but recovers to normal afterwards, and peak bone mass formation through bone mineral accretion during puberty is not affected. Recent studies reported a high prevalence of polycystic ovarian syndrome in CPP patients after GnRHa treatment, but it remains unclear whether the cause is the reproductive mechanism of CPP or GnRHa treatment itself. Studies of the psychosocial effects on CPP patients after GnRHa treatment are very limited. Some studies have reported decreases in psychosocial problems after GnRHa treatment. Overall, GnRHa seems effective and safe for CPP patients, based on long-term follow-up studies. There have been only a few long-term studies on GnRHa treatment in CPP patients in Korea; therefore, additional long-term follow-up investigations are needed to establish the efficacy and safety of GnRHa in the Korean population.

• Korea Journal of Hospital Management
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• v.7 no.2
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• pp.99-123
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• 2002

This study was conducted to determine whether follow-up management is carried out continuously following CQI activity and to analyze the factors behind the success and failure of follow-up management. Past presentations from 1994-1999 of CQI coordinators and lecturers from various institutions who presented at The Korean Society of Quality Assurance in Health Care(KoSQA) on the conditions of follow-up management in each institution were analyzed. The results of this study were as follows; Since the number of subjects on CQI increased each year at symposiums, this has expanded to all medical institutions. Although medical institutions usually conduct 11-20 subjects on CQI per year, there were many such occasions where more than 31 subjects were conducted. Moreover, institutions with less than 800 beds have come up with more projects than those with more than 800 beds, thus 23.3% of these institutions had at least 1 person involved in 4 projects. This had created an overload of responsibilities for specific persons' involvement, prompting them to incline toward formalities in their work rather than substantial activities. Among the projects presented at the symposiums, 51.7% demonstrated that follow-up management could be carried out. In particular, 55.3% of the projects from provincial regions could carry out follow-up management compared to 48.8% in Seoul. Moreover, it was demonstrated that 80% of the projects from institutions with 600-799 beds carried out follow-up management most effectively. With regards to previous presentations, the older they were, it was found that follow-up management could not be effectively carried out. Some institutions that responded that follow-up management was carried out effectively in their institutions were found to have conducted follow-up management without any inspection strategies or the appropriate tools. CQI activities were executed and terminated with no consistency and team members had no real concern for it. The most important factors that contribute to an effective follow-up management are the need for concern and interest from the directors of the hospitals, from the relevant departments and team members in addition to the role of the supervising department, follow-up management through management of target goals, consistency in tasks along with communication between all team members. The biggest problems were perceived to be overload of work due to accumulation of proposed projects in addition to lack of awareness pertaining to follow-up management. CQI is beneficial for all staff for the improvement of the mind and business administration and thus it is believed to be desirable. To carry out follow-up management effectively, leadership, analysis and application of information, follow-up management and planning, as well as quality management are perceived to be essential, on the other hand, the results showed a significant difference. To prevent CQI activities from becoming just an activity, the basic system should be reconstructed and augmented based on the problems derived from the results of this study. Moreover, we hope this study will be used as reference material that would encourage the administration of follow-up management after CQI activities in most hospitals. Furthermore, various studies on follow-up management should be conducted for CQI activities in the future.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.13 no.5
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• pp.1723-1726
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• 2012

Objective: To summarize and evaluate various urinary markers for early detection, diagnosis and follow-up of human bladder cancer. Methods: A MEDLINE and PUBMED search of the latest literature on urinary markers for bladder cancer was performed. We reviewed these published reports and made a critical analysis. Results: Most urinary markers tend to be less specific than cytology, yielding more false-positive results, but demonstrating an advantage in terms of sensitivity, especially for detecting low grade, superficial tumors. Some tumor markers appear to be good candidates for early detection, diagnosis, and follow-up of human bladder cancer. Conclusion: A number of urinary markers are currently available that appear to be a applicable for clinical detection, diagnosis, and follow-up of bladder cancer. However, further studies are required to determine their accuracy and widespread applicability.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine Ophthalmology and Otolaryngology and Dermatology
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• v.17 no.2
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• pp.170-176
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• 2004

Refractive surgeries for myopia are rapidly spreading in our daily lives. In this study Korean and foreign follow-up studies, mainly focused on long-term outcomes of LASIK and LASEK, were analyzed. Examining the evidence of the efficacy, accuracy, stability, complications and patient satisfaction will help refine our approach to refractive surgeries.