• Journal of radiological science and technology
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• v.44 no.3
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• pp.231-237
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• 2021

The ongoing coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has highlighted the importance of hospital hygiene and infection control in hospital settings. To raise hygiene awareness among ultrasound technicians, we evaluated the hygiene status of an ultrasound room, in comparison with that of objects used in daily life. Using the swab method, the following surfaces were examined: eight surfaces in the ultrasound room including the ultrasound probes (convex, linear, sector, 3D), ultrasound track ball, ultrasound keyboard, ultrasound gel (sealed and in use) and pillow as well as four surfaces of everyday objects including subway handles, common computer keyboards, common computer mouse, and cell phones. The streak plate technique was used for inoculation into media, which was observed for the formation of bacterial colonies following incubation for 24 h. Six bacterial strains were detected from objects used in the ultrasound room, including methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus. Four strains of bacteria were detected on surfaces of everyday objects. The equipment and accessories used in an ultrasound room can act as vehicles for infecting patients. Establishment of standardized hygiene protocols and periodic training of the staff are recommended to avoid cross-infection.

• Journal of Hospice and Palliative Care
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• v.26 no.2
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• pp.80-94
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• 2023

Purpose: This study aimed to identify attitudes toward advance directives (ADs) among female cancer patients and factors related to ADs. Methods: The study was conducted at a university hospital in Seoul from September 19, 2020, to January 20, 2021. The participants were 153 patients diagnosed with gynecological cancer or breast cancer. Data were collected using questionnaires and included general characteristics, disease- and AD-related characteristics, knowledge and attitudes about ADs, and attitudes about dignified death. Data were analyzed using the t-test, analysis of variance, and multiple regression analysis. Results: Only 2% of the participants completed ADs. The mean score for attitudes toward ADs was 3.30, indicating a positive knowledge and attitude toward dignified death. The factors related to attitudes toward ADs were attitudes toward dignified death (𝛽=0.25, P=0.001), experience discussing life-sustaining treatment (𝛽=0.17, P=0.037), preferred time to have a consultation about ADs (𝛽=0.19, P=0.046), intention to write ADs (𝛽=0.15, P=0.038), and Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group Performance Status (𝛽=-0.37, P<0.001). The explanatory power of these variables for attitudes toward ADs was 38.5%. Conclusion: Overall, patients preferred to have a consultation about ADs when they were still active, mentally healthy, and able to make decisions. Education about ADs should be provided to patients on the first day of hospitalization for chemotherapy or while awaiting treatment in an outpatient setting so patients can write ADs and discuss them with family and friends.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Radiology
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• v.82 no.5
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• pp.1083-1102
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• 2021

Uterine cervical cancer is a common gynecological cancer prevalent in Korea. Early detection, precise diagnosis, and appropriate treatment can affect its prognosis. Imaging approaches play an important role in staging, treatment planning, and follow-up. MRI specifically provides the advantage of assessing tumor size and disease severity with high soft tissue contrast. The revised version of the International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics (FIGO) staging system has been introduced in 2018, which incorporates subdivided primary tumor size and lymph node metastasis. In this review, the staging of uterine cervical cancer based on previous studies, the recently revised FIGO staging, and various post-treatment images are primarily described using MRI.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.15 no.16
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• pp.6905-6910
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• 2014

Background: The relation ofsurvivin gene expression to survival and surgical prognostic factors in the patients with endometrial carcinoma is unclear. Materials and Methods: In this study, 62 cases who were operated due to endometrial carcinoma were investigated between 2003 and 2011 in the the gynecological oncology clinic of Female Disease Training and Investigation Hospital of Etlik Zubeyde, Hanim, Turkey. Clinical and surgical prognostic factors were investigated by screening the records of these cases. With the standard streptavidin-biotin immune peroxidase method, cytoplasmic and nuclear expression of survivin was investigated in sections with specific antibodies (1:100, diagnostic Bio Systems, USA) primer. The aim was to elucidate any relation between survivin expression and defined prognostic factors and survival. Results: There was no statistically significant relationship between cytoplasmic and nuclear indexes identified for survivin and age, body mass index, the levels of preoperative hemoglobin, platelet and Ca 125, stage, grade, lymph node meastasis, the number of meta statical lymph nodes (total, paraaortic and pelvic), myometrial invasion, serosal invasion, adnexal involvement, the presence of acid in the first diagnosis, the involvement of omentum, the adjuvant treatment application of the cases, the presence of recurrence and rate of mortality (p>0.05). Statistical significance was noted for the presence of advanced stage lymph node metastasis (pelvic, paraaortic, pelvic and paraaortic), serosal involvement, positive cytology, lymph vascular space invasion, intra abdominal metastasis, and omentum involvement. When investigated the relation between cytoplasmic and nuclear survivin indexes and total survival, the result was not statistically significant (p>0.05). Conclusions: In our study, there was no statistically significant relationship between the rates of cytoplasmic and nuclear survivin expression with identified prognostic factors and total or non-disease survival.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.15 no.12
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• pp.4877-4883
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• 2014

Cervical cancer is one of the leading causes of morbidity and mortality amongst the gynecological cancers worldwide, especially in developing countries. There are few to no initial symptoms and signs. This study was conducted to assess the awareness level of young Pakistani women about cervical cancer and to educate them about this deadly disease. A detailed questionnaire regarding demographic data and information about cervical cancer was distributed in different cities of Punjab. A total of 873 women took part in this survey and 70.1 percent were totally unaware of this cancer. Only 8.5% of the whole surveyed population knew accurately about cancer of cervix, 7% of the surveyed respondents correctly specified the human papilloma virus as the causative agent. Only 5.2% respondents were able to identify the Pap smear test as a diagnostic measure. Out of all the surveyed population only 4.3% of individuals were found to be vaccinated against this disease and the majority was found from the medical profession. Medical professionals, students, working women, housewives and uneducated individuals took active part in this survey. This study demonstrates a low level of awareness among Pakistani women and a need for an active campaign by media and government to increase understanding as well as introducing measures for improved prevention and treatment of cervical cancer.

• Women's Health Nursing
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• v.8 no.2
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• pp.177-189
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• 2002

Sexual health education for the patients is an independent function as well as a professional responsibility of nurses. Education should be based on the needs of patients in order to be successful and effective. Therefore nurses must identify sexual health education needs of their patients. A sexual health education protocol for hysterectomy patients was developed by the researcher for this study and included physiosexual and psychosexual topics as well as the topic of sexual interaction. The subject pool was composed of 108 post op total hysterectomy patients who had undergone doing a hysterectomy 5 to 10 days previously at 5 hospitals located in the Seoul and Kyunggi-do area from July 23 to September 30, 2001. The questionnaire was composed of 60 items on sexual health education and used a Likert-type 4-point scale. Internal consistency of this questionnaire in this study was cronbach's $\alpha$=.9495 for sexual health educational needs. For data analysis, the study executed a t-test, ANOVA, and Duncan's Test, in accordance with the purpose of the study using SPSS/PC Win 10.0. The results were as follows: The need for education was highest in the psychosexual area (3.38 point) with education related to sexual interaction the lowest (3.20 point). Osteoporosis (3.75 point) was ranked overall as the highest area of educational need. The degree of educational need varied in correlation with other characteristics of the patients including age, status of marriage, duration of marriage, religion, academic career, monthly income, occupation, the number of children age of menarche, menstruation, other diseases except gynecological disease, previous genital organ operation experience, disease discovery method, pre-explanation for the hysterectomy, average sexual intercourse frequency, how to acquire sexual health information and previous sexual health education (p<.05). In conclusion, the degree of sexual health education needs of hysterectomy patients was very high. Therefore, sexual health educational programs planned according to characteristics of the participating women is necessary.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.16 no.10
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• pp.4257-4260
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• 2015

Background: Uterine papillary serous tumors are rarely seen and behave aggressively. Our aim was to evaluate uterine papillary serous tumors arising from polyps. Materials and Methods: Clinicopathological data of patients with uterine serous cancer arising from a polyp at the Gynecological Oncology Department of Zekai Tahir Burak Women's Health Education and Research Hospital were reviewed retrospectively. Results: We analyzed patients according to FIGO 2009 staging system as stage 1A and higher than stage 1A (3 and 6, respectively). All the patients were postmenopausal. Mean CA-125, CA-19.9 and CA15.3 levels were elevated in higher than stage 1A group. However we did not find a statistical difference between age, parity, polyp size, CA-125, CA-15.3, CA-19.9 and CEA levels. Lympho-vascular space invasion (LVSI) showed predictivity for advanced disease (p=0.025). Conclusions: The histopathologic nature of uterine serous carcinoma is a unique entity. LVSI is a prognosticator for defining an advanced stage uterine papillary tumor.

• Journal of Korean Medicine Rehabilitation
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• v.21 no.2
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• pp.211-226
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• 2011

Objectives : The purpose of this study is to establish literatural evidence about traditional Korean medical physiotherapy through literatural review. Methods : Applicable paragraphs which were related to the traditional Korean medical physiotherapy were phrased from in "Hwang-je-nae-gyung(黃帝內經)", "Yumun-sa-chin(儒門事親)", "Geum-guei-yo-ryack(金匱要略)", "Eui-hack-ip-mun(醫學入門)", "Gyung-ack-jeon-seo(景岳全書)", "Eui-hack-gang-mock(醫學綱目)", "Dong-eui-bo-gam(東醫寶鑑)" where were archiving of Oriental or Korean medicine literatures. Searched paragraphs were analysed for establishing historical and theoretical bases of Korean medical physiotherapy. Results : 1. Theromtherapy is originated from yu(熨), hot hand, warm, water bath, warm earth, fumigation, lamp, torchlight and brazier. Matching indications are various musculoskeletal pain and diseases, skin diseases such as chronic inflammation, frostbite, gynecological and urogenital diseases such as uterine myoma, lower abdominal pain, metrorrhagia, breast diseases, digestive tract diseases such as vomiting, diarrhea, stomachache and also it treats cardiovascular disease. Other matching indications are sunstroke, rhinorrhea, psycosis and anal pain. And it used helping acupuncture therapy. 2. Cryotherapy is originated from lengfu(冷敷), lengtie(冷貼), cold stone and cold water. Matching indications are various fever disease, skin diseases such as acute inflammation, wound, fever skin disease, otorhinolaryngological diseases such as acute sore throat, otitis, stomatitis, nasal bleeding and contusions, abrasions, burn and dysuria. In addition, it treats extremity coldness, chillness, stomachache caused to accumulate fever. 3. Physiotherapy by circulating meridian system is originated from manipulation such as pushing, massage and beating to therapy point. Matching indications are musculoskeletal diseases such as various muscular pain, heavy sensation, convulsion, urogenital diseases such as dysuria, lower abdomen pain, digestive tract diseases such as stomachache, and paralysis due to blocked meridian system. And other matching indications are psycosis, leprosy, hypoesthesia, acute stroke. In addition it helps other therapy methods. In addition, the power of manipulation classify to strengthen and reduce. 4. Physiotherapy by balancing meridian system is originated from sunshine, magnet, horn, bamboo and tube. Sunshine helps improving self's care and cure inflammatory skin disease. Magnet's matching indications are paralysis, various injuries, abscess, fever and eye disease. Cupping therapy treats to skin diseases and internal diseases such as tuberculosis. Conclusions : Traditional Korean medical physiotherapy was widely used in traditional Korean medicine since ancient time based on the traditional Korean medical principle and anatomical knowledge. With modern physiotherapy and traditional Korean medicine together, effects of treatment are enhanced. And traditional Korean medical physiotherapy is appropriated to world physiotherapy's expectation.

• Journal of Yeungnam Medical Science
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• v.37 no.4
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• pp.308-313
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• 2020

Background: Hysterectomy is one of the major gynecologic surgeries. Historically, several surgical procedures have been used for hysterectomy. The present study aims to evaluate the surgical trends and clinical outcomes of hysterectomy performed for benign diseases at the Yeungnam University Hospital. Methods: We retrospectively reviewed patients who underwent a hysterectomy for benign diseases from 2013 to 2018. Data included the patients' demographic characteristics, surgical indications, hysterectomy procedures, postoperative pathologies, and perioperative outcomes. Results: A total of 809 patients were included. The three major indications for hysterectomy were uterine leiomyoma, pelvic organ prolapse, and adenomyosis. The most common procedure was total laparoscopic hysterectomy (TLH, 45.2%), followed by open hysterectomy (32.6%). During the study period, the rate of open hysterectomy was nearly constant (29.4%-38.1%). The mean operative time was the shortest in the single-port laparoscopic assisted vaginal hysterectomy (LAVH, 89.5 minutes), followed by vaginal hysterectomy (VH, 96.8 minutes) and TLH (105 minutes). The mean decrease in postoperative hemoglobin level was minimum in single-port LAVH (1.8 g/dL) and VH (1.8 g/dL). Conversion to open surgery or multi-port surgery occurred in five cases (0.6%). Surgical complications including wound dehiscence, organ injuries, and conditions requiring reoperation were observed in 52 cases (6.4%). Conclusion: Minimally invasive approach was used for most hysterectomies for benign diseases, but the rate of open hysterectomy has mostly remained constant. Single-port LAVH and VH showed the most tolerable outcomes in terms of operative time and postoperative drop in hemoglobin level in selected cases.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.13 no.1
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• pp.21-25
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• 2012

The use of complementary and alternative medicines (CAM) among women with gynecologic cancer is becoming increasingly popular. Therefore, it is important to gain insight into the prevalence and factors related to the use of CAM. The aim of this study was to assess the use of CAM in women with gynecologic cancer. This is a descriptive cross-sectional study. Data were obtained from 67 gynecological cancer patients at gynecologic oncology clinic of a hospital in Turkey between October 2009 to December 2010 using a questionnaire developed specifically for this study. The instrument included questions on socio-demographic information, disease specifics and complementary and alternative medicine usage. On the basis of women's responses, all participants were divided into 2 groups: CAM users and nonusers. The findings indicated that 61.2% of the women reported the use of 1 or more CAM therapies. There were no significant differences in the sociodemographic and clinical characteristics between CAM users and nonusers (P <0.05). The most frequently used CAM method was herbal therapy (90.2%) and the second was prayer (41.5%). The main sources of information about CAM were informal (friends/ family members). A considerable proportion (56.1%) of CAM users had discussed their CAM use with their physicians or nurses. Turkish women with gynecologic cancer frequently use CAM in addition to standard medical therapy. Nurses/ oncologists caring for women with gynecologic cancer should initiate a dialogue about usage of CAM, discussing the potential adverse effects of CAM and the patient's therapeutic goals.