• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• 제16권18호
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• pp.8619-8623
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• 2016

Background: Breast cancer is a common disorder in women, constituting one of the main causes of death all over the world. The purpose of this study was to determine the diagnostic value of the breast tissue diseases by the help of thermography. Materials and Methods: In this paper, we applied non-contact infrared camera, INFREC R500 for evaluating the capabilities of thermography. The study was conducted on 60 patients suspected of breast disease, who were referred to Imam Khomeini Imaging Center. Information obtained from the questionnaires and clinical examinations along with the obtained diagnostic results from ultrasound images, biopsies and thermography, were analyzed. The results indicated that the use of thermography as well as the asymmetry technique is useful in identifying hypoechoic as well as cystic masses. It should be noted that the patient should not suffer from breast discharge. Results: The accuracy of asymmetry technique identification is respectively 91/89% and 92/30%. Also the accuracy of the exact location of identification is on the 61/53% and 75%. The approach also proved effective in identifying heterogeneous lesions, fibroadenomas, and intraductal masses, but not ISO-echoes and calcified masses. Conclusions: According to the results of the investigation, thermography may be useful in the initial screening and supplementation of diagnostic procedures due to its safety (its non-radiation properties), low cost and the good recognition of breast tissue disease.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• 제20권2호
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• pp.174-180
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• 2007

Background: The diagnosis of trigeminal neuralgia (TN) is based on only clinical criteria. The purpose of this study was to estimate the clinical manifestations of TN patients treated at our pain clinic. Methods: A total of 341 patients with TN from Jan. 2004 to Dec. 2006 was evaluated the intensity, site, and onset of pain, facial sensation, duration of pain attack, pain free interval, triggering factors, and effects of the previous treatments with TN specific questionnaire and interview at the first visit of our pain clinic. Results: About 80% of the patients were over 50 years of age and 256 (75%) patients were women. Average durations from first attack of their pain and from current pain attack were 7 years and 16 weeks, respectively. The two most frequently involved trigeminal nerve branches were maxillary (40%) and mandibular (39%) branches. Three quarters of the total patients experienced only paroxysmal pain that lasted less than one minute. About 90% of patients had pain free period at least one time. Most common triggering factors were chewing (88%), brushing teeth (82%), washing face (79%), and talking (70%). Only 16 patients (5%) had no previous treatment and the others had more than one treatment, such as medication (68%) and interventional procedures (35%). The most common reasons for early discontinuation of carbamazepine were dizziness, ataxia, and vomiting. Conclusions: TN has specific clinical features of pain, which should be considered at diagnosis.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• 제20권1호
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• pp.66-70
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• 2007

No definitive etiology or risk factors have been identified that predispose individuals to developing complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS). We experienced two cases of CRPS developed after arterial and venous puncture which were done in regular medical work. A 35-years old female patient was suffered from pain and allodynia with swelling at right hand and wrist after radial artery puncture for monitoring of blood pressure during general anesthesia. A 24-years old male patient had pain and swelling with allodynia at the right fingers and arm after median cubital vein puncture for blood sampling. They did not have proper pain management as CRPS patients in the past weeks and months after their pain occurred. They were diagnosed as CRPS and started undergoing various interventional procedures, which led to improve their pain condition. Our cases suggest that CRPS could develop without any proved tissue damage in routine medical practice. In conclusion, health care workers should be educated in knowledge about the uncommon medical condition and proper consultation to pain specialist when it happens.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• 제25권2호
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• pp.81-88
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• 2012

Background: In discography performed during percutaneous endoscopic lumbar discectomy (PELD) via the posterolateral approach, it is difficult to create a fluoroscopic tunnel view because a long needle is required for discography and the guide-wire used for consecutive PELD interrupts rotation of fluoroscope. A stereotactic system was designed to facilitate the determination of the needle entry point, and the feasibility of this system was evaluated during interventional spine procedures. Methods: A newly designed stereotactic guidance system underwent a field test application for PELD. Sixty patients who underwent single-level PELD at L4-L5 were randomly divided into conventional or stereotactic groups. PELD was performed via the posterolateral approach using the entry point on the skin determined by premeasured distance from the midline and angles according to preoperative magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) findings. Needle entry accuracy provided by the two groups was determined by comparing the distance and angle measured by postoperative computed tomography with those measured by preoperative MRI. The duration and radiation exposure for determining the entry point were measured in the groups. Results: The new stereotactic guidance system and the conventional method provided similarly accurate entry points for discography and consecutive PELD. However, the new stereotactic guidance system lowered the duration and radiation exposure for determining the entry point. Conclusions: The new stereotactic guidance system under fluoroscopy provided a reliable needle entry point for discography and consecutive PELD. Furthermore, it reduced the duration and radiation exposure associated with determining needle entry.

• 한국융합학회논문지
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• 제12권9호
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• pp.295-305
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• 2021

본 연구의 목적은 국내에서 발표된 간호전문직관 연구 주제 동향을 양적 내용분석을 통해 탐색하는 것이다. 연구방법은 학술논문수집, 단어 정제 및 추출, 자료 분석의 절차를 수행하였다. 351편의 논문을 수집하여 영문초록에서 단어를 추출하여 텍스트네트워크를 개발하였고, 네트워크분석과 토픽모델링을 융합하여 자료를 분석하였다. 연구결과 핵심 주제는 간호사, 간호전문직관, 간호학생, 간호, 전문직자아개념, 보건의료인, 만족, 임상역량, 자기효능감 등이었다. 토픽모델링을 통해 간호사 전문직관, 간호학생 전문직관, 간호전문직 정체성, 간호역량의 토픽그룹을 파악하였다. 시간이 흘러도 핵심 주제는 변화가 없었지만, 1990년대 역할갈등, 윤리적 가치, 2000년대 셀프리더십, 사회화, 2010년대 임상실습스트레스, 지지체계와 같은 주제들이 부상하였다. 결론적으로 본 연구를 통해 국내에서 임상간호사와 간호학생의 간호전문직관과 이에 영향을 미치는 요소들에 대한 연구가 활발하게 발표되고 있었으나, 간호전문직관 형성 및 향상에 효과적인 다차원적인 중재 전략을 모색한 연구는 부족하였음을 알 수 있었다.

• Anatomy and Cell Biology
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• 제51권4호
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• pp.232-235
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• 2018

Portal vein provides about three-fourths of liver's blood supply. Portal vein is formed behind the neck of pancreas, at the level of the second lumbar vertebra and formed from the convergence of superior mesenteric and splenic veins. The purpose of this study is to review the normal distribution and variation, morphometry of portal vein and its branches for their implication in liver surgery and preoperative portal vein embolization. It is also helpful for radiologists while performing radiological procedures. A total of fresh 40 livers with intact splenic and superior mesenteric vein were collected from the mortuary of Forensic Department, JSS Medical College and Mysuru Medical College. The silicone gel was injected into the portal vein and different segments were identified and portal vein variants were noted. The morphometry of portal vein was measured by using digital sliding calipers. The different types of portal vein segmental variants were observed. The present study showed predominant type I in 90% cases, type II 7.5% cases, and type III 2.5% cases. Mean and standard deviation (SD) of length of right portal vein among males and females were $2.096{\pm}0.602cm$ and $1.706{\pm}0.297cm$, respectively. Mean and SD of length of left portal vein among males and females were $3.450{\pm}0.661cm$ and $3.075{\pm}0.632cm$, respectively. The difference in the Mean among the males and females with respect to length of right portal vein and left portal vein was found to be statistically significant (P=0.010). Prior knowledge of variations regarding the formation, termination and tributaries of portal vein are very helpful and important for surgeons to perform liver surgeries like liver transplantation, segmentectomy and for Interventional Radiologists.

• Journal of Gastric Cancer
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• 제20권4호
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• pp.421-430
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• 2020

Purpose: Currently, there is no clear evidence to support any specific treatment as a principal therapy for stage IV gastric cancer outlet obstruction (GCOO) patients. This study evaluated the outcomes of palliative gastrectomies and survival prognostic factors in patients with stage IV resectable GCOO. Materials and Methods: We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of 48 stage IV GCOO patients who underwent palliative gastrectomies between June 2010 and December 2019. Palliative gastrectomies were performed only in patients with resectable disease. Early surgical outcomes and prognostic factors were analyzed using univariate and multivariate analyses. Results: There were no specific risk factors for postoperative complications, except for being underweight. Severe postoperative complications developed in five patients, and most of the patients underwent interventional procedures and received broad-spectrum antibiotics for intra-abdominal abscesses. The multivariate survival analysis showed that palliative chemotherapy is a positive prognostic factor, while the specific type of hematogenous and lymphatic metastasis is a negative prognostic factor. Conclusions: We recommend that the treatment method for stage IV GCOO should be selected according to each patient's physical condition and tumor characteristics. In addition, we suggest that palliative gastrectomies can be performed in stage IV resectable GCOO patients without unfavorable prognostic factors (types of hematogenous and lymphatic metastases).

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• 제34권2호
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• pp.201-209
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• 2021

Background: Inguinal hernia repair is one of the most commonly performed surgical procedures. Regional blocks might provide excellent analgesia and reduce complications in the postoperative period. We aimed to compare the postoperative analgesic effect of the ultrasound-guided transversalis fascia (TF) plane block versus the transmuscular quadratus lumborum (QL) block in patients undergoing unilateral inguinal hernia repair. Methods: Fifty patients enrolled in this comparative study and were randomly assigned into two equal groups. One group received an ultrasound-guided QL block. In comparison, the other group received an ultrasound-guided TF plane block. The primary outcome was the patient-assessed resting, and movement-induced pain on the numeric pain rating scale (NRS) measured at 30 minutes postoperatively. Secondary outcomes included the percentage of patients receiving rescue analgesia in the first postoperative day, ease of performance of the technique, and incidence of adverse effects. Results: There were no statistically significant differences in NRS at rest and with movement between the groups over the first 24 hours postoperatively. The proportion of patients that received postoperative rescue analgesics during the first 30 minutes postoperatively was 4% (n = 1) in the QL group compared to 12% (n = 3) in the TF group. However, the mean performance time of the TF block was shorter than that of the QL block, and the performance of the TF block appeared easier technically. Conclusions: The ultrasound-guided TF plane block could be as effective as the QL block in lowering pain scores and decreasing opioid consumption following non-recurrent inguinal herniorrhaphy.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• 제35권1호
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• pp.106-113
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• 2022

Background: Coccygodynia is one of the chronic, refractory painful musculoskeletal disorders. Interventional procedures are applied to patients unresponsive to initial treatment in coccygodynia. This study aims to compare the treatment outcomes of ganglion impar block (GIB) and caudal epidural steroid injection (CESI) in patients with chronic coccygodynia. Methods: This study was a prospective randomized comparison study conducted between June 2019 and January 2021. Patients diagnosed with chronic coccygodynia were randomly divided into two groups: the GIB group and the CESI group. The severity of pain, presence of neuropathic pain, and quality of life were evaluated using the Numeric Rating Scale, Leeds Assessment of the Neuropathic Symptoms and Signs Scale, and Short Form-12 Health Survey (SF-12), respectively. Results: A total of 34 patients in each group were included in the final analyses. While there was a significant decrease in pain intensity in both groups in the 3-month follow-up, this decrease was more significant in the GIB group at the 3rd week. There was a significant improvement in the SF-12 physical score and the number of patients with neuropathic pain in both groups in the 3rd week, but this improvement was not observed in the 3rd month. Conclusions: Although GIB may provide more pain relief in short term, both GIB and CESI are useful treatment methods in coccygodynia unresponsive to more conservative treatments.

• 대한방사선기술학회지:방사선기술과학
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• 제45권2호
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• pp.127-134
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• 2022

In order to overcome the image quality limitations of the conventional C-arm, a flat panel detector (FPD) is used to enhance spatial resolution, detective quantum efficiency, frame rate, and dynamic range. Three-dimensional (3D) visualized information can be obtained from C-arm computed tomography (CT) equipped with an FPD, which can reduce patient discomfort and provide various medical information to health care providers by conducting procedures in the interventional procedure room without moving the patient to the CT scan room. Unlike a conventional C-arm device, a C-arm CT requires different basic safety and essential performance evaluation criteria; therefore, in this study, basic safety and essential performance evaluation criteria to protect patients, medical staff, and radiologists were derived based on International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) standards, the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety (MFDS) standards in Korea, and the rules on the installation and operation of special medical equipment in Korea. As a result of the study, six basic safety evaluation criteria related to electrical and mechanical radiation safety (leakage current, collision protection, emergency stopping device, overheating, recovery management, and ingress of water or particulate matter into medical electrical (ME) equipment and ME systems: footswitches) and 14 essential performance evaluation criteria (accuracy of tube voltage, accuracy of tube current, accuracy of loading time, accuracy of current time product, reproducibility of radiation output, linearity and consistency in radiography, half layer value in X-ray equipment, focal size and collimator, relationship between X-ray field and image reception area, consistency of light irradiation versus X-ray irradiation, performance of the mechanical device, focal spot to skin distance accuracy, image quality evaluation, and technical characteristic of cone-beam computed tomography) were selected for a total of 20 criteria.