• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• 제15권8호
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• pp.3567-3570
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• 2014

Background: Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the most common cancers in men and the third most common cancer in woman in Thailand. This retrospective study was designed to assess the prevalence, clinical manifestations, treatment outcomes and prognosis of HCC in the central region of Thailand. Materials and Methods: The authors retrospectively reviewed all HCC patients aged more than 15 years old in Thammasat university hospital (TUH) during the period from January 2007 to December 2012. Clinical information, biochemical tests and radiologic findings were collected from review of medical records. Results: There were 308 patients with HCC, which accounted for the prevalence of 5.19% of all cancers diagnosed in TUH during the study period. Of these, 125 (40.5%) had complete information retrievable from their medical records and met the inclusion criteria, 99 (79.2%) were males. The mean age was 57.4 years. A quarter of HCC patients in this study presented without any symptom before diagnosis. The common clinical presentations in the remaining patients were hepatomegaly 64/125 (51.2%), abdominal pain 56/125 (44.8%) and ascites 16/125 (20.8%). Cirrhosis was seen in almost all patients (92.8%). The most common causes of HCC in this study were chronic hepatitis B (49.6%) and C (19.2%). Based on Barcelona Clinic Liver Cancer staging, 75.4% presented at intermediate or late stage. Patients receiving curative therapy with either surgical treatment or radiofrequency ablation had significantly longer survival time after the HCC diagnosis than the palliative therapy group (11.0 months vs 4.0 months, p value= 0.004). The mean survival time after the HCC diagnosis was 10.5 months. Conclusions: The common causes of HCC in central region of Thailand were chronic hepatitis B and C. Surgical therapy or RFA seemed to provide better outcomes than other treatments but only in patients with early stage lesions. Most of the patients in this study presented with advanced diseases and had grave prognosis. Appropriate screening patients at risk for HCC might be an appropriate way to achieve early diagnosis and improve the treatment outcome.

• 한국임상약학회지
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• 제31권2호
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• pp.153-159
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• 2021

Background: With increasing economic evaluation studies on the treatment of or screening tools for liver diseases that cause hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), interest in the analysis of the medical utilization and costs of HCC treatment is increasing. Therefore, we aimed to estimate the medical utilization and costs of HCC patients, and calculate the cost of main procedures for HCC treatment, including liver transplant (LT), hepatic resection (HR), radiofrequency ablation (RFA), and transarterial chemoembolization (TACE). Methods: We analyzed claim data from January to December 2018 from the Health Insurance and Review and Assessment Service-National Patient Sample (HIRA-NPS-2018) dataset, including data of patients diagnosed with HCC (Korean Standard Classification of Diseases code C22.0) who had at least one inpatient claim for HCC. Results: A total of 715 HCC patients were identified. In 2018, the yearly average medical cost per HCC patient was ₩18,460K (thousand), of which ₩14,870K was attributed to HCC. Among the total medical costs of HCC patients, the inpatient cost accounted for the largest portion of both the total medical and HCC-related costs. The major procedures of HCC treatment occurred most frequently in the order of TACE, RFA, HR, and LT. The average medical cost per treatment episode was the highest for LT (₩87,280K), followed by HR (₩10,026K), TACE (₩4,047K), and RFA (₩2,927K). Conclusion: By identifying the medical costs of HCC patients and the costs of the main procedures of HCC treatment, our results provide basic information that could be utilized for cost estimation in liver disease-related economic evaluation studies.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• 제55권5호
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• pp.364-377
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• 2022

An anatomical understanding of the atrial myocardium is crucial for surgeons and interventionists who treat atrial arrhythmias. We reviewed the anatomy of the inter-nodal and intra-atrial conduction systems. The anterior inter-nodal route (#1) arises from the sinus node and runs through the ventral wall of the atrial chambers. The major branch of route #1 approaches the atrioventricular node from the anterior aspect. Other branches of route #1 are Bachmann's bundle and a vestibular branch around the tricuspid valve. The middle inter-nodal route (#2) begins with a broad span of fibers at the sinus venarum and extends to the superior limbus of the oval fossa. The major branch of route #2 joins with the branch of route #1 at the anterior part of the atrioventricular node. The posterior inter-nodal route (#3) is at the terminal crest and gives rise to many branches at the pectinate muscles of the right atrium and then approaches the posterior atrioventricular node after joining with the vestibular branch of route #1. The branches of the left part of Bachmann's bundle and the branches of the second inter-nodal route form a thin myocardial network at the posterior wall of the left atrium. These anatomical structures could be categorized into major routes and side branches. There are 9 or more anatomical circles in the atrial chambers that could be structural sites for macro re-entry. The implications of normal and abnormal structures of the myocardium for the pathogenesis and treatment of atrial arrhythmias are discussed.

• Journal of Digestive Cancer Research
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• 제4권1호
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• pp.21-28
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• 2016

간세포암종은 만성 간질환과 간경변증을 동반하는 경우가 많고, 예후에 종양 인자 이외에도 잔존 간 기능이 주요한 영향을 미친다. 또한, 간세포암종에 대한 고위험인자를 가진 경우 특정한 영상 소견(예: 고혈관성)을 보이면, 조직검사 없이도 비침습적인 진단이 가능하다. 다른 고형암에서와 마찬가지로 수술적 절제, 방사선치료, 항암치료 등의 치료가 시행되기도 하지만, 간세포암종에서만 이루어진다고도 할 수 있는 간이식, 경동맥화학색전술, 고주파열치료술과 같은 치료 방법들이 시행되기도 한다. 종양의 다양성, 치료 방법의 다양성, 사회적 여건(의료 보건 체계, 의료 자원의 가용성 등) 등을 반영하며 여러 간세포암종 가이드라인들이 발표되어 왔으며, 각 가이드라인들은 여러 측면에서 유사하면서도 서로 상이하기도 하다. 본고에서는 다음의 간세포암종 진료 가이드라인들을 살펴보고, 가이드라인들의 특징과 앞으로 가이드라인에서 다루어야 할 부분 등에 대하여 논하고자 한다.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• 제48권5호
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• pp.345-350
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• 2015

Background: Conventional stripping is considered to be the standard procedure for great saphenous vein (GSV) varicosities, but many other alternative treatments such as cryostripping, endovenous laser therapy (EVLT), radiofrequency ablation, and ultrasound-guided foam sclerotherapy have been developed. Among them, both cryostripping and laser therapy have been reported to be less traumatic, with lower rates of complications and recurrences when compared to conventional stripping. To compare the efficacy of these treatments, we have analyzed and compared the mid-term clinical outcomes of cryostripping and EVLT. Methods: Patients diagnosed with varicose veins of the GSV and treated with cryostripping or laser therapy between September 2008 and April 2013 were enrolled in this study. Duplex ultrasonography was used for the diagnosis and evaluation of varicosity and reflux, and the clinical-etiology-anatomy-pathophysiology classification was used to measure the clinical severity. The symptoms, Venous Clinical Severity Score (VCSS), recurrence rates, and complication rates of the cryostripping and laser therapy groups were analyzed and compared. Results: A total of 68 patients were enrolled in this study. 32 patients were treated with cryostripping, and 36 patients were treated with laser therapy. The median follow-up period was 29.6 months. Recurrence was noted in three patients from the cryostripping group and in two patients from the EVLT group. There was no difference in the VCSS score, operative time, duration of hospital stay, and complication rate between the cryostripping group and the EVLT group. Conclusion: The mid-term clinical outcomes of cryostripping were not inferior to those of EVLT. Further, considering its cost-effectiveness, cryostripping seems to be a safe and feasible method for the treatment of varicose veins.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• 제62권4호
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• pp.318-322
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• 2007

최근 평균수명의 연장과 진단 및 치료 방법의 발달로 원발성 중복암의 발견율이 높아지고 있다. 폐와 간에 발생한 중복암, 특히 동시성 중복암에 대한 보고는 매우 드물다. 저자 등은 만성기침을 호소하는 73세 남자에서 폐의 편평상피세포암을 진단한 후, 복부초음파에서 간 종괴를 발견하여 폐암의 전이를 의심하였으나 FDG-PET에 간 전이가 없어서 초음파 유도로 간 생검을 시행한 결과 간세포암을 진단하여, 폐와 간의 동시성 중복암을 경험하였기에 문헌고찰과 더불어 보고한다.

• Archives of Plastic Surgery
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• 제38권2호
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• pp.173-181
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• 2011

Purpose: Masseter muscle is an important muscle of mastication. Because it has a great influence on the shape of low facial contour, patients who have masseteric hypertrophy show square-shaped jaw appearance. As aesthetic procedures for the reduction of the masseter muscle volume, radiofrequency ablation or botulinum toxin injection is at the center of attention. Authors studied the anatomical measurement of the thickness and width of masseter muscle and the surface mapping of the maximal thickness point using computed tomography (CT) scan to identify the useful guide for the injection of botulinum toxin in masseteric hypertrophy patients. Methods: We analyzed 2 mm-thickness OMU (ostiomeatal unit) CT of 112 normal people (224 masseter muscles) taken from June 2009 to May 2010. First, we measured the thickness, width and depth of the masseter muscle from the skin surface and analysed each by side, sex and age, respectively. The distribution of the thickness of the muscle and the correlation of thickness and width of the muscle were studied also. Second, we underwent surface mapping of the maximal thickness point using CT analysis by means of checking the vertical and horizontal distance from the angle of the mandible. Results: The average thickness and width of the masseter muscle was 17.73 mm and 40.78 mm in the male patients and were 14.33 mm and 37.42 mm in the female patients. Statistically, both figures of the male patients were larger than those of the female patients. However, the depth of the muscle from the skin surface in female patients (7.37 mm) was larger than that of the male patients (6.15 mm). There were no statistical difference in side or age. The width and thickness of the masseter muscle were in the positive correlation. The location of maximal thickness point of the masseter muscle was 27.77 mm vertically and 27.68 mm horizontally in the male patients, and 25.19 mm vertically and 25.42 mm horizontally in the female patients from the angle of mandible. Conclusion: We were able to present statistical evidence of the diagnosis and treatment of the masseteric hypertrophy regarding the anatomical measurements such as the thickness and width. And the maximal thickness point of the masseter muscle may be a useful guide for the clinical procedures of botulinum toxin injection.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• 제20권5호
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• pp.507-514
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• 2016

Although 3D-complex fractionated atrial electrogram (CFAE) mapping is useful in radiofrequency catheter ablation for persistent atrial fibrillation (AF), the directions and configuration of the bipolar electrodes may affect the electrogram. This study aimed to compare the spatial reproducibility of CFAE by changing the catheter orientations and electrode distance in an in -silico left atrium (LA). We conducted this study by importing the heart CT image of a patient with AF into a 3D-homogeneous human LA model. Electrogram morphology, CFAE-cycle lengths (CLs) were compared for 16 different orientations of a virtual bipolar conventional catheter (conv-cath: size 3.5 mm, inter-electrode distance 4.75 mm). Additionally, the spatial correlations of CFAE-CLs and the percentage of consistent sites with CFAE-CL<120 ms were analyzed. The results from the conv-cath were compared with that obtained using a mini catheter (mini-cath: size 1 mm, inter-electrode distance 2.5 mm). Depending on the catheter orientation, the electrogram morphology and CFAE-CLs varied (conv-cath: $11.5{\pm}0.7%$ variation, mini-cath: $7.1{\pm}1.2%$ variation), however the mini-cath produced less variation of CFAE-CL than conv-cath (p<0.001). There were moderate spatial correlations among CFAE-CL measured at 16 orientations (conv-cath: $r=0.3055{\pm}0.2194$ vs. mini-cath: $0.6074{\pm}0.0733$, p<0.001). Additionally, the ratio of consistent CFAE sites was higher for mini catheter than conventional one ($38.3{\pm}4.6%$ vs. $22.3{\pm}1.4%$, p<0.05). Electrograms and CFAE distribution are affected by catheter orientation and electrode configuration in the in-silico LA model. However, there was moderate spatial consistency of CFAE areas, and narrowly spaced bipolar catheters were less influenced by catheter direction than conventional catheters.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• 제17권6호
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• pp.2857-2860
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• 2016

Background: Chronic hepatitis B (CHB) infection is one of the important causes of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in Thailand, involved in the pathogenesis and leading to a development of HCC with or without cirrhotic changes of the liver. This study was aimed to investigate the predictive factors for HCC among CHB patients in a tertiary care center in Thailand. Materials and Methods: We conducted a retrospective study of CHB patients with or without HCC during the period of January 2009 and December 2014 at Thammasat University Hospital, Pathumthani, Thailand. Data on clinical characteristics, biochemical tests and radiologic findings were collected from review of medical records. Results: A total of 266 patients were diagnosed with CHB in Thammasat university hospital during the study period. However, clinical information of only 164/266 CHB patients (98 males, 66 females with mean age of 49.4 years) could be completely retrieved in this study. The prevalence of HCC in CHB infection in this study was 38/164 (23.2%). CHB patients with HCC had a mean age older than those without HCC (59.5 vs 47 years, P-value = 0.01). Furthermore, history of upper GI bleeding, tattooing, blood transfusion, and chronic alcoholism were significantly more common in CHB patients with HCC than patients without HCC (13.2% vs 3.2% P-value 0.03, OR = 4.6, 95%CI = 1.2-18.1, 20% vs 3.9%, P-value = 0.01, OR= 6.1, 95% CI= 1.6-23.6, 20% vs 6.3%, P-value = 0.03, OR = 3.8, 95%CI =1.1-12.7, 62.2% vs 30.3%, P-value <0.0001, OR = 3.7, 95%CI= 1.7-8.1 respectively). Interestingly, more CHB patients with HCC had evidence of cirrhosis than those without HCC (78.9% vs 20.4%, P-value <0.0001, OR = 14.6, 95%CI = 5.8-36.7). In CHB patients with HCC, surgical therapy provided longer survival than radiofrequency ablation (RFA) (72 vs 46.5 months, P-value= 0.04). The mean survival time after HCC diagnosis was 17.2 months. Conclusions: HCC remains a major problem among patients with CHB infection in Thailand. Possible risk factors are male gender, history of upper GI bleeding, chronic alcoholism, tattooing, blood transfusion and evidence of cirrhosis. For early stage HCC patients, surgical treatment provided longer survival time than RFA. Most HCC patients presented with advanced disease and had a grave prognosis. Appropriate screening of CHB patients at risk for HCC might be an appropriate approach for early detection and improvement of long-term outcomes.