• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.17 no.3
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• pp.1083-1088
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• 2016

Background: Cervical cancer is the second commonest cancer among Indian women and its association with human papilloma virus (HPV) is well established. This preventable cancer accounts for the maximum number of cancer related deaths among rural Indian women. Unlike in developed countries there are no organized cervical cancer screening programmes in India due to lack of resources and manpower. Objective: To detect genital HPV infection using urine samples among asymptomatic rural women in the age group of 18-65 years. Materials and Methods: The study area chosen was Perdoor village in Udupi Taluk, Karnataka State and all the women in the age group of 18-65 years formed the study cohort. A cross sectional study was conducted by house visits and 1,305 women were enrolled in the study. After taking written informed consent a data sheet was filled and early stream random urine samples were collected, transported to a laboratory at 4OC and aliquoted. Samples were tested using nested HPV PCR with PGMY09/11 and GP5+/6+ primers. Positive cases were genotyped by sequence analysis. Results: Study participants included 1,134 sexually active and 171 unmarried women with a mean age at marriage of 22.1 (SD=3.9) years. Study area showed high female literacy rate of 86.6%. Five urine samples tested positive for HPV DNA (0.4%). Conclusions: We found very low genital HPV infection rate among women from monogamous community. This is the first major population based study carried out among asymptomatic rural women to detect genital HPV infectio from Karnataka using urine samples.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Integrative Medicine
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• v.8 no.3
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• pp.11-20
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• 2020

Purpose : The purpose of this study was to determine the correlation between smartphone use, body composition, posture and muscle properties of elementary school students. Methods : A total of 22 healthy elementary school students in Daejeon, South Korea, participated in this study with informed consent. Smartphone use was evaluated with Smartphone addiction self-report scale (S-scale) for youth. Body composition (BMI, percent body fat, body fat mass, and skeletal muscle mass) was measured using Inbody. To assess posture, forward head posture and round shoulder posture were measured using Dartfish motion analysis. Muscle properties (muscle tone, stiffness, and elasticity) were measured on the upper trapezius, splenius capitis and sternocleidomastoid muscles using Myoton. To investigate the correlation between the main variables, Pearson correlation analysis was performed. Results : Disturbance of adaptive function, which is one of sub-component of S-scale, had a weak positive correlations with BMI (r=.538, p<.01), and body fat mass (r=.453, p<.05). However, scores of S-scale showed no correlation with posture and muscle properties. The correlation between posture and muscle properties was analyzed, and round shoulder posture revealed a weak positive correlation with respect to stiffness (r=.418, p<.05) and elasticity (r=.502, p<.05) of the sternocleidomastoid muscle. Conclusion : Scores of S-scale demonstrated a weak correlation with body composition (BMI) among elementary school students, whereas S-scale scores were not correlated with the posture and muscle properties. Further research is needed to identify and focus on potential high-risk user groups of elementary students who are more dependent upon smartphones.

• 한국노년학
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• v.40 no.3
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• pp.477-483
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• 2020

Purpose: The aim of this study is to test a brief modified version of intervention for problem drinking monitoring program for bereaved men who lost their loved one. Methods: Inclusion criteria were experiencing the recent loss of a spouse and providing informed consent for participation. Of the 32 referred individuals who met the inclusion criteria, 26 participants were recruited. Study participants were randomly assigned into Alcohol problem monitoring(APM) group (N=13) or comparison group (N=13). Results: Older men receiving APM substantial decreased in problem drinking during three months of intervention. Improvement over time was observed on the outcomes, particularly in the Short Michigan Alcoholism Screening Test-Geriatric Version(SMAST-G). Conclusion: The findings that a modified version of APM for bereavement helped improve complicated grief symptoms and social impairments and reduce levels of problem drinking, provide important insights into the interventions for psychological and alcohol-related difficulties in bereavement.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• v.50 no.3
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• pp.192-199
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• 2023

Objective: This study was conducted to investigate chromosomal abnormalities and their correlations with clinical and radiological findings in females with primary amenorrhea (PA). Methods: Detailed forms were recorded for 470 females, including the construction of three-generation pedigrees. Peripheral venous blood was drawn, with informed consent, for cytogenetic analysis. Results: An abnormal karyotype was found in 16.38% of participants. The incidence of structural abnormalities (6.8%) exceeded that of numerical abnormalities (6.15%). Turner syndrome represented 45% of all numerical abnormalities. Furthermore, the Y chromosome was detected in 5% of females with PA. Among the structural chromosomal abnormalities detected (n=32) were mosaicism (25%), deletions (12.5%), isochromosomes (18.75%), fragile sites (3.12%), derivatives (3.12%), marker chromosomes (3.12%), and normal variants (29.125%). An examination of secondary sexual characteristics revealed that 29.6% of females had a complete absence of breast development, 29.78% lacked pubic hair, and 36.88% exhibited no axillary hair development. Radiological findings revealed that 51.22% of females had a hypoplastic uterus and 26.66% had a completely absent uterus. Abnormal ovarian development, such as the complete absence of both ovaries, absence of one ovary, one absent and other streak, or both streak ovaries, was observed in 69.47% of females with PA. Additionally 43.1%, 36.1%, 67.4%, and 8% of females had elevated levels of serum follicle-stimulating hormone, luteinizing hormone, thyroid-stimulating hormone, and prolactin, respectively. Conclusion: This study underscores the importance of karyotyping as a fundamental diagnostic tool for assessing PA. The cytogenetic correlation with these profiles will aid in genetic counseling and further management of the condition.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.14 no.12
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• pp.7409-7414
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• 2013

Background: Delay in diagnosis of breast cancer is associated with a poorer survival and a pivotal contribution to this delayed diagnosis comes from patient delay in presenting at a clinic. Reasons involved must be evaluated in order to decrease this reducible delay. Objectives: i) To evaluate the reasons for patient delay in diagnosis of breast cancer; ii) to investigate any association with other variables. Materials and Methods: A 6 month cross sectional study (from July 2012 to Dec 2012), was carried out in Surgical and Oncology Units of Civil Hospital, Karachi. A total of 100 females diagnosed with breast cancer of any histological type were interviewed after informed consent and relevant data were collected. Due ethical clearance was obtained. Results: Mean age was $47.5{\pm}12.1$ years with a range from 25-77 years. Mean duration of delay was $5.13{\pm}4.8$ months, from shortest 1 month to longest 36 months. Duration of delay was observed to be no delay (<1 month) in 28%, short delay (1-3 months) in 30% and long delay (>3 months) in 42% of patients. Considering the symptoms as "harmless" (39%) was the most frequent reason of delay followed by "temporary" (20%) and the "use of traditional methods" (12%). Most common reason for later approaches was an increase in the size of the lump (41%). Statistically significant association (p-value <0.05) of longer patient delay was obtained with being single, being illiterate, painless breast lump as the first symptom, negative family history of breast cancer and vague attribution of the symptoms. Conclusions: Significant delay in approach to health care facility was observed in our study due to variable reasons given by women. Sufficient awareness regarding breast cancer, its symptoms and favorable effects of a timely diagnosis on prognosis must be imparted to our general population.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.17 no.4
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• pp.1811-1815
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• 2016

Wetland geographical areas have a higher incidence of Opisthorchis viverrini-associated cholangiocarcinoma (CCA), confirmed by data from geographic information systems, than other areas. Behavioral data also indicate that people in these areas traditionally eat uncooked freshwater fish dishes, a vehicle for O. viverrini infection. The best approach to reducing CCA incidence is decreasing risk factors together with behavior alteration. Evaluation of CCA risk and its related factors are first needed for planning the prevention and control programs in the future. We therefore aimed to evaluate the CCA risk and explore its related factors among people in wetland communities of Ubon Ratchathani, Thailand. A cross-sectional study was conducted between July and August 2014. In total 906 participants, with informed consent, completed questionnaires. Overall risk of CCA was determined by multiplying odds ratios (ORs) of the risk factors for CCA from literature reviews. A mean score of 5.95 was applied as the cut-off point. Assessment of factors related to overall risk of CCA was accomplished using conditional logistic regression. Of all participants, 60.15% had a high level of the overall risk of CCA. Factors related to the overall risk of CCA were gender (p<0.001), marital status (p<0.001), perceived susceptibility (p=0.043) and prevention behavior for CCA (p<0.001). In conclusion, most participants in this community had a high level of overall risk of CCA. Therefore, integrated prevention and control programs continue to be urgently required.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.15 no.2
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• pp.695-701
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• 2014

The main objective of palliative treatment for cancer patients has been to maintain, if not improve, the quality of life (QoL). There is a lack of local data on satisfaction and QoL among cancer patients receiving palliative treatment in Malaysia. This study covers patients with incurable, progressive cancer disease receiving palliative treatment in a teaching hospital in Kuala Lumpur, comparing the different components of QoL and correlations with patient satisfaction. A cross-sectional survey using Malay validated SF36 QoL and PSQ-18 (Short Form) tools was carried out between July 2012 -January 2013 with 120 cancer patients receiving palliative treatment, recruited into the study after informed consent using convenient sampling. Results showed that highest satisfaction were observed in Communication Aspect ($50.6{\pm}9.07$) and the least in General Satisfaction ($26.4{\pm}5.90$). The Mental Component Summary ($44.9{\pm}6.84$) scored higher when compared with the Physical Component Summary ($42.2{\pm}7.91$). In this study, we found that patient satisfaction was strongly associated with good quality of life among cancer patients from a general satisfaction aspect (r=0.232). A poor significant negative correlation was found in Physical Component (technical quality, r=-0.312). The Mental Component showed there was a poor negative correlation between time spent with doctor (r=-0.192) and accessibility, (r=-0.279). We found that feeling at peace and having a sense of meaning in life were more important to patients than being active or achieving good physical comfort. More studyis needed to investigate patients who score poorly on physical and mental component aspects to understand their needs in order to achieve better cancer care.

• Archives of Plastic Surgery
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• v.36 no.6
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• pp.761-766
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• 2009

Purpose: Secondary breast reconstruction is defined as a whole reconstructive procedure to correct complications and to improve the aesthetics when a patient is dissatisfied with her initial reconstruction. We would like to present these particular procedures on previously failed breast reconstruction with analysis of unsatisfactory results. Methods: From June 2002 to August 2008, we performed secondary breast reconstructions for 10 patients with failed breasts. Six patients with implant failure underwent secondary breast reconstructions using free TRAM flaps after the removal of implants. Two patients with partial loss of pedicled TRAM flaps underwent secondary breast reconstruction using Latissimus Dorsi flaps. Two patients with 1 total loss of free TRAM flap and 1 extensive fat necrosis underwent secondary breast reconstruction using implants. Results: The average age of the patients were 36.4 years (26 ~ 47 years). All flaps survived completely and had relatively good aesthetic results in free TRAM cases. There was breast asymmetry in one patient using cohesive gell implants in total loss of previously free TRAM patient, which was corrected by exchanging the implants and placing dermofat grafts. Conclusion: Secondary breast reconstruction differs from primary procedures in several aspects; there are changes in the anatomy and tissue environment of the breasts, and various limitations in choosing reconstruction methods. In addition, the patients may be uncomfortable with previous complication. It is important to consider various factors before deciding to undergo a secondary breast reconstruction carefully with informed consent.

• Korean Journal of Acupuncture
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• v.27 no.2
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• pp.183-201
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• 2010

Objective : To explore and describe chronic low back pain (cLBP) patients' experience of acupuncture treatment Methods : Eleven patients with cLBP who agreed and completed the informed consent to take part in this qualitative study were interviewed thoroughly and tape-recorded. Transcribed data were read independently by 4 researchers and analysed thematically with ground theory. Results : All participants chose acupuncture treatment for their cLBP because either they preferred, other people recommended, or felt conventional treatment being more comfortable. Most of the participants experienced improvement during acupuncture treatment and continued treatment motivated by mere expectations. Participants also expressed the specific physical responses/sensations to the effect of acupuncture; various adverse effects during the course of acupuncture treatment. Economic burden was another concern when combined with other therapies in Korean Medicine hospitals. It is considered as a specifically important to those who give acupuncture treatment to obtain a full treatment effect. Conclusions : The emotional facts that Korean patients with cLBP receiving acupuncture treatment benefited by the treatment and considering specific sensations from doctor-patient relationship were turned out to be important to have the maximum treatment effect. Findings from this study should be considered in both acupuncture research and practice.

• Korean Journal of Radiology
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• v.19 no.6
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• pp.1053-1065
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• 2018

Objective: To evaluate the clinical impact of using registration software for ablative margin assessment on pre-radiofrequency ablation (RFA) magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and post-RFA computed tomography (CT) compared with the conventional side-by-side MR-CT visual comparison. Materials and Methods: In this Institutional Review Board-approved prospective study, 68 patients with 88 hepatocellulcar carcinomas (HCCs) who had undergone pre-RFA MRI were enrolled. Informed consent was obtained from all patients. Pre-RFA MRI and post-RFA CT images were analyzed to evaluate the presence of a sufficient safety margin (${\geq}3mm$) in two separate sessions using either side-by-side visual comparison or non-rigid registration software. Patients with an insufficient ablative margin on either one or both methods underwent additional treatment depending on the technical feasibility and patient's condition. Then, ablative margins were re-assessed using both methods. Local tumor progression (LTP) rates were compared between the sufficient and insufficient margin groups in each method. Results: The two methods showed 14.8% (13/88) discordance in estimating sufficient ablative margins. On registration software-assisted inspection, patients with insufficient ablative margins showed a significantly higher 5-year LTP rate than those with sufficient ablative margins (66.7% vs. 27.0%, p = 0.004). However, classification by visual inspection alone did not reveal a significant difference in 5-year LTP between the two groups (28.6% vs. 30.5%, p = 0.79). Conclusion: Registration software provided better ablative margin assessment than did visual inspection in patients with HCCs who had undergone pre-RFA MRI and post-RFA CT for prediction of LTP after RFA and may provide more precise risk stratification of those who are treated with RFA.