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Purpose@#To evaluate long-term clinical outcomes in patients with neovascular age-related macular degeneration (AMD) who were treated with an as-needed regimen but were switched to a proactive regimen during the course of treatment. @*Methods@#This retrospective study included 23 eyes with neovascular AMD which were initially treated with an as-needed regimen, but switched to a proactive regimen during the course of treatment. The duration of the as-needed phase was compared to that of the proactive phase. In addition, the number of injections per year and the degree of visual deterioration per year were compared between the two phases. @*Results@#The duration of the as-needed and proactive phases were 17.9 ± 8.3 months and 31.3 ± 13.2 months, respectively. The duration of the proactive phase was significantly longer (p < 0.001). The number of injections per year during the proactive phase (4.4 ± 1.0) was significantly more than that during the as-needed phase (2.8 ± 1.0) (p < 0.001). The degree of visual deterioration per year during the as-needed phase (0.08 ± 0.14) was slightly greater than that during the proactive phase (0.04 ± 0.08). However, the difference was not statistically significant (p = 0.229). @*Conclusions@#The number of injections was higher after switching to the proactive regimen. However, the degree of visual deterioration was slightly lower than that noted during the as-needed phase. Further studies with a more controlled design are needed to determine more clearly the impact of switching treatment regimens on long-term clinical outcomes.
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PURPOSE@#To investigate transitional changes in refractive error distributions in a pediatric population using the Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES) data.@*METHODS@#We investigated 7,181 subjects from the 4th and 5th (2008–2012) KNHANES and 1,225 subjects from the 7th (2016) KNHANES; all subjects were 5 to 18 years of age. We used the average spherical equivalent (SE) of both eyes calculated with noncycloplegic refractive errors measured via autorefractor. We determined SE percentiles by age in order from hyperopia to myopia. We acquired the mean SE by age. We investigated the proportions of subjects with mild, moderate, and severe refractive errors by age.@*RESULTS@#Mean refractive errors were −1.73 ± 2.16 diopters in subjects in the 4th and 5th KNHANES and −1.66 ± 2.21 diopters in subjects in the 7th KNHANES; these were not significantly different between the two groups (p = 0.071). Mean refractive errors were more myopic in subjects in the 4th and 5th than in subjects in the 7th KNHANES only at 8 and 9 years of age (p = 0.018, p = 0.026). The distribution of percentiles by age was similar between the two groups. The respective proportions of hyperopia, emmetropia, and myopia were 6.2%, 27.6%, and 66.2% in subjects in the 4th and 5th survey, and 7.3%, 29.7% and 63.0% in subjects in the 7th survey. There was no significant difference in refractive error proportion between the 2 groups (p = 0.326).@*CONCLUSIONS@#There was no definite transitional change of refractive error distributions between the two KNHANES groups. However, additional periodic surveys are needed to confirm this hypothesis.
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OBJECTIVE: This study was done to evaluate whether perioperative propranolol (ß-blocker) in ovarian cancer patients undergoing debulking surgery reduced perioperative tumor growth induced by surgical stress. METHODS: This was a prospective randomized single institution analysis. The primary objective was to compare the changes in CA 125 level (changes between preoperation day 2 and postoperative day 7). As a study arm, patients received a low dose of propranolol 40 mg/day (4×10 mg) starting two days before surgery and 40 mg twice daily for three days following surgery. RESULTS: Twenty-two patients were enrolled and 16 were evaluable for efficacy. The drug was well tolerated. The mean decrease of CA 125 during the seven perioperative days was 83.1±8.9% in the propranolol group and 72.4±14.7% in the placebo group. The difference was statistically significant (P=0.044). The change of C-reactive protein, cortisol, and anxiety score (State-Trait Anxiety Inventory-X1) were not different between the two groups. CONCLUSION: This preliminary result is the first to directly test the role of perioperative propranolol on tumor growth. Even with the small sample size and short term use of the drug, perioperative propranolol was effective in reducing tumor burden (as measured by CA 125) suggesting its potential benefits in decreasing perioperative tumor growth.
Subject(s)
Female , Humans , Anxiety , Arm , C-Reactive Protein , Hydrocortisone , Ovarian Neoplasms , Pilot Projects , Propranolol , Prospective Studies , Sample Size , Tumor BurdenABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: This study was aimed to evaluate the recent trends in contraceptive use among Korean adolescents. METHODS: Data reviewed were from the 2013–2015 Korean Youth Risk Behavior Web-based Survey, which is a stratified, multistage-sampling designed online-based research project performed annually by the Korean government to ensure a nationally representative sample of Korean adolescence. Eight questions related to the topic of contraception were reviewed for the outcome variables. RESULTS: A total of 212,538 adolescents attending middle school and high school participated in the survey, and 8,755 students among them who were sexually active were included in the study. The percentage of contraceptive use showed a steady increase from 39% in 2013 to 48.7% in 2015; however, the proportion of adolescents who have never used any kind of contraception still remains high. Highly effective methods such as oral contraceptives and intrauterine devices were used by only 10% to 15% of sexually active adolescents. CONCLUSION: The present study demonstrates the status of contraceptive use among Korean adolescents. Our data have the potential to help healthcare providers to formulate policies and develop interventions for encouraging effective contraceptive use among sexually active Korean adolescents.
Subject(s)
Adolescent , Humans , Contraception , Contraceptives, Oral , Health Personnel , Intrauterine Devices , Korea , Risk-TakingABSTRACT
PURPOSE: Although the quality of life (QoL) of prostate cancer (PCa) patients is a major issue, there is no unified and useful methodology for assessing QoL. The Expanded Prostate Cancer Index Composite (EPIC) is a globally used tool to measure QoL after PCa treatment that comprises urinary, bowel, sexual, and hormonal domains. Acknowledging the need for such a tool applicable to Korean PCa patients, we translated EPIC into Korean and validated the new version. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The Korean version of EPIC was devised by translation, back-translation, and reconciliation. Subsequently, we randomly selected 153 patients with localized PCa treated with radical perineal prostatectomy (67, 43.8%), radical retropubic prostatectomy (19, 12.4%), laparoscopic radical prostatectomy (12, 7.8%), robot-assisted laparoscopic radical prostatectomy (36, 23.5%), and high-intensity focused ultrasound ablation of the prostate (19, 12.4%) and asked them to complete EPIC. Reliability was assessed by test-retest correlation and Cronbach's alpha. Validity was assessed by factor analysis, interscale correlation, and correlation with Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-Prostate (FACT-P). RESULTS: Test-retest correlation and Cronbach's alpha were high in each of the domains (0.92, 0.91, 0.76, 0.84 and 0.86, 0.84, 0.92, 0.83, p<0.0001). Interscale correlation among the domains was low (r<0.37), which indicated that EPIC is composed of proper domains. Interscale correlation between the function and bother subscales was high (0.94, 0.81, 0.84 and 0.80, p<0.0001). EPIC domains had low correlation with FACT-P, permitting complementary use. CONCLUSIONS: The Korean version of EPIC was developed by a proper process, as evident by its high reliability and validity. Therefore, it is a reliable, comprehensive, systematic method that evaluates QoL in Korean patients after PCa treatment. Furthermore, it can be adapted as an objective methodology for research globally.
Subject(s)
Humans , High-Intensity Focused Ultrasound Ablation , Passive Cutaneous Anaphylaxis , Prostate , Prostatectomy , Prostatic Neoplasms , Quality of Life , Reproducibility of ResultsABSTRACT
PURPOSE: We aimed to assess the clinical value of endorectal magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in predicting extraprostatic extension and seminal vesicle invasion in patients with clinically localized prostate cancer. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 54 patients who underwent radical prostatectomy for clinically localized prostate cancer were retrospectively analyzed. The findings of endorectal MRI, performed at least 3 weeks after biopsy, were compared with the pathological results of radical prostatectomy specimens. The sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy of the detection of extraprostatic extension and seminal vesicle invasion were calculated. RESULTS: The sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy of the endorectal MRI findings were 50.0%, 82.6%, and 77.8% for the detection of extraprostatic extension, respectively, and 75.0%, 92.0%, and 90.7% for the detection of seminal vesicle invasion, respectively. The sensitivity of endorectal MRI in the detection of extraprostatic extension improved as the Gleason score increased. CONCLUSIONS: Endorectal MRI findings demonstrated modest sensitivity for predicting extraprostatic extension, whereas specificity was relatively high. In addition, endorectal MRI showed better sensitivity for detecting high-grade tumors.
Subject(s)
Humans , Biopsy , Magnetic Resonance Imaging , Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy , Magnetics , Magnets , Neoplasm Grading , Neoplasm Staging , Prostate , Prostatectomy , Prostatic Neoplasms , Retrospective Studies , Seminal Vesicles , Sensitivity and SpecificityABSTRACT
PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy and safety of retrograde intrarenal surgery (RIRS) for the treatment of renal stones and to analyze the predictive factors for stone-free. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed the records of patients who underwent RIRS for renal stones from January 2000 to July 2009. We identified 66 RIRSs (63 patients with 3 bilateral renal stones) and collected data. Stone-free and success were respectively defined as no visible stones and clinically insignificant residual stones less than 3 mm on postoperative imaging; predictive factors for stone-free were evaluated. RESULTS: Of the 66 renal stones, 18 stones (27.3%) were located in the upper pole or midpole or renal pelvis and 48 (72.7%) in the lower pole with or without others, respectively. The mean cumulative stone burden was 168.9+/-392.5 mm2. The immediate postoperative stone-free rate was 69.7%, and it increased to 72.7% at 1 month after surgery. The success rate was 80.3% both immediately after the operation and 1 month later. In the multivariate analysis, stone location except at the lower pole (p=0.049) and small cumulative stone burden (p=0.002) were significantly favorable predictive factors for the immediate postoperative stone-free rate. The overall complication rate was 6%. CONCLUSIONS: RIRS is a safe and effective treatment for renal stones. The stone-free rate of RIRS was particularly high for renal stones with a small burden, except for those located in the lower pole. RIRS could be considered in selective patients with renal stones.
Subject(s)
Humans , Kidney Calculi , Kidney Pelvis , Lithotripsy , Multivariate Analysis , Retrospective Studies , UreteroscopyABSTRACT
PURPOSE: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of the tension-free placement of a monofilament polypropylene mesh for the repair of an anterior vaginal wall prolapse (AVWP). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Women aged > or = 30 years with an AVWP stage of II or greater were included. Forty-nine women underwent trans-vaginal repair using a Gynemesh(TM) PS. Forty-six women who had symptomatic stress urinary incontinence received a midurethral sling (MUS). At the 12-month follow-up, evaluations were made for changes in the Pelvic Organ Prolapse Quantification (POP-Q) stage and Pelvic Floor Distress Inventory. Cure was defined as a POP-Q stage of 0 and improvement as a stage of I. Complications were also evaluated. RESULTS: The cure rate was 71.4%, and the improvement rate was 18.4%. Obstructive/discomfort, irritative, and stress subscale scores of the Urinary Distress Inventory anterior and posterior subscale scores of the POP Distress Inventory and the obstructive subscale score of the Colo-Rectal-Anal Distress Inventory were significantly improved. Thirty-two of the 46 women (69.6%) who received MUS procedures reported no leakage after surgery. Complications were 2 cases of increased intraoperative bleeding and 1 case of vaginal erosion. CONCLUSIONS: Trans-vaginal repair using a Gynemesh(TM) PS is a feasible and effective procedure for the treatment of AVWP with no significant complications.