Public Awareness of Gastric Cancer Risk Factors and Disease Screening in a High Risk Region: A Population-Based Study / Journal of the Korean Cancer Association, 대한암학회지

PURPOSE: This study involved a population-based survey to provide evidence of public awareness of risk factors of gastric cancer and to investigate attitudes for the screening of gastric cancer in the South Korean population. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Using a nationwide random selection method, 2014 subjects were enrolled in the study between 5 September 2006 and 25 September 2006. RESULTS: In terms of the awareness of risk factors, awareness was scored as the percentage of the probability of developing gastric cancer when a subject had a particular risk factor. For the risk factors, stress ranked highest with a score of 73.5%, followed by chronic gastritis (score of 72.1%), gastric ulcer (score of 71.2%) and a previous gastrectomy history (score of 68.7%). Other factors included a diet of charred foods (score of 67.3%), alcohol use (score of 65.3%), salty diet (score of 65.1%), history of smoking (score of 64.3%) and Helicobacter pylori infection (score of 57.5%). Subjects believed that 60.4% of all gastric cancers were preventable by lifestyle modification and the subjects believed that regular screening could prevent 72.1% of all gastric cancers. However, 54% of subjects did not receive regular screening and the most common reason for not undergoing screening was a lack of symptoms. CONCLUSION: Public education about the risk factors of gastric cancer and of lifestyle modifications and the importance of regular screening regardless of the presence of symptoms should be emphasized to reduce gastric cancer mortality in South Korea.

Outcome of cervical cancer in extremely elderly patients receiving radiation therapy / 부인종양

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to evaluate the tolerance and outcome of elderly cervical cancer patients who were treated with radiation therapy retrospectively. METHODS: Fourteen patients over 80 years with pathologically proven stage I-IV cervical cancer who were treated with definitive RT between 1993 and 2003 were analyzed. We investigated response rates, recurrence rates, complications, progression free intervals, and current status of subjects. RESULTS: The age of the 14 patients ranged from 80 to 88 (median age: 81). The distribution of clinical stage by FIGO classification were > or =stage IIB (78.6%). The most common histologic type was squamous cell carcinoma. Nine patients (64.3%) underwent definitive radiation therapy. Among the 9 patients who had undergone radiotherapy, 7 patients (77.8%) showed complete response. One patient underwent surgical intervention followed by chemotherapy due to progression of disease despite radiotherapy. Two patients experienced radiation cystitis and 1 patient suffered from radiation colitis, however, other patients did not manifestate significant complications. One patient who underwent palliative chemotherapy due to persistent disease experienced mild marrow suppression and neurologic symptoms temporarily. CONCLUSION: The elderly patients over 80 years with good performance status may tolerate definitive pelvic radiation administered according to conventional fractionation schedules to control cervical cancer. Definitive radiation therapy with or without concurrent chemotherapy should not be excluded as a treatment option even for patients older than 80 years.

Study of the Disease Free Intervals of the Patients with No Evidence of Disease by FDG-PET after Treatment and the Feasibility of FDG-PET as Follow up method / 대한산부인과학회잡지

OBJECTIVE: This study was aimed to investigate the disease free interval and feasibility of FDG-PET for following up the patients with no evidence of cervical cancer after primary treatment. METHODS: From May, 1998 to February, 2003, 406 patients with no evidence of cervical cancer by FDG-PET were investigated retrospectively. They underwent primary treatment and FDG-PET between 3 to 16 months after treatment. All of them were monitored closely after FDG-PET scanning. RESULTS: Of the 406 patients with no evidence of cervical cancer by FDG-PET after treatment, recurrence was detected in 17 patients. The recurrence sites were lymph nodes (7), lung (6), liver (1), central lesion (1) and others (2). The Mean disease free interval (DFI) in patients with No evidence of disease (NED) was 27 months, DFI with recurrence was 35 months, and the mean DFI in all patients were 28 months (p=0.051). FIGO stage, initial tumor size, status of lymph node metastasis and cell type had no effect on the recurrence rate of NED patients by FDG-PET. Our study also shows high false positive rate and low sensitivity in the conventional imaging and tumor marker. CONCLUSION: The FDG-PET is proved to be a useful imaging study for following up cervical cancer patients after primary treatment. If there is no evidence of disease by the first FDG-PET after primary treatment, we can expect the average disease free interval to be about 28 months. And it is suggested that the patients should undergo the FDG-PET every one or two years to detect possible early recurrence.

A Case of Adenoid Basal Carcinoma of the Uterine Cervix / 대한산부인과학회잡지

Adenoid basal carcinoma of the uterine cervix is rare tumors that have often been regarded as a single entity. 14 cases with adenoid basal carcinoma of the uterine cervix have been reported in the literature. We experienced a case of 36-year female with adenoid basal carcinoma of the uterine cervix. We report this case with a brief review of the literature.

The Relationship between Cold-Exposure and Hypertension / 대한산업의학회지

OBJECTIVES: This study was carried out to suggest preventive methods for hypertension in cold-exposed workers. METHODS: In 11 refrigeration industries, 68 workers working in refrigerated areas more than one time per day were selected as the exposed group, and 68 workers not exposed to cold were selected as the control group. We interviewed the subjects with a questionnaire covering occupational history, and conducted clinical and laboratory tests including measurements of blood pressure and core temperature. RESULTS: The systolic blood pressure in the exposed group(130.0+/-13.3 mmHg) was significantly higher than that recorded in the control group(118.3+/-12.1 mmHg), as was the diastolic blood pressure in the exposed group(82.7+/-8.5 mmHg) versus the control group(77.4 +/-8.7 mmHg). The core temperature in the exposed group(36.1+/-0 . 7degrees C) was significantly lower than that experienced in the control group(36.4+/-0 . 5degrees C). In logistic regression analysis, age, cold exposure severity and milk intake were significant variables, with odds ratios of 5.204(95 % CI 1.440~18.812), 2.674(95 % CI 1.080~6.618), and 0.364(95 % CI 0.141~0.942), respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Our study suggests that cold-exposed workers have higher a higher risk of hypertension, and that their core temperature is lower. Risk factors affecting hypertension of cold-exposed workers include age, cold exposure severity and milk intake. For the prevention of hypertension, cold-exposed workers should minimize cold-exposure time as much as possible.

Effect on Aluminum and Silicon in Peptic Ulcer Patients / 예방의학회지

OBJECTIVES: This study was carried out to investigate the aluminum concentrations in blood, urine and drinking water, the factors which affect the concentrations and the role of silicon in patients who were taking antacid containing aluminum. METHODS: We selected 122 peptic ulcer patients as cases and 144 healthy examinees as controls. Blood, urine, and drinking water were collected from the each study subject and we measured aluminum concentrations as well as silicon concentrations in the specimens. The factors including silicon affect on the aluminum concentrations were also analyzed. RESULTS: 1. The mean duration of antacid administration was 12 months, and the mean daily and total amount of aluminum administration were 0.9 g and 304 g per each patient, respectively. 2. The blood and urine aluminum concentrations were significantly higher in the case. 3. The blood silicon concentration was significantly lower in the control group, and the urine silicon concentration was significantly higher in the case. 4. Urine aluminum concentration was significantly correlated with blood aluminum concentration (r=0.18), and urine silicon concentration was correlated with blood aluminum (r=0.19) and urine aluminum concentrations (r=0.13). 5. The longer the duration of antacid administration and the larger the total and daily amount of aluminum in the antacid were, the higher urine aluminum and silicon concentrations were, but not to a statistically significant degree. CONCLUSIONS: Blood and urine aluminum concentrations were higher in the ulcer patients. The authors suggest that follow-up studies of the patients who administered antacid with high aluminum content for long duration should be done.

A study on the productivity of physicians operating clinic in Kyeongsangnamdo / 예방의학회지

Productivity analysis of physician is one of essential factors for the optimal health manpower planning. Among 690 physicians operating clinic and registered on the Kyeongsangnamdo Medical Association, 623 physicians were studied with a structural questionnaire from April 1 to May 31, 1990. This study covers the general characteristics and productivity of physicians and attempts to find relevant determinants of their productivity through stepwise multiple regression analysis based on collected data. The major results were as follows. First, physicians were more prevalent 35~44 group (38.2%) in age, male (95.8%) in sex, specialist (76.5%) in specialization, city (78.0%) in geographical location. Age group of 35-54 and specialist were more prevalent in cities than in counties, while age group of 25-44 and 55 over and general practitioner in counties (p0.1). Third, the productivity of physicians operating clinic were significantly affected by the three factorsnumber of assistants of physician, age of physician and duration of practice at the current clinic. Age of physician had negative regression coefficient.