First Clinical Cases of Spirometrosis in Two Cats in Korea

This study reports the first two clinical cases of spirometrosis caused by Spirometra sp. in cats in Korea. In these two cases, the cats vomited, and long proglottids of tapeworm were recovered. The sick cats presented with anorexia and lethargy. However, they unexpectedly showed no diarrhea, which is the main symptom of spirometrosis. Based on a fecal floatation test as well as morphological and molecular analyses, the parasite was diagnosed as Spirometra sp. The 2 cases were treated with praziquantel. This study suggests regular monitoring of health and deworming in companion animals, even when animals are well cared for, with regular preventive medication. Additionally, spirometrosis should be considered in the differential diagnosis in cases of gastrointestinal symptoms in Spirometra endemic areas.

First Clinical Cases of Spirometrosis in Two Cats in Korea

This study reports the first two clinical cases of spirometrosis caused by Spirometra sp. in cats in Korea. In these two cases, the cats vomited, and long proglottids of tapeworm were recovered. The sick cats presented with anorexia and lethargy. However, they unexpectedly showed no diarrhea, which is the main symptom of spirometrosis. Based on a fecal floatation test as well as morphological and molecular analyses, the parasite was diagnosed as Spirometra sp. The 2 cases were treated with praziquantel. This study suggests regular monitoring of health and deworming in companion animals, even when animals are well cared for, with regular preventive medication. Additionally, spirometrosis should be considered in the differential diagnosis in cases of gastrointestinal symptoms in Spirometra endemic areas.

An in vitro study of mesenchymal stem cell proliferation on titanium discs coated with rhTGF-β2/PLGA by electrospray / 대한치과보철학회지

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study is to identify the effect of mesenchymal stem cell proliferation on recombinant human transforming growth factor-beta (rhTGF-β2) / poly (D,L-lactide-co-glycolide) (PLGA) treated titanium discs by electrospray. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Anodized titanium surface coated with PLGA was used for a control group to compare anodized titanium surface coated with 125 ng/ml and 500 ng/ml rhTGF-β2 as test groups. Atomic force microscope (AFM) test was utilized to determine the difference in coating surface roughness, and field-emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM) was taken to visualize even distribution of coating particles on titanium discs. The mesenchymal stem cell proliferation was tested by using MTT (3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5 diphenyl-tetrazolium bromide) assay on 1st, 4th, 7th days. RESULTS: According to AFM results, there was no statistically significant difference in titanium discs treated with PLGA and with rhTGF-β2/PLGA (P>.05). MTT assay test results showed that there was statistically significant difference in mesenchymal stem cell proliferation on test groups compared to control groups at 7th day, and cell viability on discs coated with rhTGF-β2 was significantly higher than control groups (P<.05). CONCLUSION: Titanium surface coated with rhTGF-β2/PLGA shows statistically significant higher cell proliferation and the titanium surface coated with the higher concentration of rhTGF-β2 presents faster cell growth activity.

Reconstruction of implant prostheses under infraocclusion: a case report / 대한치과보철학회지

Implant has been an effective treatment option for the patients with oligodontia. However, it still remains unclear when the implant should be placed. Skeletal growth that can appear even after the growth period can lead to infraocclusion of the implant which can cause functional or esthetic complications. In order to minimize these problems, definitive restorations should be placed after the functional and esthetic rehabilitation is achieved through the use of provisional restorations. Definitive restorations made with monolithic zirconia were created by replicating provisional restorations by using the latest CAD/CAM technology. These definitive restorations were delivered to the patient and clinical observation after the treatment showed satisfactory result.

Reader's Forum / 대한치과교정학회지

No abstract available.

Association of Depression and Survival in Patients with Cancer over 10 Years

PURPOSE: This study was conducted to identify the effects of depression on the survival of patients with cancer over a 10 year period. METHODS: A retrospective review was conducted to examine survival of 218 patients with stomach, colorectal and breast cancer, who had been treated for cancer from 2002 to 2011. Depression was assessed by using the Symptom Check List-90 Revision in 2002, and hope, fighting spirit and other potential confounders were also measured to control for their effects on the association between depression and the survival time. Data on survival were collected from the Statistics Korea and also from medical record in 2011. Kaplan-Meier survival analysis and Cox proportional hazard regression model were used to examine if depression affected survival. RESULTS: The total number of death was 106, and the non-survivors scored higher on depression than survivors. Depression was found to be one of the influencing factors on survival from cancer. CONCLUSION: Depression was significantly associated with the increased risk of death in cancer patients. Further research is needed to identify in details which type of emotional interventions can extend the survival time of cancer patients in depression.

Influence of Depression on Cancer Metastasis / 종양간호학회지

PURPOSE: This study was a retrospective analysis with survey study which analyze influence of depression of patients with cancer on metastasis. METHODS: The subjects of this research were 223 patients who underwent chemotherapy or are in follow-up management with stomach, colon, or breast cancer. The questionnaires were collected in 2002 and medical documents were reviewed 400 days after the first data collection. Subjects were divided according to the depression level into over-average group and under average group. RESULTS: In survival analysis, metastasis occurred in 49 of 211 in 223 subjects for whom follow-up review was done after 400 days. The depression and anxiety level were higher in the group with metastasis than the other with no metastasis. As a result, it showed that the lower depression they have, the lesser the metastasis occurred. CONCLUSION: This research showed that patients who have higher level of depression, experienced higher risk for cancer metastasis. Nurses who take care of cancer patients are responsible for giving patients with positivity with intention to subside their depression.

The Relationship between Spirituality and Fighting Spirit among Cancer Patients in Korea / 성인간호학회지

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between spirituality and a fighting spirit among the patients with cancer. METHODS: The participants were 223 patients diagnosed stomach, colorectal or breast cancer, and who were in chemotherapy or follow up care. The study design was cross-sectional at the time of the data collection. The degree of spirituality was measured by the Korean version of WHOQOL Spirituality, Religiousness and Personal Beliefs (SRPB) Pilot Test Module, and fighting spirit was measured by the scores of Mental Adjustment to Cancer(MAC) scale. RESULTS: The score of love appeared to be higher in the patients with follow up care than the patients with treatment(p<0.05) and the score of believing was much higher in patients with recurrence than the patients without (p<0.05). There was a statistically significant correlation among hope, believing, love, forgiveness and acceptance, and fighting spirit. In the multiple regression analysis, hope and believing explained much variance of the fighting spirit. CONCLUSION: These finding showed that the more hopeful and believing patients with cancer had higher scores of fighting spirit, which was known to be one of the most active coping style in adjusting to cancer.

Associations between Depression, Anxiety, Hostility and Fighting Spirit among Cancer Patients in a Cancer Center in Korea / Journal of the Korean Cancer Association, 대한암학회지

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to examine the associations between depression, anxiety, hostility and fighting spirit among patients with stomach, colorectal or breast cancer. MATERIALS AND METHODS: 223 patients, diagnosed as with stomach, colorectal or breast cancer, undergoing chemotherapy or follow up care, were the subjects of the study. The study design was cross-sectional at the time of the survey. The degrees of depression, anxiety and hostility of the patients were assessed by the SCL-90-R scores, and the fighting spirit was measured by the Mental Adjustment to Cancer (MAC) scale score. RESULTS: The scores of anxiety and hostility of the patients at younger age were higher than those at older age (p<0.01). The patients with metastasis were more depressed than those without it (p<0.01). There was a negative association between depression and fighting spirit (p<0.001). CONCLUSION: The study showed the more depressed cancer patients had lower fighting spirit score, which was known to be one of the most active psychosocial contributors in adjusting to cancer and survival.