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For mastectomy patients, sufficient doses of radiation should be delivered to the surface of the chest wall to prevent recurrence. A bolus is used to increase the surface dose on the chest wall, whereby the surface dose is confirmed with the use of a virtual bolus during the computerized treatment-planning process. The purpose of this study is an examination of the difference between the dose of the computerized treatment plan and the dose that is measured on the bolus. Part of the left breast of an Anderson Rando phantom was removed, followed by the attainment of computed tomography (CT) images that were used as the basis for computerized treatment plans that were established with no bolus, a 3 mm-thick bolus, a 5 mm-thick bolus, and a 10 mm-thick bolus. For the computerized treatment plan, a prescribed dose regimen was dispensed daily and planning target volume (PTV) coverage was applied according to the RTOG 1304 guidelines. Using each of the established computerized treatment plans, chest-wall doses of 5 points were measured; this chest-wall dose was used as the standard for the analysis of this study, while the level of significance was set at P < 0.05. The measurement of the chest-wall dose with no bolus is 1.6 % to 10.3 % higher, and the differences of the minimum average and the maximum average of the five measurement points are −13.8 and −1.9, respectively (P < 0.05); however, when the bolus was used, the dosage was measured as 3.7 % to 9.2 % lower, and the differences of the minimum average and the maximum average are 7.4 and 9.0, −1.2 and 17.4, and 8.1 and 19.8 for 3 mm, 5 mm, and 10 mm, respectively (P < 0.05). As the thickness of the bolus is increased, the differences of the average surface dose are further increased. There are a variety of factors that affect the surface dose on the chest wall during post-mastectomy radiation therapy, for which verification is required; in particular, a consideration of the appropriate thickness and the number of uses when a bolus is used, and which has the greatest effect on the surface dose on the chest wall, is considered necessary.

[Purpose] This study investigated the serologic factors associated with metabolic syndrome and gallstones. [Subjects and Methods] The study evaluated subjects who visited a health promotion center in Seoul from March 2, 2013 to February 28, 2014, and had undergone abdominal ultrasonography. Height, weight, and blood pressure were measured. Blood sampling was performed for high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, triglyceride, fasting blood glucose, total bilirubin, direct bilirubin, indirect bilirubin, aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase, alkaline phosphatase, uric acid, total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, thyroid stimulating hormone, and red and white blood cell counts. We conducted logistic regression analysis to assess the risk factors associated with metabolic syndrome. [Results] The risk factors for metabolic syndrome in men, in order of decreasing weight, were red blood cell count, body mass index, maximum size of gallstones, white blood cell count, waist circumference, and uric acid level. The factors in women, in order of decreasing weight, were red blood cell count, presence/absence of gallstones, uric acid level, body mass index, fasting blood glucose, and waist circumference. [Conclusion] Most serum biochemical factors and gallstone occurrence could be used to indicate the presence or absence of metabolic syndrome, independent of gender.

To understand further the physiologic characteristics of serum prostate-specific antigen (PSA) concentrations in healthy younger men.A total of 2032 men, 20 to 39 years old, who visited our hospital for a routine health checkup were entered into the study. Pearson correlation coefficients were determined to evaluate the association between serum PSA and clinical parameters. Because of the log-normal distribution, the serum PSA levels were log-transformed for analysis.Although the relationships were weak, significant negative correlations were noted between serum PSA and body weight (r = -0.107, P0.001), body mass index (BMI; r = -0.131, P0.001), aspartate aminotransferase (AST; r = -0.076, P = 0.001), alanine aminotransferase (ALT; r = -0.079, P = 0.001), gamma-glutamyltransferase (r = -0.046, P = 0.046), and creatinine clearance (r = -0.113, P0.001). A positive correlation was found between serum PSA and creatinine (r = 0.053, P = 0.024). Age did not correlate with serum PSA level. The influence of clinical parameters on serum PSA was explored using multiple linear regression analysis. Using the stepwise method, all other explanatory variables, except BMI, AST, and creatinine were eliminated (log10[PSA] = -0.124[BMI] + 0.063[creatinine] - 0.053[AST] + 0.097; r = 0.152, P0.001).BMI, creatinine, and AST may influence the serum PSA level in this population. However, because it was not clear that this group should be considered at high risk of prostate cancer in the future, additional longitudinal research is needed.

Purpose: To establish a medical informatics curriculum for premedical students. Methods: The author conducted a questionnaire survey on 202 second year premedical students from two medical schools, one in Seoul and one in Asan. The chi-square test was used to do a statistical analysis comparison of the results from these two school groups. In addition, the reliability test was used for the questionnaire´s reliability. Results: The results of the survey show that computer skills in second year premedical students differ by gender. The results also indicate that differences exist between the two schools, as the curriculums of the freshman year differ between the schools. Moreover, it is observed that more than 60 percent of the subjects have difficulties dealing with complicated problems such as fixing or replacing hardware. Conclusion: The survey was conducted to assess the level of computer skills in premedical students at two medical schools. Through careful analysis of this survey, we were able to define the necessary level of computer skills required in premedical students in the Medical Informatics curriculum.

Objectives To test the hypothesis of a causal relationship between clinical parameters, including age, anthropometry, and hepatic or renal function tests and serum prostate-specific antigen (PSA) levels and to determine the predictors of high serum PSA concentrations in healthy middle-age men. Methods Between January 1999 and December 2000, 6005 healthy men 40 to 59 years old who visited our hospital for a routine health checkup were entered into the study. The association between the clinical parameters and a high serum PSA level (greater than 2.5, 3.0, 3.5, or 4.0 ng/mL) was studied in three groups: the 10% with low clinical parameters, the 10% with high clinical parameters, and the remainder as a reference group. Results The univariate logistic regression analysis indicated that high or low age, body weight, body mass index, creatinine, and creatinine clearance were significant factors in relation to serum PSA concentration compared with the reference group. In the multivariate model used, only older age was positively related to the serum PSA concentration. Conclusions The results of anthropometry and hepatic and renal function tests do not influence the serum PSA level in this population. Our findings suggest that serum PSA may be a reliable marker in middle-age men without severe hepatic or renal disease.

This study intended to evaluate shape of ankle joint cartilage and damage to the ankle joint cartilage by measuring changes in T2 value of cartilage of healthy people without ankle arthritis and patients with ankle arthritis. The multi-echo technique was used for 20 healthy persons who had no ankle arthritis in the past or in the present clinically and 20 patients who were examined to have ankle arthritis in order to obtain T2 map image of knee joint cartilage. We divided the talotibial joint into medial position, middle position and lateral position to calculate the mean values of T2 in 18 spots that included anterior part, middle part and posterior part of cartilage of neck bone and ankle bone. Mean T2 values were measured in the healthy people group and the ankle arthritis patient group. According to the measurement results, the mean T2 value of the ankle arthritis patient group was measured to be higher than that of the healthy people group.

Objective: To determine the availability of computerized physician order entry (CPOE) and electronic medical record (EMR) systems in teaching and general hospitals in the Republic of Korea. Design: A combined mail and telephone survey of 283 hospitals. Measurements: The surveys assessed the availability of CPOE and EMRs in the hospitals, as well as inducement, participation , and saturation regarding CPOE use by physicians. Results: A total of 122 (43.1%) hospitals responded to the survey. The complete form of CPOE was available in 98 (80.3%) hospitals. The use of CPOE was mandatory in 92 (86.0%) of the 107 hospitals that responded to the questions regarding the requirement of CPOE use. In 85 (79.4%) of the hospitals in which CPOE was in use, more than 90% of physicians used the system. In addition, physicians entered more than 90% of their total orders through CPOE in 87 (81.3%) hospitals. In contrast, a complete EMR system was available in only 11 (9.0%) of the hospitals. Conclusion: Of the teaching and general hospitals in the Republic of Korea that responded to the survey, the majority (80.3%) have CPOE systems, and a complete EMR system is available in only 9%.

Objectives. To evaluate the normal distribution of serum prostate-specific antigen (PSA) levels in healthy Korean men. The subjects included men younger than 40 years of age, because information on serum PSA levels in younger men is scarce. Methods. Between January 1997 and December 1998, the serum PSA levels of the subjects who visited our hospital for a routine health checkup were determined. All men who were older than 50 years with abnormal digital rectal examination findings and/or an abnormal serum PSA level (greater than 4.0 ng/mL) underwent transrectal ultrasound-guided sextant biopsy. Two men who were found to have cancer were excluded from the analysis. The detection rate of prostate cancer for men with abnormal digital rectal examination findings and/or an abnormal serum PSA level was 2.0% for men 50 to 59 years old; 0.0% for men 60 to 69 years old; and 11.1% for men 70 to 79 years old. A total of 8297 men (aged 20 to 79 years) were included in the study. Results. The median serum PSA level (5th to 95th percentile range) was 0.90 ng/mL (0.33 to 2.25) for men 20 to 29 years old; 0.89 ng/mL (0.30 to 2.35) for men 30 to 39 years old; 0.89 ng/mL (0.30 to 2.36) for men 40 to 49 years old; 0.96 ng/mL (0.32 to 2.96) for men 50 to 59 years old; 1.22 ng/mL (0.33 to 3.78) for men 60 to 69 years old; and 1.25 ng/mL (0.30 to 7.49) for men 70 to 79 years old. The median and 95th percentile serum PSA levels of Korean men younger than 50 years were higher, but those for men 50 years old or older were lower than in other races. In our study cohort, the serum PSA level weakly correlated with age (r = 0.088, P

1 Department of Pediatrics, Soonchunhyang University College of Medicine, Choenan, 2 Department of Pediatrics, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, 3 Department of Pediatrics, Inje University College of Medicine, Busan, 4 Department of Pediatrics, Konkuk University School of Medicine, Seoul, 5 Medical Informatics & Epidemiology, Biostatistics, Soonchunhyang University, Cheonan, 6 Atopy Clinic, Seoul Medical Center, Seoul, 7 Department of Pediatrics, Hallym University College of Medicine, Chuncheon, 8 Department of Health Policy and Management, Seoul National University School of Public Health, Seoul, Korea.

Objective: This study aims to investigate the needs, uses and evaluation of Internet health information among students in a provincial university. Methods: Nine hundred and sixty one student from seven different classes of S University located in Chungnam province participated in this study from 2nd to 9th May, 2005. A self-reported questionnaire was used to collect data. Collected data were analyzed on SPSS 11.0. Results: 58.2% of them have needed some health information before and 84.6% of them needed the health information offered by a University. 67.2% of them use the Internet more than any other resource to acquire Health Information. 90.9% of them used a search engines to get health information on the Internet. 57.6% of them have searched for Internet health information to get information about specific disease or medical problem. The most frequently searched topics were LASIK(laser in-situ Keratomileusis), diabetes, and contraception. 39.6% of them evaluated the Internet health information was reliable and 55.8% of them satisfied with the Internet health information. Conclusion: Universities and their in-campus health centers are needed to offer the trustworthy Internet health informtaion on their official homepages so that the student can refer to the reliable and qualified Internet health information.

This study was designed to examine how such factors as hemodialysis parameters, body mass index, renin and aldosterone concentrations, sympathetic nervous activity, and parathyroid hormone concentrations are associated with the control of hypertension in hemodialysis patients. Hemodialysis patients (n=114) were grouped into four categories. Group 1 had normal BP without antihypertensive medication. Group 2 needed one antihypertensive drug, Group 3 needed combination of two or three categories of antihypertensive drugs without minoxidil. Group 4 needed more than three categories of antihypertensive drugs including minoxidil. Parathyroid hormone, beta2-microglobulin, renin and aldosterone, epinephrine, norepinephrine, and hemodialysis parameters were measured. The fractional clearance of urea as Kt/V urea was significantly lower in Group 3 and Group 4 than in Group 2 (p0.01). Concentrations of parathyroid hormone were significantly higher in Group 4 than the other groups (p0.01). Pre-hemodialysis norepinephrine concentrations were significantly higher in Group 4 than the other groups (p0.05). Traditional factors associated with hypertension did not seem to be relevant to the degree of hypertension in hemodialysis patients in the present study. In conclusion, poor Kt/V urea, elevated parathyroid hormone concentrations, and elevated concentrations of plasma norepinephrine seemed to be the factors that might be associated with control of hypertension in hemodialysis patients.