An attempt to analyze the longitudinal psychological state of cancer patients in the active treatment stage.

The psychological state and changes over time of cancer patients in the active treatment stage were classified into emotions by the speech and behavior of the patient described in the medical record article of the cancer psychological interview record, and the analysis of the "emotional state map" was attempted. In all cases, positive / negative emotions were mixed and appeared with variation, but a relatively large number of positive emotions, including , , and , were manifested, and the same was true in patients who experienced stressful treatment events. In the background, the existence of appropriate support from medical professionals and psychological characteristics peculiar to the stage of active treatment was inferred, such as the active treatment of the target patient, the hospitalization environment in which mental and physical pain promptly appealed to medical professionals, and the influence of psychological interviews.

Ultrasound-Guided Thoracic Paravertebral Block as a Sympathetic Blockade for Upper Extremity Neuropathic Pain: A Prospective Pilot Study.

Purpose: Ultrasound-guided thoracic paravertebral block (US-TPVB) is considered a treatment option for the management of acute pain in various pain-related conditions. We conducted a prospective pilot study to evaluate the possibility of US-TPVB as a sympathetic blockade in patients with neuropathic pain disorders in the upper extremities.

Patients And Methods: A total of 12 patients underwent US-TPVB between the T2 and T3 paravertebral space with 10 mL of 1% mepivacaine.

Electroacupuncture May Improve Burning and Electric Shock-Like Neuropathic Pain: A Prospective Exploratory Pilot Study.

To test the effectiveness of electroacupuncture (EA) for managing intractable neuropathic pain (NeP) and assess the protocol for a larger confirmatory trial. A prospective, multicenter, single-armed, add-on, pilot study. At two tertiary university-based hospitals in Seoul, Republic of Korea.

Traumatic Events Among Cancer Patients That Lead to Compassion Fatigue in Nurses: A Qualitative Study.

Context: Cancer care nurses are frequently exposed to patients' traumatic experiences and are at high risk of compassion fatigue.

Objectives: To describe the components and frequencies of traumatic events experienced by patients with cancer, which give rise to nurse compassion fatigue.

Methods: This study is a supplementary analysis of data from a previous qualitative study.

A Randomized Comparison between 4, 6 and 8 mL of Local Anesthetic for Ultrasound-Guided Stellate Ganglion Block.

Background: Because it affords greater accuracy than landmark-based techniques, ultrasound guidance may reduce the volume of local anesthetic required for sympathetic blockade of the upper extremity. We hypothesized that 4 mL would provide a similar clinical effect when compared to larger volumes.

Methods: One hundred and two patients with chronic neuropathic pain of the upper extremity or face were randomly assigned to receive an ultrasound-guided (USG) stellate ganglion block (SGB) with either 4 mL (group A), 6 mL (group B) or 8 mL (group C) mL of 1.

Clinical outcome of percutaneous lumbar foraminoplasty using a safety-improved device in patients with lumbar foraminal spinal stenosis.

Lumbar foraminal spinal stenosis (LFSS) is defined as the narrowing of the nerve root exit associated with a herniated intervertebral disc, osteoarthritic changes in the facet joints, or a hypertrophied ligamentum flavum, which can provoke neurogenic claudication. To achieve effective and safe decompression of the lumbar spinal foramen, a specially designed instrument (Claudicare, SEAWON Meditech, Bucheon-si, Gyeonggi-do, Republic of Korea) for percutaneous lumbar foraminoplasty (PLF) was invented. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the clinical efficacy and safety of the newly devised instrument in patients with LFSS.

A review of dexketoprofen trometamol in acute pain.

Objective: Dexketoprofen trometamol is a modified non-selective COX inhibitor with a rapid onset of action that is available as both oral and parenteral formulations. The aim of this narrative review was to assess the efficacy and tolerability/safety of dexketoprofen trometamol in acute pain states using the best available published scientific evidence (randomized controlled clinical trials and systematic reviews/meta-analyses).

Methods: Literature retrieval was performed via Medline, Embase and the Cochrane Library (from inception up to March 2017) using combinations of the terms "randomized controlled trials", "dexketoprofen", "celecoxib", "etoricoxib", "parecoxib" and "acute pain".

Predictive Factors of Successful Percutaneous Cervical Nucleoplasty for the Treatment of Pain with Cervical Herniated Disk.

Background: Percutaneous cervical nucleoplasty (PCN) is an effective treatment for cervical herniated intervertebral disc (C-HIVD). In this retrospective study, we evaluated clinical predictors that affect the successful outcome of PCN.

Methods: Fluoroscopically guided PCN was conducted for C-HIVD by one pain physician.

Retrospective analysis of the financial break-even point for intrathecal morphine pump use in Korea.

Background: The high cost of intrathecal morphine pump (ITMP) implantation may be the main obstacle to its use. Since July 2014, the Korean national health insurance (NHI) program began paying 50% of the ITMP implantation cost in select refractory chronic pain patients. The aims of this study were to investigate the financial break-even point and patients' satisfaction in patients with ITMP treatment after the initiation of the NHI reimbursement.

Does Temperature Increase by Sympathetic Neurolysis Improve Pain in Complex Regional Pain Syndrome? A Retrospective Cohort Study.

Background: Lumbar sympathetic neurolysis (LSN) is a treatment option for complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS). We examined whether LSN-related temperature changes are associated with clinical outcome and investigated relationships between the outcome of LSN and clinical variables in patients with CRPS-I.

Methods: We included 95 patients with CRPS-I affecting a single lower extremity, by the Budapest criteria, and who underwent LSN after successful lumbar sympathetic blocks, in this retrospective study.

Cognitive reactions of nurses exposed to cancer patients' traumatic experiences: A qualitative study to identify triggers of the onset of compassion fatigue.

Objective: Nurses in cancer care are considered to be at risk for compassion fatigue because they are frequently exposed to patients' traumatic experiences. However, only a few effective empirical studies have been conducted in this field, and cognitive factors in particular have not been sufficiently studied. This study aims to describe the components of nurses' cognitive reactions from their exposure to cancer patients' traumatic experience to the onset of compassion fatigue.

A Retrospective Study to Evaluate the Effect of Concentration of Hypertonic Saline on Efficacy and Safety of Epidural Adhesiolysis.

Background: Percutaneous epidural adhesiolysis (PEA) is a minimally invasive procedure that is performed to relieve low back and/or lower limb pain secondary to adhesions or scarring in the epidural space that is refractory to conservative treatment. The optimal concentration of hypertonic saline might be an important factor in the safety and efficacy of PEA. We evaluated differences in the efficacy and safety of 2 concentrations of hypertonic saline (5% and 10%) used in lumbar PEA at our institutions in a retrospective study.

Effectiveness of Percutaneous Lumbar Extraforaminotomy in Patients with Lumbar Foraminal Spinal Stenosis: A Prospective, Single-Armed, Observational Pilot Study.

Objective: In lumbar foraminal spinal stenosis (LFSS), numerous ligaments may play an important role in causing radiculopathy by narrowing the exit of the nerve root. In order to achieve effective decompression of lumbar foraminal ligaments, a specially designed instrument for percutaneous lumbar extraforaminotomy (PLEF) was invented. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of PLEF in patients with intractable radiculopathy from LFSS.

The minimal effective dose of cis-9-cetylmyristoleate (CMO) in persons presenting with knee joint pain: A double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial.

Background: Nutraceuticals containing cis-9-cetylmyristoleate (CMO) are used to improve knee pain despite the lack of placebo-controlled studies in humans. The aim of the study was to explore the minimal effective dose of CMO for relieving knee joint pain.

Methods: Twenty-eight subjects with mild degree arthritic knee joint pain were randomized into 4 groups; groups A, B, and C that contained 100%, 80%, and 62.

Clinical Association Between Brain MRI Findings With Epidural Blood Patch in Spontaneous Intracranial Hypotension.

Background: Spontaneous intracranial hypotension (SIH) is characterized by spontaneous postural headache with neck stiffness, nausea, vomiting, tinnitus, and vertigo in patients with low cerebrospinal fluid pressure. Epidural blood patch (EBP) can be a treatment of choice in patients nonresponsive to the initial noninvasive treatments. We compared brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) findings and clinical variables between patients with conservative management only and patients with added EBP, to help physicians plan the management modalities for SIH patients.

The benefit of chemotherapy in elderly patients with small cell lung cancer.

Elderly patients with small cell lung cancer derive a statistically significant benefit from the administration of combination chemotherapy. Numerous clinical trials have demonstrated high response rates and impressive median survivals with carboplatin and etoposide, cisplatin and etoposide, and other regimens. All elderly patients with small cell lung cancer should be evaluated by a medical oncologist to determine whether they are candidates for chemotherapy.

Effects of chemotherapy on survival of elderly patients with small-cell lung cancer: analysis of the SEER-medicare database.

Introduction: This retrospective cohort study was designed to analyze factors associated with administration of chemotherapy and to examine the impact of chemotherapy on survival among elderly patients with small-cell lung cancer (SCLC) in the community.

Methods: Elderly patients aged 65 years and older with SCLC diagnosed between 1992 and 2001 were selected from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results-Medicare database. Logistic regression was used to evaluate which covariates influenced receipt of chemotherapy.