Clinical analysis of esophageal cancer associated with other primary cancers

This study aims to investigate the therapeutic and prognostic implications of esophageal cancer in patients with other primary cancer. Between April 1992 and December 2008, in 83 patients underwent surgery for esophageal cancer at our department. Among them, 24 patients (28.9%) had medical history of additional primary cancer. There were 16 metachronous cancers and 8 synchronous cancers. Six patients had antecedent other primary cancers, and subsequent primary cancers developed in 10 patients. The other primary cancers included head and neck cancer in 8 patients, gastric cancer in 8, lung cancer in 6, colorectal cancer in 3, and other cancer in 3. The patients with other primary cancers were both heavy smokers and heavy drinkers in comparison to those without other primary cancers. The post-operative 5-year survival rate in patients with subsequent cancers, antecedent cancers, and synchronous cancers were 100%, 70.0%, and 46.9%. The 5-year survival rate was 33.4% in patients without other primary cancers. A high incidence of multiple primary cancers was observed in patients with esophageal carcinoma but the prognosis of these patients with metachronous cancers are better than that of patient with synchronous cancers and patients without other primary cancers. Post-operative follow up is considered to be necessary for early detection of multiple occurrences of carcinoma, especially in the upper aerodigestive tract.     

Influenza vaccination among adults 65 years or older: a 2009-2010 community health survey in the Honam region of Korea

The present study examined the rates and related factors for influenza vaccination among the elderly Korean population during the 2008/09 influenza seasons. We obtained data for 6,391 adults aged 65 years or older from Community Health Surveys conducted in 2009 and 2010 in 13 communities in the Honam region of Korea. A multiple logistic regression analysis was used to identify the factors associated with self-reported influenza vaccinations. In this elderly population, 81.7% reported to having received an influenza vaccination in the past year. The main contributing factors were older age, lower economic status, lower educational level, married, non-smoking, regular alcohol consumption, regular walking exercise, receiving a health check-up during the past two years, not stressed, and having comorbid conditions. The influenza vaccination coverage rate among elderly Koreans was relatively high, but improvements in vaccination rates are required.     

Genre-specific media and perceptions of personal and social risk of smoking among South Korean college students

The smoking rate among adult men in South Korea is one of the highest in the world, standing at about 53%. Although various mass media-based educational initiatives have been taken to reduce this rate, their contribution toward the smoking risk perceptions of South Koreans has not been investigated. This study examined the association between genre-specific media exposure and personal and social risk perceptions of smokers and nonsmokers. Data from a survey of 558 South Korean college students (39% smokers) show that genre-specific media exposure differentially predicts personal and social risk perceptions of smokers and nonsmokers. News media exposure predicted smokers' personal risk perceptions, whereas entertainment media exposure predicted nonsmokers' personal risk perceptions. Exposure to a hybrid genre, health infotainment, predicted social risk perceptions, but not personal risk perceptions, of both smokers and nonsmokers. High rates of exposure to medical documentary were associated with low personal risk perceptions of nonsmokers, but not smokers. These results collectively suggest that mixed-media strategies may effectively address perceptions of personal and social risk of smoking. Suggestions for future research, and theoretical and practical implications, are offered.     

Elder lifelong learning, intergenerational solidarity and positive youth development: the case of Hong Kong

Elder lifelong learning has been promoted worldwide under different modes for upgrading quality of life of elders and actualizing successful aging. With multiple objectives, some modes of the elder lifelong learning program attempt to simultaneously address the social issues of age-segregation and negative perceptions of older people by adopting an intergenerational approach. Such an approach links the two non-biological generations--the young and the old--together purposefully for nurturing intergenerational solidarity and integration. Although program evaluation studies demonstrate the positive impacts and effects of an intergenerational approach on older people, its impact on young people is not well-researched. This paper explores intergenerational solidarity generated from the intergenerational-mode elder lifelong learning program in Hong Kong and argues how it contributes to positive youth development.