BACKGROUND: A and B transferase are glycosyltransferase that transfer N-acetylgalactosamine and D- galactose to H antigen, respectively and lead to the expression of A and B phenotypes in ABO blood group system. Reduced or no activities of serum A and B transferase were observed in some A and B subgroup individuals. Determining the activities of serum A and B transferase can be useful in discriminating rare A and B subgroups. MATERIALS AND METHODS: ABO typing, saliva test, adsorption elution test and serum transferase assay were performed on samples from 12 individuals showing ABO discrepancy or weakened cell typing reactions which were referred to the Seoul National University Hospital to confirm their ABO blood types. Serum transferase activity was assayed by determining the ability of serum to convert group 0 RBCs into A or B cells. RESULTS: Determination of serum ABO transferase activity was useful in the identification of Ael (3 cases), B. (2 cases), Bm (1 case), Am (1 case), Bx (1 case), 0 with weakened anti-A or anti-B (3 cases), and A without anti-B due to hypogammaglobulinemia (1 case). CONCLUSION: Determining serum A and B glycosyltransferase activity was proven to be a simple and useful tool for the classification of several ABO subgroups.(Korean J Blood Transfusion 10(1): 27-33, 1999)
ABO Blood-Group System ; Adsorption ; Agammaglobulinemia ; B-Lymphocytes ; Blood Transfusion ; Classification* ; Galactose ; Phenotype ; Saliva ; Seoul ; Transferases

The blood bank of the Seoul National University Hospital has joined the U.K. National External Quality Assessment Scheme(NEQAS) for Blood Group Serology since 1992. We reported correct answers on all occasions for thirty-six samples tested for ABO, RhD typing, and direct antiglobulin test. Among 36 antibody screening and antibody,,identification tests, we missed one anti-S. Among 96 crossmatchings, we made 4 major errors and one minor error. It was interesting that all of the major errors we made were from the sample delivered in mid-summer. Since the items included in the domestic program for the external quality control of blood group serology are very limited in Korea, joining any international quality control program will be necessary for larger blood banks to assure quality of varirous blood bank tests being performed.
Blood Banks ; Coombs Test ; Korea ; Mass Screening ; Quality Control ; Seoul

Leukotrienes (LTs) are known to act as a mediator provoking tissue response in inflammation. LTs, particularly type B4 (LTB4) as chemotactic factor of neutrophil are released from neutrophils and gastric mucosal cells when these cells are stimulated by Helicobacter pylori. The present study was performed to test a possibility that eupatilin may prevent the H. pylori-induced gastric cell damage by observing whether this chemical inhibit the release of LTB4 from H. pylori-stimulated gastric cells (Kato III) and neutrophils. As observed in the previous study, H. pylori induced the release of LTB4 from these cells and at the same influx of Ca2+ into the cells. In the presence of eupatilin, the release of LTB4 was inhibited whereas Ca2+ influx was not affected. Probably eupatilin may inhibit the release of LTB4 by preventing the synthesis of LTs. These results suggest that eupatilin can has a therapeutic effect on H. pylori-induced gasric cell damage.
Helicobacter pylori* ; Helicobacter* ; Inflammation ; Leukotriene B4* ; Leukotrienes ; Neutrophils*

It has been implicated that leukotrienes play roles in the pathogenesis of gastritis and gastric ulceration associated with Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori). Rebamipide is being used as an antiulcer drug but it's mechanism of action has not been understood well. One possible mechanism of action of this drug is to inhibit the cellular release of leukotrienes by various stimuli, particularly H. pylori. In the present study, attempts were made to test this possibility and the results are as follows. When Kato III cells (gastric adenoma cells) were stimulated by H. pylori, leukotriene D4 (LTD4) was released and rebamipide inhibited this release dose-dependently. Similar experiment was performed on neutrophils because the infilteration of neutrophils is a common phenomenon in H. pylori-infected gasrtric tissues. Neutrophils released LTD4 when these cells were stimulated by H. pylori and rebamipide also inhibited this release. Furthermore, rebamipide inhibited the release of LTD from neutrophils induced by calcium ionophore A23187 and arachidonic acid. The results suggest that rebamipide has the action to inhibit the release of LTD4 from various cells and this action may contribute in part to prevent the ulcerogenesis induced by H. pylori.
Adenoma ; Arachidonic Acid ; Calcimycin ; Calcium ; Gastritis ; Helicobacter pylori* ; Helicobacter* ; Leukotriene D4* ; Leukotrienes ; Neutrophils ; Stomach Ulcer

PURPOSE: Objectives of the study is to examine the effectiveness of aromatherapy massage among middle aged women with abdominal obesity. METHOD: AB/BA crossover design of random blind assignment was applied. Aromatherapy and placebo massage were given to Group(A), Group(B), each groups applied each massages for 2weeks alternatively. Weight, abdominal circumference and appetite were compared for results check among the subjects. RESULT: The apparent effectiveness of Aromatherapy Massage in reducing weight, abdominal circumference and appetite was noted. CONCLUSION: On the basis of results, they strongly support the facts of reduction of abdominal obesity by applying aromatherapy massage for middle aged women.

In this study, among intermittent exotropia cases, 38 cases indicating sensory anomaly of diplopia and 27 cases indicating sensory anomaly of suppression, and tried to compare the results of operation. Cases of diplopia ranged from 3 years of age to 21 years of age averaging 4.5 years of age, and the follow up period after operation ranged from 2 months to 18 months averaging 6.5 months. The success rate of operation in cases of diplopia was 92%(35/38), and that in cases of suppression was 74%(20/27). Consequently, among intermittent exotropia patiens indicating sensory anomaly the case of diplopia can be said to be higher in the success rate of operation than that of suppression.
Diplopia ; Exotropia* ; Follow-Up Studies

We assessed the efficacy of modified Kestenbaum procedure for the correction of abnormal head position in 16 patients with the diagnosis of in fantile nystagmus. Instead of Parks 5-6-7-8mm modified Kestenbaum procedure, we performed 6-7-6-7mm modified Kestenbaum on 11 patients with head turn of 20-30, 20% augmented procedure(7.2-8.4-7.2-8.4mm) on 4 patients with head turn of 30 or more, and-1mm procedure(5-6-5-6mm) on 1 patent with head turn of less than 20. In the average follow-up of 7 months, 10 patients(62.5%) showed head turn of less than 5, in which 14 of 16 patients had less than10 .87.5% of the patients showed satisfactory correction of abnormal head position., 12 prism diopter of exotropia was noted postoperatively in 1 case but the duction was not limited in any case. From the above results, we conclude that 6-7-6-7mm modified Kestenbaum nystagmus.
Diagnosis ; Exotropia ; Follow-Up Studies ; Head ; Humans

BACKGROUND: A and B transferase are glycosyltransferase that transfer N-acetylgalactosamine and D-galactose to H antigen, respectively and lead to the expression of A and B phenotypes in ABO blood group system. Reduced or no activities of serum A and B transferase were observed in some A and B subgroup individuals. Determining the activities of serum A and B transferase can be useful in discriminating rare A and B subgroups. MATERIALS AND METHODS: ABO typing, saliva test, adsorption elution test and serum transferase assay were performed on samples from 12 individuals showing ABO discrepancy or weakened cell typing reactions which were referred to the Seoul National University Hospital to confirm their ABO blood types. Serum transferase activity was assayed by determining the ability of serum to convert group O RBCs into A or B cells. RESULTS: Determination of serum ABO transferase activity was useful in the identification of Ael (3 cases), B3 (2 cases), Bm (1 case), Am (1 case), Bx (1 case), O with weakened anti-A or anti-B (3 cases), and A without anti-B due to hypogammaglobulinemia (1 case). CONCLUSION: Determining serum A and B glycosyltransferase activity was proven to be a simple and useful tool for the classification of several ABO subgroups.
ABO Blood-Group System ; Adsorption ; Agammaglobulinemia ; B-Lymphocytes ; Classification* ; Galactose ; Phenotype ; Saliva ; Seoul ; Transferases

The adjustable suture strabismus surgery has been used for the more accurate operation. In general adjustable surgery is a two-stage procedure, so it has many difficulties such as hospitalization, more chances of infection and more times. We performed one-stage intraoperative adjustment strabismus surgery under topical anesthesia and analyzed the result of surgery. 67 patients were included in this study. The patients ranged from 14 to 61 years of age, averaging 27.6 years of age and the follow-up period after operation ranged from 3 months to 58 months averaging 9.4 months. The overall success rate was 78% (52/67). The success rate of reoperation group which had previous one or more strabismus surgery was 63% (5/8). And the success rate of vertically deviated group was 63% (5/8).
Anesthesia* ; Follow-Up Studies ; Hospitalization ; Humans ; Reoperation ; Strabismus* ; Sutures

We evaluated the one-stage intraoperative adjustment strabismus surgery with adjustable suture under topical anesthesia. Medical records of the patients who had intraoperative adjustment surgery under topical anesthesia for horizontal or vertical strabismus in our hospital from March 1997 to March 2003 with follow-up of 6 months were analyzed retrospectively. Of the 71 patients, 48 patients had exotropia, 16 had esotropia, and 7 had hyper- or hypotropia. The overall success rates were 85.9% at 1 week, 83% at 1 month, 78.9% at 3 months, and 76.1% at 6 months after surgery. The procedure was not stopped in any patients, and no serious intra-operative or postoperative complications were noted. Intraoperative adjustment strabismus surgery under topical anesthesia is a simple, well-tolerated and effective procedure.
Treatment Outcome ; *Suture Techniques ; Strabismus/*surgery ; Retrospective Studies ; Ophthalmologic Surgical Procedures/methods ; Middle Aged ; Male ; Intraoperative Period ; Humans ; Female ; Anesthetics, Local/administration & dosage ; Adult ; Adolescent ; Administration, Topical