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

BACKGROUND: Platelet antibody test has been used in the diagnosis and management of immunological platelet disorders and platelet crossmatch. Mixed passive hemagglutination (MPHA) test is a cost-effective, reproducible, easy to perform and convenient method. Anti-IgG coated indicator red cells used for MPHA test have not been made in Korea and those cells have been exclusively donated by Dr. Shibata in Japan. This study was designed to produce domestic indicator cells and to determine its acceptability by comparing to the results obtained with Dr. Shibata's indicator cells. We produced homemade indicator cells by coating human RhD-positive O RBC with human IgG anti-D (check cell) and then coated with rabbit anti-human IgG. METHODS: Sixty three sera from healthy male donors, 58 sera tested positive in platelet suspension immunofluorescence test (PSIFT), and 61 sera tested negative in PSIFT were evaluated by MPHA employing both homemade and Dr. Shibata's indicator cells. RESULTS: The concordance rate between PSIFT and homemade MPHA was 74%. Test results of MPHA with homemade indicator cell showed excellent correlation with Shibata's indicator cell (P=0.002). All of 63 sera from healthy volunteer male blood donors without history of transfusion were tested negative with homemade MPHA method. Test results of MPHA employing homemade indicator cells showed excellent correlation with those of PSIFT (P=2.67x10-8). CONCLUSIONS: Homemade indicator cells we developed in this study were able to replace Dr. Shibata's indicator cells for the MPHA test.
Blood Donors ; Blood Platelets* ; Diagnosis ; Fluorescent Antibody Technique ; Healthy Volunteers ; Hemagglutination* ; Humans ; Immunoglobulin G ; Japan ; Korea ; Male ; Tissue Donors

BACKGROUND: Determination of antibody specificity using antigram spread sheet requires experience and knowledge on in vitro characteristics of red cell antibodies, time-consuming, and still subjective to human error. A computer-based antibody identification system was developed to overcome these disadvantages. METHODS: Decision support system program for antibody identification was designed using Visual Basic 5.0 for Dade Data-cyte Plus. This system integrates the reaction patterns of saline, 37degrees C albumin, antiglobulin, 4degrees C saline enzyme treated and user-defined phases and lists the antibodies according to the probability. 115 irregular antibodies previously confirmed by standard manual method reanalyzed with this program. RESULTS: In 111 of 115 cases (96.5%), this system produced the same results with the manual identification. In two cases, of not matched 4 cases the computer program suggested additional antibodies and in one case, the computer program detected previous human error. In the other case, antibody identification was possible only after further tests including selective adsorption of multiple antibodies. CONCLUSION: The decision support system was rapid and easy and showed good concordance rate when compared with manual antibody identificaion results. In addition, human error could be reduced. Decision support system for antibody identification could be used in small blood banks by less experienced staffs.
Adsorption ; Antibodies ; Antibody Specificity ; Blood Banks ; Expert Systems ; Humans

Authors experienced a patient with anti-Xga antibody in the serum. To our knowledge, this is the first report of anti-Xga antibody in Korea. The patient was a 65-year-old male with chronic renal failure who had received many hemodialyses. Anti-Xga antibody has not been implicated in hemolytic disease of the newborn or hemolytic transfusion reactions, but the antibody can be misinterpreted as clinically significant antibody in crossmatching because it usually reacts only on antiglobulin testing. In this case, no transfusion reactions happened.
Aged ; Blood Group Incompatibility ; Coombs Test ; Humans ; Infant, Newborn ; Kidney Failure, Chronic ; Korea ; Male ; Renal Dialysis

BACKGROUND: Since 1982, many countries has reported outbreaks or sporadic cases caused by enterohaemorrhagic Escherichia coli (EHEC) serogroup strains, mainly E. coli O157:H7 type strain. However, systemic investigation about EHEC agents, including E. coli O157:H7, have not been done in Korea. Therefore, we investigated serogroup and verotoxin productivity of E. coli strains isolated from diarrheal patients and estimated risk of human infection in comparison with the EHEC strains isolated from cow, pig, and food material in Korea. METHODS: Diarrheal patient stool samples were collected and E. coli strains were isolated, according to biochemical characteristics. In order to isolate E. coli O157:H7, D-Sorbitol negative E. coli strains were selected. Serogrouping of the E. coli isolates was done by agglutination test. Verocytotoxin productivity was investigated by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and reversed passive latex agglutination (RPLA). Human infection risk was estimated in comparison with EHEC strains isolated from cow, pig and food materials in Korea. RESULTS: Twenty-five E. coli strains were isolated from the diarrheal patients who were suspected to be infected with EHEC. However, none of these E. coli strains produced verocytotoxin. Out of 25 E. coli isolates, 16 serogroups of E. coli O1, O6, O8, O15, O20, O25, O26, O28, O29, O44, O86a, O119, O126, O128, O152 and 157:H- were found. In each of the E. coli O157:H- and O25 serogrorps 3 strains were found. CONCLUSION: None of 25 E. coli isolated from diarrheal patients who were suspected of EHEC infection produced verocytotoxin producing E. coli have been reported recently in Korea.
Agglutination ; Agglutination Tests ; Disease Outbreaks ; Efficiency* ; Enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli ; Escherichia coli* ; Escherichia* ; Humans ; Korea* ; Latex ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Shiga Toxins

PURPOSE: To evaluate the incidence and course of widening of palpebral fissure after unilateral lateral rectus muscle recession. METHODS: The palpebral fissure width (PFW) was measured in 20 patients with intermittent exotropia before unilateral rectus muscle recession and 1 week, 1 month and 6 months after the surgery. RESULTS: The amount of recession was from 7.5 to 9.0 (mean 8.37 +/- 0.51) mm. More than 0.6 mm of change in PFW after surgery was defined as the significant change. The significant change was observed in 10 patients (50%) after 1 week, 7 patients (35%) after 1 month and 7 patients (35%) after 6 months after the surgery. The amount of recession was significantly greater in the group with significant change (8.60 +/- 0.39 mm) than the group without significant change (8.15 +/- 0.53 mm) (p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Thirty five percent of the patients showed palpebral fissure widening lasts at least 6 months after unilateral lateral rectus muscle recession. We think it is necessary to notice patients about the possible change in palpebral fissure width before strabismus surgery. And we believe that more cosmetically satisfactory outcome would be resulted if surgeons consider eyelid condition when they are planning strabismus surgery.
Exotropia ; Eyelids ; Humans ; Incidence ; Muscles ; Strabismus

Factors such as senescence,stress and neurodegenerative diseases,including Alzheimer's disease, contribute to the impairment of organs,especially the brain.They also negatively affect normal brain functions such as memory and cognition.In this study,the neuroprotective role of the natural product BF-7 was examined against A beta - induced neurotoxicity in SK-N-SH human neuronal cells.BF-7 significantly attenuated A beta-induced apoptosis as measured by intracellular calcium levels,accumulation of reactive oxygen species,mitochondrial dysfunction,and caspase activity.These results strongly indicate that BF-7 plays an effective and positive role in the improvement of brain functions,including learning and memory,in our model system for Alzheimer's disease.Thus,BF-7 might be useful for developing strategies to protect the nervous system and improve brain function.
Alzheimer Disease ; Amyloid beta-Peptides* ; Amyloid* ; Apoptosis ; Brain ; Calcium ; Cell Death* ; Fibroins* ; Humans ; Learning ; Memory ; Mitochondria ; Nervous System ; Neurons* ; Oxidative Stress ; Oxygen

BACKGROUND: Until recently, genome-wide association study (GWAS)-based findings have provided a substantial genetic contribution to type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) or related glycemic traits. However, identification of allelic heterogeneity and population-specific genetic variants under consideration of potential confounding factors will be very valuable for clinical applicability. To identify novel susceptibility loci for T2DM and glycemic traits, we performed a two-stage genetic association study in a Korean population. METHODS: We performed a logistic analysis for T2DM, and the first discovery GWAS was analyzed for 1,042 cases and 2,943 controls recruited from a population-based cohort (KARE, n=8,842). The second stage, de novo replication analysis, was performed in 1,216 cases and 1,352 controls selected from an independent population-based cohort (Health 2, n=8,500). A multiple linear regression analysis for glycemic traits was further performed in a total of 14,232 nondiabetic individuals consisting of 7,696 GWAS and 6,536 replication study participants. A meta-analysis was performed on the combined results using effect size and standard errors estimated for stage 1 and 2, respectively. RESULTS: A combined meta-analysis for T2DM identified two new (rs11065756 and rs2074356) loci reaching genome-wide significance in CCDC63 and C12orf51 on the 12q24 region. In addition, these variants were significantly associated with fasting plasma glucose and homeostasis model assessment of beta-cell function. Interestingly, two independent single nucleotide polymorphisms were associated with sex-specific stratification in this study. CONCLUSION: Our study showed a strong association between T2DM and glycemic traits. We further observed that two novel loci with multiple diverse effects were highly specific to males. Taken together, these findings may provide additional insights into the clinical assessment or subclassification of disease risk in a Korean population.
Blood Glucose ; Cohort Studies ; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2* ; Fasting ; Genetic Association Studies ; Genome-Wide Association Study* ; Homeostasis ; Humans ; Linear Models ; Male ; Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide ; Population Characteristics

Azathioprine is a conventional immunosuppressant in renal transplantation but long-term administration may lead to hematologic complications. We here report a cauda equina syndrome caused by spontaneous epidural hematoma in a renal transplant recipient who had undergone long-term azathioprine treatment. A 34 year-old male was admitted to our hospital with complaints of numbness of the lower extremities and back pain. He had received renal transplantation 14 years ago and had been on sole therapy with azathioprine for 11 years. Three months before admission, the patient developed pancytopenia, and a subsequent bone marrow biopsy revealed hypocellularity. Azathioprine was replaced by tacrolimus and steroids thereafter. After a three months discontinuation of azathioprine, an epidural hematoma developed and resulted in cauda equina syndrome. Regular follow-up of complete blood count and change of immunosuppressants with less bone marrow toxicity should be considered in patients receiving azathioprine for long-term period.
Adult ; Azathioprine* ; Back Pain ; Biopsy ; Blood Cell Count ; Bone Marrow ; Cauda Equina* ; Follow-Up Studies ; Hematoma ; Humans ; Hypesthesia ; Immunosuppressive Agents ; Kidney Transplantation ; Lower Extremity ; Male ; Pancytopenia ; Polyradiculopathy* ; Steroids ; Tacrolimus ; Transplantation