BACKGROUND: Seroincidence of hepatitis B virus (HBV) among Korean blood donors has not been reported. This study was conducted to calculate the seroincidence of HBV among blood donors and to estimate the risk of post-transfusion hepatitis B by donated blood in window period of infection. METHODS: HBV seroincidence was calculated among repeat-donors who had donated from Nov. 1994 through Dec. 1996. To calculate the person-years, the database of the Korean National Red Cross was used in which results for HBsAg enzyme immunoassay were filed up. The observed incidence was adjusted by interdonation interval of incident cases, who were defined as donors showing seroconversion. The risk of post-transfusion hepatitis B by donated bloods in window period of infection was estimated. RESULTS: HBV seroincidence was estimated to be 180.85/100,000 person-years. This was adjusted as 602.83/100,000 person-years by considering interdonation intervals. The risk of post-transfusion hepatitis B was estimated to be 974 units per one million of whole blood units due to be in window period of infection. CONCLUSION: The estimated seroincidence of HBV among Korean blood donors and thereby the risk of HBV transmission by donated bloods in window period of infection was about 50 to 60 times higher than those of Japan and United States of America.(Korean J Blood Transfusion 10(1): 1-4, 1999)
Blood Donors* ; Blood Transfusion ; Hepatitis B Surface Antigens ; Hepatitis B virus* ; Hepatitis B* ; Hepatitis* ; Humans ; Immunoenzyme Techniques ; Incidence ; Japan ; Red Cross ; Tissue Donors ; United States

BACKGROUND: High dose fentanyl for cardiac surgery in neonates, infants and children can cause severe bradycardia and chest wall rigidity that result in decreased cardiac output and oxygen desaturation due to fixed stroke volume in pediatric patients. To ameliorate the effects of fentanyl, it is common to administer neuromuscular blocking drugs with wanted cardiovascular side effects. This study was designed to compare the cardiovascular variables and oxygen saturation among different muscular relaxants in high dose fentanyl anesthesia. METHODS: Thirty pediatric cardiac patients were allocated randomly into three muscle relaxant groups treated with 0.2 mg/kg pancuronium (n=10), 0.2 mg/kg vecuronium (n=10) or 0.2 mg/kg pipecuronium (n=10) after receiving an initial bolus dose of 25 g/kg of fentanyl. Changes of heart rate (HR), mean arterial blood pressure (MAP), rate-pressure-product (RPP) and oxygen saturation (SpO2) were observed. The same cardiovascular variables were also observed 1 and 2 minutes after the second bolus dose of 25 g/kg fentanyl and compared to the results among muscle relaxants. RESULTS: HR, MAP and RPP decreased significantly (p<0.05) 1 and 2 minutes after injection of the 1st fentanyl, which returned to levels above the control value after administration of pancuronium, vecuronium or pipecuronium. Among muscle relaxants, pancuronium caused the most rapid and significantly high level compared to the control value in HR and MAP. Next was pipecuronium and then vecuronium. In clinical setting, SpO2 was decreased after the 1st fentanyl injection and increased after the injection of muscle relaxants, but not significant statistically. CONCLUSION: In view of hemodynamic changes, pancuronium is most efficient and rapid in returning the hemodynamic variables that was decreased after high dose fentanyl anesthesia in neonates, infants and children whose cardiac output was dependent on HR due to relatively fixed stroke volume.
Anesthesia* ; Arterial Pressure ; Bradycardia ; Cardiac Output ; Child* ; Fentanyl* ; Heart Rate ; Hemodynamics ; Humans ; Infant* ; Infant, Newborn* ; Neuromuscular Blockade ; Oxygen ; Pancuronium* ; Pipecuronium* ; Stroke Volume ; Thoracic Surgery ; Thoracic Wall ; Vecuronium Bromide*

BACKGROUNDS: With the recent elucidation of genetic basis of Rh blood group, it is now available the molecular genotyping methods for Rh blood typing. These can be used when serological typing is difficult. This study was conducted to investigate the usefulness of Rh genotyping method for Koreans. METHODS: Genotyping for Rh C/c and E/e was performed in peripheral blood DNA samples from 34 blood donors by polymerase chain reaction using sequence-specific primers (PCR-SSP). The PCR determined genotypes were compared with serologically determined phenotypes. RESULTS: The Rh C/c and E/e genotyping results of 34 blood donors were full concordance with the results of their serologic phenotyping. CONCLUSIONS: Rh genotyping method on the basis of Rh genetic model can be applied to Koreans. This genotyping method would be useful tool in prenatal Rh typing of fetus at risk of hemolytic disease and when serotyping is not available for example massive transfusion. (Korean J Blood Transfusion 10(1): 21-26, 1999)
Blood Donors ; Blood Grouping and Crossmatching ; Blood Transfusion ; DNA ; Fetus ; Genotype ; Humans ; Models, Genetic ; Phenotype ; Polymerase Chain Reaction* ; Serotyping

BACKGROUND: The objective of this study was to describe the extent of pain relief after an epidural steroid injection in the patients suffering from chronic low back pain from herniated disks or lumbar spinal stenosis. METHODS: The study was prospectively designed for patients suffering with lumbar spinal stenosis (LSS) and herniated disks (HD) who were referred to a hospital-based pain clinic for epidural steroid injections (ESI). The pain was assessed with using a visual analog scale at baseline, two weeks after the first ESI and two weeks after the third ESI. RESULTS: Eighty patients were enrolled, and all of them provided pain ratings before and after the injections. The LSS patients seemed to improve less than did the HD patients. The results showed no significant differences in the triamcinolone dosage and the frequency of injections for determining the efficacy of ESI. CONCLUSIONS: The LSS patients tended to have a less effective respond to ESIs than did the HD patients. The unsatisfactory response to ESI by the LSS patients underscores the need for randomized controlled trials of performing ESI in this population.
Humans ; Intervertebral Disc Displacement* ; Low Back Pain ; Pain Clinics ; Prospective Studies ; Spinal Stenosis* ; Triamcinolone ; Visual Analog Scale

Lingual nerve palsy is a rare multi-etiological disease.Almost all devices used for airway manipulation can cause this complication, including laryngoscopes, laryngeal masks, cuffed oropharyngeal airways, tongue retractors, and suspension laryngoscopes.We report a case of transient lingual nerve palsy after general anesthesia, using orotracheal intubation, for surgery of a humerus fracture in the prone position.
Anesthesia, General ; Humerus ; Hypesthesia ; Intubation ; Laryngeal Masks ; Laryngoscopes ; Lingual Nerve ; Paralysis ; Tongue

STUDY DESIGN: A literature review on the radiologic findings of pelvic parameters for treatment of spinal deformity OBJECTIVES: This review examines sagittal spine alignment, pelvic parameters, and methods for assessing alignment, and examines the relationships among all of these parameters to understand spinal deformity. SUMMARY OF LITERATURE REVIEW: Understanding the main pelvic and sagittal spinal parameters and recognizing their correlation is imperative in the diagnosis and treatment of various spinal disorders. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Review of the literature. RESULTS: As spinal and pelvic parameters tend to have a strong correlation, it is essential to measure not only spinal parameters but also pelvic parameters in analyzing sagittal balance. Degenerative changes have the potential to greatly disrupt the normal curvature of the spine, leading to sagittal malalignment. Analysis of sagittal balance is crucial to optimizing the management of spinal diseases. Improvement in surgical outcomes may be achieved through better understanding of radiographic spino-pelvic parameters and their association with deformity. CONCLUSIONS: Understanding spinal and pelvic parameters raises awareness of the relationship among alignment and balance, the soft tissue envelope, and compensatory mechanisms, which will, in turn, provide a more comprehensive understanding of the nature of spinal deformity and the modalities with which it is treated.
Congenital Abnormalities ; Diagnosis ; Spinal Diseases ; Spine

No Abstract Available.
Acanthoma*

BACKGROUNDS: With the recent elucidation of genetic basis of Rh blood group, it is now available the molecular genotyping methods for Rh blood typing. These can be used when serological typing is difficult. This study was conducted to investigate the usefulness of Rh genotyping method for Koreans. METHODS: Genotyping for Rh C/c and E/e was performed in peripheral blood DNA samples from 34 blood donors by polymerase chain reaction using sequence-specific primers (PCR-SSP). The PCR determined genotypes were compared with serologically determined phenotypes. RESULTS: The Rh C/c and E/e genotyping results of 34 blood donors were full concordance with the results of their serologic phenotyping. CONCLUSIONS: Rh genotyping method on the basis of Rh genetic model can be applied to Koreans. This genotyping method would be useful tool in prenatal Rh typing of fetus at risk of hemolytic disease and when serotyping is not available for example massive transfusion.
Blood Donors ; Blood Grouping and Crossmatching ; DNA ; Fetus ; Genotype ; Humans ; Models, Genetic ; Phenotype ; Polymerase Chain Reaction* ; Serotyping

BACKGROUND: Seroincidence of hepatitis B virus (HBV) among Korean blood donors has not been reported. This study was conducted to calculate the seroincidence of HBV among blood donors and to estimate the risk of post-transfusion hepatitis B by donated blood in window period of infection. METHODS: HBV seroincidence was calculated among repeat-donors who had donated from Nov. 1994 through Dec. 1996. To calculate the person-years, the database of the Korean National Red Cross was used in which results for HBsAg enzyme immunoassay were filed up. The observed incidence was adjusted by interdonation interval of incident cases, who were defined as donors showing seroconversion. The risk of post-transfusion hepatitis B by donated bloods in window period of infection was estimated. RESULTS: HBV seroincidence was estimated to be 180.85/100,000 person-years. This was adjusted as 602.83/100,000 person-years by considering interdonation intervals. The risk of post-transfusion hepatitis B was estimated to be 974 units per one million of whole blood units due to be in window period of infection. CONCLUSION: The estimated seroincidence of HBV among Korean blood donors and thereby the risk of HBV transmission by donated bloods in window period of infection was about 50 to 60 times higher than those of Japan and United States of America.
Americas ; Blood Donors* ; Hepatitis B Surface Antigens ; Hepatitis B virus* ; Hepatitis B* ; Hepatitis* ; Humans ; Immunoenzyme Techniques ; Incidence ; Japan ; Red Cross ; Tissue Donors ; United States

STUDY DESIGN: Literature review. OBJECTIVE: Ultrasound-guided injections are a common clinical treatment for lower lumbosacral pain that are usually performed before surgical treatment if conservative treatment fails. The aim of this article was to review ultrasound-guided injections in the lumbar and sacral spine. SUMMARY OF LITERATURE REVIEW: Ultrasound-guided injections, unlike conventional interventions using computed tomography or C-arm fluoroscopy, can be performed under simultaneous observation of muscles, ligaments, vessels, and nerves. Additionally, they have no radiation exposure and do not require a large space for the installation of equipment, so they are increasingly selected as an alternative method. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We searched for and reviewed studies related to the use of ultrasound-guided injections in the lumbar and sacral spine. RESULTS: In order to perform accurate ultrasound-guided injections, it is necessary to understand the patient's posture during the intervention, the relevant anatomy, and normal and abnormal ultrasonographic findings. Facet joint intra-articular injections, medial branch block, epidural block, selective nerve root block, and sacroiliac joint injections can be effectively performed under ultrasound guidance. CONCLUSIONS: Ultrasound-guided injections in the lumbar and sacral spine are an efficient method for treating lumbosacral pain.
Fluoroscopy ; Injections, Intra-Articular ; Ligaments ; Methods ; Muscles ; Posture ; Radiation Exposure ; Sacroiliac Joint ; Spine ; Ultrasonography ; Zygapophyseal Joint