We analyzed the predonation tests and the characteristics of plateletpheresis of the candidates and donors during 18 month at Korea University Guro Hospital from 1993 to 1995. Among the 810 candidates tested for predonation tests, 115(14.2%) candidates were deferred due to incompatible factors. The most common incompatible factor is elevated alanine aminotransferase(4.6%, ALT > 64 Iu) followed by incompatible ABO discrepancy (4.1%), positive HBsAg(3.3%), low platelet count(2.2%). 43.1 percent of the platelet donation candidates were processed plateletpheresis. 43(18%) of prospectively reviewed 240 plateletpheresis donors were relatives of the recipients. The percent of redonation was only 14% and its mean interval was 11.4 days. The result showed the plateletpheresis candidates have the relatively safety compared to that of the directed donation, social support of plateletpheresis donation program is strongly needed because of low redonation rate and characteristics of plateletpheresis donation.
Alanine ; Blood Platelets ; Directed Tissue Donation ; Fibrinogen ; Humans ; Korea ; Plateletpheresis* ; Prospective Studies ; Tissue Donors*

Hospital transfusion service should be directed toward the optimization of transfusion therapy, but in practice the hospital transfusions, especially of fresh frozen plasma(FFP), were practiced inappropriately against the real need. So we evaluated the usage pattern of fresh frozen plasma in the Capital Armed Forces General Hostal during the period of January through December in 1994. And then, from 1995, after education of the clinician upon the basis of the survey in 1994, we regulated the use of FFP, by adapting the transfusion control program. We compared the result of 1995 to those of 1994, including the total used FFP number, the usage pattem in various disease and the combined use with other blood components. The results were as follow. 1. About 50% of total FFP was used inappropriately at 1994, and the main misuse was done to the patients who were suffering from renal disease and bum. About 14% of FFP usage combined with the packed RBCs was also seemed to be inappropriate in 1994. 2. In 1995, with the transfusion control program, there was 72% fall in the total hospital's usage of FFP and the misused conditions such as bum and nephrotic syndrome were virtually corrected. We concluded that the education, guideline and regulation by the director of the transfusion service could remarkably correct the inappropriate use of FFP without any special costs.
Arm ; Education ; Humans ; Nephrotic Syndrome ; Plasma*

A total 139 patients with Tetralogy of Fallot underwent total correction in the Department of Thoracic Surgery, Seoul university Hospital during 5 year-period from January 1974 to December 1978, with overall mortality of 16.5 percent. Operative mortality varied according to severity of the lesion, age of the patients, nature of the previous surgical treatment and presence or absence of an outflow tract across the pulmonic valve ring. Twenty-two patients died in the early postoperative period, one in the postoperative 15 th day and 116 patients were discharged from the hospital alive. There were 90 male patients and 49 female patients with male preponderance. And the age of the patients varied from 2.8 years to 31 years with average of 11.1 years. A patch of the right ventricular outflow tract and pulmonic annulus was required to relieve pulmonic stenosis in 104 patients. There were 20 deaths in group(19.2%) as compared to 3 deaths in the group of 35 patients who were treated without a patch. The electrocardiogram showed right ventricular hypertrophy in 101 cyanotic patients. The interventricular conduction was normal in 112 patients preoperatively. It was normal postoperatively in 22 among 112 patients in these group who were survived. Complete RBBB appeared at operation in 70 patients and 20 patients developed incomplete RBBB. Major causes of death were complete A-V block, Congestive Heart Failure and Bleeding in order.
Cause of Death ; Electrocardiography ; Female ; Heart Failure ; Hemorrhage ; Humans ; Hypertrophy, Right Ventricular ; Male ; Mortality ; Postoperative Period ; Pulmonary Valve Stenosis ; Seoul ; Tetralogy of Fallot* ; Thoracic Surgery

A total 139 patients with Tetralogy of Fallot underwent total correction in the Department of Thoracic Surgery, Seoul university Hospital during 5 year-period from January 1974 to December 1978, with overall mortality of 16.5 percent. Operative mortality varied according to severity of the lesion, age of the patients, nature of the previous surgical treatment and presence or absence of an outflow tract across the pulmonic valve ring. Twenty-two patients died in the early postoperative period, one in the postoperative 15 th day and 116 patients were discharged from the hospital alive. There were 90 male patients and 49 female patients with male preponderance. And the age of the patients varied from 2.8 years to 31 years with average of 11.1 years. A patch of the right ventricular outflow tract and pulmonic annulus was required to relieve pulmonic stenosis in 104 patients. There were 20 deaths in group(19.2%) as compared to 3 deaths in the group of 35 patients who were treated without a patch. The electrocardiogram showed right ventricular hypertrophy in 101 cyanotic patients. The interventricular conduction was normal in 112 patients preoperatively. It was normal postoperatively in 22 among 112 patients in these group who were survived. Complete RBBB appeared at operation in 70 patients and 20 patients developed incomplete RBBB. Major causes of death were complete A-V block, Congestive Heart Failure and Bleeding in order.
Cause of Death ; Electrocardiography ; Female ; Heart Failure ; Hemorrhage ; Humans ; Hypertrophy, Right Ventricular ; Male ; Mortality ; Postoperative Period ; Pulmonary Valve Stenosis ; Seoul ; Tetralogy of Fallot* ; Thoracic Surgery

No abstract available.
Red-Cell Aplasia, Pure*

For the evaluation of the 51Cr labelled in-vivo crossmatching test as a transfusion safety test, We examined the viability of the thransfused autologous and heterologous 51Cr labelled red cell at 1 hour and 24 hour in 6 normal volunteers and 4 patients whose RBC had been stored in CPDA-1 media from 1 day to 30 day. In both autologous transfusion control group(n=3) and allogeneic transfusion control group(n=3), the in-vivo RBC survival rate were more than 70% at 1 hour and 24 hour compared to that of basal 3 minute result(percent counted as 100%), and the eluted free radioisotope activity was less than 5% compared to that of whole blood. The crossmatch incompatible patient group also satisfied the safe transfusion criteria. The mean labelling efficiency which was tested in three patients was more than 95% and also satisfactory to reliable test. We concluded that in-vivo crossmatching test using 51Cr radioisotope would give us valuable informations about transfusion safety, especially in serologically incompatible patients.
Healthy Volunteers ; Humans ; Survival Rate

BACKGROUND: More than 200 million people suffer from malaria worldwide. In Korea this infectious disease had been on a decreasing trend since 1930s and was considered to be eradicated from 1985. However, since 1993 when a case of malaria was reported, its incidence is progressively increased. Recent efforts have been focused on the development of vaccine against the infective sporozoite stage of Plasmodium vivax. It has been found that sporozoites are complicated with genetic variation within the circumsporozoite gene and phenotypic heterogeneity in the protein it encodes. So, we investigated the distribution of circumsporozoite gene of Plasmodium vivax in Korea. METHODS: Polymerase chain reactions (PCR) were performed on samples confirmed with microscopic examination for P. vivax and negative samples with clinical and microscopic examination. The amplified products were analyzed by dot hybridization with oligonucleotide probes VK210 and VK247 which are respectively complementary to the predominant and variant strains of the circumsporozoite gene of P. vivax. RESULTS: The incidence of isolation in VK210 and VK247 strains were 96.3%, respectively and individuals who were infected with both strains were 92.7%. Compared to the microscopic examination, the results of PCR showed 82% in sensitivity, 100% in specificity. CONCLUSIONS: The present study suggests that a single-epitope vaccine based on either one circumsporozoite domain is unlikely to be protective because both VK210 and VK247 strains of P. vivax were found widely in Korea. The PCR method appears not to be feasible as a screening, but suitable as a confirmatory test for the identification of Plasmodium species.
Communicable Diseases ; Genetic Variation ; Genotype* ; Incidence ; Korea* ; Malaria ; Mass Screening ; Oligonucleotide Probes ; Plasmodium vivax* ; Plasmodium* ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Population Characteristics ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Sporozoites

BACKGROUND: There has been rapid increase in demand for fresh frozen plasma and its derivatives in Korea. It may be due to active therapy by the clinicians especially hematologic and coagulopathy areas. So, now, the plasma is lack of supply of full demand. So, We studied the concurrent collection procedure of plasma during a plateletpheresis for the purpose of plasma supply. METHODS: Over three month period from January 1996 to March 1996, we introduced a program of concurrent collection of plasma (CCP) during plateletpheresis at Korea University Guro Hospital, in which the additional plasma are collected for preparation of FFP. Donors were enrolled in our 62 volunteer plateletpheresis. The 31 volunteers (group I) were done plateletphersis only, another volunteers (group II) were done CCP. We compared the platelet concentrate volume, to the characteristics of donor's condition and the adverse reaction during plateletpheresis between two groups. RESULTS: Before the plateletpheresis, there were no differences in the age, weight, height, pre-platelet count between the two groups. Also there were no adverse reactions through the procedure, such as perioral paresthesia, hypotension, hyperventilataion, chills, nausea and vomiting. The mean platelet count per unit did not show significant differences between two groups. In group 1, the mean platelet concentrate volume was 300 mL, yield was 4.5 x 1011 and group II, the volume was 315 mL, the yield was 5.1 x 1011 and the fresh plasma volume was 223 mL. CONCLUSION: We have experienced the concurrent collection procedure of plasma during a plateletpheresis from 31 volunteers without main adverse reactions.
Blood Platelets ; Chills ; Humans ; Hypotension ; Korea ; Nausea ; Paresthesia ; Plasma ; Plasma Volume ; Platelet Count ; Plateletpheresis ; Tissue Donors ; Volunteers ; Vomiting

OBJECTIVE: In Korea, control activities against the endemic malaria due to Plasmodium vivax had been done in 1960s. It is now widely accepted in Republic of Korea that indigenous malaria stopped its endemicity in the mid-1970s. But a vivax malaria case without history of being abroad was recognized in 1993. In addition to this case, 20 cases of indigenous malaria were detected in 1994. And they were progressively increased to about 80 cases in 19%. We report these recently developed cases. METHODS: In a 7-month period between June and December 1995, high fever patient were examined. Patients having a narcotic drug injection or those who had blood transfusion were excluded. Laboratory studies including blood cell count, peripheral blood smear and abdominal sonogaphy were taken. RESULTS: Over 3-month period from July through September 19%, 26 cases of new indigenous malaria were diagnosed. In a blood smear, plasmodium vivax was diagnosed. CONCLUSION: The twentysix new indigenous malaria cases occured. Because all the detected patients had no history of visiting endemic countries, they were not imported cases. Vivax malaria in the present patients can be contracted by infected mosquitos which came across the militarized zone (DMZ). Officially speaking, DMZ is a 4 km wide between the north and south borders, Hut the width is much narrower in many parts. However, we do not have any information on the malaria situation in the north Korea. In order to evaluate a significance of the recent indigenous malario occurrence, a surveillance system should be operated in these areas.
Blood Cell Count ; Blood Transfusion ; Culicidae ; Democratic People's Republic of Korea ; Fever ; Humans ; Korea ; Malaria* ; Malaria, Vivax ; Plasmodium vivax ; Republic of Korea

The Duffy antigen was discovered in 1950, in a multiply transfused hemophiliac. Important progress has since been made in understanding the Duffy blood group system and its complexity. The Duffy blood group antigen (gp-Fy) is present primarily in erythrocytes, and also in endothelial cells of capillary and postcapillary venules, Purkinje cells of cerebellum, kidney, and pulmonary alveoli. The gp-Fy serves not only as a blood group antigen, but also as a receptor for chemokines, and as a receptor for Plasmodium vivax malaria parasites. The Duffy antigen is encoded by the DARC gene, its approved name is Duffy blood group chemokine receptor. Investigation of the DARC gene can help us in understanding the relationship of infectious disease to race or population. In addition, the allelic frequency of DARC varies according to the geographic area, which appears to reflect the history that mankind had adapted to environments and diseases, emigrating. As a result, further study of Duffy antigens can provide us with an integral and sound understanding of the human race.
Blood Group Antigens ; Capillaries ; Cerebellum ; Chemokines ; Communicable Diseases ; Continental Population Groups ; Duffy Blood-Group System ; Endothelial Cells ; Erythrocytes ; Humans ; Kidney ; Malaria, Vivax ; Parasites ; Plasmodium vivax ; Pulmonary Alveoli ; Purkinje Cells ; Venules