o evaluate the seroprevalence of viral hepatitis marker among Korean healthy voluntary blood donors, the positive rates of both serum HBsAg and anti-HCV were analyzed. HBsAg testing was performed in 9,561,768 donors from January 1986 to June 1994 and anti-HCV testing was performed in 4,407,933 donors from May 1991 to June 1994. Positive rates of HBsAg were 3.76% to 6.87% per year and anti-HCV were 0.37% to 0.58% per year. The sex distribution of positive HBsAg and anti-HCV showed higher in male that in female. The age distribution of positive HBsAg was higher in 3th decade and anti-HCV was in 5th decade. The positive prevalence rate of HBsAg and anti-HCV showed highter above the serum ALT 45 IU. The positive rate of HBsAg was higher in group voluntary donors and anti-HCV in various other type of voluntary blood donors. In generally, the positive prevalence rate of HBsAg and anti-HCV showing however decreasing number in every year.
Age Distribution ; Blood Donors* ; Female ; Hepatitis ; Hepatitis B Surface Antigens* ; Humans ; Male ; Prevalence* ; Seroepidemiologic Studies ; Sex Distribution ; Tissue Donors

Screening test of Human Immunodeficiency Virus(HIV) infection was introduced on Korean Blood Donor Test Program in July 1987, and the test results between July 1987 and December 1990 were reported on the Korean Journal of Blood Transfusion on May 1992. Moreover, we assessed anti-HIV ELISA screening test result of 3,905,986 blood donors donated at Korean Red Cross Blood Centers between January 1991 and December 1993. The seropositivity of anti-HIV ELISA screening test was 0.26% in 1991, 0.30% in 1992 and 0.18% in 1993.0.15% of all donors in 1991 was reactive repeatedly, and 0.15% in 1992 and 0.08% in 1993. The prevalence of HIV infected donors confirmed by Western Blot Assay was 0.0003% in 1991, 0.0015% in 1992, and 0.0009% in 1993. The sero-positivities of anti-HIV screening tests with AIDSDIA reagent and HIVIRO reagent were 0.32% and 0.17% and the difference was significantly(p<0.05). The sero-positivities of ELISA screening and Western Blot. Assay detecting anti-HIV were lower in soldier group than in non-soldier donor group (p< 0.05).
Blood Donors* ; Blood Transfusion ; Blotting, Western ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; HIV* ; Humans ; Korea* ; Mass Screening ; Military Personnel ; Prevalence* ; Red Cross ; Tissue Donors

BACKGROUND: Benzoic acid contained in some food can hinder the biological monitoring of hippuric acid in urine, which is frequently used as an exposure index of toluene and xylene. METHOD: 20 male examinees who are not exposed to organic solvents in their jobs were given a bottle of drink containing benzoic acid(70 mg/dl) and took it. Urine samples were taken from every person just before, in 1.5 hrs after, and in 3 hrs after taking the drink. Hippuric acid in urine was analyzed with improved Ogata and Taguchi method and creatinine with Jaffe method. RESULT: Mean hippuric acid concentrations in urine just before, in 1.5 hrs after, and in 3 hrs after taking the drink were 0.59+/-0.21 g/g creatinine, 2.75+/-0.98 g/g creatinine, 1.04+/-0.58 g/g creatinine, respectively. And, each group had statistically significant differences (p<0.01). There were no statistically significant differences between two groups categorized by age, smoking, and drinking. CONCLUSION: From the results, we suggest that when hippuric acid concentration in urine is used as a exposure index of toluene, it should be surveyed whether the food containing benzoic acid was taken or not.
Benzoic Acid* ; Creatinine ; Drinking ; Environmental Monitoring ; Humans ; Male ; Smoke ; Smoking ; Solvents ; Toluene ; Xylenes

An anatomical reduction and maintainance of articular fracture is on of the basic principles In Orthopedic Surgery if good function is to ensue, especially in a major welght bearing joint such as hip knee ankle. In displaced articular fractures, excellent results can be achieved mainly by an open anatomical reduction and firm internal fixation. We performed an open reduction and internal flxation with plates and screws in a patient with the severely comminuted acetabular fracture, and a satisfactory result is obtained.
Acetabulum ; Ankle ; Hip ; Humans ; Joints ; Knee ; Orthopedics

We investigated whether there is differences in serum level of carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) between patients with colon and rectal cancer. Preoperative serum levels of CEA was determined in 65 patients with colon cancer and in 88 patients with rectal cancer. Cut-off value recommended by manufacturers is 5 ng/ml for CEA. At the recommended cut-off levels for CEA, overall sensitivity of CEA was 43.1 percent for colon and 42.0 percent for rectal cancer. In colon cancer CEA was elevated in 38.4, 46.2, 60 percent of patients with Dukes Stages B, C, and D, respectively. In rectal cancer CEA was elevated in 12.5, 31.6, 44.8, 84.6 percent of patients with Dukes Stages A, B, C, and D, respectively. In Stages B, and C, sensitivity of CEA was higher in colon than in rectal cancer, but the difference was not significant. In Stages D, sensitivity of CEA was higher in rectal cancer than in colon cancer, but the difference was not significant. In overall stages sensitivity of CEA was higher in colon than in rectal cancer, but the difference was not significant. The difference was not significant either in overall or in different stages of colon and rectal cancer.
Carcinoembryonic Antigen ; Colon* ; Colonic Neoplasms ; Humans ; Rectal Neoplasms*

BACKGROUND: Reperfusion of ischemic myocardium is clinically encountered during thrombolytic therapy of acute myocardial infarction, percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty(PTCA), and coronary artery bypass graft(CABG). Reperfusion results in endothelial dysfunction characterized by a reduced release of endothelium-derived relaxing factor(EDRF) in animal studies. Studies with experimental animals have emphasized the role of oxygen free radicals and lipid peroxidation in pathophysiology of reperfusion injury and myocardial stunning. The object of this study is to determine whether endothelial dysfunction was developed after open heart surgery and to evaluated the role of oxygen free radical and lipid peroxidation in reperfusion injury. METHODS: The study group was comprised 13 patients who underwent open heart surgery(male/female : 2/11, mean age : 43+/-4 year, Atrial septal defect in 4, Ventricular septal defect in 1, Mitral regurgitation in 2, Tetralogy of Fallot in 1, and Aortic stenosis and Regurgitation with Mitral stenosis in 5 patients). The endothelial function was evaluated with the vasomotor response to acetylcholine and nitroglycerin by change of arterial diameter during the continous infusion of acetylcholin, from 10(-9) to 10(-6) molar concentration to the coronary artery and intracoronary injection of 200microg nitroglycerin after acetylcholine infusion. The infusion study was performed before and 10 days after surgery. For analysis of the role of oxygen free radical and lipid peroxidation in reperfusion injury, blood samples for malondialdehyde and neutrophil respiratory burst test(hydrogen peroxide amount of neutrophils) were obtained in pre-declamping of aorta and 5 min, 10 min, and 20 min after declamping of aorta from coronary sinus. RESULTS: 1) The vasoconstrictor response to acetylcholine, 10(-9) to 10(-6)M concentration, at proximal and distal left anterior descending coronary artery, were increased significantly in post-operation infusion study but there was no singnificant difference in vasodilator response to nitroglycerin. 2) The mean absorbance value of malondialdehyde(MDA) in pre-declamping and 5min, 10min, and 20min after reperfusion were 96+/-12, 73+/-12, 89+/-11 and 77+/-12, respectively. There was no significant difference in plasma MDA level and hydrogen peroxide amount of neutrophils after reperfusion(aortic declamping). CONCLUSION: These data suggest that endothelium dependent vascular relaxation is impaired in patients with open heart surgery and post-ischemic reperfusion injury may be responsible for the abnormal response. But we did not determine the role of lipid peroxidation and oxygen free radical in reperfusion injury.
Acetylcholine ; Animals ; Aorta ; Aortic Valve Stenosis ; Coronary Artery Bypass ; Coronary Sinus ; Coronary Vessels ; Endothelium ; Free Radicals ; Heart Septal Defects, Atrial ; Heart Septal Defects, Ventricular ; Heart* ; Humans ; Hydrogen Peroxide ; Lipid Peroxidation* ; Malondialdehyde ; Mitral Valve Insufficiency ; Mitral Valve Stenosis ; Molar ; Myocardial Infarction ; Myocardial Stunning ; Myocardium ; Neutrophils ; Nitroglycerin ; Oxygen* ; Plasma ; Relaxation ; Reperfusion Injury* ; Reperfusion* ; Respiratory Burst ; Tetralogy of Fallot ; Thoracic Surgery* ; Thrombolytic Therapy

BACKGROUND: Reperfusion of ischemic myocardium is clinically encountered during thrombolytic therapy of acute myocardial infarction, percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty(PTCA), and coronary artery bypass graft(CABG). Reperfusion results in endothelial dysfunction characterized by a reduced release of endothelium-derived relaxing factor(EDRF) in animal studies. Studies with experimental animals have emphasized the role of oxygen free radicals and lipid peroxidation in pathophysiology of reperfusion injury and myocardial stunning. The object of this study is to determine whether endothelial dysfunction was developed after open heart surgery and to evaluated the role of oxygen free radical and lipid peroxidation in reperfusion injury. METHODS: The study group was comprised 13 patients who underwent open heart surgery(male/female : 2/11, mean age : 43+/-4 year, Atrial septal defect in 4, Ventricular septal defect in 1, Mitral regurgitation in 2, Tetralogy of Fallot in 1, and Aortic stenosis and Regurgitation with Mitral stenosis in 5 patients). The endothelial function was evaluated with the vasomotor response to acetylcholine and nitroglycerin by change of arterial diameter during the continous infusion of acetylcholin, from 10(-9) to 10(-6) molar concentration to the coronary artery and intracoronary injection of 200microg nitroglycerin after acetylcholine infusion. The infusion study was performed before and 10 days after surgery. For analysis of the role of oxygen free radical and lipid peroxidation in reperfusion injury, blood samples for malondialdehyde and neutrophil respiratory burst test(hydrogen peroxide amount of neutrophils) were obtained in pre-declamping of aorta and 5 min, 10 min, and 20 min after declamping of aorta from coronary sinus. RESULTS: 1) The vasoconstrictor response to acetylcholine, 10(-9) to 10(-6)M concentration, at proximal and distal left anterior descending coronary artery, were increased significantly in post-operation infusion study but there was no singnificant difference in vasodilator response to nitroglycerin. 2) The mean absorbance value of malondialdehyde(MDA) in pre-declamping and 5min, 10min, and 20min after reperfusion were 96+/-12, 73+/-12, 89+/-11 and 77+/-12, respectively. There was no significant difference in plasma MDA level and hydrogen peroxide amount of neutrophils after reperfusion(aortic declamping). CONCLUSION: These data suggest that endothelium dependent vascular relaxation is impaired in patients with open heart surgery and post-ischemic reperfusion injury may be responsible for the abnormal response. But we did not determine the role of lipid peroxidation and oxygen free radical in reperfusion injury.
Acetylcholine ; Animals ; Aorta ; Aortic Valve Stenosis ; Coronary Artery Bypass ; Coronary Sinus ; Coronary Vessels ; Endothelium ; Free Radicals ; Heart Septal Defects, Atrial ; Heart Septal Defects, Ventricular ; Heart* ; Humans ; Hydrogen Peroxide ; Lipid Peroxidation* ; Malondialdehyde ; Mitral Valve Insufficiency ; Mitral Valve Stenosis ; Molar ; Myocardial Infarction ; Myocardial Stunning ; Myocardium ; Neutrophils ; Nitroglycerin ; Oxygen* ; Plasma ; Relaxation ; Reperfusion Injury* ; Reperfusion* ; Respiratory Burst ; Tetralogy of Fallot ; Thoracic Surgery* ; Thrombolytic Therapy

The coronary arteriovenous fistula (CAVF) is a rare congenital anomaly but constitutes the most common hemodynamically significant coronary artery anomaly. Transcatheter embolization is as an effective alternative to surgery even though procedure may be complicated by migration of the coil into peripheral vessels or pulmonary arteries. To our knowledge, the association of CAVF with Turner syndrome was not reported. We report a case of successful coil embolization of CAVF using a complex, helical-fibered platinum coil in patient with Turner phenotype with 46,XX.
Arteriovenous Fistula* ; Coronary Vessels ; Embolization, Therapeutic* ; Humans ; Phenotype* ; Platinum ; Pulmonary Artery ; Turner Syndrome

There have been many reports of angiographic extravasation since the first description by Jamieson in 1952. Preoperative differential diagnosis between epidural and subdural post-traumatic blood collections is not always possible on the basis of cerebral angiographic signs alone, but many authors considered that extravasation of the contrast medium from a ruptured meningeal vessel is commonly considered as a definitive angiographic sign of epidural hematoma. Some authors feel that an extravasation of contrast medium from rupture of the middle meningeal artery does not necessarily indicate an epidural hematoma since it may also be formed rarely in cases of subdural or intracerebral blood collections. The authors report 6 cases of angiographic extravasation in head injury patient, 3 epidural hematoma, 2 subdural hematoma and one intracerebral hematoma.
Craniocerebral Trauma ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Hematoma ; Hematoma, Subdural ; Humans ; Meningeal Arteries ; Rupture

PURPOSE: The arterial switch operation (ASO) has become the preferred procedure for the surgical management of transposition of the great arteries (TGA). We conducted a retrospective evaluation of our experience in 30 patients seen from January 2003 to July 2008, in order to determine outcomes and related risk factors after the arterial switch operation. METHODS: Patients charts, surgical reports, and echocardiograms were retrospectively reviewed. And they were analyzed in 2 different groups: complex (n=16) versus simple TGAs (n=14). Complex TGAs are TGAs with VSD or the Taussig-Bing anomaly with or without aortic arch anomalies. Simple TGAs are defined as TGAs with intact ventricular septum having no such anomalies. Median follow-up time was 44 months (3-63 months). RESULTS: Hospital mortality was 0%. However, follow-up echocardiographies revealed potential complications, including stenosis of the branch pulmonary arteries, neo-aortic and/or neo-pulmonary valvar regurgitation, and right or left ventricular outflow tract obstructions. Great arterial relationship (side-by-side), association of aortic arch anomalies, and the existence of the Taussig-Bing anomaly were assessed as significant risk factors of neo-aortic and/or neo-pulmonary valvar regurgitation in this series. On the other hand, right or left ventricular outflow tract obstructions were more frequently found in patients demonstrating VSD, side-by-side positioned great arteries, or associated coronary anomalies. CONCLUSION: The ASO is the procedure of choice in the treatment of TGA. However, special attention and follow-ups are needed to detect residual problems like the stenosis of the branch pulmonary arteries, neo-aortic and/or neo-pulmonary valvar regurgitation, as well as ventricular outflow tract obstructions.
Aorta, Thoracic ; Arteries ; Constriction, Pathologic ; Double Outlet Right Ventricle ; Follow-Up Studies ; Hand ; Hospital Mortality ; Humans ; Postoperative Complications ; Pulmonary Artery ; Retrospective Studies ; Risk Factors ; Transposition of Great Vessels ; Ventricular Septum