BACKGROUND: Korean Blood Safety Commission has implemented external proficiency testing (PT) for blood grouping test (BGT) to help improve the quality of blood centers since 2011. We analyzed the results of 2014 PT for BGT to help in planning the future PT for BGT and to improve the quality of blood centers. METHODS: Whole blood survey samples including three panels for ABO grouping and three panels for D typing were sent to 69 institutes. Evaluation criteria for BGT were as follows: 'Good' for answers matched with intended results, 'Acceptable' for correct answers other than that of 'Good', 'Unacceptable' for answers other than those of 'Good+acceptable' as correct answers; and 'Not graded' for answers in case of different answers in the two standard laboratories. RESULTS: All of the answer rates of 'Good' for D typing were 100%. However, the answer rates of 'Good' for cell typing, serum typing and interpretation for 14-ABO-2 samples with discrepant result between cell typing and serum typing were 39.1%, 29%, and 47.8%, respectively. Those of 'Unacceptable' for cell typing and interpretation for 14-ABO-2 samples were 2.8% and 1.4%. CONCLUSION: Because the answer rates of ABO grouping for samples with discrepant result between cell typing and serum typing were not high, education for this case is needed. Diversity of materials for PT would be necessary for more accurate evaluation of the performance of BGT in blood centers.
Academies and Institutes ; Blood Grouping and Crossmatching ; Blood Safety ; Education

PURPOSE: Immediate implantation presents challenges regarding site healing, osseointegration, and obtaining complete soft-tissue coverage of the extraction socket, especially in the posterior area. This last issue is addressed herein using the double-membrane (collagen membrane+high-density polytetrafluoroethylene [dPTFE] membrane) technique in two clinical cases of posterior immediate implant placement. METHODS: An implant was placed immediately after atraumatically extracting the maxillary posterior tooth. The gap between the coronal portion of the fixture and the adjacent bony walls was filled with allograft material. In addition, a collagen membrane (lower) and dPTFE membrane (upper) were placed in a layer-by-layer manner to enable the closure of the extraction socket without a primary flap closure, thus facilitating the preservation of keratinized mucosa. The upper dPTFE membrane was left exposed for 4 weeks, after which the membrane was gently removed using forceps without flap elevation. RESULTS: There was considerable plaque deposition on the outer surface of the dPTFE membrane but not on the inner surface. Moreover, scanning electron microscopy of the removed membrane revealed only a small amount of bacteria on the inner surface of the membrane. The peri-implant tissue was favorable both clinically and radiographically after a conventional dental-implant healing period. CONCLUSIONS: Secondary closure of the extraction socket and immediate guided bone regeneration using the double-membrane technique may produce a good clinical outcome after immediate placement of a dental implant in the posterior area.
Bacteria ; Bone Regeneration ; Collagen ; Dental Implantation ; Dental Implants ; Keratins ; Membranes ; Microscopy, Electron, Scanning ; Mucous Membrane ; Osseointegration ; Polytetrafluoroethylene ; Surgical Instruments ; Tooth ; Tooth Socket ; Transplantation, Homologous

Acute pulmonary thromboembolism (PTE) is life-threatening and difficult to diagnose. However, echocardiography can help diagnose and monitor PTE by visualizing the thrombus and assessing hemodynamic changes. Here we report the usefulness of transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) in a diagnosis of maternal PTE during cesarean delivery by showing a thromboembolus in pulmonary artery. In addition, TEE also prompted effective cardiopulmonary resuscitation for recurrent hemodynamic collapse due to a massive PTE, as well as rapid introduction of an extracorporeal membrane oxygenator to treat maternal hypoxia.
Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation ; Echocardiography ; Echocardiography, Transesophageal ; Hemodynamics ; Organothiophosphorus Compounds ; Oxygenators, Membrane ; Pulmonary Artery ; Pulmonary Embolism ; Thrombosis

PURPOSE: Estrogens control the development and cell proliferation of various tissues including the normal mammary epithelial cells, where they induce the expression of the immediate and delayed hormone-responsive genes. The proliferative effects of estrogen have been attributed to its ability to increase the expression of the key cell cycle regulatory genes responsible for cell cycle progression. However, the regulation of cell proliferation is only one aspect of estrogen function. It has also been well documented that estrogen plays a critical role in the etiology and progression of human breast and gynecological cancers. This tumorigenic effect of estrogen might be associated with its anti- apoptotic activities such as of Bcl-2 induction. The aim of this study was to clarify the role of E2IG5, which is an estrogen-induced downstream effector molecule, in breast cancer cell lines. RESULTS: This study shows that E2IG5 is a pro-apoptotic protein that is localized to the mitochondrial membrane via two distinct transmembrane domains. When over-expressed, it induces a mitochondrial permeability transition with the resultant of release cytochrome c and caspase activation. However, three out of four breast cancer cell lines lost their estrogen dependence of E2IG5 expression, which suggests the possible involvement of E2IG5 in the development of breast cancer. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that breast cancer cells may loose their pro-apoptotic signals and selectively use the proliferative mechanism of estrogen, which drives the normal mammary epithelial cells to transform into cancer cells. Further studies using breast cancer tissues will be needed.
Breast Neoplasms* ; Breast* ; Cell Cycle ; Cell Line* ; Cell Proliferation ; Cytochromes c ; Epithelial Cells ; Estradiol ; Estrogens ; Genes, Regulator ; Humans ; Mitochondrial Membranes ; Permeability

Finite Element Analysis ; Models, Theoretical ; Tooth

No abstract available.

Interests in the microanatomy of the proximal segment of the internal carotid artery(ICA) have been increased due to the anatomical complexity of this region and the potential sites of the aneurysmal formation. In this study, microanatomical dissections were performed in 70 specimens obtained from 35 formalin-fixed human cadaveric heads to examine the superior hypophyseal arteries(SHAs), ophthalmic artery, and the carotid cave. In our study, 54(77%) carotid caves were presented in 70 specimens. Twenty-five(71%, 50 caves) cadavers harbored the carotid caves on both sides, 4(11%, 4 caves) cadavers only on the one side and the remaining 6(17%) didn't have the caval structure. Total of 162 SHAs which have showen to arise from the medial or posterior aspect of the ophthalmic(C6) segment of the ICA in all cases were identified: 108(67%) arose from the proximal half of the C6 segment and 54(33%) from the distal half. Interestingly, in 54 specimens which had the carotid caves, one to four SHAs arose from the part of the C6 segment within the cave in the 43(80%) specimens. Total number of the SHAs originated within the carotid cave were 51. Sixty-four(91%) of ophthalmic arteries have shown to arise just distal to the distal dural ring on C6 segment, whereas 4(6%) from the clinoid(C5) segment and in 2(3%) cases, the ophthalmic artery arose just at the insertion of the distal dural ring level. The authors describe the microanatomical relationships between the SHA and the carotid cave, and the origin of the SHA and the ophthalmic artery. We hope to get better knowledge of the vascular relationship and the possible mechanism of the SHA aneurysm.
Aneurysm ; Arteries* ; Cadaver ; Caves ; Head ; Hope ; Humans ; Ophthalmic Artery

BACKGROUND: Echocardiographic automatic boundary detection(ABD) is a new on-line technique which automatically outlines the left atrial endocardial border and instantly calculates the left atrial area and volume from two dimensional echocardiographic images. To determine if left atrial volume can be derived using the ABD method, 70 patients with various etiology of heart disease(mean age 51) underwent complete echocardiographic examination with both the ABD method and conventional two-dimensional echocardiographic measurement. METHODS: End-systolic left atrial volume was obtained on-line from the apical four chamber view using ABD(ABD LAVOL). Left atrial length was also measured from an apical view. Left atrial volume was calculated using ellipsoid model(2D LAVOL) and method of disc(MANUAL LAVOL) by two-dimensional echocardiography. RESULTS: The end-systolic left atrial volume by ellipsoid model, method of disc and ABD were 87+/-31ml, 57+/-25 and 60+/-28ml, respectively. I.inear regression analysis revealed that the ABD LAVOL is closely correlated with 2D LAVOL and MANUAL LAVOL(ABD LAVOL vs 2D LAVOL, SEE=22ml, r=0.65, p<0.001; ABD LAVOL vs MANUAL LAVOL, SEE=6ml, r=0.97, p<0.001). CONCLUSIONS: ABD echocar-diography is a new on-line technique which may be used to accurately calculate left atrial volume in patients with various heart diseases.
Echocardiography* ; Heart ; Heart Diseases ; Humans

We report three cases of patient with pleomorphic xanthoastrocytoma(PXA). PXA is a clinicopathologically distinct variant of cerebral astrocytoma which is a low-grade leptomeningeal glioma affecting under the age of 30 years. This tumor has a favorable prognosis, but histological and neuroradiological findings suggest malignant brain tumor. Occasionally these may be confused with malignant gliomas. Clinical features from our three patients were manifestation of increased intracranial pressure and all cases were under the age of 30 years and females. Two patients had superficial location in the right frontal and left temporal respectively, but remaining one(case 2) which was associated with arteriovenous malformation in the left frontal region was in the right lateral ventricle. The intraoperative histological evidence by frozen biopsy suggested glioblastoma or anaplastic astrocytoma in all cases which confirmed to be PXA by postoperative histological examination. Two cases which had been resected subtotally were followed by cranial irradiation without therapeutic efficacy. Optimal management of PXA is primary surgical resection to reduce recurrence of tumor and to secure long-term survival. Therefore, differentiation of PXA from malignant brain tumors and intraoperative diagnosis of PXA is imperative to treat PXA effectively.
Arteriovenous Malformations ; Astrocytoma ; Biopsy ; Brain Neoplasms ; Cranial Irradiation ; Diagnosis ; Female ; Glioblastoma ; Glioma ; Humans ; Intracranial Pressure ; Lateral Ventricles ; Prognosis ; Recurrence

BACKGROUND:Lumbar spine fractures treated conservatively or operatively may result in severe kyphotic deformity. Reliable operation plan should be made to prevent the development of delayed kyphosis in unstable lumbar spine fracture. STUDY DESIGN: Between September 1995 and March 1997, twelve cases with highly unstable lumbar spine fractures (7 according to'Load-sharing classification score') or fracture-dislocations were operated with combined retroperitoneal and posterior approach. The patients underwent anterior corpectomy, interbody fusion and short segment fixation with posterior transpedicular screws(1 level above and 1 level below). All patients were operated on the same day except one case. The patients were followed-up at least 12 months and mean follow-up period was 17.2 months after operation. The kyphotic angle was measured by Salter's method preoperative, immediate postoperative and at 12 months. RESULTS: There were 9 cases of burst fractures and 3 cases of fracture-dislocations. The mean kyphotic angle was 24degrees preoperatively, -5degrees postoperatively and -2degrees at 12 months follow-up. This means the patients regained normal lumbar lordosis after the operation and maintained on long term follow-up. There was no case of pseudoarthrosis or delayed kyphosis development during follow-up period. CONCLUSIONS: Highly unstable lumbar spine fracture with high load-sharing classification score could be treated to achieve normal lumbar lordosis immediate postoperatively and prevent kyphotic deformity on long-term follow-up evaluation with combined approach.
Animals ; Classification ; Congenital Abnormalities ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Kyphosis ; Lordosis ; Pseudarthrosis ; Spine*