BACKGROUND: To prevent the platelet refractoriness, repeated plateletpheresis is often required in HLA matched single-donors. Korean Transfusion Standard permits the repeated plateletpheresis of a single donor at 72-hour intervals. To evaluate this standard, hematological responses of donors were assessed after plateletpheresis by Haemonetics V50 (Haemonetics Co., USA). METHODS: The pre- and post-donated hematological indices of 22 healthy donors(17 males and 5 females) were evaluated. Single donated donors were 12 males and 4 females. Multiple donated donors were 5 males and one female. Post-donated platelet counts were measured immediately, 6 hours, 12 hours, 1 day, 3 days, 5 days, 7 days and 9 days after plateletpheresis. Platelet aggregation test, serum protein, PT, and aPTT were also examined before and after platelet collection. RESULTS: Only 9 (56.2%) of 16 single-donated donors and 4 (66.7%) of 6 multiple donated donors showed normal restoration up to 97% of platelet counts of pre-donation levels at the day 3. In 9 (75%) of 12 single donated males restoration of platelet count was observed within 3 days, but 3 (75%) of 4 single donated females showed restoration of platelet count within 5 days. Changes of other indices were not significantly different between the pre- and post-donations of platelet. CONCLUSIONS: Although no clinical complication was noted after plateletpheresis, these data suggested that Korean Transfusion Standard on plateletpheresis should be reconsidered.
Blood Platelets ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Platelet Aggregation ; Platelet Count ; Plateletpheresis* ; Tissue Donors*

The Measurement of CSF glucose and CSF glucose-to-blood glucose ratio is a very useful laboratory test for the differential diagnosis of meningitis. We have observed the change of blood glucose & CSF glucose-to-blood glucose ratio according to the time of blood sampling in 84 patients with aseptic meningitis who had been admitted to the department of pediatrics, Dong Kang hospital from May 1993 to June 1993. The results obtained were as follows: 1) The blood glucose level examined with blood sample drawn just before lumbar puncture and one just after lumbar puncture was 98.29+/-16.20mg/dl and 106.49+/-19.47mg/dl, respectively. 2) The blood glucose level examined with blood sample drawn just before lumbar puncture and one 30 min. after lumbar puncture was 96.47+/-21.52mg/dl and 117.00+/-22.12mg/dl, respectively. 3) The CSF glucose-to-blood glucose ratios examined with blood sample drawn just before lumbar puncture and one just after lumbar puncture was 67.70+/-12.40% and 62.83+/-12.62%, respectively. 4) The CSF glucose-to-blood glucose ratios examined with blood sample drawn just before lumbar puncture and one just after lumbar puncture was 70.10+/-21.77% and 56.35+/-13.75%, reskpectively. We concluded that a simultaneous blood glucose level should be taken just before lumbar puncture.
Blood Glucose ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Glucose* ; Humans ; Meningitis ; Meningitis, Aseptic* ; Pediatrics ; Spinal Puncture

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study were to examine the need of community care services and the influencing factors of the need in the family care givers of hospital-based home care patients. METHODS: Data were collected from 256 family caregivers, who were recruited from 10 hospitals in a metropolitan city. A structured questionnaire on the characteristics of caregivers, resources, and patients was administered. Also, questions on the need of community care services were added. Logistic regression analysis was used to identify the influencing factors of the need for community care services. RESULTS: The participant needed more transportation service, lease of health care devices, visiting bath, caring, visiting hair dressing than that of housekeeping, short-term care, and day care service. Various variables from the three factors were found to be influenced on the need of community care services. CONCLUSION: The accessibility of the higher need of community care services should be increased for hospital-based home care users. Also, the factors of Family care giver, Resource, and Patient might be considered to provide community care services of hospital-based home care users.
Bandages ; Baths ; Caregivers* ; Day Care, Medical ; Delivery of Health Care ; Hair ; Home Care Services ; Home Care Services, Hospital-Based* ; Housekeeping ; Humans ; Logistic Models ; Transportation ; Surveys and Questionnaires

Recently, the number of reports of Acanthamoeba keratitis has been increased apparently as a consequence of association with use of contact lenses, contaminated contact lens care system and high concern of ophthalmologist to Acanthamoeba keratitis. But, there were few epidemiologic studies of contamination of contact lens care system by Acanthamoeba and there was no report in Korea. We carried out a survey to demonstrate the contamination of contact lens care system by Acanthamoeba and bacteria and analysed the results according to the types of contact lenses and methods of disinfection. We examined the contact lens care system of 185 asymptomatic contact lens wearer for the contamination of Acanthamoeba and bacteria. The result showed a significant contamination of Acanthamoeba and bacteria. Twenty eight(15%) were contaminated with Acanthamoeba, eighteen(10%) were mixed with bacterial contamination and seventy four(40%) were contaminated with bacteria. There was no significant difference with sex and the result showed a lot of cocontamination with bacteria and amoeba and chemical disinfection showed a high Acanthamoeba contamination rate. Based on data from this and previous studies, the most of contact lens care system of contact lens wearer was contaminated with bacteria, amoeba and other microorganism. So, ophthalmologists should be concerned about Acanthamoeba contamination of contact lens care system.
Acanthamoeba Keratitis ; Acanthamoeba* ; Amoeba ; Bacteria ; Contact Lenses ; Disinfection ; Korea

We reviewed eight solitary fibrous tumors occurring at sites other than pleura (three orbit, two retroperitoneum, one each hard palate, thyroid, and tongue) which shared the histologic and immunohistochemical features of solitary fibrous tumors of pleura. Six patients were women, and two were men, aged from 26 to 74 years. The tumors ranging from 1.5 to 19 cm in diameter presented as well-circumscribed, unencapsulated, soft to rubbery tissue masses. Histologically they were characterized by a proliferation of spindle or ovoid cells intervened by a dense bundles of collagen. A variety of growth patterns was identified but the so-called patternless pattern was the predominant one. One tumor exhibited highly cellular sarcomatous areas with extensive necrosis, which was diagnosed as malignant solitary fibrous tumor. Immunohistochemical studies showed that all of the tumors were strongly positive for both CD34 and vimentin, but negative for cytokeratin, S-100 protein, EMA, and desmin. One case examined ultrastructurally showed features of fibroblast. All but one showed no evidence of recurrence or metastasis over follow-up period of 14 to 32 months. We conclude that extrapleural solitary fibrous tumors represent a distinct mesenchymal tumor with variable histologic features and should be differentiated from other spindle cell mesenchymal tumors.
Collagen ; Desmin ; Female ; Fibroblasts ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Keratins ; Male ; Necrosis ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Orbit ; Palate, Hard ; Pleura ; Recurrence ; S100 Proteins ; Solitary Fibrous Tumors* ; Thyroid Gland ; Vimentin

No abstract available.
Family Practice* ; Humans

PURPOSE: To present the enhancement pattern of acute cerebral or cerebellar cortical infarctions aged 1-3 days on MR. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Contrast-enhanced MR images of 26 patients with acute cerebral or cerebellar ischemic events were retrospectively reviewed. MR was performed within 3 days after ictus. RESULTS: Contrast enhancement in the area of infarction was observed in 61.5% (16/26) on MR. Of these 50% (13/26) showed non-parenchymal enhancement (NPE) representing either vascular or leptomeningeal enhancement, 7.7% (2/26) showed parenchymal enhancement (PE), and 2.8% (1/26) showed both NPE and PE. The earliest enhancement was seen in images obtained 12 hours after the onset of symptoms and appeared as NPE. One patient showed NPE without apparent high signal intensity at the corresponding area on T2-weighted images. In 38. 5% (10/26), there was no enhancement. CONCLUSION: Contrast-enhanced MR imaging may be needed in acute ischemic infarction, because NPE may be seen as the earliest MR finding of acute cortical infarction aged 1-3 days.
Cerebral Infarction* ; Humans ; Infarction ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging* ; Retrospective Studies

Research about Inappropriate Sexual Behavior (ISB) among patients with dementia is not abundant although its impact on patients and carers can be significant. There are many reasons for this relative neglect. In particular, notable is a problem encountered in the inconsistency of definition and assessment of ISB as well as stigma of sexuality in patients with dementia. This article reviews the literature concerning sexually inappropriate behavior in demented patients. Behavioral and pharmacological treatment approaches are explored and the recommendations and guidelines offered by other researchers are described.
Caregivers ; Dementia ; Humans ; Sexual Behavior ; Sexuality

Research about Inappropriate Sexual Behavior (ISB) among patients with dementia is not abundant although its impact on patients and carers can be significant. There are many reasons for this relative neglect. In particular, notable is a problem encountered in the inconsistency of definition and assessment of ISB as well as stigma of sexuality in patients with dementia. This article reviews the literature concerning sexually inappropriate behavior in demented patients. Behavioral and pharmacological treatment approaches are explored and the recommendations and guidelines offered by other researchers are described.
Caregivers ; Dementia ; Humans ; Sexual Behavior ; Sexuality

No abstract available.
Depression*