No abstract available.

No abstract available.

BACKGROUND: The combination of Philadelphia chromosome (Ph) and monosomy 7(-7) was rarely observed in acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). With the results from immunophenotyplc and molecular analysis, Philadelphia chromosome positive ALL with monosomy 7[Ph(+)/-7] has been considered that it may be derived from neoplastic transformation at the pluripotent stem cell level. We compared the clini-cal, laboratory, and hematological findings between 5 cases of Ph(+)/-7 and 5 cases of Ph(+) without monosomy 7 [Ph (+) /N7]. METHODS: During the period from January, 1995 to December, 1996, total 72 cases of ALL were confirmed among 259 cases of hematologic malignancy with bone marrow cytogenetic analysis. Among 72 ALL cases, 5 cases of Ph(+)/-7(monosomy 7 or 7q abnormalities) were compared with Ph only or Ph without monosomy 7(ph(+)/N7] on the hematological, immunophenotypic, other laboratory, clinical findings and event ree survival (EFS) The karyotyping of the bone marrow specimens was analysed byshort-term unsynchronized culture methods such as overnight colcemid treatment and 24 hours incubation following ethidium bromide treatment. RESULTS: The mean age of Ph(+)/-7 was 30.6+/-12.8 years, and it was significantly different from that of Ph(+)/N7 (p=0.009), Four cases of Ph(+)/-7 were classified as ALL L2 subtype, and 2 cases revealed CNS involvements. Immunophenotyping was positive in CD10, CDl9, CD2O, CD22 and HLA-DR. But one case revealed e-B-lymphoid lineage with positivity in CD34, CDl3, and CD33. The response to chemotherapy and EFS was very poor in Ph(+)/-7 group, and the mean EFS was 3.2+/-1.9 months(p=0.014). All of cases showed induction on failure in chemotherapy, relapsed with bone marrow, CNS and extramedullary involvements, and expired due to sepsis. CONCLUSIONS: Ph(+)/-7 ALL had very Poor clinical course with being resistant to chemotherapy and unfavorable prognosis, revealed L2 subtype by FAB classification, and was slightly older in ages compared with Ph(+)/N7 ALL.
Bone Marrow ; Classification ; Cytogenetic Analysis ; Demecolcine ; Drug Therapy ; Ethidium ; Hematologic Neoplasms ; HLA-DR Antigens ; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration ; Immunophenotyping ; Karyotyping ; Monosomy* ; Philadelphia Chromosome* ; Pluripotent Stem Cells ; Precursor Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma* ; Prognosis ; Sepsis

No abstract available.
Chromosome Aberrations*

No abstract available.
Blood Coagulation Factors* ; Fibrinogen*

No abstract available.
Blood Coagulation Factors* ; Fibrinogen*

BACKGROUND: CSF can be leaked from the nose or ear due to fractures, tumors or surgical procedures in the skull base region, and the threat of impending meningitis necessitates early identification of it. Since 2-transferrin occurs practically in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and not in other body fluid, its detection from the rhinorrhea or otorrhea can be used for the diagnosis of CSF leakage. We carried out immunofixation-silver stain (IF-SS) method for detection of 2-transferrin in the CSF in order to know optimal identification condition of specific cerebrogenic marker. METHODS: The fresh CSF sample was collected by spinal tapping. 2-Transferrin was estimated by quantifying the total transferrin by nephelomertry (Behring, Germany). 2-Transferrin of CSF was identified by electrophoresis using Titan gel high resolution protein system (Beckman, USA), immunofixation with anti-human transferrin antibody (Dako, Denmark) and then stained with silver nitrate. Serial dilutions of CSF were performed to know the detection limit of 2-transferrin. To know the influence of blood mixing, tests for mixed specimen of serum and hemolysate in CSF were performed. To evaluate the specimen storage condition, tests for different temperature and storage time were performed . RESULTS: By IF-SS method, identification limit of 2-transferrin was 0.5 mg/dL in 1:4 diluted CSF with distilled water. And 2-transferrin could be detected in condition of mixing serum protein (7.5 g/dL) or hemoglobin (13 g/dL) with CSF up to 6 : 4. At various sample storage condition, such as 37degrees C, room temperature, and 4degrees C, band intensity decreased abruptly after 1 day, and it was not detected 5 days later. Mean while, in -20degrees C and -70degrees C, 2-transferin band was detected after 10 days. CONCLUSIONS: IF-SS method was sufficiently sensitive and specific for invalidation by blood contamination, and seems to be used as effective identification of 2-transferrin in the CSF without sample concentration, less diagnostic test for CSF leakage.
Body Fluids ; Cerebrospinal Fluid* ; Diagnosis* ; Diagnostic Tests, Routine ; Ear ; Electrophoresis ; Limit of Detection ; Meningitis ; Nose ; Saturn ; Silver Nitrate ; Skull Base ; Spinal Puncture ; Transferrin* ; Water

No Abstract Available.
Cytokines* ; Perforin* ; Shwartzman Phenomenon* ; Vibrio vulnificus* ; Vibrio*

Vibrio metschnikovii is worldwidely distributed in the aquatic environment and human infections are very rarely associated, such as septicemia, urinary tract infection, wound infection, and peritonitis. V. metschnikovii is negative in nitrate reduction and oxidase reaction, and these findings are different from other vibrio species. V. metschnikovii was isolated from the ascitic fluid and blood of a patient with peritonitis, sepsis and renal insufficiency. This patient was a 41-year old man who suffered from post-necrotic liver cirrhosis, chronic hepatitis B, gastric ulcer, esophageal varix bleeding, and alcoholism. He had neither history of ingestion of seafoods nor exposure to seawater before onset of illness. He was successfully treated with antimicrobial agents. This is the first case report of septicemia and peritonitis by V. metschnikovii in Korea.
Adult ; Alcoholism ; Anti-Infective Agents ; Ascitic Fluid ; Eating ; Esophageal and Gastric Varices ; Hemorrhage ; Hepatitis B, Chronic ; Humans ; Korea ; Liver Cirrhosis ; Oxidoreductases ; Peritonitis* ; Renal Insufficiency ; Seafood ; Seawater ; Sepsis* ; Stomach Ulcer ; Urinary Tract Infections ; Vibrio* ; Wound Infection

Therapeutic plasma exchange is used in almost every condition in which there is a plasma factor thought possibly to the etiology or pathogenesis of a disease or one of its manifestations. In order to evaluate plasma exchange using fresh frozen plasma as replacement solution, eighty four therapeutic plasma exchanges were carried out in eighteen patients. In standardized procedures, 1.5 times the calculated plasma volume was replaced with a Hartman's solution and fresh frozen plasma. Anticoagulation was achieved using a whole venous blood to 2.5% trisodium citrate in the ratio of 10 to 1. Total calcium, phosphorus, glucose, urea nitrogen, creatinine, bilirubin, alkaline phosphatase, amylase, creatine kinase, IgG, C3, total white and red blood cell count, hemoglobin, and differential count were not significantly affected by the procedure. In contrast, serum cholesterol, total protein, albumin, aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase, ionized calcium, IgM, C4 and platelet were significantly decreased by the plasma exchange. All these measurements had returned to the first pre-exchange level within 24 hours, while the C4 and platelet count took between 24 and 72 hours, and the IgM level, between 72 hours and 1 week. These data indicated that in an isovolemic plasma exchange there was a transient but rapidly reversible effect on all the components studied, with C4 and platelet count, returning more slowly to pre-exchange level than the others, and IgM levels responding the slowest. In summary, plasma exchanges using fresh frozen plasma as replacement solution were assumed to be not significantly affected the function of various organs.
Alanine Transaminase ; Alkaline Phosphatase ; Amylases ; Aspartate Aminotransferases ; Bilirubin ; Blood Platelets ; Calcium ; Cholesterol ; Citric Acid ; Creatine Kinase ; Creatinine ; Erythrocyte Count ; Glucose ; Humans ; Immunoglobulin G ; Immunoglobulin M ; Nitrogen ; Phosphorus ; Plasma Exchange* ; Plasma Volume ; Plasma* ; Platelet Count ; Urea