Sick neonates often require periodic small volume transfusion (10mg/kg) to replace blood draw for laboratory monitoring during their hospital stay. The effect of packed red cel transfudion on the hematocrit, potassium, ionized calcium, acid base status, glucose and indirect bilirubin was investigated in 25 transfusions. Analysis of transfused blood by the age of the red cells, older red cells (more than 5 days old, 13+/-7 days) showed increased potassium (27.2+/-14.1mEq/L vs 11.3+/-4.9mEq/L), decreased bicarbonate (14.4+/-2.6mEq/L) and glucose (130+/-28mg/dl vs 203+/-93mg/dl) compared with newer red cells (less than 5 days)(p<0.05). No significant changes occured in hematocrit and pH. Inspite of these results, the transfusion of the older red cells did not affect the older red cells did not affect the serum potassium, ionized calcium, pH, bicarbonate, glucose and indirect bilirubin level in neonates. The hematocrit of infants increated significantly after transfusion from 29.6%+/-4.3% to 38.3%+/-6.1%(mean+/-SD)(P<0.05). Transfusion of older red cells seemed to be as equally effective as newer ones. The valus of hematocrit obtained immediately after transfusion does not show any differences compared to those obtained 30 min, 1, 2, 4, 6 and 24 hours after transfusion. The result in the study indicate that there was no adverse effect after transfusion with packed red cell more than 5 days old and no significant difference in hematocrit observed between 0 to 24 hours following transfusion. Therfore old red cell more than 5 days can be used safely for sick neonatal transfusion and the stored donor blood can be optimzed for repeated blood transfusion.
Bilirubin ; Blood Transfusion ; Calcium ; Glucose ; Hematocrit* ; Humans ; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration ; Infant ; Infant, Newborn* ; Length of Stay ; Potassium ; Tissue Donors

No abstract available.
Crowns* ; Dental Cements*

PURPOSE: To assess the high-resolution CT and pathologic findings of fat embolism experimentally induced in rabbit lung. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Twelve rabbits were divided into four groups, namely control, 2-hour, 24-hour, and 72-hour, with three rabbits in each, and closed tibiofibular fractures were induced. After the rabbits were sacrificed, high-resolution CT scanning of the artificially inflated lungs was performed, and the CT findings were analyzed by two radiologists. They determined the presence or absence of ground glass opacity or consolidation, the extent of the lesions (using a 10% grading scale), and their distribution, reaching a consensus. The pathologic findings were analyzed using the specimens prepared by H & E and Oil-red O staining. RESULTS: Although the high-resolution CT findings of pulmonary fat embolism were nonspecific, bilateral patchy ground glass opacity (100%), and focal air-space consolidation surrounding the bronchovascular bundle (89%) were most common. In all groups, the occlusion of vessels by fat globules was confirmed by Oil-red Ostaining. The microscopic findings included focal pulmonary hemorrhage, edema, alveolar collapse, and extensive infiltration of inflammatory cells in the lung parenchyma. The 24-hour group showed more extensive change in high-resolution CT and pathologic findings than did the others. CONCLUSION: Fat embolism in rabbit lung may occur after closed tibio-fibular fracture. The extent of the lesion revealed by high-resolution CT correlated closely with the pathologic findings. High-resolution CT may thus be helpful for the detection of pulmonary fat embolism and evaluation of its extent.
Consensus ; Edema ; Embolism, Fat* ; Glass ; Hemorrhage ; Lung* ; Pulmonary Embolism ; Rabbits ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed

OBJECTIVE: To describe the clinical and ultrasonographic (US) findings in patients with scleredema adultorum of Buschke, who presented with sclerotic skin on their posterior neck. MATERIALS AND METHODS: After obtaining IRB approval, eight patients with scleredema adultorum of Buschke were enrolled. They underwent US examination of their posterior neck. The diagnoses were confirmed pathologically. The clinical history and US images were evaluated retrospectively. Dermal thickness was compared between the patient group and the age- and sex-matched control group. RESULTS: The patients included seven males and one female with a mean age of 51.5 years. All patients presented with thickening of the skin and/or a palpable mass on the posterior neck. Five (62.5%) of the eight patients showed erythematous discoloration. Six patients (75.0%) had a history of diabetes. The Hemoglobin A1c level was found to be increased in all patients. US images did not show any evidence of a soft tissue mass or infection. The mean dermal thickness in patients (7.01 ± 1.95 mm) was significantly greater than that in the control group (3.08 ± 0.87 mm) (p = 0.001). Multiple strong echogenic spots in the dermis were seen in all patients. Seven patients (87.5%) showed posterior shadowing in the lower dermis. CONCLUSION: When a patient with a history of diabetes presents with a palpable mass or erythematous discoloration of the posterior neck and US shows the following imaging features: 1) no evidence of a soft tissue mass or infection, 2) thickening of the dermis, 3) multiple strong echogenic spots and/or posterior shadowing in the dermis, scleredema adultorum of Buschke should be considered in the differential diagnosis.
Dermis ; Diagnosis ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Ethics Committees, Research ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Neck* ; Retrospective Studies ; Scleredema Adultorum* ; Shadowing (Histology) ; Skin ; Ultrasonography

No abstract available.
Rickets, Hypophosphatemic*

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

PURPOSE: In the diagnosis of pediatric urinary tract infection(UTI), the use of invasive methods, such as voiding cystourethrography(VCUG), is controversial. A retrospective study was carried out to evaluate the necessity for VCUG in assessing pediatric UTI. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Between April 2000 and March 2002, 70 children (60 boys, 10 girls) with symptomatic UTI were evaluated. All patients were evaluated with renal ultrasonography(RUS), 99mTc-DMSA renal scintigraphy(DMSA renal scan) and VCUG. The results of the VCUG were compared with RUS and similar comparisons made between the results of the VCUG and DMSA renal scans. Patients with both normal a RUS and DMSA renal scan were then evaluated for the frequency and grade of vesicoureteral reflux(VUR) on the VCUG. RESULTS: The mean age at the initial evaluation was 7.95 months, ranging from 1 to 52 months. RUS and DMSA scan abnormalities were found in 38(54.3%) and 26(37.1%) children, respectively. Of the 22 patients with VUR confirmed by VCUG, 11(50.0%) had an abnormal RUS, and 12 (54.5%) patients had abnormal DMSA renal scans. Of the 19 patients with both a normal RUS and DMSA scan, 4(21.2%, 6 kidney-ureter unit) were found to have VUR on VCUG. CONCLUSIONS: This study illustrated that a considerable number of patients may have significant VUR, despite normal renal ultrasonography and DMSA scans. Therefore, VCUG remains important in assessing pediatric UTI.
Child* ; Diagnosis ; Humans ; Retrospective Studies ; Succimer ; Technetium Tc 99m Dimercaptosuccinic Acid ; Ultrasonography ; Urinary Tract Infections* ; Urinary Tract* ; Vesico-Ureteral Reflux

No abstract available.
Chromosome Aberrations*

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Herpes zoster(HZ) is a well known viral infection of the nervous system. HZ is associated with the neurologic complication. It may have been expected a change in the cerebrospinal fluid(CSF) of patients with HZ. The purpose of this paper is to present the correlation between CSF findings and neurologic complications in HZ. METHOD: The patients(n=75) with HZ were 31 male and 26 females, who were ranged in age from 15 to 79years(mean 53.4 years) admitted to department of Neurology of Chung Ang Gil General Hospital from June 1992 to May 1995. The patients were evaluated for the etiology, lesion distribution, and complications. CSF study was performed in 32 patients(male/female=20/12), whose age ranged from 16 to 79 years(means 51years) during 5 days to 10days after initial symptom onset. CSF findings were analyzed for their etiology, lesion distribution and complication. RESULTS: The CSF of 25 patients(78.1%) showed pleocytosis(5 to 49/mm3 in 10 patients, means, 62.1/mm3). 7 patients(12.3%) had meningitis symptoms, whose cell counts of CSF were more than 50/mm3(means 128.4/mm3) postherapeutic neuralgia was more common in elder patient than younger patients(p=0.005). Complications tended to correlate with the cell counts of CSF. There was no difference in CSF finding between cranial segmental involvements. CONCLUSION: We confirmed the pleocytosis in CSF of patients with HZ and suggest the development of complications in patients in patients with HZ tend to correlate with the cell counts of CSF.
Cell Count ; Female ; Herpes Zoster* ; Hospitals, General ; Humans ; Leukocytosis ; Male ; Meningitis ; Nervous System ; Neuralgia ; Neurology

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Herpes zoster(HZ) is a well known viral infection of the nervous system. HZ is associated with the neurologic complication. It may have been expected a change in the cerebrospinal fluid(CSF) of patients with HZ. The purpose of this paper is to present the correlation between CSF findings and neurologic complications in HZ. METHOD: The patients(n=75) with HZ were 31 male and 26 females, who were ranged in age from 15 to 79years(mean 53.4 years) admitted to department of Neurology of Chung Ang Gil General Hospital from June 1992 to May 1995. The patients were evaluated for the etiology, lesion distribution, and complications. CSF study was performed in 32 patients(male/female=20/12), whose age ranged from 16 to 79 years(means 51years) during 5 days to 10days after initial symptom onset. CSF findings were analyzed for their etiology, lesion distribution and complication. RESULTS: The CSF of 25 patients(78.1%) showed pleocytosis(5 to 49/mm3 in 10 patients, means, 62.1/mm3). 7 patients(12.3%) had meningitis symptoms, whose cell counts of CSF were more than 50/mm3(means 128.4/mm3) postherapeutic neuralgia was more common in elder patient than younger patients(p=0.005). Complications tended to correlate with the cell counts of CSF. There was no difference in CSF finding between cranial segmental involvements. CONCLUSION: We confirmed the pleocytosis in CSF of patients with HZ and suggest the development of complications in patients in patients with HZ tend to correlate with the cell counts of CSF.
Cell Count ; Female ; Herpes Zoster* ; Hospitals, General ; Humans ; Leukocytosis ; Male ; Meningitis ; Nervous System ; Neuralgia ; Neurology