This report provides a summary of the 2024 survey results on the external quality assessment (EQA) scheme for the general transfusion medicine test and the general transfusion antibody test programs in Korea. Proficiency testing materials were prepared at the Asan Medical Center for bi-annual distribution to participating laboratories. The accuracy rates and number of participating laboratories for the bi-annual EQAs were: ABO typing, 99.6%–99.9% (n=944, n=945); RhD typing, 99.9%–100.0% (n=929, n=930);crossmatching, 95.0%–99.2% (n=825, n=825); unexpected antibody scre ening, 99.5%–100.0% (n=363, n=367); direct antiglobulin test (DAT) using a polyspecific reagent, 99.3%–100.0% (n=296, n=299); DAT using an antiimmunoglobulin G monospecific reagent, 100.0% (n=74, n=72); and DAT using an anti-C3d monospecific reagent, 98.6%–100.0% (n=72, n=71). The 2024 EQA scheme for the transfusion medicine program has improved and maintained the standards of the participating laboratories.

This report provides a summary of the 2024 survey results on the external quality assessment (EQA) scheme for the general transfusion medicine test and the general transfusion antibody test programs in Korea. Proficiency testing materials were prepared at the Asan Medical Center for bi-annual distribution to participating laboratories. The accuracy rates and number of participating laboratories for the bi-annual EQAs were: ABO typing, 99.6%–99.9% (n=944, n=945); RhD typing, 99.9%–100.0% (n=929, n=930);crossmatching, 95.0%–99.2% (n=825, n=825); unexpected antibody scre ening, 99.5%–100.0% (n=363, n=367); direct antiglobulin test (DAT) using a polyspecific reagent, 99.3%–100.0% (n=296, n=299); DAT using an antiimmunoglobulin G monospecific reagent, 100.0% (n=74, n=72); and DAT using an anti-C3d monospecific reagent, 98.6%–100.0% (n=72, n=71). The 2024 EQA scheme for the transfusion medicine program has improved and maintained the standards of the participating laboratories.

This report provides a summary of the 2024 survey results on the external quality assessment (EQA) scheme for the general transfusion medicine test and the general transfusion antibody test programs in Korea. Proficiency testing materials were prepared at the Asan Medical Center for bi-annual distribution to participating laboratories. The accuracy rates and number of participating laboratories for the bi-annual EQAs were: ABO typing, 99.6%–99.9% (n=944, n=945); RhD typing, 99.9%–100.0% (n=929, n=930);crossmatching, 95.0%–99.2% (n=825, n=825); unexpected antibody scre ening, 99.5%–100.0% (n=363, n=367); direct antiglobulin test (DAT) using a polyspecific reagent, 99.3%–100.0% (n=296, n=299); DAT using an antiimmunoglobulin G monospecific reagent, 100.0% (n=74, n=72); and DAT using an anti-C3d monospecific reagent, 98.6%–100.0% (n=72, n=71). The 2024 EQA scheme for the transfusion medicine program has improved and maintained the standards of the participating laboratories.

This report provides a summary of the 2024 survey results on the external quality assessment (EQA) scheme for the general transfusion medicine test and the general transfusion antibody test programs in Korea. Proficiency testing materials were prepared at the Asan Medical Center for bi-annual distribution to participating laboratories. The accuracy rates and number of participating laboratories for the bi-annual EQAs were: ABO typing, 99.6%–99.9% (n=944, n=945); RhD typing, 99.9%–100.0% (n=929, n=930);crossmatching, 95.0%–99.2% (n=825, n=825); unexpected antibody scre ening, 99.5%–100.0% (n=363, n=367); direct antiglobulin test (DAT) using a polyspecific reagent, 99.3%–100.0% (n=296, n=299); DAT using an antiimmunoglobulin G monospecific reagent, 100.0% (n=74, n=72); and DAT using an anti-C3d monospecific reagent, 98.6%–100.0% (n=72, n=71). The 2024 EQA scheme for the transfusion medicine program has improved and maintained the standards of the participating laboratories.

This report provides a summary of the 2024 survey results on the external quality assessment (EQA) scheme for the general transfusion medicine test and the general transfusion antibody test programs in Korea. Proficiency testing materials were prepared at the Asan Medical Center for bi-annual distribution to participating laboratories. The accuracy rates and number of participating laboratories for the bi-annual EQAs were: ABO typing, 99.6%–99.9% (n=944, n=945); RhD typing, 99.9%–100.0% (n=929, n=930);crossmatching, 95.0%–99.2% (n=825, n=825); unexpected antibody scre ening, 99.5%–100.0% (n=363, n=367); direct antiglobulin test (DAT) using a polyspecific reagent, 99.3%–100.0% (n=296, n=299); DAT using an antiimmunoglobulin G monospecific reagent, 100.0% (n=74, n=72); and DAT using an anti-C3d monospecific reagent, 98.6%–100.0% (n=72, n=71). The 2024 EQA scheme for the transfusion medicine program has improved and maintained the standards of the participating laboratories.

Background: Flow cytometric immunophenotyping of hematolymphoid neoplasms (FCIHLN) is essential for diagnosis, classification, and minimal residual disease (MRD) monitoring. FCI-HLN is typically performed using in-house protocols, raising the need for standardization. Therefore, we surveyed the current status of FCI-HLN in Korea to obtain fundamental data for quality improvement and standardization. Methods: Eight university hospitals actively conducting FCI-HLN participated in our survey.We analyzed responses to a questionnaire that included inquiries regarding test items, reagent antibodies (RAs), fluorophores, sample amounts (SAs), reagent antibody amounts (RAAs), acquisition cell number (ACN), isotype control (IC) usage, positiveegative criteria, and reporting. Results: Most hospitals used acute HLN, chronic HLN, plasma cell neoplasm (PCN), and MRD panels. The numbers of RAs were heterogeneous, with a maximum of 32, 26, 12, 14, and 10 antibodies used for acute HLN, chronic HLN, PCN, ALL-MRD, and multiple myeloma-MRD, respectively. The number of fluorophores ranged from 4 to 10. RAs, SAs, RAAs, and ACN were diverse. Most hospitals used a positive criterion of 20%, whereas one used 10% for acute and chronic HLN panels. Five hospitals used ICs for the negative criterion. Positiveegative assignments, percentages, and general opinions were commonly reported. In MRD reporting, the limit of detection and lower limit of quantification were included. Conclusions This is the first comprehensive study on the current status of FCI-HLN in Korea, confirming the high heterogeneity and complexity of FCI-HLN practices. Standardization of FCI-HLN is urgently needed. The findings provide a reference for establishing standard FCI-HLN guidelines.

Purpose: Anal wounds following hemorrhoidectomy can lead to severe pain and postoperative bleeding, impacting patient recovery and quality of life. Hyaluronic acid (HA) stimulates tissue regeneration and wound healing by accelerating cell migration and proliferation. This study aimed to investigate the differences in wound healing rate and completeness of recovery of perianal wounds topically treated with HA-soaked cotton in a murine model. Methods: Forty-eight 8-week-old Sprague-Dawley rats with perianal wounds created using a biopsy punch were divided into 2 groups: simple dressing with gauze (control) and topical HA-soaked cotton. A single application of HA-soaked cotton was administered after surgery. Wound healing rate and completeness of recovery were evaluated by measuring the healed area and conducting histological analyses. Results: The HA-cotton group exhibited a shorter complete wound healing duration compared to the control group (13.9 days vs. 16.4 days, P = 0.031). Differences in wound healing area between the 2 groups were greatest on postoperative day 2 (51.6% vs. 28.8%, P < 0.001). The HA-cotton group exhibited fewer cases of granulation tissue (2 vs. 5) or redness (0 vs.3) upon complete wound healing. Histologically, the HA-cotton group showed accelerated reepithelialization, rapid shift to lymphocyte-dominant inflammation, enhanced fibroblast proliferation, and increased collagen deposition compared to the control group. Conclusion Herein, topical application of HA-soaked cotton on perianal wounds in rats resulted in accelerated wound healing, particularly in the initial stages, and improved completeness of recovery, underscoring the potential of the topical application of HA-soaked cotton on hemorrhoidectomy wounds in human patients to improve wound healing.

Purpose: To investigate the surgical outcomes of endonasal dacryocystorhinostomy with canalicular trephination in patients with canalicular obstruction. Methods: We retrospectively analyzed the medical records of 37 eyes from 32 patients who were diagnosed with canalicular obstruction between May 2010 and July 2022 and underwent endonasal dacryocystorhinostomy with canalicular trephination to evaluate the success rate and complications. Results: In the total patient group, 81.1% achieved complete success in which epiphora completely disappeared, 13.5% had partial success in which epiphora remained but improved, and 5.4% experienced failure in which tearing persisted or worsened. Complications included one case of dacryocystorhinostomy bony opening granuloma and one case of dacryocystorhinostomy bony opening inflammation. Conclusions Endonasal dacryocystorhinosomy with canalicular trephination is an effective method for treating canalicular obstruction, offering a high success rate and few complications. It can be considered before resorting to conjunctivodacryocystorhinostomy, which is a more conventional treatment.

Meningiomas are common intracranial tumors; however, reports on extracranial cutaneous meningiomas are exceedingly rare. A 77-year-old woman visited our hospital with an asymptomatic child fist-sized mass on the scalp.Biopsy results indicated nuclear atypia and mitoses of sarcomatous cells. Brain magnetic resonance imaging revealed a subgaleal mass with strong enhancement. Suspecting sarcoma, wide excision was performed jointly by the departments of plastic surgery and neurosurgery, during which no evidence of cranial invasion was noted. In the surgical specimen, numerous mitoses of sarcomatous cells and poorly formed nests of epithelioid cells were observed. This led to the diagnosis of anaplastic meningioma without intracranial origin. Subsequently, the patient received adjuvant radiotherapy and is currently under close follow-up. Anaplastic meningioma is rare, but early diagnosis is important as it enables timely and appropriate treatment, thus, improving survival rates. Dermatologists should remain vigilant as meningiomas can manifest as cutaneous scalp nodules, and their accurate diagnosis can profoundly impact prognosis.

This report aimed to provide a summary of the 2023 survey results on the external quality assessment (EQA) scheme for the general transfusion medicine test and general transfusion antibody test programs in Korea. Proficiency testing materials were prepared at the Asan Medical Center for biannual distribution to participating laboratories. The accuracy rates and number of participating laboratories were as follows: ABO typing, 99.8%–100.0% (n=940, n=940); RhD typing, 99.8%–100.0% (n=924, n=918); crossmatching, 95.6%–99.4% (n=802, n=825); unexpected antibody screening, 99.4–100.0% (n=358, n=358); direct antiglobulin test (DAT) using a polyspecific reagent, 99.3%–100.0% (n=296, n=292); DAT using anti-immuno globulin G monospecific reagent, 100.0% (n=76, n=76); and DAT using antiC3d monospecific reagent, 97.3%–100.0% (n=73, n=73). The 2023 EQA scheme for transfusion medicine program has improved and maintained the standards of the participating laboratories.