Although severe hemolytic diseases of the newborn triggered by anti-M are very rare, anti-M alloantibodies have been known to be associated with a cause of multipie intrauterine death. Serological and hematological investigations have been reported on a woman who experienced four multiple intrauterine deaths due to anti-M. The mothers blood type was of group A, NN and the husbands cells were of group B, MN. In the serological examination at 9th week's gestation of the fifth pregnancy, anti-M antibodies were identified in her serum. The antibodies comprised IgM saline agglutinin at a titer of 16 at 4 degrees C and IgG agglutinin reacted in an indirect antiglobulin technique at a titer of 4 at 37 degrees C. She underwent high-dose immunoglobulin infusion therapy on a monthly program from 3rd month gestation and a total of 6 times of intravenous immunoglobulin was given. The anti-M titer did not rise during the pregnancy. She delivered a live girl by cesarean section at the 37th week because of a failure of induction. The childs blood type was of group O, MN. The child was discharged and developed normally.
Antibodies ; Cesarean Section ; Child ; Female ; Humans ; Immunization, Passive* ; Immunoglobulin G ; Immunoglobulin M ; Immunoglobulins* ; Infant, Newborn ; Isoantibodies ; Mothers ; Pregnancy* ; Spouses

Birt-Hogg-Dubé syndrome (BHD) is a rare autosomal dominant disorder characterized by the formation of hair follicle tumors, kidney tumors, and pulmonary cysts with recurrent spontaneous pneumothorax. A 44-year-old woman visited Wonkwang University Hospital with mild dyspnea. A chest X-ray on admission revealed pneumothorax in both lung fields. Chest computed tomography (CT) revealed both pneumothorax and multiple, irregularly shaped, variable-sized cysts in both lung fields. Upon physical examination, white dome-shaped papules were observed on the face. Histological examination of the skin lesion confirmed fibrofolliculoma, and genetic studies revealed a folliculin gene mutation. Abdominal CT revealed a 1-cm small solid renal mass at the lower pole of the right kidney. We surgically removed the renal tumor, and a histological diagnosis of oncocytoma was made. Here, we report a case of BHD that demonstrated all three clinical manifestations; this is the first case report of its kind in Korea.
Adenoma, Oxyphilic ; Adult ; Birt-Hogg-Dube Syndrome ; Diagnosis ; Dyspnea ; Estrone ; Female ; Hair Follicle ; Humans ; Kidney ; Kidney Neoplasms ; Korea ; Lung ; Physical Examination ; Pneumothorax ; Skin ; Thorax ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the usefulness of fine needle aspiration (FNA) for thyroid nodule using the new Bethesda classification. SUBJECTS AND METHOD: Patient cytology data were reviewed by retrospective search of thyroid FNA. Cytologic diagnoses were classified as unsatisfactory, benign/negative for malignancy, indeterminate (ID), follicular neoplasm (FN), suspicious for malignancy (SM), and positive for malignancy (PM) according to the proposing of The National Cancer Institute. We analyzed the follow-up FNA diagnoses and the cytologic-histologic correlations. RESULTS: Of 1983 patients, 16.8% was classified as unsatisfactory, 73.6% as benign, 1.1% as ID, 0.4% as FN, 1.4% as SM, and 6.8% as PM. After the cytologic follow-up, the groups designated as unsatisafactory (80.2%) and ID (50%) mainly showed significant change in diagnosis. Two hundred fifty patients had surgical follow-up. Sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy, positive predictive values and negative predictive values for malignancy of thyroid were 87.6%, 97.2%, 91%, 98.3% and 81.2%, respectively. The cytologic-histologic diagnostic discrepancy rate was 13.6%. CONCLUSION: FNA for thyroid nodule using the new Bethesda classification was an accurate and sensitive method for the diagnosis of thyroid nodule, and can provide useful information for the management of thyroid nodule.
Biopsy, Fine-Needle ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; National Cancer Institute (U.S.) ; Retrospective Studies ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Thyroid Gland ; Thyroid Nodule

Birt-Hogg-Dubé syndrome (BHD) is a rare autosomal dominant disorder characterized by the formation of hair follicle tumors, kidney tumors, and pulmonary cysts with recurrent spontaneous pneumothorax. A 44-year-old woman visited Wonkwang University Hospital with mild dyspnea. A chest X-ray on admission revealed pneumothorax in both lung fields. Chest computed tomography (CT) revealed both pneumothorax and multiple, irregularly shaped, variable-sized cysts in both lung fields. Upon physical examination, white dome-shaped papules were observed on the face. Histological examination of the skin lesion confirmed fibrofolliculoma, and genetic studies revealed a folliculin gene mutation. Abdominal CT revealed a 1-cm small solid renal mass at the lower pole of the right kidney. We surgically removed the renal tumor, and a histological diagnosis of oncocytoma was made. Here, we report a case of BHD that demonstrated all three clinical manifestations; this is the first case report of its kind in Korea.

Progress in medical science and cell biology has resulted in the transplantation of human cells and tissues from on human into another, facilitating reproduction and the restoration of form and function, as well as enhancing the quality of life. For more than 40 years, society has recognized the medical and humanitarian value of donation and transplanting organs and tissues. The standard operating procedures of hard tissues reflect the collective expertise and conscientious efforts of tissue bank professionals to provide a foundation for the guidance of tissue banking activities. Procurement of allograft tissues from surgical bone donors is a part of tissue banking. During the past decades the use of bone allografts has become widely accepted for the filling of skelectal defects in a variety of surgical procedures. In particular in the field of orthopaedic and oral and maxillofacial surgery the demand for allografts obtained from either living or post-mortem donors has increased. Hospital-based tissue banks mainly retrieve allografts from living donors undergoing primary total hip replacement for osteoarthritis or hemi arthroplasty for hip fractures and orthgnatic surgery such as angle reduction. Although bone banks have existed for many years, the elements of organized and maintaining a hospital bone bank have not been well documented. The experience with a tissue bank at Korea Tissue Bank(KTB) between 2001 and 2004 provides a model of procurement, storage, processing, sterilization and documentation associated with such a facility. The following report describes the standard operating procedures of hard tissues such as femoral head obtained from living donors.
Allografts* ; Arthroplasty, Replacement, Hip ; Bone Banks ; Head* ; Hemiarthroplasty ; Hip Fractures ; Humans ; Korea ; Living Donors* ; Osteoarthritis ; Quality of Life ; Reproduction ; Sterilization ; Surgery, Oral ; Tissue Banks ; Tissue Donors

OBJECTIVES: Bacterial infections in the normally sterile environment of the middle ear cavity usually trigger host immune response, whereby the innate immune system plays a dominant role as the host's first line of defense. We evaluated the expression levels of Toll-like receptors (TLRs) -2, -4, -5, -9, and nucleotide-binding oligomerization domain-containing proteins (NODs) -1 and -2, all of which are related to bacterial infection in pediatric patients with otitis media with effusion (OME). METHODS: The study sample consisted of 46 pediatric patients with OME, all of whom had ventilation tubes inserted. The expression levels of TLR-2, -4, -5, -9, NOD-1 and -2 mRNA in middle ear effusion were assessed by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Difference of pattern recognition receptors (PRRs) expression level by presence of bacteria, ventilation tube insertion rate, and effusion fluid character was assessed. RESULTS: All effusion fluid samples collected from patients with OME showed expression of TLR-2, -4, -5, -9, NOD-1, and -2 mRNA by PCR. However, we found no differences among expression levels of PRRs in relation to characteristics of exudates, presence of bacteria, or frequencies of ventilation tube insertion (P>0.05). CONCLUSION: Our findings suggest that exudates of OME patients show PRR expressions that are related to the innate immune response regardless of the characteristics of effusion fluid, presence of bacteria in exudates, or frequency of ventilation tube insertion.
Bacteria ; Bacterial Infections ; Ear, Middle ; Exudates and Transudates ; Humans ; Immune System ; Immunity, Innate ; Otitis ; Otitis Media ; Otitis Media with Effusion ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome ; Proteins ; Receptors, Pattern Recognition ; RNA, Messenger ; Toll-Like Receptors ; Ventilation

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the factors influencing the capacity of cough, the relationships between maximal respiratory pressure, lung compliance, capacity of cough, and assisted cough techniques were evaluated in tetraplegics. METHOD: The vital capacity (VC) in seated and supine position, maximum insufflation capacity (MIC), maximum inspiratory (MIP) and expiratory (MEP) pressure in seated position were measured. Unassisted and assisted peak cough flow (PCF) at two different conditions (a volume assisted method by the mechanical insufflation [PCFmic] and the manual assistance by abdominal compression [MPCF]) were evaluated in 44 tetraplegic patients. RESULTS: The mean value of VC in supine was greater than that of seated position (p<0.01). The MICs of the subjects were significantly higher than VCs in a same position (<0.01). Both volume and manual assisted method showed significantly higher PCF than unassisted PCF (p<0.01). MIP (r=0.53) correlated with UPCF as well as MEP (r=0.68), although MEP was better correlated with UPCF. CONCLUSION: Generally the therapists apply manual pressure only to increase capacity of cough, which assist the expulsive phase. The results of this study showed that both inspiratory and expulsive phases should be assisted to enhance the effectiveness of cough.
Compliance* ; Cough* ; Humans ; Insufflation ; Lung Compliance ; Respiratory Muscles* ; Supine Position ; Vital Capacity

Various neurological complications occur in association with human immunodifiency virus (HIV) infection. These complications occur at all stages of infection and any level of central and peripheral nervous system. Neurological complications, such as aseptic meningitis, encephalopathy, neuropathy, myelopathy, and brachial neuritis, develop in association with primary HIV infection. We here in report a case of peripheral facial palsy with suspicious peripheral vertigo manifested as initial symptoms of primary HIV infection.
Brachial Plexus Neuritis ; Dizziness ; Facial Paralysis ; HIV ; HIV Infections ; Humans ; Meningitis, Aseptic ; Peripheral Nervous System ; Spinal Cord Diseases ; Vertigo ; Viruses

Allografts ; Bacteria ; Bacteriology ; Communicable Diseases ; Gamma Rays ; Humans ; Incidence ; Korea ; Radiation, Ionizing ; Sterilization ; Tendons ; Tissue Banks ; Tissue Donors

Background: The periorbital area plays an important role cosmetically. Periorbital wrinkles are attributed to long-term, repeated use of orbicularis oris muscles and UV-induced dermal collagen degeneration. Fractional microneedle radiofrequency (RF) treats scars and laxity by creating vertical channels of injury in the dermis, triggering a scarless healing cascade and neocollagenesis. Objective: To evaluate the effect and safety of a novel fractional microneedle RF device on periorbital wrinkles based on several objective indicators. Methods: Eleven healthy Korean patients aged 30 to 75 years with periorbital wrinkles were included in this study. Wrinkle grades were evaluated using the Fitzpatrick wrinkle assessment scale (WAS). The melanin and erythema index, transepidermal water loss (TEWL), and three parameters for elasticity were recorded. Skin biopsies were obtained in patients who consented. Results: All patients exhibited wrinkle improvement in the lateral periorbital area, and two patients also showed efficacy in the lower eyelid area. There was a statistically significant decrease in WAS and a significant improvement in the melanin index of V4 and V5. TEWL also showed a considerable decline on V4 and V5, suggesting that the water content of the skin increased with repeated laser sessions. A peak increase in viscoelasticity and a decrease in retraction time following the first laser application were observed. In the histopathologic examination, the dermis had a denser collagen and elastin content. Conclusion Microneedle fractional RF resulted in statistically significant long-term clinical improvement of periorbital wrinkles and enhanced pigmentation and skin hydration.