BACKGROUND: Transfusion-transmitted virus (TTV) and TTV-like mini virus (TLMV) are small DNA virus with single-stranded, closed circular, antisense genome infecting man. TTV and TLMV are trans-missible by transfusion. However there had been a few study about TTV prevalence and no study about prevalence in blood donors in Korea. There has been no study about the TTV and TLMV infection in blood products in Korea. The aim of this study was to gain the prevalence of two viruses in blood products. METHODS: A total of 150 plasma samples from blood products (each 50 units of Red blood cell, whole blood, and platelet concentrate) were tested. The samples are obtained from the segments of the blood products. TTV DNA was detected using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) with two sets of primers (A set and B set) and TLMV DNA was detected using nested PCR with primer set C. RESULTS: TTV DNA was detected in 85.3% (128/150) of blood products. TLMV DNA was detected in 41.3% (62/150) of blood products. Either TTV or TLMV was detected in a total of 140 blood products (92.3%) and both TTV and TLMV were detected in 50 products (33.3%). CONCLUSIONS: The blood products are frequently infected with TTV and (or) TLMV in Korea and they can be transmissible by blood products with high probability.
Blood Donors ; Blood Platelets ; DNA ; DNA Viruses ; Erythrocytes ; Genome ; Humans ; Korea ; Plasma ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Prevalence ; Torque teno virus*

The Author reviewed the literature about quality of life in order to obtain clearer prospect of the following questions what is quality of life? why is quality of life important in the treatment and rehabilitation of the mentally ill? ; how do we measure quality of life? ; given the differences in the culture and mental health service delivery system between foreign county and Korea, what effect on qualify of life in patients and families will the changes in psychosocial rehabilitation movement have in Korea?
Humans ; Korea ; Mental Disorders ; Mental Health Services ; Mentally Ill Persons ; Quality of Life* ; Rehabilitation

XO/XY mosaicism is frequently observed in the most patients with mixed gonadal dysgenesis. Mixed gonadal dysgenesis is a condition of Intersexuality characterized by asymmetric gonads or ambiguous genitalia or both. The external genitalia are always masculinized to some extent, on occasion represent a hypospadias as a common genetic form of a mixed gonadal dysgenesis. The disorder probably results from a cytogenic error that occurs early in embryogenesis. Phenotypic males with mixed gonadal dysgenesis have a high risk of developing gonadal tumors. We describe a case of hypospadias with a unilateral testis and XO/XY chromosome complement that is considered as a mixed gonadal dysgenesis.
Chromosome Aberrations* ; Complement System Proteins ; Disorders of Sex Development ; Embryonic Development ; Female ; Genitalia ; Gonadal Dysgenesis, Mixed ; Gonads ; Humans ; Hypospadias* ; Male ; Mosaicism ; Pregnancy ; Testis

A clinical observation was made on 52 cases of hypospadias which were treated at the department of Urology, Kyung Hee University Hospital during the period of January, 1972 through December, 1985 and the following results were obtained. 1. The patients` age were between 2 to 28 years. Only 22 patients(41.6%) were found in the age group under 6 years. 2. Of 52 cases of hypospadias, 27 cases(50.9%) were penoscrotal, 11 cases(22.7%) were penile, 6 cases(11.3%) were perineal, 4 case(7.5%) were scrotal, 3 cases were glandular and 1 case(1.9%) was chordee without hypospadias in type. 3. Cryptorchidism was the most common among the associated anomalies and it occupied 25% of all patients. 4. Of the 52 cases of hypospadias, one stage operation was done in 12 cases, two stage operation in 32 cases and their success rate was 58.5%, 40.6% in respectively. 5. The most common complication was fistula formation and it occurred in 20 cases(54.5%)of hypospadias repair.
Cryptorchidism ; Female ; Fistula ; Humans ; Hypospadias* ; Male ; Urology

BACKGROUND: Methotrexate (MTX), one of the main drugs used to treat osteosarcoma, is a representative folic acid antagonist. Polymorphisms of various enzymes involved in the metabolism of MTX could contribute to differences in response to MTX in pediatric osteosarcoma patients. METHODS: Blood and tissue samples were obtained from 37 pediatric osteosarcoma patients who were treated with high-dose MTX therapy. The following 4 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) were analyzed: ATIC 347C>G, MTHFR 677C>T, MTHFR 1298A>C and SLC19A1 80G>A. Serial plasma MTX concentrations after high-dose MTX therapy and MTX-induced toxicities were evaluated. Correlations among polymorphisms, MTX concentrations and treatment-induced toxicities were assessed. RESULTS: Plasma MTX levels at 48 hours after high-dose MTX infusion were significantly associated with SLC19A1 80G>A (P=0.031). Higher plasma levels of MTX at 48 and 72 hours were significantly associated with MTX-induced mucositis (P=0.007 and P=0.046) and renal toxicity (P=0.002), respectively. SNP of SLC19A1 gene was associated with development of severe mucositis (P=0.026). CONCLUSION: This study suggests that plasma levels of MTX are associated with GI and renal toxicities after high-dose MTX therapy, and genetic polymorphisms that affect the metabolism of MTX may influence drug concentrations and development of significant side effects in pediatric patients treated with high-dose MTX.
Folic Acid* ; Humans ; Metabolism ; Methotrexate* ; Mucositis ; Osteosarcoma* ; Plasma ; Polymorphism, Genetic* ; Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide

Dynamic strategy(DS) is a fast threshold algorithm for the Octopus 101 perimeter. To analyze the efficiency of DS, we compared the results of visual field measurements using DS and conventional normal strategy(NS). Subjects comprised 60 eyes of 30 normal individuals in the 3rd decade who has not experienced perimetry before. Program G2 was performed on all subjects at random and enough intervals between the two tests(more than 1 hour). Mean testing time was 1047.63+/-219.38 seconds in NS and 684.98+/-130.95 seconds in DS. Testing time reduction rate was 32.69+/-14.35% on average. Mean defect(MD) was 2.80+/-1.02dB, 2.15+/-0.94dB in the two strategies, respectively. Corrected loss variance(CLV) was 1.31+/-0.50dB2 and 1.03+/-0.61dB2 in each test. There was significant difference in MD and CLV statistically(P<0.01). Mean short term fluctuation(SF) was 1.38+/-0.49dB and 1.45+/-0.50 dB; mean reliability factor(RF) was 2.05+/-2.73% and 1.98+/-2.80% in the two strategies, respectively. There was no significant difference in SF and RF statistically(P>0.01). It took less time with DS than NS in Octopus 101 perimeter, but further study will be needed for clinical application of DS.
Octopodiformes* ; Visual Field Tests ; Visual Fields

No Abstract Available.
Hepacivirus* ; Hepatitis C* ; Hepatitis* ; Humans ; Polymerase Chain Reaction*

No Abstract Available.
Hepacivirus* ; Hepatitis C* ; Hepatitis* ; Humans ; Polymerase Chain Reaction*

Automated static perimeters, which are commonly used for early diagnosis and follow-up of glaucoma patients in Korea, are manufactured overseas, and their basic data were obtained from foreigners and normal values were set to meet them. Therefore, verification of validity of those data should precede their application to Koreans. We compared the mean normal values of standard indices of OCTOPUS 101 automated static perimeter with the values obtained from 140 eyes of 70 healthy Koreans using normal strategy(NS)and dynamic strategy(DS). Mean navlues of mean defect(MD), loss variance(LV), corrected loss variance(CLV), and short-term fluctuation(SF)were: 2.84+/-0.85dB, 2.15+/-0.54dB, 1.22+/-0.42dB, 1.43+/-0.22dBwith NS, and 2.05+/-0.81dB, 1.98 +/-0.58dB, 0.97+/-0.49dB, 1.43+/-0.24dB, repectively with DS. With NS, 114 of 140 eyes (81. 4%)were out of the normal range of MD. With DS, 67 of 140 eyes(47. 9%)were out of normal range of MD, and 2 of 140 eyes(1. 4%)were out of the normal range of SF. Values of the other indices were within normal range of both strategies. Statistical analysis of global indices showed that age was significantly correlated with LV, CLV and SF in NS(P<0.05), and that it was also correlated with LV and CLV in DS(P<0.05). These results suggest that both race and age should be taken into acoount in interpretation of visual fields on automated static perimetry.
Continental Population Groups ; Early Diagnosis ; Emigrants and Immigrants ; Glaucoma ; Humans ; Korea ; Octopodiformes* ; Reference Values ; Visual Field Tests ; Visual Fields*

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: The animal model of allergic rhinitis is important to study the pathophysiology of allergy and to design an effective therapy to ameliorate allergic diseases. Despite of numerous reported animal models of allergic rhinitis, there were few reports of murine model sensitized with house dust mite, which is one of the most common antigen that induce allergic rhinitis. The aim of this study was the establishment of the murine model for house dust mite allergy. MATERIALS AND METHODS: C57BL/6 mice were sensitized with Dermatophagoides farinae (Der f) crude extract in complete Freund's adjuvant and repetitive intranasal instillation of Der f extract a total of 6 times at 1 week intervals (group A). In some mice, allergen was intranasally instilled at 1 week intervals without sensitization of allergen (group B). RESULTS: After allergen challenge, nasal symptoms were significantly increased in group A mice. Histopathologically, the number of eosinophil in nasal mucosa were also significantly increased in group A and B mice. High level of Der f-specific IgE antibody was observed in group A mice, whereas those of group B mice was low. CONCLUSION: Our findings suggested that house dust mite allergy can be developed by systemic sensitization of Der f extract with adjuvant and intranasal instillation of allergen. This is more effective method than local sensitization of allergen only.
Animals ; Dermatophagoides farinae ; Dust* ; Eosinophils ; Freund's Adjuvant ; Hypersensitivity ; Immunoglobulin E ; Mice* ; Models, Animal ; Nasal Mucosa ; Pyroglyphidae* ; Rhinitis*