No abstract available.
Blood Donors* ; Hepacivirus* ; Hepatitis C* ; Hepatitis* ; Humans ; Incheon* ; Prevalence*

BACKGROUND: It is recommended that ABO, Rh typing and unexpected antibody screening should be tested during pregnancy in order to prevent hemolytic disease of the newborn (HDN). However, it is unclear that a routine prenatal antibody screening test predicts the occurrence of HDN. We performed a retrospective study to determine the frequency of unexpected antibody during pregnancy, antibody specificity, and the usefulness of prenatal antibody screening as a predictor of HDN. METHODS: All 6,293 prenatal antibody screening were tested at Eulji hospital from April 1997 to December 2002. The results of antibody screening and identification test were reviewed in laboratory sheet. The past transfusion and pregnant history and postnatal HDN evidence were reviewed in pregnant women with positive antibody screening. A commercial two cell panel, Selectogen I, II, and panel cell (Ortho Diagnostic Systems Inc., Raritan, USA) were used with tube method until March 1999. In April 1999, reagent cells were changed to a gel agglutination test with ID-Diacell I, II and ID-Dia Panel of DiaMed-ID Micro Typing System (DiaMed AG, Cressier, Switzerland). RESULTS: Positive results of antibody screening test were found in 52 cases (0.83%, 52/6,293). Only 28 cases of them were tested antibody identification. Antibody specificity was identified at 22 cases and 17 (77.3%, 17/22) women had unexpected antibodies which are not associated with HDN. They were 11 with anti-Lea , 3 with anti-Leb, and 3 with anti-P1. The others were 3 cases of anti-E, 1 of anti-M, and 1 of anti-S. However, no one had evidence of HDN. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that routine prenatal antibody screening may not be necessary for all pregnant women except Rh (D) negative women or those who have a history of HDN.
Agglutination Tests ; Antibodies ; Antibody Specificity ; Female ; Humans ; Infant, Newborn ; Mass Screening* ; Pregnancy ; Pregnant Women ; Retrospective Studies

In a 49-year-old man admitted due to dyspnea, epistaxis and loss of consciousness, disseminated intravascular coagulation with petechiae and ecchymosis was presented. Bacteria within monocytes and neutrophils were observed in the peripheral blood smear of this patient, and, also, prominent toxic changes, such as marked granulation, vacuolation, and Dohle bodies, were noted in leukocytes. These bacteria could be confirmed by Gram stain of peripheral blood smear and blood cultures as Klebsiella pneumoniae, at 48 hours after bacteremia was diagnosed by the blood films. We believe that this report is the first case of bacteremia diagnosed by a Wright's stained peripheral blood smear in Korea. Despite intensive treatment with respiratory support, associated with broad spectrum antibiotherapy, he died on the second day of the admission and before getting the result of blood cultures. Therefore, direct examination of peripheral blood smears could be a valuable tool for the early diagnosis and management of high-level bacteremia.
Bacteremia* ; Bacteria ; Disseminated Intravascular Coagulation ; Dyspnea ; Early Diagnosis ; Ecchymosis ; Epistaxis ; Humans ; Klebsiella pneumoniae ; Korea ; Leukocytes ; Middle Aged ; Monocytes ; Neutrophils ; Purpura ; Unconsciousness

BACKGROUND: We evaluated newly introduced VARIANTTM II(Bio-Rad Laboratories, CA, USA) hemoglobin(Hb) A1c autoanalyzer, including bar code reading, cap-piercing system and automatic hemolyzing. It utilizes ion-exchange high performance liquid chromatography(HPLC) method. METHODS: Linearity, precision, comparison with Hi-AUTOA1cTM HA-8121(Kyoto Daiichi, Kagaku Co. Ltd, Kyoto, Japan) and analysis time were evaluated. The reference range was determined by VARIANTTM II from 120 healthy subjects. RESULTS: Linearity through the range from 5.8% to 14.7% was good(r2=0.9909). The within-run coefficients of variation(CVs) for groups of low, middle and high level were 3.07%, 1.96% and 2.14% and between-day CVs for each group were 2.35%, 3.09% and 2.10%, respectively. Correlation equation between VARIANTTM II and Hi-AUTOA1cTM HA-8121 was VARIANTTM II = 1.0886(Hi-AUTOA1cTM HA-8121) + 0.4760% Hb A1c(r=0.9906). Two instruments were also compared by Altman and Bland's method and mean bias was 1.20. Analysis time of VARIANTTM II was 15.6 tests per hour compared with 14.8 tests of Hi-AUTOA1cTM HA-8121. The reference range in this study was 2.8-5.9% Hb A1c. CONCLUSIONS: VARIANTTM II showed the acceptable performance and advantage of calibration, and it was suitable for routine use in the clinical laboratory.
Automatic Data Processing ; Bias (Epidemiology) ; Calibration ; Hemoglobin A, Glycosylated ; Reference Values

BACKGROUND: We evaluated the performance and analysis time of HLC-723 G7 (Tosoh corp. Tokyo, Japan) hemoglobin (Hb) A1c autoanalyzer. It utilizes cation exchange high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) method and has a reduced analysis time compared with that of an earlier model HLC-723GHb V A1c 2.2(TM) (HLC-723GHb V, Tosoh corp. Tokyo, Japan). METHODS: We evaluated linearity, precision and comparison with HLC-723GHb V following NCCLS guidelines and counted the number of tests per hour to estimate analysis time. RESULTS: Linearity through the range from 5.8% to 13.9% was good (r2=0.9930, relative nonlinearity <2.5%). The within-run coefficients of variation (CVs) for groups of low, middle, and high level were 1.09%, 0.76%, and 0.68% and total CVs for each group were 1.60%, 0.91%, and 1.00%, respectively. Correlation equation between HLC-723 G7 and HLC-723GHb V was HLC-723 G7=1.0308 (HLC-723GHb V)-0.2896 %Hb A1c (r=0.9992, P<0.0001). Analysis time of HLC-723 G7 was 1.2 minutes per test compared with 2.1 minutes of HLC-723GHb V. CONCLUSIONS: HLC-723 G7 showed the acceptable performance and shortening analysis time therefore, it was suitable for reducing turn around time of Hb A1c assay.
Chromatography, Liquid ; Hemoglobin A, Glycosylated

BACKGROUND: Sinusitis is a common and frequently recurrent illness in children. Respiratory allergy has been recognized as a major factor that predisposes children to recurrent and chronic sinusitis. Another important causative factors of recurrent sinusitis in children is immunodeficiency diseases. Among them, humoral immunodeficient disease especially is associated with recurrent sinusitis. Most common immune defect in recurrent sinusitis is immunoglobulin deficiency. OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study is to obtain a quantitative data of serum immunoglobulins in children with recurrent sinusitis, to investigate a relationship between recurrent sinusitis and immunoglobulin deficiency. MATERIALS AND METHODS: 30 childrens were selected who had been diagnosed as recurrent sinusitis at Nowon Eulji hospital in 1996. The serum immunoglobulins were evaluated by Latex agglutination immunoassay and ELISA. RESULTS: The serum IgG was within normal limits and IgA deficiency appeared in 1 patient but serum IgM appeared higher than normal value over 3 years patients. The serum IgG subclass deficiency appeared in 3 patients for IgG(1), 7 patients for IgG(2), 14 patients for IgG(3), 10 patients for IgG(4). The combined serum IgG subclass deficiency appeared in 4 patients for IgG(2) and IgG(3), 1 patient for IgG(2) and IgG(4), 4 patient for IgG(3) and IgG(4), 1 patient for IgG(1) and IgG(2) and IgG(3). CONCLUSION: Immunoglobulin deficiency is approved to be closely associated with recurrent sinusitis in children.
Agglutination ; Child* ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Humans ; Hypersensitivity ; IgA Deficiency ; Immunoassay ; Immunoglobulin G ; Immunoglobulin M ; Immunoglobulins* ; Latex ; Reference Values ; Sinusitis*

OBJECTIVES: The microdose of gonadotrophin-releasing hormone agonist (GnRHa) has been suggested as a beneficial method of ovulation induction for poor responders. However, the effect of microdose of GnRHa itself has not been evaluated yet. We performed a prospective sutdy to assess the effect of microdose of GnRHa (5 microgram of triptorelin acetate) on the luteinizing hormone (LH) and follicle stimulating hormone (FSH). Secondary objective of this study is to assess how long the down-regulation of gonadotrophin secretion by microdose GnRHa persists. METHODS: Five microgram of triptorelin was injected daily into five normally menstruating women for 7 days starting from cycle day 3. The blood sample was drawn for 12h with 4h interval, then for 6days with 4 h interval and once a day for 14days, In next cycle, same amount of triptorelin was injected into the same subjects daily for 3 days. The blood sample was drawn twice a day for 20days. Serum FSH, LH and extradiol level was measured. RESULTS: The serum LH and FSH level increased rapidly after injection of first GnRHa. The FSH level reached peak (27.53+/-6.34 IU/l) in 5h while LH level reached peak (34.35+/-7.18 IU/l) in 4h. The flare of gonadotrophins persisted even after second and third day injection of GnRHa, although the peak levels were not as high as first injection. The down regulation of gonadotrophin was established in 4-5 days. The estradiol level increased for 4-5 days then decreased. When GnRHa was given for 7days, the estradiol level began to rise 7-8 days after last injection; when given for 3days, the estradiol level began to rise 3-6 days after last injection. CONCLUSION: Even with ultra-low dose of GnRHa, the down-regulation of gonadotrophin could be achieved. The flare-up of gonadotrophin would persist for 3days with this dose. The duration of down regulation was influenced by the duration of GnRHa administration.
Down-Regulation ; Estradiol* ; Female ; Follicle Stimulating Hormone ; Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone* ; Gonadotropins* ; Humans ; Luteinizing Hormone ; Ovulation Induction ; Prospective Studies ; Triptorelin Pamoate

We report a case of diffuse pneumocephalus due to infection. Brain CT revealed diffuse brain swelling and diffuse pneumocephalus in the ventricular system, subarachnoid space, subdural/epidural space and superior sagittal sinus. CSF disclosed the presence of a yellowish-green pus-like liquid. Polymerase chain reaction was positive for Haemophilus influenza Ag.
Brain ; Brain Edema ; Haemophilus ; Influenza, Human ; Meningitis, Bacterial* ; Pneumocephalus* ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Subarachnoid Space ; Superior Sagittal Sinus

Diabetic foot ulcer is a serious clinical problem with significant medical and economic effects on health systems worldwide. Some patients undergo amputation and others experience disability for an extended period of time. Treatment of diabetic foot ulcer is complex and difficult. Even with proper management, the wounds may not heal as well as expected. To promote wound healing, many advanced topical dressing materials have been developed. Among them, bi-layered collagen membrane, which is composed of collagen and hyaluronic acid, is believed to enhance wound healing. Herein we report two cases of diabetic foot ulcer which were successfully treated using bi-layered collagen membranes.
Amputation ; Bandages ; Collagen ; Diabetic Foot ; Humans ; Hyaluronic Acid ; Membranes ; Ulcer ; Wound Healing

Diabetic foot ulcer is a serious clinical problem with significant medical and economic effects on health systems worldwide. Some patients undergo amputation and others experience disability for an extended period of time. Treatment of diabetic foot ulcer is complex and difficult. Even with proper management, the wounds may not heal as well as expected. To promote wound healing, many advanced topical dressing materials have been developed. Among them, bi-layered collagen membrane, which is composed of collagen and hyaluronic acid, is believed to enhance wound healing. Herein we report two cases of diabetic foot ulcer which were successfully treated using bi-layered collagen membranes.
Amputation ; Bandages ; Collagen ; Diabetic Foot ; Humans ; Hyaluronic Acid ; Membranes ; Ulcer ; Wound Healing