No Abstract Available.
Adenoviridae* ; Coinfection* ; Herpesvirus 3, Human* ; Humans ; Synovial Fluid* ; Synovitis*

No Abstract Available.
Adult* ; Cerebrospinal Fluid* ; Encephalitis* ; Humans ; Meningitis, Aseptic* ; Polymerase Chain Reaction*

No abstract available.
Longevity* ; Scrub Typhus*

BACKGROUND: Autoimmune hemolytic anemias are characterized by autoantibodies recognizing antigens on the Individual's own red blood cells, resulting in immune- mediated hemolysis. Blood transfusions have been regarded as hazardous in patients with autoimmune hemolytic anemia (AIHA) because of potential intensification of hemolysis and a presumed high incidence of alloimmunization. METHODS: We examined the pretransfusion and posttransfusion hemoglobin levels in 6 patients with autoantibodies in their sera, which showed panagglutinations with all bloods tested in the compatibility testing. They received 'least' incompatible blood because of inability to find compatible blood. RESULTS: When we compared pretransfusion hemoglobin level with posttransfusion hemoglobin level, in 5 of 6 patients with AIHA, the hemoglobin levels were increased after red cell transfusion. 4 patient who did not respond to transfusion therapy initially had an increase in hemoglobin level after steroid treatment. Any signs or symptoms indicating hemolytic transfusion reaction were not observed ducting the transfusion period in all patients. CONCLUSIONS: The decision to transfuse in AIHA should consider multiple factors including the patient's clinical status, the potential benefit of transfusion, the potential response to other therapeutic modalities, but must never be regarded as contraindicated, even though the compatibility test may be strongly incompatible.
Anemia, Hemolytic* ; Anemia, Hemolytic, Autoimmune ; Autoantibodies ; Blood Group Incompatibility ; Blood Transfusion ; Erythrocyte Transfusion* ; Erythrocytes* ; Hemolysis ; Humans ; Incidence

BACKGROUND: Autoimmune hemolytic anemias are characterized by autoantibodies recognizing antigens on the Individual's own red blood cells, resulting in immune- mediated hemolysis. Blood transfusions have been regarded as hazardous in patients with autoimmune hemolytic anemia (AIHA) because of potential intensification of hemolysis and a presumed high incidence of alloimmunization. METHODS: We examined the pretransfusion and posttransfusion hemoglobin levels in 6 patients with autoantibodies in their sera, which showed panagglutinations with all bloods tested in the compatibility testing. They received 'least' incompatible blood because of inability to find compatible blood. RESULTS: When we compared pretransfusion hemoglobin level with posttransfusion hemoglobin level, in 5 of 6 patients with AIHA, the hemoglobin levels were increased after red cell transfusion. 4 patient who did not respond to transfusion therapy initially had an increase in hemoglobin level after steroid treatment. Any signs or symptoms indicating hemolytic transfusion reaction were not observed ducting the transfusion period in all patients. CONCLUSIONS: The decision to transfuse in AIHA should consider multiple factors including the patient's clinical status, the potential benefit of transfusion, the potential response to other therapeutic modalities, but must never be regarded as contraindicated, even though the compatibility test may be strongly incompatible.
Anemia, Hemolytic* ; Anemia, Hemolytic, Autoimmune ; Autoantibodies ; Blood Group Incompatibility ; Blood Transfusion ; Erythrocyte Transfusion* ; Erythrocytes* ; Hemolysis ; Humans ; Incidence

Serum is free of cellular components. Because DNA is located in the nuclei or mitochondria of cells, serum could be assumed DNA free. Few previously published case reports to date have used serum for DNA typing. Here, we report on human genotyping via short tandem repeat (STR) analysis using serum as a sample, and discuss problems involved in the process.
DNA Fingerprinting* ; DNA* ; Humans ; Microsatellite Repeats* ; Mitochondria

No Abstract Available.
Humans ; Renal Dialysis*

BACKGROUND: Chronic cutaneous lupus erythematosus(CCLE) is a well-known disease entity. But there has been no data about its clinical behavior and histopathologic features in Korea. OBJECTIVES: This study was conducted to elucidate the clinical, laboratory, and histopathologic features of CCLE, and the relationship between CCLE and SLE. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We investigated 48 cases of CCLE that visited the department of dermatology at the Seoul National University Hospital from January 1990 to June 1997. Medical records and biopsy slides were reviewed.
Biopsy ; Dermatology ; Korea ; Lupus Erythematosus, Cutaneous* ; Medical Records ; Seoul

We report a case of hereditary angioedema in a 48-year old female patient. She experidenced facial edema and dyspnea 5 to 6 times for a year. Similar episodes developed on some members of her family, especially her sisters and father. We examined her and her sister's serum complement levels. The results showed decreased levels of C1 esterase inhibitor and C4, compared to normal levels. We treated the patient with danazol effectively.
Angioedemas, Hereditary* ; Complement C1 Inhibitor Protein ; Complement System Proteins ; Danazol ; Dyspnea ; Edema ; Fathers ; Female ; Humans ; Middle Aged ; Siblings

PURPOSE: To illustrate frequently encountered anatomic variations on PNS computed tomography(CT) and to assess their clinical significance. MATERIALS AND METHODS: CT findings of 1523 patients, who underwent PNS CT with no history of sinus surgery, were reviewed, and prevalence of each anatomic variation and its relationship with mucociliary clearance pathway was evaluated. RESULTS: Two categories of anatomic variations were encountered. The first group included variations of the turbinates, such as concha bullosa(28.6% ), paradoxical middle turbinate(31.5%), of the uncinate process, such as medially bent or folded(36.3%), laterally bent(3.7%) or uncinate bulla(0.5%), of the ethmoidal sinus, such as Haller's ce11(28.2%), large agger nasi ce11(9.6%) or large ethmoidal bulla(23.5%) and nasal septal deviation(24. 1%), which might cause obstruction of mucociliary clearance pathway and thus give rise to secondary obstructive sinusitis. The second group included Onodi ce11(1.4%) and medial depression of the lamina papyracea (3.5%), which were not related with obstructive sinusitis. 87 cases of large agger nasi cell were associated with obstruction of nasofrontal recess. Large ethmoidal bulla(452 cases), Haller's ce11(245 cases) and true concha bullosa (25 cases) contributed to narrowing of the infundibulum. Medially bent uncinate process(220 cases), concha bullosa(157 cases), paradoxical middle turbinate(126 cases) and nasal septal deviation(93 cases) were observed in middle meatal obstruction and supreme concha (3 cases) accompanied sphenoethmoidal recess obstruction. CONCLUSION: Recognition of anatomic variations on PNS CT is important to build a treatment plan in patients with obstructive sinusitis as they may represent causes of the disease, and to avoid critical complications during functional endoscopic sinus surgery.
Anatomic Variation ; Depression ; Humans ; Mucociliary Clearance ; Prevalence ; Sinusitis ; Turbinates