BACKGROUND: Polyvinyl (PVC) plastic container plasticized with di-(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP) has been used for the storage of platelet concentrates for five days in Korea. Authors evaluated a second generation platelet storage container plasticized with tri (2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (TOTM) which was recently produced by Green Cross Medical Corp.(Korea). METHODS: 30 units of platelet concentrates were stored in TOTM-PVC container at 22'C in a flatbed agitator. Samples were taken at day 1,3,5, and 7 from the containers and tested for platelet count, MPV, PDW, pH, HCO3-,LDH, lactate, hypotonic shock response and beta-thromboglobulin (beta-TG). Electron microscopic examination was also performed. RESULTS: The number and functions of platelets were well preserved during storage. pH was maintained above 6.8 and any evidence for platelet activation was minimal. CONCLUSION: The TOTM-PVC second generation platelet storage container recently produced by the Green Cross Medical Corp.(Korea) was able to preserve platelets for at least five days without significant storage lesions.
beta-Thromboglobulin ; Blood Platelets* ; Dihydroergotamine ; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration ; Korea ; Lactic Acid ; Osmotic Pressure ; Plastics ; Platelet Activation ; Platelet Count ; Polyvinyls

Cervical pregnancy is a rare form of ectopic gestation and it can cause serious bleeding, shock and death. Although hysterectomies are still performed due to massive hemorrhages, there are some conservative approaches to cervical pregnancies to conserve fertility. Methotrexate is a very useful agent in the management of trophoblastic disease, and has been utilized recently for the successful management of tubal, interstitial, and cervical ectopic gestations. We report a case of viable cervical pregnancy treated successfully with intraamniotic injection of methotrexate guided by transabdominal ultrasonography.
Fertility ; Hemorrhage ; Hysterectomy ; Methotrexate* ; Pregnancy* ; Shock ; Trophoblasts ; Ultrasonography*

Isolated myeloid sarcoma is a rare extramedullary manifestation, characterized by the presence of myeloid blasts in the body and occurring without bone marrow involvement. While the isolated myeloid sarcoma involvement in the nasal cavity of adults has been reported sparsely, there have been no documented cases involving children in South Korea. Given its rarity, diagnosing isolated myeloid sarcoma is challenging without resorting to a biopsy accompanied by a comprehensive panel of immunohistochemistry. In this context, we present a case of a 5-yearold child diagnosed with isolated myeloid sarcoma situated within the right nasal cavity. Notably, this case is unique as there is no evidence of bone marrow invasion or underlying hematological disorders.

We found a case of Ael for the first time in Korea. The patient was 28-year-old woman admitted for the delivery of her first baby. Patient's red cells were typed as O, while the serum typing was A. The red cells were agglutinated by anti-H, but not agglutinated by anti-A1 or anti-AB. Adsorption of anti-A by patient's RBC was confirmed on the adsorption-elution test. In the saliva, only H substance was demonstable. A substance was not demonstrated either in the serum or in the saliva. A transferase was not demonstrated in patient's serum. One of the patient's sister and her daughter, and the patient's son also had same Ael phenotype.
Adsorption ; Adult ; Female ; Humans ; Korea* ; Nuclear Family ; Phenotype ; Saliva ; Siblings ; Transferases

BACKGROUND: A retrospective study was performed to estimate the frequency of red cell antibodies in blood donors (n=1,620,023) and transfusion candidates (SNUH n=12,111, YUMH n=26,665) for last 2 years (2000~2001). The results of the antibody screening and identification tests, the frequency and specificities of antibodies identified compared with blood centers and two hospitals had been used the different test methods each others. METHOD: Blood centers had been used tube and micro-plate method simultaneously with an in house and commercial panels. SNUH had been used micro-plate method using V plate with an in house and commercial panels. YUMH had been used gel agglutination technique (DiaMed ID System : DiaMed, Murten; Switzerland) since 1998. RESULTS: The frequencies of red blood cell antibodies were 0.26% (4,204 / 1,620,023 donor sera ), 0.11% (135 / 12,111 patient sera in SNUH) and 0.48% (128 / 26,665 patient sera in YUMH). Female donors and old ages showed higher frequency of red cell antibodies than male and young ages. Most of antibodies detected in donors were clinically less relevant antibodies such as Anti-Lea and Leb (38.9%), anti-P1 (18.1%), anti-H(IH) (8.4%), anti-M (6.2%) and so on. Clinically significant antibodies including Rh system antibodies (2.0%) were few, and composed only 12% of all the antibodies detected. In patients, clinically relevant antibodies including Rh antibodies (40.4% in SNUH, 71.9% in YUMH) were more frequently observed comparing with in donors. CONCLUSION: Antibodies found in donors were mostly clinically less relevant. Antibody screening method used in blood centers would be standardized. Blood banks using gel technique showed high detection rate of clinically significant antibodies comparing with facilities using other methods.
Agglutination ; Antibodies* ; Antibody Specificity ; Blood Banks ; Blood Donors* ; Erythrocytes ; Female ; Humans ; Korea* ; Male ; Mass Screening ; Retrospective Studies ; Tissue Donors

A 72-year-old man with a regrowing tongue mass and refractory anemia received two units of compatible red blood cells by saline and albumin phase crossmatching tests. One hour after the last unit, he had a hemolytic transfusion reaction manifested by chest discomfort, fever, redcolored urine, fall in hemoglobin, hemoglobinuria and bilirubinemia. He developed acute renal failure and pulmonary edema and died three days later. Anti-E+Fy(a) antibodies were identified in the patient's serum. This case suggests that indirect antiglobulin crossmatching tests or antibody screening tests are needed for routine pretransfusion tests in Korea.
Acute Kidney Injury ; Aged ; Anemia, Refractory ; Antibodies ; Blood Group Incompatibility* ; Erythrocytes ; Fever ; Hemoglobinuria ; Humans ; Hyperbilirubinemia ; Korea ; Mass Screening ; Pulmonary Edema ; Thorax ; Tongue

Objectives: . This study evaluated the surgical outcomes of patients with Beckwith-Wiedemann syndrome who underwent tongue-reduction surgery and analyzed whether the malocclusion and mandibular prognathism caused by macroglossia could be improved. Methods: . A retrospective medical record review was performed for 11 patients with Beckwith-Wiedemann syndrome whose macroglossia was surgically treated. Demographic data, symptoms and signs, and intraoperative and postoperative surgical outcomes were evaluated. Surgery was performed by a single surgeon using the “keyhole” technique, involving midline elliptical excision and anterior wedge resection. Preoperative and postoperative plain skull lateral X-rays were evaluated to assess prognathism improvement. Results: . The median age at the time of surgery was 35.09 months, and the ratio of males to females was 4:7. The median surgical time was 98±31.45 minutes, and the median duration of the postoperative intensive care unit stay was 3.81±2.4 days. There were no airway complications. Two patients (18.2%) had postoperative wound dehiscence; however, there was no nerve damage, recurrence, or other complications. Among the five patients who underwent postoperative speech evaluation, all showed normal speech development, except one patient who had brain dysfunction and developmental delay. Measurements of the A point-nasion-B point (ANB) angles and sella-nasion-B point (SNB) angles (point A is the most concave point of the anterior maxilla; point B is the most concave point on the mandibular symphysis) on plain X-rays showed a significant decrease in the postoperative SNB angle (P <0.001) and a significant increase in the ANB angle (P <0.011). Conclusion . Tongue-reduction surgery is an effective and safe technique for severe forms of macroglossia associated with Beckwith-Wiedemann syndrome. In addition, it improves mandibular prognathism in young Beckwith-Wiedemann syndrome patients with macroglossia.

Twenty-four factories registered at the Ministry of Labor as factories using or producing cadmium in 1991 were investigated to know the present state of occupational exposure to cadmium in 1992. Nine factories among 24 stopped using or changed to other substances and 1 factory didn't produce any more, but delivered it to other factories through imports. Therefore, only 14 factories were producing or using cadmium. But, alloying materials were uspplied to about 20 and more factories, however, they couldn't be investigated because of limited information. Three factories had less than 50 workers were 3, 6 had 50-300 and 5 had more than 300. About 167 workers were exposed to cadmium. According to the classification by process, there were 4 alloy processes, 2 refinary, 2 elctroplating, 2 dry cell making, 1 industrial battery and 1 copper refinary. 8 factories used metal cadmium, 3 cadmium oxide, 2 cadmium sulfide, and 1 cadmium hyroxide. One factory was importing cadmium stearates only and supplying them to the PVC making factories. The amount of metal cadmium producing in 2 refinary factories was about 50-65 ton per month. The other cadmium compounds were imported. According to exposure level of cadmium in air of the 10 factories examined, each factory could be divided into high, moderate and low exposure groups. 1 battery recycling factory and 3 alloy factories were in the high exposure group and their mean air concentrations were 0.06679, 0.05481, 0.02492, and 0.003mg/m3, respectively. Refinary and industrial battery making factories were in the middle exposure group and their mean air concentrations were 0.00773 and 0.00613 mg/m3, respectively. Finally, low exposure group were copper smelting, dry cell case making, duplicator drum making and electroplating factory and their mean air concentrations were 0.00096, 0.00071, 0.00057 and 0.00054 mg/m3 respectively.
Alloys ; Cadmium Compounds ; Cadmium* ; Classification ; Copper ; Electroplating ; Korea* ; Occupational Exposure* ; Osmeriformes ; Recycling ; Stearates

Despite the rarity of 48, XXYY, having an incidence rate of 1 in 50,000 persons, 1 in 300 persons are reported to have a mental disorder of criminal behavior. The clinical characterics of 48, XXYY are similar to Klinefelter's syndrome such as small testis, tall stature, gynecomastia and can show mental retardation and skeletal anomaly. When the cause of elevated maternal serum AFP is not explained by USG or measurement of amniotic fluid AFP, during the second trimester of pregnancy, it is defined as unexplained elevation of maternal serum AFP. We report a case of 48, XXYY with unexplained elevation of maternal serum AFP which has been experienced in our hospital with brief review of literature.
Amniotic Fluid ; Criminals ; Female ; Gynecomastia ; Humans ; Incidence ; Intellectual Disability ; Klinefelter Syndrome ; Male ; Mental Disorders ; Pregnancy ; Pregnancy Trimester, Second ; Testis

Background and Objectives: The purpose of the mastoidectomy and tympanoplasty is to improve the hearing by removing the middle ear lesion and reconstructing the hearing mechanism. The purpose of this study is to verify whether several factors, including the presence of mastoidectomy can affect the hearing outcome of tympanoplasty patients.Subjects and Method From 1989 to 2018, 1260 patients with chronic otitis media who had been followed up for more than 6 months after type 1 tympanoplasty were selected. The each patient group was divided into 2 groups based on the last audiometry; Group A (post operative air-bone gap [ABG] ≤10 dB HL) and Group B (post operative ABG >10 dB HL). We analyzed the various factors including patency of E-tube or mastoid aeration for each group to figure out which factors affect the post operative hearing outcome. Results: In conclusion, even with mastoidectomy, the final hearing after surgery was worse than that of the group who underwent tympanoplasty only (final ABG; tympanoplasty only vs. tympanoplasty with mastoidectomy; 6.59±9.09 vs. 9.71±8.94). In both with and without mastoidectomy group, the size of the perforation and external ear canal diameter before surgery did not affect the final hearing outcome. On the otherhand, in the group with mastoidectomy, mastoid pneumatization and E-tube patency affected the postoperative prognosis, but not in the case without mastoidectomy. Conclusion In this study, the factors affecting postoperative hearing success were analyzed. The results can be used to predict the postoperative hearing prognosis and to help select surgical treatment.