Background: Acetylcholinesterase inhibitors (e.g., pyridostigmine bromide) are used for neuromuscular blockade (NMB) reversal in patients undergoing surgery under general anesthesia (GA). Concurrent use of anticholinergic agents (e.g., glycopyrrolate) decreases cholinergic side effects but can impede bowel movements. Sugammadex has no cholinergic effects; its use modifies recovery of gastrointestinal (GI) motility following laparoscopic cholecystectomy compared to pyridostigmine/glycopyrrolate. This study evaluated the contribution of sugammadex to the recovery of GI motility compared with pyridostigmine and glycopyrrolate. Methods: We conducted a prospective study of patients who underwent laparoscopic cholecystectomy. Patients were randomly allocated to the experimental group (sugammadex, Group S) or control group (pyridostigmine-glycopyrrolate, Group P). After anesthesia (propofol and rocuronium, and 2% sevoflurane), recovery was induced by injection of sugammadex or a pyridostigmine-glycopyrrolate mixture. As a primary outcome, patients recorded the time of their first passage of flatus (‘gas-out time’) and defecation. The secondary outcome was stool types. Results: One-hundred and two patients participated (Group S, 49; Group P, 53). Mean time from injection of NMB reversal agents to gas-out time was 15.03 (6.36–20.25) h in Group S and 20.85 (16.34–25.86) h in Group P (P = 0.001). Inter-group differences were significant. Time until the first defecation as well as types of stools was not significantly different. Conclusions Sugammadex after laparoscopic cholecystectomy under GA resulted in an earlier first postoperative passage of flatus compared with the use of a mixture of pyridostigmine and glycopyrrolate. These findings suggest that the use of sugammadex has positive effects on the recovery of GI motility.

The Landsteiner–Wiener (LW) antigen is a type of red blood cell antigen. Anti-LW appears in various situations, including alloantibodies, autoantibodies, and even transiently occurring antibodies. Anti-LW has similar characteristics to anti-D, so it can interfere with interpreting pre-transfusion tests and finding compatible blood. This paper introduces three cases in whom anti-LW was detected through antibody identification tests. All three cases were examined using the column agglutination technique with ID-DiaPanel (Bio-Rad, Hercules, CA, USA) on a LISS/Coombs card, ID-DiaPanel p (Bio-Rad) on a NaCl/Enzyme card, and ID-DiaPanel (Bio-Rad) on a LISS/Coombs card using red blood cells treated with dithiothreitol. The auto-control test, direct antiglobulin test, and umbilical cord blood test were also performed. In all three cases, the reaction with D-positive panel cells was stronger than that with the D-negative panel cells, and two of them showed a pan-agglutinated reaction in ID-DiaPanel p (Bio-Rad) with NaCl/Enzyme card. They were reported as anti-LW, and as in these cases, anti-LW can occur under a range of conditions and interfere with proper transfusion. Therefore, it is important to identify anti-LW accurately, and if anti-LW is present, the transfusion of D-negative ABO matched blood should be recommended because of the low expression of the LW-antigen. On the other hand, D-positive blood is not a contraindication when an urgent transfusion is needed.

We report a case that revealed the characteristics of acute myeloblastic leukemia with maturation (AML-M2) on the morphology of the bone marrow biopsy and 45,X,-Y in conventional cytogenetic study, but was confirmed to have a typical AML1/ETO translocation by molecular studies using reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction and fluorescence in situ hybridization. Insertion of ETO gene on chromosome 8 into chromosome 21 in this patient resulted in the development of the chimeric gene, AML1/ETO, on the long arm of chromosome 21. Our final report on the patient's karyotype: 45,X,-Y.ish ins(21;8)(q22;q22q22)(AML1 +,ETO +;ETO +,AML1-). In case typical morphologic features compatible with recurrent cytogenetic abnormalities are shown, molecular studies in addition to conventional cytogenetic study might be required to confirm the diagnosis.
Arm ; Biopsy ; Bone Marrow ; Chromosome Aberrations ; Chromosomes, Human, Pair 21 ; Chromosomes, Human, Pair 8 ; Cytogenetics ; Diagnosis ; Fluorescence ; Humans ; In Situ Hybridization ; Karyotype ; Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute* ; Masks* ; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction

BACKGROUND: In acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL), the importance of argyrophilic nucleolar organizer regions (AgNOR) is not established. METHODS: NOR silver staining was carried out in 74 ALL patients. We analyzed the AgNOR parameters ; counting parameters including number of AgNOR per cell, percentage of cells with one cluster, and area parameters including mean AgNOR area, total AgNOR area, and its percentage of nuclear area by morphometry. Cyclin A index was evaluated by immunohistochemical stain. We compared the AgNOR parameters with cyclin A index and evaluated the differences of AgNOR parameters in accordance with FAB classification, immunophenotype, a new classification of ALL (ALL with maturation), and response to induction chemotherapy. RESULTS: A positive correlation was found between cyclin A index and AgNOR area parameters and a significant negative correlation was found between mean AgNOR area and number of AgNOR per cell (r=-0.433, P=0.000). AgNOR area parameters revealed the highest value in L3. The number of AgNOR per cell in T cell ALL was higher than non-T cell ALL (P=0.011), and the percentage of cells with one cluster was lower (P=0.002). The number of AgNOR per cell in ALLm was lower (P=0.004) and the percentage of cells with one cluster was higher than in typical ALL (P=0.002). In cases achieved complete remission (CR) after induction chemotherapy, the number of AgNOR per cell was higher (P=0.005) and the percentage of cells with one cluster was much lower than in cases failed to achieve CR (P=0.013). CONCLUSIONS: Our study indicates that the AgNOR area parameters are helpful to predict the proliferating activity of leukemic blasts in ALL. It is suggested that the number of AgNOR per cell and the percentage of cells with one cluster provide a valuable information to estimate the response to chemotherapy in ALL.
Classification ; Cyclin A ; Drug Therapy ; Humans ; Induction Chemotherapy ; Nucleolus Organizer Region* ; Precursor Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma* ; Silver Staining

BACKGROUND: Microscopic examination of the bone marrow (BM) smear has been a major method for the diagnostic and post-therapeutic evaluation of hematologic disease but is laborious and imprecise due to small number of cells counted. Recently, automated reticulocyte counting is available by the automated hematology analyzer. We analyzed the bone marrow aspirates using Coulter GEN S (GEN S) automated hematology analyzer and compared the results with those by the microscopic examination. METHODS: Total nucleated cells (TNC), leukocyte subpopulations, red cell count, hemoglobin and reticulocyte indices of the peripheral blood (PB) and the BM aspirates, were measured by GEN S in 392 samples including 142 normal control samples. Differential counts by microscopic examination of Wright stained BM films were used as a reference. RESULTS: TNC of the BM obtained by automated hematology analyzer correlated with the BM cel-lularity estimated by microscopic examination (r=0.587, P=0.000). The differential counts of neutrophils and monocytes correlated between these two methods (r=0.582, P=0.000, r=0.309, P=0.000). In acute leukemia, TNC of the PB and the BM, and the BM lymphocyte fraction were increased and the BM neutrophil fraction was decreased. In chronic myelogenous leukemia, TNC of the PB and the BM were high but distribution of leukocyte subpopulations was normal. In normal control group, the number of erythroid precusors correlated with the percentages of reticulocyte in the PB (r=0.425, P=0.000), and in patients with increased erythropoiesis, it showed strong correlation with immature reticulocyte fraction (IRF) of the PB (r=0.708, P=0.033). In aplastic anemia, IRF of the PB was reversely correlated to hemoglobin level, but in myelodysplastic syndrome, reticulocyte indices of the PB and the BM had no correlation with hemoglobin level. In patients with increased erythropoiesis, the percentages of reticulocyte in the PB were increased and those of the BM were decreased in proportion to reduction of hemoglobin level in the PB. CONCLUSIONS: Analysis of the BM aspirates using automated hematology analyzer will be useful in screening of pathological hematologic diseases and in estimating the bone marrow cellularity objectively before those by the microscopic examination. In anemia, this study could provide an additional information to evaluate the ineffective hematopoiesis using reticulocyte indices of the PB and the BM.
Anemia ; Anemia, Aplastic ; Bone Marrow* ; Cell Count ; Erythropoiesis ; Hematologic Diseases ; Hematology* ; Hematopoiesis* ; Humans ; Leukemia ; Leukemia, Myelogenous, Chronic, BCR-ABL Positive ; Leukocytes ; Lymphocytes ; Mass Screening ; Monocytes ; Myelodysplastic Syndromes ; Neutrophils ; Reticulocyte Count ; Reticulocytes

BACKGROUND: The Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) has been commonly used to measure cognitive change over time. The aim of present study was to investigate the normative rates of change for the MMSE across test-retest intervals. METHODS: We administered the Korean MMSE (K-MMSE) to 1055 community-dwelling middle aged and older adults three times over 6 years. Based on the Christensen's health screening criteria (1991), 234 middle-aged healthy adults (104 men, 130 women; mean age 55.95+/-6.20 years; age range 45-64 years; mean education 7.63+/-4.06 years) and 505 healthy elderly (200 men, 305 women; mean age 71.00+/-4.62 years; age range 65-79 years; mean education 5.61+/-5.12 years) were selected for the statistical analysis. Reliable change indices were computed using two different statistical methods, the Reliable Change Index adjusted for practice effects (RCIPE; Chelune et al., 1993) and the Standardized Regression-Based Change Index (SRBCI; McSweeny et al., 1993). RESULTS: For the middle-aged healthy adult group, the 90% confidence intervals of the RCIPE and SRBCI were the same such as +/-4 in 2-year, +/-5 in 4-year, and +/-6 in 6-year test-retest intervals. For the healthy elderly group, the 90% confidence intervals of the RCIPE were -5 and +4 in 2-year interval and -7 and +5 in 4- & 6-year intervals. The 90% confidence intervals of the SRB change index were +/-4 in 2-year interval and +/-6 in 4- & 6-year intervals. CONCLUSIONS: The result provides the normative data of the reliable change scores for the K-MMSE for the middle-aged and older adults. It shows that the reliable change indices were varied across different age groups as well as test-retest intervals.
Adult ; Aged ; Humans ; Male ; Mass Screening ; Middle Aged

Pallister-Killian syndrome (PKS) is a rare disorder characterized cytogenetically by tetrasomy 12p for isochromosome of the short arm of chromosome 12. PKS is diagnosed by prenatal genetic analysis through chorionic villous sampling, genetic amniocentesis, and cordocentesis, or by chromosomal analysis of skin fibroblasts, but is not usually detected by chromosomal analysis of peripheral blood cells. Herein, we report a case of a gravida at 23 weeks gestation with pulmonary stenosis and right ventricular dilation of the heart which were detected by sonography. Fluorescence in situ hybridization and a multicolor banding technique were performed to verify the diagnosis as 47,XX, +mar.ish i(12)(p10)(TEL++)[16]/46,XX[4], and an autopsy confirmed the cardiac anomalies detected on antenatal sonography.
Adult ; Chromosome Aberrations ; Chromosomes, Human, Pair 12 ; Female ; Fetal Diseases/*diagnosis/genetics ; Gestational Age ; Humans ; In Situ Hybridization, Fluorescence ; Karyotyping ; Pregnancy ; *Prenatal Diagnosis ; Pulmonary Valve Stenosis/*ultrasonography ; Ventricular Dysfunction, Right/*ultrasonography

BACKGROUND: Free light chain (FLC) is widely used to evaluate B-cell proliferative diseases. Herein, we estimated the clinical usefulness of serum FLC in multiple myeloma (MM). METHODS: Fifty-one patients were enrolled. We performed FLC analysis, protein electrophoresis (PEP), and immunofixation electrophoresis (IFE). FLC was measured using Toshiba 200 FR Neo with FREELITE(TM), and kappa/lambda (kappa/lambda) ratio was calculated. We compared these parameters in 41 patients with increased FLC before and after bortezomib treatment. Complete response (CR) was defined as the disappearance of monoclonal (M) protein in serum and/or urine as measured by IFE. Partial response (PR) was defined as > or =50% reduction of serum M protein. Early objective response (EOR) included both CR and PR. Minimal response (MR) was defined as 25-49% reduction of M protein and stable disease (SD) as <25% reduction. RESULTS: Forty-one (80.4%) of the 51 patients studied revealed increment of FLC and the five patients with no increment revealed an abnormal kappa/lambda ratio. Especially, all of the light chain myeloma and non-secretory myeloma showed increased FLC concentrations. Among the patients with EOR, 72.4% (21/29) showed a normal or subnormal FLC concentration after the first cycle of treatment. Otherwise, PEP and IFE normalized in 24.1% (7/29) and 24.1% (7/29), respectively. The ratio of decreased FLC after the first cycle of treatment was significantly different between EOR and other response groups (MR, SD) (90.6% vs 51.8%, P=0.011). CONCLUSIONS: FLC was considered as a good diagnostic method in complement with PEP and IFE in MM, especially in light chain myeloma or non-secretory myeloma. Moreover, FLC is a useful monitoring tool because it reflects therapy results more rapidly owing to a short serum half-life.
Adult ; Aged ; Boronic Acids/therapeutic use ; Female ; Humans ; Immunoelectrophoresis ; Immunoglobulin Light Chains/*blood/urine ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Multiple Myeloma/*diagnosis/therapy ; Pyrazines/therapeutic use ; Reagent Kits, Diagnostic

BACKGROUND: The fecal occult blood test (FOBT) is presently the only laboratory test for screening a population for colorectal cancer. However, the effectiveness of FOBT to reduce the mortality from colorectal cancer is still controversial. The cytokeratin-19 (CK-19) is highly expresssed in gastrointestinal (GI) epithelium. Therefore, fecal CK-19 excretion could be increased in gastrointestinal diseases. METHODS: We estimated fecal CK-19 using cytokeratin-19 enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (Roche Diagnostics, Mannheim, Germany) on 53 stool samples from patients with various GI diseases and 100 stool samples from control patients. We conducted a study of rapid fecal CK-19 test using gold immunochromatography developed by DiNonA Research Institute (Seoul, Korea) and the fecal occult blood test (FOBT) on 115 stool samples from patients with various GI diseases and 181 stool samples from control patients. RESULTS: The cutoff value of fecal CK-19 was 408.7 pg/80mg. The sensitivity of the rapid fecal CK-19 kit was 10,000 epithelial cells /ml. The positive rate of rapid fecal CK-19 test was 4.4% in the controls, 83.9% in the thrombotic microangiopathy patients after BMT and it was higher than the positive rate of FOBT (58.1%, P=0.0264). In the overall GI diseases including GI cancers, the sensitivity of rapid fecal CK-19 test was 56.5%, and that of FOBT was 21.7%. The specificity of rapid fecal CK-19 test was 95.6%. CONCLUSIONS: The rapid fecal CK-19 test in conjunction with the FOBT could be a valuable screening method for GI diseases especially for GI inflammation.
Academies and Institutes ; Colorectal Neoplasms ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Epithelial Cells ; Epithelium ; Gastrointestinal Diseases ; Humans ; Immunochromatography ; Inflammation ; Keratin-19 ; Mass Screening ; Occult Blood ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Thrombotic Microangiopathies

BACKGROUND: The fecal occult blood test (FOBT) is presently the only laboratory test for screening a population for colorectal cancer. However, the effectiveness of FOBT to reduce the mortality from colorectal cancer is still controversial. The cytokeratin-19 (CK-19) is highly expresssed in gastrointestinal (GI) epithelium. Therefore, fecal CK-19 excretion could be increased in gastrointestinal diseases. METHODS: We estimated fecal CK-19 using cytokeratin-19 enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (Roche Diagnostics, Mannheim, Germany) on 53 stool samples from patients with various GI diseases and 100 stool samples from control patients. We conducted a study of rapid fecal CK-19 test using gold immunochromatography developed by DiNonA Research Institute (Seoul, Korea) and the fecal occult blood test (FOBT) on 115 stool samples from patients with various GI diseases and 181 stool samples from control patients. RESULTS: The cutoff value of fecal CK-19 was 408.7 pg/80mg. The sensitivity of the rapid fecal CK-19 kit was 10,000 epithelial cells /ml. The positive rate of rapid fecal CK-19 test was 4.4% in the controls, 83.9% in the thrombotic microangiopathy patients after BMT and it was higher than the positive rate of FOBT (58.1%, P=0.0264). In the overall GI diseases including GI cancers, the sensitivity of rapid fecal CK-19 test was 56.5%, and that of FOBT was 21.7%. The specificity of rapid fecal CK-19 test was 95.6%. CONCLUSIONS: The rapid fecal CK-19 test in conjunction with the FOBT could be a valuable screening method for GI diseases especially for GI inflammation.
Academies and Institutes ; Colorectal Neoplasms ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Epithelial Cells ; Epithelium ; Gastrointestinal Diseases ; Humans ; Immunochromatography ; Inflammation ; Keratin-19 ; Mass Screening ; Occult Blood ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Thrombotic Microangiopathies