No abstract available.
Arm* ; Blood Component Transfusion* ; Hospitals, General*

The association rate of antibody with antigen has been reported to be greatly increased by lowering ionic strength. Low-ionic strength salt solution(LISS) method has been used for the detection of various alloantibodies. To investigate the sensitivity of LISS in indirect antiglobulin test, a comparison study of LISS with saline and albumin methods was conducted. A total of 32 patients' samples requested for indirect antiglobulin test were evaluated. Out of 32 patients with clinical immune hemolytic anemia, 11(34.3%) were positive in 37 degrees C saline antiglobulin test, 18(56.2%) in albumin antiglobulin test, 23(71.8%) in LISS antiglobulin test respectively. These results were statistically analyzed using non parametric Page's test for ordered alternatives. LISS method is more sensitive than 37 degrees C saline method or albumin method significantly (p<0.01).
Anemia, Hemolytic ; Coombs Test* ; Humans ; Isoantibodies ; Osmolar Concentration

The cryopathic hemolytic anemia is an autoimmune hemolytic anemia induced by cold antibody. Authors report a case of cryopathic hemolytic anemia confirmed by immunohematologic examination. A 22-year-old man was admitted at Kyung Hee Medical Center in March, 1994, with a past history of Kleinerfelter's syndrome and complained jaundice as well as dizziness. Direct antiglobulin test using polyvalent and anti-C3d monovalent antisera was positive, but was negative against anti-IgG, anti-IgA, and anti-IgM monovalent antisera. Cold agglutinin titer was as high as 1:1024 at 4 degrees C and anti-I specificity was confirmed by using cord bloods. The patient was not improved despite transfusion of washed red cells and administration of prednisolone, and on 16th day of hospitalization he manifested sudden episode of headache and loss of conscioussness, soon followed by death.
Anemia, Hemolytic* ; Anemia, Hemolytic, Autoimmune ; Coombs Test ; Dizziness ; Fetal Blood ; Headache ; Hospitalization ; Humans ; Immune Sera ; Jaundice ; Prednisolone ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Young Adult

BACKGROUND: Dual esterase reaction enables simultaneous visualization of the cells exhibiting different characteristics by combining two esterase stains on a single slide. However, most methods previously reported require the smear slides to be stained twice, using separate coupling reagent with each substrate. Authors attempted to combine chloroacetate esterase (CAE) and alpha-naphthyl butyrate esterase (ANBE) staining methods by using single incubation and single mixed reagent. METHODS: For dual cytochemical reaction, buffy coat slides of normal subjects and bone marrow smear slides of patients with acute myelogenous leukemia (AML) and myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) were used. Eighty mg of fast blue BB salt was dissolved in 50 mL of 0.1 mol/L phosphate buffer (pH 8.0). In the fast blue BB solution, 2 mL of acetone containing 4 mg of naphthol AS-D chloroacetate (Sigma, USA) and 8 mg of alpha-naphthyl butyrate (Sigma, USA) was added. Air dried slides were fixed with buffered formalin-acetone solution for 1 minutes. The fixed slides were allowed to be incubated with the single mixed reagent solution at room temperature for 20 minutes. Aquous hematoxylin dye was used for counterstaining. RESULTS: Granulocytes were stained bright blue by single-incubated dual esterase reaction. Monocytes and their precursors showed dark brownish positivity in cytoplasmic granules. Megakaryocytes in bone marrow revealed positive reaction for only ANBE by dual esterase method. The activity of CAE in myeloid lineage was markedly decreased in patients with MDS and some cells revealed dual staining activity with both punctate blue and brownish granules. A few neutrophils in karryorrhexis observed in remission marrow of AML patient showed strong positive reaction for CAE. CONCLUSIONS: Dual esterase staining method using single incubation is very simple in staining procedure and of use in simply identifying cellular characteristics and differentiation of myeloid and monocytic lineages on a single slide.
Acetone ; Bone Marrow ; Butyrates ; Coloring Agents ; Cytoplasmic Granules ; Granulocytes ; Hematoxylin ; Humans ; Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute ; Megakaryocytes ; Monocytes ; Myelodysplastic Syndromes ; Neutrophils

This study aimed to assess the potential usefulness of optical coherence tomography[OCT]for the diagnosis of central serous chorioretinopathy. OCT was used to examine 50 patients[50 eyes]whose initial examination disclosed the clinical diagnosis of central serous chorioretinopathy. Optical coherence tomographic section acquired directly through the fovea showed an increase of the neurosensory retina above an optically clear space corresponding to a fluid-filled cavity. Serial OCT were able to demonstrate a decrease in the sensory retina elevation from[900~120]micrometer t o [130~0]micrometer for 3 months of period. This resolution correlated with an improvement in the patient's visual acuity. OCT is potentially useful as a new, noninvasive diagnostic technique for quantitative examination by objectively monitoring the degree of serous retinal detachment in patients with central serous chorioretinopathy.
Central Serous Chorioretinopathy ; Diagnosis* ; Humans ; Retina ; Retinal Detachment ; Tomography, Optical Coherence ; Visual Acuity

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study is to investigate the prevalence of impaired platelet responsiveness to epinephrine in healthy subjects. Also, we compared the platelet aggregability in response to various agonists in normal population. METHODS: A total of 156 healthy subjects aged 21 to 57 years were investigated for the evidence of impaired responsiveness to epinephrine. Aggregometer PACKS-4 (Platelet Aggregation Chromogenic Kinetic System-4, Helena, Beaumont, USA) was used for platelet function test. Aggregating agonists (Helena Haemostasis Systems, UK) used in the study were consisted of ADP (10 micrometer), collagen (10 microgram/mL), epinephrine (300 micrometer) and ristocetin (1500 microgram/mL). Population showing platelet aggregability with more than 60% activity was classified as normal group, while aggregability with less than 20% as impaired responsiveness. RESULTS: Of 156 healthy subjects, 20.5% (32/156) showed impaired responsiveness, while 33.9% (53/156) revealed decreased aggregability with the activity of less than 60% to epinephrine. The mean of maximal percent aggregating activity for collagen was 90.5+/-11.4% and that of epinephrine was 66.5+/-34.4%. The mean aggregation activity (84.4+/-11.8%) for ADP in subjects showing normal response to epinephrine was significantly higher, compared with that (65.7+/-16.2%) of impaired responsiveness group to epinephrine (P<0.01). CONCLUSION: Impaired responsiveness to epinephrine, which is observed in healthy subjects, appears to be a kind of normal variant reaction. And this abnormality is not considered to be associated with any evident bleeding disorders.
Adenosine Diphosphate ; Blood Platelets* ; Collagen ; Epinephrine* ; Hemorrhage ; Platelet Aggregation ; Platelet Function Tests ; Prevalence* ; Ristocetin

BACKGROUND: Heat-treated erythrocytes have been reported to be undergone fragmentation and microspherocytes transformation in vitro. However, the changes for enzyme activity of WBCs is not well known. The purpose of this study is to investigate the effects of temperature on function and morphology of WBCs and platelets. And we also defined the relationship between temperature-induced changes in morphology of the erythrocytes and cholesterol level. METHODS: Peripheral blood specimens collected from 55 normal healthy subjects were assayed. CBC and biochemical test for heat-treated specimens were performed. Osmotic fragility was tested and echinocytes were counted using phase contrast microscope. DNA was extracted from heated WBCs with Wizard genomic DNA extraction kit(Promega Corp, USA) and applied on 1.5% agarose gel. After heating, plasma proteins were fractionated by sodium dodecyl sulfate-poly-acrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) and compared according to changes of temperature. For the phagocytic function of WBCs, 1 x10(7) CFU/mL of gram-negative bacilli were incubated with specimens for 4 hours. Enzymatic activities for myeloperoxidase(MPO), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), and esterase (EST) were confirmed with cytochemical reaction. RESULTS: After incubation at 50 degrees C for 5 min, platelets were counted as 2,978.2 x 10(9)/L and the number of eosinophil was 5.58 x 10(9)/L. And blood glucose level was decreased from 92.4 mg/dL to 59.1 mg/dL, whereas the value of cholesterol was changed as follows; 201.3 mg/dL at 0 sec, 174.6 mg/dL at 60 sec, 151.2 mg/dL at 90 sec, and 197.6 mg/dL at 5 min. In the same temperature, the proportion of echinocytes was 94.1% at 90 sec and decreased to 2.3% at 5 min. In osmotic fragility test, the hemolysis of RBCs began at 0.74% of NaCl and completed at 0.35% of NaCl. Phagocytic function of leukocytes was lost at 52 degrees C, and enzyme activity was lost at following temperature ; MPO at 70t, EST at 70 degrees C, and ALP at 56 degrees C, respectively. SDS-PAGE patterns reveal individual differences of protein at same temperature condition. Aggregating function of platelets were lost, after incubation at 43 degrees C for 5 min. In EDTA-anticoagulated blood, temperature-induced platelelet aggregation was intensified, while in heparinized blood, platelet aggregation was not induced by heat. CONCLUSION: For morphological transformation of erythrocytes in vitro, 50 degrees C is critical point of temperature to induce fragmentation and microspherocytes. Plasma cholesterol appears to play some role to formation of echinocytes induced by heat. MPO is more stable for high temperature than EST and ALP. And sensitivity of RBCs to temperature is considered to be different individually.
Alkaline Phosphatase ; Blood Cells* ; Blood Glucose ; Blood Proteins ; Cholesterol ; DNA ; Electrophoresis ; Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel ; Eosinophils ; Erythrocytes ; Heating ; Hemolysis ; Heparin ; Hot Temperature* ; Individuality ; Leukocytes ; Osmotic Fragility ; Plasma ; Platelet Aggregation ; Sepharose ; Sodium

No abstract available.
Cardiomyopathy, Hypertrophic*

To observe the role of oxygen free radical and enzymatic scavengers in cerebral ischemia, an infarction model was made using transorbital occlusion of the middle cerebral artery in cats. The changes of the superoxide radical production and the activities of superoxide dismutase and catalase were measured. The results were as follows ; 1) The infarction of the left middle cerebral artery(MCA) territory was identified with intracardiac perfusion of a TTC solution after transorbital occlusion. 2) The superoxide radical activities after occlusion of the left MCA were not changed in all groups except for the decrease in 6 hours group of the right side compared to the control group(p<0.05). 3) The Mn-superoxide dismutase activities of the left side in the 12 hours group were significantly higher than those of the right side(p<0.01) and those in the control group(p<0.05). 4) The Cu, Zn-superoxide dismutase activities of the left side in the 3 hours group after occlusion of the left MCA were significantly higher than those in the control group(p<0.05). 5) The catalase activities of the left side in the 3 hours, 6 hours and 12 hours groups after occlusion of the left MCA were significantly higher than those of the right side(p<0.05). 6) The catalase activities of the left side in the 12 hours group after occlusion of the left MCA were significantly higher than those in the control group(p<0.05). The authors suggest that the enzymatic scavangers such as Mn-SOD, Cu, Zn-SOD and catalase increased in the infarcted brain, which means an involvement of free radicals in cerebral infarction.
Animals ; Brain ; Brain Ischemia ; Catalase* ; Cats ; Cerebral Infarction* ; Free Radicals ; Infarction ; Middle Cerebral Artery ; Oxygen ; Perfusion ; Superoxide Dismutase* ; Superoxides*

Balantidium coli is widely distributed in hogs, particularly in warm and temperate climates, and in monkeys in the tropics. B. coli is the only pathogenic ciliate and is the largest protozoan parasitizing humans. Some individuals with B. coli infections are totally asymptomatic, whereas others have symptoms of severe dysentery similar to those seen in patients with amebiasis. We report a 5-year-old girl with asymptomatic balantidiasis. The patient was suffering from herpes zoster for several days. She did not have symptoms of dysentery or urinary tract infection. Motile trophozoites of B. coli were observed in the urinary sediment. This is the first report of asymptomatic balantidiasis in Korea.
Amebiasis ; Balantidiasis ; Balantidium* ; Child, Preschool ; Climate ; Dysentery ; Female ; Haplorhini ; Herpes Zoster ; Humans ; Korea ; Trophozoites ; Urinary Tract Infections