No abstract available.
Doxorubicin* ; Membrane Potentials* ; Membranes* ; Papillary Muscles*

No abstract available.
Blood Platelets* ; Platelet Aggregation*

No abstract available.
Carcinoma, Transitional Cell* ; Humans* ; P-Glycoprotein* ; Urinary Bladder*

No abstract available.
B-Lymphocytes* ; Lymphoma, B-Cell* ; Waldenstrom Macroglobulinemia*

BACKGROUND: The serological detection of the surface antigen (HBsAg) of hepatitis B virus (HBV) is the basis of detection of HBV infections in blood donors and patients with hepatitis. The aim of this study was to compare the performance of HBsAg enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and HBsAg chemiluminescence immunoassay used in Korea. METHODS: We compared seven assays: Architect i 2000 (Abbott Laboratories, USA), Elecsys 2010 immunoanalyzer (Roche Diagnostics, Germany), Advia Centaur (Bayer Healthcare, USA), Murex HBsAg version 3 (Abbott Laboratories, USA), Enzygnost HBsAg 5.0 (DADE Behring, Germany), LG HBsAg ELISA (LG, Korea), and Genedia HBsAg ELISA 3.0 (Greencross Medical Science, Korea). We evaluated the sensitivity of each assay by testing serially diluted WHO HBsAg reference material, two seroconversion panels, and recombinant HBsAg with three mutations in the 'a' determinant. RESULTS: The lowest HBsAg level detected by each assay using WHO reference material was variable from 0.05 (Murex and Advia) to 0.2 IU/mL. When testing 21 seroconversion panels, the total number of positive samples was 15 by Murex and 14 by Architect. Murex, LG, and Architect detected all of the 3 mutant samples tested. CONCLUSIONS: Analytical sensitivity and mutant detecting ability among HBsAg commercial assays were variable and not related to the analytical methods, but related to the manufacturer's reagents. We suggest that each laboratory should select an HBsAg assay based on analytical performance, test throughput, and the applicability of full automation.
Chemiluminescent Measurements/*methods ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay/*methods ; Hepatitis B Surface Antigens/*blood ; Humans ; Reagent Kits, Diagnostic ; Reference Values ; Sensitivity and Specificity

No abstract available.
Female ; Fertilization in Vitro* ; Humans ; Pregnancy ; Pregnancy Outcome* ; Pregnancy* ; Pregnancy, Twin*

Vascular tumors in the breast are rare, and most can be classified as being either angiosarcomas or hemangiomas. Hemangiomas are benign vascular tumors that are usually identified incidentally. Here, we are reporting on a case of a complex hemangioma of the breast, and describing the mammography, ultrasonography, and magnetic resonance imaging findings for this patient.
Breast* ; Hemangioma* ; Hemangiosarcoma ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Mammography ; Ultrasonography

OBJECTIVE: We performed this study to evaluate the effects of Sil-Select and Percoll in sperm preparation. METHODS: Semen samples of 22 patients with normal sperm parameters by WHO criteria were divided into two equal parts and prepared with Percoll and Sil-Select. After completion of semen preparation procedures with Percoll and Sil-Select, sperm concentration, motility and morphology using strict criteria were evaluated in each group and all semen samples were fixed and stained for transmission electron microscopy(TEM). RESULTS: There were no significant diffrences in sperm concentration, percentage of motile spermatozoa and percentage of normal spermatozoa in morphology evaluation using strict criteria under light microscopy between Percoll and Sil-Select-treated groups. However, the percentage of normal shape and position of acrosome, and normal helix assembly of mitochondria under TEM were significantly higher in the Sil-Select-treated group compared to Percoll-treated group (p < 0.001, p < 0.001, p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: These data demonstrate that Sil-Select is less detrimental to the acrosome and mitochondria of spermatozoa in sperm preparation compared to Percoll.
Acrosome ; Humans ; Male ; Microscopy ; Microscopy, Electron, Transmission ; Mitochondria ; Semen ; Spermatozoa*

Diabetic nephropathy is a common and serious complication in diabetic patients. Renal diseases other than diabetic nephropathy (non-diabetic nephropathy) can occur in diabetic patients with nephrosis. The presence of non-diabetic nephropathy is noted in type 2 diabetes patients, but no data exists for type 1 diabetes. In this report we describe the case of a 15-year-old girl with type 1 diabetes mellitus, who presented with an acute elevation of urinary microalbumin excretion, general edema, and liver enzyme elevation. She had shown microalbuminuria about 3 years earlier, as well as an uncontrolled hemoglobin A1c level, but she had no diabetic retinopathy and neuropathy. A renal biopsy was conducted, and she was diagnosed with primary focal segmental glomerulosclerosis. She was treated with corticosteroids and an angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitor.
Adolescent ; Adrenal Cortex Hormones ; Biopsy ; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1 ; Diabetic Nephropathies ; Diabetic Retinopathy ; Edema ; Glomerulosclerosis, Focal Segmental ; Hemoglobins ; Humans ; Liver ; Nephrosis ; Peptidyl-Dipeptidase A

PURPOSE: To evaluate clinical characteristics and the macular gradient in myopic posterior staphyloma with time domain (TD) optical coherence tomography (OCT). METHODS: Sixty-four staphyloma eyes of 40 patients were examined. Macular gradient (tangent theta) and the location of staphyloma were assessed with OCT imaging. The macular gradient was measured at points 1 mm and 2 mm distant from the fovea. The relationships of the macular gradient with age, axial length, and spherical equivalent were analyzed. RESULTS: In 8 eyes (12.5%), the bottoms of the staphylomas were in the fovea, and there was no macular gradient. However, in the other 56 eyes (87.5%), the bottoms of the staphylomas were not in the foveal area, and macular gradients existed. Staphylomas were commonly located in the infero-nasal retinal area. The mean macular gradient (tangent theta) was 0.26 +/- 0.08 at 1 mm distance from the fovea and 0.28 +/- 0.10 at 2 mm. No significant relationships were observed between macular gradient and axial length, patient age, or spherical equivalent. CONCLUSIONS: TD OCT reveals staphyloma location. If the location is outside of the fovea, a macular gradient exists and can be measured by OCT. Axial length measurement error may occur in eyes with poor visual fixation and steep macular gradients.
Disease Progression ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Macula Lutea/*pathology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Myopia, Degenerative/complications/*pathology ; Retrospective Studies ; Scleral Diseases/complications/*pathology ; Severity of Illness Index ; Tomography, Optical Coherence/*methods