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

Among the causes of pure red cell aplasia, human parvovirus B19 has been shown to be cytotoxic to erythroid progenitor cells in the bone marrow associated with chronic hemolytic anemia with rapidly dividing erythroids and persistently to be suppression of erythropoiesis in immunocompromised individuals related with failure to produce neutralizing antibody to the virus. In a patient with hereditary spherocytosis presenting acute onset of reticulocytopenia during hospitalization, who had shown severe anemia and prodromal symptoms including fever, fatigue and dizziness, infection of parvovirus Bl9 was proven by the presence of IgM and IgG antibodies to parvovirus Bl9, the detection of viral DNA using PCR technique in her serum and the decreased erythroid cells, especially late normoblasts in bone marrow, Also in the other who was diagnosed as hereditary elliptocytosis and complained of fever, headache, abdominal pain and diarrhea, an episode of reticulocytopenia and the nearly absence of late normoblasts in the bone marrow were observed. IgM antibodies to parvovirus Bl9 and the viral DNA were detected in her serum, too.
Abdominal Pain ; Anemia ; Anemia, Hemolytic ; Antibodies ; Antibodies, Neutralizing ; Bone Marrow ; Diarrhea ; Dizziness ; DNA, Viral ; Elliptocytosis, Hereditary* ; Erythroblasts ; Erythroid Cells ; Erythroid Precursor Cells ; Erythropoiesis ; Fatigue ; Fever ; Headache ; Hospitalization ; Humans* ; Immunoglobulin G ; Immunoglobulin M ; Parvovirus B19, Human ; Parvovirus* ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Prodromal Symptoms ; Red-Cell Aplasia, Pure

Among the causes of pure red cell aplasia, human parvovirus B19 has been shown to be cytotoxic to erythroid progenitor cells in the bone marrow associated with chronic hemolytic anemia with rapidly dividing erythroids and persistently to be suppression of erythropoiesis in immunocompromised individuals related with failure to produce neutralizing antibody to the virus. In a patient with hereditary spherocytosis presenting acute onset of reticulocytopenia during hospitalization, who had shown severe anemia and prodromal symptoms including fever, fatigue and dizziness, infection of parvovirus Bl9 was proven by the presence of IgM and IgG antibodies to parvovirus Bl9, the detection of viral DNA using PCR technique in her serum and the decreased erythroid cells, especially late normoblasts in bone marrow, Also in the other who was diagnosed as hereditary elliptocytosis and complained of fever, headache, abdominal pain and diarrhea, an episode of reticulocytopenia and the nearly absence of late normoblasts in the bone marrow were observed. IgM antibodies to parvovirus Bl9 and the viral DNA were detected in her serum, too.
Abdominal Pain ; Anemia ; Anemia, Hemolytic ; Antibodies ; Antibodies, Neutralizing ; Bone Marrow ; Diarrhea ; Dizziness ; DNA, Viral ; Elliptocytosis, Hereditary* ; Erythroblasts ; Erythroid Cells ; Erythroid Precursor Cells ; Erythropoiesis ; Fatigue ; Fever ; Headache ; Hospitalization ; Humans* ; Immunoglobulin G ; Immunoglobulin M ; Parvovirus B19, Human ; Parvovirus* ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Prodromal Symptoms ; Red-Cell Aplasia, Pure

No abstract available.
Arthritis*

Chromosome 4q deletion syndrome is a rare disease caused by partial deletion of the long arm of chromosome 4. Phenotypic severity and expressivity vary among patients with chromosome 4q deletions, depending on the size and region of the deletion of the affected chromosome. Although there have been many reports of proximal 4q deletion cases, very few have been confirmed by high-resolution array comparative genomic hybridization (aCGH). In the current study, we presented a new case of 4q proximal deletion, with detailed genetic and clinical characteristics, and compared these characteristics to those of six previous cases with available aCGH data. According to our review, several genes known to be associated with specific phenotypes of 4q12q21.1 deletion cannot sufficiently explain the variable phenotypes observed among the cases. These phenotypes include mental retardation, microcephaly, ocular anomalies, dental anomaly, and piebaldism. Consequently, we recommend further detailed investigations into the genes associated with 4q12q21.1 deletion to assist in identifying genotype-phenotype associations more clearly.

OBJECTIVE: We compared the prevalence of injury and poisoning in the agricultural and fishery population with that of the general population. METHODS: The national health insurance data and agricultural and fishery qualification data were used for this study. The age-adjusted standardized morbidity ratio was used to compare the prevalence of all injuries and poisonings of the agricultural and fishery population with that of the general population for the year 2002, as well as the prevalence of certain injuries and poisonings common to the agricultural and fishery population. The age-adjusted standardized morbidity ratio and 95% confidence intervals were attained by using the general population as the standard population group. RESULTS: The age-adjusted standardized morbidity ratio of total injuries and poisonings was significantly high in the agriculture and fishery population. The standardized morbidity ratio was 137.6 in the male agriculture and fishery population and 123.3 in the female agriculture and fishery population. In terms of injuries and poisonings common to the agriculture and fishery population, the age-adjusted standardized morbidity ratio was significantly high regarding the dislocations and strains of lumbar spine/pelvis, shoulder and neck, the fracture of rib/thoracic spine/sternum and pesticide poisoning. CONCLUSIONS: The overall prevalence of injury/poisoning was significantly higher in the agriculture and fishery population than in the general population. Various forms of research should be conducted on the injuries of the agriculture and fishery population in the future. In order to compare the differences in the prevalence rates of injuries according to time and region, standard definitions of injuries and occupation related injuries are required.
Agriculture ; Dislocations ; Female ; Fisheries ; Humans ; Male ; National Health Programs ; Neck ; Occupations ; Prevalence ; Shoulder

BACKGROUND: Vancomycin resistance in enterococci is an emerging problem in Korea. It has become a worldwide problem and nosocomial spread of vancomycin-resistant enterococci (VRE) is very difficult to control. METHODS: Twenty-six strains of vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus faecium, which were isolated from clinical specimens at Soonchunhyang Chunan Hospital from September 1997 to July 1998, were evaluated to determine the antimicrobial susceptibility pattern, the vancomycin resistance genotypes, and their clinical characteristics. RESULTS: All strains were resistant to multiple antibiotics and resistant to vancomycin with MICs in excess of 256 g/ml. All isolates proved to have the vanA gene by the polymerase chain reaction. However, most of them were considered to be colonizations rather than infections from the clinical point of view. They were all cultured from patients who were being hospitalized or had been hospitalized in a neonatal intensive care unit or pediatric wards. Fourteen of 24 patients whose cultures were positive for VRE had a previous use of broad spectrum -lactam and/or vancomycin. CONCLUSIONS: Our cases indicate the importance of nosocomial spread of VRE via person-to-person transmission in a limited space. In order to prevent and control infection and colonization with VRE, a comprehensive and strategic plan such as the recommendations of the CDC's Hospital Infection Control Practices Advisory Committee, may be necessary.
Advisory Committees ; Anti-Bacterial Agents ; Chungcheongnam-do ; Colon ; Cross Infection ; Enterococcus faecium* ; Enterococcus* ; Genotype ; Humans ; Infant, Newborn ; Intensive Care, Neonatal ; Korea ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Vancomycin ; Vancomycin Resistance

Listeria monocytogenes is a gram-positive rod which can be isolated from soil, vegetation, and many animal reservoirs. Human disease due to Listeria monocytogenes is uncommon but occurs most frequently in the neonatal period, during pregnancy and in elderly or immuno-suppressed patients. Listeriosis in pregnant women may cause spontaneous abortion, fetal distress, preterm labor, fetal death, or neonatal septicemia/meningitis. Maternal infection alone may occur without infection of the infant, especially at the end of pregnancy. One case of septicemia with Listeria monocytogenes in pregnant women at the 35th weeks of pregnancy with fetal distress is presented.
Abortion, Spontaneous ; Aged ; Animals ; Female ; Fetal Death ; Fetal Distress* ; Humans ; Infant ; Listeria monocytogenes ; Listeriosis ; Obstetric Labor, Premature ; Pregnancy ; Pregnancy Trimester, Third* ; Pregnant Women ; Sepsis ; Soil

A comprehensive set of dosimetric measurements has been made on the Varian Clinac 1800 15 MV photon beam. Beam quality percentage depth dose, dose in the build up region, output, symmetry and flatness, transmission through lead (Cerrobend), tray attenuation, isodose curves for the open and wedged fields were measured using 3 dimensional water phantom dosimetry system (including film densitometer system) and polystryrence phantoms. These dosimetric measurements sufficiently characterized the beam to permit clinical use. The depth dose characteristics of photon beam is dmax of 3.0 cm and percentage depth dose of 76.8% at 10 cm, 100 cm source-surface distance, field size of 10 x 10 cm2 for 15 MV X-ray beam. The Output factors ranged 0.927 for 4 X 4 cm2 field to 1.087 for 35 X 35 cm2 field. The build-up level of maximum dose was at 3.0 cm and surface dose was approximately 15.5% for a field size 10 x 10 cm2 . The stability of output is within+/-1% and flatness and symmetry are within+/-3%. The half value thickness (HVL) of lead is 13 mm, which corresponds to an attenuation coefficient of 0.053 mm-1. These figures compare favorably with the manufacturer's specifications.
Particle Accelerators* ; Water