Anti-E and anti-c is one of the clinical significant irregular antibodies developing a delayed hemolytic transfusion reaction and hemolytic disease of the newborn. Since anti-c occurs frequently with anti-E in immunized people whosoe cells are E-and c-, it has been recommended to select blood of the patient's own R1 phenotype for transfusion, even when the presence of anti-c cannot be demonstrated in his/her serum. To determine the utility of this approach, we reviewed the blood bank laboratory records of patients identified anti-E and anti-c in his/her serum in Severance hospital over a 12 year period (1985-1996). During the 12-year period of study, 53 patients were identified with anti-E and/or anti-c; 30(56.6%) patients had anti-E alone, 6(11.3%) had anti-c, and 17(32.1%) had both. Thirty eight of forty two patients whose Rh-hr phenotypes were tested were R1R1. Of these 38 R1R1 patients, 16 patients (42.1%) presented with anti-c concomitant with anti-E. Ouru study showed that the incidence of antni-c in R1R1 patients with anti-E is similar to that of studies reported in Caucasian groups. We highly suggest the transfusion protocol of prophylactic use of c negative blood for R1R1 patients with anti-E. Furthermore, because anti-c may be present in concentrations too low to be detected, the enzyme technique is recommended in parallel with standard serologic methods for the identification of irregular antibodies.
Antibodies ; Blood Banks ; Blood Group Incompatibility ; Humans ; Incidence ; Infant, Newborn ; Phenotype

PURPOSE: 8-oxoguanine DNA glycosylase (OGG) repairs DNA by removing 8-oxoguanine (oh8Gua), a highly mutagenic oxidative DNA adduct. Recently, the human gene for OGG (hOGG1) was cloned and several genotypes have been reported. However, the implications of such genotypes in benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) have not been demonstrated. To assess the involvement of hOGG1 associated with the aging process on the development of BPH, we analyzed the genetic polymorphisms of hOGG1. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In 162 cases of BPH and 162 normal controls we studied the hOGG1 gene polymorphisms by performing genotype studies to characterize the genetic polymorphisms of hOGG1. RESULTS: We found a polymorphism at codon 326 in exon 7. The distribution of hOGG1 genotypes at codon 326 in BPH patients (Ser326Ser type, 18.5%; Ser326Cys type, 42.0%; and Cys326Cys type, 39.5%) was significantly different from that in the controls (14.8%, 63.0% and 22.2%, respectively) (p=0.022). Homozygosity for the Cys326Cys genotype significantly increased the risk of developing BPH, with the odds ratio (OR) being 2.286 (95% confidence interval [CI]=1.149-4.546). CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggest that the hOGG1 Cys326Cys genotype might play an important role in the development of BPH.
Aging* ; Clone Cells ; Codon ; DNA ; DNA Glycosylases ; Exons ; Genotype ; Humans ; Odds Ratio ; Polymorphism, Genetic ; Prostatic Hyperplasia*

PURPOSE: Airway pathology in children with atopic asthma can be reflected by the concave shape of the maximal expiratory flow-volume (MEFV) curve and high fractional exhaled nitric oxide (FeNO) values. We evaluated the capacity of the curvilinearity of the MEFV curve, FeNO, and their combination to distinguish subjects with atopic asthma from healthy individuals. METHODS: FeNO and angle β, which characterizes the general configuration of the MEFV curve, were determined in 119 steroid-naïve individuals with atopic asthma aged 8 to 16 years, and in 92 age-matched healthy controls. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analyses were performed to determine the cutoff points of FeNO and angle β that provided the best combination of sensitivity and specificity for asthma detection. RESULTS: Asthmatic patients had a significantly smaller angle β and higher FeNO compared with healthy controls (both, P<0.001). For asthma detection, the best cutoff values of angle β and FeNO were observed at 189.3° and 22 parts per billion, respectively. The area under the ROC curve for the combination of angle β and FeNO improved to 0.91 (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.87–0.95) from 0.80 (95% CI, 0.75–0.86; P<0.001) for angle β alone and 0.86 (95% CI, 0.82–0.91; P=0.002) for FeNO alone. In addition, the combination enhanced sensitivity with no significant decrease in specificity. CONCLUSION: These data suggest that the combined use of the curvilinearity of the MEFV curve and FeNO is a useful tool to differentiate between children with and without atopic asthma.
Asthma* ; Child* ; Humans ; Nitric Oxide* ; Pathology ; ROC Curve ; Sensitivity and Specificity

Autografts ; Bone Remodeling ; Cleidocranial Dysplasia ; Denture, Overlay ; Dentures ; Humans ; Orthodontic Extrusion ; Osseointegration ; Osteoblasts ; Osteogenesis ; Palate ; Prostheses and Implants ; Tooth ; Tooth, Deciduous ; Tooth, Impacted ; Tooth, Supernumerary

BACKGROUND: Double autologous stem cell transplantation (ASCT) seems to be superior to a single ASCT, at least in the patients who did not achieve a 90% response after the first transplant. An allogeneic SCT with a dose-reduced conditioning regimen after ASCT and as part of the initial therapy, might be a feasible and highly effective approach. The aim of this study was to determine the prognostic factors that are associated with the outcome of multiple myeloma (MM) patients who had received a second transplant. METHODS: From April 1996 to December 2004, 38 MM patients, who had previously received high-dose melphalan (200 mg/m2) with autologous stem cell support, underwent a second transplant. Following the 1(st) ASCT, 24 patients received a second ASCT and 14 received a tandem reduced-intensity conditioning allogeneic stem cell transplantation (RIST) from their HLA-matched siblings. RESULTS: The 3-year estimated PFS and overall survival (OS) from the time of the first ASCT were 25.2% and 77.6%, respectively. The median PFS and OS were 26 months (95% CI, 23~29) and 60 months (95% CI, 44~76), respectively. The disease status (a CR vs. PR or less) at the second transplant was be the most powerful factor for improving the PFS (P=0.001, hazard ratio 5.8, 95% CI 2.1~16.1). CONCLUSION: Patients whose disease is sensitive to chemotherapy and who obtain a CR after a single transplantation might benefit the most from a second transplant.
Drug Therapy ; Humans ; Melphalan ; Multiple Myeloma ; Siblings ; Stem Cell Transplantation* ; Stem Cells*

Species identification of Taenia tapeworms was performed using morphologic observations and multiplex PCR and DNA sequencing of the mitochondrial cox1 gene. In 2008 and 2009, a total of 1,057 fecal samples were collected from residents of Kongwa district of Dodoma region, Tanzania, and examined microscopically for helminth eggs and proglottids. Of these, 4 Taenia egg positive cases were identified, and the eggs were subjected to DNA analysis. Several proglottids of Taenia solium were recovered from 1 of the 4 cases. This established that the species were T. solium (n=1) and T. saginata (n=3). One further T. solium specimen was found among 128 fecal samples collected from Mbulu district in Arusha, and this had an intact strobila with the scolex. Phylegenetic analysis of the mtDNA cox1 gene sequences of these 5 isolates showed that T. saginata was basal to the T. solium clade. The mitochondrial cox1 gene sequences of 3 of these Tanzanian isolates showed 99% similarity to T. saginata, and the other 2 isolates showed 100% similarity to T. solium. The present study has shown that Taenia tapeworms are endemic in Kongwa district of Tanzania, as well as in a previously identified Mbulu district. Both T. solium isolates were found to have an "African/Latin American" genotype (cox1).
Adolescent ; Adult ; Animals ; DNA, Helminth/chemistry/genetics ; DNA, Mitochondrial/chemistry/genetics ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Feces/parasitology ; Genotype ; Humans ; Male ; Multiplex Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Phylogeny ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Species Specificity ; Taenia saginata/classification/genetics/*isolation & purification ; Taenia solium/classification/genetics/*isolation & purification ; Taeniasis/*parasitology ; Tanzania

Echinostome eggs were detected in 22 (1.1%) of 2,074 people residing in riparian villages along the Mekong River in Khammouane Province, Lao PDR. In order to recover the adult flukes, 9 persons were treated with praziquantel and purged with magnesium salts. A total of 55 echinostome specimens (4 species) were recovered from the 9 persons. Echinostoma revolutum (8 specimens) was recovered from 3 persons, Artyfechinostomum malayanum (8 specimens) was from 2 persons, Echinochasmus japonicus (33 specimens) was from 7 persons, and Euparyphium sp. (6 specimens) was from 1 person. In Lao PDR, only human infections with E. japonicus were previously known. Therefore, the present study describes human infections with E. revolutum, A. malayanum, and Euparyphium sp. for the first time in Lao PDR. These results indicate that the surveyed villages of Khammouane Province, Lao PDR are low-grade endemic foci of echinostomiasis.
Adult ; Animals ; Anthelmintics/administration & dosage ; Echinostomatidae/*classification/*isolation & purification ; Female ; Humans ; Laos ; Magnesium/administration & dosage ; Male ; Praziquantel/administration & dosage ; Trematode Infections/*parasitology

Positron emission tomography (PET) using 2-deoxy-2-[18F] fluoro-D-glucose (FDG) as a radioactive tracer is a useful technique for in vivo brain imaging. However, the anatomical and physiological features of the Harderian gland limit the use of FDG-PET imaging in the mouse brain. The gland shows strong FDG uptake, which in turn results in distorted PET images of the frontal brain region. The purpose of this study was to determine if a simple surgical procedure to remove the Harderian gland prior to PET imaging of mouse brains could reduce or eliminate FDG uptake. Measurement of FDG uptake in unilaterally adenectomized mice showed that the radioactive signal emitted from the intact Harderian gland distorts frontal brain region images. Spatial parametric measurement analysis demonstrated that the presence of the Harderian gland could prevent accurate assessment of brain PET imaging. Bilateral Harderian adenectomy efficiently eliminated unwanted radioactive signal spillover into the frontal brain region beginning on postoperative Day 10. Harderian adenectomy did not cause any post-operative complications during the experimental period. These findings demonstrate the benefits of performing a Harderian adenectomy prior to PET imaging of mouse brains.
Animals ; Brain/*metabolism/radionuclide imaging ; Fluorodeoxyglucose F18/*diagnostic use ; Frontal Lobe/metabolism/radionuclide imaging ; Harderian Gland/metabolism/radionuclide imaging/*surgery ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred BALB C ; Neuroimaging/standards/*veterinary ; Positron-Emission Tomography/*veterinary ; Radiopharmaceuticals/*diagnostic use

We report two cases of gingival plasma cell granuloma in a 34-yr-old and 40-yr-old two male renal transplant recipients with cyclosporine A (CsA)-induced gingival overgrowth (GO). Histologically, these lesions were composed of mature plasma cells, showing polyclonality for both lambda and kappa light chains and fibrovascular connective tissue stroma. In addition to the fact that CsA-induced plasma cell granuloma is rare, the salient features of our cases were the secretion of interleukin-6 and overexpression of phospholipase C-gamma1 of the tumor cells, which may explain the mechanisms of CsA- induced GO.
Cyclosporine/adverse effects ; Female ; Gingival Diseases/*chemically induced/enzymology/immunology/pathology ; Granuloma, Plasma Cell/*chemically induced/enzymology/immunology/pathology ; Humans ; Immunohistochemistry ; Immunosuppressive Agents/adverse effects ; Interleukin-6/metabolism ; Kidney Transplantation ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Phospholipase C gamma ; Type C Phospholipases/metabolism

The echinostome metacercariae encysted in Cipangopaludina sp. snails that were purchased from a market in Vientiane Municipality, Lao PDR, were identified as Echinostoma macrorchis (Digenea: Echinostomatidae) through recovery of adult flukes after experimental infection to rats and a cat. The metacercariae were round, 113-128 (121)x113-125 (120) microm, having a thick cyst wall, a head collar armed with collar spines, and excretory granules. The adult flukes recovered from the rats and cat at day 14 and 30 post-infection, respectively, were elongated, ventrally curved, and 3.9-6.3x0.7-1.1 mm in size. The head collar was distinct, bearing 43-45 collar spines with 5 angle spines on each side. Two testes were large (as the name implies), tandem, and slightly constricted at the middle, with irregular margins. Eggs were operculated, ovoid to elliptical, and 88-95x56-60 microm. In scanning electron microscopy, the head collar was prominent, with 43-45 collar spines. Scale-like tegumental spines were densely distributed on the ventral surface between the oral and ventral suckers. Sensory papillae were distributed mainly on the tegument around the 2 suckers. It is confirmed that E. macrorchis is distributed in Lao PDR using Cipangopaludina sp. snails as the second intermediate host.
Animal Experimentation ; Animal Structures/anatomy & histology ; Animals ; Biometry ; Cats ; Echinostoma/anatomy & histology/*isolation & purification ; Laos ; Microscopy/methods ; Parasitology/methods ; Rats ; Snails/*parasitology