No abstract available.

OBJECTIVES: Whether daytime sleepiness is proportional to the severity of sleep apnea in obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS) is controversial. In this study we investigated how insomnia severity affects the association between daytime sleepiness and sleep apnea severity in OSAS. METHODS: The present study included 235 male subjects who were diagnosed with OSAS based on clinical history and nocturnal polysomnography. Pearson's correlation analysis was conducted among sleep and mood-related self-reported data, polysomnographic data and demographic data of all subjects. Based on Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), the subjects were divided into 2 groups; group A (n = 75; PSQI < or =5) and group B (n = 160; PSQI > 5). Partial correlation analysis was performed between the Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS) and other data in both groups. Multiple linear regression analysis was conducted to investigate the factors which affected the ESS in group A. RESULTS: Pearson's correlation analysis showed weak or non-existent correlations between ESS and apnea severity data such as apnea-hypopnea index (AHI) (r = 0.148, p = 0.023), apnea index (AI) (r = 0.137, p = 0.036), hypopnea index (HI) (r = 0.058, p = 0.377), oxygen desaturation index (ODI) (r = 0.149, p = 0.022) and arousal total index (ATI) (r = 0.129, p = 0.048). Positive correlations between ESS and apnea severity data such as AHI (r(p) = 0.313, p = 0.008), AI (r(p) = 0.339, p = 0.004), ODI (r(p) = 0.289, p = 0.015) and ATI (r(p) = 0.256, p = 0.031) were observed only in group A. Multiple regression analysis showed that AI (t = 2.996, p = 0.004) and BAI (t = 2.721, p = 0.008) were associated with ESS in group A. CONCLUSION: The correlation between daytime sleepiness and sleep apnea severity was shown only in group A. This result suggests that associations between daytime sleepiness in OSAS and sleep apnea severity will become prominent when controlling for insomnia-related variables.
Apnea ; Arousal ; Humans ; Linear Models ; Male ; Oxygen ; Polysomnography ; Sleep Apnea Syndromes ; Sleep Apnea, Obstructive* ; Sleep Initiation and Maintenance Disorders*

Background: In early 2024, there was an issue with the supply of the anti-D reagent for blood typing. This reduced the anti-D reagent in our laboratory below the minimum stock level. We validated the appropriateness of using diluted anti-D reagents as a contingency plan in the event of an anti-D reagent shortage. Methods: A total of eight dilutions, ranging from 2X to 256X, were prepared by serial dilution of the low-protein monoclonal anti-D reagent. The original anti-D reagent and the eight anti-D dilutions were used to perform RhD typing by the tube and plate methods. To further evaluate the reactivity and stability of the 8-fold diluted anti-D reagent, RhD typing was performed on internal quality control red blood cells and RhD-positive patient specimens for 30 days. Results: The maximum dilution that gave the same results as the original anti-D reagent in both the tube and plate methods was 8X. The 8X anti-D dilution was tested against internal quality control red blood cells and patient specimens. It showed the same result as the original anti-D reagent, with reactivity remaining constant over 30 days. Conclusion We have confirmed the appropriateness of using a diluted low-protein monoclonal anti-D reagent for RhD typing. Therefore, we suggest that the diluted anti-D method can be considered for priority use in emergencies when the anti-D reagent is in short supply. Although 8X is suggested as an appropriate dilution factor in this study, this may vary depending on the type of product used in each laboratory and the laboratory conditions.

Background: In early 2024, there was an issue with the supply of the anti-D reagent for blood typing. This reduced the anti-D reagent in our laboratory below the minimum stock level. We validated the appropriateness of using diluted anti-D reagents as a contingency plan in the event of an anti-D reagent shortage. Methods: A total of eight dilutions, ranging from 2X to 256X, were prepared by serial dilution of the low-protein monoclonal anti-D reagent. The original anti-D reagent and the eight anti-D dilutions were used to perform RhD typing by the tube and plate methods. To further evaluate the reactivity and stability of the 8-fold diluted anti-D reagent, RhD typing was performed on internal quality control red blood cells and RhD-positive patient specimens for 30 days. Results: The maximum dilution that gave the same results as the original anti-D reagent in both the tube and plate methods was 8X. The 8X anti-D dilution was tested against internal quality control red blood cells and patient specimens. It showed the same result as the original anti-D reagent, with reactivity remaining constant over 30 days. Conclusion We have confirmed the appropriateness of using a diluted low-protein monoclonal anti-D reagent for RhD typing. Therefore, we suggest that the diluted anti-D method can be considered for priority use in emergencies when the anti-D reagent is in short supply. Although 8X is suggested as an appropriate dilution factor in this study, this may vary depending on the type of product used in each laboratory and the laboratory conditions.

Background: In early 2024, there was an issue with the supply of the anti-D reagent for blood typing. This reduced the anti-D reagent in our laboratory below the minimum stock level. We validated the appropriateness of using diluted anti-D reagents as a contingency plan in the event of an anti-D reagent shortage. Methods: A total of eight dilutions, ranging from 2X to 256X, were prepared by serial dilution of the low-protein monoclonal anti-D reagent. The original anti-D reagent and the eight anti-D dilutions were used to perform RhD typing by the tube and plate methods. To further evaluate the reactivity and stability of the 8-fold diluted anti-D reagent, RhD typing was performed on internal quality control red blood cells and RhD-positive patient specimens for 30 days. Results: The maximum dilution that gave the same results as the original anti-D reagent in both the tube and plate methods was 8X. The 8X anti-D dilution was tested against internal quality control red blood cells and patient specimens. It showed the same result as the original anti-D reagent, with reactivity remaining constant over 30 days. Conclusion We have confirmed the appropriateness of using a diluted low-protein monoclonal anti-D reagent for RhD typing. Therefore, we suggest that the diluted anti-D method can be considered for priority use in emergencies when the anti-D reagent is in short supply. Although 8X is suggested as an appropriate dilution factor in this study, this may vary depending on the type of product used in each laboratory and the laboratory conditions.

Background: In early 2024, there was an issue with the supply of the anti-D reagent for blood typing. This reduced the anti-D reagent in our laboratory below the minimum stock level. We validated the appropriateness of using diluted anti-D reagents as a contingency plan in the event of an anti-D reagent shortage. Methods: A total of eight dilutions, ranging from 2X to 256X, were prepared by serial dilution of the low-protein monoclonal anti-D reagent. The original anti-D reagent and the eight anti-D dilutions were used to perform RhD typing by the tube and plate methods. To further evaluate the reactivity and stability of the 8-fold diluted anti-D reagent, RhD typing was performed on internal quality control red blood cells and RhD-positive patient specimens for 30 days. Results: The maximum dilution that gave the same results as the original anti-D reagent in both the tube and plate methods was 8X. The 8X anti-D dilution was tested against internal quality control red blood cells and patient specimens. It showed the same result as the original anti-D reagent, with reactivity remaining constant over 30 days. Conclusion We have confirmed the appropriateness of using a diluted low-protein monoclonal anti-D reagent for RhD typing. Therefore, we suggest that the diluted anti-D method can be considered for priority use in emergencies when the anti-D reagent is in short supply. Although 8X is suggested as an appropriate dilution factor in this study, this may vary depending on the type of product used in each laboratory and the laboratory conditions.

In the process of devising an efficient meal service system for the elderly, 478 elderly were interviewed at 6 different social centers with the elderly meal service program in Seoul area to monitor degree of satisfaction and/or needs of the beneficiaries regarding the program. The survey was conducted during the month of December 2002 by well-trained interviewers using self-developed questionnaire. Results were analyzed statistically using SAS package program. Most of the beneficiaries were low economic class and 76% of them had doctor diagnosed disease(s). Among the beneficiaries of congregate meal service, mean score of 12 aspects of satisfaction was 3.72 out of 5. For most of the questions, female elderly and healthy elderly responded with higher score than male elderly and unhealthy elderly, respectively (p<0.05, p<0.01). On the other hand, beneficiaries of the home-delivered meal service were little bit less satisfied with the service (3.54 out of 5). Compared to the beneficiaries of congregate meal service, larger portion of beneficiaries of home-delivered meal service wanted more meats (28.5 % vs. 17.1 %) and vegetables (23.2 % vs. 12.3 %) as side dishes. On the other hand, the most preferred type of cooking and/or seasoning was stewing for both cases. Based on these findings, it is suggested that more fresh foods should be used than processed foods in the preparation of meals for the elderly and, more fish-, meat- and vegetable- dishes should be served to come up to the needs of the elderly. Onto this, mainly Korean style meals with some intermittent Western, Japanese or Chinese style meals served at the right temperature would suffice most of the elderly needs.
Aged* ; Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; Cooking ; Female ; Hand ; Humans ; Male ; Meals* ; Meat ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Seasons ; Seoul ; Vegetables

In the process of devising an efficient meal service system for the elderly, 478 elderly were interviewed at 6 different social centers with the elderly meal service program in Seoul area to monitor degree of satisfaction and/or needs of the beneficiaries regarding the program. The survey was conducted during the month of December 2002 by well-trained interviewers using self-developed questionnaire. Results were analyzed statistically using SAS package program. Most of the beneficiaries were low economic class and 76% of them had doctor diagnosed disease(s). Among the beneficiaries of congregate meal service, mean score of 12 aspects of satisfaction was 3.72 out of 5. For most of the questions, female elderly and healthy elderly responded with higher score than male elderly and unhealthy elderly, respectively (p<0.05, p<0.01). On the other hand, beneficiaries of the home-delivered meal service were little bit less satisfied with the service (3.54 out of 5). Compared to the beneficiaries of congregate meal service, larger portion of beneficiaries of home-delivered meal service wanted more meats (28.5 % vs. 17.1 %) and vegetables (23.2 % vs. 12.3 %) as side dishes. On the other hand, the most preferred type of cooking and/or seasoning was stewing for both cases. Based on these findings, it is suggested that more fresh foods should be used than processed foods in the preparation of meals for the elderly and, more fish-, meat- and vegetable- dishes should be served to come up to the needs of the elderly. Onto this, mainly Korean style meals with some intermittent Western, Japanese or Chinese style meals served at the right temperature would suffice most of the elderly needs.
Aged* ; Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; Cooking ; Female ; Hand ; Humans ; Male ; Meals* ; Meat ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Seasons ; Seoul ; Vegetables

Astrocytes play various important roles such as maintaining brain homeostasis, supporting neurons, and secreting inflammatory mediators to protect the brain cells. In aged subjects, astrocytes show diversely changed phenotypes and dysfunctions. But, the study of aged astrocytes or astrocytes from aged subjects is not yet sufficient to provide a comprehensive understanding of their important processes in the regulation of brain function. In this study, we induced an in vitro aged astrocyte model through late passage cultivation of rat primary cultured astrocytes. Astrocytes were cultured until passage 7 (P7) as late passage astrocytes and compared with passage 1 (P1) astrocytes as early passage astrocytes to confirm the differences in phenotypes and the effects of serial passage. In this study, we confirmed the morphological, molecular, and functional changes of late passage astrocytes showing aging phenotypes through SA-β-gal staining and measurement of nuclear size. We also observed a reduced expression of inflammatory mediators including IL-1β, IL-6, TNFα, iNOS, and COX2, as well as dysregulation of wound-healing, phagocytosis, and mitochondrial functions such as mitochondrial membrane potential and mitochondrial oxygen consumption rate. Cultureconditioned media obtained from P1 astrocytes promoted neurite outgrowth in immature primary cultures of rat cortices, which is significantly reduced when we treated the immature neurons with the culture media obtained from P7 astrocytes. These results suggest that late passage astrocytes show senescent astrocyte phenotypes with functional defects, which makes it a suitable model for the study of the role of astrocyte senescence on the modulation of normal and pathological brain aging.

Rosai–Dorfman Disease (RDD) is a rare lymphoproliferative disease, and the occurrence of isolated intracranial RDD is extremely rare. Most cases of intracranial RDDs present as dural masses showing homogenous enhancement on MRI, which makes it difficult to differentiate these masses from meningiomas before surgery unless massive cervical lymphadenopathy is observed. We herein report a rare case of isolated intracranial RDD in a 65-year-old male. Brain MRI revealed a well-defined enhancing mass-like lesion involving the right frontal convexity and subtle diffusion restriction. However, only a subtle blush was observed on the preoperative cerebral angiogram. Although instances of isolated intracranial RDD are rare, it should be considered as a potential differential diagnosis when a dural mass with hypovascularity is visualized on the cerebral angiogram.