No abstract available.
Skin Manifestations* ; Skin*

BACKGROUNDS: With the recent elucidation of genetic basis of Rh blood group, it is now available the molecular genotyping methods for Rh blood typing. These can be used when serological typing is difficult. This study was conducted to investigate the usefulness of Rh genotyping method for Koreans. METHODS: Genotyping for Rh C/c and E/e was performed in peripheral blood DNA samples from 34 blood donors by polymerase chain reaction using sequence-specific primers (PCR-SSP). The PCR determined genotypes were compared with serologically determined phenotypes. RESULTS: The Rh C/c and E/e genotyping results of 34 blood donors were full concordance with the results of their serologic phenotyping. CONCLUSIONS: Rh genotyping method on the basis of Rh genetic model can be applied to Koreans. This genotyping method would be useful tool in prenatal Rh typing of fetus at risk of hemolytic disease and when serotyping is not available for example massive transfusion. (Korean J Blood Transfusion 10(1): 21-26, 1999)
Blood Donors ; Blood Grouping and Crossmatching ; Blood Transfusion ; DNA ; Fetus ; Genotype ; Humans ; Models, Genetic ; Phenotype ; Polymerase Chain Reaction* ; Serotyping

Severe sepsis and septic shock are the main causes of death in critically ill patients. Early detection and appropriate treatment according to guidelines are crucial for achieving favorable outcomes. Endotoxin is considered to be a main element in the pathogenic induction of gram-negative bacterial sepsis. Polymyxin B hemoperfusion can remove endotoxin and is reported to improve clinical outcomes in patients with intra-abdominal septic shock, but its clinical efficacy for pneumonic septic shock remains unclear. Here, we report a case of a 51-year-old man with pneumonic septic shock caused by Pseudomonas aeruginosa, who recovered through polymyxin B hemoperfusion.
Cause of Death ; Critical Illness ; Gram-Negative Bacteria* ; Hemoperfusion* ; Humans ; Middle Aged ; Polymyxin B* ; Polymyxins* ; Pseudomonas aeruginosa ; Sepsis ; Shock, Septic*

BACKGROUNDS: With the recent elucidation of genetic basis of Rh blood group, it is now available the molecular genotyping methods for Rh blood typing. These can be used when serological typing is difficult. This study was conducted to investigate the usefulness of Rh genotyping method for Koreans. METHODS: Genotyping for Rh C/c and E/e was performed in peripheral blood DNA samples from 34 blood donors by polymerase chain reaction using sequence-specific primers (PCR-SSP). The PCR determined genotypes were compared with serologically determined phenotypes. RESULTS: The Rh C/c and E/e genotyping results of 34 blood donors were full concordance with the results of their serologic phenotyping. CONCLUSIONS: Rh genotyping method on the basis of Rh genetic model can be applied to Koreans. This genotyping method would be useful tool in prenatal Rh typing of fetus at risk of hemolytic disease and when serotyping is not available for example massive transfusion.
Blood Donors ; Blood Grouping and Crossmatching ; DNA ; Fetus ; Genotype ; Humans ; Models, Genetic ; Phenotype ; Polymerase Chain Reaction* ; Serotyping

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: The majority of laryngeal tumors are known to be SCC (squamous cell carcinoma). Non-SCC (non-squamous cell cancers) of the larynx represent a diverse spectrum of diseases with different prognosis and ratio-nales of management from SCC. Therapeutic options to these tumors depend on their histopathological characteristics and clinical behaviors. The purpose of this study was to assess the unique aspects of the non-SCC and to draw diagnosis and provide management options and prognostic variables. MATERIALS AND METHOD: Eleven non-SCC of the larynx from the 212 patients who were diagnosed with larynx cancer during their 3-year visits from 1997 to 2000 were reviewed retrospectively. RESULTS: The incidence of non-SCC was 5.2%. Pathology of non-SCC revealed 3 cases of malignant lymphoma, 2 cases of verrucous cell carcinoma and neuroendocrine carcinoma one case each of basaloid squamous cell carninoma, salivary duct carcinoma, adenocarcinoma, and spindle cell carcinoma. The most common site of origin was supraglottis (6 case, 56.5%), followed by glottis (4 cases, 36.4%) and subglottis (2 cases, 17.2%). Non-Hodgkin's lymphomas and basaloid squamous cell carninoma were treated by chemotherapy. The remaining cases were treated with surgery followed by postoperative radio-therapy or postoperative chemotherapy. The mean follow-up period was 26.8 months (12-43 months). CONCLUSION: Non-SCC accounts for approximately 5.2% of all malignancies of the larynx. Tissue biopsy is the most important diagnostic tool for the non-SCC of the larynx and the tissue sample must be obtained from the deep portion of the submucosal layer. Except for malignant lymphomas, the combined therapy that includes surgery would be the best method of treatment for non-SCC.
Adenocarcinoma ; Biopsy ; Carcinoma, Neuroendocrine ; Diagnosis ; Drug Therapy ; Follow-Up Studies ; Glottis ; Humans ; Incidence ; Laryngeal Neoplasms ; Larynx* ; Lymphoma ; Lymphoma, Non-Hodgkin ; Pathology ; Prognosis ; Retrospective Studies ; Salivary Ducts

No abstract available.
Colorectal Neoplasms* ; Exons*

BACKGROUND/AIMS: We aimed to investigate the prevalence and possible causes of hypouricemia in the Korean population and to compare our findings with published results of other populations. METHODS: We examined the serum uric acid levels of 30,757 subjects who had their uric acid values measured at least once during a 1-year period. All individuals with hypouricemia (serum uric acid < 2.0 mg/dL, n = 424) were reviewed with respect to medical drug history and concomitant diseases previously identified as being associated with hypouricemia. RESULTS: The prevalence of hypouricemia was 4.14% (299/7,223) among inpatients and 0.53% (125/23,534) among outpatients, for an overall prevalence of 1.39% (424/30,757). Possible causes associated with hypouricemia were found to be solid or hematologic malignancies (n = 86), diabetes mellitus (n = 56), and therapeutic drugs (n = 29). The medications were allopurinol (n = 11), angiotensin II receptor blockers (n = 10), salicylates (n = 6), febuxostat (n = 1), and warfarin (n = 1). In the remaining 226 individuals, the cause of hypouricemia was not identified. CONCLUSIONS: Hypouricemia is relatively common in the Korean population compared to those of other countries. The possible causes associated with hypouricemia are related to underlying diseases and medications.
Allopurinol ; Angiotensin Receptor Antagonists ; Diabetes Mellitus ; Febuxostat ; Hematologic Neoplasms ; Humans ; Inpatients ; Outpatients ; Prevalence* ; Salicylates ; Tertiary Healthcare* ; Uric Acid ; Warfarin

OBJECTIVE: There has been no data on health related quality of life (HRQOL) in general Korean population. Assessing factors affecting HRQOL in Koreans is fundamental in HRQOL research. The objective of this study is to assess HRQOL in Korean using Korean version of EQ-5D (KEQ-5D). METHODS: HRQOL was assessed using KEQ-5D from 1,044 randomly selected population representing general Korean population with telephone interview RESULT: The mean KEQ-5D utility score in Korean was 0.88 (range: -0.59~1.00). Sociodemographic data showed relatively higher score in male, younger, well educated, higher income, and white color people. Among a variety of diseases, gastric ulcer/gastritis, arthritis, hypertension diabetes, low back pain were common in Korea. The most significant chronic diseases influencing Koreans were gastrointestinal disorder and arthritis. CONCLUSION: This paper suggests basic information on HRQOL in Korean and can be a useful parameter in comparison in the future research.
Arthritis ; Chronic Disease ; Humans ; Hypertension ; Interviews as Topic ; Korea ; Low Back Pain ; Male ; Quality of Life* ; Stomach Diseases

BACKGROUND: Total anomalous pulmonary venous return is a relatively rare disease which has a very high mortality(80% within a year) if not properly corrected surgically. MATERIAL AND METHOD: Twenty-six infants with total anomalous pulmonary venous return underwent repair between May, 1991 and February, 1996. RESULT: There were 19 boys and 7 girls. The mean age at operation was 2.6 months(range: 5 day to 11 month) and the mean body weight was 4.3kg(range:2.8 to 6.7 kg). Preoperative stabilization included ventilator for 5 patients and inotropic support for 6 patients. There were 6 hospital mortalities. Significant risk factors of operative mortality were preoperative ventilator care(p<0.03) and preoperative inotropic support(p<0.05). Age, body weight at operation, pulmonary venous obstruction, high pulmonary arterial pressure, spurasystemic right ventricular pressure or emergency operation did not affected the operative outcome. Postperative pulmonary venous obstruction occurred in three patients 2 or 3 months later, among them one patient was reoperated. The actuarial survival was 76% at 40 months. CONCLUSION: Although early mortality was high, repair of total anomalous pulmonary venous return should be attempted in early life, but the patients receiving ventilator care or inotropic support need special attention.
Arterial Pressure ; Body Weight ; Emergencies ; Female ; Hospital Mortality ; Humans ; Infant* ; Mortality ; Rare Diseases ; Risk Factors ; Scimitar Syndrome* ; Ventilators, Mechanical ; Ventricular Pressure

PURPOSE: Laparoscopic donor nephrectomy is associated with less postoperative pain and faster recovery times in living kidney donors. However, pneumoperitoneum, which is required in laparoscopic donor nephrectomy, can result in adverse effects on renal function in donors and recipients. We compared renal function in donors and recipients after hand-assisted laparoscopic donor nephrectomy (HALDN) and open donor nephrectomy (ODN). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Between January 1997 and January 2008, 241 live donor nephrectomies were performed by either HALDN (n=118) or ODN (n=123). Preoperative patient characteristics were not significantly different between the donors and recipients. We monitored the changes in serum creatinine levels of the donors and recipients preoperatively and on postoperative days 1, 5, 28, 84, and 365. RESULTS: The mean operative times of HALDN and ODN were 171 and 163 minutes (p=0.284), and the mean warm ischemic times were 292 and 236 seconds (p=0.207), respectively. The mean serum creatinine level in the recipients on postoperative day 1 was significantly higher after HALDN than after ODN (3.48 vs. 2.62 mg/dl, p=0.003). However, from postoperative day 5 to 1 year, there was no significant difference between the two groups. The mean serum creatinine level in the donors was not significantly different between the HALDN and ODN groups throughout the study period. CONCLUSIONS: Renal function recovery in the donors was similar with both HALDN and ODN. Graft renal function recovery after HALDN was comparable with that after ODN, except immediately after surgery (postoperative day 1).
Creatinine ; Humans ; Kidney ; Laparoscopy ; Living Donors ; Nephrectomy ; Operative Time ; Pain, Postoperative ; Pneumoperitoneum ; Recovery of Function ; Tissue Donors ; Transplants ; Warm Ischemia