BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study is to examine whether the blood cells in the platelet concentrate (PC) and the PC arrangement method can affect the pH which is one of the important factors influencing the survival and function of the preserved PCs. METHOD: Two groups of CPDA-1 added PC were preserved at 20 ~ 24degrees C for 7 days. The PCs in group I were overlapped one another while those in group II were not overlapped and arranged separately during the preservation period. The number of RBC, WBC and platelets were measured at the first day of the preservation period while the pH was measured at the 1st, 3rd, 5th and 7th day. RESULTS: The number of blood cells in the PC was 0.6x109 for WBC, 1.6x109 for RBC and 800x109 for platelet. As for the average pH, the 1st day's average pH was 7.4 for group I and 7.3 for group II, while at the 7th day, both decreased by 0.6. According to the correlation analysis between the blood cells and the pH changes, as for group I, the more the number of platelets were, the lower the pH decreased, and as for group II, the more the WBC and platelets were, the lower the pH decreased. (p<0.01) CONCLUSION: This study indicates that the major parameter affecting the pH of the preserved PCs is the number of platelets. In addition to platelet, the number of WBCs affected the pH when PCs were overlapped during storage. Conclusionally the key factor which affects pH of stored PCs was the number of platelets. And the number of contaminated WBCs also were thought to be an important factor.
Blood Cells ; Blood Platelets* ; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration*

BACKGROUND: To determine the positivity of hepatitis C virus-ribonucleic acid (HCV-RNA), we tested blood specimens of donor both positive in enzyme immunoassay (EIA) and in immunoblot assay, and those positive in EIA but indeterminate in immunoblot assay by nucleic acid amplification test (NAT). After quantifying HCV-RNA of specimens positive in NAT, we compared the titers of HCV-RNA between blood donor group and patient group. METHOD: One hundred twenty blood specimens positive both in screening test and in confirmative test, and 20 specimens positive in screening test but indeterminate were tested by qualifying NAT. After testing the specimens positive in this test by quantifying NAT, we classified specimens into 3 groups, normal group whose ALT values were within 45 IU/L, abnormal group whose values were higher than 45 IU/L and patient group who admitted into hospital to treat chronic hepatitis C and then compared HCV-RNA among groups. RESULTS: 81% of specimens both positive in screening test and in confirmative test was positive in NAT. Only 10% of specimens positive in screening test but indeterminate in confirmative test was positive in NAT. Ages of patient group were highest among groups and titers of HCV-RNA of patient group were lower than any other group. Correlation of AST/ALT values with the titers of HCV-RNA was not shown. CONCLUSION: It is concluded that the study groups show no difference of HCV-RNA titers whether they have symptoms of liver disease or not. The titer of HCV-RNA has no correlation with AST/ALT values.
Blood Donors* ; Hepatitis C ; Hepatitis C, Chronic ; Humans ; Immunoenzyme Techniques ; Liver Diseases ; Mass Screening ; Nucleic Acid Amplification Techniques ; Tissue Donors

BACKGROUND: There has been considerable progression in laboratory investigations of novel therapeutic approaches aimed at protecting the brain parenchyma in the setting of the acute ischemia. The zone of ischemia surrounding an area of infarction provides a target for neuroprotective agents. MK-801 is a well known non-competitive NMDA receptor antagonist and has a neuroprotective effect to ischemic penumbra zone. U-74389G is a compound of Lazaroid(21-Aminosteroid) and a free radical scavenger which has been investigated to a neuroprotective effect to ischemic penumbra zone. METHODS: The protective effects of single or combined pretreatment of U-74389G and MK-801 on the focal cerebral ischemia in the Sprague-Dawley rats were evaluated. The size of infarction after 2 hours occlusion-4 hours reperfusion of the left middle cerebral artery with modified Longa method was measured. The rats were given 3mg/Kg I.v. of MK-801 and U-74389G or 0.5ml of normal saline 30 minutes before middle cerebral artery occlusion. The size of infarction was described as the volume. RESULTS: U-74389G, MK-801, and combined U-74389G and MK-801 pretreatment reduced significantly the volume of infarction 55%, 64%, 24%, respectively compared with saline pretreatment (p<0.05) and the combined U-74389G and MK-801 pretreatment reduced significantly the volume of infarcted area compared with MK-801 or U-74389G pretreatment, 44%, 37%, respectively(p<0.05). There was no significant change of infarction volume between U-74389G and MK-801 pretreatment(p>0.05). CONCLUSIONS: These results show that single or combined pretreatment of U-74389G and MK-801 before 30 minutes of occlusion significantly reduced the volume of infarction compared with the control group in the focal cerebral occlusion-reperfusion of rats. And the combined pretreatment of U-74389G and MK-801 before 30 minutes of occlusion significantly reduced the volume of infarction compared with the single pretreatment of MK-801 or U-74389G in the focal cerebral occlusion- reperfusion of rats.
Animals ; Brain Infarction* ; Brain Ischemia ; Brain* ; Dizocilpine Maleate* ; Infarction ; Infarction, Middle Cerebral Artery ; Ischemia ; Middle Cerebral Artery ; Models, Animal* ; N-Methylaspartate ; Neuroprotective Agents ; Rats* ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Reperfusion

BACKGROUND: This study aimed to analyze the influence of the interruption of agitation and removal of leukocytes on platelet concentrates (PCs), and determine the maximum amount of time the agitation could be interrupted without impairing PCs' effectiveness during the storage period. METHODS: Four ABO-identical random donor platelets agitated for 24 hr were pooled, and divided into 4 units, and 2 units of them were leukoreduced. Then 52 pooled units were categorized into 4 groups, non-leukoreduced continuous agitation (Non-LRCA), non-leukoreduced interrupted agitation (Non-LRIA), leukoreduced continuous agitation (LRCA), and leukoreduced interrupted agitation (LRIA), and preserved for 6 days (total 7 days). Mean platelet volume (MPV), pH, HCO3-, pO2, pCO2, CD62P, CD61, glucose, lactate, ammonia and free fatty acid were measured during the period. RESULTS: Starting from the Day 4, the pH and HCO3- of Non-LRIA group begun to decrease while the amount of lactate production, glucose consumption, and MPV increased compared to the Non- LRCA group (P<0.01). An increase in pO2 level was observed in the interrupted agitation groups as the storage period prolonged (P<0.01). The pH levels of all the units in the agitation groups remained higher than 6.4 up to Day 7, while those of the non-leukoreduction group did so only up to Day 2, but those of leukoreduction in the interrupted agitation groups did so up to Day 4. CONCLUSIONS: The interruption of agitation reduced the platelet's capacity to utilize oxygen, increasing lactate amount and reducing pH level. However, the in vitro parameters of the Non-LRIA and Non-LRCA groups on Day 2 were similar to each other and the pH level remained at 6.4 or higher, making one day of agitation interruption possible after 24 hr of agitation. With leukocytes removed, the effective agitation interruption period may become longer.
*Blood Component Removal ; Blood Platelets/*cytology ; Blood Preservation/*standards ; Cell Separation ; Glucose/analysis ; Humans ; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration ; Lactic Acid/blood ; Oximetry ; P-Selectin/blood ; Time Factors ; Vibration

We reviewed the clinical, electrophysiological, radiological, and histopathological findings in 25 patients with benign focal amyotrophy. There were 14 patients with upper limb type and 11 with lower limb type. 18 patients had unilateral involvement and 7 had bilateral involvement asymmetrically. The characteristics clinical features were sporadic occurrence, predominance in young males, nonprogressive course or initial progression for 1 to 3 years followed by stationary state, segmental distribution of muscle weakness and atrophy localized to one limb or both homologous limbs markedly asymmetrically, and absence of any definite sensory loss or central nervous system involvement. The electrophysiological, radiological, and muscle histopathological findings suggested chronic focal anterior horn cell disease. Although the prevalence of this disease is still unknown, the importance of recognition is being emphasized because of its common occurrence in our country and the benign prognosis.
Adolescent ; Adult ; Age of Onset ; Electromyography ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Muscular Atrophy/*diagnosis/physiopathology

Stroke in young adults are not common and it is often hard to find their causes. We reviewed the medical records of 154 young adult patients aged 15-45 years who were admitted to the Seoul National Urliversity Hospital with a diagnosis of stroke between March 1989 and February 1991. These cases comprised 13.8% of 1115 patients of all ages admitted for stroke. The number of young adult patients with intracerebral hemorrhage was 47 (30.5%, N&154); the main causes were hypertension, arteriovenous malformation, and moyamoya disease. Subarachnoid hemorrhage was found in 25 young patients (l6.2%, N=154); the majority were due to aneurysms. The number of intraventricular hemorrhage cases was 17 (11.0%, N&154). The causes confirmed by angiography, were moyamoya disease in 7 cases and arteriovenous malformahon in 5 cases. The remaining 73 patients (47.4%, N&154) had cerebral infarction;the major causes were young-aged atherosclerosis (75.3%) and cardiogenic emboli (24.7%). Hypertension, history of transient ischemic attack, and hyperlipidemia were major risk factors of atherosclerotic cerebral infarction. Among the cerebral infarction patients whose risk factors had not been found by conventional diagnostic methods (l6 patients), there were 5 patients in whom the presence of cardiac embolic sources could be demonstrated only by transesophageal echocardiography (left atrial thrombus in two patients; patent foramen ovale in two; and atrial septal aneurvsm in one patient). The total number of all tvpes of young adult stroke patients whose causes (or risk factors) were unable to be classified in detail was 24 (15.6%, N&154). The transesophageal echocardiography and the angiography, in many occasions, were helpful in detecting the causes of young adult stroke of which risk factors had been undetermined.
Aneurysm ; Angiography ; Arteriovenous Malformations ; Atherosclerosis ; Cerebral Hemorrhage ; Cerebral Infarction ; Diagnosis ; Echocardiography, Transesophageal ; Foramen Ovale, Patent ; Hemorrhage ; Humans ; Hyperlipidemias ; Hypertension ; Ischemic Attack, Transient ; Medical Records ; Moyamoya Disease ; Risk Factors ; Seoul ; Stroke* ; Subarachnoid Hemorrhage ; Thrombosis ; Young Adult*

BACKGROUND: Several kinds of adverse reactions can occur during blood donation such as vasovagal reaction (VVR), hematoma, citrate toxicity, etc. These adverse reactions are not common, but they are important because they cause a decrease in re-donation. The cost for maintaining a repeat donation is very low compared to that for securing first-time donors. Whole blood donation differs from apheresis in some aspects, and this could have an influence on blood donor reactions. We compared whole blood donation with apheresis for blood donor reactions. METHODS: From January to December in 2007 at Busan Red Cross Blood Center, 109,004 donations were investigated for blood donor reactions. 76,098 (69.8%) donations were from male donors and 32,906 (30.2%) were from females. 77,813 (71.3%) donations were for whole blood, 25,224 (23.2%) were for plasmapheresis and 5,967 (5.5%) were for plateletpheresis. RESULTS: The frequencies of VVR were 0.10% (75/77,813) for the whole blood donations, 0.15% (37/25,224) for plasmapheresis and 0.03% (2/5,967) for plateletpheresis (P<0.05). The frequency of hematoma was 0.05% (37/77,813) for whole blood donation, 0.25% (62/25,224) for plasmapheresis and 0.27% (16/5,967) for plateletpheresis (P<0.05). Citrate toxicity was extremely rare. VVR was most common in plasmapheresis, and it was rare in plateletpheresis. CONCLUSION: The kinds of donated blood components had an influence on blood donor reactions. Understanding these characteristics helps to prevent adverse reaction. Having people re-donate is essential for keeping a large sized donor pool. So, appropriate management to prevent donor reactions is very important.
Blood Component Removal ; Blood Donors ; Citric Acid ; Female ; Hematoma ; Humans ; Male ; Plasmapheresis ; Plateletpheresis ; Red Cross ; Tissue Donors

Most reports on serious MTX toxicity have focused on hepatic abnormalities, while other effects, including hematologic reactions, have not been emphasized. We experienced a case of pancytopenia secondary to MTX therapy in a patient with RA and renal insufficiency. A 67-year-old woman with a 12-year history of active seropositive RA that was a response to non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, hydroxychloroquinine and intra-articular steroid injections, had been followed up and was diagnosed as early chronic renal failure in October, 1993. Recently, because of significant morning stiffness and polyarthralgia, the decision was made to institute MTX treatment. This was begun as a single oral dose of 5mg/week. After 2 doses, the patient was admitted to the hospital with general weakness. Laboratory tests showed a hemoglobin level of 7.9 g/dl, WBC count 1800/mm3 and platelet count of 64000/mm3. The serum creatinine level was 6.1 mEq/dl and the BUN level was 82 mEq/dl. Liver function test results were normal, but the serum albumin level was 2.7 g/dl. The patient subsequently developed fever and blood transfusions, granulocyte colony stimulating factor (G-CSF) and intravenous prophylactic antibiotic therapy were required. Her condition was improved. In summary, Low-dose MTX-related adverse hematologic side effects, including fatal pancytopenia, are rare but are a cause of increasing concern in patients with RA and renal insufficiency. Close monitoring of associated risk factors, particularly impaired renal function, should be mandatory for all patients who are receiving MTX therapy.
Aged ; Antirheumatic Agents/adverse effects* ; Antirheumatic Agents/administration & dosage ; Arthritis, Rheumatoid/drug therapy ; Arthritis, Rheumatoid/complications ; Case Report ; Female ; Human ; Kidney Failure, Chronic/complications ; Methotrexate/adverse effects* ; Methotrexate/administration & dosage ; Pancytopenia/chemically induced* ; Risk Factors

BACKGROUND: Effects of storage period on platelet activation of random-donor platelets (RDP) prepared from whole blood units and single-donor platelets (SDP) prepared from single-donor apheresis collections have been investigated in this study. We also analyzed the correlation between amount of blood cells and platelet activation in random-donor platelets. METHODS: RDP and SDP were collected at 1 day, 3 day, or 5 day during storage. In case of SDP, whole blood was also collected just before apheresis. The platelet activation in RDP and SDP was measured by flowcytometry using monoclonal antibodies against CD41a, CD61 and CD62p. RESULTS: In SDP, MCFI against CD62p has been significantly increased during storage and any significant differences are not found according to the kinds of pheresis machines. In RDP, no significant differences in MCFI against CD62p were found with storage period and showed a increased MCFI dependent only on the number of platelets. CONCLUSION: Single-donor platelets should be used as soon as possible for transfusion due to progressive platelet activation with storage period. On the other hand, a proper number of platelets should be maintained under strict quality control system to minimize platelet activation in RDP.
Antibodies, Monoclonal ; Blood Cells ; Blood Component Removal ; Blood Platelets* ; Hand ; Platelet Activation* ; Quality Control

PURPOSE: Whole liver transplantation, an effective therapy for many inherited and acquired hepatic disorders, has limitations including donor shortage and fatal surgical complications. Hepatocyte transplantation, which is simpler and less expensive than whole liver transplantation, allows the use of living related donors, permits the use of a single donor organ for multiple recipients, and makes possible the cryopreservation of hepatocytes for future use. However, choosing a proper scaffold for hepatocytes hampers wide use of hepatocyte transplantation. We performed hepatocyte transplantation using biodegradable injectable polymers, fabricated form poly (lactide-co-glycolide) (PLGA) microspheres, as scaffolds to evaluate their effectiveness. METHODS: Female, five week old FVB mice, were prepared for donors, and four male, five week old nude mice, were used for recipients. Liver cells were isolated from FVB donors. The cell viability exceeded 95% as assessed by trypan blue exclusion method. For three nude mice, 2X10(6) cells resuspended in 200micro liter medium were mixed with 200micro liter PLGA microspheres, and were injected into the peritoneal cavity of each mouse. One nude mouse was transplanted with 2X10(6) cells resuspended in 200micro liter medium only, and it served as a negative control. Specimens were retrieved at one week, and histological and immunohistochemical analyses were performed. RESULTS: In the negative control, all transplanted hepatocytes disappeared at one week. In mice transplanted both microspheres and hepatocytes, conglomerates, which contained hepatocytes, were observed in the peritoneal cavity, The hepatocytes were identified by H and E staining and immunohistochemistry using anti- hepatocyte antibody. CONCLUSION: In this preliminary study, stable hepatocyte engraftment was achieved in hepatocyte transplantation with PLGA microspheres, but not in hepatocyte transplantation only. More studies on comparison between sponge-type scaffolds and injectable scaffolds would be necessary. Improvement on both initial vascularization and proliferation of transplanted hepatocytes is a target of our future work.
Animals ; Cell Survival ; Cryopreservation ; Female ; Hepatocytes* ; Humans ; Immunohistochemistry ; Liver ; Liver Transplantation ; Male ; Mice ; Mice, Nude ; Microspheres ; Peritoneal Cavity ; Polymers* ; Tissue Donors ; Trypan Blue