The authors investigated the radioallergosorbent test (RAST) for the specific IgE and the prick test with hose dust mite in 129 patients with atopic dermatitis(AD) wit4 four or more family numbers. RAST and prick test results were described according to family background of respiratory atopy(RA) and severity of AD. The results are summarized as follows : l. A comparison between the prick test results and RAST reactions gave a concordance of 88%. The prick test was more sensitive than the RAST. 2. The level of specific IgE in patients with personal history(PH) or family history(FH) of RA was significantly increased compared to those in patients with only AD. 3. In patients without PH and FH of RA, the level of specific IgE in patients with FH of AD was significantly increased compared to those in patients without FH of AD. 4. The level of specific IgE did not reflect the severity of AD. From the above results, it could be concluded that type I allergy to house dust mite is not directly related to AD and it occurs predominantly in those patients with AD wha have a predisposition to RA.
Dermatitis, Atopic* ; Dust* ; Humans ; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration ; Hypersensitivity* ; Immunoglobulin E ; Mites ; Pyroglyphidae* ; Radioallergosorbent Test

This study was undertaken to elucidate any quantitative abnormalities of Tlymphocyte subsets (helper/inducer T cell; T cell and suppressor/cytotoxic T cell: T cell) and IgE levels in the peripheraI blood in atopic dermatitis patients by using monoclonal antibodies and enzyme immunoassay, respectively. In addition we have tried to ascertain whether there are any correlations betveen such immuiiologic abnormalities and the severity of the disease. The results showed that there were significant decrease in the mean percentage of T Cells and increase in the mean value of T/T cell ratios in patients with atopic dermatitis. These changes seem to relate to the severity of the disease when evaluated as groups. A significant increase in the mean value of serum IgE was found in atopic dermatitis patients and the change was related to the severity of the disease. But increase of serum IgE level did not correlated closely with the T cell abnormalities in each patients.
Antibodies, Monoclonal ; Dermatitis, Atopic* ; Humans ; Immunoenzyme Techniques ; Immunoglobulin E* ; T-Lymphocyte Subsets* ; T-Lymphocytes

To find out the predictors of nocturnal arterial oxygen desaturation in patients with respiratory diseases, transcutaneous oxygen saturation(StcO2) monitoring studies using a pulse oximeter were performed during sleep in 20 patients. StcO2 was decreased more than 4% from the baseline value in 18 patients(90%) and more than 10%('Desaturator') in 8(40%). Five of the seven patients(71.4%) with awake PaO2<60mmHg and three of the thirteen patients(23.1%) with awake PaO2≥60mmHg were 'desaturators'. The awake PaO2/FIO2 and PaO2/PAO2 could distinguish 'desaturator' from 'nondesaturator, and PaO2, SaO2 or StcO2 could not. These results suggest that the nocturnal oxygen desaturation depends on the severity of the underlying disease rather than the baseline PaO2. Anthropomorphic and lung function factors could not separate between 'desaturator' and 'non-desaturator', and about a quarter of patients with a wake PaO2≥60mmHg developed significant desaturation. Therefore, it is necessary to monitor the nocturnal arterial oxygen saturation in patients with respiratory diseases regardless of their severity of airflow obstruction or awake PaO2.
Humans ; Lung ; Oxygen*

No abstract available.
Dyspnea* ; Humans

BACKGROUND: Overnight transfusions have been associated with higher transfusion risk than transfusions during the day. The aim of the study was to evaluate the transfusion status at our hospital and to help provide plans for overnight transfusions. METHODS: All blood products, including red blood cell products (RBC), fresh frozen plasmas (FFP), and all platelet products (PLT) issued between January 2013 and December 2014 were included. Night1 (5 pm∼8 am) and Night2 (8 pm∼8 am) were defined as overnight, and all issued bloods (IB) were analyzed in accordance with the issued time, ordered medical departments, and the reason of transfusion. RESULTS: The total unit number of IB at Night1 (Night2) was 53,483 (38,224), and it consisted of 44.4% (31.7%) total IB; 53.2% (39.6%) FFP; 46.8% (33.4%) RBC; and 39.3% (27.6%) PLT. The IB ordered from the departments of trauma & acute care surgery and emergency medicine consisted of 40% IB. The 80.9% RBC, 53.1% FFP and 70.2% PLT could be considered as appropriate for overnight transfusion. CONCLUSION: Due to the characteristics of our hospital with many trauma patients, the percentage of IB during an overnight period in our hospital was higher than those in other countries, and the rate of appropriate reason for RBC transfusion was also higher. However, as inappropriate overnight transfusions may have been still performed, education for medical staffs and appropriate policies for overnight transfusion could be helpful in reducing inappropriate transfusion.
Blood Platelets ; Blood Transfusion ; Education ; Emergency Medicine ; Erythrocytes ; Humans ; Medical Staff ; Plasma ; Tertiary Care Centers*

BACKGROUND: There is significant inter-laboratory variation in the ABO antibody (Ab) titer levels of blood samples because a standardized method has not yet been developed. The aim of this study was to identify the best conditions for the preparation of the red blood cell (RBC) suspensions so as to aid the development of a standard ABO Ab titration method. METHODS: Serum samples from apparently healthy adults and RBCs from three different sources (residual EDTA blood from healthy adults, donor blood in citrate-phosphate-dextrose-adenine-1 [CPDA-1], and a commercially available RBC reagent) were used for Ab titrations. We measured the titers for each blood group under various conditions, including the time period of storage (days), the ratio of serum to RBC volume, and the RBC sources. The techniques for room temperature incubation and the indirect antiglobulin test were used for the tube and the gel card test. RESULTS: A storage period of 6 to 7 days significantly affected the Ab titers. Samples with 3% RBCs in a 1:1 serum to RBC volume ratio had significantly lower Ab titers than those with 2% RBCs in a 1:1 ratio or those with 3% RBCs in a 2:1 ratio. There were no significant differences in the Ab titers of RBCs from different sources. CONCLUSIONS: To reduce inter-laboratory variations in ABO Ab titrations, using RBC suspension within five days of storage and applying ratio of serum to RBC volume to 2:1 with 3% RBC in the tube test will be helpful when using home-made RBC suspension.
ABO Blood-Group System ; Adult ; Coombs Test ; Edetic Acid ; Erythrocytes* ; Humans ; Suspensions* ; Tissue Donors

OBJECTIVES AND METHODS: The presence of aneuploidy or high proliferative activity in cytologic specimens is considered as complementary for the diagnosis of malignancy. To evaluate the diagnostic usefulness of DNA ploidy and cell cycle analysis in lung cancer, we compared the diagnostic yielding rates of DNA ploidy test by brushing specimens using flow cytometry with bronchoscopic forceps biopsy and brushing cytology. RESULTS: Of the seventy-six cases, 55 cases proved to have malignant diseases(squamous cell cancer: 27, adenocarcinorna: 7, large cell cancer: 1, undifferentiated: 4 and small cell cancer: 16). The incidence of aneuploidy in lung cancer..patients was 32.y %(18/55), as opposed to no cases in benign disease. And the proportion of high proliferative activity(S+GEM>22%) in lung cancer patients was 42.9% (15/35), but none in benign diseases. In (iffy-six of 75 cases(74.7%), cytology of brushing specimens and DNA analysis(either aneuploidy or high proliferative activity vs. diploidy and low proliferative activity) were in concordance. The sensitivity with only brushing cytology was 41.8%(23/55), but with the addition of DNA analysis, it was increased to 56.4%(31/55), without decreasing the specificity(100%). And there was a case whose clue for malignancy was absent except aneuploidy, and he was confirmed to have squamous cell cancer following open thoracotomy There were no differences in the frequency of aneuploidy or high proliferative activity between histologic subtypes of bronchogenic malignancy. CONCLUSIONS: The diagnostic detection rate of lung cancer was improved with the addition of DNA ploidy and cell cycle analysis, and the presence of aneuploidy or high proliferative activity was a relatively specific indicator of malignant disease. It would be useful to test DNA ploidy and cell cycle analysis with brushing specimen for the diagnosis of bronchogenic malignancy particularly in patients whose biopsy specimen could not be obtainable.
Aneuploidy ; Biopsy ; Cell Cycle ; Diagnosis ; Diploidy ; DNA* ; Flow Cytometry ; Humans ; Incidence ; Lung Neoplasms* ; Lung* ; Neoplasms, Squamous Cell ; Ploidies* ; Surgical Instruments ; Thoracotomy

BACKGROUND: Smoking-related chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and chronic asthmatic bronchitis, which are the most important causes of chronic airflow obstruction (CAO), can occur together in a pat,ient and the prognoses of these two diseases are different each other. OBJECTIVE AND METHOD: To estimate the extent of asthmatic component in patients with CAO and to evaluate the role of atopy as a predictable index for reversibility of airflow obstruction, 89 CAO patients who were older than 40 years were examined retrospectively. RESULT: Only 15 patients (16.8%) showed an increase of >15% in FEV20 to inhaled salbutamol (short-term responder). However, 18 out of 32 patients (56.3%), who were not responded significantly to inhaled bronchodilator and performed a follow-up lung function study, showed an increase of ) 15% in FEV20 to anti-asthmatic therapy including corticosteroid for 3-4 weeks (long-term responder). Peripheral blood eosinophil count only was different between short-term responder and short-term nonresponder, and there was no difference in all of the measurements between short-term responder and long-term responder. However, there were significant differences in smoking, wheezing on auscultation, peripheral blood eosinophil counts, serum total IgE levels, and MAST atopy score between long-term responder and long-term nonresponder. The increase in FEV, following shortor long-term therapy was related to peripheral blood eosinophil counts and MAST atopy score, and it was significantly great,er in patients with high eosinophil counts or high atopy score. CONCLUSION: About 2/3 of patients with CAO who were older than 40 years had an asthmatic component ap atopy may be useful to predict good bronchodilator response to anti-asthmatic therapy.
Albuterol ; Auscultation ; Bronchitis ; Eosinophils ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Immunoglobulin E ; Lung ; Prognosis ; Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive* ; Respiratory Sounds ; Retrospective Studies ; Smoke ; Smoking

PURPOSE: This study developed a short-term education program aiming to strengthen global health capacity in nursing students, and examined the effects of the program. METHODS: The subjects of this study were 83 students recruited from 29 nursing colleges. Domestic workshops and overseas training in the Philippines were offered. For data collection and analysis, the triangulation method was adopted. RESULTS: Students' critical thinking disposition and global leadership capacity were significantly increased. Thematic content analysis derived fifteen themes: expansion of global health, understanding of cultural diversity, vision of being a global leader, cultivation of communication skills, open mind toward people with different culture, pride and vocation, understanding of nursing in foreign countries, understanding of visiting nurse service, sustainability, understanding of local needs and environments, and education methods with an emphasis on participants, broader view and thinking of the world, reflection on the characteristics of a nurse, development through cooperation, and development through programs. CONCLUSION: The global health capacity building program improved nursing students' view of global health and nursing care. It is needed to develop continuously diverse global health capacity-building programs for nursing students.
Capacity Building* ; Cultural Diversity ; Data Collection ; Education ; Humans ; Leadership ; Nurses, Community Health ; Nursing Care ; Nursing* ; Occupations ; Philippines ; Program Development ; Program Evaluation ; Students, Nursing* ; Thinking

OBJECTIVES: The differentiation of tuberculous effusion from the other causes of exudative pleural effusion remained difficult even with aids of biochemical analyses and pleural biopsy. As the pathophysiology of tuberculous pleural effusion is an enhanced cell mediated immunity, Adenosine deaminase(ADA) and various cytokines including Inteferon-γ, tumor necrosis factor alpha(TNF-α) are considered as useful diagnostic tools in differentiating exudative pleural effusion The author would like to demonstrate the diagnostic usefulness of TNF-α in the differentiation of exudative pleural effusion, and compared the discriminating ability of TNF-α with ADA. METHODS: Pleural fluids obtained from 80 patients (tuberculous : 39, malignant : 31, parapneumonic : 10) with exudate pleural effusions were processed for cell counts and biochemical analysis including ADA and TNF-α RESULTS: Tuberculous pleural fluid showed higher levee of ADA and TNF-α, 48.7α 32.7U/L and 184.1±214.2pg/mL than that of non-tuberculous effusion 26.0α41.3U/L and 44.1α114.2pg/mL, respectively (ADA, TNF-α : p<0.05, p<0.01). Receiver operating characteristics(ROC) curves were generated for ADA and TNF-α, and the best cut-off value for adenosine deaminase and TNF-α were considered as 30U/L and 15pg/ml, respectively. Comparing the area under the ROC curves, there was no significant difference between ADA and TNF-α CONCLUSION: For the differential diagnosis of tuberculous pleural effusion from the other causes of exudative pleural effusions, TNF-α as well as ADA was considered as useful diagnostic method. However adding TNF-α to ADA has no further diagnotic benefit than ADA alone.
Adenosine ; Adenosine Deaminase ; Biopsy ; Cell Count ; Cytokines ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Exudates and Transudates ; Humans ; Immunity, Cellular ; Pleural Effusion* ; ROC Curve ; Tuberculosis ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha*