Clinically, the Rh blood group system is important since Rh antibodies are readily induced by transfusion or pregnancy in individuals negative for the antigert and may cause hemolytic reactions or hemolytic disease of the newborn. Since the D antigert is strongly immunogenic, donors and patients are routinely typed for D status and patients are generally given D compatible blood. But under several circumstances such as spontaneous agglutination of red blood cells coated with immunoglobulin, antisera with additives may cause false positive results in test using high-protein reagents. And facton in the patient' s own serum may also affect the test, since unwashed red blood cells suspended in their own serum or plasma are frequently tested. Therefore, manufacturers and American Association of Blood Banks(AABB) recommend that the Rh(D) control test with Rh(D) control reagent which contains the same additive present in high-protein anti-D except for the anti-D. This study was undertaken to evaluate the usefss of the Rh(D) control test in Korea where Rh(D) negative population is small. Red blood cells from 1115 in-patients and 468 out-patients at Korea University Medical Center were employed in Rh(D) typing and Rh(D) control test in parellel. 1580 cases are Rh(D) positive and 3 cases were Rh(D) negative. No agglutination was observed with Rh(D) control test. Though AABB and manufacturers recommended that the Rh(D) control test should be done in parellel with Rh(D) typing test, the authers concluded that there were no need to run the Rh(D) control test in Korea.
Academic Medical Centers ; Agglutination ; Antibodies ; Erythrocytes ; Humans ; Immune Sera ; Immunoglobulins ; Indicators and Reagents ; Infant, Newborn ; Korea ; Outpatients ; Plasma ; Pregnancy ; Tissue Donors

Traumatic intracranial lesion has been one of the most frequent and serous problem in neurosurgical pathology. CT made it possible to get prompt diagnosis and surgical intervention of intracranial lesions by its safety, fastiness and accuracy. Computed tomographic scan was carried out on 1309 cases at Soonchunhyang Chunan Hospitalfor 15 months from Oct. 1983 to Dec. 1984. We have reviewed the computed tomographic scans of 264 patients whichshowed traumatic intracranial lesion. The results were as follows: 1. Head trauma was the most frequentlydiagnosed disase using computed tomographic scans(57.8%), and among 264 cases the most frequent mode of injury wastraffic accident (73.9%). 2. Skull fracture was accompained in frequency of 69.7% and it was detected in CT in38.6%: depression fractue was more easily detected in 81%. 3. Countercoup lesion(9.5%) was usually accompained with temporal and occipital fracture, and it appeared in lower incidence among pediatric group. 4. Intracranial lesions of all 264 cases were generalized cerebral swelling(24.6%), subdural hematoma(22.3%), epiduralhematoma(20.8%), intracerebral hematoma(6.1%), and subarachnoid hemorrhage(3.0%). 5. The shape of hematoma wasusually biconvex(92.7%) in acute epidural hematoma and cresentic(100%) in acute subdural hematoma, but the morechronic the cases became, they showed planoconvex and biconvex shapes. 6. Extra-axial hematoma was getting decreased in density as time gone by. 7. Hematoma density was not in direct proportion to serum hemoglobin levelas single factor.
Chungcheongnam-do ; Craniocerebral Trauma ; Depression ; Diagnosis ; Hematoma ; Hematoma, Subdural, Acute ; Humans ; Incidence ; Pathology ; Skull Fractures

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to describe the anglographic finding and clinical result of transarterial embolotherapy(TAE) in patients with injuries of renal artery branches by blunt trauma. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study was based on retrospective analysis of seven cases, in which TAE was attempted for the control of traumatic renal arterial bleeding. All procedures were performed via the transfemoral approach. TAE was performed with stainless steel coil in two cases, Gelfoam in one case, and Gelfoam and stainless steel coil in four cases. RESULTS: Angiographic findings of vascular injuries were pseudoaneurysm in four cases, extravasation in two cases and arteriocalyceal fistula in one case. All procedures were performed successfully without complication. CONCLUSION: Pseudoaneurysm is a common anglographic finding in patients with injury of renal artery branches and TAE is considered a safe and effective method for treating such cases.
Aneurysm, False ; Embolization, Therapeutic* ; Fistula ; Gelatin Sponge, Absorbable ; Hemorrhage ; Humans ; Renal Artery* ; Retrospective Studies ; Stainless Steel ; Vascular System Injuries

Dystonia is a movement disorder characterized by involuntary contraction of muscles resulting in repetitive or twisting movements. Dystonia is generally caused by basal ganglia dysfunction.Recent studies have reported an association between dystonia and brainstem disorders. However, the pathological mechanism is uncertain, and detailed management strategies are limited. Here, we report a case of hemidystonia with abnormal posture and impaired proprioception after pontine hemorrhage that was effectively treated with pharmacotherapy combined with early intensive comprehensive rehabilitation. A 45-year-old man presented with abnormal posture and dystonic movement in the right hand and foot after a pontine hemorrhagic stroke. Pharmacotherapy with clonazepam and benztropine was administered, and comprehensive rehabilitation programs were implemented intensively from the early stages of symptom onset. After 3 months, the patient was able to walk independently, go up and down a few stairs without the use of a handrail, and was able to perform activities of daily living with minimal assistance.

This study was undertaken to document the effect of transforming growth factor-beta2 (TGF-beta2(TGF-beta2) and basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) on the proliferation of pig retinal pigment epithelial cells (RPE). Whereas bFGF increased the proliferation, TGF-beta2 showed the inhibitory effect on the proliferation The inhibitory effect of TGF-beta2 disappeared in RPE subcultured with 10ng/ml of bFGF. Both TGF-beta2- and bFGF-specific antisense oligonucleotides blocked the autocrine effect of the growth factors. PLC-71 -specific antisense oligonucleotide inhibited the effect of TGF-beta2 and bFGF. Genistein inhibited the effect of TGF-beta2 and bFGF in dose-dependent man, ner. The data suggest the involvement. of in PLC-/1 and tyrosine kinase in signalling.
Epithelial Cells* ; Fibroblast Growth Factor 2 ; Genistein ; Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins ; Oligonucleotides, Antisense ; Protein-Tyrosine Kinases ; Retinaldehyde* ; Transforming Growth Factor beta2*

OBJECTIVES: Chronic pain is one of the most common experiences of humans and a typical psychophysiological disorder. The aim of this study was to measure the psychophysiological responses in chronic pain patients using a biofeedback system, and to compare them with the results from normal healthy subjects. METHODS: Forty two patients with chronic pain (17 males and 25 females, average age 44.67+/-11.10 years) and 42 normal healthy controls (17 males and 25 females, average age 45.17+/-10.46 years) participated in this study. Electromyography (EMG), skin conductance (SC), and skin temperature (ST) were recorded using biofeedback system during the 3 phases (baseline, stress, and recovery) of stress reactivity test, and average values of them were calculated. Difference of values between two groups in each corresponding phase was analyzed with independent t-test, and change of values across phases of stress reactivity test was analyzed with paired t-test (all two-tailed, p<0.05). RESULTS: Compared to normal controls, chronic pain patients had higher value of EMG (baseline : 8.10+/-5.97 micronV vs 4.72+/-1.52 micronV, t=-3.56, p<0.01 ; stress : 11.25+/-6.89 micronV vs 8.49+/-4.78 micronV, t=-2.13, p<0.05 ; recovery : 7.12+/-3.77 micronV vs 4.78+/-1.59 micronV, t= -3.70, p<0.01) and SC (baseline : 1.06+/-1.0 micronS vs 0.42+/-0.29 micronS, t=-4.0. p<0.01 ; stress : 1.87+/-2.05 micronS vs 1.03+/-0.86 micronS, t=-2.47, p<0.05 ; recovery : 1.74+/-1.77 micronS vs 0.64+/-0.59 micronS, t=-3.8, p<0.01) in all the 3 phases. But, skin temperature comparison did not reveal significant differences in all the 3 phases between two groups. CONCLUSION: Psychophysiological responses of chronic pain patients in stress reactivity test were different from those of normal healthy controls. These results suggest that sympathetic nervous system is more activated in chronic pain patients.
Biofeedback, Psychology ; Chronic Pain ; Electromyography ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Psychophysiologic Disorders ; Psychophysiology ; Skin ; Skin Temperature ; Sympathetic Nervous System

No abstract available.
Genitalia* ; Poroma*

BACKGROUND: Endotoxin stimulates nitric oxide synthase (NOS) and the free radical nitric oxide (NO) is produced by NOS, which vasodilates the smooth muscle of pulmonary vessels. Otherwise, endotoxemia stimulates the release of cyclooxygenase (COX) products, which may modify hypoxic pulmonary vasoconstriction (HPV). We also observed the effect of nonselective NOS inhibition by NG-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME) on receptor-mediated acetylcholine (Ach)/bradykinin (BK) induced vasoconstriction and receptor independent HPV in E.coli lipopolysaccharide (LPS) induced septic isolated rat lungs. METHODS: Four hours before surgical instrumentation for lung isolation, we administered saline (1 ml) to the control group (n = 15), E.coli LPS (20 mg/kg) to the LPS group (n = 14) and LPS (30 mg/kg) the nitric oxide synthase inhibitor, L-NAME (15 mg/kg) to the LPS + L-NAME group (n = 14), intraperitoneally. In 43 isolated rat lungs perfused with physiologic salt-albumin- blood mixture, angiotensin II 0.2 microgram was injected into the perfusion circuit, to confirm pulmonary vascular reactivity in each isolated lung. HPV responses were induced by three hypoxic challenges for 5 minutes separated by 5 minutes of ventilation with a normoxic gas mixture. We observed the pulmonary arterial pressure at each challenge, ten minutes after the last HPV, 0.01, 0.1, 1.0 microgram of Ach and 1, 3, 10 microgram of BK were injected. PAP and static lung compliance were measured. RESULTS: The baseline pulmonary artery pressure in the LPS group higher than in the controls and HPV in the LPS group was changed compared to the controls but in the LPS + L-NAME it was higher than in the controls. The administration of Ach 0.1, 1.0 microgram and BK 3, 10 microgram causedpulmonary vasoconstriction and the vasoconstrictions of BK were dosage-dependent. Lung stiffness in the LPS and LPS + L-NAME groups were higher than those of the controls. CONCLUSIONS: Vascular constriction of pulmonary vessels and increased lung stiffness by Ach and BK might be the result of the endothelial injury. But pulmonary vasoconstriction and stiffness by Ach and BK were similar in the LPS and LPS + L-NAME groups, showing that factors other rather than excessive NO production might be involved in endothelial injury.
Acetylcholine ; Angiotensin II ; Animals ; Arterial Pressure ; Constriction ; Endotoxemia ; Lung Compliance ; Lung* ; Muscle, Smooth ; NG-Nitroarginine Methyl Ester ; Nitric Oxide ; Nitric Oxide Synthase ; Perfusion ; Prostaglandin-Endoperoxide Synthases ; Pulmonary Artery ; Rats* ; Surgical Instruments ; Vasoconstriction* ; Ventilation

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study was to discover ways to screen urine culture specimens through Gram stains, urine stick analyses and microscopic examinations for the laboratory cost saving. METHODS: One hundred and fifty-eight urine specimens for culture were included. Fifty uL of urine were inoculated onto one well each of 10-well slide, dried on the hot plate, and Gram-stained. The results combined with routine urinalyses including urine nitrite and leukocyte esterase, and pyuria, were compared with the routine culture results. RESULTS: The screening of bacteriuria by Gram stains, urinalyses and microscopic examinations revealed the high sensitivity (91.9%) and negative predictive value(95.5%) with cost saving of 41.8% of inoculating media. Not considering the Gram stains, the screening revealed 83.8% sensitivity and 92.5% negative predictive value, even if the cost saving of inoculating media were as high as 50.1%. CONCLUSION: It was demonstrated that it was sensitive and economic and produced rapid preliminary results to screen bacteriuria by the Gram stains combined with urinalyses and microscopic examinations.
Bacteriuria ; Coloring Agents ; Cost Savings ; Leukocytes ; Mass Screening* ; Pyuria ; Urinalysis*

PURPOSE: To investigate long-term visual outcomes and prognostic factors to predict visual outcomes in patients with anatomic success after macular hole surgery. METHODS: Medical records of 36 eyes with successfully repaired stage 3 or 4 idiopathic macular hole and with at least 24 months of follow-up were reviewed. Hole height, stage of macular hole, base diameter, minimum diameter, hole form factor, macular hole index, and hole closure type were measured or calculated, and the correlations of visual outcomes with variables of preoperative optical coherence tomography (OCT) were analyzed. RESULTS: The patients were classified into 3 groups according to the time period necessary to achieve the best corrective visual acuity. The visual acuity of 16 eyes (44.4%) recovered in a mean of 6 months, 13 eyes (36.1%) improved slowly and continuously, and 7 eyes had no improvement despite successful anatomical closure. There were no statistical differences in hole height, base diameter, minimum diameter, hole form factor, macular hole index, or closure type among the 3 groups. CONCLUSIONS: The improvement in visual acuity after successful macular hole surgery persisted at the 24-month follow-up and after. There were no correlations between delayed visual acuity after macular hole surgery and minimum diameter, base diameter, hole height, hole form factor, macular hole index, or closure type.
Eye ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Medical Records ; Retinal Perforations ; Tomography, Optical Coherence ; Visual Acuity