BACKGROUND: Buffy coat method is one of the blood components processing methods widely used in many countries including Europe and Canada. For the first time in Korea, we evaluated the qualities of blood components manufactured by buffy coat method. METHODS: We collected 400 mL whole bloods using the quadruple top and bottom blood bag from thirty-five donors. Whole bloods were processed into leukoreduced RBC, leukoreduced pooled platelet, and 24 hr frozen plasma by the buffy coat method with blood bags and instruments of Fenwal and Fresenius. The qualities of each blood component were analyzed at each scheduled day, and compared with the standard guidelines of quality control in Korean Red Cross. RESULTS: The volume and hemoglobin of RBCs were lower than the standard guidelines. Comparing with the standard of apheresis platelets, leukoreduced pooled platelets showed higher total platelet yield with the median 3.70x10(11)/unit. Frozen plasma showed increased volume recovery than the standard guideline, but the activity of factor VIII at Day 35 was decreased to 0.66+/-0.14 IU/mL. CONCLUSION: We have found that the yields of pooled platelet and the frozen plasma processed by buffy coat method were higher than the standard guidelines. To introduce the buffy coat method to routine blood component separation process in Korea, further evaluations about the cost-effectiveness of buffy coat method are required.
Blood Component Removal ; Blood Platelets ; Canada ; Erythrocytes ; Europe ; Factor VIII ; Hemoglobins ; Humans ; Korea ; Plasma ; Quality Control ; Tissue Donors

No abstract available.
Carcinoid Tumor* ; Proctitis*

No abstract available.
Carcinoid Tumor* ; Proctitis*

Long QT syndrome (LQTS) is an inherited cardiac disease characterized by a prolonged heart rate-corrected QT (QTc) interval. We investigated the genetic causes in patients with prolonged QTc intervals who were negative for pathogenic variants in three major LQTS-related genes (KCNQ1, KCNH2, and SCN5A). Molecular genetic testing was performed using a panel including 13 LQTS-related genes and 67 additional genes implicated in other cardiac diseases. Overall, putative genetic causes of prolonged QTc interval were identified in three of the 30 patients (10%). Among the LQTS-related genes, we detected a previously reported pathogenic variant, CACNA1C c.1552C>T, responsible for cardiac-only Timothy syndrome. Among the genes related to other cardiac diseases, a likely pathogenic variant, RYR2 c.11995A>G, was identified in a patient with catecholaminergic polymorphic ventricular tachycardia. Another patient who developed dilated cardiomyopathy with prolonged QTc interval was found to carry a likely pathogenic variant, TAZ c.718G>A, associated with infantile dilated cardiomyopathy. Comprehensive screening of genetic variants using multigene panel sequencing enables detection of genetic variants with a possible involvement in QTc interval prolongation, thus uncovering unknown molecular mechanisms underlying LQTS.
Cardiomyopathy, Dilated ; Heart ; Heart Diseases ; Humans ; Long QT Syndrome ; Mass Screening ; Molecular Biology ; Ryanodine Receptor Calcium Release Channel ; Tachycardia, Ventricular