BACKGROUND: Recently, clinical use of fresh frozen plasma(FFP) has increased in all blood transfusion activity. But inappropriate uses of FFP may be serious problem due to adverse transfusion reactions, viral transmission, and economic aspects. The aim of this study is to justify clinical indication of FFP by receiving the inappropriate use of them. METHODS: Analyzing hospital records of 115 patients transfused with FFP at Kyung Hee Medical Center from January to April 1998, retrospectively, we investigated the purpose of transfusions, the volume of transfused FFP, and the results of pre- and post-coagulation tests. RESULTS: The most common purpose of transfusions of FFP was plasma volume replacement after surgical operation. Coagulation tests of pre- and post-transfusion were performed 85% and 47%, respectively. Fifty-seven patients(88%) transfused FFP have shown normal results in pre-coagulation tests, and the volume replacement with FFP was done inadequately in 62 cases(54%). CONCLUSION: We conclude that, in order to eliminate side effects due to inappropriate use of FFP, and protect patients, it is necessary to make guidelines of FFP transfusion, educate hospital staffs regularly, and perform pre- and post-coagulation tests routinely for the patients who need FFP transfusion. (Korean J Blood Transfusion 10(1): 5-12, 1999)
Blood Group Incompatibility ; Blood Transfusion ; Hospital Records ; Humans ; Plasma Volume ; Plasma* ; Retrospective Studies

An eccrine squamous syringometaplasia (ESS) is defined as a mature squamous metaplasia of the eccrine ducts. The clinical and pathological features of an ESS are presented. Syringometaplasia is a rare lesion, mostly occuring in the extremities, and as far as we know, no report on the ESS has been published in Korean literature. We experienced a case of an ESS occured in a 15 year-old male, who had a tender erythematous plaque in the right knee. The histologic examination revealed some scattered nests of metaplastic squamous epithelium in the deep dermis, associated with acute nonspecific panniculitis. The importance of the ESS is that it histologically simulates the well differentiated squamous cell carcinoma. The histopathologic findings were discussed and a brief review of the literature was made.
Adolescent ; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell ; Dermis ; Epithelium ; Extremities ; Humans ; Knee ; Male ; Metaplasia ; Panniculitis

Reactions from stinging insects are significant to dermatologists because of the wide variety of clinical presentations from mild local reaction to severe anaphylactic reaction. Although ant sting commonly occurs, it has been rarely reported in the literatures. We experienced a unique case with allergic reactions by the ant of the Cremawgaster iw6w urai vagala, subfamily Myrmicinae, family Formicidea, order Hymenoptera that has not been previously reported.
Anaphylaxis ; Ants* ; Bites and Stings* ; Humans ; Hymenoptera ; Hypersensitivity ; Insects

Replantation after crush amputation has a relatively low success rate. Thrombus formation due to vessel and tissue trauma is considered as the principal cause of failure. In the laboratory and clinically, we have been tried to improve the post-anastomosis patency rate in crushed microvasculature. To accomplish this, we have usually used several anticoagulant drugs. Extracts from the leaves of Ginkgo biloba (EGb) have been used therapeutically for centuries. EGb exerts a number of pharmacologic actions. Eighty rats were control group and another 80 rats were treated with EGb 761. The femoral arteries underwent crush injury with an energy of 0.4J, and the vessles in each group were divided and anastomosed by a standard microsurgical technique. Each group was comprised as follows: (1) control group(A1,A2): group A1(n=40); intraluminal saline irrigation, group A2(n=40); intraluminal saline irrigation+heparin 40 u/ml(IV). (2) EGb 761 treated group(B1, B2): groupB1(n=40); intraluminal saline irrigation, group B2(n=40); intraluminal saline irrigation + heparin 40 u/ml(IV). At postoperative 14 days, the patency rates were; group A1 20%, group A2 77.5%, group B1 47.5%, group B2 92.5%. These results were interpreted as follows: the patency rate was significantly increased in the EGb 761-only treated group(p>0.01), the heparin-only treated group(p>0.01), and the EGb 761 and heparin-combined at crushed microvessel surgery. However the patency rate of the EGb-only treated group was significantly lower than that of the heparin-only treated group(p>0.01). And in the EGb 761 and heparin-combined treated group compared to the heparin-only treated group, there was some patency rate increase in the combined treated group, but there was no significant difference between them(p=0.060).
Amputation ; Animals ; Anticoagulants ; Femoral Artery ; Ginkgo biloba* ; Heparin ; Microvessels* ; Pharmacologic Actions ; Rats* ; Replantation ; Thrombosis

Late results of microvascular patency after crush or crush avulsion injury have been relatively poor. A key factor in the poor results may relate to the presence of damaged tissue, but the mechanism of this thrombus formation is still imcompletely understood. One current theory about the origin of thrombus after vessel trauma involves increased exposure of the subendothelial tissue to platelets that adhere and aggregate at the injury site, initiating thrombus formation. Most surgeons have usually used several anticoagulant drugs to prevent thrombosis for 2-3 weeks after trauma or microvascular repair. We thought that Ginkgo biloba extract (EGb 761), which has a number of pharmacologic actions, could promote microvasculature healing and prevent thrombosis. The femoral arteries of rats were dissected. Each group was as follows:-1. group A (n=10): intact group (not crushed vessel),2. group B (n=10); crushing injury (not EGb 761-treated group),3. group C (n=10); crushing injury (EGb 761-treated group). Group B and C underwent crush injury with the energy of 0.07J. We compared patency rate and histological examination. All arteries were patent at postoperative 14 days, and in histologic finding, group C (group with EGb 761 treatment among the crushed injury group) showed significant improvement of vascular endothelial and medial regeneration.
Animals ; Anticoagulants ; Arteries ; Femoral Artery ; Ginkgo biloba* ; Microvessels ; Pharmacologic Actions ; Rats ; Regeneration ; Thrombosis

BACKGROUND: Cleaning and disinfection of fiberoptic bronchoscope requires careful attention, especially to mycobacterium species because the contamination of mycobacteria could raise confusion on diagnosis. Recently, we detected contamination of Wydex(R) solution used in bronchoscope washer with Mycobacterium chelonae. In this study, we evaluated the mycobactericidal effect of 12 kinds of disinfectants for M. chelonae. METHOD: To evaluate the bactericidal effect of Wydex(R) 2%, Cidex(R) 2.25%, Cidex(R) 3%, Bacteriokiller (BK) disinfectant, Perasafe(R), HICLO-S(R), Lamicine(R), ethanol, Instrusept(R), Virkon(R), Betadine(R), and Vipon(R) against M. chelonae, culture was performed after exposure of two M. chelonae strains (ATCC 35749, the type strain and the strain isolated from contaminated Wydex(R) solution) to each disinfectant solution. The growth of organism was examined for up to 8 weeks. RESULTS: Growth of M. chelonae (reference strain of ATCC 35749 and isolated strain) was observed after a week incubation for Wydex(R) 2%, Cidex(R) (2.25%, 3%) and control. For BK disinfectant and Perasafe(R), they grew after 2-3 weeks, and 3-4 weeks, respectively. For HICLO-S(R) and Lamicine(R), only the contaminated strain grew after two and three weeks, respectively. For ethanol, Virkon(R), Betadine(R), Vipon(R), and Instrusept(R) , growth was not observed from either strain. CONCLUSIONS: On the basis of these results, Instrusept(R), virkon(R), ethanol, Betadine(R), and Vipon(R) were effective for the disinfection of M. chelonae. Especially, Instrusept(R) was thought to be useful as a disinfectant for bronchoscopes because it has advantages including non-corrosiveness, chemical stability, and non-irritativeness. And additional washing with ethanol might be effective. The finding that strain isolated from contaminated bronchoscopes was more resistant to disinfectants than reference strain suggested that the more resistant strains are selected throughout the improper disinfection.
Bronchoscopes ; Diagnosis ; Disinfectants* ; Disinfection ; Ethanol ; Mycobacterium chelonae* ; Mycobacterium*

PURPOSE:To evaluate the role of unenhanced CT in diagnosing the acute appendicitis. METHOD AND MATERIALS: We retrospectively analyzed conventional contrast-enhanced abdominal CT scans of 197 normal patients and barium enemas of 26 out of the 197 patients. Additional unenhanced CT scans of right lower abdomen were performed on 30 patients who were suspected of having acute appendicitis;barium enema was performed in 26 patients. RESULTS: in the analysis of the conventional CT scans, we could detect 132(67%) normal appendicies. On barium enema of 26 out of 197 patients, abruptly narrowed appendix was visualized in 5 cases and luminal irregularity in 4 cases but all 26 cases showed normal appendix on CT. In the 30 cases of unenhanced CT, all appendicies were visualized. Among 12 Cases which were proved as acute appendicitis, barium enenma was done in 10 case;abruptly narrowed appendix was shown in 3 and luminal irregularity in 1. Among 18 cases which were diagnosed as normal appendix, nonvisualization of appendix' was in 1 case, abruptly narrowed lumen in 3, and luminal irregularity in 9. CONCLUSION:Unenhanced CT in the area of the cecum may be an effective and safe diagnostic tool for acute appendicitis.
Abdomen ; Appendicitis* ; Appendix ; Barium* ; Cecum ; Enema* ; Humans ; Phenobarbital ; Retrospective Studies ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed

Elastofibroma is a rare disease which presents as a slowly-growing, solid, ill-defined fibroelastic mass occuring almost exclusively in elderly women and arising mainly from the connective tissue between the lower part of the scapula and chest wall. Of the 270 cases of elastofibroma which have been reported, 170 cases had developed in Japanese patients. Despite the fact that there have been only two case reports in Korea, there might be a higher prevalence of elastofibroma in Korea than expected because of geographical similarity. We experienced a case of elastofibroma occurring in a 56-year-old man. To our knowledge, this is the first case report of elastofibroma in Korean dermatologic of literature.
Aged ; Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; Connective Tissue ; Female ; Humans ; Korea ; Middle Aged ; Prevalence ; Rare Diseases ; Scapula ; Thoracic Wall

No abstract available.

The clinical and pathological features of solitary fibrofolliculoma are presented. Solitary fibrofolliculoma is very rarely encountered and to our knowledge, only 7 cases have been reported in the Western literature and no cases have been published in Korea. We experienced a case of solitary fibrofolliculoma occurring in a 56-year-old female, who had a 1.0 cm-sized and slowly growing nodule on her chin. A brief review of the literature, was made especially in relation to the pathological findings and histogenesis of solitary fibrofolliculoma.
Female ; Humans