No abstract available.
Humans ; Infant, Newborn* ; Osmolar Concentration* ; Specific Gravity*

BACKGROUND: The FDA has approved the storage of frozen red blood cells (RBCs) at -80degrees C for 10 years. After deglycerolization, the RBCs can be stored at 4degrees C for no more than 24 hours, because open systems are currently being used. We evaluated Haemonetics ACP 215, an automated, functionally closed system, for both the glycerolization and deglycerolization processes. METHODS: Thirty packed RBCs that had been glycerolized and stored at -80degrees C for 2 weeks were thawed, deglycerolized and resuspended in AS-3. The RBCs were then stored at 4degrees C for 2 weeks. For the evaluation of the procedure, RBC recovery rate, osmolarity, specific gravity, LDH, K+, Hb-2, 3 DPG, Hb-ATP, and plasma hemoglobin were tested at day 0 and day 14. RESULTS: The recovery rate of RBCs was 83.7+/-2.6% (78.9-88.8%). The Hb ATP and 2, 3-DPG of RBCs were 5.16+/-1.0 mol/g Hb and 10.4+/-2.4 mol/g Hb, respectively, at day 0. The supernatant K+, specific gravity, osmolarity, LDH were 1.3+/-0.6 mmol/L, 1.008+/-0.001, 295.0+/-3.1 mOsm/kgH2O, 175.0+/-39.0 unit/L, respectively. All measurements were acceptable to allow the RBCs deglycerolized on ACP 215 to be stored at 4degrees C for 14 days. The blood cultures were negative at day 0 and day 14. CONCLUSIONS: Haemonetics ACP 215 provides a closed, automated system for RBC glycerolization and deglycerolization. This study showed that the RBCs that were glycerolized and deglycerolized in the automated instrument and stored in AS-3 at 4degrees C for 14 days are of an acceptable quality.
Adenosine Triphosphate ; Cryopreservation* ; Erythrocytes* ; Glycerol ; Osmolar Concentration ; Plasma ; Specific Gravity

BACKGROUND: We aimed to evaluate the performance of the CLINITEK Novus urine chemistry analyzer (Siemens, UK). METHODS: The precision, correlation, and carryover study were performed using two kinds of commercial quality control materials and 40-55 freshly collected patient specimens. We calculated exact and within-1-block agreement, along with kappa agreement, to compare the semi-quantitative results between urine chemistry analyzers. The urine specific gravity taken by a refractometer was compared with the analyzer results. Moreover, we analyzed additional urine specimens for protein to evaluate the agreement of results between those of the CLINITEK Novus and the AU680 analyzers (Beckman Coulter, Japan). RESULTS: The precision study showed acceptable results; within-1-block agreement was 100% in all tested items. The urine chemistry results from the CLNITEK Novus analyzer demonstrated ≥85.1% within-1-block agreements with those of the Uriscan Super, and the kappa test results were ≥0.81. The comparison of specific gravity with manual refractometer showed a good correlation (r=0.991), and the protein comparison with the AU680 analyzer also showed a good correlation (with exact and within-1-block agreements being 75.9% and 100.0%, respectively). The carryover rates were 0% in all tested items, except specific gravity and heavy blood tests. CONCLUSIONS: The CLINITEK Novus analyzer showed good performance in terms of precision, comparison, and carryover in this study. Therefore, the CLINITEK Novus automated urine analysis is expected to be useful for routine urinalysis in a clinical laboratory.
Chemistry* ; Hematologic Tests ; Humans ; Quality Control ; Specific Gravity ; Urinalysis

No abstract available.
Child* ; Humans ; Infant, Newborn* ; Osmolar Concentration* ; Specific Gravity*

PURPOSE: The chemoembolization with Lipiodol and doxorubicin hydrochloride is used in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma. What condition is the ideal emulsion of Lipiodol and doxorubicin for excellent anticancer effect? METHOD AND MATERIALS: Microscopic evaluation was performed on the emulsions, which were varied with different specific gravities of doxorubicin solutions, degrees in mixing of the emulsion, and amount of Lipiodol. RESULT: 1. Maximal amount of doxorubicin solution was contained in Lipiodol droplets and the release of doxorubicin from the droplets were delayed, when specific gravity of doxorubicin was equal to that of Lipiodol (SG, 1.28). 2. The optimal therapertic ratio of Lipiodol and doxorubicin was 3:2 at least, as in the emulsion less than 3:2, unmixed free forms of doxorubicin solution were increased. 3. The emulsion mixed by pumping 50--100 times had smaller Lipiodol droplets and contained larger amount of doxorubicin solution in the droplets than by pumping 20 times. CONCLUSION: We recommend the emulsion with specific gravity of doxorubicin equal to Lipiodol (SG. 1.28), the ratio of Lipiodol and doxorubicin closo to 3:2, and the mixture prepased with puming 50--100 times.
Carcinoma, Hepatocellular* ; Doxorubicin ; Emulsions ; Ethiodized Oil ; Humans ; Specific Gravity

Biological monitoring for exposures permits estimation of organ doses or body burdens from exposures through all relevant portals of entry. Biological monitoring data may be used to estimate environmental concentrations when the latter cannot be measured directly. Biological indices are usually surrogates for the concentration of a chemical or its metabolites or its effect at the true receptors. Mercury concentration in urine has-been most-coinmoialy-recommended as a biological exposure index of mercury. For data based on urine analysis, variation in urine volume is the most significant. The urinary concentration related to excretion of the solute provides some correction for fluctuation of urine output. Sampling time must be carefully observed because distribution and elimination of a chemical are kinetic events. This study has evaluated mercury concentration in spot urine compared to the results of 24 hour collected urine by the adjustment methods (specif ic gravity, creatinine) and sampling time. The subjects were 43 workers who had been exposed to the metallic mercury. The results were as follows: 1. The correlation coefficients between mercury concentration in 24 hour urine and that in spot urine were 0.639-0.715 and were not different by adjustment methods. 2. In the high exposure group who were over lOOug/1 of urinary mercury, the correlation coefficients between mercury concentration in 24 hour urine and that in spot urine were 0. 687-0.824 and were not different by adjustment methods. 3. Mercury concentration in spot urine were very variable by sampling time or exposure time. The correlation coefficients between mercury concentration in 24 hour urine and that in spot urine were most highest as 0.85-0.91 at first voiding urine in the morning, and were 0. 77-0.86 at urine collected within four hours before end of shift. In the biological monitoring to exposure of mercury, sampling of spot urine were most proper at first voiding urine in the morning, and then at urine collected within four hours before end of shift. But the adjustment methods of specific gravity and creatinine were no difference of the results.
Body Burden ; Creatinine ; Environmental Monitoring* ; Gravitation ; Specific Gravity

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the expression levels of histone deacetylase (HDAC) 1, 2, and 3 in ovarian cancer tissues and normal ovarian tissues. METHODS: Randomly assigned each of six patients with serous, mucinous and endometrioid ovarian cancer were included. Another six patients with normal ovarian tissue were included for comparison. RT-PCR was performed to quantify the levels of HDACs1-3 mRNA in the cancer and normal tissues. Western blot analysis was performed to measure the expression levels of HDACs1-3 protein. The HDACs1-3 expression pattern was also topologically examined by immunohistochemistry. RESULTS: Increased mRNA expressions of HDCA1, HDAC 2 and HDAC 3 were detected in 83%, 67% and 83% of 18 cancer tissue samples, compared to normal tissue samples. The relative densities of HDAC1 mRNA and HDAC3 mRNA in the serous, mucinous and endometrioid cancer tissues, and HDAC2 mRNA in serous cancer tissues were significantly higher than those of the normal tissues, respectively (p<0.05). Overexpression of HDAC1, HDAC2 and HDAC3 proteins were detected in 94%, 72% and 83% of 18 cancer samples, respectively. The relative densities of HDAC1 protein and HDAC3 protein in serous, mucinous and endometrioid cancer, and HDAC2 protein in serous and mucinous cancer tissues were significantly higher than those of normal tissues, respectively (p<0.05). Most cancer tissues expressed moderate to strong staining of HDACs1, 2 and 3 in immunohistochemistry. Staining of HDAC2 was weak in only one endometrioid cancer tissue. CONCLUSION: HDACs1-3 are over expressed in ovarian cancer tissues and probably play a significant role in ovarian carcinogenesis.
Blotting, Western ; Histone Deacetylases ; Histones ; Humans ; Immunohistochemistry ; Mucins ; Ovarian Neoplasms ; Proteins ; RNA, Messenger ; Specific Gravity

Purpose of this study is to find out proper means of estimating the urinary mercury excretion the normal individuals. Whole void volume was collected every 2 hours beginning from 6 o'clock in the morning until 6 o'clock next morning. Mercury excretion in each urine specimen was measured by NIOSH recommended dithizone colorimetric method (Method No. : P & CAM 145). Urinary concentration of mercury was adjusted by two means : specific gravity of 1.024 and a gram of creatinine excretion per liter of urine comparing the data with the unadjusted ones. Mercury excretion in 24-hour urine specimen was calculated by adding the amounts measured with the hourly collected specimens of each individual. Statistical analysis of the urinary mercury excretion revealed the following results : 1. Frequency distribution curve of mercury excreted in urine of hourly specimens was best fitted to power function expressed in the form of y=ax(b), Adjustment of the urinary mercury concentration by creatinine excretion was shown to be superior (y=1674x(-1.52)), r(2)=0.95) over nonadjustment(y=2702x(-1.57)), r(2)=0.92) and adjustment by specific gravity of 1.024(y=4535x(-1.66), r(2)=0.93). 2. Both log-transformed mercury excretion in hourly voided specimens and mercury excretion itself in 24 hour specimens showed the normal distributions. 3. The frequency distribution of mercury adjusting the urinary concentration of mercury by creatinine excretion was best fitted to a theoretical normal distribution with the sample means and excretion was best fitted to a theoretical normal distribution with the sample means and standard deviation than those unadjusted or adjusted with specific gravity of 1,024. 4. Average urinary mercury excretions in 24-hour urine specimen in an individual were as follows : a) Unadjusted urinary mercury excretions. mean and standard deviation :18.6+/-13.68 microgramHg/liter. median : 16.0 microgramHg/liter. range : 0.0-55.10 microgramHg/liter. b) Adjusted with specific gravity. mean : 20.7+/-11.76 microgramHg/liter x 0.024/(S.G.-1.000). median : 20.7 microgramHg/liter x 0.024/(S.G.-1.000). range : 0.0-52.9 microgramHg/liter x 0.024/(S.G.-1.000). c) Adjuested with creatinine excretion. mean and standard deviation : 10.5+/-6.98 microgramHg/g creatinine/liter. median : 9.4 microgramHg/g creatinine/liter. range : 0.0-26.7 microgramHg/g creatinine/liter. 5. No statistically significant differences were found between means calculated from 24-hour urine specimens and those from hourly specimens transformed into logarithmic values. (P<0.05).
Creatinine ; Dithizone ; Gravitation ; National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (U.S.) ; Specific Gravity

PURPOSE: To assess the effect of hydration status on renal medullary attenuation and to evaluate the incidence of dense renal medulla, as seen on unenhanced CT. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We prospectively studiedunenhanced CT scans of 12 healthy volunteers. Obtained done after 10 hours and 15 hours of dehydration and afteroral intake of 2L of water. BUN/Cr, urine specific gravity, urine osmole and hematocrit were evaluated after 10hours of dehydration. CT images were reviewed for the presence of dense renal medulla and differential attenuationof dense renal and isodense medulla and cortex at the same level. The density changes of renal medulla afterhydration were evaluated. and CT findings were compared with the results of biochemical studies. In addition, weretrospectively reviewed the CT scans of 200 consecutive patients for evaluation of the incidence of dense renalmedulla. RESULTS: In 8 of 12 volunteers, dense renal medulla was seen on CT scan after dehydration. Meanattenuation was 71.3 +/-10.42HU after 10 hours of dehydration, 68.6 +/-13.54HU after 15 hours, and 34.5 +/-11.47HUafter hydration. No significant attenuation differences were detected between 10 hours and 15 hours ofdehydration, but significantly lower attenuation values were noted after hydration. For isodense medulla, the meanattenuation value was 35.7 +/-7.9HU after 10 hours of dehydration, 39.58 +/-9.66HU after 15 hours, and 36.58+/-7.77HU after hydration. The mean attenuation values of cortex were 35.9 +/-5 . 9 5 H U after 10 hours ofdehydration, 37.58 +/-5.95HU after 15 hours, and 37.08 +/-9.75HU after hydration. With regard not only to durationof dehydration, but also ti hydration, no differences in attenuation values were noted for renal cortex orisodense renal medulla. However, higher density was noted in dense renal medulla than in isodense medulla orcortex for the same duration of dehydration. After hydration, complete resolution was seen at five of eight sitesand incomplete resolution at three of eight sites. There was no correlation between CT attenuation and laboratoryresults. Dense renal medulla was seen in 17 of 200 consecutive patients. Mean attenuation values were 64.06+/-8.38HU for dense renal medulla, 37.15 +/-8 . 4 4 H U for isodense renal medulla and 35.36 +/-8.13HU for cortex. CONCLUSION: For the same duration of dehydration, dense renal medulla showed a higher attenuation value thanisodense medulla or cortex, a finding which was completely or incompletely resolved after hydration. Inconsecutive patients, the incidence of dense renal medulla was 8.5% In conclusion, this in-cidence is aphysiological, variable, reflecting dehydration status.
Dehydration ; Healthy Volunteers ; Hematocrit ; Humans ; Incidence ; Prospective Studies ; Specific Gravity ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed ; Volunteers ; Water

Three external quality assesment trials which composed of 12 control materials(12 chemical materials) for interlaboratory quality control assesment in urinalysis were performed with 446, participants, in each, in the year of 2003. The response rate were 92.4% (414/448), 91.9% (419/456) and 91.3% (408/447), in the first, the second and the third trials, in each. The test items include pH, glucose, protein, ketone, bilirubin, blood, urobilinogen, nitrite, leukocyte estrase and specific gravity. The survey results are summarized as follows: 1. The chemical quality control test in urinalysis revealed generally good concordance. 2. The percentage of using urinalysis analyzer was slightly increased as 86.8% and the distribution of using reagent strip was similar to the previous year.
Bilirubin ; Equidae ; Glucose ; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration ; Korea* ; Leukocytes ; Quality Control ; Reagent Strips ; Specific Gravity ; Urinalysis* ; Urobilinogen