BACKGROUND: To investigate the possibie difference, if any, between office blood pressure(BP) and home BP may be important in the diagnosis and treatment of hypersensive patients. This report deails the difference between the two BP's and the usefulness of digital electronic sphygmomanometer(DES) for self-monitoring of home BP. METHODS: The BP's of 14 patients with essential hypertension were measured with mercury sphygmomanometers at outpatient department by physician and with DES at home(twice a day) by the patients. Patients were followed up every 2 weeks for 4 weeks and previous 2 weeks' average home BP's were compared with the office BP's of each 2 weeks' end. RESULTS: There was a significant difference between office and home BP(both systolic and diastolic) ; office average BP(151/95mmHg) was higher than home average BP(136/86mmHg). CONCLUSION: Caution may be needed in the interpretation of office BP unless it is measured several times after adequate rest.
Blood Pressure* ; Diagnosis ; Humans ; Hypertension ; Outpatients ; Sphygmomanometers*

We investigated the optimal culture conditions for Cryptosporidium muris in a human stomach adenocarcinoma (AGS) cell line by determining the effects of medium pH and of selected supplements on the development of C. muris. The optimum pH of the culture medium required for the development of C. muris was determined to be 6.6. The number of parasites significantly increased during cultivation for 72 hr (p < 0.05) at this level. On the other hand, numbers decreased linearly after 24 hr of incubation at pH 7.5. When cultured in different concentrations of serum, C. muris in media containing 5% FBS induced 4-7 times more parasites than in 1% or 10% serum. Of the six medium supplements examined, only 1 mM pyruvate enhanced the number of C. muris in vitro. Transmission electron microscopic observation showed the developmental stages of C. muris in the cytoplasm of the cells, not in an extracytoplasmic location. The growth of C. muris in AGS cells provides a means of investigating its biological characteristics and of testing its response to therapeutic agents. However, a more optimized culture system is needed for the recovery of oocysts on a large scale in vitro.
Adenocarcinoma ; Animals ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Cryptosporidium/*growth & development ; Culture Media ; Human ; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration ; Stomach/*parasitology ; Stomach Neoplasms ; Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

No abstract available.
Humans ; Infant, Newborn*

BACKGROUND: Autoimmune hemolytic anemias are characterized by autoantibodies recognizing antigens on the Individual's own red blood cells, resulting in immune- mediated hemolysis. Blood transfusions have been regarded as hazardous in patients with autoimmune hemolytic anemia (AIHA) because of potential intensification of hemolysis and a presumed high incidence of alloimmunization. METHODS: We examined the pretransfusion and posttransfusion hemoglobin levels in 6 patients with autoantibodies in their sera, which showed panagglutinations with all bloods tested in the compatibility testing. They received 'least' incompatible blood because of inability to find compatible blood. RESULTS: When we compared pretransfusion hemoglobin level with posttransfusion hemoglobin level, in 5 of 6 patients with AIHA, the hemoglobin levels were increased after red cell transfusion. 4 patient who did not respond to transfusion therapy initially had an increase in hemoglobin level after steroid treatment. Any signs or symptoms indicating hemolytic transfusion reaction were not observed ducting the transfusion period in all patients. CONCLUSIONS: The decision to transfuse in AIHA should consider multiple factors including the patient's clinical status, the potential benefit of transfusion, the potential response to other therapeutic modalities, but must never be regarded as contraindicated, even though the compatibility test may be strongly incompatible.
Anemia, Hemolytic* ; Anemia, Hemolytic, Autoimmune ; Autoantibodies ; Blood Group Incompatibility ; Blood Transfusion ; Erythrocyte Transfusion* ; Erythrocytes* ; Hemolysis ; Humans ; Incidence

BACKGROUND: Autoimmune hemolytic anemias are characterized by autoantibodies recognizing antigens on the Individual's own red blood cells, resulting in immune- mediated hemolysis. Blood transfusions have been regarded as hazardous in patients with autoimmune hemolytic anemia (AIHA) because of potential intensification of hemolysis and a presumed high incidence of alloimmunization. METHODS: We examined the pretransfusion and posttransfusion hemoglobin levels in 6 patients with autoantibodies in their sera, which showed panagglutinations with all bloods tested in the compatibility testing. They received 'least' incompatible blood because of inability to find compatible blood. RESULTS: When we compared pretransfusion hemoglobin level with posttransfusion hemoglobin level, in 5 of 6 patients with AIHA, the hemoglobin levels were increased after red cell transfusion. 4 patient who did not respond to transfusion therapy initially had an increase in hemoglobin level after steroid treatment. Any signs or symptoms indicating hemolytic transfusion reaction were not observed ducting the transfusion period in all patients. CONCLUSIONS: The decision to transfuse in AIHA should consider multiple factors including the patient's clinical status, the potential benefit of transfusion, the potential response to other therapeutic modalities, but must never be regarded as contraindicated, even though the compatibility test may be strongly incompatible.
Anemia, Hemolytic* ; Anemia, Hemolytic, Autoimmune ; Autoantibodies ; Blood Group Incompatibility ; Blood Transfusion ; Erythrocyte Transfusion* ; Erythrocytes* ; Hemolysis ; Humans ; Incidence

Among the causes of pure red cell aplasia, human parvovirus B19 has been shown to be cytotoxic to erythroid progenitor cells in the bone marrow associated with chronic hemolytic anemia with rapidly dividing erythroids and persistently to be suppression of erythropoiesis in immunocompromised individuals related with failure to produce neutralizing antibody to the virus. In a patient with hereditary spherocytosis presenting acute onset of reticulocytopenia during hospitalization, who had shown severe anemia and prodromal symptoms including fever, fatigue and dizziness, infection of parvovirus Bl9 was proven by the presence of IgM and IgG antibodies to parvovirus Bl9, the detection of viral DNA using PCR technique in her serum and the decreased erythroid cells, especially late normoblasts in bone marrow, Also in the other who was diagnosed as hereditary elliptocytosis and complained of fever, headache, abdominal pain and diarrhea, an episode of reticulocytopenia and the nearly absence of late normoblasts in the bone marrow were observed. IgM antibodies to parvovirus Bl9 and the viral DNA were detected in her serum, too.
Abdominal Pain ; Anemia ; Anemia, Hemolytic ; Antibodies ; Antibodies, Neutralizing ; Bone Marrow ; Diarrhea ; Dizziness ; DNA, Viral ; Elliptocytosis, Hereditary* ; Erythroblasts ; Erythroid Cells ; Erythroid Precursor Cells ; Erythropoiesis ; Fatigue ; Fever ; Headache ; Hospitalization ; Humans* ; Immunoglobulin G ; Immunoglobulin M ; Parvovirus B19, Human ; Parvovirus* ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Prodromal Symptoms ; Red-Cell Aplasia, Pure

Among the causes of pure red cell aplasia, human parvovirus B19 has been shown to be cytotoxic to erythroid progenitor cells in the bone marrow associated with chronic hemolytic anemia with rapidly dividing erythroids and persistently to be suppression of erythropoiesis in immunocompromised individuals related with failure to produce neutralizing antibody to the virus. In a patient with hereditary spherocytosis presenting acute onset of reticulocytopenia during hospitalization, who had shown severe anemia and prodromal symptoms including fever, fatigue and dizziness, infection of parvovirus Bl9 was proven by the presence of IgM and IgG antibodies to parvovirus Bl9, the detection of viral DNA using PCR technique in her serum and the decreased erythroid cells, especially late normoblasts in bone marrow, Also in the other who was diagnosed as hereditary elliptocytosis and complained of fever, headache, abdominal pain and diarrhea, an episode of reticulocytopenia and the nearly absence of late normoblasts in the bone marrow were observed. IgM antibodies to parvovirus Bl9 and the viral DNA were detected in her serum, too.
Abdominal Pain ; Anemia ; Anemia, Hemolytic ; Antibodies ; Antibodies, Neutralizing ; Bone Marrow ; Diarrhea ; Dizziness ; DNA, Viral ; Elliptocytosis, Hereditary* ; Erythroblasts ; Erythroid Cells ; Erythroid Precursor Cells ; Erythropoiesis ; Fatigue ; Fever ; Headache ; Hospitalization ; Humans* ; Immunoglobulin G ; Immunoglobulin M ; Parvovirus B19, Human ; Parvovirus* ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Prodromal Symptoms ; Red-Cell Aplasia, Pure

No abstract available.
Esophageal Atresia* ; Tracheoesophageal Fistula*

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to determine the effects of rhythmic exercise program on perceived health status, depression, life satisfaction and physical strength in elderly. METHOD: A convenience sample of 20 elderly, participated in the study from a community health center located in an urban city, South Korea. SPSS/WIN 17.0 was used for descriptive analysis, paired t-test and Pearson correlation. RESULTS: After 8 weeks exercise program, perceived health status (t=0.48, p<.001), depression (t=-0.93, p=.001), life satisfaction (t=1.01, p=.002 and physical strength (t=1.70, 0.70, 0.72, all p<.001) in elderly were significantly improved. Three were significant correlations between depression and perceived health status (r=-.63, p=.004) and life satisfaction (r=-.70, p=.001). CONCLUSION: Further are warranted to validate the effects of a rhythmic exercise program for the elderly in a larger sample.
Aged ; Community Health Centers ; Depression ; Humans ; Republic of Korea

PURPOSE: This study was conducted to examine the late effects, social adjustment, and quality of life in adolescents who had been completely treated for childhood leukemia and their parents. METHODS: Participants consisted of 41 pairs of adolescent survivors (13-18 years) and their parents. Parents checked for their child's physical late effects. The Korean Version of Post-Traumatic Symptoms for psychological late effects, social functioning questionnaire for social adjustment and the PedsQL 4.0 Generic Core Scales for quality of life were completed by adolescents and parents. Data were analyzed using SPSS. RESULTS: Twenty out of 41 adolescents had one or more physical late effects. Adolescents showed more serious psychological late effect than parents. Five children and seven parents had above cut-off scores and they were considered the high risk group for posttraumatic symptoms. Parent-reported scores were significantly higher than child-reported scores in terms of social adjustment and emotional functioning of quality of life. Low school functioning in adolescents was associated with physical late effects. CONCLUSION: The results indicate that long-term and systematic management for childhood leukemia survivors affect positive social adjustment and can further improve quality of life.
Adolescent ; Adult ; Humans ; Leukemia/*psychology ; Parents/psychology ; *Quality of Life ; Questionnaires ; *Social Adjustment ; Stress, Psychological ; Survivors/*psychology ; Time Factors ; Translating