The hepatitis C vims(HCV) is now known to be the chief cause of transfusion-associated non-A, non-B hepatitis. The ultimate goal of blood donor screening for anti-HCV antibodies is the specific exclusion of vital carriers from the blood donor population. Recently, a third generation anti-HCV screening(Green Cross Center Innotest HCV 3.0 Genedia HCV 3.0 ) and immunoblot assay, Inno-Lia HCV Ab III (Innogenetics) using antigens derived from the core and different nonstructural regions(NS3, NS4 and Ns5) of the HCV viral genome were developed. To evaluate the usefulness of these assays, anti-HCV reaction patterns of the Inno-Lia HCV Ab III or presence of HCV-RNA detected by reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction(RT-PCR) were examined samples in which were repeatedly positive or discrepant with Abbott EIA-2, Innotest HCV 3.0 Genedia HCV 3.0 The reaction intensity of Innotest HCV 3.0 Genedia HCV 3.0 was higher than that of Abbott EIA-2. The sensitivity and specificity of Innotest HCV 3.0 and Genedia HCV 3.0 were 92.9% and 86.8%, respectively, and the positive and negative predictive values were 72.2% and 97.1%. both. The sensitivity and specificity of Abbott EIA-2 were 100% and 78.9%, respectively, and the positive and negative predictive values were 63.6% and 100%, respectively. We concluded that the new third generation HCV EIA reagents can decrease a false positivity of second generation EIA reagents and correlate well with detection of HCV-RNA by RT-PCR.
Blood Donors ; Genome, Viral ; Hepacivirus* ; Hepatitis C Antibodies ; Hepatitis C* ; Hepatitis* ; Humans ; Immunoenzyme Techniques* ; Indicators and Reagents* ; Mass Screening ; Sensitivity and Specificity

No abstract available.
Epithelium* ; Humans* ; Insulin*

No abstract available.
Interleukin-4* ; Interleukins* ; Receptors, Interleukin-4* ; Rheumatic Diseases*

PURPOSE: To evaluate the independent prognostic value of Ki-67 in lymph node-negative breast cancer and the usefulness of Ki-67 when it combined with St. Gallen classification as a guidance of adjuvant chemotherapy for node-negative cancer. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed the data of 534 patients with lymph node-negative breast cancer who underwent curative surgery between 1998 and 2001 at our institution. Patients were classified according to the guideline of risk groups of St. Gallen consensus and the level of Ki-67 expression. Distant metastasis-free survival (DFS) rates were compared between groups. RESULTS: With a median follow-up of 55 months, the overall 5-year DFS rate was 91.5%. The 5-year DFS rates for patients with high and low Ki-67 tumors (cut-off value: > or = 10%) were 84.6% and 93.7%, respectively (p < 0.001). In a Cox regression model involving potential prognostic factors, high Ki-67 expression could independently predict the risk of distant recurrence (odds ratio = 2.0 [95% confidence interval, 1.03-3.93]). The 5-year DFS rates for patients with average and minimal risk group of St. Gallen classification were 89.3% and 97.5%, respectively. The average risk group was further divided into two subgroups with significantly different prognosis according to the Ki-67 expression (DFS rate: 84.2% vs. 91.5%; p = 0.007). CONCLUSIONS: Ki-67 was an independent prognostic factor in lymph node-negative breast cancer and the combination of Ki-67 expression and the St. Gallen classification could provide a more useful therapeutic guideline for lymph node-negative breast cancer patients.
Breast Neoplasms* ; Breast* ; Chemotherapy, Adjuvant ; Classification ; Consensus ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Prognosis ; Recurrence ; Retrospective Studies

PURPOSE: To evaluate the independent prognostic value of Ki-67 in lymph node-negative breast cancer and the usefulness of Ki-67 when it combined with St. Gallen classification as a guidance of adjuvant chemotherapy for node-negative cancer. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed the data of 534 patients with lymph node-negative breast cancer who underwent curative surgery between 1998 and 2001 at our institution. Patients were classified according to the guideline of risk groups of St. Gallen consensus and the level of Ki-67 expression. Distant metastasis-free survival (DFS) rates were compared between groups. RESULTS: With a median follow-up of 55 months, the overall 5-year DFS rate was 91.5%. The 5-year DFS rates for patients with high and low Ki-67 tumors (cut-off value: > or = 10%) were 84.6% and 93.7%, respectively (p < 0.001). In a Cox regression model involving potential prognostic factors, high Ki-67 expression could independently predict the risk of distant recurrence (odds ratio = 2.0 [95% confidence interval, 1.03-3.93]). The 5-year DFS rates for patients with average and minimal risk group of St. Gallen classification were 89.3% and 97.5%, respectively. The average risk group was further divided into two subgroups with significantly different prognosis according to the Ki-67 expression (DFS rate: 84.2% vs. 91.5%; p = 0.007). CONCLUSIONS: Ki-67 was an independent prognostic factor in lymph node-negative breast cancer and the combination of Ki-67 expression and the St. Gallen classification could provide a more useful therapeutic guideline for lymph node-negative breast cancer patients.
Breast Neoplasms* ; Breast* ; Chemotherapy, Adjuvant ; Classification ; Consensus ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Prognosis ; Recurrence ; Retrospective Studies

BACKGROUND: To determine the molecular structure of type II collagen-specific T-cell receptors associated with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). METHODS: We generated CII-specific T-cell lines of 8 RA patient s by prolonged in vitro culture with bovine CII (bCII) and the immunogenic peptide (256-270) of human CII. The proliferation response towards CII stimulation was measured from the uptake of 3 H-thymidine. Changes in the secretion of Th 1 and Th2 cytokines in the culture supernatent were measured by ELISA. The TCR clonotypes of these T-cells were examined by RT-PCR/ SSCP analyses of all 22 V beta chains. RESULTS: T-cells from patients' tissue exhibited strong proliferation index upon CII stimulation, which was maintained up to 6 months in the culture. The secretion of INF-gamma from these T-cells increased along with the duration of culture time, while the amount of IL-4 production did not show significant changes. The SSCP band patterns of patients' T-cells appear as discrete bands unlike the smeary streak produced from normal samples. Some SSCP bands, each representing selected expansion of a TCR containing certain subtype of V beta peptides, appeared to be identical in more than one patients. Among these, the expansion of SSCP band representing the V beta 14 CDR3 region persisted after switching the antigen to the immunogenic human peptide (256-270). CONCLUSION: CII-reactive T-cells expressing distinct CDR3 motifs are selectively expanded in the peripheral blood and synovial fluid of RA patients, and their persistent proliferation upon CII stimulation, as well as the production Th 1-type cytokines, may play pivotal roles in RA pathogenesis.
Arthritis, Rheumatoid* ; Cytokines ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Humans ; Interleukin-4 ; Molecular Structure ; Peptides ; Polymorphism, Single-Stranded Conformational ; Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell ; Synovial Fluid ; T-Lymphocytes*

We report an unusual case of cerebral aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrage (SAH) with Fabry's disease. A 42-year-old woman presented with aneurysmal SAH originated from a saccular aneurysm of the right posterior communicating artery. The patient was treated by an endovascular coil embolization of aneurysm. Postoperatively the patient recovered favorably without any neurological deficit. During her admission, the patient had a sign of proteinuria in urine analysis. The pathologic findings of kidney needle biopsy implied nephrosialidosis (mucolipidosis of lysosomal stroage disease), which is consistent with a Fabry's disease. It is uncommon that Fabry's disease is presented with aneurysmal SAH, especially in middle-aged patients, but could be a clinical concern. Further investigations are needed to reveal risk factors, vascular anatomy, and causative mechanisms of Fabry's disease with aneurysmal SAH.
Aneurysm ; Arteries ; Biopsy, Needle ; Fabry Disease ; Female ; Humans ; Intracranial Aneurysm ; Kidney ; Mucolipidoses ; Nephrosis ; Proteinuria ; Risk Factors ; Subarachnoid Hemorrhage

OBJECTIVES: The optimal management of patients with spontaneous intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) remains controversial. The aim of this study was to evaluate technical results and clinical outcomes of frameless stereotactic aspiration and fibrinolysis using urokinase performed in a single center. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The subjects of this study were 62 consecutive patients with spontaneous ICH who were treated with frameless stereotactic aspiration and subsequent fibrinolysis using urokinase between February 2009 and June 2010 in our hospital. The surgical results, procedure-related complications, and clinical outcomes were evaluated. RESULTS: A total of 62 patients were enrolled in the study. The median age was 54 years (range, 32-86). The mean initial Glasgow coma scale score was 7.7 (range 5-11). The mean initial hemorrhage volume was 43 cm3 (range 30-70). Seven patients (11.2%) died of respiratory failure (four patients), postoperative edema (two patients), and heart disease (one patient). There were seven cases of procedure-related complications (11.2%), including malpositioning of catheters (two patients), pneumocephalus (one patient), and rebleeding (four patients, 6.4%). At the three-month follow-up, a good outcome (three-month Glasgow outcome scale > 3) was noted in 32 patients (51.6%). CONCLUSIONS: Frameless stereotactic aspiration and subsequent fibrinolytic thearpy using urokinase for spontaneous ICH is a simple and safe procedure with low mortality and rebleeding rate.
Catheters ; Cerebral Hemorrhage* ; Edema ; Fibrinolysis* ; Follow-Up Studies ; Glasgow Coma Scale ; Glasgow Outcome Scale ; Heart Diseases ; Hemorrhage ; Humans ; Mortality ; Pneumocephalus ; Respiratory Insufficiency ; Urokinase-Type Plasminogen Activator*

PURPOSE: We performed this study to evaluate the clinical efficacy and safety of dexamethasone in preventing laryngeal edema following exubation. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of 100 neonates who underwent endotracheal intubation and mechanical ventilation. Subjects were divided into two groups; dexamethasone treated (60 cases, dexamethasone group) and non-treated (40 cases, control group). We examined the underlying diseases of endotracheal intubation, and compared the two groups, change in respiratory rate before and after extubation, rate of reintubation, and duration of treatment (oxygen therapy before and after extubation, postextubation admission, and total admission). And also investigated adverse effects in dexamethasone group. RESULTS: Respiratory distress syndrome was the most common underlying disease of endotracheal intubation in both groups. The duration of endotracheal intubation and mechanical ventilation was significantly longer in the dexamethasone group (P<0.05), but there were no statistical differences in change of respiratory rate, rate of reintubation, duration of treatment between the two groups. In the dexamethasone group, hypertension (8 cases; 13.3%) and hyperglycemia (3 cases; 5.0%) were observed shortly and recovered without any treatment. CONCLUSION: There were no significant differences between dexamethasone group and control group of this study in clinical efficacy, so we concluded that the prophylactic use of dexamethasone for the prevention of laryngeal edema following short-term intubation has room for reconsideration in the neonates. Further prospective randomized double-blind studies are needed to understand the clinical effects of dexamethasone and to define apparent risk factors for postextubation laryngeal edema.
Dexamethasone* ; Double-Blind Method ; Humans ; Hyperglycemia ; Hypertension ; Infant, Newborn* ; Intubation ; Intubation, Intratracheal ; Laryngeal Edema* ; Medical Records ; Respiration, Artificial ; Respiratory Rate ; Retrospective Studies ; Risk Factors

No abstract available.
Dermatitis, Allergic Contact